Who makes the best USMC in 28mm?

[SBMiniaturesGuy]

Thanks, I also found a resource in my pile o' game stuff that puts the 1st Raider Battalion platoon organization in 1942-1943 as:

Platoon HQ
-Lt
-2x NCO
-2x Runners
-1x Radioman
-1x Medic
-1x Sniper [not always present]

3x Rifle Squads, each broken into two fire teams centered around a BAR
-Snr NCO w/ SMG
-NCO w/SMG
-2x BAR gunners
-2x Assistant BAR gunners
-5x Riflemen [Mostly M1 Garand, but may also include mix of SMG, Shotgun, Carbine]
-1x Rifleman with Rifle Grenades

A platoon may have supporting Company assets from the Company LMG platoon, Mortar platoon, etc. -- such as a .30cal LMG, 60mm mortar, etc., depending on their mission.

Cheers!
-John-

[SBMiniaturesGuy]

Here's a guide from GHQ:

http://www.ghqmodels.com/pdf/toe3-usarmymarineinfantrybattalions.pdf

Says the USMC used the "Organization D" TOE for a platoon at Tulagi/Guadalcanal which had 42 men:

Platoon HQ:
-LT (M1 carbine)
-Snr NCO (M1 carbine)
-NCO (BAR)
-3x Signalmen/Runners (Springfield rifles)
-1x "Supply" carrier (Springfield rifle)


3x Rifle squads each with:
-NCO (Riesling SMG)
-1x BAR
-5x Riflemen (Springfield rifles)
-1x Grenadier Rifleman (with Springfield rifle)


1x Automatic Rifle Squad:
-NCO (Riesling SMG)
-2x BAR
-5x Riflemen (Springfield rifles)

Springfield rifles? Riesling SMGs? Yikes!!
Best,
-John-

[Helen]

Here's a guide from GHQ:

http://www.ghqmodels.com/pdf/toe3-usarmymarineinfantrybattalions.pdf

Says the USMC used the "Organization D" TOE for a platoon at Tulagi/Guadalcanal which had 42 men:

Platoon HQ:
-LT (M1 carbine)
-Snr NCO (M1 carbine)
-NCO (BAR)
-3x Signalmen/Runners (Springfield rifles)
-1x "Supply" carrier (Springfield rifle)


3x Rifle squads each with:
-NCO (Riesling SMG)
-1x BAR
-5x Riflemen (Springfield rifles)
-1x Grenadier Rifleman (with Springfield rifle)


1x Automatic Rifle Squad:
-NCO (Riesling SMG)
-2x BAR
-5x Riflemen (Springfield rifles)

Springfield rifles? Riesling SMGs? Yikes!!
Best,
-John-

Next year you may see some new releases that may have some Raider weapons included.

Cheers,

Helen

[Hildred Castaigne]

While we're on the subject of 28mm Marines, does anyone have an opinion on the Marines from West Wind under their WWII range? They don't show up too well in the pictures on the site.

[NTM]

Raider TO&E from Bayonet Strength

http://www.bayonetstrength.150m.com/UnitedStates/Marine/RaiderParaMarine/marine_raider_battalion.htm

[Agis]

While we're on the subject of 28mm Marines, does anyone have an opinion on the Marines from West Wind under their WWII range? They don't show up too well in the pictures on the site.

I don't have any WW Marines but some Japanese which I like a lot.

I presume the Marines are similar, a bit cartoonish but IMO OK.

[airbornegrove26]

I love the Westwind Marines.  You just have to buy all the packs and take out the 2-3 awkward poses but once that is done they are a very good looking group of figs.  That catch the feel of hard looking Marines.   IMO  they are probably the most characterful line on the market.  To give some variety I added some US Bars to my force just greenstuffed over the gaiters.  I also have a Battle Honors Stuart.  You got to have one of those.  I will go downstairs and take some pictures here in a bit.  A picture is worth a thousand words.  =)

[Hildred Castaigne]

I presume the Marines are similar, a bit cartoonish but IMO OK.

They look quite nice! Definitely a cartoonish style, but I like it.
Thanks for sharing the picture, you've done really nice job on the painting.

I love the Westwind Marines.  You just have to buy all the packs and take out the 2-3 awkward poses but once that is done they are a very good looking group of figs.  That catch the feel of hard looking Marines.   IMO  they are probably the most characterful line on the market.  To give some variety I added some US Bars to my force just greenstuffed over the gaiters.  I also have a Battle Honors Stuart.  You got to have one of those.  I will go downstairs and take some pictures here in a bit.  A picture is worth a thousand words.  =)

Hello!
Thanks for your response, I'm glad to get a hear account of figures and hear they are indeed nice figures, for some reason I just wanted to like them! 
Even taking a few poses out they work out at a reasonable price.
That's settled then, I'll definitely pick up some of West Wind's Marines in the new year!

[Johnnytodd]

Westwind Marines are indeed full of character - very expressive & even cartoonish.  My complaint is that the equipment (canteens, pouches, belts) is undersized and doesn't match well with other makers like Brigade Games.

[airbornegrove26]

Here are painted westwind USMC and Battle Honors Stuart as promised.  Like I said previously  I just love these figures.  I bought all the packs then took out about 8 figures that I just didn't like.  But what I have here are great characterful figures.  That really give the feel of tired haggard veteran cocky Marines.   This is force is one of the treasures of my collection.

[SBMiniaturesGuy]

Nice! What did you use for the base color of the uniforms?

[Johnnytodd]

Next year you may see some new releases that may have some Raider weapons included.

Cheers,

Helen

How about some Marines with Johnson or Reising guns?

[Hildred Castaigne]

Thanks for posting those photos, airbornegrove!
They are some really nice figures and you've gone a great job painting them.
It's not often you see a Stuart to go with 28mm figures too, a sadly neglected tank in all scales.

[Helen]

How about some Marines with Johnson or Reising guns?

Yes John, that would be the case if there is any new releases :-)

Cheers,

Helen

[airbornegrove26]

Thanks Hildred!  The Stuart is a fun little tank to have.  It looks great on the tabletop, and doesn't dominate a game like a Sherman could.  However 37mm canister rounds at pointblank are nasty anyway you look at it.  =)