French 1940
The start of a French 1940 battlegroup, all models are from Pithead.
Char B1 bis
In the striking "jigsaw" camouflage pattern. These are Pithead 12mm models - these are very nice models to put together, the tracks are separate pieces that have nice locating pins and matching holes which makes accurate fitting very easy.
View showing the large grill on the left side of the tank - this was a key aiming point for German gunners, as the rest of the tank was very well armoured.
SOMUA S35
Painted with a base coat of white. Then a wash of Vallejo Desert Yellow (Game Colour). Green Vallejo Green Olive, Brown GW Bestial Brown, both thinned heavily. Black outlining with a Staedler pen - the ink seems to dry fairly well over paint. Then a light dry brush of pale sand.
These vehicles were undercoated in white, then have had a thin wash of Green Olive (diluted with water and Klear). This has worked to shade the recesses of the models, but I don't think it has worked well enough to cover the model fully, so I think another coat is required.
Overview of the whole battlegroup - a collection that was unlikely to be fielded together! 1.5 battalions of infantry with MGs and mortars on the right (unpainted). With 5 x 25mm AT guns and 3 47mm AT Guns (probably too many) then the AFVs and transport as seen above.
Totals
| Unit | Qty |
Pts |
Figures |
Vehicles |
| CO | 1 |
4 |
2 |
|
| HQ | 3 |
6 |
1 |
|
| FAO | 1 |
4 |
||
| Infantry | 18 |
450 |
90 |
|
| MG | 4 |
100 |
16 |
|
| Mortar | 1 |
6 |
||
| 25mm AT Gun | 5 |
15 |
5 |
|
| 47mm AT Gun | 3 |
12 |
3 |
|
| Panhard P179 A/C | 1 |
1 |
||
| AMR 33 | 2 |
2 |
||
| Hotchkiss H35 | 3 |
3 |
||
| Renault R35 | 3 |
3 |
||
| SOMUA S35 | 4 |
4 |
||
| Char B1 bis | 2 |
2 |
||
| Renault AHN 3.5t truck | 2 |
2 |
||
| Laffly S20TL tractor | 2 |
2 |
||
| Laffly V15R scout | 1 |
1 |
||
| Renault UE Tractor | 2 |
2 |
||
| Totals | 153 |
33 |
What do I still need to get - mainly some artillery. Some motorcycle troops would fit in well.
For lots of info about French Organistions see skyfflably.com
| Infantry Battalion | |
Qty |
Unit |
1 |
HQ |
12 |
Rifle platoon |
4 |
MG platoon |
1 |
81mm mortar platoon |
1 |
25mm ATG + horses |
| Proportional Attached Divisional Units | |
1 |
Recon pltn either cavalry or M/C |
1 |
Engineer platoon |
1 |
ATG either 25mm (30%) or 47mm (20%) none (50%) |
1 |
75mm howitzer |
1 |
155mm howitzer (66%) |
1 |
FOO |
Tank Units
There were two types of french "armoured divisions" the DCR and the DLM
Each DCR had
- 2 bttns of Char 1B Bis (each 6 pltns)
- 2 bttns of H35 or R35 tanks (each 9 pltns)
- 1 bttn mechanised infantry (Chasseurs)
- 9 rifle pltns (in L38 APCs)
- 3 x 25mm ATG with lorries
- 81mm mortar pltn, lorried
- Motorcycle recon pltn
- 1 artillery regt (6 x 105mm, with lorries)
- 1 AT (2 x 47mm) , 1 AA (1 x 25mm) and 1 Engineer companies
Each DLM had (see enpointe.chez-alice.fr for full details)
- 2 bttns of SOMUA S35s (each 10 pltns)
- 2 bttns of H35, H39 or R35 tanks (each 10 pltns)
- 2 Recon bttns (each 5x Panhard pltn & 4 x Motorcycle pltn)
- 3 bttn of Dragoons (motorised infantry & light tanks)
- 5 x AMR 33/35 or H39
- 4 x M/C recce
- 6 x rifle pltn
- 4 x MG pltn
- 1 x 81mm mortar
- 1 x 25mm ATG
- 12 x Laffley S20 TL trucks
- 1 field artillary regt (6x 75mm and 3 x 105mm)
- 1 bttn of Engineers, motorised
- AT Battery (2 x 47mm)
- AT Squadron (3 x 25mm)
- AAA Battery (1 x Hotchkiss 25mm AAA)
An Infantry Division comprised
- 9 bttns of Infantry (each of 12 platoons + support)
- 1 Recon bttn (4 motorcycle pltn 4 MG m/c pltns, 4 cavalry. 1 MG horsed, 1 25mm ATG pltn)
- 1 Light field regt (9 x 75mm, horses)
- 1 heavy field regt (6 x 155mm, horses)
- 1 engineer bttn (8 pltns)
- 2 AT and 1 AA companies (3 x 25mm, 2 x 47mm, 1 x 25mm AA)
The 25mm Hotchkiss AA would seem to look pretty similar to the German single 20mm