intel brief scw nationalist - deep fried happy...

Unofficial Intelligence Briefing

Flames of War – Very Early Period

John “delljohnb” Baugher

[email protected]

24 Nov 2004 v1.1

ESPANIA

Spanish Civil War

Nationalist Faction

1936-1939

Intelligence Briefing on the Spanish Civil War

Nationalist Faction

Very Early Period (1936-1939)

The Nationalist Faction…often called the Fascists. Motivated by a firebrand by the name

of Franco, and determined to eradicate the Marxist leanings of the Spanish government,

this army began on a hope of quelling the flames of socialism, and rode the wave of

opportunity to wrestle the reigns of power from a government that had all the auspices of

fortune. The Nationalists appealed to the growing Fascist movement in Germany and

Italy and found in them allies wanting to flex the muscles of growing militarism. Six

years of struggle by the Nationalist Faction finally brought Franco into power and a

government that would last until 1975.

Nationalist Military Configuration

The player must select one of three Nationalist Armies: Nationalist Army, Army of

Morocco, or Italian Expeditionary Force. Each of these armies has certain configuration

restrictions and morale ratings.

Nationalist Army You can base your force on:

• Nationalist Infantry Company

• Nationalist Calvary Company

• Militia Company

• Falangist Bandera

• Civil Guard Company

• Civil Guard Domestic Police

• Civil Guard Asaltos Company

• Paramilitary Brigade

Your force may be supported by Condor

Legion or Nationalist planes.

Army of Morocco You can base your force on:

• Infantry Company

• Calvary Company

• Mobile Company

Your force may not include foreign

units, but may be supported by Condor

Legion or Nationalist planes.

Italian Expeditionary Force You can base your force on:

• Italian Infantry Cohort

• Italian Litorio Cohort

• Italian Bersaglieri Cohort

• Italian Black Shirt Cohort

• Italian CTV Volunteers

Your force may include Italian only

mortars and support equipment. Only

Condor Legion planes may be used for

air support.

Avanti! The Italian Army learned during WWI

and emphasized the French military

theory of methodical destruction of

enemy defenses followed by maneuver.

While this proved to be a flawed theory,

the Italian Army embraced this doctrine

during the Spanish Civil War, and the

Italian conflicts on Africa.

Any Italian platoon with a command

team may attempt an Avanti move in its

Shooting step if it does not shoot. If a

platoon attempts to make an Avanti

move, it may not shoot even if it fails to

make an Avanit move.

Roll a skill test for each platoon.

• If the test is successful the

platoon may move another

4”/10cm.

• If the test is unsuccessful, the

platoon cannot move further this

step.

All of the normal rules apply for this

movement. Platoons cannot make

Avanti moves if they are Pinned Down;

Bogged Down or Bailed Out vehicles

cannot make Avanti moves.

SCW Calvary Special Rules The following three cavalry rules are

considered Spanish Civil War special

rules that are to replace the generic

cavalry rules in the FOB rulebook.

These rules apply: Cavalry Squads,

Cavalry Remount, and Cavalry Recce.

These rules do NOT apply to all teams

that are mounted as cavalry. They only

apply if specifically noted in the platoon

or company notes by the statement, “The

cavalry special rules apply.” Otherwise,

the standard cavalry rules from the FOW

rulebook apply.

Cavalry Squads Cavalry played an important part in the

“maneuver” portion of military doctrine

that was espoused by both Nationalist

Special Rules

and Republican forces. Cavalry troops

are very vulnerable to small arms and

artillery fire. This is a cavalry special

rule.

Cavalry stands count as soft transports

while mounted, and save on a 5+. If

destroyed, the horses must be set aside

and cannot be used for remounts. When

a mounted stand is destroyed, they save

on a 5+.

Cavalry Remount Spanish Civil War period doctrine is to

maneuver mounted and then dismount

and fight. Mounts are not generally

removed from the battlefield area, but

are instead kelp close for remounting

and maneuvering. Even in static

defense, the horses are kept handy for

rapid withdrawal and maneuver. This is

a cavalry special rule.

When a cavalry platoon dismounts, place

a “Horse Holder” team within command

range. It is considered a “soft vehicle”

for saves. If the “Horse Holder” is

destroyed, it counts as a casualty for the

platoon, but does not count for the base

number of stands in the platoon and all

the cavalry unit’s remounts are

destroyed. For a team to remount the

“Horse Holder” and all remounting

teams must be in command and there

must be an available remounts. All

teams in a platoon must have the same

mounted/dismounted status at the same

time.

Cavalry Recce Since military doctrine calls for cavalry

to fight battles of maneuver, all cavalry

Rifle and Rifle/MG teams are considered

Recce. This is a cavalry special rule.

Use the Recce rules for Rifle and

Rifle/MG teams. However, they are not

subject to the “Break Off” rule in Old

Ironsides. Dismounted units within the

command range of the “Horse Holders”

and in command range of the platoon

commander may mount up and retreat at

the cavalry movement rate. However,

any teams that fail the disengagement

roll remount where they are and receive

the remainder of the enemy’s shots as

soft targets. Alternatively, they may

retreat as dismounted stands.

Signals Non-Italian units suffered from a lack of

communication equipment. This

necessitated the use of signal flags to

direct artillery.

Non-Italian artillery and mortar

observers must have a line of sight to

their own battery in order to call in fire.

WWI Design Many of the tanks used in the Spanish

Civil War were built during the First

World War. They were of antiquated

design and could only move at a walking

pace.

Tanks of WWI design only move

6”/15cm.

Biplane Extensive use of WWI vintage planes

during the SCW was commonplace. The

introduction of high performance

monoplanes spelled the end of the

biplane.

If a plane is designated a biplane, and it

interacts (intercepts) with another

biplane, then use the standard aircraft

rules in the FOW rulebook. If the

opposing plane is a monoplane, then the

biplane is only 50% effective. Roll a

die. On a 1-3 the biplane is considered

“outclassed” and remove from play for

this turn. It has no further effect on

game play this round.

Militia Charge Filled with political fervor, but little else,

militia units often used human wave

tactics to fulfill their tactical objectives.

Militia units automatically pass all

morale/motivation tests related to

assaulting. Militia units may not fall

back.

Fear not the Infidel The Army of Morocco was feared for its

ruthless nature, and dedicated soldiers.

Moroccan units were able to withstand

losses yet maintain coherency that

amazed their enemies.

All pinned recovery checks are made

with a +1 die modifier.

Take no Prisoners! Tenacity and brutality were the norms on

the battlefield during this derisive era.

Re-roll all failed skill tests to kill on the

FIRST turn of close combat.

Officer Class Aristocracy Spanish officers saw the strict separation

between the peasants and the aristocracy

as an important part of Spanish culture.

This perception of class distinction often

manifested itself in the Nationalist

officers not wanting to “mix with the

common soldier.” Company Command

Rifle teams may NOT send their Auto

Medio “to the rear” unless

SPECIFICALLY permitted/required by

the scenario special rules. This special

rule does NOT apply during

tournaments.

Air Support During the Spanish Civil War, the highly

vaunted Condor Legion supplemented

the Nationalist Air Force. Nationalist

forces may call upon either of these two

to supplement ground operations.

Nationalist Air Support: You may

request Sporadic air support at a cost of

25 points. Sporadic air support provides

fighters on a roll of 6. You may request

Limited air support for 75 points.

Limited air support will provide fighter

support on a roll of 5 but ground attack

aircraft and fighter support on a roll of 6.

Condor Legion: You may request

Sporadic air support at a cost of 50

points. Sporadic air support will provide

supporting ground attack aircraft and

fighters on a roll of 6. You may request

Limited air support for 100 points.

Limited air support will provide ground

attack aircraft and fighters on a roll of

5+.

Nationalist Army

Nationalist Infantry Company

The bulk of the Nationalist forces were

traditional infantry companies. The

reason that these formations were able to

win the civil war was that they were well

trained and highly motivated. In

addition, they were able to call upon

their “allies” for support.

What is in a Nationalist Infantry

Company? Confident Trained

Core Platoons:

• Company HQ

• 2-4 Infantry Platoons

Weapon Platoons:

• 0-1 HMG Platoon

• 0-1 Mortar Platoon

• 0-2 Assault Platoons

Support Platoons:

• 0-1 Tank Platoon

• 0-2 Armored Car Platoons

• 0-1 Anti-tank Platoon

• 0-2 Artillery Platoon

• 0-1 Light Anti-Aircraft Platoon

• 0-1 Heavy Anti-aircraft Platoon

You may have up to one Support

Platoon attached to your company for

every Core or Weapon Platoon that you

have. The number of Weapons Platoons

must not exceed the number of Infantry

Platoons.

Mobile Infantry Company

There is little difference between an

Infantry Company and a Mobile Infantry

Company. If you decide to select your

force as a Mobile Infantry Company,

then all of your platoons must conform

to the Mobile Infantry Company

restrictions that are noted in each platoon

description. Mobile Infantry Companies

may NOT use the cavalry options noted

below.

Cavalry Options

Nationalist Infantry

Headquarters Platoon

Company Command Rifle Team Auto Medio

Command Rifle Team Auto Medio

Anti-Tank Rifle Team

Wagon or Auto Leggero

Light Mortar Team


HMG team


Mobile Infantry Companies MUST take all available vehicle

options. HMG team option is NOT available to Mobile

Infantry Companies. The Officer Class Aristocracy special

rule applies.


Infantry Platoon

Command Rifle Team

Auto Medio

Light Mortar Team

Light Mortar Team

Ford or Chevrolet or Auto Leggero or Wagon

3 x Infantry Squad

Rifle Team

Rifle Team

Rifle/MG Team

2xFord or 2xChevrolet or 3xWagon

Infantry Squad

Rifle Team

Rifle Team

Rifle/MG Team


Mobile Infantry Companies MUST take motorized vehicle

options. None or all of the teams may be upgraded to cavalry

at +5 pts per team.


HMG Platoon

Command Rifle Team

Auto Medio or Wagon

Light Mortar Team

Auto Medio or Wagon

2 x HMG Squad

HMG Team

HMG Team


The Command Rifle Team may be upgraded to a Command

Rifle/MG Team for +5 points or a Command MG Team for

+10 points.


Mortar Platoon

Command Rifle Team

Auto Medio or Wagon

3 x Mortar Section

Observer Team

Auto Medio or Wagon

81mm Mortar mle 81/14




Assault Platoon

Command Rifle/MG Team Auto Medio

3 x Assault Squad

Rifle/MG Team

Rifle/MG Team

Any or all teams may be upgraded to SMG teams at no cost.

Nationalist Calvary Company

The Nationalist command recognized the

need for mobility. This statement is

important because although the leading

tacticians of the day still espoused

“defense in depth”, the inclusion of

German nationals into the officer cadre

provided the Nationalist Army with a

unique and progressive outlook on the

prosecution of armed conflict.

Consequently, the Calvary Company (in

addition to the Mobile Infantry

Company) was seen as a way to quickly

and inexpensively provide the

Nationalist Army with the tools

necessary to prosecute a “modern” war.

What is in a Nationalist Calvary

Company? Confident Trained

Core Platoons:

• HQ Platoon

• 2-4 Calvary Platoons

Weapon Platoons:

• 0-1 HMG Platoon

• 0-1 Assault Platoon

Support Platoons:

• 0-2 Tank Platoons

• 0-2 Armored Car Platoons


• 0-1 Light Anti-aircraft Platoon

• 0-1 Heavy Anti-aircraft Platoon.

Nationalist Cavalry

Headquarters Platoon

Command Rifle Team

2inC Command Rifle Team

Anti-tank Rifle Team

Light Mortar Team

All teams are mounted on horses as cavalry. The cavalry

special rules apply.

Nationalist Calvary

Calvary Platoon

Command Rifle Team

Anti-tank Rifle Team

Light Mortar

3 x Troop

Rifle Team

Rifle Team

Rifle/MG Team

All teams are mounted on horses as cavalry. The cavalry

special rules apply.

Nationalist Calvary

HMG Platoon

Command Rifle Team

2 x HMG Squad

HMG Team

HMG Team

All teams are mounted on horses as cavalry. The Cavalry

special rules do NOT apply to this platoon.

Nationalist Calvary

Assault Platoon

Command Rifle/MG Team

3 x Assault Squads

Rifle/MG Team

Rifle/MG Team

All teams are mounted on horses as cavalry. The Cavalry

special rules do NOT apply to this platoon. All teams have

Pioneer ability. Any team may be upgraded to SMG team at

no cost.

Militia Company

Local militias were used extensively during the Spanish Civil War. The Nationalists used

these as an “organized” means of controlling captured areas and instituting Nationalist

political influence. Militias, while poorly armed, were quite effective in controlling vast

swaths of the countryside and proved pivotal in the eventual return of Franco to Madrid.

What is a Militia Company? Confident Recruit

Core Platoons:

• HQ Platoon

• 2-4 Militia Platoons

Weapon Platoons:

• 0-1 HMG Platoon

• 0-1 Light Mortar Platoon


Support Platoons:

• 0-1 Tank Platoon

• 0-1 Armored Car Platoon



Militia

HQ Platoon

Command Rifle Team

2inC Command Rifle Team

Light Mortar Team

ATR Team

Militia

Militia Platoon

Command Rifle Team

3 x Rifle Squad

Rifle Team

Rifle Team

Rifle Team

Rifle Team

Up to one team per squad may be upgraded to Rifle/MG team at +5 points per team.

Militia

HMG Platoon

Command Rifle Team

2 x HMG Squad HMG Team

HMG Team

Militia

Light Mortar Platoon

Command Rifle Team

2 x Light Mortar Squad Light Mortar Team

Light Mortar Team

Light Mortar Team

Up to one additional Light Mortar Team may be added to any Light Mortar Squad.

Militia

Mortar Platoon

Command Rifle Team

2 x Mortar Section Observer Team



Mortar Section Observer Team



An additional Mortar Team may be purchased.

Falangist Bandera

Falangist Banderas were…

What is a Falangist Bandera? Fearless Recruit

Core Platoons

• HQ Platoon

• 2-4 Infantry Platoon

Weapon Platoons

• 0-1 HMG Platoon

• 0-1 Light Mortar Platoon


Support Platoons




Falangist

HQ Platoon

Falangist

Infantry Platoon

Falangist

HMG Platoon

Falangist

Light Mortar Platoon

Falangist

Mortar Platoon

Civil Guard Company

The Nationalist movement….

What is a Civil Guard Company? Confident Trained

Civil Guard Domestic Police

The local police forces in a particular area proved to be a potential source of “organized

stability” that the Nationalist movement increasingly utilized as the war progressed.

What is a Civil Guard Domestic Police Company? Reluctant Trained

Core Platoons

• HQ Platoon

• 2-4 Officer Platoons

Weapon Platoons

• 0-1 HMG Platoon


Support Platoons




Civil Guard Asaltos Company

Paramilitary Brigade

During any civil war, paramilitary bands (sometimes called partisans) spring up to

“defend the motherland” on an ad-hoc basis. Continuously forming, melting into the

local population, and re-forming, these loose knit bands of irregular forces quite often can

control vast areas. The Spanish Civil War is no exception. Nationalist paramilitary

bands roved the country side extolling the virtues of Fascism and harassing organized

Republican formations.

What is a Paramilitary Brigade? Confident Recruit

Army of Morocco

AoM Infantry Company

The Army of Morocco was the standard barer of the Nationalist movement. This was the

Army which Franco intended to use to wrestle the reigns of power for the Communists.

After an arduous journey from North Africa, the Army of Morocco gave the Fascist

movement a foothold on the Iberian peninsula which would eventually lead Franco to

hold dictatorial power until 1975.

What is an AoM Infantry Company?

AoM Calvary Company

AoM Mobile Company

Italian Expeditionary Force

Italian Infantry Cohort

Italian Litorio Cohort

Italian Bersaglieri Cohort

Italian Black Shirt Cohort

Italian CTV Volunteers

Divisional Support Platoons

Tank Platoon

Command Tank

Tank

Tank

COMPANY OPTIONS


Nationalist Cavalry Company

Militia Company

Falangist Bandera

Civil Guard Company





AoM Cavalry Company

AoM Mobile Company






Armored Car Platoon

Armored Cars (both improvised and purpose built) became more and more relied upon to

provide armored support during the civil war. Inexpensive and easy to maintain, these

quickly became a common sight on the battlefield.

Command A/C

A/C

A/C

COMPANY OPTIONS



Militia Company

Falangist Bandera

Civil Guard Company





AoM Cavalry Company

AoM Mobile Company






Anti-tank Platoon

COMPANY OPTIONS



Militia Company

Falangist Bandera

Civil Guard Company





AoM Cavalry Company

AoM Mobile Company






Artillery Platoon

COMPANY OPTIONS



Militia Company

Falangist Bandera

Civil Guard Company





AoM Cavalry Company

AoM Mobile Company






Light Anti-Aircraft Platoon

COMPANY OPTIONS



Militia Company

Falangist Bandera

Civil Guard Company





AoM Cavalry Company

AoM Mobile Company






Heavy Anti-aircraft Platoon

COMPANY OPTIONS



Militia Company

Falangist Bandera

Civil Guard Company





AoM Cavalry Company

AoM Mobile Company






Data Section

Tank Name Points Mobility F S T Equipment and Notes

FT-17C 30 Fully-tracked 1 0 1 Short 37mm tank gun, One-man turret, WWI tank

FT-17M 30 Fully-tracked 1 0 1 MG, One-man turret, WWI tank

Trubia 1936 25 Half-tracked 1 0 1 MG, turret-rear MG, WWI tank, Unreliable

L3/33 25 Half-tracked 1 0 1 hull MG

L3/35 30 Half-tracked 1 0 1 Twin hull MG

L3/35 with AT 30 Half-tracked 1 0 1 20mm tank gun (hull)

L3/35 Lanciaflamme 55 Half-tracked 1 0 1 Flame-thrower, Fuel tanks

Panzer IA 45 Half-tracked 1 0 1 Twin MG

Panzer IB 45 Half-tracked 1 0 1 Twin MG

Panzer IATR 50 Half-tracked 1 0 1 20mm tank gun

T-26B 50 Fully-tracked 1 1 1 45mm tank gun, co-ax MG, Slow tank, Unreliable

BT-5 50 Fully-tracked 0 0 1 45mm tank gun, co-ax MG, Light tank, Unreliable

Armored Tractor A 20 Half-tracked 0 0 0 MG, WWI tank, 1 passenger

Armored Tractor B 20 Half-tracked 0 0 0 Hull MG, WWI tank, 2 passengers

Armored Car Name Points Mobility F S T Equipment and Notes

Lancia LZ11 35 Wheeled 0 0 1 Twin MG

Bilbao 32 30 Wheeled 0 0 1 MG

BA-6 50 Wheeled 0 0 1 45mm tank gun, co-ax MG, hull MG

UNL-35 30 Wheeled 0 0 1 MG

Armored Truck A 20 Wheeled 0 0 0 MG, 1 passenger

Armored Truck B 20 Wheeled 0 0 0 Hull MG, 2 passengers

Design Notes

This Intel Briefing attempts to provide Flames of War players with an army list to

represent the Fascist forces during the Spanish Civil War. Both the Fascist and

Communist forces had units that changed in composition as the war progressed. Due to

this, I have had to assign generic values and unit composition to represent the “overall

feel” for every unit type.

Painting Guide

These are intended as merely a guide/starting point for gamers.

Regulars

Base: black spray

Uniform: heavy drybrush MM Panzer Dunkel Gelb (2095)

Uniform highlight: light drybrush GW Kommando Khaki (61-82)

Web gear: MM Military Brown FS 30117 (1701)

Ammunition pouches: MM Military Brown FS 30117 (1701)

Boots:

Foreign Legion

Base: black spray

Uniform: drybrush MM Faded Olive Drab (2051)

Uniform highlight: light drybrush GW Kommando Khaki (61-82)

Web gear: MM Military Brown FS 30117 (1701)

Ammunition pouches: MM Military Brown FS 30117 (1701)

Boots: MM Military Brown FS 30117 (1701)

Italian Black Shirts

Base: black spray

Army of Morocco

Base: black spray

Uniform: heavy drybrush GW Kommando Khaki (61-82)

Uniform highlight: drybrush GW Bleached Bone (61-??)

Web gear:

Boots:

Militia

Base: black spray

Uniform: mixed

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