A new Anglo-Portuguese Army for 3rd edition FOGN

 So after reading through my battle reports, here is an adjusted new 1000 point army.

After much thought

The Corps consists of four divisions, each able to fight on it's own if needed, or commit to a task on the battlefield. Each division has a Front (main body), Reserve and a Flanking unit, and includes a Superior and Veteran unit or attachment and has some cavalry and artillery. The infantry divisions each have a flanking unit with a squadron of cavalry attached as it will often be on the flank of the rest of the division. Nearly all infantry brigades have attachments of extra musket skirmishers or rifle's, as I consider it one of the biggest strengths of the army. I must use the advantage of skirmishing and rifle attachments to degrade the enemy before getting to volley fire range and then sending the large and superior brigades to charge home. It has two redoubts for Prepared Attacks and Positional Defense.

The skilled Corps commander will often want to stop enemy Flank Marches (which can dislocate my defence) and Frontal Attacks (which can come in too fast to prepare for). Armies known for their heavy artillery (such as Russian ones) should be prevented from doing Prepared Attacks with massed artillery brigade bombardments.  Positional Defense (with the redoubts acting as the main defence line or hinge) and Flexible Defense is the preferred strategy but Flank March and Prepared Attack can work too. If performing a Flank March, the 1st and Cavalry Divisions will start on table, with the 2nd and Light Division making the flank attack (using their Skilled Division commander). The Cavalry Division will need to guard one flank and be initially the corps reserve on the battlefield, able to move in any direction as needed and support the flanking divisions attacking the enemy hinge.  In a Prepared Attack, I must attack one flank of the enemy army quickly using Group Moves and attack in echelon, and use the Cavalry Division or redoubts to hold the other flank (in which case the Dragoon brigades can be used on the other). If doing a Probe, generally the the Cavalry Division will be in reserve and the 2nd and Light Division will be reinforcements, committed to attack where I best judge the enemy is weakest.

Terrain should be chosen to have hills (but NOT steep or rough terrain hills!) I can place my units behind on the defence, and ideally a river or stream to cut off one flank as I will often be outnumbered. Steep hills, rough or difficult terrain should be placed on one flank, and terrain to break up and slow down the enemy advance to its front, but not prevent it (or they will just go around and not attempt an assault through it). Towns and strong-points can be used but ideally not as the middle of the defence line but to anchor the flanks. Units will use reverse slope where possible.

The 1st Division is the main body and main line of the army. It's quite large, even if one unit is pretty useless, unless in a redoubt. It's got very good medium and skirmish range if on the attack and must hold on the defence until the rest of the army arrives. The conscripts will either sit in a redoubt or guard the LOC. The KGL is the division reserve and can be used to attack or counter attack the enemy. The attached artillery is a veteran unit as it will probably be bombarding more than any other unit. The attached cavalry squadron are Portuguese Dragoons. The two redoubts will often be be blocked by canny enemy generals but be a surprise for anyone new to me and will act as a fulcrum for the rest of the army to pivot around. They have a competent charismatic commander to keep their morale up throughout the battle. They will need to group move as a division if on the attack, with the three main units in front and the conscripts in support behind them. The KGL in the middle would be supported on both sides and rear for the main assault.

The 2nd Division is the reserve unit. It's not fast but it can handle most enemy units on it's own. It will be committed at the main location of the battle - either to defend where the enemy is advancing or assaulting where he is defending. The large line unit will often deploy in depth and the Portuguese unit will often support the other two if assaulting a hinge or to lengthen the line. The attached artillery won't have as much time to fire and the cavalry is again Portuguese Dragoons. Their commander is skilled so as to reach the battlefield quickly.

The Light Division is to guard one flank - ideally in rough terrain that they can move through easier than line infantry. If they can, they will attempt to outflank the main enemy line, but need to be very careful of enemy cavalry. The 95th is lacking artillery and is very vulnerable to that sort of thing. All units make good town and strong-point defenders (and can also be split up to multiple ones) and attackers. The Spanish Guerillas are also useful to advance into the enemy's half when the rest of the army cannot move into it, and are quite cheap to lose and also very hard to shoot at. Putting them into the enemy half of the battlefield in terrain to stop cavalry charging them is a good idea too. They have a skilled commander to be able to be able to flank the enemy army or reinforce quickly.

The Cavalry division is to guard one or both flanks of the army. I will often be outnumbered in cavalry so must be careful to keep the Light and Heavy Dragoons together - often one will support and then counter-charge after the other. The KGL as veterans can guard the other flank if needed. though it can't attack anything by itself.  The Light Dragoons have a battery of Royal Horse Artillery which will be useful if they force enemy infantry to deploy to square. Their commander will often attach himself to a unit to help in the charge and morale test afterwards. 

 

At least, that's all the theory. I really need to do some solo play to test it out. I would really like a Brilliant Commander (Sharpe) leading the 95th rifles, a Superior Hussar unit and a larger Guerrilla unit, but that will have to wait.