#8308 Nap. British Heavy Dragoons
British heavy dragoons formed the powerful shock element of Wellington's cavalry. Mounted on larger horses than the light cavalry and armed with heavy straight swords, they were intended to break enemy cavalry, exploit weaknesses in infantry formations and deliver strong charges at decisive moments.
British heavy cavalry gained a mixed reputation during the Napoleonic Wars. Their courage was rarely questioned, but commanders often complained that once a charge began the men could become difficult to control. A successful attack might turn into a prolonged pursuit, leaving the regiment scattered or vulnerable to a fresh enemy counterattack.
Box
The Peninsular War offered fewer opportunities for massed heavy cavalry action than the open battlefields of Central Europe, but British heavy dragoons still performed important service. They carried out reconnaissance, escort and outpost duties as well as battlefield charges, and took part in important actions such as Salamanca in 1812.
The figures in this set wear the 1796-pattern short-tailed jacket, closed to the waist and without lapels. Shoulder straps and plain wings complete the upper uniform, while the men wear long cavalry boots with the characteristic cut-away shape behind the knee.
Test shots
The most distinctive feature of the figures is the cocked hat. This remained regulation headgear for British heavy dragoons before the introduction of the helmet in 1812. The figures wear the hat fore-and-aft, a style that may have been used in action because it was more practical on horseback. In campaign conditions, the cocked hat could quickly lose its formal shape and some soldiers may instead have worn fatigue caps.
The men have short hair rather than the older queue, placing them from 1808 onward. Combined with the cocked hat, this makes the set especially suitable for the later years of the Peninsular War before the new heavy cavalry helmet became standard.
Scanned figures
The heavy dragoon's principal weapon was the straight-bladed 1796 heavy cavalry sword. It was a long and powerful weapon intended for close combat from horseback. Each man also carries a carbine suspended beneath the right arm, together with a cartridge pouch, haversack and water bottle, giving the figures the full campaign equipment of mounted troops.
This set contains 12 riders and 12 horses, with four rider types and two horse poses. Most of the riders are shown with drawn swords, while one figure can be equipped with either a sword or carbine. The horses are posed walking and trotting, making them useful not only for battle but also for patrols, reconnaissance and troops moving into position.
The figures are particularly suitable for British heavy dragoon regiments serving in the Peninsular War from about 1808 to 1812. They can be combined with our British Light Dragoons, infantry and artillery to create a broader Wellingtonian army for campaigns in Spain and Portugal.
All information on this page subject to change.