Second Sino-Japanese War Chinese forces

Chinese 1937-39

Another project I completed whilst away from the blog was a small force of Chinese forces to fight by large Japanese collection, so would be Second Sino-Japanese war or early WW2. 

Those forces provide an interesting challenge for the wargamer; the country was still recovering from the Warlord era, and Chiang-Kai-Shek had sought support from the Nazi regime in Germany and later, the Soviet Union (which of course links to the wider strategic picture of which Khalkin Gol was part). As such, Chinese forces were a mish-mash of uniforms, equipment. Organisation was left very much to local warlords. 

The force I have based my collection on is post-Shanghai, where most of the better troops were lost, but not so late that there was nothing left of them, or the Americans had started to supply them. So, we can place this force in the 1937-39 kind of era. I haven't gone with any troops who were only armed with hand weapons!

The figures are also a mish-mash - some Foundry, some 1:72 miniatures, some Lancashire games, with some EWM and Zvezda early Germans standing in for some of the support weapons, too.

The Regimental HQ, with hand painted banner.

Regimental support weapons. These were well prized by the Chinese and kept at a regimental level.

German influence here: Pak 36 A/T guns. Notice mule transport as standard.

Oerlikon 20mm AA cannon. 

Armoured(!) support. Took a little bit of liberty here as they probably weren't serving at the same time/together, but the Chinese did have access to these. 

A PzI, T26 and two Cv33 tankettes.

Artillery was very limited to the Chinese, including the rounds. As such just one old Krupp 75mm.

And infantry! I read that Chinese tended to have smaller companies (I can't remember where to be honest) and so there are only 6 figures per company.

And, they have seen action down at NBHW! Please see the photos and report here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.6013540088698817&type=3&locale=en_GB

If this is new to you and interests you, I started with the Osprey books on the subject (The Chinese Army, Chinese Civil War Armies and Chinese Soldier vs Japanese Soldier) whilst please do also look at the 'Wargaming China' YouTube channel.

Thank you for reading.

Saker gun

 A quick addition to my TYW project - a Saker gun, classed as a Medium gun in Pike and Shotte.

I’ve put this together because yes it is part of my army list for Rocroi, but also as a friend is putting on Lutzen soon and asked if had/could get a Medium cannon for it to supplement what he needed. Happy to oblige!

New Project: Thirty Years' War French!

Just before the move and all that related shenanigans, I began a project at the end of 2022 to collect a French army for the latter period of the Thirty Years' War, particularly to refight the battle of Rocroi1643.

Using the scenario from the Pike and Shotte supplement 'The Devil's Playground' the units I require are:

Louis de Bourbon, Prince of Conde

Right Wing - 3 Units of Gendarme Cuirassiers, 1 Unit of Harquebusiers, 1 Unit of Croat Cavalry

Main Body - 8 Regiments (1 unit of Pikes and 2 of Muskets each), 3 Light Cannon, 2 Medium Cannon

Left Wing - 3 Units of Gendarme Cuirassiers, 1 Unit of Cavalry

Reserve - 1 Unit of Guard Gendarme, 1 Guard Regiment, 1 Infantry Regiment.

Here are my units so far! Mostly Warlord plastics, some Warlord metals, and some Perry and Redoubt. I've currently approached the foreign units in French service, as although 1898 Miniatures have recently released a range, French miniatures are quite rare. 

Thus, the first unit is the unit of Croat Cavalry, de Raab's unit:

Next, the Guard unit - the Guardes Ecossais

A couple of light guns:

And, one of a couple of Swiss regiments in French service - hence more armoured - the Von Roll Regiment:

Next, I am working on a simple Infantry Regiment to join the Guardes Ecossais in the reserve, which was a mixed regiment comprised of 3 other regiments, and after that probably some German Harquebusiers to represent the Weimarian troops left in French service after the death of Bernard of Saxe-Weimar in 1639. By that time I will then begin the French units. I also have the Warlord figure of the Prince of Conde but I want some extra bits for a little diorama for him. Only right for him!