Tank on Tank: East Front
Tank on Tank: East Front Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
Tank on Tank: East Front is a low-complexity game of armored combat in the Second World War. Players take either the Soviet or the German/Axis side and try to outmaneuver and outfight one another so they can enjoy a fleeting sensation of victory before advancing to the next scenario.
The package consists of these rules, 126 counters, three maps, players' aid, and dice. Players need to supply an opaque container (traditionally a coffee cup).
1.1 Community and Support
If you have any game questions, or if you are just looking for other gamers to chat with, you can find quick replies on our Forums at: http://forums.lnlpublishing.com.
If any parts of this game are damaged, or you have any other support needs, please open a support ticket on our Support Desk at: http://support.lnlpublishing.com.
You can also find additional game resources such as scenarios, counters, special rules, and other community-design resources in our Resource Section at: http://forums.lnlpublishing.com/resources.
2.0 The Pieces
2.1 Combat Units
The combat units in Tank on Tank: East Front represent main battle tanks, heavy tanks, assault guns, tank destroyers and self-propelled artillery. They are all capable of moving and firing at enemy units. The brown units belong to the Soviets, the gray units to the Germans, the light-gray units to the Hungarians, and the light-green units to the Italians.
All vehicles, including self-propelled artillery and Katyusha rocket launchers, are hard targets.
Each hard-target unit has three numbers on it. From left to right, these are Range (RNG), Defense (DEF) and Movement Points (MPs). Range is how far the unit can shoot, defense is how hard it is to kill, and movement is how far it can move each turn.
The names of some units are underlined. These units are Headquarters (HQ). They make movement more efficient (see 6.1).
2.2 Markers
There are four kinds of markers in Tank on Tank: East Front.
- Turn marker: used to track the progress through the game by advancing it along the Turn Track.
- APs Spent marker: used to track a player's expenditure of Action Points. Players can advance it along the Turn Track as points are used.
- Command Chits: the Command Chits are mixed and then placed in the opaque container. Players draw chits from the container over the course of the game.
- Ace marker: used in some scenarios to indicate an exceptional tank crew. Place it with the unit as a reminder of their higher quality. If the unit is eliminated, remove the Ace marker with it.
3.0 The Map
The map consists of hexes, each with its own distinctive alphanumeric identifier. For example, hex A1 is in the upper-left corner and is in hexrows "A" and "1". Hexes are one of five types of terrain: Clear, Hill, Town, Depression, or Woods. There are also Roads, which run through and between hexes.
3.1 Stacking
Only one combat unit can ever be in a hex at a time. There is no moving through hexes containing units, whether the piece is friendly or enemy. Markers are not considered units.
4.0 Facing
A unit always faces a hexside and has a 180-degree front arc (see diagram). A unit can only shoot at enemy units located in its front arc. Hexes outside this arc are flank hexes and attacks by units located in them are considered flank attacks, which are more dangerous (see 8.4).
The green hexes are the front arc. The red hexes are the flank arc.
Units must be activated for movement to change their facing. Once activated, a unit can pivot or face in any direction.
5.0 Turns
Each turn consists of a Soviet and a German (or Axis) player phase. The scenario instructs players as to which occurs first. During his player phase, a player has the opportunity to activate some or all of his units to move and/or shoot. However, the Action Point system may prevent him from doing everything he wants to do.
At the start of the opponent's player phase, a player blindly draws one of the six Command Chits from the opaque container. He keeps the number on it to himself, revealing it only when his opponent has finished expending Action Points (APs) equal to the chit. At that point, the player phase is over and the Command Chit is returned to the container. If this finished the first player phase in the turn, the other player now goes. If it ended the second player phase, advance the Turn marker and check to see if the scenario is at an end.
Regardless of how many APs a player has to spend, each unit can only move once and fire once each turn.
Note: You will have from 2 to 4 Action Points to spend each turn. The tension comes from not knowing when your store will run out—should you advance that tank and hope it can shoot before your player phase is at an end?
Solitaire Play: If you are playing by yourself, you obviously lose the ability to use the other player as an umpire. Instead, roll one die after you spend 2 APs. On a 1–2, the phase is over. Otherwise, spend another AP and roll again. This time a 1–3 ends the phase. If you get past that, spend one more AP and then you're definitely finished. Also, please consider finding a friend to play with—expanding the hobby and all that.
6.0 Action Points
Action Points (APs) are the tool by which players turn their intentions into activity on the map. APs are expended to move, fire, and promote pieces. The player who uses his APs more efficiently deserves to win the game (though the dice can be fickle).
It costs one AP to:
- Pivot and/or move one piece (7.0)
- Fire any/all pieces at one target (8.0)
- Promote one piece (6.2)
It costs two APs for the Soviets to do a Massed Activation (6.3).
APs can be spent for these tasks in any order—it is permissible to promote a unit to an HQ piece, move several pieces and then fire them at a target. However, you must complete all activity for one AP before spending the next AP.
To repeat: Regardless of the APs a player has to spend, each unit can only move once and fire once each turn.
6.1 Headquarters Bonus
When an HQ unit is activated for movement, all adjacent units can also move freely (they need not remain with the HQ) at that time. This makes HQs a crucial part of a player's operations. The HQ bonus cannot be used when entering units onto the map.
An HQ can be activated for movement and remain in its original hex—in this case, it is still considered to have used its move for the turn.
An HQ can allow an adjacent HQ unit to move, but the second HQ unit does not, in turn, activate other adjacent units.
6.2 Field Promotion
Field Promotion allows a player to return one of his eliminated HQ pieces to play. He spends one AP and replaces a piece that is the same type as the eliminated HQ. The new HQ keeps the facing of the replaced unit.
A promoted HQ can still be activated to move and/or fight.
6.3 Massed Activation
The Soviet player can spend two APs to activate three HQ units for movement (and any other units eligible for the HQ bonus described in 6.1). However, if the Soviet player attempts a Massed Activation and does not have enough APs remaining to pay for it, his turn immediately ends without activating any units.
Note: The Massed Activation is powerful, but it is not free of risks.
7.0 Movement
When a unit is activated to move, it can spend Movement Points (MPs) equal to its movement allowance—it's number of MPs. A unit moves by expending one MP for each hex entered. It can continue to move until its MPs are exhausted. MPs cannot be saved from one impulse to the next.
Note: One AP buys you all of a counter's MPs.
Once a unit's movement is complete, it can face in any direction (4.0).
- Woods and Town hexes cost an extra MP to enter if a unit is not entering along a Road. Hills cost only the normal 1 MP per hex.
- Road March: A unit can spend an extra MP if all of its movement occurs on/through Road hexes/hexsides.
- Minimum Movement Rule: As long as a unit possesses at least one MP, it can always move one hex when activated.
- Units can never enter hexes occupied by units or prohibited terrain. The Minimum Movement Rule does not override this prohibition.
7.1 Entry of Reinforcements
Throughout the game, the players may receive reinforcements. Reinforcements must be activated to enter the map. They pay all normal MP costs to enter their entry hex, and then, if they have MPs remaining, they can continue moving. If they enter the map via a Road, they qualify for the Road March bonus.
7.2 Exiting the Map
Some scenarios allow units to exit the map. To exit, a unit must move to a designated exit hexrow and then spend a MP. If it followed a Road into the hex, it qualifies for the Road March bonus.
8.0 Combat
To shoot at an enemy unit, a player must satisfy three conditions. He must have a friendly piece with (1) the enemy unit in its front arc, (2) in range, and (3) have a line of sight (LOS) to the target. Any number of pieces can fire at the designated target, provided each firing piece satisfies these conditions and has not already fired this phase.
8.1 Range
To determine if an enemy unit is in range, count the hexes between them and add one for the target's hex. If the total is equal to or less than your unit's range, it can fire.
Add 1 to the range of a firing unit occupying a Hill hex.
8.2 Line of Sight
To determine if you can see your target, trace a line from the center of the firing unit's hex to the center of the target's hex. If the line does not cross blocking terrain, you have a valid LOS. Blocking obstacles are all units as well as Hill, Town, and Woods hexes.
Units on Hill hexes can see (and be seen) over units on Clear-terrain hexes.
Units in Depression hexes are below the level of the field. Units can only see into these hexes if they are adjacent to the Depression terrain, and units in the Depression can only see out to hexes adjacent to the Depression. The best way to understand this is the LOS can only cross Depression hexes between the origin and its destination. Units in Depression hexes do not block LOS for units that are not also in a Depression hex.
LOS down a hex spine: If the line travels exactly between two hexes, it is only blocked if there is blocking terrain on both sides (see diagram).
Diagram note: The T-34 has LOS to the Wespe (A) and the Panzer IV (B), but cannot see the Tiger (C) because it is in a flank hex. The KV/85 cannot see the Panzer IV (D) behind the Town or the Wespe (A) in the Depression, but can see the others (E, F, G). G is visible because the KV/85 is on a Hill.
8.3 Artillery Support
An artillery unit does not require LOS to the target if at least one other firing piece has a valid LOS. It must still be within range (8.1) of the target. This also applies to the Soviet Katyusha rocket launchers.
8.4 Combat Resolution
Roll two six-sided dice (2d6), sum them, and add the number of firing pieces. Apply any applicable combat modifiers and compare the final result to the target's defense. If the attack roll is equal to or greater, remove the target piece. If the attack roll is less than the target's defense, the attack misses and the target escapes harm.
- Add 1 to the roll if any of the attacking pieces occupy a hex flanking the target.
- Subtract 1 from the roll if the target occupies a Town or Woods hex.
Regardless of modifiers, an original die-roll result of 2 is always a miss and a result of 12 is always a kill.
8.5 Aces
If one of the firing units is marked with an Ace marker and the original attack roll is a miss, the firing player gets a second bite at the cherry. He can re-roll the dice, but must keep the new result—hit or miss.
8.6 Restrictions on Soviet Fire
Soviet units can only combine to attack if each piece is adjacent to at least one other firing piece and all firing pieces are in a contiguous group of adjacent hexes. Soviet artillery units (8.3) are exempt from 8.6.
9.0 Personnel Units
Although personnel units (infantry, armored infantry, AT guns, and towed artillery) resemble hard units with range, defense, and movement values, they are considered soft targets and so possess two defense values separated by a slash (/). The top value is used when they occupy a Clear or Depression hex; the bottom value is used when they occupy a Hill, Woods, or Town hex.
Note: Firing at a soft target in a Town or Woods hex still incurs the -1 penalty from 8.4. Firing from a Hill hex to another Hill hex does not affect the ability of a soft target to claim its bottom defense value.
9.1 Cannot Move and Fire in Same Turn
During a turn, soft targets can move or fire—not both.
9.2 Infantry Range Limitation
Infantry receive no range benefit for being on a Hill; its maximum range is always 1 hex.
9.3 Infantry Bonuses on the Attack
When an infantry unit is included in an attack, it cancels the -1 penalty (if applicable) for firing at a unit occupying a Town or Woods hex. Note that a personnel target still receives its bottom (higher) defense strength.
9.4 Infantry Advance
When an infantry unit participates in an attack, is adjacent to the target, and the attack successfully destroys the enemy unit, the infantry can make a free move into the enemy unit's hex. They can change their facing normally after the advance.
Note: While infantry is less capable, it is the one unit that can attack and enter an enemy hex for the expenditure of a single AP.
Note: 9.1 – 9.4 apply to both leg and armored infantry. Armored infantry have the same defense value in both kinds of terrain.
9.5 Anti-Tank Gun Bonus
If an anti-tank gun fires by itself at a hard target, the attack does not consume an Action Point. If an anti-tank gun has not fired by the time a player runs out of APs, it does not get its shot.
Note: Anti-tank guns are less capable than tanks, but if you can get them in the right position to engage your opponent's armor, they start to pay off.
9.6 Improved Positions
Improved Positions (IPs) allow an occupying personnel unit to use its higher defense factor (regardless of terrain) as well as supplying an additional -1 modifier to incoming attacks. Hard targets receive no benefit from an IP. The IP is removed if the occupying personnel unit leaves the hex or is eliminated.
IPs are deployed during set-up and cannot be created during play.
10.0 Special Units
10.1 Truck Units
Truck units are hard targets that follow all normal rules for stacking, facing, movement, and combat except they cannot attack.
10.2 Command Posts & Supply Dumps
These units are hard targets that never move or attack. They are generally included in scenarios as objectives and count for stacking.
10.3 Airstrikes
Some scenarios will allow a player to call in one or more airstrikes over the course of the game. To call in an airstrike, a player must select a hex within 4 hexes and LOS (8.2) of one of his units and spend 2 APs. If he does not have enough APs, the airstrike does not occur and his turn ends (the airstrike remains available for a future turn).
To resolve an airstrike, place one strike counter on the target hex and roll 1d6. Place a second strike counter in the hex adjacent to the number rolled on the first strike counter. Roll 1d6 again and place a third strike counter in the hex adjacent to the number rolled on the second strike counter. If the third strike counter ends up in the first strike counter's hex, it is discarded without effect.
Attack each unit (friendly or enemy) in a hex occupied by a strike counter by rolling 2d6 and adding 2 to the roll. Subtract 2 from the roll if the hex under attack is a Woods or Town hex.
If the final attack roll is equal to or greater than the target unit's defense, remove it; otherwise, the strike has no effect.
After all strike counters have been rolled for, remove them from the map.
11.0 Tank on Tank: Design-Your-Own Scenarios
Tank on Tank design-your-own scenarios includes a point-value system assigned to each unit so that you can now design scenarios of your own. These guidelines allow scenarios to be set up based upon the following rules.
To design a scenario, each side will pick a nationality and a point-value total that will be used to purchase units for your side. A decent-sized battle should be between 250 and 350 points.
You can agree on more if you like but each side should have an even number of points for a standard meeting engagement.
Unit types and point values are on the player-aid card.
11.1 Meeting Engagement
To conduct a meeting engagement, do the following:
- Decide the number of points both sides will play.
- Purchase your units according to the points decided upon. You cannot spend more points than what was agreed upon.
- Roll 1d6 (re-roll ties); the winner (Player A) decides what Map to use, whether snow is used or not, and what long-edge side of the Map they will set up on.
- Player B sets up second but moves first.
- Both players set up on any hexrow bordering the Map edge.
- If you pick a snow Map, see the optional Snow Rule for fighting in the snow.
- The game lasts 10 turns.
- To win the game, a player must destroy 50% of his opponent's units (use the point values to determine the percentage destroyed) by the end of Turn 10. If neither side destroys 50% of his opponent's units, it's a draw.
11.2 Meeting Engagement with Objectives
To conduct a meeting engagement with objectives, do the following:
- Decide the number of points both sides will play.
- Purchase your units according to the points decided upon. You cannot spend more points than what was agreed upon.
- Each player takes a Supply Truck (West Front) or a Supply Dump (East Front) counter from their side; this counter will act as their objective.
- Roll 1d6 (re-roll ties); the winner (Player A) decides what Map to use, whether snow is used or not, and what long-edge side of the Map they will set up on.
- Once the set-up edges are chosen, each player will place their objective counter anywhere within the three hexrows closest to their opponent's Map edge. Player A places first and then Player B.
- Player A sets up first within three hexes of the long edge of their chosen Map edge; then Player B sets up anywhere within three hexes of the long edge of their Map edge.
- Player B moves first.
- If you pick a snow Map, see the optional Snow Rule for fighting in the snow.
- The game lasts 10 turns.
- The player who captures their objective counter first wins—as soon as the turn is over; if the capturing unit is destroyed in the objective hex during that same turn, the objective is not considered to have been captured. To capture the objective, move a unit into the hex. If neither side captures their objective by the end of Turn 10, the game is a draw.
Optional Snow Rule: At the beginning of a new turn, and before the first player of the turn has picked his AP chit, roll 1d6; if the result is 1-3, all units can only move one hex; if the result is 4-6, all units move normally.
12.0 Scenarios
For all scenarios, a player controls a hex if he was the last player to move a unit through it. Hexes are considered neutral at the start of play (unless the scenario indicates otherwise or a player sets up a unit in the hex).
In some scenarios, a player will be given a choice between two different units (unit choices are in parenthesis); select one.
1. Cats on the Prowl
Use Map D. The Soviets set up first; the Germans move first.
- Soviets: 3 T-34 HQs, 3 T-34s, T-34/85, KV-85, Katyusha; deploy 3 units in or within one hex of each of these hexes: A4, J1, and/or Q4.
- Germans: Panther HQ, Tiger, 2 Panthers, Puma, (Panther or Tiger), one Ace marker for any one unit; deploy in or within one hex of D9 and/or N9.
Special Rules: The German Ace can also activate friendly pieces for movement as if it were an HQ unit (6.1). It cannot be returned to play through promotion (6.2). The German player receives one Airstrike (10.3) during play, any time beginning on Turn 3.
Victory: If either player destroys all enemy units he wins; otherwise, the player who controls two of these hexes (D3, J3, L5) at the end of Turn 10 wins. All Town hexes begin the game under Soviet control.
2. Fire Brigade
Use Map D. The Soviets set up and move first.
- Soviets: 3 T-34 HQs, 7 T-34s, 2 IS-2s; deploy 8 units in hexrows P – Q, the other 4 arrive as reinforcements via hexrow Q.
- Germans: Panzer IV HQ, AT Gun, Infantry, 3 Panzer IVs, Improved Position; deploy in hexrows A – M.
- Beginning on Turn 5: Panther HQ, (Panther Ace or Tiger Ace), Panther; enter via A4 and/or D9.
Special Rule: The Soviet player always receives 4 Action Points on Turn 1.
Victory: If either player destroys all enemy units, he wins; otherwise, the game ends after Turn 12.
The Soviets win if they earn more Victory Points (VPs) than the Germans; any other result is a German victory. A player earns 1 VP for each enemy unit destroyed. At the end of Turn 6, a player earns 1 VP for controlling J3 and another for controlling L5. At the end of Turn 12, a player earns 1 VP for controlling D3 and another for controlling E9.
3. Breakthrough
Use Map C. The Soviets set up first; the Germans move first.
- Soviets: 2 Supply Dumps; deploy in hexrows F – M in hexes numbered xx3 – xx8; 2 AT Guns, 2 Infantry, 2 Improved Positions, 2 T-34s, in hexrows E – K.
- Beginning on Turn 3: T-34 HQ, T-34/85, T-34; enter via the top or bottom hex of hexrows I – Q.
- Beginning on Turn 5: T-34 HQ, T-34/85, T-34; enter via the top or bottom hex of hexrows I – Q.
- Beginning on Turn 9: T-34 HQ, 2 T-34s; enter via the top or bottom hex of hexrows I – Q.
- Germans: (Panther HQ or Panzer IV HQ), Panzer IV HQ, 2 Panthers, 4 Panzer IVs, Puma; deploy in hexrows A – B.
Special Rules: Remove both 2 AP counters from the pool when drawing for the Germans. Soviet reinforcements cannot fire on the turn in which they enter the map.
Victory: If either player destroys all enemy units, he wins; otherwise, the game ends after Turn 14.
The Germans win if they earn more Victory Points (VPs) than the Soviets; any other result is a Soviet victory. The Germans earn VPs for destroying Supply Dumps and exiting units. Destroying one Supply Dump is worth 2 VPs, destroying both is worth 5 (total) VPs. They earn 1 VP for each unit exited via hexrow Q. The Soviets earn 1 VP for each German unit destroyed.
4. Cauldron
Use Map C. The Germans set up first; the Soviets move first.
- Germans: Panzer IV HQ, Panther HQ, Panther, Tiger, 3 Panzer IVs, Armored Infantry, 2 Supply Trucks; any one tank unit can be designated as an Ace at set up; deploy in hexrows G – K. The Germans also have one Airstrike.
- Soviets: 3 T-34 HQs, 4 T-34s, 2 T-34/85s, 2 IS-2s, Katyusha; deploy in hexrows A – B and/or P – Q.
Victory: If either player destroys all enemy units, he wins; otherwise, the game ends after Turn 8.
The Soviets win if they earn more Victory Points (VPs) than the Germans; any other result is a German victory. The Soviets earn 1 VP for each enemy unit destroyed and 1 VP if they control both K7 and I4 at the end of the game. The Germans earn 2 VPs for each unit exited via hexrow A or Q. This award is increased to 3 VPs if the unit is a Supply Truck.
5. The Red Tide
Use Map C; only hexrows A – I are in play. The Soviets set up and move first.
- Soviets: 2 T-34 HQs and 4 T-34s; deploy in hexrow xx1. A T-34 HQ and 2 T-34s; enter on Turn 1 via hexrow xx1.
- Germans: 2 Panzer IV HQs, Tiger (Ace), AT Gun, 2 Panzer IVs, Infantry, Improved Position; deploy in hexrows xx1 – xx5.
Special Rule: Eliminated (but not exited) Soviet units are immediately eligible to re-enter the map via hexrow xx1 as reinforcements. Soviet reinforcements do not cost an AP to enter the map.
Victory: If either player destroys all enemy units, he wins; otherwise, the game ends after Turn 9.
The Soviets win if they earn more Victory Points (VPs) than the Germans; any other result is a German victory. One VP is earned for each enemy unit destroyed. The Soviets earn 2 VPs for each unit exited via hexrow xx11. The Soviets also earn 1 VP if they destroy the German Ace. The Germans earn 1 VP if they control two of the three Town hexes at the end of the game.
6. Pakfront
Use Map D. The Germans set up and move first.
- Germans: 2 Panzer IV HQs, 4 Panzer IVs, (Panther or Tiger), Wespe, (Panzer IV or Puma); deploy in hexrows A – B.
- Soviets: Deploy Command Post anywhere in hexrows K – O. 2 T-34 HQs, 2 AT Guns, 3 T-34s, Infantry, 2 Improved Positions; deploy in hexrows G – M.
- Beginning on Turn 2: T-34 or KV-85; enter via hexrow Q.
- Beginning on Turn 5: T-34/85 or KV-85; enter via hexrow Q.
- Beginning on Turn 7: IS-2 or Katyusha; enter via hexrow Q.
- Beginning on Turn 9: T-34; enter via hexrow Q.
- Beginning on Turn 11: T-34; enter via hexrow Q.
Victory: If the Germans destroy the Soviet Command Post by the end of Turn 12, they win the game; any other result is a German defeat.
7. Cornered
Use Map C; only hexrows H – Q are in play. The Germans set up and move first.
- Germans: Panther HQ, Panzer IV HQ, Tiger, Panther, 2 Panzer IVs; deploy in hexes numbered xx1 – xx5 in hexrows H – L.
- Soviets: T-34 HQ, (KV-85 HQ or T-34 HQ), KV-85 Ace, KV85, 5 T-34s; deploy in hexes numbered xx9 – xx10 and/or hexrows P – Q.
Special Rule: The German player cannot use Field Promotion (6.2) to return eliminated HQ units to the map in this scenario.
Victory: If the Soviet player destroys both German HQ units by the end of Turn 7, he wins. If one German HQ unit survives to the end of Turn 7, or all Soviet units are destroyed, the game ends in a German win.
8. From All Sides
Use Map D. See below for set-up and HQs. Each player rolls 1d6; the player who rolls a higher number is player 1 and goes first.
- Germans: 2 Tigers, 7 Panzer IVs.
- Soviets: 2 IS-2s, 7 T-34s.
Set-up: Player 1 deploys three units in or within one hex of D2. Player 2 then deploys three units in or within one hex of D8. Player 1 deploys three units in or within one hex of J8. Player 2 deploys three units in or within one hex of J2. Player 1 deploys three units in or within one hex of P2. Player 2 deploys three units in or within one hex of O9.
HQs: The Germans have 2 Panzer IV HQ units and the Soviets have 3 T-34 HQ units. Players can bring these units into play via Field Promotion (6.2).
Victory: If either player destroys all enemy units, he wins; otherwise, the game ends after Turn 7. Player 1 wins if he earns more Victory Points (VPs) than Player 2 (any other result is a Player-2 victory). One VP is earned for each enemy unit destroyed.
9. At Dawn We Struck
Use Map E. The Soviets set up first; the Germans move first.
- Soviets: AT Gun, 3 Infantry, 5 T-34s; deploy in or within one hex of E5, I5, and/or O8; at least one unit must be deployed in each Town hex.
- Germans: Puma HQ, 3 Pumas, Panzer IV; any one unit can be an Ace; deploy in or within one hex of I1, A7, A8, and/or A9.
Special Rules: The Soviets are surprised and suffer from confusion. All of their attacks suffer a one-point (-1) penalty on the dice until this lifts. Beginning on Turn 3, roll 1d6 at the start of each turn and consult the following table. If the result is within the indicated range, the penalty dissipates. If the result is greater than the range, the penalty continues and another roll will be made at the start of the next turn.
| Turn | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Die Roll | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | Automatic |
The German Ace also activates friendly pieces for movement as if it were an HQ unit (6.1). It cannot be returned to play through Field Promotion (6.2).
Victory: If one player destroys all enemy units, he wins; otherwise, the game ends after Turn 8.
The Soviets win if they earn more Victory Points (VPs) than the Germans; any other result is a German victory. One VP is earned for each enemy unit destroyed. The Soviets earn 2 VPs for each Town hex they control at the end of the game. The Germans earn 1 VP for each Town hex they control at the end of the game.
10. The Hammer
Use Map E. The Soviets set up and move first.
- Soviets: 2 T-34 HQs, (T-34 HQ or KV-85 HQ), 6 T-34s, 3 KV-85s, 2 Armored Infantry; set up in or within two hexes of I2.
- Germans: Panther HQ, 2 Tiger Aces, 3 Panthers, 2 AT Guns, Wespe, 2 Improved Positions; deploy in or within three hexes of E8 and O8.
Victory: If one player destroys all enemy units, he wins; otherwise, the game ends after Turn 9.
The Soviets win if they earn more Victory Points (VPs) than the Germans; any other result is a German victory. Each player earns 1 VP for each Town hex controlled at the end of the game.
11. Fighting Withdrawal
Use Map E, only hexrows A – I are in play. The Germans set up first; the Soviets move first.
- Germans: 2 Panzer IV HQs, 3 Panzer IVs, 2 AT Guns, Infantry; deploy in hexrows xx1 – xx6.
- Beginning on Turn 3: Panther; enter via hexrow xx1.
- Soviets: 3 T-34 HQs, 5 T-34s, T-34/85; deploy in hexrows xx9 – xx10 or hold off the map and enter via hex E10.
Special Rules: The German player can withdraw one unit each turn as his first Action Point expenditure of the turn. He spends one AP and removes any German unit from the map.
Victory: If one player destroys six enemy units, he wins; otherwise, the game ends after Turn 8.
The Soviets win if they earn more Victory Points than the Germans; any other result is a German victory. The Soviet player earns 1 VP for each of his units occupying a hex in hexrows xx1 – xx3 at the end of the game. The German player receives 1 VP for each unit withdrawn.
12. The Duel
Use Map E; only hexrows H – Q are in play. The Soviets set up first; the Germans move first.
- Soviets: 2 T-34 HQs, 5 T-34s, T-34/85, AT Gun; deploy in hexrows xx1 – xx5; deploy a Command Post in hex O3. Beginning on Turn 4: KV/85 Ace; enter via hexrow xx1.
- Germans: 2 Panzer IV HQs, 4 Panzer IVs, 2 Panthers; deploy in hexrows xx9 – xx10.
Special Rules: The KV/85 receives one extra MP (in addition to any bonus for a Road March) on the turn it enters the map.
Victory Conditions: If one player destroys all enemy units he wins; otherwise, the game ends after Turn 8.
The Germans win if they earn more Victory Points (VPs) than the Soviets (any other result is a Soviet victory). Both players earn 1 VP for each Town hex controlled at the end of the game. The Germans earn 1 VP if the Soviet Command Post is destroyed at the end of the game. The Soviets earn 1 VP if the Command Post is alive at the end of the game.
13. Who Stands with Rome
Use Map E. Set up the Italians first in the hexes indicated, then set up the Soviets; the Germans are Reinforcements. The Soviets move first.
- Italians: Deploy as follows: G6 – Infantry, I5 – Infantry, I7 – AT Gun, M3 – Infantry, M4 – Infantry, O3 – Semovente, O4 – Semovente, O7 Semovente HQ, O8 – Semovente, P3 – Obice 105/14, P7 – Obice 105/14.
- Germans: Receive one Airstrike (10.3) on Turn 5 only. Beginning on Turn 8: Panther, Panther HQ; enter via hexrows I1 – Q1 or I11 – Q11, from one side or the other, not both. Beginning on Turn 8: Tiger, Tiger HQ, 2 Panzer IVs, Panzer IV HQ; enter via hexrow Qxx.
- Soviets: 6 T-34s, 3 T-34 HQ; deploy in hexrow C. 3 T-34/85s, 1 T-34/85 HQ, 2 KV-85s, 1 KV-85 HQ; deploy in hexrow C. 2 Katyusha, 2 Armored Infantry; deploy in hexrow B.
Special Rules: The Italian Obice 105/14 units do not consume an AP to fire (once per turn).
Victory: The Soviets win by exiting eight armor units via hexes Q3 – Q9, inclusive, by the end of Turn 15.
14. Hungarian Holiday
Use Map D (Winter Side). The Soviets set up first; the Hungarians move first.
- Hungarians: 3 Infantry, 6 Turan II, 2 Turan II HQ, 2 Zrínyi; deploy in hexrows A8 – Q8 through A11 – Q11.
- Germans: Receive one Airstrike (10.3) on Turn 5 only. Beginning on Turn 8: Panther, Panther HQ; deploy via either hexrow I1 – Q1, inclusive, or hexrow I11 – Q11, inclusive (all units must enter from one side/edge or the other). Beginning on Turn 8: Tiger, Tiger HQ, 2 Panzer IVs, Panzer IV HQ; deploy via hexrow Qxx.
- Soviets: 6 Infantry, 3 Armored Infantry, 3 AT Guns, 2 M-30, 2 Improved Positions; deploy in hexrows A1 – Q1 through A3 – Q11.
Special Rules: Snow rules for this scenario are as follows. At the beginning of each turn roll 1d6: if the result is 1-3, all units can only move one hex; if the result is 4-6, all units can move normally. The Hungarian units operate like Soviet units when firing (8.6).
Victory: To win, the Hungarians must secure the road by controlling (12.0) hexes D4, J3 and O4, and destroy at least one Soviet M-30 by the end of Turn 10.
Reading the Unit
The unit reference page of the manual is printed as artwork. Its text reads as follows.
- HQ Unit: a unit whose name is underlined (shown on the T-34 example as "HQ Unit") is a Headquarters unit (see 6.1).
- Range (RNG): the first number on a hard-target unit. Range is how far the unit can shoot.
- Defense (DEF): the middle number on a hard-target unit. Defense is how hard it is to kill.
- Movement Points (MP): the last number on a hard-target unit. Movement is how far it can move each turn.
- Soft Target Defense (DEF): a personnel unit shows two defense values. The top value is used for a unit in a Clear hex; the bottom value is used for a unit in a Hill, Woods or Town hex (see 9.0).
The per-unit range, defense and movement values for each unit type are printed on the reference artwork. They are not transcribed here, and the counters and the player-aid card carry the same values. The unit types shown on the page are: Mark IV Tank, Tiger Heavy Tank, Wespe SP Artillery, Hungarian 100mm Howitzer, Turan II Tank, T34/85 Tank, T34 Tank, KV 85 Tank, Katyusha Rocket Artillery, Semovente SP Gun, Zrinyi SP Gun, Soviet M-30 Howitzer, German AT Gun, Soviet AT Gun, Soviet Armored Infantry, Italian Infantry, Hungarian Infantry, Italian 105mm Howitzer, German Infantry, Soviet Infantry, German Armored Infantry, Hungarian AT Gun, Italian AT Gun, IS2 Tank, Panther Tank, German 10cm Howitzer, Supply Truck, Stuka, and Sturmovik.