"Which 15mm figures for 5 Commando in the Congo (mid 1960s)?" Topic

I'm looking to put together some initial units for AK47 Republic, but I would like my 5 Commando to be historical enough for other 15mm scale games. From the photos I've seen, the uniforms were not particularly uniform, but the one that tends to dominate is the beret, rolled up sleeves with a FAL. I think I saw these somewhere, but I can't find them now.

While Jeeps with mounted machine guns were pretty dominant, I know they used some APCs as well but I don't know what sort. Anyone have any idea?

Peter Pig has a Hoare-type figure, so he'll be taken care of, as well as Unimog trucks.

Any other suggestions for 5 Commando like figures?

I am looking at a similar project in 15mm I have given up on 28mm.

As far as vehicles check out the TMP thread "Armor Belgian Congo". QRF is an excellent source. Peter Pig WW2 paratrooper jeeps for gun jeeps. Some Peter Pig land rovers with HMG in back.

Peter Pig is the best source in 15mm for 5 Commando, ANC and Katanga Gendarme.

Simbas are the one I am struggling with in this scale. There is machete wielding rioters pack in the Peter Pig line. I was considering various zulus and other assorted tribal types armed with spears and bows. Militia armed with bolt action rifle from Peter Pig. Some of the regular troops armed with GPMG, FAL, HMG and light mortars.

Seeing that Simba are hard to do, I can only imagine how hard Charles Taylor's thugs in Liberia would be. Men in wigs, sun dresses and capes wielding machetes and AK-47s are not well stocked in your average game store.

There is a line in 28mm of Hoare and 5 commando with Simbas too. britanniainkerman.com (under Products->Special Ops->The Congo) and matakishi.com/wildgeese.htm where they are all dolled up.

The only armour that 5 Commando had was a couple of M8 Greyhounds and Ferrets. They did'nt have any apcs as such making do with 3 ton trucks, can't remember what make.

Your best bet is using PP merc figures from the AK range armed with FNs, if you need doing some head swops. Don't forget they used American helmets as well as berets.

Not sure if they had any landrovers as Congo was very much supported and supplied by the Americans and before that was Belgian.

I've ordered a bunch of beret wearing FN wielders from PP as well as the African Irregulars from Old Glory (50 figures for $14). Couldn't resist the PP Naked people with assault rifles; that should get some attention. I think my African regulars will be Katanganese…

No vehicles yet as I'll have lots to do with painting what I ordered this go around. I forgot about the Ferret and never heard of the M8s; thanks to Tarleton for that info. Dragon Gunner, that Armor Belgian Congo thread was really good. Never would have found that on my own.

I was looking at QRF miniatures and they do look good, but I've read that they're rather complicated to put together.

I've never had any problem putting any QRF stuff together. As long as you have a picture(s), if required, for reference you should be fine. Should be plenty on the web if you don't have any yourself.

You may pick up copies of Mike hoares books on ebay if you don't have them. They are good reads and packed with info for scenarios etc.

Have you got some nuns/missionaries etc to rescue?

I've got all of Hoare's books, except the one about sailing with his family in the Mediterranean. I intend to go through Congo Mercenary again, pen in hand, to take notes. (If you haven't read Congo Warriors, I'd recommend it: personal stories that may not warrant a mention in general or military histories, but are compelling nonetheless.)

I do need Nuns! And priests. And who can forget hostages of the nubile variety. Does anybody make 15mm lepers?

With regards to vehicles, there is a page dedicated to high hood jeeps at war: link An odd topic, but informative: it appears that most of the war jeeps in the Congo had dual machine guns.

My QRF ferrets were really easy to put together. Also be aware the old glory figures are much larger than the PP ones they should be alright as long as they're in seperate units (mine are). M8s should be avaliable in any of the 15mm WW2 ranges.

As for the jeeps I thought 30 cals where the order of the day in the Congo PP sale a pack of 30cals on poles for mounting on vehicles as well as a pack of 30cals/50cals with gunners for the mounting in vehicles.

"I do need Nuns! And priests. And who can forget hostages of the nubile variety. Does anybody make 15mm lepers?"

Peter Pig makes refugees, priests and nuns I think they are in the WW2 line. The refugees look perfect for Stanleyville.

When the ANC battalion at Stanleyville was routed by a witch doctor and 50 spear armed followers they left behind their weapons and motor pool. The Simbas captured some fully intact M8 armored cars.

The problem with Peter Pig naked militia is they are armed with AK47 and so are the Old Glory irregulars. Those weapons were not used in the Congo in 1964. (The exception might be Che Guverra and his Cuban advisors.) If that does not concern you then these are great miniatures to represent them.

Most Simba firearms were civilian weapons or captured Belgian stock left behind by fleeing ANC units. There is some vague references to shipments of communist weapons showing up in small amounts late in the conflict (1965 I can't quote a source)

"There is some vague references to shipments of communist weapons showing up in small amounts late in the conflict (1965 I can't quote a source)"

I can :) Mike Hoare's "Congo Warriors" mentions it. They're was a bit of a debate, as I recall, as to whether they should stick with the FAL or move over to the AK-47.

With regards to historical accuracy, it is 5 Commando that I'm interested in keeping historical. I need generic African militia for… well everything else :) After I get my 5 Commando done, then it is time for making Executive Outcomes (which poses its own problems). For the moment, the lack of historicity won't matter much as this is going to be for AK 47 Republic. If/When I do a truly historical game, then I'll already have my 5 Commando ready to go. In the mean time, I'm going to keep my out out for some 15mm Simbas as well.

Eureka's French Indochina figures might suit your purposes. although you'll have to do head swaps for berets, using the PP separate heads. They won't have FAL or SLRs though.

I've just noticed that Peter Pig has a machete wielding 'mob'in their Pirate range too which might suit some purposes. peterpig.co.uk/range10.htm

I can think of quite a few 15mm figures that have features blurred enough to be used as lepers!

You could use land rovers. The belgian Minerva jeeps were a licensed copy of the land rover.