3. Operational Movement Phase

Only phasing ground units with a Movement Allowance greater than zero can move in the Operational Movement Phase. In addition, a unit must be supplied (10.) at the beginning of its move. Once it starts to move, it can move out of supply and continue moving. It may also end its move out of supply.

3.1 Movement

Ground units move one at a time. A player must complete the movement of one unit before beginning to move another unit.

A unit must stop moving when it moves into a hex containing an Enemy Zone of Control (EZOC, 8.1). Exception: A unit does not have to stop if another friendly unit or Airdrop marker is in that EZOC hex, or the moving unit is conducting an Overrun against the unit projecting the EZOC.

Clarification

Friendly Detachment, Logistics, and Partisan Base markers do not negate EZOC.

If a unit starts a Movement Phase in an EZOC, it can move out of that hex. It can move into another EZOC hex at any point in that Movement Phase (in which case it may have to stop per the above).

Clarification

Remember, all non-phasing units are considered to be enemy units.

3.1.1 Hex-to-Hex Procedure

A ground unit may move across a hexside from a hex into an adjacent hex, in any direction or combination of directions the moving player wishes. Before it enters each hex, it pays a Movement Point (MP) cost for that hex (and the hexside being crossed) and subtracts that cost from its remaining Movement Allowance (MA).

The exact MP cost to enter a hex depends on the terrain in that hex and along the hexside crossed to enter the hex. These costs are listed on the Terrain Effects Chart on the map.

A unit cannot enter a hex if it does not have sufficient MA remaining to pay the entire MP cost involved in entering that hex.

Example: The Russian HQ unit moves from Kiev (e3609) into the clear hex of e3608 (which costs 1 MP to enter). It cannot then move into the swamp hex of e3707 because its remaining MA is 1, and a swamp hex costs 2 MP to enter.

Minimum Move Exception: A ground unit can exceed its MA when moving into the first hex it enters in a Movement Phase. If it does so, it must stop moving after entering that hex.

Clarification

Note that a unit may still be prohibited from moving into a hex due to other movement restrictions.

Example: The Russian HQ unit above moves from Kiev across the river hexside (+1 MP) into the swamp hex of e3708 (2 MP). This is allowed even though the total 3 MP cost is above the HQ’s MA of 2.

Enemy Air Unit: Units can move out of a hex containing an enemy Air unit. This does not cost any additional MP.

Road or Rail: A unit that moves across a hexside along a Road or Rail (see Terrain Key) ignores any MP costs for the hex being entered and for any terrain along a hexside crossed by that Road or Rail. Instead, the unit pays a Road/Rail hexside MP cost based on whether it is a one-step or multi-step unit (see Terrain Key), and whether it is the Operational Movement Phase or Reserve Movement Phase. Crossing a Connected Strait uses Road/Rail MP costs.

Beachhead: If a ground unit starts a Movement Phase in any Land hex adjacent to an All-Sea hex containing a friendly Beachhead marker and it has not already moved in that Movement Phase, it can move into that hex. This move expends the unit’s entire MA.

Clarification

Units can cross All-Sea hexsides to enter a Beachhead hex. Friendly Beachheads act like “bridges” across All-Sea hexes.

If a ground unit starts a Movement Phase in a hex containing a friendly Beachhead marker and it has not already moved in that Movement Phase, it can move across the marker’s Beachhead Hexside only into an adjacent Land hex. This move expends the unit’s entire MA. A ground unit cannot move off a Beachhead marker through non-Beachhead Hexsides.

Clarification

Units cannot cross All-Sea hexsides to exit a Beachhead hex – they must exit through the Beachhead Hexside. While there are many ways into the Beachhead hex, there is only one way out.

Example: A Western Beachhead is in hex w3815 in the English Channel, facing Cherbourg (w3714). The British 1st Army starts the Operational Movement Phase in Southampton (w3915). The unit can move onto the Beachhead but must stop moving. In a later Movement Phase (such as the upcoming Reserve Movement Phase) it can move off that Beachhead to Cherbourg. That ends its movement for the Phase. It could not move off the Beachhead back to Southampton.

Units may also exit Beachheads using Port-to-Port movement (3.1.2).

Marine Units: If a Marine unit starts a Movement Phase in a hex adjacent to an All-Sea hexside and it has not already moved in that Movement Phase, it can move across that All-Sea hexside into an adjacent Land hex. This move expends the unit’s entire MA.

Central Asia Box: If a Soviet ground unit starts a Movement Phase in any Land hex in Russia along the eastern edge of the map (from e2828 to e5127, inclusive) and it has not already moved in that Movement Phase, it may enter the Central Asia Box.

To do so, pick the unit up and place it in the Central Asia Box. This placement expends the unit’s entire MA.

If a Soviet ground unit starts a Movement Phase in the Central Asia Box, it may exit the Box to any Land hex in Russia along the eastern edge of the map (hexes e2828 to e5127, inclusive).

To do so, place the unit in any hex indicated above that does not contain an enemy Air unit (and in the Reserve Movement Phase, is not in an EZOC). This placement costs 1 MP. The unit is supplied, has its entire remaining MA, and can move immediately after placement using the Hex-to-Hex movement rules.

3.1.2 Port-to-Port Procedure

If a ground unit starts a Movement Phase in a hex with a Port or Beachhead marker, or in an Off-Map Box, and there is a friendly Troop Convoy marker with sufficient Transport Capacity (see below) in that Naval Zone’s Convoys Box, the unit can move across the Naval Zone to any other friendly Open Port in the Naval Zone.

To do so, pick the unit up and place it directly in the friendly Open Port.

Clarification

Although the port of embarkation does not have to be an Open Port, the port of debarkation does.

Example: A British one-step infantry unit starts a Movement Phase in London. A British Troop Convoy marker is in the North Sea Convoys Box; the North Sea On Station Box contains a German Air Force unit. France is a Western Minor Country, but there are no German ground units in France. The British unit can move from London and be placed in Brest as it is a Western Open Port in the North Sea Naval Zone and is not within three hexes of a German Naval Base.

If the unit was moved to a Port in an Off-Map Box, the unit must stop moving.

If the unit was moved to a Multi-Zone Open Port hex, the unit can move again (in the same Movement Phase) across another Naval Zone to a friendly Open Port in an adjacent Naval Zone. A unit can continue such movement provided it adheres to all other movement restrictions (such as requiring a friendly Troop Convoy marker in the Naval Zone, or stopping after moving into an Off-Map Box).

Example: Continuing the example above, if there were a French Troop Convoy marker in the North Atlantic Convoys Box, and a British Troop Convoy marker in the Western Mediterranean Convoys Box, then the unit moving from London could continue through the Multi-Zone Open Ports of Brest and Gibraltar all the way to Malta.

If the unit decided to move to the Africa Box after exiting Brest, it would have to stop moving.

A unit that moves Port to Port across a Naval Zone expends its full MA, no matter how many Naval Zones it actually crosses in a single Movement Phase.

Transport Capacity: Each Escort, Scratch, or Standard Troop Convoy marker in a Convoys Box can transport one one-step unit across its Naval Zone in a Movement Phase. After the Troop Convoy marker is used for transport, move it to that Naval Zone’s Used Box.

A US Fleet Train Troop Convoy marker in a Convoys Box can transport one unit of any size across its Naval Zone in a Movement Phase. After the Fleet Train marker is used for transport, move it to that Naval Zone’s Used Box.

Convoy markers cannot combine their capacity. Each marker is used separately.

Clarification

So you can’t use two Troop Convoys to transport a two-step unit. Only the Fleet Train can transport a multi-step unit! That’s what makes it so special.

△ Convoy Nationality: As specified below, the nationality of a Convoy marker limits who can use it to move Port-to-Port across a Naval Zone. Exception: Any Troop Convoy can transport any friendly Exp unit.

Axis Scratch Convoy: any Axis unit
British or US Convoy: any Western unit
German Convoy: a German unit only
Minor Country Convoy: any unit of the same nationality or any friendly Major Country unit.
Russian Convoy: a Russian unit only
Soviet Scratch Convoy: any Soviet unit
US Fleet Train Convoy: a US unit only

Example: An Italian unit, a German unit, or a Rumanian Exp unit may move across a Naval Zone using an Axis Italian Convoy marker. The US Fleet Train can only transport US units, period.

△ Canal Movement: The Kiel Canal consists of hexes w3922 and w4023. The Suez Canal consists of hexes e1213 and e1312.

If both Ports of the same Canal are friendly Open Ports, a ground unit can move from one of them directly into the other one. A Troop Convoy marker is not required.

To do so, pick the unit up and place it in the other friendly Open Port of the same Canal.

Only one one-step unit can move through a Canal in a single Movement Phase.

Canal Port-to-Port movement can be combined with Port-to-Port movement across a Naval Zone.

Clarification

Canal Ports are not Multi-Zone Ports, though to some degree they act as one.

3.1.3 Off-Map Box to Off-Map Box

Procedure

An Allied ground unit can enter or exit an Off-Map Box directly from or to an adjacent Off-Map Box, as specified on the map. Unlike Port- to-Port movement, the unit must stop moving.

To do so, pick the unit up and place it in the other Off-Map Box. This move expends the unit’s entire MA.

There is no limit to the number of units that can move from Off-Map Box to Off-Map Box.

Units can enter an Off-Map Box in the same Movement Phase that other units exit, and vice versa.

Clarification

Moving Port-to-Port and Off-Map Box to Off-Map Box are separate from each other, so both can occur involving the same Off-Map Box in the same Movement Phase.

3.1.4 Movement Restrictions

Procedural Restriction:

A ground unit cannot use different movement procedures in the same Movement Phase.

Clarification

So it is only one of Hex-to-Hex, Port-to-Port, or Off-Map Box to Off-Map Box.

Unit and Hex Restrictions:

A ground unit cannot move into a hex containing an enemy unit. Exception: A multi-step armor-type unit conducting an Overrun (3.2) can move into a Land hex containing the one-step enemy ground unit it is overrunning.
A ground unit cannot move into a hex containing an enemy Beachhead marker.

Weather Restrictions:

A ground unit cannot move out of a hex affected by Mud (11.3) that contains an EZOC.

Clarification

There are no exceptions here – friendly units do not negate EZOC in mud.

A ground unit must stop moving after it moves into or out of a hex affected by Storms (11.4) or Snow (11.5) that contains an EZOC.

Clarification

Again, friendly units do not negate EZOC here. However, a multi-step armor unit can ignore the EZOC of a unit is overrunning (3.2) in Storms or Snow.

Political Restrictions:

Movement can be limited by Policies (13.6.1), Truces (13.6.2), and Failures rules (14.12).
A ground unit cannot move into a hex outside its Home Country or Dependent during Pre-War (12.1).
A ground unit cannot move into a hex in a Neutral Minor Country (13.4).
△ A non-German Axis ground unit cannot move into a hex in an Axis Country or Dependent unless it is that unit’s Home Country or Dependent. Exceptions: An Axis Exp unit, regardless of nationality, can move into any Axis Country or Dependent.

Clarification

Note that Exp units are always one-step units. Exp units lose their Exp ability when combined into a multi-step unit.

Axis multi-national units (13.8.3) are considered to be both German and the nationality represented by the step in the unit’s Holding Box. That means, for example, if the Axis Med HQ were composed of an Italian and German step, it could enter Italy, but not Germany or an Axis Yugoslavia.

Other Restrictions:

A ground unit belonging to a Minor Country with a Free Passage (14.13), Mobilizing (14.22), or No Occupation (14.24) marker in its Capital cannot move into a hex outside that Minor Country or one of its Dependents.
△ An Axis or Western ground unit cannot move into a hex in Russia along the eastern edge of the map, from e2828 to e5127 inclusive.

Design Note

This is to prevent the Axis faction from sealing off the map to prevent the Soviet faction entering units from his Off-Map Box.

A Soviet ground unit cannot move into a hex in an Axis Country or Dependent that was activated in the just completed Western War & Peace Segment (6.1).

Design Note

This is to prevent the Allied factions from taking advantage of the order of the Turn Sequence.

The TK and DS maps are “closed” in the sense that it’s not possible to move units directly from one map to the other. The Allies do have the ability to transfer support units between the Force Pools of the two maps using Pacific Commitment Political Events (15.30.2), and through card play they can influence the number of replacement steps received on each map. But once a ground unit is on a map, it’s committed to that theater.

3.2 Overruns

If using the Hex-to-Hex procedure and not otherwise prohibited, a multi-step armor-type unit can move into a Land hex containing only a single, one-step enemy ground unit.

Clarification

So if the hex has more than one enemy one-step ground unit or a multi-step unit in it, you can’t overrun that hex. Markers have no effect on overruns.

The moving unit only pays the normal MP costs to move into the hex. An overrun does not cost any additional MP.

The moving unit can ignore the EZOC of the unit it will overrun, provided the moving unit immediately moves into the hex with the enemy unit after entering that EZOC hex.

The moving unit cannot ignore the EZOC of other units, unless another friendly unit is in that hex.

Immediately after moving into the hex, the enemy unit is eliminated. Place it in the Delay Box if it has a Delay Stripe. Otherwise, place it in its Force Pool.

The same multi-step unit can make more than one overrun in the same Movement Phase.

An overrun is allowed in hexes affected by Storms and Snow.

Overrun Restrictions: Overruns cannot be conducted:

in the Reserve Movement Phase (5).
when conducting Exploitation.
if the enemy one-step unit could receive a defender’s CRT Column Shift (as if a combat were fought there) due to Terrain, Mud, Fortress, Air, or HQ. The same HQ can prevent more than one overrun for the same or different defenders in the same Movement Phase.

Example: The German 1P panzer army in Antwerp (w3718) cannot overrun the British 1st Army in Lille (w3618) because is a multi-step unit.

The 1P panzer army also cannot move into Calais (w3717) and then overrun the British one-step armor unit in Amiens (w3617) because there is more than one EZOC in the Calais hex. (It can ignore the EZOC from the armor unit, but not the EZOC from the British 1st Army.)

The German 3P panzer army in w3619 cannot overrun the one-step British BEF infantry unit in Verdun (w3518) because there is a river hexside between the hexes. (A river or canal hexside provides the defender a CRT column combat shift.)

So the Axis player does the following: First, he moves a 1-2-3 infantry unit from w3619 to Calais. It must now stop because of the EZOC from the British units. This infantry unit now negates all EZOC in the Calais hex.

Then the 1P panzer army moves from Antwerp into Calais and Amiens, overrunning the British armor unit. The panzer army must now stop in Amiens because of the EZOC from the British 1st Army.

The remaining German 1-2-3 infantry unit in Antwerp moves into Calais, Amiens, and Reims (w3517). It must stop in Reims due to the EZOC from the British 1st Army and BEF. It now negates all EZOC in the Reims hex.

Finally, the remaining 2P panzer army in Antwerp moves into Calais, Amiens, Reims, and Verdun, overrunning the BEF unit. The British 1st Army is now surrounded!

How could the British have prevented this disaster? If there had been a British HQ unit in Paris (w3516), then no overrun against any of the British units could have occurred because the supplied British HQ could have provided any of the defenders a CRT column combat shift.