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Crossfire | Scenarios
Race Through
Normandy - Crossfire Order of Battle
Posted 17 Nov 2003
The forces in each session of the Race Through Normandy Campaign have to be arranged so the Allies have about 2 to 1 odds in terms of points - the Allies are expected to win, although it might be tough. The German defenders in a particular session are determined randomly or by the referee. Each Allied team gets a fixed main force and in each session they also get two support units from a predetermined list of options. All forces are at full strength at the start of each new attack; casualties are not carried over between battles as it is assumed that the Allies have sufficient reserves to fill any gaps and that the predetermined German Orbats factor in battle attrition.
The troops could be from these historical units:
Static Defense Troops: 736 Regiment, 716 Division
Regular Infantry: 346th, or 711th Divisions.
Panzer Grenadiers and armour assigned to the above: 21st Panzer Division
SS Panzer Grenadiers: 12th SS Panzer Division (Hitler Jugend)
What follows is the Orbat for a Huge campaign.
US force composition
US main force
The US main force is a Leg Infantry Battalion plus one Support Unit chosen from the list below. The Support unit is assigned for the duration of the campaign, i.e. it always appears. This particular Support Unit can not be chosen again when selecting the additional two Support Units for a particular session.
Leg Infantry Battalion (1944)
1 x BC (+0 for both rallying and close combat)
1 x SMG Squad
1 x 57mm ATG and optional Truck
3 x Infantry Companies1 x CC (+0 for both rallying and close combat)
1 x On-table 60mm Mortar or FO for off-table 60mm Mortar (12 FM)
1 x HMG
3 x Rifle Platoons1 x PC (+1 for rallying, but not close combat)
3 x Rifle Squads
Morale: Green
One squad per platoon has a bazooka.
US support units
The US support units are selected from the following list. The US team gets one support unit assigned for the entire campaign as part of its main force (not rolled for); they also get two additional support units in each session (rolled for).
| Option | Support Unit | Composition |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ranger Company |
1 x Ranger Company
Morale: Veteran One squad per platoon has a bazooka. |
| 2 | Shermans and Artillery |
3 x 75mm Shermans (one is dozer) |
| 3 | Shermans and Stuarts |
3 x 75mm Shermans 3 x M3 Stuarts |
| 4 | Shermans and 105 |
3 x 76mm Shermans (one is dozer) |
| 5 | Tank Destroyer Platoon |
3 x M10 Tank Destroyers |
| 6 | Anti-tank guns |
3 x 57mm ATG and optional Truck (and optional PC) |
| 7 | Artillery |
3 x FO for off-table 75mm Howitzer (12 FM) |
| 8 | Artillery and Mortars |
3 x FO for off-table 81mm Mortars (12 FM) |
| 9 | Air Support |
1d6 initiatives with
Air support
(Typhoons specifically) |
Canadian Force
Canadian Main Force
The Canadian main force is a reduced strength Leg Infantry Battalion; it contains only three of the four rifle companies it would normally have. This is for a couple of reasons: it make the Canadians comparable in points to the US main force; it also gives both teams 3 companies, i.e. one per player.
Under strength Leg Infantry Battalion (1944)
1 x BC (+1)
1 x SMG Squad
1 x FO for off-table 3" Mortar (12 FM)
1 x 6-Pounder ATG and optional Truck
1 x Engineer Platoon (note: engineers not assault engineers)1 x PC (+1)
3 x Rifle Squads1 x Carrier Platoon
1 x PC (+1)
3 x Rifle Squads
1 x Bren Carrier3 x Infantry Companies
1 x CC (+1)
1 x On-table 2" Mortar or FO for off-table 2" Mortar (12 FM)
1 x HMG (drawn from MG battalion)
3 x Rifle Platoons1 x PC (+1)
3 x Rifle Squads
Morale: Regular
One squad per platoon has a piat.
Canadian support units
The Canadian support units are selected from the following list. The Canadian team gets two support units in each session (rolled for).
| Option | Support Unit | Composition |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shermans and Artillery |
3 x 75mm Shermans (one is dozer) |
| 2 | Shermans and Stuarts |
3 x 75mm Shermans 3 x M3 Stuarts |
| 3 | Shermans and Firefly |
3 x 75mm Shermans (one is dozer) |
| 4 | Tank Destroyer Platoon |
3 x M10 Tank Destroyers |
| 5 | Anti-tank guns |
3 x 6-pounder ATG and optional Truck (and optional PC) |
| 6 | Artillery |
3 x FO for off-table 4" Mortars (10 FM) |
| 7 | Artillery and Mortars |
3 x FO for off-table 3" Mortars (12 FM) |
| 8 | Air Support |
1d6 initiatives with
Air support
(Typhoons specifically) |
German Force Composition
The German forces are determined randomly at the start of each session. Each option includes three infantry companies, albeit in a weakened state, thus giving each German player at least one company. Additional troops from a particular option can be allocated to players as the team sees fit.
In all cases 1 squad per platoon has an early panzerfaust.
Throw 1d6 and add the number of rounds already played (0, 1, 2 or 3) to determine the option used.
| Option | Name | Composition |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dug in Static Defence troops |
Weak Leg Infantry Battalion (1944) 1 x BC (+2)
3 x Snipers Morale: Green |
| 2 | Static Defence troops with French armour |
Weak Leg Infantry Battalion (1944) 1 x BC (+2)
1 x French Light tank (Renault R35 or Hotchkiss) Morale: Green |
| 3 | Regular Infantry with ATG |
Weak Leg Infantry Battalion (1944) 1 x BC (+2)
2 x 75mm Pak40 ATG and optional truck Morale: Regular |
| 4 | Regular Infantry with StuG |
Weak Leg Infantry Battalion (1944) 1 x BC (+2)
1 x StuG III G Morale: Regular |
| 5 | Regular Infantry with Panzer IVs |
Weak Leg Infantry Battalion (1944) 1 x BC (+2)
3 x Panzer IV G Morale: Regular |
| 6 | Panzer grenadiers with French Armour |
Weak Panzergrenadier Battalion (1944) 1 x BC (+2)
2 x 7.5 cm PaK L/46 m SPW S307(f) -- i.e. a Somua half-track with a Pak40 on it. Morale: Regular |
| 7 | Panzer grenadiers with StuG |
Weak Panzergrenadier Battalion (1944) 1 x BC (+2)
1 x StuG III G Morale: Regular |
| 8 | Panzer grenadiers with big cats |
Weak Panzergrenadier Battalion (1944) 1 x BC (+2)
3 x Panthers or 3 x Tiger I Morale: Regular |
| 9 | SS Panzer grenadiers with big cat |
Weak Panzergrenadier Battalion (1944) 1 x BC (+2)
1 x Panther or 1 x Tiger I Morale: Veteran |