Basic similarities may be noted between the 1:1 lists and the 1:5 lists. It often doesn't take much outlay to convert a force built for one unit scale to the other scale. The reader might note certain overlaps on the lists (e.g.: the repetition of equipment on the British lists) - if some quantity of an equipment type was basic to the list, and another quantity was optional, I listed it twice.
It's important to realize that the organizations described above are at full strength. In the field, the Allied army organizations would normally be near this strength; the German formations would often fall far below these figures. Grenadiers would appear in trucks, or more often,on foot; tank platoons would contain 2 or 3 tanks, and companies might contain only 2 platoons. These lists are intended only as a guide to getting one's feet wet in this facet of miniatures gaming. Note also that obtaining everything on one of these lists does not necessarily give the player a bigger balanced force - it simply makes the basic force much more flexible as 'modules' of equipment are swapped in and out of the unit.
Veteran modern gamers will note a lot that's missing; remember - this is only a basic list, based upon my own experience at pushing model tanks around! As one gets into the WWII period and does some reading, all manner of weird units and different organizations come to light - but not at first. Speaking of weirdness - some of the lists (notably the USSR lists) contain much more attached self-propelled artillery and tank killers than might be expected; they're merely on the list to add variety to the force - artillery of various types is what gives Soviet forces their flavor.
The 3 manufactureers whose miniatures were used in preparation of these lists, and who will provide price lists on request, are:
GHQ
2634 Bryant Ave. South
Minneapolis, MIN 55408
Heroics and ROS Figures
Unit 12, Sernington Tpke.
Semington, Trowbridge
Wilts, BA14 6LB UK
C in C Soft Metal Casting
8090 University Ave. NE
Fridley, MN 55432
- available in the USA from:
Enola Games
P.O. Box 1900
Brooklyn, NY 11201
More Let's Make an WWII Army
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