Game Specific Rules.Indd 1 8/15/13 12:05:02 PM Reluctant Enemies, OCS #13

The Gamers, Inc.

Operation Exporter: comprised of the French Mandate of The Commonwealth Invasion of Lebanon and Syria. The Vichy, ostensibly Introduction Britain’s ally just a year earlier, saw fit to Lebanon & Syria, June-July, 1941 Reluctant Enemies (“RE”) is a small allow German air forces to transit through game meant to serve as an accessible Rayak airfield in Lebanon on their way to Game Design & Development: introduction to the Operational Combat Iraq. In addition, the Vichy sent hundreds Curtis H. Baer Series (“OCS”). It is one map, with 60 or so of tons of armaments, munitions and other combat units (both players) in action at any Series Design: Dean N. Essig supplies to Iraq in support of the coup. All given time. This allows for a pace of play this was happening while Rommel was not possible with previously published OCS Development Assistance: Steve Jansen, Francis pressing against Wavell’s now depleted monster games. Regardless of the reduction Czawlytko, Dan Cochrane, Daniel Broh-Kahn forces in the Western desert. in scale it remains an OCS game with all Nevertheless, Churchill demanded Research: Curtis H. Baer, David Hughes features relevant to the system. In this game action. Wavell was compelled to find some there can be wide open, swirling, DAK-like available forces to deal with the threat to Research Sources Assistance: Translation of battles in the desert with some limited armor his rear and Operation Exporter was the French source materials: Melanie Gagnon, Carl forces, river lines to break, and very rough Gruber, Katie Meyer, Michael Shatsky result. Two brigades of Australian troops mountainous terrain to contend with. The (21st and 25th), the 5th Indian Brigade, and British have an amphibious invasion, naval VASSAL Module: George Hayward (RIP) two brigades of Free French (1st and 2nd shore bombardments by both sides can be Brigades of the 1st Free French Division), important in this campaign and there is Playtesting, Proofreading and General along with some supporting troops, but very Assistance: Stephane Acquaviva, Chris a small but significant air campaign. As little armor or air support, were tasked with Anthony, Curtis H. Baer, Richard Baer, Allen always in the OCS, supply constraints make taking military control of all of Lebanon and Beach, Antonio Benitez-Donoso, Daniel Broh- each player feel that he may be on the edge Syria. De Gaulle contended that because Kahn, Eric Brosius, Chris Buehler, Thomas of disaster. Buentner, James Burton, Felix Calvo, Malcolm of the involvement of his Free French, the Unfortunately, Operation Exporter Cameron, Melvin Cassleberry, John Clifford, Vichy French forces would not fight their remains a footnote in WWII history even Daniel Cochrane, Pere Cerdan, John Crowley, “brothers in arms” and the operation would among many knowledgeable enthusiasts. Martin Cullell-Young, Rupert Cullum, Francis be a simple “walk over”. He was wrong. However, given the nature of events in Czawlytko, Jim Daniels, Myk Deans, Herman The Vichy were well equipped and Deckys, Rick Van Dyke, Dean Essig, Alex the Mediterranean Theater of Operations organized. They put up stiff opposition, Folch, Christophe Foley, Alden Greene, Mark during the first half of 1941, this campaign and counterattacked with great effect. The Herman, Tony Hicks, David Hughes, Steven was arguably the hot spot in the world at Commonwealth and Free French forces, Jansen, Urs Kasermann, Hans Kishel, John that moment in time. Kisner, James LaFond, Eric Landes, Stephane at first, were stopped cold. Ironically, it General Wavell, senior military Lantoine, David Long, Ben Mangus, Stuart was the failure of Operation Battleaxe commander for the Commonwealth (here Martin, John McDougall, David Mignerey, (June 15) in the Western desert that including Free French forces), certainly had Mark Milke, Karl Mueller, Oriol Munne, Alan allowed reinforcements for this campaign his hands full after the entry of Rommel Murphy, Rob Preston, Jim Reasoner, Vernon and a resumption of the Commonwealth Robinson, Chip Saltsman, Martin Sample, Rich in Libya, the German invasions of Greece offensive. First Damascus fell, then Beirut Shipley, Christopher Smith, Martin Staunton, and Yugoslavia, and the fall of Crete at the was seriously threatened. Indian 10th Daniel Taylor, Bill Wood, Christian Widmer, Urs hands of the Fallschirmjagers. His troubles division troops with Habforce moving on Widmer, Joseph Woolshleger, Andrew Young. were further compounded by the German Aleppo and Homs to the North, the Vichy support of an anti-British coup in Iraq. This Special Assistance: The Mastelleone’s Italian proposed an armistice to end the fighting. German support was aided and abetted by Cold Cut Submarine (with everything). In The armistice was signed on July 14. General Dentz, the Commander-in-Chief keeping with OCS tradition, we must recognize However, this result was far from certain. of the “Army of the Levant’ and High the very important role played by “the greatest Here you can examine why. Italian cold cut sub in the universe”, without Commissioner of the Levant in charge which this little OCS game would not have of the defense of the Vichy protectorate been possible.

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headquarters. For Commonwealth player Please note, for simplicity, all the above 1.0 General Special see section 2.3 (also, optional rule 4.1) forces are referred to as Commonwealth Rules and for the Vichy player see section 3.2. units. E. No Other Adjustments for 1.4 Damascus—The 1.1 Scale Issues Scale. Unless otherwise noted, all Open City A. Half Scale. RE uses the OCS Sicily consumption rates, draw ranges, HQ “Half Scale”. Hexes are 2.5 miles across throw ranges, displacement distances, air as opposed to the 5 mile OCS standard unit interception and patrol ranges, charts, and there are 4 turns per week, rather than tables and modifiers remain OCS standard. 2 turns at the standard OCS scale. Ground movement factors follow the regular OCS 1.2 Weather convention. The weather in Lebanon and Syria at The representation of the combat units this time of year did not appreciably affect takes into account the change in scale as combat operations (tell that to the poor The Vichy commander did not see the well as the practical need to have in play troops suffering in the desert summer heat.) purpose of defending Damascus since such enough combat units to allow a realistic As such there is no weather table and no defense would reduce the city to ruin, and portrayal of the events of the campaign. weather phase. Flight is always allowed. so Damascus was declared an open city. The great majority of combat units are Any Vichy units defending in either hex battalions. All battalion designated units 1.3 Counter Color of Damascus have their defense strengths are ½ regimental equivalent for OCS size halved and get no defensive benefit from purposes. All company designated units Deﬁ nitions and the major city terrain (Terrain is considered are ¼ regimental equivalent for OCS size Ownership Open). Vichy units may benefit from the purposes. For the purpose of Recovery from The counters representing the various Barada River terrain as appropriate. These “Low” or “Exhausted” status for internal contingents of troops portrayed in RE restrictions never apply to Commonwealth stocks of combat supply (OCS rule 12.10) have been rendered with particular color units. each combat unit, regardless of size, costs combinations as described below. Each 2T per level for recovery. combat unit has its respective unit 1.5 Fuel Costs The combat system remains the same, designation(s) to the side of the Unit Type although the OCS Combat Results Table Box. To the Right side is the higher echelon (CRT) is a bit bloody for this scale and sparse formation (here usually a regiment or number of combat units. To compensate, brigade designation), and to the left is the the Combat Unit Recovery system (see lower echelon formation (here most often The OCS Rule 12.5c Part B, “pay 1SP for the HQ and all independents are fueled” section 1.11) has been provided to represent a battalion designation). a greater “staying power” that the combat does not apply in this game. units exhibited. This was preferable to step A. Vichy French. All units of any multi-unit brigade or loss markers. Each combat unit in RE is one All darker “Vichy Blue” units are regiment must each pay fuel costs each time step for purposes of losses and Combat Unit Vichy French forces . those units move. However, see optional Recovery. (Non-rebuildable Combat Units Vichy air units are also the darker rule 4.2. and Air Units are an exception.) Vichy Blue color but with the radial gradient background pattern and air frame 1.6 Mile Markers B. Construction. Because of the shorter silhouettes on the counters. time period covered in a turn (1/4 week Local Vichy forces are two toned, rather than 1/2), construction activities can Vichy Blue below and gray on top. These only occur in turns represented on the turn local forces are further designated as record track with a construction symbol either local Syrian forces –Levant or local To facilitate the movement of the game (see pick & shovel icon). Note, this means Lebanon forces –Liban. pieces, in particular the movement of that every other game turn construction supply, “mile markers” have been printed activities are allowed for each player. B. Commonwealth. on the map at intervals from Haifa, Beirut Australian —Lighter Tan and Damascus (south hex). These mile C. Air Units. Due to the small British —Darker Tan (British markers indicate the least number of truck geographic scale of the game, all aircraft Tan) movement points from the particular city have range to reach any hex on the map, Indian —Dark Brown indicated. effectively making aircraft ranges unlimited. Free French —Light Blue, with This also applies to Commonwealth aircraft French Cross of Lorraine flag 1.7 Railroads, Roads flying from the Off Map Holding Box. British (and Australian) Air — and Supply Therefore the air unit counters have no British Tan with a radial gradient and A. Railroads. Each player has a Rail range factors. air frame silhouette. Cap as indicated in the scenario rules. Each Trans Jordan Frontier Force — Point of Interest in this game functions as a D. Headquarters. Due to the scale Two toned: British Tan below, Lighter “detrainable hex” in OCS terms. Examples of the game and the particular command Tan above of detrainable hexes are Sanamein, Deir structures for each player there are Czech — “Czech” Green Ali, Kiswe, and Damascus. All OCS Rules some non-standard rules regarding Jewish Palmach —Two toned: pertaining to railroads and rail movement Sky Blue over British Tan apply.

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Barrage Unit may be placed anywhere B. Roads and Trace Supply. In this north of hex row 33.XX. During the naval game, roads (not tracks) can be used for barrage segment of the respective player’s 2.0 Commonwealth trace supply back to a Supply Source exactly movement phase, the player can then fire Special Rules like railroads in the OCS Series Rules. Each a naval barrage at any target within range. road hex functions as a “detrainable hex” All Naval Barrages in RE are spotted. for trace supply purposes. Rail Cap cannot The British Destroyers and Cruisers may 2.1 Reinforcements, be used on roads. combine their barrage strengths to fire on Supply and a single target. At the end of the movement Replacements C. Trucks and Wagons. These phase, return all Naval Barrage Units, A. Reinforcements and Supply. transportation units can freely break down “Fired” side up, to the Naval Barrage Commonwealth reinforcements appear in into 1 token sized units at any time. The Box. accordance with the scenario specifications counter mix is not a limit. and are received during the reinforcement 1.11 Combat Unit phase. Supply is received during the 1.8 Engineer ing Recovery reinforcement phase in accordance with a roll Capabilities and of two dice on the Commonwealth Supply As noted in Section 1.1a, losses Table. Commonwealth reinforcements and Limitations generated by the OCS CRT are a little high supply arrive at any Commonwealth Entry for purposes of RE, and so to compensate hex (marked as A, B or C). Each of these Entry each player can recover some losses to hexes is a Supply Source. Reinforcements represent the greater “staying power” that arrive fueled, as appropriate. the combat units exhibited. All HQs, engineers and pioneers have B. Commonwealth Replacements. engineer capabilities per the OCS Rule Units recover in the Reinforcement Commonwealth replacements are received 13.8. Phase each turn prior to rebuilds. Track the during each reinforcement phase (starting No hedgehogs may be built, by either number of step losses that have occurred in Turn 1) in accordance with the Commonwealth player (however, see Optional rule 4.3). the game. Each group of three step losses Replacement Table, as determined by the roll allows one unit to return to play—once they of two dice (2D6). Replacements are in 1.9 Hip Shoots do so, those step losses are "used" and no addition to Combat Unit Recovery (Section No Hip shoots are allowed for either longer count for recovery. Available groups 1.11 above). Combat Unit Recovery occurs player. of three step losses must be used on the turn prior to unit rebuild. in which they are available. 1.10 Naval Barrage For each group of three step losses, 2.2 Commonwealth draw one random unit from the Dead Commandos Pile. Recover that unit in the current turn. Recover as many units as you have groups A. Naval Barrage Units. The Commonwealth of three step losses. Place recovered units player has two Naval Barrage Units, a on or with 2 hexes of any appropriate HQ. “Cruisers” unit (barrage 9, range 4) and a Unit rebuilds occur normally following The Commonwealth has available the “Destroyers” unit (barrage 6, range 3). The recovery. 11th Commando battalion designated as Vichy player has one Naval Barrage Unit, “Layforce”. This battalion is represented by a “Destroyers” unit (Barrage 6, range 3). Recover from the complete Dead Pile its component companies, each named after These units are placed in the “Naval Barrage from the beginning of the game, not just the company commander. These companies Box” “Fired” side up. These units may the previous turn's losses. start the game available for an amphibious become eligible for naval barrage during the landing attempt on turn one. naval barrage segment of their respective If you have a remainder of one or two Movement Phases (See the Naval Barrage step losses after recovery, retain that value A. Amphibious Landing Procedure Prior Box for Barrage Eligibility Dates). for use in the next turn. to the Vichy set up the Allied player will plan the landing attempt in writing, by designating Non rebuildable units and Air Units Procedure a single coastal hex as the “Landing Hex”. B. . During the reinforcement cannot be recovered and their step losses The Landing hex may be any coastal hex phase each player determines availability do not count for recovery. for each Naval Barrage Unit eligible for from 10.10 through 23.06 inclusive (the that turn. Roll one die. On a 3-6 the Naval “Commando Landing Limit” area). On Turn Barrage Unit is available for a barrage 1 the Commonwealth player will attempt to mission. Turn the unit from the “Fired” land all the Commando companies in the side to the “Barrage” side. Landing Hex at the end of the Movement At any time during the movement phase after resolution of any naval and air phase, prior to resolution of naval barrage, barrages. Roll one die (1D6). On a roll of 1- a player may place available Naval Barrage 3, all Commando landing attempts will then Units in a sea hex (all sea, no coast). be performed immediately in the Movement Commonwealth Naval Barrage Units must Phase. On a roll of 4-6 all landing attempts be placed south of the “Commonwealth will be delayed until the last action of the Naval Barrage Limit” line. The Vichy Naval Movement Segment of the Exploitation Phase of Turn 1.

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Prior to the landing attempts the Commonwealth player rolls for each Commando 2.3 Commonwealth 2.5 Commonwealth for possible “drift ”. Roll one die (1D6). On a 1 or 2 the landing attempt drifts one hex north Headquarters (HQs) Green Units of the Landing Hex, on a 3 or 4 the landing is attempted in the Landing Hex, and on a 5 or 6 the landing attempt drifts one hex south of the Landing Hex. Note that a Commando landing attempt can drift outside the Commando A. Corps HQs. The Lavarack and The Australian 21st and 25th Brigades are Landing Limit area. Wilson Corps headquarters each have a not yet acclimated to the desert conditions If there is no enemy combat unit in the hex parenthesized (defensive only) strength of to which they had been deployed in April, of the landing attempt (after check for drift), 5 when deployed on the “combat” side of 1941. To account for their less than fully then the landing attempt success or failure for the counter and a parenthesized (defensive effective performance during this period each hex containing a Commando is determined only) strength of 1 when deployed on of acclimation each infantry battalion of by rolling two dice (2D6) and referencing the the movement side of the counter. These each of these brigades, prior to the July 1 result to the Amphibious Landing Table (ALT ) strengths are intrinsic and do not appear game turn, has an action rating of 3, not (apply modifications found on the ALT to the on the counter. They are each 1 RE in size. the 4 action rating printed on the counter. die roll). If successful, place the Commando in These HQs may supply any Commonwealth Each such battalion has a green circle the landing hex. If unsuccessful the Commando units within their respective ranges; they around the action rating as an indicator of is eliminated. have full engineering capabilities, and may this provisional “green” status. On July 1 If the hex of the landing attempt (after coordinate unit rebuilds and unit recoveries and thereafter, the action rating of each of check for drift) is occupied by an enemy combat of any Commonwealth units within two these units is 4. unit then resolve each such landing attempt as hexes of their location. a beach assault in the following combat phase. 2.6 Commonwealth Off Note that the Commando(s) attempting to land B. Division/Brigade HQs. The by beach assault are still offshore at the end of Australian 7th Division HQ, British 6th Map Holding Box their movement phase waiting for their beach Division HQ, the 5th Indian Brigade HQ, The Commonwealth Off Map Holding assault resolution during their combat phase. and the Free French Division HQ each have Box is a representation of the airbases within a parenthesized (defensive only) strength of range of the battle ground but not actually B. Landing Turn Supply. On Turn 1 2 when deployed on the “combat” side of present on the map. Each air unit flying a (including the Vichy player turn) each the counter and a parenthesized (defensive mission from the box has sufficient range to Commando unit has combat supply. Commandos only) strength of 1 when deployed on reach any hex on the map. Fighters do not do not have to check for trace supply during the movement side of the counter. These project a patrol zone from this box. Vichy the Supply Phase of Turn 1. strengths are intrinsic and do not appear on French units, including Vichy air units the counter. They are each ½ RE in size. cannot enter the box. Air unit refits for the C. Royal Naval Supply. Each These HQs may supply any Commonwealth airbase in this box do not cost supply, the Commonwealth movement phase (including units within their respective ranges; they air units refit for “free”. Turn 1 after the commando landing attempts, have full engineering capabilities, and may and including the Commonwealth Exploit coordinate unit rebuilds and unit recoveries 3.0 Vichy French Phase, if applicable) where any Commando of any Commonwealth units within two unit is in a coast hex and out of trace supply, the hexes of their location. Special Rules Royal Navy can attempt to land 2T of supply in one hex containing any such Commando(s). C. Haifa Nominal HQ. Haifa acts as a 3.1 Vichy Units— Roll one die. On 3-6, 2T of supply has landed nominal HQ (without a counter) for the with the Commando(s). On a 1 or 2 the supply purpose of unit rebuilds only (not Combat Limitation of Use fails to land. When a Commando unit comes Unit Recovery). Units can be rebuilt within within trace supply it is no longer eligible for two hexes. The Haifa Nominal HQ has Royal Naval Supply. no range or combat strength, and has no function or purpose other than rebuilding D. Commandos in Combat. If a Commando units. is stacked with or attacks with a non-Commando A. Restricted Units. The following Vichy unit then the action rating of the Commando is French forces are Restricted Units (Place a not used in the combat. 2.4 Commonwealth red “Restriction” marker on these units): E. Commando Withdrawal. If during Brigades Most Commonwealth infantry the supply phase of any Allied player turn a 5.10 (Beirut): II/6 Lgn Mot. Inf. battalions are organized by brigades. Commando unit is found to be in trace supply, Bn. Each such battalion assigned to a certain it will be withdrawn and removed from play 6.18 (Zahle): I and III—6 Lgn Mot. brigade will be identified with a particular during the following Allied reinforcement Inf. Bn.’s, Marion/6 Chas Armored Car color stripe across the center of its counter. phase. Bn., V/1 Met Artillery Bn. These brigades are considered “multi-unit 18.28 (Mezze): Gandy/7 Chas Armor F. OCS Series Rule 18.5 – Amphibious formations” and the component units of Bn. and the Roulin/7 Chas Armored Car Landings. Unless changed by these game each such must all draw trace supply from Bn. specific rules, the OCS Rule 18.5 – “Amphibious the same source or else be subject to the Landings” will be in effect. procedure of OCS Rule 12.6.f.

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Restricted Units may not move, and HQ (without a counter) for the purpose of French HQ. Each of these HQs has a Restricted artillery may not barrage until unit rebuilds only (not unit recovery). A parenthesized (defensive only) strength of released during the reinforcement phase or unit can be rebuilt within two hexes. The 2 when deployed on the “combat” side of reaction phase of a particular game turn as Beirut and Damascus Nominal HQs have the counter and a parenthesized (defensive provided below. Vichy Restricted Units can no range or combat strength, and have no only) strength of 1 when deployed on be in reserve, including at start. function or purpose other than rebuilding the movement side of the counter. These On game turn one, 1 of the Restricted a unit. strengths are intrinsic and do not appear on Units may be released (one of the total, not the counter. They are each ½ RE in size. one per hex). On game turn two, 2 more 3.3 Reinforcements , of the Restricted Units may be released (3 total for Turns 1 and 2). At the beginning of Supply, and game turn 3 all remaining Restricted Units Replacements are now released. A. Reinforcements and Supply. Vichy reinforcements appear in accordance with The Allen Australian 7th Division HQ may B. Trans-Jordan Movement Limitation. the scenario specifications and are received supply any Commonwealth units (except No Vichy units are allowed to move into during the reinforcement phase. Supply is Free French units) within its range; it Trans-Jordan prior to Turn 3 (June 12). received during the reinforcement phase has full engineering capabilities, and may in accordance with a roll of two dice. Find coordinate unit rebuilds and unit recoveries the supply received for that turn on the 3.2 Vichy of any Commonwealth units (except Free Vichy Supply Table. Reinforcements arrive French units) within two hexes of its Headquarters (HQs) fueled, as applicable. location. Vichy supply arrives at any Vichy Entry hex (marked as 1, 2 or 3). Each of these Entry hexes is a Supply Source.

A. Corps HQ. The Verdilhac Corps B. Vichy Replacements. The Vichy headquarters has a parenthesized (defensive French receive replacements in accordance only) strength of 5 when deployed on with the scenario specifications and the The Evetts British 6th Division HQ may the “combat” side of the counter and a Reinforcement schedule, rather than rolling supply any Commonwealth units within its parenthesized (defensive only) strength of on a table as ordinarily seen in OCS games. range; it has full engineering capabilities, 1 when deployed on the movement side of Replacements may enter at either Vichy and may coordinate unit rebuilds and unit the counter. These strengths are intrinsic and Entry hex 1 or 2. Replacements are in recoveries of any Commonwealth units do not appear on the counter. It is 1 RE in addition to Combat Unit Recovery (Section (including Free French units) within two size. This HQ may supply any Vichy French 1.11 above), which occurs prior to unit hexes of its location. units within range; it has full engineering rebuild. capabilities, and may coordinate unit recoveries or rebuilds of any Vichy units 3.4 Vichy On Map within two hexes of its location. Holding Box : Rayak Airbase The Lloyd 5th Indian Brigade HQ may The On Map Holding Box is a play aid supply any Commonwealth units within its to help better organize the Vichy air forces range; it has full engineering capabilities, ordinarily employed at the Rayak Airbase except for bridging, and may coordinate (Hex 6.21). In every regard the units in this unit rebuilds and unit recoveries of any B. Arlabosse and Delhomme Division HQ’s. box are actually on the map at the Rayak Commonwealth units (including Free Each of these HQs have a parenthesized Airbase. Air unit refit at the Rayak Airbase French units) within two hexes of its (defensive only) strength of 2 when does not cost supply; the air units refit for location. deployed on the “combat” side of the “free”. counter and a parenthesized (defensive only) strength 1 when deployed on the 4.0 Optional Rules movement side of the counter. These strengths are intrinsic and do not appear on the counter. They are each ½ RE in size. 4.1 Commonwealth HQs These HQs may supply any Vichy To reflect the actual capabilities and The Legentilhomme Free French Division French units within range; they have full unique aspects of the Commonwealth HQ may supply only Free French units engineering capabilities, and each may command structure, Commonwealth within its range; it has full engineering coordinate unit recoveries or rebuilds of Special Rule 2.3 case B. is replaced with capabilities, except for bridging, and may any Vichy units within two hexes of their the following: location. coordinate unit rebuilds and unit recoveries of only Free French units, within two 2.3 case B. Australian 7th Division Beirut and Damascus Nominal HQs hexes of its location. C. . HQ, British 6th Division HQ, the 5th Beirut and Damascus each acts as a nominal Indian Brigade HQ, and the Free

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4.3 Vichy Hedgehog Victory by VP Determination. If there is 4.2 Alternative not a Sudden Death Victory then victory The Vichy historically prepared some will be determined by the number of VPs Brigade and Regiment defenses at Damour which may possibly scored by the Commonwealth Player. The Fueling be considered enough to warrant an OCS Commonwealth player (only) scores VPs Game specific rule 1.5 applies to hedgehog. for control of Geographic Objectives at the independent units requiring fuel. Fueling The Vichy player may build one end of the last turn of the scenario: of multi-unit brigades under this optional hedgehog (anywhere) during the course of rule is handled as follows: the Campaign Game (Scenario 5.1). The Damour (13.09) – 2VP cost is two supply points. Apply all ordinary Ain Trez (13.12) – 1VP OCS rules regarding this construction and Sidon (18.07) – 1VP A. Commonwealth. All units of use of this hedgehog. Commonwealth Brigades can be fueled at Merdjayoun (22.12) – 1VP the cost of one supply point per Brigade, Hasbaya (21.15) – 1VP and will remain fueled until their next Clean Rachaiye (18.18) – 1VP Up phase. Note that fueling is done on a per 5.0 Scenarios El Masna (12.20) – 2VP brigade basis. The respective Brigades of Yahfouf (6.24) – 1VP Dimas (15.24) – 1VP the Australian 7th division and the British 5.1 The Campaign— Damascus (North – 18.29) – 2VP 6th division can fueled at a cost of 1SP per Operation Exporter, Brigade. Damascus (South – 19.29) – 2VP June 8, 1941 – July 12, For Commonwealth Brigades that do 1941 Consult the Victory by VPs Determination not have an HQ marker, place fuel markers Table to ascertain the winner (see the Campaign, 5.1 Scenario column). on any or all of the component battalions as Setup Order: Commonwealth Commando necessary to indicate a particular Brigade’s Landing Plan (2.2), Vichy setup card, Control. A player controls a particular fueled status. One Australian artillery unit Commonwealth setup card. Sudden Death Victory Hex or Geographic can be fueled along with each Australian First player: Commonwealth Objective if, 1.) that player has an attack Brigade for no additional cost. First Turn: June 8 capable combat unit In Trace Supply Last Turn: July 12 EXCEPTION, All units of the Free occupying such hex, or 2.) was the last Game Length: 21 Turns French Division can be fueled at the cost player to have an attack capable combat Reinforcements: Use Reinforcement of one supply point, and will remain fueled unit move through such hex, “In Trace Cards until their next Clean Up phase. Supply”. In addition, if, at the end of a player turn, a Sudden Death Victory Hex Scenario 5.1 Victory Conditions: B. Vichy. In the same manner as a is not In Trace Supply, then that player is considered to control the Sudden Death Commonwealth brigade (see above) certain Introduction. Victory is determined Victory Hex, scoring a Sudden Death Vichy regiments can be fueled for the cost by each player’s control of designated Victory. Further, if, at the end of a scenario, of one supply point, and will remain fueled geographic objectives. The purpose of a Geographic Objective is not In Trace until their next Clean Up phase. In addition, these victory conditions is to evaluate the Supply to a Vichy supply source, then a Vichy regiment may fuel one Vichy relative effectiveness of the players against the Commonwealth player controls the artillery unit and the Levant independent their historical counterparts, Wavell for Geographic Objective. light armor battalion. Place fuel markers on the Commonwealth and Verdilhac for the any or all of the component battalions as Vichy French. A player will win by scoring In Trace Supply. For purposes of necessary to indicate a particular regiment’s a Sudden Death Victory at the end of any control under these Victory Conditions, fueled status. Note that fueling is done player turn or by a determination of Victory In Trace Supply means that if it were the on a per regiment basis and each eligible Points (VPs) scored at the end of the last player’s supply phase, such combat unit regiment can be fueled at a cost of 1SP per turn of the scenario. regiment. or hex (as though such hex were a combat unit) would be found to be in trace supply The following units can be fueled as Sudden Death Victory. Either player can in accordance with OCS Rules section a part of the respective regiment for one score a Sudden Death Victory by controlling 12.6, and not supplied by “eating off the supply point: a respective Sudden Death Victory Hex map”. Note that Commandos do not have 6th Lgn (I, II, III, IV Bns.)(plus one at the end of any player turn. The game to check for trace supply the turn of their artillery Bn. and the Levant light armor is then over with that player scoring a landing, however, this is not In Trace Bn.) Crushing Victory. 24th Mxd (I, II, III Bns.) (plus one Supply for purposes of control under this rule. Note further, that an In Trace Supply artillery Bn. and the Levant light armor Vichy Player Sudden Death Victory determination for purposes of this section Bn.) Hexes are the Commonwealth entry hexes/ occurs at the end of a player turn, or as 6th Chas (Gandy & Roulin Bns.) (plus supply sources, A (Haifa, 37.01), B (63.13) applicable, the end of the scenario, not one artillery Bn. and the Levant light armor or C (Amman, 63.20). Bn.) during such player’s supply phase. 7th Chas (Lehr & Marion Bns.) (plus Commonwealth Player Sudden one artillery Bn. and the Levant light armor Death Victory Hexes are Beirut, (5.10) Bn.) or Rayak airbase, (6.21).

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the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. arrived in Palestine, and some independent 5.2 Secure the Levant Following the success of O’Connor and battalions. In addition there was a battalion Wavell’s campaign to push the Italians out of of special forces commandos which would Setup Order: Commonwealth Commando Egypt and Cyrenaica (Operation Compass); make an amphibious landing to help cross Landing Plan (2.2), Vichy setup card, the German high command responded. the Litani River on the coast in southern Commonwealth setup card. Enter Rommel, the legendary “Desert Fox”. Lebanon. To make matters worse there First player: Commonwealth The aggressive German general pressed were only a few light tanks and limited First Turn: June 8 the thin and overextended Commonwealth air support available at the start of this Last Turn: June 22 forces and sent them reeling back to the operation. However, the Royal Navy was Game Length: 9 Turns Egyptian border, except for a small garrison committed to provide shore bombardment Reinforcements: Use Reinforcement lodged at Tobruk. Then a series of events support along the Lebanon coast. Cards further compounded Wavell’s troubles. The Germans, in support of their Italian allies The Australians were members of the Second Commonwealth and Vichy setup information invaded Yugoslavia and Greece. Churchill Australian Imperial Force, all volunteers is the same as Scenario 5.1 – The Campaign required that the Greeks be supported in the model of the much praised men who – Operation Exporter. and Wavell complied, sending aid from had fought at Gallipoli and France in the the scant forces available to him. In Iraq, Great War as part of the First Australian Reinforcements are the same as scenario Rashid Ali Galani and his quartet of army Imperial Force. So revered was the memory 5.1, although only through June 22 (game Colonels, “The Golden Square”, staged a of their service and sacrifice that it became turn 9). coup aiming to rid themselves the British a political necessity to tie the First and troops occupying their country. After the fall Second together. This was done in several Scenario 5.2 Victory Conditions of Crete the Germans were in a position to ways – the most public being to insert a support this anti-British coup in Iraq. They ‘2nd’ in front of the battalion formation The victory conditions for this short scenario sent air units to Baghdad. However, these numbers. This honored the record of the are the same as the Campaign Scenario, 5.1 air forces basing out of Crete and Rhodes matching Great War battalion, such as the (including Sudden Death Victory), except could not fly to Baghdad without first 2/16th Battalion. There were also other, less Victory by VPs Determination is evaluated landing for relief somewhere in between. obvious links. Five infantry divisions had using the Secure the Levant, 5.2 column on That somewhere, primarily, became Rayak been formed in 1914-1918 so the first new the Victory by VPs Determination Table airfield in Lebanon. All of this threatened division, was numbered the 6th. (see back cover). the strategic oil reserves in both Iraq and southern Iran. Churchill was adamant that The Vichy French were under military Historical the Vichy French could not be permitted command of General Joseph-Antoine to aid the Germans, but General Wavell de Verdilhac. At his disposal were about Commentary was circumspect; he could not see any twenty battalions of French colonial By Curtis H. Baer military means available to effectively act infantry, including a regiment of the famous Grey Side Bars by David Hughes against the Vichy French. He felt he was Foreign Legion and eight battalions of simply spread too thin, and by any objective local Lebanese and Syrian militia. This measure he was. infantry was supported by three battalions “Our view is that if the Germans can of colonial horsed cavalry, four battalions pick up Syria and Iraq with petty air Wavell conveyed these concerns to the of local militia cavalry, and several forces, tourists and local revolts then war cabinet in London but was rebuffed battalions of artillery. Above all the French we must not shrink from running equal and told that the strategic circumstances possessed a relatively formidable armored small-scale military risks and facing dictated British military action to deny the force comprised of two battalions of R35 the possible aggravation of political Germans the use of Lebanon and Syria and medium tanks, two battalions of armored dangers from failure. For this decision certainly to deny the Germans and their cars, and a small training battalion of we of course take full responsibility, Iraqi surrogates the ability to interdict the WWI F17 infantry tanks. The Vichy had and should you find yourself unwilling flow of oil. In fact his objections had sealed expected Commonwealth intervention and to give effect to it arrangements will be his fate and his time as Commander of deployed these forces forward to meet the made to any wish you may express to Commonwealth forces in the North Africa threat. There were few air forces available be relieved of your command.” and the Middle East was now limited, at the start of the campaign. The French Churchill had made the decision to replace navy consisted of a few destroyers and From a cable by Prime Minister him with Auchinleck. two submarines. Winston Churchill to General Sir Archibald Percival Wavell, May 21, He was now resigned to follow his orders Wavell appointed General Maitland 1941. to the best of his ability with the limited “Jumbo” Wilson as commander in charge forces available. The troops he could of this Operation Exporter which was to Reluctant Enemies is a simulation of the commit to the task were. two brigades of use three simultaneous avenues of advance: campaign by Commonwealth forces to the Australian 7th Infantry Division (the along the coast to Beirut, between the take military control of the Vichy French 21st and 25th—the 18th, part of the Tobruk mountain ranges to Rayak airbase in the Levant, Lebanon and Syria, during June garrison was unavailable), the 5th Indian Bekaa valley, and through the desert to and July of 1941. This was an obscure Brigade of the 4th Indian Infantry Division, Damascus. but militarily significant operation at the veterans of the fighting in the desert and time. The first half of 1941 was a dramatic East Africa, two Free French brigades newly moment during World War II, certainly in

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eliminated as an effective fighting force, but they reluctantly lost their mounts just On to Beirut with many killed, including Pedder and prior to the campaign and had received no The geography along the coast of Lebanon most of the rest taken prisoner. However, effective training in motorized infantry is conducive to defense. The foothills of their effort was not in vain. The commandos doctrine. Morale was not high for the Scots the Lebanon mountain range fall to the sea sufficiently disrupted the Vichy defenses to Greys as a result. The other two battalions from east to west in a series of steep ridges allow the Australian infantry under Stevens of the 25th brigade (2/25th and 2/31st ), along and deep ravines making inland, off road, to cross the Litani in force on June 9th. A with supporting artillery and a few light north-south movement of military forces major barrier on the road to Beirut had tanks crossed the Litani on a track to the nearly impossible and at best very difficult. been breached. west of Merdjayoun and then moved north Therefore the primary operation for the along very poor trails towards the mountain drive on Beirut was effectively confined C Battalion was known as the ‘Scottish town of Jezzine. This town was significant to the road running north along the narrow Commando’, as many of its men had due to the presence of several tracks, one coastal plain. Three rivers run from east to volunteered from Scottish regiments, of which led west to the coast at Sidon, just west from the mountains across the coastal such as the Highland Light Infantry and south of the Aouale river. Another track led plain to the sea. From south to north these the Cameron Highlanders. But being a north to the little village of Beit ed Dine, rivers are, the Litani, 20 miles north of the Commando in the Middle East was a risky located at the junction of other important border, the Aouale, 15 miles further north business. C Battalion had been part of a tracks through awful terrain. The capture and, the Damour, which enters the sea about four battalion commando group known as of Jezzine would threaten the flank of the 20 miles south of Beirut. ‘Layforce’. Both A and B Battalions had Vichy defense on the coast.

th st been wrecked fighting on Crete against On June 8 at 2 a.m., the 21 Australian German paratroopers and C itself would The British garrison of Palestine had Infantry Brigade, along with supporting be disbanded due to the losses incurred included the 1st Cavalry Division, made troops, under command of Brigadier in Syria. up of regular and territorial (in American Stevens was assigned to drive up the coast terms national guard) regiments. All were road to seize Beirut. This drive initially Further progress was slowed as the Vichy being ‘de-horsed’, an action especially saw great progress against light resistance committed the tanks and armored cars of offensive to the Royal Scots Dragoons from Vichy Tunisian cavalry stationed the 6th RCA. In addition, the Vichy had – universally known as ‘the Greys’ after at Iskandaroun north of the border. The air superiority. The Commonwealth did the color of their horses. There is an Australians were aided by local Palestine not have an effective answer. This allowed unconfirmed, but plausible, story that they Jewish militia forces organized as the the French to conduct a skillful delaying would only agree if they were allowed to Palmach (“Strike Force”). One Jewish action on the coast above the Litani for paint all of their vehicles and tanks grey! guide at the fore front of the advance took the next week. a wound to the eye from the shrapnel of After a further tortuous journey through Vichy sniper fire. He was Moshe Dayan incredibly rough terrain the Australians who became the Chief of Staff of the Israeli The Mountain Valley th finally met Vichy resistance about five Army in 1953. The 25 Australian Infantry Brigade commanded by Brigadier A. R. Baxter- miles south of Jezzine on the morning of June 14th. The Vichy defense included This thrust up the coast was supported by Cox along with supporting troops was ordered to make a thrust north between interlocking machine guns and pre-sited a flanking move along a track through the artillery fire. Commonwealth artillery was th the Lebanon mountain range and the inland hills by Colonel MacDonald’s 2/16 required to dampen this defense allowing st Anti-Lebanon range further inland. The battalion of the 21 Australian Brigade plus the tanks and Bren carriers to make some supporting troops. These two groups met on objective was Rayak airbase located in the Bekaa Valley about fifty miles north of headway, forcing the Vichy to pull back the coast at Tyre and then proceeded north along a portion of their line. Further enemy to the Litani River. the Palestine border. Progress was initially good, with the important mountain town of resistance was encountered at the hills Merdjayoun taken on June 12 against light covering the road entering Jezzine from the Lt. Colonel R. N. R. Pedder, commanding south. Again the artillery provided effective “C” battalion commandos which were part resistance. However, this offensive was then stopped cold about eight miles northeast support. This time the infantry routed the of a formation known as Layforce was Vichy in close fighting with rifle fire and assigned to make a pre-dawn amphibious of this town in very rugged terrain near Hasbaya by determined Vichy resistance the use of bayonets. The French had fought landing, above the Litani River to establish hard and inflicted significant casualties a bridgehead. This landing was planned to employing effective artillery fire and air bombardment. on the Australians but, by sundown on the facilitate the passage of Brigadier Stevens’ 14th the Commonwealth held Jezzine, the force over the Litani in its drive up the coast. surrounding heights, and the tracks leading High seas forced a postponement at the Baxter-Cox then received orders from th west to Sidon and north to Beit et Dine. direction of the Royal Navy commander. General Lavarack of the Australian 7 The commando battalion returned early infantry division to “…transfer the bulk of th st the next day, just as the 21st brigade the 25 brigade to assist the 21 brigade in The Drive on was approaching the Litani. C Battalion its progress along the coast.” Merdjayoun Damascus rd displayed great courage and resolve in their would now be defended by the 2/33 and To the east in the desert plains of northern th beach assault, drove inland and had some the newly arrived 2/5 Australian Infantry Trans-Jordan, Brigadier W. L. Lloyd initial success. However, Vichy French Battalion and by the weak Scots Greys, a commanded the 5th Brigade of the 4th Indian forewarned by the approach of the 21st newly constituted “lorried” British infantry Infantry Division, recently arriving from brigade were by this time holding the nearby battalion. The Scots Greys had a long and their successful campaign in east Africa. river line in force. The commandos were distinguished record as horsed cavalry, They were tasked with clearing Vichy

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resistance in southwestern Syria. The Legentilhomme’s Free French moved the Mideast command was still the western plan was to then allow two Free French north in high spirits, reportedly singing desert of Egypt where an offensive was brigades under command of General Paul “La Marseillaise”. They did not, at first, planned to commence June 15th against Legentilhomme to pass through and press encounter any substantial opposition, Rommel, Operation Battleaxe. the attack North, with Damascus as the only bombing runs by the Vichy air objective. Prior to the campaign General force. The Free French concentrated at Verdilhac’s Charles de Gaulle had promised Churchill Sanamein, about 20 miles south of Kiswe that once the Vichy saw that their French on June 10th, where a plan to take that Counterattack brothers in arms were involved in this town was developed. At this time, General General Verdilhac had busied himself operation, that Frenchmen would not fight Legentilhomme sustained an injury to his that first week preparing for an effective Frenchmen, and this campaign would be “a arm as the result of Vichy air bombardment response to the invasion. His counterattack walk to Damascus”. De Gaulle was wrong and was evacuated to a hospital in Deraa. plan provided simultaneous offensive in this notion. Instead the Vichy considered There were reports that this injury had operations against Jezzine and Merdjayoun, de Gaulle’s men traitors and fought with affected him greatly, to the point where Kuneitra, and the Commonwealth line of determination to defend their territory. he had reportedly “…gone off the top communications in the desert at Ezraa and of his head entirely.” As a result, Wilson Sheikh Meskine. These counterattacks The 5th Indian Brigade was a regular now named Brigadier Lloyd as C. O. of were overall, quite successful, inflicting formation composed as usual of one British operations in Syria with Colonel Jones heavy casualties and for a period of time and two Indian battalions. These were of the Rajputana Rifles replacing him in stopped the Commonwealth cold, causing highly experienced soldiers, many of whom command of the 5th Indian Brigade. Lloyd an immense shock to the Commonwealth had seen action on the North-West Frontier then ordered up the Rajputana and Punjabi command. In fact if the attacks at of India before fighting the Italians in Egypt battalions to support the attack across the el Merdjayoun and Kuneitra had been and Ethiopia. However it was not intact. In Awaj River at Kiswe, while Colonel Collet, exploited more aggressively the Vichy its previous battles it would have enjoyed now with a few available light tanks and could have severely interrupted the the support of a full complement of 2pdr or by some accounts a detachment of armored Commonwealth LOC from Palestine, and 37mm anti-tank guns and 25pdr field guns, cars from the British Royals battalion, led quite possibly reached the important supply all capable of defeating most tanks of the his cavalry force east to flank the Kiswe hub at Haifa on the Mediterranean coast. period. The decision to leave many of these position. behind would prove very costly. Merdjayoun and The First Week of Jezzine The Punjab and Rajputana infantry battalions A task force under command of Colonel th Operations of the 5 Indian Brigade made short work Albord led by a well-trained and disciplined of the light resistance encountered at Deraa Commonwealth progress, after initial success, was stalled, contrary to expectations. battalion of the Vichy French Foreign just north of the border on the Hejaz railway. th The thought that the Vichy would welcome Legion (III/6 REI), supported by tanks They advanced north to Sheikh Meskine th the invaders with open arms by simply of the 6 RCA, Algerian colonial infantry where they rendezvoused with the cavalry battalions, and some cavalry squadrons took and light tanks of Groupement Collet which presenting Free French liaison officers under a white flag of truce to explain their Merdjayoun and fort Khiam, just south, by had crossed the border at Fiq to the west. th rd righteous position swiftly disappeared. In storm on June 15 . The Australian 2/33 Colonel Collet had defected from the Vichy battalion had been off in the foothills of st like regard the order to Australian forces to on May 21 with several squadrons of well- Mt. Hermon trying to flank the Vichy trained cavalry under his command. This display their peaceful intent by wearing their distinctive head gear, the Slouch Hat, rather position blocking the valley at Hasbaya. The defection was probably the event that most defending Scots Greys were badly mauled, influenced de Gaulle, creating a mindset than their steel helmets certainly did not achieve the desired result, instead serving causing, by some Australian accounts, a that the Vichy forces would not fight, but complete and desperate rout. The road to the rather “crack like an eggshell.” only to greatly irritate the troops. There were no mass Vichy desertions as expected by Jordan River valley of Palestine was open and the Commonwealth communications The third battalion of the 5th Indian Brigade, some in high office. It was now abundantly clear the paucity of forces employed by the threatened. Albord, however, not fully London’s Royal Fusiliers (Lt. Colonel A. D. understanding the extent of the enemy’s G. Orr, commanding), were stationed at Tell invaders was inadequate for the task. In this, General Wavell’s reservations about the panic, did not pursue this opportunity. Or, on the southern point of Lake Tiberias. This allowed much needed reaction time They were ordered to take Kuneitra on the operation were vindicated. In addition, the Vichy air force was reinforced allowing it for General Lavarack (still commanding Golan Heights east of the Jordan River. This the Australian 7th Infantry Division, but task had been accomplished by the end of to achieve air superiority. Further, the RAF had its hands full against the Luftwaffe soon to be promoted to commander of the the second day, supported by a detachment Australian I Corps and overall commander of Australian field artillery. The defending bombing the Royal Navy. This deployment of German air forces hampered British of Operation Exporter.) Lavarack recalled Senegalese battalion was forced to withdraw the Australian 2/25th battalion from Jezzine 15 miles northeast to the town of Sassaa. In naval efforts to provide supporting barrages. Vichy destroyers were still periodically to move on Merdjayoun from the northwest. fact, General Delhomme, commanding the In addition, he called up from Palestine Vichy forces in southern Syria, had ordered bombarding the Australians on the coast. So, the Commonwealth was stopped at what few reserves he had in the form a general withdrawal of his forces north to rd Sidon, Merdjayoun, Jezzine and the el Awaj of companies from the 2/3 Australian the el Awaj River line just south of Kiswe. Machinegun Battalion and 2/2nd Australian He felt the open desert plains could not be River south of Kiswe. Reinforcements were required, but Wilson did not know where Pioneer Battalion. In addition, the newly adequately defended. th they would come from. The main focus of arrived light tanks of the 9 Australian

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Division Cavalry were put into action. There success the 5th Indian Brigade experienced pressing his advantage. This allowed time ensued a bitter battle for the town over the early on June 15th. With this reaction the for reaction by Brigadier Lloyd who had not course of the next five to six days. position north of Kiswe was stabilized and panicked but stayed cool under the pressure Verhdilhac considered Damascus safe. of reports of the Vichy counterattacks. The two opposing Foreign Legion forces The attack on Kuneitra then went in the Lloyd deployed a Free French colonial in Syria were very different. The Vichy 6e following morning, June 16th. Le Couteulx infantry battalion supported by a battery of Régiment Étrangere d’Infanterie (REI) completely cut off Orr’s Royal Fusiliers artillery for the relief of Sheikh Meskine had been created the previous year, using and tested their morale by pounding their and Ezraa. It was all he had to spare. For men from the older regiments in Algeria. positions with point blank gun fire from the morning of June 16th Simon planned a They were classic legionaries – tough, his tanks. This tactic proved successful. simple frontal assault on Sheikh Meskine experienced and from a multitude of Colonel Orr had no remedy to the casualties from the east with his armored cars in nations. The Free French unit was very his men were taking from the Vichy tankers. the lead. This effort was stopped by the different. It was the remnant of a two- By nightfall, short of ammunition, and with fire from the artillery battery received as battalion ‘demi-brigade’, also formed in no hope of reinforcement, Orr conceded reinforcement the previous evening. This 1940 but to fight the Germans in Norway. to the inevitable and surrendered his action ended the Vichy attempt to seize When France surrendered only one of these command. This was the first surrender of this important objective. Simon retired battalions agreed to serve with De Gaulle the Royal Fusiliers in their long, proud back to Ezraa. A timely reinforcement, the – one that contained Spanish Republican history. It was especially painful to give up Queen’s Own battalion of the British 6th soldiers forced to leave when Franco won to the French against whom the Fusiliers Infantry Division arrived the night of June in Spain. From the point of view of the had fought so many times. 16th from Palestine. The British organized a 6th Regiment they may not have been counterattack on the Vichy force at Ezraa. considered legionaries – certainly they The Royal Fusiliers (a ‘fusil’ was an early The Queen’s Own infantry, again with the were not French! flintlock musket assigned to elite troops support of the artillery battery pounded used to guard artillery trains where the Simon’s troops. The Vichy did not have The key to the success of the Vichy offensive usual burning matchlock musket was liable enough to hold the town. They further lay in the 90 tanks and supporting armored to cause an explosion) were also known retired to the safety of the rough country cars of its two cavalry regiments. These as the City of London Regiment. Serving of the Jebel Druze. Simon had lost an belonged to the Army of North Africa, the capital they were able to raise more opportunity. If he had exhibited sufficient a totally separate force with its own battalions than any other regiment, a total initiative and resolve on the 15th he could command and structure (just as the US of fourteen in World War Two. But this paled have driven the disorganized Jordanian Marines are separate from the US Army). in comparison to the Great War in which defenders into the desert thereby disrupting It contained what were known as both no fewer than thirty-three battalions bore Lloyd’s line of communications with known ‘white’ and ‘native’ regiments of cavalry the regiment’s name. Of course it was the consequences. and infantry. The native cavalry regiments fact that it was the 1st Battalion, a unit were called ‘Spahi’, the white known as raised in 1685 that surrendered that was Verdilhac was pleased with the disruption ‘Regiment Chasseurs d’Afrique’ (RCA) especially offensive to the British. his counterattacks had caused the enemy, although the 6th and 7th RCA serving in but in fact he had expected even better Syria contained both European and North Ezraa and Sheikh results. African soldiers. Meskine The Vichy counterattacks accelerated a Commandant Simon (Chief-of-Staff to Kuneitra planned reorganization of Commonwealth Colonel Kieme, commanding the Levant th th Verdilhac’s primary counterattack was forces on June 17 -18 . General Lavarack, cavalry) was assigned the task of moving th aimed at Kuneitra on the Golan Heights. commanding the Australian 7 Infantry on Deraa and Sheikh Meskine to sit Division was appointed to command of the A task force consisting of R35 tanks and astride the lines of communication of th newly formed First Australian Corps. His armored cars of the 7 RCA, supported by the Commonwealth forces pressing on Senegalese colonial infantry and Circassian command now included all forces for the Damascus. He had at his disposal a squadron entire campaign from the Mediterranean Sea cavalry squadrons had been assembled of armored cars, and a detachment of at Sassaa about 15 miles northeast. He to Damascus. General Allen took control of Moroccan spahis, plus some support from the Australian 7th Infantry from Lavarack. assigned command of this force to Colonel the Souedia watch force in the form of a le Couteulx. There were a number valuable General “Mad Jack” Evetts, commanding battalion of Tunisian colonial infantry and th opportunities available to Verdilhac after the British 6 Infantry Division arrived several squadrons of Druze cavalry. Simon June 19th with orders to take control of capturing Kuneitra. Colonel Couteulx th made great headway on June 15 , easily Commonwealth forces in Syria could then move northwest in support of capturing Ezraa against scant opposition the attack on Merdjayoun, turn southeast from the Trans-Jordan Frontier Force troops in support of the operations against Ezraa The 6th Infantry Division has some claim to stationed there in defense. The French plan be the most active British infantry formation and Sheikh Meskine, or exploit across the was then to continue on to Sheikh Meskine Jordan river into Palestine threatening the of the war. It was formed in 1939 from the which would interdict the Commonwealth regular battalions in garrison in northern Commonwealth communications for their supply lines. With Ezraa and Sheikh coastal and valley operations. The Vichy Egypt and along the Suez Canal and assisted Meskine secured Simon could then move in the defeat of the Italians in December attack on Kuneitra was delayed by Lloyd’s in support of operations at Kunietra or push assault on Kiswe and the surrounding 1940. After serving in Greece, Crete and south to secure the border town of Deraa. Syria it formed the garrison of Tobruk during heights. Verdilhac diverted about half of the However, Simon faltered by sitting in th Operation Crusader, the expensive defeat of 7 RCA’s tanks to Kiswe in response to the Ezraa contemplating his options rather than

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Rommel’s Afrika Corps in December 1941. fate would have it one battalion of Algerians by Commander Chevigne were ordered to When India was at risk from the Japanese was in the process of relieving another Artouz securing the road from Damascus it was rushed there and two years later was at the moment of the Punjabi attack, and to Kuneitra and the remaining Free French converted into the famous Chindits. As the the disorganized defenders were indeed forces were to move from the heights north war ended its battalions were training as surprised. The Indians, carrying 30 foot of Kiswe to invest the southern suburbs of glider infantry. ladders to bridge the anti-tank ditches Damascus, once Mezze was secured. rapidly moved forward into the positions The Battles at Kiswe of their confused opponents. The attackers The Free French ‘Fusiliers Marines’ were cleared the town in short order and Kiswe in fact sailors equipped for landing parties, and Mezze, and the was taken. The defenders fell back to the not soldiers comparable to the American or Fall of Damascus heights above the town, desperately trying British marine corps. The two companies to reorganize. that fought in Syria came from those sailors Kiswe in French warships immobile in Britain The town of Kiswe is about 12 miles due In action to the east Colonel Collet was who had decided to join the Free French. south of Damascus, lying astride the road attempting to cross the el Awaj River and They had an interesting war, soon being from Amman. It is situated just north of flank Kiswe with a force of Circassian converted into a light anti-aircraft battalion the river el Awaj which runs from west to cavalry and 12 light tanks. He met a (presumably because many of the men had east. There are a series of prominent hills determined defense supported by artillery. been gunners), while in 1943 some left to just northwest and northeast of the town. This artillery was put to good use and the join the French commando that landed in The Vichy had surrounded Kiswe with an Vichy barrages inflicted heavy losses upon Normandy. antitank ditch reported to be 13 feet wide Collet’s command with, “ten of the twelve th and 13 feet deep. Verdilhac had 4 battalions tanks ...put out of action”, and “most of the On the evening of June 18 the Rajputana of colonial African troops to fill the front Circassians’ horses lamed on the ground”. Rifles attacked. Their supporting Punjabi line, (I/17th and III/17th Senegalese, and This stopped the flanking action on Kiswe battalion commanded by Colonel Greatwood I/29th and III/29th Algerians.) In addition, at that time. was checked by Vichy machine gun fire, he had a section of tanks and a section of but Jones and his men pushed on. The next armored cars from the 7th RCA and the Despite receiving dispatches reporting day the Punjabis broke through to a hill III/24th RMIC battalion at his disposal as counterattacks at Kuneitra and Ezraa, overlooking Mezze and detached a company a reserve. This position was prepared to Lloyd maintained his resolve to press to support Jones. With this assistance his support a formidable defense against an the attack. He issued orders to clear the men, although under considerable fire from attack from the south. hills surrounding Kiswe to consolidate the Vichy defenders, stormed into the center his position. Follow on attacks by the of town. After an hour of fighting, they One of the three armies of Vichy France was Rajputana Rifles, supported by Free French overwhelmed their opposition and captured ‘La Coloniale’ charged with the protection Senegalese troops were enough to force the town. Disorganized and demoralized of all French colonies outside North Africa, the disorganized Vichy defenders off the the Vichy troops withdrew. which included Indo-China, the Pacific heights. The Commonwealth troops then islands, Madagascar and French West withstood a counterattack by a force Vichy General Verdilhac had replaced the Africa. ‘Sénegalais’ was the name given tanks and armored cars. By the evening of ineffective Delhomme with Colonel Kieme, th to the native troops raised in colonies Monday June 16 , Lloyd was planning his previously commander of cavalry in the such as Dahomey, Niger, the Ivory Coast advance on Damascus. Levant. Upon hearing of the loss of Mezze, and Senegal itself. In 1939 there were no Kieme organized a counter attack. First, fewer than 22 three-battalion regiments of Mezze he reinforced the defenses of Damascus Sénegalése and Vichy retained most of them Brigadier Lloyd was once again in command by sending in a fresh reserve battalion of th after the Armistice. And the majority of the of the 5th Indian Infantry Brigade after the metropolitan troops, the III/24 RMIC. th Free French troops were also Senegalese, return to duty of General Legentilhomme. Then, on June 19 , following the pattern who (just like the Legion) fought bitterly With Collet’s failure east of Kiswe, his plan of success at Kuneitra three days earlier, against their brothers in the Vichy Army. for taking Damascus centered on the capture he sent all the available tanks and armored th As it turned out most of the relatively few of Mezze, a town just west and sitting on the cars of Lecoulteux’s 7 RCA battalion out Vichy soldiers who agreed to join the Free connections between Damascus and Beirut. of Qatana through Artouz (overrunning French came from the 17e Regiment de The road and railroad to Beirut pass just the surprised Free French colonial troops Tirailleurs Sénegalais. north of Mezze through the Barada river defending it), then up the road northeast to gorge. There are 7 old stone forts on the liberate Mezze. Faced with this armored Brigadier Lloyd, still commanding the hills overlooking Mezze from the west. It attack and without support of anti-tank or invasion forces in Syria, planned to seize was expected that this important location field artillery Jones and Greatwood ordered Kiswe on Sunday morning, June 15th, one would be well defended. their troops to fortify their positions as best week after the start of Operation Exporter. they could. This effort, just as at Kuneitra, This was a very busy moment in the Lloyd decided to lead the attack with the proved to be of no avail. The Vichy tanks campaign, as Verdilhac chose this time to Rajputana Rifles, under the command of delivered a fierce pounding to the Rajputs also counterattack at Merdjayoun, Kuneitra Colonel Jonah Jones. Lloyd, looking again and D Company of the Punjabis, inflicting and Ezraa/Sheikh Meskine, as described to surprise the enemy, took a calculated horrendous casualties. The remaining above. Lloyd sent his battalion of Punjabi risk sending his forces in at night over Indian defenders concentrated back at infantry forward under cover of darkness unfamiliar terrain. In support of this action, the brigade headquarters, a walled stone with a hope of surprising the defenders. As two companies of Free French marines led house compound in the center of the town

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protected by ravines on three sides. To make battalion resulted in a seesaw battle for beside the ancient Phoenician caves south matters worse, to the south of Damascus the the forts on the heights on the night of of Sidon. Arlabosse being uncertain about Free French had been stopped by the III/24th June 20th. Despite these efforts, the road his defense of Sidon and the Aouale river RMIC. It appeared the will of the Free remained closed, so Kieme evacuated much line just to the north welcomed the arrival French colonial troops to fight effectively of his remaining force (about 6 battalions) of Colonel Amanrich’s 6th RCA tanks and was quickly waning. On the morning of June through tracks in the mountainous terrain armored cars as reinforcements to his 20, messengers delivered word to Lloyd that north and west of Damascus. By dawn on infantry battalions. Colonel Lehr was in a disaster was looming at Mezze. June 21st, unknown to Lloyd at the time, command of the tank battalion of the 6th Damascus was an open city. RCA. On June 13th he skillfully deployed his The Vichy Colonial Army just like its Army tanks in repeated counterattacks against the of North Africa contained white and native Damascus Australian advances. The Australians did regiments. The elite white regiments were “Ancient and venerated”, Damascus is not have anti-tank guns and fearing for the considered to be a risk by the Germans “traditionally” thought to be “the oldest safety of their artillery, they positioned it and ordered almost all disbanded when continuously inhabited city in the world.” too far to the rear to be an effective counter th France surrendered. But the 24 was General Wilson was initially reluctant to measure. In addition the Vichy air force allowed to remain in Syria, the departure take Damascus by storm. He sent a radio made periodic bombing and strafing runs of its Breton I Battalion to the Free French message to General Dentz, the political to further hamper the Australian efforts. proving that German suspicions were governor of the Vichy Levant on June However, one counterattack by Lehr’s tanks right. To bring the regiment back up to 18th requesting that Damascus be spared when in pursuit of Bren carriers went too three battalion strength native troops were destruction and declared an open city. far and the Australian artillery lying in wait added – creating a ‘mixed’ unit, hence its General Dentz delayed his response but, opened fire inflicting significant losses. French title of Régiment mixte d’infanterie eventually refused the request. Despite Although these attacks had apparently colonial (RMIC). this blustering it appears that he was stopped the Australians, the loss of nevertheless himself predisposed to leave irreplaceable tanks, and a threat of attack Lloyd dispatched a reserve company of the Damascus. His notes of June 20th on the from Jezzine from the east again drained Punjabis supported by a battery of artillery military situation in the Levant include Arlabosse’s confidence. He ordered a th to relieve the troops at Mezze Gathering up this passage, “I must extricate from the general withdrawal to Damour. By June 15 surviving Free French colonials and other Damascus area as much as possible of the the advancing elements of the Australian Punjabi riflemen along the way, they moved force operating there. Every man and all infantry found Sidon abandoned. north. The defenders in the center of Mezze possible equipment will be needed if I am could hear the guns firing in the distance to continue operations elsewhere…” Dentz General Wilson cautiously did not pursue and hoped that relief was on the way. Jones, accepted Kieme’s decision to abandon the the Vichy to Damour still fearing counter seeking time, sent out a delegation under a city on the morning of June 21st. attacks from the hills to the east due to the flag of truce to request a ceasefire to bury the enemy activity at Jezzine, and Beit-de- dead. The Vichy, thinking the Rajputs had The Commonwealth entered Damascus Dine. In addition, the Vichy counterattack surrendered, stormed the stronghold, and in on Saturday, June 21, 1941. The plan was at Merdjayoun had stopped the drive by th a confusing melee captured the remaining to have Legentilhomme lead the Free the Australian 25 infantry brigade. He defenders. With this action, on June 20, French as the first to take the city. Instead therefore called a halt to the offensive to th the 5 Indian infantry brigade had been the Australians of the 2/3rd machine gun consolidate his supply and rest his forces. eliminated as an effective fighting force. battalion and 2/3rd infantry battalion roared into Damascus passing the assembling Free Stalemate in the However, their losses were not in vain. French, covering them in a cloud of dust, and Without even waiting to see if his counter- Mountain Valley denying them the honor of being first. The th attack had succeeded Kieme, apparently On the 15 of June Verdilhac had ordered Australians apparently thought the honor a counterattack on Merdjayoun which losing his nerve, sent a dispatch to Verdilhac was theirs for their role in the fighting the stating that Damascus was in jeopardy successfully caught the defenders by night before. rd of being cut off and that he would order surprise. The Australian 2/33 infantry and the withdrawal of all Vichy forces west. the British Scots Greys infantry battalions His plan was to defend the Anti-Lebanon The Battle for Sidon were driven from the town south to Mettula mountain range passes. This would allow Due to a lack of sufficient force, the just north of their invasion starting point on reinforcements to move further west loss of the commandos, effective Vichy the Palestinian border. The Commonwealth to bolster the defenses of Merdjayoun- counterattacks on the coast, at Merdjayoun was taken by surprise and routed, especially Hasbaya and on the coast road leading and Jezzine, the drive to Beirut had the Scots Greys, who by some Australian to Beirut. diminished. Regardless, General Arlabosse, reports became demoralized to the point in command of the Vichy defense of of ineffectiveness. As described above the Meanwhile, Brigadier Lloyd had received Lebanon, was pessimistic, believing that Scots Greys had recently lost their mounts much needed reinforcements, the Australian the British naval bombardment of his forces and were issued trucks as lorried infantry. 2/3rd infantry battalion and 2/3rd machine on the coast might prove decisive. His They had no training in motorized infantry gun battalion. He ordered these troops to fear was that the failure to hold the Litani doctrine, so morale was bad before the occupy the heights west of Mezze and river line could very well repeat itself all rout. Because of the rout they were deemed to block the Damascus-Beirut road in the way up the coastal road to Beirut. The undependable and ordered to garrison duty the Barada river gorge. A sharp Vichy defenders fell back in some confusion to at Deraa in Syria. This was unfortunate for th counterattack led by the III/24th RMIC Sidon after a renewed attack on June 12 the reputation of the British forces because by the Australian 21st infantry brigade the other British cavalry units engaged, the

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Cheshire Yeomanry and the Staffordshire up the valley road to Hasbaya. This town Yeomanry, performed very well and their was strongly defended by Vichy Foreign Clearly Lloyd was right to have recom- services were much sought after by both Legion, Algerian and Tunisian colonial mended a continued attack on the Vichy brigadiers Baxter-Cox and Stevens in their troops supported by local militia and several immediately after the fall of Damascus. It respective sectors due to the nature of the batteries of artillery. This was enough to appears an opportunity was lost. rough terrain. deter the Commonwealth from any plans to continue north to Rayak through the Evetts was now reinforced by the third unit Lavarack and Baxter-Cox reacted quickly Bekaa valley. The Commonwealth’s focus of the 16th infantry brigade (2nd battalion to this threat to the northern Jordan River shifted to the coast road north of Sidon Kings Own Regiment) and a battalion of the valley. The Australian 2/25th infantry with the capture of Beirut as the immediate Free French Marine Infantry. He ordered a battalion was recalled from Jezzine. In objective. final attempt to take Jebel Mazur by storm addition some troops of the Australian on July 10/11. This led to intense close 2/5th infantry battalion, plus the Australian Jebel Mazur combat with Vichy artillery and mortar nd 2/2 pioneer battalion were moved north The British 16th infantry brigade (less fire again inflicting significant casualties. from reserve north of the Sea of Galilee. one battalion at Merdjayoun) arrived However by now the RAF was spotting The deployment of these troops apparently after the fall of Damascus. The second the enemy gun positions and the British stabilized the situation and no further battalions of the Leicestershire and Queen’s counter battery fire proved very effective. attacks from the Vichy were forthcoming. Regiments reinforced the Australian 2/3rd For instance it was reported that “four of the These troops were supported by artillery and 2/5th infantry battalions, all now under Vichy ‘seventy fives’ had been blown clean th batteries of the Australian 5 field regiment. command of British General “Mad Jack” out of their gun pits”. The battle became a Commonwealth attacks were made on June Evetts. New to his command, Evetts was draw with both sides retreating, the Vichy th th 17 and again on June 19 with the purpose not eager for offensive action but instead forces moving back to another formidable of retaking Merdjayoun and continuing took three days to understand the condition mountain pass. Evetts knew this would be the offensive. Each failed due to stubborn and morale of the troops, supply lines, another bloody and difficult objective. He resistance of the Vichy, in particular the and communications. Brigadier Lloyd was thankful that discussions leading to an tenacity of a Foreign Legion infantry objected, wanting to immediately press armistice had begun. battalion, support by tanks and Vichy on through the Barada gorge and mountain artillery batteries. passes northwest of Damascus to the Bekaa Damour—Gateway to valley and then to capture Rayak airbase, However another attempt to recapture Beirut a major objective of this campaign. Lloyd Damour is a town on the coastal plain Merdjayoun was organized by the artillery believed the Commonwealth now had the commander of the British 7th Infantry about 15 miles south of Beirut, just inland advantage over the worn Vichy troops, from the Mediterranean Sea surrounded Division, Brigadier Berryman. On June especially with the arrival of the two fresh rd by large plantations of palm and banana 23, he ordered the 2/33 and the newly British battalions. arrived, British 2nd battalion of the Kings trees. It lies about three miles north of the Damour River. The Damour is not as Own Regiment to attack Fort Khiam, This lull allowed the Vichy troops a much south of Merdjayoun and then north to the wide or deep as the Litani to the south needed rest after withdrawing about 18 but still presents a formidable obstacle in important road junction of Merdjayoun miles northwest of Damascus to the heights nd defense of this position. East of the plains itself. The 2/2 Pioneers were assigned to of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains at Jebel support the assault. Also in support of the the river runs through very steep ravines. Mazur. On these very steep slopes they In addition, east of the coastal plain north right flank was a small force of cavalry deployed several artillery battalions with troopers formed in the rough terrain from of the river there are rugged hills allowing a fantastic field of fire on the plains below, for effective defense. It was this position the remnants of a Scots Greys platoon. They supported by colonial infantry. were mounted on horses earlier captured where Dentz ordered Verdilhac to prepare from Vichy colonial spahis. These men, to contain the Commonwealth’s renewed The initial attempts to take Jebel Mazur drive to Beirut. known as “Kelly’s Gang”, were very happy were ineffective with the Vichy artillery to be on horseback again and became an stopping any progress. Then Evetts ordered effective if small fighting force. Meanwhile, in the Syrian desert to the north the Australians to climb the heights during and east, two brigades of the 10th Indian th the night of June 26 . The Australians, division (20th and 21st) led by General During the day long battle there was much opposed by only light forces on the summit hand to hand fighting, with bayonets and William Joseph Slim out of Mosul and the at that time were successful and in the British 4th cavalry brigade from Habbaniya grenades, in both Khiam and Merdjayoun. morning found themselves in command The Vichy resistance was again stiff but the were advancing west from Iraq toward the of the heights with a good view of the Vichy cities of Aleppo and Homs north of concerted effort of Berryman’s troops, now valley below. However, as they failed to supported by effective artillery fire, was Damascus and Beirut. It was at Palmyra bring along radios and spotting officers, that the Vichy defenders expected to stop enough to cause the harried Vichy to retire they missed an opportunity to direct in the early morning of June 24th. After a this invasion from the east. Palmyra is a counter battery fire on the Vichy artillery beautiful desert oasis, on the Tripoli oil difficult struggle Merdjayoun was back in whose positions were now in full view of Commonwealth hands. pipeline midway between the Syrian-Iraqi Australian observers. The Vichy organized border and Homs and was once the capital an effective counterattack by Senegalese of Queen Zenobia, a fervent enemy of the After the capture of Merdjayoun, Berryman’s and Moroccan troops, well supported by force was relieved by the British 23rd Infantry Roman Empire. Within the beautiful ancient the still untouched artillery, forcing the Roman ruins, the Vichy deployed two Brigade, Brigadier Galloway commanding. Australians to retreat. Commonwealth forces pressed northeast companies of well trained and disciplined

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foreign legion troops (from the IV/ 6th and 2/14th just south of El Boum (about three in Beirut, but he was now, on July 10th REI), along with local Syrian units. But miles inland) moved out in the darkness of persuaded to make a formal request for a they lacked both artillery and air support the early morning. They moved unopposed ”cessation of hostilities”. He acted with and were forced to surrender after a battle down the steep ravine and crossed the Petain’s approval. Much had changed in costly to both sides. Without sufficient Damour River, no deeper than three feet those ten days. The 10th Indian infantry was troops left to defend the eastern Syrian at that point. Then they proceeded back sweeping in from the eastern desert toward desert Dentz was now desperate to stop the up the hills north of the river looking to Aleppo nearly unopposed. The British 4th Commonwealth forces at Damour. overrun the Vichy positions. Alerted by cavalry, after taking the scenic oasis of sentry dogs the Vichy opened fire with Palmyra had joined with some elements Verdilhac, his local commander, had at pre-registered machine guns and artillery. of the Free French forces moving along an his disposal two experienced battalions The northern slope of the ravine erupted established supply route from Damascus. of the 6th Foreign Legion (the fresh II and into “a sheet of flame” inflicting serious These forces planned to move on Homs. The weakened I) as the backbone of this defense. casualties on the Australians. However, RAF had nearly free rein over the skies of They were supported by all available Vichy according to an eye witness report of one the Levant. Fuel and ammunition for the troops consisting mostly of survivors correspondent, the Australian infantrymen Vichy were running low. The defenses of of earlier battles, including the II/17th “…like their fathers on the death-strewn Damour had been breached. Perhaps most Senegalese, the II and the III/24th RMIC, escarpments of Gallipoli never faltered.” importantly, the promised reinforcements plus some untested Algerian and unreliable The 2/27th with great effort climbed into from France and North Africa had failed to Lebanese battalions. Squadrons of Tunisian the Vichy positions above, then “…swept appear, which had an adverse effect on the and Moroccan cavalry were deployed in the French off the crest with bayonet, and morale of the troops. the mountain tracks to the east. The Vichy pushing forward without giving them time still had considerable artillery, well placed, to reorganize, cleared the heights beyond.” Churchill announced in the House of primarily in the hills above Damour. A much needed bridgehead across the Commons that “formal application had been Damour had been established. made for a discussion of terms leading to Major General Allen was finally able to an armistice”. Hostilities were scheduled concentrate the whole of the 7th Australian On July 7th, the 2/16th and two companies to end at midnight on July 11. An armistice Infantry Division and use it against Damour. of the 2/2nd Pioneers, supported by field was signed at Acre on July 14th. The primary The 21st brigade deployed the 2/14th along artillery, and naval and air bombardment purpose of Operation Exporter, to protect the coastal plain south of the Damour River. assaulted Vichy positions in the banana the Commonwealth’s greatest source of The 2/27th and 2/16th , deployed further plantations along the coast. This assault was oil, had been accomplished, but at a much inland, were given the difficult assignment challenged by Vichy artillery and machine greater price than expected. The Vichy, of crossing the Damour River ravine and gun fire and briefly checked. The Vichy contrary to the claims of De Gaulle, had then moving up through mountainous also counterattacked in the hills to the east fought hard to defend their military honor. tracks to attempt a flanking attack on the halting the Australian advance there. The They initially stopped the invasion cold with Damour defenders in the hills above the Australians were not able to make a “real well planned and executed counter attacks. town. The 25th brigade, now commanded crack in the defense”. In an effort to truly The Commonwealth reported some 4700 by Brigadier Plant moved inland, capturing break the Vichy defense a bombardment casualties and the Vichy about 6250. These Jezzine on the 28th of June and then moved by massed field artillery was arranged for figures were significant given the relatively north towards the next crossroads at Beit July 8th. . Australian artillery spotters had small forces engaged by both sides. ed Dine in a further effort to flank the targeted Vichy positions in the plantations Ironically, the Germans, whose presence Vichy forces at Damour. The third brigade, and assumed gun positions to the north. was the cause of this conflict had, unknown now designated the 17th, was formed by However, this bombardment, while truly to the War Cabinet in London, completely Brigadier Savige. It was comprised of the spectacular, was not effective. This was vacated Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon just prior depleted Austrian 2/3rd, and 2/5th Infantry due primarily to a Vichy tactic of moving to the invasion. After action interrogations battalions, and 2/2nd Pioneer battalion. They their positions forward to avoid the worst of Vichy prisoners consistently revealed were deployed in reserve as an “exploiting of the barrage. However, the 2/3rd and 2/5th that the Vichy soldiers were disinclined brigade”. Nearly all of the Australian infantry infiltrated through the mountain to fight if Germans were still operating in artillery batteries had been gathered for tracks east of Damour and by midnight had the Levant. Under those circumstances the the attack, some sixty two guns of various cut the road to Beirut about two miles north Commonwealth might have been able to calibers. In addition the Royal Navy and of the town, the 2/16th advanced along the enter the Levant unopposed. RAF, both now essentially unopposed, coast, entering Damour just after dawn on were prepared to support the operation. The July 9th. The Vichy defenders, exhausted, While this operation was arguably the hot Commonwealth commanders previously and apparently low on ammunition and spot in world at the time it commenced, June pursuing conflicting and scattered objectives other supplies had already retired toward 8, 1941, it was greatly overshadowed by were now focused on the most important Beirut and by July 10th the entire 7th the German invasion of the Soviet Union, objective of all at this point in the operation, Australian force was advancing. just two weeks later. Still, the importance to the capture of Beirut. Britain of securing the oil of Iraq and Iran Conclusion cannot be overemphasized. General Wavell, th July 6 , 1941 on the Lebanese coast at When the enemy breakthrough on the who was forced to switch commands with Damour, was a clear, hot day; the sea was road above Damour was reported, General General Auchinleck during this campaign azure blue; towering white clouds floated Dentz knew “the end had come”. Ten days (on July 5, 1941), was proved correct in his above. It was a beautiful scene for the major earlier he had refused a request to open view that the Vichy would fight and that th battle of the campaign. The Australian 2/27 negotiations with the American Counsul the initial forces available for invasion were

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inadequate. As often proved to be the case Churchill’s tendency to Groupment Collet demand ‘immediate action at all costs’ and to ignore military advice Light Armor Batallion (Collet/Circ) proved very costly. But in the end his demands were met and the Circassian Cavalry Batallion (Collet/Circ) Levant removed from Axis influence. Perhaps the greatest loser Transjordan Frontier Force (TJFF) was De Gaulle. Not only was he proven wrong about the reaction Mechanized Battalion (Armored cars) Kilkelly of his fellow French, but they even ignored him when the battle Cavalry Battalion (composite) was over. Very few Vichy troops agreed to join the Free French, and No. 11 Special Service Battalion, “C” Battalion - Layforce the Vichy would remain an effective minor force until the Allies Scottish Commandos (Cyprus and Alexandria, deployed for amphibious assault) landed in North Africa. I Company Col. R.R.N. Pedder II Company Cap. G.R.M. More III Company Maj. G.C.T. Keyes

ORDER OF BATTLE Reinforcements: June 17-18: 6th Division Headquarters Maj. General J.F. Evetts Commonwealth 16th Infantry Brigade (lorried) (British) Brigadier C.E.N. Lomax Prime Minister Churchill ordered Sir Archibald Percival Wavell, General Officer King’s Own Royal Regiment (2nd battalion) (Kings) Commanding-in-Chief of Middle East Command, to undertake a campaign to invade Queens Regiment (2nd battalion) (Queens) and control the Vichy French Levant. Wavell appointed General Henry Maitland Leicester Regiment (2nd battalion) (Leicest) “Jumbo” Wilson as the commanding officer of this invasion, code named Operation 4th Field Regiment Royal Artillery (4 Fld) (16x25pdrs) Exporter. 211th Battery, 64th Medium Royal Artillery Regiment (British) 2/9 Australian Field Artillery Regiment Theater Command: Wilson Headquarters, Nazareth, Palestine, after June 17th, I Australian Corps Headquarters June 23-24: 23rd Infantry Brigade (lorried) (British) Brigadier Alexander Galloway I Australian Corps—Lt. General John Lavarack Border Regiment (4th battalion) (Bdr) Scots/Greys Infantry Battalion (lorried) (British) (Sc Gry) Durham regiment (1st battalion) (Durham) Cheshire Yeomanry (horsed cavalry) (British) (Ches Y) Czechoslovak Battalion (Czech) Staffordshire Yeomanry (horsed cavalry) (British) (Staff Y) 60th Field Regiment Royal Artillery (60 Fld) (24x25pdrs) Royal Dragoons (armored cars) (British) (Royals) th 6 Australian Divisional Cavalry (Cav/6 Div) June 28: th 9 Australian Divisional Cavalry (Cav/9 Div) Australian 17 Infantry Brigade Brigadier Savige Palmach Infantry Battalion (Local Jewish Palestine “strike force”) (Sadeh/ (Comprised of Australian 2/3 and 2/5 Infantry Battalions and 2/2 Pioneer Battalion, Palmach) formerly operating independently under 7th Australian Infantry Division, all th 170 Light Anti-aircraft Battery (British) (battery of the 57 Light Anti-aircraft understrength) Regiment) July 8: th 7 Australian Infantry Division Maj. General John Lavarack, after June 18 14th Infantry Brigade (lorried) (British) Brigadier B.H. Chappel Maj. General A. S. Allen Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment (1st battalion) (BdHf) 2/3 Australian Infantry Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment (2nd battalion) (York) 2/5 Australian Infantry Battalion Black Watch Regiment (2nd battalion) (BW) 2/2 Australian Pioneer Battalion2/3 Australian Machine Gun Battalion North Somerset Yeomanry (lorried) (NS Yeo) 2/4 Australian Field Artillery Regiment (24x25pdrs) 2/5 Australian Field Artillery Regiment (16x25pdrs) 2/6 Australian Field Artillery Regiment (24x25pdrs) Vichy French 212th Battery, 64th Medium Royal Artillery Regiment (British) The Vichy Levant (Syria and Lebanon) was under command of High Commissioner 5th&6th Australian Field Companies (Engineers) General Henri Dentz. Military defense of the Levant was under overall command of 2/2 Australian Anti-tank Battalion (Composite including light Anti-aircraft General Joseph Verdilhac; the defense of Lebanon command, Brigadier Paul Arlabosse; batteries) defense of southern Syria command, Brigadier Etienne Delhomme (after June 19, Colonel Keime replaces Delhomme). Australian 21st Infantry Brigade (lorried, but depleted transport) Brigadier J.E.S. Stevens 6e Régiment Etranger d’Infanterie (Foreign Legion) (Lgn) Barre 2/14 Infantry Battalion Lt. Col W.G. Cannon I Batallion Jouve 2/16 Infantry Battalion Col. A. B. Mac Donald II Batallion Brisset 2/27 Infantry Battalion Lt. Col. M. J. Moten III Batallion Robotaille IV Batallion Hourtane Australian 25th Infantry Brigade (lorried, but depleted transport) Brigadier A.R. Baxter-Cox 24e Régiment Mixte d’Infanterie Coloniale (Mixed Metropolitan & Colonial Inf) 2/25 Infantry Battalion Lt. Col N. Marshall (Mxd) Georges-Picot 2/31 Infantry Battalion Lt. Col Porter I Batallion Gauthier 2/33 Infantry Battalion Lt. Col R.F. Monaghan II Batallion Olive III Batallion Plantard Indian 5th Infantry Brigade (lorried) Brigadier W.L. Lloyd Royal Fusiliers Regiment (1st Battalion) (British) (Roy Fus) Col. Orr 4/6th Rajputana Rifles Battalion (Indian) (Rajput) Col. L.B. Jones 17e Régiment de Tirailleurs Sénégalais (Senegalese Rifle Infantry) 3/1st Punjabi Rifles Battalion (Indian) (Punjab) Lt. Col. Greatwood (Seng) Hoareau 1 Royal Artillery Regiment (British) (1 Roy) (16x 25pdrs) I Batallion Rollet 171 Anti-Aircraft Battery (British) (includes an anti-tank company) II Batallion Boyer 18 Royal Bombay Sappers & Miners Company (Indian) (18 RB) III Batallion Mercuit

Free French Infantry “Division” Maj. General Paul Legentilhomme 16e Régiment de Tirailleurs Tunisiens (Tunisian Rifle Infantry) (Tun) Rauscher 1er Brigade D’Orient Cazaud I Batallion Foreign Legion (Lgn) Amilakvary II Batallion 1 Batallion d’Infanterie de Marine (1 Mar) Chevigne III Batallion 2 Batallion d’Infanterie de Marine (2Mar) Detroyat 22e Régiment de Tirailleurs Algeriens (Algerian Rifle Infantry) (Alg) Aubry 2e Brigade D’Orient Genin I Batallion Sirot 1 Batallion March (Senegalese) (1 Seng) Delange II Batallion Rousselot 2 Batallion March (Senegalese) (2 Seng) Roux III Batallion Lecorne 3 Batallion March (Senegalese) (3 Seng) Garbay

1er FF Artillery Battalion 4x75mm, 4x65mm (Italian mountain howitzers)

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29e Régiment de Tirailleurs Algériens Albord Lyman, Robert. First Victory, Britain’s Forgotten Struggle in the I Batallion Blanc Middle East, 1941, London: Constable, 2006. Pgs. 147-212. II Batallion Dillemann III Batallion Massone McAllester, Jim & Trigellis-Smith, Syd. Largely a Gamble, 1er Régiment de Tirailleurs Marocains (Moroccan Rifle Inf) (Mor) Australians in Syria June-July 1941, Sydney: Headquarters Training V Batallion Pinoteau 6e Régiment Chasseurs d’Afrique (mécanisé) (Chas) Amanrich Command, Australian Army, 1995. Group I (R35 tanks) (Lehr) Lehr Group II (armored cars) (Marion) Marion Mockler, Anthony. Our Enemies the French, Being an Account of the War Fought Between the French & the British Syria 1941, 7e Régiment Chasseurs d’Afrique (mécanisé) (Chas) Caumont Group I (R35 tanks) (Gandy) Gandy London: Leo Cooper, 1976. Group II (armored cars) (Roulin) Roulin Pal, Dharm. Campaign in Western Asia, Calcutta: Combined Compagnie Autonome de Chars du Levant (Tank Training Company) (Levant) Inter-services Historical Section (India & Pakistan), 1957, Pgs. 4e Régiment de Spahis Tunisiens (Tunisian cavalry) (4 Tun) 171-222.

8e Régiment de Spahis Algériens (Algerian cavalry) (8 Alg) Parkinson, C. Northcote. Always A Fusilier, Chapter IV, The Middle I Company, Goumiers (Goums) Carmejane II Company Bodman East and Syria, London: Sampson Low, 1949, Pgs. 69-98.

1er Régiment de Spahis (Moroccan cavalry) (1 Mor) Martin Playfair, Major-General I.S.O., C.B. History of the Second World 1er Régiment d’Artillerie Coloniale du Levant (colonial artillery) (1Col) War, Volume II, The Mediterranean and Middle East, London: Her Group I and Group II Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1956, Chapter X, The Campaign in Group V Syria: (June –July 1941), Pgs. 199-222.

1er Régiment d’Artillerie (metropolitan artillery) (1 Met) Group I and Group II Qureshi, Major Mohammed Ibrahim. History of the First Punjab Group V Regiment 1759-1956, Alershot: Gale & Polden, Ltd., 1958, Pgs. 352-359. 2e Régiment d’Artillerie (2 Met) Group I Group II Rathe, Jean-Guy. “Troupes Françaises Du Levant, Order of Battle (Land), June 1941.” The Europa Magazine #81, 2001, Pgs. 35- Troupes Specials (local Lebanese, Liban and Syrian, Levant troops) 47. 1er Bataillon du Levant 3e Bataillon du Levant 4e Bataillon du Levant Raugh, Jr., Harold E. Wavell in the Middle east 1939-1941, A 7e Bataillon du Levant Study in Generalship, London-New York: Brassey’s (UK), 1993, 1er Bataillon de Chasseurs du Liban 2e Bataillon de Chasseurs du Liban (2 Beirut) Pgs. 206-243. 3e Bataillon de Chasseurs du Liban Groupment d’Escadrons Tcherkesses Cavalry Schreiber, Gerhard, Stegemann, Bernd, and Vogel, Detlef. Germany (local Syrian horsed cavalry) (Tcherk) Gueriviere and the Second World War, Volume III, The Mediterranean, South- Groupment de Cavalerie de Ligne (local Lebanese horsed cavalry) (Liban) Bruniere east Europe, and North Africa, 1939-1941, Oxford: Clarendon Groupment d’Escadrons Druzes Press, 1995, Pgs. 589-623. (Druze cavalry) (Druze) Mollat 41e and 42e Groupment d’Escadrons Motories du Levant (Circ) (truck mounted Circassian cavalry squadrons) Shores, Christopher. Dust Clouds in the Middle East, The Air War for 13e, 14e and 36e Groupment d’Escadrons Legers (Circ) East Africa, Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Madagascar, 1940-42, London: (horsed Circassian cavalry squadrons) Grub Street, 1996, Pgs. 198-270.

Smith, Colin. England’s Last War Against France, Fighting Vichy Selected Bibliography 1940-1942, London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2009, Pgs. 161- Buckley, Christopher. Five Ventures, Iraq-Syria-Persia-Madagascar- 278. Dodecanese, London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1954, Pgs. 41-138. Tute, Warren. The Reluctant Enemies, The Story of the Last War Between Britain and France 1940-1942, London: Collins, 1990, Connell, John. Wavell, Scholar and Soldier, New York: Harcourt, Pgs. 169-183. Brace & World, Inc., 1964, Pgs. 456-463. Von Borries, Vance, Drive on Damascus, The Wargamer #15, Hong Gaujac, Paul. L’Armee de la Victoire, Le Rearmement 1942-43, Kong: Simulation Games, 1981. Paris-Limoges: Charles-Lavauzelle, 1984. Chapitre II, L’Affaire du Levant (Juin – Juillet 1941). Pgs. 14-39. Warner, Geoffrey. Iraq and Syria 1941, Newark: University of Delaware Press, 1974, Pgs. 122-158 Gaunson, A.B. The Anglo-French Clash in Lebanon and Syria, 1940-45, London: The McMillan Press, LTD, 1987.

Long, Gavin. Greece, Crete, and Syria. Canberra: Australian War Memorial, 1953. Pgs. 320-529.

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is logistics; trying to move gas and bullets these locations in order to obtain a “Sudden Player Notes forward where they are needed. Here, you Death” victory. What usually happens is By Alan Murphy have only 1SP worth of trucks, with no the Vichy reserves will readily mop up Commonwealth Player leg transport units available (unlike your your invaders instead. Therefore, you Notes Vichy opposition). Care should therefore should seek smaller solutions for a chance be taken to ensure that the axis of your at victory in increments. In RE, time will Do not get the impression that you can launch offensives is where you want, because prove to be to your benefit. On the defense, some kind of O’Connor-like offensive here. moving supply forward is difficult due depth is the key. Don’t allow enemy cavalry If you haven’t already picked up on this, to the serious shortage of transportation. or truck-borne raiders to get behind your just take a look at your forces. Everything You must simultaneously protect your lines. If allowed to infiltrate, the Vichy you have here is borrowed from other active precious pool of trucks while maximizing has the resources to drive deep into your theatres. Upon initial reflection, one cannot their use to the utmost. Break them down unprotected rear areas and seriously disrupt help but feel some level of empathy for into 1T truck points and find a comfortable your operations or, worse yet, wreak total Wavell. Here he was certainly pressed to means of shuttling supply where needed, disaster. Boneheaded things like leaving produce unreasonable miracles for his boss, utilizing their full movement. Another Haifa ungarrisoned is a prime example. Winston Churchill. Whatever Rommel’s useful transportation asset is your 1RE rail distractions were from Rome and Berlin, capacity. Once the Haifa-Deraa rail line has Your variable replacement capability is of at least he could concentrate his military been cleared, you can begin railing up to 1SP considerable advantage over the Vichy, who skills on one front; Wavell had to conduct as your campaign progresses. Establishing only receive 1 Pax from the reinforcement two separate and distinct campaigns, for an efficient and effective transportation arrival schedule. You have, roughly, a 40% the revolt in Iraq had exacerbated the network should play an important role in supply advantage, which is good, because dangerous political situation in Syria, and your overall strategy. you will need every token of it. To add to directed Churchill’s attention towards an this, your primary airfield is situated in an area where he believed his old love affair Your Special Service commando companies Off-Map Holding Box (representing the with France could be satisfactorily pursued. may seem very cool, however don’t various airfields just to the south of the map). With scarce military assets stretched so thin, anticipate them sticking around very long. As a Level 3 airbase, it can accommodate it should hardly come as any surprise that You could easily lose a company (or more) the majority of the RAF as well as provide for Operation Exporter the Commonwealth just trying to land them. This is a shame, as a safe haven from enemy facility air raids. (“CW”) has such a small, fragile ground they are some of your best units. However, Your planes can refuel here at no cost. You force; accompanied by a tiny air force. Add remember their mission here is to aid the also possess a 2:1 advantage in headquarter to this meager transportation resources and anticipated “zip drive” up the coast. As a units, as well as several engineer units. seemingly, never enough supply: Welcome plus, the commandos land in trace and with These are particularly useful units to to the Levant! Chin up. After several turns, combat supply during their first turn. Should have when it comes to bridging the map’s things will get better as your reinforcements they survive the first couple turns, they can numerous river barriers. trickle in. be a serious impediment to the precarious Vichy supply line along the coast. Your artillery components are surprisingly The Commonwealth army in Reluctant versatile. They can be handily broken down Enemies is truly a coalition of forces. The naval units are a bit abstract here as or built up to adequately accommodate the Here you have an eclectic collection of compared to other OCS titles. Here, the Barrage Table variations. Furthermore, Australian, British, Indian, Rajputana, Royal Navy consists of barrage strengths when fueled, they can be quickly transported Punjabi, Free French, Tunisian, Algerian, from a destroyer squadron and a heavy from one sector of the front to another; Goumiers, Moroccan, Senegalese, Jewish- cruiser squadron. Initially, these two units usually in the course of a single turn. Use Palestinian and Trans-Jordanian troops; should support the commando landings as this agility to your advantage, as it may even a battalion of the Special Service much as possible. While unpredictable, the throw the Vichy player off balance. If you Brigade, No. 11 Commando, coming in RN units have considerably more mettle make a feint in one sector, you can quickly over the rough waters from Alexandria. than that of the Vichy’s; they also appear divert your artillery to another attack. The Tactically, the Commonwealth Army has far more consistently. The RN cruiser unit same applies to your AT guns (which the a number of very good units, and far more is your most powerful artillery asset in the Vichy lack) which will be useful in defense of them. Overall, the CW forces have a game, featuring the best overall strength against marauding enemy armor units as you 2.5 advantage in units bearing a 4 action and range. Best of all, it requires no supply. advance through the open desert. rating. Use these units to stiffen attacks, as Used properly, the RN will be a definite asset they have good strength and good action during the advance up the Mediterranean When not in direct use (which will be ratings. Further, the majority of these are coast line. most of the time), be sure to protect your motorized. Like your mobile artillery, your vulnerable artillery units with attack- truck-borne infantry will play a large part During mid-game, the game progresses capable units. When it’s time for the big in this battle. into siege-like warfare in difficult terrain. guns, be frugal and select your targets You may suddenly see what appears to be carefully. It will take several turns to The early game is usually very fluid and a fortunate opportunity and decide to make accumulate the supply necessary to fire off mobile. Still, care must be taken setting up a grab at either Rayak Airfield or Beirut for the salvos needed to help blow a hole in the for the offensive. While a series of small “Sudden Death” Victory. Be careful of this, enemy lines; particularly as you advance actions may be a set back to the Vichy for these forays usually will result in failure. north and have to pound your way through player, a crushing attack will be harder for Remember, you will need to maintain a a lot of very close terrain. The RAF can him to react to. One of the most difficult and supply trace through mostly awful terrain to assist in this matter. Your air strikes will frustrating problems you will experience

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serve as an important offensive weapon. been reduced to 35,000 troops. However, Your air force is highly effective and one While starting off small, the RAF will grow these were, by and large, mostly well of best assets in your arsenal. Your bomber as the campaign progresses. If you wage a trained and well led professional soldiers, force is more numerous and more powerful vigilant and successful air campaign, you equipped with a considerable proportion of than the RAF’s. Your fighter force, while a will gradually wear down the Vichy air war supplies. Your OOB includes a regiment bit smaller, will dominate the early game, forces to gain air superiority. of very tough Legion etrangere, Foreign especially after the third turn reinforcements Legionnaires, all bearing 4 action ratings. arrive. That Dewoitine 520 fighter unit, The wild card in Commonwealth planning Overall, your forces at hand are very good rated at ‘4’, is the best fighter unit on the is the Indian 5th Brigade of the 4th Indian and surprisingly quite resilient. map. It will be a constant threat to enemy air Division. Veterans of Keren, these units are operations. Until it is reduced or eliminated, among your best. With proper planning, The real power of the Vichy army will the CW is going to have major anxieties these battalions can be used to support any be its ability to react quickly. While their given its presence. A further feather in your of the three CW axis of advance to great armored assets may seem small in number, cap here is your airfields. They are where effect. The first option would be to reinforce if deployed together as a distinctive group, they need to be. As such, they will prove to the drive north, along the Hejaz Railway, the Vichy armored battalions are the best be a tremendous asset during the mid-game. to be joined by the oncoming Free French units in the game. As such, they can cause Rayak Airfield, a Level 3 base, will provide Division (which enters the map fueled on the CW forces some real damage. Further, very tough flak defenses. Posting a HQ unit GT2). Second, the brigade can be used to your artillery components, while not as here will further augment the base’s flak reinforce the Aussie 25th Brigade and other numerous as the CW artillery network, are defense by +1. Similar to the CW’s Off- independent units that start near the Hasbani more powerful; few units possess greater map Box, all planes based at Rayak can River, supporting their drive up the Litani range. However, as with the CW, supply refit for free. Since this base is actually on River Valley. Finally, the brigade could is tight. You must therefore judge wisely the map, CW units entering into the clear quickly Strat Move to the west coast and when to spend precious supply points for terrain within Litani Valley do so under the support the Aussie and SSB operations in artillery ammunition. Your single naval shadow of Rayak’s air umbrella. They can their advance up the coastline. unit can barrage for free. When available, be subject to a +1 barrage column shift by it may be of use along the coast. Keep an Vichy air once in range. Consider building As the campaign draws to a close, you will ever-protective eye on your artillery assets, a forward airbase early on, to deploy fighter find that you have exhausted the majority of for they can do wonders in shutting down patrol zones. Such a fighter umbrella would your units, along with almost all of your air a looming CW offensive, or significantly provide useful air protection along the support. However, if you have coordinated increase your odds in an attack. If you coast, south of Damour, in the mountain things as planned, time will have proved decide to incorporate RE optional rule 4.2, valley and in proximity to Merdjayoun and to be on your side. The key here is to have you can fuel certain Vichy regiments at the north thereof. the Vichy player run out of the above three cost of one supply point, in accordance before you do. with OCS series rules 12.5, part B. This The basic challenge for the Vichy player option would allow the fueled regiment to will be conducting a mobile defense. Here, Vichy-French Player be accompanied by one additional artillery you have three distinct sectors to defend; the unit, along with the CACL independent coastline, the valley between the mountain Notes light armored battalion. Consider the effect ranges, and the Syrian Desert. If you try At first glance, the Vichy army is seemingly of this - if the timing is right, you may be to defend all three fronts simultaneously, big and powerful. The French here have the able to run a fueled regiment all the way it is highly likely that an aggressive considerable advantages of good troops, from Damascus to Amman or Haifa. A Commonwealth army will reap havoc on interior lines, adequate supply resources possibility exists to be in trace supply at your army. Here, consider an axiom of and ample transportation assets compared the end of your turn, as these locations are mobile defense; holding the shoulders of to their CW opposition. The majority of in relatively open terrain. On the tail end the any CW breakthroughs and constraining your army already starts on the map and, of a game turn, such an event could prove their advance to a narrow breakthrough. for a short while, your losses seem to to be a disaster for the CW. Delay any deep penetrations by enemy recoup rather quickly after being lost in reserves with minimal forces (the Syrian combat. Despite this initial perception, be The Vichy transportation network, while and Lebanese battalions are ideal for this wary of unnecessary losses, for you can ill small, is on par with your CW counterpart. and they make great spotters for barrage); afford to lose units. Several Vichy groups Yet augmenting your meager 1RE of truck then counterattack with vigor into the flank cannot react during the first turn or two, transport is another 1RE of wagons, which of the breakthrough. Your counter-attacks representing the Vichy’s cautious response move via Leg movement. While slower than should be led by your superior armored to the Commonwealth’s invasion. Despite your Renault trucks, the wagons, with their units, supported by good rated infantry. this, the Vichy side has the initiative in the leg movement capacities, will prove to be This is the true essence of the OCS. With early game and should make full use of it quite useful in forwarding precious supply skill, it can be applied here to great effect. while he can. through the rough and mountainous areas A careful analysis of the map should be in - where the majority of your battles will be order each turn. Find those locations where Similar to their Commonwealth counter- fought. Like your trucks, your wagons can the enemy is having difficulty holding parts, the Vichy Army is comprised of be broken down into 4T tokens. Further or defending and move forces there; just a coalition of French, German (within augmenting your transport logistics is your enough to possibly distract the CW player. the Foreign Legion), Algerian, Tunisian, 1.5 RE rail capacity. As with the CW notes Your cavalry battalions are ideal in this Moroccan, Goumiers, Senegalese and above, you must find an effective use of role, as they move swiftly and require no Druze troops; along with a smattering of all your transportation assets and get your fuel. Ideal locations for raids could be the conscripted Lebanese and Syrian forces. supplies and reinforcements where they Kunietra area (using the Lava Fields near By early 1941, the Army of the Levant had need to be. Sassaa as a launching base); the no-man’s

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land situated between Sheikh Meskine and more embarrassing to the Commonwealth MOBILITY: In any OCS game, mobility Sanamein (again, using the rough terrain player than having the Legion etrangere can be a key element of gameplay, and in just south of Kiswe as a launching base). running rampant in either Amman and/or this game, it is no different. Actually, here, Opportunity exists if you can manage to Haifa. Salaam alikum, viva la France! the effects of mobility may be even more hold Merdjayoun early on in the campaign, pronounced! Why? While there is plenty of as this can be an incredibly tough nut for the restrictive terrain on the map, a motorized CW to crack. On this same note, establishing Player Notes unit in movement mode using roads an effective roadblock (hex 23.11) may not by “Game Fun Assurance Committee unimpeded can move clear across the map. only prevent CW flanking moves west of Chairman” Daniel Broh-Kahn In other OCS games, there may be enough Merdjayoun but possibly trap enemy forces So you’ve set up Operation Exporter… units to garrison key crossroads, but in this situated there. Now what? Well, before you jump into game, there never seems to be enough units the sunny Mediterranean with both feet, to do that, for either side. So, you’ve been A dilemma you will need to consider is why not take a few minutes to read the warned. Given the paucity of replacements, when to withdraw. As your forces pull experiences of one of the playtesters, for this adage becomes even truer as the game back, they fall back towards their supply not too long ago, I was in your shoes too! goes on! Although there are a few early network and into more defensible terrain. I will not go into the details about the reinforcements and periodic unit recoveries, There are several good defensive river Operational Combat System, although a smart Vichy player will learn that the units lines to consider - the el Awaj (15 miles that has some merit. The core rulebook he starts with are basically all he is going south of Damascus), and the Litani, the for the game has some outstanding advice to have to work with the entire game. So Aouale and the Damour. The latter three are regarding the system, and you should read husband your resources carefully, especially situated along the coastline, from south to it! In addition Mr. Jansen’s quick start air and armor assets. The same is true, to a north. These coastal river lines are studded summary of the OCS rules included here lesser degree, for the Commonwealth but with escarpment hex sides, prohibiting with Reluctant Enemies can be very helpful your bigger issue for this player will be movement and channelizing all movement to newbies. As a former newbie myself, I keeping the pressure on. to the east or west. Situated behind these was struck by the organizational and supply effective defensive river lines, you can make rules, as well as the combat results table SUPPLY: In the many games I play tested, the CW forces pay for every inch of ground. (Surprise!) and the awesome importance I never ran out of supply, for either side, That Level 1 airfield in Mezze, just outside of unit effectiveness ratings. If you don’t but I often noticed that the supply was not of Damascus, is worth fighting for. Here learn those, then anything I tell you will be where it was needed! So keep that in mind. the road net here diverts to the northwest, less than useless! Plan ahead when using supply, and always towards the famous Maysalun Pass (through strive to get the most efficient bang for your the Jabel Mazur, near hex 15.24, Dimas) OK, so now you think you understand the buck using the available supply tokens. Use and into the Litani Valley. This passage OCS. Let’s look at an overview of Operation your few trucks and wagons to move the is vital to defend. To keep the CW player Exporter first, and then we’ll get into some supplies where they are needed, and be sure out of the Latani River Valley, it behooves strategies and tactics. These notes apply to to protect your dumps. Did I mention that you to staunchly defend Mezze and its the campaign game. The first thing to note you never have enough units? Level 1 airbase as stubbornly as possible. is the scale, which is 4 turns per week. Deny the CW opportunity to advance his This is not the standard 2 turns per week ARMOR, INFANTRY and ARTILLERY: supply network westward towards the OCS scale, but given the unit densities, There is the possibility for extensive notes mountains. If successful, it will leave the entirely appropriate for the campaign. For on each of these topics. However, for a roads to Rayak (6.21) and possibly Beirut both sides, be cognizant of how long the novice player of the OCS, it is imperative (5.10) wide open. In the campaign game, game is. In essence, the burden of attack that you understand the importance of Damascus, the “Open City”, is another in on the Commonwealth and they have reserve and exploitation movement, as well interesting dilemma. Neither side can afford to accomplish certain objectives within a as understanding movement modes. Take the forces necessary to create or defend certain timeframe. For the Vichy French, your average tank or armored car unit and a siege situation-this is no Stalingrad! their job is simply a matter of surviving flip it over; notice how much faster it moves Successful defense of Damascus yields and holding on to real estate, two often in Movement mode. Use that knowledge to at least a Marginal Win for the Vichy, competing goals. your advantage, and ensure that your units which the CW cannot ignore. As long as are in the proper mode at all times! Don’t trace supply can be maintained, it is worth TACTICAL NOTES: First let’s look at the forget that Armor and Mech combat values holding for as long as possible. You’ll have units from both sides of the coin. I’d say are doubled when attacking in Open (and to know when it is time to withdraw into from the French side first, but I cannot, for armor in Low Hills). However, these the mountains. because there are French units on both units combat values are generally halved sides! On average, the Commonwealth almost everywhere else! One final consideration for the Vichy units are slightly better than the Vichy player here is the deep battle. Certainly French in terms of action ratings. But this is AIRPLANES: Because there are so few, more opportunities exist than for his CW terribly misleading, because an action rating for both sides, they must be used carefully. opponent. If the CW player has not left differential of +1 is huge! This means that in Losing even a single fighter step can lead ample reserves to counter a major attack, the any combat, the Allies can lead their worse to a slippery slope of disaster, as your Vichy forces have the necessary resources units with a better one almost every time, opponent will continue to beat up on your to make that one bold drive, deep into the so for those MUST WIN attacks, the Allies ever-weakening air force. Reread the enemy’s rear. If opportunity presents itself, can risk their best units and already have a OCS rules about patrol zones, because not here you have the tools to do it. There is little leg up. The Vichy are less capable of this, so understanding them will cause you to put just knowing that fact will help you.

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your planes where they are not needed, area is contained by the impenetrable barrier units, formation mobility, and the eventual and you never have enough to do that. of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, just depletion of Vichy forces. On the other hand, Understand the air umbrellas of patrol 6 hexes to the east of the coast. This battle remember the onus of attack is on you. Do not zones and use them to protect your ground front is very much a north-south affair get frustrated when you discover how long it pounders. Your bombers may give you that with limited (but important) availability takes to crack a river line in close terrain. Your missing DG you need! The Vichy should not for flanking the coastal positions. task may seem endless. Remember, you will underrate the effects of interdicting (Train eventually crack them, hopefully in enough Busting) the Hejaz railway. THE RIGHT: There are two typical routes time to take your objectives. from Deraa to Damascus. The good thing COMMANDOS: Vichy Beware! I could for the Commonwealth player is that the VICHY: Mr. Vichy, do not get discouraged write a treatise on this one particular topic, terrain in this sector is mostly Open. The when you get pushed back, welcome that result because our playtester group certainly bad thing is that as soon as you get close as the historical reality. As the Vichy player, spent a lot of time discussing it. Let’s just to your objective, Damascus, the terrain you must defend all three avenues of approach, say this: Read and reread the commando closes up at Kiswe, with the added benefit and there is not a lot of lateral movement to rules carefully, and understand exactly of a river line and lava terrain. A smart allow cross support. (You do have three reserve what the implications are of a successful Vichy player will try delaying tactics up markers, which are ideally suited to plug gaps; (or an unsuccessful) landing. As both the the road, while building up a credible make the best use of them. They may be your Commonwealth and Vichy player, you defense along the river line. It will never most important “units”) If you overcommit should prepare for the worst, hope for the be perfect, but a competent Vichy player on one approach vector, you will find that the best, but expect the average. In other words, will know when to “Cut and Run” from Commonwealth mobility will allow him to as a Vichy player, the worst result would the river. Hopefully, it will be later in the quickly adjust to the new possibilities offered be a very successful landing, supported by game. The Commonwealth can (and must) by another avenue, and you will not be able Royal Navy supply and cutting the coast assign resources to ultimately break the to respond as quickly. Your job is to slow road, putting all your southern Lebanon river line and follow up into Damascus, down your opponent as much as possible, forces out of trace supply. That is a disaster but the Vichy player must make him pay, and trade space for time. His infantry are for you, so prepare for it, because it could in Mr. Churchill’s words, in “Blood, Toil, better, his artillery becomes more numerous, happen! Commonwealth, with a sensible Tears, and Sweat.” Lots of tears! This is his air force will be reinforced, and he even Vichy setup, your Royal Marines will be ordinarily a very important early battle for has Frenchmen, by God! (Although Gaullists) wiped out to a man, but you can at least both players. You will lose most combats. You do have the make it interesting for your opponent. best armored force in the game. Find the best THE MIDDLE: So what’s left is the way to use it most effectively. In addition you STRATEGIES: As you read this, lay the rough terrain of the valley between the will have air superiority early on. Find a good map out in front of you. The features that mountain ranges – The Middle. It offers place for a forward airbase and try to maintain concern you the most are the road and rail many possibilities for both sides. For the a patrol zone. A nasty well placed surprise networks. Terrain is important too, as are Vichy player, beware of first turn overruns counterattack can derail Commonwealth the cities and towns, but you have to utilize and exploitations which could leave the operational plans, and may even cost him the the transportation network through the Commonwealth player in the vicinity of game! The Vichy have sudden death victory terrain to get to the cities and towns. The Hasbaya on the first turn! The rewards for an objectives also. Good luck, and don’t give up mountains and escarpments present some aggressive assault on Merdjayoun are few, when things look bad. They might be worse very restrictive and movement channeling unless you managed to shred the Vichy army for your opponent! terrain. This is primarily a challenge for while taking it. If not, expect a long slug up the Commonwealth player. There are the road to El Masna and beyond, if you ever three primary axes of advance through manage to get that far. If a competent Vichy Design and Lebanon and Syria (Vichy player, note player can manage to allocate a few choice Development Notes these as well!) units and supply them along this road, he can create a painful bottleneck and really First off, I haven’t “designed” anything. The THE LEFT (Commonwealth viewpoint drive the Commonwealth player nuts! This credit for design here rightly belongs to Dean sitting at the south end of the map): The is a difficult front for the Commonwealth Essig. He has created the Operational Combat first and probably most obvious one is player. However, the Vichy player should Series (“OCS”) which is the underlying the coast road, from Haifa to Beirut. Look beware of treating this are too lightly. Rayak system of game play employed for Reluctant carefully at the choke points, as these will airbase at the top of the valley is a sudden Enemies (“RE”). It might be better said that determine your strategy and direction. The death victory objective. Play testing has I have adapted the military and political escarpments will channel your attacks right shown that it can be taken. circumstances of Operation Exporter to along the coast, and, in addition, there are conform to the OCS and thereby allowing an three river lines that will halve your combat COMMONWEALTH: So which strategy examination of Operation Exporter in this factors for any units attacking across. Be should you take, Mr. Commonwealth? format. prepared to be frustrated as you try to crack The three routes all have advantages these river defenses, but crack them you and disadvantages. The Commonwealth [DE: Curtis, you are being too hard on yourself must, and, eventually, you will. (Vichy player must apply credible pressure on here. You designed this game, as much as player, fight for these tooth and nail.) all three routes, simply to force the Vichy anyone else who designed a game in one of For both sides the coast road offers quick player to stretch his resources as much my series... they (and you) fully earned the resupply and reinforcement possibilities, as as possible. Capitalize on your strengths, title 'game designer.'] available from Beirut or Haifa. This coastal which include the strategic initiative, better

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I’m grateful to have this opportunity to Eventually, I moved on to something else. present this game as my understanding of Sound familiar? I broke out the old GB Development Issues these events and to provide a small and again in the mid-nineties when my copy and Notes manageable game for a learning experience of DAK arrived, and again at the turn of Game Scale - Combat Unit Strengths and of the OCS. the century when I received Burma (my Recovery. The most significant “design” personal favorite). However, my efforts issues I have addressed for RE are related to Learning the OCS to learn the system were not successful the scale of the game particularly regarding I have enjoyed my amateur study of World regardless of the time spent trying. Oh well, (1) the strengths of the combat units and War II since I was in junior high school. had to move on, again. (2) the Combat Unit Recovery system. That’s been over forty years ago now. It’s Most of the maneuver units in this game been a great pastime, and I’ve read many When I got my copy of Guderian’s are battalion sized. At “regular” OCS scale, books and magazine articles on the subject Blitzkrieg II in 2002, I committed to Really as in DAK (II) for instance, the combat along the way. I have also played many Learn the System. I played the three turn strength of most Commonwealth infantry WWII wargames. Studying a WWII battle, GBII scenario, Drive On Bryansk, over, brigades and German infantry regiments campaign, theater of the war or the entire war and over, and over, and read the rules, (that are assumed to be comprised of three itself by playing a wargame can be rewarding again, and again, and again. I counted battalions) is 6. Therefore, by interpolation and enlightening. Books can have limitations twenty-five times on my chalk board in I assumed each battalion’s strength at that a wargame can alleviate. This aspect, my war room. The feeling of “What do I do regular OCS scale is 2. This presented a of feeling involved with the history, is just now?” dissipated and I finally understood problem because I needed a greater range a different experience than simply reading the subtleties of the phasing of the various to effectively depict the relative strengths words on a page, often dully presented. Of segments of play. I was always a determined of the various battalions of RE. So, as a course a wargame naturally allows some but slow learner, and I didn’t get everything. base I simply tripled the strength of the competitive aspect to come into play, so there What, there’s such a thing as a fighter “standard” battalion from 2 to 6. This then is another dimension involved. However, for sweep? This wasn’t specifically spelled allowed the granularity that was required me, a wargame is just a different vehicle to out in the rules then, although it was not but with a significant deviation from the understand the subject matter. I do enjoy prohibited. Can you imagine trying to play OCS norm. For instance I could now aptly competitively playing of a good wargame, the air war in OCS without fighter sweeps? show a “standard” Australian infantry especially in the company of likeminded No wonder I couldn’t fully appreciate the battalion at a strength of 6 as compared to friends, but primarily it is an adjunct to facility barrage table. At least I was over the the lesser manpower of, say, the Australian learning the history being portrayed. hump and understood the basics of the game. 2/2 pioneers as a strength of 4. Problem I was fortunate to have met Steve Jansen at solved for RE, but as a consequence, these About five years ago there was a great WBC in 2003. An experienced OCS player; combat units will not port to DAK (II) or discussion on Consimworld about the need he patiently provided me with my advanced any other OCS game. for a small OCS game to make the system OCS training. He‘s a great teacher and I’m more accessible to new players. Previous thankful for his time and effort in showing The OCS combat results table (CRT) was OCS games have been monsters in scope and me the whole system. designed by Dean Essig for the original production with often many maps to portray Guderian’s Blitzkrieg in 1992. It has not the geography, possibly hundreds of game This was not the best path for learning the significantly changed. For those who do turns and thousands of counters to represent OCS, and hopefully no one will have to not know, Guderian’s Blitzkrieg (and its the forces involved in a particular campaign. walk this path again. successor Guderian’s Blitzkrieg II) is a The OCS is an involved system which can be monster game depicting the German drive a challenge to learn, and especially to learn Reluctant Enemies is a small game which for Moscow in the fall of 1941 (Operation on your own with just the rulebook. I know can serve as an introduction to the OCS. It Typhoon). It has multiple map sheets to how hard this can be; it’s how I did it. is Twenty-One turns long, for the campaign portray the ground from Star’aya Russa game, a blink of an eye by OCS standards. to Yaroslavl in the north and Konotop to I had three false starts trying to teach myself There is one smaller nine turn starting Vorenezh in the south. The forces engaged the OCS. The first time was in 1992 when scenario. So, yes, it’s small OCS game that in this massive campaign are necessarily the first OCS game was released, the original is a manageable gaming experience which depicted by 2800 counters comprising Guderian’s Blitzkrieg. Wow, what a game. It is conducive to learning the system. thousands of steps of strength. It’s a big, big had a combination of game play that made game. By comparison RE is miniscule. RE it unique and a fresh viewpoint on WWII In addition, Steve Jansen has prepared a will have about 60 to 70 combat units, total military operations. There was movement, summary explanation of the important for both sides, in play at any one time in the overrun, barrage, combat and then do it again aspects of the OCS system to facilitate game. It became clear to me after early play with the reserves in exploitation. The combat the learning process for new players. This testing that the OCS CRT, designed for such units had their historical designations. Dean summary is included here with RE. a large campaign, where a single step of provided plenty of scenarios. The system combat strength is essentially meaningless, included combat unit modes, artillery Finally, all beginners should appreciate was way too bloody for this small conflict. barrage, enemy reaction, operational Chip Saltsman's illustrated play examples The forces engaged in RE, both the Vichy airpower, and of course command and in the "OCS Starter Guide." This guide is and Commonwealth, simply had a greater logistics. I punched out the counters for a meant to aid the newbie in learning OCS . staying power after losses. In addition, in short scenario and went to work to learn the It is included with RE for that purpose. RE, each combat unit and the loss thereof system. However, I struggled on my own can be significant. Something had to be to understand how it worked as a whole. I hope you enjoy the game. done to best portray the losses suffered and

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the recovery of combat units in this smaller Road Trace System. The rail network recognition of these events and there is no campaign. I felt the choice I had to make in Lebanon and Syria in 1941 was effect on game play. was showing each, or most battalions as rudimentary. It consisted primarily of the 2 step strength units or the Combat Unit Hejaz Railway, which went north from Lloyd - 5th Indian Infantry Brigade Recovery system which I have included Amman to Damascus. From Damascus the Headquarters. Brigadier W. L. Lloyd proved here in RE. In OCS Burma the Japanese railroad then went west, over the mountains himself to be an extraordinarily capable, have a similar, non-standard, unit recovery to Beirut on the coast and north to Baalbek, resilient and resourceful commander during system which influenced the development then off the RE map further north to Homs the course of this campaign. He was a of the RE Combat Unit Recovery system. I and Aleppo. There was a railway that also leader of men. Time and again he drew can also admit to being influenced by the ran from Haifa on the coast east through Irib out the most from his troops. He rallied recovery system used in GMT Games’, to link at Deraa in southern Syria with the exhausted soldiers and remade them into The Battle for Normandy. The RE Combat Hajaz Railway. Most importantly for RE, effective fighting forces. His role in this Unit Recovery system is simple and in 1941, there was no railway on the coast regard cannot be underestimated. When easy to use; recover one combat unit for from Haifa north to Beirut or from Haifa Legentilhomme’s arm was injured and he every three losses. Most importantly, I north through the mountain ranges into the had to relinquish command, Lloyd stepped feel it realistically portrays what actually Bekaa valley and then on to Rayak. into this assignment without hesitation, and happened; combat formations recovering assumed command of all forces fighting in their ability to function as a fighting force Therefore, I made the decision early on to Syria with impressive results. Under his and reconstituting back to a headquarters. allow trace supply along roads (not tracks). direction he pressed the Commonwealth This play tested very well. This play tested very well. Consistent forces in his command to aggressively, with other games in the series portraying seize opportunities before they were lost, Regardless of these deviations from ‘difficult theaters”, such as DAK, Sicily, and and greatly affected the campaign in its the norm, RE is in every way an OCS Case Blue (south of the Don River) it is a drive to capture Damascus. I know it is experience. workable solution to an otherwise difficult unusual to have a brigade headquarters game design problem. in an OCS game. But given the scale as I understand that these two design choices I’ve explained above and the remarkable may be OCS heresy of the first order in some Order of Battle Notes record of Lloyd I feel that a HQ counter is quarters, and I actually agonized over the Australian 17th Infantry Brigade. The warranted here. decision to include them as game specific sources were conflicting on the deployment rules. After explaining my dilemmas to of this under strength and under equipped The Vichy Regiments Chasseurs d’Afrique. Dean, he finally said in effect, don’t worry, brigade. Some sources listed the component (Designated as 6Chas & 7Chas on the it’s no big deal. Thank you Dean, that’s battalions of the 17th, the 2/2nd and counters in RE). These units are the exactly how I felt about it. In fact I believe 2/3rd infantry and the 2/2nd pioneers as arguably the most formidable units in the many particular game specific rules arriving after the start of the campaign as RE. Each regiment was organized as found in each OCS game to be a unique reinforcements. This is incorrect. There are two battalion sized “groupments” each aspect of the OCS. So, if I’m to be burned many credible accounts of these units being comprised of a mix of about 45 or 50 R35, at the stake for this, I feel it’s fair that I in the fight from the start as independent two man tanks plus about 75 armored cars, burn only in effigy. forces under the Australian 7th infantry primarily Panhard and White-Lafflys. division. The confusion was due to the These tanks and armored cars were actually Naval Actions. During this campaign late appointment and arrival of the brigade deployed most often in particular task forces there were small but numerous naval commander, Brigadier Savige and his staff. for small operations as required, but most engagements off the coast of Lebanon. These independent battalions were assigned of these actions are below the scale of RE. The German air force was very active out to the 17th brigade under the command They were however; used in concentrated of bases on Crete and Rhodes, sending of Savige to fill out the 7th division prior formations for the important and effective missions against the Royal Navy on a to the start of the battle for Damour. For Vichy counterattacks. Therefore, I decided nearly daily basis. Most of the RAF that simplicity I have left each of these units as to portray the regiments as two battalions, was available for this campaign was independents here in RE. one of tanks and another of armored cars. engaged against this German threat to the I believe this tested really well, allowing RN, especially early on. I made a decision, Australian I Corps Headquarters. General the Vichy player to realistically, sharply upon good advice, to abstract all this naval Wavell assigned General Maitland “Jumbo” and sometimes decisively counterattack activity. So the naval barrage eligibility Wilson as the commander of forces for the Commonwealth player. table represents my view of the possibilities Operation Exporter. Wavell’s forward for naval barrage support for the ground headquarters was at Nazareth. The 7th Place Names forces engaged on the coast. Australian infantry division, under the I encountered a dizzying variety of English command of General Lavarack was a names for nearly every place depicted on the Regiment vs. Battalion Designations. For component of Wilson’s at start forces. On map. Arabic to English appears as difficult ease of play and simplicity some combats the morning of June 18th Lavarack was as or possibly more difficult than even units which were historically designated as promoted to command the Australian I Chinese to English. For instance, I found regiments are here designated as battalions corps, and that corps was given command the following spellings for Kuneitra (Hex due to the actual smaller size of the force. of all forces in Lebanon and southern Syria. 30.18): Quneitra, Qouneitra, Qunaitira, This simplification affects primarily the This command change is portrayed in RE by Qunaytrah, and El Qunaytirah. So instead of Australian artillery, British Artillery and a switch of headquarters units from Wilson making myself crazy trying to be a linguist British cavalry regiments. to Lavarack. This is purely for historical I have simply used the spellings found

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in my first source; Gavin Long’s official and use format which was a tremendous Australian history of the campaign, Greece, help to me. In fact his edit comments are Abbreviations Crete and Syria. I hope this explanation longer than the rules themselves. Thanks Alg Algerian will prevent any debate that may erupt for all your help Rupert. BdHf Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire about the “correct” spelling of these place BW Black Watch names. Such a debate (other than by actual John McDougall was a proofing machine. Blenh Blenheim linguists) is non-substantive, so I suggest He proofed the map, counters, rules, charts Bdr Border we just use my place names, move on and and setups. Of course there be will be errata, Cav Cavalry enjoy the game. Thanks. but certainly less due to John’s efforts. Chas Chasseurs (tanks) Thanks John, you did a great job. Ches Y Cheshire Yeomanry Circ Circassian Acknowledgements Col Colonial I would like to recognize Daniel Broh-Kahn Thank you Dan Broh-Khahn and Al Murphy for your player's notes.I encourage all new Czech Czechoslovak for his patient guidance in helping me learn D Dewoitine some necessary skills with Adobe Illustrator OCS players to read those and heed their advice and guidance. Div Division so that I could finally produce the map and Durham Durham Light counters for play testing. My thanks to Hans FF Free French Kishel for sharing his counter and map I need to recognize the outstanding efforts of the following playtesters: Christian Fld Field artwork which he developed for his OCS Goums Goumiers game The Blitzkrieg Legend. In addition, Widmer, Urs Widmer, Urs Kasermann, Myk Deans, Eric Landes, Pere Cerdan Jisr Bennt Jacub Bridge of the thank you very much Hans for creating a Daughters of Jacob Vassal module for RE. Jim Daniels, thank and his group in Barcelona, Spain, Martin Stauton, Stephane Acquaviva, Alan Murphy Kings Kings Own you for revising the Vassal module. Urs Legntil Legentilhomme Widmer, thank you for also revising the and Alden Greene. These guys responded to my call for help by providing useful Leicest Leicester Vassal module. Urs, thank you for further LeO Liore et Oliver revising the VASSAL module with the final written reports, packed with data and often illustrated with pictures of game Levant Syrian locals game components. Myk Deans, thanks for Lgn Foreign Legion the one page charts summary. play. I read and used every one of these reports which were instrumental to the Liban Lebanese locals development of RE. LT Light David Hughes was a great help to me in Mar Marines preparing the order of battle. He is very Med Medium knowledgeable about the combatants, I was blessed with many other volunteers, from around the world, who play tested and Met Metropolitan particularly the Commonwealth forces. He MG Machine Gun was very patient with each of my requests proofed RE with critical eyes. Thank you gentlemen, one and all. Mor Moroccan for information; providing clear answers MS Moraine-Saulnier when he had them and helpful advice Mxd Mixed when a matter about a particular combat Finally, and most importantly, this little game would not have been produced without NSYeo North Somerset Yeomanry formation required judgment. I was able Pio Pioneers to make practical use of his counsel, and the faithful, dedicated and invaluable playtesting, proofing, consultation and just Punjab Punjabi the welcomed result is the RE counter sheet Queens Queen’s Royal depicting the actual forces engaged in this plain general assistance from the members of my local gaming club, the Baltimore Rajput Rajputana campaign. In addition he did a thorough job RB Royal Bombay Miners editing my historical notes, and he wrote NEBO Grognards. I owe a great debt of gratitude in particular to Steve Jansen, and Sappers the sidebars included there. David, I’m very Roy Royal grateful for all your help, thank you. Dan Cochrane, Francis Czawlytko, Ben Mangus, Joe Woolshleger, and again, Dan Roy Fus Royal Fusiliers Royals Royal Dragoons Chip Saltsman has provided the OCS Starter Broh-Kahn. They did a lot of hard work which allowed RE to become more than Sc Gry Scots Greys Guide included with the game. He has done Seng Senegalese a great job and I feel his illustrated examples some vague idea in my mind. Thanks guys. Staff Y Staffordshire Yeomanry and explanations will go a long way to help Tcherk Tcherkesses newbies learn the OCS. Thank you for all TJFF Trans Jordan Frontier Force your hard work Chip. Tun Tunisian York York & Lancaster Steven Jansen has written the OCS Rules Y, Yeo Yeomanry Summary and Beginner Explanation that is also included with RE. Steve is an experienced OCS player as well as a great teacher of the system. I trust this supplement will be well received by newbies. Thanks Quality Wargames Since 1988 Steve for this contribution to RE.

Rupert Cullum did a professional job proofing and editing the game specific M M P rules. He presented his findings in a very, detailed, but organized, easy to understand Multi-Man Publishing

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AMPHIBIOUS LANDING TABLE (ALT) Victory by VPs Determination Table Modified Roll – 2D6 Victory Victory Terrain Failure Success Points Points Level of Open/Village 2 or Less 3+ Campaign Secure the Victory (5.1) Levant (5.2) Other Than Open/Village 3 or Less 4+ 5 or Less 2 or Less Crushing Vichy Victory Success – Commando may land in coastal hex. Failure – Commando eliminated 6 3 Overwhelming

Die roll modifiers (cumulative): 7 4 Impressive Landing hex adjacent to Non –DG attack capable enemy combat unit: -2. 8 5 Marginal Landing hex is adjacent to DG attack capable enemy combat units: -1. Landing attempt in 1941: -2. 9 6 Draw 10-11 7-8 Marginal Commonwealth

Commonwealth Supply Commando Drift Table Victory (2D6) 12 9 Impressive Roll 1D6 2-5 1.5 13 10 Overwhelming 1-2 3-4 5-6 14 or More 11 or More Crushing 6-8 2.5 1 Hex 1 Hex None 9-12 3.5 North South Level of Victory Victory Effects NAVAL BARRAGE UNIT Commonwealth The loser must offer the winner a firm ELIGIBILITY TABLE Replacement Marginal handshake and sincere congratulations on winning a close game. TURN COMMONWEALTH VICHY Table The loser must offer the winner a firm (2D6) JUNE 8 YES YES PAX EQ handshake and sincere congratulations on JUNE 10 YES NO Impressive winning the game. The loser must also buy 2-8 x x the winner an adult beverage of the winner’s YES choice. JUNE 12 YES 9-10 1 x JUNE 14 YES NO The winner obtains Massive Bragging YES 11-12 1 1 Rights. The loser must offer the winner a JUNE 15 YES firm handshake and sincere congratulations Overwhelming JUNE 17 YES NO on winning an Overwhelming victory. The Vichy Supply loser must also buy the winner an adult JUNE 19 NO YES (2D6) beverage of the winner’s choice. JUNE 21 YES NO 2-4 1.0 5-9 1.5 The winner obtains Massive Bragging JUNE 22 NO YES Rights, and the designation Glorious Victor. 10-12 2.0 The loser must offer the winner a firm AFTER EVERY OTHER NO handshake and sincere congratulations on JUNE 22 TURN - Start June 24 winning a Crushing victory. The loser must Crushing also buy the winner an adult beverage of the winner’s choice. The winner may humbly Common Rebuild Table post on the OCS forum of Consim World a notice of this victory. The loser may Inf, MG, Mar, Cav 1PAX consider another hobby.

Arm, Arm. Car, AA, Art. 1EQ Draw Sit back down and play again. HQ 1PAX, 1EQ

2x Air Unit Steps 1EQ 2T Trucks 1EQ (Rebuild trucks losses only)

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