Swedish Line Infantry Uniform

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Introduction

The artefacts illustrated in this article depict the uniform of the Södermanlands Infantry Regiment. However, the uniforms of all Swedish line line regiments were very standardized and, besides rare variations in the colour of facings, waistcoats and breeches, all regiments had very similar uniforms.

Hat

Tricorne M1756 - Source: DigitalMuseum and the Swedish Army Museum

Black tricorne laced in the metal colour without cockade or button.

The grenadier cap had a Prussian-style metal front plate with an Austrian-style blue bag laced in the metal colour. Since grenadier caps looked very similar to those of Prussian grenadiers, they were often covered with a black cloth to avoid any confusion during combat.

Coat, Waistcoat, Breeches

Black neck stock.

Blue woollen coat with pewter or brass buttons. The coat was lined and faced saffron yellow for most regiments. Buttonholes were trimmed in the facing colour. Collar in the facing colour. The cuffs were in the so called “Swedish-style” without button.

Long sleeved woollen waistcoat with pewter buttons. The waistcoat was saffron yellow for most regiments.

Woollen breeches with pewter buttons. Breeches were saffron yellow for most regiments.

Coat M1756 - Source: DigitalMuseum and the Swedish Army Museum

Waistcoat M1756 - Source: DigitalMuseum and the Swedish Army Museum

Breeches M1756 - Source: DigitalMuseum and the Swedish Army Museum

Cape

The Indelta infantryman was equipped with a blue cape lined sulphur yellow with a large sulphur yellow collar.

Gaiters, Stockings and Shoes

Shoes M1756 - Source: DigitalMuseum and the Swedish Army Museum

Woollen stockings were usually white fastened with a red-brown leather strap at the knee.

Black leather square toed shoes with a brass buckle.

Armament

Swedish infantry privates were armed with a musket, a bayonet and a sable. For more details on armament, please refer to our article Swedish Line Infantry Weapons.

Leather Equipment

White leather waist-belt with a brass buckle.

Black leather cartridge box on a white strap.

Backpack made of calfskin on a white leather strap.

Waist-belt M1756 - Source: DigitalMuseum and the Swedish Army Museum

Cartridge Box M1757 - Source: DigitalMuseum and the Swedish Army Museum

Backpack M1757 - Source: DigitalMuseum and the Swedish Army Museum

Peculiarities of Drummers and Fifers

Drummers of some regiments wore reversed colour uniforms with white swallow nests at the shoulders. Otherwise, they wore the standard blue uniform with swallow nests as sole distinction.

Brass drums; barrel decorated with the embossed arms of Sweden; blue rims edged yellow.

Peculiarities of Non Commissioned Officers

Tricorne laced in silver or gold depending on the metal colour of the uniform. NCOs carried partizans.

Peculiarities of Officers

Tricorne laced silver or gold. Blue coat, waistcoat (sometimes saffron yellow) and breeches (sometimes black). Leather gloves. Silver gorget. Blue saddle cloth bordered in the facing colour.

Officers carried spontoons. They were also armed with a sword (instead of a sabre) and a pair of pistols when mounted.

References

Pengel, R. D.: Swedish Army in Pomerania 1757-1763, Birmingham, 1983

Schirmer, Friedrich: Die Heere der kriegführenden Staaten 1756-1763, published by KLIO-Landesgruppe Baden-Württemberg, Neuauflage 1989

Acknowledgments

Our deep thanks to the Swedish Army Museum for making most photos of its incredible collection available in the public domain