DISPATCHES
July 2022
Hi
Guys,
Welcome
to this month’s ‘DISPATCHES’, a much more modest selection than
usual, but an interesting collection nevertheless and with a couple of
surprises.
In
this edition we will also preview three of our August releases.
So,
without further ado, let’s begin!
1.
BEING
RELEASED IN JULY...
A.
‘WINTER
GIs’
It’s
been quite a few years since K&C’s last dedicated ‘Battle of The
Bulge’ releases... especially on the American side of the
battle. Well, now that’s all changed with the July availability of no less
than 12 brand-new sculpts of GIs in action... All wearing the
long, U.S. Army issue greatcoat and warm, woolen gloves.
These
GIs are armed with a broad selection of weapons and ready to repulse the
surprise German attack, which erupted on the morning of 16 December
1944 in the area of Belgium known as... ‘The Ardennes’.
Take a closer look of our featured releases of ‘Winter GIs’ on Youtube.
BBA091
“.30 Cal. Machine Gun Team”
Another
of John M. Browning’s masterpieces, the ‘Model 1919’ was
originally developed as a general purpose machine gun
for the U.S. Cavalry, for use in its tanks and armoured
cars or, in the ‘ground role’ mounted on a tripod.
The
U.S. Infantry liked the weapon so much that during WWⅡ
they introduced both a rifle-style butt in addition to the more familiar pistol
grip.
The
heavy barrel was air-cooled using a perforated jacket. The gun’s tripod mount
could be adjusted allowing the gunner to utilise both
the ‘sitting’ and ‘lying prone’ positions.
Our
2-man team are in the prone position with the gun’s ‘Number 2’
feeding the ammunition belt into the M1919 with his M1 Garand lying next
to him.
BBA092
“B.A.R. Gunner”
Although,
strictly speaking, the B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle) was not
a machine gun it was employed mostly in the light machine gun role within
American WW2 Infantry Squads.
Each
American infantry squad (usually 8-10 men) would always contain at least
one soldier carrying the B.A.R.
Both
the M1 ‘Garand’ Rifle and B.A.R. used the same .30 cal.
ammunition.
K&C’s
new B.A.R. Gunner is taking cover as he observes the enemy.
BBA093
“Lying Prone Rifleman”
This
winter-clad GI is taking aim from the prone firing position.
BBA094
“Kneeling Rifleman”
This
kneeling infantryman is using one of the most outstanding weapons of WW2... The
.30 cal. M1 Rifle was designed by John C. Garand who originally
worked for the Springfield Arsenal.
Its
design resulted from the U.S. Army’s experience in WW1 when it was recognized
that a self-loading rifle brought greater advantage on the battlefield and a
major increase in the infantry squad’s firepower.
Although
quite heavy (9.5 lbs.) or 4.4kg its 8-round magazine and sturdy reliability
made it popular with all the troops who carried it.
After
WW2 the rifle also served in the Korean War until its replacement by the M14 in
the late 1950s.
BBA095
“Standing Rifleman”
Classic
firing pose with the classic rifle.
BBA096
“Throwing Grenade”
A
kneeling rifleman holds his M1 ‘Garand’ in his left hand as he prepares
to hurl a grenade at the approaching enemy.
Most
infantrymen carried at least 2 x grenades with them... either the small,
smooth-finish grenade or the standard MKⅡ
‘Pineapple’ version.
The
danger area was a nominal 10/11 yards (9metres) circle around the
explosion and throwers were well-advised to be behind cover when the device
went off!
BBA097
“Command Set”
This
2-man set includes the Squad’s radio man carrying the ‘SCR-538’
backpack radio with a telephone handset.
Because
of the extra weight of the radio and its batteries most radio operators carried
the lighter M1 Carbine as a personal weapon.
Most
‘Squad Leaders’ were corporals however some sergeants would also take up
this role.
Chances
are, our Squad Leader is a ‘Sergeant’ as he’s carrying the Thompson
submachine gun which was a rare weapon for junior NCOs to carry.
BBA098
“The Bazooka Team”
When
the US Army entered WW2 its antitank defense was the 37mm
towed gun and the .50 cal M2 Browning heavy
machine gun.
US
experts adopted and adapted an original Swiss design and created a man-portable
antitank weapon that could also be used to knockout pillboxes and other fixed defences.
Nicknamed
“The Bazooka”, these new weapons began to go into service in 1943
and proved easy to use and relatively easy to transport across the battlefield.
As
the ‘gunner’ aims the bazooka on the target his ‘Number 2’ loads
the projectile into the rear of the weapon.
The ‘number two’ also carries his own as well as his buddy’s M1
‘Garand’.
BBA099
“Tommy-Gunner”
This
final ‘Winter GI’ is definitely either a ‘sergeant’
or possibly a junior officer.
In
addition to his ‘Tommy-Gun’ he also has the holstered Colt
M1911A1 as his sidearm.
Both
pistol and submachine gun utilize a common .45 calibre
round which is both sensible and very useful.
BBA-S01 “Battle of The Bulge” Winter Bonus Set
Purchase ALL 12 of these brand
new ‘Battle of The Bulge’ figures and King & Country will
provide you with a special, custom-painted KnC ‘Winter Sherman Tank’ with our compliments and a
very special combined price.
As only a limited number of
these ‘Winter Shermans’ are available place
your order soon.
AVAILABLE: Mid July
B.
‘ENTERTAINING THE TROOPS!’
In
between wars, battles and campaigns it’s important to keep your troops morale
up and, when you can, provide a little entertainment and diversion that reminds
them of home and perhaps, what they are fighting for and what they may want to
return to...
During
the Vietnam War all kinds of entertainers flew out to that war-torn country to
put on a show for the hundreds of thousands of GIs stationed throughout South
East Asia... Here is just a small but colourful
example…
VN147
“The Apocalypse Playmates Set”
In Francis
Ford Coppola’s Vietnam epic ‘Apocalypse Now’ there is one particular scene where a trio of ‘Playboy Playmates’
descend by helicopter on a stage in front of thousands of sex-starved GIs and
proceed to put on a very provocative show for the benefit of the troops.
If
the girls’ intentions were to inflame the passions of the crowd
they certainly succeed as the assembled military audience attempt to storm the
stage and grab the girls.
As
the Military Police are overwhelmed it is only the intervention of some Special
Forces guys together with a waiting ‘Huey’ that prevents disaster...
Well,
here they are... ‘Cavalry Girl’... ‘Pocahontas’...
and ‘The Sheriff‘.
All
three together in a special 3 figure box.
If, however, you would prefer just one of the girls these are also available...
VN151
“Playmate Pocahontas”
In a
very fetching, not-so-traditional Native American costume.
VN152
“Playmate Cavalry Girl”
I’m
not sure General Custer would approve of her uniform... but Colonel
Kilgore certainly would!
VN153
“Playmate Sheriff”
This
young lady could lay down the law anytime and which red-blooded male wouldn’t
be happy to spend a night in jail with her!!!
AVAILABLE: Mid July
C.
‘THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES’
From a
fictitious movie about the Vietnam War to a real entertainer who actually did so much for the troops over there with his
annual ‘Bob Hope Christmas Show’.
From 1964 to
1972, one of the few constants of the conflict and one of the most eagerly
anticipated was the yearly visit by one of America’s most popular comedians...
Mr. Bob Hope.
Beginning in
WW2 this great entertainer logged millions of miles flying around the globe
with his hand-picked tame of singers, dancers and musicians to put on shows for
the US Military on airfields, aircraft carriers, army camps, hospitals and
dozens of other locations wherever GIs were stationed.
A TRIBUTE IN MINIATURE
As the numbers
of US Military in South Vietnam grew each year so too did the length of each
‘Christmas Show’ and the venues expand.
K&C are
releasing 2 versions of this great American comedian as he might
have appeared during his 1967/’68 tours.
VN148
“USMC Bob”
Here, the
comedian is wearing a USMC Field Shirt decorated with no less than 3 x
divisional patches of the three US Marine Corps divisions that served in
Vietnam.
Bob’s
headgear is a red ballcap with USMC proudly on the front.
VN155
“US Army Bob”
This figure
wears the standard US Army Field Shirt adorned with oversized full colour patches of the Air Cavalry and the MACV
(Military Assistance Command Vietnam). On his head ‘Bob’ wears a
navy blue ballcap with a Green Berets cap badge.
On the back
of both field shirts are a list of just some of the typical venues around South
Vietnam where the shows were staged.
AVAILABLE:
Late July
2.
SPECIAL AUGUST PREVIEW
These
past few months, April, May and June, Britain has remembered a very special
time in our military history... The 40th Anniversary of The
Falklands War.
This
conflict, just 10 weeks long, was remarkable for many reasons among them the
sheer professionalism and superior training of all the British Forces involved
and the almost overwhelming support of the British people to evict an illegal
occupying army from British territory and liberate its people, the Falkland
islanders.
K&C’s
first two releases of Falklands War Royal Marines ‘yomping’
across East Falkland have proved to be exceptionally popular and now we are
releasing 3 more 2-figure sets to mark the first land victory in
the campaign, The Battle of Goose Green.
Over
two days, in a fourteen hour struggle, the Second
Battalion of The Parachute Regiment (2 Para) fought an enemy
force almost three times larger than itself!
Lacking
adequate artillery and air support the battalion fought a long, grueling battle
across nearly featureless, windswept and uneven open ground to capture the
small settlement and free just over a 100 local civilians.
These
3 upcoming sets portray the immediate aftermath of the battle as the ‘Paras’
collect, disarm and search some of the enemy combatants.
Already
in development are several additional ‘Falklands Sets’ featuring
British paratroopers and marines in action during the campaign... and some of
the Argentinean ‘defenders’ of Las Malvinas’.
TF003
“C’mon Pablo Keep Moving!”
One
of our Paras, gently but firmly, urges one of the Prisoners to move along.
TF004
“Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina”
This
Para hums the famous song as he escorts a dejected Argentinean conscript
towards the other Prisoners-of-War.
TF005
“Just Making Sure...”
The
third Para makes a thorough search of the prisoner to ensure that he’s not
carrying any kind of weapon or loose ammunition about his person.
AVAILABLE:
August 2022
3.
BEING RETIRED...
CE017
Swiss Guardsman at
Attention
CE018
Swiss Guardsman Standing-at-Ease
CE019
Swiss Guard Corporal Saluting
CE020
Swiss Guard Musician / Trumpeter
CE022
The Pope
CE023
Swiss Guard Drummer
CE024
Swiss Guard Officer
CE025
Swiss Guard Standard Bearer
CE026
Swiss Guard Recruit
CE027
Guardsman w/Two-Handed Sword
DD195
Radio Operator
TRW088
Major Marcus Reno
TRW115
The White Officer
TRW125
Lying Prone Firing
TRW142
Captor & Captured
And
that my friends, as I like to say, is that!
Apologies,
there is not as much as we, or perhaps you, would like but in these strange and
challenging times it’s a minor miracle we managed to get these ones out!
In the meantime... all the very best and happy collecting.
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder &
Creative Director
King & Country