Brett's Brawlers (GUSAB01)

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Brett's Brawlers (GUSAB01) Includes a Rifle Company HQ with two 37mm mle 1916 guns, French Flame-thrower Section, Two Rifle Platoons, Machine-gun Platoon with four Hotchkiss mle 1914 HMG teams, Light Tank Platoon with two Renault FT-17 (37mm) and two Renault FT-17 (MG) tanks,  and a French Char d’Assault Platoon with one Schneider CA. 1 tank. Check out Brett's Brawlers in the online store here...

Pioneering US armoured corps officer Major Sereno Elmer Brett leads the 326th Tank Battalion into battle alongside the tough infantry of the 1st Infantry Division. These dedicated fighters, equipped with the latest in weapons supplied by their French allies, are ready to prove themselves in battle. They have the able support of Brett’s eager US tankers in their cutting-edge FT-17 light tanks, as well as French comrades in a Schneider CA.1 heavy tank. The infantrymen can also call on Hotchkiss mle 1914 machine-gunners to lend support and supress the enemy before taking the next German position.

The Rifle Company HQ contains 2x Command Pistol teams, 2x 37mm mle 1916 gun teams

Having been trained by our allies in trench warfare, we are ready to take our place in the line alongside the Poilu and Tommy to push the Germans out of France. Our French allies have given us the excellent 37mm mle 1916 trench gun, equally effective against tanks and pillboxes.

The Pistol Team in Great War

Team Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes Pistol team 4"/10cm 2 1 6 Full ROF when moving, Trench fighters.

The 37mm mle 1916 Gun Team in Great War

Team Mobility Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes 37mm mle 1916 gun Man-packed 16"/40cm 3 4 4+

The French Flame-thrower Section contains 3x Flame-thrower teams

Modern warfare is deadly and requires weapons that can terrorize our enemies. Our French allies are here to support us with one such weapon, the Flame-thrower. These deadly weapons will make any German lurking in cover think twice about fighting.

The French Flame-thrower Section in Great War

Team Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes Flame-thrower team 4"/10cm 2 - 6 Flame-thrower.

Lafayette, We Are Here The arrival of the Americans was a great boost to the French soldiers morale. The Americans’ goodwill, enthusiasm, and the quality of their equipment did much to lift the spirits of the French Poilu. French platoons in an American force to do not count as Allied Platoons (See page 70 of the Flames Of War rulebook).

The First Rifle Platoon contains 1x Command Rifle team, 4x Rifle teams, 2x VB (rifle grenade) teams and 2x MG teams.

Our platoons number twice the size of those of both our battleworn allies and enemy. Split into half platoons, our light machine-gun squads with either Lewis or Chauchat machine guns can keep the enemies' heads down while our rifle squads close in. If we encounter any enemy machine-gun nests, our Vivien and Bessières rifle grenades can quickly take them out.

The Second Rifle Platoon contains 1x Command Rifle team, 4x Rifle teams, 2x VB (rifle grenade) teams and 2x MG teams.

Sergeant York American platoons had good NCOs that they followed into combat no matter what. An American platoon may Charge into Combat and Consolidate without having a Platoon Command team, and if it does so, the Assaulting teams do not need to be or remain In Command.

The Rifle Platoon in Great War

Team Range ROF Anti- tank Firepower Notes Rifle team 16"/40cm 1 2 6 Trench fighters. VB (rifle grenade) team 8"/20cm 2 1 4+ Can fire over friendly teams.  MG team 16"/40cm 3 2 6 ROF 2 when pinned down.

Trench Fighters Learning quickly from their Allies, by 1918 the Americans had adopted the methods of attack developed by the British and French in the hard-fought years of 1916 and 1917. Rifle and Pistol teams from American Rifle Platoons hit on a roll of 2+ in Assaults if they are Veterans (instead of 3+) or 3+ if they are Trained (instead of 4+). VB and MG teams support the assault from behind the charge and therefore do not benefit from the Trench Fighters special rule.

Over there Commanders of the American forces in France were determined that they should be treated as equals, and not parcelled out and used to fill gaps by their Allies. The American soldiers proved to be capable and brave. They did not let their commanders down, showing valiant conduct under fire and a willingness to press home attacks. Any American Platoon that is Pinned Down may re-roll failed Motivation tests to rally from being Pinned Down or remount vehicles after being Bailed Out.

The Machine-Gun Platoon contains 1x Command Rifle team, 4x Hotchkiss mle 1914 HMG teams.

With the machine-gun ruling no-man’s-land, we are lucky to have the French Hotchkiss mle 1914 heavy machine gun to call on for support. Either beating back a German attack or providing a machine gun bombardment for our advancing troops we, have one of the best machine-guns available.

The Command Rifle team

The Hotchkiss mle 1914 HMG teams

The Machine-Gun Platoon in Great War

Team Mobility Range ROF Anti- tank Firepower Notes Hotchkiss mle 1914 HMG Man-packed 24"/60cm 6 2 6 ROF 3 when pinned down or moving.    Firing bombardments   40"/100cm  - - -

The Light Tank Platoon Contains 2x Renault FT-17 (37mm) and 2x Renault FT-17 (MG) tanks

While they sound like a tractor from back home, these US tanks - the first we have ever had - can spearhead an attack and take on the tough German defences. Borrowed from the French, the Renault FT-17 represents the latest innovation in tank technology. Its two man crew can operate a machine gun or a 37mm cannon as it charges through the barbed wire of no-man’s-land.

A Renault FT-17 (37mm)

The Renault FT-17 in Great War

Armour     Name Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes Weapon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower   Renault FT-17 (37mm) 6"/15cm 1 1 1 Overloaded.     37mm SA-18 gun 16"/40cm 2 4 4+ One-man turret. Renault FT-17 (MG)  16"/15cm 1 1 1 Overloaded, Turret MG.

Below: A Renault FT-17 (MG)

The French Char d'Assault Platoon Contains 1x Schneider CA.1 tank

Backing up the lighter Renault tanks, we also have more heavy-duty support from our French allies. Their heavy tank, the Schneider CA1, was their first tank design to enter service. While it is not without its drawbacks, it has supported the French forces well, and will now do the same for us.

The Schneider CA.1 in Great War

Armour     Name Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes Weapon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower   Schneider CA.1 4"/10cm 1 1 1 Two side-mounted MG, Landship, Overloaded.     75mm Blockhaus Schneider 16"/40cm 2 5 3+ Side mounted.

Assembling Brett's Brawlers Check out James's guide to assembling your Brett's Brawlers here.... Assembling Brett's Brawlers...