Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Conflicts that came in from the Cold => Topic started by: Mako on February 07, 2022, 12:39:20 AM
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I'm wanting to set up some forces to defend the island of Bornholm, as well as the rest of Denmark, in various scales, but primarily 1/144th and 1/100th.
I know the troops there during this period could be a rather eclectic mix of both new and olde weaponry and uniforms, right up thru the end of the Cold War in the late 1980s. Apparently, first line troops could/would have the most up to date uniforms, helmets, and weaponry, but some of the Home Defense troops could be equipped with even WWII weaponry (BARs, MG42s, US and British WWII rifles, etc.), and surplus uniforms.
From most of the images I've seen on-line, it looks like the troops usually wore the US M-1 helmets, but some had British style uniforms and webbing. I've seen a few with black berets too, but don't know how common that would be, especially in combat.
Did the Danish infantry and/or Home Guard troops wear a lot of black berets, or was this only done by those using vehicles - tank crews and those using Landrovers, APCs, etc.?
Did they also wear US-style, or surplus uniforms too, or just British kit?
What I'm interested in is determining which figures I can/should use to represent them, since I'm not aware of anyone making Danish troops in either scale.
I'm thinking about either using Pendraken's US Korean War US troops in M-1 helmets for these, and/or perhaps some of the British Korean War troops too (those in berets - their "Commando" range troops - especially the prone 3.5" bazooka figs). Not sure I want to lop off heads from the British to replace those figs with US M-1 helmets in this scale, for their "Winter" troops.
I suppose the Argentine troops from Pendraken's Falklands range could also be used too, in a pinch, since the FNs look closest to the G3 rifles, for more modern weaponry.
Not sure what to use for 1/100th scale, but perhaps West German infantry for the more modern Danes, since they have the olde M-1 helmets and proper G3 rifles.
I'd appreciate comments on the latter, larger scale figures too.
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Mako, I can't find much reference materiel but one plate in an Osprey says they wore a German-produced US helmet, used German webbing and the picture shows a figure armed with the MG3 LMG. I would opt for using early 1980s German figures.
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Mako, I can't find much reference materiel but one plate in an Osprey says they wore a German-produced US helmet, used German webbing and the picture shows a figure armed with the MG3 LMG. I would opt for using early 1980s German figures.
This is a quick and easy solution. Under fire Mins is also doing them in 28mm if you want to do skirmish as well. Just put out their first two sets.
https://underfireminiatures.co.uk/product-category/28mm-online-store/1-72-cold-war-danish/
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There's a plethora of videos that showcases old training or drill videos along with music (to taste lol or not).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5aIRFbNO5c
If you watch to the end, you can indeed see a mix of british gear along with the US helmet in use. Along with British trucks, some of which can be obtained from AnyScale models.
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In the Danish army black berets denotes combat troops where the green ones are home guard, support troops like engineers, artillery and other POG's. And the elite jęgers wear a bordeaux beret. But berets are not for field use.
https://www.chakoten.dk/Danish%20Infantry%20Uniforms%20through-out%20200%20years%20v2.pdf
here is a link to a danish army uniform guide it only goes to the mid 60'es but that type of uniform was used up til the late 80's
I was in the Royal Guards from 98 and we still had MG42 as our squad MG up until the start 80'es the M1 Garand was the standard infantry wepon after that it was replaced with the G3
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Thank you for the info and links. I really appreciate them.
When did the switchover from the M-1 Garand to the G3 take place?
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The switchover started in 1980. And began with the combat regiments. It I about the same time the switch from green uniforms to camouflage started.
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I do like that chopped Landrover :)