HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY RECON TROOP
Cavalry Recon Troop HQ
Headquarters
2 M8 Greyhound 85 points 65 points
Teams from the Cavalry Recon Troop HQ are Recce teams. Company Command 2iC Command
M8 armored car M8 armored car
Company HQ
Cavalry Recon Troop HQ
COMBAT PLATOONS
Cavalry Recon Platoon Lieutenant
Lieutenant
Platoon
270 points 210 points Command M8 armored car Mortar Jeep Recon Jeep
3 Cavalry Recon Patrols 180 points 140 points Cavalry Recon Patrol
2 Cavalry Recon Patrols
1 Cavalry Recon Patrol 90 points 70 points Sergeant
Dismount Command M8 armored car Mortar Jeep Recon Jeep
Cavalry Recon Patrol
Before deployment you may choose to dismount any or all
of your Cavalry Recon Platoons. If you do this, all of the Sergeant
Cavalry Recon Patrols from the same platoon operate as a
single platoon. Command M8 armored car Mortar Jeep Recon Jeep
If you dismount, all of the platoon’s vehicles are permanently Cavalry Recon Patrol
removed from the game. Replace all of the vehicles in each
Patrol with any two of the following teams for each Patrol: Cavalry Recon platoon
• Carbine teams
• M1919 LMG teams Cavalry Recon Patrols are Reconnaissance Platoons.
• up to one M2 .50 cal MG team per Cavalry Recon Patrol.
• up to one Bazooka team per Cavalry Recon Patrol. Cavalry Recon Patrols from Cavalry Recon Platoons operate
• up to one M2 60mm mortar team per Cavalry Recon Patrol. as separate platoons, each with their own Command team.
Your cavalrymen are fighting for their lives in the Losheim
Designate any one of the teams as the Platoon Command Gap. Their excellent training and hard work are helping to
team. The platoon remains a Reconnaissance Platoon. stem the tide of the German onslaught.
WEAPONS PLATOONS
Cavalry Assault Gun Battery Lieutenant
Platoon Lieutenant Sergeant
6 M8 Scott HMC 270 points 210 points Command M8 Scott HMC M8 Scott HMC
4 M8 Scott HMC 180 points 140 points
2 M8 Scott HMC
90 points 70 points
The assault guns of E Troop of the 32nd Cavalry Squadron M8 Scott HMC M8 Scott HMC
were the first to respond to your cavalrymen’s call for rein-
forcements. Tie them into your artillery network to add their M8 Scott HMC M8 Scott HMC
guns to the corps’ harassing bombardments.
HQ Section Gun Section
Cavalry Assault gun Battery
97
CAVALRY TANK COMPANY
Tank Company
Motivation and Skill 2nd Cavalry Group 14th Cavalry Group
A Cavalry Tank Company from the 2nd Cavalry Group is RELUCTANT CONSCRIPT RELUCTANT CONSCRIPT
rated Confident Veteran. CONFIDENT TRAINED CONFIDENT TRAINED
VETERAN VETERAN
A Cavalry Tank Company from the 14th Cavalry Group FEARLESS FEARLESS
is rated Confident Trained.
HEADQUARTERS HEADQUARTERS 99 99 99 99 You must field one platoon from each box shaded black and may field one platoon from each
Cavalry Tank box shaded grey.
Company HQ Your Company HQ must be either from the 2nd Cavalry Group (marked ) or the 14th Cavalry
Group (marked ). All Combat and Weapons platoons marked with either of these symbols
ARMOUR must be from the same cavalry group as your Company HQ. Support platoons can be of any
Cavalry Tank Platoon variant type and do not have to match your Company HQ.
ARMOUR SUPPORT PLATOONS
Cavalry Tank Platoon
COMBAT PLATOONS WEAPONS PLATOONS RECONNAISSANCE ARMOUR ARTILLERY
ARMOUR OR ANTI-TANK
Cavalry Tank Platoon
Cavalry Recon Platoon 97 97 Corps Tank Destroyer 130 131 Field Artillery Battery 132 135 134
RECONNAISSANCE Platoon Armored Field Artillery
97 Towed Tank Destroyer 81 33 91 Battery 135 139 139
Cavalry Recon Platoon Platoon Provisional Artillery
ARTILLERY Battery
INFANTRY
Cavalry Assault Gun ARTILLERY
Battery Rifle Platoon
Armored Rifle Platoon Armored Field
Engineer Combat Artillery Battery
Platoon
AIRCRAFT
Air Support
Air Observation Post
98
HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY TANK COMPANY
Cavalry Tank Company HQ Captain
Captain
Headquarters Sergeant
2 M24 Chaffee
165 points 130 points
2 M5A1 Stuart 105 points 80 points Company Command 2iC Command
Light Tank Light Tank
Option Company HQ Recovery
Section
• Add M31 TRV recovery vehicle for +10 points or
M32 TRV recovery vehicle for +15 points. Cavalry Tank Company HQ
You must field at least one Cavalry Tank Platoon entirely F Troop is a light tank company under a different name.
equipped with the same model of tank as the Cavalry Tank Armed with M5A1 Stuart (still called a the M3 by old hands),
Company HQ or the new M24 Chaffee, the troop’s high speed allows them
to keep up with the cavalry and lend support where needed.
COMBAT PLATOONS
Cavalry Tank Platoon Lieutenant
Lieutenant
Platoon
415 points 320 points Command Light Tank
5 M24 Chaffee 335 points 255 points
4 M24 Chaffee 250 points 190 points
3 M24 Chaffee
5 M5A1 Stuart 260 points 200 points Sergeant Sergeant
4 M5A1 Stuart 210 points 160 points
3 M5A1 Stuart 155 points 120 points
The light tanks of F Troop are usually the M5A1 Stuart. Light Tank Light Tank
While a tried and true model, the tank has been relegated to
specialist missions where they can exploit gaps in the line. Light Tank Light Tank
The new M24 Chaffee is an excellent replacement for the
M5A1. It combines a powerful 75mm gun with the speed of Tank Section Tank Section
a light tank, making it a deadly new weapon in the Arsenal
of Freedom. Cavalry Tank Platoon
99
BASTOGNE
Volksgrenadiers and their supporting Hetzer tank-hunters assault a US position in an attempt to break into Bastogne.
The glidermen and paratroopers made good use of Bazookas against German panzers such as this tough Panther.
100
Defensive positions were set up all around Bastogne by the 101st Airborne as they fought to hold off German attacks.
The elite infantry of 101st Airborne Division were supported by Sherman tanks and M18 Hellcat tank destroyers.
The German forces attacking Bastogne were well supported with armour, keeping the tank destroyers busy.
101
BASTOGNE
AND THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE
The Germans launched Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein 101st Airborne Division
(Operation Watch on the Rhine, also known as the Ardennes
offensive) on 16 December 1944. Their aim was to punch At the start of the Germans’ Ardennes offensive, the
through the thinly held lines of the US First Army in the 101st Airborne Division was in camp at Mourmelon, France
Ardennes region of Belgium and Luxembourg with their resting and refitting after the hard fought Market Garden
infantry, before unleashing the Panzer divisions to drive campaign and following battles in the Netherlands. On 17
through to the Meuse River. The overall German goal was to December the division was put on alert to go to the front
take the Belgian port of Antwerp, so vital for Allied supplies, and on 18 December they were hurriedly loaded into trucks
and cut off the US Ninth Army, British Second Army and and shipped off to Bastogne.
Canadian First Army in northern Belgium and the southern On arriving in Bastogne on 19 December the first units of
Netherlands. The key to the success of the German plan was the 101st Airborne were thrust into the line to halt the ad-
to quickly cut through the US First Army in the Ardennes. vancing Germans. They were joined by Combat Command
The main thrust towards Antwerp was given to the powerful B of the 10th Armored Division and the 705th Tank
6. Panzerarmee (6th Tank Army) on the northern shoulder Destroyer Battalion. As they set up a defensive perimeter
of the offensive. However, determined defence by the US around Bastogne, they were attacked by 2. Panzerdivision,
1st and 99th Infantry Divisions halted the thrust. In the Panzer Lehr Division, and 26. Volksgrenadierdivision. Battles
central sector, 5. Panzerarmee was more successful against were fought at Wardin, Noville, and Foy (see map on page
the worn and stretched US 28th and inexperienced 106th 6) as the paratroopers pushed out from Bastogne on that
Infantry Divisions. The vital road junctions at the small first day.
town of Bastogne became the focal point of the offensive. By 20 December the 101st Airborne Division had established
All seven of the main roads through the Ardennes converged a defensive perimeter around Bastogne with its four infantry
at Bastogne and the capture of the town would ensure the regiments encircling the town.
continued drive by 5. Panzerarmee towards its objectives.
THE ARDENNES
NETHERLANDS 0 Miles 1 2 3 4
CANADIAN FIRST 0 Kilometres 2 4 6
RHEYDT
ARMY
ANTWERP Albert Canal BRITISH SECOND Allied front, 15 Dec
German advance
ARMY 15. ARMEE
N
BRUSSELS LOUVAIN Rhine
Roer River
MASSTRICHT COLOGNE
US NINTH DÜREN BONN
ARMY AACHEN Hürtgen Forest
BELGIUM LIÈGE EUSKIRCHEN
HUY Meuse River
EUPEN Roer River REMAGEN
VERVIERS Dams
6. PANZER-
CHARLEROI NAMUR MONSCHAU ARMEE GERMANY
SPA
Meuse River MALMÉDY 277. VGD KOBLENZ
Ourthe River WERBOMOSNTTATVREOLOISTPONATmSblèveBÜRTivGeErNBACH 12. VGD
DINANT
GIVET MARCHE-EN- BARAQUE DE ST. VITH BLEIALF Mosel River
FAMENNE FRAITURE LÜTZKAMPEN
ROCHEFORT LE ROCHE 5. PANZER-
19TH DEC
US FIRST ARMEE
ARMY 101ST AB BITBERG 7. ARMEE
BASTOGNE 26. VGD
28TH ID VIANDEN
NEUFCHÂTEAU ETTELBRUCK DIEKIRCH
FRANCE MEZIERES LUXEMBOURGMERSCH ECHTERNACH The large red arrows
TRIER show the planned German
direction of attack.
102
The Siege Patton breaks through to Bastogne BASTOGNE AND THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE
With a strong perimeter established, particularly in the While the paratroopers and glidermen were holding tena-
north and east, the German XLVII Panzerkorps commander, ciously to their positions around Bastogne, General Patton’s
General von Lüttwitz, decided to circle around Bastogne and Third Army, spearheaded by the 4th Armored Division’s
strike a blow from the south and southwest on the night 37th Tank Battalion (commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel
of 20/21 December with his two panzer divisions. The Creighton Abrams), had finally broken through to Bastogne.
Germans initially penetrated into the lines in the southwest, They reached the lines of the 326th Airborne Engineer
but an ad-hoc American counterattack force threw back the Battalion on 26 December. Communications and supplies
attack. However, all the roads in and out of Bastogne had were quickly restored.
been cut by the Germans and the town was surrounded. Without the benefit of rest, the 101st Airborne Division,
With Bastogne surrounded, the Panzer divisions continued immediately joined the attack. After many more days of
on towards the Meuse River, leaving behind a regiment to hard fighting they finally pushed the Germans back. On
support the 26. Volksgrenadierdivision in capturing Bastogne. 17 January the 101st Airborne had reached the positions they
26. Volksgrenadierdivision and its support probed the southern had occupied on 19 December, when the division had first
and western sectors of the American perimeter. Because the arrived at Bastogne. The following day the 101st Airborne
Germans didn’t launch a concerted attack against several Division was relieved.
sectors at once, the 101st Airborne Division was able to
concentrate its supporting armour and artillery against each The Allies push back the Germans
attack as it came, moving them about as they were needed.
Continuous attacks had exhausted 26. Volksgrenadierdivision The German offensive had ground to a halt, but had pushed
by 23 December. On 24 December they received a much a large salient into the Allied lines. To destroy the salient,
needed boost in the form of a panzergrenadier regiment from Patton’s Third Army attacked north, while Montgomery’s
15. Panzergrenadierdivision. The Germans then attacked American and British forces, to the north, struck south in
the positions of the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment on the early January. The two forces planned to meet at Houffalize.
western section of the perimeter on Christmas Day. Initially Progress was slow in the winter conditions and the majority
the attack was successful and the panzergrenadiers and tanks of the German forces were able to escape the salient. The fuel
got as far as Hemroulle, where the 327th Regiment had its situation had become so bad for the Germans that most of
3rd Battalion (formally the 1st Battalion, 401st Glider Infantry their panzers had to be abandoned. St Vith wasn’t recaptured
Regiment) command post. The German panzers leading by the Americans until 23 January and the last German units
the assault split into two columns and continued on. One participating in the offensive hadn’t returned to their start
column was immediately ambushed by two M18 Hellcats lines until 25 January.
of the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion before Champs. The Hitler’s ambitious plan to take Antwerp and destroy three
other column headed for Rolle, where it was hit by another armies had failed and in doing so gave the Americans one of
two M18s. The German assault had been brought to a halt their most triumphant victories of the war.
as the German Panzer IV tanks were knocked out by tank
destroyer and bazooka fire and the German infantry assaults
were held off by the glidermen.
103
SCREAMING EAGLES
101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION IN BASTOGNE
The 101st Airborne Division was formed at Camp Claiborne, How prepared each unit of the 101st Airborne Division was
Louisiana on 15 August 1942. By the time the division saw depended greatly on the initiative of the commander and
its first combat on 6 June 1944 the men of the ‘Screaming the men. Not every man was able to grab their weapons or
Eagles’, named for the emblem on their shoulder patch, had enough ammunition.
undergone extensive and intense training in the United States Lieutenant-Colonel John T. Cooper of the 463rd Parachute
and United Kingdom. Having acquitted themselves well and Field Artillery Battalion had the forethought to redirect his part
played an important role in securing the Normandy beach- of the column through the ammunition dump at Mourmelon,
heads, the division was next dropped on the Netherlands where he got his men to grab as much ammunition for their
during Operation Market Garden. Once again they fought 75mm pack howitzers as they could carry. The 63rd Parachute
with distinction, securing 17 Miles (28km) of road stretching Field Artillery Battalion Italy Veterans temporarily attached
from Eindhoven to Grave Bridge, keeping ‘Hell’s Highway’, as to the division while waiting for the 17th Airborne to arrive in
it became known, open for the British troops of 30 Corps. France. Other units were less well prepared and took weapons
and ammunition off US riflemen as they encountered them
101st Airborne head for Bastogne retreating from Bastogne. Ammunition was also supplied by
the 10th Armored Division’s Combat Command B (CCB),
As the size and success of the initial attacks by the German which had arrived at the front the day before the airborne
divisions in the Ardennes became clear, the 101st Airborne division.
Division was put on alert at their camp in Mourmelon, As well as an initial shortage of weapons and ammunition,
France on 17 December 1944. The division quickly set the division was also without their commander, Major-
about calling men back from leave, including a number of General Maxwell Taylor, who was away in Paris. Instead, the
commanders, as well as organising the re-issuing of arms division was commanded by General Anthony McAuliffe,
and ammunition. Transport was hastily arranged and the the division’s second in command.
paratroopers and glidermen were loaded onto trucks on
18 December and moved off to the front.
BASTOGNE 19 TO 25 DECEMBER
NOVILLE 2. Pz.
10th AD.
BOURCY
Team Desobry 2. Pz.
HERBAIMONT 26. VGD. LONGCHAMPS 501st PIR.
21-25 DEC 19-20 DEC
CHAMPS FOY
FLAMIERGE FLAMIZOULLE 502nd PIR. ROLLE 26. VGD.
19 DEC HEMROULLE 18-20 DEC
26. VGD. 26. VGD.
TO WILTZ
101ST AB. 15. PzGR. 506th PIR.
19 DEC 24-25 DEC 19 DEC 26. VGD.
MANDE-ST- 327th GIR. LUZERY BIZORY MAGERET
ÉTIENNE 19 DEC 501st PIR. Hill 510
ISLE-LA-HESSE BASTOGNE MONT NEFFE 26. VGD.
SENONCHAMPS 501st PIR. 501st PIR.
19 DEC 19 DEC
326th AEB. 501st PIR. Pz. LEHR
19 DEC 19 DEC 10th AD.
28th ID.
Team O’Hara WARDIN
Pz. LEHR
MARVIE
Hill 500
26. VGD. ASSENOIS
PZ. LEHR
N
0 Miles 1 2 3 4
4 6
0 Kilometres 2
104
SCREAMING EAGLES
The Division arrives in Bastogne there. However, as I Company entered Wardin, troops of
Team O’Hara, CCB, 10th Armored Division could be seen
After driving through the night, the division arrived at moving towards Bastogne along a ridgeline to the southwest.
Bastogne on 19 December 1944. As the 101st Airborne The roadblock troops had left.
Division arrived, the units were pushed forward to establish The reason soon became clear as a force of tanks and infantry
the extent of the German advance and to set up a perimeter fromtheGermanPanzerLehrDivision’s901. Panzergrenadier-
around the town. The first to arrive at the front were the regiment began to attack Wardin. Two German tanks
men of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (501st PIR) knocked out a Team O’Hara tank as they moved into the
and they were soon sent forward through the fog to ‘go out village. I Company managed to knock out two tanks with
and find the enemy’. The 1st Battalion moved out first and their bazookas before the Germans overran the village and
expected to find the enemy near the village of Margeret. As forced the company to retreat back towards Mont.
they advanced, they met scattered groups of men from the As the rest of 3rd Battalion moved into Mont, they directed
28th Infantry Division retreating back towards Bastogne. patrols toward Neffe, which they soon discovered was well
Leading them forward were the jeep-mounted men of the and truly infested with Germans. As G Company probed
divisional recon. As they rounded a corner near the village towards Neffe, they joined with Team ‘Cherry’ of the
of Neffe, all hell broke loose. The recon jeeps had been 10th Armored Division who had been pushed out of Neffe.
ambushed by a German tank and some infantry. Following The battalion decided to pull back and set up their defence
behind the recon was B Company, 1st Battalion. They quickly at Mont.
sent forward some bazooka men and let off a volley towards To anchor the 501st PIR’s right flank, A and C Companies,
the tank, which halted and was then eventually knocked out. 1st Battalion, 327th Glider Infantry Regiment (327th GIR)
B Company and the battalion headquarters behind them were sent forward to join the paratroopers.
quickly spread out and deployed in defensive positions.
At 1000 hours, the rest of the regiment left Bastogne to join Noville
the 1st Battalion near Neffe. 2nd Battalion moved just north
of Neffe to Bizory with the aim of taking Mageret from Team Desobry, CCB, 10th Armored Division had been
that direction. They were halted quickly by the German holding the village of Noville, northeast of Bastogne, since
26. Aufklärungs Abteilung, 26. Volksgrenadierdivision who the evening of 19 December collecting stragglers from the
had already entrenched on top of Hill 510 overlooking the 28th Infantry Division and 9th Armored Division to help
road from Bizory. However, when the Volksgrenadiers con- hold the positions.
tinued their advance, they were caught in an artillery barrage Shortly after daybreak on 19 December Major William
from the 907th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, forcing the Desobry was told his team would soon be joined by the
Germans back to their positions on Hill 510. 1st Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (506th
PIR) at Noville. Desobry had been concerned that his posi-
Wardin tions at Noville were overlooked by high ground on three
sides and had wanted to withdraw. With this news, he sent
The 3rd Battalion, 501st PIR advanced towards Mont, south- a jeep to pick up the parachute battalion’s commander,
west of Neffe, but didn’t arrive until after mid-day due to Lieutenant-Colonel James LaPrade, so they could work
traffic in Bastogne. The 101st Airborne Division became out where to position the paratroopers when they arrived.
tangled with other US units retreating from the German on- LaPrade informed Desobry that many of his men were short
slaught. Once the battalion had arrived in Mont, I Company, of weapons and ammunition. Desobry quickly organised
the battalion’s southern flank guard, was sent forward to equipment to be placed along the road to Noville so the
check the three wooded areas before Wardin. Once reported paratroopers could arm themselves as they arrived.
clear, the company was then ordered to move into Wardin
and make contact with a supposed US roadblock established
105
On arriving at about 1400 hours, the companies of the bat- Second day of fighting in Noville
talion set about securing the high ground around Noville.
B Company was to take the high ground on the northeastern As 20 December dawned, with the ever-present fog, the
flank, C Company the wooded ridgeline on the eastern flank, Germans continued the assault on Noville. Initially, they
and A Company was positioned between them in reserve. sent their tanks against the paratroopers of the 1st Battalion,
Preceded by artillery fire and supported by the tanks of Team 506th PIR in Noville. The fire of the paratroopers along
Desobry, the paratroopers attacked the high-ground. The fog with the men of Team Desobry, and supporting fire of the
periodically lifted, allowing LaPrada and Desobry, observing 321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion, kept the Germans at
from Noville, to see the progress of the attack. Desobry was bay.
particularly impressed by the aggressive and speedy advance The Germans then split into two forces, one headed north
of the paratroopers. around Noville, while the second headed south. The southern
As the paratroopers of B Company reached the top of the probe was halted by the 2nd Battalion, 506th PIR at Foy and
heights, they ran into a German attack led by the tanks the 2nd Battalion, 501st PIR south of them. The German
of 3. Panzerregiment, 2. Panzerdivision. The Germans had thrust to the north was more successful. By noon, German
chosen that very moment to launch their attack on Noville. patrols had started to cut the road between Noville and Foy.
After two hours of fighting, the two commanders decided it The 1st Battalion, 506th PIR had also lost direct contact with
would be better to defend from the buildings of Noville and the regimental HQ and was relaying messages through the
ordered the paratroopers to withdraw. The fog continued to artillery observer’s radio link with the 321st Glider Field
play an important role, allowing the paratroopers to conduct Artillery Battalion. They were in danger of being cut off.
their fighting withdrawal with some concealment, as well as The situation had also become critical in the front line. With
letting the M18 Hellcat tank destroyers of Team Desobry casualties mounting, radio operators and clerks from the
pick off the panzers as the fog regularly rose and fell. HQ were sent to the companies to plug the gaps.
As the troops withdrew into Noville, LaPrade called a The order finally arrived from the regimental HQ to withdraw
meeting of his company commanders. Just after the meeting at 1315 hours. The German attack to the south had begun
had broken up, an enemy artillery shell hit the building to gain ground, further threatening to isolate the battalion
housing the battalion command post, killing Lieutenant- at Noville. Major Harwick ordered the withdrawal at 1330
Colonel LaPrade and seriously wounding Major Desobry. hours. C Company and four Sherman tanks from Team
However, the battalion’s executive officer, Major Robert F. Desobry, some crewed by paratroopers, were to move back
Harwick, had just arrived in Noville, after making his way first to the high ground to the east of Foy to cover the with-
on foot from Bastogne, and was able to take command. drawal of the rest of the force. The rear guard was formed by
The battle raged around Noville as the Germans continued the tank destroyers and A Company. 3rd Battalion, 506th PIR
to pound the village with artillery. Panzers continued to would counterattack Foy, which was still largely in German
probe forward, but the tank destroyers kept them at bay. hands, to cover the withdrawal.
The paratroopers and armoured troops still held the village The US column left Noville behind, with the wounded
as night fell. carried on half-tracks, jeeps and trucks, and the paratroop-
The 506th PIR deployed around Foy, southwest of Noville, on ers and armored infantry on foot beside them. It wasn’t
its arrival in Bastogne and dug-in on the high ground. The long before C Company ran into German roadblocks. The
502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment (502nd PIR) deployed Germans had taken up positions along the road in houses,
behind the 506th PIR, north of Bastogne around Champs. barns and woods. Fighting flared up all along the road as
The 327th GIR covered the northwestern approaches to the column encountered German positions. As the fire from
Bastogne around Mande St. Etienne, while the 326th the Germans intensified, the paratroopers moved off to the
Airborne Engineer Battalion covered the south. As the men west side of the road to utilise a natural depression where the
set up their defensive perimeters and settled in for the night, Germans couldn’t see them. Eventually, as the 3rd Battalion
they could hear the sound of fighting off to the east. attacked in the opposite direction, the 1st Battalion finally
During the evening, the 101st Airborne Division suffered its made it back to their lines. Of the 600 men who had entered
first major blow when their Field Hospital at Herbaimont Noville, less than 400 made it back to Foy.
was captured by German troops circling around Bastogne.
Among those captured was Major Desobry of CCB, 10th Establishing the Front Line
Armored Division.
The US positions near Foy had also been under attack from
2. Panzerdivision during the day, which the 3rd Battalion,
106
SCREAMING EAGLES
506th PIR held until ordered to the counterattack in the 21 December
afternoon. The 2nd Battalion, 506th PIR had watched from
the south of Foy, too far away to help, as the other two bat- On 21 December the glidermen of 3rd Battalion, 327th GIR
talions struggled to take Foy. However, they had concerns of continued to patrol aggressively in the west, as the Germans
their own, trying to maintain contact with the 2nd Battalion, began to fully encircle Bastogne. The weather had also made
501st PIR to their south. Contact between the two battal- a turn for the worse. After several days of moderate winter
ions had not been consistent since both had arrived in their conditions, temperatures had dropped sharply and it began
positions. Captain Richard Winters, in acting command of to snow. The haste of the airborne troops’ departure from
the 2nd Battalion, 506th PIR was determined to make sure their camp in France began to take its toll. Many men didn’t
the Germans couldn’t penetrate along the railway line that have greatcoats or overshoes and their only protection from
was the boundary line between the two regiments. He sent the cold and snow were shelter quarters, sleeping bags, and
F Company to clear the Germans from the gap and make blankets.
contact, but the German machine-gun fire halted the para- The glidermen and engineers, with support from the CCR,
troopers’ advance. 9th Armored Division continued to repel attacks from the
The command of the 501st PIR was also concerned about west and south throughout the day.
the gap and sent A Company, 1st Battalion along the railway
line at about 1500 hours to clear the gap of any enemy and Railway Line Gap
take up positions linking the two regiments. At dusk they
made contact with German Volksgrenadiers attempting to There was to be no rest for the 1st Battalion, 506th PIR
filter through the gap and a firefight broke out. The company after their two-day fight at Noville. During the night, the
became pinned down along the railway line and eventually Germans had moved more troops into Foy, as well as a group
pulled back to higher ground with the fall of darkness. of about 200 troops that had penetrated the perimeter along
the railway tracks and pushed into the woods not far from
The South and West the regiment’s command post. The battalion was called on to
push them out. At 0900 hours, A and C Companies set out
In the small hours of 20 December the 2nd Battalion, along the road towards Foy from Luzery. They then turned
327th GIR was sent to Marvie to take up defence there. A road- south into the woods just south of the railway station and
block had been set up by Team O’Hara, CCB, 10th Armored began probing for the enemy positions. They soon found the
Division and had held off a push down the Wiltz-Bastogne well-concealed German position and a firefight broke out.
Road by German troops. As the glidermen began setting up Both companies attacked and soon had the Germans on the
in Marvie, they were attacked by a force of German tanks run, many of whom ran right into the 501st PIR companies
and infantry who had bypassed the armoured troops. The across the railway line, providing the anvil for 506th PIR’s
Germans were eventually halted, but maintained a foothold hammer. By 1600 hours that afternoon, all the infiltrating
in the village, occupying some buildings at its edge. The 1st Germans had been accounted for and the gap between the
Battalion, now reinforced by the arrival of a third company, 506th and 501st Parachute Infantry Regiments had finally
continued to defend positions around Neffe. been cleared. The paratroopers had killed 65 and captured
At Neffe and Mont, the paratroopers of the 501st PIR had 165 men of the 1st Battalion, 77. Volksgrenadierregiment,
to withstand a German night attack at about 1900 hours 26. Volksgrenadierdivision.
on 20 December. The paratroopers raked the advancing
panzergrenadiers of Panzer Lehr Division as they became 22 December
tangled in the barbed wire cattle fences crossing the fields
before Mont. M18 Hellcat tank destroyers took care of the While the fighting had settled down in most sectors, the
Germans’ supporting assault guns. glidermen of A and C Companies, 3rd Battalion, 327th GIR
would spend most of the day in combat. Their fighting
centred around Mande St. Etienne where the Germans had
107
cut the road to Bastogne. After a hard-fought assault, they Requests for resupply resulted in the landing of two sticks
were able to clear the roadblock. The unit was personally of pathfinders on 23 December to set up the landing zone
congratulated by General McAuliffe as he toured the perim- for aerial supply drops. Around 230 C-47 aircraft loads of
eter shortly after the battle. supplies were successfully dropped on or around Bastogne, a
Shortages of food and ammunition became evident through- welcome Christmas present for the besieged airborne troops.
out the day, as did a lack of white camouflage clothing. The
olive green of the US uniforms made a stark contrast against Christmas Eve
the white snow covered terrain. All around the 101st Airborne
Division’s front, patrols were out watching the Germans and The Germans gave no respite for festivities and continued to
waiting for them to make their next move. attack in the Marvie sector into 24 December. None of the
German attacks were successful in dislodging the airborne
Nuts! troops. Around the rest of the Bastogne perimeter things
were quiet, especially compared to the previous few days,
At 1100 hours a delegation of Germans with a white flag ap- broken only by the odd burst of artillery or machine-gun
proached the lines of the 327th GIR. They were met by Staff fire. However, during the night, Bastogne was bombed twice
Sergeant Carl Dickinson of F Company. Once the Germans and the 10th Armored Division aid station was hit.
explained they wanted to deliver an ultimatum, they were
blindfolded and taken to the company command post where Christmas Day
their message was sent on to General McAuliffe in Bastogne.
General McAuliffe was in a deep sleep when Lieutenant- In the west, 3rd Battalion, 327th GIR (401st) was deployed
Colonel Ned D. Moore shook him awake to tell him a around Hemroulle, 1.5 miles (2.4km) northwest of Bastogne.
German delegation had come to take the division’s surrender. Their reconnaissance of the German positions indicated the
Groggy from being awakened suddenly, the General muttered Germans were building up for an attack. The glidermen’s
‘Nuts’ and crawled out of his sleeping bag. After talking over reconnaissance was good. 15. Panzergrenadierdivision had
their response it was decided ‘Nuts’ made an excellent official just been committed to the battle and were about to attack
answer, was typed up and passed on to F Company. After it through their positions towards Bastogne.
was explained to the Germans that the answer meant ‘go to A column of German tanks and assault guns carrying
hell’; they were escorted back to their lines. panzergrenadiers advanced into the lines of the battalion.
The ultimatum called for the division to surrender by 1600 The M18 Hellcat tank destroyer crews of the 705th Tank
hours or the Germans would level Bastogne with heavy artil- Destroyer Battalion let the German tanks pass. The men
lery. It turned out to be a somewhat hollow threat, as after in the defensive line waited patiently while the panzers and
the delivery of General McAuliffe’s response the shelling did riders advanced ahead of more panzergrenadiers on foot
not increase. following behind. The German panzer column was being
followed by the tank destroyers as they approached the glider
23 December battalion’s command post. It was just before dawn when the
glider infantry opened up on the German panzergrenadiers
The following day, the Germans did increase their pressure in an open field before their positions. This signalled the tank
on the positions of the 3rd Battalion, 327th GIR (401st). destroyers to fan out behind the panzers and let loose at their
German infantry and tanks attacked their positions west of vulnerable rear armour. Five German tanks were quickly de-
Mande St. Etienne in the early hours. Determined defence stroyed, three by tank destroyers and two by bazookas.
by the glidermen, timely mortar fire and the support of tanks The German tanks then split into two groups. One group
and tank destroyers kept the Germans at bay. However, by of six Panzer IV tanks headed towards Hemroulle and the
nightfall, some positions had been overrun and the battalion command posts of the 3rd Battalion, 327th GIR (401st),
was forced to withdraw their companies. Paratroopers and 1st Battalion, 502nd PIR and 463rd Parachute Field Artillery
airborne engineers were also heavily engaged around Marvie Battalion, while 12 Panzer IV tanks and StuG assault guns
in the south, forcing the men on Hill 500 to withdraw. went towards Champs.
108
Hemroulle fire, tank destroyers, and the appearance of P-47 fighter- SCREAMING EAGLES
bombers. German infantry soon began to surrender. Though
The Hemroulle column ran into the lines of C Company, the last of the battles with the German tanks had ended by
502nd PIR. The surprise of the attack had C Company on about 0930 hours, one last tank did make a mid-afternoon
the run initially, but they rallied, were joined by two tank appearance from the direction of Bastogne and was knocked
destroyers, and headed back towards the Germans. They out by a bazooka as it headed north through Champs.
reached Hemroulle about 0800 hours and immediately A little further south, around Senonchamps, the line was
attacked. Four German tanks headed north, with German being held by 1st Battalion, 327th GIR, ‘Snafu’ force, made up
infantry scrambling to climb aboard, but the German of surviving members of the 106th and 28th Infantry Divisions,
Panzer IV tanks were quickly knocked out by the tank and some tanks of the 9th Armored Division. They also with-
destroyers. stood attacks during the early hours of Christmas Day.
Another group of German tanks ran afoul of the 463rd
Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, who used flanking shots The Siege is Broken
from their little 75mm M1A1 pack howitzers to knock out
eight Panzer IV tanks when they came under attack. While the 101st Airborne was fighting off the German assaults
from the west, the 4th Armored Division was doing its best
Champs to break through the German encirclement and relieve the
beleaguered airborne troops in Bastogne. On 26 December
At Champs, A Company, 502nd PIR bore the brunt of the Germans continued their pressure on the Bastogne pe-
stopping the main German thrust towards Bastogne. At about rimeter, attacking in the sectors of the 501st PIR, 327th GIR,
0300 hours, the Germans had begun to shell Champs with 502nd PIR and the 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion. It was
artillery before the infantry of 77. Volksgrenadierregiment, a clear day and American P-47s roamed the skies looking for
26. Volksgrenadierdivision began their attack. Initially, the targets, making German attacks that much more difficult.
attack came from the north and the fighting continued By the afternoon, the 4th Armored Division was southwest
until dawn, but the Germans were unable to penetrate the of Bastogne and less than 2 miles (3km) away. Lieutenant-
American line. Continued fighting along the front was Colonel Creighton Abrams decided to send C Company
chaotic with the Germans filtering through the various gaps of his 37th Tank Battalion up the secondary road through
between A Company’s platoons. German tanks also joined Assenois to Bastogne. They punched through Assenois under
the attack, but, as their supporting infantry dwindled away, an artillery barrage, leaving the village to cleared by the fol-
the tanks withdrew. lowing 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion. The direction of their
The enemy then redirected their attack towards Rolle and attack took the Germans by surprise and the tanks smashed
Longchamps. B Company, 502nd PIR set up a roadblock through the German lines. They soon reached the American
with one platoon just south of Champs facing the south line, and after some hesitation, Lieutenant Duane Webster
and the attack coming from the direction of Hemroulle. of the 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion came out to meet
Supported by two tank destroyers, they were able to knock 2nd Lieutenant Charles Boggess of C Company. After intro-
out five German tanks in the encounter and halt the German ductions Webster exclaimed, ‘Glad to see you!’ It wasn’t long
advance north, but at the cost both tank destroyers. The rest before Colonel Abrams was in Bastogne meeting General
of the company pushed on to Longchamps. McAuliffe. Patton’s Third Army had made it to Bastogne at
At dawn, the Germans launched another attack on Champs. 1640 hours on 26 December. The siege was over.
The attack, supported by four tanks, was halted by artillery
4TH ARMORED DIVISION ARRIVES 26 DECEMBER
MANDE-ST- BIZORY MAGERET
ÉTIENNE Hill 510
SENONCHAMPS BASTOGNE
26. VGD. 101st A. BAT.
326th AE. BAT.
VILLEROUX MARVIE
ASSENOIS
Hill 500
15. PzGR.
SIBRET 5. FJD.
REMOIFOSSE
N
4th ARMORED DIVISION 0 Miles 1 2 3 4
4 6
37th TANK BATTALION AND 53rd ARMORED 0 Kilometres 2
INFANTRY BATTALION
26 DEC
109
A COMPAEASNY YCOMOPAFNY HEROES
“‘Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?’ Grandpa said ‘No… but I served in a company of heroes.’”
Dog, Easy, and Fox Companies formed the second battalion The Ardennes
of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) in 1942. The
paratroopers were a new experimental arm in the US Army. After continued fighting in Holland into November, the 101st
Under the instruction of Lieutenant Herbert Sobel, Easy was finally withdrawn to Mourmelon-le-Grand to rest and
Company’s original class of 140 recruits were pushed to refit. They had barely settled into garrison duty when the call
their limit until only the most tough and focused troops came to mount up on trucks and move out. Leaving with only
remained. In September 1943, Easy Company arrived in the the ammo and supplies they had brought with them out of
United Kingdom with the rest of the 101st Airborne Division Holland, the paratroopers were rushed to Bastogne, Belgium.
to prepare for the invasion of France. Easy took up its position on 2nd Battalion’s left flank, just
inside the tree line overlooking the village of Foy. The pe-
Normandy rimeter was far from secure, as Germans and Americans
stumbled into each other’s foxholes in the snow and fog. At
Easy Company landed in Normandy on the night of Bastogne, Easy endured relentless artillery bombardments,
5 June 1944 as a part of Operation Overlord. Like the fought off several German attempts to attack Bastogne, and
other parachute rifle companies, Easy was scattered across battled the elements.
the Normandy countryside during the jump, but quickly Finally, on 9 January, Easy Company launched an attack on
regrouped and distinguished itself knocking by out a battery Foy itself. Easy launched the attack at 0900 hours, crossing
of 105mm howitzers at Brécourt Manor and again during an open field between the woods and the village. The assault
the capture of Carentan. stalled in front of the Germans due to the poor leadership
of Lieutenant Norman Dike who was paralysed with fear.
Holland Dike was quickly replaced by Lieutenant Ronald Speirs who
led the attack forward. Easy overcame the Germans in Foy,
Easy Company returned to England and prepared for their finally securing the town by the afternoon.
next battle. In September 1944, Easy Company jumped into After Foy, Easy joined the rest of the 101st in counterattack-
Holland during Operation Market Garden and, along with ing the Germans and pushing them back into Germany and
the rest of the 101st, worked to secure what would be called on into Austria, but the fight in the Bastogne woods would
Hell’s Highway. Easy’s main battle took place at Nuenen. be remembered as the hardest and coldest battle fought by
Working closely with the British 11th Armoured Division, Easy Company during the war.
the paratroopers fought the 107th Panzer Brigade, finally
ejecting the Germans from the village.
110
CAPTAIN RICHARD WINTERS EASY COMPANY: A COMPANY OF HEROES
Captain Richard Winters is a Higher Command Rifle team with Gammon Bombs rated Fearless Veteran. Winters can be
added to a Parachute Rifle Company (page 114) for +70 points.
Richard Winters joined the paratroopers in August 1942 and Captain Nixon
reported to Easy Company while it was being formed at the
Toccoa training facility. Winters quickly earned the trust of Captain Lewis Nixon was a good friend and confidant of
the men of Easy Company. Winters. Nixon worked closely with Winters to provide Easy
Winters took command of Easy for the first time following Company with the best intelligence possible for the mission
the jump into Normandy, after the company commander at hand. Captain Nixon is modelled on Captain Richard
was killed. He led the company in a bold assault at Brécourt Winters’s team base.
Manor, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service
Cross. In Holland, Winters once again demonstrated his Platoon Command teams from Combat and Weapons
leadership and he was promoted to Captain and, by October, platoons may use the Eyes and Ears rule (found on page
Winters was made the 2nd Battalion’s executive officer. 195 of the rulebook) as though they were Recce teams.
During the Battle of the Bulge Winters kept a close con-
nection with Easy Company. When the hard missions came A Band of Brothers
up he relied on Easy Company to get the job done. At Foy,
for example, Winters carefully monitored Easy’s assault and Under Winters’ leadership, Easy Company pulled together
quickly replaced Dike with Speirs to press home the attack. and fought as a cohesive and professional unit throughout
Winters was highly regarded by the men of Easy and, under the war from France to Germany.
his leadership, the company remained steady under some of
the war’s toughest trials. A Parachute Rifle Company led by Winters may re-roll the
first Company Morale Check that it is required to take if it
fails its first attempt in a game.
Captain Richard Winters and Captain Lewis Nixon. Lieutenant Ronald Speirs’ defiant dash.
LIEUTENANT RONALD SPEIRS
Lieutenant Ronald Speirs replaces the Company Command Carbine team of a Parachute Rifle Company (page 114) for
+45 points. He is a Company Command SMG team with Gammon Bombs rated Fearless Veteran.
As a Lieutenant, Ronald Speirs joined D (Dog) Company I’m here to take over
at Toccoa in 1942. In Normandy, he earned a reputation as
being a cold-blooded killer. Rumours abounded, where in When Lieutenant Norman Dike froze during Easy Company’s
one case Speirs is said to have gunned down several German assault on Foy, Speirs was there to take command and press
prisoners of war. In another instance, Speirs shot one of his home the attack.
own squad leaders for disobeying an order twice which, if
ignored, could have resulted in heavy casualties. The specula- Do not deploy Speirs when you would normally deploy your
tion only served to bolster his reputation as a fearless and Company Command team. Instead, at the beginning of
tough fighter. any of your Starting Steps, when Ambushes are normally
When Captain Winters saw Easy Company’s assault on Foy placed, you may place Speirs within 6”/15cm of any teams
come to a halt due to Lieutenant Norman Dike’s poor lead- of a Parachute Rifle Platoon, and not within 4”/10cm of
ership, he spun around and ordered the first officer to come enemy teams.
into view to go relieve Dike and finish the assault. That man
happened to be Speirs, who instantly sprang into action and Defiant Dash
carried the men to victory through extreme acts of bravery.
After Foy, Speirs officially became the company’s longest During the attack on Foy, not only did Speirs dash through
serving commanding officer during the war and the men the enemy’s position to meet up with I Company on the
took to his leadership well. Speirs remained in command other side, but after linking up with Item Company, he then
until the end of the war. Winters often praised Speirs as one ran back through the enemy to lead Easy’s final assault.
of the best officers in his battalion.
While Speirs is not in Bulletproof Cover, he may re-roll
failed Infantry Saves for each Hit he takes during the op-
ponent’s Shooting Step.
111
FIRST SERGEANT CARWOOD LIPTON
Lipton was one of the four original privates assigned to Easy First Sergeant Carwood Lipton.
Company when it was first formed. He quickly rose through
the ranks to Sergeant and earned the respect of the men of First Sergeant Carwood Lipton replaces the 2iC Command
Easy Company. Carbine team of a Parachute Rifle Company (page 114)
In Normandy, Lipton linked up with Winters and together for +25 points. He is a 2iC Command SMG team with
they prepared for the assault on Brécourt Manor, during Gammon Bombs rated Fearless Veteran.
which he earned a Bronze Star. Following the fighting in
Normandy, Lipton was promoted to First Sergeant of Easy ‘Talk to your Sergeants’
Company.
During the siege of Bastogne, Lipton battled bad morale as As First Sergeant, Lipton had his ear to the ground to help
well as the Germans. The company was led by Lieutenant address the men’s worries and fears.
Dike, an indecisive and disliked commander. Lipton con-
cerned himself with the spirit of the men. He listened to and Combat and Weapons Platoons of a Parachute Rifle
gathered all the complaints and approached Winters with Company joined by Lipton may re-roll failed Platoon
their concerns. Although there was nothing Winters could Morale Checks.
immediately do about Dike, when the assault on Foy faulted,
Winters wasted no time in removing him from command.
Grateful and mindful of Lipton’s command during the
cauldron of the Bulge, Winters secured a battlefield commis-
sion to 2nd Lieutenant for Lipton and he joined the battalion
staff.
PRIVATE EUGENE ROE
Private Eugene Roe.
Eugene Roe, of Bayou Chene, Louisiana enlisted in 1942 Private Eugene Roe may join a Parachute Rifle Company
and became Easy Company’s medic for the duration of the (page 114) for +50 points. He is not a team, but rather a
war. He joined the company in Normandy and Holland, marker.
where he was wounded on 17 September.
During the Ardennes, Roe and the other medics were instru- Always There When Needed
mental in keeping Easy Company’s strength up for fighting,
scrounging medical supplies where they could and seeing to It seemed amazing to the men of Easy that Roe seemed to be
the men’s wounds and ailments. everywhere patching up and evacuating the wounded.
Roe had a particular ability to be wherever he was needed the
most. Easy Company’s Lieutenant Foley recalled: Once per turn, if an Infantry or Man-packed Gun team
“He was there when he was needed and how he got ‘there’ from one of your Combat or Weapons platoons fails its Save,
you often wondered. He never received recognition for his before removing it from play, you may roll a die:
bravery, his heroic servicing of the wounded. I recommended • On a result of 5+ Roe patches up the men and the
him for a Silver Star after a devastating firefight when his Infantry or Man-packed Gun team ignores the failed Save
exploits were typically outstanding. Maybe I didn’t use the and fights on as normal.
proper words and phrases, perhaps Lieutenant Dike didn’t • Otherwise, Roe determines that the men need to be
approve, or somewhere along the line it was cast aside. I don’t evacuated and the team is Destroyed as normal.
know. I never knew except that if any man who struggled in In either case, place Roe’s marker next to that team to
the snow and the cold, in the many attacks through the open remind you that you have used his special rule this turn.
and through the woods, ever deserved such a medal, it was
our medic, Gene Roe.”
112
TOCCOA SERGEANTS EASY COMPANY: A COMPANY OF HEROES
Toccoa Sergeants.
Like most units in many armies, the backbone of Easy Toccoa Sergeants replace any or all Platoon Command teams
Company was its platoon commanders. These men were from Combat and Weapons Platoons of a Parachute Rifle
brave and cunning, giving the men encouraging words in Company (page 114) for +10 points per Toccoa Sergeant.
their own special ways. They are Warrior Command SMG teams with Gammon
By December 1944, many of the platoon leaders of Easy Bombs rated Fearless Veteran.
Company were Toccoa men, that is to say men that had
been with the company since the beginning. These Non- Currahee!
commissioned Officers were essential to the survival of
Easy Company. Names such as ‘Wild Bill’ Guarnere, Don The men of Toccoa ran up and down Mount Currahee three
Malarkey, Joe Toye, John Martin, Denver ‘Bull’ Randelman, to four times a week. “Currahee!”, which translates from
George Luz, Joseph Liebgott, Warren ‘Skip’ Muck, Frank Cherokee as “Stands Alone”, became the 506th Parachute
Perconte, among others, would bolster Easy Company and Infantry Regiment’s battle cry.
see it through the cauldron of Bastogne. Easy Company
could also count on experienced officers such as Lynn ‘Buck’ Combat and Weapons Platoons led by Toccoa Sergeants may
Compton and Harry Welsh to lead platoons. re-roll failed Motivation Tests to rally from being Pinned
Bastogne challenged Easy Company like no other battle, but Down.
it was tight leadership and unfailing comradeship that saw it
through its darkest hour.
CORPORAL DARRELL ‘SHIFTY’ POWERS
Powers joined Easy Company at Camp Toccoa in 1942. An Corporal Darrell ‘Shifty’ Powers.
able hunter, Powers quickly demonstrated his skill with a
rifle, making Expert Rifleman and earning a reputation as Corporal Darrell Powers replaces a Rifle or Rifle/MG team
the company’s best shot. Powers jumped into Normandy and (that is not a Command team) from a Parachute Rifle Platoon
Holland and fought alongside his comrades in the Battle of (page 114) for +15 points. He is a Warrior Rifle team with
the Bulge. Gammon Bombs rated Fearless Veteran.
Like the other men of Easy Company, Powers spent a good
portion of time on the perimeter overlooking Foy. Then Best Shot in the Company
one day, Powers reported to First Sergeant Lipton that he
had spotted a tree that wasn’t there the day before. Lipton ‘You know, it just doesn’t pay to be shootin’ at Shifty when
grabbed a pair of binoculars, but couldn’t see what Shifty he’s got a rifle.’
was talking about. After studying the location for a minute,
Lipton noticed gun barrels, and Shifty’s ‘tree’ turned out to Once per turn, Corporal Powers may re-roll any one failed
be camouflage the Germans were adding to conceal a battery To Hit roll.
of guns. Lipton radioed in the coordinates of Shifty’s ‘tree’ In addition, his rifle has a Firepower rating of 4+, rather
to the artillery and it was quickly wiped out. than the usual 6.
During the battle at Foy, a German sniper had shot three
members of Easy Company before he was located and
pointed out to Powers. Shifty brought his rifle to bear on the
sniper and shot him between the eyes. Many Easy Company
veterans reckoned that Powers saved many lives with his
deadly skills.
113
PARACHUTE RIFLE COMPANY
Infantry Company
Motivation and Skill RELUCTANT CONSCRIPT
CONFIDENT TRAINED
Already veterans of the Normandy and Market Garden campaigns, the paratroopers of the VETERAN
501st, 502nd, and 506th Parachute Infantry Regiments are well used to fighting while sur- FEARLESS
rounded. A Parachute Rifle Company is rated Fearless Veteran.
HEADQUARTERS HEADQUARTERS You must field one platoon from each box shaded black and may field one platoon from each
Parachute Rifle box shaded grey.
Company HQ Support platoons can be of any variant type and do not have to match your company ratings.
116 116
COMBAT PLATOONS INFANTRY WEAPONS PLATOONS115 115 115 115 MACHINE-GUNS SUPPORT PLATOONS ARTILLERY
Parachute Machine- ARMOUR
Parachute Rifle Platoon gun Platoon
INFANTRY Tank Platoon 29 31 130 Parachute Field Artillery 117 123 135
ARTILLERY Light Tank Platoon Battery
Parachute Rifle Platoon Corps Tank Destroyer Glider Field Artillery
INFANTRY Parachute Mortar Platoon Battery
Platoon Armored Field Artillery
ARMOUR Battery
Parachute Rifle Platoon 130 117 117 123 133
Corps Tank Destroyer ARTILLERY
Special Rules Platoon 115 121 119 33 81 133 138 116 139 139
Parachute Field Artillery
A Parachute Rifle Company uses all the US special rules ANTI-TANK Battery
on pages 236 to 240 of the rule book in addition to the Glider Field Artillery
Master Sergeant special rule. Airborne Anti-tank Battery
Platoon Field Artillery Battery
master Sergeant (155mm)
INFANTRY
Parachute missions are tricky and the loss of an officer ARTILLERY
can result in the failure of the mission. Therefore platoon Parachute Rifle Platoon
sergeants are briefed on every detail of the mission in the Glider Rifle Platoon Field Artillery Battery
event their officer is separated from the platoon. Airborne Engineer (155mm)
Combat Platoon
Parachute Rifle, Airborne Divisional Recon, and Airborne Armored Rifle Platoon ANTI-AIRCRAFT
Engineer Combat Platoons use the German Mission Rifle Platoon
Tactics special rules (see page 242 of the rulebook). Anti-aircraft Artillery
RECONNAISSANCE (Self-propelled) Platoon
Airborne Anti-aircraft
Artillery Platoon
AIRCRAFT
Cavalry Recon Platoon 97 132 Air Support
Airborne Divisional Air Observation Post
Recon Platoon
114
HEADQUARTERS PARACHUTE RIFLE COMPANY
Parachute Rifle Company HQ Captain
captain
Headquarters
Company Command Carbine team 2iC Command Carbine team
Company HQ 30 points Company HQ
Options Parachute Rifle Company HQ
• Replace Command Carbine teams with Command
SMG teams for +15 points per team.
• Add up to three Sniper teams for +50 points per team.
All Carbine or SMG teams in the Company HQ carry The company commander of a 101st Airborne Division
Gammon Bombs giving them Tank Assault 3. Parachute Rifle Company is a vastly experienced veteran
of Normandy and Market Garden. His men have complete
faith in him and know his leadership will see them through.
COMBAT PLATOONS
Parachute Rifle Platoon
Platoon
HQ Section and Mortar Squad with: Command Rifle/MG team Bazooka team
3 Rifle Squads 265 points
2 Rifle Squads 205 points
Options Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team
• Replace Command Rifle/MG team with Command Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team M2 60mm
SMG team at no cost. Mortar
• Add Bazooka team for +20 points.
• Replace up to one Rifle/MG team in any or all
Rifle Squads with a Bazooka team for +5 points per
Bazooka team.
• Replace all Rifle/MG teams with Rifle teams for
-10 points per Rifle Squad.
All Rifle, Rifle/MG, and SMG teams in a Parachute Rifle 101st Airborne arrived at Bastogne. Additional weapons were
Platoon carry Gammon Bombs giving them Tank Assault 3. taken from retreating 28th Infantry Division soldiers and
Due to the haste of their departure from Mourmelon camp, found discarded along the roads. Eventually, the platoons
there was a shortage of weapons among the men when the became fully equipped, but some Parachute Rifle Platoons
entered combat without their full complement of weapons.
115
WEAPONS PLATOONS
Parachute
Machine-gun Platoon
Platoon
HQ Section with: Command Carbine team
2 MG Sections 170 points
1 MG Sections 100 points
Option
• Add Bazooka teams for +20 points per team.
A Parachute Machine-gun Platoon may make Combat
Attachments to Parachute Rifle Platoons.
The additional firepower of the paratroopers’ M1919 light
machine-gun proved vital during the defence of Bastogne.
Parachute Mortar Platoon
Platoon
HQ Section with:
2 Mortar Sections 125 points Command Carbine team
1 Mortar Sections 65 points
Option
• Add Bazooka teams for +20 points per team.
German troops continually probed the Bastogne perimeter
for gaps and weak spots. When the Germans attacked, the
paratroopers could quickly call on the mortars to drop a
bombardment where it was needed. When one attack was
broken up, the mortars could quickly turn to await the next
target to present itself.
SUPPORT PLATOONS
Airborne Anti-aircraft Artillery Lieutenant
Platoon
Platoon
HQ Section with: 95 points
50 points
2 Automatic Weapon Sections
1 Automatic Weapon Section
The airborne anti-aircraft artillery platoon is equipped with M2 .50cal M2 .50cal M2 .50cal M2 .50cal
the M2 .50cal AA MG on a light tripod. The tall mount and AA gun AA gun AA gun AA gun
high rate of fire of the gun allows the paratroopers to fill the
sky with deadly .50 cal bullets. Automatic Automatic
Weapons Section Weapons Section
Airborne Anti-aircraft Artillery Platoon
116
Airborne Anti-tank Platoon PARACHUTE RIFLE COMPANY
Platoon
HQ Section with:
4 Gun Sections 145 points Command Carbine team
3 Gun Sections 110 points
2 Gun Sections
75 points
Options M1 57mm (late) gun M1 57mm (late) gun
• Add Jeeps for +5 points for the platoon.
• Add Bazooka teams for +20 points per team.
The M1 57mm anti-tank gun is normally delivered into M1 57mm (late) gun M1 57mm (late) gun
combat in a glider with its crew, but the 101st Airborne
Division arrived in Bastogne by road, with the gun towed Airborne Anti-tank Platoon
by jeeps.
The airborne anti-tank guns played an important role in
defending Bastogne. They offered the paratroopers addition-
al protection from enemy tanks. Positioned along the key
roads into Bastogne, they could hold off German armoured
probes, giving the rest of the airborne forces time to bring
more firepower to bear in the sector.
Parachute Field
Artillery Battery
Platoon
HQ Section with:
4 M1A1 75mm 135 points
2 M1A1 75mm 75 points
Option M1A1 75mm Pack howitzer M1A1 75mm Pack howitzer
• Add 2½-ton trucks for +5 points for the battery.
The 101st Airborne Division took two types of artillery to 2½-ton truck 2½-ton truck
Bastogne, the glider artillery battalions armed with M3 105mm M1A1 75mm Pack howitzer M1A1 75mm Pack howitzer
howitzers, and the parachute artillery of the 377th and
463rd Parachute Field Artillery Battalions armed with M1A1 2½-ton truck 2½-ton truck
75mm pack howitzers. The 463rd Battalion were veterans of the
Italian campaign, having spent some time supporting the US/
Canadian First Special Service Force, before being temporarily
attached to the 101st Airborne Division while waiting for the
17th Airborne Division to arrive from England.
Parachute Field Artillery Battery
117
AIRBORNE ENGINEER COMBAT COMPANY
Infantry Company
Motivation and Skill Glider Troops Parachute Troops
A Glider Airborne Engineer Combat Company is rated RELUCTANT CONSCRIPT RELUCTANT CONSCRIPT
Confident Veteran. CONFIDENT TRAINED CONFIDENT TRAINED
VETERAN VETERAN
A Parachute Airborne Engineer Combat Company is FEARLESS FEARLESS
rated Fearless Veteran.
HEADQUARTERS HEADQUARTERS 119 119 119 119 You must field one platoon from each box shaded black and may field one platoon from each
Airborne Engineer box shaded grey.
Combat Company HQ The Company HQ and Combat Platoons in your force must have the same unit symbol.
Support platoons can be of any variant type and do not have to match your company variant type.
INFANTRY
COMBAT PLATOONS SUPPORT PLATOONS ARTILLERY
ARMOUR
Airborne Engineer Tank Platoon 29 31 130 Parachute Field Artillery 117 123 135
Combat Platoon Light Tank Platoon Battery
Corps Tank Destroyer 130 115 121 116 122 81 Glider Field Artillery 117 123 133
INFANTRY Platoon Battery
Armored Field Artillery 133 138 116 139 139
Airborne Engineer ARMOUR Battery
Combat Platoon
Corps Tank Destroyer ARTILLERY
INFANTRY Platoon
Parachute Field Artillery
Airborne Engineer INFANTRY Battery
Combat Platoon Glider Field Artillery
Parachute Rifle Platoon Battery
Special Rules Glider Rifle Platoon Field Artillery Battery
Parachute Machine- (155mm)
An Airborne Engineer Combat Company uses all the gun Platoon
US special rules on pages 236 to 240 of the rule book in Glider Machine-gun ARTILLERY
addition to the Master Sergeant special rule. Platoon
Rifle Platoon Field Artillery Battery
master Sergeant (155mm)
RECONNAISSANCE
Parachute Rifle and Airborne Engineer Combat Platoons ANTI-AIRCRAFT
use the German Mission Tactics special rules (see page
242 of the rulebook). Anti-aircraft Artillery
(Self-propelled) Platoon
Cavalry Recon Platoon 97 Airborne Anti-aircraft
Artillery Platoon
AIRCRAFT
Air Support
Air Observation Post
118
HEADQUARTERS AIRBORNE ENGINEER COMBAT COMPANY
Airborne Engineer Captain
Combat Company HQ captain
Headquarters Company Command Carbine team 2iC Command Carbine team
Company HQ
Company HQ 15 points 20 points
Airborne Engineer Combat Company HQ
Option
• Replace Command Carbine teams with Command
SMG teams for +15 points per team.
The 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion held the southern 4th Armored Division as they arrived in Bastogne to relieve
approaches around Marvie and were the first to greet the the siege.
COMBAT PLATOONS
Airborne Engineer
Combat Platoon
Platoon
HQ Section and Command Pioneer Rifle team Pioneer Supply Handcart
Weapons Squad with:
170 points 215 points
2 Operating Squads 125 points 155 points
1 Operating Squads 100 points
No Operating Squads 80 points
Options Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer
Rifle team Rifle team Rifle team Rifle team
• Add Bazooka teams for +20 points per team.
Bazooka team Bazooka team
• Add a Pioneer Supply Handcart for +20 points or
Pioneer Supply Jeep and trailer for +25 points.
M1919 LMG teams Pioneer M1919 LMG Pioneer M1919 LMG Bazooka team
Weapons Squad
You may replace any or all Pioneer M1919 LMG teams
with Pioneer Rifle teams at the start of the game before Airborne Engineer Combat Platoon
deployment.
Supply Handcart
During Bastogne, the airborne engineers fought as infantry
where the firepower of their machine-guns proved its worth. A Pioneer Supply Handcart operates as a Pioneer Supply
They could also lay mines and were able to knock out a block Vehicle (see pages 51 and 263 of the rulebook).
house to the south of Marvie with explosives.
119
GLIDER RIFLE COMPANY
Infantry Company
Motivation and Skill RELUCTANT CONSCRIPT
CONFIDENT TRAINED
The 327th Glider Infantry Regiment has been through the campaigns in Normandy and VETERAN
Holland and have gained much experience fighting alongside the Paratroopers. A Glider FEARLESS
Rifle Company is rated Confident Veteran.
HEADQUARTERS HEADQUARTERS You must field one platoon from each box shaded black and may field one platoon from each
Glider Rifle box shaded grey.
Company HQ Support platoons can be of any variant type and do not have to match your company ratings.
COMBAT PLATOONS INFANTRY WEAPONS PLATOONS 122 122 123MACHINE-GUNSSUPPORT PLATOONS ARTILLERY
121 121 121 121 ARMOUR
Glider Rifle Platoon Glider Machine-gun Tank Platoon 29 31 130 Parachute Field 117 123 30
INFANTRY Platoon Light Tank Platoon Artillery Battery
Corps Tank Destroyer Glider Field Artillery
ARTILLERY Platoon Battery
Armored Field Artillery
Glider Rifle Platoon Glider Mortar Platoon ARMOUR Battery
INFANTRY ANTI-TANK
Corps Tank Destroyer ARTILLERY
Glider Weapons Platoon Glider Anti-tank Platoon Platoon 130 117 117 123 133
Parachute Field
Special Rules ANTI-TANK Artillery Battery
Glider Field Artillery
A Glider Rifle Company uses all the US special rules on Airborne Anti-tank Battery
pages 236 to 240 of the rule book. Platoon Field Artillery Battery
(155mm)
INFANTRY
ARTILLERY
133
Field Artillery Battery
Glider Rifle Platoon 121 115 119 33 (155mm) 138 116
Parachute Rifle Platoon
Airborne Engineer 81 ANTI-AIRCRAFT
Combat Platoon
Armored Rifle Platoon Anti-aircraft Artillery
Rifle Platoon (Self-propelled) Platoon
Airborne Anti-aircraft
RECONNAISSANCE Artillery Platoon
Cavalry Recon Platoon 97 AIRCRAFT 139 139
Air Support
Air Observation Post
120
HEADQUARTERS GLIDER RIFLE COMPANY
Glider Rifle Company HQ Captain
captain
Headquarters
Company HQ 15 points
Options Company Command 2iC Command
Carbine team Carbine team
• Replace Command Carbine teams with Command
SMG teams for +15 points per team. Company HQ
• Add up to three Sniper teams for +50 points per team. Glider Rifle Company HQ
The companies of the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment are division, but with lighter weapons especially suited to glider
organised much like the rifle companies of an infantry operations.
COMBAT PLATOONS
Glider Rifle Platoon Lieutenant
Lieutenant
Platoon
Command Rifle team Bazooka team M2 60mm Mortar
HQ Section with:
3 Rifle Squads 225 points
2 Rifle Squads 170 points
Options Sergeant Sergeant
• Replace Command Rifle team with Command SMG Rifle team Rifle team Rifle team Rifle team
team for +5 points.
Rifle team Rifle team
• Replace up to one Rifle team in any or all Rifle Squads Rifle Squad Rifle Squad
with a Bazooka team for +5 points per Bazooka team.
Sergeant
• Replace up to one Rifle team in any or all Rifle Squads
with an M2 .50 cal MG team at no cost.
A Glider Rifle Platoon is organised like a standard US Rifle Rifle team Rifle team Rifle team
Platoon. They are armed with M1 Garand semi-automatic Rifle Squad
rifles with additional squad firepower coming from the
Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). Glider rifle platoon
Platoons often have more than one Bazooka, as soldiers have
a way of acquiring extra weapons. During the defence of machine-guns from abandoned US half-tracks and pressed
Bastogne the glidermen acquired a number of M2 .50 cal them into service as part of their defensive firepower.
Glider Weapons Platoon
Platoon
HQ Section with:
LMG and Mortar Sections 95 points Command Carbine team
A Glider Weapons Platoon may make Combat Attachments M1919 LMG M1919 LMG M2 60mm M2 60mm
to Glider Rifle Platoons. Mortar Mortar
For additional support, the Glider Weapons Platoon provides
the glidermen with Browning M1919 light machine-guns
and M2 60mm mortars. The light machine-guns are ideal
additional firepower in both attack and defence. They are
light enough to be moved about the battlefield as required,
as are the 60mm mortars. The mortars can provide both sup-
porting bombardments and deadly direct fire.
121
WEAPONS PLATOONS
Glider Machine-gun Platoon
Platoon
HQ Section with:
4 M1917 HMG 130 points Command Carbine team
2 M1917 HMG 70 points
Option
• Add Bazooka teams for +20 points per team.
M1917 HMG M1917 HMG M1917 HMG M1917 HMG
A Glider Machine-gun Platoon may make Combat
Attachments to Glider Rifle Platoons.
Glider Mortar Platoon
Platoon
HQ Section with:
3 Mortar Sections 155 points Command Carbine team
2 Mortar Sections 110 points
Option
• Add Bazooka teams for +20 points per team.
For airborne units the medium mortar takes on extra im- M1 81mm M1 81mm M1 81mm M1 81mm
portance. These compact weapons can be easily loaded on Mortar Mortar Mortar Mortar
gliders to land with the troops, giving the glidermen readily
available artillery as soon as they land.
In Bastogne, while not an airborne operation, they still played
an important role in the defence of the town and its impor-
tant crossroads. The glider mortar crews broke-up a number
of attacks on the western flank of Bastogne. Whether using
high-explosive rounds or smoke, they provided vital support
for the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment’s line of defence.
122
Glider Anti-tank Platoon GLIDER RIFLE COMPANY
Platoon
HQ Section with: 100 points Command Carbine team
65 points
3 M1 57mm (late)
2 M1 57mm (late)
3 M3 37mm 70 points
2 M3 37mm 50 points
Options Anti-tank gun Anti-tank gun
• Add Jeeps for +5 points for the platoon.
• Add Bazooka teams for +20 points per team.
The glider anti-tank units of the 327th Glider Rifle Regiment Anti-tank gun
were initially armed with M3 37mm anti-tank guns, as they
would fit in a glider for air landing. By Bastogne, some Glider Anti-tank Platoon
platoons had been issued with the harder-hitting M1 57mm
gun. As well as better anti-tank capability, the 57mm gun
has also just been issued a high-explosive round.
Glider Field Artillery Battery
Platoon
HQ Section with:
6 M3 105mm 210 points
3 M3 105mm 115 points
Option
• Add Jeeps for +5 points for the battery.
The 321st and 907th Glider Field Artillery Battalions were M3 105mm light howitzer M3 105mm light howitzer
armed with the M3 105mm light howitzer. The battalions
supported the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, as well as the M3 105mm light howitzer M3 105mm light howitzer
Parachute Infantry Regiments.
The M3 105mm howitzer offers good punch in a light-weight M3 105mm light howitzer M3 105mm light howitzer
package. While its bombardment range is not as good as a
standard M2A1 field howitzer, but it makes up for that with
superior mobility and its ability to be transported by glider.
During the siege of Bastogne, the glider artillerymen ran low
of M3 ammunition, so they resorted to using M2A1 ammu-
nition scrounged up by their ammunition and supply men.
However, they had to reduce the number of powder charges
from seven to three to avoid damaging their howitzers.
Glider Field Artillery Battery
123
2ND RANGER BATTALION
In the Hürtgen Forest
After the Ranger’s heroic actions at Point du Hoc and in November, the Rangers held portions of the line and endured
the fortified city of Brest, the Rangers were released from an ungodly amount of artillery barrages, which devastated
combat duty and given time to rest and recuperate. On 26 their ranks.
September, the 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions moved to Arlon, On 2 December, the Battalion moved into position in the
Belgium, where they began training exercises, brought the Hürtgen Forest to prepare for their next mission. The severely
units’ replacements up to speed, and welcomed back Rangers depleted battalion had companies at platoon strength, but the
who were wounded in Northern France. On 1 November, the men did not lose spirit and were prepared when they were
time for rest came to an end as Colonel Rudder’s 2nd Rangers ordered to take and hold Bergstein and the daunting Hill 400.
moved into the Hürtgen Forest.
Rangers in Bergstein
Into the Hürtgen Forest
On 6 December, the battalion was ordered to secure Bergstein.
As the Allies closed in on Germany, they came up against Able, Baker, and Charlie companies were tasked with securing
Hitler’s Siegfried Line. This line of defences guarded a defensive perimeter around the town, with one platoon
Germany’s industrial Ruhr region and were staunchly of Charlie Company and the 81mm mortars in reserve.
defended. Two platoons of C Company of the 893rd Tank Destroyer
By November, the American 12th Army Group had to cross Battalion, 8th Infantry Division’s 56th Field Artillery Battalion
the Roer River, but they first needed to secure two major were also assigned to this attack. Meanwhile, Captain Slater,
dams on the river. If these were blown, the resulting flood leading Dog, Easy, and Fox Companies, prepared for an
would halt Allied offensives for many months. The fastest assault on the nearby Hill 400. The attack would begin at
route through was the Hürtgen Forest, a formidable stretch 0800 hours on 7 December.
of thick woods, defensible towns, and towering hills. Shortly after these orders were cut, Colonel Rudder delivered
However, unbeknownst to the Allies, the Germans also devastating news for the battalion. He was to be transferred to
greatly desired this region because they needed it for their the 28th Infantry Division as regimental commander. Rudder
up coming Ardennes offensive. It would be a hotly contested immediately promoted Captain Williams to Major and put
piece of terrain in the coming months. During the course of him in command of the battalion.
HÜRTGEN FOREST 28 NOVEMBER TO 3 DECEMBER Bergstein and Castle Hill
were defended by the 2nd
Key GEY Battalion, 980th Regiment of
GROSSHAU 272. Volksgrenadierdivision.
US Attacks These men were led by
US Front Line Captain Adolf Thomae,
German Front Line who had already received
a Knights Cross award
8 ID KLEINHAU UNTERMAUBACH for his efforts in holding
CCR 5 AD Bergstein up to then.
29 NOV Captain Thomae had a
large reserve of artillery
HÜRTGEN 8 ID. for support, more than 36
CCR 5 AD pieces could be called upon
at any time to bombard the
3 DEC US forces.
8 ID BRANDENBURG The Assault on
CCR 5 AD Castle Hill
28 NOV BERGSTEIN
CASTLE HILL As the Rangers proceeded
N to their jump-off point
with rain soaked uniforms
GERMETER and equipment, Rudder
said his final goodbyes to
28 ID VOSSENACK the men. At 0540 hours, 7
4 DEC December, the assault force
for Hill 400 moved out.
0 Miles 1 2 3 4 KOMMERSCHEIDT Easy Company secured the
4 6 SCHMIDT
0 Kilometres 2
124
eastern section of Bergstein and Fox and Dog companies Then the Germans began calling all the artillery they had 2ND RANGER BATTALION
slipped through to the foot of the hill. German artillery began down on the Rangers. Even veteran Rangers fell victim to this
to rain down and the battle was now on. bombardment as the men scrambled to whatever cover they
The Rangers of Fox and Dog Companies took cover behind could find. At 0830 hours, the capture of the hill was reported
the embankment of a sunken road. They had to cross an open to headquarters. The Rangers assumed defensive positions
field, about 75 yards long, before reaching the forested area, and anxiously awaited help on the hill, while the German
where the German machine-guns were waiting. Nevertheless artillery continued to pound their hard-won summit.
they had to go.
German artillery disrupted the jump-off assault, and the The Germans Counterattack
Rangers hesitated. Lieutenant Howard Kettlehut, an attached
observer from the 56th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, The Germans desperately wanted Castle Hill back and this
called for counterbattery fire, but the German fire was re- led to a serious buildup for a major counterattack. A battal-
lentless. The Rangers knew that the ground would have to be ion of the crack Fallschirmjäger Regiment 6 was committed
crossed before more enemy fire could be zeroed in on them. and, at 0930 hours on 8 December, the first wave of 150
Private First Class Bouchard volunteered to scout out a way paratroopers attacked. Stripped of cover due to the intense
through, but he was shot and had to be dragged back. With shelling of the hill, the German attack was stopped when
the German bombardment drawing closer, Sergeant McHugh Staff Sergeant Secor of Dog Company spoiled the assault and
of Fox Company raised his Thompson submachine-gun and chased the Germans down the hill.
cried. “Let’s go get the bastards!” A scouting party found that the Germans were preparing to
All of the Rangers sprang forward charging and firing from attack up the left side of the hill. Sergeant Petty rushed into
the hip as they ran up the hill. The Germans fired with several the bunker being used as a first aid station and gathered all
machine-guns on the hill in a well-concealed bunker. The the wounded who could still handle a weapon. Lieutenant
crews of these either died manning their guns or surrendered Rowland was seen among them encouraging the men. When
as the Rangers overwhelmed them. Dog Company charged the Germans attacked the only things standing in their way
further up the hill and over, where they began to dig fighting were eight Fox Company Rangers who put up a fight. The
positions. German attack went to ground.
Continued on page 129...
RANGER SPECIAL RULES
A Ranger Battalion uses all of the normal US special rules found in the rulebook on pages 236-240. In addition, they also
use the following special rules.
Know the Mission: Ranger Platoons use the German Rangers Lead The Way: Ranger Infantry teams may
Mission Tactics special rule (see page 242 of the rulebook). move At the Double (using the Truscott Trot) through
Get Tough!: Ranger Infantry teams hit on a roll of 2+ in Slow Going and Difficult Going (but not through Obstacle
an assault. fortifications).
No Obstacle Too Tough: Ranger Infantry and Man- I Shall Never Fail My Comrades: Ignore the first
packed Gun teams are Mountaineers (see page 61 of the Destroyed Ranger Platoon, Ranger Mortar Platoon, or
rulebook). Ranger Cannon Platoon in a Ranger Battalion when deter-
mining whether it is necessary to take a Company Morale
Check.
125
RANGER BATTALION
Infantry Company
HEADQUARTERS HEADQUARTERS You must field one platoon from each box shaded black and may field one platoon from each
box shaded grey.
COMBAT PLATOONS Ranger Battalion HQ INFANTRY 127 127 127 SUPPORT PLATOONS ARTILLERY
INFANTRY 127 127 127 127 128 ARMOUR
Ranger Company Ranger Company Tank Platoon 29 130 Armored Field 135 132
INFANTRY INFANTRY Corps Tank Destroyer Artillery Battery
Platoon Field Artillery Battery
Ranger Company Ranger Company 97 130 135 132
INFANTRY INFANTRY RECONNAISSANCE ARTILLERY
Ranger Company Ranger Company Cavalry Recon Platoon Armored Field
Ranger Mortar Platoon Corps Tank Destroyer Artillery Battery
Platoon Field Artillery Battery
33 81 132 133
INFANTRY ARTILLERY
138 139 139
Armored Rifle Platoon Field Artillery Battery
Rifle Platoon Field Artillery Battery
(155)
ANTI-AIRCRAFT
AIRCRAFT
Anti-aircraft Artillery
(Self-propelled) Platoon Air Support
Air Observation Post
126
Motivation and Skill RELUCTANT CONSCRIPT RANGER BATTALION
CONFIDENT TRAINED
The Rangers are a highly motivated and experienced assault force. While starting off as VETERAN
raiders, the Rangers have developed into the US Army’s elite shock force, and are given its FEARLESS
most difficult and demanding missions. A Ranger Battalion is rated as Fearless Veteran.
HEADQUARTERS
Ranger Battalion HQ Colonel or Major
Colonel or Major
Headquarters
Battalion HQ 15 points
Options Battalion HQ
Ranger Battalion hq
• Replace Command Carbine team with a Command
SMG team for +10 points.
• Add up to two M1917 HMG teams for +35 points
per team.
• Add up to three Sniper teams for +50 points per team.
A period of rest and recuperation has left the 2nd Ranger Division’s Combat Command R, and seize the nearby Hill
Battalion in good shape, with new recruits trained to a high 400.5, known to the troops as Castle Hill.
standard and many veterans refreshed and recovered from The Ranger Battalion is a light infantry force with its own
their wounds from Normandy and France. machine-guns and mortars. It relies on the support of the
In the Hürtgen Forest the 2nd Ranger Battalion’s mission is to nearby armoured and infantry units to achieve its mission,
move from village of Bergstein, secured by the 5th Armored as well as its tremendous fighting spirit!
COMBAT PLATOONS
Ranger Company Captain
Captain
Company Captain
2 Ranger Platoons 400 points Command Rifle team M2 60mm mortar
1 Ranger Platoon 200 points
Options Sergeant Sergeant
• Replace all Rifle teams in either or both Ranger Rifle team Rifle team Rifle team Rifle team
Platoons with Rifle/MG teams for +20 points per
platoon.
• Replace either or both Command Rifle or Rifle/MG
teams with Command SMG teams at no cost.
Ranger Platoons operate as separate platoons, each with Rifle team Rifle team
their own command team. Ranger Section Ranger Section
Ranger platoon
Lieutenant
At the start of the game before Deployment you may replace Lieutenant
Rifle or Rifle/MG teams (aside from the Command team)
in each Ranger Platoon as follows: Command Rifle team M2 60mm mortar
• Replace up to two teams with Bazooka teams.
• Replace M2 60mm mortar with a Rifle or Rifle/MG Sergeant Sergeant
team (matching whichever the platoon is equipped with).
Rifle team Rifle team Rifle team Rifle team
The Rangers are specialist assault troops and can adapt their
weaponry and equipment as the mission dictates. On some Rifle team Rifle team
occasions the light weight of the Browning Automatic Rifle Ranger Section Ranger Section
(BAR) has advantages over the increased firepower of the
M1919.30 cal light machine-gun. Bazookas and M2 60mm Ranger platoon
mortar were also available as needed.
ranger Company
127
Ranger Mortar Platoon
Platoon
HQ Section with: 175 points
125 points
6 M1 81mm
4 M1 81mm 65 points
2 M1 81mm
6 M2 60mm 160 points Mortar Mortar Mortar Mortar
4 M2 60mm 115 points
2 M2 60mm
60 points
Option Mortar Mortar
• Upgrade Command Carbine team to Command
RANGER MORTAR PLATOON
SMG team for +10 points.
Each Ranger battalion has six M1 81mm and six M2 60mm
mortars in its headquarters arsenal. When needed, one of the
battalion’s companies would operate the mortars in support
of the operation.
2ND RANGER BATTALION, HÜRTGEN FOREST 6 TO 10 DECEMBER
Key
US Attacks
US Front Line
German Counterattacks
German Front Line
8 ID BRANDENBURG
CCR 5 AD
3 DEC
2ND RB BERGSTEIN
6 DEC
2ND RB CASTLE HILL
7 DEC
28 ID
4 DEC
272 VGD
6 DEC
N
0 Miles 1 2
0 Kilometres 2
1
Refighting the Hürtgen Forest
The Battles of the Hürtgen Forest raged between 19 September 1944 and 10 February 1945. Here the US Army fought
the longest battle of its history and faced determined German resistance. It it was fought by the US 1st, 4th, 8th, 9th, 28th,
83rd, 99th and 104th Infantry Divisions, the 3rd and 5th and Armored Divisions, as well as the 2nd Ranger Battalion and the
82nd Airborne Division. You can represent these forces by fielding any of the US Companies found in this book.
128
2ND RANGER BATTALION 2ND RANGER BATTALION
In the Hürtgen Forest (Continued)
Continued from page 125... they approached. These noises helped the Rangers pinpoint
In a moment of heroism, Lieutenant Rowland charged at where the enemy was. As the Germans approached targets
them yelling, ‘If you gotta go, you gotta go!’ Rowland was were plentiful for the Rangers and the handful of them left fu-
shot down before he reached the Germans, leaving Sergeant riously fought the approaching Germans for over three hours.
Petty in command of Fox Company with about a squad of The Germans were using the bunker at the top of the hill
men fit to fight. as their objective and once they got close Lieutenant Wintz
Then Sergeant Petty and another Ranger saw a group of ordered in artillery barrage through Lieutenant Kettlehut.
Germans trying to flank the Rangers’ positions. They tried The artillerymen smothered the area with shells, silencing the
to cut them off, but Petty was wounded in close combat. The taunting calls of the Germans.
two Rangers retreated towards the bunker as the rest of Fox While this was happening the Germans again attacked Able,
Company covered them. Exhausted, Petty’s command passed Baker, and Charlie Companies in the town. Again Lieutenant
to Sergeant Stein of Dog Company. Once Petty received Kettlehut called in artillery, and added in another 17 bat-
medical treatment he headed down the hill to see if he could talions, including guns as large as 240mm. The bombard-
secure aid for his men on the hill. ment tore up and terrorized the Luftwaffe and Heer troops
By then only about 20 able-bodied men were left on Castle fighting near Castle Hill and in Bergstein. But once more, the
Hill. At 1450 hours another German attack came but was Germans attacked up the hill. This time they were pinned by
repelled with the use of artillery. As darkness approached, artillery fire, and were forced to regroup before making one
rain fell on the Rangers as they kept a very close watch. Six final assault.
more tank destroyers arrived in Bergstein the next day and The final German assaults on Castle Hill attempted to set
were assigned to Able, Baker, and Charlie Companies. a trap by sending two groups to flank the Rangers while
As the morning of 9 December broke on the hill, several sending forward one man under the white flag of surren-
officers brought a much needed resupply up to the defending der. This plan was foiled by Private Moss who observed the
men. In addition, they brought the forward artillery observer Germans orchestrating their plan and artillery was called in
Lieutenant Kettlehut, who took position in the bunker to to destroy the assault. The Germans retreated and regrouped
provide artillery support. Again the German artillery began and then again attacked one final time but were beaten back
to pound their positions. A heavy machine gun team was sent one last time by fire from Dog, Fox, and Easy Companies.
up the hill to assist the defenders but they were all killed in a On 10 December, the 13th Infantry Regiment arrived to
German attack. relieve the Rangers. As the last Rangers stumbled down the
At 0600 hours another German attack was launched on the hill and were loaded into trucks only then did most realize
hill with a heavy bombardment, followed by an infantry the true price of the battle as most of the trucks where
advance. In the town at 0700 hours another German attack three-quarters empty.
supported by armoured cars was directed at Baker and
Charlie Companies in Bergstein. Enemy self-propelled guns Aftermath
attempted to shoot their way into the town, but were driven
back by the tank destroyers and Rangers. Both American and German dead laid strewn about Castle
By 0850 the attack on the hill was over and only ten Rangers Hill. At the end of the battle some 450 Germans had lost
remained in fighting condition. At 1330 hours the lead their lives at the price of 23 Rangers dead and 86 wounded.
elements of the 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment (8th Even though the Germans knew the importance that Castle
Infantry Division) arrived to relieve the Rangers, but it would Hill represented not even their best efforts could force the
be a while yet before the infantry could be brought up. Rangers off it. The companies in Bergstein also experienced
The Germans counterattacked up the hill again and this time heavy fighting as well, losing men alongside 5th Armored
made whistling sounds and cried, ‘Baa, baa!’ like sheep as Division troops.
129
US SUPPORT
Motivation and Skill Veteran Support Trained Support
Fuel shortages and narrow attack corridors saw the RELUCTANT CONSCRIPT RELUCTANT CONSCRIPT
armoured divisions work quite closely with a wide variety CONFIDENT TRAINED CONFIDENT TRAINED
of infantry divisions, some experienced combat veterans, VETERAN VETERAN
others fresh from the States. FEARLESS FEARLESS
Corps Tank Destroyer Platoon Lieutenant
Lieutenant
Platoon
370 points Command .50 cal Recon Jeep M20 scout car M20 scout car
Security Section and 205 points Security Section
Tank Destroyer Section with: Lieutenant
4 M36 90mm GMC 485 points
2 M36 90mm GMC 265 points
4 M18 Hellcat (late) 410 points 315 points
2 M18 Hellcat (late) 230 points 180 points
4 M10 3in GMC (late) 405 points 310 points Command Tank Destroyer Tank Destroyer
2 M10 3in GMC (late) 225 points 175 points
Options Tank Destroyer Tank Destroyer
• Replace any or all M10 3in GMC (late) tank de- Tank destroyer Section
stroyers with M36 90mm GMC tank destroyers for
+20 points per tank destroyer. Corps Tank destroyer Platoon
• Replace any or all M10 3in GMC (late) tank de- • Fit any or all tank destroyers with Improvised Armour
stroyers with M36 90mm GMC tank destroyers for for +5 points per tank.
+15 points per tank destroyer.
• Upgrade all M10 3in GMC (late) tank destroyers
with Top Armour 1 for +5 points per tank.
Corps Tank Destroyer Platoons use the US Tank Destroyers The US Tank Destroyer forces saw action all across the
special rules on page 238 of the rulebook. Ardennes front both defending against the German of-
fensive, and during the Allied counterattack. Of course,
the Tank Destroyers had been in action since Normandy,
fighting their way to the German border, supporting the
infantry and tankers alike.
130
US SUPPORT
Towed Tank Lieutenant
Destroyer Platoon Lieutenant
Platoon
HQ Section with: Command Carbine team Jeep
HQ Section
4 M5 3in (late) 220 points 170 points
2 M5 3in (late) 110 points 85 points Sergeant Sergeant
Options M5 3in gun (late) M5 3in gun (late)
• Add up to one Bazooka team per M5 3in (late) gun M3 half-track with Bazooka M3 half-track with Bazooka
for +20 points per Bazooka team. .50 cal AA MG team .50 cal AA MG team
• Add up to one Bazooka team per M5 3in (late) gun Gun Section Gun Section
for +15 points per Bazooka team.
• Add Jeep and M3 half-tracks for +5 points per
half-track.
Sergeant Sergeant
Towed Tank Destroyer Platoons do not use the US Tank M5 3in gun (late) M5 3in gun (late)
Destroyers special rules.
Towed Tank Destroyer Platoon teams may be place from M3 half-track with Bazooka M3 half-track with Bazooka
Ambush within 16”/40cm of enemy teams as an exception .50 cal AA MG team .50 cal AA MG team
to the normal Ambush rules for placing Immobile Gun
teams (see page 266 of the Flames Of War rulebook). Gun Section Gun Section
Few infantry divisions are supported by self-propelled tank Towed Tank destroyer Platoon
destroyers. Instead they can rely on the heavy-hitting fire-
power of the towed M5 3in guns. These gunners have been 612th Tank Destroyer Battalion outside Krinkelt. These brave
specially trained to offer your GIs the best anti-tank coverage gunners fought tooth and nail, knocking out Panther tanks
available. at point-blank range with deadly 3in and Bazooka fire.
The towed tank destroyer battalions supported the infantry
and were usually deployed in blocking positions, such as the
131
Airborne Divisional Sergeant
Recon Platoon
Platoon 220 points Command .50 cal .50 cal Recon Command .50 cal .50 cal Recon
110 points Recon Jeep Jeep Recon Jeep Jeep
8 .50 cal Recon Jeep
4 .50 cal Recon Jeep
Options .50 cal Recon .50 cal Recon .50 cal Recon .50 cal Recon
Jeep Jeep Jeep Jeep
• Add a Support Section for +110 points.
Recon Section Recon Section
• Arm any or all Pioneer Jeeps with an AA MG for
+5 points per Jeep. Sergeant
Dismount Command Pioneer Jeep Pioneer Jeep Mortar Jeep
Pioneer Jeep Support Section
Before deployment you may choose to dismount the whole
platoon. If you do this, then all of the Recon Sections and Airborne Divisional Recon platoon
the Support Section of an Airborne Divisional Recon
Platoon, operate as a single infantry platoon. Designate An Airborne Divisional FEARLESS VETERAN
any one of the teams as the Platoon Command team. The Recon Platoon is rated
platoon remains a Reconnaissance Platoon. Fearless Veteran.
If you dismount, all of the platoon’s vehicles are permanent- The Recon Sections and the Support Section operate as
ly removed from the game. Dismount the Support Section separate platoons, each with their own command team.
as normal. Replace all of the vehicles in each Recon Section
with any two of the following teams for each Section: Recon Sections are Reconnaissance Platoons. Pioneer Jeeps
• Carbine teams are Motorcycle Reconnaissance teams (see pages 196 to 197
• .50 cal MG teams of the rulebook) that dismount as Pioneer Carbine teams.
• up to one Bazooka team per Recon Section.
Field Artillery Battery
Platoon
HQ Section with: Observer
Carbine team
4 M2A1 105mm 185 points 140 points
2 M2A1 105mm 100 points 75 points
Option
• Add ¾-ton and 2½‑ton trucks for +5 points for the
battery.
The US artillery arm deserves special attention for its valiant M2A1 105mm howitzer M2A1 105mm howitzer
efforts in the Battle of the Bulge. Their ready and accurate
fire missions repelled attempt after attempt to capture critical
pieces of terrain, such as the Elsenborn Ridge. Without their
rapid and devastating response, the Germans could easily
have overrun the front lines.
Proximity Fuses M2A1 105mm howitzer M2A1 105mm howitzer
The US artillery used the new top secret proximity fuses for Field Artillery Battery
the first time in the Ardennes. These fuses would trigger an
incoming shell to explode a few meters above the ground,
scattering shrapnel over a much wider area than traditional
shells. These new shells made the standard Time on Target
easier for the gunners, and the overall effect was pandemoni-
um among the German troops as they tried in vain to push
forward.
132
US SUPPORT
Field Artillery Battery (155mm)
Platoon
HQ Section with: 275 points 210 points Observer
145 points 110 points Carbine team
4 M1 155mm
2 M1 155mm
4 M1A1 155mm 325 points 250 points
Long Tom 175 points 130 points
2 M1A1 155mm
Long Tom
Options M1 155mm howitzer M1 155mm howitzer
M5 high-speed tractor M5 high-speed tractor
• Add ¾-ton trucks and M5 high-speed tractors for
+5 points for the battery.
• Arm any or all M5 high-speed tractors with a .50 cal
AA MG for +5 points per tractor.
More often than you’d think, the brave artillerymen find M1 155mm howitzer M1 155mm howitzer
themselves under fire from German tanks and infantry as
they engage in a brutal point-blank fight. So dedicated are M5 high-speed tractor M5 high-speed tractor
the artillerymen that they will see off the Germans or die
beside their guns. Field Artillery Battery (155mm)
Isolated batteries of shattered divisions, and bypassed corps The 333rd Battalion was partly overrun on 17 December and
assets, such as the formidable M1A1 155mm ‘Long Tom’ withdrew west.
guns fight on until they are out of ammunition. Even then The 155mm howitzers proved a vital part of the defence of
the men spike their guns, pick up their rifles, and join the Bastogne, providing effective fire support. By the end of the
first US platoon they meet to do their part in the defence of siege, the 969th Battalion had only three operational howit-
the ‘bulge’. zers left and was almost out of ammunition. For this action,
The 755th and 969th Field Artillery Battalions, both the battalion received the US Presidential Unit Citation and
armed with M1 155mm howitzers, were attached to the the Belgian Croix d’Guerre with Palm.
101st Airborne Division during the fighting for Bastogne.
The 969th battalion was unusual because it was made up
of African-Americans. It had the remnants of another
African-American artillery attached, the 333rd Battalion.
133
Provisional Field Artillery
Battery
Platoon
HQ Section with: 180 points Observer
95 points Carbine team
4 8.8cm FlaK36
2 8.8cm FlaK36 Gun or Howitzer
Tractor of Half-track
4 8.8cm PaK 43/41 245 points
2 8.8cm PaK 43/41 130 points Gun or Howitzer
4 8.8cm PaK 43 250 points Gun or Howitzer
2 8.8cm PaK 43 135 points
Tractor of Half-track
4 10.5cm leFH18 135 points Gun or Howitzer
2 10.5cm leFH18 75 points
4 122mm obr 1938 150 points
2 122mm obr 1938 85 points
4 15cm sFH18 210 points
2 15cm sFH18 110 points
Options Tractor of Half-track Tractor of Half-track
• Add ¾-ton trucks and M5 high-speed tractors for Provisional Field Artillery Battery
+5 points for the battery, or add ¾-ton trucks and
Captured Sd Kfz 251/1 D half-tracks for +10 points
for the battery.
• Arm any or all M5 high-speed tractors with a .50 cal
AA MG for +5 points per tractor.
A Provisional Field CONFIDENT TRAINED With that battery you will, if you are lucky, get one grimy tabular
Artillery Battery is rated firing table and an unlimited supply of ammunition. The chief
Confident Trained. difficulty will be that no one knows whether the firing table
applies to the weapon or whether the ammunition is the right
After the hard fighting of Normandy the US Army is des- type for the weapon or whether the firing table applies to the
perately short of 105mm ammunition. The solution was ammunition. You figure those simple things out for yourself.
presented in the Field Artillery Journal in March 1945: The best way to answer all questions is to load the most likely-
“In their haste to put the Siegfried Line between themselves and looking projectile ahead of the biggest bag of powder at the
us, the Jerries have left a lot of shootable artillery pieces behind. maximum elevation, then tie on your longest lanyard, put every-
Therefore, don’t be surprised if your Division Ordnance Officer body in their deepest fox holes, and pull. If she goes off, and hangs
proudly presents you with a battery of captured material. together, and the infantry doesn’t report a short round, you have
a new battery all your own.”
134
US SUPPORT
Armored Field Artillery Battery Captain
Platoon Captain
M2 half-track with
HQ Section with:
.50 cal AA MG
6 M7 Priest GMC 390 points 300 points
4 M7 Priest GMC 280 points 215 points Armored Field Artillery Battery
3 M7 Priest GMC 220 points 170 points
Options
• Add a Jeep and an M2 half-track with .50 cal AA MG
for +5 points for the battery.
• Replace Jeep with an M2 half-track with AA MG for
+5 points.
• Replace Observer M4 Sherman with an Observer
M4A3 Sherman for +5 points, or an Observer M4A3
(late) Sherman for +15 points.
Observer Sherman OP tanks cannot launch assaults.
The self-propelled M7 Priest is an essential arm of American
combat commands. They followed the advance and gave im-
mediate support when needed. Often batteries from corps
were also attached to add even more firepower.
135
Rocket Launcher Battery
Platoon
HQ Section with:
4 T27 Xylophone 135 points Command ¾-ton truck Observer
2 T27 Xylophone 75 points Carbine team Carbine team
Options T27 Xylophone T27 Xylophone
• Model T27 Xylophone rocket launchers with five
or more crew and count each rocket launcher as two
weapons when firing a bombardment for +5 points
per rocket launcher.
• Add a Jeep and a ¾-ton truck for +5 points for the
battery.
A Rocket Launcher CONFIDENT TRAINED T27 Xylophone T27 Xylophone
Battery is rated
Confident Trained.
The 2nd Infantry Division first used the T27 4.5” (114mm) Rocket Launcher Battery
Xylophone rocket launcher in August 1944. They rated them They are now paired up and placed on the back of a 2½-ton
poorly because they were not effective as single launchers. truck for better mobility and stronger bombardments.
Armored Field Observer
Artillery Battery (155) Carbine team
Platoon M12 155mm GMC M12 155mm GMC
HQ Section with:
M12 155mm GMC M12 155mm GMC
4 M12 155mm GMC 335 points 260 points
2 M12 155mm GMC 180 points 135 points Armored Field Artillery Battery (155)
Option
• Add ¾-ton trucks for +5 points for the battery.
You may not field an Armored Field Artillery Battery
(155) unless you are also fielding a Field Artillery
Battery or a Provisional Artillery Battery with at least
as many Artillery teams.
The powerful M12 155mm self-propelled gun was used
against the Siegfried Line, a job they had been well prepared
for during the siege of Brest earlier. Now, during this battle,
they are helping to shatter the German spearheads.
136
US SUPPORT
Anti-aircraft Lieutenant
Artillery Platoon Lieutenant
Platoon Command Carbine team Jeep
HQ Section with: 120 points 90 points Sergeant Sergeant
2 M1 Bofors and 60 points 45 points
2 M49 quad .50 cal AA
1 M1 Bofors and
1 M49 quad .50 cal AA
2 M1 Bofors and 90 points 70 points Anti-aircraft gun Anti-aircraft gun
2 M2 .50 cal AA 45 points 35 points M1 Bofors gun M1 Bofors gun
1 M1 Bofors and
1 M2 .50 cal AA
Option 2 ½-ton truck 2 ½-ton truck
• Add Jeep and 2½-ton trucks for +5 points for the
2 ½-ton truck 2 ½-ton truck
platoon. Automatic Automatic
Weapons Section Weapons Section
M2 .50 cal AA guns are carried Portee on their trucks
counting as a Tank team.
The high rate of fire heroic anti-aircraft gunners keeps the Anti-aircraft Artillery Platoon
enemy aircraft away while the GIs rebuild a new defensive
line.
137
Heavy Anti-aircraft Lieutenant
Artillery Platoon Lieutenant
Platoon
HQ Section with: Command Carbine team Jeep
2 M1 90mm guns 160 points 120 points
Options Sergeant Sergeant
• Model M1 90mm Anti-aircraft gun with eight or M1 90mm gun M1 90mm gun
more crew and increase their ROF to 3 for +10 points
per gun. M5 high-speed tractor M5 high-speed tractor
• Add a Jeep and M5 high-speed tractors for +5 points Anti-aircraft Anti-aircraft
for the platoon. Section Section
• Arm any or all M5 high-speed tractors with a .50 cal
AA MG for +5 points per tractor.
The 49th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade helped deal with Heavy Anti-aircraft Artillery platoon
Skorzeny’s tanks when they attacked Malmédy.
Anti-aircraft Artillery LIEUTENANT
(self-propelled) Platoon
LIEUTENANT Sergeant
Platoon
2 M16 MGMC M15 CGMC half-track
(Quad .50 cal) and
2 M15 CGMC (37mm) 200 points 150 points
1 M16 MGMC 75 points
(Quad .50 cal) and
1 M15 CGMC (37mm) 100 points
The self-propelled anti-aircraft half-tracks are excellent Automatic Automatic
weapons to ambush the hapless Volksgrenadiere or clear Weapons Section Weapons Section
enemy tanks of any passengers they might be carrying.
Anti-Aircraft Artillery
(Self-propelled) Platoon
138
US SUPPORT
Air Support Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Priority Air Support
P-47 Thunderbolt 190 points
Option P-47 Thunderbolt
• Establish Close Air Support for +25 points. Flight
Limited Air Support Air Support
P-47 Thunderbolt
150 points
Option
• Equip P-47 Thunderbolts with 5” HVAR rockets in
addition to their normal weapons for +30 points.
Close Air Support The 406th Fighter Group operating in the skies above
Bastogne was the first to use the new 5.5” High Velocity
When the weather finally cleared up later in December, the Aircraft Rocket (HVAR), affectionately known as ‘Holy
USAAF poured hundreds of sorties into the Ardennes. Some Moses’ by the crews. This rocket was definitely an improve-
pilots even defied orders and took to the skies in bad weather ment over the older, ineffective 4.5” ones used earlier. Each
to support their comrades on the ground. P-47 could carry four of these large rockets, in addition to
two bombs and its eight .50 cal machine-guns!
If you establish Close Air Support (see the option for Priority
Air Support above), you roll two dice on the How Many
Aircraft Table and take the best result.
Air Observation Post Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
AOP
L4 Grasshopper AOP
L4 Grasshopper AOP 40 points AOP
Wherever possible, the brave AOP pilots took to the Air Observation Post
skies in spite of an active Luftwaffe, to direct artil-
lery bombardments on the German spearheads. Rare
is the day that an L4 isn’t seen lingering above the
battlefield, directing columns away from danger and calling
in devastating artillery bombardments on the enemy.
139
US ARSENAL
TANK TEAMS
Armour Top
Name Mobility Front Side Equipment and Notes
Weapon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower
Light Tanks Light Tank 4 2 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, AA MG.
24”/60cm 2 7 4+ Stabiliser.
M5A1 Stuart
M6 37mm gun Light Tank 4 2 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG.
32”/80cm 2 10 3+ Smoke, Stabiliser.
M24 Chaffee
M6 75mm gun
Tanks
M4, M4A1, or M4A4 Sherman Standard Tank 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG, Tank telephone.
M3 75mm gun 32”/80cm 2 10 3+ Smoke, Stabiliser.
M4A3 Sherman Standard Tank 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG, Detroit’s finest,
M3 75mm gun Tank telephone.
32”/80cm 2 10 3+ Smoke, Stabiliser.
M4A3 Sherman (late) Standard Tank 7 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG, Detroit’s finest,
M3 75mm gun Protected ammo, Tank telephone.
32”/80cm 2 10 3+ Smoke, Stabiliser.
M4A1 (76mm) Sherman Standard Tank 7 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG, Protected ammo,
M1 76mm gun (late) Tank telephone.
32”/80cm 2 13 3+ Stabiliser.
M4A3 (76mm) Sherman Standard Tank 7 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG, Detroit’s finest,
M1 76mm gun (late) Protected ammo, Tank telephone.
32”/80cm 2 13 3+ Stabiliser.
M4A3E8 Easy Eight Standard Tank 7 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG, Detroit’s finest,
M1 76mm gun (late) Protected ammo, Smooth Ride, Tank telephone,
Wide tracks.
32”/80cm 2 13 3+ Stabiliser.
M4A3E2 Jumbo Slow Tank 12 8 2 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG,
M3 75mm gun Jumbos lead the way, Tank telephone.
32”/80cm 2 10 3+ Smoke, Stabiliser.
Lieutenant Colonel Creighton Abram’s Tanks
M4 “Thunderbolt V” Standard Tank 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG, Hedgerow cutters,
Tank telephone.
M3 75mm gun 32”/80cm 2 10 3+
Smoke, Stabiliser.
M4A3 (76mm) “Thunderbolt VI” Standard Tank 7 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG, Detroit’s finest,
M1 76mm gun (late) 32”/80cm 2 13 3+ Protected ammo, Tank telephone.
Stabiliser.
M4A3E8 “Thunderbolt VII” Standard Tank 8 5 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, AA MG, .50 cal AA MG,
M1 76mm gun (late) 32”/80cm 2 13 3+ Protected ammo, Tank telephone, Wide tracks.
Stabiliser.
Engineering Tanks
Sherman Crab Standard Tank 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Overloaded, Mine flail.
M3 75mm gun 32”/80cm 2 10 3+ Smoke, Stabiliser.
M4 Sherman Crocodile Standard Tank 6 3 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG.
M3 75mm gun 32”/80cm 2 10 3+ Smoke, Stabilisers.
Crocodile flame-gun 6”/15cm 5 - 5+ Hull-mounted, Flame-thrower, Fuel trailer.
M4 Sherman dozer Standard Tank 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG, Bulldozer, Tank
M3 75mm gun telephone.
32”/80cm 2 10 3+ Smoke, Stabiliser.
140
Tank Destroyers (Self-Propelled) US ARSENAL
M10 3in GMC (late) Standard Tank 4 2 0 .50 cal AA MG.
M7 3in gun (late) 32”/80cm 2 13 3+ Slow traverse.
0 0 .50 cal AA MG.
M18 Hellcat (late) Light Tank 2 13 3+
M1 76mm gun (late) 32”/80cm 2 2 0 .50 cal AA MG, Detroit’s finest.
14 3+
M36 90mm GMC Standard Tank 4
M3 90mm gun 32”/80cm 2 0
2
Support Weapons Half-tracked 1 2 0
24”/60cm 2 2 3+ Hull mounted, Smoke, Portee, Minimum range 8”/20cm.
M4 81mm MMC 40”/100cm - 6 6 Smoke bombardment.
M1 81mm mortar Light Tank 3 3 0 .50 cal AA MG.
Firing Bombardments 16”/40cm 2 4 3+ Smoke.
M8 Scott HMC 64”/160cm - 9 6
M1A1 75mm howitzer 7 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG, Protected ammo.
Firing bombardments Standard Tank 1 4 2+ Breakthrough gun, Slow traverse, Smoke.
M4 or M4A1 (105mm) Sherman 24”/60cm - 9 4+
M4 105mm howitzer 48”/120cm 7 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG, Detroit’s finest,
Firing bombardments 4
M4A3 (105mm) Sherman Standard Tank 2 Protected ammo.
2+ Breakthrough gun, Slow traverse, Smoke.
M4 105mm howitzer 24”/60cm 1 0 4+
Firing bombardments 48”/120cm - 9 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG.
6 4 5+ Rocket launcher, Saturation Bombardment, Sixty Rockets.
T34 Calliope Standard Tank - 0
T34 Calliope rocket launcher 48”/120cm 13 0 .50 cal AA MG.
1 5 2+ Hull mounted, Breakthrough gun, Smoke.
Artillery (Self-Propelled) 1 - 4+ Smoke bombardment.
- 2 0 Awkward layout.
M7 Priest HMC Standard Tank 0 4 1+ Hull mounted, Bunker buster, Smoke.
M2A1 105mm howitzer 24”/60cm 1 10 2+ Smoke bombardment.
Firing bombardments 72”/180cm - 4 - .50 cal AA MG.
- 10 5+ Rocket launcher.
M12 155mm GMC Standard Tank - 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG.
M1918M1 155mm gun 24”/60cm 6 10 3+ Smoke.
Firing bombardments 96”/240cm 1 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG, Detroit’s Finest.
6 0 3+ Smoke.
T27 Xylophone Wheeled 1 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG, Detroit’s Finest,
T27 rocket launcher 48”/120cm 7 0
5 Protected Ammo.
M4 Sherman OP Standard Tank - 3+ Smoke.
M3 75mm gun 32”/80cm 4
M4A3 Sherman OP Standard Tank 0
M3 75mm gun 32”/80cm 7
0
M4A3 Sherman (late) OP Standard Tank 0
0
M3 75mm gun 32”/80cm 1 0
10
Anti-aircraft (Self Propelled) -
-
M16 MGMC (Quad .50 cal) Half-tracked 1 - 0
M45 quad .50 cal gun 16”/40cm 6 1 5+ Anti-aircraft.
1 0
M15 CGMC (37mm) Wheeled 1 4+ Anti-aircraft.
M15 37mm combination mount 24”/60cm 4 2 -
4 5+ Anti-aircraft, Portee.
M2 .50 cal AA on GMC Wheeled -
M2 .50 cal AA gun 16”/40cm 4
Reconnaissance Wheeled 1 0 Co-ax MG, .50 cal AA MG, Recce.
24”/60cm 2 4+
M8 armoured car
M6 37mm gun Jeep 1 0 .50 cal AA MG, Recce.
Jeep 0 0 AA MG, Overloaded, Recce.
M20 Scout car Jeep 0 0 .50 Cal AA MG, Overloaded, Recce.
Armored Recon Jeep Jeep 0 0 Overloaded, Recce.
Armored .50 Cal Recon Jeep 8”/20cm 2 5+ Hull mounted.
Bazooka Recon Jeep
Twin M1 Bazooka launcher Jeep - - AA MG, Recce.
Jeep - - .50 Cal AA MG, Recce.
Recon Jeep Jeep - - Recce.
.50 cal Recon Jeep 24”/60cm 2 3+ Hull mounted, Portee, Minimum range 8”/20cm.
Mortar Jeep 32”/80cm - 6
M2 60mm mortar
Firing Bombardments
Vehicle Machine-guns
Vehicle MG 16”/40cm 3 6 ROF 1 if other weapons fire.
3 5+ ROF 1 if other weapons fire.
.50 cal Vehicle MG 16”/40cm
141
GUN TEAMS
Weapon Mobility Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes
Machine-guns Man-packed 16”/40cm 3 4 5+
Man-packed 16”/40cm 5 2 6 ROF 2 when Pinned Down or Moving.
M2 .50 cal MG Man-packed 24”/60cm 6 2 6 ROF 3 when Pinned Down or Moving.
M1919 LMG
M1917 HMG 24”/60cm 2 1 3+ Minimum range 8”/20cm.
32”/80cm - 1 6
Mortars 24”/60cm 2 2 3+ Smoke, Minimum range 8”/20cm.
40”/100cm - 2 6 Smoke bombardment.
M2 60mm mortar Man-packed 48”/120cm - 3 4+ Smoke bombardment.
Firing bombardments 16”/40cm 4 4 5+ Anti-aircraft, Turntable.
16”/40cm 6 4 5+ Anti-aircraft, Turntable.
M1 81mm mortar Man-packed 24”/60cm 4 6 4+ Anti-aircraft, Turntable.
40”/100cm 2 13 3+ Heavy Anti-aircraft, Turntable.
Firing bombardments
24”/60cm 3 7 4+ Gun shield.
4.2in Chemical mortar Light 24”/60cm 3 10 4+ Gun shield.
32”/80cm 2 13 3+ Gun shield.
Anti-aircraft Heavy
Heavy 16”/40cm 2 6 3+ Smoke.
M2 .50 cal AA gun Immobile 64”/160cm - 3 6 Smoke bombardment.
M49 quad .50 cal AA gun Immobile 16”/40cm 1 7 2+ Breakthrough gun, Smoke.
M1 Bofors gun 56”/140cm - 4 4+ Smoke bombardment.
M1 90mm gun 24”/60cm 1 9 2+ Breakthrough gun, Gun shield, Smoke.
72”/180cm - 4 4+ Smoke bombardment.
Anti-tank Light 24”/60cm 1 10 1+ Bunker buster, Gun shield, Smoke.
Medium 88”/220cm - 5 2+ Smoke bombardment.
M3 37mm gun Immobile 24”/60cm 1 13 1+ Bunker buster, Smoke.
M1 57mm gun (late) 104”/260cm - 5 2+ Smoke bombardment.
M5 3in gun (late) 40”/100cm 1 13 3+ Gun shield, Turntable.
88”/220cm - 3 5+
Artillery 40”/100cm 1 16 3+ Gun shield.
88”/220cm - 3 5+
M1A1 75mm pack howitzer Light 40”/100cm 1 16 3+ Gun shield, Turntable.
88”/220cm - 3 5+
Firing bombardments 24”/60cm 1 9 2+ Gun shield, Breakthrough Gun.
72”/180cm - 4 4+
M3 105mm light howitzer Heavy 24”/60cm 1 7 2+ Gun shield, Breakthrough Gun.
80”/200cm - 4 3+
Firing bombardments 24/60cm 1 11 1+ Bunker buster.
80”/200cm - 5 2+
M2A1 105mm howitzer Immobile
Firing bombardments
M1 155mm howitzer Immobile
Firing bombardments
M1A1 155mm Long Tom gun Immobile
Firing bombardments
8.8cm FlaK 36 gun Immobile
Firing bombardments
8.8cm PaK43/41 gun Immobile
Firing bombardments
8.8cm PaK43 gun Immobile
Firing bombardments
10.5cm leFH18 howitzer Immobile
Firing bombardments
122mm obr 1938 howitzer Immobile
Firing bombardments
15cm sFH18 howitzer Immobile
Firing bombardments
AIRCRAFT
Aircraft Weapon To Hit Anti-tank Firepower Notes
P-47 Thunderbolt MG 2+ 6 5+ Optional.
4+ 5 1+
Bombs 3+ 6 3+
Rockets
142
FORTIFICATIONS US ARSENAL
Bunkers Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes
Minimum range 8”/20cm.
Weapon 16”/40cm 3 4 5+
16”/40cm 6 2 6
.50 Cal Nest 24”/60cm 2 1 3+
32”/80cm - 1 6
HMG Nest 24”/60cm 3 10 4+
M2 60mm mortar Nest
Firing bombardments
M1 57mm gun (late) Nest
INFANTRY TEAMS
Team Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes
Carbine team 8”/20cm
Rifle team 16”/40cm 1 1 6 Automatic rifles.
Rifle/MG team 16”/40cm
SMG team 4”/10cm 1 2 6 Automatic rifles.
Bazooka team 8”/20cm
Staff team 16”/40cm 2 2 6
3 1 6 Full ROF when moving.
1 10 5+ Tank assault 4.
1 2 6 Automatic rifles, Moves as a Heavy Gun team.
Additional Training and Equipment
Pioneer teams and teams equipped with Gammon Bombs are rated as Tank Assault 3.
TRANSPORT TEAMS
Armour
Vehicle Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes
Weapon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower
Trucks Jeep - - - Optional Passenger-fired AA MG or
.50 cal AA MG.
Jeep or Captured Kübelwagen jeep Optional Passenger-fired AA MG or
.50 cal AA MG.
Dodge ¾-ton, Dodge 1½-ton, or GMC 2½-ton truck Wheeled - - - Optional Passenger-fired AA MG or
.50 cal AA MG, Amphibious.
DUKW truck Wheeled - - - Optional Passenger-fired .50 cal AA MG.
GMC 2½-ton dump truck Wheeled - - - Optional .50 cal AA MG.
Captured 3-ton truck -
M5 high-speed tractor Wheeled - - -
Handcart -
Standard Tank - -
Wagon - -
Armoured Personnel Carriers
M2 or M3 half-track Half-tracked 1 0 0 Optional Passenger-fired AA MG or
.50 cal AA MG.
M20 utility Jeep 1 0
Captured Sd Kfz 251/1 D half-track Half-tracked 1 0 0 Passenger-fired .50 cal AA MG.
LVT-4 Amtrac Slow Tank 1 0 0 Passenger-fired AA MG.
0 .50 cal AA MG, Hull MG, Two
side-mounted MG, Amphibious, Carries
4 Passengers
Recovery and Engineer Vehicles
M31 TRV recovery vehicle Standard Tank 5 3 0 Recovery vehicle.
6 4 0 .50 cal AA MG, Recovery vehicle.
M32 TRV recovery vehicle Standard Tank 6 4 0 Bulldozer.
0 0 0 Bulldozer.
Turretless M4 Sherman dozer Standard Tank - - -
- - -
D7 Bulldozer Very Slow Tank
Pioneer Supply Truck Wheeled
Pioneer Supply Handcart Wagon
143
PAINTING AMERICANS
INFANTRY AND AIRBORNE IN WINTER GEAR
Webbing Helmet
Worn Canvas Sherman
(306) Drab
or (321)
Tommy Green Gun Metal
Dark
(345)
Gunmetal
Helmet Strap,
Rifle Sling (480)
Tan Leather Exposed Skin
European
(384) Skin
Rifle wood (385)
Battlefield
Jacket
Brown GI Green
(324) (347)
Greatcoat
Battledress
Brown
(325)
This painting guide uses the Colours Of War painting system. The Trousers
Colours Of War book is a detailed and comprehensive guide to GI Green
painting Flames Of War miniatures. More comprehensive painting (347)
and modelling guides can also be found on the
www.FlamesOfWar.com website. Overshoes
Black
SNOW BASING
(300)
1 23
Paint the ‘snowy’ parts of the base Selectively drybrush some areas Apply a thinned PVA white glue and
White Wash. White. sprinkle on Snow flock (GFS027).
144
AMERICAN PARACHUTE AND GLIDER INFANTRY PAINTING AMERICANS
Helmet After Normandy the new M1943 olive drab
Sherman uniform saw widespread issue to airborne
divisions. This wasn’t just a paratroop
Drab uniform, but the beginning of the US Army’s
push to standardize the combat uniform. All
(321) airborne units received the M1943 uniform,
including the glider troops, but the par-
Jacket atroopers were quick to modify theirs by
GI Green adding bigger leg pockets.
For cold weather they were issued Field
(347) Drab greatcoats to wear over their uniforms.
Some were lucky enough to get black rubber
Webbing overshoes to protect their feet from the cold
Tommy Green and wet.
(345)
Gas mask bag
Tommy Green
(345)
or
Gas mask bag
Black
(300)
Trousers
GI Green
(347)
Boots
Boot Brown
(323)
POST-NORMANDY UNIFORMS
GI Green Large Brush Bradley Shade 50% GI Green
Medium Brush 50% Military Khaki
Fine Brush
Actual Size
Basecoat the uniform GI Green. Wash liberally with Bradley Shade to add Highlight with a mix of GI Green and
depth. Military Khaki.
145
PAINTING US TANKS
AMERICAN VEHICLES & MARKINGS
US vehicles were issued with standard markings, including hull. These names were not without a sense of humour, such
recognition stars and serial numbers stencilled on the side as “Sloppy Joe” and “Laxative”. Occasionally, an artistic crew
near the rear of the hull and divisional markings on the front member would grace the tank with a cartoon figure or some
and rear. other type of “nose art” similar to what you would see on
After that, it was up to crews to personalise their tanks. aircraft. Many of these names would be inherited by new
Many stencilled names for their tank along the side of the vehicles when the older ones were destroyed or worn out.
Veehqiucliepsm, geunnt s, Olive Drab
Sherman
Drab The painting of US equipment was nothing if not
consistent. Almost every tank, truck, and gun was
(321) painted the same Olive Drab (Sherman Drab).
Mix a little Military Khaki with Sherman Drab
to add highlights and weathering. The more Khaki
you add, the dustier and more faded the vehicle
will look. The US Decal Set (US941) has markings
suitable for most vehicles. For guidance on where
to place markings, do an Internet image search.
Tank name Six stars
Serial of various
sizes and
Number
shapes.
MUD AND DIRT
The fighting in the Lorraine and the Ardennes was typified by rain, mud, fog, more mud, snow, and, impossibly, even more
mud! There are many different techniques for painting mud on your vehicles. However, a really simple way of achieving this
is to give your tracks and lower hull surfaces a light dry brush of Motherland Earth.
For a thicker plastering of mud, mix ready-mixed plaster filler (spackle) with a suitable brown paint (Battlefield Brown or
Motherland Earth for example), creating a thick, muddy paste. Adding a little Foundation Dirt Flock (GFS008) to the mix
helps to give the mud a realistic earthy texture. Apply the paste liberally with a sculpting tool or an old paintbrush.
M4A3E8 with a heavy
drybrush of Motherland
Earth.
M4A1(76mm) with a
spackle and Battlefield
Brown mixture.
146
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