deadhead | 28 Jan 2020 7:25 a.m. PST |
This US Army pair only appeared in Gringos40 catalogue yesterday, along with the newly dressed up Marine mortar team. However, here are both really well painted and definitely worth a posting I think. Ged has quite a story to tell about the dogs role in VN, but I will leave it for him!
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79thPA | 28 Jan 2020 7:38 a.m. PST |
An amazing range of figures. |
nnascati | 28 Jan 2020 7:41 a.m. PST |
If I don't sell them, I will have to get that Dog Handler. |
Choctaw | 28 Jan 2020 8:49 a.m. PST |
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Legion 4 | 28 Jan 2020 8:55 a.m. PST |
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jammy four | 28 Jan 2020 9:27 a.m. PST |
thank you chaps…as Liam says the Dog Teams in the "Nam" were almost indispensable ,some 4000 being deployed to Vietnam across the Army ,Marines,Navy and Airforce…out of this grand total some 200 returned to the USA.Sadly over 3500 were left behind( cicra) as being deemed "equipment".Over 250 brave handlers never returned. it is said they were collectively responsible for saving over 10,000.00 lives over the course of the conflict. German Shepherds were preferred though Labradors were used as well having an ever better sense of smell…and coped better with the extreme heat cheers Ged ps top paint job Andy Singleton |
jammy four | 28 Jan 2020 9:30 a.m. PST |
post script comment there was a ray of light when a rescue mission was conducted in the USA to bring home some of the surviving dogs …ones that had survived illness and neglect, This will be the subject of a film released this year 2020
cheers Ged gringo40s.com gringo40s.blogspot.com |
Skarper | 28 Jan 2020 9:54 a.m. PST |
My understanding was the dogs were mostly put to sleep with some being handed over to ARVN units. A sad end after such loyal service. That's an outstanding model and paint job. And the mortar crew too. |
jammy four | 28 Jan 2020 11:08 a.m. PST |
Skarper thanks for the kind comments ref the original models im sure your correct aa I understand there was an outbreak of some distemper type illness as well I was unaware of the putting to sleep..as you say so sad… regards Ged gringo40s,com gringo40s,blogspot.com |
Legion 4 | 28 Jan 2020 3:12 p.m. PST |
I shudder to think how poorly the military treated their loyal K-9 soldiers after they were done with them. I like dogs better than people. |
deadhead | 30 Jan 2020 4:25 a.m. PST |
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bracken | 30 Jan 2020 5:19 a.m. PST |
Brilliant work all round, the dog looks like he is on the scent of Charlie. |
jammy four | 30 Jan 2020 5:32 a.m. PST |
thanks for the kind comments Bracken! and cheers Liam! cheers Ged gringo40s.com |
jammy four | 01 Feb 2020 5:46 a.m. PST |
Legion couldn't agree more..looking forward to the film out on the subject with a good ending I believe as some were indeed rescued cheers Ged gringo40s.com gringo40s.blogspot.com |
Legion 4 | 01 Feb 2020 9:01 a.m. PST |
Yeah sadly this was not the first time the military treated their K-9 troops very poorly. It upsets and annoys me every time I hear these stories. And sadly military dogs are still used in places like Iraq and A'stan. And taking loses. I know it's better than losing human lives. But it still does not sit right with me … |
Bismarck | 01 Feb 2020 9:42 a.m. PST |
First, Ged, the dog team is beyond words. Even with all the other magnificent figures you have done, you outdid yourself on this one. Following Skarper and Legion's comments, the story I heard that the dogs were either left or put down due to the government deeming them to be too risky to be adopted, even if it was by their handlers. There was a book written called A Soldier's Best Friend, by a dog handler and veterinarian of an army K-9 platoon. For those animal lovers and anyone who has enjoyed the company of a German Shepherd, be prepared to get misty eyed while reading it. The author on return in later years appealed on sparing the k-9s and even appeared before congress in their defense. He did succeed. The whole tragedy of the 4000 dogs completely contradicts what the Marine Corps did during WW2. Those "war dogs" had prior been pets and working dogs. They were trained and those that survived were re-trained and returned to the original owners. Another good read is Always Faithful which is about USMC K-9s during WW2. Deadhead and Ged, sorry to hijack the thread. Both the dog team and mortar crew figs are beauts, sculpts and paint job. I was particularly impressed with the detail of the grooves on the barrel of the 81. It don't get any better than that! Sam |
deadhead | 02 Feb 2020 2:22 a.m. PST |
Great contribution. Fra from hijacking the thread, that is how any posting really should evolve. Even if occasionally something goes completely off topic, it keeps the posting "active", it is how most conversations develop and anyone can lead back to the title with a new post anyway. Your reminder of WWII I will now chase up. The grooves on the barrel? They highlight superbly with dry brushing. I really must get all my recent work finished and photographed….next six weeks should mean much "down time" for me and unable to do much else alas |
Legion 4 | 02 Feb 2020 8:45 a.m. PST |
Yes, that type of the US 81mm mortar had grooves all along the outside of the tube as seen in the model. I forget the nomenclature … Here it is the M29 … link |
jammy four | 02 Feb 2020 1:57 p.m. PST |
Bismark (Sam) your kind comments are much appreciated.. the two books mentioned look to be an interesting read and as you say there was a complete volt face in how our canine friends were treated in WW2 and again in the Nam.. though they were well looked after in the Nam by their handlers. and were loved by the troops.. just a note to say the etching on the 81mm tubes were all done hand…took ages! regards Ged gringo40s.com gringo40s.blogspot.com |
Legion 4 | 03 Feb 2020 9:14 a.m. PST |
Ged – |
jammy four | 03 Feb 2020 5:02 p.m. PST |
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Legion 4 | 04 Feb 2020 9:32 a.m. PST |
Those were basically the same 81s I used in the early '80s … |
jammy four | 05 Feb 2020 9:24 a.m. PST |
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deadhead | 05 Feb 2020 9:44 a.m. PST |
Legion 4's link is really good. That was some heavy piece of ordnance to move around! Add the base plate, the tube and the bipod together, chuck in a sight. You may want some ammo too. Need some strapping lads to shift that. The "collar" on the bipod that goes around the grooved tube to allow elevation/depression. I have seen that in natural metal but also in green, as per the rest. Not too obvious in the few VN pics I have seen though…..any suggestions? |
Legion 4 | 05 Feb 2020 2:25 p.m. PST |
From what I knew and saw the 81s we used in the 80s, were pretty much the same as those used in SE Asia. I've only seen bare metal tube & bipod with OD base. That is what we had. We'd break the mortar down for carrying in the 3 main parts: Tube Bipod Base plate + sight carried in a little OD metal box. All in the Mortar Plt would take turns carrying the various parts. So no one got stuck with a lighter or heavier piece. All the time. And yes even the Plt Ldr would carry some of the parts too. Yes add the ammo … Hopefully more ammo would be brought in by chopper or supply truck. Nearby your firing position. If need be some of the members of the Rifle Plts in the Company would also carry some 81 ammo. But they/we were carrying a lot of stuff too ! We also had M274 Mules left over from Vietnam. That we could use to carry the ammo or even the parts of the mortar. But those were pretty much "on their last legs". Don't remember how much longer they were used/lasted after I left the 101 in '83. Before I went to the Inf Ofr Adv Course at Benning. Then to the ROK with a forward deployed Mech Bn of the 2ID in '84. In about '85 the Mech Cos turned in their 81s. In the new TO&E reorganization, from H Series to J, IIRC. The "collar" on the bipod that goes around the grooved tube to allow elevation/depression Yes that is correct. |
jammy four | 14 Feb 2020 10:17 a.m. PST |
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Legion 4 | 14 Feb 2020 4:27 p.m. PST |
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