Friday 11 August 2017

Inventory - French Colonial Army WWII

 French Colonial Army WWII

Big subject, multi-part, the subject that gives me more pleasure than any other.

7th Moroccan Division

Kitted out as per regulations for the 1930s period, these troops could see service in Morocco during the final conquest period to 1935; the in France 1940. We have used them against the Americans during Operation Torch (Nov`42) and against the Germans in Tunisia (Feb`43)

Rifle company 
With -
3 x 10-man platoons (2 x FM29, 3 x VB, 1 x 50mm mortar)
4-man HQ (2 officers, scout, RTO)

Composite Battalion HQ 
3 foot officers, 1 mtd officer + RTO
80mm mortar (3 crew)
MMG team (2 crew)
Moving MMG team (3 figs)
4-fig Gun crew (for 37mm infantry gun or 25mm AT gun)
2 mounted scouts
5 pack mules, 2 foot & 1 mtd handlers











Mountain Batterie
2 x 65mm + 4 mules

US 37mm DCC (Defense Contre Char) batterie
Only in Tunisia
2 x 37mm AT guns

27mm AC (anti-Char) d`marine batterie
Only in Tunisia
2 guns, 2 trucks + 4 crew

Portee 75mle1897
Part of the upgrade of forces ordered by General Weygand when he was overall commander of of the French Colonial Army after the armistice. 
He reorganised what was available and had some artillery units semi-motorised/portee`d (or montee to use the French parlance)
These units fought against the Anglo-Americans during Operation Torch and later against the Germans/Italians in Tunisia

This model based loosely on a photo has a much modified SHQ Citroen truck mounting a `75 from David Reasoner and an SHQ crew




White 50AM
Alby model painted to represent a vehicle of 5RCA in Tunisia

    
Vichy Troupes d`Marine
4 x officers, 3-man Hochkiss team, 15 men




4 comments:

  1. What an awesome collection! I'm amazed at the various units you've managed to build using various figures from a plethora of manufacturers as well as all the scratch building and converting. Sterling work sir, a remarkable collection.
    Cheers,
    JB

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, my colonial 1920s/30s set-up is what got me back into gaming proper :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I left WWII gaming for a long time and switched to colonial gaming once I started researching the inter wars period because of the wide variety and look of the troops.

      You've rekindled my interests in this period, and I thank you sir!!!
      Cheers,
      JB

      Delete
  3. Yes, lots of fascinating units, loads of colour too, quite different and interesting after field greys, olive drab and khakis with Ww2 :)

    I blame Rob Rowell who as editor of the SOTCW Journal pointed me towards the Spanish/Moroccan Rif War 1917-26, after a brief bit of research I was hooked :)

    ReplyDelete