Delays

Due to an overworked sculptor (Yes, Paul Hicks also sleep), we will have to delay the 2 next packs of separated heads (Bush hats & "Bigeard" caps) to the end of July. Sorry for that but in the meantime we are sure that a refreshed Paul will again give us wonder to admire ;-)

Figures in action (2)

Support team moving at dawn

About to give some mortar support

All figures painted by Andy

Enjoy !

Books: French Paras in Indochina 1945-1954

The "bible" if you have any interest in the French Indochina War. Altough the book is in French (original title is "Paras Français en Indochine", it is lavishly illustrated with fantastic photos, either reenactment pictures in full uniforms and equipment, lots of details shots and nice and unusual period views.

Really a must have, the book will take you year-by-year through the conflict and will show you how different the uniforms were from those years and campaigns. Many photos on this blog come from this essential and wonderful book that you can find in our Indochina Library on the right of our blog.

Figures in action (1)

Below some pictures in the French Magazine Paris Match of a small raid by French Paratroopers in Vietminh held territory.

Renowned for its shock photographic coverage, Paris Match published a number of beautiful pictures in action during the Indochina War, some of them in colors.

All figures are painted by Andy.

The main individual weapons of the French paras. Part 5

FM 24/29 Light machine gun

The FM Mle 1924 entered production in late July 1925 and saw first operational use in Morocco in May 1926. Due to the use of the LMG with the Mauser 8mm ammunition by the rebel during the Rif War, a new slightly shorter 7.5x54mm round was adopted in 1929. The modified fusil-mitrailleur modèle 1924 modifié 1929 (FM Mle 1924 M29) was mass-manufactured (187,412), beginning in 1930.

 The fusil-mitrailleur modèle 1924 M29 was the standard light machine gun of the French Army from 1925 until the 1950s. His overall features were a folding bipod, an in-line stock, a pistol grip and a top-mounted 25-round detachable magazine. It has two separate triggers: the trigger in front for using semi-automatic fire only and the rear trigger for firing on full automatic.  Protection of all the openings against mud and dust was excellent. 

The cyclic rate was 450 rounds per minute. In general, it was a robust, accurate and reliable weapon, but the barrel was screwed well into the receiver, as in the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), and thus it could not be separated quickly and easily in the field as for the British Bren gun. To overcome this problem, the French instruction manual recommends the following routine for the FM 1924 M29: fire 4 to 5 detachable magazines (100 to 125 rounds) then take a short pause, then keep repeating that same restrained fire plus short pause routine which permits steady performance and very extensive firing periods.

The FM 24/29 was the workhorse in the First Indochina War and served in the French armed forces until after the end of the war in Algeria.