OTHER SUGGESTIONS
& HOUSE RULES

Page 2

[ Dismounting British Portéés | British C.S. Cruiser & Infantry Tanks | Improved British Artillery ]

Dismounting British Portéés by John Moher

The purpose of the "Portéé" was to improve the mobility of towed Anti-Tank Guns. However it was conceded that the ability to fire while "en portéé" was desirable as an emergency measure, and this was incorporated into the design, ultimately the combination of constant movement, lack of cover, and a little laziness resulted in firing while "en portéé" becoming the norm rather than the exception. The following rules are designed to allow the correct operation of portéés (which was done by some units);

1. 2pdr & 6pdr Portéés may dismount (unlimber) in exactly the same manner as towed guns (i.e.. Spend a turn stationary and not firing).
2. To remount (limber up) they must spend 1 turn stationary (and not firing).
3. If the formation conducts a "Break Off" while the Portéés are dismounted, they remount (limber up) exactly as towed guns conduct a breakoff.

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British C.S. Cruiser & Infantry Tanks by John Moher

The primary task of these vehicles was to fire smoke. As SH does not provide facility for firing smoke direct I use the following rule;

• Any CS tank can fire smoke direct, up to it's direct fire range. This is done in the artillery phase and requires the standard smoke throw of 3+. The size of the smoke screen is one marker.

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Improved British Artillery by John Moher

The Royal Artillery was a highly effective force, and although Spearhead represents the numerical advantage that the British and Commonwealth artillery enjoyed, In my opinion it underrates it, and does not represent the superior fire control. Additionally the British should "technically" have an observer for every gun model, and 1 for every battery HQ, any of which can control all the guns of the Regiment (and later the Division and Corps). Therefore to bring it back on a par with the US and German artillery, and to provide it with the equivalent of the US General Support bonus, I suggest the following 2 rules;

• All British and Commonwealth artillery is treated as US on the "Divisional Support" table after August 1942 (i.e.. throw 3+ for success).
• From September 1942 any British or Commonwealth Battery FO may claim all the guns of their Regiment for a fire mission (treat as one "large" artillery unit). All the Guns must of course be available in the game. They must declare this intent before throwing for success. This represents both the British system of placing complete responsibility and trust for decision making with their junior officers (The Troop and Battery commanders), and the improvements made to their artillery fire control and communication techniques in and after 1942.

An example of the quality of Commonwealth Artillery was the New Zealand Division in Italy in 1943-45. The German forces could identify the location of the Division solely by the accuracy and speed of reaction of it's Artillery fire! When the Division was transferred to Cassino it's Artillery was forbidden to fire so as not to the alert the Germans that it had moved from the Adriatic front.

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