Last Updated 02 January 1999 - Send comments and queries to John Moher.

The following are our ideas on points costs for Spearhead Platoons. The overall intention is to provide a situation where the total "unit" (Battalion) cost is right, and without losing too much sleep on exact costings of individual items that have a similar performance. As a result once a unit is "assembled" (ie. It's points cost tallied up) it must be multiplied by a National Quality factor to get the real cost. This may seem harsh on the Germans but Spearhead emphasizes their command superiority to such a level that we feel this is justified. We have not endeavoured to cover Field Defences yet, as we have not had an opportunity to study and play test this area, however some additional vehicles have been calculated (see separate article for details of some of these items), and we hope that the rest of these are self-explanatory, or use commonsense.

Typical force size we envisage is 1200-1500 points each for "Encounter" type games. For Attack-Defence we feel a good rule of thumb is for the Defender to only get ½ the points of the attacker, if they have the advantage of also being permitted basic field defences at no cost (-1 on fire). If for example fighting in North Africa with no cover and/or field defences the defender should be allowed as much as ¾ the points of the attacker.

Finally, these are continually under re-assessment and playtest, so feel free to send us your comments and ideas.

TROOP PURCHASE CONDITIONS:

1. The force must be drawn from either a Divisional TO&E from the Spearhead book, an actual "official" theoretical TO&E order, or from an actual recorded Historical TO&E.
2. Battalion Morale must be assigned at the ratios stated in the Spearhead TO&E even if the organization is drawn from a non-standard historical example (Exception: Elite units may be designated as all Veteran, eg. Panzer Lehr). Note that Artillery and FAC must always be Regular unless the division being modelled is rated as all battalions entirely Green, or entirely Veteran! (In which case the artillery must be rated the same as the rest of the Division)
3. All Transport must be paid for (even if off-table artillery) unless the unit is entrenched in Light or Heavy Cover (which has been paid for), or historically it had no transport whatsoever (eg. Some Infantry Divisions).
4. Command platoons always cost the same as normal platoons (We feel the inability to 'fire' is offset by the command function). Infantry count as Rifle, SMG, Cavalry or Motorcycle, and Vehicles as the appropriate type. Other dismounted HQ's always count as Rifle platoons for points cost (eg. Brigade/Divisional HQ Platoons).
5. Where the TO&E state a proportion for morale (eg. 1/3 Green) this is the number of Battalions, not the amount of points!

NATIONAL QUALITY MULTIPLIERS:

Aircraft and Field Defences are never multiplied by these costs.

OFF-TABLE DISCOUNT:

GENERIC TROOP TYPES:

(4) Whether Equine (ie. Horse drawn), or Soft Mechanised Vehicles and/or Artillery Tractors. Note that there is no extra cost for Infantry equipped with bicycles.

FIELD DEFENCES:

(5) Pz IIIG with field modification of armour to IIIJ standard (ie. 4/3), Common in North Africa from May to September 1942.

(5*) Additional note on Soviet 76mm: Large numbers that were captured were designated as FK 296(r), and although an artillery gun many were issued to Pak units as well as Artillery battalions. Those issued as ATGs we have designated as Pak 296(r) and they have the same characteristics as Soviet 76mm but may not use indirect fire (hence the reduced cost). Later many were upgraded to Pak 36(r) by rechambering for Pak40 ammunition, and these were also mounted on the Marder series. As a general rule Pak units with captured 76mm will be Pak 296(r) until near the end of 1942, at which time Pak 36(r) will become increasingly more common.

(6) The Cromwell VI is designated as Cromwell V on the data cards (The Cromwell V is actually a Cromwell IV, but built with welded armour). Incidentally the A27L Centaur range were all converted to Cromwell standard or used for special purpose vehicles, hence we haven't included them.

(7) The Churchill VI is a Churchill IV with a 75mm Gun (AT 6, AI 5, Rge 12"), they represented about 50% of Churchills used in NW Europe and 90% of those used in Italy! The Churchill NA75 also comes into this category (A Churchill IV with a Sherman 75mm fitted and used in Italy 1943-45).

(8) Standard US M10 with 3" Gun used for a couple of months in Normandy (before being upgraded to Achilles), and also used extensively in Italy. (Note that the US M4A1(76mm) Sherman was also used in Italy in 1944).

(10) As Crusader III AA Mk.1 but with 3/3 armour and 2x20mm guns - Use Humber AA specifications for Direct Fire and Flak rating.

(9) Turretless Ram tank, 3/3 armour and carries 1 Infantry Platoon. Direct Fire as Infantry, otherwise as M3 Grant specifications, operates as APC (see rule 5.7.1).

(11) Armoured (2/2) Gun Tractor for ATGs.

AIRCRAFT:

1. Throw d6 each Air phase, when a 6 is scored, 1 aircraft will appear that phase. Keep throwing each turn until no aircraft remain available.
2. Aircraft will attack a random enemy group (battalion) - Aircraft with rockets will attack any randomly determined battalion, If armed with Bombs any random visible Battalion that consists of 50% or more soft platoons (Infantry, Guns & Trucks), and If armed with Rockets any random visible Battalion that consists of 50% or more vehicle platoons (whether Soft or Armoured, including towed guns) will be treated as the potential target. If none match the requirements the Aircraft will attack that which comes closest.
3. The owner of the aircraft selects where the attack will be made against the target. Any future attacks by aircraft with the same ordonnance will be directed against the same battalion if possible, and if so will not require the temporary FAC. (ie. Only randomly determine a new target if the previous target is destroyed or not visible).
4. OPPOSING AIRCRAFT: Any time that opposing sides have aircraft arrive on the same turn then neither arrives and the aircraft are returned to stock (ie. They are circling around avoiding enemy fighters, etc.).

AIRCRAFT COSTS:

AIRCRAFT MAXIMUMS:

(13) This includes Loyalist forces fighting for the Allies in 1944-45. Fascist forces fighting for the Germans after September 1943 are only allowed 1 Aircraft. (14) Europe 1940 and Vichy French only. Free French come under British and ALL French after 1943 come under U.S.A.

Europe includes France, Holland, and Russia. The Mediterranean includes North Africa, Italy, and the Southern Balkans. For the sake of simplicity we have not tried to distinguish between "Seasons" (eg. In the Winter a lot of German Airpower was transferred to the Mediterranean, creating a massive, but temporary, air superiority, for about 3 months, until these forces returned to Russia in the following Spring) as overall the effects even out, and they mainly relate to strategic issues rather than local ground support ones (and hence Campaigns rather than 1 off games).