Panzer: Game Expansion Set, Nr 3 – Drive to the Rhine: The Second Front 1944-45

This 3rd Panzer expansion set includes the most significant US and British forces that saw action on the Western front in 1944 up until the end of the war in 1945. Also included are the German units that fought against their relentless advances from Normandy, across Italy, breaching the Siegfried Line, and finally pushing in to the German Fatherland.

The playbook includes rules for special units, new optional rules, 10 scenarios and Unit summaries for the US, British and German units. The TO&Es booklet includes details for the US, British and German forces covering the period from 1944 through 1945, including the US eavy and light Armored Divisions, British Armoured Divisions, in both Western Europe and Italian configurations, and Infantry and Airborne Divisions. German forces include Panzer Lehr, the 101st SS Heavy Tank Battalion (Michael Wittmann commanded its second company) and two independent Panzer Brigades.

Finally, this expansion includes the next 4 double-sided geomorphic mapboards (8 mapboards total), modeling the terrain found in the close confines of the French boscage country and many other features as the Allied forces push into the heart of Germany. Add these 4 geomorphic mapboards to the 6 geomorphic mapboards from Expansions 1 & 2 for added play and many possible battle combinations.

In order to play this expansion only the Panzer base game is required. Ownership of Expansions 1 & 2 is not required to field the German forces, they are all included here. However, this expands on those German units included in the first two expansions, no unit IDs are duplicated. Combine the German units from all three expansions to create customized scenarios on either the Western or Eastern Front.

Included Panzer Exp3 units:
German: 2cm FlaK 38, 2cm Vierling Zgkw 8t, 3.7cm PaK 36, 7.5cm PaK 40, 8.8cm FlaK 36, 15cm sIG, Brummbar, Elefant, Flakpanzer 38(t), Grille 33, Grille 33/1, Hetzer, Jagdpanther, Jagdpanzer IV, Jagdpanzer IV/70, Jagdtiger, Limber, Marder II, Marder III, Mobelwagon, Nashorn, Ostwind, PSW 222, PSW 231, PSW 233, PSW 234/1, PSW 234/2 Puma, PSW 234/3, PSW 234/4, PSW II Luchs, Pz 38(t) Aufklarer, Pz IIF, Pz IIIJ, Pz IIIN, Pz IVH, Pz IVJ, Pz V Panther, Pz VIB Tiger II, Pz VIE Tiger I, SdKfz 7, SdKfz 10, SdKfz 11, SPW 250/1, SPW 250/10, SPW 250/7, SPW 250/8, SPW 250/9, SPW 251/1, SPW 251/2, SPW 251/9, SPW 251/10, SPW 251/17, SPW 251/22, STuG IIIF, STuG IIIG, STuG IV, Wirbelwind, Trucks; Leg units
US: 12.7mm AAMG, 37mm M1A1, 37mm M3A1, 3-in. M5, 57mm M1, Jeep, M10 GMC, M16 MGMC, M18 GMC, M20, M21 MMC, M24 Chaffee, M26 Pershing, M3 GMC, M36 GMC, M3A1, M4A1, M4A1 MMC, M4A1(76)W, M4A3(105) HMC, M4A3(75)W, M4A3(76)W, M4A3E2(75)W, M4A3E2(76)W, M4A3E8(76)W, M55 Quadmount, M5A1 Stuart, M8 Grayhound, M8 HMC, Trucks; Leg units
US fliers: P-38L, P-47D
British: 75mm SP Autocar, Achilles IC, AEC Mk. III, Archer, AS.51 Horsa, CG-4A Waco, Challenger, Churchill Crocodile, Churchill VII, Churchill VIII CS, Comet, Cromwell IV, Cromwell VI CS, Cromwell VII, Cromwell VIII CS, Crusader AA, Daimler Mk. I, Humber Mk. III, Humber Mk. IV, Humber SC, Kangaroo, Loyd Carrier, M5 APC, OQF 17-pdr, OQF 40mm Mk. III, OQF 6-pdr, Sherman Firefly, Sherman IB, Sherman IIA, Sherman V, Staghound AA, Staghound Mk. I, Staghound Mk. II, Stuart V, Universal Carrier, Valentine XI, White Scout Car, Wolverine, Trucks; Leg units
British fliers: Mosquito Mk. VI, Typhoon Mk. 1B

New Optional Rules
• Morale Vehicle Bailout
• Road/Path Movement [Expanded]
• Removing of Spot Counters (now part of the Optional rules book in the Base game)
• Staggered Initiative (now part of the Optional rules book in the Base game)
• Recon Unit Capabilities [Expanded]
• Airborne Operations – Paratroops & Gliders
• Bocage Country – new rules for hedgerows expanding the possibilities for the West Front.
• Artillery Air Bursts
• Dismounted FOs
• Delayed Reaction
• Vehicle Assault Cover

Box contents:

• 5 full-color countersheets
• 4 double-sided 10" x 27" geomorphic mapboards (8 mapboards total)
• 65 two-sided Unit Data Cards
• TO&E Book
• 1 Reference & Scenario Book

Scenarios [10 included]
• Chance Encounter: Vehicle only scenario pitting the US VII Corps against the German 7th Army in the twisting network of hedgerows that dominated Normandy, August 1944.
• Higher Ground: Vehicle only scenario of a clash between the British 7th Armoured Division against the German Panzer Lehr Division around Caen, June 1944.
• Operation Tonga: Canadian 1st Parachute Battalion in action on D-Day. Features parachute landings and nighttime limited visibility. A real challenge for both forces with multiple objectives.
• The Village: Historical scenario with dedicated map of the US 4th Armored Division in action at Singling against the 11th Panzer Division, December 1944.
• Hell on Wheels: The US 2nd Armored Division in action against Panzer Lehr, July 1944, in the tight hedgerow country.
• Among the Hedgerows: The US 3rd Armored and 30th Infantry Divisions in action amongst the hedgerows against the 2nd Panzer Division, August 1944.
• Villers-Bocage, Morning: Historical scenario with dedicated maps of the British 7th Armoured Division in action at Villers-Bocage against the 2nd Company, s.SS-Panzer Abteilung 101 under the command of Michael Wittmann, June 1944.
• Villers-Bocage, Afternoon: Historical scenario with dedicated maps of the British 7th Armoured Division in action at Villers-Bocage against Panzer Lehr and the 1st Company, s.SS-Panzer Abteilung 101, June 1944.
• Out of the Mist: The US 4th Armored Division in action against the 11th Panzer Division, September 1944. Features limited visibility with variable effects.
• Glorious Goodwood: The British Guards Armoured Division runs headlong into the German 21st Panzer Division and the 503rd Heavy Tank Battalion with its dreaded Tiger II tanks, July 1944.