SOVIET DPP-40 AMPHIBIOUS PONTOON SYSTEM - Part Four

After finding two tins of matt varnish that I had completely forgotten about I was able to complete the units. So I now have four complete bridging units to support my Cold War VDV forces.

SOVIET DPP-40 AMPHIBIOUS PONTOON SYSTEM - Part Three

It's been a while but I am delighted to start getting my DPP-40 Amphibious Pontoon Units for Cold War Commander ready for the tabletop. Massive thanks go to fellow Cold War Commanders Andy C and Simon W for sorting out the 3d printing. 

I have enough models to represent four bridging units and as detailed in a previous post I have enough deployed sections to cover four 100mm long bridge sections for our standard river/canal width.

There are four different models available in the STL file each representing the GAZ transport trucks in different stages of deployment so I decided I would represent each unit with four models, one of each type. This matches well with the size of other bridging units we use in our games. I may add another GAZ66 truck or 4x4 as an HQ or they may just be added to Engineering Units which they were in their real life deployment.

WIP - This model represents the pontoon section fully deployed before being slid off the back of the GAZ transport into the water (Or GAZ trucks with wings!)

All 16 models representing 4 units. Just Matt Varnish to add

All four types. Left fully extended ready for deployment through various stages of deployment with the truck on the right in travel mode

Just waiting on some matt varnish to arrive so for now work on these has come to a stop. In the last part I'll show the finished units along with the deployed sections. Pleased with these as they add a very unusual unit to the collection and tabletop. As always thanks for looking, stay safe and game on!

SOVIET DPP40 AMPHIBIOUS PONTOON SYSTEM - Part Two

New additions to my Soviet VDV forces are these DPP40 Amphibious Pontoon Systems. Fellow Cold War Commander Andy C very kindly 3d printed four sets of pontoons that were suitable to use with our standard 100mm wide river/canal sections. Obviously they'll work great with 75mm and 50mm wide sections as well. As mentioned in Part One I will eventually add a few of the vehicles that come with this set of STL files but for now here are the four systems set up on one of the 100mm wide canal sections.

As always thanks for looking...

SOVIET DPP40 AIRBORNE PONTOON SYSTEM - Part One

The air-deployed DPP-40 pontoon park is designed to install floating bridges over waterways, with a capacity of 40 tons, or the organization of ferry crossings (dividing into 8 40-ton or 16 20-ton ferries. The maximum permissible river speed is up to 2 meters second. Minimum fording depth - 1 meters. The park was adopted by the Soviet Army in the 1970's for use in the VDV. It was expected one of those would be issued per engineering battalion of a VDV division (in its pontoon company), and 4 additional kits would be issued to a separate pontoon/bridging airborne battalion.

From what I find the VDV 118th Engineering Regiment was issued with a DPP-40. There are also mentions of the 1377th Separate Pontoon Bridging Battalion being issued with a DPP-40.

The main difference between the DPP-40 and other pontoon parks consisted of the fact it could be transported by AN-12, AN-22, and Il-76 transports, and could be either landed or air-dropped. Each AN-12 could carry two pontoon trucks laden with pontoon links.

The main element of the park is the pontoon link, consisting of the middle pontoon and two unfolding side pontoons. The middle pontoon consists of a hermetically-sealed metallic box, and the other two are divided lengthwize into two parts. The internal half is hermetically sealed, and the external one is a container for an inflatable floating device.  Two pontoon links linked together form a bridge ferry. On the junction of the links a "Vikhr" [Whirlwind] outboard motor is attached. These power the bridge ferry. The kit comes with 16 of these motors, one for every bridge-ferry [2 links]. The folded link fits in a specially-prepared GAZ-66. The link is normally deployed by being dropped into the water unfolded. For this purpose the vehicle approaches the water in reverse, uses its winch to unfold the side pontoons and a dedicated air pump to fill the floaters. After the floaters are filled with air, the link takes up the shape shown in the image. The GAZ-66 retreats until the water covers the hub of the rear wheel - i.e. the depth at the drop location is about 0.5 meters. The crew fixes the side pontoons in place and lets the link fall into the water. If there is not the space to unfold the pontoon, it can be thrown in without the floaters inflated, and the floaters can be inflated on the water using a long hose from the automobile.

Every bridge-ferry is manned by two pontooners and two drivers. After the GAZ-66 is no longer needed, the drivers take their trucks into shelter, and further work is done by the pontooners.

When building a bridge, the ferries can be linked into a single ribbon, which is unfolded using the outboard motors, finally linking the shores. The bridge's usable part is 4.2 metres wide - standard for military bridges on hard bases. Tracked vehicles can move on the bridge at 10-12 kph, 20 metres apart. Wheeled vehicles can move 20 kph on the bridge. No vehicle may depart by more than 45cm from the bridge axis, which is especially important for heavy vehicles. The kit can also be made into 8 40-ton or 16 20-ton ferries, which use the "Vikhr" outboard motors to move. 

When a DPP-40 is transported, an AN-12 is filled with two pontoon links and their GAZ-66 trucks. Transporting the full kit requires 17 aircraft journeys. When paradropping, each GAZ-66 and its link are placed on a PP-128-5000 air-dropping platform, and then loaded onto the aircraft. The crew airdrop separately.

The kit consisted of 32 GAZ-66 trucks and their links, 1 auxiliary GAZ-66 with extra gear, and 16 outboard motors. A pontooner company of 80-90 men is required to operate the kit.

 

After a bit of searching on the internet I was delighted to find a free 3D stl file for the complete DPP-40 System and fellow Cold War Commander Andrew C very kindly offered to print them for me. Initially we've started with just the pontoons with plans to add the GAZ-66 variants in the future. More on that in Part Two. As always thanks for looking.

PARTIZAN 2022 - Soviet Assault at Rendsburg 1985 (Part Four)

After a pretty quick table set up at Newark Showground on Saturday afternoon with the help of fellow Cold War Commanders Andy T and Ian S we retired to the hotel to meet up with the Pendraken team and a few other traders for a very pleasant meal washed down with some real ale! 

Early breakfast on Sunday and then off to the the venue to meet up with the other Cold War Commanders, Stephen G, Mark J and Richard C to put the final touches to the table and start deploying the troops.

As expected we didn't get many turns completed as most of the day was spent discussing the new rules, the terrain, the miniatures and many other aspects of the hobby.

The Cold War Commanders (l to r)

Leon P (Pendraken), Ian S (British), Andy T (West German), Mark J (East German), Richard C (De Groots Fire Brigade NATO), Richard P (Mark Fry's Terrain Guy!) and Stephen G (Soviet VDV)

Thanks to everyone who came along and said hello. Some great comments on the table we are looking forward to Joy of Six where we will be putting on an extended version of this table. Hopefully we will see you there. My new venture 'The Unit Wargaming Centre' situated in Stone, Staffordshire is nearly up and running and there will be more updates on that soon.

As always thanks for looking and take care!

DUTCH - Bridging Equipment (Part Seven)

I have now completed to the two DAF Treadway Bridge units for my 1985 Dutch Army. These will be allocated to units as required as quite a lot of units in the Dutch Amy has access to them.

Both DAF Treadway Bridge units. Each unit consists of a Leyland DAF with Container with a towed bridge section and a 1T Land Rover with a towed bridge section. In my research I couldn't find any pictures of the bridge section being towed so originally planned to use trucks but fellow Cold War Commander Mark Fry suggested that the bridge sections probably weren't that heavy so could be towed by a smaller vehicle so I decided on a 1T Land Rover.

One unit with bridge sections in tow. Just got to make a couple of deployed versions.

Another view of the DAF Treadway Bridge unit.

Close up of Leyland DAF with Treadway Bridge.

Close up of 1T Land Rover with Treadway Bridge.

Thanks for looking :-)

DUTCH - Bridging Equipment (Part Six)

I have finished varnishing and basing the Dutch 105 Pontoon Co. and have also added an escort vehicle converted from a 3/4 Ton Land Rover.

105 Pontoon Co.

Land Rover Escort Vehicle with added blue and orange roof lights and a camo net and white front bumper.

The three DAF YGZ-2300 Bridging units ready for action.

Another view of the converted Escort Land Rover. I think the writing on the roof is supposed to read 'KONINKLIJKE MARECHAUSSEE'. There was no way I was going to paint that in a space 5mm x 1.5mm so settled for some white marks that represent the sign.

Good view showing the white front bumper.

Close up of converted truck fronts.

The rear of the Escort Land Rover showing camo net on roof.

A YPR-GWT. This will be part of my Medical Unit.

YPR-GWT with added flag and baggage from H&R (Armstrong)

I have a few more Medical Vehicles to do for show as part of the Medical Unit for the CWC Megagame.

As always thanks for looking.

DUTCH - Bridging Equipment (Part Five)

Quick update on the progress of my Dutch Bridging Equipment.

105 Pontoon Bridge Co.

The photo above shows the DAF YGZ 2300 Bridge Unit from 105 Pontoon Bridge Co. I decided I wanted my unit to look like this so went to work on converting three H&R Leyland Flatbed models to represent this unit. I am not sure the orange and white warning plates either side would still be there in wartime but in a fit of madness I decided to have a go at modelling the trucks to look like the one in the photo. I have detailed in a previous post the parts used to make this model so now it was on to the conversion.

Models undercoated before additional parts added and painting.

The three trucks painted and with the converted front section.

Close up showing the converted front section. This was done using thin plasticard and I am really pleased with the results. 

The trucks were undercoated white then a basecoat of US Dark Green. This is followed with a black wash then a drybrush of US Dark Green to bring the colour back. The model is then given a fine drybrush of a mix 50% US Dark Green 50% Iraqi Sand. 

Just need to gloss varnish then matt varnish and finish the bases.

Thanks for looking