Cuirassiers (ETW Unit)

Cuirassiers (ETW Unit)
Class	Heavy Cavalry
Unit Size	60
Weaponry	Swords
Morale
Melee Attack
Ranged Attack
Defence
Charge Bonus
Accuracy
Range
Ammunition
Region	Europe
Recruitment Cost	1090
Upkeep Cost	320
Turns to Build
Unit Limit
Building Requirements	Army Staff College
Technology Requirements	None
Attributes	Diamond formation; Wedge formation;

Cuirassiers are heavy cavalry who still wear armour, who rely on the shock of impact to defeat their enemies

Overview

These are big men, mounted on big horses, and their primary task is to crash into enemy forces and engage in hand-to-hand combat. To this end, they wear back- and breastplates over leather padding – the cuirass – and usually wear reinforced metal helmets too. Heavy straight swords are the weapons of choice. A wise commander with a cuirassier force under his hand keeps it as a battering ram to hit the enemy at the critical point.

Historically, armoured cavalry were the direct functional descendants of armoured knights and the three-quarter-armoured “lobsters” of 16th Century armies.

Despite the military mania for neatness and order, nearly all cuirasses had a small dent in them. This was the proofing mark, where a pistol ball had been fired into the cuirass to “prove” that it worked as armour. A cuirass with a hole in it after this test would be thrown back into the furnace!

Cuirassiers still exist in modern armies, although their armour is now purely ceremonial. The French army still has two regiments of cuirassiers, the Italians have a Presidential Honour Guard, and technically the Household Cavalry in the British army are also cuirassiers.

Unit Details

Cuirassiers are best used to wear down the enemy with constant charges. Although they do not possess the enormous charge that the Winged Hussars do, they do posses superior melee attack and defence stats. They are probably one of the best all round cavalry available. Like most cavalry after prolonged exposure to infantry( especially elite infantry) the Cuirassiers will rout. Players should use them to flank enemy infantry, dealing the most damage. Like all cavalry they should be kept away from stakes or pikemen at all costs.