I just feel like talking about them because I think they were really cool. 1/3 of them would have pikes instead of a musket, and they typically were all issued swords to use in close quarters. They also ran across the field instead of march (to lower casualties on the approach), and fired two volleys at extremely close range even by the standards of the time. Few of those shots would be misses due to the range, and they would manage to fire 2 volleys before the enemy could finish reloading, then charged with swords.I just think they're cool
>>65133380Main thing I know about them is that their tricorner uniform inspired the Swedes to hold onto their hats as field kit for over a century after everyone else discarded theirs.
>>65133396They were definitely digging very very deep to find something that'd presumably give them pride, raise morale, and remind them of their former military prowess.But instead they look quaint and sort of silly.Friendly PS, Caroleans stopped being a thing with the death of Karl XII. The Swedish army never regained its status as a very serious regional power that punched way above its weight-class
>>65133430look at who they were opposing in nearly all of those conflicts
>>65133406>But instead they look quaint and sort of silly.WW1 still had lots of funny military hats like the Belgian top hats
>>65133449France and Belgium were straight outta the 1830s, it amazes me honestly
>>65133430k/d farming against the worthless subhuman Russians is hardly an achievement
>>65133456Russian tactics are far more formidable when all you have to defend against them with are slow-firing muskets and cold steel.
>>65133380True. And while they were a one trick poney, their one trick worked great - until it didn't. Still their exploits are fun to read about. >They also ran across the field instead of march (to lower casualties on the approach)Not quite. They maneouvered in the usual fashion (deliberate, slow and cohesive) and only around 100 meters away from the foe would the swedish formation begin to run towards their firing position, which would be about 20 meters away from the enemy. After giving their volley the swedes would then charge.
>>65133396and they made the right decision: the cocked hat is infinitely more kino than the shako/top hat
>>65133855>Not quite. They maneouvered in the usual fashion (deliberate, slow and cohesive) and only around 100 meters away from the foe would the swedish formation begin to run towards their firing positionto elaborate, running would be a bad idea firstly because it would tire the men out sooner, and secondly because it would be much harder to keep in formation (which would mean getting run down by cavalry)from what I understand, it's basically the same tactic used in cavalry charges: they'd form up and approach at a steady trot, only breaking into a gallop right at the end with just enough distance left to reach top speed by the time they connect
>>65134129>running would be a bad idea(by which I mean completely replacing marching with running, just to clarify)
>>65134143I wasn't under the impression they spent all day running. Thanks for providing input about the timing though
Did they actually use pikes alongside socket bayonets?
>>65136057Yes.
>>65136057They also had a heavy focus on aggressive melee combat.Regular musketeers carried broadswords and were trained to charge the enemy at a full sprint after firing their last volleys. The swords were for close combat, the bayonets were mainly for defense against cavalry.Supposedly this was very effective, especially against undisciplined/inexperienced troops who tended to immediately shit themselves and route when they were charged by thousands of screaming sword-wielding professional soldiers with a strong reputation for ferocity and ruthlessness.
>>65133380It was aggressive and risky but often caught the enemy off-guard. It might not have worked if Charles XII wasn't a madlad with a penchant for war.
>>65133855>20 metersHoly shit, that really is close. Imagine the slaughter when you turn loose a volley at that range.
>>65133430I've always been a little fascinated by this. For a brief moment, Sweden, of all places, becomes one of the prominent military powers of Europe. They didn't matter much to wider Europe before, and wouldn't matter much afterward, but for this little period they mattered greatly.
