Sgt Steiner has been blogging regularly about wargames since 2005. He recently played Combat HQ for the first time and has posted a battle report on his website. You can view his report by hitting the link below.

Sgt Steiner

I’ve just posted the 2nd Edition Quick Reference Sheet – you can download it here.

Moving and Firing

Close support units are subject to higher firing penalties than other units when moving:

Single Move: -1D

Double Move: -2D

Triple Move: -3D

A M4 105mm makes a single move and uses indirect fire. It’s FP is reduced from 4D to 3D and its AT from 2D to 1D. If the M4 105mm makes a double move its FP would be reduced to 2D and its AP to 0D (no effect against armoured units).

These movement penalties only apply when the unit is activated. If it uses opportunity fire later in the turn, its previous movement is ignored.

Infantry Mortars and Mortar Carriers

Infantry mortars and mortar carriers provide indirect fire support to infantry and armoured infantry units. Infantry mortars are man-portable. A mortar carrier is a vehicle equipped with a mortar.

Fire Against Blinds

Close support units and mortars may use indirect fire against a Blind to suppress it (see the rules for Artillery Fire Against Blinds).

Close Support Smoke

Mortars and close support units may fire 4” diameter smoke screens.  Close support units may use direct fire or indirect fire to lay a smoke screen.

Close Support Smoke Screen: 4” Diameter Circle

The smoke screen does not deviate and lasts until the end of the turn. When firing smoke, the unit cannot use any other type of fire.

Close Support Units in Close Assault

Close support units and mortars are subject to a +2 TN penalty in close assault. They cannot perform overrun attacks.

Activating Close Support Units

Close support units are activated either as part of a close support Command Group or as part of a mixed Command Group (containing other units).

Close Support Units Only

Close support units are more flexible when acting on their own or with other close support units.

When activated individually or as a part of a close support Command Group, a close support unit may target any unit within range and within LOS of itself, or within its range and LOS of its Forward Observer.

One close support unit is selected to fire and its fire is resolved. All other close support units in the Command Group must fire at a target within 6” of the first unit’s target or be activated separately requiring an additional Forward Observer and Command Dice. This is like movement where all units have to end their move within 6” of the group’s leader.

Bill activates a US Command Group of two M8 Howitzer Mortar Carriages with one Command Dice. One M8 targets a German Machine Gun Platoon within its LOS. The other fires at a German Rifle Platoon within 6” of the Machine Gun Platoon. Both M8s fire for one Command Dice.

Later both M8s are activated again. One fires at a German Rifle Platoon in its LOS. The M8 disperses the Rifle Platoon. Bill could decide not to fire his other M8, but he decides to fire it at a Pak 40 Anti-Tank Gun behind a wood. Bill uses a US Rifle Platoon with LOS to act as the M8’s Forward Observer. As the Pak 40 is more than 6” from the first M8s target, Bill must use a second Command Dice to order the M8 to fire. He also needs to make a Comms Check to successfully hit the unit.

Mixed Command Group

When activated as part of a Command Group containing other units, close support units are restricted to targeting units within its own LOS or the LOS of another member of the Command Group. Only units in the activated Command Group can act as Forward Observers.

A German Command Group consisting of an 8cm mortar and three Rifle Platoons is activated with one Command Dice. The mortar doesn’t have LOS to any enemy units. One Rifle Platoon has LOS to a Soviet Machine Gun Platoon and acts as the mortar’s Forward Observer. Following a successful Comms Check the mortar fires against the Machine Gun Platoon.

If Max had wanted to target a unit not in LOS of one of his Rifle Platoons, he would have needed to activate the mortar separately and use another unit as its Forward Observer.

Forward Observers

If a unit using indirect fire has LOS to its target, it acts as its own Forward Observer. If the unit doesn’t have LOS to its target, another unit must act as its Forward Observer and a Comms Check is required. If the check fails, the unit fires but automatically misses. Place a Fire Marker on the unit.

Unit with LOS to Target: Unit may use indirect fire.

Unit with no LOS to Target: Comms Check required. If the check fails, the unit fires but misses.

Indirect Fire Hit Procedure

Roll to hit the target unit using FP or AT depending on the target and apply the results.

Target Number: Indirect Fire has a 4+ TN.

Friendly Fire

If a unit rolls more 1’s than 6’s when firing for effect with indirect fire, the attack misses and hits the closest friendly unit with 4” of the target. Roll for effect against the friendly target.

Close Support Units and Opportunity Fire

Close support units cannot use opportunity fire.