FOW U.S. Paratrooper Infantry Platoons (3 Full Platoons)

The back bone of any army, the grunts, the cannon fodder, the infantry. These guys are the best and they know it. They are Fearless Veteran, high tank assault, rifle/mg teams and all round bad guys (but in a good way).

"I cherish the memory of something my grandson said to me the other day. He asked me, 'Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?' Grandpa said no. 'But I served in a company of heroes.'

Mayor Richard Winters, Commanding officer, Easy Company

3 Platoons. 1 leader, 10 rifle/mg teams and 1 bazooka team in each



Mass infantry


Rear shot


Platoon close up

FOW U.S. Paratrooper Pioneers

I had Pioneers in me Rifles army, and loved them soo much I had to include some in the paratrooper army as well. Tank Assault 4 and 3 bazookas are brutal against enemy armour.

Full Platoon


Pioneer teams

FOW U.S. Paratrooper Command HQ

The HQ of the Paratrooper Army. Fully maxed out here with 3 Snipers and 3 Bazookas, although I can't fit all 3 Snipers into my 1750 points army:o(

Full HQ


Snipers (I love the figures)


Rear shot, this is how I know who is who. C.C. = Company Commander, 2iC = 2nd in Command

FOW U.S. Paratrooper Mortar Platoon

The second support platoon for my paratroopers, and another smoke generator.

Full Platoon


Close up

FOW U.S. Paratrooper Artillery

Dropped from an airplane like the rest of the paratroopers, the small artillery pieces add important support, in form of smoking and pinning the enemy, giving the infantry an easier time getting the job done.

Full battery


Command team and Observer


Rear shot

FOW U.S. Paratrooper Army 1750 Points

Since this is the first post about my paratroopers I'll write a few words about them. When I did the Rifles Army I was using the "dipping" technique. I went back to good old drybrushing for the paras and it went surprisingly fast. It also helped that I went for a camo scheme of sorts (drybrushing is really good for randomness). All in all the 67 bases of mostly infantry took about 3 weeks incl. normal day job.

I actually havent played with these guys yet. The army was, as most paratrooper armies I guess, made while watching Band of Brothers

Again I have to say I don't paint to win competitions, I paint for effect. To accomplish a good piece of work, in a short amount of time, since thats what motivates me!

Army (Note the coke can is there for size comparison)


Massed infantry


More infantry

From above

Turnbull Hero Character

FOW U.S. Army (Rifles plus some random)

This is the different units I have for the Rifles army, except the 76 mm Shermans (they can only be included in a Tank Company), but they snuck in anyways.

I normally play 1750 points, and there is more than that in the picture, but its possible to shuffle around a bit:o)

Painting comments:

I am all for speed painting. I like to see progress. For this army all the infantry have been "dipped". You still paint the basic colours, but the "dipping" allows for quick and easy shading and varnishing.

Army picture 1


Army picture 2


Army picture 3


Army picture 4



Army picture 5 (Rear shot)

FOW U.S. Rifles Platoons (2 Full Platoons)

These guys are the reason I chose Americans in the first place. Lots of teams means lots of staying power (one platoon took some beating from a full Panzer IV platoon + command tank but still kicked butt when the tanks ended up assaulting them, and ended the game with about 4-5 teams left).
With the Company Commander around they become paricularly brutal, since they can reroll that all so important morale test for unpinning, counterassault etc.

Full Platoon + Company HQ


Coming to get you

FOW U.S. Combat Platoon

In my oppinion this platoon is all about making combat attachments to your Rifle Platoons. That goes for the light machine guns in particular. Not only does it make a Rifle Platoon huge, they also add some much needed firepower, specially in defensive fire, since a Rifle Team "only" has RoF 1.

Full platoon


Down the line

FOW U.S. Mortar Platoon + Transports

They don't kill a lot, but they are a very useful support platoon because they smoke and pin the enemy


Full platoon


Close up

FOW U.S. Pioneers

My all time favorite platoon. High Tank Assault rating and more bazookas than a Rifle platoon makes this platoon the ideal counter attack unit.

Full platoon


Down the line


From the sky

FOW U.S. Anti Tank platoon

A combination of big guns and lots of bazookas. A versatile platoon, which is tough on the defense. You can even send the platoon commander + bazookas tank hunting across the board while the guns still defend their position.


Full platoon


Battery Fire!

FOW U.S. Field Artillery Battery

There are a bit mixed oppinions about U.S. artillery, but I quite like it. Its cheap, smoke, ToT is nice, and they look quite good (which matters a lot to me)

Full Battery (its the observer under the tree)


Another angle


Single gun close up

FOW U.S. Heavy Machine Guns

Even though I don't have them in my army that often (most of my opponents usually stack up on armour, rending these guys pretty much useless and ending up being an easy platoon to knock out), I really like the figures. I even tried to do some barbed wire in small scale, by wrapping the barbed wire GW made (makes?) around a paint brush and sticking them to small pieces of wood.

From above

Barbed wire team

Holding the line

FOW U.S. Objectives

These are the 2 objectives that come in the U.S. army deal. A destroyed Sherman tank and a command tent (??)


I see yooouuuuuuu

FOW U.S. Armoured Units

Overview of all my armoured vehicles (so far;o))

10 sherman (5 x 76mm and 5 x normal)
5 Stuarts
5 Halftracks

From an angle

"Mass shot"...really looks like there are a LOT of them:o)

FOW U.S. Sherman M4A1

Muddy Sherman tanks.

"Fanned out"

Close-up

FOW U.S. 76mm Sherman Tanks

Finally the U.S got a somewhat decent gun

"fanned out"

Close-up