Bolt Action Armies of The Spanish Civil War v2.1

Bolt Action: Armies of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
by
RJH Scales
Background to the Conflict

The Spanish Civil War was fought from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939 between the
Republicans, who were loyal to the democratically elected Spanish Republic, and the
Nationalists, a rebel group led by General Francisco Franco. The Nationalists prevailed,
and Franco ruled Spain for the next 36 years, from 1939 until his death in 1975.
The war began after a declaration of opposition by a group of generals of the Spanish
Republican Armed Forces, under the leadership of Jos Sanjurjo, against the elected
government of the Second Spanish Republic, at the time under the leadership of President
Manuel Azaa. The rebel coup was supported by a number of conservative groups,
including the Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right, monarchists such as the
religious conservative Carlists, and the Fascist Falange.
The coup was supported by military units in Morocco, Pamplona, Burgos, Valladolid,
Cdiz, Cordova, and Seville. However, rebelling units in important cities such as Madrid,
Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao, and Mlaga were unable to capture their objectives, and
those cities remained in control of the government. Spain was thus left militarily and
politically divided.
The Nationalists, now led by General Francisco Franco, and the Republican government
fought for control of the country. The Nationalist forces received munitions and soldiers
from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, while the Soviet Union and Mexico intervened in
support of the "Loyalist", or "Republican", side. Other countries, such as Britain and
France, operated an official policy of non-intervention, although France did send in some
munitions.
The Nationalists advanced from their strongholds in the south and west, capturing most
of Spain's northern coastline in 1937. They also besieged Madrid and the area to its south
and west for much of the war. Capturing large parts of Catalonia in 1938 and 1939, the
war ended with the victory of the Nationalists and the exile of thousands of leftist
Spaniards, many of whom fled to refugee camps in southern France. Those associated
with the losing Republicans were persecuted by the victorious Nationalists. With the
establishment of a fascist dictatorship led by General Francisco Franco in the aftermath
of the war, all right-wing parties were fused into the structure of the Franco regime.
Design Notes
This unofficial supplement is my attempt at setting the myriad units and factions of the
Spanish Civil War down into a hopefully fun playable, Bolt Action supplement for both
the Republican and Nationalist sides of this fascinating conflict. I first became fascinated
by it after reading George Orwell's famous 'A Homage to Catalonia', and I firmly
recommend the book to those interested in the conflict or the military history of the Inter
War period. The conflict is interesting as it sits at a cross roads between trench warfare
of WW1 and fully mechanised warfare of WW2. It was widely used as a proving ground
for all the major European powers to test their equipment, men and doctrine.
The Spanish Civil War is a difficult subject to cover purely because of the vast amount of
differing equipment on both sides as well as shared equipment from both sides. I have
tried to cover as much as possible but there will naturally be gaps, and I apologise for
that. My intent is to make a fun playable list for the game not a 100% historical
recreation; which would be impossible. A good example is the amount of different
Armoured Trucks used, especially by the Republican side; I lost count at over 20
variants! I have tried to replicate unit entries from other Bolt Action books to keep points
cost consistent. This list is designed for Republican v Nationalist Spanish Civil War
games, and whilst it can be used against other Bolt Action lists, there has been no attempt
made at any kind of balance.
With that in mind, the format is slightly different to normal Bolt Action supplements, as
there are units that were present on both sides of the divide as well as vehicles that were
used by both sides. As such, I have included these units in a distinct portion of the list.
They can be used freely within the normal construct of the selectors and the Army
Special rules for each side will naturally apply.
Within the Reinforced platoon, I have tweaked the infantry force size from the 'standard'
Bolt Action template. The War was a majority infantry affair, and I wanted to reflect
that, hence the increase in numbers. Again, armoured cars have been increased due to the
sheer number used on both sides. The Priests are there for flavour and to bring some
distinction to the two sides, although I do not doubt that there was some involvement on
the Nationalist side by the Roman Catholic Church.
Reinforced Platoon
1 Lieutenant First or Second

2 Infantry Squads
plus:
0-4 Infantry Squads

0-1 Captain or Major
0-1 Medic or Nun
0-1 Standard Bearer
0-1 Political Officers or 0-1 Priest (Dependent on side)
0-1 Forward Observer
0-1 MMG Team
0-3 Anti Tank Infantry
0-1 Cavalry Unit
0-1 Sniper
0-1 Anti Tank team
0-1 Mortar
0-1 Field Artillery, Anti Tank gun or Anti Aircraft gun
0-2 Armoured Car/ Armoured Trucks
0-1 Tank
0-1 Truck
Thanks and Acknowledgements
My thanks go out to the contributors and editors of Wikipedia, large swathes of which
have been plundered for the background material to the war, which I hope you find
enlightening and entertaining. Heartfelt thanks to Warlord (especially Rick Priestly and
Alessio Cavatore) for producing such a wonderful game.
However, main thanks go to the excellent 'Steve's Balagan' website (http://balagan.info)

which has proved a superb resource on equipment and TOE.
I would like to reiterate that this publication is not official and in no way is intended to
impinge on any of Warlords copyrights; this was produced mainly for my own
consumption and enjoyment of the exercise. Finally, thanks to George Orwell for stirring
my interest in the war and Antony Beevor for filling in most of the blanks in his excellent
book.
Common Units
Infantry
Headquarters Units
Officer
The Spanish regular army effectively split in two at the outbreak of hostilities. Whilst the
vast majority of the Officer Corps went over to the Nationalist side, considerable amounts
stayed loyal to the elected government of the Republic. This entry can equally apply to
the leaders and officers of the various militia/paramilitary groups on both sides.
Cost:
Second Lieutenant 35pts (Inexperienced), 50pts (Regular), 65pts (Veteran).
First Lieutenant 60pts (Inexperienced), 75pts (Regular), 90pts (Veteran).
Captain 95pts (Inexperienced), 110pts (Regular), 125pts (Veteran).
Major 135pts (Inexperienced), 150pts (Regular), 165pts (Veteran).
Team: 1 Officer and up to 2 further men.
Equipment: Pistol, Rifle, Sub Machine Gun as depicted on models.
Options: The Officer may be accompanied by up to 2 men at a cost of +7pts per man
(Inexperienced), +10pts per man (Regular), or +13pts per man (Veteran).
Medic
Both sides naturally employed medics at the front line. Orwell's description of his throat
wound is a superbly graphic example of front line medical care in the trenches.
Cost:
15pts (Inexperienced) 20pts (Regular) 30pts (Veteran)
Team: 1 Medic and up to 2 further men
Equipment: Pistol, Rifle or none as depicted on models.
Options: The Medic may be accompanied by up to 2 men at a cost of +7pts per man
Forward Observer
Artillery played a huge role during the conflict that at times resembled WW1 in its trench
warfare and forward observation of the enemy was vital. Air power was developing
during the conflict but as yet there was not the same degree of land/air cooperation as
would develop in WW2. The Air observer is included as a method of allowing you to
represent the air component and also paint some cool models!
Cost: Artillery Forward Observer 100pts (Regular), Air Forward Observer 100pts
(Regular).
Team: 1 Forward Observer and up to 2 further men.
Equipment: Pistol, Rifle or none as depicted on models.
Options: The Observer may be accompanied by up to 2 men at a cost of +10pts per man
(Regular).
Infantry Sections and Teams
Spanish Army/Popular Army Regulars
The Spanish regular army effectively split in two at the outbreak of hostilities. Whilst the
vast majority of the army went over to the Nationalist side, considerable amounts stayed
loyal to the elected government of the Republic. Spanish/Popular Army squads officially
numbered 1 NCO and 8 men with an LMG support. Frequently, there were not enough
LMG to go around and on the Republican side frequently not enough rifles!
Cost: Regular Infantry 40pts
Composition: 1 NCO and 3men
Weapons: Rifles
Options: Add up to 5 additional soldiers at +10pts each. One soldier may have an LMG
at +20pts another loader becomes the loader.
Special Rules: Conscripted. (Nationalist Only).
Machine Gun Team
There were a wide range of weapons used on both sides ranging from the French WW1
Chauchat and Hotchkiss up to the MG15, Maxim and MG34. This entry can be used to
represent any mounted/wheeled medium machine gun from both sides.
Cost: 35pts (Inexperienced), 50pts (Regular), 65pts (Veteran)

Composition: 3 men 1 firer and 2 loaders.
Weapons: 1 MMG
Special Rules: Team Weapon
Fixed
Sniper Team
th
As with all 20 Century conflicts, the sniper was a vital tool in reconnaissance and
sowing disorder amongst the enemy; especially in a trench warfare environment such as
the majority of the Civil War.
Cost: 50pts (Regular), 65pts (Veteran)

Composition: 2 men 1 firer and 1 spotter.
Weapons: 1 Rifle
Sniper
Light Mortar Team
A vast array of light mortars were employed by both sides, some quite crude in design
and dating from WW1.

Composition: 2 men
Weapons: 1 light mortar
Indirect Fire - HE (D3)
Medium Mortar Team
A vast array of medium mortars were employed by both sides, this entry represents any
of the applicable models used.

Composition: 2 men
Weapons: 1 medium mortar
Options: May add a spotter for +10pts.
Fixed
Indirect Fire - HE (D6)
Anti Tank Infantry
Improvised incendiary devices were used for the first time in the Spanish Civil War
before they became known as "Molotov cocktails". This entry is used to represent any of
the myriad number of different methods employed by both sides to stop armoured
vehicles.
Cost: 14pts (Inexperienced), 20pts (Regular)
Composition: 1 man
Weapons: 1 Molotov Cocktail, Improvised Charge etc
Special Rules: Forward Position. Anti Tank infantry count as Observers/Snipers for set
up purposes (See pg 118 of the Bolt Action rulebook.)
Through the engine louvers! If an anti tank team assaults an enemy vehicle and the
model manages to move into contact with the target, resolve the hit with a penetration
value of +4 (no other modifiers apply)
Cavalry
Both Republican and Nationalists employed Cavalry within their ranks as

Reconnaissance elements. The Nationalists also used Moroccan Cavalry which are
covered with specific rules.

Composition: 1 NCO and 5 men mounted on horses
Weapons: Rifles
Options: Add up to 5 additional soldiers at +9pts (Inexperienced), +12pts (Regular) or
15pts (Veteran) each. One soldier may have an LMG at +20pts.
Special Rules: Intended as reconnaissance troops or light skirmishers, if they fought they
did so dismounted. As such, cavalry may not charge into contact with an enemy unit
whilst mounted. As Scouts, they do not receive the -1 penalty to their leadership roll
when coming on from Reserve.
Artillery
Field Artillery
Both sides were supplied with an array of artillery by the Soviet Union in the case of the
Republicans to Nazi Germany and the Italians supplying the Nationalists. It spanned
most widely used calibres and a few stranger ones. Veteran status reflects foreign
'volunteers' manning the equipment. It is a common error to think that the Condor
Legion fought as infantry in the War. They (like their Soviet counterparts) mainly
provided support weapons crews and flew aircraft and later turned to a training role. The
generic entries below represent these.
Light Artillery
Infantry Guns
Small man packed artillery pieces, lacking in explosive power. Usually WW1 vintage.

Composition: 3 men
Weapons: 1 light howitzer
Options: May add a Gun Shield for +5pts
Fixed
Howitzer
Light shell - HE (D3)
Indirect Fire
Light Howitzer

Composition: 3 men
Weapons: 1 light howitzer
Options: May add a Gun Shield for +5pts, may add up to 2 loaders for +5pts each.
Fixed
Howitzer
HE (D6)
Indirect Fire
Medium Howitzer

Composition: 3 men
Weapons: 1 medium howitzer
Fixed
Howitzer
HE (2D6)
Indirect Fire
Heavy Howitzer

Composition: 3 men
Weapons: 1 heavy howitzer
Options: May add a Gun Shield for +5pts, may add up to 3 loaders for +5pts each. May
add a spotter for +10pts.
Fixed
Howitzer
HE (3D6)
Indirect Fire
Light Anti Tank Gun

Composition: 3 men
Weapons: 1 light anti tank gun
Fixed
Medium Anti Tank Gun

Composition: 3 men
Weapons: 1 medium anti tank gun
Fixed
Light Anti Aircraft Gun

Composition: 3 men
Weapons: 1 light automatic cannon
Fixed
Flak
Vehicles
Tanks
T26 mod 1933.
The Soviet supplied the T26 to the Republican side in quantity and they formed the
backbone of their armoured force. The Nationalists had nothing like it in terms of armour
and fire power. However, they did capture large amounts of tanks and pressed them back
into service. The T26 supplied was the Mod 1933 variant with a 47mm light anti tank
gun and hull mounted machine gun.
Cost: 56pts (Inexperienced), 70pts (Regular), 84pts (Veteran) Republican; 65pts

(Inexperienced), 79pts Regular (Nationalist).
Weapons: 1 turret mounted light anti tank gun, 1 hull mounted MMG.
Damage Value: 7+ (Tankette)
FT-17/18
At the beginning of the war, the Nationalist and Republican forces each possessed only
five Renault FT light tanks, although these were soon reinforced with imported materiel.

Weapons: 1 turret mounted MMG
Options: Upgrade the gun to a low velocity light anti tank gun for +30pts
Special Rules:
One Man Turret. Combining the roles of Commander, Gunner and Loader and squeezing
the unfortunate fellow into a one man turret means its hard to do different things at once!
To represent this it is always necessary to make an order test when issuing an Advance
order, even if the tank is not pinned.
Slow...pitifully slow. The FT17/18 is a Slow tank as defined by the rules and in addition
we do not permit it to make a double speed run move at all. It can still be given a Run
order (thereby avoiding the 'One Man Turret' rule) but moves at basic speed only.
Low Velocity Light Anti Tank Gun. The Puteaux SA18 counts as a light anti tank gun but
with an armour penetration of +3 instead of the usual +4.
Schneider CA1
The Schneider CA 1 (originally named the Schneider CA) was the first French tank.
They saw service at the beginning of the war. They were deployed in the fighting near
Toledo and Zaragoza. All were either knocked out or unoperational by late 1936.

Weapons: 1 hull mounted light howitzer covering the front and right arcs. 1 hull
mounted LMG covering left and front arcs, 1 hull mounted LMG covering right and front
arcs.
Special Rules: Slow
Vulnerable. Because of the poor construction and exposed fuel lines with tendency to
catch fire they earned the unfortunate nickname 'Mobile Crematoriums'. Apply the
damage rule for Flamethrower vehicles on pg.51 of the rulebook.
Armoured Cars/Armoured Trucks
'Bilbao' Armoured Car
Although initially intended to perform as an anti-riot media for the Guardia de Asalto, the
1936 military uprising against the Republic forced them into field service as a fighting
vehicle, thus filling the Republican armour gap until the first Russian tanks were
delivered. As with most vehicles in the conflict they were used by both sides.

Transport: Up to 5 men
Damage Value: 7+ (Armoured Carrier)
Special Rules:
Recce
order, even if the armoured car is not pinned.
Improvised Armoured Vehicles
The war saw both sides constructing improvised armoured vehicles from the little
resources that were available to hand. They would put the A-Team to shame with their
Heath Robinson contraptions. This entry is designed to vaguely represent these strange
machines.

Options: May add 1 pintle mounted LMG covering left arc and 1 pintle mounted LMG
covering right arc at the cost of +15pts each. May include a transport capacity of up to 5
men at the cost of +20pts and 10 men at the cost of +30pts.
Special Rules:
order, even if the armoured car is not pinned.
Slow.
Miscellaneous Trucks

Weapons: None
Damage Value: 6+ (Soft Skin)
Transport: Up to 13 men
Tow: Light or Medium howitzer; Light or Medium Anti Tank Gun; Light Anti Aircraft
Gun
Tractor/Artillery Mover

Weapons: None
Damage Value: 6+ (Soft Skin)
Tow: Any howitzer; Light or Medium Anti Tank Gun; Light Anti Aircraft Gun
Special Rules: Slow
The Forces of the Second Spanish Republic
Background
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain from 14 April 1931 until its
dissolution in 1939 by a military rebellion led by General Francisco Franco and Emilio
Mola.
The Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed when King Alfonso XIII left the country
following municipal elections in which anti-monarchist candidates won the majority of
votes, and the Spanish population celebrated the beginning of the Republic and social
pressure made the political regime change. Its government went into exile on 1 April
1939, when the last of the loyalist Republican forces surrendered to rebel forces (calling
themselves Nacionales) led by Generalsimo Franco among others at the end of the
Spanish Civil War.
The government in exile of the Second Spanish Republic had an embassy in Mexico City
until 1976 and was formally dissolved the following year.
1931 Constitution
On 28 January 1930 the military dictatorship of General Miguel Primo de Rivera (who
had been in power since September 1923 was overthrown. This led various republican
factions from a wide variety of backgrounds, including old conservatives and socialists,
to join forces. The Pact of San Sebastin was the key to the transition from monarchy to
republic. Republicans of all tendencies were committed to the Pact of San Sebastian in
overthrowing the monarchy and establishing a republic. The restoration of the royal
Bourbons was totally rejected by large sectors of the populace who vehemently opposed
the King. The pact, signed by representatives of the main Republican forces, allowed a
joint anti-monarchy political campaign. The 12 April 1931 municipal elections led to a
landslide victory for republicans in the urban areas, although pro-monarchists won in the
rural areas, which were quite wider that the first ones. However, the victory of the
republicans in the big cities was considered as a tool to show how the politic ideas of the
Spanish people had changed. Two days later, the Second Republic was proclaimed, and
King Alfonso XIII went into exile. The king's departure led to a provisional government
of the young republic under Niceto Alcal-Zamora. In June 1931 a Constituent Cortes
was elected to draft a new constitution, which came into force in December.
The new constitution established freedom of speech and freedom of association, extended
suffrage to women in 1933, allowed divorce and stripped the Spanish nobility of any
special legal status. Initially it also largely disestablished the Catholic Church, a trend
that was somewhat reversed in 1933. The controversial Constitutional articles 26 and 27
imposed stringent controls on Church property and barred religious orders from the ranks
of educators. Scholars have described the constitution as hostile to religion, with one
scholar characterising it as one of the most hostile of the 20th century.
The constitution established legal procedures for the nationalisation of public services
and land, banks, and railways. The constitution provided generally accorded civil liberties
and representation, a major exception being the rights of Catholics.
The 1931 Constitution was formally effective from 1931 until 1939. In the summer of
1936, after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, it became a dead letter after the
authority of the Republic was superseded in many places by revolutionary socialist and
anarchist juntas.
The Republican Constitution also changed the symbols of the country. The National
Anthem was changed, and the Tricolour, with three horizontal red-yellow-purple fields,
became the new flag of Spain. Under the new Constitution, all of Spain's regions had the
right to autonomy. Catalonia and the Basque Country exercised this right, with
Andaluca, Aragn, and Galicia engaged in negotiations with the government before the
outbreak of the Civil War. The Constitution guaranteed a wide range of civil liberties, but
it failed to agree on key points with the convictions of the conservative right, which was
very rooted in rural areas, and with the desires of the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic
Church.
19341935 period and miners' uprising
The majority vote in the 1933 elections was won by the Spanish Confederation of the
Autonomous Right (CEDA), led by Jos Mara Gil Robles, a coalition of centre-right and
far-right parties. CEDA set up a coalition with the Radical Republican Party led by
Alejandro Lerroux, which had come second in the elections. The Socialists came third.
With Lerroux as head of Government, the new coalition Executive suspended most of the
reforms of the previous government.
The inclusion of three CEDA ministers in the government that took office on October 1,
1934 led to a general strike and a rebellion by socialists and anarchists in Asturias on
October 6. Miners in Asturias occupied the capital, Oviedo, killing officials and
clergymen and burning theatres and the University. This rebellion lasted for two weeks
until it was crushed by the army, led by General Francisco Franco, who in the process
destroyed large parts of the city. This operation earned Franco the nickname "Butcher of
Asturias". Another rebellion by autonomists in Catalonia was also suppressed, and was
followed by mass arrests and trials.
The suspension of the land reforms that had been attempted by the previous government,
and the failure of the Asturias miners' uprising, led to a more radical turn by the parties of
the left, especially in the PSOE (Socialist Party), where the moderate Indalecio Prieto lost
ground to Francisco Largo Caballero, who advocated a socialist revolution.
1936 elections
On 7 January 1936, new elections were called. Despite significant rivalries and
disagreements the Socialists, Communists, and the Catalan and Madrid-based left-wing
Republicans decided to work together under the name Popular Front. The Popular Front
won the election on 16 February with 263 MPs against 156 right-wing MPs, grouped
within a coalition of the National Front with CEDA, Carlists, and Monarchists. The
moderate centre parties virtually disappeared.
In the following months there was increasing violence between left and right. This helped
the development of the fascist-inspired Falange Espaola, a National party led by Jos
Antonio Primo de Rivera, the son of the former dictator, Miguel Primo de Rivera.
Although it only received 0.7 percent of the votes in the election, by July 1936 the
Falange had 40,000 members.
Assassinations of political leaders and beginning of the war
On 12 July 1936, Lieutenant Jos Castillo, an important member of the anti-fascist
military organisation Unin Militar Republicana Antifascista (UMRA), was shot by
Falangist gunmen. In retaliation the following day, 13 July, UMRA members
assassinated Jos Calvo Sotelo, leader of the right-wing opposition and the most
prominent Spanish monarchist who, describing the government's actions as Bolshevist
and anarchist, had been exhorting the army to violence, declaring that Spanish soldiers
would save the country from communism if "there are no politicians capable of doing
so".
The Right blamed the government for Calvo Sotelo's assassination. Although it is
sometimes considered the catalyst for the further political polarisation that ensued, the
Falange and other right-wing conspirators, including Juan de la Cierva, had already been
conspiring to launch a military coup d'tat against the government, to be led by senior
army officers. When the antifascist Castillo and the pro-fascist Calvo Sotelo were buried
on the same day in the same Madrid cemetery, fighting between the Police Assault Guard
and Fascist militias broke out in the surrounding streets, resulting in four more deaths.
Three days later (17 July), the coup d'tat began more or less as it had been planned, with
an army uprising in Spanish Morocco, which then spread to several regions of the
country. Franco's move was intended to seize power immediately, but his army uprising
met with serious resistance, and great swathes of Spain, including most of the main cities,
remained loyal to the Republic of Spain. The leaders of the revolution (Franco was not
commander-in-chief yet), instead of declaring the coup a failure, initiated a slow and
determined war of attrition against the Republican government in Madrid. As a result, an
estimated total of approximately 500,000 people would lose their lives in the war that
followed.
Army Special Rules
'Quantity is a quality of its own!'

For every 2 Inexperienced Workers Militia Units that are purchased a third is available
free of charge with full equipment.
'Leadership by Committee'
The Anarchists, Communists, Socialists and other progressive Left Wing groups that
made up the Republican Workers Militias were prone to in fighting and disagreement.
To reflect this, any Workers Militia when required to take their first Order test must do so
at -1 to their leadership value. This only applies to the first Order test required to be
taken.
In addition, if a Republican Order dice is drawn first on any turn, it must be replaced and
another drawn. The results of the second draw stand even if Republican again.
'To the Barricades'
The planned coup dtat was stifled by Workers Militia acting quickly to block
Nationalist Army units in the major cities. The Republican player may place up to 3
barriers no longer than 6 and 1 thick anywhere on his half of the table. These
barricades count as light cover.
Poorly equipped
All Workers Militia units suffer an additional -1 to hit at long range due to the shoddy
nature of their weaponry.
Infantry
Headquarters Units
Political Officer
Political Officers were entrenched at every level within the military of the Republican
forces to instil the correct ideology and help to maintain discipline.
Cost:15pts (Inexperienced), 30pts (Regular)

Team: 1 Political Officer and up to 2 further men.
Equipment: Pistol, Rifle, Sub Machine Gun as depicted on models.
Options: The Officer may be accompanied by up to 2 men at a cost of +7pts per man
(Inexperienced), +10pts per man (Regular). May also be a Commissar (as per Armies of
The Soviet Union) for +30pts.
Special Rules: 'No further!' If a Green unit within 6 (12 with Banner rules) of the
Political Officer rolls for its Green Special rule then the result may be rerolled.
'Not One Step Back' If Commissar option taken - as per Armies of the Soviet Union.
Both special rules apply but both cannot be taken in the same turn.
Standard Bearer
Frequently seen with Trade Union, Anarchist, Communist or Militia Banners.
Cost: 25pts (Inexperienced) 40pts (Regular) 60pts (Veteran)

Team: 1 man and up to 2 further men.
Equipment: Pistol, Rifle, as depicted on models.
Options: The Bearer may be accompanied by up to 2 men at a cost of +7pts per man
Special Rules: Keep the Red Flag Flying! A Standard Bearer that is within 3 of an
Officer doubles that Officers' leadership range to all units, this includes Political Officers.
Infantry
Workers Militia
Representatives from Trade Unions, political parties and normal members of the
populace all flocked to defend the Constitution of the Republic from what they saw as the
illegal act of Fascists. Taking up arms in early 1936 they were vital in halting the early
progress of the attempted coup.
Cost: Inexperienced Infantry 35pts
Composition: 1 NCO and 4 men
Weapons: Rifles
Options: Add up to 15 additional soldiers at +7pts each.
Special Rules: Workers Militia are Green and Poorly Equipped
'Committed to the Cause'. If Workers Militia are upgraded to Regulars upon taking their
Green roll, roll again. On another 6 they are upgraded to Regular Fanatics. You can
only use a Political Officer to reroll the first roll.
The International Brigades

The cause of the Second Republic resonated around the globe and young men and women
volunteered via their local Left leaning political parties or Trade Unions to go to Spain
and fight what they saw as the further encroachment of Fascism. Germany and Italy had
fallen and it was time to take a stand. The International Brigades were setup along
nationality lines with most major nations contributing some men to the cause. Amongst
the best known of the Brigades were the American 'Abraham Lincoln' Battalion, the
Canadian Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion and the British Brigade. They were
frequently diehard Communists and Socialists and often faced an uncertain future if
returned to their own countries, especially the Germans and Italians that served with the
Brigades.
Cost: Regular Infantry 55pts.
Weapons: Rifles
Options: Add up to 7 additional soldiers at +10pts (Regular). One soldier may have an
LMG at +20pts another man becomes the loader. One unit per Reinforced Platoon may
be Tough Fighters at a cost of +1pt per man.
Special Rules: Tough Fighters if option taken.
A Long Way from Home. Upon taking their first casualty from ranged fire, the
Brigadistas roll a die and apply the following table:
1 - Downgrade to Inexperienced
2 Take an additional pin
3 - No effect
4 - No effect
5 - Become Fanatics
6 - Upgrade to Veteran status. On a further roll of 5-6, become Fanatics in addition
You can only use a Political Officer to reroll the first roll.
The Assault Guards

The Guardia de Asalto (Assault Guard), usually shortened to Los Asaltos or just Asaltos,
were the blue-uniformed urban police force of Spain during the Spanish Second
Republic. It was the urban analogue to the green-uniformed Guardia Civil which
patrolled the countryside. The Assault Guards were special police units created by the
Spanish Republic in 1931 to deal with urban violence.
Weapons: Rifles
Options: Add up to 5 additional soldiers at +10pts each. One soldier may have an LMG
at +20pts another loader becomes the loader. The NCO and up to 3 men may take an
SMG at +3pts each.
Special Rules: 'Not Trusted'. Orwell in Homage to Catalonia talks about how the
Assault Guards were loathed by the Anarchist and Socialist Militia as they viewed them
as pawns of the Communists (told you there was infighting!) especially after the
repression of the Anarchist and Marxist parties by the Communists and the subsequent
street fighting in Barcelona.
If a Workers Militia unit is within 6 of an Assault Guards unit, it must always take an
orders test to execute any action even if not pinned. If this orders test is failed the unit
goes Down and takes a pin marker.
Vehicles
Tanks
BT-5
They first saw action in the Spanish Civil War at the Battle of Guadalajara. A battalion
of BT-5s fought on the Republican side, and their 45mm guns could easily knock out the
opposing German and Italian light tanks.
Weapons: 1 turret mounted light anti tank gun, 1 co axial MMG.
Damage Value: 8+ (Light Tank)
Trubia Naval
Basque locally built tank that mainly saw combat around the Bilbao and Asturias regions.
Approx 15-20 used.

Weapons: 1 turret MMG, 1 hull mounted MMG.
Damage Value: 8+ (Light Tank)
Special Rules: Unreliable. The Trubia-Naval famously broke down on parade in front of
the Basque President. When the production lines were overrun by Nationalist forces they
found numerous examples that the Republicans had not sent to the front because of
reliability issues.
If the vehicle suffers one or more pin markers as a result of an enemy attack, it
automatically suffers one further pin marker in addition.
Armoured Cars
BA-3/6/10
The BA-3/6 was a heavy armoured car developed in the Soviet Union in 1933, followed
by a slightly changed model BA-6 in 1936. Supplied in large numbers by the Soviets to
the Republican forces. The basic BA-10 design was developed from the BA-3/6 heavy
armoured cars. It had an improved GAZ-AAA chassis and improved armour (up to 15mm
at front and turret).

Weapons: 1 turret mounted light anti tank gun, with coaxial LMG, 1 hull mounted LMG.
Special Rules: Recce
FAI/BA-20
The FAI (Ford-A Izhorskiy) armoured car was a replacement for the D-8 armoured car,
used by the Soviet Union from the early 1930s to early 1940s. The BA-20 was an
armoured car developed in the Soviet Union in 1934. It was intended to replace the FAI
and its field trials were completed in 1935.

Weapons: 1 turret mounted LMG.
Special Rules: Recce
UNL-35
The factories of Levante fabricated, under Soviet guidance, what was considered to be
one of the best armoured trucks of the warthe UNL-35. These vehicles were based on
the Soviet ZiS-5 truck, and were fabricated between early 1937 and March 1939 at a rate
of no more than five per month. Also based on other chassis, such as Ford's model 817T,
around 120 UNL-35s were manufactured.

Weapons: 1 turret mounted MMG. 1 hull mounted MMG.
The Forces of the Spanish Nationalists
Background
The Nationalist faction was a major faction in the Spanish Civil War of 1936 to 1939. It
was composed of a variety of political groups that supported the Spanish coup of July
1936 against the Second Spanish Republic, including the Falange, the CEDA, and two
rival monarchist claimants: the Alfonsists and the Carlists. After 1937, all the groups
were merged into the Falange. The main leader (Spanish: Caudillo) of the 1936 coup,
General Francisco Franco, would lead this faction throughout the war and later would
become the dictator of Spain from 1939 to 1975. The name Nationalists or Nationals
(nacionales), was mainly used by its members and supporters, while its opponents used
the terms fascistas (fascists) or facciosos (sectarians) to refer to this faction.
Falange
The Falange was originally a Spanish fascist political party founded by Jos Antonio
Primo de Rivera, son of the former Spanish leader Miguel Primo de Rivera. The Falange
was created with the financial assistance of Alfonsist monarchist funding. Upon being
formed, the Falange was officially anti-clerical and anti-monarchist. As a landowner and
aristocrat, Primo de Rivera assured the upper classes that Spanish fascism would not get
out of their control like its equivalents in Germany and Italy. In 1934, the Falange
merged with the pro-Nazi Juntas de Ofensiva Nacional-Sindicalista of Ramiro Ledesma
Ramos. Initially, the Falange was short of funds and was a small student-based
movement that preached of a utopian violent nationalist revolution. The Falange
committed acts of violence prior to the war, including becoming involved in street brawls
with their political opponents that helped to create a state of lawlessness that the right-
wing press blamed on the republic to support a military uprising. Falangist terror squads
sought to create an atmosphere of disorder in order to justify the imposition of an
authoritarian regime. With the onset of middle-class disillusionment with the CEDA's
legalism, support for the Falange expanded rapidly. By September 1936, the total
Falangist volunteers numbered at 35,000, accounting for 55 percent of all civilian forces
of the Nationals.
The Falange was one of the original supporters of the military coup d'tat against the
Republic, the other being the Carlists. After the death of Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera,
Manuel Hedilla sought to take control of the Falange, but this was usurped by Franco
who sought to take control of the movement as part of his move to take control of the
National faction. In 1937, Franco announced a decree of unification of the National
political movements, particularly the Falange and the Carlists into a single movement,
nominally still the Falange, under his leadership. Both Falangists and Carlists were
initially furious at the decision, Falangists in particular saw their ideological role as being
usurped by the Catholic Church and their "revolution" being indefinitely postponed.
Upon unification and seizure of leadership by Franco, Franco distanced the party from
fascism, and declared "The Falange does not consider itself fascist; its founder said so
personally." After this announcement, the practice in the National faction of referring to
the Falange as "fascists" disappeared by 1937, though Franco did not deny that there
were fascists within the Falange. Franco declared that the Falange's goal was to
incorporate the "great neutral mass of the unaffiliated," and promised that no ideological
rigidity would be allowed to interfere with the goal. Under Franco's leadership, the
Falange abandoned the previous anti-clerical tendencies of Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera
and instead promoted neotraditionalist National Catholicism, though it continued to
criticize Catholic pacifists. Franco's Falange also abandoned hostility to capitalism; with
Falange member Raimundo Fernndez-Cuesta declaring that Falange's national
syndicalism was fully compatible with capitalism.
CEDA
The Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Right-wing Groups (CEDA) was a Catholic
right-wing political organization dedicated to anti-Marxism. The CEDA was led by Jos
Mara Gil-Robles y Quiones. The CEDA claimed that it was defending Spain and
"Christian civilization" from Marxism, and claimed that the political atmosphere in Spain
had made politics a matter of Marxism versus anti-Marxism. With the advent of the rise
of the Nazi Party to power in Germany, the CEDA aligned itself with similar propaganda
ploys to the Nazis, including the Nazi emphasis on authority, the fatherland, and
hierarchy. Gil-Robles attended in audience at the Nazi Party rally in Nuremberg and were
influenced by it, henceforth becoming committed to creating a single anti-Marxist
counterrevolutionary front in Spain. Gil-Robles declared his intention to "give Spain a
true unity, a new spirit, a totalitarian polity..." and went on to say "Democracy is not an
end but a means to the conquest of the new state. When the time comes, either parliament
submits or we will eliminate it." The CEDA held fascist-style rallies, called Gil-Robles
"Jefe", the equivalent of Duce, and claimed that the CEDA might lead a "March on
Madrid" to forcefully seize power. The CEDA failed to make the substantive electoral
gains from 1931 to 1936 that were needed for it to form government which resulted in
right-wing support draining from it and turning towards the belligerent Alfonsist
monarchist leader Jos Calvo Sotelo. Subsequently the CEDA abandoned its moderation
and legalism and began providing support for those committed to violence against the
republic, including handing over its electoral funds to the initial leader of the military
coup against the republic, General Emilio Mola. Subsequently supporters of the CEDA's
youth movement, Juventudes de Accin Popular (JAP) began to defect en masse to join
the Falange.
Carlists
The Carlists were monarchists and ardent ultra traditionalist Catholics who sought the
installation of Carlist Pretender Francisco Javier de Borbn as King of Spain. The
Carlists were anti-republican, anti-democratic and staunchly anti-socialist. The Carlists
were so anti-socialist that they opposed both Hitler and Mussolini because of their
socialistic tendencies. The Carlists were led by Manuel Fal Cond and held their main
base of support in Navarre. The Carlists along with the Falange were the original
supporters of the military coup d'tat against the republic. The Carlists held a long history
of violent opposition to the Spanish state, stemming back to 1833 when they launched a
six-year civil war against the state. The Carlists were strongly intransigent to any
coalition with other movements, even believing that no non-Carlist could have honest
intentions.
During the war, the Carlists' militia, the Requets reached a peak of 42,000 recruits but
by the end of hostilities in April 1939 their overall strength had been reduced to 23,000.
Alfonsists
The Alfonsists were a movement that supported the restoration of Alfonso XIII of Spain
as monarch following the founding of the Spanish Second Republic in 1931. They
competed with rival monarchists, the Carlists for the Spanish throne. After the overthrow
of the monarchy of Alfonso XIII, Alfonsist supporters formed the Renovacin Espaola,
a monarchist political party, which held considerable economic influence and had close
supporters in the Spanish army. Renovacin Espaola did not, however, manage to
become a mass political movement. In 1934, the Alfonsists led by Antonio Goicoechea
along with the Carlists, met with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini to gain support for an
uprising against the Republic, in which Mussolini promised to provide money and arms
for such a rising. From 1934 to 1936, the charismatic Alfonsist leader Jos Calvo Sotelo
spoke of the need for the "conquest of the state" as the only means to secure the
establishment of an ideal authoritarian, corporatist state. Sotelo made passionate speeches
in support of violent counterrevolution and emphasized the need for a military
insurrection against the Republic to counter the threats of communism and separatism
that he blamed as being caused by the Republic. Sotelo was kidnapped and assassinated
by political opponents (who were initially searching out Gil-Robles of the CEDA to
kidnap) on 13 July 1936 which sparked fury on the political right and helped legitimize
the military coup against the Republic.
When the war broke out, Infante Juan, the son of Alfonso XIII and heir to the Spanish
throne, requested the permission of Franco to take part in the Nationals' war effort by
enlisting as a member of the crew of the cruiser Balaeres, which was nearing completion.
He promised to abstain from political activities, but Franco refused, believing that he
would become a figurehead for the Alfonsists who held a strong presence in the military.
Army Special Rules
Air Superiority
The Nationalists had the clear superiority in the air with their Italian and German
machines, especially with the pilots of the Condor Legion and the state of the art
machines they employed.
Nationalist Air Observers may call in two Air Strikes per game instead of one.
Well Drilled
The Nationalists as a whole were better trained and equipped than their Republican
counterparts, largely due to the supply of weapons from Germany and Italy as well as
having more pre War officers in their ranks.
Nationalist units may reroll their first failed Order check. The second result stands.
Conscripted
Despite having better training and equipment the remains of the Spanish Regular Army in
the Nationalist order of battle were largely unpaid conscripts, especially later in the War.
As manpower shortages took hold, and the veterans of earlier battles were killed or
wounded and frequently the replacement conscript found himself in an army whose
political allegiance he did not share.
Spanish Regular Nationalist infantry suffer from -1 leadership. Note, they remain
Regular for the purposes of shooting.
Support of the Church
The Nationalist cause has the unfettered backing of the Roman Catholic Church within
Spain. The Nationalist player may include a Nun in their force for free. The Nun follows
all the normal rules for a Medic but her range is limited to 3. An appropriate model
MUST be used. She has the following profile:
Cost: Inexperienced Infantry
Team: 1 Nun
Equipment: Rosary Beads.
Special Rules: Support of the Church.
Headquarters Units
Priest
The Nationalist cause has the unfettered backing of the Roman Catholic Church within
Spain and the Army and various militias frequently had Priests accompanying their units.
Cost: 15pts (Inexperienced)
Team: 1 Priest
Equipment: Rosary Beads.
Options: May be upgraded to a Cardinal for +15pts.
Special Rules: Bless me Father. The Priest allows all Nationalist units within 3 to
reroll their first morale check. A Cardinals range is extended to 6. A Priest MUST be
represented by an appropriate model. (Basically an excuse for you to field some Monty
Pythonesque Spanish Inquisition models...)
Caid
The Moroccan troops as part of the Army of Africa were commanded by Spaniards, but
within each unit was an indigenous SNCO called a Caid, he operated much like a cross
between a British Regimental Sergeant Major and a Russian Political Commissar and his
role was to keep the Moroccan troops firmly under the command of their Spanish
masters.
Cost: 30pts (Regular)

Team: 1 Caid and up to 2 further men.
Equipment: Rifles.
Options: The Caid may be accompanied by up to 2 men at a cost of +10pts per man
(Infantry) or +12pts per man (Cavalry). Maybe mounted on a horse +5pts, gaining the
Cavalry special rule.
Special Rules: 'Not One Step Back' as per Armies of the Soviet Union Commissar entry.
Can only apply to any Moroccan Regulares Infantry or cavalry unit.
Infantry
Nationalist Militia
Representative of the various CEDA, Carlist, Falangist and Alfonsist faction militias that
were raised throughout the war.
Cost: Inexperienced Infantry 35pts
Weapons: Rifles
Options: Add up to 10 additional soldiers at +7pts each. One man may swap his rifle
for a LMG at +20pts another man becomes the loader.
Italian CTV
Mussolini not only aided the Nationalists with money and weapons but also raised a force
of Volunteers consisting of a mix of regular army and his infamous Blackshirts. As
with any paramilitary force they were a mixed bunch in terms of quality.
Weapons: Rifles
Options: Add up to 6 additional soldiers at +10pts each. The NCO may have a sub
machine gun for +3pts. One man may swap his rifle for a LMG at +20pts another man
becomes the loader.
Special rules: Untested As per entry for Italian Blackshirts pg15 Armies of Italy and
the Axis.
Moroccan Regulares
Hardened in the Rif War, Moroccan Regulares Infantry played a vital role in the Army of
Africa commanded by Franco and were amongst the first troops to fight on mainland
Spain against the Republicans. They were fearsome light infantry and cavalrymen.
Weapons: Rifles
Special rules: Close to home Regulares performed superbly in the arid open
countryside of Spain finding it much like their North African home. Regulares are
allowed to make an advance move and if they do not shoot then the Regulares can turn
their dice to Ambush.
Moroccan Regulares Cavalry
Cost: Regular Cavalry 72pts

Weapons: Cavalry Carbines
Special Rules: As Scouts, they do not receive the -1 penalty to their leadership roll when
coming on from Reserve.
Cavalry Carbines count as pistols when mounted and rifles when dismounted.
Spanish Legion
Less well known than their French counterparts but similarly fierce and determined
fighters, the Legion provided the Army of Africa and the Nationalist cause with a
backbone of veteran fighters.
Cost: Veteran Infantry 75pts

Weapons: Rifles
for a LMG at +20pts another man becomes the loader. NCO and up to 2 men may take
submachine guns at a cost of +3pts.
Special rules: Stubborn. Legionnaires dont give in easily, appropriate for a unit whose
motto was Viva la muerte!(Long Live Death!). Legionnaires count as Stubborn. If
forced to check their morale when reduced to half strength then they always test on their
full morale value, ignoring any pin markers.
Tough Fighters
Vehicles
Tanks
Pzkw I
Initially designed as a training vehicle to familiarise crews with modern vehicles and tank
doctrine, the Pzkw I nevertheless saw active combat during both the Spanish Civil War
and WW2. At the outset of hostilities the Nazi government shipped 41 Pzkw I to the
Nationalist forces in Spain and further tanks followed.

Weapons: 2 turret mounted MMG.
Options: May replace both turret mounted MMGs with a light automatic cannon for
+10pts.
Fiat 3000
Based heavily on the design of the French FT-17/18 the Fiat had a better engine and
replaced the machine guns with a light anti tank gun. It was obsolete even before the
beginning of the Spanish Civil War.

Weapons: 2 turret mounted MMG.
Options: May replace both turret mounted MMGs with a light anti tank gun for +30pts.
Special Rules: One Man Turret. Combining the roles of Commander, Gunner and
Loader and squeezing the unfortunate fellow into a one man turret means its hard to do
different things at once! To represent this it is always necessary to make an order test
when issuing an Advance order, even if the tankette is not pinned.
Slow
L33/35
The L3/35 or Carro Veloce CV-35 was an Italian tankette that saw combat in the Spanish
Civil War. Although designated a light tank by the Italian Army, its turret less
configuration, weight and firepower make it closer to contemporary tankettes. It was the
most numerous Italian armoured fighting vehicle and saw service almost everywhere the
Italians fought but proved inadequate for modern warfare having too thin armor and weak
armament of only machine guns. In Spain, L3s of the CTV were totally out-classed by
the T-26 and BT-5 tanks provided to the Republican forces by the Soviet Union.

Weapons: 1 hull mounted MMG.
Options: Variants may replace the single MMG with one of the following (all forward
facing, hull mounted): Two MMGs for +10pts or HMG for +10pts, a flamethrower with
co-axial MMG for +35pts.
Special Rules: Slow, when upgraded with a flamethrower. Also, remember that flame
throwing vehicles are more vulnerable to enemy fire; see pg51 of the rulebook.
Artillery
Anti Aircraft
Flak 36/88mm
Widespread production started with the Nazi rise to power in 1933, the Flak 36/88 variant
was available in small numbers when Germany intervened in the Spanish Civil War. It
quickly proved to be the best anti-aircraft weapon then available and was also used in the
ground role.
Cost: 180pts (Regular), 217pts (Veteran)

Team: 7 men
Weapons: 1 Super Heavy Anti Tank Gun
Options: May add a spotter for +10pts
Fixed
Flak
Versatile may also be fired as a light howitzer.

Bolt Action Armies of The Spanish Civil War v2.1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

You might also like

Bolt Action Armies of The Spanish Civil War v2.1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Bolt Action Armies of The Spanish Civil War v2.1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Bolt Action: Armies of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

Background to the Conflict

1 Lieutenant First or Second

0-4 Infantry Squads

Thanks and Acknowledgements

However, main thanks go to the excellent 'Steve's Balagan' website (http://balagan.info)

Infantry Sections and Teams

Spanish Army/Popular Army Regulars

Machine Gun Team

Cost: 35pts (Inexperienced), 50pts (Regular), 65pts (Veteran)

Cost: 50pts (Regular), 65pts (Veteran)

Light Mortar Team

Cost: 24pts (Inexperienced), 35pts (Regular), 46pts (Veteran)

Cost: 35pts (Inexperienced), 50pts (Regular), 65pts (Veteran)

Anti Tank Infantry

Both Republican and Nationalists employed Cavalry within their ranks as

Cost: 54pts (Inexperienced), 72pts (Regular)

Cost: 32pts (Inexperienced), 40pts (Regular), 48pts (Veteran)

Cost: 44pts (Inexperienced), 55pts (Regular), 60pts (Veteran)

Cost: 68pts (Inexperienced), 85pts (Regular), 102pts (Veteran)

Cost: 92pts (Inexperienced), 115pts (Regular), 138pts (Veteran)

Light Anti Tank Gun

Cost: 40pts (Inexperienced), 50pts (Regular), 60pts (Veteran)

Medium Anti Tank Gun

Cost: 70pts (Inexperienced), 85pts (Regular), 100pts (Veteran)

Light Anti Aircraft Gun

Cost: 36pts (Inexperienced), 45pts (Regular), 54pts (Veteran)

T26 mod 1933.

Cost: 56pts (Inexperienced), 70pts (Regular), 84pts (Veteran) Republican; 65pts

Cost: 28pts (Inexperienced), 35pts (Regular)

Cost: 60pts (Inexperienced), 80pts (Regular)

Armoured Cars/Armoured Trucks

'Bilbao' Armoured Car

Cost: 35pts (Inexperienced), 50pts (Regular)

Improvised Armoured Vehicles

Cost: 28pts (Inexperienced), 35pts (Regular)

Cost: 33pts (Inexperienced), 41pts (Regular)

Cost: 11pts (Inexperienced), 13pts (Regular)

The Forces of the Second Spanish Republic

Army Special Rules

'Quantity is a quality of its own!'

'To the Barricades'

Cost:15pts (Inexperienced), 30pts (Regular)

Frequently seen with Trade Union, Anarchist, Communist or Militia Banners.

Cost: 25pts (Inexperienced) 40pts (Regular) 60pts (Veteran)

The International Brigades

The Assault Guards

Cost: 80pts (Inexperienced), 100pts (Regular)

Cost: 80pts (Inexperienced), 95pts (Regular)

Cost: 30pts (Inexperienced), 48pts (Regular)

Cost: 55pts (Inexperienced), 60pts (Regular)

The Forces of the Spanish Nationalists

Support of the Church

Cost: 30pts (Regular)

Moroccan Regulares Cavalry

Cost: Regular Cavalry 72pts

Cost: Veteran Infantry 75pts

Cost: 56pts (Inexperienced), 70pts (Regular)