Warlords Guard - Pre-War China

 

During the early 20th century much of China was under the control of Warlords. This is one of the platoons of a Warlord personal guard. 

They are armed with the latest weapons, German style uniforms & equipment. Even their training is European in technique by German World War One veteran mercenaries.

These are kit bashed plastic pieces that I painted in 2018.

All Donations Are Welcome

in the 2nd Sino-Japanese War, the Chinese accepted any and all equipment

the Allies could give them. This small squad is wearing a mix of British 

uniforms, and equipment as well a an American Tommy Gun and Machete.

By the end of World War Two most of the Chinese forces had been re-equipped with American and British war materials event tanks.

These are plastic pieces that I finished today.
 

Grandes-When You Want to Open with a Bang

Advancing in the lead of a night attack, these Chinese grenadiers will soften up the UN lines for the main assault.

In a tactic as old as the "Great War," brave soldiers loaded down with hand grenades would proceed the main infantry attack for the same reasons, disrupt the defenders, cause as many casualties as possible and have the survivors hunker down. Needless to say, the casualties among the grenadiers were extremely high. 

These are plastic pieces I put together and painted in March of 2020.

 

PVA 1950

Winter 1950 and the Peoples Volunteer Army is thrown into the Korean War.

Having warned the UN, USA and their allies that China would not allow a united Korea under hostile control on their border; Red China felt compelled to intervene on the side of the Communist North Koreans.

Armed mostly with Soviet weapons, as well as with Western weapons captured in the Chinese Civil War, hundreds of thousands of fast-moving Chinese PVA infantry surprised the overconfident UN Command how had consistently downplayed the danger of Chinese intervention.

The Korean War would now enter a new bloody see-saw phase that would last until 1953.

These are metal pieces that I painted in 2020.
 

Two Nationalist Chinese MG 34 7.96mm (.311 inch) medium machinegun stand ready 

                           to defend the homeland from Japanese aggression

The elite divisions of the Nationist Army were trained and equipped by Germans in the 1930's.

While most of these units were destroyed in the early years of the Japanese invasion,

they took a heavy toll on the invader's forces.

As with all modern armies, snipers were also an important part of the Nationalist forces.

I put together these plastic soldiers from German pieces for my Bolt Action Pacific War Chinese Army in 2018.

Warlords Pay Better

After the fall of the Qing Dynasty China was at war with itself, Communists, Nationalists and countless Warlords. Warlords are a common occurrence in Chinese History, especially after the fall of a dynasty.

He we have a squad of warlord mercenaries, fighting for money is often a great recruiting inducement. 

By the 1930's the intervention and eventual out right invasion of China by the Japanese changed the military and political landscape the country.

Slowly but surely the warlord armies disappeared, by the end of the 1940's the age of the 20th century Chinese warlord was over...for now, will they return in the future is another question.

These are all plastic pieces that I modified from a variety of German, British and American figure sprues back in 2018.
 

Down 100-Fire for Effect

The Forward Artillery Observer (F/O) calls in fire support to aid his fellow Chinese soldiers. The pounding the Imperial Japanese invaders take may be enough to halt their attack.  If not, the F/O will relocate and try again as as many times as are necessary as China fights for its very existence in the Second Sino-Japanese War (July 1937 to September 1945). 

This F/O is a scratch built plastic piece for my Chinese Army that I painted in 2018.
 

Germans-No, Chinese-Yes

German Helmet, German MG 34, German Equipment-Chinese Soldiers. In the late 1930's, the Nationalist Chinese contracted with the Germans to train and equip several divisions of Chinese infantry.

This section is armed with the excellent MG 34 7.96mm (.311 inch) medium machine gun.

These are converted German plastic figures from Warlord Games that I painted in 2018.
 

Bugles Blow-China Marches

With bugles sending attack commands, these Chinese prepare to attack United Nations troops in North Korea.

Korea, 1950, China has intervened into the war over fear of a unfriendly united Korea under Western leadership.

The infiltration of hundreds of thousands of Chinese "volunteer" troops under the very noses of United Nations High Command was one of the turning points of a war that seemed virtually won to many. 

Perhaps it would be good as a commander to remember the old saying "never underestimate your enemies abilities," as overconfidence has lost many a battle and too many wars.

This platoon will soon see combat in one of the most brutal major conflicts of the post World War Two Era.

These are metal piece from Warlord Games that I painted in 2020.
 

China vs Japan 1938

A squad of battle weary Nationalist Chinese soldiers gathers together for yet another action against the Japanese invaders. 

Ever since the "Marco Polo Bridge Incident" of July, 1937, the Nationalists have been under constantly increasing pressure from the forces of Japan.

With the ever hopeful prospect of total victory for the Emperor, Japanese Army troops once again advance against the Chinese forces.

These are plastic 28mm pieces from Warlord Games that I painted in 2017.
 

Madam Chan-the Dragon Lady

The Dragon Lady controls a vast web of agents, criminals, and officials throughout China. To know her is to know one of the true secretive powers of Asia.

Madam Chang is a 28mm metal piece from Pulp Figures of Canada.