Note on Turn Order

The artillery phase is moved from its position in FFT and placed immediately before direct fire phase. Only the moving player can fire his artillery in the artillery phase

Executive Summary

•         Artillery fire occurs in the artillery phase.

•         Smoke always arrives before HE fire and direct fire in the firing phase.

•         Artillery fire is called by a Forward Observe (“FO”) in the artillery phase. In order for the fire to arrive a quality check must be made. If it fails then the fire usually turns up next turn.

General

Artillery fire includes indirect fire by artillery pieces, mortars and rocket launchers.

Indirect fire is fire by a stand that cannot see its target and direct fire is fire by a stand that can see its target.

Indirect Fire Procedure – Overview

1.      Fire is called in the Artillery Phase. No overwatch fire is allowed in the Artillery phase.

2.      All artillery fire is directed at a point on the board which must be within LOS of an FO. Place a fire mission marker where each fire mission is to be landed.

3.      First, resolve all smoke and poison gas fire missions. Then resolve all “normal” high explosive (HE) fire missions. Thus, it is possible to block your intended HE barrage with a smoke screen. C’est la guerre.

4.      To resolve a fire mission, the FO stand makes a call check, subject to modifications for nationality and whether the gun is in direct support of the FO’s unit. If the check is successful, the fire mission lands this turn. If the check is unsuccessful, the fire mission automatically lands in the firing player’s next artillery phase at the normal time. The mission can be cancelled at any point prior to landing.

5.      If the barrage hits, resolve the effect of the barrage (see Section XX). First, check the Fire Zone Size Table to determine the Fire Zone Radius. Each stand that is partially or wholly within the Fire Zone Radius is affected. Then cross reference the calibre and number of stands firing on the Fire Index Table to determine the Fire Index Number. Finally, use the Fire Resolution Chart to determine the effect of the barrage.

Fire Missions

A fire mission consists of a number of artillery weapons all subordinate to the same HQ, all firing at the same target and controlled by the same FO. Ammo types must be identical. Calibres may be mixed, but in such a case use the smallest calibre on the Fire Index Table. As noted above, mark the location of a fire mission with a fire mission marker.

Each FO may only place one fire mission in a turn. Each artillery stand may only participate in one fire mission. The process of placing a fire mission is occasionally referred to in these rules as “calling fire”.

Forward Observers (FO); Doctrine

An FO is a person trained to call indirect fire missions – he acts as the artillery’s eyes guiding the fire from guns that can not see the target.

The allocation of FO’s depends on nationality

“Western” – including all NATO armies, Israel, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Japan, India, Pakistan and Australia. Any tank or infantry stand can call fire. Fire can be called from any artillery weapon in the game (however see battalion & regimental weapons below). There are no dedicated FO stands

“Eastern” – including all ex Warsaw Pact, China, Arab and 3rd World nations. Each battalion has a single FO stand.

In Afghanistan the Soviet army dramatically increased its allocation of FO’s by stealing them from the rest of the army. So in Afghanistan the soviets use the “western” FO system. It’s probable that a similar system was used in Chechnya.

Separate FO’s act like other stands with the following exceptions: they may not fire at other stands. As long as they are within 4” of friendly troops (that can be seen by the firing stand) they may not be targeted by enemy troops; nor may the vehicle they travelled in (so long as it only contains the separate FO stand).[1] They ignore cohesion rules.

An FO may only call a fire mission vs. one target in a phase. FO’s may move a full move and call fire.

Battalion Weapons

All armies allocate some mortars or occasionally artillery to support a battalion. Battalion mortars can be called by any stand in the battalion regardless of whether they are a “Western” or “Eastern” army. The mortars can not be called by anyone outside of the battalion.

Regimental Weapons

Many “eastern” armies have a collection of weapon batteries as an organic part of a manoeuvre regiment. These are not homogenous battalions so do not (in game terms) have a dedicated FO. For example an 1990’s Chinese Infantry Regiment has a battery of 122mm guns, a battery of 120mm mortars and a battery of 130mm MRLs in a support battalion.

In such cases the weapons are placed under command of a manoeuvre battalion and become, in effect, battalion weapons for battalion they are allocated to.

This rule does not apply homogenous artillery battalions, such as the 2S1 battalion allocated to a 1980’s Soviet tank regiment.

“ABCA” Fire Control

America, Britain, Canada and Australia. All artillery is held at divisional level. Artillery battalions (regiments for the Brits) are then allocated to support manoeuvre brigades in “direct support” (DS). Generally the stands in each manoeuvre brigade call their DS artillery; however they may call the fire of ANY artillery battery not only in the division but in the entire corps.

Artillery not allocated to DS (i.e. still at division level) is referred to as General Support (GS). FOs may call the following combinations of guns (in order of increasing difficulty) single gun, all DS, DS+GS, all the division’s guns (including those in DS of other units) or all the division’s guns plus the Corps artillery.

A 1990’s British armoured division has 3 close support artillery regiments. One regiment will be placed in direct support of each tank brigade. The division also has a depth fire regiment of MLRS which remains in GS.

“Central European” Fire Control

Such armies have an organic artillery battalion in each manoeuvre brigade. The Germans and Dutch are good examples. Units in each brigade can call their dedicated battalion. They can also call on any divisional artillery (usually called General Support artillery) as well. GS artillery comes from the organic divisional artillery plus batteries attached from Corps.

For example a German division in the 80’s (Heerestruktur 4) had 3 brigades each with an organic M‑109 155mm battalion. The divisional (ie GS) artillery had a mixed battalion of FH-70 155mm and M-110 203mm and a battalion of LARS 110mm MRL

Note some nations such as the Dutch don’t have any organic divisional artillery, though weapons may be attached to the division from Corps.

“Eastern” Fire Control

“Eastern” armies create Regimental Artillery Groups (RAG) and Divisional Artillery Groups (DAG). The RAG includes the organic regimental artillery plus any artillery attached from the division. The DAG includes the organic divisional artillery, minus any that has been detached to the RAG. The DAG is usually reinforced by artillery from Army level and may well control the fires of regimental artillery of regiments not yet committed to combat.

For example a late 80’s Soviet tank division has 3 tank regiments each with a battalion of 2S1 122mm guns, a motor rifle regiment also with a battalion of 2S1 and a divisional artillery regiment with 2 battalions of 2S3 152mm, one battalion of  BM-21 MRL. Assuming that the division has 2 tank regiments in the first echelon, with the other tank regiment and the motor rifles behind the division commander may allocate one 2S3 battalion to each first echelon tank regiment. Each first echelon regiment then has a RAG of 1 2S1 battalion and 1 2S3 battalion. The DAG then consists of 1 BM-21 battalion plus the 2S1 battalions from the as yet uncommitted tank and MR regiments.

The exact allocation of artillery to RAG and DAG will be scenario dependant.

Generally the dedicated FO of a battalion has exclusive access to the fires of the battalion. However the FO can also call upon the rest of the artillery group he is part of as well.

“Third World” Fire Control

This is actually based on Iraqi practices but is probably indicative of any western trained third world nation. Soviet client states use Eastern doctrine. Despite having a “western” FO doctrine and supposedly using ABCA doctrine the Indian and Pakistani armies use “third world” fire control.

All artillery is centralised as division level. However individual battalions will be allocated to support manoeuvre brigades/regiments, one battalion each in Direct Support. Once allocated to DS the battalion may only respond to its own FO.

Divisional arty that is not allocated to a brigade or regiment is left under divisional control in General Support (GS). Corps artillery may be attached to the division in GS.

FO’s of the DS battalions may call the GS artillery as well, though lack of training makes success less than likely.

A 1991 era Iraqi infantry division has three infantry brigades. It has 3-4 artillery battalions and a light artillery battalion of 107mm MRLs or 120mm Mortars. Three of the battalions will be allocated to DS of the infantry brigades with the remaining battalions in GS.

A 1990’s Indian Armoured Division has 3 battalions of Abbot SPG and one battalion of Catapult SPG. The Abbots are allocated one battalion per tank or mechanised battalion in DS, the Catapults stay in GS.

Calling Fire

In order that fire arrives on target a dice roll must be made. Rolls are made during the artillery fire phase, but all call fire attempts must be declared before dice are rolled. Remember that each FO can only issue a request for fire on a single target per turn. Also remember that each gun can only be the target of one call per turn.

For example a Brit FO makes a call for one of the DS guns. This prevents his comrade making a call for all the DS artillery in the same turn as one of the batteries that makes up the DS artillery has received a call already.

To succeed you must exceed the number required on the call fire table. Usually if you fail the roll the fire arrives automatically in the next artillery phase. However when calling large number of guns there is a chance that the fire will never arrive. If the entry reads 1/5 on a 1 the fire never arrives. On a 2, 3 or 4 the fire arrives next go and on a 5 to 6 it arrives this turn. An entry of 3/7 means that normal troops will never be able to get the fire this turn.

 

Observed DF Mission +1

Green or Regular – 1

Veteran or Elite +1

Each CB battalion vs. SP arty or light mortars -1

Each CB battalion vs. towed artillery -2

 

Example. A veteran British FO wishes to call his DS and GS artillery on a single target. The opposing player has a battalion of 2S5’s allocated to CB fire. As the British GS artillery contains some towed FH-70 the call is penalised by -2. However a veteran gets +1 on rolls for a net -1 on his dice roll. From the table GS requires a 0/4. So if a 1 is rolled (goes to 0) the fire never arrives. If a 2, 3 or 4 is rolled (1,2 or 3 with -1 modifier) the fire arrives next turn. If a 5 or a 6 is rolled fire arrive immediately.

Overlapping Fire Missions

Fire missions may not overlap.

Continuing Fire

An FO that has brought down fire on a point has to roll to continue to do so each turn thereafter. All stands that move into the Fire Zone Radius will be immediately attacked by the Artillery Mission.[2]

Counter Battery Fire

Only GS, DAG, Corps and Army level artillery can perform CB. To perform CB a battalion must have a suitable system for detecting enemy fire such as a counter artillery radar system, radio DF or an RPV allocated. Sound and Flash ranging are not adequate during high intensity warfare.

For each battalion allocated to CB work the chance of calling fire from SP artillery and non SP mortars 90mm or less is -1. The chance of calling fire from other weapons is -2. Double the penalties if using MRL. If the fire mission uses both SP and towed pieces than apply the worse penalty.

Resolving HE Fire Missions

To resolve an HE Fire Mission, total the number of stands firing at a fire mission marker and identify their calibre as the barrage calibre.  If stands of more than one calibre are part of a single Fire Mission, count all the firing stands, and use the lowest calibre among them as the barrage calibre.

On the Fire Zone Size Table, use the number of firing stands to determine the radius of the fire zone.  Trace the fire zone radius from the centre of the fire mission marker. The fire zone affects all stands that are at least partially overlapped by the fire zone radius. If all vehicles in the game are based, the vehicle bases are considered part of the vehicle stands. If some vehicles are unbased, only the model itself is considered part of any vehicle stand (whether the vehicle is based or unbased).[3]

On the Fire Index Table, cross-reference the number of firing stands and the fire mission calibre to determine the fire index number for the barrage.

On the Fire Resolution Chart, find the line for the fire index number for the fire mission.  For each stand affected by the fire mission, roll one die and use the appropriate column on that line of the chart to determine the result of the area fire on that stand.  The entry on the Fire Resolution Chart will be a letter or symbol, followed by a number, and then another letter.  The number listed is the minimum die roll needed to achieve the effect indicated by the second letter in the entry, otherwise the effect is that indicated by the first letter or symbol.

There are four possible effects.  In order of increasing severity, they are:

‘--’ = No effect.

‘N’ = Neutralized

‘Q’ = Quality Check

‘D’ = Destroyed

No effect means just that, no effect at all on the stand.

Neutralized. Mark the stand with a yellow ‘Neutralized’ marker.  While neutralized, the stand cannot move towards the enemy, however AFVs may move away from the enemy at half speed.  It cannot fire except when defending in close combat, and must pass a quality check to fire before the attacker fires.

Quality Check. The stand must make a quality check.  If it fails, it is eliminated.  If it passes, it is Neutralized and must be marked as such.

Destroyed. The stand is eliminated.  If the stand is a vehicle stand, treat it the same as a vehicle stand that suffered a destroyed result from direct fire (i.e., it leaves a wreck that blocks roads, etc.).

FIRE INDEX TABLE

Stands	30-69	70-109	110-139	140-169	170+		Stands	Radius
1	1	3	6	8	14		1-4	1”
2	2	4	9	14	18		5-13	1.5”
3	3	7	11	14	20		14+	2”
4	4	10	14	15	21
5	5	12	14	19	23
6-7	8	13	16	20	25
8-10	10	14	17	22	26
11-13	12	15	22	23	27
14-16	14	18	23	26	28
17+	14	20	24	27	28

 

FIRE RESOLUTION CHART

Fire Index Number	Soft in Open	AFV in Open	Soft in Heavy Cover or AFV in Any Cover
1	N  6+ Q	--  5+ N	--  6+ N
2	N  5+ Q	--  4+ N	--  5+ N
3	N  5+ Q	--  3+ N	--  5+ N
4	N  4+ Q	--  2+ N	--  4+ N
5	N  4+ Q	N  6+ Q	--  4+ N
6	N  4+ Q	N  6+ Q	--  3+ N
7	N  3+ Q	N  6+ Q	--  4+ N
8	N  3+ Q	N  6+ Q	--  3+ N
9	N  3+ Q	N  6+ Q	--  2+ N
10	N  2+ Q	N  6+ Q	--  3+ N
11	N  2+ Q	N  5+ Q	N  6+ Q
12	Q  6+ D	N  6+ Q	--  2+ N
13	Q  6+ D	N  5+ Q	--  2+ N
14	Q  6+ D	N  5+ Q	N  6+ Q
15	Q  6+ D	N  4+ Q	N  6+ Q
16	Q  6+ D	N  4+ Q	N  5+ Q
17	Q  6+ D	N  3+ Q	N  5+ Q
18	Q  5+ D	N  4+ Q	N  6+ Q
19	Q  5+ D	N  4+ Q	N  5+ Q
20	Q  5+ D	N  3+ Q	N  5+ Q
21	Q  5+ D	N  2+ Q	N  5+ Q
22	Q  5+ D	N  2+ Q	N  4+ Q
23	Q  5+ D	Q  6+ D	N  4+ Q
24	Q  5+ D	Q  6+ D	N  3+ Q
25	Q  4+ D	Q  6+ D	N  4+ Q
26	Q  4+ D	Q  6+ D	N  3+ Q
27	Q  4+ D	Q  6+ D	N  2+ Q
28	Q  3+ D	Q  5+ D	Q  6+ D

If you miss the roll, apply the first result. If you make the roll, apply the second result.

Multiple Rocket Launchers

Warning – this section has yet to be play tested

Weapon	Nation	Cal	Rkts	1 MRL	2 MRL	3 MRL	4 MRL	5 MRL	6 MRL	7 MRL	8 MRL	9 MRL
RM-70	Czech Rep	122	40	9	11	14	16	17	17	22	22	23
M51	Czech Rep	130	32	6	11	14	14	16	17	17	22	22
LARS	Germany	110	36	9	11	14	16	17	17	22	22	23
FIROS 30	Italy	122	40	9	11	14	16	17	17	22	22	23
Pinka	India	214	12	14	18	20	21	23	25	25	26	26
Type 75	Japan	130	30	6	11	14	14	16	17	17	17	22
BM-11	N. Korea	122	30	6	11	14	14