"Most useless figures for a real unit." Topic

I know controlling this discussion would be like herding cats, but here I go.
"What would be the most useless range of figures for a military unit that really exiosted?"

I do NOT mean dress uniforms that never saw dirt.
Nor do I mean soldiers in obscure service units, like the Mess Kit Repair Battalion, or Field Surgeons.
I mean a unit or units that had unique everyday uniforms, but if produced as figures that no one could think of a use for.

This is my exdample, and my reasons for choosing it.

The Anhalt Zerbst Regiment in the AWI. Uniquely among "Hessian" troops, it wore the contemporary Austrian uniform, rather than the Prussian style. The grenadiers had a weird shako-like hat.
It was stationed in Canada and took part in no major actions. It was purely a garrison unit.
Finally, how many uses can you find for 1777-1780 Austrians, if you want it as a proxy?

They would make a beautiful unit, with white uniforms and red distinctions, and the grenadiers would be neat-o also.
But they would be very useless figures.l

This was inspired by the discussion going on currently about using SYW Prussians for Hessians.

Finally, how many uses can you find for 1777-1780 Austrians, if you want it as a proxy?

War of the Bavarian Succession, anyone? Prussia vs Austria, 1779. Not a very exciting war, but you asked!

I don't unnerstan' the question :(

I think I get what John's asking and I believe it's an interesting question – he's asking what perfectly legitimate units can you think of that might make nice miniatures but didn't actually do anything to merit their inclusion in a game?

The example he gave is perfect – the unit had its own uniforms that would be fun to paint and look at and was an honest to gosh "combat" unit, not some sort of support unit, but it spent all its time in garrison and never fought in a battle.

So a "completist" collector of the period might really want some Anhalt Zerbs figures, but the gamer wouldn't find any potential scenarios in which to play them.

Now, knowing most gamers, I suspect history would get bent to put Anhalt Zerbs units on the table if they looked nice enough! ;)

Shawn.

First comes to mind when reading are all those plastic soldiers I'd get in the bag that had their Bayonet affixed M-16 held over their heads in a sort of side-ways charge. That figure I'd always set aside in the pile of "I don't need them" when setting up my sandbox battles.

Natal Native Pioneers for the Zulu war. I just feel the need to include a small unit of them because they were in uniform. I'm not even sure they ever fired a shot. As far as I know only the NCO's even had rifles.

Vince

First comes to mind when reading are all those plastic soldiers I'd get in the bag that had their Bayonet affixed M-16 held over their heads in a sort of side-ways charge. That figure I'd always set aside in the pile of "I don't need them" when setting up my sandbox battles.

Maybe they were fording a river.

Not nearly so bad as having better than a 15% mix of radio men. But maybe they were the ones calling in those horrendous firecracker airstrikes.

Off topic yet?

American Civil War US Veteren Reserve Corps. Troops dressed in all light blue uniforms, initially made up of troops disabled by wounds. Used to garrison posts well behind the lines. MAY have seen a little combat when Early attacked the Washinton DC defenses in 1864.

Ambush Alley Games hit the hail on the head.

This dude with a paddle/fan in his hand…
link
Useless.

War of Jenkins Ear Mounted Kettle Drummers. It seems as if there is just one wargamer who wants these but….

Did I get off track.

I would also put in the same category as the M16 over the head that CmdrKiley talks about; the crawling Soldiers of the Airfix Waterloo British Infantry, or all the plastic sets with 3-4 casualties (I can kill them myself) or other multiples that you might just need one like a mounted commander or radio operator.

As far as units:
any half dressed amazons
the beefeaters
President Nixons White House Guard Uniforms

Those Copplestone Zanzibari regulars which are no longer in production. Half the Darkest Africa gamers I know on the Lead Adventure Forum are desperate to get hold of some. Why? They never did -all.

I think people only want them because they can't have them. Bet if they'd been on sale all this time nobody would have bought any.

Napoleonic period Bavarian Archer-Guards – hugh bearskins, lt blue uniforms, even the bedding rolls on their packs were decorated in the national colours. No active service, so I have a double strength unit in 25mm.

The Perrys make those nice US mlitia in overcoats and 1851 shakos. One unit wore that outfit and they were involved in a riot-not battle. You can't even use them for 1st Bull Run since they wear overcoats.Beautiful figures,though.

Seven Years War Russian Guard. Not a combat outfit at this time, the Guard stayed in St. Petersburg for the duration. The Guard regiments were used to train young sprigs of the nobility as officer cadets, and to serve in the Tsarina's…palace.

But every SYW Russian player builds them. You gotta have a Guard.

I think I would go with a lot of the 18th Century Highland units raised by the British during both the FIW and AWI. Many of these were fencibles, kept in Scotland for police and home defense duty.

I was going to say the Bavarian Archers of the Guard. How about pretty much all the Western European armies from Waterloo to the 1848 revolutions? All dressed up and nowhere to go (unless you count the Belgian War of Independence).

The Brazilian Guard Cavalry during the Paraguayan War. Guarding Rio against what? But they sure looked fine doing it.

The Praetorian Guard. Unless you find gaming assassinating emperors to be to your taste.

I think there's a reason nobody makes whole military bands.Legitimate use in the real world,but apart from the odd fifer or drummer,no use on the table.

British Napoleonic Greek Light Infantry.

Two regiments of local yokel rank-&-file, an officer class made up of bored ex-pats playing soldier, all dressed up like the illegitimate offspring of an Evzone and a pantomime pirate:

link

link

They spent their time on various idyllic sun-kissed mediterranean islands, in case the nefarious French showed up. Like coiled springs, they were.

Wish I could find a pic of the officer's costume, with, I kid you not, brass greaves with embossed lion's heads.

The Praetorian Guard. Unless you find gaming assassinating emperors to be to your taste.

Who wouldn't?

Y'know…all ya have to do is run a campaign and yank all the REMFs outta garrison. Put 'em in the line, sez eye ! problem solved. You now have the neat uniforms on the table

This is a great question

Napoleonic War Russian Bashkirs spring to mind – sniped at a few French foragers (maybe) but otherwise not much use for bow and arrow cavalry in the Napoleonic Wars

I agree the Russian Guard for the Seven Years War were pretty useless – the Preobrazenskiy, Semenovskiy and Izmailovskiy Leib-Guard Regiments made darn sure that the Prussians didn't capture St. Petersburg, although to be fair about 20 of the Izmailovskiy actually volunteered to serve in combat units

There is the British Royal Company of Archers as well

The Seven Years War French had a fair few units – like the Regiment Horion – who spent the war guarding ports and garrisons

1. Bashkirs were at Borodino. One frog berated them as outdated until one put an arrow through his booted leg into his horse at 200 yards.

2. Veteran Reserve Corps drove many of the Army of the Potomac supply wagons. Simply paint the drivers light blue (especially those whose pour was faulty).

The War of Jenkins Ear Spanish would be a fine and useful range indeed..Kettledrummer included..

Always wanted a Regt of Bahkirs

Seven Years War Russian Pandours. I don't think a one ever made it to Prussia. Doesn't stop people from fielding them.

My original (badly stated) oremise was for troops that would not sell.
Many of these suggestions are for figures that DO sell, but are useless.
I don't know if that is a true distinction or not.

If Anhalt-Zerbst ever DID fight, I am sure they would aquit themselves as well as any other "German" regiment did.
However, they never fought. THAT is what makes them "useless" as far as figure availability goes.

In any event, it's a fun discussion.

Any figure with one foot up on a rock is useless, imho. Who ever heard of such a thing? What does he do, carry the rock around with him?

I'm on the battlefield with one foot up on a rock. Everyone else is advancing, but I have my foot up on a rock. I'm engaging in H-to-H combat, with one foot up on a rock. I'm standing on the castle parapet, with one foot up on a rock. I'm engaged in a shootout in the saloon, with one foot up on a rock

Now if we read John's statement's title a mite differently to mean the worst figures for a given set of troops, I would vote for wounded and dead figures. In our gaming systems, they represent a wasted troop.

I nominate the Duke of Cumberland's Hussars. They were part of the Hanoverian cavalry at Waterloo but refused to charge and then fled the field of battle and started spreading rumours of an Allied defeat.

As far as I know it was their only opportunity to see action and they ran away.

Chaps after my own heart.

Duke of Cumberland's Hussars are valid though – they were present at the battle. When wargaming the battle – on a bad day they might flee and take other troops with them. However on a good day they might actually follow their orders and charge.

Cossacks celebrating?

link

I know I'm missing the point but poses can be disqualifing for battlefield action.

"Duke of Cumberland's Hussars are valid though – they were present at the battle."

Fair point 20thmaine. I must admit ever since I first read about them I've been toying with the idea of painting up a unit myself.

Instead, I nominate Napoleonic British fusiliers in bearskin caps and British Napoleonic cavalry standard bearers because apparently both bearskin caps and cavalry standards were left at home when the they went on campaign.

This of course hasn't stopped me from painting my Royal Welch Fusiliers in bearskin caps and having a standard bearer in all of my British cavalry units.