I recently picked up a bunch of 72nd scale vietcong figures and I'm considering the possibility of converting them to a bunch of CPM guerillas for a diorama (Hopefully in time for the Merdeka 09 group build).

I tried doing some research on the internet, but Googling CPM just returns a bunch of political blogs... <_<. So far all I have managed to find on the internet as reference is this picture:


Is this relatively accurate or should I be looking for other sources?
Are there any other good references (books or otherwise) that you would recommend?

U_loji,

This picture is very accurate as it present the Malaya CT uniform in between post WW2 to Pre Merdeka (the first Malaya Emergency)... notice then the uniform color was in Japanese khaki and the water bottle and the legging also was in WW2 Japanese soldier form. But the rifle was British type Lee Enfield SMLE No.1 MK 3.... But the ammo puches were home made with canvas.

These gears combination was because the Malaya communist party previously was call "Malaya People Anti-Japanese party" which did very well fighting the Japanese in guerilla warfare... That's why they were equiped with British rifles and getting uniform gears from raiding Japanese army camp...

While at the 2nd Malaya emergency, most communist modernized their uniform and gears in jungle green format.

Read more about the comunist army and Malaya emergency in my earlier thread TUGU Negara

Hope this help.

CPTan

National Museum is currently having an exhibition on communist insurgency/ CT/ Malaya Emergency...I pass by National Museum everyday; tho haven't got the chance to drop by yet. I think they'll have good reference on what you're looking for.. B)

Hmm..interesting subject...

But aren't the CPM supposed to be wearing the 'Bintang Tiga' logo brought over from the MPAJA (Malaysian People Anti-Japanese Army)?

Had all those details on CPM before when I was in RMC...uniforms, badges,units, regimental flags,area of operation etc..it was a treasure trove of information on the CPM..classes were run by Army Intelligence Officers then...lost my notebook ages ago.. :cry:

RMCBoy,

Wonder if U can retrieve those "lost" info from ex-college or not... very interesting to know more ;)

As for the bintang tiga.... I did read some article mentioned that it was not widely use due to lack of resources. Hey I mean 3 red star for one soldier can be distributed for 3 soldiers lar....

Maybe those CT top brass only wore tiga bintang??

CPTan

I would recommend this shot movie. .. you may find it very useful for your diorama setting later....

Ambush

Hey, any ex-military person here can tell whether how was the Malaya Communist flag look like??

I presume it was in red background with a yellow star? Or 3 stars? Or with the Russian logo?

Cause I'd like to do a communist fallen flag on my Tugu Negara diorama ground work...

Thanks in advance,

CPTan

CP,

Will try to look from my buddies...hopefully they still keep their note books.. :)

Stitching only one star per cap makes a very logical logistic sense.. :D

The Bintang Tiga stands for the three major races in Malaya...Chinese, Malays and Indians..

BTW.."Bintang Tiga" in Chinese is "Sam Seng"... I think that is the origin of the word Samseng we use nowaday...

Osprey has a book on the the Malaya Campaign 1948-1960.

Here's a preview from google books

http://books.google.com.my/books?id=odKwk5...%20flag&pg=PA35

From what's available of the text pg 35 - looks like the single star was to be replaced by three star from 1949 but not widely carried out. So, for period from 1949, either one or three star should be ok.

Also on pg. 35 is description a girl, the communist flag & its proclamation. There's a teeny weeny illustration fitting this description at the back cover.

Go buy the book if you like what you see from the preview :)

Wow, I never knew that. Thanks for sharing Thomas.

Master,

Saw the clip...

Jungle green, jungle boots, Bonnie hats, SLRs and Sterlings..nostalgic.. :)

Shot the Sterling SMG before in school..blowback action, unpredictable..might go off if u drop it!

i watch about pkm....jungle green, khaki brown