The Swiss Army

[Blofeld]

The Swiss army are an oft overlooked force in the VSF setting. With the exception of the Swiss guard, who were of course soldiers of the Vatican City, there are few Swiss forces.  Does anyone have any images of Swiss army units towards the end of the 19th Century and/or suggestions for suitable models in 28mm?
Thanks
Blofeld

[tom_aargau]

Here a link to some period photographs. Uniforms worn from the 1860s until the turn of the century.

http://www.rost-und-gruenspan.ch/museum/fotos_1861_intro.html



Hier a link to pictures of re-enactors

http://kostueme-bs.ch/index.php/galerie/historische-uniformen/uniformen-schweizer-armee/1861-1898.html

I would say French uniforms work fine as long as you add the Swiss red armband with the white cross

Tom

[former user]

interesting subject

here is another
http://nelsonlambert.blogspot.de/2012/07/mid-victorian-swiss-army.html

[mysteriousbill]

The hat looks more Jager than French to me

[tom_aargau]

A French infantry uniform about 1859 for comparison. Tschako got lower later.

Tom

[former user]

in the late 19th C even the brits got some variation of the low conical chako. I would see a french influence too, but this is hardly important. it is interesting to note that apparently the uniforms were blue and inden lookded very french, but they also had the strange hat with feathers or the chasseurs beret.
I also saw a green uniform, but couldn't find out what it is

[tom_aargau]

Scharfschützen (rifles) wore green as seen here.

[former user]

Oh THX. And when did the berets come? it appears to me that is where the french got them from

[Blofeld]

Thanks for the info so far. I too have seen the green uniform with berets. Were they a specific unit or did all the Swiss Army wear them at some point? I do like the look of them and these Warlord games Belgians might be perfect if painted green;

http://store.warlordgames.com/collections/belgian-army/products/belgian-chasseurs-ardennais
I know the uniform is a little modern and the equipment likewise but they could pass as a sort of elite unit and they are lovely models.
Thanks
Blofeld

[argsilverson]

Thanks for the info so far. I too have seen the green uniform with berets. Were they a specific unit or did all the Swiss Army wear them at some point? I do like the look of them and these Warlord games Belgians might be perfect if painted green;

http://store.warlordgames.com/collections/belgian-army/products/belgian-chasseurs-ardennais
I know the uniform is a little modern and the equipment likewise but they could pass as a sort of elite unit and they are lovely models.
Thanks
Blofeld

What about using the following:
https://www.perry-miniatures.com/index.php?cPath=23_37_47&osCsid=ju5a1c6rpfs9spn7mracnsh2l0

they were berets (some sort of) and are of the right age (Ok a bit early)

or those:
http://www.askari-minis.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=21_38
they are at least one World war earlier than the warlord belgians.

[tom_aargau]

Not sure about the berets - do you have a picture?

The French introduced it in the 1880 for the mountain troops, not sure about the Swiss.

As a general rule, during the Victorian era Swiss infantery wore blue and Swiss rifles green with black.

Personally, I would go for French of the Franco-Prussian war.

Tom

[former user]

berets aplenty 1896

[abdul666lw]

French "alpin" beret (the "tarte": 'pie') came from the Pyrénées (where it is now known as the "béret Basque"), hence its similitude with the beret of 19th C. Carlists:

[Blofeld]

berets aplenty 1896

That was the picture I'd seen with the berets. What is the machine gun in the bottom left hand corner?

[commissarmoody]

I am thinking they are Maxims, but I might be mistaken.