French Special Rules 1940 Gas Guzzler: The Char B1 Bis had huge problems with fuel consumption, to keep the vehicle in the field for a whole day would require it to be refueled at least twice. Any vehicle with the Gas Guzzler special rule must test to see if it has run out of fuel, following the 6th turn of the game roll a D6 at the beginning of the controlling players turn, on the roll of a 1 then the vehicle has run out of fuel and cannot move for the remainder of the game, the vehicle may still turn its turret as normal. Penny Packets: The Char B1 Bis was often deployed at company level to provide support to infantry as a static pill box. If taken as a company choice then the force may NOT choose an additional tank as divisional support of any type. The Char B1 Bis deployed in this manner has a reduction on the close infantry support range of 10cm rather than the usual 20cm to reflect the defensive nature in which it has been deployed (see page 47 of the rule book for further details). Soldat 1re Classe: The Sergent may choose to leave the Demi-groupe de voltigeurs and stay with the Fusiliers when using the tactically flexible rule. If this is the case then the Soldat 1re Classe takes control of the Shock element, when in command like this the Soldat 1re Classe counts as having the special rule. Sticky Bombs*: Unstable: When attacking a vehicle with an unstable weapon, any roll of 1 kills the bomber, no Experience Test allowed. * These are only availiable to Allied BEF troops. Tactically Flexible: As long as both have s attached to them, the Machine Gun (or equivalent including mortar) section of a unit may be issued with separate orders to the Rifle Section (or equivalent) in the Orders Phase. It must still maintain Unit Coherency though this is extended to 30cm. The two sections are now treated as separate units for the purpose of affecting Discipline (e.g. a separated MG section of three men takes 3 hits it is Suppressed) but as one for the purpose of determining if it is under half-strength. The 2 sections may revert to 1 squad by simply moving into unit coherency and declaring so. Transitional Rivalry: The Second World War saw the birth of combined arms, this was not an easy transition though. There was great rivalry between Infantry and Armoured formations, tank crews complained that the infantry was too slow, the infantry complained that the armoured support was simply not there. In any game where French tanks are present take an experience test, if this test is passed the tanks are used as normal. If the test is failed then there is a breakdown in communications and the tank will be deployed as a reserve (see page 62 of the rule book for further details). Note that this test is not taken when deploying AMD Panhard 178 armoued cars. VB Grenadiers: During combat the VB grenade launcher armed Caporal from the platoon command would gather up the other VB grenade launcher armed soldiers and form them into a support team. These weapons could then all be directed towards a single target to increase effectiveness. At the beginning of the game all VB launchers armed soldiers may be gathered together to form a new squad, this new squad is treated in exactly the same way as any other squad in the game and is lead by the Caporal. Once formed into a support squad the men cannot return to their original squads at any point. Vive le France!: During the first few of weeks of the Battle of France, French morale was outstanding, despite the fury of the Blitzkrieg offensive. This rule only applies in a Hold the Line scenario, where the French platoon is the defender. Roll a D6 before deployment; on a 4+ the Dogged special rule applies. Weapons note: Through out this list we have used the Berthier 07/15 M16 as the standard rifle for the force. Historically this wasn t always the case, French forces often carried the Mousqueton d Artillerie Mle. 1916. If you wish to field troops with this or any other alternative rifle simply use the same weapons values as the Berthier 07/15 M16. Additional Equipment The platoon may spend a number of Requisition Points (RP) on additional weapons and equipment to be distributed amongst the troops. The cost in Requisition Points for each item is listed below. The number of RP s is equal to the Combat Effectiveness of the force plus or minus an amount according to the platoon type as follows: French Infantry: -6 Berthier 07/15 M16 1RP Scoped Fusil modèle F1 (max. of 1): 3RP Lebel 86M93 rifle with VB Launcher FM24/29 LMG (max. of 1)*: 5RP with (max. of 1)*: 3RP *Maximum of 1 additional weapon may be allocated to a squad (not MG, Mortar, Sniper Teams or AT Guns). Transport In addition, the platoon may wish to be transported in soft-skin vehicles if it passes a Strategy Rating roll. Roll a D6; if the score is equal to, or below the platoon s Strategy Rating then the vehicles are available. As many trucks as are necessary to transport the platoon may be used. Consult the vehicle profiles on page 216 of the rule book for details. These soft-skinned transports do not have any weaponry and no drivers are provided these are allocated from the transported troops. Troops with the Recon special rule may use motorcycles or horses.
French Infantry Platoon All models in a French Infantry Platoon benefit from the following special rules as described below or in the French rules section: Gas Guzzler Penny Packets Soldat 1re Classe Tactically Flexible VB Grenadiers Vive le France! Frontier troops: The player may wish to field a Platoon of Frontier soldiers, these were France s elite troops used to fortify front line areas and defensive lines such as the Maginot line. All troops (except Sniper Teams) have an Experience score of 4+ instead of 5+. The Platoon has a Combat Effectiveness of 13. Reserves Class B: The player can field a Platoon of Class B soldiers, much of the French infantry that faced the Germans was of very poor quality, these were classed as Reserve Class B. All troops (except Sniper Teams) have an experience score of 6+ instead of 5+, the lieutenant controlling the platoon is replace by a Sergent-chef who has a Discipline score of 4+. These troops do not gain the Tactically Flexible rule and have a Combat Effectiveness of 6. Strategy Rating: 2 Combat Effectiveness: 10 A platoon must include a Platoon Command and 2 Infantry Squads A platoon may include 1 Divisional Support choice A platoon may include 1 Company Support choice for each of its Infantry squads and Platoon Command Squad No more than 1 of each Company Support choice may be selected Additional Equipment The Lieutenant may distribute the additional equipment amongst the Platoon as detailed French rules Section. The number of Requisition Points is equal to the Combat Effectiveness of the force -6.
Order of Battle PLATOON COMMAND A French Infantry Platoon must include a Platoon Command Squad. PLATOON COMMAND 1 Lieutenant 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 3+ Pistol or Berthier 07/15 M16 Officer 20cm 1 Sergent 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ 2 Soldat 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Lebel 86M93 rifle with VB Launcher One Soldat may be upgraded to a Medic (see General Special Rules on page 39). Medics are armed with a pistol only. INFANTRY SQUAD A French Infantry Platoon must include at least 2 Infantry Squads. INFANTRY SQUAD Demi-groupe de fusiliers 1 LMG Gunner 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ FM24/29 LMG, Pistol 1 LMG Loader 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Pistol 3 Soldat 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Berthier 07/15 M16 Demi-groupe de voltigeurs 1 Sergent 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ 1 Soldat de première classe 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ 3 Soldat 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ 1 Soldat 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Lebel 86M93 rifle with VB Launcher Soldat 1re Classe
INFANTRY SQUAD A French Infantry Platoon may select up to 1 additional Infantry Squad. UP TO 1 ADDITIONAL Infantry SQUAD (+3 Support Points) Demi-groupe de fusiliers 1 LMG Gunner 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ FM24/29 LMG, Pistol 1 LMG Loader 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Pistol Demi-groupe de voltigeurs 1 Sergent 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ 1 Soldat 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ 1 Soldat 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Lebel 86M93 rifle with VB Launcher May add 3 Soldats armed with Berthier 07/15 M16 & to the Fusilier Section (+1 Support Points). May add 3 Soldats armed with Berthier 07/15 M16 &, including a Soldat de première classe to the Voltigeurs Section (+1 Support Points) COMPANY SUPPORT A French Infantry Platoon may select one Company Support choice for each Infantry/Platoon Command Squad. UP TO 2 HMG TEAM (+1 Support Point Each) 1 HMG Gunner 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Hotchkiss M1914 HMG, Pistol 2 HMG Loaders 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Berthier 07/15 M16 May add 2 Soldats armed with Berthier 07/15 M16 (+1 Support Points). UP TO 1 MORTAR TEAM (+1 Support Point) 1 Mortar Gunner 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ 60mm Mortar, Pistol 1 Mortar Loader 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Berthier 07/15 M16 1 Observer 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Berthier 07/15 M16 Observer May add 2 Soldats armed with Berthier 07/15 M16 (+1 Support Points).
UP TO 1 ANTI-TANK GUN (+1 Support Point) 1 Gunner 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ 25mm SA-L Mle 34, Pistol 2 Loaders 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Berthier 07/15 M16 May add 3 Soldats armed with Berthier 07/15 M16 (+1 Support Points). UP TO 1 Heavy MORTAR TEAM (+1 Support Point) 1 Mortar Gunner 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ 81mm Mortar, Pistol 1 Mortar Loader 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Berthier 07/15 M16 1 Observer 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Berthier 07/15 M16 Observer May add 3 or 6 Soldats armed with Berthier 07/15 M16 (+1 or +2 Support Points). DIVISIONAL SUPPORT UP TO 1 SNIPER TEAM (+1 Support Points) 1 Sniper 20cm 3+ +3 4+ 3+ Scoped Lebel Mle1886/93 Sniper Team, 1 Assistant 20cm 4+ +3 4+ 3+ Berthier 07/15 M16 Fanatic (2) UP TO 1 British Infantry SQUAD (+3 Support Points) Gun Group 1 Bren Gunner 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Bren Gun 1 Rifleman 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ SMLE Rifle Group 1 Corporal 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ 2 Rifleman 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ SMLE,, Sticky Bombs SMLE,, Sticky Bombs May add 3 additional Riflemen to the Rifle Group armed with SMLE and and Sticky Bombs (+1 Support Points) An under strength Infantry Section may be upgraded a Recon section (+1 Support Points) with the Recon special rule.
Artillery (+1 SUPPORT POINT) See the section on Artillery Support on page 61. A Forward Observer team is included with the following profile: 1 Officer 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Berthier 07/15 M16 or Pistol Forward Observer, 1 Assistant 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Berthier 07/15 M16 or Pistol Recon Armour The Armoured Vehicles Profiles are below. Any vehicle with a Crew of 0 must provide a driver from the transported squad. Up to 2 AMD Panhard 178 Char FT 17 Char Leger 1935 R (Renault 35) Char 1935 S Somua Hotchkiss H-39 Char B1-bis (+2 Support Points each) (+2 Support Points) (+2 Support Points) (+3 Support Points) (+3 Support Points) (+4 Support Points) Engineer Squads may only be used where described in certain scenarios or with your opponent s permission. UP TO 1 ENGINEER SQUAD (+5 Support Points) Assault Section 1 Lieutenant 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ 1 Sapeurs-mineurs 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Lebel 86M93 rifle with VB Launcher 3 Sapeurs-mineurs 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Machine Gun Section AP/AT Grenades 1 LMG Gunner 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ FM24/29 LMG, Pistol 1 LMG Loader 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Berthier 07/15 M16 2 Sapeurs-mineurs 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Each squad may take up to 2 Demolition Charges at no cost. AP/AT Grenades UP TO 1 Corps FRANC (+5 Support Points) l équipe 1 Caporal 20cm 4+ +3 4+ 4+ Berthier Mle1892 M16,, Recon 2 Soldats 20cm 4+ +3 4+ 4+ Erma-Vollmer SMG Recon 1 LMG Gunner 20cm 4+ +3 4+ 4+ FM24/29 LMG Recon 1 LMG Loader 20cm 4+ +3 4+ 4+ Berthier Mle1892 M16, Recon 1 Soldats 20cm 4+ +3 4+ 4+ Berthier Mle1892 M16, Recon Each squad may take up to 1 Demolition Charge at no cost. The Corps Franc benefit from all the French Special Rules 1940 as well as the Recon special rule. Crew The following profile is to be used for tankers that have bailed out of their tank. Crew Profile - Commander 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Pistol Officer 15cm - Other ranks 20cm 4+ +3 5+ 4+ Pistol Tank Crew do not benefit from any of the special rules from the parent platoon.
AMD Panhard 178 Closed Wheeled 35 cm 4+ 5+ 4+ Turret 8 7 6 Crew: 4 Weapons: Turret - 25mm SA 35 Hull 8 7 6 Tank gun, Co-axial Ribel 7.5mm Wheels 7 Special Rules: None MG* *The Co-axial Ribel 7.5mm MG uses the same stats as the Co-axial MG M6 Model 31 Char FT 17 Closed Tracked 10 cm 4+ 5+ 4+ Turret 8 8 8 Crew: 2 Weapons: Turret - either Hull 7 7 7 Lumbering 37mm Puteaux or 8mm Hotchkiss Special Rules: Poor fire control, Model 1914 MG Tracks 7 Char Leger 1935 R (Renault 35) Closed Tracked 15 cm 4+ 5+ 4+ Turret 10 10 10 Crew: 2 Weapons: Turret - 37mm SA18 Hull 9 10 10 Lumbering L/21 tank gun, Co-axial MG Special Rules: Poor fire control, M6 Model 31 Tracks 10 Char 1935 S Somua Closed Tracked 25 cm 4+ 5+ 4+ Turret 11 10 10 Crew: 2 Weapons: Turret - 47mm SA-L Hull 9 9 9 mle1937 L/53 Tank Gun, Tracks 9 Special Rules: Poor fire control Co-axial MG M6 Model 31 Hotchkiss H-39 Closed Tracked 25 cm 4+ 5+ 4+ Turret 10 10 10 Crew: 2 Weapons: Turret - 37mm L/33 Hull 10 9 8 Tank Gun, Co-axial MG Tracks 9 Special Rules: Poor fire control M6 Model 31 Char B1-bis Closed Tracked 15 cm 4+ 5+ 4+ Turret 11 10 10 Crew: 4 Weapons: Turret - 47mm SA-L Hull 12 11 12 mle1937 L/53 Tank Gun, Special Rules: Poor fire control, Co-axial MG M6 Model 31 Tracks 9 Under powered, Gas Guzzler, Penny Packet, Lumbering Bow 75mm SA32 L/17, M6 Model 31 MG Special note: The commander of the Char B1 Bis didn t have a top hatch in the tank and thus always counts as being buttoned up.
Infantry Weapons Table To Hit Modifiers Weapon Weapon Type Range Short Range (upto30cm) Long Range ROF EXP Modifier AP AT Notes Pistol Pistol 30cm 0 n/a 1 0 5+ n/a Erma-Vollmer SMG 40cm 0-1 2 0 5+ n/a At Short Range ROF is D6 Berthier 07/15 M16 Rifle 80cm +1 0 1 0 4+ 0 Lebel Mle1886/93 Rifle 80cm +1 0 1 0 4+ 0 Berthier Mle1892 M16 Semi-Auto 60cm 0-1 2 0 5+ 0 FM24/29 LMG ISW 100cm 0 0 D3+4-1 4+ 0-1 To Hit if Moving AP Grenade AP Grenade 20cm 0 n/a 1-1 5+ 0 Blast 1 Lebel 86M93 rifle with VB Launcher Rifle AP Grenade 60cm 0-1 1-1 5+ 0 May not Move & Fire, Blast 1 AT Grenade AT Grenade n/a n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 8 Close Quarters only * SR indicates the weapon s effectiveness at Short Range, within 30cm. Support Weapons Table To Hit Modifiers Weapon Weapon Type Range Short Range (upto30cm) Long Range ROF EXP Modifier AP AT Notes Hotchkiss M1914 HMG 25mm SA-L Mle 34 HMG 120cm 0 0 D3+4-1 4+ 1 Support Weapon Anti-tank Gun 120cm 0-1 1-1 3+ 4 (5 at 60mm Mortar Mortar n/a n/a 0 1 0 5+ 0 81mm Mortar Mortar n/a n/a 0 1-1 5+ 1 * SR indicates the weapon s effectiveness at Short Range, within 30cm. Vehicle Weapons Table Support Weapon, Cumbersome, AT Weapon Smoke, NO HE Support Weapon, Indirect Fire, HE Blast 2, Smoke Support Weapon, Indirect Fire, HE Blast 3, Smoke To Hit Modifiers Weapon Weapon Type Range Short Range (upto30cm) Long Range ROF EXP Modifier AP AT Notes 8mm Hotchkiss/ M6 Model 31 MG 25mm SA 35 Tank gun Vehicle MG 100cm 0-1 D3+4-1 4+ 1 Tank Gun 120cm 0-1 1-1 3+ 37mm Puteaux Tank Gun 120cm 0-1 1-1 4+ 37mm SA18 L/21 tank gun 37mm L/33 Tank Gun 47mm SA-L mle 1937 L/53 Tank Gun Tank Gun 120cm 0-1 1-1 4+ Tank Gun 150cm 0-1 1-2 3+ Tank Gun 150cm 0-1 1-2 3+ 75mm SA32 L/17 Tank Gun 150cm 0-1 1-2 3+ * SR indicates the weapon s effectiveness at Short Range, within 30cm. High Explosive (HE) HE shells utilise the size template indicated in the weapon s profile. HE shells halve their AT value (round down). 4 (5 at 3 (4 at 3 (4 at 5 (5 at 8 (9 at 5 (6 at NO HE, Smoke, -1 to hit if moving AT or HE Blast 1, Smoke, AT or HE Blast 1, Smoke, HE Blast 2, Smoke, AT or HE Blast 2, Smoke, AT or HE Blast 2, Smoke,