Guadalcanal 1942 in 20mm for Rapid Fire! rules - (Part 14) The 3rd US Marine battalion and one more Amtrac

 

Third USMC battalion and 1st Regiment finished together with one more LVT(A)1. Once again these figures are a compromise between the uniform, equipment and organization of the USMC battalion at Guadalcanal and the ones of the later Pacific war. The LVT(A)1 is also for later battles as it was used for the first time at Kwajalein, early 1944. The model is Altaya with added crew for the Brownings. 

The Revell US Marine is a great set. The figures are well designed with all small weapons that the USMC used: M3 SMG, Thompson, Garand, BAR and M1 rifles and even a flamethrower. The problem is heavier weapons as nothing comes inside the box. So they had to be made up once again. 

The Bazookas are Airfix and SHQ with converted Revell marines holding Hasegawa shells. 

The Brownings HMG 1917 are Revell and Matchbox, all with Evergreen sleeves and added water cooling device. The No2s are Atlantic and Matchbox. All No3s are Revell and SHQ. 

The Brownings 1919 have Hasegawa firers with SHQ guns and plastic tripods. On the left there is an Airfix firer with changed tripod. All No2s are Esci and Hasegawa. 

The 81mm mortar is scratchbuilt and has an SHQ, a converted  Revell and the old Matchbox officer, probably the most copied and used 20mm figure in the world. 

The 60mm mortars are again scratchbuilt and have Revell conversions (the one with the rifle raised above the head), another Matchbox conversion and a SHQ figure. 

This one became strange as the Airfix radio man  looks like the grandson of the officer. Even so I like to think of this officer as Chester Puller in order to balance things! The figure with Walkie Talkie is SHQ. 

Next: A return to Vercors