Sculptor Kosta Heristanidis thought it was about time we added some heavy weapons and other support specialists to our popular range of 28mm German Federal Defence Force figures (Bundeswehr) - and here they are! You can choose from NCOs, spotters, radiomen, KSK snipers, and even a dog handler. However, the stars of the show are undoubtedly the 40mm Automatic Grenade launcher and the Milan ATGW launcher. These new figures join Eureka's existing 28mm Bundeswehr (part of our 28mm Moderns range), and as before, some of the new figures are available in both gasmask-wearing, and non-gasmask-wearing versions.
With troops deployed in Afghanistan and Kosovo, the German Federal Defence Force, or Bundeswehr, are currently making their presence felt on the world stage - fielding an arsenal of new, as well as more proven weapons systems. Sculptor Kosta Heristanidis has depicted some of this latest weaponry and gear. As well as the Heckler & Koch G-36, which is the standard rifle of today's German army, a new weapon, the MP7 PDW is also being fielded. PDW stands for "personal defence weapon," and these small calibre weapons (the MP7 has a calibre of 4.6mm) are intended to give heavy weapons operators, vehicle crews and NCOs a weapon with more punch than the traditional pistol sidearm.
Another new weapon is the impressive-looking, tripod-mounted Heckler & Koch 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher. Designed to bridge the gap between heavy machineguns and the mortar, these types of weapon are increasingly being developed for modern armies, with the Soviets, and then later the Americans, developing Automatic Grenade Launchers in 30mm and 40mm respectively. The H&K version has a rate of fire of 350 rounds a minute, and can fire HE, AP, and CS gas grenades, with an effective range of 1,500 metres.
For something more familiar, Kosta has also made a tried-and-trusted Milan Missile Anti-Tank Guided Weapon. First issued in the 1980's, the Milan remains a powerful anti-tank weapon, still in use with many European armies. (Customers might like to note that the Milan Missile ATGW and H&K 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher are available separately in the range without crew.) Other equipment details include the less lethal, but increasingly important in modern armies, high-tech optical systems, represented here by the new Leica Vector IV binoculars, which incorporate a built-in laser rangefinder and digital compass.
To supplement our Bundeswehr, we thought we would offer some Special Forces assets for your modern German army in the form of Kommando Spezialkrafte snipers. The KSK were amongst the first NATO forces to be deployed in Afghanistan in late 2001. And if your Germans need a little more 'bite' - how about a few dog handlers? Specially trained canines are being increasing employed by armies not just for security and crowd control work, but also explosives and weapons detection.
The camouflage pattern of the Bundeswehr is known as the Flecktarn, which has a temperate as well as a desert variant. If you would like to know what Vallejo paint colours we used in our photographed examples, there is a short painting guide in the "Ideas" section of our website.
All customers who order any of our new Bundeswehr during the offer period will receive a free sample figure from our 28mm Afghan Guerrillas range, to be released later this year.
Here are the catalogue details for the new miniatures, followed by our new release special offers:
28mm Bundeswehr (Modern Germans)
Designed and sculpted by Kosta Heristanidis
Number in parenthesis denotes the number of variants. Variants are supplied randomly
100MOD16 - German Bundeswehr NCO/Spotter with MP7 (3)
100MOD17 - German Bundeswehr NCO with MP7 (1)
100MOD18 - German Bundeswehr radio man with MP7 (1)
100MOD19 - German Bundeswehr radio man with G36 (1)
100MOD20 - German Bundeswehr military working dog and handler - two figs (1)
100MOD21 - German Bundeswehr Milan ATGW launcher and operator (1)
100MOD22 - German Bundeswehr 40mm Automatic Grenade launcher and operator (1)
100MOD23 - German KSK sniper with G36 'sniper" (1)
100MOD24 - German KSK sniper with Accuracy International AE (1)
100MOD25 - German KSK sniper with PSG1 (1)
100MOD26 - German Bundeswehr Milan ATGW launcher and operator in gas mask (1)
100MOD27 - German Bundeswehr 40mm Automatic Grenade launcher and operator in gas mask (1)
100MOD28 - German Bundeswehr NCO/Spotter with MP7 and gas mask (1)
100MOD29 - German Bundeswehr NCO with MP7 in gas mask (1)
100MOD30 - Milan ATGW launcher (1)
100MOD31 - 40mm Automatic Grenade launcher (1)
NEW RELEASE SPECIAL OFFERS
- DEAL ONE: The "Get on the radio! We need heavy weapons, snipers… and don't forget the dog" Unit Deal
- Buy all twelve of the new Bundeswehr and KSK figures - plus one dog - not wearing gasmasks for the special price of $39.00 AUD* (normally $47.05 AUD).
- DEAL TWO: The "What's that funny smell, Hans?" Unit Deal
- Buy all four of the new Bundeswehr figures wearing gasmask (including the 'gasmask' versions of the Milan ATGW and 40mm Automatic grenade launchers) for the special price of $18.00 AUD* (normally $21.90 AUD).
- DEAL THREE: The "Box full of Bundeswehr" Unit Deal
- Buy both the above Unit Deals (16 figures - plus one dog) as a special combined offer for an even better discounted price of $55.00 AUD* (normally $68.95 AUD).
These are all strictly limited offers until our next new release.
* Excluding postage and 'Goods and Services Tax' payable by Australian customers only
You can also order all these miniatures in the U.K. from Fighting 15s, and in the U.S.A. from Eureka Miniatures U.S.A.