(IRL) Actual speed of the war horses

[Athos1660]

Some interesting data on war horses and their actual (and surprisingly(?) low) speed on the battlefield.

1) Average speeds of a free horse (in kilometres / hour) :

• walk : 7 km/h

• trot : 14 km/h

• gallop : 21-27 km/h

2) Average speed of a race horse (on the racetrack) :

• trot : 45-50 km/h

• gallop : 55-60 km/h

3) Estimated speeds of a war horse in the second half of the eighteenth century :

• walk : 5,8 - 7,7 km/h

• trot : 7,8 - 14 km/h

• gallop : 13,3 - 19 km/h

Estimate by military authors and officers at the time. These speeds that are apparently low take into account the need to ensure the cohesion of the squadron on the battlefield. The condition of the terrain also plays a role.
Source : Fr. Chauviré, Le problème de l’allure dans les charges de cavalerie du XVIe au XVIIIe siècle, 2007

Concerning the time period of P&S, it is noteworthy that most squadrons through the 17th century certainly charged at a trot (not to mention the specificities of the Gendarmes, etc. during the 16th century).

[Veles]

Interesting.

Data for winged hussars collected by Ph.D. Radosław Sikora suggests that during gallop horses were reaching over 10 m/s which translates to 36 hm/h


I would suggest caution when it comes to using the data you came across. Simply because of differences in terminology and horsemanship traditions between countries.
The gallop in one part of the world may not exactly reflect what others define as gallop.
For example, in Central-Eastern Europe there are 4 types of gallop defined as working gallop, intermediate gallop, collected gallop, and extended gallop and finally the fastest of them all "cwał" also referred to as "racing gallop". Similarly, defined gallops are present around the world. I have no idea what are the correct terms in English.

Estimate by military authors and officers at the time. These speeds that are apparently low take into account the need to ensure the cohesion of the squadron on the battlefield.

Polish cavalry including Winged Hussars were acting similarly. The charge was starting slow in the begging and the speed was gradually increased while getting closer to the enemy. After passing the 50 meters mark (from the enemy) they would switch to collected gallop, next to extended gallop to finally reach the "cwał" speed in the last 15 meters just before the impact.

[Athos1660]

I would suggest caution when it comes to using the data you came across. Simply because of differences in terminology and horsemanship traditions between countries.

I forget to mention that my data measured by ppl of the time concern the French cavalry (of the second half of the eighteenth century as specified).

As the author mentioned it, these data appear to be confirmed by later measured ones of the 19th century (1866 and still concerning the French cavalry).

[Athos1660]

Data for winged hussars collected by Ph.D. Radosław Sikora suggests that during gallop horses were reaching over 10 m/s which translates to 36 hm/h
(...)

Estimate by military authors and officers at the time. These speeds that are apparently low take into account the need to ensure the cohesion of the squadron on the battlefield.

Polish cavalry including Winged Hussars were acting similarly. The charge was starting slow in the begging and the speed was gradually increased while getting closer to the enemy. After passing the 50 meters mark (from the enemy) they would switch to collected gallop, next to extended gallop to finally reach the "cwał" speed in the last 15 meters just before the impact.

Btw, just to be clear, first, my speed data are, of course, average speeds at different gaits, that is the distance travelled by the horses divided by the duration of the ride (from when the horses are still until the impact or when they stop), not the max (instantaneous) speed at the impact (that you call "cwał" speed and that seems to be 36 km/h for the WInged Hussars, if I get it right).

Secondly, these speed data concern all the movements of a whole gathered squadron (or bigger unit) on the battlefield (such as reaching a wing...), not just the charges, nor just the possible performances of a single horse.

[Veles]

Secondly, these speed data concern all the movements of a whole gathered squadron (or bigger unit) on the battlefield (such as reaching a wing...), not just the charges, nor just the possible performances of a single horse.

Ah, now it makes more sense. Thanks.

[Athos1660]

btw, given these figures...

Speeds of a war horse in the second half of the eighteenth century :

• walk : 5,8 - 7,7 km/h

• trot : 7,8 - 14 km/h

• gallop : 13,3 - 19 km/h

... the in-game average speeds of P&S units with 10 APs per turn and (Determined) Horses with 16 APs per turn seem balanced.
But it is no surprise

[StuccoFresco]

Nice to know.

[Athos1660]

Always to get an idea of proportion and speeds (even if it does not strictly concern P&S time period when both infantry and cavalry were certainly even slower), speaking of the French army of his time (his book was published in 1829) , C. Jacquinot de Presle, cavalry officer and teacher of the Cavalry School at Saumur, wrote...

1) ...about the time required to reach an enemy artillery 600 meters away on « ordinary » terrain :

For (non-light) Infantry :
- 7 minutes at quick walk, that is 5,1 km/h,
- 3 minutes (running non-light infantry or skirmishers), that is 12 km/h.

For a Cavalry unit at gallop : 2 minutes, that is 18 km/h.

2) ... that a well-rested and well-mounted cavalry can travel 600 meters in less than 2 minutes (> 18 km/h).

3) ... that cavalry can travel 1000 m in 3 minutes at gallop, that is 20 km/h.

These figures support those in OP.

[Veles]

For a Cavalry unit at gallop : 2 minutes, that is 18 km/h.

2) ... that a well-rested and well-mounted cavalry can travel 600 meters in less than 2 minutes (> 18 km/h).

3) ... that cavalry can travel 1000 m in 3 minutes at gallop, that is 20 km/h.

These figures support those in OP.

Does the source specify anywhere in what kind of conditions cavalry should travel that distance in the given time range? I assume it's maneuvering during training or during a battle.
If so, are there any statistics for movement speed achieved during marching?

[Athos1660]

Does the source specify anywhere in what kind of conditions cavalry should travel that distance in the given time range? I assume it's maneuvering during training or during a battle.

I haven't read all the sources quoted by the paper I mention in OP.

However, I skim though some of them and for what it's worth, it seems that what interests those authors, teachers and officers about cavalry speeds is related to tactics :
- How much time does it take for a cavalry unit to reach an enemy artillery, a friendly wing or enemy dismounted dragoons, if the latter are x meters away ?
- Must a cavalry unit charging enemy artillery be afraid of casualties, considering that it'll reach the artillery in y minutes ?
- How to protect artillery considering that cavalry can reach x meters in y minutes ?
- Etc.

So their objective seems to be evaluating manoeuvre speeds during a battle.
I guess speeds were evaluated during training and battles.

If so, are there any statistics for movement speed achieved during marching?

Not that I know of but that would deserve more than my skimming through.

[Athos1660]

The speed of race horses at the trot is impressive !

See the Prix de Cornulier, a showpiece event of the mounted trotting races with the best horses.
(galloping is forbidden, galloping horses are disqualified)

[Athos1660]

Here are two interesting videos of the Mounted unit of the French Republican Guard.

The first one is for fun. It shows a short demonstration of a charge by the French Republican Guard on a race track of an Hippodrome, starting at a walk, then a trot, then a gallop.

The second one might be more interesting for the game. It shows another charge for a TV film in the 1970's. The unit occupies two lines. During the charge, at 2'18'', 2'47' and 3'', it is obvious that it is hard for them to keep these lines straight. Holes and finer lines appear. Yet those cavalrymen are expert. The terrain is smooth. And as this is not an actual battle, there's no real stress. Yet fragile areas in the lines seem to appear. On the other hand, one could argue that in war period IRL with units accustomed to charge for real, such holes might not appear. Anyway, this is one possible explanation of how a squadron could penetrate an enemy squadron and squatter the enemy cavalrymen, easily defeatable once isolated from the group. It would show the importance of the charge phase before the impact, the importance and complexity that all the cavalrymen keep the same pace/speed to form compact lines. Many authors seem to assert that the result of a cavalry charge was often determined during this early stage before the impact...

(In P&S, this applies to units in shallow formations charging at a trot or a gallop.)

[awesum4]

How impressive are the guys playing the bugle. I can't get anything other than a strangled cat while standing still. These guys are playing clearly different calls while bouncing up and down on a horse at various speeds.

[Athos1660]

You're right to talk about these important fellows.

More music from the Republican Guard (visible from 0'10) : here. Quite impressive, indeed !

Interesting to see that, in this example, the 4 musicians are on white horses just behind the leader, between the 2 lines of the squadron, which enables them to transmit orders :