FEC Intelligence Briefing

8/3/2019 FEC Intelligence Briefing

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By Scott Elaurant, Phil Bradley and Simon McBeth

Updated by Wayne Turner


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French Forces, Italy 1944

the remnants o 60,000 Vichy Colonial troops, 12,000 Free

French, and some 20,000 emigres who survived the perilous journey out o Vichy France via Spain. Te majority, over100,000, were local volunteers, French Europeans living inNorth Arica and native North Aricans. Te entire orce wasorganised into eight Divisions along US lines and receivedAmerican weapons, though oten o second-line quality. TeFree French had to return their British supplied weapons tothe Eighth Army. Te Allies only committed a handul to theSicilian invasion and none initially to Italy. Te enorceddelay gave General Juin time to train and weld them into aunited orce.

Deploymentto ItalyDespite the prejudices o the Allied high command, by early1944 a chronic shortage o inantry made use o the Frenchessential in Italy. Te Allies were trying to batter their waythrough the Gustav Line south o Rome. Some o Juins orceswere transported to Italy as individual divisions. Eventuallypermission was gained to orm a corps structure. By mid-1944 the French Expeditionary Corps (FEC) in Italyconsisted o ve well trained divisions:

3rd Division dInanterie Algerienne (3 DIA)2nd Division dInanterie Marocaine Division (2 DIM)4th Division dInanterie Marocaine Division (4 DIM)

1st

Division Franaise Libre (DFL) (1st

Free FrenchDivision); it was later called 1e Division MotoriseedInanterie (1st Motorized Inantry Div) (1DMI)Goum Force (3 regiment sized abors)

It is a matter o honour, General Juin to General Monsalbert, beore the assault on Colle Belvedere,Italy, 23 January 1944.

No military orce suered more than the French army in the

Mid-War period. Te deeat o 1940 had let the Frenchmilitary painully divided. Tere were those who elt dutybound to remain loyal to the Vichy government, a ew whohad escaped to join the Free French under De Gaulle, andmany troops scattered throughout the colonies unsure whichway to turn. Some even ought against the Allies, notably inSyria.

Te orch landings in North Arica at rst did little to resolvethe situation. Local commanders were sympathetic, buttheatre CIC Admiral Darlan was pro-Vichy and ordered theFrench to resist the Allies. Tis did not endear them to the Allied high command, especially US General Mark Clark

who would later be a key gure in their ghting in Italy.Eventually a truce was agreed. A ew units under the patrioticGeneral Barre ought with the American troops in unisia in1943. Te Free French Brigades under Leclerc and Koenigcontinued to ght with the British Eighth Army. Howevermost o the French troops were only slowly equipped by the Allies, and their quality was considered as suspect as theirloyalty to the cause. Nevertheless, under more patrioticleaders like General Giraud and General Juin over 230,000Frenchmen eventually joined the Allied cause in NorthArica.

Giraud and Juin desired to orm a united French army to help

liberate France rom the Axis, but they knew it would taketime. First they had to orm and train them into a cohesiveorce. Te soldiers were mostly volunteers and consisted o


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Before CassInoIn Late 1943 Allied orces in Italy under Field Marshall Alexander had cleared the Axis rom south o Naples andwere approaching the Germans prepared deence line theGustav Line, which stretched across Italy at its narrowestpoint, in mountains south o Rome. Initial attempts to breachthe Gustav Line were costly ailures. On the eastern (Adriatic)coast the British Eighth army under General Brian Lees, tried

to cross the Sangro River. Te Canadian Division eventuallycleared the town o Ortona ater suering heavy casualties.But Lees could not outank the Sangro River line, whichstretched all the way to the central Italian range. It was astalemate. Eighth army units were transerred to the westcoast or a combined attack.

On the western (Mediterranean) coast the US Fith Armyunder General Mark Clark at rst made good progress. US IICorps crossed the Volturno River and captured MountMaggiore to close up on the Gustav Line. Te FEC wasattached to VII Corps o US Fith army and was now used orthe rst time. General Juin had deliberately kept their vehicles

and heavy weapons to a minimum or mobility in themountains. Now the Morrocan and Algerian Divisions, 2DIM and 3 DIA, attacked through the mountains on theright side o Cassino to reach the Gustav Line. Tey perormed well and the assault was only barely stopped by Germanreserves.

But Clark as yet had little aith in the French. Te mainassault on the Gustav Line would be by British X Corps acrossthe Garigliano River, and by US II Corps across the RapidoRiver near Cassino. X Corps crossed the river beore beinghalted on the heights o the west coastal range, the ArunciMountains. Meanwhile the US 36th Division was mauled

trying to cross the Rapido River and ell back. Te adjacentUS 34th Division had been making some progress up MonteCassino to the east, but was now trapped on the slopes withopen anks. It would be up to the FEC to help.

General Clark asked the FEC to mount an attack on themountain east o Monte Cassino, Colle Belvedere. Tis wasno easy task. Colle Belvedere was 2000 metres high, with asheer dominating ridge ace o almost 600 metres. Te linewas ortied with bunkers and mines, and deended by unitso the German 44th and 71st Inantry Divisions. Te RapidoRiver would have to be crossed merely to reach the position.Yet General Juin knew he could not reuse Clarks request i

the Allies were to take the FEC seriously. As he said to GeneralMonsalbert It is a matter o honour.

On 25 January the 2 DIA led the attack, crossing the Rapido with speed and stealth rather than repower, and makinggood progress. Yet as the regiments made their way up thesteep slopes, they began to suer losses rom murderousGerman crossre rom the mountains above. Remarkably,they made the oot o the cli and then, using its steepness toprovide cover, climbed up over three hours to emerge andassault the deenders on top. Ater suering horric lossesthey captured Point 915 and Colle Abate in the centre o theridge and the enemys deence line. Over the next two days

German reserves rst threw them back, but ollow up troopso 3 DIM recaptured the heights and held onto them. Indeed,i more reserves had been available the French may have been

able to capture Attina and outank the Cassino position romthe east, orcing a German withdrawal. But Clark had onlyever seen the FEC assault as a diversion and no reinorcementswere orthcoming.

With the Allies now pinned down on the mountains to eastand west o Cassino, the oensive degenerated into a series ocostly assaults up Route Six through the middle. Teseinevitably had to pass through the town and the adjacent

Monte Cassino, with its dominant monastery. Over the nextour months three successive attempts to break through theGerman positions would end in bloody ailure. In part thiswas due to the epic resistance o the German 1 st FallschirmjgerDivision. But a series o predictable and uncoordinated Alliedrontal assaults were also to blame. General Juin, aware o hisCorps ability to move through the mountains, suggested thatthe position be outanked, but was ignored by Alexander andClark. British, New Zealand, Indian and US Divisions allsuered heavy casualties instead.

BreakIngthe gustavlIne

Finally in April 1944 Alexander directed that there would bea coordinated oensive along the width o the entire ront.Once again the FEC would be used in a support role, toattack the line through the coastal Arunci Mountains west oCassino. But this time the FEC would be used as a unitedCorps. Juins oensive was immediately successul, crackingthe Gustav Line and outanking the Cassino position. Although the FEC did not capture Cassino, their successorced the gradual withdrawal o German troops romCassino. Tis made the capture o the monastery by GeneralAnders Polish Corps possible, ater a brutal struggle, on 18May 1944.

General Mark Clark recognised the eorts o the FEC inbreaking the Gustav Line:

Meantime, the French orces had crossed the Garigliano (River)and moved orward into the mountainous terrain lying south othe Liri River. It was not easy. As always, the German veteransreacted strongly and there was bitter ghting. Te Frenchsurprised the enemy and quickly seized key terrain including

Mounts Faito Cerasola and high ground near Castelorte. Te 1stMotorized Division helped the 2nd Moroccan division take key Mount Giroano and then advanced rapidly north to S. Apollinare and S. Ambrogio. In spite o the stiening enemyresistance, the 2ndMoroccan Division penetrated the Gustav Line

in less than two days ghting.Te next 48 hours on the French ront were decisive. Te knie-wielding Goumiers swarmed over the hills, particularly at night,and General Juins entire orce showed an aggressiveness hourater hour that the Germans could not withstand. Cerasola, SanGiogrio, Mt. DOro, Ausonia and Esperia were seized in one othe most brilliant and daring advances o the war in Italy, andby May 16 the French Expeditionary Corps had thrust orwardsome ten miles on their let fank to Mount Revole, with theremainder o their ront slanting back somewhat to keep contactwith the British 8th Army.

For this perormance, which was to be a key to the success o theentire drive on Rome, I shall always be a grateul admirer oGeneral Juin and his magnicent FEC.

By 5 June the Allies captured Rome and advanced onwards to


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northern Italy. For the FEC though, their time was over. InSeptember they were withdrawn rom the ront and joinedthe Free French Army invading Southern France.Unortunately or Juin, political manoeuvring by de Gaullesaw he and de assigny command French orces in Franceand Juin returned to unisia. Te Goums too were split upand added to the divisions. Despite their success in battle,appalling violence outside combat made them notorious.Numerous assaults and the murder o over 100 Italian civiliansin the Ciociaria area meant they would not be allowed tooperate as a single orce again.

organIsatIonof feC In ItalyTe French were organised as ollows under the US FithArmy.

1e Division Franaise Libre(DFL) (1st Free French Division)or 1e Division Motorisee dInanterie(1st Motorized InantryDivision) (1DMI): Te 1st DFL was ormed in February1943 out o a combination o the 1st and 2nd Free FrenchBrigades. Ater a reorganization in August, it was designated

as the 1e Division Motorisee dInanterie (1st MotorizedInantry Division) and then again as the 1e Division de MarchedInanterie, which is a general term use by French or amixture o diverse units. Tis division arrived in Italy in April1944 and continued to be called the Free French Divisionand 1st Motorized Inantry Division. It took part in Diadem.

2e Division dInanterie Marocaine(DIM) (Moroccan InantryDivision): Te 2nd DIM was ormed on 1 May 1943 and wasthe rst French ormation on active service in Italy. It arrivedin Italy at end November 1943 and ought in all the FECbattles.

3e Division dInanterie Algrienne(DIA) (Algerian InantryDivision): Te ormer Division o Constantine was a colonialunit stationed near the unisian border when the Allies

landed in North Arica. Tey participated in the operationsthat led to the liberation o unisia. On 3 May 1943 theywere combined with new local recruits and re-designated asthe 3rd DIA or 3rd Algerian Inantry Division. Ater someamphibious training 3 DIA embarked or Italy and relievedthe US 45th Division. It led the assault at Colle Belvedere.

4e Division Marocaine de Montagne (DMM) (MoroccanMountain Division): Te 4th DMM was originally ormed asthe 3e Division dInanterie Marocainebut changed to the4th DMM. Later it was renamed simply the Division Marocainede Montagne, but it continued to be reerred to as the4th DMM. Units o this division participated in the liberation

o Corsica in September and October 1943 and later oughtin Italy.

Tere were also almost a division o Goums, organised intoRie platoons, company groups, battalions (called abors)and ultimately three regiment-sized abor groups.

DepICtIng frenCh troopsMost o the French troops in Italy ought in US uniorms and vehicles, thus Battleronts range o Late War US miniatures arethe best choice. However, you could also mix in some Early-war French troops in Adrian helmets. Equipment included M3Scout Cars, M5 Stuarts, M10s, M8s, 40mm Boors, 105mm and 57mm guns. Vehicles were all US supplied. Markings andinsignia were uniquely French though, with the Lorraine Cross popular on vehicles.

Most inantry wore US uniorms and helmets. O course,there were exceptions too. A ew veterans still had their FrenchLMGs and World War One style helmets rom the Early Warperiod. Many ofcers wore the Kepi.

Te Goums (FR802) still ought in their original uniormswith distinctive vertical striped colour scheme o brown andwhite or grey. A demi-brigade (2 battalions) o French ForeignLegion troops also ought in their French uniorms, includingthe Kepi with neck ap made amous in the desert. Tesurvivors o Leclercs Free French orce rom the North Arican campaign were re-equipped with US weapons orlogistical reasons, but some o them probably also still hadtheir Kepis.


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CompagnIeDe tIraIlleurs page 7

The heart of the FEC are the infantry forces. First trainedand now led by the indomitable spirit of General Juin, they

have already proven in Italy that they are as good as any

Allied infantry. For them Italy is only a stepping stone

towards the real goal France. But it is one they will

approach with courage, discipline and skill.

General Juin has shown himself to be not only a good

leader and organiser but also tactically astute. The decision

to leave many vehicles behind and use mules for transport

has given the French Corps a decided edge in the mountains.

Combined with the mountain background of many of the

troops, and Juins emphasis on being lightly equipped and

trained to march, the FEC is perhaps the most mobileformation in Italy. It is not as heavily armed as some of the

Allied formations, but its combination of marching speed

and combat skill make it formidable.

esquaDronDe spahI page 14

The French lacked any heavy or even medium tanks inItaly. They did not even have the half-tracks to create

armoured infantry companies. Yet they did not lack for

effective mobile forces, even if there were few opportunities

to use them. There were Esquadron de Spahi mechanised

recon forces equipped with M3 White Scout cars in each

Division. The Rgiment de Fusiliers-Marins de

Reconnaissance in the Free French DMI Division was

similar. The Spahi units and their Stuart tanks were lightly

armed and armoured, and so the emphasis was on

skirmishing and scouting, with accompanying infantry,

artillery and M10 self-propelled anti-tank guns to deal with

heavier opposition. They shared the aggressive spirit which

permeated the FEC, and were not afraid to take on German

panzers. But they relied on skill and speed to do so, not

brute force.

The French Expeditionary Force

A large orce o French troops ought during 1944 and 1945. Tis orce was organised and equipped along US lines, butthey still retained much o their own unique French approach to warare.

French Special Rules

French inantry are not equipped with the Garand Ries usedby US units and do not use the Automatic Ries, Excellent

Communications, or Under Command special rules. Instead,it uses any o the other US special rules, such as ime onarget and ruscott rott (or March On as the FEC wouldsay), as well as all o the ollowing French special rules. GoumPlatoons use the special rules on page 13.

assault troopsTe French Expeditionary Force was led by French ofcerslegendary or their personal bravery.

French Platoons may re-roll ailed Motivation ests to Rallyrom being Pinned Down.

ItIsa matterof honourTe FEC troops in Italy were renown or their stubborndeence and personal bravery o their ofcers.

irailleurs Platoons, irailleurs Ammunition & PioneerPlatoons, irailleurs Intelligence & Recon Platoons, andEngineer Combat Platoons may re-roll ailed Motivationests to Countattack in assault.

Central fIre ControlFrench Artillery doctrine introduced during the 1920s and

1930s inuenced many nations. When a French Observerplaces a request or re, the artillery battalion re directioncentre assesses its priority and assigns all available artillerybatteries to re the mission. Tis ensures that the battalionsartillery resources are used in the most efcient manner.However, everything must go through the proper channelswith properly trained ofcers directing the artillery re.

French Company Command teams cannot act as spottingteams or artillery bombardments.

When a French Artillery battery that has a Sta team res abombardment, you may chose to group other artillery batterieswith Sta teams into the same bombardment beore rolling toRange In as a Central Fire Control Bombardment.

Use the Mixed Bombardments rule on page 133 o therulebook.

mountaIn InfantryMany o the FEC troops have experience ghting in themountains o their North Arica homelands and are at easetravelling through seemingly impassable terrain.

French Inantry and Man-packed Gun teams areMountaineers (see page 46 o the rulebook).


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Cg TLih If C

(InfantryCompany)

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

US Platoons in your forceare Allies and follow the

Allies rules on page 183of the rulebook.

allIeD platoons

InFantry

12

20

18

17

18

Support pLatoonS

Air Support

aIrCraFt

21

Spahi Platoon

rEConnaISSanCE

16

CombatpLatoonS

HEadq

uartErS

Compagnie deTirailleurs HQ

HEadquartErS

7

Tirailleurs Platoon

InFantry

7

WEaponSpLatoonS

Tirailleurs WeaponsPlatoon

WEaponS pLatoon

8

Tirailleurs Machine-gun Platoon

maCHInE-gun

8

Tirailleurs Platoon

InFantry

7

Tirailleurs Platoon

InFantry

7

Tirailleurs Machine-gun Platoon

maCHInE-gun

8

Tirailleurs MortarPlatoon

artILLEry

9

Tirailleurs Anti-tankPlatoon

antI-tank

9

Tirailleurs Ammunition& Pioneer Platoon

InFantry

10

Tirailleurs Anti-tankPlatoon

antI-tank

9

Tirailleurs Intelligence& Recon Platoon

rEConnaISSanCE

10

Tirailleurs CannonPlatoon

artILLEry

11

US Tank Platoon

armour

Spahi Assault Gun

Platoon

Tank Destroyer Platoon

Field Artillery Battery

artILLEry

19


artILLEry

Anti-aircraft Artillery Platoon

antI-aIrCraFt

20

Air Observation Post

aop

21

rEgImEntaLSupportpLatoonS

Goum Platoon

Engineer CombatPlatoon

19

Field ArtilleryBattery (155mm)

19


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Company HQ

Company CommandRifle team

2iC CommandRifle team

Bazookateam

Capitaine

Compagnie de Tirailleurs HQ

Capitaine

Tirailleurs Platoon

Lieutenant

Lieutenant

HQ Section

Sergent

Sergent

Sergent

Tirailleurs Squad Tirailleurs Squad

Tirailleurs Squad

Rifle team Rifle team



Rifle team Rifle team Rifle team

Command Rifle team Bazooka team

motIvatIonanD skIllFrench Expeditionary Corps (FEC) divisions were among the best trained and motivated

Allied troops in Italy. Tey had gained much experience ghting in North Arica and Sicily in1943, as well as many o them being long service veterans o the French colonial orces. ACompagnie de irailleurs is rated asConfdent Veteran.

tIraIlleurs platoon

irailleurs platoons are drawn rom all o the men who haveanswered the call to liberate France rom the Nazis. Whethermigrs, Free French, or others rom the Arican colonies,they are trained and ready to ght.

Te Americans have given them their oldest weapons Springeld Ries, a ew BARs, some have their trusty FM1924/29s - but it does not matter. With their courage, verve,and aggressive tactics, the irailleurs will take the ght to theboche.

rELuCtant

ConFIdEnt

FEarLESS

ConSCrIpt

traInEd

VEtEran

CompagnIeDe tIraIlleurs

A French Company Command is led by an ofcer steeped inthe traditions o the French Army. He is a patriot, his courageis unquestioned and he will lead the company to victory. Hewill see France ree again but rst the army must prove itselhere in Italy.

HeadquarTers

CompagnIeDe tIraIlleurs hq

heaDquarters

Company HQ 35 points

optIons

Replace Command Rife teams with Command SMGteams or +5 points per team.

Add a Bazooka team or +20 points.Add up to three Sniper teams or +50 points per team.

CombaT plaToons

platoon

HQ Section with:

3 irailleurs Squads 170 points

2 irailleurs Squads 120 points

optIon

Add a Bazooka team or +20 points.


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Tirailleurs Weapons platoon

Lieutenant

Lieutenant

CommandRifle team

Jeep with.50 cal AA MG

machine-gunSection

Sergent

M1919 LMG

M1919 LMG

machine-gunSection

Sergent

M1919 LMG M1919 LMG

Sergent

Mortar Section

M2 60mm mortar

M2 60mmmortar

M2 60mmmortar

tIraIlleurs Weapons platoon

Te weapons platoon gives you a handy reserve o repower.It can either orm a base o re when attacking or be handedout to the rie platoons to strengthen their positions whendeending. Te mortars in particular have proven very handyin the mountains o Italy.

Tirialleurs Machine-gun platoon

Lieutenant

machine-gunSection

Sergent

M1917 HMG Jeep with trailer

machine-gunSection

Sergent

Lieutenant

CommandRifle team





tIraIlleurs maChIne-gun platoon

France was the rst country in Europe to introduce machineguns the mitralleuse in the 19th century. Machine guns area traditional strength o the French army and with theseM1917 Brownings, the tradition continues.

irialleurs Weapons Platoons may make CombatAttachments to Combat Platoons.

irialleurs Machine-gun Platoons may make CombatAttachments to Combat Platoons.

Weapons plaToons

platoon

HQ Section with Mortar Section and:

2 Machine-gun Sections 170 points

1 Machine-gun Section 125 points

optIonAdd Jeep with .50 cal AA MG or +5 points.

platoon

HQ Section with:

2 Machine-gun Sections 140 points

1 Machine-gun Section 75 points

optIons

Add Jeep with .50 cal AA MG or +5 points.

Add Jeeps with trailers at no cost.


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Tirialleurs Mortar platoon

Lieutenant

Lieutenant

CommandRifle team


Sergent

Mortar Section

Sergent

Mortar Section

M1 81mmmortar

Jeep with trailer

M1 81mmmortar

Jeep with trailer

M1 81mmmortar

Jeep with trailer

M1 81mmmortar

Jeep with trailer

ObserverRifle team

tIraIlleurs mortarplatoon

Te mortar platoon provides close re support, able to reonto targets over the steep hills. With mule transport theyhave proven very mobile and able to keep up with the astmarching French in the mountains. General Juin has wiselyencouraged their use.

Tirialleurs Anti-tank platoon

Lieutenant

Lieutenant

CommandRifle team


Sergent

Gun Section

Sergent

Gun Section

M1 57mm gun 1-ton truck

Sergent

Gun Section

M1 57mm gun

1-ton truck

M1 57mm gun

1-ton truck

tIraIlleurs antI-tankplatoon

Tough the French had to leave their 25mm and 47mm gunsbehind in North Arica, these new American guns are in actmuch better, and keep the Panzers at bay.

platoon

HQ Section with:

2 Mortar Sections 120 points

1 Mortar Section 60 points

optIonsAdd Jeep with .50 cal AA MG or +5 points.

Add Jeeps with trailers at no cost.

Add an Observer Rife team or +15 points.

platoon

HQ Section with:

3 M1 57mm 105 points

2 M1 57mm 75 points

optIons

Add Jeep with .50 cal AA MG or +5 points.

Add 1.5-ton trucks at no cost.


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Tirialleurs Ammunition & Pioneer platoon

Lieutenant

Caporal

A&P Squad

Pioneer Rifle team

Pioneer Rifle team

Caporal

A&P Squad

Pioneer Rifle team

Pioneer Rifle team

Caporal

A&P Squad

Pioneer Rifle team

Pioneer Rifle team

Lieutenant

Command PioneerRifle team

Bazookateam

Bazookateam

Pioneer Supply3/

4-ton truck

tIraIlleurs ammunItIon & pIoneerplatoon

Te pioneers are trained to both create and destroyortications. Tey only have Springeld ries, but provedtheir courage clearing mines in the way o the French attackson the Gustav Line.

Tirialleurs Intelligence & Recon platoon

Lieutenant

Lieutenant

CommandRifle team


Sergent

I&R Squad

Rifle team

Jeep

Sergent

I&R Squad

Rifle team

Sergent

I&R Squad

Rifle team

JeepJeep

tIraIlleurs IntellIgenCe & reCon platoon

Te Intelligence & Recon Platoon may be mounted in someo the ew jeep transports kept in the divisions by Juin. Teyact as scouts beore the French advance, locating deensivestrongpoints and guiding re to keep them pinned downuntil the inantry complete their demise.

A irialleurs Intelligence & Recon Platoon is a ReconnaissancePlatoon.

0

platoon

HQ Section with:

3 A&P Squads 150 points

2 A&P Squads 105 points

optIonsAdd Bazooka teams or +20 points per team.

Add Pioneer Supply truck or +25 points.

platoon

HQ Section with:

3 I&R Squads 100 points

2 I&R Squads 75 points

optIons

Add Jeep with .50 cal AA MG and unarmed Jeeps to

the platoon or +5 points. Arm any or all unarmed Jeeps with an AA MG or+5 points per Jeep.

supporT plaToons


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Tirialleurs Cannon platoon

CapitainE

CapitainE

CommandCarbine team

JeepJeep ObserverCarbine team

Lieutenant

Gun Section

Lieutenant

Gun Section

Lieutenant

Gun Section

M1A1 75mm pack howitzer

1-ton truck


1-ton truck


1-ton truck


1-ton truck


1-ton truck


1-ton truck

tIraIlleurs Cannon platoon

Te Americans wisely adopted the French doctrine o orwarduse o howitzers and have supplied us with the guns to onceagain do the same. In the capable hands o French artilleryofcers these platoons provide excellent re support. We use75mm pack howitzers which can be broken down into man-packed loads. Mule transport keeps them going through theAppenines. Anywhere the inantry go, they ollow.

A irialleurs Cannon Platoon is a Mountaineer Platoon.

platoon

HQ Section with:

3 Gun Sections 160 points

2 Gun Sections 115 points

1 Gun Section 65 pointsoptIon

Add Jeep and 1-ton trucks or +5 points or theplatoon.


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Goum Platoon

Lieutenant

Lieutenant

HQ Section

Sergent

Sergent

Sergent

Goum Squad Goum Squad

Goum Squad




Rifle team Rifle team Rifle team

Command Rifle team

goum platoon

Goum platoons are the cutting edge o the French army. Teyare tribal warriors drawn rom the Atlas mountains oMorroco. Tey are armed with the same old weapons as theirailleurs, Springeld ries and a ew BARs, but they alsohave their knives. Stalking through the hills in the dead onight, they strike ear into the hearts o the Germans, whohave no answer to them.

Goum Rie platoons carry American Springeld rieslimiting their repower, but the ries light weight enabledthe Goums to move quickly and silently through rough

terrain and close rapidly with their enemies.Te Goums are commanded by French ofcers, but theymust be exceptional men, to keep control o the wild north Aricans, and at the same time lead them in the Frenchmanner.

Te earsome MoroccanGoum ghters are ratedFearless Trained. rELuCtant

ConFIdEnt

FEarLESS

ConSCrIpt

traInEd

VEtEran

goum platoon

platoon

HQ Section with:

3 Goum Squads 200 points

2 Goum Squads 145 points


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Goum speCial rules

Goum Platoons hit in assault combat on a roll o 3+ (instead

o 4+ or being rated rained).

ColonIal troopsFrance had a large colonial empire. Colonial troops arerecruited to protect and maintain it rom the native tribes oAlgeria, Morocco and Senegal. While they may not be au aitwith the latest military methods, they are renowned or theirerocity and prowess in personal combat.

Goum Inantry and Man-packed Gun teams areMountaineers.

no oBstaCle too toughTe Goums called the mountains o North Arica home andwere at ease in travelling through seemingly impassable terrain.

CautIous movementTe Goums were experts at silently crossing the most barrenterrain and surprise their prey beore they could react.

Goum Platoons may re-roll ailed Motivation ests toRally rom being Pinned Down.

assault troopsGoums attached to each division o the French ExpeditionaryForce led the charge on enemy positions.

Goum teams are considered Gone to Ground in the opponentsollowing turn i they are Concealed, and did not move Atthe Double, shoot or assault in their own turn.

A Goum Platoon uses most o the US Special Rules ound in the Flames O Warrulebook. A Goum Platoon does not use theAutomatic Ries, Excellent Communications, or Under Command special rules. Instead, it uses any o the other US specialrules as well as all o the ollowing Goum special rules.


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ec shmise Cvl S

(meChanIseD Company)

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

InFantry

12

Support pLatoonS

Air Support

aIrCraFt

20

CombatpLatoonS

HEadq

uartErS

Escadron de Spahi HQ

HEadquartErS

15

Spahi Platoon

rEConnaISSanCE

15

WEaponSpLatoonS

Spahi Assault GunPlatoon

artILLEry

16

Spahi Light TankPlatoon

armour

16

Spahi Platoon

rEConnaISSanCE

15

Spahi Platoon

rEConnaISSanCE

15

Tank DestroyerPlatoon

armour

17 Field Artillery Battery

artILLEry

18


artILLEry


antI-aIrCraFt

19


aop

20

Goum Platoon

18

Field ArtilleryBattery (155mm)

18

Spahi Light TankPlatoon

armour

16

InFantry

12

19

Goum Platoon

Engineer CombatPlatoon


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Escadron de Spahi HQ

Capitaine

Company HQ

Company CommandRifle team

2iC CommandRifle team

JeepM2 half-track

Security Squad

Sergent

M3A1 armored car M3A1 armored car

Capitaine

motIvatIonanD skIllSpahi units were the ast moving spearhead o the FEC when they nally broke ree o the Nazideences in Italy. Tey dont have the same modern equipment as their American counterparts,but they use it with great skill probing the enemys deences. An Escadron de Spahi is rated asConfdent Veteran.

rELuCtant

ConFIdEnt

FEarLESS

ConSCrIpt

traInEd

VEtEran

esCaDronDe spahI

French cavalry ofcers have ound their place again in theSpahi units. Tey have the same equipment as the Americanunits, and more initiative and daring. Te ranks o the Spahiunits contain many o the French troops with the most lan,including a lot o the ormer Free French Division.

Spahi Platoon

Lieutenant

Lieutenant

Armored Recon Patrol

M3A1 armored carCommand M3A1armored car

Recon JeepMortar Jeep

Sergent

Armored Recon Patrol

M3A1 armored carCommand M3A1

armored car

Recon JeepMortar Jeep

spahI platoon

Dismounted Spahi Platoon

Lieutenant

Lieutenant

Dismounted Recon Patrol

Rifle teamCommand Rifle team Rifle team

Sergent

Dismounted Recon Patrol

Rifle teamRifle team Rifle team

Te teams o an Escadron de Spahi HQ are Recce teams.

Armored Recon Patrols operate as separate platoons, eachwith their own Command team. Although its patrols countas separate platoons or all other purposes, a Spahi Platoondeploys all at the same time as a single platoon. For example,the entire Spahi Platoon is treated as a single platoon whencalculating the number o platoons held in Ambush or

Reserve.

Beore deployment you may replace any or all Spahi Platoonswith Dismounted Spahi Platoons with the same number oPatrols.In each Patrol, you may replace at no cost: up to two Rife teams with .50 cal MG teams, up to three Rife teams with M1919 LMG teams, up to one Rife teams with an M2 60mm mortar team, up to two Rife teams with Bazooka teams each or oneRife team with a M3 37mm anti-tank gun.

All o the Dismounted Recon Patrols in a Dismounted SpahiPlatoon operate as a single inantry platoon.

Armored Recon Patrols and Dismounted Spahi Platoons areReconnaissance Platoons.

HeadquarTersesCaDronDe spahI hq

heaDquarters

Company HQ 45 points

optIons

Arm either or both Jeeps and M2 hal-track with AAMG or +5 points per vehicle.

Add M3A1 armoured cars or +35 points per

vehicle.

CombaT plaToons

platoon

2 Armored Recon Patrols 230 points

1 Armored Recon Patrol 115 points


16/22

Spahi Light Tank Platoon

Lieutenant

Lieutenant

Command M5A1 Stuart

Tank Section

Sergent

M5A1 Stuart

M5A1 Stuart

Tank Section

Sergent

M5A1 Stuart

M5A1 Stuart

spahI lIght tankplatoon

Each French Inantry Division contains these light tanks toprovide support. Te French armoured crews are brave andaggressive, even i their guns are weak.

M8 Scott HMC M8 Scott HMC

Gun Section Gun Section

Sergent Sergent

Spahi Assault gun Platoon

Lieutenant

Lieutenant

Command M8 Scott HMC

spahI assault gun platoon

Te M8 Scott HMC assault guns give re support or theSpahi Platoons, either by perorming direct re rom its75mm gun to knock out machine-gun nests and anti-tankguns, or ring bombardments to keep the enemys head downwhile the Spahi platoons probe the line.

Weapons plaToons

platoon

5 M5A1 Stuarts 310 points



platoon

3 M8 Scott HMC 155 points

2 M8 Scott HMC 105 points


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motIvatIonanD skIllTe divisions o the FEC are ull o experienced soldiers who have seen hard battles in Aricaand Syria. Now their goal is in sight, the liberation o France, they ght with grim determinationto deeat the Germans in Italy. FEC Divisional Support Units are rated as ConfdentVeteran, unless noted otherwise.

rELuCtant

ConFIdEnt

FEarLESS

ConSCrIpt

traInEd

VEtEran

DIvIsIonal support

Tank destroyer Platoon

Lieutenant

Tank destroyer

Section

Sergent

Carbine team

M10 3in GMC

M10 3in GMC

Tank destroyer

Section

Sergent

Carbine team

M10 3in GMC

M10 3in GMC

Lieutenant

CommandCarbine team


JeepJeep

tankDestroyerplatoon

Tese are the heaviest anti-tank weapons in the FrenchDivisions. Tey are held in independent squadrons and arecareully allocated to the sector where the enemy armouredthreat is greatest. Teir crews are dedicated; they will stop anypanzers.

Tank

Tank

Tank Section

Sergeant

Tank

Tank

Tank Section

Sergeant

US Tank Platoon

Lieutenant

Lieutenant

Command tank

us tankplatoon

On 9 January 1944 the US 755th ank Battalion was assignedto the US Fith Army and attached to the French ExpeditionaryCorps (FEC). Te battalion supported French inantry unitsin the breaking o the German Winter Line near Cassino. Forits support o French orces during the Rome-Arno Campaignthe 755th Battalion received two awards o the French Croixde Guerre(Cross o War, or mentions in dispatches).

rELuCtant

ConFIdEnt

FEarLESS

ConSCrIpt

traInEd

VEtEran

us tankplatoonTe 755th ank

Battalion had beenghting in Italy sincelate 1943. US ankPlatoons are ratedConfdent Veteran.

US ank Platoons are US Platoons and ollow the USspecial rules in theFlames O War rulebook and count asan Allied Platoon (page 183 o the rulebook).

A ank Destroyer Platoon uses the US ank DestroyerDoctrine and Seek, Strike, and Destroy special rules ound

on page 157 o the Flames O War rulebook.

platoon

HQ Section with:

4 M10 3in GMC 400 points

2 M10 3in GMC 210 points

optIon

Arm any or all unarmed Jeeps with an AA MG or+5 points per Jeep.

platoon

5 M4 or M4A1 Sherman 450 points




18/22

Observer

Carbine team


M2A1 105mm howitzer

M2A1 105mm howitzer

M2A1 105mm howitzer

M2A1 105mm howitzer

Capitaine

Capitaine

fIelD artIlleryBattery

At last the French artillery is equipped with a modern gun,the Amis 105mm howitzer is good enough to be a Frenchgun! French artillery ofcers have been the worlds best sincethe days o Napoleon, and now we will give the boche apounding.

ObserverCarbine team

Field Artillery Battery (155mm)

M1 155mm howitzer

M5 high-speed tractor

M1 155mm howitzer


M1 155mm howitzer


M1 155mm howitzer


CapitainE

Capitaine

fIelD artIlleryBattery(155mm)

Te divisional artillery includes an artillery regiment organized

in three battalions set-up like the Americans, thereore thereis three battalions o 105mm howitzers and a ourth battalionis equipped with 155mm howitzers.

Te reserve artillery were also armed with a number o155mm guns and howitzers, including those supplied by theAmericans and older French models recaptured in Italy. Forexample, the 1st Battery o the Groupe de Canonniers Marins(Gunners Sailors Group) was equipped with 155mm GPF(long range Fillioux) guns. Tese are French guns that theItalians had taken between 1940 and 1943, and recapturdater the landing o the Allied orces in Italy.

platoon

HQ Section with:

4 M2A1 105mm gun 185 points

2 M2A1 105mm gun 105 points

optIonAdd -ton trucks and 2-ton trucks or +5 points orthe platoon.

platoon

HQ Section with:

4 M1 155mm howitzers 275 points

2 M1 155mm howitzers 145 points

optIon

Add -ton trucks and M5 high-speed tractors at +5points or the battery.

You may not eld a Field Artillery Battery (155mm)equipped with M1 155mm howitzers unless you are also

elding a Field Artillery Battery with at least as manyM2A1 105mm howitzers.


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Engineer Combat Platoon

Sergent

Sergent

Sergent

engIneerComBat platoon

Tese units have the same courage and skill as the pioneerunits and are even better equipped. Tey are heavily employedworking to break the Gustav Line.


Lieutenant

Lieutenant

CommandCarbine team

Jeep

AutomaticWeapons Section

Sergent

M1 Bofors gun

M1 Bofors gun

2-ton truck

2-ton truck

AutomaticWeapons Section

Sergent

M1 Bofors gun

M1 Bofors gun

2-ton truck

2-ton truck

antI-aIrCraft artIlleryplatoon

Te Amis have not given us any AA hal-tracks, but theseBoors are good guns, and i the boche planes will not showthemselves they are useul against ground targets too.

You may replace all Pioneer HMG teams with Pioneer Rifeteams at the start o the game beore deployment.

platoon

HQ Section with Weapons Squad and

2 Operating Squads 185 points

1 Operating Squad 140 points

No Operating Squads 90 points

optIons

Add Bazooka teams or +20 points per team.

Add Pioneer 2-ton Supply truck or +25 points.

platoon

HQ Section with:

2 Automatic Weapons Sections 125 points

1 Automatic Weapons Section 65 points


20/22


Flight Lieutenant

AOP

Flight Lieutenant

L4 Grasshopper AOP

Air Support

Flight Lieutenant

Flight

Flight Lieutenant

Aircraft

AircraftAircraft

0

Air Observation Aircrat use many o the aircrat rules.However, one o the primary dierences is that the AirObservation Aircrat starts the game on the table andremains there or the rest o the game until it is shot down orchased o, at which point it is permanently removed romthe game.

In the Starting Step o each turn, you reposition your AirObservation Aircrat anywhere on the table (even within16/40cm o riendly troops) when you would position anyother aircrat. I your opponent has air support, they can roll

or Fighter Interception as usual and use this to attempt to

shoot your Air Observation Aircrat down instead ointercepting Ground Attack Aircrat.

Te opposing player can re anti-aircrat re at your AirObservation Aircrat at the end o the Shooting Step, aterall other shooting is complete, but just beore aircrat maketheir attacks, just as they can at any other aircrat. Tis isconducted just like ring at Ground-attack Aircrat,including the limits on anti-aircrat guns ability to see overterrain.

A team ring anti-aircrat re must choose between ring atthe Air Observation Aircrat or at Ground-attack Aircrat.A single team cannot shoot at both in the same turn.

Since the Air Observation Aircrat isnt actually attackinganything, Sel-deence Anti-aircrat Weapons cannot shoot at it.

Te Air Observation Aircrat carries no weapons and cannotmake attacks by itsel. Instead an Air Observation Aircratcounts as an Observer team that can act as the Spottingteam or any artillery platoon that has a Sta team.

reat it as an Observer team on the ground (although themodel sits just above the table) when determining what itcan see, as the Air Observation Aircrat fy low attempting

to avoid enemy ghter interception and cannot see overterrain.

Te Air Observation Aircrat does benet rom its height byallowing it to re-roll the third attempt to range in i it ailedon that attempt.

aIroBservatIon post

antI-aIrCraft fIre

lIaIson aIrCraft

aop

L4 Grasshopper AOP 25 points

prIorItyaIrsupport

P-47 Tunderbolt 190 points

P-40 Warhawk 160 points

lImIteD aIrsupport

P-47 Tunderbolt 150 points

P-40 Warhawk 130 points

aIroBservatIon post

aIrsuprort


21/22

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Fch a

tank tEamS Armour

Name Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and NotesWeapon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower

tanks

M5A1 Stuart Fully-tracked 4 2 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, AA MG, Light tank.M6 37mm gun 24/60cm 2 7 4+ Stabiliser.

M4 or M4A1 Sherman Fully-tracked 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, .50 cal AA MG.M3 75mm gun 32/80cm 2 10 3+ Smoke, Stabiliser.

support Weapons

M8 Scott HMC Fully-tracked 3 2 0 .50 cal AA MG, Light tank. M1A1 75mm howitzer 16/40cm 2 6 3+ Smoke.

Firing bombardments 64/160cm - 3 6

tankDestroyersM10 3in GMC Fully-tracked 4 2 0 .50 cal AA MG.

M7 3in gun 32/80cm 2 12 3+ Slow traverse.

reConnaIssanCe

M2A1 armored car Jeep 1 0 0 .50 cal AA MG, two AA MG.

Recon Jeep Jeep - - - AA MG.

Mortar Jeep Jeep - - - M2 60mm Mortar 24/60cm 2 1 3+ Hull mounted, Portee, Can fre over riendly troops.Firing Bombardments 32/80cm - 1 6

vehICle maChIne-guns

Vehicle MG 16/40cm 3 2 6 ROF 1 i other weapons fre.

.50 cal Vehicle MG 16/40cm 3 4 5+ ROF 1 i other weapons fre.

gun tEamS

Weapon Mobility Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes

M2 .50 cal MG Man-packed 16/40cm 3 4 5+

M1919 LMG team Man-packed 16/40cm 5 2 6 ROF 2 when pinned down.

M1917 HMG team Man-packed 24/60cm 6 2 6 ROF 2 when pinned down.

M2 60mm mortar Man-packed 24/60cm 2 1 3+ Can re over riendly troops.Firing bombardments 32/80cm - 1 6

M1 81mm mortar Man-packed 40/100cm - 2 6 Smoke bombardment.M1 Boors gun Immobile 24/60cm 4 6 4+ Anti-aircrat, urntable.

M3 37mm gun Light 24/60cm 3 7 4+ Gun shield.

M1 57mm gun Medium 24/60cm 3 10 4+ Gun shield, No HE.

M1A1 75mm pack howitzer Light 16/40cm 2 6 3+ Smoke.

Firing bombardments 56/140cm - 3 6+ Smoke bombardment.

M2A1 105mm howitzer Immobile 24/60cm 1 9 2+ Gun shield, Smoke.


M1 155mm howitzer Immobile 24/60cm 1 10 1+ Bunker buster, Gun shield, Smoke.


aDDItIonal speCIal rules

M1919 LMG teams and M2 60mm mortar teams may use the US special rule ruscott rot as i they were Inantry teams.


22/22

InFantry tEamS

Team Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes

Carbine team 8/20cm 1 1 6

Rife team 16/40cm 1 2 6

Bazooka team 8/20cm 1 10 5+ ank assault 4.

Sta team cannot shoot Moves as a Heavy Gun team.

aDDItIonal traInInganD equIpment

Pioneer teams are rated as ank Assault 3.

aicf Aircraft Weapon To Hit Anti-tank Firepower Notes

P-47 Tunderbolt MG 2+ 6 5+Bombs 4+ 5 1+

P-40 Warhawk MG 2+ 6 5+Bombs 4+ 5 2+

tranSport tEamS

Armour

Vehicle Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes

truCks

Jeep Jeep - - - Optional Passenger-red AA MG or .50 cal AA MG.

Dodge -ton, -ton or

GMC 2-ton truck Wheeled - - -

armoureD personnel CarrIersM2 or M3 hal-track Hal-tracked 1 0 0 Optional Passenger-red AA MG or .50 cal AA MG.

FEC Intelligence Briefing

Documents

Transcript of FEC Intelligence Briefing