ASL 101: LEARNING
ADVANCED SQUAD LEADER
Session 9: Mortars and Guns
with Russ Gifford
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Goals for this Session
We’ll learn about:
• Using Mortars
• Using Guns
• To Hit #
• Modified To Hit #
• Using HE
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Goals for This Session
You will also learn
• Firing SW Mortars
• How to fire a Gun against Infantry Targets Types
• How to fire a Gun against an Armor Target
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Using Mortars
German
Defensive Fire:
2-4-7 HS has a
mortar behind the
stone wall in M7.
Poor little HS,
out numbered
3 to 1/2.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Mortars
Mortars are treated as Indirect Fire, which means:
• Uses ‘To Hit’ DR, but resolves on IFT Table
• Uses Area Target Type, but keeps ROF!
• Can use spotted fire
SW mortars:
• Have no covered arc, fired by HS or Squad with
no penalties (does not need a crew as with Guns)
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Mortar
German 50mm Mortar:
Only HE – and thus halved
for Area Fire on IFT
High ROF!
Only 2-13 hexes
Short barrel - *
Too heavy to move easily.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Using Mortars
German Prep
Fire:
Ideally, the
mortar is better at
a longer range.
Look at the C3
Table!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Direct Fire
Mortars have their own line on C3:
Notice the To Hit is BETTER at 13-24 for Mortars!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Using Mortars
American Move:
The 7-4-7 in G10
declares double
time (CX) –
what’s that?
ASL 101: Fire Combat
CX
What does declaring CX (double time) do?
• Declared before moving, it gives the unit 2 extra
MF.
• Declared during move, it give 1 extra MF.
• It stays with the unit until the end of its next
movement phase, since units may not declare CX
in back-to-back turns.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Using Mortars
American Move:
The 7-4-7 in G10
now (CX) and
moves into the
woods in H9,
spending 2 MF.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Using Mortars
American Move:
The 7-4-7 in G10
now (CX) and
moves into H9,
spending 2 MF.
The German
announces a
MTR shot for
Def. First Fire.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Direct Fire
Mortars have their own line on C3:
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Mortars
On C3, at range 0-6, there is only 1 number
So the To Hit value is 7!
Move on to table C4:
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Indirect Fire
C4 modifies the To Hit using Gun length & ammo:
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Mortars
On C4, there is a line for * guns, but at range 0-6,
the modifier is 0
So the Modified To Hit value is 7!
Move on to table C5:
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Direct Fire
Chart C5 are Firer-Based DRMs:
SW Mortars don’t care about CA: A is NA
This is Def. FFire, so no movement B
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Direct Fire
Chart C5 are Firer-Based DRMs:
Watch these notes out front. Cases C1 – C4, E, G,
and L do not apply to Area Target Type!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Direct Fire
Chart C5 are Firer-Based DRMs:
Case D: German is not pinned, F: not IF so NA
Case H: SW Mortars allow Infantry use, so H is NA
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Mortars
On C5, net DRMs = +0
Move on to table C6:
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Area Fire
Chart C6 is Target Based Modifiers
Case J does not apply. (Inf. did NOT Dash.)
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Area Fire
Chart C6 is Target Based Modifiers
Case J3 does apply. -1 (Target is not assault
moving.) The trees stop J4 . (Isn’t open ground.)
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Area Fire
Chart C6 is Target Based Modifiers
Case K not concealed. L doesn’t apply to Area fire.
Not Bore Sighted, not Acquired, Not Hazardous.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Area Fire
Chart C6 is Target Based Modifiers
Case Q: TEM does NOT apply to Area fire.
There is no LOS hindrance, so no Case R.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Mortars
On C6, -1 FFNAM = - 1 DRM
So the To Hit DR is 7 -1 DRM
DR =
HIT!
And the mortar retains ROF!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Using Mortars
Resolving the Hit:
First what is the
FP?
A 50 mm mortar,
but it is Area Fire.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
IFT Results
Find the
column
with the HE
equivalency
of the Gun
size.
But this is
Area Fire.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
IFT Results
Divide the
6FP in half
for the Area
Target
Type: 3FP.
No 3 FP
column, it
drops to
2FP.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Mortars and Air Bursts
Woods is normally a +1 TEM, but:
Indirect Fire vs. Infantry (or CE or OT vehicles)
in woods results in Air Bursts, which are a -1 TEM!
So on the resolution on the IFT, there is a -1 DRM!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
IFT Results
On the
Effects DR,
the German
rolls 3,2 = 5
With the -1
DRM, that’s
a 4, or a 1
MC!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Using Mortars
Resolving the Hit:
If the American
rolls a 1,6 = 7 +1
DRM = 8 =
Broken!
Remove the CX
and place the DM!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Using Mortars
Resolving the Hit:
If the American
rolls a 1,6 = 7 +1
DRM = 8 =
Broken!
Remove the CX,
flip the unit and
place the DM –
and -1 Acquired!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Using Mortars
The HS also gets a
First Fire marker
– not the Mortar.
Why only the
Half Squad?
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Mortar Quiz
Why don’t we place a First Fire counter on the
mortar?
Can we shoot the broken unit again?
Could we fire at some other unit?
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Mortar Quiz
Why don’t we place a First Fire counter on the
mortar?
It retains ROF and can fire again!
Can we shoot the broken unit again?
Yes, it expended 2 MF, so we get another shot.
Could we fire at some other unit?
Only if they move! This is Def First Fire Phase!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Using Mortars
If the mortar now
waits. Back to
Movement Phase:
The 7-4-7 in I8
Assault moves to
J7. Can you
calculate the To
Hit?
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Using Mortars
If the mortar now
waits. Back to
Movement Phase:
The 7-4-7 in I8
Assault moves to
J7. Can you
calculate the To
Hit?
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Mortars and Walls/Hedges
Again, TEM does not count on the To Hit.
Since there is no FFNAM or FFMO (J3 and J4) the
To Hit # is 7.
But again, DR = 2,3 = HIT with ROF.
Walls and hedges have their TEM reduced by 1 for
Indirect Fire (mortars) so the IFT is 2 FP +0 DRM!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Using Mortars
With the hit, the
-1 Acquired
marker shifts to
the new target,
and the 2 FP + 0
DRM. If the DR =
2,3 = 1MC
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Mortar Quiz
The 7-4-7 passes the 1MC. Can we shoot them
again?
No. It only expended 1 MF, so we can’t shoot at
them
Could we fire at some other unit?
Only if they move! This is Def First Fire Phase!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Using Mortars
If the final 7-4-7
now moves into
L8, and the
mortar Def First
Fires and rolls
snake eyes, what
happens?
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Using Mortars
DR = 1,1 is a
critical hit! The
attack strength is
doubled, the TEM
is reversed!
So the attack is
12 FP – 3 DRM !
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Mortar Quiz
What DR would make that a 1KIA?
DR = 5 would become a 1 KIA!
Could this rubble the building?
No, the normal rubble rules say the Gun must be at
least a 70 mm to rubble! But a possible Flame
could occur.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Direct Fire Guns
German
Prep Fire:
2-2-8 crew
fires 75L
at 7-4-7 in
Stone
Bldg.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Example of Direct Fire
Situation:
Target
Type:
Infantry
Distance:
8 hexes
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Direct Fire
First, use chart C3:
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Which number to use?
On C3, at range 7-12, there are two numbers, one
black, one red – which do you use?
The Nationalities chart tells you.
• Germans always use the BLACK ‘To Hit’
numbers.
• Russians use RED ‘To Hit’ numbers.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Direct Fire
Now, use chart C4:
ASL 101: Fire Combat
C4 Modifications
On C4, at range 0 - 12, there are no modifications
unless firing SMOKE.
Above 12, the mods start:
• Long (L), and Extra Long (LL) guns get help
+1 (or +2 for the LL at 25 hexes!)
• Short (*) guns are penalized (-1) after 12 hexes.
• Some ammo have problems at longer range.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Example of Direct Fire
So right
now, we
have a
Modified
To Hit # of
7.
Now
check C5
and C6.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Direct Fire
Chart C5 are Firer-Based DRMs:
This is Prep Fire, and we did not change
covered arc, so none apply.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Example of Direct Fire
Modified
To Hit of
7.
+0 DRM
Now
check C6!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Direct Fire
Chart C6 is about the Target – lots here!
This is Prep Fire, none of the J cases apply.
Only Case Q applies: +3 for the Stone Building.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Example of Direct Fire
So:
C3: Basic
To Hit: 7
C4: +0
=Modified
To Hit: 7
DRMs: +3
ASL 101: Fire Combat
To Hit Notes
Modified To Hit = 7 (C3 modified by C4).
DRMs to the To Hit Dice Roll = +3.
So what do I have to roll to get a hit?
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Example of Direct Fire
It is a
Modified
To Hit # 7:
So to hit is
4 or less!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
To Kill Notes
Your DR is 1,3 = 4 +3 (TEM) = 7. Now what?
1: You got a Final To Hit DR of 7. That’s a HIT!
2: And, since the colored die is 1, we got ROF!!
3: We will place a -1 Acquisition marker
Since it is on Infantry, we move to the
INFANTRY FIRE TABLE to resolve it.
(The IFT, or A7)
ASL 101: Fire Combat
To Kill Notes
ASL 101: Fire Combat
To Kill Notes
Find the
column
with the HE
equivalency
of the Gun
size.
In this case,
75mm = 12
IFT. Roll!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
To Kill Notes
So if you roll a 2,4 => that’s a 2 MC.
(The DR on the IFT is NOT modified by the terrain
– you already did that on C6 to get the hit!)
Let’s say your opponent rolls a 1,1 = + 2 MC = 4.
Drat – he passed! Anything else?
Snakes on an MC = Heat of Battle! (A15.1) He
rolls: 2,3 (-1 Elite) =4. That’s a Hero!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Example of Direct Fire
So is that
it?
Wait – we
got ROF!
We get to
shoot
again!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
This Time – Try Area Fire
What are the differences with Area Fire?
1. Starts at 7 to Hit
2. Does not pay terrain price to hit
3. If you hit, IFT is time ½, and terrain modifies.
4. Area Fire does not get rate of fire.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Example of Area Fire
So:
C3: Basic
To Hit: 7
C4: +0
=Modified
To Hit: 7
DRMs: ?
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Area Fire
Chart C5 are Firer-Based DRMs:
This is Defensive Fire, and we did not change
covered arc, so still none apply.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Area Fire
Chart C6 changes this time!
Terrain does NOT apply to Area Target Type! But
Case N does! -1 Acquired target!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Example of Direct Fire
It is a
Modified
To Hit # 7:
+0 C5
-1 Acq
Final To
Hit = 8 or
less!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Area To Hit Notes
So this time, you will hit with 8 or less:
• But if you hit, you resolve at ½ FP on IFT
• You add the TEM to the IFT DR
• You cannot get ROF
If you roll 4,3 = is it a hit?
If yes, which column do you use to resolve the hit?
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Area IFT Notes
Find the
column
with the HE
equivalency
of the Gun
size.
And cut in
half for
area.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
IFT Notes
Find the
column
with the HE
equivalency
of the Gun
size.
So 12 * ½ =
6 FP
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Area Result Notes
So we got the hit, and now we resolve it on the IFT:
What is the result of a 1,1 on the IFT?
(Since with Area Fire, have to pay Terrain DRM
here, it is 2 +3 = 5.)
5 = 1 MC. If the hero rolls 4,5 – what happens?
What if the squad rolls 3,4?
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Answers
If a hero rolls 4,5 = 9 +1 MC = 10
(Heroes don’t break – they wound. Roll another die:
1-4 lives, but wounded. 5-6 he dies.
If the squad rolls 3,4 = 7 +1 MC = 8, they break.
We have no further fire, so trade the -1 Acq marker
for a larger -2 AREA Acq marker. On to other Prep
Fire!
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Tactics
The right way to use Guns at Infantry in a building:
If there are many DRMs, and a hit is unlikely, they
use Area Target Type to ‘build up’ the acquired
marker.
Once they get a -2 Acq, they switch to Infantry
Target Type, and the -2 Ac balances off the +2 or
+3 building TEM. And the potential for ROF when
it could matter is much more important.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
For Further Information
For further information:
Read Section C2.0 to C7.0 (all) ,
in the rule book for
ADVANCED SQUAD LEADER.
ASL 101: Fire Combat
Coming Next Session
Well, that was a start on direct fire combat. We
have more to learn!
ASL 101 was created by:
• Russell Gifford
Learning the Great Battles
of the American Civil War
(CD Rom learning series,
2005)
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(Workshops, 2011)
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Services (Workshops, 2011)
Infinite Campus Data
Schema(Workshops, 2011)
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(Workshops, 2011)
Additional Information
Advanced Squad Leader, ASL, and all artwork
© MMP, 2011
This Presentation is
© 2011 by Russell Gifford
May be used with permission
Write to rgifford@russgifford.net