"Next USMC Recon soldier" Topic

The next USMC Recon member

Mare a thttps://wargamesgazette.com/2020/08/11/usmc-recon/

M14 !

I could not find any more pics of this chap on that site. Should there be? Certainly would love to see more.

A cut down M14?

Please don't call us soldiers.

The poor guy is emaciated.

Give him a can of C or K-rats.

Nice figure and an effective paint job.

On the skinny side but many Americans in combat units lost weight, so this is a welcome example of that.

The M14 is less convincing though and seems too short/small.

This could be the camera angle though.

Nice but shouldn't he have a boonie hat, camo face (or is it) and VN jungle boots? The camo pants and jacket look right.

link

Wolfhag

Yes the M14 does seem too short, but I though it just might be the photo as well …

The M14 was the 1st rifle I was issued as a cadet in '75.

I missed out on the Camopaint on the face . I thought it might look to "untidy" on such a small figure. Deadhead there are more pictures , don't know why they don't show up for you.

many Americans in combat units lost weight, so this is a welcome example of that.

With C-Rats being 2500-3000 cals/per meal x3/day you have to be pretty busy to burn those up. But rarely will you find an overweight trooper at the front.

Of course if you were lucky you may be getting Hot A's twice/day with a C for lunch or something like that for a Ration Cycle. Hot A's are actual food prepared in a Mess. Load up in Mermites[hot food containers]. link
Then served to the troops on the ground. But in some cases/situations this is not always possible. So it is 3/Cs/a day then at times.

However, troops on long range patrols, etc., you may only carry 1 C/day. Ammo and water are more important.

Cs, or later MREs, are easier & quicker for resupply. But Hot As are generally better for morale, etc. … usually. But IIRC/AFAIK you should only be eating Cs for about 2 weeks for "health" reasons. But of course sometimes you may not be living
that long. Or have no other options for resupply …

I do remember in the 101 we did about 10 days or so on Cs. During an exercise or 2, IIRC.

camo face (or is it) and VN jungle boots?

All true, yes camo'd exposed skin was SOP, generally, especially on patrols … It may be challenging to paint though.

And maybe he missed getting J/boots issued ?

Sometimes LRRP's and Recon would only eat the C-rations peanut butter and crackers for a few days before going on patrol. That way you don't leave any scat on the trail.

Wolfhag

The ERDL utility cover was theater produced. It was never a true USMC issue. The old od utility cover was still worn up until after the issue of the Woodland pattern camo.

Good looking figure in any case. As to it appearing thin.
With the heat, cutting down on weight load you had to carry and sometime supply issues, everybody but remfs were thin.

Good point Wolf ! BTW – email me !

Got the pics thanks. I had copied the link above without noticing the "T" before https etc. Realy nice work. I did wonder if there was some shorter tactical version of the M14 for jungle work, as say with our Lee Enfield, but cannot find any mention. Sawn off butt yes, but not a shortened barrel.

shorter tactical version of the M14 for jungle work

AFAIK there was no shortened M14 for jungle work or otherwise. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M14_rifle

However in 2002 the US made a shorter version of the M14, called the Mk.14, for Spec Ops units … link

But obviously the Mk.14 was not around during Vietnam …