Sunday 21 September 2014

SCW Project: May Have Cracked It (Or: How to have your cake and eat it)

September has me ruminating on the Spanish Civil War project once again. Despite the sage views of those much more expert than I (with particular thanks to Curt, Arlequin/Jim Anibal Invictus and Juan), I hadn't really settled on a platoon and was in fact left with four equally tempting options: The Carabineros, Republican Army, Carlist Requetes and the Italian Corpo Truppo Voluntario.

So, thinks I, why not collect them all? Nay, not a sudden worsening of Wargamer's Shiney-itis, but a reasoned reassessment of the project.



My first thought was that I should collect two platoons, so I can host a complete game. Too many projects of mine are just one side or t'other and that's a habit I'm working to break. This would mean more initial outlay and doing so should leave me enough lead to paint for a good couple of years. After all, I've already got loads of Spanish themed terrain from the Peninsular War project.

The brainwave came when I stopped thinking about whole Platoons of a particular type and focused instead on Sections. Almost all of the Chain of Command SCW lists have two large sections, usually around 18 men each, possibly with few extra troops in the command or mortar sections. Also, the official lists note the frequency that fighting formations were cobbled together from different units in Brigadas Mixtas. Rather than doing this using a 'paper strength' core platoon with support choices from other units, I'll use two different sections fighting together with supports taken from a relevant list. Also, some time along the line, I was reading about the Basque Army (or 'Euzko Gudarostea'), and though they'd be an interesting take instead of a mainstream Republican Army unit. Being cut off in the north, supply problems meant the had a more rag-tag look, with a mixture of available uniforms and civilian clothing.

Basques dated 1936 - mostly civilian clothing. Image credit

And from 1937 - more uniform. I'll probably do a section combining both. Image credit

So looking at my options:
1). CTV can be taken using the small RRS scout platoon (a 22 man motorcycle scout section), which can be supported by a Nationalist Army unit using the Requetes miniatures
2). The Requetes, supported by Carabineros can be used with a Traditionalist Militia list.
3). The Basque Army supported by Carabineros can use the Republican army EPR list
4). Finally, Carabineros supported by militia (either the Requetes or Basques) can fight for either side using the early war Security Services list

With careful planning, I should have the troops to match the structure of the list and have one full section and the command elements be from the relevant list, supported by a secondary section. I'd then get a small spread of support options for each side, without going overboard. Which should give me a good range of early- and mid-war lists which cover both Nationalists and Republicans.

So the next thought was whether all these units would ever grace the same field in Spain. Happily, I believe so: the Northern front until the capitulation of the Basque Army in 1937 saw all of these in action (well, I'm less certain about the Carabineros, though one of the pre-war commands was based at San Sebastián so I expect it to be plausible).

As well as appealing to my indecisive nature, it means I can build up a broader collection of miniatures, around 20 of each from four different types, rather than painting a large number of the same packs or mixing manufacturers. Finally if offers good game potential with a mix of troops that fought in the Spanish Civil War: well-equipped mechanised infantry (CTV RRS), trained but poorly supported Spanish army and security units (Basque Army/Carabineros) and die-hard religious militiamen (Requetes).

Is is quite a mound of lead, being my miniatures budget for many months and the affordability may depend on whether we get a bulk buy discount by doing a large Wyvern club order. Otherwise, I'd probably drop out the CTV.  Now to ensure I don't go overboard on armoured vehicles and support options...

14 comments:

  1. Sounds like a plan Phil, thinking about Italians, which can be pitted against Marks LRDG, but also uses my adobe type buildings, I already have some VBCW which will fit as proxy communists. it could be a busy couple of months for all of us:-)

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    1. Yes, no doubt there were some uniform changes but I'd be happy enough using them later (lovely figs - shame not to!)

      A cheaper alternative might be to buy the new Perry but those a Empress are too nice to pass up.

      Should be fun thou I doubt I'll have that lot painted before 2016!

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  2. A good final choice! The Basque army provides a lot of colour and variation to the table although historically the adventure ended in a terrible bloodbath due to the structural weakness of the Republican forces isolated in the North.

    I suggest looking to the site a of this Basque reenactor and historical research group for inspiration
    http://www.sanchodebeurko.org/#

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    1. Yes great site, I've seen the video before. Lots of effort in their reenacting.

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  3. A very good plan; your forces are going to be really colorful! The war in the North can be very interesting with all the different forces, equipment and weapons there were.

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    1. Ah yes, like the Euzkadi light tank? I was wondering - did the Basques get supplied with other tanks or armoured vehicles like the T26 at all? I've been struggling to find detailed information in English.

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    2. Yes, they received Renault FT-17 from France and the Soviet Union (of Polish origin these ones) and FA-I and BA-6 A/Cs.

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    3. Juan is right on the money. I'm not certain about the T-26 to be honest and my 'Big Book of Soviet Tank Shipments' is packed away, but if there were FAI and BA-6, there were probably T-26 too.

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  4. Sounds like a plan,I look forward to it unfolding.

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  5. Sounds like the best approach! Look forward to seeing this unfold.

    Christopher

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  6. Haha! This is exactly the same approach that I took (which means we're both geniuses). ;) I have slowly collected squads/sections from pretty much all the major combatants, reasoning that I could mash them together to make very characterful polyglot forces. This has served us really well for gaming as the guys really like the variation in troop types. Now I'm just 'topping up' some of the sections to platoon strength just because I like the figures/history. Have fun with it Phil!

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    1. Haha, yes, I claim no originality here - your games have been an inspiration and the approach definitely has merits. :-)

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  7. I have done something similiar. I have a Platoon of International Brigade and I have a platoon of Legion, but I only have two sections of Regulares. Sometimes I will brigade my regulares with my legion. I wouls really like to do some Milicianos at some point

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  8. Spanish platoons are pretty big and certainly there was a degree of mix and match early on at least.

    If I recall correctly, the Basques also fought alongside Militia from the Asturias, so there's another option.

    Variety is the spice of life, so with so many options you should not get bored. Looking forwards to seeing them!

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