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Wargaming 'Not The Usual Suspects'.

A short how to, and guide to commercial armaments of the inter war years

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First of all what are the 'usual suspects' to which I refer? In WW2 wargaming, its Germans, Russians, British, Americans and the Japanese. the 5 main protagonists of ww2. Between them however many smaller nations got pushed, shoved or just jumped into one camp or another. Often less well equipped, often poorly supported by their own poor logistics and aging weapons to have much affect. But sucked in they did get. France and Italy are included despite initially being Major protagonists.

Below is a 'rough guide' to some of the nations that can be gamed, good figure swaps and what they can be equipped with from readily available kits and models.

There is a few themes in common with many of these forces, Some are French backed as they were a former ally of France in WW1, Others have some Italian influence, others used a lot of German/Austro-Hungarian equipment that was gained from war reparations of sales of this kit by their former post WW1 owner when something better was bought in the 30's.

Paint Job Conversions.

A paint job conversion is simply ignoring the instructions on the figure box, and finding out what the Soldiers actually wore. The main and best works on this are those of Andrew Mollo, Specifically the seriously great and recommended reference "Armed Forces of World War 2, Uniforms, Insignia & Organisations' (ISBN 0-85613-296-9)" and his entry in the "Blandford Colour Series" Army Uniforms of World War 2' (ISBN 0-7137-0611-2) which is co-authored with Malcolm McGregor which also in the text examines changes between the 2 wars.

Country	Suitable Substitute figures	Approx From	Approx To	Troops/deployment	Main uniform colour	Webbings and belt colour
France	French WW1	1915	1930's	Metropolitan army (France mainland)	Horizon Blue. This is a sky blue, Helmet varies but can be a greyer colour. Also Lighter cloth covers used. Puttees are also Blue, but vary depending on supply	Plain Leather Brown
	French WW1	1916	onwards	Colonial Troops in France Legion, Zouves, Algerian and Senegalese Traillures etc.	Green Khaki. Dyes tended to brown or yellow with age/wear	Plain Leather Brown
	French WW1	1930's		Metropolitan army	Again a Green Khaki as per colonial troops	Plain Leather Brown
Belgium	French WW1	1915	1920's	Western Front WW1	Serge Green (from British army stocks)	Mix of Plain leather Brown Or Blacked leather
	French WW1	1930s		Vs Germans WW2	Darker Olive Green	Blacked leather, German pattern
Italy	French WW1	1916	1936	European service. Italian Front and Balkan Front WW1, Early CVT in Spain. Many reservists (especially garrison troops) in Sicily encountered wearing older uniforms in 1943.	Medium Grey with a hint of Green Pretty much the same colour as WW2 Italians.	Dark Green dyed leather, best treat as blacked.
Yugoslavia	French WW1	1916	1941	Balkans both World Wars. Vs Hungary in Banat in 1919	Mid Grey	Plain Leather Brown
Greece	French WW1	1916	Mid 1920's	Balkans WW1, Vs Turkey early 20's. Later adopted the British pattern Helmet.	Green Khaki	Plain Leather Brown
Greece (click for link to re-enactors site)	Italian WW2	1935	onwards	1941 battles specifically. Italian helmet adopted. Supplemented with British Kit/Helmets later.	Olive Green	Plain Leather Brown
Romania	French WW1	1917	early 1930's	Vs Austo-Hungarian Forces in WW1 Vs Hungary in 1919 Early Barbarossa (1941)	Tobacco Brown in 1917-18 Green Khaki Later	Plain Leather Brown
Poland	French WW1	1919	early 1930's	Russo-Polish war, Battles with Lithuania, Czechoslovakia and Germany 1919-1920. Maybe reservists in 1939	Green Khaki	Plain Leather Brown German Pattern.
	French WW1	1918	1920	Hallers Blue army. Émigré's raised in France in 1916 onwards and moved to Poland in time to fight at the 'Miracle of the Vistula'.	Horizon Blue	Plain Leather Brown
	German Late WW1	1939		Polish 10th Mechanised brigade retained German Coal Scuttles and fetching Black Leather Overcoats on top of the regular Polish uniform.	Green Khaki Black trench/overcoat	Plain Leather Brown German Pattern.
Mexico		?	?	Some sent to Spanish Republican troops in the Spanish Civil War.	?	?
Spain	French WW1	1936	1939	Republican forces, Particularly popular with the International Brigades.	Khaki Greens and Greenish Browns	Take your Pick.
	German WW1 in Steel Helm	1936	1939	Spains own helmet was modelled on the German 1916 type. Saw service on both sides more in service with professional soldiers.	Green Khaki	Take your Pick.
Russia	French WW1	1916	1930's	Over 2 million supplied during WW1	As per standard Russian Uniform
Hungarians	WW1 Austrians Late WW1 Germans WW2 Germans in field caps and long trousers. WW2 Germans with high marching boots	1922	1945	In action on the Eastern Front (south sector) up to and including Stalingrad. Then took a year out before returning to combat in Galicia in 1944.	Mustard Khaki Note usually wore Gaiter-ed trousers with anklet's. So paint as if trouser goes down the the Ankle. Pre 1919, a light Grey colour was standard, though 'nettle green' also common (a dark green with a greyish tint)	Plain Leather Brown
Bulgarians	WW1 Russians Late WW1 Germans WW2 Germans with high marching boots	1940	1945	Served mainly in anti-partizan duties	Light Grey in WW1 Mustard Khaki from the early 20's onwards. Often wore high marching boots or ankle boots and Puttees	Plain Leather Brown
Chinese Republican,/ Early warlord	WW1 British (airfix) Possibly HAT WW1 Russians	1916	1927-30(ish)		Summer uniform was a mustard Khaki, Winter tended to be a Dark Blue. Some northern Warlords took to a Blue Grey	Plain Leather Brown. But usually Cloth in uniform colour.
Chinese Late 30s	Late WW1 Germans WW1 Austrians. WW2 Germans in field caps and long trousers. WW2 Germans with high marching boots	1930's	Fell out of use 1937-40	The well equipped route army at Shanghai looked very ww1 German but in mustard Khaki. Held up the Japanese for a considerable time in 1937	Summer uniform was a mustard Khaki, Winter tended to be a Dark Blue. Some northern Warlords took to a Blue Grey. Helmet (German style) was a Grey/Green colour	Plain Leather Brown. But usually Cloth in uniform colour.
Chinese Late	WW1 Austrians. WW2 Germans in field caps and long trousers.	1937	1949	Austerity measures in the uniform post Japanese invasion. Helmets restricted to loyal KMT troops	Summer uniform was a mustard Khaki, Winter tended to be a Dark Blue. Some northern Warlords took to a Blue Grey. Helmet (German style) was a Grey/Green colour A greener uniform colour introduced.	Plain Leather Brown. But usually Cloth in uniform colour.

Notes: Khaki, there seem to be several types of Khaki, Considering its allegedly from an Indian dialect for 'Dirt coloured' this is not surprising. It seems to come in 3 major flavours. Green Khaki seems to be the most common (think British uniform or WW2 French), A light yellowy Mustard Khaki (Chinese summer uniforms, Hungarians etc) or a darker Brown Khaki (think Russians). These will be referred to as Green Khaki, Mustard Khaki and Brown Khaki.

The leather belts pouches and boots were normally left in leather, or blacked, I have noted this where possible. Normally all were Blacked, or left as is.

Every army needs heavy equipment. Here is what I have been able to Identify as defiantly available. This list is meant more as an illustration than any authoritive document.

Country	Machineguns	Mortars	A/T Guns	Feild Guns/Howitzers	Armour.
France	Hotchkiss 8mm	81mm Brandt/Stokes mortar. 60mm Stokes type	Hotchkiss 25mm Schnider 47mm	French 75mm Schneider 105mm 1913	France obviously had her own production and in major numbers, here I ONLY refer to types that had other users apart from the Germans. FT-17/18. Sold all over and much copied. R-35 most numerous tank, also major commercial sales Peugeot Armoured Cars (sold to Poland 1919)
Belgium	Maxim MG08s	81mm Brand-stokes	47mm Schneider	Krupp 75mm 1905 Schneider 105mm 1913	Belgium bought a number of unique Vickers commercials all based on the 2 man tankettes
Italy	Fiat Revelli 8mm Schwartzlose in quantity but 2nd line for most of WW2.	81mm Brand-stokes	German 37mm PaK 47mm Bohler	Krupp 75mm 1905 (own Model 6 and 12s) Skoda 100mm M14/19 Schneider 105mm 1913	Fiat 3000 (FT17 copy) CV3/33 Commercial sales world wide. Fiat ZM armoured Car.
Yugoslavia	Schwartzlose	No reports of mortars in use!	Skoda 37mm/47mm types	Skoda 100mm M14/19 Skoda, Skoda and More Skoda!	French R-35s and FT17.
Greece	St Etiene 1907 types	81mm Brand-stokes	Only Captured Types from Italy in 1941	Krupp 75mm 1905 Skoda 100mm M14/19 Schneider 105mm 1913	Whilst some types Purchased in the 1920s & 30s, all generally worn out by WW2, Captured Italian Tankettes were allegedly used.
Romania	Schwartzlose MG	81mm Brand-stokes 60mm Stokes type	Bofors 37mm 47mm Bohler	French 75mm Schnieder 105mm	FT 17s, R-35s from France. TNPH Light 2 man tanks Skoda LT-35 Tanks (Panzer 35t)
Poland	Hotchkiss, German and Russian Maxims, Austrian Schwartzlose 1930's Browning Water cooled.	81mm Brand-stokes	Bofors 37mm	French 75mm Schneider 105mm 1913 Skoda 100mm M14/19	Peugeot Armoured Cars (Russo-Polish war). Renault FTs Own types.
Mexico	Hotchkiss 7mm (rechambered 8mm)	81mm Brand-stokes
Spain	Hotchkiss 7mm (rechambered 8mm) Schwartzlose	81mm Brand-stokes	Russian 37 and 45mm guns (derived from German 37mm PAK). German 37mm PaKs, Bofors 37mm, 47mm Bohlers, all made appearances.	Krupp 77mm	T26B's, BT5s from Russia CV3/33s and Fiat IZMs From Italy (Franco) Pz1s from Germany (Franco)
Russia	Russian MG10 maxim	81mm Brand-stokes	Russian 37 and 45mm guns (derived from German 37mm PAK)	Russian own types.	T-26B, and BT 5s