Author Topic: French Army of the Levant 1926-30? (Read 4894 times)

smirnoff · « **on:** December 01, 2012, 12:07:06 PM »

Gents
Looking at building a few units for the Army of the Levant
I need a couple of ‘Alawis Infantry Units from the Troupes Speciales, Syria 1926-30.
Only image I can find is here and they are lads from WW2 (I think), scroll down to the shots from the books
http://pacofaitlezouave.blogspot.co.uk/2011_04_01_archive.html
Does anyone have any information/images of these units?
I was thinking of using the Gripping Beast 'Arabs in Ottoman Service' for them
http://www.grippingbeast.com/shop.php?CatID=333
Although the bloke recommends Artizan Arab Revolt Infantry.

For Circassian Cavalry I will use the Copplestone Caucasian Cossacks and have ordered some Outpost Mounted and Dismounted Circassians to see how they match.
If anyone has any info on the Druze/Syrian Cav I would be most grateful. Tempted to use the Artizan Arab Revolt Cavalry if I cannot find images of the real thing.
Also the Lebanese Light Infantry....any help gratefully accepted on what they looked like.

And lastly....Méhariste Camel Units.....FFL would be great but I cannot find any miniatures that have the classic billowing cape
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9hariste
There are always the beautiful Artizan Arab Revolt Camel troopers.....

Genialjim · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2012, 08:03:46 AM »

Hi,

Have you tried Risings and Rebellions by Edwin Herbert? There are some line drawings of most of the French troop types in there.

Regards

Jim

smirnoff · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2012, 08:53:09 AM »

Thanks Jim
i will get a copy

pacofeanor · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2012, 11:42:33 AM »

Quote from: smirnoff on December 01, 2012, 12:07:06 PM

Gents
Looking at building a few units for the Army of the Levant
I need a couple of ‘Alawis Infantry Units from the Troupes Speciales, Syria 1926-30.
Only image I can find is here and they are lads from WW2 (I think), scroll down to the shots from the books
http://pacofaitlezouave.blogspot.co.uk/2011_04_01_archive.html
Does anyone have any information/images of these units?
I was thinking of using the Gripping Beast 'Arabs in Ottoman Service' for them
http://www.grippingbeast.com/shop.php?CatID=333
Although the bloke recommends Artizan Arab Revolt Infantry.

For Circassian Cavalry I will use the Copplestone Caucasian Cossacks and have ordered some Outpost Mounted and Dismounted Circassians to see how they match.
If anyone has any info on the Druze/Syrian Cav I would be most grateful. Tempted to use the Artizan Arab Revolt Cavalry if I cannot find images of the real thing.
Also the Lebanese Light Infantry....any help gratefully accepted on what they looked like.

And lastly....Méhariste Camel Units.....FFL would be great but I cannot find any miniatures that have the classic billowing cape
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9hariste
There are always the beautiful Artizan Arab Revolt Camel troopers.....

French meharistes camel units don't exist in miniatures actualy unfortunatly!! i will try to find other photos of "tcherkess", "Lebanese" light infantry and Druzes/Syrians!

best regards
paco

pacofeanor · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2012, 10:50:47 AM »

Hello! i have founded images of alawit infantry , they seem to wear turkish dres, with "arabian fashion head gear" (the same than gripping beast arabes in ottoman service!) with turkish leather gears or brittish! the machine gun companies are equiped with german's maxims!

it is my next project for 2013!

best regards
paco

smirnoff · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2012, 10:14:41 PM »

Thanks Paco, top man. Where did you find this information?
These also look good:
http://www.artizandesigns.com/prod.php?prod=1725

There were elements of the 12th (Tunisian) Spahi regulars in the Druze Revolt of 1925-6...do you have any campaign dress information on these?

pacofeanor · « **Reply #6 on:** December 04, 2012, 09:25:32 AM »

yes they look good.

i found a very nice book on the first morrocan spahis from 1914 to 1940 written by former colonel of the actual regiment. It is a very interesting book, with a lot of period photos , and very nice tactical drawings! most of the book is about levant campaign against turks, alawiit and Druzzes. A second one will be written on WWII and the "syrie campaign".

Concerning the alawiis, i wil ppost a photo of three o for guyes, all in turkish dress but half with turkish leather gears and german riffles and half with british gears and riffles ! so both artizan and gripping beast are accurate!

for tunisian spahis, (or algerian) the campaign dress is like for all , djelaba light khaki, chechia with light kaki cover (the morrocans wear a "cheche" in rezza style in place of chechia ), red cartridge box in X on the chest . I wil post photos of them too in the next week!
best regards
paco

smirnoff · « **Reply #7 on:** December 04, 2012, 10:54:19 AM »

Paco, thanks very much
Images would be very useful
As for Spahi figures do you have any ideas?
And do you know what the Alawiis mount is for for the Maxim?

After a bit more digging I have got some reference to the AC's used:
They appear to be Panhard 165/175s with 37mm gun (I don't think anone does this in our scale?).
The tanks are FT17s and the aircraft Breguets
Some images here:
http://www.postcardman.net/syria_druze.html

pacofeanor · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2012, 05:37:57 PM »

For spahis? the best we can have, are crusaders french 1940 cavalry men, with light kaki (sand color) coat (only the collar must be classic or "brittish khaki" with red patches) with new heads (gripping beast zouave's heads with chechia). some may have pith helmets (for "chasseurs d'afriques, all troops wear pith helmet) .For morrocan spahis, "empress" morrocan heads will be famous!

FT 17 and Breguets 14 that's it!

and always one or two group of armoured cars mainly "white" armoured car (a "white truc modified by "Renault") or white-Lafly. (photo coming soon too!) Impossible to find in miniatures!! we have to scratch build them!

for artillery, "75 de campagne" of course, but WWI patern with wooden wheels ("empress" is doing a marvelous one!) not the 1940 patern with gum tyres.(brittish artillerists from gripping beast with french pith helmets)

regards
paco

smirnoff · « **Reply #9 on:** December 05, 2012, 07:33:37 AM »

Splendid
Thanks for the Spahi tip.
I have already got a fair bit of kit from a previous League outing with the French;
I have White-Laffley ACs as Red Ted and I lobbied HLBS to make them years ago; got the Breuget; 75's; Legion; Chassuers D'Afrique etc.
Just wish that Panhard 165/175 was available.....
Look forward to any image you can post Paco

pacofeanor · « **Reply #10 on:** December 09, 2012, 05:54:39 PM »

Hello, here are the photos of Fayçal army, Druzze tribes Morrocan spahis, and other ....following the "I need more post from you " award rule post

http://pacofaitlezouave.blogspot.fr/

regards
paco

smirnoff · « **Reply #11 on:** December 09, 2012, 06:17:59 PM »

Bravo Paco
What is the name of that book you have shown images from please?

pacofeanor · « **Reply #12 on:** December 09, 2012, 08:30:58 PM »

The book :

very nice and usefull book ! map, battle orders, veterans photos seen anywhere else!!

best regards
paco

smirnoff · « **Reply #13 on:** December 10, 2012, 02:42:09 PM »

Thanks Paco
Where did you buy it from?

cdr · « **Reply #14 on:** December 10, 2012, 03:59:03 PM »

Hello Paco

I like your zouave conversions on the blog !

Carl

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