Assembling the Polish Infantry Battalion with Mark Hazell Despite having less than half the number of anti-tank guns of a German Infantry division, the polish infantry divisions gave a good account of themselves against the German armoured spearheads, substituting raw guts for massed technology.  Utilising well trained but large infantry formations with light equipment the Batailon Piechoty puts you in command of an infantry force determined to protect its country at all costs. Learn more about the Polish Infantry Battalion here...

The Contents  Firstly let’s take a look at the contents of the Polish Infantry Battalion army box set; contact the customer service team at [email protected] if you have any issues with any of the components. The Polish Infantry Battalion contains 11 guns and 237 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 17 small bases, 46 medium bases and 8 large bases.

Below: The Polish Infantry Battalion's Officer Figures.

Below: The Polish Infantry Battalion's Mortar Crew Figures

Below: The Polish Infantry Battalions NCO Figures.

Below: The Polish Infantry Battalions Infantry Figures.

Below: The Polish Infantry Battalion's Anti-tank Rifle and Light Mortar Figure.

Below: The Polish Infantry Battalion's Machine-gun Platoon Figures.

Below: The Polish Infantry Battalion's Gun Crew Figures.

Below: The Polish Infantry Battalion's Observer Team Figures.

Right: The Polish Infantry Battalion's Staff Team Table. Below: The Polish Infantry Battalion's 100mm Howitzer.

Below: The Polish Infantry Battalion's 75mm Gun.

Below: The 75mm Gun Limber.

Below: The Polish Infantry Battalion's 37mm Gun.

Battalion HQ Headquarters To begin with you will need to assemble your Company HQ. This is made up of a Company Command Rifle Team and a 2iC Command Rifle Team as well as two teams of 81mm mortars. The Company Command Rifle team should be made up of 2 officers and a rifleman. The 2iC Command Rifle should be made up an officer and 2 riflemen. The two mortar teams should each have an NCO, a loader and a figure firing the mortar. Right: An Example of the a Company Command Rifle Team.

Below Left: An examples of a 2iC Command Rifle Team; Below Right: An example of a 81mm Mortar Team.

Combat Platoons Piechoty Platoon You get three Piechoty Platoons in the army box.  At fifteen stands a platoon these are large and contain 67 figures per platoon. Each platoon contains a Command Rifle Team and twelve stands of Rifle Teams, as an option you can also add in an Anti-tank Rifle Team and a Light Mortar Team. Nine rifle teams should be made with five mixed rifle figures. Three rifle stands are NCO stands and as such have only three riflemen and an NCO figure.

Above: An example of a 5 Riflemen stand. Right: An example of a 3 Riflemen and 1 NCO stand.

The Anti-Tank team is made up of an Anti-tank rifleman and any other rifleman (I personally prefer one of the kneeling rifleman). The Light Mortar Team is made up of a loader and the light mortar gunner. The Command Rifle Team is made up of a Rifleman, an NCO and an Office figure. Below Left: An example of a Anti-tank Rifle Team; Below Right: An example of a Light Mortar Team.

Machine-gun Platoon In the army box you also get a Machine-gun platoon.  This has three machine gun stands made up of a gunner, a loader and a kneeling rifleman (one of these rifleman can be an NCO). The platoon also has a Command Rifle Team made up of an officer an NCO and a rifleman. Right: An example of a Machine-gun Platoon Command Rifle Team. Below: Examples of some Machine-gun teams.

Weapons Platoons Piechoty Anti-Tank Gun Platoon The Piechoty Anti-Tank Gun Platoon contains three 37mm Anti-tank guns and a Command Rifle Team. You are given two weapons platoons in the army box. The platoon also has a Command Rifle Team made up of an officer an NCO and a rifleman. Left: How to assemble the 37mm Anti-tank gun. Below Left: An example of a Command Rifle Team for the Anti-tank Platoon. Below Right: An example of a 37mm Anti-tank gun.

Divisional Support Light Gun Battery The Light Gun Battery contains four 75mm guns a Command Rifle Team and a Staff Team. The Command Rifle Team made up of an Officer an NCO and a rifleman, the Staff Team goes on a medium base and has the table a radioman two officers and a rifleman. You can also assemble an optional observer team. This is made up of a kneeling rifleman and a lying down observer figure with binoculars. Note: Motorised artillery batteries use the rubberised wheels for their guns and do not need the limbers (the shells are carried in the towing vehicles). Infantry artillery batteries use the spoked wheels on both their guns and limbers. Below Left: An example of a Command Rifle Team for the Light Gun Battery; Below Right: An example of 75mm gun.

Right: How to assemble the 75mm gun.

Left: How to assemble the 75mm gun Limber. Below Left: An example of a Observer Rifle Team.

Right: Assembly instructions for the 75mm gun Limber when deployed. Below Right: An example of a Staff Team.

Light Howitzer Battery The make up of the Light Howitzer Battery is similar to the 75mm guns but contains four 100mm howitzers guns a Command Rifle Team and a Staff Team. The Command Rifle Team made up of an officer an NCO and a rifleman, the staff team goes on a medium base and has the table a radioman two officers and a rifleman. As with the 75mm guns you can also assemble an optional observer team, this is made up of a kneeling rifleman and a kneeling observer figure with binoculars. Below Left: An example of Observer Rifle Team; Below Right: An example of a 100mm Howitzer.

Right: How to assemble the 100mm Howitzer. With the 100mm Light Howitzer Battery completed your army is now ready to be painted. Find out what colours to paint your Infantry Battalion here... Happy modelling and have fun! ~ Mark.

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