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Re: Saxon tactical formations during TYW

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 5:35 am
by Friedrich August I.
Jeff,
The Saxon Troops at Breitenfeld conisted of the following units of Horse:
Leibgarde
Taub'sches Regiment, 5 Companies 600 men
Hoffahne 'Companie Einspaenniger' 125 men
Leibgarde des Feldmarschalls, 2 Companies 200 men
Fuerstlich Altenburg'sches Regiment 1000 men
Bindauff'sches Regiment 1000 men
Steinau'sches Regiment, 3 Companies 600 men
1. Regiment Ritterpferde, Oberst Caesar Pflugt, 900 men
2. Regiment Ritterpferde, Oberst Gustachius Löser 800 men

Hope this shed some light on the term Ritterpferde(Lehnsreiter)

Günter

Re: Saxon tactical formations during TYW

Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 1:57 am
by Jeff78
Sounds like the ritterpferde were used to charge after the intended victim had been "softened up". Can't see them with a lance and pistols. Based off of your OOB it looks like companies were somewhere between 100-200 troopers. Did the Saxons use two companies to form a squadron?
Don't feel alone in your interest in the Saxons. I have a weak spot for them too. I lived in Dresden for two years and became a Saxon fan. Kind of like being a Cubs fan. Anyone who follows American baseball will know what I'm talking about. :D
Cheers

Re: Saxon tactical formations during TYW

Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 7:34 pm
by Friedrich August I.
I know this is not the completely suitable to be placed here but it was mentioned a few times in this thread - Caracole of the TYW:

ImageKarakolle

Re: Saxon tactical formations during TYW

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 4:59 am
by TheRightfulKing2013
I have a copy of the book on the Saxon army in the 30 yrs war. The Saxon pikemen seem to not have worne helmets but did have at least front breastplates and tassets (hip guards). Officers sashes were yellow. The artillery was comprised of six 12 pounders, 12 six-pounders and associated artillery parts including 400 pioneers. In early October 1631, the 12 pounders were sent back to the Dresden arsenal and replaced by four 24-pounders.

Re: Saxon tactical formations during TYW

Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2019 9:42 am
by Friedrich August I.
Friedrich August I. wrote:
Sun Mar 24, 2013 6:15 pm
Jeff78 wrote:...Would there be a mix of cuirassiers and arquebusiers in the same squadron or regiment? My thought would be separate regiments, as this is an administrative unit, formed up in mixed units (size?) for battle.
Jeff,
Their was no mix of different Cavalry types in the same Horse Regiments,
Kürisser, Arquebusiere, Dragoner. The mainstay of the Horse Regiments were
the Cuirassiers. Saxons also had Ritterpferde - Knights - which fougt in an almost complete body armor and used lances. These special units were called Adelsfahne.
I have to correct myself here - at the time of writing this post I did not have the Books which I now own :roll: I am sorry for misleading information's given.

The Saxon Cavalry consisted 1635 of 19 Regiments of which ALL but 3 were Arquebusier. The remaining 3 have been 50% Arquebusier and 50% Curassier. The MAIN-Attack method was by Caracole - one Line of Horsemen rode forward (while the Esquadron* was formed as a Block behind - Firing from saddle up to 100-300 paces away and riding off to the LEFT (Hand holding the Bridles).

*If the unit consisted of several Companies it formed two or more Esquadrons - counts for Foot and Horse alike.

Image20190413_113412 by GÜNTER HEIM, auf Flickr

Re: Saxon tactical formations during TYW

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2019 4:39 pm
by Gunfreak
Interesting that the Saxons didn't use mixed cavalry formations,
The bavarians had most of their cavalry regiments as a mix of cuirassier and arqebusers.

Re: Saxon tactical formations during TYW

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2019 7:01 pm
by Friedrich August I.
As posted in the other Thread referring to the Late Period of the TYW the Saxons had only 3 Regiments that have been hald Cuirassiers, half Arkebusiers. The remaining 16 Regiments were Arkebusiers only.

Re: Saxon tactical formations during TYW

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2019 7:40 pm
by Gunfreak
Friedrich August I. wrote:
Fri Apr 26, 2019 7:01 pm
As posted in the other Thread referring to the Late Period of the TYW the Saxons had only 3 Regiments that have been hald Cuirassiers, half Arkebusiers. The remaining 16 Regiments were Arkebusiers only.
Ah, thanks for the clarification.