Submitted by W. W. Winfield

Flanking fire in SAS has a simplified method to eliminate the need to show unit facing. There are long-lasting misconceptions on how it really works. The main thing is if the target unit does not fire then it is impossible to get a flank/rear fire bonus on it. Only after the target has fired will the flank/rear bonus be checked for. Once the "target" unit has fired its facing is set in that direction until it fires in a different direction OR at the start of a new turn.

For example:

• friendly unit A at 1-2 initiative 1000
• friendly unit B at 3-2 initiative 2000
• enemy unit C at 2-2 initiative 3000

Fire phase 1.

• Unit a fires at unit c. no modifier. Since it is a new turn the target facing is not yet set (1)
• unit b fires at unit c. still no modifier  (2)
• Unit c fires at unit a.  (3)
• Unit c facing is now "set" at North

Fire Phase 2

• Unit a fires at unit c. no modifier. Fire is towards the target's face. (4)
• Unit b fires at unit c. modifer finally kicks in (5) as unit c is facing north. damages +20%.

Phew was it worth it?

Yes. Just the fact of having multiple units firing on a single unit really racks up the casualties and fatigue and the extra 20% damage is icing on the cake. Also each flank/rear fire adds an extra 10 fatigue over the normal 8 per shot. What is considered a flank/rear shot?

You have to fire from at least one cardinal direction from where the target is facing. Example. target fires directly north. If you fire at the target now from the NE, N or NW, this is not a flank/rear shot. Fire from any other direction is a flank/rear shot.