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

Rapid Fire! in 20mm, Vercors 1944 (part 3) - More Maquisards and the strange truck of Valchevrière

A group of metal Les Armées Oubliés figures stands next to the famous (for me at least) "Truck of Valchevrière". This photo in taken in the northern part of Vercors not far from Grenoble days before the first German attack at Saint Nizier. 

This photo was one of the first I found on the Vercors actions and the truck became a mystery due to the strange  kind of canvas cover of the "truck of Valchevrière". In the SCW sometimes the trucks had their rear part raised so the infantrymen could shoot from the inside. Is this an influence of the handfull of Republican Spanish in the Maquis ranks? A second possibility is some kind of medic truck. A third one is something completely different that I can´t see! The model looks to me as a Dodge truck. The French army used a number of them and this one may be a left over, or eventually its a civilian one. The grille is different from other French trucks so the Dodge is a good possibility. 

With all this doubts this solution was cranked up: a SHQ Opel Blitz cabin was glued to a number of  wheels and other parts from all over the place in order to have something that looks slightly with the original. 

Pieces of Blueboard, plastic card and cloth were used in the rear part. 

The wheels are from an Airfix Scammel and the wooden back is from a cheap truck toy. 

The wood gas burner is taken from an Atlantic T-34 gasoline tank. 

The figures from Les Armées Oubliés are beautiful figures that capture very well the Vercors attitude. 

Next: a return to Ukraine

RFR/Able Archer - The army of Saddam Hussein in Kuwait 91 (part 2), the 5th Mechanized Division

One more division of the Iraqi III corps. This one, the 5th Mechanized Infantry Division Mohammed Ibn Al-Kasim, is another famous big unit of the Iraqi army with participations in the last three wars of the country, the Iran-Iraq War, the invasion of Kuwait and the US invasion of 2003. I became interested in this Division after the opening of the ground war in the 1991 Iraqi Khafji offensive were the 5th MID had a central role. It was equipped with different models of the T-55 series and APCs (in fact Chinese T-59 and K-63). Still a few heavy mortars are missing as well as some tractors for the artillery.

RFR/Able Archer - The army of Saddam Hussein in Kuwait 91 (part 1), the 3rd Saladin Armored Division

This one is really heavy. Not only in the amount of armored vehicles but also because most of the vehicles are Skytrex metal, true shelf benders. This division was the most famous of the regular army (not counting the Iraqi Republican Guard) and fought several wars from 1973 up to 2003. Its armored and mechanized brigades fielded plenty T-72 and BMP-1 and the artillery was crammed with 2S1 and 2S3 systems, which, for those days were quite potent weapons. During Kuwait War the 3rd Saladin opened the ground war with the coalition with the attack on Khafji, together with other units of the Iraqi III corps. Most of the information for making this division was taken from the excellent article on Millitary Modelling Vol.30 No08 by Cookie Sewell.

The British 1st/6th Airborne Division in 20mm size for Rapid Fire! rules

Another big unit made along many years. The figures are mostly Esci, Revell and Airfix, the last ones particularly useful for support weapons. The gliders are scratchbuilt or Italeri. The many jeeps are Airfix, Matchbox, Fujimi or Hasegawa. Artillery is Matchbox for the 17pdr guns and SHQ for the M1 75mm howitzers. The 6pdr are all scratchbuilt. The cute little Tetrarchs are Assymetrical Wargaming in 3d printed resin. As usual there are plenty of conversions specially in the mortar and MMG crews.

Next: More Slovaks.

Rapid Fire! 20mm - The 6th and last paratrooper battalion of the British Airborne Division

 

This post concludes the two Paratrooper brigades of a British Airborne Division. Now I still have to make the larger Airlanding Brigade as each has three battalions of four companies instead of three. Most probably I´ll only make one one of its battalions as the biggest British paratrooper gathering was the action of the 1st Division at Oosterbeek/Arnhem were the division was already depleted of maybe some 10% to 15% of its strenght. So you can discard two of its battalions from the original 6 paratrooper´s battalions, 3 airlanding battalions, 1 engineer and 1 of glider pilots and R.A.S.C.

As usual I used the Airfix, Esci and Revell figures with a few leftovers from SHQ. The Airfix figures were useful for conversions for the support weapons (Vickers MMG and 3" mortar) and some Esci were also used (2" mortar and 6pdr AT guns). 

The 6 pdr guns were scratchbuilt and only the barrels and wheels are original PSC. All other pieces were made from several types of plastic all superglued at the end. The figures are SHQ, and Esci and Airfix conversions. 

This is an example of a scratchbuilt stand. None of the three mentioned British paratroopers plastic brands (nor any of the newer in the market) has the Vickers MMG and this one was made by heating the arms of those strange Airfix figure with open arms looking like Jesus Christ at the cross and the Airfix 8th Army Vickers with added water cooling system and ammo box made from Evergreen plastic card. 

Next: a British Glider battalion 

The DCRs for the 1940 campaign in 20mm and for Rapid Fire! wargames rules

3e DLM for the 1940 campaign in 20mm for Rapid Fire! wargames rules

Rapid Fire! France 1940 in 20mm - The Pioneers of the DLM

 Exiting the village of Didier Deschamps, reconnaissance and pioneers of a DLM advance under the protection of a battery of 155mm guns. 

The DLM was the only French big unit type that had three Pioneer companies, with all other types of units having only one or two. Each company was very big with around 200 men each with small differences in number depending on the type of unit. These figures are Simon Soldiers and portray the pioneers carrying mines, shovels and wire. A few figures have the FM 24/29 LMG instead of the more common and older Chauchat distributed among the pioneers. I tried to convert some Revell Chauchat firers but was out of metal heads and these had to do (Revell heads are too small in the WW1 French set comparing with these metal ones). 

The figures are beautifully detailed and the pioneer equipment is all there with anti-personnel and light AT mines, wire laying devices, shovels, etc. 

And here some close-ups to see the great level of detail of these figures. The second figure from the right carries the AT mine modéle 36. 

These Schneider 155mm C guns are MiniGeneral 3d prints with Simon Soldiers and Irregular Miniatures crews. This battery was still missing  as I built some time ago the same guns (Ace models) but with spoked wheels and thus proper for the DI. 

These three motards are SHQ with the discarded side-car. They will be used for liaison and command. 

Finally two offers small but beautiful Simca Cinq from Mário Laranja resin printer. 

Next: more Brandywine 1777. 

Rapid Fire! NW Europe 1944-45 in 20mm - US Airborne and ground reinforcements.

The command group of Combat Command X of an US Armored Division meets in the middle of the Norman bocage. Fearful of a German incursion, the commander request all possible protection from the vicinity and so some Airborne 57mm AT guns and M8 HMCs shows up and make an impregnable ring of steel around him... What a bull###t story! Sorry, but nothing else came to my mind as an introduction.  

This time some additions to the US Armored Division and the Airborne Division. With the Dodge WC53 Carryall and the M8s HMC the Armored division is now complete and the Screaming Eagles finally got some AT protection and tows for the 105mm guns. 

The Carryall is a Matchbox die-cast model I found last month in a second hand toy fair. It looks to be in a smaller scale than the usual 1/64 of many die-cast cars and probably suits our 20mm size pretty well. New plastic wheels from Atlantic, antenna and covered engine (white paste) was added and it looks OK. 

And here it is together with some old metal US command figures, presumably SHQ, given by my friend Jorge Faria.  

The M8s are RTR and will be sent to the three mechanized infantry battalions and their assault gun platoons. The figures are Irregular Miniatures cut by the waist. I chose helmeted figures as for open topped vehicles.

The tiny M8 HMC become very colorful with plenty of markings. 

Half of the  US 57mm AT guns are PSC conversions (muzzle break erased, right side of front protection cut and shortened legs). The artillery men are converted Revell and SHQ figures ( these last ones with EverGreen first aid pads and pockets in the trousers). 

To the left you can see two SHQ 57mm guns and the two PSC to the left. 

Finally the Jeep tandem tows for the 105mm M1 guns were painted, as I had them built for years. The Jeeps are Frontline Wargaming attached to each other with the typical  'A' structure made of plastic card. The drivers are the usual plastic torsos with Milliput arms. To driver to the left is an old Airfix figure driving with his left hand and holding the Thompson with the right hand in a typical Cowboy style. 

Next: French 1940 or Brandywine 1777. 

16. Luftwaffe Field Division in 20mm for Rapid Fire! rules, Normandy 1944

This Division was one of the companions of the more famous 21.PD in the summer of 1944. Some nice uniforms and plenty of horse drawn artillery makes this one a different and challenging unit to build.

If you want to see more on this check the tag '16 LF FD' and you can see 12 posts on the building of this unit.

Rapid Fire! NW Europe 44/45 - 101st US Airborne - 1st battalion done

The 1/501st PIR (the Geronimo Regiment) just received their new M1943 uniforms and parade proudly to show them. This battalion is, hopefully and in the far future, one of the nine battalions of the 101st US Airborne Division, the famous Screaming Eagles, to be built. I chose the green colour of the M1943 because it fits both Market Garden and Bastogne. I used Vallejo Russian Uniform for the color of the paratroopers uniform , following a nice YouTube video from the series "How I paint things". The figures are SHQ, Revell and Esci. 

I painted the Screaming Eagle in all left arms using a small background of black, and one stripe of white and another of gold. 

The US flag was painted in the white armband on the right side. Not easy and almost as difficult as the hammer and sickle of Soviet soldiers (which generally corresponds to a dot in this scale). 

My only conversion for this unit was this guy firing the Bazooka. It started as a regular Esci infantryman up until when EverGreen was added to the trousers, backpack, camouflage netting and first aid kit in the helmet. The other figure is SHQ.

The two other Bazooka teams are SHQ.

The 81mm stand is a mixture of Revell and SHQ figures.

The two command stands mix SHQ and Revell. The Revell CO here is the famous Lt.Col. Harry Kinnard the man who heard Gen. Mcauliffe say "Nuts" to the German surrendering demand at Bastogne and who apparently was responsible for the word to become part of history. 

All three brands, SHQ, Revell and Esci, living together in perfect harmony. 

Next: the M-24 Chaffees in the Ardennes. 

Rapid Fire! France 1940 in 20mm - Motorcycle sidecars for the BEF

The British GHQ ordered a strong reconnaissance patrol, consisting of a full Motorcycle Battalion and two squadrons of Mark VI light tanks, to check the German occupied twin villages of Marine-Le-Pen and Jean-Marie-Le-Pen which stargely fell into Nazi hands quiet easily. But please don´t get mistaken, the place that the British are passing by is the village of Fabien Barthez, still in British "hands"... if you enjoy football you will know what I mean.

I really tried to find information to make the 1QVR for the 1st Armoured Division. In the end, and mostly thanks to the Rapid Fire! FB groups, I arrived to the conclusion that the 1QVR didn't even carried ist Nortons to France and after arriving at Calais used, most probably, French trucks to move around. So these guys became - obviously- the 4th Northumberland Fusilier Motorcycle Battalion with Arras in the horizon. 

The Motorcycles with sidecar are SHQ and the solo are Fujimi conversions. The Mark VI are MiniGeral 3d prints. 

The SHQ Norton combos together with three solo motorcycles makes the three companies necessary for a full Motorcycle battalion. The SHQ models are pretty good and far better than their own French combos. 

One of the combos got a Boys AT rifle. Not sure if the Norton combos carried one but these guys need some anti armour protection.

Half of them got a Bren LMG...

                           

...and the leftovers had no Bren or Boys as issued to the motorcycle combo units. In all rear seated soldier I glued a plastic rifle for them not to look like they are on an excursion. 

The solo motorcycles are originally Harley Davidsons from Fujimi. The original motorcycle was deprived of a number of details and received a new headlamp. The figure had its head cut off, replaced by an Airfix one and got a new backpack and rifle. The motorcyclists also got their British ammunition pouches and gas mask bag made of GreenStuff. 

Finally the four Mark VI LT from MiniGeneral. The prints of MiniGeneral are getting better and better and Pedro Pato managed to clean much of the excess plastic mainly in the tracks of his models. Some annoying lines are still visible but you can erase them with 50% PVA glue +50% of your oldest and almost dried out acrylic paint aplied directly on those lines. 

Next: 12th SS Panzer Italian transport; a Ferdinand Battalion fort Kursk or a visit to my very old Home-Made card soldiers. 

Rapid Fire! Conclusion of the 26th VGD in Bastogne - The Intriguing Feldersatz Battalion

Years ago I built a Volksgrenadier division according to its six battalion/ three Regiment structure and obviously obeying Herr Richard Marsh and his Battle of the Bulge supplement. You can see it here:

http://jpwargamingplace.blogspot.com/2013/02/rapid-fire-20mm-volksgrenadier-division.html

One of the intriguing points in the Bastogne siege is how the 26th VGD (Volksgrenadier Divisions had around 10.000 men) could have besieged a bigger and better quality unit like the 101st Airborne with 11.000 men during more than one week. If it is true that the 26th VGD was not alone, counting with other units of the 47th Panzer Korps, it is also true that the 101st was not alone as it counted with tank, Tank Destroyer, stragglers  and many artillery units. 

Eventually many other units participated in the siege on both sides, some just passing by, making countability more difficult. 

To increase problems many sources, including the CO of the Division, Gen. Heinz Kokott, place the 26th VGD at 17.000. But how can a VGD be 17.000 strong if its organized according to the 1944 OB for infantry with only two battalions per regiment, so less than 10.000 men?

After looking a bit everywhere, mainly in internet forums where other people placed the same question,  the solution seems to be that the 26th VGD had a big Feldersatz Battalion (FEB) of several thousand men, used as replacements for the numerous casualties expected in the Ardennes campaign, something that really happened. A bit like the assault companies of US infantry for D-Day, reinforced at 50% as they also expected a high volume of casualties. 

The difference between the 10.000 paper organization of a VGD and the real 26th VGD 17.000 men strong makes you build at least four new battalion sized forces that you can see in the big picture above: three infantry battalions and another one at the top, with the Hetzer tank dividing it, to reinforce the Pioneer and the Fusilier battalion of the Division.  

Most of the figures are old plastics from Airfix, Matchbox and Revell with a few newer PSC and some metal from SHQ and Irregular Miniatures. 

Some stands of Irregular Miniatures 80mm mortar and HMG. 

The PSC cleverly engineered solution for the HMG. 

The Pzfausts and Pzschreck of PSC. 

Some conversions also made are the support figure for the Esci Panzerschreck made out of two figures from Matchbox with the MP44 assault rifle from Armourfast. 

Airfix and Revell living together in harmony. The Airfix figure comes from the DAK box but with gloves new uniform and camouflage trousers becomes a nice Volksgrenadier. 

The Command stands have radios placed on the back of Esci and Airfix. The Officers are PSC, Esci, Matchbox, Fujimi (the greatcoated one) and SHQ. The lying down figures are Armoufast, Revell, Airfix and Matchbox. 

Esci and Revell for the snipers, Revell for the Pzfausts. The 80mm mortar stand has an Esci (surplus from the Nebelwerfer set) and Matchbox figures, the kneeling one again a conversion. 

For speed of painting I used the same grey colour for the gloves; webbing was all black, haversack and canvas gaiters were all khaki, etc. Also the camouflage schemes were generally the Field Grey jacket, the camouflaged or white smock and the same for trousers and helmets. 

Pioneer from Revell lead by an Italeri figure. 

This is my fifth Hetzer, a bit too much as only three are necessary for the Anti-tank battalion. The camouflage comes from Osprey campaign 145 about the Bastogne events. With one extra Hetzer it makes two companies and with this big FEB may be I start also another VGD as two are necessary for the St Vith actions. 

Next: have no idea. Better, too many ideas but don't know what to choose.