Guess who wins!

Before the outbreak of the Second World War, Greece possessed only a very small armoured force. Its most significant tanks were two Vickers 6-Ton tanks purchased from Britain in 1931. One was a Type A model fitted with twin machine-gun turrets, while the other was a Type B with a single turret armed with a 47 mm gun. These vehicles were acquired primarily as training tanks to help establish the foundations of a Greek armoured force and to develop doctrine rather than to provide a meaningful combat capability.

Although Greece hoped to expand its armoured arm, financial limitations and the deteriorating international situation prevented further acquisitions. As war approached, Britain was increasingly unable to spare modern tanks for export, leaving the Greek Army with only these two ageing Vickers vehicles and a handful of armoured cars. By the time of the Italian invasion in October 1940 and the German invasion in April 1941, the tanks were already obsolete, mechanically worn, and unsupported by a larger armoured organisation.

The two Vickers tanks were eventually assigned to the Greek Army’s mechanised formations, including the 19th Mechanized Division, but there is little reliable evidence that they saw significant combat. Most historians regard them as training and demonstration vehicles whose military value had largely disappeared by 1941. Nevertheless, they occupy an important place in Greek military history as the country’s first tanks and the starting point of its armoured warfare tradition.

Despite this history, the Greek army list for Bolt Action allows players to field a range of armoured vehicles, including Vickers Light Tanks, Peerless armoured cars, FT-17 tanks, and captured L3/35 tankettes. In reality, the FT-17 saw little, if any, operational use during the 1940–41 campaigns and was largely obsolete by that stage. The captured Italian L3/35 tankettes, however, were put to much better use. Greece captured a large number of therm (40+) during the successful counteroffensive against Italy in Albania, and these were pressed into service to supplement the country’s very limited armoured forces.

With that in mind, I intend to assemble and paint a company of five Vickers Light Tanks to provide some much-needed armoured support for my Greek mountain troops. These two are the first of that project.

The Vickers is also one of my favourite Second World War tanks. I am not entirely sure why, as it was neither the most successful nor the most influential armoured vehicle of the war, but there has always been something about its compact, purposeful appearance that has appealed to me. Perhaps it was because they formed the basis of Australia’s first tank formation to see combat?

While these models represent a degree of historical licence, they are entirely in keeping with the options available within the game and add an interesting and characterful element to the army on the tabletop.

Further down the track, I also intend to add another four L3/35 tankettes to supplement the single example already in my collection. At least those will be a little closer to the historical record. Until then, my company of Vickers Light Tanks provides a plausible and enjoyable tabletop force, even if it takes a few liberties with history.

The models are from “The Tank Factory”. I am very impressed with the cost and quality of the work from Michael Thomas and would recommend their growing range to you. I will write a full review soon.

Thanks to ChatGPT for help with the drawings.