Review - Model 1/72, S&S FV433 Abbot

The FV 433 Abbot 105mm Self Propelled Gun was almost unique to the British Army, a few are also deployed by the Indians. It was a common feature of the exercise scene in the 1980s although the Army were also using the US M109 155mm at the time.  A mix of M109 and Abbot Regiments were included in each of the BAOR divisions, as outlined in 1980s British Battle Groups Part 1 and Part 5. Each brigade was supported by a single artillery regiment equipped with one of the guns both systems started to be replaced in 1993 by AS90.

The vehicle was based on FV432 components, it was designed in the 60's to replace towed 25 pounders and the US M44 SPG. It entered production in 1964 and production completed in 1967. An SPAAG falcon was conceptualised but did not enter service following initial trials. For its day Abbott was an impressive system but was starting to look tired by the 1980s.

The model is a 1/72 white metal and resin kit consisting of five parts and suitable for use with 20mm figures. The gun is cast in white metal and the remainder of the vehicle consisting of turret, hull and left and right tracks are resin. The quality of the Casting on all three vehicles I have received has been good, the white metal parts being well formed and flash free whilst the resin parts are very good with no significant surface bubbles. The road wheels have the most issues and some attention to these with some filler will pay dividends.  The kit is simple to assemble.

Images of artillery vehicles at this time show extensive use of cam nets draped over the turret and guns. The side panniers also seem to have been used to stow netting and there are plenty of shots of vehicles with rolled hessien on the sides and front. A tripod can be identified on the front decks in a number of photos and I have assumed cam poles would be carried in the panniers. Occasionally deck and turret stowage can also be identified in the form of boxes and tarpaulins. The vehicles mounted the LMG as a close defence weapon and this is a distinctive addition to make, numerous sources for Brens exist which pass muster for the LMGs in this scale. 

The conversion opportunity to create a what if version of the Falcon is interesting although I have not been able to uncover any data on how it would have fitted within the Orbat.

The vehicles are finished in my usual British Army camouflage scheme covered in the Britannia FV432 post.

References:

AFV weapons 51, FV 433 Self Propelled Gun
Warpaint: vol. 2: Colours and Markings of British Army Vehicles 1903-2003
Warpaint: vol. 3: Colours and Markings of British Army Vehicles 1903-2003
S&S Models
1980s British Battle Groups Part 1 and Part 5
Aeroscale Abbot Walk around

Figures - Elhiem 20mm, Morten Reese's Danish Infantry

Elhiem figures recent generic NATO infantry and German infantry sets lend themselves well to a number of other Nations, Morten Reese who posts on the guild as Reese has been doing some stirling work on a Danish force which he is building and which I hope to feature here as his collection develops.

The Danish Army during the period of interest wore the M58 combat Uniform in dark Olive green.  This was replaced by  the M/84 camouflaged uniform in 1984, though transition to the new uniform took a number of years to complete.  The US M1 Helmet was standard until 1992, when Kevlar Helmets were introduced for troops deploying abroad.

From the excellent M136 site

The load carrying M45-59 equipment was consistent throughout the period and was not replaced by PLC until 1996 although the ammunition pouches changed as weapons changed and the respirator case was upgraded in 1969.  The title DANMARK and a National flag were worn on the left Arm, and a variety of unit insignia could also be worn.  The Danish Army carried the G3 assault rifle, MG3 and the Carl Gustav at this time.

Morten's first set of figures represent soldiers he will be using for a motorised unit and are therefore wearing the older M58 Uniform.  In keeping with imagery of Danish Soldiers deployed on exercise Morten has added "grass" to the helmets using plumbers hemp and white glue.  The figures are painted using Vallejo colours as follows:

• Undercoat (webbing/Uniform): Yellow Olive
• Uniform, Base Russian Uniform, highlighted with a mix of Russian Uniform and Khaki
• Webbing, Green Gray, highlighted with Green Gray and White

An excellent job by Morten who has provided the images of the figures and much of the background information.  Morten regularly posts on the Guild where I first saw his work. 

References:

Military Equipment of the 20th Century bloodspot
Danish Army Uniforms 1945 - 2008 by Henrik Clausen
NATO Armies Today, Osprey
M136 Danish Troops on Exercise

Terrain - Camouflaged Hides

I made these a while ago, the idea is to represent a camouflaged vehicle or unit such that the enemy understands there is something there but not what it is, equally useful for deception, so a not quite hidden unit marker.

Built from CD bases and bits of kit sprue draped in open weave non elasticated bandage soaked in water and white glue then covered in tea leaves, The Tea leaves bit didn't work very well.

Nets are bronze green highlighted with Russian uniform and Desert Yellow, with loads of scatter material and some foliage dumped on top of them.

At the very least they are something a bit different I'll probably use them to represent the location of an unidentified sub unit of unpo Company or Squadron strength

Other Terrain Posts

Terrain - Byzantium 20mm, German Buildings

Terrain - Modern Farm Buildings

Terrain - Modern Supermarket

Terrain - Hikki Trees, Pine Forests

Terrain - Making It Modern

Terrain - Camouflaged Hides 

ORBAT - 1980s British BG, Part 5 Royal Artillery

Each division's Divisional Artillery Group consisted of 3 gun Regiments and a Blowpipe Battery. In the 1970s the gun regiments were 2 Abbot Regiments and 1 M109 Regiment and this evolved throughout the 1980s as the Abbots were replaced, this process was not complete by the end of the Cold War in 1993. Each Brigade in the division would be supported by 1 of these gun Regiments fielding equipment of a single type.

In the 1980s the composition of each divisions artillery group evolved as follows:

1st Armoured Division 1 Abbot, 2 M109A2,

3rd Armoured Division 1 Abbot, 1 M109A2, 1 FH70 / Aug 1990, 2 M109A2, 1 FH70

4th Armoured Division 2 Abbot, 1 M109A2 / Apr 1989, 2 M109A2, 1 Abbot / Feb 1990 3 M109A2

Blowpipe batteries are shown as being provided to each Division throughout, this is surprising as Javilin was introduced in 1984 and you would expect the batteries to transition to the new equipment.

In addition the DAG could be reinforced by a variety of assets held by 1 Br Corp or in the UK these included

• Batteries from 39 Heavy Regiments M110A2s (Converted to MLRS in 1990)

• Batteries from 32 or 5 Regiments M107s (Converted to MLRS in 1992)

• Locating support from 94 locating Regiment, provision of additional Mortar locating Troops with Cymbeline

• Additional 105mm Lt Gun Batteries from the TA 100 and 101 Regiments

• Tracked Rapier from 22 Air Defence Regiment providing Area Air Defence

• Javalin air defence missile detachments from the TA Javalin Regiments

Blowpipe I think

The Abbot and M109 Field and RHA Regiments were organised along similar lines with 3 Batteries and an HQ Battery.

HQ Battery: Provided the Regimental HQ this deployed alongside the Brigade HQ and was responsible for the deployment of the Gun Batteries and the allocation of Fire Units in response to requests for fire, In an Abbot Regiment it also included a Troop of 4 Cymberline Mortar locating Radars.

3 Gun Batteries composed of

Battery HQ: The HQ formed 2 Groups:

• A Tac Party comprising 4 FV432s and 4 OP parties, one of these being the BCs. They were equipped with Laser Range Finders, Night Observation Devices and the ZB298 Ground Surveillance Radar, replaced by MSTAR in 1991.

• Battery Captains (BK) Party which contained the BK and the BSM who controlled and moved the guns and ensured they were kept supplied. I am not clear on the allocation of vehicles. This was done under the direction of the Regimental HQ who also allocated the Gun Line to tasks.

2 Troops: The Troop consisted of 4 Guns, each supported by a Stalwart for ammunition carriage. A command FV432 and Ferret Scout Car provided the HQ element.

The Battery Tac Party were detached to the supported Battlegroup and provided advice, Fire Planing, and Artillery Observation Posts to call for and control fires. They worked in close cooperation with the Battalion Mortar platoon and would lead on the coordination of all indirect fire including Mortars, Air and Aviation.

There was some confusion over the number of guns in a Battery at this time which may have been due to the difference between the Peace Time and Wartime Establishment of equipment. Most units would increase establishment for war as reservists were called up.

For wargames I currently intend to represent the Gun Group using 2 Abbot and a Stalwart and the Tac Party using 1 FV432. The early 80s Battle Group will be supported by an Abbot Battery with the Late 80s and Early 90s Battle Groups being supported by M109s. In addition an MLRS, M110 and some AS90s might find there way into the collection.

References:

ORBAT 1980s British Battle Group, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 6, Part 7
Encyclopedia of the Modern British Army
The British Army in Germany: An Organizational History 1947-2004
Warpaint: v. 2: Colours and Markings of British Army Vehicles 1903-2003

Review - Figures 20mm, Elhiem Cold War Soviets in NBC

Matt has had this range out for a few years now to represent Soviet style infantry in chemical warfare protective equipment. In general they represent Soviet troops in the L-1 suit issued to chemical reconnaissance units and crew members

L1 Suit

although the RPG gunner in his long coat clearly represents an unfastened OP 1 combined arms suite that was on general issue to the infantry.

OP 1 Suit worn unfastened

Whilst the L1 suite was a trousers jacket combination the OP1 could be worn long or fastened around the legs so either can be represented using the figures. I am going to use colour to distinguish mine putting the Recce in the blue green suite and the infantry in the brown colour. The range is modelled without helmets, wearing the GP5 gas mask produced in the 70s and 80s, a number of other masks could have been modelled.

The figures carry the usual range of soviet small arms including RPGs and light machine guns. In addition the range includes one figure carrying a chemical detector, one with a pistol and one with a sniper rifle. These will be very useful for the Chemical Recce unit I have planned. The figures are nicely proportioned and posed with excellent weapon detail, they were cleanly cast with little flash and required minimal cleaning. They come in packs of:

• 3 LMGs;
• 3 AK/AKM;
• Pistol and RPG;
• Sniper rifle and chemical detector.

I have painted mine up as general infantry as I have yet to build my BRDM2 Rkh for the chemical defence company, this will be a project coming up in the next month or so. I purchased sufficient to put a battalion out in NBC equipment. Matt has just released some British in NBC black, so increasing the scope for playing out Armageddon, exploring the issues presented by chemical weapons on the battle field.

The figures were painted in Vajello English Uniform, washed with devlin mud then highlighted with the base tone and a high tone of English Uniform and Buff. The respirators are buff with black grey eye pieces. The canisters should probably be Russian Uniform and the respirators could also be painted black.

Overall the figures provide a good representation of Sovit style troops in NBC equipment and could be used to represent a range of Soviet, Warsaw pact and client states, alternatively they would be fairly useful for Sci Fi and other near future scenarios and games.  Great figures!

References.

Inside The Soviet Army Today, Osprey - Plate L

Elheim Figures Cold War Soviets

Winter of 79, Review of Elheim British in NBC