The World War II Tank Skirmish Game the Fearsome German Panther
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The World War II Tank Skirmish Game The fearsome German Panther World War II saw the tank come of age. Tanks like the American Sherman and the Soviet T-34 were produced in the tens of thousands. Others, like the German Panther, were far fewer, but their sheer muscle often overcame the odds against them. In the Battles of El Alamein, Kursk, Normandy, and the Ardennes, these tanks clashed to determine the fate of the world. the UBIQUITOUS AmerIcan Sherman Through the pouring rain, you can just What is TANKS? Written by: make out the smoke billowing from your TANKS is an easy-to-learn, quick- Andrew Haught, platoon commander’s tank. You are next play, small-scale game, where you take Chris Townley, in command. command of a tank platoon, seeking Phil Yates As if on cue, the radio buzzes. Corporal to destroy your opponent’s tanks and Editors: Stevens, always the cautious one, wants secure victory. TANKS is a flexible game to retreat and regroup. with lots of ways to create a finely-tuned Peter Simunovich, John-Paul Brisigotti But you know this is your time to strike. army that fits your play style. The enemy thinks they’ve got you on the The game is fast and furious, do-or- Graphic Design: run, got you cornered. It’s time to show die. In half an hour, you can pick your Sean Goodison them what happens when you poke at the tanks and crew, upgrade them to your hornet’s nest. specifications, defeat your enemy (or die Miniatures Design: It’s time to lead your men to victory! trying), and be ready for the rematch! Evan Allen, Tim Adcock, Will Jayne CONTENTS Cover Art: Vincent Wai Tank Heroes of WWII 2 Command Phase 14 Turn Sequence 4 Keyword Reference 14 Miniatures Painting: Components 4 Building your Platoon 15 James Brown, Game Set Up 6 Missions 16 Aaron Mathie Movement 7 Assembly 18 Playtesters: James Brown, Terrain 8 Your first Game 20 Casey Davies, Shooting 9 Quick Reference 22 Kit Goldsbury, Sean Goodison, All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval Patrick Gribble, system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission Sean Ireland, of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than Mitch Kemmis, that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the Daniel Linder, subsequent purchaser. Damian Reid, Rob Sadler, © Copyright Battlefront Miniatures Ltd. All rights reserved. Wayne Turner, ISBN: 978-1-9408258-7-8 Gavin van Rossum Proof-readers: Gary Martin, Michael McSwiney, Luke Parsonage, Gregg Siter, Stephen Smith 1 TANK HEROES OF WWII Shortly after D-Day, now in command of GERMAN a Tiger tank, he almost single-handedly, The legendary Michael Wittmann is stopped an entire British armoured the most recognised tank ace of World division, destroying dozens of tanks in War II. After a short stint in Poland the process. His single-handed attack commanding an armoured car, he saved the elite Panzer Lehr Division took command of a Sturmgeschütz from being cut off and wiped out. For assault gun for the Russian Campaign. this feat, he was awarded the Swords for There his talent for knocking out tanks his Knight’s Cross. became obvious. Panzer IV Panther minutes with just a handful of shots. BRITISH One of his victims may have been During Operation Totalize, the breakout Germany’s top ace, Michael Wittmann. after D-Day, Joe Ekins fought his first Later that day he added a Panzer IV to and only battle as a Sherman Firefly his tally. For Joe Ekins one day behind gunner. During the battle Ekins knocked a 17 pdr gun was enough to prove his out three Tiger tanks in less than twelve status as an ace gunner. Sherman Firefly Comet Sherman (76mm) Sherman (75mm) 2 Sherman (75mm) The first tank they rode into combat was AMERICAN a Sherman tank named ‘In the Mood’. Golden Gloves boxer and tank command- During Pool’s tour in combat he had er, Lafayette Pool’s combat career was so three tanks of that name shot out from successful that many historians consider under him. him to be not just the greatest tank ace of Staff Sergeant Pool left Europe with the World War II, but the greatest tank ace Distinguished Service Cross, Legion ever—destroying 258 enemy vehicles of Merit, a Silver Star, and a Purple and twelve tanks (most of them dreaded Heart—as well as 17 bits of shrapnel German Panthers). His tank crew called in his neck, and an artificial leg. In him ‘War Daddy’ and he called them 1946 he re-joined the army to train a his ‘Pups’. new generation of tankers. Sherman (76mm) Pershing fearless driver, manoeuvring her tank like SOVIET a veteran. In several engagements enemy When the Germans killed her soldier shells damaged the tracks and halted husband, Mariya Oktyabrskaya sold all her T-34. Mariya, often disregarding her possessions to donate a tank to the orders not to, would jump out of the Red Army. She had one condition, that tank while under fire and effect repairs she got to drive it. Stalin quickly agreed to get back into action as fast as possible. to Mariya’s simple demand. In August 1944, after leading the Mariya arrived at her unit in a T-34 way in dozens of battles, Mariya was tank emblazoned with the turret slogan posthumously awarded the Hero of the ‘Fighting Girlfriend’. Mariya quickly Soviet Union—the Red Army’s highest distinguished herself as a skilled and award for military valour. T-34/85 SU-100 Panzer IV Panzer IV StuG G 3 TURN SEQUENCE During the game players will play 2. Shooting Phase through a number of turns until one This is when your tanks get to shoot. player achieves victory. Each turn Players will shoot with each of their consists of three Phases: tanks in Initiative order starting with the 1. Movement Phase highest Initiative moving on to the lowest Initiative. This is when your tanks move. Players will move each of their tanks in Initiative 3. Command Phase order starting with the lowest Initiative In this phase you will mark destroyed tanks moving on to the highest Initiative. tanks, repair special damage, check for victory conditions, shuffle the Critical card deck, and clear all the Speed tokens. COMPONENTS Tank Cards Crew and Upgrade Cards Tank cards are easy reference cards that You can use Crew and Upgrade cards you can use to keep track of your tank’s to modify your tank. These are usually stats and the damage they have taken. hidden until used for the first time. TANK CARDS Country Point Value This identifies the country Tank Name This is how much the card costs to add it to that fielded this tank. This is the name of your army. the tank. Keywords These keywords tell you what rules apply to your Initiative tank. This determines the order in which tanks Damage Capacity move and shoot This shows how much during the turn. damage this tank can sustain. This is shown as a number and with Attack Damage Points that can be marked with a dry- This shows how many erase marker. dice you roll each turn when shooting. Crew Slots You can add one Crew Card to your tank for Defence each Crew Slot. This shows how many defence dice you roll Tank Description when shot at. This text describes the tank. 4 Critical Cards Measuring Arrow These cards are used when a tank scores The Measuring Arrow is used for many a Critical Hit. Tasks in TANKS. Including terrain set up, mission setup, movement and Tokens checking for short range shooting. These tokens are used to mark Objectives and to keep track of each tank’s condition. CREW AND UPGRADES Point Cost This is how much the card costs to Card Name add it to your army. This is printed This is the name of the on the back of the upgrade card as Upgrade or Crew card. well. Card Effect Country This tells you what the card This identifies which country can does during the game. use this card. Card Type Hero A tank is limited to one Hero cards are marked with a Upgrade or Crew card of medal. You may not have multiple each type. copies of a Hero card in your force. CRITICAL CARDS Card Name This is the name of the Critical card. Damage Effect Special Effect Some Critical cards do damage. Some Critical cards have additional and lasting effects on the target. Repairable Some Critical cards with Special effects are Repairable, these are repaired during the Command Phase. TOKENS Speed Damaged or Destroyed Objectives Tank Identification These numbered tokens Place these tokens to indicate These tokens are These paired tokens can indicate how many times which tanks have been damaged used during certain be used in bigger games to a tank moved this turn. or destroyed this game. missions (see page 17). keep track of which card belongs to which tank. MEASURING ARROW The tail shows how far The a tank can move. The whole template is used Head for other measurements. The Tail 5 GAME SET UP Attackers will gain Table Setup Deployment the upper hand when TANKS is played on a 3’x3’ or 90cm x The Defender now chooses a table side their opponent’s army 90cm table. Both players start the game to deploy from.