Download the Czech Armoured BrigadeIntelligence Briefing PDF...

16 Pages·2014·2.38 MB·English

By Jonathan Forsey
Updated on
13 december 2013
1
1ST CZECHOSLOVAK INDEPENDENT ARMOURED BRIGADE GROUP
The opening of the Second Front in Europe on 6 June 1944 The Brigade had its own Armoured Reconnaissance Squadron
gave the exiled Czech troops who had been training in the under Major V. Velimsky, comprising Stuart VI light tanks,
UK the chance to take the fight to the Germans and, they Humber Scout cars and a small number of Cromwell tanks.
hoped, the chance to take part in the liberation of their
This unit was later expanded into the Brigade’s 3rd Armoured
homeland.
Regiment when the Brigade adopted a relatively static exist-
Some Czech troops who had made their way to the UK ence in the winter of 1944/45. This Armoured Regiment
had combat experience in the desert, others formed support differed from the first two in the Brigade by being equipped
units. This nucleus of troops formed an Infantry Brigade in with heavy Churchill III/IV and VI Infantry tanks. However,
mid April 1943, later converted to an Armoured Brigade in the Churchill’s did not see any offensive action during the
September 1943. siege.
The men of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Armoured The Brigade’s AT Battery, the “oddil K.P.U.V” under Maj. A.
Brigade Group (CIABG) were anxious to get to grips with Sitek initially contained two troops of 17pdr anti-tank guns,
the enemy who had forced them from their homes, but initially towed by Chevrolet 30cwt trucks, later by Morris
had to wait until 30 August 1944 before the Brigade was EA 4 x 4 vehicles. A third troop was added in the winter of
deployed to France, initially assembling at Falaise. 1944/45.
The Field Artillery Regiment under Col S.Rajmon initially
the brigade
comprised two batteries (“P” and “Q”) of towed 25 pound
The Brigade, under General Alois Liska, was trained, or- guns, with a further battery, (“R” Battery) added during the
ganised and equipped along British lines. The troops who winter of 1944/45.
assembled at Falaise comprised a powerful mechanised
These core units were supported by an AA Troop with towed
all-arms force.
40mm Bofors guns and an overworked and slightly under
The Brigade HQ comprised Cromwell IV tanks and strength Engineer Company which was again expanded
Sherman OP tanks for forward observers. The main “teeth” during the 1944/45 winter.
of the Brigade were found in the two (later three) armoured
To the disappointment of the men of the CIABG, they were
Regiments. The 1st Armoured Regiment under Maj. S.
not to press East. Instead, they were directed to the Coast,
Rezabek and the 2nd under Lieut. Col F. Seda were similar,
with the mission of containing the remaining German
each comprising an RHQ of Cromwell VII tanks and a
bastions of the once formidable Atlantic Wall. The Allied
troop of Sherman Firefly VC tanks armed with the formida-
advance stranded substantial German forces in ports along
ble 17pdr gun. Forward observers were carried in Cromwell
the coast and the defenders of these ports had been ordered
IV OP tanks.
by Hitler to hold them to the last..
The Regiments each had an Armoured Recce Troop with
Stuart VI Light tanks, and three squadrons, (‘A’,’B’ and ’C’) to dUnkirk
with Cromwell IV and VII tanks, plus Cromwell VIII 95mm
Liska’s men, as part of First Canadian Army (and later part
Close support tanks in the SHQ. There were no Firefly or
of 21st Army Group) were assigned the role of containing the
Challenger tanks in the squadrons themselves.
German garrison trapped in the port of Dunkirk. Canadian
The Brigade’s Motor Battalion under Lieut. Col J. troops of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division had arrived at
Chvalkovsky contained veterans who had seen service in Dunkirk in September 1944, contained the defenders and
North Africa, plus retrained troops of the former 200th handed over the task of besieging the valuable port to the
(Czech) Light AA Regiment. The Battalion was organised CIABG on 6 October 1944. The task was to contain the
along British lines, with troops riding in M5 halftracks and powerful but essentially immobile garrison, rather than to
Universal Carriers, the Battalion including its own recce storm the port.
element in M3A1 White scout cars, plus 20mm Polsten
The siege role ill suited the Czechs, who had insufficient
AA guns and attached 6pdr anti tank guns, 3” Mortars and
manpower for the task and lacked the specialist engineering
Vickers Medium Machine Guns.
vehicles necessary to reduce the inland defences.
2
The successful, but costly, captures of Le Havre, Dieppe, German practice, the defenders formed ad hoc Kampfgruppe
Boulogne and Calais had given the Allies caution. Dunkirk to defend specific sectors of the perimeter. Losses during the
as a prize was not required at the cost of significant casualties. siege amounted to approximately 1,000 men.
The mobile formation had to content itself with maintaining
an impenetrable cordon around the city, prohibited by the the siege
French authorities from mounting any prolonged bombard-
As the CIABG lacked the means and the orders to take
ment of the historic centre.
Dunkirk, the Czechs set about establishing a cordon to
The Czechs were not alone in their task, being supported contain the garrison and prevent any breakout by valuable
by Canadian and British heavy AA units, whose 3.7” AA troops. The CIABG’s mission was to harass the defenders,
guns were employed in the direct role, as were the additional engage in aggressive patrolling and cut off coastal supply
40mm Bofors guns of the 125th Light AA Regiment. routes.
The 7th Royal Tank Regiment took part in the siege with its Despite the relatively static nature of the operation, the men
heavy Churchill tanks, usually fighting with the aid of French of the CIABG were occasionally able to demonstrate their
infantry. A shortage of infantry was in part addressed by the prowess and mobility in mobile battle. On 28 October 1944,
formation of two battalions of Free French infantry formed elements of the 2nd Armoured Regiment and the Motor
from the local F.F.I (Forces Francaises d’Interieur) under Battalion conducted a feint which drew defenders out from
Lieut. Col Lehagre, equipped and armed by the British. their prepared positions.
A lightning riposte against the exposed German infantry saw
the defenders
over 40 casualties inflicted on the defenders at a cost of only
Dunkirk, as part of the “Atlantic Wall”, possessed formi- two casualties to the CIABG. This operation drew significant
dable defences to protect itself from attack from sea. These praise for the manner of its execution from higher levels,
included concrete bunkers, pill boxes, coastal defence and including Field Marshal Montgomery.
anti-aircraft emplacements.
These opportunities were, however, rare and morale did
The inland part of the perimeter was defended by areas of suffer as it became apparent that the Brigade was not to be
flooded low country, bunkers, fortified farm houses, impro- permitted to join the U.S. forces which were heading toward
vised pillboxes and thousands of mines, including British the Czechoslovakian homeland. Only a token force of 150
mines captured after the evacuation in 1940. men was permitted to accompany the U.S. Troops headed
toward their eventual meeting with advancing Soviet forces.
The defenders were well stocked with artillery, having over
80 pieces with calibres ranging up to 200mm, plus nearly On the positive side, casualties incurred during the siege
100 anti-tank guns of various calibres. Defenders were were relatively light, amounting to 167 dead, 461 wounded
also plentiful, if their quality was uneven. At the time of and 40 missing. One peculiarity was that the availability of
the eventual surrender of the port to the CIABG on 8 May Czechs who had been forced to fight in the German Army,
1945, there were over 11,000 troops. These men were drawn but who had been captured or deserted to the Allies meant
from Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Festung and Wehrmacht that the Brigade actually grew over time, enabling the
units, including 226th infantry Division, 346th, 711th, strengthening and addition of units as outlined above.
49th and 97th Divisions and the 26th and 1046th Fortress
Battalions. Of the total, approximately 2,000 were part of
the Waffen-SS Reinecke Group. In accordance with common
CZECH SPECIAL RULES
Czech Independent Armoured Brigade Group (CIABG)
Czech platoons that are Rychlá Platoons are so indicated
Troops have had the benefit of extensive training under
under those platoons.
the British system. The CIABG use all the British Special
rules except British Bulldog, which is replaced by the Rychlá Any Rychlá Platoon with a Command team may attempt
special rule. The CIABG troops retain elements of the ag- a Rychlá move at the start of the Shooting Step instead of
gressive emphasis of the pre-war Czech doctrine emphasis- shooting. If a platoon attempts to make a Rychlá move, it
ing manoeuvre in armoured formations. This gives them the may not shoot even if it fails to make a Rychlá move.
Rychlá Doctrine as follows:
Roll a Skill test for each platoon:
• If the test is successful, the platoon may move another
rychlá (“rapid”) doctrine
4”/10cm,
The CIABG forces prided themselves on conducting a war
• Otherwise the platoon cannot move this step.
of manoeuvre based on pre-war Czech doctrine, relying on
speed and manoeuvre. The Slovak troops using the same All normal rules apply for this movement. Platoons cannot
doctrine covered vast distances in the opening stages of the make Rychlá moves if they are Pinned Down or have moved
war against the Soviets. At the Double. Bogged Down or Bailed vehicles cannot
make Rychlá moves.
3
ARMOURED SQUADRON
(tank company)
S
ER HEADQUARTERS
T
R You must field one platoon from each box shaded black and may field one platoon from each box
A
U shaded grey.
Q
D
A
E 5
H Armoured Squadron HQ
S S S
N ARMOUR N RECONNAISSANCE N ARMOUR
O O O Firefly Platoon 6
O O O
AT AT AT Heavy Anti-tank Platoon 11
L L L
P P P
T S T
BA Armoured Platoon 5 ON Recce Patrol 6 OR
M P P INFANTRY
CO EA UP Motor Platoon 9
W S
ARMOUR AL Fusiliers Platoon (FFI) 13
N
O
SI
S VI
ON RECONNAISSANCE DI RECONNAISSANCE
Armoured Platoon 5 TO Recce Platoon 7
A
L
P
ARMOUR ORT Scout Platoon 10
P
P ARTILLERY
U
E S INFANTRY Field Battery, Czech Artillery 12
D
5 A
Armoured Platoon G
RI
B
ARMOUR ANTI-AIRCRAFT Light Anti-aircraft Platoon 12
9
Motor Platoon
Fusiliers Platoon (FFI)13 British Heavy Anti-aircraft Platoon 14
5
Armoured Platoon AIRCRAFT
Air Support 14
allied ffi
AIRCRAFT
platoons
Air Observation Post 14
FFI Platoons in your
force are Allies and
follow the Allies rules
on page 70 of the
rulebook.
4
Motivation and Skill
RELUCTANT CONSCRIPT
The men of the CIABG comprised veterans and also newly converted troops, all anxious to
CONFIDENT TRAINED
assist in the liberation of their homeland. A Czech Armoured Squadron is rated Confident
Trained. FEARLESS VETERAN
HEADQUARTERS
armoUred sqUadron hq Major
Major Sergeant
headqUarters
2 Cromwell IV 145 points
Company Command 2iC Command
options Cromwell IV Cromwell IV Cromwell ARV
• Add up to two Cromwell VI CS tanks for +50 points Recovery
per tank. Section
Cromwell VI CS Cromwell VI CS
• Add Cromwell ARV recovery vehicle for +10 points.
Company HQ
Armoured Squadron HQ
The Czech Independent Armoured Brigade Group (CIABG)
was British equipped and trained, following for the most part
An Armoured Squadron HQ is a Rychlá Platoon.
the standard organisation of a British Armoured Brigade.
COMBAT PLATOONS
armoUred platoon Subaltern
Subaltern
platoon
3 Cromwell IV 220 points
Command Cromwell IV
Despite being tasked with the Siege of Dunkirk, the Czechs HQ Tank
were supplied with the British Cromwell IV crusier tank.
This well-armoured and armed medium tank was much Sergeant Lance Corporal
faster than the Sherman tank and well suited to the Rychlá
Doctrine of the Czechs.
Cromwell IV Cromwell IV
An Armoured Platoon is a Rychlá Platoon.
Tank Tank
Armoured Platoon
5
WEAPONS PLATOONS
recce patrol Subaltern
Subaltern
platoon
4 Stuart VI 150 points
3 Stuart VI 110 points
Command Stuart VI
HQ Tank
The Regiments each had an Armoured Recce Troop with
Stuart VI Light tanks. Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant
A Recce Patrol is a Rychlá Platoon and a Reconnaissance
Platoon.
Stuart VI Stuart VI Stuart VI
Tank Tank Tank
Recce Patrol
SUPPORT PLATOONS
firefly platoon Subaltern
Subaltern
platoon
3 Firefly VC (late) 305 points
Command Firefly VC
The Czechs also received a small number of powerful Firefly
HQ Tank
VC tanks. These British 17 pdr conversions of the Sherman
V tank were held at Regimental level and fielded in platoons
Sergeant Lance Corporal
of their own.
A Firefly Platoon is a Rychlá Platoon.
Firefly VC Firefly VC
Tank Tank
Firefly Platoon
6
recce platoon Subaltern
Subaltern
platoon
Subaltern
HQ Armoured Car with:
2 Recce Sections 130 points
1 Recce Section 80 points
Command Humber LRC III
options HQ Armoured Car
• Add Scout Patrols for +70 points per Scout Patrol.
Sergeant Corporal
• Arm any or all Universal Carriers with an extra Hull
mounted MG for +5 points per carrier or 0.5” MG
for +10 points per carrier.
Humber LRC IIIHumber LRC III Humber LRC IIIHumber LRC III
• Replace up to one extra Hull mounted MG per
Recce Section Recce Section
Patrol with a PIAT anti-tank projector at no cost.
Recce Patrol
• Replace one Humber LRC III per Recce Section
Sergeant
with a Humber scout car at no cost.
A Recce and Scout Patrols are Rychlá and Reconnaissance Command Universal Universal
Platoons. Universal Carrier Carrier Carrier
Scout Patrol
A Recce and Scout Patrols operate as separate platoons, each Sergeant
with their own Command team.
The Czech brigade had its own Reconnaissance Squadron for
Command Universal Universal
patrolling the perimeter and approaches to Dunkirk. These Universal Carrier Carrier Carrier
platoons seemed to have been armed with a mix of Humber Scout Patrol
LRC III cars, Humber Scout Cars and Universal Carriers.
Recce Platoon
7
MOTOR COMPANY
(infantry company)
S
ER HEADQUARTERS
T
AR You must field one platoon from each box shaded black and may field one platoon from each
U box shaded grey.
Q
D
A
E 9
H Motor Company HQ
S S S
N INFANTRY N MACHINE-GUNS N ARMOUR
O O O Armoured Platoon 5
O O O
T T T
A A A Firefly Platoon 6
L L L
P P P
T Motor Platoon 9 S T
BA ON Motor Machine-gun 10 OR
M P Platoon P ARMOUR
O A P
C INFANTRY WE SU Armoured Platoon 5
ANTI-TANK AL
N
O
SI
Motor Platoon 9 Motor Anti-tank Platoon 11 DIVI ANTI-TANK Heavy Anti-tank Platoon 11
INFANTRY Motor Anti-tank Platoon 11
allied ffi
INFANTRY
Motor Platoon 9 platoons
Fusiliers Platoon (FFI) 13
FFI Platoons in your
RECONNAISSANCE force are Allies and
follow the Allies rules
on page 70 of the RECONNAISSANCE
rulebook. Recce Platoon 13
Scout Platoon 10
ANTI-AIRCRAFT
ARTILLERY
Field Battery, Czech Artillery 12
Motor Anti-aircraft 10
Platoon
ANTI-AIRCRAFT
British Heavy Anti-aircraft Platoon 14
ANTI-AIRCRAFT
Light Anti-aircraft Platoon 12
AIRCRAFT
Air Support 14
AIRCRAFT
Air Observation Post 14
8
Motivation and Skill
RELUCTANT CONSCRIPT
The men of the CIABG comprised veterans and also newly converted troops, all anxious to
CONFIDENT TRAINED
assist in the liberation of their homeland. A Czech Motor Company is rated Confident
Trained. FEARLESS VETERAN
HEADQUARTERS
motor company hq Major
Major
headqUarters
Company HQ 25 points
Company Command White scout car
option Rifle team
• Add Mortar Section for +40 points.
2iC Command White scout car
Rifle team
The Brigade’s Motor Battalion under Lieut. Col J.
Company HQ
Chvalkovsky contained troops who had seen service in North
Africa, plus retrained troops of the former 200th (Czech) Corporal
Light Anti-aircraft Regiment.
A Motor Company HQ is a Rychlá Platoon. 3” mortar White scout car 3” mortar White scout car
Mortar Section
Motor Company HQ
COMBAT PLATOONS
motor platoon Subaltern
Subaltern
platoon
HQ Section with:
Command PIAT team Light Mortar M5 half-track
3 Motor Squads 110 points MG team team
2 Motor Squads 90 points HQ Section
Corporal Corporal Corporal
The riflemen of the Motor Platoon are furnished with ample
Bren light machine-guns, PIAT anti-tank projectors and
MG team MG team MG team
light mortars. This gives them remarkable firepower for such
a small unit.
M5 half-track M5 half-track M5 half-track
A Motor Platoon is a Rychlá Platoon.
Motor Motor Motor
Squad Squad Squad
Motor Platoon
motor anti-aircraft platoon Sergeant
Sergeant
platoon
2 Polsten 20mm SP 40 points
Command Polsten 20mm SP
Polsten 20mm SP
A Motor Anti-aircraft Platoon is a Rychlá Platoon.
Anti-aircraft Section
Motor Anti-aircraft Platoon
9
scoUt platoon Captain
Captain
platoon
HQ Section with:
3 Scout Patrols 200 points Command Universal Universal
Universal Carrier Carrier Carrier
2 Scout Patrols 135 points
1 Scout Patrol 70 points Scout Patrol
Sergeant
options:
• Arm any or all Universal Carriers with an extra Hull
mounted MG for +5 points per carrier or .50 cal Command Universal Universal
MG for +10 points per carrier. Universal Carrier Carrier Carrier
Scout Patrol
• Replace up to one extra Hull mounted MG with
a PIAT anti-tank projector per Scout Patrol at no Sergeant
cost.
Scout Patrols are Rychlá Platoons and Reconnaissance Command Universal Universal
Universal Carrier Carrier Carrier
Platoons.
Scout Patrol
In the close terrain of western Europe the scout patrols Scout Platoon
are proving vital. In country where the Germans could be
waiting around any corner, they find the enemy and spring Scout Patrols operate as separate platoons, each with their
his ambushes. own command team.
WEAPONS PLATOONS
motor machine-gUn platoon Subaltern
Subaltern
platoon
HQ Section with:
Command Rifle team PIAT team Troop Carrier
2 Machine-gun Sections 135 points
HQ Section
1 Machine-gun Section 70 points
Sergeant Sergeant
option:
• Add PIAT team for +15 points.
Vickers HMG MMG Carrier Vickers HMG MMG Carrier
Your Vickers medium machine-guns gives your motor
company the ability to destroy enemy infantry at long range,
allowing you to dominate the approaches to your positions.
Vickers HMG MMG Carrier Vickers HMG MMG Carrier
Machine-gun Machine-gun
Vickers HMG teams from Motor Companies are not trained Section Section
in indirect fire techniques, so they cannot fire Artillery Motor Machine-gun Platoon
Bombardments.
A Motor Machine-gun Platoon is a Rychlá Platoon.
10