|
|
Post by iguanac on Mar 9, 2015 7:16:15 GMT -5
Hello fellows, i am modelling a squad (1/35 scale) of French 6BPC in Tu Le. I have depicted this battle/period, as i can combine British and US uniform in recognizable pattern. So far i have a MG gunner (FM 24/29), ammo bearer (CR39), squad leader (M1A1 carbine), 2 smg gunners (MAT49) and 5 riflemen (cr39). Something along the lines of this www.onesixthwarriors.com/photo/files/3/2/8/voltigeurs.jpgwww.onesixthwarriors.com/photo/files/3/2/8/tireur_d_elite.jpgSo, if i am to put a sniper instead of one riflemen, what rifle should i have? As we are speaking of 1952, then MAS49 (as in pic) is, i guess, out of option as i read thet it started to appear in 1953. Should i go for gew 43? How common was to have a sniper in a squad - as i couldn't find photos of them? Thanks in advance, Marko |
|
|
|
Post by lew on Mar 9, 2015 10:53:48 GMT -5
Your links are fubar'ed.
G43's were limited to the Commandos de Marine. Most of those were not equipped for sniping/designated marksman duty. If any unit had any sort of of sniper/DM capability, it would have been likely that they were using a scoped Mauser (not the 1.5x Zf 41 scope, but the Zf 39[?]) until the Mle. 49 came around with the APX L308 3.85x scope* in late '52/early '53.
Most units had no such capability. There was little demand. French doctrine did not emphasize precision rifle fire, and most of Indochina is poor country for snipers (dense vegetation in most areas= limited range). While the TOE for para units specified a marksman, there was no drive to make DM's a part of the squad/platoon until Algeria, where the Mle. 49 was far more abundant, and that was finally superseded by the Mle. 49/56, by which time DM's were far more commonplace, at least amongst the intervention units.
*I have a book on the GCMA, on the cover of which is an M1 or M2 Carbine with an APX L308 scope mounted. The picture was probably taken in Laos or Annam. I have encountered no other reference to this practice.
|
|
|
|
Post by iguanac on Mar 10, 2015 8:30:13 GMT -5
Thanks Lew for your answer. I'll evade the sniper and put CR39 instead.
|
|
|
|
Post by lew on Mar 10, 2015 18:20:08 GMT -5
Happy to help. That's a good choice, but another SMG would probably be more representative. Either way, carry on!
|
|
|
|
Post by marsouin on Jan 11, 2016 13:41:21 GMT -5
Your links are fubar'ed. G43's were limited to the Commandos de Marine. Most of those were not equipped for sniping/designated marksman duty. If any unit had any sort of of sniper/DM capability, it would have been likely that they were using a scoped Mauser (not the 1.5x Zf 41 scope, but the Zf 39[?]) until the Mle. 49 came around with the APX L308 3.85x scope* in late '52/early '53. Most units had no such capability. There was little demand. French doctrine did not emphasize precision rifle fire, and most of Indochina is poor country for snipers (dense vegetation in most areas= limited range). While the TOE for para units specified a marksman, there was no drive to make DM's a part of the squad/platoon until Algeria, where the Mle. 49 was far more abundant, and that was finally superseded by the Mle. 49/56, by which time DM's were far more commonplace, at least amongst the intervention units. *I have a book on the GCMA, on the cover of which is an M1 or M2 Carbine with an APX L308 scope mounted. The picture was probably taken in Laos or Annam. I have encountered no other reference to this practice. Hi Lew,the 3e BCCP snipers were equiped with scoped G-43.... Seems that scoped Lee Enfield Mark IV were used in Indochina as well but I have to find back where I saw it. |
|
