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

The Japanese Infantry Division in 20mm for Rapid Fire! rules

Most of these models were inside the cabinets with figures hidden in card boxes and glued to thin card for many years by now. Recently the Pacific bug bit me and this one had to come out, particularly after reading books and seeing films and videos about Guadalcanal. So I painted the last few boxes of Japanese infantry on the stash and mixed them with the old ones already made. For artillery I found Assymetric Wargames in Italy, which makes in 3d printed resin everything you may need for Japanese guns (including prime movers), together with the possibility of getting quickly the great Simon´s Soldiers figures. Regarding tanks and SPs I simply cleaned some dust out of them as they were made for a long time.

Guadalcanal 1942 in 20mm for Rapid Fire! rules - (Part 2) The Japanese tanks

 

This group was initially planned for the whatever tank encounter of the Pacific from Khalkin Gol to  Saipan or even the last few Battles with the Soviets in 1945. In fact the tank duels in the Pacific, or even a large armored assault by the Japanese, was not a very common sight, specially compared with the Western theaters. In the meantime, Guadalcanal entered as a solid project, and upon reading on the issue, the two main Japanese tank assaults of this campaign (Tenaru and in one of the several actions on the Matanikau) only had between 6 to 10 tanks (Ha-Go and Chi-Ha models) each as the Japanese on the Island(s) were an infantry force with just a few tanks. 

So, besides Guadalcanal, this force allows for pretty much everything you need in terms of Japanese tank actions. 

This Type 89 Chi-Ro is a 3d PLA print from MiniGeneral. This is the type of early tanks used in relatively large numbers which makes a few more necessary.

This one is my most recent Japanese tank with all others made already years ago. As this Chi-Ro is an early version I changed it into a later version with a turret that can be opened and a metal crewman (CP models , I think). 

 

This Type 93 Kokusan by Skytrex was also an early reconnaissance vehicle and, up to now its the only one I have. Maybe Wargaming China can send me few of his Japanese unique and fabulous armored cars? After all that would strenghten the commercial relation between the two neighbors, Portugal and Australia. 

The early mediums Type 97 Chi-Ha with the smaller turret with short 37mm gun. The two to the left are Fujimi and the ones to the right are Airfix. The command version is the Type 97 Shi-Ki with a coaxial long 37mm from Frontline Wargaming.

The Type 97 Chi-Ha with the new turret housing a 47mm gun. The ones closer are Fujimi and the two on the left are Skytrex. On the back are two Altaya die-cast models. 

Again from Fujimi you have here two Type 1 Ho-Ni with 75mm gun and a Type 4 Ho-Ro with  15cm gun from Frontline Wargaming with Fujimi crew. 

The Type 95 Ha-Go is an essential both for Guadalcanal and Tarawa, the two Pacific settings I´m nowadays around. The Ha-go with crewman is Skytrex and the others are Frontline Wargaming. 

The tankette Type 97 Te-Ke and the Type 98 Ke-Ni (sucessor of the Ha-Go) are both Frontline Wargaming. 

The only Japanese artillery I have up to the moment are these two Emhar 75mm model 38 improved (in late war green and not  Artillery Brown as they were originally painted after seeing "Flags of Our Fathers" a late war story) towed by two Frontline Wargaming Isuzu. The crews are conversions from Fujimi and Airfix. 

Next: Whether a video on the Confederates at Gettysburg or the Japanese infantry of WW2. 

The USAAF and the RAF in mid/late WW2 for Rapid Fire! rules and in 20mm ...

This one shows the Allied aircraft for both the Pacific and European fronts. Its another collection that mixes decades old models with an Avro Lancaster finished last night. The usual plastic brands are acompanied by Luppa and Altaya die-casts. This post concludes the WW2 aircraft from the major participants as smaller countries like Poland and Slovakia have their aircraft shown while showing the rest of the army.

The Japanese IJA and IJN aircraft in WW2 for Rapid Fire! rules and in 20...

The Japanese airforce of WW2 is an old pleasure of mine and, together with a Tarawa wargames table and a few Japanese tanks and US Amtracks, its the only few things I have for the Pacific. The models are Hasegawa, Fujimi (most of them from the good old days of cheap Japanese models), Airfix, Matchbox, Italeri and Altaya. If you want a detailed post on how I built the Ryujo Aircraft Carrier go to https://jpwargamingplace.blogspot.com

Rapid Fire! The Japanese air force of WWII in 20mm

Mistubishi G4 M ('Betty' for the allies) was the main bomber of the Japanese Navy (IJN) during the war. This model is Hasegawa and not very easy to store due to size. 

The Kawasaki KI-48 ('Lily') was one of the main light bombers of the IJA. This model is again Hasegawa.

The Nakajima B5N2 ('Kate') was, alongside the Val, the most important Carrier based Japanese fast bomber and torpedo launcher. Model from Fujimi . Matsuo Fushida, commander of the Pearl Harbor attack, used one of these on that day.

Aichi D3A ('Val') was the main carrier-borne  plane and was credited (not counting Pearl Harbor and other actions were they operated with other types of planes) for sinking 16 big allied vessels from Destroyers to Aircraft Carriers during the war. This one is an  Hasegawa model.

An Aichi E13A ('Jake') was the most important Reconnaissance aircraft of the IJN. Hasegawa model.

 The Mitsubishi KI-46 Type 100 ('Dinah') was a reconnaissance, and later a high-altitude interceptor, aircraft of the IJA.  Airfix model.

The most famous Japanese fighter aircraft of the war, the Mitsubishi A6M ('Zeke' but mostly known as the 'Zero'). All models are Airfix, with both the grey-white IJN camouflage or the atypical green camouflage.

The Mitsubishi J2M ('Jack') was a late war fighter designed by Jiro Horikishi, the same designer of the Zero. The idea was for it to become the opponent of the B-29 and other high-altitude Allied bombers. It also became famous as it participated in the last dog-fight of the war in which the Japanese lost 2 Jacks and two Zeroes but shot down 4 USN Hellcats. The one to the left is Hasegawa and the other is Altaya.

The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien ('Tony') was a good Japanese fighter that became famous for ramming B-29's later in the war. Both are Revell.

The Nakajima Ki-84  ('Frank') is considered the best WWII Japanese fighter built in large numbers. Revell model.

Kept to the end is the Yokosuka MXY-7 Okha ('Baka'- fool or idiot for the Americans) rocket-powered Kamikaze attack aircraft that generally was released from Betty bombers The model comes along the Hasegawa Betty and that's why I built it.

I still have some 20+  Pacific war aircraft to build, both US and Japanese, and that includes a B-29 and a Kawanishi H8K 'Emily' which will cause some storage problems. In my plans are also two aircraft carriers, one USN and another for the IJN but that will cause even more storage problems.


Next: wether the USN for the Pacific, or a Cossack WW2 regiment I'm finishing, or a few more Blitzkrieg Germans that are also almost finished.

Rapid Fire! War in the Pacific - 20mm USMC Amtracs

 

Up to now I managed to gather 10 LVT2, 3 waterline LVT2 (enough for my RF! Tarawa plus the LCVP's and LCM's I've showed you during the Omaha series), 4 Amtanks and 3 DUKW's for my USMC amphibian units.  These are the only models that I don't base as a Pacific island like Tarawa is too cluttered for based vehicles.

 

 

 

The LVT2's  are Frontline Wargaming. I added the MG's, crew, antennae and some details at the rear. The figures are mostly Atlantic with GreenStuff life jackets.

 

 

All vehicles are painted Vallejo Grey Blue as I do with all USN boats and Landing Craft.

 

 

These waterline LVT2's from Frontline Wargaming are the only ones from the lot to have bases that protects the resin and gives some sense of movement.

 

 

I made two LVT(A)1 Amtanks. They are conversions from the Frontline Wargaming LVT2. I added the structures for the turret, the MG's and crew, antennae, dragging poles and the turret itself came from the Matchbox Honey.

 

 

 This is a 'true' LVT(A)1 from Altaya with added crew only.

 

Another conversion from the Frontline Wargaming LVT2 is this LVT(A)-4. Again some extra stuctures had to be built as well as the turret from the M-8 with the 75mm howitzer that was made from scratch.

 

 

The DUKW's are Altaya slightly weathered and with a diver.  

 

 

Rapid Fire! Tarawa 1943 in 20mm

I took some detailed photos of my Betio/Tarawa wargames table prior to the american 20 November 1943 landings, with the Japanese dug in waiting for it... One of these days everything will have to be stored to prepare one more wargame (destined not to be wargamed, as usual).

This layout is scaled down to Rapid Fire! figure and weapons organisation.

  The northwest defences with  140mm naval (open revetment)  and a 70mm AA. The logs palisade is made from barbecue sticks. 

Opposite south. An 8 inch gun with its searchlight. The basis of this gun is the Airfix German coastal set. 

The crew of the 8 inch are old Atlantic figures transformed into artillerymen.

 The 127mm twin  naval guns. These were made from very old Atlantic parts mixed with different types of plastic until  a reasonable similarity was achieved. 

Two Zeroes in the airfield. The models are Airfix and die-cast Altaya. The revetments are made, again, from barbecue sticks.

Several types of bunkers and dugouts  protecting the south beach.

The latrines. Afraid of deseases ( there were 5000 Japanese and Korean in the island) the Japanese built this kind of latrines in the seashore. When the Marines landed they had bullets waiting and some strange things floating... small mines they thought?

The protections for field guns. You can see the separation between the tiles on the right. The whole island is divided in three large parts for ease of storage.

75mm model 88 in open revetment (Irregular Miniatures based but heavily transformed). The Japanese soldiers are painted in a greenish tone as they are not regular infantry but SNLF (sort of, but not the same, as Marines).

140mm naval gun in the east tip of Betio, made from EverGreen plastics. 

The command bunker made from BlueBoard with an Ha-go type 95 nearby. While in the outside in the beginning of the battle,  the Japanese island CO was killed by US  naval guns. So the defense of the island was left without proper command. Even so the japanese inflicted thousands of casualties on the Marines. Just imagine if  Admiral Shibasaki had survived...

The east end of the airfield. Another Ha-Go  hidden in the coconut trees and some shell craters (Frontline Wargaming) near a 13mm MG (sandbagged position).

 The Airfix house for the pacific. It had to appear. East end of airfield.

The 3rd  Ha-go hidden amongst the trees.

The east part of Betio with the Co post and another 127mm naval gun emplacement.

A range finder (left) and a truck (Fronline Wargaming) near a depot in east Betio.

The anti-tank ditch in east Betio.

The sunken Nimanoa that made part of the landscape on those days. A conversion from a plastic toy boat.

The main pier facing at the lagoon.

The secondary pier with a Frontline Wargaming bunker nearby.

 
A third pier in the east.

Closed...

Open. All the closed bunkers have lift up roofs.

 
Another depot in West Betio.

 Betio from the east.

And that´s it. Most of the material showed is scratchbuilt in the most diverse materials - Evergreen; polistyrene tyles; wood, etc. The water is a tailored carpet. The palm trees were bought in two large bags in a pastry shop.

The pieces of terrain are all detached, as I intend to use some of them in other layouts, nevertheless they were built specifically for this scenario.

It took me some 2 or 3 months to build all this stuff. You need good information for accuracy and all the details were taken into account down to the last MG emplacement, its shape and size. In some books (Osprey campaign for instance) but also in the internet you will find loads of very good information, as the americans pay a lot of attention to Tarawa and the Pacific campaign having dedicated sites on the subject.  I dont regret a second all this work as our hobby is a great way to learn and detail the past in an unique way.

One of these days I will show you the Marines and their LVT´, LCI´s, LCVP´s and LCVBCFDSRPGFSTVBFDGRTS´s...and their Destroyers (yes, in 1/72nd scale)...