The Gamers, Inc. Operational Combat Series: Reluctant Enemies ©2013. Multi-Man Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Multi-Man Publishing, Inc. 403 Headquarters Drive, Suite 7, Millersville MD 21108 © 2013 All Rights Reserved. Page 1 RE Game Specific Rules.indd 1 8/15/13 12:05:02 PM Reluctant Enemies, OCS #13 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 section 1.11) has been provided to represent the HQ and all independents are fueled” 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).