Thursday 21 April 2011

Armies of the Balkan Wars 1912 - 13 (MAA 466)



Hurrah! I have recently acquired the new Osprey title on the Balkan Wars by Philip S. Jowett and it is very nice indeed. The plates have a good selection of the troop types involved in the two wars and the black and white pictures are helpful as well. The author acknowledges a book that I will have to try and source - Balkan Wars 1912-13 published by Kedros Publishing although sadly unless it is English it may not be suitable as my Greek is limited to 'dumbed down holiday phrase book' standard!

The only downside is that the pictures all confirm (or rather reinforce)the fact that the 15mm Irregular Miniatures Bulgarian infantryman is in fact wearing the wrong tunic for the period. He is wearing one of those Russian pattern side fastening types rather than the more normal centre buttoned version. You could possibly disguise this with a careful paint job but it is noticeable on most of the models. Irregular Miniatures are pretty good at correcting this sort of thing so I will drop them a line and see what happens. It does mean though that the Balkan Wars project is now back on to an extent - the existing Bulgarians I own could just about pass muster given the chronic uniform shortages faced by the combatants but I would prefer to use a more appropriate figure.


The Turks are fine though - the resrve troops will look very noticeable alongside the regulars in their dark blue uniforms with a red fez The chap in the red tunic comes from the Italian Legion serving with the Greek army which adds a further dash of colour - as do the various Albanian and Macedonian guerilla types; festooned as they usually were with all sorts of weapons - the epitome of the veritable walking arsenal!

5 comments:

Cristiano said...

Hi david

My name is Cristiano Campos, i´m a brazilian lawyer and i live in Rio de Janeiro.

I ordered these book, but i want to know if have information about rank insignias of balkan states, my main interest are about NCO rank insignia used by turks in 1912.

Cheers

Cristiano Campos
Rio
Brazil

David Crook said...

Hi Cristiano,

The Osprey title does not really go down to much low level rank insignia although it is very nice otherwise. The Osprey Warrior title no. 145 Ottoman Infantryman 1914 - 1918 does has a colour plate of shoulder and rank distinctions that may be useful - I am not sure there was much change from 1912 to 1914 in that respect but remain to be corrected on that point.

All the best,

DC

Cristiano Campos said...

Hi David

I have these book Ottoman Infantryman
1914-1918, but the rank insignia plate is wrong about NCO.

Non-comissioned officers are distinguished from rank and file by having coloured shoulder straps, of distinctive colour for the arm to which they belong. To distinguish the various grades of non-commissioned officers, broad transverse bands are added (gilt for combatant ranks, silver for non-combatant). Sergeants have one band, assistant sergeant-majors two bands, and sergeant-majors three bands. Corporals have no band.


Ihave some plates about uniforms used by all countries during balkan wars and have turkish NCO wearing red stripes in a coloured shoulder strap.

I still waiting the book, i made a order.

Can you show for me the plates in these new book about balkan armies.

I have a lot material to show for you.

Look my website about brazilian army
http://www.sacktrick.com/igu/brazilinthefirstworldwar/



Cheers

Cristiano

Cristiano said...

my e-mail is

schutzcampos@yahoo.com.br

Cristiano Campos said...

Hi david

I know these greek book and i have some plates of uniforms these book included one turkish NCO, my mai doubt abou NCO insignia differences between balkan wars and WW1.

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?103175-The-2nd-Balkan-War&s=9aa3200c6d1c82f941672e68a1837876

http://history-of-macedonia.com/wordpress/2010/09/01/balkan-stetes-insignia-uniforms-balkan-wars-of-1912-1913-greece/


Cheers

Cristiano