Although the First Lancer Regiment only has more than 400 lancers, it actually has more than 800 horses and nearly 500 attendants. The overall size is much larger than the ordinary light cavalry regiment!
And this is not yet the full strength of the First Lancer Regiment!
According to the establishment, the First Lancer Regiment should have four cavalry teams, each with 150 lancers, with a total strength of 600 lancers, and an equal number of Mongolian horses and attendants.
Therefore, if the First Lancer Regiment is fully established, it should have more than 1,200 horses and a total of about 1,200 troops, which is almost twice the number of the Light Cavalry Regiment.
In fact, the First Lancers cannot fight alone. If they want to maintain their combat effectiveness, they have to work with the army and let the army's professional baggage troops provide them with sufficient supplies. After all, more than a thousand horses, every day
The amount of fine materials required is not a small amount.
The First Lancer Regiment formed by the Tang Army greatly relied on the existing light cavalry in its formation. In addition, it also learned about the development of cavalry in contemporary Europe from the Portuguese and Spanish people. To a certain extent,
The above also refers to the formation and combat methods of heavy armored cavalry in Europe.
Referring to the existing light cavalry model, it is a nearly unified training method, and a wall-mounted charge is used during combat.
The equipment is based on the contemporary European heavy cavalry, but with some changes. For example, the weapons and equipment imitating the European heavy cavalry are hollow lances. This kind of hollow lance can be used repeatedly with the traditional cavalry in East Asia.
The solid spears used are completely different.
The lances used by the First Lancers of the Tang Dynasty were purely disposable weapons!
The reason why the First Lancer Regiment of the Tang Dynasty used this kind of hollow lance is also very simple. It is because the tactics used by the First Lancer Regiment were also intensive wall-mounted charging tactics.
How to fight with this tactic?
The cavalry formed a dense and unified formation and rushed directly towards the enemy. During this process, the cavalry's movements would be greatly restricted. All they could do was to move their lances forward and then aim at the enemy to stab them.
go!
After stabbing the enemy, due to the huge impact brought by the war horses, the cavalry could not move freely and flexibly like those classical cavalry, using the spear as a sword to slash.
This is doomed. After the charge, the cavalry who use the wall charge will receive a huge impact. It will take a matter of minutes for their wrists and even arms to be completely broken.
At this time, a protective measure is needed!
What measures?
Naturally, after the lance hits the enemy, it will break on its own!
Some people may ask, if the lance is broken, how can the cavalry carry out subsequent operations?
It doesn't matter, there is still a riding sword!
The combat method designed by the Tang Army for the First Lancer Regiment could not be simpler. Charge on the wall, charge forward and use disposable lances to break the enemy's square formation, regardless of whether it is infantry or enemy cavalry.
After the lance is broken, the cavalry continues to fight with the sword!
Compared with the original light cavalry, basically a one-time lance will be used in the first attack, and the rest will remain basically unchanged.
Of course, the First Lancer Regiment will also be equipped with breastplates, which are more suitable for charge operations than light cavalry. In fact, those light cavalry also want to be equipped with breastplates, but the horses under their crotches are not powerful enough to afford the breastplates.
weight.
Nowadays, the Tang Army has many types of plate armor, including full-body armor, half-body armor, and breastplate.
However, each major category of armor here will be subdivided according to defensive power and weight. Currently, almost every major category has at least three or more armor models with different thicknesses and weights.
For example, there are three types of breastplates.
The first type appeared early and is currently the most widely equipped main breastplate model in the Tang Army. It is of medium thickness and medium weight, and can resist long-distance shooting of muskets to a certain extent, as well as arrows, swords and spears.
No problem.
In the early days, it was mainly used by spearmen, light armor, sword and shield soldiers and other units. Later, in order to enhance the survivability of musketeers, a large number of musketeers were also equipped.
The second type is based on the first medium-thick breastplate and reduces the thickness, which basically eliminates the defensive ability against muskets, but it is still very powerful against cold weapons such as arrows, swords and spears.
This kind of light breastplate was rarely equipped before, but after entering the north, more precisely after the Battle of Anping, the Ordnance Department began to purchase urgently on a large scale. Why? This is because after the Battle of Anping, the Tang Army
After entering Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi and other regions, the enemies they faced were not the new Ming army in the past.
Their main enemies are the many nomadic peoples in the north. Even the Ming army under King Hui in the Liaodong region does not have many guns and artillery. Melee combat basically relies on swords and spears, and medium and long-range firepower basically relies on bows and arrows.
And there are a lot of mobile operations during the fight!
Under this circumstance, the Army quickly improved the armor of the northern troops. All the medium-thick breastplates used by the musketeers were replaced by light breastplates. The weight was greatly reduced, which greatly reduced the fatigue of the soldiers during mobile operations.
burden, while retaining sufficient defensive capabilities against cold weapons and sharp weapons.
The third type is the thickest. Based on the original ordinary breastplate, the thickness of the front is deliberately thickened. The defensive ability of the front and chest is even greater than that of the full body armor. The strength of this breastplate is
Its function is to protect muskets. A complete set weighs dozens of kilograms, even heavier than the light half-body armor equipped by the northern troops!
This kind of heavy breastplate was originally equipped for musketeers, in order to increase the survivability of musketeers when they shoot against enemy musketeers on the line. However, the ideal is beautiful, but the reality is cruel.
Ordinary infantrymen simply cannot wear this kind of heavy breastplate to fight for a long time!
Finally, the equipment target of this heavy breastplate became some grenadiers!
Yes, that's right, the Grenadier!
why?
Because the grenadiers are all tall and physically fit, their physical fitness is comparable to that of the heavy armor, sword and shield soldiers who make a profit in assaults. Moreover, the grenadiers are more dangerous in combat, so they also need better protection.
.
Of course, not every grenadier will wear these heavy breastplates. In fact, most grenadiers will still wear ordinary breastplates.
As for the heavy armor, sword and shield soldiers, they are equipped with full body armor, and those with slightly weaker physical fitness will also wear half body armor, which does not match the breastplate.
But today, this heavy breastplate has received its second owner, the lancers of the 1st Lancer Regiment!
When preparing to build this cavalry, Li Xuan personally gave instructions that this must be a heavily armored cavalry. As for whether to be equipped with full body armor, half body armor or breastplate, you, the army, will decide for yourself.
At the beginning, several cavalry generals of the army naturally hoped that these cavalry could be equipped with full-body armor. If they could not be equipped with full-body armor, they might as well be equipped with half-body armor.
However, later tests found that if you are equipped with full-body armor, based on the load-bearing capacity of the war horse, you can basically only equip light full-body armor, and the defensive capabilities of these light armors are basically used against sharp weapons such as cold weapons and muskets.
There is basically no protective capability, and currently there are only the equipment of the Third Army deployed in the north.
Half-body armor is better, but Tang Dynasty cavalry don't like half-body armor, which is neither superior nor inferior. It is said to be comprehensive protection, but it is not comprehensive protection, and its defense ability against muskets is average.
Finally, they gritted their teeth and directly equipped heavy breastplates!
It has certain cold weapon defense capabilities, and can also have good defense against muskets.
Finally, the First Lancer Regiment became a cuirassier regiment!
This is the cuirassier regiment that Li Xuan sees now!
Li Xuan, dressed in military uniform, rode on a pure white horse, slowly passing by the front of the First Lancer Regiment, inspecting his first heavy cavalry!
Then return to the stands and personally present the flag to the commander of the 1st Lancers!
In the past, the flag-giving ceremony was usually only held when the main infantry division officially formed an army. Li Xuan would give the newly formed main infantry division a red dragon-holding sword flag embroidered with the division's number.
But today, Li Xuan made an exception and presented the flag to the First Lancer Regiment. This was to announce to the entire army that the status of this heavy cavalry regiment would be no less than that of an infantry division!
After the flag presentation, Li Xuan spoke directly to more than 400 lancers in the stands. Of course, most of what he said was nonsense. It was nothing more than that the history of our Datang Dynasty was great and glorious. You
We have also inherited this greatness and glory. We must maintain this glory in the future. The rise of the Tang Dynasty depends on you. Don’t be afraid of death when fighting, don’t flinch when charging, be braver, and be braver!
To put it bluntly, it is to encourage these young people to die gloriously and bravely!
Because, after today's flag-giving ceremony, this unit will officially go to the front line and join the First Army's combat sequence. When the First Army lands on the west side of Hanyang, they will appear. Li Xuan must be
You have to stand up and boost morale.
But it's strange that when these young soldiers heard Li Xuan's ridiculous words, their blood boiled with excitement. Although they were a little far away, Li Xuan still saw their excited expressions, as if they couldn't wait to fight and die.
.
Song Zhilin, the commander of the First Lancer Regiment, after hearing Li Xuan's sensational words, he even knelt down and saluted with excitement on the spot, shouting: "I am willing to fight to the death for your majesty!"
Hundreds of soldiers below also shouted in unison: "Fight to the death for Your Majesty!"
Looking at Song Zhilin who was excited and even flushed, Li Xuan didn't understand him. At this time, shouldn't they have a mocking expression on their faces and say: That sounds nice, but they don't want us to go.
If you are willing to die, why don't you go to war yourself?
Unable to understand, he could only sigh in his heart: "What a bunch of fools!"