Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

I'm not sure I understand the impact of changing from shortened to extended line formation. [:(]

Say, for instance, I have a 1000 man battalion in line. Because of the size of this unit its default formation would be shortened line. If I'm reading the manual correctly, this means the unit fires at 75% effectiveness, or as if it had 750 men instead of 1000, right?

Now if this same unit changes into extended line formation, if I am again reading the manual correctly, each of the two new 500 man units gets a 50% firing bonus, or each fires as if it had 750 men. So now this unit in extended line has a combined firing strength of 1500 men. In other words, double its power from when it was in shortened line? [:0]

Am I understanding this correctly? [?][?][?]

Lt. Tom Bridges
5/3e Artillerie à Cheval
1er Corps, Artillerie du Reserve
AdN

Tom,

The manual states that only 2-Rank Infantry suffer a loss of firepower for being in shortened line and benefit from greater firepower in extended line. As far as I am aware that would only include British and KGL infantry in the Waterloo game, unless I'm forgetting some others. Most other nations have 3-rank line formation. So if this is the case then the only benefit of going into extended line for 3 rank infantry is that you can cover a longer frontage with your battalions. Of course this would make them more vulnerable to melee attack though. Someone will correct me if I have this all wrong.

<center>[url="http://homepage.ntlworld.com/a.r.barlow/Napoleonic/nap.htm"]Colonel Antony Barlow[/url]
~ [url="http://www.geocities.com/anglo_allied_army_stats/Anglo_Allied_Army_Cavalry_Corps.htm"]2nd British (Union) Brigade, Anglo-Allied Cavalry Corps[/url] ~
~ [url="http://www.geocities.com/militaireacademie/dragoons.html"]4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards[/url] ~
</center>

Ah, thank you for the clarification Colonel! It was the 2-Rank vs 3-Rank distinction that I was missing. Now it makes sense! [:)]

Lt. Tom Bridges
5/3e Artillerie à Cheval
1er Corps, Artillerie du Reserve
AdN