1. A German infantry unit fired upon by Hereros may be forced to go prone.
A) Roll a D6.
B) Add that D6 die roll to the number of casualties the German infantry unit has just suffered.
C) If ( die roll + casualties ) is equal to or greater than 6, that German infantry unit is forced to go prone.
EXAMPLES:
If a German infantry unit suffered no casualties, only a roll of 6 would force it to go prone (since 6 + 0 = 6).
If the unit suffered 1 casualty, it would be forced prone on a D6 roll of 5 or 6 ( since 5 + 1 = 6 ).
If the unit suffered 4 casualties, a D6 roll of 2,3,4,5, or 6 would force it prone ( since 2 + 4 = 6 ); only rolling a 1 would save it.
A German infantry unit is automatically forced prone if it suffers 5 or more casualties from a single burst of fire.
2. Note that only the immediate ‘shock effect’ of the casualties just suffered determines whether or not a German infantry unit is forced prone. Casualties inflicted by previous fire do not affect the roll.
EXAMPLE:
A German infantry unit is shot at and suffers 4 casualties (ugh! brutal!). Since 2 +4 = 6, rolling a 2,3,4,5, or 6 will force it prone. It rolls a 1, however, and keeps standing. A second Herero unit then dishes out more love and the German unit suffers 1 more casualty. Now a roll of 5 or 6 will force it prone (since 5 + 1 = 6); note that we add the 1 NEW casualty, not the 5 TOTAL casualties, to the die roll.
3. A German infantry unit forced to go prone may not move while it is prone. The turn after being forced prone, it may automatically stand up and move 1D6 if it has a leader; if it is leaderless, it must first pass a leaderless movement roll in order to stand and move 1D6. A unit forced prone shoots with a -1 penalty. While prone, it is a Class IV target and suffers the usual melee penalties for being prone.
4. A German infantry unit may voluntarily choose to go prone. Such a unit can move 1 D6 the turn it goes prone and suffers no shooting penalty (unlike a unit forced prone, which cannot move and suffers a -1 shooting penalty). The rules for standing up are the same as for a unit forced prone: automatic standing up and 1D6 movement with a leader; leaderless movement roll required if no leader. It is also a Class IV target while prone and suffers the usual melee penalties for being prone.
5. Leaders can be attached to prone units; the leader can be prone or standing.
6. Artillery units are never forced prone and can never go prone. NOTE: The Germans consistently remarked about their gunners standing up in a hail of fire while the infantry was lying prone.
7. Mounted troops never go prone!