I thought it may be time to have a look at what kind of list I could build from the Wargames Atlantic French Infantry 1914-1940 box, available from your local games store – I know at Warlords n Wizards in Netherton you may need to ask Steve to get it for you :-).
The Box builds 35 figures, I used it to build the following mix, for photos check this post Bolt Action: Free French – Part 4
- 10 Senegalese Tirailleurs – 9 with rifles 1 with an LMG
- 3 Officers/NCO’s with SMG
- 1 Officer/NCO with SMG and Rifle
- 2 officers/Nco’s with Rifles
- 3 Troopers with LMGs
- 1 trooper with Rifle and VB Grenade Launcher
- 15 Troopers with rifles.
Not a bad mix for a £25 kit.
I am going to play in a Bolt Action Escalation league in my local Club, the initial lists need to be 500 pts and all infantry, so what kind of list could this box build?
Using The Battle of France 1940 list from France and Allies box – I put together this 493pts list, this uses all but 2 of the figures and will require me to add a VB launcher to one figure.
I could of course increase the value of this list, by including the extra 2 figures – changing the inexperienced squad to regular and add VB launchers to the Squads with out them. Below is a 574 pts list where I have done this.
Of course the next step would be to add some support weapons – the Warlords French Army Support Pack contains
- 2 officers
- 1 Medic
- 1 Forward Observer
- 1 medium mortar team
- 1 MMG Team
I have replicated this using 3d Prints from Eskice Miniatures, and again using his prints have created a large Artillery team and an AT gun team, I have also printed 7 Motorcycle troops on bikes and 5 troopers with SMG’s to represent them when dismounted, an Sniper team, 2 troopers with VB launchers and a stretcher team (or additional medic). Oh and I forgot a Donkey to tow light/medium AT/artillery.
So for a total of just around £50 what list could you have if you bought the French Infantry from Wargames Atlantic and the French Support pack from Warlord Games?
I give you a reasonable list at 817 pts – you could drop the extra men with the Officer or Artillery Observer to bring the list in under 800 pts.
Now if I include the extras that I have 3d printed – which you could represent with french army 47mm medium anti tank gun, french army 105mm medium howitzer , French MotorCycle troops with SMG. and French Motorcycle troops on bikes.
We now have a 997 pt list, and thanks to the free artillery the french get we have both a medium AT gun and a Medium Howitzer :-).;
I have also printed off some vehicles to support these troops, this potentially allows me to enhance the above list with
- A Somau Tank
- A Renault UE Tractor
- A Citroen Staff Car
- A lorraine 37L Tow
- A Lorraine 38L troop carrier
- Laffy Tractor
- Laffy Portee
So from 1 box of infantry and a bit of FDM 3d printing I have created myself a flexible Early war French selection. These Troops will also work as Vichy France forces, and as Early/Mid war Free Frence in North Africa.
I will in a future post do a similar look at the Late War Free French I can create from the Box of British Paras and Box of American GI’s from Warlord Games.
Hope you found this interesting.
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