Indian Infantry, 1877–1893

A Lance-Naik and four sepoys of the 15th Bengal Infantry (Ludhiana Sikhs) with a variety of full-dress, mixed campaign dress, and khaki uniforms. These Ral Partha Figures are wearing a modified version of the British 1871 valise equipment with white leather waist-belt, a single ammunition pouch, ball pouch, water-bottle and haversack. This equipment set was later issued in brown leather. The infantrymen are armed with the .577 caliber Model 1867 Snider-Enfield breech-loading rifle with Model 1853 bayonet, which was made available to the Indian army once the British army had been re-equipped with the Martini-Henry rifle by 1877. The Snider-Enfield rifle remained in Indian army service until the British army received the new Lee-Metford magazine rifle, and surplus Martini-Henry rifles were issued to Indian army regiments from 1888 to 1893.

Contents

• 10 advancing Sepoys in 1 Pose – 26 mm equal 166 cm Height

Evaluation

Excellent choice of subject, Indian infantrymen like these served on the Northwest Frontier, in Afghanistan, Burma, Egypt, and the Sudan. The sepoys are wearing sandals which continued to be popular footwear even after boots were generally issued in the Indian army.

The advancing pose is most suitable for wargame formations which are marching, patrolling, advancing and moving to new firing positions more often than they are actually firing. That there is only one pose in the set is not a disadvantage, given the fact that this is the most common and natural pose for an infantry to adopt.

The modified Indian version of the British 1871 valise equipment was worn by the 45th Bengal Native Infantry (Rattray’s Sikhs) during the 2nd Afghan War, although many other Indian and British regiments still wore the earlier pouch-belt accoutrements. A brown leather version of the modified Indian infantry equipment was later issued to other regiments of the Indian army.

Good casting quality, practically no flash. Ral Parta colonial figures are a joy to paint and collect.

Compatible with other 25 mm 1:64 scale figures. Considering that many Indian sepoys of the period were noticeably shorter than their British comrades, these miniatures may be used alongside the taller 28 to 32 mm 1:60 scale figures available today.

The figures’ rifles are 25 percent too short, they measure only 1120 mm in 1:64 scale, compared to the actual 1407 mm length of the Snider-Enfield rifle.

Historical Employment

• Indian Native Infantry, 1877–1893
  • Second Anglo-Afghan War, 1878–1880
  • Northwest Frontier, 1877–1893
  • The First Sudan War, 1882–1884
  • Third Burmese War, 1885–1887
  • Black Mountain Expedition, 1888
  • Black Mountain Expedition, 1891

Ral Partha Indian Infantry are a must-have for wargamers interested in the Northweast Frontier Wars and many other conflicts involving regiments of the Indian army. These Indian troops are often seen in simulations games using The Sword and the Flame (TSATF) and similarly popular rule sets. The figures may be painted in full-dress or khaki uniforms with colourful turbans.

Colonial Wars Miniatures