"Gaming "small wars" - Malaya, Indonesia, Aden etc. " Topic

For my next project, I'm thinking about some of the smaller conflicts Britain was involved in after WW2 when the empire was declining. In particular, I'm thinking about Malaya, Aden, Borneo and the Indonesian Confrontation.

My usual preference is 20mm and whilst there are plenty of suitable British minis out there, does anyone know where I might be able to find some opponents? I know Britannia do both British and Communists in 28mm for Malaya which are quite nice.

If anyone has gamed these periods, what rules would you suggest/have you tried? I'm quite keen on Force on Force but I'm also thinking that Skirmish Sangin could be converted for small patrol actions and the likes. However, any other suggestions would be good.

Or are these conflicts less popular in the hobby because they're more difficult to game or too lopsided?

Any thoughts and suggestions would be much appreciated!

Look at WWII Japanese for conversion potential, also North Koreans.

If we do Aden, I've got dibs on being Mad Mitch!

I'm starting on Malaya and will be doing the same type of game for my imagi-nation. For rules I am going to use Force on Force or At Close Quarters. ACQ will probably be for games where players are vs me, the GM (like Charlie Company).

Mad Mitch: a man born about 100 years too late. Definitely an Empire builder, not a dismantler.

Have you seen the BBC DVD "Empire Warriors" which covers end of empire actions?

You could have a look at Liberation Miniatures for suitable indigenous opposition.

I've got a bag of IT Figures Chinese for the Korean War that provide a variety of 'troops' for post- colonial games…….Also LibMinis VC and Vietnam Minh figures……
FoF is a good choice for rules…

Any old set of tactical rules will do as you are usually looking at quite small actions. I do thus stuff in 15mm, small enough scale that you can bodge over uniform inaccuracies with paint.

Out of interest, does anyone have squad/platoon organisation lists for the British in the 50s and 60s? If anyone also has lists for the CTs in Malaya and the Indonesians that would be great!

Don't forget the British involvement in Oman, the campaign 'up North' 1957-59, and the Dhofar campaign, 1963 til the mid seventies. Lots of gaming potential.

Rivers3162--

For modern unit organizations check the Micro-Mark offerings on Wargamevault. They cover an amazing range of subjects, and their prices are VERY affordable.

Chris johnson

Just reading "The War That Never Was" by Duff Hart-Davis,
the story of British (and French ) mercenaries in Yemen during Nasser's intervention. Also have " In The Service Of The Sultan" by Ian Gardiner, about the Dhofar war lined up
next. Both useful reading for this sort of thing.

Frank

You have Commando Miniatures in 28mm…

commandominiatures.com

They do British, Indonesians and a pack of Arabs for Aden.

Unfortunately the Arabs aren't enough, one of them has a bazooka and one is firing a pistol. I think more variety is needed.

The Indonesians appear to be enough

There is a good variety for the British, although (again personally) I think there could be a Sterling smg-less pack, Otherwise you end up with 25% of your troops with a smg. There are some unusual poses, in a good way. However, I get the impression there are two sculptors at work here…

I bought 14 of them last month, half are painted (but not based). Would I buy more? Yes, I think I would, but would prefer some more SLR wielding infantry variety…

In Ghurka Company is a fairly good book for scenario ideas. Written in a straightforward style with very little embellishment but a decent resource.

DM