"15mm WW2 French Colonial troops?" Topic

Hi

Have had a good look but can't find any one making WW2 French Colonial Troops that could be used in North Africa, Indochina and the the Levant. Would rather go for sun helmets rather than FOW kepis.

I could proxy in WW1 British Middle East troops but they'd have Lewis guns rather than Fm 24/29s

Any ideas.

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

Battlefront had Ghulams and the like, quite good but possibly out of production.

Would using the FOW Tirailleur bodies with Peter Pig's heads work?

Yes still shortages of figs with broad brim sunhelmet in the smaller scales. Had to convert mine from Confederates for 1/300.

Peter Pig also makes 15mm French infantry, both "leg" infantry and motorized infantry. The motorized infantry is cast wearing only the tunic, not the greatcoat, so PP motorized infantry could easily be modified with simple head-swaps (either Adrien helmet, pith helmet or FL kepi) to resemble the troops in the b/w photo posed by Maha. In the case of French troops in Tunisia during the 1942-43 campaign, remember that the campaign ran from Nov. '42 to May '43, and it gets cold in Tunisia in the winter. Most troops would have been happy to wear their greatcoats, at lest until April or so. Finally, while the pith helmet has a certain je ne sais quoi, most troops would have exchanged their pith helmets for something a little more solid once the fighting began in earnest.

QRF's Dragon Portes with their bandoleers look very usable as the basis for cavalry figures:

Peter Pig's cossacks would also pass as Circassians:

http://www.peterpig.co.uk/Cossacknountedcommand.jpg

Some more plates to back up the above comments:

I agree that cossacks would double as Circassians. AFAIK, the Circassians were only used in Lebanon, though.

Check out this chap's collection for some inspiration: link

While not entirely accurate, they do look quite the part. You will note that the blogger has also helpfully explained his conversions in the comments section.

AFAIK, the Circassians were only used in Lebanon, though.

That's my understanding too!

Hi All

Did come across Lancashire Games that do some 18mm British Middles East figures:-

link

Will have to get a few to see how they match up size wise.

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

Only thing I don't like is the shorts and long sleeves combo, which is more of a Free French look, but that shouldn't stop you if you don't mind.

Remember that Vichy land forces were only involved in 4 combat operations: Syria/Lebanon, 1941; Madagascar, May-Nov. 1942; the Franco-Thai War, 1940-41; and the initial opposition to the Torch landings in Nov., 1942. The first three occurred in hot weather, however, there is a photo on the web of a 75mm. gun in Madagascar where the commander is wearing shorts and a long-sleave shirt. There is a photo of French POW's being repatriated at the end of the Thai War with the French wearing shorts, short-sleaved shirts and pith helmets. I have yet to see a photo of Vichy troops in Syria/Lebanon. November in N. Africa is cool to cold and rainy, so the troops there would have worn long clothing and even greatcoats.

Gerard, you completely overlooked Gabon and the Japanese attacks of 1940 and 1945.

MADAGASCAR

French troops and sailors marching away from their HQ after surrendering at Diego Suarez. British troops presenting arms as they pass:

Soldiers from No. 5 Army Commando with French POWs at a harbour in Madagascar, 1942:

SYRIA

Artillerie française de l'armée du Levant pendant les combats:

Beirut, Syria. 1941-08-24. Whether to join the de Gaulle forces or return to france is being discussed by these Frenchmen, Moroccans, Algerian and French East Africans as they waited to record their votes.

Beirut, Syria. 1941-08-30. Vichy French soldiers at a camp after the Syrian campaign. The banner reads "vive Petain".

Also check out this video: YouTube link

Let us know what you think, GrumpyOldMan!

Maha, you're right that I forgot Gabon. The Japanese attack on French Indochina in 1940 was actually an accident in that the Japanese assault kicked off before the ultimatum had expired, and the Japanese "apologized" for the incident. That didn't stop them from supporting the Thais, though. Since some gunfire was exchanged, I suppose you could refer to that incident as an "action." As far as the 1945 Japanese coup is concerned, I'm not sure if I'd refer to the French as Vichy, since the Vichy government had long since been dissolved back in Metropolitan France. On the other hand, that may be a quibble.