DISPATCHES
JUNE 2009
JUNE AT KING & COUNTRY always means D. Day and this year is no
exception. In fact this month and next is going to see a wealth of “Operation
Overlord” coming into shore and taking on the German opposition… So, in the
words of Supreme Allied Commander, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, “OK, let’s
go!”
1. AVAILABLE IN JUNE
A. “
As previewed in
last month’s “DISPATCHES” we have five (5) great new K&C sets
that are sure to please our “
DD107 “The LCA (Landing Craft Assault)”
This British
designed and built LCA actually made up the bulk of the landing craft used to
put infantry on the beaches on D. Day itself. All of the British and Canadians
used these little craft as well as some of the American forces. Did you know
that the
To the best of my
knowledge this is the first time such a unique landing craft has been released
by any toy soldier/ military miniature company in
Our polystone and
metal waterline craft comes in typical two-tone British naval camouflage and is
crewed by two Royal Navy matelots—one Cox’n and one Bren Gunner.
Its dimensions are:
Length
Well, a landing
craft with no soldiers wouldn’t look very good, would it? So, we thought it
might be a good idea to add a squad of British infantry and here they are… in
action!
This three-man
section comprises… one standing Bren Gunner plus two riflemen.
A
tribute in miniature to the men who risked their lives to tend their wounded
comrades often under fire.
Here, a kneeling medic tries desperately to save a seriously wounded “Tommy”.
DD110
“Attacking!”
As one soldier sits
wounded, another provides covering fire and the remaining “Tommy” runs
forward.
DD111 “Moving Inland”
A
lying prone Bren Gunner alongside a kneeling rifleman and an advancing “Tommy”.
SPECIAL NOTE: All of these first infantry releases are
from the 2nd East Yorkshire Regiment of the British 3rd. Infantry Division that
landed on
Available
Now!
It’s a bit of a
leap, historically speaking, from
“Vive les Dragons a Pied!”
(“Long Live the Foot Dragoons!”)
For several years (1803-1806)
Napoleon’s Armies suffered an amazing shortage of horses… This meant that some
cavalry units and Regiments were forced to fight on foot. Perhaps the most
famous were the Dragoons. Originally formed as mounted infantry the Emperor
decreed that the Dragoons would be better suited to fight as dismounted
soldiers than any of their cavalry compatriots.
Although they never
liked losing their horses the Dragoons performed admirably in this new role for
a limited period. After all, the Emperor’s orders were… the Emperor’s wishes!
End of story…
K&C has
produced no less than 15 different troopers of the famed 16th. Dragoons of the line. In their green tunics with rose pink
facings only one of our figures is mounted the remainder are
in marching, parade or action poses.
Take a closer look.
NA170 “Mounted
NA171 “Marching Drummer”
NA172 “Marching
NA173 “Marching w/ Rifle”
NA174 “Marching Set” (2 figures)
NA175 “Marching w/ Flag”
NA176 “Advancing Forward”
NA177 “Shouting Corporal”
NA178 “Standing Firing”
NA179 “Standing Ready”
NA180 “Ready to Repel”
NA181 “Standing Attention”
NA182 “Present Arms”
Either individually
or in multiples these new Dragoons provide extra colour and display
opportunities for any serious Napoleonic collector.
AVAILABILITY: Mid
June
With all the
British, Canadian and American forces landing in Normandy K&C thought it
was about time to give the Germans a little support…
A wounded Wehrmacht officer tries to let his superiors know his
position is coming under fire…A kneeling soldier aims his Schmeisser
Machine Pistol at advancing Allied troops…A German rifleman cautiously moves
forward…And the officer’s German shepherd nervously crouches near his master…The
Invasion has begun!
This very useful
diorama piece is cast in sturdy polystone and is typical of hundreds of similar
reinforced concrete machine gun positions up and down Hitler’s “Festung Europa” (Fortress
Accompanying this
piece are a new crouching 2-man MG42 gun team and…a turban-clad volunteer from
the “Free
AVAILABILITY: Late
June/ Early July
2. COMING IN JULY
Well, again we kind
of “leaked” the information on this in last month’s “DISPATCHES”…
So it might not come as a total surprise! CANADIANS!!!
It’s long been a
personal wish of mine to honour the enormous and
valiant role
Like other parts of
the Empire and Commonwealth
On D. Day Canadian
Forces were allocated
A Canadian officer,
revolver in hand, assesses under fire, his position. Next to him his radio-man
relays a message. Covering them both is a kneeling rifleman.
A standing Canadian
NCO fires off a burst from his Sten Gun while another rifleman takes aim.
A lone Canadian
soldier caught by a burst of enemy machine gun fire.
A typical stone
Many Canadian
regiments had strong Scottish connections. This brave piper, regardless of enemy
fire, pipes his comrades forward.
This MP from the Canadian
Provost Corps points the way ahead for his fellow soldiers.
In the middle of
our Canadian releases is this brand-new figure of Gen. Bernard Montgomery,
D. Day’s Ground Forces Commander.
“Monty” is typically dressed and wearing his double-badged black beret and an RAF leather flying jerkin.
DD120 “Grenadier”
Our final Canadian
soldier of this release is a dynamic figure throwing a “Mills” bomb
grenade at an enemy position.
Providing some of
the armour support during the
Our latest fighting
vehicle is a Cromwell Mk IV of the Welsh Guards of the Guards Armoured Division. Although this division did
not land until D. Day +11 it took part in some of the heaviest fighting in the
Normandy “bocage” and saw almost continuous
action until the German surrender in May 1945.
Our model comes
with two crew figures and a detachable “back pack” of extra supplies.
SPECIAL NOTE: All our Canadian troops are from the “Canadian
Scottish Regiment” of the 3rd. Canadian Infantry Division.
AVAILABILITY: Early
July
3. ALSO COMING IN JULY…
On
Unfortunately they
failed…
King
& Country’s latest “Strictly
Limited” set is being released to mark the 65th. Anniversary of what might
have been the most momentous day of the Second World War.
We have chosen to
port
Among the figures
gathered around Hitler are General Gunther Karten , Luftwaffe chief
of staff, Field Marshall Wilhelm Keitel and a senior Waffen
SS officer. In front of the group is large table spread over with two printed
Eastern Front maps. Colonel von Stauffenberg
completes this historic “SL” set.
Just 888 are being produced.
In addition to
these “Strictly Limited” figures K&C is also releasing two sets of 2
figures each to enlarge the scene.
A standing, arms
folded, Wehrmacht General confers with his Army
adjutant.
An East Prussian
Party official from the local Gauleiter’s officer
listens to a highly decorated Panzer officer.
Both of these
“add-on” sets make for a superb small-scale diorama worthy of any serious
WW2 collection.
AVAILABILITY: Mid-Late
July
4. AND WAIT… THERE’S MORE!
When the Civil War broke out in 1861
thousands of young men flocked to the colours looking for adventure… and glory.
Many of them believed that the cavalry offered all of that and more. Hard
campaigning and harsh-military realities soon put them right on that score!
K&C’s latest American Civil War release prepares
to mount up and ride off in search of battle with eight new figures… All of
them Confederates and proud of it!
CW041 “Mounted Bugler”
CW042 “Cavalry Flagbearer”
CW043 “Mount-up”
CW044 “Prepare to Mount”
CW045 “Firing Carbine”
CW046 “Sergeant holding Carbine”
CW047 “Loading Carbine”
Special Note: This is the first of two Confederate
Cavalry releases in 2009… Look out for another batch later in the year.
AVAILABILITY: Mid-Late
July
5. “Streets of Old
And here’s a little
something to add to our “Streets” series.
AVAILABILITY: Early
July
6. “NOW, WHAT’S BEING RETIRED?”
Well, there’s
eleven (11) separate items from 5 different series… If you see something
you like… grab it while you can!
DD080 “Gen. Gavin 82nd Airborne”
DD081 “At Attention”
DD082 “Kneeling
FW013 “Kaiser's Staff Car Set”
MK018 “Attacking Knight w/Axe & Shield”
MK019 “Knight Drawing Sword”
SP025 “Machine Gun Bunker”
SP026 “Mortar Pit”
WS087
“Halt!”
WS089 “Dispatch Rider”
And that my friends… is that. I hope you and your customers find
something that interests you. As we always say… and always mean… We very much
appreciate your support, loyalty and business.
The very best to
you and yours!
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder &
Creative Director
King
& Country