Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for...

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GMT1015 Playbook – part 2 game design by Chad Jensen GMT Games LLC Hanford, CA 93232, USA ©2011 Grossdeutschland Infantry Division Fighting Formations:

Transcript of Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for...

Page 1: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

GMT1015

Playbook – part 2ga me de sig n by Chad Jen sen

GMT Games LLCHanford, CA 93232, USA ©2011

GrossdeutschlandInfantry Division

Fighting Formations:

Page 2: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

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O R D E R O F B AT T L EThe following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943. Unit commanders, when known, are listed within brackets.

►► Division►HQ

►► Divisional►Staff►(32►Officers,►143►NCOs►and►Men)►► Divisional►Commander►[Generalmajor Walter Hoernlein]

►► Ia►(I►General►Staff►Officer)►(Chief►of►Operations).►Advised►the►division►commander►and►helped►draft►plans.►(Divisions►Stabschef)►[Major von Hobe]

►► O1►(1st►Assistant►Adjutant).►Assisted►the►Ia,►prepared►maps►and►the►divisional►war►diary,►liaisoned►with►neighboring►units,►and►structured►component►units►of►the►division.►[Oberleutnant Künzel]

►► Ib►(II►General►Staff►Officer)►(Supply►and►Administration).►Directed►the►supply►and►workshop►units,►field►police,►provost►marshall►and►field►post►office.►[Oberleutnant Kaufmann]

►► O2►(1st►Assistant►Adjutant).►Assisted►the►Ib►and►handled►the►organization►of►all►back►line►services.►[Oberleutnant Bergemann]

►► Ib/WuG►(Waffen►und►Geräte—Weapons►and►Equipment).►Responsible►for►replacement,►repair,►supply,►and►maintenance►of►ammunition,►weapons►and►non-specialized►equipment.►[Oberleutnant Paulo]

►► Ib/Kfz►(Division►Engineer).►Provided►for►replacement►and►supply►of►motor►vehicles,►spare►parts,►tires,►fuel,►etc.►as►well►as►traffic►control,►the►workshop►companies,►fuel►points►and►columns.►[Major Hetz]

►► Ic►(III►General►Staff►Officer).►Intelligence.►Responsible►for►interrogation►of►POWs,►radio►intercept,►etc.►[Oberleutnant Michel]

►► O3►(Third►Assistant►Adjutant).►Assisted►the►Ic.►Oversaw►the►map►unit►and►interpreters.►[Oberleutnant Ritter]

►► Id►(Training)►► IIa►(Adjutant)►(General►Administration).►In►charge►of►loss►and►casualty►reports,►rosters,►etc.►Also►officer►administration—replacements,►promotions,►decorations,►leaves,►punishment,►etc.

►► IIb►(Division►Assistant►Adjutant).►Handled►administrative►matters►described►above►but►for►the►NCOs►and►men.►Oversaw►divisional►orderly►room.

►► III►(Chief►of►Feldjustizamt►GD—legal►branch).►In►charge►of►divisional►courts-martial,►civilian►relations►and►legal►matters.

►► IVa►(Head►of►Intendantur).►Supplies,►clothing,►medical,►dental,►payroll,►canteens,►housekeeping►needs,►etc.►[Oberzahlmeister Haum]

►► IVb►(Division►Surgeon).►Commanded►the►medical►services►simultaneous►with►this►position.►Responsible►for►sanitation►and►hygiene,►transport►and►treatment►of►sick►and►injured►soldiers,►and►procurement►and►

maintenance►of►medical►equipment.►[Oberfeldarzt Dr. Werthmann]

►► IVz►(Division►Paymaster)►► IVe►(Chief►Chaplain).►►NOTE: While regular divisions had two chaplains (one Catholic, one Protestant) GD was forbidden from having chaplains at all after holding mass at Notre Dame in 1940. Division-level chaplain support was provided as needed from the Corps level.

►► Map►Section.►Eight►men►charged►with►reproducing►maps,►overprinting►captured►maps,►shot►diagrams►for►the►division►artillery,►etc.

►► Headquarters►Company►(under►Division►O4)►[Oberleutnant Paul Müller]

►► Feldgendarmerie►(Military►Police).►Maintained►surveillance►during►transfers►and►marches.

►► Kriegsberichter►(War►Correspondence►Platoon).►Responsible►for►recruiting►and►propaganda.

►► 1st►(Grenadier)►Infantry►Regiment►[Oberst Köhler]

►► Regimental►HQ:►1x►HQ►in►Truck

►► I►Rifle►Battalion:►[Major Gehrke]►► Headquarters►► 1.►Rifle►Company:

►► Headquarters:►1x►maintenance►echelon►truck,►1x►fuel►truck,►1x►weapons/ammo►truck,►2x►field►kitchen►vehicles,►3x►motorcycle/sidecars,►several►motorcycles

►► 1.►Rifle►Platoon:►► 1x►light►AT►rifle►team►► 3►squads:►each►with►2►LMGs►► ►(2 squads had MG42’s; 1 squad had MG34’s)

►► 2.►Rifle►Platoon:►same as 1. Rifle Platoon, above►► 3.►Rifle►Platoon:►same as 1. Rifle Platoon, above►► 4.►Heavy►Platoon:

►► 4x►HMGs►on►Lafayette►tripods►(MG42’s)►► 2x►8.1cm►mortar►teams

►► 2.►Rifle►Company:►same as 1. Rifle Company above►► 3.►Rifle►Company:►same as 1. Rifle Company above►► 4.►MG►Company:

►► 12x►HMGs►► 6x►8.1cm►mortar►teams

►► 5.►Heavy►Company:►► Light►Infantry►Gun►Platoon:►3x►IG►18►(7.5cm)►► Pionier►Platoon►w/3x►squads,►each►with►1x►LMG►► Anti-Tank►Platoon:

►► 3x►5cm►PaK►38►► 3x►heavy►anti-tank►rifle►teams►(2.8cm)

►► II►Rifle►Battalion:►[Major Greim]►same as I Battalion, above, comprised of Companies 6.–10.

►► III►Rifle►Battalion:►same as I Battalion, above, comprised of Companies 11.–15.

►► IV►Heavy►Battalion:►► 16.►(SP)►FlaK►Company:

Page 3: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

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►► 8x►Sd►Kfz►10/4►(2cm)►halftracks►► 2x►Sd►Kfz►7/1►(quad►2cm)►halftracks

►► 17.►(mot)►Infantry►Gun►Company:►► 2x►IG►33►(15cm)►infantry►guns►► 6x►IG►18►(7.5cm)►infantry►guns

►► 18.►(SP)►Panzerjäger►Company:►► 9x►Marder►IIIH

►► 2nd►(Fusilier)►Infantry►Regiment [Oberst Garski] same as 1st Infantry Regiment, above

►► I►Rifle►Battalion►[Major Grosser; later Hauptmann Bethge]►► 1.►Rifle►Company►[Oberleutnant Kuehn]

►► 1.►Rifle►Platoon►[Leutnant von Kleist]►► 2.►Rifle►Platoon►[Leutnant Jobski]►► 3.►Rifle►Platoon►[Leutnant Winkler]►► 4.►Heavy►Platoon►[Leutnant Eulen; later Emmo]

►► 2.►Rifle►Company►[Oberleutnant Dr. Günther]►► 4.►MG►Company►[Oberleutnant Gruss]►► 5.►Heavy►Company►[Hauptmann Bethge]

►► II►Rifle►Battalion►[Major Feucker]

►► III►Rifle►Battalion►[Major Kohlhaas]

►► IV►(Heavy)►Battalion►[Hauptmann Lehnhoff]

►► Artillery►Regiment►[Oberst Jauer]

►► Regimental►HQ:►Staff►in►trucks

►► I►(light)►Battalion:►► Headquarters►Battery►and►Signals►Platoon►in►truck►► 1.►Battery:►4x►l.FH►18►(10.5cm)►howitzers►w/tractors►[Leutnant Burchardi]

►► 2.►Battery:►4x►l.FH►18►(10.5cm)►howitzers►w/tractors►► 3.►Battery:►4x►s.FH►18►(15cm)►howitzers►w/tractors

►► II►(light)►Battalion:►same as I Battalion above, w/batteries 4., 5. and 6.

►► III►(heavy)►Battalion:►► Headquarters►Battery►and►Signals►Platoon►in►truck►► 7.►Battery:►4x►s.FH►18►(15cm)►howitzers►w/tractors►► 8.►Battery:►4x►s.FH►18►(15cm)►howitzers►w/tractors►► 9.►Battery:►4x►K►18►(10cm)►field►guns►w/tractors

►► 10.►Rocket►Launcher►Battery:►6x►Nebelwerfer►► ►(Note: though authorized, this battery did not actually materialize until 1943—thus the lack of any Rocket Battery asset for the German player in the game.)

►► 11.►Armored►Observation►Battery:►[Oberstleutnant Scholz]►► Sound►Ranging►Platoon►► Survey►Platoon►► Warning►Platoon►► 2x►Flash►Spotting►Platoons►► 2x►Analysis►Platoons

►► Army►FlaK-Artillery►Battalion

►► Bn►HQ:►1x►HQ►in►truck►► 1.►Battery:►4x►FlaK►36►(8.8cm),►3x►FlaK►38►(2cm)►► 2.►Battery:►4x►FlaK►36►(8.8cm),►3x►FlaK►38►(2cm)►► 3.►Battery:►4x►FlaK►36►(8.8cm),►3x►FlaK►38►(2cm)►► 4.►Battery:►9x►Sd►Kfz►7/2►SP►FlaK►(3.7cm)►► 5.►Battery:►9x►Sd►Kfz►7/2►SP►FlaK►(3.7cm)

►► Panzerjäger►(Anti-Tank)►Battalion►[Major Hacke]

►► Bn►HQ:►1x►HQ►Marder►II►(Sd►Kfz►132)

►► Communications►Platoon►in►Kubelwagens

►► 1.►(SP)►Company:►[Oberleutnant Waldmann]►► 1.►Platoon:►3x►Marder►II►(IIIM?),►1x►prime►mover►► 2.►Platoon:►3x►Marder►II►(IIIM?),►1x►prime►mover►► 3.►Platoon:►3x►Marder►II►(IIIM?),►1x►prime►mover

►► 2.►(mot)►Company:►► 1.►Platoon:►3x►5cm►PaK►38►AT►gun,►4x►prime►movers►► 2.►Platoon:►3x►5cm►PaK►38►AT►gun,►4x►prime►movers►► 3.►Platoon:►3x►5cm►PaK►38►AT►gun,►4x►prime►movers

►► 3.►(mot)►Company:►same as 2. (mot) Company, above

►► Reconnaissance►Battalion►[Major von Usedom]

►► Bn►HQ:►8x►motorcycles,►2x►Kfz►15►cars,►1x►Sd►Kfz►247►armored►car

►► Bn►Maintenance►Detachment:►1x►motorcycle/sidecar,►1x►car►(2/40),►1x►light►car,►2x►3-ton►trucks

►► Battalion►Train:►1x►motorcycle,►2x►light►cars,►1x►Kfz►15►car,►2x►light►trucks,►2x►medium►trucks,►1x►medium►(33►seat)►bus

►► Signal►Platoon:►► HQ►Section:►1x►motorcycle,►1x►motorcycle/sidecar,►1x►Kfz►15►car

►► 2x►pack►radio►sections►“b”►each►with►Kfz►2►► 1x►light►armored►radio►section►“b”►with►1x►Sd►Kfz►260►armored►car

►► 4x►light►armored►radio►sections►“c”►each►with►1x►Sd►Kfz►261►armored►car

►► 3x►med►armored►radio►sections►“b”►each►with►1x►Kfz►15►car►and►1x►Sd►Kfz►263►armored►car

►► 1.►(Armd►Car)►Squadron:►► Squadron►HQ:►2x►motorcycles,►5x►motorcycle/sidecars,►1x►Kfz►15►car

►► Heavy►armored►Car►Platoon:►► 3x►Sd►Kfz►231►► 3x►Sd►Kfz►232

►► 3x►Light►Armored►Car►Platoons:►each►with►► 4x►Sd►Kfz►222►► 2x►Sd►Kfz►223►(radio)

►► Maintenance►Section:►1x►motorcycle/sidecar,►1x►car,►2x►2►ton►truck

Page 4: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

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►► Squadron►Train:►1x►Kfz►15►car,►3x►2-ton►truck,►1x►med►truck,►1x►3-ton►truck

►► 2.►(Armd►Recon)►Squadron:►► Squadron►HQ:►4x►motorcycles,►1x►motorcycle/sidecar,►2x►Sd►Kfz►250/3►halftracks

►► 1.►Recon►Platoon:►► HQ►Section:►1x►Sd►Kfz►250/3,►1x►Sd►Kfz►250/10►► 3x►Squads:►each►with►2x►Sd►Kfz►250/1►► Squad:►2x►LMG

►► 2.►Recon►Platoon:►same as 1. Recon Platoon, above►► 3.►Recon►Platoon:►same as 1. Recon Platoon, above►► 4.►Heavy►Platoon:

►► HQ►Section:►1x►motorcycle,►1x►Sd►Kfz►250/10►► 2x►HMG►Sections:►each►with►3x►Sd►Kfz►250/1,►2x►HMG

►► Mortar►Section:►2x►Sd►Kfz►250/7►► Maintenance►Section:►1x►motorcycle/sidecar,►2x►2-ton►trucks,►1x►Kfz►10►halftrack,►1x►LMG

►► Squadron►Train:►1x►Kfz►15►car,►1x►2-ton►truck,►1x►med►truck,►2x►3-ton►truck

►► 3.►(VW►Recon)►Squadron:►► Squadron►HQ:►4x►motorcycles,►2x►Kubelwagen►(Kfz►1)►► 1.►Recon►Platoon:

►► HQ►Section:►1x►motorcycle,►1x►Kubelwagen,►1x►AT►rifle

►► 3x►Squads:►each►with►4x►Kubelwagen►► Recon►Squad:►2x►LMG

►► 2.►Recon►Platoon:►same as 1. Recon Platoon, above►► 3.►Recon►Platoon:►same as 1. Recon Platoon, above►► 4.►Heavy►Platoon:

►► HQ►Section:►1x►motorcycle,►3x►Kubelwagen►► 2x►HMG►Sections:►each►with►7x►Kubelwagen,►2x►HMG

►► Mortar►Section:►2x►8.1cm►mortars,►3x►trucks►► Maintenance►Section:►1x►motorcycle/sidecar,►1x►car►(2/40)

►► Squadron►Train:►1x►Kubelwagen,►1x►2-ton►truck,►1x►med►truck,►1x►3-ton►truck

►► 4.►(VW►Recon)►MG►Squadron:►► Squadron►HQ:►4x►motorcycles,►2x►Kubelwagen►w/LMG►► 1.►Recon►Platoon:

►► HQ►Section:►1x►motorcycle,►1x►Kubelwagen►w/LMG,►1x►AT►rifle

►► 3x►Squads:►each►with►4x►Kubelwagen►w/LMG►► Recon►Squad:►2x►LMG

►► 2.►Recon►Platoon:►same as 1. Recon Platoon, above►► 3.►Recon►Platoon:►same as 1. Recon Platoon, above►► 4.►Heavy►Platoon:

►► HQ►Section:►1x►motorcycle,►3x►Kubelwagen►► 2x►HMG►Sections:►each►with►7x►Kubelwagen,►2x►HMG

►► Mortar►Section:►2x►8.1cm►mortars,►3x►trucks►► Maintenance►Section:►1x►motorcycle/sidecar,►1x►car►(2/40)

►► Squadron►Train:►1x►Kubelwagen,►1x►2-ton►truck,►1x►med►truck,►1x►3-ton►truck

►► 5.►Heavy►Squadron:►► Squadron►HQ:►3x►motorcycle,►2x►motorcycle/sidecar,►1x►Kfz►15

►► Light►Telephone►Section:►1x►Kfz►15►► Maintenance►Section:►1x►motorcycle/sidecar,►1x►car►(2/40)

►► 1.►Anti-Tank►Platoon:►► HQ►Section:►1x►motorcycle,►1x►motorcycle/sidecar,►1x►Kfz►15

►► Ammo►Section:►2x►Sd►Kfz►10►halftracks,►2x►ammo►trailers

►► Gun►Section:►3x►Sd►Kfz►10►halftracks,►3x►5cm►PaK►38►AT►guns,►3x►LMG

►► 2.►Pionier►Platoon:►► HQ►Section:►1x►motorcycle,►1x►motorcycle/sidecar,►1x►Kfz►15

►► 4x►Engineer►Sections►(each►with►2-ton►truck)►► 1x►Engineer►Section►(with►LMG)►► AT►Gun►Section:►1x►motorcycle/sidecar,►3x►Kfz►70►truck,►3x►2.8cm►Heavy►ATRs,►3x►LMG

►► 3.►Infantry►Gun►Platoon:►► HQ►Section:►1x►motorcycle,►1x►motorcycle/sidecar,►1x►Kfz►69►truck

►► Ammo►Section:►1x►Kfz►69►truck,►1x►ammo►trailer►► Gun►Section:►2x►Kfz►69►trucks,►2x►IG►18►(7.5cm)►infantry►guns

►► Squadron►Train:►1x►Kfz►15,►1x►2-ton►truck,►1x►med►truck,►1x►3-ton►truck

►► 6.►Motorized►Light►Column:►► Column►HQ:►3x►motorcycle,►4x►motorcycle/sidecar,►1x►Kfz►15,►3x►LMG

►► 1.►Section:►1x►motorcycle,►5x►2-ton►trucks►► 2.►Section:►4x►medium►trucks►► Column►Train:►1x►motorcycle/sidecar,►2x►medium►trucks

►► Panzer►Battalion [Hauptmann Pössel]

►► HQ►Company:►[Hauptmann Gergasewicz; later Oberleutnant Kuchenbecker]

►► 2x►Pz►IV►► Pz►II►reconnaissance►tanks,►Sd►Kfz►250►command►vehicles,►motorcycle►dispatch►riders►and►light►cars

►► Maintenance►Platoon:►3-ton►trucks

►► 1.►Company:►[Hauptmann Heimke]►► Company►HQ:►2x►Pz►IV►► 1.►Platoon:►5x►Pz►IVF2►[Oberleutnant Hoppe]►► 2.►Platoon:►5x►Pz►IVF2►[Leutnant Ringe]►► 3.►Platoon:►5x►Pz►IVF1►[Leutnant Bornscheuer]

►► 2.►Company:►[Oberleutnant Perner]►► Company►HQ:►2x►Pz►IIIJ,►Pz►II’s►in►the►reconnaissance►role

►► 1.►Platoon:►5x►Pz►IIIJ►[Leutnant Schweiger]►► 2.►Platoon:►5x►Pz►IIIJ►[Leutnant Orth]►► 3.►Platoon:►5x►Pz►IIIJ

Page 5: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

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►► 3.►Company:►[Hauptmann Schmidt; later Hauptmann Hermann]

►► Company►HQ:►2x►Pz►IIIJ,►Pz►II’s►in►reconnaissance►role►► 1.►Platoon:►5x►Pz►IIIJ►[Oberleutnant Rothe]►► 2.►Platoon:►5x►Pz►IIIJ►[Oberleutnant Sachse]►► 3.►Platoon:►5x►Pz►IIIJ

►► Light►Column►[Oberleutnant Schulte-Günne]

►► Sturmpionier►Battalion►[Major Lorenz]

►► Headquarters

►► 1.►Company:►► 1.►Assault►Platoon►w/►3x►flamethrowers►► 2.►Assault►Platoon►w/►3x►flamethrowers►► 3.►Storm►Boat►Platoon►w/►9x►assault►boats

►► 2.►Company:►[Oberleutnant Warschnauer]►same as 1. Company, above

►► 3.►Company:►[Oberleutnant Hückel]►same as 1. Company, above

►► “K”►Type►Bridging►Column

►► Light►Pioneer►Column►w/inflatable►rafts

►► Sturmgeschütz►Battalion►[Major Schepers]

►► Headquarters:►3x►StuG►III►F►(w/7.5cm►StuK.40►gun)

►► 1.►Battery:►6x►StuG►III►F,►1x►Sd►Kfz►252►ammo►carrier►halftrack►[Oberleutnant Frantz]

►► 2.►Battery:►6x►StuG►III►F,►1x►Sd►Kfz►252►ammo►carrier►halftrack►[Oberleutnant Adam]

►► 3.►Battery:►6x►StuG►III►F,►1x►Sd►Kfz►252►ammo►carrier►halftrack►[Oberleutnant Lemme]

►► Nachrichten►(Signals)►Battalion [Major “Wastl” Binder]

►► Telephone►Company

►► Radio►Company

►► Medical►Battalion

►► 1.►Medical►Company:►► Heavy►Platoon►►► Light►Platoon►►► Pharmacy►►► Dental►Station►

►► 2.►Medical►Company:►same as 1. Medical Company, above

►► GD►Field►Hospital►

►► 1.–3.►Ambulance►Platoons

►► Supply►Services►[Major Gericke]

►► Supply►Services:►► ►1.–10.►Light►Truck►Columns►► 11.–14.►Truck►Columns►► 15.–18.►Heavy►Truck►Columns

►► 1.–3.►Field►Workshop►Companies►

►► Replacement►Parts►Company:►including►an►Armorer-Artificer►Platoon►

►► Administrative►Services:►► Bakery►Company►► Butcher►Company►► Division►Ration►Office►► Field►Post►Office►

A D D e D ► F e B R u A R y ► 19 4 3

►► Panzer►Regiment►Headquarters►GD

►► Reg’t►HQ:►17x►Pz►IVG

►► Recon:►Pz►IIF

►► I►Panzer►Bn:►► HQ►Company:►HQ►Pz►IVF1,►recon►Pz►IIIM►► 3x►Panzer►Companies►each►with:►18x►Pz►IVG►► 1x►Panzer►Company:►15x►Flammpanzer►III

►► II►Panzer►Bn:►► HQ►Company:►HQ►Pz►IVF1,►recon►Pz►IIIM►► 3x►Panzer►Companies►each►with:►18x►Pz►IVG►► 1x►Panzer►Company:►15x►Flammpanzer►III

►► Tiger►Company►with:►► Tiger►I►► recon►Pz►IIIM

Also:

All►PaK►38’s►were►replaced►with►PaK►40’s►(7.5cm).

A►fourth►Bn►was►added►to►the►Artillery►Reg’t:►►● leFH►18►(10.5cm)►howitzers►w/tractors►● Nebelwerfer►rocket►launchers►w/tractors

A►6th►Battery►(3.7cm►self-propelled)►was►added►to►the►FlaK►Bn.

Page 6: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

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H i s T O R i c A L n O T E s

b y K a i J e n s e n

F R o M ► R e G I M e N T ► T o ► D I V I S I o N►On 1 April 1942, orders came through that the Infantry Regiment Grossdeutschland would be expanded to become the Infantry Divi-sion Grossdeutschland (mot.). The regiment’s commanding officer, Oberst Walter Hoernlein, was promoted to Generalmajor. The original regiment was renamed as I.R. GD1 and would be lead by Oberst Köhler. A new regiment formed in Döberitz (near Berlin) was given the title of I.R. GD2 and would be lead by Oberst Garski.

The division commanders were given the freedom to select the remaining regimental commanders as well as those of the inde-pendent battalions from throughout the entire Wehrmacht. Men enlisting in the new division had to meet specific requirements: they had to be young, have good vision (no glasses), be at least 1.7 meters tall (approx. 5’6”) and have no criminal record.

Along with picking the best men for the job, GD’s commanders also received the best equipment. The latest weapons to pass field testing were available to the division. This preferential treatment was due largely to the efforts of Oberst Schmundt and Major Engel, and created in the Grossdeutschland I.D. the ideal motorized infantry division. Along with the two infantry regiments, the new division now added support units in the form of a panzer battalion, a panzerjäger battalion, an assault gun battalion, artillery, recon-naissance and signals battalions, medical and supply services, and a replacement training battalion. Nearly 18,000 men strong and with new equipment and training, the Grossdeutschland Infantry Division (mot.) was one of the strongest fighting units available to the German Army in the Spring of 1942.

B A C K ► T o ► T H e ► F R o N TFollowing its reorganization, the I.D. GD was assigned to Army Group South and took part in the opening phases of Fall Blau (the assault towards Stalingrad). Army Group South was divided into Army Group A (17th Army and 1st Panzer Army) and Army Group B (4th Panzer Army, 6th Army and 12th Army). Along with the 9th Panzer Division and the 24th Panzer Division as part of the 4th Panzer Army, I.D. GD was given the task of capturing intact the road and rail bridges across the Don River near Voronezh. All elements of the I.D. GD were assembled near Fatesh (northwest of Kursk) for the start of the new campaign.

On 28 June 1942 – just over a year after Operation Barbarossa had begun – the German offensive began anew. Within a few days the I.D. GD had established a beachhead across the Olym River.

1 July, 1942, Staryj Oskol–Kastornje–Jelez Railway, Olym River area—see scenario 1 “A Surprise At Sunrise”

In the nearby village of Gorschetschnoje, the 24th Panzer Division encountered significant resistance and was ordered to bypass the area and continue their advance, leaving the I.R. GD2 to cover their flank and eliminate the threat.

2 July, 1942, Gorschetschnoje—see scenario 2 “Kampfgruppe Garski”

By 5 July, forward elements of 4th Panzer Army had reached the Don River and began the race to capture Voronezh. I.R. GD1 cap-tured a nearly intact road bridge and made the crossing to assault the village of Podkletnoje on the far bank the following day. From there, they pressed onward toward Voronezh.

6 July, 1942, Podkletnoje, Don River area near Voronezh—see scenario 3 “Just Past Don”

Although they managed to occupy the western riverbank suburbs of the city, Soviet forces counterattacked the German positions. The plan had been for the 4th Panzer Army to occupy the city then, following relief by the 6th Army, move down the east bank of the Don toward Stalingrad. It wasn’t until two days later that 6th Army was in position and the 4th Panzer Army could get under way again. German command believed that this delay allowed Marshal Timoshenko to get troops into Stalingrad to reinforce that city before the 4th Panzer Army could strike as planned.

Upset by the disruption of the timetable, Hitler determined to reorganize the campaign. He ordered Army Group A to advance to the Caucasus to capture the oil fields there and Army Group B to carry on the offensive toward Stalingrad and the Volga. As he believed 6th Army to be successfully advancing their portion of the plan, Hitler ordered the 4th Panzer Army south to force a crossing of the lower Don River with the 1st Panzer Army.

The road networks in Russia were not up to German standards and this redeployment caused massive logistics problems, resulting in delays to both Army Groups A and B. The change also stripped vital tank support from 6th Army, slowing their advance and allowing the Soviets yet more time to secure their positions.

While the capture of Rostov in late July embroiled Army Group A in heavy urban fighting, Hitler decided the Don crossing was secured and sent the 4th Panzer Army back to the Volga line. Soviet resistance continued to delay Army Group B’s progress to the east. In August, the GD division was pulled back to the north bank of the Donets and held as a mobile reserve counterattack force.

C R I S I S ► I N ► T H e ► e A S TAt this same time, a major crisis was developing near and south of Rzhev which threatened to turn into a Soviet breakthrough. Two powerful Soviet shock armies – the 30th coming from north of the city and the 31st from the east – were joined by the weaker 29th Army which was between the two. Their attacks toward the city and the Ssytschewka-Rzhev railway, which was the lifeline for German forces in the area, caused the Germans to withdraw their defensive line back behind the Volga. Soviet forces were then able to establish a bridgehead 15km wide and 8km deep southeast of Rzhev and dangerously close the Ssytschewka-Rzhev railway line. In response, German command rushed three panzer divisions and several infantry divisions out of the line for transfer to the southern front and sent them by train to aid in the fight for Rzhev. Grossdeutschland was one of these divisions. Their assignment was to counter-attack and restore the former defensive lines.

Page 7: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

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According to orders from the highest command, the Grossdeutsch-land Infantry Division could not be committed in anything less than full strength. So, despite the desperate situation developing south of Rzhev, I.D. GD was required to wait until all their forces had gathered at Smolensk before they could be returned to the front lines. This brief rest period allowed them time for weapon and equipment repair, vehicle maintenance, individual training, and the re-establishment of their supply columns.

At the end of August 1942, the division was ready to join the forces gathering in the Rzhev area. Their first few weeks were relatively quiet along this front, with a marked reduction in artillery fire and very little activity visible by the Soviet infantry. The Soviet Air Force, on the other hand, was staying busy with attacks on both the front lines and the rear area. The weather worsened at the beginning of September and Luftwaffe reconnaissance soon determined the reason for the quiet. The Soviet forces were massing weapons and ammunition for another assault, determined to create a decisive breakthrough after so many failed attempts. According to a daily report from I.R GD1: “Through Operation ‘Max and Moritz’, the southeast part of Tschermassowo, the cemetery hill and the Gostischka valley were to be taken from the enemy and incorporated into own main defensive position.” As the weather continued to worsen, fight-ing continued day and night over the same heights and defensive positions – positions won during the day were lost again overnight as both sides tried to consolidate their defenses and forces were stretched overthin.

22 September, 1942, Cemetery Hill, east of Tschermassovo—see scenario 4 “Operation Max und Moritz”

30 September, 1942, Gostischka River Valley—see scenario 5 “Operation Herbstwind: Kampfgruppe Grosser”; scenario 6 “Opera-tion Herbstwind: Garski’s Demise”; and scenario 7 “Operation Herbstwind: Gostischka Lowlands”

On 1 October 1942, I.R. GD1 was renamed “Grenadier Regi-ment Grossdeutschland” and I.R. GD2 became “Füsilier Regiment Grossdeutschland”.

In October, individual units were relieved from the front lines near Tschermassowo and Ssuchtino by the 95th Infantry Division and transferred to a rest area north of Olenin. As Grossdeutschland reassembled itself, the companies took the opportunity to service vehicles, register casualties and losses in equipment, requisition replacements, and prepare for the coming winter.

Counter to previous orders, from late October through November, elements of I.D. GD were assigned away from their parent division for other duties. Some became part of a Ski Battalion. A battle group

– “kampfgruppe” – was sent out as a mobile reserve for the expected attack on 7 November near Bely (this was the 25th anniversary of the Russian Revolution). Training exercises were held to familiarize the troops once again with mobilizing in winter conditions. A large number of vehicles, found to be nearly useless during the muddy period and in winter conditions, were moved to an area northwest of Vyazma and parked. Battalions were split up and reassigned to reinforce weakened areas around Bely and Vyazma. By the end of November, elements of the division were spread over 110 kilometers of the front.

W I N T e R ► F I G H T I N G ► H e A T S ► u PFollowing the Soviet’s Operation Uranus, Grossdeutschland was involved in heavy winter fighting near Rzhev. On 26-27 November, a surprise attack by massive Soviet forces in the Luchessa Valley saw the Soviet troops push more than 5km into the German defensive area in an attempt to reach the Bely-Olenin road and cut off Ninth Army. Elements of I.D. GD, including the medical personnel and HQ staff, became involved in the fighting as the Soviets pushed deeper and deeper behind the German defensive line. Thick fog and windblown snow made fighting conditions worse but allowed many of the German units the opportunity to slip out of their positions before being overrun, regrouping as best they could to attempt to stave off the Soviet onslaught. 1 December saw the heaviest fighting for the Grossdeutschland Division in the Luchessa Valley as three Soviet divisions began their attack at dawn. By the end of that long day, the front had been torn open in so many places that it consisted merely of isolated strongpoints. Despite the division’s heavy casualties that day, delaying tactics and stoic defense prevented the Soviets from completing their breakthrough to the east and provided a significant defense for the Ninth Army’s western front.

1 December, 1942, Gorowatka (Luchessa Valley)—see scenario 8 “Tanks are coming now…”

The division was then called on to take part in “Operation Win-tergewitter:” the attempt to relieve German forces still holding out in Stalingrad. Under General Hoth the 4th Panzer Army tried to break the encirclement of the city, failed, and was compelled to withdraw, forcing the eventual surrender of the troops caught in the Soviet trap.

Fighting continued at a lessened pace through December. As the new year began, what remained of the units of I.D. GD were slowly reassembled and replacements were once again assigned to the companies in an effort to raise their combat strengths. By 8 January 1943, the relief of the forward units was completed.

January and February 1943 saw Grossdeutschland embroiled in the third battle of Kharkov. After the fall of the city to the Soviets, the division was again pulled back and refitted. By the end of February and into early March, most of the division had been relieved and sent to a rest area south of Poltava. Reinforcements arrived in the form of upgraded anti-tank guns, additional artillery, a Tiger 1 company (making it the only Panzergrenadier division to have its own heavy tanks and the only non-Waffen SS division to have its own Tigers) and a Divisional Escort Company.

With its new reinforcements in place, I.D. GD marched out to the starting point for the counterattack on Byelgorod and Kharkov. Several days of hard fighting saw Bogodukhov in German hands.

12 March, 1943, Ivay-Berdyny (near Bogodukhov, Ukraine)—see scenario 9 “Back to Russia”.

Tomarovka was swiftly taken next, then a period of quiet followed for the division. They were pulled off the front lines again and sent to a bivouac area north of Poltava for rest and refitting. Additional halftracks (251’s) were received and Grossdeutschland was assigned as Army Reserve. On 23 June 1943, GD was re-designated Panzer Grenadier Division Grossdeutschland....

Page 8: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

VICTORY CONDITIONS:

The German player wins if at game end he controls all three objectives. Any other result is a Soviet win.

DEPLOYMENT:

Place a Control marker Soviet side face up into each of the three objectives.

Retreating Elements of 40th Army—Any non-field hexes.

Schenk’s Spearhead—Any hexes along the south map edge.

Elements of II (APC) Company—Any hexes along the south map edge.

Elements of VW Recon Company—Any hexes along the east map edge.

SPECIAL RULES:

A. SIGHTING MARKERS: 6x Hidden Unit, 3x False Sighting and 1x Roadblock.

B. CONCEALED ANTI-TANK GUN: Set the ZIS-3 unit aside at the start of the game. At any time during a German Assault or Move order, place the ZIS-3 into any building or woods hex. When placed, it may immediately make up to three Op Fire attacks at the last enemy unit to have expended MPs (pay Initiative for these shots normally). During these three shots, the unit cannot miss due to hindrance [34.142] and will not become spent [35.63] regardless of the dice rolls.

C. WINTER TERRAIN: The field hindrance for this scenario is 2 (instead of 3).

VP MARKER: NA

TURN / SUDDEN DEATH MARKERS: 9 / 13

INITIATIVE PAWN: 11 (Germany)

ASSET CARDS: Germany — one random Soviets — one random

SNIPER MARKER: Soviets

ORDER CUBES: 3, 3, 7, 7, R, R, R, R, R, R

AIR SUPPORT MARKER: Germany

COMMAND RADIUS MARKERS: Germany 3; Soviets 2

FATE CARD: Soviets

MAP: 8SITUATION REPORT

Ivany-Berdyny, near Bogodukhov, Ukraine, 12 March 1943

BACK TO RUSSIAScenario 9

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e x A M P l e ► 1 ► – ► o R D e R S

A —The►players►have►chosen►Scenario►9,►which►requires►the►following►order►cubes►be►placed►on►the►Order►Matrix:►two►in►the►“3”►slot,►two►in►the►“7”►slot,►and►placement►of►

the►remaining►six►cubes►randomly►determined►(by►rolling►10-sided►dice).►These►cubes►will►then►be►removed►–►one►

at►a►time►by►whichever►player►currently►has►the►Initia-tive►[30]►–►to►issue►orders.►After►all►the►cubes►have►been►

removed►in►this►manner,►the►procedure►for►the►next►game►turn►will►have►the►players►reseed►the►Order►Matrix.

B — Several►turns►later►the►Order►Matrix►has►six►order►cubes►remaining,►as►shown.►In►some►cases,►what►one►

player►can►do►with►an►order►cube►is►not►the►same►as►what►the►other►player►can►do.►For►example,►an►order►cube►in►

the►“5”►slot►may►be►used►by►the►Soviet►player►to►issue►one►of►these►orders:►Sniper,►Rally,►Fire,►Move►or►Asset.►The►

German►player,►however,►may►issue►one►of►these►orders:►Assault,►Rally,►Move,►Fire►or►Asset.►If►the►Soviet►player►

wanted►to►issue►an►Assault►order,►he►would►have►to►wait►until►a►future►turn►in►which►the►Order►Matrix►was►seeded►

with►an►order►cube►in►the►“7”►slot►or►higher.

C —The►Initiative►pawn►is►on►the►Soviet►side►of►the►Initia-tive►Track►in►position►“1”►so►the►Soviet►player►gets►the►

next►order.►Based►on►the►positioning►of►the►order►cubes►in►this►diagram,►he►could►issue►a►Sniper,►Rally,►Fire,►Move►or►Asset►order.►He’d►like►to►fire►and,►since►he►is►defending►against►a►moving►German►force,►he►looks►to►also►make►it►

a►bit►more►costly►for►the►German►player►to►move►his►units.►He►therefore►selects►the►sole►order►cube►in►the►“4”►slot.►(Now►if►the►German►player►wants►to►issue►a►Move►order►

this►turn,►he’ll►have►to►spend►5►Initiative►to►do►so.)►He►removes►the►cube►from►the►“4”►slot....

D —The►Soviet►player►immediately►moves►the►Initiative►pawn►four►spaces►towards►the►German►player’s►side►of►

the►Initiative►track►to►pay►for►the►order►cube►selected.►He►then►announces►a►Fire►order►and►starts►activating►units.

e — As►the►Soviets►finish►their►Fire►order,►the►German►player►thinks►about►the►dilemma►created►for►him►by►his►

opponent.►He►is►in►the►process►of►moving►his►forces►toward►the►Soviet►positions.►But►now►there►are►no►order►cubes►in►either►the►“4”►(Rally)►or►“3”►(Move)►slots►to►use►for►an►inexpensive►Move►order;►only►the►cubes►in►the►“5”►(Assault)►slot►are►still►available.►He►feels►it’s►too►early►in►

the►game►to►stop►moving►and►wait►for►a►better►distribution►of►cubes►the►following►turn.►So►to►maintain►momentum►

he►selects►a►cube►in►the►“5”►slot,►pays►five►Initiative,►and►issues►the►Move►order►(he►could►also►issue►an►Assault►

order,►if►the►situation►warrants).

E x A m p L E s O F p L AyThe following examples are intended to demonstrate how many of the game’s mechanics function, as well as giving some hints on tactics and highlighting the general flow of the game.

A

B

c

D

E

6d10

Page 9: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

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A —The►Soviet►player►selects►an►order►cube►in►the►“5”►slot►of►the►Order►Matrix.►He►pays►the►order►cost►by►moving►the►Initiative►pawn►

five►spaces►towards►the►German►side►of►the►Initiative►Track,►then►chooses►to►perform►a►Move►order.►He►plans►to►activate►every►unit►

shown►except►the►T-34►(on map #1),►flipping►those►units►to►their►activated►side►which►reveals►their►individual►movement►allowances.►

Activation►costs►are►then►paid►for►as►follows.

B — Given►a►Command►Radius►of►2►for►the►Soviets,►the►Rifle►units►in►L5,►M7►and►N6►are►within►the►radius►of►the►Mission►Command►

marker►in►L5►(highlighted►in►blue).►The►cost►in►Initiative►to►activate►these►three►units►

is►0►(the►benefit►of►being►in►Mission►

Command).

C —The►units►in►O3,►P3►and►P4►are►

within►the►radius►of►the►Tactical►Com-

mand►marker►in►N3►(highlighted►in►

yellow).►The►cost►in►Initiative►to►activate►these►three►units►is►

normally►1►each,►but►because►the►T-60►is►

radioless►[see►41.11]►its►cost►is►doubled►to►2►instead,►for►a►

total►of►4►(the Soviet player moves the

Initiative pawn four more spaces towards

the German end of the Initiative Track).

D —The►SMG►unit►in►N5►is►within►the►Command►Radius►of►both►Command►

markers►(highlighted►in►green).►The►Soviet►

player►may►decide►which►of►these►

markers►governs►the►cost►in►Initiative►to►activate►the►unit.►The►cost►of►Mission►

Command►(0)►is►better►than►that►of►Tactical►Command►(1),►so►he►chooses►to►activate►it►for►0►

Initiative.

e x A M P l e ► 2 ► – ► C o M M A N D ► & ► A C T I VA T I o N

e —The►units►in►N7►and►Q8►are►outside►the►radius►of►all►Soviet►Command►markers.►The►Soviet►player►may►still►activate►them►(and►has►chosen►to►do►so),►but►the►cost►in►Initiative►is►2►each,►for►a►total►of►4►(the Soviet player moves the Initiative pawn four more spaces towards the German end of the Initiative Track).

F — Since►the►cost►to►activate►the►radioless►T-34►in►hex►Q4►would►be►prohibitive►at►this►point►(2►doubled►to►4),►he►sticks►with►his►plan►to►not►activate►it►for►this►order►and►so►no►further►activation►costs►are►incurred.►In►the►end►the►Soviet►player►paid►a►total►of►13►Initia-tive.►He►now►executes►the►(somewhat►expensive)►Move►order.

A c E

B

c

D

E

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Page 10: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

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A —The►German►player►issues►a►

Move►order►(paying►the►Initiative►cost)►

and►decides►to►activate►all►units►shown►(map #8).►

Given►a►Command►Radius►of►3,►he►

pays►5►Initiative►to►activate►the►

five►units►(1►each►for►being►under►

Tactical►Command).►

e x A M P l e ► 3 ► – ► M o V e M e N T

B — If►activated►units►are►to►deploy►they►must►do►so►before►any►activated►unit►begins►to►carry►out►the►

order►[30.21].►He►decides►to►deploy►the►Grenadier►platoon►in►M3.►Note that in future this will increase the Initiative cost of activating these units, as there are now 3 (smaller) Grenadier units under Tactical

Command where before there was only 1.

D —The►second►Pz►IIIJ►vehicle►enters►hex►L2►(1/2►MP►for►road)►In►

Column.►The►tank►con-tinues►moving►to►L3►(1/2►MP►for►road),►and►finally►

enters►L4►(1/2►MP►for►road),►performing►a►free►

pivot►to►face►hex►M5,►having►expended►1-1/2►

MP►total.►Since►the►hex’s►center►dot►is►atop►the►

building►depiction►in►hex►L4,►a►vehicle►may►only►

enter►or►exit►this►hex►via►a►road►depiction►[24.9].►

Yet,►it►may►pivot►(during►movement►or►via►station-

ary►pivot►[35.2])►inside►the►hex.►This►means►that►

while►it►could►not►move►from►hex►L4►into►hex►M5,►it►has►LOS►out►of►hex►L4.►

The►unit►is►unactivated.

C —The►German►player►decides►to►move►the►Pz►IIIJ►vehicles►first.►Their►speed►is►in►a►blue►

box►so►they►use►Track►movement►points►over►the►terrain►[grab►your►Terrain►Chart].►The►

first►tank►expends►1►MP►to►make►a►stationary►pivot►[35.23]►which►allows►a►gun►or►vehicle►

unit►to►face►any►hexside►within►its►current►hex.►The►German►player►chooses►to►change►

the►tank’s►facing►towards►hex►M2.►It►then►moves►into►M2►(1/2►MP►for►road)►and►is►

immediately►marked►with►a►Column►marker►for►occupying►a►building►hex►[24.10].►The►

tank►continues►moving►along►the►road►–►remaining►In►Column►–►into►hex►N2►(1/2►MP►for►road).►Since►the►German►unit►is►the►sole►

occupant►of►the►hex,►control►of►the►objec-tive►switches►from►Soviet►to►German►[22.3].►

Also,►since►the►tank►is►now►adjacent►to►a►hex►containing►an►enemy►Sighting►marker►(O3),►that►marker►is►immediately►revealed►[6.3b].►

It►turns►out►to►be►a►False►Sighting►(the►marker►is►put►back►in►the►box►with►no►effect).►

The►tank►continues►on►to►hex►O3►(1/2►MP►for►road),►removes►its►Column►marker,►and►

performs►a►free►pivot►[35.21]►to►face►hex►O4.►It►then►enters►O4►(1►MP►for►open►ground,►

since►it►did►not►enter►the►hex►following►the►road►depiction),►continues►to►O5►(1/2►MP►

for►road),►and►finally►O6►(1/2►MP►for►road),►where►it►performs►another►free►pivot►to►face►

hex►N6.►After►having►expended►4-1/2►MP►total,►the►German►player►unactivates►the►unit►

by►flipping►it►back►to►its►front►side.

A

B

c

D

Page 11: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

Fighting F

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rossdeutschland Infantry Division —

Playbook

© 2011 GMT Games, LLC 45

F — Now►the►German►player►turns►his►attention►to►the►deployed►squads►of►the►Grenadier►platoon►in►hex►M3.►Their►speed►is►in►a►green►box►so►they►use►Leg►move-ment►points.►The►first►squad►crosses►the►stream►hexside►(+3►MP)►and►enters►hex►N3►(2►MP).►Having►expended►5►MP►total,►it►is►unactivated.

G —The►second►squad►moves►uphill►(+1►MP)►crossing►the►crest►line►[24.55]►into►hex►L3►(2►MP),►expending►3►MP►total.►Although►there►is►a►road►depiction►in►hex►L3,►the►squad►did►not►enter►along►that►depiction►so►it►does►not►receive►the►benefit►of►moving►along►the►road.►The►German►player►decides►to►unactivate►it.

H —The►third►squad►–►taking►the►Tactical►Command►marker►along►with►it►[4.33]►–►now►moves►into►hex►M4►(2►MP),►continues►into►M5►(2►MP),►and►finally►M6►(1►MP►for►open►ground),►having►expended►5►MP►total.►Since►the►Germans►are►the►sole►occupant►of►this►objective►hex,►control►switches►from►Soviet►to►German.►The►unit►is►unactivated.

e —The►third►Pz►IIIJ►expends►1►MP►to►make►a►clockwise►stationary►pivot►to►face►hex►K2.►It►then►enters►K2►(2►MP►for►building),►performing►a►free►pivot►to►face►K3.►Since►the►hex’s►center►dot►is►not►atop►the►building►depiction,►the►vehicle►may►enter►what►is►otherwise►impassable►ter-rain►for►Track►movement►at►a►cost►of►2►MP►[24.9].►Since►the►vehicle►is►in►building►terrain,►however,►it►must►be►marked►as►In►Column►[24.10].►The►unit►may►continue►from►hex►K2►into►hex►K3►(2►MP►for►building,►depic-tion►not►on►a►hex►center►dot).►Note►that►the►building►depiction►does►not►completely►cover►up►the►K2/K3►hexside►across►which►the►unit►is►moving—if►it►did,►the►tank►could►not►continue►into►hex►K3►[24.91].►Note►that►the►gun►unit►in►K3►does►not►affect►the►stacking►limit►that►applies►to►the►vehicle►while►it►remains►In►Column►(the►single►vehicle►is►within►the►limit►[24.102]).►The►tank►con-tinues►moving►in►this►manner►into►hex►K4►(2►MP)►and►K5►(2►MP),►In►Column►the►whole►while.►It►moves►into►K6►(1/2►MP►for►road),►perform-ing►a►free►pivot►to►face►hex►L6.►Finally►it►crosses►the►crest►line►in►hex►K6►going►downhill►(for►no►cost)►as►it►enters►hex►L6►(2►MP►for►build-ing),►performing►a►free►pivot►to►face►hex►M6.►Having►expended►a►total►of►11-1/2►MP,►the►unit►is►unactivated.

I — Lastly,►the►PaK►38►gun►in►hex►K3►expends►1►MP►to►perform►a►stationary►pivot,►facing►hex►L3.►Then►the►gun►moves►forward►along►the►road►into►hex►L3►(1►MP),►having►expended►2►MP►total.►Note►that►for►guns►and►vehicles►movement►in►reverse►triples►the►normal►move-ment►point►cost.►In►effect,►this►gun►cannot►move►in►reverse—having►only►2►MP►available,►the►lowest►terrain►type/feature►cost►of►1►for►Leg►movement►tripled►(for►a►reverse►movement►cost►of►3)►causes►the►gun►to►not►have►enough►available►MP►to►move►in►reverse►[35.1].

FG

E

i

H

Page 12: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

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e x A M P l e ► 4 ► – ► o P P o R T u N I T y ► F I R e

(u s e s m a p #3)

A —The►German►player►issues►a►Move►order,►paying►Initiative►for►the►cube►removed►from►the►Matrix.►Given►a►Com-mand►Radius►of►3,►he►can►use►the►Tactical►Command►marker►in►hex►V10►to►activate►each►of►the►four►units►shown►for►a►total►Initiative►cost►of►4►(1►each).►At►the►instant►of►activation►he►may►choose►to►deploy►or►muster,►but►opts►not►do►so►here.►

B — He►has►a►Smoke►Screen►asset►[44.17]►that►can►be►played►as►a►Reaction►(that►is,►it►is►not►an►“Order”►asset).►To►use►it►he►must►play►it►after►all►units►have►been►activated►but►before►the►Move►order►is►carried►out►(there is no Initiative cost for playing a Reaction asset).►He►rolls►1d10►resulting►in►a►2,►which►allows►him►to►place►two►Smoke►markers►with►or►adjacent►to►any►fresh►activated►Pionier►units.►He►places►the►Smoke►in►hexes►X10►and►X11.

C —The►platoon►in►hex►U7►moves►into►V8►(1-1/2►MP►for►field)►and►pauses►

briefly►to►allow►the►Soviet►player►a►short►time►to►

decide►whether►to►con-duct►Opportunity►(Op)►Fire►

into►the►hex►[35.61].

D —The►Soviet►player►has►several►units►

occupying►houses►along►the►eastern►road.►He►

decides►to►conduct►Op►Fire►on►hex►V8►but►must►

also►decide►how►much►Initiative►it►will►cost►him►

to►do►it.►Currently►he►has►neither►an►active►Mission►

Command►nor►active►Tactical►Command►marker►

near►his►relevant►units.►Each►Op►Fire►shot►taken►

outside►of►Command►Radius►costs►2►Initiative.►

He►decides►at►this►instant►[4.2]►to►place►one►of►

his►available►Mission►Command►markers►

(taken from his side’s Available Box on the Track

Display)►in►hex►Y8.

B

c

D

F

G

E

Page 13: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

Fighting F

ormations: G

rossdeutschland Infantry Division —

Playbook

© 2011 GMT Games, LLC 47

H► (be low) —The►German►expected►some►of►his►units►would►likely►be►stopped►as►they►charge►towards►the►Soviet►position►so►he►continues►with►his►plan.►He►selects►the►Grenadier►platoon►in►hex►V10►and,►along►with►the►Tactical►Command►marker,►moves►into►V9►(1-1/2►MP►for►field)►and►pauses.

I —The►Soviet►player►once►again►selects►the►Rifle►platoon►in►hex►Y7►for►Op►Fire►(for►0►Initiative).►Not►wanting►to►take►another►long►range►attack►incurring►a►-1D►penalty►he►decides►to►discard►a►weak►asset►card►from►his►hand►in►order►to►utilize►the►firing►unit’s►Light►Machine►Gun►special►action►[43.3].►The►Soviet►player►does►have►possession►of►the►Fate►card►but►decides►not►to►give►it►up►as►part►of►the►LMG►effect►(which would have put the discarded asset right back into his hand).►

J —The►LMG►special►action►temporarily►raises►the►printed►range►of►the►firing►Rifle►platoon►from►2►to►3,►allowing►the►direct►fire►attack►to►occur►at►normal►range►using►2d10►into►hex►V9:►13►FP►plus►Fire►Attack►roll►of►13►(6+7)►yields►an►Attack►Total►of►26.►The►attack►wasn’t►hindered►(field►hin-drance►of►3)►nor►was►the►unit►Spent►(ROF►of►4).►The►German►player►uses►the►unit’s►morale►of►12►plus►cover►of►0►(field)►plus►2d10►Fire►Defense►roll►of►15►(6+9)►yielding►a►Defense►Total►of►27.►This►is►greater►than►the►Attack►Total►so►the►attack►has►no►effect.►

e►(bo t tom►le f t) — Assuming►a►Command►Radius►of►2,►the►Soviet►player►chooses►the►Rifle►platoon►in►hex►Y7►to►Op►Fire►at►an►Initiative►cost►of►0►[35.62a].►When►Op►Firing,►units►are►not►activated►and►thus►are►not►flipped►over►to►their►activated►side.►In►addition,►unless►and►until►it►becomes►spent►[35.62b►&►35.63],►such►a►unit►remains►available►for►Op►Fire►throughout►the►Move►order.►The►unit►fires►at►hex►V8►using►2d8►(-1D►for►long►range—normal►range►for►the►Rifle►unit►being►2►hexes):►the►unit’s►FP►of►13►plus►a►Fire►Attack►roll►of►11►(5+6)►yields►an►Attack►Total►of►24.►Note►that►since►the►unit►is►firing►across►a►wall►hexside►that►is►part►of►its►own►hex,►the►wall►hindrance►does►not►affect►the►fire►attack.►The►Soviet►player►now►examines►the►fire►attack►dice►(5►and►6)►to►determine►whether►the►attack►misses►outright►and►whether►that►unit►may►continue►to►fire►again►during►the►current►Move►order.►

First,►any►fire►attack►has►the►chance►to►immediately►end►if►either►or►both►dice►show►a►number►less►than►or►equal►to►the►hindrance►in►effect►for►that►attack►[34.142].►Unless►intervening►terrain►(such►as►the►field)►raises►the►hindrance►to►a►higher►value►(such►as►3►for►field),►the►default►hindrance►for►any►fire►attack►is►1►[34.141]—meaning►if►either►die►is►1,►the►attack►is►cancelled.►Since►neither►die►was►equal►to►or►lower►than►the►“3”►field►hindrance►(trumping►the►default►“1”►hindrance►because►the►LOS►of►the►Fire►Attack►traverses►the►field►pattern►in►at►least►one►intervening►hex)►the►attack►doesn’t►miss.►

Second,►since►neither►die►was►equal►to►or►lower►than►the►unit’s►ROF►(4,►in►the►diamond),►the►unit►is►not►marked►as►Spent►and►it►may►Op►Fire►again►at►later►enemy►movement►[35.63].►

F —The►German►unit►has►an►opportunity►to►with-stand►this►attack►by►rolling►2d10►(the►standard►for►Fire►Defense►rolls).►The►Grenadier’s►activated►morale►of►12►plus►the►Field►cover►of►0►plus►a►Fire►Defense►roll►of►9►(2+7)►yields►a►Defense►Total►of►21.►Since►this►Defense►Total►is►lower►than►the►Attack►Total,►the►moving►Grenadier►unit►is►hit►[5].►The►German►player►reaches►into►the►opaque►cup►containing►the►hit►markers,►blindly►draws►a►

“Pinned”►marker►and►places►it►on►the►unit.►Since►the►“Pinned”►hit►marker►includes►the►circled►M,►the►moving►unit►may►not►move►any►further►[5.2]►until►the►marker►is►removed►during►a►Rally►order.►

G — Although►the►Soviet►unit►is►still►eligible►to►fire,►it►may►not►do►so►again►unless►and►until►the►same,►or►a►different,►German►unit►expends►more►movement►points►[35.62c].►Happy►with►the►now-immobile►German►platoon,►the►Soviet►player►declares►no►more►Op►Fire►attacks►versus►this►unit►by►other►Soviet►units►so►the►German►player►unacti-vates►it,►flipping►it►back►to►its►front►side.

Soviet Asset Deck

Fighting Formations

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M —The►Rifle►platoon►in►hex►Y7►–►still►eligible►for►Op►Fire►–►fires►using►2d10►(the►target►is►now►at►normal►range):►13►FP►plus►a►Fire►Attack►roll►of►7►(2+5)►yields►an►Attack►

Total►of►20.►One►of►the►Fire►Attack►dice►(2)►was►

equal►to►or►lower►than►the►current►hindrance►

value►of►the►field►(3),►so►the►attack►misses►

outright►with►no►further►effect.►

N — Moreover,►this►same►die►is►equal►to►or►lower►than►the►unit’s►ROF►(4),►so►the►unit►is►now►marked►as►Spent►and►may►not►Op►Fire►

again►during►the►current►Move►order.

P — Since►the►German►unit►is►a►platoon►that►already►has►a►hit►marker►on►it,►the►second►hit►eliminates►it►[34.16c►&►3.31].►When►a►platoon►is►eliminated►it►is►replaced►by►two►squads►(the third one ostensibly having been eliminated – or at the very least rendered combat ineffective – by the shot).►The►existing►“Shaken”►marker►remains►with►one►of►the►two►replacement►squads.

o —The►Rifle►platoon►in►hex►Y8►–►also►still►eligible►

for►Op►Fire►–►fires►using►2d10►(normal►range):►13►

FP►plus►a►Fire►Attack►roll►of►17►(7+10)►yields►an►Attack►

Total►of►30►(neither►hindered►nor►Spent—good►shoot-

ing!).►The►Fire►Defense►uses►morale►of►12►plus►

cover►of►0►(field)►plus►2d10►Fire►Defense►roll►of►6►(1+5)►yielding►a►Defense►Total►of►18—lower►than►the►Attack►

Total,►so►the►attack►suc-ceeds►and►the►unit►is►hit►

again.►

l— No►further►Op►Fire►shots►are►declared►

versus►hex►V9►so►the►Grenadier►(along►with►

the►Command►marker)►continues►its►move►into►

hex►W8►(1-1/2►MP►for►field,►a►total►of►3►MP►

expended►so►far)►and►pauses.

K— Rule►35.61►says►that►any►number►of►enemy►units►within►LOS►of►a►moving►unit►may►perform►one►Op►Fire►at►it►per►MP►expenditure.►So►the►Soviet►player►decides►to►also►select►the►Rifle►platoon►in►hex►Y8►for►Op►Fire►(again►for►0►Initiative).►The►shot►into►hex►V9►uses►2d8►for►long►range►(-1D):►13►FP►plus►Fire►Attack►roll►of►10►(5+5)►yields►an►Attack►Total►of►23►(again►neither►hindered►nor►Spent!).►The►German►player►uses►the►unit’s►morale►of►12►plus►cover►of►0►plus►2d10►Fire►Defense►roll►of►5►(2+3)►yielding►a►Defense►Total►of►17,►lower►than►the►Attack►Total,►so►the►attack►succeeds.►The►German►player►draws►a►

“Shaken”►hit►marker,►which►has►neither►a►Fire►(circled►F)►nor►Movement►(circled►M)►restriction—in►effect,►the►unit►may►continue►functioning,►although►it►will►be►seriously►affected►by►an►additional►hit.

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Q — Although►badly►battered,►the►two►remaining►Grenadier►squads►are►still►not►restricted►from►movement►and►the►German►player►elects►to►keep►driving►towards►the►Soviet►position►(hoping to draw out the Maxim MG in Y10, which so far has declined to fire due to the high Smoke hin-drance).►The►Shaken►squad►in►W8►continues►moving►into►X9►(1-1/2►MP►for►a►total►expenditure►of►4-1/2►MP).►Note►that►the►German►player►elects►to►leave►the►Tactical►Command►marker►with►the►fresh►squad—which►remains►activated►and►eligible►for►further►movement.

R —The►determined►Rifle►platoon►in►hex►Y8►(still►eligible►for►Op►Fire)►fires►at►the►lone►moving►squad►in►X9►using►2d12►(+1D►for►short►range):►13►FP►plus►a►Fire►Attack►roll►of►16►(4+12)►yields►an►Attack►Total►of►29.►Since►one►of►the►Fire►Attack►dice►(4)►was►equal►to►the►firing►unit’s►ROF,►the►unit►is►now►marked►as►Spent—but►the►attack►nevertheless►occurs►(in this case the attack didn’t miss due to the default hindrance of 1; the field hindrance no longer applies since the attack didn’t cross field in an intervening hex).►

S —The►Fire►Defense►uses►morale►of►12►plus►cover►of►3►(wall)►plus►Fire►Defense►roll►of►12►(6+6)►yielding►a►Defense►Total►of►27,►lower►than►the►Attack►Total,►so►the►attack►succeeds.►The►squad►is►eliminated►by►virtue►of►already►possessing►a►hit►marker►[34.16b].►The►squad►is►placed►back►in►the►box►and►the►hit►marker►back►in►the►draw►cup.

W — At►the►end►of►the►Move►order,►the►two►Smoke►markers►are►flipped►to►their►“2”►side,►as►per►the►instructions►on►the►Smoke►Screen►asset.►Also,►Spent►markers►are►removed►from►all►units.

V—The►German►player►now►decides►to►end►his►Move►order,►unactivat-ing►the►two►units►in►W10.►He hopes to use a future Advance order (6 or higher on the Matrix) to have both of these platoons safely enter the Smoke adjacent to Y10.

u — He►then►selects►the►Grenadier►platoon►in►hex►U9►to►

move►first►into►V10►(2►MP►for►building)►then►W10►(another►

2►MP),►pausing►there►for►possible►Op►Fire►(there was

no Op Fire possible into V10 as the line of sight from the

Maxim MG is blocked by the building depiction in hex W10).►

The►Soviet►player►considers►that►shooting►into►W10►with►

his►remaining►eligible►unit►has►a►number►of►disadvantages:►the►LOS►traverses►a►Smoke►

hindrance►(5)►and►the►defenders►in►W10►have►the►

benefit►of►building►cover►(4)►and►the►distance►is►not►short►

range►for►the►bump►to►2d12.►He►chooses►to►hold►fire.►

T— Given►how►poorly►his►attack►across►the►fields►is►going,►the►German►player►decides►to►leave►the►remain-ing►squad►(and►the►Command►marker)►in►hex►W8,►unacti-vating►it.►

Q

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DESIGN NOTE: The “ loose” fire arc represents the ability of the turret on a tank to swivel into a different facing than the

hull, or the ability of an AA gun to rapidly rotate around 360° without regard to the orientation of its frame.

B — Assume►the►T-70►in►hex►I16►is►either►a►moving►unit►(head-ing►into►hex►J16)►or►a►firing►unit►(firing►directly►at►hex►L17).►In►

both►cases,►it►is►acting►within►the►front►fire►arc►of►the►Pz►III.►

If►moving,►the►T-70►would►first►enter►hex►J16,►provoking►Op►Fire:►the►Pz►III►would►not►have►to►adjust►its►facing—it►could►fire►

directly►through►its►front►fire►arc►at►J16►without►penalty;►the►PaK►38►would►have►to►pivot►to►fire,►with►an►attendant►penalty.►

If►firing,►the►T-70►would►first►use►direct►fire►into►either►enemy►hex.►Afterwards,►either►German►unit►could►perform►a►Return►Fire►shot:►again,►the►Pz►III►would►not►have►to►adjust►its►facing►

but►the►PaK►38►would,►with►penalty.

A — Unit►facing►[3.4]►defines►the►front►fire►arc►and►the►flank►fire►arc►for►guns►and►vehicles.►The►tinted►portions►below►(map #1)►show►the►front►fire►arc►for►the►German►gun►(blue)►and►German►tank►(yellow).►When►a►gun►or►vehicle►fires►at►a►target►hex►that►falls►within►the►front►fire►arc►pattern►–►for►example,►the►Pz►III►in►hex►L17►firing►at►the►T-70►in►hex►I16►

–►its►attack►dice►are►not►affected.►If►it►fires►at►a►target►hex►that►falls►out-side►the►front►fire►arc►pattern►–►into►the►flank►fire►arc:►for►example,►the►Pz►III►firing►at►the►T-34►in►hex►I20►–►its►attack►dice►are►penalized.►How►it►is►affected►depends►on►whether►it►has►a►“”►strict►fire►arc►(like►the►PaK►38)►or►a►“”►loose►fire►arc►(like►the►Pz►III)►[3.26];►it►also►depends►on►whether►it►pivots►in►the►act►of►firing►at►the►target.►It►is►very►important►to►note►that►pivots►during►movement►(due►to►the►expenditure►of►MP►[35.2])►are►different►from►pivots►during►some►form►of►direct►fire►attack►[34.121]►(whether►performing►a►Fire►order►or►responding►with►Op►Fire►or►Return►Fire).►The►former►involve►expenditure►of►MP►(which►could►trigger►Op►Fire)►and►the►latter►involve►changing►facing►as►part►of►the►direct►fire►attack►process►(no►MP►expenditure).►Finally►note►that►melee►fire►attacks►[34.2]►do►not►involve►fire►arcs►and►pivoting.

e x A M P l e ► 5 ► – ► F I R e ► A R C S ► A N D ► P I V o T I N G

A

B

cC — Assume►the►T-34►in►hex►I20►is►a►moving►unit►heading►into►hex►J19.►The►Pz►III►has►two►options,►which►are►dependent►on►the►current►combat►situation►and►the►potential►mismatch►between►firepower►and►armor.►These►options►

are►explained►in►examples►D►and►E.►

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e — ...►and►since►the►German►player►very►much►wants►his►Pz►III►to►survive,►he►is►likely►to►pick►the►second►option►as►follows.►Despite►

the►fact►that►the►Pz►III►has►a►loose►fire►arc,►the►German►player►always►has►the►option►of,►whilst►firing►it,►pivoting►it►to►any►facing►that►would►bring►the►T-34►into►its►(new)►front►fire►arc.►Physically►rotate►(“pivot”)►

the►unit►to►the►desired►new►facing►(and without MP expenditure, as it is considered an inherent part of the fire attack).►However,►because►

of►this►“targeting►pivot”►[34.121]►its►Op►Fire►attack►suffers►a►-2D►penalty►to►its►attack►dice►(going►from►2d10►to►2d6!).►While►the►pen-

alty►is►heavy,►the►Pz►III’s►front►armor►of►17►is►now►brought►to►bear►if►and►when►the►T-34►would►fire►next—a►definite►improvement.►Note►

also►that►the►T-70►remains►within►the►Pz►III’s►front►arc.

D —The►first►option►is►as►follows.►The►Pz►III►has►a►loose►fire►arc.►It►may►choose►to►maintain►its►current►fire►arc►(the►yellow►tinted►area►in►the►figure)►because►of►other►threats►on►the►battlefield.►In►that►case,►it►can►still►Op►Fire►at►the►T-34►but►it►suffers►the►-1D►penalty►to►its►attack►dice►(going►from►2d10►to►2d8)►for►firing►into►a►hex►within►its►flank►fire►arc.►As►long►as►the►Pz►III►maintains►its►facing►without►physically►pivoting►in►the►hex►(hull is not moving)►it►can►always►fire►at►threats►outside►of►its►front►fire►arc►(turret swivels to face the threat)►by►accepting►this►pen-alty.►However,►in►this►case►the►T-34►has►an►advantage:►for►subsequent►fire►attacks►it►is►firing►into►the►flank►(12►armor)►of►the►Pz►III...►

D

E

F

F —With►the►T-34’s►movement►into►hex►J19,►

the►PaK►38►has►only►one►option►if►it►intends►to►

Op►Fire:►it►must►physi-cally►pivot►in►its►hex►

and►change►its►facing►to►bring►the►T-34►into►its►front►fire►arc.►This►

is►the►impact►of►having►a►“strict”►fire►arc.►It►must►suffer►the►-2D►

penalty►to►its►attack►dice►in►order►to►change►its►

facing►in►the►midst►of►a►direct►fire►attack.►A►unit►can►perform►this►pivot►

when►activated►for►a►Fire►order,►when►perform-ing►Op►Fire,►or►when►

performing►Return►Fire.►Note►that►regardless►

of►whether►the►gun►is►attacked►through►its►

front►or►flank►fire►arc,►it►uses►a►“morale”►defense►

factor►only►(and►it►will►be►attacked►with►“HE”►FP►not►“AP”►FP►by►the►

attacker).►The►key►to►gun►survivability►is►not►necessarily►its►defense,►but►more►the►ability►to►bring►its►firepower►to►

bear►first.

yellow = new front arc for Pz III

blue = new front arc for PaK 38

green = new (overlapping) front arc for both

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e x A M P l e ► 6 ► – ► D I R e C T ► F I R e

A —►A►Fire►order►can►be►used►to►conduct►any►combina-tion►of►direct►fire►and►melee►fire►attacks.►The►inactive►

player►has►the►option►to►react►to►these►fire►situations►via►“Return►Fire”►[34.3]►which►also►uses►direct►fire►or►melee►fire,►as►applicable.►This►example►will►focus►on►direct►fire►

only.►The►Soviet►player►issues►a►Fire►order►(paying►the►Initiative►cost).►With►a►given►Command►Radius►of►2,►he►decides►to►activate►his►two►infantry►units►and►one►gun►

unit►shown►(map #3),►paying►another►3►Initiative►to►do►so►(three►units►at►1►each).►He►could►also►activate►the►out►of►command►T-34,►but►this►would►be►a►waste►of►2►Initiative►

since►the►Stunned►hit►marker►precludes►the►tank►from►being►able►to►fire.►

C — Before►the►ZIS-3►can►be►unactivated,►the►German►player►can►Return►Fire,►and►he►has►some►options.►A►unit►in►a►targeted►hex►does►not►have►to►be►the►

one►that►conducts►Return►Fire:►any►inactive►unit►within►range►and►LOS►of►the►firing►unit►has►the►option►of►being►selected►to►perform►the►single►permitted►

Return►Fire►attack►[34.32c].►Since►the►Pz►III►has►a►better►HE►FP►than►the►StuG►(not►to►mention►the►Initiative►cost►to►Op►Fire►is►less►since►the►StuG►is►Out►of►

Command),►the►German►player►selects►the►Pz►III►to►perform►Return►Fire.►With►a►Command►Radius►of►2,►he►initiates►Return►Fire►with►the►Pz►III►by►spending►1►Initiative.►The►attack►is►at►normal►range►and►within►the►front►fire►arc,►but►with►

the►hindrance►raised►to►2►due►to►the►Smoke►[8.2].►16►HE►FP►plus►a►2d10►Fire►Attack►roll►of►7►(3+4)►yields►an►Attack►Total►of►23.►The►attack►is►unhindered►(both►dice►were►greater►than►the►hindrance►value)►and►the►unit►is►not►Spent►

(both►dice►were►greater►than►the►tank’s►ROF►of►2).►The►gun’s►morale►of►11►plus►its►cover►of►4►(building)►plus►a►2d10►Fire►Defense►roll►of►18►(8+10)►yields►a►Defense►Total►of►33,►much►higher►than►the►Attack►Total►so►the►attack►fails.

B —The►ZIS-3►gun►in►hex►Y10►faces►two►serious►threats,►one►in►its►front►fire►arc►and►one►in►its►flank.►The►Pz►III►platoon►in►W11►is►the►greater►threat►but,►due►to►the►gun’s►strict►()►fire►arc,►the►Soviet►player►doesn’t►want►to►suffer►the►-2D►penalty►for►having►to►pivot►the►gun►to►bring►the►Pz►III►into►its►front►arc.►So►the►gun►direct►fires►into►hex►Z7►(where►the►StuG►is)►using►its►AP►firepower►of►13.►To►help►offset►the►StuG’s►tough►frontal►armor,►the►Soviet►player►discards►an►asset►card►from►his►hand►and►declares►he►is►using►APCR►Munitions►[43.1],►a►special►action►signified►by►the►white►letter►“A”►on►the►counter.►APCR►increases►the►gun’s►available►FP:►at►range►4,►it►adds►5►to►the►base►FP►for►a►total►FP►of►18.►A►2d10►Fire►Attack►roll►of►8►(2+6)►yields►an►Attack►Total►of►26.►The►default►hindrance►(1)►is►in►effect►so►the►attack►doesn’t►miss►(neither►die►was►equal►to►or►lower►than►the►hindrance►value).►The►StuG►defends►using►its►front►armor►value►of►21►and►adds►to►this►a►Fire►Defense►roll►(defense rolls are always 2d10)►of►6►(1+5)►for►a►Defense►Total►of►27.►This►is►greater►than►the►Attack►Total►so►the►attack►has►no►effect—a►glancing►blow!

D — Because►a►hex,►not►a►specific►unit,►is►always►the►target►of►any►direct►fire►attack,►the►Sighting►marker►in►hex►Y10►also►needs►to►make►a►defense►roll►to►see►if►it►becomes►revealed►or►remains►secret.►Sighting►mark-ers►have►a►“morale”►of►13►when►defending►against►attacks.►The►Soviet►player►adds►this►morale►and►the►hex’s►cover►of►4►to►a►Fire►Defense►roll►of►5►(2+3),►yielding►a►Defense►Total►of►22.►This►is►one►less►than►the►attack►total►so►the►attack►succeeds►versus►the►Sighting►marker.►It►is►revealed►to►be►a►False►Sighting,►and►the►marker►is►promptly►returned►to►the►countermix►with►no►effect.►The►Soviet►player►unactivates►the►ZIS-3.

A

B

c

D

Page 19: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

Fighting F

ormations: G

rossdeutschland Infantry Division —

Playbook

© 2011 GMT Games, LLC 53

e —The►Soviet►player►selects►the►DShK►MG►squad►to►perform►the►next►direct►fire►attack.►It►will►shoot►into►hex►W7.►He►hopes►to►eliminate►the►

two►German►machine►gun►units►there►and►thus►free►the►helpless►Soviet►tank►from►the►immediate►danger►of►melee.►Although►the►DShK►MG►is►

neither►a►vehicle►nor►a►gun,►it►is►strong►enough►to►have►both►an►AP►and►an►HE►capability—it►could►attack►a►(weakly)►armored►vehicle!►Since►it►is►firing►into►a►hex►containing►unarmored►enemy►units►but►an►armored►

friendly►unit,►the►Soviet►player►chooses►to►use►its►HE►FP►(12).►The►attack►has►a►hindrance►of►3►(field).►12►HE►FP►plus►a►2d10►Fire►Attack►

roll►of►18►(8+10)►yields►an►Attack►Total►of►30.►The►attack►is►unhindered.►All►units►in►hex►W7►with►a►morale►must►defend►against►the►attack—

conveniently►leaving►the►T-34►unscathed►(had the T-34 instead been a Soviet unit with a morale, it too would have had to make a defense roll versus the attack).►First,►the►Suppressed►MG►42►squad►uses►its►morale►of►12►plus►cover►of►0►(field)►plus►a►Fire►Defense►roll►of►12►(5+7)►yielding►

a►Defense►Total►of►24,►lower►than►the►Attack►Total.►Since►the►squad►is►already►marked►with►a►hit,►this►hit►eliminates►it.►Second,►the►Shaken►

MG►42►rolls►18►(8+10)►yielding►a►Defense►Total►of►30.►Since►ties►go►to►the►defender►[34.15a],►the►attack►on►that►unit►fails►and►the►melee►situa-

tion►in►that►hex►continues.

G — Finally,►the►Rifle►squad►in►Y8►fires►at►hex►X8.►Being►short►range►(adjacent)►the►attack►roll►will►be►bumped►up►to►2d12►and►use►the►default►hindrance►

of►1►(the►wall►is►part►of►the►firing/target►hex►so►it►will►be►used►for►cover,►not►hindrance).►The►unit’s►8►FP►is►

added►to►a►roll►of►24►(12+12)►for►an►Attack►Total►of►32!►The►Motor►Recon’s►morale►of►12►plus►cover►of►3►(wall)►is►added►to►a►2d10►defense►roll►of►16►(6►+10)►for►a►total►of►31—almost,►but►not►quite►good►enough.►A►random►

hit►marker►is►drawn►from►the►cup:►Broken.

F —The►German►player►considers►his►Return►Fire►options►and►finds►them►somewhat►limited:►(a)►the►Motor►Recon►in►hex►X8►would►suffer►a►4►hindrance►due►to►the►wall►depiction►on►the►X9-Y8►hexside,►would►be►firing►at►long►range►(-1D),►and►is►Out►of►Command►so►the►shot►would►cost►2►Initiative;►(b)►the►LOS►from►the►StuG►in►Z7►is►blocked►by►the►smaller►of►the►building►depictions►in►hex►Y8;►(c)►the►remain-ing►MG►42►in►W7►is►in►melee►so►cannot►fire►outside►its►own►hex►[34.32d].►He►chooses►to►use►the►–►still►eligible►–►Pz►III►for►another►Return►Fire.►The►Return►Fire►attack►is►at►normal►range,►within►the►front►fire►arc,►and►with►a►hindrance►of►2►(Smoke).►16►HE►FP►plus►a►2d10►attack►roll►of►12►(2+10)►yields►an►Attack►Total►of►28.►The►attack►is►both►hindered►and►the►firing►unit►becomes►Spent►(the►“2”►die►is►equal►to►or►less►than►the►hindrance►and►the►unit’s►ROF).►The►DShK►MG►is►unactivated.

H —The►German►player►decides►not►to►Return►Fire►because:►(a)►the►Motor►Recon►can►no►longer►fire►(due to the circled F on its newly-acquired hit marker);►(b)►the►MG►42►cannot►fire►outside►its►hex►(it is in melee);►(c)►the►Pz►III►is►Spent;►and►(d)►he►doesn’t►want►to►spend►2►Initiative►on►the►Out►of►Command►StuG►(nor does he wish to place an available Mission Com-mand marker on the map at this time)—so►the►Rifle►unit►is►unactivated►and►the►order►ends.►The►Spent►marker►is►removed►and►the►next►order►announced.

PLAY NOTE—The activated side of every unit is devoid of a ROF—an activated unit can fire only once per order, whereas inactive

units belonging to the opponent may continue to perform Return Fire and Op Fire so long as those units remain unspent.

EF

G

PLAY NOTE—The activated side of every unit is devoid of a ROF—an activated unit can fire only once per order, whereas inactive

units belonging to the opponent may continue to perform Return Fire and Op Fire so long as those units remain unspent.

Page 20: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

Fig

htin

g F

orm

atio

ns: G

ross

deut

schl

and

Infa

ntry

Div

isio

n —

Pla

yboo

k

© 2011 GMT Games, LLC54

e x A M P l e ► 7 ► – ► R A l ly

e —The►Pinned►Grenadiers►in►hex►E6►are►affected►by►a►hit►marker►with►a►black►target►number►(8),►so►failure►to►rally►will►not►elimi-

nate►the►unit.►The►platoon►is►not►in►cover►(walls only give cover

versus direct fire attacks that cross them, and Smoke acts as a hin-

drance, not cover)►nor►is►it►stacked►with►Command►so►it►receives►no►

improvement►to►the►base►2d10►roll.►The►2d10►rally►roll►is►only►4►(1+3)!►

This►is►less►than►the►target►number,►so►the►rally►attempt►fails.►The►unit►remains►marked►with►the►“Pinned”►

hit►marker►and►is►unactivated.

F —The►remaining►StuG►squad►in►hex►F5►is►affected►by►the►most►difficult►hit►marker►to►remove,►the►“18”►of►being►Immobilized.►The►vehicle►is►in►cover,►but►is►also►In►Column,►so►that►cover►is►reduced►to►0►[24.102].►The►unmodified►2d10►rally►roll►is►a►17►(7+10).►This►is►just►under►the►red►target►number,►so►the►rally►attempt►fails:►the►vehicle►is►eliminated►and►the►hit►marker►placed►back►in►the►draw►cup.►By►deploying►the►StuG►platoon►at►the►start►of►the►order,►he►saved►the►platoon►from►having►to►be►eliminated►for►failure►to►rally,►which►would►have►resulted►in►one►Immobilized►StuG►squad►and►one►fresh►StuG►squad.►Here►we►see►that►having►two►fresh►StuG►squads►(by►virtue►of►deploying►beforehand)►is►eminently►more►desirable.

In►lieu►of►making►the►rally►roll►for►the►vehicle►at►horrible►odds,►the►German►player►could►have►instead►chosen►to►abandon►it►[25]►immediately►after►deploying.►He►would►have►had►

to►make►this►decision►before►making►any►of►the►rally►attempts.►If►so,►the►vehicle►and►its►hit►marker►would►have►been►replaced►in►the►hex►with►a►German►Crew►counter.

D —The►Broken►IG►18►gun►in►hex►F6►has►a►hit►marker►with►a►black►target►number►(12),►so►failure►to►rally►will►not►elimi-nate►the►unit.►The►gun►is►in►cover►(building)►so►it►receives►a►+1D►improvement►to►the►base►2d10►roll.►The►2d12►rally►roll►is►a►15►(6+9).►This►is►good►enough►to►succeed►so►the►hit►marker►is►removed►back►to►the►cup►and►the►unit►unactivated.

C — He►now►selects►the►order►in►which►each►activated►unit►will►attempt►to►rally,►trying►to►roll►greater►than►or►equal►to►the►upper-right►number►on►that►unit’s►hit►marker►[36].►He►begins►with►the►Unconfirmed►Kill►in►

hex►H6.►This►unit►is►affected►by►a►hit►marker►with►a►red►target►number►(14).►This►means►that►if►the►rally►roll►fails►the►unit►is►eliminated►rather►than►there►being►no►effect.►However,►by►placing►the►Mission►Command►

marker►in►this►hex,►the►unit►receives►a►+1D►improvement►to►the►base►2d10►rally►roll.►Additionally,►being►in►a►hex►with►a►cover►greater►than►0,►it►receives►another►+1D—bumping►up►to►2d20!►The►2d20►rally►roll►is►a►

13►(6+7)►which►is►not►good►enough►to►save►the►unit.►The►German►player,►however,►hands►the►Fate►card►to►the►Soviet►player►in►order►to►reroll,►which►results►in►a►14►(13+1):►got►it,►but►just►barely!►The►Soviet►player►is►pleased►to►have►the►Fate►card►back►so►he►does►not►force►another►reroll►facing►2d20.►The►hit►marker►is►

removed►from►the►unit►and►placed►back►in►the►draw►cup.►The►unit►is►unactivated.►

B — He►decides►to►deploy►the►Immobilized►StuG►platoon►as►it►is►being►activated►–►for►reasons►which►will►become►apparent►below►

–►immediately►unactivating►the►two►resulting►fresh►StuG►squads.►

PLAY NOTE—Since none of a unit’s stats are relevant during Rally, there’s really no need to physically flip them over when activated. If it’s obvious to both players who’s been activated, “skip the flip.”

A — After►a►telling►barrage►by►a►Soviet►Rocket►Battery►at►the►end►of►turn►3,►the►German►player►has►the►Initiative►for►the►first►order►of►turn►4.►Before►

choosing►his►order,►he►places►an►available►Mission►Command►in►hex►H6►(map #7).►He►then►issues►a►much-needed►Rally►order.►The►Germans►have►

a►Command►Radius►of►2►so►this►allows►him►to►pay►nothing►to►activate►three►of►the►four►units►affected►by►hit►markers;►the►Pinned►unit►costing►

him►1►Initiative►by►virtue►of►being►in►Tactical►Command.►

Unc. Kill14

A

B

c

D

E

F

Page 21: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

Fighting F

ormations: G

rossdeutschland Infantry Division —

Playbook

© 2011 GMT Games, LLC 55

e x A M P l e ► 8 ► – ► A D VA N C e

A —The►Soviet►player►–►flush►with►Initiative►after►the►German►player►spent►10►to►draw►three►asset►cards►–►decides►to►perform►an►Advance►order►[31]►so►as►to►put►pressure►on►the►German►defensive►positions.►With►a►Command►Radius►of►2,►he►activates►all►Soviet►units►shown►in►hexes►H7,►K7►and►K8►for►free►(map #7).►

Movement►points►are►not►used►when►advancing►so►Op►Fire►is►not►possible.►Although►any►unit►regardless►of►type►may►advance,►it►is►the►only►way►for►infantry-type►units►to►enter►into►an►enemy-occupied►hex►in►order►to►engage►in►melee—vehicles►must►use►the►Assault►order►and►guns►must►use►the►Move►order►to►do►the►same.

B — First,►the►T-34►advances►straight►forward►into►hex►L7,►where►it►pivots►to►face►L6.►(The tank could have freely pivoted to any hexside before advancing, but then it would not have been allowed to pivot in its new hex [31.1].)►The►tank►is►unactivated.

C — Second,►the►Rifle►platoon►advances►into►J6►with►the►intention►of►threatening►the►Broken►enemy►machine►gun►nest.►Since►the►Sighting►marker►in►I6►is►now►adjacent►to►an►enemy►unit,►it►is►immediately►revealed.►It►is►“Hidden:►A”►so►the►German►player►replaces►the►marker►with►everything►he►had►previ-ously►placed►underneath►the►oversized►“Hiding:►A”►marker►(done►during►initial►setup)►and►places►it►in►hex►I6—in►this►case,►a►heavy►infantry►gun.►The►Rifle►unit►is►unactivated.

D — Next,►the►SMG►squad►advances►out►of►the►Wire►hex►(the only way infantry can enter/exit Wire) into►H6.►Even►though►a►fortification►can►hold►up►to►three►squads,►a►unit►cannot►enter►an►enemy-occupied►fortification;►so►the►SMG►must►remain►outside►the►Entrenchments►for►now.

The►advance►triggers►the►revealing►of►the►adjacent►enemy►Sighting►marker►in►G6.►Mines!►The►Mines►marker►may►be►placed►in►its►Sighting►marker’s►hex►or►into►any►of►the►six►adjacent►hexes►(for the incredulous, see the design note accompanying rule 45.4).►The►German►player►puts►them►in►H6,►where►they►immediately►attack►the►advancing►SMG►squad►but►not►the►Grenadier►squad.►(Mines only ever attack units as they are entering/leaving the hex.)►Mines,►since►they►always►attack►in-hex,►will►only►ever►use►melee►fire►rather►than►direct►fire►[grab►your►Melee►Tables►player►aid].►Cross►referencing►“Mines”►with►“SMG”►on►the►leftmost►table,►we►see►a►target►number►of►11.►There►are►no►modifiers►so►the►mine►attack►will►use►the►base►2d10,►wanting►to►roll►11►or►higher►for►an►automatic►hit.►The►roll►is►10►(6+4)►so►the►attack►misses►with►no►effect.►The►Soviet►player►unactivates►the►SMG►unit.

e — Lastly,►the►Engineer►platoon►advances►into►hex►G7,►and►unactivates.

PLAY NOTE—Since none of a unit’s stats are relevant during Advance, there’s really no need to physically flip them over when activated. If it’s obvious to both players who’s been activated, “skip the flip.”

A

B

c

c

D

DE

PLAY NOTE—Since none of a unit’s stats are relevant during Advance, there’s really no need to physically flip them over when activated. If it’s obvious to both players who’s been activated, “skip the flip.”

Page 22: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

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e x A M P l e ► 9 ► – ► M e l e e

A —Two►or►three►orders►later,►we►have►the►situation►shown►below.►The►Soviet►player►has►the►Initiative.►He►places►a►new►Mission►Command►marker►into►hex►J5.►He►removes►an►order►cube►from►the►“4”►space►of►the►Matrix►–paying►4►Initiative►–►and►declares►a►Fire►order.►He►activates►all►four►of►his►units►for►free►(there’s►another►Soviet►Mission►Command►marker►just►out►of►sight►in►hex►I8,►which►is►within►two►hexes►of►the►Engineer).

B —The►T-34►fires►first.►Enemy►units►occupy►its►hex►so►it►must►use►melee►fire►against►one►of►those►units►rather►than►use►direct►fire►at►another►hex►[grab►your►Melee►Tables►player►aid].►In►melee,►the►opposing►player►chooses►the►target—in►this►case,►the►German►player►selects►his►Broken►MG►34►squad►as►the►target►since►the►Suppressed►one►would►be►a►bit►easier►to►rally,►should►he►get►a►chance.►Referencing►the►right-most►Melee►Table►(below►left),►we►see►the►target►number►of►a►T-34►versus►(any)►MG►unit►is►10.►Looking►at►the►die►size►modifiers►(above)►we►find►only►the►last►one►to►be►relevant►in►this►instance:►the►MG►34►occupies►a►Bunker►so►the►Soviet►dice►will►drop►from►2d10►to►2d8.►The►roll►is►12►(4+8):►a►hit!►The►Broken►MG►34►is►eliminated►and►the►hit►marker►returned►to►the►cup.

C—For►his►one►Return►Fire►shot,►the►German►player►elects►to►pay►2►Initiative►to►shoot►with►the►(out►of►command)►IG►33.►Since►he’ll►be►firing►AP►ammunition,►his►own►MG►34►in►the►target►hex►will►be►unaffected.►17►FP►plus►a►2d10►roll►of►12►(6+6)►yields►29.►The►T-34’s►2d10►defense►roll►of►6►(1+5)►is►added►to►its►defense►of►17►(flank►armor)►for►a►total►of►23:►hit!►An►Immobilized►marker►is►drawn►for►the►tank—it►can►still►fire►but►its►days►of►mobility►are►likely►over.►The►T-34►is►unactivated.

Immobilized18

A

B

c

Page 23: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

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D — Next,►the►Shaken►Rifle►platoon►fires.►Again,►since►an►enemy►unit►occupies►its►hex►it►must►fire►at►it►using►melee►fire.►The►firing►unit►is►a►platoon►so►the►melee►dice►jump►from►2d10►to►2d12.►Looking►at►the►Melee►Table,►we►see►a►target►number►of►7►for►a►Rifle►unit►versus►machine►gun.►The►melee►roll►is►a►23►(11+12)—a►resounding►success!►The►MG►42►squad►is►eliminated►and►its►hit►marker►is►put►back►in►the►draw►cup.

F — Next,►the►SMG►squad►fires►at►the►Grena-dier►squad►in►hex►H6.►The►target►number►is►11.►The►attack►suffers►-1D►because►the►target►occupies►a►fortification►(the►Entrenchments).►The►2d8►melee►roll►is►5►(3+2)—whiff!►due►to►the►Smoke’s►hindrance►of►2.►The►German►player►decides►that►spending►2►inititiative►to►have►the►Grenadier►squad►Return►Fire►through►Smoke►is►too►much►and►declines.►The►SMG►squad►is►unactivated.►►

G — Finally,►the►Engineer►pla-toon►fires►at►the►self-propelled►FlaK►halftrack►in►hex►G7.►The►target►number►is►7.►The►attack►gains►+1D►for►the►target►being►In►Column,►+1D►for►the►firer►being►an►Engineer-type►unit►and►+1D►for►the►firer►being►a►platoon►for►a►net►total►of►+3D.►This►is►off►the►charts►so►the►melee►roll►will►use►the►maximum►2d20.►The►roll►is►21►(10+11)►for►an►easy►hit.►The►German►player►draws►a►Rattled►hit►marker►and►places►it►on►the►vehicle.►The►halftrack►can►still►fire,►but►spending►2►Initiative►for►a►low►odds►melee►attack►–►13►target►number►with►-1D►for►being►In►Column►–►isn’t►worth►it►so►Return►Fire►is►declined.►►The►Engineer►unit►is►unactivated,►ending►the►order.

e —The►German►player►pays►2►Initiative►to►once►again►have►the►IG►33►make►a►Return►Fire►attack►at►the►Rifle►

platoon.►He’ll►be►firing►HE►ammunition►this►time.►Short►range►bumps►the►attack►dice►up►to►2d12►(hex►J5►is►still►within►the►gun’s►front►fire►arc►so►no►mandatory►pivot►is►required).►The►FP►of►15►is►added►to►an►attack►roll►of►15►(5+10)►for►a►total►of►30.►The►gun►becomes►spent►(one►of►the►dice►was►“5,”►the►gun’s►ROF).►The►Soviet►player►makes►a►2d10►defense►roll►for►the►Rifle►unit:►8►(6+2)—not►nearly►enough.►The►platoon►is►eliminated►and►the►

two►resulting►squads►are►promptly►unactivated.

D

F

G

E

Page 24: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

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e x A M P l e ► 10 ► – ► B A R R A G e ► A S S e T

Players►usually►receive►asset►cards►at►the►start►of►a►scenario►and►have►the►opportunity►to►draw►one►or►more►asset►cards►into►their►hands►by►performing►a►Support►order►[38].►Consider►the►Support►order►as►a►somewhat►costly►investment►now►for►the►chance►to►receive►a►major►resource►benefit►later►in►game►play.►There►are►three►ways►to►use►an►asset►card►[10]:►(a)►via►an►Asset►order,►(b)►as►a►Reaction►(without►Initia-tive►cost►and►at►any►time►the►card’s►italicized►conditions►are►fulfilled)►

and►(c)►as►an►Enabler►(by►discarding►the►card).►Previous►examples►have►shown►Reactions►(Light►Machine►Guns►and►Smoke►Screen)►and►Enablers►(APCR►Munitions).►Many►of►the►asset►cards►deliver►an►aircraft►or►artillery►barrage►via►the►Asset►order►–►at►an►Initiative►cost►of►1►–►which►can►have►a►very►strong►impact►on►the►inactive►player’s►forces.►The►Soviet►player►decides►to►issue►the►Asset►order►and►play►a►Medium►Battery►asset►(card►33).►This example uses map #5.

A — Following►the►barrage►procedure►[grab►your►Barrage►Table►player►aid],►the►Soviet►

player►first►places►the►Spotting►Round►marker►on►his►selected►target,►hex►G22 (here we

assume G22 is in LOS of a Soviet Command marker somewhere outside the example

window; perhaps hex F12).►Next,►he►orients►the►Accuracy►Grid►so►that►the►“1”►hex►is►in►the►direction►of►the►map’s►“1”►hexrow.►Before►he►

makes►the►accuracy►roll,►he►decides►not►to►use►the►“Pre-Plotted►Fire”►option►(giving►up►the►

Fate►card►to►add►12►to►the►accuracy►roll).►He►rolls►1d20►getting►“11”—to►which►he►adds►the►

default►6►(per►the►asset►card)►for►a►final►accu-racy►roll►of►17.►Looking►at►the►Accuracy►Grid,►

he►sees►that►the►Spotting►Round►should►move►from►hex►G22►to►hex►F22.►The►Medium►Battery►barrage►will►attack►all►pieces►–►units,►Sighting►

markers►and►fortifications,►as►defined►in►the►Glossary►–►in►that►hex►as►well►as►those►in►the►six►adjacent►hexes►(so►the►Pionier►unit►in►H22►

will►be►spared).►He►selects►the►order►of►resolu-tion,►using►the►“Medium►Battery►[Sov]”►line►on►

the►Barrage►Table,►cross-referencing►it►with►the►appropriate►column►for►each►affected►piece.

B — In►hex►E22,►he►decides►to►attack►the►Entrenchments►marker►first—to►try►to►destroy►it►before►it►can►be►used►as►cover►by►the►Grenadier►platoon.►Looking►at►the►intersection►of►“Medium►Battery►[Sov]”►and►

“Entrenchments”►we►see►the►target►number►for►this►particular►attack►is►32.►The►Soviet►player►wants►to►roll►that►number►or►higher.►The►barrage►attack►roll►(always►2d20)►yields►a►27►(12+15).►This►is►lower►than►the►target►number►so►the►Entrenchments►remain.►The►target►number►for►the►Grena-dier►platoon►(found►under►the►“12►Morale►Infantry”►column)►is►13►plus►the►cover►of►6►(Entrenchments►versus►a►barrage►[45.32])►for►a►final►target►number►of►19.►The►barrage►attack►roll►yields►an►18►(9+9)►for►a►near►miss►and►no►effect.►These►guys►were►well►and►good►dug►in.

A

B

Page 25: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

Fighting F

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F — In►hex►G22,►the►barrage►attacks►the►7.5cm►IG►18►gun►in►the►buildings.►The►target►number►for►a►gun►is►13.►Smoke►(all►hindrances►for►that►matter)►doesn’t►affect►barrage►attacks►at►all.►Since►the►unit►is►in►a►building►hex►the►cover►is►4,►giving►a►final►modified►target►number►of►17.►The►barrage►attack►roll►yields►a►31►(14+17).►This►is►higher►than►the►target►number,►so►the►attack►succeeds►and►the►unit►is►hit.►The►German►player►draws►a►“Suppressed”►hit►marker►and►places►it►on►the►unit.

The►Spotting►Round►marker►is►then►removed►from►the►map►and►the►side►with►Initiative►performs►the►next►order.

G — Finally,►in►hex►G23,►the►barrage►attacks►the►halftrack►that►is►In►Column►in►the►build-ing►hex.►The►target►number►for►the►vehicle►is►17.►The►cover►for►buildings►is►4►however,►because►the►unit►is►In►Column,►its►positive►

cover►is►reduced►to►0►and►the►final►target►number►remains►at►17.►The►barrage►attack►

roll►yields►a►17►(9+8),►which►is►equal►to►the►target►number,►so►the►attack►succeeds.►The►German►player►draws►a►“Rattled”►hit►marker►

and►places►it►on►the►unit.

C — Moving►on►to►hex►E23,►he►attacks►the►Entrenchments►first.►Target►number►is►32.►The►barrage►attack►roll►yields►a►36►(16+20):►

the►Entrenchments►are►eliminated.►The►target►number►for►the►Grenadier►squad►is►13►(no►longer►protected►by►the►Entrench-

ments).►The►barrage►attack►roll►yields►a►16►(6+10).►This►is►higher►than►the►target►number,►so►the►attack►succeeds►and►the►unit►is►

automatically►hit.►Since►it►already►has►a►hit►marker►attached,►the►hapless►unit►is►eliminated.►The►Command►marker►in►the►hex►is►unaffected►by►the►barrage—though►by►virtue►of►it►now►being►

without►friendly►units►it►is►both►immobile►and►in►danger►of►being►permanently►eliminated►should►an►enemy►unit►enter►its►hex.

D — In►hex►F22,►the►barrage►attacks►the►Sighting►marker►in►the►woods.►The►target►number►(found►under►the►“Sighting►marker”►column)►is►15.►Since►the►piece►is►in►a►woods►hex►the►cover►is►2.►However,►Air►Bursts►[42.8]►add►a►-2►modifier►for►a►net►cover►of►0►and►the►target►number►remains►15.►The►barrage►attack►roll►yields►a►16►(1+15),►which►is►higher►than►the►target►number,►so►the►attack►suc-ceeds►and►the►Sighting►marker►is►hit.►

e — A►hit►Sighting►marker►is►revealed;►nothing►more.►So►the►German►player►

flips►the►Sighting►marker►over,►revealing►“Hidden:►C.”►He►then►takes►everything►that►he►previously►set►aside►during►set►

up►underneath►the►large►“Hiding:►C”►marker►and►puts►it►into►hex►F22:►in►this►case,►an►MG►42►platoon►inside►

Entrenchments.►These►pieces►do►not►suffer►a►subsequent►attack►by►this►same►

barrage.

c

D

E

F

G

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D —The►Pz►IV►now►spends►2►more►MPs►to►enter►hex►F10.►Now►the►Rifle►platoon►can►Op►Fire,►as►it►is►considered►to►be►in►melee►with►the►opposing►tank.►The►Soviet►player►pays►2►Initiative►for►the►Op►Fire►and►consults►the►Melee►Table:►there►he►sees►that►his►target►number►for►a►Rifle►unit►versus►a►Pz►IV►unit►is►14.►Looking►at►the►modifiers,►his►2d10►will►be►bumped►up►to►2d12►for►attacking►with►a►platoon.►He►rolls►and►gets►exactly►14►(4+10)—a►hit!►Though►the►die►showing►a►“4”►does►mean►that►the►Rifle►unit►becomes►Spent.►The►German►player►randomly►draws►a►hit►marker►from►the►cup►and►only►gets►Rattled—lucky!

e —With►no►more►Op►Fire►possible,►the►Pz►IV►continues.►It►spends►1►more►MP►to►

assault►fire►(5►of►6½►MP►spent►so►far).►Since►it►occupies►a►hex►with►one►or►more►enemy►

units►it►must►fire►at►one►of►them►of the oppo-nent’s choice►using►the►melee►procedure.►

Since►the►target►number►of►“9”►versus►the►T-34►is►slightly►higher►than►the►“8”►versus►

the►Rifle►unit,►he►chooses►the►T-34►to►suffer►the►shot;►the►Rifle►platoon►will►be►entirely►

unaffected.►No►die►modifiers►apply.►The►2d10►melee►roll►yields►a►19►(9+10):►hit!►The►

Soviet►player►reaches►into►the►hit►marker►cup►and►draws►...►Unconfirmed►Kill.►Bad►news.►

C —The►Pz►IV►in►hex►D9►spends►2►of►it’s►6½►MPs►to►enter►hex►E10.►The►Rifle►platoon►cannot►Op►Fire►at►it►since►it►only►fires►HE.►The►T-34►does►

decide►to►Op►Fire,►however►the►shot►must►be►AP►(since►the►moving►unit►has►only►armor)►and►so►the►Grenadier►unit►in►the►hex►will►be►unaffected.►

The►Soviet►player►spends►2►Initiative►to►take►the►shot►with►the►Out►of►Command►T-34.►With►+1D►for►short►range,►his►2d12►Fire►Attack►roll►of►

11►(5+6)►is►added►to►his►AP►firepower►of►12►for►an►Attack►Total►of►23.►The►Pz►IV’s►front►armor►of►17►and►cover►of►1►(rough)►is►added►to►a►2d10►Defense►roll►of►7►(1+6)►for►a►total►of►25—safe!►Since►one►of►the►attack►

dice►was►“5”►and►the►Soviet►tank’s►rate►of►fire►is►5,►it►becomes►Spent.►

B —The►Grenadiers►in►hex►E10►begin►the►order►by►spending►1►MP►to►take►a►shot►into►hex►F10►[32.1,►item►#2],►hoping►to►hit►the►Rifle►platoon►before►the►panzer►rolls►in.►Although►the►fire►attack►is►considered►“movement”►(since►MP►expenditure►occurred),►it►is►conducted►as►a►normal►direct►fire►attack.►The►shot►must►be►completed►before►the►Soviet►player►can►react►to►it►[35.6].►Fire►attacks►by►assaulting►units►suffer►-1D,►but►since►the►target►is►an►adjacent►hex►the►Grenadiers►get►+1D►for►short►range.►The►Grenadiers►are►firing►HE►so►the►Soviet►tank►will►be►unaf-fected►by►the►attack.►The►2d10►Fire►Attack►roll►of►11►(1+10)►is►an►auto►miss►due►to►the►default►hindrance►of►1—and►the►Soviet►player►has►the►Fate►card►so►no►reroll.►Drats!►Anticipating►the►German►tank►assaulting►into►hex►F10,►the►Soviet►player►declines►to►Op►Fire►at►the►Grenadier’s►MP►expenditure►so►as►not►to►risk►becoming►Spent.►The►German►player►promptly►unactivates►the►ineffective►Grenadier►unit.►

A —The►German►player►issues►an►Assault►order►(paying►the►

Initiative►cost)►and►decides►to►activate►the►Pz►IV►F2►squad►and►the►Grenadier►platoon►

shown►(using map #7).►Both►are►Out►of►Command►so►the►activations►cost►4►Initiative►(2►each).►Because►this►is►an►Assault,►the►Speed►of►these►units►is►halved►[32.1]►to►6½►

and►3,►respectively.►

e x A M P l e ► 11 ► – ► A S S A u lT

F — Not►wishing►to►remain►in►melee►with►a►

fresh►enemy►infantry►unit►–►and►with►the►T-34►ren-

dered►combat►ineffective►–►the►Pz►IV►spends►1►more►

MP►(6►total)►to►enter►G11.►With►no►Op►Fire►versus►

this►expenditure►and►only►½►MP►remaining,►

the►Pz►IV►is►unactivated.►With►the►order►com-

plete,►Spent►markers►are►removed►from►all►units.

A

B

D

c

E

F

Page 27: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

Fighting F

ormations: G

rossdeutschland Infantry Division —

Playbook

61

Bidwell, Shelford. Artillery Tactics 1939-45. Surrey, UK, Almark Publishing, 1976.

Bishop, Chris. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. New York, Metro Books, 1998.

Bishop, Chris. Order of Battle: German Panzers in WWII. St. Paul, MN, Zenith Press, 2008.

Bishop, Chris. Panzergrenadier Divisions 1939-40. London, Amber Books, 2007.

Bradford, George. WWII AFV Plans – Russian Armored Fighting Vehicles. Mechanicsburg, PA Stackpole Books, 2007.

Bradford, George. WWII AFV Plans – German Early War Armored Fighting Vehicles. Mechanicsburg, PA Stackpole Books, 2007.

Buell, Hal (ed.). World War II Album – The Complete Chronicle of the World’s Greatest Conflict. New York, Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc, 2002.

Bull, Stephen & Rottman, Gordon L. Infantry Tactics of the Second World War. Oxford, UK, Osprey Publishing, 2008.

Dear, I.C.B. (ed.). The Oxford Guide to World War II. Oxford University Press, 1995.

Forty, George. World War Two Tanks. London, Osprey, 1995.

Foss, Christopher F. (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles. San Diego, Thunder Bay Press, 2002.

Glantz, David M. Colossus Reborn – The Red Army at War, 1941-1943. Lawrence, KS, University Press, 2005.

Green, Michael & Gladys. Panzers at War. St. Paul, MN, Zenith Press, 2005.

Halberstadt, Hans. The World’s Great Artillery. Barnes & Noble Books, 2002.

Keegan, John. Atlas of the Second World War. Ann Arbor, MI, Borders Press, 2003.

Leckie, Robert. Delivered From Evil – The Saga of World War II. New York, Harper & Row, 1987.

Lucas, James. Germany’s Elite Panzer Force: Grossdeutschland. London, McDonald and Jane’s Publishers, 1978.

LÜdeke, Alexander. Weapons of World War II. Bath, UK, Parragon, 2007.

McGuirl, Thomas & Spezzano, Remy. God, Honor, Fatherland – A Photo History of Panzergrenadier Division Grossdeutschland on the Eastern Front 1942-1944. Stamford, CT, RZM Publishing, 1997.

Merridale, Catherine. Ivan’s War – Life and Death in the Red Army, 1939-1940. New York, Metropolitan Books, 2006.

Miller, David. The Great Book of Tanks. London, Salamander Books, 2002.

Milsom, John. Russian Tanks 1900-1970. New York, Galahad Books, 1970.

Niehorster, Leo W.G. German World War II Organizational Series, Vol 4/I, Mechanized Army Divisions. Military Press, 2005.

Rottman, Gordon L. World War II Combat Reconnaissance Tactics. Oxford, UK, Osprey Publishing, 2007.

Rottman, Gordon L. World War II Infantry Assault Tactics. Oxford, UK, Osprey Publishing, 2008.

von Senger und Etterlin, F.M. German Tanks of World War II. New York, Galahad Books, 1968.

Sharpe, Michael & Davis, Brian L. Grossdeutschland: Guderian’s Eastern Front Elite. Surrey, UK, Ian Allan Publishing, 2001.

Spaeter, Helmuth. The History of Panzerkorps Grossdeutschland, vol. I. Winnipeg, Canada, J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, 1992.

Spaeter, Helmuth. Panzerkorps Grossdeutschland—A Pictorial History. Atglen, PA, Schiffer, 1990.

Suermont, Jan. Infantry Weapons of World War II. Iola, WI, Krause Publications, 2004.

SouRCeS►&►SuGGeSTeD►Re ADING

CReDITS

Game Design — Chad Jensen

Game Development — Kai Jensen and John A Foley

Art Director — Rodger MacGowan

Box Art & Packaging Design — Rodger MacGowan

Cards, Maps, Rules & Player Aids — Chad Jensen

Counters — Chad Jensen, Charles Kibler and Lee Brimmicombe-Wood

Play Testers Above & Beyond — Alex Ostroumov, Richard Pardoe, Brice Feal, Mark Beyak, Douglas Sun, Maxwell Q. Klinger, Chris Janiec, Marty Sample, Rob Bottos, Mark Dwerlkotte, Jeff Romero, Derek Nichols, Jordan Nichols, Mike Bertucelli, Justin Rice, Richard Savage, Bryan Collars, Seth Gunar and Chris Storzillo

Additional Proofreading — Vincent Lefavrais, Bryan Collars and Richard Pardoe

Production Coordinator — Tony Curtis

Producers — Gene Billingsley, Tony Curtis, Andy Lewis, Rodger MacGowan and Mark Simonitch

Page 28: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

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© 2011 GMT Games, LLC62

Abandoning Guns & Vehicles . . . . . . . . . 25

Activate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 .1

Advance Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31entering and exiting melee. . . . . . . . . . . 31.2exiting the map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.2

AP Firepower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 .21; 34 .15

APCR Munitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 .1

Armor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 .25

Assault Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32and Opportunity Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.6entering and exiting melee. . . . . . . . . . . 32.2exiting the map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.2

Asset Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10; 44during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60.38

Barrage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.2and terrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.4impact. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.5smoke barrage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.23spotting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26.1targeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.3

step-by-step procedure . . . . . . . . player aid card

Blind Hexes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 .53

Building . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 .9; Terrain Chart

Bunker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 .2

Cards Asset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Fate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Cemetery . . . . . . . . . . . 42 .2; Terrain Chart

Combined Arms Movement . . . . . . . . 35 .3

Command & Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 .6

Command Markers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4and their Command Radius . . . . . . . . . .4.31available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.1during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60.5effect on units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.32elimination of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.34; 21.12cmovement of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.33placement of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2resetting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.12d

Command Radius . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 .31

Counterbattery Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 .2

Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 .3

Crest Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 .511

Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 .25

Demolitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 .3

Deploy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 .21during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60.51

Depression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see Elevation

Dice Rollsbarrage accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.2barrage impact. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.5cancellation of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9.1direct fire attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.142fire defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.15melee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.232rally. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36reseed Order Matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21.12fsudden death. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.22

Elevation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 .5

Entrenchments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 .3

Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Exiting The Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 .2

Facing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see Fire Arc

Fate Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9and assets . . . . . .44.3; 44.7; 44.9; 44.11-.12and re-rolling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9.1and special actions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43.3during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60.39tied game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.2

Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 .3; Terrain Chart

Fighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 .4

Fighter Bomber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 .5

Fire Arcand advancing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31.1and direct fire attacks . . . . . . . 34.121; 34.13and movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.22; 35.23for fortifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.23; 45.5for units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.4when deploying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30.21when mustering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.22when unhooking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43.6

Fire Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34and hindrances . . . . . . . . . . . 34.141; 34.231and Return Fire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.3attack dice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.13; 34.22attack roll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.142; 34.232defense roll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.15direct fire attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34.1hit results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.16; 34.24melee fire attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.2

step-by-step procedure . . . . . . . . player aid card

Firepower (FP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 .21and elevation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.56

Fortifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7; 45during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60.5

FP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see Firepower

Game End . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 .3

Guns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see Units

HE Firepower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 .21; 34 .15

HEAT Munitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 .2

Heavy Anti-Tank Rifle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 .6

Heavy Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 .7

Hidden Forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 .5during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60.52

Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see Elevation

Hindrances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 .3and direct fire attacks . . . . . . . . . . . . .34.141and elevation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.54and melee fire attacks . . . . . . . . . . . . .34.231

In Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 .10during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60.5

Infantry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see Units

Initiative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 .21; 20; 30during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60.33

Initiative Track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 .2

Leg Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see Speed

Light Anti-Tank Rifle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 .8

Light Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 .9

Light Machine Guns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 .3

Light Mortars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 .10

Line of Sight (LOS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23and elevation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24.51and hindrances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.3and obstacles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.2

Loose Fire Arc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see Fire Arc

Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2; 60 .21

MarkersAir Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.4

during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60.37Anti-Tank Ditch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45.1Attack Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.23Bunker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.2Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.10

during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60.5

i n D E xNOTE: This index covers rules entries in this booklet as well as those in the Series Rulebook that came with this game.

Many of the following index headings are also located in the glossary found on page 3 of the Series Rulebook.

Page 29: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

Fighting F

ormations: G

rossdeutschland Infantry Division —

Playbook

© 2011 GMT Games, LLC 63

Command. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60.5

Command Radius . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.6; 4.31during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60.36

Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.3Entrenchments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.3False Sighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.4aHidden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.51

during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60.52Hiding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.52

during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60.52Hit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60.23Mines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.4Pillbox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.5Reinforcement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.32

during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60.53Roadblock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.6Sighting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Smoke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Sniper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.33; 21.12c; 37

during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60.32Spent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.33 & 35.63Spotting Round. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26.1Sudden Death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.31; 21.2

during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60.31Turn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.31; 21.1

during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60.31VP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.22

during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60.34Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.7Wreck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.12; scenario 1

Marsh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 .4; Terrain Chart

Medium Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 .11

Melee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 .2and Pioniers/Engineers . . . . . . . . . . . . .41.31

step-by-step procedure . . . . . . . . player aid card

Mines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 .4

Morale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 .25; 6 .2

Mortar Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 .12

Move Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35as a stack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35combined arms movement . . . . . . . . . . 35.3costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.1; Terrain Chartentering and exiting melee. . . . . . . . . . . 35.4exiting the map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.2 and Opportunity Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.6and Roadblocks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.6and Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.7uphill MP penalty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.55

Muster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 .22NA during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . .60.51

Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 .3

Obstacles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 .2and elevation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.52blind hexes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.53

Open Ground . . . . . . . 24 .6; Terrain Chart

Opportunity Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 .6

Orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30on assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Order Cubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 .11; 30during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60.35reseeding at end of turn. . . . . . . . . . . .21.12f

Passengers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 .4

Pillbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 .5

Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see Units

Political Commissar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 .13

PTRD Anti-Tank Rifle . . . . . . . . . . . 44 .14

Radioless Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 .11

Railway Embankment . 42 .5; Terrain Chart

Rally Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 .22when firing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.12

Rate of Fire (ROF) . . . 3 .23; 34 .33 & 35 .63

Reactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 .2abandoning a gun or vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 25deploying a platoon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30.21LOS check. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23.1mustering squads. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.22on asset cards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10b; 44Opportunity Fire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.6placing Command. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2re-rolling dice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9.1Return Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.3revealing a Sighting marker . . . . . . . . . . . 6.3special actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Reinforcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 .12e

Return Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 .3

Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 .8; Terrain Chartvehicles In Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.10

Roadblock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 .6

Rocket Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 .15

ROF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see Rate of Fire

Rough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 .7; Terrain Chart

Scenario Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 14

Sighting Markers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6contents of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.4revealing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.3vulnerability to attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.2

Smoke (marker) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8and LOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.33depletion of. . . . . . . . . 21.12b; 44.16; 44.17placement of . . . . . 26.23; 43.5; 44.16; 44.17removal of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.12b

Smoke Grenades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 .16

Smoke Munitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 .5

Smoke Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 .17

Sniper Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 .12c

Sniper Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Special Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 .24

Spent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 .33; 35 .63

Spotting Round(SR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 .1

Squad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see Units

SR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see Spotting Round

Stacking Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 .32In Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.102inside fortifications . . . . . 45.21; 45.31; 45.5

Stream . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 .6; Terrain Chart

Strict Fire Arc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see Fire Arc

Stuka Dive Bomber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 .18

Sudden Death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 .2

Support Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Terrain . . . . . . . . . . . .24; 42; Terrain Chartcover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.3elevation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.5Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24.1Line of Sight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.4Move Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.2Types. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24.1

Track Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60.22

Track Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see Speed

Turn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Turn End . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 .12step-by-step procedure . . . . . . . . player aid card

Unactivate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 .3

Unhook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 .6

Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3during scenario setup . . . . . . . . . . 60.1; 60.5elimination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.31fresh . . . . . . . . . . . 5.1; 6.52; 43; 44.3; 44.6;

. . . . . . . 44.8; 44.10; 44.14; 44.16; 44.17size [platoon & squad] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.3stacking limits . . . 24.102; 45.21; 45.31; 45.5stats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2types [infantry, gun & vehicle] . . . . . . . . .3.1

Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see Units

Victory Points (VP) . . . . . . . . . . . 22; 60 .34via elimination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22.1via exiting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.2via objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.3

Wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 .7; Terrain Chart

Wheel Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see Speed

Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 .7

Woods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 .8; Terrain Chart

Page 30: Fighting Formations - GMT Games · ORDER OF BATTLE The following is the order of battle for Infantry Division (mot.) Grossdeutschland during the period April 1942 to February 1943.

S u M M A R y ► o F ► o R D e R SA l l ► [ 3 O ]

Costs 2 Initiative to activate any unit that is Out of Command; 1 if under Tactical Command; 0 if under Mission Command [30.1].

Flip activated units to their reverse (white stripe) side. Flip them back (“unactivate” them) after each has performed its activities.

A turn ends at the conclusion of any order in which no cubes remain on the Order Matrix [21.12].

A D VA N C e ► [ 3 1]

Infantry are the only unit type that may enter/exit melee during an Advance order.

Activated units may move a maximum of 1 hex. Guns/vehicles can pivot once (before, after or instead of advancing). MPs are ignored. Friendly Command may accompany advancing units. Units with a hit marker attached containing a circled M can’t advance or pivot.

A S S A u lT ► [ 3 2 ] ► – ► O p F i r e i s a l l o w e d ( s e e b o t t o m o f p a g e)

Vehicles are the only unit type that may enter/exit melee during an Assault order.

Activated units have their printed Speed halved. Activated units spend MPs as if for a Move order. Each activated unit may fire once by spend-ing 1 MP, suffering –1D (unless in melee). Friendly Command may accompany assaulting units.

A S S e T ► [ 3 3 ]

Play up to one Asset order from your hand.

F I R e ► [ 3 4 ]

Units with a hit marker attached containing a circled F can’t fire. Units with a hit marker attached containing a circled M can’t pivot.

D I R e C T: ► Activated units may each make one fire attack outside their own hex. See the Player Aid for detailed procedure.

M e l e e : ► Activated units may each make one fire attack at a unit in their own hex. See the Melee Tables for detailed procedure.

R e T u R N ► F I R e ► [ 3 4 . 3 ]

Inactive player only: Up to one unspent unit may Return Fire at an activated unit that just completed its Fire order. Lose 2 Initiative to Return Fire with a unit that is Out of Command; lose 1 Initiative to Return Fire with a unit under Tactical Command; units under Mission Command Return Fire for free. If either attack die is less than or equal to the Return Firing unit’s ROF, place a Spent marker on it. Remove all Spent markers at the end of the order.

M o V e ► [ 3 5 ] ► – ► O p F i r e i s a l l o w e d ( s e e b o t t o m o f p a g e)

Guns are the only unit type that may enter/exit melee during a Move order.

Activated units move from hex to hex, expending MPs as they go. Friendly Command may accompany moving units. Units with a hit marker attached containing a circled M can’t expend MPs.

R A l ly ► [ 3 6 ]

Attempt to remove hit markers from activated units. Rolls greater than or equal to a hit marker’s rally number are successful. A failed attempt with a red-colored rally number eliminates the unit, otherwise a fail has no effect.

Start with 2d10: –2D if rallying unit is in melee; +1D if stacked with a friendly Command; +1D if rallying unit has Cover of 1 or more.

S N I P e R ► [ 3 7 ]

Flip the Sniper marker so that your side is face up. Then perform any one order that lies below your side’s Sniper order.

S u P P o R T ► [ 3 8 ]

Draw X asset cards (as indicated on the Order Matrix).

o P P o R T u N I T y ► (o P ) ► F I R e ► [ 3 5 . 6 ]

Inactive player only: Any number of unspent units may Op Fire – one at a time – at an activated unit(s) that just expended one or more MPs during a Move or Assault order. Lose 2 Initiative to Op Fire with a unit that is Out of Command; lose 1 Initiative to Op Fire with a unit under Tactical Command; units under Mission Command Op Fire for free. If either attack die is less than or equal to the Op Firing unit’s ROF, place a Spent marker on it. Remove all Spent markers at the end of the order.