Support Company owns the bulk of the combat power in an infantry battalion providing, Recce, Anti-Tank and Mortar platoons. I have also included my GPMG SF Guns in this post though they were more often an HQ Company asset. Support companies platoons either worked directly for the battle group HQ or were attached to the companies. Recce and Mortar platoons generally worked direct to battle group whist Anti-tank tended to be grouped with the rifle companies although for certain missions, defence, they were more likely to work for battle group HQ. The Support Company HQ provided a staff and planning function into BGHQ which by the late 90s was focused on covering the ISTAR function.
Recce Platoon
The Recce Platoon is represented by two Airfix CVR(T) Scimitars, these have had the flotation screens removed and are crewed with SHQ Gulf War Infantry, considerable extra stowage has been added as this was not unusual for these vehicles which had limited space and a lot of equipment to carry. Stowage is either Goffy or scratch built from Green Stuff or card stock.
Milan Platoon
The milan posts are scratch built using card stock and the figures are converted SHQ WW2 SS or Britania/liberation mixes. The FV432s are Brittania and stowed in line with the post on stowing cold war british vehicles here.
The Milan Mobile Section is represented by a single CVR(T) Milan Compact Turret (MCT) which is a conversion of the S&S CVR(T) Spartan. S&S now produce a MCT so creating the mobile section is somewhat easier.
Mortar Platoon
The Mortar platoon is represented by 2 Britania FV 432 Mortar carriers and a CVR(T) Spartan carrying a Mortar Fire Controller (MFC). The FV 432s are crewed with the figures provided and the Spartan is crewed with an SHQ Gulf War figure and armed with a liberation GPMG, with the butt removed. As MFCs were frequently on the BG command radio net, the supported sub unit radio net and the mortar platoon net, the vehicle has the I am a target number of antennas mounted.
SF, Drums Platoon
The Drums platoon was double hatted as the SF platoon in the battalion I served in and provided three sections of two guns, I have represented them as two guns, they had no organic transport and were reliant on the people they were supporting to provide them with lifts in order to get around the Battle field.
The figures are a mix of Britannia and liberation, the Guns are liberation and the tripods from one of the Dragon TOW HMMWV kits. All vehicles are painted in line with painting modelling and model reviews referenced below.
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more uaeful info! thanks.... your painting is nice as well. it is cool to meet an ex soldier. where did you train. when I was very younge I lived next to sailsbury pain and once or twice when we walked the dogs we came across a platoon of soldiers in our woods
ReplyDeletecheers Gowan - I spent a bunch of time on Sailsbury plain and a few other places besides
DeleteVery nice. I like the use of tree limbs for cam net poles
ReplyDeleteWe used to do it all the time, at least we did before we got prevented from cutting stuff down. I assumed most armies would do the same but have not seen many other pictures with that sort of thing on for either Canadians, US Danes or Germans. Eventually they were superseded by shock corded pole systems, although I always thought they created to regular an effect.
DeleteWe had issue poles, originally they were 2x2 wooden poles about 6 feet long painted green, then in the mid/late 80's they were sectional alloy metal poles also painted green.
ReplyDelete