For the Napoleon: Total War unit, see Grenzers (Napoleon: Total War).
Grenzers are skirmishers in Empire: Total War.
Description[]
Grenzers are aggressive skirmishers, armed with an unusual double-barrelled musket.
These light infantry are used to harass and disrupt the enemy as battle commences. Like other skirmishing forces, the grenzers consider themselves a cut above most infantrymen. They are expected to show individual aggression, initiative and soldiering skills, not just obey and fight in formation.
Unusually, they carry heavy double-barrelled (over-and-under) muskets, allowing two shots before reloading. This innovative weapon doubles the firepower of a grenzer unit, compared to any other skirmishing force. Added to this, grenzers are taught to select their targets carefully, making them quite deadly opponents.
Historically, the Austrians had a tradition of creating high-quality light forces such as hussars and skirmishers. The grenzers were part of this tradition, recruited from among the Croat and Transylvania population of the Austrian Empire’s domains as frontier guards against the Turks. As frontiersmen, they had a certain air of lawlessness and even banditry, but they proved extremely able light troops and were used against Austria’s other enemies. Over time, however, they became a hybrid type between line infantry and skirmishers: often deployed in battle in the line, but with the ability to skirmish when necessary. As identifiable infantry units, the Grenzers remained in Austrian service until the end of the First World War in 1918.
General Information[]
Grenzers closely resemble Light Infantry in most regards: skirmishing units with above average range and relatively poor combat abilities. Their most distinguishing feature is the extra firepower they have in the form of their double-barreled muskets. Grenzers may not have the range of other equivalent elite light troops, but they make up for this with their devastating firepower.
Grenzers are unavailable in the Grand Campaign without modding due to a coding error; they require an Army Staff College in Croatia, but as Croatia is a minor territory without a four or five slot city, building an Army Staff College there is impossible. They may still be used in multiplayer however.