King & Country
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“KING & COUNTRY DISPATCHES”
June 2019
June 2019
JUNE to me has always meant D.DAY–The Invasion of Europe by British, American and Canadian Forces on the morning of June 6, 1944.
Those landings on 5 separate beaches in Normandy signaled the end of Hitler and his entire Third Reich. Together with the Soviet armies in the East the Nazis were now caught in an unyielding vice that would, less than 12 months later, come together in the ruins of Berlin.
But first the landings had to be successful and that was going to be no ‘walk in the park’. King & Country is proud to celebrate that remarkable amphibious landing operation on this its 75th Anniversary with some very special releases... Now read on...
1. THIS MONTH’S ATTRACTIONS
A. As many K&C collectors already know our Normandy ’44 range of Allied soldiers, fighting vehicles, aircraft and even landing craft is the most extensive and far reaching in the hobby. Over the years, since we first began releasing D.DAY related figures in the 1990’s the scope and variety is, I truly believe, second-to-none.
That being said, we always like to grow and develop certain ranges by adding new figures and other items that help continue the story... This is just one example.
“SEARCHING FOR PRIVATE RYAN”
Steven Spielberg’s epic 1998 film “Saving Pvt. Ryan” has always been a major source of inspiration for myself and K&C. Having watched the movie countless times and being able to meet and talk with Capt. Dale Dye , the films military trainer and adviser, I have been struck with just how much care and attention was focused on the characters and the military action in the movie. The attention to detail and historical accuracy set a new standard for ‘war films’ and the people who make them.
When I originally saw the movie I said to myself “I want to make toy soldiers / military miniatures that are as gritty and authentic as the guys in that movie!”
And, in the ensuring years, that’s what we have attempted to do. I believe among the very best D.Day soldiers K&C has ever produced were the two “Searching For Pvt. Ryan” sets released in October 2017. Most collectors must agree because they are on King & Country’s ‘Best-Seller’ list of all time!
Those seven US Army Rangers, PFC Ryan and the cowardly Cpl. Upham made me think about how we could extend the Rangers especially by designing extra GI’s in action on and after D.DAY.
What you will see this month is just the ‘Advance Guard’ of nine of the 19 US Army Rangers ‘in action’ on the morning of June 6, 1944 on OMAHA BEACH.
DD319 “D.DAY Command Set”
A Ranger Sergeant takes careful aim with his M1 carbine as his Captain lets loose a burst of tommy-gun fire in support.
DD324 “The Flame Thrower Team”
This 2-man set shows two kneeling Rangers, one carrying the “Man-Portable M2-2 Flamethrower”. This had a ’burn-duration’ of just 9 seconds and could hurl a jet of flame up to 40 yards. It was mainly used against enemy bunkers and fixed defences. Backing up the ‘Flamethrower Guy’ is another Ranger rifleman.
DD325 “The Bazooka Man”
Providing additional fire support for the rifle squad is this lying prone Ranger about to fire his M1 Rocket Launcher.
Measuring just over 5 feet long and firing a HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) round it was the best infantry anti tank weapon of its time and quickly copied by the Germans.
As well as ‘taking-out’ enemy armour it was also useful against bunkers and other defensive emplacements.
DD327 “Storming The Beach” Set No.1
The first of TWO 4-MAN Ranger sets going into action.
These four Rangers include 2 x riflemen kneeling... 1 x kneeling ‘Tommy-Gun’ carrying Sergeant and a crouching NCO with an M1 Carbine and a ‘Walkie-Talkie’ radio.
SPECIAL NOTE: These are just the first nine Rangers-in-action... TEN more will follow shortly in a mix of single, 2-man and 4-man sets.
ALSO: Look out for the SPECIAL EDITION 75TH Anniversary D.DAY LCVP landing craft model... Coming Soon!
DD328 “General Charles De Gaulle”
A very brave but ‘difficult’ general to deal with... At least for his Allies!
De Gaulle was the leader of all FREE FRENCH forces from 1940-1945. Always conscious of France’s great history and proud traditions he was the spirit of liberation for millions of the French people.
AVAILABLE: Mid June
fight in 
). The Heywood was present at the Solomon Island campaigns, Guadalcanal, Tulagi, the Aleutian Campaigns, on Tarawa; in the Gilbert Islands and more.