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DISPATCHES February
2019 Hi Guys, WELCOME
to this months DISPATCHES and the release of some long-awaited figures and a
terrific fighting vehicle never produced by any other toy soldier maker... except
for King & Country that is! So, without further
ado, lets jump in... 1.
BEING
RELEASED IN FEBRUARY A.
VIETNAM
FIRE SUPPORT! When
American troops first deployed in force to South Vietnam in 1965 they were supported by a number of brand-new airfield
and ground installations that required a low altitude defense system. The anti
aircraft system then in operation with U.S. Forces worldwide was provided
by HAWK missile batteries... These however proved inadequate in Vietnam and
an alternative had to be found and so the U.S. Army began recalling the older
M42 Duster anti aircraft
guns back into service and organizing them into Air Defense Artillery
battalions (ADA). Beginning in the Fall of 1966
three battalions of Dusters were operational in Vietnam each
consisting of a headquarters battery and four Duster
batteries, each augmented by one Quad .50 battery and an artillery
searchlight battery. Despite a few early air kills,
a major air threat from North Vietnam never materialized and ADA crews found
themselves increasingly involved in ground support missions. Most often
those involved point security... convoy escort and / or perimeter
defense. Probably the Dusters
finest hour came at the time of the TET Offensive in 1968 when M42s
and their twin 40mm guns made short work of massed VC and NVA infantry
attacks and helped knock out enemy bunker and defence
positions. U.S. Army and Marine units came
to place a high value on the mobile close artillery support the M42
Duster provided time and time again. Perhaps the Grunts own
graffiti scrawled on one M42 said it all... Have Guns Will
Travel! VN033
The M42 DUSTER During
the Korean War (1950-53) the U.S. Army decided it needed a mobile anti aircraft gun that could utilize the existing chassis
of the M41 Tank. Since
40mm guns were seen as the most effective twin gun
mounting, similar to those on most U.S. Navy ships of that era, they were married
to a M41 chassis and designated the M42. The
first M42s entered service in late 1953 with production halted in 1960 after
some 3,700 vehicles had been produced. These in
turn began to be replaced by the HAWK Surface to Air Missile
units in the early 1960s. By 1963 most Dusters had been
transferred to National Guard units... Until Vietnam! Our King
& Country model, made up of over 95 separate parts, is typical of
the U.S. Army Dusters of the late 1960s period during the Vietnam
War. Two
seated Gunners man
the twin 40mm Bofors guns and the vehicle also comes with double
radio antennas and a side-mounted M60 machine gun. Painted in standard
U.S. Army Olive Drab this particular M42 is nicknamed Double Trouble
and stands ready for action... anytime, anywhere. VN042
Duster Add-On Crew Two
essential add-ons to
complete your M42 in action... A kneeling NCO rifleman observes the battle as
his buddy prepares to load a clip of 40mm shells into one of the
guns. VN046
Crouching Marine Firing M72 LAW The
M72 LAW (Light
Anti Tank Weapon) was a portable, one-shot, 66mm
unguided anti tank weapon first adopted by the U.S.
Army and Marine Corps in 1963. Although
originally intended for anti armoured vehicle use
U.S. ground forces frequently used it against enemy bunker and fixed defence positions especially in urban areas. Our
Marine crouches as he aims the weapon at his target... One shot, one
hit! VN049
Dead or Alive...? M16 pointing directly at the enemy
this Marine is taking no chances as he approaches a North Vietnamese Army (NVA)
casualty. AVAILABLE:
Early February B.
SAME
MARINES... DIFFERENT WAR Two
small, individual releases of a pair of USMC reinforcements for the Pacific
Theatre of WW2... USMC051
Softly, Softly Like his
Vietnam counterpart VN049, this WW2 Leatherneck cautiously
edges forward towards some Japanese dead or perhaps he is moving carefully
through a possible minefield... you make the decision. USMC052
Pacific War Dog During
WW2 the Marine Corps trained a small number of War Dogs for service
in the Pacific. They were first used on Bougainville and Peleliu
but saw most active duty on Guam where 60 war dogs and their handlers
went ashore and twenty were killed or believed missing-in-action. Some
other war dogs served as messenger dogs while more were used as sentries
or on the point of patrols where their superior animal senses often
negated any surprise attack or ambush by the Japanese. Not
surprisingly Marine war dogs were expert at flushing-out hidden
enemies and, alas, suffered heavy losses especially on Iwo Jima. War
Dogs were mostly recruited from civilian owners and screened to eliminate
high-strung or vicious animals. Mongrels often proved the best adapted to
their military duties followed by German Shepherds... Dobermans however
turned out to be too nervous. Our
kneeling Marine handler, complete with Winchester Shotgun and
holstered M1911 Colt Automatic gets ready for the next operation
together with his brown & black cross breed called Sailor. AVAILABLE:
Early February C.
ROME
AT WAR ROM031
Pilum Thrower As this
Roman soldier runs forward he protects his body with
his shield as he launches his Pilum at the enemy... AVAILABLE:
Mid February D.
THE
REAL WEST Not so
long ago several of our Real West collectors suggested to us that
we should produce different colour variations of a
few of Custers Last Stand figures. And so,
after carefully considering their suggestions we selected a few figures on
either side that might be perfect candidates for an alternative
version... TRW148
Single-handed First Aid Gripping
the cloth in his teeth this wounded trooper attempts to bandage his bleeding
wrist while still holding his Army Colt in one hand. TRW149
Dismounted & Trapped! With his
horse shot from under him and collapsed on top of his left leg this trooper
is already doomed. Defiantly, he raises himself to aim his pistol at
attacking Indians. TRW151
Dazed & Bleeding Another
forlorn trooper has been struck in the head by an Indian warriors club or
tomahawk... Partially blinded by his wound he attempts to crawl to safety... TRW154
Medicine Crow Although
most of the hostile Indians Custer faced at the Little Big Horn were Sioux
and Cheyenne a number of other tribes were
also present... Among them a young warrior chief called Medicine Crow
seen here letting loose an arrow at the beleaguered Long Knives. TRW158
Dog Wolf A
kneeling dismounted Cheyenne warrior, Dog Wolf takes careful
aim with his captured U.S. Cavalry carbine. AVAILABLE:
Mid February E.
TOMMY
ATKINS ESQ. IN ACTION Tommy
Atkins (often
just Tommy) has
been slang for a common soldier in the British Army for over two
centuries. The origins of the name go as far back as the Napoleonic
Wars. One common belief is that the name was chosen by the Duke of Wellington
himself after having been inspired by the bravery of one of his private
soldiers during the Peninsula War. After one particular
battle the Duke came upon a certain severely wounded soldier and asked
after his condition. The terribly injured soldier simply replied, Im all
right sir... All in a days work and died shortly afterwards. Sometime
later the Duke was asked what generic British name should be used on all army
forms... He remembered the brave but gravely wounded soldier from his
Peninsula days and also his name... Tommy
Atkins. Here are some welcome British Army infantry of the Napoleonic
era that would be proud to bear the name Tommy Atkins. NA417
Colonel of the Regiment This
mounted senior officer bellows out his orders in the heat of battle. NA418
Infantry Captain As
bullet, shot and shell erupt about him this officer remains cool, calm and
collected... sword in hand. The
epitome of the British stiff upper lip. NA419
Infantryman with Pike Staff This
private soldier has momentarily put aside his Brown Bess Musket to
pick up a long pike staff from a dead sergeant... All the better to reach out
and stab any attacking French cavalryman. NA420
Drummer Boy Every
Line Company in British infantry regiments had its own Drummer Boy, some as
young as 11 or 12 but usually about 15 years of age. Many of these
young lads were orphans of the regiment and had grown up within it when their
parents were still alive. NA421
Reaching For A Cartridge This
standing infantryman stands ready to repel the enemy as he reaches back into
his ammunition pouch for a fresh cartridge. NA422
Kneeling Cocking His Musket Weapon fully
loaded this kneeling Red Coat pulls back the hammer of his musket. NA423
Kneeling Ready Weapon
loaded, bayonet fixed and awaiting further orders. NA424
Lying Prone Firing Lying on
the ground in front of the ranks of his kneeling and standing comrades this Tommy
Atkins takes careful aim. NA425
Hors de Combat Out of
action due to injury or damage this crawling soldier tries to seek cover in the midst of the action. NA-S07
Blood, Bullets & Cold Steel A
combined Extra Value Added Set that
brings all of these great figures together and offers them to dealers and
collectors at a GREAT PRICE! AVAILABLE:
Mid-Late February 2.
ON
THE RETIREMENT LIST As per
usual a few interesting Bits n Bobs that are being retired
to make room for all the newbies... Check them out and grabem while you can... AE048 The Anubis Set AE049 The Papyrus Boat Set AE050 The Fishermen MK109 Fighting Saladin MK115 Saracen Flagbearer MK126 The Kneeling Spearman MK127 Standing Firing Crossbow MK128 Bending and Loading Crossbow MK130 Loading Crossbow WS330 Do you know this man? And
thats the story so far... All the best and Happy Collecting to every one everywhere and... by the way... KUNG HEI FAT CHOY! Happy Chinese New Year
in this The Year of the Pig. Andy C. Neilson Co-founder & Creative
Director King & Country Ltd. |