Combined Arms

Wargame Rules Review

Combined Arms Rules for WW2 by Ian Shaw.

Combined Arms rules are designed for World War II company and battalion level infantry and armour actions using 1:300 scale miniatures. Larger 1:76 scale miniatures may be used, but only if the number of vehicles is kept small. For these rules to work correctly, it is essential that forces are organized into proper national formations. While the rules provide a basic outline of unit organisations used in World War Two, wargamers will have to refer to other sources for detailed Tables of Organisation and Equipment (TO&E), like the British Infantry Battalion 1943 TO&E published in Military Miniatures Magazine.

Combined Arms rules are complex, because they cover a period of rapid technological development in a four year time span. Weapons and tactics used at the beginning of the war quickly became obsolete and were phased out or forced out as the conflict developed. Combined Arms contains a lot of doctrine which will restrict certain things the player can do, particularly with regards to artillery. When artillery fire is called, some armies will experience longer delays than others, based on historical precendent.

Contents

  • Title: Combined Arms
  • Period: World War Two
  • Type: Tactical Wargame
  • Time Scale: 1 turn = 10 minutes campaign time
  • Ground Scale: 1:2000
  • Troop Scale: 1 figure = 1 man
  • Basing: 20 × 10 mm 4-man fire-team bases
  • Armour penetration benchmarks
    • Sherman vs. Lingèvres Panther: 57 % per game turn
  • Author: Ian Shaw
  • Format: 38-page rule book
  • Language: English
  • Publisher: Tabletop Games Ltd., Compton, Great Britain
  • Published: 1983

Chapters

  1. Introduction, 2 pages
    • Scales, Base Sizes, Organisation
  2. Move Sequence, 1 page
  3. Points Values, 2 pages
  4. Movement, 3 pages
    • Command, Communications & Orders
    • Orders
    • Deployment
  5. Target Location, 2 pages
  6. High Explosive Fire, 3 pages
    • Obtaining Fire
    • Artillery Delay Table
    • Minimum Fire Unit Table
    • Example of Fire Plan
    • Scatter
  7. Point Fire, 3 pages
    • Special Weapon Types
    • Hit Result
  8. Smoke, 1 page
  9. Small Arms Fire, 2 pages
  10. Morale, 2 pages
  11. Aircraft, 4 pages
    • Air Combat
    • Obtaining Air Support
    • Anti-Aircraft Fire
  12. Field Engineering, 3 pages
    • Mines
    • Assault River Crossings
    • Flame Throwers
  13. Weather, 1 page
  14. Optional Rules, 2 pages
    • Multiple Hits
    • Alternative Hit Result System
    • Snipers
    • Improved German Optics
  15. Anti-Tank Gun Strike Value Table, 3 pages
  16. Vehicle Data Tables, 5 pages
  17. Artillery Data Tables, 3 pages
  18. Aircraft Data Tables, 1 page
  19. Use of Templates, 1 page

Quick Reference Sheets

  • Combined Arms QR Sheet
  • Small Arms & Artillery Data
  • Anti-Tank & Tank Gun Strike Values
  • Vehicle Details
  • Clear Plastic Templates
Heroics & Ros British Paratroops based for Combined Arms Rules by Ian Shaw

The picture show Heroics & Ros 1:300 scale British paratroops and vehicles based for Combined Arms. The 4-man para squad is mounted on a 20 × 10 mm stand, the Bren LMG and P.I.A.T. teams are on 10 × 10 mm heavy weapons stands. A British 10-man infantry section may be recreated using two 4-man infantry squads and a Bren LMG team. The heavy mortar team has been mounted on a round base for ease of identifaction. Vehicles are easier to handle if they are based as well.

Combined Arms is a valuable resource for wargamers interested in the Second World War. Artillery, vehicles, and aircraft of the major powers are covered, and those of the minor powers like Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Poland, and Romania may be deduced from the available data.

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