MJ Falklands 20mm British: Go & Buy

Back on Tuesday evening I ordered several packs from MJ Figures new 20mm Falkland 1982 range. Wednesday they sent an email to inform me the figs had been despatched and duly enough on Thursday, there was a note through the letterbox to say they're waiting for me at the post office.

MJ Figures: BF01 £2.50

So this morning I walked up to the post office in the village to pick up the parcel. Made it back just before the rain but I wouldn't have minded, as these little beauties would have been worth the soaking.

The photos on the MJ webstore don't do them justice. The actual figures are well sculpted, crisply moulded, with no flash or mould seams. Unfortunately one figures arrived without most of his rifle, which had obviously broken during packaging, but I'm sure in this instance I can rustle up a spare Sterling for him. The minis are very naturally posed with well articulated faces (obligatory Tom Selleck moustaces in evidence on some figures) and above all, the berets look absolutely cracking, giving these Toms plenty of real soldier character.

Even better, these MJ Falklands British match with my ex-Hotspur figures - hallebloodylujah! I'll be buying at least one additional pack of the MJ's simply to whip the beret heads off and convert some ex-Hotspur Falkland figures.

The figures mostly appear to be wearing 68 pattern DPM Windproofs and a couple are wearing the longer and more voluminous 68 pattern Waterproof. In this scale the 68 pattern Windproof can easily double as a combat jacket with detachable hood, whilst the Waterproof can be painted as a civilian or ex-foreign army parka.

The 58 pattern webbing is in fighting order (sans bumroll). IMO the various pouches are too small on many of the figures to be truly accurate, especially waterbottle and kidney pouches, but I guess they suffice to look the part in this scale and a small niggle considering how good the figures are overall.

The L4 (Bren) LMG and SLR are very well sculpted, though the L4 looks a little short to my eye and there's no bipod in evidence. A small sprue with folded and extend bipod options like Elhiem provided with their GPMG gunner would have been a great addition. All SLRs have bayonets attached. Too often a pigs ear when attempted by other manufacturers, are in this case, well moulded and look like they can do the business.

Pack BF02, includes a bareheaded casualty lying face down and a separate SLR on a base, which even on it's own would make a good morale marker.

Summing up, what do I think? Well, these MJ Figures Falkland 1982 British are hot out of the parcel and I'm about to place a second order, so that should say something in itself. I hope Mark at MJ expands the range to include helmeted variants, GPMGs, Charlie Gs and support weapons as I'd love to see more Toms of this quality available.

Cheers
Mark

Noddy Suits

Throughout the Cold War, the threat of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical warfare was taken very seriously. Any picture of the British soldier in 'Noddy suit' and respirator remains a chilling reminder of those days.

Elhiem have just released BAOR 2,  a 20mm Cold War British infantry section in full NBC protective kit including S6 respirator. The figures are based on the previously released BAOR 1 pack. Nice poses, the NBC gear this time round gives them additional character. 

 Elhiem Figures: BAOR 2

So how useful are these minis in Winter of '79? Surely they are best left for British 1 Corps in NORTHAG or defending an RAF Leuchars from WarPact VDV? Well, I  say if you want troops who represent the faceless authority of the government in areas where there is open rebellion and civil war, these are it. They make a great juxtaposition to opposition forces in more regular British Army combat uniforms.

OK, so the NBC overshoes are a bit of overkill, agreed, but we can largely go into squint mode. Combat chic was popular in the early '80's and I remember young people wearing the 'Noddy suit' smocks as fashionable (go figure) items of outdoors wear. As a quick and easy way to uniform a citizen militia though, possibly not a bad choice either as the 'Noddy suits' are worn over normal clothing.

And if you are put off painting DPM, then the 'Noddy suit' is your deliverance young man. You can even 'speed paint' your Toms in a grey-green colour all over, followed by black respirator, gloves and boots. That just leaves the olive webbing and weapons. Add some colour by giving the weapons wooden stocks and drybrushing the hessian strips mid and light khaki. Done.

A wonderful flashback, plus immensely useful for TW2000 and Zombie games, so definitely on my shopping list.


Cheers
Mark
 

MJ Figures 20mm Falklands Brits

MJ Figures have released two packs of 20mm Toms in berets suitable for the Falklands conflict and of course, will equally find themselves perfectly at home on Winter of '79.

What can I say? Naturally these minis have my attention, particularly as most of the riflemen have bayonets 'cause "they don't like it up 'em". Hoods are also visible on the back of the jackets and a couple look like windproofs from the photos, which doubly gives them a Winter of '79 feel. I've ordered a couple of packs based on owning some of MJ's crisp, well proportioned Modern Mercenaries and am looking forward to these Brits dropping through the letterbox in a couple of days.

Cheers
Mark

Reservoir Scots: Argyll Foot Patrol

You know, I think that I forgot to post a pic of my Argyll foot patrol! 'Scuse the size of the pic, I had to pinch it fom an email.

Still need a GPMG but Rolfs' new Urban Meltdown Brits will sort that as it inlcudea a nice kneeling GPMG gunner.

Cheers
Mark

British Army Helmets in 1979: Part 3 Internal Security

Unsurprisingly, Northern Ireland became a testbed for new British Army equipment. The MKIV 'turtle' helmet was superceded by more specialist protective headgear as the 'Troubles' wore on.

My favourite from a Winter of 79 perspective is the GRP (Glass-reinforced Plastic) 'Cromwell' helmet. To all intents and purposes a 1970's motorcycle helmet with removable visor.

The Cromwell gave the soldier on the streets far more protection than previously, but significantly reduced the soldier's ability to respond to verbal orders or audible tactical clues. Nevertheless if you want a full on paramilitary look to your forces, then the GRP Cromwell helmet is ideal:

Lessons learned from the Cromwell, were incorporated into the Combat Helmet (Northern Ireland) which appeared in the late 1970's. This was again a modern Glass-reinforced Plastic design and would ultimately lead to the MK6 combat helmet.

GRP Combat Helmet, Northern Ireland: Osprey Elite 044

Security Forces in Northern Ireland 1969-92

I hope you found this short series on the helmets used by the British Army in 1979 useful. You can see that by careful selection of figres you can increase the flexibility and range of miniatures available to you. Once again I recommend Osprey Elite 044 Security Forces in Northern Ireland. If you need just one Osprey title to allow you to paint British Army and security forces miniatures for Winter of '79, this is it.

Cheers

Mark

British Army Helmets in 1979: Part 2 Para & Marine Lids

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Trying to find concrete information on post war British Para Helmets is difficult. Luckily with our focus being on 20mm miniatures not collecting militaria or 1/6th scale warriors, where the smaller detail of liners, straps and such matters far more.

In our 1979 time frame we are basically looking at two models of helmet in service at the same time. The classic WW2 era rimless steel MkII Para helmet which soldiered on with British airborne forces right up to the early-mid eighties and the M76 Parachute helmet, lightweight.

 3 Para going ashore, San Carlos, 1982
M76 GRP Para helmets

The MKII Paratrooper helmet was manufactured in 1944 and saw wide service with airborne troops by the time of Arnhem. There were at least two more post war manufacturing runs - 1953 and 1965. British Paratroops continued to wear the MKII into the mid-1980's where it saw service in the Falklands side by side with the M76. The MKII also saw active service with Israeli & Indian Parachute forces.

1 Para, Londonderry, 1972, 

Riot Visors attached to MKII Para Helmets

The M76 had a lightweight but durable Glass-Reinforced Plastic (GRP) shell. It appears to have been a development of the GRP Combat Helmet (Northern Ireland), which itself was the direct forerunner of the MK6 combat helmet (1987). It began replacing the MKII Parachute helmet from 1979 onwards.

M76 Parachute Helmet, Lightweight

The basic shell of the MKII Parachute Helmet was also used for the RAC (Royal Armoured Corps) 'tankers' helmet. With a new liner, this became the Marine Pattern Helmet.

Marine Pattern Helmet

Photos of Royals in the Falklands clearly show them carrying MKIV ("turtle") helmets. It's likely that the numbers of the Marine Pattern Helmet required for a large scale ground operation simply were not available.

Once camo cover is in place, netted and scrimmed up, there's only a subtle difference between the MKII Para, Para lightweight and  Marine Pattern helmets in 20mm, only then up close and you have to know what you are looking for. Rolf Hedges' FALK1 British infantry in camo helmets are dripping in scrim so can be taken for all three helmet models in a single stroke.

This Para GPMG No.1 snapped in the Falklands, could easily step back in time to stand beside Frost at Arnhem.

Cheers
Mark

British Army Helmets in 1979: Part 1 The MKIV

If you thought the subject of British Army helmets for 1979, was a relatively easy and dry subject, then let me reassure you it isn't. Believe it or not, there were a plethora of helmets in use in the late 1970's and this gives us plenty of opportunity to distinguish our troops, personalise our forces and perhaps even create new formations.

The MKIV/MKV 'turtle' helmet is probably the most easily recognisable piece of kit worn by the 70's squaddie and date stamps our model soldiers as being at the height of the Cold War.

Th MKIV, began life as the MKIII also commonly known as the '44 pattern and first appeared on D-Day in 1944/ It remained in British service, much to the chagrin of it's wearers until replaced by the MKVI Combat Helmet between 1985-87.

MKV was simply a MKIV with a foam liner.

Troops deployed to Northern Ireland in 1969 wore camo covered helmets, but as the 'troubles' wore on the helmet was 'demilitarised' and generally seen without adornment. It could also have a perspex visor fitted for riot and crowd control duties.

In the field, the helmet was covered by khaki string netting and adorned with torn strips of light khaki or green dyed burlap and sacking scrim which could be further enhanced with foilage, giving that classic 'Dad's Army' look to the wearer.

In Winter of '79 it would not be out of place for all regular and Territorial Army formations, with the exception of the Parachute Regiment, Royal Marines and armoured vehicle crews, to wear the MKIV/MKV helmet.

Brittannia's 20mm Cold WAR BAOR British have heavily scrimmed MKIV/V pattern helmets which really capture the feel of the 1970's squaddie. You can also buy Cold War British wearing the MKIV/V from Rolf at RH Models and Tony at ERM (Platoon 20).

Part 2 will look at the Para Helmet.

Cheers
Mark

Spearhead

Scanning Amazon.co.uk this morning I found the complete series 1 of SPEARHEAD: available on DVD for £9.93.

Spearhead was a 1978 TV drama that provided an unglamorous worm's eye view of British Army life from the soldier's perspective. The story revolves around a platoon  in the fictional 1st Battalion Royal Wessex Rangers, designated as the Army's  'Spearhead' battalion. Series 1 was the best and see's the fictional squaddies undertaking an Internal Security role in Northern Ireland. Plenty of Winter of '79 eyecandy in the form of Humber Pigs and armoured Landrovers.

Light infantry battalions in the UK were assigned in rotation as a rapid reaction 'Spearhead Battalion' capable of short-notice deployment worldwide. It required the chosen unit to be ready to deploy its headquarters, lead ('active edge') company and logistic elements within 24 hours and have the remaining companies and support assets on the ground within 72 hours (source: Hansard).

Spearhead: episode 1 (fast forward to 2:10)

A Spearhead Battalion may have familiarisation deployments in Belize, Hong Kong, Cyprus and Kenya prior to taking up it's spearhead role. The most common operational deployment was short notice contingency reinforcing of British troops in Northern Ireland in antincipation or response to crises.

To ensure the troops were at the highest possible state of readiness, the Spearhead Battalion was issued with full scales of wartime equipment and undertook regular sub-unit exercises and readiness call-outs of the lead company. The Lead company was expected to maintain a permanent maximum 4 hour alert status.

Today the Spearhead Battalion is known as Spearhead Land Element. This assignment lasts 4 months and  the 'active edge' company is expected to deploy within 24 hours with follow up elements 4-12 hours later.

In Winter of '79, the 'Spearhead Battalion' provides us with a highly trained and efficient rapid reaction force that can be used at flashpoints anywhere in the country.
  

Rebel, Rebel

I receive a small stipend at the end of the year for my extra-curricular but still work related activities and have a couple of squids left to spend on a Winter of '79 theme before the year is out. With Maff upping the ante in Wales, I turn once again to Rolf Hedges' extensive 20mm post war, cold war and modern figures ranges for suitable minis, where £12-15 will buy me a small but still complete unit.

By far the best figures for ex Regular/Territorial rebel units or a nationalist milita based on a military cadre come from Rolf's SAS Range.

First things first, let's forget the 'SAS' tag. What we have is a range of 'shambly' figures in largely accurate but non-uniformly attired British kit. Where the gear is anarchronistic (eg Gulf War 1) I'm treating it as specialist or homebrew kit sourced via Silvermans and the like. No need to get hung up on it. It's a civil war - remember, Millets is your friend!

So, first up, we have SASFALKSQU; Falkland era SAS - 6 with M16A1, 2 with CAR 15 - mixed headgear (£3.90); and SASFALKSUP; as above, 2 with GPMG, 2 with BREN, 4 with M16/M203 (£3.90).

Well, can't go wrong with these dedicated 1970's/80's SAS minis. I currently have a pack each of these plus a pack of Vietnam era OZSAS; 9 SAS, mixed weapons (M16A1,SLR etc), mixed headgear (£4.35). I added the OZSAS to give my rebels more variety and the essential Brit squaddie character that only an SLR can bring.

I'd prefer to have more SLRs in my unit but 'Armalites' aren't a bad choice as an alternative weapon in this timeframe. There were plenty in GB even if not generally issued, and further stocks could be had via terrorist links, friendly foreign agencies or unscrupulous British and international arms dealers.

I also go for the M16 over an AK47 in a Multi-Coloured Swap Shop/Tiswas/Professionals/Tinker, Tailor....  UK. Instead, I'm saving the AKs for my Left Wing, militant union or revolutionary militias for that Mad Trot/Red Under The Bed feel.

Those three packs alone give us enough figures for a decently sized rebel British Army platoon. Plus, versatile enough to provide us with Flklands SAS, post apocalyptic/meltdown survivors or even Twilight 2000 options.

You can expand your force with more of the same, or SAS1; 9 figs, SAS GULF WAR 1, bareheaded - 3 with M16/203, 3 with MINIMI, 3 with M16A1  (£4.35); and SASGPMG: 2 FIGS with GPMG,  bareheaded (£1.00). The FN Minimi came into service in 1974, but would take over a decade before the British Army took it on. This is one weapon that just doesn't feel right for Winter of '79, so suggest you pop these minis in the spares box, use them for head conversions or convert them to other weapons.

Further character or unit identity can be created through anyone one or more of the following packs, which are otherwise identical to SAS1 above: SAS2: 9 FIGS IN BUSH HATS (£4.35), SAS5: IN WOOL KNIT CAP (£3.90), SBS1: 8 FIGS, IN BERETS (£3.90), SBS2: IN COMMANDO CAPS (£3.90). The wool knit caps naturally having more of a cold. bleak moors/wintry feel.

Cheers
Mark

Urban Camo Chieftains in 1/72

Three new Altaya 1/72 Chieftain Mk.V BAOR (Berlin Germany 1984) arrived this morning from Model Hobbies in Stoke on Trent.

These are stonkingly good models. The camo pattern isn't quite 100% accurate for Berlin Brigade Chieftains but it does look and feel right. The lines are a little fuzzy in one place, but this is Winter of '79 and a hastily applied urban camo spray job during a national crisis is par for the course. 

I ordered the Chieftains from Model Hobbies online webstore at 9.05am on Friday morning and received an email confirming dispatch within the hour.  Despite the Christmas rush and the country being gripped by snow, the postie brought them to my door today, Sunday morning. It goes without saying that I am really, really impressed by the service from Model Hobbies.  They delivered big time, and are now my first choice for plastic and diecast models in the future.

Cheers,
Mark

Swingfire: Anti-tank Guided Missile

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The British Army deployed a range of anti-tank guided weapons in 1979. The most numerous of which was the wire-guided Swingfire.

Swingfire earnt it's name from the capability of being able to launch up to 90 degrees from it's intended target. The missile would literally 'swing' into it's victim. In addition the weapon could be fired remotely from up to 100 metres from the missile platform, giving it immense tactical advantages in the use of cover and concealment.

The missile was large, heavy and expensive. It was found mounted on the FV438, a variant of the FV432 armoured personnel carrier, the CVR(T) family FV102 Striker and the FV712 Ferret Mark 5. The FV438 deployed two missile launchers that could be reloaded from within the vehicle. The Striker had five externally loaded launchers and the FV712 Ferret had one mounted on either side of the turret.

The FV712 Ferret was withdrawn from service at the end of 1978, to be replaced by FV102 Strikers. The Strikers then equpped Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) guided weapons batteries. Several FV712 still exist in private hands today, so would have been available again quite quickly in 1979. The smaller size and greater road worthiness of the vehicle may have made it more practical in the Winter of '79 than it's larger tracked brethren.

A variant of Swingfire called Beeswing could be mounted in Land Rovers and there was an  interesting sub-development called Golfswing which was a single missile launcher pulled by one man on a golfer's style trolley contraption. You can see enormous potential within Winter of '79 for this! Whilst it may seem a bit Heath Robinson and somewhat of a joke, it was designed to emulate the 'Suitcase Sagger' which had been seen to be effective against Israeli armour in the Seven Day War as recently as 1973. After which western military pundits advocated a network of man and motorcycle portable guided weapons as an answer to the tank armies of the Warsaw Pact. this would ultimately lead to the adoption of the MILAN wireguided anti-tank missile.

Swingfire had a range of 4,000 metres and would prove to be an excellent tank killer. Anecdotal evidence suggests that it was successful 75% of the time through malfunction due to poor handling, storage or even something as simple as the wire guiding it becoming caught or cut during the missile flight. It was also a complex weapon to learn to use, and so had a built in operator training facility within the sighting and operating unit. In wargames terms, I suggest treating any unit that's new to the weapon as Novices when firing with a corresponding reduction in hit probability.

In 1979 the Swingfire armed FV438s and Strikers were controlled by the Royal Artillery and operated in dedicated Guided Weapons batteries.

FV438 is not currently available in 20mm/1/76th scale. The sexier Striker is available from RH Models, (code BAFV19), Kingfisher Models (code MAC-114) and the FV712 Ferret Mk5 is unsurprisingly available from BW Models (Code Fv309).

Cheers

Mark

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Olivers Part-time Army: Territorial Army (Volunteer) Infantry 1979-80

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At the end of 1979 there were 38 volunteer Territorial Army infantry battalions. 3 battalions had been formed from cadres of 3 Yeomanry Regiments, other infantry units amalgamated disbanded artillery batteries. Thus in a few cases, rifle companies might be designated 'Squadron' or 'Battery' in what was to all intents and purposes an infantry battalion.

• Royal Wessex Yeomanry    
• Queen's Own Mercian Yeomanry    
• Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry    
• 1st, 2nd battalions 52nd Lowland Volunteers    
• 5th, 6th/7th battalions Queen's Regiment    
• 4th battalion King's Own Royal Border Regiment
• 5th, 6th battalions Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 
• 5th/8th battalions King's Regiment    
• 5th, 6th, 7th battalions Royal Anglian Regiment    
• 1st, 2nd Wessex Regiment (Volunteers)    
• 5th, 6th, 7th battalions Light Infantry   
• 1st, 2nd, 3rd Yorkshire Volunteers    
• 1st, 2nd Mercian Volunteers    
• 3rd battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers
• 3rd, 4th battalions Royal Regiment of Wales    
• 4th, 5th battalion Royal Irish Rangers    
• 3rd battalion Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment    
• 4th battalion Queen's Lancashire Regiment    
• 1st, 2nd, 3rd 51st Highland Volunteers    
• 4th battalion Royal Green Jackets    
• 4th, 10th (X), 15th battalions Parachute Regiment

Units with NATO assigned roles were the best equipped with four rifle and a HQ company consisting of   Recce, Mortar, Anti-Tank and Assault Pioneer platoons. The Parachute battalions (V) also incorporated a machine-gun platoon. Battalions destined for home defence had a smaller HQ company (just a mortar battery),command element and much lighter scales of equipment. These home defence battalions were not expected to sustain long term operations in the field or undertake all arms maneouvre battles.

For Winter of '79 you can base Territorial Army units on genuine formations or have some fun creating your own, with their own unique name, dress & barrack uniforms, lineage and customs.

Cheers
Mark
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Olivers Part-time Army: Territorial Army (Volunteer) Artillery 1979-80

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Rising tensions on the European continent in the 1860's and a threat of war with France, saw the formation of the Volunteer Force comprising of Volunteer Rifle and Artillery units across Britain. In the early C20th these were incorporated into the Territorial Army (TA) but many kept their proud history and traditions and managed to remain alive in spirit as troops or batteries during the rounds of post war cuts and subsequent amalgamations in the 1960's and 70's.

The TA artillery formations were all part of the Royal Artillery and had roles in wartime supporting 5th and 7th Field Forces destined to reinforce BAOR.

The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC)
Regimental Headquarters at Armoury House, Finsbury, London.
All sub units located, except were shown, at Armoury House, Finsbury, London.

Regiment was enlarged and reorganised into a Surveillance & Target Acquisition,covert long range reconnaissance and stay behind role in 1973, comprising:

• First Squadron: Somme Troop, Ypres Troop, Arras Troop.
• II Squadron: El Alamein Troop, Cassino Troop, El Hamma Troop.
• III Squadron: Aden Troop, Gaza Troop, Rhine Troop.

• plus ceremonial Gun Troop (6x 25pdrs) at Tower of London. (home defence role in wartime)

100 (Yeomanry) Field Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)

Formed 1 April 1967 with Regimental Headquarters at Grove Park, London.

BATTERIES: BL 5.5" Medium Guns, changed to L118 105mm Light Guns in 1980.

• HQ (Home Counties) Battery at Grove Park, London.
• 200 (Sussex Yeomanry) Medium Battery at Brighton and Reigate.
• 201 (Herfordshire and Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Medium Battery at Luton and St Albans.
• 202 (Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Medium Battery at Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich, Norwich and Swaffham.

101 (Northumbrian) Field Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)

BATTERIES: BL 5.5" Medium Guns, changed to L118 105mm Light Guns in 1980.

• RHQ and HQ Battery at Gateshead.
• 203 (Elswick) Field Battery at Blyth.
• 204 (Tyneside Scottish) Field Battery Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
• 205  (3rd Durham Volutneer Artillery) Field Battery at South Shields.

102 (Ulster and Scottish) Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)

Formed 1 April 1967 with Regimental Headquarters at Newtownards.

BATTERIES: Each 12x Bofors 40/70 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun, re-equipped with Blowpipe man portable Surface to Air Missiles in 1978-79.

• HQ Battery at Newtownards.
• 206 (Ulster) Air Defence Battery at Coleraine.
• 207 (Scottish) Air Defence Battery with HQ and D Troop at Glasgow and E and F Troops at Edinburgh.
• 212 (Highland) Air Defence Battery, Arbroath.

103 (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)

Formed 1 April 1967 with Regimental Headquarters at Liverpool.

BATTERIES: Each 12x Bofors 40/70 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun, re-equipped with Blowpipe man portable Surface to Air Missiles in 1978-79.

• HQ Battery (King's) at Liverpool.
• 208 (3rd West Lancashire) Air Defence Battery in Liverpool, B Troop at Prestayn and C (South Lancashire Artillery) at St Helens.
• 209 (The Manchester Artillery) Air Defence Battery with HQ and D and E Troops at Manchester and F Troop (The Bolton Artillery) at Bolton.
• 213 (South Lancashire Artillery) Air Defence Battery at St Helens with Troop at Widnes.
• 208 Battery at Aigburth Road, Liverpool. Later (?) B Troop to 'A' Company Welsh Volunteers.

104 Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)

Formed 1 April 1967 with Headquarters at Raglan Barracks, Newport.

BATTERIES: Each 12x Bofors 40/70 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun, re-equipped with Blowpipe man portable Surface to Air Missiles in 1978-79.

• HQ Battery at Raglan Barracks, Newport.
• 210 (Staffordshire) Air Defence Battery at Wolverhampton.
• 211 (South Wales) Air Defence Battery with HQ and D (Monmouthshire) Troop at Newport and E (Glamorgan Yeomanry) Troop at Cardiff and F (Brecknockshire and Monmouthshire) Troop at Ebbw Vale. Later detachment (?) at Abertillery.
• 214 (Worcestershire) Air Defence Battery at Malvern.

Independent batteries

• 266 (Gloucester Volunteer Artillery) OP Battery Royal Artillery (Volunteers).
• 269 (West Riding) OP Battery Royal Artillery (Volunteers). Leeds ?
• 289 Parachute Battery Royal Horse Artillery (Volunteers). London/Essex. 1977 redesignated as 289 Commando Battery, 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery (V), with 6x L118 105mm guns.
• 307 (South Nottinghamshire Hussars Yeomanry, Royal Horse Artillery) Battery (Volunteers), independent OP battery, Bulwell.

Hands up, this is a work in progress...... I will update as more information come my way.

Cheers
Mark
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Royal Artillery Deployment in UK, 1980

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 The following information is the culmination of research into the deployment of the Royal Artillery in Britain in 1980, It's based largely on secondary and tertiary sources, so should be viewed as indicative only.

REGULAR ARMY

1 Field Regiment RHA: Topcliffe, Yorkshire: Equipped with BL 5.5" Guns in 1979, then FH70 in 1980
HQ Battery
A (The Chestnut Troop) Battery: 8x FH70
B Battery: 8x FH70
E Battery: 8x FH70

2 Field Regiment RHA: Larkhill, Wiltshire (Dortmund most of '79)
HQ Battery
L (Nery) Battery: 6x Abbot 105mm self propelled guns
O (The Rocket Troop) Battery: 6x 105mm Light Guns - AMF(L) Roled
N (The Eagle Troop): equipped by Royal School Artillery with a variety of artillery currently in use for training and familiarisation.

4 Light Air-Portable Regiment RA: 6th Field Force, Aldershot
HQ Battery
29 (Corunna) Battery: 6x 105mm Light Guns
88 (Arracan) Battery: 6x 105mm Light Guns
97 (Lawson's Company) Battery: 6x 105mm Light Guns

16 Air Defence Regiment RA: Kirton-in-Lindsey, moved to Armagh in late 79, back in UK again April 1980.
HQ Battery
14 (Cole's Kop) Battery: 12x Rapiers
30 (Roger's Company) Battery: 12x Rapiers
32 (Minden) Battery: 12x Rapiers

29 Commando Light Regiment RA: Plymouth/Poole
HQ Battery
7 (Sphinx) Battery: 6x 105mm Light Gun (based at RM Condor, Arbroath, Scotland)
8 (Alma) : 6x 105mm Light Gun
79 (Kirkee) : 6x 105mm Light Gun
148 (Meiktila): Naval Gunfire Support (NGS) Target Acquisition battery for 3 Commando Brigade (regard as Special Forces)

32 Guided Weapons Regiment RA: Bulford, converted to Swingfire from 105mm L118 Light Guns in 1978.
HQ Battery
12 (Minden) Battery: 6x FV438 Swingfire (1980, but not 1979)
46 (Talavera) Battery: 12x Blowpipe (or Swingfire according to regt history)
74 (The Battle Axe Company) Battery: 6x FV438 Swingfire

47 Light Regiment RA: Colchester
HQ Battery
3 Battery: 6x 105mm Pack Howitzers
4 (Sphinx) Battery: 6x 105mm Pack Howitzers
31 Battery: 6x 105mm Pack Howitzers

Independent
22 (Gibraltar 1779-1783) Battery: 12x Blowpipe (Commando Air Defence)

TRAINING ESTABLISHMENTS

Royal School of Artillery

1st Battery (The Blazers)  

Administrative Wing of the Support Regiment in Larkhill where it consisted of MT Troop, Range Detachment, Gunnery Trials Detachment, Guided Weapons Troop and the Royal Artillery Sales Team. 

17 Depot Regiment RA: Woolwich
24 (Irish) Battery
59 (Asten) Battery

Junior Leaders Regiment RA:
(105mm Pack Howitzers ?)
33 Battery
39 Battery
40 Battery
41 Battery

 If I've done my sums correctly, an approximate total of:

24x   FH70 155mm guns
6x     Fv433 Abbot 105mm self propelled guns
42x   L118 105mm Light Guns
6-18x   Swingfire Anti-tank Guided Missile vehicles (FV438s or FV102 Strikers)
36x   Rapier Surface to Air Missile Launchers
24x   Blowpipe man portable Surface to Air Missile Launchers
18+ 105mm Pack Howitzers (guesstimate)

Further artillery weapons, up to a battery of each type then in service, were held at Larkhill, currently 24 (Irish) battery, but believe could be 1st Battery (The Blazers) confusingly amalgamated with 24 battery  according to The Blazers battery history.


Cheers
Mark

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Updated 19 December 2010.

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The SAS Pink Panther Land Rover

The Special Air Service (SAS) gained fame in the Western Desert during WW2,  in using heavily armed US Willys Jeeps to conduct hit and run missions on German airfields and lines of communication.

The SAS regained a desert role in the mid 1950's in Oman where they operated a small fleet of armed Series I 88" Land Rovers. These heavily armed Land Rovers were festooned with weapons. The commander sat to the left of the driver, on a raised seat, and was armed with twin forward firing Vickers K machine guns mounted above the dashboard. The radio operator sat centrally in the rear compartment, facing backwards with his radio sets to his left and a .30 calibre heavy machine gun. Even the driver had a machine gun, mounted on his door pillar.

With the need to increase the scope of operations to cover Aden and other middle-eastern hotspots, the SAS Mobility Troop switched to the Series IIA 109 Land Rover in 1967. It immediately gained the nickname of 'Pink Panther' or 'Pinkie' after it's pink, yes pink, desert camouflage. Worth noting that Until 1974 at least, military Land Rovers left the Solihull factory in deep bronze green and were painted for role or theatre as necessary. Olive Drab/Black camouflaged Pink Panthers saw service in Borneo, Belize and operating in forward reconnaissance roles on the inner German border during the Cold War.

These 109-inch Series IIs were stripped of doors and windscreens and fitted with multiple smoke grenade launchers, a new spare wheel mount, desert compass, long-range fuel tanks and water tanks and of course a battery of weapons.

Common weapon configurations were:

1 x Commander's GPMG
1 x Rear GPMG

1 x Commander's GPMG
2 x Rear GPMG

It's possible that in 1979, they migt also have had

1 x Commander's GPMG
1 x .50 cal HMG

1 x Commander's GPMG
Milan wire-guided missile launcher

In addition to the crew's personal arms, the vehicles also carried Carl Guztav 84mm recoilless rifles and LAW 66mm disposable anti-tank rockets.

The Series IIA Pinkies remained in service until 1985 when they were replaced with the new Land Rover 110 DPV (Desert Patrol Vehicle).

I don't think there are currently any Pink Panthers available in 1/76th or 20mm. Rolf Hedges does plan to make one:  BAFV21; SAS PINK PANTHER LAND ROVER (1960'S/70'S ) but still NYA (Not Yet Available). Rolf has a usable proxy in the form of BAFV10; SAS DPV LANDROVER AS USED IN 1991. He also sells a range of vehicle heavy weaons such as pintle GPMGs for those wanting to convert standard military or civillian Land Rovers or other vehicles.

Cheers
Mark

The WOMBAT 120mm Recoilless Rifle

The principal anti-tank weapon issued to British infantry units in 1979 was the L6 WOMBAT 120mm recoilless anti-tank rifle. It was slowly replaced starting in 1979 by the MILAN anti-tank guided missile. The L6 WOMBAT, (Weapon Of Magnesium, Battalion, Anti-Tank) was itself a replacement for the heavier L1/L2 BAT and L4 MoBAT weapons of the 50's and 60's.

Why a recoilless rifle? Principally because it gave greater bang for the buck. It was designed to meet the threat of the then Soviet heavy tanks such as the JS3 Josef Stalin. A 120mm L44 HESH round with almost 30lb of HE would seriously ruin a Soviet tankers day. A recoilless rifle was also more maneouverable than a traditional anti-tank gun, required a smaller gun pit and had a very low silouette. But it did have three main disadvantages. A high trajectory, a huge back blast and a very big bang when it was fired (160db).

 BW Models, BW16: 120mm MoBAT

The WOMBAT was recognisably different from the MoBAT in having a lightweight 'trolley' carriage with a narrow axle and smaller wheels for transport in the back of a 3/4Ton Land Rover. The L4 MoBAT had a wider axle and trailer size tyred wheels to allow it to be pulled by an Austin Champ (withdrwn from service in 1967) or Land Rover. The WOMBAT also had a .50 cal ranging rifle in place of a spotting Bren light machine-gun on the MoBAT.

BW Models, BW336: 120mm WOMBAT

I believe the portee Land Rovers had a manually operated winch assembly to aid pulling the weapon back onboard if it had been dismounted for action. It could also be fired whilst mounted from a stationary Land Rover, which had a rack of 6 ready rounds (4 rounds on the Lighteweigh Land Rover?). Mounted on a portee, 2 men normally fired the weapon, though the standard crew would be 3 men.

BW Models, BW337: WOMBAT Portee

Mechanised Battalions mounted the WOMBAT in a modified FV432/40 which carried 14 120mm rounds. The WOMBAT could be fired through the top hatch (with 270 degree traverse) or used dismounted and pushed up ramps back into the AFV when required.

The two main rounds for the weapon were the HESH with a range of 1,000m and a staggeringly effective canister round which had chopped steel bar next to the skin of the canister and steel balls inside. The steel balls held a tight cone and the bar angled outwards giving a very wide beaten zone.

BW Models have the L1 BAT, L4 MoBAT and L6 WOMBAT plus a Land Rover portee with WOMBAT, pictured above. Britannia Miniatures have VEH23: British 432 APC with 120mm wombat and crew, £6.50. Skytrex (code FF68) have a WOMBAT and 3 crew for £5.00. East Riding Miniatures also has a L6 WOMBAT and 3 crew for £2.50.

Platoon 20, P-B15: L6 WOMBAT

and 3 steel helmet crew

The support company of most British infantry battalion had 6-8 of these weapons. Normally deployed in sections of 2 guns. There would have been stocks of L4 MoBATs, the interim L7 ConBAT (Converted BAT) in depots if not actually still serving. Some of the older weapons may have been released into private ownership - no less than 15 were privately owned in 2007 and one had been given up in an earlier firearms amnesty!

Whilst not as sexy as a MILAN ATGW, the WOMBAT poses several interesting tactical challenges on the tabletop. The Land Rover portee - whether official MOD model or a farm workshop 'technical' provides your forces with mobile firepower and anti-armour capabilities.

Cheers
Mark

The Lightweight Land Rover

 
The Lightweight Land Rover, or Truck, Half Ton 4x4 Rover, was conceived in the 1960's to provide the Royal Marines with a a heli-portable vehicle, capable of being slung beneath a Westland Wessex helicopter, yet still capable of transporting a four-man team with their kit or half a ton of cargo, without overloading. At this time, the Royal Marines were using Citroen 2CV pick-ups, yes really! Flying them ashore slung beneath Westland "Whirlwind" helicopters. What a sight that must have been!

The Series IIA 88 inch Land Rover wheelbase, was modified by redesigning the standard Series IIA axles and fitting shorter half-shafts, reducing the width of the vehicle by 4" so that it would fit on a standard NATO pallet and flown in a Hawker Siddeley "Andover" transport. For an early Wessex helicopter to lift, it was found that the weight needed to be reduced sufficiently through removing the tilt (hood) and sticks, the upper parts of the body, the doors and windscreen, then refitted later in the combat zone. By 1979, more powerful engines in the "Wessex", the introduction of the Westland "Commando" and Boeing CH-47 "Chinook" negated the need to remove body panels.

The Lightweight could therefore be easily lifted by Royal Navy Commando Sea King helicopter, or taken ashore in an LCVP. With a deep wading kit fitted to the vehicles, they could drive ashore in up to five feet of rolling surf. Later it would be possible to fit a pair of Lightweights inside an RAF Chinook helicopter, though being under slung offered a quicker method of insertion than having to set the helicopter down on the ground for unloading. Two two pairs mounted on Medium Stressed Pallets could be dropped by parachute from an RAF Hercules transport aircraft.

Like it's bigger brothers in the Land Rover family, the Lightweight served in a variety of configurations including hard top and 'safari'. They were uparmoured for IS duties in Northern Ireland with VK armour kits. The Royal Marine converted a small number (around six?) into a self propelled Wombat 120mm recoilless rifle carrier.

BW Models Lightweight Land Rover,

VPK Protection (BW200)

 BW Models produce a range of Lightweight Land Rovers in 1/76th scale. These include the soft and hardtop, the jumbo tyred Falklands 'Bog Frog' and VPK protection kits. Ideal for Winter of '79 Internal Security scenarios.

Cheers
Mark

Dedicated to Eli

Long Range Snipers: British Towed Field Artillery

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 Our examination of British Towed Field Artillery in 1979 begins with the venerable QF 25pdr of WW2 fame. Following the Korean War, the Royal Artillery resumed a campaign to obtain a field gun with a range of at least 15,000 yards. The 25pdr Mk2 whilst having an excellent shell that was reputed to be 1.5 times more effective than the American M1 105mm ammunition, was lumbered with a range of 13,500 yards.

As the American Army and many American equipped NATO armed forces possessed 105mm field artillery, designing a new weapon around the 25pdr shell would most likely create supply and interoperability issues in any future major conflict. It was also argued that a 6 gun 105mm battery would put the same weight of firepower down as an 8 gun 25pdr battery. The new field artillery gun would therefore be 105mm.

After a two year trial, the British Army adopted the Italian-made 105/14 Model 56 105-mm pack howitzer firing the American 105-mm M1 shell which was common to the M101 and M102 field guns. The 25pdr was gradually phased out until finally withdrawn from front-line use in 1967. Requipping all batteries home and abroad except those in BAOR. On paper the OTERO was a bean counters dream. No expensive develpment costs, batteries of 8 guns could be reduced to 6 with no loss in firepower, there was ample stocks of readily available ammunition, it could double as an anti-tank gun and be towed by a long wheelbase Land Rover, doing away with specialist movers. Plus it could even be broken down into mule loads for colonial dicking about (there were still mule batteries until 1975). Done!

By 1979, the 25pdr soldiered on in batteries of 2 TAVR artillery regiments, 5 Officer Training Units (OTUs) and most famously, with the Honorable Artillery Company for ceremonial salutes and similar pomp and circumstance. The odd 25pdr could be found up and down the country in museums, outside town halls, used for ceremonial duties or as 'Clock' guns like at Edinburgh Castle. It's last use in a field role was 1992.

But the Italian replacement for the 25pdr only had a short service history. With a range of just 10,936 yards, the performance of the 105mm Pack Howitzer L5 (British designation), fell far short of Royal Artillery requirements, and the stub axles proved so weak that it could not withstand long-distance towing at high speed, so had to be carried on the back of a portee.

Development of a new British 105-mm gun commenced in 1966. This new Light Gun was designed from the outset to meet the needs of the gunners and overcome the shortages made evident by the 105mm Pack Howitzer. 

The 105mm Light Gun L118 had a range of 17,200 metres (20 000 with 'base bleed' round), and performed faultlessly in the Falklands.It fired the same the L31 high Explosve shell as the Abbot 105mm self Propelled Gun. Both could fire the American 105mm M1 shell with British charges to a reduced range of 15,000 metres. In extremis, the L118 could double as an anti-tank gun using a HESH anti-tank round with a maximum range of 800 metres. A throw-back to the 25pdr was the ability for one man to execute a rapid traverse using a trailspike.

First deliveries began in 1974 and it was around 1979/80 when the final changeover from the 105mm Pack Howitzer L5 took place. The Pack Howitzers continued in use in training units such as the Junior Leaders Regiment, Royal Artillery but many were placed into storage as there was still a large stockpile of 105mm American M1 shells.

The Light Gun L118, was highly portable and could be slung underneath a Puma or Sea King, or split into two loads to be carried by Westland Wessex helicopters. It had a specialised towing vehicle in the shape of the The 1-tonne Land Rover. Each gun had two 1-tonne Land Rovers - one for the crew together with a small ready stock of ammunition and a second with 28 more rounds. It also entered service with the US and Australian Armies as the L119.

The Light Gun proved invaluable in overcoming ground mobility challenges of the Falklands campaign. With virtually no ground transportation to move the guns and ammunition from one position to another, the limited number of helicopters available lifted the four batteries supporting 3 Commando Brigade from the ships to the high ground ashore to support the landing at San Carlos. Then at Goose Green, helicopters initially lifted 3 guns, ammunition, and personnel from 8 Commando Battery to support 2 Para’s attack before bringing brought forward the remaining elements of the battery. At the zenith of the campaign, five batteries with a large volume of ammunition, numbering in the tens of thousands of shells were lifted eastward from San Carlos to the Mount Kent area and beyond to support the attack on Port Stanley.

Another WW2 veteran soldiered on into the late seventies. The 5.5 inch howitzer. In 1979 it served with 2 Terroritorial Army artillery regiments in the UK and like the 25pdr could be found in training depots and museums.

The final field piece under consideration is the 155mm L121 (FH70). The FH70 entered service in 1978. It had a high rate of fire, could fire a shell 20.7km and if it came down to it in battle, could be operated by the solitary surviving crewman. It also had an auxiliary petrol engine that allowed it to maneouvre short distances without the need for a prime mover! However, it was found that the tube feed system consistently failed in anything other than perfect conditions and the trail had a weakness that caused it to fail. It was meant to replace the 5.5" howitzer and this was only just started in 1978.

SUMMARY

So, for our 1979 civil war gaming scenario we have a wide range of WW2 and modern towed field artillery available, which adds both flexibility and charcater to our games.You may even want to include ex-WW1 artillery pieces such as the 13pdrs of the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery.

The 25pdr and 5.5" are available from Airfix amongst others. BW Models have both the 25pdr (Code BW44) for £5 and the 5.5" (Code BW25) for £6.  Skytrex have a very, very nice 25pdr (code 20/237) for £5.00.

 BW Models 5.5" (BW25)

 The 105mm Pack Howitzer is again available from Skytrex (code FF681) - a good weapon to equip Royal Marine Commando units or rebel forces. With large stocks of the American M1 105mm round in country and available on the international market, it would certainly be a useful weapon in the rebel armoury.

 The L118 Light Gun is available from Airfix (exJB Models) - you get 2 guns in a box for £5.95 - excellent value! Also from Skytrex (code FF680) at £4.25 and BW Models (Code BW122) for £6. In 1/87 the L118/9 is available from Trident Models for around $9.00 US.

The FH70 155mm gun is available from Kingfisher Miniatures (code MAC-107) for £19.50.

In any Civil War situation international arms dealers generally have a firesale at greatly inflated prices. As the war progresses you could expect to find the US 75mm pack howitzer of WW2 fame - there may even be some in British war stores. The classic American M101 105mm howitzer would I'm sure make an appearance, as would a plethora of recoilless rifles of American, Soviet and Chinese design.  Remember that Recoilless Rifles, were still very much in vogue in the late seventies.


Cheers
Mark
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UK Land Forces Armour Orbats 1979

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Before we start breaking out the credit card to for squadrillions of 1/76th Chieftains for Kursk like tank battles outside Slough or Newbury, what and how much armour would be available to our protagonists in the Winter of '79?

The Royal Armoured Corps was divided into regiments that operate main battle tanks (armoured regiments) and those that operate reconnaissance tanks (armoured reconnaissance regiments).

There were ten Armoured Regiments in 1979.  Eight 'teeth' regiments were based in BAOR organised as Type A with a different composition to the Type B (United Kingdom) Regiment.

Of the two UK based Type B Armoured regiments, one 'teeth' regiment served as the Royal Armoured Corps Training Regiment. In 1979 it was the turn of the Queens Royal Hussars.

As Training Regiment the Queens Royal Hussars had to fulfill a number of roles. As Training Regiment part was based at Catterick, North Yorkshire, whilst the main body of the regiment was based at Bhurtpore Barracks in Tidworth, on the edge of Salisbury Plain, as RAC Centre Regiment and UKLF (reserve).

C Squadron was detached to the School of Infantry at Warminster where it was used in the role of RAC Demonstration Squadron, D Squadron was detached to provide the armoured force of the Berlin Brigade and another squadron served on peacekeeping duties in Cyprus and Rhodesia. The regiment also have to provide an armoured reconnaissance squadron for ACE Mobile Force (Land) comprising 4 troops each of 2 Scorpion and 2 Scimitar CVR(T).



In addition to the Armoured Regiments were eleven Armoured Reconnaissance Regiments of which five were based in BAOR.

There were 3 different types of Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment. Type A (BAOR), Type B (UK) and Territorial Army. One Type B (UK) Regiment was based in Northern Ireland and had a different structure to the others.

Type B (UK) Armoured Regiment

The Fighting elements of a Type B (UK) Armoured Regiment comprised 3x Armoured Squadrons and 1 Close Reconnaissance Squadron
 
RHQ:
2x Sultan
2x Ferret Mk1
1x Land Rover FFR*

3x Armoured Squadrons each:

SHQ:
2x Chieftain MBT
1x Ferret Mk1
1x Land Rover FFR

4x Troops each:
3x Chieftain MBT

1x Close Reconnaissance Squadron:

SHQ:
4x Land Rover FFR

4x Recce Troop each:
6x Scimitar CVR(T)

 Total: 42 Chieftain MBT and 24 Scimitar CVR(T)

*FFR = 'Fitted For Radio' - no outwards difference to normal Land Rover, this referred to the internal wiring and fusebox to allow for powering radio equipment.

Type B (UK) Armoured
Reconnaissance Regiment

The Fighting elements of a Type B (UK) Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment comprised 2x Medium and 1x Close Reconnaissance Squadrons
 
RHQ:
3x Sultan
4x Ferret Mk1
1x Land Rover FFR

2x Medium Reconnaissance Squadrons each:

SHQ:
2x Sultan
1x Ferret Mk1
2x Land Rover FFR

4x Reconnaissance Troops each:
2x Scorpion CVR(T)
2x Scimitar CVR(T)

1x Survey Troop
4x Spartan CVR(T) with ZB298 Radar

1x Close Reconnaissance Squadron:

SHQ:
3x Land Rover FFR
1x Ferret Mk1

5x Close Reconnaissance Troops each:
6x Fox CVR(W)

Total: 16 Scorpion CVR(T), 16 Scimitar CVR(T), 30 Fox CVR(W)

Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment

Territorial Army (TA)

RHQ:
3x Sultan
3x Ferret Mk1
1x Land Rover FFR

4x Reconnaissance Squadrons each:

SHQ:
2x Sultan
1x Ferret Mk1
2x Land Rover FFR

5x Reconnaissance Troops each:
4x Fox CVR(W)

1x Support Troop:
5x Spartan CVR(T) or Saracen APC

Total: 80 Fox CVR(W), 20 Spartan CVR(T)/Saracen APC

Summary

So, excluding the normal caveats of non-runners, shortfalls due to defence cuts, tanks in UK workshops from BAOR, tank sheds full of mothballed Centurions, we have as a ballpark the following available to us (also excluding the Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment in Northern Ireland):

One Armoured Regiment Type B (UK)
Total: 42 Chieftain MBT and 24 Scimitar CVR(T)

One Armoured Training Regiment - based on Type B (UK)
24? Chieftain MBTs and 16? Scimitar and 8? Scorpion CVR(T)

Three Armoured Reconnaissance Regiments Type B (UK)
Total: 48 Scorpion CVR(T), 48 Scimitar CVR(T), 90 Fox CVR(W)

Two Armoured Reconnaissance Regiments (TA)
Total: 160 Fox CVR(W), 40 Spartan CVR(T)/Saracen APC

Grand Total (estimated):
66 Chieftain MBT, 56 Scorpion CVR(T), 88 Scimitar CVR(T), 250 Fox CVR(W)


In addition to these numbers, the Royal Ordnance factory and Vickers-Armstrong produced tanks for overseas customers such as Iran, Jordan. The Challenger came out of the Shir-1 project for Iran - so it would not be inconceivable to see a few early 'Challengers' in 1979.


Both sides in a civil war would turn to foreign powers for additional armour- France, not in NATO, being the most likely candidate. So we have an option to include more exotic beasts in our games such as Panhard armoured cars etc.

We are also likely to see retired models of tanks and armoured vehicles scavanged from mothballs, museums or scrap dealers to be brought back into action.

Cheers

Mark

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CVR(T) = Combat Vehivle Reconnaissance (Tracked)
CVR(W) = Combat Vehivle Reconnaissance (Wheeled)

These are all paper strengths and should be viewed as an intention rather than what was actually achieved. A cancellation of orders for the Spartan due to defence cuts meant that in some units the Saracen APC had to soldier on in it's place. 
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Scots Wha Hae

Bit of luck this evening. Rummaging in the garage, I found a box of  wargame bits and pieces amongst which was a handful of unpainted Britannia Miniatures WW1 Highland Light Infantry in Glengarries.

Enough to convert a section of Britannia's Cold War BAOR squaddies into a fighting patrol of 1970's Jocks.

These Jocks could salt a platoon of squaddies wearing helmets and provide some distinctly Scottish character to the force. Perhaps as Regulars of the Argyll and Malt Highlanders or a private army raised and trained on the estates of Lt-Col and ex-Member of Parliament, Colin Campbell "Mad as a Badger" McMitch. Hero of Saracen Street and what has become known as the Battle of the Sarrie' Heid.

Cheers

Mark

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