WW1 Americans from MexRev range?

[Colonel Kilgore]

Just an idle thought (I know, they can be dangerous...) reading Martin's MexRev notes on the PP website "The US army of this period are wearing their WW1 uniform but lemon squeezer hats and no helmets."

Would this mean that, if WW1 US heads with helmets were available, one could create a WW1 US army for Square Bashing from this MexRev range?

Simon

[sukhe_bator (Neil)]

I am thinking yes... any minor uniform changes would not necessarily be evident in 15mm. My pin-vice fingers are screaming at the thought of all the head swaps necessary though... they are still quivering after the group build!

[Moggy]

Was watching a program about the home front in WW1 a couple of days ago and they were saying it was quite late that the US troops in Europe were issued helmets and they probably met with a degree of resistance to wearing them from users. Certainly for their early arrival period I think it would fit in nicely. Two armies for the price of one. sounds a bargain to me.

Derek

[sukhe_bator (Neil)]

You could get away with using just French 75s for AEF artillery. The AEF relied on 2000 French 75s for their artillery. Despite the fact that their 3" M1902 was produced a few years after the iconic French design (1897). The US M1902 could not be manufactured and shipped in sufficient numbers in time for service on the Western Front. Pershing had several M1902's in the Punitive Campaign but they were never fired in anger.

[Colonel Kilgore]

Derek raises a good point. I initially in mind having to swap heads, but my deep research into the matter (i.e. remembering that the Airfix WW1 Americans were in hats) would indicate that a "toofer" is indeed a possibility with such a force!

Simon

[Leslie BT]

Head swaps are a great way of using figures from allsorts of different ranges and just add heads for your new figures.

[Moggy]

Umm, just for a change why don't you keep the heads and swop the bodies lol


Derek

[sukhe_bator (Neil)]

They could also stand for US interventionist forces in the RCW such as units of the American Expeditionary Force, Siberia (CO Major General William S. Graves) totalled 7,950 officers and enlisted men. The force included the U.S. Army's 27th and 31st Infantry Regiments, plus large numbers of volunteers from the 12th, 13th, and 62nd Infantry Regiments of the 8th Division, Graves' former division command. They operated between Vladivostok and Ussuriski defending the Trans Siberian Railway between August 1918 and April 1920.

Although the Siberian contingent historically played little part in offensive actions, that would not preclude skirmishes along the TSR. Their experience in Siberia was miserable. Problems with fuel, ammunition, supplies, and food were widespread. Horses accustomed to temperate climates were unable to function in sub-zero Russia. Water-cooled machine guns froze and became useless. This suggests they were forced to operate without the appropriate gear
for part of their time there. They are photographed in Vladivostok in August 1918 in lemon squeezer hats and in Winter gear in April 1919.

They were there primarily to ensure the smooth operation of the Railway, defend US Railway personnel and to prevent any attacks from Cossack splinter groups and Japanese forces as well as pockets of Bolshevik forces in Siberia.

[Smiley Miley 66]

What seems to be the up shot of this, you can use the MexRev US Army for Square Bashing including RCW as is ? Making sure the basing fits the requirements of SB ?
That to me sounds like a big bonus !
Does anyone know what WW1 tanks and Armoured Cars would be appropriate to use with these forces ? I know the FT 17 would one that can be used, of which PP makes.
Miles

[sukhe_bator (Neil)]

The US Troops arriving on the Western Front would have been issued tin hats etc. and been largely indistinguishable from their allied roomies in the trenches. The activities of the US Army in other theatres opens up the opportunities to use different uniforms/headgear. Most historical accounts focus on the US in North Russia because the action was more intense. The Siberian contingent in Vladivostok had boots on the ground in roughly equal numbers but arrived in August 1918 presumably with Summer gear (i.e. lemon squeezers). Despite their non-combatant brief they did see a number of brisk fights with Red forces in Summer 1919 sustaining a number of casualties protecting American Railway personnel maintaining the TSR. It is hard to believe their appearance would not have been radically changed by a harsh Siberian winter.
The problem with the N Russian and winter portion of the Siberian campaign is the lack of available figures in readily distinguishable Winter clothing - greatcoats and furred Russian/Alaskan style caps.
The US troops in Europe mainly used French 75s and 144 Renos lent by the French, while the US expeditionary forces in Russia arrived light and relied on White forces using mostly British equipment (Mk.Vs and Whippets). 10 American built Renos landed in Vladivostok in March 1920 for use by the Whites (a month too late for Admiral Kolchak). Bolshevik railway workers diverted them to Amur Red Partisans and they ended up in Chinese hands thereafter.