May Day Parade

 A few years ago, Chris K of NQM suggested half seriously having a May Day Parade. Several years later I finally summoned the energy to get some stuff out of boxes just in time for International Workers Day earlier this week. So, the bulk of my 15mm Red Army of Workers and Peasants gets to strut its stuff.

The first lot of stuff marches bravely down the dining table. I rapidly realised that if I put everything out, I'd need a table 2-3 times as long, so this lot is mainly mechanised.

Comrade Stalin oversees proceedings. Originally there were other people on the podium with him, but they seem to have ben mysteriously airbrushed out.

We start with Soviet armoured car forces. Three Battlefront BA64s, a QRF BA-10 (9?) and a Zvezda BA-9/10. The BA64s are from the estate of a late member of the Sheffield Wargames Society. RIP Frank.

Next up we early war light tanks. Four Zvezda T26, four Peter Pig T26 and three Zvezda BT5. The Peter Pig T26 are amongst the oldest of my 15mm Soviet vehicles, originally bought for SCW gaming at the turn of the century. 

More light tanks, three PSC T70 and three Skytrex T70. The Skytrex ones are notably smaller than the PSC ones.

Medium tanks. A fleet of ten T34s, these are all PSC mid war T34s with hexagonal turrets and they all have spare 85mm turrets which is rather handy.

Multi turreted monsters! A pair of Zvezda T28s and a  T35. I can't recall the manufacturer, some east european company, but it is 1/87th, which makes it huge. I did manage to set up a scenario to use it once. I've got alternate turrets for the T28s without the bedrails. 

Soviet heavies. Four Zevzda KV-1, a Roscopf KV--85 and four PSC IS-IIs. These have all seen action at least once, the KVs get used more than the others.

The anti-tank artillery and field artillery. Three Skytrex 45mm guns, one PSC 57mm gun, four PSC 76.2mm guns and a pair of Syborg 76,2mm guns - the latter without muzzle brakes. The tows are a mixture of Peter Pig and Zvezda Gaz AA trucks, and generic horse limbers from 3D Printing Valley.

Medium and heavy artillery. A pair of Zvezda Katyushas, a pair of 122mm howitzers from 3D Printing Valley, a couple of quad maxims (Peter Pig) on the back of trucks, a pair of QRF 152mm guns (absolutely horrible models to assemble) and a Syborg 203mm howitzer. The tows are Battlefront and Syborg tractors of various types.

The Assault Artillery. Four PSC SU-76 (with two different configurations of fighting compartment), a pair of Battlefront SU85, a pair of Zevzda SU122 and then a pair of Zevzda SU152 and a couple of ISU122s. One of the ISUs is Roscopf and the other is converted from a PSC IS-II chassis. I did much the same thing to the Airfix IS-III when I was a kid.

The next table load is (some) of the infantry and cavalry!

We start with the Red Cavalry. These are all Peter Pig, various types of Cossack or RCW Bolshevik cavalry with their budvinovkas filed down. Largely second hand off eBay, and  I use these with both my first and second world war Russians. They have appeared in numerous games, especially the guy with the big red flag.

The first two battalions. The first lot are SMG troops, the second lot are rifle troops in helmets. These are all from the PSC Russian Infantry set, apart from some of the leaders who are Skytrex or Peter Pig (as well as PSC). 

The next two battalions are also PSC, the first are in a mix of helmets and side caps, while the second is in side caps. It is one way to tell the units apart without marking the bases.

Next up are the infantry support weapons. I didn't put then all out, but here we have Maxim machineguns, 82mm mortars, towed 120mm mortars and a 76.2mm Regimental Gun. The latter from 3D Printing Valley.

Finally we have the anti-aircraft artillery. A pair of quad maxim guns in trucks (the guns are Peter Pig and removeable) plus a pair of 85mm AA guns. The 85s are scratch built using spare gun barrels and appeared in my recent battle of Tula games. As the crews are all in side caps, they will also do if I need any British 3.7" AA guns.

The Russians also have some Lend Lease vehicles, tanks and SPAA guns, but we don't talk about those in front of Comrade Stalin. Shhhh......

The whole parade finished with a fly past by the Red Airforce.

Fighters in the lead. An I-15, MiG 3 and a pair of La 5s. All Zvezda 1/144th and lovely little models.

Next up light bombers and assault aircraft. A pair of IL-II Sturmoviks and a Pe-2, again all 1/144th Zvezda.

Finally medium bombers, a pair of SB-2s and a pair of IL-4s. The SB-2s are 1/200th Zvezda (why the annoying scale??) and the IL-4s are 1/144th diecasts.

So, there we have my 15mm WW2 Russians. I'm sure regular readers recognise various elements from different games, but not the whole lot together. Apart from the planes, T28s and T35, it all fits into three A4 box files, and I have no particular plans to expand any more. It was a lot of fun getting everything out, but it took up an alarming amount of space! I might do that for some other armies in future....

Having mentioned this to Mr Kemp, he pointed me to photos of his own 'parade' a few years ago where everything was lined up in serried ranks! If only I'd thought of that, I could fitted it all into one table. Well, maybe I will do some other armies in future.