Posted on May 14, 2016
No veh's or indirect SPT-What’s the smallest size modern day infantry element would it take to defeat Napoléon’s Grand Armée at its height?
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At it's height, the Grand Armée numbered (depending on the historian) 550,000 - 800,000 personnel. I will readily confess my ignorance on the specifics of the MTOE of a Infantry Company but I'm guessing less than 200 personnel
Rifleman x 210 rds w/ 2 frags
M240's x ___ Basic combat load
M249 x 900 RNDS and an M9 with 45 Rnds?
Mortars?
I think they're gonna fall short several hundred thousand. Even after a resupply, the and the first ... I'll be generous 200,000 fall ... then what?
Rifleman x 210 rds w/ 2 frags
M240's x ___ Basic combat load
M249 x 900 RNDS and an M9 with 45 Rnds?
Mortars?
I think they're gonna fall short several hundred thousand. Even after a resupply, the and the first ... I'll be generous 200,000 fall ... then what?
Fun
Military History
Infantry
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 18
MSG (Join to see) The first Grande Armée consisted of six corps under the command of Napoleon's marshals and senior generals. The army grew in size as Napoleon's might spread across Europe. It reached its maximum size of 554.000 men at the start of the invasion of Russia in 1812. A battalion would probably be able to win as long as ammunition was not an issue. With no vehicles, the battalion would need to be on the high ground, and could not move from their ammo dump. They could not carry enough ammo to take the fight to the enemy.
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Give me a brigade of 5 BN's (4,000 troops) and a mess of .50 cal's its over before it starts. The 4 and 8 pounder's that Napoleon used had a max range of 1200 and 1500 meters respectively. The modern .50 cal tops out at a little over 2400 meters. So once the artillery is taking out it will be a slaughter - M-16's with 203's along with the .50's and Waterloo comes early. These tactics became obsolete with the advent of fast loading rifled musket. This lead to trench warfare at the end of the Civil War and into WWI which lead us to Armour.
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MSG (Join to see)
Sounds viable but cold you quantify "a mess of"? Your like a NC buddy of mine who insists that whatever we're doing, we're gonna need a "sh** ton". 203's are allowed but only if employed in a direct fire capacity (sorry but I did say no indirect).
That said, the M2 would definitely mitigate the artillery and cavalry but 4000 to take out the remaining couple or few hundred thousand ... Five BN's doing a Mad Minute would be a sight to see (from up range, that is).
That said, the M2 would definitely mitigate the artillery and cavalry but 4000 to take out the remaining couple or few hundred thousand ... Five BN's doing a Mad Minute would be a sight to see (from up range, that is).
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SPC David S.
The 50's would be set-up based on terrain and overlap. One every klick (M2 is accurate out to 1,500 meters) would more than likely work or 1 in every platoon with 4 or 5 platoons per company. Sure 203 only in direct fire. Rifled M-16 vs smooth bore muzzle loaded riffles would be suicide. What about AB or AA? Draw them in and then drop in behind - use one of Napoleon's favorite maneuvers against him. Yes that would be a sight to see - we did a few "mad minutes" at the company level and that was a very impressive display of force - at night with tracer rounds, 203's and all M-16's on full auto. I wish we had drones back them as that would be I think an ideal perspective.
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When is the last time time you observed an Infantry Company's "Mad Minute", with all weapons firing? Any more questions?
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SFC (Join to see)
Yes. Add in M4's to the mix. Range will be the winner their along with their shoulder to shoulder tactics. The 320's are what replaced the 203's. .50 and MK19 are tripod/ground mounted
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CSM Charles Hayden
MSG (Join to see) - You did not add in the fear and pucker factor! Besides the grunts would be wound up by then and would've even more lethal. An action in Korea on Feb 7, 1951 resulted in E Co, 27th Infantry clearing a hill w/ bayonets fixed. At least one account claimed the American Soldiers were so frenzied they went on to bayonet cows grazing near the crest. CPT Lewis Millet was awarded the CMH for his actions that day.
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MSG (Join to see)
CSM Charles Hayden - I stand corrected CSM as I failed to take into account the psychological effect the pink mist currently lingering where another Soldier once stood, might give me pause to reconsider both my career choice and Bonaparte's Decision Making Process.
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PFC Scott Mitchell
I posted elsewhere but as for mad minute and pucker factor, can you imagine an Infantryman being told "would you like a 50 cal, TOW, Dragon, LAW, or whatever for you first shot. I can see 4000 or so anti-tank weapons going off at once, because you know we Infantry like the biggest bangs...
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