I've finally completed my Slovak Mobile Division forces. Initially for Rostov, as often happens wargaming projects can take somewhat a life of their own! In this case, as I read and researched the Slovaks I discovered that for most of 1942 their armour was in Slovakia being 'refitted' or perhaps kept off of the front line? Nevertheless, I would also like to use the Slovaks for other battles, so I decided to supplement them with some armour and air support.
As such they are a bit of an almagam between the 1941 Pilfousek Brigade and the 1942 Mobile Division; and the battle of Lipovec may be on the horizon!
Headquarters
Here we have the Division/Brigade commander, with a radio operator (both customised Germans from Brittania miniatures) and an RH models Slovak. The light mortar crew are Early War Miniatures Polish which have been adapted, as is the anti tank rifle. Actually since painting the AT rifle I found out that the Slovaks didn't use them, but will still keep it for a bit more AT capability. Might change it for an AT gun in the future! The staff car is a Tatra T97 by Attack models.
Attached to the HQ unit is the artillery OP team (RH models) with a Tatra T57 Kubelwagen (Attack models) and an Oerlikon 20mm AA gun, which is an Early War Miniatures Dutch model which has been customised. They are towed by a Ready to Roll Praga truck.
Recce
The Recce elements are the biggest mix of 1941 & 1942. A motorised infantry company, another on bicycles and an Oa.Vz.30 Armoured Car.
The motorised infantry company is composed of RH models infantry and a Ready to Roll Praga truck.
The cyclists are from Raventhorpe, both the mounted and dismounted versions are shown here.
The Oa.Vz.30 is from Kora models. It was a resin kit which required an awful lot of work. This A/C was only used in 1941 as was soon found to be obsolete. Nevertheless it will provide some machine gun support for the infantry elements above.
Motorised Infantry Battalion
The motorised infantry battalion has 3 infantry companies, all are RH models and Ready to Roll Praga trucks. The Slovaks painted a light blue band around the rim of their helmets so they weren't mistaken for Russians.
Support Weapons
The motorised battalion is supported by an Anti Tank company, 80mm mortar and machine gun team.
Again, the figures are RH models and Ready to Roll trucks. The 37mm Anti tank gun is a Raventhorpe model after the first attempt - a converted EWM Bofors - went in the bin!
Artillery
I have 2 batteries: one of Skoda 75mm mountain guns and another of German LeFH18 105mm guns. The latter were procured in time for Rostov but in 1941 the Slovaks used their own 100mm guns. These will have to be off table or the 105s will have to 'step in' for them!
The Skoda 75mm guns are from RH models as are the gun crews, while the horse limbers are actually Brittania miniatures German WW1 limbers but look similar (ish) to the Slovak limbers.
The LeFH18 guns are some Fortress Models kits I picked up in a bargain bin at Salute this year. RH model crews and limbers as above.
Somehow I ended up with a spare Skoda gun so only one of the guns above are glued down the other comes off so they both can be limbered. I also have some LeFH18s for limbering with my Germans which I will use with the Slovaks too.
Armoured units
The Slovaks used LT vz. 35, LT vz. 38 and LT vz. 40 tanks. The latter two types were broadly similar. These were also used by the Germans as the Pz 35(t) and Pz 38(t). Some tanks, mainly the 35s, were inherited from the Czechoslovakian army and were painted in the three-tone camouflage, but later tanks were painted in an Olive drab. When the main delivery of LT vz. 38 tanks were taken, the first 5 it was noted were in 3 tone camo, the rest in drab. All the tanks were used in 1941, withdrawn shortly after and then sent back to the Division in October 1942 so were not used at Rostov. The tanks here will therefore be used to support the infantry units above for example at Lipovec.
Two LT vz. 38 tanks from Frontline (Pz 38t), painted drab.
A company of LT vz. 35s, in the Czech camo. These are the old Esci Pz 35(t) kits.
Air Support
Air Support for the Fast Division comes in the form of an Avia B-534. This was actually a very good fighter plane at the start of the war and in 1937 was second only to the Me109. However, once the British brought out the Hurricane and Spitfire and other countries similarly improved their air forces, the Avia B-534 was soon outclassed. The B-534k could also carry some small bombs for a close support role. The model here is a KP model plane with RS model decals.
I hope you've enjoyed looking at my Slovaks. I'm no expert painter but I'm pretty pleased with how they've turned out. Next up for me is the final 5 French ships for Aboukir Bay, but to leave you here are a couple more photos - one of some Lancer miniature Russian casualty markers painted up as Slovaks, and finally a pic of the Avia B-534 on the stand I made for it flying in support of the LT vz.38s with a Praga following up.
