Naval Spetsnaz battalions

Naval Spetsnaz battalions 

Kholuy spetsnaz by G Rava

The Baltic Fleet was supported by two Naval Spetsnaz battalions (the other fleets only had 1). These were called Naval Recon Points of Special Purpose, of which 457th and 461st were in the Baltic. These were essentially the Soviet Union's special forces, trained as frogmen that were arctic and mountain warfare trained and also fired from torpedos and used mini submarines. They were nicknamed the 'Kholuy'. Each fleet's missions were of course specific, but they generally followed a similar structure of two combat detachments; the first for underwater sabotage and reconnaissance, and the second for operations on land with a sea landing. In wartime, their squad structure was expected to form into groups of 12 for military operations, and groups of 6 for reconnaissance and sabotage. To support 336th Marine Divisions landings, we will bless them with a 12 figure Morskaya Spetsnaz unit using Elhiem figures. 

Cold War Soviet Naval Aviation

Авиация военно-морского флота Soviet Naval Aviation

Naval aviation support for the Marines brigades for my Gotland Whisky on the Rocks scenario. The air support for the 336th Naval Brigade will receive air support for my Gotland scenario. I have purchased most of the helicopters and aircraft I want to build for the scenario.


During the 80s the Navy had available two anti shipping and submarine helicopter regiments to support the Navy's Baltic Fleet. The 396th and 745th helicopter regiments comprised of Ka-27's, Ka-25's and Mi-14's. The Mi-14 were predominantly were again anti shipping but did have a cargo variant, the Mi-14GP. I am planning one KA25 for my task force. Unfortunately the Ka-29 helicopter is not available for the scenario, as it comes into service just after in 1984. The Ka-29 had multiple variants, able to be armed with rocket pods, Kokon ATGM, UPK pods, 30mm 24A2 pod (same as Ka-50), 7.62 gatling gun, etc. Not only that, but the Ka-29 is better than the Mi-24 in one key area: the ability to transport fully armed crew while being laden with all its the weaponry.


The 55th Independent Helicopter Regiment (55OBVP) was stationed nearby on the Baltic coast in Poland, so we can add support from here. In 1989 it was blessed with 15 Mi-8 and 37 Mi-24D. This will breakdown to three Mi-8 and two Mi-24D.

For conventional air support the 66th Naval Assault Aviation Regiment (66 MSHAP) with 45 Su-17M3's. These provide a powerful multirole asset to the battlegroup, and could theoretically be armed with guided Kh29's air to ground HE for buildings, airfields and hard defence positions, Anti tank and cluster bombs. Marine Assault aviation regiment 170 MSHAP and 240 MSHAP each had 29 Su-24's, which can be armed with ground attack bombs, and [SEAD]. Finally, 871 IPA would provide ASF support in the form of the Mig-23MLD [AA1] and Mig-23MLD [AA2].

The Northern Fleet's aviation was significant, thanks to 88th and 279th Regiments providing a healthy quantity of Mig-23, Mig-27, Su-25 and Yak-38M VTOL aircraft. This covers most bases in terms of air support; the Mig-23MLD [AA1] provides air cover, Mig-27M [AT] and Mig-27K [SEAD] cover anti-tank and SEAD roles, Su-25 can cover [RKT] and more [AT], and the Yak-38M (being the only battlegroup likely to feature this plane) should come in all variants, including [UPK], [RKT], [HE], [CLU], and [NPLM], and possibly some multi-role variations of those if desired.

I have two Hind 24D and one KA27 helicopters to build in Naval camo, one Yak38M, a SU 24 light bomber and one MiG 27K. 

Cheers

Matt

336-я отдельная гвардейская бригада морской пехоты - 336th Separate Guards Marine Brigade

336-я отдельная гвардейская бригада морской пехоты 

336th Separate Guards Marine Brigade

Another project running behind is my separate Naval Brigade project. I will be using my Esci plastic soviet infantry with a number Elhiem metal for this project with metal, plastic artillery and 3d printed resin, Diecast and plastic vehicles. 

The 336th consisted of three battalions of Naval Infantry equipped with the amphibious BTR 60 armored personnel carriers, a tank battalion with two companies of PT-76 amphibious light tanks and a company of T-55 main battle tanks. Artillery support was provided by a battery of BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers and a battery of anti-tank guided missiles, while air defense consisted of a platoon of ZSU-23-4 Shilka anti-aircraft guns and a platoon of 9K31 Strela-1 surface-to-air missiles. Support units included support, reconnaissance, engineer, and NBC defense battalions.

Brigade Headquarters

BTR-60 R-145BM 

MTLB tow 2B9 Vasileks

Bdrm-2 konkurs 

Gaz 66

Ural 4320 truck 

877th Naval Infantry Battalion

BTR 60 PB
BTR 60 PB

BTR 60 PB

2S9-1 Sviristelka (marine version)

878th Naval Infantry Battalion

BTR 60 PB
BTR 60 PB

BTR 60 PB

2S9-1 Sviristelka

879th Naval (Air Landing) Infantry Battalion

Parachutist Morskaya Pekhota would be GAZ-66 mounted

 Konkurs and SPG-9 teams UAZ 469

2S12 120mm mortars towed by UAZ 469

AGS-17 teams UAZ 469

884th Naval Infantry Battalion

BTR 60 PB

BTR 60 PB

BTR 60 PB

2S9-1 Sviristelka

112th Tank Battalion

T-55 AMD 

MTU-20 bridgelayer 

1st Company PT-76 x 3 

2nd Company PT-76 x 3 

3rd Company T-55AM x 3

887th Reconnaissance Battalion

BRDM-2's, PT-76's, Gaz 66 and Razv

2 x Mi8T

1612th Artillery Battalion

IV18 Erable -1 Command BTR -60

IV119BTR D 

BM 21 GRAD

BM 21 GRAD

D30 122mm Ural 4320

D1 152mm Ural 4320

Mor. 2S12 120mm  - UAZ-469 (airborne element) 

1618th Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion

ZSU-23-4M3 Biryusa and BRDM Strela-1.

1615th Multi-Rocket Launcher Artillery Battalion

2 x 2S1 Gvozdika

1621st Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion 

2 x MT-12 Rapira 100mm's

2 x BRDM-2 Konkurs

2 x MT-LB Shturm-S.

Engineer battalion

Sapper company 8, 2 x flamethrowers 

UR -67  mine clearance vehicle 

Brem 2 recovery vehicle 

T-55O flame thrower tank 

MTLB x2

PTS-M Mun logistics vehicle.

Baor - exercise pics

 Baor exercise pics 

This week working on the chateau renovation we have a laborer who was a ex tank driver/loader/gunner working for us, he brought me in the photos he had to have a look. Kevin also let me take some photos of his collection. 

Recovery in Germany 

Open plains of Canada 

Canada also

Cheers

Matt

Wip Wednesday 2026 -30 day kit challenge

 Mad March Results 

My focus this past month to assemble kits switched to buildings early in the month after I realised I possibly have 30 unbuilt building kits. So I decided to crack in and get them finished. I also built some Eldar multi part pieces and some modern bits and a aircraft 

 16 bits completed already , one more than required! 

Cheers

Matt

9th SS Project - Sdkfz 251/1 part 1

 

 9th SS - sdkfz 251/1 

This year adding halftracks to my  9th SS project. A plastic soldier company 1/72 kit, with SHQ stowage bits added. Decals from Skytrex and Plastic Soldier Company, quite happy with the camo, I need to add another gloss then matt varnish over the decals to dull it down a bit more. Must crack on with the other 9 vehicles and also complete the crews

Cheers

Matt

Swedish Terrängbil m/42

 

 Swedish Terrängbil m/42 

Completed the Gecko heavy industries miniatures 1/72 Swedish Terrängbil m/42, a reasonable kit that requires some care to assemble, and requires. Hand rails to be added with wire or plastic sprue. A simple medium green with panel lining and some weathering chalks, Although I think I will add the panel lines again as they seem to be lost with the matt varnish. Stowage a mix of plastic and SHQ bits, Overall though quite happy, I have two more to build of these for my Swedes, one will join UNOC for my Congo project. 

Cheers

Matt 

Mad March - 30 day Kit build challenge

 

 Mad March 

Every year I try to reduce the stash, I have a lot of unbuilt kits, particularly modern and ww2, plus some ww1 aircraft. I also suffer from half built kit syndrome, as I like to paint the interiors, the pilots or drivers then assemble the kit. So with that in mind I'm starting the 30 day kit build, if you like join me and blog about it, steal the picture below if you like

Join me if you wish on Facebook, Blog and Instagram using the tag

#30daykitchallenge

Or join the fun on the

The Wargamers Forum



RULES

Goals are simple, you will build your part built and new kits during the 30 day challenge:
Any material (plastic, resin, metal, wood).
New in the box or partially built, it matters not.
Gun, tank, truck, aircraft, ship, figure animal? Your call.
Kit must be basically finished, based if you prefer that, to qualify as a build.
The completed kit must be ready for primer.
Resin and metal upgradesets can be applied after the build.....the goal is to get kits built and ready for primer, not to finish them with paint and varnish etc.
You decide how many kits/models you want to build in the 30 day period.
You set the penalty for not meeting your goal (and after that it is the honor system)

Anything beyond that is up to you

My goal is the period from 1/3/2026 up to 31/3/2026, I plan to work on a number of kits, until I have completed my goal. My goal is grand total of 16 kits, If I can build more kits in the month, then bonus.


My penalty is that if I don't make my target, is not to buy another kit for the rest of the year :(.

So, starting with Day #1 (1st March 2025), I'm starting with some Allied 1/72 landing craft kits first then onto some more vehicles and some aircraft.

Cheers

Matt

The Leopard Battalion - 10th Commando in the Congo

 The Leopard Battalion -

 10 Commando in the Congo 

The iconic leopard "Kansimba" commandos of the Congo, led by Major Jean "Black Jack" Schramme. The design of the original 2nd pattern patch features a jumping leopard motif, superimposed onto an outlines of the Katangan state (red), Lake Tanganyika (blue), and the distinctive Katanga cross (locally called the "handa").


Tracing it's origins to "Leopard Group" in 1961 for service in during the Katanga crisis. It was originally formed up of white volunteers from South Africa and Rhodesia, but was augmented by a force of black Katangan Gendarmes as the unit withdrew to Angola in early 1963. Upon the outbreak of the Simba Rebellion in 1964, the unit was fully incorporated back into Armée Nationale Congolaise (ANC) as 10 Commando (Kansimba). The unit served throughout the war helping to liberate large swathes of the country from the ruthless rule of the lawless Simbas rebels.


Upon the outbreak of the Mercenary's Revolt in 1967, 10 Commando turned against General Mobutu's ANC in continued favor of Moise Tshombe. The unit scored some early successes under Schramme's renegade command, the unit was critically under-supplied. As ANC forces regrouped, 10 Commando was largely destroyed as a fighting force by the fall of 1967 by the elite ANC 2nd Parachute Brigade. A large number the surviving 10 Commando men of Lunda descent fled to Angola, where many would fight for the Portuguese against communist rebels. Schramme and the white volunteers largely departed for Europe permanently by 1968.

I plan to add a command unit of 5 figures and two sections of 8 figures to my collection armed with SLR and Mag 58 from Britannia 

Cheers

Matt

2026 projects list

 2026 is upon us and future projects are starting to flood my ideas of what is possible to do this year. So I commenced a list over the last few days of possible projects. This year I do want to complete a few of the smaller armies and add additions to my other collections. 

In no real order of priority 

• Main Project US 2nd Armoured and 90th infantry Division additions of 18 Sherman’s, 12 halftracks, 12 trucks, 6 jeeps, SP artillery, towed artillery, 90 infantry 
• American airborne 83rd 3 battalions for Arnhem (underway) 
• Last Levy Berlin 1945 - complete third volkssturm battalion, add ATgun
• 1940 Belgians 1 battalion of infantry, 1 battalion of chassuers, 1 battery of heavy guns, 4 tanks, two aircraft
• Polish 1939 infantry two battalions of infantry 100 infantry, 1 battery of guns, 6 trucks, 6 tanks 
• French 1940 18 tanks, 12 trucks, two battalions of  80 infantry, two heavy artillery battery’s
• British tank guards regiment 
• Panzer Lehr, one battalion of infantry (underway), 10 panzers, 9 halftracks 
• 21st Panzer 10 tanks, 15 halftracks, 6 trucks, light vehicles 
• 9th SS element additions for Arnhem, battalion of infantry and vehicles. 
• 346th infantry Division, 60 infantry, sp guns, artillery and vehicles. 
• Desert Storm Iraqis 6 tanks, 12 APCs, 1x aircraft 
• Desert Storm American 30 infantry and 7 Bradley APCs 
• Warpac Soviet Marines 90 figs (almost complete) 3 x T55s, 4 x PT76, 1 aircraft, two helicopters 
• Warpac 90 soviet infantry, 9 BTRs, 6 BDRM, 9 BMPs, tank regiment 15 T80s,  2 Shilka, 2 Nona, 1 helicopter 
• BAOR 90 infantry, 6 APCs, 1 light artillery battery, one rapier battery, one bloodhound battery, two aircraft
• Egyptian trucks and APCs (80% complete) one helicopter 
• Syrian infantry x 80, 7 x tanks, 8 APCs, one aircraft 
• Israeli infantry x 40, 6 tanks, 4 APCs, 2 x aircraft, 2 x helicopters 
• Congo crisis - more Congolese rebels, UN and mercenaries, vehicles, buildings  and aircraft.
• Gaslands Apocalypse vehicles 
• Terrain - ww2, Cold War and Middle East 

Cheers

Matt

Happy New Year 2026

  

Cheers

Matt