FIGURES

Figures to recreate the battles of the Russo-Japanese are not the easiest to find. All my comments deal with 15mm figures, because these are the ones I use to wargame the period. None of the major manufactures of 15mm figures specifically makes a Russo-Japanese line. The best place to start is with the Boxer Rebellion period. These figures are suitable for the armies of the Russo-Japanese War. Both the Japanese and the Russians fought in the rebellion, and their uniforms did not change in the four years that separated the two conflicts. Frontier produces an excellent line of figures that provides the basics for both armies.

Japanese figures are the hardest to find. Frontier (available from Modeler's Mart 16100 Fairchild Dr. Bldg.F102 Clearwater Fl. 34695) makes five figure packs of Japanese for the Boxer rebellion. They offer Japanese infantry, infantry command, cavalry, artillerists, and sailors. The infantry is advancing at the ready and wear full field gear, including packs. The uniforms and equipment of these figures are correct for the Russo-Japanese War. The command pack consists of an officer with pistol, a standard bearer, and a bugler. The cavalry is a serviceable figure, with a trooper carrying a drawn saber, his carbine slung across his back. The horse is small, but this is an advantage as all historical accounts of the war confirm that the Japanese cavalry was poorly mounted on small horses. Frontier does not make a command pack for their cavalry; the wargamer must create his own from the figures. I normally cut the carbine off the back of a trooper for the officer, and replace the saber with a flag staff for the standard bearer on another figure. The artillerists are kneeling, cast with open hands which allows for easy modification. The artillery pack includes ammunition boxes and artillery tools for the gunners. The sailors are nice figures, but were never used as infantry during the war. They can be modified to model other troops, but require a lot of work to do so.

Frontier offers six figure packs of Russians in their Boxer Rebellion line; infantry, infantry command, Cossacks, dragoons, artillerists, and sailors. All the infantry and artillery figures are dressed in gimnasterkas and furashkas, while the dragoons are in peaked caps and gimnasterkas. The infantry looks good, cast in the advance with great coats worn over the shoulder. The equipment is correct, the infantry only having two ammunition pouches on the belt and no bayonet scabbard. The lack of a scabbard reflects, as in previous wars, that the Russians kept their bayonets fixed to their rifles at all times. The infantry command consists of an officer with sword, a standard bearer, and a bugler. The figures are dressed and equipped as in the infantry pack. This would be a better command pack if Frontier had included a drummer rather than a bugler. I have many pictures of Russian units with drummers, but I have been unable to find one with a bugler.

The Frontier Cossacks and dragoons are serviceable figures, though the horses are too small for the dragoon figures. The Russian regular cavalry was well mounted, and the Frontier horse does not do the Russians justice. I use Minifigs horses with the Frontier figure to equip my three dragoon regiments. The small horses are acceptable for the Cossack regiments, although the sotnias from central Russia would be better mounted than the sotnias from Siberia. The Cossack reflects the traditional costume, and so should be used for the Kuban and Terek sotnias. The dragoon figure should be used for the remaining Cossack regiments. The artillerists are cast in two poses, one standing with a shell in his hand and the other kneeling with open hands. The Frontier Russian artillerists package, like the Japanese one, includes an ammunition box and tools. The sailors are nice figures, advancing at the ready, in the correct garb. Unlike the Japanese, the Russian sailors fought at Port Arthur, and will enhance any Port Arthur scenario.

Minifigs (5938 Carthage Court, Cincinnati, OH 45212) provides additional Russians. The Russians in their WW I line can be used for the earlier Russo-Japanese War. The line has two infantry figures, advancing and firing infantry command Cossacks and Cossack with command and machine guns with gunners. The figures are cast in the tunic that replaced the mundir, and a peaked cap is worn instead of the furashka. These are minor points in 15mm, and it takes a good eye to pick them out. The Minifigs infantry are cast with forage bags and have the greatcoat ends stuffed into the brass cooking pot, the traditional method Russian soldiers used to carry this most important item. Because they are better equipped, 1 use the Minifigs castings for my European infantry, and the Frontier for the Siberians and reserve regiments.

The Minifigs Cossacks are carrying lances, dressed in the traditional Cossack uniform, and wear the papakha (another type of fur hat). The information available on the use of the lance by the Russian cavalry is mixed. The dragoons did not carry it at all, while my best information shows that the front rank of the Cossacks did carry it. During the fight at Yu-dsia-tun on 30 May, the 8th Siberian and the 2nd Transbaikal Cossack regiments were reported to have used their lances to great effect against the Japanese 13th Cavalry regiment. The Minifigs Cossack is a better figure than the Frontier figure, but a mix of the two in separate regiments add a nice variety.

None of the miniature companies make the correct artillery for the two armies, so one must improvise. The Minifigs and Essex (Available from Wargames, Box 278, Route 40 East, Triadelphia WV 26059) colonial and WW I lines provide the artillery in use for my armies. The Minifigs British 13 pdr. RBL is acceptable as the Russian Model 1892 field piece. The Essex British breechloading field gun works for the Arisaka field piece. I use the Minifigs Krupp gun for the Arisaka mountain gun because of its short barrel, though it is not a good match. The Minifigs Pitulow 76.2mm gun, although a model 1902, works well for the Model 1900. Do not use the gun shield, as only one battery was so equipped by the battle of Mukden. The Minifigs 4.7 inch gun equips all my heavy artillery units, although I was planning to look at some of the Franco-Prussian War heavy artillery to add variety.

Essex provides the machine guns for the period. The Essex Maxim machine gun on a carriage is almost identical to the Russian machine guns in a picture taken after the Battle of the Yalu. The only difference is that the Essex model lacks the gun shield. This can be added by using cardboard or other material and gluing it to the model. Both armies mounted their machine guns on carriages, another reason the Essex model works well. Sometimes the weapons were mounted on tripods when positioned in the defense, and Essex does produce a maxim gun on a tripod. The Frontier artillerists can be used for gunners.

This is not a complete list since I have not experimented with all the many manufacturers of miniatures. I hope that some of the wargamers that read this article can clue me into some hidden gems of which I am currently unaware. I have not found any suitable command figures for my division and corps commanders. I am currently using a mixture of 1813 Prussians in forage caps in greatcoats, and some British colonials. I am looking for something better, but I have not had any success.

CONCLUSION

I hope that this article provides you with the basics to start building a Russo-Japanese army. I welcome any readers who can add to, or correct, any of the data presented here. In a future issue, I plan to present my Russo-Japanese rules for wargaming the period.

Russo-Japanese War

Historical Analysis
The War at a Glance (Chronology)
Books and Other Research Material
Army Organization: Japan
Army Organization: Russia
Tactical Doctrine
Uniforms and Standards: Japan
Uniforms and Standards: Russia


Russian Colors During the Russo-Japanese War

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