poles italy

7/28/2019 Poles Italy

1/26

History by Charles Stubbs, Intelligence Brieng byHeath Alexander, Todd Schnieder and Wayne Turner

Updatedon

8 nov2012


2/26

Taranto

Bari

Naples

Salerno

San Pietro

Cassino

Rome

Ortona

Orsogna

Pescara

GustavLi

ne

Hitle

rLin

e

II polIsh Corps FormatIonGeneral Wladislaw Sikorski, the head o the Polish governmentin exile in London negotiated with the Soviet government toree the Poles detained in the USSR to orm a new army.

Ater the agreement was signed in 1941 two new Polishinantry divisions were ormed. Major General Wladislaw

Anders, a ormer prisoner, was appointed to command thenew army. In December 1941 it was decided to expand thePolish army to six divisions, o which 25,000 were transerredto the west. A move to Iran started in March 1942, with aurther contingent in August.

Now in the Middle East, the Poles went through a phase oreorganisation and training leading to a new title o Polish

Army in the East. Te Independent Carpathian Rie Brigade,which had served with distinction at obruk and the WesternDesert, became the 3rd Carpathian Rie Division. Other newormations were the 5th Kresowa Inantry Division, the2nd Armoured Brigade and the 2nd Artillery Group. In June1943 the orce was re-designated the II Polish Corps. At theQuebec conerence in August 1943, Churchill decided tosend the II Polish Corps to Italy.

In July and August o 1943, the II Polish Corps moved toPalestine or nal training. Tis consisted o manoeuvres in

the mountainous regions to acclimatize the troops to theterrain they would encounter in Italy.

Due to manpower shortages, both divisions were comprised

For this action let the lion spirit enter your hearts, keep deep in your heart God, honour and our land Poland! Go and take revengeor all the suering in our land, or what you have suered or many years in Russia and or years o separation rom your amilies!~ General Anders, addressing the troops beore Monte Cassino.

o only two inantry brigades. Te 3rd Division had the 1stand 2nd Carpathian Rie Brigades, and the 5th Division hadthe 5th Wilenska and the 6th Lwowska Inantry Brigades.

Te rest o the divisional order o battle ollowed along Britishlines, i.e. three eld artillery regiments, one anti-tank and oneanti-aircrat artillery regiment, one reconnaissance regiment,and all the other support and service units o an inantrydivision. Te Corpss 2nd Armoured Brigade consisted o threearmoured regiments and supporting units.

Replacing battle causalities became a severe problem or thePolish high command. Te Polish inantry suered heavy

causalities, especially at Cassino. Tis caused commanders toscrape the bottom o the barrel or replacements, due to thePolish Governments policy o deploying the corps together.o solve this problem, reinorcements were enlisted romPoles who had been orced into the service o the Germanarmy and been recaptured by the Allies. Tis allowed units tomaintain a level o strength to continue combat operations.

Apart rom replacing losses, this rather unconventionalmethod also reinorced the II Corps. An additional thirdbrigade was ormed or both inantry divisions, which was inline with the British order o battle. Te 2nd Armoured Brigade

was reinorced to become an armoured division in 1945. A

new armoured brigade, the 14th

Wielkopolska, and othernew regiments were also ormed. o support the operationso the II Polish Corps was the 2nd Base Corps. Tis unit

Polish Forces, italy 1944


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San Angelo

706

575

601

AlbanetaFarm

593

450569

374

505452

447 Montecassino

375

489

213

193

Cassino

Road

Railway

Piedimonte

Villa San Lucia

Cairo

Barracks

Maiola

Castellone

705

Monte Cairo

Passo Corno

Highway6

Rapido

Riv

er

the FoUrth BattleoF CassIno

consisted o the 7th Inantry Division as a training reserve, anarmy training centre, our general hospitals and varioussupport and service units.

the poles arrIveIn ItalyElements o the 3rd Carpathian Rie Division began landingat aranto on 21 December 1943. Te transer o all Polish

units rom Egypt and the Middle East continued until themiddle o April 1944. Tese troops landed at the Italianports o aranto, Bari and Naples, which had been capturedby the Allies. Te II Polish Corps was ollowed by 2nd BaseCorps. Te rst Polish unit to see action in Italy was theIndependent Commando Company. On 29 December1943, it took part in a diversionary raid with No 9 Commandoon the Garigliano river estuary deences.

Under the command o the Eighth Army, Lieutenant GeneralWladislaw Anders led his ellow exiles o the II Polish Corpswith dash and determination. Ater the death o GeneralSikorski, Anders became the main inuence o Polish hopes.

o his countrymen he was an inspiration, and to his allies hewas a military leader whose ability commanded the greatestrespect.

GUstavlIneTe Allied armies hoped to be in Rome by December o1943, and Churchill had assured Alexander You will be inRome by the end o the year. A combination o weather,difcult going and skilul German deence had slowed the

Allies advance to a crawl. Since 21 November 1943 FieldMarshal Kesselring was appointed C-in-C Army Group C, abrilliant commander whose skill, imagination and exibilityin deence caused the Allies great

difculty. By December 1943, thedeences o the Gustav Line had halted

Alexanders drive on Rome.

Te Gustav Line was the German maindeence line in Italy, with Monte Cassinoas its central point. It crossed the Italianpeninsula at its narrowest and mostmountainous region, where themountains extended rom the yrrhenianSea in the west to the Adriatic Sea in theeast.

Te rst oensive against the GustavLine started on 4 January 1944 with USand French orces unable to breakthrough by the beginning o February.Te Indians and New Zealandersreplaced the Americans or a newoensive on 15 February rom Cassinoto take Monte Cassino. Bad weatherhalted the attempt. Te Germansreplaced their 15. Panzergrenadier-divisionwith the1. Fallschirmjgerdivisionduring this period in the Cassino sector.For three months the Allies had beenheld at Monte Cassino, with every attackrepulsed by the German paratroopers.Tus it was decided to outank the

monastery and not rontally assault it. Te third oensivestarted on 15 March, which was preceded by an aerialbombardment aimed at total destruction o the monasteryand the town o Cassino. Tis attack too had ailed by 22March.

the FoUrth BattleoF CassIno

Te II Polish Corps was assigned to launch the ourth assaulton the monastery, rom the northern ank. Te oensivestarted on the night o 11/12 May with the 5th KresowaInantry Divisions, 5th Wilenska Rie Brigade assaultingSaint Angelo hill, Points 706, 601 and 575. Tis attack ailed

with heavy loses due mainly to German artillery. GeneralAnders withdrew the division to its start line on the night o12 May. Te 3rd Carpathian Rie Divisions, 1st CarpathianRie Brigade was to assault Point 593 (Mt Calvary) and

Albaneta Farm. Tis attack succeeded at the start by takingPoint 593 by surprise. However on 12 May the Germanparatroopers repeatedly assaulted the Polish deenders no lessthan our times. Ater desperate deence, the Poles were orced

to withdraw. General Anders now had both divisions back atthe start line. Both divisions attacked again our times on 13and 14 May. Another attack on 16 May by 6th LwowskaRie Brigade on the right and 2nd Carpathian Rie Brigade onthe let succeeded in capturing Point 593, Albaneta Farm andother German strongpoints near the monastery. On 18 Maythe 12th Podolski Lancers reached the monastery and hoistedthe Polish ag. Te Poles continued ghting until 25 May,

when the positions o Saint Angelo hill, Point 575, PassoCorno and Mount Cairo were captured. Eight hundred Polishsoldiers had been killed in the battle.

IICorpsIn

Italy

polIsh


4/26

onthe adrIatIC CoastAter the battles o Monte Cassino, the II Polish Corps wasdeployed on the Adriatic coast. On 15 June the 3rd CarpathianRie Division replaced the 4th Indian Division and this sectornow came under command o the II Polish Corps. TeII Polish Corps headquarters was located at San Vito nearOrtona. Additional British units also arrived to bolster the

strength o the II Polish Corps. Te 17th

and 26th

HeavyArtillery Regiments Royal Artillery, the 7th Queens OwnHussars and other units were placed under command o theII Polish Corps. Te 5th Kresowa Inantry Division arrivedbetween 18 and 21 June, ollowed by the II Polish Corpsartillery and the 2nd Armoured Brigade.

Te Poles moved ast up the Adriatic coast and by 20 Junewere at the Aso River. As they advanced, stier Germanresistance was encountered around the Chienti River. Tisheld up the Poles oensive temporarily, but by 6 July theyhad captured Osimo, which was only 10 miles south o theport at Ancona. Ater a erce battle the town was captured on

18 July. On 19 July the Poles crossed the Osimo River, andencountered strong German opposition near Ostra. TeGermans had brought part o the 71. Inanteriedivision andthe 1. Fallschirmjgerdivision into this sector. It was anotherten days beore they reached the next river, the Misa. Anotherbattle developed or the town o Senigallia. On 11 August,the Cesano River was crossed and by 22 August the II PolishCorps was across the Metauro River. Tis brought them tothe edge o the Gothic Line.

the GothIC lIneTe Allies now reorganised their orces beore the impendingassault on the Gothic Line. Te II Polish Corps was on theextreme right ank o the Adriatic coast, with the 1st CanadianCorps on its let. Operation Olive, the break-through in the

Adriatic sector began on the night 25/26 August. Te II PolishCorps opened the oensive, capturing the high ground north

o the resort o Pesaro. Teir task complete, the II PolishCorps now withdrew to become a reserve orce. Ater a shortperiod o rest the II Polish Corps returned to the battleeldand occupied Predappio, which was the birthplace oMussolini, and Castrocaro on 27 October. Te Poles bypassedFaenza, crossed the Lamone River and captured the town oBrisighella on their way to the Senio River. All operationsceased by the end o December 1944.

reorGanIsatIonDuring the period rom October 1944 to January 1945, theII Polish Corps was reinorced and reorganised. Te 3rdCarpathian Rie Division and the 5th Kresowa InantryDivision had the 3rd Carpathian Rie Brigade and the4th Wolynska Rie Brigade added respectively. Te2nd Armoured Brigade was reinorced into an armoureddivision with the addition o the Carpathian Lancer Regiment,2nd Motorised Commando Battalion, 16th PomorskaInantry Brigade, 4th Armoured Regiment Skorpion,1st Krechowieckich Lancer Regiment and the 6th ArmouredRegiment Dzieci Lwowskich.

Poles raise their fag above the ruins o the Monte Cassino Monastery.


5/26

Te Polish orces in Italy were trained and organised alongBritish lines and use the ollowing British Special Rules: CarryOn, Sergeant; Night Attack; Semi-indirect Fire; Eight-gun orwelve-gun Batteries; Independent Command; CombinedBombardment; Mike arget; and HMG Bombardments.

FateoFthe natIonTe Poles ght to re-establish their nation, and by ghting

well alongside the Allies they hope gain support or theircause. Tey display remarkable bravery in combat, otenpushing on to take objectives when any other men would oturned back.

A Polish platoon joined by a 2iC Command team may re-rollailed Platoon Morale Checks.

In January 1945 the Italian ront was at a standstill. TeEighth Army, ater a series o hard ought river crossings stoodon the banks o the Senio River. Te country was soddenrom winter rains and armoured operations were impossible.

a staBInthe BaCkIn early March 1945 General McCreery, commander Eighth

Army, met with General Anders. During this discussion othe battle plan, Anders learned o the terms o the YaltaAgreement. It meant Poland would be handed over to aCommunist regime to be a satellite state o the Soviet Union.General Anders said, How can I ask my soldiers to go onghting. I must withdraw them rom the line. o whichMcCreery said, Tere were no troops to replace them and a10 mile gap would be opened up. Anders remained silent ora minute and said You can count on the II Polish Corps orthis coming battle. We must deeat Hitler rst.

the FInal oFFensIveTe nal oensive to break the stalemate on the Italian ront

was scheduled or the night o 9 April 1945. Te II PolishCorps, spearheaded by the 3rd Carpathian Rie Divisionattacked over the Senio River, north o the Via Emilia(Highway 9) towards Bologna. By 14 April the town o Imola

was captured. At this point the Poles were conronted by their

old enemy, the German 1. Fallschirmjgerdivision. Te Polishattack was so successul that the 1. Fallschirmjgerdivision wascompletely disintegrated. Te divisional ag was eventuallypresented to General Anders as a trophy. Bologna ell to the3rd Carpathian Rie Division on the morning o 21 April.Victory was declared in Italy on 2 May 1945.

Polish sPecialrules

Poles advance around the hills o Monte Cassino.

speCIalrUles

polIsh


6/26

AOP23

Air Observation Post

KoMPaNia Piechoty

ArmOur

20Divisional Anti-tank Platoon

(InFantryCompany)

COm

bAtPlAtOOns

Kompania Piechoty HQ

HeAdquArters

7

WeAP

OnsPlAtOOns

You must eld one platoon from each box shaded black and may eld one platoon from each boxshaded grey.

HeAdquArters

divisiOnAlsuPPOrtPlAtOOns

7

Piechoty Platoon

infAntry

AirCrAft23

Air Support

19Armoured Platoon

ArmOur

19British Armoured Platoon

Piechoty Platoon

infAntry

7

21Field Artillery Battery

Artillery

Piechoty Platoon

infAntry

7

Piechoty Pioneer Platoon

infAntry

8

Piechoty Mortar Platoon

Artillery

8

Piechoty Platoon

infAntry

7

Piechoty Anti-tankPlatoon

Anti-tAnk

9

20

Self-propelled Anti-tank Platoon

infAntry COmPAny

mACHine-guns

10

Piechoty Carrier Platoon

reCOnnAissAnCe

9

Piechoty Machine-gunPlatoon

mACHine-guns

10

Piechoty Machine-gunPlatoon

10Piechoty Heavy MortarPlatoon

21Artillery

22Medium Artillery Battery

Field Artillery Battery

23Light Anti-aircraft Platoon

Anti-AirCrAft

regimentAls

uPPOrtPlAtOOns


7/26

Kompania Piechoty HQ

Kapitan

Kapitan

Company HQ

Company CommandRifle team

2iC CommandRifle team

Troop Carrier

Piechoty Platoon

Porucznik

Porucznik

HQ Section

Light MortarteamPIAT teamCommandRifle/MG team

Rifle Squad

Kapral Kapral

Rifle Squad

Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team

Rifle Squad

Kapral

Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team

HeAdquArters

pIeChotyplatoon

COmbAt PlAtOOns

kompanIa pIeChotyhQ

headQUarters

Company HQ 30 points

optIonAdd Jeep or Troop Carrier or +5 points.

platoonHQ Section with:

3 Rife Squads 140 points

2 Rife Squads 100 points

optIons

Add Light Mortar team or +15 points.

Add PIAT team or +15 points.

pIeChotyCom

pany

Te core unit o the II Corps, the Polish Inantry company, ismodelled on the British system. A Kompania Piechoty is

tough on oence, tougher on deence, and capable oachieving the difcult with the right leadership.

Tere are a ew veterans o previous wars sprinkled throughthe Piechoty platoons, and with their lessons, British arms,and Polish bravery, the soldiers o the platoons will soon beon their way back to Poland, the Germans eeing beorethem.

polIsh

reluCtAnt

COnfident

feArless

COnsCriPt

trAined

veterAn

motIvatIonand skIllNo soldier is more motivated to ght the Germans than the Pole. While adequately equippedand armed by their British Allies, the soldiers o II Corps had seen little combat until beingtranserred to Italy in 1944. What they lack in training, they make up or in bravery. AKompania Piechoty is rated asFearless Trained.


8/26

PORUCZNIK


PORUCZNIK

Sierzant

Sierzant

Sierzant

Porucznik

Porucznik

Sierzant Sierzant

Piechoty Pioneer Platoon

15cwt truck

pIeChotymortarplatoon

WeAPOns PlAtOOns

platoon

HQ Section with:3 Mortar Sections 150 points

2 Mortar Sections 105 points

1 Mortar Section 50 points

optIons

Add PIAT teams or +15 points per team.

Add Troop and Mortar Carriers or +5 points or theplatoon.

Te new ML 3 Mark II mortar is a big improvement overthe old Mark I. Its increased range allows it to match the

German weapons and cover a greater area. Added to the newmortar carriers, the mortar platoons are set to give the inantryimmediate support, wherever and whenever needed.

pIeChotypIoneerplatoon


2 Assault Squads 80 points

1 Assault Squad 60 points

optIonsAdd 15 cwt truck and Jeeps with trailers to theplatoon or +5 points.

Replace 15 cwt truck with an M5 hal-track at nocost.

Each inantry regiment had a small compliment o tradesmenpioneers or minor engineering tasks like clearing mines andrepairing bridges.

You may replace up to one Pioneer Rife team with a Flame-

thrower team at the start o the game beore deployment.


9/26

Porucznik

Porucznik

Sierzant Sierzant

Sierzant

Piechoty Anti-tank Platoon

Piechoty Carrier Platoon

Porucznik

Porucznik

Carrier Patrol

Command

Universal Carrier

Universal

Carrier

Universal

Carrier

Sierzant

Carrier Patrol

Command

Universal Carrier

Universal

Carrier

Universal

Carrier

Sierzant

Carrier Patrol

Command

Universal Carrier

Universal

Carrier

Universal

Carrier

Sierzant

Carrier Patrol

Command

Universal Carrier

Universal

Carrier

Universal

Carrier

pIeChotyantI-tankplatoon


3 Anti-tank Sections 165 points


1 Anti-tank Section 55 points

optIonAdd Troop and Lloyd Carriers to the platoon or+5 points.

Te British 6 pounder is and improvement over what Polandhad in 1939, and while not eective against newer Germantanks, it is still a dangerous weapon in the right hands.

Te anti-tank gunners have the new tracked Loyd Carrier totow the gun into battle, giving it a good pace cross-country.

pIeChotyCarrIerplatoon

platoon

4 Carrier Patrols 300 points



1 Carrier Patrol 75 points

optIons

Arm any or all Universal Carriers with an extra hull-mounted MG or +5 points per carrier or 0.5 MGor +10 points per carrier.

Replace up to one extra hull-mounted MG with aBoys anti-tank rife or PIAT anti-tank projector per

Carrier Patrol at no cost.

Although the terrain oten wasnt suited or mobile warare,Poles made excellent use o Carrier Patrols.

pIeChotyCompany

polIsh

Carrier Patrols operate as separate platoons, each with theirown command team.

Carrier Patrols are Reconnaissance Platoons.


10/26

0

Polish Machine-gun team.

Porucznik

Porucznik

Sierzant Sierzant

Piechoty Machine-gun Platoon

Porucznik

Porucznik

Piechoty Heavy Mortar Platoon

suPPOrt PlAtOOns

pIeChotymaChIne-GUn platoon


2 MG Sections 130 points

1 MG Section 70 points

optIons

Add PIAT team or +15 point.

Add Troop Carrier and MMG Carriers or +15 pointsper MG Section.

Polish HMG teams are just as capable as their Britishcounterparts, and like them can use their weapons in eitherdirect or indirect re mode.

pIeChotyheavymortarplatoon


2 Mortar Sections 135 points

1 Mortar Section 70 points

optIons


Add Troop and Lloyd Carriers or +5 points or theplatoon.

Although ew in numbers, the Heavy Mortar platoons arequickly gaining a reputation or quick, accurate re support.In the moutains o Italy, where longer ranged indirect re ishard or the artillery somedays, the Heavy Mortars areessential support or the Kompania.


11/26

Wojtek was discovered as a young cub in Iran by a local boywho sold him to the nearby Polish garrison. Te menembraced him as their unofcial mascot and ed him ruits,

marmalade, honey and syrup. He also enjoyed beer andcigarettes much to the delight o his comrades. Wojtekshobbies included wrestling and he was trained to salute whengreeted.Wojtek was ofcially drated into the 22nd ArtillerySupply Company and travelled with the II Polish Corps toItaly.

During the battle o Cassino the Polish corps was deployed inthe mountains above the town where they aced o with the1. Fallschirmjgerdivision on Hill 592 and the MonasteryHill. Wojtek helped carry ammunition orward over themountainous terrain, reportedly never dropping a singlecrate.

In the bloody ghting o Cassino, Wojtek was also a source oinspiration or the men during the long and costly ghting.Soldiers would come to visit Wojtek, oering him cigarettesand beer, reportedly his avourite beverage.

Following the war, Wojtek retired to England along with therest o Polish troops in exhile rom the post war Soviet-dominated Poland. In 1947 Wojtek was given to theEdinburgh Zoo where he lived out the rest o his days. He

was visited by ormer soldiers who would oten sneak the bearsome cigarettes as a tribute to their camaraderie.

SupplyCarrierWojtek and the rest o the 22nd Artillery Supply Companykeep their comrades well supplied with ammunition andsupplies.

ammuntion Bear-erDuring the battle o Monte Cassino, Wojtek transportedhundreds o crates o ammunition to the artillery men. He

was very reliable and never dropped a single crate.

lovaBlemaSCotWojtek became a legend among the Polish troops at Cassino,becoming a universal mascot throughout the PolishII Corps.

Wojtek the Soldier Bear in FlameS oF WarWojtek the Soldier Bear is a Warrior ransport team rated Fearless Trained. Wojtek moves as a Inantry team. Wojtek may joina Polish Kompania Piechorty or +70 points. Wojtek the Soldier Bear is not part o any platoon.

During your turn a Field Artillery Battery can use Wojtekthe Soldier Bear to allow it to deliver a burst o re in aShooting Step. Wojtek must be In Command with the battery.

Wojtek is removed rom the table and placed in Reserve beoreany dice are rolled.

A battery delivering a burst o re can either:

Count as having twice as many weapons when ring an

Artillery bombardment in this Shooting Step, or

Roll one extra die to hit or each team that is In

Command when shooting in this Step.

While Wojtek is o o the table roll a die at the beginning oyour turn when you would normally roll or reserves.

On a result o 5+, Wojtek arrives rom Reserve.On any other result, Wojtek his team are still gathering

more ammuntion and do not arrive this turn.

While Wojtek is on the table he may attempt to inspire themen around him. Wojtek is removed rom the table and

placed in Reserve beore any dice are rolled to re-roll one

ailed Platoon Morale Check o one Polish platoon that iswithin Command Distance o Wojtek.

WojteKthe soldier BearWarrIor:W

ojtekthesoldIerBear

polIsh


12/26

Te 12. Puk uanw podolskich (12th Podolski LancerRegiment) worked with the 3rd Carpathan Inantry Division

while 15. Puk uanw poznaskich (15th Poznan LancerRegiment) ought with the 5th Kresowa Inantry Division.

AOP23


szWadroN rozPozNaWczy

ArmOur


(meChanIsed Company)

COmbA

tPlAtOOns

SzwadronRozpoznawczy HQ

HeAdquArters

13

WeAPOn

sPlAtOOns


HeAdquArters

divisiOnAlsuPPOr

tPlAtOOns

7

Piechoty Platoon

infAntry

AirCrAft23

Air Support

19Armoured Platoon

ArmOur


Rozpoznawczy Platoon

reCOnnAissAnCe

13


Artillery


reCOnnAissAnCe

13


Artillery

8


reCOnnAissAnCe

13

Piechoty Anti-tankPlatoon

Anti-tAnk

9

20Self-propelled Anti-tank Platoon

reCOnnAissAnCe squAdrOn

23

Light Anti-aircraft Platoon

Anti-AirCrAft

Rozpoznawczy AssaultPlatoon

infAntry

14

7

Piechoty Platoon

infAntry

10Piechoty Machine-gun Platoon

mACHine-guns

10Piechoty Heavy Mortar Platoon


13/26

Szwadron Rozpoznawczy HQ

Kapitan

Kapitan

Company HQ

Company CommandOtter LRC


Porucznik

Sierzant

Scout Patrol

CommandUniversal Carrier

UniversalCarrier

UniversalCarrier

Sierzant

Scout Patrol

CommandUniversal Carrier

UniversalCarrier

UniversalCarrier

Porucznik

Recce Patrol

Porucznik

HQ Armoured Car

Kapral

Recce SectionRecce Section

Otter LRC

Sierzant

Staghound I Otter LRCStaghound I

Command Staghound I

HeAdquArters

rozpoznaWCzyplatoon

COmbAt PlAtOOns

szWadron rozpoznaWCzyhQ

headQUarters


optIonReplace Otter LRC armoured car with Fox (HumberIII) armoured car at no cost.

platoon

HQ Armoured Car with:2 Recce Sections 165 points

1 Recce Section 100 points

optIonsAdd Scout Patrols or +75 points per patrol.

Replace Otter LRC armoured cars with Fox (HumberIII) armoured cars at no cost.

Arm any or all Universal Carriers with an extra hull-mounted MG or +5 points per carrier or 0.5 MGor +10 points per carrier.

Replace up to one extra hull-mounted MG with aBoys anti-tank rife or PIAT anti-tank projector atno cost.

szWadronrozpoznaWCzy

Te inantry divisions recce regiment leads the way, scoutingahead and locating the enemys weaknesses and strengths,probing or the sot spots. Tis intelligence is gathered andreported back in preparation or an attack on the enemy.

polIsh

motIvatIonand skIllPoland has one o the best and most noble cavalry traditions in all o Europe, rom theWinged Hussars o King Jan to the Uhlans o Napoleon. While the Armoured Car has onlyrecently supplanted the horse, the esprit and valour o the Polish Cavalry is not in doubt. ASzwadron Rozpoznawczy is rated asFearless Trained.

Recce and Scout Patrols operate as separate platoons, eachwith their own command team.

Recce and Scout Patrols are Reconnaissance Platoons.

Te Company Command team o a SzwadronRozpoznawczy is a Recce team.

reluCtAnt

COnfident

feArless

COnsCriPt

trAined

veterAn

Each Polish inantry division had a Reconnaissance Regimentas part o its divisional troops. Te Poles used Staghoundarmoured cars instead o Humber armoured cars, and used

ex-Canadian armoured cars rather than Humber lightreconnaissance cars.


14/26

Rozpozawczy Assault Platoon

PORUCZNIK

Porucznik

HQ Section

Command Pioneer

MG teamPIAT team 15 cwt truck

Sierzant

Assault Squad

Sierzant

Assault Squad

Pioneer MG team15 cwt truck Pioneer MG team15 cwt truck

Sierzant

Assault Squad

Sierzant

Assault Squad

Pioneer MG team15 cwt truck Pioneer MG team15 cwt truck

rozpoznaWCzyassaUlt platoon





optIonsAdd PIAT team or +15 points.

Replace all 15 cwt trucks with White Scout Cars orM5 hal-tracks or +5 points or the platoon.

Assault Platoons are well equipped to deal with the enemysharder deences that the armoured cars cant deal with. Teir

job is to clear roadblocks or the armoured cars so the reccemission can continue with all haste!


15/26

Corps HeadquartersCarpathian Lancer Regiment (Armoured Cars)7th Armoured Regiment7th Anti-tank Regiment7th Light Anti-aircrat Artillery Regiment8th Medium Anti-aircrat Artillery Regiment1st Artillery Survey Regiment663 AOP2nd Artillery Group Headquarters

9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th Medium ArtilleryRegiments

II Corp Engineer Group Headquarters10th, 20th Engineer Battalion11th Railway Engineer Battalion

11th Signal BattalionII Corp Military Police Group

Various service units including ransport, Medical,Ordinance, Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, Geographic,

Legal, Pay etc.2ndArmoured Brigade

4th Armoured Regiment Skorpion1st Krechowieckich Lancer Regiment6th Armoured Regiment Dzieci Lwowskich

3rdCarpathian Rie DivisionHeadquarters

1st Carpathian Rie Brigade1st, 2nd, 3rd Inantry Battalion

2nd Carpathian Rie Brigade4th, 5th, 6th Inantry Battalion

3rd Carpathian Rie Brigade

7th, 8th Inantry Battalion,9th Bolonski Inantry Battalion

3rd Machine Gun Battalion12th Podolski Lancer Regiment (Recce)1st, 2nd, 3rd Light Artillery Regiment3rd Anti-aircrat Artillery Regiment3rd Light Anti-aircrat Artillery Regiment3rd Carpathian Rie Division Engineer Battalion3rd Carpathian Rie Division Signal Battalion

5th Kresowa Inantry DivisionHeadquarters

4th Wolynska Rie Brigade10th, 11th, 12th Inantry Battalion

5th Wilenska Rie Brigade13th Rysiow, 14th Zbikow,5th Wilkow Inantry Battalion

6th Lwowska Rie Brigade16th, 17th, 18th Inantry Battalion

5th Machine Gun Battalion15th Poznanski Lancer Regiment (Recce)4th, 5th, 6th Light Artillery Regiment5th Anti-aircrat Artillery Regiment5th Light Anti-aircrat Artillery Regiment5th Kresowa Rie Division Engineer Battalion5th Kresowa Rie Division Signal Battalion

2ndBase Corps7th Inantry Division

Headquarters17th Inantry Brigade21st, 22nd, 23rd Inantry Battalion

17th Machine Gun Company17th Artillery Regiment17th Engineer Company17th Signal Company

Army Training CentreChie Instructor Ofce (Arms)

Special CoursesInantry School

Artillery School

Signal SchoolWireless SchoolChie Instructor Ofce (Services)

ASC SchoolOrdnance SchoolEME School

Administration SchoolArmoured Corps raining SchoolSchool o EngineeringPolish Wing CMC

II polIsh Corps orderoF Battle 1944

In late 1944early 1945 the Polish II Corps was massively reorganised with and inux o Polish ormer POWs as reinorcements.An armoured brigade and a armoured division were ormed, but never saw combat.


16/26

AOP23


szWadroN saMochodW oPaNcerzoNych

ArmOur


(meChanIsed Company)

COmbA

tPlAtOOns

Szwadron SamochodwOpancerzonych HQ

HeAdquArters

17

WeAPOn

sPlAtOOns


HeAdquArter

s

divisiOnAlsuPPOr

tPlAtOOns

7

Piechoty Platoon

infAntry

AirCrAft23

Air Support

19Armoured Platoon

ArmOur


Samochd PancernyPlatoon

reCOnnAissAnCe

1

7

10Piechoty Heavy Mortar Platoon

Artillery


reCOnnAissAnCe

17


reCOnnAissAnCe

17

20Self-propelled Anti-tank Platoon

ArmOured CAr squAdrOn

23Light Anti-aircraft Platoon

Anti-AirCrAft

Samochd PancernySupport Platoon

infAntry

18

7

Piechoty Platoon

infAntry


reCOnnAissAnCe

17


reCOnnAissAnCe

17

Assault Gun Platoon

ArmOured

18



17/26

Szwadron Samochodw Opancerzonych HQ

Kapitan

Kapitan

Company HQ

Kapral

Anti-aircraftsection

Staghound A/A

Staghound A/A

Company CommandStaghound I

Staghound I

2iC CommandStaghound I

Staghound I

Samochd Pancerny Platoon

Porucznik

Porucznik

HQ Armoured Car

Command Staghound II

Kapral

Armoured Car

Staghound I

Sierzant

Armoured Car

Staghound I

HeAdquArters

samoChd panCernyplatoon

COmbAt PlAtOOns

szWadron samoChodWopanCerzonyCh hQ

headQUarters


optIonsAdd up to two Staghound I armoured cars or +40points per armoured car.

Add an Anti-aircrat Section or +75 points.

platoon

2 Staghound I and 1 Staghound II 115 points

szWadronsamoChodW

opanCerzonyCh

polIsh

motIvatIonand skIllPoland has one o the best and most noble cavalry traditions in all o Europe, rom theWinged Hussars o King Jan to the Uhlans o Napoleon. While the Armoured Car has onlyrecently supplanted the horse, the esprit and valour o the Polish Cavalry is not in doubt. ASzwadron Samochodw Opancerzonych is rated asFearless Trained.

Samochd Pancerny Platoons are Reconnaissance Platoons.

Te teams o a Szwadron Samochodw OpancerzonychHQ are Recce teams.

reluCtAnt

COnfident

feArless

COnsCriPt

trAined

veterAn

Te Puk uanw karpackich (Carpathian Lancer Regiment)was the Polish II Corps armoured car regiment until it movedto the newly orming 2nd Armoured Division to become anarmoured regiment.

Teir role as the II Corps reconnaissance unit was taken overby the 12. Puk uanw podolskich (12th Podolsli LancerRegiment) who retted rom a Reconnaissance Regiment to

become an Armoured Car Regiment.


18/26

Samochd Pancerny Support Platoon

Porucznik

Porucznik

HQ Section

Kapral

Support Squad

Pioneer MG team

White Scout Car

Kapral

Support Squad

Pioneer MG team White Scout Car

Kapral

Support Squad

Pioneer MG team

White Scout Car

Light Mortarteam

PIAT teamCommandPioneer MG team

White Scout Car

Assault Gun Platoon

Porucznik

Porucznik

HQ Section

Command Rifleteam

Kapral

Gun Section

Kapral

Gun Section

Jeep

Self-propelled gun Self-propelled gun

samoChd panCernysUpport platoon


3 Support Squads 120 points

2 Support Squads 90 points

optIonsAdd Light Mortar team or +15 points.


Replace all White Scout Cars with M5 hal-tracks atno cost.

Each squadron had supporting inantry equipped or lightcombat engineering work.

assaUlt GUn platoon

WeAPOns PlAtOOns


2 Autocar 75mm SP 75 points

optIonReplace Jeep with a Daimler Dingo scout car or+5 points.

Sometimes the armoured cars will need the back-up o someheavy repower rom the sel-propelled guns o the squadronsassault gun platoon. Tese American built hal-tracks aretted with 75mm guns to give the squadron some hittingpower against both enemy armour and dug-in inantry andguns.


19/26

divisioNalsuPPort

Armoured Platoon

Porucznik

Porucznik

HQ Tank

Command Sherman

Kapral

Tank

Sherman

Sierzant

Tank

Sherman

British Armoured Platoon

Subaltern

Subaltern

HQ Tank

Command Sherman

Lance Corporal

Tank

Sherman

Sergeant

Tank

Sherman

dIvIsIonal

sUpport

polIsh

motIvatIonand skIll

Polish divisional troops are all old hands who long ago got their knees brown rom the harshdesert sun. All Divisional Support Platoons are rated asFearless Trainedunless otherwisenoted.

armoUred platoon

platoon

3 Sherman III 210 points

optIonArm any or all Sherman tanks with a 0.5 cal AA MGor +5 points per tank.

While not the equivalent o some German tanks, the Shermantanks o the Polish 2nd Armoured Brigade are more than amatch or many o them.

With all the Fireys being needed or the upcoming invasiono France the Poles in Italy didnt get any until ater February1945.

BrItIsh armoUred platoon

platoon

3 Sherman III or V 260 points

optIonArm any or all Sherman tanks with a 0.5 cal AA MGor +5 points per tank.

Te tanks o the British 7th Queens Own Hussars supportedthe troops o the II Polish Corps during 1944.

reluCtAnt

COnfidentfeArless

COnsCriPt

trAinedveterAn

COnfident veterAn

Te British Armoured Brigades operating in Italy areveterans o many campaigns in North Arica and Sicily.Tey are ratedConfdent Veteran.


20/26

0

Polish Sherman parked next to a British Staghound armoured car.

Porucznik

Self-propelled Anti-tank Platoon

Porucznik Sierzant

HQ Section Anti-tank Section

Porucznik

Porucznik

Sierzant Sierzant

Divisional Anti-tank Platoon

selF-propelled antI-tankplatoon

platoon

4 M10 3 SP 270 points

2 M10 3 SP 135 points

Te Poles had 24 M-10 tank-destroyer, which were part othe 7th Sel-propelled Anti-tank Regiment.

dIvIsIonal antI-tankplatoon



1 Anti-tank Section 60 points

optIonReplace all 6 pdr guns and Lloyd Carriers with 17pdr guns and M5 hal-tracks or +40 points per

Anti-tank Section.

When the companies own anti-tank assets may not beenough, the guns o the division are oten added to help out.


21/26

Major

Major

HQ Troop

Porcucznik

Porcucznik

HQ Section

SierZant

GUN Section GUN Section

GUN Troop

GUN Section GUN Section

GUN Troop

SierZant

HQ Section

SierZant SierZant

Porcucznik

Porcucznik

Field Artillery Battery

dIvIsIonal

sUpport

polIsh

Although a Field Artillery Batteries is a single Support choice,each Gun roop operates as a separate platoon with its ownCommand team. Te Command team and Sta team o theHQ roop must be attached to a Gun roop rom its batteryat the start o the game beore deployment, see the British

Artillery special rules on page 248 o the rulebook.

FIeld artIlleryBattery

platoonHQ Troop with:

Two Gun troops with a total o:

4 Gun Sections 270 points

One Gun troop with a total o:


1 Gun Section 90 points

optIonsAdd 15 cwt trucks and Quad tractors or +5 pointsper Gun Troop.

Replace the HQ Troop jeep with a White scout caror +5 points.

Polish artillerymen have been well trained by their Britishallies, and are just as competent in handling their weapons astheir Allies. Te Poles have a abundance o artillery weapons,and will put them to good use when they are needed.


22/26

Medium Artillery Battery

BL 5.5 gun

Matador tractor

BL 5.5 gun

Matador tractor

BL 5.5 gun

Matador tractor

BL 5.5 gun

Matador tractor

BL 5.5 gun

Matador tractor

BL 5.5 gun

Matador tractor

BL 5.5 gun

Matador tractor

BL 5.5 gun

Matador tractor

Porcucznik

Porcucznik

Porcucznik

Porcucznik

Sierzant Sierzant

Sierzant Sierzant

Although a Medium Artillery Battery is a single Supportchoice, each Gun roop operates as a separate platoon with itsown Command team. Te Command team and Sta team othe HQ roop must be attached to a Gun roop rom its

battery at the start o the game beore deployment, see theBritish Artillery special rules on page 248 o the rulebook.

medIUm artIlleryBattery

platoonHQ Troop with:

Two Gun troops with a total o:


One Gun troop with a total o:


1 Gun Section 155 points

optIonsAdd 15 cwt trucks and Matador tractors or +5 pointsper Gun Troop.

You may not feld a Medium Artillery Battery unless youare also felding a Field Artillery Battery with at least asmany guns.

Te II Polish Corps has their own 2nd Artillery Group. It

contains the 9th

, 10th

, 11th

, 12th

, 13th

Medium ArtilleryRegiments.

Te mainstay o the medium regiments is the BL 5.5 gun-howitzer. Tis superb weapon res a 100lb/45kg shell andcan reach targets over 9 miles (nearly 15km) away and addsconsiderable punch to the Polish artillery capabilities inItaly.

Medium Artillery Batteries may not be placed rom Ambushwithin 16/40cm o enemy teams.


23/26

Porucznik

Porucznik

Sierzant Sierzant


Flight Lieutenant

AOP

Flight Lieutenant

Auster AOP

Flight

Flight Lieutenant

Flight

Flight Lieutenant

Aircraft

dIvIsIonalsUpport

polIshlIGht antI-aIrCraFt platoon


6 40mm Boors 150 points

3 40mm Boors 80 points

Add Jeep and AA tractors or +5 points or the

platoon.

Remove HQ Section and replace all 40mm Boors gunswith:

6 Oerlikon 20mm SP 110 points

3 Oerlikon 20mm SP 60 points

6 Boors 40mm SP 215 points

3 Boors 40mm SP 110 points

While the wail o Stukas and other German machines are nolonger as prevalent, they still make sorties rom time to time.

With its light anti-aircrat guns, the Divisional Anti-aircratPlatoon is quite capable o keeping the skies over the Inantryclear o enemy planes.

aIrsUpport

prIorItyaIrsUpport

Kittyhawk 160 points

lImIted aIrsUpport

Kittyhawk 130 points

aIroBservatIon post

aop

Auster AOP 25 points

Air Observation Posts ollow the rules or Air ObservationPosts ound on page 139 o the rulebook as well as the Dixie

Air Support special rule below.

Dixie airSupportTe German habit o ghting rear-guard actions by day and

withdrawing to a new line o deence each night meant thatthe Allied troops were requently unable to make contact untillate aternoon because o the extensive German demolitions.On those occasions when contact could be made early in theday, the Germans were usually orced to withdraw beore darkand then targets became available or the ghter-bombers.

A new system, called Dixie, was introduced to make the bestuse o the ew hours o daylight let. When enemy targetsappeared, a call was made by Corps or Dixie.

Te tactical reconnaissance aircrats task was to nd suitable

targets or the ghter-bombers and report them. Troughoutthe Dixieperiod ghter-bomber aircrat were to be kept in thecab rank in successive ormations o six. Tis allowed theghter-bombers to engage targets as they tried to disengagerom Allied ground units.

At the start o your turn, you may elect to either use yourAuster AOP as normal (using the Air Observation Post ruleson page 139 o the rulebook) or use it to coordinate Dixie

Air Support. Te Auster AOP cannot do both in the sameturn.

I you choose to use the AOP to coordinate Dixie Air Support,all air attacks against targets within Line o sight and16/40cm o the Auster AOP are under its control.

Aircrat under the control o an Auster AOP may re-roll aailed attempt to Range In.

Unlike normal air attacks that cannot be within 16/40cm

o any riendly teams (see Saety Distance rule on page 184o the rulebook), aircrat under the control o an Auster

AOP will only abort i riendly teams are within 12/30cmo the Aircrat model.


24/26

arseNal

tAnk teAms

Armour

Name Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and NotesWeapon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower

medIUm tanksSherman III or V Standard Tank 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, Tow hook.

M3 75mm gun 32/80cm 2 10 3+ Semi-indirect re, Smoke.

selF-propelled antI-aIrCraFt GUnsOerlikon 20mm SP Wheeled - - -

Oerlikon 20mm gun 16/40cm 4 5 5+ Anti-aircrat.

Boors 40mm SP Wheeled - - - Gun shield, Awkward layout.Boors 40mm gun 24/60cm 4 6 4+ Anti-aircrat.

selF-propelled antI-tankGUnsM10 3 SP Standard Tank 4 2 0 .50 cal AA MG.

M7 3 gun 32/80cm 2 12 3+ Slow traverse.

reConnaIssanCeUniversal Carrier Hal-tracked 0 0 0 Hull MG.

With Boys anti-tank rife 16/40cm 2 4 5+ Hull-mounted.With PIAT anti-tank projector 8/20cm 1 10 5+ Hull-mounted.With .5 MG 16/40cm 3 4 5+ Hull-mounted.

Otter LRC Jeep 0 0 0 AA MG.Boys anti-tank rife 16/40cm 2 4 5+ Hull-mounted.

armoUredCarsStaghound I Wheeled 3 1 0 Co-ax MG, Hull MG.

M5 37mm gun 24/60cm 2 7 4+

Staghound II Wheeled 3 1 0 Co-ax MG.OQF 3 howitzer 24/60cm 2 5 3+ Smoke.Firing bombardments 40/100cm - 3 6

Staghound AA Wheeled 3 1 0Twin .50 cal MG 16/40cm 5 4 5+ Anti-aircrat.

Fox (Humber III) Wheeled 1 0 0 Co-ax MG.15mm Besa gun 16/40cm 3 5 5+

Autocar 75mm SP Hal-tracked 1 0 0M1897 75mm gun 24/60cm 2 9 3+ Hull mounted, Smoke.Firing bombardments 64/160cm - 3 6 Smoke bombardment.

AEC III Wheeled 4 2 0 Co-ax MG, Overloaded, Slow.M3 75mm gun 32/80cm 2 10 3+ Smoke.

Daimler Dingo scout car Jeep 1 0 0 Hull MG

vehICle maChIne-GUnsVehicle MG 16/40cm 3 2 6 ROF 1 i other weapons re.

.50 cal Vehicle MG 16/40cm 3 4 5+ ROF 1 i other weapons re

Aircraft Weapon To Hit Anti-tank Firepower Notes

Kittyhawk MG 3+ 6 5+Bombs 4+ 5 2+

AirCrAft


25/26

Poles make their way through the mountains o Italy.

polIsh arsenal

Armour

Vehicle Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes

Jeep Jeep - - -

CMP or Bedord 15 cwt or 3-ton truck Wheeled - - -

Quad, Matador, or Morris AA tractor Wheeled - - -

White scout car Jeep 1 0 0

Troop, OP, Mortar, or Loyd Carrier Hal-tracked 0 0 0

MMG Carrier Hal-tracked 0 0 0 HMG Carrier, Passenger-red hull MG.

M5 hal-track Hal-tracked 1 0 0

trAnsPOrt teAms

Weapon Mobility Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes

Vickers HMG Man-packed 24/60cm 6 2 6 ROF 2 when pinned down.Firing bombardments 40/100cm - - -

ML 3 Mk II mortar Man-packed 24/60cm 2 2 3+ Minimum range 8/20cm, Smoke.Firing bombardments 40/100cm - 2 6 Smoke bombardment.

ML 4.2 mortar Light 48/120cm - 3 4+ Smoke bombardment.

Boors 40mm gun Immobile 24/60cm 4 6 4+ Anti-aircrat, Turntable.OQF 6 pdr gun Medium 24/60cm 3 10 4+ Gun shield.

OQF 17 pdr gun Immobile 32/80cm 2 13 3+ Gun shield, No HE.

OQF 25 pdr gun Heavy 24/60cm 2 9 3+ Gun shield, Smoke, Turntable.Firing bombardments 80/200cm - 4 5+ Smoke bombardment.

BL 5.5 gun Immobile 32/80cm 1 13 1+ Bunker buster.Firing bombardments 84/220cm - 5 2+

gun teAms

Team Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes

Rie team 16/40cm 1 2 6

Rie/MG team 16/40cm 2 2 6

MG team 16/40cm 3 2 6 ROF 2 when pinned down.

SMG team 4/10cm 3 1 6 Full ROF when moving.

Light Mortar team 16/40cm 1 1 4+ Smoke, Can re over riendly teams.

PIAT team 8/20cm 1 10 5+ Tank Assault 4.

Staf team 16/40cm 1 2 6 Moves as a Heavy Gun team.

addItIonal traInInGand eQUIpmentPioneer teams are rated as Tank Assault 3.

infAntry teAms


26/26

poles italy

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