开云体育

As I have studied this century, I have noted how the coats that the soldiers wore started out long and thick and ended short and simple. While teaching Astronomy, I was reminded that the Earth went through a "Little Ice Age" that seemed to be connected to the disappearance of sunspots from 1650 to 1700. So, this makes me think that the change in coats was due to the global temperature, and not fashion. - Chris

I am trying to determine what field fortifications were like in this era. In one battle I found a source that said that the entrenchment used was a ditch, with the dirt piled up next to it. Something that can be done in about a day, if you have enough shovels. My question is: which side of the ditch was the wall of dirt on? Was it on the friendly side of the ditch so that the defenders received partial cover and the attacks were disrupted by the ditch, or was the dirt on the enemy side of the ditch, so the defenders would stand down in the ditch and receive almost complete cover (similar to what was used in the early period of WWI). I am inclined to believe the first answer, based of the use of the word "ditch". Then there are those defensive "lines" that stretched for miles to block the movement of armies. I have not found a description or illustration of these works. What were they made of? Did they require an enormous amount of wood? Of course they would align with natural obstacles. - Chris

I am looking at a wargame system which divides Lace Wars cavalry into Heavy Horse, Horse, Dragoons, and Hussars. In the case of Bavaria and Austria it is clear which units are cuirassiers and qualify as Heavy Horse. But in the case of the British and the French, are their units that wore cuirasses under their coats and qualify as Heavy Horse? If so, which units? - Chris Salander

Just got a copy of Compass Games' "A Pragmatic War" covering the War of the Austrian Succession 1741-48. Despite a few Deus ex machina game mechanics (primarly involved in Prussia's leaving and reentry to the war), this is a fascinating game of the strategic and operational issues facing both sides. Movement is governed by "Action" Cards, which determine how many actions a player may take, and "Event" cards that can trigger all sorts of things: Prussia leaves the war, Prussia enters the war; The '45. Also, a lot can happen in Italy and Savoy, which is interesting as it can suck up resources one might want to use elsewhere. Worth checking out. With the action and event cards, no game plays the same, although there are strategies to employ.