PLATOON FORCE RATINGS
ALPINI, BERSAGLIERI OR LANCIERI
Regno Esercito and CCNN
ALPINI, BERSAGLIERI, LANCIERI, FUCILIERI OR LIBICI
PLOTONI & MSVN MANIPOLI
The Addestramento della fanteria (Training of Infantry)
manual of 1935, describes the standard pattern rifle
platoon (plotone di fucilieri) as consisting of a platoon
leader, who was either a tenente (lieutenant), sotto-
tenente (sub-lieutenant). On occasion a maresciallo or
sergente maggiore (warrant officer or sergeant-
major) might substitute for a commissioned officer.
The platoon leader was accompanied by an
attendente acting as a messenger.
The three squadre of the platoon were each led by
sergenti or caporali-maggiori and consisted of a four-
man gun group of a capo de arma (corporal-gunner),
assistente (loader), along with two portatori munizioni
(ammunition bearers). The remainder of each squad
consisted of a caporal and six or seven fucilieri, one of
whom possessed a modified service rifle and the
grenade launching attachment for it. Apart from the
platoon leader and the corporal-gunners, who carry
pistols, all men are armed with bolt-action Carcano
M.91 rifles.
A CCNN manipolo follows the same organisational
pattern, but uses more functional titles for the various
ranks. Quite simply these are literally capo di (head
of) followed by either manipolo (platoon) or squadra
(squad).
This list can be used to represent Alpini, Bersaglieri,
Lancieri, or CCNN platoons. All support element types
are available to any platoon type, with the exception
that motorcycles are limited to Bersaglieri and
Lancieri platoons.
Regular: +6
Command Dice: 6
ITALIAN & LIBYAN FUCILIERI OR CCNN
Regular: +3 Green: 0 (or -2)
Command Dice: 5 (or 4)
PLATOON HEADQUARTERS
Platoon Leader (Senior Leader), armed with pistol
Rifleman.
Three Squads per Platoon, each
SQUAD HEADQUARTERS
Squad Leader (Junior Leader) armed with a rifle
Two Groups per Squad, each
AR TEAM RIFLE TEAM
Breda M.30 with 2 crew, 7 riflemen
2 riflemen
The Breda M.30 ‘LMG’ is classed as an Automatic
Rifle. The 2 riflemen in the team may substitute
for lost crew members. It has AP ammunition.
With the exception of the Breda Gunner and the
Platoon Leader, who carry pistols, all are armed
with bolt-action rifles.
All men in the rifle team are equipped with hand
grenades and one man carries a modified rifle and
has a rifle-grenade attachment for that weapon. It
is not necessary to designate which figure this is
however and the normal Rifle Grenade rules still
apply (9.1.5. p. 40).
CCNN Platoons are and Fucilieri Platoons may be,
rated as Green, with 4 Command Dice in 1935.
Their Platoon Force Rating is shown in brackets
above.
From 1936 CCNN units may be taken as Green or
Regular; however they always apply a -1 force
morale modifier (p11) in 1936 whether Green or
Regular.

ITALIAN A RMY AND CCNN CHARACTERISTICS
ALL
MITRAGLIATRICI ORA !
Tactical doctrine was that the squad leader
was supposed to direct the fire of the Breda 30
team, so as to support the rifle team under his
vice-comandante: the rifle team corporal, as
well as the other teams of the platoon, who
were collectively led by the platoon leader.
To reflect this, any Leader can add one
firepower dice to their AR team’s firepower
when activating them to fire using one or
more of his Command Initiatives. To do this
the AR Team must be within his command
radius.
ARMY
SAVOIA!
The battle cry of the House of Savoy was the
signal to hurl grenades and assault the enemy.
To reflect this, when a Senior Leader attached
to a Team or Squad uses two Command
Initiatives, he may lead a charge against any
enemy within 12” preceded by a hail of hand
grenades.
Roll 1D6, subtracting 1 if the enemy is in light
cover, 2 if in hard cover. On a roll of 1 or 2, one
hand grenade has hit the target unit; on 3 or 4,
two grenades hit; on 5 or 6, three grenades hit
the target. Roll for the effect of these and the
Team or Squad may then move with up to 3D6
to try to initiative Close Combat.
CCNN
CAMICIE NERE
At this point in time the CCNN were quite
motivated and supportive of Mussolini and his
policies and also the Abyssinian War itself. The
opposite side of the coin was that some of
those who had joined had done so for the
power membership provided and were
somewhat discomforted when their MSVN
unit was activated for the war. As a result any
CCNN unit is a mix of die-hards, shirkers and
run of the mill citizens, in varying proportion.
When determining force morale roll one D6
with a 1 or 2 being a -1 and a 5 or 6 being a +1
force morale modifier (p11).
ITALIAN REGULAR ARMY AND CCNN SUPPORT LIST
LIST ONE
Medical Orderly
Adjutant
Barbed Wire
Entrenchments for one Team
Engineer Mine Clearance Team, 3 men
Engineer Demolition Team, 3 men
Replacements – Add two rifleman per squad*
Heavy Bombardment
In-Game Barrage
LIST TWO
Roadblock
Pre-Game Barrage
Si Caporale! (Libyan, Alpini, Bersaglieri and Lancieri)
Heavy Cover barricade
Truck to transport entire squad, team or to tow a
weapon
45 mm Mortar Team with 4 crew
IZM armoured car with Junior Leader
FIAT 611 armoured car with Junior Leader
CV 33 Tank with Junior Leader (no AP)
LIST THREE
Registered Artillery Barrage
CV 33/35 Tank with Junior Leader (has AP)
Flamethrower Team, 2 men
Sniper Team, 2 men
Off-table 45mm Mortar Squad with FOT
65/17 Infantry Gun, 4 crew and Junior Leader
Poison Gas (Against Ethiopians only)
Random Air Support
LIST FOUR
M.35 or M.14 MMG on tripod mount with 4 crew
Off-table 81mm Mortar Squad with FOT
20/65 M.35 AA gun, 4 crew and Junior Leader
47/32 A/T gun, 4 crew and Junior Leader
Engineer Section with Junior Leader
Esploratori Squad with Junior Leader
LIST FIVE
70-75mm Field Gun, 5 crew and Junior Leader
Bersaglieri or Lancieri Motorcycle Squad with Junior
Leader on 6 motorcycles
LIST SIX
CV 33/35 Lanciaflamme with Junior Leader**
Bersaglieri or Lancieri Moto-Mitraglicieri with JL and
three MC combinations.
*Two selections maximum
**Only one selection per list item.
ARMY SUPPORT LIST NOTES
Most of the support options will be self-explanatory.
All armoured cars and tankettes come with a Junior
Leader. Transport only vehicles, such as a car are
simply vehicles, which come with no crew.
Remember, you will need to allocate men to drive
these. Vehicles do not have radios. Some MG-armed
vehicles are equipped with armour-piercing
ammunition, while others are not. Those vehicles
which do are indicated on the arsenal table. The lists
show all Junior Leader assignments where they are
present for all troops. The following support options
need some notes.
ITALIAN HAND GRENADES
Italian OTO hand grenades depended on both the
force of an impact-based detonation system and
blast-concussion over fragmentation, which proved
problematic in action. To reflect this they roll with a -1
to hit their target.
REPLACEMENTS
A full strength squad in Abyssinia could be up to 16
men. A player may choose the reinforcement
selection twice per squad with all soldiers assigned to
the rifle team excepting one who may be placed as an
additional ammunition carrier in the AR team.
AP AMMUNITION
The 8mm M.35 MMG comes equipped with AP
ammunition, as does the platoon Breda M.30 LMGs,
however the 6.5mm M.14 MMG does not.
BRIXIA M35 45MM MORTAR TEAM
Each team consisted of a single Italian Brixia M35
45mm mortar. The team includes a corporal-gunner a
loader and two ammunition carriers. All were armed
with rifles. This option may not be selected in
conjunction with off-table 45mm mortar squads.
The Italian 45mm mortar is very accurate adding +1
when firing at any target in line of sight. However, the
mortar rounds have poor fragmentation so do not
reduce cover by one level. The Italian 45mm mortar
has H.E. and smoke rounds available. It has a
minimum range of 18”, but closer than that the crew
may use their carbines. However, only three smoke
rounds may be fired by each mortar in any game
A Senior or Junior Leader may both activate and/or
spot for the Mortar Team, at a cost of one command
initiative point, if the Mortar Team is within their
command range. No other unit may spot for the
Mortar Team, which off course, can spot for itself.
45MM MORTAR SQUAD
When issued each battalion had a light mortar
platoon of three sections, each of three weapon
teams. While short-ranged, these were often deployed
by squads to support individual company operations.
This option may not be selected in conjunction with
on-table 45mm mortar teams. A 45mm Mortar Squad
has a barrage template of 12” square, with Firepower
3. Refer to Special Rules: Mortars in this supplement.
Use the Chain of Command rules for Off Table
Forward Observation Teams when firing.
81MM MORTAR SQUAD
Each regiment only had three squads in total. Support
can be selected by individual squads up to a maximum
of three squads. However if more than one squad is
selected, they must all fire at the same target. Extra
squads are part of the same unit and merely add to
the weight of fire being brought to bear. See the
Mortar Special Rules in this supplement.
Use the Chain of Command rules for Off Table
Forward Observation Teams when firing.
HEAVY BOMBARDMENT
The Italians often used heavy concentrations of fire on
the enemy to prepare their attacks. A notable feature
of the Italians in East Africa was their availability and
use of artillery bombardments and/or massed aerial
bombing raids in support of ground operations.
Unless playing a Patrol or Probe scenario this support
list option enables a selected Pre-Game Barrage to be
increased in intensity to a Heavy Pre-Game Barrage.
This works the same way as a normal pre-game
barrage (p82) except enemy Units attempting to
deploy onto the table in the first Turn roll with a -1 on
their dice.
IN-GAME BARRAGE
This is taken as an additional option for a normal Pre
Game Barrage/Bombardment, which enables the
continuation of the pre game barrage into the game –
see special rules.
70-75MM FIELD GUN
This could be any similar caliber weapon such as the
75/28, 75/27 or 70mm mountain gun. Refer to the
Specific Rules for Field Gun Direct Fire when taken as
an on-table support list choice.
47/32 ANTI-TANK GUN
Introduced in 1935, these are considered rare
weapons for service in Ethiopia. Historically
unavailable in the Italo-Ethiopian conflict it is included
here in The Abyssinian Crisis.
If selected and subsequently lost to enemy action add
+1drm to any Force Morale Test.
20/65 ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN
Another new weapon that is in short supply, this
weapon was found to be devastating against ground
targets, in lieu of many aircraft to shoot at. Initially
towed, it could instead be mounted on a truck bed if a
truck is selected from the support table for the
purpose.
If selected and subsequently lost to enemy action add
+1drm to any Force Morale Test.
FLAMETHROWERS
The M35 infantry flamethrower teams are two men
strong. The Italian flamethrower has a maximum
range of 6”. Italian flamethrower tanks have a
maximum range of 18”.
TWO MAN TANKS
The CV 33/35 series have just two-man crews. Any
hits on the gunner are on the Commander. Hits on
any other crew are on the driver.
CV-33, CV-33/35 AND CV-33/35LF
The principal differences between these three types of
the same tank are that; the CV-33 carried a single
6.5mm M.14 machine guns, the CV-33/35 carried twin
8mm M.14/35 machine guns with armour-piercing
rounds and the CV-33/35LF had a single M.14/35
machine gun side by side with a flamethrower.
Each of these vehicles also carried a tripod for one of
its machineguns. The crew can in fact therefore
dismount as a machine gun team with a crew of two,
at a cost of 1 Command Initiative.
CV-33/35 LF
Designed in 1935 it first saw action with Graziani’s
motorised forces in the Ogaden. The trailer slowed the
vehicle and was vulnerable to catching fire or
exploding.
Therefore When a CV 35LF is destroyed with three net
hits it will explode on a roll of 4 to 6 as opposed to the
normal 5 or 6 shown on those tables.
FIAT 611
There are two variant of the FIAT 611. One had a
37mm cannon, backed by a single machine gun, the
other by two machine guns, with a third to the rear of
the turret. The Fiat 611 was uniquely armed with the
Breda Modello 5.C, a vehicle variant of the infantry’s
M.30, with correspondingly poor performance and no
armour-piercing ammunition.
The type with the turret mounted 37mm gun may
only fire either the main gun or the rear mounted MG
– not both in the same phase.
SI CAPORALE!
The Italian colonies produced many veteran soldiers
in the various formations that took part in them.
Similarly, Alpini, Bersaglieri and Lancieri units
benefited from the aggressive Celeri doctrine and a
better standard of recruit. Therefore, if a Italian
platoon is taken as a Libyan, Alpini, Bersaglieri, or
Lancieri, then the Si Caporale! trait is available to
them.
Individual Teams can activate on a roll of 1 or 2,
individual sections on a roll of 2 as normal. However
both sections and teams can also activate on a roll of
3. When this is done the team generates a single
Command Initiative Point of its own, which it can then
utilise as if a Leader was expending one on the team
and in addition to any that a Leader actually does
expend. This includes both Activation Commands and
Commands which are not activations..
BERSAGLIERI OR LANCIERI MOTORCYCLE SQUAD
A Bersaglieri or Lancieri motorcycle squad is a scout
squad and is made up of one Junior Leader and eleven
scouts, organized as a standard infantry squad. If
starting the game dismounted roll 1d6 per squad
before the Patrol Phase begins. On a score of 4,5,6
you gain one free Patrol Phase move with any of your
markers. This is in addition to any scenario specific
rules regards bonus patrol moves, however, a force
may never have more than six free patrol phase
moves. When deployed dismounted troops are placed
on-table without their motorcycles.
A mounted squad has 3 motorcycle combinations and
a single solo motorcycle, which falls under the ‘Small
fighting vehicles’ rules. Teams may shoot from their
motorcycles.
Bersaglieri or Lancieri moto-mitraglicieri squads may
only be selected in conjunction with a Bersaglieri or
Lancieri Platoon.
ALPINI, LIBYAN , FUCILIERI OR CCNN
ESPLORATORI
An Esploratori Squadra is a scout squad of one Junior
Leader and twelve rifle-armed scouts with hand
grenades. At the start of the game roll 1d6 per squad
before the Patrol Phase begins. On a score of 4,5,6
you gain one free Patrol Phase move with any of your
markers. This is in addition to any scenario specific
rules regards bonus patrol moves, however, a force
may never have more than six free patrol phase
moves.
An Esploratori squad may move with 1D6 or 2D6 and
then assume a Tactical stance when activated by a
Leader using two Command Initiatives.
Esploratori may not be selected by Bersaglieri and
Lancieri platoons.
RANDOM AIR SUPPORT
Refer to the Specific Rules for Random Air Support.

A dismounted scout squad may move with 1D6 or 2D6

and then assume a Tactical stance when activated by
a Leader using two Command Initiatives.

A mounted squad has 6 solo motorcycles, which fall

under the ‘Small fighting vehicles’ rules for
movement. Figures may not shoot from their
motorcycles.

Bersaglieri or Lancieri motorcycle squads may only be

selected in conjunction with a Bersaglieri or Lancieri
Platoon.

BERSAGLIERI OR LANCIERI MOTO-MITRAGLICIERI

An Bersaglieri or Lancieri moto-mitraglicieri squad is a
machine gun squad made up of one Junior Leader and
three M.14/35 machine gun teams, each with three
crew. It may start the game dismounted or mounted.
When deployed dismounted troops are placed on-
table without their motorcycles.
 RCTC PLATOON F ORCE RATING
Green or Regular: -1 if Green, +1 if Regular
Command Dice: 5
P LATOON H EADQUARTERS
Zabet (Senior Leader) with pistol
Balucbasci (Superior Junior Leader) with a rifle and
two rifleman
Three Squads per Platoon, each
Regio Corpo Truppe Coloniali
SQUAD H EADQUARTERS
RCTC BALUC Basci (Junior Leader) with a rifle.
The Royal Corps of Colonial Troops, shared a common
RIFLE TEAM
structure at platoon level with the Italian Royal Army,
but typically used older weapons, or those gained as 11 Riflemen
war-reparations from Austro-Hungary after the Great In a Regular Baluc besides the Zabet, who carries
War. Somali and Eritrean infantry retained traditional a pistol, all figures are armed with bolt-action
unit and rank titles, which themselves had been rifles and carry grenades.
borrowed from the Turks and Egyptians. Baluc was the
Green Baluc, with the exception of the pistol
Italianised term applied to platoons, although in its
armed Zabet, are classed as ‘Tribal Rifles’ due to
original form Baluch it actually meant a ‘half-company’.
their generally poorer-quality weapons.
The Baluc was led by an Italian junior officer, collectively
RCTC SUPPORT LIST
termed a zabet by his men. Usually he would be assisted
LIST ONE
by an ascari acting as an assistente (servant-runner) and
an Italian-speaking NCO, who also performed the typical Medical Orderly
tasks of a platoon sergeant. This balucbasci would Adjutant
typically be an experienced ascari, but not necessarily of Barbed Wire
Entrenchments for one Team
platoon leader quality. The three squads which
Engineer Mine Clearance Team, 3 men
composed the baluc were each led by a basci (sergeant),
Engineer Demolition Team, 3 men
who had a muntaz (corporal) as his vice-comandante
In-Game Barrage
and eleven ascari under his command.
Reinforcement - Add two men per rifle team (2 only)
Excluding the zabet who carried a pistol, all other ranks Add Breda M.30 automatic rifle to a squad*
carried either a 6.5mm Carcano M.91 rifle 8mm LIST TWO
Mannlicher M.95 rifles (known as the ‘ta-pum!’) in the Roadblock
pre-existing battalions. The new units raised for the Heavy Cover barricade
Add Breda M.30 automatic rifle to each squad*
Abyssinian adventure were even less fortunate and
Truck to transport entire Squad or tow a weapon
while there were some Mannlichers available, the
Lancia Ansaldo IZM armoured car with Junior Leader
6.5mm Vetterli-Vitelli M.70/77/15, or even the black
FIAT 611 armoured car with Junior Leader
powder 10mm Vetterli-Vitelli M.70/77 rifle were issued.
CV 33 Tank with Junior Leader (no AP)
Upgrade entire Platoon with m.91 Carcano rifles
On paper each section was supposed to have a Breda
Pre-Game Barrage
M.30 Automatic Rifle, but with the Pre-War expansion it
LIST THREE
is not clear if every unit had its full complement of these
Registered Artillery Barrage
weapons. It seems likely that the existing formations did
CV 33/35 Tank with Junior Leader (has AP)
have them, but that the newer formations might not.
Sniper Team, 2 men
The option to include none, one, or all three weapons
65/17 Infantry Gun, 5 crew and Junior Leader
has been allowed for.
Off-table 65/17 battery with FOT team
This list can be used for both the standing battalions and Random Air Support
the newly-raised units, with the core platoon being LIST FOUR
purely composed of rifle-armed ascari. Eritreans would Schwartzlose M.07/12 MMG with 4 crew
Engineer Section with Junior Leader
generally be taken as Regular troops but may be taken
Esploratori Squad
as disaffected with a Green rating. A Somali or Libyan
LIST FIVE
platoon would be rated Regular.
*One selection or the other.

RCTC CHARACTERISTICS
È MORTO
The Ascaris showed great fighting spirit while well
led, but the loss of the Zabet - his officer, whether
liked or feared, caused ascari great unease.
If an RCTC platoon’s Italian officer is wounded or
killed then they add a +2drm on the Bad Things
Happen table.
VITALITÀ
RCTC soldiers were noted as being able to move
rapidly, use ground effectively and fight very well
when on the offensive.
Therefore, when deploying from a Jump-Off
Point, they can deploy within 9” of it regardless of
their quality. When moving they can use 1D6 or
2D6 and assume a Tactical stance at the end of
their movement.
In Close Combat, if initiated by them, they ignore
a defeat by 1 and fight again immediately
(13.1.2).
ARMY SUPPORT LIST NOTES
Most of the support options will be self-explanatory.
All armoured cars and tankettes come with a Junior
Leader. Transport only vehicles, such as a car are
simply vehicles, which come with no crew.
Remember, you will need to allocate men to drive
these. Vehicles do not have radios.
Some MG-armed vehicles are equipped with armour-
piercing ammunition, while others are not. Those
vehicles which do are indicated on the arsenal table.
The lists show all Junior Leader assignments where
they are present for all troops. The following support
options need further detail.
ITALIAN HAND GRENADES
Italian OTO hand grenades depended on both the
force of an impact-based detonation system and
blast-concussion over fragmentation, which proved
problematic in action. To reflect this they roll with a -1
to hit their target.
CARCANO RIFLE UPGRADE
If this support list choice is taken then remove the
Tribal Rifles attribute for the platoon.
BREDA TEAM
A player that selects a support list two option to equip
his platoon with three Breda LMGs must organise
each rifle squad into two parts – an AR team made up
of a Breda M.30 with 2 crew and 2 riflemen and a rifle
team with the remaining members of the squad. Also,
if a reinforcement support list choice is taken then
only one man may be assigned to the AR team as an
additional ammo carrier, the rest go to the rifle team.
This is the same as a regular Italian army platoon
organisation.
SCHWARTZLOSE M.07/12 MMG
The Schwartzlose MMG has no armour-piercing
rounds, but does use a more powerful 8mm round,
giving it an AP value of 1 versus armoured vehicles.
65/17 INFANTRY G UN BATTERY
The 65/17 Battery consisted of four ‘squads’, each of
one gun team along with its pack animals. A player
may choose to have the entire battery supporting his
platoon with off-table fire, or he may select individual
‘gun squads’ as on-table support weapons (up to a
maximum of four); he may not have both off-table
and on-table elements.
The bombardment area for a four-gun battery is 12”
square, with a Firepower rating of 5. It may
concentrate its barrage in the same way as a mortar
battery; a 6” square point-concentrated barrage has a
Firepower rating of 8. Use the Chain of Command
rules for Forward Observation Teams when firing.
65/17 INFANTRY G UN SQUAD
Individual gun teams may be selected as Support
Table options, up to a maximum of four such teams. If
any ‘gun squads’ are selected the option for an off-
table 65/17 battery may not be taken.
65/17 gun teams refer to the Specific Rules for Field
Gun Direct Fire when taken as an on-table support list
choice.
IN-GAME BARRAGE
This is taken as an additional option for a normal Pre
Game Barrage/Bombardment, which enables the
continuation of the pre-game barrage into the game –
see special rules.
ESPLORATORI RANDOM AIR SUPPORT
An Esploratori Squadra is a scout squad of one Junior Refer to the Specific Rules for Random Air Support.
Leader and twelve rifle-armed scouts with hand
grenades. At the start of the game roll 1d6 per squad
before the Patrol Phase begins. On a score of 4,5,6
you gain one free Patrol Phase move with any of your “So you want to be an ascari my son? Let me tell
markers. This is in addition to any scenario specific you this, for the ascari the zabet – the officer, is
rules regards bonus patrol moves, however, a force everything. The English zabet knows courage
may never have more than six free patrol phase and justice, does not harass women and will
treat you like a horse. The Turk zabet knows
moves.
courage, but not justice, harasses women and
treats you like a mule. The Egyptian zabet
An Esploratori squad may move with 1D6 or 2D6 and knows nothing of courage or justice, molests
then assume a Tactical stance when activated by a women and treats you like a goat ready for
Leader using two Command Initiatives. slaughter. The Italian zabet knows courage and
justice, sometimes harasses women, but treats
you like a man!”
FIAT 611
There are two variant of the FIAT 611. One had a - ‘Ascari K7’ by Paolo Caccia Dominioni
37mm cannon, backed by a single machine gun, the
other by two machine guns, with a third to the rear of
the turret. The Fiat 611 was uniquely armed with the
Breda Modello 5.C, a vehicle variant of the infantry’s
M.30, with correspondingly poor performance and no
armour-piercing ammunition.

The type with the turret mounted 37mm gun may

only fire either the main gun or the rear mounted MG
– not both in the same phase.

CV-33, CV-33/35 AND CV-33/35LF

The principal differences between these three types of
the same tank are that; the CV-33 carried a single
6.5mm M.14 machine guns, the CV-33/35 carried twin
8mm M.14/35 machine guns with armour-piercing
rounds and the CV-33/35LF had a single M.14/35
machine gun side by side with a flamethrower.

Each of these vehicles also carried a tripod for one of

its machineguns. The crew can in fact therefore
dismount as a machine gun team with a crew of two,
at a cost of 1 Command Initiative.

CV-33/35 LF
Designed in 1935 it first saw action with Graziani’s
motorised forces in the Ogaden. The trailer slowed the
vehicle and was vulnerable to catching fire or
exploding.

Therefore When a CV 35LF is destroyed with three net

hits it will explode on a roll of 4 to 6 as opposed to the
normal 5 or 6 shown on those tables.

TWO MAN TANKS

The CV 33/35 series have just two-man crews. Any
hits on the gunner are on the Commander. Hits on
any other crew are on the driver.

Penne di Falco
PENNE DI FALCO
The Penne di Falco, so called because of the falcon
feather worn in their hat bands, were both the sole
RCTC Eritrea mounted contingent and somewhat the
elite of the ascari corps. Originally raised in the 1890s,
the force was expanded by the addition of camel
mounted meharisti in 1922 and then armoured cars in
the Early-Thirties.
Although belonging to an administrative gruppo,
which also included machine gun plotoni and the
afore-mentioned meharisti and armoured cars, the
Penne di Falco operating as independent squadrons
and half-squadrons. Their roles included acting as; a
reconnaissance element for the RCTC ascari infantry,
a mobile formation of mounted rifles and as a
conventional cavalry formation.
Zaptìé
The zaptìé were the local paramilitary carabinieri of
Eritrea and Somaliland. While equipped in the same
manner as the Penne di Falco, were not quite of the
same standard and tended to rely more on carbine
than on sabre, given that their routine opponents
were bands of shifta.
Organisation
Both the Penne di Falco and the zaptìé were
organised into independent squadrons, each of four
plotoni. While these were massed for large
engagements, the routine patrolling and skirmishing
that formed much of their activity involved half-
squadron formations.
Each plotone (troop) was led by an Italian officer
(zabet), who was usually a sottotenente (sub-
lieutenant). An Italian-speaking sergente (sergeant)
was his second in command and except for those few
officers who spoke the local language, also his voice
as far as his men were concerned. A trumpeter
rounded out the small headquarters team. Three
squadre formed the fighting component of the
plotone, each of a caporale and seven ascari.
A half-squadron was formed by the simple expedient
of placing the two plotoni under the command of the
most senior of the two zabets, or by either the
squadron Capitano, or his second in command (a
tenente) taking charge of the group.
With the exception of the zabets, who carried pistols
and officer-pattern sabres, all ranks carried a 6.5mm
Carcano or an 8mm Mannlicher or Mauser carbine.
The Penne di Falco also carried M.74 sabres and both
they and the zaptìé also carried their traditional shotel
or guradé (indigenous daggers).
This list can be used for either; a Penne di Falco or a
Zaptìé plotone. A second Plotone may be taken to
make up a complete ‘half-squadron’, see below for
details.
PLATOON FORCE RATING
Regular: -1
Command Dice: 5
TROOP HEADQUARTERS
Zabet (Senior Leader) with a pistol
Sergente (Superior Junior Leader) with a carbine
There are three Squads per Troop, each
SQUADS ONE TO THREE
Caporale (Junior Leader) with carbine
CAVALRY TEAM
7 Askaris, each armed with carbine.
The Troop is depicted as dismounted in this list.
See the ‘Mounted Troops’ notes below for details
of ‘mounting’ one or more squads.
If troops may are mounted as a support list
option, add 2 extra Askaris to each squad and a
Trumpeter in the Troop HQ for free.
If two or more squads are taken as mounted then
the Troop and/or Squadron Headquarters may be
mounted at no points cost.
A second Plotone may be taken to make up a
complete ‘half-squadron’. This may be done by
simply taking another complete Troop as shown
above for a cost of an additional (+6) added to the
Platoon Force Rating, with the Senior Leader of
one Plotone being considered a Ranking Senior
Leader.
Note, it a player’s choice whether to take a second
Plotone so as to field a complete ‘half-squadron’
as the basic troop force i.e this is not done using
support points but rather a player must choose to
field one or two plotoni before the game starts.
 ARMY SUPPORT LIST NOTES
ASCARI CAVALRY SUPPORT LIST Most of the support options on the list will be self-
LIST ONE explanatory. All armoured cars come with a Junior
Medical Orderly Leader. Vehicles do not have Radios.
Adjutant
Roadblock Transport only vehicles, such as a car or truck are
Entrenchments for one Team simply vehicles, which come with no crew.
Remember, you will need to allocate men to drive
Mount one Squad on horses – see cavalry special rules
these. Where Sections are available they will always
In-Game Barrage
come with a Junior Leader.
LIST TWO
Heavy Cover barricade Light weapon Squads rarely come with a Leader,
Fiat 611 Armoured Car whereas heavier support weapons do. The lists show
Add one extra Cavalry Squad (2 only) all Junior Leader assignments where they are present
Pre-Game Barrage for all troops barring vehicles as discussed above. No
LIST THREE AP ammunition is available for any weapons.
Registered Artillery Barrage
Sniper Team M.1925 LMG TEAM
The cavalry’s two light machine gun squadre each had
Off-table 65/17 Gun Battery with FOT
three teams, each serving a single tripod-mounted
Madsen M.1925 LMG Team, with 4 crew (Falcos only)
heavy-barrel version of the 6.5mm Madsen M.1925
LIST FOUR light machine gun. The weapon had a corporal-gunner
Schwartzlose or Fiat-Revelli MMG Team, with 4 crew a loader and two ammunitions carriers. The caporale
65/17 Infantry Gun with 5 Crew and Junior Leader and two ascari that made up the remainder of the
LIST FIVE squad handled the team’s pack-horses. All squad
members were armed with carbines.
*Maximum of one
The team does not benefit from the Cavalry
Characteristic Special Rules. If more than one team is
PENNE DI FALCO CHARACTERISTICS
fielded, the squadre gains a Sergente as a Junior
È MORTO
Leader.
The Ascaris showed great fighting spirit while well
led, but the loss of the Zabet - his officer, whether
FIAT-REVELLI M.1914 MMG TEAM
liked or feared, caused ascari great unease.
The cavalry’s two medium machine gun plotoni each
had two squadre, each of two teams, each serving a
If an RCTC troop’s Italian officer is wounded or
single tripod-mounted Fiat-Revelli M.14 medium
killed then they add a +2drm on the Bad Things
machine gun, or a Schwartzlose M.07/12. The weapon
Happen table.
had a corporal-gunner, a loader and two ammunition
carriers. The remainder of the squad consisted of a
VITALITÀ
Corporal and two ascaris, who handled the team’s
RCTC soldiers were noted as being able to move
pack-horses. All squad members were armed with
rapidly, use ground effectively and fight very well
carbines.
when on the offensive.
The squad does not benefit from the Cavalry
Therefore, when deploying from a Jump-Off Point,
Characteristic Special Rules. If more than one team is
they can deploy within 9” of it regardless of quality.
fielded, the squadre gains a sergente as a Junior
When moving they can use 1D6 or 2D6 and assume
Leader.
a Tactical stance at the end of their movement.

In Close Combat, if initiated by them, they ignore a

defeat by 1 and fight again immediately (13.1.2).

CAVALRY CHARACTERISTICS
Refer to the Specific Rules for details on Cavalry use
when mounted and dismounted.
65/17 INFANTRY G UN BATTERY
The 65/17 Battery consisted of four ‘squads’, each of
one gun team along with its pack animals. A player
may choose to have the entire battery supporting his
troop with off-table fire, or he may select individual
‘gun squads’ as on-table support weapons (up to a
maximum of four); he may not have both off-table
and on-table elements.
The bombardment area for a four-gun battery is 12”
square, with a Firepower rating of 5. It may
concentrate its barrage in the same way as a mortar
battery; a 6” square point-concentrated barrage has a
Firepower rating of 8.
Use the Chain of Command rules for Forward
Observation Teams when firing.
65/17 INFANTRY G UN SQUAD
Individual gun teams may be selected as Support
Table options, up to a maximum of four such teams. If
any ‘gun squads’ are selected the option for an off-
table 65/17 battery may not be taken.
65/17 gun teams refer to the Specific Rules for Field
Gun Direct Fire when taken as an on-table support list
choice.
IN-GAME BARRAGE
This is taken as an additional option for a normal Pre
Game Barrage/Bombardment, which enables the
continuation of the pre game barrage into the game –
see special rules.
FIAT 611
There are two variant of the FIAT 611. One armed only
with machine guns and another with a combination of
a 37mm cannon and MGs.
The model with the turret mounted 37mm gun may
only fire either the main gun or the rear mounted MG
– not both in a phase.
ADDITIONAL CAVALRY SQUAD
Instead of taking a full two-troop ‘half-squadron’ as a
base troop force, a player may instead only add
elements of the second troop as a support list choice.
This option is provided if a player wishes to add one
or two cavalry squads and not the full ‘half squadron’.
If he wishes to take three cavalry squads then he must
take the full second troop, which off course comes
with its own HQ staff for free.

Ethiopian Chitet
PROVINCIAL LEVY BALUCH
The bulk of Haile Selassie’s forces were composed of
the private armies of Ethiopian nobles, along with a
general levy of men of military age; the Gascegna.
This call to arms was known as the Chitet. The
provincial governors and nobles were responsible for
equipping these troops and it was very much a matter
of an outward display of wealth to have well-
equipped men; by Ethiopian standards at least.
The core of such forces were the private armies of a
Ras, which in some cases came close to the standards
of the Mehal Sefari, or even the Kebur Zebanga. The
mass of gascegna however were either armed with
various types of rifle, of varying age and provenance,
or as far as the mass of gascegna went, shield, sword
or spear.
The common feature across the Chitet was the use of
traditional organization patterns. At the bottom of the
structure was the hazb (squad) of ten men under an
Asiraleqa (leader of ten). Ten was only a nominal
number however and hazbs could number between
six and fifteen warriors. Five hazbs formed a baluch
(half-company), which was led by an Amsa Aleqa
(leader of fifty), with one of the Asiraleqa being given
the title Ammist Aleqa; a leader of five – the ‘five’
being himself and the other Asiraleqas making him
first amongst equals in effect.
While the Emperor was attempting to forge a modern
army with his own forces, with few exceptions the
Chitet held onto the traditional methods of warfare,
that with the exception of the rifle, which was very
much a status symbol, had remained largely
unchanged since the Middle Ages. These tactics
involved infiltration and rapid movement, yet also
dependent on direct confrontation of an enemy. Like
the lion they admired and hunted, a slow covert
approach would be followed by a rapid rush once they
were discovered. Attacking in waves of warriors in this
fashion, they were usually no match for machine guns
and repeating rifles unless in large numbers; yet they
had beaten the Italians in this way before and
believed they would do so again.
This list can be used to reproduce either part of a
typical noble’s private army, or a segment of the rest
of the chitet, the essentially tribal forces.
For a force based on the more modern core of a
noble’s forces, players can use the Mehal Sefari
Traditional platoon list for the core force but must use
the Support Table from this list. These may be
supplemented by additional men and items chosen
from this list.
For a player forming a Baluch from this list, he is free
to divide the Gascegna warriors across his five hazbs
as he wishes. He may also effectively combine two
hazbs to form one or more larger groupings, but each
of these may not exceed twenty warriors. He may not
have more than five hazbs in total, but may have less.
Additional warriors may be chosen as support options
and distributed across the baluch; provided no single
group is fewer than six figures and does not exceed
twenty men, and there are no more than five hazbs.
PLATOON F ORCE RATING
Green: -3, CD 4 or 0, CD 5
Regular: -1, CD 4 or +2, CD 5
BALUCH COMMAND
Amsa Aleqa, Senior Leader, with Sword
Ammist Aleqa, Superior Junior Leader with Sword
GASCEGNA
50 Warriors with Swords, Spears and Daggers
All members of the Baluch are subject to the following
rules;
Aggressive
Sons of Adwa
The leader of each hazb is considered an
‘Ineffectual Junior Leader’, so for the purposes of
the rules each hazb, regardless of size, counts as a
‘Leaderless Section’ activating on a Command
Dice result of ‘2’, unless activated by a Leader.
There is a support table option for adding an
additional ‘effective’ leader to the Baluch.
‘Sections’ may be detached from a Hazb, by using
the Creating New Teams rule 4.5.7, if they are
within the Amsa or Ammist Aleqa’s command
distance, or as directed by a Balabat Junior
Leader, and a command action point is used to
order the split. These new units, regardless of
size, activate on a score of ‘2’ or as directed by
Flag command.
Ethiopian Tribal Warriors are depicted on foot in
this organisation. One or more hazbs may be
mounted as a support list option – see army
support list notes.

ETHIOPIAN CHITET CHARACTERISTICS
INFILTRATION
Ethiopian warriors were noted as being able to move
rapidly and use ground effectively when engaging
the enemy.
To reflect this Ethiopian warrior Patrol Markers use
14” as both their move distance and the distance
from a friendly Patrol Marker within which they
must remain. Other than this additional 2” they
operate as normal Patrol Markers.
When deploying from a Jump-Off Point, all Ethiopian
Chitet troops to deploy within 9” (as if elite troops).
WARRIOR LEADERS
Ethiopians placed great importance on being led into
battle by notable warriors. Their presence inspired
and their loss was usually dispiriting.
Therefore, a unit with any attached leader may
ignore one shock in addition to any other cause for
shock reduction. However if a any Leader is killed or
wounded they suffer a +2drm on the Bad Things
Happen table.
ARRAI!!
Ethiopian warriors mostly attacked in a massed
frontal assault in an effort to come to grips with
their enemy. At their leader’s command, Arrai!
(forward!), the warriors would charge the enemy
showing the greatest bravery. These human wave
attacks were effective when they caught the enemy
by surprise or without proper support weapons but
many times they made little or no gain for a terrible
cost in lives.
Therefore, when a player rolls two or more 6s on his
command dice he must, if an Ethiopian Senior
Leader with any troops within his Command
Distance, use all his Command Initiatives to order
those troops to assault the enemy.
Any troops so activated will move with 4D6 straight
towards their chosen enemy, each unit dicing for its
own movement, with combat initiated if any troops
gets within 4” of enemy who for this combat will
disregard the ‘enemy movement’ combat dice
modifiers for Close Combat.
TRIBAL WARRIORS
Ethiopian Chitet always use the rules for Irregular
tribal warriors – see specific rules for details.
ETHIOPIAN CHITET SUPPORT LIST
LIST ONE
Balabat*
Roadblock
Red Cross Volunteer*
Add a ‘Petrol Can’ attack to a tank-tipper team
Additional Men - for each 5 figures added
3 man Tank Tipper Team (3 max)
Upgrade twenty figures to ‘Mixed Weapons’
Upgrade ten figures to ‘Tribal Rifles’
Entrenchments for each 10 figures, or part thereof
Equip Mounted troops as Lancers
Exchange Mounted warriors on horse for camels
Increase Outdated Field Gun piece
Marksman*
LIST TWO
Flag*
Cave
War Drums*
Add 4 man bodyguard to the Meto Aleqa
Heavy Cover barricade for one hazb
Mount a hazb as Cavalry, per 10 figures or part of 10
LIST THREE
Meto Aleqa (Ranking Senior Leader)*
Tribal LMG on tripod with five crew*
37mm Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon with four crew**
‘Modern’ mountain or infantry gun (Italian 65mm)**
Small outdated mountain or infantry gun**
* one only
**may choose only one of all the types shown.
ARMY S UPPORT LIST N OTES
Most support list options will be self explanatory.
Upgrades must be purchased for an entire hazb.
Typically these are in elements of ten figures, so
upgrading a fifteen figure hazb will be two choices.
However upgrading a single combined element of
twenty figures will also be two choices and two
smaller hazbs of five figures each, would be just one.
Additional army list notes are described as follows.
ADDITIONAL MEN
The title of ‘a ten’ for a hazb was only a nominal
grouping and could contain any number of men below
that which would require a separate Hazb to be
formed. For each support list selection, 5 men can be
distributed across any of the Hazbs in the force,
providing no individual Hazb contains more than
twenty men.
METO ALEQA
The lowest ‘officer’ rank who usually commanded a
company, the Meto Aleqa is a person of some
standing, be he a young nobleman (Lij) or even the son
or brother of a Regional Chieftain (Ras). If selected he
is included as an additional Ranking Senior Leader ie
he does not replace the platoon Amsa Aleqa.
BODYGUARD FOR A METO ALEQA
Men comprising a Meto Aleqa’s bodyguard are
permanently attached to him. They and their leader
are treated as Diehard troops (14.10).
BALABAT
A Balabat is ‘Chief of the Village’ and commands
respect. This option allows him, or a similarly placed
or respected person (i.e. a renowned Asiraleqa), to be
represented as a Junior Leader, however he must be
assigned to lead a single or combined hazb as one
unit.
WAR DRUMS
As much to inspire their own men as strike fear into
their enemy’s heart, Ethiopians sometimes used war
drums during battle. A Senior Leader with an attached
War Drummer may help rallying men within his line of
sight by adding +1 to any irregular Fire or Close
Combat test die roll checks a unit is required to make.
If a 1 or 2 is rolled on their check then War Drums
may not be used again in the current game.
FLAG
A flag is added to a specific unit or leader when taken
as a support list choice. A unit with an attached Flag,
or leader with a flag, may ignore one point of shock
received per phase of play.
In addition a Flag can serve as a method to transmit
an order to a unit without having to place an
activation dice as follows;
A Senior Leader with a Flag Bearer, or with a unit
that has one, can issue a Command by Flag order.
He may, for one command initiative, activate a
Section or Team (group) under his command (that
has line of sight to the flag), which has otherwise
not been activated in this Phase, regardless of the
distance between them.
All un-activated Sections/Teams within 6” of the
ordered group must follow the same order. Once
activated, the Section/Team may activate in that
Phase, so it can move or fire, but not both.
A Senior Leader may not rally Shock from any unit
by flag command, nor may he place them
on Overwatch. He may however order Covering
Fire with the assumption that it was part of the
pre-battle plan.
MARKSMAN
A chosen soldier may be given the marksmen ability.
Reroll any 1 when firing.
SONS OF ADWA
Inspired by the stories of their father’s and grand-
father’s victory over the Italians at the great battle of
Adwa, the Ethiopian player rolls a D6 just before play
commences; 1-4 apply a +1drm, or 5-6 +2drm to their
motivation level test – see Specific Rules for Irregulars
for details.
OUTDATED FIELD GUN
This covers any outdated field artillery piece in the
region of 60mm to 69mm caliber. For one more
support list point it may be taken as being a weapon
of 70mm-79mm caliber with a crew of 5 men (not 4).
If taken on-table refer to the Specific Rules for Field
Gun Direct Fire.
TRIBAL LMG ON TRIPOD
Whilst uncommon this weapon can represent a type
owned by a Ras who has acquired a light or medium
machine gun. Their condition and maintenance would
be rudimentary.
Therefore, they are considered a tripod mounted
magazine fed LMG regardless of weapon type,
jamming on any triple 1 die roll score when they fire,
resulting in no hits scored this phase. The jam is
considered clear the next time they have a
opportunity to fire.
TRIBAL RIFLES
The quality, variation and use of rifle weapons used
by all tribal Ethiopian forces left much to be desired –
this made their firepower less effective for the
number of weapons they employed.
Therefore count all figures in a unit as able to fire
discounting any intervening friends troops in the
same unit (apply all other rules for determining firing
as normal). In addition, apply a -1 to hit modifier
when shooting any tribal rifle weapons.
MIXED WEAPONS
A Group with Mixed Weapons counts 1 man in 2 as
being equipped with rifles. Depict the group with
appropriate models. A unit may shoot with any figures
in the unit eligible to fire following the normal rule of
Line of Fire and Tribal Rifles i.e the figure does not
have to have an actual rifle model to fire, ignoring
intervening figures and are -1 to hit.
TANK TIPPERS
Ethiopian warriors developed a capability to take on
enemy tanks with some skill using ambush attacks,
rocks, sticks and sometimes incendiary material. A
maximum of three Teams may be included in a
player’s force (pre-game), each three-man Team
counting as one support list choice. They do not have
firearms.
Tank Tippers can make one ‘Hawkins Daisy Chain”
attack per game as described on Table Seven (9.3.4),
or if they take the Petrol Can support list choice they
may use this attack instead.
PETROL CAN ATTACK
For one support List choice one Tank-Tipper team can
be given a Petrol Bomb, using this method of attack
on table Seven.
MOUNTED WARRIORS
As previously noted, Ethiopian Warriors are depicted
on foot in the ‘platoon’ organization. Any Hazb may
be taken entirely as mounted using a support list
option, adding 2 extra horsemen to the Command HQ
if two or more Hazbs are mounted. Refer to the
Specific Rules for details on Cavalry use when
mounted and dismounted.
CAVE
Ethiopian forces regularly used caves or caverns,
natural or man-made, to hide and/or emerge so as to
surprise their enemy. Therefore, if a cave/cavern is
taken as a support list option, this will allow the
Ethiopian player to either;
Deploy one unit an additional 6” further from a
Jump-Off point than would normally be the case
(ie 15” for all troops – as all chitet have the
infiltration ability); or
Move a jump-off point (after the patrol phase,
before the first game phase) up to 18” in any
direction, so long as it is further than 12” from
any enemy troops or Jump-Off Point.
RED CROSS VOLUNTEER
Leaders often risked their lives in combat and their
loss had a serious morale effect. Therefore he may be
accompanied by a Red Cross volunteer. Treat the
same as a Medical Orderly.
 styles. The Modern style reflects troops that have
implemented the army reforms with specific leaders in-
charge of each half-platoon utilising a more formal chain
of command. These two platoon structures, both based
on the Belgium pattern, reflect differing styles of
command and control allowing players to represent the
Mehal Sefari in different ways.

Mehal Sefari
MEHAL S EFARI INFANTRY PLATOON PLATOON FORCE RATING –TRADITIONAL
The Ethiopian Regular Army corps, the Mehal Sefari Regular: -2
(Army of the Centre), reflected a mix of traditional Command Dice: 5
methods of fighting combined with the modernisation
reforms instituted by emperor Haile Selassie. It appears PLATOON HEADQUARTERS
what can be ascertained from original sources and an Amsa Aleqa, Senior Leader, armed with pistol plus
examination of surviving photos and newsreel footage, guardsmen with rifle
that the Ethiopian platoon structure was a hybrid of the There are four Sections
Belgian pattern with a desire to ensure that existing
officers and NCOs did not lose their rank and status. To RIFLE SECTIONS ONE TO FOUR
that end existing rank titles were retained, but became 9 riflemen
incongruous with their original function.
Each squad is depicted as being led by a poorly
trained or ineffective leader, which for the purposes
Baluch (platoons) were led by a Meto aleqa (leader of
of the rules, counts as a ‘leaderless’ Section. Each
one hundred), the lowest ‘officer’ rank. Under his
Section activates on a Command Dice of ‘2’, separate
command were two NCOs, of which the Amsa Aleqa
Teams on a score of ‘1’, or under the direction of the
(leader of fifty) was the senior and the Amist Aleqa
Amsa Aleqa as normal.
(leader of five, i.e. five junior NCOs) the junior. These
two men are either seen to the sides or head of the
platoon, rather than in the ranks. Between them they led OR
four squads of twelve selfegna (soldiers), of which one
was the squad leader or Asiraleqa. PLATOON FORCE RATING –MODERN
Regular: 0
Apart from the Meto Aleqa, who carried sword and Command Dice: 5
pistol, the remainder of the platoon carried rifles. Ideally
PLATOON HEADQUARTERS
these were the 8mm Mannlicher rifles bought by the
Emperor, but other older types were issued when stocks Meto aleqa, Senior Leader with pistol
ran out (Mausers, FN mle 1924, Vetterli etc.). A number There are two half-platoons each
of light machine guns were purchased (ZB vz. 30) and in
HALF-PLATOON ONE & TWO
sufficient quantity to issue one per platoon. Principle fire
support for the Mehal Sefari came from medium Amsa aleqa, Inferior Senior Leader with rifle
machine gun companies using primarily the Hotchkiss SECTION ONE SECTION TWO
mle. 1914, but a few Madsens were delivered before the 9 Riflemen 9 Riflemen
arms embargo took effect.
Notes applying to both platoon formation styles.
Though not as well-equipped as the Imperial Guard, the Aggressive
Mehal Sefari still got access to more equipment than
Tribal Rifles
most of the tribal sefaris, each of which relied on their
Ras to supply arms and equipment to them. Teams may only be detached from a Section if
they are within the command distance of any
This list can be used to reflect two styles of leadership Inferior Senior Leader or Senior Leader and a
available to a Mehal Sefari player in Chain of Command – command initiative point is used to order the
Traditional or Modern. The Traditional style reflects split. Scouts may be detached following the
poorly trained leaders, relying on warrior leadership normal rules.
 MEHAL SEFARI SUPPORT LIST
LIST ONE MEHAL SEFARI CHARACTERISTICS
R USH A TTACK
Ambesa* (Traditional platoon)
Mehal Sefari Regulars can move with 1D6 or 2D6
Awo Aleqa! (Modern platoon) and assume a Tactical stance at the end of their
Flag* (Modern platoon) movement.
Medical Orderly*
Entrenchments for one Section
WARRIOR LEADERS
Mehal Sefari warriors placed great importance on
Add a light machine-gun to a single Section* being led into battle by notable warriors. Their
Additional men to each section in the platoon presence inspired and their loss was usually
Marksman* dispiriting.
Increase Outdated Field Gun piece
In-Game Barrage Therefore, a unit with any attached Leader may
ignore one shock in addition to any other cause for
LIST TWO
shock reduction. However if a (Ranking) Senior
Ferenghi* Leader is killed or wounded they suffer a +2 modifier
Flag* (Traditional platoon) on the Bad Things Happen table.
Cave
MEHAL SEFARI
Roadblock
Although somewhat trained, the Mehal Sefari were
Heavy Cover barricade for one section prone to attacking in their traditional style.
Ford Truck to transport entire Section or tow a weapon
Ford Armoured Truck with Junior Leader & MMG crew* Therefore, when a player rolls two or more 6s on his
Mount one Rifle Section on horses with lances command dice he must, if an Ethiopian Senior
Better Rifles Leader has any troops within his Command Distance,
use all his Command Initiatives to order those troops
Pre-Game Barrage
to assault the enemy.
LIST THREE
War Drums (Traditional platoon) Any troops so activated will move with 4D6 straight
Shambel (Ranking Senior Leader)* towards their chosen enemy, each unit dicing for its
Regimental Scout Troop own movement, with combat initiated if any troops
gets within 4” of enemy who for this combat will
Fiat 3000 (Renault FT MG) with Junior Leader*
disregard the ‘enemy movement’ combat dice
Fiat 3000 (Renault FT 37mm) with Junior Leader* modifiers for Close Combat.
Sniper Team, 2 men*
20mm SEMAG AA Gun with Junior Leader & 2 Crew**
Field Gun mle 1897 with 5 Crew and Junior Leader** ARMY S UPPORT LIST N OTES
Mehal Sefari Squad (9 men) with Junior Leader Most of the support options on the list will be self-
Outdated Field Gun with 4 Crew and a Junior Leader** explanatory. All tanks and armoured cars come with a
Junior Leader. Vehicles do not have radios. MMGs are
Ex-Italian CV33/35 with Junior Leader** tripod mounted. No AP ammunition is available.
LIST FOUR Transport only vehicles, such as a car do not come with
Hotchkiss or Colt MMG with five crew* crew, so you will need to allocate men to drive these.
Squad of Mehal Sefari Cavalry
The lists show all Junior Leader assignments where they
Section of mounted Cavalry Scouts
are present for all troops barring vehicles as discussed
All selection are available to Traditional or Modern platoon above. The following support options notes apply.
types unless otherwise noted.
* Limited Availability – 1 only MARKSMAN
A chosen soldier may be given the marksmen ability.
** may choose only one of all the types shown. Reroll any 1 when firing.

SHAMBEL
Equivalent of a company commander, a Shambel may
included as an additional Ranking Senior Leader ie he
does not replace the platoon Amsa Aleqa.
INFERIOR S ENIOR LEADER
The Inferior Senior Leader represents either an
especially green or untrained officer, or one used to a
particular method, who is now being required to adopt
a new and somewhat unfamiliar one befitting his rank
and status. While he still retains a degree of authority
over his men, either his lack of confidence or his not
‘getting to know the ropes’ is inhibiting his
effectiveness.
An Inferior Senior Leader may only use a Command Dice
Roll of 4 to activate, once activated they have two
Command Initiative Points.
AMBESÀ
Ambesa, meaning ‘like a lion’, allows a section’s
Ineffective Asiraleqa Leader to be upgraded to a Junior
Leader, representing a particularly able or charismatic
individual leading the unit. Therefore, the first time a
rifle section is activated in the game, roll 1D6. On a roll
of 5 or 6 one of the figures in that section becomes a
Junior Leader. This roll may only be made once per
Section in the game.
AWO ALEQA!
The Junior Leaders (Asiraleqa) of the Ethiopian Army
had been brought up to fight in the traditional manner
of their people. The efforts of Ferenghi advisors to turn
them into fighting men in the European manner have
resulted in conflicting thoughts about how they should
lead their men. As a result they are somewhat less
effective leaders than they might otherwise be.
Individual Teams can activate on a roll of 1 or 2,
individual sections on a roll of 2 as normal. However
both sections and teams can also activate on a roll of
3. When this is done the team generates a single
Command Initiative Point of its own, which it can then
utilise as if a Leader was expending one on the team
and in addition to any that a Leader actually does
expend. This includes both Activation Commands and
Commands which are not activations.
FERENGHI
Meaning Foreigner (or Frank) in Amharic, this man
represents a foreign advisor. While not typically the
case, some of these men ended up fighting (and indeed
dying) in the frontline.
If he is on-table and attached to a Senior Leader then he
negates the Mehal Sefari rule on a roll of 4, 5 or 6 if it
comes into play. If off-table he fulfills the roll of an
Adjutant.
ADDITIONAL M EN
Each man is allocated to each section of the platoon, up
to a maximum of 12 figures in each section.
FLAG
Platoon Type – Modern and Traditionalist
A unit with an attached Flag may ignore one point of
shock received per phase of play.
Platoon – Traditionalist only
In addition a Flag can serve as a method to transmit an
order to a unit without having to place an activation
dice as follows;
A Senior Leader with an attached Flag Bearer, or
with a unit that has one, can issue a Command by
Flag order. He may, for one command initiative,
activate a Section or Team (group) under his
command (that has line of sight to the flag), which
has otherwise not been activated in this
Phase, regardless of the distance between them.
All unactivated Sections/Teams within 6” of the
ordered group must follow the same order. Once
activated, the Section/Team may activate in that
Phase, so it can move or fire, but not both.
A Senior Leader may not rally Shock from any unit
by flag command, nor may he place them
on Overwatch.
WAR DRUMS
As much to inspire their own men as strike fear into
their enemy’s heart, Ethiopians sometimes used war
drums during battle. A Senior Leader with an attached
War Drummer may help rallying men within his line of
sight by adding +1 to any irregular Fire or Close Combat
test die roll checks a unit is required to make. If a 1 or 2
is rolled on their check then War Drums may not be
used again in the current game. Only available to a
Traditional style platoon.
LIGHT M ACHINE G UN
Around 500 or so light machine guns, most of which
were Czech ZB vz. 30 types, were purchased for the
army. These were sufficient to equip each platoon with
at least one, in some cases two weapons.
A Section may add a single light machine gun. A
maximum of two sections may be so-equipped. Three
riflemen become the weapon crew.
TRIBAL RIFLES
The quality, variation and use of rifle weapons used by
all tribal Ethiopian forces left much to be desired – this
made their firepower less effective for the number of
weapons they employed.
Therefore count all figures in a unit as able to fire
discounting any intervening friends troops in the same
unit (apply all other rules for determining firing as
normal). In addition, apply a -1 to hit modifier when
shooting any tribal rifle weapons.
B ETTER R IFLES
A player that chooses Better Rifles does not suffer the -
T HE A RMOURED FIELD F ORCE
1 shooting penalty for having Tribal Rifles, it now being
In our fictional rendition of the Abyssinian Crisis the
assumed the platoon is equipped with more modern
Ethiopians have been either gifted or have
weapons and adequate ammunition supply.
purchased a menagerie of armoured vehicles that
comprise the Ethiopian Armoured Field Force.
OUTDATED FIELD G UN
This covers any outdated field artillery piece in the
We have kept the main support list ‘historical’, but
region of 60mm to 69mm caliber. For one more support
if players wish to include these vehicles their
list point it may be taken as being a weapon of 70mm-
relevant support slots are in the following
79mm caliber with a crew of 5 men (not 4). If taken on-
supplementary support table.
table refer to the Specific Rules for Field Gun Direct
Fire.
Note that there is a selection maximum of two
vehicles of any one type. Also, these vehicles would
FIELD G UN MLE 1897 be considered ‘rare weapons’ for the Mehal Sefari
The Artillery Brigade of the Kebur Zebanga possessed forces thus if selected and subsequently lost to
forty guns of various types, organized into two enemy action add +1drm to any Force Morale Test.
battalions, which on occasion could provided fire
support to Mehal Sefari units.
LIST THREE
Roll-Royce Armoured Car with Junior Leader
Up to two guns may be selected as on-table guns. If two
LIST FOUR
are chosen an additional Senior Leader is added to the
Vickers Mk.E Type A or B with Junior Leader
force to command them. If taken on-table refer to the
Type 92 Tankette with Junior Leader
Specific Rules for Field Gun Direct Fire.
NC-27 with Junior Leader
If on-table guns are selected, no Pre-Game or In-Game Kurosurei M25 AC with Junior Leader
Barrage may be selected from the Support Table. Type 89A I-GO with Junior Leader
LIST FIVE
CAVALRY SCOUTS Vickers Medium Mk III with Junior Leader
If Cavalry Scouts are selected as a support option the Whippet Tank with Junior Leader
player can field a squad of Ethiopian Tribal Warriors Mark IV Female Tank with Junior Leader
mounted on horses or camels. This unit uses all the LIST SEVEN
Ethiopian and Somali Tribal Warriors Special Rules and Vickers Independent with Junior Leader
Cavalry Specific Rules.

CAVE
Ethiopian forces regularly used caves or caverns,
natural or man-made, to hide and/or emerge so as to
surprise their enemy. Therefore, if a cave/cavern is
taken as a support list option, this will allow the
Ethiopian player to either;
Deploy one unit an additional 6” further from a
Jump-Off point than would normally be the case
(10” for Green troops, 12” for Regular troops); or
Move a jump-off point (after the patrol phase,
before the first game phase) up to 18” in any
direction, so long as it is further than 12” from any
enemy troops or Jump-Off Point.

M OUNTED M EHAL S EFARI

Any Section may be taken entirely as a mounted unit
using a support list option, adding 2 extra horsemen to
the Command HQ if two or more Sections are mounted.
Refer to the Specific Rules for details on Cavalry use
when mounted and dismounted. They are equipped
with Rifles and lances.

KEBUR ZABANGA
KEBUR ZABANGA INFANTRY PLATOON
The Ethiopian Imperial Guard, Kebur Zabanga, was
formed by a Belgian Military Mission in 1928 at
Emperor Haile Selassie’s request. While it was a body
personally loyal to the Emperor, the Imperial Guard
formed the 1st Division of the Mehal Sefari when the
army was mobilised.
A subsequent Swedish military mission, along with
Belgian Congo veterans, further aided in the
development of the Guardsmen. Specific details on the
organisation of the guard are hard to come by, but it
fairly certain that the Belgian and Swedish officers,
who taught at the Cadet School, did so conforming to
their own national doctrines.
Guardsmen were the cream of the warriors available
for service, it being a great honour to serve the
emperor. They were armed with magazine fed Mauser
rifles, smartly dressed and well disciplined, however
they were still prone to attacking in the traditional style
of Ethiopian warriors due to a lack of trained junior
officers.
The typical organisation of a platoon (after the
Belgians) was an officer as platoon leader (Meto aleqa)
with a senior NCO (Amsa aleqa) leading a half-platoon,
often assisted by a senior section leader (Ammist
aleqa). One section in each half-platoon was usually
equipped with a light machine-gun and the other
functioned as a normal rifle section.
The Kebur Zabanga’s four infantry battalions were
uniformly equipped with 8mm Mannlichers and the
purchase of 175 Browning automatic rifles gave
enough for each squad to be issued one, on paper at
least.
There was also a machine gun company with Hotchkiss
and other types and a 3” Stokes mortar platoon for
each battalion by the time the Italian Invasion
commenced. The much-publicised purchase of
Oerlikon 20mm auto-cannon also created an anti-
aircraft company, which was also deployed against
ground targets.
PLATOON FORCE RATING
Regular: +3
Command Dice: 5
PLATOON HEADQUARTERS
Meto aleqa, Senior Leader with pistol
There are two half-platoons each
HALF-PLATOON ONE & TWO
Amsa aleqa, Inferior Senior Leader with rifle
SECTION ONE SECTION TWO
9 Riflemen 9 Riflemen
Aggressive
Teams may only be detached from a Section if they
are within the command distance of any Inferior
Senior Leader or Senior Leader and a command
initiative point is used to order the split. Scouts
may be detached following the normal rules.
KEBUR ZABANGA CHARACTERISTICS
RUSH ATTACK
Imperial Guard can move with 1D6 or 2D6 and assume
a Tactical stance at the end of their movement.
SOLDIERS OF THE NEGUS
The Imperial Guard are very well motivated. They are
never 'Broken' (14.6), but instead 'Retire' 6"+2D6" and
become 'pinned' or they may halt and become
'pinned' on reaching any cover along that route. They
add +2 to their force morale test before every game
(p11).
KEBUR ZABANGA
The lack of effective low-level leadership in European
small unit tactics, made the guardsmen prone to
attacking in their traditional style as tribal warriors.
Therefore, when a player rolls two 6s on his command
dice he must, if an Ethiopian Senior Leader has any
troops within his Command Distance, use all his
Command Initiatives to order those troops to assault
the enemy.
Any troops so activated will move with 4D6 straight
towards their chosen enemy, each unit dicing for its
own movement, with combat initiated if any troops
gets within 4” of enemy who for this combat will
disregard the ‘enemy movement’ combat dice
modifiers for Close Combat.
 KEBUR ZABANGA SUPPORT LIST
LIST ONE
Awo Aleqa! (1 only)
Medical Orderly*
Flag*
Entrenchments for one Section
Add an Automatic Rifle to a single Section** (2 max)
Additional men to each section in the platoon
Marksman (1 only)
In-Game Barrage***
LIST TWO
Ferenghi (1 only)
Cave
Roadblock
Heavy Cover barricade for one section
Add a light machine-gun to a Squad** (2 max)
Ford Truck to transport entire Section or tow a weapon
Ford Armoured Truck with Junior Leader & MMG crew*
Pre-Game Barrage***
LIST THREE
Shambel (Ranking Senior Leader) (1 only)
Regimental Scout Troop
Fiat 3000 (Renault FT MG) with Junior Leader (1 only)
Fiat 3000 (Renault FT 37mm) with Junior Leader*
Off Table Machine Gun support*/***
Sniper Team, 2 men*
3” Stokes-Brandt Mortar with FOT*
20mm SEMAG AA Gun with Junior Leader & 2 Crew*
Field Gun mle 1897 with 5 Crew and Junior Leader*/***
Ex-Italian CV33/35 with Junior Leader*
LIST FOUR
Kebur Zebanga Squad (9 men) with Junior Leader
Hotchkiss or Colt MMG with five crew*/***
Section of mounted Cavalry Scouts
LIST FIVE
Squad of Kebur Zabanga Lancers
* May select one of the items shown in any combination
with another up to a total of two only.
** Two weapons maximum of each type, not both in the
same section nor more than one in each half-platoon
*** May choose one or the other, not both see notes
ARMY SUPPORT LIST NOTES
Most of the support options on the list will be self-
explanatory. All tanks and armoured cars, including
the Ford Armoured Truck, come with a Junior Leader
and crew for their MMG. Vehicles do not have radios.
No AP ammunition is available. MMGs are tripod
mounted. Transport only vehicles, such as a car do not
come with crew, so you will need to allocate men to
drive these.
The lists show all Leader assignments where they are
present for all troops barring vehicles as discussed
above. The following support options notes apply.
SHAMBEL
Equivalent of a company commander, a Shambel may
included as an additional Ranking Senior Leader ie he
does not replace the platoon Meto Aleqa.
INFERIOR S ENIOR LEADER
The Inferior Senior Leader represents either an
especially green or untrained officer, or one used to a
particular method, who is now being required to adopt
a new and somewhat unfamiliar one befitting his rank
and status. While he still retains an acceptable degree
of authority over his men, either his lack of confidence
or his not ‘getting to know the ropes’ is inhibiting his
effectiveness.
An Inferior Senior Leader may only use a Command Dice
Roll of 4 to activate, once activated they have two
Command Initiative Points.
AWO ALEQA
The Junior Leaders (Asiraleqa) of the Ethiopian Army
had been brought up to fight in the traditional manner
of their people. The efforts of Ferenghi advisors to turn
them into fighting men in the European manner have
resulted in conflicting thoughts about how they should
lead their men. As a result they are somewhat less
effective leaders than they might otherwise be.
Individual Sections and Teams may be activated with a
1 or 2, or by a Leader as is normal. They may also be
activated individually with a 3. When this is done the
Section or Team generates a single Command Initiative
Point, which it can then utilise as if a Leader was
expending one on the team and in addition to any that
a Leader does expend. This includes both Activation
Commands and Commands which are not activations.
FERENGHI
Meaning Foreigner (or Frank) in Amharic, this man
represents a foreign advisor. While not typically the
case, some of these men ended up fighting (and
indeed dying) in the frontline.
If he is on-table and attached to a Senior Leader then
he negates the Kebur Zabanga rule on a roll of 4, 5 or
6 if it comes into play. If off-table he fulfills the roll of
an Adjutant.
FLAG
A unit with an attached Flag may ignore one point of
shock received per phase of play. Flag bearers do not
fire but do count as fighting in combat.
ADDITIONAL M EN
Each man is allocated to each section of the platoon, up
to a maximum of 12 figures in each section.
STOKES-BRANDT MORTAR
Two 3” Stoke-Brandt mortars may be taken for
indirect fire support utilising an on-table Forward
Observation team (FOT). The bombardment area for a
two-tube mortar section is 10”x10” with the aiming
point at the centre. See special rules for details on the
use of FOTs.
FIELD GUN MLE1897
The Artillery Brigade of the Kebur Zebanga possessed
forty guns of various types, organized into two
battalions, which on occasion could provided fire
support to Mehal Safari units.
Up to two guns may be selected as on-table guns. If
two are chosen an additional Senior Leader is added
to the force to command them. When on-table they
use the Direct Fire Special Rules in this supplement.
If on-table guns are selected, no Pre-Game or In-
Game Barrage may be selected from the Support
Table. If taken on-table refer to the Specific Rules for
Field Gun Direct Fire.
OFF-TABLE MACHINE G UN FIRE SUPPORT
Off table Machine Guns will fire using the technique
explained in the specific rules. Note, if choosing off
table machine gun fire support then the on-table
MMG may not be chosen.
IN-GAME BARRAGE
This is taken as an additional option to a normal Pre
Game Barrage/Bombardment, enabling the
continuation of the pre game barrage into the game –
see special rules.
AUTOMATIC RIFLE
175 Belgian FN-BAR Model D weapons were acquired
by Ethiopia. These weapons were typically allocated
to the best formations so will be available to the
Imperial Guard. Therefore one Imperial Guard Section
within each half-platoon may reequip a riflemen with
an automatic rifle, whereby one man becomes its
gunner. Only one AR allowed per section and not in
the same section as any LMG that is taken.
FORD T RUCK
If the Ford truck is taken with the MMG option it may
also transport a single rifle section. Only one Ford
truck with a MMG may be taken per platoon.
CAVALRY SCOUTS
If Cavalry Scouts, are selected as a support option,
who are usually locally raised tribal forces, the player
can field a squad of Ethiopian Tribal Warriors
mounted on horses. This unit uses all the Ethiopian
Tribal Warriors Special Rules and Cavalry Specific
Rules.
MOUNTED G UARDSMEN
Any Section may be taken entirely as a mounted using
a support list option, adding 2 extra horsemen to the
Command HQ if two or more Sections are mounted.
Refer to the Specific Rules for details on Cavalry use
when mounted and dismounted.
MARKSMAN
A chosen soldier may be given the marksmen ability.
Reroll any 1 when firing. Only one allowed.
THE ARMOURED FIELD F ORCE
In our fictional rendition of the Abyssinian Crisis
the Ethiopians have been either gifted or have
purchased a menagerie of armoured vehicles that
comprise the Ethiopian Armoured Field Force.
We have kept the main support list ‘historical’,
but if players wish to include these vehicles their
relevant support slots are in the following
supplementary support table.
Note that there is a selection maximum of two
vehicles of any one type.
LIST THREE
Roll-Royce Armoured Car with Junior Leader
LIST FOUR
Vickers Mk.E Type A or B with Junior Leader
Type 92 Tankette with Junior Leader
NC-27 with Junior Leader
Kurosurei M25 AC with Junior Leader
Type 89A I-GO with Junior Leader
LIST FIVE
Vickers Medium Mk III with Junior Leader
Whippet Tank with Junior Leader
Mark IV Female Tank with Junior Leader
LIST SEVEN
Vickers Independent with Junior Leader
 PLATOON FORCE RATING
Dubats - Regular: +2
Others - Regular: -2
Command Dice: 5

BALUCH COMMAND

Sciumbasci (Senior Leader) armed with pistol

Eritrean and Somali Irregulars
ITALIAN SOMALI AND ERITREAN IRREGULAR BALUCH
Dubats (literally White Turban), sometimes called the
‘Black Bersaglieri’, formed Irregular detachments in
the Southern Italian Command operating on the
Somali-Ethiopian border. Organised into Bandas of
100 men they were officered by Italians with Yemeni
and Somali NCOs. Distinctively dressed in a white or
khaki cloth (futa), rifle bandoliers, a firearm and
dagger (billao), they were something of a blend
between true irregulars and more regular troops.
Arguably the best colonial troops the Italians had,
some say better than many Askaris, the Dubats were
formidable opponents.
Dubat troops also formed a Dromedary (camel)
detachment. Initially using Arabian peninsular camels,
with training the Italians were able to develop an
Eritrean and Somali camellati, though it would appear
they were not that popular as irregular mounted
units.
Eritrea, as well as supplying a vast amount of
manpower for the organised battalions of the Regio
Corpo Truppe Coloniali, also put into the field
irregular troops, often led by Italian officers. These
troops wore traditional dress with some ‘mixing’ of
Askari paraphernalia, creating something of a unique
look for themselves.
Like their Ethiopian enemies the Eritrean and Somali
irregulars were experts at infiltration, rapid
movement and fearlessness in combat. The benefit of
having an Italian officer provides them with the
likelihood of greater degree of control.
there are four Warbands
DETACHMENT /WARBAND
10 warriors with Swords and Daggers
Each detachment/warband is depicted as being led by
an ineffectual leader and for the purposes of the rules
counts as a leaderless ‘Squad’. Each Squad activates
on a Command Dice of ‘2’, separate Teams on a score
of ‘1’, or under the direction of the Senior Leader as
normal.
Aggressive
Tribal Rifles (Dubats only)*
Highly Motivated – see Irregulars special rules
Teams may only be detached from a Squad
lacking its own Junior Leader, if they are within
the Sciumbasci command distance and he uses a
command action point to order the split. Scouts
may be detached following the normal rules.
Junior Leaders can only influence their own squad
and any teams detached from it.
Eritrean and Somali Tribal Warriors are depicted on
foot in this organisation. Troops may be mounted as a
support list option – see army support list notes. They
are organised the same way as foot troops.
* Dubats always have Tribal Rifles, others take it as a
support list choice.

This list enables an Italian player to create a platoon

(Baluch) of Dubat Banda, an Irregular Eritrean band of
warriors (gregarious), the forces of the Sultan Olol
Dinle, Azebo Galla mounted warriors or any similar
forces fighting for the Italians using traditional
methods of irregular warfare. This could also include
cavalry such as the Spahis di Libya, led by Amedeo
Guillet along with any Italian support troops operating
in conjunction with their Eritrean or Somali allies.
ERITREAN AND SOMALI CHARACTERISTICS SOMALI & ERITREAN SUPPORT LIST
INFILTRATION (ALL) LIST ONE
Eritrean and Somali warriors were noted as being Notable Warrior (1 only)
able to move rapidly and use ground effectively Medical Orderly
when engaging the enemy.
‘Petrol Can’ attack to one Team
To reflect this Eritrean and Somali Tribal Warrior Add 6 men to a single warband
Patrol Markers use 14” as both their move Equip two Warbands with Mixed Weapons
distance and the distance from a friendly Patrol Equip one Detachment/Warband with Tribal Rifles
Marker within which they must remain. Other Entrenchments for one 10-man Squad
than this additional 2” they operate as normal Equip Mounted troops as Lancers
Patrol Markers.
Exchange Mounted warriors on horse for camels
When deploying from a Jump-Off Point, all LIST TWO
Eritrean and Somali Tribal Warrior troops deploy Flag
within 9”. Italian Officer
Roadblock
ARRAI!! Cave
Eritrean and Somali Warriors mostly attacked
using a massed frontal assault in an effort to Heavy Cover barricade for one 12-man Squad
come to grips with their enemy. At their leader’s One 10-man Warband
command, Arrai! (forward!), the warriors would Mount one 10-man Warband
charge the enemy showing the greatest bravery. Lancia Ansaldo IZM armoured car with Junior Leader
These human wave attacks were effective when CV 33 Tank with Junior Leader
they caught the enemy by surprise or without
FIAT 611 armoured car with Junior Leader
proper support weapons but many times they
made little or no gain for a terrible cost in lives. LIST THREE
CV 33/35 Tank with Junior Leader
Therefore, when a player rolls two or more 6s on Ranking Senior Leader (1 only)
his command dice he must, if an Eritrean or Marksman (1 only)
Somali Senior Leader has any troops within his
Random Air Support
Command Distance, use all his Command
Mount and entire Baluch on horses – see cavalry
Initiatives to order those troops to assault the special rules
enemy.
Tribal LMG on tripod with five crew (1 only)
Any troops so activated will move with 4D6
straight towards their chosen enemy, each unit ARMY SUPPORT LIST NOTES
dicing for its own movement, with combat Support list notes and options and are as detailed in
initiated if any troops gets within 4” of enemy the Specific Rules. Additional army list notes are
who for this combat will disregard the ‘enemy described as follows.
movement’ combat dice modifiers for Close
Combat. NOTABLE WARRIOR
This option allows a Junior Leader to be chosen, but
TRIBAL WARRIORS (N/A DUBAT). he must be assigned to one Warband only.
Eritrean and Somali tribesman use the rules for
Irregular tribal warriors. FLAG
A unit with an attached Flag may ignore one point of
shock received per phase of play.
FLEET-FOOTED (DUBATS ONLY )
Dubat warriors placed great emphasis on
mobility, needing to complete a grueling 60Km MARKSMAN
cross-country run in 10 hours as a right of A chose soldier may be given the marksmen ability.
passage. Reroll any 1s when firing.

Dubats can move with 1D6 or 2D6 and assume a RANDOM AIR SUPPORT
Tactical stance at the end of their movement. Refer to the Specific Rules for Random Air Support.
They never suffer shock when moving using 3D6.
TRIBAL RIFLES
The quality, variation and use of rifle weapons used
by all tribal Eritrean and Somali forces left much to be
desired – this made their firepower less effective for
the number of weapons they employed.
Therefore count all figures in a unit as able to fire
discounting any intervening friends troops in the
same unit (apply all other rules for determining firing
as normal). However, apply a -1 to hit when shooting.
MIXED WEAPONS
A Group with Mixed Weapons counts 1 man in 2 as a
being equipped with rifles. Depict the group with
appropriate models. A unit may shoot with any figures
in the unit eligible to fire following the normal rule of
Line of Fire and Tribal Rifles ie the figure does not
have to have an actual rifle model to fire.
TRIBAL LMG ON T RIPOD
Whilst uncommon this weapon can represent a Ras
who has acquired a light or medium machine gun.
Their condition and maintenance would be
rudimentary, thus they are considered a tripod
mounted magazine fed LMG regardless of weapon
type, jamming on any quadruple die roll score when
they fire, resulting in no hits scored this phase. The
jam is considered clear by the next time they have a
opportunity to fire.
TRIBAL FEUDS
Eritrean and Somali warriors often had hereditary
feuds with their Ethiopian neighbors to whom they
were opposed. Therefore Eritrean and Somali warriors
at game start apply a +2drm to their motivation level
test – see Irregular troop rules.
MOUNTED WARRIORS
As previously noted, Eritrean and Somali Warriors are
depicted on foot in the ‘platoon’ organization. Any
Warband may be taken entirely mounted (horse or
camel) using a support list option, adding 2 extra
horsemen to the Command HQ if two or more
Warbands are mounted. Refer to the Specific Rules
for details on Cavalry use when mounted and
dismounted.
PETROL CAN ATTACK
A Senior Leader may create a Team within his
command range and designate it a Tank Hunter Team
equipped with a Grenade and Petrol Can attack. This
may only be performed once per game.
ITALIAN OFFICER
Typically an Italian officer would lead an irregular
group as its platoon leader (Sciumbasci), which this
support choice allows him to become. As platoon
leader, if he is on-table he negates the Arrai! rule on a
roll of 4, 5 or 6 if it comes into play. If off-table he
fulfills the roll of an Adjutant.
RANKING SENIOR LEADER
A Ranking Senior Leader could represent a senior
officer such as an experienced Chief (Scium) or other
senior officer or a notable Italian leader such as
Amedeo Guillet leading the Spahis di Libya. He follows
the same rules above as the Italian officer.
CAVE
Eritrean and Somali were equally adept at using caves
or caverns like Ethiopian forces, be they natural or
man-made, to hide and/or emerge from to the
surprise of their enemy. Therefore, if a cave/cavern is
taken as a support list option, this will allow the
Ethiopian player to either;
Deploy one unit an additional 6” further from a
Jump-Off point than would normally be the case
(10” for Green troops, 12” for Regular troops); or
Move a jump-off point (after the patrol phase,
before the first game phase) up to 18” in any
direction, so long as it is further than 12” from any
enemy troops or Jump-Off Point.
FIAT 611
There are two variants of the FIAT 611. One armed
only with machine guns and another with a
combination of a 37mm cannon and MGs. Along with
the IZM and CV tankettes, the FIAT was sometimes
attached to Irregular forces, not untypical of the
Italian ideas of ad-hoc force groupings to suit a
tactical situation.
The model with the turret mounted 37mm gun may
only fire either the main gun or the rear mounted MG
– not both in a phase.

Britain, India & Empire
INFANTRY PLATOON
In 1936 the British were still using a platoon structure
very similar to that which was current at the end of
the Great War. However they had amended its
structure from four different specialist sections, to
two pairs of specialist sections.
The platoon headquarters consisted of a platoon
leader, a subaltern (2nd Lieutenant) in the first and
second platoons of a company and a staff sergeant in
the third and fourth. Both were assisted by a sergeant
and in the platoons commanded by the subalterns, a
batman (personal orderly) was also present.
There were two pairs of sections, the first of each we
can term the Lewis Gun Section being led by a
corporal and the second of each, the Rifle Section,
was led by a corporal or lance-corporal. Each section
had eight men in total, including their respective
section leaders. While this made for a small platoon, it
was a structure based on a general shortage of
manpower, rather than a conscious decision based on
tactical doctrine.
The units of the Indian Army, while retaining the same
structure as the British Army, were somewhat more
lightly-equipped, thanks to the type of warfare they
routinely undertook. While each Lewis Gun required a
team of five men; the gunner, his ‘No.2’ and three
ammunition carriers, the Indian units with their
recently adopted Vickers-Berthier Light Machine Guns
deployed just a gunner and a No.2 for the weapon.
The Lewis Gun also required a mule and handler for
additional ammunition, while the V-B’s ammunition
was distributed across the platoon in thirty round
magazines. While both weapons had similar rates of
fire, a Vickers-Berthier section had more rifles adding
to the volume of fire.
One member of each rifle squad was still designated
as the section ‘Bomber’ and carried a grenade satchel
with a parsimonious three fragmentation grenades
(72 per battalion) and nine smoke grenades (216 per
battalion). Cup style attachments were available to
fire standard grenades from a rifle.
With With long service enlistment in blocks of seven
years and no conscription, the spread of experience
and capability across a typical battalion was far higher
than in Europe’s conscript armies. This capability has
been expressed by enhancing the number of
command dice. Colonial Volunteers on the other hand
were no more or less experienced than the typical
infantry of other nations, though often proving to be
tough and motivated fighters.
PLATOON FORCE RATING
Regular: +5
Command Dice: 6
PLATOON HEADQUARTERS
2nd Lt, Senior Leader, with pistol and a rifleman
(or a Warrant Officer, Senior Leader, with rifle)
Platoon Sergeant, Superior Junior Leader, with rifle
There are four Sections
SECTIONS ONE & TWO
Corporal, Junior Leader, with rifle
Lewis Gun with five crew and 2 riflemen
SECTIONS THREE & FOUR
Corporal or Lance Corporal, Junior Leader with rifle
6 Riflemen with rifles
1 Bomber with rifle, HE & Smoke Grenades (no limit)
Only one rifle section may use the rifle grenade
rules (9.1.5. p.40), the rifle-grenadier replaces the
section bomber.
Section Bomber figures are not identified, but
only a single figure in a section may be activated
to throw a grenade (or to shoot one if a rifle-
grenadier) per phase.
BACKBONE OF THE ARMY (REGULARS)
Promotion through the non-commissioned ranks
was typically based on length of service, which
implies breadth of experience; but not necessarily
competence. Conversely the most inexperienced
man in a platoon was typically the subaltern
leading it. The relationship between an officer (or
warrant officer) and his platoon sergeant could
directly affect how the platoon operated.
Following the completion of the Patrol Phase, the
British player rolls 1D6 to establish the
relationship between the platoon leader and his
platoon sergeant and its effects;
1 – “I’ll remind you who leads this platoon!” The
Platoon Sergeant is treated as a Junior Leader.
2-4 - “Carry on Sergeant” The Platoon Sergeant
functions as a normal Superior Junior Leader.
5-6 – “Do you think that’s wise Sir?” The Platoon
Sergeant activates on a 3 or 4, but otherwise is
treated as a Senior Leader.
 BRITISH SUPPORT LIST
LIST ONE
Medical Orderly
Satchel Charge
Adjutant
Entrenchments for one Team
Engineer Mine Clearance Team, 3 men
Engineer Wire Cutting Team, 3 men
Engineer Demolition Team, 3 men
In-Game Barrage
Upgrade Lewis Gun to Vickers-Berthier (I)
LIST TWO
Roadblock
Yes Corp! (Any)
Heavy Cover barricade
Vickers Utility Tractor for Vickers MMG (B)
Truck to transport entire Section or tow a weapon
Crossley MK. I 6x4 Armoured Car with Junior Leader
Pre-Game Barrage
LIST THREE
Registered Artillery Barrage
Carden-Loyd carriers for Vickers MMG (B)
25mm L/72 AT gun with 5 crew and a Junior Leader (B)
3 pdr AT Gun with 5 crew and a Junior Leader (B)
Sniper Team, 2 men
Off Table Machine Gun support*/**
Rolls-Royce Armoured Car with Junior Leader
Crossley Armoured Car with Junior Leader (I)
Lanchester 6x4 Armoured Car with Junior Leader
Random Air Support
LIST FOUR
Vickers MMG on tripod mount with five crew
3” Stokes-Brandt mortar platoon with FOT*/**
Vickers Medium Mk II with Junior Leader
Section of Native Guide Cavalry
Detachment of Colonial troops with Junior Leader
Section of Native Guides with Junior Leader
LIST FIVE
18pdr Field Gun, 5 crew and Junior Leader
LIST SIX
3.7” Mk III Howitzer, 5 crew and Junior Leader
* One selection of this type only
** Off-table support of a particular type cannot be
selected as well as on-table support of the same
type. e.g. if an on-table MG team is chosen, no off-
table MG support can be.
(B) Indicates British Army units only, while (I)
indicates Indian Army only.
Vehicle selections must be of a single type. e.g. If a
Rolls-Royce armoured car is selected, additional
armoured cars must be Rolls-Royces.
BRITISH R EGULAR I NFANTRY C HARACTERISTICS
The following characteristics apply only to Regular
British and/or Indian Infantry Platoons, as noted.
PLAY UP! P LAY UP! AND PLAY THE G AME !
The typically amateurish British subaltern almost
invariably had a mindset which treated war like
school sports. It was an attitude that was often
transferred to the men they led.
In a move intended to bring any unit led by a British
officer into close assault, an additional D6 of
movement can be added for two Command Initiative
Points. This will not count as an additional dice of
movement when calculating the defender’s close
combat dice, but is transferable to any unit
performing the same move and is within the officer’s
Command Distance.
TEN ROUNDS RAPID (BRITISH UNITS ONLY)
Fast accurate rifle fire was the cornerstone of British
doctrine in this era.
When a Leader is attached to a rifle Team or Section
and expends two or more Command Initiatives to
activate that Team, an equal number of dice are
added to the unit’s Firepower.
THE WHITE M AN ’ S BURDEN (INDIAN UNITS)
The degree of separation between English officers
and their Indian Platoon Sergeants was typically
greater than that in British regiments.
Indian units roll with a dice roll modifier of -1 for the
‘Backbone of The Army’ characteristic.
Y OU’ RE A BETTER M AN THAN I AM… (INDIAN UNITS)
Indian units were easily the equal of British units. In
some cases their transferable skills for fighting in an
environment like Abyssinia, far surpassed that of
British units with no recent service on the North-
West Frontier.
Indian units add +1” to each movement dice rolled.
Indian units also ignore the first point of shock
received in a phase from any cause. They
automatically shed one point of shock before any
Shock-based test is made.
WILD COLONIAL BOYS (COLONIAL FORCES)
Volunteer troops from the Colonies tended to be
dogged fighters. They are rated as Stubborn.
In Close Combat, if initiated by them, they ignore
any Shock received, i.e. they do not ignore Shock
inflicted prior to combat.
ARMY SUPPORT LIST NOTES
Most of the support options on the list will be self-
explanatory. All tanks and armoured cars come with a
Junior Leader. All MG armed vehicles are equipped
with armour piercing ammunition – see special rules.
Vehicles do not have radios.
MMGs are tripod mounted. Transport only vehicles,
such as a car or truck do come with a driver, so you do
not need to allocate men to drive. The driver does not
dismount, unless surviving the vehicle’s destruction in
which case he is added to the platoon as a rifleman.
The lists show all Junior Leader assignments where
they are present for all troops barring vehicles as
discussed above. The following support options notes
apply.
3” STOKES-BRANDT MORTAR BATTERY WITH FO
Each battalion had a single platoon of four medium
mortars in total. The platoon commander acted as the
forward observer and was given a car and driver for
this task. An orderly with a bicycle was allocated to
communicate between the platoon commander and
his sergeant, who directed the fire of the platoon per
his instructions. Most units still had the ‘Stokes’ ML 3”
Mortar MK.I (800 yards range), but some had the new
ML 3” Mortar MK.II (1600 yards range).
The bombardment area for a four-tube mortar
platoon is 18”x18” with the aiming point at the
center. See special rules for Mortar fire and Forward
Observer Team use.
18PDR FIELD GUN OR QF 3.7” MKIII HOWITZER
The 18pdr Field Gun is likely to be the split trail MKIV
with pneumatic tyres towed by trucks. The QF 3.7”
MK III Howitzer, which could be broken down for
mule transport, was also available. This equipped 3
RHA for example, who towed them with Light Dragon
Tractors. Other units might utilize pack mules or
trucks. Refer to the Specific Rules for Field Gun Direct
Fire when taken as an on-table support list choice.
OFF-TABLE MACHINE G UN FIRE SUPPORT
Off table Machine Guns will fire using the technique
explained in the specific rules. Note: if choosing off
table machine gun fire support then the on-table
Vickers MMG may not be chosen.
IN-GAME BARRAGE
This is taken as an additional option for a normal Pre
Game Barrage/Bombardment, which enables the
continuation of the pre-game barrage into the game –
see special rules.
VICKERS-BERTHIER LIGHT M ACHINE G UN
This upgrade is only allowed to Indian Army units, i.e.
Sikhs and Rajputs etc. as opposed to British units
attached to the Indian Army. The LMG crew is
reduced to just two and the other three men become
section riflemen for a total of 5 riflemen in the V-B
section.
CARDEN-LOYD CARRIERS FOR VICKERS MMG
A player may ‘mount’ the Vickers MMG Section by
taking a Carden-Loyd carrier with trailer. The Vickers
may be fired mounted from the carrier. The Vickers is
also able to be set up as a tripod MMG using the
normal rules for Weapon Movement (7.4).
This option is available to British Army units only.
VICKERS U TILITY T RACTOR FOR VICKERS MMG
A player may ‘mount’ the Vickers MMG Section by
taking a Vickers Utility Tractor with trailer. The Vickers
may be fired mounted from the tractor if stationary.
The Vickers is also able to be set up as a tripod MMG
using the normal rules for Weapon Movement (7.4).
This option is available to British Army units only.
25MM L/72
Lacking any infantry anti-tank weapons, the War
Office purchased 33 of these guns from France,
enough to give each regular battalion then in Egypt
and the three initially being sent from the UK, a
platoon of three weapons. They were irreplaceable
and given the lack of British armour in comparison to
that mustered by Italy, their loss would be felt.
If selected and subsequently lost to enemy action add
a +1 dice roll modifier to any Force Morale Test.
In addition, the Hotchkiss gun had a carriage designed
to be towed by horses. When towed by vehicles this
had to be done very slowly. If a vehicle is towing the
weapon and wishes to move fast the weapon is
removed as damaged/destroyed for this scenario.
This option is available to British Army units only.
3PDR ANTI-TANK G UN
With the 2pdr AT Gun still in the development stage,
some British infantry units were equipped with a
substitute gun to prepare their new integral anti-tank
platoons for their new role. Using the same short 3pdr
Gun as used on the Vickers Mk.E and mounting it on a
modified GS trailer chassis, an impromptu AT gun was
born.
For sights it had a graduated leaf-sight and it was
traversed using the weapon’s shoulder pad. Due to
this it suffers a permanent ‘To Hit’ modifier of -1.
This option is available to British Army units only.
YES CORP!
Years of conflict on The North West Frontier and other
colonial conflicts produced many experienced NCOs in
British and British Indian army units, as well as
ordinary rankers capable of acting in that role.
Individual Teams can activate on a roll of 1 or 2,
individual sections on a roll of 2 as normal. However
both sections and teams can also activate on a roll of
3. When this is done the team generates a single
Command Initiative Point of its own, which it can then
utilise as if a Leader was expending one on the team
and in addition to any that a Leader actually does
expend. This includes both Activation Commands and
Commands which are not activations.
SECTION OF N ATIVE GUIDES
If chosen they conform to a section of Somali Dubats
from the Eritrean and Somali Irregulars list.
SECTION OF N ATIVE GUIDE CAVALRY
If chosen they conform to a squad of Ethiopian or
Somalia Tribal Warriors mounted on horses or camels.
For convenience, both Ethiopian and Somali native
guide types use the Ethiopian Chitet army list as if
chosen from that list, although with no support list
options available. They still also use the Tribesmen
characteristics as normal. In addition, take note of the
Irregular and Cavalry rules in the Chain of Command:
Abyssinia Specific Rules also.
RANDOM AIR SUPPORT
Refer to the Specific Rules for Random Air Support.

Regular: 0
Command Dice: 5
British Empire
ASKARI RIFLE PLATOON
The collective term ‘Askari’ has been used in the title,
a word which specifically relates to the men of the
King’s African Rifles (KAR) or the Somaliland Camel
Corps (SCC). Equally applicable are the terms Anfar or
Nafar, which have the same meaning for different
elements within the Sudan Defence Force (SDF).
Whatever term is preferred they equally refer to
indigenous professional soldiers employed by the
British in their respective colonies and protectorates.
With very few differences in terms of organisation
they have been combined into a single list.
Rifle platoons typically consisted of a platoon HQ
consisting of a British subaltern, termed a bimbashi or
yousbashi in the SDF and typically plain ‘bwana’ in the
KAR. He would be accompanied by a batman (soldier-
servant) and was assisted by a sergeant (SDF:
shwaishi, KAR/SCC: Sajini). Apart from the subaltern
all ranks were indigenous personnel.
The Platoon was divided into four sections, two of
which were led by a corporal (SDF: onbashi, KAR/SCC:
viboko) and the other two by lance-corporals (SDF:
wakil onbashi, KAR/SCC: mkuki viboko). Besides the
section leader each section typically had nine privates;
the colonial forces did not suffer the same manpower
shortages as the British Army, despite paying a
fraction of the wage of a British soldier.
All ranks carried the .303 SMLE, except for the
subaltern who carried a service revolver. Two of the
sections were supposed to be Lewis Gun Sections,
each with a single gun served by five of the men in the
section, but issue was dependent on availability and
some units had only had one. Additional support
came from the four-gun Vickers Machine Gun platoon
each battalion possessed.
As might be expected transport for the formations
was none existent, although mounted companies
were common. The Somali Camel Corps for example
had one company in trucks, one company mounted
on ponies and a single camel-mounted company. The
Sudan Defence Force Frontier Battalions on the other
hand usually had two 15cwt and three 30cwt trucks.
PLATOON FORCE RATING
PLATOON H EADQUARTERS
Lieutenant, Senior Leader, armed with a pistol
Sergeant, Superior Junior Leader, armed with a rifle.
Batman, armed with a rifle.
There are four Sections
SECTIONS ONE AND T WO
Corporal, Junior Leader, armed with a rifle
Nine riflemen with rifles
SECTIONS T HREE & F OUR
Ten riflemen with rifles
Aggressive
The platoon is depicted on foot in this
organisation. SDF or SCC Askari may be mounted
as a support list option, depicting a camel or pony
mounted company. Refer to the Specific Rules for
Cavalry for mounted or dismounted use.
BRITISH ASKARI CHARACTERISTICS
ASKARI
FIELDCRAFT
These troops may move 1d6 or 2d6 and
assume Tactical Stance.
STEALTHY
Patrol Markers move 14” and treat this as the
separation distance between Patrol Markers.
IRREGULARS
Sudanese, Somali or Ethiopian warriors use the
rules for Irregular tribal warriors. Only a
Sudanese or Ethiopian Leader or Ranking
Leader may affect Irregulars.
CAVALRY CHARACTERISTICS
Refer to the Specific Rules for details on Cavalry
use when mounted and dismounted.

BRITISH ASKARI SUPPORT LIST
LIST ONE
Medical Orderly
Satchel Charge
Adjutant
8cwt Truck with driver
Mount one Section – see cavalry special rules
Add a Lewis Gun to Section One or Two (max 1 each)
Entrenchments for one Team
Engineer Mine Clearance Team, 3 men
Engineer Wire Cutting Team, 3 men
Engineer Demolition Team, 3 men
In-Game Barrage
LIST TWO
Roadblock
Heavy Cover barricade
Ford Truck to carry entire Section or tow a weapon
Make a man in Section 3 and/or 4 a Junior Leader
Pre-Game Barrage
Maru Moja!
LIST THREE
Registered Artillery Barrage
Sniper Team, 2 men
Off Table Machine Gun support*
12pdr Gun, 5 crew and Junior Leader (SCC 1 only)
Rolls-Royce A/C with Junior Leader (KAR)
LIST FOUR
Vickers MMG on tripod mount with five crew*
Section of Cavalry Scouts
Warband of Somali or Ethiopian troops
* must choose one or the other
ARMY SUPPORT LIST NOTES
Most of the support options on the list will be self-
explanatory. The Rolls-Royce armoured car and the
Ford Truck come with crew as shown. Vehicles do not
have radios. All MG armed vehicles are equipped with
armour-piercing ammunition – see special rules.
MMGs are tripod mounted. Transport only vehicles,
such as a car do come with crew, so you do not need
to allocate men to drive them.
The lists show all Junior Leader assignments where
they are present for all troops barring vehicles as
discussed above. The following support options notes
apply.
12PDR FIELD GUN
The Somali Camel Corps had a single 12pdr naval-gun
hauled by six mules. Refer to the Specific Rules for
Field Gun Direct Fire when taken as an on-table
support list choice.
OFF-TABLE MACHINE G UN FIRE SUPPORT
Off table Machine Guns will fire using the technique
explained in the specific rules. Note: if choosing off
table machine gun fire support then the on-table
Vickers MMG may not be chosen.
LEWIS GUN SECTION
In the British Army sections one and two were Lewis
Gun Sections and were divided into a five-man gun
group, with the remaining men forming a rifle group.
Issue varied and some units only had one per platoon.
Only one weapon will be issued to a section and only
two sections may have them.
MARU MOJA!
Fighting Shifta or recalcitrant tribal chiefs tends to
breed experienced men and bring natural leaders to
the fore.
Askari Leaderless Teams can activate on a roll of 1 or
2, Sections on a roll of 2 as normal. However both
sections and teams can also activate on a roll of 3.
When this is done the team generates a single
Command Initiative Point of its own, which it can then
utilise as if a Leader was expending one on the team
and in addition to any that a Leader actually does
expend. This includes both Activation Commands and
Commands which are not activations.
CAVALRY SCOUTS
If Cavalry Scouts are selected as a support option the
player can field a squad of Ethiopian or Sudanese
Tribal Warriors mounted on horses or camels. This
unit uses all the Ethiopian and Somalia Tribal Warriors
Special Rules and Cavalry Specific Rules.
WARBAND; SOMALI OR E THIOPIAN T ROOPS
If choosing a Somali warband, use the Somali and
Eritrean Irregulars list, treating the Somalis as Dubats
with all options listed being available for that type.
They may only take a Notable Warrior as a leader
choice. The unit may be taken on foot or mounted as
desired. Alternatively, if choosing an Ethiopian
warband then use the Ethiopian Tribal list, all options
being available except they may only take a Balabat
as a leader choice.
FORD T RUCK
If the Ford truck is taken along with the MMG option
it may also transport a single rifle section.

Royal Tank Corps
6TH BATTALION ROYAL TANK CORPS
In 1934 the 6th Battalion Royal Tank Corps was
created by amalgamating two of the independent
companies of the RTC. Only one of these contained
tanks and the armoured cars of the other were added
to the inventory of the 11th Hussars, giving them their
full complement of vehicles. Four Vickers Medium
Tanks were already in Egypt and these were added to
the 6th Battalion, giving it a force of fifteen vehicles in
total.
From January 1936 the battalion boasted two
companies, which could now deploy a headquarters
section of one Medium Tank Mk.IIA, one Light Tank
Mk.V and a reconnaissance section of two unarmed
Carden-Loyd Carriers. There were also two platoons
each of two Medium Mk.IIA and two platoons each of
either five Light Tank Mk.II or III, or three Light Tank
Mk.V.
1ST (LIGHT) BATTALION ROYAL TANK CORPS
The 1st Battalion was a relatively new formation,
formed by stripping the light tank companies from the
existing 2nd, 3rd & 5th Battalions RTC. Each of the three
companies were equipped with Light Tanks Mk. II &
III, with one HQ vehicle and two sections of five tanks.
An unspecified number of Mk.V lights and Mk.II
mediums accompanied the battalion when it was sent
to Egypt, but it is not known whether the Mk.V lights
were intended for the 1st or 6th Battalion.
BRITISH ARMOURED CHARACTERISTICS
“VIEW-HALLOO AND TALLY HO!”
Light tanks and armoured cars may ‘Move Fast’ at
up to 3D6 and ‘Flat out’ at 4D6, with the normal
penalties for firing their weapons. Any phase this
option is used, any double thrown indicates an
immediate mechanical breakdown and the
vehicle comes to a permanent halt after moving
exactly half the distance shown on the dice.
This list is specifically intended to form a wholly
armoured force, as detailed in Big Chain of Command.
This list is therefore somewhat different to the typical
infantry-based list in Chain of Command, in that it is
almost entirely composed of armoured vehicles.
Players select a core platoon, to which they may add
either another whole core element of multiple
vehicles (i.e. a section of two mediums, or five lights),
which adjusts the Platoon Force Rating (using the
modifier given) and/or individual vehicles from the
Support Table, using Support Points, as they wish.
MEDIUM TANK TROOP (6 RTC ONLY) FORCE RATING
Regular: -4
Command Dice: 5
Platoon Force Rating Modifier: +4
PLATOON
Medium Tank MK.IIA with Senior Leader.
Medium Tank MK.IIA with Junior Leader.
LIGHT TANK SECTION FORCE RATING
Regular: 0
Command Dice: 5
Platoon Force Rating Modifier: +8
PLATOON
Light Tank MK.II or III with Senior Leader.
4 Light Tank MK.II or III, each with Junior Leader.
LIGHT TANK MK. V SECTION FORCE RATING
Regular: -2
Command Dice: 5
Platoon Force Rating Modifier: +6
PLATOON
Light Tank MK.V with Senior Leader.
2 Light Tank MK.V, each with Junior Leader.
Player Note – 6 RTC is the only unit which may use
Medium Tanks and the force may not include more
than five of these vehicles in total, the fifth vehicle
must carry the forces’ Ranking Senior Leader.
Example: A 6 RTC medium tank troop is selected as the
core ‘platoon’. Its PFR is -4. To this is added a 6 RTC
light tank section, with a PFR modifier of +8, the final
combined Platoon Force Rating is now +4.
 ROYAL TANK CORPS SUPPORT LIST
LIST ONE
Adjutant
Engineer Mine Clearance Team, 3 men
Engineer Wire Cutting Team, 3 men
Engineer Demolition Team, 3 men
In-Game Barrage
Upgrade Light Tank MK.II or III to MK.V (per vehicle)
LIST TWO
Pre-Game Barrage
Heavy Cover barricade or tank revetment
Crossley MK. I 6x4 Armoured Car with Junior Leader
LIST THREE
Vickers Light Tank MK.II or III with Junior Leader
Rolls-Royce Armoured Car with Junior Leader
Crossley (IP) Armoured Car with Junior Leader
LIST FOUR
Lanchester 6x4 Armoured Car with Junior Leader
Vickers Medium Tank MK. II with Junior Leader
Carden-Loyd Reconnaissance Section (1 only)
With the exception of the various MKs of Light
tanks, all vehicles within a single platoon or
troop, must be of the same type.
A maximum of five Medium tanks in the entire
force is allowed.
ARMY SUPPORT LIST NOTES
Support options on the list are mostly self-explanatory.
All light and medium tanks as well as all armoured cars
come with a Junior Leader. All MG armed vehicles are
equipped with armour-piercing ammunition – see special
rules. Unless otherwise stated in the following notes, all
rules found in ‘Big Chain of Command’ apply to this list.
The following support option notes also apply.
VEHICLE MIX
The same restrictions apply to vehicles whether
chosen from the Support Table as apply to Core
Selections.
RADIOS
Only Vickers Light Mk.V Tanks, Vickers Medium Mk.IIA
Tanks and some Lanchester Armoured Cars have radios.
VICKERS MEDIUM TANK MK. IIA
Despite having a Lewis Gun on both the left and right of
the hull, only one of these can be fired in a phase, as the
same crew member operates both weapons.
VICKERS LIGHT TANK MK. V
It is not certain how these were integrated into the Tank
Brigade. In the UK they were fielded in sections of three,
but on occasion there they could also be found as a
single vehicle in a section of earlier types.
If a three vehicle MK. V section is chosen as the core
section, individual vehicles in MK II & III sections may not
be upgraded; there were not enough of them to do both.
CARDEN-LOYD CARRIER RECONNAISSANCE SECTION
There is only one section available (6th RTC only) and it
consists of two vehicles, each of which has two crew
members. Each vehicle has a Junior Leader. They were
typically unarmed in peace-time maneuvers, but the
assumption is that they would scrounge armament for
war duty.
ARMOURED CARS
The armoured cars of the Cavalry or Indian Brigades
could act as a screening force for the RTC. A maximum of
a single troop of three armoured cars may be selected
and all must be of the same type. Two Crossley
armoured cars are available, the Crossley MK.I and the
earlier Indian Pattern model.
IN-GAME BARRAGE
This is taken as an additional option to a normal Pre
Game Barrage/Bombardment, enabling the continuation
of the pre game barrage into the game – see special
rules.
SQUADRON OR COMPANY COMMANDER
A single individual vehicle chosen from the Support Table
may upgrade its Junior Leader to a Ranking Senior Leader
to represent the force’s commander.
BRITISH A RMOURED DOCTRINE
British armoured doctrine of the Thirties was focused
on the ‘All Tank’ concept and their use as very mobile
reconnaissance and raiding forces. To breakthrough
and wreak havoc in the enemy’s rear was the aim of
the armoured force. While the infantry were indeed
fully appreciative of the need for combined arms
tactics, as far as the ‘Tankies’ were concerned, they
were the ‘new cavalry’
For them the role of tanks was to either exploit a
breakthrough created for them, or to create one for
themselves. Having penetrated the enemy’s
frontline, they were to wreak havoc in the enemy
rear.
As a result armoured cooperation with infantry was
non-existent outside of the RTC independent
companies on the North-West Frontier of India; who
tended to be somewhat more flexible in terms of
combined-arms tactics.
Therefore, no infantry are in this list and only those
elements in the support list table deemed necessary
to support armoured units in their role have been
included eg engineers, barrages, etc.

British 8th Hussars
MOTOR MACHINE GUN TROOP
In 1935 the 8th Hussars were selected to be one of the
three cavalry regiments in Egypt to be mechanised.
They dutifully surrendered their horses to the
remount depot following their last mounted parade
on Armistice Day (11th November) 1935.
While there were no actual light tanks for them to be
equipped with, a number of Ford V8 trucks were
acquired; 15cwt for the former ‘sabre squadrons’ and
30 cwt models for support units. They also
surrendered their Vickers machine guns from the
machine gun squadron and in return each vehicle was
to mount a brand-new Vickers-Berthier light machine
gun, which could also be dismounted for ground use.
Initially there were only sufficient trucks to mount a
single squadron, but more arrived in batches and after
mechanic and driver training, a second squadron was
mobilised in early 1936, with the remainder of the
regiment predicted to be motorized by the end of the
Spring. At some future point the regiment was to
convert to light tanks, but for now it was a motor-
machinegun regiment and would provide mounted
infantry to support its fellow mechanised cavalry
regiments in the brigade.
The plan was that the 8th Hussars would become a
motorised cavalry regiment, effectively mobile-
infantry capable of keeping pace with the armoured
cars and the light tanks of its sister regiments in the
brigade. Integral support for the 8th was light,
principally the Vickers-Berthier light machine guns of
the sections in its troops. By the end of 1935 two
squadrons of the 8th were motorised.
Unfortunately its sister regiments mostly lacked
vehicles. The 11th Hussars had only recently been
brought up to strength by vehicles surrendered during
the creation of the 6th Battalion RTC in 1933. The 7th
Hussars had a mere squadron of light tanks and more
were apparently not to be forthcoming until 1937.
4th Hussars never received any vehicles at all and were
to return to the UK before receiving any.
Reinforcements from the UK brought with them two
Squadrons of the 12th Lancers with their Lanchester
armoured cars. While a very mixed bag of units, the
brigade was actually near full strength.
The two squadrons of the 8th Hussars were to find
themselves operating as squadron and troop
detachments to support these units, as there was
insufficient motor transport to motorise any of the
infantry battalions.
This list represents a troop of the 8th Hussars acting in
concert with other cavalry units, namely the 7th and
11th Hussars and 12th Lancers
PLATOON FORCE RATING
Regular: +7
Command Dice: 6
8TH HUSSARS TROOP HEADQUARTERS
Subaltern, Senior Leader, with pistol.
Troop Sergeant, Senior Leader, with rifle.
Batman/Orderly, armed with rifle.
There are four Sections
SECTIONS ONE TO FOUR
Lance Sergeant or Corporal, Junior Leader, with rifle
V-B LMG TEAM RIFLE TEAM
One V-B LMG with two Five Troopers with rifles
crewmen.
One man in each rifle team is equipped with hand
grenades and can also shoot rifle-grenades as per
the normal rules. It is not necessary to designate
which figure this is however and the normal Rifle
Grenade rules still apply (9.1.5. p. 40).
8TH HUSSARS CHARACTERISTICS
TEN ROUNDS RAPID (BRITISH UNITS O NLY)
Fast accurate rifle fire was the cornerstone of
British doctrine in this era.
When a Leader is attached to a rifle Team or
Section and expends two or more Command
Initiatives to activate that Team, an equal number
of dice are added to the unit’s Firepower.
 BRITISH 8TH HUSSARS SUPPORT LIST
BACKBONE OF THE ARMY
LIST ONE (APPLIES TO ALL)
Car
Medical Orderly Promotion through the non-commissioned ranks
Satchel Charge was typically based on length of service, which
Adjutant implies breadth of experience; but not necessarily
Entrenchments for one Team competence. Conversely the most inexperienced
Engineer Mine Clearance Team, 3 men man in a troop was typically the subaltern leading
Engineer Wire Cutting Team, 3 men it. The relationship between an officer (or warrant
Engineer Demolition Team, 3 men officer) and his troop sergeant could directly
In-Game Barrage affect how the troop operated.
LIST TWO Following the completion of the Patrol Phase, the
Roadblock British player rolls 1D6 to establish the
Heavy Cover barricade relationship between the troop leader and his
Truck to transport entire Section or tow a weapon troop sergeant and its effects;
Pre-Game Barrage 1 – “I’ll remind you who leads this platoon!” The
Yes Corp! Platoon Sergeant is treated as a Junior Leader.
Crossley MK. I 6x4 Armoured Car with Junior Leader*
LIST THREE 2-4 - “Carry on Sergeant” The Platoon Sergeant
Sniper Team, 2 men functions as a normal Superior Junior Leader.
Rolls-Royce Armoured Car with Junior Leader* 5-6 – “Do you think that’s wise Sir?” The Platoon
Vickers MK. II or III Light Tank with Junior Leader* Sergeant activates on a 3 or 4, but otherwise is
Random Air Support treated as a Senior Leader.
LIST FOUR
Lanchester 6x4 Armoured Car with Junior Leader*
Vickers MK. V Light Tank with Junior Leader* ARMY SUPPORT LIST NOTES
LIST FIVE Most of the support options on the list will be self-
QF 3.7”Howitzer, 5 crew and Junior Leader explanatory. All tanks and armoured cars come with a
* Only one type of vehicle may be chosen, but there is no
Junior Leader. All MG armed vehicles are equipped
limit on the number of those vehicles that may be taken as with armour piercing ammunition – see special rules.
support choices.
Vehicles do not have radios. MMGs are tripod
mounted. Transport only vehicles, such as a car do
come with crew, so you do not need to allocate men
to drive as standard organisations allocated drivers
with vehicles.

Where Sections are available they will always come

with a Junior Leader. Infantry Teams rarely come with
a Leader, whereas heavier support weapons do. The
lists show all Junior Leader assignments where they
are present for all troops barring vehicles as discussed
above. The following support options notes apply.

YES CORP!
A large number of experienced men were transferred
to the 8th Hussars to make their numbers up to
strength. Combined with their own men, this provided
a wide range of experienced NCOs and rankers
capable of acting in that role.

Individual Teams can activate on a roll of 1 or 2,

individual sections on a roll of 2 as normal. However
both sections and teams can also activate on a roll of
3. When this is done the team generates a single
Command Initiative Point of its own, which it can then
utilise as if a Leader was expending one on the team
and in addition to any that a Leader actually does
expend. This includes both Activation Commands and
Commands which are not activations.
VICKERS-BERTHIER LIGHT M ACHINE G UN
Along with the Bren Gun, the Vickers-Berthier was a
contender to be the new light machine gun for the
army. The Indian Army chose the Vickers-Berthier,
while the British Army chose the Bren. There were
barely any Brens available in 1935 however, so the 8th
Hussars were equipped with the Vickers-Berthier.
It is a magazine-fed light machine gun and was
typically mounted in the front of the cargo area of the
truck transporting the section. It may be fired if the
truck is chosen as a support choice, but the gun team
would be considered detached from the section to do
this i.e. it becomes its own Team. Note - the rifle
section does not have to debus to allow the V-B LMG
to fire.
QF 3.7” MKIII HOWITZER
The Ordnance QF 3.7” howitzer equipped 3 Battery,
Royal Horse Artillery, who were the cavalry brigade’s
fire support. As the 8th Hussars possessed no integral
mortars, or medium machine guns, the howitzers
were the only fire support available to them when
operating at distance from the rest of the Army. 3
RHA was equipped with Light Dragon Tractors to tow
the guns.
Refer to the Specific Rules for Field Gun Direct Fire
when taken as an on-table support list choice.
On table howitzers may not be selected if a Pre-Game
or In-Game Barrage is selected from the Support
Table.
IN-GAME BARRAGE
This is taken as an additional option for a normal Pre
Game Barrage/Bombardment, which enables the
continuation of the pre-game barrage into the game –
see special rules.
CROSSLEY MK. I 6X4 ARMOURED CAR
This was a thinly-armoured shell designed to be
married with a standard six-wheel truck chassis. It
featured the same turret as used on the Light Tank
MK. I which had a .303 Vickers Gun mounted. There
was also a hull mounted Vickers in addition. Despite
being an unpopular vehicle it was used by the 11th
Hussars. This is a different vehicle to the India-Pattern
Crossley Armoured Car.
LANCHESTER 6X4 ARMOURED CAR
The two squadrons of the 12th Lancers were equipped
with the Lanchester 6x4 Armoured Car. The vehicle
boasted a turret which paired a .50 Vickers machine
gun with a .303 Vickers machine gun. There was a
hull-mounted .303 Vickers too, except in the Troop
Commander’s vehicle which had a radio instead.
If three vehicles are taken as support list choices then
one is considered the troop leaders as per ‘Tanks and
Armoured Cars’ p49, however the command vehicle
with Senior Leader removes the hull mounted MG as
this is now replaced by a radio operator.
RANDOM AIR SUPPORT
Refer to the Specific Rules for Random Air Support.
ATTACHED ARMOURED CAR TROOP
As described in the introduction, the 8th Hussars were
expected to operate in close support of armoured car
formations, or alternatively their operations were to
be supported by those same armoured car formations.
Individual armoured cars may be selected as individual
Support Table items as is usual. However the system
used to generate the respective values for support
table choices is biased against multiple choices and
this bias increases as more selections of an individual
item is made.
With a typical force being a troop of the 8th Hussars
with an attached armoured car troop, the player
would be penalised, both with the ‘cost’ of the items in
terms of Support Points and in the number of
Command Dice he has to operate such a force.
Big Chain of Command would give each troop
separate command dice, but that does not reflect
control of both units by a single Ranking Senior
Leader; and having a player roll separate Command
Dice is also somewhat ponderous.
Instead the following rule is employed;
PRISTINAE VIRTUTIS MEMORES
“Mindful of past glories” - A whole single armoured
car troop may be added to the force from the Support
Table, as opposed to individual vehicles selected from
the same source. If so, two command dice are also
added to the force pool of Command Dice and one
troop commander is designated as the Ranking Senior
Leader.
Before rolling the dice in each phase, the player must
decide how he will apportion them between the two
types of troops in the force. This achieved by
substituting different coloured (or other means of
distinguishing different sets) dice for those he has
allocated to the respective troops.
Once the selection has been made and the
dice rolled, no further alteration of the dice
allocation may be made.
Neither element may have more than six
Command Initiative dice allocated to it.
The respective dice may only be used to
activate their respective elements and may
not be transferred, using the usual rules for
command dice allocation (4.2.1).
The proportion of dice allocated is not fixed
and may be changed each phase.
ARMOURED CAR T ROOP
A player may choose to include a complete
armoured car platoon as part of his core force for
an 8th Hussars formation. If he does so then he
adjusts the base Platoon Force Rating (+7) by the
additional amount shown in the table below.
ARMOURED CAR PLATOON SUPPORT LIST TABLE
LIST SIX
Roll-Royce Armoured Car Platoon
Crossley MK. I Armoured Car Platoon
Light Tank MK. II or III Platoon
LIST EIGHT
Lanchester 6x4 Armoured Car Platoon
Each Platoon is made up of a Command vehicle
with a Senior Leader and two other vehicles of the
same type with their respective Junior Leader for
total of three armoured cars. In addition two
command dice, for total of eight, are added to the
dice pool for activation as explained in the
Pristinae virtutis memores special rule.
Example
A player has one troop of the 8th Hussars and he also
selects a troop of three Lanchesters from the 12th
Lancers from the Armoured Car Platoon Support
Table. This gives him a final PFR +7+8=+15 as well as
the command dice pool being made up of eight dice.
In one game phase he opts to give the Hussars six dice
and the Lancers just two, whereas in another phase he
could allocate 5 command dice to the armoured cars
and only 3 to the infantry, and so on.
ARMOURED CAR TROOP CHARACTERISTICS
“VIEW-HALLOO AND TALLY HO!”
Light tanks and armoured cars may ‘Move Fast’ at
up to 3D6 and ‘Flat out’ at 4D6, with the normal
penalties for firing their weapons. Any phase this
option is used, any double thrown indicates an
immediate mechanical breakdown and the
vehicle comes to a permanent halt after moving
exactly half the distance shown on the dice.
 All men in Voltigeur Teams are equipped with
hand grenades and one man carries a modified
rifle and has a rifle-grenade attachment for that
weapon. It is not necessary to designate which
figure this is however and the normal Rifle
Grenade rules still apply (9.1.5. p. 40).

similar

French Regular Infantry FRENCH INFANTRY SUPPORT L IST

FRENCH INFANTRY PLATOON LIST ONE
The French had pioneered ‘fire and manoeuvre’ in the
Medical Orderly
Great War and infantry platoons in 1935 were little
different to those of 1918, relying on mutually Satchel Charge
supporting small teams moving in bounds towards Adjutant
enemy positions, covered by the fire of their integral Static Barbed Wire
light machine guns. Entrenchments for one Team
Engineer Mine Clearance Team, 3 men
The infantry peloton was composed of a small HQ
groupe and three groupes de combat. Each groupe was Engineer Wire Cutting Team, 3 men
further divided into demi-groupes of fusiliers and Engineer Demolition Team, 3 men
voltigeurs. In addition it was common to form a demi- In-Game Barrage
groupe de lance-grenadier, by detaching the rifle LIST TWO
grenadier from each groupe and placing them under Roadblock
the command of the HQ group’s corporal.
Oui Caporal!
This list can be used to represent the platoons of the Pre-Game Barrage
various units of Regular ‘Tirailleurs’ (‘Turcos’ from Heavy Cover barricade
Morocco or Algeria, or Sénégalais from Africa – who LIST THREE
are all classed as Regular), or the newly expanded Sniper Team, 2 men
Régiment de tirailleurs sénégalais de la Côte française
Wood and sandbag bunker (hard cover)
des Somalis, raised from both new recruits from
Madagascar and Somali a, and units of Colonial Canon d’Antichar with Junior Leader and 5 crew
Infantry or Zouaves, all of whom may be either Regular FT17 MG with Junior Leader
or Green. FT17 37mm with Junior Leader
AMD White-Laffly 50 with Junior Leader
FO Team with off-table 81mm mortar battery
PLATOON FORCE RATING
Regular: +4, Command Dice 5; or Off Table Machine Gun support*
Green: -2, Command Dice 4 Registered Artillery Barrage
LIST FOUR
PLATOON HEADQUARTERS
Hotchkiss M1914 MMG with five crew*
Lieutenant, Senior Leader, armed with pistol
Sergent-Chef, Superior Junior Leader, armed with rifle Concrete Bunker/Blockhouse
Corporal with V-B launcher Squad of mounted Irregular Scouts with Junior Leader
Observer with rifle and Runner with rifle Regular Rifle Section with Junior Leader
There are three Sections 75mm Field Gun, 5 crew and Junior Leader
LIST FIVE
SECTION ONE TO THREE
Regimental Reconnaissance Group with Junior Leader
Sergeant, Junior Leader, armed with rifle
* May only choose one or the other
FUSILIER TEAM VOLTIGEUR TEAM
FM24/29 with three crew Four riflemen
Two riflemen Rifle-Grenadier with V-B

FRENCH REGULARS CHARACTERISTICS
EN AVANT MES BRAVES
French leaders placed much emphasis on their
officers leading by example and gaining the
absolute trust of their men, particularly
indigenous troops. As their manual says, “Troops
are a reflection of their commander. They wish
for nothing more than to admire him and follow
him blindly”.
As a result, a French officer spending all three of
his Command Initiative to rally a Group or Squad
may remove on additional point of Shock in that
Phase.
V-B GRENADE LAUNCHER
When used within its parent demi-groupe the V-B
is treated like any normal rifle grenade (one
Command Initiative is required to fire), or it may
fire as a rifle as part of the team.
GROUPE DE LANCE-GRENADIER
If all the V-B equipped men in the platoon are
formed into a group with the ‘V-B Corporal’ from
the HQ, the group will co-ordinate their fire more
effectively than individual grenadiers.
If either the Team, or the Platoon Observer (if he
is within 6” of the team), have Line of Sight to the
target, it counts as firing at Close Range.
Otherwise all fire is treated as being at Effective
Range.
The team is treated like a single weapon team
and its members as its crew. It may either fire as a
‘V-B Team’, or as a normal team of riflemen. The
V-B has a minimum range of 18”.
Like a light mortar the V-B group targets a
team rather than bombarding an area. V-
B grenades ignore cover.
A V-B group causes 2 hits in the open,
with an additional +1 per additional
grenadier in the team after the first. A full
group will therefore inflict 5 hits.
In confined areas an additional 1 hit is
caused for the first grenadier and a
further one per two figures in the group.
A full group would therefore inflict 7 hits.
ARMY SUPPORT LIST NOTES
Most of the support options on the list will be self-
explanatory. All tanks and armoured cars come with a
Junior Leader. Vehicles do not have radios. All MG
armed vehicles are equipped with armour piercing
ammunition – see special rules. MMGs are tripod
mounted. Transport only vehicles, such as a car come
with no crew except a driver, who always remains
with the vehicle and is presumed to be killed if the
vehicle is destroyed.
Where whole sections are available they will always
come with a Junior Leader. Infantry support weapons
usually do not, while heavier weapons usually do. The
lists show all Junior Leader assignments where they
are present for all troops barring vehicles as discussed
above. The following support options notes apply.
HOTCHKISS MLE. 1914 MACHINE GUN
It would be unusual to find a single machine gun
attached to a platoon. More usually there would be a
section of two weapons. If a player selects two
weapons, so as to form a section, he receives a Junior
Leader at no support cost to command them.
REGIMENTAL RECONNAISSANCE GROUP
The Regimental Reconnaissance formations were
formed from cavalry units. They have the same
organisation as an infantry section, but are mounted
on horses. The support list option is for a mounted
unit and the Cavalry specific rules apply. A
dismounted unit can be represented by the ‘Regular
Infantry Section’ option in the list.
75MM FIELD GUN
Refer to the Specific Rules for Field Gun Direct Fire
when taken as an on-table support list choice.
81MM MORTAR SQUAD
Each battalion only had two medium mortars in total.
The bombardment area for a two-tube mortar section
is 10”x10” with the aiming point at the centre.
IRREGULAR SCOUTS
If Irregular Scouts are selected as a support option the
player can field a squad of Ethiopian and Somalian
Tribal Warriors mounted on horses or camels. This
unit uses all the Ethiopian and Somalian Tribal
Warriors Special Rules and Cavalry Specific Rules.
RANDOM AIR SUPPORT
Refer to the Specific Rules for Random Air Support.
CANONS D ’ANTICHAR
The Canon de 25 mm semi-automatique modèle 1934
(Canon de 25) was introduced in 1934 as the universal
light anti-tank weapon for the infantry. There were
few available in 1935 however and priority was given
to the Metropolitan Army. As a result many units
were still equipped with the old Canon d'Infantrie de
37 modele 1916 TRP (Puteaux 37). In addition a batch
of German 3.7 cm Pak L/45 was intercepted en-route
to Abyssinia and also pressed into service.
These three weapons occupy the same slot on the
Support Table. A player may use any type, but all
weapons must be of the same type. In addition each
type has its own peculiarities:
Canon de 25: This weapon’s carriage was designed to
be towed by horses and was somewhat fragile into
the bargain. When towed by vehicles this had to be
done very slowly. If a vehicle is towing the weapon
and moves Fast for any reason, the weapon is
disabled as a result.
Puteaux 37: While it was provided with either a
wheeled carriage, or horse-packed, the Puteaux was
also very portable. Its crew can always carry the
weapon and it is treated like a carried machine gun
(Section 7.4, P.29), providing there are at least three
crew-members to carry it. This weapon fired over
‘iron sights’ so counts a -1 when firing at vehicles.
Pak 37mm L45: Unlike its later version, this weapon
was fitted with spoked wheels and was intended to be
horse-drawn. While every bit as good as its later
model, its manuals were in German and its crews had
received no formal training with it. The weapon
shoots ‘To Hit’ with a modifier of -1.
OFF-TABLE MACHINE G UN FIRE SUPPORT
Off table Machine Guns will fire using the technique
explained in the specific rules. Note, if choosing off
table machine gun fire support then the on-table
MMG may not be chosen.
IN-GAME BARRAGE
This is taken as an additional option for a normal Pre
Game Barrage/Bombardment, which enables the
continuation of the pre game barrage into the game –
see special rules.
OUI CAPORAL!
The French campaigned for many years in the
interwar period, notably in North Africa. This
produced a cadre of experienced junior NCOs in many
units. Therefore, if a French platoon is rated Regular
then the Oui Caporal! trait is available to them.
Teams may be activated with a 1 or 2, or by their own
activated Junior Leader as is normal, but they may
also be activated individually with a 3. When this is
done the team generates a single Command Initiative
Point of its own, which it can then utilise as if a Leader
was expending one on the team and in addition to any
that a Leader actually does expend. This includes both
Activation Commands and Commands which are not
activations.
 groupe de lance-grenadier, by detaching the rifle
grenadier from each groupe and placing them under
the command of the HQ group’s corporal.

PLATOON FORCE RATING

Regular: +12
Command Dice: 6

French Foreign Legion
FOREIGN LEGION INFANTRY PLATOON
The Foreign Legion entered the 1930s with a complete
change of role. While previously they had spearheaded
the pacification of both Algeria and Morocco, they
were now more frequently deployed as construction
troops and in small garrisons. As a result some of their
‘edge’ was lost.
Conversely they were also one of the few formations in
the French Army with a continuous history, which they
capitalised on and in the process created many of the
traditions that are part of the Legion mythos today.
This combined with a slew of Hollywood ‘Foreign
Legion’ movies, as well as the depression, led to a
generally different calibre of volunteer presenting
himself for service than previously.
The process of mechanisation in the Army was also felt
in the Legion, whose combat elements soon found
themselves the recipients of various vehicles. While
anciens pointed out that the old mule-mounted
columns actually covered twice the distance that the
motorised formations were capable of, the vehicles
were there to stay.
PLATOON HEADQUARTERS
Lieutenant, Senior Leader, armed with pistol
Sergent-Chef, Senior Leader, armed with rifle
Corporal, with V-B launcher
Observer with rifle and Runner with rifle
There are three Sections
SECTION ONE TO THREE
Sergeant, Junior Leader, armed with rifle
FUSILIER TEAM VOLTIGEUR TEAM
Corporal with rifle Four riflemen
FM24/29 LMG with two Rifle-Grenadier with V-B
crew
Two riflemen
All men in Voltigeur Teams are equipped with
hand grenades and one man carries a modified
rifle and has a rifle-grenade attachment for that
weapon. It is not necessary to designate which
figure this is however and the normal Rifle
Grenade rules still apply (9.1.5. p. 40).
All Legionnaires are Stubborn and Aggressive.
Oui Caporal!
A Mechanised Platoon has only two sections, with
a revised Platoon Force Rating of: +7

The Legion therefore became a strange mixture of new

and old. Its NCOs were battle-hardened anciens of the FOREIGN LEGION CHARACTERISTICS
‘Old Legion’, while its officers were the same type of
LA LÉGION EST MA FAMILLE
officer turned out by the St. Cyr Academy as had Legion Platoons roll for Force Morale with a
always been. Its jeunes however were a mix of the modifier of +2.
usual detritus of the world drawn to the Legion and
more idealistic and adventurous souls, usually with a
MARCHE OU CRÈVE
far higher educational standard than had previously
Whether in close combat, or as the result of
been evident. Originally the bulk of a Legionnaire’s
Shock build-up, the Legion will never rout nor
training had come via hard campaigning; now they
break and flee in disorder. It will ‘retreat’ the full
received the same peacetime programme as the rest of
distance stipulated in the rules, or take refuge in
the army, overlaid with the traditions and esprit de
any cover on the same route, at the owning
corps of the Legion.
player’s discretion.
Legion Infantry Platoons followed the ‘universal’
If no escape is possible they will only surrender to
organisation pattern of a small HQ groupe and three
European or Indigenous Regulars, never to
groupes de combat, two if mechanised. Each groupe
Indigenous Irregulars, against whom they will
was further divided into demi-groupes of fusiliers and
fight as ‘Die-hard’ troops in subsequent phases.
voltigeurs. In addition it was common to form a demi-
FRENCH NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
V-B GRENADE LAUNCHER
When used within its parent demi-groupe the V-B
is treated like any normal rifle grenade (one
Command Initiative is required to fire), or it may
fire as a rifle as part of the team.
GROUPE DE LANCE-GRENADIER
If all the V-B equipped men in the platoon are
formed into a group with the ‘V-B Corporal’ from
the HQ, the group will co-ordinate their fire more
effectively than individual grenadiers.
If either the Team, or the Platoon Observer (if he
is within 6” of the team), have Line of Sight to the
target, it counts as firing at Close Range.
Otherwise all fire is treated as being at Effective
Range.
The team is treated like a single weapon team
and its members as its crew. It may either fire as a
‘V-B Team’, or as a normal team of riflemen. The
V-B has a minimum range of 18”.
Like a light mortar the V-B group targets a
team rather than bombarding an area. V-
B grenades ignore cover.
A V-B group causes 2 hits in the open,
with an additional +1 per additional
grenadier in the team after the first. A full
group will therefore inflict 5 hits.
In confined areas an additional 1 hit is
caused for the first grenadier and a
further one per two figures in the group.
A full group would therefore inflict 7 hits.
FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION SUPPORT LIST
LIST ONE
Medical Orderly
Satchel Charge
Adjutant
Small truck with driver (1 Team)
Static Barbed Wire
Entrenchments for one Team
Engineer Mine Clearance Team, 3 men
Engineer Wire Cutting Team, 3 men
Engineer Demolition Team, 3 men
In-Game Barrage
LIST TWO
Truck with driver (2 teams or towed weapon)
Roadblock
Heavy Cover barricade
Pre-Game Barrage
LIST THREE
Sniper Team, 2 men
Canon de 25 with Junior Leader and 5 crew
Berliet VUDB
AMC Schneider P16 with Junior Leader
Panhard 179 VBTC with Junior Leader
AMD White-Laffly AMD 50/80 with Junior Leader
AMD Panhard 165/175 with Junior Leader
FO Team with off-table 81mm mortar battery
Off Table Machine Gun support*
Registered Artillery Barrage
LIST FOUR
Hotchkiss M1914 MMG with five crew*
Squad of mounted Irregular Scouts with Junior Leader
75mm Field Gun, 5 crew and Junior Leader
LIST FIVE
Legion Infantry Section with Junior Leader
Char D1 with Junior Leader
Regimental Reconnaissance Group with Junior Leader
* May only choose one or the other
ARMY SUPPORT LIST NOTES
Most of the support options on the list will be self-
explanatory. All tanks and armoured cars come with a
Junior Leader. Vehicles do not have radios. MMGs are
tripod mounted. Transport only vehicles, such as a car
come with no crew except a driver, who always
remains with the vehicle and is presumed to be killed
if the vehicle is destroyed.
Where whole sections are available they will always
come with a Junior Leader. Infantry support weapons
usually do not, while heavier weapons usually do. The
lists show all Junior Leader assignments where they
are present for all troops barring vehicles as discussed
above. The following support options notes apply.
HOTCHKISS MLE. 1914 MACHINE GUN
It would be unusual to find a single machine gun
attached to a platoon. More usually there would be a
section of two weapons. If a player selects two
weapons, so as to form a section, he receives a Junior
Leader at no support cost to command them.
REGIMENTAL RECONNAISSANCE GROUP
The Regimental Reconnaissance formations were
formed from cavalry units. They have the same
organisation as an infantry section, but are mounted
on horses. The support list option is for a mounted
unit and the Cavalry specific rules apply. A
dismounted unit can be represented by the ‘Regular
Infantry Section’ option in the list.
75MM FIELD GUN
Refer to the Specific Rules for Field Gun Direct Fire
when taken as an on-table support list choice.
CANONS D ’ANTICHAR
The Canon de 25 mm semi-automatique modèle 1934
(Canon de 25) was introduced in 1934 as the universal
light anti-tank weapon for the infantry. There were
few available in 1935 however and priority was given
to the Metropolitan Army. As a result many units
were still equipped with the old Canon d'Infantrie de
37 modele 1916 TRP (Puteaux 37).
Both of these weapons occupy the same slot on the
Support Table. A player may use any type, but all
weapons must be of the same type. In addition each
type has its own peculiarities:
Canon de 25: This weapon’s carriage was designed to
be towed by horses and was somewhat fragile into
the bargain. When towed by vehicles this had to be
done very slowly. If a vehicle is towing the weapon
and moves Fast for any reason, the weapon is
disabled as a result.
Puteaux 37: While it was provided with either a
wheeled carriage, or horse-packed, the Puteaux was
also very portable. Its crew can always carry the
weapon and it is treated like a carried machine gun
(Section 7.4, P.29), providing there are at least three
crew-members to carry it.
81MM MORTAR SQUAD
Each battalion only had two medium mortars in total.
The bombardment area for a two-tube mortar section
is 10”x10” with the aiming point at the centre.
OFF-TABLE MACHINE G UN FIRE SUPPORT
Off table Machine Guns will fire using the technique
explained in the specific rules. Note, if choosing off
table machine gun fire support then the on-table
MMG may not be chosen.
IN-GAME BARRAGE
This is taken as an additional option for a normal Pre
Game Barrage/Bombardment, which enables the
continuation of the pre game barrage into the game –
see special rules.
ARMOURED CARS & TRANSPORT
In Morocco the mounted companies and cavalry of
the Legion had partially transitioned to motor
transport and had conducted operations in
conjunction with units of the Chasseur d’Afrique and
the Bataillons de Chars de Combat (BCC) based there.
This had gone as far as actual operations as part of a
mechanised ‘demi-brigade de marche’; France’s first
such co-ordinated operation of that kind.
The option is given in this list to motorise the Legion
in trucks, or to mechanise them in reduced sized units
in Berliet VUDB or Panhard 179 VBTC armoured
carriers, and for both to receive support from their
own armoured cars and/or the tanks of a BCC.
Platoons in armoured transport had two vehicles per
infantry section, but only two sections per platoon. An
additional vehicle was provided for the platoon
command. Vehicles in the platoon will be of the same
type.
BERLIET VUDB
This early fully-enclosed armoured personnel carrier
was in use with some of the Foreign Legion motorised
companies. As far as can be ascertained the units
which fielded these vehicles only had White-Laffly
armoured cars in the same formation, so no other
type of armoured car can be selected from the
support table when VUDB’s are selected.
It can carry a single demi-groupe and has weapon
ports as part of the design. If a demi-groupe is carried,
up to three figures can shoot from both side and up to
two to the rear. It was underpowered and suffered
numerous mechanical faults resulting in unreliability.
PANHARD 179 VBTC
The Panhard 179 ‘Voiture blindée de transport de
combattants’, served with the Foreign Legion
motorised companies. It could carry a single infantry
demi-groupe like the Berliet VUDB, but also had its
own crew, one of whom typically manned a single
forward firing FM light machine gun.
As far as can be ascertained the units which fielded
these vehicles only had White-Laffly armoured cars in
the same formation, so no other type of armoured car
can be selected from the support table when VBTC’s
are selected.
If a demi-groupe is carried, up to three figures can
shoot from both side and up to two to the rear.
IRREGULAR SCOUTS
If Irregular Scouts are selected as a support option the
player can field a squad of Ethiopian and Somalian
Tribal Warriors mounted on horses or camels. This
unit uses all the Ethiopian and Somalian Tribal
Warriors Special Rules and Cavalry Specific Rules.
OUI CAPORAL!
With its fire and manoeuvre training and the veterans
in its ranks, the Legion literally had a core of men with
a “marshal’s baton in their backpacks”. As a result the
leaders of the demi-groupes were often as capable as
the leader of the groupe de combat they were part of.
Legion Teams can activate on a roll of 1 or 2,
individual sections on a roll of 2 as normal. However
both sections and teams can also activate on a roll of
3. When this is done the team generates a single
Command Initiative Point of its own, which it can then
utilise as if a Leader was expending one on the team
and in addition to any that a Leader actually does
expend. This includes both Activation Commands and
Commands which are not activations.
RANDOM AIR SUPPORT
Refer to the Specific Rules for Random Air Support.
 FRENCH CHASSEURS SUPPORT LIST
LIST ONE
Medical Orderly
Satchel Charge
Adjutant
Small truck with driver (1 Team)
Static Barbed Wire
Entrenchments for one Team
French Chasseurs d’Afrique Engineer Mine Clearance Team, 3 men
Engineer Wire Cutting Team, 3 men
FRENCH CHASSEURS PLATOON Engineer Demolition Team, 3 men
In 1935 the Chasseurs d’Afrique were converting to
In-Game Barrage
mixed cavalry and motorised formations, with two
squadrons each of cavalry, motorised infantry and LIST TWO
armoured cars. This list represents a motorised platoon Truck with driver (2 teams or towed weapon)
whereas a cavalry squadron can be represented by Roadblock
using the ‘Spahis’ list, but by taking support from the Oui Caporal!
Support Table in this list.
Heavy Cover barricade
The Chasseurs had a slightly reduced peloton structure, Pre-Game Barrage
with a small HQ groupe and only two groupes de LIST THREE
combat. Each groupe was further divided into demi- Sniper Team, 2 men
groupes of fusiliers and éclaireurs. It was still common Canon de 25 with Junior Leader and 5 crew
to form a demi-groupe de lance-grenadier, as was the AMC Schneider P16 with Junior Leader
case in the infantry, but there would be one less
AMD White-Laffly AMD 50/80 with Junior Leader
grenadier in the team.
AMD Panhard 165/175 with Junior Leader
PLATOON FORCE RATING Registered Artillery Barrage
Regular: 0 Off Table Machine Gun support* (Indirect Fire only)
Command Dice: 5 LIST FOUR
PLATOON HEADQUARTERS Hotchkiss M1914 MMG with five crew*
Lieutenant, Senior Leader, armed with pistol Squad of mounted Irregular Scouts with Junior Leader
Sergent-Chef, Superior Junior Leader, armed with rifle Chasseur Section with Junior Leader
Corporal with V-B launcher 75mm Field Gun, 5 crew and Junior Leader
Observer with rifle and Runner with rifle LIST FIVE
There are two Sections Char D1 with Junior Leader
SECTION ONE & TWO Mounted Chasseur Section with Junior Leader
Sergeant, Junior Leader, armed with rifle * May only choose one or the other
FUSILIER TEAM ÉCLAIREURS TEAM
FM24/29 with three crew Five riflemen
Three riflemen Rifle-Grenadier with V-B

All men in Éclaireurs Teams are equipped with

hand grenades and one man carries a modified
rifle and has a rifle-grenade attachment for that
weapon. It is not necessary to designate which
figure this is however and the normal Rifle
Grenade rules still apply (9.1.5. p. 40).

FRENCH CHASSEURS CHARACTERISTICS
EN AVANT MES BRAVES
French leaders placed much emphasis on their
officers leading by example and gaining the
absolute trust of their men, particularly
indigenous troops. As their manual says, “Troops
are a reflection of their commander. They wish
for nothing more than to admire him and follow
him blindly”.
As a result, a French officer spending all three of
his Command Initiative to rally a Group or Squad
may remove on additional point of Shock in that
Phase.
V-B GRENADE LAUNCHER
When used within its parent demi-groupe the V-B
is treated like any normal rifle grenade (one
Command Initiative is required to fire), or it may
fire as a rifle as part of the team.
GROUPE DE LANCE-GRENADIER
If all the V-B equipped men in the platoon are
formed into a group with the ‘V-B Corporal’ from
the HQ, the group will co-ordinate their fire more
effectively than individual grenadiers.
If either the Team, or the Platoon Observer (if he
is within 6” of the team), have Line of Sight to the
target, it counts as firing at Close Range.
Otherwise all fire is treated as being at Effective
Range.
The team is treated like a single weapon team
and its members as its crew. It may either fire as a
‘V-B Team’, or as a normal team of riflemen. The
V-B has a minimum range of 18”.
Like a light mortar the V-B group targets a
team rather than bombarding an area. V-
B grenades ignore cover.
A V-B group causes 2 hits in the open,
with an additional +1 per additional
grenadier in the team after the first. A full
group will therefore inflict 5 hits.
In confined areas an additional 1 hit is
caused for the first grenadier and a
further one per two figures in the group.
A full group would therefore inflict 7 hits.
ARMY SUPPORT LIST NOTES
Most of the support options on the list will be self-
explanatory. All tanks and armoured cars come with a
Junior Leader. Vehicles do not have radios. All MG
armed vehicles are equipped with armour piercing
ammunition – see special rules. MMGs are tripod
mounted. Transport only vehicles, such as a car come
with no crew except a driver, who always remains
with the vehicle and is presumed to be killed if the
vehicle is destroyed.
Where whole sections are available they will always
come with a Junior Leader. Infantry support weapons
usually do not, while heavier weapons usually do. The
lists show all Junior Leader assignments where they
are present for all troops barring vehicles as discussed
above. The following support options notes apply.
HOTCHKISS MLE. 1914 MACHINE GUN
It would be unusual to find a single machine gun
attached to a platoon. More usually there would be a
section of two weapons. If a player selects two
weapons, so as to form a section, he receives a Junior
Leader at no support cost to command them.
CAVALRY SECTION
Motorised units could be supported by cavalry units
and vice-versa. They have the same organisation as an
infantry section, but are mounted on horses. The
support list option is for a mounted unit and the
Cavalry specific rules apply. A dismounted unit can be
represented by the ‘Chasseurs Section’ option in the
list.
OFF-TABLE MACHINE G UN FIRE SUPPORT
Off table Machine Guns will fire using the technique
explained in the specific rules, however only indirect
MG fire is possible, not direct MG fire from off-table.
Note, if choosing off table machine gun fire support
then the on-table MMG may not be chosen.
IN-GAME BARRAGE
This is taken as an additional option for a normal Pre
Game Barrage/Bombardment, which enables the
continuation of the pre game barrage into the game –
see special rules.
75MM FIELD GUN
Refer to the Specific Rules for Field Gun Direct Fire
when taken as an on-table support list choice.
81MM MORTAR SQUAD
Each battalion only had two medium mortars in total.
The bombardment area for a two-tube mortar section
is 10”x10” with the aiming point at the centre.
CANONS DE 25
The Canon de 25 mm semi-automatique modèle 1934
(Canon de 25) was introduced in 1934 as the universal
light anti-tank weapon for the Chasseurs.
The weapon’s carriage was designed to be towed by
horses and was somewhat fragile into the bargain.
When towed by vehicles this had to be done very
slowly. If a vehicle is towing the weapon and moves
Fast for any reason, the weapon is disabled as a
result.
CHAR D1
Late in 1936 three battalions of Char D1s were formed
in Morocco with vehicles transferred from France. We
have allowed an earlier transfer of these vehicles than
occurred in reality. If players prefer to stick to the real
timeline, then only armoured cars may be fielded by
Chasseur units.
ARMOURED CARS
Typically each unit only operated a single type of
armoured car, so only one vehicle type may be
chosen. The 5th Chasseurs were unique in fielding
both Schneider P16 and Laffly AMD 50s, so are
allowed to mix vehicle types within the force.
IRREGULAR SCOUTS
If Irregular Scouts are selected as a support option the
player can field a squad of Ethiopian and Somalian
Tribal Warriors mounted on horses or camels. This
unit uses all the Ethiopian and Somalian Tribal
Warriors Special Rules and Cavalry Specific Rules.
OUI CAPORAL!
The French campaigned for many years in the
interwar period, notably in North Africa. This
produced a cadre of experienced junior NCOs in their
mounted Spahis and Chasseur D’Afrique units.
Therefore, Individual Teams can activate on a roll of 1
or 2, sections on a roll of 2 as normal. However both
sections and teams can also activate on a roll of 3.
When this is done the team generates a single
Command Initiative Point of its own, which it can then
utilise as if a Leader was expending one on the team
and in addition to any that a Leader actually does
expend. This includes both Activation Commands and
Commands which are not activations.
RANDOM AIR SUPPORT
Refer to the Specific Rules for Random Air Support.
 All men in the Éclaireurs team are equipped with
hand grenades and one man carries a modified
rifle and has a rifle-grenade attachment for that
weapon. It is not necessary to designate which
figure this is however and the normal Rifle
Grenade rules still apply (9.1.5. p. 40).

FRENCH SPAHIS SUPPORT LIST

LIST ONE
French Spahis Medical Orderly
Satchel Charge
FRENCH SPAHIS PLATOON
In 1935 the Spahis were wholly mounted formations, Adjutant
with even their support elements utilising horse Static Barbed Wire
transport. This list represents a peloton within one of a Entrenchments for one Team
Spahis Regiment ‘Sabre Squadron’ with attached Engineer Mine Clearance Team, 3 men
regimental support elements. It can also be used for
Engineer Wire Cutting Team, 3 men
horse-mounted Chasseur d’Afrique pelotons, but these
use the Support List from the Chasseur d’Afrique list. Engineer Demolition Team, 3 men
In-Game Barrage
French cavalry units had a slightly reduced peloton LIST TWO
structure, with a small HQ groupe and only two Truck with driver to tow Canon de 25
groupes de combat. Each groupe was further divided Roadblock
into demi-groupes of fusiliers and éclaireurs. It was still
Oui Caporal!
common to form a demi-groupe de lance-grenadier, as
was the case in the infantry, but there would be one Heavy Cover barricade
less grenadier in the team. Pre-Game Barrage
LIST THREE
The unit is assumed to be dismounted at the start of Sniper Team, 2 men
the game and the Force Rating reflects this. If the
Canon d’Antichar with Junior Leader and 5 crew
player prefers to field a mounted force, the Force
Rating in brackets is used and one man is added to the FO Team with off-table 60mm mortar platoon
HQ group and one to each demi-groupe, reflecting the Off Table Machine Gun support*
off-table horse holders being present. LIST FOUR
Hotchkiss M1914 MMG with five crew*
Squad of mounted Irregular Scouts with Junior Leader
PLATOON FORCE RATING
Regular: 0 or (+4) Spahis Section with Junior Leader
Command Dice: 5 75mm Field Gun, 5 crew and Junior Leader
LIST FIVE
PLATOON HEADQUARTERS Mounted Spahis Section with Junior Leader
Lieutenant, Senior Leader, armed with pistol
* May only choose one or the other
Sergent-Chef, Superior Junior Leader, armed with rifle
Corporal with V-B launcher
Observer with rifle
There are two Sections
SECTION ONE & TWO
Sergeant, Junior Leader, armed with rifle
FUSILIER TEAM ÉCLAIREURS TEAM
FM24/29 with three crew Four riflemen
Two riflemen Rifle-Grenadier with V-B
ARMY SUPPORT LIST NOTES
Most of the support options on the list will be self-
explanatory. All tanks and armoured cars come with a
Junior Leader. Vehicles do not have radios. MMGs are
tripod mounted. Transport only vehicles, such as a car
come with no crew except a driver, who always
remains with the vehicle and is presumed to be killed
if the vehicle is destroyed.
Where whole sections are available they will always
come with a Junior Leader. Infantry support weapons
usually do not, while heavier weapons usually do. The
lists show all Junior Leader assignments where they
are present for all troops barring vehicles as discussed
above. The following support options notes apply.
HOTCHKISS MLE. 1914 MACHINE GUN
It would be unusual to find a single machine gun
attached to a platoon. More usually there would be a
section of two weapons. If a player selects two
weapons, so as to form a section, he receives a Junior
Leader at no support cost to command them.
OFF-TABLE MACHINE G UN FIRE SUPPORT
Off table Machine Guns will fire using the technique
explained in the specific rules. Note, if choosing off
table machine gun fire support then the on-table
MMG may not be chosen.
IN-GAME BARRAGE
This is taken as an additional option to a normal Pre
Game Barrage/Bombardment, enabling the
continuation of the pre game barrage into the game –
see special rules.
75MM FIELD GUN
Refer to the Specific Rules for Field Gun Direct Fire
when taken as an on-table support list choice.
60MM MORTAR PLATOON
Each regiment had four 60mm medium mortars in
total. The bombardment area for a four-tube mortar
section is 10”x10” with the aiming point at the centre.
IRREGULAR SCOUTS
If Irregular Scouts are selected as a support option the
player can field a squad of Ethiopian and Somalian
Tribal Warriors mounted on horses or camels. This
unit uses all the Ethiopian and Somalian Tribal
Warriors Special Rules and Cavalry Specific Rules.
FRENCH SPAHIS CHARACTERISTICS
EN AVANT MES BRAVES
French leaders placed much emphasis on their
officers leading by example and gaining the
absolute trust of their men, particularly
indigenous troops. As their manual says, “Troops
are a reflection of their commander. They wish
for nothing more than to admire him and follow
him blindly”.
As a result, a French officer spending all three of
his Command Initiative to rally a Group or Squad
may remove on additional point of Shock in that
Phase.
V-B GRENADE LAUNCHER
When used within its parent demi-groupe the V-B
is treated like any normal rifle grenade (one
Command Initiative is required to fire), or it may
fire as a rifle as part of the team.
GROUPE DE L ANCE-GRENADIER
If all the V-B equipped men in the platoon are
formed into a group with the ‘V-B Corporal’ from
the HQ, the group will co-ordinate their fire more
effectively than individual grenadiers.
If either the Team, or the Platoon Observer (if he
is within 6” of the team), have Line of Sight to the
target, it counts as firing at Close Range.
Otherwise all fire is treated as being at Effective
Range.
The team is treated like a single weapon team
and its members as its crew. It may either fire as a
‘V-B Team’, or as a normal team of riflemen. The
V-B has a minimum range of 18”.
Like a light mortar the V-B group targets a
team rather than bombarding an area. V-
B grenades ignore cover.
A V-B group causes 2 hits in the open,
with an additional +1 per additional
grenadier in the team after the first. A full
group will therefore inflict 5 hits.
In confined areas an additional 1 hit is
caused for the first grenadier and a
further one per two figures in the group.
A full group would therefore inflict 7 hits.
CANONS D ’ANTICHAR
The Canon de 25 mm semi-automatique modèle 1934
(Canon de 25) was introduced in 1934 as the universal
light anti-tank weapon for the Spahis. There were few
available in 1935 however and priority was given to
the Metropolitan Army. As a result many units were
still equipped with the old Canon d'Infantrie de 37
modele 1916 TRP (Puteaux 37).
These two weapons occupy the same slot on the
Support Table. A player may use either type, but all
weapons selected must be of the same type. In
addition each type has its own peculiarities:
Canon de 25: This weapon’s carriage was designed to
be towed by horses and was somewhat fragile into
the bargain. When towed by vehicles this had to be
done very slowly. If a vehicle is towing the weapon
and moves Fast for any reason, the weapon is
disabled as a result.
OUI CAPORAL!
The French campaigned for many years in the
interwar period, notably in North Africa. This
produced a cadre of experienced junior NCOs in their
mounted Spahis and Chasseur D’Afrique units.
Individual Teams can activate on a roll of 1 or 2,
individual sections on a roll of 2 as normal. However
both sections and teams can also activate on a roll of
3. When this is done the team generates a single
Command Initiative Point of its own, which it can then
utilise as if a Leader was expending one on the team
and in addition to any that a Leader actually does
expend. This includes both Activation Commands and
Commands which are not activations.
RANDOM AIR SUPPORT
Refer to the Specific Rules for Random Air Support.

Puteaux 37: While it was carried on pack-horses, the

Puteaux was also very portable on the battlefield
itself. Its crew can always carry the weapon and it is
treated like a carried machine gun (Section 7.4, P.29),
providing there are at least three crew-members to
carry it.
 PLATOON FORCE RATING
Regular: -3
Command Dice: 5

PLATOON HEADQUARTERS
Lieutenant, Senior Leader, armed with pistol
Sous-Officer, Superior Junior Leader with rifle
There are two Sections
SECTION ONE & TWO
French Méharistes Sergeant, Junior Leader, armed with rifle
MÉHARISTE TEAM
FRENCH CAMEL MOUNTED DEMI-SECTION 9 Men with rifles
The Méharistes had originally been established in the
Sahara as a nomadic gendarmerie, drawn from the
local population, but with French officers and NCOs, All men in the Méhariste team are equipped with
drawn from the Bureau de Affaires Indigènes (Native hand grenades and one man carries a modified
Affairs Bureau). Unlike the similar Spahis and Tirailleurs rifle and has a rifle-grenade attachment for that
however, the Méharistes were paramilitary formations weapon. It is not necessary to designate which
and only served within their own locales. The system figure this is however and the normal Rifle
was later extended to the Mandate in the Levant and Grenade rules still apply (9.1.5. p. 40).
into French Somaliland.
FRENCH MÉHARISTE SUPPORT LIST
The unit in the Côte française des Somalis (CFS) was a LIST ONE
reduced company of just two platoons, plus supporting Medical Orderly
elements. However its operations could be enhanced Satchel Charge
by raising Goumier (auxiliaries) from the local tribes. A Adjutant
typical Goum (company) was of around two hundred
Entrenchments for one Team
tribesmen and the raising of several goums to form a
Tabor (battalion) would be warranted in wartime. Engineer Mine Clearance Team, 3 men
Engineer Wire Cutting Team, 3 men
It would appear that the unit structure followed a Engineer Demolition Team, 3 men
different pattern than that which existed in the French In-Game Barrage
Army itself. A full platoon was composed of two LIST TWO
officers, six NCOs and 36 men, divided into two half-
Mount one Section
platoons, each of an officer, a platoon sergeant and
two sections each of an NCO and nine men. Roadblock
Oui Caporal!
Only sufficient camels were provided to mount one Somali Tribal Warriors – 10 men
half-platoon and to carry the platoon’s baggage and Heavy Cover barricade
stores. The Méharistes do not appear to have had
Mount one Section on camels – see cavalry rules
LMGs and V-B launchers, but it is presumed they would
have access to hand grenades. Pre-Game Barrage
LIST THREE
The platoon list portrays a demi-platoon of Méharistes Sniper Team, 2 men
dismounted. If the player prefers to field all or some of Canon d’Antichar with Junior Leader and 5 crew
a mounted half-section, the support list option is used FO Team with off-table 60mm mortar platoon
to upgrade each section. If the entire platoon is
mounted the command group may be taken as Armoured Car
mounted as well at no cost. Camels do not require Off Table Machine Gun support*
‘holders’ to be deployed, as they are quite happy to Random Air Support
kneel down and do nothing for long periods of time. LIST FOUR
Regardless of how many méhariste sections are taken Hotchkiss M1914 MMG with five crew*
as mounted all other options chosen from the support
Squad of mounted Goumier with Junior Leader
list must be on foot.
*May only choose one or the other

FRENCH MÉHARISTE CHARACTERISTICS
EN AVANT MES BRAVES
French leaders placed much emphasis on their
officers leading by example and gaining the
absolute trust of their men, particularly
indigenous troops. As their manual says, “Troops
are a reflection of their commander. They wish
for nothing more than to admire him and follow
him blindly”.
As a result, a French officer spending all three of
his Command Initiative to rally a Group or Squad
may remove on additional point of Shock in that
Phase.
ARMY SUPPORT LIST NOTES
Most of the support options on the list will be self-
explanatory. MMGs are tripod mounted.
Where whole sections are available they will always
come with a Junior Leader. Infantry support weapons
usually do not, while heavier weapons usually do. The
lists show all Junior Leader assignments where they
are present for all troops. The following support
options notes apply.
HOTCHKISS MLE. 1914 MACHINE GUN
It would be unusual to find a single machine gun
attached to a platoon. More usually there would be a
section of two weapons. If a player selects two
weapons, so as to form a section, he receives a Junior
Leader at no support cost to command them.
OFF-TABLE MACHINE G UN FIRE SUPPORT
Off table Machine Guns will fire using the technique
explained in the specific rules. Note, if choosing off
table machine gun fire support then the on-table
MMG may not be chosen.
IN-GAME BARRAGE
This is taken as an additional option for a normal Pre
Game Barrage/Bombardment, which enables the
continuation of the pre game barrage into the game –
see special rules.
60MM MORTAR PLATOON
Each regiment had four 60mm medium mortars in
total. The bombardment area for a four-tube mortar
section is 10”x10” with the aiming point at the centre.
ARMOURED CAR
The French CFS forces are listed as having armoured
cars and it is likely that some of these were attached
to the Méharistes, as they were in the Sahara.
Therefore a player may choose one armoured car with
Junior Leader as a support list option, being either an
AMC Schneider P16, AMD White-Laffly AMD 50/80 or
AMD Panhard 165/175.
OUI CAPORAL!
The méharistes were in constant use within the CFS
against both recalcitrant tribesmen and Somali or
Ethiopian bandits. This produced quite a reserve of
experienced junior NCOs and men in their ranks. The
detaching of a ‘demi-groupe’ from a section would
mean that a suitable corporal or man could be found
to lead it.
Therefore, detached Teams can activate on a roll of 1
or 2, individual Sections on a roll of 2 as normal.
However both sections and teams can also activate on
a roll of 3. When this is done the team generates a
single Command Initiative Point of its own, which it
can then utilise as if a Leader was expending one on
the team and in addition to any that a Leader actually
does expend. This includes both Activation Commands
and Commands which are not activations.
SOMALI T RIBAL WARRIORS
The CFS forces were supported by numerous Somali
tribal warriors, both on foot and mounted. Therefore
a player may select as many Somali Tribal Warrior
support list units as he likes from the Eritrean and
Somali Irregulars platoon list.
Use all the rules (special rules and support list upgrade
options) as the list allows, excluding any Italian
support equipment and the Italian officers being
replaced with French officer equivalents. If three or
more tribal warrior warband units are taken then the
Baluch Command is also included for free.
RANDOM AIR SUPPORT
Refer to the Specific Rules for Random Air Support.

Specific Rules
The following rules are specific to Chain of Command:
The Abyssinian War. Whenever an army list refers to
these rules they apply without modification unless
noted in that army list.
CHAIN OF COMMAND ADDITIONAL RULES
The generation of Chain of Command points and
subsequent use of Chain of Command dice remains
the same as in the main rules. However, the following
general options are added.
Reduce your opponent’s Command Dice by one
in the next Phase. This must be played before
your opponent rolls his Command Dice.
Add two Command Dice to your hand in this
Phase. This must be played before you roll your
Command Dice.
Change the target for an off-table machine gun
by 18”. Other national characteristics will be
covered in the Army Lists.
Improve the motivation of Irregular troops by +1
AGGRESSIVE
Troops that are rated Aggressive who receive shock
from firing or combat ignore the first point received
from each occasion of shock inflicted on them in a
phase (so they can potentially shake off multiple
shock ‘hits’ inflicted upon them).
ARTILLERY RULES
Artillery doctrine during the interwar years was a mix
of lessons learned, refined, or in some cases lost from
the time of the Great War. Those familiar with Second
World War artillery use might be generally less
familiar with the practices of these earlier years, so
these rules will probably result in looking at fire
support in a new way.
Therefore for a true appreciation of the use,
limitations and effectiveness of artillery in this period,
which directly impact on the armies of The Abyssinian
Crisis, the following rules are need to properly reflect
the reality of artillery doctrine used during this period.
PRE G AME BOMBARDMENT/BARRAGE
A pre game bombardment (or barrage) is designed to
disrupt the enemy immediately before an attack
commences, or to break up an enemy attack in its
assembly area. We use a simple “system” where the
Italian, British, French or Ethiopian Imperial Guard
player may either select a Bombardment on an enemy
position, or use an In-game barrage. This is not
available to the Ethiopian Regular or Tribal Irregular
platoons. He does this using the rules as follows;
Bombardment on enemy positions in the pre game
barrage (p82) will not kill any of your enemy, but it
can reflect the disorder it causes in his ranks by
disrupting your enemy’s ability to deploy onto the
table.
During the first Turn of the game, Units and Leaders
which have been bombarded must roll to deploy onto
the table as though no Senior Leader is present with
their force i.e. 4-6 to deploy (-1 if a heavy
Bombardment). This lasts only for the first Turn of the
game, after which it has no continuing effect. No
more than one Bombardment on enemy positions may
be selected. Note – this means that an opposing
player will always roll to deploy any troops whether he
is the attacker or defender.
In-game barrage phases continue the pre-game
bombardment/barrage into the game itself. The in-
game bombardment must be targeted at a single
enemy Jump Off point or, if two Jump Off points are
within 18” of each other, both may be targeted. While
the barrage continues these points may not be used
to deploy troops.
However, any Teams of either side coming within 18”
of these Jump Off Points, or 12” if in entrenchments,
will test for friendly fire from the barrage using the
mortar barrage rules in Chain of Command. No matter
how many phases of In Game Barrage are selected,
the barrage will end once the first Turn ends.
REGISTERED ARTILLERY BARRAGE
Besides the Pre-Game Barrages allowed within Chain
of Command, additional dedicated fire support might
also be provided for a particularly important
objective. With limited means of communication, it
was necessary to identify and register potential
targets before an attack began, or for a defender to
identify potential troop routes and relay them to his
supporting artillery. This is represented by Registered
Barrage fire, thus all artillery fire is either pre game
bombardments and/or registered artillery fire.
Either or both players may each place up to three
markers on the table (shell craters being the
obvious choice) to represent likely locations for
registered fire. As such points would be fairly
obvious to both sides; there is no need for any
‘hidden’ system here. Players need not have made
a Registered Artillery Barrage support list choice
to place markers, only to actually use them.
A player may call down a single bombardment per
selection made on the Support List Table for his
force. This may be on any marker positioned by
him in the Pre-Game Phase. Deviation is rolled for
in the same way as a mortar barrage (10.3 P.46)
and the marker moved to the new position.
A Registered Artillery Barrage is linear; 24” x 12”
and is laid with the marker mid-centre and
parallel to the player’s own table edge. Units of
either side falling under the barrage area will
undertake no action in the following phase
(regardless of which player’s phase it is) and are
considered Pinned.
At the end of that following phase the effects of
the barrage are assessed by rolling 1D6 for each
team or squad individually;
5-6 - The unit receives 1D6 hits, which are
resolved on Table 6 (P.38).
2-4 - The unit receives 1D6 hits as above,
with a dice roll modifier of -1.
1- Any crew-served weapon is
destroyed, but its crew is unharmed.
COMPANY & BATTALION SUPPORT FIRE
Almost invariably all regular forces retained units of
various weapons, typically mortars and medium
machine guns, but in some cases including light field
guns (usually termed ‘Infantry Guns’ or ‘Mountain
Guns’), to support the operations of their subordinate
elements. While in some cases these will be attached
to on-table forces, typically they were retained behind
the frontline, so as to be able to support all of the
subordinate units of the parent formation. As a
general rule therefore;
When there is an on-table element, a
corresponding off-table support element may not
be selected from the Support Table. E.g. If a
player selects a medium machine gun to support
his platoon, he may not select any off-table
machine gun support fire. Exceptions to this rule
will be noted in the relevant force lists.
FIELD GUNS - DIRECT ARTILLERY FIRE
An artillery piece is defined as any direct fire weapon
over 50mm and which is not an anti-tank gun, or a
mortar. It would normally be quite unusual to find any
form of artillery as close to the frontline action that
Chain of Command depicts, however it can be a
feature of a game to have them on-table usually
chosen as support list choice in a platoon list.
Given the gunner’s maxim that “close is good enough”
and that the destructive power of the H.E. round was
spread over some distance, the normal shooting rules
are not used. The following rules are used instead by
on-table artillery firing by line of sight;
An artillery pieces may not engage a target closer
than 18” to it. Artillery crews under this distance
will use their rifles or carbines as if they were a
normal infantry squad.
Artillery pieces do not roll to hit. Instead the
effectiveness of their fire is based purely on the
rolling of their firepower dice. The target unit and
any other unit (friend or foe) within 4” of them
rolls on Table Six (P. 38) in the Chain of Command
rule book.
Any unit that is within 4” of the target unit will
also ‘take hits’ as if it was the target unit. Any unit
within 8” will do likewise, but with half the
number of firepower dice (rounded down) in
proportion. Artillery shells do not discriminate
between friend and foe.
When rolling firepower dice if two 6s are rolled
add an extra hit and if three or more 6s then add
a further hit ie two extra hits total. This accounts
for direct fire ‘critical’ hits by the firing gun.
When a vehicle is either the target unit, or falls within
either of the ‘proximity distances’, it takes hits from
the corresponding number of Firepower dice detailed
above. Armoured vehicles are treated in the following
manner;
If a vehicle is the targeted unit, or falls within the
proximity distances outlined above, it receives
hits with half the number of Firepower dice in
proportion to those distances. ‘Hits’ are calculated
using the Step 3 of the Fire Against Vehicles rules
(P.55). The vehicle uses its Armour Factor Dice
against them in the normal way.
 The direction from which the vehicle receives fire standard unit as defined in the Chain of Command
is calculated from the direction of the target unit. rules. It may fire a concentrated barrage using the
If the vehicle itself is the target unit, then it is 12” square barrage with a Firepower of 6. It may
from the direction of the gun firing at it. further concentrate its fire into a 6” square area
with a Firepower of 8.
When rolling firepower dice, for each 6 rolled
after the first an extra ‘hit’ is added, to represent
possible direct hits or critical damage by large MACHINE GUNS
fragments. While the typical utilisation of machine guns was in a
direct fire capacity using line of sight, by the Thirties
Example: A 75/28 field gun opens fire at an infantry
the use of them as indirect fire weapons was a well-
unit which has an armoured truck nearby. The gun
practised operation in European armies. In these
doesn’t roll to hit but instead rolls its four firepower
forces the option is therefore usually given for both
dice vs table six, causing one shock to be received by
off-table direct fire over fixed ‘lanes of fire’ using line
the infantry unit. The nearby truck, 6” away, has one
of sight, or indirect fire using on-table observers in the
dice rolled against it, needing a 4+ to be hit, which it
same way as a mortar or infantry gun unit. Off table
scores, whereby the truck now rolls its one armour
Machine Guns taken as a support list choice may use
dice to ‘save’.
either direct fire or indirect fire, but only one type per
game.
INFANTRY GUNS
Typically infantry guns roughly correspond to the
equivalent mortar types and sizes. Their off-table fire INDIRECT MACHINE GUN FIRE
By the Thirties the use of machine gun units in an
is therefore similar in operation and effect as the
indirect fire role was well established. The British in
corresponding mortar type. Weapons of 60-65mm are
particular favoured this method so much that they
similar to 60mm mortars and weapons of 70-75mm
abandoned the use of infantry guns and minimised
are similar to 81mm mortars. They use the same
the numbers of medium mortars in their battalions.
‘barrage rules’ as mortars in this context.
Individual machine gun platoons would be tasked with
supporting the companies of their own battalion.
MORTARS However there were rarely enough weapons to
Off-table mortar fire is already covered in the Chain of
provide support for everyone at the same time.
Command rule book. The only variation to those rules
is that mortar units vary by size and type in this era, Indirect Machine Gun Fire may be chosen as a
rather than the somewhat standardised unit sizes support option from the relevant Support List
present in World War Two. Mortar barrages may be Table, only if there are no on-table medium
the standard barrage as indicated in the rules, or may machine guns and no off-table direct fire machine
be ‘concentrated barrages’ which cover smaller areas guns.
with the same number of rounds. What types are
Indirect machine gun fire is continuous
available to particular forces will be defined within
throughout the turn it is activated. The availability
each force list, but as they will fall into similar
of subsequent barrages is determined in the same
patterns, generally it can be said that;
way as mortar barrages (10.3.3. P47-48).
A medium mortar section with two or three
A fixed point on the table is selected as the centre
weapons of approximately 50-60mm, has a
of the barrage area. This point may be later
barrage area of 12“ square. It has a Firepower
moved up to 18” by the Junior Leader of the unit’s
rating of 3. It may fire a concentrated barrage,
observation team by expending two Command
which uses a 6” square barrage area, with a
Initiative Points in any phase, causing the unit to
Firepower of 4.
cease fire for the remainder of the current Turn,
A medium mortar section, with two weapons of with the unit firing at the new target point at the
approximately 81mm, has a barrage area of 18“ start of the next Turn.
square. It has a firepower rating of 2. If desired
A machine gun ‘barrage’ covers a square ’beaten
the player may choose to fire a concentrated
zone’ of 12” square. Units located within, or
barrage, which uses the 12” square barrage area
entering the beaten zone, will take potentially
with a Firepower of 4. It may further concentrate
automatic hits, determined by the weapon’s
its fire to a 6” square area with a Firepower of 6.
Firepower rating. Do not roll to hit, but instead go
A medium mortar platoon, with four weapons of directly to Table 6 (P.38) to assess the effects of
approximately 81mm, has a barrage area of 18“ the barrage.
square. It has a firepower rating of 4. This is the
 On the phase in which firing commences the
option to extend the normal barrage area to 18”
is allowed. This reduces Firepower to half the
number of dice (rounded up). While the aiming
point can still be moved as indicated above, the
barrage area will remain fixed for the remainder
of the turn.
Hits against vehicles are determined as striking
upper armour, due to the ‘plunging fire’ of the
machine gun unit. Hits on vehicles are therefore
treated as hits on rear armour. Damage is
determined using Step 3 of the Fire Against
Vehicle rules (P.55).
DIRECT MACHINE GUN FIRE
Direct Fire is undertaken by sections of two or three
machine guns firing on fixed lanes of fire by line of
sight. It is assumed that an elevated position has been
obtained for the section, which somewhat reduces
the effects of cover such as walls and small rises of
ground (otherwise the unit would fire indirectly). A
machine gun section is presumed to have its own
Junior Leader who expends Command Initiative Points
as required for the team to function and without the
need for the player to activate him.
Direct machine gun fire takes two forms, one of which
must be selected at the start of the game for the first
turn. These options are either ‘Lane-Firing’ or
‘Covering Fire’. The role of the unit may be changed
by a Senior Leader expending two Command Initiative
Points in any phase, causing the unit to cease fire for
the remainder of the current Turn, with the unit
beginning its new role at the start of the next Turn.
In both cases a directional marker is placed on the
player’s own table edge, which is used to indicate the
direction of fire of the section (fire lane). The arc of
fire covered by the weapon is 45° (i.e. 22.5° either
side of the fire lane). The fire lane may be changed by
up to a further 45° in either direction in a single
phase, during which no firing will take place, but at no
cost in Command Initiative points.
Lane-Firing - Effectively the section operates as if
it was a unit on Overwatch (4.5.4. P.20), except
that it continues to remain on Overwatch after it
has fired. The section will fire at any target which
presents itself within its arc of fire. As fire is
undertaken by more than one weapon at the
same target, only one ‘to hit’ roll is made, but
Firepower dice are increased by 50% to take into
consideration the fire of the second weapon eg
tripod MMG = FP 10 x 1.5 = 15 FP dice.
Covering Fire – The section provides suppressive
fire for the platoon to cover its advance or
defensive posture (4.5.4. P.20). The section may
only fire at areas which are both within its arc of
fire and line of sight. It does not have to fire at the
same target each phase however and fire may be
shifted from target to target on individual phases.
Unlike normal covering fire, the machine gun
section does not have to be activated; it is working
to a fire plan drawn up before the battle began.
The area covered is 12” frontage, but otherwise
the Covering Fire rule (4.5.4) operates as normal.
While removed from the battlefield itself, Direct
Fire MGs are visible targets. A Forward Observer
Team with line of sight to the section’s direction
marker may call down a barrage on the machine
gun section. The machine gun section is assumed
to be firing from a prepared position and is
considered to be in Hard Cover when assessing
barrage casualties.
OFF-TABLE FORWARD OBSERVATION TEAMS
A Forward Observer Team (FOT) for off-table mortar
and indirect-firing MG sections, is made up of a Junior
Leader plus two men, who may always end their move
in a Tactical Stance when deployed on-table.
They may always deploy on-table when activated,
ignoring rule (4.3) if a Senior Leader is not available to
deploy them, this reflecting a previously established
observation post, which is connected by telephone to
their unit. Provided that they do not move, they can
retain that link without coming out of their tactical
stance.
If they move from their OP then they will have to use
visual signals (flags or a heliograph) to relay
information to their unit. Doing this denies them the
benefits of a tactical stance as it exposes their
position.
FOTs activate on their own Junior Leader’s Command
Dice, however FOTs may be activated by the Senior
Leader Platoon Commander for one command
initiative (as per 10.3), who in addition can also spot
for the FOT if he can see a target in direct line of sight
that the FOT cannot. No other leader however may
spot for the FOT. If a FOT is destroyed then no further
requests for indirect fire may be made.
Off-table batteries follow all the normal rules of
Support Weapon Fire once activated (section 10).
ENTRENCHMENT AND BUNKERS
Entrenchments are normally Team-sized to hold
support weapons. Two entrenchments may be
selected to hold a section or squad of up to ten men;
three for a single squad of up to twenty men. Bunkers,
whether wood and sandbag or concrete, these are
assumed to be large enough to hold one squad of up
to 12 men, or one support weapon team.
CROSSING WIRE
Troops may attempt to cross an undamaged section
of wire. In order to do so a Section or Team must be
placed adjacent to the wire and roll a D6 in each
phase it does nothing except make this attempt. On a
roll of 6 they are able to remove one section of wire.
PETROL BOMBS
Petrol Bombs are shown on Table Seven, Hand-Held
Anti-Tank Weapons. They may be used once by any
Squad when commanded by the Senior Leader on-
table who is commanding the platoon. A maximum of
two such weapons may be selected per platoon. How
the charge works is detailed in Section 9.3.4.
CLEARING BUNKERS
Large bunker or fort complexes must be treated in the
same way as buildings, being cleared one area (rather
than one building storey) at a time.
Normally bunkers or dug-outs will be quite small
affairs; more like shelters than fighting positions.
These were usually easily captured once the enemy
had reached their entrance, as the occupants had no
route of escape. If a Group of attackers reaches the
entrance to a bunker or dug-out, the occupants can
be offered the opportunity to surrender.
To see if they choose that option roll a D6. On a 1-4
they will surrender on a 5 or 6 they will come out
fighting, entering Close Combat with their opponents
counting as defending light cover. Add one to the roll
if they are accompanied by Junior Leader and/or
Senior Leader.
Alternatively the attacker may throw grenades into
the bunker or dugout, rolling 8 dice on a target
counting no cover. After this the troops in the dug-out
will roll a D6 for their reaction, applying a -1 to the roll
for each man killed by the grenades. On a 1-3 they will
surrender, on 4-6 the survivors, incensed will come
out fighting, entering close combat with their
opponents counting as defending light cover.
CAVALRY & CAMELRY
For each dismounted cavalry or camelry squad in your
force you roll 1d6 before the Patrol Phase begins. On
a score of 4,5,6 you gain one free Patrol Phase move
with any of your markers. This is in addition to any
scenario specific rules regards bonus patrol moves.
However a force may never have more than six free
patrol phase moves.
Cavalry/Camelry* apply the following rules;
a) Cavalry may choose to deploy on-table
dismounted without their horses before deploying
on-table. One figure for each five men in a squad
or team is removed from play as a horseholder.
b) Mounting or dismounting requires one complete
Normal Move action - no shooting allowed. When
dismounting remove one man in five as a horse-
holder as per a) above. They are returned to play
if the unit mounts up.
c) Mounted Cavalry move like infantry adding 2” per
D6 used.
d) Mounted Cavalry can never move tactically.
e) When fired at while mounted they count as a
Green Target (regardless of their actual quality).
f) Mounted Cavalry may not charge enemy if they
would have to move over an Obstacle, Heavy
terrain or against an enemy that is entrenched, in
buildings or if the enemy is an AFV.
g) Mounted Cavalry are considered Aggressive. In
combat, they roll 2D6 per man, 4D6 if they move
8” or more in a straight line over open ground.
Fight combat as per 13.1.
Mounted Cavalry that engage Camelry in combat
are not considered aggressive.
Close Combat modifiers; halve the LMG/MMG
modifiers, but triple light/heavy cover modifiers.
Determine Results as per 13.1.2.
h) If moving At The Double or after any Close
Combat, each mounted cavalry Team takes 2
Shock.
i) Mounted Lancers add +1D6 per 3 figures in the
first round of combat.
*Camelry used to charge enemy is ‘debatable’ by this
time period. Players may choose to disallow camelry
troops to charge (like cavalry) otherwise they are
treated the same as cavalry in all other respects.
SUPERIOR JUNIOR LEADERS
A Superior Junior Leader may use a Command Dice
roll of 3 or 4 to activate, once activated he has two
Command Initiatives. He may also issue commands to
weapons crews or teams just as a Senior Leaders can
ie activate and infantry gun. If wounded or killed they
are treated as a Junior Leader.
POISON GAS
Poison gas was first used in December 1935. Having
mixed results the Italian player may take this as a pre-
game option against Ethiopian forces only.
Before play starts (and before Force Morale Die rolls a
are made), the Italian player declares his use of
‘poison gas’.
He rolls 1D6. On a score of 1 the gas disperses or
otherwise has no effect. On a 2+, the Ethiopian player
rolls D6 for half the warriors/soldiers in his force (this
does not include any support weapons). On each die
score of 6 a figure is removed as incapacitated before
the battle starts. In addition, for every two
incapacitations that occurs subtract one from the
Ethiopian player’s Force Morale die roll (p11).
AP (AMMUNITION ) – NON VEHICLE WEAPONS
A player may choose (and verbally announces once
during the Turn) that he intends to use AP
ammunition. If he does so then AP ammunition for all
his non-vehicle based weapons only lasts until he rolls
three or more 6s on his Command Dice during any
phase, which ends the turn it is used in. If the turn is
ended in any other manner, it can continue to be used
into the next Turn.
RANDOM AIR SUPPORT
If an end of Turn occurs, at the beginning of the next
phase, before it starts, the player who has Random Air
Support nominates a target point and rolls a dice.
If both sides have air support, then each player rolls a
D6. The highest score gets air support this Turn; re-roll
ties. Follow the same procedure at the end of each
Turn.
If the phasing player with Air Support rolls a score of 1
the airstrike hits the wrong target and your opponent
may redirect the attack onto any of your units within
12” of the target point and conduct the attack as if it
was his own. From the target point each target along
any line of a 12”x4” beaten zone are strafed with 2D6
firepower attacks, each 3, 4, 5 or 6 scoring a hit. Roll
on Table 6 for the ‘Hit Effect’. Allocation of Shock and
Loss is the same as all normal rules.
IRREGULARS
This section attempts portrays the psychological factors
of non militarised “irregulars”. The result produces a
different ‘take’ on handling troops of this type to more
accurately model their battlefield psychology. The
following rules pertain specifically to troops with the
Irregular or Tribal Warrior trait.
Unit Size
Units of Irregular warriors are considered to conform
to certain sizes. This affects the outcome from the
effects of fire and to a certain degree combat. Units
are either; Small (1-6 figures), Medium (7-15 figures)
or Large (16+ figures).
Movement
All irregulars may move 3D6 suffering no penalty from
the effects of Shock caused by such movement.
Motivation
Irregular warriors react to battlefield environments
based on their current motivation. Events produce
good or bad outcomes that affect the current
motivation of an irregular force. These events are the
same as those listed on the Force Morale table i.e.
when something bad happens to your opponent (his
force morale drops) this results in your irregular force
motivation increasing, however motivation increases
only if enemy Force Morale suffers a drop. Some
specific scenario events or objectives may also be
causes of changing motivation.
Irregular forces start the game with their motivation
level set by rolling 1D6, applying any modifiers as per
any scenario or army list (e.g. Sons of Adwa). The levels
of motivation are from bad to good; wavering,
unmotivated, reluctant (1), committed (2-3), motivated
(4-5), highly motivated (6). This is done at the same time
their force morale die roll is conducted. The final score
determines initial motivation.
Motivation is kept track of by using the Warrior
Motivation Track (visible to both sides) or a 6-sided cube
suitably marked, with motivation increasing or
decreasing as described above.
Firing
Irregular warriors react differently to the effects of
fire. They may shrug off a deadly fusillade or be quite
badly affected by barely effective shooting.
The normal use of tracking Shock in Chain of
Command is not used. Whenever an irregular unit
receives shock and/or losses from fire it rolls on the
following table to determine an immediate outcome;
no shock is recorded, but losses are removed before
determining unit size in the test.
When an Irregular unit suffers 2 (small units), 4
(medium units) or 6 (large units) shock from firing and
combat (counting each kill as two shock for the
purposes of testing), cross reference the platoon
Command Dice rating with the size of the unit taking
the hits.
IRREGULAR FIRE AND COMBAT EFFECT
Effect Small Medium Large
CD4 1-2B 3-5P 6✓ 1B 2-4P 5-6✓ 1B 2-3P 4-6✓
CD5 1-2B 3-4P 5-6✓ 1B 2-3P 4-6✓ 1B 2P 3-6✓
-2 wavering, -1 unmotivated, -1 per pin marker
+2 highly motivated, +1 motivated, +1 war drums
Outcome:
= Unit suffers no effect or removes all pin markers.
P = Rifle armed unit is Pinned (as per 14.5); otherwise,
Unit Flinches. 'Retire' 6"+2D6" and become Pinned
or they may halt and become 'pinned' on reaching
any cover along that route.
B = Unit is Broken. Indicate with two pin markers and
retreat move as per 14.6.
Example; If a medium size Regular unit (CD5) suffered
2 shock and 1 killed figure from fire it would have to
test on the firing outcome table (as it has received
effectively 4 shock). If its force was ‘motivated’ at the
time and rolled a 2 (2+1=3) then it would be
considered Pinned until they successfully rally.
Close Combat
Irregular warrior’s motivation affects their close
combat ability. Add 2D6 to their close combat score
for each level above Committed and subtract 2D6 for
each level below Reluctant (as shown on the Irregular
Force Morale and Motivation Track). The instant
either of these conditions no longer exists the unit has
no D6 modifiers. Note, the shock received as a result
of a combat result (p60) may cause a test on the
Irregular table above, but only if the irregular unit
loses – it ignores shock if it wins the combat.
Leaders & Pin Effects
An attached leader can rally units from one morale
condition to another. He does so by using 1 Command
Initiative point when activated and rolling 1D6 per
one expended (all at once). On a score of 6 the morale
of a unit increases i.e. from Broken to Pinned, or
Pinned to No Effect (it is possible for to go from
broken to no effect in one phase).
Note – Being pinned can be a temporary state in a Turn
as irregular morale waxes and wanes with only their
current motivations accounted for by the roll of the dice
and their leader’s ability to motivate.
Broken and Pinned
Broken and Pinned units, with or without attached
leaders, may roll on the Irregular table to remove the
effects of being Pinned or Broken in their phase. They
may do so on their own command dice, however they
must apply the result rolled, good or bad, unless they
have a leader attached (who counters an adverse
morale result).
End of Turn
When an end of turn occurs for any reason motivation
returns to ‘Committed’ as enthusiasm wanes or panic
passes. All units roll a dice on the Irregular Fire &
Combat effect table. If they score a [✓] then they may
remove any Pin markers the unit may have, if they roll
pinned [P] they remain so and if they roll broken [B]
then they are removed from play.
ϕ loses its Junior Leader commander, may only act on a
VEHICLE SPECIAL RULES - ALL:
AP (AMMUNITION )
All British, French and some Italian MG-armed
vehicles are equipped with a partial ‘load-out’ of
Armour-Piercing ammunition. Vehicles routinely able
to use AP ammunition are noted on the master
arsenal equipment list with ‘*’ under the A.P. column
and the AP value of the specific weapon in the notes.
Those just using standard rounds are indicated by ‘-‘.
Each vehicle entry specifies the AP value of the MGs
fitted. AP ammunition for vehicle sis unlimited.
EASILY CATCHES FIRE
If hit on the vehicle front and you get a net 3 hits
result you add +1 to the D6 roll to see if it explodes.
FIRING PORTS
Troops aboard a vehicle fire their weapons into a 90°
arc. They must be given their own order dice to fire
(as a Team) as they do not belong to the crew.
LOW PROFILE
-1 enemy fire modifier when targeted.
MOTORCYCLES
Motorcycles operate as wheeled vehicles but re-roll
any 1’s rolled.
NO RADIOS
No vehicles may use radio communication unless
listed as having them fitted (11.4).
SLOW T URRET
Tanks with slow turrets are restricted to a 90° forward
arc of fire and rotate at up to 90° in a single Phase. (p53).
UNRELIABLE
Unreliable vehicles breakdown if a double 1 is rolled
when moving normally, or when any double is rolled
when driving flat out.
TWO MAN CREW (TMC)
Where a vehicle has a turret and its primary
armament is a gun and not an MG, the vehicle may
not move and fire in the same phase.
If any Leader activates any vehicles other than his
own using his command dice, his own vehicle not fire
in the current phase. The driver can be activated as
normal however.
Any hits on the gunner in a two-man crew are
transferred to the commander, while all other
casualties are transferred to the driver. A vehicle that
command dice of ‘1’, it may not fire or be ordered to
act by radio.
WW1 ERA AFVS
Some vehicles in The Abyssinian War were relics of
the First World War. Even by comparison with the
somewhat modest and hard-used contemporary
vehicles, they were considered dated. The Armour
rules from Chain of Command should be used with
the Master Arsenal tables providing the relevant data.
Speed is altered to reflect the primitive technology
and the wear and tear of almost twenty years in
service. Tracked AFVs may move at the following
rates:
Slow: Move with 1D6 but may fire their
secondary armament at full effect.
Fast: These may move with 1D6 and fire their
main gun at full effect or may move 2D6 and
fire secondary armament at half effect.
Wheeled vehicles move as normal in the rules.
In addition to the AFV commander activating
weapon positions, other positions may activate
on a Command Dice roll of 1.
INTERWAR ARMOUR AND WEAPON RULES
It is recommended that these rules be used. They give
a much better appreciation of low-end weapon and
armour interaction. When doing so, the following
rules apply;
Table ‘Twelve & Thirteen’ replaces the existing
damage Tables Twelve and Thirteen in CoC (p56).
Softskin vehicles still use Table Fourteen (p57).
Advanced Rule 17 – Firing Procedure is standard
i.e. a firer secures hits on frontal armour on a roll
of 4, 5 or 6. On the side armour with rolls of 3 to 6
and 2 to 6 on the rear armour.
Each vehicle is classified with an armour rating
and defensive aspect based on its Front, Flank or
Rear when it receives hits eg a Renault FT tank is
rated Armour 3 (F/F/R) which means it defends
with 3 ‘save dice’ and all unsaved hits against its
front and flank will ‘strike’ as if against ‘Frontal
Armour’ ie 4+ and the rear on a 2+.
TABLE 12 &13 - TANKS & ARMOURED CARS
EQUAL HITS AND SAVES
1-2 No effect
3 Halt and engage firer in next Phase
4 Must immediately drive flat-out towards cover
1 Shock. Reverse 1D6 immediately. Any infantry in
5-6 the way are moved by the controlling player to avoid
being run down
ONE NET HIT
1 Shock. Driver panics and may not be activated in
1
the next Phase
1 Shock. Gunner/Commander panics and may not be
2
activated in the next Phase
1 Shock. Commander panics and may not be
3
activated in the next Phase
4
1 Shock. Engine damage. Breakdown if Unreliable,
otherwise now considered so.
1 Shock. Weapon mechanism damage: -1 to hit when
5
firing
6 2 Shock. Reverse 2D6 immediately
TWO NET HITS
2 Shock. Driver killed. It takes two activations in
subsequent Phases to allow another crew member to
1 take over unless a two-man vehicle, which is
immobilised, the crew member abandoning his
vehicle.
2 Shock. 1D6 hits on crew and passengers as if in
2 Automatic Weapons (including HMGs) with an AP
open
3
2 Shock. Commander wounded. Reduce Command
level by 1. 1D6 hits on passengers as if in open
2 Shock. Immobilised for game. Passengers/Crew
4 disembark immediately in base to base contact with
the vehicle
2 Shock. 1D6 on crew, 2D6 on Passengers as if in
5 open. Hull or Other Mounted MG out of action for
game
3 Shock. Main Gun(s) out of action for rest of game.
6 Reverse 2D6 immediately. 1D6 hits on passengers as
if in open
THREE NET HITS
1-4 Knocked Out, 1D6 hits on passengers as if in the open
Explodes, crew dead. 1D6 hits on any infantry within
5-6
4”. 2D6 hits on any passengers as if in open
AUTOCANNONS FIRING AT VEHICLES
Any weapon indicated as being an Autocannon in the
Arsenal Table, rolls to hit as normal, but may re-roll
any results of ‘1’ produced by the ‘To Hit’ roll.
MG FIRE AGAINST ARMOURED VEHICLES
Rifle-calibre automatic weapons (automatic rifles,
light machine guns and medium machine guns) are
normally confined to attempting to force armoured
vehicles to withdraw in Chain of Command and are
incapable of causing anything but minimal damage.
The generally less well-armoured vehicles of the
Interwar Era are however much more vulnerable.
These rules replace Section 9.3.3 ‘MGs Against
Armoured Vehicles’ (P.42) where the target vehicle
has an Armour Factor of 2 or less (except for HMGs).
They instead wholly utilise Section 12 ‘Fire Against
Vehicles’, in the same way as Heavy Machine Guns do,
i.e. they are given an AP Factor, rather than utilising
their Firepower Rating;
Normal MG Rounds are AP1.
MG Armour-Piercing Rounds are AP2.
Heavy Machine Gun Rounds are AP2.
Heavy Machine Gun AP Rounds are AP3.
The following rules apply to automatic weapons (but
not HMGs) firing on Armoured Vehicles;
The maximum range for such fire is 36”.
Automatic Weapons may only utilise these rules
when the target vehicle’s Armour Factor is equal
to, or lower than their AP Factor.
Because rifle-calibre and HMG rounds are more
susceptible to subtle differences in armour
thicknesses than larger calibres, it has become
important to distinguish between armour which falls
into the lowest-range of thickness of armour for that
class and the remainder. Therefore;
Vehicles falling barely above the minimum
armour-thickness for their factor are indicated in
the Arsenal Table by ‘*’ after the number.
factor that equals or exceeds the Armour Factor
indicated with a ‘*’ gain an additional D6 when
rolling for vehicle hits in Step 3 (P.55).
Examples:
a) A CV-33 with ordinary ammunition (AP1) opens fire
on a Kurosurei armoured car (Armour 1*). It Follows
Steps 1 and 2 (P.55) and achieves a hit. It rolls 1D6,
plus a further hit as the AP equals the armour of the
target, which the target vehicle now needs to
counter with its Armour Dice save. In this case one
hit will always succeed.
b) A CV-33/35 with armour-piercing ammunition (AP2) A Laffly AMD 80 fires its 13mm Hotchkiss HMG with
also opens fire on a Kurosurei. In Step 3 it will roll 2 armour-piercing ammunition (AP3) at a Vickers
AP dice plus an extra D6 for a total of three ‘to hit ‘ Medium IIA (Armour 2*). Because of its armour-
dice versus the Kurosurei’s 1 Armour Dice save. piercing rounds it rolls 4D6 against the Vickers 2*
(armour save) in Step 3.
c) A CV-33/35 with armour-piercing ammunition (AP2)
opens fire on a Vickers Medium IIA (Armour 2*). In f) A Laffly AMD 80 fires its Hotchkiss again at a
Step 3 it will roll 3D6 to determine penetration (2D6 Vickers Mk.E (Armour 3*). It will roll 4 dice (AP3 plus
for AP2 plus 1D6 because the target is ‘*’ and its AP one because the Vickers is ‘*’) in Step 3. If it had
equals the target’s armour value). been shooting at a Light Tank Mk.V (Armour 3), it
would only roll its normal 3 Dice.
d) The Vickers returns fire with a flank MG, but
because its MG, although firing AP rounds, is only
AP2 versus the CV-33/35’s Armour 3, it can only
attempt to force it to withdraw using rule 9.3.3.
e)
MASTER ARSENAL EQUIPMENT LIST
INFANTRY WEAPONS
WEAPON FIREPOWER CLOSE EFFECTIVE NOTES
Pistol 1 0-9” -
Bolt Action Rifle 1 0-18” 18”+ -
Automatic or Machine Rifle 3 0-18” 18”+ Jams on a double 1 (for this phase only).
Light Machine Gun 6 0-18” 18”+ Lose 2 Firepower if crew of 1.
Tripod Mount LMG (mag) 7 0-24” 24”+ Lose 3 Firepower if crew of 1.
Tripod Mount LMG (belt-fed) 8 0-24” 24”+ Lose 3 Firepower if crew of 1.
Tripod Mount MMG 10 0-24” 24”+ Lose 3 Firepower if crew of 1.
Sniper 1 unlimited - See sniper rules section 9.5.
2 open,
Grenade 4-11” - Roll for hits as if target in the open.
3 enclosed
V-B Launcher / Rifle Grenade “ n/a 18-60” Roll for hits as if target in the open.
Infantry Flamethrower 12 0-12” - All cover ignored. Shock x2.
ANTI-TANK & DUAL PURPOSE GUNS
WEAPON A.P. H.E. NOTES
20mm SEMAG or 20/65 AA Gun 3 6 Auto-Cannon, No Gun shield
Auto-Cannon, No Gun shield.
37mm Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon - 5
Jams on a double 1 (for this phase only).
37mm mle.1916 (Puteaux) 3 3 Gun Shield. -1drm vs vehicles
Canon de 25m L/72 or 1 pdr A/T gun 4 2 Gun Shield
3.7cm Pak 35/36 A/T gun 4 3 Gun Shield
47/32 Anti Tank Gun 7 4 No Shield
INFANTRY SUPPORT WEAPONS
WEAPON FIREPOWER CLOSE EFFECTIVE NOTES
45mm mortar ? With LOS No LOS +1 To Hit when firing with Line of Sight
60mm mortar ? 24”+ 24”+ Reduce cover by one level
with LOS no LOS
61mm to 81mm mortar ? - unlimited Targets one Team and also hits any
neighbors within 4”. Reduce cover by one
Outdated** 60mm-69mm Field Guns 5 - unlimited Gun Shield
Outdated** 70mm-79mm, 12pdr 6 - unlimited Gun Shield
65/17 “Turin” IG & 70mm Mtn Gun 5 - unlimited Gun Shield. Reduce cover by one level
75/13; 75/28; 75/27; 75mm Gun 6 - unlimited Gun Shield. Reduce cover by one level
18pdr Field Gun 7 - unlimited Gun Shield. Reduce cover by one level
3.7” Howitzer 8 - unlimited Gun Shield. Reduce cover by one level.
Double Shock
? = see mortar section for details on firepower rating based on number of weapons firing and the barrage concentration.
 MASTER ARSENAL EQUIPMENT LIST
TANKS
VEHICLE ARMOUR A.P. H.E. SPEED NOTES
Renault FT (MG), FT-Ko 3* (F/F/R) * MG Slow TMC, Unreliable, WW1, (AP 2 French FT Only)
Renault FT (37mm) 3* (F/F/R) 3 3 Slow TMC, Unreliable, WW1, No MGs
Char D1 5* (F/S/S) 3 3 Slow Fitted with FT Turret: No MGs
CV33 3* (F/S/S) * MG Average Low Profile, Hull MG (AP 1, FP 6), TMC
CV33/35 3* (F/S/S) * Twin MG Average Low Profile, Twin Hull MG (AP 2, FP 8), TMC
CV33/35 LF 3* (F/S/S) Flame & MG Slow Low Profile, Hull MG (AP 1), TMC
Type 92 Tankette 2* (F/S/S) * MG Average Hull HMG (AP 2), Turret MG (AP 1)
Otsu-Gata Sensha (NC-27) 3* (F/F/S) 4 3 Average TMC, Slow Turret
Type 89A I-GO 3* (F/S/R) 5 4 Slow Rear facing turret MG (AP 1), Hull MG (AP 1)
Vickers Mk.E Type A ‘6-tonner’ 3* (F/F/S) - MG Average Two MG Turrets (AP 1)
Vickers Mk.E Type B ‘6-tonner’ 3* (F/F/S) 3 Average -
Vickers Light Mk II/III 2* (S/S/S) * MG Fast TMC, Turret MG (AP 2)
Vickers Light Mk V 3* (F/S/S) * HMG Fast Paired HMG and MG (AP 2, FP 8)
Vickers Medium Mk IA/Mk IIA 2* (S/R/R) 4 4 Average Coax MG (AP 2), Two flank MMGs (AP 2)
Vickers Medium Mk III 3* (F/S/S) 5 4 Average Two additional MG Turrets (AP 2)
Vickers Independent 4* (F/S/S) 5 6 Slow Four MG additional Turrets (AP 2)
Whippet Tank 3* (F/F/S) - MG Slow Four MG (AP 1) - can only fire two, WW1
Mark IV Female Tank 3* (F/S/R) - MG Slow Four MGs, (AP 1) two MG, WW1
ARMOURED VEHICLES
VEHICLE ARMOUR A.P. H.E. SPEED NOTES
Crossley MK. I 6 x4 A/C 1* (S/S/R) * MG Wheeled Turret MG & Hull MG (AP 2)
Crossley A/C (Indian Pattern) 1* (F/S/R) * MG Wheeled Two turret MGs (AP 2) – 3 gun positions
Roll-Royce A/C 1* (F/S/S) * MG Wheeled One MG (AP 2)
Lanchester A/C 2* (F/F/S) - HMG Wheeled Paired HMG and MMG (AP 2, FP 8), Hull MG
Vickers Light Tractor - GS MK.I 1* (R/R/R) - - Average Open Topped, Some with MG (AP 2)
Light Dragon Tractor Mk IID 1* (R/R/R) - - Fast Open-topped
Carden-Lloyd Carrier 1* (F/F/F) - - Fast Low Profile, Open Topped, some MG (AP-2)
Kurosurei M25 A/C 1* (F/S/S) - Twin MGs Average Two turret MGs (AP 2) – 3 gun positions
Ford Armoured Truck 1* (S/S/S) - MG Wheeled (AP 1)
Improvised Armoured Truck 1* (R/F/F) - Twin MGs Wheeled Can only fire each turret MG to a single flank
AMC Schneider P16 2* (F/S/S) 3 3 Fast Turret main gun, Coax MG (AP 2)
White-Laffly AMD 50 1* (F/F/F) 3 3 Wheeled Rear facing MG (AP 2)
Laffly AMD 80 1* (F/F/F) * HMG Wheeled HMG (AP 3), Rear facing MG (AP 2)
AMD Panhard 165/175 2* (S/S/S) 3 3 Wheeled Turret main gun, Coax MG (AP 2)
Berliet VUDB 1* (F/F/F) - As Weapon Wheeled 6 man capacity, firing slits all-round, Unreliable
Panhard 179 VBTC 2* (S/S/S) - As Weapon Wheeled 6 man capacity, forward MG port
FIAT 611 - MG 3* (F/S/S) - Auto Rifle Wheeled Twin AR in turret, AR rear arc only (No AP)
FIAT 611 - Gun 3* (F/S/S) 3 3 Wheeled Turret main gun, Rear turret AR (No AP)
Lancia Ansaldo IZM 2* (F/F/S) - MGs Wheeled Two MG in turret (No AP)
VEHICLE WEAPONS
WEAPON FIREPOWER CLOSE EFFECTIVE NOTES
Internal Vehicle AR 3 0-18” 18”+
Internal Vehicle Twin AR 4 0-18” 18”+
Internal Vehicle MG 6 0-18” 18”+
Twin MG 8 0-18” 18”+
Top Mounted MMG 10 0-24” 24”+ Reduce cover by one level
20mm Cannon 6 0-24” 24”+ Reduce cover by one level
Flamethrower 12 0-18” - All cover ignored. Double Shock
Notes: Hull MGs – all vehicles are not equipped with Hull MGs unless
otherwise noted.
** Russian M83 65 mm mountain guns, Italian M85 2,75"
mountain guns, French M97 75 mm Field guns. Flank MMG – may only fire one side per phase, not both.
 COMMAND RATINGS FIRING
Rank Initiative Range To Hit Green Regular Elite
Junior Leader (Superior) 2 6” Close 3-6 4-6 5-6
Senior Leader 3 9” Effective 4-6 5-6 6
Ranking Leader 4 12” -1 per two Shock; -1 Tribal Rifles
COMMAND DICE
Effect Miss Shock Kill
Roll Effect
Open 1, 2 3, 4 5, 6
1 Activate one Fire Team Light 1, 2, 3 4, 5 6
2 Activate one Section
Hard 1, 2, 3, 4 5 6
3 Activate one (Superior)Junior Leader
4 Activate one Senior Leader or SJL IRREGULAR FIRE AND COMBAT EFFECT
5 Add one to CoC Dice tally Effect Small [2] Medium [4] Large [6]
6 Special Effect CD4 1-2B 3-5P 6✓ 1B 2-4P 5-6✓ 1B 2-3P 4-6✓
SPECIAL EFFECTS CD5 or 6 1-2B 3-4P 5-6✓ 1B 2-3P 4-6✓ 1B 2P 3-6✓
One 6’s: Pass Initiative -2 wavering, -1 unmotivated, -1 per pin marker = no effect
P = Pin/Flinch
Two 6’s: Retain next Tactical Phase +2 H. motivated, +1 motivated, +1 war drums
B= Broken
Three 6’s: End Turn. Retain next Tactical Phase
Four+ 6’s: End Turn. Retain next Tactical Phase. CLOSE COMBAT
Gain Chain of Command Dice.
Leader Initiative: +1D6
Random Event.
Quality Advantage: +2D6
Enemy movement: +1D6 each (1st round)
SECTION OR TEAM ACTIONS
Shock, 2 points: -1D6
Tactical Movement: No Move or 1D6 inches and Aggressive: +1D6 per 3
take cover. Motivation (Irregulars) ±2D6
Normal Move & Fire: Move 1D6 inches and fire at Lancers: (Def) +1D6 per 3 (1st round)
half effect. LMG, each: (Def) +4D6 (1st round)
Normal Movement: Move 2D6 inches but no firing MMG/HMG: +6D6 (1st round)
allowed. Defend Light Cover: +1D6 per 3 (1st round)
Defend Heavy Cover: +1D6 per 2 (1st round)
At the Double: Move 3D6 but each Team will take
Hit in Rear: -50% (1st round)
one point of Shock per Team to reflect disorder.
Pinned: -50%
Fire: Fire at full effect and remain stationary Attacking Cavalry v Inf x2
COMMAND WHICH ARE NOT ACTIVATIONS
Rally 1 Shock from Team in command range not in LOS 5= Kill, 6= Kill + Shock
of enemy COMPARE KILLS:
Rally 1 Shock from Team he is attached to if in LOS of Draw: Fight again, three rounds
enemy By 1: Back 6”
Get a Unit which is not Tactical or on Overwatch to By 2: Back 9” ;+2 Shock
throw a single hand- grenade, fire a single rifle By 3: Back 12” ;+2 Shock
grenade or use a single Section or Squad anti-tank By 4: Back 18” ;Break & Flee, x2 Shock
weapon
Once per Phase for 1 Command Initiative a Leader Terrain Effects
may move on his own if not moved with a Unit already Broken Ground: No Doubling
JL 1 Command Initiative to transfer 1 man from 1 Heavy Going: No Doubling. -1 pip
Team to another if both Teams are < 4” of him and Really Heavy: No Doubling. -2 pips
under his command Obstacles: Normal Movement. 1D6

UNIT ACTIVATIONS
Activate a Team or Section. If they are firing he may add his own fire at no cost in Command Initiative
Activate a single Team and place it on Overwatch
Activate one weapons Team, Section or Squad to put down Covering Fire into an area of terrain
FORCE MORALE & (IRREGULAR MOTIVATION) CHAIN OF COMMAND DICE
No -1 -2 -3
Setback Interrupt an enemy with an
effect point points points
Team wiped out 12 345 6 unpinned Squad/Team and
Fire or Move
Section wiped out 123 456
Ambush with a Team
Team Breaks (off-table) 1 2345 6
Section Breaks (off-table) 12 3456 Move a jump-off point >18”
(<6” behind friends)
Junior Leader wounded 12 345 6
Relocate a Sniper
Junior Leader killed 123 456
Keep a Mortar Barrage Firing
Junior Leader Routs from table 12 3456
Senior Leader wounded 1234 56 Avoid a Force Morale test
Senior Leader killed 1 2345 6 End (or continue) a Turn
Senior Leader Routs from table 1234 56 Enemy FOG – reduce
opponent’s Command Dice by
Loss of support 123 456
one next phase
Loss of Jump-Off point 123 456
Improved Command –
Add +2drm for any Ethiopian or Italian RCTC Senior Leader test
increase your Command Dice
by two next phase
Morale Level Effect
5+ Act as desired Irregular Motivation +1 level
4 Command Dice reduced by one
3 Command Dice reduced by two
Command Dice reduced by two.
Chain of Command :
2 Remove one Jump-Off Point of your opponent’s The Abyssinian War
choosing (don’t roll for the loss of this jump-off point)
1 Command Dice reduced by three
0 Rout or Surrender
THE TURN END TANKS & ARMOURED CARS
All smoke other than that from a fire is removed (TABLE 12 & 13)
from the table EQUAL HITS AND SAVES
1-2 No effect
All Tactical and Overwatch markers are removed 3 Halt and engage firer in next Phase
Any Jump-Off Points which have been captured are 4 Must immediately drive flat-out towards cover
removed 5-6
1 SHOCK. Reverse 1D6 immediately. Any infantry in the way
are moved by the controlling player to avoid being run down
Any mortar & machine-gun barrages will now cease ONE NET HIT
Any Pinned Units will check their level of Shock to 1
1 SHOCK. Driver panics and may not be activated in the next
see if they remain Pinned Phase
1 SHOCK. Gunner/Commander panics and may not be
Any un-rallied Broken Unit and Leader will Rout 2
activated in the next Phase
from the table 1 SHOCK. Commander panics and may not be activated in the
3
Test Force Morale for any Routed Leaders next Phase
1 SHOCK. Engine damage. Breakdown if Unreliable,
Irregular Motivation level returns to Committted 4
otherwise now considered so.
5 1 SHOCK. Weapon mechanism damage: -1 to hit when firing
SOFT SKIN VEHICLES 6 2 SHOCK. Reverse 2D6 immediately
EQUAL HITS AND SAVES TWO NET HITS
1-2 No effect 2 SHOCK. Driver killed. It takes two activations in subsequent
Reverse 2D6 immediately. Any infantry in the way are Phases to allow another crew member to take over unless a
3-4 1
moved by the controlling player to avoid being run down two-man vehicle, which is immobilised, the remaining crew
Driver panics. Must immediately drive forward at flat-out member abandoning his vehicle.
5
speed 2 2 SHOCK. 1D6 hits on crew and passengers as if in open
6 Any passengers must deploy now 2 SHOCK. Commander wounded. Reduce Command level by
ONE NET HIT 3
1. 1D6 hits on passengers as if in open
1-2 No effect 2 SHOCK. Immobilised for game. Passengers/Crew disembark
Reverse 2D6 immediately. Any infantry in the way are 4
3-4 immediately in base to base contact with the vehicle
moved by the controlling player to avoid being run down 2 SHOCK. 1D6 on crew, 2D6 on Passengers as if in open. Hull
Driver panics. Must immediately drive forward at flat-out 5
5 or Other Mounted MG out of action for game
speed 3 SHOCK. Main Gun(s) out of action for rest of game. Reverse
6 Any passengers must deploy now 6
2D6 immediately. 1D6 hits on passengers as if in open
TWO NET HITS THREE NET HITS
1-4 Knocked Out, 1D6 hits on passengers as if in the open 1-4 Knocked Out, 1D6 hits on passengers as if in the open
Explodes, crew dead. 1D6 hits on any infantry within Explodes, crew dead. 1D6 hits on any infantry within 4”. 2D6
5-6 5-6
4”. 2D6 hits on any passengers as if in open hits on any passengers as if in open