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.
