Fighting First

FINLAND
NORWAY
SWEDEN
North Sea
DENMARK Baltic Sea
IRELAND
GREAT
THE Warsaw
BRITAIN NETHERLANDS Berlin
The Hague
Od POL A
London er
BELGIUM GERMANY stu

la
Vi
Rhi
Dieppe Brussels
ne
Atlantic Prague
Ocean
SLOVAKIA
Paris
HU
Sei
e n
Vienna
Loire Budapest
FR ANCE SWITZERLAND
Po Belgra
YUGOSLAVIA
ITALY
CORSICA
Rome
ALBA
SPAIN
SARDINIA
SICILY
GIBRALTAR
Tunis
Algiers
Oran
SPANISH MALTA Medite
Casablanca MOROCCO
ALGERIA Kasserine
Pass
FRENCH
MOROCCO
TUNISIA Tripoli
LIBYA
0 Miles 500 1000
0 KM 500 1000 1500
Leningrad
KE Y
Germany and
Occupied Territories
Moscow SOVIET UNION
Countries in association
Rzhev with Germany
Allied Countries
Volg
a
Neutral Countries
Do
Kursk n
Minsk Smolensk
Voronezh
Stalingrad
Dn
epr
AND
Kiev
Rostov Caspian
Sea
CAUCASUS OIL
FIELDS
Odessa
UNGARY
Black Sea
ROMANIA
Bucharest
ade Danube
BULGARIA IRAN
TURKEY
ANIA
GREECE SYRIA IRAQ
Athens
CYPRUS
CRETE
erranean sea
PALESTINE
TRANS-
JORDAN
SAUDI-
Gazala ARABIA
Tobruk Alexandria
Halfaya Pass El Alamein

EGYPT
Alam
el Halfa
El Agheila
Written by: James Brown
Editors: Peter Simunovich, John-Paul Brisigotti
Graphic Design: Casey Davies
Assistant Writers: Phil Yates, Andrew Haught, Chris Townley, Mitch Reed, Nigel Slater, Stephen Smith
Assistant Graphic Design: Morgan Cannon, Sean Goodison
Miniatures Design: Evan Allen, Tim Adcock, Matt Bickley, Will Jayne
Miniatures Painting: Aaron Te Hira-Mathie, Adrian Walters
Cover Art: Vincent Wai
Internal Art: Warren Mahy
Proof Readers: David Adlam, Tom Culpepper, Mark Goddard, Alexander Ilyn, Sean Ireland, Paul Kitchin, Mitchell Landrum,
Greg Lockton, Lance Matthew, Michael McSwiney, Luke Parsonage, Duncan Stradling, Gregg Siter, Mark Wong
Playtest Groups: Battleground Club Rostov-on-Don (Alexander Ilyn), Cavalieri dell’Esagono (Eis Annavini),
Dad’s Army (Gavin Van Rossum), Maus Haus (Daniel Wilson), Northern Battle Gamers (Nigel Slater),
Octopus & Friends (Michal Jozwiak), Regina Rifles (Lance Matthew), Wargames Association of Reading (Ian Brook)
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means
without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is
published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
© Copyright Battlefront Miniatures Ltd., 2017. ISBN: 9780994147424
Fighting First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Armored Regiment Weapons Platoons . . . 33
United States Special Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 M4 81mm Armored Mortar Platoon . . . . . . . . 33
War in the Desert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 T30 75mm Assault Gun Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Operation Torch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Big Red One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Kasserine Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Rifle Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
The Battle of El Guettar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Rifle Company HQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Know Your Tanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Rifle Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Mortar Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
1st Armored Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
M1917 Armored Machine-gun Platoon . . . . . . 38
Fighting First Force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 37mm Anti-tank Gun Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
1st Armored Regiment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 The Tank Destroyers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
M4 Sherman Tank Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 M10 Tank Destroyer Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
M4 Sherman Tank Company HQ . . . . . . . . . . 18 Tank Destroyer Company HQ . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
M4 Sherman Tank Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 M10 3-inch Tank Destroyer Platoon . . . . . . . . 42
13th Armored Regiment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Armored Recon Patrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
M3 Lee Tank Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 M3A1 Armored Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
M3 Lee Tank Company HQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Jeep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
M3 Lee Tank Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Support Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
First of the First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 P-40 Warhawk Fighter Flight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
M3 Stuart Tank Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 T28E1 37mm AAA Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
M3 Stuart Tank Company HQ . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 M3 Stuart OP Observation Post . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
M3 Stuart Tank Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 105mm Field Artillery Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
6th Armored Infantry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 M7 Priest Armored Artillery Battery . . . . . . . . . 47
Armored Rifle Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Painting Fighting First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Armored Rifle Company HQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 United States Tanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Armored Rifle Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 United States Tank Markings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
M3 Half-track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Fighting First Infantry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
37mm Armored Anti-tank Platoon . . . . . . . . . 32 Aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
M1917 Armored Machine-gun Platoon . . . . . . 32 Basing Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

1
This is a long tough road we have to travel. —General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Now that the Americans have entered the fight, it is truly a The armoured infantry are tough, self-contained units,
World War. Just a few short years ago, the United States amply equipped with a variety of weapons, all riding to
Army was much smaller than most European armies battle in half-tracks, giving them more firepower than
and lacking modern equipment. Many of its tanks any other infantry, with the mobility to keep pace
and guns were left over from the First World War, with the tanks.
and few of its units were fully motorised. That was The Tank Destroyers are a new concept in
soon to change, and with breathtaking speed. the evolving science of warfare, especially
In the first truly industrialised war in history, designed to use movement and concealment
production is crucial—the nation that can to counter the ‘Blitzkrieg’ tactics that have
build tanks, planes and ships faster than made German tank armies so successful.
the enemy can destroy them must
As well as excellent equipment, the US
emerge victorious. And American
Army is supplied with an abundance
workers from all backgrounds, eager
of ammunition that other armies can
for jobs, have poured into factories.
only dream of. No other army can call on as much artillery
In 1941, over three million cars were produced by American with such destructive power. The artillery even have their
factories. Only 139 more will be produced during the rest own armoured self-propelled guns, letting them take their
of the war, so complete is the wholesale conversion to war place as part of a fully mobile army. It is the perfect army for
production. By the war’s end, more than half of all industrial combined-arms fire and movement tactics.
production in the world will take place in the United States, The US Army entered the North African campaign fresh
and America will have the strongest, most technologically from training. Many of their tactical concepts have only
advanced military in the world. The US war industries even been tested in field exercises, not in deadly combat against a
produce more than their own forces require, greatly helping real enemy. They see their more experienced British allies as
to arm their British and Soviet allies. know-it-alls, and often distrust their advice. However, while
Tank companies represent the mobile component of the the Americans may be green, they are fast learners. By the
US Army. Their task is turning a breakthrough into a total conclusion of the Tunisian campaign, they will have proved
defeat for the enemy, smashing through the enemy lines themselves against the veteran troops of two Axis powers.
before wreaking havoc in the enemy’s vulnerable rear areas. Meanwhile, the Allies will have learned to trust each other
American tank design focuses on durability, reliability, and and to emulate each other’s greatest strengths. The shared
ease of use. Their tanks strike a balance between speed, hardships of six months of dogged fighting will fuse them
protection, power and cost of production, allowing them to together into a cohesive force that will fight well together in
be produced in great numbers. Equipped with cutting-edge the battles to come.
gyrostabilisers, American tanks can fire almost as accurately By choosing to field a Fighting First force, you can choose
while on the move, a huge tactical advantage over enemies from a wide variety of excellent units and equipment. You
who must halt to fire effectively. have the opportunity to take freshly trained recruits and
The humble ‘doughboy’ is the foundation of the US Army. mould them into a hardened fighting force. Get ready to
In equipment and training, the US infantryman is the equal show the world what the Yanks are capable of, to save the
of any in the world. They lack the experience of troops who world in the name of freedom and democracy.
have fought since the start of the war,
but they learn fast.
2
The following special rules are characteristic of Fighting First forces,
reflecting their own style of equipment, tactics, and approach to battle.
FIGHTING FIRST INFANTRY

The US Army in Tunisia are the first ground troops to DETERMINED
encounter the armies of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy,
What the ‘dogfaces’ of the United States infantry lack in
and every man is eager to prove himself worthy.
experience, they make up for in enthusiasm and fighting spirit.
Enemy fire won’t keep their heads down for long.
TANKS Determined troops have a better Rally rating.
SECONDARY WEAPON
The M3 Lee Medium tank has both a hull-mounted gun and a MG TRANSPORT
secondary turret. While both can be fired at the same time, the Machine-gunners don’t just sit idle while riding in their half-
tank’s commander can only assist the gunner of the main gun to tracks into battle. They mount their weapons on the vehicle’s
find targets, leaving the turret gunner to his own devices. armoured sides and blaze away as it carries them forward.
A Tank may fire its Secondary Weapon at ROF 1 at the M1917 HMG or M1919 LMG Teams may fire while
same time as its main gun. If they do this, the Secondary Mounted as a Passenger in an M3 Half-track, using the
Weapon suffers a +1 penalty to hit. Each weapon may fire at Optional Passenger MG weapons line. When the Team
a different target. Dismounts from the transport, it takes its machine-
gun with it.
STABILISER
The main gun mounts of US tanks are fitted with gyrostabilisers, OBSERVER
which keep the gun level while the tank is moving. While this No other army has the communications resources of a US force.
clever mechanism lets the gunner fire faster and more accurately, Plentiful radios let every officer request and direct quick and
shooting on the move is nevertheless still difficult. accurate artillery fire.
Instead of having a reduced Moving ROF, weapons with The Unit Leader of a Unit with Observer can spot for any
Stabiliser suffer a +1 penalty to hit if the Tank Moved in the friendly Artillery Unit.
Movement Step.
ARTILLERY
TANK DESTROYERS TIME ON TARGET
SEEK, STRIKE, AND DESTROY US Army artillery have developed sophisticated fire-control
At the core of Tank Destroyer doctrine is the practice of techniques, and are able to quickly calculate trajectories and
ambushing enemy tank attacks from concealed positions, hitting flight times for each shell with tremendous accuracy. With every
them hard and fast with devastating effect, then retreating to shell landing at the same time without warning, the enemy has
safety before the enemy can retaliate. no time to react.
A Unit with Seek, Strike, and Destroy may attempt a Shoot If an Artillery Unit with Time on Target ranges in on the first
and Scoot Movement Order after succeeding in a Blitz Move attempt, any Infantry or Gun Teams hit by the Bombardment
Movement Order earlier in the same turn. must re-roll successful Saves.
3
S OV I E T
UN I O N
NORWAY ESTONIA
SWEDEN
LATVIA Moscow
LITHUANIA
North Sea
DENMARK
Minsk
Kursk
G R E AT
POLAND Kharkov
B R I TA I N Berlin Warsaw
NETHERLANDS
London Kiev
Dunkirk
G E R M A N Y
BELGIUM
Paris SLOVAKIA
CRIMEA
F R A N C E HUNGARY Sevastopol
SWITZERLAND ROMANIA
Black Sea
YUGOSLAVIA
VICHY FRANCE
BULGARIA
I TA LY
SPAIN CORSICA Rome ALBANIA
TURKEY
SARDINIA GREECE
SICILY
Algiers Tunis CRETE

Oran
TUNISIA Mediterranean Sea
ALGERIA Kasserine
Pass
MOROCCO
Tripoli Gazala Mersa Alexandria
Tobruk Matruh
0 500 Benghazi El Alamein
Km
500 Beda Fomm
M L I BYA EG Y P T
El Agheila
Western Front Eastern Front North African Theatre Pacific Theatre
1939 1 9 4 0
1 September 6 October 9 April - 10 June 10 May 9 December
Germany Poland Germany invades Germany invades the Operation Compass: British
invades Poland surrenders Denmark and Norway Netherlands, Belgium and France push Italians back into Libya
3 September 13 March 27 May - 5 June 13 September

France and Britain Winter War ends. British and French evacuate Italy invades Egypt
declare war on Germany Finland cedes territory over 300,000 troops at Dunkirk
10 July - 31 October
17 September 30 November 28 May The Battle of Britain
Soviet Union Winter War begins. Belgium surrenders
invades Poland Soviet Union invades Finland, 22 June
but is stopped cold France surrenders
4
The North African Campaign began when the Italian action in the European Theatre of operations as quickly as
dictator Benito Mussolini, known as Il Duce, declared war possible. He knew an early victory would galvanise the war
on Great Britain and France. He had dreams of a new Roman effort, while bolstering public support for ‘Germany First’.
Empire, which he would start by kicking the British out of Meanwhile, the Eastern Front saw the Soviet Union caught
North Africa. In September 1940 a 250,000-strong army in a desperate life-and-death struggle with Germany. Stalin
crossed the border of the Italian colony of Libya and invaded was furiously urging the Western Allies to open a second
British-held Egypt. The 30,000 British and Commonwealth front, diverting as much of Hitler’s strength as possible away
defenders were heavily outnumbered and equipped with from his struggling armies.
outdated equipment. They were, however, well trained and
Several possible plans were considered for an Anglo-
determined.
American invasion of the European mainland in 1942 or
Rostov Lacking motorised transport, the Italians advanced slowly, 1943. However, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
building a series of fortified camps. The mobile British forces was certain that a direct assault on Hitler’s Fortress Europe
were able to pick off the dispersed Italian positions one by would be futile without first ‘chipping away’ at the edges,
one. In the ensuing two months of fighting, the Italian Tenth strategically weakening the Germans while the Western Allies
Army was pushed right back to El Agheila on the Libyan steadily trained, equipped, and planned an unstoppable
border, losing 130,000 men killed or captured. invasion. Ultimately Churchill had his way, and it was agreed
The tide of the desert war soon took a different turn, however. that the immediate target would be French North Africa.
After the embarrassing defeat of his Italian allies, Hitler was The plan for Operation Torch was to land a large invasion
reluctantly forced to either send help or risk facing British force in Algeria and Morocco, which would race east and
domination of the Mediterranean. So, in February 1941, a seize the Tunisian capital, Tunis, before the Germans had
brilliant commander, Generalmajor Erwin Rommel, was sent time to react. From there, the remaining Axis forces in
to Africa at the head of the newly formed Deutsches Afrika Africa would be crushed between the two Allied armies
Korps. With two panzer divisions and motorised support, the like a nutcracker. Those opposed to the plan saw the North
Afrika Korps was a small, highly-mobile force. With daring African campaign as a pointless distraction, likely to sink
and innovative tactics, Rommel soon had the British on the the American forces into a wasteful quagmire. This would
back foot. By the end of 1941, the British Eighth Army change when the British victory at El Alamein proved that
had almost exhausted itself, throwing everything it had Rommel was not unbeatable, putting the Axis on the back
against the Afrika Korps, and, more often than not, being foot and giving the Operation Torch forces a renewed sense
comprehensively outfoxed by Rommel. of optimism and purpose.
Although Britain was grateful for material support from The Allies could not be certain what sort of welcome they
their transatlantic ally, so far the United States was would meet in French Morocco and Algeria. Germany’s
remaining officially neutral. Public opinion in America was rapid defeat of France had left the country divided. The
firmly opposed to getting directly involved in another costly unoccupied southern portion of France, as well as the
and destructive European war. That would all change on colonies in North Africa, were controlled by the pro-Nazi
7 December 1941, a day that would ‘live in infamy’, when regime based in the spa town of Vichy. In theory, Vichy
Japan’s Imperial Navy launched a surprise air attack on the France was an Axis ally. In reality, though, large elements
US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. The following day Japan of unoccupied France were understandably resentful of
declared war on the USA, followed by her Axis partners, fascism and awaited a chance to join the Allied fight. The
Germany and Italy. Any possibility of America remaining tenuous alliance was mostly enforced by the knowledge
neutral was gone. that the Wehrmacht could easily crush any resistance in
Many of America’s military leaders felt that defeating Japan Vichy and bring the remainder of France under full military
must be the priority. However, President Franklin Roosevelt occupation. Ultimately, the French forces in North Africa
insisted that Nazi Germany was the bigger threat to the were expected to join the Allied cause. However, they were
United States’ interests. The ‘Germany First’ policy won out, proud and ready to resist any foreign invaders, and Churchill
even though it went against the majority of public opinion. said that ‘the first battle would be to have no battle with the
Roosevelt was eager to have American ground troops in French.’
1 9 4 1
7 February 6 - 30 April 19 November - 30 December 2 December
Operation Compass ends Axis invasion of Operation Crusader: British push German troops come within
with the destruction of the Yugoslavia and Greece Germans and Italians back to sight of the Kremlin in Moscow
Italian Army at Beda Fomm El Agheila in Libya
30 April - 1 May 5 December
12 February Rommel assaults Tobruk 8 Sept German offensive halted;
Rommel arrives Siege of Leningrad Soviet counter-offensive
in Libya 4 March begins begins
British and Commonwealth
22 January forces diverted to Greece 22 June 7 December
Australians Operation Barbarossa: Japanese bomb US fleet
take Tobruk 24 March German invasion of
Soviet Union begins
in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Rommel attacks in Libya
5
While planners on both sides of the Atlantic worked day and Algiers on private business and began to personally direct
night to organise the largest amphibious operation in history, the defence. He had strong pro-Nazi sympathies and hated
careful preparations were also made in French North Africa the British. However, many of the local French troops were
by agents of the fledgeling Office of Strategic Services (OSS), less inclined to resist, and the landing infantry quickly
the precursor to the CIA. Overtures were made to friendly pushed inland and surrounded the city, which surrendered
political and military figures. This was done in utmost that evening.
secrecy, because activity in French North Africa was carefully The target for the Center Task Force was the port city of
monitored by the German Armistice Board. Arrangements Oran. The 1st Infantry Division initially met light resistance,
were made to smuggle the popular General Henri Giraud again landing on the beaches to either side of the city.
out of France by submarine, with the understanding that he Seizing the town itself was a different matter. Two Royal
would take command of the French forces in North Africa. Navy ships attempted a direct assault on the port of Oran,
The political situation in North Africa was tense, however, carrying a force of Rangers, aiming to seize the port intact.
with anti-British sentiment running high, as British forces However, they faced fierce resistance, and both ships were
had fought a bloody naval battle against the Vichy French sunk. The 1st Infantry Division and 1st Armored Division
navy following the French capitulation. So care was taken attacked determinedly, forcing Oran to surrender at noon
to make it clear that this would be a US-led operation, on 10 November.
and the supreme Allied commander would be Dwight D In addition to Oran and Algiers, the American planners
Eisenhower. Popular and respected despite never having led insisted on landing a third force at Casablanca to give the
troops in combat, Eisenhower’s greatest strength would be operation a beachhead on the Atlantic coast. They were
his ability to co-ordinate the large and diverse multinational concerned that if neutral Spain was drawn into the war on
coalition. the Axis side, they could close the Strait of Gibraltar, sealing
After a long sea journey from embarkation points in off the Mediterranean to the Allied navies and trapping
Scotland and the eastern United States, the troop convoys the Torch forces. The Western Task Force, commanded
of Operation Torch landed on November 8. Any hope that by General George S Patton, met the most determined
the defenders would give up without a fight was short-lived, resistance. The lack of preparatory bombardment, in the
and each of the three task forces had to fight its way ashore. hope that the French would not resist, left the shore defences
As Giraud had no official status, his calls to surrender were intact. After three days of fierce fighting, including a costly
largely ignored. naval battle, Casablanca finally surrendered on 11 November.
The Eastern Task Force landed on beaches to either side of
Algiers. A small force of French Resistance fighters tried to EASTERN
TASKFORCE
seize key locations in the city, but in the chaos, the coup
was not as successful as planned. Admiral François Darlan,
deputy leader of Vichy France, was unexpectedly present in
CENTER
TASKFORCE
SP OR AN
AN
ISH
MOROCCO
WESTERN
TASKFORCE
RABAT
CA SABL ANCA
H MOROCCO
E NC
FR
Operation Torch & Tunisia Egypt & Libya Western Front

1 9 4 2
4 February 26 May - 5 June 30 August - 5 September 23 October 1 November
German advance The Battle of Gazala Battle of Alam El Halfa: Operation Lightfoot: Operation Supercharge:
halted at Gazala Rommel fails to break Second Battle of Eighth Army breaks through
British defensive line El Alamein begins Axis defences at El Alamein
21 January 21 June
Operation Theseus: Germans Axis capture vital port at Tobruk 24 October
advance from El Agheila Western Taskforce convoy sets sail
from Hampton Roads, Virginia
29 January 1-27 July
Axis forces First Battle of El Alamein: 25-31 October
recapture Benghazi British Eighth Army halts Center and Eastern Taskforce convoys
Axis advance into Egypt set sail from United Kingdom
6
In order to negotiate an armistice with the French forces as Tunis, reluctantly complied, ordering his troops out of the
quickly as possible, Eisenhower had no choice but to deal city to set up defensive positions in the surrounding hills.
with Admiral Darlan, who alone had the authority to order Later they would join up with the Allies. Soon the German
a general end to the resistance. Because of Darlan’s Nazi occupiers had established a strong force in Tunis.
sympathies, this deal outraged many in the Free French Blade Force, a mixed taskforce consisting of a British tank
cause, but most importantly the ceasefire was achieved. regiment supported by US light tanks plus motorised
The victory was bittersweet. Over five thousand had been infantry and artillery, came within 40 miles of Tunis, raiding
killed or wounded between the two sides that would soon be an airfield at Djedeida and destroying numerous Luftwaffe
fighting together as allies. Even after the ceasefire, Eisenhower aircraft on the ground. They had inadvertently exposed a gap
remained in a complex and frustrating political situation, in the German defences, and the way to Tunis was briefly
where rivalries and competing agendas would continue to open. They would not be able to seize the opportunity,
hamper the Allied cause. though. The ambitious dash for Tunis was too much for the
For the green Americans, the test run was over. It would long and inadequate supply lines to support. It proved two
soon be time to face the ‘real’ enemy, the feared Germans. important lessons: that logistics and supply would be crucial
The Eastern Task Force was officially designated as the to victory, and that Tunisia’s primitive roads and railway
British First Army, although it included American and would never make this easy.
French troops, and was commanded by Lieutenant-General By late December, the rains had arrived, turning the Tunisian
Sir Kenneth Anderson. They were given the task of making terrain into a muddy quagmire. Vehicle transport near the
their way east with all possible haste and seizing the Tunisian front lines became all but impossible, and neither side would
capital before the Germans could establish a strong foothold be able to make progress until the weather dried out. The race
there. However, the Germans were not going to let Tunisia for Tunis had halted, and a month-long stalemate began—
go without a fight. although it did not seem like much of a lull to the troops
The German Luftwaffe and Navy immediately began ferrying in the stationary front lines, who kept up a steady tempo
troops from Italy into Tunis, uncertain what welcome they of fighting despite the terrible conditions. The ‘nutcracker
could expect. During the first few days, the local French campaign’, to crush the Axis between two unstoppable Allied
forces could easily have resisted the arriving German units. armies and drive them out of North Africa, was not going to
However, Marshal Petain, the Vichy leader, ordered French be as easy as they had hoped.
forces in Tunis not to interfere with the incoming German
troops. General Barré, commander of the French force in
Djedeida
Tebourba
Bône TUNIS
Medjez el Bab
ALGIERS
Souk el Arba
Enfidaville
Sousse
TÉBESSA
Kasserine Faïd
Sidi Bou Zid
ALGERIA SFAX
GAFSA
El Guettar
GABÉS
0 50 100 150
Km
TUNISIA
50 100 150
M TRIPOLI
5 November 10 November 26 November 29 November - 4 December

Axis Forces retreat from Egypt French forces in Algeria Allied advance is halted at Djedeida German counterattack pushes
agree to a ceasefire Allies back to Tebourba
8 November 27 November 10 December
Operation Torch begins. 11 November French fleet is scuttled at Toulon First Army front line pushed back
Allies land in Morocco and Algeria Operation Anton: to avoid capture by German forces to defensive positions east of Medjez el Bab
German and Italian armies
9 November occupy Vichy France
28 November 20-26 December
German forces begin to occupy Tunis Battle of Longstop Hill: failed
Djedeida airfield captured
16st November offensive toward Tebourba
9 November 1 Parachute Battalion 24 December
French defenders in Oran surrender seizes airfield at Souk el Arba Admiral Darlan assassinated
7
A mountainous area separates Tunisia’s hot arid south hills east of the town of Sidi Bou Zid, in the early hours of
from the fertile north. Two mountain chains, the Eastern 14 February, under the cover of a heavy sandstorm.
and Western Dorsals, form an inverted V-shape, with high Heavily outnumbered, tanks of 1st Armored Division’s
rocky plains in between. Passes through the Dorsals were Combat Command A were overwhelmed by the massed
strategically critical. One such pass, at Kasserine, would be attack. Severely mauled, but narrowly escaping complete
the site of the Americans’ first major battle. destruction, the survivors retreated to Sbeïtla to regroup.
Rommel was preparing to defend against the advancing A combined-arms force comprising two battalions of the
Eighth Army at the Mareth Line in the south, which he 168th Infantry Regiment and various supporting units were
knew would be harder with the Americans threatening his left encircled by the advancing enemy on the two hills east
rear. He had a poor opinion of the leadership and morale of the town. They were denied permission to withdraw, and
of the inexperienced Americans, and hoped to inflict on instead ordered to wait for reinforcements. These would
them a swift and demoralising defeat, to ‘instil in them an never arrive.
inferiority complex of no mean order.’
The attack involved the entire mobile force available to
the Germans. 10th and 21st Panzer Divisions launched a
two-pronged attack on the US defences, based around two
9TH INFANTRY
DIVISIONAL 6TH ARMOURED
ARTILLERY DIVISION
THALA
34TH INFANTRY
DIVISION
SBIBA
CCB
1ST ARMORED
TÉBESSA DIVISION
17/21ST
LANCERS
3/6TH ARMORED
INFANTRY
REGIMENT
KEY 2/13TH
ARMORED
REGIMENT 1/26TH
GERMAN German INFANTRY
UNIT Movement REGIMENT 21ST PANZER
DIVISION
ITALIAN Italian
UNIT Movement 2/6TH ARMORED
INFANTRY
US US
REGIMENT
KASSERINE
UNIT Movement
SBEÏTLA
BRITISH British
UNIT Movement 1OTH PANZER
DIVISION
Allied 2/16TH
Defences INFANTRY
REGIMENT
Roads
CENTAURO
DIVISION
15TH PANZER
DIVISION
0 10 20 30
M
10 20 30
Km
THÉLEPTE
Tunisia Egypt & Libya FÉRIANA
1 9 4 3
14-24 January 30th January 14 February 16 February
Casablanca Conference: Roosevelt, Churchill 5 Panzer Army captures Faïd Pass, Operation Frühlingswind: Germans occupy Gafsa
and Free French leaders plan next phase of opening the way to western Tunisia armoured attack against
Allied strategy in Europe
1 February
CCA of 1st Armored Division
at Sidi Bou Zid
17-18 February
Germans capture Fériana,
US attempt to recapture Faïd is repulsed
23 January 15 February Thélepte and Sbeïtla.
British capture Tripoli Americans withdraw to
Counterattack by 1st Armored Regiment
2 February is crushed and CCA withdraws to Sbeïtla
Sbiba and Kasserine
29 January US reorganise for defence at Sidi Bou Zid
Axis forces
recapture Benghazi 4 February
Eighth Army reaches Tunisian border
8
On 15 February Combat Command C counterattacked out could potentially be turned into a full-scale breakthrough.
of the town, led by M4 Shermans of 1st Armored Regiment, Rommel wanted to capture Tébessa, the Allies’ main supply
supported by tank destroyers of the 701st Tank Destroyer base for southern Tunisia, and then press on toward the coast
Battalion. However, the American commanders had still at Bône, splitting the First Army in half. He was instead
drastically underestimated the strength of the German force. ordered to attack further north towards Thala, a town crucial
The outnumbered Americans now had a first-hand lesson to the Allies’ lines of communication. Rommel concluded
in the effective German tactic—by now very familiar to the that the weakest part of the Allied lines was the Kasserine
British—of feigning retreat, thereby luring the pursuing Pass, an X-shaped gap in the Western Dorsal mountains a
enemy tanks into a deadly screen of waiting 8.8cm anti-tank mile wide at its narrowest point. The initial infantry attacks,
guns. The German force also included several Tiger heavy on the morning of 20 February, were successfully repulsed
tanks of the 501st Heavy Panzer Battalion, which were soon by the 26th Infantry Regiment, supported by tanks and tank
to earn a fearsome reputation with the Americans. The destroyers. In the afternoon, 10th Panzer Division arrived to
counterattack came nowhere close to reaching the trapped reinforce the attack.
infantry battalions, who were now belatedly ordered to try The Allies’ command and communications were chaotic.
to escape under cover of darkness. Some managed to do so, The II Corps commander, Lloyd Fredendall, was often out
but most were captured. of touch with the situation at the front. He rarely left his
By 17 February, the spearhead of the German advance, command headquarters, a huge fortified bunker 110km
including around 80 Panzer IV and several Tiger tanks, were (70 miles) behind the front lines. In contrast, Rommel
threatening the town of Sbeïtla, and the Americans were personally led the attack of 10th Panzer Division, which soon
forced to evacuate the town. overwhelmed the defenders on the high ground surrounding
After their successes at Sidi Bou Zid and Sbeïtla, there was the mouth of the pass. The shocked Americans struggled to
disagreement among the German commanders about how to maintain cohesion as they conducted a fighting retreat.
proceed. What had originally been planned as a limited attack The attack then split in two. The 10th Panzer Division drove
north towards Thala. Meanwhile, the bulk of the German
infantry, supported by tanks of the Italian Centauro Division,
pushed towards the western exit from the pass, where
1st Armored Division’s CCB was rallying and preparing
to defend the road to Tébessa. The fighting was fierce, but
this time the American lines held. The attack on Thala was
eventually halted on the morning of 22 February by a fierce
defence by British troops, supported by massed US artillery
that had just arrived after marching 1,300 km (800 miles)
from Morocco. With his attack stalled, Rommel was now
forced to divert his mobile forces back to the southeast, where
the British Eighth Army were approaching the Mareth Line.
The opportunity for the Axis to seize the strategic advantage
slipped by, and control of the Kasserine Pass was left back in
American hands. By 17 March the original battle lines had
been restored.
In their first major clash with the veteran Germans, the
Americans were let down by their lack of experience,
compounded by poor senior leadership. They had suffered
heavy casualties and were driven back more than 80km
D, E, F COMPANIES,
1ST ARMORED
(50 miles). Complete disaster had been averted, but it was
REGIMENT
nevertheless a humiliating defeat for the green Americans.
21ST PANZER
H, I COMPANIES, DIVISION
CCA 1ST ARMORED 2/168TH
1ST ARMORED REGIMENT INFANTRY
DIVISION REGIMENT
SIDI BOU ZID FAïD

3/168TH 1OTH PANZER
INFANTRY DIVISION
REGIMENT
18 February 20 February 22 February

German reconnaissance US retreat from Kasserine Pass German attack at Thala is halted by heavy bombardment
arrives at Kasserine by 9th Infantry Division’s artillery
21 February 22 February
19stFebruary CCB of 1 Armored Division
st General Ernest Harmon arrives to assume command of the defence
21 Panzer Division unsuccessfully defends the road to Tébessa
attacks Sbiba 23 February
Lacking enough mobile forces to overwhelm the defence,
19 February 21thFebruary Rommel calls off the attack; Axis forces retreat through
Kasserine Pass
German attack at Kasserine Pass begins 10 Panzer Division attacks Thala
25 February
Allies reoccupy Kasserine Pass
9
The setbacks at Kasserine drove the Allies to consolidate somewhat seasoned by the fighting at Kasserine Pass, made
their forces and develop their lines of communication and better progress than the untested 9th Infantry Division.
administration. The 18th Army Group was formed, under After days of hard fighting, though, the Italians and Germans
General Sir Harold Alexander, with control over the First and still held strong positions in the high ground. On 30 March,
Eighth Armies. Fredendall, who had botched his command of a spearhead of M3 Lee tanks of the 13th Armored Regiment,
II Corps, was discretely replaced with General George S Patton. supported by tank destroyers of the 701st Regiment, attempted
Patton was a larger-than-life character, the model of a brash to break through, but were stopped by minefields and antitank
cavalry officer. His rehabilitation of the battered II Corps was guns. Until the resistance in the hills was removed, there
fast and total. He quickly whipped his men back into shape, would be no way for tanks to force their way through the
enforcing dress regulations and generally ensuring discipline pass. A bitter battle of attrition resumed, where each hill and
and order were kept. Under his command was the 1st Armored ridge would be systematically ground down by artillery fire
Division, as well as the 1st, 9th, and 34th Infantry divisions. and taken with determined infantry assaults.
II Corps’ first orders under Patton were to push into the On 6 April, the Eighth Army overcame the Axis resistance at
Eastern Dorsal mountains toward Gabés, from where they Wadi Akarit and the Axis defence in southern Tunisia began
could threaten the rear of the Mareth Line, where Rommel to collapse. On 7 April, the American tanks attacked through
was facing Montgomery’s Eighth Army. On 17 March, the the El Guettar Pass once more, this time breaking through
1st Infantry Division moved forward into the almost abandoned and linking up with the Eighth Army. Although it was not
plains and captured the town of Gafsa, left undefended by the an overwhelming victory, the fighting at El Guettar gave the
Germans, to use as a base of operations for the offensive. The Americans a renewed sense of confidence, proving that they
next day, they captured the oasis town of El Guettar, driving could outfight the best of the Axis.
out its Italian defenders, who retreated to the south and dug The Allies now entered the final phase of the campaign.
in on the nearby hills, blocking the El Guettar Pass. The Eighth Army began pushing inexorably northward.
Rommel had returned to Germany in poor health, so command Sandwiched between the sea to the east and the First Army
of the Axis forces, now redesignated Army Group Africa, holding firm in the mountains to their west, the retreating
passed to his rival, Hans-Jürgen von Arnim. Like Rommel, Axis were compressed into an increasingly small area around
Von Arnim did not think much of the Americans’ fighting Tunis and Bizerte. Left without an enemy to face in the south,
ability, and ordered a spoiling attack to disrupt their advance. II Corps marched 200 miles (320km) to the northern end of
On the morning of 23 March, 10th Panzer Division launched the Allied front for their part in the conclusion of the campaign.
an attack against the American forward positions around El The final obstacle for the Allies was a series of tough defensive
Guettar. The attacking force comprised 50 Panzer III and positions in the mountains around Tunis. The Allies would
Panzer IV tanks supported by panzergrenadiers driving to need to seize each position one by one, forcing the determined
battle in half-tracks, including many American M3 half-tracks defenders off the heights at the point of the bayonet.
captured from the retreating Americans at Kasserine. II Corps was given the task of capturing the most difficult
The German panzers overwhelmed the first lines of defence, of these, codenamed Hill 609, with steep sides and defended
then became bogged down in the well-positioned American by determined infantry with formidable artillery support
minefields. The tank destroyers and artillery were then able to from the surrounding peaks. The Americans distinguished
inflict a heavy toll, knocking out 30 of the panzers in an hour themselves in the fighting for Hill 609, but the going was still
of fighting, forcing the Germans to retreat. A second attack slow and difficult.
later in the afternoon, this time by the German infantry, was With the last mountain defences captured, the fate of the
again stopped by determined defence and the effective use remaining Axis forces in Tunisia was sealed. Even though entire
of artillery. Realizing that further attacks were pointless, the German and Italian divisions remained in good fighting order,
Germans retreated, some deploying back to their headquarters they were trapped without hope of escape or resupply, and had
at Gabés and others bolstering the Italians in the hills. no choice but to lay down their arms. The numbers captured
With the German spoiling attack stopped, the Americans were on a similar scale to the disaster at Stalingrad, prompting
prepared their own counterattack. The 1st Armored Division the name ‘Tunisgrad’ for the defeat. The triumphant Allies
was to advance through the El Guettar Pass and up the road suddenly faced a new challenge: how to transport and feed
towards Gabés. First, though, the strongpoints in the hills a quarter of a million prisoners. With North Africa in their
would need to be removed one by one. Demonstrating the hands, the Allies had a base from which to begin striking into
value of combat experience, the 1st Infantry Division, now the underbelly of occupied Europe. After four bitter years,
Fascist ambitions in Africa were finally at an end.
First Army Eighth Army
1 9 4 3
6 March 9 March 21 March 25 March
Operation Capri: Axis attack Rommel returns to Germany; New Zealand Corps seizes entrance to General Orland Ward is lightly wounded
fails to halt Eighth Army at Von Arnim takes command of Tebaga Gap leading an attack by three battalions of
Medenine Army Group Africa 6th Armored Infantry at Maknassy
21 March 26 March
6 March 17st March 1st Armored Division and
George S Patton replaces 9th Infantry Division capture Sened Operation Supercharge II:
1 Infantry Division occupies Gafsa Eighth Army outflank Mareth Line
Lloyd Fredendall as II Corps
23 March through Tebaga Gap
commander 19 March
Operation Pugilist: Eighth Army 1st Infantry Division, with tank 29 March
begins attacking Mareth Line destroyer support, halts two German New Zealand Corps captures Gabés,
attacks at El Guettar Axis retreat to Wadi Akarit
10
0 10 20 30 40 50
M
10 20 30 40 50 BIZERTE
Km
9TH INFANTRY
DIVISION Mateur
1ST ARMORED
Chouigui
DIVISION Djedeida
IA Hill 609 Tebourba TUNIS
su
la
R II 34TH INFANTRY
n
DIVISION
ni
E
CORPS
Longstop Hill Pe
n
G
1ST INFANTRY
DIVISION Medjez el Bab Bo
L 5 Ca
p
A CORPS
FIRST
ARMY Hammamet
9
CORPS
KEY
GERMAN
UNIT
German
Movement
19
FRENCH
CORPS
ITALIAN Italian Enfidaville
UNIT Movement
US US
UNIT Movement
BRITISH British
UNIT Movement Sousse
FRENCH French
UNIT Movement Kairouan
A
Roads I
S
I
TÉBESSA N
U
T
Kasserine
Sidi Bou Zid
1ST INFANTRY
DIVISION 1ST ARMORED
DIVISION
SFAX
Maknassy
Sened
21 20
10TH PANZER CORPS CORPS
GAFSA DIVISION
El Guettar
k arit
CENTAURO
DIVISION Wadi A
EIGHTH
ARMY
GABÉS
30 March - 6 April 9 - 11 April 15 April 7 May

Americans attack from El Guettar II Corps moves north in carefully Omar Bradley takes command of II Corps, British armour enters Tunis,
towards Gabés co-ordinated march across as Patton resumes planning Sicily invasion Americans enter Bizerte
First Army’s supply lines 20 April
5 April Eighth Army captures Enfidaville
9 May
Ernest Harmon replaces 10 April II Corps accepts surrender of enemy
Orlando Ward as Eighth Army captures Sfax forces in their sector; resistance
1st Armored Division commander 27 April - 1 May continues further south in British sector
Battle for Hill 609
12 April and Cap Bon Peninsula
7 April Eighth Army captures Sousse 6 May 13 May
Eighth Army and First Army link up Operation Vulcan, final Allied
offensive, launched Axis Powers surrender in Tunisia
11
US servicemen knew of the British practice of giving US-built vehicles code names based on American generals, and often
adopted it themselves, albeit colloquially. However, the code names were never officially applied in US service.
M3 STUART
The M3 Light Tank, nicknamed the Stuart, is one of the fastest tanks on Crew (4): Commander/loader, gunner,
the battlefield, though it only has light armour and a small gun. Both of the driver, machine-gunner
1st Armored Division's armored regiments include one battalion armed Weight: 15.2 tonnes
with the M3 Stuart. Length: 4.84m (15’ 10")
Width: 2.23m (7' 6")
Height: 2.56m (8' 5")
Weapons: 37mm Gun M6
3x .30-cal Browning MG
Armour: 25-51mm
Speed: 58 km/h (36 mph)
Engine: Continental R670
164 kW (220 hp)
M3 LEE
The M3 Medium Tank sports a 75mm main gun mounted in a limited-traverse Crew (7): Commander, 2x gunners,
side sponson, as well as a smaller 37mm gun in its turret. The 13th Armored 2x loaders, driver,
Division began the campaign with one battalion fielding the M3 Lee, with radio operator
another battalion arriving in Tunisia in December 1942. Weight: 27 tonnes
Length: 5.64m (18’ 6")
Width: 2.72m (8' 11")
Height: 3.12m (10' 3")
Weapons: 75mm Gun M2 (or M3)
37mm Gun M5
3 x Browning .30-cal MG
Armour: 38-51mm
300kW (400 hp)
M4 SHERMAN
The M4 Medium Tank, aka the Sherman, is the most iconic American tank of Crew (5): Commander, gunner, loader,
WWII. It is well protected, mobile and reliable, and will remain the main tank driver, assistant driver
in US armored divisions throughout the rest of the war, with a total of more Weight: 30 tonnes
than 44,000 produced. Two battalions of the 1st Armored Regiment are armed Length: 5.84m (19’ 2")
Width: 2.62m (8’ 7")
with the M4 Sherman.
Height: 2.74m (9' 0")
Weapons: 75mm Gun M3
.50-cal M2 Browning MG
2x .30-cal Browning MG
Armour: 30-76mm
300kW (400 hp)
The US Army used a simple naming convention to assign model numbers to its equipment. The first type of a piece of
equipment (say a medium tank) was designated M1. If a new design replaced the old one, it would be called M2, and a third
design M3 and so on. If changes were made to a design, a suffix was added, so the M4A1 Medium Tank was the first variant
of the fourth design.
Before receiving an official M number, designs were given T codes while they were still being tested. Certain experimental
designs were rushed into battle before they were officially standardised, and so still used T codes, such as the T30 HMC, and
added an E suffix for variants, such as the T28E1 CGMC.
12
M3 HALF-TRACK & VARIANTS
A tracked assembly was added to the armored car in place of its rear wheels, to improve its off-road performance,
creating an all-purpose armored gun tractor and infantry carrier. The M3 Half-track is the workhorse of the armored
divisions, with over 50,000 produced. Numerous half-track variants use a M3 Half-track chassis mounting a variety of
weapons, including the M4 81mm Mortar Motor Carriage, the T30 75mm Howitzer Motor Carriage, and the T28E1
Combination Gun Motor Carriage. Crew (1): Driver
Weight: 9 tonnes
Length: 6.17m (20’ 3")
Width: 1.96m (6' 5")
Height: 2.26m (7' 5")
Weapons: .50 cal M2 Browning MG
or .30 cal M1919A4 MG
Armour: 6 - 13mm
Engine: White 160AX 6-cylinder
110 kW (147 hp)
M7 PRIEST
Mounting a 105mm howitzer in an armoured body based on the M3 Lee Crew (5): Commander, gunner,
chassis, the M7 Howitzer Motor Carriage, nicknamed the Priest, is the US 2 loaders, driver
Army’s most numerous self-propelled artillery piece, with over 4000 built by Weight: 23 tonnes
the end of the war. Length: 6.02m (19’ 9")
Width: 2.87m (9’ 5")
Height: 2.54m (8' 4")
Weapons: 105mm Howitzer M2A1
Armour: 12-62mm
254 kW (340 hp)
M10 TANK DESTROYER

The M10 tank destroyer, officially known as the M10 3-inch Gun Motor Crew (5): Commander, gunner,
Carriage (GMC), mounts a 3-inch gun originally designed for anti-aircraft loader, driver,
use on a modified M4 Sherman hull. It epitomises US tank destroyer design— assistant driver
similar to a tank, but with less all-round armour protection and an open- Weight: 29 tonnes
Length: 6.83m (22’ 5")
topped turret.
Width: 3.05m (10’ 0")
Height: 2.89m (9' 6")
Weapons: 3-inch Gun M7
Armour: 10-60mm
Engine: GM 6046
280 kW (375 hp)
M3A1 ARMORED CAR

With a high power-to-weight ratio, the M3A1 Armored Car is fast and agile. Crew (3): Commander,
It is employed by reconnaissance troops, whose job of scouting out the enemy gunner, driver
relies more on speed and mobility than the firepower of its three machine-guns. Weight: 4 tonnes
Length: 5.6m (18’ 6")
Width: 2m (6' 8")
Height: 2m (6' 7")
Weapons: .50 cal M2 Browning MG,
2x .30 cal M1919A4 MG
Armour: 6 - 13mm
Engine: Hercules JXD 6-cylinder
82 kW (110 hp)
13
Old Ironsides, the first of the mighty Armored Force, the pioneer in the art and science of armor, the father of other
divisions, the first armored division overseas, the first to land on African soil, the first to engage the German troops in
World War II, the instructor of others entering combat, the first into Rome, the first of the armored divisions in days
of actual field service during World War II.
—Office of the Chief of Military History
Although the nickname ‘the Fighting First’ truly belongs to Much of the losses at Kasserine Pass were suffered by Old
the 1st Infantry Division, the 1st Armoured Division can just Ironsides. Ward was furious at having his division broken
as much claim to be the first of its kind, a template which up into smaller ‘penny packet’ forces distributed across the
set the standard for the newly created armored divisions— front, rather than grouped together en masse where they
fielding more than 14,000 soldiers organised in two armored could mutually support each other.
regiments and one armored infantry regiment, along with Ward was later relieved of command of the division, as
supporting artillery, engineers, and reconnaissance. scapegoat for the failings in the Kasserine Pass fighting. He
The division’s nickname ‘Old Ironsides’ was chosen by its was replaced by Major General Ernest Harmon, who, sent
first commanding officer, General Magruder, in honour to assess the situation in the Kasserine Pass, had effectively
of the USS Constitution, one of the first warships of the taken control of II Corps and turned the chaos into a
United States Navy. Magruder appreciated the parallel successful defence.
between the famous warship that founded the US Navy and With the Tunisian Campaign over, Old Ironsides redeployed
the 1st Armored Division setting the standard for the new to Morocco to re-equip. The heavy losses of the campaign
armored divisions. were restored, and the last of its M3 Lee tanks were replaced
The division was led into Tunisia by Major-General Orlando with the newer M4 Sherman.
Ward, a capable administrator who was hampered by a Old Ironsides sat out the invasion of Sicily, and later landed
difficult working relationship with his II Corps commander, at Salerno in Italy. A year of tough fighting followed through
General Lloyd Fredendall. the mountainous country, before the final capture of Rome
on 5 June 1944.
1st ARMORED DIVISION

II CORPS, FIRST ARMY, TUNISIA, FEBRUARY 1943
Major-General Orlando Ward
COMBAT COMMAND A COMBAT COMMAND B COMBAT COMMAND C* COMBAT COMMAND D*
3rd Battalion, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Battalion,

1st Armored Regiment 1st Armored Regiment (p.16) 6th Armored Infantry Regiment 13th Armored Regiment (p.20)
1st Battalion, 2nd Battalion, G Company, C Company,

6th Armored Infantry Regiment (p.28) 13th Armored Regiment 13th Armored Regiment 701st Tank Destroyer Battalion (p.40)
A Company, 2nd Battalion, B Company, D Company,

701st Tank Destroyer Battalion 6th Armored Infantry Regiment 701st Tank Destroyer Battalion 16th Armored Engineer Battalion
B Company, A & B Companies, B Company, 68th Armored

81st Recon Battalion 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion 68th Armored Field Artillery Battalion Field Artillery Battalion
27th Armored
Field Artillery Battalion
* Armored divisions usually had two combat commands, CCA

and CCB, but the 1st Armored Division was so widely dispersed 1st Battalion, 1st Battalion,
1st Armored Regiment (p.24) 13th Armored Regiment
prior to the German attack at Kasserine Pass that two additional (Re-fitting in Oran during (Divisional Reserve)
improvised combat commands, CCC and CCD were created. the Battle of Kasserine Pass)
14
FIGHTING FIRST FORCE
Your Force must contain at least one Formation, and
may contain as many Formations as you like.
TANK INFANTRY ANTI-TANK

FORMATIONS FORMATIONS FORMATIONS
M10 TANK DESTROYER

M4 SHERMAN ARMORED RIFLE COMPANY
TANK COMPANY COMPANY MU111
MU105 MU113
M3 LEE RIFLE
TANK COMPANY COMPANY
MU103 MU118
M3 STUART
TANK COMPANY
MU101
FIGHTING FIRST SUPPORT UNITS

You may field one Support Unit from each box.
RECONNAISSANCE RECONNAISSANCE ARTILLERY ARTILLERY
ARMORED RECON ARMORED RECON M7 PRIEST ARMORED M7 PRIEST ARMORED

PATROL PATROL ARTILLERY BATTERY ARTILLERY BATTERY
MU107 MU107 MU123 MU123
105mm FIELD 105mm FIELD

ARTILLERY BATTERY ARTILLERY BATTERY
MU124 MU124
ANTI-AIRCRAFT AIRCRAFT OBSERVER
T28E1 37mm P-40 WARHAWK STUART OP

AAA PLATOON FIGHTER FLIGHT OBSERVATION POST
MU126 MU127 MU125
FORMATION SUPPORT ALLIED SUPPORT WILDCARD
?
You may field compulsory You may field one compulsory
Combat Units (with a Unit from a British Formation
black box) from the as Support and one British
above Formations as Formation as an Allied
Support Units. Formation.
15
Between the two world wars, the United States’ small would ride to battle on mounts built of metal, not flesh
professional army was in a constant state of change. One and blood.
of the most hotly debated items was the role that tanks Of the 1st Armored Regiment’s three battalions, the 1st was
should play in modern warfare. One view was that tanks equipped with the M3 Light Tank. The 2nd and 3rd were the
should operate much as they had in WWI, supporting the first to be equipped with the new M4A1 Sherman. They
infantry to overcome fixed defences and break the enemy were proud to have the new tanks, and rightly so—it was
lines. The cavalry arm, on the other hand, saw the armour one of the best tanks in action at the time—but they soon
as the modern equivalent of traditional horse-mounted learned that excellent equipment alone was not enough.
forces, using speed and surprise to overwhelm the enemy,
At Sidi Bou Zid, the tankers of the 2nd Battalion were let
and exploiting holes in the enemy line to rapidly penetrate
down by bad luck and poor information, but also by their
deep into the rear.
own lack of experience. Instead of advancing cautiously
Even the terminology used by the two factions was after careful reconnaissance, they charged across the open,
different. The infantry were supported by ‘tanks’, whereas dusty ground at high speed, advertising their position to
the mechanized cavalry forces, forbidden from purchasing the numerically superior enemy. They were soon trapped
tanks, operated ‘combat cars’. The naming of the new between two veteran panzer divisions, well-placed in
‘Armored’ Divisions was a compromise, avoiding the terms defensive positions with concealed anti-tank guns, and
‘tank’, associated with the infantry, and ‘mechanized’, which suffered around 50% casualties without significantly
belonged to the cavalry. damaging the enemy. It was a valuable but costly lesson,
Each of the two armored divisions which deployed to North which the American tankers would strive never to repeat.
Africa represented a different faction. The 2nd ‘Hell on Wheels’
Armored Division included the 66th and 67th Armored COMBAT COMMANDS
Regiments, who traced their lineage back to the first
American tank troops in the First World War. Whereas both Combat Commands were combined-arms battle groups
of Old Ironsides’ two armored regiments—the 1st and the in US armored divisions. They grouped tanks, armoured
13th—were descended from cavalry regiments. infantry, and armoured artillery into tactical groups
within the division, without regard to which regiment
The 1st Cavalry Regiment began in 1833, protecting the the battalions originated from. The main advantage of
frontier of the young United States. The Regiment finally this organisation was flexibility. Unlike British brigades,
gave up its horses and became the US Army’s first mechanized which kept the same fixed subunits, Combat Commands
regiment in the 1930s. Tunisia would be the first place they were tailored to specific missions.
1st ARMORED REGIMENT

1st ARMORED DIVISION, FEBRUARY 1943
Colonel Peter C Hains III
REGIMENT HQ
TANK SECTION RECON SECTION TANK SECTION RECON SECTION RECON COMPANY
3 M3 Stuart tanks 4 Armored cars & 4 Jeeps 3 M4 Sherman tanks 4 Armored cars & 4 Jeeps 5 M3 Stuart tanks
12 Armored cars
BATTALION HQ BATTALION HQ 12 Jeeps
HQ COMPANY A COMPANY HQ COMPANY D COMPANY

3 T30 75mm HMCs 17 M3 Stuart tanks 3 T30 75mm HMCs 17 M4 Sherman tanks
3 M4 Mortar carriers 3 M4 Mortar carriers
B COMPANY C COMPANY E COMPANY F COMPANY

17 M3 Stuart tanks 17 M3 Stuart tanks 17 M4 Sherman tanks 17 M4 Sherman tanks
1ST (LIGHT) BATTALION 2ND (MEDIUM) BATTALION

54 M3 Stuart tanks 54 M4 Sherman tanks
3RD (MEDIUM) BATTALION

54 M4 Sherman tanks
16
M4 SHERMAN TANK COMPANY TANK FORMATION
You must field the Formation HQ and one Combat Unit from each black box.
You may also field one Combat Unit from each grey box.
HEADQUARTERS
M4 SHERMAN
TANK COMPANY HQ
MU105
ARMOUR ARMOUR ARMOUR
M4 SHERMAN M4 SHERMAN M4 SHERMAN

TANK PLATOON TANK PLATOON TANK PLATOON
MU106 MU106 MU106
M3 LEE
TANK PLATOON
MU104
M3 STUART
TANK PLATOON
MU102
ARTILLERY ARTILLERY RECONNAISSANCE
M4 81MM ARMORED T30 75MM ASSAULT ARMORED RECON

MORTAR PLATOON GUN PLATOON PATROL
MU109 MU110 MU107
You may field a Combat Unit from a black box as a Support Unit for another Formation.
As dawn rose, the platoon’s four other tanks fell in behind Lieutenant Davenport’s Sherman, named ‘Roll Tide’,
as the ponderous armoured beast rolled onto the dirt road, headed for where the latest reports promised they
would find the forward German units. Davenport knew that his foe was a master at his trade, but his trepidation
was tempered by his confidence in his tank—the most modern one in the US inventory. Its hulking, bulbous form
boasted three inches of hardened steel armour and a long, lethal 75mm gun that could easily penetrate most
German panzers.
The US platoon rolled forward, cautiously navigating the rough terrain. Not cautiously enough—the first sign
of the enemy’s presence was the last tank in the formation abruptly disappearing in a ball of orange flame and
black smoke.
An ear-splitting metallic clang like a sledgehammer blow rocked ‘Roll Tide’ back on its suspension, as an armour-
piercing shot ricocheted upward off the angled front of the Sherman's hull. Yells of surprise reverberated from
inside the fighting compartment. Davenport's war had started!
17
M4 SHERMAN TANK COMPANY
M4 SHERMANHQ TANK COMPANY HQ
MOTIVATION • TANK FORMATION • IS HIT ON
CONFIDENT 4+ AGGRESSIVE 3+
SKILL ARMOUR
2x M4 Sherman (75mm) 16 POINTS GREEN 5+ FRONT 6

1x M4 Sherman (75mm) 8 POINTS SIDE &
REAR 4
The M4 Medium Tank—best known by the TOP 1
nickname ‘Sherman’ given to it by the British— TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
is the most famous American tank, operated in 10”/25CM 12”/30CM 18”/45CM 20”/50CM 3+
large numbers by the US and their allies across WEAPON RANGE ROF ANTI- FIRE- NOTES
HALTED MOVING TANK POWER
all theatres. Over the course of the war there M4 Sherman (75mm) 28”/70CM 2 2 10 3+ Smoke, Stabiliser
will be numerous variants, changing the engine M4 Sherman (.50 cal MG) 20”/50CM 3 2 4 5+ Self-defence AA
and suspension, adding more armour and bigger M4 Sherman (MGs) 16”/40CM 2 2 2 6
guns, but all with the same tall, solid shape.
Davenport dropped down inside the turret. "Anyone hurt? Did it get in?" The crew were shaken but there were no
casualties. The shock of being ambushed wore off quickly and the US tanks dispersed and scanned the Tunisian
landscape, eager to strike back at their tormentors.
With another volley from the Germans, he spotted the enemy, a Panzer III in cover about 500 yards away. No
sooner had Davenport called out the target than his gunner yelled, “On the way” and the 75mm cannon roared
to life. The shot flew wide, but another round quickly followed, screaming toward the half-hidden panzer.
The fourth shot from ‘Roll Tide’ found its mark and suddenly the Panzer was burning, its crew frantically trying
to escape. Despite their exposed position, the Sherman’s armoured face had weathered the German fire, giving
him valuable seconds to answer the threat.
With the personal duel resolved, Davenport now had time to look at the fight his whole unit was in. The
Lieutenant was thrilled to see another panzer billowing black smoke and the other enemy on the run. His own
platoon’s toll was one tank destroyed, another out of action with a damaged track.
With their mission still before them, Lieutenant Davenport got his force moving again, announcing, “Let’s roll,”
over the radio net.
18
M4 SHERMAN TANKM4
PLATOON
SHERMAN TANK PLATOON
MOTIVATION • TANK UNIT • IS HIT ON
SKILL ARMOUR
5x M4 Sherman (75mm) 40 POINTS GREEN 5+ FRONT 6

4x M4 Sherman (75mm) 32 POINTS SIDE &
REAR 4
3x M4 Sherman (75mm) 24 POINTS
TOP 1
The M4A1 model, recognisable by its distinctive TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
rounded single-piece cast upper hull, is the first 10”/25CM 12”/30CM 18”/45CM 20”/50CM 3+
Sherman variant to enter combat with the US WEAPON RANGE ROF
HALTED MOVING
ANTI- FIRE-
TANK POWER NOTES
armored forces. Most of the initial production M4 Sherman (75mm) 28”/70CM 2 2 10 3+ Smoke, Stabiliser
run of the original M4 variant, with its sharp- M4 Sherman (.50 cal MG) 20”/50CM 3 2 4 5+ Self-defence AA
sided welded upper hull, were supplied to the M4 Sherman (MGs) 16”/40CM 2 2 2 6
British through the Lend-Lease programme.
M4 SHERMAN
FEATURES SPECIAL RULES
BIG GUN: The long-barrelled 75mm M3 gun is the most SELF-DEFENCE AA: A pintle-mounted .50-cal MG
powerful tank gun the US Army has. Its APCBC (Armor- on its turret gives the M4 Sherman some protection from
Piercing Capped Ballistic Capped) ammunition has a enemy air attacks.
softer metal cap to resist shattering, helping the round SMOKE: As well as armour-piercing ammunition, a few
penetrate against sloped armour. Testing shows that it can white phosphorous (or ‘Willy Pete’) rounds are on hand
penetrate 3 inches (75mm) of armour, making it deadly for creating a small smoke screen, blinding the enemy and
to every German tank with the possible exception of the screening the US tanks' movements.
monstrous Tiger. STABILISER: Like other US tanks, the M4 Sherman is
HEAVY ARMOUR: The M4 Sherman is the best- fitted with a gyrostabiliser mechanism to keep its main
protected tank in North Africa, except for the mighty Tiger. gun level while the tank is moving.
19
The 13th Armored Regiment began as a Cavalry Regiment If the crews hoped that their lost M3 Lees would be replaced
in 1901. It fought in the Philippines and in Mexico in with the newer M4 Sherman, they were largely disappointed.
1917 against Pancho Villa’s revolutionaries. The 13th Cavalry Instead their numbers were mostly made up with spare M3
Regiment gave up its horses to become the US Army’s second Medium tanks from storage in Algeria, which had been
mechanized regiment in 1936, joining the 1st Armored in earmarked for British units, and by taking replacements
training at the Armored Force School at Fort Knox, Kentucky. from the 2nd Armored Division, which had been left behind
Together the two regiments formed the 7th Cavalry Brigade to guard Morocco. The 13th would not receive M4 Shermans
(Mechanized), which would go on to form the basis of the until the end of the Tunisian campaign. They fought in Italy,
1st Armored Division. participating in the Anzio landings, and were among the first
Only two of 13th Armored Regiment's three battalions Allied troops to enter Rome in 1944.
landed in Operation Torch with the rest of ‘Old Ironsides’.
Like its sister regiment the 1st Armored, the 13th’s 1st Battalion SEPARATE TANK BATTALIONS
was equipped with the M3 Light Tank. The 2nd fielded the As the doctrine of the armored divisions moved away from
M3 Medium Tank, better known as the ‘Lee’. The 1st and the tank's original job of helping the infantry to overcome
2nd Battalions participated in the capture of Oran, gaining fixed enemy positions, new Separate Tank Battalions were
a brief but valuable taste of combat. The 3rd Battalion, also formed to fill that role.
with Lees, would not arrive in North Africa to join the rest Each Infantry Division was assigned a Tank Battalion.
of the regiment until late December. They were not officially part of the division, but they usually
On 26 November the 13th had their first clash with the stayed with the same division for the whole war. They were
Germans, encountering the 10th Panzer Division near organised like a tank battalion in an armored division, but
Tebourba. As part of Combat Command B, under the their role would be dedicated infantry support.
command of Colonel Paul Robinette, the 13th would then Separate Tank Battalions were generally equipped with
participate in the fiercest fighting on the Americans' front the M4 Sherman—well armoured and not especially fast,
throughout December 1942, suffering heavy losses of both it was the ideal infantry support tank. However, the only
tanks and personnel. With the losses, though, came valuable Separate Tank Battalion to see combat in Tunisia, the 751st,
experience, which would later be demonstrated by CCB’s was equipped with M3 Lees.
superior combat performance for the rest of the campaign.
2ND BATTALION,
13th ARMORED REGIMENT
Lieutenant-Colonel Hyman Bruss
BATTALION HQ
COMPANY HQ
ASSAULT GUN MORTAR PLATOON

PLATOON
1ST TANK PLATOON 2ND TANK PLATOON
2 TROOP
RECON PLATOON 2 TROOP
HEADQUARTERS
COMPANY 3RD TANK PLATOON
D COMPANY
(17 M3 Lee tanks)
E COMPANY
(17 M3 Lee tanks)
F COMPANY
(17 M3 Lee tanks)
20
M3 LEE TANK COMPANY TANK FORMATION
HEADQUARTERS
M3 LEE
TANK COMPANY HQ
MU103
M3 LEE M3 LEE M3 LEE

MU104 MU104 MU104
M4 SHERMAN
TANK PLATOON
MU106
M3 STUART
TANK PLATOON
MU102

MU109 MU110 MU107
21
M3 LEE TANK COMPANY HQ
M3 LEE TANK COMPANY HQ
SKILL ARMOUR
GREEN 5+
2x M3 Lee (short 75mm) 10 POINTS FRONT 5
1x M3 Lee (short 75mm) 5 POINTS SIDE &
REAR 4
OPTIONS TOP 1
• Replace any or all M3 Lee (short 75mm) TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
with M3 Lee (long 75mm) for +1 point 10”/25CM 12”/30CM 18”/45CM 20”/50CM 4+
each.
WEAPON RANGE ROF ANTI- FIRE- NOTES
M3 Lee Hull (short 75mm) 24”/60CM 2 2 9 3+ Forward Firing, Smoke, Stabiliser

In the build-up to entering the war, US Army
M3 Lee Hull (long 75mm) 28”/70CM 2 2 10 3+ Forward Firing, Smoke, Stabiliser
planners knew they would need a 75mm-armed
M3 Lee Turret (37mm) 24”/60CM 2 1 7 4+ Secondary Weapon
tank to overcome the latest German panzers. Of
M3 Lee (MGs) 16”/40CM 4 4 2 6 Self-defence AA
the proposed designs which could be produced
quickly, none had a turret big enough to hold a
75mm gun. As a temporary solution, the hull of sponson in the right front of the hull, while retaining a 37mm gun in the
a pre-war M2A1 medium tank was modified to turret. This odd, ungainly vehicle was far from perfect, but it was never-
take a short M2 75mm gun in a limited traverse theless an effective tank that filled a much-needed role at a crucial time.
M3 LEE
WELL ARMED: The M3 Lee has one of the best guns FORWARD FIRING: The sponson-mounted 75mm gun
available, capable of tackling most German panzers. can only engage targets to the tank's front.
Gunners have managed to score kills at ranges of up to SECONDARY WEAPON: Although each gun has its
2500 yards. Later production runs mount the longer, even own gunner and loader, the tank's commander is too busy
more powerful M3 version of the 75mm gun. Adding directing fire of the main 75mm gun to assist the turret
to the firepower, the smaller 37mm is a useful back-up gunner to locate targets for his 37mm gun.
weapon for engaging softer targets. SMOKE: When screening terrain is not available to hide
WELL PROTECTED: The M3 Lee has good all-round your movements, firing smoke rounds to blind the enemy
armoured protection for a combat tank, allowing it to is a useful alternative.
go head-to-head with enemy tanks. However, a smart STABILISER: A gyrostabiliser device keeps the M3's
commander will still manoeuvre with care to avoid enemy 75mm main gun level, partially reducing the difficulty of
fire whenever possible. firing on the move.
MEDIUM
PANZERTANKS:
IIIs: ONON
THETHE
TABLE
TABLE
There are two diferent medium tanks for you to choose between: the modern M4 Sherman, or the older, cheaper,
and still reliable M3 Lee. The key differences are highlighted below to help you pick the right tank for the job.
M4 SHERMAN M3 LEE
Front Armour: 6 Front Armour: 5
Weapon Range: 28"/70cm Weapon Range: 24"/60cm*
Anti-tank: 10 Anti-tank: 9*
Firepower: 3+ Firepower: 3+
Other: Forward Firing
* Main gun can be upgraded to match the

M4 Sherman tanks main gun.
22
M3 LEE TANK PLATOON
M3 LEE TANK PLATOON
SKILL ARMOUR
25 POINTS GREEN 5+
5x M3 Lee (short 75mm) FRONT 5
4x M3 Lee (short 75mm) 20 POINTS SIDE &
REAR 4
3x M3 Lee (short 75mm) 15 POINTS
TOP 1
OPTIONS TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
• Replace any or all M3 Lee (short 75mm) 10”/25CM 12”/30CM 18”/45CM 20”/50CM 4+
with M3 Lee (long 75mm) for +1 point ROF ANTI- FIRE-
WEAPON RANGE NOTES
each. HALTED MOVING TANK POWER
M3 Lee Hull (short 75mm) 24”/60CM 2 2 9 3+ Forward Firing, Smoke, Stabiliser
M3 Lee Hull (long 75mm) 28”/70CM 2 2 10 3+ Forward Firing, Smoke, Stabiliser

Later production runs of the M3 Lee replaced
M3 Lee Turret (37mm) 24”/60CM 2 1 7 4+ Secondary Weapon
its M2 75mm gun with the longer-barrelled
M3 Lee (MGs) 16”/40CM 4 4 2 6 Self-defence AA
M3 75mm—the same as the weapon in the M4
Sherman. Both guns fire the same ammunition, As new tanks are issued to replace those lost in combat, it is not unusual
but the extra 68cm (26-inch) length gives the to see a mix of tanks armed with short and long guns fighting together in
M3 a higher muzzle velocity, making it a more the same platoon.
effective tank killer.
Through his binoculars, Lieutenant Ben Dalton spotted a small group of tanks, perhaps 700 yards distant,
advancing cautiously in a wide inverted V. The high vantage point from his cupola, atop the tall, angular form of
his M3 Lee tank, gave him a commanding view above the lip of the wadi in which the bulky tank sat ‘hull down’.
He spoke into the intercom. “Enemy tanks. Mark IIIs. Range 700.”
The crew buttoned up the tank's hatches, reducing their view of the world to the narrow slice visible through a
periscope or bulletproof glass vision slit. The driver shifted the idling engine into gear and wrenched the steering
handles, carefully steering the bulky tank to the crest of the wadi's side, exposing the tall tank and bringing the
long-barrelled 75mm gun in its hull sponson to bear on the unsuspecting panzers. Carcetti, the 75mm gunner
and the tank's second-in-command, peered intently through his sight, carefully tracking the lead German tank.
He thumbed the firing switch. The tank rocked on its suspension as the 75mm gun crashed back, the breech
ejecting the empty shell casing, propellant fumes filling the tank’s hot interior, adding to the smells of gasoline
fumes, engine oil and stale sweat. Carcetti watched the bright dot of the AP round's tracer streak toward the
target. The panzer shuddered and a flat concussion flipped its engine cover skyward.
"Target hit! Got him!"
The coaxial machine-gun in the turret chattered, spitting a deadly glittering streak—every fifth link in the belt
was a tracer round—as Lowell, the turret gunner, sprayed the wrecked panzer, chasing the stunned survivors of
its crew as they tried to flee to safety.
The gunners were all grins as Dalton hauled himself back through the hatch just in time to feel a wash of heat
as Sergeant Hubbard's tank to his left exploded, deafening him and slamming his head back. A shocked silence
ended the jubilation inside—the enemy knew their trade well, and this would not be a one-sided fight.
23
The 'First of the First', the 1st Armored Regiment’s Happy Valley, where A Company had earlier withstood a
1st Battalion, were the first American tank unit to fight sustained Luftwaffe attack by the same planes destroyed by
against the German panzers. C Company. A and B Companies were concealed on either
Their first action in Africa was a one-sided fight at Oran side of the road as a column of 13 German panzers—mostly
against out-dated French tanks. The Americans only lost one Panzer IV tanks armed with long 75mm guns—approached.
tank, but they realised that if the French had been equipped A Company attacked the column diagonally, but half of
with more powerful guns, it would have been a different their 12 operational tanks were quickly knocked out by the
story. The M3 Stuart was not a tank whose survival could panzers’ powerful 75mm guns. Meanwhile, they found their
rely on the protection of its armour. own 37mm fire to be ineffective against the panzers’ thick
front armour. However, B Company were concealed behind
Soon afterwards, they were attached to Blade Force in the
a ridge, well placed to ambush the advancing panzers in the
run for Tunis. As the main tank force in the area, they were
rear, destroying seven with accurate shots to their vulnerable
given the task of seizing and holding the Chouigui Pass,
side and rear armour. The rest of the panzers immediately
between Mateur and Tebourba.
retreated, leaving many of their supporting infantry to
On 25 November, C Company pushed through the pass to be captured.
reconnoitre important bridges at Tebourba and Djedeida.
Seizing the initiative, 1st battalion pursued and shot up a
This mission would give C Company a chance to embody
nearby farm held by the Germans. However, without
the cavalry spirit of their forbears. They encountered and
supporting infantry of their own, they could not occupy it,
overwhelmed several small enemy forces, then stumbled upon
and so withdrew. They suffered more casualties in this attack,
a newly constructed forward airfield, where Luftwaffe planes
including A Company’s commander, Major Siglin.
were in the midst of refuelling and rearming after attacking
A Company and other elements of Blade Force. It was a In December, 1st Battalion’s remaining M3 Stuarts were
cavalryman’s dream: a surprise attack on a vulnerable target. reallocated as replacements to 13th Armored Regiment’s light
Charging at full speed, C Company’s 17 M3 Stuarts wreaked battalion, who had also suffered heavy losses. 1st Battalion
havoc on the unprepared airfield, destroying 36 planes on returned to Oran to refit, and therefore missed the fighting
the ground. One tank was lost and the commanders of two at Kasserine Pass. However, the Battalion’s CO, John K
others were gunned down by two German planes that had Waters, who happened to be General Patton's son-in-law,
managed to take off. commanded the taskforce at Djebel Lessouda, and was
captured along with many of his men while trying to escape
The 1st Battalion’s first real test would come on Thanksgiving
to the American lines.
Day, 26 November 1942 in a place they had nicknamed
1ST BATTALION,
1st ARMORED REGIMENT
1st ARMORED DIVISION, DECEMBER 1942
BATTALION HQ Lieutenant-Colonel John K Waters
COMPANY HQ
ASSAULT GUN MORTAR PLATOON

PLATOON
1ST TANK PLATOON 2ND TANK PLATOON
2 TROOP
RECON PLATOON 2 TROOP
HEADQUARTERS
COMPANY 3RD TANK PLATOON
A COMPANY
(17 M3 Stuart tanks)
B COMPANY
C COMPANY
24
M3 STUART TANK COMPANY TANK FORMATION
HEADQUARTERS
M3 STUART
TANK COMPANY HQ
MU101
M3 STUART M3 STUART M3 STUART

MU102 MU102 MU102
M4 SHERMAN
TANK PLATOON
MU106
M3 LEE
TANK PLATOON
MU104

MU109 MU110 MU107
Sergeant Keller used the .30-cal MG mounted on the turret of his M3 Stuart to hose down the windows of the
decrepit Tunisian farmhouse. A few German infantry had run inside as they approached, and he was taking no
chances. Brass casings rattled across the turret roof as his driver steered the small tank past the building. Gouts
of disintegrated plaster burst from the walls as he sprayed each opening.
A heavy revving engine warned him just before the angular bulk of one of the big eight-wheeled Kraut armoured
cars burst into view. Its 20mm cannon hammered impotently at his tank, then it slammed into reverse and
screamed away as suddenly as it had appeared.
"Bentley! Go! Go! Go!" His driver accelerated abruptly, throwing Keller back against the hatch rim.
The Stuarts could really fly when pushed, which would be needed to catch the dwindling enemy vehicle.
"Don't let him get away!" Dropping down through the hatch, he leaned into the harness for the 37mm gun.
Tucker, the loader, ripped another round from the turret rack, ready to reload as soon as the gun fired.
25
M3 STUART TANK COMPANY
M3 STUARTHQ TANK COMPANY HQ
CONFIDENT 4+ RECKLESS 2+
SKILL ARMOUR
2x M3 Stuart (37mm) 4 POINTS GREEN 5+ FRONT 3

As well as serving with US armored divisions in
SIDE &
REAR 2
the light battalions of the armored regiments, TOP 1
thousands of M3 Light Tanks were supplied TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
to Britain and the Soviet Union. The British 12”/30CM 16”/40CM 24”/60CM 28”/70CM 3+
codenamed the tank ‘General Stuart’, after the ROF ANTI- FIRE-
WEAPON RANGE NOTES
famous American Civil War cavalry commander, HALTED MOVING TANK POWER
M3 Stuart (37mm) 24”/60CM 2 2 7 4+ Stabiliser

and the name caught on with US troops as well.
M3 Stuart (MGs) 16”/40CM 5 5 2 6 Self-defence AA
The M3 Stuart was mechanically reliable,
and even though it had lighter armor and a its small size and high speed made it well suited to probing enemy
smaller gun than the latest German panzers, defences and fighting a free-wheeling and tactical style of moving battle.
M3 STUART
HIGH TOP SPEED: Lightly armored and powered by a STABILISER: Like its heavier cousins, the M3 Stuart is
big seven-cylinder Wright-Continental aircraft engine, the fitted with a gyrostabiliser mechanism to keep its 37mm
M3 Light Tank's top speed of 58km/h (36mph) makes it gun level while the tank is in motion, allowing the gunner
one of the fastest tanks on the battlefield. to fire more quickly on the move.
RECKLESS: The cavalry spirit lives on in the way the SELF-DEFENCE AA: The M3 Stuart has three useful
armored regiments fight, especially the light battalions. .30-cal machine-guns: one mounted alongside the 37mm
Their training focuses on rapid, decisive action, closing gun to assist with aiming, one in the hull at the radio
with the enemy and striking hard before they can react. operator's position, and one in an anti-aircraft pintle
The commander of the M3 Stuart is hampered in this by mount on the turret roof to fend off enemy aircraft. Two
the awkward layout of the tank's cramped turret fighting extra MG's, fixed in sponsons on either side of the hull,
compartment. As well as his usual tasks of spotting targets are almost useless and are often removed to make more
and making split-second tactical decisions, the overworked storage space. 1st Armored Regiment's A Company put
commander is also responsible for loading the main gun their anti-aircraft guns to good use when they came under
and controlling the rotation of the turret. a prolonged Luftwaffe attack at Happy Valley.
26
M3 STUART TANK PLATOON
M3 STUART TANK PLATOON
CONFIDENT 4+ RECKLESS 2+
SKILL ARMOUR
5x M3 Stuart (37mm) 10 POINTS GREEN 5+ FRONT 3

4x M3 Stuart (37mm) 8 POINTS SIDE &
REAR 2
3x M3 Stuart (37mm) 6 POINTS
TOP 1
The US Army opened a new Desert Training TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
Center in the Mojave Desert to teach skills and 12”/30CM 16”/40CM 24”/60CM 28”/70CM 3+
tactics specific to fighting in desert environments. ROF ANTI- FIRE-
WEAPON RANGE HALTED MOVING TANK POWER NOTES
Unfortunately, the first tank troops to deploy to
M3 Stuart (37mm) 24”/60CM 2 2 7 4+ Stabiliser
Africa—the 1st and 2nd Armored Divisions—had
not actually had time to attend the DTC course.
Keller cursed. Even with its clever stabiliser, he was struggling to lay the gun on to the moving target as the tank
bounced and rolled with the high speed that Bentley was pulling from the powerful radial aero-engine. The gun
recoiled, the spent shell casing tumbling into the canvas bag slung underneath. Tucker slammed the next round
home and slapped Keller on the shoulder.
"Round up!" He yelled, and Keller fired again—closer this time, but still wide of the target.
"He's gone into that orchard." Keller hauled himself up through the hatch for a clearer view. The fruit orchard
had endless rows of trees, with scattered shacks and buildings. Bentley eased the Stuart forward, nosing slowly
around obstructions. A sudden burst of fire sparked off the hull.
He ducked back through the hatch as Tucker furiously rotated the turret to keep
the gun on line with the enemy. The gun barked again, and this time the 8-Rad,
half concealed behind scrawny fruit trees, visibly rocked. Hatches flew open and
the stunned crew staggered out with their hands up.
"Round them up, Tucker. Bentley, see if there's
anything left to eat round here."
27
Each US armored division includes an armored infantry was shocked when the 6th staunchly withstood British
regiment in addition to its two tank regiments. For the artillery fire and is said to have exclaimed, “Those are
1st Armored Division, this was the 6th Armored Infantry—a Regulars, by God!”
regiment with a long, proud history that had recently been The 6th Armored Infantry Regiment had its first taste
reorganised for the new mechanised role. of action in the harbour of Oran on 10 November. The
Soldiers in the armored infantry called themselves ‘blitz 3rd Battalion was almost wiped out in a failed amphibious
doughs’, combining ‘blitzkrieg’ with the nickname landing, attempting to seize the harbour before it could be
‘doughboys’ for US infantry in World War I. Life in the sabotaged by the French defenders.
armored infantry was quite different than for their footsore All three battalions saw plenty of action throughout the
counterparts in the ‘straight-leg’ infantry regiments. Because campaign. In the fighting at Kasserine Pass, 3rd Battalion
they rode to battle in half-tracks, the armored infantry could was encircled by the 10th Panzer Division advancing toward
carry a larger variety of heavy weapons than the regular Thala. Deploying in steep hills, they were forced to leave
infantry. Many commanders complained that their unit’s behind their half-tracks, and most of the valuable vehicles
vehicles began to resemble gypsy caravans, festooned with an were captured by the Germans. 2nd Battalion, attached to
assortment of extra gear, scavenged or pilfered from anywhere Combat Command B, helped to hold off the Axis troops
the blitz doughs could find it. Armored infantry served a advancing on the road toward Tébessa.
dual role. They could hold ground like regular infantry, but
The regiment went on to join the fight-back at El Guettar and
when the tanks advanced, their half-track mounted infantry
the final push through the hills surrounding Tunis. Private
support was ready to advance with them.
Nicholas Minue of the 6th Armored Infantry Regiment was
As the 6th Infantry Regiment, the history of the unit dates posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic
back to the War of 1812, against the British. The regiment’s actions in the fighting around Medjez el Bab on 28 April,
nickname, the ‘Regulars’ comes from the story of a famous after single-handedly assaulting a machine-gun nest.
American victory in that war. An overconfident British
general, believing he was facing poorly-trained militia,
6th ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT

REGIMENT HQ
BATTALION HQ
3x T30 75mm HMC 3x 81mm Mortars 2x Jeeps or M3 Half-track

ASSAULT GUN PLATOON MORTAR PLATOON COMPANY HQ
4x M3 Half-tracks 5x Bazookas 5x Bazookas

4x M1917 HMGs 2x M1919 LMGs 2x M1919 LMGs
MG PLATOON 1x 60mm Mortar 1x 60mm Mortar
1ST RIFLE PLATOON 2ND RIFLE PLATOON
Each armored rifle company has four 37mm anti-

5x Bazookas 4x 37mm anti-tank guns
tank guns, one attached to the company HQ and 2x M1919 LMGs ANTI-TANK PLATOON
one to each rifle platoon. However, to maximise 1x 60mm Mortar
their effective firepower, it is common practice to 3 RD
RIFLE PLATOON
group the anti-tank guns together into a platoon. A COMPANY
B COMPANY
C COMPANY
1ST BATTALION
2ND BATTALION
3RD BATTALION
28
ARMORED RIFLE COMPANY INFANTRY FORMATION
HEADQUARTERS
ARMORED RIFLE
COMPANY HQ
MU113
INFANTRY INFANTRY INFANTRY
ARMORED RIFLE ARMORED RIFLE ARMORED RIFLE

PLATOON PLATOON PLATOON
MU114 MU114 MU114
WEAPONS ANTI-TANK ARTILLERY ARTILLERY
M1917 ARMORED 37MM ARMORED T30 75mm ASSAULT M4 81mm ARMORED

MACHINE-GUN PLATOON ANTI-TANK PLATOON GUN PLATOON MORTAR PLATOON
MU116 MU115 MU110 MU109
Command Rifle team Bazooka team M3 half-track

Rifle team (.50cal MG)
HQ SECTION
Rifle team Rifle team Rifle team Rifle team M1919 LMG team M1919 LMG team 60mm Mortar
M3 half-track Bazooka team M3 half-track Bazooka team M3 half-track Bazooka team M3 half-track Bazooka team
(.30cal MG) (.30cal MG) (.30cal MG) (.30cal MG)
RIFLE SQUAD RIFLE SQUAD LIGHT MACHINE-GUN SQUAD 60MM MORTAR SQUAD
RIFLE PLATOON
29
ARMORED RIFLE COMPANY
ARMORED HQ HQ
RIFLE COMPANY
MOTIVATION • INFANTRY FORMATION • HQ TRANSPORT • IS HIT ON
Determined
Rally 3+ SAVE
2x M1 Carbine team
1x M3 Half-track GREEN
SKILL
5+ Infantry
3+
(.50 cal MG) (MU117) 2 POINTS
2x M1 Carbine team
2x Jeep (MG) (MU108) 2 POINTS TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
8”/20CM 8”/20CM 12”/30CM 12”/30CM AUTO

There is never enough infantry in the Armored WEAPON RANGE ROF ANTI- FIRE- NOTES
Divisions to go around, so support from armored
M1 Carbine team 12”/30CM 1 1 1 6
infantry companies is always in high demand.
Engine noise echoed off the walls of the surrounding villas as the M3 half-tracks careened through the dusty,
narrow alleys of the small village, too insignificant to be marked on Lieutenant Croyden's map. A recon jeep
came barrelling back past them, the gunner yelling, "Enemy infantry right behind us!" before accelerating past
the column of vehicles. Croyden waved for the rest of 3rd Platoon's vehicles to pull off the road.
"Get into the buildings! Get the MG's into the windows."
Troops piled out of their half tracks, leaping over sides of the vehicles liberally covered with satchels and gunny
sacks. The mortar team set up in a small courtyard, stacking ammunition cases nearby. Sergeant Goffman's
section dismounted carried the platoon's two .30-calibre machine-guns into a nearby storehouse. Bazooka
teams crouched behind low shuttered windows of houses covering the approach roads.
The first shots began to stutter as German infantry scouts tentatively approached. Croyden kept two squads
close in reserve, waiting to see where the main enemy effort would appear.
The rattle of the MG's opening up from the window of the storehouse announced the
arrival of the enemy there. The mortar began pumping out shells, its short cough buried
under the sharper cracking of gunfire.
The heaviest enemy fire was coming in on the right flank, aided by machine-gun fire
from further off. This was where the assault would come from.
Croyden turned to his reserves. "Follow me. Time to knock them back!"
As he led his men forward, the firing suddenly ratcheted up, automatic weapons
from both sides ripping off long bursts. Grenades detonated, screaming erupted and
a bloodied dazed trooper with no helmet stumbled into view before collapsing.
"Quickly now—throw them back!"
Croyden charged into the smoke, trusting
his men to follow him into the cauldron.
30
ARMORED RIFLE PLATOON
ARMORED RIFLE PLATOON
MOTIVATION • INFANTRY UNIT • OBSERVER • IS HIT ON
Determined
Rally 3+ SAVE
6x M1 Garand rifle team

5x M1 Bazooka team GREEN
SKILL
5+ Infantry
3+
2x M1919 LMG
1x 60mm mortar
1x M3 Half-track TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
(.50 cal MG) (MU117) 8”/20CM 8”/20CM 12”/30CM 12”/30CM AUTO

4x M3 Half-track WEAPON RANGE ROF ANTI- FIRE- NOTES
(.30 cal MG) (MU117) 15 POINTS HALTED MOVING TANK POWER
M1 Garand rifle team 16”/40CM 1 1 2 6

4x M1 Garand rifle team M1 Bazooka team 8”/20CM 1 1 10 5+ Assault 6, Slow Firing
4x M1 Bazooka team M1919 LMG team 16”/40CM 5 2 2 6 Assault 6, Heavy Weapon
2x M1919 LMG 60mm mortar 32”/80CM ARTILLERY 1 4+ Assault 6, Heavy Weapon
1x 60mm mortar Armoured rifle platoons have more weaponry available to them than
1x M3 Half-track any other infantry in the world, with semi-automatic rifles, .30-calibre
(.50 cal MG) (MU117)
light machine-guns, bazookas and a 60mm mortar. With this much
3x M3 Half-track
(.30 cal MG) (MU117) 12 POINTS firepower and mobility, the platoon is amply equipped for both offensive
and defensive operations. On the attack the riflemen assault while the
The Unit Leader is one of the M1 Garand teams, covering fire of the half-tracks’ machine-guns keep the enemies’ heads
and is mounted on a small base (see page 52). down. In defence, their light machine-guns and mortar allow them to
dominate the terrain around them.
M3 HALF-TRACK
M3 HALF-TRACK TRANSPORT
MOTIVATION • TRANSPORT ATTACHMENT • MG TRANSPORT • IS HIT ON

• PASSENGERS 3 • TRACTOR • UNIT TRANSPORT •
RELUCTANT 5+ AGGRESSIVE 3+
Transport
Counterattack 6 ARMOUR
Transport Attachment to: SKILL FRONT 1

M3 Armored Rifle Company HQ (MU113), GREEN 5+
or M3 Armored Rifle Platoon (MU114),
Transport
Assault 6
SIDE &
REAR 0
or M3 Armored MG Platoon (MU116) TOP 0
or 37mm Armored Anti-tank TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
Platoon (MU115), 10”/25CM 10”/25CM 18”/45CM 32”/80CM 4+

Even though the ‘blitz doughs’ have nicknamed HALTED MOVING TANK POWER
it the ‘purple heart box’, the M3 Half-track is M3 (.50 cal MG) 20”/50CM 3 2 4 5+ Self-defence AA
a versatile and resilient machine. Its body offers M3 (.30 cal MG) 16”/40CM 3 3 2 6 Self-defence AA
all-around protection, including an armoured Optional Passenger MG 16”/40CM 1 1 2 6

shutter over the radiator and a bulletproof The pedastal mount lets the .30-calibre machine-gun—or a .50-cal for
windscreen. the platoon leader's vehicle—fire in any direction.
ARMORED RIFLE PLATOON FEATURES

WEAPONS TEAMS: The Bazooka, LMG and mortar SLOW FIRING: The M1 Bazooka is effective, but slow to
crews are smaller teams and not as well equipped as the load and operate when moving or pinned down.
riflemen for hand-to-hand combat, so they are not as ARTILLERY: The M2 60mm mortar is a smooth-bore
deadly in assaults. Although the M1919 LMG and 60mm muzzle-loading weapon which throws a 1.4kg (3lb) high-
mortar are light enough for their crews to carry them explosive bomb in an arcing trajectory, down onto the
when they must, they are too cumbersome to carry into heads of the enemy. Unlike most other infantry weapons,
the chaos of a close assault. They can fight back if they are it cannot conduct direct fire. Although it is classified
assaulted, but they cannot Charge into Contact. as a light mortar, it has a superior range and rate of fire
MG TRANSPORT: M1917 HMG or M1919 LMG compared to the light mortars of most other countries.
teams may fire while Mounted as a Passenger in an M3
OBSERVER: Your Armored Rifle Platoon's Unit Leader
Half-track, using the Optional Passenger MG weapons line.
can spot for your artillery units' bombardments.
31
M1917 ARMORED
M1917 ARMORED MACHINE-GUN
MACHINE-GUN PLATOON
PLATOON
MOTIVATION • INFANTRY UNIT • HEAVY WEAPON • IS HIT ON
Determined
Rally 3+ SAVE
4x M1917 HMG
SKILL
5+ Infantry
3+
(.50 cal MG) (MU117) 4 POINTS Heavy Weapon
6
Assault
4x M1917 HMG 3 POINTS

TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
While riding in their M3 Half-track, the crew 8”/20CM 8”/20CM 12”/30CM 12”/30CM AUTO
of the M1917 heavy machine-gun can fire their WEAPON RANGE ROF ANTI- FIRE- NOTES
weapon from inside the vehicle while on the M1917 HMG 24”/60CM 6 2 2 6
move.
37MM ARMORED
37mm ARMORED ANTI-TANK PLATOON
ANTI-TANK PLATOON
MOTIVATION • GUN UNIT • GUN SHIELD • IS HIT ON
Determined
Rally 3+ SAVE
4x 37mm gun
SKILL
5+ Infantry
3+
(.50 cal MG) (MU117) 9 POINTS Gun
6
Assault
4x 37mm gun 6 POINTS
3x 37mm gun TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
3x M3 Half-track 4”/10CM 4”/10CM 6”/15CM 8”/20CM 3+

(.50 cal MG) (MU117) 6 POINTS ROF ANTI- FIRE-
3x 37mm gun 4 POINTS 37mm gun 24”/60CM 2 1 7 4+ Forward Firing
2x 37mm gun
2x M3 Half-track Towed behind their M3 Half-tracks, the guns can keep pace with the armored
(.50 cal MG) (MU117) 4 POINTS rifles, always close at hand to add their firepower to an attack or bolster the
3 POINTS defensive line when enemy tanks come to call.
2x 37mm gun
32
T30 75mm ASSAULT GUNT30PLATOON
75MM ASSAULT GUN PLATOON
SP Gun
3x T30 (75mm) 3 POINTS SKILL FRONT 1

2x T30 (75mm) 2 POINTS GREEN 5+
SP Gun
Assault 6
SIDE &
REAR 0
The T30 HMC (Howitzer Motor Carriage)
TOP 0
is a simple but effective weapon, consisting TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
of an M1 75mm Pack Howitzer mounted 10”/25CM 10”/25CM 16”/40CM 32”/80CM 4+

on an M3 Half-track. Because it was only WEAPON RANGE ROF ANTI- FIRE-
TANK POWER NOTES
HALTED MOVING
intended as a temporary design, it has never T30 (75mm) 64”/160CM ARTILLERY 2 4+ Forward Firing,
Smoke Bombardment
been given an official weapon designation. or Direct Fire 20”/50CM 2 1 6 3+ Forward Firing, Smoke
The T30 can be found in the armored battalions' T30 (.50 cal MG) 20”/50CM 3 2 4 5+ Self-defence AA
and armored rifle battalions' assault gun
platoons, as well as the infantry regiments'
cannon company. Assault guns are very versatile.
As well as direct fire support and long-range
artillery, they can also be useful for anti-tank fire,
but only as a last resort.
M4 81mm ARMORED MORTAR PLATOON

M4 81MM ARMORED MORTAR PLATOON
SP Gun
3x M4 (81mm mortar) 2 POINTS SKILL FRONT 1

GREEN 5+
The M4 MMC (Mortar Motor Carriage) carries SP Gun
Assault 6
SIDE &
REAR 0
an 81mm Mortar in a specially modified half- TOP 0
track, with a reinforced floor that allows the TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
weapon to fire from inside the vehicle. This 10”/25CM 10”/25CM 16”/40CM 32”/80CM 4+
means they’re always on hand to give indirect ROF ANTI- FIRE-
fire support the instant it is needed.
M4 (81mm) 40”/100CM ARTILLERY 1 4+ Rear Firing, Smoke Bombardment
M4 (.30 cal MG) 16”/40CM 3 3 2 6 Self-defence AA
ARMORED ARTILLERY FEATURES

MORTARS: With the 81mm mortar mounted in the ASSAULT GUNS: Assault guns were developed to
rear of the vehicle, it must be turned away from the target give close support when attacking fortified positions or
to let the crew fire the weapon. With their indirect fire dug-in infantry. They feature a large-calibre, low-velocity
capability, mortars are highly useful in Tunisia’s rugged gun, firing high-explosive shells, in a fixed mount. Their
terrain. Firing from behind cover, they can smoke or armoured chassis lets them drive right up to tough targets
destroy anti-tank guns. If you need to bombard infantry and blast them point-blank. If you aren't sure which
in the open or suppress dug-in infantry and guns before armored artillery platoon is the best option to support
charging in to assault, mortars are a good option. your army, consider taking both!
33
The divisional insignia of a red number 1 on After the surrender of Oran, the 1st Infantry
a dark green shield, which was adopted late Division spent the next month occupying the
in the First World War, gave the division its city. Allen became impatient to get his men in
famous nickname, ‘The Big Red One’. action, and reportedly asked at headquarters,
The division consisted of three infantry “Is this a private war, or can anybody get in it?”
regiments: the 16th, 18th, and 26th, backed For the next five months of the Tunisian
up by support from four battalions of field Campaign, the Big Red One were almost
artillery. continuously in combat, fighting across the
The 16th and 18th Infantry Regiments both whole front. Throughout this period, difficult
dated back to the American Civil War. The terrain and skirmishes with veteran German
history of the 26th Infantry Regiment was troops taught them many lessons.
younger, but also proud. First formed in 1901, For Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily in
it had fought in the Philippines and in the First June 1943, General Patton specifically requested
World War, which is when the three Regiments were the Big Red One, stating, “I want those sons-of-
first grouped together as a division. bitches. I won’t go without them!” Following the
The Big Red One’s commander, Major-General Terry de invasion of Sicily, the Big Red One returned to Great
la Mesa Allen, was a colourful character. Like Patton, he Britain in November 1943 to rest and reinforce, preparing
believed in leading from the front, and insisted on rigorous for the assault on Fortress Europe. The 1st Division would
training. Unlike Patton, though, he cared less about outward led the assault on Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day.
displays of military discipline and neatness than about By the end of the war, the Big Red One had participated
aggression and fighting ability. in three amphibious operations: North Africa, Sicily and
Allen’s informal leadership style made him popular with Normandy. It had fought through deserts, fields, cities
his men, and no one could doubt his ability to command and forests, in extremes of weather, against every kind of
a fighting force–even if the division’s undisciplined manner opponent. It had 16 Medal of Honor recipients–more than
sometimes raised eyebrows among the top brass. any other American division.
1st INFANTRY DIVISION

II CORPS, FIRST ARMY, TUNISIA, FEBRUARY 1943
Major-General Terry de la Mesa Allen
16TH INFANTRY REGIMENT

5TH FIELD ARTILLERY
BATTALION
18 TH
INFANTRY REGIMENT
7TH FIELD ARTILLERY
BATTALION
26 TH
INFANTRY REGIMENT
32ND FIELD ARTILLERY
BATTALION
REGIMENT HQ
33RD FIELD ARTILLERY
BATTALION
1ST BATTALION
(Able, Baker, Charlie & Dog Companies)
2ND BATTALION 12x 105mm howitzers

(Easy, Fox, George & How Companies)
3RD BATTALION
(Item, King, Love & Mike Companies)
12x 37mm anti-tank guns

ANTI-TANK COMPANY
4x 37mm anti-tank guns
HQ COMPANY
I COMPANY
6x T30 75mm Assault Guns
K COMPANY
CANNON COMPANY
L COMPANY 8x M1917 HMGs
6x 81mm Mortars
M (WEAPONS)
COMPANY
9x BARs
2x M1919 Light machine-guns
3x 60mm Mortars
3x M1 Bazookas
34
RIFLE COMPANY INFANTRY FORMATION
HEADQUARTERS
RIFLE COMPANY HQ
MU118
INFANTRY INFANTRY INFANTRY
RIFLE PLATOON RIFLE PLATOON RIFLE PLATOON

MU119 MU119 MU119
WEAPONS WEAPONS ANTI-TANK ANTI-TANK
M1917
M1917
MACHINE-GUN
ARMORED M1917 MACHINE-GUN 37mm ANTI-TANK 37mm ANTI-TANK
MACHINE-GUN
PLATOONPLATOON PLATOON GUN PLATOON GUN PLATOON
MU121
MU117 MU121 MU122 MU122
ARTILLERY ARTILLERY ARTILLERY
MORTAR PLATOON MORTAR PLATOON T30 75mm ASSAULT

MU120 MU120
GUN PLATOON
MU110
35
RIFLE COMPANY HQ
RIFLE COMPANY HQ
MOTIVATION • INFANTRY FORMATION • IS HIT ON
Determined
3+
2x M1 Carbine team 1 POINT Rally SAVE
GREEN
SKILL
5+ Infantry
3+
Even in this modern, mechanised war, the
infantry remain the backbone of the army—they
don’t win battles on their own, but no war is
won without them. The US ‘doughboys’ are not
8”/20CM 8”/20CM 14”/35CM 14”/35CM AUTO
yet battle-hardened, but they are no slouches.
ROF ANTI- FIRE-
Their lack of experience is partly overcome by WEAPON RANGE HALTED MOVING TANK POWER NOTES
their long and rigorous training. M1 Carbine team 12”/30CM 1 1 1 6
Spent shell casings cascaded on to the ground, forming an untidy gleaming brass mound. Corporal Hutton
traversed the light machine-gun on its low tripod in small arcs, firing short bursts, wary of letting the gun overheat.
Dull explosions split the air as German mortar bombs threw up showers of dirt in front of the American positions,
shrapnel and rock fragments whistling through the air and keeping everyone crouched low in their foxholes.
"Johnson! Tell Munsen we're being flanked! They're using the vineyard to get around us!"
Private Johnson scuttled away, keeping his head down as he crossed the hundred feet of rocky ground separating
them from Sergeant Munsen's position, where a battery of 37mm anti-tank guns were concealed behind a
makeshift log barricade.
A German MG sent fire slashing across the position, adding its noise to the general cacophony. A series of flat
booms rang out as well-placed rounds from the Americans' own mortars silenced the German gun.
A pair of wooden-handled stick grenades plunked down a few yards in front of Hutton, prompting everyone in
the foxhole to press their faces into the dusty soil. As soon as the flat resonating cracks went off, Hutton sat up
and began a long burst to the front. Charging German infantry were bowled over by the impact of the heavy fire,
screams and yells of pain and fear following in the wake of his deadly sweep.
A bayonet plunged down past his face followed by a snarling German grenadier. The rifle butt swung towards
Hutton’s head as he staggered backwards. A bullet hole erupted in the enemy's chest and Private Johnson
tumbled into the foxhole.
"Miss me?” Johnson quipped, using his boot to shove
the German's body away. “Good thing I didn't miss him!"
36
RIFLE PLATOON
RIFLE PLATOON
MOTIVATION • INFANTRY UNIT • OBSERVER • IS HIT ON
Determined
3+
10x M1 Garand rifle team Rally SAVE
1x M1 Bazooka team 8 POINTS

GREEN
SKILL
5+ Infantry
3+
7x M1 Garand rifle team
1x M1 Bazooka team 6 POINTS
OPTIONS 8”/20CM 8”/20CM 14”/35CM 14”/35CM AUTO
Add one M1919 LMG for +1 point.
The Unit Leader is one of the M1 Garand teams, M1 Garand rifle team 16”/40CM 1 1 2 6
and is mounted on a small base (see page 52). M1 Bazooka team 8”/20CM 1 1 10 5+ Assault 6, Slow Firing
Optional M1919 LMG 16”/40CM 5 2 2 6 Assault 6, Heavy Weapon
RIFLE COMPANY WEAPONS & FEATURES

M1 CARBINE: Carbines are issued to infantry officers M1 BAZOOKA: Firing a 60mm shaped-charge HEAT
and NCOs, giving them a useful side arm more powerful rocket, the bazooka is one of the first anti-tank rocket
and accurate than a pistol, without hindering them with launchers. Even though the bazooka isn't officially
the weight of a full-sized rifle. included in the Army's official table of equipment yet,
M1 GARAND: The .30-calibre semi-automatic M1 large numbers were supplied in time for Operation Torch,
Garand is the most modern rifle of any army in the world. and units are eager to trial the promising new weapon.
Accurate and reliable, it can empty an eight-round clip as OBSERVER: Remember, your Rifle Platoon's Unit
fast as the trigger can be pulled. One team out of every Leader can radio your artillery units and spot for their
three-team squad also carries a Browning Automatic Rifle bombardments.
(BAR) to bolster their short-range firepower. THE ‘TRUSCOTT TROT’: Long-distance speed marches
M1919 LMG: The M1919 is a lightened development are a major feature of US infantry training, and the hard
of the M1917 HMG. Its air-cooled design, with a simple practice has paid off. The riflemen can cover ground across
perforated guard sleeve around the barrel, is intended for country faster than any other infantry.
short, controlled bursts of fire. Prolonged firing can cause
the barrel to overheat.
37
MORTAR PLATOON
MORTAR PLATOON
Determined
3+
6x Mortar 6 POINTS Rally SAVE
3x Mortar 3 POINTS
GREEN
SKILL
5+ Infantry
3+
6
Heavy Weapon
Assault
Mortars fire in a high arc, dropping a high-
explosive bomb down onto the enemy's
positions. Rifle Companies can call on the
4”/10CM 4”/10CM 6”/15CM 8”/20CM 3+
support of two types of mortar—three 60mm
ROF ANTI- FIRE-
mortars from their own Weapons Platoon, as WEAPON RANGE HALTED MOVING TANK POWER NOTES
well as another six 81mm mortars from the Mortar 40”/100CM ARTILLERY 1 4+ Smoke Bombardment
Battalion's Weapons Company.

MORTAR FEATURES
ARTILLERY: When the heavy guns of the artillery PORTABLE: A mortar tube and baseplate are light
batteries are otherwise occupied, it is useful for the enough for the crew to carry on their shoulders, letting
infantry to have their own indirect-fire weapon. Mortars these versatile weapons go wherever they are needed.
can be just as good as the bigger guns at digging infantry
out of cover—always important in Tunisia’s rugged terrain
which gives the enemy plenty of places to hide.
M1917 MACHINE-GUN
M1917PLATOON
MG PLATOON
Determined
3+
4x M1917 HMG 3 POINTS Rally SAVE
GREEN
SKILL
5+ Infantry
3+
In addition to the three Rifle Companies, Heavy Weapon
6
Assault
the Battalion includes a Weapons Company
consisting of two HMG platoons and a mortar
platoon. The HMG platoons are the core of TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
8”/20CM 8”/20CM 12”/30CM 12”/30CM AUTO

the Battalion's defensive firepower. The M1917
heavy machine-guns have the range and rate of WEAPON RANGE ROF
HALTED MOVING
ANTI- FIRE-
TANK POWER NOTES
fire to stop enemy infantry attacks cold. M1917 HMG 24”/60CM 6 2 2 6
M1917 MACHINE-GUN FEATURES

HIGH RATE OF FIRE: Unlike its lighter sibling the HEAVY WEAPON: With its heavy tripod and water
M1919, the Browning M1917 HMG has a water-filled tank, the M1917 weighs over 45kg (100lbs). It is designed
cooling jacket around the barrel, allowing it to conduct for defence, not to charge into assaults alongside the
sustained fire without danger of overheating. infantry.
38
37mm ANTI-TANK PLATOON
37MM ANTI-TANK PLATOON
Determined
Rally 3+
4x 37mm gun 6 POINTS SAVE
2x 37mm gun 3 POINTS

GREEN
SKILL
5+ Infantry
3+
6
Gun
Assault
The M3 37mm gun is the US Army's first
dedicated anti-tank gun. Its small armour-
piercing round is not much of a threat to the
4”/10CM 4”/10CM 6”/15CM 8”/20CM 3+
tough front armour of the German panzers, but
ROF ANTI- FIRE-
it can still be deadly from the side, especially at WEAPON RANGE HALTED MOVING TANK POWER NOTES
close range. The Battalion's anti-tank platoon 37mm gun 24”/60CM 2 1 7 4+ Forward Firing
was originally part of the Weapons Company,

but it is now attached to the HQ Company.
37mm ANTI-TANK GUN FEATURES

GUN SHIELD: The gun's bulletproof shield is designed MANOEUVRABLE: The M3 37mm gun is built to be
to give its crew some protection from frontal attack. Even lightweight and portable, to go wherever the infantry goes.
so, it is best to remain concealed, then open fire against the Its crew can manhandle it across rough ground if necessary.
flanks of enemy tanks at point-blank range.
39
Tank destroyer battalions emerged during a time The Battle of El Guettar was one of the few times
of change and reorganisation in the US Army. the tank destroyers were employed as they were
After the devastating success of the German intended. They were held in reserve until the
panzer divisions in Poland and France, US enemy panzers were fully committed, then
Army planners knew they would need a freed to engage en masse. When given
new weapon to counter what the American the independence to fight against the
press had dubbed ‘blitzkrieg’. tanks as they had been trained, the tank
A new concept was developed by artillery destroyers proved highly effective. 30 of
officers. The theory was that a well-deployed the 50 attacking panzers were destroyed
static anti-tank gun—with the advantages of or disabled within an hour of fighting, and
concealment, a stable firing platform and good the assault was stopped cold. It proved the
visibility—would defeat a tank which, despite all effectiveness of a tank destroyer battalion when
its strengths, was a moving gun platform, in the open, they could operate together, employing aggressive,
with poor visibility. Therefore, the best solution to the typical high-speed hit-and-run tactics against tanks.
German armoured assault on a fairly narrow front would More than 100 tank destroyer battalions were formed
be a massed reserve force of highly mobile anti-tank guns. throughout the war, with more than half serving in combat.
The towed or self-propelled guns could react to an armoured However, by the end of the war, the prevailing doctrine was
advance, rapidly manoeuvring to favourable positions on its that the best tool to beat a tank was a better tank. The last
flanks and destroying the enemy tanks en masse. This was tank destroyer battalion was disbanded in 1946.
very different from the passive forward placement of anti-
tank guns that was standard doctrine for infantry regiments. THE LOUISIANA MANEUVERS
The new concept was put to the test, albeit in a simulated Eager to modernise, knowing there was a good chance they
form, in the Louisiana Maneuvers. The tank destroyers would be drawn into the war, the US Army conducted
performed admirably, inflicting heavy ‘casualties’ on the a series of major exercises in Louisiana and Tennessee
attacking tanks, who later complained that the rules were in 1940 and 1941, to evaluate training, logistics and
rigged in favour of the anti-tank guns. doctrine in simulated battles. More than 400,000 troops
In Tunisia, the requirements of the battlefield saw the tank participated, organised into 19 divisions. The exercises
destroyers pressed into service in many unintended ways, finalised the structure of the armored divisions and the tank
either as makeshift artillery support or as de-facto tanks, destroyer battalions which would go into battle in Africa.
or even as improvised reconnaissance. Instead of being But because there was no actual danger, and results were
deployed as a concentrated force, they were often parcelled adjudicated by umpires, the war games also reinforced some
out piecemeal to infantry units as anti-tank support. ideas that would not necessarily hold up in reality.
TANK DESTROYER BATTALION, JANUARY 1943

BATTALION HQ
COMPANY HQ COMPANY HQ
3
1RD
ST
RECON PLATOON
1ST TANK DESTROYER PLATOON 2ND TANK DESTROYER PLATOON
2 TROOP
2 TROOP
2
3ND
RD
RECON PLATOON
3RD TANK DESTROYER PLATOON
A COMPANY (12 M10 Tank Destroyers)

3RD RECON PLATOON
B COMPANY (12 M10 Tank Destroyers)
RECON COMPANY
C COMPANY (12 M10 Tank Destroyers)
40
M10 TANK DESTROYER COMPANY ANTI-TANK FORMATION
HEADQUARTERS
M10 TANK DESTROYER

COMPANY HQ
MU111
ANTI-TANK ANTI-TANK ANTI-TANK
M10 3-inch TANK M10 3-inch TANK M10 3-inch TANK

DESTROYER PLATOON DESTROYER PLATOON DESTROYER PLATOON
MU112 MU112 MU112
RECONNAISSANCE RECONNAISSANCE
ARMORED RECON ARMORED RECON

PATROL PATROL
MU107 MU107
The Jeep was stopped at a hasty angle, partly blocking the track. Its driver stood on his seat, left arm pointing east
towards the low rise of hills while his right arm circled, waving the approaching vehicles forward into position.
Sergeant Malten tapped his microphone and spoke to his driver. "Pull up. Let’s see what they have for us."
The three M10s trailing behind him followed his lead. Slowing as they approached the crest, the rest of the
platoon spread out to either side, edging forward until the muzzles of their 3-inch guns had a clear view of the
other side. A sweeping plain stretched out below them. Hazy dust clouds drifted behind the enemy tanks moving
at speed towards American soldiers dug in at the base of the hill.
Malten switched to the platoon net. "Load AP. Enemy tanks front. Engage on my mark."
Corporal Althouse had already pulled a round from the racks lining the rear of the open turret and slammed
it home in the open breech. The M10s' long barrels made small adjustments as each tracked its target. "Fire!"
The 3-inch guns crashed almost in unison, the rounds flung down range and slamming
unerringly into the German panzers. Even at long range the heavy shells cleaved through
the front armour and wreaked havoc inside the closed hulls. Ammunition and fuel exploded,
hurling turrets skywards amid billows of sticky black smoke. Pausing only long enough to
briefly admire their handiwork, the tank destroyers reversed behind the safety of the ridge
line to seek a new firing position.
41
TANK DESTROYER COMPANY
M3 STUARTHQ M10 TANK DESTROYER COMPANY HQ
MOTIVATION • TANK FORMATION • • SCOUT • IS HIT ON
Scout
Last Stand 5+ ARMOUR
2x M3 Stuart (37mm) 4 POINTS SKILL FRONT 3

TRAINED 4+
Tank destroyer battalions were intended to
SIDE &
REAR 2
employ new armoured car designs for various TOP 1
command and reconnaissance roles requiring TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
speed and mobility. However, because these new 12”/30CM 16”/40CM 24”/60CM 28”/70CM 3+
vehicles were not available in time for Tunisia, ROF ANTI- FIRE-
the M3 Stuart Light Tank is a good substitute,
M3 Stuart (37mm) 24”/60CM 2 1 7 4+ Overworked
transporting the company commander quickly
and in relative safety.
M10 3-inch TANK DESTROYER PLATOON

M10 3-INCH TANK DESTROYER PLATOON
MOTIVATION • TANK UNIT • SEEK, STRIKE, AND DESTROY • IS HIT ON
Open Top
4x M10 (3-inch) 32 POINTS SKILL FRONT 5

3x M10 (3-inch) 24 POINTS TRAINED 4+
Open Top
6
SIDE
& REAR 2
2x M10 (3-inch) 16 POINTS Assault
TOP 0
The most potent weapon the US Army has in TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
Tunisia for dealing with enemy tanks is the M10 10”/25CM 14”/35CM 18”/45CM 20”/50CM 3+
tank destroyer, officially named the M10 3-inch WEAPON RANGE ROF ANTI- FIRE-
TANK POWER NOTES
HALTED MOVING
Gun Motor Carriage. It has one job: to stalk and M10 (3-inch) 36”/90CM 2 1 12 3+ No HE
destroy enemy tanks, breaking up the focused M10 (.50 cal MG) 20”/50CM 3 2 4 5+ Self-defence AA
armoured attacks for which the German panzer
divisions have become famous.
M10 3-inch GUN MOTOR CARRIAGE FEATURES

ARMOUR PENETRATION: The 3-inch gun mounted FRONTAL PROTECTION: The M10 has impressive
in the M10 is a formidable anti-tank weapon. The gun is armoured protection from the front, better than many
so large a heavy counterweight is needed to balance the tanks. Some commanders actually disapprove of this,
turret. Its 6.8kg (15lb) high-velocity solid shot can tear fearing that it will encourage overconfident crews to treat
through the armour of any tank in existence, even the their vehicle as a tank—which it certainly is not. Its modest
infamous Tiger. However, it lacks high-explosive shells, side and top protection make it much more vulnerable to
making it less dangerous to infantry and other soft targets. both bombardment and assault.
42
ARMORED RECON PATROL
M3A1 ARMORED
M3A1 ARMORED CAR
CARARMORED RECON PATROL
MOTIVATION • TANK UNIT • SCOUT • SPEARHEAD • IS HIT ON
2x M3A1 Armored Car CONFIDENT 4+ AGGRESSIVE 3+

1x Jeep (MG) Scout
1x Jeep (60mm) 3 POINTS 5+ 1

Scout
Last Stand FRONT
Each Armored Recon Platoon has two patrols of GREEN

SKILL
5+
SIDE &
REAR 0
four vehicles each. The US Army likes its recon- Wheeled Scout
Assault 6 TOP 0
naissance units to pack a punch. The M3A1 TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
carries three machine-guns—one .50-calibre 8”/20CM 8”/20CM 14”/35CM 36”/90CM 5+
(12.7mm) and two .30 calibre (7.62 mm)— ROF ANTI- FIRE-
mounted on a sliding rail around the top of the
M3A1 (.50 cal MG) 20”/50CM 3 2 4 5+ Self-defence AA
passenger compartment. Before it speeds back to
M3A1 (MGs) 16”/40CM 2 2 2 6
report on enemy positions, it is more than capa-
ble of mowing down any enemy infantry caught
in the open. JEEP
JEEP
Along with the Scout Cars, each Armored Recon MOTIVATION • UNARMOURED TANK • SCOUT • IS HIT ON
Patrol includes two of the famous general- CONFIDENT 4+ AGGRESSIVE 3+

Scout
5+
purpose light utilities vehicles known as the Jeep. Last Stand SAVE
Officially named the Truck, ¼-ton 4x4, GREEN

SKILL
5+ Tank
4+
Command Reconnaissance, the Willy’s Jeep is
capable of carrying men and light loads almost
anywhere. Its four-wheel drive allows it to climb
mountain passes and traverse deep mud, sand TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
12”/30CM 12”/30CM 20”/50CM 48”/120CM 4+

or snow, while its 100km/h (60mph) top speed
ROF ANTI- FIRE-
makes it even better on roads. WEAPON RANGE HALTED MOVING TANK POWER NOTES
One Jeep is fitted with a .30-calibre machine- Jeep (MG) 16”/40CM 3 3 2 6 Self-defence AA
gun, while the other carries a 60mm mortar. Jeep (60mm mortar) 32”/80CM ARTILLERY 1 4+
ARMORED RECON PATROL

ARMED RECONNAISSANCE: With a plentiful supply SCOUT: Reconnaissance teams use stealth to avoid danger,
of machine-guns and a light mortar on hand, the Armored observing the enemy, then speeding away if spotted.
Recon Patrol is capable of defending itself adequately if it SPEARHEAD: Recon Patrols locate enemy ambushes
gets in trouble. But they are well aware of their limitations, and identify weakly defended routes suitable for tank and
and they know better than to tangle with tanks or to try to infantry attacks, letting the fighting units advance further
assault infantry with their light wheeled vehicles. before making contact with the enemy.
43
The mobile armored artillery battery was a flurry of activity as they made ready to deliver a fire mission, relayed
by the Fire Direction Center, from a Forward Observer on the front line several miles away. Gun Chiefs in each
of the odd-looking M7 Howitzer Motor Carriages gruffly directed their crews. Gun crew members ran to set out
the red and white aiming posts. Gunners carefully cranked wheels, adjusting azimuth and elevation for the gun
tubes. Loaders hauled heavy 105mm high-explosive shells from storage racks, adjusted fuze caps. Less than a
minute after pulling off the rocky dirt road, the guns were ready to fire.
Without warning, a handful of low, angular shapes burst from an olive grove a few hundred yards along the
road—German Panzer III tanks. Caught off guard, the American battery were sitting ducks. The slab sides of
their vehicles, though bulletproof, were no match for the panzers’ vicious long 5cm cannon. They hesitated, torn
between trying to turn their self-propelled guns to face the sudden threat or running for cover.
As if from nowhere, a pair of American fighters roared overhead. Two black shapes tumbled from beneath the
aircraft, plunging to fall with miraculous precision amidst the cluster of German tanks. In an instant, shuddering
blasts reduced two of the panzers to wreckage, lifting one of the heavy machines off the ground and flipping it
over like a toy. The shocked survivors hastily reversed and disappeared through the olive trees.
With no way to radio their saviours, the grateful gunners instead waved jubilantly after the receding shapes of
the warplanes, one of which seemed to casually dip its wingtip in an answering salute.
P-40 WARHAWK FIGHTER FLIGHT

P-40 WARHAWK FIGHTER FLIGHT
MOTIVATION • AIRCRAFT UNIT • IS HIT ON
CONFIDENT 4+ AIRCRAFT 5+
2x P-40 Warhawk 6 POINTS SKILL SAVE
GREEN 5+
Aircraft
3+
The Curtiss P-40 is the US Army Air Forces' main
fighter-bomber in the North African theatre.
It may not be the USAAF’s best fighter—its
dogfighting capabilities are outmatched by the TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
Luftwaffe's best fighters—but it is well suited to UNLIMITED UNLIMITED UNLIMITED UNLIMITED AUTO
the ground-attack role, posing a serious threat to WEAPON RANGE ROF

HALTED MOVING
ANTI- FIRE-
TANK POWER NOTES
both armoured and soft-skinned targets. 500 lb bombs 6”/15CM ARTILLERY 3 2+ Bomb
.50 cal MGs 8”/20CM - 3 5 5+
P-40 WARHAWK FEATURES

BOMBS: Your pilots have a choice of weapons. For tough GUNS: Accurately dropping bombs on a moving target
armoured targets, or for multiple enemies unwise enough while flying 400km/h (250mph) is no easy feat. For a more
to cluster together, the P-40 carries 500lb high-explosive reliable kill, the pilot can instead strafe individual lightly
bombs on three hardpoints—two under the wings and armoured targets with his six wing-mounted .50-calibre
one on the fuselage. machine-guns.
44
T28E1 37mm AAA PLATOON
T28E1 37MM AAA PLATOON
MOTIVATION • UNARMOURED TANK UNIT • IS HIT ON
SKILL SAVE
4x T28E1 (37mm & .50 cal) 6 POINTS GREEN 5+

4+
2x T28E1 (37mm & .50 cal) 3 POINTS Tank
The T28E1 CGMC (Combination Gun Motor

Carriage) is an experimental design to give the TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
armored divisions mobile anti-aircraft support. 10”/25CM 10”/25CM 16”/40CM 32”/80CM 4+

It features a 37mm M1 anti-aircraft gun and WEAPON RANGE ROF ANTI- FIRE- NOTES
two Browning .50-calibre machine guns, on a T28E1 (37mm & .50 cal) 20”/50CM 4 2 5 4+ Dedicated AA
rotating platform, mounted on an M3 half-track
chassis. As well as giving armored units their
own self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery (AAA or
triple-A), the T28E1 can also provide additional
infantry support, mowing down soft ground
targets.
45
M3 STUART OP OBSERVATION POST
M3 STUART OP OBSERVATION POST

• INDEPENDENT • • OBSERVER • SCOUT •
Scout
Last Stand 6 ARMOUR
1 POINT
1x M3 Stuart OP 5+ 3
Observer
Counterattack FRONT
You must field: TRAINED

SKILL
4+
SIDE &
REAR 2
•
•
an M7 Priest Armored Artillery Battery (MU123) or
105mm Field Artillery Battery (MU124)
TOP 1
before you can field an M3 Stuart OP. TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
10”/25CM 16”/40CM 24”/60CM 28”/70CM 3+

ROF ANTI- FIRE-
The devastating firepower of the artillery is WEAPON RANGE HALTED MOVING TANK POWER NOTES
severely limited without a forward observation M3 Stuart OP (37mm) 24”/60CM 1 1 7 4+

post to direct their long-range bombardments. M3 Stuart OP (MGs) 16”/40CM 5 5 2 6 Self-defence AA
105mm FIELD ARTILLERY BATTERY

105MM FIELD ARTILLERY BATTERY
• LARGE GUN • TIME ON TARGET •
SKILL
10 POINTS
SAVE
4x 105mm howitzer TRAINED 4+
2x 105mm howitzer 5 POINTS Gun
Assault 6 Gun
4+
The M2 105mm Howitzer is the US Army’s

standard division-level howitzer. The divisional
artillery of the 1st Infantry Division includes four - 2”/5CM 4”/10CM 4”/10CM 6
artillery battalions, each with three four-gun
batteries—a total of 48 powerful guns. HALTED MOVING TANK POWER
Forward Firing,
105mm howitzer 72”/180CM ARTILLERY 3 3+ Smoke Bombardment
Brutal, Forward Firing, Slow Firing,
or Direct Fire 24”/60CM 1 1 9 2+ Smoke
105mm HOWITZER FEATURES

LONG-RANGE ARTILLERY: The 105mm howitzer BRUTAL: A single direct hit from one of the 105mm
can fire a semi-fixed 15kg (33lb) high-explosive shell to a high-explosive shells is generally enough to annihilate an
range of 11km (7miles), raining destruction anywhere it is unprotected target. Infantry and guns hit in Direct Fire
needed on the battlefield. must re-roll their saves.
EMERGENCY ANTI-TANK: The heavy howitzers FORWARD FIRING: The guns are not designed to rotate
are made to fire long-range prepared bombardments. quickly to follow fast-moving targets, and can only fire at
However, if enemy tanks manage to advance far enough to units to their front.
threaten the battery at close range, the heavy howitzers can
SLOW FIRING: The gun is too large and heavy to fire on
also defend themselves, firing over open sights.
the move. It uses its Moving ROF if it shoots Direct Fire
while Pinned Down, gaining a +1 penalty To Hit.
46
M7 PRIEST ARTILLERYM7
BATTERY
PRIEST ARTILLERY BATTERY
MOTIVATION • TANK UNIT • TIME ON TARGET • IS HIT ON
SP Gun
6x M7 Priest (105mm) 22 POINTS SKILL FRONT 3

3x M7 Priest (105mm) 11 POINTS TRAINED 4+
SP Gun
Assault 6
SIDE &
REAR 1
While towed artillery is fine for the infantry TOP 0
divisions, an armored force requires a good TACTICAL TERRAIN DASH CROSS COUNTRY DASH ROAD DASH CROSS
self-propelled artillery piece which can keep 10”/25CM 12”/30CM 18”/45CM 20”/50CM 3+
up with the tanks as they advance. The British WEAPON RANGE ROF ANTI- FIRE- NOTES
gave the M7 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage Forward Firing,
M7 Priest (105mm) 72”/180CM ARTILLERY 3 3+ Smoke Bombardment
the nickname ‘Priest’ because of the pulpit-like Brutal, Forward Firing, Slow Firing,
or Direct Fire 24”/60CM 1 1 9 2+ Smoke
appearance of its machine-gun mounting ring.
M7 Priest (.50 cal MG) 20”/50CM 3 2 4 5+ Self-defence AA
M7 PRIEST FEATURES
ARMOURED PROTECTION: The M7 Priest shares MOBILITY: Based on the M3 Lee chassis, the M7 Priest
all of the attributes of the towed 105mm howitzer, plus is fully tracked, enabling it to go wherever the tanks go.
a couple of bonus strengths. Its armoured superstructure SELF-DEFENCE AA: The pulpit-like appearance of
protects the crew from shrapnel and small-arms fire, but mounting ring for the anti-aircraft .50-cal machine-gun
with its open top, they would be wise to avoid close assaults. is what inspired the British to nickname the M7 105mm
Howitzer Motor Carriage the ‘Priest’.
47
Tank colours
Olive drab was the standard colour for all US Army vehicles so the specific pattern varied from one vehicle to the next.
and ordnance throughout the war and for decades after. It Vehicles were not repainted while in action, so the Olive
was a compromise between typical earth colours and foliage Drab and Earth Yellow camouflage scheme did not become
colours in temperate areas. It was inexpensive to produce, standard until the invasion of Sicily in July 1943.
as it used a mix of just two pigments: ochre and black. The However, from the start of the campaign, many crews in
official colour was lusterless Federal Standard 34087. Africa applied their own improvised camouflage patterns to
Orders were given in March 1943 to add pattern camouflage their vehicles either using Earth Yellow paint or simply local
to armoured vehicles. There was no official pattern specified, mud.
Painting United States Tanks

Colour Palette Sherman Drab Bradley shade
Small Drybrush Medium Brush
Sherman Drab
(321)
Bradley Shade
(490)
Military Khaki Basecoat your tank with Sherman Drab. Two thin Wash the tank with Bradley Shade. Try to achieve an
(327)
coats are preferable to one thick coat. Alternatively, you even coverage over the whole vehicle, letting the wash
can use a Sherman Drab spray can for your undercoat. pool in the recesses without building up on flat surfaces.
With few exceptions, all
US vehicles were painted Sherman Drab 50% Sherman Drab
the same olive drab colour. Medium Brush 50% Military Khaki
Small Drybrush
You can apply the colours
and methods shown here
to any US vehicle, as well
as most artillery pieces.
You can find suggestions
and tips for weathering
olive drab on page 69 of
Colours Of War.
Tidy up the wash with Sherman Drab with a combination Drybrush with a mix of Sherman Drab and Military
of drybrushing and layering, leaving the recesses dark. Khaki, concentrating on raised details, to add highlights.
48
United States Tank Markings
Tactical markings are an excellent way of adding visual and
historical interest to your models.
You can find more information on US Army markings in
Colours Of War and on the Flames Of War website.
Division & Regiment Number
Company & Tank Number
Turret Star
Company Marking
Tank Serial Number
Most US units from Fighting First come with a decal sheet including
a variety of yellow markings. More decal options, including the white
stars which started to replace the yellow ones from late 1942, can be
found in the US941 American Decals set.
For the Operation Torch landings, large US flags were The yellow markings were later changed to white, as the
painted on the front or sides of half-tracks and some tanks, yellow was often difficult to see under a covering of dry
in hopes that pro-American French defenders would decide African dust. At long distances, the star could sometimes be
not to resist. This proved to be wishful thinking, but the mistaken for a German cross emblem, especially by friendly
flags remained on many vehicles throughout the Tunisian aircraft. So from the second half of 1943, a circle was
campaign. added, either solid or broken into five segments.
The two armored regiments of Old Ironsides used a system of geometric symbols to distinguish each company.
1ST ARMORED REGIMENT

1ST BATTALION 2ND BATTALION 3RD BATTALION
HQ A B C HQ D E F HQ G H I
Company Company Company Company Company Company Company Company Company Company Company Company
13TH ARMORED REGIMENT
1ST BATTALION 2ND BATTALION 3RD BATTALION
HQ A B C HQ D E F HQ G H I
Company Company Company Company Company Company Company Company Company Company Company Company
49
Tank Tracks
Colour Palette Black Dark Leather
Medium Brush Medium Brush
Black
(301)
Dark Leather
(322)
Dark Gunmetal Paint the coloured parts of the tracks the same as the rest Basecoat the tracks with Dark Leather or Battlefield
(480)
of the tank (page 48). Paint the tracks and the tyres on the Brown to simulate dirt and grime on the metal parts.
road wheels black. Carefully avoid the black rubber blocks.
Dark Gunmetal Bradley Shade

Bradley Shade Small Drybrush Medium Brush
(490)
Unlike other tracks which

are all metal, the tracks on
US tanks consist of blocks
of solid black rubber held
together by steel bolts and
pins.
The M3 Half-track and
its variants simply have a
continuous band of black
rubber, without the metal Drybrush the edges of the tracks with Dark Gunmetal. Wash the whole track, including the rubber blocks with
parts. You can clean up any mistakes up with Black. Bradley Shade.
Fighting First Infantry

The M1 Helmet consists of two parts: an
inner plastic liner with comfortable adjustable Helmets & Painted Metal
suspension, and an outer steel shell. The Sherman Drab
liner has a brown leather chinstrap, (321)
which is usually looped over the front Flesh
brim of the shell, holding it on to
the liner. The shell has its own
European Skin
(385)
webbing chinstrap, but this is
seldom used. Jacket
The M1941 Field Jacket, Military Khaki
(327)
sometimes known as the ‘Parsons’
jacket after its designer, is made of
hard-wearing cotton fabric in a light
olive drab colour.
The standard woollen service dress
trousers, also officially ‘olive drab’, were Metal Parts of Weapons
more of a dull brown. Dark Gunmetal
(480)
Tank crews were issued a specialist
uniform designed for their requirements. Trousers
Their warm Windcheater jacket, which was Battlefield Brown
padded to offer a little extra comfort while (324)
jostling around inside a tank, was also highly Webbing & Gaiters
sought after by the infantry.
Worn Canvas
Tankers had their own padded tank helmet, (306)
but it gave no ballistic protection, so the Boots & Helmet Chinstrap
standard steel M1 helmet was also popular
Dark Leather
with tank and self-propelled gun crews. (322)
50
Uniforms and webbing
Colour Palette Military Khaki Battlefield Brown Bradley Shade
Medium Brush Medium Brush Medium Brush
Military Khaki
(327)
Battlefield Brown
(324)
Basecoat the jacket with Military Basecoat the trousers with Wash the figure liberally with
Bradley Shade
(490) Khaki, using two thin coats if Battlefield Brown. Bradley Shade to add shading in the
necessary for an even coverage. recesses and folds of the cloth.
Military Khaki Wool Brown Worn Canvas

Medium Brush Small Brush Small Brush
Wool Brown
(328)
Worn Canvas Actual Size

(306)
The ‘olive drab no. 3’

colour of the M1941
jacket is often mistakenly
described as ‘khaki’
because it faded quite Tidy Up the jacket with Military Highlight raised folds on the Highlight raised details and edges of
quickly with use to a Khaki, leaving darker shadows in trousers with Wool Brown. the jacket with Worn Canvas.
dusty beige shade. the recesses.
Flesh
European Skin Skin Shade European Skin
Medium Brush Medium Brush Small Brush
European Skin
(385)
Actual Size
Skin Shade
(491)
You can find more

advanced methods for
painting flesh on page 23
of Colours Of War. Basecoat the face and other exposed Wash liberally with Skin Shade to Highlight prominent details such
skin areas with European Skin, in create shading and definition. as fingers, cheeks and nose with
two thin coats. European Skin.
Weapons
Dark Gunmetal Battlefield Brown Skin Shade
Medium Brush Medium Brush Medium Brush
Dark Gunmetal
(480) Actual Size
Battlefield Brown
(324)
Skin Shade
(491)
Paint barrels and other metal parts Basecoat stocks and other wooden Wash with Skin Shade to add
sparingly with Dark Gunmetal. areas with Battlefield Brown. shading and deepen the wood colour.
51
Aircraft
Fuselage
Sicily Yellow
(362)
P-40 Warhawk
Camouflage
Boot Brown
(323)
Basing Guide
All Flames Of War infantry and guns
are supplied with appropriate bases.
Assemble your infantry teams by gluing
the figures into the holes on a base of the
right size. Super glue works well for this.
There are usually several figures with each
type of weapon, so you can create variety
in your teams. It doesn’t matter which
mix of figures you put in each team, as Commanders and Unit Leaders M1 Garand team
long as the mix of weapons is right. Visit
Armored Rifle Company HQ and Rifle Base M1 Garand teams on a medium
the product spotlight on the Flames Of Company HQ teams and Armored Rifle base. Teams combine either an NCO
War website: www.FlamesOfWar.com Platoon and Rifle Platoon Unit Leader and three riflemen armed with M1
for a more detailed guide. teams are an officer on a small base with Garand rifles, or four riflemen. For the
an NCO and a rifleman. Rifle Platoon, one out of every three
The team faces the long edge. teams should replace a rifleman with a
gunner armed with a BAR.
The team faces the long edge.
M1919 LMG Mortar M1917 HMG M1 Bazooka

Base these weapon teams on medium base facing the long edge. Base Bazooka teams on a small base with a
These teams have the gunner and his weapon along with two rifleman loader. The team faces the long edge.
assistant gunners or loaders.
37mm Anti-tank gun 105mm Howitzer

Base the 37mm Anti-tank gun on a medium Base these 105mm Howitzers on a large base facing the short edge.
base facing the short edge. Each gun has a Each gun has a gunner along with an NCO and three ammunition loaders.
gunner along with an NCO and two loaders.
52
Patton's Fighting First is the best starting point for any US army. USAB08 Patton’s Fighting First
Expand your force by adding other units from the US range. Each (x5 Shermans, x3 Stuarts, x2 M10's) (Plastic)
Flames Of War unit box contains a complete unit and their Unit Cards. FW243C Fighting First Command Cards
UBX50 M3 Lee Tank Platoon (x5) (Plastic)
UBX51 Armored Rifle Platoon (x5) (Plastic)
UBX52 P-40 Warhawk Fighter Flight (x2)
UBX53 M10 Tank Destroyer Platoon (x4) (Plastic)
UBX54 M7 Priest Artillery Battery (x3) (Plastic)
UBX55 M4 Sherman Tank Platoon (x5) (Plastic)
UBX56 M3 Stuart Tank Platoon (x5) (Plastic)
UBX57 M3 Halftrack Platoon (x4) (Plastic)
UBX58 Rifle Company (x156 figures) (Plastic)
UBX59 Armored Recon Patrol
(x2 M3A1 Armored Cars & x2 Jeeps)
UBX60 105mm Field Artillery Battery (x4) (Plastic)
UBX61 T28E1 37mm AAA Platoon (x4)
UBX62 M4 Armored Mortar Platoon (x3)
UBX63 T30 75mm Assault Gun Platoon (x3)
US782 Armored Rifle Company HQ
(2x Jeeps & 2x HQ teams)
US784 M1917 MG Platoon (x4) (Plastic)
US785 Mortar Platoon (x6) (Plastic)
US788 37mm Anti-tank Platoon (x2)
US900 Fighting First Dice (x20)
US901 Fighting First Tokens (x20)
B OOK
L RULE CWP120 Fighting First Paint Set (x5 paints)
S FUL
INC LUDE CWP220 Fighting First Spray (Sherman Drab)
For more information

visit our website: www.flames of war.com
FINLAND
NORWAY
SWEDEN
North Sea
DENMARK Baltic Sea
IRELAND
GREAT
THE Warsaw
BRITAIN NETHERLANDS Berlin
The Hague
Od POL A
London e r
BELGIUM GERMANY stu

la
Vi
Rhi
Dieppe Brussels
ne
Atlantic Prague
Ocean
SLOVAKIA
Paris
HU
Sei
e n
Vienna
Loire Budapest
FR ANCE SWITZERLAND
Po Belgra
YUGOSLAVIA
ITALY
CORSICA
Rome
ALBA
SPAIN
SARDINIA
SICILY
GIBRALTAR
Tunis
Algiers
Oran
MALTA Medite
SPANISH
Casablanca MOROCCO
ALGERIA Kasserine
Pass
FRENCH
MOROCCO
TUNISIA Tripoli
LIBYA
0 Miles 500 1000
0 KM 500 1000 1500
38
Leningrad
KE Y
Germany and
Occupied Territories
Moscow SOVIET UNION
Countries in association
Rzhev with Germany
Allied Countries
Volg
Neutral Countries
a
Do
Kursk n
Minsk Smolensk
Voronezh Stalingrad
Dn
epr
AND
Kiev
Rostov Caspian
Sea
CAUCASUS OIL
FIELDS
Odessa
UNGARY
Black Sea
ROMANIA
Bucharest
ade Danube
BULGARIA IRAN
TURKEY
ANIA
GREECE SYRIA IRAQ
Athens
CYPRUS
CRETE
erranean sea
PALESTINE
TRANS-
JORDAN
SAUDI-
Gazala ARABIA
Tobruk Alexandria
Halfaya Pass El Alamein

EGYPT
Alam
el Halfa
El Agheila
39
the war in the desert
The Shermans spread out in a wide V formation. Easy Company formed the middle of the line,
with Dog Company to their left and Fox Company to their right. They were the cavalry, charging
to the rescue of their stranded compatriots, surrounded by the Germans in the hills east of the
town of Sidi Bou Zid.
This would be the battalion’s first taste of real combat, and they were nervous but confident as
they advanced at full speed across the barren, rocky earth. The tall cloud of dust thrown up by
their tracks made it difficult to see, totally blocking out the half-tracks of the armored infantry
following behind them.
Without warning, a tank burst into flames in a resounding explosion louder even than the bass
rumble of the tanks’ powerful nine-cylinder rotary engines. A hidden line of German anti-tank
guns had opened fire, the long-barreled 88-millimetre guns perfectly positioned to ambush the
American tank formation from two sides. Crewmen hastily buttoned up their tanks, closing the
hatches and further reducing the visibility as the commanders strained to spot a target through
the dust, as the gunners prepared to retaliate. The battle was joined, and the untested American
tankers were about to receive their baptism of fire.
The Allies have the fascists on the run in North Africa, INSIDE YOU WILL FIND:
but the fight is not over yet. The United States is the • Background on the US 1st Armored Division and
newest army to enter the war. They boast some of the
1st Infantry Division in Tunisia, in the battles for
best tanks in the world, backed up by well-equipped
Kasserine Pass and El Guettar.
infantry, either marching to battle on foot or riding
in half-tracks, and the latest deadly tank destroyers. • Instructions on how to build an M3 Sherman
Their troops are inexperienced, but they have trained Tank Company, M3 Lee Tank Company,
hard and are eager to prove themselves. They will need M3 Stuart Tank Company, Armored Rifle
to learn quickly, as they face a cunning and battle- Company, Rifle Company, or M10 Tank
hardened enemy. Destroyer Company.
• A detailed painting guide.
A copy of the Flames Of War rulebook is necessary to use the contents of this book.
DESIGNED IN NEW ZEALAND ISBN 9780994147424
PRINTED IN EUROPE
Product Code FW243
© Copyright Battlefront Miniatures Limited, 2017.
All rights reserved.
www.flames of war.com

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FINLAND

DENMARK Baltic Sea

BELGIUM GERMANY stu

GREECE SYRIA IRAQ

Halfaya Pass El Alamein

FIGHTING FIRST INFANTRY

Algiers Tunis CRETE

3 September 13 March 27 May - 5 June 13 September

Operation Torch & Tunisia Egypt & Libya Western Front

5 November 10 November 26 November 29 November - 4 December

SIDI BOU ZID FAïD

18 February 20 February 22 February

Sidi Bou Zid

30 March - 6 April 9 - 11 April 15 April 7 May

M10 TANK DESTROYER

M3A1 ARMORED CAR

1st ARMORED DIVISION

COMBAT COMMAND A COMBAT COMMAND B COMBAT COMMAND C* COMBAT COMMAND D*

3rd Battalion, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Battalion,

1st Battalion, 2nd Battalion, G Company, C Company,

A Company, 2nd Battalion, B Company, D Company,

B Company, A & B Companies, B Company, 68th Armored

* Armored divisions usually had two combat commands, CCA

TANK INFANTRY ANTI-TANK

M10 TANK DESTROYER

FIGHTING FIRST SUPPORT UNITS

RECONNAISSANCE RECONNAISSANCE ARTILLERY ARTILLERY

ARMORED RECON ARMORED RECON M7 PRIEST ARMORED M7 PRIEST ARMORED

105mm FIELD 105mm FIELD

ANTI-AIRCRAFT AIRCRAFT OBSERVER

T28E1 37mm P-40 WARHAWK STUART OP

FORMATION SUPPORT ALLIED SUPPORT WILDCARD

1st ARMORED REGIMENT

HQ COMPANY A COMPANY HQ COMPANY D COMPANY

B COMPANY C COMPANY E COMPANY F COMPANY

1ST (LIGHT) BATTALION 2ND (MEDIUM) BATTALION

3RD (MEDIUM) BATTALION

ARMOUR ARMOUR ARMOUR

M4 SHERMAN M4 SHERMAN M4 SHERMAN

ARTILLERY ARTILLERY RECONNAISSANCE

M4 81MM ARMORED T30 75MM ASSAULT ARMORED RECON

MOTIVATION • TANK FORMATION • IS HIT ON

2x M4 Sherman (75mm) 16 POINTS GREEN 5+ FRONT 6

MOTIVATION • TANK UNIT • IS HIT ON

5x M4 Sherman (75mm) 40 POINTS GREEN 5+ FRONT 6

ASSAULT GUN MORTAR PLATOON

1ST TANK PLATOON 2ND TANK PLATOON

RECON PLATOON 2 TROOP

ARMOUR ARMOUR ARMOUR

M3 LEE M3 LEE M3 LEE

ARTILLERY ARTILLERY RECONNAISSANCE

M4 81MM ARMORED T30 75MM ASSAULT ARMORED RECON

MOTIVATION • TANK FORMATION • IS HIT ON

M3 Lee Hull (short 75mm) 24”/60CM 2 2 9 3+ Forward Firing, Smoke, Stabiliser

* Main gun can be upgraded to match the

MOTIVATION • TANK UNIT • IS HIT ON

M3 Lee Hull (short 75mm) 24”/60CM 2 2 9 3+ Forward Firing, Smoke, Stabiliser

M3 Lee Hull (long 75mm) 28”/70CM 2 2 10 3+ Forward Firing, Smoke, Stabiliser

ASSAULT GUN MORTAR PLATOON

1ST TANK PLATOON 2ND TANK PLATOON

RECON PLATOON 2 TROOP

ARMOUR ARMOUR ARMOUR

M3 STUART M3 STUART M3 STUART

ARTILLERY ARTILLERY RECONNAISSANCE