COMPENDIUM

A COLLECTION OF ARTICLES FROM THE BOLT ACTION

COMMUNITY - UPDATED FOR THIRD EDITION

A – Bolt Action Compendium

The Spanish Blue Division deploy in strength

Late War
SS Fallschirmjäger squad

A Japanese Chi-Ha tank trundles unaware into a well-planned Chindit ambush

Compendium
 Contents
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

THE MEDITERRANEAN & MIDDLE EAST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

The Polish Army in Exile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Heroes Fight Like Greeks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Operation Rösselsprung . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
The Brazilian Expeditionary Force. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

THE ASIAN-PACIFIC THEATRE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

The Japanese SNLF in Combat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Operations Longcloth & Thursday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

THE EASTERN FRONT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

The Polish People’s Army . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
The Battles of Tomaszów Lubelski. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Spectres of the Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
The Spanish Blue Division at Krasny Bor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

THE WESTERN FRONT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Resistance! – Partisans in France. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Red Star – White Star. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

CREDITS
Original Articles by: Artwork: Peter Dennis, Steve Noon
Mark Barber, Jon Cooper, Mark Gallear, Roger Gerrish,
Photography:
Falk Kalamorz, Thanos Kermitsis, Robert Martin,
Phil Stovin, Ian Strickland, Adam Want, Darek Wyrozebski
Ste Ross, Darrin Zielinski
Design & Production Team:
Compiled by: Paul Sawyer, Peter Gosling, Ian Strickland
Peter Gosling, Dylan Owen, Phil Stovin,
Edited & Updated for Bolt Action: Third Edition by: Marcus Vine Ian Strickland, Adam Want
Miniatures Sculpting & Painting: Special thanks to: John Stallard, Paul Sawyer, Peter Gosling,
Andrés Amián Fernández, Wojtek Flis, Jamie Getliffe, Ian Strickland, Dan Hewitson, Alessio Cavatore
Kirsten Williams, Darek Wyrozebski & Aneirin Leverington

23122024 ISBN: 978-1-915319-71-5 1st printing

© 2025 Warlord Games Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Warlord Games, the Warlord Games logo, Warlord Resin, Warlord Resin Plus,
Bolt Action and the Bolt Action logo are either ® or ™, and/or © Warlord Games Limited, variably registered around the world.

WARLORDGAMES.COM

2 – Bolt Action Compendium

 Introduction
Welcome, commander, to the Bolt Action Compendium! a wide range of new units, rules, and missions to incorporate
This book is a collection of additional scenarios, rules, and into your games and scenarios. As these have not been
historical information allowing you to fight some of the less playtested as part of the wider game, we don’t recommend
commonly represented battles of the Second World War (and using them for competitive play or pick-up games, but
beyond!) on the Bolt Action tabletop. These have been drawn rather with the scenarios presented in this book and similar
from across our fantastic community over the lifespan of Bolt historically-based campaigns and scenarios. There’s something
Action – some have previously been featured as articles on our for everyone in here, so use as much or as little as you like,
Community site, while others have never seen the light of day make it yours, and have fun! We’re certain you’ll find the
until now. All have been revised and updated to bring them Compendium both a great source of inspiration and a fantastic
into line with Bolt Action: Third Edition, presenting you with way to enhance your Bolt Action experience.

“You ask what is our aim? I can answer in one word: 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.” Winston Churchill, 1940

Night attack! – Japanese troops attempt to swarm a desperately-held Chindit line of defence

Introduction – 3
The Mediterranean
& Middle East
The Second World War raged across the Mediterranean and familiar to many wargamers, some of the participants are far
North Africa, from the blazing sands of Libya to the mountains less so. Similarly, the partisan uprisings across the region would
of Greece, and the towns and villages of the Balkans. The lead to some of the most dramatic battles and daring special
theatre would see fighting from almost the very beginning forces operations of the entire war, making the theatre a great
of the conflict, and while the great battles in the desert are setting for Bolt Action games with a bit of a twist!

4 – Bolt Action Compendium

 The Polish army in exile By Darrin Zielinski

Polish troops surge forward to attack

Not all of the Polish troops who were ordered to evacuate their homeland in the face of defeat and make for France actually headed
west – some would escape southeast toward the French colonies in the Middle East. In Syria, they would form a brigade as part
of the French Army, and expected themselves to be sent to France to fight the Germans. Fortunately for these soldiers, the French
could not provide transport for them, and when France fell, this brigade would be the only Polish military unit in service between
the summers of 1940 and 1942.

Most of the men that had arrived in Syria were trained as EARLY DEPLOYMENTS
mountain infantry, and had fought in the Carpathian region In October 1940, the brigade would be deployed in Alexandria
of southern Poland. These men would one day form the cadre in response to the Italian invasion of Egypt. Over the next
around which the 2nd Polish Army would be created, and few months, its ranks would swell to roughly 5,000 men as
eventually fight up through Italy. That long road to Monte more Polish soldiers escaped to Egypt. By December, the unit
Cassino began in the Carpathian mountains of southern Poland, was renamed the Carpathian Independent Brigade Group
but first it would pass through the Egyptian desert… (Samodzielna Brygada Strzelców Karpackich, or SBSK).

The Carpathian Independent Brigade would only fight for nine During the first half of 1941, the SBSK would be earmarked
months before being reorganized after the influx of Polish POWs for deployment to Greece. Its vehicles and equipment had been
released from Russia in early 1942. However, during that time, almost completely embarked for the voyage when the German
they proved their mettle and gained the admiration of their conquest of Greece concluded. The brigade duly disembarked,
fellow defenders of Tobruk. and headed to Mersa Matruh in western Egypt to protect the
British supply depots, where they spent the next ten weeks
Almost a year had gone by since the start of the war, and all that improving their positions. In June, the British ordered the
was left of the Polish army was a single, French-equipped infantry Brigade to move in support of the British attacks on the Vichy
brigade stranded in the Middle East. Now, in the wake of the French forces in Syria. General Sikorski, commander of all Polish
Dunkirk evacuation and the fall of France, the British inducted forces in the West, would not allow Polish soldiers to fight the
the brigade into their service, reorganising it into a motorised French due to a centuries-old alliance between the two countries,
infantry brigade along British lines. The brigade had its own and he ordered the SBSK commander, General Kopanski, to
artillery and anti-tank equipment, made up of a mixture of remain where he was.
leftover French equipment - some of this would be requisitioned
by the British. It would not be until September of 1940 that The British next ordered the brigade to be sent to Tobruk to
British equipment arrived and was issued to the brigade. relieve the Australian, Indian, and British forces there.

The polish army in exile – 5

In mid-August, seven night-time convoys transported the uncharacteristically indecisive during the first few days of the
Poles to their new home. They were assigned to the toughest operation, and was still planning on continuing with his assault
part of the defences, the so-called ‘western section’, near the on Tobruk. Still, the British from Tobruk were able to advance
hill of Ras el-Medauar. From the start of October onwards, about 10 miles toward the east and established a perimeter
after being reinforced by a Czech and an Australian battalion, between El Duda and Belhamed, waiting for the 8th Army
the brigade found itself defending the longest single stretch of to link up with them. The Carpathian artillery and anti-tank
the Tobruk front. regiments were shifted to support this strategic position.

When they arrived, the Australians turned over their ‘bush On December 3rd, Rommel counter-attacked El Duda, but the
artillery’ to the Poles, rather than hand it in to centralised stores. initial assault was repulsed. Later that day, a second attempt
These weapons were captured howitzers and anti-tank guns used was only held off by the accurate artillery fire from the Polish
by the infantry battalions, and had been crewed by their cooks, guns, including the 100mm Polish howitzers found in Tobruk,
mechanics and administrative staff. The Poles added these to which inflicted heavy casualties. The brigade, along with the
their artillery regiments. After a short time on the line, the SBSK rest of the Tobruk defenders, continued to hold their positions
also ‘liberated’ several Polish 100mm howitzers and 37mm until the night of December 7th, when the Axis decided to
anti-tank guns that they had found in the Tobruk weapons abandon the siege.
depot. Whether these were captured by the Germans and given
to the Italians, or sold to them ‘off the books’ by a Polish arms The Italian forces launched attacks against the Polish lines on
manufacturer is not known. However, these guns were gratefully the 8th to help buy time for the withdrawal, but on the morning
added to the brigade’s batteries, whose men were very familiar of December 9th, the brigade launched its attack into the
with their operation. withdrawing Italian troops.

For much of the autumn of 1941, the Poles would engage While the 2nd and 3rd Battalions attacked the Italians on
in nightly patrols against the Italian 17th ‘Pavia’ Infantry Medauar Hill, the 1st Battalion, supported by the Carpathian
Division. These engagements were short and sharp with the Uhlans’ armoured cars and carriers, moved past to seize the
goal of obtaining information on the enemy, or even prisoners town of Acroma and the hill known as the ‘White Knoll’
if possible. Their morale and motivation was very high as they beyond the town, where the Italian artillery was deployed.
were finally able to strike back at the enemy after almost two In both engagements, the Italians were beaten back with a
years. These engagements quickly earned the Polish a reputation significant loss of guns and several hundred soldiers from each
as fierce fighters. position captured.

As a result of this action, the Poles were able to link up with

OPERATION CRUSADER the 8th Army and officially end the siege of Tobruk. As the
These night patrols continued until the brigade received orders brigade regrouped, the Axis continued their withdrawal to the
to support an attempted relief of Tobruk by the 8th Army. Gazala line. There, the British planned to utilize their armoured
Operation Crusader was to be launched on November 18th and battalions to outflank the Axis positions while the infantry kept
the Tobruk garrison was ordered to launch their own offensives them in place with their attacks.
to hold the Axis forces in place.
The Poles would join up with New Zealand forces as they fought
On November 21st, the Brigade was to launch a diversionary to gain control of the Axis fortifications on December 15th.
attack on Medauar Hill to fix Italian and German forces on the However, the Italians were not content to leave the positions
western perimeter, in support of the main breakout effort on the in Allied hands and units from the ‘Pavia’ Division launched a
eastern perimeter the next day. It was supposed to only be a feint counter-attack on the morning of December 16th. By this stage,
by a single company-strength force, supported the brigade had been in action for several days and ammunition
by platoon-sized probes. However, the Poles was running low.
attacked with almost the entire brigade
and the ferocity of a main thrust! Feliks Keidrowski shared his experiences of the morning of
December 16th during the fighting around the Gazala Line:
Though successful in their mission of
pinning down the Axis forces in their “We were short of ammunition so all 6,000 soldiers had 4 rounds
sector, the SBSK’s attack did not draw each. As I was a machine-gun carrier, I had 40. The order was not
reinforcements away from the main to fire randomly. We stayed in position without shooting, facing
British operation. Rommel was thousands of advancing Italian soldiers. They were 50-100 yards

6 – Bolt Action Compendium

away from us, and still no single shot, our nerves wrecked by the renewed their push in the morning of the 17th, they arrived at
fear of not being able to hold back the Italians, now 50 yards the Italian positions to find them vacated.
from us - still no flare signal to ‘open fire’. Instead the order
went out: ‘fix bayonets!’ We charged toward them with a roar The Carpathian Independent Brigade saw 110 days of action on
and all 16,000 Italians got out anything they could wave and the Tobruk front line. This was longer than any other battalion
surrendered – just like that. We didn’t even fire a shot – we took at the time except for the original Australian defenders who
them all as prisoners.” were not relieved from Tobruk. Despite this, they were ready for
offensive actions at the end of the siege, something to which no
After this dramatic success, the brigade resupplied, and renewed other brigade from the Tobruk garrison could lay claim. Because
its attacks westward into the 102nd ‘Trento’ Motorised Division of the impact of their actions and their successful breakthrough
(operating as an infantry division due to lack of vehicles). The to the 8th Army lines, the British and Australian troops
Poles advanced along the Gabr-er-Reghem ridge line, and the honoured them by awarding them the title of ‘Tobruk Rats’. The
Italians gave ground but did not break, maintaining the Gazala Desert Rats now included a Polish brigade!
line. By the evening, the Poles had thrust a three-mile salient
into the Axis positions, threatening the flanks of both the Pavia Having fought from the Siege of Tobruk to the battles of Gazala
Infantry Division and the 101st ‘Trieste’ Motorised Division. in January and February of 1942, the SBSK infantry battalions
This put the Poles in a position to support the New Zealand were significantly understrength. The brigade’s total casualties
attacks on the Trieste Division, occupying several concrete during this period were 156 killed in action (including 127 in the
emplacements along the Gazala Line. Siege of Tobruk), 467 wounded, and 15 missing, or about 14%
of its strength. Replacements were not readily available until the
On the night of the 16th/17th, while the Italians were focused arrival of tens of thousands of Polish PoWs released from Russia
on the New Zealanders to their front, the Poles silently in early 1942.
advanced with bayonets fixed. Once in position behind the
Italian emplacements, they launched a series of bayonet charges. On March 17th 1942, the brigade was withdrawn from the
Though taken by surprise, the Italians of the Trieste Division front to Palestine where it would be reformed into the 3rd
were of higher quality than those they faced previously. The Carpathian Rifle Division. This was only possible due to the
Italians quickly recovered from the initial shock of the assault arrival of the Polish forces of General Władysław Anders that
and the hand-to-hand fighting was fierce. The Italians were able had been freed from the Soviet Union. The brigade officially
to withdraw in good order, taking their wounded, equipment, ceased to exist on May 3rd 1942, bringing to an end its short
and even prisoners with them. By the time the New Zealanders but impressive career.

Italian troops dig in, and await the Polish assault

The Polish army in exile – 7

The Polish Independent Once in Tobruk, they acquired the Polish 100mm howitzers
stationed there. The anti-tank battalion similarly had started
Carpathian Rifle Brigade with French 25mm Hotchkiss AT guns which would slowly be
replaced with the British 2-pdr and augmented by Polish 37mm
AT guns found in the Tobruk depot. The Poles were trained
MODELLING THE BRIGADE to operate all of these guns by the time they were engaged in
The brigade can be modelled using our range of British 8th Army combat in the desert.
kits and equipment, which will require no modification to work.
The brigade’s equipment was the typical British loadout for a Since the Polish army used the 75mm French howitzer and the
platoon of the time, including the Boys AT Rifle, 2" mortar and Polish made guns and had training on the 25mm Hotchkiss AT
Bren guns. However, since the Sten had not reached significant gun, they would be as comfortable operating these as their British
production levels in mid-1941, the few submachine guns used equipment. For this reason, when you have a British 2-pdr or
by the officers and NCOs were American Thompsons. Transport 25-pdr in your list, represent that with your favourite French or
vehicles were the typical British 15CWT and 30CWT trucks Polish gun model instead; a simple swap that will make your army
and ubiquitous Universal Carriers. The SBSK’s reconnaissance look just a bit different from the typical British desert force!
regiment, the Carpathian Uhlans, would initially be mounted on
horses, but would receive Marmon-Herrington Mk II Armoured
Cars and Universal Carriers in the summer of 1941 before they PLAYING THE BRIGADE
were eventually deployed to Tobruk. To really bring your models alive as the SBSK, you can take into
consideration both the forces that you select, and the way in
Capturing the nature of the desert campaign and the special which you utilise them. As a general rule, an SBSK force should
uniqueness of the brigade among the other Commonwealth consist of Rifle Platoons, Heavy Weapons Platoons, Artillery
forces can also be done with some clever use of artillery models. Platoons, and Recce Infantry Platoons, with the occasional
Due to the desperate nature of warfare in the desert, captured Armoured Platoon. Use Armies of Great Britain and the Early
artillery could be found in use by both sides. Since these were War force selection guide, and limit your choices to the kind of
often captured along with a significant store of ammunition units described above, and you’ll have a force that looks and feels
and even some parts, they were easily put into service against just right!
their previous owners. Some of the weaponry captured by the
SBSK was familiar French equipment and luckily for the Poles Most of the brigade had experience in the defence of Poland with
there were even examples of Polish artillery pieces present some even participating in the wars between Poland and Russia
in Tobruk! The brigade’s artillery battalions entered action in the preceding decade. Their drive to fight the Germans fired
with French 75mm howitzers, and British 18-pdr and 4.5" them up and their morale couldn’t have been higher. For these
howitzers. The howitzers were slowly replaced with British reasons, it’s appropriate to build your list using both Regular and
25-pdrs but in November 1941, there were still French guns in Veteran infantry and artillery units. This reflects the high morale
the artillery regiment. consistently found in reports of the brigade’s actions. This also
helps to reflect the relatively low casualties sustained during the
six months of heavy fighting. However, as few, if any of the men
had combat experience in armoured cars or vehicles, these units
should always be purchased as Regular.
Humber MkII
armoured car Unfortunately for the Polish, at this point in the war, the British
armoured doctrine precluded the infantry and armour from
operating together as they would later in the war. As a result,
during the short life of the brigade, they were never supported
by British tanks, and so your Armoured Platoons should only
consist of armoured cars.

8 – Bolt Action Compendium

 Polish infantry in
8th Army uniform

Scenarios for the SBSK All of these scenarios use the Desert Warfare Climate Conditions,
Environmental Effects, and Desert Weather rules from the Bolt
The scenarios on the following pages represent actions between the Action: Third Edition rulebook, page 291.
Carpathian Brigade and various Italian infantry divisions.
Note that the objectives in these scenarios represent the actual
• The Polish player should use the selection guidelines goals of the armies in that engagement. While the first two
presented above and in the scenarios to select their force. scenarios may feel familiar, the final three introduce a very real
challenge faced by the armies in the fluid fighting of the Western
• The Italian player should use Armies of Italy, the Early War Desert. As such, all of these scenarios can be used to represent
force selection guide, and the information presented in the engagements throughout the entirety of 1940 through 1942 with
scenarios to select their force. either side playing the role of the attacker or defender.

The Italians withdraw before the Polish advance

The Polish army in exile – 9

SCENARIO 1: NIGHT PATROL AUGUST – OCTOBER 1941

The SBSK spent a significant amount of time during Emplacement

the Siege of Tobruk engaging in nightly patrols to Italian
deployment zone Barbed Wire 12"
harass and wear down the besieging forces, proving
to be capable night fighters. On a nightly basis, units
of the brigade engaged in vicious skirmishes with the Shallow Trench
Italian 17th Infantry ‘Pavia’ Division. Their objective
was gaining intelligence of enemy dispositions and, if
possible, to bring back prisoners for interrogation. Of
course, every casualty on either side was a loss that could
not quickly be replaced.

FORCES N
Both players select a 1,000 point force, which must 12" Polish deployment zone
include at least one Rifle Platoon and may also include
Heavy Weapons Platoons.

SPECIAL RULES
SET UP Night Fighting
The scenario is played on a standard 6'x4' table with a shallow Night Fighting rules from the Bolt Action: Third Edition
trench running the length of the table at the edge of the Italian rulebook, page 301, are in effect.
deployment zone.
Dug In
Set up with Italians in defensive positions as shown with 4 to 6 The Italian player may use the Dug In rules from the Bolt Action:
sections of barbed wire 6" long and two 6"x6" emplacements. Third Edition rulebook, page 294, when deploying their force.

DEPLOYMENT OBJECTIVE
The Italian player selects up to half of their force, rounded down, to Both players must look to maximise enemy casualties, while
be held in reserve, and deploys the remainder in their deployment minimising their own losses.
zone as indicated. The Polish player then does the same.

In this scenario, Snipers, spotters or forward observers may be GAME DURATION

placed on the table after all other units are placed on the table The game lasts for 6 turns. At the end of turn 6 roll a D6, on
as per the normal rules. However, they are not allowed to be a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
deployed outside of each player’s deployment zone. Outflanking continues for one more turn before ending.
Manoeuvres are not allowed in this scenario.

VICTORY!
Each player scores 1 victory point for every enemy unit destroyed.
In addition, for each assault made by a Polish unit that is won
Polish infantry in by the Polish unit, the Polish player is awarded 1 victory point.
8th Army uniform If one player scores at least 2 more victory points than the other,
that player wins. Otherwise the game is a draw.

10 – Bolt Action Compendium

 SCENARIO 2: A NICE CHANGE FOR THE BOYS NOVEMBER 21st, 1941

After three months in Tobruk, Operation Crusader was

launched on November 18th, and wasn’t going according
to plan. By the third day, the expected tank battle did not Italian deployment zone
really materialize but there was an opportunity to relieve
24" Emplacement
the Tobruk garrison. In anticipation the units in Tobruk,
including the SBSK, were ordered to begin offensives
Barbed Wire
on November 21st. In response to the order, one of the
brigade’s officers remarked, “It makes a nice change for the
Defensive Trench
boys, a very nice change indeed.”

The Polish were ordered to mount a diversionary attack

that was launched with the ferocity of a main thrust and
took the Poles into the Italian trenches. N

Polish deployment EDGE

FORCES
Both players select a 1,500 point force. The Italian force
may not include any armoured vehicles. SPECIAL RULES
Preparatory Bombardment
The Polish player rolls a die: on a roll of 2+, a preparatory
SET UP bombardment strikes the enemy positions.
The scenario is played on the standard 6'x4' table with a defensive
trench running the length of the table in the Italian deployment
zone as shown. Place six 6" long barbed wire obstacles anywhere OBJECTIVE
on the Italian half of the table. The Italian player may include up Both players must look to maximise enemy casualties, while
to three 6"x6" emplacements anywhere on their half of the table. minimising their own losses.

DEPLOYMENT GAME DURATION

The Italian player may place up to half of their units (rounded The game lasts for 6 turns. At the end of turn 6 roll a D6, on
down) in Reserve. The rest of their units must deploy anywhere a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
on the Italian half of the table. continues for one more turn before ending.

The Polish player declares which units, if any, are in reserve. This
may be up to half of their army, rounded down. The rest of their VICTORY!
force arrives on Turn 1 as the first wave. Each player scores 1 victory point for every enemy unit destroyed.
If one player scores at least 2 more victory points than the other,
Outflanking Manoeuvres are not allowed in this scenario. that player wins. Otherwise the game is a draw.

Italian
Bersaglieri

The Polish army in exile – 11

SCENARIO 3: TAKING MEDAUAR HILL DECEMBER 9th, 1941

The Axis forces abandoned the siege of Tobruk on Emplacement

the night of December 7th, but the garrison was not Elevated
Ground
aware of this and spent the next day securing its lines Barbed Wire
of communication with the 8th Army to the east. On
the morning of the 9th, they began a general pursuit of
the withdrawing enemy. The 2nd and 3rd Carpathian
Infantry Battalions launched an attack on Medauar Hill, Shallow Trench
Italian deployment zone
a strategic height occupied by Italian artillery. As long
as the Italians held it, the Axis could pull back without
much interference from Allied ground forces. The Italians
were dug into strong defensive positions on the hill. It
would not be an easy battle. 24"
N

FORCES Polish deployment EDGE

Both players select a 1,500 point force. The Polish force
may not include any Armoured Platoons, and the Italian
force may not include any vehicles apart from tows for Dug In
artillery units. The Italian player may use the Dug In rules from the Bolt Action:
Third Edition rulebook, page 294, when deploying their force.

SET-UP Preparatory Bombardment

The scenario is played on the standard 6'x4' ft table with one long The Polish player rolls a die: on a roll of 2+, a preparatory
table edge elevated a few inches above the opposite table edge. bombardment strikes the enemy positions.
The elevated table edge is the Italian table edge. A shallow trench
extends the entire length of the table anywhere within 8" of the Westward Ho!
table centre-line on the Italian half of the table, as shown. A series Both armies are trying to move west. Each player may voluntarily
of six 6" long barbed wire obstacles are placed anywhere on the move any unit off the Italian table edge using a Run or Advance
Italian half of the table. The Italian player may place three 6"x6" order. A unit may not re-enter the game once it has left!
emplacements anywhere within 12" of their table edge.

OBJECTIVE
DEPLOYMENT The objective for the Polish player is to overrun the Italian
The Italian player deploys all of their units anywhere on their positions. The Italian player must try to prevent this while
half of the table with at least 50% of their units, rounded up, executing an orderly retreat. Both players will need to make a
within 12" of the table centre line, as shown. The Polish player decision regarding the best time to move their units off the table.
declares which units, if any, are in reserve. This may be up to half
of their army, rounding down. The rest of their army arrives on
Turn 1 as the first wave. The Polish player may not deploy any GAME DURATION
spotters, snipers or forward observers on the table. The game lasts for 6 turns. At the end of turn 6 roll a D6, on
a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
Outflanking Manoeuvres are not allowed in this scenario. continues for one more turn before ending.

SPECIAL RULES VICTORY!

Demoralised Italians Each player scores 1 victory point for every enemy unit destroyed.
The Italians are not pleased by the prospect of watching their In addition, each player scores 1 victory point for each friendly
German allies race to the west in their vehicles while they have to unit that moves off the Italian table edge. If one player scores
fight off the British. To represent this, each Italian unit begins the at least 3 more victory points than the other, that player wins.
game with 1 pin marker. Otherwise the game is a draw.

12 – Bolt Action Compendium

 SCENARIO 4: ASSAULT ON ACROMA DECEMBER 10th, 1941

While the 2nd and 3rd Battalions were attacking

N
Medauar Hill, the 1st Battalion, mounted in Universal
Carriers, and the Carpathian Uhlans’ armoured cars,
bypassed the hill and attacked Acroma and the Italian Italian
deployment
positions beyond it on a hill called “the White Knoll”. If zone
they could rapidly seize the hill, they would capture many
Italian guns and control a strategic height overlooking the Building
12" Polish
road upon which the Axis would be withdrawing. deployment
Italian Zone
artillery
FORCES needs to
deploy more Elevated
The Polish player selects a 1,000 point force. This force than 12" Ground
from their Building
may only include Recce Infantry Platoons and Armoured table edge
Platoons, and the only transports allowed in the force are
Universal Carriers. The Italian player selects a 1,000 point 24" 24"
force. This force may not include any Armoured Platoons.
In addition, the Italian player receives an Artillery Platoon
consisting of a single Regular Platoon Commander, three Regular rules for forward deployment. Polish units of these types may not
Light Howitzers, and three suitable tows of their choice. These use forward deployment to set up.
do not count towards the 1,000 point limit.

SPECIAL RULES
SET-UP Orderly Retreat
The scenario is played on a standard 6'x4' ft table with very little The Italian player may begin to move units off their table edge at
terrain. The western half of the table should include progressively any point in the game.
higher elevations giving the Italian player good fields of fire. In
the south-east corner of the table there is a small, single storey Dug In
building surrounded by low stone walls. Another such building is The Italian player may use the Dug In rules from the Bolt Action:
placed in the centre of the table. Third Edition rulebook, page 294, when deploying their force.

DEPLOYMENT OBJECTIVE
The Polish player declares which of their units will be in reserve. The Italian player is trying to withdraw their artillery units by
This may be up to half of their total number of units, rounding tow off their table edge. The Polish player must prevent their
down. Place an order die in a bag for each unit to be deployed opponent from towing their artillery off the table.
except for Italian spotters, snipers and forward observers. Draw
dice one at a time to determine which player should deploy one GAME DURATION
of their units. The game lasts for 6 turns. At the end of turn 6 roll a D6, on
a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
The short table edge with the elevated terrain is the Italian table continues for one more turn before ending.
edge. The Italian player must deploy all artillery units in their
force more than 12" from the Italian table edge and the tows VICTORY!
may not be closer than 12" to any artillery piece. Other units The Italian player scores 3 victory points for each tow/artillery
may be deployed anywhere within 24" of the Italian table edge. unit combination driven off the table. The artillery unit must be
The Polish player may deploy units anywhere within 24" of their towed off the table in order to score victory points. The Polish
table edge. All Polish infantry units must begin embarked in player scores 2 victory points for each enemy artillery unit killed
transports, whether on the table or in reserve. or still on the table at the end of the game. Each player also scores
1 victory point for each enemy unit destroyed. If one player
Italian spotters, snipers and forward observers may be deployed scores at least 2 more victory points than the other, that player
anywhere on the Italian half of the table according to the normal wins. Otherwise the game is a draw.

The Polish army in exile – 13

SCENARIO 5: NIGHT OF THE BAYONETS DECEMBER 16th-17th 1941

Troops of the Italian Trieste Division had found and

Objective Italian deployment zone Emplacement
occupied some extensive concrete emplacements built
12"
along the Gazala Line earlier in the war. When the
Poles outflanked them to the north, the Italians proved
reluctant to give up these well-built positions. Once full
Low Trench Objective
darkness came, the Poles, much more at ease in night
combat than their British, Australian or New Zealand Objective
allies, fixed bayonets and moved out to eject the Italians.
Centre-line
On the night of a new moon, the Poles went forward
in a silent bayonet attack, taking the Italians from the
flank while their attention was fixated on the New 24"
Zealanders to their front. Trieste was a much better unit N
than the infantry of the Pavia and Trento Divisions the
Poles had met before and its troops recovered quickly Polish deployment EDGE
from their shock to engage the Poles in a fierce night-time
close-quarters fight.
SPECIAL RULES
New Moon
FORCES Night Fighting rules from the Bolt Action: Third Edition
The Polish player selects a 1,000 point force. This may not rulebook, page 301, are in effect. However, since the attack
include any vehicles. The Italian player selects a 1,000 point force. was launched during a new moon, when determining Reduced
This may not include any Armoured Platoons. Visibility, roll three D6 and choose the two lowest results.

Orderly Retreat
SET-UP The Italian player may begin to move units off the table edge to
The scenario is played on a standard 6'x4' ft table. Place a series their right (as shown) beginning on Turn 3.
of three 12"+ long concrete walls in the Italian deployment zone,
wholly within 12” of the Italian table edge.
OBJECTIVE
A series of low trenches run the length of the table anywhere The Polish objective is simple - secure the objectives and
between the concrete wall of three emplacements and the minimise their losses. The Italians are looking to hold the
centreline of the table, as shown. This represents the situation of objectives while also conducting a fighting withdrawal.
the Italians being attacked from behind.

The Italian player places three objective markers in their half of GAME DURATION
the table, at least 6" from any table edge and 12" from each other. The game lasts for 6 turns. At the end of turn 6 roll a D6, on
a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
continues for one more turn before ending.
DEPLOYMENT
The Polish player may place up to half of their army, rounded
down, in reserves. These units may outflank but only on the side VICTORY!
of the table to the Polish player’s right. Additionally, they may Each player scores 1 victory point for each enemy unit destroyed.
never enter the table in or closer to the Italian table edge than the The Italian player scores 2 victory points for each objective held
Italian trench line regardless of the turn on which they arrive. at the end of the game, and 1 victory point for each of their units
they can move off their own board edge or the right (West)
The Italian player must deploy their artillery and mortar units side of the table. The Polish player scores 3 victory points for
within 3" of any objective. All Italian fixed weapons must be each objective held at the end of the game. If one player scores
positioned facing the Italian table edge reflecting that they are at least 2 more victory points than the other, that player wins.
prepared to fight off an attack by the New Zealand units. Otherwise, the game is a draw.

14 – Bolt Action Compendium

 Heroes fight like Greeks By Thanos Kermitsis

Greek partisans ready to launch a surprise attack!

The Greek people have a long history of warfare; from the earliest days of the city-states of Ancient Greece through to the revolt against
the Ottoman Empire in the Nineteenth Century, the Greek warrior has a history to be fiercely proud of. This would continue into the
Italian invasion of Greece in October 1940, which saw the Greek military outnumbered by the forces of fascist Italy.

Despite the odds, the Greeks repulsed the Italian invasion and occupation began to spring up across the nation. Only weeks
stoically defended their homeland, inflicting and receiving great after the German occupation of Athens, two students climbed
casualties. The country’s fighting spirit saw a series of costly defeats up the Acropolis to tear down a swastika banner. Several
for the Italians. At the Battle of Pindus, scores of local women uprisings occurred in settlements across Bulgarian-annexed
flocked to the cause to assist the Greek army, carrying guns and Greek territories Whilst isolated acts of resistance were already
ammunition to the front line and bringing back the wounded. One underway, it was several months until organised resistance began.
Greek soldier recalled seeing an 88-year-old woman struggling up
the icy mountainside to bring ammunition to the front. Whilst several different independent groups began taking action
against the German and Italian occupation forces, the three
Victories such as Pindus and the legendary Hill 731 saw the far largest and most famous were the EDES (National Republican
larger Italian force crumble and flee, leaving it necessary for the Greek League), the communist ELAS (Greek People’s Liberation
Germans to invade with a force of 680,000 men in April 1941. Army) and the republican EKKA (National and Social
Despite holding the Italian military at bay for six months, the Liberation). An example of one of the smaller groups was the
Greek defenders were only able to last some three weeks against PEAN (Panhellenic Union of Fighting Youths) led by Kostas
the might of the modern German military. Still, the Greek army Perrikos. Perrikos was an officer who had been dismissed from
fought to the last bullet. Famously, Sergeant Dimitri Ichios the Greek Air Force in 1935 for his outspoken nature, overt
commanded a pillbox on the Metaxas line on the Greek border criticism of political and military leadership, and links to an
with Bulgaria and Yugoslavia; he and his two surviving men were attempted coup d’etat in 1935. He was permitted to return to his
finally forced to surrender after reputedly expending some 38,000 duties in 1940 following the Italian invasion, and established the
rounds of machine gun ammunition, killing some 250 German PEAN following the surrender of April 1941.
soldiers in the process. Ichios was executed, but not before being
commended by his captors for his bravery. His resistance cell carried out a series of bombing attacks against
German administrative buildings and Greek collaborators,
It came as little surprise to many, therefore, that given the including the successful bombing of the ESPO (Hellenic
fanatical defence of their homeland, it was not long until Socialist Patriotic Organisation) Headquarters in Athens in
bitter and violent organised Greek resistance against Axis September 1942.

Heroes fight like Greeks – 15

This operation resulted in the deaths of some 80 collaborators Italian train bringing reinforcements. With the Greek resistance
and German personnel and saw the end of German attempts to fighters keeping the Italian soldiers occupied, the SOE teams
recruit Greek fighters into the Wehrmacht. After an extensive planted and detonated explosives on the viaduct, destroying it.
Gestapo manhunt, Perrikos and 12 other resistance fighters were The entire team managed to extricate itself from the area with
betrayed and arrested in February 1943. He was sentenced to only four wounded men.
death by firing squad, remarking that he did not feel any hatred
towards the German invaders, but was simply doing his duty as Unfortunately, this major success would be the first and the
a Greek officer. He shouted out ‘Long Live Greece!’ as he was last time EDES and ELAS worked together against the Axis
executed. Posthumously promoted to Wing Commander, he is invaders, as political differences led to clashes between the two
today honoured by a commemorative bust outside the site of the groups which would lead to open conflict in 1943, and ultimately
ESPO bombing. the Greek Civil War in 1946. However, this was certainly not the
last successful major operation carried out by Greek resistance
With large areas of rural Greece having much poorer forces in the Second World War.
infrastructure than the cities, it became easier for resistance
activities to take place as rapid responses from Axis forces were In February 1944, SOE Major Patrick Leigh Fermor parachuted
not possible. From the summer of 1942 onwards, resistance into Crete with the intention of carrying out a bold plan to
groups in mountainous areas became more commonplace. kidnap a German general; after several delays and unsuccessful
attempts he was joined in April by the rest of his team: Captain
Attempts at coordination were made by the British Special Billy Moss, Georgios Tyrakis, and Emmanouil Paterakis. Linking
Operations Executive (SOE), which included parachuting up with the Cretan Resistance, the plan was formulated. The two
in supplies and personnel . In November 1942 a team of 12 British officers, dressed as German NCOs, would stop the car
British and Commonwealth operatives coordinated a combined of General Heinrich Kreipe whilst he was being driven home.
ELAS-EDES attack made up of 138 Greek resistance fighters The five supporting Cretan fighters were on hand to subdue the
in Operation Harling, the destruction of the Gorgopotamos general’s driver and restrain Kreipe himself in the back of the car.
viaduct in central Greece. The operation was led by British The plan went off without a hitch, and Kreipe was captured and
engineering officer Lt. Col. Eddie Myers, with the two Greek driven off.
factions led by Aris Velouchiotis and First World War veteran
Napoleon Zervas respectively. After the 12 SOE operatives were With the two British officers posing as the general and his
airdropped into Greece (and in some cases hidden from Italian driver, the car was able to pass through 22 German checkpoints.
soldiers and assisted by Greek locals) they linked up with Greek When the SOE operatives finally abandoned the car, they left a
resistance forces to plan the attack. note behind claiming British responsibility for the operation, so
as to avoid any reprisals against local Cretans. After a gruelling
On the night of November 25th, the combined Greek resistance journey across the island’s mountains, the operatives and the
force assaulted the Italian garrisons defending both ends of the German general were extricated to Egypt via a Royal Navy
strategically vital viaduct, as well as attacking and disabling an motor launch.

German Fallschirmjäger cautiously advance through the mountains

16 – Bolt Action Compendium

 Patient killers – a partisan sniper team lies in wait

Meanwhile, the Cretan resistance continued their operations admitted to assisting the SBS men so as to protect their fellow
against German Forces. On August 7th a small force ambushed a countrymen from further reprisals.
German column transporting civilian hostages which resulted in
the successful rescue of the hostages and elimination of the guard The final SBS raid in the Aegean took place on the island of
force. The very next day, SOE operative Billy Moss led eight Symi in July 1944. A combined operation consisting of 100 SBS
Cretan resistance fighters and six escaped Soviet PoWs in a series soldiers and 224 soldiers of the Greek special forces ‘Sacred Band’
of ambushes against German vehicles near a bridge at Damasta, unit succeeded in destroying several German installations and
culminating in a bold attack against a truck full of infantrymen vessels, as well as capturing over 150 Axis soldiers.
escorted by an armoured car.
The Greek resistance movement, made up of its various groups
One Soviet partisan was killed and a Cretan partisan was of very differing political ideologies, continued to grow from
seriously wounded – in exchange, the day’s operations had some 20,000–30,000 fighters in the summer of 1943 to nearly
resulted in 35 German and 10 Italian soldiers being killed 100,000 by autumn 1944. July 1943 had seen the signing of the
and 12 captured. The reprisals against local villagers were National Bands Agreement, whereby the three largest resistance
unfortunately savage – some 60 Cretans had been executed by groups agreed to work together and accept coordination from
the end of the month. British GHQ, Middle East. However, the political differences
stemming between the communist ELAS and other republican
Greek support to British operations did not end with the small groups saw much infighting. In April 1944 the dominant
teams of SOE operatives; as early as the spring of 1942 teams forces of ELAS attacked a regiment of EKKA resistance
of the elite Special Boat Service and Special Air Service were fighters, executing the men they captured, including the famous
sent to Crete to sabotage Axis airfields. On the night of 7-8th resistance leader Colonel Dimitrios Psarros. This polarised
June, four teams guided by local Cretan partisans succeeded in many liberal Greeks into taking a fiercely anti-communist
attacking four airfields and destroying over 40 German aircraft. stance and would be a contributing factor to the defeat of the
A year later, two further raids by the SBS under the command of communist front in the Greek Civil War. Violent opposition
Danish Captain Anders Lassen and Greek Kimonas Zografakis to German occupation and bitter infighting between different
succeeded in a similar feat. resistance groups continued until the German withdrawal from
Greece in October 1944.
This would not be the last successful raid involving Lassen,
the SBS, and the Greek resistance. In April 1944, Lassen led a Soviet advances into southeast Europe threatened to isolate
19 strong force of SBS soldiers – including one Greek officer German forces who, terrified of the fearsome and merciless
– and 3 Greek partisan guides in a raid against three German reputation of the Greek resistance, moved en masse to surrender
military installations on the island of Santorini. The SBS to British forces rather than face the wrath of the partisans.
raid resulted in the loss of two soldiers, but inflicted some 40 However, whilst the Second World War was over for Greece, the
casualties and took 19 German soldiers prisoner. The Santorini fighting moved tragically and almost seamlessly into the Greek
Raid would become known as ‘Lassen’s Bloodbath’, but Civil War, which would be waged until October 1949, seeing
tragically resulted in the execution of five Greek civilians who over 150,000 more lives lost.

Heroes fight like Greeks – 17

 Greek Mountain Partisans
With the German occupation of Greece in 1941 and the attacks. This was all accomplished in the face of immense
collapse of the legitimate Greek government, a large, dedicated personal hardship and the constant risk of brutal German
(albeit factionalised) resistance movement quickly came into reprisals, as well as factional infighting, but despite these
being. Groups came from all walks of life and political ideals, drawbacks, the Greek resistance movement was one of the most
both in the cities and in the countryside. In rural areas the more effective of the conflict.
overt groups had more success, particularly in mountainous
regions where local knowledge allowed partisans to operate The new units below could be used alongside the Partisans army
from the relative safety of the nation’s vast mountain ranges. list found in the Further Axis & Allies section of the Warlord
Many of these groups received assistance, both in the form of Community Website, to field a force specifically tailored to
weaponry and hands-on participation, from the British Special the bands of partisans operating from the mountainous Greek
Operations executive, and were able to tie down huge numbers countryside. Our wide range of partisan miniatures are perfect
of Axis troops and conduct sometimes spectacular sabotage for representing these brave men and women!

NEW UNITS
Greek Resistance Leader
Resistance groups across Greece, as with many other countries, fierce patriotism to drive their partisans to feats of heroism and
saw many ex-servicemen bringing military expertise to their self-sacrifice.
ranks. Resistance groups were often led by former officers and
NCOs from the Greek military, including veterans of the First In scenarios set in the mountains of Greece, this unit could count as
World War. These hardy men combined years of experience with a Platoon Commander for your Greek partisan force.

Cost 35pts (Regular) 44pts (Veteran)

Team 1 officer and up to 2 further men
Weapons Rifles
Options – The officer may be accompanied by up to 2 men at a cost of +13pts per man (Regular) or +16pts per man (Veteran)
– Any model may replace their rifle with a submachine gun for +4pts per model, or with a pistol for -1pts per model
Special Rules – Stubborn
– Fieldcraft

Resist or die! Female Greek partisans take a stand against the hated invaders

18 – Bolt Action Compendium

SOE Team relationship maintained with the various Greek
The British Special Operations Executive was established in 1940 resistance factions – particularly the republican
with the aim of conducting espionage, sabotage, and resistance groups. The training and motivation of the
liaison and coordination operations in Axis held territories. SOE operatives made them powerful allies
‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’, as it was known by to the resistance.
some, recruited around 10,000 men and 3,000 women from
many countries and gave them extensive training across a variety SOE teams could be included in a Partisan
of disciplines to act independently or in small groups behind Force, counting as Infantry squads, but not
enemy lines. In Greece there was a near permanent SOE presence as one of the compulsory Infantry squads, to
throughout the duration of the war, with a good working simulate their support role.

Cost 34pts (Regular), 40pts (Veteran)

Team 2 men
Weapons Rifles
Options – Add up to 2 additional men with rifles for +17pts each (Regular) or +20pts each (Veteran)
– Any model may replace their rifle with a submachine gun for +4pts per man, or with a pistol for -1pts per model
– Up to 1 man may replace their rifle with a light machine gun for +15pts. Another man becomes the loader
Special Rules – Independent Operatives: All SOE operatives were trained to operate in small groups or in complete isolation if necessary,
with little consideration given to formal ranks when in the field. The unit never suffers any penalties for losing its NCO as
effectively, all models are NCOs in their own right. In addition, enemy snipers may not use their ability to target a specific
NCO model within the unit.
– Intelligence: Once per game, at the beginning of any turn, the SOE team may act on intelligence gathered about the enemy
force before the first Order die is drawn from the dice bag. Roll a D6; on a 4+ the controlling player may take one of their own
dice from the bag and use it to activate that SOE team.

“Set Europe ablaze!”

Winston Churchill’s command to Hugh Dalton, Minister of Economic Warfare
and founder of the Special Operations Executive

Andartes Squad Greece any closer to freedom or inspired others to join the cause.
Whilst thousands of Greek resistance fighters were civilians who Often known as ‘Andartes’ (guerrillas), they were an invaluable
joined the movement as a reaction to the Axis invasion, there asset to any partisan commander.
were many who were seasoned fighters from the failed Italian
invasion, or even the First World War. Many of these highly Andartes Squads could count as Infantry squads in a Greek
experienced soldiers were fanatical in their devotion to their Partisans force, but they could similarly be used in Partisan forces of
nation, willing to die without a moment’s hesitation if it brought other occupied territories, standing in for more ‘veteran’ fighters.

Cost 65pts (Veteran)

Team 1 NCO and 4 men
Weapons Rifles
Options – Add up to 10 additional men with rifles for +13pts each
– The NCO and up to 5 men may replace their rifle with a submachine gun for +4pts each
– Up to 1 man may have a light machine gun for +15pts. Another man becomes the loader
– The squad may be equipped with anti-tank grenades for +2pts per model
– The squad may be Fanatics for +2pts per model
Special Rules – Fanatics (if option taken)

Heroes fight like Greeks – 19

Operation Rösselsprung By Ste Ross

Troops of the 500th SS Parachute Battalion deploy from their dropsite

SS FALLSCHIRMJÄGER VERSUS TITO’S PARTISANS at best, with most of the units involved having less than a week
This article allows you to recreate one of the lesser-known to prepare. Conducting the airborne assault would be the 500th
German special operations of the Second World War – a SS Parachute Battalion, an unusual unit borne out of the inter-
daring airborne raid into Croatia to capture or kill Yugoslav service rivalry inherent to Nazi German organisation. Serving
Partisan leader Josip Broz Tito in May 1944. It introduces a as the Waffen-SS’ answer to the Luftwaffe’s Fallschirmjäger
new unit and mission-specific force selection guide representing paratroops, the 500th were composed of a roughly even mixture
the German airborne forces who took part in the ultimately of volunteers from regular SS formations, and men drawn from
doomed operation, and of course mission rules for the principle the SS penal units, seeking to regain their military rights and
engagement itself ! return to regular service.

Operation Rösselsprung (Knight’s Move) was an ambitious plan. In the early hours of May 25th 1944, Operation Rösselsprung
Believing they had pinpointed the location of Tito’s headquarters was launched. The initial airborne assault went well, but it
to the immediate vicinity of a cemetery near the village of swiftly became apparent that their intelligence was off - Tito
Drvar, German commanders intended to insert a specialist was not where they had expected him to be, but in a nearby cave
force of Waffen-SS troops by parachute and glider to assassinate headquarters. Realising the error, the 500th’s commander Kurt
or capture the partisan leader. This would be supported by Rybka would rally his forces for an assault. This was repulsed
a heavy preliminary bombardment, as well as a subsequent with heavy casualties, and Tito was able to make his escape into
ground assault, and there were a number of secondary objectives the countryside. A second wave of airborne troops was landed,
including the destruction of Allied military missions in the area. and another assault made. This too failed, and Rybka ordered his
men, now under heavy fire even in their drop zones, to withdraw
There were well over 10,000 well-organised partisans in the to the nearby cemetery. Surrounded, they would have to hold off
immediate area of operations, but they do not appear to have intense partisan assaults until they could be relieved by friendly
been aware of the German plans beyond a potential imminent forces. Rybka would be wounded and evacuated by aircraft,
bombing raid. In any event, German planning had been limited leaving his men to desperately hold their perimeter overnight…

20 – Bolt Action Compendium

 1944 Operation Rösselsprung German Force Selector
A German force for Operation Rösselsprung may be chosen from Mandatory units
the selector presented here, rather than using the normal Platoon
system – this more accurately represents forces available to the 1 Platoon Commander
Germans, and is designed to work with the mission shown later 2 SS Fallschirmjäger squads
in the article. The entries for the units available to this force are
Optional units
either found in this book, or in the Armies of Germany book. This
represents the forces of the 500th SS Parachute Battalion and 0-1 Company Commander
their mission to kill or capture Marshal Tito in May 1944. While 0-1 Medic
the overall operation was a combined air and ground assault,
this selector is solely focused on the 500th as it was deployed by
0-4 SS Fallschirmjäger squads
parachute into the combat zone around Drvar. To reflect this, the 0-1 MMG team
selector is limited in options to what was available to these lightly 0-2 Mortar team: Light or medium
equipped airborne troops.
0-2 Panzerschreck team
In addition, to represent the unique traits of the 500th SS 0-1 Sniper team
Parachute Battalion, all units in this Selector must be taken as
0-1 Flamethrower team
Veteran and must be given the Stubborn Fanatics special rule for
+3pts per man (instead of the normal options for the Defend the 0-1 Panzerbüchse 41
Fatherland special rule).

Stubborn Fanatics “We knew that we were surrounded

The unit counts as Fanatics and does not lose the Fanatics rule
when reduced to a single man. and only had one choice – fight on”
NEW UNIT SS Rottenführer Wilhem Russ

SS Fallschirmjäger squad
A hastily-raised formation, the 500th SS Parachute Battalion SS Fallschirmjäger squads are intended to be the only Infantry
would take part in Operation Rösselsprung, fighting with squad availaible to the German player in the Operation
desperate determination against heavy partisan resistance. Rösselsprung misson.

Cost 65pts (Veteran)

Composition 1 NCO and 4 men
Weapons Rifles
Options – Add up to 5 additional men with rifles at +16pts each
– Any model may replace their rifle with a submachine gun for +4pts each, or an assault rifle for +6pts each
– Up to 2 men can have a light machine gun for +15pts each – for each light machine gun included another man becomes the loader
– Up to 4 men can have a Panzerfaust in addition to other weapons for +15pts each
Special Rules – Stubborn Fanatics

SS Fallschirmjäger squad

Operation Rösselsprung – 21
Scenario: Defensive action at the cemetery May 25th 1944

As the second assault on Tito’s cave complex was repulsed, partisan deployment Edge N
Hauptsturmführer Kurt Rybka ordered the remnants of the
500th SS Parachute Battalion to regroup at the cemetery
at Drvar. When the operation had been launched earlier

partisan deployment Edge

partisan deployment Edge

that day, Rykba had set up his headquarters at the cemetery,
and this was where he intended to stage a defensive action
against the numerically superior partisans. Soon, the 500th
found itself being assailed on all sides. All attempts to Cemetery
breach the defensive line had been repulsed, and as night
fell on May 25th 1944, the partisans readied themselves for
one last assault against the beleaguered 500th…

THE FORCES
Germans partisan deployment Edge
The German player’s force is built using the Operation
Rösselsprung Force Selector, limited to 750 points.
SPECIAL RULES
Partisans Night Fighting
The Partisan player’s force is built using the Partisans PDF Army It has been a long day of continuous fighting, and night is slowly
list, limited to 1,000 points. This force may not include any descending across the battlefield. The first two turns of the
Armoured Platoons. game are played using standard rules. However, from turn three
onwards, night has fallen and the night fighting rules come into
effect (see page 301 of the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook).
SET UP
This scenario is designed to be played on a 6'x4' table. A cemetery Partisan Special Rule restrictions
should be set up in the centre of the table measuring 18"x24". The The Partisans are engaged in a stand-up fight with the 500th,
cemetery should have a stone wall perimeter with other stone where their local knowledge and usual tactics are far less relevant
walls, graves and other hard and soft cover elements within. than they would normally be. The Battlefield Knowledge and
Outside of the cemetery area should be a mixture of trees, scrub, Home Country special rules are not in effect for this mission.
and bushes to provide some cover to the attacking Partisans.

OBJECTIVE
DEPLOYMENT The Partisans must have one or more units within the cemetery at
The German player must set up all of their units within the the end of the game. The Germans must prevent this.
cemetery before the game commences. The Partisan player does
not set up any of their units, but instead places them all into their
First Wave. These units may enter from any point on any table GAME DURATION
edge as part of their First Wave deployment. The game lasts for six turns. At the end of turn six roll a die. On a
1, 2 or 3, the game ends immediately, on a 4, 5, or 6, one further
turn is played.

VICTORY!
The German player must repel all Partisan attacks and not allow
any Partisans to enter or remain in the cemetery. If at the end of
the game there are no Partisan units in the cemetery, it is a German
victory. The Partisan player must assault the cemetery and attempt
to overrun the German defenders. If at the end of the game there is
a Partisan unit in the cemetery, it is a Partisan victory.

22 – Bolt Action Compendium

 The Brazilian Expeditionary Force By Falk Kalamorz

The Smoking Snakes launch their attack!

South America was in a unique position at the start of the Second World War. It was rich in resources critical for any war effort, but
none of its nation states was officially aligned with the Axis or Allies. This caused something of a headache for the USA. Although
not at war yet themselves, a South American state with fascist sympathies could cause trouble and may have forced the USA out of
neutrality earlier.

Mexico was still hostile towards the Americans, especially during aircraft to be stationed on their territory. Half a year later, in
the early years of the war when the German juggernaut raced August 1942, Brazil declared war on Germany and Italy.
across Europe. The importance of South America was not lost
on the Axis powers, either. States like Brazil had large German, By the end of the year, Operation Torch had eliminated the
Italian, and Japanese communities, and the German propaganda threat from Axis forces in North-West Africa, and Brazil was
agencies produced material in Spanish and Portuguese. They even now confident enough to consider an active role in the fighting.
established their own radio station in Uruguay. However, the Brazilian army was in bad shape. It was trained by
French veterans of the Great War in French doctrine, and had
The majority of South American states maintained their little to no experience in mechanized warfare or modern tactics.
neutrality despite the efforts of both sides, with only Panama The soldier sported an eclectic mix of equipment: German
joining the Allies in late 1941 after the Japanese attack on Pearl Mauser rifles, American M1911 pistols, British webbing and
Harbor. A number of conferences were held to settle differences French ‘Adrian’ helmets. Brazil had only a few armoured vehicles,
between the USA and the South American countries, hoping and these were woefully obsolete French Renault FT-17s and
to sway them towards supporting the Allies. The USA handed Italian CV tankettes. There was also a strong political opposition
out loans, increased imports and gave technical assistance to to the idea of a Força Expedicionária Brasileira (FEB), or
optimize their economies. In the end, it would be the actions Brazilian Expeditionary Force, which would go across the ocean
of the German Navy that pushed Brazil to the Allied cause. to fight in the Old World.
German U-Boats waged a savage campaign against shipping off
the Brazilian coast, sinking dozens of ships and killing hundreds. It took until the autumn of 1943 to create the core of the new
Brazil immediately retaliated with anti-submarine patrols. They formation. The FEB would be modelled after an American
also ceased all diplomatic contact with the Axis and allowed US infantry division and called the 1st Expeditionary Infantry

The Brazilian Expeditionary Force – 23

 The fighting gets up close and personal for the Brazilians

Division (1st EID), consisting of just over 25,000 men. In the Italian theatre was losing veteran troops rapidly to
addition to its three infantry regiments, the 1st, 6th and 11th, the deployment in north-western Europe after the successful
division contained the 9th Engineer Battalion, a Reconnaissance landings in Normandy. Italy had become a secondary front, but
Squadron, an artillery regiment and a medical battalion. One of fighting was still heavy. To make matters worse for the Allied
the major difficulties was to fill in the specialist positions since commanders, even more of their troops were being earmarked
most of those did not exist in the regular Brazilian army. Troops for Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France.
also had to be trained on new equipment and in new tactics. Against this backdrop, the Brazilians were almost immediately
Virtually every piece of equipment for the division was new to deployed to the front. In the field, it became very soon clear
its operators, and all the requisite manuals and instructions had that their uniforms were not suitable for the approaching
to be translated into Portuguese. Last, but not least, many of the winter, and much of their clothing had to be replaced with
soldiers and officers were not in the physical shape required for items from US Army stores in Italy or from local suppliers. The
front-line duty, requiring an urgent training program to rectify Brazilians soon went through a rigorous training regimen to
the situation. build up their physical condition and the US medical corps did
its best to improve the health of the new arrivals. The US Fifth
Although Brazilian uniforms resembled US equipment at a Army was well prepared to deal with the Brazilians, with troops
glance, they were locally produced and differed in many aspects of many other cultures under their command, including Sikhs,
from their northern counterparts. Clothing came officially in two Gurkhas, Commonwealth troops, Africans and more. General
colours, dark and light olive green, but in reality a vast number Clark and his staff were used to dealing with new customs and
of shades from green to grey were used. Other equipment like traditions, enabling the FEB to integrate effectively into their
canteens and webbing was replaced with the so-called NA (North command structure.
America) style, which was modelled after pre-war US Army
pieces. Weapons and helmets were made in the USA. It took In August 1944, the FEB was deployed to the front at the Arno
until April 1944 before the FEB was ready to go, so long that the River. A month later, the FEB would fight their first battle
Brazilian public adopted a saying – “It’s more likely for a snake to alongside the 1st US Armored and 6th South African Armoured
smoke a pipe, than for the FEB to go the front and fight.” (“Mais Divisions. They were facing the German XIV Corps which had
fácil uma cobra fumar um cachimbo, do que a FEB embarcar para been pushed back all the way from Sicily. On September 16th, the
o combate.”). This was broadly equivalent to the English idiom Brazilian artillery fired for the first time on the enemy. At long
‘when pigs fly’. last, the snake was smoking indeed! General Mascarenhas, the
commander of the FEB, still didn’t trust his troops to go toe-to-toe
By late May 1944, the first group of the FEB shipped out with German veterans in defensive positions, and instead planned
to Naples in Italy. They arrived in mid-July, at a time when to advance towards Camaiore-Monte Prano.

24 – Bolt Action Compendium

On September 18th, they attacked, supported by US tanks. dire need of rest and reorganization. The FEB relieved American
Early in the attack, they encountered a destroyed bridge and the and South African formations in the Reno Valley and adopted a
Brazilians decided to leave the armour behind. They entered the defensive stance.
town of Camaiore under heavy artillery fire, but with only light
resistance on the ground. The Brazilians were now facing the For two weeks the FEB could catch a much-needed break and
first outposts of the Gothic Line. Another attack was launched replace some losses and equipment, including the incorporation
on September 21st to capture better observation posts on Monte of a small number of Italian deserters into their ranks. Then an
Prano itself, which succeeded at the cost of five dead and 17 attack by US troops in the same sector opened up an opportunity
wounded. Next, the FEB was transferred to the Serchio Valley, and the Brazilians were ordered to attack Monte Castello in
where they faced the German 42. Infanteriedivision. Soon after force. This was considered a necessary prerequisite to resume
their arrival heavy rain drowned out most of the fighting. A slow a full offensive later, and the FEB was now responsible for the
advance and intensive patrols led to the capture of Fornaci, were defence of the valley as well as an advance move and a major
the FEB also beat back a counter-attack. By October 11th, the attack. General Mascarenhas had no choice but to recall his
Brazilians had seized Barga and the Germans withdrew from the exhausted units from rest and recuperation. However, poor
vicinity, using their artillery to keep the Allies in check. At the winter weather prohibited air support and the offensive was
same time, the Brazilian Minister of War visited FEB troops in delayed. During this time, the German attack in the Ardennes
Italy, where noticed that all other troops wore a unique unit or caught the Allied command by surprise, and Fifth Army
formation patch. General Mascarenhas gave his chief of staff the command became paranoid about the possibility of a similar
task to create such a symbol for the Brazilians. Aptly, he chose a attack in Italy.
coiled snake, smoking a pipe.
On November 29th, the FEB launched their offensive with
On the front line, the 1st EID now faced Italian fascist party support from American tank units. Almost immediately a
militiamen instead of hardened German troops, and a swift German counter-attack pushed back the US units on the flank
advance brought them within four kilometres of the main Gothic of the FEB and the advance was slowed down by steep terrain
Line. A day later, a ferocious counter-attack by German units and entrenched defenders. The next morning brought heavy
caught the FEB by surprise and pushed them back from the hills artillery bombardment and determined counter-attacks by the
they had just occupied. After intense fighting, the Brazilians held Germans, and the FEB had to withdraw after suffering 190
the line. By now, the Allied forces in Italy were exhausted, and in casualties. The Germans stayed in close contact and pushed the

The FEB hold their lines against an Italian counter-attack

The Brazilian Expeditionary Force – 25

 FEB Rifle
squad

Brazilians further back with repeated attacks. Allied command stopped by French Army and guerilla forces long before crossing
was still determined to launch a major attack in Italy before the into Italy. Two days later, the war in Europe was over.
end of the year, and the FEB was therefore given responsibility
for a 15km long front centred on a mountain range. General The FEB suffered a total of 454 killed during the war. It took
Mascarenhas decided to isolate the mountains by taking the town over 20,000 prisoners, including a German and an Italian
of Castello. This would allow him to move forward his support general. By June the Brazilian Expeditionary Force awaited
units and attack the main body of German troops in his area, shipment home, except for some troops assigned to assist in the
securing his positions. occupation of Italy. On their way the convoy stopped at Livorno
to pick up the wives of Brazilian soldiers who had married while
On December 12th, the Brazilians launched a diversionary in Italy. Back in Brazil, the FEB was officially disbanded and
attack to draw the defenders away from Castello and then most soldiers demobilised, their work completed – the snake
began their advance. Bad luck struck the FEB as visibility had finished smoking.
dropped overnight to less than 50 meters in heavy fog and rain.
By noon, the attack was called off, and 140 men died with no
meaningful gains achieved. Across the whole sector, the FEB
suffered over 1,000 casualties. Severely beaten and struggling to
FIELDING THE FEB
operate in the bad weather, the FEB went back on the defensive.
The Allied offensive was postponed, and for the next three
IN BOLT ACTION
months they stayed in the field waiting for better weather to Since the Brazilian Expeditionary Force
resume operations. closely followed the US Army system of
organisation and training, and operated
On February 21st, 1945, the 1st EID attacked again, this time under American overall control, it’s
supported by the specialists of the US 10th Mountain Division. incredibly simple to represent the
This was also the only time the division was supported by ‘Smoking Snakes’ on the Bolt Action tabletop. A FEB force is
Brazilian Air Force planes which had been operating elsewhere best represented by Armies of the United States, using the Late-
in Italy. For the FEB, taking Monte Castello was more than just War selection guide. To keep the force accurate, avoid Airborne,
an ordinary advance – it was conquering their greatest obstacle, Rangers, or Marines, and focus mostly on Inexperienced and
and an opportunity to truly prove their mettle. It fell after a Regular troops – but make sure they’ve got plenty of equipment
brutal fight, and the Americans managed to seize Belvedere at and supporting firepower!
the same time. The Axis line was broken, and the way to the Po
River valley opened. The FEB cooperated often with American tank and tank destroyer
units and was fully motorised, making good use of trucks and
The Brazilians continued to prove their worth and reliability to jeeps to achieve rapid advances. Although the Brazilian uniforms
Fifth Army Command. They were soon at the front of Operation were different from those of the US Army they received a lot of
Craftsman, the spring offensive that quickly turned in a mad equipment from Fifth Army stores in Italy, especially jackets and
dash to pursue rapidly retreating German forces. By April the coats, and on the tabletop they’re represented perfectly well by our
FEB was occupied rounding up German stragglers and handling US Army kits – both in summer and winter kit.
thousands of POWs. On April 29th, the FEB was ordered to
engage the German LXXV Corps, which had recently arrived in The FEB was not racially segregated and contained soldiers of
northern Italy from France. The Brazilians created three combat South American, European, African and Asian descent, making
teams each centred on one of their infantry regiments. After them a fantastic opportunity to paint a wide variety of skin tones
extensive patrolling no enemy was found. The Germans had been and give an American-style force its own unique character.

26 – Bolt Action Compendium

 SCENARIO: THe FEB at Monte Castello NOVEMBER 1944

Monte Castello posed a thorn in the side of the FEB for

a long time. The first time they attacked the entrenched
German deployment zone
Germans on the hill in November 1944, they were
thrown back by a vicious counter-attack. The next
day, a brutal artillery bombardment inflicted heavy
casualties and the FEB had to retreat with the Germans 12"
in close pursuit. Another attack in the region to draw
the defenders off the hill failed again a month later and
again, the Brazilians suffered heavy losses. It would Centre-line
take until February 1945 for the FEB to get a chance
to straighten out this dent in their reputation. They
attacked Monte Castello again with all three regiments,
this time supported by the US 10th Mountain Division N
and a contingent of Brazilian aircraft, and finally threw
the Germans off the hill. FEB deployment Edge

POINT DEFENCE SPECIAL RULES

This scenario is played using the Point Defence mission rules Jambock Support
from the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook, page 178, with the Monte Castello was the only time the FEB had air support from
following additions and modifications. the 1oGAVCA (1st Fighter Group, 1º Grupo de Aviação de Caça)
of the Brazilian Air Force. When the Brazilian player rolls on the
Air Strike chart, they may re-roll the die to determine which kind
FORCES of aircraft is attacking, if they so choose.
Both players select a 1,000 point force. The German player may
not include more than one Armoured Platoon in their force. Uphill Struggle
The peak of Monte Castello is 977m above sea level, and the
FEB had to slog uphill through difficult terrain. At the start of
SET UP each turn, the German player removes one of their Order dice
This mission is designed to be played on a standard 6'x4' table. from the dice bag and activates a unit of their choice.
Set up the table as shown to represent the battle taking place on
a hill covered with heavy woods. The Germans defend the upper Dug In
slope as shown, and their positions should have plenty of elevated The FEB is assaulting a well-prepared enemy. D6 German units
ground and foxholes. Both players deploy their units according to may start the game in defensive positions, using the Dug In rules
the Point Defence mission rules. from the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook, page 294.

German
Grenadiers

The Brazilian Expeditionary Force – 27

The ASIAN-
Pacific theatre
Spanning vast ocean distances, and with fighting on multiple campaigns and battles that are less well known than others,
continents, the Pacific theatre encompassed a huge and diverse from desperate actions on tiny islands to the jungle campaign
range of engagements. Against this enormous backdrop, fought through the inhospitable terrain of Burma. These are
often epitomised by the actions of the United States Marine amazing sources for you to draw on for Bolt Action, adding
Corps and Imperial Japanese Army, there are a wide range of new dimensions to your games.

28 – Bolt Action Compendium

 The Japanese SNLF in Combat By Jon Cooper

Conceived in the late 1920s and officially founded in the early 1930s, the Kaigun Tokubetsu Rikusentai (Special Naval Landing
Forces or SNLF) were the marine infantry of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN).

Much like the British Royal Marines, the SNLF was designed to large number of islands as the United States rolled inexorably
provide a force of troops that could be landed from naval vessels closer to Japan itself. After the failure of the Kure, Sasebo,
without having to deplete the ships’ crews to form landing and Yokosuka SNLF detachments in the face of determined
parties. Drawn from and based at the primary Japanese naval and significant Australian resistance at Milne Bay, few further
bases (Kure, Maizuru, Sasebo, and Yokosuka), the individual SNLF units were raised. Those which remained as garrison
unit strengths varied from a few hundred to over 3,000, almost forces often fought to the last man, inflicting enormous losses
always formed as a single battalion with varying numbers of on the Americans. Tarawa in particular is notable, with over
companies. Unlike ‘true’ marines, however, the SNLF personnel three thousand US and almost five thousand Japanese casualties
were ordinary sailors with some infantry training, but thanks to occurring within a mere three days.
their determination and fanatical loyalty to the Emperor they
proved to be some of the most effective and die-hard soldiers One formation within the SNLF of particular interest were the
available to Japan. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Yokosuka SNLF forces. These were organised
into ‘naval paratrooper’ units on the eve of the war, under the
The primary role of the SNLF was, as the name suggests, organisational control of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
amphibious landings. Considerable efforts were made with (IJNAS). While trained for the role, the 2nd never served as
reconnaissance and planning to ensure that the landing force paratroopers, but the 1st and 3rd saw active combat duty as such.
would face as little opposition as possible as the SNLF was More of a ‘distraction’ or single-objective small force than the
equipped far less heavily than forces such as the US Marine massed airborne assaults favoured by the Allies, their doctrine
Corps and was especially vulnerable as they tried to make their was to assault and seize specific objectives, most commonly
way off the beaches. The SNLF nonetheless earned a reputation airfields, in order to provide diversionary support for the main
as ferocious and determined fighters. Thoroughly unwilling to SNLF elements coming ashore elsewhere. The 1st conducted
surrender in most cases, units which ran out of ammunition Japan’s first combat drop at Menado in January 1942, while in
would frequently resort to hand-to-hand fighting rather than February, the 3rd landed on West Timor and were badly mauled
yield. This, along with their hazardous missions led to the in the subsequent Battle of Timor.
formations suffering truly horrific casualty rates in many cases.
Provided with a mixture of IJN and Army equipment, the SNLF
Used initially in the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), makes for a wonderfully unique addition to any Japanese Bolt
as their predecessor formations had been against the Russians, Action force. Clad in their distinctive dark green uniforms and
despite some early successes in World War II (most notably the Type 2 helmets, they stand out visually on the tabletop amidst
rather unexpected occupation of Kiska Island, Alaska), by 1943 the sea of khaki. The boxed set, based on our Japanese Army
the tide of the war had forced the SNLF into primarily defensive plastic set, includes new metal heads for every model, as well as
island garrison roles, for which they were ill-suited. Lacking the two metal torsos and arm sets, including one holding the famed
levels of materiel support required to resist the might of the US Japanese military sword – perfect for such a die-hard fighting
Navy and Marine Corps, and almost institutionally allergic to force! If you want to represent the paratroopers, a nice green
conserving their manpower, the SNLF took heavy losses on a paint job over our Teishin Shudan models will work perfectly.

The Japanese SNLF in combat – 29

Scenario 1: going Dutch Longoan Airfield – January 11th 1942

Shortly after 0900 on

N
January 11th 1942, 334 SNLF
paratroopers were dropped on terminal
and around the Dutch airfield area
at Longoan. This was their
first operation, and their lack
of experience was clear. They
were dropped too high and
the local winds scattered the runway
troopers across the airfield.
Individual units were picked
off by the defenders and it took relief column
time to regroup forces for a entry point
coordinated attack.

A KNIL (Koninklijk
Nederlands Indisch Leger, Royal Netherlands East Indies Army) hut, and terminal buildings. The runway should provide a 12"
counter-attack led by two armoured cars and reinforcements wide strip of open ground devoid of cover. The surrounding area
from the local kampong (village) needed to be beaten back before should consist of Dense Terrain with the odd track breaking
the airfield could be secured. A combination of surprisingly through to the board edge.
stubborn Dutch resistance and casualties from the drop caused
the deaths of the detachments commander, two junior officers The Dutch player sets up their forces first. All Rifle and Heavy
and 32 ranks, with 90 more sailors wounded. The KNIL Weapons Platoons should be set up as shown, and may use the
forces assigned to the defence of the airfield was made up of a Dug In rules. All Armoured and Recce Infantry Platoons must
regular company of about 75 men posted to the airfield with be placed in reserve, and may only arrive along the road in the
an attachment of up to 7 Madsen light machine guns. The bottom left corner of the table as shown.
relief force of KNIL Infantry in Longoan Kampong numbered
approximately 50 men. This formation was equipped with three The Japanese player deploys their forces using the Combat Jump
armoured cars and one armoured lorry. Also available were rules from the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook, page 283.
the Infantry Company of European Militia and Landstorm,
composed of approximately 100 Europeans.
SPECIAL RULES
Dug In
FORCES Dutch Rifle and Heavy Weapons Platoons may use the Dug In
The Japanese player selects a 1,000 point force from Armies of rules from the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook, page 294.
Imperial Japan. This force may only consist of Rifle Platoons, and
the only Infantry squads that may be included are Teishin Shudan OBJECTIVE
Paratrooper Squads. The Dutch player must destroy all Japanese units. The Japanese
player must destroy all Dutch units.
The Dutch player selects a 1,000 point force from Armies of the
Netherlands. This force must include at least one Rifle Platoon
and one Armoured Platoon, and may additionally include Heavy GAME DURATION
Weapons Platoons and Recce Infantry Platoons. The game lasts for 7 turns. At the end of turn 7 roll a D6, on
a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
continues for one more turn before ending.
SET UP
The table layout shown is based on wartime aerial reconnaissance
images of the airfield and is best played on a larger 8' x 4' table VICTORY
to encourage the dispersal of units. The terminal area should The player who destroys the most enemy units is the winner –
be populated with small workshops, small hangars, a control this is a fight to the death!

30 – Bolt Action Compendium

Turning the Tide in Goodenough Bay after they initially landed at the wrong
The defeat of the Imperial Japanese Navy at Midway in June beach, on what proved to be an island, and then had their
1942 marked a turning point in the fortunes of the SNLF as barges sunk by Allied aircraft. The main assault force landed
the ‘lightning strikes’ they had trained for became fewer in as planned and with the help of two Ha-Go tanks pushed the
number. The SNLF strategy required ships and targets, but Australian militia inland. However, regular Australian units
with growing ship losses due to the interdiction of the US were brought in to stabilise the line and drive the SNLF back
submarine forces, and fewer opportunities to invade new to the sea. Despite some ferocious counter-attacks, the SNLF
territories, their future as an aggressive assault force looked pocket was slowly overrun and, on September 7th, the 600
in doubt. survivors were taken off the beaches to awaiting corvettes in
scenes reminiscent of the evacuation of Dunkirk.
The final straw for the SNLF was the assault on the Australian
forces in Milne Bay at the end of August 1942. Operation Milne Bay has been labelled as the first battle in the Pacific
Re was to be undertaken by 1,500 men from the 3rd and 5th War where the Allies repelled a Japanese landing force. The
Kure, the 5th Sasebo and 5th Yokosuka battalions against an SNLF had until then fought some hard-won encounters but
Allied force believed to be no more than a company strong. had not been beaten. Milne Bay showed the cracks in the
Things went wrong from the start as the Japanese plans Japanese strategy as intelligence failings and sheer weight of
had already been intercepted by Allied intelligence. The manpower proved their undoing. Allied morale significantly
reinforced Milne Bay garrison was on full alert as the SNLF improved, and Milne Bay became a major staging post for
task force approached. The attack got off to an ignominious future operations in the area. The tide had turned against
beginning as the flanking unit of 350 SNLF were marooned the SNLF.

The SNLF fight alongside the Imperial Japanese Army

The Japanese SNLF in combat – 31

Scenario 2: Simply not Goodenough September 1942

N
Australian table edge

KAmpong

Shallow Water

Deep Water
Japanese

Beach
deployment
zone

Hospital

8"

8"
8"
This scenario is based around a hypothetical contested evacuation met by fierce resistance from prepared positions and ferocious
of the stranded SNLF described above. The 350 SNLF men counter-attacks. The Australians, shaken by the resilience of the
on Goodenough Island had little to do but await rescue – the castaways, pulled back to their landing beaches to regroup.
weather was bad as monsoon season approached, and the island
was a malaria hotspot. However, the IJN did not give up on In the meantime, the SNLF used the two new landing craft to
their men. Messages and food supplies were air-dropped on take advantage of the lull in the action to evacuate their wounded
September 10th and 12th, and on October 3rd a submarine and most of their fighting force to Fergusson Island, where they
arrived, delivering rations, ammunition, medical supplies, were rescued by an IJN destroyer. The SNLF had taken over 40
a radio, and a landing craft. 71 sick or wounded men were casualties in the action but had inflicted twice that number on
crammed into the submarine and brought back to Rabaul, along the Australians.
with the bodies of 13 dead, lost in the initial strafing. This left
285 Japanese troops on the island, most of whom were suffering
from malaria. The submarine returned on October 13th with FORCES
more rations and medical supplies, and a second landing craft. The Japanese player selects a 750 point force, which may only
consist of Rifle Platoons and Heavy Weapons Platoons. In
Two days later, the Japanese received a radio message from addition, the Japanese player receives two Landing Craft, Personnel
command saying that their presence had been spotted by the (see the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook, page 287). The
Australian coastwatchers and an invasion force was on the way. Japanese player nominates 25% of their units to be ‘wounded and
The Australian garrison at Milne Bay felt that the small force of sick’. These units may not shoot, run, or move towards the enemy,
SNLF at Goodenough posed no real threat, but high command but they will fight in close combat if attacked. Additionally, the
was eyeing up the island as a site for a new airfield. Operation Japanese player may take up to two Minefield options.
Drake was formulated for the reconquest and 2/12 Battalion
AIF was assigned the task. Taking some local craft and captured The Australian player selects a 1,250 point force, which may only
Japanese barges the small task force split into two and landed consist of Rifle Platoons and Heavy Weapons Platoons.
on either side of the southern tip of the island, where the SNLF
were believed to be holding out. Hampered by bad weather, poor
communications and illness the two forces moved into contact SET UP
with the outlying Japanese positions. There followed a series of The game is best played on a 6' x 4' table. However, a 1'x4'
probes towards the SNLF lines around Kilia Mission which were extension can be added for the beach, of which half should be

32 – Bolt Action Compendium

sand and half Deep Water. Alternatively, this could be considered Amphibious Assaults
as a remote site and located on a separate table, taking one The Japanese player uses the Amphibious Assaults rules from the
full turn to reach from the eastern end of the main board. The Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook, page 285, but in reverse as
table is set up as shown, crossed by a number of heavily wooded they are trying to load the landing craft instead. The landing craft
ridges, with a single-track path running from east to west from can move on and off the table as they see fit to avoid enemy fire.
the ocean. A village sits by the beach amidst the palm trees.
Nominate one house to be the hospital from which the wounded If a landing craft stays off the table for a full turn it is assumed any
start the game before heading out to the barges. men on board have been transported to safety. The landing craft
can then return the next turn to take off more evacuees.
The Japanese player places 50% of their troops on Ambush and
Hidden anywhere in the central third of the board as shown. The
25% designated as wounded men are placed in or within 2" of the OBJECTIVE
assigned hospital building. The remaining 25% are placed in the The Japanese player must save as many of their men as possible
eastern end of the board around the village. In addition, the two by moving them to the barges and off the board to the east. The
landing craft are placed in the Deep Water zone of the beach area. Australian player must kill as many of the enemy as they can
before the SNLF slips away.
The Australian player selects at least 50% of their force to be
their first wave, which enters from the western end of the board
as shown. Any Australian units held in reserve can attempt an GAME DURATION
Outflanking Manoeuvre from the western side of the creek. The game lasts for 9 turns! At the end of turn 9 roll a D6, on
a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
continues for one more turn before ending.
SPECIAL RULES
Mud
See the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook, page 306. VICTORY!
The Japanese player receives two victory points for every friendly
Monsoon model (not unit!) that is safely evacuated or in a landing craft
See the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook, page 306. by the end of the game. They also receive one victory point for
every enemy model that is killed. The Australian player receives
Exhaustion one victory point for every enemy model that is killed, and one
All Japanese units use the Exhaustion rules from the Bolt Action: victory point for every friendly model that survives the game. The
Third Edition rulebook, page 306. player with the highest number of victory points wins!

Home on the Ebb Tide Those that did take on the might of the Allied invasion fleets
After Milne Bay, the SNLF found themselves tasked as paid dearly for their loyalty to the Emperor.
garrison troops to hold the islands taken in the early days of
the war, or returning home to be amalgamated into larger
units. Replacements were poorly trained and lessons learnt
from previous operations were forgotten.

Smaller units were simply

abandoned on atolls
and islands across
the Pacific as the
US Navy and
Marine Corps
bypassed the
Japanese
positions.

The Japanese SNLF in combat – 33

OPERATIONS LONGCLOTH & THURSDAY By Jon Cooper

Chindits prepare to silence the enemy guns

Operation Longcloth was the name given to a three-month mission conducted in the jungles of Burma by the British ‘Chindits’
under the mercurial Orde Wingate during early 1943. These unconventional soldiers would endure hellish conditions, constant
physical hardship, and of course the ever-present threat of the Japanese Army.

Aiming to slow the Japanese advance and protect British India sustaining heavy casualties in a series of attacks against strongly
by blowing up supply dumps and railway lines, the Chindits held Japanese positions. They would take the town of Mogaung
proved extraordinarily resilient in the face of adversity, but after over three hellish weeks, after which the shattered and exhausted
three months of continuous operation would be compelled remnants of the force would finally be evacuated.
to withdraw back into India. The efficacy of this mission has
been debated ever since, with many considering its impact not We present here a series of scenarios, special rules, and units to
worth the expenditure of men and materiel, but the courage allow you to recreate some of the most famous engagements
and toughness of the Chindits was never in question. Of the of Operations Longcloth and Thursday on the Bolt Action
3,000 men who entered Burma, a third would not return - tabletop. These are designed to be played through in order as a
either killed in combat or by disease, or captured. Their efforts linked campaign, but can just as easily be enjoyed as standalone
provided a welcome boost to Allied morale in the region, and missions. When selecting your forces, utilise the Mid-War
were arguably some of the most impressive physical feats of the selection guide in all cases, and refer to the Platoon Selector
entire war. guides for each mission – this was a war fought mostly by what
we would designate as Rifle and Heavy Weapons platoons!
A year later, the Chindits would return to the jungle for
Operation Thursday, striking out to create remote fortified Our range of Chindits are designed with these very missions in
airstrips from which they could conduct their raids and receive mind, while our Japanese range makes the perfect foil for them,
more effective resupply. This proceeded despite the death of with both sides offering unique challenges to commanders.
Wingate in a plane crash, but significant changes to the original Unless stated otherwise, terrain for these scenarios should be
plan left these bases too far apart to effectively support each extremely dense – there are very few wide open spaces in the
other, and the men would be forced to fight numerous desperate jungle! You can also use these rules and scenarios as the basis
defensive actions against heavy Japanese attacks. Following these for all manner of other battles fought in the dense jungles of the
bloody actions, the Chindits would be ordered on the offensive, Pacific theatre.

34 – Bolt Action Compendium

Campaign Special Rules
The missions in the Operations Longcloth and Thursday Limited Visibility
campaigns make great use of many of the Optional Rules found In the areas designated as Rough Ground, a soldier’s vision is
within the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook. In addition, the impaired by the trees and other dense vegetation. As such, the
following special rules are presented to even better represent the Reduced Visibility rules from the Night Fighting section of the
difficulties of fighting in the inhospitable Burmese jungle: Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook (page 301) apply within
these areas.

HARDENED JUNGLE FIGHTERS

The Chindits received extensive and often gruelling training on MACHINE GUN TROUBLE
how to move, fight, and live in the jungle, and their Japanese foes In Burma both the British and Japanese had difficulties with their
had significant experience in the theatre. All non-vehicle units machine guns. The Chindits found that their reliable and trusted
rated as Veteran should be upgraded to have the Fieldcraft special Bren LMGs and Thompson SMGs were hopelessly vulnerable
rule at a cost of +1pt per model when used for these scenarios. In to clogging from mud in the Burmese jungle, and the Japanese
addition, to represent their enhanced training, all models in the suffered similarly. In order to represent this in play an additional
Chindit force must be purchased as Veterans. D6 must be rolled every time an LMG or SMG is fired – we
recommend using a different coloured die for this purpose. Roll
this die for every gun that is firing; you will find it helpful to split
BAD COUNTRY their dice out into individual ‘pools’.
The Burmese jungle is a nest of trees and undergrowth and as
such the following rules apply: On a roll of 1 an individual weapon is considered clogged and
jammed, and may not fire that turn. Note that condition does not
Impenetrable Jungle ‘carry over’ to the next turn. The firer (and loader in the case of
Unless a scenario specifies otherwise, at least 50% of the gaming an LMG) may not fire another weapon in this turn – they are too
area should be designated as Rough Ground. busy unclogging their weapon!

Chindits make a fighting withdrawal across the Chindwin River

OPERATIONS LONGCLOTH & THURSDAY – 35

OPERATION LONGCLOTH: SCENARIO 1 - AMBUSH
Many accounts of the fighting in Burma highlight the frequency
of ambushes and the perpetual fear of being ambushed. However, N

many cases perceived as ambushes were in fact just British and

Japanese soldiers accidentally running into each other in the
jungle and catching each other unawares. This scenario re-creates Player A Player B
such an encounter and represents the confusion felt by both sides. quarter quarter

FORCES
This scenario is best played with a small number of soldiers on a
much smaller gaming table than usual. The gaming area should be
about 3' x 3' and each player is limited to one Rifle Platoon made
up of a Platoon Commander and two Infantry squads – and
nothing else!
Player B Player A
SET-UP quarter quarter
Divide the game table into quarters. Both players roll a die, and
the one who rolls highest places one squad in a table quarter
of their choice and the other squad in the quarter diagonally
opposed to it. The second player sets up their squads in the
remaining quarters.
GAME DURATION
The platoon commanders are placed in the same order after this, The game lasts for 6 turns. At the end of turn 6 roll a D6, on
in the quarter of their controlling player’s choice. Each player a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
then rolls a die for each of their squads: on a 5 or 6 this unit is continues for one more turn before ending.
considered Hidden.

The whole table counts as Bad Country. VICTORY!

At the end of the game award each player 3 points for each enemy
unit destroyed and 2 points for each friendly unit that survives. If
OBJECTIVE one side scores 2 points more than the other then that side is the
The objective is simple: kill or be killed! winner. Any other result is deemed a draw.

Wingate briefs his next unorthodox mission

36 – Bolt Action Compendium

 OPERATION LONGCLOTH: SCENARIO 2 - STRIKE THE SUPPLIES
This scenario recreates a
Chindit Table Edge
Chindit attack on a village 8"
in which a small Japanese
force is garrisoned. The
village is of importance to the N

Japanese as it is the centre of

a rice producing region. The
Chindits’ aim is to destroy
trucks used by the IJA to
transport rice from the village
to a regional headquarters.

FORCES
Both players select a 1,000
point force. The Japanese Japanese deployment zone
force must include at least
one Rifle Platoon, and may
additionally include Heavy
Weapons Platoons, Engineer
Platoons, and a maximum of
one Artillery Platoon.

The Chindit force must include at least one Rifle Platoon, and GAME DURATION
may additionally include Heavy Weapons Platoons. The game lasts for 6 turns. At the end of turn 6 roll a D6, on
a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
continues for one more turn before ending.
SET-UP
This mission is designed to be played on a standard 6'x4' table.
A number of buildings – or markers representing buildings – VICTORY!
should be set up in an area from the Japanese player’s table edge If the Chindits destroy two or more of the trucks then victory is
to the centre of the table. Amongst these buildings four trucks theirs. Any other result counts as a victory for the Japanese.
should be placed by the Japanese player. An area 8" deep from the
Chindit player’s table edge should be marked as jungle – this is
considered Bad Country.

The Japanese player deploys up to half their units within the “If ordinary family men from Liverpool
village area and the rest are placed in reserve. The Chindit player and Manchester can be trained for this
then deploys up to half their units in the jungle area and places
the remainder in reserve.
specialised jungle war behind the
enemy’s lines, then any fit man in the
OBJECTIVE British Army can be trained to do the
The Chindit player must destroy as many of the trucks and inflict same, and we show ourselves to the
as many casualties as they can on the Japanese. The IJA must world as fighting men second to none,
defend their supply trucks. The Chindit player may destroy the
trucks either by shooting at them, or by assaulting them. The
which I believe we are.” – Orde Wingate
trucks may not move, and are treated as unarmed soft-skinned
vehicles for the purpose of damage. Note that they do not have a
morale value, transport capacity, or any other vehicle rules!

OPERATIONS LONGCLOTH & THURSDAY – 37

OPERATION LONGCLOTH: SCENARIO 3 – SEARCH AND DESTROY
As the Japanese became
increasingly aware of the Chindit N

forces conducting sabotage and

disruptive actions behind their
lines they were initially thrown
Chindit deployment area
into confusion, unsure of how
large and how significant the
threat was. The IJA’s immediate
response was uncoordinated
and sporadic, as often as not the 2" 2"
result of an individual officer 12"
acting on his own initiative
rather than a considered and
formulated strategy. These
attempts were hampered by a
lack of intelligence, as at this
time the IJA was unaware that
the Chindits were exclusively
re-supplied by air and as such did
not have the vulnerability of a
supply line that could be cut. Japanese Table Edge

FORCES OBJECTIVE
The Japanese player selects a 1,000 point force. The Japanese force The Chindits must exit the game table from the Japanese table
must include at least one Rifle Platoon, and may additionally edge. The Japanese must intercept them and destroy as many of
include Heavy Weapons Platoons. their units as they can.

The Chindit player selects at 750 point force. The Chindit force
must include at least one Rifle Platoon, and may additionally FIRST TURN
include Heavy Weapons Platoons. During turn 1 the Japanese player may bring in their reserves as if
it was turn 2.

SET-UP
This mission is designed to be played on a standard 6'x4' table. GAME DURATION
The entire game table is considered Bad Country and movement The game lasts for 6 turns. At the end of turn 6 roll a D6, on
is further hindered by both a steep gorge and two rocky crags that a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
count as impassable terrain. The gorge is 12" wide and runs across continues for one more turn before ending.
the centre of the table as shown. Each player places one of the
crags in a position of their choosing, no closer than 12" to a table
edge. The gorge may only be traversed by means of a 2" pathway VICTORY!
at each end, as shown. The Chindit player is awarded 2 victory point for each Chindit
unit that exits the table from the Japanese table edge by the end
No Japanese units are set up on the table at the start of the game of the game and 1 victory point for each Japanese unit destroyed.
- all are placed in reserve. All Chindit units start on the playing The Japanese player scores 2 victory points for each Chindit unit
area on their side of the gorge. destroyed and 1 victory point for any Chindit unit further than
12" from the Japanese table edge at the end of the game.
Players are encouraged to be somewhat free with the dimensions
laid out if they desire a more ‘naturalistic’ look to the tabletop, If one player scores more than 2 points more than the other then
rather than a truly rectangular gorge! they are the winner. Any other result is deemed a draw.

38 – Bolt Action Compendium

 OPERATION LONGCLOTH: SCENARIO 4 - AIRDROP
In this scenario the Chindits
must recover essential supplies N Chindit Table Edge
which have been dropped into
the jungle by parachute.

FORCES
Both players select a
1,000 point force. The
Japanese force must include
at least one Rifle Platoon, drop 24"
and may additionally include zone
Heavy Weapons Platoons.

The Chindit force must

include at least one
Rifle Platoon, and may
additionally include Heavy
Weapons Platoons.
Japanese Table Edge
SET-UP
This mission is designed to be played on a standard 6'x4' table.
The entire table is considered Bad Country. The players take it FIRST TURN
in turns to place a total of four 1" tokens within 12" of the table During turn 1 both players may bring in their reserves as if it was
centre. These tokens represent the Chindits’ air-dropped supplies. turn 2.
No units are set up on the table at the start of the game – all are
in reserve.
GAME DURATION
The game lasts for 6 turns. At the end of turn 6 roll a D6, on
OBJECTIVE a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
The Chindits must reach and carry off as many supply tokens as continues for one more turn before ending.
possible from their table edge. The Japanese must prevent this
from happening. Treat the supply tokens as briefcases from the
Top Secret scenario in the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook, VICTORY!
page 165, for the purposes of movement. If the Chindits carry two or more supply markers off their table
edge by the end of the game they have won. If they fail to do this,
then the Japanese have won.

OPERATIONS LONGCLOTH & THURSDAY – 39

OPERATION LONGCLOTH: SCENARIO 5 - NANKAN STATION
The primary target of
N
Operation Longcloth was the
Wuntho-Indaw section of 8" Japanese deployment zone
the Burmese railway that ran
from Myitkyina in the north
to Mandalay in the south. The
Chindits began their move
on this target between March
1st-4th 1943. On March
6th, they took the town of
Nankan and its railway station
with little resistance. There
they assembled roadblocks
on the road entering the
town from the north and Chindit deployment zone
obstructed the southern 24"
Railway
road with roadblocks and
minefields. Their plan was to
hold the town for a three-hour 12"
period to allow demolition
teams to destroy the railway
at the station and at other
points. Japanese reinforcements arrived from the north by truck providing hard cover. A roadblock should be positioned so that it
and were accompanied by either a tank or tankette. The Chindits obstructs the road as it enters the town.
were successful in destroying six miles of railway line and three
substantial bridges in the three-hour period won by the holding
action at Nankan. Their task complete, the Chindits dispersed and DEPLOYMENT
regrouped at a pre-arranged location to the south-east of the town. The Chindit player must deploy first, placing all of their units in
the indicated deployment area. The Japanese player then deploys
up to half of their units in the indicated deployment area, with
FORCES the rest being placed in reserve – these units are permitted to
Both players select a 1,000 point force. The Japanese force must attempt an Outflanking Manoeuvre.
include at least one Rifle Platoon, and may additionally include
Heavy Weapons Platoons, and a maximum of one Armoured
Platoon. If included, the Armoured Platoon may only include a OBJECTIVE
maximum of two armoured vehicles. The Chindits must hold the town for eight turns so that their
demolition teams can destroy vital parts of the railway. The
The Chindit force must include at least one Rifle Platoon, and Japanese must prevent this from happening.
may additionally include Heavy Weapons Platoons.

GAME DURATION
SET-UP The game lasts for 8 turns.
This mission is designed to be played on a standard 6'x4' table.
The table is arranged so that it is bisected by a road running
north-south as shown, and a railway line running east-west VICTORY!
should be marked 12" from the southern edge. The railway Each player is awarded 1 victory point for each enemy unit
crosses the road by means of an ungated level crossing. The destroyed. The Japanese player is also awarded 2 points for each
southern half of the table should have a number of buildings friendly unit that is within the town area of the board at the end
on it to represent the town itself. The northern half should be of turn 8. If one player scores more than 2 points more than the
left open, but with various wrecked vehicles scattered across it other then they are the winner. Any other result is deemed a draw.

40 – Bolt Action Compendium

 OPERATION LONGCLOTH: SCENARIO 6 - BACK OVER THE CHINDWIN
On March 26th 1943, N
Wingate ordered the Chindits
to withdraw. Although a
number headed north for
China, the bulk headed west to

Chindit deployment zone

cross the Chindwin into India.
Beleaguered by exhaustion
and sickness and hounded
by Japanese forces, this was a
harrowing experience.

FORCES
Both players select a
1,000 point force. The Japanese
force must include at least
one Rifle Platoon, and may
additionally include Heavy
Weapons Platoons.
6" 12"
The Chindit force must include
at least one Rifle Platoon, and
may additionally include Heavy Weapons Platoons. OBJECTIVE
The Chindit player must move their units west and get as many of
them across the river by the end of the game. The Japanese player
SET-UP must intercept the Chindits and prevent this from happening.
This mission is designed to be played on a standard 6'x4' table.
The entire table is considered Bad Country, with the exception
of a river that runs north-south, as shown. The river is 6" wide FIRST TURN
and positioned along the western edge, leaving a 1" margin During turn 1 the Japanese player may bring in their reserves as if
representing the ‘other side’ of the river. This game is played from it was turn 2.
short table edge to short table edge.
Japanese units may enter the table from the north, east or
southern edges, but must do so to the east of the river.
DEPLOYMENT
The Chindit player places all of their units within 12" of the
eastern edge of the table. The Japanese player places all of their GAME DURATION
units in reserve. The game lasts for 6 turns. At the end of turn 6 roll a D6, on
a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
continues for one more turn before ending.
SPECIAL RULES
River Crossing
The river is considered an obstacle for movement purposes. Units VICTORY!
may only be issued Run or Advance orders when they are in the The Japanese player is awarded 2 victory points for each Chindit
river. If issued an Advance order, they may not fire. unit destroyed. The Chindit player is awarded 2 victory points
for each Chindit unit that has completely crossed the river, and
Exhaustion 1 point for each Chindit unit that is in the process of crossing
All Chindit units are considered to be Exhausted as detailed the river at the end of the game. If one player scores more than 2
in the Optional Rules section of the Bolt Action: Third Edition points more than the other then they are the winner. Any other
rulebook, page 306). result is deemed a draw.

OPERATIONS LONGCLOTH & THURSDAY – 41

OPERATION Thursday: SCENARIO 1 - PAGODA HILL
Between March 5th–6th 1943, N
a party of Chindits led by ‘Mad’
Mike Calvert were dropped into 12" Japanese deployment zone
Burma to establish a stronghold,
codenamed Broadway. A prime
task was to blockade road and rail
links at the village of Henu, which
was surrounded by a series of low
hills. Calvert’s advance, on March
17th, was blocked by a dug-in
Japanese force at the top of one of
them: Pagoda Hill. The Chindits
charged across open paddy fields
and up the slopes to assault the
Japanese position. Soon the two
forces were locked in vicious close
quarters fighting. The Chindits
withdrew, but at dusk, Calvert
led another charge which drove
12" Chindit deployment zone
the Japanese from the hilltop
into Henu, which the Chindits
cleared using flamethrowers. The Chindits were then engaged by
enemy reinforcements and repulsed them after more hand-to-hand DEPLOYMENT
fighting. Calvert’s position on Pagoda Hill was attacked again by Each player deploys their units within 12" of their respective
the IJA on March 21st, but this attack was also beaten back. table edge. Any units not deployed are placed in reserve.

FORCES OBJECTIVE
Both players select a 1,000 point force. The Japanese force must Seize control of Pagoda Hill.
include at least one Rifle Platoon, and may include Heavy Weapons
Platoons, and Artillery Platoons.
GAME DURATION
The Chindit force must include at least one Rifle Platoon, and may The game lasts for 6 turns. At the end of turn 6 roll a D6, on
additionally include Heavy Weapons Platoons, and a maximum of a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
one Engineer Platoon. continues for one more turn before ending.

SET-UP VICTORY!
This mission is designed to be played on a standard 6'x4' table. The Each player gains 2 victory points for each enemy unit destroyed.
Japanese side of the table should be marked as being a low hill. The player with the most victory points is the winner. If both
The entire board is otherwise open ground! players have the same number of victory points, the game is a draw.

PAGODA HILL revisited

The Japanese counter-attack at Pagoda Hill on March 21st The Japanese player selects a new force of the same points value
1944 can be represented quite easily by simply reversing the that they began Scenario 1 with. The Chindit player starts the
deployment zones and playing through Scenario 1 again. scenario with the units that survived Scenario 1, reinforced by
However, if you want to run this action as a direct follow on from an additional Heavy Weapons Platoon consisting of a Platoon
playing Scenario 1, the following is suggested: Commander and two Medium Mortar teams.

42 – Bolt Action Compendium

 OPERATION Thursday: SCENARIO 2 - PINHMI BRIDGE
During the battle at Pagoda Hill,
a force of Chindits attacked
Japanese positions across Pinhmi 12" Japanese deployment zone
Bridge spanning Wettauk
Chaung, a swampy waterway.
On the far bank, the Japanese
were dug in on higher ground.
The Chindits pressed their attack
for 15 minutes until ordered
to withdraw, after many losses.
Despite repeated airstrikes from 8"
1st Air Commando, the Japanese
remained entrenched. However,
the attack on the bridge caused
confusion among the Japanese
as to where the main attack on
Pagoda Hill was actually going
to come from. The survivors of
Pinhmi Bridge later joined the
12" Chindit deployment zone N

main assault on Pagoda Hill.

FORCES Dug In
Both players select a 1,000 point force. The Japanese force Japanese units starting the game on the table may use the Dug In
must include at least one Rifle Platoon, and may include Heavy special rules (Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook, page 294).
Weapons Platoons.
Preparatory Bombardment
The Chindit force must include at least one Rifle Platoon, and The Chindit player may utilise a Preparatory Bombardment,
may include Heavy Weapons Platoons. rolled for as normal. Japanese player cannot utilise one.

Exhaustion
SET-UP Shaken by a series of bombardments, all Japanese units suffer from
This mission is designed to be played on a standard 6'x4' table. Exhaustion (the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook, page 306.
A creek with marshy banks bisects the table, placed as shown. It
transverses the dead centre of the playing area from north to south,
represented by a 8" wide strip. This is impassable and may only be OBJECTIVE
crossed by the 3" wide bridge that passes over it at the table centre. The Chindit player’s goal is to kill as many Japanese troops as
The bridge carries a road that extends to both table edges east and possible. The Japanese player’s aim is to hold their position.
west. The Japanese side of the table counts as Bad Country.

GAME DURATION
DEPLOYMENT The game lasts for 6 turns. At the end of turn 6 roll a D6, on
Both sides may deploy as many of their units within 12" of their a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
respective table edges as they wish, placing the remainder in reserve. continues for one more turn before ending.

SPECIAL RULES VICTORY!

Monsoon Each player gains 2 victory points for each enemy unit destroyed.
The battle takes place during monsoon season. See the Bolt The player with the most victory points is the winner. If both
Action: Third Edition rulebook, page 306. players have the same number of victory points, the game is a draw.

OPERATIONS LONGCLOTH & THURSDAY – 43

OPERATION Thursday: SCENARIO 3 - BLACKPOOL
In May 1944 the Chindits
N
established a new stronghold –
codenamed Blackpool – after
evacuating Broadway and White

Japanese deployment zone

City. Blackpool had extensive

Chindit deployment zone

trenches and earth fortifications,
as well as artillery in the form
of 25pdrs and Bofors guns,
but lacked an extensive barbed
wire and minefield perimeter
and reinforced bunkers. The
Japanese were determined
not to let Blackpool become
established as a fully-fledged
stronghold, and conducted
nightly raids on Blackpool
with the aim of exhausting the
Chindits. Although Blackpool
held out for some time, the
relentless nightly attacks and 8" 14"
artillery bombardments led to
it being abandoned towards the
end of May. This scenario takes place in early May and represents SPECIAL RULES
a Japanese night attack. Night Fighting
See the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook, page 301.

FORCES Dug In
Both players select a 1,000 point force. The Japanese force must See the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook, page 294.
include at least one Rifle Platoon, and may additionally include
Heavy Weapons Platoons.
OBJECTIVE
The Chindit force must include at least one Rifle Platoon, and The Japanese player’s objective is to harry the Chindits and
may include Heavy Weapons Platoons and Artillery Platoons. cause as many casualties as possible in order to wear them down.

The Chindit player’s aim is to defend their position and drive

SET-UP off the attack.
This mission is designed to be played on a standard 6'x4' table.
An earthen perimeter wall crosses the table 14" in from the
Chindit edge and is counted as an obstacle. An area of Bad GAME DURATION
Country extends for 6" from the Japanese edge. The terrain in The game lasts for 6 turns. At the end of turn 6 roll a D6, on
between is open ground. Night Fighting rules are in effect. a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
continues for one more turn before ending.

DEPLOYMENT
The Japanese player may deploy up to 50% of their force within VICTORY!
8" of their table edge, with the rest being placed in reserve. The Each player gains 2 victory points for each enemy unit destroyed.
Chindit player may deploy up to 50% of their force at any point The Japanese player is awarded an additional victory point for
on their side of the perimeter wall, with the rest being placed in any Japanese squad that is able to cross the perimeter wall. If one
reserve. Any Chindits who start the game on the table may use player scores more than 2 points more than the other then they
the Dug In special rules. are the winner. Any other result is deemed a draw.

44 – Bolt Action Compendium

 OPERATION Thursday: SCENARIO 4 - MOGAUNG
In June 1944, despite Calvert’s
misgivings, the Chindits
were ordered to launch an 12" Japanese deployment zone
assault on the strategically
important town of Mogaung.
A ferocious preliminary
attack was launched by 1st Air
Commando, while a dummy
attack across the marshes to
the south-east was launched to
distract the defenders. Against
Marsh
seemingly impossible odds,
despite the heavy monsoon
rains and almost impregnable
defences, the Chindits captured
Mogaung, but suffered fifty
percent casualties in doing so.

12" Chindit deployment zone N

FORCES
Both players select a 1,000
point force. The Japanese force
must include at least one Rifle Platoon, and may include Heavy Monsoon Season
Weapons Platoons and Artillery Platoons. The game is played using the Monsoon Season rules from the Bolt
Action: Third Edition rulebook, page 306.
The Chindit force must include at least one Rifle Platoon and
one Engineer Platoon, and may additionally include Heavy Dug In
Weapons Platoons. Japanese units that start the game on the table may use the Dug
In special rules (Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook, page 294),

SET-UP Mud
This mission is designed to be played on a standard 6'x4' table. The marshes on the perimeter of the town count as Mud, as
The Japanese player’s side of the table should be set out as a town defined in the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook, page 306.
with numerous buildings, as shown. Up to 50% of the town’s
perimeter should be designated as a 2" wide strip of marshland,
counting as rough ground. OBJECTIVE
The Chindit player must drive the Japanese forces from
Mogaung. The Japanese player must prevent this.
DEPLOYMENT
Each player may deploy as much of their force as they wish within
12" of their respective table edge. Any forces not deployed on the GAME DURATION
table are placed in reserve. Units in reserve may not attempt an The game lasts for 6 turns. At the end of turn 6 roll a D6, on
Outflanking Manoeuvre. a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
continues for one more turn before ending.

SPECIAL RULES
Preparatory Bombardment VICTORY!
The Chindit player may utilise a Preparatory Bombardment, Each player gains 2 victory points for each enemy unit destroyed.
rolled for as normal. The Japanese player may not utilise a The player with the most victory points is the winner. If both
Preparatory Bombardment. players have the same number of victory points, the game is a draw.

OPERATIONS LONGCLOTH & THURSDAY – 45

New Units having developed his methods and strategies in Africa and
the Middle East prior to being posted to Burma. An eccentric
We present here a wide range of units and personalities associated officer, Wingate divided opinion on the efficacy of his methods.
with the Chindits. These are specifically designed to be used with the Regardless the of criticisms made against him and his ideas, it is
Operations Longcloth and Thursday missions presented earlier, and unquestionable that he was hugely respected and admired by the
can also serve as inspiration for other jungle-fighting legends. Our men he commanded. A charismatic man, he was able to engender
range of Chindit models is perfect for representing these men! feelings of great confidence in the men who became Chindits.

Orde Wingate Wingate is a great unit to include in a British force representing

Major-General Orde Charles Wingate, DSO, was the architect the Chindits in the Operation Longcloth scenarios – we suggest
of the Chindits, and a pioneer of unconventional warfare, including him as you would a Company Commander.

Cost 150pts (Veteran)

Composition 1 officer
Weapons Rifle
Options – Wingate may be accompanied by up to 5 men with rifles at a cost of +16pts per man (Veteran)
– Any man accompanying Wingate may replace their rifle with a submachine gun for +3pts per model
Special Rules – Behind Enemy Lines. When Outflanking, this unit ignores the -1 modifier to the order test for coming
onto the table
– Ambush tactics: If this unit is placed in Ambush it has a +1 modifier to its base morale value.
In addition, the unit may start the game in Ambush
– Jungle warfare experts: Treat any terrain classed as jungle or woodland as open
– Tough Fighters: Wingate and his men are Tough Fighters
– Infiltration Master: If your force includes Wingate, any friendly infantry Outflanking units that
become available may enter the game either by their chosen short table edge, as normal, or from
any point on the enemy table edge

Mike Calvert experience was crucial in the Chindits’ campaign of disruption and
Described as ‘The Ultimate Chindit’, Brigadier Mike Calvert’s sabotage against the IJA and their communications infrastructure.
experiences in Burma often read more like the exploits of a
Hollywood action hero than actual historical events. Calvert We suggest using Calvert as a Company Commander for a British force
was an engineer and demolitions expert whose knowledge and representing the Chindits in Operations Longcloth and Thursday.

Cost 150pts (Veteran)

Composition 1 officer
Weapons Rifle, Demolition Charge
Options – Calvert may be accompanied by up to 5 men with rifles at a cost of +16pts per man (Veteran)
– Anybody may replace their rifle with a submachine gun for +4pts per model
Special Rules – Behind Enemy Lines. When Outflanking, this unit ignores the -1 modifier to the order test for coming onto the table
– Ambush tactics: If this unit is placed in Ambush it has a +1 modifier to its base morale value. In addition, the unit may start
the game in Ambush
– Jungle warfare experts: Treat any terrain classed as jungle or woodland as open
– Tactical Control: Calvert’s morale bonus is +4 and the range of his ability is 12"
– Follow me! Calvert’s team, and other units of Chindits that are deployed within 12" of Calvert, are allowed to make a Run
move after both sides have finished set-up, but before the first turn of the game
– Demolitions Expert: Calvert destroys a building with a demolition charge on the score of an 8 instead if a 10 (see HE Weapons
Against Buildings in the Bolt Action: 3rd Edition rulebook, page 156)

46 – Bolt Action Compendium

 Chindit
section

Chindits Demolitions Team

The Chindits included among their number the highly experienced Chindit Demolitions Teams are a good way to represent the men
demolitions teams of 142 Commando Company. As well as of 142 Commando Company and other explosives specialists in
engaging in regular fighting, these men had the job of detecting the Operations Longcloth and Thursday scenarios. We suggest
and disarming Japanese booby traps, as well as setting their own incorporating them into your force as an Infantry squad –
explosive devices. remembering that they have the Engineers special rule!

Cost 105pts (Veteran)

Composition 1 NCO and 4 men
Weapons Rifles, 1 man has a demolition charge in addition to his rifle
Options – Add up to 5 additional men at +17pts each
– The NCO and another man may have a submachine gun for +4pts each
– One man may have a light machine gun for +15pts. Another man becomes the loader
– The entire squad may have anti-tank grenades for +2pts per model
Special Rules – Behind Enemy Lines. When Outflanking, this unit ignores the -1 modifier to the order test for coming onto the table
– Ambush tactics: If this unit is placed in Ambush it has a +1 modifier to its base morale value. In addition, the unit may start
the game in Ambush
– Jungle warfare experts: Treat any terrain classed as jungle or woodland as open
– Engineers
– Tank Hunters (if anti-tank grenades taken)

DEMOLITION CHARGE If the marker is placed in contact with a building, when

Chindits with this item of equipment are able to lay it explodes treat this as a direct hit by a 3” HE weapon
explosives in an attempt to destroy buildings or vehicles. against the building (and any unit inside) instead of using
the template.
A unit may place a demolition charge once per game by
taking a fire order. Place a marker (on a 25mm round base) If the marker is placed in contact with a vehicle, and it
in base contact with a single man in the firing unit. Once explodes before the vehicle moves away, treat this as a direct
placed, if the placing unit is assaulted by an enemy, or hit by a 3" HE weapon against the vehicle instead of using
destroyed in any way, the marker is removed. the template.

To trigger the charge, the unit must make a Run order in

Weapon Range Shots PEN Special Rules
a subsequent turn and move at least 3" away (this cannot
be used to assault an enemy unit). After the Run move is Demolition Charge – 1 HE HE(3"), One-Shot
complete, the demolition charge immediately explodes, with
the 3" template centred onto the marker.

OPERATIONS LONGCLOTH & THURSDAY – 47

Bernard Fergusson sense of humour which won the admiration of his Chindits –
Brigadier Bernard Edward Fergusson, KT, GCMG, GCVO, whose working class backgrounds contrasted greatly with his
DSO, OBE – or Baron Ballantrae of Auchairne and of the Bay own. His motivational skills and his ability to incentivise troops
Islands, if you prefer – was considered a bit of a toff by many of the and boost their morale were just as valuable as his extensive field
Chindits, and with good reason. Indeed, in the Burmese jungle and combat skills.
his slouch hat and shaggy beard were offset by his habit of wearing
a monocle (Fergusson had supplies of monocles airdropped with Bernard Fegusson is an excellent choice to lead
regular Chindit provisions!). Eton and Sandhurst educated, he a British force representing the Chindits in the
had served with both the Black Watch and Green Howards before Operation Thursday scenarios, where he can
the outbreak of the Second World War. be fielded as a Company Commander. For large
games, you could even agree to include him alongside
Fergusson became commander of the Chindits’ No.5 column, Mike Calvert, giving you two Company Commanders
which frequently worked closely with Calvert’s No.3 column. – although this is not normally allowed by the rules,
Despite his eccentricities and aristocratic background, Fergusson it makes for a great way to represent the two men
was hugely personable and had a boisterous and irrepressible working in concert!

Cost 140pts (Veteran)

Composition 1 officer
Weapons Rifle
Options – Fergusson may be accompanied by up to 5 men with rifles at a cost of +16pts per man (Veteran)
– Any man accompanying Fergusson may replace their rifle with a submachine gun for +4pts per model
Special Rules – Behind Enemy Lines. When Outflanking, this unit ignores the -1 modifier to the order test for coming onto the table
– Ambush tactics: If this unit is placed in Ambush it has a +1 modifier to its base morale value. In addition, the unit may start
the game in Ambush
– Jungle warfare experts: Treat any terrain classed as jungle or woodland as open
– Master of Men’s Hearts: Once per game, any friendly squad within 12" of Fergusson can re-roll a failed morale test

George Cairns, VC its savagery”. During this vicious confrontation, a Japanese officer
Lieutenant George Cairns, VC, of the Somerset Light Infantry virtually severed Cairns’ left arm with his sword. In spite of this
(Prince Albert’s) was attached to the South Staffordshire Regiment injury (and having been bayoneted twice!), Cairns would kill the
and as a consequence found himself serving with the Chindits Japanese officer, commandeer his sword, and go on to wield it to
during Operation Thursday as a mortar officer. Before the war, great effect as the Chindits won the battle. Surviving the fight,
Cairns had worked in a bank, but he entered into Chindit legend he would die of his wounds the following morning, and was
due to an extraordinary feat of courage and fortitude. Serving posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
under Calvert, Cairns saw action at Pagoda Hill as part of a mixed
force of ‘South Staffs’ and Gurkhas. During this battle, Cairns took George Cairns may be added to a Chindit Section for Operation
part in a charge against a Japanese position, across open fields and Thursday missions, replacing its NCO. Alternatively, you could agree
up the face of Pagoda Hill itself. The Chindit charge was met by a to field him as a one-model unit, in which case he simply uses the
Japanese counter-charge, and the forces clashed at the summit of profile below – this is particularly appropriate
the hill in a brutal melee which was later described as “medieval in for the Pagoda Hill mission.

Cost 25pts (Veteran)

Composition George Cairns can be attached to a Chindit Section, replacing the unit’s NCO for the cost above, or fielded as
a single-model unit for the same cost
Weapons Rifle
Special Rules – Tough Fighters. While he is alive, all of Cairns’ section gain the Tough Fighters rule
– Medieval in Savagery. If Cairns is killed during close quarters fighting he is given two free attacks.
The player controlling Cairns should resolve these attacks immediately, before removing the model

48 – Bolt Action Compendium

Tul Bahadur Pun, VC enemy fire, Pun single-handedly stormed the bunker, killing and
Rifleman Tul Bahadur Pun, VC, of 3rd Battalion, 6th Gurkha wounding all of its occupants. Given the difficult terrain, incoming
Rifles earned the Victoria Cross for his actions at Mogaung on 23 fire, and the fact that he was completely alone, Tul Bahadur Pun
June 1944. Most of the men of Pun’s section were killed as they well-deserved his Victoria Cross for this act of immense bravery.
attempted to take the railway bridge, but Pun and two other men
pressed on. Pun would soon find himself alone as his comrades Tul Bahadur Pun may be added to a Gurkha Section in a British
were wounded by fire from a Japanese bunker. Recovering a force representing the Chindits in the Operation Thursday missions,
Bren gun from a fallen soldier, and advancing into a barrage of replacing a regular man.

Cost +25pts
Composition Pun is added to a Gurkha Section, replacing a regular man for the cost above
Weapons Rifle
Options – Pun may replace his rifle with an LMG for +15pts (he does not need to be accompanied by a loader)
Special Rules – Tough Fighter
– Killer: Pun has two attacks in close quarter fighting instead of the usual one
– Relentless: A squad that includes Pun ignores the effects on morale of any pins while Pun is alive

Flossie the Elephant caught the attention of the press was named Flossie, and she
In addition to mule teams, the Chindits also utilised locally became something of a mascot for her unit.
‘recruited’ elephants to transport guns and equipment. These
beasts were perfectly suited to hauling heavy loads through their You can add Flossie and her handler, or any other elephant, to a
native jungle, and were no doubt greatly appreciated by the men British force representing the Chindits in the Operations Longcloth
whose loads they were lightening! A particular elephant who and Thursday scenarios, treating her as a tow for any artillery piece.

Cost 6pts (Veteran)

Composition 1 elephant!
Weapons None
Damage Value 3+ (soft skinned)
Tow – Light howitzer, light anti-tank gun
Special Rules – Slow (only when towing)
– Gun Assembly. To simulate the fact that the gun was actually transported disassembled, when the gun is unlimbered the
artillery unit suffers a pin. When the gun is limbered, Flossie (and consequently the transported artillery unit) suffers a pin

Philip Cochran servicemen for his audacious courage, determination and combat
Immortalised in American popular culture as Flip Corkin in the skill, with displays of nerve that at times bordered on the reckless.
comic strip ‘Terry and the Pirates’, Lieutenant Colonel Philip
Cochran was co-commander of 1st Air Commando with John R. Cochran is not an actual model (although we heartily recommend
Alison. He personally led many missions in support of the Chindits modelling his P-51 as an Air Strike marker!), but instead is an
in his P-51 Mustang. 1st Air Commando – ‘Cochran’s Circus’ – not upgrade to a Forward Air Observer taken as part of a British force
only provided invaluable air support for the Chindit missions, but representing the Chindits of Operations Longcloth and Thursday.
their presence had a huge positive effect on morale. The likeable and If included, he bestows the bonuses below on the first air strike your
humorous Cochran won the admiration and respect of many British force launches during the game.
Cost +25pts
Composition N/A
Weapons Squadron of P-51 Mustangs!
Special Rules – Quit Ya Whining!: When rolling on the Air Strike Table, you may re-roll a roll of 1. If a second 1 is rolled, use that result.
– Bank Around and Hit ‘em Again: Roll twice on the Warplane Type Table and pick the best result.

OPERATIONS LONGCLOTH & THURSDAY – 49

Burma Rifles Reconnaissance Section a rifle. Nevertheless, a combination of hatred for the Japanese and
The role played by the indigenous peoples of Burma in the the incentive of a bounty of one rupee for each Japanese left ear
campaigns against the Japanese is not to be underestimated. collected ensured these men fought hard against the IJA.
The Burma Rifles were composed of Chin, Karen and Kachin
irregulars who were recognised as a fully-fledged military A Burma Rifles Reconnaissance Section may be included in a British
component of the Chindits. The armaments available to these force representing the Chindits in the Operations Longcloth and
irregulars were limited, and the majority would be lucky to have Thursday missions, and counts as an Infantry Squad.

Cost 55pts (Inexperienced), 70pts (Regular), 85pts (Veteran)

Composition 1 NCO and 4 men
Weapons Rifles
Options – Add up to 5 additional men with rifles at +11pts (Inexperienced). +14pts (Regular), or +17pts (Veteran) each
– The NCO may be given an SMG instead of a rifle for +4pts
Special Rules – Behind Enemy Lines. When Outflanking, this unit ignores the -1 modifier to the order test for coming onto the table
– Ambush tactics: If this unit is placed in Ambush it has a +1 modifier to its base morale value. In addition, the unit may start
the game in Ambush
– Jungle warfare experts: Treat any terrain classed as jungle or woodland as open
– Forward Deployment Party: One Burma Rifles Reconnaissance Section per army may have the Infiltrator special rule for free

“They were quicker than monkeys and talented at shooting … After the eight-month occupation,
the punitive force at Sumprabum suffered heavy damage and the casualties from the Kachins’
guerrilla tactics … In the course of the campaign, the killed and wounded amounted to a great
number. For example, the commander of the 2nd Battalion was seriously wounded and the
commander of the Heavy Machine Gun Company was killed in action.”
Hideo Fujino, Japanese soldier, recollecting his experiences fighting the native irregulars of Burma

Burmese Scouts
Local Burmese people would often volunteer to act as guides A single Burmese Scout may be added to each Chindit Section in a
for Chindit units, at great personal risk. Their knowledge of the British force representing the Chindits in the Operations Longcloth
jungle and local terrain was often crucial to the Chindits’ success. and Thursday missions.

Cost 40pts (Veteran)

Composition A single Burmese Scout may be added to a Chindit Section for the cost above
Weapons Rifle
Special Rules – Behind Enemy Lines. When Outflanking, this unit ignores the -1 modifier to the order test for coming onto the table
– Ambush tactics: If this unit is placed in Ambush it has a +1 modifier to its base morale value. In addition, the unit may start
the game in Ambush
– Jungle warfare expert: Treat any terrain classed as jungle or woodland as open
– Local Scout. If a Chindit Section held in reserve includes a Burmese scout, the scout’s local
knowledge allows the Chindits, when Outflanking, to enter the board edge of their choice
Burmese
rather than choose before the game starts scout

50 – Bolt Action Compendium

Lieutenant Cairns gets medieval with the Japanese

Kachin native irregulars

Chindits and Kachin irregulars erupt from the jungle to strike at a Japanese outpost

OPERATIONS LONGCLOTH & THURSDAY – 51

The eastern front
The German invasion of the Soviet Union would ignite some of Often overshadowed by this destructive background are
the most gargantuan battles of the Second World War. Titanic fantastically interesting and unusual forces, units, and battles,
armies would clash across enormous fronts, and the fighting whose contributions make great inspiration for games of
was some of the most apocalyptic of the entire conflict. Bolt Action.

52 – Bolt Action Compendium

 The Polish People’s Army By Darrin Zielinski

The LWP prepare to receive a German counter-attack

Serving as part of the Red Army at the behest of Polish communists, the Polish People’s Army would see fierce fighting as it
drove towards the liberation of its homeland, and beyond to the heart of the Reich itself.

ORIGINS AND FORMATION OF THE ARMY the USSR equipment under the Lend-Lease program, poor
The precarious situation of the Red Army had found itself in political relations before the outset of the war ensured that the
following Operation Barbarossa had begun to ease by early 1943. relationship remained strained at best. For Stalin, placating
The victories at Stalingrad and Moscow had started to bleed the the Western Allies to encourage the flow of Lend-Lease was
German military dry, and Soviet forces gained valuable breathing deemed critical to the survival of the Soviet Union in the early
space as a result. These triumphs had, however, come at terrible days of the war.
cost to the Soviet Union. Hundreds of thousands of Soviet
soldiers were now either dead on the battlefield or languishing One such placation made to the British in the early months of
in German POW camps throughout the east. It had become Barbarossa was a tentative recognition of the Western-backed
apparent to Soviet politicians and the military leadership in the Polish government in exile. This, coupled with a desire to see
Stavka that, while ultimate victory was likely, the Soviet Union further action against the Germans from the Western Allies, led
would need to draw upon additional sources of manpower Stalin to concede to a request by the Polish government to turn
in order to bolster its ever-thinning ranks. It was at this time over former prisoners of war held in the USSR for service on the
that the Union of Polish Patriots, a political group of Polish Western Front. By 1942 nearly 70,000 Polish Army officers and
communists the Soviets had organized in 1941, finally found a soldiers were assembled and eventually evacuated from the Soviet
receptive audience with Stalin. The Polish communists delivered Union via British-controlled Iran. These men had originally
a proposal, asking for the creation of Polish military units to fight been captured during the Soviet invasion of Poland, and would
alongside the Red Army. go on to form the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade
described earlier in this book.
The request was hardly new or novel - the Union of Polish
Patriots had been repeating it regularly following the German By 1943, the truth regarding the mass executions of Polish
invasion in June of 1941. However, Operation Barbarossa had officers by the Soviets in the Katyn forest in 1940 began to
delivered a nearly crippling series of defeats and encirclements surface. With evidence mounting, relations between the USSR
to the Red Army, leaving Soviet forces scattered and important and the Polish government in exile began to grow increasingly
arms and armament lost or in enemy hands, and the need cold. Seeing little advantage in keeping the government in exile
for able-bodied men was eclipsed at the time by a critical happy, and with new plans for postwar Poland being developed,
shortage of war materiel. While the Western Allies, with Stalin finally approved the Union of Polish Patriots’ request. The
their own struggles against the Germans, were happy to offer Polish communists would have their army.

The Polish People’s Army – 53

LENINO: THE TRIAL BY FIRE Despite the heavy casualties they had sustained in the battle, the
This new force, designated the Ludowe Wojsko Polskie (Polish LWP would recover. Across the Eastern Front the unrelenting
People’s Army or LWP), would be challenged in combat for the advance of the Red Army freed populations of ethnic Poles from
first time shortly after its formation, at which time it consisted of German occupation. With the new-found manpower, the Soviet
the 1st Tadeusz Kościuszko Infantry Division. government authorized the expansion of the 1st Infantry Division
into the Polish 1st Corps and added further dedicated artillery,
In October 1943 the 1st Infantry Division would see combat air, and armoured units. By the summer of 1944, the Corps was
near a small village on the Dnieper River named Lenino. Tasked further expanded into two Polish armies (each roughly the size of
with securing a bridgehead on the far side of the river, the an American Corps) though a further third army was abandoned
inexperienced 1st Infantry Division would made a direct attack due to the continued shortage of Polish officers.
on fortified positions held by experienced German troops.
Despite the odds, the Poles made initial gains and eventually a With their strength bolstered by new units and an expanded
successful foothold was secured on the far bank. While the men arsenal, the armies were judged ready for combat by the Stavka.
of the LWP fought valiantly and with fierce determination to In July 1944 the newly forged Polish armies were sent back onto
hold their bridgehead, their lack of experience and shortages of the front during the fighting to retake Poland. Units of the Polish
effective equipment proved costly. In the two days of fighting the 1st Army were among the first Poles to return across the border
Poles endured several well supported German counter-attacks into Poland and fought fiercely to retake their homeland. While
that nearly broke their lines in several places, and casualties began the Germans continued to resist the advance, the LWP proved
to mount at an alarming rate. Eventually however, fresh Soviet generally successful and tenacious in the campaigns and battles
troops were brought up to replace the beleaguered Poles. Though throughout Poland. In the background however, reports of high
they had gained some ground and valuable experience, the battle casualties still followed many of their actions. The inexperience
proved to be at best a pyrrhic victory. The LWP’s trial by fire had among all ranks still proved difficult to overcome, particularly
left over a quarter of the division as casualties and the unit was with so many new recruits. In addition, Red Army commanders
quickly retired to Smolensk following their relief for additional continued to place the Poles at the front of the more difficult
training and reinforcement. offensives and the most bitter of fighting.

The LWP advance cautiously, wary of enemy snipers

54 – Bolt Action Compendium

The battles the LWP waged in Poland included their most well- EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORM
known and tragic actions of war. As the Red Army pushed closer Upon its founding, the 1st Kościuszko Infantry Division drew
to Poland’s capital in August 1944, the Warsaw Uprising began, almost exclusively from Soviet stockpiles, wearing the standard
encouraged by Soviet assurances that liberation was at hand. Soviet khaki infantry uniform, though even at this point
Despite holding a position just outside the city on the Vistula insignia and rank derived from modified pre-war Polish Army
River’s east bank, repeated desperate efforts made by the LWP regulations were often used. During the expansion of the LWP
to relieve the city throughout September were met with failure. later in the war a new uniform was made of similar fashion to
While several bridgeheads were taken, they were at extreme the pre-war Polish Army in a grey-green colour. A khaki cold
cost to the LWP and none were held for long enough to make a weather greatcoat that resembled the pre-war Polish pattern
sustained attack over the river. The lack of sufficient support by the was also distributed in limited quantities. Headgear in the early
Red Army and fierce German opposition halted every effort the days consisted of Soviet made SSh-40 helmets and a limited
Poles made to relieve the beleaguered Armia Krajawa resistance supply of Ushanka fur field caps. Later in the war a field cap
fighters in Warsaw. It wasn’t until January of 1945 that the LWP similar to the pre-war Polish Rogatywka was issued along with
was organised and supported well enough to be able to make the new uniform. Both helmets and field caps also differed from
the final push into Warsaw. By that point, three months after the the Soviet counterparts with the addition of a Piast eagle sans
capitulation of the resistance, only a ruined city remained. traditional crown.

The arms and armaments of the LWP were primarily taken

THE LAST DAYS from Soviet stockpiles and manufactured in the Soviet Union,
Despite finally pushing the Germans out of Poland in early 1945, through some lend lease equipment such as the Universal Carrier
the LWP continued to serve as a key element of the Red Army. were distributed to the Poles. Polish-operated vehicles could be
The Poles fought on through the last days of the Eastern Front as differentiated from their Soviet counterparts by the crownless
the war pushed into Germany itself. Both Polish armies would eagle that was derisively referred to as the ‘plucked chicken’ by
serve an especially notable role during the Race to Berlin, where Polish soldiers.
nearly ten percent of the troops pushing on the German capital
came from the ranks of the LWP. When Marshal Zhukov made
the ultimate push into the city with the 1st Belorussian Front, the
1st Polish Army was thrust deep into the heart of Berlin, fighting
Fielding the LWP
on the front lines block by block to take the city. In the final
weeks of the war, men from the 1st Kościuszko Infantry Division
In Bolt Action: Third Edition
were even counted amongst the Soviet troops fighting the last Combining our Polish and Soviet ranges will allow you to
German holdouts in the Reichstag. easily create a battle-ready force of LWP for your games of
Bolt Action! For those more interested in the earlier battles of
The 2nd Army meanwhile pushed from the south with Marshal the LWP or looking for a quicker simpler conversion process,
Konev’s 1st Ukrainian front. When Konev’s force was diverted painting the Polish eagle crest on the helmets of our plastic
from Berlin, the Army was tasked with securing the city of Soviet models should prove more than sufficient in representing
Dresden. On their way there however, the soldiers would Polish soldiers. Keep in mind though that the heads wearing
endure one of the bloodiest battles the LWP would experience Ushanka and Pilotka side caps should be used sparingly as these
throughout the war, the Battle of Bautzen. Halted in the town were not commonly issued. Armoured support can of course
that provided the battle’s namesake, the Poles participated in be used from existing Soviet ranges and the crew provided with
fierce urban fighting with German troops for several gruelling them should work perfectly with the addition of the Polish
days. By the time the combat waned, the LWP’s losses totalled eagle crest on the vehicle.
near 25 percent of the 2nd Army’s manpower and over half
of their 200 tanks lay ruined. Rebuffed from their advance on Those players looking to make a force of post-Lenino LWP will
Dresden following the battle, the 2nd Army ended the war find that the plastic Soviets still work excellently, though at this
preparing instead for a drive onto the city of Prague. period uniforms can be painted in a mix of khaki or grey green
depending on preference. For additional variety in this period
By the end, the brutal fighting in Lenino, Bautzen, Berlin, and and a more unique army in appearance our metal Polish Infantry
the banks of the Dnieper had taken a great toll on the men of Squad in Greatcoats provides an ample supply of the iconic
the Polish People’s Army. The LWP had lost nearly 32,000 of Polish Rogatywka caps and suitable greatcoats. While the troops
their fighting men throughout their time on the Eastern Front, have Mauser rifles and German style gas mask cases, it’s hardly a
accounting in total for nearly a quarter of all Polish soldiers killed stretch to assume that the troops pilfered some rifles to turn them
throughout the war. against the enemy!

The Polish People’s Army – 55

THE LWp ARMY LIST ARMY SPECIAL RULES
The Great Patriotic War
We present these rules to allow you to field the Polish People’s See page 252 of the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook.
Army (LWP) in your games of Bolt Action. In many respects
they are very similar to a Soviet force, but these rules allow Brunt of the Fighting
you to recreate their most famous engagements, and add a new The LWP often endured the hardest fighting. All LWP HQ Teams,
dimension to your games set on the Eastern Front. Infantry Squads & Teams, and Artillery Units are Stubborn.

Note that some units included in the Forlorn Assaults

army list come from either Armies of In Story Scenarios that use Attacker and Defender rules, the
Great Britain or Armies of the Soviet LWP player may always elect to be the Attacker (but may not
Union – use the profiles presented there elect to be Defender. If the LWP player declines to be the
for these units, unless directed otherwise. Attacker, you instead roll as normal). In addition, in missions in
which the LWP player is the Attacker, where a final turn would
be rolled for, the turn is instead always played.

LWP Mid & Late War Force Selection Guide

INFANTRY UNITS Vehicle Units
HQ TEAMS TANKS
- Officer*
- Light Tanks (T-70 only)*
- Red Army Officer
- T-34 Medium Tanks (T-34 & T-34/85 only)*
- Medic*
- Forward Observer* - KV-85 & IS Heavy Tanks (IS-2 only)*

INFANTRY SQUADS & TEAMS TANK DESTROYERS

- LWP Rifle Squad - ISU-122*
- LWP Inexperienced Rifle Squad SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY
- LWP Veteran Rifle Squad - SU-76*
- Machine Gun Team* - SU-152 & ISU-152*
- Anti-Tank Team* (not Dog Mines) - Katyusha*
- Sniper Team*
- Half-Tracked Tank Destroyers (57MM SP Autocar only)**
- Mortar Team*
ARMOURED CARS
- Light Armoured Cars*
ARTILLERY UNITS
TRANSPORTS & TOWS
FIELD ARTILLERY
- Gaz ‘Jeep’*
- Howitzers (Light, Medium, & Heavy)*
- T-20 Komsomolets*
ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS - Bren Carrier**
- Anti-Aircraft Guns (37MM 61-K model 1939 only)* - Trucks/Lorries**
ANTI-TANK GUNS *See Armies of the Soviet Union for points values and rules. Note that
- Anti-Tank Guns (Light, Medium, Heavy & Zis-3)* all units chosen as part of an LWP force benefit from the LWP army
special rules rather than the Soviet Union army special rules, as these
units reflect Poles fighting with Soviet equipment.
LWP sniper team
in winter gear
**See Armies of Great Britain for points values and rules. Note that
all units chosen as part of an LWP force benefit from the LWP army
special rules rather than the British army special rules, as these units
reflect Poles fighting with Lend-Lease British equipment.

56 – Bolt Action Compendium

NEw UNITS
Red Army Officer (M/L)
Cost – Red Army Platoon Commander: 21pts (Inexperienced), 30pts (Regular), 39pts (Veteran)
– Red Army Company Commander: 42pts (Inexperienced), 60pts (Regular), 78pts (Veteran)
Composition 1 officer and up to 2 further men
Weapons Pistol, submachine-gun, or rifle, as depicted on the models
Options – The officer may be accompanied by up to 2 men for +7 pts each (Inexperienced), +10pts each (Regular), +13pts each (Veteran)
Special Rules – Non-Polish Officers: Red Army Officers cannot grant any Morale Bonus to LWP units

LWP Rifle Squad (M/L)

Cost Regular Infantry 70pts
Composition 1 NCO and 6 men
Weapons Rifles
Options – Add up to 5 additional men with rifles for +10pts each
– The NCO may have a submachine gun instead of a rifle for +4pts
– Up to one man may have a light machine gun for +15pts. Another man becomes the loader
– The entire squad may have anti-tank grenades for +2pts per model
– The entire squad may be given the Engineers special rule for +1 per model
Special Rules – Tank Hunters (if anti-tank grenades taken)
– Engineers (if option is taken)

LWP Veteran Rifle Squad (M/L)

Cost Veteran Infantry 65pts
Composition 1 NCO and 4 men
Weapons Rifles
Options – Add up to 7 additional men with rifles for +13pts each
– The NCO and up to 3 men may have a submachine gun instead of a rifle for +4pts each
– Up to one man may have a light machine gun for +15pts. Another man becomes the loader
– The entire squad may have anti-tank grenades for +2pts per model
– The entire squad may be given the Engineers special rule for +1 per model
Special Rules – Tank Hunters (if anti-tank grenades taken)
– Engineers (if option is taken)

LWP Inexperienced Rifle Squad (M/L)

Cost Inexperienced Infantry 49pts
Composition 1 NCO and 6 men
Weapons Rifles
Options – Add up to 5 additional men with rifles for +7pts each
– The NCO may have a submachine gun instead of a rifle for +4pts
– Up to one man may have a light machine gun for +15pts. Another man becomes the loader
– The entire squad may have anti-tank grenades for +2pts per model
Special Rules – Tank Hunters (if anti-tank grenades taken)
– Green

The Polish People’s Army – 57

The Battles of Tomaszów Lubelski By Mark Gallear

German armour on the move in Poland

Fought in two phases from September 18th-26th 1939, the battles of Tomaszów Lubelski comprised the largest armoured engagement
of the German invasion of Poland.

The battles of Tomaszów Lubelski stemmed from a desperate presented in the scenarios. German players should limit
attempt by Polish forces to break through German lines towards themselves to Panzer Is (including the command variant),
friendly forces in the Romanian Bridgehead. Despite lacking Panzer IIs, and early-model Panzer IIIs and IVs for their
intelligence on German dispositions, the Poles launched a Armoured Platoons – these represent the actual tanks available
brave attack, hoping that they would catch the German forces during the battles!
– particularly the Panzer units – strung out as they advanced. A
surprise Polish attack on the town of Tomaszów Lubelski was
repulsed with heavy casualties in the first phase of the battles, SPECIAL RULES
while in the second, a breakout attempt towards either Hungary In order to represent the disorganised nature of the Polish
or Romania was defeated by the numerically superior and far forces by this stage of the campaign and their lack of reliable
better organised German forces, leading to the collapse and access to supplies, any Polish vehicle may take the Fuel
capitulation of Polish forces in the area. Shortage special rule for a reduction of 10% to their points
cost. Note that this reduction is made before any upgrades
While a failure, the Polish plans were daring and aggressive, are purchased.
and forced an engagement that makes for a fascinating scenario
to recreate in Bolt Action. At this very early stage of World Fuel Shortage
War II, armoured units were by and large rather vulnerable, After a vehicle with this rule has completed an Advance or Run
presenting both a great challenge to players who must take care order, roll a D6 and apply the following results:
not to over-expose their tanks, and a fantastic opportunity to
1: Out of fuel – the vehicle is immediately Immobilised.
deploy some units that would rapidly be phased out of service as
2: Fuel low – the vehicle may make one more Advance
the war progressed. On the whole, these scenarios will be more
or Run move the next time it is activated, then it is
challenging for the Polish player, but if they are able to win then
Immobilised (regardless of which order it receives in the
they will have proven themselves a truly great commander!
next turn).
4-6: Fuel OK! – the vehicle continues as normal.

Playing the Scenarios Communication Breakdown!

To play the scenarios presented here, players should use Armies If the first Order Die of the turn drawn is Polish, the German
of Germany and Armies of Poland, selecting forces based on player may ask for it to be returned to the dice bag, and the draw
the Early War selection guide, in addition to any other criteria made again.

58 – Bolt Action Compendium

 Scenario 1: Tank on Tank September 1939

This scenario represents Polish armoured forces launching

German deployment zone 8"
their attack against Tomaszów Lubelski. The German
defenders are well equipped, but if the Poles can gain a
foothold in the town, their reinforcements can move in to
bolster them.

FORCES
The German player creates a 1,000pt force that
must consist of at least two Armoured Platoons and at N
least two Recce Infantry Platoons. No other Platoon types
may be included.

The Polish player creates a 1,000pt force that must consist POLISH deployment zone 8"
of at least two Armoured platoons and at least two Recce
Infantry Platoons. No other Platoon types may be chosen.

OBJECTIVE
SET UP The Polish forces are attempting to seize the objectives in the
This scenario is played on a standard 6'x4' table. There is the edge town and secure a foothold. The German player must prevent
of a large Polish town on the German side of the table, up to them from doing so.
about 8" in depth from the table edge, and roads going out across
the table. Outside the town limits, there is rolling farmland with
haystacks in some fields. Farm buildings and small woods dot the GAME DURATION
table as shown. The game lasts for 8 turns. At the end of turn 8 roll a D6, on
a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
continues for another turn. At the end of each subsequent turn,
DEPLOYMENT repeat this roll – the real-life battle went on for several days!
The German player sets up half of their units (rounding down)
within the town. The rest of their units are placed into reserve,
and must attempt an Outflanking Manoeuvre. VICTORY!
Each player gains 6 victory points for each objective held at the
The Polish player sets up one of their Armoured Platoons and end of the game. The German player gains 1 victory point for each
one of their Recce Infantry Platoons in an 8" deep deployment Polish armoured vehicle destroyed. The Polish player gains
zone along their side of the table, as shown. The rest of their units 2 victory points for each German armoured vehicle destroyed. The
are placed in reserve, and may begin arriving from the Polish player with the most victory points is the winner. If both players
table edge from Turn 2 onwards. Polish units may not attempt an have the same number
Outflanking Manoeuvre. of victory points, the
game is a draw.
Two objective markers should be placed in the town. These must
Panzerbefehlswagen I
not be placed inside buildings. command tank

SPECIAL RULES
Fuel Shortage
All Polish vehicles must use the Fuel Shortage special rule
(see the opposite page).

Communication Breakdown!
See the rules on the opposite page.

The BattleS of Tomaszów Lubelski – 59

 Scenario 2: Night Attack September 1939

This scenario represents the desperate Polish attempts to

control the town of Tomaszów Lubelski, whose capture
will allow the Polish forces to escape to Romania. It is a
street fight using the Night Fighting rules from the Bolt
German deployment zone
Action: Third Edition rulebook, and is the last hope of the
Poles to take the town.

FORCES
The Polish player creates a 1,000 point force. Air Force
Forward Observers may not be included in the force.
24" N
The German player creates a 500 point force. Air Force
Forward Observers may not be included in the force.
POLISH deployment edge
SET UP
This scenario is played on a standard 6'x4' table, which should SPECIAL RULES
be very densely populated in the central area with buildings and Fuel Shortage
roads as shown. Most of the buildings should be intact, with All Polish vehicles must use the Fuel Shortage special rule
small gaps between them, and walled gardens to the rear. Some (see page 58 of this book).
larger buildings can also be included, but the majority should be
small houses and shops. Communication Breakdown!
See the rules on page 58 of this book.

DEPLOYMENT Night Fighting

The German player sets up all of their units within the area of the The night fighting rules are in effect (see page 301 of the
town, as shown. Three objective markers should be placed in the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook).
town. These must not be placed inside buildings.

The Polish player does not set up any units on the table, but OBJECTIVE
instead places them into their first wave. They may alternatively As with the previous scenario, the Polish forces are attempting
place up to half of their units (rounding down) into reserve. to seize the objectives in the town and secure a foothold. The
Units placed in reserve may attempt an Outflanking Manoeuvre. German player must prevent them from doing so.

GAME DURATION
Polish 7TP The game lasts for 10 turns. At the end of turn 10 roll a D6, on
with double turret a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
continues for one more turn before ending.

VICTORY!
Each player gains 4 victory points for each objective held at the
end of the game. The German player gains 1 victory point for
each Polish unit destroyed. The Polish player gains 2 victory
points for each German unit destroyed. The player with the most
victory points is the winner. If both players have the same number
of victory points, the game is a draw.

60 – Bolt Action Compendium

 Scenario 3: Escape September 1939

This scenario represents the Second Battle of Tomaszów

N
Lubelski, when Polish forces near the town attempted to
German deployment zone
break through the German lines and reach the safety of
Romania or Hungary.

FORCES
The German player creates a 1,000 point force that 24"
must consist of at least two Armoured Platoons and at
least two Recce Infantry Platoons. No other Platoon
types may be included.

The Polish player creates a 1,000 point force. This force

may include a maximum of one Recce Infantry Platoon. Polish deployment zone
In addition, no Polish Infantry squad may be taken at
full strength.

GAME DURATION
SET UP The game lasts for 8 turns. At the end of turn 8 roll a D6, on
This scenario is played on a standard 6'x4' table, representing a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
rolling countryside with several farms and possibly a small continues for one more turn before ending.
village or hamlet. The table should include a number of small
unmetalled roads across it, as well as a number of fields, low hills,
streams, and large areas of woodland as shown. VICTORY
The Polish player gains 3 victory points for each friendly unit
that exits the table via the German table edge. Additionally,
DEPLOYMENT they gain 1 victory point for each friendly unit within 15" of the
Neither player deploys any forces on the table to start the game. German table edge at the end of the game.
Instead, both players place all of their units into their first wave.
The German player gains 2 victory points for each enemy unit
they destroy. In addition, they gain an extra 1 victory point for
SPECIAL RULES each enemy Platoon or Company Commander unit they destroy.
Fuel Shortage
All Polish vehicles must use the Fuel Shortage special rule The player with the most victory points is the winner. If both
(see page 58 of this book). players have the same number of victory points, the game is a draw.

Communication Breakdown!
See the rules on page 58 of TKS tankette
this book.

OBJECTIVE
The Polish player must move as many units as
possible off the German edge of the table. The
German player must prevent this happening by
destroying or halting as many Polish units as possible.

The BattleS of Tomaszów Lubelski – 61

Spectres of the Forest By Mark Barber

Soviet partisans spring a deadly ambush on a German column

The sheer pace of the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 caught the entire nation completely off guard. By the end
of August, Novgorod in the north had fallen, and Odessa on the coast of the Black Sea was also in German hands; already German
forces had managed to punch over 500 miles into Soviet territory. By early October, German forces had advanced to the very
approaches of Moscow itself.

Entire units of the Red Army were cut off during the rapid With partisan detachments carrying out guerrilla warfare
German advance and left isolated with no hope of support or against German units, it proved hard if not impossible for the
reinforcements. Thousands of these soldiers retreated into remote Wehrmacht to catch fleeing partisans after their hit-and-run raids
hills, forests and marshes to begin a four-year-long guerrilla had been conducted. Utilising their local knowledge of forests
campaign against the German invaders. This partisan movement and marshes, partisans were able to simply melt away into the
was actively encouraged from Moscow; communiqués were night and evade capture. As a result, many German commanders
issued calling for active involvement against German forces in all took to dealing out reprisals towards the local civilian
ex-Soviet territories. population. These grim executions not only served to strengthen
the resolve of the partisans, but also to drive even more civilians
The Pripet Marshes, some 400 miles south-west of Moscow, to leave their homes and join partisan detachments.
became notorious as a haven of partisan activities. Likewise, the
forests of Belorussia became a home for thousands of men and The role of these detachments was twofold: as well as dealing out
women eager to continue their fight against the German invaders. actual damage to enemy units, their very presence also forced
In May 1942 a Central Staff was established to direct and support German commanders to divert valuable troops and resources
partisan activities. Personnel and equipment were parachuted away from the front line to engage in anti-partisan activities. In
in to support the new partisan detachments, and decorations the Bryansk region, partisan leaders such as Alexander Saburov
were awarded for partisan activities. Whilst it is impossible to led such a violent campaign that some 60,000 German soldiers
accurately ascertain exactly how many men and women were – several divisions’ worth of men – were tasked with clearing out
directly involved, it is certain that the scale was enormous. One partisan strongholds from the forests.
estimate put the number of partisans in ex-Soviet territories at
142,000 by July 1943 – as a frame of reference, this is nearly Although not directly connected to the Soviet partisan
twice the size of the regular British Army today! movement from the outset, one of the most famous groups of

62 – Bolt Action Compendium

 “So far we have managed to reach Minsk. Our motor column had to make six stops owing to damaged
bridges and four times we were stopped by enemy rifle and machine-gun fire. The stop between
Slinim and Baranovichi was particularly long for we were ordered to repair a big bridge there, which
had been destroyed by the guerrillas about two hours before our arrival.”
Corporal Gran, 445th Infantry Regiment

partisans in the east was led by the Bielski brothers, four Jewish their exploits were made famous internationally by the 2008
siblings who led a band in the Naliboki forest in what is now part movie Defiance. These controversies extended to the majority
of Belarus. of Soviet partisan activities – as with resistance movements
across all theatres throughout the Second World War, politics
Of Polish Jewish descent, the brothers formed a partisan group played a key part in motivation and caused infighting between
in early 1942 after their parents and many other family members many groups.
were killed by the Nazis in 1941. Setting up a base of operations
in the forest, the Bielski band grew from some 40 members to With post-war figures varying so wildly from source to source,
several hundred. Over the course of the war, they were credited it is practically impossible to give any accurate assessment on
with saving the lives of some 1,200 Jewish refugees who were the exact impact of Soviet partisan operations in the Second
fleeing Nazi oppression. The camp grew into a town of its own in World War. There are estimates of over 500,000 men and women
the forest, with two small hospitals, a school, various industries flocking to the ranks of the various partisan groups from the
and even a jail to support the rules and regulations laid down by frozen north all the way down to the Black Sea; likewise post-war
the brothers . Whilst survivors of the Bielski group claimed that Soviet sources claim that partisans killed, injured or captured
saving the lives of refugees was always the top priority – even over over half a million German soldiers in Belarus alone – all of these
waging war against the German invaders – even the Bielskis were records must be taken with a very large pinch of salt.
not without controversy.
Whatever the truth may have been regarding the numbers behind
Allegations of involvement in the Naliboki Massacre of May the Soviet partisan movement, the physical and morale effects on
1943 were levelled at the Bielski group, although surviving German forces in ex-Soviet territories throughout the entire war
members of the group strenuously denied this. Decades later, were undeniable.

The survivors of Operation Barbarossa band together to take the fight back to the hated Germans

Spectres of the Forest – 63

 The Bielski brothers lead their partisans through the forest

New Units He served in the Polish army in his early twenties before returning
home and joining the family trade as a mill worker.
Notorious with German anti-partisan units in the Nowogródek
area of Poland, the Bielski brothers spent their war living in the After Operation Barbarossa saw German forces advancing
forests near their homes and protecting Jews from capture and through East Poland, Tuvia and three of his brothers fled to the
execution. Over 1,200 men, women and children were rescued forests near their home. Many of their family and friends were
by this small band of partisans, originally formed by the four unable to escape the German advance and were killed. Tuvia
Bielski brothers. Leader Tuvia, his deputy Asael, and their and his brothers formed a partisan group with other Jewish
younger brother ‘Zus’ are described below. Aron, who was in his men who had escaped the advance, with Tuvia commanding
early teens during the war, often acted as a guide but is not given the group until it was disbanded in the summer of 1944 when
rules here as he was not as directly involved in combat. These Soviet forces recaptured the area. His actions resulted in a
courageous individuals are a fantastic addition to your games 100,000 Reichsmark reward being placed on his head, which
of Bolt Action – we suggest including them as part of Partisan was never claimed.
forces for games set on the Eastern Front.
After the war Tuvia emigrated to Palestine with his brother Zus
and their families, where they both fought in the 1948 Arab-
TUVIA BIELSKI Israeli war before moving to the United States. He died in 1987.
The Bielskis were a Polish Jewish family hailing from Stankiewicze,
a small village in modern day Belarus, but at the time part of Tuvia Bielski is best fielded as a Company Commander choice for an
Poland. Tuvia, born in 1906, was the third oldest of 12 children. Eastern Front Partisans force.

Cost 90pts (Veteran)

Team Tuvia Bielski and up to 2 other men
Weapons Submachine gun
Options – Tuvia Bielski may be accompanied by up to 2 men with submachine guns at a cost of +18 points per man
Special Rules – Charismatic Leader – Tuvia won the respect of the men and women who placed their trust and lives in his hands.
His partisans knew exactly what was at stake and what they were fighting for. Tuvia and his unit are Stubborn.
In addition, any other Veteran unit in the force may be given the Stubborn rule for +1pts per model.
– Fanatics

64 – Bolt Action Compendium

ASAEL BIELSKI in-command to Tuvia as the Bielski group gained strength.
The third son of the Bielski family, Asael was two years younger Whilst not as extroverted and outspoken as his older brother he
than Tuvia. When Tuvia moved away from the family home, was remembered for his fierce bravery and national pride; Zus
Asael found himself in a position of authority within the family later spoke of him as a gentle family man. After Soviet forces
when his father’s health began to suffer. As with several of his moved back through Poland in 1945, Asael joined the Red Army
brothers, Asael learned some core military skills in the interwar rather than follow his brothers back home. He was killed in
period, serving briefly in the army. Asael was with his brother action during the Battle of Königsberg.
Zus when Operation Barbarossa began and a neighbour warned
them of approaching German forces who were arresting Jews, Asael Bielski can be fielded as a Platoon Commander in a Partisans
prompting them to flee to a nearby forest. Asael became second- list for games themed around the exploits of the Bielski brothers.

Cost 50pts (Veteran)

Team Asael Bielski and up to 2 other men
Weapons Submachine gun
Options – Asael Bielski may be accompanied by up to 2 men with submachine guns at a cost of +18 points per man
Special Rules – National Pride - Asael was a proud and brave Pole, capable of inspiring those around him to follow his lead
in daring attacks against the hated Germans. Asael and his unit are Fanatics. In addition, one other Regular
or Veteran unit in the force may be given the Fanatics rule for +1pts per model.

ALEXANDER ‘ZUS’ BIELSKI the duration of the German occupation of his homeland, before
Alexander ‘Zus’ Bielski was born in October 1912. As a young joining Tuvia in moving to Palestine after the war. The two
man, Zus gleaned some military experience, having spent six eventually emigrated to America where they set up a taxi and
months in the army. When the Germans invaded in the summer trucking company. He passed away in 1995.
of 1941 Zus was married and a father. After witnessing Jewish
citizens being arrested and executed, Zus moved into the forests If you’re including Tuvia and/or Asael Bielski in a force, then Zus
near his family home and made the decision that he would take Bielski is a great way to add even more character to your Partisans.
the war to the Germans before they had a chance to kill him. We suggest using him to replace the NCO of a Partisan Squad that
He fought alongside his two older brothers in their group for has been taken as Veteran.

Cost +15pts (Veteran)

Team Zus can be attached to a veteran Partisan Squad, replacing the unit’s NCO for the cost above
Weapons Submachine gun
Options – The unit which Zus joins may be upgraded to Tough Fighters for +1pts per model
Special Rules – Tough Fighter

No mercy and no quarter; the Bielski brothers sneak up on an unsuspecting German patrol

Spectres of the Forest – 65

The Spanish Blue Division at Krasny Bor By Robert Martin

Troops from the Spanish Blue Division fighting on the Eastern Front

This section covers the participation of the Spanish Blue Division – volunteer Spaniards in German service - in the Battle of Krasny
Bor, a 1943 Soviet attempt to capitalise on gains made by the breaking of the Siege of Leningrad. It contains suggested rules for
fielding the Blue Division on the Eastern Front, as well as a pair of scenarios allowing you to use them in some of the most crucial
moments of the battle. Firstly, though, some explanation of the situation is required!

PRELUDE TO KRASNY BOR sensed an opportunity to finally break the Siege of Leningrad.
General Zhukov launched Operation Iskra (Spark) which
On September 8th 1941, the German Army Group North succeeded in partially breaking the Siege of Leningrad by opening
captured Shlisselburg on the south coast of Lake Ladoga and a five-mile-wide land corridor to the city along the southern
thus severed Leningrad’s last remaining overland link with the coast of Lake Ladoga. However, the victory was incomplete, as
rest of Russia. The Siege of Leningrad had begun in earnest. The the corridor was still dominated by the German held heights of
Germans intended to starve Leningrad into submission, thus Sinyavino to the south. This allowed German forces to interdict
avoiding a costly urban battle, and allowing most of Army Group Soviet traffic with artillery fire and raiding parties.
North’s armoured units to be reallocated to Army Group Centre
which was driving on Moscow.
THE BATTLE OF KRASNY BOR
1942
The inadequately prepared Soviet forces suffered during the RUSSIAN PLANS – OPERATION POLAR STAR
winter of 1941/42, but Leningrad held on as the Russians were Zhukov decided to launch a two-pronged pincer attack called
able to get food and military supplies into the city across the Operation Polyarnaya Zvezda (Polar Star), aiming to trap the
frozen Lake Ladoga. As the ice melted and winter turned to bulk of the German 16th and 18th Armies in the siege lines to
summer ,the Russians withdrew most of the surviving civilians the south of Leningrad. The northern attack by troops of the
from the city, and used fleets of barges to maintain the tenuous Volkhov and Leningrad fronts was to be launched first with
supply line. While the siege dragged on throughout 1942, Army the intention of drawing German reserves away from the more
Group North was never given the resources needed to storm important southern thrust by the Soviet North-West front.
the city as Hitler prioritised the advance of Army Group South
towards Stalingrad. Meanwhile, the Soviets launched several On February 10th 1942, the Soviet 54th and 55th Armies were
unsuccessful attempts to relieve the city. to attack across the frozen landscape. The 55th Army would
make up the right-hand pincer, smash through the 250th Spanish
Division on the Leningrad front, and then drive on Tonso where
1943 – OPERATION SPARK it would meet the 54th Army, which was to be the left-hand
In January 1943, with German attention and resources diverted pincer and push through the German XXVIII Army Corps on
to the attempted relief of Sixth Army in Stalingrad, the Soviets the Volkhov front.

66 – Bolt Action Compendium

THE RIGHT PINCER At Krasny Bor the Russians concentrated most of their twenty-
The 55th Army was to attack south-east from Kolpino on a 14km one KV-1 heavy tanks in the centre with the 63rd Guards Rifle
front. On the flanks, the 43rd and 72nd Rifle Divisions were to Division. Once a breach had been made, Russian reserves would
launch spoiling attacks whilst the main thrust was in the centre, swiftly move through and attempt to exploit to the rear. At
where the 63rd Guard Division was supported by twenty-one Krasny Bor the reserves were the ski troops of 35th Ski Brigade,
KV-1s of the 31st Guards Tank Regiment. Once a breakthrough supported by 122nd Tank Brigade’s T-34 tanks. The massed
had been achieved, the 35th Ski Brigade, supported by T-34s Russian infantry was vulnerable to German artillery fire, and
from the 122nd Tank Brigade, were to drive south-west to Krasny suffered heavy casualties as they pushed towards the German rear.
Bor. The attack was to be preceded by an intensive two-hour
preliminary bombardment from a huge number of Katyusha
rocket launchers, mortars, and artillery pieces. THE TERRAIN SOUTH OF LENINGRAD
The terrain south of Leningrad was mostly relatively flat and open
steppe farmland with the odd area of woodland. When setting up
GERMAN DEFENSIVE TACTICS the table for games themed around this region, you may want to
Army Group North lacked sufficient troops to form a continuous reduce the amount of cover you would otherwise use!
trench line or adopt a defence in depth. Additionally, as a
primarily infantry force it also lacked the mobility needed
for a fluid mobile defence. The Germans thus held their front THE RUSSIAN WEATHER
with scattered strongpoints. The first two to three kilometres By January 1943 both sides were equipped for the Russian winter,
of ground behind the front line was designated the ‘security largely mitigating the worst effects of the cold. During the winter,
zone’, and contained platoon- and company-sized strongpoints the ground froze hard and should be treated as open ground for
equipped with machine guns and mortars. Behind these were gaming purposes, but during the spring the thawing snow made
well-camouflaged battalion strongpoints surrounded by mines the area very muddy, and even the roads became impossible
and barbed wire, and equipped with artillery, anti-tank guns, and to navigate. For most of the year wheeled vehicles could only
some of the few available assault guns and tanks. The depth of operate on the roads, and even these were impassable in the
the German positions was intended to cause the Russian attack spring. We suggest using the Snow, Ice, and Frostbite and Mud
to become bogged down, as they would have to neutralise each rules from the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook to represent
of the strongpoints in turn. This would give the Germans time these conditions – you can of course vary them to suit the time of
to call in counter-attack units from adjacent sectors or the small year that your game is set in.
army reserve – these forces were to encircle the attacking Russians
and regain the lost ground.
GERMAN DEFENSIVE POSITIONS
The German strongpoints often consisted of trenches and
RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE TACTICS fighting pits, protected by barbed wire, minefields, and other
Russian offensive tactics were largely unsubtle, and usually obstacles. As such, you will find the Dug In, Fortifications, and
depended on mass firepower rather than manoeuvre. By the start Minefields rules from the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook
of 1943 the Russians had a large artillery arm and a strong air force, very useful for recreating these positions.
both of which would be used to launch preliminary bombardments
prior to attacks going in. Attacks would normally be conducted by German panzergrenadiers
and Sd.Kfz 251/1 half-
massed infantry formations, supported by tanks if possible. track transport

The Spanish Blue Division at krasny bor – 67

RUSSIAN FORCES the time the battalion fought at Krasny Bor, it had been much
reduced, losing many tanks during Operation Spark. Following
the Battle of Krasny Bor, the 502nd continued to serve on the
63RD GUARDS DIVISION Eastern Front until the end of the war. It was one of the most
Following the success of Operation Spark, several Russian units successful tank battalions of the war, claiming the destruction of
were re-designated with the honorific title of ‘Guards’ units. 1,400 enemy tanks and 2,000 guns.
Amongst this number was the 136th Rifle Division, which was
re-designated as the 63rd Guards Rifle Division on January 19th
1943. The 136th had been formed from the 8th Rifle Brigade, THE BLUE DIVISION
which had fought the Finns in the Hanko Peninsula from June Officially called the División Española de Voluntarios (Spanish
to November 1941. The brigade was withdrawn to Kronstadt Volunteer Division) but known as the División Azul (Blue
and expanded into the 136th Rifle Division in 1942. The 8th Division), the Wehrmacht’s 250th Infantry Division was an
Rifle Brigade’s Commander, General Major Nikolai Pavlovich interesting beast. Formed in 1941 from Spanish Falangist
Simoniak, commanded the elite 30th Guards Rifle Corps, which and anti-communist volunteers, with the blessing of Spanish
launched the attack on Krasny Bor. After Krasny Bor, the 63rd dictator Franco, the division was for all intents and purposes a
Guards Division fought in Estonia and Courland. regular German army formation, albeit composed entirely of
volunteer Spaniards. Motivated by a desire to fight against the
communist Soviet Union, around half of the men of the division
GERMAN FORCES were Spanish Army soldiers granted leave to go and fight, and
many more were veterans of the Spanish Civil War. Led by
Spanish officers, but in all other respects equipped, supplied, and
4TH SS POLIZEI DIVISION deployed as part of the Wehrmacht, the Blue Division would see
The 4th SS Polizei Panzergrenadier Division was originally heavy fighting on the Eastern Front in 1942-43.
formed in 1939 from German policemen who retained their
ranks and police status while in military service. After fighting in The Blue Division had gone into the line in October 1941 with
France and Russia, it formally became part of the Waffen-SS in Army Group North near Volkhov. In August 1942 it was moved
February 1942; the policemen officially became soldiers at this north and settled in to help with the Siege of Leningrad. The
time, and also adopted the SS insignia. It was an infantry division division was shattered by the Battle at Krasny Bor, with many
at the time of Krasny Bor. units suffering 75% casualties, and consequently the division’s
morale dropped.

SCHWERE PANZERABTEILUNG 502 It remained in position following the battle of Krasny Bor, its
Schwere Panzerabteilung 502 (502nd Heavy Panzer Battalion) ranks filled with new draftees sent from Spain, including some
deployed to the Leningrad front in August 1942, and was the conscripts. The division was finally disbanded in October 1943
first unit to use the Tiger I in anger on September 16th. By when Franco gave in to pressure from the Spanish Catholic
Church and the Allies, and recalled the Spanish volunteers.
Some 45,000 Spaniards would serve throughout the division’s
history, with the majority of survivors returning to Spain. Some
die-hards, however, would continue to serve throughout the war
in the ranks of the Waffen-SS.

THE BATTLE BEGINS

On February 8th, an attack by a division of the Soviet 55th
Army captured some Spanish outposts, but also alerted the
Spanish to the forthcoming offensive. The Spaniards had
detected the Soviet build-up and had thus improved their
defences and received additional German-crewed anti-tank
guns. Army and divisional reserves were brought to readiness in
order to conduct any necessary counter-attacks, or to seal any
Blue Division commanders breach in the line. The Spanish troops dug in, and awaited the
inevitable preliminary bombardment…

68 – Bolt Action Compendium

DAY ONE – WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 10TH, 1943
The Soviet 55th Army fired a two-hour bombardment before
Fielding The Blue
launching their infantry and tanks forwards at 0800 on the
morning of February 10th.
Division AT KRASNY BOR
Here we present a set of special rules allowing you to represent
The Spanish Left the Blue Division during its most famous engagements during
On the western edge of the battle, the infantry of the Russian early 1943. At this stage of the war, the Blue Division was an
72nd Rifle Division overran the Spanish 250th Reserve Battalion experienced combat formation, which was properly dressed
but were repulsed by the 3rd Battalion of the 262nd Spanish and equipped for the Russian winter and whose men were well
Regiment on the far left. motivated for the fight in which they found themselves. To field
the Blue Division in the Krasny Bor scenarios presented below,
The Spanish Right or any similar games you might want to play themed around
The 1st Battalion of the 262nd Spanish Regiment initially this theatre, simply select a force made up of units allowed in a
managed to repulse the attack of the 43rd Russian Infantry Mid-War force from Armies of Germany, but replace the National
Division, but was later almost encircled, with the few survivors Special Rules with those shown below. Note that these rules also
forced to retreat southwards. replace the Defend the Fatherland rules.

The Spanish Centre When modelling the Blue Division, our range of winter German
The 63rd Guards Division and their supporting KV-1 tanks Heer models are absolutely perfect. In addition, we supply a set
advanced in the centre. The Spanish were dug in, but had suffered of Blue Division decals – these are all you need to turn winter
from the bombardment which had created several gaps in their German troops into Spanish volunteers!
line. The Russians were quick to exploit these, and made their
breakthrough. The remaining Spaniards were isolated and unable
to retreat, and most fought to the death. The 3rd Company of the BLUE DIVISION SPECIAL RULES
1st Battalion of the 262nd Spanish Regiment held the October Hitler’s Buzz Saw
Railway embankment, and managed to repulse several infantry and The Spanish were well supplied with German machine guns,
armoured attacks before the forty survivors finally abandoned their in particular the MG42, which were rightfully feared by Allied
positions and retreated into Krasny Bor just after midday. Having infantrymen for their high rate of fire. Blue Division light and
overwhelmed the Spanish front line the Russians then pushed into medium machine guns fire one extra shot. Note that this applies
Krasny Bor. Spanish artillerymen and engineers desperately held to all light and medium machine guns, both those carried by
the village but were gradually destroyed by the Russians, with the infantry units and those mounted on vehicles.
survivors withdrawing at night.
Until Extinction
The Blue Division’s motto was ‘Sin relevo posible, hasta la extinción’
DAY TWO – FEBRUARY 11TH, 1943 (‘No possible relief, until extinction’) and they were die-hard
A Kampfgruppe composed of elements of the 4th SS Polizei fighters. At Krasny Bor, many surrounded Spaniards fought to
Panzergrenadier Division, supported by three Tigers and three the death. All Blue Division Infantry and Artillery units may be
Panzer IIIs of Schwere Panzerabteilung 502 counter-attacked into upgraded to Fanatics at the cost of +1 point per man.
the Russian flank. Vicious fighting ensued, with the Tigers being
especially effective – thirty-two Russian tanks were destroyed and “Spaniards die on their feet, not hiding in holes like rats”
the Russians forced back. The German forces were exhausted and The Spanish troops were reluctant to waste time digging or
had run out of reserves, and so called off the attack as both sides maintaining trenches, and often walked around in the open within
paused to lick their wounds. range of Soviet snipers. To reflect their contempt for cover, if a
Blue Division Infantry or Artillery unit must make a Cover Save, it
On balance, Krasny Bor was a victory for the Spanish and receives a -1 penalty to its roll.
Germans. The Soviet forces had failed to encircle and destroy any However, all Blue Division
Blue Division
significant enemy formations, and the line had bent but not broken Infantry and Artillery units volunteers
– Leningrad would, for the time, remain under siege. Both sides may re-roll failed Morale
had suffered heavy casualties, but the Soviets had lost considerably checks taken as a result
more men than the Germans. However, the Red Army still had of incurring casualties
large manpower reserves to call upon, whereas the Heer was already through being shot at.
having to fill its ranks with foreign volunteers, and call up younger
and older Germans to fight – a grim sign of things to come.

The Spanish Blue Division at krasny bor – 69

Krasny Bor – SCENARIO 1: Black Wednesday
After a two-hour preliminary
N
bombardment, the Soviet 63rd
Guards Division and supporting
armour advanced on the Blue
Division forces at Krasny Bor. The Spanish
Spanish were well dug in, but had deployment
suffered from the bombardment zone
that had created several gaps in the
line, which the Russians were quick
to exploit. The remaining Spaniards 24" 24"
were unable to retreat, and most
would fight to the death rather than
surrender.

FORCES 24"
The Blue Division player selects a
750 point force. This force must
include at least one Rifle Platoon,
and may also include up to one RUSSIAN Entry EDGE
Heavy Weapons Platoon.

The Soviet player selects a 1,250 point force. This force must the bombardment the Russians may roll two dice on the results
include at least two Rifle Platoons and one Armoured Platoon. chart for each enemy unit, and apply the best result.
This Armoured Platoon may only select the KV-1 and T-34/76 as
its allowed units. Dug In
Blue Division units deployed on the table to start the game may use
the Dug In rules (Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook, page 294).
SET UP
The game is played on a 6' x 4' table. A few low hills should be
scattered around to help break up line of sight, but otherwise the OBJECTIVE
board should be flat and barren. The Soviet player must try to create a breach in the Blue Division
lines and destroy all of the Spanish troops. The Blue Division
The Blue Division player sets up all of their units on the player must sell their troops’ lives as dearly as possible!
table as indicated, up to 24" from the southern, western, and
eastern board edges. The Blue Division player may place six
minefields and eight 6" strips of barbed wire, which must GAME DURATION
be placed such that some part of them is within 6" of a Blue The game lasts for 6 turns. At the end of turn 6 roll a D6, on
Division unit. a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
continues for one more turn before ending.
The Soviet player places all of their units
into their first wave. They then enter the
table from the southern edge on VICTORY
Turn 1. The Soviet player is awarded two victory points for each Blue
Division unit destroyed. The Blue Division player is awarded one
victory point for every Soviet unit destroyed, with the exception
SPECIAL RULES of vehicles with a Damage Value of 7 or more - these are worth
Preparatory Bombardment three victory points if destroyed. The player with the most victory
The Soviet player may use a Preparatory points is the winner. If both players have the same number of
Bombardment. Due to the ferocity of victory points, the game is a draw.

70 – Bolt Action Compendium

 Krasny Bor – SCENARIO 2: last stop October
Having overwhelmed the
N
Spanish front line, the Russians
pushed into Krasny Bor. A
company of Spaniards held
the October Railway Station
and managed to repulse several
infantry and armoured attacks
before the forty survivors finally
abandoned the position and

Station
retreated into the village just
after midday.

FORCES
The Blue Division player selects
a 750 point force. This force
must include at least one Rifle
Platoon, and may also include up
to one Heavy Weapons Platoon
and up to one Artillery Platoon. RUSSIAN ENTRY EDGE
If taken, the Artillery Platoon
must consist of a Platoon
Commander and a single PaK 40 only. OBJECTIVE
The Soviet player must attempt to liberate the station from
The Soviet player selects a 1,250 point force. This force must Spanish control. The Blue Division must hold on to it!
include at least two Rifle Platoons and one Armoured Platoon.
This Armoured Platoon may only select the KV-1 and T-34/76
as its allowed units. GAME DURATION
The game lasts for 6 turns. At the end of turn 6 roll a D6, on
a result of 1, 2 or 3 the game ends, and on a 4, 5 or 6 the game
SET UP continues for one more turn before ending.
The game is played on a 6' x 4' table. At the centre is the
October Railway Station, a single storey building large enough
to accommodate two squads, one in each of its rooms. Around VICTORY
the station, within the central 2' by 2' of the board, place several The Soviet player wins if, at the end of the game, there are no
buildings, some intact and some damaged. Blue Division units in the station. Any other situation results in
a Blue Division victory.
The Blue Division player sets up two of their units in the station
and all of their other units in the adjacent buildings and ruins,
as shown. If there is not enough space for all of their units, German grenadiers
they should continue to place units as close to the in winter clothing
buildings as possible.

The Soviet player places all of their units into

their first wave. They then enter the table from
the southern edge on Turn 1.

The Spanish Blue Division at krasny bor – 71

The western front
The Second World War began in Europe in 1939, and fighting a few – there were an enormous number of less well known
would continue in the theatre all the way through to the defeat contributions, from armies in exile to partisan resistance
of Germany in 1945. While the great campaigns fought across movements. Providing perhaps the greatest breadth of
the continent are well documented – the Fall of France, the engagements of any theatre of the war, North-West Europe is a
D-Day landings, and the drive into the Reich, to name but fantastic resource to inspire your games of Bolt Action.

72 – Bolt Action Compendium

 resistance! – PartiSans in France By Mark Barber

Partisans flow onto the streets of Paris, driving out the German occupiers

Resistance activities during the Second World War covered an incredibly broad spectrum of operations, from peaceful protest
marches and leaflet distribution, intelligence gathering for the Allied militaries, recovering and returning downed Allied airmen to
friendly nations, to assassinations, sabotage of infrastructure and overt armed assault. However, the term ‘freedom fighter’ is often
an oversimplification, as many resistance groups were not merely fighting to overthrow German oppression; they were fighting
to establish themselves in positions of power in whatever post-war regime took charge of their country, and to assert their own
political aims and agendas.

This section provides extensive background to inspire your head of the ‘legitimate’ French government which had its capital at
Partisan forces, focussing particularly on the French Resistance Vichy in central France, controlling an unoccupied territory in the
and the Maquis who formed part of it. It also includes a couple of south known as the Zone Libre (Free Zone) in collaboration with
new units that you might like to include in your games, as well as the German government. Germany occupied the north and west
a scenario depicting one of the most famous Maquis operations. of France, while Italy took control of a small area in the south-east.
Our wide range of French Resistance and Partisan models are The surrender to Germany physically divided the country,and
perfect for fielding forces based on this section, and the joy of a inflicted a grievous blow to the pride of the French people.
Partisan force is the lack of uniformity - no two units or models
need be the same, so let your creativity run wild! Meanwhile, French General Charles de Gaulle, now in Britain,
formed an army and a government in exile, vowing to continue
the fight. During an address on the BBC, de Gaulle issued a call
THE FALL OF FRANCE to arms to all Frenchmen to continue the fight.
On June 22nd, 1940, after six weeks of fighting, the French Army
surrendered to their German counterparts. This was a sudden “If the powers of freedom ultimately triumph over those of servitude,
and unexpected collapse which changed the balance of power in what will be the fate of a France which has submitted to the enemy?
Europe, dumping France out of the war and rendering Britain Honour, common sense and the interests of the country require that
unable to fight on the Western Front until at least June 1944. all free Frenchmen, wherever they be, should continue the fight as
Marshal Philippe Pétain, a World War One veteran, became the best they may.”

Resistance! – Partisans in France – 73

THE PRICE OF OCCUPATION which, combined with a staggering estimated 10% of the
One of the burdens that came with surrender was that the population losing their lives in the invasion and subsequent
French people were obligated to cover all of the expenses occupation, led to large numbers of men and women taking part
associated with the upkeep of the occupation forces, which were in armed resistance.
estimated to be some 300,000 men. This resulted in a staggering
cost of about 20 million German Reichsmarks per day, and The situation in France was very different for a number of
this economic burden led to food shortages and malnutrition reasons. France and Germany were geographical neighbours
amongst the populace. In 1942, the Vichy Regime created the and consequently there was significant pro-German sentiment
Compulsory Labour Service (Service du travail obligatoire or in the border regions where cultures overlapped. The unit diary
STO), which forced the enlistment and deportation of French of one RAF bomber squadron during the so-called Phoney
workers to Germany. The German Government had made a War even records its aircrew being spat at in the streets of a
promise that, for every three French workers sent, one French French town, where locals shouted out to them “Better the
prisoner of war would be released. Boche than the English”. One German officer even commented
that in his experience, the majority of French civilians seemed
Through all these hardships and more, including strict ‘grateful’ for the German presence – up to 25,000–30,000
regulations and censorship, curfews, propaganda and executions, Frenchmen willingly volunteered for the Milice (a paramilitary
a cloud of fear and repression rose above France, making the organisation created by the Vichy Government to fight against
occupation unbearable – this naturally led to resistance. the Resistance) in 1943. A further 30,000–32,000 more
Frenchmen became members of the Carlingue (effectively the
French Gestapo).
RESISTANCE!
Resistance to Nazi occupation in the Second World War is easily Whilst France suffered greatly during World War II, civilian
the most well-known of the partisan movements; de Gaulle’s casualties were markedly lower than many other occupied
radio speeches from the comparative safety of London to his nations. Anti-war feeling in France and Belgium was perhaps
oppressed countrymen were well known throughout Europe, greater than anywhere else in the world, however. The horrors of
and many post war movies and books have romanticised the the First World War were still fresh and vivid in the memory, and
daring exploits of the French resistance fighters. But, as with France and Belgium had been torn apart by recent warfare more
many wartime stories (particularly those based on clandestine than many other nations.
operations with very little documented evidence surviving), the
facts surrounding these exploits have often been greatly skewed When German forces occupied parts of France after the
– very much to the detriment of the brave men and women who invasion of May 1940, a combination of effective propaganda,
actually carried them out. pro-German sentiment and a significant right-wing political
presence meant that a proportion of the French population
Resistance in France for the most part took on a very different was content to collaborate, whilst of those who remained,
form to activities in other countries. In Soviet Russia, the country the overwhelming majority were so war-weary that armed
was split in two by the war which still raged, allowing partisan resistance seemed futile. Less than 2% of the French population
bands to link up in overt operations with the plans of Soviet army are estimated to have taken part in any resistance activities,
commanders. In Yugoslavia, the partisans of Tito were organized although a far greater number of French citizens assisted by
and equipped on such a grand scale that Axis occupation forces simply turning a blind eye to their activities – in itself this was
were involved in a full-blown war right until the end of the an act of French resistance.
conflict. In Greece, opposition to the German occupation was
seen as a logical follow on from the disastrous Italian invasion France was also a very modern country with superb infrastructure
– this allowed German forces to cover far greater areas in the
pursuit of partisans, and left fewer places to hide. This dangerous
French
Resistance
setting made the life of a French partisan all the more difficult.

Of the men and women who did take part in resistance

activities in France, it is estimated that at least 25% lost their
lives as a result; in comparison, the militaries of most western
nations during the Second World War typically suffered less
than 5% killed. Even with the political and geographical
situation working very much against French partisans, activities
commenced nonetheless.

74 – Bolt Action Compendium

Even before the French surrender, Etienne Achavanne was death if they were caught. By December 1940, the newspapers
executed for sabotaging German communication lines. Resistance and Liberation were in circulation. Emboldened by
Within weeks, more executions followed as Frenchmen took the anti-German press, the still independent resistance groups
to sabotaging German infrastructure in occupied France in began to take further action and a slow trickle of intelligence on
isolated, individual acts of resistance. As the realities of the German facilities in France began to trickle across the channel to
German occupation began to sink in, the numbers of partisans Britain. In turn, the British Special Operations Executive (SOE)
slowly began to rise: what was first thought by many to be a began inserting operatives into France to liaise with resistance
merely administrative change quickly saw the Nazi government groups and supervise supply drops of weapons and equipment.
pillaging France for all it was worth, taking money, food, and Most of these operatives were either native French men and
raw materials, leaving the French population faced with strict women who had fled to Britain, or British operatives who had
rationing and colossal pay cuts. In Paris, the Armistice Day lived in France before the war.
commemorations were banned and November 11th, 1940 saw
one of the first mass acts of overt resistance as 20,000 Parisians In August 1941, the assassinations began. A German naval officer
marched to various locations to lay wreaths and bouquets. That was assassinated in Paris, whilst two months later Oberstleutnant
night, 3,000 schoolchildren and young students marched to the Karl Friedrich Hotz, the Feldkommandant of Nantes, and a
Arc de Triomphe, shouting pro-Allied slogans. Scuffles with the German military lawyer were both killed by the resistance.
police started, and the German army moved in. 143 individuals Reprisals were savage, with 100 Frenchmen being executed for
were arrested, detained, and beaten – most of them children. the loss of Hotz alone.

The next stage of resistance was the escalation towards small, Several resistance groups were now growing in power and
organised cells. These scattered groups printed and distributed influence, particularly after the German invasion of the Soviet
propaganda leaflets across the country; an offense punishable by Union, which galvanized significant numbers of French

Partisans sabotage a railroad to disrupt the German supply chain

Resistance! – Partisans in France – 75

communists into action. Combat had been formed in the summer The post-war era saw merciless treatment for collaborators in
of 1940 and undertook activities in both the occupied and Vichy France, and de Gaulle’s rhetoric transformed the perception
areas of France, Liberation had also been involved from the very of several small groups of brave individuals who dared to face
start and was at the forefront of the propaganda war, while Franc- impossible odds into a combined and united front made up of a
Tireur was the military arm of the French Communist Party. fictitious majority.
Front National was another highly active communist group.
De Gaulle, who US President Roosevelt described to the British
Recognising the need to unite these splintered organisations into as ‘our mutual headache’, said after the liberation of Paris: “Paris
one coordinated resistance movement, and deeply unhappy with liberated! Liberated by its own efforts, liberated by its people with
any British involvement in French affairs aside from clothing the help of the armies of France, with the help of all of France.”
and equipping his troops, de Gaulle declared himself the leader
of all resistance activities in France. Ignoring most of the British However, as resistance leader Christian Pineau said of de Gaulle
attempts to work with French resistance groups, de Gaulle after meeting him in 1942, “he knows almost nothing about the
accepted the help of political administrator Jean Moulin, and Resistance.” De Gaulle’s myth of the French resistance would
sent him back to France to unify all resistance groups under de come in time to overwrite much of the true efforts of the gallant
Gaulle’s banner. By January 1943, Moulin had united Combat, minority who had risked so much for their country.
Liberation and Franc-Tireur to form the Mouvements Unis de
Résistance (United Resistance Movements). One subset of French partisans who were particularly active in
facing these risks were the Maquis.
In the first year of occupation, some 100,000 Frenchmen
volunteered to work in Germany, but more were needed. A
significant increase in the numbers flocking to the resistance
banner came about as a reaction to the Service du travail
The Maquis
obligatoire – the compulsory recruitment of up to 650,000 The French term ‘Maquis’ refers to a piece of land with wild,
Frenchmen who were forced to work in Germany towards the evergreen shrubby plants, particularly found in Corsica. During
German war effort . The backlash was immense and hundreds of the Second World War, the word would come to signify the bands
Frenchmen left their homes to join resistance movements, whilst of guerrilla fighters, referring to the rugged rural locations from
many others escaped via Spain to North Africa. This was one of which they operated. In time, the Maquis came to symbolise
the main factors which led to the establishment of the Maquis – the French Resistance. Emerging at the end of 1942, the Maquis
bands of partisans in rural areas of France. were just one of the many forms of resistance against the German
occupation forces and Vichy Regime. Mostly composed of
In early 1944, as the Allies began intensifying their preparations civilians, the number of Maquis groups, or ‘Maquisards’, increased
for the invasion of France, resistance groups were given each year as people left their lives behind to fight the occupiers
instructions to increase their output, concentrating on enemy wherever possible, creating Maquis camps across France. An
infrastructure such as railways. The war between the Maquis and excerpt from the Maquis Oath of Allegiance clearly shows their
the Milice intensified, with brutal assassinations being carried beliefs, mettle, and resolve:
out by both sides. Via liaison with the SOE, the major resistance
groups were made aware of the Allied plans to invade France, “Every man seeking admission to the Army of
and on June 5th, 1944, code words were transmitted to various the Maquis, is not only a defaulter from German
resistance groups to order them into action in a campaign of deportation, but a volunteer partisan and an auxiliary
mass sabotage. Emboldened by the Allied invasion in Normandy, soldier of the French Army.
French partisans came out fighting and engaged German forces
in open combat. Maquis groups attacked French towns across the He forfeits the right of communicating with his family or
country in an attempt to seize and hold them until Allied forces his friends until the end of the war.
arrived, with varying degrees of success – large sections of rural
France were liberated by Maquis groups. Fighting erupted in the He will observe absolute secrecy as to his hiding place and
streets of Paris itself as the police and civil service switched sides the identity of his leaders and comrades.
and fought alongside the resistance.
He knows that every violation of this rule is punishable
As Allied forces advanced across France, groups of partisans by death.
were recruited into the Free French forces, and continued the
fight against Germany as their invaders were finally pushed out He knows that he cannot receive any assurance of regular
of France. pay, and that even his food and weapons are guaranteed.

76 – Bolt Action Compendium

 The Germans are sitting ducks in the face of another successful partisan ambush

He will respect the life and property of French, Allied or Sten machine gun. We kept taking it apart and putting it
neutral citizens, not only because the Maquis depends together until we could do it in record time. Then the gun
for its existence on its good relations with the population, was passed from one camp to another.”
but also because the men of the Maquis form an elite and Captain Romans
because it is their duty to prove by their example that
courage and honesty go together in all true Frenchmen.” At the beginning of the fight against the Germans and the Vichy
state, the Maquis were poorly equipped. Many units of new
Most of the Maquis groups, which varied in size from tens to recruits would have just a few rifles, which were so precious that
thousands of men and women, took their names after the areas losing a weapon was something punishable by death. According
they operated in – like the Maquis du Vercors or the Maquis de to the Maquis Oath of Allegiance this was “A severe penalty, but
Glieres. To continue the fight effectively, the Maquis would need essential to the safety of all.”
outside help, which they initially found in the British Special
Operations Executive (SOE) and later the American Office The equipment used by the Maquisards was supplied by
of Strategic Services (OSS). The Allies provided the Maquis airdrops from the British SOE and the American OSS. Sten
with training, weapons and equipment usually parachuted guns were airdropped in large quantities, since they were easy
into France at night. This empowered the Maquis and the to assemble and disassemble, making them easy to conceal..
wider Resistance movement to make bolder moves against the Further supplies consisted of wireless radio communication
Germans, sabotaging industry and transportation, and providing sets, Lee Enfield rifles, Bren light machine guns, Welrod
intelligence reports to the Allies. silenced pistols, plastic explosives and more. The Maquis also
used whatever weapons they captured from the Germans,
such as Mauser 98k rifles and MP 40 submachine guns,
EQUIPMENT among others. Many men would become extremely proficient
“We had a few revolvers and some hunting rifles and in the use of these weapons over the course of the war, but
were reduced to making sketches in order to teach the use opportunities for training were few and far between, with the
of modern weapons. Early in July we received our first need to maintain secrecy paramount.

Resistance! – Partisans in France – 77

NEW UNITS fled Nazi rule and, as the war progressed, a growing number of
deserters from the German army who wished to fight against
Otto Kühne fascism. A stern and dogged leader, Kühne rose from commanding
Born in Berlin in May 1893, Otto Kühne worked within the a single Maquis band to leading a merger of three separate anti-
railway industry before he became actively involved in the German resistance groups in France by the start of 1944.
German communist movement. A party deputy by the time
of the Reichstag fire in 1933, Kühne fled to France to avoid He led his men from the front, taking part in battles against
persecution at the hands of the Nazi party, via Denmark, Norway, German military police units in April 1944 and a Waffen-SS
and Britain to Spain, where he fought against Franco’s forces. force just before D-Day. By the end of the war he commanded
over 2,000 resistance fighters, held the rank of Lieutenant
Following the French capitulation and establishment of the Colonel and had been decorated by the French government. He
Vichy regime, Kühne was interned and sent to a work camp in continued his political activism after the war in East Germany
Chanac in the south of France. There he became acquainted and served a tenure as Mayor of Brandenburg before he was
with other Spanish Civil War veterans from several nations who removed from office following the workers’ rebellion of 1953. He
had fought within the International Brigades, all sharing similar passed away in 1955.
political ideologies. In 1940 he fled to Marseilles, where he built
a resistance cell with several of these veterans. His group was We suggest using Kühne as a Company Commander if you’re
centred around foreign nationals, German communists who had fielding a Partisans force representing the Maquis.

Cost 119pts (Veteran)

Team Kühne and up to 2 men
Weapons Submachine guns
Options – Kühne may be accompanied by up to 2 men at a cost of +16pts per man (Veteran)
Special Rules – Rally to the Cause – Kühne’s leadership brought together many deserted German soldiers with communist sympathies.
These men came from a variety of trades and backgrounds, but many brought real combat experience alongside significant
Wehrmacht training. A force including Kühne may apply the Initiative Training rule on page 201 of the Bolt Action: 3rd
Edition rulebook to all infantry squads.

The Maquis lay in wait, but is this German convoy too well defended?

78 – Bolt Action Compendium

 The Germans underestimate how well this Maquis cell is equipped

GERMAN ANTI-FASCIST RESISTANCE FIGHTERS to the cause of communism. These men not only risked the
Many Germans and Austrians with communist ideologies worst fates if captured, but also endured the mistrust of
flocked to the Republican banner during the Spanish Civil other non-German resistance fighters in the pursuit of their
War and fled to France rather than returning home after their ideological causes.
defeat. These were amongst the first German and Austrian
personnel who helped make up the French resistance, If you’re fielding a Partisans force themed around resistance in
particularly after the communist call to arms following France, you may wish to include these Anti-Fascist Resistance
Operation Barbarossa. Their numbers were bolstered by a Fighters. We recommend fielding them as Infantry squads, but
steady trickle of German military deserters who again rallied limiting them to a maximum of two units per force.

Cost 55pts (Regular)

Team 1 NCO and 4 men
Weapons Rifles
Options – Add up to 5 additional men with rifles at +11pts each
– Any men can replace their rifle with a submachine gun for +4pts per model
– One man may have a light machine gun for +15pts. Another man becomes the loader
– One man can have a Panzerfaust for +15pts
– Equip all men with anti-tank grenades for +2pts per model
Special Rules – Tank Hunters (if anti-tank grenades option is taken)
– Committed to the Cause – German resistance fighters risked all to fight for the resistance. Whilst a horrific fate awaited
resistance fighters who fell into enemy hands, the treatment of a native born German ‘traitor’ would be even worse. Due to
this single-minded tenacity, the unit has the Stubborn special rule
– Wehrmacht Training: As former troops of the German army, the men are very familiar with the operation and maintenance of
German weapons and equipment. The unit may upgrade its light machine gun to an MG34 or MG42 for +5pts, giving it the
Hitler’s Buzzsaw special rule

Resistance! – Partisans in France – 79

 SCENARIO: The Vercors Uprising July 3rd 1944

As the Allies pressed on after D-Day, General N

De Gaulle, through a transmission by the BBC,
issued a call to the French to rise up. In the remote
Ford
mountainous region of Vercors in south-east
France, the French Maquis declared the ‘Free
Republic of Vercors’ on July 3rd. In response the
Germans dispatched 10,000 troops to put down
the insurrection. Almost 4,000 Maquisards put up
a desperate resistance, but after a few days of bloody Ford
fighting they had to accept they were surrounded,
and the order was given to disperse. The German
victory served as a reminder for the Maquis that
they were not organised and well armed enough to Ford
participate in large-scale tactical operations.

FORCES
Maquis du Vercors
• The Maquis player selects a 1,000 point force German units are not set up on the table at the start of the game.
from the Partisans PDF army list. The German player must nominate up to half of the units in their
force to form their first wave. Any units not included in the first
Germans wave are left in reserve. Outflanking manoeuvres are not allowed.
• The German player selects a 1,000 point force from
Armies of Germany. This force must include at least one
Gebirgsjäger and one Fallschirmjäger squad. SPECIAL RULES
Vastly Outnumbered
The Germans fielded almost 10,000 troops against 4,000 resistance
SET-UP fighters. To represent this any destroyed German infantry squad or
The scenario is played lengthways along a standard 6'x4' table, armoured vehicle which is worth no more than 250 points that has
with players facing each other from the short table edges. Fill the been destroyed may be ‘recycled’ as a unit in Reserve at the end of
tabletop with rocky hills, patches of trees, boulders, rivers, etc., the turn during which it was destroyed. This reserve unit counts as
that will slow down infantry and impede the movement of other a brand new unit for the purpose of victory points.
types of units – the diagram shown here is a good guide!

Both players roll a dice, with the player who rolled highest OBJECTIVE
choosing a short table edge to be their deployment zone. The Both players must try to destroy as many enemy units as they can!
Maquis player sets up all their units in their deployment zone.
These units may use the hidden set up rules.
GAME DURATION
Keep a count of how many turns have elapsed as the game is
played. At the end of turn 6, roll a die. On a result of 1, 2, or 3 the
game ends, on a roll of 4, 5, or 6 play one further turn.

VICTORY!
At the end of the game, calculate which side has won by adding
French
Resistance up victory points as follows. Each player scores 1 victory point
for every enemy unit destroyed. If one side scores at least 2 more
victory points than the other then that side has won a clear
victory. Otherwise the result is a draw.

80 – Bolt Action Compendium

 Red Star – White Star By Roger Gerrish

Victorious Soviet troops survey the American positions – as friends, for now…

The warm and friendly meeting of American and Soviet troops at Torgau on the River Elbe in April 1945 seemed to herald the end
of an era of total war and usher in a new period of peace and cooperation. How easily that could all have changed…

Although the partition of Europe had been decided during the he was ordered to halt at the Elbe River to allow the Soviets to
Tehran, Yalta, and Potsdam conferences, there were many on the consolidate their gains in Eastern Germany and Austria as agreed
Western Allied side who felt uncomfortable. They were faced with by the politicians.
the unpalatable prospect of a totalitarian Soviet Union occupying
or controlling countries that had until recently been subjugated Patton’s own diaries certainly reveal that he had nothing but
by the Nazis. Churchill in particular was distressed about the contempt for the Soviet armies.
future of Poland, a country whose freedom Great Britain had
ostensibly gone to war to preserve. Whilst still Prime Minister, he “In my opinion, the American Army as it now exists could beat
had commissioned a study aptly named Operation Unthinkable, the Russians with the greatest of ease, because, while the Russians
to forecast the results of an Allied offensive against the Soviets have good infantry, they are lacking in artillery, air, tanks, and in
intended to push them back to their pre-war borders. The results the knowledge of the use of the combined arms, whereas we excel in
were sobering, predicting massive Western Allied losses whilst not all three of these. If it should be necessary to fight the Russians, the
guaranteeing a favourable result. Certainly, at the political level sooner we do it the better.”
there was little if any enthusiasm for such an endeavour.
Additionally, he wrote….
However, history has shown that strong-willed individuals,
breakdowns in communications, or simple miscalculations can “Their [the Soviet Union] supply system is inadequate to maintain
trigger incidents with far reaching consequences! them in a serious action such as I could put to them. They have
chickens in the coop and cattle on the hoof – that’s their supply
When looking for such a strong-willed individual you need look system. They could probably maintain themselves in the type of
no further than the colourful and controversial General George fighting I could give them for five days. After that it would make
S. Patton, commander of the United States Third Army. While no difference how many million men they have, and if you wanted
a divisive figure, he was a superb general with a real grasp of the Moscow, I could give it to you. They lived on the land coming
effectiveness of armoured forces. Under his leadership the Third down. There is insufficient left for them to maintain themselves
Army had blazed a trail across France and Germany in 1944 going back. Let’s not give them time to build up their supplies.
and 1945. Many have speculated that had he been allowed to If we do, then […] we have had a victory over the Germans and
continue to advance the Western Allies could have taken Berlin disarmed them, but we have failed in the liberation of Europe; we
before the Soviet Union. It therefore irritated him greatly when have lost the war!”

Red Star - White star – 81

 Soviet supplies arrive at the end of their very, very long journey

Conspiracy theorists have suggested that his death in a road However, what if Patton had not been bluffing, or what if the
accident in December of 1945 was an assassination to prevent Soviet representative had not been cowed by this threat? In
Patton from upsetting the post-war applecart. Nevertheless, he such circumstances could Allied and Soviet forces have become
was fully aware of the wishes of his political masters and would embroiled in an incident which might have escalated into
never have gone rogue triggering the next round of World War. a wider conflict? Certainly, throughout the long Cold War
However, a little anecdote from his biography provides us with many historians and analysts believed that if war had occurred,
an incident that, had things proceeded differently, might have it would most likely have been through such an incident or
changed history… miscalculation.

After the German surrender Patton had been made military What is certain though is that the fighting would have been
governor of Bavaria. As part of his duties, he was present at a brutal, with two adversaries at the height of their offensive
meeting between the Allies when a Soviet representative openly power clashing across Germany and Austria. Whilst the Soviets
demanded that the US Forces should immediately cede the had huge numbers of infantry, tanks, and artillery – which far
entire territory of Austria to the Soviet Union. In typically blunt outnumbered their erstwhile Allies – they were also at the end of
fashion, Patton did not argue but picked up the phone and to some very long supply lines and had been living off the land they
the horror of the official and his translators ordered a Corps of conquered. Maintaining that supply whilst being interdicted by
US troops to cross the River Elbe into Soviet occupied territory! the Western Allies formidable tactical airpower would have been
Amusingly there was no one on the other end of the phone – it difficult. The outcome could have gone either way, making it an
was a bluff, and the rattled official ideal candidate to explore using Bolt Action!
hurriedly withdrew his demands.

US Riflemen with
a Deuce truck

82 – Bolt Action Compendium

Recreating Red Star– ground attack aircraft and fighters which could certainly have
made the GIs’ lives more difficult. In any Red Star–White Star
White Star in Bolt Action game, American Air Force Forward Observers must roll a D6
before using the Air Superiority special rule to call in a second Air
Any of the scenarios from the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook Strike. On a roll of 1, 2, or 3, Soviet fighters have driven off the
are perfectly appropriate for a Red Star–White Star game, and American aircraft, and the second Air Strike may not be called.
can be modified with any number of the Optional Rules in that
book to produce unique and colourful missions. Whether you use “They have chickens in the coop and cattle on the hoof”
the Air-Landing Reinforcements rules to envisage the Americans To add a little uncertainty to your scenarios the Unreliable
crossing the Elbe, or the City Fighting section to create a desperate rule can be applied to all Soviet vehicles, representing Patton’s
defence of Hamburg against a Soviet assault, the great joy of a vision of a Red Army on the verge of running out of essential
‘what-if ’ is in letting your imagination run wild! supplies with its lines of communication ravaged by Western
Allied airpower.

FORCE SELECTION
Armies of the United States and Armies of the Soviet Union have
everything you need to field the forces likely to have participated
NEW US UNITS
in Red Star–White Star scenarios. Simply select Late War forces, Potential Pershings!
with particular emphasis on heavy and hi-tech equipment that The United States lists include the formidable M26 Pershing
only saw limited service in 1945! We’ve additionally provided medium tank. The development of this tank was troubled and
some new special rules for each side to better reflect the situation delayed due to ongoing interdepartmental arguments in the
each force found themselves in, as well as a couple of hypothetical United States. The untested tank was rushed to Europe where it
units to add even more flavour to the forces. proved itself capable in a few encounters with the German ‘big
cats’. Lessons were learned and a few variants were ordered into

SPECIAL RULES
production. With the end of the war in Europe these projects were
mostly cancelled. However, had war broken out with the Soviets
“Red Eagles over Germany” some of these designs may have made it onto the battlefield.
During the later stages of the war against Germany, the US
armies enjoyed operating on a battlefield where air supremacy These vehicles are a great opportunity to get creative with your
was assured. Against the Soviets things might have been different modelling, and put yourself in the shoes of 1940s tank designers. You
as the Soviet air force possessed huge numbers of very capable can even come up with variants of your own!

M45 (T26E2)
To meet the specific needs of the European Theatre of Operations it was decided to create a variant of the Pershing armed with a
105mm howitzer to operate as a heavy support tank.
Cost 260pts (Inexperienced), 325pts (Regular), 400pts (Veteran)
Weapons 1 gyro-stabilised turret mounted medium howitzer with co-axial MMG and forward-facing hull-mounted MMG
Damage Value 10+ (heavy tank)
Options – May add a pintle-mounted HMG to the turret for +25pts

T26E5
At least one Pershing deployed to Europe was field modified with an additional 76mm of spaced armour plates taken from the remains
of destroyed German tanks. The additional resilience was noted, and an up-armoured Pershing assault tank was ordered. This added
protection did however come at the cost of reduced speed and mobility.
Cost 370pts (Inexperienced), 430pts (Regular), 523pts (Veteran)
Weapons 1 gyro-stabilised turret mounted super–heavy anti-tank gun with co-axial MMG and forward-facing hull-mounted MMG
Damage Value 11+ (super heavy tank)
Options – May add a pintle-mounted HMG to the turret for +25pts
Special Rules – Slow

Red Star - White star – 83

 American troops keep a watchful eye on Soviet positions

LOCAL DEFENCE VOLUNTEER SQUADS volunteers. At the same time these individuals would be under
By May 1945 the German army was largely destroyed, with no illusion of their fate as ‘Hitlerites’ if captured by the Red
its men either in detention camps or having quietly returned Army. These groups would have been a mix of recently serving
home. A vigorous de-Nazification programme was underway soldiers, old men, boys and perhaps a scattering of fanatical SS
to root out the Waffen-SS and other politically motivated types who had escaped detection. Whilst being armed with
elements. However, many alternative history imaginings have surplus American equipment some legacies from the ‘old days’
a fanciful notion of the German Army and the Western Allies might still remain, such as a crate of Panzerfausts kept hidden
somehow joining together and fighting communism as a in a cellar for a rainy day!
common enemy.
Modelling these units is a brilliant opportunity to get creative
Given the preceding half decade, this seems rather far-fetched, and have fun, encouraging interesting combinations of our US
but had a Red Star–White Star situation gone badly for the and German plastic infantry kits to create truly unique squads.
Western Allies – with the Soviets advancing towards the Rhine
– the Allies may have allowed the formation of Local Defence These Local Defence Volunteer forces are a great way to add
Volunteer groups to assist with defence. character to a US force for Red Star-White Star games. They’re
best used as American Infantry squads that may not be your
The fearful reputation of the Soviet Army in its treatment of ‘mandatory’ units, but there’s nothing to stop you fielding more of
German civilians would probably have created no shortage of them with only limited American support!

Cost 30pts (Inexperienced)

Composition 1 NCO and 4 men
Weapons Rifles
Options - Add up to 5 additional men with rifles at +7 points each
- The NCO may have replace his rifle with a submachine gun for +4pts, or an assault rifle for +6pts
- Up to 1 man can have a light machine gun for +15pts – another man becomes the loader
- Up to 3 men may have Panzerfausts in addition to other weapons for +15pts each
Special Rules - Mixed Quality: Local Defence Volunteers have the Green special rule and must test when they first suffer a casualty. However,
if they are uprated to Regular infantry as a result of the test, then roll a further die, and on a roll of 5 or 6 they are uprated to
Veterans instead.

84 – Bolt Action Compendium

 Boltaction.com The Warlord Games App
This website is the hub for all things Bolt Build an army in the palm of your hand! The
Action, where you’ll find handy advice on Warlord Games app is the fastest way to build
all aspects of wargaming World War II. your Bolt Action forces. With points, rules
There’s a breakdown of all the armies you reference*, and automatic list validation at your
can collect and what each brings to the fingertips, there is no easier way to prepare for
table, intuitive and comprehensive guides battle! You can even export your PDF army lists
to help you paint your miniatures, and all and print them out.
the latest Bolt Action articles. It’s the first
place to learn about all Bolt Action news, download it from the
including events, future releases and a App Store, Google Play,
whole lot more. or at app.warlordgames.com
boltaction.com
* A copy of the Bolt Action: Third Edition Rulebook is
required for the full rules.

The Warlord Games

Webstore
The Warlord Games webstore has the full
range of Bolt Action miniatures, books,
and accessories, as well as all the paints
and modeling equipment you need to get
your army ready for the field of battle.
store.warlordgames.com

Warlord Community
The Warlord Games Community site is a
repository of articles, downloads, and useful
resources from across the worlds of Warlord
Games, not least Bolt Action! It aims to feature
the very best of the hobby, both from those
within the company and the excellent Warlord
community. You can also find your local Bolt
Action stockist and make use of the Events
Calendar, which details all Bolt Action events and
tournaments supported by Warlord worldwide.
warlord-community.warlordgames.com

C – Bolt Action Compendium

 COMPENDIUM
The Bolt Action Compendium brings together a number of articles from our fantastic community. Featuring
rules, units, and scenarios to represent some of the Second World War’s less well-known campaigns, it’s an
amazing resource to add even more depth to your games of Bolt Action. Inside, you’ll find:
• The Polish Army in Exile – Field the exiled Polish Carpathian Independent Brigade in North Africa
• Heroes Fight Like Greeks – Recreate the exploits of the Greek mountain partisans
• Operation Rösselsprung – Re-fight the assault on Tito’s hideout by the 500th SS Parachute Battalion
• The Brazilian Expeditionary Force – Take the Força Expedicionária Brasileira into action at the Battle
of Monte Castello
• The Japanese SNLF in Combat – Play through the early battles of the Japanese Special Naval
Landing Forces
• Operations Longcloth & Thursday – Battle through the epic campaigns of the Chindits, deep in the
jungles of Burma
• The Polish People’s Army in Soviet Service – Field Polish communist forces alongside the Red Army
• The Battles of Tomaszów Lubelski – Replay the largest armoured engagement of the German
invasion of Poland
• Spectres of the Forest – Use the legendary Bielski Brothers to lead your Eastern Front partisans
against the occupying Germans
• The Spanish Blue Division at Krasny Bor – Add Spanish Wehrmacht volunteers to the savage
battles on the Eastern Front
• Resistance! – Partisans in France – Find inspiration for a whole host of partisan forces, and bring
one of the most famous Maquis operations to the tabletop
• Red Star–White Star – Continue the war after the fall of Germany in a ‘what-if’ situation where
Soviet and American forces clash

A copy of the Bolt Action: Third Edition rulebook is required to use this supplement

ISBN: 978-1-915319-71-5
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