Guys, as the topic, I am starting a this project, British Field Gun in Malaya. I'm getting the Tamiya gun tractor and British field gun and will build as a diorama.

I did a google search last night and the information I gather is just soooo little (A two hour search. :unsure: )

Any members out there got any more infobout this field gun? WIll be very good if the article come with photo. :P

A million thanks in advance. :D

i only know the infamous Ota Melara

Kirin,
the 25 pdr is applicable. You can still see this in Pulau Sentosa at Singapore. I will post the pictures in the ScaleModelsMalaysia.com website this weekend.
The other alternative is the 2pdr which unfortunately only comes in resin under the Sovereign2000 brand.

If I am not mistaken, 6 pdrs were not used.

As for the Quad car, I am skeptical but if its in the same timeframe as the North Africa campaigns, it should be applicable though I suspect a lot more of the Indian made vehicles would be the more likely candidates for the towing. Last I checked, no good models out there to look at for that era and time.

I have the recent Osprey books highlighting the British Far East armies and field guns. Show you the next time we meet.

Thanks CK Loo,

About the Artilerry display at Sentosa Island, SG, if I'm not mistaken is MK 1 of the 25 pounder. Was trying to find some book at some local bookshop, but find nothing related; Need to spend another day in Kinokuniya I guess.

The MK1 mainly used in SG during the retrieve of British during the Japan invasion iin Malaya. And during the emergency period of Malaya (after 1945), British use these field gun as their fire support against Malayan Communist Party and Malayan Races Liberation Army, mostly use in Kampar and Johor Bahru.
Sources : Wikipedia

Anyway, I got BBC produced Encyclopedia of WWII, 25 DVD in total, there is a few episodes talking about the invasion of Japan.

About the Quad car, to be more accurate, its a gun tractor, produced by Canadian. Its use in the North Africa campaigns and Far East too, means its same as the one use in Malayan.

Loo I'm not sure if I read somewhere that there were a couple of 6-pounders around but were in short supply. But then again old guy-poor memory I may be wrong.

At any rate since Kirin is going to use the 25-pounder I guess it doesn't really matter. I'll try and keep an eye out for you Kirin for 25-pounder pics in Malaya.

Kirin,

there are some nice photos here.. search it under 25 pounder malaya

Webpage

Thanks Bang Zaidi, Loo, Uncle Bummy and masterqq for the help and info.

I found a interesting webpage talking, tittle '1942 Batterfield Singapore' It not only history bout the defence and battle of Singapore, but also history bout defence of Malaya and retrieve of British. The best is the website have a lot of historical photo.

Here is the link,

http://www.s1942.org.sg/s1942/home/

I just got my Tamiya 1/35 British Gun tractor and Field Gun last night (of course a lot of other kits too. ^_^ ) The bad thing is, after I examinate all the part of the gun, I found that this is a MK II version Field Gun.

And now, I got two optionfor my dio;

1. MK 1 Field Gun
Which I will need to do a lot of research on the detail and of course need to scratch build and convert the MK II to become MK I, which will take more time to complete (which I dont have now... :angry: ) For the crews who operate the gun, mostly Indian or Punjab. I plan to scratch build a team of six crew, one British officer, one British crew and 4 Indian, all in resting post.

2. MKII variant
This gun is mostly use by British during North Africa and Far East Campaign. I'm not that sure it been using it before or during the Defence of Malaya. From what I heard, is been used during Emergency Period in Johor bahru. Need more research and info to confirm that.
If, I go for option two, I will need to either keep aside the Quad Car course t
his is not they use to tow the gun, but a Morris.

Well, thanks a lot again, I hope I can dodne the research by this week as I will be flying again start on this sunday... :cry:

British also used 18pdr guns, and several Breda Anti-tank captured at North Africa campaign which used by Indian or Punjab unit.

18 pdr gun were used across malaya and even for Australian unit at Mersing before ww2. Later 18pdr were replaced by 25 pdr gun but still used 18pdr gun carriage.

Most of these guns fell into Japanese hand at battle of Jitra and Slim River breakthrough.


AIF 25 pdrs gunners at Gemas.

Cengitu,

Ada gambarkahhh?

Sarge.

photo credited to AWM

Guys,

I think either Italeri or MB models is coming out with the Breda Anti-tank gun.

Chock one up for Malaya campaign.

Richard.

My 2 sen...

Standard British anti-tank gun was the 2pdr. I remember seeing pictures of gunners together with some japanese tanks brewing at a road block with rubber trees along the road. Don't remember where it was (Slim River?). Not sure whether any mainstream model company has made a 2 pdr. 6pdrs - i beg to differ. Unless they were sent just before the downfall of Singapore - i could be wrong. One thing for sure, with the internet and forums and SIGs around nowadays, research will be much easier

With regards to other guns, i believe the Brits also used 5.5in gun in addition to the venerable 25pdr. I read somewhere many years ago that Malaysian Army also used 5.5in together with the 25pdrs - legacy of the British army? Of course there is the old Airfix 76th scale 5.5in with the Matador.

Anybody knows what AA guns were used - 40mm Bofors / 3.7in AA gun?

Whatever it is, this is a great topic...

This is indeed an interesting topic.

Do note that WWII 25 pdr gun should NOT have any Muzzle break which is a post war installation.

Also those intending to do a towed gun might also want to consider getting italeri's recent re-released Bedford truck which I believe was widely used in the far east including Malaya...

See link on bedford truck:
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/revi...eri/it6474.html

Not sure about the italeri - 15cwt truck offering though but it might have been used in Malaya too ...

http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/revi...eri/it6233.html

Perhaps I am being too specific ... but 2 & 6 pdr guns were Anti Tank guns whilst the 18 & 25 pdrs were the ONLY plastic available brit Field guns to date...

so in answering Kirin's question... it would definitely be limited to the 25 pdr gun in 35th

As for AA's I think the Brits were abit overly "optimistic" about their air defence and thus were limited to Bren MGs/Enfield rifles for AA purpose only ...

I believe the Bofors did not see action in KL / SG during its fall (i could be wrong)...

Just my thoughts....SAC33

Great forum this....!!

Bren gun senang cari la. Lewis gun? Know of any mainstream kitmaker who does this?

Sorry la, 35th scale not my cup of tea - so i am very ignorant ( i can hear "Blasphemy!!!" already ) ;)

The ONLY lewis gun available in 35th would be to "salvage" from Tamiya's trusty LRDG truck... I think this truck is also used in the Malayan campaign for towing and recon task too ...

SAC33

Man!!...somebody already booked the last Bedford at MH. <_<

You're right...seems to be the only one with the cooling jacket unless it's the one from the SAS jeep. I bet those were available then.

The only AA guns I can think of are the ones aboard the navy vessels defending the Singapore harbor or at Penang.

Richard.

rtfoe,

There is ONLY ONE plastic Lewis gun and thats in the LRDG.

the SAS Jeep set has Vickers which is also available in Hobby Boss Humber kits... Sadly Lewis guns did not get much plastic coverage ... :cry: :cry:

So time for modellers to "badger" those plastic manufacturers to try and "accesorrize" that 35th scale Lewis gun immediately....

SAC33

Sac,

Yup, you're right...got confused with the drum magazine on the top configuration.

Marketing strategy :lol: :lol: ...you want Lewis gun you buy LRDG.

Richard.

Battle of Kota Bahru 7-8 Disember 1941

Brigadier B.W keys 8th Indian Infantry Brigade of the 9th British Indian Infantry Division were the main defendingg force at Kota Bahru,supported by the 21st Mountain Battery-four 3.7inch howitzers under Major J.B Soper

Model kit not sure what scale

(Mountford Metal Miniatures)

MM031 3.7 Inch Screw Gun - Howitzer. MM051/00 If with Indian Crew Set world war 1 crew

MM051/00 Indians Firing 3.7 Inch Howitzer ww1

MM144 WW2 3.7 Inch Howitzer MK4P/ MK5 (Tyred Wheels) MK4P are Indian Patern for British Indian Army

Sir,looks good if your build a custom made pillbox,i mean the one at Kota Bahru beach