The Mechanised Rifle Companies provided the British Infantry Batallion with its bayonet strength they are the core around which an infantry unit is built. The Rifle Company is the component around which all the other elements of the battle group function, whether that be in the detailed clearance of the enemy objective in the attack or the resolute holding of ground in defence. Their mission is to close with and destroy the enemy in all weathers by day and night and they are represented on my wargames table by 1 FV 432 with a Peak L37 Turret and 8 Figures.
Each of the two companies include 1 84mm Carl Gustav MAW, 1 GPMG, 1 Commander with an SMG (Not very realistic but easy to spot) and 5 Riflemen with SLR. The picture shows two such Rifle Companies.
The Figures are a mix of Liberation Miniatures South African and British Ranges and Brittania Miniatures British.
A number of the figures have been altered with either head swaps and or Green stuff webbing added in order to achieve a period mechanised infantry look, which for me means webbing with NBC kit, and very few bergens or back packs which would only have been carried by people needing to carry Radios around.
If not wearing Noddy suits the main indicator that they are equipped to deal with NBC is the presence of the Respirator case, which was large square and green and could be carried on the left or right side of the body. I have added this to all the liberation figures which represent soldiers from theatres where it was not carried.
Other than that they are mostly wearing DPM with the odd man wearing light weight trousers in green and one with an NBC suite Jacket on as its clearly a bit cold. All are wearing Cam Cream on their faces as it would be unusual to find an infantry soldier in the British Army of this period not waring it. They are all painted in line with the DPM tutorial.
The FV432s are by Britania and have Scratch built Peak turrets and are painted and built in line with the preceding posts on the subject which you can find here.
They are shown here ungrouped with any other assets, which is not how they would deploy. My intent with the BG is to show all the sub units ungrouped then do a single post on the task organised unit.
Interestingly they can be used for both the early and late 80s battle groups, alternatively SA80 equipped soldiers in Mk 4 Helmets and PLCE could be used for the Late 80s and Early 90s force, more about personal equipment change to come in a later post. For either the late 80s or early 90s force the FV432s could be replaced with Warrior and for the 90s force these could be up armoured.
References:
ORBAT 1980s British Battle Group, Part7
Those looks great! I like the one with the bare P1944 Helmet.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work!
Lovely work all around. The Charlie-G pose and painting is great!
ReplyDeleteLovely work, Andy :-)
ReplyDelete