By R Mark Davies, Andy Parkes,

Phil Yates and Wayne Turner

Updated on
4 June 2013


 6th Airborne Armoured Recce Regiment
‘On inspection we had a bit of paint missing and bullet holes in the tool boxes. Once again we had been lucky.’
Sergeant Sheffield, 6th Airborne Armoured Recce Regiment War Diary.

In early July 1941 ‘C’ Special Service Squadron Royal squadron of mortars, machine-guns and motorcyclists. It was
Armoured Corps (RAC) was formed with 60 men, mostly with roughly this organization that the regiment was to go to
volunteers from 5th Lancers and 10th Hussars, and six Tetrarchs war in Normandy.
at Ogbourne St George. In October 1941 the unit was trans-
The organisation was as follows:
ferred to Freetown in West Africa in case Spain entered the
war. • Regimental Headquarters (Two Light Tanks)
• Headquarter Squadron in which are included the
In March 1942 they went to Madagascar and took part in the parachute harbour party (one officer and nine OR’s),
allied landings there. Only half the squadron went, consist- intercommunication troop (one sergeant, one provost
ing of four troops each of one Valentine and two Tetrarchs corporal, seven motorcyclists and two M/C mechanics)
(under the command of ‘B’ Special Service Squadron). They plus a landing head party and an administration troop.
suffered heavy casualties and lost nearly all the tanks. Their • Light Tank Squadron (A) consisting of headquarters
2iC Captain Peter Llewellyn-Palmer was recommended for (three light tanks) and five troops (each with three light
a Victoria Cross, but was later awarded, posthumously, the tanks).
Military Cross. • Reconnaissance Squadron (B) consisting of a headquar-
Even before that operation was finished, the HQ of the ters (one car 5cwt, one carrier universal with two LMGs
squadron was already being formed in the UK as the Airborne and a 2” mortar and three motorcyclists), four troops
Light Tank Squadron. The squadron was to utilise the new (each of one car 5 cwt, one carrier universal with two
Hamilcar glider that had been specifically designed to carry LMGs and a 2” mortar) and five motorcyclists.
the Tetrarch. When 1st Airborne Division left for North Africa • Support Squadron (C) consisting of a headquarters (two
they stayed behind in the United Kingdom. cars 5 cwt and five motorcyclists) one support troop
(two carriers universal each with a 3” mortar) and one
In early 1944, the Squadron was expanded to a full regiment assault troop (one carrier universal with two LMGs and
– 6th Airborne Armoured Recce Regiment RAC (6 AARR) one 2” mortar) and twenty motorcyclists.
under command of Lt Colonel Godfrey R Stuart – and was
This above organisation was slightly altered for the actual
attached to General Richard Gale’s 6th Airborne Division.
operation with an addition of two machine gun troops (each
The light tanks now designated ‘A’ Squadron of this new
with four Vickers carried in Jeeps and trailers). This informa-
regiment, while ‘B’ Squadron was formed as a ‘light recce’
tion comes from a line in the war diary that states “1800 - B
squadron of carriers and jeeps. There was also a support


Squadron and 4 Medium Machine-Guns, HQ Squadron together provided close armoured support to the infantry of those
with Regimental Headquarters Tanks moved in support 8 Para divisions. It is, however, entirely possible that by the time the
Battalion in counter attack role at Le Bas de Ranville 105735. Seine was reached there was hardly a Tetrarch left in working
A Squadron and Assault Troop and 4 Medium Machine-Guns order.
remained at Le Mesnil”.
During this period some other units came under the regiment’s
During D-Day twenty Hamilcars flew in carrying eighteen command for short periods. The Regiment was allocated a
to twenty Tetrarch light tanks of ‘A’ Squadron (including 3-5 troop of four Canadian Centaur tanks from No.1 battery (24
tanks armed with 3-inch howitzers). A further three Hamilcars August):
flew in with six Recce Carriers of ‘B’ Squadron, another flew • The 1st Canadian Composite Centaur Battery had six
in with two 3” Mortars Carriers and another arrived with the Centaur IV CS tanks left over from the disbanded Royal
Slave Battery Carrier and a Jeep. Marines Armoured Support Regiments, as well as three
There are many myths and misconceptions regarding the Sherman Vs used as command/OP vehicles (though they
losses and employment of the regiment on D-Day. The fact retained their main 75mm guns). The Centaurs suffered
remains that the regiment provided invaluable support to the frequent breakdowns during the breakout, though they
Airborne troops throughout the Normandy campaign and operated effectively as the regiment’s dedicated artillery
suffered very few casualties during the landings of Operation and also as assault guns when necessary.
‘Mallard’ on the afternoon of D-Day – the only serious losses Also on strength was 1st Belgian Armoured Car Squadron (20
being the total loss of the parachuted ‘Harbour Party’ during August):
the initial night landings. • The 1st Belgian Armoured Car Squadron has an HQ of
Once the remainder of the regiment had arrived by sea, the mixed Dingo, Daimler and Staghound I armoured cars,
regiment fought in the Airborne Bridgehead. as well as at least one Staghound AA car. It had five sabre
troops, each of two Dingos and three Daimler armoured
In late July two Light Tank Troops had been re-equipped with cars. The Dutch brigade also had a Recce Squadron in
Cromwell IV cruiser tanks. On the 6 August, Eight Cromwells the British Recce Regiment mode, but this did not come
were put on the roster of A (tank) Squadron and placed in under the command of the 6 AARR.
two troops of four tanks. By late August a third troop was so
On the 5 September 1944 the Regiment embarked for
re-equipped for a total of twelve Cromwells.
the UK, and thus ended a very exciting and weary time in
The regiment’s finest hour to date came during Operation Normandy.
‘Paddle’ – the breakout to the Seine – in August 1944. It
After Normandy the Tetrarch was finally dropped and the
provided vital recce support to 6th Airborne Division (greatly
regiment changed to two equal Recce Squadrons (‘A’ & ‘B’)
expanded by the two Special Service Brigades and by the
and a Support Squadron (now designated ‘C’).
Dutch and Belgium Brigades) and 49th Division and even


 Airlanding Armoured Recce Squadron
(MECHANISED COMPANY)
Headquarters

Headquarters
You must field one platoon from each box shaded black and may field one platoon from each
box shaded grey.
Airborne Armoured
5

Recce Squadron HQ
Combat Platoons

Weapons Platoons

Support Platoons
Armour artillery Infantry
Airlanding Platoon

9
Parachute Platoon

9
Airborne Armoured Airborne Armoured
7
5

Recce Platoon Mortar Platoon

Infantry
Airlanding Platoon

9
Seaborne Armoured
6

Recce Platoon Machine-guns

Parachute Platoon

9
Armour

Airlanding Machine- Reconnaissance

6

gun Platoon
Belgian Armoured Car Platoon

8
Airborne Armoured
5

Recce Platoon Reconnaissance

Seaborne Armoured
6

Recce Platoon
Anti-tank
Armour Airlanding Anti-tank Platoon

10
Airborne Recce Platoon
7

Reconnaissance
Armour
Airborne Armoured Royal Marine Armoured Support
5

8
Recce Platoon Platoon
Seaborne Armoured Airlanding Light Battery,

11
6

Recce Platoon Airborne Recce Platoon Royal Artillery

7

Armour Airborne Assault

7

Platoon Aircraft
Air Support
10
Airborne Armoured
5

Recce Platoon

Armour

Airborne Armoured
5

Recce Platoon


 british

Airlanding Armoured Recce Squadron

Motivation and Skill Reluctant Conscript
The paras are all hand-picked volunteers. Years of hard training has made them some of Confident Trained
the toughest troops on any battlefield. An Airlanding Armoured Recce Squadron is rated
Fearless Veteran
Fearless Veteran, unless otherwise noted.
6th Airborne
Division

Headquarters

Airborne Armoured Recce Squadron HQ

Headquarters Major
3 Tetrarch CS 175 points Major
2 Tetrarch CS 115 points

Option Company Command 2iC Command

Tetrarch CS Tetrarch CS
• Add Captured Sd Kfz 10/5 (2cm) for +30 points.

The vehicles of am Airborne Armoured Recce Squadron HQ Tetrarch CS Captured Sd Kfz 10/5
(2cm) half-track
use the Cautious Movement and Disengage special rules on
page 193 and 194 of the rulebook. Company HQ
Airborne Armoured Recce Squadron
Landing on D-Day the Tetrarchs of the Airlanding Armoured
In early July 1944 a German Sd Kfz 10/5 half-track was
Recce Squadron were soon in combat and continued to be so
captured and put into use for air defence by the squadron. The
until September. They were joined by Cromwells in late July/
half-track was manned by privates C. Davis and L. Walden.
early August giving the squadron a bit more striking power.
They claimed at least two aircraft during July, though these
weren’t officially confirmed.

Combat Platoons

Airborne Armoured Recce Platoon

Platoon
Subaltern
3 Tetrarch 135 points
Subaltern
Option
• Fit Littlejohn adaptor to up to two Tetrarch tanks at
no cost. Command Tetrarch

The Tetrarch tanks of an Airborne Armoured Recce Platoon

use the Cautious Movement and Disengage special rules.

6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment arrived by

Tetrarch Tetrarch
glider late on D-Day with a squadron of eighteen to twenty
Tetrarch light tanks. At least two Tetrarchs were damaged during
the glider landings, however, these may have been repaired Airborne Armoured Recce Platoon
and pushed back into service later. The Tetrarch soldiered on
throughout the Normandy campaign, though by the end of
August many had been replaced by Cromwell IV tanks.

Littlejohn Adaptor
The 2 pdr was a pre-war design and lacked the punch to engage modern tanks by 1944. To improve its anti-tank
performance, some guns were fitted with squeeze-bore adaptors that accelerated sub-calibre shot to a higher velocity than
normal, significantly increasing its anti-tank capability at the expense of anti-personnel capability.


 Combat Platoons

Seaborne Armoured Recce Platoon

Platoon Subaltern
4 Cromwell IV 460 points Subaltern
3 Cromwell IV 345 points

Command Cromwell IV
The Cromwell IV tanks of a Seaborne Armoured Recce Platoon
use the Cautious Movement and Disengage special rules.

In early August the squadron was down to half their original

strength of Tetrarch tanks and two platoons were issued
Cromwell cruiser tanks as replacements. At the end of August Cromwell IV Cromwell IV
a third platoon received Cromwells to bring the total for the
squadron to twelve Cromwells.
The Cromwells fought alongside the remaining Tetrarch light
tanks and played an important role in the fighting of the
6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment’s actions
during the last phase of their fighting in Normandy. Cromwell IV

Seaborne Armoured Recce Platoon

Weapons Platoons

Airlanding Machine-gun Platoon

Platoon
HQ Section with:
2 Machine-gun Sections 155 points
1 Machine-gun Section 85 points

Armed with the enormously reliable Vickers Mark I medium

machine-gun the machine-gun platoon gives heavy, sustained
fire support for your company.
One of the 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment’s
machine-gun platoons, located around Ranville, was used to
provide indirect map fire for several units, while the other was
directly attached to the 8th Parachute Battalion. Jeep and trailer Jeep and trailer

Jeep and trailer Jeep and trailer

Machine-gun Section Machine-gun Section

Airlanding Machine-gun Platoon


 british

Airlanding Armoured Recce Squadron

Airborne Armoured Mortar Platoon
Platoon
HQ Section and Mortar Section with:
2 ML 3” Mk II 70 points
Troop Carrier
The compact Mortar Platoons of ‘C’ Squadron provide
covering and support fire for the reconnaissance and tank
platoons. They are able to fire both high explosive and smoke
rounds as the situation requires. They are also highly mobile
mounted in Mortar Carriers, which allows them to keep up
with the tank and reconnaissance platoons during the fast
3” Mortar Mortar Carrier 3” Mortar Mortar Carrier
paced battles of the regiment.

Airborne Armoured Mortar Platoon

Airborne Recce Platoon

Platoon
HQ Section with:
1 Recce Section 85 points

An Airborne Recce Platoon is a Reconnaissance Platoon. Command Motorcycle Universal Carrier

Motorcycle Rifle team Rifle team with extra hull MG

The Motorcycle Rifle teams of an Airborne Recce Platoon

use the Motorcycle Reconnaissance and Solo Motorcycles Airborne Recce Platoon
rules on pages 196 and 197 of the rulebook. The Command The reconnaissance platoons of ‘B’ Squadron, 6th Airborne
Motorcycle Rifle team is mounted in a Jeep, but operates in Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment were the scouting
the same way as the other Motorcycle Rifle team. element of the regiment. Though only small platoons they are
provided with enough fire-power to extract themselves from
the stickiest of situations once the enemy had been located.

Airborne Assault Platoon

Platoon
HQ Section with:
4 Assault Squads 155 points
3 Assault Squads 125 points
Command Universal Carrier
2 Assault Squads 95 points with extra hull MG

The Command Universal Carrier of an Airborne Assault

Platoon is a Recce team.

The Motorcycle Pioneer Rifle teams of an Airborne Assault

Platoon uses the Motorcycle Reconnaissance and Solo Motorcycle Pioneer Rifle team Motorcycle Pioneer Rifle team
Motorcycles rules on pages 196 and 197 of the rulebook. Assault Squad Assault Squad

The assault or ‘Blitz’ platoon provided the regiment with fast

mobile infantry force able to exploit breakthroughs on their
speedy motorcycles.
The ‘Blitz troop’ as it was otherwise known in the Regiment, Motorcycle Pioneer Rifle team Motorcycle Pioneer Rifle team
provided the Commander with a motorcycle mounted
Assault Squad Assault Squad
Infantry force to support the other recce units when and
where needed. They rode into battle upon the lightweight Airborne Assault Platoon
125cc motorcycles such as the famous ‘Enfield Flying Flea’.


 Divisional Support Platoons

Royal Marine Armoured Support Platoon

Platoon
1 Sherman V and 4 Centaur 240 points
1 Sherman V and 3 Centaur 195 points
1 Sherman V and 2 Centaur 150 points

Option
• Equip Sherman V with .50 cal AA MG for +5 points.

Motivation and Skill

The crews of the Centaur tanks have had little time to become
adjusted to their new
vehicles, but they are Reluctant Conscript
keen to try them out. A Confident Trained
Royal Marine Armoured Tank Section Tank Section
Fearless Veteran
Support Platoon rated
as Confident Trained. Royal Marine Armoured
Support Platoon
X Independent Royal Marine Armoured Support Battery Centaur tanks gave good service as artillery in the airborne
landed on Sword Beach on D-Day to give fire support for the salient. In late August, due to a lack of British personnel, the
initial landings. Later their equipment was handed over to Canadians loaned troops to crew these unusual vehicles.
the X Armoured Battery, RA. Under their new ownership the

Belgian Armoured Car Platoon

Platoon
3 Daimler I and 2 Dingo 135 points

Options
• Fit Littlejohn adaptor to one Daimler I armoured car Command Daimler I
at no cost.

The Belgian Piron brigade was landed in the first days of

August along with the Dutch and Polish, by 20 August the
Armoured Car Squadron had been transferred to the 6th Air-
borne Armoured Recce Regiment, the rest of the Brigade
moved towards Auberville. The squadron provided point Daimler I Daimler I Daimler Dingo Daimler Dingo
recce on all routes that the regiment advanced along, and did Armoured Car Section Scout Car Section
sterling service throughout Operation Paddle. Belgian Armoured Car Platoon

A Belgian Armoured Car Platoon is a Reconnaissance Belgian Special Rules

Platoon. The Belgian Brigade is trained by the British therefore Belgian
platoons follow all of the British special rules on pages 246 to
248 of the rulebook except British Bulldog. In addition they
Motivation also have the following Belgian special rule.
Reluctant Conscript
and Skill
A Belgian Armoured
Confident Trained Local Knowledge
Car Platoon is rated Fearless Veteran The familiar terrain of northwest France and Belgium gave
Confident Trained. the Belgians a distinct advantage. Locals were also able to
warn the brigade of enemy positions and movements.

Belgian Platoons do not use the British Bulldog special rule.

Instead, a Belgian Armoured Car Platoon may re-rolled failed
Skill tests to Disengage (see page 194 of Flames Of War).


 british

Divisional Suppport
Parachute Platoon
Platoon
HQ Section with:
3 Rifle Squads 230 points
2 Rifle Squads 170 points

Gammon Bombs corporal corporal corporal

All Rifle/MG teams in a Parachute Platoon carry Gammon
Bombs giving them Tank Assault 3.
Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team

Section Mortars
Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team
Each turn one of the Parachute Platoon’s Rifle/MG teams
may fire as a Light Mortar team firing Smoke.

The highly trained men of the paratroopers were assigned the Parachute platoons are well equipped to deal with the difficult
job of securing the extreme eastern flank from the enemy. mission ahead of it. They have PIAT anti-tank projectors to
On D minus 1 (the night before D-Day), they dropped by use against enemy tanks as well as knock out particularly
parachute into France. In darkness of the night the paras difficult enemy positions.
were scattered and disorganised, but they quickly rallied and They also have a light mortar which will help smoke enemy
successfully executed their mission to isolate the beaches. heavy machine-guns to prepare the way for the platoon to
assault the enemy.

Airlanding Platoon
Platoon
HQ Section and Scout Squad with:
2 Rifle Squads 220 points
1 Rifle Squad 160 points

Gammon Bombs
All Rifle/MG teams in a Airlanding Platoon carry Gammon
Bombs giving them Tank Assault 3.

The airlanding platoon has to be slightly smaller in size to the

standard infantry platoon in order to fit into a Horsa glider.
Tough, motivated and well equipped these men are every bit
as elite as their parachuting brothers-in-arms.


 Airlanding Anti-tank Platoon
Platoon
HQ Section with:
4 OQF 6 pdr (late) 160 points
2 OQF 6 pdr (late) 80 points

Option
• Add Jeeps to the platoon for +5 points.

Airborne companies by their very nature are lightly armed.

Jerry’s Panzers have the ability to make a meal of the toughest
OQF 6 pdr (late) OQF 6 pdr (late)
troops so you need anti-tank assets with you on the ground
and in action immediately. This is where the ubiquitous
6 pdr-armed airlanding anti-tank platoon comes to the fore. OQF 6 pdr (late) OQF 6 pdr (late)

Landed in Horsa gliders together with their jeep tows, these

manoeuvrable guns can hit any German armoured force for
a six!

Air Support
Priority Air Support Flight Lieutenant
Typhoon 220 points Flight Lieutenant

Limited Air Support

Typhoon 170 points
Aircraft

The Royal Air Force (RAF) dominated the skies, supporting Flight
the troops with close air support and keeping Germany’s Flight
fighters from the beaches.

10
 Airlanding Light Battery, Royal Artillery
Platoon Major
HQ Troop with: Major

Two Gun Troops with:

8 M1A1 75mm pack 250 points

One Gun Troop with: HQ Troop

4 M1A1 75mm pack 150 points Lieutenant

2 M1A1 75mm pack 90 points Lieutenant

Option
• Add Jeeps for +5 points per Gun Troop.

HQ Section

Sergeant Sergeant

^M1A1 75mm pack howitzer

British Artillery
An Airlanding Light Battery, Royal Artillery uses the British
Artillery special rules found on page 248 of the rulebook.
Although an Airlanding Light Battery, Royal Artillery is a
single Support choice, each Gun Troop operates as a Separate
platoons with its own Command team. The Command
team and Staff team of the HQ Troop must be attached to GUN Section GUN Section
a Gun Troop from its battery at the start of the game before
GUN Troop
deployment.
Lieutenant
In order to make sure airborne forces have ready access to
artillery support, the airlanding light regiment lands with its Lieutenant
American 75mm pack howitzers in Horsa gliders.
Even when the field regiments of the Royal Artillery have
made it off the beach, with so many competing demands for
fire missions, the airborne troops can be left to fend for them- HQ Section
selves, so this integral light artillery support is essential.
Sergeant Sergeant

GUN Section GUN Section

GUN Troop
AIRLANDING light Battery,
Royal Artillery

11
 British ARSENAL

Tank Teams
Armour
Name Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes
Weapon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower

Light Tanks
Tetrarch Light Tank 1 1 1 Co-ax MG.
OQF 2 pdr gun 24”/60cm 2 7 4+
With Littlejohn adaptor 24”/60cm 2 9 5+ No HE.
Tetrarch CS Light Tank 1 1 1 Co-ax MG.
OQF 3” howitzer 24”/60cm 2 5 3+ Smoke.

Medium Tanks
Centaur Standard Tank 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Protected ammo, Unreliable.
OQF 95mm CS howitzer 24”/60cm 2 7 3+ Smoke.
Firing bombardments 48”/120cm - 4 5+ Smoke bombardment.
Cromwell IV Light Tank 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, Protected ammo, Tow hook.
OQF 75mm gun 32”/80cm 2 10 3+ Semi-indirect fire, Smoke.
Sherman V Standard Tank 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, Tow hook.
M3 75mm gun 32”/80cm 2 10 3+ Semi-indirect fire, Smoke.

Self-propelled Anti-aircraft Guns

Captured Sd Kfz 10/5 (2cm) Half-tracked - - - Gun shield.
2cm FlaK38 gun 16”/40cm 4 5 5+ Anti-aircraft.

Reconnaissance
Universal Carrier Half-tracked 0 0 0 Hull MG, Recce.
Daimler Dingo Jeep 1 0 0 AA MG, Recce.
Motorcycle Rifle team Jeep - - - Motorcycle reconnaissance, Dismount as Rifle team.
Rifle 16”/40cm 1 2 6 Awkward layout.

Armoured Cars
Daimler I Wheeled 1 0 0 Co-ax MG, Recce.
OQF 2 pdr gun 24”/60cm 2 7 4+
With Littlejohn adaptor 24”/60cm 2 9 5+ No HE.

Vehicle Machine-guns
Vehicle MG 16”/40cm 3 2 6 ROF 1 if other weapons fire.
.50 cal Vehicle MG 16”/40cm 3 4 5+ ROF 1 if other weapons fire.
Vehicle Twin MG 16”/40cm 4 2 6 ROF 2 if other weapons fire.

GUN Teams
Weapon Mobility Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes
Vickers HMG Man-packed 24”/60cm 6 2 6 ROF 3 when pinned down or moving.
Firing bombardments 40”/100cm - - -
ML 3” Mk II mortar Man-packed 24”/60cm 2 2 3+ Smoke, Minimum range 8”/20cm.
Firing bombardments 40”/100cm - 2 6 Smoke bombardment.
OQF 6 pdr gun (late) Medium 24”/60cm 3 11 4+ Gun shield.
M1A1 75mm pack howitzer Light 16”/40cm 2 6 3+ Smoke.
Firing bombardments 64”/160cm - 3 6 Smoke bombardment.

12
 Infantry Teams
Team Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes
Rifle team 16”/40cm 1 2 6
Rifle/MG team 16”/40cm 2 2 6
Light Mortar team 16”/40cm 1 1 4+ Smoke, Can fire over friendly teams.
PIAT team 8”/20cm 1 10 5+ Tank Assault 4.
Staff team 16”/40cm 1 2 6 Moves as a Heavy Gun team.

Additional Training and Equipment

Teams with Gammon Bombs are rated as Tank Assault 3.
Pioneer teams are rated as Tank Assault 3.

Transport Teams
Armour
Vehicle Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes
Jeep, Jeep and Trailer, or Motorcycle Jeep - - -
Troop Carrier Half-track 0 0 0 2 Passenger-fired MGs.
OP, Mortar, or Lloyd Carrier Half-tracked 0 0 0

AIRCRAFT
Aircraft Weapon To Hit Anti-tank Firepower Notes
Typhoon Cannon 3+ 8 5+
Rockets 3+ 6 3+

13
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