NJHarman’s Campaign for North Africa House Rules

64.0 The Campaign For North Africa¶

Italian Campaign Scenario starts with OpStage I. There is no Strategic Air, Naval Convoy or Stores Expenditure stages.

Prior to OpStage I, Axis player must plan Naval Convoy’s for GT1 and GT2. The first stuff will unload in OpStage I. Yes, allies are denied Naval Convoy Bombing on GT1. Such are the effects of “surprise invasion”.

Weather [29.0] is rolled for on 1st Turn of scenario. Many games dictate weather on 1st turn, as the aggressor would plan for or delay opening operation to coincide with favorable conditions. The Italians get no such benefit.

Remember all Trucks may be filled with “extra” supply. Coastal shipping starts empty.

INTERPRETATION [60.44] says “Major Repair Facility in (only) Alexandria”. But, [22.31] says all hexes of Alexandria and Cairo are Major. I rule all hexes of Cairo and both hexes of Alexandria are Major Repair Facilities.

INTERPRETATION [22.31] says Tobruk is Major Repair Facility. But, [60.33] says it’s temporary. I rule it’s temporary. Only major facilities in game are Tripoli, Alexandria, and Cairo.

CHANGE Ignore [59.36] and [60.32] maintenance may be performed first OpStage after flight. Designer intention seemed to be, you have only these aircraft ready. Perhaps an artifact from when maintenance was done before missions?

CHANGE Ignore [60.32] Italy/Sicily basing prohibition. Start with 8x SM.79, 2x CR.42 and 2x CR.32 twelve plane squadrons based in Sicily. Treat as if assigned to Strategic Air for GT1. No refit until GT2. I read forum arguments, forget where, about no way were there this many aircraft in Africa.

Mussolini Requirements¶

ADDITION Ala OCS DAKII. With god’s eye view and hindsight we are way better operational commanders than the Italians. It’s too easy to craft opening moves that produce success outside historical reasonableness. I find it difficult to remember to play “poorly”. Here and elsewhere are limitations to keep me in the spirit of Italian command.

These requirements end if Allies recapture Sidi Barrani or if they cross into Libya.

By GT1/III Italians must have and keep (or have been eliminated there) in Egypt:

• 7 non-shell Inf Div Formations

• 5 SP of non-Div Infantry Bn

• 3 SP of independent artillery

• 5 SP of other Formations

By GT5/I, of those above, must have and keep (or have been eliminated there) beyond the Mussolini Line (C4129-C3830-C3529-C3429-C3027, S. to Siwa):

• 3 non-shell Inf Div Formations

• 1 SP of independent artillery

• 5 SP of other Formations

• and have captured Sidi Barrani

Italian Command & Control Friction¶

ADDITION Agility is not a characteristic of Italian command during this time period.

Italian Units not stacked with Rommel:

• Pay double the normal amount of CPA for Organization changes.

• May detach / attach Units, Trucks, and Replacement Points only during an Organization Phase.

• May not detach / attach Units or Trucks at all during the 1st OpStage of campaign. Limits gamey first move optimizations. No fixing Italian mistakes before play even begins!

Italian Truck Shuffle¶

ADDITION Historical concept borrowed from OCS DAKII.

At most two Italian semi-motorized Div (or eqv Bde from such) may be motorized at the same time. No semi-motorized Div (or part thereof) may remain motorized for more than 8 consecutive OpStages. Trucks must be detached and sent to motorize another Formation. Or, sent to Convoy duty.

Garrisons Should Garrison!¶

No Italian garrison unit lacking “+ CPA” may be motorized and in general should only motorize “10+ CPA” or machine-gun units. Limits cherry-picking units to spearhead Il Duce’s fantasies of conquest.

Untrained Unit Friction¶

ADDITION There’s this neat system of CPA/Organization and it isn’t used to model the disorganization and friction of untrained units!?

Units not fully trained:

• Pay double the normal amount of CPA for Organization changes.

• May detach / attach Units, Trucks, and Replacement Points only during an Organization Phase.

Dummy Tanks¶

INTERPRETATION [16.4] Dummy tanks are also reported as Barrage Target and during Air Recon.

Tank Delivery Squadrons¶

INTERPRETATION [22.63] TDS move during Convoy Movement Phase, even when not towing. It’s not stated when they move. Based on [22.63] intent was probably during Truck Convoy if not towing. Is cleaner to always have them move during Convoy.

Must be stacked with a combat unit to use Reaction, Retreat Before Assault or perform combat result Retreat.

Cohesion Recovery¶

CHANGE Formations suffering an Air Bombardment pin result may not regain CP per [6.24-1]. Strafing and other in hex bombardment, including bombing 1st-line trucks, does not prevent CP recovery. From actual play.

Operation Albumen¶

ADDITION https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Albumen

Once per game, after the fall of Crete, allied SBS/SAS may raid the air facilities on Crete. Randomly assign d6 Crete based squadrons to each of four fields. For each field apply percentage losses from [27.93] SAS Raid Table.

If Malta has fallen, a similar raid may be made, once per game, against the air facilities on that island.

Neither of these raids “use” or impact the SAS unit or any other on map unit.

Look Sir, Trucks¶

ADDITION Given that [24.5] mentions coastal shelling, Commonwealth fleet occupying B5923, B5924, B5925, B5825, or B5728 may momentarily interrupt and bombard Truck Convoys or 1st line Trucks of Formations using road to move through fleet’s hex. Fleet must remain in place throughout OpStage and may bombard as many trucks as drive by. They may not also perform regular shore bombardment.

Reaction¶

Non-motorized units, SGSU, TDS, and Truck Convoys may not react unless stacked with a friendly combat unit that is reacting [8.53a].

To prevent target from reacting need all of:

• 5+ CPA more than target

• 2+ SP if target is 5SP “Div”

• 1+ SP if target is 2-3SP “Bde”

Rail Movement¶

Is written way more complicated than needs be. [8.72] and [8.74] say largely same thing and conflict with [8.77].

CLARIFICATION

• In each direction may rail units OR supplies.

• As [8.77] states units and supplies may be picked up/dropped off as long as total capacity is never exceeded.

Multi-Hex Combat¶

[14.22] Anti-Armor - each hex is resolved individually. Sum all Phasing side’s Anti-Armor firing at that hex. Sum all non-Phasing side’s Anti-Armor firing in that hex.

[15.24] Limits multiple hexes Close Assaulting multiple defending hexes. The attacker may be required to make separate attacks (or Holding off Barrages). Remembering unit’s TOE Pts may be split to assault multiple, separate hexes.

Barrage¶

[12.54] Barrage vs Dumps or AirFacs uses raw Barrage points on Bombload row, NOT the Barrage points row!!!

ADDITION Barrage vs targets down an escarpment receive R1 column shift. Inspired by OCS DAKII.

INTERPRETATION [12.33] It is unclear if terrain adjustments to Barrage are intended to apply to attacker. I rule that terrain does. In part because that is how every other war game I’m aware of does it and in part because [14.0] specifically says either player may be the attacker and/or defender. In other words, attacker / defender are not synonyms for phasing / non-phasing. Nor for Player “A”/”B”. So, when Barrage rules mention “defender” it means “the side undergoing Barrage” regardless of which is acting side.

Retreat Before Assault¶

Any non-Phasing Unit that is not Pinned may Retreat Before Assault. [13.1] If not adjacent to enemy, may may expend only 4 CP (or enough to move one hex) [13.24].

INTERPRETATION Does not follow the requirements of involuntary retreat [15.82]. Retreat Before Assault may be an “advance”. My reading of [13.27]

Combined Arms¶

[15.4] Minus one actual Close Assault Strength for every 1-3 unsupported tank TOE Pts.

Anti-Armor¶

From the 14.6 chart.

• “Phasing player decreases his dice roll by one row…”

• Phasing player attacking down escarpment “(his forces may not be harmed)”

Clarification [14.32] Terrain shifts for Anti-Armor apply to both sides. Attacking through slope into mountain would be 3L to both sides fire. 14.0 says either player may be the attacker or defender. Also 11.4 chart says “Terrain may benefit either Player” but confusingly says non-phasing is benefited by enemy forces having to enter their hex.

CHANGE [14.43] An armor TOE Pt must be lost only if remaining Anti-Armor damage >= half lowest Protection rating. This stops few weak ass gun fire whacking Churchills. I’m annoyed Anti-Armor is just the sum. Not taking into account armor invulnerability and penetration which was big factor at start of campaign. PzII’s should do nothing against Churchill. Otoh, an 88 should not be able to whack way more Stuarts as Churchills. Shell doesn’t magically kill 3 Stuarts even if each has weaker armor. Not rewriting entire armored combat rules…

Close Assault Losses¶

[12.18] Guns used in Offensive Close Assault have Vulnerability rating halved(fru). Defensive Close Assault have full vulnerability.

[12.19] Guns used in Anti-Armor have Vulnerability rating of 2.

ADDITION Every gun TOE Pt used for Anti-Armor not “supported” by an infantry TOE Pt assigned to Close Assault adds their Off/Def Close Assault to [15.83b] for casualties. Extension of Combined Arms.

Overrun effects for Defender

• losses are rounded up [15.83c]

• all TOE Pts in hex, including all guns, add their Def Close to [15.83b] for casualties.

• all Gun TOE Pts take Vulnerability losses [15.84c]

Clarification 15.83b says “Totals all Raw Combat Assault Strength Points involved in the assault.” The combat example has each side totalling their Close Assault points. Each side should total only their Close Assault points. Interesting effect to represent stronger force, inflicting more casualties. But combat differential and overrun already is doing this.

CHANGE Guns participating in Anti-Armor or Close Assault may be used to absorb Close Assault losses using their Def Close rating.

CHANGE [15.84b] A gun TOE Pt must be lost only if remaining Vulnerability points > lowest Vulnerability rating of susceptible guns. Mitgates, slightly, that you lose more guns the more Close Assault points you have. Gun losses should be proportional to number of guns used [needs playtesting].

ADDITION CHANGE [12.17] says only Non-phasing forward guns take Vulnerability losses. Which conflicts with combat example and if true, why reduce Vulnerability of Artillery used in Off Close Assault[12.18] or Anti-Armor?

The loser of Close Assault is the side that got overrun or retreated. Otherwise, loser is the side that received more % losses from [15.79] chart. If tied, both sides are the loser.

Only the losing side takes [15.84b] vulnerability losses for forward guns. Guns participating in Off Close Assault are at half vulnerability. Guns participating in Anti-Armor have vulnerability of 2.

Overrun effects still apply [15.83b, 15.83c, 15.84a, 15.84c]

Attacker still rounds up, defender rounds down (except for Overrun).

Defender still includes Pinned and RBA unit’s Close Assault values for casualties [15.83b].

Aircraft Characteristic Changes¶

A distinction is made between Attack Bombers and Level Bombers. The later were mostly not used to carpet bomb troops.

Attack Bombers include:

• All dive bombers

• All fighter bombers

• Baltimore, Boston, Maryland

• Ba.88, Ca.311, Ju.88D

• Fw.200C only vs Commonwealth Fleet

All others are Level Bombers. As are any Attack Bombers flying night missions.

Ju87B/D are only German dive bombers that may do [39.2] “Dual” missions. Because Hitler was an idiot, almost all German aircraft were designed to be dive bomb “capable”. Few models actually trained for or dived operationally.

The Ro.37bis, Ar. 196 & Hs. 126 may only fly Recon missions. Theoretically they could carry bombs but operationally were just recon aircraft. The Arado actually shot down bombers, but not in this theater afaik.

Fw. 200C 100% Must be based in Italy, Sicily, or Crete. Add “1 or 5” (no paradrop) transport capacity. May conduct Flak Suppression missions only against Commonwealth Fleet. It may combine Flak Suppression with Bombing CW fleet. Known for maritime recon, anti-shipping, and transport. Can’t find any info on North Africa operations during this time frame. Later it did some bombing of land and harbor mining, poorly.

Add Recon to Baltimore capabilities cause the real “1437 RAF Strategic Recon squadron” flew them.

Add Recon to Blenheim IV cause some were used for that and with sighting rules allies need more recon.

Allies may form two (three after GT55) Recon Squadrons. These may contain Spitfire VB and/or Hurricane I/IIA/IIB. Aircraft in these squadrons may and may only fly Transfer, Recon and DCAP for Recon missions. Historical.

The original designers just translated the paper specs. Like the above recon aircraft bomb loads. Or the Ju. 87D, which could carry 4x the B model but that was a extremely short range and (probably) rarely used load out. Ju. 88 The D model was the recon version… What other “mistakes” exist? I don’t know the allied aircraft as well. I’m reluctant to make significant changes.

Bomb carrying ability was nearly quadrupled from 500 kg in the B-version to
1,800 kg in the D-version (max. load for short ranges, overload condition),
a typical bomb load ranged from 500-1,200 kg.
-- Griehl, Manfred (2001). Junker Ju 87 Stuka. London/Stuttgart: Airlife/Motorbuch. ISBN 1-84037-198-6.

OCAP¶

Interception and scramble are by squadron.

In place of Air ZOC, OCAP squadrons not already in a hex with enemy aircraft must choose one hex containing enemy aircraft within six hexes and attempt to intercept them by rolling d6 greater than or equal the range to target hex. +1drm if target hex is less than or equal to ½ OCAP’s range from OCAP’s base. Each squadron may make only one interception roll.

Scrambled aircraft are considered to be on OCAP. They may not intercept again.

DCAP¶

Only fighters on DCAP count for screen [45.32].

All fighters on DCAP in hex are grouped together and screen all non-CAP aircraft in hex. Even if those aircraft “flew into” hex without an escort.

Fighters on missions other than CAP are screened.

DCAP is for escorting other aircraft, only. Fly OCAP to “defend” a facility, fleet, etc. Also, fighters on other missions, Straffing for example, are too busy doing that to escort bombers.

Air to Air¶

Only fighters on OCAP may initiate air combat.

Per hex with air combat:

1. All OCAP have air combat with all enemy OCAP/DCAP in hex, if any

2. Surviving OCAP in excess of surviving enemy CAP may (must if there was no enemy CAP) have air combat with any aircraft on non-CAP missions in hex, including fighters

A fighter may jettison its bombs or drop tanks at any time during air combat. Potentially providing better stats and an unparenthesized Tac Air.

At most four fighters may gang up on one defender.

Fighter vs Fighter:

Shots are sequential; first better pilots, then the outnumbered fighter, then better maneuver, then better Tac Air differential

Fighter vs Non-Fighter:

Non-Fighter fires first at each attacking fighter

Changes to Sequence after Air-to-Air¶

1. Resolve flak vs aircraft flying Recon missions

2. Resolve Recon missions

3. Roll for semi-sighted aborts

4. Check for friendly fire

5. Resolve flak vs aircraft flying non-Recon missions

6. Resolve non-Recon missions

Flak¶

[46.16] “Tanks” includes any unit with AA points lacking Flak symbol. These may use their AA points against any Attack Bomber flying Strafing or Bombing missions.

Planes flying CAP are not subject to Flak.

Groups are:

• daytime Level Bombers by mission

• nighttime Level Bombers by mission

• daytime Attack Bombers by mission (strafing/dive bombing are counted as one mission for this purpose)

If the number of planes in mission group cause shifts past end of [46.3] table, apply results from 37+ column and, using same die roll, also apply results from column as if excess shifts wrapped around to beginning of table.

Example: 48 planes, 3 column shifts, with 33..36 flak points. A roll of 48 would inflict 4 hits, 3 from 37+ column and 1 from 5…8 column.

Land Recon¶

This Recon/sighting system is really only for solo play.

Ignore [42.25], recon may be flown regardless of any Air Bombardment missions.

• Recon may be intercepted by existing OCAP.

• Recon may be escorted by DCAP.

• Only Heavy Flak may fire at Recon Missions. Commonwealth fleet is not Heavy.

• Sighting effects last throughout current OpStage.

• Add one (total) to [42.27] die roll if target hex is less than or equal to ½ recon’s range.

recon vs Personnel

# > 0; Personnel as a whole is sighted, 1st line trucks sighted.

# of individual Bn/Coy [3.22] unit type and ~TOE strength of each battalion is revealed in armor, infantry, gun order. These may be specifically targeted by air missions (rather than random roll).

recon vs Truck Convoy

# > 0; Convoy sighted.

# > 2; total truck count to nearest 10 is revealed.

recon vs Commonwealth Fleet

# > 0; all ships sighted and the counts of ship classes BB/CA+CL/DD is revealed.

recon vs Dump

# > 0; Dump is semi-sighted with X = 3 + #.

recon vs Air Facility (including any on Malta)

# > 0; reveal current level of airfield.

# of SGSU’s aircraft base model (e.g. bf109 not E/F/G) is revealed.

Sighting¶

Strafing and Air Bombardment targets must be sighted. Target types that are always sighted:

• Targets of Flak Suppression mission

• Targets in major cities

• Formations that are Engaged

• Port/Harbor, Road, Railroad, Flak Destruction, Fortification (including city levels), Temp Repair Facility, Air Facility, Water Pipeline

All others must be sighted by recon or roll for being semi-sighted; after all Air Recon resolved, each squadron must roll d6 <= X or be aborted.

Each target’s X is calculated individually:

X = SP; Unit/Truck Stacking Points in hex or 0 if greater than 12 hexes from “front line”

X = # / 10; 1st Line Trucks in hex

X = 2; Commonwealth Fleet; +2 if in hex with Axis unit, +1 if BB present

X = 0; Supply Dump but see recon above

+1 for each adjacent friendly occupied hex exerting ZOC on target hex

+1 in oasis, bir, village, fortification, or on a road (i.e. not Off-Road)

Example:

Hex with 5SP Div and 1SP Bn, no modifiers. A roll of 6 would abort squadron targeting Div, and of 2-6 if targeting Bn.

Friendly Fire¶

Strafe Infantry [40.61], Strafe Trucks [40.62], Strafe Tanks [40.65], Bomb Personnel [41.31], Bomb Trucks [41.32] missions adjacent to friendly Formations risk friendly fire. Checked per mission prior to Flak. Divebomb + strafe counts as one mission.

If d6 <= X then that number of mission squadrons must target adjacent, randomly determined friendly targets of same type. If not possible, squadron aborts instead.

Level Bombers:

X is the number of adjacent, friendly occupied hexes

+2 if target is Engaged

Attack Bombers and Strafing:

X is the number of adjacent, friendly occupied hexes that contain Engaged Formations

+1 if target is Engaged

Strafing¶

Terrain adjustments for Barrage also apply to Strafing.

Max two squadrons per Parent Formation, Air Facility, Convoy, Dump, Port, or Pipe in hex.

strafe vs Infantry:

Roll for semi-sighted aborts

Unless specifically sighted, each squadron targets random Bn/Coy/Replacements in hex

Instead of TacAir, 1 point per aircraft (2 per if TacAir >= 5)

strafe vs Armor:

Roll for semi-sighted aborts

Unless specifically sighted, each squadron targets random Bn/Coy/Replacements in hex

Calculate 2 points per aircraft

strafe vs Trucks (Convoy or 1st Line):

Roll for semi-sighted aborts

Randomly determine trucks and cargoes hit

Calculate full TacAir

strafe vs Grounded Aircraft:

Always sighted

Calculate ½(frd) TacAir

strafe vs Supply Dumps:

Roll for semi-sighted aborts

Calculate ½(frd) TacAir

strafe vs Ports:

Always sighted

Add ½(frd) TacAir to Bombardment points

strafe vs Water Pipe:

Always sighted.

Calculate ½(frd) TacAir

Air Bombardment¶

Terrain adjustments for Barrage also apply to Air Bombardment.

Squadrons assigned to the same mission type, in the same hex beyond four halve their bombardment points. N/A to Naval Convoy bombing.

bomb vs Personnel:

Level Bombers apply two column shifts left

Target all personnel in hex, roll for semi-sighted aborts

bomb vs Truck Convoy:

Level Bombers apply two column shifts left

Roll for semi-sighted aborts

bomb vs 1st line Trucks:

Only Attack Bombers

Roll for semi-sighted aborts

bomb vs Commonwealth Fleet:

Only Attack Bombers and Torpedo Bombers [30.32]

Roll for semi-sighted aborts

Roll once for entire hex, alternate applying losses, attacker first

bomb vs Supply Dump:

Roll for semi-sighted aborts