Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Viatski IR

Inhaber
Unknown

Unit History
The unit was present at Kay and Kunersdorf. Fought at Gross-Jagersdorf. It formed part of the main Corps under Tchernishev that raided Berlin on September 15, 1760 along with the regiments Kievski (No.14) and 2nd Moscow (No. 12). Later the unit participated in the siege, under Rumiantsev, of Colberg in November 1761.
At Gross-Jagersdorf, August 30, 1757, the unit was in the second line, part of Saltykov's brigade, in the first division under Fermor. Initially located near the northern edge of Norkittner Wood, the unit was sent into the wood to attack the Prussian brigade, as part of the general Russian counterattack. The fight in the Wood was a fierce affair of bayonets and rifle butts only resolved when the Prussian battalions fighting deep in the Norkittner Wood came under friendly fire from the Prussian Garrison Regiment II. With the excitement of the fight and the obstruction of sight caused by smoke, the Prussian units gave up the position they had fought so hard for and retreated in confusion.
At Kay, July 23, 1759, the unit was in the second line commanded by Villebois and saw little action in the battle beyond beating back the Prussian cavalry assault on the right wing. Later that fall, at Kunersdorf, the unit was stationed near the Großer-Spitzberg along with the 3rd Grenadiers (No. 7), Kievski (No. 14), Rostovski (No. 30) and 2nd Moscow (No. 12).
The unit formed part of the main Corps under Tchernishev that raided Berlin on September 15, 1760 along with the regiments Kievski (No. 14) and 2nd Moscow (No. 12). A regular unit often held in reserve as reflective of its ranking (35th).


Comments
These Front Rank Russians suffered the usual fate of many of my newly painted and proudly presented figures – my old gaming buddies still tease me about ‘bowling for Russians’ even though it is more than fifteen years ago.

Sources
Text & Flag: Osprey’s Russian Army of the Seven Years War (1) (Men-at-Arms 297)
Text: D. Meuser, Battle of Gross Jagersdorf, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. X No.2
D. Meuser, Battle of Kay, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. X No.2
F. Mueller, 1998 Frederick the Great Battlefield Tour, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. X No.3

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