A Fistful of TOWs 3 Enjoy �ghting mechanized battles in miniature? How about a game that’s fun, fast playing, easy to learn, and still gives historical results? A Fistful of TOWs 3 is all that, and more. Oh, and did we mention the largest set of vehicle and gun data ever published in an individual rule set? Or the largest set of army lists ever printed in a single volume?

A fast-playing, hard hitting set of miniatures rules for mechanized warfare. �e rules are comprehen-sive, yet playable. And fast. Real fast. A typical game turn should average no more than 15 minutes. And it’s designed to let you play big battles if you want, and use all those miniatures you have!

Troop Quality Matters A Whole Lot. Troop quality a�ects every system in the game. Just like in the Real World.Elegant Artillery Rules. Fast to resolve and no pre-plotting required. And you’ll actually use artillery.Simple Command Rules. Clean and simple, the command system accurately models mechanized command and control, without a bunch of leader stands cluttering up the playing surface.Virtually Every Major Weapon System from the 1930s to present is covered, along with data for di�erent time periods and con�icts. Full Campaign and Scenario Generation System. Plus advice and guidance for do-it-yourself scenario designers. And a point system to help balance scenarios.Rules to Determine Your Own Equipment Ratings. If you think the Merkava III’s ratings aren’t right, we give you the rules to �x them.Flexibility. Designed for play with miniatures from 2mm up to 15mm in scale with no modi�cations. Because stands represent infantry platoons or 4-6 vehicles, the game comfortably handles battles from company/battalion-sized to brigade/regiment-sized and larger. And no speci�c basing requirements! Unprecedented Historical Coverage. With a single game system and data set, you can �ght engage-ments from diverse times and con�icts of your choosing—such as Poland in 1939, France in 1940, Kiev in 1941, Tunisia in 1942, Kursk in 1943, Bastogne in 1944, the Ruhr in 1945, the Tet O�ensive in 1968, the Golan Heights in 1973, the Fulda Gap in 1984, Iraq in 1991 and 2003, and many, many more.

Like Tanks?

A Fistful of TOWs 3

Game Features

A Fistful of Games

Sam

ple

file

Licensing Agreement

In exchange for the purchase price, Ty Beard and Paul Minson (“Ty and Paul”) grant the following rights to you:

1. You have a permanent license to view this product on up to 3 desktop and/or laptop computers, one phone, and one tablet computer comparable to an iPad or Amazon Kindle, provided that you or a family member living in the same residence are the ones viewing the product. Tell your brother-in-law to buy his own copy for pity’s sake.

2. You can have one printed copy of this product at any given time. You may print replacement pages. You may not make multiple printed copies of these rules. Giving printed copies to your buddies is right out and will draw fearsome retribution.

3. This license is not transferrable. This means you cannot give it to someone else or sell it to them. If you want to buy this product for someone else, Ty and Paul will make reasonable efforts to facilitate that.

4. You may backup the product, but you may not give any copies to anyone else unless they are in the business of maintaining computer backups.

5. You may not make this product available on any filesharing networks or distribute any copies to third parties by any physical or electronic means including by email.

6. You may copy and paste content from this product, but only for your personal use and only for Fair Use as defined by the laws of the United States and the state of Texas. You are specifically allowed to copy data into reference sheets that you may distribute to others who are playing this game with you. You may not post significant excerpts on websites or print them out.

7. You may copy and paste data as part of scenarios you create or to support your position in an internet flame war. You may, of course, cite FFT3 as a definitive and authoritative source for virtually any proposition, but Ty and Paul assume no liability. (Though they may give you a virtual golf clap).

8. You may tell everyone what a fabulous wargame this is and go on ad infinitum about it. In fact, you may go on about FFT3’s incredible awesomeness until and even after the people around you want to throttle you.

In addition, you and Ty and Paul agree to the following:

1. Any modification of this agreement must be in writing and signed by you and Ty or Paul.

2. Texas law will govern any disputes under this agreement. Venue and jurisdiction will rest exclusively in the courts of Smith County, Texas. You acknowledge that Smith County, Texas gets extremely hot from time to time and accept the consequences thereof, including sunburn, heatstroke or sweaty feet. You also acknowledge that Smith County, Texas can be a scary place for Yankees, Europeans and other non-Texans. Ty and Paul acknowledge that Australians probably won’t be scared by any part of Texas (except maybe Austin).

3. All parties agree to assume a duty of good faith and fair dealing with each other regarding this agreement.

If you do not agree to these terms, destroy the copy within 24 hours of purchase, then contact Paul and Ty for a refund. But seriously, how lame would that be?

iii

Sam

ple

file

iv

Sam

ple

file

A Fistful of TOWs 3Miniature Wargame RulesModern Mechanized Warfare1915–2015

By Ty Beard and Paul Minson

© Copyright 2011 by Ty Beard and Paul Minson. All Rights ReservedVersion 1.1

Sam

ple

file

2

DedicationWith love,

to our wives Torri and Johanna-Maria, who so gracefully put up with our obsession with this hobby.

AcknowledgementsBob Mackenzie

Dave Burnett

Paul Lakowski

Chris Harvey

Cillian Cleland

Rolf Grein

Meryl Rutz

Andrew Bishop

John Madick

Jake Collins

Paul O’Grady

Robert Fair

Bobby Perkins

Kent Minson

Carl McNiel

Sam McNiel

Mike Rainer

Greg Hendry

John Barnes

Thomas Minson

Kevin Slimak

Sean Scott

John Curtin

Erick Weeldreyer

The East Texas Wargame Club

The Fistful of TOWs Email Group

The Guys at QRF—Outstanding 15mm Minis

And dozens of friends spanning the globe who’ve played the various versions of the game and were kind enough to send their comments and suggestions . . . .

Cover ArtworkCourtesy of Jody Harmon

Check out Jody's fantastic military artwork at www.jodyharmon.com.Sa

mpl

e file

3

Short Table of Contents

1: Miniature WargaMing ....................................................................................................13

2: introduction ....................................................................................................................29

3: Sequence of Play ...........................................................................................................31

4: MarkerS and forceS .....................................................................................................35

5: trooP quality ...................................................................................................................41

6: MoveMent & coheSion ...................................................................................................45

7: terrain ................................................................................................................................51

8: vehicleS ..............................................................................................................................63

9: infantry, carrierS and toWed WeaPonS ................................................................65

10: SPotting ...........................................................................................................................69

11: coMbat overvieW ...........................................................................................................73

12: fire coMbat .....................................................................................................................75

13: anti-vehicle fire ............................................................................................................83

14: anti-infantry fire ..........................................................................................................89

15: artillery and area fire ..............................................................................................93

16: cloSe coMbat ............................................................................................................... 109

17: helicoPterS .................................................................................................................. 113

18: night fighting .............................................................................................................. 119

19: coMbat engineering ..................................................................................................121

20: airStrikeS ......................................................................................................................129

21: high technology ........................................................................................................133

22: airborne and aMPhibiouS ruleS ............................................................................137

23: cheMical Warfare.......................................................................................................143

24: nuclear WeaPonS .......................................................................................................149

Sam

ple

file

4

25: Scenario deSign & caMPaignS ................................................................................157

26: gaMing at 1:1 ..................................................................................................................175

aPPendix a: deSigner’S /develoPer’S noteS ............................................................177

aPPendix b: deSigning vehicleS, helicoPterS, infantry, etc. ...........................183

aPPendix c: arMy liStS Pre-1950 ...................................................................................223

aPPendix d: data chartS Pre-1950 ................................................................................261

aPPendix e: arMy liStS 1950 onWard...........................................................................307

aPPendix f: data chartS 1950 onWard ........................................................................365

index .......................................................................................................................................447

Scenario data SheetS & quick reference chartS ................................................452Sa

mpl

e file

5

Table of Contents

1: Miniature WargaMing ....................................................................................................131.1 What is Miniature Wargaming? ......................................................................................131.2 Periods ...........................................................................................................................131.3 the Miniatures ...............................................................................................................131.4 Painting the Miniatures ..................................................................................................171.5 terrain ............................................................................................................................191.6 a few good references ................................................................................................201.7 Playing your first game .................................................................................................211.8 fistful of toWs 3 tactical Primer ...................................................................................211.9 formatting ......................................................................................................................241.10 chapter organization ...................................................................................................241.11 resolving ambiguities, contradictions and omissions .................................................24

1.11.1 general ............................................................................................................241.11.2 initial approach ................................................................................................251.11.3 global Principles ..............................................................................................251.11.4 ambiguous rules ............................................................................................251.11.5 contradictory rules .........................................................................................261.11.6 omitted rules ..................................................................................................261.11.7 after the game ................................................................................................26

1.12 glossary .......................................................................................................................27

2: introduction ....................................................................................................................292.1 What you need to Play .................................................................................................292.2 Scale .............................................................................................................................292.3 Measuring .....................................................................................................................292.4 optional rules ...............................................................................................................30

3: Sequence of Play ...........................................................................................................313.1 executive Summary ......................................................................................................313.2 general ..........................................................................................................................313.3 Sequence of Play ..........................................................................................................313.4 time limits (optional, but highly recommended) ..........................................................34

4: MarkerS and forceS .....................................................................................................354.1 Markers .........................................................................................................................354.2 “units” and “Stands” .......................................................................................................364.3 basing your troops ........................................................................................................364.4 identifying Stands ..........................................................................................................364.5 vehicle, antitank gun, and antiaircraft gun data chart, and artillery data chart .........374.6 infantry data chart ........................................................................................................394.7 the army lists ...............................................................................................................40

5: trooP quality ...................................................................................................................41

Sam

ple

file

6

5.1 executive Summary ......................................................................................................415.2 troop quality .................................................................................................................415.3 quality checks ..............................................................................................................42

5.3.1 quality checks due to fire combat .................................................................435.3.2 quality checks due to overwatch fire ............................................................435.3.3 quality checks due to area fire attacks ..........................................................435.3.4 quality checks due to losses .........................................................................435.3.5 quality checks due to close combat ..............................................................445.3.6 effects of failed quality checks ......................................................................44

6: MoveMent & coheSion ...................................................................................................456.1 executive Summary ......................................................................................................456.2 general ..........................................................................................................................456.3 Movement classes ........................................................................................................466.4 terrain effects on Movement .........................................................................................476.5 cohesion .......................................................................................................................476.6 Strategic Movement .......................................................................................................486.7 friction (optional) ..........................................................................................................496.8 formation headquarters (optional) ...............................................................................49

7: terrain ................................................................................................................................517.1 executive Summary .......................................................................................................517.2 line of Sight ...................................................................................................................517.3 cover ..............................................................................................................................517.4 linear obstacles ............................................................................................................527.5 hills and ridgelines .......................................................................................................527.6 clear terrain ...................................................................................................................537.7 light Woods ...................................................................................................................547.8 heavy Woods .................................................................................................................547.9 forest .............................................................................................................................547.10 Sand and Snow ............................................................................................................547.11 bad going ....................................................................................................................547.12 rough ...........................................................................................................................547.13 Swamp .........................................................................................................................557.14 Streams ........................................................................................................................557.15 rivers and canals ........................................................................................................567.16 roads, bridges and Paths ............................................................................................577.17 Paths ............................................................................................................................577.18 cliffs .............................................................................................................................577.19 towns ...........................................................................................................................587.20 optional area terrains ..................................................................................................58

7.20.1 low crops .......................................................................................................587.20.2 high crops ......................................................................................................587.20.3 Paddy fields ....................................................................................................58

7.21 optional linear obstacles ............................................................................................587.21.1 low railroad & highway embankments, and low Stone Walls & fences ......597.21.2 high railroad & highway embankments, high Stone Walls & fences, and

hedgerows .............................................................................................................597.21.3 dense Wind breaks & high hedges ...............................................................597.21.4 low hedge ......................................................................................................597.21.5 low earthen berm ..........................................................................................597.21.6 Planted low earthen berm .............................................................................597.21.7 Small canals and large ditches .....................................................................607.21.8 causeways and dikes .....................................................................................60

7.22 terrain overlap .............................................................................................................60

8: vehicleS ..............................................................................................................................638.1 general ..........................................................................................................................63

Sam

ple

file

7

8.2 vehicle firing arcs .........................................................................................................638.3 open-topped vehicles ..................................................................................................64

9: infantry, carrierS and toWed WeaPonS ................................................................659.1 executive Summary ......................................................................................................659.2 types of infantry Stands ................................................................................................659.3 infantry Movement and facing ......................................................................................669.4 infantry firing ................................................................................................................669.5 embarking, debarking and carrying Stands .................................................................66

9.5.1 tank riders ......................................................................................................679.6 towed Weapons ............................................................................................................67

10: SPotting ...........................................................................................................................6910.1 executive Summary .....................................................................................................6910.2 general ........................................................................................................................6910.3 visibility limit ...............................................................................................................6910.4 line of Sight (loS) ......................................................................................................70

10.4.1 recon Stand Spotting ....................................................................................7110.5 detection .....................................................................................................................7110.6 Spotting .......................................................................................................................7110.7 terrain effects on Spotting ...........................................................................................7110.8 Smoke .........................................................................................................................71

10.8.1 thermal Sights ...............................................................................................7210.8.2 discharger Smoke (optional) .........................................................................7210.8.3 Multi-Spectrum Smoke a.k.a visual/infrared Smoke (optional) .....................72

11: coMbat overvieW ...........................................................................................................7311.1 general.........................................................................................................................7311.2 cover ............................................................................................................................73

12: fire coMbat .....................................................................................................................7512.1 executive Summary .....................................................................................................7512.2 general ........................................................................................................................7512.3 Procedure ....................................................................................................................7612.4 target Priority ...............................................................................................................7612.5 Movement and firing; Stabilized guns ........................................................................7712.6 overwatch ...................................................................................................................77

12.6.1 Missile overwatch (optional) .........................................................................7812.7 Shoot-and-Scoot .........................................................................................................7912.8 hold fire ......................................................................................................................8012.9 Pivot .............................................................................................................................8012.10 Special anti-armor ammunition for pre-1950 guns ..................................................8012.11 infantry in Personnel carriers, and tank riders .........................................................80

13: anti-vehicle fire ............................................................................................................8313.1 executive Summary .....................................................................................................8313.2 general ........................................................................................................................8313.3 attacked facing ...........................................................................................................8413.4 rolling to hit ................................................................................................................84

13.4.1 gun Procedure ...............................................................................................8413.4.2 quality Modifiers ............................................................................................8413.4.3 Suppressed Modifier ......................................................................................8413.4.4 rof reduction for Multiple targets ...............................................................8413.4.5 Point defense Systems ..................................................................................8513.4.6 Missile Procedure ...........................................................................................85

13.5 terrain Saving throw ...................................................................................................8613.6 Penetration rolls .........................................................................................................86

13.6.1 types of attacks and armor ............................................................................86

Sam

ple

file

8

13.6.2 Procedure .......................................................................................................8713.7 Soft vehicles ................................................................................................................8713.8 advanced armor ..........................................................................................................8813.9 infantry anti-tank Weapons .........................................................................................88

14: anti-infantry fire ..........................................................................................................8914.1 executive Summary .....................................................................................................8914.2 Procedure ....................................................................................................................8914.3 anti-infantry fire Modifiers ...........................................................................................91

15: artillery and area fire ..............................................................................................9315.1 executive Summary .....................................................................................................9315.2 area fire ......................................................................................................................94

15.2.1 definition ........................................................................................................9415.2.2 artillery Support groups .................................................................................9415.2.3 off-table artillery ............................................................................................9415.2.4 direct area fire ..............................................................................................9515.2.5 fire units ........................................................................................................9515.2.6 Placing barrages ............................................................................................9515.2.7 accuracy roll..................................................................................................9815.2.8 area fire Problems table ................................................................................9815.2.9 area fire Snafu table ..................................................................................9915.2.10 fire results ..................................................................................................9915.2.11 counterbattery ............................................................................................ 102

15.3 observing for area fire ............................................................................................ 10215.4 dedicated forward observers ................................................................................... 10215.5 direct fire (anti-vehicle & anti-infantry) by artillery .................................................. 10215.6 battalion Mortars and battalion guns ........................................................................ 10315.7 artillery fire against unspotted Stands ..................................................................... 10315.8 Multiple rocket launchers ........................................................................................ 10315.9 firing Smoke barrages .............................................................................................. 10415.10 firing faScaM (field artillery Scattered Mines) ..................................................... 10415.11 artillery command/control effects (optional) .......................................................... 105

15.11.1 command level .......................................................................................... 10515.11.2 communications ......................................................................................... 105

15.12 Preplanned artillery barrages (optional) ................................................................. 10615.13 limited artillery ammunition (optional) ................................................................... 10715.14 high explosive artillery fire terrain damage (optional) .......................................... 10815.15 residual icM bomblets (very optional) .................................................................. 108

16: cloSe coMbat ............................................................................................................... 10916.1 executive Summary ................................................................................................... 10916.2 Procedure .................................................................................................................. 10916.3 firing in close combat .............................................................................................. 10916.4 Missiles in close combat .......................................................................................... 11016.5 Soft Stands in close combat..................................................................................... 110

16.5.1 infantry escorting vehicles ........................................................................... 11016.5.2 vehicles disengaging from infantry .............................................................. 11016.5.3 infantry in cover allowing armored vehicles to Pass through (optional) .... 110

16.6 Pivoting in close combat ...........................................................................................11116.7 Miscellaneous close combat rules ...........................................................................111

17: helicoPterS .................................................................................................................. 11317.1 executive Summary ................................................................................................... 11317.2 Movement .................................................................................................................. 114

17.2.1 general ......................................................................................................... 11417.2.2 nap of the earth Mode ................................................................................. 11417.2.3 high Mode .................................................................................................... 114

Sam

ple

file

9

17.2.4 cohesion ....................................................................................................... 11417.3 combat ....................................................................................................................... 114

17.3.1 general ......................................................................................................... 11417.3.2 Pop-up attacks ............................................................................................. 11517.3.3 close combat ............................................................................................... 115

17.4 non-antiaircraft units firing at helicopters ................................................................ 11617.5 SaMs, aaMs, and aa guns ....................................................................................... 11617.6 other Special rules ................................................................................................... 11717.7 rockets ...................................................................................................................... 11717.8 laser designation ...................................................................................................... 11717.9 outfitting helicopters .................................................................................................. 11817.10 transport helicopters Special rules ......................................................................... 118

18: night fighting .............................................................................................................. 11918.1 general ...................................................................................................................... 11918.2 range and effect on combat .................................................................................... 11918.3 fratricide .................................................................................................................... 119

19: coMbat engineering ..................................................................................................12119.1 general ......................................................................................................................12119.2 Pregame engineering ................................................................................................12219.3 engineer Stands ........................................................................................................12219.4 engineering tasks .....................................................................................................122

19.4.1 general ........................................................................................................12219.4.2 engineering task list ...................................................................................123

19.5 occupying Positions ..................................................................................................12419.6 entrenchments ..........................................................................................................12419.7 fortifications ..............................................................................................................125

19.7.1 fortification armor ratings ...........................................................................12619.7.2 fortification Point values ...............................................................................126

19.8 obstacles ..................................................................................................................126

20: airStrikeS ......................................................................................................................12920.1 airstrikes ....................................................................................................................12920.2 Purchasing airstrikes and resolving airstrike calls ...................................................12920.3 resolving airstrikes ...................................................................................................13020.4 types of airstrikes ......................................................................................................13020.5 residual cluster Weapon bomblets (very optional) .................................................13220.6 aircraft load capacities (optional) ............................................................................132

21: high technology ........................................................................................................13321.1 general ......................................................................................................................13321.2 iviS (inter-vehicular information System) ..................................................................13321.3 citv (commander’s independent thermal viewer) ..................................................13321.4 SadarM (Sense and destroy arMor) ......................................................................13321.5 artillery laser-guided Projectiles ...............................................................................13421.6 artillery gPS guided Projectiles ................................................................................13421.7 nloS Missiles ...........................................................................................................13421.8 brilliant Mortar at Weapons .......................................................................................13521.9 Stand alone at Systems ............................................................................................13521.10 anti-rocket lasers ...................................................................................................135

22: airborne and aMPhibiouS ruleS ............................................................................13722.1 general ......................................................................................................................13722.2 airdrops .....................................................................................................................13722.3 amphibious assaults .................................................................................................138

22.3.1 amphibious craft ..........................................................................................13822.3.2 terrain ..........................................................................................................138

Sam

ple

file