SCW - Nationalist army for BKC - can you help me?

[Sussex.john]

I'm trying to pull an order together for a Nationalist army (mainly African/Moroccan) , this is based on the BKC commander rules, could someone help me with some questions.

This will be a mainly Moroccan/African army.

1. I need some 47mm ATG's - should I use SCW170 or SCW169 or something else ?

2. Does SCW105 (Infantry Gun 76mm) come with crew ? If so could I use these for my Moroccan's ?

3. I need some Moroccan mortar crew - any ideas ?

4. I also want a small force of PzI (no problem with these) and an 88mm ATG (can someone recommend a code for this - these dont' need a Moroccan crew)

Apologies for the long list of questions

Thanks,

John

[GrumpyOldMan]

Hello Sussex john

I'm trying to pull an order together for a Nationalist army (mainly African/Moroccan) , this is based on the BKC commander rules, could someone help me with some questions.

This will be a mainly Moroccan/African army.

1. I need some 47mm ATG's - should I use SCW170 or SCW169 or something else ?

I'm not sure but I personally would use the French FRE7 47mm AT gun with crew (2) (it just looks so SCW  ) and replace the crew with Moroccan mortar crew -

these first two figs only

2. Does SCW105 (Infantry Gun 76mm) come with crew ? If so could I use these for my Moroccan's ?

The SCW artillery doesn't come with crew, There are Moroccan crew available SCW140.

3. I need some Moroccan mortar crew - any ideas ?

They are available in SCW140 Regulares crew (see above) but there is a Regulares mortar available as SCW138

4. I also want a small force of PzI (no problem with these) and an 88mm ATG (can someone recommend a code for this - these dont' need a Moroccan crew)

I'm assuming you mean the 8.8cm Flak 36

then you could use WW2 German GR43 or GR155 with Afrika Korps crew

Apologies for the long list of questions

Thanks,

John

I hope that's sorted out some stuff for you.

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

[Sussex.john]

Thanks, that really helps

[Jagger]

How about for the light 45mm mortar?  I ended up buying a pack of German 50mm mortars.  I think the Russian 50mm mortar could be used as well but would be nice to have time period specific, SCW light mortars.

[GrumpyOldMan]

Hi Jagger

I've always found Leon to be very accommodating, if you need lighter mortars he can add some or replace them I'm sure, with my last order I was making strange and obtuse requests for artillery crews and all arrived without any fuss.

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

[Sussex.john]

I've just placed an order - thanks so much for your help

[GordonY]

Yeah you need a particular non-standard mix in a pack talk to that nice Mr Leon, he'll sort you right out.

[Jagger]

Absolutely, Leon has been fantastic when I have needed some oddball combinations.  Now that I think of it, I may try an order of SCW artillerymen combined with the German 50mm mtr without the german artillerymen...   

[John Cook]

Hi,

I can help you if you are going solely for Army of Africa, typically 1 Agrupacion in early 1937 and at Jarama in particular. 

For infantry, stick to Moroccans, all types, including the Mehal Jalifiana, which you can mix to give the almost infinite variety typical of these units.  Use Regular army with the Isabelino cap to represent  the Legion ( the Legion, apparently, didn’t wear helmets â€" not ‘macho’ I understand), mix summer and winter dress, again for variety. 

For anti-tank guns use the German 37mm  (SCW 170) which were supplied to the Nationalists by Nazi Germany.  It was the National Army’s principal ATk gun and section was in most brigades.   

For artillery use the 75mm Schneider (SCW168).  This is typical and was the standard pre-war Spanish army light field piece, and in the Nationalist army throughout the war.   A brigade typically had  two batteries.  Crew them with Regular Army (SCW 99).  Moroccans didn’t have artillery â€" at least I have never seen any evidence that they did.

Similarly with mortars, use Regular Army (SCW 96) to represent Legion mortars integral to the battalion (bandera).  Moroccan battalions (tabors)  were lightly equipped and mortars would, I think, be untypical.  I have never seen any pics of Moroccans with anything heavier than a machine gun. 

Panzer I’s, yes, by early 1937 there was a company in each brigade, at Jarama amyway.  88mm Flak 36 (GR43) were used by the German Condor Legion.  I don’t think you’d find them in a typical Army of Africa/National Army formation.

You could have some Italian 65mm guns (SCW110) a battery of which were found in each National Army brigade.

The non-Spanish equipment listed under SCW Artillery are largely Popular Army types.  The Soviets sold a load of rubbish to the Republicans that they had captured from the Germans in WW1, or which had been supplied to the Russian Army during WW1 by its allies, such as the British 4.5” howitzer. 

John

[Natxo]

Hello.

John Cook gave you very good information.
As far as I know, al the references he said were good. I think that you could add a platoon of moroccan cavalry, because there were mounted recce units, and in Jarame they were very important. Search about the bridge at "PINDOQUE", were a cavalry tabor had to cross dismounted over a half destroyed bridge.

[Sussex.john]

Thank you everyone for the great info. This is a new period for me, so a lot of the fun is reading around and learning as I go. I'm planning to play BKC and possibly crossfire.  Looks like I'll need to rethink those 88's

Painting these figures has been a real pleasure. It's just the wait for delivery I find hard.