Campaign for North Africa House Rules

ZOC¶

To exert ZOC hex must have > 1 SP and > 9 Raw Def Close.

[10.24] May advance ZOC to ZOC into hex vacated due to retreat combat result. [10.26] Friendly units negate ZOC for movement purposes. ADDITION the friendly negating unit must have started and end movement segment in the negated ZOC. (prevents rapid chain of ZOC negation. Use continual movement!)

ADDITION Engaged Units may never, even if [10.26] friendly unit in hex, move directly ZOC to ZOC.

[10.32] Hexes with only Guns, non-combat units, and/or pinned units need not attack.

Untrained Units¶

ADDITION Untrained Formations may detach / attach Units, Trucks, or Replacement Points only during an Organization Phase. Any organization change costs double the normal amount of CPA. (There’s this neat system of CPA/Organization and the don’t use it to model the disorganization and friction of untrained units?)

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 Towing 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. But it just is cleaner to always have them move during towing.)

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

Cohesion Recovery¶

CHANGE Formations suffering any Air Bombardment 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.

Reaction¶

To prevent target from reaction:

• have 5+ CPA more than target

• have 1+ SP if target is 5SP “Div”

• have 0+ SP if target is 2-3SP “Bde”

INTERPRETATION? combat unit allows any of these, not just Trucks to react. [8.5] Non-motorized units, SGSU, TDS, and Truck Convoys may not react unless stacked with a friendly combat unit that is reacting.

Rail Movement¶

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

• In each direction may move units OR supplies.

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

Recon by Recce¶

ADDITION whole section (Don’t know why Patrol is only allowed if no combat occurs… These rules are in addition to [16.0] Patrol.)

Only units listed in [16.11] and not prohibited by [16.15] or [16.17] may Recon. Targets of Recon may not have undergone any type of Barrage, Air Bombardment, or combat this OpStage.

Anytime(s) during a Movement Segment eligible phasing units may expend 2 non-movement CP + the movement CP (and breakdown) to reach adjacent to and return from an enemy occupied hex. Ignore ZOCs but not enemy occupied hexes. From 1-3 TOE Pts (all from same hex) may recon each target hex.No TOE or unit actually moves on map.

Expend the actual fuel+water used and 1 ammo per TOE Pt. The patrolling TOE Pts (only) are subject to breakdown. ½(frd) of any breakdowns are placed adjacent to target hex. The remainder in origin hex. If unit patrol TOE Pts come from is attached, its parent Formation does not accrue any breakdown points or expend any CPs.

Roll on [16.7] & [16.8] charts. [16.53] That number of battalions’ [3.21] unit type, historical designation, motorization status and ~TOE strength are revealed.

Pinning¶

CHANGE whole section.

Barrage Pinned effects apply until the next Combat Segment (of a Continuous Movement cycle) or the end of OpStage, whichever comes first.

Air Bombardment Pinned effects apply until end of OpStage.

Effects on Pinned Units:

• do not exert a ZOC

• may expend at most ½(frd) CPA on voluntarily purposes

• suffer cohesion for CP spent in excess of ½(frd) their CPA on non-voluntarily purposes

• may not voluntarily Break Off [8.6]

• may not voluntarily engage in any type of combat

• are included in losing side’s [15.12] casualty calculation

• are considered to have parenthesized Def Assault, ignore [15.17] 25% limit

• if all units on one side are pinned (and / or have parenthesized Close Assault); the other side ignores its first 20% casualties and pinned survivors are captured if they suffer 20+% casualties or any Overrun result [15.18].

Voluntary

Reaction, Retreat Before Assault, Anti-Air, Barrage, Anti-Armor and Off Assault.

Withholding units to qualify for a [15.29] retreat.

Non-voluntary

Retreat and Def Assault.

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 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¶

INTERPRETATION Does not follow the requirements of involuntary retreat [14.82]. Retreat Before Assault may be an “advance”. (My reading of [12.27])

Anti-Armor¶

[14.32] Terrain shifts for Anti-Armor apply to both sides. Each side is a “defender” when taking Anti-Armor fire.

CHANGE The attacker may require defender to apply 50%(fru) of total Anti-Armor damage on armor assigned to Anti-Armor or Close Assault.

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…)

Combined Arms¶

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

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.

Overrun effects for Defender:

• losses 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]

CHANGE Will probably randomly determine 1 or 2 losses for FoW and soloability reasons. The rest picked by side taking the losses. Commander’s have choices in which units they assault with, sacrifice etc.

ADDITION The winner of Close Assault is side that received less % losses from [15.79] chart. The loser is side that received more. If tied, neither side is the winner or the loser.

CHANGE [15.12 Only the losing side’s Pinned and RBA add their Close Assault values to [15.83b] for casualties.

CHANGE Only the losing side takes [15.84b] vulnerability losses for forward guns. ([12.17] says only Non-phasing forward guns take Vulnerability losses. Which conflicts with the example in combat chapter and why have [12.18]?)

CHANGE [15.84b] A gun TOE Pt must be taken as loss only if remaining Vulnerability damage >= half lowest Vulnerability rating of susceptible guns.

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.

CHANGE Both phasing and non-phasing guns participating in Anti-Armor or Close Assault may (must if only way to satisfy loss) be used to absorb Close Assault losses using their Def Close rating (min 1).

Look Sir, Trucks¶

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

Aircraft Characteristic Changes¶

A distinction is made between attack bombers and level bombers. The later were mostly not used to carpet bomb troops! The friendly fire rules attempt to dissuade this.

Attack bombers include:

• All dive bombers

• All fighter bombers

• Baltimore, Boston, Maryland

• Ba.88, Ca.311, Ju.88D

All others are level bombers.

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 some more recon.

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

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

Fw. 200C known for maritime recon, anti-shipping, and transport. Can’t really find any info on North Africa operations during this time frame. Later it did some bombing of land and harbor mining, poorly. 100% Must be based in Italy, Sicily, or Crete. May only target Strafe or Flak Suppress missions against Commonwealth. Added “1 or 5” (no paradrop) transport capacity.

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

Ju. 88D model was the recon version…

The original designers just translated the paper specs. Like the above recon airplanes’ bomb loads. Or the Ju. 87D, which could carry 4x the B model but that was short range, (probably) rarely used load out. I don’t know the allied airplanes as well. What other “mistakes” exist? I’m reluctant to make drastic 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 may (must) intercept 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. Each squadron may make only one attempt.

Ignore being able to intercept path of flight. (Too problematic for solo and too tedious in any game.)

DCAP¶

Only fighters on DCAP screen airplanes [45.32]. (Is only for escorting other airplanes. Fly OCAP to “defend” a facility, fleet, etc.)

Air to Air¶

At most four planes may gang up on one defender.

Fighter vs Fighter:

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

Fighter vs Non-Fighter:

Shots are simultaneous.

Flak¶

A single ammo expenditure pays for all fire vs all target types that OpStage. (Flak ammo usage rates are whack!)

Land Recon¶

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

• Recon is subject to OCAP Interception and Scramble.

• Resolved after Flak prior to other missions during IVF.4 Mission Completion Segment.

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

• Recon 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 Formation:

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

recon vs Air Facility (including any on Malta):

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

# > 0; reveal current level of airfield.

recon vs Dump:

# of supply types whose points +/- 20% are revealed. Order is FASW. Dummies may make up whatever amounts.

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

recon vs Truck Convoy:

# > 0; Convoy sighted.

# > 1; truck counts by type to nearest 10 (e.g. 10 lt, 30 med) is revealed.

recon vs Commonwealth Fleet:

# >= 1; all ships sighted and the counts of ship classes BB/CA/FL/DD is revealed.

Sighting¶

Strafing and land bombardment targets must be sighted. Target types that are always sighted:

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

• Targets of Flak Suppression mission

• Targets in major cities

• Targets that have been sighted by recon (land or air)

• Formations that are Engaged

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 = Formation’s Stacking Points; or 0 if greater than 12 hexes from front line

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

X = 3 for Truck Convoys; +1 on road (i.e. not off-road)

X = 4+ for recon’d Dump

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

+1 Formation occupies oasis, bir, village, fortification, air facility hex or is on a road

+1 Axis Formation currently in range of CW ship shore bombardment

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¶

[40.61] [40.65] [41.31] missions adjacent to friendly Formations have x-in-6 chance of friendly fire. Checked per mission prior to Flak. Dive bomb+strafe is one mission.

Attack bombers, fighter bombers, and strafing:

x is the number of adjacent, friendly occupied hexes that contain Formations that are Engaged.

+1 if target is Engaged.

Level bombers:

x is 1 + the number of adjacent, friendly occupied hexes.

+1 if target is Engaged.

If d6 <= X then that number of mission squadrons target adjacent, randomly determined friendly targets of same type (if not possible, squadron aborts instead). The attacked targets may choose to fire flak or not.

Strafing¶

Terrain adjustments for Barrage also apply to Strafing.

Max 2 squadrons per Formation, Air Facility, Convoy, Dump, Port, or Pipe hex.

strafe vs Armor:

Roll for semi-sighted aborts. Each squadron targets random Bn/Coy from Formation. Instead of TacAir, 2 points per airplane.

strafe vs Grounded airplane:

Always sighted. Calculate ½(frd) TacAir.

strafe vs Infantry:

Roll for semi-sighted aborts. Each squadron targets random Bn/Coy from Formation. Instead of TacAir, 1 point per airplane (2 per if TacAir >= 5).

strafe vs Ports:

Always sighted. Add ½(frd) TacAir to air bombardment points.

strafe vs Replacement Points:

May not be targeted.

strafe vs Supply Dumps:

Roll for semi-sighted aborts. Calculate ½(frd) TacAir.

strafe vs Trucks (Convoy or 1st Line):

Roll for semi-sighted aborts. Randomly determine trucks and cargoes hit. Calculate full TacAir.

strafe vs Water Pipe:

Always sighted. Calculate ½(frd) TacAir.

Bombing¶

Terrain adjustments for Barrage also apply to Bombardment.

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

bomb vs Replacement Points:

May not be targeted.

bomb vs Personnel:

Target a Formation. Roll for semi-sighted aborts. Level bombers suffer two column shifts left. Bn/Coy affected are determined randomly.

bomb vs Supply Dump:

Roll for semi-sighted aborts.

bomb vs Truck Convoy:

Roll for semi-sighted aborts. Level bombers suffer two column shifts left.

bomb vs Commonwealth Fleet:

[30.32] Only attack bombers, fighter bombers and torpedo bombers. Roll for semi-sighted aborts. After all aborts and prior to flak, target specific ships (may split squadrons).