King & Country
1st Lieutenant
- Joined
- May 23, 2005
- Messages
- 4,929
KING & COUNTRY DISPATCHES
September 2023
September 2023
Hi Guys,
Welcome to September’s ‘DISPATCHES’ . As I write this I’m already preparing for my next overseas trip… This time to the U.S. of A. and a return to the Windly City’ in the shape of the all-new ‘CHICAGOLAND’ Toy Soldier Show. Organized by my good friend (and K&C Dealer) Matt Murphy of Hobby Bunker fame.
After the sad demise of the much-loved and frequently-attended ‘CHICAGO TOY SOLDIER SHOW’ at the Hyatt Hotel in Schaumburg, Matt has picked up the gauntlet and has set up his own Show at the Schaumburg Marriott on Sunday 24, 2023. Prior to that Show date all kinds of dealers and collectors will arrive at the venue and, I’m sure, take part in some serious ‘room-trading’ similar to what always went on at the previous ‘CHICAGO SHOW’ .
I am personally attending this new ‘CHICAGOLAND’ Show as an observer this year and not taking any of our displays or setting up as K&C always did in past years.
Among my reasons are the huge increase in costs of air-shipping a large number of dioramas plus the figures, fighting vehicles and all kinds of accessories that go along with them.
And as stated, I want to get the ‘feel’ of the hotel and the Show itself. So, this time around I get to have no responsibilities, no headaches but still get to meet up with lots of old friends and enjoy the show as a very interested ‘spectator’ !
For the record, I will arrive in Chicago from Hong Kong via Tokyo and San Francisco on the afternoon of Thursday 21, September and will stay through till late afternoon of Sunday 24th.
After that I will be heading down to San Antonio and our ‘King & Country Texas’ store for a little ‘Special Event’ there a few days later.
However, before all of that there is all of this…
1. Available in September…
A. ‘THE BATTERING RAM’
The M48 ‘Patton’ was an American first-generation main battle tank which first appeared in 1952 and was designed to replace the WW2 and Korean War era M26, M4 Sherman and post war M47 and M41s.
Armed with a powerful 90mm main gun it was produced to meet the battlefield requirements of both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marines.
Eventually almost 12,000 M48s were built and a series of continual improvements were made to ensure better performance and reliability.
Beginning in 1959 most of the original M48 A1s and A2s were upgraded and modified to the M48A3 model, which is what King & Country has produced.
IN COMBAT
Numerous examples of the M48 saw active service in various Arab / Israeli conflicts as well as the war in South East Asia throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s. The M48A3 was to go on to see widespread service with both the United States and many of its NATO partners in Europe until it was superseded by the newer M60 Main Battle Tank. Even today though the M48 remains in service in large quantities with Turkey (750), Taiwan (500) and Greece (390).
However, King & Country is focusing on the M48A3 in combat in Vietnam with two great examples…
![1.jpg 1.jpg](https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/data/attachments/238/238542-4d7253b95dbd21025292fb6760826b3a.jpg)
![2.jpg 2.jpg](https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/data/attachments/238/238544-96c3b91824c717585c255708dce7c3c2.jpg)
VN159-1 “The M48A3 ‘Patton’ Main Battle Tank” ‘Witch *****’
At the beginning of the 1968 Tet Offensive Communist forces overran the ancient imperial capital of Hue in South Vietnam. U.S. Marines stationed at Phu Bai airbase south of Hue were ordered to lead the assault to retake the city.
Backed up by M48A3s , crewed by fellow Marines, the ‘Grunts’ fought their way back into the city and street-by-street, house-by-house slowly but steadily gained the upper hand.
During much of the battle foul weather hampered the use of close air support and thus the firepower of the M48A3s 90mm gun was essential.
The sheer bulk of an M48 also allowed the Marines to advance behind the armour of the tank as together they eliminated the enemy.
This particular USMC 48A3, ‘Charlie Four-One’ is nicknamed ‘Witch *****’ and comes complete with a full body Marine Tank Commander armed with CAR15 carbine and a “head ‘n’ shoulders” Tank Driver figure.
Each model comes in its own sturdy, full colour, presentation box.
![VN159-1(TF).jpg VN159-1(TF).jpg](https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/data/attachments/238/238551-0d7d98b57e32dd561b730265bd66dbcb.jpg)
VN159-2 “The M48A3 ‘Patton’ Main Battle Tank” ‘Mad Dogs’
Our second M48A3 is nicknamed ‘Mad Dogs’ and has the hull tag ‘Charlie Four-Four’. Like the previous model it comes complete with its two crew figures and same high quality, first-class packaging.
![VN159-2(TF).jpg VN159-2(TF).jpg](https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/data/attachments/238/238552-7cc95e62b5e70296c303efd6dd3240e0.jpg)
Special Note: Just 200 of each of these USMC M48A3s are being produced. And so if you’re serious about your ‘Vietnam’ collection one or both of these great tank models will provide your ‘Grunts’ with some very valuable fire support!
VN160 ‘Sitting VC Female Soldier’
From a pair of mighty American tanks to a slim, slip of a young Vietnamese woman sitting holding her captured U.S. made M2 Carbine.
Many of these weapons were given to the South Vietnamese forces because they were lighter to carry and easier to use than the heavier, more cumbersome M1 ‘Garand’ rifles that the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) had originally been issued with prior to the introduction of the M16.
A number of these carbines inevitably fell into Viet Cong hands and were often distributed to female members who found them simpler to operate and lighter to carry.
This young VC woman is holding a Korean War era carbine complete with a 30 x round curved magazine.
![VN160(TF).jpg VN160(TF).jpg](https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/data/attachments/238/238550-bc2320144c4a261d530371fa800e9063.jpg)
AVAILABILITY: Mid September