Grenzers

These were the best of the Austrian Light Infantry troops and had a tradition of service to the Austrian-Hungarian Empire that dated back to the Thirty Years War when they served in the Imperial Army with great distinction and in large numbers.

In 1792 there were seventeen Grenz Regiments guarding the border with Turkey and serving as border guards for the Empire. This meant that they were always on a war footing and always up to their authorized strength and more since there was no such thing as real peace along the Turkish border.

On paper there were two Battalions per Regiment, six Companies per Battalion (one was a rifle company) with a company strength of 182 men. Actually these units rarely had less than 3,000 men in a regiment, the "excess" peronnel being "volunteers" serving without pay or uniform. These extras were every bit as good as the rest of the regiment and except for lack of proper uniforms, were treated no differently from the others. These troops were simply known as the "Borders" of the Frontier (Grenz) Regiments and were recruited to aid in stopping the constant Turkish raids from among the German speaking fuedal holdings, but some of these troops were not even Christian, but Islamic!

Jagers

Initially the Austrian Army had only one Jager Regiment which was known as the Tyrolean Jagers. This regiment with 120-man companies with three Field Battalions (six companies each) and one Depot Battalion (4 co.). In 1808 eight more battalions were raised in Bohemia, Moravia and Galacia with another two being raised in 1809 caused by the loss of the Tyrol in 1805 and the disbandment of the Tyrolean Jagers.

In 1812 three more battalions were raised, and in 1813 eight more battalions were recruited for the closing operations against the French. In 1815 the Tyrolean Jager Regiment was reformed and all other Jager Battalions were disbanded.

TUNIC AND TROUSERS: Tyrolean and Moravian troops have field

Gray colored uniforms with regimental (BN) colors on collars, cuffs, and shoulder boards (all solidly colored). The Tyroleans had Dark Green facing colors with the new Jager Bn's having Red and Green as their most common colors. Other Bn's featured say a Blue tunic, Yellow colors, and White trousers or Brown tunics with Blue trousers*; but the vast majority copied the Tyrolean color scheme.

(*Trousers have the Hungarian pattern gold knots on the front and this regiment was from the Friewilliger Jagers raised in late war with Dark Brown colors.)

HEADGEAR:

Jager hat, Black with Green plume and a very Dark Green band around the base which was almost as high as a tophat. Bohemian and late war Bn's have no plume, but the Yellow and Black cockade on the front of the hat.

FOOTGEAR:

Black shoes with knee-high Black leggings.

EQUIPMENT:

Light Brown knapsack, Black straps and belts, Light Gray colored bedroll. Black canteen and cartridge case. Sword bayonet in Dark Brown scabbard with Brass hilt and tip.

More Austrian Army and Navy 1792-1815

Introduction
Austrian and Hungarian Grenadiers
Austrian and Hungarian Line Infantry
Austrian, Hungarian, Tyrolean, and Salzberg Landwehr
Austrian, Hungarian, Vienna, and Serbian Freikorps
Archduke Charles Legion
National Schutzvereine (Shooting Society)
Grenzers and Jagers
Cavalry: Hussars and Lancers
Cavalry: Austrian Chevaulegers (1803-14)
Cavalry: Dragoons and Cuirassiers
Artillery and Naval Personnel