The area of the present map contains two additional forts which do not appear. It also contains about ten minor forts or "Ouvrages" which were significant in the Verdun battles. The reduced map section shows their location.

The effects of Forts in the Game is also in need of some refinement. In actuality the forts had a very limited ability to hold troops. Each Fort, therefor, may provide Artillery protection and increased Infantry Assault defense for only one Infantry and one Artillery unit - except for Forts Douaumont, Soubille, and Moulainville which may provide protection for two units of each type. Other units may occupy the hex, but they are treated as being in the terrain of the hex only.

Artillery and Forts In actuality, the effect of artillery on units protected by forts depended primarily on the caliber of the artillery, since the lack of "walls" meant that only a shell's weight could help it to penetrate.

Accordingly, the effect of artillery fire varies with the caliber of the firing artillery unit as follows:

• Special Guns (400mm or over) fire with 2/3 effect on Fort-protected units.
• Super Heavy Artillery - (Guns over 300m) fire with 1/2 effect on Fort-protected units,
• Heavy Artillery (Guns 200-300m) fire with 1/3 effect on Fort-protected units.
• Guns under 200mm have no effect on Fort-protected units (though they may fire with full effect on other units in the same hex).

Ouvrages Ouvrages can provide protection against artillery and doubling against infantry assault for one unit. Artillery factors firing on Ouvrage-protected units are halved for effect except for Super-heavy Artillery and Special Guns. Flamethrowers cancel the defensive benefit of Ouvrages in infantry assaults.

More Verdun Game Variants

Introduction
Initial Order of Battle
Forts
Artillery CRT Variation
Observation
Use of the Artillery Shell Table

Verdun: The Situation (Background and History)

Introduction
Artillery
Other Weapons
Barrages
Observation
Forts and Terrain
Infantry