Race Through Normandy – Crossfire Order of Battle

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. What follows is the Orbat for a Huge campaign.

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 Allied orbat is designed to give each Allied player one to two companies plus supports.

The German defending force in a particular session are determined randomly or by the referee. Each option includes three infantry companies, albeit in a weakened state, thus giving each German player at least one company.

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.

US 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 Companies
    • 1 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 Platoons
      • 1 x PC (+1 for rallying, but not close combat)
      • 3 x Rifle Squads; One squad has a bazooka
  • Morale: Green

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).

Optional US support units are chosen from this list:

  1. Ranger Company
  2. Shermans and Artillery
  3. Shermans and Stuarts
  4. Shermans and 105
  5. Tank Destroyer Platoon
  6. Anti-tank guns
  7. Artillery
  8. Artillery and Mortars
  9. Air Support

US Support Unit 1: Ranger Company

  • 1 x Ranger Company
    • 1 x CC (+2)
    • 1 x On-table 60mm Mortar or FO for off-table 60mm Mortar
    • 2 x Rifle Platoons
      • 1 x PC (+2)
      • 2 x Rifle Squads; One squad has a bazooka
  • Morale: Veteran
  • Command Control: Good, i.e. as per Germans
  • Recon troops

US Support Unit 2: Shermans and Artillery

  • 3 x 75mm Shermans (one is dozer)
  • 1 x FO for off-table Heavy Artillery (5 FM)

US Support Unit 3: Shermans and Stuarts

  • 3 x 75mm Shermans
  • 3 x M3 Stuarts

US Support Unit 4: Shermans and 105

  • 3 x 76mm Shermans (one is dozer)
  • 1 x 105mm Sherman

US Support Unit 5: Tank Destroyer Platoon

  • 3 x M10 Tank Destroyers
  • 2 x FO for off-table 75mm Howitzer (12 FM)

US Support Unit 6: Anti-tank guns

  • 3 x 57mm ATG and optional Truck (and optional PC)
  • 3 x FO for off-table 81mm Mortars (12 FM)
  • 1 x FO for off-table Heavy Artillery (5 FM)

US Support Unit 7: Artillery

  • 3 x FO for off-table 75mm Howitzer (12 FM)
  • 2 x FO for off-table Heavy Artillery (5 FM)

US Support Unit 8: Artillery and Mortars

  • 3 x FO for off-table 81mm Mortars (12 FM)
  • 3 x FO for off-table 75mm Howitzer (12 FM)

US Support Unit 9: Air Support

  • 1d6 initiatives with Typhoons as Air support
  • 3 x FO for off-table 81mm Mortars (12 FM)

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 Canadian 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 Squads; One squad has a piat
  • 1 x Carrier Platoon
    • 1 x PC (+1)
    • 3 x Rifle Squads; One squad has a piat
    • 1 x Bren Carrier
  • 3 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 Platoons
      • 1 x PC (+1)
      • 3 x Rifle Squads; One squad has a piat
  • Morale: Regular

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).

Optional Canadian support units are chosen from this list:

  1. Shermans and Artillery
  2. Shermans and Stuarts
  3. Shermans and Firefly
  4. Tank Destroyer Platoon
  5. Anti-tank guns
  6. Artillery
  7. Artillery and Mortars
  8. Air Support

Canadian Support Unit 1: Shermans and Artillery

  • 3 x 75mm Shermans (one is dozer)
  • 1 x FO for off-table Heavy Artillery (5 FM)

Canadian Support Unit 2: Shermans and Stuarts

  • 3 x 75mm Shermans
  • 3 x M3 Stuarts

Canadian Support Unit 3: Shermans and Firefly

  • 3 x 75mm Shermans (one is dozer)
  • 1 x Sherman Firefly

Canadian Support Unit 4: Tank Destroyer Platoon

  • 3 x M10 Tank Destroyers
  • 2 x FO for off-table 4″ Mortars (12 FM)

Canadian Support Unit 5: Anti-tank guns

  • 3 x 6-pounder ATG and optional Truck (and optional PC)
  • 3 x FO for off-table 3″ Mortars (12 FM)
  • 1 x FO for off-table Heavy Artillery (5 FM)

Canadian Support Unit 6: Artillery

  • 3 x FO for off-table 4″ Mortars (10 FM)
  • 2 x FO for off-table Heavy Artillery (5 FM)

Canadian Support Unit 7: Artillery and Mortars

  • 3 x FO for off-table 3″ Mortars (12 FM)
  • 3 x FO for off-table 4″ Mortars (12 FM)

Canadian Support Unit 8: Air Support

  • 1d6 initiatives with Typhoons Air support
  • 3 x FO for off-table 3″ Mortars (12 FM)

German Force Composition

The German defenders in a particular session are determined randomly or by the referee. The German troops could be from these historical units:

  • Static Defence 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)

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 the round being played (1, 2, 3 or 4) to determine the option used. For example if you are playing the second round then throw 1d6 and add 2.

1d6 + Round German Defending Force
2 Dug in Static Defence troops
3 Static Defence troops with French armour
4 Regular Infantry with ATG
5 Regular Infantry with StuG
6 Regular Infantry with Panzer IVs
7 Panzer grenadiers with French Armour
8 Panzer grenadiers with StuG
9 Panzer grenadiers with big cats
10 SS Panzer grenadiers with big cat

German Defending Force 2: Dug in Static Defence troops

  • Weak Leg Infantry Battalion (1944)
    • 1 x BC (+2)
    • 3 x Weak Infantry Companies
      • 1 x CC (+2)
      • 1 x HMG
      • 1 x FO for off-table 120mm Mortar (10 FM)
      • 1 x FO for off-table 81mm Mortar (12 FM)
      • 3 x Weak Rifle Platoon
        • 1 x PC (+2 for 1st platoon; others +1)
        • 2 x Rifle Squads
  • 3 x Snipers
  • 1 x 7.5 cm Pak40 ATG with optional truck
  • Fortifications: 1 bunker (2 SQ), 2 minefields, 5 wire sections.
  • Morale: Green

German Defending Force 3: Static Defence troops with French armour

  • Weak Leg Infantry Battalion (1944)
    • 1 x BC (+2)
    • 3 x Weak Infantry Companies
      • 1 x CC (+2)
      • 1 x HMG
      • 1 x FO for off-table 120mm Mortar (10 FM)
      • 1 x FO for off-table 81mm Mortar (12 FM)
      • 3 x Weak Rifle Platoon
        • 1 x PC (+2 for 1st platoon; others +1)
        • 2 x Rifle Squads
  • 1 x French Light tank (Renault R35 or Hotchkiss)
  • 1 x French Somua tank (47mm)
  • Fortifications: 2 minefields, 3 wire sections.
  • Morale: Green

German Defending Force 4: Regular Infantry with ATG

  • Weak Leg Infantry Battalion (1944)
    • 1 x BC (+2)
    • 2 x FO for off-table 120mm Mortar (10 FM)
    • 1 x FO for off-table 81mm Mortar (12 FM)
    • 3 x Weak Infantry Companies
      • 1 x CC (+2)
      • 1 x HMG
      • 3 x Weak Rifle Platoons
        • 1 x PC (+2 for 1st platoon; others +1)
        • 2 x Rifle Squads
  • 2 x 75mm Pak40 ATG and optional truck
  • 3 x Snipers
  • Morale: Regular

German Defending Force 5: Regular Infantry with StuG

  • Weak Leg Infantry Battalion (1944)
    • 1 x BC (+2)
    • 2 x FO for off-table 120mm Mortar (10 FM)
    • 1 x FO for off-table 81mm Mortar (12 FM)
    • 3 x Weak Infantry Companies
      • 1 x CC (+2)
      • 1 x HMG
      • 3 x Weak Rifle Platoons
        • 1 x PC (+2 for 1st platoon; others +1)
        • 2 x Rifle Squads
  • 1 x StuG III G
  • 3 x Snipers
  • Morale: Regular

German Defending Force 6: Regular Infantry with Panzer IVs

  • Weak Leg Infantry Battalion (1944)
    • 1 x BC (+2)
    • 2 x FO for off-table 120mm Mortar (10 FM)
    • 1 x FO for off-table 81mm Mortar (12 FM)
    • 3 x Weak Infantry Companies
      • 1 x CC (+2)
      • 1 x HMG
      • 2 x Rifle Platoon
        • 1 x PC (+2 for 1st platoon; others +1)
        • 3 x Rifle Squads
  • 3 x Panzer IV G
  • Morale: Regular

German Defending Force 7: Panzer grenadiers with French Armour

  • Weak Panzergrenadier Battalion (1944)
    • 1 x BC (+2)
    • 1 x FO for off-table 120mm Mortar (10 FM)
    • 2 x FO for off-table 81mm Mortar (12 FM)
    • 1 x FO for off-table 75mm IG (12 FM)
    • 3 x Weak Panzergrenadier Companies
      • 1 x CC (+2)
      • 1 x HMG
      • 3 x Weak Rifle Platoon
        • 1 x PC (+2 for 1st platoon; others +1)
        • 2 x Rifle Squads
  • 2 x 7.5 cm PaK L/46 m SPW S307(f) — i.e. a Somua half-track with a Pak40 on it.
  • 3 x Snipers
  • Morale: Regular

German Defending Force 8: Panzer grenadiers with StuG

  • Weak Panzergrenadier Battalion (1944)
    • 1 x BC (+2)
    • 1 x FO for off-table 120mm Mortar (10 FM)
    • 2 x FO for off-table 81mm Mortar (12 FM)
    • 1 x FO for off-table 75mm IG (12 FM)
    • 3 x Weak Panzergrenadier Companies
      • 1 x CC (+2)
      • 1 x HMG
      • 3 x Weak Rifle Platoon
        • 1 x PC (+2 for 1st platoon; others +1)
        • 2 x Rifle Squads
  • 1 x StuG III G
  • 3 x Snipers
  • Morale: Regular

German Defending Force 9: Panzer grenadiers with big cats

  • Weak Panzergrenadier Battalion (1944)
    • 1 x BC (+2)
    • 1 x FO for off-table 120mm Mortar (10 FM)
    • 2 x FO for off-table 81mm Mortar (12 FM)
    • 1 x FO for off-table 75mm IG (12 FM)
    • 3 x Weak Panzergrenadier Companies
      • 1 x CC (+2)
      • 1 x HMG
      • 1 x Rifle Platoon
        • 1 x PC (+2)
        • 3 x Rifle Squads
      • 1 x Rifle Platoon
        • 1 x PC (+1)
        • 2 x Rifle Squads
  • 3 x Panthers or 3 x Tiger I
  • Morale: Regular

German Defending Force 10: SS Panzer grenadiers with big cat

  • Weak Panzergrenadier Battalion (1944)
    • 1 x BC (+2)
    • 2 x FO for off-table 81mm Mortar (12 FM)
    • 1 x FO for off-table 75mm IG (12 FM)
    • 3 x Weak Panzergrenadier Companies
      • 1 x CC (+2)
      • 1 x HMG
      • 1 x Rifle Platoon
        • 1 x PC (+2)
        • 3 x Rifle Squads
      • 1 x Rifle Platoon
        • 1 x PC (+1)
        • 2 x Rifle Squads
  • 1 x Panther or 1 x Tiger I
  • Morale: Veteran

2 thoughts on “Race Through Normandy – Crossfire Order of Battle”

Leave a Reply