I would like some of this implemented in the game, no that I have many hopes though
LOGISTICS IN PREINDUSTRIAL ARMIES
1) SUPPLY
There were 3 different ways to supply forces in the field, many times armies used all of them in a campaign.
a) Supply depots and supply trains
Several months before a given campaign (generally during the winter), supplies had to be gathered and supply depots to be established in the campaign area. Armies would operate based on a net of depots and supply trains, usually not farther away than a week march. Supply trains usually stopped every 3 days to resite ovens and bake fresh bread. Armies could establish new depots to extend their supply lines, this was especially plausible for locations connected by sea/river to the original supply depot net.
-Advantages
This system allowed to keep together large forces, concentrated ready for battle, also allowed to operate in poor or underpopulated areas.
-Disadvantages
Considerably restrained movement, as armies were all dependant on supply lines and roads. Very expensive
b) Subsisting from the countryside
There were several ways to do that. Foraging parties to supply horses were always required, even when acting from well-filled magazines. Requisitioning and levying war taxes were other possibilities, and of course it was plain plundering, some times used as a war tactic. For instance, it was a rule of war invade enemy territory to make it pay for war as much as possible, and to follow an indirect route of invasion and retire through a direct route plundering the countryside and so preventing the enemy from pursuit. For instance in 1644 the Imperial army under Gallas was forced to retire to Bohemia following their own route of invasion, the result was the loss of 17.000 out 18.000 men.
Advantages
It was easy to do, inexpensive, and allowed greater freedom of movement to armies
-Disadvantages
Armies had to be small, only some areas in Europe could support regular size armies without supply trains, so there was a danger that armies could be destroyed piecemeal by a concentrated enemy. Armies were further weakened by the detachment of many foraging parties Discipline relaxed.
c) To carry their own supplies
This was used very much by Roman armies, each soldier could carry about 15 day rations, so armies could march without the burden of a supply train for 15 days until they reached a supply depot to replenish supply. Those depots were previously established in the projected route of march, so a Roman army could cover a long distance in relatively short time.
-Advantages
It was less expensive than supply trains and allowed more freedom of manouver to armies.
-Disadvantages
Soldiers had to carry heavy loads, tiring them and limiting their war equipment. Food was many times short. In all, a very disciplined force was required for this method to be successful.
Many times an army mixed all this system in campaign, for instance keeping a main field army supplied and several small armies foraging, and then on some occasions delivering 3-5 day rations to the soldiers for fast movements.
2) BAGGAGE
This was composed by camp followers, servants, traders, etc, providing some services to the army, like cooking, washing, and many others presently assumed by the armies but then left to the private sector. The army baggage could be very big (sometimes numbering as much as 50% of the army strength) and to provide protection to it was always a concern to army commanders, and as those baggage trains usually can only travel by roads, they also had to be protected.
3) WAR EQUIPMENT
There are references for ancient and medieval armies that some spare equipment was carried in wagons behind the army, spears, shields, arrows and crossbows, and of course spare mounts. Fire arms increased very much the requirements of the armies, powder and ammunition, but overall artillery train straining the supply requirements, as many more horses were required to draw the guns and ammunition wagons.
It is interesting to see the order of march of the French in times of Louis XIV
After the army itself
1) Royal Baggage
2) High Officers Baggage
3) Artillery train
4) Cavalry Baggage
5) Infantry Baggage
6) Ammunition Wagons
7) Vivandières (camp followers)
8) Supply train
LOGISTICS IN PREINDUSTRIAL ARMIES
1) SUPPLY
There were 3 different ways to supply forces in the field, many times armies used all of them in a campaign.
a) Supply depots and supply trains
Several months before a given campaign (generally during the winter), supplies had to be gathered and supply depots to be established in the campaign area. Armies would operate based on a net of depots and supply trains, usually not farther away than a week march. Supply trains usually stopped every 3 days to resite ovens and bake fresh bread. Armies could establish new depots to extend their supply lines, this was especially plausible for locations connected by sea/river to the original supply depot net.
-Advantages
This system allowed to keep together large forces, concentrated ready for battle, also allowed to operate in poor or underpopulated areas.
-Disadvantages
Considerably restrained movement, as armies were all dependant on supply lines and roads. Very expensive
b) Subsisting from the countryside
There were several ways to do that. Foraging parties to supply horses were always required, even when acting from well-filled magazines. Requisitioning and levying war taxes were other possibilities, and of course it was plain plundering, some times used as a war tactic. For instance, it was a rule of war invade enemy territory to make it pay for war as much as possible, and to follow an indirect route of invasion and retire through a direct route plundering the countryside and so preventing the enemy from pursuit. For instance in 1644 the Imperial army under Gallas was forced to retire to Bohemia following their own route of invasion, the result was the loss of 17.000 out 18.000 men.
Advantages
It was easy to do, inexpensive, and allowed greater freedom of movement to armies
-Disadvantages
Armies had to be small, only some areas in Europe could support regular size armies without supply trains, so there was a danger that armies could be destroyed piecemeal by a concentrated enemy. Armies were further weakened by the detachment of many foraging parties Discipline relaxed.
c) To carry their own supplies
This was used very much by Roman armies, each soldier could carry about 15 day rations, so armies could march without the burden of a supply train for 15 days until they reached a supply depot to replenish supply. Those depots were previously established in the projected route of march, so a Roman army could cover a long distance in relatively short time.
-Advantages
It was less expensive than supply trains and allowed more freedom of manouver to armies.
-Disadvantages
Soldiers had to carry heavy loads, tiring them and limiting their war equipment. Food was many times short. In all, a very disciplined force was required for this method to be successful.
Many times an army mixed all this system in campaign, for instance keeping a main field army supplied and several small armies foraging, and then on some occasions delivering 3-5 day rations to the soldiers for fast movements.
2) BAGGAGE
This was composed by camp followers, servants, traders, etc, providing some services to the army, like cooking, washing, and many others presently assumed by the armies but then left to the private sector. The army baggage could be very big (sometimes numbering as much as 50% of the army strength) and to provide protection to it was always a concern to army commanders, and as those baggage trains usually can only travel by roads, they also had to be protected.
3) WAR EQUIPMENT
There are references for ancient and medieval armies that some spare equipment was carried in wagons behind the army, spears, shields, arrows and crossbows, and of course spare mounts. Fire arms increased very much the requirements of the armies, powder and ammunition, but overall artillery train straining the supply requirements, as many more horses were required to draw the guns and ammunition wagons.
It is interesting to see the order of march of the French in times of Louis XIV
After the army itself
1) Royal Baggage
2) High Officers Baggage
3) Artillery train
4) Cavalry Baggage
5) Infantry Baggage
6) Ammunition Wagons
7) Vivandières (camp followers)
8) Supply train
