E s t a b l i s h a n O P : A M i c r o M e l e e S c e n a r i o

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Establish an OP Historical Background With the Salerno beachhead secure, Fifth Army began its attack northwest towards Naples on 19 September. After suffering serious casualties near Altavilla Silentina, the 82nd Airborne was shifted to X Corps, joining the Rangers and the British 23rd Armored Brigade on the Sorrento Peninsula to flank the German defenses at Nocera Inferiore, Sant'Antonio Abate and Angri, which the 46th (North Midland) Division attacked. Passing through the 46th Division, the 7th Armored Division was assigned the task of taking Naples, while the newly landed U.S. 3rd Infantry Division moved east to capture Acerno on 22 September and Avellino on 28 September.

E s t a b l i s h a n O P : A M i c r o M e l e e S c e n a r i o

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U.S. Orders 21 September, 1943: As commander of 1st Platoon C-Company, your unit is acting as point for the 7th Regiment. In preparation for the 3rd Division’s push towards Acerno, you are ordered to establish an observation post in Montecorvino Rovella and provide security for spotters of the 10th Field Artillery Battalion. You will have five M3 Half-tracks for transport, courtesy of 3rd Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized).

U.S. Forces o 1x Platoon HQ: TQR 4 o 1x FAO: TQR 3 o 3x Rifle Squad: TQR 1–3 o 1x M1919 MMG Team: TQR 2 o 1x M9 Bazooka Team: TQR 2 o 5x M3 Half-track (operated by squads)

German Orders 21 September, 1943: Intelligence reports indicate the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division intends to capture Acerno next. As commander of 2nd Platoon, 1st Kompanie, 16th Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion, you are ordered to reconnoiter the town of Montecorvino Rovella, which is just west of Acerno. There, you will establish an observation post for spotters of Artillerie Regiment 16 and provide security. The battalion will supply you with five SdKfz 251/1 half-tracks for transport.

German Forces o 1x Platoon HQ: TQR 4 o 1x FAO: TQR 3 o 3x Rifle Squad: TQR 1–3 o 1x MG42 MMG Team: TQR 2 o 1x Panzerschreck Team: TQR 2 o 5x SdKfz 251/1 (operated by squads)

Victory Conditions The first platoon to capture the church and occupy it with the Field Artillery Observers for four consecutive action phases wins. There is no turn limit, and play will continue until either a winner is declared, or it is apparent that neither side will be able to meet the victory conditions.

E s t a b l i s h a n O P : A M i c r o M e l e e S c e n a r i o

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Map 1. Establish an OP GM NOTES: In this meeting engagement between two platoons, the U.S. forces enter from the west, as they have recently landed in Salerno. The German forces enter on the east edge of the map from Acerno. The game centers around the observation post in the bell tower of the old church. There is no turn limit and conditions are clear with firm ground.

E s t a b l i s h a n O P : A M i c r o M e l e e S c e n a r i o

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1st Platoon/C-Company/1st Battalion/7 IR (Platoon HQ: 1x Thompson SMG, 5x M1 Garand) (FAO: 1x Thompson SMG, 2x M1 Carbine) (Rifle Squad: 1x Thompson SMG, 9x M1 Garand, 1x BAR, 1x M1903*) (Medium Machine Gun: 1x M1919A4 w/ tripod, 1x Thompson SMG, 4x M1 Garand) (Bazooka Team: 1x M9 Bazooka, 1x M1 Garand)

*Rifle grenade adds one fire power factor from point blank through medium range, once per phase.

Movement: 6mm Slow Standard Tactical Double Time Dash 3cm 6cm 4.5cm 10.5cm 18cm FPF Range Point Blank

0–15cm Short

15.1–30cm Medium 30.1–60cm

Long 60.1–120cm

Extreme 120.1–240cm

Platoon HQ 10 5 5 5 5 FAO 7 2 2 NA NA Rifle Squad 16 11 11 11 11 Rifle Grenade 1 1 1 NA NA MMG 15 10 10 10 10 HQ Platoon 1 TQR: 4 Smoke Damage Rating: 10 □□ □□□□□□□□□□

FAO TQR: 3 MMG 1 TQR: 2 Damage Rating: 6 Damage Rating: 8 □□□□□□ □□□□□□□□ Squad 1/1 TQR: 3 Bazooka 1 TQR: 2 Damage Rating: 15 Damage Rating: 4 □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ □□□□

Squad 2/1 TQR: 1 Damage Rating: 13 □□□□□□□□□□□□□

Squad 3/1 TQR: 2 Damage Rating: 14 □□□□□□□□□□□□□□

E s t a b l i s h a n O P : A M i c r o M e l e e S c e n a r i o

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HALF-TRACK PERSONNEL CARRIER M3 First accepted in May 1941; 12,391 produced

ER: 25/5 Speed: 45 mph Weight: 10 tons Crew: 13 men Main Gun: None Ammo: 4,000 Traverse: hand Elevation: n.a. Coaxial: None Bow: None AA: M1919A4 (M25

pedestal mount) Site: n.a.

Hit Locations/Armor Resistance Turret Face

Turret Flank

Turret Rear

Upper Hull

Lower Hull

Hull Flank

Hull Rear

Top/ Bottom

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Open/1 Penetration Data Projectile Point Blank Short Medium Long Extreme M2 HB (AP) 2 2 2 1 - Movement Terrain Yards 6mm 10mm 12mm 15mm Road 220 66cm 110cm 132cm 165cm Cross-Country 165 49.5cm 82.5cm 99cm 123.8cm Reverse 55 16.5cm 27.5cm 33cm 41.3cm

E s t a b l i s h a n O P : A M i c r o M e l e e S c e n a r i o

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2nd Platoon/1st Kompanie/16. Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion (Platoon HQ: 2x MP40 SMG, 4x Kar 98K) (FAO: 1x MP40 SMG, 2x Kar 98K) (Rifle Squad: 1x MP40 SMG, 8x Kar 98K, 1x MG42 (Medium Machine Gun: 1x MG42 w/ tripod, 1x MP40 SMG, 4x Kar 98K) (Panzerschreck Team: 1x Raketenpanzerbüsche, 1x Kar 98K)

Movement: 6mm Slow Standard Tactical Double Time Dash 3cm 6cm 4.5cm 10.5cm 18cm FPF Range Point Blank

0–15cm Short

15.1–30cm Medium 30.1–60cm

Long 60.1–120cm

Extreme 120.1–240cm

Platoon HQ 8 2 2 2 2 FAO 5 1 1 1 1 Rifle Squad 12 8 8 8 8 MMG 18 14 14 14 14 Panzerschreck 3/2 1/0 1/0 1/0 1/0 HQ Platoon 1 TQR: 4 Smoke Damage Rating: 10 □□ □□□□□□□□□□

FAO TQR: 3 MMG 1 TQR: 2 Damage Rating: 6 Damage Rating: 8 □□□□□□ □□□□□□□□ Squad 1/1 TQR: 3 Panzerschreck 1 TQR: 2 Damage Rating: 13 Damage Rating: 4 □□□□□□□□□□□□□ □□□□

Squad 2/1 TQR: 1 Damage Rating: 11 □□□□□□□□□□□

Squad 3/1 TQR: 2 Damage Rating: 12 □□□□□□□□□□□□

E s t a b l i s h a n O P : A M i c r o M e l e e S c e n a r i o

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MITTLERER SCHÜTZENPANZERWAGEN Sd Kfz 251 Variants 10,602 produced throughout the war

ER: 15/20 Speed: 33 mph Weight: 8 tons Crew: 2 Main Gun: 2x MG34/42 Ammo: 2,010 Traverse: n.a. Elevation: n.a. Coaxial: None Bow: None AA: None Site: n.a. Hit Locations/Armor Resistance

Turret Face

Turret Flank

Turret Rear

Upper Hull

Lower Hull

Hull Flank

Hull Rear

Top/ Bottom

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Open/1 Penetration Data Projectile Point Blank Short Medium Long Extreme 7.92mm NA NA NA NA NA Movement Terrain Yards 6mm 10mm 12mm 15mm Road 161 48.3cm 80.5cm 96.6cm 120.8cm Cross-Country 120.8 36.2cm 60.4cm 72.5cm 90.6cm Reverse 40.3 12.1cm 20.2cm 24.2cm 30.2cm