French Infantry Company (FRAB02) Assembling the French Infantry Company with Mark Hazell

France has prepared its infantry well for the war it expects to fight. They have plenty of machine guns, enough anti-tank guns, and excellent training in preparing trench lines. When they need to attack they have some of the best artillery and heaviest tanks in the world to lead the way. Fielding a Compagnie de Fusiliers-Voltigeurs, you will have the best supported infantry available, whether defending France or counterattacking to throw out the invader.

Learn more about the French Infantry Company here...
The Content

Let’s take a look at the contents of the French Infantry Company box set; contact the customer service team at [email protected] if you have any issues with any of the components.

The French Infantry Company contains 3 vehicles, 10 guns and 168 infantry figures. Begin by opening up the box and sorting out all the figures as per the contents pictures below. You will see a breakdown of what figures can be used for what. Once you have checked that you have the correct number of figures you can start building the platoons. The army box also includes 11 small bases, 35 medium bases and 8 large bases.


Below: The French Officer figures.
The French Officer Figures
Below: The French NCO figures.
The French NCO Figures
Right: The Renault UE Carrier. The Renault UE Carrier
Below: The French 60mm & 81mm Mortars with Crew figures.
The French 60mm & 81mm Mortars with Crew Figures
The VB Gunner figures Left: The VB Gunner figures.
Below: The French Rifleman figures.
The French Rifleman figures
The French Rifleman figures
Right: The French MG figures.
The French MG figures
The French HMG and Crew figure Left: The French HMG and Crew figure.
Below: The French 47mm gun and crew figures.
The French 47mm gun and crew figures
Below: The French 75mm gun and crew figure.
The French 75mm gun and crew figure
Right: The 75mm gun Limber.
The 75mm gun Limber
The 155mm gun parts Left: The 155mm gun parts.
Right: The Staff team table parts.
The Staff team table parts
The French Observer and Radioman figures Left: The French Observer and Radioman figures.
Below: The French Artillery crew figures.
The French Artillery crew figures
An example of a Company Command Rifle Team
Headquarters
Company HQ

The Company HQ is made up of a Company Command Rifle team and a 2iC Command Rifle team as well as a pair of 81mm mortars, a single 60mm mortar team and three Renault UE carriers. The Company Command team should be made up of two officer figures and a Rifleman figure on a small base. The 2iC Command Rifle team should be made up an officer figure and two Riflemen figures also on a small base. The three mortar teams should each have an NCO figure, a loader and a gunner, these are modelled on a medium base. The Renault UE carriers are one piece resin miniatures and are ready to paint right out of the box.
Above Left: An example of a Company Command Rifle team.

Right: An example of a 2iC Command Rifle team.

Below Left: An example of a 60mm mortar team.

Below Right: An example of a 81mm mortar team.
An example of a Company 2iC Rifle team
An example of a 60mm mortar team An example of a 81mm mortar team
An example of Renault UE Carrier Left: An example of Renault UE Carrier.
Combat Platoons
Fusiliers-Voltigeurs Platoon

There are three Fusiliers-Voltigeurs platoons in the army box.  Each Fusiliers-Voltigeurs platoon contains a total of eight infantry stands which comprise of a Command Rifle/MG team, six Rifle/MG teams and a VB team.  Three of the Rifle/MG teams should have a mix of four riflemen figures and an NCO figure; the other three stands should be comprised of four Riflemen figures and a MG figure.  The VB team is made up of and four VB gunner figures. The Command Rifle team is made up of an Officer figure, an NCO figure and a Rifleman figure. The Command Rifle team is modelled on a small base while all the remaining teams of the Fusiliers-Voltigeurs platoon are all on medium bases.

An example of a Command Rifle/MG team
An example of a 4 Riflemen and 1 NCO team Left: An example of a 4 Riflemen and 1 NCO figure team.

Below Left: An example of a 4 Riflemen and 1 MG figure team.

Below Right: An example of a VB team.

An example of a 4 Riflemen and 1 MG figure team An example of a VB team
Weapons Platoons
Fusiliers-Voltigeurs Machine-gun Platoon

The Fusiliers-Voltigeurs Machine-gun Platoon is made up of four 8mm mle HMG teams made up of a gunner, a loader and an extra figure which can be an observer or a kneeling NCO. These HMG teams are once more on medium bases. The platoon also has a Command Rifle team made up of an Officer figure, an NCO figure and a Rifleman figure on a small base.


Right: An example of a Command Rifle team.
An example of a Command Rifle team
An example of an HMG team Left: An example of an HMG team.
Fusiliers-Voltigeurs Mortar Platoon

The Mortar Platoon contains four 81mm mortar teams, a Command Rifle team and an Observer Rifle team. The Command rifle team made up of an officer figure, an NCO figure and a Rifleman figure on a small base. Also on a small base is the Observer Rifle team, this is made up of an Observer figure and a Rifleman figure. The mortar teams themselves are made up of a mortar tube and bipod, a gunner figure, a loader figure and either an NCO or for variation an Artillery crew figure. Like the HMG teams, these are also on medium bases.


Right: An example of a Command Rifle team.
An example of a Command Rifle team
An example of a Mortar team Left: An example of a Mortar team.
Right: An example of a Observer Rifle team. An example of a Observer Rifle team
An example of a Command Rifle team Divisional Support
Divisional Anti-tank Platoon

The Command Rifle team made up of an Officer figure, an NCO figure and a Rifleman figure. The two 47mm mle 1897 guns have an NCO a gunner and two loaders. The guns are assembled as shown below on medium bases.

Left: An example of a Command Rifle team.
Right: Assembly instructions of the 47mm SA-37 gun.

Below: An example of the Divisional Anti-tank platoon.
Assembly instructions of the 47mm SA-37 gun
An example of the Divisional Anti-tank Platoon
An example of a Command Rifle team Horse-drawn 75mm Artillery Battery

The Horse-drawn 75mm Artillery Battery is made of four 75mm guns each with five crew and Gun Limber. The rest of this unit is made up of a Command Rifle team, a Staff team and one Observer Rifle team. The guns and crew are assembled as shown below on large bases. The Command Rifle team made up of an Officer figure, an NCO figure and a Rifleman figure and is on a small base. The Staff team goes on a medium base and has the table, a Radioman figure, two officer figures and a Rifleman figure. The Observer team is on a small base and is made up of a prone rifleman figure and a prone Observer figure. You also get the option to add a turntable to one gun.

Left: An example of a Command Rifle team.
Right: Assembly instructions for the 75mm gun.
Assembly instructions for the 75mm gun
Assembly instructions for the 75mm gun limber Left: Assembly instructions for the 75mm gun limber.

Below Left: An example of a 75mm gun with crew and limber.

Below Right: An example of a Staff team.
An example of a 75mm gun with crew and limber An example of a Staff team
Right: An example of a Observer Rifle team. An example of a Observer Rifle team
An example of a 155mm howitzer

Horse-drawn Heavy Artillery Battery

The Horse-drawn Heavy Artillery Battery is constructed exactly the same as 75mm Artillery battery except your gun option is the 155mm c MLE 1917S.

Left: An example of a 155mm howitzer.

Right: Assembling instructions of the 155mm howitzer.
Assembling instructions of the 155mm howitzer
French Painting Guide With these complete you’re ready to defend France from its German invaders!

Find out what colours to paint your French Infantry Company here...

As always have fun.

~ Mark.
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Last Updated On Thursday, October 14, 2010 by Blake at Battlefront