WW2 British Infantry

[Raider4]

Okay, so Pendraken have a nice range of WW2 Brits for post D-Day Europe. My question is, how long after WW2 are these figures still valid for? Not worried about tanks & other vehicles, just the infantry figures.

Thanks, Martyn

[Sunray]

'Battledress" - was worn up until 1962 - source Digby Smith 'Army uniforms since 1945' (Blandford Press, 1980) p.130  . But the new pattern web came in 1958 although the 44 pattern was still around well into the 70s.   The  olive green combat jacket and trousers was on issue until 1970 (UDR and TA had it until at least 1973) when the DPM was issued.  Paras wore the distinctive Dennison - it changed pattern in late 60s and held onto it until forced in DPM in the early 80s.

Hope this is useful

Sunray out

[fred.]

Aren't the figures in the flat MkII steel helmets? Which started to change to the MkIII "turtle" style in 1944. Post D-Day photos show both in use.

I don't know when post war the earlier ones disappeared.

The other main change would be to the SLR but that would be quite a bit later.

[Sunray]

Good point, the Mk III helmet came in 1944, and on the de-mob of the wartime army, was the regular issue to all service men in a much smaller army. thus the 'earlier marks' disappeared.

The SLR was issued from 1957/58 and the new web at the same time.- the qualification being that the 44 pattern was preferred for the jungle as it did not soak up water like the 58.  Ammo pouches were kept large as section tactics were unchanged and the Bren was reinvented as the LMG 7.62, and as such soldiered on until the mid 80s !   The visible difference is the straight mag.

[Doug]

No I was in the British Army in the 1970's we still used the 30 round curved magazine and the heavy clumbersom box to carry an extra 12 x 30 round mags

[Sunray]

Yeah,you are right mate.  I too served in the 70s,  and indeed had a buckshee 29/30 round mag for my SLR !  (useful around XMG) But ...and my memory is mature on this point...it was tailored for the 7.76 round and perhaps NOT as curved as the .303 Bren mag ?  By the 1980s the 30 rd mags seemed to have all but disappered.  The barrel was chromed on the L4-A1 which meant you did not need a spare.. 

I always preferred it to the GPMG

[Raider4]

Thanks for all the replies.

So, as I understand it, the figures are only really accurate for WW2. If they had the later helmet they'd be good for most of the 50's, maybe even early 60's.

Cheers, Martyn

[Sunray]

That's about it Martyn. The Commando range - in berets - might be useful, at 10mm scale you can paint them for jungle - no one will notice the Stens - (although in the jungle they used the Owen),  and yes, the late Bren  with 7.62 rimless has only a slight cruve on the mag - compared to the banana on the .303.   See image at www.deactivated-guns.co.uk

Have you looked at the Aussies in the Vietnam range ? They can paint up for British troops, even IDF and South African. 

Add you vote for a generic 1960-1980s British range -  SLRs, berets, SMGs, Charlie Gs , GPMGs, ...and one with a heavy Bergus Roc...keep Nik happy!

And ..for the purists...an LMG with a 'slightly curved magazine'