Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

Were the rifles that the British 95th Rifles used able to fire at a longer range than those of the German Schutzen/Jagers?

This came up in a recent discussion between me and a few other members of the club.

My thought is that the rifles that the 95th used had a longer range.

True or false?

If anyone can point me to a book title, author and page number it would help also.

Colonel Bill Peters
Armee du Rhin - V Corps, Cavalerie du V Corps, 20ème légère Brigade de Cavalerie, 13ème Hussar Regiment
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram, Jena-Auerstaedt and ... more to come)

Hi Bill
Its a debate thats been had quite a lot I recall. One observation I recently read was that the British rifle was actually heavy and slow to load which was a disadvantage vs the French light weight musket when it came to skirmishing. I think that was in Alessandro Barbero's excellent book 'the battle'.

It may be important to distinguish between sharpshooting and skirmishing when you research this as on the other side in 'Waterloo new perspectives' the Baker rifle is spoken of very highly for its long range accuracy. But this is when the British rifles were in a good defensive position firing off shots at the advancing legions of France.

So in summary I am not sure if they had a longer range perhaps a longer accurate range is a better description. But on the downside they were heavy and slow to load.

Why not go to http://www.1st95thrifles.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=788 and ask the guys who fire em.

Helga red bull here for Bill please. He has a game to finish.




General de Brigade Knox
Baron de l'Empire



2e Regiment Gardes d'Honneur (the regaled pheasants)
La Jeune Garde



CO. 1er Brigade, III Division Cavalerie Legere, III Corps Armee du Nord
http://www.aspire.co.nz/colinknoxnwc.htm

Actually was thinking of the rifles in Jena.

Just wondering if I got the ranges right on the Schutzen units.

Vladmir will label me a fraud if I dont get them right LOL

Colonel Bill Peters
Armee du Rhin - V Corps, Cavalerie du V Corps, 20ème légère Brigade de Cavalerie, 13ème Hussar Regiment
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram, Jena-Auerstaedt and ... more to come)

Bill we all know that game design is a balance between playability and historical reality.

If Jena was all historically based the Prussian artillery would be no where near as good as they are and all of the French infantry would be close to A grade. Which might be realistic but would make for a boring game as the French would trounce the Prussians to easily.

I think Jena is an excellent game and no fraud I reckon its a superb simulation of the period that is enjoyable to play.

Vladimir has some strong opinions on whats historical and what's not and whilst many of his house rules are good some are quite plainly not historical (in my view) so this just proves how 'historical' is just an opinion.

'What more is history but a fable agreed upon' N 1er

Salute!

General de Brigade Knox
Baron de l'Empire



2e Regiment Gardes d'Honneur (the regaled pheasants)
La Jeune Garde



CO. 1er Brigade, III Division Cavalerie Legere, III Corps Armee du Nord
http://www.aspire.co.nz/colinknoxnwc.htm

"Vladimir has some strong opinions ..."

No! Go on! [:D]

Vladmir and Cliff should play each other. That would be fun to read the emails! [:p][:D]

Aren't I a stinker? [;)]

Colonel Bill Peters
Armee du Rhin - V Corps, Cavalerie du V Corps, 20ème légère Brigade de Cavalerie, 13ème Hussar Regiment
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram, Jena-Auerstaedt and ... more to come)