"US Paratroopers in Normandy" Topic

I'm starting to paint some US Paratroopers 28mm figures for Normandy scenarios.

I'm planning to paint a platoon according to stormpages.com/garyjkennedy TO&E.

I've several questions/problems.

* Machine Gunner
I don't know if a US Para figure with a M1919A6 exists in 28mm. There is a West Wind HMG/LMG pack but there's no picture available. I have a BTD M1919A4 team, but it's not easy to add the missing parts to the M1919A4.(

So may I use a B.A.R. instead ( for 2 squads for instance ) or is it an historical mistake?

* Some of my BTD figs have a GreaseGun. Was this SMG used in Normandy by US Paras?

* Do 60mm mortar teams exist? There's no Mortar
team in the BTD range and the WWP one there are mortar teams but with medium ones ( 81mm? ) . Can I try to convert them in 60mm ones ( cuting the barrel and modifying the other parts to match 60mm ) ?

* Is there Communications teams in a 28mm range?

* I want to add a Bazooka team and a sniper. Should I put them at the platoon HQ ( instead of messengers for instance ) or should I put the Bazooka team in a rifle platoon?

* The squad are a 12 men team. But how many men are in a C47 stick? It seems that there were 10 in Band of Brothers?

You shouldn't have too much trouble converting the mortars. The teams could be made up of some of the character models and figs with Carbines for the mortar crew.

As far as I know the Grease gun was used in Normandy. I don't see why not, it had been available and it was very light, a good choice for paras. Perhaps it was seen more with pathfinders.

There are no BTD para communication teams but conversions from he regualr infantry comm teams would be pretty easy. Just cut off the backpacks or handie talkie hands, and with a little cutting and gluing you should have some para teams. Get a good, sharp pair of side cutters (GW makes a good pair).

Bazooka teams should be available to the Platoon HQ to put where the Lieutenant sees fit, but should not replace runners. I imagine he attached Bazookas to squads when necessary, or he kept them with him to give AT protection. Snipers (IIRC) were members of the squad. I think one man in the squad had the 1903 with scope.

I think a stick was a full squad of 12.

I don't know what to tell you for the MG conversion, that would be a tough one. West Winds minis would not look right next to BTD's IMHO. The size difference is just too stark. Maybe if BTD is listening, they might make one...

Lord knows I've been asking for Wehrmacht MP-40's, LMG's, and other supprt weapons in great coats for some time!

Hope this helps, and happy painting and gaming!

Many Thanks.

Concerning radio equipments, Is the SCR-536/BC-611 "Walky Talky" used at Platoon level while the SCR-300/BC-1000 "Backpack" Radio is used at Company level?

In this case, I think I could easily add a milliput SCR-536 (copying the size on a US inf one) with a shoulder strap on a figure.

I also think that a US Paratrooper with a M1919A6 on shoulder (I have a picture) and another prone ala BoB will be really great!

The paras jumped into normandy.
In the process they lost virtually all heavy equipment and were badly fragmented.
A complete section would have been rare, a complete platoon is highly unlikely.

30 cal, bazooka, 60mil mortar... these are all heavy equipment for purposes of my comments. Miss all these out and you're more historically accurate than including any.

The thompson was more popular and much more likely than grease guns.

Well it's part of the scenarios... It's a could be multiplayers game (each player controls a squad) and has a rally point and an objective.

But things go wrong, and the platoon will be scattered and will have to roll a random landing point and various events (casualties, unexpected reinforcements,etc.).

So I want a correct platoon for the beginning and then let the players face the messy situation.

From what I have read too, the airdrops got really scattered - about 1/6th of the men actually landed in the planned dropzones, the rest being scattered around a wide area.

So the organisations on the D-day were very improvised - officers gathering any nearby men and forming them into squads as they best could. It must have been many days before anything like the formal organisation was reached.

If you need help on making D-day airborne scenarios, I could recommend the Face of Battle supplement All American, which contains information on the US army in general, and a lot of scenarios for airborne on D-day. I am planning on painting a bunch of 1/72 US paras for playing out those scnearios (and I have ideas for some more too - like taking out a howitzer section).

Griefbringer

There are dozens of great scenarios. Instead of a howitzer section, I'm planning a Flak88 one in a small village with german patrols, a demolition team of french resistance, motorbike messengers in the Norman bocage, some cows and dummies...

There's also the fight in Neuville-au-plain, north of St Mère-Eglise, 82nd Abn Div paratroopers (with a 57mm AT gun) under command of Lt Turnbull vs grenadiers and Stug III.

As long as no Tiger is involved is OK for me... :)

Don't forget the Skirmish-Campaigns book for Normandy: First Hours! It has a great selection of scenarios, many with paratroops in them, and a good number designed specifically for 28mm. I'm running one tonight for my gaming group, albeit in 15mm. HIGHLY recommended.

In regards to 60mm mortars, you can either cut down the ones that come inthe Battle Honors pack or buy the West Wind Japanese (yes Japanese) mortar pack. It comes with 2 small mortars that would work perfectly as 60mm mortars.

Any type of SMG is fine. Some had Thompsons and some had M3s.

KL

I'll be in Ste Mere Eglise and Carentan during the first week of November. If you need any pictures or on-site info contact me off list at nysv84@yahoo

to fklong:
I looked at the WWP japanese mortars. It could be OK for the barrel but the bipod is really different. It seems that a the 81mm bipod could convert to a 60mm one.

to Bad Painter:
Living in France I did several trips to Normandy but I still have to go to Ste Mère-Eglise. I hope you will enjoy your journey.

( Normandy today : perronny.free.fr/ww2 )

you could use the M19 60mm mortar which was the lightened version of the bipod 60mm mortar. It looks a little like the British 2" but larger. It was used by the US airborne in small numbers.

cheers,

Evan

A C-47 would carry 15-19 fully loaded paratroopers plus a number of supply containers. In general, a stick consisted of a full rifle squad plus part of the platoon support/command. One plane may have the rifle squad, a six man mortar squad and the platoon sergeant, plus 3 containers. Another may have the rifle squad, the platoon leader, a radioman and a medic, plus 5 containers. They would organize to best use available transport and lift a platoon with the minimum number of aircraft.

Thanks for the information. On D-DAY pics the number of paratroopers in a C47 seems greater than 12.

But I watched BoB part2 last week and I heard them starting to count from =10= during the equipment check.

I was round at Artizan Designs yesterday, picking up some figs to paint. On Mike's desk were a 60mm Mortar as well as two sets of .30 Cal. He's done both the tripod and the shoulder stock versions. Looks like your prayers have been answered. He said they were going to be pressed late this week. The Mortar crew was really nice. 3 figs, one talking into a radio, one checking direction and the other feeding a bomb into the tube. Very nice.

These are great news... Any idea of the availability date?

I'm not sure about that, but I don't think they are that far off. The best thing to do would be to email Mike at artizandesigns@aol.com. He is always happy to reply to people.

Paratroopers attacking a Flak88 sounds like a neat scenario - I got to consider that one too (especially as there is an 88 available in 1/72 by Hasegawa).

And once you have played too many Normandy scenarios, there is always Market Garden to go. Speaking of that, A Bridge Too Far (the book) mentions at one point C-47 having carried 21 paras. I have seen some sources mention even greater capabilities (up to 28) but I guess those are without equipment canisters etc.

Griefbringer

Don't forget the 'crossing the Rhine' scenarios, largest airborne operation of the war IIRC, all kinds of scenarios there.

I've heard that there was an incident where the brits dropped some airborne in the same area that the FJ were dropping as well, is this true or just another gamer-myth?

Hey Spiral, did you see any Germans in camo smocks lying around the work table? The support weapons sound great.

DJButtonup - I think that event happened in the Sicily landings, around 1943. Not sure about the details. And your right about the crossing of the Rhine - though I am not so hot on 1945 scenarios anymore.

Griefbringer

Er Yes I did. And I think in Zeltbahns too. There was a lot of stuff mike has been churning out at the moment. I spoke to him today and he gave me the following info:
November Release

US Airboure 60mm Mortar
US Airborne .30 Cal Moving and Firing (Shoulder stock type)
British 8th Army .303 Vickers team
10 man Late German Inf section in smocks (All different poses for £10)

If he can get them done in time there may be a pack of Late war German Officers

Many Thanks!

I think I will soon order some of the existing US airborne packs. I'm looking forward to seeing these new figures.

Very nice figs. Mike would be proud :-)

These are BTD ones... By the way, do you know if the Artizan Design figs are fully compatible with BTD ones?

LOL! Mike will kick my ass. Sorry about that, but they are well painted. I think they will match up very well, but if you have not seen Mikes stuff in the metal before, you will be well pleased. They are the easiest figure to paint bar none.

Hey Sarge, want to share with us what paints you used? I am planning to be painting some US D-day paras in future, and would probably nick an extra Vallejo can to get the proper colour for the airborne uniforms.

Griefbringer

Of course!

M42 uniform
977:DesertYellow for the base colour
873:USFieldDrab for the shading
916:SandYellow with white for the hilighting
Knee/Elbow patches in 889:OliveDrab

Webbing
988:Khaki
Brown ink for the shading

Helmet
893:US DarkGreen with a 889:OliveDrab net

Thanks Sarge! Seems like I will be buying plenty of yellows is near future - US airborne and German vehicles to paint. Well, at least I won't need to get extra paints if I decide to get to the North Africa theatre some day.

BTW: for those in know, are there any significant changes in US para equipment between D-day and Market Garden? I think A Bridge Too Far at least mentions a change in the type of footwear used.

Griefbringer

After the Normandy Campaign, the M42 uniforms were removed (and destroyed due to their poor ) and replaced with the M43 green one (standard for all units, infantry or airborne).

Doh - I just realised that half of my US airborne models seem to be wearing the D-day uniform, and the other half are wearing the later M43 uniform used in Market Garden. Oh well, got to cope with that.

Griefbringer

Some tanks to do before continuing with the other squads…

Ohoho

SWW317U.S. Airborne Pathfinders (4) : Coming Soon!

SWW318U.S. Airborne 30 Cal. Teams (2 x 2 man crews) : Coming Soon!

SWW319U.S. Airborne 60 mm mortar (1 & crew) : Coming Soon!

Here are my first Artizan Design Paratroopers. I nearly removed the metal base for I want to mix them with BTD.

Nice work Sgt. I am a big fan or your painting. Can't wait to see more. Keep up the great work!

USInfantryFan

New pics with Artizan Designs new reference ( MMG/60mm Mortar )

link

Random thought - not to criticise but something I just noticed.
The knee patches seem very dark on some of those.

You're right. My first US Paratroopers figures had rather dark (889:OliveDrab with highlight) patches. Maybe I will change this but I have some pictures of dark patches (though others show light olive green ones).

After nearly 50 paratroopers, I need a small break! :)