NOTES ON ORGANISATION, TACTICS & WEAPONRY These notes are intended to act as a guide when painting our range of 25mm Austrian "German" Infantry. The "German" regiments were those recruited in the so-called Austrian lands of the Habsburg Empire, and were chiefly distinguished from tile "Hungarian" regiments by the cut of their trousers. In actual fact, the German regiments might contain a number of nationalities, including Czechs, Transylvanians and Italians. Although defeated in every battle save two (Trautenau and Oswiecim), the infantry were reliable and brave, to the point of being foolhardy in attack. Unfortunately, peacetime training was inadequate, and the quality of many of the men's shooting was abysmal. Although conscription was the prescribed recruitment method, the well-off found it possible to avoid service by using substitutes. In general, the educational and literacy levels amongst the ranks were low. The infantry regiment consisted of 4 battalions, each of 6 companies. In time of war the 4th battalion normally remained behind to act as a depth unit. In battle the battalions frequently manouevred by division. Each division consisted of 2 companies, thus each battalion contained 3 divisions. At field strength a battalion consisted of 2 officers, I doctor and 1,041 NCO's and privates. The standard battlefield formation was the "Bataillonsmasse' In this the battalion's three divisions formed shallow columns, the men packed in close ranks. Line formation saw infrequent use during 1866. The men were armed with either M54 or M63 Lorenz rifle. This was a fine weapon, although it suffered the disadvantage of being a muzzle loader, with a rate of fire of no more than 3 rounds per minute. The majority of men were armed with the M54 I, effective up to 650 yards ; selected shots and NCO's carried the M54 II, with range of 750 yards. UNIFORMS Boots - black. Gaiters - black with white metal buttons. Trousers - Deep royal blue with white piping down the outside seam. Greatcoat - dark grey with two rows of buttons, brass or white metal according to the regiment. Beneath the greatcoat a black stock and white shirt were visible. "Paroli" or spearhead shaped flashes on the collar denoted the regiment. Officers' greatcoat - same shade of grey as for the other ranks. Buttons were silver or gilt, depending on the regiment. Paroli were in facing colour. In addition, regiment's facing colour piped the greatcoat cuffs. pocket flaps, collar, rear belt and edging to the right front vent. Regimental distinctions were as follows (only German regiments serving in Bohemia are listed): Regiment Facing Colour Bullons Regiment Facing Colour Buttons 1st Dark red Brass 30th Pike grey Brass 2nd Orange-yellow Brass 35th Crayfish red Brass 4th Sky blue Brass 38th Rose red White metal 8th Dark grass green Brass 40th Light blue Brass 9th Apple green Brass 41st Sulphur yellow White metal 10th Parrott green White metal 42nd Orange-yellow White metal 11th Very dark blue Brass 45th Scarlet Brass 13th Rose red Brass 47th Deep dark green White metal 14th Black Brass 49th Pike grey White metal 15th Madder red Brass 55th Red brown Brass 16th Sulphur yellow Brass 56th Deep green Brass 18th Deep red While metal 58th Black White metal 20th Bright crayfish red White metal 59th Orange-yellow Brass 21st Sea green Brass 73rd Cherry red Brass 22nd Imperial yellow White metal 74th Madder red White metal 24th Dark blue White metal 77th Cherry red White metal 26th Parrott green Brass 79th Sea green White metal 27th Imperial yellow Brass 80th Scarlet White metal Officers' uniform coat - Officers wore their greatcoat open to display their badges of rank. The coat was white, beneath which a black stock and white shirt were visible. The front vent, base and collar of the coat were piped in the regimental colour. Tunic buttons were as for the greatcoat. Officers' distinctions - collar markings - Silver or brass stars, depending on regimental button colour. Field grade officers (major and above) also had stars, but these were of the opposite colour to the regimental button colour. Sash - deep yellow with thin black lines along its length. Tassels were deep yellow on the outside, black on the inside. Horse furniture - black lambskin saddlecloth under a dark brown saddle. Dark brown reins with steel or brass fittings. Black or dark brown pistol holsters. HEADGEAR Shako - Black with brass eagle and domed black-on-brass cockade. On campaign, often covered by a black oilskin. Sprigs of oak were often stuck onto the top. Black chinstraps. Officers' shako - if uncovered, bore a wide band ofgold braid around the top. Holzmutz (other ranks forage cap) - Deep royal blue with white piping. Lagermutz (officers forage cap) - Black cloth and peak ; gold cockade with black centre ; gold piping around base. PERSONAL EQUIPMENT & WEAPONS Rifle - Wooden stock stained mid/dark brown. Highly polished gunmetal fittings. White sling. Officers' sword and scabbard - Polished steel blade, guard and scabbard; black hilt or grip ; yellow sword knot. Officers' equipment - black or brown shoulder bags. Ensign's equipment / flapgpoles etc. - Black oilskin cover wrapped around body. This usually carried the name of the regiment and battalion number in white lettering. Over right shoulder, a thin white bandolier with brass clip. Flagpole was painted in descending spirals of red, white, black and yellow. Butt of pole, and finial were brass. Regimental honour ribbons were tied at the top of the pole, usually of red or white fringed in gold or silver. Drum - Brass shell ; outside of hoops diagonal bands of yellow and black ; inside of hoops red ; skin and cords white. White belt bearing brass plate. Black drumsticks tipped with brass at non-playing end. Bugle - Brass with black and yellow striped tassels and cords. Other ranks personal equipment: Belts - white. Bayonet scabbard - black with iron tip. Backpack mid-brown fur with two small white straps on either side. Mess tin - steel with white straps. Hand axe - Dark brown with iron head, attached to pack by white straps. Haversack and strap - very pale buff. Canteen and strap - polished steel with a cross of white straps. Sometimes might be covered in dark brown leather. Pale grey or black belt. Wooden bung. Cartridge box - black. Percussion cap box - white. Contents of this guide © Helion & Company 1999. Guide written by Duncan Rogers. Thanks are due to Stuart Sutherland for his outstanding research into the Austrian army of 1866, and generous assistance in answering all queries. Prussian Line Infantry 1866 A Painting Guide. Back to MWAN #102 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1999 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com