DBA-HX 3.0, Seven Years War tests.

Seven Years War tests.

Test three.

With the same composition of armies and some minor adjustments of terrain both sides deployed a strong cavalry wing with a main battle line supported by a second line of infantry. The Prussian infantry formed up in two lines with the fusiliers (conscript) posted to the right of the artillery. Austrians formed up in a similar fashion with a Reichs Armee battalion (conscript) forming up to the left of their artillery.

What was meant to be a test of minor changes for the grenadier performance ended with similar results as the first two tests. The Prussian grenadiers were destroyed and the Austrian combined grenadiers never came into hand to hand combat.

At the end of four turns, another inglorious loss for the Prussians. (2-4)

Test four

In this last test, I brought the main battle lines closer and used only the foot elements of each army. Both lines closed to contact and the grenadiers could now better employ their effectiveness. Without increasing their combat factor, I gave them pursuit characteristics of blade (Bd). Still rendering side support for line infantry and pursuing their opponents these slight modifications brought them closer to what one would expect of grenadiers.

The last step was to test increasing their combat factor to +5. This made them extremely powerful and would require further testing. Historically, not all units titled as such were equal. I doubt if anyone would contest that British Foot Guards or French Imperial Guard were equal to Spanish or Neapolitan Grenadiers.

We must not overlook any changes to factors or combat performance should be valid for the entire range covered by the variant.

The DBA-HX 3.0 tests will continue in two days’ time with the Napoleonic period.