New to WW2, and interested in Chindits (advice needed)

[Rob_bresnen]

I really like the new Chindits by Bolt Action Minatures (Warlord Games). I am thinking of getting a box to start a small sacle skirmish game.



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I have to confess that I had never heard of the Chindits until I cames across the BAM figures. I have never collected or played the WW2 era (the closest I got was 1938:AVBCW).

I consider you guys to be the experts on WW" Wargaming, so I have a few questions for you.

1) The Chindits fought the Japanese in Burma. Did they have allies? Who makes compatable minis for both Japanese and potential allies in this period?
2) Can anyone recomemd a good website with details of the Chindit operation? (I'm a bit skint so can't afford any books at the moment)
3)Does anyone know of any websites givinng surgestions for how to make jungle scenery?
4)Can anyone recomend a good points based skirmish rules (10-20 minis per side) that will do the job for a Chindits vs Japanese game (ie- suitable rules for jungles, hiding, cover etc)

[Svennn]

These are another option, and there is a good selection of Japanese too

http://www.theassaultgroup.co.uk/store/home.php?cat=62

and of course Foundry if you are feeling flush

http://wargamesfoundry.com/historical_ranges/single_packs/ww2_second_world_war/british/

Svennn

[CompanyB]

Brigade Games and my own Company B jointly produced some miniatures for the Pacific.  Brigade has the full offering of Japanese infantry sculpted by Paul Hicks, as well as some nice Australian infantry sculpted by Mike Broadbent.
http://www.brigadegames.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=BGAHSL&Category_Code=BGHMPCD

We also have some stuff like Japanese Infantry guns with a variety of crews, Australian infantry guns, and Supply elephants
http://homepage.mac.com/brentdietrich/companyB_miniatures.html

We also commissioned a series of generic "pacific island natives" in various scout roles as spotters, supply handlers, etc.  Also on the Brigade Games site:
http://www.brigadegames.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=BGAHSL&Category_Code=BGHMPCD

[elysium64]

1) The Chindits fought the Japanese in Burma. Did they have allies? Who makes compatable minis for both Japanese and potential allies in this period?

The Chindits primarily fought behind enemy lines, even when in support of British and American troops, I can recall no account of them fighting alongside regular troops, the only allies I am aware of are the various native tribal troops, for these I used selective figures from Foundry's Darkest Africa Baluchi's

2) Can anyone recomemd a good website with details of the Chindit operation? (I'm a bit skint so can't afford any books at the moment)

http://www.peter.gerrard.clara.net/burma001.htm
http://www.chindits.info/

3)Does anyone know of any websites givinng surgestions for how to make jungle scenery?

http://www.matakishi.com/jungle.htm Pauls site is great  for both inspiration and instruction

4)Can anyone recomend a good points based skirmish rules (10-20 minis per side) that will do the job for a Chindits vs Japanese
game (ie- suitable rules for jungles, hiding, cover etc)

Disposable Heroes and Coffin for Seven Brothers: a complete WWII skirmish wargame system featuring infantry, artillery, aircraft, and vehicles. The game is fast, easy to learn, and gives realistic tactical results without getting bogged down in record keeping or chart reading. The game is as intuitive as possible without being simplistic and will definitely reward good tactics. Fire and movement are important and easy to recreate. The main features include an initiative system, alternating unit activation, realistic weapon and cover usage, a dynamic morale system for infantry and vehicles, as well as a target acquisition system to make vehicles more realistic. Vehicles feature historically accurate armor values and accurate gun penetration while still maintaining playability and balance. Play infantry only, armor only, or best of all, realistic combined arms.
Disposable Heroes and Coffin for Seven Brothers is versatile enough to play anywhere from platoon sized engagements up to full company level games in 1:1 scale. A typical platoon sized game can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, while we have completed Battalion sized games in under 4 hours! Our system is perfect for running those convention games and keeps all players actively involved throughout the game. No more bored players waiting for their turn. No steep learning curve.

The basic maneuver element is a half squad or support unit and single vehicle. You can play in 15mm, 20mm, and 25/28mm with ease, even 54mm. The game minimizes counters and is virtually chartless for infantry. No charts are used to determine a combat result, though some are used to provide organized information. Spend more time playing and less time looking things up! The only dice needed are several ten sided dice. The main rulebook includes all the rules needed to play and covers infantry, vehicles, artillery, air support, paratrooper drops, mines, smoke, and weather. Also included are short basic army lists (German, American, British, and Soviet for late war) with historically accurate Tables of Organization & Equipment to get players started right away. The army lists provided contain easy to use unit ID cards and include a built in points system for players who wish to use historically accurate forces while playing a balanced game.

Above taken from Iron Ivan Games site, an excellent set of rules, with a supplement dedicated to the Pacific Campaign~"Red Sun, Red Death"

[Gandalf]

You might be able to get a copy of "Prisoners of Hope" by Michael Calvert from your local library.  Calvert was a company commander in the first Chindit operation in 1943 and took over as commander of the second Chindit operation after the death of Orde Wingate in a plane crash in 1944.
It's a very good first hand account of what "Mad Mike" and the Chindits got up to behind Japanese lines and at times reads like a Commando comic with mad bayonet charges and desperate hand to hand fighting. It also has a lighter side discussing, amongst other things, the virtues and disadvantages of mules and the different styles of beard grown by the Chindits during the campaign.
The Chindits were made up of British, Burmese, Chinese, Ghurka, Indian and West African troops so were quite diverse within themselves. Allies would have included local Burmese people and Americans serving under "Vinegar Joe" Stillwell.
http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&xhr=t&q=chindits&cp=5&pf=p&sclient=psy&aq=0&aqi=&aql=&oq=chind&pbx=1&fp=b0e8d10cf82f849c

[Johan]

Another unit that was active on the same front (Burma) and more or less modeled on the Chindits was the American unit Merrill's Marauders. You can find more about them here :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrill%27s_Marauders

[maverickv]

For the rules, in the Warlord site you can see Operation Squad.

I'm one of the authors and we are working on the Pacific lists (US Marines, Chindits and Japanese infantry)

Hi
Valentino

[carlos marighela]

Try looking for a copy of John Master's The Road Past Mandalay. As well as distinguished career in the Ghurkas, and later as an author he served with a Chindit column in Burma. The book will give you some nice colour for your scenarios.

[Rob_bresnen]

Thanks for the advise. I knew you guys would be the ones to talk to. With regards to the Japanese soldiers, is there anything I need to look out for when buying them- For example, With germans, there are late war and early war models, with different weaponry and uniforms? Any pitfalls I should avoid.
With regards to the Burmese tribesmen, elysium64, which minis did you use? Any pictures?
One thing I can't work out form the web sites is the mixed nationalities of the Chindits. Did the troop types fight in segregared units, or mixed up? For example, if I wanted to paint some of my men a brits and some a gurkas, would I have to do a whole squad of each, or would they be mixed in together in the same platoon? Did the different nationalities where different uniforms, or was basically everybody in the same bush uniform?

[carlos marighela]

They fought in columns, which were of roughly company strength, with a  smattering of light support weapons and were not mixed within the column itself. That would have presented insurmountable difficulties in terms of officers and NCOs being able to communicate with the Gurkha and Indian elements as well as of unit cohesion. There were RAF teams assigned to each column to provide CAS and facilitate re-supply. There was also a sections worth of Burma rifles attached to each column as part of their recce platoon.

So in short, no they aren't mixed in squads,  platoons or even within the column/company itself, save for attachments like Burma Rifles, porters or native guides.

You'll find OBs for the expeditions here: http://www.chindits.info/

Uniform wise, by 1943 pretty much everyone was wearing the same jungle green outfit ( patterns might vary slightly but not noticeable on a 28mm mini). The slouch hat, bashed in various ways was fairly ubiquitous, probably smarter and more uniform of the Gurkhas, whose hat in actual fact is two felt hats stitched together and thus a little more rigid. Gurkha kukris seeme to have been a popular affectation with non-Gurkha troops and machetes were a standard uniform item.

[Rich J]

BAM/Warlord are supposed to be close to finishing their Japanese (I hope).

I am going to get a set of each when they are out to play Chindits (or even use them as Aussies even if it isn't quite right equipment wise) and Japanese close skirmish stuff ... will be using my Flying Lead OR more likely the new Operation Squad (if the lists come out first) which will work real good for dense terrain ... oooo shit there's the enemy type stuff !!!!

[sepoy1857]

You can get away with using these figs as 14th Army as well (Imphal and Kohima). A simple search on Yahoo or Bing will give you loads of info and images, maps, etc.

Personally I prefer Too Fat Lardies rules for skirmish games "Troops, Weapons, and Tactics" for WWII Skirmish. Tried the Iron Ivan system and didn't care for it - have it all for sale if anyone is interested!