Russian Dragoons 1904

[Armstrong47]

Hi,
Does anyone have any further information/images of what the service uniform of Russian dragoons would've been during the Russo-Japanese war?
Specifically the early months of 1904,during the Yalu River campaign.

Thanks,
Andy

[waterproof]

Maybe this picture will give you some information.

[armchairgeneral]

You might be best posting this in the "Great War" of "Back of Beyond" section to catch the eye of those with knowledge of this period - namely "Cumprum" of Siberia Miniatures.

[cuprum]

As far as I know, only the Cossack cavalry took part in the battle on the Yalu River.

In May, Russian dragoons most likely wore green uniforms and colored forage caps:



In cold weather, they could use an greatcoat:



In the summer, dragoons would wear white shirts.

[waterproof]

This is good information material, but then the peaked caps at the Tsuba Miniatures Russian Cavalary are
as a cossak rather than a dragoon. Isn´t it ?

[cuprum]

All military units permanently deployed in Siberia and the Far East had special headgear  - a long-haired fur-hat. Units from European Russia did not have such a difference.

[Armstrong47]

Thanks for the info guys.
So,am I correct in assuming that the Tsuba Russian cavalry in peaked caps are Cossacks?

ThanksAndy

[cuprum]

I do not have such figures, so I can only judge by photo.
The summer field uniforms of Cossacks and dragoons are very similar (especially on the figures). But there are some elements that allow us to confidently distinguish Cossacks from regular army soldiers.
Cossacks had a saddle of the Asian type, in contrast to the army cavalry. Accordingly, they did not use spurs to control the horse. But, since Cossacks acquired uniforms and equipment at his own expense, options are possible here and we can neglect this rule (the figures discussed have an army-style saddle))))
Cossacks (except for the Caucasus, having a special uniform) always had on their trousers a wide colored ribbon (I do not know the term in English). Similar to what many European generals wore))) The color of the strip was the instrumental color of the troops (Don - scarlet, Siberian - red, Ural - raspberry, Transbaikal - yellow - and so on). Army cavalry did not have such a colored ribbon.
The Cossacks did not carry the rifle in the same way as regular cavalry soldiers did. They wore it over the other shoulder (vice versa). It was connected with the old Cossack tradition.




dragoons




Cossacks


So for most of the signs the figures Tsuba - are Cossacks.

[Armstrong47]

Thank you very much,Cuprum. Fantastic information as always.
Thanks
Andy

[cuprum]

I will always be happy to help if I have the necessary information.

[Kuropatkin]

Old post, but a few comments. As cuprum stated, there weren't any dragoon regiments at the Battle of the Yalu.

That being said, only three dragoon regiments served in Manchuria during the war. The Primorsk Dragoons was a regular prewar unit assigned to the Ussari Cossack Brigade stationed in Manchuria. The 2nd Independent Cavalry Brigade (51st and 52nd Dragoons) was the corps cavalry unit assigned to the XVII Army Corps. This corps began arriving at Liao-yang in late July and its trains continued until complete in August 1904. No other dragoon units (all Russian regular cavalry was either dragoons or Cossacks at this time, Guards excluded) were sent to Manchuria. The almost exclusive employment of 2nd and 3rd line Cossack cavalry instead of 1st Line Dragoons/Cossack was a common criticism by all the military observers. 

The uniform of the Cossack regiments was the same as the dragoons, with regimental unique shoulder boards, trouser color, and trouser stripes. The exceptions were the Terek and Kuban Cossack units that wore the traditional Circassian Cossack dress.

All Russian units were issued fur hats for winter wear. The Siberian units were issued a larger, furry style hat than that issued to the bulk of the Russian Army. These fur hats were for winter wear and rarely worn during the summer months (there are always exceptions), the peaked or peakless cap being the normal summer dress. 

v/r  Jeff