Here
is a three-battalion regiment of the Observation Corps. There were
supposed to be 5 regiments (plus a Grenadier Regiment) but the second
was only partially raised and was never fielded. We know the style
and colour of the flags but don't know which colour was carried by
which regiment. It might be reasonable to assume that the Grenadier
Regiment carried the red ones, but as to the rest it is conjectural.
I will give dark blue to the first, grass green to the third, light
blue to the fourth and yellow to the fifth.
The
figures are a mix of Foundry and Front Rank. Foundry produce OC
command in winter coats but not the infantry and there are particular
uniform differences between the Observation Corps and the rest of the
Russian Line. That is why most of these figures are from Front Rank.
For uniform details see my booklet from www.18thCenturyPress.com
I
have really struggled with these figures because I am so used to
painting a march-attack pose rather than this advancing one and,
furthermore, Front Rank always invite a lot of painting work to get a
decent result partly because the range is so old and partly because
of the sculptor's style of work.
Raised
in 1756 (and disbanded in 1760) the Corps was the brainchild of
Shuvalov and in his mind it was to be a defensive min-army of 30,000
(with extra reinforced artillery). It was planned that he would
command it in the field in person but when that time came he told the
Empress that he was not well enough to do the job and he handed his
pet project over to another general. It never consisted of much more
than 12,000 men and was largely destroyed at Kunnersdorf. Lastly it
is worth noting that the rankers were not conscripted serfs, as in
the rest of the army, but recruited from the urban proletariat. It's
valiant defence at Kunnersdorf, and in particular the Muhlberg,
is well documented.
