END OF A TASK FORCE – RULE AMENDMENTS

Observation Rules:

“After firing, the branches are then put back immediately in place, so that the Viets are camouflaged against aircraft.”  

Aircraft cannot spot into jungle, but can spot troops moving (but not stationary) in grasslands.  

Off-Road Movement:

“Barrou has the objective of reaching PK22, not to go fighting the Viet off in the forest.”  

• French battalion units cannot move more than 3 inches from the edge of the road, unless a 6 is thrown on a D6 (one per unit per turn).  Only French battalions can take this test.

• Vehicles cannot cover through jungle or grassland areas.

Stickiness of TDKQ:

“The TDKQ had stopped, it is a timid animal refusing to move though the obstacle.”  

• Each time the TDKQ moves, a D6 is thrown.  On a “6”, the unit freezes, and cannot move again until a 5 or 6 is thrown on subsequent turns.  It can fire and take morale tests as per normal. 

Medical Rules:

“Dr Warmé-janville has grouped together the wounded at the back of the convoy.” 

• Medical staff can become casualties, like any other figure.

• Casualties can only be evacuated if they can trace a line to the MDS or an evacuation helicopter (i.e. isolated units can only evacuate their casualties by helicopter).

River Bogging:

“The last GMC encounters certain difficulties crossing the Dak Katung, and has to be pulled out.”    

• Each vehicle crossing the ford bogs on a “6” on a D6.  It can attempt to un-bog on a 5 or a 6 on subsequent turns.

RCL Firing:

“The head of the column is under an avalanche of SKZ shells”

• 57mm RCLs move and set up as heavy weapons.  They fire as anti-tank guns as: AT class 3 / HE 12 points table 4.

Civilians:

“To the rear, a pitiful and defenceless flock of one hundred and fifty to two hundred Vietnamese civilians: men, women infants, and the elderly.”  

• Civilians move at a rate of D6+1.  They take morale tests as poor troops.  Each civilian count as poor troops for calculating victory conditions.

Commanders:

“Barrou will fight the fire.  He will recover the situation.”

• If a Brigade or Regimental Commander is present, any unit taking a moral test takes a +1 modifier.

• However, if the Regimental Commander is killed, all subsequent unit moral tests are taken with a –1 modifier.

• Battalion commanders and regimental commanders can act as artillery observers.

Roadblocks:

“There are signs of piano keys and several rocks barriers on Route19 beyond PK15”  signal the aviators at 12h10.

• roadblocks can be cleared by either:

  • a bulldozer moving through the obstacle

  • engineers detonating a satchel charge on the obstacle

  • a direct hit by a 105mm, 81mm, or 37mm round (on a 4, 5, or a 6).

Bulldozers:

“Robert Muller walks along the road, ahead of the column, with the three bulldozers intend for clearing or repairing the route.” 

• Bulldozers move at 9 / 6.

• Bulldozers have an “E” class armour rating.

• Bulldozer crews may be shot at, as troops in hard cover. 

Artillery Fire:

“On the road, the artillery crews of the 4^th battery, and those of the 5^th battery of Captain Martin are unhitched as soon as the ambush is triggered”

• Artillery firing in direct mode use the 3 central squares on the fire table.

Company-Level Morale:

“TDKQ has evaporated, vaporising in the first seconds of the ambush.”

• All independent company level units taking 1 or more casualties in a single turn, must take a morale test.

Cover:

• Paddyfields are dry, and count as soft cover to those behind them.

Aircraft:

“The fighters bring a breath of fresh air.  Two aircraft undertake the cleaning of the land in front of the company”

• GAO may remain over the table for 4 turns.  Fighters and B26 may remain over the table for 3 turns.

  • Hellcat - 6 x HMG / 2 x medium bomb

  • Bearcat - 6 x HMG / 2 x medium bomb

  • B26 - 6 x HMG / 4 x medium bomb

Random Events:

• At the beginning of each turn a D8 is thrown.  On a “0” result, a D10 is thrown.  The results are as follows: 

1. B26 (5 or a 6 has bombs) is inbound next turn.

2. Bearcat (5 or a 6 has bombs) is inbound next turn.

3. Medical helicopter + fighter escort (with rockets) are inbound next turn.

4. Medical helicopter (sans fighter escort) is inbound next turn.  On a 5 or a 6, General de Brigade Le Montgolfière has hitched a lift on the helicopter.  He is able to call up an additional 1 x bearcat and 1 x B26 sortie.   

5. Intercept VM radio message.  (1,2,3 it concerns stationary requests, a 4,5,6 it provides useful info on the Viet-Minh).

6. Receive French radio message (1,2,3 it concerns stationary requests, a 4,5,6 it provides useful info).

7. An aircraft over the table is short of fuel and must immediately return to base.

8. D6 Vietminh infiltrators located amongst the civilians attack the French.  They have small arms and 1 satchel charge.  They count as Elite. 

9. Rain next turn.  Ends on a 5 or a 6.  Aircraft delayed during this period, and must leave if on table.  Minus 1” on all observation tables.

10. A randomly assigned vehicle suffers a mechanical breakdown.  It stalls in place and requires a 5 or a 6 to move.

Reinforcements:

On turn 30, a company of 8 French commandos are available to the French.  They appear on a random table edge, move at Viet-Minh rates, and count as Elite.  

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