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ON LINE EDITION #2 Critical Hit ON-LINE magazine is dedicated
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REPULSED ON THE BEA
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RAGGED BLOODY HEROES but what if they made
it to reinforce the mission... Managing Editor
Raymond J. Tapio
A USSIES AFTER D ARK
DARK 5
Scenario Guy
by Dan Dolan Steven J. Pleva

As if we haven’t had enough Australians yet! This The Web Guys

massive desert battle should keep you leaning across Furph, Inc.
the gaming table until the call goes out for those
little back pills... Development Guy
Kurt Martin
RANGERS LEAD THE WAY 6
Playtest Guys
by Steve Swann Peter Mudge & Joe Waldron

The Rangers star in our DOG GREEN so it seemed a

European Research Editors
natural to bring you this TO & E treatment for the
Pedro Ramis
ASL game system...

DOG GREEN
by Dan Dolan
The deadly landing depicted in the blockbuster
movie SAVING PRIVATE RYAN is depicted here for
when you are freshly back from the local multiplex
and just can’t get those Spielberg sights and sounds
out of your head...
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13
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REPULSED ON THE BEACH Gona #7
AUSTRALIAN Sets Up First
1 2 3
JAPANESE Moves First 4 5 6 7 8
Elements of the 170th Infantry Regiment enter on turn one along the north edge:

8 4 3 4 2 3
2
[ELR: 3/4]
{SAN: 3}

Elements of the 2/27th Battalion, Australian 21st Brigade set up anywhere in the playing area:

6 4 2 2 2 2 2 2

[ELR: 3]
{SAN: 3}
2 2 8
HANDICAPS:
The Japanese must exit ≥ 9 CVP along the west edge.
The Australian 4-5-7 squads are also Stealthy.
Place Ocean Overlays Any mutually agreed upon alteration to either side’s OB.

TRBH

(Only hexes numbered ≤ 10 and on/west
of hexrow Q are playable)
OBJECTIVES: The Japanese must exit ≥ 12 CVP along the west edge
(see map restrictions for this scenario, i.e., hexrow Q - II are playable).
SPECIAL RULES:
1. All TRBH CGSR are in effect.
2. EC are Moderate with a Mild Breeze from the northwest at start. Surf is
NA. Night Rules (E1.)are in effect. The initial Base NVR is four hexes
with Scattered Clouds and a Half-Moon. The Japanese are the Scenario
Attacker with a majority squad type of Normal. Japanese Shohatsu LC must
use Platoon Movement (EXC: All four LC are considered one Platoon). The
Japanese side is conducting a Seaborne Asaault (G14.1).
3. The Australians are the Scenario Defender and all 4-5-8 MMC are Stealthy.
All other MMC are Normal (EXC: If the Australian handicap is invoked).
Australian ELR is not the same for all units: MMC have an ELR of 3 and
SMC have an ELR of 4.
4. Place Ocean overlays as per CGSR 4.

East of GONA VILLAGE, NEW GUINEA, 2 December 1942: The 28th of

November dawned as the fighting at Gona entered its final stages. The Japanese
defenders were steadily pushed back, causing high casualties among the attackers
all the while. Japanese 18th Army, stationed at Rabaul, ordered reinforcements to
be dispatched immediately to the Gona-Buna front. The 170th Infantry Regiment
was selected for the task. The first echelon landed off of destroyers at the mouth
of the Kumusi River, about 10 miles north-west of Gona, and were transhipped
into three large landing barges to make the final leg of their journey. Approximatly
200 soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 170th Infantry, attempted a landing about 600
yards east of the Gona Mission at 0200 hours on the night of December 2. Austra-
lian beach patrols soon raised the alert while the enemy was still several hundred
yards offshort. The men of the Australian 2/27th Infantry quickly prepared to
defend their positions as the still unsuspecting enemy closed with the shoreline.
A hailstorm of fire was unleashed out of the darkness, inflicting heavy casualties
on the Japanese before they reached shore. Unable to find a landing area that would afford some cover while his men de-barked, the Japanese commander
ordered a withdrawal. Later that morning, the Australians attacked again, closing in even tighter around the beleagured defenders and virtually eliminat-
ing any last chance for the defenders of the Gona Mission to be reinforced by sea.
 1998 Critical Hit!, Inc.
AUSSIES AFTER DARK Alamein #7
AXIS Sets Up First
1 2 3 4
ALLIED Moves First
END
5 6 7 8 9 10
Elements of the Pavia Division set up first IN and/or south of deir running south of Ruweisat Ridge:

15 2 48
Factors* 2 5 4 10
[ELR: 2]
Elements 15th Panzer Division enter on turn four along west edge:
{SAN: 3}

7 3
[ELR: 3]

3 3 4 3
Elements of the 9th Australian Division enter on turn one along the South edge and/or the east
edge on/south of hexrow 20:

26 4
4 2
[ELR: 3]
88mm OBA
{SAN: 2}

6 5 5 5 3 6
HANDICAPS:
Add one 81mm Battalion Mortar OBA and a radio to the German OB.
Replace the Australian 9-1 armor leader with a 9-2.
Any mutually agreed upon alteration to either side’s OB.

BOARD LAYOUT: SPECIAL RULES:

1. All RR CGSR are in effect. EC are Dry with no wind at Start. Night
RR rules are in effect. Initial NVR is 4 hexes. The Australian is the Scenario
Attacker the Axis are the Scenario Defender. Axis are Lax, Australian are
normal.
2. Australians receive one module of 88mm OBA.
3. Australian squads may begin the game as riders on the Carriers.
4. All German and Italian ATG are suffering from Ammunition
OBJECTIVES: The Australian player must control Point 63 at games end. Shortage.
RUWEISAT RIDGE, EL ALAMEIN, 7-8 July 1942: After suffering defeats on his last
two attempts to push the Allies from the ridge. Rommel set about regrouping his forces
and began solidifying his gains to date. He placed the Italian Pavia Division as a screen-
ing force to the south of Ruweisat Ridge. On the night of July 7-8 the newly arrived 9th
Australian Division launched an attack that was an attempt to sweep the Axis forces from
the ridge, retaking both Points 63 and 64 in the process. After punching through the
Italian screening forces the Australians headed toward Point 63. They were thwarted in
their attempt to capture this critical height by the timely arrival of units of the 15th Panzer
Division, acting as a mobile reserve in case the Allies tried just such an attack. After this
attack was repulsed it would be another week before Auchinleck would attempt another attack on Ruweisat Ridge. Time Rommel would
use to dig in and fortify his gains.

 1998 Critical Hit!, Inc.


D
uring World War II, the United
States Army fielded 6 battalions
of Rangers. These units received
special training in amphibious operations,
night combat and raiding techniques that
would be used in the various theaters of
war. The American Rangers corresponded
to the British Commandos in that they
were a type of light infantry trained for
raiding and special tasks.
The 1st Ranger Battalion was created
in 1942 under the command of Lt. Col.
William Darby and received their train-
ing under the British Commando system.
The 1st Rangers took part in Operation
Torch, the invasion of North Africa. While
in Africa the 3th and 4th Ranger Battal-
ions were created and trained in the field
by the 1st Rangers. Collectively, these
three Ranger battalions became famous
under the nickname “Darby’s Rangers”
before being destroyed at Cisterna, Italy
in January 1944. Even with the loss of
these first Ranger battalions, the concept
of Ranger units would be carried on with
the new 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions in
Europe and the 6th Ranger Battalion in
the Southwest Pacific. In this article, we
will take a look at these European and
Pacific Rangers, who carried the Ranger
tradition to victory. (A detailed history of
Darby’s Rangers can be found in GEN-
ERAL Vol. 25-5.)
The training that these new US trained
Rangers received was modeled closely to
the British Commando training schedule
but used American methods and equip-
Rangers
Lead the way!
by Steven C. Swann
ment. Like the Commandos and the
Darby’s Rangers before them, their train-
ing laid very heavy stress on stamina, en-
durance, and an ability to live close to the
land. Military skills included intensive
combat training with rifles, grenades, and
knifes. Each Ranger became familiar with
captured German and Italian weapons and
was able to use any captured enemy weap-
ons against their former owners. Particu-
lar emphasis was placed on land naviga-
tion and night marches cross-country.
Mountaineering, night attacks, and am-
phibious operations were also practiced by
the Rangers, but using American meth-
ods instead of the British methods that
Darby’s battalions had used.
European Rangers
After the departure of Darby’s Rangers
to the Mediterranean Theater, Headquar-
ters ETOUSA, the U.S. Army command
in England felt that the Rangers should
not be allowed to return to NW Europe for
operations there. Therefore they submit-
ted requests for additional Ranger battal-
ions be formed and trained for European
operations. While waiting for action by
the Pentagon, ETOUSA began its own
Ranger program by soliciting volunteers
from the 29th Infantry Division and then
sending them through the British Com-
mando training system. This ad hoc unit
was commonly known as the 29th Ranger
Battalion. Composed of 10 officers and
166 enlisted men, the 29th Rangers orga-
nized into a small HQ unit and two rifle
companies (A & B). While this Ranger
battalion would never see combat as a
Ranger unit, it’s personnel proved to be
very aggressive after their return to the
29th Infantry Division.
Meanwhile, the 2nd Ranger Battalion
was activated on April 1, 1943 in the
United States. Out of over 2000 volun-
teers, only 500 men were selected for train-
ing as US Rangers. This battalion would
complete all of its training in the United
States except for the specialized training
that they would need for their D-Day as-
signments. In November 1943, the 2nd
Ranger Battalion was declared ‘ready for
combat’ and was shipped out to England
aboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth. Here
the Rangers learned their cliff climbing
skills in the English county of Dorset.
These skills would be needed for their as-
sault on the cliffs of Pointe-du-Hoc, France
on D-Day.
The 5th Ranger Battalion was activated
on September 1, 1943 at Camp Forrest,
Tennessee. This battalion was formed with
a slight manpower advantage over the 2nd
Rangers, showing a T/O strength of 34 of-
ficers and 563 men. The 5th Rangers were
shipped over to England during January,
1944 and received orders to take part in
the invasion of Europe. In the months be-
fore June 6 (D-Day), the 5th Rangers re-
ceived supplemental training at the Brit-
ish Commando school in Scotland as well
as amphibious operations training on the
south coast of England.
May 9, 1944 saw the joining of the 2nd
and 5th Rangers as a provisional Ranger
 group under the command of Lt. Col.
James Rudder. For Overlord, the Ranger
group was assigned to the U.S. Army’s V
Corps.
Rangers on D-Day
The 2nd Rangers were split into two
groups for their D-Day assignments. The
first group was composed of Companies
D, E, and F and a HQ detachment, and
were ordered to climb the cliffs at Pointe-
du-Hoc and destroy the German coast ar-
tillery batteries that overlooked OMAHA
Beach. When they began their run-in to
shore the assault crafts carrying the Rang-
ers had their share of the problems that
appear in any amphibious landing. Two
LCAs (Landing Craft Assault) carrying the
extra supplies and demolitions for the at-
tack were both sunk. LCA 860 carrying
Rangers was also sunk, but the Rangers
in it were rescued. Even the Navy’s pre-
assault bombardment caused problems.
There were two DUKW that had mounted
100 foot extension ladders to assist the cliff
climb, but could not make it to the base of
the cliffs because the beach line was so
pitted with craters. Some of the rocket-
assisted grappling hooks became water-
logged and would not fire. Finally, the
Rangers were able to climb the cliff at one
point just to the east of Pointe-du-Hoc. Of
the 200 men in this assault only slightly
more than 150 Rangers made it to the
cliffs.
Approximately 30 minutes after land-
ing the Rangers had enough men above
the cliffs to begin their attack on the gun
TABLE 1
European Ranger Table of Organization (1944)
UNIT MANPOWER ASL VALUES
Battalion (478)
HQ Company ( 82)
HQ Section unk.
MG Platoon unk.
6 Line Companies ( 69)
Coy. HQ Platoon ( 17)
HQ Section ( 7)
2 Mortar Sections ( 5)
2 Assault Platoons ( 26)
Plt HQ ( 4)
2 Assault Sects ( 11)
Attached Units
75mm Gun Company
1. (See section on ASL conversion for explanation.)
emplacements. Crawling amongst the cra-
ters of the Navy bombardment the Rang-
ers destroyed the German beach defenses
and approached the concrete bunkers of
the big guns. Here they found that the
guns had not yet been mounted in the bun-
kers. Later in the day the still-crated guns
were found by the Rangers and destroyed.
Isolated at Pointe-du-Hoc the remaining
men of the 2nd Rangers established a de-
fensive perimeter and waited for relief
from the rest of the American assault
forces (ASL Scenario 19).
The 5th Rangers and companies A,B,C,
and HQ of the 2nd Rangers had a differ-
ent assignment for D-Day. These Rang-
ers were to land on the western flanks of
the US 1st Infantry Division on OMAHA
1 10-2
1 8-1
2 6-6-7
6 3-4-7 HS
6 MMG
1 9/8-1 SMC1
1 3-4-7 HS
1 BAZ (44 or 45)
1 2-2-7 Crew
1 81mm MTR
2 6-6-7
2 DC
4 M3 GMC ht
Rangers in
North Africa
(February
1943) with an
improvised cart
carrying an
81mm mortar
and ammo
Beach. Once landed they were to move
inland to the village of Vierville and then
wheel westward and move along the coast
of Normandy. They had two missions, first
to relieve the elements of the 2nd Rangers
at Pointe-du-Hoc, and secondly to estab-
lish a connecting link with the US 4th In-
fantry Division on UTAH Beach. On land-
ing, the Rangers ran into stiff opposition
from the German 916th Infantry Regiment
behind a seawall between the beach and
Vierville. Clearing out the machine-gun
strong-points immediately behind the sea-
wall and occupying the village was slow,
but was accomplished by nightfall on D-
Day. Only one platoon from A company,
5th Rangers, was able to reach Point-du-
Hoc on D-Day and reinforce the men of
the 2nd Rangers. It was an incident here
on UTAH beach that would give the Rang-
ers their motto which is still in existence
today. While pinned down on UTAH
beach, General Cota approached the 5th
Ranger’s command group and demanded
the outfit’s identification. Upon being in-
formed that they were Rangers, General
Cota was then reported (by Ranger Mike
Rehm) to state; “Well, goddamn it, if
you’re Rangers, get up and lead the way!”
Thus was born the motto “Rangers Lead
The Way”.
During the night of June 6, the Rang-
ers isolated at the point withstood three
separate German counterattacks by the
914th Infantry Regiment. As the sun rose
on the morning of D+1, Lt. Colonel Rud-
der and the remaining 50 Rangers from
the night attacks radioed that they needed
reinforcing and resupply desperately.
Twice during the day Major Sweet of the
11th Amphibious Force brought in ammo
by sea using a LCA to resupply the sur-
rounded
 Rangers. On one of his trips another
platoon from the 5th Rangers was trans-
ported to the beach where they climbed
the cliffs and joined the 2nd Rangers in
their defense.
At 1700 hours on D+1, the remaining
Rangers were ordered to fight their way
east towards Vierville and join up with the
rest of the Rangers near the village of Au
Guay. The German cordon was too tight
and the few Rangers left were not able to
force a break through the German lines.
The 5th Rangers, along with 150 troops
of the 116th Infantry and a few tanks, had
been trying all day to reach the 2nd Rang-
ers at the Point. As the relieving force
approached the town of Au Guay, heavy
German artillery concentrations forced the
5th Rangers and the 116th Infantry to
ground, thus preventing their occupation
of the village and stopping their forward
motion.
On D+2 (June 8) the 2nd and 5th
Rangers, with elements of the 116th In-
fantry were finally able to reach the deci-
mated elements of the 2nd Rangers at
Pointe-du-Hoc. Even then, the remaining
Rangers still took casualties, as several
Rangers were killed by HE rounds fired
by the advancing American tanks. By that
evening both Ranger battalions were biv-
ouacked in the village of Grandcamp-les-
Bains, where fresh food and water were
delivered to the exhausted men.
2nd Ranger Battalion
During the remainder of June and into
July the 2nd Rangers received replacement
troops and completed the training of these
new Rangers in the fields of Normandy.
In August the 2nd Rangers were assigned
to the US 29th Infantry Division as rein-
forcements for its attack on the German
fortress of Brest (Brittany). Here over
30,000 Germans, including the famed Ger-
man Paratroopers under the command of
General Ramcke, would fight off several
attacks of the 29th Division. The 2nd
Rangers were ordered to protect the right
flank of the division, and made contact
with the German defenses on August 20.
In heavy combat, the 2nd Rangers fought
TABLE 2
6th Ranger Battalion Organization (Sept. 1944)
UNIT MANPOWER ASL VALUES
Battalion (520)
HQ Company ( 40)
2 Platoons ( 20)
6 Rifle Companies ( 80)
2 Rifle Platoons ( 40)
2 Assault Sections ( 20)
2 Squads 2 6-6-7
Attached Units (1944)
21st Ground Obser. Plt. ( 30)
10th Port Surg. Hospital ( 37)
10th Radio Section ( 20)
Attached Units (1945)
Alamo Scouts (1 Team) ( 7)
1. (See section on ASL conversion for explanation.)
slowly toward their objective and on Sep-
tember 8 finally reached the Lochrist (Graf
Spee) Battery. During the fight for the
battery, the Rangers captured over 1,800
prisoners.
Before the German surrender on Sep-
tember 18, 1944 the US 9th Army had lost
almost 10,000 men killed, and the Ger-
mans had demolished the port and its fa-
cilities making them unusable to the Al-
lies without extensive reconstruction.
During this campaign was an unusual fire-
fight that is worth repeating.
Two companies of the 2nd Rangers were
known as ‘Force A’ of Task Force Sugar
of the 29th Infantry Division to whom they
were attached. Working in infantry-tank
teams with supporting light tanks, the
Rangers had fought several small combat
actions during the morning of August
28th. By noon, Force A was moving full
stride against any small German outposts
encountered. As they moved, the Rang-
ers had accumulated about 162 Russian
POWs being used as slave labor by the
Germans. Recognizing that the Russians
were under ef-
fective leader-
Knife ship, the
training was Rangers re-
part of the armed the
Commando Russians with
Basic captured Ger-
Program man equip-
ment. That af-
1 9-2
2 6-6-7
1 9/8-1 SMC1
1 8-0
1 MMG ('44)
1 BAZ (45)
1 7-0 SMC
1 Radio
1 6-6-6
No ASL Equivalent
No ASL Equivalent
1 9-1 SMC
1 3-3-7
ternoon the Rangers ran into another Ger-
man strongpoint at Pointe de Corzen that
could not be easily reduced. Joining ranks
the Rangers and their Russian allies made
joint assaults against the strongpoint dur-
ing the early evening hours. While the
German position was not taken that day, I
believe that this is the only known instance
where American and Russian infantry
fought together during World War II.
After Brest the 2nd Rangers were at-
tached to the 8th Infantry Division during
the clearing of the Crozon Peninsula on
September 17. Next the 2nd Rangers were
ordered to clear the Le Fret Peninsula
where they took some 40 German prison-
ers and freed over 400 American and al-
lied soldiers from German captivity includ-
ing one of their own Rangers captured ear-
lier in the campaign.
Together the 2nd and 5th Ranger Bat-
talions moved east to Paris and then north
into Belgium for reorganization and refit
during early October. By the 20th, the 2nd
Rangers were attached to Combat Com-
mand A (CCA) of the 5th Armored Divi-
sion. By November 14th, the Rangers were
in defensive positions at Germeter, Ger-
many. After playing cat-and-mouse with
German patrols for several days the Rang-
ers were again alerted for another move
on November 19th. After relocating into
a rear bivouac area the Rangers were al-
lowed to rest for the rest of November.
December, 1944, found the 2nd Rang-
ers inside Germany and encamped in the
 Huertgen Forest. During the night of
December 6th, the 2nd Rangers moved to
the approaches of Bergstein for a dawn at-
tack. While companies A, B, and C de-
ployed south and west of the town; com-
panies D, E, and F moved directly through
the town and prepared for an attack on the
high ground beyond. The attack began at
0730 hours with the opening of the road,
but by 1100 hours the Rangers were
bogged down and taking heavy casualties
under steady German counter-fire. Even
though the Rangers had taken the hill, it
was exposed to all calibers of German re-
turn fire. The next morning the Rangers
repulsed another major counterattack with
the assistance of American counter-battery
fire that cut the Germans off from their
supplies and reinforcements. During the
afternoon the Germans tried for the last
time to repel the Rangers. About 150 Ger-
mans aided by 88mm Self-propelled Guns
again attacked the Rangers on the hill.
While coming within 100 yards of the
American lines, the German were stopped
by American artillery fire and Rangers that
would not give way. The Rangers held
this area until March 9, 1945.
As the German Riech was collapsing,
the 2nd Rangers moved eastward to
Leipzig, Germany and on into Czechoslo-
vakia. Here in the Czech city of Pilsen
the 2nd Ranger Battalion was disbanded
in June 1945 earning a Presidential Unit
Citation and the French Croix De Guerre
with Silver Gilt Star.
5th Ranger Battalion
While the 2nd Rangers were resting and
reorganizing after their D-Day assaults, the
5th Rangers, who took less causalities,
were to continue operations. On June 8th,
A,C, and F companies captured a 105mm
Gun Battery at Maisy. On June 10th, C,
D, and F companies of the 5th Rangers
captured all of the coast defenses from
Grandcamps-les-Bains to the mouth of the
River Vire at Isigny.
The 5th Rangers also took part in the
Brest Operations, as part of the U.S. VIII
TABLE 3
Rangers Characteristics Chart
ETO PTO
Rangers Rangers
Morale Normal Normal
ELR 5 5
SAN 4/3 4 0
H1.24 Yes Yes
Jungle MF N/A 5 5
Assault Fire Yes Yes
Corps, and were able to capture three of
the forts surrounding the port. Le Conquet
was taken after a two hour assault and La
Mon Blanche was reduced in even less
time. At Fort du Portzic the Rangers had
a hard time destroying some of the pill-
boxes with the standard (40 lb.) demo
charge. On September 17 a special charge,
made up of two 40 pound and two 50
pound demo charges mixed with 20 gal-
lons of petrol and oil mix, was placed on
the heaviest pillbox and set off. After the
explosion the fire raged for 40 minutes and
lit up the area so well that the Rangers
could not advance, but the bunker was to-
tally destroyed and the Germans very de-
moralized....
During October and November the 5th
Rangers were next assigned as security
guards for the 12th Army Group Head-
quarters in Belgium. In December they
were assigned to the 6th Cavalry Group of
General Patton’s Third Army. Here they
became proficient in working with tanks
and often had a platoon of tanks with each
Ranger company.
In February, 1945 the 5th Rangers as-
sisted the 94th Infantry Division in their
assault on Wehingen, Germany. Next they
crossed the Roer River into the bridgehead
established by the US 9th Army. Here they
were delayed for two weeks due to the
flooding caused by the destruction of the
Roer reservoir’s discharge apparatus. On
Alamo Flipino
Scouts Guerrillas
Underlined Normal
5 4
3
Yes No
5
Yes No
18
Company C,
2nd Rangers,
on the move
near
Heimbach,
Germany
during March
1945
February 24, the 5th Rangers had infil-
trated deep behind German lines and by
dawn on the 25th had set up a defensive
perimeter near the Zerf-Irsch road. After
placing mines on the road the Rangers
destroyed several vehicles and captured
some German infantry before the German
command knew that they were there.
During the afternoon of the 25th, the
Rangers withstood two German counter-
attacks from elements of the 2nd
Gebirgsjager Division supported by tanks.
By holding the Zerf road, the Rangers had
a stranglehold on the main German sup-
ply route to the west. The lack of supplies
greatly aided the American 10th Armored
Division’s breakthrough of the German
lines. At Zerf the 5th Rangers had spent
9 days behind German lines while await-
ing relief by American armored forces,
which arrived on the 3rd of March. [This
action is depicted in the scenario ZERF
STRANGLEHOLD, found elsewhere in
this issue].
In April the 5th Rangers moved with
the tank units of the 3rd Cavalry in its
crossing of the Danube River against light
resistance. On VE (Victory in Europe) day
the 5th Rangers were in Ried, Austria. The
last unit diary entry of the 5th Ranger Bat-
talion was made on May 31, 1945, and
they were disbanded in early June of that
year. The 5th Ranger Battalion earned two
Presidential Unit Citations and the French
Croix De Guerre with Silver Gilt Star.
ETO Rangers in ASL
A Table of Organization (T/O) for the
2nd Ranger Battalion in ASL terms is pro-
vided in TABLE 1. Except as noted the
T/O also represents the 5th Ranger Bat-
talion. In all of the articles in this series
on special and light infantry units, non-
combat unit personnel are not represented
by counters. Since ASL scenarios use short
time frames, the scenarios are not condu-
cive to the simulations of supply and medi-
cal problems. Therefore the medical and
 supply personnel of company or battal-
ion will not be represented. Leadership
(SMC) will be shown in the HQ sections
of the companies and battalion. You may
notice that there is not often a straight nu-
meric conversion in squad sizes in these
articles. That is because even in small
units there are men whose job is not to
fight except as a last resort: two examples
are the medical corpsmen and the
commander’s communications personnel.
The Battalion HQ would include a 10-
2 SMC counter that represents the battal-
ion CO. Using the Leadership Genera-
tion (LG) number as given in the ASL rule-
book [H1.8], the battalion would not actu-
ally rate another battalion level SMC. But,
as the U.S. Rangers were expected to lead
the way and recruited the kind of men that
would lead, I added a 8-1 SMC at the bat-
talion level. The HQ Company is divided
into two sections, a HQ section and a Ma-
chine Gun section. The HQ section is rep-
resented by two 6-6-7 squads while the MG
section shows six 3-4-7 half squads (HS)
manning six Medium Machine Guns.
A Ranger battalion had six Line Com-
panies, all identical in structure. Each
Line Company had a HQ platoon and two
Assault platoons. The HQ platoon would
include the company leader (SMC) and a
3-4-7 HS to represent his staff and two
mortar sections. The Coy. leader would
be either a 9-1 or a 8-1 SMC chosen by
random dr. A dr of 1-4 would rate a 8-1
SMC while a dr of 5-6 would provide a 9-
1 SMC. The 5th Rangers, who were over-
manned in the summer of 1944, would
have a extra 6-6-7 squad assigned to each
Company HQ for the months of June and
July, 1944.
Each mortar section would be shown
by a 2-2-7 Infantry Crew and a 81mm
MTR counter. Even though the 60mm
mortar was the official ordnance for the
early Rangers, by June of 1944 the 2nd
and 5th Rangers were outfitted with the
81mm mortar and push-carts to transport
it overland. Use of these push-carts may
be declared by SSR and would reduce the
PP of a dm 81mm MTR to 3PP. In DYO
scenarios the
push-cart can be
bought at a cost
of 5 BPV. The
mortar must be in
a dm state to be This may be
transported by the area 2nd
push-cart. A Ranger
push-cart may Battalion men
only enter hexes from LCA 888
that could be tra- managed to
versed by a get up the cliffs
wagon counter. at Point du
The Assault Hoc by use of
Platoons were the an extension
easiest to com- ladder placed
plete. Since the on a mound of
Rangers used a debris knocked
11 man squad out of the cliff
armed with rifles top
and BARs, this
allows us to use
the standard ASL
6-6-7 squad for
the Assault sec-
tions. Because Ranger Battalions did not the Rangers should always depend on the
include organic Antitank Units, Rangers historical reference being used in a sce-
were always equipped with one Bazooka nario design, but as a general rule of thumb
(44 or 45 model) per Ranger company. For the SAN should be 4 in the defense and 3
their D-Day assignment of destroying in the attack. Being American comman-
coastal defense guns and bunkers, all dos, the Rangers would rate all of the Com-
Rangers were trained in demolitions work. mando Abilities [H1.24] of Scaling,
This is represented by the addition of two Stealth, and Morale.
Demo Charges (DC) to each assault pla- The 6th Ranger Battalion
toon. During 1943, General Walter Krueger,
For their D-Day assaults the Rangers the Commanding General of the Sixth
had 75mm Gun Companies assigned to Army, created a small band of reconnais-
their battalions so as to have their own or- sance scouts known as the Alamo Scouts.
ganic artillery support. These guns came These scouts were groups of 6 or 7 men
ashore with the 5th Rangers and elements trained to work behind enemy lines gath-
of the 2nd Rangers at Vierville, France. ering intelligence for the Sixth Army.
Two of the M3 GMC (US vehicle note # These men were so successful, that Gen-
34) took part in the relief of the 2nd Ranger eral Krueger wanted a force that could op-
Battalion at Pointe-du-Hoc on D+2 (June erate on a larger scale as the Alamo Scouts
8, 1944). did on a smaller scale. Knowing the suc-
TABLE 3 describes the capabilities of cess of the Ranger Program in the United
the 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions that States and in Europe, a Ranger Battalion
would be used in a ASL scenario. The would be created in the Pacific.
2nd and 5th Rangers, being more of an Unlike the other Rangers, who were cre-
American product and having less British ated from the ground up, the 6th Rangers
Training than the earlier Rangers, would would be formed around an existing unit.
not rate an The volunteer unit was the 98th Field Ar-
Underlined tillery Battalion. The 98th had served in
Inflatables Morale. Be- the New Guinea campaign and was sta-
used ing Elite and tioned in Port Moresby in April, 1944.
included a formed of vol- General Krueger chose Lt. Col. Henry A.
number of unteers would Mucci, a West Point graduate, as the new
British and set the ELR of commanding officer of the 6th Rangers.
American Rangers at 5. Lt.Col. Mucci took command of the 98th
designs The SAN of Field Artillery in April of 1944 and im-
mediately started the battalion on a strenu-
19 ous jungle combat training course. Any
man
 in the artillery battalion who did not
Gulf and were believed to be fortified and
wish to become a Ranger was allowed tomounting coastal artillery which could
transfer to another artillery unit in the
threaten the invasion fleet if they were not
Sixth Army. neutralized.
Unofficially, the 98th Artillery became
The Rangers were to land three days
the 6th Rangers on August 20th, 1944 before the main invasion and take out the
while still in training. Most of the train-
Japanese installations on these islands.
ing received was the same as the Euro-They were expected to hold their gains
pean Rangers with one major exception.until relieved after the main invasion was
The exception was where the European firmly ashore in the Philippines. Com-
Rangers received mountain training, the
pany B reinforced by one platoon from
6th Rangers received intense jungle sur-
headquarters company was assigned to
vival training. On September 27th, 1944
take Homonhon Island. All other compa-
the ranger battalion was made official by
nies were assigned to the Dinagat Island.
receipt of the General Order designating
While in route to the Philippines a third
the unit as the 6th US Army Ranger Bat-
island was added to the assault list. It was
talion. Their T/O (TABLE 2) would in- decided that Company D would be with-
clude six rifle companies, a headquarters
drawn from the Dinagat assault and as-
and headquarters company, and a medical
signed to take Suluan Island, approxi-
detachment. mately 12 miles east of Homonhon. On
The Pacific Ranger battalion, with 520
October 17, the transports ran the Rang-
men, was a slightly larger outfit as com-
ers ashore right on schedule. Though reefs
pared to their European (1st to 5th Rang-
made the landing a bit rough, the land-
ers) counterparts of 478 men. Each Rifle
ings were uncontested and all troops made
Company of 80 officers and men was com-
it ashore. On Dinagat Island, the Japa-
posed of two platoons of two assault sec-
nese garrison had abandoned their camp
tions each. The assault sections each had
when on the Ranger’s landed and fled into
two ten-man squads equipped with M-1 the island’s interior. For the next 13 days,
Rifles and BARs. Each platoon includedRanger patrols would pursue the Japanese
a medium .30 caliber machine-gun. The before getting them under their gun-sights.
6th Ranger did not have company mortarCompany B’s landing on Homonhon Is-
sections, nor did the headquarters com-
land was a walk-in due to there being no
pany have a machine gun section. This Japanese based on the island. The Naval
battalion was to be a lean unit with no frills
Shore party that accompanied them set up
in its organization. The 40 man headquar-
navigation lights that would help guide the
ters company, which included all clerks,
invasion fleet through the channel.
cooks and maintenance personnel, was ex- On Suluan Island, the landing of Com-
pected to fight when the battalion was in
pany D, whose mission was to destroy the
combat. For this reason every man had a
Japanese installations and occupy a light-
primary job and a secondary job, but one
house on the southeast tip of the island,
or the other was as a infantryman. was also uncontested by the Japanese.
On October 3, 1944 all officers of the
After make their way into the native vil-
battalion received a war briefing for their
lage the Rangers found and burned four
first mission as Rangers. In preparation
Japanese storage buildings. The first Japa-
for the invasion of the Philippines the
nese resistance experienced by the Com-
Rangers were to be transported by trans-
pany D Rangers was an ambush as the
port destroyers to the small Philippine is-
company approached the lighthouse. In-
lands of Dinagat and Homonhon. These stantly, the Rangers began returning fire
two islands flanked the entrance to Leyte
and after a short fire-fight, the lighthouse
was occupied.
TABLE 4 (See THE
Standard Ranger Company OB L I G H T -
European Theater Pacific Theater HOUSE, CH
1 9-1 or 8-1 SMC 1 9-1 or 8-1 SMC #34 in Issue
4 6-6-7 1 8-0 SMC #3)
1 3-4-7 HS 6 6-6-7 On Octo-
2 2-2-7 Crew 2 MMG ber 19th the
2 81mm MTR 2 BAZ’45 (1945 use Only) American flag
Attached from Bn.HQ Coy. was raised
1 3-4-7 HS o v e r
1 MMG
Homonhon Island by B Company, 6th
Rangers thus making the Rangers the first
American forces to fly the Stars and Stripes
over Philippine soil since 1942.
During the night of October 29-30th, a
combat patrol from Company B again
landed on Suluan Island, where remnants
of the Japanese garrison had again occu-
pied the lighthouse and had begun to ex-
tract vengeance on the helpless civilian
population of the island. Making a night
assault up a cliff face the Rangers re-took
the lighthouse and hunted down the rest
of the Japanese stragglers after herding
them into a narrow tip on the southern end
of the island.
The 6th Rangers occupied the channel
islands until November 15th when they fi-
nally landed on the large island of Leyte
with the headquarters of the Sixth Army.
From November to the end of December
the Rangers acted as security forces for
Sixth Army Headquarters near Tolosa,
Philippines while training for their next
mission. As part of their training, all
Ranger companies had the opportunity to
make several combat patrols in the Tolosa
area hunting Japanese remnants.
The 6th Rangers made their arrival on
the island of Luzon by storming ashore in
landing crafts as well as DUKWs. Dur-
ing the first hours of the invasion the
Rangers moved about 1000 yards inland
and established a beachhead line until re-
lieved by regular U.S. Army units. The
Rangers again were selected to perform
security duty for 6th Army HQ on January
11, 1945.
As the Sixth Army entered central
Luzon, General Kreuger began worrying
about American Prisoners-of-War being
held by the Japanese just a few miles in
front of American lines. It was possible
that the Japanese might massacre these
prisoners just to prevent their liberation
by American forces. Given a map of the
camp and an estimation of Japanese forces
there by Philippine guerrillas, the plan-
ning for the prisoner’s rescue by the Rang-
ers was begun.
Pangatian, the location of the camp, was
not only heavily guarded, but also served
as a way station for Japanese troop move-
ment. Departing on January 28th, and
travelling mostly at night Rangers of Com-
panies C and F made their way to a vil-
lage about three miles from the prison
camp. While travelling through the
jungle, the Rangers were joined by one
group of Alamo Scouts and two bands of
guerrillas of 60 and 80 men.
 Positioning the guerrillas to block the
road on both sides of the camp the Rang-
ers decided to attack in four groups. Sur-
prise was a must and three groups had to
keep the Japanese busy while the fourth
group freed about 511 Allied prisoners. In
a night attack, all prisoners were freed and
the Japanese guards killed at a cost to the
Rangers of one man killed and a few
wounded. In the next couple of days the
Rangers moved most of the weak prison-
ers in carts 75 miles until they were back
in American lines. This move was made
without the Japanese ever finding the long
slow column.
The rescue of the prisoners from the
Pangatian Camp was the last major mili-
tary operation of the 6th Rangers. The
rest of the war was spent doing long range
reconnaissance patrols and eliminating
small pockets of resistance sometimes ac-
companied by light tanks. If nothing else
is remembered of the 6th Rangers, the al-
most perfect rescue raid at Pangatian will
always be remembered, at least by the 511
Allied men that were rescued. The 6th
Ranger Battalion was deactivated on De-
cember 30, 1945 in Japan after earning
two Presidential Unit Citations.
Fitting the 6th Rangers into ASL
As far as ASL goes, this battalion T/O
(TABLE 2) is one of the simplest that I
know. The Ranger Headquarters company
would be shown with a 9-2 SMC as bat-
talion CO and four 6-6-7 squads. Each
rifle company would be made up of a 9-1
or 8-1 SMC, 8-0 SMC, two support weap-
ons and eight 6-6-7 squads. In 1944 the
SW was the medium .30 caliber machine-
gun (MMG). Since the 6th Rangers had
no artillery or mortar support they began
carrying the Bazooka in 1945 as a form of
light artillery. They would not normally
have both. While there would not be any
OBA allowed in 6th Ranger scenarios,
they would occasionally have light tank
support attached to the company size pa-
trols on Luzon Island.
If the capabilities of the company com-
mander can not be found in your reference
then the commander must be selected by a
random dr. A dr of 1-4 would rate a 8-1
SMC while a dr of 5-6 would provide a 9-
1 SMC.
Like the European Rangers the 6th
Rangers would have the same Elite char-
acteristics (TABLE 3). Due to their train-
ing and being all volunteers, the PTO
Rangers would receive an ELR of 5. The
SAN should be determined by historical
reference for the battle, but if not known a
SAN of 4 is recommended. These rang-
ers receive all Commando abilities as listed
in the ASL rule-book [H1.24]. Because
of their intensive jungle training in New
Guinea, the Rangers should have 5 MFs
in jungle terrain. For any DYO or sce-
nario designers out there, the Rangers only
operated in the Philippines. The three
counter T/O of the 21st Ground Observa-
tion platoon is provided in case you find
something for them to do.
The Alamo Scouts (TABLE 2 & 3) were
a small but elite organization that was
lightly armed, but the arms were automatic
weapons. Using partisan 3-3-7 MMC for
the Alamo Scouts would require some
changes by SSR. First, the ELR is 5 and
their morale is Underlined. Second, their
FP and Range are also considered under-
lined, providing Assault Fire and Spray-
ing Fire capabilities. Lastly, like Rangers,
they receive all Commando [H1.24] and
movement benefits. Alamo Scouts worked
in the New Guinea campaign and the Phil-
ippines campaign. The decision to give
the Alamo Scouts a SAN rating of 0 was
made because of their mission. Their job
was reconnaissance, not combat. They
would fight when they were forced into it,
but not if they could slip away.
The Filipino partisans usually had
American leaders and would be organized
as partisans as per the ASL Rules
[A25.24]. This allows you to use all leader
benefits of American SMC (with the +1
Rally modifier) as well as Partisan SMC.
The Rangers only worked with guerrillas
on the Philippine mainland.
TABLE 4 shows the ASL composition
of both a ETO and a PTO Ranger Com-
pany. As a quick design reference, and in
DYO scenarios, multiply the numbers in
TABLE 4 by the number of companies for
a complete Ranger OB. For European ac-
tions involving 3 or 4 companies, add 1
battalion level SMC and one 6-6-7 squad.
For 5 or 6 companies add both battalion
level SMCs and both 6-6-7 squads. Re-
member to add the extra 6-6-7 squad to
each company of the 5th Rangers in June/
July, 1944. For combat actions in the Pa-
cific add one 6-6-7 squad to any 6th
Ranger scenario using 1 or 2 companies
and two 6-6-7 squads to scenarios using 3
or 4 companies. For 5 or 6 company sce-
narios the entire 6th Ranger HQ Company
should be used.
This article completes the story of the
United States Army Rangers as they ap-
peared in World War II. The first article,
“DARBY’S RANGERS”, gives the early
Ranger history from 1942 to 1944, when
the Rangers depended on training by the
British. This article gives us the rest of
the story, from 1944 through 1945 in both
Europe and the Pacific, when the United
States began putting special units into the
field using our own training techniques
and methods. It may be interesting to note
that the Ranger Program was reestablished
by the US Army in the 1970’s, with the
creation of Ranger battalions. In 1984 the
75th Infantry (Ranger) Regiment was for-
mally recognized at Fort Benning, Geor-
gia.
Bibliography:
Black, Robert W., Rangers in
World War II, Ballantine Books,
New York, NY, 1992.
Gray, Capt. Leslie M., Operational
Report No.1, Company D, 6th
Ranger Battalion, dtd: 20 Decem-
ber 1944. Copy on record at the
National Archives Trust Fund,
Washington DC.
Gray, Capt. Leslie M., FO 1, Com-
pany D, 6th Ranger Battalion
APO 72, dtd: 20 December 1944.
Company Field Order issued by the
Commanding Officer for D
Company’s attack and occupation
of Suluan Island, Philippines. Copy
on record at the National Archives
Trust Fund, Washington DC.
Hastings, Max, Overlord, Simon
& Schuster Inc, New York, NY,
1984.
King, Dr. Michael J., “Rangers:
Selected Combat Operations in
World War II”, Leavenworth Pa-
pers No.11, Combat Studies Insti-
tute, Fort Leavenworth, KS, June,
1985.
Ladd, James, Commandos and
Rangers of World War II, Saint
Martin’s Press, New York, NY,
1978.
Simons, Capt. Arthur D., Histori-
cal Data, Report by CO Company
B, 6th Ranger Battalion, dtd: 7
February 1945., Copy on record
at the National Archives Trust
Fund, Washington DC.
DOG GREEN CH #4a
GERMAN Sets Up First

AMERICAN Moves First 1 2 END

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Elements of the 3rd Battalion, 726th Regiment, 352nd Infantry Division set up on any Hinterland hex:

4 4 2 3

Mines and Tetrahedrons

[ELR: 2] set up on Beach hexes only:
{SAN: 3} 24
8 2 20 Factors

C Company, 2nd Ranger Battalion enter on turn one along the west edge using Seaborne Assault:

Elements of the 743rd

Tank Battalion enter on
12 2 3 2 turn two along the west
5 edge using Seaborne As-
A Company, 116th Infantry Regiment enter on turn three along the west edge using Seaborne Assault: sault:

[ELR: 4]
{SAN: 4/3} 12 2 2 3 2
5 3 3

HANDICAPS:
Add one dm 81mm mortar to each company in the American OB.
Replace the German 8-1 leader with a 9-2.
Any mutually agreed upon alteration to either side’s OB.
SPECIAL RULES:
BOARD LAYOUT: 1. EC are Moist with no wind at start. Beach slope is slight. A Low Seawall
(G13.61) exists along all Beach-Hinterland hexes except for the C5/(o)401
hexside. All woods are brush. All buildings have a ground level only.
2. Place overlays as follows: Be4 with 401-402 on B5-B4; Be5 with 505-
506 on D7-D6; and Oc1 with 1001-1002 on 546-547.
3

Place
Overlays
3. No tetrahedrons may be set up adjacent to another tetrahedron.
4. No AFV may enter a level 1 hill hex from any level 0 hex that is west of
OBJECTIVES: The Americans win if all level 2 hexes of either Hill 534 hexrow I.
or Hill 547 are devoid of and Good Order German MMC. 5. The American SAN is increased to “4” for the first three game turns.

DOG GREEN, OMAHA BEACH, 6 June 1944: The veteran German 352nd Infantry Division, whose pres-
ence was missed by Allied intelligence prior to D-Day, had established a series of stutzpunkt along its narrow
beach defense frontage. One such strongpoint was situated at the Vierville Draw. This terrain feature was a break
in the hills overlooking Omaha Beach. On the morning of D-Day two right flank companies, C Coy., 2nd Rangers
and A Coy., 116th Infantry, landed as scheduled in front of the Vierville Draw. After one landing craft foundered,
and another was hit four times by mortar fire, the remaining men of the two companies struggled ashore. Many of
them went over the side. Those fortunate enough to survive met well directed fire from the men of the veteran
enemy unit. Small arms fire swept the beach. Within minutes, two-thirds of A Company were casualties. German
fire took its toll on the men of C Company, too, with more than half of the Rangers added to the ranks of the dead
and wounded soon after reaching shore. The survivors fought their way forward to the comparative shelter of the
sea wall and the base of the cliffs. Matters were not improved when only eight of the original sixteen tanks assigned
to this sector managed to reach shore after officers of the 116th decided the seas were too rough for DD tanks and
sent their Shermans in on LCTs. Ultimate disaster was averted, but it wasn’t until 1000 hours that units were re-
organized for the push inland. The men of the 116th advanced along the exit road while the Rangers made headway around the flank. By 1100 hours Vierville was finally cleared. The
cost had been horrific.
Original Design by Dan Dolan  1998 Critical Hit!, Inc.