Nachtadler Ranks

I guess I'd like to go more in depth about this, I just kinda felt bored with Photoshop and wanted to make some progress on my steampunk design.

I hand-fabricated the shoulderboards for my mess jacket, for the Prussian Luftschiffer-marinen Division, 'Nachtadler,' which were inspired a lot by the Vampire Soldiers in Hellsing and Kroenen from Hellboy. A black fleece-y wool underlay with authentic german-issue silber soutache from my collection of uniform resources was fashioned in a navy/imperial design, then I added a wreath and one 'stern' (star) for the rank of Leutnant-Colonel. I felt kinda hollow with just one rank so I decided to fill in the rest of the ranks, Taking what I could describe in an alternate universe with what would later become the base for the Luftwaffe designs in WWII (as in WWI there was no particular official 'air force' to enlist in, they just took random soldiers from ranks that performed well and drafted them into pilot service.)

A Luftschiffer-Marinen's combat usually involved being stationed on a large Navy Zeppelin or Airship (luftschiffer), then parachuted off into combat below, served as a pilot launched from the zeppelin via catapult, (a la aircraft carrier or scout planes affixed to battleships) or simply jumped off like with the parachute, and had pressurised steam-jet or rocket packs to soften their landing and provide other forms of combat movement support whilst on the ground.

Usually NCOs and/or Company Officers had a pull-cord steam whistle integrated into the pack to signal troops, much like the small ones carried by NCOs in their pockets but are much louder and have a larger range.

Combat uniform is distinguished by regulation use of the gasmask, gascape and toque to protect the soldier from unannounced or sudden gas or chemical attacks, a pure black uniform or black with brown or field grey accents. Greatcoat was also worn in all combat situations, and could be a double- or single-breasted design (like the M1914 greatcoat issued to all German soldiers before and during the Great War.) Black leather equipment belts and boots were standard. Pichelhaube was worn without the canvas cover. Machinegunner's armor was also often worn underneath for many regiments, rendering bayonet defenses almost useless without precision. Officers had matching silver soutache on the trim of their uniforms/under-uniforms, mess jackets, and such. General Officers had matching gold soutache. The soutache is a simplified design reminiscent of its use in the Liebhusaren uniform tunics.

The LSM was originally used (in alternate-history) as a personal bodyguard to Kaiser Wilhelm II much like the LAH was originally Hitler's bodyguard, but was eventually expanded and turned into a specialist division that is most famously known for its prominently nighttime service record, and excellent use of the element of surprise. The sound of their Steam-whistle signal system was dreaded, as once it sounded, LSM troops were already too close to prepare a defense against and it was indeterminable whether or not they were armor-users, since all operations were via radio so they didn't have numbers on their epaulets or cuff titles or any other discerning feature other than their rank. That means, all the kompanies in the LSM had shoulder epaulets that looked like one in this photo regardless of what 'number' they were.

Just like Stormtroopers in Star Wars!