1980s Bundeswehr Jägerzug (rifle platoon)

[Michi]

Nic Robson was kind enough to cast me a load of G3s. ... Happy to send you some if you fancy.

Thank you very much, I'll get back to you for these! 

That said, I can't recall if the BGS were using G3s in the 1980s. They did, I learned. There aren't too many photos, but descriptions to find in the web.

Underfire do a range of generic Polizei, which work as BGS in the Oestergaard uniforms (both dress and working dress types). They come tooled up with G3s and MG3s and even Panzerfaust 3s, which seems a bit of the top for the average bulle. Oestergard uniforms and arms would be alright for BGS too. Bavarian police at least did have MG3s. However, it would have been BGS on the border, because guarding the inner-german frontier was a federal task. These were also armed with Panzerfausts. Therefore you could use Underfire  for Bundesgrenzschutz without any changes.

You could probably just modify the Underfire panzergrenadiers by adding a WW2 stahlhelm and a green stuff hood to their jackets. The easiest way would be Waffen-SS in smocks with their weapons changed for G3s, MG42 is already recognizable as MG3 (only the nozzle was different, but who would spot this in 28mm?).

If you want to go the G1 and camouflage smock route, probably your best conversion source would be the Gripping Beast/MoFo Argentinians. G3, camo smock, WW2 webbing and M35 Stahlhelm would be correct.
The only difference to WW2 were G3 ammo pouches instead of 98K ones on the webbing. They definitely kept on using Wehrmacht gear instead of Bundeswehr issued canteens and webbing. BGS even kept the old gas masks in tins due to the use of matching M35 helmets.

[carlos marighela]

Cool! Interesting that they had switched to G3s as quite a few photos show them G1 armed in photos supposedly from the 1980s. No doubt it was a gradual transition and the G1s would have been getting a little long in the tooth.

The Bavarian Border Police did of course patrol the border but only in Bavaria, naturally enough. Lots of photos showing them doing joint patrols with the US Army, the Underfire Polizei seem a decent match.

I painted mine and converted some other figures for the West Berlin police. The old Wargames Factory/WG Zombie Survivors box had a number of useful Walther SMGs. I suppose I should look into the West Berlin Bereitschaftspolizei.

Oh, forgot to mention it but Eureka has a sniper with a PSG1 sniper rifle in their modern German range. He has a beanie/ woolen watch cap and jacket with hood. he does have a stab vest but it's easily filed back to look like part of the jacket.

[Michi]

Cool! Interesting that they had switched to G3s as quite a few photos show them G1 armed in photos supposedly from the 1980s. No doubt it was a gradual transition and the G1s would have been getting a little long in the tooth.

G1s replaced by G3s since 1975:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_Handwaffen_des_Bundesgrenzschutzes

Any kind of equipment and uniform details:
https://www.hotdogandsodacompany.de/hot-dog-and-soda-company/uniformen-bundesgrenzschutz/einsatzanz%C3%BCge/

[CapnJim]

Nice work here.

I have a question on the Rubicon M113, though.  Does it have an M2 Browning HMG for the commander's station?

[Michi]

Nice work here.

I have a question on the Rubicon M113, though.  Does it have an M2 Browning HMG for the commander's station?

It has a HMG, but I‘m not familiar with US made guns. The model is from the Vietnam war. It sure has the weapon that was used then.

[carlos marighela]

Yes, it does.  You will also get a couple of M60s for your spares box as a bonus.

https://forum.rubiconmodels.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=fc1d413dba958d7e955470bb5562fe4d&topic=1209.0

[Westy38]

"Underfire do a range of generic Polizei, which work as BGS in the Oestergaard uniforms (both dress and working dress types). They come tooled up with G3s and MG3s and even Panzerfaust 3s, which seems a bit of the top for the average bulle".

The Polizei packs were designed around the Berlin 'Knife Fight' game in the Cold War Goes Hot supplement published by Force on Force many years ago. This sees Berlin Polizei go up against East German motor rifle troops. The Adidas bag the figure carries is where he carries his reloads. This & the skeleton webbing our heroes wear is a nod to the improvised nature of their defense & their lack of more heavier weapons.

Hope this clears things up.

Regards,

Bill @ Under Fire o7.
www.underfireminiatures.com

[Michi]

The Polizei packs were designed around the Berlin 'Knife Fight' game in the Cold War Goes Hot supplement published by Force on Force many years ago.

Bill, these are perfect for being painted as Bundesgrenzschutz as well. I will definitely try to get some of them along with a couple of Volksarmee from you. You don't seem to ship to the continent anymore - would collection in Huddersfield (or somewhere else in the UK) be an option? I'll drive to the north this summer.