A bunch of the Edmonton boys had got together for some DBA campaigning. They were extolling the virtues of the DBA system when one exclaimed, "Why can't there be a similar system for WWII?". "Yes," said another. The Humberside Wargame Society (http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/1thewoodands/DBAExt.html) did a wonderful job of extending DBA to 1900 AD, What's fifty years more?" That sounded like a challenge to me,
DBA really has two strokes of genius; the Command System and the "Quick Kills". The Command System should be transferable enough. The more you break your command up the harder your command is to control. At first, I tried using the Command Decision idea of stating that a "group of elements" were all those within a 6" radius facing the same direction. This worked well enough, however, we found that by raising the scale of the game to 1" = 500 paces we could return to the simplicity of the original DBA and have the elements toughing 9 they were in a group.
I thought arranging the different arms would be more difficult; getting each weapon to Quick-kill the correct enemy, However, when I sat down to actually fill in a matrix of the quick-kills I found that if one looked at the purpose of each WWII weapon they corresponded perfectly to some ancient counter-part. Heavy tanks are meant to smash and exploit - just like knights, Light tanks on the other hand, like light horse were meant to delay and harass, but were hard to kill, anti-tank weapons were slow, very effective against vehicles but vulnerable to infantry - just like bows. and grunts were like - er. well... grunts.
We did end up changing a few things. Most elements, of course, have ranged fire. Attrition is made possible in that every recoil a element suffers causes it to lose one (1) off of each of its combat factors. After three recoils, the element is lost. We limited range fire and sighting to penetrating cover only up to 1 inch. This means that Submachinegun infantry in towns Oil have to be "dug" out not blasted out.
An optional rule caused a bit of controversy. The original variant gave infantry +1 for being supported in the rear by heavy tanks (knights) or medium tanks (cav). Half the group felt this was a legitimate use of armour in an infantry support role and that the trade off of no ranged fire was fair exchange for the +1 for infantry in firefights and melees. The DBA purists of the group pointed out that DBA only allows elements to support like elements and so the rule went against the 'spirit" of DBA. Then there was a gamer who believed that infantry should get +2 for tank support against other infantry, but +0 against enemy armour. Experiment for yourself.
POINTS COST SYSTEM
(the following point system was borrowed and converted from Chris Brantly DBA Resource Page)
Formula
CF - Combat Factors (vs. foot + vs. vehicle)
QKB -Subject to quick kill by other unit types 0-1=2:2-3=1:4-5=0:6-2
QKO Quick Kills on other+ units 0-3-0: 4-5-1; 6-7-2: 8+-3
Flee if element is less than half of enemy and unit flees instead of being killed 1
TF Not Quick-Killed in bad-going - 1
Sup -Ability to increase combat factor with support = 1
RG - Basic Ranged attack (+1 for indirect) 0"-0-1 1-4"-1 1 5-8"-2 -1 9-3
Air or Naval support 3
Mv - Base movement rate in good going 2"-1 -1 3"=01' 4'+= 1
TRANSPORT NOTES
Trucks, horses and halftracks are transports and can carry one element of Infantry, Artillery or Anti-tank. There is no cost to disembark - just place the rider along the front edge of the transport element at the end of movement. Riders cannot disembark while the transport element is in contact with enemy units, however. While riding in the transport the rider cannot fire or melee and suffers the same fate as the transport when hit.
Embarking is more difficult. The combat element must be in contact with the transport element at the beginning of the turn. and not in contact with any enemy elements. To embark onto a transport costs each element 1 CP. A second command point may be spend on the transport (or transport Toup) to move it according to the movement rules.
OFF BOARD SUPPORT
Off board naval artillery and air support must have a infantry "spotter" within 12" of the target and have a direct line of sight. A 2cm radius circle is placed on the target and a dice is rolled for drift. First die is distance of drift in inches, with "5"& "6" "direct hit". Second dice is direction of drift 1 - north; 2= northeast; 3-- south-east; 4=south 5 = south-west: 6 = north west While under the template the target cannot be shot at by other units and no modifiers are applied to either the attacker's or targets combat rolls. If the target recoils roll for the direction of the recoil. 1 - north; 2- north-east; 3-- south-east; 4 - south; 5 - south-west: 6 - north west
OPERATIONAL MOVES
In double DBA games, an element or group of elements starts a turn more than 6" away from any enemy elements and on a road, it may move at as many march moves as the commander has PIPs to spare. Infantry units move at regular road speed. Vehicles move at triple road speed. Elements that move via march move cannot make a tactical move at the same time.
Players may want to experiment with instituting , flank marches and ambush rules from DBM, as well
ADDITIONAL COMBAT FACTORS
- Target being shot at in cover +1
Target being shot at in prepared works +2
For every recoil the element has suffered in this game - 1
(on third recoil the element is eliminated)
Unit Organization
German (1940)
Infantry Reg't (47pts.) 1 x HWps, 4x Infantry , 1 x horse
Motorized Reg't (49 pts) 1 x HWps, 4x Infantry , 1 x truck
Engineer Battalion(15pts) ' 1 x Engineer, 1 x truck
Recon Battalion (1 2pts) 1 x Recon, 1 truck
Tank Reg't (23pts) 2x Pzkw II, 1xPzkw III
Independent Tank Bat (22pts) 2x Pzkw IV
Anti-Tank Battalion (9,10,11pts) 1 x 37mm AT or 54mm AT or 88mm AT, 1 truck
Artillery Battalion (11 pts) 1 x light artillery, 1x horse
Motorized Art. Battn (13pts) 1 x light artillery, 1 x truck
German (mid-war)
Infantry Reg't (39 pts) 1 x HWps, 1 x SMG, 2x Infantry, 1 x horse
Volksgrenadier Reg't (45 pts) 1 x light Artillery Bat, 1 HWps,1 x SMG, 2x Infantry, 1 x horse
Luftwaffe Field Regt (50 pts) 1 x HWps. 3x Infantry, 1 x SMG, 1 x trucks
Motorized Infantry Regt (74 pts) 1 x light Artillery Bat., 1 x SP light artillery, 1 x HWps, 3x Infantry, 5x trucks
PZ Armoured Inf. Regt (89pts) 1x light Artillery Bat., 1x SP light artillery, 1 x HWps, 2x Infantry, 1 x SMG, 1 x STG III , 3x trucks, 2x haftacks;
SS Panzer Inf. Regt (97pts) 1x light Artillery Bat., 1x SP light artillery, 1 HWps, 3x Infantry,1x SMG, 1x STG III, 4x trucks, 2x halftracks
Engineer Battalion (15pts) 1x Engineers, 1 truck
Recon Battalion (49pts) 1 x light Artillery Bat., 2 Armoured Cars, 1x Recon, 1x SMG, 4x haftacks
Anit-Tank Battalion (10 pts) 1 x 75mm AT, 1 x truck
Panzer Regt (36, 38 pts) 1 x light Artillery Bat., 2x Pzkw IV or Panthers, 1 x half track
Heavy Tank Reg't (24 pts) 2x Tiger
Assault Gun Brigade (21pts) 1x STG Ill. 1x Infantry, 1x truck
Artillery Reg't (11, 13 pts) 1x light artillery or heavy artillery, 1x horse
Motorized Artillery Reg't (17pts) 1 x SP heavy artillery
Divisional Organization
SS Panzer Div.(296pts)= 2x SS. Arm.Inf Regt, 1x Engineer Bat., 1 x Recon Bat., 1 x AT Bat, 1 x Tank Regi, 1 x Assaut gun Bat., Motor. Art, Reg't
Panzer Div.(264pts)m 1xMotor.lnf Regt, 1xArm.Inf Reg't, 1x Engineer Bat- ix Recon Bat. 1 x AT Bat, 1 x Tank Regt, 1 x Heavy Artillery Regi
Panzergrenadier Div (238 or 226 pts,)= 2x Motor. Inf.Flegl, 1x Engineer Bat., 1 x Recon Bat., 1 x AT Bat. 1 x Tank Bat. or Assault gun Bat.
Infantry Div. (197 pts,)= 90 3x Intantry Reg't, 1 x Engineer Bat.,1 x Recon Bat., 1 xAT Bat., 1 x light Artillery Regt
Volksgrenadier Div.(164pts)- 3xVG Inf Reg't, 1x Engineer Bat., UAT Bat. 1 x light Artillery Reg't
Luftwaffe Field Division (136pts) 2x Luft. Inf Regt, 1 x Engineer Bat., 1 x AT Bat. 1 x light Artillery Bat.
British and Commonwealth
1940
Infantry-Tank Brigade (14pts)1 x Mk IV, 1 x Matilda
Crusier Tank Reg't (18pts)2x Valintine A10
Cruiser Tank Brigade (69pts)5 Valintne A10, 2x Infantry, 2x trucks
Mid-War and later
Infantry Brigade (95 pts)1 x 57mm AT, 1 x Hwps, 6x Infantry, 7x trucks, 1 x halftrack
Lorried Infantry Brigade (101pts)1 x 57mm AT, 1 x Hwps, 6x Infantry, 2x trucks, 6x haftack
Parachute Battalion (26 pts)1 x HWps, 1 x SMG, 2x trucks
Airlanding Battalion (37pts)1 x Hwps, 2x Infantry, 3x trucks
Machinegun Battalion (20pts) 2x HWps
Recon Reg't (43pts)3x Armoured Cars, 1 x Recon, 1x haftack
Engineering Battalion (30pts)2x Engineers, 2x trucks
Light Tank Regt (8,9pts)1 x M5 Stuart or 1 x Cromwell
Armour Regt (26pts)1x M5 Stuart, 2x M4 Sherman
Armour Brigade(! 02pts)1 x Arm.car, 1 x M5 Stuart, 4x M4 Sherman, 2x Firefly, 2x Infantry, 2x truck
Anti-Tank Reg't (19pts)1 x 37mm AT, 1 x 75mm AT, 2x trucks
Field Artillery Regt (13pts)1 x Light Artillery, 1 x truck
Heavy Artillery Reg't (15pts)1x Heavy Artillery, 1 truck
Mechanized Artillery Reg't (17pts) 1 x SP heavy artillery
Divisional Organizations
Armoured Div.(339pts). 1 x Lorr. Inf Brig, 1 x Eng, Bat., 1 x Recon. Bat 1 Lt. Tank Regi, 1 x Armour Brig- 1 x AT Regt, 2x Mech, Hvy. Artillery Regt
Infantry Div. (442pts)= 3x Inf. Brig., 1 x IVIGun Bat., 1 x Eng, Bat., 1 x Recon Bat. 1 x AT Bat., 3x Field Art, Regt
Airbourne Div. (267pts.)= 6x Para Inf. Bat, 3x Airland Inf Bat,
American
Infantry Regt (83pts) 1x 50mm AT, 2x HWps, 4x Infantry, 7x trucks
Armoured Infantry Regt (84pis) 2x 50mm AT, 1 x SP heavy artillery. 2x HWps. 4x Infanty, 2x trucks, 6x halftacks
Parachute Regt (53pts) 1 x HWps. 4x SMG, 1 x truck
Glider Reg't (59pts) 2x HWps, 4x Infantry, 1 x truck
Engineer Battalion (28pts) 1 x HWps, 1 x Engineers, 2x tucks
Recon Battalion (40pts) 1 x 57mm ATJ x SP 76mm AT, 1x Arm.car, 1 x Recon, 2x haftack
Light Tank Battalion (24pts) 3x M5 Stuarts
Medium Tank Regt (69pts) 2x M5 Stuart, 3x M4 Sherman. 1 x M4/76, 1 x HWps, 1 x haftack
Self-Propelled AT Battalion (34,36pts)l x Arm.car, 2x SP 76mm AT or 82mm AT
Anti-Tank Battalion(18, 20,22 pts) 2x 57mm or 76mm or 90mm AT. 2x trucks
Infantry Artillery Brigade (13pts) 1x light Artillery, 1x truck
Armoured Artillery Brigade (17pts) 1x SP heavy Artillery
Divisonal Organizations
Armour Div. (274pts) 1 x Armour/Inf Regt, 1 x Eng. Bat 1 x Recon Bat., 1 x Med. Tank Reg't, 1 x SP AT Bat., 1 x Arm Artillery Brig
Infantry Div. (132pts)- 3x Infantry Reg't, 1x Engineer Bat., 1x Int.Artillery Brig
Airbourne Div. (213pts) - 2x Parachute Reg't 1 Glider Regt, 1x Engineer Bat
Soviet Union
Tank Brigade (19pts) 1 x 76mm AT, 1 x T-34, 1 x truck
Mechanized Infantry Brigade 1 x 76mm AT, 1 x HWps, 2x Infantry, (59pts) 1 x T-34, 5x truck
Motorized Infantry Brigade 1 x 76mm AT, 1 x HWps, 1 x Recon, (59pts) 2x Infantry, 5x trucks
Self-Propelled Artillery Reg't 1x SU85 or SU152 (heavy artillery) (19,19,18,15,17pts) or SU100 or JS I or JSII (light artillery
Cavalry Regt (19pts) 1x 46mm AT,1x truck 1x Infantry (moves 4", 4", 4"
Anti-Tank Regt (10pts) 1 x 76mm, 1 x truck
Infantry Reg't (29pts) 1 x HWps, 2x Infantry, 1 x horse
Motorcycle Battalion (13pts) I x SMG, 1 x tuck (motorc.)
Recon Battalion (12pts) 1 x Recon, 1 x tuck
Submachinegun Battalion (13pts) 1 x SMG, 1 x truck
Motorized Infantry Battalion (12pts) 1x Infanlry, 1 x truck
Infantry Battalion (9pts) 1x Infantry
Machinegun Battalion (1 Opts) 1 x HWps,
Divisional Organizations
Infantry Div (99pts) - 3x Infantry Regl., Ant-Tank Regt., 2x horses
Mechanized Corps (223pts). 2x Recon Bat., 1 x Anti-tank Regt., 2x SP Art. Regt, 1x MGun Brig., 2x Mech Inf Brig., 1 x Tank Brig., 2 x trucks
Tank Corps (157 pts)..........2x Recon Bat., 1 x AT Bat 2x SP Art. Regt., 1 Motor Inf, Bat, 3x Tank Brig, . 1 x MGun Brig, 2x trucks
France (1940)
Infantry Regt (55pts) 1 x 25mm AT, 1 x HWps, 4x Infantry
Motorized Infantry Regt (61pts) 1 x HWps, 4x Infantry, 5x trucks
Dragons Portes Reg*t (79pts) 1xAMR, 1x 25mm AT, 1x HWps, 4x Infantry, 6x truck
Engineer Reg't (23pts)1 x AMR, 1 x Engineer. 1 x truck
Recon Reg't (24pts) 2x Recon, 2x trucks
DCR Infantry Reg't (37pts)1 x 25mm AT. 2x Infantry, 2x trucks, 1 x Arm.car
DCR Armoured Brigade (15pts)1 x H-39, 1 x Char 131
DCR Artillery Regt (1 5pts)1 x heavy Artillery. 1 x truck
DLM Recon Regt (20pts)1 x Recon. 1 x truck, 1 x AMR
DLM Armour Brigade (15,16pts)1x S-35. 1x H-35 or H-39
DLM Artillery Reg't (13pts)1 x light Artillery, 1 x truck
Anti-Tank Company (7pts)1 x 25mm AT, 1 x horse
Motorized Anti-Tank Reg*t (15pts) 2x 25mm AT. 2x truck
Heavy Artillery Regt (31pts) 1 x heavy Artillery, 1 x horse
Motorized Hvy Artillery Reg't (15pts). 1 x heavy Artillery, 1 x truck
Light Artillery Regt (11 pts) 1 x light Artillery, 1 x horse
Motorized Lgi Artillery Reg't (13pts) 1 x light Artillery. 1 x truck
Divisional Organization
Infantry Div (235pts)- 3x Infantry Regt., 1 x Recon Regt., 1 x light Art. Regi., 1 x heavy Art. Regt., 1x Eng. Regt
Motorized Infantry Div. (255pts) - 3x Motor. Int. Regi., 1 x Motor.light Art. Regt., 1 x Motor. heavy Art. Regt., 1 x Recon Regl., 1x Eng, Regt
Division Legere Mecanique - 1x DLM Arm. Brig., 1 DLM Recon Regt, (164pts) 1 x Dragons Portes Regt., I x Motor. AT Regt., 1x DLM Artillery Regt,, 1x Engineer Reg't
Division Cuirassee - 1 x DCR Armoured Brig., 1 x DCR Infantry Bat, (85pts) 1 x DCR Art, Regt, 1 x Engineer Regt
Charts
Unit: DBA equivalent: Movement (Good/Bad/Rd): Combat vs. Inf: Combat vs. Veh: QKB: FLE: TF: SUP: RNG: MV: Pts
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© Copyright 1999 Hal Thinglum
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