Briefing
Operation Torch The Allied invasion of Algeria and Morocco Version 1.3 PBEM, Allied and French PO This scenario includes a specific equipment file in the ’Graphics\Operation Torch 1942’ folder for individual ship classes 1. Unit Colours American: Green British: Tan Vichy French: Blue German air: Grey 2. Approximate VPs needed for different victory levels Draw: 0-276 Marginal 277-552 Significant: 553-827 Overwhelming: 828+ 3. Map name legend Major ports are marked with a ‘P’. Airfields are marked with an "A". Destroyable bridges are marked with a "#".(TOAW treats parallel road/river-hexes as bridges, these are not to be destroyed). 4. Changes 1.3 New ship equipment with multiple ranges where applicable, added submarines. House rule submarines: Subs may only attack enemy vessels that are adjacent at the start of the turn. Surface vessels must attack revealed subs that are adjacent. Surface vessels and seatransports may not move away from a revelased sub. Surface ships may not attack subs directly using ranged bombardment. 5. Changes 1.2 Air shock set at 1% on night turns for both sides New unit icon colour combinations for Allied air and naval formations to limit support cooperation. New unit icon colour combinations for French formations. French air/ naval formations changed from free to force support. German air formations changed from free to internal support. 6. Map The landing beaches do not have anchor symbols and the ports themselves have exluded zones that are lifted on turn-2. This is to give the Vichy coastal batteries a chance to pound the invaders. 7. House rules Players should move all seaborne units first, then airborne units and lastly land-units. All ships must stop when they encounter enemy ships or coastal batteries. Ships may disengage after one combat round. 8. Scenario length When the Allies occupy all major objectives (Safi, Casablanca, Rabat, Oran and Alger) the scenario runs for 2-4 more turns before ending. The French receive an additional 10 VPs pr turn from turn-14, this is for holding on after the fighting ended historically. 9. Destroyed Units Due to the short time span of the scenario no units are reconstituted. Certain destroyed units incur an additional loss of Victory points. Ship loss incur VP loss bases on actual ship class strength. Superior HQs: 10 VPs 10. Replacements The Allies have basically zero replacements. The exceptions are trucks which are replaced from turn-6 and also get a boost in replacements when the Allies occupy major ports. A few Allied air groups receive the full allotment of specific aircraft on specific turns. 11. Supply The Allies get a boost in supply after occupying major ports. 12. Reinforcements Allied ground air-units arrive after occupation of certain airfields Alger: Maison Blanche,Blida Oran: Tafaroui, St.Leu Rabat: Port Lyautey 13. Theatre Options All TOs have a victory point loss. The French can activate the battleship Richelieu with escorts. This triggers Allied TOs for activating two groups of British naval forces. On turn-1 the Allies get a TO for activating the British I para bn from the reserves. If the French are ahead they may activate the naval assets at Toulon. 14. Sources Operation Torch (V.Jones 1972) The North African Landings 1942 (K.Sainsbury 1976) Desperate Venture (N.Gelb 1992) US Armored Units in the North African and Italian Campaigns 1942-45 (J.Zaloga 2006) Road to Tunis (A.D.Divine 1944) Crucible of power (K.Macksey 1969) The march to Tunis (Moorehead 1968) Tankers in Tunisia (US Army manual 1943) Rigdway’s Paratroopers (C.Blair 1985) World War II Airborne Warfare Tactics Rottman 2006) US Airborne Units in the Mediterranean Threater 1942-1944 (Rottman 2006) The Luftwaffe in the North African campaign 1941-43 (W.Held/E.Obermaier 1992 ) Royal Air Force 1939-45 Vol.II (D.Richards/G.Saunders 1974) Various official US reports 15. Main links orbat France 1940 Army.mil Erik Nygaard

Briefing

Operation Torch

The Allied invasion of Algeria and Morocco

Version 1.3

PBEM, Allied and French PO

This scenario includes a specific equipment file in the ’Graphics\Operation Torch 1942’ folder for individual ship classes

1. Unit Colours

American: Green
British: Tan
Vichy French: Blue
German air: Grey

2. Approximate VPs needed for different victory levels

Draw: 0-276
Marginal 277-552
Significant: 553-827
Overwhelming: 828+

3. Map name legend

Major ports are marked with a ‘P’.
Airfields are marked with an "A".
Destroyable bridges are marked with a "#".(TOAW treats parallel road/river-hexes as bridges, these are not to be destroyed).

4. Changes 1.3

New ship equipment with multiple ranges where applicable, added submarines.
House rule submarines:

Subs may only attack enemy vessels that are adjacent at the start of the turn.
Surface vessels must attack revealed subs that are adjacent.
Surface vessels and seatransports may not move away from a revelased sub.
Surface ships may not attack subs directly using ranged bombardment.

5. Changes 1.2

Air shock set at 1% on night turns for both sides
New unit icon colour combinations for Allied air and naval formations to limit support cooperation.
New unit icon colour combinations for French formations.
French air/ naval formations changed from free to force support.
German air formations changed from free to internal support.

6. Map

The landing beaches do not have anchor symbols and the ports themselves have exluded zones that are lifted on turn-2.
This is to give the Vichy coastal batteries a chance to pound the invaders.

7. House rules

Players should move all seaborne units first, then airborne units and lastly land-units.
All ships must stop when they encounter enemy ships or coastal batteries.
Ships may disengage after one combat round.

8. Scenario length

When the Allies occupy all major objectives (Safi, Casablanca, Rabat, Oran and Alger) the scenario runs for 2-4 more turns before ending.
The French receive an additional 10 VPs pr turn from turn-14, this is for holding on after the fighting ended historically.

9. Destroyed Units

Due to the short time span of the scenario no units are reconstituted.
Certain destroyed units incur an additional loss of Victory points.
Ship loss incur VP loss bases on actual ship class strength.
Superior HQs: 10 VPs

10. Replacements

The Allies have basically zero replacements.
The exceptions are trucks which are replaced from turn-6 and also get a boost in replacements when the Allies occupy major ports.
A few Allied air groups receive the full allotment of specific aircraft on specific turns.

11. Supply

The Allies get a boost in supply after occupying major ports.

12. Reinforcements

Allied ground air-units arrive after occupation of certain airfields

Alger: Maison Blanche,Blida
Oran: Tafaroui, St.Leu
Rabat: Port Lyautey

13. Theatre Options

All TOs have a victory point loss.
The French can activate the battleship Richelieu with escorts.
This triggers Allied TOs for activating two groups of British naval forces.
On turn-1 the Allies get a TO for activating the British I para bn from the reserves.
If the French are ahead they may activate the naval assets at Toulon.

14. Sources

Operation Torch (V.Jones 1972)
The North African Landings 1942 (K.Sainsbury 1976)
Desperate Venture (N.Gelb 1992)
US Armored Units in the North African and Italian Campaigns 1942-45 (J.Zaloga 2006)
Road to Tunis (A.D.Divine 1944)
Crucible of power (K.Macksey 1969)
The march to Tunis (Moorehead 1968)
Tankers in Tunisia (US Army manual 1943)
Rigdway’s Paratroopers (C.Blair 1985)
World War II Airborne Warfare Tactics Rottman 2006)
US Airborne Units in the Mediterranean Threater 1942-1944 (Rottman 2006)
The Luftwaffe in the North African campaign 1941-43 (W.Held/E.Obermaier 1992 )
Royal Air Force 1939-45 Vol.II (D.Richards/G.Saunders 1974)
Various official US reports

15. Main links

Erik Nygaard