Cold War Nato Armor

A small selection of British and US tanks, the bottom four are British Centurions. The next six are M-60's.

The four light tanks to the right are M551 Sheridan's with the 152mm gun/launcher rather than a conventional cannon. To their rear are six M-60 A1's with four M-60 A2 "Starships" also armed with the 152mm gun/launcher.

These are metal 1/285 Micro GHQ Armor that I painted in 1977. I used to have a full armored division (mixed US and British Pieces-it was a wargame unit after all) of these fine beasties and had great fun throwing them into games against their Soviet West Pack foes in the late '70's. Alas those days are long gone as are most of the pieces that I gave away as I shifted my focus into World War II 1/285 scale using the old "Panzer War" rules.

When Quick Action is Needed-Send in the Marines!

 

From the end of the Great War to the early days of WWII, the US Marines were heavily involved in actions of intervention and prevention from the Caribbean to Asia in the Far East. Whenever the call went out for the Marines, the Corps was there when needed giving their payment in blood and suffering as required.

                       

Here we have a typical between the war small USMC unit in action in some long-forgotten firefight that never made the headlines. This detachment has seen some bloody action, so much so that the Lieutenant has traded his pistol for the heavier firepower of a Tommy Gun. The rest of the men have the standard weapons and equipment of the day, Springfield 30.06 rifles, 12-gauge trench guns, another Tommy Gun, a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) and even a Lewis Light Machinegun. For this combat they have traded in their soft campaign hats for the old First World War "Tin Helmets" that continued to see action well into 1942, with many Marine units throughout the Pacific.

These miniatures are 28mm metal pieces from Pulp Figures excellent Americans section of troops.

USMC in the Banana Wars

 

Somewhere in the Dominican Republic, a detachment of a USMC heavy weapons company goes into action in the Banana Wars (1898-1934) of the early 20th Century (The USMC was engaged in the Dominican Republic from 5-5-1916 to 1924). During the Banana Wars, the USMC would see action in Cuba- 1898-1934 (they are still stationed at Guantanamo Bay as of 2024), Honduras- 1902-1925, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua- 1912-1923, Mexico- 1914 and Hati-1915-1934.

The gem of the unit is a Browning .30 cal. model 1917 water cooled heavy machinegun. This excellent weapon was used in every American conflict from World War One to the early days of the Vietnam War. Firing the powerful .30-06 Springfield round at 600 rounds per minute, this was a brutal force for an enemy to face. 

Other support is being given by two Lewis Guns. This was a lighter weight machine gun that remained in American use from the First World War to World War Two. The Lewis Gun in American service also fired the .30-06 Springfield at a rate of 600 rounds per minute. 

Also to be seen in the unit are the .30-60 cal. Browing Automatic Rifle (BAR), a .45 cal. Tommy Gun submachinegun, a 12-gauge Trench Gun shotgun, two Springfield .30-06 rifles and, in the hands of the Lieutenant, the famous 1911-A1 Colt .45 cal. automatic pistol. These solid weapons gave the USMC excellent firepower support throughout some of the most brutal wars of the 20th Century.

These are metal pieces that I painted in the early years of the 21st century.

Dawn Patrol Vietnam 1964

Four American "Advisors" ready themselves for a patrol in the early day of US involvement in South Vietnam. 

.45 Grease Gun, 2 .30 carbines and a 12-gauge Trench and lots of frag grenades give the Advisors a decent amount of firepower.
 

  Into the jungle where danger is everywhere, animals, insects, diseases and the Viet Cong.

These are plastic kit-bashed pieces that I painted this week.

Touring 1905 Style

Here we have a generic 1905 touring car in 20mm scale.

This is a very cheap plastic old Christmas decoration that I repurposed and repainted yesterday.

The Jeep-Best Workhorse of the Allies in the Second World War

 

With at least 640,000 Jeeps made during the Second World War, it's not surprising that they were a common sight in every Allied army on every front. Rugged, well-built and reliable, the Jeep became the new mule/workhorse of the Allies military. Completing every conceivable job from recon to raiding, transporting to towing, ambulance to anti-air, the jeep did it all.

Here we have Pacific Theater USMC Jeep armed with the famous M2 Browning (Ma Deuce) .50 cal. heavy machinegun. Firing a massive 1/2-inch-wide bullet, the Ma Duce has been, and still is, a staple of the US Military since 1933. Effective against infantry, vehicles, lightly armored AFV's, aircraft and small boats, the Ma Deuce has been a popular choice in any firefight. 

The Jeep was a cheap and versatile way to get firepower and supplies to any hot spot on the line. With a speed of over 45 mph (72 km/p), the ability to haul over 1000 lbs. (454 kg) and travel in every combat environment, the Jeep was a welcome addition to any military motor pool.

After the war, many Jeeps became war surplus and served a double duty in the civilian realm. My own Uncle Herb used a Jeep at the Ranch for decades, doing sterling duty on the rolling hills and mountains of the Central California Coast. We still use the Jeep trails that he blazed in the 1940's, '50's and 60's. My favorite saying, he had about his trusty Jeep was "there are only two types of trees on the Ranch...those the Jeep can run over and those they can't...and there are darn few of those it can't."

News from the Front-"United Nations Advance in Korea"

Our reporter with the United Nations forces moving through North Korea has sent some photos of the victorious troops as they follow up the defeated enemy.  

The M-26 Pershing Tank with its 90mm cannon and three machineguns gives a solid punch to the United Nations Forces as they chase the routed North Korean Army (NKA) invaders.
 

Armed with the new and improve "Super Bazooka," American soldiers have little to fear from NKA tanks.

These US Marine Corps (USMC) artillerymen offer powerful and accurate fire from their 105mm howitzer supporting the Allied advance.

British commonwealth troops make up the second largest force of the United Nations Allied forces, the Americans have the most UN troops in Korea. One of the heroes even shows off his captured PPSh-41 Soviet Submachinegun.

This USMC Jeep with its .50 Cal machine gun, affectionally known as the Ma Duce by is users, gives excellent fire support to the victorious UN troops.

The M-16 halftrack with its four .50 Cal machine guns is known as the "Meat Chopper" for its ability to cut up attacking NKA troops.

When direct heavy fire power is needed, the Churchill ARVE withs its 290 mm main weapon is called into action. 

All these weapons and the United Nations soldiers using them have chased the defeated NKA troops almost to the Chinese border, General Macarthur says the war is all but won and the boys will be home by Christmas. 1951, should be a year of peace, we hope.

                                         The retreating enemy using a Russian T-34 85 tank.

These are plastic, resign and metal pieces that I have put together and painted in the last two years.

World War Two Armored Corps (Mixed)

Ready for Second World War Gaming (mostly Bolt Action) are my AFV's (Armored Fighting Vehicles).

Top to bottom-left to right: 2 Russian T-34 85's & 3 IS II's. Row Two, Afrika Korps Mk III, the 6 are American, 2 M-3 Halftracks, M-12 AA, M-6 37mm GMC (Gun Motor Carriage) & a Jeep with 50. Cal HMG, Row Three, M-4 Sherman 75mm, M-4 Sherman 76mm, M-26 Pershing, M-18 Hellcat, Bren Gun Carrier, M-3 Lee, & M-3 Stuart.

Above the M-3 Stuart are four Imperial Japanese vehicles, Shinhoto Chi Ha, Dug in Chi Ha, Type 97 Chi Ha & a Tankette. 

Starting with the USMC camo M-4 Sherman 75mm, then we have four British tanks- Tank Crusier Mk VII Cromwell A27M, Infantry Tank Churchill ARVE 95mm with a switch out Mk IV 57mm turret siting on the engine, Valentine MVII, Crusader Mk VI A15. The lone fighter to the left is a smaller scale P-40 Warhawk.

Many of the AFV's also do double duty as Korean War vehicles.

All the AFV's are plastic/resin kits I have assembled and painted over the last three years. 
 

Partisan Vrom Start to Finish Part II

Finished and ready for combat, left to right Jean with the Colt .45Andre with the rifle, Marcel with the Potato Masher, Pierre in back with a Grease Gun and Louis with a captured MP-40. 

Partisan all, with the fury for revenge and the bravery to continue the fight against the invaders.

A fast raid and then disappear to await the next mission until a final victory is achieved.
 

Joined by Rene, Jeter and "Cowboy" (For more info see: World Historyprof: We Are Not Defeated Yet!), the eight-man cell is ready "Vive la France!"

               All are plastic, I finished five last night and three last week. 

Partisans from Start to Finish Part I

I decided to try painting some Wargames Atlantic World War Two figures, Partisans to be exact.

Here we have four bodies with a choice of weapons arms heads and a few accessories.

Four men now ready for priming. Two rifles, a colt .45, Potato Masher, Grease Gun and Sten gun make up the weapons.

 Bases covered with sand, bodies and weapons primed. Tomorrow, the end results.

 

We Are Not Defeated Yet!

Throughout occupied Europe, groups of partisans refused to give up the fight against the invaders.

Here is such a group, no uniforms, armed with whatever weapons they can gather together. 

The leader, "Rene," with his 1909 Mauser machine pistol, directs the raid. "Jeter" is ready to start the action with his "potato masher" grenade. While "Cowboy" will use his Bren Gun to lay down cover fire.

These are plastic pieces from Atlantic's "Partisans (1): French Resistance" that I painted last night.

Drop 100, Fire for Effect

1951, Korea, UN British Commonwealth mortar team gives fire support to their fellow UN troopers.

It's hard, hot work that has the crew near the front lines. As the enemy was 

expert at infiltration, having your small arms readily at hand was no small matter.

The mortar and team are metal the weapons and shovel are plastic. I painted all of them in March.
 

The Northwest Fontier is Always Hot

Even in "peace time," it pays to be armed and ready while on patrol on the Northwest Frontier.

Between the Wars, British troops needed to react quickly to disturbances lest they grow into full-blown combat. 

I painted these two plastic colonial Brits in March '22.