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Cavalry Units
Cuirassiers
| This kind represents the next stage of heavy cavalry development in Europe. These riders' armor was much lighter, that
resulting in higher speed and maneuverability. Much attention was paid to riding techniques. Cuirassiers could deliver powerful and deadly blows both to
enemy's cavalry and infantry in square formation. A cuirassier's equipment included steel cuirass about 47 cm (18 1/2") high with breast width of
44 cm (17 3/8") and weight of 8-9 kg (17-20 lb). The cuirass protected a rider's breast and back from cold steel weapons and musket bullets (at
range not shorter than about 50 steps). A pistol bullet could pierce the cuirass only if shot point-blank (from 2-3 steps). Sometimes cuirassiers wore
steel helms. A cuirassier was equipped with a suede collar, a uniform, leather trousers, and jackboots. He was armed with a broadsword, a pair of
pistols, and a short cavalry flintlock musket or a cavalry carbine. Cuirassiers attacked in tight array at a gallop from distance of 1,800-700 steps.
With naked broadswords they broke into the enemy lines while their pistols remained a secondary weapon. General von Marvitz once wrote: "This mass
is to break through whatever the case. It might happen that a half of them will be shot down or will get stuck in a ditch, and hundreds of them will
wring their necks. But they won't stop (not mentioning turning back), for in all this swirl and turmoil when hundreds of horses spank ahead in tight
mess, even the best rider controls his horse no more - all of them are just doomed to break through. Even if one of them copes with the horse and gains
control - he'd better forget about stopping, or he'll be smitten by the rear and ridden over. So there's not a shadow of doubt that if such charge is
initiated, it'll be either a breakthrough or a detachment will be no more." Cuirassiers were a privileged force and were out of many service
burdens. |
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