US Army Weapons Teams

US Army Weapons Teams

Infantry weapon teams are an essential component of any Bolt Action army, as they offer great tactical flexibility to your force. Anti-tank teams and flamethrower teams are among the most commonly used, providing your opponent with diverse challenges to overcome.

The roles of reconnaissance and sniper warfare were similar in American doctrines. The US manual clearly stipulated that a sniper's task was to eliminate enemy officers to undermine enemy troop morale. They were equipped with a telescopic sight on an M1903 Springfield bolt-action rifle, and also carried close-combat weapons such as pistols and shotguns to defend themselves if discovered. Both members of the team had sniper training, so the spotter's role was interchangeable.

Mortars were the most readily available type of support weapon. Paratroopers and Rangers had one mortar per platoon, in addition to those that might have been assigned at company level. They were typically deployed in a suitable rear position, no more than 100 yards from the observer, to "cover the most dangerous approaches to the platoon area". The standard light mortar, at 60mm, was of a relatively large caliber. It fired correspondingly larger and more effective shells over a greater range than the smaller mortars used by the Germans and British. The only issue was its weight (19 kg), meaning a larger team was required to move it.

Flamethrowers were used throughout the war, particularly in the Pacific, to clear tunnels and bunkers. During the Normandy landings, the number of flamethrowers was increased so that soldiers could breach fortified lines.

Contains the following Warlord Resin Plus™ figures:

2-man sniper team
3-man light mortar team
2-man flamethrower team

These figures are cast in our new and improved Warlord Resin Plus