More 20mm WW1 Turks

I did these figures in a rush for Crisis Point 2018 back in April, but never got around to photographing them until now.  I only found them now as I was looking for a spare place in the trays for the Ottoman Camels.


These are Hat WW1 Turkish cavalry.  Nicely detailed figures, but done in their bendy/bouncy soft plastic.  After a spell in the washing machine, they take the paint well, but sadly, the lances suffer from warping and one or two of the horses stand very lopsided.

They were quite simple to paint and I'm quite pleased with them.

Sadly, from the front the unrealistically curved lance on at least one figure is annoying, but I can live with it.

I also struck lucky at WMMS back in 2017 and picked up a pack of the Hat WW1 Ottoman artillery and heavy weapons.  This meant I now have 4 artillery pieces (2 shown) as well as 8 tripod HMG, some snipers and bomber boys.


Two of the German supplied 10.5cm howitzers, each with 5 crew (including the seated gunner).

Four of the 8 MG08 HMG teams.  I've only used 6 and the other pair may finish up in German hands for WW2 games with some suitable crew swops.

These Maxim HMG teams are from the Strelets Turkish infantry in tropical uniform set and, despite looking unpromising straight from the pack, paint up quite nicely.

A selection of infantry from the Strelets tropical set.  Some nice poses, rather well done and they look fine on the table top.

I'm not sure if the Fez was still worn by officers, but they do stand out on the table top and look the part, so I;m quite happy with them.

These guys were used at Crisis Point and bring my Ottoman WW1 troops up to over 100 infantry, 12 horse cavalry, 9 camel cavalry, 12 HMG, 2 LMG (not enough), 4 10.5cm guns and 2 mortars.  Not a bad little force.  I think I have another box of the Hat Turkish infantry, which I'll use to bring the group up to company/battalion strength, depending on the rules set.


Thanks for looking.

20mm WW1 Turkish Camelry

My WW1 Turks were clearly in need of some Camel Corps troops and with Strelets releasing a set recently, they were a must have.

The complete set, 9 camels and riders plus three dismounts.

There are 9 figures on camels, six in helmets and three in desert headgear.  Then there are three dismounts, one holding a leash, presumably to attach to the head of a camel, and two infantry figures, one in helmet and one in desert headdress.

I presume the dismounted figure on the right is meant to be used as shown holding the head of a camel.  The sitting camel adds some variety, but for a wargaming unit, he is going to be of marginal use.  The two infantry figures are a bit of a waste as they will just be added to my existing infantry - I couldn't make out anything to distinguish them as camel corps troopers.  Overall, I'd have preferred an extra camel and rider in place of the three dismounts or maybe a pack camel in place of the two infantrymen.

The eight rider figures in action poses.

I use the term "action" but with one rider drinking from his water bottle, the commander figure and another shielding his eyes from the sun, there aren't that many "action" poses.  However, as they weren't really expected to fight from the backs of their camels, this isn't such a big problem.  The guy shielding his eyes would make a great scouting figure!

Guy drinking from water bottle.

Guy shielding his eyes.

Commander.  I put him on the standing camel so I can use him as a senior officer as well.

Group shot, some actually in focus.

I like this pose.  However, many of the figures like this guy have their heads turned at 90 degrees to the front, looking directly along their shoulders.  While this is great for casting, in reality it puts a heck of a strain on the neck if you try it, and doesn't look too realistic.

So, not a perfect set, but no one else does it in 20mm plastic, and it fills that gap nicely.  I might add another set if I see a bargain box, just to add some variety to my WW1 Turks (or should I say Ottomans, as Turkey is largely a post-WW1 creation from the remnants of the Ottoman Empire).

Thanks for looking.

20mm WW1 Ottoman Turkish Heavy Weapons

To beef up my Turkish infantry, I've added some Tumbling Dice Turkish heavy weapons, a Maxim MG08 and mortar at the front, with prone and advancing MG08/15 teams at the back.

Mortar with three man crew.

MG08 with three man crew.

Two man MG08/15 crew prone.

Two man MG08/15 crew advancing.

These should add some much needed fire support for my Ottoman forces.

Thanks for looking.

20mm WW1 Ottomans

Here we have a box of HAT Turkish (Ottoman) infantry, potential opponents for the ANZACs posted recently, but mainly as potential use in the fictional country of Andreivia in the immediate aftermath of WW1 and during the Russian Civil War.  These guys can represent Ottoman garrison troops in Andreivia before they were demobilised and repatriated.  Alternatively, they can represent a local militia that has equipped itself with left over Ottoman equipment.

In the pack, there are 48 figures.  Eight kneeling and 8 standing firing, 2 very similar poses of men standing as if thrusting their rifles forwards, although neither has bayonet fixed.  Then there are 4 officers, 4 running with rifle across chest, 4 marching with slung rifle and 4 walking with rifle held across the waist.

These all have grey undercoat washed green brown and dry brushed green ochre, then yellow ochre.  Leather items are saddle brown.  Boots are NATO black as are rifle barrels, dry brushed basalt grey.  Blanket rolls are neutral grey.

Kneeling firing.

Standing firing.

Advancing with rifle.

Similar pose, I'd have given these fixed bayonets!

Walking rifle across waist.

Running rifle across chest.

Marching, slung rifle, with backpack.

Officer waving pistol.

All 48 figures.

I've picked up a couple more sets; some Strelets Cossacks, HAT Canadians to use as Brits in tin hats and some tropical British infantry in pith helmets.  Should have enough to make up an Empire composite infantry company with platoons of ANZACs, Brits in tin hats and Brits in pith helmets, plus supports and some local militias derived from Ottoman Turks, Russian infantry and Cossacks.   I'm liking these figures a lot and compared with metal figures are buttons to buy!

As ever, thanks for looking.

Turkish Field Hospital

A field hospital for my 1980's Turkish army.  These are some more of the excellent 20ft containers available from The Baggage Train, together with some Scotia Hummer ambulances (UM0024) and an M151 jeep (H&RUSM39).  Roadway is sand undercoated pale grey and washed in dark ink.  Vehicles are marked with the Red Crescent rather than the Red Cross.

Thanks for looking.

Turkish 4th armoured brigade

The armoured fist for Turkish 4th Corps is the 4th Armoured Brigade.

The 1st/4th equipped with M60A3 MBTs (H&R USM05) with one dozer equipped MBT from Scotia.  These are painted in the NATO three colour scheme with added Iraqi sand patches.

A more detailed view.

2nd/4th equipped the same as 1/4th.  Similar NATO scheme but no sand patches.

In more detail.

 3rd/4th is a mechanised battalion in AICVs, actually Dutch YPR-765 models (H&R NEM02).  Each of the first three rows represents A-C companies, each with three infantry platoons in AICVs and one Milan ATGW in an M113.  At the rear is D (support) company with three M125A1s (81mm mortar carrier M113s; H&R USM54) and one M113 tow for a 120mm mortar.

An A company M113 Milan carrier with two AICV vehicles in more detail.

D company M125A1s and an M113 120mm mortar tow in more detail.

4th/4th organised the same as 3rd/4th.  Whereas 3rd/4th is in a standard NATO three colour scheme, 4th/4th has patches of Iraqi sand added.

A company vehicles in more detail.

D company mortar carriers and 120mm mortar tow.

Battalion supports include a company of engineers in M113s, with an M60 AVLB (H&R USM37).

The AVLB in more detail.

An ATGM company of AICVs with TOW 2 launchers (actually YPR-765 TOWs; H&R NEM03).

One of the platoon stands in more detail.

An AA company - these are Hummer Stinger carriers for transporting Redeye AA systems.  The models are regular hummers (H&R USM42) with squares of cardboard added to the roof to represent the firing hatch.

One of the hummers in more detail.

Apart from the leg infantry and some HQ and mortar stands, that's the 4th and 20th (see previous posts) Brigades just about wrapped up.  To complete the Corps, I'll need to work up the 9th Motorised Infantry Brigade.  These need a lot of lorry transports.  Unfortunately, I've run out of 40x20 bases, so will have to wait until I can restock at the Phalanx show.  Fortunately, I've got some light armoured battalions for my French Daguet Division which are based and ready for undercoating, so will have plenty to be getting on with.

As ever, thanks for looking.