Rebels and Patriots- The Greek War of Independence

 

I started this Rebels and Patriots project in 2019. Smartly got the Turks done in 2020.  You can see them here. https://youdonotknowthenorth.blogspot.com/search/label/Greek%20War%20of%20Independence   

 

Above the Philhellenes- foreign volunteers. In R&P speak, Line Infantry. A unit of 12 figures.  Conversions, as are my Greeks.  Then I got distracted-until now.   What follows is pretty much a note to myself, a project outline if you like.

On to the Greeks which in 15mm means conversions.  Happily mine are all done.

You can see what I did here and throughout this page.   The base figures are Minifigs Albanian Sekhans and Derbents.

Green Stuff hair, sashes,sleeves and a bit of head gear variety.

 

Add swords too.  Swords were important and varied.  The latter was beyond my reach in 15mm.

In 2022 I spotted a bunch of Spiros Koumoussis designed Greek independence 15mm figures on ebay.  Badly painted, over priced and irresistable.  I bought them without a quibble.  The chances of them turning up were astromical nor will we see them back in production.  I will have to repaint and re-base them.  Starting with the cavalry.

The immediate task is to put together a Greek List for Rebels and Patriots.  Here, I claim no great expertise. Some of the Greeks had extensive fighting experience and some none at all. Anyone who turned out to fight was patriotic.  Some though were intensely committed to the cause and would fight against odds. Even to the last.

What follows is my first thoughts on categorising a Greek Force for Rebels and Patriots.  The actual units are not done yet. 

Sometimes Greeks fought mounted.  Raids and such like. Rebels and Patriots cavalry come in a minimum unit of 6 figures.  

I'm going to use two types, both of light cavalry. Type one is Agressive Light Cavalry, type 2, Light Cavalry Good Shots.

For City Greeks, I have opted to use Green Line Infantry.  Most of them had no previous military experience.  International trading links and the Greek Diaspora meant there were enough arms and ammunition. A unit of 12 figures.

In the mountainy countryside it was different. There, warriors could be found.  Men who lived accustomed to violence. 

Even those who were not full time Klephts (more or less bandits) didn't lack fighting experience.  Clan feuds were common and deadly.

For a general turnout I have opted for the Native Category. A unit of 12 figures.

For a unit of Klephts  I use Veteran Skirmishers who are good shots. A unit of 6 figures.

 

For the hard core of Greek resistance I'm using the Light Infantry category and Good Shots too.  Such a unit would be mainly comprised of very patriotic Klephts.

There were also some Greek Regulars.  I'll field them as Line Infantry a unit of 12 figures.

I'll produce a full stat's list shortly with pic's of the units and some pic's of my recently aquired figures.  It will probaby take a couple of posts over the Summer.

For the moment using the above a 24 point Greek Force might consist of:

1 unit of  Patriotic Klepht Light Infantry Good Shots-12 figures. @ 9 points

1 unit of Klepht Veteran Skirmishers- 6 figures.@ 6 points

1 unit of Natives-12 figures. @ 4 points

1 unit of Aggressive Light Cavalry -6 figures. @ 5 points

I'd say that is an affordable array even in the larger scales. Truly lovely 28mm Greek figures are available from Old Man Creations and Steve Barber.  For me, as ever, it is 15mm.