Doc's WWII collection: this time fun with the Aussies

In addition to the Italians (and a smattering of Germans) I have built up a company sized force of Australians representing (mainly) the famed 2/7th.  These guys saw extensive action from the initial assault against the Italians in Libya (the 'Bardia races'), the Vichy French in Syria, the Germans in Greece and on Crete and again in North Africa up until and including el Alamein.  They were then withdrawn to defend Australia against the Japanese in 1942 and ended up covering themselves in more glory on the infamous Kokoda Track where they helped defeat an elite Japanese force that came within an inch of taking Papua New Guinea.  Very worthy unit to recreate for their early war period, particularly my Greece and Crete campaign.

The armour is mainly British but includes a couple of 7 Div Honeys. For air support they have a Blenheim fighter bomber, a Gloster Gladiator and a Hawker Hurricane (I have a Kittyhawk fighter and a Swordfish torpedo bomber still in the works!)  All of these aircraft are in the colours of the Greece campaign (and North Africa). As before, the collection followed by a few action vignettes.


The Allies thus far.

The guns including 2 x 2 pdr ATs (1 x Portee - a beautiful Blitzkrieg/Perrys model), 25pdr & Quad (another Perrys) and the @#$%Bofors AA (unknown E. European make and a 'challenge' to make - Perrys crew)

1st Platoon 2/7th consisting of 3 x 10 man sections & 1 x 8 man section, Headquarters section and supports. The ten man sections each have 1 NCO (Thompson SMG) and six rifles, 1 x VB (rifle grenade) and one Bren LMG team. The 8 man section (which can be attached to HQ section) consists of 5 rifles & a Bren LMG team under an SMG armed NCO. HQ has officer (1st Lt.), radio and two NCOs (SMG) (or runner and sergeant) with attached supports of a Boyes AT rifle team and 2" mortar team. Other supports are a Vickers HMG and a 3" medium mortar. 2nd platoon is same set up as 1st but under a 2nd Lt.

HQ Company (sort of) with officer (Captain), WO and Sergeant with 2" mortar team, Boyes AT rifle team, Forward Observer and runner. Supporting are the Bren section and 2pdr AT guns (and an ancient Morris truck as I don't have a Bedford!)

The Allied armour including 3 x Stuart Honeys (two Australian - Shapeways models - and one Company B)  The 2 x Vickers light tanks are Perrys/Blitzkrieg. The Herrington AC is of unknown origin (picked up for $10 at the club's bring&buy).  In the back are a Crusader Mk. 1 (Blacktree Designs?) and two beautiful Perrys/Blitzkrieg Matilda heavy inf. tanks. There is another Crusader (Mk.2) and a Staghorn AV scout still 'in the works'.

Aussie Honey and Bren squad on patrol.

Perrys 25pdr and Morris Quad in action.

Light scout recon in action.

Honey hit!

Their German counterpart KFZ 221 squad to go with my Ramke Brigade para platoon together with a STuG Assault Gun (still in the works).  They are my only planned North Africa Germans (i.e. DAK) as they can also be later war Mediterranean theatre.  They can also be teamed with the Italian 'Folgore' ('Lightning') Div Parachutisti platoon - when I get around to painting them too!
They'll make great targets for the 2pdr AT guns!

If the RAF doesn't get 'em first!

Hope you enjoyed this last bit of Doc's WWII desert whimsy. Normal service will be resumed shortly - the next post will be an actual game or some even more sensible Napoleonics or something.

A bit of fun with the WWII Italians

Nothing particularly wargamey about this post as I haven't managed to have one over the Xmas New Years break BUT we have been busy finishing our latest Italians for the forthcoming third battle of our Greece Campaign. Basically got all the WWII Italians Regio Esercito and Aussies 2/7th (and assorted armour etc) out to count 'em up and see what gaps there are - trouble is you can always think of more! Really must.not.collect.more.figures!!! (Easier said than done of course - and bugger New Year's resolutions!)  So, the Italian collection and then a few 'action' vignettes.


The Italian Regio Esercito: air, armour and infantry.


The 'lights' - recon AVs and Bersaglieri. Full platoon of Bersas with 4 x squads of ten with a Breda LMG and under an NCO with a Baretta SMG and supported by a Breda MMG, 81mm medium mortar, 47/32 Elefantino AT gun and 20mm Solothurn AT rifle teams. The scout AVs are 2 x Autoblinda 41s, an Autoblinda Lince (Lynx) scout (identical to the British Dingo) and 2 x Sahariana scouts.


The Italian Royal Army regulars, armour and guns. Three ten man squads with the same supports as the Bersas plus a sniper team, forward observer (with radio) and 20mm AA gun (but minus the Solothurn rifle which I've still to make up). The guns are a Canone da 75/27 (75mm) light artillery with four crew and the awesome Semovente 90/53.  The armour is one Semovente 47/32 and a 75/18 Self-Propelled (Assault) Guns, 2 x M13/40 and a M14/41 medium tank. And how could I forget the mighty L3/35 tankette squad including the AT Solothurn and flame-thrower versions.


Italian recon scout group on the move!

 
The Bersaglieri Moto Guzzi squad. Unfortunately nobody makes 'em in 28mm so I converted three Warlord DAK Kradshutzen and yes the NCO is carrying an MP40 SMG - until I find a Baretta barrel! One of the bikes has a Breda LMG mounted on the handlebar.


The mighty Semo 90/53 with Semo crew carrier  and ammo trailer - Perry's crew (the 90 is a Company B model).

Business end of the Semo 90. Luckily for the Allies they didn't have that many and only available from early '42.


The Semo AGs come under fire.


The M13/40 squad - avanti!


Brewed up - run before she blows!


Mi arrendo!

If I get the time I'll post the Aussie 2/7th collection next.