Compass Games a eee eal ed By Brad Jacobs\When the civil war began, the Spanish Army had a small number of obsolete tanks - six French ‘Schneider CA1s, 16 French and italian FT-17s, and six Trubia/Landesas. The majority (four ‘Schneiders, 10 FT-17s, one Trubia, two Landesas, and 41 Bilbao-32 armored cars) were in the Fregimento Ligero de Carros de Combate (Light Tank Flegiment - LCC) Number 1 near Madrid and sided wit the Republic. The remainder (two Schneiders, six FT- 17s, three Trubias, and five Bilbao-32 armored cars) were in LCC Number 2 in Zaragoza and sided withthe Nationalists. The Republican tanks participated inthe fighting for the Siera de Guadarramas, and the battles against the Army of Aticain and around Madrid. The Nationalist tanks were involved in the defense of Ovieda and the campaign against the Basques in Guipuzcoa. To make up for the lack of armor, hundreds of improvised armored vehicles based on truck and tractor chassis were produced locally during the war. Most were almost entirely road-oound, breakdown prone, top-heavy, and had a tendency to overturn, ‘When Italy and Germany backed the Nationalists and the Soviet Union backed the Republicans, modern tanks began to flow to Spain, The Italians provided the fist vehicles, CVS/35 tankettes, However, those were crewed by Italians forthe most part and pretty nuch remained part of the Italian Corpo Truppe Voluntarie during the war. Unies the italiane, the Germane and Russiane planned on providing tanks and training Spanish crews to man them, ‘The fist shipment of §0 7-26 Soviet tanks, along with a cadre of Soviet tankers to provide training and technical ‘support, arived in Spain in October 1998 and went into ‘combat in late October around Madkid with mixed Russian and Spanish crows. The T-26 was equipped with a 45mm gun and a 7.62mm DT machine gun, Weighed 9.6 tons, had 6-15mm armor, and a crew of three. The first German tanks, 41 Panzer Is, accompanied by German tankers for taining and technical suppor, arrived in Spain in October 1998 and were deployed into ‘combat during the fighting for Madrid in early November 1896 with almost entirely Spanish crews. The Panzer | ‘was equipped with twin 7.92mm MG-13 machine guns, weighed 6.4 tons, had 7-3mm armor, and a crew of ‘wo. Losses were heavy for both sides tanks in the fighting in and around Macrid, both due to ‘combat and the wear and tear of continuous operations (although the Panzer I would prove to bbe much more mechanically robust than the T:26). Among the lessons learned from the early actions involving tanks was that they could not be operated non-stop due to significant maintenance requitements and that cooperation between the infantry and the tanks was ‘extremely poor (this would be a problem throughout the war, particulary for the Republicans,‘hough both sides lacked the numbers of tanks to dedicate much time to infantry-armor joint raining) ‘An additional 56 2s, along with more Soviet personnel, arved in Noversbor 1936. This ‘allowed the Republicans to organize their armored force into the 1" Brigada Blindada (Armored Brigade) mad up of three 30-tank battalions, although actual strength was usually no more ‘than 60 tanks. The Nationalists formed ther armor int the 1" Batallon de Carros de Combate (Tank Battalion ~ BC) made up of three 15-tank companies. Both sides found thet tanks provided a strong psychological boost tothe infantry and as such, there was a great demand for ‘them. This led to armor usually being broken up into company-sized or smaller detachments _and parceled out tothe infantry, rather than being massed to provide a breakthrough and exploitation force, ‘Both sides committed large numbers oftheir avalable tanks to the Battle of Jarama. The "Nationalists had several companies of Panzer Is totaling about 45 tanks and the Republicans: ‘deployed the entie 1" Armored Brigade. The Nationalist tanks were divided up among the attacking brigades and the Fepublican tanks were broken up Into company-sized detachments to reinforce the defensive line as well as spearheading multiple counterattacks. ‘During the Battie of Guadalajara, the 1" Armored [Brigade once again played a critical role. The T-26s ‘were instrumerial in the counterattack which routed ‘the attacking Italians and drove them back to their starting postions. ‘The Republicans received a major shipment of tanks in March 1957 when 100 T-26s artved. This led to a decision to form three addtional armored. brigades nthe sping and summer of 1997. However, these new brigades hal oly one tank battalion and two armored car battalions instead ofthe three tank battalions found inthe 1" ‘Armored Brigade (the Republicans had by ths time received about 40 Soviet-made BA-/BA-6 ‘armored cars and about 20 Soviet-made FA armored cars and were also locally producing UNL:3S and Blindado Modela B.C. armored cars). A further 50 7-268 arrived in May 1937. “Tho reinforcements alowed the 1% Armored Brigade to be brought upto full strength. The ‘entire brigade was commited to the Republican Brunete offensive where one ofits tank ’battalons supported each ofthe three attacking corps. A battalion of Republican tanks led the attacks 01 both Villanueva de la Canada and Quijoma. The Nationalists also commited ‘armored ‘orces tothe battle, where they took part in the counterattack that pushed the Ropublians back and retook much of the lst tertory. |While the Republicans were enlarging ther armored forces, the Nationalists had been doing the: ‘same. Shiprrents of tanks continued to come from Germany, with 21 Panzer Is ariving in [December 1836, 30 arivng in August 1997, 10 arivng in December 1997, and 30 arriving in ‘January 1938. As part of their effort to offset the inferiority of the machine gun-armed Panzer | ‘and GV-3/35 when matched against the gun-armed T-26, the Nationalists bul a verylimited "number of prototypes of both tanks armed with a 20mm cannon, These never entered into1997, there were enough captured T-26s to provide ‘one per Panzer | company for fire support. AS more tanks were captured, the Nationalists would form ‘entire companies made up of T-266. Of the 178 T- 26s captured during the war, 98 were placed into ‘service and the rest were used for spare parts. In late 1987, the Nationalists divided the 1* BCC into two tactical groupe, each consisting of two ‘companies ot Panzer Is and one company of T-26s. In action, the Panzer | and captured 7-26 tanks were often mixed together in company size groupings, usually ina ratio of two Panzer Is tone T-26. In February 1998, the 1" BCC was transferred to the Spanish Legion and renamed the Bandera de Cartos de Combate de a Legion (Legion Group of Tanks ~ BCOL). The two tactical groups were renamed the 1" and 2"Batialons Following Brunote, the emphasis shifted tothe north as the Nationalists conducted their campaign to conquer Asturias, Santander, and the Basque Country. Unlike the south where Soviet supplied armor was dominant, n the north Republican armor vas mostly a mix of FT-17 tanks received from Poland and Trubia tanks made locally in Bilbao. The Nationalists deployed «battalion of Panzer I tanks (attached to the 1* Navarra Brigade) and al of Corpo Truppe Voluntare's CVa/35 tankettes. The defeat of the Republicans in the north brought fresh supply of captured tanks (13 FT-178 and five Trubias) for service withthe Nationalist. The final shipment of Soviet tanks that actually made itto Spain was ofloaded in August 1957. This shipment consisted of 50 BT-S tanks. Unlike the T-26 which was an infantry suppor tank, the BT-5 was a Yast tank’ intended to operate independently. The BT-S was equipped with a 445mm gun and a 7.62mm DT machine gun, weighed 11.6 tons, had 6-18mm armor, and a crow of three. ‘The BT-5s were formed into the Intemational Tank Regiment crewed by the best of the Spanish tank crews and International Brigade ‘troops who attended the Soviet Gorky Tank School in the summer of 1937. The regiment was held in reserve untl it was committed at Fuentes de Ebro ‘a part of the Zaragoza offensive. As a result of aeSIONE ‘exceptionally poor planning by the Republican arse, ‘command staff, the attack was a debacle, with 40% oS ofthe attacking tanks being lost ‘tor the fiasco at Fuentes de Ebro, the number of Soviet tankers/advisors continually «diminished, with the armored force becoming almost entirely Spanish by the end of 1997. In (October of 1997, the four armored brigades, one tank regiment, and assorted smaller armored Units were consolidated into two armored divisions. However, these divisions were never ‘employed as a whole as the Republicans continued to deploy their tanks piecemeal in small nits‘Republican armor participated in the Battle of Teruel, were two tank battalions anc the ‘remnants ofthe Intemational Tank Regiment fought inthe bitter cold and heavy sncw for contol ‘of the city. By the end of 1937, the Republican tanks had exceeded their mechanical Mespan ‘and despite heroic efforts to maintain them, the numberof tanks available steadily decreased. ‘At the Batts of the Ebro in fhe summer of 1938, the Republicans only had a few understrength battalions available. In the heavy fighting during the last great Republican offensive they ost 35, tanks, While the Nationalist armored force was also sutfering the cftfects of mechanical wear and tear, it was in much better shape than the Republican's due to the more reliable flow ‘of spare parts and the continuing presence of German ‘advisors and technical suppor. During the drive tothe ‘sea which splt the Republic in two in late 1938 and the final offensive in Catalonia in Api 1939, the Nationalists successfully Used thelr armor for limited deep penetration breakthrough and exploitation operations on narrow ‘rons. Both sides continued to deploy armor on a small scale til the end of the Spanish Civil War. “The Spanish Civil War was nota proving ground fr bitzkrieg-syle armored warfare. While ‘both the Germans anc Soviets were developing armored warfare doctrine involving deep ‘maneuver and exploitation, nether side was able to test those concepts during the war. Both ‘the Nationalists and the Republicans remained wedded to World War | style armor doctrine and ‘consistently farmed their armor out in small units to suppor the infantry. However, some ‘doctrinal lessons were learned: '* Combinedarms tactics worked. Cohesive force packages of armor, infantry, arilery, and aircrat proved extremely effective. The Nationalists proved better able to coordinate the use of such force packages, particularly later in the war, which ed to 8 continuous string of battlefield victories, '* While indesendent armor operations were never really tested, tanks proved thoir worth ‘a close support weapon for non-mecharized infantry assaults, It was also apparent that they wore exceptionally useful as a “ire brigade”, particulary in the absence of anilery and air support. They had the mobility o appear at any threatened point and the firepower to make a crucial ditference once there. "+ Exlensive ank-infanty training was even more ciical than previously recognized. \Without such training, the performance of a combined force was often abysmal as each lament fought its own separate batle rather than righting ae a untied whole. “The primary lessons learned about armor from the Spanish Civil Wer were technological: ‘+ The machine gun-armed tank was an outmoded and dead-end concept. Tank-totanke ‘combi World Wat I Ina been very rare as basically only one side had tanks, The Spanish Civil War demonstrated that tank-vs-tank combat had become a common ‘occurrence. Machine gun-armed tanks were unable to close with gun-armed tanks before they could be engaged and destroyed by the much longer ranged weapon ontheir opponent. Even if they were able to close the distance, their main armament was Lunable to penetrate anything but the thinnest armor. Tanks armed with a cannon wore the ony effective system. ‘+ The ight tank was a weapon whose day had passed. The minimal amcunt of armor on light tanks was unable to withstand weapons fire from either modern antitank guns or gurvarmed tanks. They were egg shells armed with hammers. Tanks with heavier armor which provided them wit a better chance of withstanding attacks were needed. Along with heavier armor came the need for larger guns to penetrate that armor. Both needs required a larger vehicle with a more robust engine and suspenson, in other ‘words, a medium or heavy tank. ‘The new counters and rules allow the Nationalists to field armor companies, provide sufficient Vehicles that the Republicans can commit several companies of amor, and presenta large ‘number of scenarios involving armored unt.NEW RULES ‘5.6 Cavalry Replace Rule 5.6 Cavalry withthe following: 5.6 Cavalry. Cavalry units have an ilustration of their transport (horses) on their rear side and an stration ofthe corresponding dismounted unit onthe front side. A, ‘mounted cavalry unit may carry any numberof officers in addition tothe unttitselt. To tismount (fp the counter to iis dismounted side) requires half the mounted unit ‘movement points. After the units flpped, mark ts “Finished” ~the dismounted unit ‘may not move any further. To mount (ip the unitto its mounted side) requires al ofthe sismounted units movement points. Once mounted, the cavalry unt may continue to ‘move with thse MP remaining, Cavalry unis may mountaiamaunt as many fas A the player wishes unless the scenario rules indicate the contrary. Mounted cavalry units may not ba fired upon independently of thelr horses (or vice ‘versa). Both are treated asthe same unit For cavalry units, the fst step lost s indicated by placing a1 hit counter onthe unit ‘The first stop loss suffered by the unit reduces its FF by one. When a cavalry unit loses its second step, remove the -1 hit marker and place a -2 hit counter on it. The units new: ‘combat value will be half of ts original combat value, rounded down. When the unit Joes its third step, its completely eliminated and removed from the board. When dismounted, a cavaly units treated lke infantry When mounted cavalry charges, it may increase its movement points by 50% but may ‘not also benefit from the road bonus oF use Double Time. To charge, the cavalry units ‘may not cross any type of prohibited terain and do not require a pre-assauit morale check to engage in hand-to-nand combat against the ener. ‘Mounted cavalry units may not charge against units that are in a bul-up area, walled villa, hermitage, air base, cemetery, sunken road, forest or marsh. On the following turn ‘after a unt charges, it may not charge again and may only use hatf of ts normal ‘movement points ignoring fractions). Cavall, ke infantry, may only be attacked by AP ‘or ART fir. Fire on mounted cavalry gains a-1 on the fre table as they are larger than normal targets. Reconnaissance unts (identified with a red 'R}) are able to more easily detect enemy forces. In ‘the game, thie i represented by a postive modifier on the Spotting Chart as fellows: "Not: Al armored eas [except Tlanaos] are consiered to be Reconnaissance unis, even they dont haveared"FWhenever an officer ofa different formation is within the command range of an officer of, oF _agjacent toa unit of &reconnalssance formation, he may benef trom ine modifier ne can see the same hex as the reconnaissance officerunit. Oficers of reconnaissance units subtract one {om the die roll when directing artlery fire. 3 Attack Resolution ~ Combat Chart ‘Tho example given in 9.9 Assault Resolution has an AP Fire die rll modifier for exceeding @ ‘number of steps ina hex. However, this modifi is missing from those sted below the Combat CChart. Add the folowing AP Fire Modifier = More than 6 steps in one nex -110 the die ot 55 Flamethrower ranks Flame-thrower tanks act identically to other AFVs. Such a unit has a lame-throwing factr’ within a red box on is counter. This number is used in armored assault and as armor support. The CVa/35 LF had a single machine gun mounted coaxially with ts flamethrower. At ranges greater than zero, use its AP Factor to conduct attacks. 8.6 Panzer | Armor Piercing Ammunition The Panzer Is sent to Spain were outfited withthe Spitzgoschoss mit Kem (S.m.K. or K bull). First introduced in World War One to combat the early British tanks, the K bullet was a 7.92x57mm projectile with a hardened steel core. Very stable and accurate at long ranges, the K bullet had, on average, a one out of three chance to penetrate armor 12-13 mm thick at a range of upto 100 meters, ‘The Panzer | may use its AP value to attack an AFV with an Armor Value ol or less ata range ‘of one hex. Determine if any hits are made using the procedure glvan in Fue 8.9 Attack Resolution. itany hits are made, roll 1D6 for each hit and consult the folowing table: 106. Result 1-2 | Hitpenetrates armor and results in a stop loss, ‘3-6 | Hit bounces off armor. No effect ‘Moalior= if target AFV has an Armor Value Of2 "1 iftarget AFV has an Armor Value of 0 8.7 Panzer | Aust 20 ‘The Panzer I ith its machine gun main armament was poorly suited to engaging Republican Soviet-made tanks armed with @ 45mm gun. While the Panzer Is were equipped with armor. piercing ammunition that was capable of penetrating the T-26's armor, it was only elective out to about 100-180 meters. The Republicans quickly learned to stay at long range where the armor piercing machine gun rounds couldn't hurt them. The Nationalists implemented several ‘measures in an attempt to counteract the superiority of the T-26. Fist, they assigned a truck- towed battery of five 37mm Pak 96 ant-tank guns to each Panzer | company. Secondly, they cffered a bounty of 600 pacotae for each T-26 captured moro or loco intact with an aye towards repairing them and placing them in service with their armored force. Finally, four Panzer Is hadthei turets enlarged during the summer of 1937 to ft a Breda 20mm antiaireraft gur. The Breda Model 1995 20mm could penetrate 40mm of armor at 250 meters, more than sufcient 10 knock out a 7-26. The up-gunned Panzer Is were to be distributed ata ratio of one t each Panzer company. The German panzer troops attached tothe Condor Legion didnot tke the ‘conversion, calling them “death tanks" due to a gap in the turret armor forthe gun sight which lett he crew vulnerable to small arms fre, Production of the up-gunned Panzer | variant stopped as the Nationalists had acquired sufficient captured T-26 tanks to equip ther armored nits and the four prototypes never saw action ior ‘Chart a (GUN TYPE, | D.eredazonmMTass| 4 | s | spe het? | D. Fz Ausf 20, CVa‘35CC meee = ‘Armored Assault Chart Pz Aust 20 the 4-8-2 column = Light In any scenario occuring on July 1997 or alter, the players may substitute a Parzer | Aust 20 ‘ot a standard Panzer If they want to experiment with the effect the up-gunned tanks might hhave had. Ifthe Panzer | that is replaced by the Panzer | Ausf 20 s part of a formation that includes @ 37mm AT gun and truck, remove the S7mm AT gun and truck rom the order of battle 8.8. V3/95 CC Just as the Panzer | had been found wanting when engaging the T-26 with iis 4Smm main gun, the Italian CVA/35s were also totaly outclassed. AAs a prototype, a single CV3V35 had its machine guns removed and its hull superstructure altered to accommodate a Breda 20mm antiaircraft gun. ‘The rodification was found to be successful enough thatthe Nationalist command ordered 40 more of the tarkettes to be converted tothe CV/35 CC (Contrecarro — “antiank’). However, no more were produced as the Nationalists acquired sufficient captured “F-26 tanks to equip ther armored units and lke the Panzer | Aust 20, the CVSIS5CC prototype never saw action, a Penetration Chart (GUN TYPE Breda zommmress | 4 | S| 3 [2 | 2) t DP | Aust 20, CVS/S5CC ‘Armored Assault Chart the 4-3-2 column = Light In any scenario occuring on July 1937 or ater, the players may substitute a CVS/S5CC for a standard CV3/35 if they want to experiment with the effect the up-gunned tank might have had8.9 45mm M32 /46 Ant-tank Gun “The Soviets supplied the Republicans with numerous artillery pleces during the war. Among these guns was the aBmm MED 1/46 antitank gun” Similar in size to tha 37mm Pak 36 that the Gormans supplied tothe Nationalist, it used the same 45mm gun found on the T-26 and BT-5 tanks. The 45mm AT gun uses the “A. 45L/46mm 32" line on the Penetration Chart {8.10 70mm Schneider 70/16 M1908 Infantry Gun Pre-war Spanish Army infanty battalions (including the Legion banderas and Moroccan regulare tabors) had a Seccién de méquinas de acompafiamiento (essentially ‘Mortar and Gun Platoon) which contained the battalion's two mortars and the battalion infartry gun. While the unit was directly under the command ofthe battalion, it was common practice to assign it to the machine gun company. The seccién was divided into Pelotén de canon and a Pelotén de ‘morteros. The cannon section had a single Schneider 70/16 M1908 infantry gun. The mortar ‘section had two mortars, ether the Lafile 6Omm M1926 or the Valero 60mm M1929._ It was Intended to replace those mortars withthe Valero 81mm M1938 but the prooess has not been ‘completed before the war broke out. The Spanish Legion had extensive experience with the se ofthe 70mm infantry gun dating back to the Rif War during the 1920s. “The 70mm M1908 IG represents the Mortar and Machine Gun Platoon described above and ses the "75mm ART.” ine on the Penetration Char. 8.411 Panzer Following the battles in and around Mactidin the winter of 1996-37, where the Panzer ! tank proved inadequate agains the T-26, Lieutenant Colonel Von Thoma, the head of the Condor Fagion's ground foenas, documented tha poor performance of the machine gun armed Panzer! in roports and requested that tanks armed with a least a 20mm gun be sen to Spain, The Panzer Il Aust a was in limited series production in 1936 and a total of 75 units were bul in 1996-37 (along with 25 Panzer II Aust b and 25 Panzer Il Ausf ¢- the same vehicle with improved suspensions and other minor modifications). The Panzer II was equipped with a 20mm automatic cannon, one MG-34 7.82mm machine gun, weighed 7.6 tens, had 5-13mm armor, and a crew of three. The 20mm Kwik 30 gun on the Panzer Il could fire at arate of 600 rounds per minute and could penetrate the armor of aT-26 when using an AP shell, While Germany never sent any Panzer Il to Spain, they could have sent a detactment of the now tanks to test them under combat condtions. Players may include the Panzer ‘own scenarios. cep ‘Chart ee aa IGUN TYPE, in “design-your 20mm KWK30 a Pz Aust a8.12 Medium Tanks [At the time of the Spanish Civil War, both Germany and Russia had tanks with much heavier ‘armor and larger guns han what thay sent fo Spain, The primary Soviet heavy" tank was the ‘T-28A/B (270 vehicles ofthe two models had been built by 1938). [twas equipped with a short- barreled 76.2mm gun, four DT 7.62mm machine guns (Ivo of which wore in stall independent turrets), weighed 28 tors, had 20-30mm armor, and a crew of five or six. The 76.2mm L-10 gun. ‘on the T-28 was an infenty support weapon designed for use with HE rounds. However, when tsing the APHE-T rouns, it could penetrate the armor of any Nationalist armored vehicle. The heaviest German tank was the Panzer IV Aus A/BIC (117 vehicles of the three models had ‘been bul by 1938). It was equipped with a shor-barreled 75mm gun, two MG-34 7.2mm machine guns, weighed 18 tons, had 15-30mm armor, and a crew of ve._Ihe />mm KWK $7 [U24 gun on the Panzer IV was meant fo suppor infantry with HE fire. However, when using an AAP shell, it was more tran sufficient to deal with any Republican armored vehico. While these tanks were not deployed to Spain, a small number of them could have been sent to test the impact of heavier armored vehicles on the batlfied, Players may include the Panzer IV and T- 28 in “desian-vour-own" scenarios Se ‘Chart as (GUN TYPE F.voomkuksnes | 7 | 7 |e | 5 | 8 | 4 | 4 G.762mmKT25 epejs|4|4|s F. Pei Aust A e 6.1268 : “Armored Assault Chart ‘the 8-6-4 column ~ Medium the 8-65 column = Medium ‘8.13 Armored Trains, “The Spanish Republic had established an Armored Train Brigade immediately after the start ot ‘the war. The engireer branch had responsibilty forthe brigade which consisted of several armored train companies. The rains were outfited with steel armor plate, sometimes with a layer of concrete in between plates, machine guns, and cannons ranging from 37mm to 76.2mm. They paticipated in a number ofthe battles around Madrid, but did not prove anywhere near as useful as they had during the Russian Civil War. ‘The lepublican Armored Train is a separate formation and activates as iit had an Officer attached to it + Ithas a Morale of 6, I the Armored Train ie routed, it may attempt ta rally eel using ite criginal Morale of 6 adjusted for any step losses sutfored. Itis @ Motoized/Mechanized unit, Its AFV Class is “8-6-4 column ~ Medium. Ituses the “75mm ART" line on the Penetration Chart Itis alwaysin command, 10‘+ Itis considered to be *Milta/Other Republican troops" for Rule 7.3 Coordination of Officrs and has a Coordination Value of 1 ‘= Itmay only move along ralroad hexes at the cost of one MP per railroad hex entered (indicated by red underined Movement Points) ‘© Itmay not move on a tum where it uses its Arley Fire Factor. ‘© Itisteated as an armored vehicle but may nat conduct armored assault and may not provide armor support for an assault It may provide armor suppor if being assaulted. 12:11 Walled Vi Walled Villas have the following effects: Terrain Type Foot Walled vila 2 1 Terrain Type. ‘AT Fire ‘Walled vi HTH Combat Die Fill Modifiers: Defender in Walled Villa 2 Walled vila ~DwvisoR 4 Walled Vila hexes encountered along the race block LOS the trace of the LOS is atthe same: level a5 thelr nex, Locate 2-10 Not Located 228, 15 Designing a Point-Based Scent ‘Add or change the fllowing forces (tems in red indicate a change to curent rules) \Nationelist Formations and Point Costs: Infantry, Cavalry, & Heavy Weapon: 1x Officer, 2x Legionnaire MMG, 1 x 70mm M1908 1G 1x Officer, 2x Moorish Troops MMG, 1x 70mm M1908 IG 16 points 16 points1 x Officer, 2x Nationalist MMG, 1 x70mm M1908 1G 1 x Officer, 8x Requetes, 1x Requetes MMG. 1 x Officer, 3x Cavalry 1 x Officer, x Cavalry, 1 x Cavalry LMG .. 1x Offer, 8x Cavalry, 1 x Cavalry MMG Tanks & Vehicles: 1x Officer, 3x Pz | Aust A. 1x Officer, 3x Pz Aust A, 1 x:87mm AT, 1 x Truck 1 xOffcer,2x P21 Aust A, 1x2 Aust 20. 1 x Officer, 2x Pz | Aust A, 1 x7-26 8 1 x Officer, 2x P2 | Aust A, 1 xBT-5 1 x Officer, 3x Pz Aust a 1 x Officer, 8x7-26 B 1 x Officer, 8x OVS 1 x Oficer, 2x OVSIS5, 1 x CVSISSLE 1 x Officer, 2x OVA, 1 x CVa/s50C |Add 1 o' the folowing vehicles or tanks to any unit composed only of: 8 x Legionaries, 9 x Moorish Troops, or $x Nationalist Fife, Ee e 1 x Schneider CAN... 14 points 16 points 49 points so 22 points 24 points 12 points 1-22 points 16 points 18 points 18 points 27 points 90 points 2 points 14 points 16 points points 10 points ‘Add 1 othe following tanks to any unit composed only of: 3x Pz I, 2x Pz V1 x Pz! Aust 20, 2x Pt x7-26, 2x21 xBT-5, of 3x 7-26. 1 xPZIY Aust A Republican Formations and Point Costs: Infantry & Heavy Weapons: 1 x Officer, 9x Intemational Bigades 1 x Offcer, $x Int. Brigades, 1x Int. Brigades MMG. 1 x Officer, 3x International Brigades MG. 1x Officer, 3x Republican Pile, 1x 45mm AT. 1 x Intemational Brigades Commissar 22 points 18 points 20 points 18 points 25 points 10 points 2‘Tanks & Vehicles: 1 x Officer, 2x7:26, 1 xBT-5 80 points 1 Offer, BX BT'S sn 30 points 1 x Officer, 2x BAS, 1x FAI... 25 points 1 x Officer, 1x FT-17, 2x FT-17 MMG 1 x Officer, 1x Taubia 36, x Bbaa-22.. 16 poinss ‘Add 1 of the following vehicles to any unit composed only of: 3 x Republican ite. 1 xTrubia $6 Tank... 6 points 11 points 6 points 1x BA-6 Armored Car... 1 XFAI Armored Car |Add 1 ofthe folowing vehicles to any unit composed only of: 6 or fover x Republican Milt, 4 xSchnelder CAT Tank. 10 points 1X UNL-35 Armored Car 6 points 1 x Bilbao-2 Armored Car smn 8 points 1 xTiznao Improvised Armored Car se § points 1 xFT-17 WMG. 14 points ‘Add ofthe fllowing tanks to any unit composed only of: 8x7-26, 8x BT'S, or 2x7-26 and 1 XBT, 1x28 8 21 points ‘Scenarios Mutt-hex Objectives: In any scenario involving multshex VP objective, in order to control the ‘multcnex objective a player must control all hexes of the objective. For example, in Scenario 18, the Victory Conditions state that, "The Republican player ‘wins if he controls hexes A1219/A1212 and A6O7/A608". In order to contol VP objective A121/A1212, a player must control hexes A1213 and A1212 and in order to control VP ‘objective AG07/A808, a player must control hexes ABO7 and A608. BDesigner's Notes A.Las Barricadas is a detailed and interesting game on a much neglected topic, the Spanish ‘Civil War, One ofthe longest and bloodiest internecine conflicts in histry, involved major ‘campaigns and battes, tested the emerging technology and doctrine of modem warfare, and settled fate of a major European nation for decades. A Las Barricacas allows us to get a glimpse of what happened inthis major war, The use of armor in warfare was in the midst of both technological and doctrinal changes during the period ofthe Spanish Civil War. A Las Barricadas briefly touched on the Republican use of tanks but cid not cover the Nationalists’ use of armer at all. There were a surprisingly large number of engagements involving armor during the war and the sophistication of the tactics and units grew as the war went on. This expansion will alow A Las Barricadas players to explore the use of armor in Spain more fully. Unfortunately, as | do not read Spanish, | was restricted to using English language sources (I did use avery limited number of Spanish sources with the use of Google Translate), which are ‘somevfat limited in number. However, | was able to come up witha praty large number of sources and was able to glean the basic information about muhiple engagements sufcient to create hese scenarios. | tried to include every engagement I found where the use of tanks was ‘mentioned in enough detail to craft a scenario. {also trad to ensure thet there were enough itfererces between the various engagements to make them intresting, Taking what information was available about the orders of batl, | used the guidelines given in Fulo 15. Designing a Point-Based Scenarioto balance the forces involved. Many of the scenarlos involve attack and defense and | generally gave the attacker from about 1.5 to 2.0 times the points the defender had and usually used 15 tums as the length (although a few scenarios are 20 turns in length due to their size or the number and positioning ofthe objectives to be taken). ‘Afew combine elements of both meeting engagements and attack and defense. A wide variety of situations are presented: night battle, bate in fog, seizure of bridgeheads, unsupported armor attacks, combined arms attacks, storming entrenched and fortified postions, armored trains attack and counterattack, otc... The time frame covered stretches from the very beginning ofthe war tothe final Republican offensive on the Ebro. oase note that these scenarios have not been play tested. Feel ree alter or adjust them to your taste ‘The new cavaly rules are taken from the latest War Storm series game Paths fo Hell The ‘mounted'dismounted counters seem cleaner and easier to manage than separate counters for the horses. Alo included trom Paths fo Helland La Bataille de France 1940 are the rules for reconnaissance units and flamethrower tanks. For these with La Bataille de France 1940 and/or Paths to Hel, you will note that the Armor Factorfor the Panzer Il provided as a "design-you-own’ option inthis veriant is only one vice the ‘Armor Factor of two in those games. Tha is because the tanks inthis variant are limited ‘production series Panzer Il Aust a vehicles which had significantly less armor (the Panzer I ‘Aust Crrepresentad in the lator games were up-armored with extra armor plates bolted to the ‘rontalglacis and turet) ‘One of my sources for Guadarrama (Scenario 14) state that the Republcans supported their infantry with light tanks, but doesn’t specify what type of tanks those were. As the battle ‘occurred well before the arrival of the first Sovie-suppied T-26 tanks, the most probable vehicles were the FT-17 tanks ofthe 1* Regimento Ligero de Carros de Combate out of Maid. FryThis assumption is supported by a photograph in Zaloga's “Spanish Civil War Tanks" that shows. 2 Republican FT-17 abandoned during the fighting for the Sierra de Guadarrama, | also gave a Bilbao-32 to the Assault Guards formation (and also in other scenarios with an Assault Guard formation present) as these vehicles were regularly assigned tothe Assault Guards as part of their intemal security duties. [At Medelin (Scenario 15) the V" Bandera of the Legion didnot paticigate inthe batle but remained in reserve, The optional rue allows the player to send the lagionnaices into the fight. My sources do not mention any Nationalist armor support being used a: Medellin, However, ‘here is a picture taken after tne batte win Republican troops inspecting @ FT-17 tank ‘supposedly captured from the Nationalists during the bate, | strongly suspect that this was a ‘staged propaganda photo using one ofthe lepublicans own tanks that was present at Medel ‘especially given the fac that the Republicans went to great efforts to inate the results of the battle into a much-needed major victory over the seemingly unstoppable Nationalists. The ‘optional rule allows the Nationalist player to commit a platoon of F17s tothe battle. In Scenarios 14 ~20, 35, 98 ~ 40, and 42, specific aitcraft types are designated for air suppor missions. For Scenarios 14 and 17 ~ 20, this represents the fact that trese air missions were, ‘mostly flown by the old and obsolete aircraft the Spanish had on hand when the war began (using the I-18 side ofthe air support counter will provide @ lower ART FF which reflects the ‘minimal capabilty of these aircraf). For Scenario 16, the Ju-52 side ofthe air support counter i used as these aircraft provide the vast majority of the air suppor for te Guipuzcoa campaign. For Scenario 15, the new PO-540 counter represents the large PO-540 bombers used by the Republicans to suppor the defenders of Medolin which had a significant impact on the attacking Nationalists. For Scenarios 35, 38 — 40, and 42, the Ju-52s had mostly been removed from an active frontine bombing role withthe He-1 118 taking their place. ‘Sources for the Guipuzcoa campaign (Scenario 16) stated that Mola provided Panzer | tanks to support the drive on run. However, the first shipment of Panzer Is didnt arrive in Spain uni October, well ater the bale, Therefore, | made the assumption thatthe tanks were most likely from the 2” Rlegimento Ligero de Carros de Combate out of Zaragoza which lay within General Mola's area of operations, For Cortjo de Vista Alegre (Scenario 16), the specific type of Republican tanks present is once ‘again not spectied. Just a for Scenario 14, | made the assumption thet the 1° LCC provided the vehicles. By ther nature, armored trains are restricted in their area of movement by the rail lines thay need to mave on. Hence, the armored tain unit's inabilty to conduct an armored assault or provide armor support during an assault conducted against the enemy as the enemy ‘oops would be able to easily move away trom the train, However, it may provide armor ‘suppor fits hex is being assaulted as in ths case the enemy must move into close combat range with tin order to conduct the assault. In general, armored trains were not very ‘successful in the Spanish Civil War. In Sconarioe 47, 48, and 20, the Durut Anarehiet Mitia unto ropresent ordinary Anerchist ‘Mia and not Durut's troops. They were used inthe scenarios simply because there weren't ‘enough ordinary Anarchist Miia formations inthe counter mis Players will note that there are fewer Republican tanks present al Uve bale for tases (Scenario 20) than in previous ones. Lacking specific information as to the type of tanks 6Jnvoved, l once again assumed they were the 1" LCC's vehicles given the date of the battle. By this time, the T* LCC had been involved in multiple engagements and would have suffered losses due to combat and mechanical breakdowns. The Republican Army was just beginning ts conversion from groups of ad-hoo militia into a regular standing army at this time which | ‘have chosen to represent by including a couple of Republican Rifle formations in the battle. The arrival of Monasterio's and Tala’s troops on the Republican's flanks had a decisive effect on the bate, Their arrival time is somewhat random so the players cant prodict exactly when the full ‘weich of the reinforcing troops wil hit. {he option to brrg on more Italian CVs at Sesena (Scenario 21) represents the fact that ‘the remainder of he company the single platoon came from could have been sent to oppose the Fepubliat tanks (wilh an equally unikely probabilly of success). Unlike most bates during the war, Torejon de Velasco (Scenario 22) was fought entirely at night. | have spectied a generous vsiilty range due to the tact that there was a tull moon on the night of 80:31 October, 1986, which would have provided ample ight to fight the ‘eigeyement in, [My sources state that Nationalist tanks were involved inthe fighting for Valdemoro (Scenario 23) but don't specity the type. Given the fac that the Panzer Is had just arrived in Spain afew ‘ays earlier and wouldn't be committed to combat unti November, | made tho assumption that these vehicles were the Italian CV3I35 tankettes. The fist tian vehicles were a single platoon ‘of CVG\35s that arrived in Vigo in August 1996 and became part of Mola’s Army of the North ‘where they participated in the occupation of San Sebastian during the Guipuzcoa campaign bu: ‘saw no actual fighting. The second batch, consisting of 10 CVs and three CVS/3SLF flame ‘thrower variants arte in Spain on 28 September and saw their fist combat at Navalcamero ‘on 21 October. These vehicles would have easily been availabe to join the advance on \Valdemoro on $1 October. They were certainly in the vicinity witha platoon of CV3/35s having participated inthe batie for Sesena on 28 October, ony afew kilometers from Valdemoro. [My primary source for Parla (Scenario 24) states that the Republican infantry included ‘two battalions of foreigners" which would seem to indicate the presence of the International Brigades. However, most of my other sources show the International Brigades entering combat ‘forthe first time during the fight forthe city of Macrid about a week later than Para, The ‘scenario is bill under the assumption tal the iteration Brigades uh enter coma unl ‘the following week, and thus were not present at Paria, The optional rule assumes the Intemational Brigades were ready and did participate inthe bate fr Parla. ‘The Republican Army had begun the process of converting into a regular standing army as the baltles of Getafe (Scenario 25), Venta de la Rubia (Scenario 26), Colonia de la Paz (Scenario 27), and Boadila del Morte (Scenario 28) were fought. | have chosen to represent that by having the Republican forces made up ofa mix of regular infantry and mila “The fighting forthe Colona de la Paz area (Scenario 27) stretched out over several days. Sinco. ‘this scenario condenses several days into a single game, the Special Rule allowing the "Nationalist player to immediately place trenches and barbied wire upon controling the entire ‘town represents the fact hat the Nationalists bult defensive postions immediately spon seizing Colonia de la Paz before the first ofthe inevitable Republican counterattacks began.‘The battle of Boadila opened with a Republican attack on the Nationalist forces encamped in the hils ouside the town followed by the Nationalist assault onthe town once they had defeated the Republican assault. The Special Rule in Scenario 28, requiring Republican infantry and tanks to move towards the Nationalists during the fst few turns represents the fact thatthe Republican forces were committed to an attack ~ it prevents the Republican player from simply The Bato othe Fog 1nd Gund ALB Seonaro 30 Jarans ~The Pidoque Brdgehess ‘ALB Seanaro 31: Jarame — Tank Atak on th Surkon Road ALB Seenalo 92: Guadabjara~ The Sora Dion ri aban: ‘ALE Soanaro 4: For Libety ‘Aragon: [ALB Seenaro§:Sieamo [ALE Sosnaro 13; Vaca a Ubertad (Hurray Livery) [ALB Soenara 37; Fuss de Ebro = Death o he Intemational Tank Regiment inthe Nosh ‘ALB Sooniio TOA, 108, and 100: Assault on Vilrea! ‘ALB Soenaio 1 loge of Oviedo [ALB Soenaio 12: The Deenoa of Mexia ‘ALB Scena 16: Gupurcoa ~ Long Live Daath ‘ALB Scenario 18 Oviedo The Frat Assault ‘ALB Scenario 33: Bubeo~ Breaking the ing of on ‘ALB Seenara 26: Santander ~ Drive on Renae ‘Battle of Brunste: ‘ALB Sceraro 4 Objecbve Qujprna ‘ALB Scenano 24 Vilanuova doa Cafada A Hot anc Bloody Day ‘ALB Sconao 35: Bruneto One Last Try Battle of Teruel [ALB Soenaro 8: Blood on the Snow Battle of he Ebro: [ALB Soenaro Ay Carmela {ALB Soenatio 38: Vl de Arcos ~ High Water Mark ofthe Ebro Otfensive [ALB Soonaro 30: Tha Fayon Mequinanza Pecket~ El Auts, ‘ALB Soenaro 40: Hil 481 ~ Storing the Targa, ‘ALB Scenario 41: Pa Advance fo the Eb [ALB Scenario 42: La Faarala~ Tha Las Strongpint 23pe eee se es | ee Sanna = VE ‘o> se sae om ons om om = gar ree te ee age eg, 5r OG 5 Qe 5 sro’ AeoQeG ary rt yaSaaS eee Cee wee apkh aey eee “apee apes & S82 4¢448E ERG FEE iiéléa SESE a ane mde ddd dee Be erie is a be) if » & an aSe ee Ea ee El Ed iB eAeyano platy aue>‘Aean paid aueyAeyeno aBeyuay, T Aepano eat ) Aeyano aseg sty a) 5 Aejano peow ty Aepano peoy 7 heiano peow ¢ Aeuano peow { Aeyano peoyAepano Asya) Aeyano apse @ © TAepano peoy ewesey T Aeyano peoy uayuns eweseyAeyano punoig peag ewerer T Aeano sang + Keyano peoy eweserTAeyano IIH 2 Ae|s9n0 Ht