Italian Alpini Platoon

Starting a new platoon for Chain of Command ... I decided on an Italian platoon but wanted to do the eastern front Italians instead of the desert. I saw the Great Escape Games released some Alpini troops and read that those soldiers were sent to Russia. So I set out to do that platoon, using the list from the 1940s book. I'll check on any differences for Barbarossa but at first blush does not seem like it.

The Italians sent three Alpini Divisions to Russia, the 2nd Tridentina, the 3rd Julia, and the 4th Cuneense, which together formed the Alipin Corps. They fought with the Italian II corps forming the 8th Italian Army.

This is a big platoon with 47 men in it as each of the three squads are 15 men and there is a two man hq squad. I'll add in an HMG and a couple of light mortars to use as the "main" force, but will also have a 45mm AT Gun and L6 Light tank to use depending on the game.I'll also paint up an FO, Medic & perhaps an ATR.

This will be my test squad for painting.

I then test painted up half a dozen figures using Vallejo Model Color Olive Grey for the base uniform color. The color works well, though I have noticed that sitting on the game table, the uniform color looks suspiciously like the German uniform color!

I primed the figures using Vallejo Air Color Olive Grey with my airbrush, as I happen to be spraying up some German vehicles for CoC:

SdKfz 10/5 with 20mm AA gun.

One of two SdKfz 184 elefant tank destroyer!

Pz V 'Panther' medium tank

Pz IV H no zimmeret

SdKfz 251/1D Halftrack

I must admit that at first I was not impressed with the Great Escape figures, both with the posing and quality of the casting. After painting them though the quality of the casting turns out to be much better than I thought and I did enjoy painting the figures. The detail was easy to get at and clearly delineated so did not take to long to finish the six figures. 

That said, the posing of the figures suck! GEG made the cardinal wargame foul of mixing postures within a squad. I am not doing up a diorama, these are wargame figures, so all I need is advancing figures for my squad (as opposed to a prone/kneeling squad). Also please do not have any crazy action/running figures mixed in with walking figures. I just don't get how companies that sell GAME figures (even for the own games) can't figure this out.

I have nine more figures for the squad and will get them painted up in the next week so as to have one complete squad. Still waiting on the figures for other two other squads, so may work on the MMG and AT gun while I wait on them. Once complete will update the blog to show the complete platoon.

Napoleonic Dutch Infantry Company, part 2

I have finally got around to posting part two of my French Allied force for Sharp Practice and I am happy to say it is done! I was even able to finish a gun for for the company so I can swap out one of the other units to add a little variety to the force or use it for larger games. I might go back and craft a few items, like fixing the commanders sword but the below figures are game ready.

3rd Company, 2nd Battalion of the 4th 'Dutch' Line Regiment. 

Up first is the main portion of the company commanded directly by Captain Reynst. The platoon of line soldiers are covered by a detachment from the battalions light company. In reserve, Captain Reynst has been given a small group of men from the battalions grenadier company. To help manage these men Sgt. Goosen paces the rear of the formation keeping the men motivated and in line.

Capt. Reynst (Lvl III)
Sgt. Goossen (Lvl I)
  "French" Line Infantry, 1809‐1812 (8 figures)
  "French Line Infantry, 1809‐1812 (8 figures)
  "French" Grenadiers, 1809‐1812 (8 figures)
  "French" Voltigeur Skirmishers, 1809‐1812 (6 figures)

The second platoon of the company is commanded by Lieutenant Houtman and is of similar compositions as the first platoon sans the Grenadiers. Houtmans' platoon will support the captain typically to the left. That said it is not unheard of that the Captain will send the Lieutenants command on its own side mission.

Lt. Houtman (Lvl II)
  "French" Line Infantry, 1809‐1812 (8 figures)
  "French Line Infantry, 1809‐1812 (8 figures)
   "French" Voltigeur Skirmishers, 1809‐1812 (6 figures)

Accompany 3rd company is a detachment of lancers from the corps cavalry brigade. The Westphalian Chevau-léger's were placed under the command of Lieutenant Trocke. He mostly acts as an liaison officer between Captain Reynst and Westphalians to insure they understands his orders, as he just happens to be the only one in the company that knows German fluently! Lt. Trocke is a decent horseman in his own right, and because of this the lancers have grown to respect the lieutenant and now trust him to lead them into the battle. 

Lt. Trocke (Lvl II)
  "French" Lancers to 1812 (8 figures)

In some situations a 6lb cannon and crew from Captains Trips 3rd Dutch Horse Artillery Battery is tasked to Captain Reynst company. Being horse gunners they typically deploy with the lancers and Lt. Trocke. As the guns crews are regularly rotated from the battery they lack familiarity with other solders of the company, so they tend to operate independently once combat commences.

"French" Medium Artillery (4 figures + 1 Cannon)

We usually play around 70 to 75 point games, and this force is 67 points without the gun and 74 points with the gun, so I generally have a few points to get support options as well.

This force of miniatures also breaks down well for our games of Napoleonic Rebels & Patriots, in particular when we play with our modifications. Even without the modifications, I painted a few extra figures so that the group sizes match to those in R&P.

As of now, I am leaning towards a Spanish force as my next SP2 project, but have to finish my Italian Alpini Chain of Command platoon and General d'Armee Russians before I start it.