British Heavy weapons platoon (plastic)

Introduced into the British Army in North Africa in April 1942 and seeing action the following month, the QF 6-pounder made an immediate impact on the battefield. In the Gazala battles it proved able to take on any Axis tank at useful engagement ranges, and destroyed more than 15 tanks in a single action during the Second Battle of El Alamein. Despite being unable to penetrate the frontal armour, it was also the first gun to knock out the feared Tiger. The 6-pounder was easy to manhandle into cover and could sustain a rapid rate of fire, its useful life being extended by improvements in ammunition.

In games of Bolt Action the 6-pounder can be included in Artillery Platoons and is a Medium Anti-tank gun, that can be towed by most vehicles.

Stoic in defence and methodical in attack, the British Army relied on its heavy weapons to support the infantry and keep the enemy’s heads down.

The 3 inch medium mortar was the mainstay of the British Army’s Support Companies, providing organic close fire support to the Rifle Companies in each Infantry Battalion. Its heavier cousin, the 4.2 inch heavy mortar, was first used at the Battle of El Alamein, and threw a 20lb bomb out to over 4,000 yards. The Vickers medium machine gun was a veteran of the First World War. While its rate of fire was slower than other guns, because it was water cooled it could sustain accurate fire for extended periods and was incredibly reliable. 

The box contains everything you need to build a Heavy Weapons Platoon - up to two medium machine guns, and two medium or two heavy mortars or three heavy weapons teams plus a platoon commander and bodyguard. If you choose the latter you can also use arms and weapons from your infantry as the crew are modelled in British Army uniforms, and are fully interchangeable with the plastic infantry. Note that the Heavy Mortars have four crew, so the exact number of weapons teams you can build depends on which weapons you choose. Included are enough 60mm bases to make up to four weapons teams total. 

Contains:

• Two heavy weapons frames each with a Vickers MMG with tripod, ammunition and water cooling can, including covered and uncovered barrel options, plus a medium mortar and a heavy mortar, both with bipod and baseplate plus ammunition.
• Three crew frames containing a total of twelve crewmen, in mid-late war British Army uniforms, also suitable for many Commonwealth forces. Included are a range of heads, arms and equipment plus ammunition cases and rounds for decorating your bases. 
• Four 60mm and three 25mm bases
• British and Canadian decals
• Four Order Dice

Miniature sculpted by Wojtek Flis. Studio miniature painted by Andres Amian.

Models supplied unassembled and unpainted