Rizhskiy Horse Grenadiers

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Origin and History

During the reorganisation of the Russian army in 1756, Rízhskiy Dragoons were converted into a horse grenadier regiment. It was immediately trained with the new tactics and drill, becoming the first horse grenadier regiment to be trained to these new tactics. By the end of the year, like the rest of the Russian cavalry, this regiment was totally unprepared for service in the incoming war. It lacked good quality mounts. Poor quality horses were partially replaced by purchases and requisitions in occupied districts and by levies on the non-mobile border guard regiments.

At full strength, the regiment counted 5 squadrons of 2 companies each.

When Peter III acceded the throne in January 1762, all horse grenadier regiments were converted into cuirassier regiments.

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was under the command of:

• no information available yet

Service during the War

In 1756, the regiment was stationed on the western frontier until the Autumn of 1756 and then in Starodub.

In 1757, when the Russian army received orders to assemble for the campaign in East Prussia under general Apraxin, the regiment regrouped its best horses and troopers into a few squadrons. Additional horses were levied when the army entered into East Prussia. By July, the regiment could field only 2 or 3 squadrons. Furthermore, its unpreparedness confined it to patrol and advanced post service. In combat, its troopers fought dismounted in the second line of infantry. On August 30, at the battle of Gross-Jägersdorf, it was part of the rearguard. When the Russian army deployed, it was placed in the first line of the cavalry right wing.

In January 1758, the regiment took part to the Russian invasion of East Prussia. About mid November, the regiment took its winter quarters in the area of Passenheim (actual Pasym), Sensburg (actual Mragowo) and Rastenburg (actual Ketrzyn) as part of Rumyantsev's 3rd Division.

To do: campaigns from 1759 to 1762

Uniform

During summer, Russian horse grenadiers did not wear coats. These were left in the baggage. For this reason, we present two different plates.

N.B.: another interpretation states that, on active duty, the horse grenadiers did not wear their cornflower blue coat.

There seems to have been important variations of the uniform in the field:

• “kollet” edged with a cornflower blue braid or undecorated
• “kollet” totally absent due to supply problems and replaced by the cornflower blue coat and/or the cornflower blue waistcoat

Troopers

Uniform in 1757 - Source: Richard Couture Summer uniform in 1757 - Source: Richard Couture

Uniform Details Headgear until 1759: mitre with a brass front plate embossed with trophies of weapons and standards and carrying in its centre the regimental coat of arms surmounted by the Imperial Eagle, a black leather skull-cap and neck guard with brass reinforcements and decorations, a white wool pompom from December 29 1759: black felt tricorne laced white with a white cockade on the left fastened with a bronze button, the tricorne was reinforced with an iron skullcap for combat Neckstock black Coat cornflower blue lined red; with copper buttons and red trimmed buttonholes N.B.: the coat was not worn during summer Collar red Shoulder straps none Lapels none Pockets none Cuffs red with 3 copper buttons Turnbacks red Gloves buff Kollet chamois leather fastened with hooks and eyes; with cornflower blue collar and cuffs; horizontal pockets, each with 3 copper buttons. N.B.: this so-called “kollet” could also be edged with cornflower blue braid made from old winter capes Waistcoat a cornflower blue waistcoat made from old winter capes, which was worn under the “kollet” Breeches chamois leather with white knee covers Leather Equipment Crossbelt natural leather Waistbelt white Cartridge Box and grenade pouch black with a copper plate carrying the regimental arms the grenade pouch was removed after December 29 1759 Scabbard black leather Footgear black boots Horse Furniture Saddlecloth fawn-coloured without lace Housings fawn-coloured without lace Blanket roll n/a

Troopers were armed with a short carbine, a bayonet, two pistols and a sabre (more precisely a straight blade Pallasch until December 29 1759 and then a curved blade sabre). They also had a cornflower blue epancha (cape) for winter.

Other interpretations

The representations of the "tails" of the kollet differ widely. Some authors show rather long tails others illustrate short tails.

NCOs

Corporals wore uniforms similar to those of the troopers.

Other NCOs wore uniforms similar to those of the troopers with the following distinctions:

• gold laced collar
• gold laced cuffs:
  • 1 stripe for Unterfähnrich
  • 2 stripes for armourers and quartermasters
  • 3 stripes for sergeant

Officers

Officers wore uniforms similar to those of the troopers with the following distinctions:

• genadier mitre with gold decorations
• gilt buttons
• no turnbacks
• black and gold silken sash
• yellow saddlecloth and housings laced gold carrying the imperial cipher

Musicians

Musicians wore uniforms similar to those of the troopers with the following distinctions:

• swallow nests at the shoulders
• tricorne (only for the kettle-drummer)

The kettle-drum and trumpets were made of copper. The banners were of the colour of the squadron standards. The banner of the kettle-drum was embroidered and fringed in gold.

Drums were made in copper, the regimental coat of arms engraved in the front, bordered in red and blue, blue and white cords.

Colours

Horse grenadiers still carried standards of the 1731 pattern, measuring 123 cm by 142 cm (some sources indicate square 150 cm by 150 cm standards). The flagpole had a gilt finial.

Colonel Standard: white field fringed in silver; centre device: an Imperial Eagle, crowned double-headed, bearing the regimental arms on a breastplate encircled by the necklace of the St. George’s Order and the cross of St. Andrew.

Ordonnance Standard: yellow field fringed in silver; centre device: a crown surmounting a gold shield bearing the regimental arms.

Colonel Standard - Source: rf-figuren from an original black and white plate by Viskovatov

Ordonnance Standard - Source: rf-figuren from an original black and white plate by Viskovatov

The first squadron carried the white colonel (Leib) standard while the 4 other squadrons each carried one ordonnance standard.

References

Großer Generalstab, Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung II (Publisher). Die Kriege Friedrichs des Großen, Part 3: Der Siebenjährige Krieg 1756–1763. Vol. 4 Groß-Jägersdorf und Breslau, Berlin 1902

• chapter A: Das Kaiserlich Russiche Heer, page 1-46
• appendix: supplement 1, Das Kaiserlich Russiche Heer, page 3-18

Konstam, Angus, and Bill Younghusband; Russian Army of the Seven Years War, vol. 2, Osprey Military, London, Reed International, 1996

Schirmer, Friedrich, Die Heere der kriegführenden Staaten 1756-1763, published by the KLIO-Landesgruppe Baden-Württemberg, Neuauflage 1989

Viskovatov, A. V., Historical Description of the Clothing and Arms of the Russian Army, vol. 3, Petersburg: 1900

Ziegler, Volker: Die Russische Kavallerie zur Zeit des 7-jährigen Krieges (1756-1763), in: Jahrbuch der Gesellschaft für hessische Militär- und Zivilgeschichte, vol. 4, 2007, pp. 62-80

Zveguintzov, L'Armee Russe, 1973

N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.