Bolt Action Armies of The Spanish Civil War v2.1

Bolt Action: Armies of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
by
RJH Scales
Background to the Conflict
The Spanish Civil War was fought from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939 between the Republicans,
who were loyal to the democratically elected Spanish Republic, and the Nationalists, a rebel group
led by General Francisco Franco. The Nationalists prevailed, and Franco ruled Spain for the next 36
years, from 1939 until his death in 1975.
The war began after a declaration of opposition by a group of generals of the Spanish Republican
Armed Forces, under the leadership of Jos Sanjurjo, against the elected government of the Second
Spanish Republic, at the time under the leadership of President Manuel Azaa. The rebel coup was
supported by a number of conservative groups, including the Spanish Confederation of the
Autonomous Right, monarchists such as the religious conservative Carlists, and the Fascist Falange.
The coup was supported by military units in Morocco, Pamplona, Burgos, Valladolid, Cdiz,
Cordova, and Seville. However, rebelling units in important cities such as Madrid, Barcelona,
Valencia, Bilbao, and Mlaga were unable to capture their objectives, and those cities remained in
control of the government. Spain was thus left militarily and politically divided.
The Nationalists, now led by General Francisco Franco, and the Republican government fought for
control of the country. The Nationalist forces received munitions and soldiers from Nazi Germany
and Fascist Italy, while the Soviet Union and Mexico intervened in support of the "Loyalist", or
"Republican", side. Other countries, such as Britain and France, operated an official policy of nonintervention, although France did send in some munitions.
The Nationalists advanced from their strongholds in the south and west, capturing most of Spain's
northern coastline in 1937. They also besieged Madrid and the area to its south and west for much
of the war. Capturing large parts of Catalonia in 1938 and 1939, the war ended with the victory of
the Nationalists and the exile of thousands of leftist Spaniards, many of whom fled to refugee
camps in southern France. Those associated with the losing Republicans were persecuted by the
victorious Nationalists. With the establishment of a fascist dictatorship led by General Francisco
Franco in the aftermath of the war, all right-wing parties were fused into the structure of the Franco
regime.
Design Notes
This unofficial supplement is my attempt at setting the myriad units and factions of the Spanish
Civil War down into a hopefully fun playable, Bolt Action supplement for both the Republican and
Nationalist sides of this fascinating conflict. I first became fascinated by it after reading George
Orwell's famous 'A Homage to Catalonia', and I firmly recommend the book to those interested in
the conflict or the military history of the Inter War period. The conflict is interesting as it sits at a
cross roads between trench warfare of WW1 and fully mechanised warfare of WW2. It was widely
used as a proving ground for all the major European powers to test their equipment, men and
doctrine.
The Spanish Civil War is a difficult subject to cover purely because of the vast amount of differing
equipment on both sides as well as shared equipment from both sides. I have tried to cover as much
as possible but there will naturally be gaps, and I apologise for that. My intent is to make a fun
playable list for the game not a 100% historical recreation; which would be impossible. A good
example is the amount of different Armoured Trucks used, especially by the Republican side; I lost
count at over 20 variants! I have tried to replicate unit entries from other Bolt Action books to keep
points cost consistent. This list is designed for Republican v Nationalist Spanish Civil War games,
and whilst it can be used against other Bolt Action lists, there has been no attempt made at any kind
of balance.
With that in mind, the format is slightly different to normal Bolt Action supplements, as there are
units that were present on both sides of the divide as well as vehicles that were used by both sides.
As such, I have included these units in a distinct portion of the list. They can be used freely within
the normal construct of the selectors and the Army Special rules for each side will naturally apply.
Within the Reinforced platoon, I have tweaked the infantry force size from the 'standard' Bolt
Action template. The War was a majority infantry affair, and I wanted to reflect that, hence the
increase in numbers. Again, armoured cars have been increased due to the sheer number used on
both sides. The Priests are there for flavour and to bring some distinction to the two sides, although
I do not doubt that there was some involvement on the Nationalist side by the Roman Catholic
Church.
Reinforced Platoon
1 Lieutenant First or Second
2 Infantry Squads
plus:
0-4 Infantry Squads
0-1 Captain or Major
0-1 Medic or Nun
0-1 Standard Bearer
0-1 Political Officers or 0-1 Priest (Dependent on side)
0-1 Forward Observer
0-1 MMG Team
0-3 Anti Tank Infantry
0-1 Cavalry Unit
0-1 Sniper
0-1 Anti Tank team
0-1 Mortar
0-1 Field Artillery, Anti Tank gun or Anti Aircraft gun
0-2 Armoured Car/ Armoured Trucks
0-1 Tank
0-1 Truck
Thanks and Acknowledgements
My thanks go out to the contributors and editors of Wikipedia, large swathes of which have been
plundered for the background material to the war, which I hope you find enlightening and
entertaining. Heartfelt thanks to Warlord (especially Rick Priestly and Alessio Cavatore) for
producing such a wonderful game.
However, main thanks go to the excellent 'Steve's Balagan' website (http://balagan.info) which has
proved a superb resource on equipment and TOE.
I would like to reiterate that this publication is not official and in no way is intended to impinge on
any of Warlords copyrights; this was produced mainly for my own consumption and enjoyment of
the exercise. Finally, thanks to George Orwell for stirring my interest in the war and Antony Beevor
for filling in most of the blanks in his excellent book.
Common Units
Infantry
Headquarters Units
Officer
The Spanish regular army effectively split in two at the outbreak of hostilities. Whilst the vast
majority of the Officer Corps went over to the Nationalist side, considerable amounts stayed loyal
to the elected government of the Republic. This entry can equally apply to the leaders and officers
of the various militia/paramilitary groups on both sides.
Cost:
Second Lieutenant 35pts (Inexperienced), 50pts (Regular), 65pts (Veteran).
First Lieutenant 60pts (Inexperienced), 75pts (Regular), 90pts (Veteran).
Captain 95pts (Inexperienced), 110pts (Regular), 125pts (Veteran).
Major 135pts (Inexperienced), 150pts (Regular), 165pts (Veteran).
Team: 1 Officer and up to 2 further men.
Equipment: Pistol, Rifle, Sub Machine Gun as depicted on models.
Options: The Officer may be accompanied by up to 2 men at a cost of +7pts per man
(Inexperienced), +10pts per man (Regular), or +13pts per man (Veteran).
Medic
Both sides naturally employed medics at the front line. Orwell's description of his throat wound is a
superbly graphic example of front line medical care in the trenches.
Cost:
15pts (Inexperienced) 20pts (Regular) 30pts (Veteran)
Team: 1 Medic and up to 2 further men
Equipment: Pistol, Rifle or none as depicted on models.
Options: The Medic may be accompanied by up to 2 men at a cost of +7pts per man
Forward Observer
Artillery played a huge role during the conflict that at times resembled WW1 in its trench warfare
and forward observation of the enemy was vital. Air power was developing during the conflict but
as yet there was not the same degree of land/air cooperation as would develop in WW2. The Air
observer is included as a method of allowing you to represent the air component and also paint
some cool models!
Cost: Artillery Forward Observer 100pts (Regular), Air Forward Observer 100pts (Regular).
Team: 1 Forward Observer and up to 2 further men.
Equipment: Pistol, Rifle or none as depicted on models.
Options: The Observer may be accompanied by up to 2 men at a cost of +10pts per man (Regular).
Infantry Sections and Teams

Spanish Army/Popular Army Regulars
The Spanish regular army effectively split in two at the outbreak of hostilities. Whilst the vast
majority of the army went over to the Nationalist side, considerable amounts stayed loyal to the
elected government of the Republic. Spanish/Popular Army squads officially numbered 1 NCO and
8 men with an LMG support. Frequently, there were not enough LMG to go around and on the
Republican side frequently not enough rifles!
Cost: Regular Infantry 40pts
Composition: 1 NCO and 3men
Weapons: Rifles
Options: Add up to 5 additional soldiers at +10pts each. One soldier may have an LMG at +20pts
another loader becomes the loader.
Special Rules: Conscripted. (Nationalist Only).
Machine Gun Team
There were a wide range of weapons used on both sides ranging from the French WW1 Chauchat
and Hotchkiss up to the MG15, Maxim and MG34. This entry can be used to represent any
mounted/wheeled medium machine gun from both sides.
Cost: 35pts (Inexperienced), 50pts (Regular), 65pts (Veteran)
Composition: 3 men 1 firer and 2 loaders.
Weapons: 1 MMG
Special Rules: Team Weapon
Fixed
Sniper Team
As with all 20th Century conflicts, the sniper was a vital tool in reconnaissance and sowing disorder
amongst the enemy; especially in a trench warfare environment such as the majority of the Civil
War.
Cost: 50pts (Regular), 65pts (Veteran)
Composition: 2 men 1 firer and 1 spotter.
Weapons: 1 Rifle
Sniper
Light Mortar Team
A vast array of light mortars were employed by both sides, some quite crude in design and dating
from WW1.
Composition: 2 men
Weapons: 1 light mortar
Indirect Fire - HE (D3)

Medium Mortar Team
A vast array of medium mortars were employed by both sides, this entry represents any of the
applicable models used.
Composition: 2 men
Weapons: 1 medium mortar
Options: May add a spotter for +10pts.
Fixed
Indirect Fire - HE (D6)
Anti Tank Infantry
Improvised incendiary devices were used for the first time in the Spanish Civil War before they
became known as "Molotov cocktails". This entry is used to represent any of the myriad number of
different methods employed by both sides to stop armoured vehicles.
Cost: 14pts (Inexperienced), 20pts (Regular)
Composition: 1 man
Weapons: 1 Molotov Cocktail, Improvised Charge etc
Special Rules: Forward Position. Anti Tank infantry count as Observers/Snipers for set up purposes
(See pg 118 of the Bolt Action rulebook.)
Through the engine louvers! If an anti tank team assaults an enemy vehicle and the model manages
to move into contact with the target, resolve the hit with a penetration value of +4 (no other
modifiers apply)
Cavalry
Both Republican and Nationalists employed Cavalry within their ranks as Reconnaissance elements.
The Nationalists also used Moroccan Cavalry which are covered with specific rules.
Composition: 1 NCO and 5 men mounted on horses
Weapons: Rifles
Options: Add up to 5 additional soldiers at +9pts (Inexperienced), +12pts (Regular) or 15pts
(Veteran) each. One soldier may have an LMG at +20pts.
Special Rules: Intended as reconnaissance troops or light skirmishers, if they fought they did so
dismounted. As such, cavalry may not charge into contact with an enemy unit whilst mounted. As
Scouts, they do not receive the -1 penalty to their leadership roll when coming on from Reserve.
Artillery
Field Artillery
Both sides were supplied with an array of artillery by the Soviet Union in the case of the
Republicans to Nazi Germany and the Italians supplying the Nationalists. It spanned most widely
used calibres and a few stranger ones. Veteran status reflects foreign 'volunteers' manning the
equipment. It is a common error to think that the Condor Legion fought as infantry in the War.
They (like their Soviet counterparts) mainly provided support weapons crews and flew aircraft and
later turned to a training role. The generic entries below represent these.
Light Artillery
Infantry Guns
Small man packed artillery pieces, lacking in explosive power. Usually WW1 vintage.
Composition: 3 men
Weapons: 1 light howitzer
Options: May add a Gun Shield for +5pts
Fixed
Howitzer
Light shell - HE (D3)
Indirect Fire
Light Howitzer
Composition: 3 men
Weapons: 1 light howitzer
Options: May add a Gun Shield for +5pts, may add up to 2 loaders for +5pts each.
Fixed
Howitzer
HE (D6)
Indirect Fire
Medium Howitzer
Composition: 3 men
Weapons: 1 medium howitzer
Fixed
Howitzer
HE (2D6)
Indirect Fire
Heavy Howitzer
Composition: 3 men
Weapons: 1 heavy howitzer
Options: May add a Gun Shield for +5pts, may add up to 3 loaders for +5pts each. May add a
spotter for +10pts.
Fixed
Howitzer
HE (3D6)
Indirect Fire
Light Anti Tank Gun
Composition: 3 men
Weapons: 1 light anti tank gun
Fixed
Medium Anti Tank Gun
Composition: 3 men
Weapons: 1 medium anti tank gun
Fixed
Light Anti Aircraft Gun
Composition: 3 men
Weapons: 1 light automatic cannon
Fixed
Flak
Vehicles
Tanks
T26 mod 1933.
The Soviet supplied the T26 to the Republican side in quantity and they formed the backbone of
their armoured force. The Nationalists had nothing like it in terms of armour and fire power.
However, they did capture large amounts of tanks and pressed them back into service. The T26
supplied was the Mod 1933 variant with a 47mm light anti tank gun and hull mounted machine gun.
Cost: 56pts (Inexperienced), 70pts (Regular), 84pts (Veteran) Republican; 65pts (Inexperienced),
79pts Regular (Nationalist).
Weapons: 1 turret mounted light anti tank gun, 1 hull mounted MMG.
Damage Value: 7+ (Tankette)
FT-17/18
At the beginning of the war, the Nationalist and Republican forces each possessed only five Renault
FT light tanks, although these were soon reinforced with imported materiel.
Weapons: 1 turret mounted MMG
Options: Upgrade the gun to a low velocity light anti tank gun for +30pts
Special Rules:
One Man Turret. Combining the roles of Commander, Gunner and Loader and squeezing the
unfortunate fellow into a one man turret means its hard to do different things at once! To represent
this it is always necessary to make an order test when issuing an Advance order, even if the tank is
not pinned.
Slow...pitifully slow. The FT17/18 is a Slow tank as defined by the rules and in addition we do not
permit it to make a double speed run move at all. It can still be given a Run order (thereby avoiding
the 'One Man Turret' rule) but moves at basic speed only.
Low Velocity Light Anti Tank Gun. The Puteaux SA18 counts as a light anti tank gun but with an
armour penetration of +3 instead of the usual +4.
Schneider CA1
The Schneider CA 1 (originally named the Schneider CA) was the first French tank. They saw
service at the beginning of the war. They were deployed in the fighting near Toledo and Zaragoza.
All were either knocked out or unoperational by late 1936.
Weapons: 1 hull mounted light howitzer covering the front and right arcs. 1 hull mounted LMG
covering left and front arcs, 1 hull mounted LMG covering right and front arcs.
Special Rules: Slow
Vulnerable. Because of the poor construction and exposed fuel lines with tendency to catch fire
they earned the unfortunate nickname 'Mobile Crematoriums'. Apply the damage rule for
Flamethrower vehicles on pg.51 of the rulebook.
Armoured Cars/Armoured Trucks
'Bilbao' Armoured Car
Although initially intended to perform as an anti-riot media for the Guardia de Asalto, the 1936
military uprising against the Republic forced them into field service as a fighting vehicle, thus
filling the Republican armour gap until the first Russian tanks were delivered. As with most
vehicles in the conflict they were used by both sides.
Transport: Up to 5 men
Damage Value: 7+ (Armoured Carrier)
Special Rules:
Recce
this it is always necessary to make an order test when issuing an Advance order, even if the
armoured car is not pinned.
Improvised Armoured Vehicles
The war saw both sides constructing improvised armoured vehicles from the little resources that
were available to hand. They would put the A-Team to shame with their Heath Robinson
contraptions. This entry is designed to vaguely represent these strange machines.
Options: May add 1 pintle mounted LMG covering left arc and 1 pintle mounted LMG covering
right arc at the cost of +15pts each. May include a transport capacity of up to 5 men at the cost of
+20pts and 10 men at the cost of +30pts.
Special Rules:
this it is always necessary to make an order test when issuing an Advance order, even if the
armoured car is not pinned.
Slow.
Miscellaneous Trucks
Weapons: None
Damage Value: 6+ (Soft Skin)
Transport: Up to 13 men
Tow: Light or Medium howitzer; Light or Medium Anti Tank Gun; Light Anti Aircraft Gun
Tractor/Artillery Mover
Weapons: None
Damage Value: 6+ (Soft Skin)
Tow: Any howitzer; Light or Medium Anti Tank Gun; Light Anti Aircraft Gun
Special Rules: Slow
The Forces of the Second Spanish Republic

Background
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain from 14 April 1931 until its
dissolution in 1939 by a military rebellion led by General Francisco Franco and Emilio Mola.
The Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed when King Alfonso XIII left the country following
municipal elections in which anti-monarchist candidates won the majority of votes, and the Spanish
population celebrated the beginning of the Republic and social pressure made the political regime
change. Its government went into exile on 1 April 1939, when the last of the loyalist Republican
forces surrendered to rebel forces (calling themselves Nacionales) led by Generalsimo Franco
among others at the end of the Spanish Civil War.
The government in exile of the Second Spanish Republic had an embassy in Mexico City until 1976
and was formally dissolved the following year.
1931 Constitution
On 28 January 1930 the military dictatorship of General Miguel Primo de Rivera (who had been in
power since September 1923 was overthrown. This led various republican factions from a wide
variety of backgrounds, including old conservatives and socialists, to join forces. The Pact of San
Sebastin was the key to the transition from monarchy to republic. Republicans of all tendencies
were committed to the Pact of San Sebastian in overthrowing the monarchy and establishing a
republic. The restoration of the royal Bourbons was totally rejected by large sectors of the populace
who vehemently opposed the King. The pact, signed by representatives of the main Republican
forces, allowed a joint anti-monarchy political campaign. The 12 April 1931 municipal elections led
to a landslide victory for republicans in the urban areas, although pro-monarchists won in the rural
areas, which were quite wider that the first ones. However, the victory of the republicans in the big
cities was considered as a tool to show how the politic ideas of the Spanish people had changed.
Two days later, the Second Republic was proclaimed, and King Alfonso XIII went into exile. The
king's departure led to a provisional government of the young republic under Niceto Alcal-Zamora.
In June 1931 a Constituent Cortes was elected to draft a new constitution, which came into force in
December.
The new constitution established freedom of speech and freedom of association, extended suffrage
to women in 1933, allowed divorce and stripped the Spanish nobility of any special legal status.
Initially it also largely disestablished the Catholic Church, a trend that was somewhat reversed in
1933. The controversial Constitutional articles 26 and 27 imposed stringent controls on Church
property and barred religious orders from the ranks of educators. Scholars have described the
constitution as hostile to religion, with one scholar characterising it as one of the most hostile of the
20th century.
The constitution established legal procedures for the nationalisation of public services and land,
banks, and railways. The constitution provided generally accorded civil liberties and representation,
a major exception being the rights of Catholics.
The 1931 Constitution was formally effective from 1931 until 1939. In the summer of 1936, after
the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, it became a dead letter after the authority of the Republic was
superseded in many places by revolutionary socialist and anarchist juntas.
The Republican Constitution also changed the symbols of the country. The National Anthem was
changed, and the Tricolour, with three horizontal red-yellow-purple fields, became the new flag of
Spain. Under the new Constitution, all of Spain's regions had the right to autonomy. Catalonia and
the Basque Country exercised this right, with Andaluca, Aragn, and Galicia engaged in
negotiations with the government before the outbreak of the Civil War. The Constitution guaranteed
a wide range of civil liberties, but it failed to agree on key points with the convictions of the
conservative right, which was very rooted in rural areas, and with the desires of the hierarchy of the
Roman Catholic Church.
19341935 period and miners' uprising
The majority vote in the 1933 elections was won by the Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous
Right (CEDA), led by Jos Mara Gil Robles, a coalition of centre-right and far-right parties. CEDA
set up a coalition with the Radical Republican Party led by Alejandro Lerroux, which had come
second in the elections. The Socialists came third. With Lerroux as head of Government, the new
coalition Executive suspended most of the reforms of the previous government.
The inclusion of three CEDA ministers in the government that took office on October 1, 1934 led to
a general strike and a rebellion by socialists and anarchists in Asturias on October 6. Miners in
Asturias occupied the capital, Oviedo, killing officials and clergymen and burning theatres and the
University. This rebellion lasted for two weeks until it was crushed by the army, led by General
Francisco Franco, who in the process destroyed large parts of the city. This operation earned Franco
the nickname "Butcher of Asturias". Another rebellion by autonomists in Catalonia was also
suppressed, and was followed by mass arrests and trials.
The suspension of the land reforms that had been attempted by the previous government, and the
failure of the Asturias miners' uprising, led to a more radical turn by the parties of the left,
especially in the PSOE (Socialist Party), where the moderate Indalecio Prieto lost ground to
Francisco Largo Caballero, who advocated a socialist revolution.
1936 elections
On 7 January 1936, new elections were called. Despite significant rivalries and disagreements the
Socialists, Communists, and the Catalan and Madrid-based left-wing Republicans decided to work
together under the name Popular Front. The Popular Front won the election on 16 February with
263 MPs against 156 right-wing MPs, grouped within a coalition of the National Front with CEDA,
Carlists, and Monarchists. The moderate centre parties virtually disappeared.
In the following months there was increasing violence between left and right. This helped the
development of the fascist-inspired Falange Espaola, a National party led by Jos Antonio Primo
de Rivera, the son of the former dictator, Miguel Primo de Rivera. Although it only received 0.7
percent of the votes in the election, by July 1936 the Falange had 40,000 members.
Assassinations of political leaders and beginning of the war
On 12 July 1936, Lieutenant Jos Castillo, an important member of the anti-fascist military
organisation Unin Militar Republicana Antifascista (UMRA), was shot by Falangist gunmen. In
retaliation the following day, 13 July, UMRA members assassinated Jos Calvo Sotelo, leader of the
right-wing opposition and the most prominent Spanish monarchist who, describing the
government's actions as Bolshevist and anarchist, had been exhorting the army to violence,
declaring that Spanish soldiers would save the country from communism if "there are no politicians
capable of doing so".
The Right blamed the government for Calvo Sotelo's assassination. Although it is sometimes
considered the catalyst for the further political polarisation that ensued, the Falange and other rightwing conspirators, including Juan de la Cierva, had already been conspiring to launch a military
coup d'tat against the government, to be led by senior army officers. When the antifascist Castillo
and the pro-fascist Calvo Sotelo were buried on the same day in the same Madrid cemetery, fighting
between the Police Assault Guard and Fascist militias broke out in the surrounding streets, resulting
in four more deaths.
Three days later (17 July), the coup d'tat began more or less as it had been planned, with an army
uprising in Spanish Morocco, which then spread to several regions of the country. Franco's move
was intended to seize power immediately, but his army uprising met with serious resistance, and
great swathes of Spain, including most of the main cities, remained loyal to the Republic of Spain.
The leaders of the revolution (Franco was not commander-in-chief yet), instead of declaring the
coup a failure, initiated a slow and determined war of attrition against the Republican government
in Madrid. As a result, an estimated total of approximately 500,000 people would lose their lives in
the war that followed.
Army Special Rules
'Quantity is a quality of its own!'
For every 2 Inexperienced Workers Militia Units that are purchased a third is available free of
charge with full equipment.
'Leadership by Committee'
The Anarchists, Communists, Socialists and other progressive Left Wing groups that made up the
Republican Workers Militias were prone to in fighting and disagreement. To reflect this, any
Workers Militia when required to take their first Order test must do so at -1 to their leadership
value. This only applies to the first Order test required to be taken.
In addition, if a Republican Order dice is drawn first on any turn, it must be replaced and another
drawn. The results of the second draw stand even if Republican again.
'To the Barricades'
The planned coup dtat was stifled by Workers Militia acting quickly to block Nationalist Army
units in the major cities. The Republican player may place up to 3 barriers no longer than 6 and 1
thick anywhere on his half of the table. These barricades count as light cover.
Poorly equipped
All Workers Militia units suffer an additional -1 to hit at long range due to the shoddy nature of
their weaponry.
Infantry
Headquarters Units
Political Officer
Political Officers were entrenched at every level within the military of the Republican forces to
instil the correct ideology and help to maintain discipline.
Cost:15pts (Inexperienced), 30pts (Regular)
Team: 1 Political Officer and up to 2 further men.
Equipment: Pistol, Rifle, Sub Machine Gun as depicted on models.
Options: The Officer may be accompanied by up to 2 men at a cost of +7pts per man
(Inexperienced), +10pts per man (Regular). May also be a Commissar (as per Armies of The Soviet
Union) for +30pts.
Special Rules: 'No further!' If a Green unit within 6 (12 with Banner rules) of the Political
Officer rolls for its Green Special rule then the result may be rerolled.
'Not One Step Back' If Commissar option taken - as per Armies of the Soviet Union. Both special
rules apply but both cannot be taken in the same turn.
Standard Bearer
Frequently seen with Trade Union, Anarchist, Communist or Militia Banners.
Cost: 25pts (Inexperienced) 40pts (Regular) 60pts (Veteran)
Team: 1 man and up to 2 further men.
Equipment: Pistol, Rifle, as depicted on models.
Options: The Bearer may be accompanied by up to 2 men at a cost of +7pts per man
Special Rules: Keep the Red Flag Flying! A Standard Bearer that is within 3 of an Officer doubles
that Officers' leadership range to all units, this includes Political Officers.
Infantry
Workers Militia
Representatives from Trade Unions, political parties and normal members of the populace all
flocked to defend the Constitution of the Republic from what they saw as the illegal act of Fascists.
Taking up arms in early 1936 they were vital in halting the early progress of the attempted coup.
Cost: Inexperienced Infantry 35pts
Composition: 1 NCO and 4 men
Weapons: Rifles
Options: Add up to 15 additional soldiers at +7pts each.
Special Rules: Workers Militia are Green and Poorly Equipped
'Committed to the Cause'. If Workers Militia are upgraded to Regulars upon taking their Green roll,
roll again. On another 6 they are upgraded to Regular Fanatics. You can only use a Political
Officer to reroll the first roll.
The International Brigades
The cause of the Second Republic resonated around the globe and young men and women
volunteered via their local Left leaning political parties or Trade Unions to go to Spain and fight
what they saw as the further encroachment of Fascism. Germany and Italy had fallen and it was
time to take a stand. The International Brigades were setup along nationality lines with most major
nations contributing some men to the cause. Amongst the best known of the Brigades were the
American 'Abraham Lincoln' Battalion, the Canadian Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion and the
British Brigade. They were frequently diehard Communists and Socialists and often faced an
uncertain future if returned to their own countries, especially the Germans and Italians that served
with the Brigades.
Cost: Regular Infantry 55pts.
Weapons: Rifles
Options: Add up to 7 additional soldiers at +10pts (Regular). One soldier may have an LMG at
+20pts another man becomes the loader. One unit per Reinforced Platoon may be Tough Fighters at
a cost of +1pt per man.
Special Rules: Tough Fighters if option taken.

A Long Way from Home. Upon taking their first casualty from ranged fire, the Brigadistas roll a
die and apply the following table:
1 - Downgrade to Inexperienced
2 Take an additional pin
3 - No effect
4 - No effect
5 - Become Fanatics
6 - Upgrade to Veteran status. On a further roll of 5-6, become Fanatics in addition
You can only use a Political Officer to reroll the first roll.
The Assault Guards
The Guardia de Asalto (Assault Guard), usually shortened to Los Asaltos or just Asaltos, were the
blue-uniformed urban police force of Spain during the Spanish Second Republic. It was the urban
analogue to the green-uniformed Guardia Civil which patrolled the countryside. The Assault Guards
were special police units created by the Spanish Republic in 1931 to deal with urban violence.
Weapons: Rifles
Options: Add up to 5 additional soldiers at +10pts each. One soldier may have an LMG at +20pts
another loader becomes the loader. The NCO and up to 3 men may take an SMG at +3pts each.
Special Rules: 'Not Trusted'. Orwell in Homage to Catalonia talks about how the Assault Guards
were loathed by the Anarchist and Socialist Militia as they viewed them as pawns of the
Communists (told you there was infighting!) especially after the repression of the Anarchist and
Marxist parties by the Communists and the subsequent street fighting in Barcelona.
If a Workers Militia unit is within 6 of an Assault Guards unit, it must always take an orders test to
execute any action even if not pinned. If this orders test is failed the unit goes Down and takes a pin
marker.
Vehicles
Tanks
BT-5
They first saw action in the Spanish Civil War at the Battle of Guadalajara. A battalion of BT-5s
fought on the Republican side, and their 45mm guns could easily knock out the opposing German
and Italian light tanks.
Weapons: 1 turret mounted light anti tank gun, 1 co axial MMG.
Damage Value: 8+ (Light Tank)
Trubia Naval
Basque locally built tank that mainly saw combat around the Bilbao and Asturias regions. Approx
15-20 used.

Weapons: 1 turret MMG, 1 hull mounted MMG.
Damage Value: 8+ (Light Tank)
Special Rules: Unreliable. The Trubia-Naval famously broke down on parade in front of the
Basque President. When the production lines were overrun by Nationalist forces they found
numerous examples that the Republicans had not sent to the front because of reliability issues.
If the vehicle suffers one or more pin markers as a result of an enemy attack, it automatically suffers
one further pin marker in addition.
Armoured Cars
BA-3/6/10
The BA-3/6 was a heavy armoured car developed in the Soviet Union in 1933, followed by a
slightly changed model BA-6 in 1936. Supplied in large numbers by the Soviets to the Republican
forces. The basic BA-10 design was developed from the BA-3/6 heavy armoured cars. It had an
improved GAZ-AAA chassis and improved armour (up to 15mm at front and turret).
Weapons: 1 turret mounted light anti tank gun, with coaxial LMG, 1 hull mounted LMG.
Special Rules: Recce
FAI/BA-20
The FAI (Ford-A Izhorskiy) armoured car was a replacement for the D-8 armoured car, used by the
Soviet Union from the early 1930s to early 1940s. The BA-20 was an armoured car developed in
the Soviet Union in 1934. It was intended to replace the FAI and its field trials were completed in
1935.
Weapons: 1 turret mounted LMG.
Special Rules: Recce
UNL-35
The factories of Levante fabricated, under Soviet guidance, what was considered to be one of the
best armoured trucks of the warthe UNL-35. These vehicles were based on the Soviet ZiS-5
truck, and were fabricated between early 1937 and March 1939 at a rate of no more than five per
month. Also based on other chassis, such as Ford's model 817T, around 120 UNL-35s were
manufactured.
Weapons: 1 turret mounted MMG. 1 hull mounted MMG.
The Forces of the Spanish Nationalists

Background
The Nationalist faction was a major faction in the Spanish Civil War of 1936 to 1939. It was
composed of a variety of political groups that supported the Spanish coup of July 1936 against the
Second Spanish Republic, including the Falange, the CEDA, and two rival monarchist claimants:
the Alfonsists and the Carlists. After 1937, all the groups were merged into the Falange. The main
leader (Spanish: Caudillo) of the 1936 coup, General Francisco Franco, would lead this faction
throughout the war and later would become the dictator of Spain from 1939 to 1975. The name
Nationalists or Nationals (nacionales), was mainly used by its members and supporters, while its
opponents used the terms fascistas (fascists) or facciosos (sectarians) to refer to this faction.
Falange
The Falange was originally a Spanish fascist political party founded by Jos Antonio Primo de
Rivera, son of the former Spanish leader Miguel Primo de Rivera. The Falange was created with the
financial assistance of Alfonsist monarchist funding. Upon being formed, the Falange was officially
anti-clerical and anti-monarchist. As a landowner and aristocrat, Primo de Rivera assured the upper
classes that Spanish fascism would not get out of their control like its equivalents in Germany and
Italy. In 1934, the Falange merged with the pro-Nazi Juntas de Ofensiva Nacional-Sindicalista of
Ramiro Ledesma Ramos. Initially, the Falange was short of funds and was a small student-based
movement that preached of a utopian violent nationalist revolution. The Falange committed acts of
violence prior to the war, including becoming involved in street brawls with their political
opponents that helped to create a state of lawlessness that the right-wing press blamed on the
republic to support a military uprising. Falangist terror squads sought to create an atmosphere of
disorder in order to justify the imposition of an authoritarian regime. With the onset of middle-class
disillusionment with the CEDA's legalism, support for the Falange expanded rapidly. By September
1936, the total Falangist volunteers numbered at 35,000, accounting for 55 percent of all civilian
forces of the Nationals.
The Falange was one of the original supporters of the military coup d'tat against the Republic, the
other being the Carlists. After the death of Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera, Manuel Hedilla sought to
take control of the Falange, but this was usurped by Franco who sought to take control of the
movement as part of his move to take control of the National faction. In 1937, Franco announced a
decree of unification of the National political movements, particularly the Falange and the Carlists
into a single movement, nominally still the Falange, under his leadership. Both Falangists and
Carlists were initially furious at the decision, Falangists in particular saw their ideological role as
being usurped by the Catholic Church and their "revolution" being indefinitely postponed.
Upon unification and seizure of leadership by Franco, Franco distanced the party from fascism, and
declared "The Falange does not consider itself fascist; its founder said so personally." After this
announcement, the practice in the National faction of referring to the Falange as "fascists"
disappeared by 1937, though Franco did not deny that there were fascists within the Falange.
Franco declared that the Falange's goal was to incorporate the "great neutral mass of the
unaffiliated," and promised that no ideological rigidity would be allowed to interfere with the goal.
Under Franco's leadership, the Falange abandoned the previous anti-clerical tendencies of Jose
Antonio Primo de Rivera and instead promoted neotraditionalist National Catholicism, though it
continued to criticize Catholic pacifists. Franco's Falange also abandoned hostility to capitalism;
with Falange member Raimundo Fernndez-Cuesta declaring that Falange's national syndicalism
was fully compatible with capitalism.
CEDA
The Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Right-wing Groups (CEDA) was a Catholic right-wing
political organization dedicated to anti-Marxism. The CEDA was led by Jos Mara Gil-Robles y
Quiones. The CEDA claimed that it was defending Spain and "Christian civilization" from
Marxism, and claimed that the political atmosphere in Spain had made politics a matter of Marxism
versus anti-Marxism. With the advent of the rise of the Nazi Party to power in Germany, the CEDA
aligned itself with similar propaganda ploys to the Nazis, including the Nazi emphasis on authority,
the fatherland, and hierarchy. Gil-Robles attended in audience at the Nazi Party rally in Nuremberg
and were influenced by it, henceforth becoming committed to creating a single anti-Marxist
counterrevolutionary front in Spain. Gil-Robles declared his intention to "give Spain a true unity, a
new spirit, a totalitarian polity..." and went on to say "Democracy is not an end but a means to the
conquest of the new state. When the time comes, either parliament submits or we will eliminate it."
The CEDA held fascist-style rallies, called Gil-Robles "Jefe", the equivalent of Duce, and claimed
that the CEDA might lead a "March on Madrid" to forcefully seize power. The CEDA failed to
make the substantive electoral gains from 1931 to 1936 that were needed for it to form government
which resulted in right-wing support draining from it and turning towards the belligerent Alfonsist
monarchist leader Jos Calvo Sotelo. Subsequently the CEDA abandoned its moderation and
legalism and began providing support for those committed to violence against the republic,
including handing over its electoral funds to the initial leader of the military coup against the
republic, General Emilio Mola. Subsequently supporters of the CEDA's youth movement,
Juventudes de Accin Popular (JAP) began to defect en masse to join the Falange.
Carlists
The Carlists were monarchists and ardent ultra traditionalist Catholics who sought the installation of
Carlist Pretender Francisco Javier de Borbn as King of Spain. The Carlists were anti-republican,
anti-democratic and staunchly anti-socialist. The Carlists were so anti-socialist that they opposed
both Hitler and Mussolini because of their socialistic tendencies. The Carlists were led by Manuel
Fal Cond and held their main base of support in Navarre. The Carlists along with the Falange were
the original supporters of the military coup d'tat against the republic. The Carlists held a long
history of violent opposition to the Spanish state, stemming back to 1833 when they launched a sixyear civil war against the state. The Carlists were strongly intransigent to any coalition with other
movements, even believing that no non-Carlist could have honest intentions.
During the war, the Carlists' militia, the Requets reached a peak of 42,000 recruits but by the end
of hostilities in April 1939 their overall strength had been reduced to 23,000.
Alfonsists
The Alfonsists were a movement that supported the restoration of Alfonso XIII of Spain as monarch
following the founding of the Spanish Second Republic in 1931. They competed with rival
monarchists, the Carlists for the Spanish throne. After the overthrow of the monarchy of Alfonso
XIII, Alfonsist supporters formed the Renovacin Espaola, a monarchist political party, which
held considerable economic influence and had close supporters in the Spanish army. Renovacin
Espaola did not, however, manage to become a mass political movement. In 1934, the Alfonsists
led by Antonio Goicoechea along with the Carlists, met with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini to
gain support for an uprising against the Republic, in which Mussolini promised to provide money
and arms for such a rising. From 1934 to 1936, the charismatic Alfonsist leader Jos Calvo Sotelo
spoke of the need for the "conquest of the state" as the only means to secure the establishment of an
ideal authoritarian, corporatist state. Sotelo made passionate speeches in support of violent
counterrevolution and emphasized the need for a military insurrection against the Republic to
counter the threats of communism and separatism that he blamed as being caused by the Republic.
Sotelo was kidnapped and assassinated by political opponents (who were initially searching out Gil-
Robles of the CEDA to kidnap) on 13 July 1936 which sparked fury on the political right and
helped legitimize the military coup against the Republic.
When the war broke out, Infante Juan, the son of Alfonso XIII and heir to the Spanish throne,
requested the permission of Franco to take part in the Nationals' war effort by enlisting as a member
of the crew of the cruiser Balaeres, which was nearing completion. He promised to abstain from
political activities, but Franco refused, believing that he would become a figurehead for the
Alfonsists who held a strong presence in the military.
Army Special Rules
Air Superiority
The Nationalists had the clear superiority in the air with their Italian and German machines,
especially with the pilots of the Condor Legion and the state of the art machines they employed.
Nationalist Air Observers may call in two Air Strikes per game instead of one.
Well Drilled
The Nationalists as a whole were better trained and equipped than their Republican counterparts,
largely due to the supply of weapons from Germany and Italy as well as having more pre War
officers in their ranks.
Nationalist units may reroll their first failed Order check. The second result stands.
Conscripted
Despite having better training and equipment the remains of the Spanish Regular Army in the
Nationalist order of battle were largely unpaid conscripts, especially later in the War. As manpower
shortages took hold, and the veterans of earlier battles were killed or wounded and frequently the
replacement conscript found himself in an army whose political allegiance he did not share.
Spanish Regular Nationalist infantry suffer from -1 leadership. Note, they remain Regular for the
purposes of shooting.
Support of the Church
The Nationalist cause has the unfettered backing of the Roman Catholic Church within Spain. The
Nationalist player may include a Nun in their force for free. The Nun follows all the normal rules
for a Medic but her range is limited to 3. An appropriate model MUST be used. She has the
following profile:
Cost: Inexperienced Infantry
Team: 1 Nun
Equipment: Rosary Beads.
Special Rules: Support of the Church.
Headquarters Units
Priest
The Nationalist cause has the unfettered backing of the Roman Catholic Church within Spain and
the Army and various militias frequently had Priests accompanying their units.
Cost: 15pts (Inexperienced)
Team: 1 Priest
Equipment: Rosary Beads.
Options: May be upgraded to a Cardinal for +15pts.
Special Rules: Bless me Father. The Priest allows all Nationalist units within 3 to reroll their
first morale check. A Cardinals range is extended to 6. A Priest MUST be represented by an
appropriate model. (Basically an excuse for you to field some Monty Pythonesque Spanish
Inquisition models...)
Caid
The Moroccan troops as part of the Army of Africa were commanded by Spaniards, but within each
unit was an indigenous SNCO called a Caid, he operated much like a cross between a British
Regimental Sergeant Major and a Russian Political Commissar and his role was to keep the
Moroccan troops firmly under the command of their Spanish masters.
Cost: 30pts (Regular)
Team: 1 Caid and up to 2 further men.
Equipment: Rifles.
Options: The Caid may be accompanied by up to 2 men at a cost of +10pts per man (Infantry) or
+12pts per man (Cavalry). Maybe mounted on a horse +5pts, gaining the Cavalry special rule.
Special Rules: 'Not One Step Back' as per Armies of the Soviet Union Commissar entry. Can only
apply to any Moroccan Regulares Infantry or cavalry unit.
Infantry
Nationalist Militia
Representative of the various CEDA, Carlist, Falangist and Alfonsist faction militias that were
raised throughout the war.
Cost: Inexperienced Infantry 35pts
Weapons: Rifles
Options: Add up to 10 additional soldiers at +7pts each. One man may swap his rifle for a LMG at
+20pts another man becomes the loader.
Italian CTV
Mussolini not only aided the Nationalists with money and weapons but also raised a force of
Volunteers consisting of a mix of regular army and his infamous Blackshirts. As with any
paramilitary force they were a mixed bunch in terms of quality.
Weapons: Rifles
Options: Add up to 6 additional soldiers at +10pts each. The NCO may have a sub machine gun
for +3pts. One man may swap his rifle for a LMG at +20pts another man becomes the loader.
Special rules: Untested As per entry for Italian Blackshirts pg15 Armies of Italy and the Axis.
Moroccan Regulares
Hardened in the Rif War, Moroccan Regulares Infantry played a vital role in the Army of Africa
commanded by Franco and were amongst the first troops to fight on mainland Spain against the
Republicans. They were fearsome light infantry and cavalrymen.
Weapons: Rifles
Special rules: Close to home Regulares performed superbly in the arid open countryside of Spain
finding it much like their North African home. Regulares are allowed to make an advance move and
if they do not shoot then the Regulares can turn their dice to Ambush.
Moroccan Regulares Cavalry
Cost: Regular Cavalry 72pts
Weapons: Cavalry Carbines
Special Rules: As Scouts, they do not receive the -1 penalty to their leadership roll when coming
on from Reserve.
Cavalry Carbines count as pistols when mounted and rifles when dismounted.
Spanish Legion
Less well known than their French counterparts but similarly fierce and determined fighters, the
Legion provided the Army of Africa and the Nationalist cause with a backbone of veteran fighters.
Cost: Veteran Infantry 75pts
Weapons: Rifles
+20pts another man becomes the loader. NCO and up to 2 men may take submachine guns at a cost
of +3pts.
Special rules: Stubborn. Legionnaires dont give in easily, appropriate for a unit whose motto was
Viva la muerte!(Long Live Death!). Legionnaires count as Stubborn. If forced to check their
morale when reduced to half strength then they always test on their full morale value, ignoring any
pin markers.
Tough Fighters
Vehicles
Tanks
Pzkw I
Initially designed as a training vehicle to familiarise crews with modern vehicles and tank doctrine,
the Pzkw I nevertheless saw active combat during both the Spanish Civil War and WW2. At the
outset of hostilities the Nazi government shipped 41 Pzkw I to the Nationalist forces in Spain and
further tanks followed.

Weapons: 2 turret mounted MMG.
Options: May replace both turret mounted MMGs with a light automatic cannon for +10pts.
Fiat 3000
Based heavily on the design of the French FT-17/18 the Fiat had a better engine and replaced the
machine guns with a light anti tank gun. It was obsolete even before the beginning of the Spanish
Civil War.
Weapons: 2 turret mounted MMG.
Options: May replace both turret mounted MMGs with a light anti tank gun for +30pts.
Special Rules: One Man Turret. Combining the roles of Commander, Gunner and Loader and
squeezing the unfortunate fellow into a one man turret means its hard to do different things at once!
To represent this it is always necessary to make an order test when issuing an Advance order, even
if the tankette is not pinned.
Slow
L33/35
The L3/35 or Carro Veloce CV-35 was an Italian tankette that saw combat in the Spanish Civil War.
Although designated a light tank by the Italian Army, its turret less configuration, weight and
firepower make it closer to contemporary tankettes. It was the most numerous Italian armoured
fighting vehicle and saw service almost everywhere the Italians fought but proved inadequate for
modern warfare having too thin armor and weak armament of only machine guns. In Spain, L3s of
the CTV were totally out-classed by the T-26 and BT-5 tanks provided to the Republican forces by
the Soviet Union.
Weapons: 1 hull mounted MMG.
Options: Variants may replace the single MMG with one of the following (all forward facing,
hull mounted): Two MMGs for +10pts or HMG for +10pts, a flamethrower with co-axial MMG for
+35pts.
Special Rules: Slow, when upgraded with a flamethrower. Also, remember that flame throwing
vehicles are more vulnerable to enemy fire; see pg51 of the rulebook.
Artillery
Anti Aircraft
Flak 36/88mm
Widespread production started with the Nazi rise to power in 1933, the Flak 36/88 variant was
available in small numbers when Germany intervened in the Spanish Civil War. It quickly proved to
be the best anti-aircraft weapon then available and was also used in the ground role.
Cost: 180pts (Regular), 217pts (Veteran)
Team: 7 men
Weapons: 1 Super Heavy Anti Tank Gun
Options: May add a spotter for +10pts
Fixed
Flak
Versatile may also be fired as a light howitzer.

Bolt Action Armies of The Spanish Civil War v2.1

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Bolt Action: Armies of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

Infantry Sections and Teams

Indirect Fire - HE (D3)

The Forces of the Second Spanish Republic

Special Rules: Tough Fighters if option taken.

Cost: 80pts (Inexperienced), 100pts (Regular)

The Forces of the Spanish Nationalists

Cost: 56pts (Inexperienced), 70pts (Regular)

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