Progress towards Zorndorf! The 1st elements of the Russian Observation Corps are now complete. This formation is proving to be a little more difficult under the existing organization structure as its three battalions accounted for over 2000 soldiers! (compared to the 1200-1500 in the regular line units) My solution is to represent each regiment with three bases which allows me to brigade the 4 over sized regiments into six normal sized regiments for Honours of War.
This is my first complete regiment using Eureka miniatures as Blue Moon doesn't do the Observation Corps yet. The only missing figures are the Grenadiers. The observation corps is somewhat distinguishable with their Cavalry Boots and Sabres, so simply doing normal Grenadiers with black leggings at this scale would not be ideal.
Excellent as always :)
ReplyDeleteThank you , as always :)
DeleteWhat, in the name of all that was sane, was it that they were formed to observe, that it required all of those men??
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have found Shuvalov convinced the Tzarina to allow him to establish a 30,000 man private army comprised of double strength regiments with additional grenadiers and the latest artillery. I think at one point they were intended to be mounted, thus why all of them have cavalry boots and sabers. When the was started there were only about 15,000 assembled. The entire command was later dissolved and used to provide security to the Russian Artillery trains.
DeleteInteresting history of the ObservationCorps.
DeleteThey are a unique part of the Russian Army of the time. It would appear that Shuvalov was a major player in the army and it would take a while to excise his influence...
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTerrific progress on the project!
DeleteWhy are Observation Corps in two ranks vs three?
All of the 18mm Figures I am doing are in 2 ranks to match up against your collection. I am doing the triple ranks with the 10mm Austrians and Prussians only.
DeleteThat makes sense and clearly an oversight by me!
DeleteGreat looking figures. I still don't get the nomenclature for the unit though.
ReplyDeleteBased on my limited study on the subject, the Russian "Corps of Observation" was an independent command established my Marshal Shuvalov to monitor the Prussian border. He basically established a private army within the Russian army.
DeleteGot it. Thanks, Jake. I guess I just got stuck on the term "Observation." I was hoping to see some balloons. :)
DeleteI originally thought something similar, but then realized they predated the Montgolfier brothers by about 30 years.
DeleteWhatever they were supposed to be Observing, they are lovely to observe!
ReplyDelete