The Boxer Rebellion Project, Part 14: Imperial Chinese Artillery Crew

Chinese artillery crewman (and one extra general) from Wargames Foundry.

I haven't had so much fun researching and putting together an army since the Perry Miniatures Plastic Afghan Tribesman pushed me to do a Pashtun Field Force to fight the British Raj on the Northwest Frontier. Whew. I'm glad I go that off my chest. On with the next unit in my Imperial Chinese Field Force to use with The Men Who Would be Kings (and of course other Colonial Rules).

As part of Phase 1 of my Chinese Imperial Army for the Boxer Rebellion (actually a Wargames Foundry Order) I really liked the artillery crewman from Foundry's Taiping Rebellion line. I purchased CH024 Ever Victorious Army Artillery Crew which can be used for any Chinese army from 1860 to the early 20th Century.

The Qing Dynasty (1644–1912), the last imperial dynasty of China, saw the introduction of new firearms and military technologies as the empire faced increasing challenges from foreign powers. Despite the Qing Dynasty’s reluctance to modernize, significant strides were made in the use of firearms and cannon artillery. By the late Qing period, China had seen the introduction of bolt-action rifles, repeating firearms, and machine guns, largely through foreign influence. However, the Qing military was slow to adopt these technologies on a large scale, which contributed to the empire’s vulnerability during the Opium Wars, the Taiping Rebellion, the First Sino-Japanese War and the Boxer Rebellion.

I added the bucket to this figure. The bucket is with the accessory sprue that comes with the figures pack. I had to do some filing on the hand to make it fit; though not a perfect, it does look great at gaming distance.

During the period I am gaming, the Chinese made attempts to modernize around the turn of the century and bought artillery from several nations. Between 1895 and 1900 the Chinese purchased from British companies 71 fortress guns and 123 field gun. By the time of the Boxer Rebellion, the Chinese had also received 8.7cm Krupp M1886 field guns as well as 12cm and 15cm breech loaders from Krupp. They also purchased field guns from Japan and France. 

He grew up listening to stories of glory from his grandfather and now proudly wears the ancient uniform. General Li Shimin from Wargames Foundry pack CH001 Chinese Command and drafted into the artillery.

In addition, the Chinese had 200 Krupp mountain guns and some of the 7cm L/14 model. Other mountain guns were purchased from Austria-Hungary and France. Supply and training issues with the wide variety of field pieces were common; and, unfortunately, many Chinese armies preferred to use the old muzzle loaders. Even thought there were challenges, some Western observers (and the Japanese) observed that during the Second Peking Relief expedition, the Chinese artillerymen in the Tenacious Army and the Kansu Braves had learned how to use their German bought Krupp artillery accurately (sometimes outperforming European gunners).

So much artillery. Now I need to find a gun.