Sunday, December 28, 2008

It's the Great War, not the Boer War (a wish list of sorts)

Here's what I would like to see from the various manufacturers out there covering this time period. Nothing obscure (no South Persia Rifles or Bikanir Camel Corps) just necessary odds and ends to accurately play this theater:
  1. It would be great if they would make an effort to release all appropriate figures necessary to construct a normal Infantry Platoon. This would mean that British / Imperial Infantry would have packs that included Lewis Gunners, Rifle grenadiers, Vickers teams, NCOs armed with rifles and Bomber teams.
  2. Mountain Guns-- These were common on both sides and would be much more likely to show up on-table than the field artillery that's commonly available.
  3. Hotchkiss Rifles (LMGs)-- from 1916 all British and Indian cavalry had these LMGs available at the troop level. Releasing cavalry without these weapons makes it impossible to replicate the cavalry tactics of this theater. At present no one makes these.
  4. Signals teams-- It would be great to be able to integrate these figures into our games. Artillery spotters, telephonists, heliograph operators, figures shooting verey lights and other signalists(?) would allow a more appropriate use of off-board artillery and other scenario specific possibilities. Communications difficulties were often a central part of why Great War battles played out the way they did. Also some rules (notably If the Lord Spares Us) depend on signals bases as part of their C & C rules.
  5. Turkish Cavalry-- Only one company makes these, and they are not lancers.
  6. Hussars-- several regiments were posted in Mesopotamia
  7. Imperial Camel Corps-- mounted & dismounted; 'nuff said

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Scott,

Good suggestions and I see from Soapy's blog that some of your wishes will know doubt come true.

Don't forget the ANZACs were armed with Hotchkiss LMGs/automatic rifles too.

I just would like to see the Asienkorps armed with the Bergman LMG 15 n/A.

Scott Pasha said...

What are you seeing on Soapy's blog that I'm not, Helen? Were all ANZACs armed with Hotchkisses instead of Lewis guns, or just the mounted units? And I'm with you on the Bermans.

Anonymous said...

Hi Scott,

If you look at Soapy's photo of the camel and numerous figurines you can spot grenadiers, NCOs etc.

The ANZACs had both weapons. Don't forget there were the the Light Horse plus the mounted cameleers. The ANZAC mounted infantry (ALH) were equipped with one hotchkiss per troop with a crew of four. There are twelve hotchkiss per regiment.

Vickers MGs were grouped together.

Helen

Scott Pasha said...

Right you are. When first looking at that photo I was mesmerized by the Arab Ottoman infantry.
I think Soapy's bomber packs have gotten me in a tizzy. They are so perfect. I'm impatient for more that will work with my Brits in Tropical uniform and my sepoys.