Masterbox 1:35 - WWII British Infantry, Western Europe (1944-45)

Masterbox 1:35 - WWII British Infantry, Western Europe (1944-45)

Sprue for 5 figures.

Various poses are possible.

Need to be assembled, glued aind painted.

The British Army formed a total of 43 infantry divisions during the Second World War. At the start of the war, the division's personnel strength was approximately 13,800 officers and men, but by 1944 this had increased to approximately 18,300 men. This significant change in personnel was primarily due to an increase in various support subdivisions rather than an increase in the number of infantrymen alone. In 1944 the British infantry division consisted of three infantry brigades, each with its own headquarters, a staff platoon, 3 infantry battalions, and engineering subdivisions. It is worth mentioning that a single infantry battalion had about 780 officers and soldiers and had numerous support units (e.g. mortar platoon or reconnaissance platoon). The division also included a de facto artillery brigade with five artillery regiments (including one ppanc and one plot), a machine gun and mortar battalion, as well as reconnaissance, communications and sapper subunits. An important element increasing the mobility of the British infantry division was its full motorisation. The basic shooting weapon of a British infantryman was a Lee Enfield No.1 or No.4 rifle. Machine guns used as machine guns included Sten machine guns, Bren hand machine guns and Vickers machine guns. The most commonly used anti-tank weapons were 2- and 6-pounder cannons of 40 and 57 mm calibre, and later also 17-pounder cannons of 76 mm calibre. In turn, the basic armament of the field artillery was the very successful Ordnance QF 25-pounder howitzer.