Devil's Brigade, The - Special Service Force

Special Training & Equipment

The First Special Service Force (SSF) was initially designed, outfitted and trained as an elite mountain commando force with the mission to invade Norway. Though that mission never materialized, their unique training in mountain warfare, skiing, demolitions, and hand to hand combat gave them the required skills to excel on the battlefields of Italy. The SSF lacked heavy machine-guns and mortars, but they were armed with the Johnson M1941 and M1919A4 light machine-guns.

So, in terms of small arms and light crewserved weapons the 108 combat sections of the six SSF battalions had a collective firepower equal to a conventional infantry division. The platoons of the SSF were well known for ‘acquiring’ additional Thompson sub-machine guns and Browning automatic rifles to supplement their firepower. Every man in each section was also armed with a V-42 fighting knife and an M1911A1 pistol. The knife was specifically designed by Colonel Frederick, the SSF Commander, based on the British Commando Fairbairn-Sykes knife.

In Flames Of War

A Special Service Force uses the US Special Rules on pages 157-162 of the rulebook in addition to the Special Rules listed below.

I Shall Never Fail My Comrades

Special Service Force (SSF) units became an extremely closeknit organisation. As a commando-like force, each company has three small platoons of well-integrated troops. They fight and die together as the Devil’s Brigade.

A Special Service Force Company ignores all Divisional Support Platoons when determining whether it needs to take a Company Morale Check for being below half strength. Support Platoons never count as being either Destroyed or still on the table for the purposes of a Company Morale Check.

Lead The Way

While all American infantry practised speed marching, the Special Service Force took it to the extreme. They could speed march through the toughest terrain.

Special Service Force Infantry teams may move At the Double (using the Truscott Trot) through Difficult Going.

Cautious Movement

When infiltrating enemy lines, the SSF blackened their faces and left stickers saying ‘The worst is yet to come’ on their victims. The German’s called them the ‘Black Devils. They were particularly adept at using available terrain in exploiting their close combat, mountaineering, demolition and assault training to full advantage.

SSF teams can still move and be Gone to Ground if they are concealed and did not move At the Double, shoot or assault.

Assault Troops

The Special Service Force earned the enviable reputation as extremely aggressive assault troops.

Special Service Force Platoons may re-roll failed Motivation tests to rally from being Pinned Down.

No Obstacle Too Tough

Special Service Force trained in climbing cliffs and other seemingly impassable obstacles, allowing them to go anywhere.

Special Service Force Infantry and Man-packed Gun teams are Mountaineers.

Woodsmen

The Special Service Force trained extensively in the wilds of western Canada and the United States to operate independently in the most arduous terrain.

Special Service Force Platoons use the German Mission Tactics special rule.

Death, destruction and Mayhem

Highly trained in demolitions and sporting a redesigned British Commando Fairbairn-Sykes dagger, every SSF member was issued a case V-42 dagger along with a M1911A1 semi-automatic pistol with a seven round magazine of .45 calibre ammunition.

Special Service Force Infantry teams hit on a roll of 2+ in assault combat with an Anti-tank rating of 3.