The following article deals with the battle of Waterloo in a merely statistical pattern. The aim is to analyse the forces in the view of a wargamer or collector.

A lot of people collect miniature figures, they build dioramas, or play wargames. But what's about the scale? We collect the miniatures oftenly by chance. " Oh, there are new cavalry and infantry troops, really nice!!!!" So we get troops, a lot of soldiers. We are all minor generals, who are proud to command hundreds or thousands of miniature soldiers. But is it real, that 400 Highlanders of Esci, Airfix and Italeri stand beside 300 Infantry Soldiers, face to face with 1000 French Guardsmen of Airfix, Revell and Esci and 350 French Lineinfantry soldiers??? No!!!

The following analysis depends on two sources: Wenzlik, Detlef: Waterloo. Der Feldzug von 1815, Hamburg 1997 and the data bank of the computer game Fields of Glory by Microprose (see my homepage http://home.t-online.de/a.kopp/) The mentioned works are very informative. They depend on the main sources and are very accurate.

The following statistics examine the different forces at Waterloo. In the first part the corps are described, divided in the different types of soldiers. In a second part the soldiers are sumed up

and the scales of 1:72 and 1:35 are confronted with the troops.

As a result, we see, that it's time to thank Hät for producing the Cheveaulegers, Dragoons, the KGL Dragoons and the Mounted Grenadiers of the Guard (Compare these troopers with the strenght of the Scots Greys!). But what's about the Nassau, the Brunswick Light and Line Infantry and the Dutch/ Belgian Forces. I think we all need new sets to get a real scale of Waterloo.

Legend: Grenadiers (=troop),32 (=officers),1006 (=men) concerning the different regiments or battalions 3.841 (=total)

I.I Guard Infantry

Grenadiers 32, 1006, 32, 1063, 34, 1146, 25, 503

3.841

Chasseurs 36, 1271, 32, 1131, 34, 1028, 30, 1041

4.603

Tirailleurs 32, 935, 28, 960

1.961

Voltigeurs 31, 1188, 26, 1083

2.328

I.II Guard Cavalry

Chasseurs 59, 1138

1.197

Lancers 47, 833

880

Elite-Gendarms 4, 102

106

Mounted Grenadiers 44, 752

796

Dragoons 51, 765

816

Art. (Horse) 16 guns and 8 howitzers

Res.Art. (Foot) 24 guns and 8 howitzers

Pioneers 3,109

112

Marines 3, 104

107

II.I I. Corps Infantry

Line 41, 921, 45, 1103, 42, 856, 42, 941, 42, 1015, 43, 989, 42,

1126, 41, 996, 43, 845, 40, 934, 43, 960, 40, 943, 40, 1106,

40, 991, 40, 1060

15.410

Light 61, 1814

1.875

Art. (Foot) 24 guns and 8 howitzers

II.II I. Corps Cavalry

Hussars 28, 411

439

Chasseurs 29, 436

465

Lancers 27, 379, 22, 374

802

Art. (Horse) 4 guns and 2 howitzers

Res.Art. 6 guns and 2 howitzers

Pioneers 21, 330

351

III.I II. Corps Infantry

Line 42, 1101, 41, 817, 42, 933, 61, 1340, 59, 1736, 65, 1730, 40

1028, 59, 1427, 51, 1067

11.639

Light 64, 1824, 94, 2247, 61, 1573

5.863

Art. (Foot) 18 guns and 6 howitzers

III.II II. Corps Cavalry

Chasseurs 40, 445, 34, 526

1.045

Lancers 34, 371, 25, 387

817

Art. (Horse) 4 guns and 2 howitzers

Res.Art. 6 guns and 2 howitzers

Pioneers 22, 409

431

IV.I VI. Corps Infantry

Line 42, 910, 61, 1135, 39, 782, 45, 894, 56, 1375, 44, 692

6.075

Light 48, 834

882

Art. (Foot) 12 guns and 4 howitzers

IV.II VI. Corps Cavalry

Chasseurs 31, 306, 25, 337, 29, 289, 27, 458

1.502

Lancers 40, 375, 41, 379

825

Art. (Horse) 8 guns and 4 howitzers

Res. Art. 10 guns and 4 howitzers

V. III. Corps Cavalry

Dragoons 40, 543, 41, 475

1.099

Carabiniers 30, 403, 29, 380

842

Cuirassiers 31, 421, 21, 304, 21, 292, 37, 427

1.554

Art. (Horse) 8 guns and 4 howitzers

VI. IV. Corps Cavalry

Cuirassiers 41, 411, 28, 278, 21, 151, 22, 226, 34, 380, 26, 309, 37, 474,

22, 327

2.787

Art. (Horse) 8 guns and 4 howitzers

TOTAL 71.450 (without artillery)

B. Prussian Army (Troops,which are directly involved in the battle)

I.I IV. Corps Infantry

Line 68, 2325, 62, 2092, 63, 2332, 62, 2382

9.386

Militia 67, 2007, 56, 2310, 58, 2403, 57, 2358, 58, 1878, 54, 1723,

57, 1742, 57, 1651

16.536

I.II IV. Corps Cavalry

Husssars 33, 544, 25, 548, 34, 415

1.599

Lancers 36, 605

641

Militia Cavalry 25, 339, 21, 405, 26, 278, 19, 297, 18, 408, 18, 392, 14, 337

2.597

Art. (Foot) 48 guns and 16 howitzers

Art. (Horse) 18 guns and 6 howitzers

TOTAL 30.759 (without artillery)

II.I Brigade Tippelskirch II. Corps

Line 74, 2552, 81, 2258

4.965

Rifles 313, 1, 79

393

Militia 63, 2391

2.454

Art. (Foot) 6 guns and 2 howitzers

II.II Brigade Brause II. Corps

Line 70, 2450, 61, 2036

Militia 55, 2403

2.458

Art. (Foot) 6 guns and 2 howitzers

II.III Reserve Cavalry II. Corps

Dragoons 33, 626, 37, 494

1.190

Lancers 34, 501

535

Hussars 32, 564, 32, 550, 27, 488

1.693

Militia Cavalry 30, 435, 17, 445, 24, 546

1.497

Art. (Horse) 6 guns and 2 howitzers

TOTAL 50.561 (incl. IV. Korps, without artillery)

III.I Brigade Steinmetz I. Corps

Line 70, 2260, 66, 2340

4.736

Rifles 100

100

Silesian Rifles 13, 352

365

Militia 64, 2623

2.687

Art. (Foot) 6 guns and howitzers

III.II Reserve Cavalry I. Corps

Dragoons 31, 451, 30, 596

1.108

Hussars 27, 474

501

Lancers 30, 470, 29, 476

1.005

Militia Cavalry 13, 214, 13, 296, 23, 568

1.127

Art. (Horse) 12 guns and 2 howitzers

TOTAL 11.629 (without artillery)

I.I I. Corps

Line (Guards) 29, 769, 29, 811, 36, 1085, 35, 1139

3.933

Line (+KGL+Hann) 40, 609, 31, 565, 30, 547, 23, 515, 31, 498, 32, 604,25, 607,21, 512, 26, 533, 10, 321

5.580

Nassau 86, 2623, 50, 1531, 5, 172

4.467

Rifles ("Greencoats") 32, 487, 31, 432, 22, 621, 22, 595, 23, 786, 21, 584, 22, 611

Dutch/Belgian 23,678, 22, 460, 24, 651, 23, 543, 24, 447, 24, 495, 23, 469, 26, 508, 23, 444, 20, 609, 24, 407, 25, 639, 21, 571, 27, 605

Art. (Foot) total 27 guns and 7 howitzers

incl. Hann., KGL, Dutch

Art. (Horse) total 17 guns and 7 howitzers

incl. Hann., KGL, Dutch

I.II II. Corps

Highlander/ 71. (no kilts) 50, 889

939

Rifles/ 95. 34, 640, 10, 204

888

Line (+KGL+Hann) 59,1116,29, 484, 29, 521, 30, 583, 30, 462, 23, 632, 21,

612, 21, 588, 22, 622, 38, 611, 44, 703, 45, 589

7.914

Art. (Foot) 10 guns and 2 howitzers

Art. (Horse) 5 guns and 1 howitzers

Nassau/ 1. Reg. 53, 2788

2.841

I.III Army Reserve Corps

Highlander 26, 457, 17, 347, 22, 412

1.281

Line (+KGL+Hann) 35,532,26,496,36,419,30,482, 23, 617, 20, 669, 23, 617,

24, 611, 27, 664, 21, 731, 43, 823, 21, 621, 23, 624, 20, 660, 23, 677

9.638

Rifles/ 95. 17, 401

418

Art. (Foot) 10 guns and 2 howitzers

Art. (Horse) 10 guns and 2 howitzers

I.IV.I Brunswick Infantry

Avantgarde 19, 672

691

Line (Light) 19, 672, 19, 672, 19, 672, 19, 672, 19, 672, 19, 672, 19, 672

4.837

Art. (Foot) 8 guns

I.IV.II Brunswick Cavalry

Hussars 33, 697

730

Lancers 12, 237

249

Art. (Horse) 8 guns

I.V. Cavalry Corps

Horse/Life Guards 12, 253, 16, 251, 14, 282

828

Scots Greys 31, 423

454

Heavy Dragoons 28, 560, 28, 429, 26, 432

1.503

Light Dragoons 28, 332, 33, 539, 32, 521, 27, 429, 26, 426, 31, 434, 28, 428

3.314

Hussars 18, 385, 28, 428, 26, 428, 25, 430, 35, 671, 35, 840, 19, 497

3.865

Royal Horse Artillery 25 guns, 10 howitzers and 1 Rocket Company

I.VI. Dutch-Belgian Cavalrydivision

Carabiniers 24, 422, 22, 377, 21, 371

1.215

Light Dragoons 30, 617, 20, 421

1.088

Hussars 19, 420, 31, 610

1.080

Art. (Horse) 6 guns and 2 howitzers

TOTAL 69.897

Waterloo (Forces): French, Allies, Prussia (Prussia Plancenoit up to 7 p.m.)

Waterloo (Forces): French, Allies, Prussia (Prussia Plancenoit since 7 p.m.)

Waterloo (Forces): French, Allies, Prussia (Prussia Left Wing Allied Army Ziethen 6-7 p.m.)

Waterloo (Forces): French, Allies, Prussia (Total)

Soldiers and figurines (in brackets losses between 15.-17. June)

1) Guard (bearskin) 8.444 (-105) 115 238

2) Guard (shako) 4.289 59 122

3) Chasseurs a Cheval 1.197 (-1) 16 34

4) Lancers (Guard) 880 (-52) 11 23

5) Elite-Gendarms 106 1 3

6) Mounted Grenadiers 796 11 22

7) Dragoons (Guard) 816 (-1) 11 23

8) Pioneers 112 1 3

9) Marines 107 1 3

10) Lineinfantry 33.124 (-2.197) 429 883

11) Light Infantry 8.620 (-943) 106 219

12) Hussars 439 6 12

13) Chasseurs 3.012 (-124) 40 82

14) Lancers 2.444 (-386) 28 59

15) Dragoons 1.099 15 31

16) Carabiniers 842 12 24

17) Cuirassiers 4.341 (-327) 56 115

18) Pioneers 782 11 22

TOTAL 67.314 929 1.918

Infantry 52.233 722 1.490

Cavalry 15.081 207 428

Artillery (see bottom) 6.726 (256) 93 (4) 192 (7)

French Infantry: Guards (with bearskin cap), Guards (with shako), Pioneers, Line Light

French Cavalry: Chasseurs (Guard), Lanciers (Guard), Elite-Gendarms, Mounted Grenadiers, Dragoons (Guard), Hussars, Chasseurs, Lanciers, Dragoons, Carabiniers, Cuirassiers

Total 1:72 1:35

1) Lineinfantry 9.386 130 268

2) Militia 16.536 230 473

3) Hussars 1.599 22 46

4) Lancers 641 9 18

5) Militia Cavalry 2.597 36 74

TOTAL 30.759 427 879

Infantry 25.922 360 741

Cavalry 4.837 67 138

Artillery (see bottom) 2.269 (88) 32 (1) 65 (3)

Prussia (Plancenoit up to 7 p.m.): Line, Militia, Hussars, Lancers, Militia Cavalry

B.2 Plancenoit since 7 p.m. (Troops above and part of II. Corps)

Total 1:72 1:35

1) Lineinfantry 18.968 (-1.600) 241 496

2) Militia 21.448 (-700) 288 593

3) Rifles 393 5 11

4) Hussars 3.292 (-50) 45 93

5) Dragoons 1.190 (-100) 15 31

6) Lancers 1.176 (-50) 16 32

7) Militia Cavalry 4.094 (-200) 54 111

TOTAL 47.861 664 1.367

Infantry 38.509 534 1.100

Cavalry 9.352 130 267

Artillery (see bottom) 2.810 (112) 39 (2) 80 (3)

Prussia (Plancenoit since 7 p.m.): Line, Militia, Rifles, Hussars, Dragoons, Lancers, Militia Cavalry

1) Lineinfantry 4.736 (-2.200) 35 73

2) Rifles 465 7 13

3) Militia 2.687 (-1.600) 15 31

4) Dragoons 1.108 (-150) 13 27

5) Hussars 501 (-50) 6 13

6) Lancers 1.005 (-200) 11 23

7) Militia Cavalry 1.127 (-350) 11 22

TOTAL 7.029 98 202

Infantry 4.088 57 117

Cavalry 2.941 41 85

Artillery (see bottom) 518 (22) 7 (1) 15 (1)

Prussia (Left Wing Allied Army Ziethen 6-7 p.m.): Line, Militia, Rifles, Hussars, Dragoons, Lancers, Militia Cavalry

Prussia (Total): Line, Militia, Rifles, Hussars, Dragoons, Lancers, Militia Cavalry

C. Alliied Army (Losses between 15. and 17. June already considered)

Total 1:72 1:35

1) Guards 3.933 54 112

2) Line (+KGL+Hann.) 23.132 321 661

3) Rifles(+"Greencoats") 5.595 78 160

4) Highlander (+71.Reg.) 2.290 31 63

5) Dutch/Belgian 7.855 109 224

6) Nassau 7.308 102 209

7) Bruns Avantgarde 691 10 20

8) Bruns Line und Light 4.837 67 138

9) Bruns Hussars 730 10 21

10) Bruns Lancers 249 4 7

11) Horse/ Life Guards 828 12 24

12) Scots Greys 454 6 13

13) Heavy Dragoons 1.503 21 43

14) Light Dragoons 3.314 46 95

15) Hussars 3.865 54 111

16) Dutch Carabiniers 1.215 17 35

17) Dutch Light Dragoons 1.088 15 31

18) Dutch Hussars 1.080 15 31

TOTAL 69.897 972 1.998

Infantry 55.571 772 1.587

Cavalry 14.326 200 411

Artillery (see bottom) 5.477 (157) 76 (2) 157 (5)

Allied Army-Infantry: Guards, Line, Rifles-"Greencoats", Highlander, Dutch-Belgian, Nassau, Brunswick Avantgarde, Brunswick Line and Light Infantry

Allied Army-Cavalry: Brunswick Hussars, Brunswick Lancers, Horse/Life Guards, Scots Greys, Heavy Dragoons, Light Dragoons, Hussars, Dutch Carabiniers, Dutch Light Dragoons, Dutch Hussars

The consideration of the artillery troops in scale 1:72 and 1:35 is really difficult. But, who wants to miss those famous troops. So I think, buy what you want.

A. French Artillery (Soldiers of the batteries)

191, 185, 179, 177, 155, 206, 187, 200, 180, 187, 163, 210, 212, 223, 193, 223, 285, 213, 178,172, 185, 177, 234, 228, 234, 220, 171, 244, 259, 214, 161, 156, 159, 165

6.726 with 186 guns and 70 howitzers (256 canons)

B. Prussian Artillery (Soldiers of the batteries)

180, 185, 229, 214, 207, 194, 188, 170, 183, 167, 172, 180

2.269 with 66 guns and 22 howitzers (88 canons)

180, 167, 194

2.810 with 84 guns and 28 howitzers (112 canons)

168, 175, 175

518 with 18 guns and 4 howitzers (22 canons)

C. Alliied Army (Soldiers of the batteries)

395, 225, 395, 215, 219, 258, 210, 267, 217, 225, 238, 237, 395, 180, 180, 167, 205, 180, 107,180, 181, 180, 180, 241

5.477 with 126 guns and 31 howitzers (157 canons and 1 Rocket Company)

of that

372 Brunswickers with 16 guns

1.195 Dutch/ Belgian with 30 guns and 10 howitzers

Hannoveranians and KGL wore the same uniforms like the british troops.

Artillery: French (men and cannons), Prussia (men and cannons), Allies (men and cannons)

What do we learn from these statistics. We see, that a lot of contingents are smaller than we keep them in our mind (for example Highlanders and Scots Greys). On the other side, there is an immense demand for new troops (I think a great duty for companys like HäT): Brunswick Line Infantry and Artillery, Dutch-Belgian Infantry and Artillery, Nassau Infantry and British Heavy Dragoons (maybe also Prussian Hussars).

But also my thanks to HäT. The real scale Waterloo is in sight: French Dragoons and Chevaulegers, Brunswick Avantgarde and the prussian sets, Mounted Grenadiers of the Guard, and KGL Light Dragoons (also the russian dragoons can be used as Dutch Carabiniers, the russian or austrian cuirassiers maybe as british heavy dragoons). A great step, but keep the wishes of collectors and wargamers in mind.

Andreas Kopp, M.A.