FORGE WAGONS.

Forge wagons in my Army are allocated to the Veterinary/Farrier companies of Quartermaster battalions. Each company has four of these wagons which tow a light GS trailer carrying fuel supplies. The principles of operation are that Veterinary/Farrier platoons travel to all the Battalions supported by that particular Quartermaster battalion to "service" the horses of those units.

The historic reference for these vehicles is the German Vorratswagon 96 n/A of World War One as shown in the pictures below.

My vehicles are based on 5mm balsa slabs to my standard size of 30 x 15 mm. I cut two such slabs for each wagon. The second slab is cut into three parts, one of  15 x 15 and two of 15 x 10 all as shown on the left side of the photo below. These parts are then glued together to create a forward storage locker for raw materials with two side lockers for tools etc as shown in the centre of the photo below. I then file the ends of the side lockers to give a rounded profile, add a chimney made from a piece of plastic straw (or environmentally friendly paper straw!!!!) , a shaft with horse mounting block, wheels and towing hook. These operations are clearly shown from top to bottom on the right side of the photo below.

The photo below shows the whole batch of 24 vehicles with all plastic and metal parts primed. If there are any gaps between the lockers, I fill them with Milliput,  file smooth when dry and prime these areas too.

This next photo shows the batch of vehicles painted olive drab.

Here is the whole batch fully painted with horses and harness wire fitted. In case it is not clear in the photo below, I paint the chimneys black both inside and out. For the methods of manufacturing and painting of horses and the fitting of harness wire see my posts on horses and GS wagon construction..

Finally a close up of a single vehicle which hopefully will clarify any lingering construction questions.

When I first started building my Army my standard supply vehicle was a covered wagon. These were made using bits of wire to create the hoops over which was glued tissue paper to give the covered wagon look. Over the years my army was in storage, most of these fragile tissue tilts got damaged. In addition I realised that covered wagons were just too awkward to build in any quantity hence the GS wagon that I now use. However I was left with a number of covered wagons. These became my first Forge wagons as shown below.

 The rear part of the tilt was removed and a chimney added. The remainder of the tilt was repaired with more tissue and lots of super glue, its amazing how strong tissue becomes when soaked in super glue!!!!!!! These old converted vehicles bear a striking resemblance to the Vorratswagon.

Within the whole army group I have a total of 72  forge wagons of both old and new versions.

Organisation of Quartermaster Transport Battalions.


The Quartermaster Transport battalion comprises three Quartermaster Transport companies and a Headquarters company. These battalions are part of Army Command brigades under the direct control of Army Command battalions and are used to provide additional supply capability to Brigades as determined by the tactical situation.

Quartermaster Transport companies consist of two platoons each of 4 GS wagons and 4 heavy GS trailers with 16 privates and 2 Sergeants with  a Lieutenant in command. The Company is commanded by a Captain assisted by a Sergeant Major. Each company has a total strength of 40.  The purpose of Transport companies is to move supplies from railhead to supported battalions.

The Headquarters company comprises a Staff platoon of 12 Staff men with 2 Staff Sergeants commanded by a Staff Lieutenant, a Signals platoon of 10 Signallers with a Signals Lieutenant in command supported by a Signals Sergeant, a Medical platoon of 4 Medics commanded by a Surgeon Lieutenant assisted by a Medic Sergeant. The Quartermaster platoon has 14 QM privates with a Sergeant and a Lieutenant in command. The command platoon has a  Lieutenant Colonel as Battalion Commander with a Major as Adjutant and second in command with a battalion Sergeant Major and two standard bearers, one with the national flag and one with the battalion flag. Total strength of the Headquarters company is 54 giving a total battalion strength of 174.

The other vehicles and equipments of the battalion include 3 GS wagons towing a field kitchen, water tank trailer and a medical trailer with 2 House headquarters wagons, a heavy House headquarters trailer and a heavy House signals trailer.

This photo shows the Transport companies at the rear and left front and the Headquarters company on the right front. My armies have a total of 3 Quartermaster Transport battalions on the basis of one for each Army. The arm of service colour for all Quartermaster formations is brown.

The Remuda

Remuda is a Spanish word meaning a horse herd suitable for remounts. In the context of my armies I have a Remuda in each Quartermaster battalion to provide spare horses for the other battalions served by that Quartermaster battalion. The Remuda is part of the Veterinary company establishment.

The photo above shows a Remuda assembled and primed ready for final painting. Construction is based on 10 horses with a bar passing through each row of five horses and glued into a square section beam with a twisted cable and "towing" eye to enable attachment to a Veterinary company wagon. The construction is similar to that used for Cavalry horses.
I admit the arrangement may appear odd but it is the best way I have found, so far, to represent the availability of a herd of remounts which I consider essential to the overall importance I attach to the army having a full logistical capability.

This photo shows the six Remudas I recently made to equip the six Quartermaster battalions in the army I am currently constructing. The horses are of course my standard horse brown colour with the "frame" black. I did originally try olive drab, my usual vehicle/equipment colour, but it just did not look quite right. Which ever colour is used the painting of the "frame" is slow and complex as even the small bits between horses are painted.

Organisation of Quartermaster Battalions.


The Quartermaster battalion comprises two Quartermaster Transport companies, a Veterinary and Farrier company, a Workshop company and a Headquarters company.

Quartermaster Transport companies consist of two platoons each of 4 GS wagons and 4 heavy GS trailers with 16 privates and 2 Sergeants with  a Lieutenant in command. The Company is commanded by a Captain assisted by a Sergeant Major. Each company has a total strength of 40.  The purpose of Transport companies is to move supplies from railhead to supported battalions.

Veterinary and Farrier companies consist of 4 Farrier platoons each with one Forge wagon with a light GS trailer with 4 Farriers, 2 Farrier Sergeants and a Veterinary Lieutenant in command. In addition there is a remount platoon consisting of a remuda of 10 horses with a House veterinary wagon and 4 Farriers, 2 Farrier Sergeants and a Veterinary Lieutenant in command. The whole company is commanded by a Veterinary Captain assisted by  a Sergeant Major and has 10 QM wagon drivers commanded by a QM Lieutenant with  a QM Sergeant as assistant.. Total strength of the company is 49. These companies provide shoeing and veterinary services to supported battalions.

The Workshop company has 4 Workshop platoons each with a House Workshop wagon with a light GS trailer manned by 4 Technicians, 2 Sergeant Technicians and an Engineer Lieutenant in command. The whole company also has a GS wagon and light GS trailer for parts and raw materials, 10 QM wagon drivers with a QM Lieutenant commanding and a Sergeant as assistant.. The company is commanded by an Engineer Captain supported by a Sergeant Major. Total strength of the company is 42. The purpose of the company is to provide repair services for equipment, weapons and vehicles in supported battalions.

The Headquarters company comprises a Staff platoon of 12 Staff men with 2 Staff Sergeants commanded by a Staff Lieutenant, a Signals platoon of 12 Signallers with a Signals Lieutenant in command supported by a Signals Sergeant, a Medical platoon of 6 Medics commanded by a Surgeon Lieutenant assisted by a Medic Sergeant. The Quartermaster platoon has 16 wagon drivers with 1 Sergeant and a Lieutenant in command. All QM staff of the Farrier/Veterinary, Workshop and Headquarters platoons are under the overall command of a QM Captain supported by a Sergeant Major. The command platoon has a  Lieutenant Colonel as Battalion Commander with a Major as Adjutant and second in command with a battalion Sergeant Major and two standard bearers, one with the national flag and one with the battalion flag. Total strength of the Headquarters company is 62 giving a total battalion strength of 233.

The other vehicles and equipments of the battalion include 4 GS wagons towing a field kitchen, water tank trailer, medical trailer and a light GS trailer. There are 2 House headquarters wagons and a heavy House headquarters trailer with a heavy House Signals trailer.

This photo shows the two QM transport companies.

This photo shows the Veterinary/Farrier company on the left with the Workshop company next on the right followed by the remuda and the Headquarters company on the right. My armies have a total of 18 Quartermaster battalions on the basis of one for each Brigade.. The arm of service colour for Quartermasters is brown.