OT - Weapons used in the Boxer Rebellion

[Grimace]

Does anyone know of the various weapons used by the assorted nations during the Boxer Rebellion?

There were Americans, British, German, Italian, French, Japanese, Austrian and, of course, Chinese.

I'm pretty sure the Italians used the Carcano for the rifle. I think the French used the Lebel for their rifle. I really don't know what other types of weapons were used by the other nations.

I figured with the wealth of information the people have here, someone might know what sorts of weapons were used.

Any help would be appreciated.

[ArmySGT.]

I think Osprey has a good right up on the equipment used by the Legations.

[ArmySGT.]

Colonel David Chinn's History of the Machinegun has some information on the Arms used in the Boxer rebellion. Find it in .pdf format on Scribd.

[Adm.Lee]

Off the top of my head, I'm pretty sure the Americans are using the Krag-Jorgensen, same as the Spanish-American War. The British should be on the Lee-Metford? The Germans should be on the Mauser, likely the Kar98.

Chinese would be using all kinds of things, I remember reading about lots of muskets the last time I read about the Boxer Rebellion. look here

My favorite story, possibly just a legend, dealt with how the various nationalities overcame the city gates (Peiping, I suppose) that faced them once the combined army reached the city.

- The Russians love artillery-- they wheeled up their fieldpieces and blew it open.
- The Japanese love insane bravery-- one man rushed forward with a satchel charge and was shot down. Another man rushed forward, picked it up, and was shot down. Repeat this scene until the charge is finally placed to blow open the gate!
- The Americans love individual guts. Two men snuck up to the wall by night, scaled it and opened the gate.
- The British are just stupid-lucky. They found their gate unguarded and marched through with bands (and bagpipes!) playing.

I found this sentence interesting: "During the Boxer rebellion, 59 American servicemen received the Medal of Honor for their actions. Four of these were for Army personnel, twenty-two went to navy sailors and the remaining thirty-three went to marines. Harry Fisher was the first Marine to receive the medal posthumously and the only posthumous recipient for this conflict."

[CJHusVar]

Well, there's a wide selection of weapons that were in standard-issue during the Boxer Rebellion.

Britain

Both the Lee-Metford and the Lee-Enfield were in issue with the British Army at the time. Any Indian troops would have been using the Martini-Henry breechloaders.

Germany

The Seebattiones were most likely equipped with the Model 1888 Commission Rifle.

Italy

Most likely the Carcano Model 1891

Russia

While the Mosin-Nagant 1891 was in standard issue, I'm not sure if troops in the Far East would've received it yet. If not, they would be using the Berdan II breechloader.

USA

Army troops would use the M1892/96/98 series Krag rifles. The Navy and Marine Corps were issued the M1895 Lee Navy straight-pull in 6mm.

Japan

Japanese troops may have been using the Arisaka Type 30 or the Murata Type 22.

Hope that helps...

Cheers.

Chris

[Grimace]

Thanks guys.

I did a lot more digging to come up with information. So far, what I was able to find is as follows:

Americans: Army - Krag-Jorgensen, Navy/Marines - Lee Navy M1895, sidearms - Colt Single Action Army

Germans: Mauser Gewehr 98, sidearm - M1879 Reichsrevolver

Italians: Carcano Modello 1891, sidearm - Bodeo M1889

Japanese: Arisaka Meiji Type 30, sidearm - Meiji Type 26 revovler

Russian: Mosin-Nagant M1891, sidearms - S&W No. 3 "Russian" or Nagant M1895 Double Action revolver

French: Lebel Mle 1886, sidearm - Lebel M1892 revolver

Belgium: FN M1889 (Mauser variant), sidearm - Nagant M1895 Double Action revolver

Austrian: Mannlicher M95, sidearm - Rast-Gasser M1898

Dutch: Mannlicher M95, sidearm - Colonial East Indies revolver M1891

Chinese: Imperial army - Mauser rifles, Krupp artillery, Boxers - Martini Metford, Martini Henry, misc. other weapons including bladed weapons

British: Lee Enfield MLE and Lee Metford, sidearm - Webley Mk IV revolver

[Matt Wiser]

Remember, in those days, the MOH was the only U.S. medal for valor. A lot of those awarded probably would've been Silver Stars, Bronze Stars, or DSCs in later conflicts. The award criteria were pretty loose back then.

If you've seen the movie 55 Days at Peking, it's pretty accurate. I like the scene where David Niven's wife (he's the British Ambassador) tries to stop their Chinese servants from taking some books from his library for the barricades. He tells them to go ahead, and she says "Not The Complete History of the Napoleonic Wars! Mother got them for you for your birthday." He replies, "I must confess in you: French history bores me." Cut to the next scene at the French Embassy: a French Marine is bringing out his ambassador's books, and the Ambassador looks at one of the titles: "English history? BAH!" and he waves the Marine to go ahead. Charleton Heston plays a U.S. Marine Major, and Walter Gotell (General Golgol in the Roger Moore Bond flicks) plays a German Army Major.

[Panther Al]

Originally Posted by Matt Wiser

Remember, in those days, the MOH was the only U.S. medal for valor. A lot of those awarded probably would've been Silver Stars, Bronze Stars, or DSCs in later conflicts. The award criteria were pretty loose back then.

heh. Yep, and quite a few MoH's was handed out for re-upping during the civil war.



Which, I guess when you think about the survival rates of some of those regiments might be worthy of some sort of valor medal.

[Matt Wiser]

There's another scene from that movie I enjoy: Heston's Marine Major checks into a hotel where a lot of the foreign officers are staying, and the German owner hands him a packet full of letters. Heston: "You have a wastebasket?" The manager hands him one, and Heston throws all of the letters into the trash. Shocked, the manager points out, "But that's six months!" Heston: "Open a letter, you have to read it. Read it, you may have to answer it."

[Graebarde]

Originally Posted by Grimace

Thanks guys.

I did a lot more digging to come up with information. So far, what I was able to find is as follows:

Americans: Army - Krag-Jorgensen, Navy/Marines - Lee Navy M1895, sidearms - Colt Single Action Army

The STANDARD issue side arm was the M1892 (double action .38 Long Colt), though the troops in PI, where these troops came from, had been reissued the SAA for it's 'know down capability'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_pistol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_rifle

[CJHusVar]

I'm not sure the Gewehr 98 saw service in China at this time. The infantry of the German contingent was made up of two Seebatallione (naval infantry), which IIRC were still armed with the earlier M1888 Commission Rifle.

On the Chinese side, there were a number of very interesting American repeating rifles that were sold to the Imperial Army in the 1880s. These included the Winchester Hotchkiss and M1879 Remington-Lee bolt-action models, both in .45-70 Govt.

Cheers,

Chris

[Grimace]

Thanks Grae.

I'll have to see if I can find other sources to verify that. I use the wiki as a sounding board, but I never base my final decisions solely on it due to the superior chance of false information.

*edit* Woot! My third year on this board and I finally hit my 200th post. I feel like such a mute compared to some of the people here.

[ArmySGT.]

That makes 500.

[LAW0306]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1895_Lee_Navy

[Graebarde]

Originally Posted by Grimace

Thanks Grae.

I'll have to see if I can find other sources to verify that. I use the wiki as a sounding board, but I never base my final decisions solely on it due to the superior chance of false information.

I agree with checking other sources, but wiki gives a starting point at least. And they also generally list some sources other than wiki at the end of articles you can sometimes access.

FB