British Paratroops, 1942–1945

Paratroop Uniforms and Equipment of World War Two

British Paratroops, 1942–1945.

British Paratroops wearing the Smock, Denison, Airborne Troops over Battledress and 1937 Pattern Web Equipment with ammunition pouched and small packs. Parachute and Airborne forces received the 1944 Pattern Web Equipment in late 1945. The new equipment had a larger haversack with two side pockets, and much larger ammunition pouches than the 1937 pattern. The 1944 pattern equipment was not very durable, and the haversack was often replaced by a rucksack or the earlier 1937 pattern small pack when on campaign. As a result, wargamers and diorama builders may paint British Paratroop miniatures of World War Two to represent post-war paras until 1960, when the ’58 Pattern Web Equipment had replaced the earlier equipment. The camouflage pattern of the post-war Denison smock had a lighter tan base colour than the earlier item.

Miniatures

  • British Paratroops, 1:32 Airfix 51550
  • British Paratroops, 1:64 Battle Honours
  • British Paratroops, 1:64 Black Tree Design
  • British Paratroops, 1:64 Wargames Foundry
  • British Paratroops, 1:64 West Wind Productions
  • British Paratroops, 1:64 1st Corps
  • British Paratroops, 1:72 Airfix Reproductions 02701
  • British Paratroops, 1:72 ESCI 8034
  • British Paratroopers, 1:72 ESCI P-208
  • British Paratroopers, 1:72 Revell 02509
  • British Paratroopers with Pack Howitzer, 1:72 Waterloo1815 036
  • British Paratroops, 1:72 Forces of Valor (Unimax) 83098
  • British Paratroops, 20 mm Platoon 20
    • Paratroop Weapons Containers (5), 20 mm BP Cast BA117
  • Para Officer, standing, open Hands, 20 mm Lamming MB/25
  • British Paratrooper, standing, open Hands, 20 mm Lamming MB/24
  • British Paratrooper, kneeling, open Hands, 20 mm Lamming MB/30
  • British Paratrooper, prone, open Hands, 20 mm Lamming MB/31
  • British Paratroops, 1:76 Airfix 01723
  • Officers & radio operators, 1:76 AB Figures BAF4
  • Parachute Infantry section moving up/walking, 1:76 AB Figures BAF1
  • Parachute Infantry section advancing/running, 1:76 AB Figures BAF2
  • Parachute Infantry section kneeling/prone, 1:76 AB Figures BAF3
  • Airborne troops in foxholes, 1:76 AB Figures BAF15
  • 2 inch mortar and piat teams, 1:76 AB Figures BAF5
  • 3 inch mortar & crew, 1:76 AB Figures BAF8
  • Vickers machine gun team, 1:76 AB Figures BAF7
  • Dead/casualties, 1:76 AB Figures BAF6
  • Airborne casualty set, medics, wounded & stretcher-bearers, 1:76 AB Figures BAF13
  • Airborne prisoners plus 2 German guards, 1:76 AB Figures BAF14
  • British Paratroops, 1:100 Peter Pig
    • British Para Characters, 1:100 Peter Pig
    • British Para Command, 1:100 Peter Pig
    • British Para HMGs, 1:100 Peter Pig
    • British Para 2″ Mortars, 1:100 Peter Pig
    • British Para 3″ Mortars, 1:100 Peter Pig
  • British Paratroops, 15 mm Forged in Battle B-PARA-01
  • British Paratroops, 3″ Mortar Team (4), 15 mm Forged in Battle B-PARA-03
  • British Paratroops, 6pdr Anti-Tank Gun (2), 15 mm Forged in Battle B-PARA-04
  • British Paratroops, 75 mm Howitzer (2), 15 mm Forged in Battle B-PARA-05
  • British Paratroops, Vickers machine gun team (2), 15 mm Forged in Battle B-PARA-06
  • British Paratroops, 1:200 Action 200 A018
  • British Paratroops, 1:300 Heroics & Ros BR3
  • DZ / LZ party, 1:76 AB Figures BAF11
  • Airborne trolley and Crew, 1:76 AB Figures BAF12
  • Welbike with Para Rider, 1:72 Waterloo1815 036
  • Airborne Jeep drivers & Passengers, 1:76 AB Figures BAF16
  • British Para Mortar Crew, 20 mm Platoon 20
  • British Para Machine Gun Crew, 20 mm Platoon 20
  • 6 pdr Anti-Tank Gun Crew, 1:76 AB Figures BAF9
  • 75 mm Pack Howitzer and Para Crew, 1:72 Waterloo1815 036
  • 75 mm Pack Howitzer (Airborne), 1:76 AB Figures AP15
  • 75 mm Howitzer crew, 1:76 AB Figures BAF10
  • British Para Artillery Crew, 20 mm Platoon 20

Organisation & Equipment

Historical Employment

  • Tragino Aqueduct Raid, Italy 1941
  • Bruneval Raid, France 1942
  • Operation Freshman, Norway 1942
  • North Africa 1942
  • Tunis 1943
  • Sicily 1943
  • Italy 1943–1944
  • Greece 1944
  • Normandy 1944
  • Arnhem 1944
  • Operation Varsity, Germany 1945
  • Italy 1945
  • Operation Dracula, Rangoon 1945
  • Palestine 1945–1948
  • Egypt 1951–1954
  • Malaya 1955–1957
  • Cyprus 1956–1958
  • Suez 1956
  • Jordan 1958

Bibliography

British Paratroopers wearing camouflaged Denison smocks and maroon berets are more colourful than the typical British infantrymen of World War Two.

British Miniatures of World War Two