Syria 1941

[hamsterking]

This campaign, which pitches a mixed Allied Force against a Vichy French one , has been on my list of "really interesting things to look at" list for a while now. So I started to look at it in detail and see how far I could get with Pendraken figures. I'd be using the BKC so some lack of detailed weaponry choices among the infantry would not be a big hassle.

The Allied side was largely Australian but also included British , Indian , Czechoslovakian. Gurkhas , Arabs and Free French. The existing 8th Army figures would break the back of the required troop types but lack of Australians in Slouch Hats, French in Kepis and specifically WW2 Indians and Gurkhas is unfortunate. Perhaps drawing some of the figure types from the WW1 ranges might help with the Australians , and Indians?

The Allies also deployed some horse riding cavalry including ( I think) the North Somerset Yeomanry , some Moroccan Spahis and a group of Circassian Cavalry.

The Vichy French included French Colonial Troops , Algerian , Moroccan, Tunisian and Senegalese Tirailleur , various Spahi units and a Foreign Legion battalion. I think you could get a reasonable approximation of this force using French WW2 figures , Moroccans from the SCW range and Askari from the WW1. Curiously it looks like the best ringer for the Spahi might come from the Franco-Prussian War range. (FPW5)

I'd be interested to know if anyone has tackled this campaign and/or had some ideas of ideal figure swaps for the various troop types. Any advice on source material on the campaign would also be appreciated.

Dave Turner

[paulr]

The Free French forces also included a Foreign Legion battalion which at one point was ordered to capture a hill held by the Vichy Foreign Legion battalion.

An 'arrangement' was agreed and after very limited firing the hill was duly captured.

A fascinating campaign with a wide range of interesting formations. The Free French used a lot of ex-Vichy equipment after the campaign.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Lots of stuff about this on thewargamesforum from Richard Barber in 20mm, be worth a look there. Interesting chacters as well, Slim was a Brigader - and John Masters a Leuitenant in one of his battalions.

[sultanbev]

The book:
Invasion Syria 1941 by Hendi de Wailly, IB Tauris & Co Ltd (2016) ISBN 978-1-78453-449-3

is very good, it's a translation of French sources, from which i was able to update some MicroMark lists, if you type in Syria 1941 to the search box at the Wargames Vault you'll see a selection,

Mark

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Sounds a lot of fun. Look forwards to seeing the scraps

[kustenjaeger]

I'll have to look out for the Invasion Syria book.

Slim was an acting major general in Syria commanding 10th Indian Division.

Regards

Edward