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Intelligence Briefing on the Early War British Army (1939-41)

Version 2.5 (13/104/09) Hitler has overrun gallant Poland. Now his armies stand arrayed on the borders of Belgium and France. A new Prime Minister is appointed by the King Winston Churchill. Churchill speaks before parliament, to rally the British peoples for the fight ahead, saying I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. Let that be realised; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages, that mankind will move forward towards its goal. But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, come then, let us go forward together with our united strength. A few days later, the mighty German armies cross the French and Belgian borders. The Phoney War is over. Now the real fighting begins The most important theatre for the British Army is France, where in 1940 the British Expeditionary Force (or BEF) is deployed. In May-June it fights a ferocious campaign in Belgium and northern France against the advancing Germans, before being evacuated from Dunkirk. The British army will also send forces to Norway, to fight the Nazi invasion in the deep snows there. Consideration is even given for sending military assistance to Finland, attacked by Soviet Russia. In the Western Desert of Egypt the Western Desert Force stands against Mussolinis Italian legions. In December 1940 Operation Compass, mounted by British armoured, Indian and Australian forces, routs the Italians. In the rugged mountains of Eritrea and Ethiopia Imperial forces from Britain, Africa and India clash with the Italians and their colonial levies. In Iraq a pro-Nazi revolt needs to be crushed to safeguard the Empires oil supply. When a pro-Nazi Vichy regime threatens from Syria, and a force of Australians, British, Indian and Free French is dispatched, Syria falling only after heavy fighting against the Vichy French. Australian, New Zealand and British forces are also sent to Greece to defend that gallant country from German aggression, but are forced to evacuate. A mostly New Zealand force is then driven from the island of Crete after a German airborne invasion. 1941 ends with British forces locked in battle in the Libyan desert against rejuvenated Italian forces and a German army, Afrika Korps.

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Intelligence Briefing on the Early War British Army (1939-41)

Special Rules
The term British as used here includes all those nationalities fighting under the command of the British Army. Apart from the normal British flavour rules in the MRB, the Early War British also use:

British Artillery
British artillery is very well organized and capable of bringing down a large amount of explosive upon the enemys heads. Any British attack or enemy counter-attack is likely to involve intensive fire from the disciplined gunners of the Royal Artillery and Royal Horse Artillery.

Twelve-gun Batteries
British divisions have nearly 50% more artillery than most armies. To control such huge numbers of guns, they have large twelve-gun batteries (although the Royal Horse Artillery in the armoured divisions had only eight guns). These large batteries give the British commander more flexibility, since they can fire the battery as either one big battery to destroy a concentrated target, or as two smaller batteries to cover a target that is more spread out. A British field battery may fire as: eight guns concentrated on a single Artillery Template (giving re-rolls for misses due to the density of fire) or eight guns spread over a double-width Artillery Template (12/30cm wide by 6/15cm deep) with four guns per template (giving no re-rolls to hit). twelve guns spread over a double-width Artillery Template (12/30cm wide by 6/15cm deep) with six guns per template (giving re-rolls for misses due to the density of fire) or twelve guns spread over a triple-width Artillery Template (18/45cm wide by 6/15cm deep) If 18 pdrs and 4.5 howitzers fire together the combined guns are treated as having Firepower 5+. Please note that the British Artillery in the EW period get the rounds on the ground special rule but not the mike target rule

Air Support
The Royal Air Force is a strategic weapon. Its efforts are focussed on winning the war through an effective bombing campaign against Germany. Only the Army Co-operation Command has any interest in the ground battle, and it is only equipped with light observation aircraft. As a result, the best that your force can hope for is that the RAF (Royal Air Farce or Rare As Fairies to its detractors) will keep the enemy attack aircraft at bay. You may request Sporadic air support at a cost of 25 points. Sporadic air support will provide fighter interception only with a dice pool of 3 dice. You may request Limited air support at a cost of 50 points. Limited air support will provide fighter interception only with a dice pool of 5 dice.

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Armoured Squadron (Tank Company)

Headquarter
Company HQ (page 4) An Armoured Squadron must field a Company HQ and at least two Armoured Platoons. A BEF force may field a Recce Patrol as Weapons Platoon. The squadron may also field one support Platoon from each Support box shown.

Weapons support

Support Platoons

Combat Platoons

Armoured Platoon (page 5)

Recce Patrol (BEF only) (page 6)

Infantry Motor Platoon (page 10) Fusilier Platoon (BEF only) (page 28) Antiaircraft Platoon (page 23)

Armoured Platoon (page 5)

Armoured Platoon (page 5)

Artillery Battery (page 25)

Armoured Platoon (page 5)

Armoured Car Platoon (page 13)

French Platoon (BEF only) Fusilier Platoon (page 28) 75mm Artillery Battery (page 27) Air support

Motivation And Experience

An Armoured Squadron is Confident Trained.

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With military thinkers such as Boney Fuller and Basil Liddell-Hart, Britain leads the world in theories about tank warfare. The tanks are the decisive arm of battle, the force that engages the enemy tanks in pitched battle, defeats them and then leads a devastating pursuit. Unfortunately, the theory is matched by the reality. The tanks, while fast, are plagued by mechanical unreliability. And the tank formations lack supporting arms such as infantry and artillery forcing British tanks to engage enemy antitank guns with their own machine-guns. The 1 st Armoured Division was urgently sent to France in May 1940 as part of the BEF. However, the Divisions Support Group was instead sent to Calais. As a result, when the armoured regiments were sent into battle they were without any support apart from some hastily attached infantry and some French units. BEF Armoured Squadrons consisted of a HQ of a few cruiser tanks, two Troops of cruiser tanks (usually A.13s) and two Troops of Vickers Light Tanks, though mechanical failures and combat losses led to the squadrons being understrength or amalgamated. In the Western Desert the 7 th Armoured Division (and, briefly, the 2nd Armoured Division) had support from a Support Group of motorised riflemen and artillery. Sadly, all too often British Armoured Squadrons engaged the enemy without supporting arms. Armoured Squadrons in the Western Desert usually consisted of the same type of tank.

Headquarters Platoon Company HQ

The Armoured Company (Armoured Squadron in British parlance) is a straightforward organisation. The complexity comes from the many and varied types of tanks they use.

Light Armoured HQ with: 2 Vickers Mk VI B Upgrade Vickers Mk VIB to Vickers Mk VIC

70 points + 5 points each

The shortage of equipment means that squadrons have to make do with whatever they can get. Squadrons try to ensure they have the same type of tank, but in reality a squadron headquarters can end up with many different kinds of tanks.

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Cruiser/Mixed Armoured HQ with: 2 Cruiser Tank A9 Upgrade any or all Cruiser Tank A9 to: Cruiser tank A10 Cruiser Tank A13 Mk III Cruiser Tank A13 Mk IVa Add up to two Close Support Tanks: Cruiser A9 CS Cruiser A10 CS +45 points each +55 points each +15 points per tank -5 points per tank +15 points per tank 130 points

Downgrade 2i/C Command tank to Vickers Mk VI B -45 points

With the arrival of the A15 Crusader in June 1941, the situation is finally sorted out with all tanks being the same type.
Crusader Armoured HQ with: 2 Crusader I 175 points Add Deck Turret MG to any Crusader I for +10 points per tank Add up to two Close Support Tanks: Crusader I CS +90 points each

The M3 Honey Stuart lack a close-support variant, so normal gun tanks take their place.

Honey Armoured HQ with: 2 Honey Stuarts Add up to two extra Honey Tanks 190 points +95 points each

Combat Platoons Armoured Platoons

Following cavalry tradition, an armoured platoon is known as a Troop. Each Troop has either three fast cruiser tanks or three light tanks.

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Light Armoured platoon with: 3 Vickers Mk VI B Upgrade Vickers Mk VIB to Vickers Mk VIC + 5 points each 105 points

Squadrons in the BEF have two Troops of A13 MkIII cruiser tanks and two of Light Tanks. Some less fortunate units have A10 heavy cruisers instead of A13 fast cruisers. About half of the light tanks in the 1st Armoured Division in France are up-gunned Vickers Mk VIC.

An Armoured Squadron from the BEF must field at least one Troop of light tanks and one Troop of cruiser tanks. Armoured squadrons that fight in Greece in 1941 are equipped entirely with Vickers MkVIB light tanks, or A.10 cruiser tanks with two A.9 Close Support tanks in the Squadron Headquarters.

Cruiser/Mixed Armoured platoon with: 3 Cruiser Tank A9 Upgrade any or all Cruiser Tank A9 to: Cruiser tank A10 Cruiser Tank A13 Mk III Cruiser Tank A13 Mk IVa +15 points per tank -5 points per tank +15 points per tank 195 points

In the Western Desert, armoured squadrons are entirely Vickers light tanks or cruiser tanks. Light tank squadrons are equipped with Vickers Mk VIB. Cruiser tank squadrons were either a mixture of A9 and A10 cruiser tanks, or A13 MkIVa cruiser tanks. The new A15 Crusader tank appears for the first time in Operation Battleaxe in June 1941. In November 1941 the 22 nd Armoured Brigade arrives, entirely equipped with Crusaders.

Crusader Armoured platoon with: 3 Crusader I 260 points Add Deck Turret MG to any Crusader I for +10 points per tank

M3 Honey Stuart tanks, sent from the US under the lend-lease agreement, arrived to entirely equip 4th Armoured Brigade in time for Operation Crusader.

Honey Armoured platoon with: 3 Honey Stuarts 285 points

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Weapons Platoon Recce Patrol

Each armoured regiment sent to France had a Troop of handy Daimler Scout Cars, used for reconnaissance and liaison duties.

3 Daimler Dingo Scout Cars

90 points

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Infantry Tank Squadron (Tank Company)

Headquarter s
Company HQ (page 9) An Infantry Tank Squadron must field a Company HQ and at lest two Infantry Tank Platoons. It may also field one Support Platoon from each Support box shown.

Weapons support

Combat Platoons

(none)

Infantry Tank Platoon (page 9)

Support Platoons

Infantry Tank Platoon (page 9)

Rifle Platoon (page 18)

Rifle Platoon (page 18)

Infantry Tank Platoon (page 9)

Carrier Platoon (page 19)

Infantry Tank Platoon (page 9)

Artillery Battery (page 26)

Motorcycle Platoon (BEF only) (page 25)

Air support

Motivation And Experience

An Infantry Tank Squadron is Confident Trained.

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Headquarters Platoon Company HQ

2 Matilda I Upgrade MG to Vickers 0.5 MG 2 Matilda II 2 Valentine II

125 points 10 points each 415 points 265 points

An Infantry tank Squadron must be entirely equipped with Matilda I tanks, or Matilda II tanks or Valentine II tanks. You cannot mix and match the types of I-tank platoons in the Squadron.

Combat Platoons Infantry Tank Platoon

For a major operation, infantry may be supported by heavily armoured Infantry Tanks (or I-tanks). Two battalions of Matilda I and Matilda II tanks serve with the BEF in France, fighting in the counter-attack at Arras. Matilda II tanks are sent to the Western Desert, where they play a vital role in crushing Italian resistance. Other Matildas are sent to East Africa. However just as in France, the Matildas sent to the Desert suffered heavy losses against the German 88mm guns. Valentine tanks arrive at the end of 1941, fighting in support of the NZ Division and 4th Indian Division.
3 Matilda I 2 Matilda I Upgrade MG to Vickers 0.5 MG 3 Matilda II 2 Matilda II Upgrade one Matilda II to Matilda IICS per platoon 3 Valentine II 2 Valentine II 170 points 125 points 10 points each 575 points 415 points - 35 points 350 points 265 points

On the Offensive I-Tanks are an offensive weapon, for crushing enemy defences before the following infantrymen mop up. A Rifle Company that has an Infantry Tank Platoon counts as a Mechanised Company for the purposes of determining whether the force is an Attacker or Defender in missions.

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Motor Company (Infantry Company)

Headquarter
Company HQ (page 9) A Motor Company must field a Company HQ and at least two Motor Platoons. The company may also field one support Platoon from each Support box shown.

Motor Platoon (page 10) Motor Platoon (page 10)

Weapons Platoons

Combat Platoons

Support Platoons

Motor Platoon (page 10)

Carrier Platoon (page 11)

Armoured Platoon (page 5)

HMG Platoon (page 23)

Antitank Platoon (page 22)

Antiaircraft Platoon (page 23)

Artillery Battery (page 25)

Armoured Car Platoon (page 13)

Royal Engineer Platoon (page 24) French Platoon (BEF only) Cavalry Combat Platoon (page 26) 75mm Artillery battery (page 27) Reserve Infanterie Platoon (page 28) Fusilier Platoon (page 28) Air support

Motivation And Ex perience

A Motor Company is Confident Trained.

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The motor battalions of the Kings Royal Rifle Corps and the Rifle Brigade operate in Support Groups of the Armoured Divisions, guarding the artillery and rear echelons. In France, the 2nd Kings Royal Rifle Corps and the 1st Rifle Brigade are sent to Calais, where they conduct a heroic defence of the town. In the Western Desert, Motor Companies of the 2nd Rifle Brigade and 1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps cooperate closely with batteries of the Royal Horse Artillery, often patrolling the desert in Jock Columns with artillery and armoured cars. Indian cavalry regiments are sent to fight in the Western Desert and East Africa have reluctantly given up their horses and been motorised with 15-cwt trucks. Several Yeomanry cavalry regiments stationed in Palestine have also handed in their horses and been motorised, and fight in Iraq to safeguard the Empires oil supplies, and then in Syria against the Vichy French.

Headquarters Platoon Company HQ

A Motor Company has three Motor Platoons and its own platoon of Scout Carriers, giving a highly mobile force for guarding the artillery and the supply echelons of the Armoured Divisions or heading out on a distant patrol. Motor Companies in the BEF can have a 3 mortar attached to the HQ.
At full strength: Add 3 Mortar Section 30 points +20 points

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Combat Platoons Motor Platoon

Motor Platoons are well equipped and heavily armed. With three Bren light machineguns they have almost the same firepower as a normal Rifle Platoon, and with each Section having its own truck the whole platoon is highly mobile. In theory, every Section will eventually be issued with a Boy AT rifle (though few, if any, Motor Platoons ever receive that number). However, Motor Platoons lack the number of men to conduct an assault against a properly prepared enemy position. A Motor Company based on an Indian cavalry or Yeomanry squadron may have up to four Motor Platoons instead of the usual three.
At full strength: 90 points

With 2 Sections: 65 points Add Light Mortar Team +15 points Add up to one Boys AT Rifle per Section +20 points each

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Weapons Platoons Carrier Platoon

Each Motor Company has a platoon of Carriers, which consists of three Sections each of three Carriers. Scout patrols give the Motor Company reconnaissance forces and light armoured support. Carrier platoons are reconnaissance platoons and may use the Reconnaissance rules to avoid enemy fire. A Motor Company based on an Indian cavalry or Yeomanry squadron may not have any Carrier Platoons.
Carrier Section with: 3 Scout Patrols (Recce) 2 Scout Patrols (Recce) 3 Scout Patrols (Recce) 240 points 160 points 80 points

Arm any or all Bren Carriers with an extra hull-mounted MG for +5 points per carrier. Replace up to one extra hull-mounted MG per patrol with a Boys Anti-tank rifle at no cost

Scout Patrols operate as separate platoons, each with their own command team. Although its patrols operate as separate platoons for all other purposes, a Carrier Platoon deploys all at the same time as a single platoon. For example, this means that you treat the entire Carrier Platoon as a single platoon when calculating the number of platoons held in Ambush or Reserve.

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Armoured Car Squadron (Mechanised Reconnaissance Company)

Headquarters
Company HQ (page 13) An Armoured Car Squadron must field a Company HQ and at lest two Armoured Car Platoons. It may also field one Support Platoon from each Support box shown.

Weapons support

(none)

Armoured Car Platoon (page 13)

Support Platoons

Combat Platoons

Armoured Car Platoon (page 13)

Motor Platoon (Desert only) (page 10)

Antitank Platoon (page 22)

Armoured Car Platoon (page 13)

Antiaircraft Platoon (page 23)

Armoured Car Platoon (page 13)

Artillery Battery (page 25)

Armoured Car Platoon (page 13)

Motorcycle Platoon (BEF only) (page 24)

Air support

Motivation And Experience

An Armoured Car Company is Confident Trained.

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Blurb re Armoured Car companies

Headquarters Platoon Company HQ

Squadron HQ with: 2 Marmon Herrington II Add extra Marmon Herrington II With captured weapons 60 points +30 points +20 points

Upgrade all Marmon Herrington II to Humber I or II +10 points each Replace all Marmon Herrington II with Morris CS9 or Rolls Royce Armoured cars - 5 points each

Company Command blurb Blurb Blurb Blurb Blurb

Combat Platoons Armoured Car Platoon

Armoured Car platoon with: 3 Marmon Herrington II With captured weapons

90 points +20 points

Upgrade all Marmon Herrington II to Humber I or II +10 points each Replace all Marmon Herrington II with Morris CS9 or Rolls Royce Armoured cars - 5 points each

Armoured Car Platoons have three Morris CS9, Rolls Royce, Marmon Harrington, or Humber armoured cars. Morris CS9 armoured cars equip the 12th Lancers, the armoured car regiment with the BEF. In Iraq a Squadron of the Royal Air Force Regiment in ancient Rolls Royce armoured cars perform sterling service against Iraqi insurgents. In the Western Desert, the 11 th Hussars are initially equipped with a variety of obsolete Rolls Royce and Morris armoured cars, these being replaced with Marmon Harrington II armoured cars in April 1941, and then Humber armoured cars in time for Operation Crusader. The 11th Hussars are joined in the Western Desert by the Kings Dragoon Guards, the Royal Dragoons, and South African armoured car regiments equipped with Marmon Harrington II armoured cars. Up to one Marmon Harrington II in a Platoon of Marmon Harringtons can replace the MG and Boys AT rifle with a captured Italian Breda or Hotchkiss 25mm.

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Rifle Company (Infantry Company)

Headquarter
Company HQ (page 15) A Rifle Company must field a Company HQ and at least two Rifle Platoons. A BEF force may field an Assault Section as Weapons Platoon. The company may also field one support Platoon from each Support box shown.

Rifle Platoon (page 16)

Weapons Platoons

Assault Section (BEF only) (page 18) Mortar Platoon (page 18)

Support Platoons

Combat Platoons

Rifle Platoon (page 16)

Carrier Platoon (page 17)

Infantry Tank Platoon (page 21)

Infantry Tank Platoon (page 21)

Rifle Platoon (page 16)

MG Platoon (page 23)

Antiaircraft Platoon (page 19)

Antitank Platoon (page 22)

Rifle Platoon (page 16) Pioneer Platoon (page 19) Brigade Antitank Platoon (BEF only) (page 20)

Antiaircraft Platoon (page 23)

Artillery Battery (page 25)

Engineer Platoon (page 24)

Armoured Car Platoon (page 13)

French Platoon (BEF only) Cavalry Combat Platoon (page 26) 75mm Artillery battery (page 27) Reserve Infanterie Platoon (page 28) Fusilier Platoon (page 28) Air support

Motivation And Experience

A Rifle Company is Confident Trained.

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The bulwark of the British Army has always been the infantry. Solid, dependable, the British soldier is the equal of any, and as history has proved, the better of most. Long-service regulars form the backbone of the infantry battalions. These troops are highly disciplined and will bravely uphold the glorious traditions of their regiments. Regardless of whether they are regular or Territorial, British infantry have a reputation for stubbornness and courage. British infantry use the tactics developed in the previous war on the Western Front bombard the enemy to keep their heads down, then send the infantry over the top in a set-piece attack supported by Infantry Tanks of the Royal Tank Regiment. The Germans consider this to be cautious and inflexible, but British infantry get the job done and without taking needless risks. A British Rifle Company of infantry might not be fast or flashy, but few other companies will be so tough. The British infantry are joined by infantry from the Empire. The self-governing Dominions of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia sent Divisions of their own, which would fight in East Africa, the Western Desert of Egypt and Libya, Greece and Syria. Composed of volunteers, these troops lack experience but the colonials are keen to have a crack at the enemy to prove that they are as good as their illustrious First World War predecessors. The Indian Army has formed two Divisions for service for the Empire. Indian troops are long-service professionals, brave and loyal, and many have experience of fighting on the North West Frontier.

The Guards
The Guards embodied the ideals of regimental tradition and discipline in the British Army. They were superbly trained soldiers, often with many years of experience. The Guards set the standard for the other regiments of the army to aspire to. In the desperate fighting of May 1940, it was often the Guards who provided the bulwark of the British defence. Typically, in the chaos and fear of the evacuations from Dunkirk and Boulogne, the Guards marched onto their ships as if they were on parade. You may upgrade a Rifle Company to Guards. All Combat and Weapons Platoons in a Guards Company cost an additional +25 points. Guards Platoons gain the Unflappable rule from page 131 of Afrika

Headquarters Platoon Company HQ

The Rifle Company HQ is just the bare basics, the company commander and the 2iC. It commands three Rifle Platoons, usually enough to have two Rifle Platoons in the frontline and a third in reserve. Often a Company commander will also receive mortars or carriers from the Battalion Support Company to provide him with extra firepower. On defence, a Company will be reinforced with anti-tank guns and Vickers machine-guns. On attack a Company will usually have the support of the Royal Artillery to pave the way, and, if he is lucky, some precious Infantry tanks.
At full strength: 25 points

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Combat Platoons Rifle Platoon

Rifle platoons are well armed having a light mortar and a Boys anti-tank rifle, as well as three Bren light machine-guns in addition to the riflemen. In the British Army, the term section is used rather than squad.

At full strength: With 2 Sections: Add Boys AT Rifle Team Add Light Mortar Team

105 points 75 points +20 points +15 points

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Weapons Platoons Carrier Platoon

Each Motor Company has a platoon of Carriers, which consists of three Sections each of three Carriers. Scout patrols give the Motor Company reconnaissance forces and light armoured support. Carrier platoons are reconnaissance platoons and may use the Reconnaissance rules to avoid enemy fire. A Motor Company based on an Indian cavalry or Yeomanry squadron may not have any Carrier Platoons.

Carrier Section with: 3 Scout Patrols (Recce) 2 Scout Patrols (Recce) 3 Scout Patrols (Recce) 240 points 160 points 80 points

Arm any or all Bren Carriers with an extra hull -mounted MG for +5 points per carrier. Replace up to one extra hull-mounted MG per patrol with a Boys Anti-tank rifle at no cost

Scout Patrols operate as separate platoons, each with their own command team. Although its patrols operate as separate platoons for all other purposes, a Carrier Platoon deploys all at the same time as a single platoon. For example, this means that you treat the entire Carrier Platoon as a single platoon when calculating the number of platoons held in Ambush or Reserve.

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Assault Section (BEF company only)

The carrier platoon also has an assault section on motorcycles to give it mobile infantry support. Historically, the motorcycle and sidecar combinations of the Assault Section only carry a driver and two riflemen each. A team of four riflemen is split over one motorcycle with a sidecar and two without. In Flames Of War, you can model a rifle teams transport as either one or more motorcycles, but either way they count as a single transport team they must always remain together and count as a single target for shooting. If one is destroyed, they are all destroyed. You may choose to base all of the vehicles together to show this. Assault Sections are reconnaissance platoons and may use the Reconnaissance rules to avoid enemy fire. The Assault Sections only saw service with the BEF, and were disbanded after Dunkirk.
At full strength: 65 points

Your force may not contain more than one Assault Section, even if it has more than one Rifle Company.

Mortar Platoon

Infantry battalions have their own artillery in the form of a Mortar Platoon. The observer teams are normally attached to the Rifle Platoons. There is a severe shortage of mortars, so most Mortar Platoons only have a pair of weapons. The 3 mortars and ammunition are heavy, and trucks are needed to carry the weapons.
At full strength: With 1 section: 110 points 60 points

Your force may not contain more than one Mortar Platoon, even if it has more than one Rifle Company.

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Anti-aircraft Platoon

The battalion Anti-aircraft Platoon combines four Bren AA machine-guns with four anti-tank rifles for a useful defensive capability of the Battalion HQ and the rear echelon. Your force may not contain more than one Anti-aircraft Platoon, even if it has more than one Rifle Company..
At full strength: With 2 sections: 80 points 60 points

With 1 section: 40 points Add up to one Boys AT Rifle team per Section +20 points

Pioneer Platoon

The battalion Pioneer Platoon carries out mundane tasks such as digging trenches, but it lacks Bren light machineguns to enable to fight as effectively as a Rifle Platoon. However, in an emergency, the Pioneers, plus the battalion cooks and signallers, may find themselves fighting.
At full strength: With 1 section: 105 points 75 points

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Brigade Anti-tank Platoon (BEF company only)

A Company of three Anti-Tank Platoons each with three French 25mm Hotchkiss guns equip every infantry brigade of the BEF. The guns are usually carried portee on trucks.
Command Rifle team and 15 cwt truck with: 3 Hotchkiss 25mm guns and 15cwt trucks 2 Hotchkiss 25mm guns and 15cwt trucks 90 points 65 points

Your force may not contain more than one Brigade Anti-tank Platoon, even if it has more than one Rifle Company.

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Support Platoons Infantry Tank Platoons

For a major operation, infantry may be supported by heavily armoured Infantry Tanks (or I-tanks). Two battalions of Matilda I and Matilda II tanks serve with the BEF in France, fighting in the counter-attack at Arras. Matilda II tanks are sent to the Western Desert, where they play a vital role in crushing Italian resistance. Other Matildas are sent to East Africa. However just as in France, the Matildas sent to the Desert suffered heavy losses against the German 88mm guns. Valentine tanks arrive at the end of 1941, fighting in support of the NZ Division and 4th Indian Division.

Infantry Tank Platoon with: 3 Matilda I 2 Matilda I Upgrade MG to Vickers 0.5 MG Upgrade all Matilda I to Matilda II 140 points 95 points +10 points each +160 points each

Upgrade one Matilda II to Matilda IICS per platoon -35 points Upgrade all Matilda I to Valentine II +85 points each

On the Offensive I-Tanks are an offensive weapon, for crushing enemy defences before the following infantrymen mop up. A Rifle Company that has an Infantry Tank Platoon counts as a Mechanised Company for the purposes of determining whether the force is an Attacker or Defender in missions.

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Divisional Troops
Divisional Troops are Confident Trained.

Anti-tank Platoon

The standard anti-tank gun is the 2-pounder, usually towed by a 15-cwt truck in the BEF or carried portee style in the desert. However, shortages in equipment mean that other guns are pressed into service. The 106 th Royal Horse Artillery with 7 th Armoured Division is equipped with 37mm Bofors anti-tank guns. Some Anti Tank platoons in the New Zealand, South African and 4 th Indian Divisions are equipped with 18 pdr guns.
Command Rifle team and 15 cwt truck with: 4 OQF 2 pdr Portee 2 OQF 2 pdr Portee Replace all OQF 2 pdr portee to: Bofors 37mm portee OQF 18 pdr guns & Quads -10 points each +10 points each 180 points 95 points

18 pdr guns in an Anti-Tank Platoon may not fire Artillery bombardments.

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Anti-aircraft Platoon

Anti-Aircraft Platoons have four Bofors anti-aircraft guns towed by Morris AA tractors. In the desert, the 7th Armoured Division have some Breda 20mm portees, which are used to support the armoured cars of 11 th Hussars, and the Australians in the siege of Tobruk make use of captured 20mm Bredas.
Command Rifle team and 15cwt truck with: 2 Anti-aircraft sections 200 points 1 Anti-aircraft section 110 points Replace 40mm Bofors gun with 20mm Breda Portee -25 points per gun

Machine-gun Platoon

British heavy machine-guns are grouped into specialist machine-gun battalions which are allocated to the infantry as required. The Vickers machine-gun is old and heavy (the ammunition load weighs half a ton!). But it is legendary for its reliability, and can continuously fire for hours without jamming. These are distributed amongst the Rifle Companies to provide defensive fire support
At full strength: With 1 section: 120 points 65 points

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Motorcycle Platoon
INSERT DIAGRAM Motorcyclists from the 4th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers and the 1st Queen Victorias Rifles fight in France in 1940. Each Motorcycle Platoon has a command Boys team on a motorcycle and sidecar and a solo motorcycle, a Light Mortar team on a motorcycle and sidecar and a solo motorcycle and three MG teams, each on three motorcycles and sidecars. The whole platoon costs 130 points, or 100 points with only two MG teams.

Royal Engineer Platoon

Royal Engineers perform valuable services in the fighting in 1940-41, blowing up bridges, laying mines and undertaking demolitions to slow down the enemy advances. A Royal Engineer Platoon consists of a Command Rifle Engineer team, and between three and twelve Rifle Engineer teams.. PHQ Pioneer Rifle Team 2-4 sections each of 3x Pioneer Rifle teams.
Full Strength 3 Sections 2 Sections Add Pioneer Supply 3-ton Lorry 220 points 170 points 120 points +25 points

Royal Engineers are highly skilled technicians, not equipped or trained for close-combat. A Royal Engineer platoon may not assault or counter-attack in an assault. Royal Engineers are experts at fieldworks, laying minefields and demolitions. You may make a Skill test for each Royal Engineer team that has not moved or fired in its turn. If six successful Skill tests are made by the platoon: A minefield measuring 8/20cm by 2/5cm is laid in front of the platoon, or A section of road measuring 2/5cm by 2/5cm in contact with the Royal Engineer command team is blown up, becoming Very Difficult Going.

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Field Artillery Battery

The 25-pounder field gun is the finest gun of its type it is reliable, its HE shell is exceptionally deadly against troops in the open, and it out-ranges enemy field artillery. In action, it performs admirably as an anti-tank gun, the massive shot simply smashing apart Jerry tanks. However, only a few of the superb new 25 pdr field guns equip the BEF. As a stop-gap, 25 pdr barrels are placed on older 18 pdr carriages, known as 18/25-pounders, which equip most of the BEF. Even then, there still arent enough 25-pounders, and many Territorial artillery batteries are equipped with First World War era 18-pounder field guns and 4.5 howitzers. By late-1941 25 pounders equip all British artillery. The 3.7 howitzer was also employed by artillery batteries in East Africa, being light enough to be carried in the mountainous terrain. The Royal Artillery is organised into four gun Troops. In Infantry Divisions three Troops form a 12-gun battery. Territorial artillery batteries in 1940 are organised in three four gun Troops, two of 18-pdr field guns and one of 4.5 howitzers. However, the three Troop batteries prove to be cumbersome in practice, and from mid-1941 they are reorganised into more flexible two Troop batteries of eight guns. The Royal Horse Artillery supporting the Armoured Divisions are organised in two Troop batteries of eight guns.

Field Artillery Battery with: 3 Field Artillery Platoons (25 pdrs) 2 Field Artillery Platoons (25 pdrs) 700 points 500 points

1 Field Artillery Platoon (25 pdrs) 280 points Upgrade Observers and their 15cwt truck and replace with an (Observer) Marmon Herrington II +30 points per observer and truck Replace all 25 pdr guns with OQF 18/25 pdr guns -15 points each gun Replace all 25 pdr guns with 3.7 howitzers -25 points each gun Replace 25 pdr guns in two Platoons with OQF 18 pdr guns -20 points each gun Replace 25 pdr guns in one Platoon with 4.5 howitzers -25 points each gun

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French Support
French Support platoons for a British force are normally Confident Trained. However, French Rifle Platoons from a Reserve Company are rated Reluctant Trained. In the May 1940 campaign in France and Belgium, French platoons sometimes found themselves acting in close support of British Companies French Platoons in a British Company do not re-roll Motivation Tests if they are within 6/15cm of the Company Command team they are from different armies, and have completely different command and control systems (not to mention a different language.

Cavalry Combat Platoon

A cavalry Combat Platoon from a DLM or DLC has five tanks. They can be H -35 cavalry tanks with an H 39 tank as the command tank, or S -35 cavalry tanks, or in rare cases, all H -39 cavalry tanks. DLM Combat platoon : 5 Hotchkiss H -35 or H -39 4 Hotchkiss H -35 or H -39 270 points 210 points

3 Hotchkiss H -35 or H -39 160 points Upgrade platoon commanders 37mm SA -18 gun to 37mm SA -38 gun for 25 points 5 Somua S-35 500 points 4 Somua S -35 400 points 3 Somua S -35 300 points

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Artillery Battery

Artillery Battery : At full strength With one gun section

225 points 120 points

Upgrade horse transport s to Renault UE carriers or Laffly W15T trucks and add two Citroen 23 trucks to HQ for 5 points per section

The French Army is proud of its claim that Our artillery system is not essentially different from the last war. At the end o f the First World War they were acknowledged to be among the best, and kept that distinction between the wars. They also kept their beloved Soixante-quinze, the original 75mm quick firing gun of 1897. This gun was incredibly advanced and top secret in it s day, but now, nearly 50 -years later, it was considered somewhat lightweight and short -ranged. In motorised divisions the guns are pulled by Laffly S15T or Unic P107 BU tractors, and the HQ Section has two 1 -ton trucks. French Artillery Between the war s the French artillery was seen as the pinnacle of military technology, well organized and capable of bringing down a large amount of explosive on demand. Poste Central Du Groupe
French Company Command teams cannot act as spotting teams for artillery bombardments. French Artillery and Heavy Artillery batteries use the US Hit em With Everything Youve Got Special rule.French Artillery batteries (not mortar platoons) use the Central Fire Control rule from the Romanian Intel list

Maximum Fire! While the famous French 75 was a quick firing rule in WW1, by the outbreak of war it was press ganged into frontline service as an expedient resort for plenty of artillery firepower. The ability of the 75mm to land plenty of HE shells on a target and cover the area w ith a wall of shrapnel means any soft target hit by the batteries are in for a rough time!
Any artillery bombardment that contains 75mm guns that has ranged in on a target may re-roll failed to hit rolls. If the battery is only firing with one or two guns, the battery neither re-rolls misses for Maximum Fire! nor re-reolls hits for one or two guns firing. A battery firing with one gun still incurs ranging and to hit penalties.

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Fusilier Platoons

At full strength: With 2 squads:

160 points 120 points

Fusilier Platoons ( sections fusiliers in French) have twice the firepower of a normal infantry platoon. Each squad (groupe de combat ) has a Chatellerault FM 24/29 light machine-gun and the truck mounts another that the infantry take with them when they d ismount.

Reservist Infanterie Platoons

At full strength (RT) : With 2 squads (RT): 95 points 75 points

The Infanterie Platoon ( Section dInfanterie in French) has three Groupes dCombat each with a machine gun-armed Escouade de Fusiliers and a grenade -armed Escouade de Voltigeurs , as well as a VB group in the HQ Section.

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Tanks and Other Fighting Vehicles

Mobility Name ROF Light Tanks Light Tank Mk VIB Vickers 0.5 HMG Light Tank Mk VIC Besa 15mm HMG Cruiser Tanks Cruiser Tank A9 OQF 2 pdr tank gun Cruiser Tank A9 CS OQF 3.7 mortar Firing bombardments Cruiser Tank A10 OQF 2 pdr tank gun Cruiser Tank A10 CS OQF 3.7 mortar Firing bombardments Cruiser Tank A13 Mk III OQF 2 pdr tank gun Cruiser Tank A13 Mk IVa OQF 2 pdr tank gun Crusader I 2 pdr tank gun Crusader I CS OQF 3 howitzer Firing bombardments Honey Stuart M5 37mm tank gun Infantry Tanks A11 Matilda I 0.5 HMG A12 Matilda II OQF 2 pdr tank gun A12 Matilda II CS OQF 3 howitzer Firing bombardments Valentine II OQF 2 pdr tank gun Self-propelled Guns 2 pdr portee 2 pdr AT gun 37mm portee 37mm Bofors AT gun Breda 20mm SP Breda 20mm gun Fully-tracked 16/40cm Fully-tracked 24"/60cm Fully-tracked 24/60cm 40/100cm Fully-tracked 24"/60cm Wheeled 24"/60cm Wheeled 24"/60cm Wheeled 16/40cm 5 3 7 3 7 2 6 2 3 3 4 4 3 6 7 6 5 3 5 7 7 6 5 1 5+ 2 4+ 2 3+ 6 1 4+ 4+ 4+ 5+ MG, Very Slow tank, Unreliable. Platoon command vehicles co-ax MG, Slow tank, Unreliable. No HE. co-ax MG, Slow tank, Unreliable. Smoke. Smoke bombardment co-ax MG, Slow tank. No HE. Tip and Run No HE, Portee Tip and Run Portee Anti-aircraft Fully-tracked 24"/60cm Fully-tracked 16"/40cm 40/100cm Fully-tracked 24"/60cm Fully-tracked 16"/40cm 40/100cm Fully-tracked 24"/60cm Fully-tracked 24"/60cm Fully-tracked 24"/60cm Fully-tracked 24/60cm 40/100cm Fully-tracked 24/60cm 1 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 0 7 0 2 7 2 0 7 1 7 2 7 2 5 3 2 7 1 4+ 1 1 4+ 1 1 4+ 1 4+ 1 4+ 1 3+ 6 1 4+ co-ax MG, two deck-turret MG, Unreliable. No HE. Tally Ho! Broadsides co-ax MG, two deck-turret MG, Unreliable. Smoke. Smoke bombardment only co-ax MG, hull MG, Slow tank, Unreliable. No HE. Tally Ho! Broadsides co-ax MG, hull MG, Slow tank, Unreliable. Smoke. Smoke bombardment only co-ax MG, Fast tank, Unreliable. No HE. Tally Ho! Broadsides co-ax MG, Fast tank, Unreliable. No HE. Tally Ho! Broadsides co-ax MG, Fast tank, Unreliable. No HE. Tally Ho! Broadsides co-ax MG, Fast tank, Unreliable. Smoke. Smoke bombardment co-ax MG, hull MG, Light tank. No HE. Half-tracked 16/40cm Half-tracked 16/40cm 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 4 1 5+ 1 5+ co-ax MG, co-ax MG AT FP Front Side Top Equipment And Notes

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Reconnaissance Vehicles Scout Carrier Boys AT rifle Morris CS9 Boys AT rifle Rolls Royce Boys AT rifle Marmon Harrington II Boys AT rifle With captured weapons Humber Mk I Besa 15mm HMG Daimler Dingo Scout Car Half-tracked 16/40cm Wheeled 16/40cm Wheeled 16/40cm Wheeled 16/40cm 16/40cm Wheeled 16/40cm Jeep 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 1 1 3 1 0 4 0 4 0 4 0 4 6 0 4 0 0 5+ 0 5+ 0 5+ 0 5+ 5+ 0 5+ 0 Hull MG, Optional AAMG MG. MG. Turret front MG. Hull mounted co-ax MG. AA MG.

Guns and Vehicle Weapons

Name HMG team Firing bombardments AA MG team 3 mortar team 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun Hotchkiss 25mm SA34 gun 37mm Bofors anti-tank gun 2 pdr anti-tank gun 3.7 howitzer Firing bombardments 18 pdr field gun Firing bombardments 4.5 howitzer Firing bombardments 18/25 pdr field gun Firing bombardments 25 pdr field gun Firing bombardments Heavy Heavy Heavy Heavy Man-packed Man-packed Immobile Light Light Medium Light Mobility Man-packed Range 24/60cm 40/100cm 16/40cm 32/80cm 24/60cm 16/40cm 24/60cm 24/60cm 24/60cm 48/120cm 24/60cm 72/180cm 24/60cm 64/160cm 24/60cm 72/180cm 24/60cm 80/200cm ROF 6 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 1 2 2 Anti-tank 2 2 2 6 6 6 7 5 3 8 3 6 4 9 4 9 4 FP Notes 6 ROF 2 when pinned 6 Turntable, Anti-aircraft. 6 Smoke 4+ Turntable, Anti-aircraft, 5+ Gun shield, No HE. 4+ Gun shield. 4+ Gun shield, Turntable, No HE 3+ Gun shield, 5+ 3+ Gun shield, Smoke 6 Smoke Bombardment 2+ Gun shield, Smoke. 4+ Smoke Bombardment 3+ Gun shield, Smoke. 5+ Smoke Bombardment 3+ Gun shield, Turntable, Sm oke. 5+ Smoke Bombardme nt

Infantry
Name Rifle/MG team MG team Light mortar team Anti-tank rifle team Pioneer Rifle team Command Rifle team Observer team Staff team Range 16/40cm 16/40cm 16/40cm 16"/40cm 16/40cm 16/40cm 16/40cm ROF 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 Antitank 2 2 1 4 2 2 2 Firepower Weapons And Notes 6 6 4+ 5+ 6 6 6 SMLE rifle and Bren light machine -gun. Bren light machine-gun. 2 mortar. Boys anti-tank rifle. Tank Assault 2 SMLE rifle. Independent team Moves as a Heavy Gun team.

Transport
Name Armour Equipment And Notes

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Front Trucks Norton motorcycle & sidecar Morris or CMP 15 cwt truck Bedford QLT or CMP 3-ton lorry Gun Tractors Quad and limber Morris AA tractor Jeep Wheeled Wheeled -

Side -

Top -

Wheeled Wheeled

28/04/09 major reformatting of the lists. Removed Options of ANZAC, Indian and Desert Rats. All to be in separate pdf. 13/10/09 added the Infantry tank platoon back in updated the French arty rules

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