"So What unit level are you considering for the Chaco War?" Topic

Hello.

I'm awaiting from Jon of Khursan Miniatures the 15 mm miniatures for the Chaco war. For me personnaly, I'm interested in Battlion/Regimental size games with at a guess a platoon of four bases with two miniatures on each base including commander. The make up to company and then to battalion et at will be based on what year I intend to game.

Initially, I wish for the Bolivians to be under strenght where as Paraguay will out number Bolivia by 1.5 to 2.

A deck of random events plus some support cards for both sides where applicable will be introduced into the game. Artillery/Air Support and resupply. Random events cards to factor in the nature of the conflict. Obtaining miniatures to reflect artillery and aircraft is unimportant for the moment, but I do like aircraft and to game the airwar in 15 mm would be good. Especially with the ground war happening underneath.

Jon has indicated that mortars are next. However, Jon has mentioned that there has not been a good response to the range so far. I hope folks who have an interest will hitch a ride on the range. Are folks waiting for the Osprey release in November? So am I!

Just for fun I'll convert some miniatures as standard bearers bravely showing their national flag!

Thanks for reading an I do appreciate any feed back.

Ciao,

Helen

Hi Helen

I don't think anyone needs to hold out for the Osprey before starting. These websites give enough info to get off the blocks quickly:

link
link
link

Combined with Mark Bevis' excellent series of Micromark TOEs which has the Paraguayan and Bolivian Infantry organisations and are available for a small price as downloads via Wargames Vault:

link

Some breakdown on the armies:
link
link

Bob Cordery also wrote some high level ORBATS (1932 and 1935) for the Megablitz operational level wargame rules and can be accessed here:
link

I prefer 3 figures to the base with bases representing companies or half battalions as situation demands.

Cheers
Mark

Is it wrong that I keep looking at the figs and then at the "Vacation Aliens" Khurasan did and thinking about "prequel movie" scenarios? Anything that helps sell the figs is okay, right? :)

Thanks Mark for the heads up on links. MB site looks good. I've ordered the orgs, thanks.

Thanks BWS, some nice scenics for this conflict would be good.

Cheers,

Helen

Yep. It all works.

I'm not sure if I will play this at the tactical level using Bayonets and Ideology Two or more at the levels mentioned by Helen and Mark with some rules like Over There.

My delusions also have me playing out some air war battles with Wings of War (WW2).

The good news is I have my terrain ready and an order in for infantry. I will also be ordering the new mortars when they come out.

Skirmish level with attacks on machine gun bunkers and fighting tanks.

Will probably use an AK-47 Republic variant for rules, and definitely the 15mm figures from Khurasan. That's upsetting to hear that the range isn't selling strong. I definitely plan to make a substantial order by the end of the summer. I am also waiting on the Chaco War Osprey book, I read Green Hell. That was enjoyable. Have to find some appropriate 15mm water trucks…

@PAR, perhaps the QRF Chevy Truck with some plastic-card to convert to water truck would suffice.

I think the QRF Chevy truck as a generic truck would do for both sides. It looks international :-)

Green Hell was okay to read. Like to read more of the battles themselves if there is a book covering this.

Awaiting my book on the Air War over the Chaco.

A couple of questions please.

Does anyone make suitable aircraft for this period
in 15 mm or similar scale?

Does anyone make the machine gun carriers used by the Bolivians in 15 mm scale?

If Jon gets the smgs made I think they would be well suited as firebrigade units for the Paraguayans going by Mark Bevis's Divisional makeup.

Ciao,

Helen

Hi Helen

Beautiful Carden-Lloyds are made by North Star, now sold by Old Glory (in the UK):
link

I also have a mix of Peter Pig and Flames of War L3/33s (prefer the Pig ones).

With regards to the planes – ooh, not exactly run of the mill types – I'm no air wargamer per se but I think you are going to have to proxy.

Cheers
Mark

BTW Zvedza now make the Russian Zis-5 truck in 1/100 at a peanuts price: link

The Zis-5 was a copy of a popular American truck of the time and looks more or less similar to a Ford. Well worth picking up as a cheap Inter-war run about.

Cheers
Mark

You might be able to find something in the 1/144 model world for aircraft.

Thanks Guys,

Helen

"BTW Zvedza now make the Russian Zis-5 truck in 1/100 at a peanuts price:"

Interesting, and good to know. Thanks for that link.

Duck

My tentative plans (subject to changeupon contact with the enemy of course) will be small unit level, menaing squads and platoons. I enjoy Force on Force, and have picked up A World Aflame, so that level of quasi-skirmish appeals to me. Buying a boatload of figures, while very helpful to Mr. Khurasan I am sure, isn't on my radar. But having a platoon or so on each side, with players running squads, with the oddball random plane or mortar for support, is.

Sounds like an interesting period, and I will be buying those lovely Khurasan figures soon!

I think that the Chaco Wars line will move a little more with the Osprey book, but also with the VBCW interest. The Bolivians are going to make great Militia/LDV types.

I just ordered the Osprey on the Chaco Wars, so I look forward to seeing what type of quasi-skirmishing can be done. Really, I am certain I can make up whatever scenario I need (raid on a pig farm, the search for water, etc.). Time to pull out the rules (A World Aflame) tonight and see if they truly will work for me.

Got the order of battles from MicroMark, but they don't dig down to what a Paraguayan squad was comprised of. Probably because there was not a set number of men or that formation was constantly influx?

Once I get the book I will place a small order for the figures. They look REALLY cool on the Khurasan website!