15mm Wargaming Figures for the South American Wars of Liberation

Here are some suggestions for 15mm figures to use for the a href=”liberators”>South American Wars of Liberation. I cover both specialist figures and make-do jobs from Napoleonic ranges.

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Where to get Liberators figures

You basically have two choices, either use a specialist range (i.e. Grenadier Productions) or use Napoleonic figures. Personally I do both. Have a look at my armies for the War in the South to get some inspiration:

• Royalists:
  • 1815, 1817, and 1818 on big bases
  • 1817-18 on small bases
• Argentine:
  • 1815 and 1817-18 on big bases
  • 1817-18 on small bases
• Chilean:
  • 1818 on big bases
  • 1818 on small bases

Using Specialist South American Figures

I’m only aware of one specialist range of 15mm wargaming figures for the South American Wars of Liberation: the figures from Grenadier Productions.

The Grenadier Productions packs were originally 8 infantry and 4 cavalry; they also had unit packs of 24 infantry or 12 cavalry. These are the packs listed as “Old Codes”. Now they have moved to packs of 12 infantry and 6 cavalry – the “New Codes” – without unit packs. I’ve retained the old codes to remind myself what I purchased in the past when rummaging through my boxes of unpainted lead. Packs are referenced like this: “New Code [Old Code] Description”.

Using Napoleonic figures for South America

Until the advent of the specialist range of 15mm figures from Grenadier Productions most gamers used standard Napoleonic figures with a South American paint job. Here are few guidelines based on Balkan Military History: South America and discussions on Liberators 1810-1830 Yahoo Discussion Forum.

John Fletcher said, for example “I built many of my Chilean troops by using 1815 Dutch-Belgian infantry. They are by no means a perfect match but the single breasted short jackets and French style shakos was good enough for me at the time. ”

There are a wide selection of Napoleonic era 15mm figures available, including Fantassin, Battle Honours, AB, Essex and Old Glory 15s. The specialist Grenadier Productions are designed to be compatible with Fantassin (also known as War Modelling / Capitan / Stonewall Miniatures), hence by implication are compatible with Battle Honours and AB.

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Royalist

Royalist Generals 

Grenadier Productions RG-01 [RS-004] Royalist General Canterac
Use for:

• Any “lead from the front” Royalist general
• Brigadier General Jose Canterac
• Colonel Jose Ordoñez
• Geronimo Valdez

Grenadier Productions RG-02 [RS-006] Royalist General Osorio
Use for:

• Any poor quality Royalist general
• Brigadier General Mariano Osorio
• Field Marshal Marco del Pont
• Domingo Pio Tristan
• Rafael Maroto
• Lt. Col. Jose Maria Barreiro

Grenadier Productions RG-03 [RS-005] Royalist General Pezuela 
Use for:

• Any “old school” Royalist general
• Brigadier General Joaquin de la Pezuela
• Manuel Goyeneche

Royalist Dragoons w/ helmet 

Grenadier Productions RC-01 [RNS-007] Royalist Dragoons w/ helmet troopers
Grenadier Productions RC-02 [RNS-008] Royalist Dragoons w/ helmet command

Use for:

• A few early war Royalist cavalry squadrons
• Royalist dragoons from Peru 1820 onwards
• “Dragones de Tinta” (Tinta Dragoons)
• Dragones de la Union (Union Dragoons)
• Dragones del Peru (Peru Dragoon)
• Granaderos de la Guardia (Grenadiers of the Guard)
• 1815 Guardia del General Cavalry

Royalist Cavalry – Shako

Grenadier Productions MC-05 [PRNS-004] Cavalry (Coat)
Grenadier Productions MC-06 [PRNS-005] Cavalry (Coat Command)

Use for:

• Frontier Dragoons – the figures lack lapels so I just painted them on regardless

Using Napoleonic ranges:

• AB Figures JP233 Jena Prussian Hussars

Terry Haney suggested AB Figures Jena Prussian Hussars (JP233) in shako make an excellent substitute for Royalist cavalry and Patriot Cazadore a Caballo, as they have no pelisse and tall straight shako. Just need to trim off their pigtail.

Royalist Cavalry – Cap

Grenadier Productions AC-04 [PS005] Argentina Granadero a Caballo Cavalry (cap/saber)
Grenadier Productions AC-06 [PS006] Argentina Granadero a Caballo Cavalry (cap/command)

Use for:

• Royalist Arequipa Dragoons

Royalist Cavalry – Jacket (no tails)

Grenadier Productions MC-01 [PRNS-008] Cavalry (Jacket)
Grenadier Productions MC-02 [PRNS-009] Cavalry (Jacket Command) 

Use for:

• Royalist Chillan Dragoons

Royalist Cavalry – hussar uniform

Grenadier Productions MC-03 [PRNS-006] Cavalry (Hussar Dolman) 
Grenadier Productions MC-04 [PRNS-007] Cavalry (Hussar Dolman Command)

Use for:

• Royalist Carabineros de Abascal
• Royalist Concordia Hussars

Royalist cavalry with lance

Grenadier Productions AC-02 [PS001] Argentina Granadero a Caballo Cavalry (shako/lance)
Grenadier Productions AC-03 [PS003] Argentina Granadero a Caballo Cavalry (shako/command)
Use for:

• Royalist Lanceros del Rey

Up to 1817 Royalist Infantry

There are no specialist figures for the early Royalist infantry when in uniform. Peasants work for those not in uniform.

Using Napoleonic ranges:

• Any Spanish in bell top shako
• Fantassin / War Modelling EN-17 Spanish Infantry with French Style Shako
• Fantassin / War Modelling EN-22 Spanish Command Bicorne
• Fantassin / War Modelling EN-22a Spanish Infantry Command (shako)
• Blue Moon Miniatures 15NST-204: Spanish Tailed Jacket Infantry with Bell Topped Shako Command
• Blue Moon Miniatures 15NST-205: Spanish Tailed Jacket Infantry with Bell Topped Shako

Royalist Infantry 1817-24

Grenadier Productions RI-01 [RNS-001] Royalist Infantry (Fusileros)
Use for:

• Royalist Infantry (Fusileros) 1817-24
• Royalist Fernando VII Regiment 1815

Grenadier Productions RI-02 [RNS-002] Royalist Infantry (Elites)
Use for:

• 1817-24 Royalist Infantry (Elites)
• 1815 Royalist General’s Battalion – Grenadiers
• 1815 Royalist General’s Battalion – Fusiliers
• 1815 Royalist Fernando VII Regiment – Elites

Grenadier Productions RI-03 [RNS-003] Royalist Infantry (Command)
Use for: As RI-01 and RI-02

Royalist Artillery Crew

Grenadier Productions RA-01 [RNS-009] Royalist Artillery Crew

Using Napoleonic ranges:

• Spanish Artillery with Shako
• AB Miniatures AB-S23;
• AB Spanish Artillery with Bicorne for 1810-12;
• French Artillery

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Argentine Patriot

Argentine Generals

Grenadier Productions AG-03 [PS-015] Patriot General San Martin
Use for:

• Argentine General San Martin

Grenadier Productions AG-01 [PS-013] Patriot General Belgrano
Use for:

• Any poor or mid-tier Patriot general
• General Manuel Belgrano
• General Antonio Balcarce
• General Jose Rondeau
• General Rudecindo Alvarado

Grenadier Productions AG-02 [PS-018] Patriot General Guemes 
Use for:

• Any Bolivian or Argentine caudillo of the period
• Martin Guemes
• Juan Arenales
• Ignacio Warnes
• Manuel Padilla

Using Napoleonic ranges:

• Mounted officers with a fore-and-aft bicorn
• Old Glory 15s NMG7 British Generals

Argentine Cazadores a Caballo de la Escolta del General 1817-18

Grenadier Productions MC-03 [PRNS-006] Cavalry (Hussar Dolman) 
Grenadier Productions MC-04 [PRNS-007] Cavalry (Hussar Dolman Command)

Using Napoleonic ranges:

• AB Figures JP233 Jena Prussian Hussars in shako
• French Chasseurs a Cheval

Balkan Military History: South America used French Chasseurs a Cheval, which is appropriate for the Elite company but not for the majority. Looks impressive though.

Terry Haney suggested AB Figures Jena Prussian Hussars in shako (JP233) make an excellent substitute for Royalist cavalry and Patriot Cazadore a Caballo, with no pelisse and tall straight shako. Just need to trim off their pigtail.

Argentine Granadero a Caballo Cavalry – Shako

Grenadier Productions AC-01 [PS002] Argentina Granadero a Caballo Cavalry (shako/saber)
Use for:

• Argentine Granadero a Caballo
• Venezuelan Light Cavalry;

Grenadier Productions AC-02 [PS001] Argentina Granadero a Caballo Cavalry (shako/lance)
Use for:

• Argentine Granadero a Caballo;
• Venezuelan Light Cavalry;
• Royalist Lanceros del Rey

Grenadier Productions AC-03 [PS003] Argentina Granadero a Caballo Cavalry (shako/command)
Use for: AS for AC-01 and AC-02

Using Napoleonic ranges:

• Dutch light dragoons

Argentine Granadero a Caballo Cavalry – Cap

Grenadier Productions AC-04 [PS005] Argentina Granadero a Caballo Cavalry (cap/saber)
Use for:

• Argentine Granaderos a Caballo with Cap, in Peru and Ecuador 1820-1824;
• Caballeria de la Patria Regiment (1810-11);
• Dragones Ligeros de la Patria/Ligeros del Peru Regiment (1811);
• Dragones de la Patria Regiment;
• Dragones de Plaza (1815);
• Husares de Tucuman Regiment (1816)
• Royalist Arequipa Dragoons

Grenadier Productions AC-05 [PS004] Argentina Granadero a Caballo Cavalry (cap/lance)
Use for:

• Granaderos a Caballo in service in Peru 1820;
• Any Argentine cavalry unit with lances

Grenadier Productions AC-06 [PS006] Argentina Granadero a Caballo Cavalry (cap/command)
Use for: As AC-04 and AC-05

Gaucho Cavalry

Grenadier Productions AC-07 [PS-016] Gaucho Cavalry
Use for:

• Gaucho cavalry from Jujuy, Tucuman, portions of Alto Peru, etc;
• Guerrilla or irregular units in Bolivia, Argentina or Uruguay

Grenadier Productions AC-08 [PS-017] Gaucho Infernales Cavalry
Use for:

• Gaucho Infernales Cavalry
• Gaucho cavalry from the region of Salta

Using Napoleonic ranges:

• Spanish Garrochistas. Fantassin do some in 15mm. Admitted these have too many clothes

Argentine Cazadore Infantry Regiment #1 (Cazadores de los Andes) 1817-18

No specialist figures for these.

Using Napoleonic ranges:

• British rifles with Light Infantry Command so you don’t get the officer’s pelisse but do get the standard bearer

I used:

• Fantassin / War Modelling UN-31 British Rifles Marching
• Fantassin / War Modelling UN-30 Command Light Infantrymen

That said, the historical unit used muskets not rifles. John Fletcher used Two Dragons Productions figures as they have their sabres attached like bayonets, giving the overall appearance of muskets.

Argentine Line Infantry

Grenadier Productions A1-01 [PS-011] Argentina Infantry (Fusilero/Cazadore)
Use for: Argentina Infantry (Fusilero/Cazadore)

Grenadier Productions A1-02 [PS-012] Argentina Infantry (Granadero)
Use for:

• Argentina Infantry 1813-1823 Granadero;
• Some entire Argentine battalions in Upper Peru used this style “shako bag”;
• Some later war Royalist Grenadiers used the same style “shako bag”

Grenadier Productions AI-03 [PS-013] Argentina Infantry (Command)
Use for: As per A1-01 and A1-02

Using Napoleonic ranges:

• Dutch/Belgium Chasseurs
• War Modelling Spanish Grenadiers for guys with bearskin

Argentine Artillery Crew

Grenadier Productions AA-01 [PS-020] Argentina Artillery Crew

Using Napoleonic ranges:

• Spanish Artillery with Shako
• AB Miniatures AB-S23 Dutch/Belgium artillery crew pack; Note: the guns are single trail British, so aren’t suitable for Liberators

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Chilean Patriot

Chilean Generals

Grenadier Productions CG-01 [PS-014] Patriot General O’Higgins
Use for:

• Chilean General O’Higgins
• Venezuela/Gran Colombia General Simon Bolivar

Chilean Cavalry

Grenadier Productions AC-01 [PS002] Argentina Granadero a Caballo Cavalry (shako/saber) although Roland had to add the epaulettes.

Chilean Line Infantry

Grenadier Productions CI-01 [PS-007] Chile Infantry (Fusileros)
Note: Same pack as VI-01 Venezuela/Gran Colombia Infantry (Fusileros)
Use for:

• Chile Infantry (Fusileros)
• Venezuela Infantry (Fusileros)
• Gran Colombia Infantry (Fusileros)
• 1823 Peruvian Infantry (2nd and 4th battalions)

Grenadier Productions CI-02 [PS-009] Chile Infantry (Cazadore)
Use for:

• Chilean Cazadore of Line Infantry battalions and specialist Cazadore battalions
• 1823 Peruvian Infantry (2nd and 4th battalions)

Grenadier Productions CI-03 [PS-008] Chile Infantry (Granaderos)
Note: same pack as VI-03 Venezuela/Gran Colombia Infantry (Granaderos)
Use for:

• Chile Infantry (Granaderos)
• Venezuela Infantry (Granaderos)
• Gran Colombia Infantry (Granaderos)
• 1823 Peruvian Infantry (2nd and 4th battalions)

Grenadier Productions CI-04 [PS-010] Chile Infantry (Command)
Use for: CI-01, CI-02 and CI-03

Using Napoleonic ranges:

• Isabelino infantry from the Fantassin Carlist range
• 1815 Dutch-Belgian infantry
• Prussians with Shako (e.g. Essex)

Chilean Artillery Crew

Grenadier Productions CA-01 [PS-021] Chile Artillery Crew

Using Napoleonic ranges:

• Dutch/Belgium artillery crew pack; Note: the guns are single trail British, so aren’t suitable for Liberators

Chilean Engineers 1817-18

Using Napoleonic ranges:

• Foot officers with a fore-and-aft bicorn

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Venezuelan / Gran Colombian Patriot

British/Irish Infantry

Grenadier Productions BI-01 [–] British/Irish Infantry (Privates)
Grenadier Productions BI-02 [–] British/Irish Infantry (Command)
Use for:

• British/Irish Legionaries

Venezuela/Gran Colombia Infantry

Grenadier Productions VI-01 [PS-007] Venezuela/Gran Colombia Infantry (Fusileros)
Note: Same pack as CI-01 [PS-007] Chile Infantry (Fusileros)
Use for:

• Chile Infantry (Fusileros)
• Venezuela Infantry (Fusileros)
• Gran Colombia Infantry (Fusileros)

Grenadier Productions VI-02 [–] Venezuela/Gran Colombia Infantry (Cazadores)
Use for:

• Venezuela/Gran Colombia Infantry (Cazadores)

Grenadier Productions VI-03 [] Venezuela/Gran Colombia Infantry (Granaderos)
Note: same pack as CI-03 [PS-008] Chile Infantry (Granaderos)
Use for:

• Chile Infantry (Granaderos)
• Venezuela Infantry (Granaderos)
• Gran Colombia Infantry (Granaderos)

Grenadier Productions VI-04 [–] Venezuela/Gran Colombia Infantry (Command)
Use for:

• Venezuela/Gran Colombia Regular Infantry i.e. VI-01, VI-02, VI-03;
• Llanero/Peasant Infantry i.e. LI-01

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Peruvian Patriot

1823 Peruvian Hussar

Grenadier Productions Granaderos a Caballo (shako); file off the shoulder boards, add jacket lace in painting.

1823 Peruvian Infantry (2nd and 4th battalions)

Grenadier Productions CI-01 [PS-007] Chile Infantry (Fusileros)
Grenadier Productions CI-03 [PS-008] Chile Infantry (Granaderos)
Grenadier Productions CI-04 [PS-010] Chile Infantry (Command)
Use for: CI-01, CI-02 and CI-03

1823 Peruvian Legion

Command: use Grenadier Productions CI-04 [PS-010] Chile Infantry (Command); paint on a lapel
Fusileros: Use AB Miniatures AB-S32
Granaderos: Use AB Miniatures S04-S06

1823 Peruvian Cazadores

Grenadier Productions Chilean Cazadores 1817-1823

1823 Peruvian Artillery

Grenadier Productions use Argentina artillery

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Generic – Both Royalist and Patriot

Cavalry (Jacket)

Grenadier Productions MC-01 [PRNS-008] Cavalry (Jacket)
Grenadier Productions MC-02 [PRNS-009] Cavalry (Jacket Command) 
Use for:

• Any unit in short jacket without tails
• Dragoons
• Cazadores a Caballo
• Chillan Dragoons

Cavalry (Hussar Dolman)

Grenadier Productions MC-03 [PRNS-006] Cavalry (Hussar Dolman) 
Grenadier Productions MC-04 [PRNS-007] Cavalry (Hussar Dolman Command)
Use for:

• Any unit in Braided Jacket;
• Dragoons;
• Hussars;
• Cazadores a Caballo;
• Escorts
• Argentine Cazadores a Caballo de la Escolta del General
• Royalist Abascal Carabiniers
• Peruvian Junin Hussar Regiment;
• Colombian Hussar Regiment

Cavalry (Coat)

Grenadier Productions MC-05 [PRNS-004] Cavalry (Coat)
Grenadier Productions MC-06 [PRNS-005] Cavalry (Coat Command)
Use for:

• Any cavalry unit that wore coats with tails, usually Dragoons;
• Cazadores a Caballo;
• Escorts;
• Possibly Royalist Granaderos de la Guardia
• Royalist Frontier Dragoons

Militia Cavalry (Top hat)

Grenadier Productions MC-07 [PRS-002] Militia Cavalry (Top hat; Saber)
Use for:

• Early war Royalists;
• Argentine militia cavalry throughout the period
• Dragones de San Carlos;
• The Regimiento de Blandengues

Grenadier Productions MC-08 [PRS-001] Militia Cavalry (Top hat; Lance)
Use for:

• Early war Royalists;
• Argentine militia cavalry throughout the period;
• Regimiento de Dragones de Milicia Patriotica de Salta;
• Gauchos de Linea de Salta

Grenadier Productions MC-09 [PRS-003] Militia Cavalry (Top hat; Command)
Use for: As MC-07 and MC-08

Venezuelan Llanero Cavalry

Grenadier Productions LC-01 [–] Llanero Cavalry

Venezuelan Llanero/Peasant Infantry

Grenadier Productions LI-01 [–] Llanero/Peasant Infantry
Grenadier Productions LI-02 [–] Llanero//Peasant Infantry Command

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Cannon

Grenadier Productions:
– [PRNS-010] 6lbr (5.5″) Howitzer (2 guns)
– [PRNS-011] 4lbr Field Gun (Short Barrel) (2 guns)
– [PRNS-012] 4lbr Field Gun (Long Barrel) (2 guns)
– [PRNS-013] 8lbr Field Gun (2 guns)
– [PRNS-014] 2lbr Mountain Gun (2 guns)

Using Napoleonic ranges:
The Spanish adopted the Gribeauval system in 1792 but in the Americas some Valliere’s probably stayed in service. John Fletcher original used Fantassin French 4lbrs and 8lbrs for the majority of his guns. I found them rather chunky and much prefer John’s dedicated range.

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Grenadier Productions Units Packs

– [RNSU-001] Royalist Infantry 1818-24 UNIT PACK
– [RNSU-002] Royalist Dragoons w/ helmet UNIT PACK 
– [PSU-004] Argentina Infantry 1813-1823 UNIT PACK
– [PSU001] Argentina Granadero a Caballo 1813-20 UNIT PACK(shako/saber)
– [PSU-001a] Argentina Granaderos a Caballo 1813-1815 UNIT PACK (shako/lance)
– [PSU002] Argentina Granadero a Caballo 1820-24 UNIT PACK (cap/saber)
– [PSU-002a] Argentina Granadero a Caballo 1820-24 UNIT PACK (cap/lance)
– [PSU-003] Chile Infantry 1817-1823 UNIT PACK
– [PRNSU-001] Cavalry in Short Coat UNIT PACK
– [PRNSU-002] Cavalry in Braided Jacket UNIT PACK
– [PRNSU-003] Cavalry in Jacket UNIT PACK