Grenzers (ETW Unit)

Grenzers are elite light infantry unique to Austria that are extremely useful in skirmishing against the enemy force.

Overview

These light infantry are used to harass and disrupt the enemy as battle commences. Like other skirmishing forces, the grenzers consider themselves a cut above most infantrymen. They are expected to show individual aggression, initiative and soldiering skills, not just obey and fight in formation.

Unusually, they carry heavy double-barrelled (over-and-under) muskets, allowing two shots before reloading. This innovative weapon doubles the firepower of a grenzer unit, compared to any other skirmishing force. Added to this, grenzers are taught to select their targets carefully, making them quite deadly opponents.

Historically, the Austrians had a tradition of creating high-quality light forces such as hussars and skirmishers. The grenzers were part of this tradition, recruited from among the Croat and Transylvania population of the Austrian Empire’s domains as frontier guards against the Turks. As frontiersmen, they had a certain air of lawlessness and even banditry, but they proved extremely able light troops and were used against Austria’s other enemies. Over time, however, they became a hybrid type between line infantry and skirmishers: often deployed in battle in the line, but with the ability to skirmish when necessary. As identifiable infantry units, the Grenzers remained in Austrian service until the end of the First World War in 1918.

Details

Grenzers are, uniquely for elite light infantry, available only in military governor's barracks exclusively in Croatia and are unrecruitable in major cities.

As with most light infantry, grenzers can deploy stakes, hide in most terrain and use light infantry doctrine; similarly with other factions' elite light infantry, Grenzers require the Machined Rifling technology researched in order to be recruited. Unusually for elite light infantry, Grenzers have identical range to regular light infantry, making them the shortest-ranged light infantry units available to Austria along with Colonial Light infantry.

Grenzers, however, have a unique advantage: their double-barreled riles. These weapons essentially allow grenzers to lay twice as much firepower as any other light infantry equivalent, and also more firepower than any other infantry unit in an instant. Grenzers are also statistically slightly superior in terms of melee and reloading skill than jaegers.

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