August 2002 - Spanish Civil War - Birthday Game

 John Gee's Birthday Game

 We fought a large 20mm Spanish Civil War game in honour of John Gee the Great at Game Central on Key Boulevard, El Cerrito, California. The scenario was a meeting engagement with division-sized units just after the Battle of Guadalajara, March 1937. We used my home-grown Hail of Lead rules with movement trays for units. 

Credit goes to John Gee for extensively researching (and making sound educated guesses about) the full order of battle for both sides. His time in the stacks of the University of California (Berkeley) library was well spent.

Unfortunately I neglected my usual duties as a combat photographer for this game. Scroll down past the few photos for the order of battle for both sides, plus the after-action report.

 

"The Great One" does his best to appear royal at his birthday game.

Nationalist Players
Jon Caudill, overall commander
John Gee
Dave Suurballe
Tom Thomas
Brad Gallup
Mike Brown, CTV commander

Republican Players
Richard Pullin, overall commander
Mike Peake
Gesher Calmenson
Jer Kirsch
Mark Hauck

Background
This scenario is set in April, 1937, following the Guadalajara Campaign.
The Republican 12th Division is exploiting the recent Italian defeat by advancing up (to the northeast) along the valley; the Nationalist 3rd Soria Brigade is advancing to stop them.

Air Assets
The Republicans will have approximately two flights of aircraft: one of SB-2 bombers, one of R-5 bombers.  They must preplot one or two points of attack for the aircraft, plus time of arrival.  The referee will determine which planes arrive at what times.
The Nationalists are supported by the Condor Legion, which can call in bomber attacks from two flights of aircraft: one of He 51 fighter-bombers and one of He 70 bombers.

Nationalist Orders - 3rd Soria Brigade
Defeat Republican forces in the area.
Secure the road network and ferret out all Red sympathizers.

CTV Orders
Cooperate with Nationalist forces to defeat Republican forces in the area.
Conserve Italian lives and materiel.

Nationalist Air Support
Fighter aircraft will fly combat air patrol.
Nationalist command of the air is assured.


Republican Orders - 12th Division 
Capture and secure the road network.
Prevent Anarchist CNT factions from undermining force integrity.

70th Brigade Orders (Anarchist CNT units)
Cooperate with 12th Division to secure victory.
Occupy Anarchist meeting house in central village.  Arms cache there must be recovered, plus intelligence reports indicate PCE forces will raid meeting house.

1st Bis Brigade (PCE units)
Cooperate with 12th Division to secure victory.
Capture and raid chapel building on hill beside central village.  Intelligence reports Anarchist arms cache concealed in or around structure.
Intelligence has uncovered CNT/Poum plot to assassinate and replace leadership of 12th Division.  Take all steps to prevent this.

Republican Air Support
Fighter aircraft will fly combat air patrol.
Bomber aircraft in general support role will attack ground targets of opportunity.
Headquarters must designate 1 or 2 points of attack for bombers, and specify time of arrival for air strikes.

Nationalist Order of Battle

3rd Soria Brigade Headquarters
Antitank Battery 18
Calavera Civil Guard Company
3rd Tank Company, IInd Tank Regiment
Calatrava Cavalry Regiment
Ist/9th Light Artillery Battalion (on board)
Condor Legion Air Assets

1st Nationalist Agrupación
Tercio de Doña Maria de las Nieves (Carlist)
IIIrd Castilla Falange Bandera
Vth San Quintin Infantry Battalion

2nd Nationalist Agrupación
IInd Moroccan Tabor de Ceuta (overstrength)
Tercio de la Virgen Blanca (Carlist) (understrength)
Vth  Merida Infantry Battalion
IVth Aragón Falange Bandera

1st CTV Infantry Regiment, Littorio Division
1st CTV Infantry Battalion 
2nd CTV Infantry Battalion 
3rd CTV Infantry Battalion 
1st Group, 3rd Artillery Regiment (off-board)
1st Group, Corps Artillery (off-board)
CTV Reinforcements

3rd Soria Brigade Headquarters

Veteran, morale +1
Division Headquarters:
    1 command stand (HQ)
    1 car
    1 recon homemade armored car

Antitank Battery 18
Regular, morale +1
    1 37L45 AT gun
    1 gun crew stand
    1 light truck

Calavera Civil Guard Company
Veteran, morale +1
    1 command infantry stand (1)
    3 recon infantry stands (1A, 1B, 1C)
    1 MMG stand (1M)

3rd Tank Company, IInd Tank Regiment
Regular, morale +1
    1 command FT-17 (MG-armed) light tank (1)
    1 FT-17 (MG-armed) light tank (1A)
    1 FT-17 (37-armed) light tank (1B)

Condor Legion Air Assets
Veteran, morale +2
On-Board Forward Air Controller:
    1 FAC truck
Close-Support Aircraft Available:
    HE-51 
    HE-70

Calatrava Cavalry Regiment
Regular, morale +0
Regimental Headquarters:
    1 mounted command stand (HQ)
Sabre Squadron 1:
    1 command cavalry stand (1)
    1 recon cavalry stand (1R)    May split into 2 patrols.
    1 cavalry stand (1A)
Sabre Squadron 2:
    1 command cavalry stand (2)
    1 recon cavalry stand (2R)    May split into 2 patrols.
    1 cavalry stand (2A)
Sabre Squadron 3:
    1 command cavalry stand (3)
    1 recon cavalry stand (3R)    May split into 2 patrols.
    1 cavalry stand (3A)
Machinegun Squadron:
    2 pack MMG stands (M1, M2)

Ist/9th Light Artillery Battalion (on board)
Regular, morale +0
Headquarters:
    1 command stand (HQ)
    1 Basic FO stand (FO)
    2 cars
Battery 1:
    1 75L27 field gun    
    1 gun crew stand    
    1 light limber
Battery 2:
    1 75L27 field gun    
    1 gun crew stand    
    1 light limber
Battery 3:
    1 75L27 field gun    
    1 gun crew stand    
    1 light limber

1st Nationalist Agrupación

Regular, morale +1
Headquarters:
    1 command stand (HQ)
    1 car
Support Group:
    1 81mm mortar stand
    1 homemade armored personnel carrier
    1 Marine MMG stand

Tercio de Doña Maria de las Nieves (Carlist)
Regular, morale +2
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
    1 recon infantry stand (R1)     May split into 2 patrols.
Infantry Company 1:
    1 command infantry stand (1)
    3 infantry stands (1A, 1B, 1C)
Infantry Company 2:
    1 command infantry stand (2)
    3 infantry stands (2A, 2B, 2C)
Infantry Company 3:
    1 command infantry stand (3)
    3 infantry stands (3A, 3B, 3C)
Infantry Company 4:
    1 command infantry stand (3)
    3 infantry stands (4A, 4B, 4C)
Machinegun Company 5:
    2 MMG stands (5A, 5B)

IIIrd Castilla Falange Bandera
Green, morale -2
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
Infantry Company 1:
    3 infantry stands (1A, 1B, 1C)
Infantry Company 2:
    3 infantry stands (2A, 2B, 2C)
Infantry Company 3:
    3 infantry stands (3A, 3B, 3C)
Infantry Company 4:
    3 infantry stands (4A, 4B, 4C)
Machinegun Company:
    2 MMG stands (M1, M2)

Vth San Quintin Infantry Battalion
Regular, morale +0
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
Infantry Company 1:
    3 infantry stands (1A, 1B, 1C)
Infantry Company 2:
    3 infantry stands (2A, 2B, 2C)
Infantry Company 3:
    3 infantry stands (3A, 3B, 3C)
Infantry Company 4:
    3 infantry stands (4A, 4B, 4C)
Machinegun Company:
    2 MMG stands (M1, M2)


2nd Nationalist Agrupación

Regular, morale +1
Headquarters:
    1 command stand (HQ)
    1 car
    1 45 mm mortar stand 
    1 light truck

IInd Moroccan Tabor de Ceuta
Veteran, morale +1
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
Infantry Company 1:
    1 command infantry stand (1)
    1 recon infantry stand (1R)  May split into 2 patrols.
    2 infantry stands (1A, 1B)
Infantry Company 2:
    1 command infantry stand (2)
    1 recon infantry stand (2R)  May split into 2 patrols.
    2 infantry stands (2A, 2B)
Infantry Company 3:
    1 command infantry stand (3)
    1 recon infantry stand (3R)  May split into 2 patrols.
    2 infantry stands (3A, 3B)
Machinegun Company 4:
    2 MMG stand (4A, 4B)

Tercio de la Virgen Blanca (Carlist)
Veteran, morale +1
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
    1 recon infantry stand (R1)     May split into 2 patrols.
Infantry Company 1:
    1 command infantry stand (1)
    2 infantry stands (1A, 1B)
Infantry Company 2:
    1 command infantry stand (2)
    2 infantry stands (2A, 2B)
Infantry Company 3:
    1 command infantry stand (3)
    2 infantry stands (3A, 3B)
Machinegun Company 4:
    2 MMG stands (4A, 4B)

Vth Merida Infantry Battalion
Regular, morale +0
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
Infantry Company 1:
    3 infantry stands (1A, 1B, 1C)
Infantry Company 2:
    3 infantry stands (2A, 2B, 2C)
Infantry Company 3:
    3 infantry stands (3A, 3B, 3C)
Infantry Company 4:
    3 infantry stands (4A, 4B, 4C)
Machinegun Company:
    2 MMG stands (M1, M2)

IVth Aragón Falange Bandera
Regular, morale -1
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
Infantry Company 1:
    2 infantry stands (1A, 1B)
Infantry Company 2:
    2 infantry stands (2A, 2B)
Infantry Company 3:
    2 infantry stands (3A, 3B)
Infantry Company 4:
    2 infantry stands (4A, 4B)
Machinegun Company:
    2 MMG stands (M1, M2)


Italian Order of Battle

1st CTV Infantry Regiment, Littorio Division

Regular, Morale -1
Regimental Headquarters:
    1 command stand (HQ)
    1 car
    1 recon infantry stand (R1)  This stand may be broken into 2 patrols.
Infantry Gun Battery B:
    1 65L17 infantry gun    
    1 gun crew stand
    1 light truck
Division Antiaircraft Battery:
    1 command stand
    1 car
    2 20L65 AA guns
    2 gun crew stands
    2 light trucks

1st Group, 3rd Artillery Regiment (off-board)
On-Board Artillery Spotter:
    1 Basic FO stand
    1 car
Off-board elements:
    1 100L16 howitzer 
    1 100L16 howitzer 

1st Group, Corps Artillery (off-board)
On Board Artillery Spotter:
    1 Basic FO stand
    1 car
Off-board elements:
    1 149L12 howitzer
    1 149L12 howitzer

1st CTV Infantry Battalion 
Regular, Morale -1
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
    1 recon infantry stand (R1)    This stand may be broken into 2 patrols.
Infantry Company 1:
    3 infantry stands (1A, 1B, 1C)
Infantry Company 2:
    3 infantry stands (2A, 2B, 2C)
Infantry Company 3:
    3 infantry stands (3A, 3B, 3C)
Weapons Company 4:
    2 MMG stands
    2 45mm mortar stands    


2nd CTV Infantry Battalion 
Regular, Morale -1
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
    1 recon infantry stand (R2)    This stand may be broken into 2 patrols.
Infantry Company 5:
    3 infantry stands (5A, 5B, 5C)
Infantry Company 6:
    3 infantry stands (6A, 6B, 6C)
Infantry Company 7:
    3 infantry stands (7A, 7B, 7C)
Weapons Company 8:
    2 MMG stands
    2 45mm mortar stands    


3rd CTV Infantry Battalion 
Regular, Morale -1
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
    1 recon infantry stand (R3)    This stand may be broken into 2 patrols.
Infantry Company 9:
    3 infantry stands (9A, 9B, 9C)
Infantry Company 10:
    3 infantry stands (10A, 10B, 10C)
Infantry Company 11:
    3 infantry stands (11A, 11B, 11C)
Weapons Company 12:
    2 MMG stands
    2 45mm mortar stands    

CTV Reinforcements
Regular, morale –1
Headquarters:
    1 command stand
    1 car
Antitank Battery:
    1 47L32 AT gun
    1 gun crew stand
    1 light truck
1st Tank Company:
    1 command CV3/33 tankette
    2 CV3/33 tankettes
1st Motorcycle Machine-gun Company:
    1 motorcycle command MMG stand
    2 motorcycle MMG stands

Republican Order of Battle

12th Division Headquarters
Divisional Antitank Battery:
Assault Guard Company 1
Assault Guard Company 2
Karl Leibknecht Artillery Battery (off-board, no FO):
Rosa Luxemburg Artillery Grupo (off-board, FO on-board):

Pavlov’s Tank Brigade
1st Tank Battalion
2nd Tank Battalion
3rd Tank Battalion
Armored Car Battalion

70th Brigade (Anarchist)
1st Confederales CNT Battalion
2nd Confederales CNT Battalion
3rd Confederales CNT Battalion
4th Confederales CNT Battalion

1st Bis Brigade (PCE)
Gallegas Battalion
Communeros Battalion
José Diaz Battalion

XI International Brigade
Thaelmann Battalion
Edgar André Battalion
Commune de Paris Battalion


12th Division Headquarters

Veteran, morale +1
Division Headquarters:
    1 command stand (HQ)
    1 car
    1 recon homemade armored car
Divisional Antitank Battery:
Veteran, morale +1
    1 37L45 AT gun
    1 gun crew stand
    1 light truck
Assault Guard Company 1:
Veteran, morale +1
    1 command infantry stand (1)
    3 infantry stands (1A, 1B, 1C)
    1 MMG stand (1M)
Assault Guard Company 2:
Veteran, morale +1
    1 command infantry stand (1)
    3 infantry stands (1A, 1B, 1C)
    1 MMG stand (1M)

Karl Leibknecht Artillery Battery (off-board, no FO):
    1 114mm howitzer

Rosa Luxemburg Artillery Grupo (off-board, FO on-board):
On-Board:
    1 Basic FO stand
    1 car    
Off-Board:
    1 75mm gun
    1 75mm gun
    1 75mm gun
    
Pavlov’s Tank Brigade
Regular, morale +1
Headquarters:
    1 command stand
    1 car
    1 light staff radio truck
1st Tank Battalion:
    1 command T-26/33 tank
    2 T-26/33 tanks
2nd Tank Battalion:
    1 command T-26/33 tank
    2 T-26/33 tanks
3rd Tank Battalion:
    1 command T-26/33 tank
    2 T-26/33 tanks
Armored Car Battalion:
    1 command BA-FAI light armored car
    1 recon BA-FAI light armored car
    2 BA-6 heavy armored cars
    

70th Brigade (Anarchist)

Regular, morale +0    
Headquarters:
    1 command stand (HQ)
    1 car
Artillery Battery:
    1 75L36 field gun    q q q q q 
    1 gun crew stand
    1 light limber

1st Confederales CNT Battalion
Regular, morale +2
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
    1 recon homemade armored car
Infantry Company 1:
    3 infantry stands (1A, 1B, 1C)
Infantry Company 2:
    3 infantry stands (2A, 2B, 2C)
Infantry Company 3:
    3 infantry stands (3A, 3B, 3C)
Machine-gun Company:
    1 MMG stand (M1)


2nd Confederales CNT Battalion
Regular, morale +1
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
    1 recon homemade armored car
Infantry Company 1:
    3 infantry stands (1A, 1B, 1C)
Infantry Company 2:
    3 infantry stands (2A, 2B, 2C)
Infantry Company 3:
    3 infantry stands (3A, 3B, 3C)
Machine-gun Company:
    1 MMG stand (M1)


3rd Confederales CNT Battalion
Regular, morale +1
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
    1 recon homemade armored car
Infantry Company 1:
    3 infantry stands (1A, 1B, 1C)
Infantry Company 2:
    3 infantry stands (2A, 2B, 2C)
Infantry Company 3:
    3 infantry stands (3A, 3B, 3C)
Machine-gun Company:
    1 MMG stand (M1)


4th Confederales CNT Battalion
Regular, morale +1
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
    1 recon homemade armored car
Infantry Company 1:
    3 infantry stands (1A, 1B, 1C)
Infantry Company 2:
    3 infantry stands (2A, 2B, 2C)
Infantry Company 3:
    3 infantry stands (3A, 3B, 3C)
Machine-gun Company:
    1 MMG stand (M1)

1st Bis Brigade (PCE)

Regular, morale +0
Headquarters:
    1 command stand (HQ)
    1 car
Antitank Battery:
    1 37L45 AT gun
    1 gun crew stand
    1 limber
Mortar Battery:
    1 81mm mortar stand

Gallegas Battalion
Regular, morale +1
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
Infantry Company 1:
    3 infantry stands (1A, 1B, 1C)
Infantry Company 2:
    3 infantry stands (2A, 2B, 2C)
Infantry Company 3:
    3 infantry stands (3A, 3B, 3C)
Machine-gun Company:
    2 MMG stands 

Communeros Battalion
Regular, morale +0
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
Infantry Company 1:
    3 infantry stands (1A, 1B, 1C)
Infantry Company 2:
    3 infantry stands (2A, 2B, 2C)
Infantry Company 3:
    3 infantry stands (3A, 3B, 3C)
Machine-gun Company:
    2 MMG stands 

José Diaz Battalion
Regular, morale +0
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
Infantry Company 1:
    3 infantry stands (1A, 1B, 1C)
Infantry Company 2:
    3 infantry stands (2A, 2B, 2C)
Infantry Company 3:
    3 infantry stands (3A, 3B, 3C)
Machine-gun Company:
    2 MMG stands 


XI International Brigade

Veteran, morale +1
Headquarters:
    1 command stand (HQ)
    1 car
    1 Quad AAMG light truck
    1 recon homemade armored car
Thaelmann Battery:
    1 77L27 field gun
    1 gun crew stand
    1 light limber

Thaelmann Battalion
Veteran, morale +2
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
Infantry Company 1:
    3 infantry stands (1A, 1B, 1C)
Infantry Company 2:
    3 infantry stands (2A, 2B, 2C)
Infantry Company 3:
    3 infantry stands (3A, 3B, 3C)
Machine-gun Company:
    2 MMG stands (M1, M2)


Edgar André Battalion
Veteran, morale +1
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
Infantry Company 1:
    3 infantry stands (1A, 1B, 1C)
Infantry Company 2:
    3 infantry stands (2A, 2B, 2C)
Infantry Company 3:
    3 infantry stands (3A, 3B, 3C)
Machine-gun Company:
    2 MMG stands (M3, M4)


Commune de Paris Battalion
Veteran, morale +1
Headquarters:
    1 command infantry stand (HQ)
Infantry Company 1:
    3 infantry stands (1A, 1B, 1C)
Infantry Company 2:
    3 infantry stands (2A, 2B, 2C)
Infantry Company 3:
    3 infantry stands (3A, 3B, 3C)
Machine-gun Company:
    2 MMG stands (M1, M2)

After-Action Report

Both sides advanced quickly towards the hills that separated each side.

The Republican homemade armored cars were the first into the central village, and one was knocked out by a huge mass of Carlists led by John Gee.  The Carlists were momentarily slowed by a spontaneous uprising in the village (one infantry stand) that was immediately quashed.

Mike Peake had his best CNT unit bombed heavily by a Condor Legion He 70.
(He provided two Anarchist battalions and one Thaelmann International Battalion for the game.)  For this he was awarded the Abraham Lincoln Brigade T-shirt from John Gee. But Mike came back by holding a hill on the left Republican flank while under considerable pressure from Brad’s Nationalist cavalry and Tom’s infantry.  Mike’s second CNT battalion held fast, wiping out much of the enemy cavalry.

On the opposite flank, Mike Brown’s CTV (Italian) troops ripped into the PCE battalions with small arms and heavy artillery fire.  Few casualties for Mike, lots for the Republicans.

Three more aircraft attempted to bomb ground targets, but all were either shot down or driven off by deadly AA fire from the Republican Quad MMG or the CTV’s 20mm AA guns.  The Republicans lost both of their bombers, while the Nationalists had their second plane, the He 51, driven off.  After a very good start (hurting Mike Peake’s Anarchists), air power was nullified.

The game ended with both sides firmly holding their positions, with no advantage to either side: a stalemate.  Pavlov’s T-26s might have tipped the balance, but this was deemed unlikely.  

The game was hailed as a success by all.  John Gee was most pleased, and we had slices of chocolate cake and carrot cake brought over by Susan (with birthday dog Beauregard in tow).