RM OCANKT G SOON WU VAR CON WUW1V Yes AIN {IN & VALOR OF THE GUARDS More than ten years in the making, Tom Morin’s magnum opus on the Russian-German battle for Central §} Stalingrad will be the next Historical ASL Module produced by Multi- Man Publishing. The module will contain two HASL maps (22”x32"), at least a dozen scenarios, several ‘Campaign Games of varying length, anew rules chapter for the campaign game rules, and of course counters B5| specific to the module’ including @ NKVD woops and additional Com- missars READY FOR PREORDER 2003!Copyright 2002 MultiMan Publishing's ASL Journal is devoted to the presentation of authoritative atiles, tested scenarios, and occasional game inserts for the ADVANCED SQUAD LEADER game system, board ‘wargaming’ premiere tactical simlatin, Such art cles encompass, but are not limited to, the sraegy. tactics, variation, design, and historical background ‘ofthe ASL serie of eames. The ASE Journal pb lished by. Multi-Man Publishing. Headquarters Drive, Suite 21108, USA) solely forthe ei ASL aifcionao inthe hopes of improving the play r’s proficiency and broadening his enjoyment of the gue While most of the material i the ASL. Jourma is solicited by the editos,atiles from the general readership ate considered for publication atthe dis- cretion of MMP's staff. Matera maybe submitted fither electonically (subna ultimanpab- Tishingscom) or by small (see above addres), and should embrace the tenets of common Enplish ‘sage. There iso limit on word length Photographs must have a caption and credits on the back Rejected materials will be returned to the author ‘only when accompanied by a SASE. Potential Suthors are advised that submited material becomes ‘he sole property of Multi: Man Publishing. LLC Remuneration wil consist of a fat fe of US. $30 per 8x1" text page plus one complimentary copy [ofthe ASL Journal in which the material sees pit. ‘iyable pom poblication of the mare. For further Fnformation, write to ASL Articles, cfo MMP. ‘The ASL Journal is produced by Muli-Man Publishing, LLC, which consists of Russ Bunn, Perry Cocke, Cut Schilling, and Brian Yous. Cover Art: Ken Smith Playtest Coordinator: Kevin Valvien Prooling Coordinator: Brien Martin Translation: Asin Chabot Scenario Playtest: Todd Jones, Randy Yeates, Sumner laren, ‘Thomas Rae, Bruce Bedell, Guy Falsett Scot Cochran, Mike Owens, and Hunter Johnton, (Special Thanks to the YouscHouse regulars Kevin Valenien, Jeff vich, John Slotwinsk, Ken Dunn, Wayne Hadedy, Ken Joyner, and Daren Enge) Proating Tea Mike Augustine, Blake Bal, Brian Blad, Jonathan Cole. Evie Henyey, Joe Jackson, Peter Lageri, Kevin Kenneally, Klas Malitrom, Mike Manuel, Kevin Meyer, Jobo C. Meyers, Kenn Monte, Mark Robbins, Lance Roberts, Gleon Schools, Paul Sidhu, Seam Spence, LR, Tracy, Rob Tyson, and Pete Wenman. (Special Thanks to Scot Jackson, Fish Flowers, Steve Foren, Jose Galarags, Ken Kat, and Pablo Trabado.) Scenario Design: lan Daglsh, Laurent Close, ‘Shaun Carter, Charles Markus, Brian Youse, and David Longworth ‘Questions: All questions on the Advanced Squad Leader game system mast be hased of the rules of, play (ot historical or design mates), on the eurrent oles eition, rust be phrased in the form of a 30s or ro question, and should be accompanied by any ‘ppropeate diagram. Postal questions should be submitted to MMP (address above) and wil not be Answered unless accompanied by a selfaddressed And stamped envelope. E-mail questions on ASL. files (plense, no design or production questions!) ‘may be submited to asl qal@multimanpublish- ing.com, Issue Four HISTORY OF THE GAME: CARRIERS: 4 Coulda Been a Cupholder by lan Daglish THE FINE ART OF BUSHWHACKIN’ 9 Ambush and Close Combat—ASL style by David Olie HALL OF FAME 15 ‘The ASLML picks the scenarios by Rob Wolkey SPOTLIGHT ON THE FORGOTTEN VEHICLES 7 The Indian Pattern Carrier by Charles Markuss and Shaun Carter ABANDONED AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD 31 Indochina and ASL. by Laurent Closier SCENARIO ANALYSIS 4 Probing J24 Smashing The Third by Matt Shostak A VIEW FROM THE MOUND 38 MMP on ASL by MMP. DEBRIEFING 39 ‘Stomping on the Gremlins by MMP. TIPS FOR LEARNING A‘ That's a Mighty Big Binder. 40 by John Slotwinski BLOODY OMAHA 41 SASL The Longest Day by Daniel Zucker HIT ‘EM HIGH, OR HIT ‘EM LOW 45 Light Mortars and ASL. by Simon Spinett) ‘BOLTS FROM ABOVE 47 Highly Optional Weather Rules by Bert Baldwin CHECK IT OUT! MMP’s PREORDER PAGE! Get all the program’s details, and the current games status, ‘at Multi-Man Publishing's preorder page: //www.mnultimanpublishing.com/preorder/preorder.php Ifyou don't have internet access, call our office for details! 1-888-842-6377History of the Game: CARRIERS by Ian Daglish ‘While the World War 2 British infantry battal- jon was somewhat lacking in automatic ‘weapons, it did enjoy the advantage of is very ‘own inherent armored unit, small but potentially effective: the Cartier Platoon Although virwally unique t0 the British (including Commonwealth) forces, the British Carriers granted its very own ASL rules section and no less than 10 different counters in the British counter mix—excluding the wheeled IP Carriers. and its unarmored relation the Loyd Carrier. (Soe the accompanying piece on IP CCaztiers) In Chapter H we have the best part of 4 page of notes (Chapter H British Vehicle Notes {64 through 67) which summarize the Carrier's story (and hereinafter we'll refer to any Chapter H BBitish Vehicle Note as simply “Note") In this article we look at how the Carrier was used in World War 2, and how well ASL depicts Carriers, We focus on the “rifle battalion” which ‘made up the normal infantry division. Tiss is- tinct from the “motorised battalion.” a rifle bet- falion with a permanent allocation of Royal Army Service Comps (RAS.C) 3-Ton lorries (Note 83); and the rarer “motor battalion,” ‘equipped with Carriers and (ater) American built halfracks (Notes 63 and 65). The British ‘Aimy Reconnaissance Corps’ use of Carriers was also somewhat different (Note $1), and thers isa story wort telling separately. Background ‘The British Army experienced major changes in the 1930s, When the reformers came t0 the infantry, their expectations of future wars led them to focus on mobility and firepower. The ‘Carter had a part to play in both Infantry mobility was enhanced in a number of ways. Whilst continuing to march on foot, every rifle platoon was after 1938 to have its own 1S. owt ruck (Note 81) o cary its equipment, and at 1 pinch a company commander could dump all stores and use his four trucks to “lift” an entre platoon. A new garb was introduced: “battle- tress” Batledress was widely reviled: “the top half of a golfer and the bottom of a skier” and “the Army went to France dressed as convicts.” Nevertheless, combat showed this new outfit to be a great advance over iis predecessors, not least for the deep pockets that permitted beter “stowage” of personal equipment. Firepower was augmented, the infantry bata jon commander receiving his own “artillery.” in the form of the 3-inch mortar platoon. Although the inital plan of four 3-inch mortars per battal- fon was pared down. to only two, when more equipment became available the mortar platoon expanded to a complement of six. The infantry battalion lost the Vickers machine gun company it had enjoyed since 1919, but benefited from the replacement of the superannuated Lewis gun with the new Brea, on scale of four pr platoon. In adltion to allthis, the battalion command- cer received his own platoon of armored Carriers, ‘highly mobile reserve of firepower capable of crossing bullet-swept ground "Theory and Practice |At the outbreak of hostilities, the British Expeditionary Force had different Carriers for different roles (as summarized in Note 64). The ASL Rule Book introiuces the Carrer with the words “A Castier is treated as a halfrack” (D648). But the similarity only goes so far. In truth, the British had no equivalent of the ‘Ametican White M3 family or the German SdKz 251 infantsy-carrying halftreks until the ‘adoption of the American armored halftrack (Note 63) and the success of the Kangaroos (Note 68). ‘The Carrier, Scout, Mark 1 carried « Boys. anti-tank rifle, « Bren gun, and usually a No. 11 Wireless set. These equipped the B.E's seven Mechanised Divisional Cavalry regiments on a scale of 28 ight tanks and 44 Scout Carriers per regiment (generally with 3 squadrons of 8 MKVL light tanks and 13 Scout Carries, plus HQ vehi- cles). Other cavalry units had been offered the CCaerier, Cavalry Mk 1, carrying ination to the driver and gunner 6 men on unarmoted, out ward-facing bench seats. But only 50 of these were ever built, and - a point not made clear in Note 64 they never saw active service ‘The infantry received the Bren Carrier, and were delighted with it, This, the War Ofice clearly instructed, was nor a fighting vehicle. ‘The Bren Caster of 1940 was not supposed to be fan “AFV." The infantry manual reinforced this: “Tc must be remembered thatthe Carrer is nota light tank; it isan armoured machine designed to convey the LMG from place t0 place and a machine from which the LMG can be fired if This definition was not strictly applied in the field, where the versatile Carrier was employed im a wide range of combat roles. In general terms, the Carrer was one of the few success stories of British armor design in 1940, and indeed of the whole war. Its combat tial in Belgium and France was comprehensive, largely because many units were unsure what to do with it and so experimented. The historian of 2nd Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) records events on 27th May: “The Cartier Platoon, which just hap- ‘pened to have engines running when the counter- tack was ordered, joined in and did great exe- ‘ution — one of the few oecasions on which Bren Carriers have been used successfully in the lunomthodox role of tanks." Unorthodox of not, in 1940 many an infantry brigadier regarded any armored vehicle as tank; not entirely without justification, as even the Carier's puny armor was in 1940 the equal fof many a “tank.” In many cases, Cartier pla- toons were removed from their infantry regi ments and brigaded together at higher levels, ‘much as line regiments in previous centuries had ben stripped of their “grenadier” companies 19 form ad hoc lite battalions ‘The British Expeditionary Foree came home from France leaving most of their heavy equip- ‘meat behing, inchuding the early Cartier models. From 1940 onwards, i a highly uncharacteristic ‘outbreak of common sense, the British rationl- ized down to one basic “Universal” Cartier model (Note 64). But what was its role to be? Immediately following the chaotic rewm of the BER, attempts began to formalize the les- sons leaened from the campaign. An important channel for disseminating British Army doctrine ‘vas the Military Training Pamphlet, and one of these, “Army Training Memorandum #33," of 2nd July 1940, recognized the wider role that ‘Cassiecs had played in the BLE F. campaign. This document formally approved the Carrier as a vehicle for infantry reconnaissance, battle trans port, and other combat roles. But its verdict was hastily reversed in Memorandum #34 that sern- ly reverted to doctrine. Consequently, as late as 1942 the Army Bureau of Current Affairs was publicly stating thatthe Carrier was technically ‘a fire power transport. Its crew fight unmounted.”‘Meanwhile, necessity proved to be the mother ‘of invention inthe field, from Aras 10 Alamein Where the Carver increasingly fulfilled « wide variety of roles. Including combat. As a noted British armor expert confirms: by 1944 “The Universal Carrier was becoming what a 1942 War Office document said it was not; an armoured fighting vehicle... The temptation 10 fire from the vehicle whenever possible was obvious. Carrier Tueties: 1. Introduction In ASL terms, the rifle battalion Carrier Section (3 vehicles) is « highly mobile unit Which can quickly form an infantry Firegroup capable of projecting 6 FP up to 7 hexes, yet with the potential to distance itself rapidly from any infantry threat, In reality asin the game, it was ‘important to minimize the risk ofthis important uit being overwhelmed by enemy infant. Referring to the manual; “Gun detachments are very vulnerable unless protected from the flank and roan” Furthermore, “The LMG can give fire a efective from 400 yards as from closer up. ‘There is no need to move elose in 10 a target 10 sain fire effec.” This translates well into ASL terms, as a BMG (or AAMG) Currier Bren has & normal range of § hexes which assuming a 40- meter hex is uncannily close. Whether players regard 2 FP as “effective” will of course depend ‘on circumstances. And just as in ASL (D664), Carrier MG detachments could combine their fire, Some players have speculated that the Bren teipod mount often found on a Carrier might be used 10 transform the weapon into a MMG, as with the German MG 34/42. This is emphatical- ly noc the case. The tripod enabled the Bren to be aid on fxed lines, at ight or in mist, But excel- Jent weapon though the Bren undoubtedly was, it ‘was not Jesigned for sustained fire, British tain- ing on the Bren encouraged accurate, five-round buss intended to hit a target. Ia contrast, German doctine favored suppressive fixe, for which their MG_was uniquely effective. The Carrier Platoon’s tactical manual acknowledged its firepower, but stressed before all else its mobility. The platoon was 10 be flexible, its potential roles ranging from wide flanking ‘moves, rearguard actions, and reconnaissance. ASL is capable of giving us very good illustra tions ofall these roles. Carrier Tueties: 2. Baptism of Fire ‘The 1940 campaign was a story of with- Arawals, from east of Brussels to the shores of the English Channel. There were many opportu- nities forthe Carrer to prove its worth as a sup- ‘plement tothe light tanks ofthe day in a mobile Sezeening role. In spite of its puny armor, the Cartier could pose sufficient threat 10 the German reconnaissance units to force them to ‘Stop and fight, and when the enemy dismounted for a concerted attack, the Cariers and light ‘tanks would simply melt away, to reappear atthe ext practical defense line. ‘This we can experience in Scenario 166 “Sound Retreat,” an action typical of those May days in Belgium and France. In this ease, a very ow light anks are available to screen the retreat- ing British infantry as they march across the face of the enemy, presenting their vulnerable flank. While the tanks threaten the similarly lightly armored German reconnaissance AFV, the Cartiors make life dificult for the motoreyele infantry of the divisional reconnaissance battal- jon, The combination ofthe Carriers’ impressive cross-country performance and muli-hex Fire Group capability, plus the “bonus” ofthe Carrer B's limited anti-tank potential, may be just ‘enough to slow the German onrush, Later, in the desert war, terrain has less signif- ieance and often itis dhe Carriers themselves (or their Vehicle Dust) which form the obstacle behind which the infantry attempt withdrawal across the open desert ‘There are many accounts of German troops in 1940 using captured equipment to deceive their enemies. Some of these may be attributed 19 propaganda, but many reports were accurate and booth the French and British were genuinely shocked thatthe Germans were not “playing the ‘game.” The Germans continued until war's end {fo make good use of captured equipment. (By 1945, the Sherman tank provided an important component of some of the Panzer Divisions.) ‘The Germans familiarized themselves with the Carriers they captured in 1940, using some as mounts fora self-propelled 3.7em anti-tank gun ‘and later in the war for multi-ubed Panzerschreck weapons. Offensive use of Carrier units was by no smeuns limited to the Germans. Carriers were ‘sed as light tanks in 1940 on vatious oecasions when the real thing was unavailable. And if used with daring and imagination, the Germans—as yet unaware of the Canier's. shortcomings — ‘were sometimes fooled. ‘At the other end of the war, in Seenatio 377 ‘Moses’ Blazes" we find a similar situation as the colonel's rifle companies are all fully ‘engaged and his last hope of achieving the bat- talion objective isto atempt a “coup de main” (pethaps a “forlom hope") with his remaining five uncomminted Carters, accompanied here by ‘era infantrymen, probably the motorcyclists of the Carrer Platoon with their Sten guns trans- ported on the platoon’s Carrer. Carrier Tueties: 3. Tracks and Boots So far, we have not mentioned diet coopers: tion with “leg” infantry, Two examples are pre- sented here, Within the infantry battalion, the Cartier was intended to be the colonel's person al last reserve. Above all, the manual urged the battalion commander to keep this potent force together, to “hold all carriers under his own com- ‘mand... and not disperse them by allotment 10 SSRs ‘Scenario designers may wish to include one for more of the following SSRs where apprpriate—Eds, ‘© Abandoned Carriers rein an Inherent Driver, and while abandoned are treated as unarmed vehicles (D5.1). Additional Variants to this SSR: No movement is allowed that would reduce range of an unloaded/mobile Cartier to the nearest Known. armed? ‘GOMnbroken) Enemy Unit ‘A Carrier without MMC as PRC must pass a single, unmodified NTC at any time during its MPh to permit movement closer to 4 Known enemy—failure hav= ing no effect other than to prohibit such ‘movement throughout the eurent MPh ‘Unloaded/mobile Cariers permitted vol- untary RECALL (60 no CYP if they suc- cessfully exit play) ‘© Self-Destruction of SW (A9.73) and Webicles (DS.411) is NA ‘© Cartier A BMG MA may not be reposi- tioned as AMG. © Increase vehicle VP to reflect value ‘© Make Rider HS “Carrier HS” so they can freely Recombine with the inherent HS Remember that regular Ambush an the Sweet Fighting Ambush DRM for CC are not the same. Stet Fighting can occur in the CCPh or your opponents MPh and snot dependent o the de, wile Ambush ely occur inthe CCPh and requires ade Even ‘when you qualify for Steet Fighting in CCCP%, you may have to rel for regular Ambush-—although you will nly get one -1 ‘Ambush DRM in CC. Finally, Ambush allows Withdrawal Sueet Fighting des not, akbough you can usualy retwm to your sat ing building locaton (NA if Suet Fighting Vehicle in Bypass of your Locatn).companies.” This was not always obeyed. In per- sonal correspondence, the Major commanding the Carrier Platoon of the Ist Ox and Bucks (present in Scenatio J72 “Cahier Carriers”) states, "Lam sure the platoon never operated as & tactical whole—noe do I think it usefully could have done.” The ASL player can take some com: fort thatthe countermix permits most battalion level Cartier Platoon actions to be depicted Quite often, we come across examples of ‘actions in which the mobility ofthe Carrer intha- fenced the outcome of an infantry action. In Scenario J68 “Unlucky Thirteenth,” an infantry battalion is attempting to hold a much broader front than officially sanctioned, witha flank pla- toon effectively cut off by premature bridge demolitions, With his rifle companies fully engaged, the colonel has only the remnants of his Carrer Platoon to send to the aid of 13 Platoon ‘Too ltl, to0 Tat in this instance. One of the Carters’ principal combat rol ‘was reinforcement ofa rifle company in defense ‘oF attack, employing their Bren firepower and (ess frequently) their mobility to assist their ‘unmounted colleagues, A Sergeant in the Carrier Platoon of the Ist Tyneside Scottish confirms that “The usual role forthe Cartier Platoon was to support the Rifle Companies by supplying additional firepower and, by their mobility. bocinging this firepower to wherever it was required." “Cahier Carriers” (176) shows an ‘example of Carriers and infantry used in synessy for maximum effect. The enemy is tte, the tor- tain is woods surrounded by wide-open spaces. ‘Working together, the Carriers and the rifle eom- ppany can each maximize their strengths and min- imize their weaknesses. In this action, the Cartier Platoon played a decisive role, harying the German defenders throughout a long aftemoon's ‘combat and earning the Platoon commander his Miltary Cross. By the time of the Normandy invasion, armor that was in 1940 (almost) respectable i now far ‘more vulnerable to anti-tank weaponry, In short, by 1944 any armor piercing round that can hit a ‘Carzer will probably kil it. On the postive side, the Carrer now has (and freely uses) smoke dis- pensers. Some Carters have enhanced firepow- sich as the PIAT granted to the ASL. "Carer c By this time, Universal Carriers came equipped with a fing for the 2 inch mors, though as Note 66 indicates, this weapon was rarely fred from the vehicle. (In the words of a former Cartier driver, “The beggars seemed 10 forget they were there”) We have not yet men- tioned the 3-inch monar Carrier (Note 67) While these added tothe total number of Carriers within the rifle battalion, they were used by the ‘mortar platoon, and so entirely separate from the Carer platoon. 3-inch mortars in action used ‘great quantities of ammunition, and we find accounts of hard-pressed forward units running ‘out entirely, For ASL scenario design purposes, wwe should generally assume that the 3-ineh mor- tar Carers are permanently devoted to the ‘movement and the replenishment of their mor- tars ‘And from about October 1944, the infantry Cartier Platoon has an extra section of two oF three Wasps (Note 72), depending on avaiabili- ty, While the Canadians were enthusiastic propo- nents of armored flame-throwers, the British ‘originally intended the Wasp for a secondary role With 79th Armoured Division, to "mop wp” after assaults by its big brother the Crocodile (Note 38), Nevertheless, the Wasp was to become an important asst of the ordinary infantry battalion. By 1945, the name of the game is morale: the Allied infancy is civilian army, its men now hoping—expecting—to get home intact. The German defenders are largely untrained and