By Mike Haught andSimon McBeth 18 S U eptember pdated

on 2014

1

Free French, 1944 French Forces, France 1944

The troops of the French 2éme Blindée, or 2nd Cuirassier (12th Cuirassier ) and 12émeme Régiment Armoured Division, first saw combat in the disastrous de d’Afrique (12th African Light Regiment) 1940 Norwegian Campaign as a part of the independent and renamed the 2éme Division Blindée. The Division was 501e Régiment de Chars de Combat (501st Regiment). then transferred to England to prepare for the After the fall of France, the unit retreated to the United landings. Kingdom where it formed the core of the free French forces under . They were then sent south to the Normandy French central African colonies. The 2éme Division Blindée landed on on the night of the 31st July – 1st August, and formed up near La Philippe François Marie, Comte de Hauteclocque joined the Haye-du-Puit. They joined the XV of the US Third 501st Tank Regiment as its new commander. Hauteclocque Army and were readied for their role in . took the name Leclerc to protect his family from German The division was ordered to attack through the Avranches reprisals in occupied France. Before his posting, Leclerc was Corridor towards Le Mans. After several days of hard was captured in 1940. He managed to escape and made his fighting through the countryside, Le Mans was liberated on way to London where he met De Gaulle. He was entrusted 9 August. This was the first of many major French cities that with the task of convincing France’s African territories to Leclerc and his 2éme Division Blindée would liberate in the join the Free French forces against . next year of the war. From Le Mans, the XV Corps turned After rallying the French colonies of Cameroon and Gabon, its attention northwards to the city of Alençon, which was Leclerc launched several large and daring raids from his liberated by the 2éme Division Blindée on 12 August. African bases into Italian-held . They successfully trav- The following attack then drove through the German elled 930 miles (1500km) to attack and capture the Koufra defences in Ecovre. As they drove inland with the rest of Oasis on 1 March 1941. While here, Leclerc and his ‘L’ the Third Army, the French division ran into many prepared column declared an oath to cease fighting only ‘when our anti-tank defences deployed by the 9. Panzerdivision. They colours will float over the Cathedral of Strasbourg’. The raids overcame the initial shock of the violent ambushes and continued until 1942 when Leclerc led his force northwards fought valiantly through the fortified positions, clearing the to join the British Eighth Army in in January 1943. Germans out of the forest of Ecuvres. ‘Force L’ entered the Tunisian capital, Tunis, in May 1943 The success of operations near Ecuvres opened the way for strengthened with the addition of the 12émeme Régiment de the division to advance on the city of Argentan in an effort

2 towards . Leclerc threw the2émeDivisionBlindée intoaheadlongrush it wasagreed thattheFree French forces would leadtheway. with orwithoutAlliedassistance. Finally they approved and order thecitytobeliberatedusing the2émeDivisionBlindée Obviously, De Gaulle objected.He threatened thathewould street-to-streetthat anassaultwouldtriggerabrutal fight. sources onliberatingthecapitalcity. They were worried Initially, SHAEFwasnotprepared tospendvaluable re- P firmly onto Paris. Third Armyclosedthegap. Leclerc’s attentionnow turned The divisionwastoldtoholdtheirpositionasthe rest of cost the division133 dead, 648 woundedand85missing, Operation CobraandtheattempttocloseFalaise Pocket remained open. the divisioncouldnotreach thePolish unitandthePocket made ittotheSouth Easternslopesof Hill 262,therest of was againdesperateandalthoughleadelementsoftheSpahis made fortheirobjective; thetown ofOméel. Thefighting to sealthegapshut.Thedivisionadvanced and northwest to meetthesouthward advancing Polish Armoured Division andclosetheFalaisebattering ramtotry Pocket. They were Command decidedtousethe2émeDivisionBlindée asa When theroads were theAllied finallysorted, High delaying theattemptstoclosePocket. multiple trafficjamsamongstthe restoftheAllied troops, armoured columnsoftheCombatCommandswere causing its actionsagainstthe9.Panzerdivision. Furthermore, the the oftheFalaiseto closethesouthernportion Pocket. However, aris 2éme DivisionBlindée wasdisorganized asaresult of

take asectionofthe9 Raymond Dronne oftheRégiment deMarche du Tchad to Leclerc ordered thedivisiontofightthrough. He sentCapitan just South ofSt Cyr, butGerman resistance wasstiffening. By 23August, Leclerc quicklyadvanced toRambourllet, ordered toadvance through Chartres. was CombatCommand3,underColonelBillotte, andwas to secure aroute toParis through St Cyr. Theothercolumn and 2 underColonelsLanglade and Dio. They were ordered columns. ThefirstcolumnconsistedofCombatCommand 1 faced,Leclerc decidedtosplitthedivisionintotwopartisans Spurned onby thedesperate resistance the outnumbered and more Parisians joinedtheuprising. Police force rose upinopenrevolt anditsnowballed asmore The capitalwasalready inastateofturmoil.The pointsandParis wasnow firmlyinAlliedcontrol. The failure ofthiscounterattackeliminatedthelast German against alastgaspGerman counterattack onthe26August. even when elements of the division were forced to defend revelry. Thecelebrationsinthecapitaldidnotstop parades andat the town hall for liberation speeches, victory Leclerc received von Choltliz’s surrender, andmetDe Gaulle captured thegarrisoncommander, General von Choltilz. Combat Command3hadreached thePrefecture and andheldtheirpositions. On 25 partisans arrival. Theadvance guard helped reinforce thecivilian hall) the city bells rang throughout the city celebrating their As Dronne’s commandreached theParisde Ville Hôtel for theParis citycentre tohelpthebesiegedpartisans. th Companyanddrive aheadandmake August, Billotte’s (town 3

Free French, France 1944 2ÈME DIVISION BLINDÈE Groupement Tactique “Dio” DIVISION LECLERC (Combat Command 1) Régiment de Marche du Tchad (Ad hoc Regiment of Chad) I Bataillon (1er Compagnie, 2ème Cie, 3ème Cie, 4ème Cie) (Armored Infantry Battalion)

Régiment de Marche de Spahis Marocains (Ad hoc Light Cavalry Regiment of ) 5ème Escadron (5th ) (Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop)

12ème Régiment de Cuirassiers (12th Heavy Cavalry Regiment, Tank Battalion)

EME Régiment Blindé de Fusiliers Marins 2 DB (Naval Rifle Armoured Regiment, Battalion) 3ème Escadron (3rd Squadron) (Tank Destroyer Company)

3ème Régiment d’Artillerie Coloniale (3rd Colonial Artillery Regiment) I Bataillon (1er Batterie, 2ème Bie, 3ème Bie) (Artillery Field Battalion)

13ème Bataillon du Génie (13th Engineering Battalion) 2ème Compagnie (2nd Company) (Engineer Company)

22ème Groupe Colonial des Forces Terrestres Anti-Aériennes (22nd Colonial Territory Force Anti-aircraft Battalion) FRENCH ARMOURED FRENCH DIVISION ND 2

4 Division Blindée andthe1 SHAEF’s orders tothecontrary, the2éme terattacks inNovember 1944.Despite defend Strasbourg againsttheGerman coun- involved intheheavyfightingtobothliberateandthen from USThird Armytothe1 After theliberationofParis, the2émeDivisionBlindée passed major French cityinGerman control. the capital ofAlsace,Strasbourg which represented the last way through German defences.Their goalwastoliberate de Tassigny advanced steadilynorthwards fightingtheir In formed1 themeantime,newly S the ColmarPocket. Thefightingwashard and first assignmentforthe year wasto reduce of reinforcements andsupplies.The division’s of theDanube untilJanuary 1945,duetolack 2éme DivisionBlindée satonthewestern side of the campaigns to liberate France. The The defenceof Strasbourg marked theend E and Marseilles, the1 citiesof Operation Anvil.Aftertakingtheport landed intheSouth ofFrance on14August of asapart German assaults. held thecityagainstseveral unsuccessful sbo tra nd

of II Bataillon(5èmeCompagnie,6èmeCie,7ème8èmeCie) Régiment deMarcheSpahisMarocains 40ème Régimentd’ArtillerieNordAfricain (Naval RifleArmouredRegiment, Tank DestroyerBattalion)

12ème RegimentdeChasseursd’Afrique the urg Groupement Tactique “Langlade” (12 Régiment BlindédeFusiliersMarins (22 22ème GroupeColonialdesForces I Bataillon(1erBatterie,2èmeBie,3èmeBie) th nd (Ad hocLightCavalryRegimentofMorocco) W Régiment deMarcheduTchad AfricanLightCavalryRegiment,Tank Battalion) ColonialTerritory ForceAnti-aircraftBattalion) Terrestres Anti-Aériennes (3 13ème BataillonduGénie ar 1ème rd 2ème Escadron (Cavalry ReconnaissanceTroop) 4ème Escadron NorthAfricanArtilleryRegiment) (13 (Armored InfantryBattalion) (Tank Destroyer Company) (Ad hocRegimentofChad) (Field ArtilleryBattalion) st th (Engineer Company) (Combat Command2) French ArmyunderJean de Lattre Compagnie EngineeringBattalion) st st French Army. Theybecame (2 (4

(1 nd th st Squadron) Squadron) Company) st French Armyhad

Berchtesgaden, Hitler’s private residence, on8May 1945. into Bavaria. In theirlastcombataction,theyhelpedcapture then attachedtotheUSSeventh Armyduringthe advance sent todealwiththeRoyan Pocket inApril. Thedivisionwas A periodofrest followed before Leclerc andthedivisionwere Germany. Mountain Division, butthedivisionpressed into forward the defencewasledby unitsofthetenaciousGerman 2 III Bataillon(9èmeCompagnie,10èmeCie,11ème12èmeCie) 64ème Régimentd’ArtilleriedeDivisionBlindée Régiment deMarcheSpahisMarocains (Naval RifleArmouredRegiment, Tank DestroyerBattalion) 501ème RegimentdeCharsCombat Régiment BlindédeFusiliersMarins (22 Groupement Tactique “Billotte” 22ème GroupeColonialdesForces I Bataillon(1erBatterie,2èmeBie,3èmeBie) nd (Ad hocLightCavalryRegimentofMorocco) Régiment deMarcheduTchad ColonialTerritory ForceAnti-aircraftBattalion) Terrestres Anti-Aériennes (501 13ème BataillonduGénie 3ème (64 2ème Escadron (Cavalry ReconnaissanceTroop) 3ème Escadron (Armored FieldArtilleryBattalion) st (13 th (Armored InfantryBattalion) (Tank Destroyer Company) Tank Regiment, Tank Battalion) (Ad hocRegimentofChad) ArmoredArtilleryRegiment) th (Engineer Company) (Combat Command3) Compagnie EngineeringBattalion) (2 (3

(3 nd rd rd Squadron) Squadron) Company)

nd 5

Free French, France 1944 The French 2nd Armoured Division

Compagnie de Chars de Combat US Equipment (Tank Company) The French received a massive amount of equipment from The core of the 2éme Division Blindée was formed from some the US to outfit their forces. French commanders distributed of France’s earliest tank . After the fall of France, the the equipment as they saw fit. For example, Bazookas were tank regiments of the division were equipped with American distributed sparingly to the troops in order spread them out Sherman . The regiments are fully prepared to take back over several units. French soil from the fascist invaders! When the Division Leclerc landed in Normandy, they were Compagnie d’Infanterie Blindée well supplied with a good portion of the latest equipment. (Armoured Infantry Company) However, they lacked a few essentials, such as the new 76mm The Regiment de Marche du Tchad was equipped with US Shermans, 105mm assault tanks and hedgerow cutters. But vehicles and weapons, and was organized as an armoured they pressed on regardless, achieving many victories. infantry regiment. They received M3 Half-tracks, M8 Scott assault guns, and an assortment of support weapons. They Detroit’s Finest retained standard French organisation for their battalions. Tanks that use the Detroit’s Finest special rule have a Escadron de Spahi Movement Distance of 14”/35cm on Roads or Cross- (Cavalry Recon Troop) country Terrain. The light cavalry reconnaissance squadrons scout ahead of the armoured division, flushing out ambushes and hidden enemy troops. They are equipped with the new , giving them better protection and some light anti-tank ca- pability. The escadron should not engage in protracted fights, rather gather information and scoot back to safety! French Special Rules

French infantry are not equipped with the Garand Rifles French Doctrine used by US units and do not use the Automatic Rifles, During the First World War the French perfected their skills Excellent Communications, Under Command, or Hit ‘em in . Once entrenched, French infantry set up With Everything You’ve Got special rules. Instead, it uses crossfire positions for every weapon allowing them to take any of the other US special rules on pages 236 to 240 of any attack in enfilade. the rulebook, such as Time on Target and Truscott Trott (or March On as the Legion would say), as well as all of the French Infantry and Gun teams attempting to Dig In succeed following French special rules. on a roll of 3+. When conducting Defensive Fire, Infantry and Gun teams Spearhead that are Dug In or in Entrenchments can shoot over any The French nd2 Armoured Division was employed as a bat- Man-packed or Light Gun teams that are also Dug In or in tering ram on the German defences right from their first Entrenchments. deployment. Central Fire Control Any force from the 2éme Division Blindée Always Attacks (see page 257 of the rulebook). When a French observer places a request for fire, the artillery battalion fire direction centre assesses its priority and assigns When they are the attacker in a mission, a player command- all available artillery batteries to fire the mission. However, ing a force from the 2éme Division Blindée may make a everything must go through the proper channels with Spearhead Deployment move (see page 261 of the rulebook) properly trained officers directing the artillery fire. with any one non-Reconnaissance Platoon. French Company Command teams cannot act as spotting teams for artillery bombardments. When a French Artillery battery that has a Staff team fires a bombardment, you may chose to group other artillery batteries with Staff teams into the same bombardment before rolling to Range In as a Central Fire Control Bombardment. Use the Mixed Bombardments rule on page 131 of the rulebook.

6 War war and how that knew tofight. They had beenejected These Spanish volunteers were veterans of the Spanish Civil the fightingthe Germans untilLeclercpartisans, andthe rest of the Allieswere coming.He thensettowork reinforcing the French resistance. Dronne toldtheleaderstoholdfastas When thecompanyentered thecity, itmetupwiththe Republicanbattles andimportant leaders. an anarchist leader. The vehicles were named after civil war yRomilly,Champaubert Don Quijote, andDurruti, after and Ebro, andatroop ofShermans namedMontmirail, included armoured carsnamedGuadalajara, Madrid, Teruel Paris aheadofthe2émeDivisionBlindée. His smalltaskforce and wasgiven thehonourtobefirstAlliedunitenter The companywascommanded by CaptainRaymond Dronne Tchad. central Africatoformthecore oftheRégiment deMarche du were gathered toformseveral companieswhich were sentto joined the ranks of the French resistance. Enough volunteers Faced withthisbleakfuture, manyoftheSpanish refugees thembacktoSpain.camps andeventually begandeporting government forced theSpanish refugees into concentration Nationalist government. However, in1941,thenew Vichy Republicans fledto France toavoid beingpersecuted by the conclusion oftheSpanish Civil War, nearly150,000defeated du TchadwasmadeupofSpanish volunteers. AtMarche the The 9 2éme DivisionBlindée arrived. “R th Companyofthe3 emember 9ÉME COMPAGNIE,RÉGIMENTDEMARCHEDUTCHAD M adrid , C rd Battalion oftheRégiment de s omrade !” -B attle

cry

of

the remained toscaletheheightsofBerchtesgaden. the war. By thespringof1945, amere dozen Spanish fighters and foughtonwiththe2émeDivisionBlindée totheendof strange positionoffightingtoliberate France. Thistheydid, andnowout oftheirown foundthemselves country inthe 9éme Compagnievolunteers! The oftheRepublican causewasnever defeatedinthehearts E The Spaniards of9 F España! special rule below.España! specialrule not usetheFrench Doctrine insteadtheyusethe specialrule, It isratedConfident Veteran anditsCombatPlatoons do Compagnie d’Infanterie Blindée (Armoured Company). Infantry A force representing the9émeCompagniemustbebasedona to theiraidduringthewar. defeat, norwilltheyforgettheforeign volunteers whocame 1936 -1939.Theywillnotforget Germany’s role intheir havingfoughtintheSpanishcounterparts, Civil War from fact, mosthadbeenfightingforlongerthantheir French 9 Counterattack inAssaults. 9éme Compagniemayre-roll failedMotivation Tests to Company HQandCombatplatoonsinaforce basedonthe ielding spaña th C ! ompany

the 9 , R éme th Companywere nostrangerstowar. In égiment C ompagnie

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T chad

Free French, France 1944 Compagnie de Chars de Combat Tank Company

(Tank Company)

HEADQUARTERS You must field one platoon from each box shaded black and may field one platoon from each box shaded grey.

9 Compagnie de Chars de

HEADQUARTERS Combat HQ

ARMOUR ARMOUR INFANTRY 11 Infanterie Blindée Platoon 17 Engineer Combat Platoon

9 Chars de Combat Platoon 13 Assault Gun Platoon INFANTRY 11

COMBAT PLATOONS COMBAT Infanterie Blindée Platoon ARMOUR PLATOONS WEAPONS ARTILLERY

ARMOUR 9 16 DIVISIONAL SUPPORT PLATOONS SUPPORT DIVISIONAL Chars de Combat Platoon 13 Tank Destroyer Platoon Blindée Mortar Platoon ARMOUR ARMOUR RECONNAISSANCE 15 Spahi Platoon

9 9 Chars de Combat Platoon Platoon ARTILLERY 18 Armoured Field Artillery Battery ARMOUR 17 Allied Platoons Field Artillery Battery

9 Light Tank Platoon ARTILLERY 18 American platoons in Armoured Field Artillery Battery 17 your force are Allied Field Artillery Battery Platoons and follow the M1 155mm Field Artillery 18 Allies rules on page 70 of Battery the rulebook.

ANTI-AIRCRAFT 19 Anti-aircraft Artillery (Self-propelled) Platoon

AIRCRAFT 19 Air Support

AIRCRAFT 19 Air Observation Post

8 enemy. agile, they are ideal for working around the flanks of the light tanks.Theseare AmericanM5A1 tanks,fastand Stuart Each battalionoftanksinthedivisionhadacompany L lot ofexperienceinCentralAfricaand Tunisia. equipped withAmericanSherman tanksandhave gaineda long waysincetheearlydaysofwar. Theyhave been re- The French CharsdeCombat,orcombatcars,have comea C C ight A CompagniedeCharsCombatisrated Confident Veteran. sive tankers from theFrench forces. The tankbattalionsofthe2émeDivision Blindée, are madeupofthebestandmostaggres- M ompagnie hars P • O P • • O H 4 M5A1Stuart 5 M5A1Stuart 3 M4A2orM4A4Sherman 4 M4A2orM4A4Sherman 5 M4A2orM4A4Sherman 2 M4A2orM4A4Sherman 3 M5A1Stuart latoon latoon eadq ptions ption otivation M4A3 (76mm)Sherman for+55points. Replace uptooneSherman tankperplatoonwithan TRVM32 for+15points. AddTRV a recovery vehicle: M31 for +10 points or +70 points. Add an M4 (105mm) Sherman assaultgun for

T de ank u C arters

ombat P de

latoon C and hars P S latoon kill

de C ombat HQ WEAPONS PLATOONS COMBAT PLATOONS 260 250 335 points 415 points 165 155 210 HEADQUARTERS points points points points points

M5A1 Stuart Company Command Sherman tank M4 (105mm)Shermanassaultgun Tank Section Tank Section Compagnie deCharsCombat HQ Sherman tank Sherman tank Sergent Sergent Company HQ Chars deCombat Platoon Capitaine M5A1 Stuart Light TankPlatoon Command Shermantank Command M5A1Stuart Sherman tank 2iC Command Lieutenant Lieutenant Lieutenant Capitaine CONFIDENT RELUCTANT FEARLESS M5A1 Stuart Tank Section Tank Section Sherman tank Sherman tank Sergent Sergent CONSCRIPT Recovery Section Sergent VETERAN TRAINED M5A1 Stuart 9

Free French, France 1944 Compagnie d’Infanterie Blindée Armoured Infantry Company

(Mechanised Company) HEADQUARTERS You must field one platoon from each box shaded black and may field one platoon from each box shaded grey.

11 Compagnie d’Infanterie Blindée HQ

HEADQUARTERS Only a Compagnie d’Infanterie Blindée based on the Spanish 9éme Compagnie can field options marked ( ).

INFANTRY RECONNAISSANCE 9 ARMOUR Chars de Combat Platoon

9 Light Tank Platoon 12 16 Blindée Recon Platoon 11 Tank Destroyer Platoon Infanterie Blindée Platoon

COMBAT PLATOONS COMBAT MACHINE-GUNS 9

WEAPONS PLATOONS WEAPONS ARMOUR INFANTRY Chars de Combat Platoon 9 Light Tank Platoon 21 12 Liberated Chars de

Blindée Machine- PLATOONS SUPPORT DIVISIONAL Combat Platoon 11 Gun Platoon Infanterie Blindée Platoon INFANTRY 17 ARTILLERY Engineer Combat Platoon INFANTRY 20 Organized Partisan Platoon

13 Blindée Mortar RECONNAISSANCE 11 Platoon 15 Infanterie Blindée Platoon Spahi Platoon ARMOUR ANTI-TANK ARTILLERY 18 Armoured Field Artillery Battery 17 12 13 Field Artillery Battery Blindée Anti-tank Platoon Assault Gun Platoon

ARTILLERY 18 Armoured Field Artillery Battery Allied Platoons 17 Field Artillery Battery American platoons in your force are Allied Platoons and M1 155mm Field Artillery 18 follow the Allies rules on page 70 of the rulebook. Battery

ANTI-AIRCRAFT 19 9ÉME COMPAGNIE Anti-aircraft Artillery (Self-propelled) Platoon The 9th company of the 3rd Battalion of the Régiment de Marche du Tchad was the first Allied unit to enter Paris. The taskforce, under the command of Capitaine Raymond AIRCRAFT Dronne, met up with the partisan resistance in the city which 19 Air Support had already staged an uprising. Dronne immediately set to work to help lift the German siege of the town hall where Resistance fighters had been AIRCRAFT 19 held up for five days. He then organised the defence of the Air Observation Post area against German counter attacks. The Spanish troops set up heavy weapons inside the town hall and repulsed German attemps to retake the building. When building a force from the 9éme Compagnie, you may take a Liberated Char de Combat and a Organized Partisan Platoon as divisional support choices along with any other normal support choices.

10 I C platoon amajorchallenge! doctrine, theseheavyweapons willmakeassaultingthe weapons. When combinedwiththeFrench defensive or armoured infantry, are well equipped with support have, themen of American the counterpart Although they lack the number of Bazookas that their mortars. got M3half-tracks,M8Scottassaultguns,Bazookas and volunteers were equippedwiththelatestUSsupplies.They After theAllieshadsuccessfullyliberatedNorth Africa,the equipment from theBritish andAmericanarsenals. Tchad foughtwithmostlyFrench piecesof gearandafew While inAfrica,thetroops oftheRégiment de Marche du France tofree theirhomesfrom Nazi tyranny. themselves incentralAfricapreparing totaketheassaultinto volunteers who have fled occupied France and found The nfanterie

d’Infanterie Blindée israted 1941 inNorth Africa,andhave arrived inFrance toliberate theirhomeland.ACompagnie Division Blindée battalions.Theyhave withitsarmoured beenfightingsince infantry The M ompagnie • O P • • O H 1 Rifle Squad 2 Rifle Squads 60mm Mortar Squad, and: Light Machine-gun Squad, Company HQ HQ Section with: French stylehelmetsfromthe Early War period. Many officersretainedtheirstylishKepicaps. infantry wore USuniforms and helmets. Of course,there were exceptions too. A fewveterans might still have their Lorraine Crosses, Division Leclerc symbols and vehicle names were prominent on many French vehicles. The are agoodplace tostart. Vehicles wereall US supplied. Markingsandinsignia were uniquely French though. The French troopsinFrancefoughtUSuniformsandvehicles, thus Battlefront’s range of Late War USminiatures D latoon eadq otivation ptions ption Régiment de Marche du Tchad wasformedoutof .50 cal AAMGfor+5pointsperhalf-track. Replace AAMGonanyorallM3half-trackswith Arm Jeep withanAAMGfor+5points. Add Bazooka teamfor+20points. Régiment deMarche du Tchad, ortheAd hocRegiment ofChad, provided the2éme epi cting u arters B

d lindée F ’I

and nfanterie ren ch S P kill latoon

T roops Confident Veteran. B

lindée HQ Infanterie Blindée, COMBAT PLATOONS 205 265 25 HEADQUARTERS points points points

60mm Mortar60mm M2 60mmmortar Company Command Rifle Squad Compagnie d’nfanterie BlindéeHQ Sergent Sergent Squad Rifle team infanterie BlindéePlatoon Jeep Company HQ Lieutenant Lieutenant Capitaine Capitaine CONFIDENT RELUCTANT 2iC Command FEARLESS Rifle team M3 half-trackwith M1919 LMG .50 calAAMG M3 half-trackwith Machine-gun Machine-gun .50 calAAMG Rifle Squad M3 half-trackwith Sergent Sergent .50 calAAMG Light CONSCRIPT Bazooka VETERAN TRAINED team M1919 LMG 11

Free French, France 1944 Blindée Anti-tank Platoon Lieutenant Lieutenant Platoon HQ Section with: Command Rifle team 3 Gun Sections 115 points 2 Gun Sections 80 points Sergent Sergent Option • Add Bazooka teams for +20 points per team.

The roll of the anti-tank gun is important in armoured warfare. They provide protection for the armoured infantry against enemy tanks with M1 57mm anti-tank guns and can be backed up by Bazooka teams. Bazookas can be quickly Gun Section Gun Section moved to take on an enemy armoured thrust from the Sergent flank. The French don’t have as many Bazookas as their American allies, but they concentrate them with the infantry and anti- tank units where they are put to good use. Gun Section Blindée Anti-tank Platoon

WEAPONS PLATOONS

Blindée Recon Platoon Lieutenant Lieutenant Platoon HQ Section with: 2 Recon Sections 90 points 1 Recon Section 65 points

Option Sergent Sergent • Arm any or all jeep teams with an AA MG for +5 points per Jeep team.

Every force need reconnaissance to locate the enemy Recon Section Recon Section stongpoints, either for a concentrated attack or so they can Blindée Recon Platoon be by passed for the infantry to deal with later. Blindée Recon Platoons are Reconnaissance Platoons.

Blindée Machine-gun Platoon Lieutenant Lieutenant Platoon HQ Section with: 2 Machine-gun Sections 155 points Command M2 half-track with Rifle team .50 cal AA MG 1 Machine-gun Section 85 points

Whether supporting dismounted rifle teams or holding a Sergent Sergent defensive position, M1917 heavy machine-guns, mounted on the side of half-tracks or deployed in good, will dampen M1917 HMG M1917 HMG M1917 HMG M1917 HMG the spirits of all but the most fanatical Germans.

Blindée Machine-gun Platoons may make Combat M2 half-track with M2 half-track with Attachments to Infanterie Blindée Platoons. .50 cal AA MG .50 cal AA MG Machine-Gun Section Machine-Gun Section Blindée machine-gun platoon

12 the enemy’s headdown whiletheriflemenclose. inkeepingout machine-gun nests,or by joiningthemortars directeither by performing fire from its75mmguntoknock The M8ScottHMCassaultguncomplements your mortars, the French todirect have fire. assignedanobserver bombardments. Unlikesmoke orartillery theAmericanunit, theadvance withkeep upwiththetanksandhelpsupport mountedinthehalf-trackscan their tanks.Thesemortars for support The M481mmhalf-tracksofferdirectartillery A B

lindée P • O P ssa 2 Mortar Sections 3 Mortar Sections 2 M8ScottHMC 3 M8ScottHMC HQ Section with: latoon latoon ption .50 cal AAMGfor+5pointsperhalf-track. Arm anyorallM481mmMMChalf-trackswith ult M G un ortar P latoon P latoon 110 135 80 90 points points points points

M4 81mmMMC M2 half-trackwith.50calAAMG Section Sergent Mortar half-track Gun Section M8 ScottHMC Sergent Command Rifleteam Blindée Mortar Platoon Assault gunPlatoon Command M8ScottHMC Lieutenant Lieutenant M4 81mmMMC Lieutenant Lieutenant Section Sergent Mortar half-track Gun Section M8 ScottHMC Rifle team Observer Sergent M4 81mmMMC Section Sergent Mortar half-track 13

Free French, France 1944 Escadron de Spahi Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron

(Mechanised Company)

HEADQUARTERS You must field one platoon from each box shaded black and may field one platoon from each box shaded grey.

15 Escadron de Spahi HQ HEADQUARTERS

RECONNAISSANCE ARMOUR ARMOUR 9 Chars de Combat Platoon 16 Tank Destroyer Platoon 9 Light Tank Platoon 15 Spahi Platoon ARMOUR 9

COMBAT PLATOONS COMBAT ARMOUR Chars de Combat Platoon WEAPONS PLATOONS WEAPONS RECONNAISSANCE

9 Light Tank Platoon INFANTRY 11 Infanterie Blindée Platoon DIVISIONAL SUPPORT PLATOONS SUPPORT DIVISIONAL 15 17 Spahi Platoon ARMOUR Engineer Combat Platoon

RECONNAISSANCE 9 INFANTRY Light Tank Platoon 11 Infanterie Blindée Platoon

15 Spahi Platoon Allied Platoons ARTILLERY 18 Armoured Field Artillery Battery 17 ARMOUR Field Artillery Battery American platoons in your force are Allied Platoons and follow the ARTILLERY 18 Armoured Field Artillery Battery 13 Allies rules on page 70 of 17 Assault Gun Platoon the rulebook. Field Artillery Battery M1 155mm Field Artillery 18 Battery VEHICLE INSIGNIA ANTI-AIRCRAFT 19 The use of vehicle names was widespread among the crews Anti-aircraft Artillery and infantry of tanks, armoured cars and half-tracks. They (Self-propelled) Platoon applied them in very bold lettering along the side of the vehicle. Some companies, such as the Spanish 9th Company, AIRCRAFT used names from the Spanish Civil War. For example, Ebro, 19 Guadalajara, Belchite, among many others. Air Support The first Allied vehicles to enter Paris included a jeep named “Mort aux cons” and an M2 Half-track called “Les Cosaques” AIRCRAFT as well as the Sherman tanks “Montmirail,” “Champaubert” 19 and “Romilly” from the 501st Tank Regiment. Air Observation Post Vehicles also usually sported the Division Leclerc symbol along the side. It was also very common for French (and Spanish Republican) flags to be displayed in very obvious locations to identify them as Free French.

14 eyes andears ofthedivision. The S E pahi scadron An Escadron deSpahi israted Confident Veteran . new M8Greyhounds andare ready togetwork scoutingforthe2émeDivision Blindée. have been scouting aheadofFree French forces since1941.Theyare freshly equippedwith The M Teams from theEscadron deSpahi HQare Recce teams. team. Theplatoon remains a Reconnaissance Platoon. Designate any on of the teams as the Platoon Command teamperSpahi• uptooneM260mmmortar Patrol • uptooneBazooka teamperSpahi Patrol • uptotwo.50callMGteamsperSpahi Patrol • uptooneM1919LMGteamperSpahi Patrol • Rifleteams Patrol: each Patrol withanythree ofthefollowing teamsforeach nently removed from thegame.Replace allofthevehicles in If you dismount,alloftheplatoon’s vehicles are- perma the sameplatoonoperate asasingleplatoon. Spahi Platoons. If you dothis,alloftheSpahi Patrols from Before deployment you maychoosetodismountallofyour Dismount • O P H Spahi Patrols are Reconnaissance Platoons. 1 Spahi Patrol 2 Spahi Patrols 2 M8armoured cars latoon eadq otivation ption Régiment deMarche deSpahis Marocains provides the Régiment deMarche deSpahis Marocains (Ad hocLight Regiment Cavalry ofMorocco), for +5pointsperjeep. Equip anyorallJeeps withanadditionalHull MG P latoon u arters

de S

and pahi

S HQ kill COMBAT PLATOONS 130 260 85 HEADQUARTERS points points points

the battlefield! armoured cars.Theyare versatile vehicles astheysneak across their agingscoutcarsandhave received Greyhound new The own Commandteam. Spahi Patrols operate as separate platoons, each with their Régiment de Marche de Spahis Marocains has traded in Company Command M8 armouredcar Mortar Jeep Mortar Jeep Escadron deSpahi HQ Spahi Platoon Company HQ Spahi Patrol Spahi Patrol Capitaine Capitaine Sergent CONFIDENT RELUCTANT FEARLESS M8 armouredcar 2iC Command Recon Jeep Recon Jeep CONSCRIPT VETERAN TRAINED 15

Free French, France 1944 DIVISIONAL SUPPORT PLATOONS

Motivation and Skill RELUCTANT CONSCRIPT The divisional support from the 2éme Division Blindée is as experienced in combat as the rest CONFIDENT TRAINED of the division. They have seen action from all the way through the Normandy campaign. They are poised, now, to liberate their nation from tyranny! Unless where noted, FEARLESS VETERAN platoons from Divisional Support are rated Confident Veteran, unless otherwise noted.

Tank Destroyer Platoon Lieutenant Lieutenant Platoon

Security Section and Tank Destroyer Section with: Command Recon Jeep Recon Jeep 4 M10 3in GMC 350 points .50 cal Recon Jeep Security Section 2 M10 3in GMC 185 points Lieutenant Option • Replace up to one Recon Jeep with an M20 for +10 points. Command M10 3in GMC M10 3in GMC

A Tank Destroyer Platoon uses the US Tank Destroyer special rules found on page 238 of the rulebook. M10 3in GMC M10 3in GMC The Régiment Blindé de Fusiliers Marins (Naval Rifle Tank destroyer Section Armoured Regiment, Tank Destroyer Battalion) are well Tank destroyer Platoon versed in the US tank destroying doctrine, and will wipe the field of Panzers before scooting off to the next battle.

16 The themduringsubsequentbreakthroughs.supporting andto at work toprotect themformenemy infantry The heavymachine-guncanbeplacedtocover theengineers process. continues unhindered. Adding abulldozer speedsupthe plosives to blow holesinthe thickbankssotheoffensive barriers presented by the Combat engineersgreatly assistaforce innegotiatingthe observation procedures. on Target. However, theystillretain their earlywar the newguns,makingartillerymen familiar with Time They havereceived trainingandcombatexperience with American artillery. Like therest ofthedivision,theyhave beenreequipped with Division battalionsthatsupport Leclerc.the towed artillery d’Artillerie Coloniale(3 Regiment) andthe3èmeRégimentAfrican Artillery F E

ield ngineer • O HQ Section with: P • • • • O P No Operating Squad 1 Operating Squad 2 Operating Squads 1 Gun Section 2 Gun Sections HQ Section with Weapons Squad and: latoon latoon ptions ption 40ème Régiment d’Artillerie Nord Africain(40 battery. Add at+5pointsforthe ¾-tonand2½-tontrucks AA MGfor+5pointsperhalf-track. Replace withM3half-tracks all2½-tontrucks Add for+5pointstheplatoon. 2½-tontrucks Add Pioneer Supply for+25points 2½-tontruck Sherman dozer for+15points. Add aD7Bulldozer for+5pointsoraturretless M4

A rtillery C ombat

battery P rd latoon Colonial Artillery Regiment) are ColonialArtillery Bocage hedgerows. ex- They carry 100 145 195 105 185 points points points points points th North

Command Rifleteam M2A1 105mmhowitzer M2A1 105mmhowitzer ¾-ton truck 2 ½-tontruck Sergent Engineer Combat Platoon Field ArtilleryBattery Capitaine Capitaine ¾-ton truck Sergent M2A1 105mmhowitzer M2A1 105mmhowitzer 2 ½-tontruck Observer Rifleteam 2 ½-tontruck Sergent Jeep Sergent Dozer 17

Free French, France 1944 Armoured Field Artillery battery Capitaine Capitaine Platoon HQ Section with: 2 Gun Sections 395 points Command Staff team Rifle team 1 Gun Section 225 points Observer M4A2 Sherman Options OP tank • Add Jeep for Command team at no cost. • Replace Jeep with an unarmed M2 half-track for +5 points. • Arm unarmed Jeep or M2 half-track with an AA MG for +5 points per vehicle.

Observer Sherman OP tanks cannot launch assaults.

The 64ème Régiment d’Artillerie de Division Blindée (64th Armoured Artillery Regiment) have been given M7 Priest self-propelled artillery guns.

Armoured Field Artillery Battery

M1 155mm Field Artillery battery Captain Captain Platoon HQ Section with: Command Rifle team Staff team Observer Rifle team 4 M1 155mm 210 points 2 M1 155mm 110 points ¾-ton truck ¾-ton truck Jeep Options • Add ¾-ton and M5 high-speed tractors for +5 points for the battery. • Arm any or all M5 M5 high-speed tractors with a .50 cal AA MG for +5 points per tractor. M1 155mm M1 155mm howitzer You may not field a M1 155mm Field Artillery Battery unless you are also fielding a Field Artillery Battery or Armoured Field Artillery battery with at least as many M5 high-speed tractor M5 high-speed tractor M2A1 105mm or M7 Priest HMC vehicles.

M1 155mm howitzer M1 155mm howitzer An M1 155mm Field Artillery Battery is an US platoon and is an Allied Platoon (see page 70 of the rulebook). It is rated as Confident Trained and uses all the US special rules on pages 236 to 240 of the rulebook. M5 high-speed tractor M5 high-speed tractor Because it is fighting with the French it uses the Central Fire Control special rule instead of the Hit ‘em With Everything M1 155mm Field Artillery Battery You’ve Got special rule so it can combine bombardments with French platoons.

The US XV Corps provide the 2éme Division Blindée with 155mm artillery support where needed. Whenever the German defenders are obstinate, call in the big guns!

18 they willkeeptheskiesclearforliberationefforts! anti-aircraftnew half-tracks,andclever GMCBoforsportees, covers thedivision from therandomGerman air strike. With (22nd Colonial Territory Force Anti-aircraft Battalion) The A A A nti ir ir AOP L P • O P and page239oftherulebook. An AOP Post uses the Air Observation on page 139 rules L4 Grasshopper P-38 Lightning P-47 Thunderbolt P-38 Lightning P-47 Thunderbolt 1 M15CGMC(37mm) 1 M16MGMC(Quad .50cal)and 2 M15CGMC(37mm) 2 M16MGMC(Quad .50cal)and imited latoon riority O S 22ème Groupe Colonial des Forces Terrestres Anti-Aériennes ption Bofors 2 ½-ton trucks for-15pointspertruck. Bofors 2½-tontrucks Replace all M15 CGMC half-tracks with GMC - upport air bservation

craft A

A ir ir S S upport

A upport rtillery P ost (S elf - propelled

150 150 190 190 100 195 40 ) P points points points points points points points latoon

M16 MGMChalf-track Command M15CGMC half-track Air Observation Post Flight Lieutenant Flight Lieutenant Flight Lieutenant Flight Lieutenant L4 GrasshopperAOP Air Support Flight Aircraft AOP M16 MGMChalf-track M15 CGMChalf-track Sergent 19

Free French, France 1944 9ÉME COMPAGNIE PARTISAN SUPPORT PLATOONS

Irregular Troops As the Allies deliberated on liberating Paris, the partisans fighting inside the city became besieged by German troops. Leclerc sent Captain Dronne into Paris to relieve the sieges and prepare the city for the Allied advance. Organised Partisan Platoons and Liberated Char de Combat Platoons cannot be placed in Reserve. RELUCTANT CONSCRIPT CONFIDENT TRAINED An Organised Partisan Platoon is a quickly assembled and untrained unit, and the crews of a Liberated Char de Combat Platoon are untrained in tank combat. As such, both FEARLESS VETERAN platoons are rated as Confident Conscript.

Organised Partisan Platoon Lieutenant Lieutenant Platoon HQ Section with: Command Rifle team 3 Partisan Squads 65 points 2 Partisan Squads 45 points Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant

Options Rifle team Rifle team Rifle team • Replace one Rifle team with an M2 60mm Mortar team for +5 points.

• Replace one Rifle team with an M1919 LMG team Rifle team Rifle team Rifle team for +5 points. Partisan partisan partisan • Replace up to two Rifle teams with SMG teams for Squad Squad Squad +5 points per team. Organised Partisan Platoon

The French Resistance, under the direction of Henri Rol- Modelling your Partisans Tanguy, staged an all-out uprising. French partisans took to There are many ways to use your small partisan platoon. arms and began fighting the Germans in the streets of the You can chose to model your partisans using the new FFI French capital. Hitler ordered the city to be levelled for its Company (FRX04) and FFI Rifle Platoon (FR860). insurrection. Alternatively, one idea is to use your existing miniatures The resistance seized some of the government buildings and as partisan teams. Use a normal US Rifle, 60mm mortar set up road blocks throughout the city. They kept the and LMG teams to represent your partisans. Also check Germans occupied while they awaited the Allies to arrive. our Flames Of War website, www.FlamesOfWar.com, for articles on how to convert miniatures into civilian partisan figures.

20 P equipped orasnumerous asthePolish resistance. Uprising, buttheFrench resistance wasnotaswell The Parisian insurrection wassimilarto the Warsaw through outthecity. some keygovernment buildingsandsetuproad blocks August, the resistance forces move into action and seized 18 August there wasacity-widegeneralstrike.On 19 went onstrike.Thecitypolicejoinedthemand by It allbeganon12August 1944whentherailwaymen 2 Hotchkiss H-39tanks 1 Hotchkiss H-39tank latoon L iberated C hars

de C ombat P latoon 20 40 T he points points P aris

I nsurrection Germans. theconfidencetoattack a tank—givingthepartisans Though incredibly oldandmechanicallyunreliable, atankis immediately liberatedthemfrom theNazi regime. who of thesetanksfellintothehandspartisans used oldFrench tankstohelppacifytheinsurrection. Some As thefightinginstreets of Paris increased, the Germans The resistance pinneditshopesonthearrival of2 1944 first Alliedtroops entered Paris at8:30pmon24 August, the resistance andkeepthe Allies out of the city. The However, Choltitzcompletelylackedthemeans tofight troops toblocktheAlliedadvance. buy time to maintain control of the city whilehe moved French Armored Division, whileCholtitzneededto Liberated CharsdeCombat Platoon Command H-39tank Sergent Sergent H-39 tank nd 21

Free French, France 1944 FRENCH ARSENAL

TANK TEAMS Armour Name Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes Weapon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower

Tanks Hotchkiss H-39 (long gun) Standard Tank 3 3 1 Co-ax MG. 37mm SA-38 gun 24”/60cm 2 5 4+ One-man turret. M5A1 Stuart Light Tank 4 2 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, AA MG. M6 37mm gun 24”/60cm 2 7 4+ Stabiliser. M4A2 or M4A4 Sherman Standard Tank 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG. M3 75mm gun 32”/80cm 2 10 3+ Smoke, Stabiliser. M4A3 (76mm) Sherman Standard Tank 7 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG, Detroit’s finest, Protected ammo. M1 76mm gun (late) 32”/80cm 2 13 3+ Stabiliser.

Support Weapons M4 81mm MMC Half-tracked 1 0 0 M1 81mm mortar 24”/60cm 2 2 3+ Hull mounted, Portee, Minimum range 8”/20cm, Smoke. Firing bombardments 40”/100cm - 2 6 Smoke bombardment. M8 Scott HMC Light Tank 3 2 0 .50 cal AA MG. M1A1 75mm howitzer 16”/40cm 2 6 3+ Smoke. Firing bombardments 64”/160cm - 3 6 M4 (105mm) Sherman Standard Tank 7 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG, Protected ammo. M4 105mm howitzer 24”/60cm 1 9 2+ Breakthrough gun, Slow traverse, Smoke. Firing bombardments 48”/120cm - 4 4+

Tank Destroyers M10 3in GMC Standard Tank 4 2 0 .50 cal AA MG. M7 3in gun 32”/80cm 2 12 3+ Slow traverse.

Artillery M7 Priest HMC Standard Tank 1 0 0 .50 cal AA MG. M2A1 105mm howitzer 24”/60cm 1 9 2+ Hull mounted, Breakthrough gun, Smoke. Firing bombardments 72”/180cm - 4 4+ Smoke bombardment. M4A2 Sherman OP Standard Tank 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG. M3 75mm gun 32”/80cm 1 10 3+ Smoke.

Anti-aircraft M16 MGMC (quad .50 cal) Half-tracked 1 0 0 M45 quad .50 cal gun 16”/40cm 6 4 5+ Anti-aircraft. M15 CGMC (37mm) Wheeled 1 0 0 M15 37mm combination mount 24”/60cm 4 5 4+ Anti-aircraft. GMC Bofors 2 ½-ton truck portee Wheeled - - - Awkward layout. M1 Bofors gun 24”/60cm 4 6 4+ Anti-aircraft.

Armoured Cars M8 armoured car Wheeled 1 0 0 Co-ax MG, .50 cal AA MG. M6 37mm gun 24”/60cm 2 7 4+ M20 scout car Jeep 1 0 0 .50 cal AA MG. .50 cal Recon Jeep Jeep - - - .50 cal AA MG. Recon Jeep Jeep - - - AA MG. Mortar Jeep Jeep - - - M2 60mm mortar 24”/60cm 2 1 3+ Hull mounted, Portee, Can fire over friendly troops, Minimum range 8”/20cm. Firing Bombardments 32”/80cm - 1 6

Vehicle Machine-guns Vehicle MG 16”/40cm 3 2 6 ROF 1 if other weapons fire. .50 cal Vehicle MG 16”/40cm 3 4 5+ ROF 1 if other weapons fire.

22

M1 155mmhowitzer M2A1 105mmhowitzer M1 57mmgun M1 81mmmortar M2 60mmmortar M1917 HMG Vehicle M1919 LMG M2 .50calMG P-38 Lightning P-47 Thunderbolt Aircraft D7 Bulldozer Turretless M4Sherman dozer M32 TRV recovery vehicle M31 TRV recovery vehicle R M2 orM3half-track A M5 high-speedtractor H Dodge Jeep T Pioneer teamsare ratedas Tank Assault3. A Staff team Bazooka team Rifle team Team teamsmayusetheUSspecialrule M1919 LMGteamsandM260mmmortar Truscott Trot asiftheywere teams. Infantry A Weapon r ec dditional rmo dditional Firing bombardments Firing bombardments Firing bombardments Firing bombardments igh ucks overy 3 -S / 4 ured -ton orGMC2 peed

and P

S T T ersonnel pecial ra raining E ctor ngineer 1 / 2 -ton truck R Weapon Cannon Bombs Bombs

ules C and MG 16”/40cm 16”/40cm 8”/20cm

Range Very Slow Tank arriers V Standard Tank Standard Tank Standard Tank Standard Tank Half-tracked E ehi Mobility Wheeled Man-packed Man-packed Man-packed Man-packed Man-packed Jeep q Immobile Immobile Mobility Medium cles

uipment

ROF To Hit 1 1 1 3+ 4+ 2+ 4+ TRANSPORT TEAMS INFANTRY TEAMS Front 88”/220cm 72”/180cm 40”/100cm Anti-tank Firepower 24”/60cm 24”/60cm 24”/60cm 24”/60cm 24”/60cm 32”/80cm 24”/60cm 16”/40cm 16”/40cm 6 6 5 1 - - - -

GUN TEAMS Range 10 AIRCRAFT 2 2 Anti-tank Armour Side 4 4 3 0 7 5 6 5 - - - - ROF 1 1 3 2 2 6 5 3 - - - - 5+ 6 6 Anti-tank Top 0 0 0 0 - - - - 10 10 Firepower 5 9 4 2 1 2 1 2 2 4 Notes Tank assault4. Moves asaHeavy Gun team. 5+ 5+ 1+ 1+ Equipment andNotes Bulldozer. .50 calAAMG,Recovery vehicle. Recovery vehicle. Bulldozer. .50 calAAMG. Optional Passenger-fired AAMGor.50calMG. Optional Passenger-fired AAMGor.50cal MG. Firepower 1+ 2+ 4+ 2+ 4+ 3+ 3+ 5+ 6 6 6 6 Notes Bunker buster, Gun shield,Smoke. Smoke bombardment. Breakthrough gun,Gun shield,Smoke. Gun shield,No HE. Smoke bombardment. Smoke bombardment. Minimum range8”/20cm,Smoke. Minimum range8”/20cm. ROF 3whenpinneddown ormoving. ROF 2whenpinneddown ormoving. Notes 23

Free French, France 1944 24