Dutch East Indies Army
Dated: December 10, 2005.
KNIL by Eric Nuyt of the Netherlands
I am sending some pics of my homebuilt KNIL or Dutch East Indies Army figures for your Everything Toy Soldiers Page.
They are converted Airfix/Hat as well as others.
The KNIL officers speak for themselves. The infantry is armed with M98 Steyr-Mannlicher-Hembrug rifles and carbines, Schmeisser M28 and Thompson SMG's and a Lewis gun. They are wearing KNIL light bamboo hats. In combat they would wear the tropical version of the Dutch helmet.
The Dutch Marines on Java had the same rifles/carbines as well as Italian light machine guns. They are wearing light naval straw hats.
The KNIL Machinegunners show a Dutch 6,5mm Vickers M23 MMG, a shortened 6,5mm Madsen LMG, a 6,4 mm Dutch Lewis gun. The prone trooper firing the Mauser Parabellum is a Stadswacht/Homeguard member.
The green colour of the uniforms comes out to darkish and grey. It should be a little more greener and lighter.
I hope some manufacturer will one day produce a real set of KNIL troops. Total number of the Netherlands East Indies forces in 1942 when they face the Japanese Imperial Army was 120.000 men.
Do not hesitate to ask me further questions.
Many thanks to Mr. Nuyt.
