German leFH 18 Howitzer: SHQ gun and AB crew

While my British forces for Normandy are well-advanced, I thought it was time to paint something for the Germans. Here we have a brace of leFH 18 105mm howitzers by SHQ in 1/76 with a set of AB Figures artillery crew.

THE leFH 18 10.5CM HOWITZER

The leFH 18, short for leichte Feldhaubitze 18 (light field howitzer 18), was designed as a replacement for the ageing World War I-era light field guns. Developed by Rheinmetall-Borsig, this artillery piece was intended to provide the German army with enhanced mobility and firepower. The first guns were introduced in 1935, and by the outbreak of the Second World War, the leFH 18 had become the standard divisional howitzer for German forces.

The leFH 18 featured a calibre of 105mm and range of around 10 kilometres. The howitzer’s carriage consisted of a split-trail design, and it incorporated a hydropneumatic recoil mechanism which reduced impact on the crew during firing and facilitated rapid realignment for follow-up shots, enabling a firing rate up to six rounds per minute. The howitzer could be towed by a variety of means, including trucks, half-tracks, or horse-drawn limbers. The gun could be found in action supporting German forces where-ever they operated, on all fronts.

WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS IN 20MM?

We’re very well catered for in 20mm (including 1/72 and 1/76 scale models) if you want one or two of these guns, with manufacturers from A to Z. From the basic but serviceable Armourfast offering which includes a pair of guns and eight crew, through to Zvezda, and the venerable but still excellent Revell set which includes a pair of guns fifteen crew and a horse-drawn limber. Most of the metal manufacturers have options, and you have 3D printing. Plenty of choice!

I’ve a box of the Revell artillery which I bought in the 90s, but I was fortunate to be gifted a pair of the SHQ leFH 18 guns last year. While there are a lot of options out there for crew, it was an easy choice – AB Figures of course! You get seven crew figures, with some boxes and shells as accessories, in the aptly titled “10.5cm Field artillery crew and accessories” set. Fast delivery as always from Eureka UK.

BRINGING THE MODELS ALIVE

The guns were straightforward to put together with all parts super-glued in place, and the crew figures took very little tidying up before I based them on pennies. I’d thought about basing the guns and crew together, but have kept them separate so I can use the crew for other artillery and to easily remove casualties in-game.

STEP 1: All figures and both guns were primed with my usual Halfords grey rattle-can primer and then left to dry properly overnight.

STEP 2: Base coat applied using Plastic Soldier Company rattle-cans. Late War German Dunkelgelb for the guns and German Field Grey for the crew.

STEP 3: Citadel Nuln Oil wash applied to the guns for that dirty well used look, and to the crew figures.

STEP 4: AK Interactive AK11425 Field Grey for the next coat on all crew figure uniforms.

STEP 5: VAL 70.830 Field Grey to start highlights on the crew. VAL Panzer Aces 70.306 Dark Rubber for the wheel rims.

STEP 6: Approximately 50/50 mix of VAL 70.830 Field Grey and VAL 70.991 Dark Sea Grey for the next highlights, applied more sparingly than the last colour.

STEP 7: VAL 70.991 Dark Sea Grey for next highlights, paying attention to shoulders and raised areas of uniform.

STEP 8: VAL 70.909 Red and VAL 70.951 Flat White for painting the measuring sticks (assuming that’s what they are!) on the guns.

STEP 9: AK 402 Light Flesh followed by a wash with Citadel Reikland Fleshshade to all areas of skin.

STEP 10: VAL 70.995 German Grey for helmets and boots.

STEP 11: Light edging and highlights using VAL 70.991 Dark Sea Grey.

STEP 12: AK Dark Brown filter brushed onto the crew figures, and around the measuring sticks and wheels of the guns.

I’ve then done the bases with a ‘Normandy finish’, topped off with Geek Gaming Scenics tufts and a light touch of flock. At this stage I could give the guns a light drybrush to bring out some of the details, but I think I’ll leave them looking used and dirty for now.

WHAT’S NEXT?

I’ve really enjoyed painting these guns and crew, think I’ve got the bug for arty now! Plenty more Wehrmacht artillery for me still to do for the Atlantic Wall defences around Sword Beach including a Czech 100mm gun for the Morris battery and a French 155mm for Daimler, both with more AB crew, plus a load of 50mm fortress guns. 

I might even dig out that old Revell Artillery set…