"OPFOR for Modern Australian forces 15mm" Topic

Any ideas?

The Taliban are a first pick, but what else is out there?

Chinese? Indonesian? Russian even?

I really don't want a political discussion. But some reasonable what-ifs would be nice.

My current plan has them (my new Eureka Aussie platoon) helping an allied force of US (Khurasan for the G.Is and Rebel Minis Special Forces) and Filipino (Battle Honors "modern US) fighting a Chinese invasion of Palawan in the Philippines. (Rebel Minis).

Anyway, any other thoughts for scenarios? Miniature suggestions would be especially appreciated! Thanks

I tend to go with the "local rebels outfitted by sponsor with deep pockets" excuse to field just about anything, based on the identity of said sponsor (or their contacts in the world).

Given how common soviet-era gear is, I imagine some modern Russians (Eureka), middle east regulars (Command decision) or any insurgent types can be used pretty widely.

Do note that Khurasan and Eureka figures will look out of scale with each other.
I have Eureka aussies and Khurasan Soviets and the Khurasan boys are like a head taller.

SE Asian pirate types.

The Australians had responsibility of Muthanna and Dhi-Qar province while I was in Iraq from roughly 2005 to 2009. They were well respected by the local militias so I don't think that they ever got into any good fights with the locals. Of course you can always do a Ambush on a Joint US-Aussie Patrol.

Agree with Weasel, the Eureka ADF are great figures, but look significantly smaller alongside Khurasan and Rebel minis.

Rebel Mike's Christmas sale has me thinking about an Imagination in Africa, like Mali, who has been overthrown by Islamists. This nation was a part of the old British Empire and so it's a Commonwealth nation now. The remains of the army cling to the capital while the nation's UN delegation have petitioned the Security Council for help. Australia has taken the lead and has dispatched a small battle group to help save the day.

So I picked up a pack each of Africian Regulars and Militia along with a pack of Islamic insurgents. My Chinese and Filipinos may show up later as peacekeepers… Who happen to spend as much time eyeing each other as looking for Islamists.

Now I need some Bushmaster vehicles and some sort of ride for my Chinese.

I'm Not too worried about the difference in mini scales as they will appear in different units and forces but thanks for the heads-up.

The Iraq scenario sounds good too. And I do have those Khurasan US troops on the way. Maybe I'll put my GIs on smaller bases… But what's thinner than a U.S. penny?

What could work for SE pirates? Would the Rebel Minis Africian militia work?

I went with Khurasan's North Koreans for the enemy of my Aussies, although tempted to do Russians simply because you can get more figures.

The background for my NK what if: link

And thoughts I made earlier today in regards to other enemies on my blog (Chinese and Russians): link

And my Aussies all painted up: link

Rebel Minis would be my first port of call. Any non mid east irregular types would work, even parts of a vietnam range might.

(real) Stabilisation missions to Bougainville, Solomon Islands (armed irregulars) or Timor L'Este (the limited local militia opposition could have escalated to Indonesian Army regulars).

(potential) Intervention against insurrection in New Caledonia or a coup in Fiji.

(just for fun) The Austro-New Zealand Wars.

Must guard against those uppity Kiwis, bent on global domination.

They're raising a large army of sheep, and their cunning plan of a non-confrontational demeanor, combined with virtually no military to speak of, seems to be lulling everyone into complacency.

Local insurgents, i.e. returning jihadists and home-grown terrorists

You might also look at India as an opponent, mate. There's a long-standing dispute over the ownership of a number of Indian Ocean territories (eg Cocos-Keelings and Christmas Island). While the dispute is no more than a very minor aggravation at present, the discovery of gas/ oil, rare minerals or some other resource, or a more-stupid-than-usual government coming into power in either country, could see things escalate. There was even a fairly bad novel on the possibility, which has sunk into an obscurity google can't penetrate.

So you'd have the option for island campaigns (resembling 1944 in the Pacific to take/retake an island, brigade-level combined forces action around Darwin and Broome and also COIN and SF operations.

The problem may be finding suitable figures and vehicles to field for the Indians.

Dal.

"What's thinner than a penny?"

Litco has bases thinner than a dime. I think they are .8mm plywood. I have mounted a ton of figures on them and had some worries about warping so I spray painted both sides with enamel to seal them. I really don't think that was necessary. I have some 60mm diameter Litco bases and no warping there. The climate here is humid. It plays hell with resin models warping everything. I have sworn off resins for life.

I would also add New Zealand. 100% for the taking.
Kiwis are CONSTANTLY proclaiming how great they are (just by showing up)and how genetically are superior to Australians in every way.
(just try to buy a stamp here. the looks and comments…)
Maybe a punitive campaign just to wipe those smug faces…?

How about ISIS?
link

Looking a lot more plausible than India or Indonesia.

Quite possibly. There's a lot of talk here in the states about deploying forces to Iraq to directly confront ISIS too.ISIS type forces would be easy enough to to in 15mm. I'm waiting now for suitable AFVs to come out.

hahahaha! @ deflatermouse , FPR and Mako 11 !

Guys ! I think we've already lost this one.!

My Kiwi mates refer to Australia as the "West Island" of NZ…a penal colony where they send their undesirables.

? Don't NZ nationals already own most of the best real estate of Queensland (Cairns and Gold Coast near-certainly) and NSW …at the least.

We just let them think that…. ;-p

Why not China ?

Aussie troops could be asked to any potential Flashpoint in the SE Asian region …at this point China scripts as the likeliest boogeyman , which may have some interesting possibilities …
? Aussies deployed to Sabah or Brunei or Mindanao to counter Chinese naval/marines raids in support of a conflict over the Spratlys or similar.
? Aussie troops deployed to North Vietnam as an peacekeeping effort 'in-the-wrong-place at-the -wrong-time' scenario…vs China over the Spratlys or Paracels.
? Aussie troops deployed to PNG vs Indonesian (/Kopassus) efforts to take/destabilise PNG…or Sarawak (from Kalimantan) for that matter.
? Aussie troops in anywhere In Indonesia/Malaysia finding and fighting Jamaah Islamiyah terror cells for/with Indonesia.

I woulda thought that playing 'future' conflicts means you have more freedom to fight who you want.. doesn't have to be too plausable .. just interesting and fun.

But it does has to be a bit plausible though. Go too far and it's just outlandish or silly. Although Middle Zealand is really asking for it these days!

Agreed in principle about scenario plausability !

Although world events seem to be so volatile nowadays that anything seems possible.

In 1986 the 'Paul Dibb Defence White paper' predicted that future conflicts for the ADF would likely be fought off- shore by the AirForce and Navy (in submarines ..snicker, snicker).
So the cost cutting could come from the Army who likely wouldn't be needed … but it was the army who was first deploying overseas in significant force numbers with the UN to Cambodia and Somalia in 1992.
In 1986 I'm fairly sure noone in the ADF had even heard of Somalia

Capt Jimmi
Australia will never deploy to West PNG. Must not upset the Indonesians. Unless it would be to help the Indonesian army.
They will charge into Iraq on their own before interfering there.

And NZer's own most of Qld is due to not owning much of NZ any more. So maybe a punitive expedition as revenge for the BJP years.

Or as many Kiwis leave NZ because they can't live here any more, then maybe an expedition to prevent any more from leaving and to affect a regime change. They would be hailed as Liberators by many of the locals.

And then this comes out.

link

pity Tony's about to be toppled.
But that in itself could be part of the scenario. Expansionist PM has grandiose ideas of knighting the Queens husband and then seeks to expand his realm by starting off small. Goes to visit his soul-mate PM in the target islands with a view to checking out the lay of the land, but is toppled while he's away.

Does he
1) seek asylum?
2) Ask his Soul-mate to lend him "trainers" to reinvade Australia?
3) Call for an uprising in the Jacobite style?
4) Did he actually flee having wind of the upcoming coup?
5) …….

link
Don't make me do it again…

Hahahaha! @ deflatermouse

Maybe it is now possible to stop Tony the Pony reentering Australia under new Terrorism laws …noone else in Aus has caused as much panic and havoc domestically as him.

"lock in the 1) Tony" …seek asylum !

Although there's a chance for a good 'underarm bowl' here ..invasion of NZ might be the only way to win the Bledisloe Cup.

But Tony is opposed to asylum seekers fleeing battles they cannot win even when they cause the crisis. Perhaps he needs to be protected in a processing centre first – I suggest Manus Island

China does make sense, especially since we all know that Australia is the Crown Jewel in their South China Sea Island Chain they own.

Perhaps Islamic insurgents driven out of the Phillipines, or other adjacent areas, or invading, as well.

Hahahaha ! @ Mako 11
…that's not funny ! ..I read a semi-historical 'officially sanctioned' thesis about the Ming Dynasty fleets and their 15C-ish 'discovery' and colonisation of Australia and all their evidence for same in 'rediscovered Ming manuscripts'…yeah !
So if they can "legitimately" lay claim to Tibet and all the south China Sea with this tenuous history and logic, it follows that they could also claim a long-held sovereignty of Australia.
..not that they need to… I'm pretty sure they own all the best iron ore deposits and agricultural land in the northern third of Aus …bought and paid for already.
BUT .. we could see Chinese troops stationed there like in Africa ..ostensibly defending their national investments. There's also access to Uranium, Diamonds, gold, and the Timorese gas fields if they choose to play this card.
? Notice how much time the Chinese Naval search party spent 'thoroughly searching for MH370' off the north-western shelf of Aus when everybody else was looking quite a ways further out to sea and to the south ?
…Preliminary Naval recon maybe? ..just 'sayin !

On PM as an asylum seeker – a short film recently won an award with that as the plot link

Well, I've read they discovered America first too, apparently (not sure if that is accurate, or again just good revisionism), so we have to worry here too.

I suspect they'll claim the entire globe, eventually.

Thankfully, we laid claim to the moon, first, though I suspect they'll contest that too.

You might also look at India as an opponent, mate. There's a long-standing dispute over the ownership of a number of Indian Ocean territories (eg Cocos-Keelings and Christmas Island). While the dispute is no more than a very minor aggravation at present, the discovery of gas/ oil, rare minerals or some other resource, or a more-stupid-than-usual government coming into power in either country, could see things escalate. There was even a fairly bad novel on the possibility, which has sunk into an obscurity google can't penetrate.

Wow, that's a whole new measure of bad novel, when not even Google can find it!