Direct support batteries are allocated to planned missions, initial bombardments, and on-call fire missions. They require Staff Orders to call and use Fire Templates.

Fire Templates

Fire Templates are used to represent a direct support battery’s beaten zone. When a battery is given a fire order, or its planned fire mission is activated, place its Fire Template on the table with its sides parallel to the table edges.

Fire Template Sheaves

Some fire missions allow the player to choose whether the battery fires a regular or converged sheaf.

• Regular Fire Sheaf: Fires with a 6” x 6” template
• Converged Fire Sheaf: Fires with a 3” x 3” template. The battery’s Fire Dice is increased by +1D making it more effective against enemy armour and defences.

Fire Dice

• Direct support batteries use Fire Dice instead of Anti-Tank and Firepower Dice.
• Fire Dice have a 4+ TN against Firepower targets and a 5+ TN against Anti-Tank targets.
• TN is not adjusted by range – off-table artillery always fires at effective range.
• When firing for effect, roll to hit each unit individually and apply the results.

Comms Checks are listed here. These are described fully later.

Start a Pre-Registered Barrage

• Success: Fires for effect immediately.
• Failure: Fire for effect delayed until next turn.

Request On-Call Direct Support Artillery

• Success: Fires for effect immediately.
• Failure: Fire for effect delayed until next turn.

Adjust a Fire Mission

• Success: Fire template may be adjusted up to 6”.
• Failure: Fire template cannot be adjusted this turn.

Cancel a Continuous Fire Mission

• Success: Battery stops firing and may be allocated a new fire missions next turn.
• Failure: Battery continues to fire.

Boosting a Comms Check

Any time you make a Comms Check it can be boosted with a Staff Order or Wild Dice.

Max orders a Continuous On-Call Fire Mission for 2 Staff Orders. He uses a Wild Dice to increase his Comms Dice from 4D to 5D. He rolls three successes against Tom’s two – his battery fires with immediate effect.

During World War Two the availability and effective use of radios varied dramatically. In the early war Germany made great use of radios, but other nations soon began to catch up.

Comms Dice

Battle groups are rated by how effective their radio communications are. Comms dice represents radio distribution and use.

• Commonwealth: 5D
• Germany: 4D
• Soviet Union: 3D
• USA: 4D

Comms Check

Radio technology was relatively new, and its effective usage was often compromised by weather, battery life and user error. A Comms Check is required to call and adjust artillery.

To make a Comms Check roll the Comms Dice (4+ TN) against 3D (4+ TN).

With one or more unopposed successes, the Comms Check is successful.

If the check is failed, the order either fails to get through or is delayed.

Comms Dice: Determined by battle group (4+ TN)

Opponent Dice: 3D (4+ TN)

Comms Check Modifiers

Air Recon: +1D (see the Airpower Document for more information).

The following fire missions are available.

Direct Support Batteries

Planned Missions

• Pre-Registered Barrage
• Designated Targets
• Rolling Barrage
• Initial Barrage

On-Call Fire Missions

• Single Fire or Smoke Mission
• Continuous Fire or Smoke Mission

General Support Batteries

• Preparatory Bombardment
• Counter-Battery Fire
• Interdiction Fire

Close Support Units

• Direct Fire
• Indirect Fire
• Smoke

This series of posts will update the indirect fire rules for Combat HQ. The posts amend and expand on the Indirect Fire and Smoke Screen chapters of the Inoriginal Combat HQ rules.

Indirect Fire

Indirect fire can be conducted by on-table and off-table units. Indirect fire ignores intervening terrain and troops.

Indirect Fire Units

The following units perform indirect fire:

• Direct Support Batteries
• General Support Assets
• Close Support Units

Direct Support Batteries

Direct Support Batteries are off-table artillery batteries under the control of the battle group commander who allocates them with Staff Orders.

General Support Assets

General Support Assets are corps-level artillery batteries which are allocated by higher command. General Support Assets are engaged in general bombardment of enemy rear areas rather than direct battlefield support.

General Support Assets include large calibre guns and rocket artillery batteries that are too inaccurate for direct support, plus aircraft allocated to rear attack missions.

Close Support Units

Close support units include mortars, mortar carriers, infantry guns and close support vehicles that are deployed onto the table in support of infantry and armour units. They cannot fire when in Reserve.