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:
International Brigade
- 1 x Company
- 1 x CC (+1/+2)
- 1 x HMG
- 1 x FO for off table 75 mm field gun (8 FM)
- 1 x Rifle Platoon: PC (+1), 4 x Rifle
- 2 x Rifle Platoon: PC (+1), 3 x Rifle
- Support Elements
- 1 x Unmanned T-26
- Fortifications
- 1 x Fortification package: 3 x wire, 1 x mine, 1 x bunker (1 SQ)
- 3 x Entrenchments
- The CC provides +1 close combat; +2 rallying
- Morale: Regular
Command & Control: Dependent (i.e. Russian)
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
Moroccans
- 1 x Moroccan Regulares Company
- 1 x CC (+2)
3 x Rifle Platoon: PC (+1), 3 x Rifle
- 1 x CC (+2)
- Support Elements
- 1 x FO for off table 75 mm field gun (6 Smoke FM).
1 x HMG
- 1 x FO for off table 75 mm field gun (6 Smoke FM).
- Morale: Veteran
Command & Control: Independent (i.e. Commonwealth)
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.