Skip to content
Vestes Bellica Military history archive

Vestes Bellica

Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Artillery - Field Artillery - Bavaria

Commemorative photo of Bavarian field artillerymen from the 7th Field Artillery Regiment Prinz-Regiment Luitpold (Munich) after completing 250 days of service. Original photo card from 1913.
Commemorative photo of Bavarian field artillerymen from the 7th Field Artillery Regiment Prinz-Regiment Luitpold (Munich) after completing 250 days of service. Original photo card from 1913.

Bavaria provided 12 field artillery regiments.

The composition of units in 1914 is given by the following table:

Taken from: B. Friedag, Führer durch Heer und Flotte. Eleventh Year 1914. Berlin 1913, p. 247.
Taken from: B. Friedag, Führer durch Heer und Flotte. Eleventh Year 1914. Berlin 1913, p. 247.
Early photograph of Bavarian field artillerymen. Undated large-format photo, probably from the 1880s (19th century).
Early photograph of Bavarian field artillerymen. Undated large-format photo, probably from the 1880s (19th century).

The Bavarian field artillery wore the dark-blue tunic with a rounded collar and plain sleeve cuffs of black cloth. The swallow's nests also had a black base color.

The tunic had red piping around the collar and the sleeve cuffs, as well as down the front and along the pocket flaps.

The buttons were made of tombak and the braids were plain and gold.

Bavarian gunners at the short-barreled gun. Original photo card from 1902.
Bavarian gunners at the short-barreled gun. Original photo card from 1902.

The riding and cloth trousers were also dark blue. The former had a black leather trim. The latter had bright-red piping.

Member (non-commissioned officer) of the 11th Field Artillery Regiment (Würzburg) in parade uniform. Original KAB: Photographer/Studio: Frankonia/ Würzburg.
Member (non-commissioned officer) of the 11th Field Artillery Regiment (Würzburg) in parade uniform. Original KAB: Photographer/Studio: Frankonia/ Würzburg.

The helmet was the helmet of the heavy cavalry with a tombak mounting and, for parade, a black plume or, for trumpeters, a red plume.

The helmet cover displayed the respective regimental number in red.

Guard duty in front of the barracks of a Bavarian field artillery regiment. Original photo card before 1914.
Guard duty in front of the barracks of a Bavarian field artillery regiment. Original photo card before 1914.

The cap was made of dark-blue cloth and had a black trim band and a bright-red piping around the top edge and around the edges of the aforementioned trim band.

Soldiers from the 8th Field Artillery Regiment Prinz Heinrich von Preußen (Nuremberg) in service dress. Original photo card. Posted on 20.07.1914.
Soldiers from the 8th Field Artillery Regiment Prinz Heinrich von Preußen (Nuremberg) in service dress. Original photo card. Posted on 20.07.1914.

The leather equipment was white. The cartridge box was decorated with two crossed cannon barrels.

The footwear was blackened. Mounted troops wore cavalry boots with strap-on spurs and spur leathers. Foot troops wore infantry boots.

One-year volunteers from the 1st Field Artillery Regiment Prinz-Regent Luitpold (Munich). Original KAB: Photographer: Gebr. Lützel/ Munich. Notable are the heavy privately owned sabres.
One-year volunteers from the 1st Field Artillery Regiment Prinz-Regent Luitpold (Munich). Original KAB: Photographer: Gebr. Lützel/ Munich. Notable are the heavy privately owned sabres.

The coat was made of grey cloth and had shoulder boards like those on the tunic and black collar patches.

One-year volunteers of the Bavarian field artillery in coats. Original photo card before 1914.
One-year volunteers of the Bavarian field artillery in coats. Original photo card before 1914.
Staff officer of the Bavarian field artillery in parade uniform. Original KAB: Photographer/Studio Elvira/ Munich.
Staff officer of the Bavarian field artillery in parade uniform. Original KAB: Photographer/Studio Elvira/ Munich.
Reserve officer of the Bavarian field artillery in parade uniform. Original KAB. Studio or photographer: Hofatelier Pieperhoff/ Halle/ Magdeburg/ Bayreuth. Around 1906.
Reserve officer of the Bavarian field artillery in parade uniform. Original KAB. Studio or photographer: Hofatelier Pieperhoff/ Halle/ Magdeburg/ Bayreuth. Around 1906.