Paul Rohrbaugh - 06:01am Oct 10, 2002 PST (#1308 of 1308) 
Basta imparare, comincia a morire!
Greetings, Norbert! Answers follow each query: 

a) It is correct that only an attacker unit may alternativly fire in the
Fire Combat Impulse or initiate an assault in the Assault Combat Phase
while the defender may only fire (defensively) in the Assault Combat
Impulse? 

An attacker may either conduct fire or assault combat with a unit, not
both. Both players conduct fire combat, phasing player first followed by
non-phasing player, with undisrupted units. Undisrupted defenders may
also carry out fire combat against enemy unit attacking them in assault
combat. 

b)Must the attacker choose his lead unit *before* or *after* the
defensive fire? 

After. 

c) I assume that artillery units may give tactical support like air
units in the Air/Arty Support Impulse, correct? And I assume that
targeted units may be reduced more than 1 step. Does a tactical support
by arty need a supply space? (I ask because I don't found this mission
in the arty rules) 

Correct, see the sequence of play 5.6.2. A unit may be reduced by more
than 1 step by air and/or artillery bombardment, but can not be totally
eliminated by only air/artillery bombardment. That last step has to be
"done in" by regular fire or assault combat. Artillery providing support
requires the expenditure of supply. The only instance in which an
artillery unit can fire without expending supply is when it fires
defensively against close assaulting units. 

d) Are the tank effects (+1 morale, 1 column shift) cumulative if two or
more tanks are stacked with a French unit? 

Yes. 

e) In szenario 17.3 the Maximum Air Support rule is in effect, the
Parachute Mafia rule not. So the French player suffers a VP malus as per
9.1.1 but he gets no benefit or do I miss something? 

The VP penalty for Rule 9.1.1 does not apply for this scenario. The
Parachute Mafia rule not being in effect is a good thing for the French,
as they do not have to roll to see if any assault can "go in" as planned
(the Parachute "mafia" signed off on this one early on). 

Enjoy the game! Paul