Indian National Army figures needed- Help

[Rob_bresnen]

I have been reading John Nunneley's fantastic book, Tales from the King's African Rifles (Which I would very much recomend by the way- Very well written) about his time in WW2 as an officer in the KAR, serving in East Africa and Burma.

In his book Nunneley discusses the Indian National Army, also known as the Japanese Indian Army. This was an army made up of about 10,000 indian POWs captured by the Japanese after the fall of Singapore, and about 20,000 volonteers, who were alies of the Japanese aganist the British. Aparently the fought in Burma, and they were supposed to assist the Japanese take Assam. They hoped for an India free of British rule.

Obviously, this might be of interest to anyone wargaming Burma.

My question, to you wise and sagely WW2 experts, is what did they look like? Should I use Indian Army figures, or perhaps Japanese troops converted with Indian heads? (like the new ones BAM have just brought out). Any ideas?

Almost as an aside, can anyone recomend good WW2 British East African miniatures? (28mm)

[Hang Tuah]

IIRC unlike Peta and the Burmese the Indian National Army didn't receive Japanese uniforms, and kept their khaki drill shirts and shorts. They might have been issued Japanese rifles and leather belts and ammo pouches though.

For reading material, Joyce C. Lebra is by far the most knowledgable of scholars on the subject. Try to pick up a copy of Jungle Alliance or Japanese-trained Armies if you can.

Curiosly enough I've never heard it called the Japanese Indian Army.

[carlos marighela]

Khaki pants, shirts and field caps as per:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3c/Surrendered_Indian_National_Army_troops_at_Mount_Popa.jpg

Not an exactly illustrious fighting record for the INA.

[Hang Tuah]

More pictures here:

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&p=1430892