Imperial Russian Uniforms: 1885-1905?

[Ataman]

Hello lads, after a long session of Victoria 2 in which I thoroughly trounced the British Empire in the 'Great Game,' a thought struck me. What exactly was the Russian uniform during the final years of the 1800s, especially in Central Asia?

I'm very familiar with the uniform and equipment of the Russo-Japanese War and Great War, and decently knowledgeable about the Russo-Turkish War of 1877, but I admittedly know very little about the 'grey area' in between.

Would the uniforms be all dark green/all white like they were in 1877? Would the gimnasterka be in common usage? Would the infantry be equipped with peaked or peakless caps? Did officers still wear double-breasted jackets?

I've done a little bit of research myself and came up largely empty. The only picture I found was of Russian troops in Beijing during the Boxer Rebellion, and the image is so grainy that you scarcely tell any details on their uniforms and kit.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!



EDIT: Apologies if this isn't the right forum. I reasoned that since I'm wondering most specifically on Central Asia and the Far East, this topic would go in Colonial Adventures over Big Battalions.

[Sterling Moose]

Probably similar to these:





More info here:  http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=13942.15

[aecurtis]

But as I said on that earlier thread, the furashka replaced the kepi (with and without havelock) towards the end of the century.  Check out the link to the "Armed Strength of Russia" that I posted there.

Allen

[answer_is_42]

Have a look on here:
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgtitle_tree.cfm?title_id=614971&level=2&tword=

Hello lads, after a long session of Victoria 2 in which I thoroughly trounced the British Empire in the 'Great Game,'

Screenshots? 

[Ataman]

Have a look on here:
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgtitle_tree.cfm?title_id=614971&level=2&tword=

The link seems to be broken. Did you copy the entire URL?

Screenshots? 

I'll try to dig them up, though I have a feeling I overwrote that file to start a fresh one after I updated to the newest version of PDM.

[answer_is_42]

The link seems to be broken. Did you copy the entire URL?

I did, I think the website's being a bit buggy. Try again.

[cuprum]

Just now saw this topic. So do not look as usual in this section.

 The answer to this question is very extensive 
 What branch of service you're interested in? Which region?
 Perhaps some specific military company and the theater of military operations?

[Ataman]

Just now saw this topic. So do not look as usual in this section.

 The answer to this question is very extensive 
 What branch of service you're interested in? Which region?
 Perhaps some specific military company and the theater of military operations?

Like I said Central Asia (ie. Turkestan and the Caspian region) are my main area of focus. However, I'd be more than happy to see any information on Cossack units as well as units stationed in the western areas of the Russian Empire.

[cuprum]

1. Private reserve infantry battalion in greatcoats, 1887
2. Private Life Guards regiment of Semenov in his greatcoat, 1886
3. Private Life Guards regiment in Izmailovo service uniform with marching equipment, 1889
4. Private Guards pedestrian artillery battalion in service uniform with marching equipment, 1889
5. Ober officer of the 10th-Novotritsko Ekaterinoslav Dragoon Regiment in parade uniforms. 1897
6. Private Elisavetgrad 9th Regiment of Dragoons in the service uniform, 1897
7. Service cap of the State Militia, 1890
8. Polukaftan (tunic), of privates of the State Militia, 1890
9. The collar and the back of his coat privates army and the Guards regiments of the sample in 1881




1. Private Life Guards regiment in parade of the winter service uniform, in full marching equipment, 1894
2. Ober officer of the Life Guards Litovsky Regiment in a frock coat, 1897
3. Private Life Guards Dragoon Regiment in ordinary uniform, 1897
4. Private Life-Guards Horse Grenadiers Regiment in parade uniform, 1897
5. Ober officer of the Guards Field Gendarme Squadron in parade uniforms, 1897
6. NCO field gendarmerie squadrons in parade uniforms, 1897




1. Trumpeter of His Imperial Majesty's convoy in parade uniforms, 1889
2. Kazak His Imperial Majesty convoy in a regular uniform, 1889
3. Ober officer of the Ural Cossack Army in the Tatar-coat, 1889
4. Private 1st Cavalry Primorye hundred in parade uniforms, 1891
5. The officer collar of his uniform and papakha of the 1st Cavalry Primorye hundreds, 1891
6. Ober officer of the Don Cossack Army in a regular uniform, 1892
7. Don Cossack troops dressed in "teplushka", 1892
8. Cossack field cavalry regiments the Ural Cossack troops in a regular uniform. 1883
9. Ober officer of the Orenburg Cossack Army in parade uniforms, 1892
10. Transbaikal Cossack papakha, 1892




1. General of His Imperial Majesty's convoy in parade uniforms, 1895
2. Private Turkmen Horse Division, 1895
3-4. Uryadnik (Sergeant), and the ober officer of the Dagestan Cavalry Regiment in parade uniforms. 1895.

[traveller]

Cuprum,

great material. Thanks!

[Ataman]

Cuprum, you sir are a miracle worker when it comes to getting images and information. Many thanks!

[cuprum]

Thank you for your kind words! Always glad to help if I can do it.

[Ataman]

Again, thanks to everyone for their help!

However, do any ranges exist of Russian soldiers from this era? I wouldn't mind painting up a few as a side project.

EDIT: The chaps from Outpost seem to have an impressive Russo-Turkish War range up. The Guards and Cossack miniatures in particular look like they'd fit everything up to the Russo-Japanese War well with some minor modifications. However, they look a bit...chunky in the photos, the Cossacks especially. Can anyone attest to their quality 'in the flesh?'

[aecurtis]

Askari Miniatures and Eureka Miniatures both do RTW figures in summer dress, which are also suitable for Central Asia if painted with red chambars (chamois leather trousers).

http://www.askari-minis.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=42

Hmmm.  The Eureka site is acting up tonight, but just work through the online catalog to the 28mm RTW section.

Allen

[cuprum]

I think - here without a conversion is necessary.
Many military units can be drawn from figures Copplestone.