ARMOURED RIVERBOATS · ARMOURED RIVERBOATS Armoured river boats were a feature on the great rivers...
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OPTIONAL RULES - ARMOURED RIVERBOATS - Over the previous editions of Blitzkrieg Commander, many optional rules have been developed either within the rules themselves or as house rules by various players and clubs. These rules are optional and all players participating in games where they apply must agree to their use in advance of starting the game. They can be played to represent specific scenarios or campaigns, or to add additional detail to a game. ARMOURED RIVERBOATS Armoured river boats were a feature on the great rivers of eastern European, Russia and the Baltic, specifically in Soviet forces and have the following stats: Description Pts Type Mv AP AT CA Hits Save Limit Notes / Abilities Armoured Riverboats 1124 Project 280 AFV 25 3/80 3/60 3 5 5 (2) AA: 2/30 Aquatic, Restricted Arc 1125 Project 155 AFV 25 3/80 3/60 3 5 5 (6) AA: 2/30 Aquatic Aquatic [R] These boats can only move along a waterway, canal or river. As they have a relatively low profile and can be difficult to hit due to the low angle required to target them from a river bank, they are always classified as 1 better class of cover to hit using direct fire. They can be targeted as if they are a land target, including artillery and air strikes, with the only difference being that if they are suppressed they cannot be destroyed if they are forced to fall back more than 10cms. The 1125 Project had a pair of 76mm guns in T34 or T28 turrets as well as 4 x AA MGs and so has similar stats to a T-34 tank. The 1124 Project were more sophisticated as they not only had a single T34 turret, but also a twin AA turret on the bridge and a Katyusha multiple rocket launcher for shore support at the stern. The Katyusha can only be fired once in a game turn. Arcs of fire are restricted by the superstructure of the boats – so for the 1124 Project the main armament is limited to 180 degrees to the bow of the vehicle and the Katyusha is limited to 180 degrees to the stern of the vehicle. The 1125 Project is deemed to have a full 360 degree firing arc for both its main armourment and the AA MGs. The 1124 Project Katyusha is fired in the same way that on-table mortars and artillery are fired, in that if the 1124 Project unit has LoS to an enemy target unit it can shoot at it, but with the following special restrictions: • It can only fire once in a player’s game turn. • It cannot fire using Opportunity Fire. • It cannot be directed in by other on-land or Command units. • It uses an artillery concentration template to calculate hits. • Deviation is calculated by measuring the distance between the 1124 Project and the target point, rolling 1d6 for every 20cm (after the first) or part there of between them. An additional 2d6 deviation dice are added to reflect the inaccuracy of firing the Katysha on water and at close range. • The Katyusha has an effect of 6/120 AT and AP on all units under the template. • It has a minimum range of 40cm and cannot fire Smoke. Blitzkrieg Commander is produced by Pendraken Miniatures © 2019 Optional Rules - Armoured Riverboats v1.0
Transcript of ARMOURED RIVERBOATS · ARMOURED RIVERBOATS Armoured river boats were a feature on the great rivers...
OPTIONAL RULES- ARMOURED RIVERBOATS -
Over the previous editions of Blitzkrieg Commander, many optional rules have been developed either within the rules themselves or as house rules by various players and clubs. These rules are optional and all players participating in games where they apply must agree to their use in advance of starting the game. They can be played to represent specific scenarios or campaigns, or to add additional detail to a game.
ARMOURED RIVERBOATSArmoured river boats were a feature on the great rivers of eastern European, Russia and the Baltic, specifically in Soviet forces and have the following stats:
Description Pts Type Mv AP AT CA Hits Save Limit Notes / Abilities
Armoured Riverboats
1124 Project 280 AFV 25 3/80 3/60 3 5 5 (2) AA: 2/30 Aquatic, Restricted Arc
1125 Project 155 AFV 25 3/80 3/60 3 5 5 (6) AA: 2/30 Aquatic
Aquatic [R] These boats can only move along a waterway, canal or river. As they have a relatively low profile and can be difficult to hit due to the low angle required to target them from a river bank, they are always classified as 1 better class of cover to hit using direct fire. They can be targeted as if they are a land target, including artillery and air strikes, with the only difference being that if they are suppressed they cannot be destroyed if they are forced to fall back more than 10cms.
The 1125 Project had a pair of 76mm guns in T34 or T28 turrets as well as 4 x AA MGs and so has similar stats to a T-34 tank. The 1124 Project were more sophisticated as they not only had a single T34 turret, but also a twin AA turret on the bridge and a Katyusha multiple rocket launcher for shore support at the stern. The Katyusha can only be fired once in a game turn. Arcs of fire are restricted by the superstructure of the boats – so for the 1124 Project the main armament is limited to 180 degrees to the bow of the vehicle and the Katyusha is limited to 180 degrees to the stern of the vehicle. The 1125 Project is deemed to have a full 360 degree firing arc for both its main armourment and the AA MGs.
The 1124 Project Katyusha is fired in the same way that on-table mortars and artillery are fired, in that if the 1124 Project unit has LoS to an enemy target unit it can shoot at it, but with the following special restrictions:
• It can only fire once in a player’s game turn.• It cannot fire using Opportunity Fire.• It cannot be directed in by other on-land or Command units.• It uses an artillery concentration template to calculate hits.• Deviation is calculated by measuring the distance between the 1124 Project and the target point, rolling 1d6 for
every 20cm (after the first) or part there of between them. An additional 2d6 deviation dice are added to reflect the inaccuracy of firing the Katysha on water and at close range.
• The Katyusha has an effect of 6/120 AT and AP on all units under the template.• It has a minimum range of 40cm and cannot fire Smoke.
Blitzkrieg Commander is produced by Pendraken Miniatures © 2019Optional Rules - Armoured Riverboats v1.0
Armoured Boats of the 1124/1125 Project can carry Infantry unit passengers on deck and these are treated the same as Tank Riders (BKC-IV - Page 33) however these passengers cannot shoot in support of the boat. They can also carry their own HQ unit(s). When subject to a firing attack, it is the boat that is being shot at and not the passengers, so any boat carrying a HQ unit can be targeted as if it is an ordinary unit. If the boat is destroyed or suppressed then any passengers (including the HQ) are also destroyed or suppressed automatically. Passengers may disembark at a shore or riverbank in the same manner as dismounting from a Transport (BKC-IV - Page 33).
Such armoured riverine transport was not exclusive to the Soviets. There are records of the Finns using armed motorboats (fast but unarmoured) in Baltic coastal waters and at the start of WW2 the Soviets captured a number of specifically built Polish armoured gunboats. German armoured barges and transport barges are also recorded through to the end of the war. Some of these had twin 88mm flak guns on them and operated to protect river convoys.
The simplest way to depict other types of boats or rafts etc. is to treat them as the equivalent of the land vehicle they represent – so a raft might be a slow Transport, only capable of carrying a single Infantry or Infantry Support unit. A small river landing craft would be the equivalent of a Halftrack Transport capable of carrying a couple of Infantry units but offering them a degree of protection (and with limited offensive/defensive fire – a 0.50cal HMG for example). A light, fast moving river boat is the equivalent of an armoured car and an armoured river boat the equivalent of an Armour unit with multiple weapon capabilities.
Any boat towing another boat, or a barge has its standard speed reduced by 25% for each unit it tows.
Soviet armored boat of 1124 project with two T-34 turrets and a flak turret (http://wio.ru/fleet/ww2armorb-1124.htm)
Blitzkrieg Commander is produced by Pendraken Miniatures © 2019Optional Rules - Armoured Riverboats v1.0
