Calpe Miniatures
25mm Napoleonic wargames figures, meticulously researched, finely sculpted

Prussian Dragoons

Uniforms

The figures are designed to represent the dragoons, as they would have appeared when on campaign. This is important as they all wear the Litweka as opposed to the Kollet (the dress coat). The Litewka was a thigh length coat that was common in the Prussian army. The Landwehr infantry wore a similar coat. The dragoon's coat was of a distinctive mid blue shade sometimes described as light blue. In my opinion it was of a stronger hue than that. Vallejo's range of Model Colour paints make a medium blue that is perfect for the Job (no.963). The regiment's facing colour appeared on the collar and shoulder straps. The cuffs were left in the coat colour but there was a line of piping in the regimental colour along the upper seam of the cuff.

There is some evidence to indicate that trumpeters did not wear swallows nests on the Litweka. Since this is not conclusive I have gone for the handsomer option and sculpted wings on the trumpeters. The piping on the cavalry musician's wings seems to have been metallic, not white. Silver or gold lacing matched the button colour, (this varied from one regiment to another). Trumpet cords matched the colour of the wing lacing but contained coloured flecks, possibly in the regimental facing colour.

Leg wear for the Dragoons was the standard grey cavalry overall with a row of buttons down each outside seam. These had black leather reinforcement on the inside leg and round the bottom of the trousers. There was a line of red piping along the outside seam irrespective of the regimental facing colour.

All belts were white. The ammunition pouch was black with a brass plaque, buckle and fittings. The dragoons were armed with a heavy sabre in an iron scabbard. I have found conflicting information as to the hilt on the sabre. Some reliable sources show the sabre with a single bar hilt. Most show the sabre with a three bar hilt. The 'Uniformbogen' plates (a collaborative set of plates by Brauer, Knotel and others) show the three bar brass hilt on one plate and a single bar iron hilt on the other. I decided to go with the three bar hilt as it makes the sabre look more substantial and the dragoons were used as heavy cavalry by the Prussian army. Twenty men in each squadron carried a carbine. These were the 'Flankers.'

The officers on campaign either wore the Ubberock, which looked like the Litewka but was in fact a short greatcoat; or the Liebrock, which was the Prussian version of the French Surtout. The Ubberock had the facing colour on the collar and shoulder straps and a line of piping along the upper seam of the cuff. The Liebrock displayed the facing colour on collar, cuffs shoulder straps and turn backs. There was also a line of piping along the opening seam on the chest. Note the turnover collar on the Liebrock.

Officer's trousers were more tailored than the men's and had no leather reinforcement. They had red piping along the outside seams. Belts and armament were as for the men.

All ranks wore a covered shako. The balance of evidence indicates the use of brass chin scales on the shako, not the leather strap, although I have seen plates where the latter are worn. The men's fatigue cap and the officer's peaked cap were of the same colour as the coats, with a band in the regimental colour along the bottom edge of the cap. Note that I have sculpted the dragoons with the older style of forage cap. The Uniformbogen plates make it clear that this was the type of forage cap predominant throughout the period (I will have to correct this detail on the forage cap figures for the infantry as well).

Horse Furniture

The dragoon saddlecloth was rounded at both ends. It was the same colour as the dragoon's coats with two stripes in the facing colour along the outside edge. The outer stripe was thinner, no more than a line of piping. The inner stripe was wider and was separated from the outer stripe so that a line in the saddlecloth colour showed between the two.

All harnessing was in black leather with iron metalwork.

Both the greatcoat roll and the cylindrical valise were of grey cloth. Only the officers had the outside seams of the valise piped in the facing colour. The large canteen was strapped to the rear of the saddle and could be attached on either side of the saddle. It was covered in a canvass coloured cover. The leather pouch, also attached to the rear of the saddle, carried equipment for the grooming of the horse. Some sources say it contained spare horseshoes. All troopers were required to carry sacks containing feed for their horses. These sacks were also attached to the rear of the saddle. The most frequently observed colour for these is canvass but I have also seen them depicted in grey.

Prussian Dragoons: Shouldered Arms

The first set of figures has shouldered arms (PCD1-PCD7). PCD3, the standard bearer is intended for use with both sets.

Prussian Dragoons: Charging

The next set of figures form the charging set (PCD8-PCD14). They all have separate sword arms. PCD13 is intended for use with both sets.

Prussian Dragoons: Special

Although each charging figure has an arm designed to fit it, I realised that the look of these figures could be radically altered by swapping the arms around. I have gone one better by adding a set of spare arms.

Prussian Dragoons: Walking/Cantering Horses

The first set is made up of 5 horses in walking or cantering poses. These horses are intended for use with the shouldered arms figures.

Prussian Dragoons: Charging Horses

The next set of 5 horses is intended for use with the charging figures. Mix and match figures to horses but please note that PCD10, 11 and 12 may not fit all of the charging horses due to their active poses.