Matilda II in the 1940-41 East Africa Campaign

[blacksoilbill]

I love the sound of this project: I enjoy the backwater campaigns a lot (I have a project for the Allied invasion of Syria). You're Matilda looks fantastic. It also looks like it will be a true titan amongst all those armoured cars and tankettes!

[Sakuragi Miniatures]

I love the sound of this project: I enjoy the backwater campaigns a lot (I have a project for the Allied invasion of Syria). You're Matilda looks fantastic. It also looks like it will be a true titan amongst all those armoured cars and tankettes!

It will be. The British Commonwealth/African troops force is still undecided but I know this will be the centerpiece.

Syria sounds interesting, Polish troops with French kit?

[carlos marighela]

The Perries do a dedicated range of Vichy French which work for Op Exporter. Alas not with Circassian Cavalry as yet but on the plus side they do have British cavalry both mounted and on foot.

You can get even more value from those Vichy figures, pitting them against Britain in Madagascar and Dakar, against their Free French Compatriots elsewhere in West Africa and against the Thais in Indochina. You could even use them against your Italians in an 'almost happened' invasion of French Somaliland, as they produce suitable Senegalese in tropical kit.

The side shows of of WW2 are rabbit warren you should be wary of entering. You'll start off thinking you have bought the forces to fight Tobruk and ending up invading Iraq and Iran. 

[Sakuragi Miniatures]

The Perries do a dedicated range of Vichy French which work for Op Exporter. Alas not with Circassian Cavalry as yet but on the plus side they do have British cavalry both mounted and on foot.

You can get even more value from those Vichy figures, pitting them against Britain in Madagascar and Dakar, against their Free French Compatriots elsewhere in West Africa and against the Thais in Indochina. You could even use them against your Italians in an 'almost happened' invasion of French Somaliland, as they produce suitable Senegalese in tropical kit.

The side shows of of WW2 are rabbit warren you should be wary of entering. You'll start off thinking you have bought the forces to fight Tobruk and ending up invading Iraq and Iran. 

I was looking at their mounted and dismounted yeomanry, decided to create a proper plan before buying. For once. I do know I'll need a Marmon-Herrington mk. I armored car.

[carlos marighela]

You'll want some MkVI light tanks and a few universal carriers for the Australian Div Cavalry.

If you want what is probably the best account of the campaign with lots of maps and vignettes of the fighting, I'd suggest reading the Australian Official War History, it;s available free online via the AWM

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1417307

It also gives you the Greek and Cretan campaigns.

[Poiter50]

Allied Cavalry are available in 3D Print for Yeomanry and Transjordanian in the King & Country KS (Studio Historia) and there are some Chasseurs d'Afrique in the Poilu D'Orient KS (can't remember the KS creator).I have seen MH Mk. 1 in 3D print files as well. Lots of later variants, both production and field mods in 3D files.

The Perries do a dedicated range of Vichy French which work for Op Exporter. Alas not with Circassian Cavalry as yet but on the plus side they do have British cavalry both mounted and on foot.

[blacksoilbill]

Syria sounds interesting, Polish troops with French kit?

I'm doing it in 15mm: Australians vs Vichy French. But there was also some French vs French fighting once Exporter rolled into Lebanon, from memory. As Carlos says, the official Australian history is good. I also really enjoyed 'England's Last War Against France'.

But to drag this topic back to what you're doing, what's the best read on East Africa?

[Rick]

That's just because of the way the flash hit it. Turret and body are the same, Tamiya light sand primer followed by Vallejo gunship green drybrush then Tyrant Skull drybrush to dull it down. Then a very watered down Agrax to enhance details wash and second drybrush of Tyrant Skull to lighten it up again. Flat Earth is drybrushed around the bottom of the hull as well.

Umm, actually I was talking about the period photo's that were in the earlier links.
As to a primer - Osprey do a campaign guide that would probably get you up to speed and I think at least one author has done a campaign guide from the Italian viewpoint.

[Sakuragi Miniatures]

Thanks. I have the Osprey book but didn't see any photos that clearly showed how the Matilda was painted for the campaign in it.

[carlos marighela]

. But there was also some French vs French fighting once Exporter rolled into Lebanon, from memory.

There was indeed a kinda 'les bleus contre les bleus' and 'our bleus' didn't always come out on top. No love lost whatsoever between the two.

Some may recall that in 1982 Israel invaded Lebanon. That very year we had an old chap who had been part of Exporter, the 1940 invasion, come and address my school cadet unit for our annual dinner and he talked about the parallels and contrasts between the two. I don't recall a great deal of what he said but what sticks in my mind was him recalling plinking away at a Vichy French sangar on an adjacent hill with a Boys anti-tank rifle.

[carlos marighela]

"But to drag this topic back to what you're doing, what's the best read on East Africa?"

Not sure if it's the best but there is of course the British Official history:

https://archive.org/details/mediterranean-middle-east-vol-1/page/93/mode/2up

Whether it's the fact that they deal with things on a much grander scale (understandable) or it's the authorship itself but I've always found the British official histories a deal drier than the Australian or NZ ones. You usually need a regimental history to give you the colour and detail you want at gaming level and those are harder to come by.

 Of course Playfair was a military man, whereas the author of the best of the Australian histories, Gavin Long, was a journalist by training and war correspondent by way of experience so his narrative style is a far more engaging.

[dadlamassu]

The Two Thousand Mile War by W E Crosskill  There are several on ebay (uk)

[Sakuragi Miniatures]

"But to drag this topic back to what you're doing, what's the best read on East Africa?"

Not sure if it's the best but there is of course the British Official history:

https://archive.org/details/mediterranean-middle-east-vol-1/page/93/mode/2up

Whether it's the fact that they deal with things on a much grander scale (understandable) or it's the authorship itself but I've always found the British official histories a deal drier than the Australian or NZ ones. You usually need a regimental history to give you the colour and detail you want at gaming level and those are harder to come by.

 Of course Playfair was a military man, whereas the author of the best of the Australian histories, Gavin Long, was a journalist by training and war correspondent by way of experience so his narrative style is a far more engaging.

They need to be dry to match their humour and martinis.

[carlos marighela]

Martinis? Perish the thought. Chota peg, a large brandy unadorned, possibly a G&T or nothing. Important to keep up standards. Martinis are for bounders like that Fleming fellow.

[Veroo]

Might I also suggest the official Indian history?

https://archive.org/details/east-african-campaign-1940-41