Operation Countenance - Iran 1941

[Stuart H]

Is anyone aware of good references for Iranian uniforms during the British-Soviet occupation of Iran in 1941?  I want to make a unit or two for all three countries involved.

There are some decent images and references to the British/Indian and Soviet forces and one or two for the Iranians but I'm struggle to find any good images of Iranian uniforms and then think about  figures to use/convert. Farrokh's website https://kavehfarrokh.com/military-history-1900-present/armored-vehicles-of-the-iranian-army-1921-1941/ and Steven Ward's Immortals are helpful.

Thanks

Stuart

[Grimjack]

Hi Stuart,

I've done a bit of research into this with a chum, the Iranian Army pretty much wore WW1 German Uniform (or close enough), with either Stahlhelm or a cap very similar to the North Koreans in the Korean War.

[Hang Tuah]

I have always thought about using RCW Whites sporting the gymnastyorka-and-stahlhelm combination for troops wearing the summer uniform (as per the shots here: https://youtu.be/CS_InX8cbJ8?t=44)

 Otherwise greatcoated WWI Germans would also do, judging from the parade below (go back a bit earlier and you'll find tanks as well as a close-up of officers and a tankman):

https://youtu.be/rqqrPc7JnMw?t=367

[Hang Tuah]

There are also some fantastic hi-resolution pictures available from the National Library of Australia:

http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-159625847/view

http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-159621400/view

http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-159653158/view

http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-159652473/view

http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-159879393/view

http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-159632866/view

I wouldn't be surprised if you have similar lurking elsewhere, on sites such as Getty or the IWM.

[Stuart H]

Thank you both. This has been really helpful. Please keep posting.

I did also find Cuprum's thread on the same Operation which has one or two photos Ive not seen before.

Just got bought a Warlord P38t which Ill build as a CKD-TNH, and now can start buying some figures to go with it too,

Stuart

[vodkafan]

Looks like an interesting project. 

[Stuart H]

Three interesting images of Iran's TNH tanks

An original photo


The photo was probably taken in Iran, as the website "praga-tnh-where-it-all-began" says the tanks were shipped out without their arms and assembled in Iran. This site is well worth a read.

An artists impression of the same tank, in a dark olive colour


And this one, in colour, taken at a tank park in Tehran. Its hard to know if the colour is the original. It matches that of the Sherman behind i, which was delivered to Iran after WW!!, and other tanks used in the Iran-Iraq War, so its possibly a later repaint.

[dadlamassu]

 The first were CKD-Skoda AH-IV tankettes. Iran was the first customer for these little tanks which were issued to the 1st infantry division in 1941 (50 delivered in 1937-38). Orders for 400 more cancelled when Czechoslovakia was seized by the Germans. In addition 60 CKD-Skoda TNH were also provided at the same period, and again, later orders were never fulfilled.

[Hang Tuah]

More pictures from the magnum archives:

[Arrigo]

to me they look, uniform-wise, very similar to GMD Chinese in field cap. Basically WW1 style tunic, puttees, and basic webbing.

[Stuart H]

Thanks for all the advice and recommendations. 

I haven't progressed much further partly dues to my WoRs project but continue to find excellent source material including this Pathe news reelhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RVYXRTeOiA, which shows Morris trucks, an Indian Pattern Rolls Royce, Indian Army headgear, and crucially close up of Iranian troops including cavalry.

Stuart

[Stuart H]

I haven't got much further with this project. Some Bolt Action 8th Army figures with the Sikh headgear,  included on the spruce, are sitting on my workbench awaiting painting, and no progress on the P38 conversion yet whilst looking at Empress Miniatures' site I realised that the armoured car in the previously mentioned Pathe News clip (1.24 min) is a Crossley India Pattern armoured car, not a Rolls Royce. And even better, because of the Jazz Age model I won't have to build that domed turret.

Some good images from the Tank Museum including this

[Stuart H]

I've just finished reading Osprey's Battle's of World War 11 Iraq 1941 to add a bit of context and comparison for the Iran campaign.

I have to say I knew nothing about this campaign and I would make a curious and novel on to game - British and Indian forces with WW1 armoured cars, fighting Iraqi forces with better British equipment, and German ME110s thinly disguised, the Trans Jordan Legion and forced marches across the desert.

[Hang Tuah]

For Iraq look no further than here:

http://www.morvalearth.co.uk/Inch_High_Club/Inch_High_Iraq41_Scenario/Iraq41_Sc_intro.htm

Interestingly enough the siege of Habbaniya was covered at Salute many years ago:

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=324417

[dadlamassu]

For Iraq look no further than here:

http://www.morvalearth.co.uk/Inch_High_Club/Inch_High_Iraq41_Scenario/Iraq41_Sc_intro.htm

Thanks for the mention.  My book on the subject is available from Caliver Books https://www.caliverbooks.com/bookview.php?0c7eduv23ghd9as3colsnh92v1&id=22375