A Jäger soldier
Jägers, also colloquially referred to as Hessians, were a detachment of German troops that were contracted by the British to fight in the American Revolutionary War. However, they operated independently of most British protocols.
Jägers specialized in deep forest and wilderness combat, tactics and reconnaissance, as well as unconventional warfare. As such, they were regarded as an elite scouting unit, used for surveying an area ahead of a body of troops or leading the way on the front lines.
The Jägers gained a fierce reputation as fearsome warriors and reliable, disciplined troops, and they were well respected within the ranks of the British Army.
Appearance
There were two types of Jägers located in Colonial America during the American Revolutionary War. Loyalist Jägers, found within the British Army, wore a grey coat with red trim, black boots and a tricorn hat with a red feather. Patriot Jägers, found within the Continental Army, wore a green coat with gold trim, black boots, and a metal helmet with black horsehair trim.
Combat
During the American Revolutionary War, Jägers were the toughest enemies in that they could not be directly attacked, counter-attacked, or thrown. Whenever Connor attempted to do so, it would result in a parry or a retaliatory counter. The only known ways to kill them were to use the environment, lethal tools or through disarming them and repeatedly attacking the Jägers while they were vulnerable.
A Jäger looking for Connor
Jägers were not altogether common in the cities of Boston and New York; however, when Connor became notorious, they would comb the city, actively searching for him. As a guard archetype, Jägers were smarter and much more aggressive than plain British Regulars, and would employ advanced tactics and detection skills. Accompanying this, Jägers were highly agile and could chase Connor across rooftops.
In terms of weaponry, Jägers used officer's swords and flintlock pistols, and would punch and lunge their weapons in close quarters, as well as attacking from a distance. Usually, Jägers would attack in quick succession, of 3 to 4 thrusts, making it harder for them to be countered. They also carried some grenades, and would occasionally throw them during combat.
Trivia
- In German, Jäger means "huntsman" or "hunter".
- Oddly, despite their specialization in wilderness combat, Jägers were less common in the Frontier.
- On a historical note, Jägers were a regiment of light infantry, meaning that they were not suited for melee combat; they typically acted as skirmishers. This is ironic, given their amazing in-game proficiency with swords.
- While the Continental Army had their own variant of Jägers in-game, the American forces never actually hired any Hessian mercenaries during the American Revolutionary War.
- However, the Americans did give land and compensation to any Hessians who deserted the British Army.
- Jägers commanded forts that were under British control, and were required to be killed for the fort to be captured by the Continental forces.
- Jacob Zenger, a recruit of Connor's and later an Assassin, was a Hessian soldier until he arrived in the British colonies of America.
- The term "Hessian" originated from the Landgrave Frederick II of Hesse-Kassel. Since the British Army required additional troops, Frederick II rented out his Hessian regiments to Great Britain, in which he raised a substantial fortune. Regiments from Hesse-Kassel also served the British in the suppression of the Rebellion of 1798 in Ireland. The term was used later to informally describe those of the King's German Legion in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars.
Reference