RUSSIAN RIFLE BATTALIONS: RUSSO TURKISH WAR ERA

 

 Outpost Wargame Service Russo-Turkish War Russian Line Infantry in Firing (Kneeling and Standing) Poses: Painted to Represent Russian Rifles.

 

After the last post's brief sojourn into the "real world," we now meander back to things toy soldier.  Specifically, dear readers, I am happy to report the completion of the rifle contingent of my Russo-Turkish War Era Russian Infantry.  Although one company of each line battalion was designated as rifles--and it was not unusual for them to be converged into battalions--the Russian Army of the Period also had independent rifle battalions, which were grouped into independent rifle brigades (of four rifle battalions).  Two of these were mobilized for the Russo Turkish War, and one was assigned to the Russian Army of the South (according to OOBs in Barry's War in the East).   Here is  my study of how I rendered these units. As usual, in this post, you may clix pix for BIG PIX...

There is no definitive information (that I could find) on the uniform of the independent rifle battalions.  In general, they seem to have worn the same uniform as the line infantry, except for their distinctions (more on that in the next bit, dear reader).  These units will provide the "Jagers" of the Russian Army in my system (well, any system, really--nearly every army of this era had a corps of jager-styled infantry--and these would be the Russians').  I used figures in firing poses to appropriately set the rifle battalions apart from the (forthcoming) line infantry, which will be in advancing poses.  

The Ray Lucas piece on the Armies of the Russo Turkish War in Miniature Wargames #20 provided a hint on the rifle uniforms, saying that the "men of the rifle battalions wore crimson trimmings." I translated this into red piping on the cap bands and epaulettes--consistent with the fashion of the era for jagers. I also included a red stripe on the trousers, a distinction that I thought not inappropriate for these special troops. Like my my earlier Bulgarian Legion and forthcoming Russian line infantry, these troops are in winter (green) trousers.  Most of the examples found online of RTW Russian infantry amongst fellow gamers has them in summer white trousers with green blouses.  Those look fine, and that will be the look of my Russian Guard infantry, but I very much like the look of the green over green for the line. 

The new Rifle Battalions, plus pickets, join the Russian Army establishment.  Given that these were unfamiliar figures, it was rather slow going at first.  But I now know my way around them and painting will be more efficient going forward (relatively speaking), which is a good thing since the next project will be the BIGGEE...

...a batch of 58 figures forming the Russian line infantry. Good thing I just retired 😜

 

Excelsior!