Free Nations: ANZAC

By Aussie Scott (Obsidian23)

Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!

A focus on the Australain Army as part of the ANZAC Brigade

(To all my Kiwi cousins, sorry you’ll have to do your own!)

Since my move from Australia to Canada, I have avoided doing Australians for Flames of War or any other of Battlefront’s game systems, NAM and Team Yankee. However, with the new release of NAM and now the Free Nations to include an ANZAC brigade, not to mention the continued hounding of Rob Kelly to do ‘Aussies” I have finally succumbed to peer pressure.

When I first looked at the Free Nations’ ANZAC Brigade, I was pleasantly surprised at the way it was introduced into the NATO construct under a British Division. Which in reality would make practical sense. Although, historically over the past 20 or so years, Australia has been more closely connected with the USMC in the Pacific (Hawaii) than any other nation.  That notwithstanding, our ties to mother England and the Commonwealth remain strong. So with the well-written introduction of an ANZAC formation into the world of Team Yankee I will relent and finally do Australians. Two key factors have helped me make this decision, firstly the thought of an ANZAC Brigade bounding around the European Countryside and the fact that I started serving in the Australian Defence Force in the mid 80s.

So Mates, let’s see what we have!

ANZAC Formation (Australian Infantry Brigade organisation)

Initially, the ANZAC Brigade section looks very good. The colours and cam patterns on the vehicles are correct although the Auscam Tri-colour did not become standard until the very late 80s and early 1990s. For the most part, vehicles were the standard Army Green.

However, applying the Auscam Tri-colour scheme is a little more inspiring to do an ANZAC Brigade. The NZ cam scheme for the scorpions is right on the money having seen them in action at the Military Camp in Waiouru, NZ in 1986. While the ANZAC Brigade in the writings is not specific to any by name, it is pretty close to the Australian 1st Brigade which was a Mechanised Brigade back in those days based on the outskirts of Sydney.

 

The Australian Defence Force has been a professional volunteer military following the end of the Vietnam War when conscription was ceased.  The Australian Army of 1980 and for the most part right up to the late 1990s was an infantry army.  The philosophy behind this was that only infantry could capture and hold ground.  All other units were there to support the infantry in achieving its objectives.  Army formation were based on a Square Battlegroup.  This could be centred around either and armoured or infantry organisation.  The Tank Regiment would form the basis of an armoured battlegroup with an infantry company under command.  Therefore logically, an infantry battle group would be based on an Infantry Battalion with an armoured squadron under command.

The Cold War battlefields of Europe were a far reach for Australia and for most serving officers and soldiers a damn good read. Especially Team Yankee and Captain Bannon and his boys. However, Australia actually trained against soviet doctrine. Every Officer Cadet knew what to expect when a Soviet Motor Rifle Regiment came rolling down the road. So for me after more than 30 years I can now put the 1st Australian Mechanised Brigade up against the 332nd East German Motor Rifle Regiment.

The Force

Tank Squadron.  (Armoured Formation)

Let’s start looking at the Australian cards, starting with the Leopard AS1 Armoured Squadron. I like that you can take up to two tanks in the Squadron HQ, which is historically accurate. The individual tank troops allow three or four tanks. Although the Australian Tank Troops swapped between 3 and 4 over the years and by 1990 they had become a troop of 3. Personally, I like having the 4. And to use Rob’s words – “With a three tank troop if you take a kill and a bail you are taking a test. You will notice that the tanks are slightly more costly than the German Leopard 1s.

Even though the Germans have a better morale rating, the Australians get a brutal gun which will help to root our dug in infantry. As for tactics, take as many tanks as you can (Agreed if you run the ANZAC Tank Formation) as their thin armour makes them vulnerable if used in “penny packets”. And use them in numbers and aggressively. If you don’t do maximum damage on your first volley, return fire could be deadly. At 13 points for a four tank troop and 46 points for a full 14 tank squadron or 59 points with 4 troops of 4 vehicles plus two in the HQ for 18 vehicles, they are a relative bargain.

Next up is the infantry. 1 Brigade had only one infantry battalion in this time period, 5th/7th Battalion (Mech), but it was a large Mech battalion with four rifle companies, an anti-armour platoon, a pioneer platoon, a 6-tube mortar platoon and a recce (again recon for our American friends) platoon, not to mention the full logistics and support that comes with that.

M113 Cav Troop.

One of the choices for your tank formations is the M113 Cav Troop.  This is a typical troop found within a sabre squadron of the 2^nd Cavalry regiment.  I like having the option to take 2 of these units.  They will be valuable in the armoured formation especially at the outset.

 

For 5 points you get four M113 LRV with T50 turret and one M113 MRV fitted with a Scorpion Turret mounting the 76mm gun.  Unfortunately, this is a little inaccurate as a standard Cav Recce troop was 4 M113 LRVs and 2 M113 MRVs to make six vehicles.  This was designed to operate as two sections of three, 2 M113 and one M113 MRV.  This again I would like to see corrected in the future.  The Cav Troop is inexpensive compared to what some other nations get.

The troop is essentially your recce team (Recon) and the 76mm gun on the MRV will give you that little extra firepower but not for anything heavy like a T55 or bigger.  However, remember the M113 has relatively week armour.  There objective was to seek, find and report, not to get into a firefight.  Even against infantry with RPGs this would be a hard contest unless you can use the stand off range and stay outside the RPG ability to shoot at you.

 

Mechanised Infantry Company (Infantry Formation)

Next up is the infantry. Australia had only one mech infantry battalion at this time, the 5th/7th Battalion (Mech), but it was a large organisation with four rifle companies, an anti-armour platoon, a pioneer platoon, an six tube mortar platoon and a recce (again recon for our American friends) platoon all mounted in M113s.

The company HQ is a mandatory M113 with an SLR rifle team. You then must take two mandatory platoons and the option to take a third (although I would recommend 2 to allow other support units). For seven points you get a big platoon. Three M60/rifle stands with M72s, three Carl Gustav teams, along with four M113s with 50 cal HMGs. While the AT is ok you have lots of M60 machine guns with RoF 3.

Australian doctrine allowed for the 50 cals to be dismounted and dug in as well with the carriers sent to the rear, but that is not allowed in Team Yankee. Though those four 50 cals are still much better than the lighter machine guns that the German M113 platoons have.

Unlike the Canadians, you have the option to take two Milan Platoons for 4-points each. I would ‘strongly’ recommend taking both and putting one with each Inf platoon, this will provide much needed long range anti-armour for your infantry to beat off the BMP or BTR vehicle Horde. You have plenty of Carl Gustavs and 72 LAWs for close range anti-armour as well. Plus being infantry, digging in and concealed, gone to ground they have better than fair chance of remaining on the battlefield for a while. For the Infantry Platoons themselves, I would also stay gone to ground and force them to assault your big platoon and use your defensive side shots and M60 stands to destroy the enemy.

 

Milan Section

You have the option to take two Milan Sections for 6 points each. The Milan replaced the M106 recoilless but was in limited numbers and only issued to mounted formations due to the size and need for ammunition carriers. I would ‘strongly’ recommend taking both sections and putting one with each Inf, this will provided much needed long range anti-armour for your infantry to beat off the BMP or BTR vehicle Horde. For 6 points you will get 4 bases plus the 4 x M113s. The points will be worth the protection against armour that this will provide for your infantry. Dig them in and make use of their range. At 36” and 3+ FP they will give your ‘diggers’ the support they need.

 

M125 Mortar Platoon.

First up is the M125 Mortar Platoon. These were an integrated close fire support option found in every infantry battalion. The 81mm mortar was designed to be fired from the vehicle or could be dismounted and dug in. At 5 pts for a group of 6 mortars and the carriers (and the 50 cal HMGs) they are a bargain. If you like a template weapon, this is the one for you. They will be very handy as a cheap indirect fire weapon to support your infantry. Smoke to help conceal or to pin enemy infantry that have massed to assault.

 

Brigade Support options

There is a nice range of support options for the infantry formation found in the Brigade Support. These would actually be integral to the Battalion with the exception of the NZ units. However, I like them as a support option because I can use with either formation.

These included the M106 recoilless rifle and Red Eye, man-portable air defence system.

Anti-Tank Land Rover Section

Next up is the Rover M106 recoilless anti-tank section. You get four 106s mounted on the Short wheelbase Landrover for four points. Unfortunately, you don’t get special rules like sneak and peek. These vehicles were an ambush and run away tactic vehicle, I would like to see the rules changed to include this as a tactic that was used. But at least your section is more survivable with four vehicles and you can take two platoons at four points each which is pretty cheap.

I like the 4+ save as opposed to a vehicle or armour save which increases their survivability and as they have no special rules this is a small compensator. But I will know better once I start to use them. I must admit this was one of the models that sold me on doing Australians. Take as many of these as you can afford. Beware the range is relatively short at 24” so remember they are small, use hardcover and concealment whenever you can. They do have accurate and brutal as bonuses. If they can use the rules ‘blitz and shoot and scoot’ to stay alive, then they will be worth every point.

 

Red Eye man portable Anti air system.
The redeye shoulder fired system mounted in M113s is available, but their FP5+ will make them challenging to warrant spending the points, all 2 of them.

 

The NZ Scorpion Troop

Offers the same ability as the M113 Cav Troop except I believe a little more advantage in that you now have the same special rules but four vehicles with the 76mm gun and better travel distance once you go over tactical movement, eg Road dash is 36” nearly a meter. I’ll take that. And at 1 point less than the Cav troop, so 4 points for four vehicles. Certainly a good option. You can take two of these as part of the Brigades support units.

 

British Divisional Support Units
One of the advantages of the way the Australian Brigade is written into the NATO scenario in Team Yankee provides the ability to draw on support units from the British Division they were on exercise with.

The big item for the Brigade Group Support is the Abbot and M109 battery, the Harriers, Tracked Rapier and Lynx Helos. For me, my only consideration is the artillery and tracked rapier as the ANZAC Brigade has neither. These will be crucial as support for your infantry and to deter the masses of Hinds and other aircraft that can be expected.

Just like the other armies, OPs (or Forward Observation Officers) cost a point and are mounted in a Brit 432 carrier. If you have mortars, M109s or other arty systems attached you may take one (and only one) OP. For 1-point they come in handy when trying to range in.

NATO Allied Formation

I didn’t go too much into detail on the NATO Allied Formation as most organisations with the exception of those new to the Free Nations book have been done. I have West Germans and will test those with my ANZAC force before venturing into other NATO organisations. However, the one exception I would make is the French force in Free Nations. The Cavalry Squadron but only because I really like to AMX 10RC model.

NATO Allied Formation – Escadron de Cavalerie

I would like to field the French Cavalry Squadron to test how they go, but at 7 points for 3 veh and 9 points for 4 it will be hard to validate against taking 8 x M106 recoilless for 8 points. While the AMX 10 RC has a better RoF and AT, they both have 2+ FP. The special rules for the AMX 10 RC might make it worth the points. But I will play test it to see.

If you have mortars, M109s or other arty systems attached you may take one (and only one) OP. For one point they come in handy when trying to range in.

Conclusion

I don’t think the Aussies have a game breaker unit. But I would say that a combination of the Mech infantry, Milan, and some indirect fire asset will be a tough combination to roll over. As part of the ANZAC Brigade, I can take an allied NATO formation, but I have not looked too much into it as yet. As I already run West Germans I will look at them first. Be happy to provide an update on this after some trial and error.

Like Rob, I’m quite happy with what Battlefront has provided for the ANZACs and I really look forward to building and painting some 106s and Leopards in my old Troop markings.

So with only a few months before my tour is over and I can get home to some real painting. I should be good to provide further articles on painting Aussie vehicle Cam in the correct camouflage colours and patterns and how to kit them out with stowage and how to put the correct marking on them, oh and not to forget the ‘jelly-bean’ Aussie Camo uniforms.

 

Cheers,

Obsidian23 (aka Scott)