New Orbat for Southern Spain

 

French v Spanish corps

When I updated my 28mm collection for the last time back in 2004 it was in preparation for our retirement to Spain. I knew the size of our proposed wargames room in our new house, and I knew that the wargames table would be 6x6 foot. My new collection would include all of the major, and many of the minor, Napoleonic armies. Each major nation would have four corps, each of 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade and corps artillery. Infantry brigades would be 8 figures and cavalry brigades 4 figures. Each corps would be 32 infantry, 4 cavalry and 4 gunners.

I cannot remember why I made an exception for the Spanish army, but I have regretted it ever since. They would have two corps of 32 infantry, 4 cavalry and 4 gunners. The other two corps would not have any cavalry, and would have a guerrilla brigade in place of regular army.

Before I moved to Spain I had planned that the maximum game we would fight would involve all four corps. The scenery was 2x2 foot squares, and three corps could fit comfortably with one in each square and one in reserve.

There are five areas in our campaign, each with nine corps per side, as follows:
North Germany French v Prussians
Central Germany French v Russians
South Germany Bavarians v Austrians
North Spain French v English
South Spain French v Spanish

The first four have always worked well, with balanced armies on each side. However I am constantly changing orders of battle or campaign system for south Spain. This is mostly due to the inbalance in the actual figures.

I have tried many local rules over the years, but none have been really satisfactory. The problem is always too great an advantage for either the Spanish or the French on the wargames table. Whilst I want to keep a “Spanish feel” to the wargames, my first priority is to provide an enjoyable wargame.

My latest adjustment is to reduce the cavalry for each army to two brigades each, with similar combat ability. There are three corps artillery per side, and both have the same combat and morale ability. The Spanish are stronger in infantry, but not such good quality. The Spanish have 12 infantry brigades the French have 9. The French infantry have slightly better morale, melee and skirmish ability.

                                    Morale      Melee      Musket      Skirmish

1st French brigade      class A      class A      class B      class C
2nd French brigade      class B      class B    class B      class B
3rd French brigade       class B      class B    class C      class 

1st Spanish brigade      class B      class B      class C      class C
2nd Spanish brigade    class C      class C      class C      class C
3rd Spanish brigade     class B      class B      class C      class B
4th Spanish brigade     class C      class C      class C      class C

Class A is plus 1
Class B is no change
Class C is minus 1