"Spanish Regiments - uniformity or not!" Topic

After a period painting up 28mm French and Russian units about to move onto Spanish regiments for the 1809-1811 period. Have an extensive uniform database to draw from so less worried about the correct uniform side of things. However the question is how much lack of uniformity to incorporate into a 24 man infantry battalion? Anyone got any Spanish units they an show to give me a feel for what looks right in terms of raggadness?

Many thanks.

I remember reading about a unit of grenadiers that were present at Bailen. Half of the unit had the "normal" uniform together with the expected bearskins and then other half had fatigue uniform and fatigue caps.

Units clothed by the British, such as the Batallón de la Muerte, would probably have more uniformity, at least initially.

Here you go. All my posts tagged 'Spanish'.
link

I try to mix things up with different coloured trousers and some figures in line regiments have 'rustic footwear' rather than shoes and gaiters.
Eg

My cavalry is waaay more regular in appearance.

Cheers
Brian

Can you tell us what that unit is? Early war Spanish light battalions (dark blue coats, bicorns) had 1 grenadier company, five ordinary. The line has 2 gren, 2 musketeer companies in the first battalion, 4 musketeer companies in the other 2 battalions. I suspect such battalions got separated quickly.

I seem to recall on this site that headgear was rather expensive. Also, the bicorns could be lost easily in battle. I like to use civilian headgear, and also fatigue caps, for my Spaniards.

I like to legwear us used above, but another "style" was a honey-brown leather piece wrapped around the leg from below the knee to ankle, with "solapas" on the feet with straps. Several French illustrations in Spain show this legwear, and lots of brown cloth!

GdeP

Spanish were a mishmash of uniforms. There were regulation ones, militia ones and some considered provincial regulation. Everything from brown to blue to other colors depending on cloth availability. So have fun painting.

Just a line battalion. I am not hung up on the numbers of grenadier/musketeers and if it is a second battalion or whatever. Hell, I put two flags on every Spanish battalion I have because I think it looks cool.

GdeP, what is your source for light battalions having a grenadier company? I always thought they just had six light infantry companies, now you have got me interested!

HP2Sport, my 15mm Spanish are mostly uniformed with a few mixed in with trousers (blue/white check or brown) instead of breeches and a few forage caps instead of bicorns. But with campaign uniforms in the Peninsular, you can probably go as wild as you want, and not just for the Spanish!

Brian, I agree the two flags looks cool, but unfair to the poor old Frenchies, or do you give them two too?

No they have their boring single flag. But under most wargames rules the poor Spanish get treated somewhat harshly so a few extra flags at least means they look good routing.

Hello, Keithbarker,

Jack Scruby published schematics for the Napoleonic forces, taken from the Fort Wayne wargame group member Fred Vietmeyer. I think that was our source as well as possibly early Ospreys.

I used to convert Stadden 30mm Napoleonics, and Willies, to do my Spanish, and used the original Osprey single-volume Spanish booklet to make my conversions – back in the '60's and 70's. I believe that was the source. They also seem to have been larger than line battalions, for we used 6 companies of 6 figures each – 36 figures as for the French regulars.

We used 8 figures in 4 companies for the Spanish line – 32 figures.

I also recall that at that time we were led to believe the Irish regiments in Spanish service were single-battalion units of six companies – 1 grenadier.

GdeP

GdeP, yes at the start of the war the 12 light battalions had over 13000 men, so they were strong. But my info is that all 6 companies were light companies (and I did check the old Osprey – Men At Arms 051 – Spanish Army Of Napoleonic Wars).

In March 1812 this was changed, battalions of line and light infantry were to have 1 grenadier, 6 centre and 1 light company.

Although it did not become official until 1833, it seems probable that the light infantry even then used the terms tirador for centre companies, carabinero for the grenadier company, and cazador for the light company.

Brian, yes they are boring, I still regret putting the post-1812 flags on my 6mm army, I should have gone for the pre-1812 flags I think!!

Many thanks for all the replies and links. Enjoyed seeing the Spanish units. Great inspiration. Starting the first battalion of a line regiment this week.