USMC Pacific War Fireteams

 

All Marines are "Riflemen."

Prewar and early war United States Marine Corps doctrine called for four-man fireteams of two riflemen, a Browing Automatic Rifleman (BAR) and a Thompsom Submachinegun armed NCO. 

Here we have three such fireteams/

These are all plastic pieces for Bolt Action that I painted in 2019.

Fun With Pencil & Pape

Today's post will be a few of my pencil drawings

Lighthouse

Two Japanese losses...

at Guadalcanal

"Lady in Black"

"Last Berth"

"Fantasy World"

These were all done in 2018-19, as therapy for medical issues.

The Bazooka, Musical Instrument-No-Tank Killer Yes

A real game changer for the poor infantrymen facing enemy armor was the "Bazooka." The first of the man portable antitank weapons that had a decent chance against medium tanks in WWII.

Officially the 2.36 in. Rocket Launcer M1. the name "Bazooka" came from its resemblance to a "Joke" instrument of the musician/comedian Bob Burns which had the Bazooka name first.

By the end of the Second World War, it was obvious that the 2.36 in. (60 mm) needed an upgrade. The 3.5 in. (89 mm) M20 "Super Bazooka" would become the mainstay of the Army in the Korean War. 

These are plastic pieces I painted in 2019.

One Man Army

                                                    Gunnery Seargent John Basilone

When the fighting gets tough you want someone like USMC Gunnery Sergent John Basilone, aka "Manila John" on your side. This super tough 26-year-old Marine was one of the many heroes of the 1st Marine Division who fought in the 1942, Hell that was Guadalcanal. As the commander of two machinegun sections of Company "D" 1st Btn. (Lt. Col. Chesty Puller C.O.) 7th Regt. 1st Marine Division, Gunny and his men held a key section of the Lugna Perimeter during the 24-26 Oct. 1942, "Battle for Henderson Field."  Facing ongoing assaults from a Japanese force of some 3000 troops, John fought tirelessly during the three-day battle. Even when his 25-man detachment was reduced to John and only two men, the "One Man Army" that was Gunny Basilone held off the determined assaults of the Japanese till the battle ended.  In the words of one of his men, Pvt. 1st Class Nash Phillips, "Basilone had a machine gun on the go for three days and nights without sleep, rest or food...and causing the Japanese lots of trouble." For his actions during the battle Basilone earned the nation's highest award for bravery above and beyond the call of duty, the "Congressional Medal of Honor."

After a War Bond Tour, Gunny Basilone was offered an officer's commission which he turned down while asking to return to combat duty which was denied. He was then offered a training position at Camp Penelton which he turned down while asking to return to combat duty. His request was granted, and he landed in the first wave on Iwo Jima with Company "C" 1st Btn. 27th Reg. 5th Marine Division. In the thick of action as always, single handedly took out a Japanese machinegun strong point that was pinning down his unit. He then led his men to Airfield #1 where, under heavy small arms and mortar fire, he helped save a Maine tank. It was here that the 29-year-old was fatally wounded. For his actions on "Iwo," Basilone was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross becoming the only Marine to ever be awarded the two highest medals for bravery the Navy Service awards.

Gunnery Sergent John Basilone is a metal piece I painted in 2019.

Para's Advance

Captain Hyde Hamer-Smyth gathers his command section and heads towards "the sound of the guns."

The captain knows that one of the greatest's strengths of paratroopers after a drop is swift action to catch the enemy unprepared and disoriented. So have at it "Para's" and "let loose the dogs of war!"

Thes are plastic pieces I painted in June 2019.

Don't Feed the Plants

Exploring planets is a hazardous business and Ld Grvy Hrdbttm has a 6th sense that has saved him many times. like today when a thought in his mind is warning him "not to feed the plants.:

Whoa, that's one hungry looking plant. But Hrdbttm has a sure cure for obnoxious maneaters. 
Don't feed the plants-people-instead feed them a nice White Phosphorous (WP) grenade. Then "foosh," no plant. 

Hrdbttm is a plastic piece from Games Workshop and the killer plant is a metal piece from Grenadier. I painted both of them in 2019.

"Bull" Allen the Medic Hero of Mount Tambu

 

News from the front: August 1943 New Guinea, our brave photographer catches the Australian Medic Hero of the Battle of Mount Tambu Corporal "Bull" Allen in the act of rescuing a wounded American soldier. Through the heat of this bloody battle against the Japanese, Bull single handedly carried over his shoulder 12 wounded GI's to safety for medical treatment. A grateful US Army has awarded Leslie "Bull" Allen the Silver Star (the second highest military award in the US) for his heroic actions under fire. 1st Lady Ellenor Roosevelt has acknowledged the bravery of Corporal Allen as she his written Allen a personal note of thanks for his selfless act of bravery. With men like, this victory of the Japanese Empire is surely assured.

The Battle of Mount Tambu was a month-long fight that was part of the brutal Salamaua-Lea Campaign from April 22 to September 16, 1943. In the battle the Allies suffered less than 1200 casualties while the Japanese took over 8000. In the firefight where Allen saved the 12 American soldiers, his own unit was not involved in the action. But after seeing two American medics killed trying to rescue their comrades, Allen took it upon himself to save as many as he could. Risking his own life a dozen times through a hail of rifle, machine gun and mortar fire, he doggedly carried each man to safety. It didn't matter that they were not men from his own unit or even country, Allen did his duty as a man helping other men.

Allen had previously seen combat in the Syrian and North African Campaigns and was awarded the British Military Metal for his bravery as a stretcher bearer. After the New Guinea Campaign, he may have suffered from what would now be called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which may have led to him being reduced in rank after striking an officer. In 2013 a move was made to posthumously award this brave man the Victoria Cross, Britian's highest military medal, as of today no such award has been made.

The below link is about the campaign to honor Bull Allen the Victoria Cross":

Call for World War II hero Leslie 'Bull' Allen to be posthumously awarded Victoria Cross - ABC News

This is a metal piece I painted in 2019.

This actual photo of Allen rescuing an America soldier is attributed to Gordon Herbert Short.

Aussi Jungle Fighters.

A group of veteran Australian jungle fighters ready for their next advance.

These are a combination of metal and plastic pieces I painted in 2019.

 

Flamethrower Aussie Style

 

When your up against tough pillbox opposition, the flamethrower offers a solid chance to wipe them out.
 

This squad of Aussie troops is supported by a flamethrower section for just such a need.

The rest of the squad is well supplied with fire power by the two Tommy Guns and Bren Gun LMG.

The flamethrower is a scratch-built piece, all the troops are plastic.

Advancing upon the Japaenes invaders, a section of Punjab Commonwealth troops fight for both the Empire and the safety of India.

Their officer is Lt. Douglas Bravemore III. As a third-generation family office in the Indian Army, Douglas feels a strong responsibility and camaraderie with his men. He will not let them attempt anything that he would not also try, an action that his men respect and wish that more commanders would follow.

These are plastic pieces that I painted in July of 2019.

For the Madi

A band of Sudanese marches to join the forces of the Madi in his revolt against the Egyptians and their British overlords. Their late19th century revolt will have early victories and eventual defeat against the massed firepower of Kitchener's modern colonial army.

                                      These are plastic pieces that I painted in 2019

SNLF the Imperial Navy's Best

Under the leadership of a Katana yielding officer, the elite Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) advances into battle.

The attack under the covering fire of the infamous "Knee Mortar," located in the rear right.

Throughout the Pacific War, the SNLF fought, and died, for the glory of the Emperor.

One of the NCO's is even fighting with a captures American Tommy Gun.

 These are plastic Warlord Games pieces that I painted in July of 2019.

Eastern Front Russian Hordes

Lots of manpower was the hallmark of the Soviet Army in the Second World War Two.

"Quanty has a Quality all its own" really applied to the Russians in the Great Patriotic War. 

                                                 I painted these plastic Russians in 2019