Silent Pool | 02 Apr 2014 5:04 a.m. PST |
With the recent release of Red Star Miniatures 28mm Dien Bien Phu range of French forces, a natural divergance would appear to be the Algerian War of Independence. link Is this a conflict that is gamed? What figures could be used to represent the Algerians? What war game rules? |
GeoffQRF | 02 Apr 2014 5:12 a.m. PST |
Do you know how tempting it is to suggest modern Russians? :-) |
nnascati | 02 Apr 2014 6:19 a.m. PST |
Joe, Isn't this how it started last time?? That being said, it is an interesting conflict. It featured as I recall the first widespread use of the helicopter to move assault forces. There is a decent Osprey on the subject that may give you some ideas on the appearance of the insurgents. Photos in "A Savage War of Peace" seem to show insurgents in entirely civilian garb. I have "A Savage War of Peace" by Alistair Horne for sale if you are interested. Nick nnascati@gmail.com |
Fanch du Leon | 02 Apr 2014 7:22 a.m. PST |
The military Algerian side was called the ALN (Armée de Libération Nationale). Googgle ALN Algerie or ALN 1954 and you should have quite a few pictures. There was a kind of uniform more or less looking like the all khaki green uniform used by the French conscripts sent there.Civilian clothes, European or local were seen often too. Weapons were a mix of soviet, French and WW2 German gear. |
Spartan | 02 Apr 2014 7:59 a.m. PST |
Watch the French movie Intimate Enemies. It takes place in Algeria. It's on Netflix if you have it. |
Inkpaduta | 02 Apr 2014 10:05 a.m. PST |
A friend of mine has done this conflict so I know that it is doable. |
vtsaogames | 02 Apr 2014 10:22 a.m. PST |
Inkpaduta, what rules did your friend use? What scale was the game? Was the player a platoon CO, company CO or higher? |
Dan Cyr | 02 Apr 2014 10:50 a.m. PST |
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jurgenation | 02 Apr 2014 12:23 p.m. PST |
Also the Movie "Lost Command",w/Anthony Quinn.Also at ModernAfricanBushwars yahoo group there are two links for the French ,one French Forces the other French air war Algeria. link |
vtsaogames | 02 Apr 2014 1:01 p.m. PST |
Spartan, thanks for the heads up. I watched that just now. A tough movie, well made. That would be platoon at the highest level, more like squad skirmishes. |
Jcfrog | 02 Apr 2014 3:39 p.m. PST |
The actual fighting, was mostly one sided. Short of ambushes with most chances on their sides the FLN were hunted, and lost a lot. They won the politics but lost the "battles". Very little armament very little bands etc. Not very interesting for a game. Very nasty too. A subject that does not lead to fun, such a useless waste of lives. Otherwise figs might be hard to find, Indo french Ok, slouch hats etc. lots and lots of WW US stuff. US marines / Korean might be used too ( helmet netting). Air support with T6 and T28, Corsairs, B2, Bearcats
For the fells, hard to find. In 20mm at RH models, ask him he will know which might do. The pb will also be mostly civilian weapons with WW2 German stuff and French captured. very little of the ALN ( and actual soviet weapons) succeeded in crossing the ligne Morice. Soviets actually supplied a lot of second hand ex German stuff from CZ, less conspicuous. You know the poor destitute vs. the bad ugly imperialists etc. Platoon level, yes and no. Reaction forces would most often be a sledgehammer against a pin. |
FusilierDan | 02 Apr 2014 5:42 p.m. PST |
"Intimate Enemies" is probably more what you're looking for than "Battle of Algiers" but they're both good movies. Patrols, Ambush, skirmish level. Nicks book suggestion is a good one. Osprey had a book on it also I beleive. |
Risaldar Singh | 03 Apr 2014 4:21 a.m. PST |
I'd say the Algerian War of Independence is gameable and the closest conflict I can think of is the Rhodesian War since the most representative fighting would be fairly low-level ambushes on French patrols and pursuit of infiltrating guerrillas. Cave clearing or village sweeps would also be something relatively typical. The largest ALN katibas would be comany size. As for rules,I'd look at the B'Maso supplement by Toofatlardies, Force on Force or any decent vietnam rules (CDS or Ambush Valley would do the trick). I second "Intimate Enemies" which is by far the best rendition of what the war was like. Finding ALN figures would be the most difficult part althoughh Commando miniatures Indonesian and Yemenis might be a starting base for conversions: link |
Inkpaduta | 03 Apr 2014 6:11 a.m. PST |
Can't really answer your questions Vtsaogames, I just heard about him doing it. If I can, I will try and find out for you. |
ubercommando | 03 Apr 2014 12:29 p.m. PST |
There's plenty of scope for skirmish gaming the Algerian War. The war itself went through a series of phases: Early on the ALN had success attacking French conscript forces and it took the intervention of the airborne forces plus the use of torture to break the resistance. I can recommend the Osprey book on the subject; it's written by Martin Windrow who wrote the fantastic "Last Valley" (about Dien Bien Phu). The ALN uniforms ranged from classic civilian Berber gear to uniformed troops: Olive green jacket, trousers and caps. A lot of troops used German equipment, especially MG 42s, Mauser rifles and MP40s. As for films, I can't recommend "Battle of Algiers" highly enough. It's probably one of the 10 best war movies ever made. Not so much for pitched battle scenes (although there are plenty of ambushes, terrorist attacks and counter terrorist attacks depicted) but you get a balanced depiction of events from both sides. |