Newbie Napoleonics question

[vodkafan]

Couldn't find a quick answer on google, but I bet someone here will tell me straight away.
I have read that the French Grenadier companies were used as a sort of assault troop, so I am presuming they stayed in formation and didn't deploy as skirmishers like the voltigeurs.

Can't find anything about how the British Grenadier flank company deployed. Were they used as skirmishers like the Light company? I am just wondering how I should base them is all.
 

[robh]

All well trained Napoleonic regular Line Infantry could deploy to skirmish order.

French, British and Prussian Line and Light troops were all equally capable of fighting in extended (skirmish) order or close order.

No set of rules should prohibit Grenadiers from skirmishing, nor make it compulsory to deploy Voltigeurs in open order.  How you base them is up to the rules you want to use.

[vodkafan]

All well trained Napoleonic regular Line Infantry could deploy to skirmish order.

French, British and Prussian Line and Light troops were all equally capable of fighting in extended (skirmish) order or close order.

No set of rules should prohibit Grenadiers from skirmishing, nor make it compulsory to deploy Voltigeurs in open order.  How you base them is up to the rules you want to use.

Thanks for the reply robh. But, what was typical or normal practice historically?

[Cubs]

Yeah, what he said really.

BUT - the Light Company (normally deployed on the left when the battalion is in line and they're not skirmishing) were specialist skirmishers and hand picked from not only the best shots, but also those soldiers able to operate semi-independently away from the rest of the battalion. You could expect the light company to deploy in front of the rest of the battalion as skirmishers and then to retire back and join the line when the centre companies had closed to range with each other. Often the light companies in a brigade (or even division) were all combined into a single large body of skirmishers and commanded as such between the opposing lines.

In turn, the Grenadiers were traditionally chosen from the biggest and strongest men and also considered themselves a cut above the rest of the battalion. They were mostly simply used as line infantry (on the right of the line), but you could expect them to be the first into the breach during an assault and were occasionally split from the battalion and deployed independently. I've not heard of the brigade's (or division's) grenadier companies being combined into a large body like light company skirmishers, but maybe they were during sieges and the like.

EDIT: I'm referring to British practice here and assuming the French did something similar.

For basing, personally I base all companies in close order of four models per base, but leave the skirmishers broken into two bases of two, so I can use them in line or skirmish order.

[robh]

French Grenadier companies from several battalions were on occasion detached and grouped together in adhoc Grenadier Regiments (of multiple battalions) which was an Austrian practice mainly. I have not heard of the British doing this.

If identifiable skirmishers amongst multi based units are important to your rules (Black Powder/Lasalle/R2E etc) I would agree with Cubs' basing. Deploy the half bases one behind the other for "close" and side by side for "open/skirmish".
For lower scale games like Sharp Practice you would be best served basing all the troops individually.

EDIT: Back in the old days (when National Characteristics were all the rage) rules used to give a firepower bonus to British light companies and battalions when deployed in close order on the grounds that they did not lose their greater weapon skill.
But then those were the same rules that used to give Highlanders a bonus for being tougher fighters in melee

[vodkafan]

Thanks chaps. Yes, those last two answers were what I was looking for really, I will base the grenadiers  like the other line troops.

[vtsaogames]

In 1806-7, the flank companies of units back in the rear were combined into a large division under Oudinot and called Oudinot's Grenadiers, even though half of them were voltigeurs. They were used as an elite line division.

[jon_1066]

I understood it was French practice to remove the Grenadier companies to form Grenadier Battalions.

Also the order of battle for Maida in 1806 on Wikipedia (for what that is worth) shows the British Grenadiers in a separate battalion.

The more you read and research on Napoleonics the more you find support for both sides of any argument!  It was such a long period with evolving tactics and drill.  Forces were also subject to the whims and pet theories of commanders.  So it is almost impossible to categorically state anything as being fixed and constant about these kind of details across the period.

[olicana]

For what it's worth, I intend to have two French combined grenadier battalions in my Peninsular War collection. I do not intend providing them with skirmish stands.

Purists will wince at this but, that they could skirmish doesn't interest me. For me such units will only be used as 'elite close order assault' game counters. If I allowed them to do everything I would find every wargamer, playing the French, would field as many of these 'do everything', 'elite gaming counters' as they could - which the purist would also wince at.

[vodkafan]

For what it's worth, I intend to have two French combined grenadier battalions in my Peninsular War collection. I do not intend providing them with skirmish stands.

Purists will wince at this but, that they could skirmish doesn't interest me. For me such units will only be used as 'elite close order assault' game counters. If I allowed them to do everything I would find every wargamer, playing the French, would field as many of these 'do everything', 'elite gaming counters' as they could - which the purist would also wince at.

Makes sense.  I like the idea!