These new rules update the ones in the Armour Battles Expansion.

Howitzers were fitted into vehicles to provide close support in the form of smoke screens and High Explosive fire. Close support units can use direct and indirect fire.

Direct Fire

Roll the unit’s AT or FP Dice and apply modifiers based on the range to the target and deduct any dice resulting from movement as normal.

Suppressions: Direct fire causes normal suppressions – it does not cause artillery suppressions.

Indirect Fire

The accuracy of a close support unit’s indirect fire depends on whether it has LOS to its target.

Forward Observers

If the close support unit doesn’t have LOS to its target, another unit must act as its Forward Observer. No Forward Observer is required when it has LOS to its target.

Indirect Fire Burst Radius

Close supports units have a 2” indirect fire burst radius.

Single Missions Only

Close support units use single fire missions. They cannot conduct continuous fire missions.

Indirect Fire Procedure

Each time the unit fires, place an Impact Marker at the unit’s target point.

No LOS to Target: A deviation dice is rolled. On a “Hit” the fire lands at its targeted destination. Otherwise, the fire deviates 1D” in the direction of the arrow.

LOS to Target: The fire is automatically on target. No deviation roll is required.

FP and AT Dice: When using indirect fire, a close support unit’s FP and AT Dice are halved (round up).

A StuH 42 close support unit armed with a 105L11 gun has FP: 7D and AP: 4D. When using indirect fire, it fires with FP: 4D and AP: 2D.

Indirect Fire Hit Procedure

Roll to hit all units within the burst radius using FP or AT depending on the target. After resolving the fire, remove the Impact Marker.

For example, Max uses his StuH 42 to fire indirectly at two infantry units and a T34/43 tank. The StuH 42 has LOS to the target and so hits automatically. Max rolls the StuH 42’s FP: 4D against the infantry and its AT: 2D against the Soviet tank.

Suppressions: Indirect fire causes artillery suppressions.

Indirect Fire Range: A unit’s long range is doubled. It cannot fire at short range.

The StuH 42 has a range of 9/18/36. When using indirect fire its long range is doubled from 36” to 72”. The StuH 42 cannot use indirect fire within its short range of 9”.

Target Numbers: Indirect fire is made with a 4+TN at effective and long ranges.

Moving and Firing: Subtract –1D if the firing unit makes a double move, and –2D if it makes a triple move. Deduct these dice from the unit’s indirect fire (halved) dice.

The StuH 42 makes a double move and uses indirect fire. It’s FP is reduced to 3D and its AP to 1D. If the StuH 42 makes a triple move it’s FP would be reduced to 2D and its AP to 0D (no effect against armoured units).

Opportunity Fire

A close unit may only use opportunity fire when it has a direct line of sight (LOS) to the target. It may use either direct or indirect fire.

Close Support Units in Close Assault

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

The KV-2 Heavy Artillery Tank is built on the KV-1 chassis and has a heavy turret fitted with a 152L23 Howitzer. It provides effective close support to Soviet Units. The KV-2 is slow, but relatively well-armoured for an early war vehicle.

Available: 1939

Type: Heavy AFV

Move: Slow

Reliability: Poor

Reaction: 6D

Weapon: 152L23 Howitzer

• Direct Fire
  • Range: 11/22/44
  • FP: 9D AT: 4D

• Indirect Fire
  • Range: 11-88
  • FP: 5D AT: 2D

Notes: Close support. 2” Burst Circle, TN 4+ to hit & Artillery Suppression. High turret (-1D Reaction already calculated in stats).

The 75L43 anti-tank gun used to equip the later StuG Ausf F and G assault guns was an effective anti-tank weapon but meant that the StuG could no longer fulfill its original close support role. To fill the gap, the Sturmhaubitze 42 (assault howitzer) was developed to provide a close support vehicle for infantry.

The StuH 42 used the StuG III Ausf. G chassis and replaced the 75L23 gun with a 105 mm leFH 18 howitzer (105L28).

Available: October 1942

Type: Medium AFV (Close Support)

Move: Average

Reliability: Average

Reaction: 6D (5D)

Weapon: 105L28 howitzer

• Direct Fire
  • Range: 9/18/36
  • FP: 7D AT: 4D

• Indirect Fire
  • Range: 9-72
  • FP: 4D AT: 2D

Notes: Close support. 2” Burst Circle, TN 4+ to hit & Artillery Suppression. 180-degree fire arc. Low profile.

Turn Two Reserves

Max enters all four of his reserve units on Turn Two. Next turn he will have the maximum number of Command Dice available for each of his battle groups.

Boris enters his Anti-Tank Rifle Company reserve group. His infantry battle group will have five Command Dice next turn.

Boris decides to enter his Reserve T34/43 battle group as well. Next turn this will increase his Armour Battle Group Command Dice to three.

As he keeps his T34/85 group in Reserve for another turn, its Command Dice is also kept in reserve.

Army Morale Check Triggered

Max attacks and Disperses a Soviet Infantry Platoon. Boris rolls a 3 for his Morale Point loss.

Boris has to now make an Army Morale Check. He rolls his three Army Morale Dice against three dice rolled by Max. Boris rolls one success, versus one success from Tom.

As each rolled the same number of successes, Boris immediately loses one Command Dice reducing his Infantry Battle Group’s Dice Pool to four Command Dice.

As Boris is now reduced to a total of eight Command Dice this reduces his maximum number of Staff Orders from nine to eight. He currently has nine Staff Orders – unless he uses one or more Staff Orders before the end of turn, he will have to discard one of his Staff Orders.

Undaunted by his loss, Boris uses his Staff Orders to order all of his five off-table batteries to fire on the Germans…

Colonel Mustard has been busy building and painting a Zvezda Pak 36 Anti-Tank Gun. If you’re looking for inspiration, head over to his website and take a look.

Pak 36 Anti’Tank Gun

He’s also recently built a Revell PzKpfw III Ausf M and it too looks great.

PzKpfw III Ausf M