Soviet Army Support Group (HQ, Mortar & MMG) - Bolt Action

This set contains:

• 1 x Soviet HQ
• 1 x Soviet Medium Machine Gun Team
• 1 x Soviet Medium Mortar Team

Soviet HQ
Like the soldiers they commanded, many Soviet officers were inexperienced and poorly trained at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. Stalin’s brutal purges of the Red Army officer corps in 1937 had deprived the organisation of leadership and left deep scars on the minds of the survivors. Throughout the war, showing initiative was considered a dangerous trait, and most Soviet officers followed their orders to the letter even if it meant marching their men to certain death. Soviet operational command improved tremendously over time, but the heavy losses suffered by the Red Army indicate that overall combat control remained a clumsy tool. An officer team consists of the officer himself and can include up to two other men who serve as his immediate assistants. Soviet officers can be rated as inexperienced, regular or veterans.

Soviet Medium Mortar Team
The standardised Russian medium mortar during the war was the 82-PM-41 or 82mm battalion mortar Model 1941. This served alongside the otherwise similar 82mm Model 1937. Both were highly effective and accurate weapons with a range of some 3000 yards. The 82mm mortars were considered artillery rather than infantry weapons by the Russians and were usually grouped together in batteries for battalion support.

Soviet Medium Machine Gun Team
The Red Army used the well-known Maxim Model 1910 as its medium machine gun throughout the war, the same weapon that had served in the Tsar’s army during the First World War. It was a capable weapon that could be tripod, sledge or wheeled mounted and was often given a useful gun shield to protect the crew. However, the Maxim was so heavy and unwieldy that, unlike most other Russian weapons, the Germans rarely made use of captured examples. The Maxim was slowly superseded by the newer, lighter but equally effective SG43 model, which was also generally deployed on a small, wheeled mounting with a gun shield.

Storage tips:
To maintain the quality of your Soviet Army Support Group, store it in a cool and dry place. Avoid direct sunlight and moisture that can damage the material. Store the figures in their original packaging or in a plastic box that protects them from dust and scratches.

Collection tips:
For collectors, it is important to keep the figures in good condition. Use gloves when handling them to avoid leaving fingerprints. Keep track of details and markings to be able to value and document your collection correctly.