Battlefront

These large mortars are attached to the machine-gun battalions and used to deliver heavy bombardments against well dug-in enemy. This Flames of War pack contains: 4 4" Mortars, canisters and rounds, command team (3 miniatures, observer team (2 miniatures), 16 mortar crew, 2 Small and 4 Large bases.

The 4.2" mortar was introduced in 1942 and it became the standard British heavy mortar of World War II. It could be broken into three loads for transport (barrel, tripod, baseplate) and a light wheeled carriage was available so the mortar could be moved short distances by the crew or towed behind a light vehicle. When first introduced the ammunition was made in heavy cast rounds, the result of which was a shortening of the potential range, but lighter and improved rounds became available in 1944, increasing the range from 3,000 to 3,800 metres. 4.2" mortars were often used for counter-mortar tasks under the control of the counter-mortar staff, not least because they could reach enemy mortar positions on reverse slopes.

Flames Of War contents: this blister pack contains 1x British Heavy Mortar Platoon (NW Europe) 1x British Command Rifle Team (NW Europe) 4x British 4.2" Heavy Mortar Teams (NW Europe) 1x British Observer Rifle Team (NW Europe)

Manoeuvrability and speed allowed the Humber armoured car to reconnoitre deep into enemy territory and wreak havoc behind the lines before disappearing again.

Flames Of War contents: this blister pack contains 1x British Humber II

With two resin and metal Humber Scout Cars, drivers, and optional Bren guns.

The Loyd Carrier was one of the larger of the British tracked carriers. It mechanical components were based on those of the 15 cwt 4x2 Fordson truck from which it took the engine, gearbox and transmission. All this was placed in a fully tracked lightly armoured steel bodied carrier and it was widely used by the infantry for towing 6 pdr anti-tank guns and carrying 4.2 inch mortars.

This Flames Of War blister pack contains 2x British Loyd Carrier

The US M10 tank destroyer was first supplied to the British in 1944 and first saw service in Italy and France. The Canadians were responsible for its popular nickname 'Wolverine', a name that has stuck with the M10 throughout post-war literature. In mid 1944 many British M10s were upgunned with the excellent 17pdr gun and these designated M10c Achilles. A few landed with the 7th Armoured Division in Normandy and saw a lot of action.

Flames Of War contents: this blister pack contains 1x British M10 / M10c Achilles

This Flames of War pack includes four plastic M3 / M5 half-tracks sprues, four Driver figures, & eight Seated passengers.

The M5 was created out of a need to produce more M3 half-tracks. White, Autocar, and Diamond T could not keep pace with the demand for half-track personnel carriers. The International Harvester Company (IHC) was requested to also make the half-track, but because differing manufacturing equipment some changes had to be made to the design. These became the M5 and M5A1 half-tracks. The essential features of the vehicles remained the same. The M5 differed in several respects from the M3. The armour was manufactured from 5/16 inch homogenous plate armoured rather than the ¼ inch face-hardened steel of the M3. This meant its armour was slightly less effective against small calibre armour piercing rounds. This also made the M5 heavier than the M3, though extra weight didn’t seem to affect its performance in the field. To make up for the added weight of the armour the M5 was fitted with heavier axles and its hull strengthened. Physically the M5 had a couple of notable differences, half-track's fenders were flat in cross-section (rather than round), and it was never fitted with the large fender-mounted headlights. The use of rolled homogeneous steel armour by IHC on their vehicles allowed plates to be welded together, giving the M5 smoother appearance than the bolted M3 half-tracks. Though the Homogeneous armour offered less protection from AP rounds it did lessen the chance of injury due to bullet splash and flying cap screws that could be dislodged when hit.

The M5A1 was fitted with the .50cal ring mount over the assistant driver's position, and a socket mount for the .30cal MG was attached on both sides and the rear of the passenger compartment. Despite these fittings most M5 halftrack used in British fighting units were not fitted with US .30cal and .50cal machine-guns. Despite only have the two drawbacks compared to the M3 (weight and armour), the M5 was classified “limited standard” by the US authorities and relegated to the Lend-Lease program.

Over half of M5 production (5238) was send to Britain where it was used by the Armoured Divisions for Motor Infantry transport, engineer vehicles, command vehicles and anti-tank gun tows. 420 went to the Soviet Union and the remainder were used for training in the United States.

The standard HMG used during the war by the British and Empire forces was the Vickers. This simple modification of the Maxim Machine-gun first entered service with the British army in 1912 as the 'Gun, Machine, Vickers, .303-inch Mark I'.

Flames Of War contents: this blister pack contains 1x British Machine-Gun Platoon (NW Europe) 1x British Command Rifle Team (NW Europe) 1x British PIAT Team (NW Europe) 4x British Vickers HMG Teams (NW Europe)

The South African built Marmon-Herrington, while fast, was lightly equipped and was often up-armed with captured guns, increasing its firepower for the reconnaissance regiments in the desert.

Flames Of War contents: this blister pack contains 2x British Marmon-Herrington III

The BEF's heavy tank formation, the 1st Army Tank Brigade, consisted of the 4th and 7th Battalions, Royal Tank Regiment equipped with Infantry or 'I' tanks (with a handful of light tanks for command and liaison work). As the 'I' tanks were designed to cooperate with infantry, they were heavily armoured, almost impervious to German anti-tank weapons, but moved at a walking pace. Initially, 4th RTR was equipped solely with the machine-gun-armed, 11-ton A11 Infantry Tank Mk I (nicknamed 'Matilda' as it waddled like the cartoon duck of that name!). 7th RTR, on the other hand, went to France with new 2 pdr-armed, 27-ton A12 Infantry Tank Mk II or 'Matilda Senior' amongst its A11 Matilda tanks. The brigade's first action was its famous counterattack near Arras which caused the Germans some consternation and gave a brief, but essential, respite to the BEF. 4th RTR lent a couple of platoons of A12 tanks to 7th RTR for the battle, giving both battalions a mix of the two types. As a result of losses at Arras, the two battalions were combined into 4th/7th RTR with a mix of A11 and A12 infantry tanks for the fighting on the Escaut Canal.

This Flames of War blister pack contains 2 British Matilda I

Medium Machine-Gun (MMG) carriers give the Vickers machine-gun platoons vital mobility across all terrain. The small size and speed of the OP Carrier is ideal as an observation vehicle.

Flames Of War contents: this blister pack contains 2x British MMG / OP Carrier

The 15 cwt, 4x2, GS, Morris CS8 or Morris Light Truck was one of the vehicles to fill the light transport needs of the British Army and was tough, popular and adaptable.

Flames Of War contents: this blister pack contains 2x British Morris 15 cwt Truck

The highly manoeuvrable Universal Carrier gave mortar crews the ability to carry the large amounts of ammunition needed to blast the enemy from their holes.

Flames Of War contents: this blister pack contains 2x British Mortar Carrier

While not as deadly as their big-barrelled counterparts in the artillery, the mortar platoon was a highly mobile and effective alternative. A rifle platoon with an observer attached could be assured of quick, reliable and accurate support.

Flames Of War contents: this blister pack contains 1x British Mortar Platoon (Italy) 1x British Command Rifle Team (Italy) 2x British Observer Rifle Teams (Italy) 4x British 3" Mortar Teams (Italy)

Organised in either lorried or trucked motor platoons, these veteran troops of the British army lead the way for your army from North Africa through Sicily and on to victory in Italy.

Flames Of War contents: this blister pack contains 1x British Motor Platoon (Italy) 1x British Command MG Team (Italy) 1x British Light Mortar Team (Italy) 1x British Boys Anti-Tank Rifle Team (Italy) 1x British PIAT Team (Italy) 4x British MG Teams (Italy)

With a 2 pdr anti-tank gun mounted on the rear of a flatbed CMP truck, the 2 pdr Portee can respond quickly to enemy armoured movements and once it has fired, it can move off to another location.

Flames Of War contents: this blister pack contains 1 British OQF 2 pdr Portee

Mounting a 6 pdr anti-tank gun on the back of a CMP lorry as a Portee gives excellent speed and manoeuvrability to your anti-tank capabilities.

Flames Of War contents: this blister pack contains 1 British OQF 6 pdr Portee

The tough-as-nails paratroopers of the British Airborne (along with their American paratrooper allies) spearheaded the landings in Normandy by landing behind German lines and seizing key objectives, then fighting off counter-attacks until the lads coming off the beach could relieve them. Though only lightly equipped, these fearless warriors were highly trained and ready for the task at hand. Their officers relied on their initiative as the fluid nature of an airborne operation often threw up the unexpected or unknown.

This Flames Of War blister pack contains:

 1 Flames Of War British Parachute Eureka Team

The 105mm HMC, M7 - more popularly known as the Priest - has a 105mm howitzer with enough hitting power to destroy any target. Used in the British Armoured Division's mobile artillery batteries, it provides quick and effective support to any tank battle.

Flames Of War contents: this blister pack contains 1x British Priest

The Quad is a specialist towing vehicle and ammunition supply for the superb 25 pdr field gun and the deadly 17 pdr anti tank gun.

Flames Of War contents: this blister pack contains 2x British Quad Tractor (resin)

After the expulsion of the Axis forces from North Africa, commanders in the Italian campaign had a huge amount of experience to draw on which benefitted the soldiers under their command hugely.

Flames Of War contents: this blister pack contains 1x British Rifle / Motor Company HQ (Italy) 1x British Company Command Rifle Team (Italy) 1x British 2iC Command Rifle Team (Italy) 1x British PIAT Team (Italy) 2x British Light Mortar Teams (Italy) 1x British Observer Rifle Team (Italy)

The PBI (Poor Bloody Infantry) are the solid bricks of the army. The infanteers can always be relied on to get the job done. Even when the armoured troops stall, the infantry push on, clearing the way ahead. Rifle companies are not glamorous. Their job is unpleasant and deadly, but the riflemen can be counted on to do their job, and do it well, not matter how much they complain about their lot. The miniatures are in late war fighting kit and battledress and have the new helmet that many of the divisions who landed in Normandy wore, offering better protection from the sides and rear.

• 1 Flames Of War CSM Stan Hollis VC Command Warrior Team
• 2 Flames Of War British Command Rifle/MG Teams (NW Europe)
• 3 Flames Of War British Sniper Teams (NW Europe)
• 3 Flames Of War British Rifle Platoons (NW Europe)
• 3 Flames Of War British Command Rifle/MG Teams (NW Europe)
• 3 Flames Of War British Light Mortar Teams (NW Europe)
• 3 Flames Of War British PIAT Teams (NW Europe)
• 18 Flames Of War British Rifle/MG Teams (NW Europe)

Hardened by years of combat in the desert against Rommel's Afrikakorps, the British veterans in the infantry went on to fight through Sicily and into Italy.

Flames Of War contents: this blister pack contains 1x British Rifle Platoon (Italy) 1x British Command Rifle/MG Team (Italy) 1x British Light Mortar Team (Italy) 1x British PIAT Team (Italy) 1x British Boys Anti-Tank Rifle Team (Italy) 6x British Rifle/MG Teams (Italy)