tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64162689327489321942024-03-19T10:00:32.244+01:00Kampfgruppe WillowFrench Wargame Holidays, 20mm WW2 and Cold War wargaming projects, research and musings. Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.comBlogger248125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-13206316981725962452024-03-19T10:00:00.002+01:002024-03-19T10:00:00.133+01:00Fallschirmjager two<p> The remaining rifle platoon of warlord metal and plastic figures, overall quite happy with them, support crews to come. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTE_elVyQFJn6tALItTIKSTKiibEUhOTznED4BTK2Zwxm1WDvMbv-s7Bp4V5tdBe_NbsrIA5xkgMSBzvfPAd_rsJl01TP60hYhSu586GVmSD7KT6aR26GJm3beWCFYJcjnjS_zrUbfFQ7KG54vVWFEBe-PXUtk2XTf5agsOjQCrVKlaHSUflF-YIvCNd3/s3965/IMG_0701.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2554" data-original-width="3965" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTE_elVyQFJn6tALItTIKSTKiibEUhOTznED4BTK2Zwxm1WDvMbv-s7Bp4V5tdBe_NbsrIA5xkgMSBzvfPAd_rsJl01TP60hYhSu586GVmSD7KT6aR26GJm3beWCFYJcjnjS_zrUbfFQ7KG54vVWFEBe-PXUtk2XTf5agsOjQCrVKlaHSUflF-YIvCNd3/w640-h412/IMG_0701.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BOxeIxCMoJmXhl6cjWUvZgLUdzaDamkRdHfNkzwQrQ8CZDNBFzuqgUk70gWsq3U6YwtsRevnHFRPFQmhTUPEj2zGGnvz0YcAV2JZr9OKfFclbFlXBzK4Aj6NZLtKSrverV6tLn0HjTOcxm5EAYjn47XaswGHxAw246IY5Ic-RmWfU1CtdX4fdDy5yOf9/s4032/IMG_0704.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BOxeIxCMoJmXhl6cjWUvZgLUdzaDamkRdHfNkzwQrQ8CZDNBFzuqgUk70gWsq3U6YwtsRevnHFRPFQmhTUPEj2zGGnvz0YcAV2JZr9OKfFclbFlXBzK4Aj6NZLtKSrverV6tLn0HjTOcxm5EAYjn47XaswGHxAw246IY5Ic-RmWfU1CtdX4fdDy5yOf9/w640-h480/IMG_0704.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBS4e0gnE9xmnzu7Go-P1nWXqCzWbPkLm0yiz5PhPQvLIDGPOxaJ7OTVP9L1MJEkAOzujVrU4RCV94gYbCToTU5hZa4GcE10N8VOZ_eCsjdh-LSqAyOLmYJ7cD6BNCIr31KsoAd0CgdXwLUaD2mpRXRoV-tTfMbbYhkDKAj5HrdtsXJO8pi9QCmBzj_E5/s4032/IMG_0707.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2453" data-original-width="4032" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBS4e0gnE9xmnzu7Go-P1nWXqCzWbPkLm0yiz5PhPQvLIDGPOxaJ7OTVP9L1MJEkAOzujVrU4RCV94gYbCToTU5hZa4GcE10N8VOZ_eCsjdh-LSqAyOLmYJ7cD6BNCIr31KsoAd0CgdXwLUaD2mpRXRoV-tTfMbbYhkDKAj5HrdtsXJO8pi9QCmBzj_E5/w640-h390/IMG_0707.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQb4hLLAQMlUji0S-TkG1UUfZVKI1Wa5pkVO3JMRr87QkV0rLCb_aP-C6QrF8hkJ5sht6dhYX2lYjmptPzyoL0vSZTwgijE6LO0eRXfDjwAwQE4VaP8LDVNTsNk0ceC-CqK-b4ybiV2M50j_xzhPUHUB9v193xF3ipHnB05X-is3v16hilSCwR79o8iXlV/s4032/IMG_0710.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2332" data-original-width="4032" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQb4hLLAQMlUji0S-TkG1UUfZVKI1Wa5pkVO3JMRr87QkV0rLCb_aP-C6QrF8hkJ5sht6dhYX2lYjmptPzyoL0vSZTwgijE6LO0eRXfDjwAwQE4VaP8LDVNTsNk0ceC-CqK-b4ybiV2M50j_xzhPUHUB9v193xF3ipHnB05X-is3v16hilSCwR79o8iXlV/w640-h370/IMG_0710.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vuI_1kxgpbZUVMibH-9tCiFvKP68NHcPX3hWi5X5PqtzhP2tKd6LUIGKjUtQnUCaRfVXLAmOvuJbxpPHao_One8Ba42WR8JIrtljRMfblCMigj_DIbwW-wfwjN-tt0QG1GbFqDKs6_GYf3WplFurJ-iMDBCtwF5roFpzRfw4FC_-NycOxt9pu3z5cFjo/s3998/IMG_0711.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2086" data-original-width="3998" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vuI_1kxgpbZUVMibH-9tCiFvKP68NHcPX3hWi5X5PqtzhP2tKd6LUIGKjUtQnUCaRfVXLAmOvuJbxpPHao_One8Ba42WR8JIrtljRMfblCMigj_DIbwW-wfwjN-tt0QG1GbFqDKs6_GYf3WplFurJ-iMDBCtwF5roFpzRfw4FC_-NycOxt9pu3z5cFjo/w640-h334/IMG_0711.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com019 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-81807957778861425382024-03-17T16:14:00.021+01:002024-03-17T16:14:00.140+01:00Egyptian Army part 1 Transport <h2 style="text-align: center;"> Egyptian army 67-73 part 1 transport</h2><div>First up some transport for my Egyptians, I have a mix of plastic, Diecast and resin models from grubby tanks, some 3d printed models. The plastic kit include trucks, APCs, midsole trucks, artillery, plus T55s, T34/85 and SU100. I do need to add some more detail bits to them, but good to get them done for our club games next month. </div><div><br /></div><div>First up my first troop transport trucks. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaXYaAxvZWcp-6r0r5DKm3ebxgdV0A_jbpTjB-JyMtn6B0HBCNADHxJrmmvS04s6xDYXZ3bhL6ZYrTy5A_Snr61d3IunJwWUMvRkAeKMSapbrmGbvOHL3xXjt7kdZCCD_xdpFTQpZSpGgpvuUe_OSRxcf2GdHuXOpmoOwtDQBfgPEh-ysJPPH4nPOSvGC/s3844/IMG_0689.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1454" data-original-width="3844" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaXYaAxvZWcp-6r0r5DKm3ebxgdV0A_jbpTjB-JyMtn6B0HBCNADHxJrmmvS04s6xDYXZ3bhL6ZYrTy5A_Snr61d3IunJwWUMvRkAeKMSapbrmGbvOHL3xXjt7kdZCCD_xdpFTQpZSpGgpvuUe_OSRxcf2GdHuXOpmoOwtDQBfgPEh-ysJPPH4nPOSvGC/w640-h242/IMG_0689.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3PNgMSByA5-gND1qGeZnbAh3jfWFzb6yT8V1XXKQWo5cQEr-P9A-6hO1radvobCABNDHi41FFc0k6WF6egw_YFySCx7JN6IKuFYA4sgsdimXbtbildxUGXN8Dn_iKQZa0XytXsqMC2eSwsmzJgW1Iemry0VHmko02OfzFCGHlyxq2QRULfTEQLTAE5He/s3186/IMG_0690.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3186" data-original-width="2470" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3PNgMSByA5-gND1qGeZnbAh3jfWFzb6yT8V1XXKQWo5cQEr-P9A-6hO1radvobCABNDHi41FFc0k6WF6egw_YFySCx7JN6IKuFYA4sgsdimXbtbildxUGXN8Dn_iKQZa0XytXsqMC2eSwsmzJgW1Iemry0VHmko02OfzFCGHlyxq2QRULfTEQLTAE5He/w310-h400/IMG_0690.jpeg" width="310" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSek-plihZNEQqYZSOEASMLjTfrhvDm8FZkmu64QIvqeom8wgTQhqHe4H_o93waG7ynwzKeIMzce5Q5uoMqcYGyybaSJT3uOiJUa-PEBBDcFR8CDP_JgwWjM0KyYAnMX6BMmHHVAIXq579GsGOEtnUQHx1rfB7nqQuIOwRxfsbSmvw5ZtydGDb6PfUSPQ/s3390/IMG_0692.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3390" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSek-plihZNEQqYZSOEASMLjTfrhvDm8FZkmu64QIvqeom8wgTQhqHe4H_o93waG7ynwzKeIMzce5Q5uoMqcYGyybaSJT3uOiJUa-PEBBDcFR8CDP_JgwWjM0KyYAnMX6BMmHHVAIXq579GsGOEtnUQHx1rfB7nqQuIOwRxfsbSmvw5ZtydGDb6PfUSPQ/w356-h400/IMG_0692.jpeg" width="356" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers</div><div>Matt</div>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com219 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-81082097456865440182024-03-13T23:49:00.000+01:002024-03-13T23:49:05.371+01:00Fallschirmjager part one <p> Next off the desk are some fallshirmjager that I have been working on since before Christmas, I detest camo at 28mm it is hard to capture in scale…. The miniatures are from Warlord and will be used in my skirmish collection, although I am not that impressed with the figures and may sell them on I think. </p><p>Squad one</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7faRXt8uFbHp0zfCu0aRKgI3Ru3d6qvdadiybSfszrfSq2Mtm_a6qWIB2m8Gj7CtjflSYgdpgWJbILOwCH2X-lBC5_Cw6cbOF9wRIwIiP2Te49tAwLhd46RzxAXSgYpSd7H951WOHpVX9VxaSmLodPJdGdSwG1JJOykO9F9KYD6g5InJnVqkJ-Hggiw/s4032/IMG_0645.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2157" data-original-width="4032" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7faRXt8uFbHp0zfCu0aRKgI3Ru3d6qvdadiybSfszrfSq2Mtm_a6qWIB2m8Gj7CtjflSYgdpgWJbILOwCH2X-lBC5_Cw6cbOF9wRIwIiP2Te49tAwLhd46RzxAXSgYpSd7H951WOHpVX9VxaSmLodPJdGdSwG1JJOykO9F9KYD6g5InJnVqkJ-Hggiw/w640-h342/IMG_0645.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_r6XdX-xePtJKIZzNVJzPVlOhOokY26mGlIDAdswTnlrZBhca2XeA-cJt-Njziv2aEThWy8qDNoyxl3Mju83RLO866aj_EF0aY2IS6rTT2rrI1aGFVmdZo5TfSdUVvkt8vsIr77RRmpWGiJ-bP-V3AEXz867KrABg6qPp7S91_03_lxUll0GtfQlHVPA/s4032/IMG_0646.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2346" data-original-width="4032" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_r6XdX-xePtJKIZzNVJzPVlOhOokY26mGlIDAdswTnlrZBhca2XeA-cJt-Njziv2aEThWy8qDNoyxl3Mju83RLO866aj_EF0aY2IS6rTT2rrI1aGFVmdZo5TfSdUVvkt8vsIr77RRmpWGiJ-bP-V3AEXz867KrABg6qPp7S91_03_lxUll0GtfQlHVPA/w640-h373/IMG_0646.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Sniper<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSP2uWP5fM4akimJKnTJoZhiRJ1lwLU28npSMr802iBVCdS2yYJXrO0PR8JJkVoblnJxRVPzvVbHLxI1vhyGbZ3hd0FpBTCYkV9GbJ9VmvvHRRES7uyF9TllFy3LI17w5T9lMbACvNC2STvtehGnT2ONEYTKyKZ3oq_5mCtApK9qWkIlTpNGsm6-iA8L0/s2592/IMG_0647.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2369" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSP2uWP5fM4akimJKnTJoZhiRJ1lwLU28npSMr802iBVCdS2yYJXrO0PR8JJkVoblnJxRVPzvVbHLxI1vhyGbZ3hd0FpBTCYkV9GbJ9VmvvHRRES7uyF9TllFy3LI17w5T9lMbACvNC2STvtehGnT2ONEYTKyKZ3oq_5mCtApK9qWkIlTpNGsm6-iA8L0/w584-h640/IMG_0647.jpeg" width="584" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0d4unQh7TgEGkix5g9xMNPlYePEpfix2PDyNdonSJF3FiLzXMQVC4AcumNTBDRRRBkeiZovwzFjn5mzQTbSfwUKuWcAS20-zZDMoVuxmXjUnYKhkomiWh_8zk8IwT1-n5Yvi7h3RAKeRCjd2TykLCaJq055lEQvFXtkWzFQf6gVBTRvY-I58A4EwMYuc/s3132/IMG_0648.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2695" data-original-width="3132" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0d4unQh7TgEGkix5g9xMNPlYePEpfix2PDyNdonSJF3FiLzXMQVC4AcumNTBDRRRBkeiZovwzFjn5mzQTbSfwUKuWcAS20-zZDMoVuxmXjUnYKhkomiWh_8zk8IwT1-n5Yvi7h3RAKeRCjd2TykLCaJq055lEQvFXtkWzFQf6gVBTRvY-I58A4EwMYuc/w640-h550/IMG_0648.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Officer <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5kfzhvPGkkznGUbWAbO7ptn0mWEb6dsDc-m3iFObBnqpYKY0UizIXI-MFAsJE1nVHDYnpS8Qj-3dyv_onC9jMZNK9zOUuIq8DwDm8K7k1HTFGHhtsJW4WxuJnDycz3_PMIIiUUuTv2RfXZa3ELGdhXAFFNllpdedUSM-1IHhK4wpMz_HGOOLOneT2TI/s2688/IMG_0649.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="2305" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5kfzhvPGkkznGUbWAbO7ptn0mWEb6dsDc-m3iFObBnqpYKY0UizIXI-MFAsJE1nVHDYnpS8Qj-3dyv_onC9jMZNK9zOUuIq8DwDm8K7k1HTFGHhtsJW4WxuJnDycz3_PMIIiUUuTv2RfXZa3ELGdhXAFFNllpdedUSM-1IHhK4wpMz_HGOOLOneT2TI/w549-h640/IMG_0649.jpeg" width="549" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheE-WoABbLMe7MCoBka97jIwU0APSbJP7ys2mKyrcgtHh5I2D6lGpdvkCS8fHYxwZva17TO3C3zuFBXojswkQ0ef3qQ9ZAFoPDAbP7RR2KrQlUMCyOcilhsjUQaE0xhqHxva406JA8cVAvJULd3Vu4JY2LXzsqk5f5pGYTQwVYKJDES60CoIr6tiuKjA/s2762/IMG_0650.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2762" data-original-width="2345" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheE-WoABbLMe7MCoBka97jIwU0APSbJP7ys2mKyrcgtHh5I2D6lGpdvkCS8fHYxwZva17TO3C3zuFBXojswkQ0ef3qQ9ZAFoPDAbP7RR2KrQlUMCyOcilhsjUQaE0xhqHxva406JA8cVAvJULd3Vu4JY2LXzsqk5f5pGYTQwVYKJDES60CoIr6tiuKjA/w544-h640/IMG_0650.jpeg" width="544" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Action shot!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKF8nCQzeNzBag7bE_x7cDGh4e_HJobIjG1e2cAqfQVu8WM2j3_XmnW0lSg9kb9DvfRA-7bdiQfSoUSOPwYMoKQSb_TyzVil_dIh2_weDBU24F3Sowaq3Jl4a6qS3Oe41qyTkq2V-x92kNwrrshzZXFDIWKhj666LM_WPMN6bwr8tMvuOFGajmhB6bwM/s3783/IMG_0651.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2506" data-original-width="3783" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKF8nCQzeNzBag7bE_x7cDGh4e_HJobIjG1e2cAqfQVu8WM2j3_XmnW0lSg9kb9DvfRA-7bdiQfSoUSOPwYMoKQSb_TyzVil_dIh2_weDBU24F3Sowaq3Jl4a6qS3Oe41qyTkq2V-x92kNwrrshzZXFDIWKhj666LM_WPMN6bwr8tMvuOFGajmhB6bwM/w640-h424/IMG_0651.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Cheers</p><p>Matt</p>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com119 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-59089557139384595462024-03-11T16:11:00.009+01:002024-03-11T16:11:00.132+01:00Yom Kippur Egyptian Order of Battle Operation Badr 1973 <h1 style="text-align: center;">Yom Kippur War Egyptian Order of battle </h1><h3 style="text-align: left;">Egyptian Organisation </h3><div>The Egyptian army during the fifties and early sixties was based on the English model of Divisions, brigades and regiments. After the revolution in 1952 the country removed much of its ties with the old and drifted towards the Russian Divisional structure, and was fully changed over by 1965. Two armoured divisions, one mechanized division, four infantry divisions were the main force for the invasion. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Armoured Division </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Structure was two or three regiments per division, each Armoured regiment had up to 31 tanks, with 3 companies per regiment, each company 10 tanks per company, including a command vehicle for the company commander, the company operated in three platoons. </div><div>Each Tank regiment had a company of one platoon of four ZSU-57-2 twin barrel 57mm anti aircraft vehicles on a T54 chassis. The majority of the tanks were the T54 or T55 with infrared searchlights, (no white light was possible from these). The T55 were fitted with the latest Soviet stabilisers so they could fire on the move, some of the T54 were also were retro fitted. The 25th independent tank brigade had latest T62 tanks with three battalions, the 21st Armoured division in reserve had a mix of T34/85 and IS3M tanks. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Mechanised Division</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Structure of a division was 3 mechanized infantry battalions. A battalion was formed of 5 companies each mounted in btr152 personal carriers. The division armour was one battalion of 31MBT a HQ coy and three coys, the first and second coysT55 and T54 and the 3rd company was T34/85 (280 with upgrades). Anti air assets had a Praga AA for the armour and towed assets 40mm bofors and russian ground mounted 30mm ZSU. A recon battalion in BDRM 1 or BDRM 2 and jeeps. A battalion of three companies of 6 tanks each were attached infantry Divisions and consisted of Czechoslovakian SD-100 assault gun, (they had 148 delivered by 1956, the SD-100 is based on the SU 100) a anti tank company with 9M14 Malyutka<span face="Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86); color: #4d5156; font-size: 14px;"> </span>sagger jeeps and towed recoilless 82mm were also attached to each battalion of infantry. Other division assets included a Signal company, military police, medical coy and engineer coy. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Infantry Division </b></div><div>Structure of the division 2 infantry battalions in trucks and two mechanised battalions along with one tank battalion of three companies a mix of T55, T54 and T34 tanks. </div><div>Each infantry company consisted of a HQ coy and three rifle cots mounted in BTR152, Soviet RPD machine guns, Belgian bazooka, and B-10 82mm recoiless gun in the HQ. A battalion of three companies of 6 tanks each were attached infantry Divisions and consisted of Czechoslovakian SD-100 assault gun, (they had 148 delivered by 1956, the SD-100 is based on the SU 100)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>130th Amphibious Brigade</b> </div><div>This mechanized brigade was loosely based upon a soviet naval brigade. It had three company’s consisting of a BTR50pk and one of two companies of three PT76’s with an infantry platoon. At the start of the war the brigade had seventy-four BTR-50 or OT-64 SKOT armoured personnel carriers and 24 PT-76 amphibious light tanks.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Artillery (Muqhadem) </h4><div>The Egyptian artillery were supplied with soviet 122mm M30 or the 152mm D1. The HQ had a defence platoon, radio exchange and observer element and could be concentrated, six guns made up a battery and three battery’s made up a regiment </div><div><br /></div><div>Some armoured infantry artillery regiments were supplied the Frankenstein T34/122 Self Propelled 122mm mounted on the T34 chassis, with two battalions of 18 vehicles in each were in service. </div><div><br /></div><div>BM-11 and the BM21 rocket artillery (100 in service)</div><div><br /></div><div>12 surface to surface misfiles were in service Frog 7 and nine surface to surface Scuds were also in service. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Soviet M240 heavy mortar is used upon the positions of the bar ev line, 24 were in service </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Air defence </h3><div>Sam 2, Sam 3, self propelled Sam 6, handheld Sam 7, and ZSU 23/4 </div><div>12 Commando battalions also took part in the offensive and were divided amount various divisions. The played a reinforcement roles after the Israeli counterattacks successfully crossed the Nile. </div><div><br /></div><div>The second and third Egyptian armies on the Bar Lev line had SU152 in static dug in positions for anti tank positions after the capture of a number of positions. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Order of Battle Operation Badr</h3><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPd8S4jdWVR4IVy3LPTkU4_CxOHpVAzQjhFaAcMjMWOR7RudFYx2_uFouXD5x95a45cV6Uu9WXimcyiXWyYwd3tIif1Taz_1YpbygSwTmrTy5BiVVGYYugXFOQfLzO4Vx8YiLv7-KgmJ-4VUbDWrrYczoHzRic_BaX6VpJWpd9FaVfDl1kB3QmGfinxkBx/s893/IMG_1040.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="591" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPd8S4jdWVR4IVy3LPTkU4_CxOHpVAzQjhFaAcMjMWOR7RudFYx2_uFouXD5x95a45cV6Uu9WXimcyiXWyYwd3tIif1Taz_1YpbygSwTmrTy5BiVVGYYugXFOQfLzO4Vx8YiLv7-KgmJ-4VUbDWrrYczoHzRic_BaX6VpJWpd9FaVfDl1kB3QmGfinxkBx/w424-h640/IMG_1040.png" width="424" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br />General Command – Anwar Sadat, President of Egypt<br /><br />War Minister and Commander in Chief, Ahmad Ismail Ali<br />Chief of Staff – Saad Mohamed Al Hussani Al Shazly</div><div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">2nd Field Army, General Saad Mamoun/Genl. Abd el Munem Halil.</h3><h4 style="text-align: left;">2nd Infantry Division, Brigadier General Ali Hassan Abu Saada:</h4>4th Infantry Brigade<br />117th Infantry Brigade<br />120th Infantry Brigade<br />24th Armoured Brigade (attached from the 23rd Mechanised Division)<br /><br /></div><div><h4 style="text-align: left;">16th Infantry Division, Brigadier General Fuad ‘Aziz Ghali: (Chinese Farm)</h4>3rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade<br />16th Infantry Brigade<br />112th Infantry Brigade<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">18th Infantry Division, Brigadier General Abdel Rab Al Nabi Hafez: </h3>134th Infantry Brigade<br />136th Infantry Brigade<br />15th Independent Armoured Brigade (attached and equipped with T-62)<br /><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">135th Infantry Brigade (assault force for fort Budapest) brigadier General Salah Abe el-Halim</h4><div>128th Sa iqa Commando battalion </div><div>Six T34 with flails </div><div>Six OT 64 skot</div><div><br /></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">21st Armoured Division, Brigadier General Ibrahim Oraby </h3></div><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div>1st Armoured Brigade</div><div>14th Armoured Brigade (detached initially)</div><div>18th Mechanised Brigade</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">23rd Mechanised Division, Brigadier General Ahmed Aboud el Zommer :</h3></div><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div>116th Mechanised Brigade</div><div>118th Mechanised Brigade</div><div>129 Commando Brigade </div><div>182nd Parachute Brigade</div></blockquote><div><br /><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">3rd Field Army, Major General Mohamed Abd El Al Monaam Wasel</h2>Chief of Staff - Maj Gen Mustafa Shaheen</div><div>Chief of Artillery - Maj Gen Munir Shash<div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">7th Infantry Division Brig Gen Ahmad Badawi Said Ahmad </h4></div><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">2nd Infantry Brigade </div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">11th mechanised Infantry Brigade </div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">8th mechanised infantry brigade </div></blockquote><h4 style="text-align: left;">19th Infantry Division Brig Gen Yusuf Afifi Mohamed</h4><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">5th Infantry Brigade </div></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"></div><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">7th Infantry Brigade</div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">2nd Mechanised Brigade </div></blockquote><h4 style="text-align: left;"> 4th Armoured Division Brig Gen Mohamed Abd el Aziz Qabil</h4><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">2nd Armoured Brigade T34/85 & SU 100</div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">3rd Armoured Brigade</div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">6th Armoured Brigade </div></blockquote><div><h4 style="text-align: left;">6th Mechanised Division Brig Gen Mohamed Abul Fath (southern reserve Suez Canal) </h4></div><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">22nd Armoured Brigade (attached from the 7th Mechanised Division)</div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">113th Mechanised Brigade </div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">1st Mechanised brigade </div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">Commando battalions</div></blockquote><h4 style="text-align: left;">130th Independent Marine Brigade, Col. Mahmud Sha’ib (northern sector) </h4>At the start of the war the brigade had seventy-four BTR-50 and some OT-64 SKOT armoured personnel carriers and 24 PT-76 amphibious light tanks<div><br /></div><div>Commando battalion </div><div><br /></div><div><h4 style="text-align: left;">30th Independent infantry brigade Col. Mustafa el-’Abassi </h4><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.999999px;"><br /></span></div>Brigade is tasked with capturing Fort Lahtzanit</div><div>Two battalions of infantry</div><div>One company of commandos <br /><div><br /></div><h4>25th Independent Armoured Brigade Col Ahmed Helmy Badawy </h4><div>96 T-62 tanks</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">GHQ Reserve, 1st Field Army (West Bank of the Nile)</h3><br />3rd Mechanised Infantry Division<br /><br />21st Armoured Division T34/85 and IS3M tanks<br /><br />Republican Presidential Guard “Brigade” (divisional strength):<br /><br />Also included:<br /><br />3 Parachute Brigades:<br />Western Command (Libya Border) & Southern Command (Aswan/Nile Valley/Sudan Border)<br />3 Armoured Brigades<br />2 Mechanised Brigades</div></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Egyptian Air Force </h3><div>104th Air Wing </div><div>3 squadrons of Mig -21MF</div><div><br /></div><div>26th squadron interceptor </div><div>Mig-21 F13 (black raven with a white ’26’ on at least two of their MiG-21s)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFf1rXHzjdrN_zRafeLLINisk4013s_lPs7ToOkQCv_MJRti5nJZ5Z5MhKQbS15GIOYXjstVFrG2NYtmap_EqWrEJIYR9kt1TJQscgs41m4_k1Aroppc-fhS6o4Lwd_Cp3nLQ7ig2EnJrH5XSOl3AjsShmtthTIcOjHw_NulYSWgHzciocDHh3Scm8JwqM/s1080/IMG_1047.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="1080" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFf1rXHzjdrN_zRafeLLINisk4013s_lPs7ToOkQCv_MJRti5nJZ5Z5MhKQbS15GIOYXjstVFrG2NYtmap_EqWrEJIYR9kt1TJQscgs41m4_k1Aroppc-fhS6o4Lwd_Cp3nLQ7ig2EnJrH5XSOl3AjsShmtthTIcOjHw_NulYSWgHzciocDHh3Scm8JwqM/s320/IMG_1047.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers</div><div>Matt</div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Inter, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2); background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: #202122;">350 T-54s were ordered in 1960 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1961 and 1966 (the vehicles were probably from Czechoslovakian production line). 150 T-55s were ordered in 1963 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1964 and 1966. Egypt lost 820 vehicles in the Six Day War </span> <span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Inter, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2); background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: #202122;">including 82 T-55. </span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Inter, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2); background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: #202122;">800 T-54s were ordered in 1967 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1967 and 1972 (some of the vehicles were probably from Czechoslovakian and/or Poland production line). 550 T-55s were ordered in 1967 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1969 and 1973. 50 T-54s were ordered in 1972 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1973 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet service).</span></span></li></ol></div>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com119 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-11080382376141300162023-12-19T04:48:00.004+01:002023-12-27T10:34:14.195+01:00King Tigers last stand in France<h1 style="text-align: center;"> King Tigers last stand in France </h1><h2 style="text-align: center;">316 & 302 Funklenk-Panzerkompanie, France 1944</h2><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TvwliJJy2vGnC6dtvov6gdMjHq9u4Wre2FzDuKSAvhwsZz5i0gChaoo2g86kc5PA-1mmoJfkRQ66GEDpfSBScdjIUz9zsfjLAkkL-tt7ADdDXe26RqzaywTRN7f7TMjgTu7OCkGrEXaodw4cxI-qzODGnEqUlaPxnjxeFxrourvL777hJswQscKgq1Yn/s602/IMG_1131.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="602" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TvwliJJy2vGnC6dtvov6gdMjHq9u4Wre2FzDuKSAvhwsZz5i0gChaoo2g86kc5PA-1mmoJfkRQ66GEDpfSBScdjIUz9zsfjLAkkL-tt7ADdDXe26RqzaywTRN7f7TMjgTu7OCkGrEXaodw4cxI-qzODGnEqUlaPxnjxeFxrourvL777hJswQscKgq1Yn/w640-h298/IMG_1131.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Borgward IV </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>As always I like to research units before I build them, many people are unaware Tiger II seen combat against Americans in France in 1944.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Funklenk-panzerkompanie 316 fought in Normandy with tiger I, StuG and the Borgward IV, leaving the 3rd company of Tiger II behind in Saint Denis. The 3rd company Tiger II reformed as Funklenk-panzerkompanie 302 in Eure de Loir. American troops advancing east after the collapse of the front after Pattons 3rd Army breakout and collapse of the 7th Army met the Tiger II on advance to Orleans and Chartres at Chateaudun. </div><div><br /></div><div> I plan to build both units this coming year as I have spare StuG, Tiger I and Tiger II kits not assigned to units currently and I have a Borgward IV B also. </div><h3>Genesis</h3><div><div>The 6th Company /Panzer-Versuchs-und-Ersatz-Abteilung 300 (Fkl) was raised April 1st 1943 with Field Post no. 56041. According to order no. 6039/43 of OrgAbt. I OKH/GenstdH on July 13, 1943, the company was renamed Panzerkompanie (Fkl) 316. The original equipment was to consist of 36 Borgward BIV and 10 StuGs. On September 21 it was transferred to Fallingbostel, where the unit was assigned to Panzer Lehr Regimental training grounds. This was followed by exercises and trials in the regimental context at the military training area there. <br /><br />On September 30th the PzLhrRgt. Received three Tigers I , and received eight more Tigers on October 8th<br />These were transferred to the PzKp. ( Fkl ) 316 , which used it to test the Tiger I in the lead control vehicle detonation role.<br /><br />In mid-January 1944, the order came that the 316th should be equipped with Tiger II as an experimental company, it was renamed the 1st Heavy Tank Company (Fkl) . At the end of February 1944 it was transferred to Panzer Ersatz Abteilung 500 in Paderborn for training on the new tank. Since the Panzer Jager Lehr Regiment 130 had not yet received a PzJg IV, the company had to them hand over their 10 StuGs to them from the third company. On March 14th the five Tiger II arrived, on March 22nd the personnel sent to Paderborn for training returned to the unit. <br /><br />A status report from April 2, 1944 states the following vehicles: <br /><br />5 Tiger II <br />3 Tiger Ie<br />51 SdKfz. 301 Ausf B and Ausf C borgward IV<br />4 3t tractors<br />1 1-ton tractor <br />9 heavy trucks <br />3 light trucks <br />1 medium-sized truck <br />3 staff cars <br />6 sidecar motorcycles <br />2 light motorcycles <br /><br />At the end of April 1944, the Panzer Lehr Division received the order to relocate to France and remain available there as an operational reserve, 316 FKL also moved by rail, the the HQ and radio control company moved into quarters at Saint Denis-les-Ponts, next to Chateaudun. <br /><br />On May 18th, the divisional HQ ordered that the 3./PzJgLhrAbt. 130 had to return the ten StuGs. As the 5 Tiger II were hardly operational due to technical problems.<br /><br />When the Allied invasion began on June 6, 1944, the Tiger IIs of III coy was left at Saint Denis for ongoing repairs and also to be part of the operations reserve for the airfield at Chateaudun from airborne attack. The I and II company’s moved to Normandy attached to Panzer Lehr. </div><div><br /></div><h4>Combat in Normandy </h4><div>On June 8th the StuGs supported panzer Lehr grenadier regiment 902 during a counterattack, it is unknown if the Tiger Is were involved in this counterattack.<br /><br />On June 11, the company proved its worth as a radio control unit, repelling a heavy British attack in several counterattacks. In the days that followed, the StuGs were mainly used to support the counter attacks with the Panzer Grenadier Lehr Regiment 902, there were only a few attacks using the Borgward units driven in the radio control process. <br /><br />On June 19, the Kp. was involved in heavy fighting around Tilly-sur-Seulles , almost all StuGs in the unit were damaged, and one was a total loss. Company commander Meinhardt was killed, as was the leader of the 2nd platoon, Lt. Fisherman.<br /><br />On June 22 the unit was no longer operational, the remaining vehicles three Tiger I and 4 remaining StuG and 40 PzIV Borgward units withdrawn to Reims for refitting and placed back in reserve. The AHA (Staff I (1)) issued the order No. 27220/44, according to which the first company was renamed as Panzerabteilung FKL 302 and remain in Chateaudun with 7th Armee reserve. The company of Tiger I, remaining II company of StuG control, Borgward IV and Headquarters deployed in Reims and remained as Panzerabteilung FKL 316. On August 19- 24th 316 is withdrawn and redeployed East to Warsaw for the uprising. </div><div><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /><h3>Panzerabteilung (Fkl) 302</h3></div><div>On the 13th of July The First company of Panzerabteilung 316 Tiger II is posted south to 7th Armee reserve. Posted to Orleans region to take up position Chateaudun - Nogent-Le-Rotrou line moving by train. On the 15th of July tiger 03 is moved by train and unloaded at Nogent-Le-Rotrou to be presented to officers of 7th army HQ, the vehicle subsequently broke down and remained there and was later stripped for parts. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLm6Np6Ehki5ffN9rSPAycyh0VzV5kcYilO_3sRLL3KcVlnZaukQ2S36IUKnn6XPJlh527Gn6BUdOcF6Ze5Amo9luFUeS4sORJvPu6BfDi0JpHkXiTHi8gjATta_SZglxrOUDcX9vDi34BxzJxfOukeG5e49RLAcyEMT00WzSJMN5S9cm-LiY5PnSKA/s649/D5BA3FD7-E6F2-4101-A88E-ECEC3D1893E4.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLm6Np6Ehki5ffN9rSPAycyh0VzV5kcYilO_3sRLL3KcVlnZaukQ2S36IUKnn6XPJlh527Gn6BUdOcF6Ze5Amo9luFUeS4sORJvPu6BfDi0JpHkXiTHi8gjATta_SZglxrOUDcX9vDi34BxzJxfOukeG5e49RLAcyEMT00WzSJMN5S9cm-LiY5PnSKA/w640-h378/D5BA3FD7-E6F2-4101-A88E-ECEC3D1893E4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiger II 03 broken down at Nogent Le Rotrou </td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div>The breakthrough during Operation Cobra of the Americans at Avaranches on the 31st July seen the unit activated as part of the Pays de Loire defensive line. The breakthrough of the US 3rd army across the Mayenne River defence line on the 5th of August, then the capture of 7th Army HQ on the 8th of August at Le Mans, meant that the south eastern and North eastern main road routes were now open to Orleans Chartres and Paris.</div><div><br /></div><div>8th August Le Mans is captured the German 7th Army HQ (those not captured) retreats east to Chartres </div><div><br /></div><div>On August 9th the first company of five Tiger II at Chateaudun and were manned by scratch crews and deployed into a defensive position south of the Loir river defending the river crossing, the nearby airfield and the gateway to the open wheat plains east to Orleans-Chartres. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXS27P7aw1uj-7iBRqec3a3ZXBOQJsInVEfR4g6ftsGQMwcB20hVFqeE_MKrnY1xHVe5F-drtEpZ_uGujSpiKPBFluFj80h93cJoqJdjOZWoFjcocHQ2VrD4GYPCWSpBTB6y2sTcTLAUgZst3vAGqJnfkasiLf_7qnuzHZj4MqMrobAVs6VGnQu3x5pfv/s850/IMG_1129.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="850" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXS27P7aw1uj-7iBRqec3a3ZXBOQJsInVEfR4g6ftsGQMwcB20hVFqeE_MKrnY1xHVe5F-drtEpZ_uGujSpiKPBFluFj80h93cJoqJdjOZWoFjcocHQ2VrD4GYPCWSpBTB6y2sTcTLAUgZst3vAGqJnfkasiLf_7qnuzHZj4MqMrobAVs6VGnQu3x5pfv/w640-h562/IMG_1129.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Defense of the crossing of the Loir river at Chateaudun</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">Schwere Panzer-Kompanie (Fkl). It had 5 Tiger II numbered:</h4>N°02 : destroyed by American Anti tank fire at Janvillle, Eure-de-Loire on August 18th <br />N°03 broken down 15th July during unloading from train stripped for parts, Nogent-Le-Rotrou, Pays de Loire. <br />N°10, destroyed by crew the at Varize 17th August 1944<br />N°11 broken down and abandoned by crew Chateaudun 17th August 1944 <br />N°12 damaged by artillery fire a south of Chateaudun, abandoned by crew, 16/17th August. <br />N°13 abandoned by crew and destroyed Chateaudun on the night of August 16/17 August.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>13.08.44 They are deployed within the city defense against the approaching US Army. Tiger no. “10” is positioned in the northwest at the N155, “13” stands in the west near the N827, “12” is in position at the junction N10/N824, the two remaining tanks — “02” and “11” — cover the river Loir to the north at the Place le Mail.<br /><br />15.08.44 the US third recon platoon approaching from Montigny-Le-Ganellon runs into tank “12”. The crews of three vehicles are captured by the supporting German infantry. One US Jeep and one M8 are destroyed. Later this tank retires to the Rue de Varize.<br /><br />16.08.44 Tiger “13” is being shelled by US artillery without any effect. Tank “12” fires several rounds with the main gun bringing an enemy advance to a standstill (destruction of a M10 from the 654th TD battalion). In the evening tank “10” leaves its position and joins “02” and “11” at Le Mail.<br /><br />17.08.44 During the night tanks “12” and “13” are left behind by their crews. “12” is set on fire. The other three tanks drive to the Boulevard Kellermann at approximately 0300 hours. Arriving there Tiger “11” breaks down and is left behind. The other two tanks take the N155 to the east and get to Varize in the following night. Tiger “10” then breaks down and is retrieved for a short distance by “02”.<br /><br />18.08.44 At approximately 2000 hours Tiger “10” is blown up. “02” continues its way towards Janville-en-Beauce on the D927 . Shortly before approaching Toury the tank suddenly is hit by AT fire, makes a sharp turn to the left (final drive damage ?), runs over a tree and comes to a stop. It is abandoned by the crew.</div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRXJy77Y31BxU-N5o3AjORBEd8TmNWZj3hI1M0iXW0ojTqKn4e0Vy9pfKbUYuX4mlBfzsiWzL2a1fJvCOtCTqhTuUbWwb16sIsTUn09GHqk631hhdqSq52YEwtOj6DsA_JZRn5XHAIin0xX5rL06kWWGcco0S2pTDkvUH0CzrtYzuJFv-opXDlGpQMg/s800/3A713A75-DC9A-4ACE-95E2-1160E1FCD7E1.jpeg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRXJy77Y31BxU-N5o3AjORBEd8TmNWZj3hI1M0iXW0ojTqKn4e0Vy9pfKbUYuX4mlBfzsiWzL2a1fJvCOtCTqhTuUbWwb16sIsTUn09GHqk631hhdqSq52YEwtOj6DsA_JZRn5XHAIin0xX5rL06kWWGcco0S2pTDkvUH0CzrtYzuJFv-opXDlGpQMg/w640-h346/3A713A75-DC9A-4ACE-95E2-1160E1FCD7E1.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Map of destroyed German units from Panzer Lehr, 17th SS and FKL302</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdcx-DquxhjvKZpvkJ3S9ILjgtDkx3t7xL_nrwMMnsCzXxpfH900cuZt1VVdJCySlmjFeOtT69TXYHGoTmlbYboF8hBuv9BmoXn0cm6yMRBqLozPeXzFmUC6cPVxGLOdFEv7ckuwaLkb5J7zgzqi9goCjrqqkPd-4K4GQanJolxfe2kRHdtlqckEayg/s735/28D416FA-C6A2-4175-AAB2-09325E378445.jpeg"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdcx-DquxhjvKZpvkJ3S9ILjgtDkx3t7xL_nrwMMnsCzXxpfH900cuZt1VVdJCySlmjFeOtT69TXYHGoTmlbYboF8hBuv9BmoXn0cm6yMRBqLozPeXzFmUC6cPVxGLOdFEv7ckuwaLkb5J7zgzqi9goCjrqqkPd-4K4GQanJolxfe2kRHdtlqckEayg/w640-h386/28D416FA-C6A2-4175-AAB2-09325E378445.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkGbwoTjGs05SFSJHb4I3OIzbKKWx0mn43iwgrCavgP2HRwGEwTN9CP2rDNv_7I4nf51UuPZMQs9IoOnW5y8qAEkx359_ZeeGjBFtrVtNmlAEiZPF5rGDzgIsaym63zqRJ0mPYCS2goKb9rwmDeHXzpPelBNlfg15t7vdqXhy_YApCnqTVvPAHkxLQw/s799/DC60C257-BD82-4DC3-9234-79D5B82A8C06.jpeg"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkGbwoTjGs05SFSJHb4I3OIzbKKWx0mn43iwgrCavgP2HRwGEwTN9CP2rDNv_7I4nf51UuPZMQs9IoOnW5y8qAEkx359_ZeeGjBFtrVtNmlAEiZPF5rGDzgIsaym63zqRJ0mPYCS2goKb9rwmDeHXzpPelBNlfg15t7vdqXhy_YApCnqTVvPAHkxLQw/w640-h356/DC60C257-BD82-4DC3-9234-79D5B82A8C06.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">No10 abandoned at Varize</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ZJGN045Cg7ERA5I5Hw1wD-t4PAb8h98IxLZpUVASQotx6aUuv3NI1ztO6Ifb3Btr0qhCo7b70744U-N32Pyz0AlpnJWvJEw5I76h6qoQa2Dq5f4t7ioiuOLbwAammsayXZNfeSB8LvY6YlZjHVZ6VJRiP7agO7lG47Xv6AIYrCAN62JZvUE3a5_acDNz/s1087/IMG_1133.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="1087" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ZJGN045Cg7ERA5I5Hw1wD-t4PAb8h98IxLZpUVASQotx6aUuv3NI1ztO6Ifb3Btr0qhCo7b70744U-N32Pyz0AlpnJWvJEw5I76h6qoQa2Dq5f4t7ioiuOLbwAammsayXZNfeSB8LvY6YlZjHVZ6VJRiP7agO7lG47Xv6AIYrCAN62JZvUE3a5_acDNz/w640-h336/IMG_1133.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiger 11 no 11 abandoned in Chateaudun, 46 Rue Kellerman note the round entry point from a M10</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ddU2kw-NCF5CMI7KikmWt5OHmks_yKDnfcParkSEVHNmG6Tx8TYF45kCZNmZFxi23TTwh-ext-6cEGL2aHDv_3kFLaAoEBGc3LcU5-ATAcmoMjjVqstNiObwasRKxPTQsaizgOAOUIYYg7aqb4TrmQbypf3UpXKOd5VSFSfwldCABf03lqRSvMXU5O04/s632/IMG_1126.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="632" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ddU2kw-NCF5CMI7KikmWt5OHmks_yKDnfcParkSEVHNmG6Tx8TYF45kCZNmZFxi23TTwh-ext-6cEGL2aHDv_3kFLaAoEBGc3LcU5-ATAcmoMjjVqstNiObwasRKxPTQsaizgOAOUIYYg7aqb4TrmQbypf3UpXKOd5VSFSfwldCABf03lqRSvMXU5O04/w640-h492/IMG_1126.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiger II no 11 was towed off the road and dumped</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0w8w8IKiG5mwqoyImsDAg8_3csjkroEimSvrKqelxen3XJWo4E78zjHLMRvYzjzeCxNSkpwEttKW1Rg8gJaYWmLyN1syZuM8j4YorU5yR9WGJu6oQStLZCDtAR-WCYT9WCZHXniMb5d_37whyb67ZxCpi9KqTCBWzsy_5A7pD0LFm11-QIXCJF8k5Q/s800/4311A1CB-DA3E-40E6-8E16-37B1BA83FB4F.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0w8w8IKiG5mwqoyImsDAg8_3csjkroEimSvrKqelxen3XJWo4E78zjHLMRvYzjzeCxNSkpwEttKW1Rg8gJaYWmLyN1syZuM8j4YorU5yR9WGJu6oQStLZCDtAR-WCYT9WCZHXniMb5d_37whyb67ZxCpi9KqTCBWzsy_5A7pD0LFm11-QIXCJF8k5Q/w640-h442/4311A1CB-DA3E-40E6-8E16-37B1BA83FB4F.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiger II no 11, abandoned where the current NOZ is located corner Rue Constantin and 55 Rue Kellerman </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: left;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3xH8LkOlI7eGGKMzbvd14oVSB8CCm-vnFA65mIMxK4_bWEoXwy3hRXCOb4I6IygPi-z3S45x_vN5tKfJwvMGL1Cnzj9aVLd9iOEbkSF6tFmx8cCG9g_-EW97PhbHtzryFHIHrUQVvtTe4R83Znp50J0-IQ213TEhKfZG10mfHvgmHBU9ShC2YgSrmg/s799/16F75233-A8AA-48EA-AFC6-2B0E1A8CD35C.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3xH8LkOlI7eGGKMzbvd14oVSB8CCm-vnFA65mIMxK4_bWEoXwy3hRXCOb4I6IygPi-z3S45x_vN5tKfJwvMGL1Cnzj9aVLd9iOEbkSF6tFmx8cCG9g_-EW97PhbHtzryFHIHrUQVvtTe4R83Znp50J0-IQ213TEhKfZG10mfHvgmHBU9ShC2YgSrmg/w640-h356/16F75233-A8AA-48EA-AFC6-2B0E1A8CD35C.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Tiger no 11</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JZTB3LPjw-VzDc9FfdFa9tO2LtCpmaeWume3McpiNUkL_A7YEf2t_55fmptOnvycey44gSkNL2y5aThVW1XKCNU5imp1nX7rAa4KRGyLq0tYOkwZBiqWhfYPd-DWqX2bF4ScVcj4qgUXeKHhBXMp_aE3bAGQHHaCuZKYh1Ky4qnwk7oMKvhiT2UPEzrH/s2086/IMG_1128.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1373" data-original-width="2086" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JZTB3LPjw-VzDc9FfdFa9tO2LtCpmaeWume3McpiNUkL_A7YEf2t_55fmptOnvycey44gSkNL2y5aThVW1XKCNU5imp1nX7rAa4KRGyLq0tYOkwZBiqWhfYPd-DWqX2bF4ScVcj4qgUXeKHhBXMp_aE3bAGQHHaCuZKYh1Ky4qnwk7oMKvhiT2UPEzrH/w640-h422/IMG_1128.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Tiger no10 in Chateaudun</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5jr5MxkyZs9KLDPljOcjYAkZer63uC_GUY5fJFqA2yDkU3BhrEqlMyVpwVlohLN0idCE1AuhlzB2ZUzT9r1CxVOt6-GnmcfkakI-mZl8vktk5H3Ipq909VSsDpgf0T9idxcTHBsU9Xt5pvKHiIvOzbYGr_fcGs3BZjKwBr2mPO_0odUVjZ0t96lkUpJD/s500/IMG_1130.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="500" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5jr5MxkyZs9KLDPljOcjYAkZer63uC_GUY5fJFqA2yDkU3BhrEqlMyVpwVlohLN0idCE1AuhlzB2ZUzT9r1CxVOt6-GnmcfkakI-mZl8vktk5H3Ipq909VSsDpgf0T9idxcTHBsU9Xt5pvKHiIvOzbYGr_fcGs3BZjKwBr2mPO_0odUVjZ0t96lkUpJD/w640-h382/IMG_1130.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last king Tiger between Janville-en-Beauce and Toury </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhiE1VklnmBvQmgjeIWh-nKb1aKXhQP-CVRlm7G_XfZNuDLB_i36vvfI_6FEPQW2gvPJJv5PTi9daR7jBZEQ1vEgyGCiX3O08oJIEVbeZ9Ja4I5SrBdn8YMwOPqUt5Tq7YOGGZLiMKQOs9K7yLDcm3HbEyCmlf5BieQ8HdfFJilH0wKsF6E8-hXnG6_Ln/s651/IMG_1132.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="471" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhiE1VklnmBvQmgjeIWh-nKb1aKXhQP-CVRlm7G_XfZNuDLB_i36vvfI_6FEPQW2gvPJJv5PTi9daR7jBZEQ1vEgyGCiX3O08oJIEVbeZ9Ja4I5SrBdn8YMwOPqUt5Tq7YOGGZLiMKQOs9K7yLDcm3HbEyCmlf5BieQ8HdfFJilH0wKsF6E8-hXnG6_Ln/w464-h640/IMG_1132.jpeg" width="464" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Cheers</div><div>Matt</div><div><br /></div>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com019 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-26442593195852074912023-12-09T05:54:00.003+01:002023-12-13T22:38:31.147+01:00Wehrmacht Fuel Drums<h4 style="text-align: center;"> Fuel drums </h4><div>About to paint some bits on my desk and come across this reference so I thought I would post it </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaibobKT8XImbqgBk6lfD4Wgwwt8ykiZfc2_A8gDfvsQtULnxYxW9gbV3U13qMGRpbEBXmBsVy-iptE5aCryZJafSzlD6BEOL0V5Cctfe36MmlW-WXQ4Yow-iM8iFAMms_cmVlqF6elv8w8t-JzsKijBYHr_g6ssZ2__J75P3eULldIANtnpMkcm1s40CK/s879/IMG_3992.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="879" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaibobKT8XImbqgBk6lfD4Wgwwt8ykiZfc2_A8gDfvsQtULnxYxW9gbV3U13qMGRpbEBXmBsVy-iptE5aCryZJafSzlD6BEOL0V5Cctfe36MmlW-WXQ4Yow-iM8iFAMms_cmVlqF6elv8w8t-JzsKijBYHr_g6ssZ2__J75P3eULldIANtnpMkcm1s40CK/w640-h402/IMG_3992.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The most common was a galvanized drum and the backend diesel drum, but as the war dragged on by 43 painted drums started to appear, dunkelgelb, civilian versions and captured stock. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the top the drums various markings from Wehrmacht, Kreigsmarine, Waffen SS and Luftwaffe. </div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers</div><div>Matt</div>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-84599349773431878022023-12-04T01:23:00.015+01:002023-12-04T16:11:06.499+01:00Yom Kippur War Moroccan history and order of battle <br /><h2 style="text-align: center;">Yom Kippur War Moroccan Army </h2><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhg-Wm4ZbT6ZVAXIHElJGL1Rz-gNRLaa1RnWYySMHy40ReqvSk9DvxYJljLlBqzfWEadHPMIrcQSMnaLhcSnV6G35uiksnjOfYke6Y58PmQZpob3P9bVKieVANnRhpC2_Z8URJHrZg1TuvRVWTPYOMMkMkm51FO7iNLzQjE6bl02oXruVmj1a3L7oQFiG/s1992/IMG_1084.jpeg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhg-Wm4ZbT6ZVAXIHElJGL1Rz-gNRLaa1RnWYySMHy40ReqvSk9DvxYJljLlBqzfWEadHPMIrcQSMnaLhcSnV6G35uiksnjOfYke6Y58PmQZpob3P9bVKieVANnRhpC2_Z8URJHrZg1TuvRVWTPYOMMkMkm51FO7iNLzQjE6bl02oXruVmj1a3L7oQFiG/w640-h446/IMG_1084.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Syrian T55 crewed by Moroccans dug in on the Golan, note the white identification cross on the turret and mixed uniforms of the moroccan troops.</div><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">Moroccan Army organisation </h4><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Moroccan army was very different to its fellow Arab nations coming with western style professionally trained and officered by men who had attended the French Military schools and colleges, many of the senior Officers and Ncos had fought in the French army in the Congo, French Indochina</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">, Algeria, and Western Sahara campaigns and then after independence constant border wars with Algeria and the conquest of Spanish Morocco. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Moroccan army at this time followed the French “Javelot” divisional doctrine developed in the 50s. The infantry Brigade consisted of four or five regiments of Infantry with attached artillery and if motorised light armour, as required by the task. The infantry Regiment consisted of four to six companies with support elements with enough regimental HQ officers to form small or large subordinate combat sized/battalion teams as required. Each regiment consisted on paper of 812 officers and men and was commanded by a chef de battalion, the regimental support element had two sections of mortars, two sections of heavy machine guns and two sections of light recoilless rifles. Each combat team/battalion as assigned was commanded by a captain. Each platoon was commanded by a 1st lieutenant and sous lieutenant, it had two light 60mm mortars, two MMG teams, two manhandled anti tank weapon teams, and three rifle grenade teams, then typically broken into two fire and movement teams lead by Sergeants. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Motorised and airborne regiments had an attached Armoured car or light tank regiment, a motorised anti tank and motorised recoilless rifle platoon plus vehicles to carry the motorised infantry this bought the strength up to 1271 officers and men. Administration and Supply elements were only attached at the brigade level. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The French Javelot structure was developed originally for nuclear war in Europe but proved its value in the 56 suez crisis, shocking the English with it combat teams approach. It was further developed by the French fighting experience in Indochina, Congo and Algeria and served its purpose for the frontier type fighting of the Moroccan army, during the 60s and 70s. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Uniforms and equipment </span></h3><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The infantry deployed for the war were equipped with French uniforms, rank structure and unit structure. The uniform was either medium green or lizard camouflage, the French M51 (American m1) helmet, and French 1950s TAP </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">infantry webbing equipment. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Personal weapons were very mixed and included the</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> MAS-36 (MAS-36 LG48 and MAS-36/51) and the rifle-grenade capable variants, the MAS-49/56 (airborne & </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">infantry) , FN FAL rifles, AK-47 and the MAT-49 sub machine gun (</span>Officers and Ncos). <span style="font-family: inherit;">Squad automatic weapons included the French AA-52 NF1, MAC 24/29 and the FN Mag-58 </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">were also in service. Heavy machine guns include the American browning 30 cal and the M50 50 caliber HMG. Mortars were Brandt 60mm and the Brandt 27/31 81mm mortar. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVJGBhGqFcj0Bbsg9vV6MB8hvCER4o40aplUAu1u_nMp62PyWqYHPuPz20GzUVo-Cyuqvax75r-D8-oa8-A5y-VItji1v__aZyZdgW8_OUJgYBMGrZUtw9-MxwO706uasTK91cJNzk0qmqBrhUcCHt927RUQ_urdMztGs9xzmldYNPHLrCL6EMMxYGt-T/s259/IMG_1095.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVJGBhGqFcj0Bbsg9vV6MB8hvCER4o40aplUAu1u_nMp62PyWqYHPuPz20GzUVo-Cyuqvax75r-D8-oa8-A5y-VItji1v__aZyZdgW8_OUJgYBMGrZUtw9-MxwO706uasTK91cJNzk0qmqBrhUcCHt927RUQ_urdMztGs9xzmldYNPHLrCL6EMMxYGt-T/w640-h479/IMG_1095.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Troops arriving in Syria </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Moroccan Armour and vehicles</h4><div>The armour available to the Moroccan army in 1973 was 40 Russian T-54B D10 TG 100mm and 80 Czechoslovakian T-54B built models with the latest 100mm D10T2S stabilised gun, included in the Czech order included ten T-54AR and Ten T54 AK command tanks. American equipment was on order and started to arrive in early October 1973, the first delivery of twenty six M48a3 MBTs formed the first tank regiment vehicles by March 1974. A lot of light tanks made up the remainder one hundred and twenty French AMX 13 light tanks (4 AMX CD recovery)m and some Sherman’s were still in reserve. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisg3kU9UoMlywotTc8-zufSa_bftrBgSm7bv4Kv_ArErrWlgQPqFhiqjnaBdrypF5VxPFMlidn7jSFN3Js-_DzQ9YmneeZ6qvfr-CDoU9HaI1l7rF2rggMXNK2_QACCFNS-0mEWtPRok82G2CEjD6-HcodivLzoRq-ayj2sOIuL8WxVRjdA2JFfuxcykli/s640/IMG_1096.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="640" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisg3kU9UoMlywotTc8-zufSa_bftrBgSm7bv4Kv_ArErrWlgQPqFhiqjnaBdrypF5VxPFMlidn7jSFN3Js-_DzQ9YmneeZ6qvfr-CDoU9HaI1l7rF2rggMXNK2_QACCFNS-0mEWtPRok82G2CEjD6-HcodivLzoRq-ayj2sOIuL8WxVRjdA2JFfuxcykli/w640-h412/IMG_1096.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moroccan operated T55s</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>For the anti tank support role was twenty five Czech built SU-100 SP guns, fifty American M56 scorpion 90mm Self propelled Anti tank guns, (I have not found any record of them being deployed in Syria). Armoured cars were predominantly French, thirty six panhard EBR 75 and one hundred and ninety Panhard AML 90, thirty AML60-7, forty M8 Armoured cars. Armoured personnel carriers consisted of ninety five Czech OT 64 and forty American M5 and M3 halftracks (ex French stock) and fifty Panard M3 VTT APCs. </div><div><br /></div><div>Soft skins in the majority was ex American ww2 stocks. The jeeps were hotchkiss M201(French made - American ww2 Jeep), American mutt jeeps, series II and series III Land Rover Santana (Spanish built) and even some J40 Toyota landcruisers, along with mini Mokes armed with recoiless M20 75mm! </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig02OpfKgUjprefMjnlHIhZzUTuLDAaQdsKAHx-dl8yypyNNOcmrjQZAXGeH1sSTjBnvj22h_g1zuZDxNdKfgWqwQW972rlvi8wv-HcHVBvWkVjeolkZlC1_0rYv-YG7D8iJM2VdExVHzw3VONiiTxpoohwnKvPhO-u2g3P1Y3-cnhRnzqCeOPtKLz7JrL/s1527/IMG_1094.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1527" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig02OpfKgUjprefMjnlHIhZzUTuLDAaQdsKAHx-dl8yypyNNOcmrjQZAXGeH1sSTjBnvj22h_g1zuZDxNdKfgWqwQW972rlvi8wv-HcHVBvWkVjeolkZlC1_0rYv-YG7D8iJM2VdExVHzw3VONiiTxpoohwnKvPhO-u2g3P1Y3-cnhRnzqCeOPtKLz7JrL/w640-h446/IMG_1094.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moroccan paratrooper mini moke with recoilless rifle and 30 cal. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Trucks included the Romanian Bucegi SR11 3t, Berliet GBD (6x6),<strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.16s;"> </strong>American general M813a1 (6x6) and French ACMAT TPK 425 (4x4) and the TPK 640 (6x6) trucks and I have seen some Simca Marmon also in a parade but nothing in export documents. Mack F900 heavy transport trucks for tank transport.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anti armour consisted of the hand held M20 super bazooka and the RPG-7, the recoilless rifles M20 75mm and the M40a1 106mm, towed D44 85mm AT gun and the five hundred MGM 32A Entac missiles. </div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Artillery </h4><div>Towed systems included twenty American M2A1 (now a M101A1) Thirty eight HM-2 105mm howitzers ( model 1924), eighteen soviet M-46 122mm, and twenty M114 155mm howitzers. Self propelled systems included ninety eight Amx53 155mm sp howitzer, thirty self propelled AMX mk61 105mm howitzer, twenty self propelled M44 155mm howitzer. Thirty six BM-21 122mm rocket launchers </div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Anti aircraft equipment </h4><div>Information for this part is taken from export lists, but also includes captured equipment. I have more research to do here, but I have types as follows. Towed systems ninety ZPU-2 14.5mm, nineteen ZPU-4 14.5mm, ninety Zu 23-2 W23mm, thirty 50 cal M45 Qaud, sixty AZP S60 57mm, and the missile systems SA-7 Grail, French Hawksystem (cannot locate source for this but have a image of one deployed for the Algerian war in 73) and I am not sure if the MIM-72 Chaparral launchers were available in time for the war. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Deployment </h3><div> The exact number of soldiers sent by the kingdom to the war remains unknown this day, with two different primary sources conflicting in numbers 5000 and 11000 being noted. Although there was two fronts the second brigade not deploying completely in Egypt time for the ceasefire which may account for the two primary reference confusion to the number of men deployed. </div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Moroccan Expedition for the Defense of the Arab Homeland (EMDPA)</span></h2><div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Expedition Syria Brigade structure </h2><h4 style="text-align: left;">Commander Major General Abdel Salam Sefroui</h4><div>Moroccan Expeditionary Force commander for Syria was Major General Abdel Salam Sefroui, he had a long career and held several positions, including governor of the cities of Agadir, Jeddah, and Al-Bayda, commander of the Light Security Brigade, then director of the Military Academy, then commander of the Royal Guard, ending his career in the diplomatic corps as the Kingdom’s ambassador to the Netherlands. He was the closest general during the reign of Hassan II, where he defended the king in the Skhirat coup until he was injured. He was wounded by a bullet in his knee, as he was wounded 8 times in the Indochina War. </div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Chief of staff Lt -Colonel Mohammed Bernichi</b></span><div><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-center; transition: all 0.16s;"><br /></strong></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Armoured Regiment, Colonel Naji El Mekki </h3></div><div>30 x T55 supplied by Syria (images seem to be green and camo with white cross air recognition on the turret)</div><div>10 AMX-13 tanks ( again mixed Moroccan sources not sure if Syrian front , 4 were destroyed, the remainder were shipped back?) </div><div>9 AML90 Armoured cars again this is from a Moroccan source, but does not mention which front, but Syria is likely but not confirmed. . </div><div>Unknown numbers of OT64 if it two supporting regiments of infantry at least 48 if following French doctrine. They are mentioned in Israeli sources in the fighting of the Golan heights villages and strongpoints and are in photos.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Infantry Brigade 2500 men </h4><div>Again mixed sources, most sources only mention one regiment on the line, another two regiments, one source mentions that they were reorganised along soviet structure to match the Syrians which could explain the confusion. Syrian and Moroccan bravery commendations were issued to the three regimental commanders for the war, and one regimental commander was killed during the fighting (and the chief of staff replacing him possibly). </div><div><br /><b>2nd infantry regiment lt Colonel</b> <b>Mohamed Belhaj motorised </b></div><div><span face="Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.16s; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="border: medium; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.16s; vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>Born August 24, 1936 in Fez, came from Saint Cyr Military School, “Mohamed V” promotion. Appointed second lieutenant on August 1, 1957, was assigned to the infantry, Lieutenant: August 1, 1959, Captain: August 1, 1963, Commander: March 3, 1967, Lt-Colonel: March 3, 1971, Colonel: March 3, 1976, Colonel Major: March 3, 1989, Brigadier General: July 12, 1994, Major General: July 30, 2001 <div>Decoration and Citations National: Officer of the Order of the Throne: May 14, 1965, Commander of the Order of the Throne: March 3, 1992, Military Merit, Knight rank: April 27, 1976, Citation to the order of the army with war star (crown) April 27, 1976, Volunteer medal (Syria), Moroccan commemorative (Expedition to Syria). <br />Foreign decorations: Ouissam Al Harbi: 1st category (Syria): November 16, 1973. Ouissam Achajaâ (Syria), Commemorative (Syria), Commander of the French National Order of Merit (1995), National Order (Tunisia): commander rank, National Order (Iran): officer rank. <br />Service records: Assigned to the 3rd Infantry Battalion in Taza (August 1, 1957), commanded the 14th company in Aknoul. Then the 12th company to: Saka, Benslimane, Skhirat, Khanfouf (Ifni enclave) and Meknes. Transferred to the ARM (at his request) on September 26, assumes the functions of section head of officer cadets and instructor of Arabic, translation, history and geography of Morocco. Transferred to the BQG (June 16, 1964), served as chief of staff to the General, Major General of the FAR from July 15, 1964 to September 1, 1968. Designated to take command of the Royal Military School (Ribat Al Kheir ) from September 1, 1971 to August 30, 1972. Assume the functions of the delegated Arms Commander of the place of Kenitra from September 1, 1972 (1st Company of Kenitra HQ). Part of the EMDPA in Syria, designated by His Majesty the King to command the 2nd Front Infantry Regiment (April 5, 1973, July 15, 1974).<br /><div>The regiment is mentioned in the fighting on Mont Hebron, had attached thirty Syrian T55 tanks crewed by Morrocans taking part in the first day one of the invasion. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>3rd infantry Regiment</b> <b>Abdelkader Al-Alem motorised<br /></b><br />He studied at Ibn Taoumarte college in Sidi Kacem then at Moulay Youssef high school in Rabat . In 1945, he joined the military academy in Meknes where he spent 4 years. In 1950 , he received training for a year in Bordeaux , France . In 1953 on the return of King Mohammed V from exile, he was present among those welcoming him. In 1963 he was promoted to the rank of colonel by Hassan II and decorated. In 1971 , he was injured during the failed coup d' état in Skhirat. In 1973 he leads the 3rd regiment and is killed in the fighting. He was buried in the Damascus cemetery and later returned to Morocco. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Parachute Commando </b></div><div>Mentioned attached commando to Syrian units on Mount Hermon, not sure how large this combat unit was, it could of been a section or larger.<br /><br /><b>Anti tank elements</b></div><div>Motorised<b> </b>Anti tank assets are mentioned attached to the brigade jeeps with recoiless rifles, only photos with no numbers but a section was two vehicles, with three sections to a platoon attached to a brigade. Towed anti tank, no reference of towed antitank being deployed </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfO60ltJap2jzkVE1fcZY9qhTTj4gQv9hDYav439uyqQHIY0c9WnzVKSREx-py_5pyhGFrEDDtLebUZCP5JFUUBRTuaJtU9VLMAB7Yyi6MzyEXizhuCc0lbsN1oQ6EjnjX-53i8FLEZEMQ4ghEmt2JXBH4X7-x3im3oY2TvSXDfnS6_k_CtdbEicJRclmy/s1553/IMG_1092.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1221" data-original-width="1553" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfO60ltJap2jzkVE1fcZY9qhTTj4gQv9hDYav439uyqQHIY0c9WnzVKSREx-py_5pyhGFrEDDtLebUZCP5JFUUBRTuaJtU9VLMAB7Yyi6MzyEXizhuCc0lbsN1oQ6EjnjX-53i8FLEZEMQ4ghEmt2JXBH4X7-x3im3oY2TvSXDfnS6_k_CtdbEicJRclmy/w640-h504/IMG_1092.jpeg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><b>Artillery battalion</b></div><div><b><br /></b>I cannot find a list of towed or self propelled weapons deployed in the war, however self propelled guns are mentioned supporting the assaults and then defence of the position on the Golan. I also expect the 120mm mortars are along with 81mm mortars within the infantry division. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcelkaAzwNTbYp9RHQPQLU6Lik3zQ5_Q7sTvvhYucagGl2BxeF-cyngK-F29VBnlsSwE1-3tlV8ezUI8wjxdZW6h2n1TJRhfkVvEG2MEDQyoeND_SKcFX4zegOXKVCL_Leniqwfk6AfCs-Hk-ss2i62iHFngeH_Re0SL4g8CeDkazUjYU9LqRbGjmzSVp0/s1513/IMG_1093.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="1513" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcelkaAzwNTbYp9RHQPQLU6Lik3zQ5_Q7sTvvhYucagGl2BxeF-cyngK-F29VBnlsSwE1-3tlV8ezUI8wjxdZW6h2n1TJRhfkVvEG2MEDQyoeND_SKcFX4zegOXKVCL_Leniqwfk6AfCs-Hk-ss2i62iHFngeH_Re0SL4g8CeDkazUjYU9LqRbGjmzSVp0/w640-h458/IMG_1093.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captured Israeli Defa 921 90mm AT gun, looks like a 57mm carriage. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div></div><div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Moroccan Air Force</h4>I cannot confirm completely that the air force fought in any combat sorties, however reports of fourteen Mig 17 and twelve Moroccan Air Force Northrop F-5A joined the Egyptian 69 Squadron at Tanta on 19 October 1973. Flying missions over the Nile delta after the ceasefire. . </div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Fighting in the Golan heights </h2><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The first Moroccan troops arrived by aircraft and then following equipment and men arrived via ship in the July of 1973, training along side the Syrians, the relationship was tense, with the promised armour for the whole regiment only amounting to 30 T55 tanks, rather than 45 (30 does match the Syrian Soviet Doctrine though). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The brigade is attached to the Syrian 7th Infantry Division. Assigned to the eastern side of the assault on Mont Hermon. The brigade advanced on the 6th of October with the objectives of Hellas-Ovana-Al Qalaa and had one of the first contacts in the vicinity of Tel Sharta fighting against the Israeli 74th Saar tank battalion (7th Armoured div). The Israeli Sho’t Kal outgunned the T55s, however the Moroccans reached their objectives around 1600 southwest of Sahita point and the outskirts of Rouissat-Abi-Ramid. One company surrounding Israelis in the police station at Sahita support point, two other companies occupied two blocks around it, the rest of the forces occupy points around Rouissat. They halted awaiting further instructions, where they were ordered to hold position. On the 7th to the 9th the Moroccans held their position while the 121st Syrian division passed through to continue the assault, where they were badly mauled by the Israelis. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">At 8:40 on October 10, enemy aircraft bombed the positions of the Moroccan forces, focusing their bombing on the Al-Kasha site, height 1480, and Dahrat Al-Hadab. At 11:15, an enemy armored convoy, numbering a tank battalion, advanced from the direction of Masada-Sahita, and Moroccan artillery opened fire on it. At 11:40, a tank company and a mechanized infantry company deployed in front of Sahita and began opening fire on the Moroccan forces, which responded to the fire in kind and stopped the enemy forces on this line. Close to 1:10 p.m., the enemy pushed a group of its tanks to the outskirts of Jubata al-Khashab, threatening the left side of the Moroccan forces. The Moroccan 3rd infantry regiment units, stationed at Heights 1480, Dahrat al-Hadab and the Marj al-Jamous area, were subjected to severe air and artillery bombardment. The Moroccan forces clashed with the enemy infantry forces, then withdrew to the Beit Jinn farm. </span></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">On October 11, the unit faced the Israeli 77th Tank Battalion. Here again, the fighting is fierce. The withdrawal commences </span><span style="font-family: arial;">east and they find their flank open to counterattack (the Syrian unit had fled). On October 20, it was attached to the 9th Syrian Infantry Division. Device which is organized to launch a counterattack in the Sassa salient. Scheduled for October 25, the operation should make it possible to regain the initiative against the Israelis who are now threatening Damascus, after having restored a situation that was nevertheless desperate on October 6. However, Hafez el-Assad fully realizes that the military situation has become catastrophic. As a result of which he accepted a ceasefire which took effect on October 23, 1973, at midnight... The counter-offensive therefore did not take place and there the fighting of the Moroccan motorized infantry brigade stopped. Despite very tough confrontations, it retained its cohesion throughout the war. In all, 5,500 men were sent to the Golan and Egypt.</span><div><div><div><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Betrayal of Moroccan troops </h4><div><span style="font-family: arial;">During the withdrawal on the 10th-11th one of the more interesting accounts during the war was the betrayal of Moroccan troops by a Syrian commander. The positions of the Moroccan troops was betrayed to the Israeli troops opposite, according to one source, Mohammed Loma, “Moroccan soldiers were tricked by the Syrian brigade headed by Halawa, a druze commander, who collaborated with the Israelis”. The Syrian army was able to deal with the situation, and executed on the following day commander Major Raik Halawa, who was considered a traitor. The Moroccan martyrs were also mentioned by Sasa Post. </span></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Expedition Brigade Egypt Colonel Major Hassan Al-Hatmee 5500 men</h4><div><span style="font-family: arial;">A second brigade was assembled to assist on the Egyptian front but arrived to late to participate in the fighting. When they arrived they were positioned around the town of Suez, and built defensive positions along the Bir Azeib, a strategic location defending access to the two roads leading to Cairo. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Moroccan troops finally returned from Egypt and Syria in April 1974. 170 Morrocan died during the war and 6 were captured. </span></div><div><span face="Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05); caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;"><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.16s;"><span style="border: medium; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.16s; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="border: medium; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.16s; vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span></span></strong></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">References </h3><b>Websites</b><div>Moroccan army history forum<div><a href="https://far-maroc.forumpro.fr/">https://far-maroc.forumpro.fr/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Pathè 1973 parade film <a href="https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/130926/">https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/130926/</a></div><div>YouTube</div><div> <a href="https://m.youtube.com/user/MultiJolika">https://m.youtube.com/user/MultiJolika</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><b>Books</b> <br />After The Storm: The Changing Military Balance in the Middle EastBy Anthony H. Cordesman<br />Foss, Christopher F. (1974) [1972]. Jane's Pocket Book of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles. Collier Books.<br />Osprey Arab armies Yom Kippur war <br />MIG productions Arab Armies volume 3<br /><div>Estes, Kenneth W (2016). M50 Ontos and M56 Scorpion 1956–70: US Tank Destroyers of the Vietnam War<div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Details on the betrayal by the Syrian commander </h3><div><a href="https://en.yabiladi.com/articles/details/58208/kippur-were-moroccan-soldiers-betrayed.html">https://en.yabiladi.com/articles/details/58208/kippur-were-moroccan-soldiers-betrayed.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://en.yabiladi.com/articles/details/58148/october-1973-when-morocco-participated.html">https://en.yabiladi.com/articles/details/58148/october-1973-when-morocco-participated.html</a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-71707894794756939422023-11-29T23:04:00.004+01:002023-12-04T16:11:20.015+01:00Egyptian SPG T122mm + review1/72 Blackdog conversion set <h2 style="text-align: center;"> Egyptian T122mm SPG</h2><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v91HlLOUxlTbMANxeK69LfrGOBYWs4sMhf16TotzZEfjquylwrdGK9LcblaMXSbTTh5HSXxPd8Zrl47gxs7NhQ-fYgP7Li4fBOXI52XB8bkjf6lVMktgCftv_db5bXbBRHVPote9O6QA7csXqzRXz3BmyNCDHj-D0-0gYX6vEBt_BwpFZAeEIt3m54e7/s3205/IMG_0385.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2258" data-original-width="3205" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v91HlLOUxlTbMANxeK69LfrGOBYWs4sMhf16TotzZEfjquylwrdGK9LcblaMXSbTTh5HSXxPd8Zrl47gxs7NhQ-fYgP7Li4fBOXI52XB8bkjf6lVMktgCftv_db5bXbBRHVPote9O6QA7csXqzRXz3BmyNCDHj-D0-0gYX6vEBt_BwpFZAeEIt3m54e7/w640-h450/IMG_0385.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Another purchase being assembled for the Analogue Hobbies Winter Challenge. While picking up a few bits from my Favourite French hobby supplier during the Black Friday deals I picked up the 1/72 Blackdog conversion set for the Egyptian T34/122 self propelled howitzer, it may of been used during the 6 day war, but did serve during the Yom Kippur War. </div><div><br /></div><div>This beast was based on a T34 chassis, in the majority T34/85 had T54 road wheels added also. Two batterys of T122 of 18 guns each did see action in the Yom Kippur. I do note that Syria also done a similar modification of the old T34 chassis. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Blackdog kit has the turret, gun and wheels, barrel, baffles, and barrel rest, and finally two boxes. Really nicely cast, although some fine bits that will get damaged from wargaming (the equipment rings on the rear for example). Overall though quite easy to remove from the resin sprue, quite a bit of cleanup on the wheels though to clean out the holes and shape the pear, with two of mine have bad deformity flash from mold wear I suspect and I was supplied one incorrect wheel, although it could be easily modified. With a bit of patience everything cleaned up well and assembly was straight forward. The barrel baffles also need some flash clean up, but not too bad, be careful with the barrel alignment and the baffle assembly to ensure it is square.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQpCgAHA5vnwpoZ9SIgiGrqd96pZ8USPF-o7EUb60ZLA-9uirQwmTPCeZClt5qNUnGTe1DttZIvrpBKQwdtB36_iwGrUabMNr-TqyhJbhwLsqWhv0pCUQUA6ROf7LwLWMaWrv81gorTH_gqNoeL1UXZLc-e4sOXElBikFVUxFzR2kSFMe9RNQ59IfHxHB/s3427/IMG_0383.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2849" data-original-width="3427" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQpCgAHA5vnwpoZ9SIgiGrqd96pZ8USPF-o7EUb60ZLA-9uirQwmTPCeZClt5qNUnGTe1DttZIvrpBKQwdtB36_iwGrUabMNr-TqyhJbhwLsqWhv0pCUQUA6ROf7LwLWMaWrv81gorTH_gqNoeL1UXZLc-e4sOXElBikFVUxFzR2kSFMe9RNQ59IfHxHB/w640-h532/IMG_0383.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">T122 Egyptian kit</div><div><br /></div><div> The kit recommends the dragon T34/85 or the Italeri. I did note that some people have used the zvesda kit also. My kit was a Italeri and upon dry fitting I needed to sand more off the bottom of the rear of the turret to get it to fit correctly. I also removed my front guards as per the surviving example in Israel. </div><div><br /></div><div>Overall a great addition for anyone wanting to do something different or wanting like me to add it to your Egyptian army for 67 or 73 wars. </div><div><br /></div><div>Overall a simple addition armour build, scoring a nine out of ten. </div><div><br /></div><div>Plan to get some paint on it soon, when I do my next batch of Egyptians. </div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers</div><div>Matt </div>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com019 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-57384653734781614552023-11-24T22:44:00.008+01:002023-11-24T22:44:00.140+01:00volvo c303 pansarvarnspjasterrangbil -Gecko 1/72 Kit review <h2 style="text-align: center;">Volvo C303 Pansarvärnspjästerrängbil</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgBDODpvmMgbL4eAQIYkcRzaY6ihHgYLzEXpX3FQoiPMqtmDbv6hj9pYcRBv5iYRKq6hlcspZPnuoJAoNN-Le-sg3dsnzNqIv60otmf7vYnMoOTdjxyTYD8nNHxddnAs4VEGKtxiNLd4r2U3pekOvQ0SNgntro7qLdcvJpt72YrHiBuBzaH_06oO7zpkl/s650/IMG_1072.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="650" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgBDODpvmMgbL4eAQIYkcRzaY6ihHgYLzEXpX3FQoiPMqtmDbv6hj9pYcRBv5iYRKq6hlcspZPnuoJAoNN-Le-sg3dsnzNqIv60otmf7vYnMoOTdjxyTYD8nNHxddnAs4VEGKtxiNLd4r2U3pekOvQ0SNgntro7qLdcvJpt72YrHiBuBzaH_06oO7zpkl/w640-h360/IMG_1072.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>As I start preparing for the Analogue painting challenge I have been focusing on building kits for our “Whisky on the Rocks” Cold War Wargames Holiday from the 3rd to the 7th of May 2024. My Swedes need quite a bit of anti armour to deal with the Soviet VDV division that will oppose them. The </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTc5CJnjVNNBzEVNCt_aiUwUCprXLwWEEsbMchmT3zJasIZp8li_9cKHR1_OTCvNCIo13oBxPvRSrxu4TFr2tGA0m4xcARJY-m1drlIlcMYXc_mGlVQ-Fj7YGW0MppqaFUyATwGK6SjTymweIDRFdMM-LpOWqzEsk92wmuSnyfUy8_iNGUO0lYupCCF_9l/s1686/IMG_1071.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1686" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTc5CJnjVNNBzEVNCt_aiUwUCprXLwWEEsbMchmT3zJasIZp8li_9cKHR1_OTCvNCIo13oBxPvRSrxu4TFr2tGA0m4xcARJY-m1drlIlcMYXc_mGlVQ-Fj7YGW0MppqaFUyATwGK6SjTymweIDRFdMM-LpOWqzEsk92wmuSnyfUy8_iNGUO0lYupCCF_9l/w640-h406/IMG_1071.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2><span style="font-size: small;">Volvo C303 Pansarvärnspjästerrängbil 1/72 Gecko Resin kit</span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another kit review of Gecko Heavy Industries 1/76th scale resin kit. The </span><span style="text-align: center;">Volvo C303 Pansarvärnspjästerrängbil 90mm recoiless anti tank gun. The only model of this kit that I am aware of for 20mm wargaming, I needed to purchase this for my Swedes for our Cold War event “<a href="https://www.lhoteldeherce.fr/team-1" target="_blank">Whisky on the Rocks</a>” at French Wargame Holidays from 3rd to 7th May 2024. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">The kit is resin with four options for the build, a complete clear resin cabin with stowed gun, a half cabin with stowed gun, a windscreen with roll cage mounted or a firing version with folded down screen and roll frame. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">The resin spruces were simple to remove, do take care though with assembly as the instructions are not that clear, and you will require a few images from the web to fully assemble it correctly, particularly the gun mount. The roll cage will need some work if you are to get close to an actual vehicle, so I opted to fold mine down in the firing version. The clear parts are not that great and I think I will scratch a new windscreen(which will be folded down anyway…. The front seats were also incorrect from what I could see, so I trimmed the kit pieces to suit. Overall a 8.5 out of 10. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">The kit was €22 from panzerfux and worth the price I think as it is such a rare beast. Looking forward to getting some paint on it and I will possibly convert some S&S miniatures Swedish crew. </span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XCjNqqhQ61YDVd5wfIA5MNy4MWNCHDl4fzRA5BTNw641F74rch_0uShWLKREtw86dQn90n1n130py1jH1iJm_UdQjxulBDr4pCy6_e0Fg55eabtM_FwrI_pyIVXqm-ZuuU_ZGW0TJiMQVLQ6pWEsaC6frCTYWQ22gkvFknAw9sONFA7yc1PQPHiYwWWK/s4032/IMG_0296.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XCjNqqhQ61YDVd5wfIA5MNy4MWNCHDl4fzRA5BTNw641F74rch_0uShWLKREtw86dQn90n1n130py1jH1iJm_UdQjxulBDr4pCy6_e0Fg55eabtM_FwrI_pyIVXqm-ZuuU_ZGW0TJiMQVLQ6pWEsaC6frCTYWQ22gkvFknAw9sONFA7yc1PQPHiYwWWK/w480-h640/IMG_0296.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Volvo C303 Pansarvärnspjästerrängbil Layed out</span></span></h2></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDstGKjUutNp-gDM2B5SgahWxEgBAmr3h2FQ2keellU7XaPNW_E6bfRedkzEO9mJwl4QxzfeX1dFl2y_sTcQ3ame8T9tVla9799WnobIKtLAXVtC56OYMf93Ov-e08AoqftdbqNdFNH21svXwVIc8iekQWkd3vNKFjgUi7-PztJ6Lm4BS1ulJRmMjADwTd/s4032/IMG_0297.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDstGKjUutNp-gDM2B5SgahWxEgBAmr3h2FQ2keellU7XaPNW_E6bfRedkzEO9mJwl4QxzfeX1dFl2y_sTcQ3ame8T9tVla9799WnobIKtLAXVtC56OYMf93Ov-e08AoqftdbqNdFNH21svXwVIc8iekQWkd3vNKFjgUi7-PztJ6Lm4BS1ulJRmMjADwTd/w640-h480/IMG_0297.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglv4uOwgGXEtAqw5j8CGi6br8O257V2KWWKMNGcXFaRfFzltjESZR7sf5KW55UCXNxFAtpqNe-oKIj6QPYXih38vjdQ75AT_YAP20ydNdjdWMc9hPrA1RAFwtCQQF-SCJie6DzDLigIwEXadFqCilb9sKpQ15vhzeHUcdVIY9Tq9B5BVRRFDpSfN0yE30/s4032/IMG_0298.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglv4uOwgGXEtAqw5j8CGi6br8O257V2KWWKMNGcXFaRfFzltjESZR7sf5KW55UCXNxFAtpqNe-oKIj6QPYXih38vjdQ75AT_YAP20ydNdjdWMc9hPrA1RAFwtCQQF-SCJie6DzDLigIwEXadFqCilb9sKpQ15vhzeHUcdVIY9Tq9B5BVRRFDpSfN0yE30/w640-h480/IMG_0298.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cheers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Matt</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br /></div>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com019 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-57037895136055782752023-11-22T22:06:00.003+01:002023-11-22T22:06:56.064+01:00Yom Kippur War Jordanian Order of Battle <br /><h2 style="text-align: center;">Yom Kippur War Jordanian order of battle </h2><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAHXZEgRaUAsqv8Pf4fB3Hx1s97-3ij4k_6MgL8a3Y1JWoZQSAEuAcqzB_fZPFyU3XbJknY3EUHLjlZYMTYCIT9sCHjO5Lwb8RlzvKS5TOmve_SAnlfdHARmLzPQASw2dtc451NWsdDhZOZm6UOTKa8OluNMKLVjLhrQJYQqHQ_8aE9AVKhMb9k-wHIr4/s2076/IMG_1080.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="2076" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAHXZEgRaUAsqv8Pf4fB3Hx1s97-3ij4k_6MgL8a3Y1JWoZQSAEuAcqzB_fZPFyU3XbJknY3EUHLjlZYMTYCIT9sCHjO5Lwb8RlzvKS5TOmve_SAnlfdHARmLzPQASw2dtc451NWsdDhZOZm6UOTKa8OluNMKLVjLhrQJYQqHQ_8aE9AVKhMb9k-wHIr4/w640-h434/IMG_1080.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos from the Jordanian tank museum </td></tr></tbody></table><br />The least enthusiastic participant in the October fighting was probably Jordan. After the Arab offensive began Jordan commenced calling up reserves on the 10th of October. The 40th Armored Brigade was sent to the North eastern front in Syria the threaten the Israeli border and protect the flanks of the Syrian counter attacks. <div><div><br /></div><div>The 40th Armoured Brigade crossed the border on the 12th and arrived in position on the 13th and were then attached to the 3rd Iraqi Armoured division. On the 14th the division was assigned to the southern flank of the counter attack. The assault occurred between Jubata al Khashab and Khan Arinbeh, with the goal of forcing a front to highway 98, near Al Qunaitra and the high ground. This ground was not very suited to Armoured formations as it consisted of volcanic rocks, small ridges, gullies and outcrops, with a number of villages, plus overlooked by high ground that could be defended easily by the Israelis.<div><br /></div><div> The 40th were placed on the left flank of the Iraqi division, the attack began at dawn on the 16th after a preliminary bombardment of Jordanian, Iraqi and Syrian artillery. The assault began successfully until at 4000m the first centurions were lost to TOW missiles, however the creeping barrage by the Jordanian artillery forced the Israeli infantry to retire and the centurions possibly being mistaken as Israeli armour penetrated the line, in the confusion the Jordanians claimed 20 Israeli tanks, 9 TOWs and three jeeps destroyed or captured for the loss of 14 tanks destroyed, forcing the Israeli troops to withdraw. On the 17th and 18th damaged vehicles were refitted for a renewed assault on Israeli positions on dawn of the 19th, however the assault went in piecemeal and the Jordanians lost a further 4 tanks destroyed, but the Iraqis in the centre were badly mauled. A further assault was planned on the 23rd of October, but never went forward due to the ceasefire. The Jordanians suffered 28 killed and 49 wounded, with the loss of 33 tanks, 18 destroyed and 9 damaged but recovered, and 6 captured by Israel and 2 APCs damaged. </div><div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWaYJRKwvXFpoIVtV2hEFUjtpSnZCa-FVw1SXdAYFT-d_9kV1V2MxR5mDaHbBXF_GAfpaf9frkIFNrhctcQ0gdAmSUKTs-Oa6fioGanNzL8BpKThxb02TMqk4GKhKLiaUwjnVtjiPsExkx4pVAAIonyD864PN5jV9ZozFUuu1N7h5U31XowBX0LCx7Hwp/s2009/IMG_1078.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="2009" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWaYJRKwvXFpoIVtV2hEFUjtpSnZCa-FVw1SXdAYFT-d_9kV1V2MxR5mDaHbBXF_GAfpaf9frkIFNrhctcQ0gdAmSUKTs-Oa6fioGanNzL8BpKThxb02TMqk4GKhKLiaUwjnVtjiPsExkx4pVAAIonyD864PN5jV9ZozFUuu1N7h5U31XowBX0LCx7Hwp/w640-h452/IMG_1078.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A good indication of the Jordanian camouflage, medical M113 of the 40th division, the photo I believe is from 1970 during Black September. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">40th Jordanian Armoured Brigade Khalid Hajhouj al-Majali </h4>Brigade HQ </div><div>Signal Company<br />Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II 1st Armored Infantry Battalion M113<br />2nd Royal Tank Battalion 45 Mk7 105mm Centurions<br />Prince Ali bin Al Hussein 4th Tank Battalion 45 Mk5 105mm and Mk7 105mm centurions <br />Services Companies<br />Medical Company<br />Brigade Maintenance Workshop Centurion ARV<br />Field reconnaissance battalion 9 x FV-701 Ferret </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBMYZfZJOc37QoxD7qwzglpZ11ixN7eGcOioNLALSJU8EsmmUvx18owBy4aI9i3SxKZdH8S7B7lQTwOmr_P5YDA7clRbS6wwlDowXZ2ZqWwzig-cPQrhVURIktlBjW_E5U9x16Gb9hKkN9PZr7Bby6EP3nwXcjFPgczkd8IH1L2iG7HVqyks0R1WZRk2A/s1722/IMG_1081.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="1722" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBMYZfZJOc37QoxD7qwzglpZ11ixN7eGcOioNLALSJU8EsmmUvx18owBy4aI9i3SxKZdH8S7B7lQTwOmr_P5YDA7clRbS6wwlDowXZ2ZqWwzig-cPQrhVURIktlBjW_E5U9x16Gb9hKkN9PZr7Bby6EP3nwXcjFPgczkd8IH1L2iG7HVqyks0R1WZRk2A/w640-h360/IMG_1081.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos from the Jordanian Armour museum</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /><b>Division Artillery HQ</b></div><div>2nd SP Artillery Battalion 10? M110 howitzer <br />7th SP Artillery Battalion 10 M52 105mm self propelled howitzer <br />23rd SP Artillery Battalion 8 M52 105mm self propelled howitzer <br />18 × M-42 Duster 40mm SP AA </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtnYnViSRKKw-tmvumvnXAiIAQMl8YBt-dXAdmKlHBFWTOPM5WR_FPlpSrSZJZIp3AvPMCZrYM8Jw30cnirrYq7iDZxxSVJP4ZFfl6Pduif0BY2bn2qhtuaroGe7Ysx6mZsURxyqwGC4qsjk4k31eNcojRczXuzR0Ce998KihhFF-6nJzl9jfhaJ6BTM7/s2160/IMG_1079.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1341" data-original-width="2160" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtnYnViSRKKw-tmvumvnXAiIAQMl8YBt-dXAdmKlHBFWTOPM5WR_FPlpSrSZJZIp3AvPMCZrYM8Jw30cnirrYq7iDZxxSVJP4ZFfl6Pduif0BY2bn2qhtuaroGe7Ysx6mZsURxyqwGC4qsjk4k31eNcojRczXuzR0Ce998KihhFF-6nJzl9jfhaJ6BTM7/w640-h398/IMG_1079.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jordanian M42 duster, photo from the Jordanian Tank Museum </td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">References </h4>Historical encyclopedia of the Jordanian armed forces <br /><a href="https://www.jaf.mil.jo/Assets/File/hestoryPdfEn.pdf">https://www.jaf.mil.jo/Assets/File/hestoryPdfEn.pdf</a><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><br />Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com019 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-31036818147556864442023-11-21T12:31:00.002+01:002023-11-22T10:16:57.745+01:00Volvo c303 Tbg11 - Gecko Kit Review <h2 style="text-align: center;"> Volvo c303 Tbg11 - Gecko Kit Review </h2><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2595" data-original-width="3845" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnZvwHbHhcaIIYVon8D96AnrFF2llVPX9FyIPQWkWhMusbNiTPALLY8EDlFPt4dqg6kKtbNS1FAR-NdBufAk_bYY012ogki2IXuI_XGtSrQYVMr4a4LQx664XiHpWd3UJIJFavQyfXnAJHcbtjNCNJaE9DHchsRzLw6sKKWdZr4O0YYllVzIu5q9JBKIE/w640-h432/IMG_0293.jpeg" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); color: #0000ee; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: underline;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gecko Heavy Industries Volvo C303 TGB11<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div>I purchased this beast earlier in the year when I started formulating a plan to conduct a Cold War wargaming event at French Wargame Holidays, this lead to our “<a href="https://www.lhoteldeherce.fr/team-1" target="_blank">Whisky on the Rocks</a>” event being organized for May 3-7th 2024. </div><div><br /></div><div>This also means I need to build some Swedish Army vehicles for my Cold War Collection. Soft skins are a bit of a challenge, particularly the Volvo series of vehicles. So whilst perusing the web I stumbled upon the Gecko offering and duly purchased it along with a few other Swedish specific pieces. </div><div><br /></div><div>On first glance the kit is well cast in soft grey resin with two parts in clear resin. Removal from the sprue was done with ease for the grey parts however the clear was a tough job and I had to use my saw blade to remove the sprue from the main body. </div><div><br /></div><div>Assembly required hot water to straighten some pieces, the frame and suspension required quite a bit of work to straighten before I glued the frame. The clear resin is very disappointing and I cannot in anyway say that it is satisfactory, I think I shall paint the entire vehicle then add glass effect rather than mask it up and hope that it is translucent. </div><div><br /></div><div>Positives the kit looks like the vehicle but lacks fine detail for such a pricey kit €22 from Panzerfux. The instructions are basic with no images, but simple enough to work out. The solid resin body was problematic fitting and cutting, taking more than an hour of clean up. I do note that this was Gecko Industries earliest model and the later kits have separate clear parts. </div><div><br /></div><div>Overall a 7 out of ten kit. I plan to get some paint on it next week. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR00nqw8dRDAx-pbgSXL_nQnd5L_I_Iz_WPtZQ3k3PAjCzlFACO9GvhqO3Z1XuigmaV7kYm-075YboX9Kinf8XGZsl-tk2ZzNBa6l77WxI4Lf5dSAcd-wSdGkg-xhJncbZIjVtNSl9aY4u7WzJV5pCjpgJ2t4mG1fEmVXeRbNCCY13d68m3jd-CLFAKaXk/s1440/C59440FB-208A-4251-AB36-C338BA83B3A7.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1440" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR00nqw8dRDAx-pbgSXL_nQnd5L_I_Iz_WPtZQ3k3PAjCzlFACO9GvhqO3Z1XuigmaV7kYm-075YboX9Kinf8XGZsl-tk2ZzNBa6l77WxI4Lf5dSAcd-wSdGkg-xhJncbZIjVtNSl9aY4u7WzJV5pCjpgJ2t4mG1fEmVXeRbNCCY13d68m3jd-CLFAKaXk/w640-h432/C59440FB-208A-4251-AB36-C338BA83B3A7.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kit removed from sprue, note the alignment on the chassis </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUaJShiT5pJjmDl-Dbbn09mZo6doeSDmFMNJDtRlevsYy4AomUkGaNJnkGQJpmwI4Uh0parmPzFs1w38v7ZQNwmHvEuNfS1jILOWYlHryZjbTLrnkARJRh12nDw3WgIb3bv1dPUpEJAmLQXq00rH-VciyjaMtOSQiUHp_bEgthxgbLLhuSCMxB32Fssso/s1440/945D69C5-F12A-4E70-BEFB-FF383C47E9C6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="1440" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUaJShiT5pJjmDl-Dbbn09mZo6doeSDmFMNJDtRlevsYy4AomUkGaNJnkGQJpmwI4Uh0parmPzFs1w38v7ZQNwmHvEuNfS1jILOWYlHryZjbTLrnkARJRh12nDw3WgIb3bv1dPUpEJAmLQXq00rH-VciyjaMtOSQiUHp_bEgthxgbLLhuSCMxB32Fssso/w640-h432/945D69C5-F12A-4E70-BEFB-FF383C47E9C6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHxCtjhQNEWZzsYyAYyi336phXTalC3BOr6xCdd1f1vPGzLczlp2X6ghWgJamPd4D_Q_K1ywDyxla2noKFtv8RpNCBMRlnpfyZe9y1dK0gfURD94MquJ7WfLKEPCjigses26aZYTz_8qILyqOkMMQ7ovrvp8z7G2-WJtna6t9ysrLjz8P_wjikilK6aWT/s1440/A053FA41-A73A-4CBF-BA2C-3C278675AD79.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1440" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHxCtjhQNEWZzsYyAYyi336phXTalC3BOr6xCdd1f1vPGzLczlp2X6ghWgJamPd4D_Q_K1ywDyxla2noKFtv8RpNCBMRlnpfyZe9y1dK0gfURD94MquJ7WfLKEPCjigses26aZYTz_8qILyqOkMMQ7ovrvp8z7G2-WJtna6t9ysrLjz8P_wjikilK6aWT/w400-h270/A053FA41-A73A-4CBF-BA2C-3C278675AD79.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the huge sprue knob on the clear cast resin </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEjIUz7Pvg-b8zeE9_QsLxLSyezsnLdjRjeyWgeFT5jRYatK4whSdky5rQ8KdTViaca85X-LPzm4duRrLT7bM5baQ-qsCJVevgr2AgSsZki-I9DHP_bKOfUZV_hlN2AkBzlAjCV2qdqE0CewZees6YqARFnQsoQ9PBFFhrEOOSxWas7SQ7Gy54c1Pt-h6/s4032/IMG_0294.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEjIUz7Pvg-b8zeE9_QsLxLSyezsnLdjRjeyWgeFT5jRYatK4whSdky5rQ8KdTViaca85X-LPzm4duRrLT7bM5baQ-qsCJVevgr2AgSsZki-I9DHP_bKOfUZV_hlN2AkBzlAjCV2qdqE0CewZees6YqARFnQsoQ9PBFFhrEOOSxWas7SQ7Gy54c1Pt-h6/w400-h300/IMG_0294.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piece removed, then wet and dry to smooth to level, a good hour of work </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Cheers</div><div>Matt </div><div><br /></div>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com019 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-76357393067965715372023-11-15T10:15:00.006+01:002023-11-22T10:36:04.372+01:00Praga 53/59/70 30mm Anti Aircraft gun - NB models kit review <h1 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h1><div><h2 style="text-align: center;">Praga 53/59/70 30mm AA Lizard</h2><h4>History Praga 53/59</h4><br />The Praga M53/59 was developed post ww2 and entered service in 1959, mounted on a armoured cabin, the cabin armour was quite thin 10mm on the front and 6mm on the sides making it small arms fire proof only. The vehicle was the Czech V3S 6 wheel drive truck chassis. The chassis, engine and electronic components were upgraded and improved in 1970, these vehicles became the M53/70. Further electronic additions were added in the eighties so electronic air tracking was available via connection to a battery command vehicle using the M85 Zirafa radar allowing it to remain in service for some time in the Czechoslovakian army until 2003. A large number of both models were exported during the Cold War and quite a number still remain in a number of armies today. <br /><br />The 30mm cannon was originally designed by Bruno for the kreigsmarine during ww2 as a submarine anti aircraft design. The Czechoslovak designation was the 30mm PLDvk viz.53. The top mounted magazines for the gun held 50 rounds, however weighed a hefty 85 kilos when fully loaded. The guns had a practicable rate of fire of 150-200 rounds per minute, AA effective range was 3500m and on ground targets 2000m. The gunner had optical sights only and manual trigger and hydraulic assisted traverse and elevation, until the 1980s when the upgraded system appeared for targeting. The twin guns could also be dis-mounted from the chassis into a fixed ground position. The vehicle had a crew of five, Commander, driver, two loaders and a gunner, and normally operated in a division of 6 vehicles, plus a command vehicle for the battery of two divisions. <br /><br />The Praga had the nickname the lizard due to its code name during its development and was widely used in the ground role during the Yom Kippur war and the Yugoslavian wars, where Praga became the nickname for all anti aircraft SP cannons. <br /><br /><div><h4>Review NB models Praga 53/59</h4>A superb offering of the Praga 53/59 30mm SP AA gun by NB models. This is the 1/72 version, there is also a 1/35th scale available too. </div><div><br /></div><div>A very crisp 3d print with very little clean up, a bit of light filing and sanding where the supports were, predominately on the underside of the pieces and on the back of the Gun. A little sanding and it was ready to assemble. Assembly was simple and straight forward and every thing nicely together with no problems, I used super glue gel for assembly giving me time to square up wheels and the gun assembly.</div><div><br /></div><div>My only critiques are, I would of liked the tyre treads on the wheels to be more detailed, a posable gun for the deployed AA role with removable and spare ammunition drums plus the racks and finally the crew compartment to be open so I could add crew, a gunner and loaders. </div><div><br /></div><div>I will mount this on a base to prevent it being knocked about whilst it is on the game table as I can see the mirrors and rear steps becoming detached quickly. I also left off the clear canopy for painting as it can easily be placed after painting. One will join my Egyptians the other my Iraqis, and I will possibly get them painted before Christmas! </div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHhvle8EhUndf30Ao0iGPcRchknU3vvbeF9Dz7zhI3yX3euAENmlokP2kDNR1RoV7tQHb_L9lXZa02C6LCwAg8R7ewuJjHMoo9DS1JKNu8sbAC33y9pCmh_ZtqgEYX3JRe7__VCj0-svtf8JpPLi-xRsCXs5-V2SMTchEFNoZ7x7Ikfq5O-coxQBX32Wu/s3810/IMG_0279.jpeg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHhvle8EhUndf30Ao0iGPcRchknU3vvbeF9Dz7zhI3yX3euAENmlokP2kDNR1RoV7tQHb_L9lXZa02C6LCwAg8R7ewuJjHMoo9DS1JKNu8sbAC33y9pCmh_ZtqgEYX3JRe7__VCj0-svtf8JpPLi-xRsCXs5-V2SMTchEFNoZ7x7Ikfq5O-coxQBX32Wu/w640-h350/IMG_0279.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Praga 53/59 NB models kit fully laid out, a very crisp kit</div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNtr_qA7VH7yg0gwv6TRnX3_wWbE419IZGp_y1C4-y2853Oza66AKfjOdtUFPxnmq-GqQ0f5Va_houpWkul8VGkezVJWUIi4tilPha-WgBcNUneP6B6qrofUH2OxjjYqrN_0vqkq4SGa884_AaMm4HVrySosN4Mq1-lfMh07QKqTA-pc6ulRv5Ad9_2_-/s4027/IMG_0280.jpeg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNtr_qA7VH7yg0gwv6TRnX3_wWbE419IZGp_y1C4-y2853Oza66AKfjOdtUFPxnmq-GqQ0f5Va_houpWkul8VGkezVJWUIi4tilPha-WgBcNUneP6B6qrofUH2OxjjYqrN_0vqkq4SGa884_AaMm4HVrySosN4Mq1-lfMh07QKqTA-pc6ulRv5Ad9_2_-/w640-h298/IMG_0280.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cabin detail is excellent, a few delicate parts…. A few bits to clean up but overall great</div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kHKs1oyHyV6YoJ3rQOuSQY5CWzYRZFgtpwtASiFLprYXY1tTqNXYaQ00A3uNTdKVgOpg26wO7Gar7XLelfaipOrIKdvQbkzQOjzX6j4fil6mNsw9g85rCjOBBFGU3VrkrYwJNpjwRGcJ30h1u8eqoysw0VV1l1gc93vt5RUfWTzwuYEU7thCT74x1yWw/s4027/IMG_0281.jpeg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kHKs1oyHyV6YoJ3rQOuSQY5CWzYRZFgtpwtASiFLprYXY1tTqNXYaQ00A3uNTdKVgOpg26wO7Gar7XLelfaipOrIKdvQbkzQOjzX6j4fil6mNsw9g85rCjOBBFGU3VrkrYwJNpjwRGcJ30h1u8eqoysw0VV1l1gc93vt5RUfWTzwuYEU7thCT74x1yWw/w640-h296/IMG_0281.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The NB models Praga 53/59 Guns and cabin front, the light mounts and mirrors are superb</div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjEMbYmNjYTBpKYYLO6bYtR-888kcFOv3X0vIO7uoTXIDCffwhAcr1QEZH6VoGvYbYk9vy1nkboRKcTY1ogmYWtGUN8Fvtt-zHe3FCwnuBOHd0siP1HXKfU-uQBDYPe0J_UXnSVW11wcbtoy2wMYkYJmvxB6-HakprJhLhfhGEKFHDEixjsclahFrI9gg/s4028/IMG_0283.jpeg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjEMbYmNjYTBpKYYLO6bYtR-888kcFOv3X0vIO7uoTXIDCffwhAcr1QEZH6VoGvYbYk9vy1nkboRKcTY1ogmYWtGUN8Fvtt-zHe3FCwnuBOHd0siP1HXKfU-uQBDYPe0J_UXnSVW11wcbtoy2wMYkYJmvxB6-HakprJhLhfhGEKFHDEixjsclahFrI9gg/w640-h334/IMG_0283.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">NB models Praga cabin side, the tools are superb, as are the lights, handles and mirror</div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyhLCLcz2iIw8Ydhd9NnHuy26kdM-AZxt3Z7a5KX6867Ypxe47-iBNEIepqMfHyIvIVYpI40yK4jSzPEXfO_mJ-7ECQu1_ixfJcEqckVsajYkeauy_4lWkAGAN5n-C7z1o53u9TimAWnmjI9lqPl9C4bqhYBxCL6cpPH8tfK2bQmWjK10xTiG-ovWtvhc/s3756/IMG_0284.jpeg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyhLCLcz2iIw8Ydhd9NnHuy26kdM-AZxt3Z7a5KX6867Ypxe47-iBNEIepqMfHyIvIVYpI40yK4jSzPEXfO_mJ-7ECQu1_ixfJcEqckVsajYkeauy_4lWkAGAN5n-C7z1o53u9TimAWnmjI9lqPl9C4bqhYBxCL6cpPH8tfK2bQmWjK10xTiG-ovWtvhc/w640-h462/IMG_0284.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Armoured glass cupola and gun sight…. </div><br /><div>Cheers<br /><br />Matt <br />References <br />AK interactive- vol III Arab revolutions and border wars. <br />You tube training clip of the <a href="https://youtu.be/wmBxpoIKvEE?si=3bIclHoP5YWqbTcR">Praga 53/59</a> <br /><a href="https://youtu.be/n-f6Bhnrewk?si=Mxr7cPtShYgd75bi">Praga 53/59 walk around <br /></a><a href="https://oklop2.tripod.com/praga/m53.htm">Yugoslavian wars use </a></div></div></div>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com019 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-62735454474737824502023-11-07T11:12:00.002+01:002023-11-22T22:31:28.314+01:00Terrain Tuesday - Desert terrain part two<h1 style="text-align: center;"> Desert terrain </h1><div>Last week as the Yom Kippur War bug continues to bite I completed some desert shrub foliage cover pieces that could be used for both 20mm and 28mm. Simple mdf base with coir hair mat and, home made tufts and some noch shrub. Quite effective and happy with the result, 30 odd more to come once I make some new tufts in the coming week or so. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirO_hx1kVQL-GoSorUq23yj485v3ZIjwwKvn08Hhub006c5vzFXS_VcIS4Ga5I-W5OozijToSpBVrENqM3YtVuehg2b_DySCVvV_ZBrWm6ft8VhqpNkoCWbu3arGeTkvTSaLWGmDf9LlzHC1gZJkvfOi_3zVMwE4wQQHSLQgS9mtRATKSk8QX5ScXSChcN/s2741/IMG_1042.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="2741" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirO_hx1kVQL-GoSorUq23yj485v3ZIjwwKvn08Hhub006c5vzFXS_VcIS4Ga5I-W5OozijToSpBVrENqM3YtVuehg2b_DySCVvV_ZBrWm6ft8VhqpNkoCWbu3arGeTkvTSaLWGmDf9LlzHC1gZJkvfOi_3zVMwE4wQQHSLQgS9mtRATKSk8QX5ScXSChcN/w640-h234/IMG_1042.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desert tufts </td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers</div><div>Matt</div>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com019 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-68932236316356612712023-11-01T11:30:00.175+01:002023-11-01T11:30:00.141+01:00Ville Mayenne bombing 1944 Part 1<h1 style="text-align: center;"> Ville Mayenne 1944</h1><div>As I commence my Ville Mayenne build I wanted to look at the buildings that were destroyed by allied bombing during the preparation and during the landings so I could add them to my build. The archives here have a number of useful photos I thought I would add. Also some before and after shots of the area I want to build. This post is more of an overview, the follow post will more in detail to the Ville. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlQUSAESLGvDQryGYt8wkbQSql30-RTICr-Maj_Jx7UTktpNR7MWIDToqeJ0d1w9U-UGWe7dP7luFCoDi1Ls3xmqHxsuxYX93mmfp__GflRmlYUs30nVZdgHot3VXFh7psXbUnKjZR6lk0Du-vb6zp_JJSqQuroZ6vZXUHNceUcvXB3oyvfSfAbdgRMnI/s2039/IMG_2745.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2039" data-original-width="1690" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlQUSAESLGvDQryGYt8wkbQSql30-RTICr-Maj_Jx7UTktpNR7MWIDToqeJ0d1w9U-UGWe7dP7luFCoDi1Ls3xmqHxsuxYX93mmfp__GflRmlYUs30nVZdgHot3VXFh7psXbUnKjZR6lk0Du-vb6zp_JJSqQuroZ6vZXUHNceUcvXB3oyvfSfAbdgRMnI/w530-h640/IMG_2745.jpeg" width="530" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ville Mayenne, at the top is the German barracks and the route to Oisseau and the radar station </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYUpmR8dLPAIvBfQ0j2M34gx1f7tBkgoutZ_vWlHGdMajmwwHgbEVfYecRi4WFBcFS5uEGGrC7l5-RBvJQhqH1NH4oq67dDypIEhX0YQOVPaLUMdmPCnrUPDMVG57EmqD6f9-m5B2ejhGi9r8tZNwhYJ1yu6gsvHR4I4GPQkCCbQVF_2tcZUee0ip0X5n/s771/IMG_2745.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="437" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYUpmR8dLPAIvBfQ0j2M34gx1f7tBkgoutZ_vWlHGdMajmwwHgbEVfYecRi4WFBcFS5uEGGrC7l5-RBvJQhqH1NH4oq67dDypIEhX0YQOVPaLUMdmPCnrUPDMVG57EmqD6f9-m5B2ejhGi9r8tZNwhYJ1yu6gsvHR4I4GPQkCCbQVF_2tcZUee0ip0X5n/w362-h640/IMG_2745.jpeg" width="362" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close up of the two road bridges, on the left is the Basilica bridge, on the right is the bridge in front of The Grand Hotel now known as the McCracken bridge.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYUriBHG2TZX8YW4sDUFcdfWSN7TrKchZGoZjg36jG73VqvnObPXPwj9iljz6x1Ajnf2rTqihHZskJyM_mx6fje_as6WtjVHdKrzxwv0yOrgFFqg2H-mJ9JcOzwmDs4lG-fLZ6OTCo0jsl7CddAeL_e7KNrw83c4PQIp2stbsmlm4GQjHr7fu28SLEW7K/s1794/IMG_2744.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1794" data-original-width="1705" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYUriBHG2TZX8YW4sDUFcdfWSN7TrKchZGoZjg36jG73VqvnObPXPwj9iljz6x1Ajnf2rTqihHZskJyM_mx6fje_as6WtjVHdKrzxwv0yOrgFFqg2H-mJ9JcOzwmDs4lG-fLZ6OTCo0jsl7CddAeL_e7KNrw83c4PQIp2stbsmlm4GQjHr7fu28SLEW7K/w608-h640/IMG_2744.jpeg" width="608" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bombing in June 1944 on the south east bank of the river,the absolutely hammered section is the railway station and stock yards </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzHJyUIxqqC7QrGAem8oJqr8wNqD2NKj6LzFDeN1NRWr96jpYLX_J1DnZk6dglBKKkfowOaRPyKDCsGrFIAYD64IIBTDFEKAZu5ZInrCBdVSRx0sIKLNnPnrLGK1yfCpdDgLMA1MR2BSN-atm6re58MZETrjsXCQwQM2NvBNvki6IWKdxSykRHibGzvhq/s1200/FC42FBF7-FF63-4273-91D6-41F502BE9D0B-4285-00000475D82183C6.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzHJyUIxqqC7QrGAem8oJqr8wNqD2NKj6LzFDeN1NRWr96jpYLX_J1DnZk6dglBKKkfowOaRPyKDCsGrFIAYD64IIBTDFEKAZu5ZInrCBdVSRx0sIKLNnPnrLGK1yfCpdDgLMA1MR2BSN-atm6re58MZETrjsXCQwQM2NvBNvki6IWKdxSykRHibGzvhq/w640-h426/FC42FBF7-FF63-4273-91D6-41F502BE9D0B-4285-00000475D82183C6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking from McCracken bridge towards the renaissance bridge in the foreground and the railway viaduct in the background. Both were demolished by the Germans after the breakout occurred at Avaranches on the 2nd of August.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRXOt6F-qgbKRCzduvopljjrc8sgZ4ZUJgoynzhoIDeYH5Zz0T28ZbVOHHZbRhl1FrxIADddBM1BZymI3JpPGvRxZPEhVQfCXXfd8C7415zmUHq8Ft6CqqLQRpDxcdwnEX4x5TqrdmckbmyQmerh7zyot2EcRWe0OeIZXYtvG7XPQ9POGfGYtZC6Y979w/s4032/IMG_0345.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRXOt6F-qgbKRCzduvopljjrc8sgZ4ZUJgoynzhoIDeYH5Zz0T28ZbVOHHZbRhl1FrxIADddBM1BZymI3JpPGvRxZPEhVQfCXXfd8C7415zmUHq8Ft6CqqLQRpDxcdwnEX4x5TqrdmckbmyQmerh7zyot2EcRWe0OeIZXYtvG7XPQ9POGfGYtZC6Y979w/w480-h640/IMG_0345.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo really shows the depth of the embankment looking at the basilica of Norte Dame in the background, just to the left was the renaissance bridge and too the right about 100m is the McCracken bridge. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ekdUF2fPs2lD5wgxOPdDt7aFRcGQ_sF3HSo-RNYFWQjo6NcTZ0PdsuOASwf8X_YHaKqbgSA-GuCH7SXTrDBqo559K5oKIZvzRr9n9DVE7Zi0fmS-GbQ18zwtb9Hnkx0ZdKA64LMPImXWqdUyY1CclvBB94jxPn6gmtmmSOdY5aiRGOgzomOEtIXNhNcq/s3311/IMG_0349.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2162" data-original-width="3311" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ekdUF2fPs2lD5wgxOPdDt7aFRcGQ_sF3HSo-RNYFWQjo6NcTZ0PdsuOASwf8X_YHaKqbgSA-GuCH7SXTrDBqo559K5oKIZvzRr9n9DVE7Zi0fmS-GbQ18zwtb9Hnkx0ZdKA64LMPImXWqdUyY1CclvBB94jxPn6gmtmmSOdY5aiRGOgzomOEtIXNhNcq/w640-h418/IMG_0349.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facing southeast the bridge to the right is the McCracken bridge, in the foreground are the lavoir and former water Mill, in the background is the edge of the Military hospital. The bridge had 6 500lb bombs strapped under the arches by the Germans in preparation to destruction. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx34N_R_ui9KAQqCCr-nb8ogBnCR-CM24WJ7s8VEqGP9L5NS-xPXMgy4y0ZnFcitMBD1j418nB9zNqgA9DtRTZM_-2TPAVZTFLH-i_Z2drGMBPv4SuJZEeOynn8u-Ragy-BoxnvJbDF_M2-hghZC3QIHMGw8kTvINkSeiyotnBXnHscblpf_6nqzp_p3Eq/s3406/IMG_0350.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2188" data-original-width="3406" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx34N_R_ui9KAQqCCr-nb8ogBnCR-CM24WJ7s8VEqGP9L5NS-xPXMgy4y0ZnFcitMBD1j418nB9zNqgA9DtRTZM_-2TPAVZTFLH-i_Z2drGMBPv4SuJZEeOynn8u-Ragy-BoxnvJbDF_M2-hghZC3QIHMGw8kTvINkSeiyotnBXnHscblpf_6nqzp_p3Eq/w640-h412/IMG_0350.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hospice, further upstream from the McCracken bridge, the former Moulin was full of refugees at the time of the bombing of the city by American aircraft in June. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGP1RFullKLKAol8a4TH5KSt7i8hsIkC8AlJsPdWtg0oC0MnbKboN71Tj5HZztRtrZGbwaP-X2JumDqGRFov2wVNYNVULcI3fPFL6OuPJpQQ7o-6l7nAjDbngGi2PjX--8bXIfI-4rDL8pGGTvqUhbM2fBHtCWZh22_sAjINrbnXFZKH5RawXcpqk0nRud/s3589/IMG_0351.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2177" data-original-width="3589" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGP1RFullKLKAol8a4TH5KSt7i8hsIkC8AlJsPdWtg0oC0MnbKboN71Tj5HZztRtrZGbwaP-X2JumDqGRFov2wVNYNVULcI3fPFL6OuPJpQQ7o-6l7nAjDbngGi2PjX--8bXIfI-4rDL8pGGTvqUhbM2fBHtCWZh22_sAjINrbnXFZKH5RawXcpqk0nRud/w640-h388/IMG_0351.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Railway Viaduct, designed by Gustavo Eiffel, destroyed by the Germans in August 44, below this you can see the weir. Opposite are the gate keepers house and a Floch Maison behind had a German garrison, which was captured on the 5th of August by members of the 90th inf division. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5EGA3KoodNDP20P1UxAEX5OqSkeQUj2LggkYTM-QFupUCNTilOATVciUsXHntdX8AlOoE7r1zjPP0-boMgHcSYylsCGoPyAihn-ccbbjbPGlRF6d8235gV5hFNKdd1dSIDPMgl2VTqTdEInePAnx35qajnVjUkexbqxFur88uNDzfQBT0APOfzuh0M7U/s3597/IMG_0352.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2614" data-original-width="3597" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5EGA3KoodNDP20P1UxAEX5OqSkeQUj2LggkYTM-QFupUCNTilOATVciUsXHntdX8AlOoE7r1zjPP0-boMgHcSYylsCGoPyAihn-ccbbjbPGlRF6d8235gV5hFNKdd1dSIDPMgl2VTqTdEInePAnx35qajnVjUkexbqxFur88uNDzfQBT0APOfzuh0M7U/w640-h466/IMG_0352.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Basilica of Notre Dame des Miracles, many of the medieval buildings were damaged or destroyed by the bombing in June, to the left is the chateau, the forked road to the left goes up to the marketplace </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_f-sXBrwPoAHDqCzp_FECvtuC7npESmv64szzd-qx_HyC4blnyR-ud--kscWGxyzHneogsTUuCfPM3hllhz57qxJ20t_cb_tYlHKDaAuVwJhYebZglQ9q8qUZ6vpOS8Ow1dhp5sw3HzrrcS35LWNQ37jqltXn-4Onq86y974vVc9kqWRvKuDcFz3t9Vd/s3599/IMG_0353.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2449" data-original-width="3599" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_f-sXBrwPoAHDqCzp_FECvtuC7npESmv64szzd-qx_HyC4blnyR-ud--kscWGxyzHneogsTUuCfPM3hllhz57qxJ20t_cb_tYlHKDaAuVwJhYebZglQ9q8qUZ6vpOS8Ow1dhp5sw3HzrrcS35LWNQ37jqltXn-4Onq86y974vVc9kqWRvKuDcFz3t9Vd/w640-h436/IMG_0353.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Carolingian Chateau of Mayenne, it was being used as a transit prison for German forced labour, to the right is the Basilica </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7KXQoNScl5r3SJu5i438HdTbR4zLDPa9mhXSovRnZ-3XHBbZHW2EjWgINVR0vedTlHzBBsmrDdmxlHJDtSPeVQ5mYtX21qR1xF4A0wHCo0sNPyxOFGodLDYGHStYzU_Zx1Fx1p0OnaMeymGx7YiIkvM0CcsP-u1OSA3ueE_8GwSNSAoFKcBzs-gYOEPn/s3381/IMG_0354.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2652" data-original-width="3381" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7KXQoNScl5r3SJu5i438HdTbR4zLDPa9mhXSovRnZ-3XHBbZHW2EjWgINVR0vedTlHzBBsmrDdmxlHJDtSPeVQ5mYtX21qR1xF4A0wHCo0sNPyxOFGodLDYGHStYzU_Zx1Fx1p0OnaMeymGx7YiIkvM0CcsP-u1OSA3ueE_8GwSNSAoFKcBzs-gYOEPn/w640-h502/IMG_0354.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A photo from the 60’s, however a good view of the south east bank staging area for the linen barges </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Photos of the damaged Basilica from the June 44 bombing<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZC7otmSmd_8VJicyBfuL38k-sKi60K37q3tPH33OwvwFW3qpsFicCPD7kBfS_zJQnrViyNxzvbo6vp5MI8z-hiPIwZJGEVN_Ad9cAOpeKOV5Uw8GLjhQuDO4HxzvRPC0Mu_1VCA7mT1ZSV_7iPKXdtAiEGw8wkVh7wL6TvRgOVn2ieK5kbxnaKzNxwxsX/s960/IMG_2550.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZC7otmSmd_8VJicyBfuL38k-sKi60K37q3tPH33OwvwFW3qpsFicCPD7kBfS_zJQnrViyNxzvbo6vp5MI8z-hiPIwZJGEVN_Ad9cAOpeKOV5Uw8GLjhQuDO4HxzvRPC0Mu_1VCA7mT1ZSV_7iPKXdtAiEGw8wkVh7wL6TvRgOVn2ieK5kbxnaKzNxwxsX/w480-h640/IMG_2550.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YRq89XyI_pd8Mwf0FLXsg3kL3FLLVfhfGv73NNOuyuhwNTWiRSz50d3GuyS7KhzHBA-SJYef_uC4h4FamgRGpM4RyoNza0VIPEcmUGPHHNehJlGcJDviKBuS4Lf7vYghN8RI34OHG-7S23U2p-9uCpn1G1z6h4sgXOaEgv0ez2qUTjz-n6a9SFDcLfrQ/s960/IMG_2551.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YRq89XyI_pd8Mwf0FLXsg3kL3FLLVfhfGv73NNOuyuhwNTWiRSz50d3GuyS7KhzHBA-SJYef_uC4h4FamgRGpM4RyoNza0VIPEcmUGPHHNehJlGcJDviKBuS4Lf7vYghN8RI34OHG-7S23U2p-9uCpn1G1z6h4sgXOaEgv0ez2qUTjz-n6a9SFDcLfrQ/w480-h640/IMG_2551.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjyEjS9ponVxh3elfqChpXxAQJLbH2fUJt_G1SnmuvWtmF6CQhN2t1iKZzJA0X4ALiw7ggav6xZa5UnLG6enscyjZmI5FIuoXZ98Vvh9OUbko6jZo_-uQ4-2TUVnb5UEtJS59CmtJqNi3d4C_mdAnVxO3LGmenqruzR7bNXXOl_UDgbfgvjZBqKANkJZf/s712/IMG_2552.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="712" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjyEjS9ponVxh3elfqChpXxAQJLbH2fUJt_G1SnmuvWtmF6CQhN2t1iKZzJA0X4ALiw7ggav6xZa5UnLG6enscyjZmI5FIuoXZ98Vvh9OUbko6jZo_-uQ4-2TUVnb5UEtJS59CmtJqNi3d4C_mdAnVxO3LGmenqruzR7bNXXOl_UDgbfgvjZBqKANkJZf/w640-h586/IMG_2552.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDyUZA9xGVxVD0z3c05XSAdSJltuJFVvGLYH4PZMk0mXHd1mbms2IDWUMyp_2lo4jRLbCkzyJ8GsWgmRebcxKQQCjW4iROTfXHth2_Mo7IZGb0sqatrE2ir3TursgK4rypK86KasaD2s85onGfVv7w7uUmRx2rha6cE-F4xlWCsdDPYhY-zVY99CCrllj/s960/IMG_2741.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="960" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDyUZA9xGVxVD0z3c05XSAdSJltuJFVvGLYH4PZMk0mXHd1mbms2IDWUMyp_2lo4jRLbCkzyJ8GsWgmRebcxKQQCjW4iROTfXHth2_Mo7IZGb0sqatrE2ir3TursgK4rypK86KasaD2s85onGfVv7w7uUmRx2rha6cE-F4xlWCsdDPYhY-zVY99CCrllj/w640-h394/IMG_2741.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The damaged church at the hospital, the hospital and hospice had more than 300 casualties from the bombing in June 44</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVzKxto7ZQHxyyU4Pn108EPu3R_unL55FLU0Ty6U3-Vb-inrW-zpgfIoljoSVs_fObq6jW3IMcTBRa29yqKnJ_oqkkDDvl8t5jWjFOHb-aCPVzO5aNCAb8nAjuG_Lw4t99WkzrXIIm8Zx20r0RvUBY0cf80HQLPPlKnDQMQHIekbDeqq0QGkAhlbeT23p/s1072/IMG_2742.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="1072" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVzKxto7ZQHxyyU4Pn108EPu3R_unL55FLU0Ty6U3-Vb-inrW-zpgfIoljoSVs_fObq6jW3IMcTBRa29yqKnJ_oqkkDDvl8t5jWjFOHb-aCPVzO5aNCAb8nAjuG_Lw4t99WkzrXIIm8Zx20r0RvUBY0cf80HQLPPlKnDQMQHIekbDeqq0QGkAhlbeT23p/w640-h616/IMG_2742.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The damaged railway Viaduct, looking back towards the city side of the river </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdiQiV5YBu2M0L6AQ39_9pV7VlAA8PTza-HfQyWxsPisnhKvo7UlnxPyfaR6SFMotHTywy9rq3OpqJgvyx-n0WLcFiZU_vyos4beWSC1SCzVavAFsnQYI_9FDieOxuA6fJ739p38gQpycxEhybp5NRZ1DN6ebYkSPYURYTDysjQSwmjO0cMLTxXKPzeXA/s1000/IMG_2753.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdiQiV5YBu2M0L6AQ39_9pV7VlAA8PTza-HfQyWxsPisnhKvo7UlnxPyfaR6SFMotHTywy9rq3OpqJgvyx-n0WLcFiZU_vyos4beWSC1SCzVavAFsnQYI_9FDieOxuA6fJ739p38gQpycxEhybp5NRZ1DN6ebYkSPYURYTDysjQSwmjO0cMLTxXKPzeXA/w640-h426/IMG_2753.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flattened railway switch yards </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDl3ogBqxn9sMBqGjUmvbLm42O3xZswxILp_lQWCjqVjXxrZ054NFkBxzRKWhfqYSi5pJMMmFHwKt29jA2jfTMdjTkQu4iOEwTqUcumQDK4VSuEFIVo960cafkpo8yCa2PTW7RyMPi_Ce8eEj5JuQ6lIwMTC7fVIen-Bfhc8E2a9Vzdnb2Sxv51zdob05o/s2048/IMG_2755.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDl3ogBqxn9sMBqGjUmvbLm42O3xZswxILp_lQWCjqVjXxrZ054NFkBxzRKWhfqYSi5pJMMmFHwKt29jA2jfTMdjTkQu4iOEwTqUcumQDK4VSuEFIVo960cafkpo8yCa2PTW7RyMPi_Ce8eEj5JuQ6lIwMTC7fVIen-Bfhc8E2a9Vzdnb2Sxv51zdob05o/w640-h480/IMG_2755.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The route to Aaron, much of the fighting between the 5th and 13th of August occurred in the southeastern part of the city </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhos2mlKFAMkdfZOGoXKCDKwf9NIUsqKf3vydO1cqamzXr7GxzJtVjHFzi_Rpn2vyLmBif0hGvGldw5LGWzzbVdM2etdQ2k2_D1SbQ2ByHUgnm2dPic409ecaoTSv3cQlikul7MboPTE95TeRczMDv5HUMTQlJ4q6_X7a2wAKeTxvE8js6eFLDYUt0Re7xs/s2048/IMG_2791.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="2048" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhos2mlKFAMkdfZOGoXKCDKwf9NIUsqKf3vydO1cqamzXr7GxzJtVjHFzi_Rpn2vyLmBif0hGvGldw5LGWzzbVdM2etdQ2k2_D1SbQ2ByHUgnm2dPic409ecaoTSv3cQlikul7MboPTE95TeRczMDv5HUMTQlJ4q6_X7a2wAKeTxvE8js6eFLDYUt0Re7xs/w640-h432/IMG_2791.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another view of the switch yards, the line to the right went over the viaduct </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9btrjc9f9t5cJcqdBH6KeSSG6eKXkjpY9PMPYHRdWxXm-zlqefgZ5T-N6CVEsfAwg5C1yzkbYq8Veh5AYnhkmH01axQx1BB9Mm2Jee3HuUq5Ecbj45VjqumSzWME5mPqJoxbLmIpLV66xPIk8TEQ4dHl0RZbUs1JRZzTp-U2bZHpolqU6ev9ei3hthJ2j/s494/558AF473-8C86-4489-8173-4C1D56ACB35C-4285-0000046B245B2EED.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="494" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9btrjc9f9t5cJcqdBH6KeSSG6eKXkjpY9PMPYHRdWxXm-zlqefgZ5T-N6CVEsfAwg5C1yzkbYq8Veh5AYnhkmH01axQx1BB9Mm2Jee3HuUq5Ecbj45VjqumSzWME5mPqJoxbLmIpLV66xPIk8TEQ4dHl0RZbUs1JRZzTp-U2bZHpolqU6ev9ei3hthJ2j/w640-h506/558AF473-8C86-4489-8173-4C1D56ACB35C-4285-0000046B245B2EED.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A view back towards McCracken bridge North toward the Barracks and the route to Oisseau, Ernée, Fougeres after the city was taken, three 88mm guns defended the south eastern side of the river along with two flak 20mm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next installment will be the city streets and some more photos from the fighting. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cheers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Matt</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br /></div>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-20407481900280530192023-10-31T22:15:00.002+01:002023-11-22T22:31:50.336+01:00Terrain Tuesday- desert Terrain part 1 <p> </p><h2 style="text-align: center;"> Sinai terrain</h2><div>While I do have a collection of terrain pieces for my desert games I have very little in the way of 20th century type pieces for towns etc except for my Iraq thunder run table bits (jersey barriers and buildings and a few trees). </div><div><br /></div><div>I did have some Street lights and palms laying around in stock with part built I had started for city entry pieces, these pieces have been part finished for some time but originally was only going to be palms for my Iraqi war table, however by adding the lights give it more of a 20th century look. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2a9BPuTQH6kFJRbfhYQ8CUIeIwrYpPjnOm6Ns9lM3U2qXQnsRGluKKVF6V8Fu-Onz6e8n9IYGWNtFuR3ejdqphtBZjiI4JplPdXXOGmh_4kVeWLg9zpo8XOtTrOT-Z93-1Paeh1NbIt3_ssQGBqyKPTFri5ewB0UkWRv8y8iwEe-7eYxPLiYdKSk0JM/s3886/IMG_0239.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="3886" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2a9BPuTQH6kFJRbfhYQ8CUIeIwrYpPjnOm6Ns9lM3U2qXQnsRGluKKVF6V8Fu-Onz6e8n9IYGWNtFuR3ejdqphtBZjiI4JplPdXXOGmh_4kVeWLg9zpo8XOtTrOT-Z93-1Paeh1NbIt3_ssQGBqyKPTFri5ewB0UkWRv8y8iwEe-7eYxPLiYdKSk0JM/w640-h398/IMG_0239.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTkKdtNMgmf8upRq264yJw56TxNB9o-hG0oXEZ0Idqvj1oDWHbzncrraDbzhjtZeKtpXVfq6ZF_iEQwydUvhXQmLu8tnYP0BRPut3fjF5Rr-QARhyphenhyphenokK3GfUN7FssBZUJBQFoVzgNZI9dWFv5xw-Vzdnx4YbMAtZJxMHhlzZ8otI6XOTaQRv44gFaAP8/s4032/IMG_0240.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTkKdtNMgmf8upRq264yJw56TxNB9o-hG0oXEZ0Idqvj1oDWHbzncrraDbzhjtZeKtpXVfq6ZF_iEQwydUvhXQmLu8tnYP0BRPut3fjF5Rr-QARhyphenhyphenokK3GfUN7FssBZUJBQFoVzgNZI9dWFv5xw-Vzdnx4YbMAtZJxMHhlzZ8otI6XOTaQRv44gFaAP8/w640-h480/IMG_0240.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaN4P4PwqzviXP65HYcA7p4PEW4c0CaH-98mlWbygSc1LLSKlmSFpVIx98TGQj-eQl9u7ipbvBaSVIrFyZ5xKOPohOcQl6nusqT9UqbyvdayyFfzxYUbs3NPGG-VF97_kQPHQf_Ftse_XY3ETe6ye41hncg-bZC8Ries5uzbmpXdEYDWVnQXJZnKDISY/s3884/IMG_0241.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2675" data-original-width="3884" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaN4P4PwqzviXP65HYcA7p4PEW4c0CaH-98mlWbygSc1LLSKlmSFpVIx98TGQj-eQl9u7ipbvBaSVIrFyZ5xKOPohOcQl6nusqT9UqbyvdayyFfzxYUbs3NPGG-VF97_kQPHQf_Ftse_XY3ETe6ye41hncg-bZC8Ries5uzbmpXdEYDWVnQXJZnKDISY/w640-h440/IMG_0241.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnvtTmy94UylY8wy8WUnkh3-U9xHh9o6XkUvqjGKqrEUbLea8CZ0C6zxAz9KaLnwxNOg4xGyVdLTtFjYqH4tzH9kaT8a8-7F-JAVZ4PYLx5hsIL6ZdLF0JRbHyGTGeJDvUhhaYqegEqqHmbH4E43Z_aQQAGJ5HEccrtBFhRMz_ZsEAH6zC26y0NWxbVQ/s4028/IMG_0243.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2600" data-original-width="4028" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnvtTmy94UylY8wy8WUnkh3-U9xHh9o6XkUvqjGKqrEUbLea8CZ0C6zxAz9KaLnwxNOg4xGyVdLTtFjYqH4tzH9kaT8a8-7F-JAVZ4PYLx5hsIL6ZdLF0JRbHyGTGeJDvUhhaYqegEqqHmbH4E43Z_aQQAGJ5HEccrtBFhRMz_ZsEAH6zC26y0NWxbVQ/w640-h414/IMG_0243.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A collection of small trees, I cut some of the stumps so they were not all the same heights.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgRhfWWzJesv3t8n1BirmhdF0x0ul0Wg9rjfv3JJDYfZJMF_AjOaGQJvTqjdLswiMQCpKBerZuetKN-ira_xOYsk1gcgOwz76VRKk1Y-WibfQ7JTZiOSbRmfGohyphenhyphencoG-Lbo33CvUr_jfTs9YpHAMa-sle4WLeehSe6YOOC8rL-BIkySE8SeiV841z9x4/s3293/IMG_0247.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2352" data-original-width="3293" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgRhfWWzJesv3t8n1BirmhdF0x0ul0Wg9rjfv3JJDYfZJMF_AjOaGQJvTqjdLswiMQCpKBerZuetKN-ira_xOYsk1gcgOwz76VRKk1Y-WibfQ7JTZiOSbRmfGohyphenhyphencoG-Lbo33CvUr_jfTs9YpHAMa-sle4WLeehSe6YOOC8rL-BIkySE8SeiV841z9x4/w640-h458/IMG_0247.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers</div><div>Matt </div><div><br /></div>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com019 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-18430759809352849672023-10-19T09:31:00.002+02:002023-12-04T16:14:07.654+01:00 Bundesgrenzschutz Part 6<h3 style="text-align: center;"> <span>Bundesgrenzschutz VW Van</span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span>While I was airbrushing a lot of vehicles last week (while the weather was pleasant) I quickly painted up my remaining Bundesgrenzschutz vehicles. For completed off the table is a van, pretty much match box recovery that had the front pillars missing, which I rebuilt with green stuff and styrene, plus the traffic light which is also green stuff. I have also molded a plastic windscreen in hot water from a vegetable pack, but cannot find it on my messy desk so a cleanup may occur tomorrow! </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span>I am planning also to add </span>Bundesgrenzschutz writing on the sides in black, but will complete my helicopter and other vehicles first before I play around making up the transfers to be printed, then complete all of the vehicles at once.</p><p style="text-align: left;"> I only have the checkpoint and four more vehicles to come (one truck, one ambulance and Jeep , plus the helicopter and they will be completed. In the meantime I must complete some more vehicles before this weekends Yom Kippur anniversary game! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7EuTDda8y6qOYYv-07ika8WCQIxIneIVf82cKmLBbBaSZsGKqm7NaNnMw7TOyArgFlPzODJSr62ZW7hMWL6nw0kGxe4eI17xWNBs-70fN86gxz5nMSb9VG7cbBDVXVW_T-2W-nPFFQTc2h4Iow0snCGRbZ6R0c00BBbwQHYRRtpcIIdZvE7Vs5wchf10/s3013/IMG_9872.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2370" data-original-width="3013" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7EuTDda8y6qOYYv-07ika8WCQIxIneIVf82cKmLBbBaSZsGKqm7NaNnMw7TOyArgFlPzODJSr62ZW7hMWL6nw0kGxe4eI17xWNBs-70fN86gxz5nMSb9VG7cbBDVXVW_T-2W-nPFFQTc2h4Iow0snCGRbZ6R0c00BBbwQHYRRtpcIIdZvE7Vs5wchf10/w400-h315/IMG_9872.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EADLLWNIDRY-I02-kkFq9AMT_GFxAf6zM-zCeu20ekZ0T_EmCaM6rVx_fFBrodwrxmJIYuJo-GStVS9cIywvFk_uKF-ZPwqQzJvux5jwlIIsdivL0NoWW3EeYdo5aXmWg7b3-QsBMxiFQm2g_qYZakfyhMdvCCYZUlcHaU2qtLXhRw8dn1NWaoyH2xLD/s3400/IMG_9873.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2527" data-original-width="3400" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EADLLWNIDRY-I02-kkFq9AMT_GFxAf6zM-zCeu20ekZ0T_EmCaM6rVx_fFBrodwrxmJIYuJo-GStVS9cIywvFk_uKF-ZPwqQzJvux5jwlIIsdivL0NoWW3EeYdo5aXmWg7b3-QsBMxiFQm2g_qYZakfyhMdvCCYZUlcHaU2qtLXhRw8dn1NWaoyH2xLD/w400-h297/IMG_9873.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9NyateTPjWo0NHwHn2WN13cjDoislWnqp95P0J_QpspncLYIt2hGMGSg3Kat-IYNlMiO6hzYJ5QogydNDBsUK5B2WVXG3CgQIFtR_ezXCOWkCWl1QxQDFy7Wvs-YDjJIrMv8lCxI632wSN2GAckY8a_UZjITys2hSH1TSLMhEQCUbRIMQ2DRULgZqifa/s2421/IMG_9874.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1938" data-original-width="2421" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9NyateTPjWo0NHwHn2WN13cjDoislWnqp95P0J_QpspncLYIt2hGMGSg3Kat-IYNlMiO6hzYJ5QogydNDBsUK5B2WVXG3CgQIFtR_ezXCOWkCWl1QxQDFy7Wvs-YDjJIrMv8lCxI632wSN2GAckY8a_UZjITys2hSH1TSLMhEQCUbRIMQ2DRULgZqifa/w400-h320/IMG_9874.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Cheers</p><p style="text-align: left;">Matt</p>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com019 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-23132218440874581832023-10-15T10:54:00.018+02:002023-12-04T16:14:30.083+01:00Egyptian Army Part 1 Infantry<h2 style="text-align: center;"> Egyptian Army 1967-73 -Infantry </h2><div>The infantry for this project are from Elheim miniatures. The figures are from the middle eastern range which will work for most middle eastern nations during the period. They have a good variety of poses and I am really happy with my results. </div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Painting guide Egyptian Infantry Arab Israeli wars</h4><div>I have researched the uniforms and decided to go a little darker than the sand colour recommended in battlefront fate of nations guide. I use a black undercoat, a base colour, the wash, then Highlight the same colour. </div><div>Flesh Vallejo dwarf flesh, highlight about 10% elf flesh, Warpaint brown flesh wash. </div><div>Tunic and trousers Vallejo panzer aces French tanker uniform</div><div>Webbing AK khaki webbing</div><div>Helmet Vallejo Russian uniform</div><div>Wood Rifle Furniture Vallejo mahogany</div><div>Weapon metal work Vallejo German grey </div><div>Boots Vallejo German grey </div><div>Support weapons and RPG is Vallejo German camo green</div><div>Airborne Berets Vallejo dark red, then blood red highlight. </div><div>The grass tufts are my own using either Noch or faller flocks. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am really happy with these chaps and they will also double for my Iraqis. </div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">1st Motorised regiment</h4>The motorised truck units had a structure of ; One HQ company and two rifle companies and one support company. I have 6 trucks almost completed for these chaps, plus two command Zil 157 vans. I also need to print some Soviet jeeps for the Sagger crews to complete the regiment.<div><br /></div><div><h4 style="text-align: left;">1st Battalion</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YVVYe2lGu1gbi2zlS2deHR0EPhAwpDAWbugN8FCdQSwKUpoReGH8ehLriIqM46uB1FtFV6M8Jj8bmqSpbmE5yabZlt2fX3UuV74ojfQIU0gN2-uZuKrdk_P-6_faUjyqWX7dFncWWnuVybvX5fg5fNX_SCFdNextLUC1uoGIuvYgzEsGbM1wf5BlgBlD/s3863/IMG_9835.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2074" data-original-width="3863" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YVVYe2lGu1gbi2zlS2deHR0EPhAwpDAWbugN8FCdQSwKUpoReGH8ehLriIqM46uB1FtFV6M8Jj8bmqSpbmE5yabZlt2fX3UuV74ojfQIU0gN2-uZuKrdk_P-6_faUjyqWX7dFncWWnuVybvX5fg5fNX_SCFdNextLUC1uoGIuvYgzEsGbM1wf5BlgBlD/w640-h344/IMG_9835.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnq2VSReBrfrRyKGOgr_-kHVWDgL3IGzgqHOUbNQb2jApuo2l8XIw7A6Lc3eXTMe7vkobT2oQiKyMYM-eIwNnJB8susZJK9y9N5s3BFXkx8jBf0mogdp2tWX58nwg-eeS-Hxpb0WV-dJYms57FN7LePBmGjUR57rFNJbERND7SxuCGCaJ02K0M3ISWeVFQ/s3696/IMG_9833.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1555" data-original-width="3696" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnq2VSReBrfrRyKGOgr_-kHVWDgL3IGzgqHOUbNQb2jApuo2l8XIw7A6Lc3eXTMe7vkobT2oQiKyMYM-eIwNnJB8susZJK9y9N5s3BFXkx8jBf0mogdp2tWX58nwg-eeS-Hxpb0WV-dJYms57FN7LePBmGjUR57rFNJbERND7SxuCGCaJ02K0M3ISWeVFQ/w640-h270/IMG_9833.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">2nd Battalion </h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCUMF9dVR1x-PEH_OPUGcizZIYthJokBqVoyTYIoKZ5Sv8rnMXGkOqnZtSuf157qQRHdr3UgZraVKWBwhTqVenpBpsIbr9EPMDjtcbPoScgj2Cbpa86ttj8rQArvMDb9p-r1-PMBJCxbda-lRVeQwVgxvB7LcYbNC4tSd2tOOSJYGx0ou8UbCjKISxQbC/s3760/IMG_9837.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2190" data-original-width="3760" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCUMF9dVR1x-PEH_OPUGcizZIYthJokBqVoyTYIoKZ5Sv8rnMXGkOqnZtSuf157qQRHdr3UgZraVKWBwhTqVenpBpsIbr9EPMDjtcbPoScgj2Cbpa86ttj8rQArvMDb9p-r1-PMBJCxbda-lRVeQwVgxvB7LcYbNC4tSd2tOOSJYGx0ou8UbCjKISxQbC/w640-h372/IMG_9837.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepiWotl-fziD3VOagxXeJZGNzSxHky4Wmbv8kMUZamoXIK050zSN6wz5r9NkuLg02UOpDlJWvMlkaslHkJdAg_xctp4nEO5JdkuttI-eyqzJV87xzImYImMK3QX6ysDn4indwZ5EZ7aAI7T1o6lZ3_9BCiAcxIrebIBaQVVbDWiYvg2oMhcj_Q5VPx1x5/s3824/IMG_9831.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1941" data-original-width="3824" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepiWotl-fziD3VOagxXeJZGNzSxHky4Wmbv8kMUZamoXIK050zSN6wz5r9NkuLg02UOpDlJWvMlkaslHkJdAg_xctp4nEO5JdkuttI-eyqzJV87xzImYImMK3QX6ysDn4indwZ5EZ7aAI7T1o6lZ3_9BCiAcxIrebIBaQVVbDWiYvg2oMhcj_Q5VPx1x5/w640-h324/IMG_9831.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Armoured infantry battalion </h4><div>I need to add a sniper to this battalion and some heavy weapons. I am having trouble finding a decent order of battle for these with conflicting sources for the structure of the battalions. I have followed the Russian structure for them. A HQ and two rifle companies, with two in the BTR 152 or BTR 50. I have ordered extra vehicles so I can depict 1967 and 73 formations. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC88jeDuj0ak_7spdX4srkA57x7o1_y0acDpJN8uEGmx2X_DHflL4C0kNVC0RYIfYlPx23V2YYCEn-UMwUzYIKdgWmji3t9JeU2F1sgNNTDP7xTIXJ0fGj45XxK-9cXUzfclS0y2nr5ixR4y9luGpQLq4mHgZR7_oxi15x5yLlFG9Rndu5WPNrkUytB4pY/s3712/IMG_9839.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2170" data-original-width="3712" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC88jeDuj0ak_7spdX4srkA57x7o1_y0acDpJN8uEGmx2X_DHflL4C0kNVC0RYIfYlPx23V2YYCEn-UMwUzYIKdgWmji3t9JeU2F1sgNNTDP7xTIXJ0fGj45XxK-9cXUzfclS0y2nr5ixR4y9luGpQLq4mHgZR7_oxi15x5yLlFG9Rndu5WPNrkUytB4pY/w640-h374/IMG_9839.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Airborne battalion </h4><div>The Egyptian airborne infantry chaps need a few more figures to complete them, this will include some head swaps to get more variation and radio op and heavy weapons. I need to do another order with elhiem shortly. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDm7epD028Zu_6MakObXeIPfeviTGka8iJrCvbEYQD4GtDlU9QFNmhPYWR_oU8ULGlf9E9e5WP_IaEaXc8yCf2XD1x9oLwzU46Acs7705neKbuFp-8Ruhs9rDj_Vv7-sDVKF0ATky-ElyzaKZQYBp8EcHGzsT1Znc_S8edPixy_AhCpUjNt7Vh64nG_O1k/s3639/IMG_9840.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2346" data-original-width="3639" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDm7epD028Zu_6MakObXeIPfeviTGka8iJrCvbEYQD4GtDlU9QFNmhPYWR_oU8ULGlf9E9e5WP_IaEaXc8yCf2XD1x9oLwzU46Acs7705neKbuFp-8Ruhs9rDj_Vv7-sDVKF0ATky-ElyzaKZQYBp8EcHGzsT1Znc_S8edPixy_AhCpUjNt7Vh64nG_O1k/w640-h412/IMG_9840.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers</div><div>Matt</div></div>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com019 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-61955948744722844722023-09-23T20:18:00.013+02:002023-09-24T20:56:26.486+02:00Reichsarbeitsdienst “Albert Speer” panzer grenadier Abtielung 1945<h2 style="text-align: center;"> Albert Speer RAD Panzer Grenadier Abteilung 1945</h2><div>I have commenced my kampfgruppe 1001 nights, part of the unit was Albert Speer’s RAD body guard Abteilung, which was made up of Reichsarbeitsdienst troops from Berlin, many of whom come from anti aircraft batteries around Berlin. One RAD motorcycle company plus the Armoured cars joined the Kampfgruppe 1001 nights to fight in the Seelow Heights. The remainder stayed in Berlin to man 88 gun batteries and to act as infantry in he Spree sector. </div><div><br /></div><div>The miniatures are from Simons Soldiers fall of Berlin range, which are very versatile miniatures for the last days of the Reich wargaming </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">HQ company</h4><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_kZtsEpFd32bk6nE304qGRvh6C2iia7VwKtOVttcTG303S-PpBlZ4H-Z8KaUWEDN89Un9PolyuQsSu7eimuvjcWrv3YN89tj7pG8fPsR3Y_0vNZ_BlN5Ds9DkP8_vVSnWyGWm3wjKlMwxQUI80Qk8GpfTI0ksyJO48I4YAb5V0f2EOqOlYIsBEyvwkxP/s3024/IMG_9742.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="2301" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_kZtsEpFd32bk6nE304qGRvh6C2iia7VwKtOVttcTG303S-PpBlZ4H-Z8KaUWEDN89Un9PolyuQsSu7eimuvjcWrv3YN89tj7pG8fPsR3Y_0vNZ_BlN5Ds9DkP8_vVSnWyGWm3wjKlMwxQUI80Qk8GpfTI0ksyJO48I4YAb5V0f2EOqOlYIsBEyvwkxP/w486-h640/IMG_9742.jpeg" width="486" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RAD commander<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18Ob4ZBZliA2J5RAku5kk9uEqTCglt12BFcYDR8sNHOxYM4fjjiWeaTVz4yQQX2YcxAoFdPGhygb23gL_OHsMqwL3WBHhtPA3Stycaa3rnQfII5OzWN-hbzCCSAWMNbtq8Z5KS5YdZqnA7oKoCAUrvBcB6d9EtFm7iAaqEkOExRL_5RH873bnWVLMU3xf/s3263/IMG_9741.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2870" data-original-width="3263" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18Ob4ZBZliA2J5RAku5kk9uEqTCglt12BFcYDR8sNHOxYM4fjjiWeaTVz4yQQX2YcxAoFdPGhygb23gL_OHsMqwL3WBHhtPA3Stycaa3rnQfII5OzWN-hbzCCSAWMNbtq8Z5KS5YdZqnA7oKoCAUrvBcB6d9EtFm7iAaqEkOExRL_5RH873bnWVLMU3xf/w640-h562/IMG_9741.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RAD panzerschrek</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">Rifle coy</h4><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSW7Ysgbu84_R_TDkGBRtOlhsYVLUppRNa19HIuYb9zynckIPcvHkHVYMLa-DAAaEtdi-TiQN3rkbUc0olD1vZf084XfhwaYRak40ZVr4nymd2r1uBjBrgfduWPT3zxYgMj0shdvVZull722tZLFia7iG19T3Dqilgxf0kPZXzs_dMjNxEsTn2wjODRACd/s3615/IMG_9745.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2762" data-original-width="3615" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSW7Ysgbu84_R_TDkGBRtOlhsYVLUppRNa19HIuYb9zynckIPcvHkHVYMLa-DAAaEtdi-TiQN3rkbUc0olD1vZf084XfhwaYRak40ZVr4nymd2r1uBjBrgfduWPT3zxYgMj0shdvVZull722tZLFia7iG19T3Dqilgxf0kPZXzs_dMjNxEsTn2wjODRACd/w640-h488/IMG_9745.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RAD rifle company</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYDDFJxluRJ0pdWQdvCbwvmTuDiaAatGWSTCttYxats8rqvjP79_s9AP9Q00f098ylWCZ1YQs_V09LDmKYEjgQRdwQyxqawxMEIx47Of3d0ylLa1n0h1IB6Cd8-MXfZD0s3YAIT9r0idF4TD6jbnWqzqe3ffOFhZ5_x7ADCfjxhMC3d4y31xe7nMuEnSg/s4032/IMG_9748.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYDDFJxluRJ0pdWQdvCbwvmTuDiaAatGWSTCttYxats8rqvjP79_s9AP9Q00f098ylWCZ1YQs_V09LDmKYEjgQRdwQyxqawxMEIx47Of3d0ylLa1n0h1IB6Cd8-MXfZD0s3YAIT9r0idF4TD6jbnWqzqe3ffOFhZ5_x7ADCfjxhMC3d4y31xe7nMuEnSg/w640-h480/IMG_9748.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RAD Rifle coy</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">MG Support Coy</h4><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZmoTdhTS7TozB-29XyywSVmQ2JYFv3H8nKfC0D8ZirfKyS85Pe6Ff9SHZsj8F3G5Ck4yIxAahNbUa0g1L3jculVovrcKEW9XYCltWr_j9oa8IJ9yLtcX11_SvSED22Tv1ob4gtjLJSjMcW-0YuVt-Lbcv44LbyTc4kcySDFzAmXBRh7LerWuGKXmFUZY/s2980/IMG_9746.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2543" data-original-width="2980" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZmoTdhTS7TozB-29XyywSVmQ2JYFv3H8nKfC0D8ZirfKyS85Pe6Ff9SHZsj8F3G5Ck4yIxAahNbUa0g1L3jculVovrcKEW9XYCltWr_j9oa8IJ9yLtcX11_SvSED22Tv1ob4gtjLJSjMcW-0YuVt-Lbcv44LbyTc4kcySDFzAmXBRh7LerWuGKXmFUZY/w640-h546/IMG_9746.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RAD MG42</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ht0Ionb7EOe32QTkXnbmpjatAjwMaBxTBsBideB5zzO0XQj38Sr6t12a4zRIX8M0JaAyupJpvbEpG-HAv3cvsQVvO1SZ04YJXBjSftugZS_pyM5FLs8OQ0G3eq-ze6j_vIFuNiAt4x1QuEpQfb9N-q8CcJ-y57OZ3cBF8sBopQoSkuAZW6X9SbZcBewb/s3650/IMG_9747.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2739" data-original-width="3650" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ht0Ionb7EOe32QTkXnbmpjatAjwMaBxTBsBideB5zzO0XQj38Sr6t12a4zRIX8M0JaAyupJpvbEpG-HAv3cvsQVvO1SZ04YJXBjSftugZS_pyM5FLs8OQ0G3eq-ze6j_vIFuNiAt4x1QuEpQfb9N-q8CcJ-y57OZ3cBF8sBopQoSkuAZW6X9SbZcBewb/w640-h480/IMG_9747.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RAD MG team</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Rapid Fire Organisation </h3><div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Panzer-Aufklarungs-Abteilung Speer </div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="line-height: 1.4; list-style: outside; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><i>HQ, Co + 3 car, medic, panzerschrek </i></li><li style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><i>2 x Motorcycle company (RAD uniform) 7 figs, two Fausts</i></li><li style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><i>Armoured car company </i></li><ul style="line-height: 1.4; list-style: outside; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><i>2 x Sd.Kfz 231 A/C, 1 x Sd.Kfz 263</i></li></ul><li style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><i>Support Company </i></li><ul style="line-height: 1.4; list-style: outside; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><i>Pak 38 Anti Tank mot tow, 4 crew</i></li><li style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><i style="font-size: 14.85px;">Sdkfz 7 quad 20mm flak 38, RAD 4 crew</i></li><li style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><i style="font-size: 14.85px;">Two kettenkrads plus trailers 2 x MMG 5 figs</i></li></ul></ul><div><i>It seems that this unit may of increased in size with infantry reinforcements and armoured cars or have been just renamed on the 3rd of April as the “Spree Panzer Grenadier Regiment” (this also may be a mistaken renaming as they were assigned the Wehrmacht Feldpost 43449 and posted to the Spree sector in Berlin).</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div></div></div><h4 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I hope you found this interesting as I have </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">researching</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> it, any notes, organisational mistakes I have made please let me know!</span></h4></div><br />Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com019 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-64869434922817738172023-09-13T15:01:00.011+02:002023-09-15T10:43:45.618+02:00WIP Wednesday American Airborne <p> I Finally have decided to attack my new Normandy Airborne Americans (I know you do not need both Normandy and Arnhem …. But Different uniforms ….. Oh well the life of a button counter lol). </p><p>I purchased four new battalions of Airborne for Rapid Fire plus support elements from Alder and Simons Soldiers miniatures earlier in the year in Oz and at Partizan along with jeeps from RTR and guns from SHQ and Early War Miniatures. </p><p>I undercoated two battalions on the weekend and have already got the base colours on the guns and jeeps. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElEpHPwwSyLXz70R33tnm-7l_1OZulCFA-JapYW4j_y4hlGJ8KKmhSYixB-M9L361I1uqg_vOZ9vsaXJj6oy-OxKZLuZdGqhMSy5iiI_vmu82MBHeUpoPln8mh_6w5qWd79BOOcEyfEaYG3TBwXbepoM-q8ev-XUAfPmRnxO0I8X0pTZgw76jplMJaSVR/s4032/IMG_9605.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElEpHPwwSyLXz70R33tnm-7l_1OZulCFA-JapYW4j_y4hlGJ8KKmhSYixB-M9L361I1uqg_vOZ9vsaXJj6oy-OxKZLuZdGqhMSy5iiI_vmu82MBHeUpoPln8mh_6w5qWd79BOOcEyfEaYG3TBwXbepoM-q8ev-XUAfPmRnxO0I8X0pTZgw76jplMJaSVR/w640-h480/IMG_9605.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I plan to get them completed next few weeks, then onto the glider troops, more vehicles, Waco gliders, plus some C47 aircraft planned with actual aircraft for the 101st! Then I will commence the 82nd Airborne, and do the same. </p><p>Cheers</p><p>Matt</p>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com019 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-38358572429400619112023-09-10T19:26:00.002+02:002023-09-19T18:59:36.164+02:00Gestapo or secret service types<p> I was looking for some pieces from my drawer of 20mm bits (I was looking for some MMGs and 81mm mortars) and found these lurkers in one of the box’s and decided to get some paint on them whilst I am on holidays. </p><p>I think they are Battlefield miniatures a simple job of grey, black and brown, a wash and then highlight. I elected to do simple dirt basing which can double for streetscape or countryside. They can work for armed civilians, secret service types or gestapo. Happy with the results </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLrIuW17KXd0kQqIPwRDOqZvqxykvuTyotx0tnPnUgbrM7-bXbKmX5BZ7GeOFhja1JEX382UsTXkr5aMOMLKKgUbiFbl0E99ywcL3HksrW1s6HDU7Vk3pQknROFjLvGZ6EITGo-c7dpWR7cr0DSZRjHmd2UmoVocGKX0IONkTi1fWPbBT7fgiGphomsKD/s3024/IMG_9626.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2746" data-original-width="3024" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLrIuW17KXd0kQqIPwRDOqZvqxykvuTyotx0tnPnUgbrM7-bXbKmX5BZ7GeOFhja1JEX382UsTXkr5aMOMLKKgUbiFbl0E99ywcL3HksrW1s6HDU7Vk3pQknROFjLvGZ6EITGo-c7dpWR7cr0DSZRjHmd2UmoVocGKX0IONkTi1fWPbBT7fgiGphomsKD/w640-h582/IMG_9626.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHg8mIPOgkr3Tf_GlqiwaqZhnwtq6rHnCbrQ3L8ca-rOTs-rffRWwoDqjGDIVS0gvDNmHOJyrHcLofF5IRG8at_hpkJJAEWrFJ077dh2bw142PqLecEfK3NhSfhLFp7zqjQdBiFUeH100x0RSTue4WkLnCB_QBY0iWvrW48Zk2646--wIc1ErB30kbLIv/s3024/IMG_9628.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2751" data-original-width="3024" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHg8mIPOgkr3Tf_GlqiwaqZhnwtq6rHnCbrQ3L8ca-rOTs-rffRWwoDqjGDIVS0gvDNmHOJyrHcLofF5IRG8at_hpkJJAEWrFJ077dh2bw142PqLecEfK3NhSfhLFp7zqjQdBiFUeH100x0RSTue4WkLnCB_QBY0iWvrW48Zk2646--wIc1ErB30kbLIv/w640-h582/IMG_9628.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3PALN0BeeBYN7elyqJZ-xK6lJ08zEc8Rm0bXyOlD6yuX-vdaqNo6LEs4RIkxigTQY_K9cQWESlBsguJUrq10nazLZnKNZQj5D6jM7a4MHMhprCwYiMcEKIiwIKX8MiU6LEFvBwMirgNQTcwBjyjY43RENxzpW-6iFSm8L3XxrwU3mlgV2ekr1Ya7J5AU/s3024/IMG_9630.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2828" data-original-width="3024" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3PALN0BeeBYN7elyqJZ-xK6lJ08zEc8Rm0bXyOlD6yuX-vdaqNo6LEs4RIkxigTQY_K9cQWESlBsguJUrq10nazLZnKNZQj5D6jM7a4MHMhprCwYiMcEKIiwIKX8MiU6LEFvBwMirgNQTcwBjyjY43RENxzpW-6iFSm8L3XxrwU3mlgV2ekr1Ya7J5AU/w640-h598/IMG_9630.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Cheers</p><p>Matt</p><p><br /></p>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com019 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-11103686188005989452023-09-05T09:00:00.007+02:002023-12-04T16:16:22.417+01:00Kit Review -SU 15 TM <h3 style="text-align: center;">SU15-TM</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IjrqwCe9CXs28x1Wkoq8BWBfCsK3BT1N9bGfkxVpTSnQPdx-8BxcgRh-Px__yurYUyX95KET5gf5Xa3NveFAN_asP-xZQPDk9NyMUlN0-JjSTIZRTinHzgjb36gvbv7RXL3g-3FO1chyVpVUzGoYaSSQqnhbFDCzYWIEzNC2mV8ElDRbMoq4DgXv7Lc5/s1778/IMG_0872.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="1778" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IjrqwCe9CXs28x1Wkoq8BWBfCsK3BT1N9bGfkxVpTSnQPdx-8BxcgRh-Px__yurYUyX95KET5gf5Xa3NveFAN_asP-xZQPDk9NyMUlN0-JjSTIZRTinHzgjb36gvbv7RXL3g-3FO1chyVpVUzGoYaSSQqnhbFDCzYWIEzNC2mV8ElDRbMoq4DgXv7Lc5/w640-h444/IMG_0872.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I have been looking though my kits to complete some Soviet and Swedish kit for the big weekend Wargame Holiday game next May. I have a lot of aircraft kits to build and paint for both sides so I have decided to commence the assembly of my PM Models SU-15 TM which I purchased at Newark museum airfield shop in April. </p><p>The kit looks quite simple as to be expected on a short run. A little bit of rough casting around the engine intake and marbling aroubd the nose but with sanding it should clean up. I was disappointed that there was no pilot also and soft interior detail, I will add a 3d printed interior and pilot I suspect. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTY9SOvQ6SnF0VxPUBfmQLq2R05ZfejOZGPotYGgg9SZ0cB5v-tr-FVkhnMw1_GjrNXfryFzr0BkkpOwYUmI7cfgHghMCMon0ZDtF6JTfVkFv1KnjQ-ZmwBI9yX2b5tnwllMwDO8jEq3TWNxmoTM0uPL-mZIgCo41k74zFVpt9Z3y3UgeLD4b6qRHx2KD/s3885/IMG_9542.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2737" data-original-width="3885" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTY9SOvQ6SnF0VxPUBfmQLq2R05ZfejOZGPotYGgg9SZ0cB5v-tr-FVkhnMw1_GjrNXfryFzr0BkkpOwYUmI7cfgHghMCMon0ZDtF6JTfVkFv1KnjQ-ZmwBI9yX2b5tnwllMwDO8jEq3TWNxmoTM0uPL-mZIgCo41k74zFVpt9Z3y3UgeLD4b6qRHx2KD/w640-h450/IMG_9542.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEm48R2N3qOw3miea3sw7xYco5nVHSFU_hbrHmm69YC5NbywVQkWR7fQnnFEzr7u0rC_XbyQ0B4XeSoTAswF04-u7ZmhfX5vZQ1s43bSe38qOiaXpWPR59m7knX2j8VA7hA4_QCLivmdW_GQKy2-JcvZ3_PFAFI_OIpu3sPM5LgXiRXAe9hjihTykAPEZ/s3784/IMG_9549.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2050" data-original-width="3784" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEm48R2N3qOw3miea3sw7xYco5nVHSFU_hbrHmm69YC5NbywVQkWR7fQnnFEzr7u0rC_XbyQ0B4XeSoTAswF04-u7ZmhfX5vZQ1s43bSe38qOiaXpWPR59m7knX2j8VA7hA4_QCLivmdW_GQKy2-JcvZ3_PFAFI_OIpu3sPM5LgXiRXAe9hjihTykAPEZ/w640-h346/IMG_9549.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I plan to get it painted this week in silver with a green nose and tail tip, while I am having a little summer break before our next Wargame holiday guests. </p><p>Cheers</p><p>Matt</p>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com019 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-79597393869731732722023-08-31T17:37:00.001+02:002023-08-31T17:37:00.153+02:00New Books - Normandy 44<p>Recent purchases from the Naval and Military Press Sale, these will help me get up the dander to finish my American GIs who have been hanging around for 5 months on my too do list. I have a week off from Wargame holidays guests and have a bunch of reading and painting to get through! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdV2zFdQfCKpc5obT_JqQfdBFKgB0U-ouHKpljjnpocj5xjCpqr-gSc0kCA65XFsJjBb5dZoLEn4veMhG7NpFqjo9lct3EjDG4ZfABLePZ2_73TOaU3YkBtNUfT52bgDUJ1ba3YGU5WSdwAKgO1QqII7g_8ZJF12eKNNBK_LCVu81pDFgYUeodAAVPVFsU/s3264/IMG_0840.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdV2zFdQfCKpc5obT_JqQfdBFKgB0U-ouHKpljjnpocj5xjCpqr-gSc0kCA65XFsJjBb5dZoLEn4veMhG7NpFqjo9lct3EjDG4ZfABLePZ2_73TOaU3YkBtNUfT52bgDUJ1ba3YGU5WSdwAKgO1QqII7g_8ZJF12eKNNBK_LCVu81pDFgYUeodAAVPVFsU/w400-h300/IMG_0840.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Cheers</p><p>Matt</p>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com019 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-450885798377925362023-08-30T09:12:00.002+02:002023-08-30T09:12:37.854+02:00Terrain Tuesday - Haystacks <p> </p><h2 style="text-align: center;"> Hay Stacks </h2><div>I have been meaning to paint these for some time, the first 4 are complete and I have 16 more to complete the lot. Quite happy with the result and they match my fields (door mat) much more to come </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIquPv_r5HAYl_vojXhwwoZV0ImQCr8jklALvqfW9e1rr8A4l6MAKW-EMIvx_vom8wBOyGiWQ_0UyTqIv7BdjlBjmYu7x4ChT_WJKEY1TlNkFpEyrML-70XRQ5sG_IedJqmGBOgPuZoL0Uleo6PwuzIgxRFQ3Gs3wW6E3tP8f7IqlPnoJEyB_KqrTWSkM/s3683/IMG_9530.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1811" data-original-width="3683" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIquPv_r5HAYl_vojXhwwoZV0ImQCr8jklALvqfW9e1rr8A4l6MAKW-EMIvx_vom8wBOyGiWQ_0UyTqIv7BdjlBjmYu7x4ChT_WJKEY1TlNkFpEyrML-70XRQ5sG_IedJqmGBOgPuZoL0Uleo6PwuzIgxRFQ3Gs3wW6E3tP8f7IqlPnoJEyB_KqrTWSkM/w640-h314/IMG_9530.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers</div><div>Matt</div>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com019 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-3564428048257660592023-08-30T08:27:00.000+02:002023-08-30T08:27:01.550+02:00Wip Wednesday buildings <p> </p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Work in Progress Buildings </h2><p> Back to upgrading some buildings this week as I want to start basing and adding walls and outbuildings, gardens etc to my layout. I have about thirty to refurbish for my Mayenne/city table, some will not take much, other need a lot of work. I have been breaking up bricks, cork and tinting kitty litter with washes to make bags of rubble. </p><p>First up a old warrior, possibly 20 years old, I have a number of these I think from Queens Hussar (could be wrong) I will bring the brick up to the normal bright red orange of our region, then add a few bits of interior pieces, damage, rubble, signage then add the yard and out buildings on a base to fit my town tiles. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyVbSk1EL5tHlmAfHRtPUq-Z_pkiAGbq5cBjcgVSk8itjnKtkfPkI5QzxDUY_q6AAwzfC6GCiUFfhKKtIs38gHIFOLy_iRjWHWvr9FsQ0FH82oDMBZCjYaYFS4KZ-q93APhK3qZRhhdK_gl08gm0uN6S97CQIoTZbrmFMncL4F-9rnfcSsa9PonFrR-c/s3431/IMG_9519.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="3431" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyVbSk1EL5tHlmAfHRtPUq-Z_pkiAGbq5cBjcgVSk8itjnKtkfPkI5QzxDUY_q6AAwzfC6GCiUFfhKKtIs38gHIFOLy_iRjWHWvr9FsQ0FH82oDMBZCjYaYFS4KZ-q93APhK3qZRhhdK_gl08gm0uN6S97CQIoTZbrmFMncL4F-9rnfcSsa9PonFrR-c/w400-h249/IMG_9519.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7tWUqMRE6-C-r8EEl7FOZw2zilAxaCZh0Ks4qAD4g_yqlQApZ5S7LgakXzCK2f6GTcKq_vll9shchPDD-A4mGcfYkqP7q6_D67lvlVogxiXGCao5y6-Q0EzXPOUPjJ46bqy_YNhEtywbujj7rzYHAGtpEcKMwUKlZOsNUX6IZhHY7mpI1-ArH8Di1gc/s2913/IMG_9520.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2913" data-original-width="2326" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7tWUqMRE6-C-r8EEl7FOZw2zilAxaCZh0Ks4qAD4g_yqlQApZ5S7LgakXzCK2f6GTcKq_vll9shchPDD-A4mGcfYkqP7q6_D67lvlVogxiXGCao5y6-Q0EzXPOUPjJ46bqy_YNhEtywbujj7rzYHAGtpEcKMwUKlZOsNUX6IZhHY7mpI1-ArH8Di1gc/w320-h400/IMG_9520.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NGWcBkckhX9eSXfnhEjD-zsOFV3oEDPUPjCOI2sQZLYaPUzYQAyYWYXbIa32OnYNGtsBobYlRkvspry0SgBUjay3rCEAb1zyIDf5rW2sDI07y_l4V9j4_0pXl5t5CuctLz-BXibpUZW7m8zQMfZGH1QOf-MPa904hETljLolkkTXjEKIGtTUCKCHVHk/s2593/IMG_9521.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2593" data-original-width="2317" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NGWcBkckhX9eSXfnhEjD-zsOFV3oEDPUPjCOI2sQZLYaPUzYQAyYWYXbIa32OnYNGtsBobYlRkvspry0SgBUjay3rCEAb1zyIDf5rW2sDI07y_l4V9j4_0pXl5t5CuctLz-BXibpUZW7m8zQMfZGH1QOf-MPa904hETljLolkkTXjEKIGtTUCKCHVHk/w358-h400/IMG_9521.jpeg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Cheers</p><p>Matt</p>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com019 Pl. Cheverus, 53100 Mayenne, France48.3065772 -0.622921619.996343363821154 -35.7791716 76.616811036178845 34.5333284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416268932748932194.post-24933611778407360392023-08-16T19:46:00.003+02:002023-08-16T19:46:45.080+02:00Terrain Tuesday industrial building <p> </p><h2 style="text-align: center;"> Courier despatch building </h2><div>Completed the first of my model train HO scale modern buildings, I am quite happy with the result, I would like to add signage from 1980s West Germany, I was thinking Hermes perhaps. Also thinking about a magnetic one so I switch it out for several locations . </div><div><br /></div><div>I commenced by painting the brick with red and and the concrete in grey. I then used a sponge to put splotch's with lighter colours. Then a ink wash to bring it together. I then use Tamiya weathering paste and made a heavy wash to push into the brick work, then wiped off with a QTip working in sections, the guttering, down pipes and windows then were done. Finally a green wash to show moss then some flowers and shrubs. I made the roofs removable for figure placement. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am considering also building a security fenced yard and carpark, plus add box’s pallets etc and a garbage bin. </div><div><br /></div><div>Onto the next lot, iconic WW2 DDay buildings next. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKiKIglDp1-ca8GEkmn148Od1RsQCZC6B9qxC0RQZMq3BttcR68PT3hKSoyuD8zMPKHVxx7JAAMUvLCjCJ47zIpNW8xYGS-Ytgg-u1DN1osyOq2ww-3YQbCS4B8Qf7BqF0YADUj2H4cqHzF4wTRE-mLM4ahimzdVhYfe-CmYY0em1zIisWv1DX_Mei4Q/s4025/IMG_9432.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2258" data-original-width="4025" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKiKIglDp1-ca8GEkmn148Od1RsQCZC6B9qxC0RQZMq3BttcR68PT3hKSoyuD8zMPKHVxx7JAAMUvLCjCJ47zIpNW8xYGS-Ytgg-u1DN1osyOq2ww-3YQbCS4B8Qf7BqF0YADUj2H4cqHzF4wTRE-mLM4ahimzdVhYfe-CmYY0em1zIisWv1DX_Mei4Q/w400-h225/IMG_9432.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i1ghtXwBU1Ybg3DBOSyWTwW3RM6musevUcp51MrATpLFDJrbqxwwOskZnqJg5xtj_nilDkGNaB-X_H_qhAif4DYYJh5YW73BlXumyEO4-iWNlXSwjvTjX3_ipnM3JN5lHRRrdCu34V4s2uLH0dC7q-1BRxirJgEfU88bvYvFn_y3eJPALtTmCTI8s4o/s3212/IMG_9434.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1868" data-original-width="3212" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i1ghtXwBU1Ybg3DBOSyWTwW3RM6musevUcp51MrATpLFDJrbqxwwOskZnqJg5xtj_nilDkGNaB-X_H_qhAif4DYYJh5YW73BlXumyEO4-iWNlXSwjvTjX3_ipnM3JN5lHRRrdCu34V4s2uLH0dC7q-1BRxirJgEfU88bvYvFn_y3eJPALtTmCTI8s4o/w400-h233/IMG_9434.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjGrkeDuWt2rUeIk3HUfjhsAKKcVIRZcbTGp1oq3MIu0TmMTCzaFsk73hUtuxiaTVlzIkIiIy1SIxPwu9_OqR7-LT0c1BFGcXEz4pY6Y6tf2fx5YfpsWe7Xp09Ggc2X-XtjI--zFXogVMX6uALAUS1kW5ong6wD5T0cpvIJwmec7bYwUNnBsvA4uhtvs/s3860/IMG_9436.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2342" data-original-width="3860" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjGrkeDuWt2rUeIk3HUfjhsAKKcVIRZcbTGp1oq3MIu0TmMTCzaFsk73hUtuxiaTVlzIkIiIy1SIxPwu9_OqR7-LT0c1BFGcXEz4pY6Y6tf2fx5YfpsWe7Xp09Ggc2X-XtjI--zFXogVMX6uALAUS1kW5ong6wD5T0cpvIJwmec7bYwUNnBsvA4uhtvs/w400-h243/IMG_9436.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCaa4xlYsw4Z4fmMoL_nDFgXchrKzaZEy3L9zuuMVuPkKxcsnDxBVVsaHqHZKdegvcs8TAOPgaqo1VhbNwbXPW4MP_eL83-rHIPI12OpMIDgsU9G2YZYbY-tC3uVDOIoBxlUdzdqtws8z4JIsU5VRSL4VgrX4wuv_pLOtUuW4PQVbEHiHTDMK___Gwfk/s3312/IMG_9437.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2462" data-original-width="3312" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCaa4xlYsw4Z4fmMoL_nDFgXchrKzaZEy3L9zuuMVuPkKxcsnDxBVVsaHqHZKdegvcs8TAOPgaqo1VhbNwbXPW4MP_eL83-rHIPI12OpMIDgsU9G2YZYbY-tC3uVDOIoBxlUdzdqtws8z4JIsU5VRSL4VgrX4wuv_pLOtUuW4PQVbEHiHTDMK___Gwfk/w400-h297/IMG_9437.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers</div><div>Matt </div><div><br /></div>Bluewillowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826519858479170953noreply@blogger.com0