Hindu Musketeers (ETW Unit)

Hindu Musketeers (ETW Unit)
Class	Lne Infantry
Unit Size	160 Men
Weaponry	Muskets
Morale
Melee Attack
Ranged Attack
Defence
Charge Bonus
Accuracy
Range
Ammunition
Region	South Western India
Recruitment Cost	770
Upkeep Cost	190
Turns to Build
Unit Limit
Building Requirements	Provincial Barracks
Technology Requirements	None
Attributes	Can hide in woodland Resistant to heat fatigue

These musketeers are a useful addition to any force, even if they lack the fire discipline of regular soldiers.

Overview

For all its smoke and noise, handling the smoothbore, muzzle-loading musket can be taught to all but the most stupid of men. Once the basic skills of loading have been mastered, it is simply a matter of pointing the loud end at the enemy and pulling the trigger. It is in God's hands as to what happens next!

Even the most inexperienced or cack-handed of peasants can be useful with a musket in his hands. The noise of a volley is often enough to frighten, and any casualties in the enemy ranks are a bonus.

Historically, such units of irregular musket men would arrive at a battlefield with all kinds of weapons, from ancient matchlocks handed down from father to son, to modern government-issue weapons looted from the enemy dead. This lack of standardisation did not matter much, as it was the ability to fire at all that made the unit a useful force.

Unit Details

Hindu Musketeers are the Maratha equivalent to Western militia. There are some key differences: Hindu Musketeers have slightly better statistics and can use Square Formation. Despite these advantages, they are not to be relied upon and will break quickly in the face of a disciplined opposition. Hindu Musketeers should be used to support friendly lines as they cannot be expected to outgun a higher trained and better equipped Line Infantry unit.

Factions

• Mughal Empire
• Persia
• Afghanistan
• Maratha Confederacy
• Punjab
• Mysore