"Zulu war British" Topic

I there any other conflict these figures could be used for with out having to repaint them or convert them. I am about to invest in some Warlord games British and was wondering what other conflict I could use them for as well as the Zulu War.

First Boer war, Sudan in 1884 although a lot them by then are in the same uniform but in khaki.

Not many historical encounters in that uniform (excluding the Zulu War of course), but there are dozens of 'almosts' and thousands of 'what-ifs'

It is the identical basic uniform worn 3 years later for the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882. My (15mm) troops do service in both theatres and will also serve in the First Boer War (when I get round to painting some boers!).

What about the Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-1880? I use mine for that.

Also wars against the Ashanti, Xhosa and Afghans which I reckon the Zulu war uniform would be ok.

Edwulf, I think you must be referring to the 3rd Ashanti War (1873-1874); however, the British soldiers wore a bespoke uniform for that campaign. Uniform was one of the details that Wolseley covered in his meticulous planning.

Go the imagi-nation route for loads of fun.

What about the Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-1880? I use mine for that.

Not sure about the black leather gaiters being worn there, mostly puttees I believe? A number of Perrys' Sudan range depict troops transfered from the subcontinent. Having said that I would/will use the Zulu War uniform without much angst…

There is always the fall-back of "wagamers' license"; the same disclaimer, ages ago, as "imagi-nations."

Cheers,

I believe anyone should be able to get past "puttees". If not, let them buy & paint the figs!
Just MHO

My unit of 24th Regiment in scarlet with green facings makes lots of appearances in Darkest Africa and the Sudan.

Can't picture a Zulu War unit that would NOT be perfectly feasible for lots of DA adventures, plus a lot of S African fights that could have been.

Well Thanks a lot more to go at than I thought. I was hoping China would be an option though.

Ned Ludd, you've gotten lots of good advise already, but I'll add some of my own…

China 1860 would not be too far off. The infantry weapon and equipment are not quite right (no Martini-Henry rifles or Valise equipment in 1860) and the helmet was the earlier wicker "air-pipe" type, but the overall look is actually not all that far off from classic Zulu War British infantry, with blue trousers, red coats and white helmets.

With regard to the Second Afghan War of 1878-1880, the 59th Foot was one British Infantry Regiment that served in red tunics and blue trousers, and without puttees, though they are usually depicted as not wearing the leather gaiters either, but just folding/rolling the bottom of their pant-legs up. It's true most British infantry regiments in Afghanistan wore some form of khaki uniform, but at least one -- the 59th -- did not, and most others brought their home service dress uniforms with them for use against the cold during the Winter months, as they were warmer than their khaki uniforms.

Classic redcoated Zulu War Brits could also potentially pass for Ambela in 1863 and Abyssinia in the 1868, as well as the 1874 Ashanti War mentioned already above by Cambria.

As has also been mentioned, it really comes down to the question of what you are comfortable using them for. When I was much younger, and much poorer, I used the same batch of khaki-clad Imperial British in every theater of the Empire -- EXCEPT for Zululand, where only pure redcoated British infantry are ever permitted, due to their indisputable appropriateness and iconic visual power (I'm kind of kidding, but not really!) -- but in Egypt, the Sudan (before the 1895-1898 reconquest), South Africa (before the Second Boer War), China, and even Afghanistan, you have way more latitude, at least IMHO.