Australian M113s and variants in Vietnam

Australian M113s in Vietnam .

The Australian Armoured units had elements serving in South Vietnam for nearly six years. Between 1966 and 1972 the men served in every major operation conducted by the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF), including the Tet Offensive, the 1968 battles for Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral, and the battle of Binh Ba in 1969. Using Armoured Personal Carriers (APCs), the regiment's squadron was a highly mobile force that served throughout Phuoc Tuy province. 

Australian APCs had been serving in Vietnam since 1965: initially with the 1st Troop, A Squadron, 4th/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse Regiment, subsequently re-named the 1st APC Troop; and then with 1st APC Squadron. In January 1967 1st APC Squadron was split one half  became A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment the other 2nd Cavalry Regiment, with the 2nd remaining in Australia for training and rotation. A squadron's 3rd Cavalry regiment strength in South Vietnam at the time was 117: ten officers, 14 warrant officers/sergeants, and 93 other ranks. The squadron's strength increased over time and by August 1971 had grown to 169 men: 15 officers, 22 warrant officers/sergeants, and 132 other ranks. The scorpion symbol though was not adopted until after 1971, originally designed by the mortar troop as the “sting in the tail” of the squadron. 

I have collected the track (M113) in troop order, as much as I can

A Squadron 3rd Cavalry regiment 

“& Tears” call sign three one Alpha 31 ARN 134738

1 Troop

“Blood” call sign three one 31
“Sweat” call sign three one Bravo 31B ARN ……55

“& Tears” call sign three one Alpha 31A ARN 134738

“Tene - Nui” Call sign one one Alpha 11A ARN 134357 two 30 cals 74c turret
“UBEAUT” call sign one two Bravo 12B 

2 troop 

“Tinkerbell” 
“Miss carriage” call sign 
“The Pig” call sign two two Bravo 22B 

3 troop 

"the Good" call sign eight six 86 ARN 84343
"The Bad" call sign eight six Alpha 86A (two 30 cals 74c turret) 
"The Ugly" call sign eight six Bravo

Fire Support troop

In mid-1971 the squadron received six M113A1 Fire Support Vehicles (FSVs), a M113 carrier mounted with a Saladin turret and armed with a 76 mm gun. The majority of the FSVs crew were seconded from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and posted on strength to the 3rd Cavalry Regiments. More heavily armed, the FSVs were still only lightly armoured and were not intended to replace Centurion tanks in offensive tasks. It was felt however, they could relive the Centurions from their role in protecting the fire support bases, thereby allowing the tanks a greater role in supporting 1ATF's operations. 

1971 first four vehicles 
“SANDGROPER” call sign four two (42)
“DENISE” call sign 42A
“COMALCO” call sign 42B 
“TINY TEDDY” call sign four two Charlie 42C

Late 1971 a further two were delivered 
“BEWITCHED” call sign 41
“BEAST BOTHERED” call sign four one Alpha 41A ARN 134711 (on display in Australia) 


I have found one other, not sure if it a rename or new vehicle 
XXXX 

B Sqaudron 3rd Cavalry Regiment 

1 troop 

“The Glen” call sign one three 13  ( T50 Turret fitted )
"The Nympho" ( T 50 turret) one three alpha (13A), ARN 134305

2 troop

“Snoopy” call sign two zero (fitted with T50 turret)
"Denise"
"Shelly" 
“Bronwyn ” call sign two one Alpha 21A 
“Dehydrated” call sign 29 M later renamed in 1972 “Irish Power”

3 troop 

“Z” call sign three zero Alpha 30A
"Cherryboy" call sign three nine M 39M ARN134266
"Gaylord" call sign three three Bravo 33B 


Unplaced M113A1s with T50 turrets.
"Bewildered"
"Foul Boy" 

Support Troops 

106 Field Workshops Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME)


M113A1 Fitters vehicles

“White Winged Warrior” call sign nine eight Alpha 98A
"Puff the magic dragon"(ARN) 134377
“Miss Hellfinger” call sign 98B

Royal Australian Engineers

The 1st Regiment Royal Australian Engineers modified three carriers for anti personnel mine clearance operations, extra armour was fitted to the belly and the sides. Various contraptions were manufactured by RAEME workshops.

Her Majesty’s Armoured Personnel Carrier Flint RAE

1 Troop Royal Australian Engineers

HMAPC Flint ARN134226
HMAPC Steel call sign nine two S 92S was fitted with a small blade 
HMAPC George call sign one two Alpha 12A

cheers 
Matt

NSW Naval Landing Party Boxer rebellion

 Colonial NSW Naval Sailor

As part of my desk clear out of my project drawers I decided over the Christmas break to paint some 54mm figures that are not quite up to modern casting and sculpting. These old school figures allow me to practice on large figures particularly my skin colouring and blending  etc.

I am quite happy with my result although I could of spent more time on the tunic but he will fit in fine on my top shelf of my Louis 17th display porcelain cabinet in the Wargames salon. 

 I do know that he was sculpted by Mike Broadbent (Eureka sculpter ) in his early days, I am guessing 25 odd years ago and Mike gave him to me one day when I was visiting his house. He has sat in my large figure drawer collection for at least that long. 

Cheers

Matt

MOAB Impetus Tournament 2013

On the October long weekend I traveled up to MOAB (mother of all battles) gaming convention, this year I entered the Impetus 300 point 28mm tournament with my Sassanid army. The convention is Sydney's largest wargames convention. The crowds were down, I suspect that the Navy fleet review and the local NRL teams Grand final.  

It was my first competition wargames event in 14 years, an I would like to extend my gratitude to Tarty for organising the event everybody who played in the event.

A pic of the guys, missing Mick though, who only played on Saturday.

My Sassanid army was very small, 1 unit Zayadeen with general attached, 4 CM Savaran, 4 CL and 2 CL elite Savaran, a total of 18 VD, which is very small as I break at nine!

My first game was a tough one and had me asking why I had taken such a small and brittle, Robs Romans taught me a lesson about rear charges and zone of control. Rob eventually won the tournament.

My second game was against a very shooty Indian army, Axels;'s army was beautifully painted, I drew out his elephants and chariots managed to kill the all buy the forth turn, causing Alex to reach break point, with zero losses to myself. I had a exceptional rolling of my dice with two units getting 6 hits from 7 dice two turns in a row.

On the second day I drew Rex and his Normans, this was the toughest game of the comp for me, Rex tried to pin me against the table edge but I broke through his cavalry line and shot up a lot of his cavalry. I really learnt a lot in this game about the strengths and weaknesses of my army, I did stuff up, charged my cav against his and used my lights against his infantry instead of concentrating on his 3VD cavalry units that were already badly shot up.

"how the hell am I supposed to catch these guys!!!"

Rex's much loved baggage was a collection of lollies, which got progressively smaller over the weekend

I lost this game after failing a cohesion test after being charged in the rear, and my General died........

My last was against Dave's Persians, this army was beautifully painted! His chariot worried me, but was destroyed by one unit in the first turn. I had learnt to concentrate on high VD units by this game, so Dave had broken by turn 3.

Other Armies what I missed playing were Kendos horde of Romano Brits

Steves Assyrians

Ralphs British gallic tribes

 Grants Normans

Clints NK Egyptians

The Winners, Rex, Rob, Clint 

Table
1 Rob Bruce Late Roman 459 pts 20
2 Clint Richards NK Egyptian 417 pts 15
3 Rex Harrison Normans 312 pts 10
4 Ralph Hawker Ancient British 302 pts 7
5 Steve Hopkins Sargonid Assyrians 289 pts 6
6 Matt Williamson Sassanid Persian 277 pts 6
7 Chris Kendrick Romano-British 266 pts 5
8 Grant Tighe Norman 228 pts 5
9 Dave Veasey Achaemenid Persian 110 pts 4
10 Mick Steggles Goths 65 pts 3
11 Axel Hawker Ancient Indian 63 pts 2
12 Richard Tartt NK Egyptians 62 pts 1

Cheers

Matt

Australian Light Horse & Kreigsmarine

Been painting a lot of other peoples stuff so I thought I would post some of my work.Wartime Australian Light Horse, some 20mm German kreigsmarine chaindogs for the Guild painting comp too.

currently working on for myself some more ACW Mark Fenlon 28mm and some Langton ACW Ironclads which I should have done for this weekend. Next back to 18th century for a while and maybe some more ww2.