Pithead Miniatures

British Paras

The British army had two airborne divisions in its order of battle. The 6th airborne that fought in Normandy and the Rhine crossing and the 1st airborne that was destroyed at Arnhem . It is the policy of Pithead miniatures to provide more variety of infantry figures in their ranges, so these miniatures are cast in 14 different poses and will enhance any wargames army.

Code	Description	Price
P1	50 figures in 14 positions	£5.00 not available

British Paras HQ

The HQ set of figures consists of 8 different figures. Officer with sten, Radio man in beret, Piat loader and gunner, Sniper , 2 inch mortar man and an engineer with a flamethrower pack.

Code	Description	Price
P2	8 figures	£1.20 not available

British Paras MMG

The Vickers medium machine gun was a reliable water cooled weapon with a good sustained rate of fire. Each airborne division was issued with 46 of these guns which were organised under Parachute Battalion or Airlanding Battalion command not into separate MMG battalions as they were in infantry divisions.

Code	Description	Price
P3	2 MMG and crew	£1.20 not available

British Paras 3inch Mortar

The 3 inch mortar was the standard infantry support weapon. Each airborne division was issued with 56 of these mortars which were organised under Battalion command.

Code	Description	Price
P4	2 x Mortar and crew	£1.20 not available

British Paras 6lb anti tank gun

The 6lb anti tank gun was the standard anti tank weapon with a platoon of 6 guns attached to each battalion. The airborne forces were issued with a special lightweight modified weapon that had a narrower wheelbase in order that it could fit into a glider. These guns were towed into action by modified airborne jeeps and gave good account of themselves in the built up streets of Arnhem (battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/baskeyfield_vc_action.htm). Pithead miniatures do not use their standard infantry 6lb guns manned with an airborne crew, our 6lb guns are replicas of the light weight versions issued to the Airborne forces. These guns were recognisable by their narrow wheelbase and a one piece gunshield .

Code	Description	Price
P5	2 Guns and crew	£2.00 not available

Airborne 75mm howitzer in firing position

The M1 A1 75mm Airborne howitzer was an American designed weapon. 27 of these guns were organised into an Airlanding Light Regiment Royal Artillery. The guns were towed by Jeeps or Universal carriers.

Code	Description	Price
P6	2 Guns and crew	£2.00 not available

20mm polsten cannon in firing position

Around 23 Polsten 20mm cannon were issued to each airborne division for anti aircraft defence. During the later stages of the war these weapons would be more likely used in a ground support role. A contemporary source describes how one gun, used by the Mountain Division was dismantled and sited in the upstairs room of a house for a greater field of fire.

Code	Description	Price
P7	2 Guns and crew	£1.40 not available

British Paras 17lb anti tank gun

This weapon was a big shock to the Germans at Arnhem . They could not conceive how such a big gun could be airlifted. Capable of destroying any German tank the few that survived the landings gave good accounts of themselves. They were airlifted by Hamilcar gliders and towed by a Morris tractor. 16 Guns were issued to each division.

Code	Description	Price
P8	1 canon and 3 crew	£1.00 not available

British Paras Recce Jeep with K type MG

The Reconnaissance jeep was equipped with a single Vickers 適背ith an impressive rate of fire of 950 rounds per minute. Issued to the Airborne reconnaissance regiments these jeeps enabled lightly equipped forces to dash for the objectives before the enemy forces could organise themselves. The Pithead model has a crew of 4 plus one 塗anger on� sitting astride the pannier.

Code	Description	Price
P9	1 jeep with passengers	£1.20

British Paras Radio jeep

The Radio Jeep was a modification of the Airborne jeep equipped with a No 19 wireless set, an externally mounted battery box at the rear and remote control cable reel mounted on the front. The Pithead model comes with a crew of three.

Code	Description	Price
P10	1 jeep with passengers	£1.20

British Paras Jeep with Trailer

The airborne Jeeps carried stores from the landing zones in specially designed trailers like the one illustrated here. This model has a crew of four plus a passenger on the trailer.

Code	Description	Price
P11	1 jeep with passengers and trailer	£1.40

British Paras Jeep towing 6lb AT-gun

This set contains an Airborne jeep towing a light weight airborne 6lb anti tank gun . The model has a crew of 4 plus a man hitching a ride on the gun itself.

Code	Description	Price
P12	1 jeep with passengers and towing 6lb AT-gun	£1.60

Airborne jeep with 75mm howitzer in the towed position

This howitzer model contains an Airborne jeep towing a 75mm M1 A1 gun. Note the Pithead model is made so that the gun can be assembled with the barrel in the correct towing position i.e. removed from the trunnions sited up on the carriage. The model has a crew of 4.

Code	Description	Price
P13	1 gun and 1 jeep	£1.40

20mm polsten cannon and Jeep

This set contains an Airborne jeep towing a Polsten light AA gun. Note! Pithead does not use its standard jeep models with their rear mounted spare wheel and Jerry can for its airborne range . Airborne jeeps did not carry any rear mounted equipment as they would not fit into the gliders if they did. The Jerry cans on Pithead models are correctly sited behind the seats and the bumpers at the front are cut down like they were on the real vehicles . This model has a crew of 4.

Code	Description	Price
P14	1 gun and 1 jeep	£1.40

Airborne tractor

The Morris tractor was a specially modified vehicle used to tow the airborne 17lb anti tank gun. The vehicle was shoehorned into a Hamilcar glider and had all unnecessary weight removed. The model has a crew of four.

Code	Description	Price
P15	1 fig.	£2.00

Airborne MkII Carrier

The airborne carrier was used as an armoured recovery vehicle to salvage air dropped supplies in hot landing zones . The vehicle represented here is the universal carrier Mk II and it has a crew of two and carries a load of several drop canisters.

Code	Description	Price
P16	1 carrier with crew	£1.20

British Airborne range dedicated to John Baskeyfield VC