Establish an OP
Historical Background
With the Salerno beachhead secure, Fifth Army began its attack northwest towards
Naples on 19 September. After suffering serious casualties near Altavilla Silentina, the
82nd Airborne was shifted to X Corps, joining the Rangers and the British 23rd Armored
Brigade on the Sorrento Peninsula to flank the German defenses at Nocera
Inferiore, Sant'Antonio Abate and Angri, which the 46th (North Midland)
Division attacked. Passing through the 46th Division, the 7th Armored Division was
assigned the task of taking Naples, while the newly landed U.S. 3rd Infantry
Division moved east to capture Acerno on 22 September and Avellino on 28 September.
Establish an OP: A Micro Melee Scenario
Page 1
U.S. Orders
21 September, 1943: As commander of 1st Platoon C-Company, your unit is acting as
point for the 7th Regiment. In preparation for the 3rd Division’s push towards Acerno,
you are ordered to establish an observation post in Montecorvino Rovella and provide
security for spotters of the 10th Field Artillery Battalion. You will have five M3 Halftracks for transport, courtesy of 3rd Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized).
U.S. Forces
o
o
o
o
o
o
1x Platoon HQ: TQR 4
1x FAO: TQR 3
3x Rifle Squad: TQR 1–3
1x M1919 MMG Team: TQR 2
1x M9 Bazooka Team: TQR 2
5x M3 Half-track (operated by squads)
German Orders
21 September, 1943: Intelligence reports indicate the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division
intends to capture Acerno next. As commander of 2nd Platoon, 1st Kompanie, 16th Panzer
Reconnaissance Battalion, you are ordered to reconnoiter the town of Montecorvino
Rovella, which is just west of Acerno. There, you will establish an observation post for
spotters of Artillerie Regiment 16 and provide security. The battalion will supply you
with five SdKfz 251/1 half-tracks for transport.
German Forces
o
o
o
o
o
o
1x Platoon HQ: TQR 4
1x FAO: TQR 3
3x Rifle Squad: TQR 1–3
1x MG42 MMG Team: TQR 2
1x Panzerschreck Team: TQR 2
5x SdKfz 251/1 (operated by squads)
Victory Conditions
The first platoon to capture the church and occupy it with the Field Artillery Observers
for four consecutive action phases wins. There is no turn limit, and play will continue
until either a winner is declared, or it is apparent that neither side will be able to meet
the victory conditions.
Establish an OP: A Micro Melee Scenario
Page 2
Map 1. Establish an OP
GM NOTES: In this meeting engagement between two platoons, the U.S. forces enter
from the west, as they have recently landed in Salerno. The German forces enter on the
east edge of the map from Acerno. The game centers around the observation post in the
bell tower of the old church. There is no turn limit and conditions are clear with firm
ground.
Establish an OP: A Micro Melee Scenario
Page 3
1st Platoon/C-Company/1st Battalion/7 IR
(Platoon HQ: 1x Thompson SMG, 5x M1 Garand)
(FAO: 1x Thompson SMG, 2x M1 Carbine)
(Rifle Squad: 1x Thompson SMG, 9x M1 Garand, 1x BAR, 1x M1903*)
(Medium Machine Gun: 1x M1919A4 w/ tripod, 1x Thompson SMG, 4x M1 Garand)
(Bazooka Team: 1x M9 Bazooka, 1x M1 Garand)
*Rifle grenade adds one fire power factor from point blank through medium range, once per phase.
Movement: 6mm
Slow
Standard
3cm
FPF
Range
Platoon HQ
FAO
Rifle Squad
Rifle Grenade
MMG
6cm
Point Blank
0–15cm
10
7
16
1
15
Tactical
4.5cm
Short
15.1–30cm
5
2
11
1
10
Double Time
10.5cm
Medium
30.1–60cm
5
2
11
1
10
HQ Platoon 1 TQR: 4
Damage Rating: 10
□□□□□□□□□□
Smoke
□□
FAO TQR: 3
Damage Rating: 6
□□□□□□
MMG 1 TQR: 2
Damage Rating: 8
□□□□□□□□
Squad 1/1 TQR: 3
Damage Rating: 15
□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Bazooka 1 TQR: 2
Damage Rating: 4
□□□□
Dash
18cm
Long
60.1–120cm
5
NA
11
NA
10
Extreme
120.1–240cm
5
NA
11
NA
10
Squad 2/1 TQR: 1
Damage Rating: 13
□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Squad 3/1 TQR: 2
Damage Rating: 14
□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Establish an OP: A Micro Melee Scenario
Page 4
HALF-TRACK PERSONNEL CARRIER M3
First accepted in May 1941; 12,391 produced
Speed: 45 mph
Weight: 10 tons
Ammo: 4,000
Traverse: hand
Bow: None
AA: M1919A4 (M25
pedestal mount)
ER: 25/5
Main Gun: None
Coaxial: None
Hit Locations/Armor Resistance
Turret
Turret
Turret
Upper
Face
Flank
Rear
Hull
1
1
1
Penetration Data
Projectile
Point Blank
M2 HB (AP)
2
Lower
Hull
1
Hull
Flank
1
1
Crew: 13 men
Elevation: n.a.
Site: n.a.
Hull
Rear
1
Top/
Bottom
Open/1
Short
Medium
Long
Extreme
2
2
1
-
Movement
Terrain
Yards
6mm
10mm
12mm
15mm
Road
Cross-Country
Reverse
220
165
55
66cm
49.5cm
16.5cm
110cm
82.5cm
27.5cm
132cm
99cm
33cm
165cm
123.8cm
41.3cm
Establish an OP: A Micro Melee Scenario
Page 5
2nd Platoon/1st Kompanie/16. Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion
(Platoon HQ: 2x MP40 SMG, 4x Kar 98K)
(FAO: 1x MP40 SMG, 2x Kar 98K)
(Rifle Squad: 1x MP40 SMG, 8x Kar 98K, 1x MG42
(Medium Machine Gun: 1x MG42 w/ tripod, 1x MP40 SMG, 4x Kar 98K)
(Panzerschreck Team: 1x Raketenpanzerbüsche, 1x Kar 98K)
Movement: 6mm
Slow
Standard
3cm
FPF
Range
Platoon HQ
FAO
Rifle Squad
MMG
Panzerschreck
6cm
Point Blank
0–15cm
8
5
12
18
3/2
Tactical
4.5cm
Short
15.1–30cm
2
1
8
14
1/0
Double Time
10.5cm
Medium
30.1–60cm
2
1
8
14
1/0
HQ Platoon 1 TQR: 4
Damage Rating: 10
□□□□□□□□□□
Smoke
□□
FAO TQR: 3
Damage Rating: 6
□□□□□□
MMG 1 TQR: 2
Damage Rating: 8
□□□□□□□□
Squad 1/1 TQR: 3
Damage Rating: 13
□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Panzerschreck 1 TQR: 2
Damage Rating: 4
□□□□
Dash
18cm
Long
60.1–120cm
2
1
8
14
1/0
Extreme
120.1–240cm
2
1
8
14
1/0
Squad 2/1 TQR: 1
Damage Rating: 11
□□□□□□□□□□□
Squad 3/1 TQR: 2
Damage Rating: 12
□□□□□□□□□□□□
Establish an OP: A Micro Melee Scenario
Page 6
MITTLERER SCHÜTZENPANZERWAGEN Sd Kfz 251 Variants
ER: 15/20
Main Gun: 2x MG34/42
Coaxial: None
10,602 produced throughout the war
Speed: 33 mph
Weight: 8 tons
Ammo: 2,010
Traverse: n.a.
Bow: None
AA: None
Hit Locations/Armor Resistance
Turret
Turret
Turret
Face
Flank
Rear
1
1
Penetration Data
Projectile
7.92mm
Movement
Terrain
Road
Cross-Country
Reverse
1
Point Blank
NA
Yards
161
120.8
40.3
Upper
Hull
Lower
Hull
1
Crew: 2
Elevation: n.a.
Site: n.a.
Hull
Flank
1
1
Hull
Rear
1
Short
Medium
Long
6mm
10mm
12mm
NA
48.3cm
36.2cm
12.1cm
NA
80.5cm
60.4cm
20.2cm
NA
96.6cm
72.5cm
24.2cm
Establish an OP: A Micro Melee Scenario
Top/
Bottom
Open/1
Extreme
NA
15mm
120.8cm
90.6cm
30.2cm
Page 7