During the English Civil Wars (1642-1651), the military was organised into a variety of units, including regiments, companies, and troops.
Infantry regiments, known as “foot”, were often subdivided into companies, while cavalry regiments were structured into troops.
The New Model Army, established by Parliament, had specific unit sizes for its regiments.
Infantry Units:
Regiment:
A regiment was typically commanded by a colonel and could vary in size but was usually around 400-600 men, with a mix of pikemen and musketeers.
Company:
Regiments were further divided into companies, each with its own flag or color. A company was nominally around 100 men, but could be larger or smaller depending on the specific regiment and the war’s progress.
Pikemen:
These soldiers, often a third of the infantry, were armed with a long pike and were positioned in the center of the regiment to act as a defensive line.
Musketeers:
Musketeers were the other two-thirds of the infantry and were armed with muskets for firing at a distance.
Cavalry Units:
Regiment:
Cavalry regiments were commanded by a colonel and typically had around 600 troopers.
Troop:
Regiments were further divided into troops, which were groups of soldiers who rode on horseback.
Other Units:
New Model Army:
The New Model Army’s infantry regiments were designed to be 1,200 men strong, with cavalry regiments of 600 troopers.
Trained Bands:
Local militias, known as Trained Bands, were also used by both sides and had their own unit structure.
Key Points:
Infantry were typically organised in regiments, which were further divided into companies.
Cavalry were organised in regiments, which were further divided into troops.
The New Model Army had specific unit sizes for its regiments, which were designed to be more effective on the battlefield.
The English Civil War saw the use of various unit sizes and formations, with the New Model Army pioneering some of the innovations in military organisation.
