Nationalist Order of Battle for Fuego Cruzado

Nationalist orders of battle for Fuego Cruzado – my variant of Crossfire for the Spanish Civil War.

I’ve added suggested organisations to the morale from the official Crossfire site.

Bandera of the Foreign Legion

Bandera were under sized Battalions. They had the full complement of supporting equipment.

Crossfire – Legion Bandera

  • 1 x BC (+2)
  • 1 x Legion Machinegun Company
    • 3 – 6 x HMG
    • 0 or 1 x on-table 45 mm Mortar (or FO if off table) *
  • 3 x Legion Rifle Company
    • 1 x CC (+2)
    • 1 x LMG **
    • 3 x Rifle Platoons: 1 x PC (+1); 3 x Rifle Squads
  • Morale: Veteran
  • Command & Control: Adventurous / Independent
  • Reckless

* 45 mm Mortars only included in Bandera from early 1938.

** Representing a higher than normal complement of LMG in the company.

Tabor of Regulares

As long as you led from the front where they could clearly see you upright, they would follow.” Alferez Juan Crespo.


regulares_P1030351_company.jpg (400463 bytes)

Company of Regulares

A Tabor was half the size of a battalion. The Regulares were excellent in the open country, but performed less well in the towns. Apparently the machine gun platoon was staffed by Spaniards.

Crossfire – Tabor of Regulares

  • 1 x BC (Tabor Commander) (+2)
  • 1 x Spanish Machinegun Platoon: 1 x HMG
  • 2 x Regulares Rifle Company
    • 1 x CC (+2)
    • 3 x Rifle Platoons: 1 x PC (+1); 3 x Rifle Squads
  • Morale: Regular in towns otherwise Veteran
  • Command & Control: Adventurous / Dependent
  • Reckless

I don’t believe the Moroccan infantry had the full complement of light machine guns.

Nationalist Infantry Battalion, Carlist Tercio, Falangist Bandera

Regular Army Battalions, Tercios of the Carlist Militas, and Falangist Banderas all had similar organisations.

Crossfire – Nationalist Infantry Battalion, Carlist Tercio, Falangist Bandera

  • 1 x BC
  • 0 or 1 Machinegun Company **
    • 4 x HMG
    • 0 or 1 x on-table 45 mm Mortar (or FO if off table) *
  • 3 or 4 x Rifle Company ***
    • 1 x CC
    • 1 x LMG ****
    • 3 x Rifle Platoons: 1 x PC (+1); 3 x Rifle Squads
  • Morale: Varies
  • Command & Control: Varies
  • Some are Reckless

* In early 1938 the Nationalists added a 45 mm Mortar stand.

** Carlist Tercios and Falangist Banderas lacked machine gun companies in 1936, but acquired them the year after. Other units, plus Carlists and Falangists after 1936, would have them or not depending on supply.

*** Most Battalions, Tercios, Bandera would have 4 companies in total, either 3 Infantry plus a Machinegun Company, or 4 Infantry Companies. Few would have all 5 companies.

**** I assume few units would have the full complement of Light Machine Guns, hence will lack the LMG stand, but some would have them. The early war Carlist requetes and Falagist Militia certainly lacked these support weapons.

Troop Type When Morale Command & Control Reckless PC CC (BC)
Carlist Militia 1936 Veteran when attacking otherwise Green Dependent Yes PC (0/+1) +1 rallying only CC (0/+2) +2 rallying only
Carlist Brigades Mid War Veteran when attacking otherwise Regular Dependent No PC (+1) CC (0/+2) +2 rallying only
Carlist Divisions Late War Regular Dependent No PC (+1) CC (0/+2) +2 rallying only
Falangist Militia Regular when attacking otherwise Green Dependent No PC (0/+1) +1 rallying only CC (0/+2) +2 rallying only
Falangist Battalons de Choque Veteran when attacking otherwise Regular Dependent Yes PC (+1) CC (+1/+2) +1 close combat; +2 rallying
Army of Africa Battalions Regular Dependent No PC (+1) CC (+2)
Peninsular Army 1936 Green Dependent No PC (+1) CC (+1)
Galician Divisions Late War Regular Dependent No PC (+1) CC (0/+2) +2 rallying only
Other Divisions Regular Dependent No PC (+1) CC (0/+2) +2 rallying only

Italian Infantry Battalion or Cohort

The Italians had both regular formations and fascist Blackshirt formations in Spain. I believe the Blackshirt Cohort differed from the regular battalions by the lack of engineers.

Crossfire – Italian Infantry Battalion or Cohort

  • 1 x BC
  • 1 x Rifle squad
  • 1 x recon motorcycle platoon: 1 x PC; 3 x Rifle squads
  • 0 or 1 x engineer platoon: 1 x PC; 3 x Rifle squads
  • 1 x Machinegun Company
    • 3 x HMG
    • 0 or 1 x on-table 45 mm Mortar (or FO if off table) *
  • 3 or 4 x Rifle Company
    • 1 x CC
    • 1 x LMG
    • 3 x Rifle Platoons: 1 x PC; 3 x Rifle Squads
  • Morale: Varies
  • Command & Control: Varies

The specific variations are in the table below.

Troop Type When Morale Command & Control Reckless PC CC (BC)
Italian Black shirt Divisions 1936 – 1937 Green Dependent No PC (0/0) No bonuses CC (0/0) No bonuses
Italian Litorio Division 1936 – 1937 Regular Dependent No PC (0/+1) +1 rallying only CC (0/0) No bonuses
Italian Bersaglieri Veteran Dependent No PC (0/+1) +1 rallying only CC (0/+1) +1 rallying only
Italian CTV 1937 – 1939 Regular Dependent No PC (0/+1) +1 rallying only CC (0/0) No bonuses

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