"NATO troops in late 50s early 60s?" Topic

How would NATO troops have been armed in this period? Would US troops for Korea be suitable for deployment in western europe?

By early '60s, US troops would probably have had M14 rifle, rather than M1. M1956 pattern LCE gear looks largely different (except canteen and entrenching tool) than Late WWII gear, which I assume was most common in Korea. Guess it largely depends on scale and how picky you are.

Wiki says M14 was 1961 for army and 65 for Marines.

M60 machine gun is 1957.

M79 grenade launcher is 61.

LAW in 63.

For 50's, I'd say use Korea figures (and honestly I'd just use the far more readily available ww2 kit, especially in 15mm).
For 60's, use Vietnam figures if you can find them with M14.

The British are basically in WW2 kit (BD, No 4s, Brens) albeit with turtle helmets until the introduction of the SLR in the late 1950s.

1960s they are in Combat Dress with turtle helmets, SLRs, and GPMGs so very different. Might as well use Cold War figures painted green instead of DPM.

Thanks guys!

The Wiki dates are for complete turnover (M1 to M14), conversion of units started, IIRC, in '59 for the Army, probably a little later for the Marines. Surprisingly I can remember my Dad (who was in from WW2 through Vietnam) commenting that Hasbro got it pretty close with the old, classic G.I. Joe.

Good call Jowady, thanks.

IF you are going for late '50s, then Elhiem does some British in Battledress with SLR.