45 Pesetas – A Crossfire Scenario in the Spanish Civil War

A scenario for Fuego Cruzado – my variant of Crossfire for the Spanish Civil War. 45 Pesetas was the bounty the Nationalists put on a Republican T-26 tank. The Moroccans were keen on this offer and through their endeavours the Nationalists built up their own T-26 units. Somehow this seems like a potential game.

Historical Situation

Setting: Casa de Campo Sector (Madrid); Nov 1936

It is 1936 in Madrid. The Nationalists are keen to acquire some of the new Republican T-26 Tanks. Their Moroccan troops are keen to get the bounty for each tank. All the Regulares have to do is sneak into the enemy lines, capture a tank then drive it back to the Nationalist lines.

Map/Terrain

Key features are:

• 4’x4′ table.
• Woods, Fields (out of season), Rough, Contours, Crests,
• Buildings.
• The Nationalists arrive on the western table edge A-A.
• The Republicans deploy between lines B-B and eastern table edge D-D. The T-26 must be deployed between the lines B-B and C-C.

Pre-game preparation

• Republicans deploy hidden.

Republican Player (Defending)

Objective

Deny the Nationalists information about Republican positions, minimise own losses, Inflict casualties on the Nationalists, and protect the T-26.

Forces Available

International Brigadistas in company strength:

Deployment

Deploys first, hidden. between lines B-B and D-D. The following features must be occupied at the start of the game:

• The bunker.
• All entrenchments.
• Two buildings.

All stands start pinned.

The T-26 must be deployed between the lines B-B and C-C and cannot deploy in the bunker, an
entrenchment or a building. The T-26 starts unmanned.

Reinforcements

None.

Nationalist Player (Attacking)

Begins scenario with initiative.

Objective

Locate Republican positions quickly, with as few casualties as possible, and capture the T-26.

Forces Available

Deployment

Deploys second, moving on to table edge A-A.

Reinforcements

None.

Victory Conditions

Recce and Casualty (AD) objectives.

The game starts at 000 hours and ends at 0530 hours.

The Nationalists get victory points (VP) as follows:

• 2 VP for spotting the Republican bunker
• 1 VP for spotting each Republican entrenchment, wire, and/or mine section.
• 1/2 VP for spotting each Republican stand of any type.
• +1/2 VP for killing each Republican stand. (i.e. 1 VP in total with spotting and killing)
• 1 VP for each PC or Rifle squad that exits the Republican base edge D-D – up to 4 VP.
• 8 VP for capturing the T-26 and driving it off table edge A-A.

And just so it isn’t all one sided:

• -3 VP for each Nationalist squad, CC, or HMG killed.
• -1 VP for each Nationalist PC, mortar or FO killed.

VPs	Result
-6.0 or less	Decisive Republican Victory
-5.5 to +2.0	Minor Republican Victory
+2.5 to +10.0	Minor Nationalist Victory
+10.5 or more	Decisive Nationalist Victory

Scenario Special Rules

• See Crossfire House Rules and Fuego Cruzado (Crossfire House Rules for Spain’s Wars).
• Special Rule 4, the Moving Clock is in use. The Scenario begins at 0000 hours and ends 0530 hours. The clock advances 30 minutes on 4+ at the end of each Republican initiative.
• For simplicity “spotted” for victory conditions means on table. Republican stands become visible in the normal ways, i.e. revealed by player, enemy moves into the same terrain feature, and RBF.
• Nationalist squads RBF on 5+.
• Fields are out of season (do not block LOS).
• The T-26 is initially unmanned so cannot take any action (can’t move; can’t fire). Either side can man the T-26 by moving a rifle squad adjacent to the vehicle. It is assumed that a small portion of the squad man the vehicle, but the squad remains a viable combat unit. Once manned the T-26 is considered pinned, so must rally before it can move.

Notes

• You could try the night special rule. This would make the Nationalist’s job harder as they would only get one move action per stand per initiative.
• You could also try the Revealing hidden squads on a One [Optional Rule]. This would make the Nationalist’s job much harder.

References