1st Observation Corps Musketeers


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.

I did this unit with all marching units, and have a selection of the firing models for the 3rd regiment.  (Coming soon)  I think the 10 figures/stand is a little sparse, so I may up the number to 12 figures for the later regiments.  I will try it out with the 1st Grenadiers and see how it looks.

Comments

  1. What, in the name of all that was sane, was it that they were formed to observe, that it required all of those men??

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    1. From 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.

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    2. Interesting history of the ObservationCorps.

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    3. They 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...

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    1. Terrific progress on the project!

      Why are Observation Corps in two ranks vs three?

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    2. 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.

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    3. That makes sense and clearly an oversight by me!

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  3. Great looking figures. I still don't get the nomenclature for the unit though.

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    1. Based 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.

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    2. Got it. Thanks, Jake. I guess I just got stuck on the term "Observation." I was hoping to see some balloons. :)

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    3. I originally thought something similar, but then realized they predated the Montgolfier brothers by about 30 years.

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  4. Whatever they were supposed to be Observing, they are lovely to observe!

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