At the opening of the Crimean War, the Russian Cavalry force was the largest in Europe, though reduced in effectiveness due to outdated doctrine and overly focused on parade ground drill. It was broadly split into Heavy (Cuirassiers and Dragoons), Light (Hussars and Uhlan/Lancers) and Irregular (Cossack) units, all of which featured in the Crimea. Naturally I need some, so..This is my first Russian Cavalry unit: The Ingermanland Hussars!
The Ingermanlanders were raised as a Dragoon Regiment in 1704 by order of Tsar Peter the Great and saw extensive service in the following years, including the Napoleonic War. In 1841 they were redesignated and reorganised as Hussars, and at the start of the Crimean War period had a strength between 900 and 1000 men organised into 8 squadrons.The Ingermanland Regiment participated in the major battles of the Crimean War, including Alma (where they were part of the Cavalry Reserve under Prince Alexander Sergeyevich Menshikov), Balaclava, and the Siege of Sevastopol.
Notably, at Balaclava they were part of Generalleutnant Ryzhov's Cavalry Division, along with the Kiev Hussar Regiment and the lst Ural Cossack Regiment. Together they famously charged the indomitable "Thin Red Line" of Cambell's 93rd Highlanders (whose ranks, I recently discovered, included one of my wife's ancestors!)
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| From Osprey Campaign 6: Balaclava 1854 |
These are metal figs by Great War Miniatures, sold by Northstar. The "Unlucky General" has already posted a detailed review so I won't repeat it other than to say these are great figures:
https://balaclavabuild.blogspot.com/2023/03/figure-review-great-war-miniatures.html
Followers of my blog will know that I am not a fan of painting cavalry and usually do the bare minimum. These were an exception and quite fun, if slow, to do - maybe I just needed a break from the hundred odd Russian infantry I just did! But seriously, these are lovely figs and the sculpts are wonderfully detailed.
Overall, my only disappointment at the end was that a lot of work went in to get just paltry 3 bases! Thus, I will be doubling the size of the unit to 12 figs (6 bases) so it has the right "volumetric look". Also because Dave D told me to buy more figures, so I can blame him...
EDIT Since posting this I've been sent this pic from a period Russian book. Kievskiy Hussars on the left (called at the time "Hussar Regiment of His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Nikolai Maximilianovich") and the Ingermanlandskyi Hussars (called at the time "Hussar Regiment of His Highness the Großherzog of Sachsen‑Weimar"), circa 1850, just before the Crimean War.
Note the colour of the horses - the Ingermanland regiment had black horses (dark-brown were allowed too), while the Kievskyi regiment had ginger horses. Each cavalry regiment had it's own colour of the horses, they couldn't mix different colour horses (apart from grey horses for musicians, also grey horses were allowed for the regimental adjutants).
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| The "Nr 18 and 19" are NOT the Regimental numbers- the are plate references |
So I fluked the right horse colours! But should tweak the blanket trim colour from white to yellow - I'll do that when I do the next 6 so I them as a batch.
Modelling notes:
Yes, of course I had basing anxiety trying to decide between 2 or 3 figures per base. These are on 50mm x 50mm but I'd prefer something a bit deeper to allow more placement options. 50x60 maybe
Russian uniform notes are rather hard to find, so I have had to guess at a few things like colours for the bugle cord and knotwork. If anyone had more accurate information please do let me know (as one of my favourite Admirals told me one "There is no advantage in me being wrong any longer than I need to be!")
Colours are as per my earlier notes for Russian infantry.
Blues were: Alaitoc Blue basecoat, Drakenhof Nightshade (probably too dark but its what I had), basecoat again in Alaitoc, highlights in Hoeth Blue. Top highlights where required (shoulderboards and collars) in Ice Blue.
