Help support TMP


"15mm 1980s US infantry" Topic


8 Posts

All members in good standing are free to post here. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by The Miniatures Page.

Please do not use bad language on the forums.

For more information, see the TMP FAQ.


Back to the Cold War (1946-1989) Message Board


Areas of Interest

Modern

Featured Hobby News Article


Featured Link


Featured Ruleset

A Fistful of TOWs


Rating: gold star gold star gold star gold star gold star gold star gold star 


Featured Showcase Article

Amazon's Santa with Gun Pack

You wanted more photos of the Santa Claws Gang? Here is Santa and two of his companions.


Featured Profile Article

The Gates of Old Jerusalem

The gates of Old Jerusalem offer a wide variety of scenario possibilities.


Current Poll


Featured Book Review


734 hits since 21 Oct 2018
©1994-2024 Bill Armintrout
Comments or corrections?

Joe Legan21 Oct 2018 4:40 p.m. PST

Have decided I am playing enough cold war would like to outfit 2 US squads in the late 1980s woodland camo. I actually have 2 MG teams and an officer left over from my US moderns that I can use also though these guys have a lot of equipment ( Peter Pig). Who has the best late 1980 squads out there? I only need 20 figures or less if I use my 2 MG teams above.
My thought is Khurasian but want to know if I am missing anyone? BF has good stuff but I don't need a whole platoon and I think Khurasian sculpts are as good if not better some times.

Thanks

Joe

Tgunner21 Oct 2018 5:48 p.m. PST

Actually you might want to revisit Battlefront. The mech platoon from BF sounds perfect for what you want. They are great miniatures and you're not getting much more than 20 figures. The mech platoons that they model are pretty small.

link

link

McWong7321 Oct 2018 7:11 p.m. PST

Khurasan is a good range of 80s era US infantry, but trend larger tha n BF and PP.

Personal logo Legion 4 Supporting Member of TMP In the TMP Dawghouse22 Oct 2018 2:13 p.m. PST

Mech Infantry Sqd when I commanded a Mech M113 Co., '87-'89. With Mech HVY Bde of 18th ABN Corps.

1 Sqd Ldr – M16

1st Fire Tm:

1 M203 GL
1 M249 SAW
1 M60 MG
2 M16s

2d Fire Tm:

1 M203 GL
1 M249 SAW
1 M47 MAW "Dragon"
2 M16s

M2 .50 cal HMG on Track

M72 LAWs were issued like ammo. Usually carried by Tm members with M16s. These same Tm members would also carry extra ammo for M60 and/or M47 reload round(s).

Usually the Track Driver and TC stayed with the track. TC manned the .50. So each dismounted Fire Tm would be short one troop.

these guys have a lot of equipment
Yes … very much so …

Bellbottom23 Oct 2018 4:39 a.m. PST

Legion 4
Are the M60 and Dragon 2 man teams, or are the number 2's made up from the riflemen?

Personal logo Legion 4 Supporting Member of TMP In the TMP Dawghouse23 Oct 2018 6:14 a.m. PST

The M60 and M47 "Teams" are made up from the 2 Grunts/Riflemen carrying M16s. In my unit and generally all units worth a Bleeped text have all members of the Squad trained in all weapons in the unit.

Cross training is a standard in the US ARMY. And is done by all "effective and efficient " units, in NATO, etc. So if one man it KIA'd/WIA'd another man in the Squad can pick up the weapon and use it effectively.

So yes, with the Driver & TC staying in the Track. You can only dismount 9 of the Squad. And generally in many cases everyone in the Fire Tm ended up carrying a heavy/ier weapon. E.g. M60 or M47, M203 GL or M249 SAW. And depending on the mission some may also be carrying an M72, along with M60 ammo, etc.

If you are carrying the M47[the Tracker and disposable Missile] you will be packing your M16, most likely, too.

The M60 Gunner packed a pistol, the M1911 .45 or M9 9mm Beretta. Based on the date of issue of those pistols. I.e. @ '85 our .45s were replaced by the M9.

So yes you are packing a lot of gear/weapons/ammo. And with Mech units you could carry some extra ammo, M47 rounds, etc. in the Track. Plus a good amount of .50 cal ammo, grenades, etc.

It was not rare to have Fire Tms short 1 or 2 troops. Dismounting only 3 troops. The Fire Tm would end up carrying an M203 GL, M249 SAW and the M60 MG or M47 MAW in many cases. Again, that is another reason for weapons cross training.

When I was a Plt Ldr in the 101, '80-'81. What you had on your back/rucksack when you got out the aircraft, etc. is all you were going to have until/if you got resupplied. But we were trained to use some other counties' weapons too. E.g. AK-47s, etc., etc.

Joe Legan25 Oct 2018 10:08 a.m. PST

Thank you all. McWong, thanks for the warning about Khurasian figures. I base individually so it actually works out okay. ( That and I base PP on pennies so they end up the same height).
TGunner, was going to go with Khurasian due to cost $19 USD vrs $26 USD but seeing as I will have to order some Pattons as well postage becomes less of an issue. Just wish BF had better leader poses for these guys.
Legion, interesting stuff. Am trying to figure out how prevalent the Bradley was compared to the M113s in 1986 in Europe. What say you?

thanks

Joe

Personal logo Legion 4 Supporting Member of TMP In the TMP Dawghouse26 Oct 2018 2:19 p.m. PST

The Bradley started to replace the M113 in @ '84-'85 in Europe IIRC. old fart By the time of REFORGER '88 when my M113 Mech Co deployed to that FTX from Ft. Benning, GA. AFAIK all the US Mech Inf units in West Germany had M2s, by '86.

Save for the 2 Mech Bns from Benning at that time, we were still using the M113. frown Our Mech Hvy Bde was part of the 18th ABN Corps.

As a sidebar … In the ROK, '84-'85 the two Mech Bns in the 2ID, one I served with were still using M113s. The NoKos were not the Armor/Mech threat the USSR/WP were.

So IIRC, by '86 all the US Mech units in West Germany had the M2.

Sorry - only verified members can post on the forums.