Freedom for Morvalonga
The Morvalongan Army
Morvalonga's President for Life, the Legendary, Bishop Moses Besquit likes the
colour purple! After winning the election the father of the nation has dedicated
himself to travelling the land righting wrongs. A veritable knight in shining
purple armour backed by the might of a well equipped armoured group. The figures
are a mixture, Hotspur, Mutineer, Platoon 20 and Elheim. The vehicles are from
Morvalonga's own Lezni Matchbux Corporation. The has noticed that the car
has only 2 doors and it will be replaced by a suitable limousine or 4x4 at the
earliest opportunity.
Brigadier Prince Wotmiworri of the Wa Tembi leads the armoured forces of
Morvalonga and is effectively the commander of the ground forces. He selects his
bodyguards from the tallest and strongest in his tribe.
You can see him in the centre of the picture with one
of his two silver plated, pearl handled Colt automatics in his hand. The figures
are all from a Valiant WW2 US Army sprue that I got free before I stopped my sub
to a magazine and have ESCI small arms added. Again his transport is from Lezni
Matchbux.
When the Brigadier is in a hurry or needs some immediate support he makes use of
his personal Westland Sioux gunship (4 x MGs). It is pictured with the Brigade
helicopter support group. However, he is looking for a more powerful attack
helicopter for his personal transport.
The pride of the army is the 1st Armoured Regiment,often called "The Eaters of
Elephants". It has a Chieftain for RHQ, 2 squadrons of Centurions (only 1 shown)
and a squadron of Comets. Despite their age the Comets have new engines and are
very useful for the rapid reaction groups as they are "in gauge" without
preparation for rail transport.
The Recce "Cheetah Group" is very well equipped with a squadron of Chaffees (upgunned
with modern main weapons), an assault squadron of M113 ACAV and FSV, a light
squadron with Lezni Matchbux Ferrets and a wheeled recce squadron with the
Poundeelund Leopard 6x6 armoured recce vehicle armed with 20mm cannon and guided
missiles, one carries the new Assegai missile system that can engage air and
ground targets.
The original Poundland toy below, had new wheels fitted and the turret modified
to carry a gun and Assegai missiles.
The Mechanised Infantry Regiment (The Lions) ride in M113 APCs, supported by
M163 Vulcan, M125 SP mortar and 106mm RCL vehicles.
The bulk of the Army, however, is made up of the infantry - truck mounted
battalions with 3 rifle companies and a RHQ/Support Coy with 81mm mortars, .30"
MMG and .50" HMG. There are plans to add a platoon of 106mm RCL and a recce
platoon in Jeeps or 4x4s to each battalion.
The locally recruited volunteer light infantry are lacking in support weapons
but excellent at patrolling their own areas are formed in battalions of 3-5
rifle companies for home defence. They are often attached to regular battalions
as guides and patrol companies.
The Engineers are mainly mounted in trucks or old WW2 M3 half tracks and one
M132 flame thrower. The combat engineers are equipped with flame throwers,
demolition charges and other engineer stores. There are plans for an IED task
force to be raised to counter the threat posed by insurgents. The Engineers are
currently poorly equipped with WW2 surplus weaponry.
The routes through Morvalonga are often threatened by insurgents, warlords,
brigands and criminal gangs. The routes are patrolled by locally made Qorqi
Commado Armoured Cars.
There is also a military police presence:
Military convoys are made up of Poundeelund 5-ton trucks and self protected by
armoured gun trucks.
All the trucks came from Poundland - the whole convoy of 8 cargo and 2 gun
trucks cost £10.00. The toy military truck comes in two varieties; one green and
one camouflaged. The same series has a blue Police truck (you will see them
later) and a red Fire service truck - my Fire Trucks have been commandeered by
my grandson (aged 2) for his "Fireman Sam" collection.
An old Comet tank was renovated and given a locally made turret mounting a pair
of 40mm Bofors guns.
Another became a recovery tank
Reconnaissance has always been important and the National
Morvalongan Auxiliary are a reserve army unit that usually is equipped with old
or second rate equipment. The unit has received newly refurbished WW2 vintage
Humber armoured cars. The units' shoulder title, NMA, was inherited from the
North Morvalistan Auxiliaries of WW2 (an economy measure) and they have also
inherited that unit's somewhat unfortunate nickname "The Shitters". NMA = Enema,
get it?
HQ has a Command Car and a Support car with a 105mm RCL, the Armoured Recce
Squadron has 2 each of Scout cars and Armoured cars while the Light Recce
squadron has 4 Scout Cars.
The light armoured squadrons are equipped with M24 Chaffee tanks seen here as they arrived and were used until recently.
And now after a recent refit with new engines and new turrets. The turrets are from ex-British Scorpion tanks.
(models are Matchbox/Revell and turrets are from S&S Models)
The Signals unit in the Brigades are being updated with Unimog radio vehicles.
And a huge Self Propelled Gun donated by a mysterious donor known only as "Bezzo".
A Comet tank recently found in the armed forces of Morvalonga Military Museum.
The collection already had a Comet and so it was offered to the Army.
Unfortunately upon inspection the tank's main armament was found to be beyond
repair and the turret badly corroded because the hulk had been left out in the
open, overgrown and forgotten about. The inspecting officer, Major "Recon"
Qarute, was undaunted and took the hull back to the Military Engineering
Academy. There the apprentices worked on it using the other "retired" vehicles
and weapons in the vehicle park.
The result brought together armour plate from captured Qaza'ar Armoured
Vehicles, a 105mm Light Gun, a Ferret Scout Car and several infantry weapons.
The result is the "Tembo" (elephant) with a 105mm main gun (the same as used by
the artillery), a co-axial machine gun, a second machine gun in a Ferret Turret
for the commander as well as smoke grenade launchers and a grenade launcher for
anti-personnel use.
The Bishop has praised the Special Airborne Scouts for their loyalty,
professionalism and tenacity. The Morvalongan SAS have close links and have
adopted many of the traditions of the Britis SAS including the sand coloured
beret. They are heavily armed with each rifleman armed with an M-16 with
underslung grenade launcher. One unit of this elite force has been particularly
effective. Mounted in light helicopters or parachuted from aircraft the "Tsavi
Tigers" have taken an enormous toll of the insurgents. They are named after the
ferocious giant cats found only in the Tsavi district. They are, in fact, a
breed of lion but their striped markings and savage nature led the early
explorers to call them "Tsavi Tigers".
The Regular Army of Morvalonga
The Morvalongan Navy and Marines
The Royal Islamic Army of Qaza'ar
The Independents, Gangsters and Assorted Nefarious Types
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