Brigade Games - Cossack Cavalry.

More reinforcements for the Imperial Russian Army. This time Cossack Cavalry from Brigade Games and their WW1 range. The photo on the website really does not do them justice.
 

I have had my eye on these for quite a while, I know cavalry will have their limitation on the Battlefield, but wanted to give the Russians some extra punch rather than just sitting in the trench lines awaiting the Japanese assault.

They are painted up represent the Tersko - Kubansk Regiment of the Kuban Cossacks which features in the Osprey Men-at-arms series on the Russo-Japanese War.
Over 207 Squadrons of cavalry were deployed in Manchuria the bulk of which was Cossack Cavalry, they were said to have performed disappointingly, poorly led, poorly trained and of poor discipline, regarded by the regular imperial army as no better than militia.

Although I propose to make them a little better in gaming terms to give the Russians some incentive to engage with the Japanese, perhaps the ability to charge with elan as prior to the war they were expected to be suited to the open plains and regarded as some of the finest cavalry in the world.


They are still lacking a standard, which I will pick up from Redoubt at Warfare in a few weeks.
 

The colours used were as follows.
Type 1 Tunic - Vallejo 167 German Grey.

Shoulder Boards - GW Red Gore.
Saddle Cloth - GW Death World Forest/Foundry - Storm Green Shade 27A.
Rifle Strap - GW Astronomican Grey
Boots - Black

Rifle - Tan Shade 14A, Vallejo Gun Metal Blue.
Sabre - GW Black, Fittings - Gold.
Rifle Strap - GW Rhinox Hide.
Webbing - Foundry Tan Shade 14A./Black
Saddle - Foundry Tan Shade 14A
Stirrup - Vallejo Gun Metal Blue.
Cartridge Store - GW Mithril Silver

Flesh - GW Elf Flesh
Wash - GW Agrax Earthshade.
Basing - GW Rhinox Hide, Dry Brush Vallejo Desert Yellow, Iraqi Sand.

 

Marcus over at Tsuba Miniatures has a planned release of Japanese Cavalry in the new year, so that should give me 3 months to complete some additional Russian mounted troops before the Japanese forces are bolstered.