Sunday, 4 January 2015

15mm modern Mercenary force

Over the holidays I also worked on my mercenary force for modern African skirmish games ("Wild Geese").  All the figures are from Peter Pig in 15mm.  Most are from the AK-47 regulars in berets range, supplemented by some professional AT-4/LAW armed figures in bush hats.  There are also a handful of Vietnam range US special forces troops with LMGs and grenade launchers, plus an Australian radio operator in beret.  From the back there are 5 10-man units, each with an officer in red beret plus 2 LMGs and an AT-4 with 6 men armed with FN/SLRs.  These would comprise the core force for the "Wild Geese" units originally envisaged in the book by Daniel Carney, although this would drop to 4 units according to the film version.  At the front is an HQ unit of 8 men, including a figure carrying a belt-fed HMG (which appear in both the "Wild Geese" book and film) plus a hand held SAM, radio operator and figures in red berets for Janders and Faulkner.  Behind are two 5-man scouting sections.

They are painted NATO green with flat earth, Iraqi sand and German cammo light green patches, green ochre berets except the officers with flat red, NATO black weapons dry brushed basalt grey, khaki grey pouches, packs and webbing.  They need some static grass adding to the bases and they are done.  For transport, in the film they used a pair of open topped Land Rovers plus three Bedford lorries, so I'll have to start searching for suitable vehicles for these.


The troops in more detail including the kneeling Janders and the menacing figure wielding the HMG.


Faulkner, with hand raised, plus the hand held SAM operator (far right).


The regular troops armed with FN/SLRs.


Commanders, AT-4 figures and LMGs.


I'm going to put together a campaign based around this force using scenes from the "Wild Geese" book and film and the original book and film "The Dark of the Sun" by Wilbur Smith (film starring Rod Taylor link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_of_the_Sun ).  For the latter, I'll need a train in 15mm.  For the "Wild Geese" scenarios I'll need a Douglas DC-3 Dakota in 15mm (maybe Zvezda).

Thanks for looking.

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8 comments:

  1. Richard Naylor4 January 2015 at 10:28

    Very good Andy, let's hope they get in a few more missions than the wild geese in the film managed!

    I've been tempted by some kind of African Imagination type campaign including mercenaries like these for some time now but just haven't got around to it yet. I found this chaos blog quite inspiring for that sort of campaign http://irishserb.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/my-15mm-fictional-african-campaign.html.

    Cheers
    Richard

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  2. Andy Canham4 January 2015 at 10:43

    Hi Richard, thanks. I can see them making an appearance in quite a few games using AK-47 and Force on Force. Thanks for the link to Irish Serb's site, that looks like a good source for ideas.

    I'm working up some similar factions, in addition to the Mercenaries, I've got US Marines and Soviet Motor Rifle infantry for foreign intervention forces, plus some French Foreign Legion in the pipeline. Also got an Israeli force for AIW scenarios. I'll put together a hardened militia force and a professional force as well, if nothing else because I like the figures. I also like the police units on Irish Serb's site, so might have to try some test figures - maybe using some spare US Vietnam figures.

    Thanks again for that useful source.

    Cheers, Andy

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  3. Beast 44a4 January 2015 at 16:58

    Very cool inspiring me to do a modern version of this.

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  4. Andy Canham4 January 2015 at 21:55

    Thanks Beast 44a. Let us know how you get on.

    Good luck, Andy

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  5. Terry5 January 2015 at 19:24

    Hi Andy, This is a good 'period'. I used to game it when I played Peter Pig's AK47 rules although I would now use Force on Force if I still had the armies. For the Bedford lorries, QRF have them in 15mm under Postwar British Softskins where there are also Landrovers. Piggy also make a Longbase Landrover, too.
    If you are interested, I have a rare un-made 1:100th Doyusha C47/DC3 plastic kit in excellent condition which I'm looking to sell. This is the military version and was the last kit that Piggy sold before his supply dried up.
    Good luck with the project.
    Regards,
    Terry

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  6. Tales from Shed HQ5 January 2015 at 20:32

    Hi Andy,
    They look great, like Richard N I have always fancied doing a fictional African campaign. More so now I have the FonF 'Bush Wars' book. Was planning on using 20mm but might use 15mm if others are using 15mm then we could get together for a game in the future.
    Cheers
    Richard P

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  7. Andy Canham5 January 2015 at 23:01

    Hi Terry,
    Thanks for the info, QRF was going to be my go to site for the vehicles. Just need to get Christmas overindulgence out the way. We play AK-47 and FonF at the club - I definitely prefer the feel of FonF. Not used it in 15mm, but use 15s for Tomorrows War so sure it will work well.

    Hi Richard,
    The Peterpig AK-47 range is pretty good - I've got Israeli, Soviet Motor Rifle, USMC and Mercenary forces. It would be pretty easy to put together forces for South Africa, Rhodesia, Portugese colonial, Belgian paratroopers, etc as well as generic militia, regulars, professionals etc. Add in the QRF vehicle and figure ranges and there is excellent coverage of most useful forces. I'm basing everything up for FonF, but AK-47 is getting popular at the club with guys tired of FoW but used to 15s. Ian, Ben, myself and several others are playing regularly now. Love to fit some games in when we get the chance.

    Cheers, Andy

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  8. Tales from Shed HQ7 January 2015 at 21:27

    Hi Andy,
    The old Ztum-Setum AK47 site used converted ERTL Thomas the Tank Engine range toys for a 15mm scale railway using TT scale track.
    Cheers
    Richard P

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