French Navy in the Crimea

[Hobbit]

Does anyone have any uniform references for the French Navy during the Crimea, specifically their landing rig for shore operations?

[Arthur]

French sailors - or marins-fusiliers as they were then called - wore their standard naval uniform when formed into ad hoc landing parties. Below is an period sketch of a French sailor in the Crimea drawn in 1855 by captain (later general) Vanson aboard the French flagship Montebello.  



Despite the introduction of soft fatigue caps, the broad-brimmed naval hat appears to have been the most common headgear for the rank and file, while officers wore peaked caps. Packs could also be worn in action when operating away from the ships :





Also remember that marins-fusiliers landing parties were quite distinct from the Infanterie de marine, who no longer served aboard ships from 1856 and were effectively colonial infantry rather than marines. The 4th infanterie de marine regiment did serve in the Crimea, though, being part of the 1st brigade, 3rd division, 2nd army corps under general Bosquet. Below is a pic showing a marsouin (as infanterie de marine privates men were called) next to a sailor. He is wearing his regulation paletot, a double breasted frock coat with the yellow epaulettes that were the naval infantry's trademark, though shell jackets were also used in hot weather.




  

[Hobbit]

Excellent, thank you. So Foundry's colonial French sailors, originally for 1860 China look like a good match?:

http://wargamesfoundry.com/historical_ranges/single_packs/colonial/french/french_seamen_ch027/?sector_id=

[Arthur]

Yes Theo, they're spot on for the Crimea.

Which is a good thing considering they're about the only miniatures I know of depicting Second Empire sailors 

I've been trying to talk Ged into adding French naval troops to his Gringo 40's Maximilian range though. I'm sure Ian Mountain would do an excellent job on these, and they're pretty ubiquitous troops as well since they can be used for other mid C19th French military expeditions besides the Crimea and Mexico. 

[Galloping Major]

Excellent response there Arthur 


www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[Hobbit]

Again excellent, thank you.

[Arthur]

Yer welcome, lads 

[stan82]

Below is an period sketch of a French sailor in the Crimea drawn in 1855 by captain (later general) Vanson aboard the French flagship Montebello.  

Hello!
My name is Stan
I interested in uniform of Crieamean war 1853-56
and in general French Navy
I am finde info about "Equipages de ligne"
about uniform in 1854-55
can you help me with photos and pics?
I see your post about marine-fusilier and whant to ask you - were you find this sketch of Vanson? This is from some magazine? do you have other sketches of matelots Vanson's? Maybe you have text ?
Thank you!

[Arthur]

I scanned the Vanson drawing from Paul Willing's L'Armée de Napoléon III, published in 1983 by the Musée de l'armée. I'm not sure the book is still available - I doubt it as it is no longer listed on the museum's website. It only contains a single page on naval troops anyway.

Louis Delpérier's eponymous L'armée de Napoléon III offers a few more pictures of French sailors of the period but don't expect any kind of in-depth coverage : we're talking about half a dozen illustrations spread over four or five pages). It's also out of print, but easily available second-hand for less than €20 :

http://www.amazon.fr/Larmée-Napoléon-III-Louis-Delpérier/dp/2916385673

As far as I know, Vanson's originals are kept in the Musée de l'Armée's library and I've heard that the curators are most reluctant to have them scanned and put online. You can obtain very expensive photographs from the museum, but the price seems to put off most people. I know Pacofeanor is one LAF'er who investigated the matter, so he may have more information but I wouldn't hold my breath here. 

[stan82]

Thank you for help!
think that I will find something in this books!
also I find in internet this two sketches of Vanson, but in very bad quality...




do you see this?