Spearhead British Data Card Expansion

Light Tank Mk.6c, Light Tank Mk.6 AA: The Mk 6 Light Tanks are important for two reasons - Firstly the Divisional Cavalry Regiments (Battalions) of some Divisions (e.g.. The 6th, 7th, and 9th Australian and the 2nd New Zealand in North Africa) were equipped with both the 6b and 6c the latter had the 15mm Besa with AP ammunition, giving these vehicles a greatly improved AT ability over the earlier 0.5" Vickers armed models. Secondly the AA conversion (with 4 MGs) was the only real SPAA vehicle in British and Commonwealth service from 1941 to 1943. A small number of these appear to have been used by the aforementioned Cavalry Regiments, plus in SH 1 stand per regiment from July/Aug 1942, then possibly 2 per regiment from Nov 1943, until replaced by Crusader AA in early/mid 1944.

A9 CS, A10 CS, A13 Mk.1 & A13 Mk.2 CS: These are included only because I disagree with Arty over the weapon's Ammunition - The 3.7" Mortar (sometimes mistakenly called a Howitzer) in these vehicles was, I believe, capable primarily only of firing Smoke, in fact this was the original purpose of the CS tank in British service, any ability to fire HE was simply an 'extra' bonus! (Note that although HE ammunition was eventually provided in small numbers for these weapons there is no evidence it was ever actually issued in significant numbers to combat units, and there was not very much of it!). There was however an anti-Tank round of limited effectiveness that was issued. The last of these saw service in November 1941 (A10s and A13s) and the 3.7" Mortar had already been quickly discarded in 1939 in favour of the 3" Howitzer, which was mounted in the CS models of the Matilda, Crusader, and early Churchill. I permit all the British CS vehicles to direct fire a single smoke marker in the artillery phase, subject to the 3+ smoke success throw. If there is definite evidence of the 3.7" CS having an HE round in France & North Africa in 1940-41 then it should have an AI 5 rating.

Churchill NACS: The NACS (North African Close Support) was a battlefield conversion done in Tunisia where existing Churchill I CS tanks (which were serving as CS tanks alongside 6pdr armed IIIs in the 2 Tank Brigades) had their 2pdr removed and replaced with a 3" Howitzer, thereby giving them two (2) 3" weapons! Some of these saw service after the end of the Tunisian campaign almost until the end of the Italian campaign! Italy was very much a poor cousin theatre and a lot of the Churchills in use were IVs who had had their 6pdrs replaced by taking the US 75mm from knocked out Shermans in Tunisia in 1943. When they received more Churchills in Italy they were primarily VIs, the VIIs and up armoured VI's being kept for NW Europe (For much of the Italian Campaign both Tank Brigades were one third Shermans as there were not enough Churchills).

Churchill AVRE: The AVRE (with 280mm Petard Mortar) is in because, well I just love 'em! (And what better way to spice up a scenario - add a platoon or 2 of these)! The AVRE is mounted on a conventional Churchill VI with a modified turret, hence the DEF of only 6. SPECIAL RULES: Due to the slow and hazardous nature of replenishing the muzzle loading mortar, and the limited amount of ammunition carried the AVRE must be stationary to fire! However all friendly "unarmoured" (i.e. soft) platoons involved in Close Assaults "in the same town sector" as the AVRE platoon receive an additional +1 combat modifier.

Marmon Herrington (modified) A/car: A standard modification to the Marmon Herrington's (until the Mk.IV appeared) was to remove the small turret and roof, and mount a forward firing "heavy" weapon of some kind. Most commonly used were Italian 20mm Breda's but occasionally Italian 47mm, German 37mm, and other assorted guns were used. The factors assigned have been 'averaged' rather than try to represent every possible option. These can appear at the ratio of up to 1 per 3 platoons (maximum of 1 per squadron).