Death by Fire is a Bad Way to Go

The cry "Enemy Flamethrower" is enough to terrorize even the bravest soldier.

Throughout the wars of the 20th century flamethrowers were a popular go to when fortifications such as pillboxes had to be eliminated.

Such as the one behind this PVA flamethrower team in the Korean War.

These are resin pieces I painted in July.

Light Mortar Easy to Move to the Frontlines

This PVA team is ready to let fly from their 50mm 92 inch) Soviet RM-38 light mortar.

Quick to set up less than a miniate for a skilled crew, it could give effective fire support up to 700m.

It was not as powerful a the American 60mm light mortar. Therefore, the Chinese were quick to copy the American design and replace their Soviet and captured Japanese Type 10 and 86 mortars as quickly as feasible. 

These are resign pieces I painted in July.

Never Refuse to Use Your Enemies Weapons-(especially if they are better than anything you have)

The Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) had no antitank weapon as strong as the US Armies M20 89mm (3.5 inch) "Super Bazooka." And all good soldiers recognize the validity of using the weapons of their enemies when they are superior to your own.

So, these PVA soldiers are lucky to have been issued a captured M20 to use in the Korean War.

While ammo supplies last, they will have an effective antitank and bunker buster weapon system.

These are resin pieces that I painted in July

Boxers 1900

Two Boxers-members of the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fists, ready themselves to free China from foreign influence during the Boxer Rebellion. This rebellion will fail, China will continue to be a hot bed of war until mid-20th Century.

These are old 1970's Minifigs castings that I recently found in one of my bits boxes and decided to paint up this week.
 

China Supports the Allies!

In the early days of the Burma Campaign, Chinese soldiers support the American, British and Commonwealth troops in the conflict.

While the news reels show well equipped smiling soldiers, the reality for most troops was far different. Such as with these battle-weary veterans who are equipped with a combination of British, American and even Japanese equipment.

As the war continues, they look forward to a more uniformed set of equipment but until then they will fight with what they have. 

These are plastic pieces, that in June, I cobbled together from USMC, British, Commonwealth and Japanese sprues.

 

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.

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.
 

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.
 

Joint Forces Outpost vs Boxer Hoards Part1

1900 China, the Boxer Rebellion is in full swing and rumors are that Empress Cixi has allowed the Imperial Chinese Army to actively aid the Boxers. A joint force of allied European troops hold a critical outpost and await either attack or re-enforcement. The force is under the leadership of Captain Sydney Smythburns ( above to the right) detached from the 95th Highlanders. Under his command is a section of French sailors under Ensign Henri Reims,

a unit from the Hong Kong Regiment Sgt. Lee Chin commanding, Ensign Rupert B. Dethdellr's Royal Navy Nordfelt Machinegun Team,

         and a detachment of Sikhs under Subadar Imma Khan.

                The first boxers scout the outpost.

The Boxer Army includes four large unit of boxers with assorted hand weapons and unit of Imperial Tigermen with swords and shields and a unit of Imperial regulars with modern rifles. All are under the command of "General" Shi Yang.

Smythburns puts the French sailors in a forest on his right flank and forms a firing line with the rest of his force-Nordfelt in the middle. The General Shi''s Boxers go for a left flank and up the middle attack

CHARGE!

Contact between the Black Flags and the French!

At the cost of five casualties the first charge of the Black Flags is repulsed-barely.

Smythburns and the Hong Kong detachment take defensive positions in the ruins. Mean while, Ensign Riems' sailors pour deadly volley fire into the disordered Black Flags who rally and ready themselves for another charge.

Vo

After a brutal fight Ensign Riems and his sailors are wiped out by the Black Flags. (the French casualties can be seen to the upper left).

Combined rifle and machinegun fire halts the Red and Green Boxers on the rough hillock.

Victory on the left stalemate in the middle what does the future hold for the Boxers?