bases up the rifle teams.
Earlier this year, we released an Australian SAS set in our 28mm Vietnam range containing six new figures from sculptor Mike Broadbent. There continues to be an upsurge in interest in this period, thanks to the recent publication of innovative rules systems like Charlie Don't Surf by the Too Fat Lardies, and Ambush Alley's Force on Force. So Mike has now designed a ten-figure set of NVA for the range, while also expanding the original Australian SAS set with an additional four figures.
During the Vietnam War, the term NVA (North Vietnamese Army) was the familiar Western label used to differentiate the 'official' communist forces of North Vietnam from the Viet Cong insurgents of South Vietnam. Needless to say, the VC and the regulars of the NVA (or - more correctly - the Peoples' Army of Vietnam) were intrinsically linked, operating under the same command structure, and engaged in joint operations across South Vietnam with ever-greater frequency as the war progressed.
In the field, the NVA units could be identifiable from their VC comrades by a more standardized appearance, although many items of uniform and kit were universal between both. The NVA uniform was a dark green cotton shirt and trousers, with canvas shoes or sandals. A variety of cloth webbing and pouch configurations was carried, while the officers received imitation leather belts. The ubiquitous floppy bush hat was worn in a multitude of faded shades of green, tan or brown material, but the NVA units were also noted for their sun helmets - a domed cardboard and cloth construction hardened with resin. These were usually dark green in colour, occasionally tan or brown, but were often hidden under homemade camouflage nets and attached foliage.
Our NVA set also reflects the range of weaponry used by NVA soldiers. There is a liberal mix of AK47 assault rifles and SKS rifles which were the most commonly carried weapons of the NVA, but one figure carries a French MAS 36. Section support is provided by an RPG7 and a Degtyarev Pakhontnyi (DP) light machinegun. The figures are available in a ten-figure set, which includes an officer.
The four new Australian SAS figures include a patrol leader, two additional troopers armed with XM148 and a rare silenced Sterling SMG, and a signaler with radio and M16. We have added these to the Australian SAS set (100NAM09) released earlier this year now making that set up to ten figures. However, we realize those of you who have previously bought the original six-figure set might want to obtain the new figures without duplicating the figures you have already bought, so until the end of this year we are offering the four new figures on their own as a separate sub-set (100NAM09a). Those of you who have not previously bought any of these figures but wish to obtain the full set need only order 100NAM09.
Finally, by way of a bonus, Mike has made an Australian Tunnel Rat, ready with pistol and torch to fight it out in the claustrophobic world of the Cu Chi tunnels. Not for the fainthearted, we reckon!
The figures in our photographs were painted for us by Helen Bachaus. She has done a particularly fine job with the Australians' camouflage uniforms.
Here are the codes and details for the new figures:
28mm Australians in Vietnam
Sculpted by Mike Broadbent
100NAM09 - Australian SAS patrol - 10 figures
100NAM09a - Extra Australian SAS variants - 4 figures*
100NAM10 - Tunnel Rat (1)
100NAM16 - NVA infantry - 10 figures
* set includes the four figures not originally part of 100NAM09 when first released. Customers wanting all the available Australian SAS variants need only purchase 100NAM09 which now includes all the different figures. Customers who have already purchased 100NAM09 in its original (six figure) form may wish to only purchase 100NAM09a to complete their sets.
Customers in the U.S.A. or the U.K. can choose to order our figures from our representatives Eureka Miniatures U.S.A. or Fighting 15s respectively, as well as directly from us.