"Difference btw WSS and GNW uniforms?" Topic

2 impediments to using WF for GNW:

The Swedish infantry have turnbacks, more like SYW than WSS, so WF won't work unmodified.

Both Swedes and Russians use a type of hat called the 'karpus'- think stereotypical 'Russian Fur Hat'. The WF box doesn't have any. Both sides also used the tricorn so you don't have to include the karpus, but it is one of the things that says 'GNW' instead of 'WSS'.

Rich

The Swedish use of turnbacks is a classic example of how a fairly late uniform is used by wargamers figures to cover an entire period. Older works suggested that the "new style" uniform which had turnbacks were adapted in 1707 at the start of the long campaign which led to Poltava but modern research has shown that it only was only in general use from 1709-1710 when it was issued to the replacement regiments raised after Poltava. (Though some garrison units in the Baltics got them earlier)

The early war period saw Swedish troops wearing their long coats without turnbacks and they were fairly similar in apperance to WSS troops once the karpus began to be replaced with felt hats in 1701-1702. However there are a number of details that are missing on the Wargames Factory figures. Belts too narrow, no figure has the distinctive long Swedish sword, the shoulder straps and some other bits and pieces.

That's very interesting Daniel – thanks for the information. This will happily make it much easier for me to put together 10mm armies for the GNW!

ON a slight additional point to the above about turnbacks; even the British troops at Culloden largely are illustrated with turnbacks unbuttoned on their coats due to the weather and season- even when they had them troops would often unhook them and wear their coats loose for protection. Karpus hats are a nice feature that sets the GWN from the capaigns in Western Europe so a regiment or two with those would be very nice to have.

The Finnish regiments and some of the regiments recruited in northern Sweden kept using the Karpus as part of the "new style" uniforms. It is in my experience much better suited to the weather in those regions.

CATenWolde,
If you are doing early war then the Swedish army will have a much more "Leauge of Augsburg" look rather than classic GNW/WSS. Even elite and fashionable cavalry units like the Drabants and Livregementet were still wearing brimmed hats rather than tricorns as late as 1706.

At the start of the war soldiers were generaly wearing uniforms that were 5-10 years old, a few unlucky units had coats that were up to 20 years old and thus did not even have the old pattern m/1687 uniform. (Indelta units only used their uniforms a few days or weeks each year so they did not wear out as quickly as for the enlisted units who were in constant service and carried out garrison duties)

So you are saying almost all people that play GNW swedes really play with 1710-1721 figures and not the earlier more famous battles?

Daniel,

Thanks again. That's very interesting, and makes good sense. From a miniatures perspective, it also opens up the superb Pendraken LoA line to mine for figures.

So, if one wanted to play pre-Poltava campaign (so to speak), a mix of floppy hats, karpus, and the occasional tricorne (perhaps for officers?) would work?

By the way, since I had to get used to Helsinki weather after being more accustomed to Athens (!), I can testify to the practical aspects of the karpus. ;)

Cheers,

Christopher

I bought the later uniform as I liked the turn back and made my Swedes look different to everyone else, hasn't stopped me fighting the earlier battles. I also did mine in 10mm, good luck.

jon