WARGAMING WITH THE POLISH ARMY

Wargame Figure Manufacturers

By Mark Hannamm

I`m glad to say that quite some time ago I gave up the knee-jerk search for absolute accuracy in uniform and equipment, especially amongst the smaller scales of wargames figures. In any case, I was never one for converting plastic figures with a hot scalpel and tons of banana oil as ingeniously portrayed in Airfix Magazine during the early 1970`s. Shame, as I’d possibly be the third Perry Twin by now if I had. Figures dedicated to the Polish Army of 1919-20 in 15mm are few and far between but as I demonstrate below, the wargamer can quite legitimately go into “squint” mode to find the figures and models required to build his forces.

Whilst the congenial Martin Goddard does not produce a dedicated Russo-Polish range, his continually expanding range of WW1 and Russian Civil War figures (Range 16) will provide most of your needs in this scale. Each pack has 8 figures of 1 officer and 7 privates in three different poses or three machine-guns and crews.

Currently available from Martin are the following packs: 113 Polish Gun crews, 114 Polish lancers, 115 Poldish HMG`s, 114 Polish cavalry Command, 116 Polish Higher Command.

I suggest that for bog standard Polish troops use pack 81. Czech Legion Infantry. This is because they have 'pinched' caps which look like battered "Maciejowka`s" and 'bandage' leggings. They reminded me photos I saw of Polish troops at an exhibition in the Polish Cultural Centre on Hammersmith Road in Hammersmith, West London. The centre has a thriving bookshop (mostly in Polish) and is worth a visit if you are in the area. Figures can be painted in either Austrian WW1 'Hectgrau' or 'Feldgrau'.

Hallers 'Blue Army' can be represented by pack 89. Polish Infantry (French uniform and czapka), mixed with WW2 French in Adrian helmet from Range 15. These WW2 French in Adrian helmet can also be used for 'Strike Force' units.

You can create further variation by mixing Russian infantry, machine-gunners and artillerymen from the following packs: 31. Russian Infantry Advancing, 41. Russian Gun crew, 45. Russian Higher command, 48. Russian infantry firing, 49. Russian HMG's, 77. Russian infantry in German helmets, 82. Women’s Battalion of Death(!), 96. Russian infantry in greatcoat and furry hat, 97. Russian officer battalion (don`t be fooled by the title - these guys are all rifles and bayonets).

Polish militia can be had from pack 51. Red guard and Ukranian militia or conscripts from mixing pack 51 with 78. Russian ‘tatty’ partisans.

For additional Polish cavalry I use pack 44. Russian cavalry lancers and pack 42. Russian Cavalry command (officer and bugler), though I do also like the MINIFIG WW1 Russian Lancers. For Chevalier regiments I utilise the sword armed figures from pack 2. British cavalry and 92. British cavalry command. Certain Lancer regiments can be constructed from packs 91. British cavalry lancers and 92. British cavalry command.

Should you really want to represent the possible uniform worn by the 1st Polish Legion Lancer Regiment, with the tall Napoleonic style czapka, then either a.) cut the heads off appropriate Napoleonic French Polish Lancers of the Guard, or b) as a quick fix use pack 4. German Uhlans and build up the body of the German czapka till it`s filled in similarly to the Polsih one. See illustration 145 in Blandford`s Army Uniforms of World War 1 (isbn 0 7137 0821 2).

Assault companies can be created from packs 98. German 1917/18 Stormtroopers +Grenades, 99. German 1917/18 Stormtroopers +SMG, et al, perhaps mixed with 77. Russian infantry in German helmets.

Artillery available so far are: Packs 14.German 77m Gun , 47.Russian 76mm Putilov field gun, and 94. French 75mm gun. T

here`s also pack 72. Tchanka with 4 crew in peaked hats. Four horses, and to liven up your tabletop . . . packs 73. Officers carriage (Five figures and two horses standing) and 76. Staff car with crew of 3.

Four variants of the Renault FT17 exist in range 8 (WW2) - packs 250 - 253. This is a tidy model and I heartily recommend it.

The British style SAM Browne uniform with service cap was popular amongst both Polish and White Russian officers, especially artillery, engineer and staff types. To add variety to your units, I recommend using figures from WW1 packs 7. British Higher Command; from Range 13, packs 13. SCW Generals on foot & 30. Mounted Officers Command pack, and the officer figures out of WW1 packs 1. & 88. British Infantry Firing and Charging, respectively.

Further figures and equipment upon which a Polish 1919-1920 Army can be based are available from David Jackson’s 1939 Polish range.

Now, I know that the die hard uniform fetishists among you might cringe at the idea of using 1939 Poles with trousers which buttoned at the ankle instead of wearing leggings, but just think Austrian WW1! The fact that the trousers are less accurate (perhaps) is more than made up for by the "Maciejowka" (czapka) worn by these lovely figures, which is certainly more noticeable, unless you make a habit of gaming with the figures only two inches from your nose.

39 PI 1: 50 x Polish infantry in mixed helmet and czapka field cap: 5 Officers, 5 radios/observers, 40 infantry (in eight poses); 39 PI 2:Polish heavy weapons, crews in mixed czapka field cap and helmet: 6 x HMG + crew; 6 x LMG + crew; 2 x mortar + crew; 2 x "Ur" anti-tank rifle + crew.

The helmet is the very distinctive 1939 one, but I`m sure David may be amenable to splitting packs if you ask nicely. The HMG is a Maxim 08, both it and the mortar come as a sprue of parts which need to be assembled. Obviously the anti-tank rifle and LMG will be of little use but the heads of the figures with "Maciejowka`s" can be can be used to replace helmeted ones (ta-dah! - oh, don`t be cheap on me here!).

39 PI 4: 10th Mechanized Brigade (as per 39 PI 1). 39 PI 5: 10th Mechanized Brigade heavy weapons (as per 39 PI 2). These troops wear long leather overcoats and 1917 German helmets and as such are suitable as Strike Force or storm companies in greatcoats.

Other useful packs are:
39 PI 8: 50 x dismounted cavalry (Adrian helmet & greatcoat)
39 PI 9: Dismounted cavalry heavy weapons
39 PC 1: 20 x Mounted Cavalry in French Adrian helmet: 2 officers; 2 buglers; 16 troopers mixed poses and weapons (lance, sabre, rifle)
39 PC 1a: Dismounted observer figure, with horse - $1.20/Cdn or $0.85/US
39 PC 2: 20 x Mounted Light Cavalry in peaked cap
39 PE9a: 3 x Polish Schneider 1897-1938 75mm field gun (wooden wheels) + crew (Please Specify: Czapska; 10th Mech. Bde.; Polish Helmet, Adrian Helmet or Horse Artillery).
39 PE 10: 3 x limbers, 4 horse train, 2 riders in Adrian helmet & caisson (Please Specify: standing or galloping team).
39 PE 12: 2 x Taczanka, HMG cart, 4 crew, 6 horses

One of the original wargame figure manufacturers, Miniature Figurines can offer further ingredients to our Russo-Polish recipe. Generally, the early war 1914-15 figures are OK, as are the late war British but unfortunately the late war 1916-18 French, Austrians and Germans leave a lot to be desired.

The Russian infantry 1WR - 8WR look too Russian in appearance (surprising that, eh!) and so aren`t very suitable for our needs. This leaves us:

21WG Austro-Hungarian infantry advancing (peak cap).
3WGA German limber,
4WGA Austrian Skoda Gun (no calibre given),
2WRA Putilov 76.2mm Field Gun,
2WFH French 6 horse team and limber (steel helmet),
2WGH German 6 horse team and limber (steel helmet).
AFV4 General Supply Truck and Driver,
AFV7 French Char Renault FT17 (both MG and 37mm cannon come in pack),
AFV9 Model T Ford Truck and Driver

Any further thoughts of your own, please drop me a line at Mhannam@aol.com.

Cheers - Mark

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