Colonial Italians fighting the Mahdists

[Helen]

Hello,

I'm currently working on a force of Italians and Mahdist using the Death in the Dark Continent Rules book.  Lovely period with plenty of colour, notwithstanding the rules provide loads of charm for the genre.

I'm waiting a couple of books that should cover the majority of the answers, but I'd like to ask if anyone knows what machine guns were utilised both by the Italian and the Mahdist forces during the 1890s if any for the former. I'm aware the Italians had machine Guns and were used against the Abyssinians during their period of conflict, but not sure what type it was.

Thank you for your time.

Cheers,

Helen

[Plynkes]

The Italians had the somewhat old-fashioned hand-cranked, two-barrel variant of the Gardner Gun:


Doesn't seem like they really cottoned on to how useful machine guns were in colonial campaigns, as there is little mention of them actually using the things during this period.


Edit: Osprey says the Mahdists in 1898 had in their central arsenal at Omdurman "Seven machine guns of various types" but only specifically mentions Gatlings and Nordenfelts.

[Helen]

Thanks Dylan for your reply. I'm aware the Italians captured a machine gun from the Mahdist in one of their battles with no more information other than the specifics of the battle.

I'll wait and see where this topic goes and when I receive more reference.

Cheers,

Helen

[Frank]

Interesting topic! I also would like to build up some small Italian force of this period. If you get more information and pictures it would be great if you can let me know what you found.

[Marine0846]

Helen,
May I ask what figure companies you plan to buy figures from?
Thanks.

[Helen]

Interesting topic! I also would like to build up some small Italian force of this period. If you get more information and pictures it would be great if you can let me know what you found.

Thanks Frank, I'll do that.

Cheers,

Helen

[Helen]

Helen,
May I ask what figure companies you plan to buy figures from?
Thanks.

Thank you Marine for your question. At this stage I've ordered Castaway Arts Italians including Mahdist foot and cavalry with protected horses for a couple of bases of armoured cavalry with the command coming from the Perries in addition to foot from the same company. I'll see how it all pans out with plans on doing some early Beja too.

Does anyone make a Sudanese native with quilted tunic in this scale?

Cheers,

Helen

Cheers,

Helen

[Poiter50]

Strategia e Tattica (via Cavour 250, Rome) have a range of figures for this period IIRC.

[Helen]

Strategia e Tattica (via Cavour 250, Rome) have a range of figures for this period IIRC.

Hi Pete,

They went out of business last year - sad indeed.

Helen

[argsilverson]

Strategia e Tattica (via Cavour 250, Rome) have a range of figures for this period IIRC.

very nice figures, I like them (I have some samples hidden somewhere in my lead mountain) but 25mm so check about size etc.
it is also possible to use some italians from Askari, just for variation. (Yes they are of a very later period, but ....)

[Helen]

very nice figures, I like them (I have some samples hidden somewhere in my lead mountain) but 25mm so check about size etc.
it is also possible to use some italians from Askari, just for variation. (Yes they are of a very later period, but ....)

They would have been good with Bicorne miniatures for size.

Helen

[argsilverson]

Sad news Helen,

It seems that Strategia e Tattica is bankrupted!
See:
http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=243954

North Star used to stock some of their ranges, they might have some left overs~

[Poiter50]

Well, I am glad I got to visit them 3 times before they folded! 

Sad news Helen,

It seems that Strategia e Tattica is bankrupted!
See:
http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=243954

North Star used to stock some of their ranges, they might have some left overs~

[italian]

Hi, as far as i know the italian army didn't use machine guns in battle.
There were very few send in Africa and the crews were not trained.
The army was more confident in the newly developed mountain guns.
Must also consider that a public subscriptions led to fit out battery to be send in Africa (this before Adowa).

Note that the miniature ex strategia & Tattica are now sold by a new italian company.
I don't know if put a link is against the forum rules.
Please let'me know if I can

Regards

Diego

[argsilverson]

Hi, as far as i know the italian army didn't use machine guns in battle.
There were very few send in Africa and the crews were not trained.
The army was more confident in the newly developed mountain guns.
Must also consider that a public subscriptions led to fit out battery to be send in Africa (this before Adowa).

Note that the miniature ex strategia & Tattica are now sold by a new italian company.
I don't know if put a link is against the forum rules.
Please let'me know if I can

Regards

Diego

Please do!