Guards Tank: Prochorovka, 1943
Guards Tank: Prochorovka, 1943 Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
- 1.0 Introduction
- 2.0 Components
- 3.0 Setting Up
- 4.0 Sequence of Play
- 5.0 Events
- 6.0 Reinforcements & Replacements
- 7.0 Command Control
- 8.0 Movement
- 8.1 Movement Generally
- 8.2 Movement Procedure
- 8.3 Movement Restrictions & Prohibitions
- 8.4 Minimum Movement Guarantee
- 8.5 Movement & Zones of Control
- 8.6 Terrain Effects on Movement
- 8.7 Road Movement
- 8.8 Railroad Movement
- 8.9 Trail Movement
- 8.10 Bridge Movement
- 8.11 Exiting the Map
- 8.12 Halving of Movement
- 9.0 Stacking
- 10.0 Zones of Control
- 11.0 Adjacent Combat
- 11.1 Combat Generally
- 11.2 Adjacent Combat Procedure
- 11.3 Restrictions & Requirements
- 11.4 Zero Combat Factor Units
- 11.5 Multi-Unit & Multi-Hex Combat
- 11.6 Diversionary Attacks
- 11.7 Reducing the Combat Differential
- 11.8 Bombardment & Adjacent Attacks
- 11.9 Combat Strength Unity
- 11.10 Combat Stacking
- 11.11 CRT Choices
- 12.0 Ranged Combat
- 12.1 Ranged Combat Generally
- 12.2 Types of Ranged Combat
- 12.3 Range
- 12.4 Line of Sight
- 12.5 Spotting
- 12.6 Which Artillery Units May Attack
- 12.7 Bombardment & Other Types of Attack
- 12.8 Bombardment Procedure
- 12.9 Bombardment of Stacks
- 12.10 Close Support
- 12.11 Adjacent Attacks
- 12.12 Final Protective Fire (FPF)
- 13.0 Combat Results
- 14.0 Second Wave Combat
- 15.0 Suppression
- 16.0 Anti-Tank Fire
- 17.0 Airpower
- 17.1 Airstrike Markers
- 17.2 Airstrike Availability
- 17.3 Conducting Airstrikes
- 17.4 Aerial Bombardment
- 17.5 Airstrikes in Close Support
- 17.6 Airstrikes as FPF
- 17.7 Airstrike Range
- 17.8 Combining Airstrikes
- 17.9 Airstrike Limits
- 17.10 FPF Restriction
- 17.11 No Accumulation of Airstrikes
- 17.12 Airstrikes & Combat Results
- 18.0 Weather
- 19.0 Fog of War
- 20.0 Supply
- 21.0 Untried Units
- 22.0 Special Units & Tactics
- 23.0 Victory Conditions
- 24.0 Scenario Special Rules
- Guards TANK Optional Rules
- 28.0 Paratroop Operations
- Errata
1.0 Introduction
East Front Battles (CWB) presents an operational simulation of battles fought on World War II's eastern front. The playing pieces represent the actual units that participated in those fights. The maps represent the terrain over which those units fought.
These rules are intended for use in all games in the series. There are two players in each game. One player controls the Axis forces (usually Germans); the other controls the Soviets. Certain rules are designated as optional. That means the players may utilize them, or not, at their own discretion. Optional rules add additional complexity, and playing time.
2.0 Components
2.1 The Map
The map shows the battle area. A hexagonal grid ("hexes") has been superimposed over the terrain features on the mapsheet in order to regularize the movement and positioning of the playing pieces.
2.2 Charts & Tables
The Terrain Effects Chart provides information about the effects of terrain on movement and combat.
There are two Combat Results Tables (CRT), Mobile and Assault, used to resolve combat.
The Turn Record Track, printed on the mapsheet, indicates the current game turn.
The Victory Point Index, also on the mapsheet, provides a record of current victory point levels.
2.3 The Playing Pieces
The cardboard pieces represent the military units that took part in the original campaigns. The numbers and symbols on the pieces quantify combat strengths and movement capabilities, and also indicate the types of units. The playing pieces are referred to as "units" for military forces, and "markers" for informational pieces.
2.4 How to Read Units
Sample Maneuver Ground Unit (counter illustration not reproduced)
Certain units have their combat factors [bracketed]. This is explained under the anti-tank rule.
Sample Artillery Unit Values (counter illustration not reproduced)
Range (Note: A "U" range means unlimited range; it may fire anywhere on the map.)
Sample HQ unit (counter illustration not reproduced)
Sample Supply unit (counter illustration not reproduced)
2.5 Backprinting
Except for Soviet untried units (see 21.0) and some markers, the counters have values only on their front sides. The reverse sides of most unit counters is either blank or shows their parent organization.
2.6 Unit Types
There are two general types of units: maneuver (non-artillery) and artillery. Maneuver units are those with attack-defense-movement factors. Artillery units are those with barrage-FPF-range/defense-movement factors. In addition, certain units are armored; all units that have the oval armor symbol by itself or overlaid on another unit-type symbol (for example, self-propelled artillery).
2.7 Unit Sizes
- ••• = platoon or section
- I = company or troop/battery
- II = battalion or squadron
- III = regiment or regimental sized battlegroup
- X = brigade
- XX = division headquarters
- XXX = corps headquarters
- XXXX = army headquarters
- = task force or battlegroup
2.8 Unit Designations
Units may be identified by a single number or a two-part designation. In two-part designations, the number to the left is the unit's superior formation. That superior formation may be either a battalion for companies, or a regiment, brigade or division for battalions.
2.9 Unit Colors
Several colors are used to differentiate each side, and certain different formations within each side. The colors are specified in the scenario rules.
2.10 Air Units
Air units have no strengths printed on them. They are each worth one point for combat or transport, depending on how they are used:
- Ground Attack (GA) airstrike
- Medium Bomber (MB) airstrike
2.11 Markers
See chart.
2.12 Game Scales
The scale of each game is given in the scenario rules.
2.13 Parts Inventory
A complete game of GA should include the following parts: a 34x22" mapsheet (with two game maps), a rules folder and a set of die-cut unit-counters. Players will also need to provide themselves with a six-sided die.
The printed text uses "GA" as the abbreviation for this game in places (here and in 4.1); it is transcribed as printed.
3.0 Setting Up
3.1 Getting Started
The map should be set up between the players. Players then determine which side each will command. Next, if the game hasn't been played before, they should punch out the counters from the unit-counter sheet.
3.2 Deploying Units
The players consult their initial deployment instructions in the scenario special rules sections. These state which units are deployed on the map at the start of play. Units may be assigned specific set up hexes, or the players may be instructed to choose set up hexes for their units within certain areas of the map. After all units in the initial deployment have been set up, remaining units should be placed aside and brought into play according to the reinforcement schedule.
3.3 First Player and Game Length
The scenario rules indicate which player is the first player, that is, who moves first each game turn. The scenario victory conditions also tell how the game is won. Play proceeds according to the sequence of play (see section 4.0) for the number of game turns specified by the scenario rules or until one player capitulates, whichever comes first.
4.0 Sequence of Play
4.1 Game Turns
GA is played in successive game turns, each composed of alternating player turns. During each game turn the players maneuver their units and resolve combat in sequence, according to the following outline and within the limits provided by the rules that follow. At the conclusion of the last game turn, the victory conditions are consulted and the winner determined.
4.2 Player Turns
Game Turns are divided into a "First Player Turn" and a "Second Player Turn." Each player turn is further divided into a series of segments called "phases." The player whose turn is currently in progress is termed the "phasing player"; the other player is the "non-phasing player." The scenario rules designate who is the first player and who is the second player.
4.3 Game Turn Outline
I. Events Phase
Make any Random Events/Weather determination for the turn.
II. First Player Turn
A. Reinforcement Phase. The first player places any of his side's reinforcements due to appear on the map this turn.
B. Movement Phase. The first player may move all, some or none of his units, as he desires, within the limits of the rules.
C. Final Protective Fire phase. The second player may now fire any final protective fires (FPF).
D. First wave combat phase. The first player uses his units to attack the non-phasing player's units.
E. Second wave combat phase. The first player may use his in command units to attack the non-phasing player's units.
F. Recovery phase. The first player attempts to remove all suppressed markers from his units.
III. Second Player Turn
A. Reinforcement Phase. The second player places any of his side's reinforcements due to appear on the map this turn.
B. Movement Phase. The second player may move all, some or none of his units, as he desires, within the limits of the rules.
C. Final Protective Fire phase. The first player may now fire any final protective fires (FPF).
D. First wave combat phase. The second player uses his units to attack the non-phasing player's units.
E. Second wave combat phase. The second player may use his in command units to attack the non-phasing player's units.
F. Recovery phase. The second player attempts to remove all suppressed markers from his units.
IV. Game Turn Record Inter-Phase.
Advance the turn marker to the next box on the track. If this is the last turn of the scenario, the game comes to an end and victory is determined.
4.4 Phasing Player
During every first player turn, the first player is the phasing player and the second player is the non-phasing player. During the second player turn, the second player is the phasing player and the first player is the non-phasing player.
5.0 Events
During each events phase, players must check for random events. One player (it does not matter which one) rolls a die and cross indexes the result with the Events Table. Do not roll for events on the first turn of the scenario. Start with Game Turn 2, and all subsequent turns. An event may occur more than once per scenario, or it may be a one time event, per the explanations.
6.0 Reinforcements & Replacements
6.1 Reinforcements
Players may receive additional units during the course of a game. Those units are called reinforcements. Reinforcements appear in the owning player's Reinforcement Phase on the game turn indicated by the scenario. Reinforcements are listed in scenario instructions.
6.2 Placement of Reinforcements
During your Reinforcement Phases, you may place on the map any reinforcements indicated as arriving for your side. Units are usually placed in map edge hexes. Placing units does not cost any movement points. They are simply placed on the appropriate map edge hex.
6.3 Entry of Reinforcements
Reinforcements must be entered in accordance with normal stacking restrictions. They may not be placed in a hex containing enemy units, though they may be placed in enemy zones of control. Once on the map, reinforcements are treated exactly as the other previously deployed units in your army.
6.4 Entry of Reinforcements on Roads
In certain cases, units can enter via road. In this case, the first unit would be placed on the map, and each other unit would be lined up on the road off map, within stacking restrictions. They would pay whatever additional movement points it would require to get them onto the first map edge hex. If not all units can make it in a single turn, they would be received on the following turn. Off map units have no effect on play. They may not attack or be attacked, etc.
6.5 Reinforcement Entry Restrictions
If, and only if, all scheduled entry hexes are blocked by the occupation of enemy units, blocked reinforcements may enter via the unblocked map edge hex nearest to the scheduled hex. A player may not deliberately delay or withhold ground reinforcements.
6.6 Air Reinforcements
Scenario instructions will give the number of air units a player receives each turn, if any.
Each player places all air units he may have available in an opaque container, called the Air Pool. When air units are called for, pick that number at random and place them in the Air Available Box. They may be used at any time during the ensuing player turn. In some cases, they may be used in the ensuing friendly FPF phase (in the enemy player turn). After an air unit is used for combat, place it back in the pool. Also, all air units that have not been used at the start of the ensuing friendly Reinforcement Phase are returned to the pool. (see section 17.0).
6.7 Contingency Reinforcements
A scenario may state that a unit may arrive as a "contingency reinforcement." Contingency reinforcements are units that either cost the player victory points to bring into play on the map, or that appear as the result of some triggering game event.
6.8 Replacements
Players may bring units that have been eliminated back into play. Those units are called replacements. Replacements may be taken only if a scenario assigns a player replacement points (RP). One RP may be used to attempt to bring back one eliminated unit.
6.9
During a friendly reinforcement phase, a player determines his replacements as follows:
- Designate the unit to be replaced.
- Roll one die.
- If the result is "5-6," it is permanently eliminated and may never be returned to play.
- If the result is "1-4," it comes back to play that number of turns later.
6.10 Replacement Types
Scenarios may differentiate between replacement points used for armored and non-armored units. Otherwise, RP may be used for any type of unit.
6.12 Replacements & Command
To be eligible for replacement, a unit must be in command (see 7.0) when it was eliminated. Otherwise, it is permanently destroyed when eliminated.
6.13 Accumulating Replacements
A scenario may give RP as a renewable resource that can be used each turn. In that case, unused RP may not be accumulated. A scenario may alternatively give RP for one-time use. In that case, they are expended by being used.
7.0 Command Control
7.1 Command Radius
Each headquarters (HQ) unit has a command radius. The player determines which radius is the number of hexes from the HQ that command is projected. A unit is "in command" if it is within that number of hexes. If not, it is "out of command" (OOC). Use the OOC markers to indicate that if necessary.
7.2 Command Radius
Command radius is traced as hexes, not movement points (7.0). It may be through any type of terrain, and through enemy units and ZOC.
7.3 Command Structure
Each scenario has a "Command Structure" section for each side. This will delineate which HQ can provide command for which units.
7.4 Multiple HQ in a Command
In some cases, a particular command might have more than one HQ. In that case, each of those HQ could control all units of that command:
7.5 Units Without HQ
In certain cases, a unit may have no HQ assigned to it, which means that unit is always OOC.
7.6 When Command is Determined
- Reinforcement Phase. All reinforcement units are in command when placed on the map, and for the first movement phase in which they enter play.
- Movement Phase. Command status is determined at the start of the movement phase, prior to any unit moving.
- Combat (Final Protective Fire Phase, 1st Wave Combat phase, 2nd Wave Combat phase). Command status is determined at the instant a combat is initiated.
- Recovery phase. Command status is determined at the start of the recovery phase, prior to any unit checking for recovery.
7.7 Command Effects
A unit in command functions normally. A unit out of command (OOC) is limited as follows.
- Its movement allowance is halved.
- It can not provide any bonus for any offensive shift (combined arms, engineers, offensive anti-tank, etc.). Defensive shifts are not affected (including anti-tank defensive shifts).
- It may not engage in second wave attacks.
- OOC artillery can not make any kind of ranged fire (12.0). It can make adjacent attacks.
7.8 Duration of OOC
In or out of command status lasts only for the particular phase or action for which command status was checked. A unit in command can move to an OOC position and not be affected. Similarly, an OOC unit that moves to an in command position is not restored to in command that turn.
7.9 Command of HQ Units
HQ units are always in command and do not have to be within the command radius of other HQ units to function normally.
7.10 Command of Air Units
Air units are always in command; however, an air unit may not provide close support to an OOC ground unit.
8.0 Movement
8.1 Movement Generally
During each player's movement phase, the phasing player may move as many or as few of his units as he desires (and as battlefield circumstances permit). Units may be moved in any direction or combination of directions within the overall pattern of the hex-field overprinted across the map.
8.2 Movement Procedure
Units are moved one at a time, tracing a path of contiguous hexes across the hex grid. As each unit enters a hex, it pays one or more movement points (MP) from its movement factor (MF).
8.3 Movement Restrictions & Prohibitions
Movement may never take place out of sequence. A player's units may generally be moved only during his own movement phase. Advances and retreats after combat are not considered part of regular movement and therefore don't consume MP. A unit may never expend more MP during a given movement phase than it has available. (Though note that road movement may effectively triple a unit's MF).
A unit may expend all, some, or none of its movement points in any one player turn, but unused movement points may not be accumulated from turn to turn or phase to phase, nor may they be transferred, loaned or given from one unit to another. Once a unit has been moved and the player's hand taken from the piece, it may not be moved again during that phase unless the opposing player graciously permits it.
8.4 Minimum Movement Guarantee
All units may generally move a minimum of one hex per movement phase by expending all their MF to do so, no matter the exact number of MP that would otherwise be required to make that move. Exceptions: units may never move directly from one enemy zone of control to another, nor may they enter an enemy occupied hex, nor may they enter terrain forbidden to them.
8.5 Movement & Zones of Control
Enemy zones of control affect movement; see rules section 10.0 for details.
8.6 Terrain Effects on Movement
A unit must expend one movement point to enter a clear terrain hex. To enter some other types of hexes, a unit must expend more than one movement point. There are different costs for armored and non-armored units. When the TEC calls for a movement point expenditure to cross a hexside terrain or water barrier, that cost is in addition to the terrain cost for entering the hex.
8.7 Road Movement
A unit that moves from a road hex directly into an adjacent road hex via a hexside crossed by that road expends only one third movement point (0.33) to do so, regardless of other terrains involved.
In addition, a unit that uses road movement:
- must start on a road hex, and enter only road hexes for that movement phase;
- may not enter a road hex such that it is overstacked;
- may enter enemy ZOCs per normal movement, subject to normal ZOC rules.
8.8 Railroad Movement
A unit that moves along railroad (as an ersatz road) pays only one movement point per hex regardless of the other terrain in the hex. All of the restrictions under 8.7 apply. Some scenarios will allow for special movement using railroads. That is covered in the scenarios.
Note that railroad embankments are hexside features. They provide no movement enhancement, and require extra movement points to cross.
8.9 Trail Movement
A unit that moves along trail hexes pays only one movement point per hex regardless of the other terrain in the hex. All of the restrictions under 8.7 apply.
8.10 Bridge Movement
Moving across a river hexside using a bridge never costs any additional movement points. A unit moving across a bridge via a road, railroad, or trail is subject to the restrictions of 8.7.
8.11 Exiting the Map
Players may exit their units from the map only if a scenario calls for it. To do so, the unit must be on a designated map edge hex and then move off as if entering an imaginary hex adjacent to the map edge. The terrain in that off-map hex is presumed to be the same as that in the hex from which the unit exited. A unit may start in or move to a map edge hex and then move off as long as it has sufficient movement points. A unit may not exit if it is in an enemy ZOC. (For example: if exiting via a road, the unit would pay only ½ movement point; if exiting via woods, it would cost two movement points.) Units may exit the map only during the owning player's movement phase. They may not do so as a result of advance or retreat after combat. Units forced to retreat off map are eliminated instead. Once a unit exits the map it may not return. Exited units are not considered eliminated. Note that in some cases exited units will give the owning player VP.
8.12 Halving of Movement
A unit's movement may be halved by several game functions (see Disengagement, Weather). If more than one thing would halve a unit's movement, it is reduced to 25 percent. A unit's movement may not be reduced to less than 25 percent of its printed movement allowance by any further combination of things. Remainders are retained. A unit's movement however may never be reduced to less than "1."
9.0 Stacking
9.1 Stacking Generally
Stacking is the term used to describe having more than one unit in the same hex at the same time. The stacking limit is the maximum number of units you may have in a hex at the end of any phase. Friendly units may move through hexes occupied by other friendly units at no extra movement point cost; they may not end any phase over-stacked. If for any reason the stacking limit is violated in any hex(es) at the end of any phase, the player owning the violating units must eliminate the excess (which do count for victory points).
9.2 German Stacking
German stacking is always three units per hex.
9.3 Axis Allies Stacking
Stacking for the Axis-Allied units is always two units per hex.
9.4 Soviet Stacking
Soviet stacking varies by scenario. In the 1941 & 1942 scenarios, the Soviets are limited to one unit per hex (in other words, no stacking is allowed). In the 1943 & 1944 Scenarios, the Soviets may stack two units per hex.
9.5 Stacking with Air Units & Markers
Stacking limits apply to all ground units, including armored, non-armored, HQ and supply. Stacking limits do not apply to air units and game markers.
9.6 Stacking & Enemy Units
Friendly ground units may never enter hexes containing an enemy ground unit(s).
10.0 Zones of Control
10.1 Zones of Control Generally
The six hexes immediately surrounding a unit's hex constitute that unit's zone of control (ZOC). Units must cease movement for that phase when they first enter an enemy ZOC, and are then obliged to attack during the subsequent combat phase.
10.2 Extent of ZOC
All combat effective land units exert a ZOC at all times, regardless of the phase, player turn or game turn being played. The projection of ZOC is never negated by other units, enemy or friendly. Air units and suppressed units don't exert ZOC; however, suppressed units lose their ZOC (15.0).
10.3 Terrain & ZOC
In general, ZOC extend into and out of all types of terrain and across all types of hexsides. Exceptions may be noted in scenarios.
10.4 Multiple ZOC
Both friendly and enemy units may simultaneously project ZOC into the same hex. There is no additional effect if more than one unit projects a ZOC into the same hex at the same time.
10.5 ZOC Effect on Movement
Units must halt their movement for that phase when first entering any enemy ZOC; otherwise, there is no additional MP cost that need be paid in order to enter an enemy ZOC.
10.6 ZOC Effects on Combat
You must attack all enemy units that exert ZOC on your units during the first wave combat phase of each of your player turns (you may attack, but do not have to, in the second wave combat phase). All friendly units in enemy ZOC must attack some enemy unit in the first wave combat phase, but not the second.
10.7 ZOC & Retreating After Combat
Units that retreat after combat into an enemy ZOC are eliminated (see 13.4).
10.8 ZOC & Advance After Combat
Units may advance after combat into and/or through ZOC. Enemy ZOC never affect advances after combat (see 13.5).
10.9 Exiting Enemy ZOC
Units may move out of enemy ZOC only if they:
- make a retreat or advance after combat; or
- if they disengage (10.10).
10.10 Disengagement
All units may employ disengagement to move out of an enemy ZOC. To disengage, a unit starts its movement in an enemy ZOC and moves normally, with the following prohibitions:
- the disengaging unit's movement allowance is cut in half that phase; and
- disengaging units may not move directly from one enemy ZOC to another; and
- a disengaging unit may not enter another enemy ZOC in the same movement phase (it may do so in later phases).
11.0 Adjacent Combat
11.1 Combat Generally
There are two types of combat in EFB, adjacent and ranged.
- Adjacent combat is between opposing units in adjacent hexes and is (usually) mandatory in the first wave combat phase, and optional in the second wave phase. Adjacent combat is explained in sections 11.2.
- Ranged combat occurs when artillery units attack units that aren't directly adjacent to them, and such ranged combat, is always conducted at the attacker's option. Also, note air attacks are considered a form of ranged combat though the airstrike marker itself is placed in the hex to be attacked. Ranged combat is explained in section 12.0.
- In both types of combat, the phasing player is termed the "attacker"; the non-phasing player is the "defender," regardless of the general situation across the map.
11.2 Adjacent Combat Procedure
For each attack go through the following steps.
- The phasing player chooses the CRT on which the combat will be resolved, either Assault or Mobile.
- The phasing player states the number and strength of his attacking ground units.
- The phasing player allocates any barrage strength from artillery units and/or airstrike markers.
- Players calculate the "combat differential," the total attacking strength (adjacent units plus close support artillery and air), minus the total defending strength. That result is the combat differential, expressed as either a positive (+) or negative number (-) or zero (0).
- Consult the previously chosen CRT under the appropriate differential column. Make any adjustments for terrain, combined arms, engineers, suppression, and anti-tank fire.
- The attacker rolls a die and cross-indexes that result within the appropriate differential column. The indicated combat result is immediately applied.
- Conduct any retreats.
- Conduct any advances.
- Proceed to the next combat.
11.3 Restrictions & Requirements
The attacker may resolve his combats in any order he desires. During the First wave combat phase, all phasing units in an enemy ZOC must attack. See section 14.0 for second wave combat.
Generally, all non-phasing units in the ZOC of one or more phasing units must be attacked. The phasing player may choose which attacking units will attack which defending units, as long as stricture is observed.
A defending unit may be attacked from as many as six adjacent hexes, with possible artillery support and airstrikes added in. No unit may attack or be attacked more than once per combat phase.
The phasing player should declare which of his units adjacent to enemy units will be attacking which defending units at the beginning of each combat to ensure all adjacent units are in fact being attacked. Close support ranged fire should also be declared at the start of each attack.
Remember, suppressed units have no ZOC, so they do not have to be attacked, though they may be (15.0).
11.4 Zero Combat Factor Units
Units with an attack factor of zero attack normally, using a strength of zero. For example, a unit with an attack factor of "0" attacks a unit which has a defense factor of "3." The combat differential would be "-3." This rule doesn't apply to artillery and air units, which attack adjacent units with their barrage strength.
11.5 Multi-Unit & Multi-Hex Combat
If a phasing unit is in the ZOC of more than one enemy unit, it must attack all those enemy units that aren't engaged by some other attacking unit.
Units in two or more different hexes may combine their combat strengths and attack a single hex, provided all the attacking units are adjacent to all the defending units. Attacks may potentially involve any number of attacking or defending units. For an attack to be resolved as a single combat, however, all the attacking units must be adjacent to all the defending units, with the possible further addition of ranged barraging artillery.
11.6 Diversionary Attacks
In making a series of attacks, a player may allocate his attacking units so some attacks are made at poor differentials while other attacks are made at more advantageous differentials.
11.7 Reducing the Combat Differential
The phasing player may never choose to reduce the differential of any given attack. That is, he may never make an attack at a lower differential than determined in 11.2.
11.8 Bombardment & Adjacent Attacks
A bombardment (ranged fire) counts as an attack; see section 12.0. A player may bombard an enemy unit that's adjacent to other friendly units in order to free those friendly units from the obligation of attacking the bombarded enemy unit, providing those freed friendly units then do attack at least one other adjacent enemy unit.
11.9 Combat Strength Unity
A given unit's attack and defense strength is always unitary. No single unit's strength may be divided among different combats, either on attack or defense.
11.10 Combat Stacking
Attacking units in the same hex may be combined in a single adjacent attack, or they may attack separately into different adjacent enemy occupied hexes.
Defending units defending the same hex must be attacked as a single combined total; they may not be attacked separately.
11.11 CRT Choices
There are two CRT for use in adjacent ground combat, Mobile and Assault. In general, the attacker chooses which CRT will be used in each battle, announcing that choice at the start of each individual attack resolution. Units defending in fortification or urban hexes may never be attacked using the Mobile CRT; units in entrenchment markers (25.0) may be attacked using the Mobile CRT.
The German player may always choose the Mobile CRT if at least one armored type unit or fusilier (infantry recon) is involved in an attack. Otherwise, the attack must be the Assault CRT.
If only Axis Allies are involved in the attack, it must be made on the Assault CRT, unless otherwise specified in the scenario rules.
The Soviet player may choose only the Assault CRT for any scenario prior to November 1942. For scenarios starting November 1942 to the end of the war, the Soviet player may choose the Mobile CRT if at least one armored type unit is involved in the attack. Otherwise, the attack must be the Assault CRT.
11.12 Differential Column Shifts
Once the CRT differential column has been determined, players make "shifts" owing to the factors listed below. Add the total number of attacker's shifts (to the right); subtract from it the total number of defender's shifts (to the left). That produces the final shift.
For example, if attacking units with a total strength of 16 are attacking defending units with a total strength of 10. That produces a differential of "+6." The attacker receives one shift for combined arms; the defender receives two shifts for anti-tank versus attacking tanks, and one for terrain. Total attacking shifts = "+1"; total defending shifts = "-3." The final shift is "-2." That reduces the differential to the "+2,3" column.
11.13 Attacker's Differential Column Shifts
In addition to the terms of 11.12, the attacker shifts the CRT differential column to the right for:
- One (1) column for combined arms (22.2);
- One (1) column Engineers versus certain types of terrain (22.3);
- One (1) column for bracketed (anti-armor) attack strength versus a defending force with armor (16.0);
- Two (2) columns if there is at least one suppressed unit in the defending force (15.0)
11.14 Defender's Differential Column Shifts
The defender shifts the CRT differential column to the left for:
- Two (2) columns for bracketed (anti-armor) defense strength versus an attacking force with armor (16.0);
- Two (2) columns if there is at least one suppressed units in the attacking force (15.0);
- A varying number of columns for terrain (11.15, 11.16)
11.15 Terrain Effects
Defending units benefit from the terrain in the hex they occupy and/or the sides of that hex. Terrain in hexes occupied by the attacker has no effect on combat. The effect of terrain on combat is reflected by shifting the combat differential to be used to resolve each battle.
Terrain shifts for combat are not cumulative. A defending unit benefits from the single most advantageous terrain shift available to it. When two or more defending units are being attacked in a single combat and they are on two different types of terrain, each having a different combat shift, the entire attack is modified by the terrain in the hex that gives the single most favorable benefit to the defender.
11.16 Hexsides
A unit may receive a shift for defending behind a hexside only if all attacking units are attacking across such a hexside, and the stricture given above limiting terrain shifts to the single best available to the defenders still applies here. That is, the defender doesn't get one best in-hex terrain shift and one best hexside terrain shift, he gets one or the other, whichever is best.
12.0 Ranged Combat
12.1 Ranged Combat Generally
Artillery units may participate in combat from both adjacent and non-adjacent hexes. Each artillery unit may fire once per player turn. That is, each may fire once during the friendly player turn for bombardment or close support, and once in the enemy player turn for final protective fire.
12.2 Types of Ranged Combat
Artillery units may employ their strength in three ways:
- "Bombardment" takes place when an artillery unit attacks an enemy hex not in conjunction with friendly maneuver units. Bombardment uses the firing artillery unit's "barrage strength."
- "Close support" takes place when an artillery unit adds its barrage strength to the attack strength of friendly maneuver units making an adjacent attack. This also uses the firing artillery unit's "barrage strength."
- "Final Protective Fire" (FPF) takes place when an artillery unit adds its final protective strength to the defense of other friendly units that are themselves defending against an adjacent attack. This uses the unit's "FPF strength."
Unlike other units, artillery units have no printed attack factors. Artillery units use their barrage strength when attacking adjacent enemy units. When defending, they use their defense strength.
12.3 Range
Range is counted in numbers of hexes. Range from a firing artillery unit to a targeted hex is counted by including that target hex but not the firing artillery unit's hex.
12.4 Line of Sight
Artillery units are not subject to "line of sight" requirements; they may fire into and/or over any types of terrain, as well as into and through hexes containing friendly or enemy units.
12.5 Spotting
There needn't be a friendly unit adjacent to an enemy unit being targeted by a ranged artillery barrage. Scenarios may provide exceptions.
12.6 Which Artillery Units May Attack
Artillery units are not required to attack simply because an enemy unit is within their range. Each artillery unit may only attack a single enemy occupied hex when conducting a bombardment.
Bombardment attacks count for purposes of determining which enemy units are attacked in a single combat phase. (So you can use artillery bombardment as "diversionary attacks" against enemy units.) Note, too, you can fire bombardments against enemy units that are adjacent to friendly units without those adjacent friendly units being involved.
The number of artillery units that can fire in a single combat is determined by 23.13.
Artillery may be combined with all types of airstrikes, and vice versa; see section 17.0.
12.7 Bombardment & Other Types of Attack
Bombardment takes place when artillery and/or air points attack non-adjacent enemy units and there are no other friendly involved units adjacent to the enemy occupied hex involved in that combat. There may be friendly units adjacent to the enemy, they just can't be involved in the bombardment. Bombardment only takes place in friendly combat phases.
12.8 Bombardment Procedure
The procedure for resolving bombardments is similar to that for ground combat.
- Designate the bombarding artillery units and their target hex, which must be within the ranges of all the involved artillery units.
- Total the number of bombarding strength points.
- Subtract from that the defense strength of the unit(s) being attacked.
- Make any one normal shift for terrain (if any apply).
- Resolve the bombardment on the Ranged CRT. Apply the modified results given in 13.2.
12.9 Bombardment of Stacks
When bombarding a hex containing more than one defending unit, resolve the attack individually for each unit. For example, if a bombarding artillery unit is attacking two units defending in clear terrain, the attacker would resolve the combat as two separate bombardments, one against each defending unit using the full bombardment strength against both, computing the combat differential for each unit and rolling one die separately for each unit being attacked.
12.10 Close Support
Artillery units may attack in concert with friendly units making adjacent attacks against enemy units. To do so, simply add the barrage strength(s) of the artillery to the attack. Close support may take place only in the friendly combat phase. When friendly units are attacking adjacent enemy units in more than one hex, the supporting artillery units need to be within range of only one of the defending hexes in order to be able to add their barrage strength to the attack. An artillery unit must be in command to provide close support.
12.11 Adjacent Attacks
When an artillery unit is directly adjacent to one or more enemy units, it must participate in an attack against at least one of those adjacent enemy units; it may not use ranged fire. In making that attack the artillery unit uses its barrage strength as its attack factor.
12.12 Final Protective Fire (FPF)
FPF is fired during the Final Protective Fire phase. Use the unit's FPF strength, but otherwise treat it like bombardment (use the Ranged CRT). This is not added to the strength of friendly defending units. It is instead fired by itself. Note the main effect will be suppression of attacking units, thereby disrupting the attacker's plans. FPF may be fired into adjacent hexes.
Design Note: This is a change to the various "Modern Battles" system games and more accurately reflects the effects of firepower in this era.
12.13 FPF Prerequisites
An artillery unit must be in command to provide FPF.
FPF may be fired only against enemy occupied hexes adjacent to friendly occupied hexes — it cannot bombard a hex that's not adjacent to a friendly unit.
12.14 FPF Restrictions
An artillery unit may not fire FPF if: 1) it's adjacent to an enemy unit; and/or 2) it has been subjected to a combat result that caused it to retreat or be suppressed earlier in that same combat phase (or if it were eliminated).
The fact that an artillery unit has merely been the target of a bombardment doesn't negate its ability to use FPF — it has to have received a combat result to negate its FPF ability.
12.15 Artillery Units Defending
When an artillery unit is attacked, it uses its defense strength, not its FPF.
12.16 Terrain Effects on Bombardment
Defending units may still receive a defensive terrain shifts when being attacked by enemy bombardment if they occupy certain types of terrain; see the TEC. Artillery fire doesn't negate the effects of hexside when applied as FPF; however, hexside shifts don't apply when a defending unit is being attacked by bombardment alone. Note that terrain shifts are always given in terms of combat differential columns. For example, if five factors are attacking two factors defending in a town ("+2,3" column) it is shifted to the "+1" column.
12.17 No Other Shifts
Aside from terrain, there are no other shifts when ranged fire is being conducted.
12.18 Combat Results & Artillery
Artillery involved in making or and/or supporting any kind of non-adjacent attacks are not effected by adverse combat results. Artillery attacking enemy units from adjacent hexes are treated as normal maneuver units in such combats and are effected by adverse combat results. Use their barrage strength as their attack factor and for computing EX or AX results. Use their defense strength when defending and for computing EX or AX results. They retreat normally, but artillery may never advance after combat.
12.19 Fire Coordination
Generally, there are no restrictions on the number of artillery units and/or airstrikes that may be used against any particular hex (see rule 17.0 for exceptions).
12.20 impact markers
Artillery impact markers may be used as memory aids to make it easier to recall which artillery units were allocated to which battles. They have no other effect on play. (If they are in a scenario.)
13.0 Combat Results
13.1 Adjacent Combat Results
A1, A2 = All involved attacking units retreat the indicated number of hexes. The attacking player retreats his units in accordance with the retreat rules. The defender may advance after combat along the retreat path.
AA = Attacker shot up. The attacker must first eliminate one unit. Any remaining attacking units are then retreated two hexes. The attacker retreats his units in accordance with the retreat rules. The defender may choose to advance after combat along the retreat path.
AE = Attacker Eliminated. Eliminate all attacking units. The defender may advance into the attacker's hex.
AX = Attacker Exchange. All involved defending units are retreated one hex, then one attacking unit is eliminated. Surviving attackers may then advance into the defender's hex.
BR = Both attacker and defender Retreat one hex. The defender retreats first, followed by the attacker. There is no advance after combat. A BR retreat is otherwise treated as a normal retreat result. Note that if a defending unit is surrounded by enemy units or ZOC, it is eliminated, even if the surrounding units then retreat due to the same result. BR conversion: the defender may, at his option, instead declare "Stand fast" when a BR result occurs and the defender is located in a fortification, urban, town, village, hilltop or (optional rules) entrenchment or rubble hex, or if all adjacent attacking units are across minor and/or major river hexsides. In that case, treat the outcome as an EX. The defender must declare this prior to the die roll.
D1, D2, D3, D4 = Defender retreats the indicated number of hexes. The defender retreats his units in accordance with the retreat rules. The attacker may advance after combat along the retreat path.
DA = Defender Shot Up. The defender must first eliminate one unit. Any remaining defending units are then retreated two hexes. The defender retreats his units in accordance with the retreat rules. The attacker may choose to advance after combat along the retreat path.
DE = Defender Eliminated. Eliminate all involved defending units. The attacker may advance into the defender's hex.
EX = Exchange. The defender eliminates one unit. Then the attacker eliminates one unit. If all defending units are eliminated, the attacker may advance after combat into the defender's hex. The converse is not true — the defenders may never advance even if they are the only surviving units.
13.2 Ranged Combat Results Explanations
D1 = targeted unit retreats one hex.
DE = targeted unit is eliminated.
DS = targeted unit is suppressed. An already suppressed unit is not further affected.
DT = targeted unit is suppressed. If the targeted unit was already suppressed, then it is eliminated instead.
— = no effect.
13.3 Eliminating Units
If there is a choice between units which can be eliminated, then the owning player always chooses which ones are to be lost. Artillery making non-adjacent attacks and airstrikes are not affected, nor are their strengths added to the total to be lost, nor do they count for the computation of "exchange" type results.
13.3 Retreat After Combat
When the combat results requires a player's unit(s) be retreated, the owning player must immediately move those units the indicated number of hexes away from their position. Retreat after combat is not normal movement; retreating units don't pay any movement point costs from their MF in order to make retreats.
13.4 Retreat Strictures
Retreat is subject to the following restrictions, and if a unit is unable to retreat within these restrictions it's eliminated in place. If a unit is forced to retreat into an enemy ZOC or enemy occupied hex, it is eliminated in that hex. Units may, however, retreat into hexes containing enemy air point markers. Units may not retreat off the map, nor may retreating units cross prohibited hexsides (see the TEC).
A unit that attempts to retreat across a major or minor river (not stream) hexside must roll one die, and on a 1-3 it is eliminated; otherwise it retreats normally. Bridges (printed and engineer) negate the need to make this die roll.
Whenever possible, retreating units must retreat into and through vacant hexes. If no other route is available, retreating units may move through friendly occupied hexes. If the final hex in the retreat path is occupied to the level that the retreating unit's arrival would cause it to be over-stacked, the retreating unit retreats an additional hex(es) until it reaches a hex in which it can stack within given limits. Within those strictures it's not necessary for a player to favor any given compass direction over any other when making his retreats after combat.
In all cases, retreating units must end their retreat the indicated number of hexes away from their former combat position (or further if the last hex would be over-stacked). No given hex may be entered more than once during any given retreat after combat. Retreats should be conducted in as straight a line of hexes as possible. If more than one retreat path is available that seemingly equally satisfy the strictures given above, then the player who owns the retreating units may choose between/among them.
If a retreating unit can't retreat the called for number of hexes, and can retreat only a portion of the number of the called for hexes, it is eliminated in the last hex into which it was able to retreat. In such cases, the retreat path terminates in the hex in which a unit was eliminated.
Units may retreat into and through friendly units in excess of the stacking limit; however, a unit may not end its retreat in excess of the stacking limit. If that happens, the retreating unit is eliminated in the last hex into which it could retreat.
13.5 Zero Movement Factor Units
Units with a movement factor of zero (0) may never retreat or advance after combat. They are eliminated in place if forced to retreat owing to an adjacent attack. They never retreat due to bombardment results — they instead receive a DS result; otherwise, there is no effect.
13.6 Advance After Combat
All maneuver units may advance after combat if called for by the combat result. Note this may be either the attacker or the defender. (Artillery units may never advance after combat, regardless if making an adjacent or ranged attack.) Whenever an enemy unit is forced to retreat as a result of combat it will usually leave a path of vacant hexes behind it called the "retreat path".
A unit may not advance across a major river hexside unless there is a bridge (printed or engineer).
13.7 Retreat Paths and Advancing
Any or all friendly victorious units that participated in the combat and were adjacent to the retreated unit are allowed to advance along the enemy retreat path. If a unit is eliminated in a hex, the victorious units may advance into the hex it formerly occupied (within stacking limits). Artillery units may never advance. Also, air points are removed the instant their battle is resolved; so they don't advance.
As with retreat, advance after combat is in terms of hexes, not movement points.
If a unit is eliminated while retreating, the hex it last occupied is the termination point for its retreat path.
Advancing victorious units may cease advancing in any hex along the retreat path. They may not violate stacking restrictions at the end of their advance. Advancing victorious units may ignore enemy zones of control.
If a unit retreats into a hex containing a friendly unit, then the retreat path terminates in the last hex the retreating unit entered prior to entering the hex with that unit. In relation to this, also note the second paragraph of rule 9.17 above.
13.8 Exercising Option to Advance
The option to advance after combat must be exercised immediately before any other combat's resolution is begun. Units are never forced to advance after combat. Advancing units may neither attack nor be attacked again in that same phase, even if their advance places them next to enemy units whose battles are yet to be resolved or that weren't involved in combat (but see the second wave combat rule below for how these units can attack again).
14.0 Second Wave Combat
14.1 Second Wave Combat Procedure
During the second wave combat phase, the phasing player may use any and all of his in command units to attack. That includes units that attacked in the First wave combat phase. That is entirely at the player's option. Even if a unit is in an enemy ZOC, it does not have to attack. Per normal combat rules, if a unit conducts a second wave attack, it must attack all adjacent units that exert a ZOC into its hex.
14.2 Artillery & Second Wave Combat
Any kind of artillery unit that conducted ranged fire in the first wave combat may not do so again in the second wave.
14.3 FPF During Second Wave Combat
No FPF is conducted for second wave combat. (The idea is the defender already had his shot in the FPF phase).
14.4 Air Support in the Second Wave
Air points used in a first wave attack may not attack in the second wave. You may withhold air points from the first wave to attack in the second wave for both adjacent and ranged fire.
15.0 Suppression
15.1 Suppression Generally
Units are in one of two states; they're either "combat effective" or "suppressed." Combat effective units become suppressed due to certain combat results. Suppressed units regain combat effectiveness via "recovery." All units of both sides always start every scenario in combat effective status unless otherwise specified.
15.2 Causing Suppression
Certain bombardment results cause suppression; see 9.15. Place a suppression marker on top of affected unit(s). Suppression only occurs in bombardment, not in close support, even if artillery and/or air points are used. (The Assault and Mobile CRTs never cause suppression.)
15.3 Suppression Effects
Suppressed units are automatically OOC (see 7.0) and suffer all effects of being OOC (see 7.8) in addition to those effects of being suppressed (below). HQ may not provide them with command.
Suppressed units lose their ZOC while suppressed.
If any units involved in an adjacent attack are suppressed, the CRT column is shifted two to the left.
If any units involved in an adjacent defense are suppressed, the CRT column is shifted two to the right.
Suppressed artillery may not fire ranged combat.
Suppressed units may never advance after combat.
Suppressed HQ may not provide command to other units.
Suppressed units may not provide any shifts for combined arms (22.2), engineer attacks (22.3), or anti-tank fire (16.0).
15.4 Recovery
During its side's recovery phase, an in command unit is automatically restored to combat effectiveness. An OOC unit must roll a die: on a "1-3" it remains suppressed; on a "4-6" remove the suppression marker.
HQ recover automatically, but suppression markers are removed from HQ units after all other units have recovered.
16.0 Anti-Tank Fire
16.1 Anti-Tank Capable Units
Units with bracketed attack and/or defense strengths [#] either had large numbers of anti-tank guns, or had weaponry that was especially effective against enemy armor at longer ranges.
16.2 AT Units on the Attack
If any unit in an attacking force has a bracketed attack strength, and the defender has at least one armor class unit, that combat receives an additional one column shift to the right (+1).
16.3 AT Units on the Defense
- If any unit in a defending force has a bracketed defense strength, and the attacker has at least one armor class unit, that combat receives an additional two column shift to the left (-2).
- If a unit with a bracketed defense strength is adjacent to any friendly units defending against an attack has at least one armored class unit in it, those units also receive the two column leftward (-2) defensive shift. That is determined at the instant of combat. The adjacent anti-tank unit does not suffer any results of the combat. There is no line of sight consideration for this shift.
16.4 Accumulation of AT Shifts
No more than one shift may be taken by the attacker for this. No more than one shift for the defender may be taken for friendly anti-tank fire. This is cumulative with other shifts, including combined arms.
16.5 AT Restrictions
An anti-tank unit must be combat effective to provide these shifts. It does not have to be in command (an OOC anti-tank unit provides it as well as an in command unit).
17.0 Airpower
17.1 Airstrike Markers
Airpower is represented in the by airstrike markers. There are two types of air markers: GA (ground attack) and MB (medium bombers).
17.2 Airstrike Availability
Airstrikes are kept off of the mapsheet until generated as reinforcements by a scenario. Each air marker may be used for one mission per game turn. Each air marker may potentially be reused each game turn according to the scenario rules.
17.3 Conducting Airstrikes
MB are used in the same general manner as artillery within the restrictions given below. Each airpower counter is worth one barrage, close support or FPF point. MB may generally function only as bombardment.
GA may generally function as bombardment, close support and FPF.
17.4 Aerial Bombardment
Air units may attack enemy hexes by themselves in the same manner as artillery bombardment. Use the Ranged CRT.
17.5 Airstrikes in Close Support
Add the air points to the ground strength of friendly units as if they were artillery. Note that each air point counts as one combat factor, not as one shift to the combat differential column.
17.6 Airstrikes as FPF
Air units may attack enemy hexes by themselves as FPF if otherwise allowed. Use the Ranged CRT. See 17.10.
17.7 Airstrike Range
Airstrikes may be used anywhere on the map; they have unlimited range.
17.8 Combining Airstrikes
A player may generally combine any number and type of airstrikes against the same hex during the same phase if otherwise allowed by the limits in 17.9. They may also be combined with artillery fire.
17.9 Airstrike Limits
A player may utilize the following number of airstrikes per hex:
[Per-hex limits table not present in the text dump; the limits are stated in the two paragraphs below.]
The German player may use any number of airstrikes per hex. Axis allies may use a maximum of two airstrikes per hex.
The Soviet capability varies by year: they may use only one airstrike per hex in 1941; two per hex in 1942, three per hex in 1943, and four per hex in 1944 & 1945.
17.10 FPF Restriction
Airstrikes may not be used for FPF in 1941-42. They may be so used in 1943-45.
17.11 No Accumulation of Airstrikes
Airstrike markers may be reused each turn; however, unused airstrikes may not be accumulated from turn to turn. For example, a scenario might allocate three GA airstrikes per turn. The player could therefore use up to three GA each turn. If he used two in one turn, he couldn't then use four in the next turn; however, he still could reuse all three in the next turn. Each air point may be utilized only once per complete game turn, as either bombardment, close support, or FPF, within the restrictions given above. That is, if you use an airstrike in the friendly player turn, you may not use it again in the enemy player turn as FPF, and vice versa.
17.12 Airstrikes & Combat Results
Airstrike markers are never affected by the outcomes of ground combat. A player may not use airstrikes to attack or intercept enemy airstrikes.
17.13 Airstrikes are not Units
Airstrike markers do not count for stacking, have no zones of control, don't block the movement or retreat of enemy units, and may not advance after combat.
17.14 Air Defense
Air units conducting any mission within air defense range of an enemy air defense unit are affected as follows: their strength is cut in half, rounding down any remainder. That is, two airstrikes would equal one combat point; one airstrike would equal zero.
17.15 Air Defense Range
Most units may fire at airstrikes attacking their hex. Those units with the actual anti-aircraft symbol may fire at airstrikes up to two hexes away.
18.0 Weather
18.1 Weather Determination
The default weather for the scenario will be stated in scenario instructions. Changes to weather for a turn may be determined as a result of the Events Table. In some scenarios, more than one weather condition may apply. That will be explained by the scenario rules.
18.2 Weather Effects
They are on the Weather Effects Chart. Place the Weather marker on the appropriate space on the Weather track as a mnemonic.
19.0 Fog of War
You may not examine enemy stacks unless one of the following conditions apply:
- You may always examine the top unit in a stack.
- At the instant of combat, you may examine enemy stacks that are attacking or defending.
- You can always examine the type of terrain in a hex.
20.0 Supply
20.1 Supply & Supply Units
There are no general supply rules or effects in the game; all units are considered to be fully supplied throughout play.
Supply units are used to provide artillery units (only; non-artillery units are not affected) with increased combat strength. A player may have supply units assigned by scenario.
20.2 Procedure
The supply unit must be within supply radius of the units to be supported. All friendly artillery units then have their attack strength (bombardment) doubled during that combat phase. That is called maximum attack supply.
20.3 Supply Radius
Each supply unit has a supply radius printed on it. The supply radius is traced as movement points from the supply unit to the unit to be supplied. A single supply unit may supply any number of friendly artillery units once. A line of supply may not be traced through hexes containing enemy units or prohibited terrain. It must stop in the first enemy ZOC it enters, which can contain a friendly artillery unit. (that is, you can supply an artillery unit in an enemy ZOC.)
20.4 No Replacement
Each supply unit may be used only once per game. Once a supply unit has provided maximum attack supply, to any number of units, it is expended (removed from the map). It may not be replaced after being expended.
21.0 Untried Units
21.1 Untried Units Generally
Units with a question mark printed on their reverse sides in place of combat factors are untried, meaning neither player knows their actual combat strength. When initially deployed on the map, they are placed with their untried side showing.
21.2 Flipping Untried Units
Units remain in their untried status until the first time they engage in combat. They are then flipped after all attacking units have been declared and committed to combat. That also applies to untried artillery units engaging in any kind of ranged or adjacent combat, as well as to units being targeted by ranged combat and/or airstrikes.
21.3 Untried Strength Hidden Until Flipped
Neither player may examine the hidden side of units. Once an untried unit has been revealed, it remains face up for the remainder of the game.
21.4 Zero Strength Units
Zero defense factor units are eliminated when revealed. Zero attack factor units remain in play.
22.0 Special Units & Tactics
Design Note. Players who desire to get into the game quickly, or newcomers to wargaming, can skip this section.
22.1 German Advance After Combat
German armored units that conduct an advance after combat do not have to follow the retreat path after the first hex. Starting with the second hex of the advance, they may move in any direction up to the number of hexes they would otherwise be allowed to advance. This may be through enemy ZOCs.
22.2 Engineers
Engineer units can perform the following special functions:
- Assault Pioneering. If an engineer unit is involved in an attack against a hex containing urban or fortification terrain, or entrenchment markers, the attack is shifted one column to the right, cumulative with other offensive and defensive shifts.
- Bridging. An engineer unit can build a pontoon bridge across a stream or river hexside. The engineer must start a movement phase adjacent to this kind of hexside and conduct no movement during the turn. During that turn, friendly units may cross the hexside at no additional cost. The bridge remains in place as long as the engineer unit remains in place. An engineer in an enemy ZOC may not build a bridge, and if an enemy unit moves adjacent to the engineer, the bridge is considered destroyed. An engineer unit may cross the bridge itself if no other unit does in the same turn. The effect of an engineer bridge is to negate the crossing cost of a river hexside. It does not create a road in the hex. Units moving across an engineer bridge may not violate stacking restrictions on either side of the bridge hexside.
- Assault Crossing. Normally, you can not advance after combat across a minor or major river hexside. However, if an engineer unit is part of the attack, then any unit in that attack may do so. This applies only to an attacker, not the defender.
22.3 Screening
If the only defending units in a combat are armored recon or motorcycle, the defending player chooses which CRT (Assault or Mobile) will be used instead of the attacker. This applies only to adjacent combat, not bombardment defense.
22.4 Fire Control
There is a limit to the number of ranged units that may be involved in a single ranged combat.
The German limit is four units. The Axis Allied limit is two. The Soviet limit varies by scenario: in 1941 and 1942 scenarios the limit is one unit; in 1943 scenarios the limit is one unit for FPF and close support, two units for bombardment; in 1944 and 1945 scenarios the limit is two units for FPF and close support, three units for bombardment.
The above limits do not include air units, nor do they apply to situations in which ranged units are firing at adjacent hexes.
23.0 Victory Conditions
23.1 Victory Points
Each scenario has its own particular victory conditions. In general, players accumulate victory points (VP) for fulfilling certain objectives during the course of the game, and for occupying certain terrain features at the end of the game. The player who has more VP at the end of play wins (usually). Players should keep track of their VP on a separate sheet of paper or by using the VP markers and index.
23.2 Victory Levels
At the end of the game, the player whose side has fewer VP subtracts his total from his opponent's total to determine the extent of the victory (if any). In the table below, tactical victories are the least, and strategic victories are the greatest, kind of victory.
| Difference in VP Amounts | Game Outcome |
|---|---|
| 0-9 | Draw |
| 10-19 | Tactical Victory |
| 20-29 | Operational Victory |
| ≥ 30 | Strategic Victory |
23.3 Occupying Hexes
Occupation of objective hexes means the player has a unit in the hex at the time called for. Airstrikes and/or other markers don't count for that purpose.
23.4 Replaced Units
Units eliminated but later replaced still count for victory points. Keep track of that on paper.
23.5 Exiting VPs
Some scenarios award VP for units that exit the map. Units that exit the map count for VP only if they exit via land movement. They do not count if they exit via airborne movement.
23.6 Line of Communication (LOC)
If a victory condition requires the tracing of a LOC: the LOC is a path of hexes from the victory hex back to the friendly map edge. It may be of any length. It may not enter enemy units or terrain prohibited to land unit movement. It may not enter an enemy ZOC unless a friendly unit occupies that hex.
24.0 Scenario Special Rules
24.1 Historical Notes
The Kursk offensive: southern front. The SS Panzer Corps breaks through the Soviet main line of resistance, held by elements of the 6th Guards Army. The German spearheads are met by a counterattack of the Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army. What followed is one of the more controversial battles of World War II. There is considerable historical debate about the impact of Prokhorovka. Some claim German tank losses here made it the turning point of the war in the east. Others, German losses were exaggerated and claim it was the Red Army that took massive losses — and that the Germans called off the offensive owing to strategic factors. Here is your chance to find out.
24.2 Players & Sides
The German player deploys first. The German player is the first player.
24.3 Game Scale
Each hex represents one kilometer (0.62 miles) from side to opposite side. Each turn represents a day of operations.
24.4 Game Length
Prior to the start of play, players determine if they want to play the short or long scenario.
- Short Scenario: 5-13 July 1943
- Long Scenario: 5-17 July 1943
24.5 Victory Conditions
German Victory Points
- Each Soviet armored type unit eliminated: 2
- Each other type of Soviet unit eliminated: 1
- Occupy objective hex on north map edge at end of game: 5
- Occupy Prokhorovka objective hex at end of game: 10
- Occupy objective hex east of Maloyabonova at end of game: 5
(Must be able to trace a LOC to the south map edge to gain points for occupation.)
Soviet Victory Points
- Each German tank or assault gun unit eliminated: 4
- Each other type of German armored unit eliminated: 3
- Each other type of German unit eliminated: 2
- Occupy first line fortifications hexes at end of game: 1 per hex
- Occupy second line fortifications hexes at end of game: ½ per hex
(Must be able to trace a LOC to the north map edge to gain points for occupation.)
24.6 German Deployment
Friendly map edge: south, west of initial front line.
German Initial Deployment
The German player places his units anywhere south of the front line. They are:
- 1st SS Division: all units
- 2nd SS Division: all units
- 3rd SS Division: all units
- II SS Panzer Corps (non-divisional units): all units
- 315th Infantry Regiment: all units
- 4 supply units
German Air forces
Place in the Pool: 8 x Ground Attack, 4 x Medium Bombers
German Command Structure:
- 2nd SS Panzer Corps HQ: can command all German units.
- ARKO 312th HQ: can command all German artillery and rocket artillery units.
- Each of the three SS Divisions (LAH, DR, T) have three battlegroup HQ: each HQ can command all units from that division, plus one unit from the 2nd SS Panzer Corps.
- 315th Infantry Regiment HQ: command all units from the 315th Infantry Regiment.
- Supply units may be commanded by any German HQ and used for any German ranged units.
- German air units are always in command.
German Ground Reinforcements:
None.
German Replacements:
From start of scenario to the turn in which the Soviet Orel offensive event goes into effect: 2 RPs per turn. After the Soviet Orel offensive goes into effect: 1 RP per turn.
On the first German Reinforcement Phase in which one or more German units occupy each of the following hexes:
- Any one Soviet 1st line fortification hex: one additional RP.
- Any one Soviet 2nd line fortification hex: one additional RP.
- Any one Soviet 3rd line fortification hex: one additional RP.
No more than one RP may be taken for each German sub-command per turn.
German replacements appear on the friendly map edge.
German Airstrike reinforcements
On each German Reinforcement Phase, roll dice to determine the number of German air points that will be picked from the pool. That will depend if the Soviet Orel offensive event is in effect.
- Start of game until Soviet Orel offensive event is in effect: roll two dice, add the total, and pick that number of air units at random.
- Start of Soviet Orel offensive until end of game: roll one die, and pick that number of air units at random.
German special units:
Heavy armor: heavy tank companies stack "free"; however, there may never be more than one heavy tank company per hex.
German abbreviations:
- ARKO: Artillery Command
- SSPzK: SS Panzer Corps
- DR: Das Reich
- T: Totenkopf
- LAH: Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler
24.7 Soviet Deployment
Friendly map edge: north edge, plus all east hexes north of the 2nd fortification line (exclusive).
Soviet Initial Deployment:
All Soviet units are deployed north of the front line:
- On within two hexes of 1st line fortifications: 52, 375 Guards Rifle Division, all units. 6th Guards Army units: 23rd Guards Rifle Corps HQ, 1 x tank brigade, 2 x anti-tank brigades, 1 x artillery brigade, 1 x mortar brigade.
- On within two hexes of 2nd line fortifications: 51st Guards Rifle Division, all units. 6th Guards Army units: 6th Guards Army HQ, 1 x anti-tank brigade, 1 x rocket launcher brigade, 1 x anti-aircraft brigade.
- Supply units x 2: north of the front line.
- Place the following 6th Guards Army units aside: 42nd, 95th, 183rd Rifle, 9th Guards Airborne Divisions, plus 1 x tank brigade, 2 x anti-tank brigades, 1 x artillery brigade, 1 x engineer brigade.
- All 5th Guards Tank Army units are placed aside.
Soviet Air forces
Place in the Pool: 3 x Ground attack, 3 x Medium Bombers
Soviet Reinforcements:
- During each Soviet Reinforcement Phase, roll one die for each of the following units: 42nd, 95th, 183rd Rifle, 9th Guards Airborne Divisions: On a "5-6" they appear as reinforcements. Each time an infantry division appears as a reinforcement, the Soviet player also receives one unit of the 6th Guards Army Pool (6GDA), drawn at random
- During each Soviet Reinforcement Phase, roll one die for each of the following units from the 5th Guards Tank Army: 2 Tank Corps, 2 Guards Tank, 5 Guards Tank, 18 Tank and 29 Tank Corps; 5 Mechanized Corps detachment:
If no German unit is on or north of the 1st fortified line defenses, then do not roll.
If any German unit is on or north of the 1st fortified line, on a roll of "6" the unit appears this turn.
If any German unit currently occupies a hex on or north of the 2nd fortified line: the unit appears on a result of "5-6".
If any German unit currently occupies a hex on or north of the 3rd fortified line: the unit appears on a result of "4-6".
Each time a tank or mechanized corps appears as a reinforcement, the Soviet player also receives one unit of the 5 Guards Tank Army Pool (5GDTA), drawn at random.
- Soviet reinforcements and replacements appear on friendly map edges.
Soviet Replacements:
1 RP per Reinforcement Phase; may not be accumulated.
Soviet Airpower
On each Soviet Reinforcement Phase, roll one die to determine the number of Soviet air points that will be picked from the Pool. This will depend whether or not the Soviet Orel offensive event is in effect.
Start of game until Soviet Orel offensive event is in effect: no Soviet airpower.
Start of Soviet Orel offensive until end of game: roll one die, divide by two, round up any fractions, and pick that number at random.
Soviet Command Structure
- 5 Guards Tank Army (5GDTA) HQ may command any unit of: 2 Tank Corps, 2 Guards Tank, 5 Guards Tank, 18 Tank and 29 Tank Corps; 5 Mechanized Corps detachment; 5 GDTA non-divisional units. (Do not confuse the 2nd Tank Corps with the 2nd Guards Tank corps)
- Each Tank and Mechanized Corps HQ commands all units in its own structure, plus one non-divisional unit of the 5GDTA.
- 6 Guards Army (6GD) and 23 Guards Corps (23 GD) command all units of: the 42 Guards, 51 Guards, 52 Guards, 95 Guards, 183 Rifle and 375 Guards Rifle Divisions; 9 Guards Airborne Division; 6 Guards Army (6 GD) non-divisional units.
- Supply is commanded by the 6th Guards Army and may be used only by 6th Guards Army ranged units.
- Soviet air units are always in command.
Soviet abbreviations:
- GAD: Guards Airborne Division
- GD: Guards
- GDA: Guards Army
- GDC: Guards Corps
- Gp: Group (ad hoc collection of smaller units)
- MC: Mechanized Corps
- TA: Tank Army
- TC: Tank Corps
24.7 Weather
Default weather is Clear.
Turn 1 is always clear.
Turn 2 to end game: determine via the Events Chart.
24.8 Random Events
Roll starting on turn 2.
Prokhorovka Events Table
| Die roll | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 | No Effect. |
| 2 | No Effect. |
| 3 | Run into anti-tank ditch/minefield: roll one die. On a 1-2, the Soviet player indicates any one German armored unit and places a suppressed marker on it. On a 3-5, the German player indicates any one Soviet armored unit and places a suppressed marker on it. On a 6 there is no effect. |
| 4 | Soviet Orel offensive: see German replacements and both sides' airpower reinforcements. This event remains in effect for the remainder of the game. |
| 5 | Weather this turn: Hazy |
| 6 | Weather this turn: Light Precipitation |
Guards TANK Optional Rules
25.0 German Long-Range Anti-Tanks Fire
25.1 Long-Range AT Units
German units with a bracketed attack factor have long-range anti-tank guns. In addition to the normal effects of bracketing, they can also conduct long-range anti-tank fire. That allows them to engage hexes containing enemy armored-class units using a modified form of ranged fire.
25.2 Long-Range AT Fire
is done in the same manner as ranged fire for both attack and defense.
- The long-range armor unit must be in command and combat effective. It may not be located in an EZOC.
- The target hex must contain at least one enemy armored-class unit. A unit conducting this kind of fire doesn't provide any shift for combined arms or for being bracketed per se, though adjacent units may do so.
25.3 Range & Line of Sight (LOS)
The maximum range for this fire is two hexes. Terrain and enemy units don't block LOS.
26.0 Prepared Defenses
26.1 Entrenchments
You may build entrenchments as follows. You have an in command and combat effective engineer unit in a hex. It doesn't move, and at the end of the movement phase place an entrenchment marker. You may not build an entrenchment in an EZOC.
26.2 Effects
Entrenched units receive an additional two-column shift to the left in defense. Also, entrenched units may convert a BR result to an EX when defending.
26.3 Duration
An entrenchment stays in place until there are no friendly units in it, either because they've moved out or have been eliminated in combat. Thus you may not capture and use enemy entrenchments.
26.4 Engagement
It costs two movement factors to enter the ZOC of an enemy unit in a fort or entrenchment. That represents the time needed for the attacker to penetrate outpost lines, minefields and various other forward defenses.
27.0 Rubble
27.1 Rubble Placement
"Rubble" is the generic term for the various kinds of devastation of terrain and the generation of columns of smoke and dust that result from mass use of firepower. Whenever a ranged fire attack has a result of DT or DE, place a Rubble marker in that hex.
27.2 Effects
A rubble marker has the following effects: 1) add +1 to the movement cost to enter the hex; 2) any road in the hex is eliminated; 3) any bridges on all of the hexsides of the hex are eliminated; and 4) if the hex contains urban terrain, the defender receives an additional one-column shift to the left.
27.3 Duration
Once placed, a Rubble marker remains in the hex for the rest of the game.
28.0 Paratroop Operations
28.1 Paratroop Units
Some scenarios allow paratroop-qualified units to enter the map via airborne landing. Only units with the airborne symbol may conduct airborne landings and only if the scenario specifically says they can. This rule is used only if airborne operations are called for by the scenario; otherwise, airborne units function as normal infantry. Airborne landings don't require use of transport air points. They are considered to be jumping from additional transport aircraft.
28.2 Procedure
Place the airborne units on any hexes on the map during the friendly movement phase. Roll a die on the Airborne Landing Table. Make any called for die roll modifications. Units making airborne landings may not perform normal movement in the turn of landing; however, they perform all other functions normally, including combat, retreats and/or advances after combat.
28.3 Restrictions
Each airborne unit may make only one landing per game. It must be done only as the units' initial entry onto the map as reinforcements. Once on the map, they're treated as normal infantry unless the scenario rules specify otherwise. Airborne units may not land atop enemy units, though they may land in EZOC.
28.4 Regular Entry
Airborne units aren't required to make an airborne landing; they instead may enter during the reinforcement phase by being placed in regular overland entry hexes.
28.5 Airborne Landing Table
| Die roll | Outcome |
|---|---|
| ≤ 1 | AL |
| 2 | AL |
| 3 | AL |
| 4 | AL |
| 5 | AL |
| 6 | SC |
| 7 | SC |
| 8 | EL |
Airborne Landing Table Results
- AL: unit lands without adverse affect.
- EL: unit is eliminated and counts for VP.
- SC: unit scatters. Roll a die; a result of one means the unit is placed one hex north of the intended landing hex; a two means it's placed one hex northeast of the intended landing hex, etc. If the unit lands atop an enemy unit or in prohibited terrain or over-stacked, it's eliminated.
Airborne Landing Table Die Roll Modifiers (use all that apply)
- -1: unit is landing on an airfield.
- 0: unit is landing in clear terrain, including villages.
- +1: unit is landing in any other type of terrain.
- +1: unit is landing in the ZOC of one or more units other than anti-aircraft. (Maximum of +1 regardless of number of EZOC.)
- +2: unit is landing in AA range of one or more enemy anti-aircraft units. (Maximum of +2 regardless of number of antiaircraft ZOC.)
- +1: Soviet airborne units.
Errata
Guards TANK Weather Effects Chart
| Weather conditions | Effect on HQ Command Radius | Effect on movement | Effect on combat | Effect on airpower | Maximum LOS for High Ground rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear | — | — | — | — | Twelve hexes |
| Hazy | — | — | — | Reduce number of airstrikes available by 50% (round down fractions). | Six hexes |
| Fog | Reduce by one hex | +1 for adjacent attacks | No airstrikes can be used this turn. | One hex | |
| Light precipitation | — | Movement factors reduced by 50%. | — |