6mm Modern British in Iraq!

edited for historical accuracy...

Well, in keeping with my tradition of random side projects, here are some (relativly) Modern British!

This combined arms force would be right at home in Operation Desert Storm (part 1) from the early 90s, which for me growing up was very much in the news! I am sure my teacher at my first year of school really enjoyed my commentary on the Coalition Air War, focusing on the aircraft themselves! I have vivid memories of an image in the paper of a downed aircraft, with an Iraqi dancing on the wreckage of the wing. I brought that to show and tell!

So in a way, I have always been a fan of the machines of warfare.....

But, on with the force.



The miniatures come from GHQ, and are really nice. The force contains...



4 Challenger 1 Main Battle Tanks. Before being superseded by the Challenger II, these were the big boys of the British Armoured Forces. Armed with a rifled 120mm gun, and still with the British Armies refusal to use auto-loaders (manual loading with highly drilled troops instead- continues on the Challenger II), these tanks are certainly formidable.



8 Warrior Armoured Personnel Carriers. These battle buses transport the modern British soldiers, armed with a 30mm cannon and a co ax MG. Tragically 2 Warriors were lost in the Gulf War through a friendly fire incident with an A-10 Warthog.



4 Scorpion Light Recon Tanks. Armed with a 76mm cannon, but really designed to go fast and scout, these form the recon elements of my force.



6 FV432 including variants. This includes two FV432 Armoured Personnel Carriers, two FV432 mortar weapons and two with Swingfire Anti-Tank Missiles. Although being phased out in favour of the Warrior and other systems, the FV432 is still in operation now; although with a much improved armour and defense systems.



9 bases of British Infantry. These are the dismounts from the Warriors and the FV432s, mounted on 21mm washers. Pretty simple paint jobs, pretty small miniatures! But they look the part in my opinion!




This is everyones favourite VTOL aircraft, the Harrier! To those who think their favourite is the F-35, you know it isn't......
Anyway, one single Harrier Aircraft, to act as Close Air Support. This particular Harrier, a GR-5 was the top of the line in Desert Storm. Equipped with two Sidewinder Anti-Aircraft missiles, four bombs and two rocket pods, it is certainly equipped to unleash on some unsuspecting locals!




Last up, two of my absolute favorite aircraft, the Westland Lynx. Now, not to gush too much about this helo but... It is the fastest, can perform loops, equipped with TOW Anti-Armour missiles and is just generally cool! I have been a big, big fan of this helo for some time!

In Desert Storm, they did unfortunately suffer many weapon malfunctions from their missiles, after all, the TOW warheads had been sitting in storage since the 1970's....

These were a treat to assemble and make- the details are provided by cut brass, details like the rotors and skids. Wargamers are a funny lot, we get really angry when rivets are wrong, but really excited when you give us something new. I can only imagine how much we frustrate companies!

At any rate, there is all of my 6mm stuff painted! It feels pretty good to get a whole project done and dusted, but it is usually in that euphoric feeling that I order more (to perpetuate the cycle), I haven't yet, but am seriously looking! What game system will I use these with? No idea. At all. Haha!

And so the painting war continues....

CP