I'm Here To Light You On Fire

When you need a clear and deadly message to be sent to stubborn, fortified enemies, call in a flamethrower team.

The M2 Flamethrower, with a range of 20 to 40 meters (65.5 to 132 feet), delivers a searing jet of burning napalm that is as deadly as it is fearsome.

This unit is resin that I painted in March.

Scoping the Land

Marines Wayne Topper and Dick "Deadeye" Smoot review the layout of the land in prep for tonight's sniper mission.

                                                 

                   Good recon of the terrain is essential for a successful mission.

Hence a 360 view while checking the map coordinates is as important as the beloved Springfield 30.06 sniper rife that Dick lovingly cradles in his arm. 

With the prep nearly done and the afternoon waning, Dick & Wayne are ready for tonight's life and death struggle as they can be.

This sniper team is 28mm plastic that I painted in March.

Bazookas Bust Pillboxes as well as Tanks

In the Island-Hopping Campaign having a bazooka on your team is a great help when dealing with Japanese pillboxes.

Even if you don't penetrate the walls on the first couple of shop, it still distracts the enemy gunners with the explosion, fragments and concussion.

These are 28mm plastic pieces I painted in March.

Patience is a Snipers Hallmark

News from the front: Date line last month, somewhere in the South Pacific. Our on the location photographer has recently sent this action photo of a USMC sniper team in action. Armed with a Springfield 1906 rifle and assisted by his spotter, this sniper lay in wait for over an hour before he took out his enemy, a Japanese officer. 

There is no such thing as a successful impatient sniper. Not a long lived one that is.

For patience is the name of the game, wait for the perfect shot. Take it and silently move your location to set up your next kill.

These are 28mm plastic pieces that I painted in March.

Drop 150 and Fire for Effect

When the front line needs quick fire support, calling the heavy weapons platoon for a rain of 81mm mortar high explosive rounds is just what the doctor ordered.

The tried and trusted M-1 81mm (3.2 in.) is the standard medium mortar for the US Military in both the Pacific and European theaters.

With a "Mad Minute" rate of 35 rounds (standard rpm is 18) and mortar team can lay down a rain of pain on any enemy up to 3000 meters (3600 yards).

So, when you need quick fire support call on the 81's to help.

Let her rip...

outgoing...

and ready another round.

These are resin 28mm pieces that I painted over the Weekend.

Marines in Action 1945

Here are some shots from out in the field photographers on some goad forsaken island in the Pacific of the USMC's finest in action-

105 mm Field Artillery pounds the enemies' lines.

Fire teams pin down the enemy.

Then Sarg. lobs in a pineapple.

Ma Duce (Browning .50 cal. MG) always makes an impression when she speaks.

Here comes the armor to soften the enemy for the next assault.

The next target, a Japanese pillbox.

All the figures are plastic pieces I have painted for my Bolt Action Pacific Theater games. The pillbox is a homemade terrain piece.

USMC Fire Team

The standard fire team for much of the pre-war and World War Two USMC doctrine was based on four men.

The fire team leader was armed with a Submachinegun (SMG) usually the .45 cal. Tompson (The Tommy Gun of Roaring "20's fame.).

The 30.06 Browning Automatic Rifle BAR was the team's heavy hitter.

The other two men were armed with rifles, the bolt action 30.06 Springfield in the early years and the M-1 Garand in the later years.

With these weapons, a USMC fire team brought a lot of firepower to each engagement.

These are plastic pieces I painted for my Bolt Action Pacific Campaign in 2018.

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.

Here Come the MARINES!

                                       

Advancing into danger, this squad of US Marines are experienced, well trained and equipped for taking on the best Imperial Japan can offer.

As the squad is armed with three BARs (Browing Automatic Rifles), two Tommy Guns (.45 cal. submachineguns) two M-1 Carbines, on "Trench Sweeper (Remington 12-gauge shotgun) Colt .45 1911's (Best Semi-Automatic pistol of the US Military) and loads of grenades, they are well prepared for the close in fighting the Pacific Campaign is known for. As the saying goes, when the situation is dire, send in the MARINES.

These are plastic pieces I painted for my Bolt Action Pacific games back in the Summer of 2020.

The Few - the Brave - the Marines

 

Philippines, January 1941

The remains of a squad of the 4th Marines ready themselves for the next assault of Imperial Japanese troops. As part of the rearguard, they have to hold the enemy as long as possible.

The war so far has gone badly for the American forces, no air support, no naval support, no reinforcements and a seemingly endless supply of enemy troops. Regardless, the Marines have a job to do, bravery and guts will have to suffice as they hold the line for yet another long day,

At days end, its fall back to the next line, maybe things will change when they get to Bataan.

These are the latest batch of my Early War AMericans, that I kit-bashed together and painted in November.

Successful Rearguard Actions Need Lots of Planning

Things are going from bad to worse in the Philippines in early 1941 for the Amercian forces. Especially for USMC Lt. Dan Bakburn who has depleted platoon has been given the rearguard responsibility for the retreating USAA/USMC/Philippine forces head towards Bataan. With a limited force facing overwhelming odds, the Lieutenant knows that he must plan well if he hopes to hold back the Japanese long enough to complete his mission.

As the fighting has been up-close and brutal, Lt. Bakburn and aide, Sgt. Mick Hardfist have taken trusted Remington 12 gauge "Trench-Sweepers" as their main combat weapons.

While things look bleak, Lt. Bakburn knows that his men will give their all and fight to give the retreating column as much time as they can to get to new positions and wait for the hoped for re-enforcements from the States. (Unkown to him these forces will never come intime to save the doomed Allied forces.)

These are kit bashed pieces I built and painted this month for my Early War US Pacific forces.

Double Timing "Plumbers"

Double timing to their next position, these Marine "Plumbers" (light mortar crewmen) race under fire as they try to stem the Imperial Japanese forces in the Philippines.

 

The war in the Philippines is not going well for the American forces, supplies are running out an no reinforcements are in the foreseeable future.

So, these Plumbers are forced to use a captured Japanese "Knee Mortar" and its ammo as their issued 60mm mortar has been destroyed in combat.

The "Knee Mortar" was so named due to its curved butt plates that looked like it was designed to fit on the leg above the knee. Woe to any soldier foolish enough to try this as the recoil of firing the mortar would shatter the leg bone.

These are kit-bashed plastic pieces for my early war Pacific Americans that I painted this week.