Living Rules - GMT Games

Ardennes ‘44 : The Battle of the Bulge — SECOND EDITION 

 

2 N D E D I T I O N 

RULE BOOK 

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S 

1. Introduction.................................................................. 2 

2. Game Pieces................................................................. 2 

3. The Map....................................................................... 3 

4. Sequence of Play Outline............................................. 3 

5. The Artillery Supply Phase.......................................... 4 

6. The Fuel Shortage Phase.............................................. 4 

7. Building and Blowing Bridges..................................... 4 

8. Stacking........................................................................ 5 

9. Zones of Control.......................................................... 6 

10. ZOC Bonds.................................................................. 6 

11. Basic Rules of Movement............................................ 7 

12. Strategic Movement and Truck Markers...................... 8 

13. Reinforcements, Entry Hexes, Off Map Boxes 

and Blocking Positions ............................................... 9 

14. Basic Rules of Combat............................................... 10 

15. Combat Modifiers...................................................... 10 

16. Combat Results.......................................................... 11 

17. Retreats...................................................................... 13 

18. Disruption, Broken and Rally.................................... 13 

19. Advance After Combat.............................................. 14 

20. Disengagement and Removing Engaged Markers............. 15 

21. Tank and Recon Units................................................ 15 

22. Artillery Units............................................................ 16 

23. Supply and Surrender................................................. 17 

24. Traffic Markers and Bottleneck Hexes...................... 18 

25. Night Turns and Replacements.................................. 19 

26. Breakdown Units....................................................... 19 

27. Special Units.............................................................. 20 

28. Weather...................................................................... 21 

29. Turn 1 Special Rules.................................................. 21 

30. How to Win................................................................ 22 

31. Scenarios.................................................................... 22 

OPTIONAL RULES 

32. Fuel Dumps................................................................ 23 

33. Roadblocks................................................................. 23 

Patton’s Counterattack Scenario........................................ 24 

Player’s Notes & Bibliography.......................................... 28 

Designer’s Notes................................................................ 29 

Extended Example of Play................................................ 33 

Counter Scans.................................................................... 41 

Optional Units................................................................... 43 

Reinforcement Schedule.................................................... 44 

Index.................................................................................. 47 

Expanded Sequence of Play.............................................. 48 

© 2012 GMT Games, LLC


1. INTRODUCTION 

“All Hitler wants me to do is to cross a river, capture Brussels, and 

then go on and take Antwerp! And all this in the worst time of the 

year through the Ardennes, where the snow is waist deep and there 

isn’t room to deploy four tanks abreast, let alone armored divisions! 

Where it doesn’t get light until eight and it’s dark again at four and 

with reformed divisions made up chiefly of kids and sick old men—and 

at Christmas!” 

—Sepp Dietrich 

GMT’s Ardennes ‘44 is a two-player game depicting Hitler’s surprise 

attack in the Ardennes during 1944. The standard game covers the 

period from December 16th to the 26th when the German attack still 

had a chance to cross the Meuse, but an extended version is provided 

that takes the game till December 30th. Three shorter scenarios are 

included which cover the initial stages of the German attack and the 

attack of the US 3rd Army in its attempt to relieve Bastogne. 

> = Indicates a significant change from the 1st Edition 

1.1 Game Scale 

Each game-turn represents approximately 8 hours of real time. Each 

map hex represents about 1.6 miles (2.6 kilometers). Units represent 

battalions, regiments and brigades. 

1.2 Inventory 

A complete game of Ardennes ‘44 includes the following: 

2 map sheets (each 22 x 34 inches) 

3 sets of counters (570 pieces total) 

2 Player Aid Cards 

1 Rules Booklet 

1 die 

2. GAME PIECES 

2.1 How to Read the Combat Units 

Unit Size (2.3) 

Unit I.D. (2.5) 

4th Div/8th Regt/2nd Bn 

Attack 

Factor 

TQ (Tank Quality) (2.9) 

Gray = Tank 

Red = Tank Destroyer or Assault 

Gun (subtract one from the 

TQ rating when attacking) 

Range 

(22.4) 

S = Column 

Shift 

Attack 

Factor 

Defense 

Factor* 

Infantry Unit 

Defense 

Factor 

Tank Unit 

Defense 

Factor 

Artillery Unit 

Front 

Movement 

Allowance 

*Defense Factors in 

parenthesis indicates 

unit may not receive 

DCBs (15.1) 

Arrival Info (2.6) 

Stacking Value (8.2) 

Unit Type (2.4) 

Movement 

Allowance 

Set-up Info (2.7) 

Morale Box (2.8) 

Movement 

Allowance 

Back 

© 2012 GMT Games, LLC 

2.2 Attack, Defense and Movement Factors 

These numbers indicate how well the unit can attack, defend and 

move. These factors will be further explained in the appropriate rule 

section. 

2.3 Unit Sizes 

X = Brigade III = Regiment II = Battalion 

TF = Task Force Gp = Group XXX = Corps 

Sq = Squadron CC = Combat Command I = Company 

(–) = less elements (+) = with added elements 

2.4 Unit Types 

All ground combat units belong to one of two basic categories: mechanized 

or non-mechanized (important for movement purposes). The 

following is a list of the different unit types: 

M4 Sherman 

M5 Stuart 

M10 TD 

M18 TD 

M36 TD 

Sherman Firefly 

Churchill 

Pzkw IV 

Pzkw V (Panther) 

Pzkw VI (Tiger) 

Pzkw VI (King Tiger) 

StuG III 

Hetzer 

Jpz IV 

Jpz V (Hunting Panther) 

Jpz VI (Hunting Tiger) 

Sturmtiger 

Brummbär 

Armor (NATO symbol) 

Recon (aka Mechanized Cavalry) 

FLAK (Anti-Aircraft) 

Artillery 

Artillery 

Nebelwerfer (Rockets) Units 

Mechanized Infantry/Panzergrenadiers (PzG) 

Motorized Infantry 

Infantry 

Parachute Infantry 

Glider Infantry 

Mountain Infantry 

Combat Engineers 

Fortress Infantry 

Non- 

Mechanized 

Type 

Infantry Type 

Units 

TANK UNITS: Tank Units come in two types: silhouetted or with a 

NATO symbol. The NATO symbol represents a mixed force of tanks 

and infantry. A silhouetted Tank Unit represents a battalion of armored 

vehicles with little or no infantry support. A summary of silhouetted 

Tank Unit properties can be found on the player aid card. 

Tank Units 

Mechanized Type 

These units have their own column on the TEC, may use the 

Road Bonus in Advance After Combat and may use Strategic 

Movement. They may not use Extended Movement. 

Vehicle Type Units 

These units may not cross unbridged river hexsides 

or enter Forest hexes except along roads

ARTILLERY UNITS: Artillery and Nebelwerfer units are collectively 

called Artillery Units. 


2.5 Unit I.D. 

The divisional IDs are printed first and in bold for easy recognition— it 

is the only ID number that is relevant in game play. The second number 

is the regimental number, and the third (if any) is the battalion ID. 

2.6 Arrival Information 

Indicates the turn the unit arrives and the Entry Hex it arrives at. 

2.7 Set Up Information 

A white box indicates an at-start unit. A red box indicates an at-start 

unit with movement restrictions (see 29.1). Allied units list the hex 

the unit starts in, while German units have the Corps they belong to 

at the start of the game. 

2.8 Morale Box 

All units are either Elite, Veteran or Green. A red box around the Defense 

Factor (DF) means the unit is Elite, a white box around the DF 

means the unit is Green, and no box means Veteran. Morale is used 

for Fire Fights (16.2), Determined Defense (16.7), Disengagements 

(20.2), and Surrender Checks (23.7). 

2.9 TQ (Tank Quality) 

A general rating given to Tank Units. The higher the better. Used to 

determine Armor Shifts (21.1). TQs in red indicate a Tank Destroyer 

or Assault Gun (21.2). 

2.10 Color Schemes 

The colors used to identify the combat units are: 

GREEN: U.S. Army 

GRAY: 

German Army 

DARK GRAY: Waffen SS 

TAN: 

British Army 

BLUE GRAY: Fallschirmjäger 

2.11 Army/Corps Identification Colors: Every combat unit is color 

coded to the army or corps they originally started the campaign with. 

German identification colors are used for Prime Movers (22.3), Army 

Boundaries (11.10), and the “West Map” result on the Fuel Shortage 

Tables (6.4). Both players use the colors for Artillery Support restrictions 

(22.6). 

GERMAN: 

Red: Dietrich’s 6th Panzer Army 

Gray: Manteuffel’s 5th Panzer Army 

Blue: Brandenberger’s 7th Army 

Green: Operation Nordwind units (Optional) 

ALLIED: 

Purple: 

Burgundy: 

Orange: 

Beige: 

Blue: 

Red: 

BOTH: 

Yellow: 

White: 

Middleton’s VIII Corps 

Gerow’s V Corps 

Patton’s 3rd Army (Milikin’s III & Eddy’s XII Corps) 

Collin’s VII Corps 

Ridgeway’s XVIII Airborne Corps 

Horrock’s XXX Corps (British) 

Army level troops (US) or Remnants 

Breakdown units 

2.12 Game Markers 

The game also includes a variety of markers that are used to help facilitate 

play of the game. Their use is explained through the rules. 

3. THE MAP 

The map shows the area in the Ardennes and Eifel where the Battle of 

the Bulge was fought. 

3.1 Setup 

Place the maps so the East Map overlays the West Map. Players may 

sit on any side they wish. Marker holding boxes are provided along 

the edge of the map for players who wish to keep these markers handy 

and organized. 

3.2 Entry Hexes and Blocking Positions 

Entry Hexes are indicated by a star for Allied units or a balkenkreuz 

for German units. Connected to each Entry Hex on the East Map is a 

Blocking Position box to hold Allied units that are abstractly blocking 

German movement down that particular road. 

3.3 Rivers That 

Flow Through 

Hexes 

Ignore rivers that flow 

through the middle of 

a town (such as at Malmédy) 

or in the middle 

of a Wooded Rough 

hex. The importance of the 

river as a movement barrier 

See this Think this 

and defensive terrain has been mitigated by the other terrain. 

4. SEQUENCE OF PLAY OUTLINE 

Each game-turn consists of a German Player Turn followed by an 

Allied Player Turn. The sequence of each game-turn must be strictly 

followed. 

A. GERMAN PLAYER TURN 

1. The Artillery Supply Phase 

2. The Fuel Shortage Phase (German Turn only) 

3. The Bridge Phase 

4. The Movement Phase 

5. The Rally Phase 

6. The Combat Phase 

7. The Traffic Marker Phase 

8. The Supply and Surrender Phase 

9. The Victory Check Phase (Allied Turn only) 

PLAY NOTE: Night Turns follow a different and much shorter sequence 

(25.1). 

B. ALLIED PLAYER TURN 

The Allied Player Turn is identical to the German Player Turn (switching 

the term German for Allied), except the Allied player has a Victory 

Check Phase and no Fuel Shortage Phase. 

C. END TURN 

Record the completion of a game-turn by advancing the Game Turn 

marker one box. 

 



5. THE ARTILLERY SUPPLY PHASE 

5.1 In General 

During this phase the phasing player flips over a number of his Artillery 

Units from their Fired side to their Ready side. If it is the German Turn, 

the German player should remove all his Prime Mover markers from 

the map in order to take stock of these important markers and better 

view his Artillery Units (see 22.3). 

5.2 Artillery Supply Procedure 

Artillery supply may not be accumulated—those not used are lost. 

The number of Artillery Units each side may flip over each friendly 

Artillery Supply Phase is: 

GERMAN: 3 per turn. On Turn 2 (only) the German player may flip 

over six (5.4). 

ALLIED: All units may flip 

5.3 Artillery Supply Restrictions 

Artillery Units that are Disrupted (18.2), out of supply (23.4), or using 

Strategic Movement (Allied only [12.1]), may not be flipped to 

their Ready side. Artillery Units in an EZOC or Engaged (16.5) may 

be flipped. 

5.4 Turn 2 Special Artillery Supply 

To reflect the accumulation of supply for the offensive, the German 

player may flip six Artillery Units to their Ready side on Turn 2 (16 

PM). 

6. THE FUEL SHORTAGE PHASE 

6.1 Procedure 

Only the German player checks for fuel shortage and only on or after 

Turn 7 (19 AM). Fuel Shortage is checked using the Fuel Shortage 

Tables. Roll once for each table. If the result indicates a division (the 

Führer Begleit and the Führer Grenadier brigades are considered 

divisions for this rule), then all units in that division are considered 

out of supply and suffer all the penalties of that status (see 23.4). The 

result often gives a choice of two divisions; the German player may 

choose either one. 

DESIGN NOTE: Units marked OOS for Fuel Shortage can have the 

marker removed in the Supply and Surrender Phase (at the end of the 

German player’s turn) if they can trace a Line of Supply. 

6.2 Fuel Shortage Die Roll Modifier 

Starting on Turn 15 (23 AM) the German player must modify his die 

roll by +1 to account for Allied bombing of the rail net west of the 

Rhine. 

6.3 Fuel Shortage and Reinforcements 

If fuel shortage targets a division that is arriving as a reinforcement that 

turn, it arrives in an unsupplied state (it may move a maximum of two 

hexes). If only one of the formations listed has arrived, the German 

player must select the one that is on the map. If neither division has 

arrived the result is treated as a “No Fuel Shortage” result. 

> 6.4 Any Division Results 

If the result says “West Map” the Allied player, instead of the German 

player, selects the German division to be subject to fuel shortage. He 

must pick a division belonging to the appropriate army (5 PzA or 6 

PzA). Only the units of that division that are on the West Map at that 

moment are affected. If the result says “Any one Pz Div in 5th PzA” 

then the Allied player can pick any one panzer division in the 5th Pz 

Army on the East or West Map. 


7. BUILDING AND BLOWING 

BRIDGES 

7.1 The Bridge Phase 

During this phase the phasing player may destroy or rebuild bridges. 

7.2 Bridge Demolition in General 

Both players may destroy (or the colloquial “blow”) 

bridges. Bridge demolition occurs in the friendly Bridge 

Phase or during your opponent’s Combat Phase. Only 

one attempt on each bridge is allowed per player turn. Supply has no 

effect on blowing bridges. 

7.3 Bridge Demolition in a Friendly Bridge Phase 

You may only attempt to blow a bridge during your turn if an enemy 

unit is within one hex of that bridge (please see the example below). 

Bridge demolition requires that you have a friendly combat unit within 

one hex of the bridge hexside. The one-hex range may be traced through 

EZOCs, but not through enemy units or into or across an enemy ZOC 

Bond (see example). Roll one die and consult the Bridge Demolition 

Table. If the result is “Blown” the bridge is destroyed and a Blown 

Bridge marker is placed. 

7.4 Bridge Demolition in the Combat Phase 

Bridge blowing is allowed during your opponent’s Combat Phase 

whenever an enemy unit is about to attack across the bridge hexside. 

NOTE: Successful demolition of a bridge during a Combat Phase will: 

• Prevent any Tank Unit that is attacking across the bridge from gaining 

the Armor Shift (21.3). 

• Prevent any Vehicle Type Unit from being used as the Lead Unit in 

a Fire Fight (16.2). 

• Prevent Vehicle Type Units from Advancing After Combat across 

the river hexside (19.2). 

• Allow the attacker the opportunity to cancel the attack (14.4). 

7.5 Bridge Demolition Modifiers (cumulative) 

+1 If the attempt is made during your opponent’s Combat Phase. 

+2 If the friendly unit conducting the demolition is either Disrupted 

or Engaged. 

EXAMPLE: It is the Bridge Phase of the Allied player turn. The 

American player selects the unit shown to blow as many bridges 

as possible. The bridges marked A may not be blown because they 

are not within one hex of an Allied unit. The bridges marked B 

may not be blown because the 1-hex range may not enter or cross 

an enemy ZOC Bond or a hex containing an enemy unit. All other 

bridges may be blown by the Allied unit on a die roll of 1–4.


 

7.6 Effects of Blown Bridges 

Players must treat a blown bridge as an unbridged river hexside. 

7.7 Demolition Restriction 

• FIRST DAY: No bridge blowing is allowed on Turns 1 and 2 (16 

AM & PM) (including the first Night Turn) with the exception of 

the Ouren bridge (7.8). 

• > STRATEGIC MOVEMENT: Units using Strategic Movement, 

Trucks or Prime Movers may not blow bridges. 

• RIVERS THROUGH TOWNS: When a river flows through the 

middle of a town hex (example Clervaux and Houffalize), no demolition 

is possible in that hex (see 3.3). 

7.8 The Ouren Bridge (E2119) 

DESIGN NOTE: The bridge near Ouren actually represents two weak 

bridges. These were crucial to the advance of the 116th Panzer Division 

which, upon reaching the bridges on the second day of the offensive, 

found the bridges inadequate for tanks and heavy equipment. In this 

game there is a chance one of the bridges is adequate. 

The first time the German player attempts to move, attack or advance 

across the Ouren bridge with a combat unit the Allied player rolls a 

die. On a die roll of 1-4 the bridge is considered destroyed (and a 

Blown Bridge marker is placed). On a die roll of 5 or 6 the bridge is 

considered normal and remains intact. This special die roll occurs only 

once: if the bridge is blown and later rebuilt it is considered a normal 

bridge in all respects; if the bridge remains intact it can be blown like 

all other bridges starting on Turn 3 (17 AM). 

7.9 Rebuilding Bridges 

Bridges may be rebuilt by either player at original bridge 

sites. To build a bridge the following two conditions are 

necessary: 

• Both hexes tangent to the bridge hexside must be clear of enemy 

units and either be: a) occupied by friendly units, or b) clear of 

enemy Zones of Control (9.1). 

• A Supply Path using roads only (23.3) must be possible from at least 

one of the hexes tangent to the bridge hexside. 

DESIGN NOTE: If there are no enemy units projecting a ZOC on the 

construction site, then a friendly unit is not physically needed in the 

hex to repair a bridge. 

PROCEDURE: Bridge construction is conducted in a two-part process. 

In the first friendly Bridge Phase that the two conditions above are 

satisfied, the Blown Bridge marker is flipped to it’s Under Construction 

side. In the next friendly Bridge Phase, if the two conditions above are 

still met, the Blown Bridge marker is removed and the bridge may be 

used normally that turn. (If the conditions are not met in the second 

Bridge Phase, the Under Construction marker must be flipped back 

to its Blown side.) 

7.10 The Dasburg (E2115) and Gemünd (E2013) Bridges 

The construction of these two bridges was planned weeks before the 

offensive and each had an engineer battalion and bridging equipment 

committed to its construction, which allowed these two bridges to be 

completed quickly (approximately by 4 PM on the 16th). Therefore, 

these two bridges are considered completed in the German Bridge 

Phase of Turn 2 (16 PM). If either bridge is later blown, then reconstruction 

occurs normally. 

PLAY NOTE: It may be helpful to flip the Dasburg and Gemünd Blown 

Bridge markers to their Under Construction sides on Turn 1, to serve 

as a visual reminder that they are removed during the Bridge Phase 

on Turn 2. 

8. STACKING 

8.1 Stacking Limits 

Stacking occurs when multiple units are in one hex. The stacking limit 

for both sides is 3 Stacking Points. Markers have no Stacking Point 

value and may freely stack in a hex without limit. 

> 8.2 Stacking Points 

Each Stacking Point represents approximately a battalion, so a 3- 

battalion regiment would have a Stacking Point value of 3 while a 

2-battalion regiment would have a Stacking Point value of 2. Stacking 

Points are indicated on all non-Silhouetted Tank Units by the number 

in the small black box to the right of the unit-type symbol. 

FREE STACKING UNITS: All Silhouetted Tank Units and all Artillery 

Units have no Stacking Point value and can stack in a hex for free 

under the following conditions: 

• No more than one Artillery Unit per hex. 

• No more than two Silhouetted Tank steps per hex. 

NOTE: For ease of identification, all 2-step Tank Units have a defense 

factor of 3 or 4. All 1-step Tank Units have a defense factor of 2 or 

1. 

8.3 Stacking Restrictions 

The stacking limit can never be voluntarily exceeded except during 

the course of movement and after a retreat. The stacking limit must 

be strictly observed at the completion of movement, Retreat or an 

Advance After Combat (19.1). The owning player must correct all 

stacking violations at these times by eliminating enough units from 

the hex to satisfy the stacking limit. 

8.4 Allied Cooperation 

British and American units may stack and defend together in the same 

hex, but may not participate in the same attack (27.3). 

EXAMPLES OF STACKING: 

3 Stacking Points of infantry 

and the 2-step Silhouetted 

Tank Unit stacks for 

free (8.2). 

0 Stacking Points = The 

Silhouetted Tank Unit and 

the Artillery Unit have no 

stacking value. 

3 Stacking Points of mechanized infantry 

and the Silhouetted Tank Unit stacks for 

free (8.2). 

3 Stacking points plus two 1-step Silhouetted 

Tank Units. 



9. ZONES OF CONTROL (ZOC) 

9.1 General Rule 

The six hexes immediately surrounding a hex occupied by one or more 

combat units constitute the Zone of Control (ZOC) of those units. All 

combat units exert a ZOC (even Disrupted units [18.3], and Artillery 

Units). Multiple Enemy ZOCs give no additional effect. A hex can 

have friendly ZOCs and Enemy ZOCs simultaneously. 

9.2 ZOCs and Movement 

Units must stop upon entering an enemy Zone of Control (EZOC). 

Units that start their movement in an EZOC may move away. It costs 

all units one additional Movement Point (+1 MP) to exit an EZOC. It 

costs no additional movement points to enter an EZOC. 

9.3 ZOC to ZOC Movement 

A unit that starts its move in an EZOC may move directly into another 

EZOC (and stop) of the same or different enemy unit as long as it does 

not cross or enter a ZOC Bond (10.2). 

9.4 ZOCs and Silhouetted Tank Units 

ZOCs from Silhouetted Tank Units do not extend into or out of a 

Wooded Rough hex except along a road (any type). 

9.5 Other Effects of ZOCs 

• EZOCs and Retreats: see 17.1, 17.2 

• EZOCs and Advances: see 19.3 

• EZOCs and Supply Paths: see 23.3 

10.3 ZOC Bonds and Terrain 

A ZOC Bond cannot extend ACROSS two river hexsides or two 

Wooded Rough hexsides or any combination of those two. A ZOC 

Bond can extend along a Wooded Rough hexside as long as that 

hexside does not join two Wooded Rough hexes. A ZOC Bond may 

extend across a Lake hexside. 

EXAMPLES: ZOC Bonds that are not possible are shown with a dashed 

line. Legal ZOC Bonds are shown with a solid line. 

10. ZOC BONDS 


> When two friendly non-Artillery Units are two hexes apart (with 

one vacant intervening hex), they create a bond between them that no 

enemy unit may enter or cross. (Artillery Units have ZOCs but may 

not form ZOC Bonds.) Due to the pattern of a hex grid, there are two 

types of ZOC Bonds—Hex Bonds and Hexside Bonds. 

10.2 Effects of ZOC Bonds: 

• Units may not enter an enemy Hex Bond or cross an enemy Hexside 

Bond during the Movement Phase. 

• Units forced to Retreat into an enemy Hex Bond or across an enemy 

Hexside Bond are eliminated (17.2). 

• Supply can never be traced into an enemy Hex Bond or across an 

enemy Hexside Bond. 

Silhoutted Tank Units in a Wooded Rough hex never form ZOC Bonds; 

they may, however, form ZOC Bonds with non-Silhouetted Tank Units 

in such hexes. Roads leading in and out of the Wooded Rough hex 

have no effect on this restriction. 

10.4 Negating ZOC Bonds 

A Hexside Bond is negated when enemy units are located on each 

side of the intervening hexside (as with units D and E in the diagram 

below). A Hex Bond is negated when the intervening hex contains an 

enemy unit (as with units E and F in the same diagram). 

10.5 Intersecting ZOC Bonds 

If both players have intersecting ZOC Bonds, then neither player may 

cross the other’s ZOC Bond until it is negated. 

10.6 ZOC Bonds With the Map Edge 

A unit can form a ZOC Hexside Bond with the map edge, but not a 

ZOC Hex Bond. 

EXAMPLES OF ZOC BONDS: Black lines indicate friendly ZOC 

Bonds, red lines indicate enemy ZOC Bonds. Dashed lines indicate 

negated ZOC Bonds (D-E and E-F). Note that Units F and G still have 

a ZOC Bond even though it is intersected by the enemy ZOC Bonds. 

Also note how Unit H has Hexside Bonds with the map edge. 



11. BASIC RULES OF MOVEMENT 

11.1 The Movement Procedure 

During the Movement Phase the phasing player may move all, some, 

or none of his combat units. Each unit has a Movement Allowance 

(MA) that is the maximum number of Movement Points (MPs) it may 

expend for movement during the Movement Phase and still be able to 

attack in the Combat Phase. Each hex entered costs a certain number 

of MPs to enter as determined on the Terrain Effects Chart (TEC). You 

must complete the movement of one unit (or stack) before starting to 

move another. 

11.2 Extended Movement 

Non-Mechanized units may use Extended Movement to increase their 

Movement Allowance by 2 MPs. Mechanized Type units may not use 

Extended Movement (Mechanized units have Strategic Movement). 

Units that use Extended Movement may not end their move adjacent 

to an enemy unit (even if the hex is not in an EZOC). However, a unit 

may start adjacent to an enemy unit and use Extended Movement. 

11.3 Tactical Movement 

Any unit with a MA of 2 or more, may ignore all MP cost (for terrain, 

EZOCs, etc.) and move up to two hexes, this is called Tactical Movement. 

Units that use Tactical Movement may attack normally in the 

following Combat Phase. Units that use Tactical Movement must still 

stop upon entering an EZOC, may not cross enemy ZOC Bonds and 

may not enter or cross prohibited terrain (example: Vehicle Type units 

and non-road Forest hexes). 

DELAY MARKERS: Traffic markers, Roadblocks (rule 33.0) and 

St-Vith Bottleneck hexes (24.7) are ignored when using Tactical 

Movement. 

11.4 Movement and Rivers 

RIVERS: Vehicle Type units (see 2.4) may not cross an unbridged river 

hexside—they must use bridges. Infantry Type units may only cross 

if they start adjacent to the river hexside and use Tactical Movement 

(move a maximum of two hexes). Infantry Type units may not cross 

two unbridged river hexsides in the same Movement Phase. 

THE MEUSE: Is treated as a regular river for movement and combat 

purposes. However, units are eliminated if they Retreat across the 

Meuse (17.2). 

11.5 West Wall and Forest Hexes 

Vehicle Type Units may only enter and exit West Wall and Forest hexes 

if following the path of a road. 

See this 

Think this 

 

EXAMPLE: The numbers indicate how many MPs each hex costs to 

enter (before the Ground Freeze [28.1]). Unit A moves 6 MPs. Unit B 

uses Extended Movement to increase its MA to 5 (11.2). Unit C may 

not cross the river hexside because it didn’t start adjacent to it (11.4). 

Unit D must use Tactical Movement to cross an unbridged river hexside 

(11.4). Unit E uses Tactical Movement because it would cost 8 MPs 

otherwise (+1 MP to exit an EZOC, 4 MPs for the Forest hex and 3 

MPs for the Light Woods). Unit F cannot enter the Wooded Rough hex 


because it did not start adjacent to it (11.6). Unit G has to pay 4 MPs 

for the Forest Road with a Traffic marker (24.2). Unit H must stop after 

one hex because it enters an EZOC (9.2). Unit I takes advantage of 

the Wooded Rough hexes canceling the enemy ZOC Bond (10.3). Note 

that Unit I can only enter Forest and Wooded Rough hexes along roads 

(11.5). Units J and K must use Tactical Movement to cross a non-road 

Wooded Rough hexside (11.6). Unit K may not cross a non-road Wooded 

Rough hexsides plus an unbridged river hexside.


11.6 Wooded Rough (Dark Green) Hexsides 

Wooded Rough represents a small wooded valley with a river or stream 

running through the middle of the hex. 

Crossing a non-road dark green hexside is the same as crossing an 

unbridged river hexside. Vehicle Type units may not cross. Infantry 

Type units may only cross if they start adjacent to the Wooded Rough 

hexside and use Tactical Movement (move a maximum of two hexes). 

Infantry Type units may not cross two non-road Wooded Rough hexsides 

in the same Movement Phase. 

11.7 Road Movement 

A unit that follows the path of a road when it moves may use the reduced 

rate of the road. The road rate may be used when moving into 

or out of an enemy ZOC. 

11.8 Forest Roads 

Secondary Roads in Forest or Wooded Rough hexes that don’t share 

the hex with a Primary Road are called Forest Roads. Forest Roads 

are indicated with a dashed line. This type of Secondary road cost 2 

MPs for Mechanized units and may not be used for the Road Bonus 

in Advance After Combat (19.1). 

11.9 Exiting the Map 

Allied units may exit the map through the south, west or north map 

edge. An Allied unit that exits the map is placed in the Off Map Box 

associated with that map edge (southwest, southeast, west, northwest 

or northeast). The MP cost to exit the map from a map edge hex is 

always 1 MP. German units may never enter Off Map Boxes, and may 

only exit the map to fulfill their victory conditions. No unit from either 

side may exit the east edge. See 13.1–13.8 for additional details on 

Off Map Boxes. 

> TO ANTWERP: German units that exit the map through any F 

or G Entry Hex to fulfill their victory conditions are placed in the 

Antwerp Box. German units must exit via an Entry Hex, they may 

not exit between two Entry Hexes. They may not re-enter the map 

after exiting. Once a German unit uses an Allied Entry Hex to exit 

the map, that particular hex is no longer available as an Entry Hex 

for Allied units. 

> RETREAT OFF MAP: An Allied unit that retreats off the map is 

placed in the appropriate Off Map Box. If the retreat called for the 

unit to become Disrupted or Broken, then it must be marked as such. 

A Disrupted or Broken unit may not exit an Off Map Box until it 

Rallies (18.5). 

11.10 Army Boundaries 

MOVEMENT RESTRICTION: German units may not cross the Army 

Boundary Lines before Turn 5 (18 AM). Army Boundary Line restrictions 

are removed at the start of Turn 5. The boundary lines do not 

extend beyond the hexes marked on the map—so German units that 

move west of the boundary lines may move in any direction. 

EFFECTS ON COMBAT: German units may attack across army 

boundaries but may not Advance After Combat across them. If a German 

unit is forced to retreat across an Army Boundary Line it may not 

Rally (18.5) until it has recrossed the boundary line or until Turn 5. 

Army Boundaries have no affect on ZOCs or ZOC Bonds. 


12. STRATEGIC MOVEMENT AND 

TRUCK MARKERS 

12.1 Strategic Movement in General 

Mechanized units (including Allied Artillery Units) may 

use Strategic Movement to double their MA. Strategic 

Movement is not available to German non-Mechanized 

units, German Artillery Units (22.3), Disrupted units, or units that are 

out of supply. Non-Mechanized Allied units may use Strategic Movement 

if they are assigned Trucks (12.6). Units using Strategic Movement 

must move entirely along roads (all types). Reinforcements entering the 

map may arrive using Strategic Movement. 

EXAMPLE: A Cavalry Squadron (MA=7) in Strategic Movement could 

move 28 hexes along a primary road. 

12.2 Restrictions 

Units that use Strategic Movement may start stacked with other units 

but are under the following restrictions: 

• > May not start their move adjacent to an enemy unit or at any time 

move adjacent to an enemy unit. 

• May not end their move stacked with any unit. 

• > May not blow bridges or build Improved Positions. 

• May not end their move adjacent to another unit that bears a Strategic 

Movement or Truck marker. If the unit is adjacent but on a different 

road, then it is not considered adjacent for this rule. 

> 12.3 Strategic Movement and Traffic Markers 

Units using Strategic Movement may enter and pass through St-Vith 

Bottleneck hexes (24.7), hexes containing a Traffic marker (24.1), or 

a Roadblock (33.0) by paying the additional movement cost. 

12.4 Strategic Movement (SM) Markers 

The number of units that may use Strategic Movement in a single 

Movement Phase is strictly limited to the number of SM markers available 

to each side (6 for the German player, 10 for the Allied player). 

Place a SM marker on every unit (including Reinforcements) that 

used Strategic Movement. Units that are part of the same regiment or 

brigade may stack together during Strategic Movement and use only 

one SM marker. For example, the 106/424(-) and the 106/424/1 would 

require only one Truck marker if stacked together. 

12.5 Strategic Movement and Combat 

Units attacked with an SM marker receive no Defensive Combat 

Bonuses (15.1) and provide the attacker with one shift right on the 

CRT. TQ ratings and ZOCs are unaffected by SM. If forced to retreat 

or become Engaged, the SM marker is removed. 

12.6 Truck Markers 

(12.61) Allied non-Mechanized units must be assigned 

trucks to use Strategic Movement. A non-Mechanized 

unit moving in trucks is identical to a Mechanized unit 

using Strategic Movement—trucks are SM markers. An 

Allied non-Mechanized unit may be assigned trucks if it starts its 

Movement Phase on a road (any type) and is not adjacent to an enemy 

unit, or it is currently in an Off Map Box. A unit must expend its entire 

MA to load up on trucks (i.e., the first turn it may not move). 

Exception: Allied non-Mechanized reinforcements may enter the map 

in trucks—they do not need to spend their first turn loading. 

Truck markers are printed on the back of SM markers. This means that 

for every infantry unit trucked, one less Allied Mechanized unit can 

use Strategic Movement.


 

12.62 TRUCK PROPERTIES: Allied non-Mechanized units trucked 

receive 12 MPs and move at the rate of Mechanized units. Units in 

trucks are considered to be using Strategic Movement and must abide 

by all the rules of Strategic Movement. However, do not double the 

12 MPs, the movement rate has already been adjusted for Strategic 

Movement. 

EXAMPLE: A non-Mechanized unit being transported in a truck could 

move 24 hexes along a primary road. 

12.7 Removing SM and Truck Markers 

If a unit uses a SM or Truck marker then the marker must remain on 

the unit until the next friendly Movement Phase, unless it is removed 

in one of the following cases: 

• In the next friendly Movement Phase if the unit will not be using 

Strategic Movement or the Truck marker that phase. The marker is 

immediately available for use with other units. 

• The unit suffers an engaged result or is forced to retreat. 

13. REINFORCEMENTS, ENTRY 

HEXES, OFF MAP BOXES AND 

BLOCKING POSITIONS 

13.1 Reinforcements 

Reinforcements receive their full MA on their turn of entry and enter 

play during the Movement Phase by paying the terrain cost (the road 

rate) of the first hex entered. Reinforcements must enter through Entry 

Hexes, they may not enter through hexes between two Entry Hexes. 

Reinforcements may enter the map by moving into an enemy ZOC 

but must stop and move no farther. Reinforcements may use Strategic 

Movement on the turn of entry. Allied non-Mechanized reinforcements 

may enter the map in trucks if Truck markers are available. In lieu of 

entering the map, a reinforcement may be placed in the Off Map Box 

or a Blocking Position associated with the unit’s Entry Hex. 

EXAMPLE: The American 4/8/2 infantry battalion scheduled to arrive 

on Turn 3 may either enter the map at Entry Hex A or B, be placed in 

the Allied Southeast Off Map Box, or placed in a Blocking Position 

for Entry Hexes A or B. (Moving to the Blocking Position only makes 

sense if Entry Hex A or B is German occupied [13.4].) 

13.2 US Engineer Reinforcements 

American Engineer units do not arrive from off map. On their turn of 

arrival the Allied player may place them in friendly controlled town 

or city hexes (no villages) outside of all EZOCs, with no more than 

one in each town/city hex—one may be placed in each of the two Bastogne 

hexes for a total of two. They may exceed stacking limits upon 

placement. They may not be placed in towns or city hexes containing 

enemy Roadblocks (rule 33). 

MOVEMENT RESTRICTION: American Engineer units may move 

only in Tactical Movement on the turn they arrive. 

DESIGN NOTE: During the panic of the first three days the US mobilized 

the corps and army engineer battalions in the area to fight as 

infantry. 

13.3 Artillery Reinforcements 

All Artillery Units arrive on their Fired side. 

13.4 German Capture of Entry Hexes 

If a German unit occupies an Entry Hex then no Allied reinforcement 

scheduled to enter through that Entry Hex or any Entry Hex in that 

“sector” can enter the map until the German threat is “blocked.” A 

Sector is defined as the Off Map Box and all Entry Hexes associated 

with that Off Map Box. Furthermore, no unit in that sector may move 

to a different Off Map box. 

BLOCKING: German units on an Entry hex present a threat to the 

Allied player beyond the map. To block this threat, an Allied unit with 

a Defense Factor of at least 6 (or two or more units with a combined 

Defense Factor of at least 6) must be moved to the Blocking Position 

Box associated with that Entry Hex. See 13.1 and 13.5 on how to move 

to a Blocking Position. 

EXAMPLE: Say the Germans have a unit in Entry Hex A. This means 

that no US reinforcements can enter the map through either Entry 

Hexes A, B or C until the Allied player places unit(s) with at least 

6 Defense Factors in the Blocking Position for Entry Hex A. It also 

means units in the Allied Southeast Off Map Box may not move to the 

Allied Southwest Box either. 

DESIGN NOTE: It is extremely important that the Allied player holds 

his flanks. If he cannot do it, he will have his reinforcements pulled 

from him to do it. 

13.5 Movement from an Off Map Box 

Units that start their move in an Off Map Box may: 

• Remain in place. 

• Move to any Blocking Position associated with that Off Map Box. 

• Enter the map through any Entry Hex associated with that Off Map 

Box.* The unit may use its full MA (13.1). 

• Move to an adjacent Off Map Box.* 

13.6 Movement from a Blocking Position 

Units that start their move in a Blocking Position may: 

• Remain in place or move back to the Off Map Box. 

• Enter the map through the Entry Hex connected to that Blocking 

Position (if the Entry Hex is free of enemy units).* The unit may 

use its full MA (13.1). 

*Only allowed if all captured Entry Hexes in that sector are blocked. 

13.7 Properties of Entry Boxes and Blocking Positions 

• No stacking limits 

• German units cannot attack into these boxes. 

• ZOCs do not extend into or out of. 

13.8 Allied Attacks onto the Map 

Allied units in a Blocking Position may attack onto the map during the 

Allied Combat Phase. The number of Allied units that may attack an 

Entry Hex from a Blocking Position is limited to what the Allied player 

could normally stack in two hexes (6 Stacking Points plus 4 steps of 

Silhouetted Tank Units). Air Support and Artillery on its Ready side 

(22.5) in the Blocking Position or from the sector’s Off Map Box can 

be utilized. All rules of combat apply. 

RESTRICTION: An attack onto the map is only allowed if all German-occupied 

Entry Hexes in that sector are blocked (have at least 6 

Allied Defense Factors assigned to them). In other words, you can’t 

attack onto the map until your flanks are covered. 

FAILED ATTACKS: If the Allied attack onto the map does not succeed 

in removing the defender from the hex, the attackers remain in 

the Blocking Position. 

SUCCESSFUL ATTACKS: If the attack succeeds in removing the 

defender from the hex, all participating units may Advance After 

Combat—the first hex of the advance must be the Entry Hex. Any 

units that do not or could not advance (due to stacking restrictions) 

must remain in the Blocking Position. 


10 Ardennes ‘44 : The Battle of the Bulge — SECOND EDITION 

14. BASIC RULES OF COMBAT 


Phasing units may attack adjacent enemy units in the Combat Phase. 

Attacking is voluntary; no unit is forced to attack. No unit may attack 

or be attacked more than once per Combat Phase (exception: Breakthrough 

Combat [19.4]). All defending units in a hex must be attacked 

as one combined defense strength. The attacker may conduct his attacks 

in any order and need not predesignate them. 

14.2 Multi-Hex Combat 

• The attacker may attack only one hex at a time; he may not target 

two hexes in a single combat. 

• Units in the same hex may attack adjacent defenders in different 

hexes as long as each attack is conducted separately. 

• No unit may split its attack strength to attack a second hex in a 

separate attack. 

NOTE: Unlike some other game systems, attacking units are not required 

to attack all adjacent defending units. 

14.3 Command and Control Restrictions 

> (14.31) Two Formation Limit: The attacker may have a maximum of 

two different Formations participate in each attack. All units belonging 

to the same Division, Brigade, or Cavalry Group count as one Formation. 

Each Independent unit (those without an ID in bold) counts as 

one Formation unless attached (see below). Artillery is not restricted 

by this rule, but is subject to the Army/Corps ID limitations (22.6). 

(14.32) Attachments: Each Formation may have one unit (Independent 

or from another formation) temporary attached to it by simply 

stacking with one of the units of that Formation. When attached they 

are considered part of that Formation for rule 14.31. 

In this example Lehr’s Panther battalion is attached to the 2nd Panzer 

Division, Lehr’s Recon battalion is attached to the 26th VG Division 

and the 705th TD is attached to the 101st Division. 

14.4 Combat Procedure 

Follow these steps for each combat: 

STEP 1: The defender may roll for bridge demolition before the attack 

takes place (7.4). If the bridge is blown the attacker may cancel 

the attack. 

STEP 2: Compare the combined attack strength of the participating 

attacking units against the total defense strength (plus Defensive Combat 

Bonuses [15.1]) of the involved defending units and express the 

comparison as a numerical odds ratio (attacker to defender). Round off 

this odds ratio downward to conform to one of the odds ratio categories 

found on the CRT. Example, a 15 to 4 would be a 3-1. 

STEP 3: The attacker, followed by the defender, declares whether he 

will use Artillery Support (22.6) and, if so, which Artillery Units are 

providing the support. The Allied player (only) also places his Air 

Support units (15.6) at this time (on or after Turn 15 [23 AM]). 

STEP 4: If this is a German attack during Clear Weather (on or after 

23 AM), then the Allied player rolls on the Jabos Table (15.6). 

STEP 5: After taking column shifts into account, the die is rolled and 

the results are implemented. Players immediately remove any step 

losses (16.3), and perform Retreats (17.1), Determined Defense (16.7), 

Advance After Combat (19.1), and Breakthrough Combat (19.4). 


14.5 Minimum and Maximum Odds 

Combat at odds less than 1-3 is resolved on the 1-3 column. Combat 

at odds greater than 7-1 is resolved on the 7-1 column. Attacker and 

defender column shifts are applied before the minimum and maximum 

restriction. Example, 9-1 odds with one shift left would use the 7-1 

column. 

15. COMBAT MODIFIERS 

15.1 Defensive Combat Bonuses (DCBs) 

Instead of column shifts for terrain the defender receives Defensive 

Combat Bonuses (DCBs). These are strength point additions to the hex 

(not per unit). Refer to the Terrain Effects Chart (TEC) for a complete 

list of DCBs. A defender can receive only one DCB—always use the 

most favorable to the defender. 

EXAMPLE: A 6-6-3 infantry regiment in a town hex (+3) would have 

a defense strength of 9. 

RESTRICTIONS: 

• > The DCB can never exceed the combined defense strength of the 

defender’s stack. Example, a 2-2-3 infantry battalion in a city hex 

(+4) would receive only 2 DCBs—not 4. 

• Due to their lack of infantry support, a stack consisting of only 

silhouetted Tank Units is restricted to a maximum DCB of 1. 

• Units with a Defense Factor in parenthesis do not receive DCBs. 

• Units using Strategic Movement do not receive DCBs (12.5). 

15.2 The Halving Rule 

When halving, always halve by individual unit—not stack, and round 

any fractions up to the next higher whole number. 

EXAMPLE: Two units with an attack factor of 5 would have a combined 

strength of 6 after halving (3 + 3 = 6). 

IMPORTANT: An attacking unit may never have its attack strength 

halved more than once for a given attack. 

15.3 Rivers 

Combat units attacking across a River hexside (including the Meuse), 

have their attack factor halved. NOTE: An intact bridge allows a Tank 

Unit to gain an Armor Shift (21.3) but does not cancel the halving of 

its Attack Factor. 

15.4 Vehicle Units and Combat 

Vehicle Units have their Attack Factor halved if attacking across a 

hexside that they normally could not move across (Wooded Rough 

hexsides, West Wall hexsides, unbridged river hexsides, Forest hexsides, 

etc.). 

15.5 Wooded Rough and Height Advantage 

Combat units attacking out of a Wooded Rough hex or from one 

Wooded Rough hex to another, have their Attack Factor halved. Units 

are not halved attacking into a Wooded Rough hex from a non-Wooded 

Rough hex (this is called Height Advantage). A Vehicle Unit must attack 

along a road to get Height Advantage (due to 15.4). 

DESIGN NOTE: Think of a unit in a Wooded Rough hex as being in 

a small valley. If it attacks up and out of the valley it is halved. If it is 

attacked from above, the attacker is not halved. A Wooded Rough hex 

is not necessarily a good defensive position in this game. 

RIVERS & WOODED ROUGH HEXES: Always ignore rivers inside 

Wooded Rough hexes—the Wooded Rough hexside benefit takes account 

of the river. Exception: Units attacking into a Wooded Rough 

hex across a hexside containing a bridge (blown or intact) are always 

halved (see 15.3).


11 

See this 

A 

Down 

Think this 

EXAMPLE: Unit A would be halved attacking into any of the six 

surrounding hexes no matter what type of unit it was. The PzG 

regiment is an Infantry Type unit so is not halved attacking into hex 

C or D, the tank battalion is a Vehicle Unit so is halved attacking 

into hex E because it could not legally enter the hex. 

15.6 Allied Air Support 

Starting on Turn 15 (23 AM) the Allied player receives Air Support. 

OFFENSIVE AIR SUPPORT: During the Allied player turn, the Allied 

player uses Ground Support markers to indicate which attacks will 

receive air support. The Allied player determines the number of Air 

Support markers available that turn by rolling a die (any time during 

his Movement Phase) and halving the result (round fractions up). For 

example, a die roll of 5 would result in three Air Support markers. Each 

marker provides a favorable shift of one column to the right on the CRT. 

A maximum of one marker may be used in each combat. Air Support 

markers may not be accumulated and any not used are forfeited. The 

markers are removed after the combat is resolved. 

DEFENSIVE AIR SUPPORT: During the German player turn, Allied 

Air Support is random and is determined by a die roll on the Jabos 

Table immediately before each attack is conducted (but after artillery 

commitment). The result on the Jabos Table indicates column shifts 

to the left. Defensive Air Support is applied to all German attacks and 

is not tied into the number of Allied Air Support markers. 

NIGHT: No Air Support is allowed during a Night Turn. 

15.7 West Wall 

Only German units may benefit from the +3 DCB for the West Wall 

(the movement restrictions of 11.5 apply to both players). Allied Vehicle 

Units attacking into a West Wall hex have their Attack Factor 

halved. 

15.8 Improved Positions 

COMBAT EFFECTS: Units defending in a hex with an 

Improved Position (IP) receive a DCB of +2 (see below 

for exceptions). Units currently using Strategic Movement, 

and units with their Defense Factor in parenthesis receive no 

benefit from IPs. The restriction of +1 DCB for Silhouetted Tank Units 

(15.1) also applies in Improved Positions. 

Up 

Up 

Down 

Up 

Down 

Up 

Down 

Down 

Up 

Down 

Down 

Up 

Up 

Important: The +2 DCB is used in lieu of the terrain DCB—it is not 

cumulative. Building an IP in a Village, Town or City hex has no effect 

since those hexes already have a DCB value of 2 or more. 

HOW TO BUILD: Both sides may build IPs. IPs may be 

built in any hex except those containing a city, town or 

village. Any non-Disrupted, non-engaged, Infantry Type 

unit that is in supply and not using Strategic Movement 

may build an IP. Construction is a two-part process—an eligible unit 

that does not move in its Movement Phase may begin to build an IP. 

Place an IP Under Construction marker in the hex at that time. It may 

not attack in the following Combat Phase. If the unit is still there in 

the next friendly Movement Phase and is not Disrupted or Engaged, 

it may complete the IP (flip the marker over). The unit may move in 

the same Movement Phase that it completes the IP. 

DELAYED CONSTRUCTION: An IP construction marker that cannot 

be completed (see above) can remain in the hex and be completed in a 

later turn (including by a different friendly unit). Once an IP is begun, 

the only way to remove it is to dislodge all defenders from the hex. 

REMOVING IPs: At the end of each Movement Phase remove any 

IPs left vacant. During the Combat Phase remove IPs immediately if 

the occupants are eliminated or forced to retreat. 

15.9 Miscellaneous Modifiers 

• Units attacked while in Strategic Movement give the attacker one 

shift right (12.5) 

• Tank Units may provide an Armor Shift (21.1) 

• Artillery provides shifts on the CRT. Both the attacker and the defender 

may use artillery (22.6) 

• Out of Supply Shift (23.4) 

16. COMBAT RESULTS 

16.1 Explanation of Combat Results 

The words “attacker” and “defender” refer only to the units participating 

in the combat in question—not to the general strategic situation. 

D1* = Defender loses 1 step. Surviving defenders must Retreat 4 

hexes and become Broken. No Determined Defense is possible (16.7). 

The attacker receives the Bonus Advance (19.1) and Breakthrough 

Combat (19.4). 

> DR4 = The defender must Retreat four hexes and becomes Broken. 

No Determined Defense is possible (16.7). The attacker receives the 

Bonus Advance (19.1). 

DR3 = The defender must Retreat three hexes and becomes Broken. 

No Determined Defense is possible (16.7). The attacker receives the 

Bonus Advance (19.1). 

DR2 = The defender must Retreat two hexes and becomes Disrupted. 

The attacker receives a Regular Advance. 

FF = FIRE FIGHT: The attacker may either take this as an ENG result, 

or immediately roll again on the Fire Fight Table (16.2). 

FF (+1) = Same as FF except the attacker must modify his Fire Fight 

die roll by +1. 

EX = Each side loses 1 step (see 16.3). The surviving defenders are 

Engaged. No Retreat or Disruption. If the defender had only 1 step, 

then the attacker receives a Limited Advance (19.1). 

Eng = No Retreat or Advance. Place an Engaged marker on the defending 

stack (16.5). 

A1/Eng = Same as Eng except one attacking unit loses one step. 



A1 = One of the attacking units lose one step. 

*asterisk = A reminder that the attacker receives Breakthrough Combat 

(19.4). 

16.2 Fire Fight Table 

This table is only used when a Fire Fight result occurs on the CRT and 

the attacker wishes to “push forward.” The attacker must first determine 

the Lead Unit. If the attacker has only one unit involved, that unit is the 

“Lead Unit.” If the attacker has two or more units that participated in 

the attack then the attacker picks one unit as his Lead Unit. The Lead 

Unit determines any die roll modifiers and will be the unit to suffer a 

step loss if one is called for. Only a unit that can legally advance into 

the defender’s hex can be designated as a Lead Unit—if the attacker 

has no such unit then he may not use the Fire Fight Table. 

EXAMPLE: A Tank Unit may not be selected as a Lead Unit when 

attacking across an unbridged river hexside. 

DIE ROLL MODIFIERS: 

+1 Lead Unit is Green. 

–1 > Lead Unit is Elite. If the defender has a Tank Unit in the hex, 

then the Elite unit selected must be a Tank Unit. 

EXAMPLE: The 4th Armored Division is attacking towards Bastogne. 

The Allied player rolls a FF result. He selects the CCR of the 4th 

Armored (an Elite Tank Unit) as his Lead Unit and declares to the 

German player he is pushing forward “with all guns blazing!” His 

modifier is –1 (for the Elite status). 

RESULTS FOUND ONLY ON THE FIRE FIGHT TABLE: 

D1 = The defender loses 1 step and surviving defenders must Retreat 

2 hexes and become Disrupted. The attacker receives the Regular 

Advance. 

A1/D1 = Both sides lose 1 step. The defender must Retreat 2 hexes and 

becomes Disrupted. The attacker receives the Regular Advance. 

A1/DR2 = The attacker loses 1 step. The defender must Retreat 2 hexes 

and becomes Disrupted. The attacker receives the Regular Advance. 

Eng+ = Same as Eng except the attacking units receive an Attacker’s 

Advantage marker (16.6). 

NOTE: If the Fire Fight result allows an Advance After Combat, all 

units in the original combat may advance—not just the Lead Unit. 

16.3 Selecting Step Losses 

The owning player always selects which unit suffers the step loss. On 

an EX result, the owning player must select a Tank Unit for the step 

loss if he had an Armor Shift in his favor in that combat. The selected 

Tank Unit must be one that qualified for the shift. 

FIRE FIGHTS: The Lead Unit always takes the step loss if one is 

called for on the Fire Fight Table (16.2). 

16.4 Indicating Step Losses 

Flipping a unit over indicates the unit has suffered a step loss. If it is 

a one step unit, or the unit is already flipped, then it is placed in the 

Dead Pile. 

REMNANTS: Any unit with a Stacking Point value of 

2 on its reduced side (also indicated with a thin stripe) 

forms a remnant unit when it takes its second step loss. 

Remove the unit and replace it with a remnant of the 

same type. The remnant must abide by any retreats or disruptions of 

the CRT result. All remnants are considered Independent units. If there 

is no remnant available when a 3-step unit takes a second step loss, 

then none is created (the player forfeits the step). 


16.5 Engaged Markers 

Engaged affects the defender only (the attacker does not 

have to refight an engaged battle in the next turn). Units 

that are engaged suffer the following effects: 

• may not move in the following Movement Phase, 

• may not begin construction of an Improved Position (15.8) 

• suffer a +2 DRM for bridge demolition (7.5). 

Those are the only effects of being Engaged. Engaged markers are 

removed in the owning player’s Combat Phase (20.5). 

16.6 Attacker’s Advantage Markers 

This marker is applied in an Eng+ result—place it on one 

of the attacking stacks or units pointing to the defender’s 

hex. The marker provides a favorable column shift if the 

stack/unit attacks the same hex again in the following turn (by itself 

or with other units). 

REMOVAL: The Attacker’s Advantage marker is removed in the 

following cases: 

• After resolving the second attack (unless another Eng+ is rolled). 

• If the target hex is vacant of enemy units at the start of the owning 

player’s Combat Phase. 

• If all units originally under the marker exit the hex—it does not 

matter if other friendly units take their place. One or more units 

can exit the hex as long as at least one of the original attacking 

units remain. 

• The units in the hex containing the Attacker’s Advantage marker 

suffer a Retreat result (even if the Retreat result is cancelled by a 

successful Determined Defense [16.7]). 

16.7 Determined Defense 

A determined defense represents a counterattack or a hold-at-all-cost 

order. 

(16.71) PROCEDURE: The defender may attempt to cancel a 

Regular Advance (from the CRT or the Fire Fight Table) by using the 

Determined Defense Table—a Bonus Advance may not be cancelled. 

A successful result on this table will allow the unit or stack to ignore 

the retreat and the associated Disruption and the attacker’s advance is 

cancelled. If there are two or more units in the defending stack, then 

the defender picks one non-Disrupted unit as the Lead Unit; this unit 

determines any die roll modifiers and will be the unit to suffer the step 

loss if one is called for. If all units in the stack are Disrupted, then no 

Determined Defense is possible. 

NOTE: A successful Determined Defense does not cancel any step losses 

suffered—only the Retreat and Disruption portion of the result. 

(16.72) EXPLANATION OF RESULTS: 

• Yes: The Retreat is cancelled (along with the Disruption and the attacker’s 

advance). The defender is marked with an Engaged marker. 

• No: The counterattack or hold-at-all-cost order is not carried out 

or fails; the retreat result stays in effect. 

“Yes” and “No” results may be accompanied by: 

• –1 step: The Lead Unit suffers one step loss. 

• EX: The defender’s Lead Unit suffers one step loss and any one 

participating attacking unit (attacker’s choice) suffers a step loss. 

> (16.73) DIE ROLL MODIFIERS: 

+1 Lead Unit is Green. 

–1 Lead Unit is Elite. 

–? The DCB of the defender’s hex. If there are no Infantry-type units 

in the hex, a silhouetted Tank Unit is limited to a –1 DRM.


13 

EXAMPLE: The Allied player has an infantry battalion and a tank 

battalion in Clervaux and has just suffered a DR2 result. Instead of 

retreating he declares he is making a Determined Defense and selects 

the tank battalion as his Lead Unit. The Town provides a –3 modifier. 

He rolls a 4 which is modified to a 1 which gives a “Yes –1 step” result. 

The tank battalion is reduced one step and the retreat and disruption 

are cancelled. 

(16.74) Single Step Defenders: If the defender had only one step, and 

that step was lost in the Determined Defense, then the attacker may 

advance into the defender’s vacated hex (only) and stop (a Limited 

Advance). 

17. RETREATS 

17.1 Retreat Procedure 

The attacker never retreats, only the defender. When called upon to 

retreat by the CRT, defending units must be retreated the full number 

of hexes indicated without passing through the same hex twice. A stack 

of retreating units may retreat to different hexes. The owning player 

may determine the path, but must follow the guidelines below listed 

in order of priority: 

A. If possible, the retreat must end a number of hexes away from 

the battle hex equal to the number of hexes of the retreat result. 

B. EZOCs: If possible, avoid entering a vacant hex in an EZOC. If 

not possible, the first hex of a retreat may enter a vacant hex in 

an EZOC as long as the retreating unit does not cross or enter an 

enemy ZOC Bond. After that first hex, all other hexes in a retreat 

must be clear of enemy ZOCs! A friendly unit (one that did not 

retreat in the current combat) negates an EZOC in the hex it occupies 

for this purposes. 

C. If possible, a unit must end its retreat in Supply. 

D. ROADS: Vehicle Units must use roads as much as possible. 

CLARIFICATION: “If possible” means you can ignore it if its not 

possible. So retreating the full number of hexes from the battle hex 

is more important than avoiding enemy ZOCs in the first hex, and 

avoiding enemy ZOCs in the first hex is more important than retreating 

towards friendly supply, etc. 

17.2 Elimination due to a Retreat 

Units are eliminated if they retreat: 

• into a hex occupied by an enemy unit, 

• across or into an enemy ZOC Bond, 

• into a vacant hex in an enemy ZOC other than the first hex of their 

retreat, or 

• across a non-bridged Meuse River or Lake hexside, or 

• are unable to retreat the full number of hexes required. 

Additionally, Vehicle Units are eliminated if they retreat: 

• into or out of a Forest, West Wall or Wooded Rough hex unless 

through a road hexside 

• across a non-bridged river hexside. 

17.3 Unfulfilled Retreats 

If the defender does not retreat because it is eliminated, the attacker 

still receives his full Advance opportunity. 

> 17.4 Overstacking in a Retreat 

Overstacking is not allowed after a retreat. A player may avoid an 

overstacked situation by retreating the stack (or the units in excess 

of the stacking limit) additional hexes until a hex is reached where 

EXAMPLE OF RETREAT PATHS: There are two retreat paths for 

the tank unit (A and B). The hexes marked “No” are prohibited 

to the tank unit during this retreat. Priority must go to the path 

that avoids all EZOCs (Path B). 

stacking restrictions are not violated. Units retreated additional hexes 

become Broken if not already. If no such hex can be reached, then the 

units in excess of the stacking limit are eliminated (owning players 

choice but the units must come from those that retreated). 

17.5 Combat Against Previously Retreated Units 

If a unit or stack is retreated into a friendly occupied hex and that hex 

undergoes an attack in the same Combat Phase, the retreated units 

do not add their strength to the combat, and if required to retreat 

again are eliminated. 

17.6 Retreat Off the Map 

German units that retreat off any map edge, and Allied Units that retreat 

off the East Map edge are eliminated. Allied units that retreat off 

the South, West or North Map edge, are placed in the appropriate Off 

Map Box. They may reenter the map again after they Rally (18.5). 

17.7 Artillery and Retreats 

• Artillery Units that retreat must flip to their Fired side. 

• German Artillery Units without a Prime Mover marker are eliminated 

if forced to retreat. 

17.8 Retreating Units Bearing Engaged Markers 

Remove the Engaged marker from the retreating units and retreat 

normally. Note this can only happen if the unit was engaged in the 

Night Turn and attacked in the following AM turn. 

18. DISRUPTED, BROKEN AND RALLY 

> 18.1 In General 

When a good order unit (one that is neither Disrupted or Broken) retreats 

2 hexes it becomes Disrupted; when it must retreat 3 or 4 hexes 

it “breaks” and is considered Broken. A Broken unit suffers all the 

effects of Disruption plus some additional penalties (18.4). 

18.2 Effects of Disruption 

• May only use Tactical Movement and may not enter an EZOC. If 

the unit starts in an EZOC, it must move away if possible. 

• > If the defending stack contains one or more Disrupted units the 

attacker receives one shift right on the CRT. 

• May not attack or (if Artillery) provide support. Nor may they flip 

to their Ready side. 

• May not use Strategic Movement, Determined Defense, build IPs, 

receive Replacements (25.2), or perform Breakdown (26.2). 



• a Disrupted unit that suffers another 2 hex retreat becomes Broken. 

A Disrupted unit that Breaks is eliminated. 

NOTE: US Truck markers are immediately removed from a unit if 

it retreats. A Prime Mover marker remains on a Disrupted German 

Artillery Unit to indicate the unit may not fire. 

18.3 Abilities of Disrupted Units 

Disrupted units retain their ZOC, their full defense strength, their 

ability to form ZOC Bonds and can benefit from DCBs. 

> 18.4 Effects of Broken 

A Broken unit is considered Disrupted and all rules that apply to a 

Disrupted unit also applies to a Broken unit with the following two 

additional penalties: 

• a Broken unit that suffers any type of retreat is eliminated. 

• Recovery for a Broken unit is a 2-turn process. If it can recover (see 

18.5) its status is improved to Disrupted. Removal of the Disrupted 

marker must wait until the following turn per 18.5. 

PLAY NOTE: Think of Broken as a Level 2 Disruption. 

18.5 Rally Phase 

> During the Rally Phase, all friendly Disrupted or Broken units that 

are not adjacent to an enemy unit automatically recover one level—Disrupted 

units have their Disrupted marker removed and Broken units 

become Disrupted. If the Disrupted or Broken unit is adjacent to an 

enemy unit (remember, units must move out of an EZOC if possible) 

then recovery is determined by a die roll. On a die roll of 1–2 it recovers 

one level. On a die roll of 3–6 it does not recover. Modify the die roll 

by +1 if the unit is Green, and by –1 if the unit is Elite. 

NOTE: A German unit forced to retreat across an Army Boundary Line 

may not rally until it recrosses the Boundary Line. 

19.3 EZOCs and Advance 

ZOC BONDS: May never be entered or crossed during an Advance 

After Combat except when entering the defender’s vacated hex. 

EZOCs: Generally do not stop advances, but no unit may advance 

from one EZOC directly into another EZOC of the same enemy unit, 

except when entering the first hex of its advance. 

19.4 Breakthrough Combat 

If the CRT result is D1*, then the attacking units may attack again 

after advancing. This second combat is called Breakthrough Combat. 

Only one stack of units in the group may participate in this second 

attack, but you are allowed to form the stack (henceforth called the 

Breakthrough Group) during the advance. A mechanized Breakthrough 

Group may use its full advance and attack again; a non-mechanized 

Breakthrough Group, or a mix of both, may advance only one hex 

and attack again. 

PROCEDURE: The Breakthrough Group may not split up and attack 

two or more target hexes. Finish advancing units from the originating 

combat before conducting the Breakthrough Combat. The Breakthrough 

Combat must be conducted before the attacker conducts the 

next regular attack. Breakthrough Combat is resolved in the same manner 

as normal combat using all the same rules. Artillery on its Ready 

19. ADVANCE AFTER COMBAT 

19.1 Advance in General 

There are three types of Advances: Limited, Regular and Bonus. 

Artillery Units cannot Advance After Combat. 

LIMITED ADVANCE: This occurs when the defender is eliminated 

but was not required to retreat (in an EX result or a successful Determined 

Defense by a 1-step defender)—the attacker may only occupy 

the defender’s vacated hex. 

REGULAR ADVANCE: The attacker may advance one hex in any 

direction. 

BONUS ADVANCE: The attacker may advance two hexes in any 

direction. This occurs on a DR3, DR4 and a D1* result. 

ROAD BONUS: If a Mechanized unit follows the path of a primary 

and/or a secondary road throughout its advance, it may increase its 

advance rate by one hex. In this way a Mechanized unit could advance 

two hexes in a Regular Advance and three hexes in a Bonus Advance. 

Forest Roads may not be used in a Road Bonus. Traffic markers (24.2) 

and Roadblocks (33.0) have no effect on the Road Bonus. 

19.2 Terrain and Advance 

• No unit may advance into a hex or across a hexside that is prohibited 

to it in normal movement. 

• Infantry Type units may only advance into a Forest hex if it’s the first 

hex of the advance, or the unit enters the hex via a road. Vehicle Units 

may never enter such hexes unless following the path of a road. 

• Infantry Type units may only advance across a non-road Wooded 

Rough hexside or an unbridged river hexside if it is the first hex of 

their advance. Vehicle Units may never cross such hexsides. 


EXAMPLE OF A REGULAR ADVANCE: The defender’s vacated 

hex is indicated with dashed lines. The two German units can 

advance in any direction. The Mechanized unit may advance two 

hexes if it follows the path of the road. 

EXAMPLE OF A BONUS ADVANCE: Units may advance two 

hexes in any direction. The Mechanized unit may advance three 

hexes if following the path of a road. Note that the river may only 

be crossed, and the non-road Forest hex may only be entered, in 

the first hex of an advance. The 12/77 Gren VG regiment cannot 

advance into the hex marked “No” because it may not advance 

from one EZOC directly into another EZOC of the same enemy 

unit, except in the first hex of an Advance.


15 

side may be used (offensively and defensively). Units conducting 

Breakthrough Combat may Advance After Combat again if allowed 

by the CRT result. 

> MULTIPLE BREAKTHROUGH RESULTS: There is no limit to 

the number of times a Breakthrough Group can advance and attack 

again as long as each attack achieves a D1* result. 

DESIGN NOTE: This is a significant change from the 1st Edition. 

19.5 The Breakthrough Group Assisting Other Attacks 

If the Breakthrough Group advances adjacent to a defending hex 

which is about to be attacked by other friendly units, the Breakthrough 

Group may use their Breakthrough Combat option to add their strength 

to the combat and take part in that attack (if allowed by Command and 

Control [14.3]). If this happens, this attack must be resolved next. 

19.6 Supply and Advance 

Units currently Out of Supply may advance a maximum of one hex 

and may not conduct Breakthrough Combat. 

19.7 Friendly Units and Advance 

Stacking restrictions must be observed at the end of an Advance. 

Units may not end their advance in a hex containing a friendly unit in 

Strategic Movement. 

20. DISENGAGEMENT AND 

REMOVING ENGAGED MARKERS 


Units that are marked with an Engaged marker may not 

move in the Movement Phase—but they have a chance 

at moving in the Combat Phase using the Disengagement 

Table. During the friendly Combat Phase, before any combats 

are conducted, the phasing player conducts Disengagements. A unit 

may Disengage rather than attack—it may not do both. If successful, 

the unit is retreated one or two hexes by the owning player. 

Non-Disrupted units adjacent to an enemy unit may also use the 

Disengagement Table, not just engaged units (20.4). 

CLARIFICATION: Disrupted units that are Engaged must attempt 

Disengagement if a retreat path is open. 

20.2 Procedure 

Disengagement occurs on a unit-by-unit basis. Indicate which unit 

EXAMPLE: During the Movement Phase Unit A is moved to hex 

C—the unit must stop because it enters an enemy ZOC. Unit B 

cannot move in the Movement Phase because it is engaged. During 

the Combat Phase both units conduct Disengagement. Unit A is 

successful and is retreated one hex (it could have retreated two). 

Unit B is also successful and is retreated two hexes (although it 

could retreat just one hex). 

is attempting to Disengage and roll a die. For a stack of units the 

owning player must roll for each unit disengaging (announce before 

rolling which units will attempt to Disengage and which, if any, will 

remain). Apply any applicable DRMs and then find the result on the 

Disengagement Table. 

DIE ROLL MODIFIERS (cumulative): 

+1 Unit is Green 

–1 Unit is Elite 

–1 Tank or Recon Unit 

20.3 Explanation of Results 

No: Disengagement fails, the unit must remain in the hex. 

Yes: The unit must retreat one or two hexes abiding by the restrictions 

of 17.2 and 17.7. If the unit is not Disrupted it may stop 

in the first hex even if it is in an EZOC (however, it may not 

cross or enter an enemy ZOC Bond). 

D: The unit is Disrupted. If the result is a Yes +D, then the unit 

is Disrupted at the end of its retreat and is prohibited from 

stopping in the first hex if that hex is in an EZOC. 

20.4 Non-Engaged Units Disengaging 

Units that were not Engaged and using the Disengagement Table 

may not enter an EZOC during their retreat (they were allowed 

their ZOC to ZOC movement opportunity during the Movement 

Phase). If the unit has no other option but to retreat into an EZOC, 

it is eliminated. 

NOTE: A unit can move in the Movement Phase and conduct a Disengament 

in the Combat Phase. 

20.5 Removing Engaged Markers 

Remove Engaged markers from your units at the moment you decide 

whether the unit will Disengage or not. All Engaged markers come 

off the phasing player’s units during the Combat Phase. Engaged units 

that did not Disengage may attack in the Combat Phase. 

21. TANK AND RECON UNITS 

21.1 The Armor Shift 

ATTACKER: The attacker gains a column shift to the right on the CRT 

in the following two cases: 

• He has a Tank Unit participating in the battle and the defender does 

not, or 

• He has a Tank Unit participating in the battle that has a higher TQ 

rating than all the defender’s units. 

EXAMPLE: If a Tank Unit with a TQ rating of 4 attacks a Tank Unit 

with a TQ rating of 3, the attacker would receive a shift. 

DEFENDER: The attacker suffers a column shift left on the CRT if he 

does not have a Tank Unit participating in the battle and the defender 

has both Infantry Type units and a Tank Unit defending. For this rule, 

a US Combat Command, the British Guards Armored Brigades and the 

150th Pz Brigade satisfies both the infantry and armor requirement. 

EXAMPLE: If the attacker attacked a Combat Command with only 

infantry, the attacker would suffer one shift left. 

21.2 Red TQ Numbers 

> TQ ratings in a red circle must be reduced by one when the unit is 

attacking. The TQ rating is not reduced when the unit is defending. 

The German FLAK unit is not a Tank Unit and so cannot gain the 

Armor Shift—it can only prevent it. Its TQ number is in a red square 

as a reminder of this. 



21.3 Terrain Effects on the Armor Shift 

The attacker or defender can never earn the Armor Shift if the defender 

is in Forest, Wooded Rough, West Wall, or City hex. The attacker may 

not gain an Armor Shift from a Tank Unit that cannot legally cross 

the hexside into the defender’s hex, whether due to an unbridged 

river, or a non-road Forest/Wooded Rough hexside. 

NOTE: With the above in mind, its possible to get the Armor Shift attacking 

across a river hexside at an intact bridge, or out of a Wooded 

Rough hex if the defender is in a hex where the base terrain is Clear 

or Light Woods. 

21.4 Recon Units Special Ability 

> Recon Units defending alone in a hex without an Improved Position 

may treat all D1 and D1* results against them as a DR4 result. 

NOTE: A Recon Unit that retreats 4 hexes as a result of a D1* result 

can be attacked again by the Breakthrough Group. 

21.5 Summary of Other Tank and Recon Unit Properties 

• Are considered Vehicle Units so may not move, Advance or Retreat 

across an unbridged river hexside. 

• May not move, Advance or Retreat into or out of a non-road Forest, 

West Wall or Wooded Rough hex except along a road. 

• Receive a –1 DRM when attempting Disengagement (20.2). 

22. ARTILLERY UNITS 

22.1 Artillery in General 

Artillery and Nebelwerfers are collectively called Artillery 

Units. They cannot move and fire in the same turn 

unless Shifting Fire Position (22.2). Allied Artillery Units 

that move more than one hex (or move to an Off Map Box or Blocking 

Position) must flip to their Fired side. German Artillery Units require 

a Prime Mover marker to move more than one hex (22.3). Allied Artillery 

Units on their Fired sides, and German Prime Movers move at the 

mechanized movement rate. Allied Artillery Units may use Strategic 

Movement; German Artillery Units may not. 

22.2 Shifting Fire Position (1 Hex) 

German Nebelwerfer brigades and Allied Artillery Units on their 

Ready side have an MA of 1. These units can shift one hex and still 

remain on their Ready side. The one hex move may be made into any 

hex, regardless of the MP cost, as long as the unit could legally enter 

the hex under normal rules of movement. Primary roads may not be 

used to move two hexes. 

22.3 German Prime Movers 

Germany was short of Prime Movers for their corps 

level artillery and much of it was left behind after the 

initial attack. Therefore German Artillery Units are 

nearly immobile. However, up to five Artillery Units per turn may 

have their MA increased to 5 if they use a Prime Mover marker 

(they may not use Strategic Movement). There are five Prime Mover 

markers—two for the 6th Pz Army, two for the 5th Pz Army, and one 

for the 7th Army. A Prime Mover marker belonging to one army may 

not be used to move an Artillery Unit belonging to a different army. A 

Prime Mover may move an Artillery Unit (including Werfer brigades) 

on its Fired or Ready side (a German Artillery Unit is not flipped if 

it moves). Leave the Prime Mover marker on the Artillery Unit until 

the next Artillery Supply Phase to indicate the Artillery Unit cannot 

fire until then. 

The German player removes all his Prime Mover markers from the 

map during the German Artillery Supply Phase (5.1). 


NOTE: Prime Mover markers are printed on the backside of Strategic 

Movement markers, so every Artillery Unit moved means one less German 

Mechanized unit that may use Strategic Movement. This reflects 

limited fuel, trucks diverted for ammo transport, road space and other 

logistical factors. 

22.4 Range 

Each Artillery Unit has a range printed in a small box on the upper 

left side of the counter. This is the maximum distance (measured 

in hexes) that the Artillery Unit may be from the target hex and 

still provide artillery support (22.6). Intervening terrain and combat 

units have no effect. Both the attacker and the defender trace range 

to the hex under attack. Count the target hex but not the hex of the 

Artillery Unit. 

22.5 Ready and Fired Sides 

All Artillery Units have only one step; the reverse side 

is used to indicate the Artillery Unit has fired (and/or 

moved in the case of Allied artillery). The front side is 

considered the Artillery Unit’s “ready” side. Once an Artillery Unit 

fires (or moves more than one hex if it is Allied), it is flipped to its 

back side. Artillery Units on their Fired side may flip back to their 

Ready side only during the Artillery Supply Phase (5.2). 

22.6 Artillery Support in General 

Only Artillery Units that are in range, on their Ready side and are not 

Engaged or Disrupted may provide artillery support. Each Artillery 

Unit may provide support to only one combat, after it is used it is 

flipped to its “Fired” side. The attacker must declare his Offensive 

Artillery Support before the defender declares his. 

> ARMY/CORPS IDENTIFICATION COLORS: An Artillery Unit 

may only provide Offensive or Defensive Support to a combat if there 

is at least one ground unit participating in the combat that has the same 

Identification color (2.11) as the Artillery Unit. 

22.7 Offensive Artillery Support 

Each Artillery Unit providing Offensive Support gives the attacker a 

favorable shift of one column to the right on the CRT. The attacker 

may use up to two Artillery Units per combat for a maximum of two 

shifts right. 

> 22.8 Defensive Artillery Support 

The defender may use only one Artillery Unit per combat. The defender 

finds the effect of his defensive artillery by rolling one die 

and checking the Defensive Artillery Table. The defender’s artillery 

is flipped regardless of the result. If the result is a 1 or 2, the attacker 

must apply that number of column shifts to the left on the CRT. If the 

defender is Allied and a TOT (Time on Target) result is achieved, the 

attacker suffers one step loss and the attack is stopped cold (treat as an 

A1 result). The attacker chooses the unit to lose the step. 

DESIGN NOTE: Time on Target was a practice of coordinating as 

many artillery batteries as possible to land their shells at one spot, 

all at one time. The coordination necessary to accomplish this made 

it infrequent, however, when it did happen it was devastating. 

22.9 Artillery in Ground Combat 

Artillery Units may not attack by themselves—they may only provide 

support. Artillery Units that are attacked use their Defense Factor 

without DCBs and may not provide Defensive Artillery Support to 

their own hex; however, an Artillery Unit attacked by an enemy unit 

may still provide Defensive Artillery Support to a different defending 

hex. An Artillery Unit may use its Defense Factor in the same 

Combat Phase it provides Defensive Ground Support. 

PLAY TIP: It is often best to attack the hex containing the Artillery


17 

Unit first, because an Eng or Disrupted result will prevent the Artillery 

Unit from providing defensive support to another hex. 

22.10 Summary of Other Characteristics 

• Artillery Units have ZOCs but cannot form ZOC Bonds (9.1, 10.1). 

• Artillery in Retreats (17.7). 

• Artillery Units may not Advance After Combat (19.1). 

• OOS Artillery Units cannot flip to their Ready side (23.4). 

• Artillery cannot be rebuilt (25.25). 

23. SUPPLY AND SURRENDER 

23.1 The Supply and Surrender Phase 

During the Supply and Surrender Phase the phasing 

player checks supply and surrender for all his units. 

Players check for supply by tracing a Supply Path from 

the unit to a Supply Source. If a Supply Path cannot be traced, the 

unit receives an Out of Supply marker. If the unit was already Out 

of Supply there is no additional effect. If any unit bearing an Out of 

Supply marker from a previous phase can now trace a Supply Path, 

the marker is removed. 

NOTE: This rule also applies to German units that suffered fuel shortage 

at the beginning of the German turn—they are back in supply if 

they can trace a Supply Path at this time. 

23.2 Supply Sources 

Supply is available at certain map edge hexes. German map edge 

Supply Sources are indicated with a German balkenkreuz while Allied 

ones are indicated with a white star in a green circle (these also 

indicate Entry Hexes). To block a Supply Source an enemy unit must 

occupy the hex—merely passing through the hex has no effect on a 

Supply Source. Allied units in Off Map Boxes are always in Supply. 

23.3 Supply Paths 

A Supply Path consists of two portions: an overland portion and a 

road portion. 

OVERLAND PORTION: The overland portion of the Supply Path may 

be up to four hexes long. It may traverse all types of terrain (including 

across rivers) with the following restrictions: 

• It may not enter an enemy-occupied hex or cross or enter an enemy 

ZOC Bond. 

• It may not enter a vacant hex in an enemy ZOC other than the first 

hex of the path. An overland Supply Path may enter that first vacant 

hex in an EZOC which is useful for units partially surrounded by 

enemy units. The presence of a friendly unit in a hex will negate the 

supply blocking effects of EZOCs within that hex. 

The example above shows two legal overland Supply Paths for unit A. 

Note how the path can cross unbridged river hexsides and how unit B 

negates the EZOC in the hex it occupies. 


ROAD PORTION: The road portion of the Supply Path may be of any 

length but must follow a path of contiguous road hexes (any type). At 

no time may the road portion of the Supply Path: 

• Enter an enemy occupied hex. 

• Enter an EZOC unless the hex contains a friendly unit. 

• Enter a vacant, but enemy controlled Town or City hex (these hexes 

are considered garrisoned by non-combat troops). 

• Enter a hex containing a Roadblock (33.0). 

• Cross a river at a blown bridge hexside. 

EXAMPLE: The three hexes marked “No” may not be used in the 

road portion of a Supply Path, either because of uncanceled EZOCs 

or blown bridges. 

23.4 Out of Supply (OOS) Penalties 

Any unit bearing an Out of Supply marker suffers the following 

penalties: 

• > COMBAT: If one or more attacking units are OOS the odds are 

shifted one column to the left (1L). OOS defending units are not 

effected. 

• MOVEMENT: May only use Tactical Movement (2 hexes). 

• ARTILLERY: Artillery Units may not flip to their Ready side. 

They may still provide artillery support as long as they are on their 

Ready side. 

• > RETREAT: Are eliminated if forced to retreat 3 or more hexes. 

• > ADVANCE: May not use the Road Bonus (19.1). 

23.5 Out of Supply Abilities 

Units marked OOS retain their ZOC, their ability to form ZOC Bonds, 

their full defense strength, and can benefit from DCBs. OOS units can 

blow bridges and complete an IP (15.8) once it has been started. 

23.6 Isolation and Surrender 

After supply is checked, the phasing player then determines 

if any of his units bearing an Out of Supply 

marker are Isolated (including those units just marked). 

Any unit that cannot trace a Line of Communication (LOC) is Isolated. 

A LOC is similar to a Supply Path with the exception that the overland 

portion may be traced to a friendly unit which in turn can trace four 

hexes to another friendly unit, and so on, with eventually one unit in 

the chain being able to trace a normal Supply Path. If the unit is not 

able to trace a LOC, it is considered Isolated. Each Isolated unit or 

group of Isolated units must immediately check for Surrender. 

DEFINITION OF AN ISOLATED GROUP: An Isolated Group may 

be of any size, but each unit in the group must be able to trace a 4- 

hex overland Supply Path to at least one other unit in the Isolated 

Group. See example below. 

23.7 Surrender Check 

If units are part of a group then they will surrender as a group. Roll 

one die for each Isolated Group, and consult the Surrender Table. 

The result is the number of Surrender Points the Isolated Group accumulates 

(or removes in the case of an Air Drop). An Isolated Group


EXAMPLE: Units A and B can trace an overland Supply Path to each 

other, they form one group. Units C, D and E can trace a 4 hex overland 

Supply Path to at least one other unit in their group, but not to A or 

B—they form a second group. 

surrenders if its Surrender Threshold is reached. Surrendered units 

are immediately removed from play and cannot be replaced. 

PLAY NOTE: Since a Surrender Point marker implies the unit is 

Out of Supply, the Out of Supply marker is not necessary and may 

be removed. 

23.8 Surrender Thresholds 

Green Threshold: 3 Surrender Points 

Normal Threshold: 4 Surrender Points 

Elite Threshold: 5 Surrender Points 

Use the Elite Threshold if there are one or more Elite units in the 

group. Use the Green Threshold if all units in the group are Green. 

Use the Normal Threshold for all other groups. Keep track of the 

number of Surrender Points of a group with a Surrender marker next 

to one of the units in the group. 

DESIGN NOTE: Units tended to surrender as a group and good units 

would inspire others to hold out. 

23.9 Splitting and Combining Isolated Groups 

If an Isolated Group splits into separate parts due to friendly or enemy 

action then each of the splinter groups becomes a separate group with 

its own marker. If two Isolated Groups combine then the combined 

group uses only the Surrender Points of the larger group. Larger is 

defined as the group with the greater number of attack factors (use 

printed values). If the two groups are identical in size, then use the 

greater of the Surrender Points. 

23.10 Breaking Isolation 

The Surrender Points are removed from an Isolated Group if during 

the friendly Supply Phase at least one unit in the group can trace 

supply. 

24. TRAFFIC MARKERS and 

BOTTLENECK HEXES 

24.1 Traffic Markers In General 

Each player may place available Traffic markers 

in an attempt to slow the movement of the 

opposing player’s units. Besides traffic, these 

also represent German commando teams, SNAFUs, psychological 

disruption and air interdiction (once the weather clears). The Allied 

player has Traffic markers and the German player has Greif markers 

(named after Operation Greif). Both markers are identical and are 

collectively called Traffic markers. 

24.2 Effects of Traffic Markers 

Traffic markers increase the entry cost (road and off road) of the 

hex by two MPs for all units. Units using Tactical Movement (11.3) 

ignore Traffic markers. Traffic markers have no effect on combat, 

advance, retreat and Supply Paths. German Traffic markers have no 

effect on German units and Allied Traffic markers have no effect on 

Allied units. 

24.3 The Traffic Marker Phase 

During this phase the phasing player may place any of his Traffic 

markers that are in his Traffic Marker Holding Box on the map, plus 

reposition or place his Roadblocks (33.0). 

REMOVAL: After placement he rolls two dice and removes his Traffic 

markers with the ID of those die rolls (for example, if a 2 and a 

4 were rolled, he would remove his Traffic markers numbered 2 and 

4). If doubles are rolled, then only one marker is removed. Place the 

removed Traffic marker(s) back in the Traffic Marker Holding Box 

for the next turn. Traffic markers are never voluntarily removed once 

placed on the map—they are removed only as a result of the removal 

dice roll or by a scheduled removal (24.6). 

NOTE: Once German Traffic markers begin to be removed by scheduled 

removals (24.6) it is possible that the removal dice roll will not 

remove any markers. 

DESIGN NOTE: Letting the opposing player pick where the traffic 

jams occur seems devious yet is sufficiently realistic—your opponent 

is apt to place the markers in the road hexes you need to use the most. 

Removing one or two with a die roll ensures that you never know 

which will be effective. 

24.4 Traffic Marker Placement Restrictions 

Traffic markers may not be placed: 

• on or adjacent to one another (ignore your opponent’s Traffic markers 

for this restriction), 

• the Allied player may not place them in a St-Vith Bottleneck hex, 

although he may place them adjacent to those hexes. 

Beyond those exceptions they can be placed in any hex, in or out of 

enemy ZOCs, in hexes occupied by enemy units, in German At Start 

Divisional Set up Areas, behind or in front of enemy lines. Only Traffic 

markers that are in the Traffic Marker Holding Box may be placed; 

the ones already on the map may not be repositioned or removed. 

24.5 At Start Situation 

All markers start in the Traffic Marker Holding Boxes. The Allied 

player may place all six during his Traffic Marker Phase of Turn 1 (then 

roll to see which are removed). The German player does not receive 

his until Turn 3 (17 AM)—during his Traffic Marker Phase. 

24.6 Traffic Marker Scheduled Removals 

Starting on Turn 8 (19 PM), one German Traffic marker is removed 

permanently from play every PM turn. Removal occurs during the 

German player’s Traffic Marker Phase. Markers must be removed in 

numerical order (i.e., #1 first, #2 second, and so on). Allied Traffic 

markers have no scheduled removals (once the clear weather starts 

they begin to represent air interdiction). 

24.7 St-Vith Bottleneck Hexes 

These three hexes are marked on the map in yellow. They have all the 

same effects as a Traffic marker (24.2) except units must pay four additional 

MPs (+4 MPs) instead of +2. The instant the German player 



19 

gains control of St-Vith the cost of these hexes is reduced to +2 MPs. 

If the German player loses control of St-Vith the bottleneck hexes 

again cost +4 MPs. St-Vith Bottleneck hexes have no effect on Allied 

units or Tactical Movement. 

NOTE: Allied Traffic markers may be placed adjacent to St-Vith Bottleneck 

hexes to create serious traffic problems for the German player. 

When that happens, it is often best for the German player to just use 

Tactical Movement to traverse it. 

25. NIGHT TURNS AND 

REPLACEMENTS 


Between the PM and AM turn is a mini Night Turn. The player sequence 

in a Night Turn is flip-flopped (Allied first, followed by German) 

so each player will have two turns in a row to create some chaos 

for the other player. Night Turns are also when replacements arrive. 

The following is the Sequence of Play for each Night Turn: 

A. Allied Night Replacement and Movement Phase 

B. Allied Night Combat Phase 

C. German Night Replacement and Movement Phase 

D. German Night Combat Phase 

NOTE: There are no other phases to a Night Turn (such as Supply, 

Bridges, Rally, Traffic, etc.). 

25.2 Replacements 

(25.21) IN GENERAL: During each Night Turn both 

players receive Replacements. Replacements are used 

to restore reduced or eliminated units. The number of 

Replacements each player receives is printed on the Turn 

Record Track. If a player receives only one replacement, then it may 

only be used for an Infantry Type unit (2.4). If a player receives two 

replacements, one may be used for an Infantry Type unit and the 

other may be used for either a Tank, Recon, or Flak Unit; or used for 

another Infantry Type unit. Each Replacement can restore a reduced 

unit to its full strength side or bring a unit out of the dead pile on its 

reduced side (see 25.23 for 3-step units). Replacements may not be 

saved, and those not used are forfeited. Players use their Replacements 

during their Night Movement Phase. 

> (25.22) PROCEDURE: Only units in the dead pile or on the map in 

a supplied, non-Engaged, non-Disrupted state can receive Replacements. 

Units adjacent to an enemy unit may receive replacements. If 

a player uses a replacement to bring a unit from the dead pile, then the 

unit must arrive under the following restrictions: 

• must be placed in a friendly controlled city, town or Entry Hex (no 

villages) free of enemy Roadblocks which has a road-bound supply 

path to a friendly Supply Source. 

• may not be placed adjacent to an enemy unit. 

• > must be placed within 5 hexes of another unit with the same 

Corps/Army Identification color (2.11). 

Alternatively, German units may be placed in any Entry Hex labeled 

K, L or M that is not in an EZOC. 

(25.23) LARGE UNITS: Any unit in the dead pile with a stacking 

value of 2 on its reduced side may only be replaced if a supplied, non- 

Engaged, good order Remnant unit of the same type is on the map. 

Expend the replacement point, remove the Remnant, and place the unit 

(on its reduced side) where the Remnant was located. 

EXAMPLE: To bring a 6-6-3 US regiment out of the dead pile, the Allied 

player must have a 1-2-3 infantry-type Remnant on the map. 

> 25.24 REPLACEMENT MARKERS: Indicate each unit that 

received a replacement with a Replacement marker. During the 

upcoming AM Turn, that unit may move a maximum of one hex 

and may not attack. This marker has no effect on the unit’s defense 

strength and is removed at the end of the unit’s Combat Phase. 

(25.25) RESTRICTIONS: Artillery Units and units that are OOS, 

Disrupted, Engaged or marked with a Night marker may not receive 

a replacement. The following units may never receive replacements: 

German Tank Units with a TQ of 5 or higher, German Tank Units 

with Black Box Attack Strengths, von der Heydte, 150th Panzer Bde, 

Allied Airborne units, Artillery Units, British units, and any unit that 

has Surrendered (23.7). 

25.3 Night Movement and Combat 

(25.31) MOVEMENT: Movement in the Night Turn is 

identical to the normal rules, except each side is limited 

to three stacks of units moving. The units moved may 

use their full MA. Extended Movement and Tactical 

Movement are allowed during a Night Turn. Strategic 

Movement is not. 

(25.32) COMBAT: Combat in the Night Turn is identical to the normal 

rules, except only the units that were marked with Night markers may 

attack. Artillery on their Ready side may be used for Offensive and Defensive 

Support in a Night Turn without the need for a Night marker. 

(25.33) PLACING THE NIGHT TURN MARKERS: Players must 

indicate in their PM turn which three stacks will be available for the 

upcoming Night Turn. To do this, the phasing player places a Night 

marker on each stack in the Movement Phase of his PM turn. If a player 

did not indicate any stacks for the Night Turn during his PM turn, then 

his Night Turn Movement and Combat Phases are skipped. 

(25.34) ELIGIBILITY: Units currently Engaged, Out of Supply (including 

from German Fuel Shortage), or Disrupted may not be designated 

for the Night Turn. 

(25.35) RESTRICTIONS: Units with a Night marker are under the 

following restrictions during the PM turn: 

• may only use 1 MP (no Tactical Movement), and 

• may not attack. 

(25.36) BRIDGE BLOWING AT NIGHT: The only bridge blowing 

allowed in a Night Turn are those that may occur before combat, as 

described in 7.4. 

26. BREAKDOWN UNITS 


Both players may create a breakdown unit by reducing a larger unit. 

An infantry/mountain regiment creates an infantry battalion, a parachute, 

glider or Fallschirmjäger regiment creates a parachute battalion, 

a Panzergrenadier regiment creates a Panzergrenadier battalion, and 

a Combat Command or US Tank battalion creates a Task Force. The 

breakdown unit is placed in the hex with the unit that removed the 

step and both units may then move, disengage, or advance normally. 

Alternatively, a 3-step unit may break down into two breakdown units 

plus the appropriate Remnant unit. 

26.2 Breakdown Restrictions 

A unit must perform breakdown before it moves, disengages or advances 

after combat. Breakdown may only occur during a friendly 



Some examples of creating 

breakdown units. 

Movement or Combat Phase—never during the enemy player turn. 

Disrupted units may not perform breakdown. EZOCs, OOS and Engagement 

markers have no effect on the ability of a unit to perform 

breakdown. The number of breakdown units that may be created is 

strictly limited by the number in the counter mix. 

STRATEGY TIP: An Engaged unit may create a breakdown unit and 

then the reduced unit could attempt to Disengage while the breakdown 

unit holds the line. 

26.3 Properties of Breakdown Units 

Breakdown units are normal 1-step units in all respects. The morale 

ratings of Breakdown units are often lower than the morale rating of 

the parent unit to reflect the loss of integrity. 

26.4 Rebuilding With Breakdown Units 

> Breakdown units may only reattach to the unit that created it.* 

The breakdown unit is removed from the map and the parent unit is 

increased one step. Rebuilding occurs during the Movement Phase at 

the instant the two units have completed their movement. 

*This may require some bookkeeping. 

27. SPECIAL UNITS 

27.1 Allied Engineer Units 

> Allied Engineer units are eliminated if forced to retreat 

3 or more hexes. Their defense strength has been outlined 

to remind players of this rule. 

DESIGN NOTE: Allied Engineer units were smaller than a regular 

infantry battalion and were not trained for sustained fighting. They 

were used as a stop-gap measure to hold bridges and key locations 

until larger forces could arrive. 

27.2 Von der Heydte (Operation Stösser) 

DESIGN NOTE: Operation Stösser was a paratroop 

drop into the American rear in the High Fens area. 

Their objective was the “Baraque Michel” crossroads. 

The parachute drop was a complete failure. Von der Heydte ended up 

with a total of around 300 troops. Too small and too weak to counter 

the Allies, they abandoned plans to take the crossroads and instead 

converted his mission to reconnaissance. 

The Von der Heydte unit enters play on Turn 3 (17 AM) via an air drop. 

The landing hex may be any clear or Light Woods hex that does not 

contain a city, town, village, enemy unit, or EZOC. After placement, 

the German player rolls for its survival using the Von der Heydte Table. 

The unit may not move on the turn it drops. The unit is considered a 

normal unit for all purposes (including supply) once it lands. 

27.3 British Units 

MOVEMENT RESTRICTION: All British units must 

remain on the West Map and west of the Meuse River at 

all times. Exception: see 29th Armoured Brigade. 

> 29TH ARMOURED BRIGADE: This unit is released from the 

British movement restriction rule on Turn 29 (30 AM) or when any 

German unit crosses the Meuse River. 

ATTACK RESTRICTION: Due to the difficulty encountered in coordinating 

inter-Allied operations, British and American units cannot be 

involved in the same attack. There is no defensive penalty if British 

and American units are stacked together. 

> ANTWERP DEFENSE: When German units exit the West Map 

through an F or G Entry Hex, the Allied player must respond by moving 

British units to the Antwerp Box. The number of British Defense 

Factors in the Antwerp Box must always exceed the number of German 

Attack Factors by at least six. The Allied player may pick any British 

units currently on the map. The units are removed at the end of the 

German turn that the situation occurs—simply pick them up and place 

them in the Antwerp Box. British factors removed in excess of the 

required amount may count towards future German map edge exits. If 

there are insufficient British units on the map to satisfy this condition, 

then all British reinforcements must be diverted to Antwerp (as they 

arrive) until the Allied player again has +6 factors. 

27.4 Sturmtigers and Brummbärs 

The 1000(+) Sturmtiger and the 217th 

Brummbär units have their attack factor 

doubled when attacking a Village, Town or 

City hex. These units have their Attack Factor enclosed in a black box 

to remind players of this special ability. 

The Sturmtiger was equipped with a 38cm mortar while the Brummbär 

had a 15cm howitzer. Both were ideal for urban fighting. 

27.5 Kampfgruppe Peiper 

The four units of the 1SS indicated as KG 

Peiper may move and fight in the first Night 

Turn of the game (even if they moved their 

full Movement Allowance and attacked in 

the PM turn). In addition, they may use any 

German unit they are stacked with at the end 

of their Dec. 16th Night Movement Phase to 

assist them in that night combat. The commandeered units are activated 

for night combat only—not night movement. The commandeered units 

may advance after combat if the defender retreats. 

DESIGN NOTE: Peiper was a very aggressive commander, and on 

the night of the 16th commandeered units of the 3rd Fallschirmjäger 

Division to help him in his attack. 

NOTE: Potentially, the German player can have the four Kampfgruppe 

Peiper units plus the three stacks under the Night markers moving and 

fighting on the Dec. 16th Night Turn. 

27.6 The US 2nd Division 

> The two regiments of the 2nd Division that 

start in hexes 1535 and 1636 may not move at 

all on Turn 1 (16 AM) and only two hexes on 

Turn 2. These units are marked with a red RRD as a reminder. 

DESIGN NOTE: These two regiments had just spent the last three days 

in a grueling offensive to outflank the Roer River Dams. These units 

would not have abandoned their ground lightly. Historically they did 

not pull out until early on the 17th. 



21 

27.7 The 653 PzJ (Jpz VI) 

The arrival of the 653rd PzJ is not guaranteed. On Turn 

4 (17 PM) roll one die—on a die roll of 1 or 2 the unit 

arrives that turn. On a die roll of 3 or 4 the unit is delayed 

(roll again next turn). On a 5 or 6 the unit does not arrive at all. 

CLARIFICATION: It’s possible to keep rolling 3’s and 4’s and the 

unit being delayed again and again. 

DESIGN NOTE: This unit was intended to fight in the Ardennes, but 

it was diverted to the Nordwind Operation. 

27.8 Dr Sola and Panzer Brigade 150 

DESIGN NOTE: Dr. Sola was the code name for Col. Otto 

Skorzeny, who commanded the 150th Panzer Brigade, 

a unit that was disguised as an American unit and was 

partially equipped with captured American tanks and vehicles. It was 

intended to slip through Allied lines during the confusion caused by the 

attack of the 6th Panzer Army (Operations Greif and Wãhrung). 

(28.11) GENERAL RULE: The German player may use this unit to 

infiltrate and/or provide a combat shift. These abilities may be used if 

the units is not detected (determined by a die roll). If not detected by 

a die roll, the unit is automatically detected at the end of the turn one 

or both of its capabilities is used. Once the unit is detected it loses its 

special abilities immediately and is treated as a normal unit. 

NOTE: The German player does not roll for detection if an Allied unit 

moves adjacent to the 150th Pz Brigade. 

(28.12) INFILTRATION MOVEMENT: This unit may attempt to 

ignore enemy ZOCs. Resolve the attempt by rolling a die the instant 

the brigade attempts to ignore an EZOC. On a die roll of 1, 2 or 3 

the deception is successful and the Allied ZOC in that hex is ignored 

(ZOC Bonds are never ignored). The brigade may continue to move 

and attempt to ignore more EZOCs (roll for each attempt). On a 4–6 

the unit is recognized as enemy (detected) and the ZOC is treated 

normally (no further deception attempts are possible). 

(28.13) COMBAT BONUS: This unit may attempt to surprise a defender 

and achieve a favorable shift of one column to the right on the 

CRT. A surprise attempt is only possible if the brigade has not been 

detected yet. Resolve the attempt by rolling a die during the Combat 

Phase before the attack is resolved. On a die roll of 1–3 the surprise is 

successful. On a 4–6 it is unsuccessful. Whether successful or not, the 

brigade is “detected” and becomes a normal unit after that one attack. 

EXAMPLE: The Skorzeny unit is currently undetected and moves as 

shown in the diagram. In hex A the German player declares he will 

attempt to ignore EZOCs and rolls the die. He only rolls once even 

though there are two enemy units. The die roll is a 2 which is successful. 

In hex B he again rolls successfully (1-3). He then moves Skorzeny 

one more hex and attempts a surprise attack on unit C. On a die roll of 

1-3 it would be successful and provide a column shift. If not successful 

the attack would be resolved normally. 

28. WEATHER 

28.1 Frozen Ground Conditions 

The ground condition from Turn 1–10 (16 AM to 20 PM) is considered 

muddy. This is the normal condition for the game. Starting on Turn 

11 (21 AM) a cold front moves in making off road movement easier. 

Mechanized Units now use the Frozen MP cost on the TEC. 

28.2 Clear Weather 

The weather from Turns 1–14 and 23-30 is considered overcast and no 

special rules apply. Turns 15-22 the weather clears and the following 

rules take effect: 

• The Allied player receives Air Support (15.6). 

• The Allied player modifies all his Surrender die rolls by –2 (air 

supply is now possible). 

• The German player must modify his Fuel Shortage die rolls by +1 

to account for bombing of the rail net west of the Rhine. This modifier 

applies for the rest of the game—even after Overcast weather 

returns. 

29. TURN 1 SPECIAL RULES 

29.1 Movement Restrictions 

All units with their setup code printed on a red field may not move 

or conduct Disengagement (20.1) on Turn 1. If any of these units are 

forced to retreat due to combat, they may retreat normally—but they 

are not released from their movement restriction. These units may attack 

but may not advance. See the Designer Notes for an explanation 

of the movement restrictions. 

Exception: If the Germans advance adjacent to either the V/187th or 

V/406th artillery units, that artillery unit is freed from its movement 

restriction and may move its full Movement Allowance. 

29.2 The 212 VGD at Echternach 

German units crossed the Sauer River below Echternach on the morning 

of the 16th. On the first turn only, allow one unit from the 212th 

VG to move into hex 1005 (from hex 1006). It must stop and end its 

movement in that hex. 

29.3 German Divisional Boundaries 

No German unit may enter another division’s At Start Area, nor the 

Rear Zone (those hexes behind the divisional At Start Areas), on Turn 

1. Units may freely move and advance into American territory on the 

first turn. Divisional boundaries are ignored after the first turn. 

29.4 Strategic Surprise 

The offense caught the Americans by surprise; therefore the following 

rules apply to Turn 1: 

• The only Allied Artillery Units that may use Defensive Artillery 

Support on Turn 1 are the V/187 and the V/406 (near Monschau). 

• No American units may use Strategic Movement. 

NOTE: Extended Movement and Determined Defense is allowed on 

turn one for both sides. 

29.5 German Corps Artillery 

German Artillery Units can only provide Offensive Artillery Support 

to an attack involving units with the same corps I.D. as the artillery. 

This restriction is lifted after Turn 1. 



30. HOW TO WIN 

“Antwerp! If we reach the Meuse, we should go down on our knees 

and thank God—let alone trying to reach Antwerp!” 

—Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt 

30.1 The Victory Check Phase 

Victory is checked and awarded in the Victory Check Phase which 

only occurs in the Allied player turn. The game ends immediately if 

the German player achieves a victory. 

CONTROL: Control of Victory Hexes is important for determining 

victory. A Victory Hex is considered controlled by the German player 

if the hex is either occupied by a German unit or a German unit was 

the last to pass through the hex. In both cases, the Victory Hex must 

have a road-bound Supply Path to a German Supply Source. 

> 30.2 German Victory 

The German player wins the game if during any Victory Check Phase 

if he accomplishes one or more of the following objectives: 

• Has exited a number of units whose combined Attack Factors total 

at least 24, off the West Map through any F or G Entry Hex. At least 

one of the Entry Hexes used must be able to trace a road-bound 

Supply Path (during the Victory Check Phase) back to a German 

Supply Source. 

• Control all 4 Liege hexes. 

• Control 4 of the following 6 Victory Hexes on the Meuse river: 

Givet, Dinant, Namur, Andenne, Huy and Amay. 

• Control 6 Victory Hexes on the West Map. 

30.3 Allied Victory 

• Prevent the German player from achieving a victory, or 

• Occupy three or more German At Start Divisional areas for two 

consecutive Victory Check Phases with at least one Allied combat 

unit in each Divisional area. The Allied units must be in supply in 

each Victory Check Phase. This supersedes any German victory. 

31. SCENARIOS 

31.1 The Campaign Game 

IN GENERAL: This is the standard game that uses both maps and all 

the preceding rules. The Allied player controls elements of the U.S. 

and British armies. The German player controls all German Army, SS, 

and Luftwaffe ground units. 

GAME LENGTH: 22 Day Turns—16 AM to 26 PM. The game ends 

at the completion of the Allied 26 PM turn. 

REINFORCEMENTS: Both players should separate their reinforcements 

from their at-start units. At-start units have their set up code highlighted 

with a white or red background, all others are reinforcements. 

Place these units on their arrival turn on the Turn Record Track. 

ALLIED SET UP: The Allied player sets up first. Place your at start 

units in the hex specified on the counter. A dot after the hexcode indicates 

the unit starts with an Improved Position. 

GERMAN SET UP: Place your at-start units anywhere within their divisional 

setup area (indicated by the dashed outlines on the map). Your 

corps artillery may be placed in any divisional setup area belonging to 

that corps. Units may be set up adjacent to enemy units (stacking limits 

must be observed). Also observe the following restrictions: 

• The 5FJ/11 Stg may not set up in either of the two Wooded Rough 

hexes. 

• The two units of the 26th VG that are marked with a red setup code, 

may not start in any of the three Wooded Rough hexes. 

OTHER MARKERS: Place the Turn Record Track marker in the 16 

AM Box. Place a Blown Bridge marker on the four bridge sites labeled 

1-4 (between Echternach and Vianden), and place bridge Under 

Construction markers on bridges #5 and #6 (7.10). 

ARTILLERY: All Artillery Units start on their ready sides. 

QUICK SET UP: First time players should use the first illustration of 

the Extended Example of Play to help them set up the game. 

31.2 Six Turn Scenario 

GAME LENGTH: 6 Day Turns—16 AM to 18 PM. The game ends at 

the completion of the Allied 18 PM turn. 

SET UP: Use the set up for the regular game. 

SPECIAL RULES: Use only the East Map. The 101st and 82nd Airborne 

units arrive on Turn 6 (18 PM) in Strategic Movement having 

already expended 4 MPs. They may enter on any west edge road hex. 

The Allied player must use eight SM markers during Turn 6 to move 

his eight airborne units. 

VICTORY CONDITIONS: The German player wins if he has 10 VPs 

at the end of the scenario. Award 1 VP for each Victory Hex he controls, 

and 1 VP for every 4 Attack Factors he has exited off the west edge 

of the (East) Map. If the German player exits units off the west edge 

he must be able to trace a road-bound Supply Path back to a German 

Supply Source from at least one of the exit hexes, otherwise the VPs 

for exiting units do not count. 

31.3 Eight Turn Scenario 

GAME LENGTH: 8 Turns—16 AM to 19 PM. The game ends at the 

completion of the Allied 19 PM turn. 

SET UP: Use the set up for the regular game. 

SPECIAL RULES: Use only the East Map. The 101st and 82nd Airborne 

units arrive on Turn 6 (18 PM) in Strategic Movement having 

already expended 4 MPs. They may enter on any west edge road hex. 

The Allied player must use eight SM markers during Turn 6 to move 

his eight airborne units. 

VICTORY CONDITIONS: Same as the Six Turn Scenario except the 

German player needs 14 VPs to win. 

31.4 Patton’s Counterattack, December 22 

GAME LENGTH: 10 Turns—22 AM to 26 PM. The game ends at the 

completion of the Allied 26 PM turn. 

SET UP: Use the Patton’s Counterattack Scenario setup pages later 

in the rules booklet. The German player sets up first, followed by the 

Allied player. 

FIRST PLAYER: Start with the Artillery Supply Phase of the German 

player turn. 

SPECIAL RULES: 

A. Use both maps. 

B. After the Allied player has set up (and before the game starts), he 

may place his six Traffic markers anywhere on the map and then rolls 

the dice and removes the appropriate markers per the rules. 

C. All German Artillery Units start on their Fired side. The German 

player starts the game by flipping any three during the German Artillery 

Supply Phase. 



23 

D. Fuel Shortage—The German player must roll on both tables on 

the first turn. 

E. The following bridges are blown: La Roche (E-3920), Ortho (E- 

3718), Trois Ponts (3029—both hexsides). 

F. ISOLATED GROUPS: The only units OOS are the stack containing 

the three Peiper units and all Allied units inside the Bastogne 

perimeter. Peiper’s group is at Surrender Level 3 and the Bastogne 

group is at Level 1. 

VICTORY CONDITIONS: Same as the Campaign Game except 

consider the game a draw if the Allied player cannot trace a Line of 

Supply to the two Bastogne town hexes. 

31.5 The Extended Game 

Players wishing to continue the Campaign Game or the Patton’s Counterattack 

Scenario until the 30th of December can play this Extended 

Game. Follow all the rules for the Campaign Game except the game 

ends at the completion of the Allied Player Turn of Turn 30. 

SPECIAL RULES: None 

VICTORY CONDITIONS: Same as the Campaign Game except the 

Germans also win if they satisfy both conditions below at the end of 

the game: 

• Either controls both Bastogne hexes or prevent the Allied player 

from tracing a LOS to a Bastogne town hex, and 

• Control 4 Victory Hexes on the West Map. 

OPTIONAL RULES 

The following rules add a bit of complexity to the game and are not 

essential. They may be used if both players agree. 

> 32. FUEL DUMPS 

32.1 Hidden Fuel Dump 

At the start of the game the Allied player randomly places the three 

Fuel Dump markers on the map—one in each space marked with a 

Fuel Dump symbol. Only one of the markers contains the real fuel 

dump—the rest are dummies. The Allied player may examine the 

markers after he has placed them, but the markers remain secret to the 

German player. The instant the German player moves a unit adjacent to 

one of the markers, it is flipped over. If it is a dummy, it is removed. 

COMMENTARY: 1st Army had a primary fuel dump located outside 

of Francorchamps. If captured, this was enough fuel to alleviate the 

German fuel shortages. Kampfgruppe Peiper came within a few miles 

of the dump without knowing it. 

32.2 Combat and Capture 

PROPERTIES: The dump has a Defense Factor of 2 representing 

the Belgian battalion assigned to its defense. The dump by itself has 

no stacking value, does not receive DCBs nor may it be selected for 

Determined Defense. If eliminated, forced to retreat, or suffers a step 

loss, the German player is considered to have captured the dump and 

may advance into the hex. 

If captured, the German player must hold the dump until the fuel can 

be removed. The German player can remove the captured dump in his 

next German Fuel Shortage Phase if a road-bound Supply Path can be 

traced from the dump to the German East map edge. 

EFFECTS: If captured and the fuel can be removed, the German player 

skips the Fuel Shortage Phases on Turns 7 and 8 (19 AM and PM). 


If the Allied player recaptures the dump before the German player 

removes it, then the dump regains its inherent Defense Factor. 

32.3 Destruction 

The dump may be destroyed in the same manner as Bridge demolition 

(1–4 in the Allied Bridge Phase, 1–2 in a German Combat Phase if 

the German player attacks the dump hex). Demolition in the Allied 

Bridge Phase may only occur if a German unit is adjacent to the hex. 

No Allied unit is required for either case. All Fuel Dump markers are 

automatically removed at the end of Turn 6 (18 PM). 

33. ROADBLOCKS 


Roadblocks are markers that can control hexes and slow 

enemy movement. They are like Traffic markers, but 

are more reliable. Each player has two. They have all 

the same effects as a Traffic marker with the following additional 

properties: 

• May be repositioned each turn and are not removed by a die roll. 

• Supply Paths may not be traced through a hex containing an enemy 

Roadblock. 

• They control the hex they are in (30.1). 

• U.S. Engineers (13.2) may not be placed in a town or city hex that 

contains an enemy Roadblock. 

33.2 Placement 

Roadblocks are placed or repositioned in the owning player’s Traffic 

Marker Phase before the removal die rolls. The following restrictions 

apply to placement: 

• Must be placed on a road within 4 contiguous road hexes of a friendly 

unit. The placement hex must have a valid road-bound Supply Path 

to the friendly unit and to a friendly map-edge Supply Source. 

• May not be placed on or adjacent to an enemy unit. 

• May not be placed on or adjacent to a friendly Traffic marker or 

another Roadblock marker (friendly or enemy). 

33.3 Removal 

Friendly Roadblocks must be removed at the end of any enemy Movement 

Phase or Combat Phase (including Night Turns) in which an 

enemy unit either ends in the hex or passes through the hex. They are 

also removed during a friendly Traffic Marker Phase if they no longer 

have a road-bound Supply Path. You may voluntarily remove or reposition 

your Roadblocks every friendly Traffic Marker Phase. 

Roadblocks are never eliminated, those that are removed are available 

to be placed in the next friendly Traffic Marker Phase. 

> 33.4 At Start 

The Allied player receives his two Roadblock markers on his first 

Traffic Marker Phase. The German player does not receive his until 

Turn 3 (17 AM)—during his Traffic Marker Phase. 

> 34. 15 FACTOR LIMIT 

The attacker may use a maximum of 15 Attack Factors in each attack. 

All factors in excess of 15 are ignored. 

EXAMPLE: Two stacks of German units totaling 24 factors attack 6 

Allied Defense Factors. The odds would be 15 to 6 (2-1). 

DESIGN NOTE: This rule reflects the difficulties of massing large 

number of troops against a single objective and also prevents excessive 

factor counting. It will speed up play.




25 

Patton’s Counterattack 

Scenario 

All hexes are on the East Map unless indicated 

with a “W” prefix. 

GERMAN AT START 

Unit Factors TQ Hex 

7th Army 

212 / 316 (2-3-3) 1105 

212 / 320 (2-3-3) 1104 

212 / 423 (2-3-3) 1305 

212 / Fusilier 2-2-3 Elim 

276 / 986 (1-3-3) 1706 

276 / 987 (1-3-3) 1606 

276 / 988 (2-3-3) 1506 

352 / 914 4-5-3 2306 

352 / 915 (2-3-3) 2105 

352 / 916 (2-3-3) 1906 

5 FJ /13 5-6-3 3007 

5 FJ /14 5-6-3 3709 

5 FJ /15 (3-4-3) 3408 

5 FJ /11 Stg 3-2-6 [3] 3408 

44 Festung 1-2-2 Elim 

Fuh Gr (all 4 units at full strength) 2508* 

79 VG (all 3 units at full strength) 1810* 

————————————————————— 

8 Volkswerfer S-(1)-1 1307 


406 Volks-Art S-(1)-0 2107 

408 Volks-Art S-(1)-0 1007 


5th Panzer Army 

2 Pz / 3 Panther (3-2-6) 4 4017* 

2 Pz / 3 Mk IV (3-2-6) 3 4017* 

2 Pz / 38 PzJ 3-2-6 [3] 4017* 

2 Pz / 2 Pzg (3-3-6) 4017* 

2 Pz / 304 Pzg 5-5-6 4017* 

2 Pz / 2 Recon 3-2-7 4017* 

Lehr / 130 Panther 5-4-6 4 W1113* 

Lehr / 559 PzJ 3-2-5 [5] Elim 

Lehr / 243 Stg 3-2-6 [3] W1113* 

Lehr / 902 Pzg 4-5-6 W1113* 

Lehr / 130 Recon 4-3-7 W1113* 

Lehr / 901 Pzg 4-5-6 3214 

Lehr / 130 PzJ 2-2-6 [4] 3611 

116 Pz / 16 Panther (3-2-6) 4 3722* 

116 Pz / 60 Pzg (3-3-6) 3722* 

116 Pz / 16 Mk IV 5-4-6 3 3824* 

116 Pz / 156 Pzg 5-5-6 3824* 

116 Pz / 116 Recon 3-2-7 3824* 

116 Pz / 228 PzJ 2-2-6 [4] 3824* 

26 / 39 Fus (3-3-3) 3311 

26 / 77 Gren 5-5-3 3615 

26 / 78 Gren 5-5-3 3416 

26 / KG Kunkel 3-2-7 3712 

560 / 1128 4-4-3 3624 

560 / 1130 4-4-3 3422 

560/1129 4-4-3 2119 

18 / 293 (2-3-3) 2025 

18 / 294 (2-3-3) 2025 

18 / 295 (2-3-3) 2026 

18 / 18 FEB 1-2-3 Elim 

18 / 244 Stg 3-2-6 [3] Elim


18 / 10 Flak (+) 1-2-5 [4] Elim 

62 / 164 (2-3-3) 2221 

62 / 183 (2-3-3) 1923 

62 / 190 (2-3-3) 1921 

Fuh Bglt (all 4 units at full strength) 2028* 

————————————————————— 




401 Volks-Art S-(1)-0 1823 

766 Volks-Art S-(1)-0 1920 

6th Panzer Army 

1SS / 1 Panther (3-2-7) 4 §3031 

1SS / 501 Tiger (4-2-5) 5 §3031 

1SS / 1(–) Pzg (3-3-6) §3031 

1SS / 1 / 1 Pzg 3-2-7 Elim 

1SS / 2(–) Pzg (3-3-6) 2728 

1SS / 2 / 1 Pzg 3-2-6 2828 

1SS / 1 Recon 3-2-7 Elim 

1SS / 1 PzJ 3-2-6 [4] Elim 

2SS (Any 3 units) 3018* 

2SS (the remaining 3 units) 2618* 

9SS (Any 3 units) 1830* 

9SS (the remaining 3 units) 2329* 

12SS / 12 Panther 7-4-6 4 Elim 

12SS / 12 Recon 3-2-7 1731 

12SS / 25 Pzg 7-7-6 Elim 

12SS / 26 Pzg (4-5-6) 1731 

12SS / 12 PzJ 3-2-6 [4] Elim 

12SS / 560 PzJ 5-4-5 [5] 1731 

Pzg (SS) Remnant 1-3-6 1632 

12 / 27 Fus (2-3-3) 1732 

12 / 48 (2-3-3) 1732 

12 / 89 (2-3-3) 1633 

12 / Fus 2-2-3 Elim 

277 / 989 (2-3-3) 1734 

277 / 990 4-5-3 1734 

277 / 991 3-4-3 Elim 

3 FJ / 5 5-6-3 2331 

3 FJ / 8 4-6-3 1931 

3 FJ / 9 4-6-3 2131 

326 / 751 (2-3-3) 1737 

326 / 752 (2-3-3) 1737 

326 / 753 (2-3-3) 1738 

3 PG (all 5 units at full strength) 1637* 

506 Tiger 8-4-5 5 1430 

521 PzJ 3-2-5 [5] 1722 

150 Pz Bde 6-5-6 3 2431 

von der Heydte 2-2-3 Elim 

————————————————————— 




388 Volks-Art S-(1)-0 1530 

402 Volks-Art S-(1)-0 1531 

405 Volks-Art S-(1)-0 1439 

————————————————————— 

Discretionary Units: The following units must 

be stacked with any unit that is in supply and 

matching its army color code. No more than 

one discretionary unit per hex. 

5th Pz Army 

902 Stg 3-2-6 [3] ** 

741 PzJ 2-2-6 [3] ** 

669 Ost 1-2-3 ** 

6th Pz Army 

519 PzJ 3-2-5 [5] ** 

653 PzJ 4-2-4 [6] ** 

394+667 Stg 3-2-6 [3] ** 

217 StrmPz 2-1-5 ** 

1000+ StrmPz 3-1-4 ** 

§ = Surrender Level 3 

* = At or within one hex, and no more than 

one unit per hex. 

** Stacked with any supplied unit in that 

army. 

( ) = starts at reduced strength 

ALLIED AT-START 

Unit Factors TQ Hex 

VIII Corps 

4 / 8 / 2 2-2-3 Elim 

4 / 12 / 1 2-2-3 1303 

4 / 70 Tnk (–) 3-2-6 3 1303 

4 / 12 / 2 2-2-3 Elim 

4 / 12 / 3 2-2-3 1504 

4 / 22 / 2 2-2-3 1103 

4 / 803 TD (–) 2-2-6 [3] 1103 

9 Arm / CCA (–) 5-4-6 3 Elim 



27 

9 Arm / CCA / 60 3-2-6 Elim 

9 Arm / CCB (6-4-6) 3 •2124 

9 Arm / CCR 7-6-6 3 Elim 

28 / 109 / 1 2-2-3 W1206 

28 / 109 / 2 2-2-3 2503 

28 / 109 / 3 2-2-3 Elim 

28 / 110 / 1 2-2-3 Elim 

28 / 110 / 2 2-2-3 Elim 

28 / 110 / 3 2-2-3 Elim 

28 / 112 / 1 2-2-3 2522 

28 / 112 / 2 2-2-3 •2321 

28 / 112 / 3 2-2-3 2321 

28 / 707 Tnk 4-3-6 3 Elim 

28 / P 1-2-3 Elim 

106 / 422 (–) 4-4-3 Elim 

106 / 422 / 3 2-2-3 Elim 

106 / 423 (–) 3-4-3 Elim 

106 / 423 / 2 2-2-3 Elim 

106 / 424 (–) 3-4-3 •2122 

106 / 424 / 1 2-2-3 Elim 

106 / 424 / P 1-2-3 Elim 

14 Cav / 18 3-2-7 Elim 

14 Cav / 32 3-2-7 Elim 

333 FA S-(2)-1 2324 

402 FA S-(2)-1 2524 

174 FA S-(2)-1 1602 

35 Engineer 1-2-3 Elim 




V Corps 

1 / 26 6-7-3 1832 

1 / 18 6-7-3 2233 

1 / 16 6-7-3 •2032 

1 / 634 TD 3-2-6 [3] 2233 

1 / 703 TD 3-2-6 [4] 2032 

1 / 745 Tnk (2-1-6) 3 1832 

2 / 9 (4-4-3) •1833 

2 / 23 6-6-3 Elim 

2 / 38 5-6-3 1834 

2 / 741 Tnk 4-3-6 3 Elim 

2 / 644 TD 3-2-6 [3] Elim 

99 / 393 / 1 2-2-3 1835 

99 / 393 / 2 2-2-3 Elim 

99 / 393 / 3 2-2-3 Elim 

99 / 394 / 1 2-2-3 1835 

99 / 394 / 2 2-2-3 Elim 

99 / 394 / 3 2-2-3 Elim 

99 / 395 (–) 4-4-3 Elim 

99 / 395 / 3 2-2-3 1835 

7 Arm / CCA (6-4-6) 3 •2427 

7 Arm / CCB (6-4-6) 3 2125 

7 Arm / CCR (5-4-6) 3 •2227 

7 Arm / 814 TD 3-2-6 [4] Elim 

9 / 47 6-6-3 1837 

9 / 39 6-6-3 1836 

30 / 117 (4-4-3) 2730 

30 / 119 (4-4-3) 3131 

30 / 743 Tnk (2-1-6) 3 3131 

30 / 120 6-6-3 2432 

30 / 526 2-2-6 2531 

30 / 99 (Nor.) 2-2-3 2531 

102 Cav / 38 (+) 4-3-7 1838 


190 FA S-(2)-1 2732 

187 FA S-(2)-1 2034 

406 FA S-(2)-1 2134 

XVIII Corps 

82 / 504 4-6-3 3030 

82 / 505 (3-4-3) 3029 

82 / 508 4-6-3 2823 

82 / 325G (3-4-3) 3023 

101 / 501 4-6-3 •3314§ 

101 / 502 (3-4-3) •3514§ 

101 / 506 4-6-3 •3415§ 

101 / 327G 4-6-3 3312§ 

3 Arm / CCB (6-4-6) 3 2931 

3 Arm / 643 TD 3-2-7 [3] W1025 

3 Arm / CCR (6-4-6) 3 3925 

3 Arm / TF (2-1-6) 2 3625 

517 Airborne 4-6-3 SM-W2932 

509 Airborne 2-2-3 3625 

551 Airborne 2-2-3 3232 

VII Corps 

84 / 334 5-6-3 W1323 

84 / 335 5-6-3 W1522 

84 / 771 Tnk 4-3-6 3 W1522 

84 / 333 5-6-3 W1529 

84 / 638 TD 3-2-6 [4] W1525 

3rd Army 

10 Arm / CCA 9-6-6 3 2104 

10 Arm / CCB (6-4-6) 3 3414§ 


10 Arm / CCR (5-4-6) 3 1805 

10 Arm / 609 TD 3-2-7 [3] Elim 

4 Arm / CCA 7-4-6 3 3101 

4 Arm / CCB 6-4-6 3 3703 

4 Arm / CCR 8-6-6 3 3302 

4 Arm / 704 TD 3-2-7 [3] 3302 

Independent 

51 Eng 1-2-3 W1224 

158 Eng 1-2-3 Elim 

299 Eng 1-2-3 Elim 

705 TD 3-2-7 [3] •3512§ 

740 Tnk 3-2-6 3 Elim 

29 Inf Regt 3-4-3 3840 

XXX CORPS BRITISH 

SAS (–) 1-1-7 W3028 

29 Arm / 8 RB 2-2-6 W3026 

29 Arm / 2 F&FY 3-2-6 3 W3033 

29 Arm / 3 RTR 3-2-6 3 W2924 

29 Arm / 23 Hus 3-2-6 3 W3219 

Arriving this Turn 13 (22AM) 

5 / 10 6-6-3 BC 

26 / 101 5-6-3 BC 

26 / 104 5-6-3 BC 

26 / 328 5-6-3 BC 

26 / 735 Tnk 4-3-6 3 BC 

26 / 818 TD 3-2-6 [3] BC 

80 / 317 6-6-3 BC 

80 / 318 6-6-3 BC 

80 / 319 6-6-3 BC 

80 / 702 Tnk 4-3-6 3 BC 

80 / 610 TD 3-2-6 [4] BC 

XII / 182 FA S-(2)-1 BC 

30 / 823 TD 3-2-6 [3] H 

3 Arm / CCA 9-6-6 3 H 

Ind Thrasher 1-2-3 F 

British Units arriving: 

34 Tnk (–) 6-4-6 3 FG 

43 / 129 5-7-3 FG 

43 / 130 5-7-3 FG 

43 / 214 5-7-3 FG 

Battalions, TFs and Remnants 

Inf Bn 1-2-3 3323 

Para Bn 1-2-3 3512§ 

Para Bn 1-2-3 2826 

Para Bn 1-2-3 2927 

TF 2-2-6 3 3323 

TF 2-2-6 3 3922 

TF 2-2-6 3 2627 

TF 2-2-6 3 2522 

Rem Inf 1-2-3 1833 

Rem Armor 2-2-6 2 1805 

Rem Armor 2-2-6 2 3514§ 

( ) = reduced strength 

• = Starts with Improved Position 

SM= Starts in Strategic Movement 

§ = Surrender Level 1


PLAYER’S NOTES: 

Here are a few pointers to help first time players: 

GERMAN PLAYER: 

1. Allow the 12th SS to slide around Elsenborn and head west as 

soon as possible—don’t get involved in a costly battle for Elsenborn 

or even Bullingen. 

2. I’ve found the Monschau attack direction to be a dead end. Don’t 

try to push that sector. 

3. Houfallize is critically important. Once that town is captured the 

whole board seems to open up with possibilities. 

4. Stretch the American line until it snaps! Do this by constantly 

heading west and bypassing some American units. Keep pushing 

down every road forcing the Americans to thin themselves out. 

5. It almost seems easier to reach the Meuse if you bottle up the 

101st Airborne in Bastogne rather than push it back to the forest 

belt between St. Hubert and La Roche. 

6. Send the 3rd Panzergrenadier Division and the 2nd SS Panzer 

Division west without delay. Those units will be needed badly to 

expand any breakout that occurs west of Bastogne. 

7. The 116th Panzer Division has the most interesting options. Send 

it against St-Vith and that town will crumble quickly, send it to 

Houffalize and your breakout will come a day sooner. I tend to favor 

the Houfallize option, but both directions have their merits. 

8. Be sure to prepare yourself for Patton’s 3rd Army’s arrival from 

the south. You will definitely need the Führer Grenadier Brigade 

plus a few independent tank units for this. 

9. Don’t attack the two regiments of the 106th on the Schnee 

Eifel—just isolate them and they will soon surrender. 

10. 1-1 and 2-1 attacks can often be successful if you have elite 

and or Tank Units involved in the attack. 

11. Pin some American units with 2-1 attacks (and hope for an 

engaged result) while you hit flanking units with higher odds. 

12. Don’t let the Allied player read this list. 

ALLIED PLAYER: 

1. Read the German list. 

2. CCB of the 9th Armored: This is a critical unit. If you send it to 

the St-Vith sector, as it was historically, you have a good chance 

at holding St-Vith throughout the 17th. If you send it to block the 

1st SS, you’ll stimy that divisions breakout but you may lose the 

unit. Hard to make a recommendation. 

3. Send the two artillery units of 5th Corps to the Elsenborn area 

on Turn 2. This is crucial if you want to hold Elsenborn. 

4. Hold the south edge—don’t send any units of the 4th Infantry 

or the 109th Regiment west. It’s not crucial that you defend the 

Redange-Arlon area, because the German player will rarely have 

the units to send there. But hold in front of Junglinster. 

5. Its not a huge upset if you don’t win the race to Bastogne. Deploy 

the airborne units in the forest belt between St. Hubert and 

La Roche. 

6. Garrison Liege with at least one unit. 

7. Use your Roadblocks in the 5th Panzer Army sector to prevent 

the Germans from getting to Bastogne too fast. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Books: 

Toland, John, Battle The Story of the Bulge. Excellent reading and a good 

place to start to learn about the battle. 

Cole, Hugh M. The Ardennes: The Battle of the Bulge. The United States 

Army in World War II. The European Theater of Operation. 

Dupuy, Trevor N., Hitler’s Last Gamble: The Battle of the Bulge, December 

1944–January 1945. 

Dupuy, R. Ernest. St. Vith: Lion in the Way. Washington, D.C., 1949 

Marshall, S. L. A. Bastogne; The Story of the First Eight Days… This 

is excellent reading and highly recommended. You can find it on the 

internet. 

Eisenhower, John S. D., Bitter Woods, The Battle of the Bulge. New 

York, 1969. 

Astor, Gerald, A Blood-Dimmed Tide. Interesting for the many personal 

accounts of the battle. 

Blair, Clay. Ridgway’s Paratroopers: The American Airborne in World 

War II. 

Johnston, Wesley. The US Army Armor School’s The Defense of St. Vith, 

Belgium. 

Whiting, Charles, Death of a Division, Stein and Day, 1980. 

Evans, Gary F. The 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment at Bastogne, 

Belgium. 

MacDonald, Charles B. A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the 

Battle of the Bulge. New York, 1985. 

Patton, George S., War As I knew It. Boston, 1947. 

Quarrie, Bruce, The Ardennes Offensive, Vols 4, 5, 8, 12,and 13. Osprey. 

Stanton, Shelby L. Order of Battle U.S. Army, World War II. Novato, 

CA 1984. 

Archives: 

Luettwitz, Heinrich von. Commitment of the XLVII Panzer Corps in the 

Ardennes 1944-1945. MS # A-939. This is an excellent day-by-day account 

of each of the divisions of the corps. 

Luettwitz, Heinrich von. XLVII Panzer Corps in the Ardennes Offensive. 

MS # A-940. This gives the corps commander’s opinions and answers 

questions given to him. Worthwhile. 

Kniess, Baptist. LXXXV Corps (1 Dec 44-10 Jan 45). MS # B-030. 

Brandenberger, Erich. Seventh Army (16 Dec 1944 - 16 Jan 1945. MS 

# A-934 

Waldenburg, Siegfried Von. Commitment of the 116th Panzer Division 

in the Ardennes 1944/45. MS # A-873. 

Kraas, Hugo. 12th SS Panzer Division “Hitler Jugend” in the Ardennes 

Offensive. MS # 522. 

Panzer Lehr Division Situation Maps: 23 Dec. 1944 - Jan. 45. MS # A- 

944. Five decent maps showing the location of this division in the later 

part of the offensive. 

Diebig, Wilhelm. 277 Volks Grenadier Division (Nov 44 - Jan 45). MS 

# B-273. 

Priess, H. Commitment of the 1 SS Panzer Corps During the Ardennes 

Offensive (16 Dec 1944 - 25 Jan 1945). MS # A-877. A good day-by-day 

account of this corps. 

Staudinger, Walter. The Artillery Command of the 6 Panzer Army During 

the Ardennes Offensive, 1944-1945. MS # B-347. Not as helpful as 

it sounds. 

Engel, Gerhard. 12th Volks Grenadier Division (3 - 29 Dec 44). MS # 

B-733. Very interesting and detailed account of this division. 

Krueger, Walter, Offensive in the Ardennes from 16 Dec 44-2 Feb 45. 

Games: 

Parker, Danny. Hitler’s Last Gamble. 3W Publishing. 

Sinigaglio, Bruno. The Battle of the Bulge. The Avalon Hill Game 

Company. 


1ST EDITION DESIGNER’S NOTES 

“Most history is guessing, and the rest is prejudice.” 

—Will Durant 


General Design Philosophy: Keep it as simple and as clear as you 

possibly can. Every rule has to be worth the trouble of learning it; 

every exception to the rule has to be worth the trouble of confusing 

the reader. Keep the number of modifiers to a level that can be easily 

remembered—three. If I forget to use a rule during playtesting then it 

goes to the chopping block. Don’t design a simulation that masquerades 

as a game, but rather design a game that can stand among the 

simulations. 

Why a New Bulge Game: This game started as an invitation from 

John Kranz to develop a deluxe game on the subject. I had worked 

on many other Bulge games for other designers, so I knew what was 

already out there. None of the games had low stacking, which I felt 

deserved investigation. I also wanted to show tank types and their effects, 

which only Hitler’s Last Gamble had attempted to show before. 

But most importantly, I was eager to study the Ardennes terrain and 

depict it for a hex game. 

Map: I thank Randy Heller who allowed me to use the same map 

Danny Parker used for Hitler’s Last Gamble, which he had received 

from Hugh Cole (author of the U.S. Army’s The Battle of the Bulge). 

The map was scanned and visually enhanced before I drew over it. 

This was supplemented by a number of present day 1:100,000 and 

1:150,000 maps of the Eifel, Luxembourg and Ardennes to confirm 

topography and roads. I also had the US Army GSGS 1:100,000 maps 

for the entire area. For rivers, I used a hydro map of the Ardennes from 

the Atlas de Belgique. 

The Semois: I think the most interesting map discovery was what a 

major barrier the Semois River is. I can now understand why Hitler 

felt that the 7th Army could handle protecting the entire southern 

flank—the Semois will do most of the work. 

Fuel Shortage: The Germans encountered serious problems with fuel. 

Not only the lack of it, but the difficulty they had in getting it to their 

forward units. The two Fuel Shortage tables attempt to show all the 

following as effortlessly as possible: 

1. That supply became more difficult the farther west the advance got 

(“West of the Ourthe River” result). 

2. How the supply situation deteriorated after the weather cleared (the 

+1 die roll modifier). 

3. That a commander of a panzer corps had some flexibility with 

fuel—if he saw that he only had enough fuel for one division, he could 

decide which of his two panzer divisions to supply (which is why, as 

best I could, I paired up the panzer divisions with their corps). 

Blowing Bridges: These are pretty standard bridge blowing rules. The 

main goal was to prevent the Allied player from blowing bridges far 

behind his lines. Bridges were usually blown at the last minute. 

Building Bridges: Why aren’t there limits on the number of bridges 

the German player is allowed to build? The Germans definitely had 

limits on the number of bridges they could build, but to impose those 

on a player would lead to some ahistorical situations. For example, 

the German 7th Army built four bridges in their sector—one per division; 

but most players would only build one or two if they had limits 

imposed. And if the German army really needed one more bridge to 

make a crucial advance, I’m sure something would be found. But most 

of all, I did not care to see the map cluttered up with a score of Blown 

Bridge markers. Fix ‘em and be done with it! 


29 

Stacking: The major theme of this game is low stacking. Divisions in 

this campaign would cover a large front and a single regiment would 

often hold up the enemy for a significant amount of time. If the historical 

Bastogne perimeter is equated in game terms, it would place 

a regiment in every other hex—not three in the town of Bastogne; 

which some games show. Just changing this one rule gives this Bulge 

game a whole new feel. 

ZOC Bonds: This rule allows a salient to form which is not possible 

with standard ZOC rules. With ZOC bonds, a unit can be surrounded 

on three sides and still have an escape route. This rule also prevents 

the gamey tactic of two units surrounding an enemy unit. 

Tactical Movement: I needed this rule because MP costs can add up 

fast in some odd situations. For example, an infantry unit exiting a 

ZOC (+1 MP), and moving two hexes through forest (2 MPs each) is 

5 MPs. Since two hexes only equate to 3 miles—something that most 

infantrymen could accomplish in 8 hours—I wanted to make that move 

possible and the unit still be able to attack. The rule also works well 

for motorized units traversing poor roads and Traffic markers—always 

allowing them to move at least 2 hexes. 

Extended Movement: This allows you to increase your MA by two 

MPs if you don’t end in an EZOC. If marching behind the front, an 

infantry unit should be able to march 16 miles a day (10 hexes in this 

game). So in a half day period an infantry unit can move 3 hexes (3 

MPs) if it attacks, and 5 hexes (5 MPs) if it’s on the march. 

Truck Markers: What is the logic behind giving up Strategic Movement 

markers to motorize infantry? The biggest issue is road space— 

you can only have so many units moving through the Ardennes road 

net at a time. A panzer or armored division moving along a road takes 

up about 60 miles of road space. This equates to four units taking up 

about 36 hexes on the map. So, when you are moving 10 units with 

Strategic Movement markers, you are actually filling up about 90–100 

road hexes at any one time. 

Forest Roads (2 MPs): This rule came about as I studied Panzer Lehr’s 

historically slow progress through the first two days. Without any 

enemy resistance the division took 4 turns to travel 12 to 14 hexes. Its 

line of march went through the Luxembourg forest, where serpentine 

roads and mud slowed vehicles to the rate of the marching troops. 

Defensive Artillery Table: This rule developed as a means to avoid 

the defender’s artillery shift invariably cancelling the attacker’s artillery 

shift (very boring). The present rule adds variety and also allowed 

me to introduce the concept of a Time on Target result, which was 

occasionally devastating to the Germans. 

Morale: Note that some morale values go up on their reverse side. We 

did this to reflect those units that hardened into veteran units during 

the campaign. 

The CRT: Notice that the attacker will lose more steps than the defender 

(on average) in the 2-1 to 4-1 columns. This is intentional—I 

wanted the attacker to be eventually worn down if he does nothing 

but frontal assaults. 

TQ Ratings and the Armor Shift: This idea was inspired from Danny 

Parker’s Hitler’s Last Gamble. I liked his idea, but I wanted to make it 

more user friendly. I originally gave the defender a shift for having a 

superior TQ rating than the attacker but found this to be too much of 

a dampener on American attacks. In a way, cancelling the attacker’s 

shift is like a shift. 

Fire Fight: This came about in the later stages of the design as I attempted 

to find an easy way to include the effects of morale in combat 

without burdening the players with a morale modifier or a morale


comparison procedure every time they calculated combat odds. In 

the present system, players need only check morale for combat when 

requested by the CRT. The Fire Fight Table also fits in nicely with two 

other design elements: (1) it showed that a player who was willing to 

risk higher casualties could achieve faster progress; and (2) it allowed 

a D1 result even in the lower odds columns. 

Command and Control: This rule kills two birds with one stone—it 

keeps players from breaking up their divisions in every direction and 

also reflects the reality of command and control. Many other games 

give a shift or a die modifier for divisional integrity, but I wanted to 

keep shifts and die modifiers to a minimum. 

Engaged Results: Some felt that the attacker should be engaged too. 

But the attacker has already spent his turn attacking the defender, so 

now the defender must spend his turn defending. Remember, an engaged 

unit may attack—so the counterattack could end up engaging 

the original attacker. 

Attacker’s Advantage: I’ve always liked the “Engaged” rules typical 

of Bulge games, but being an impatient person I’ve never liked getting 

that same result two turns in a row! I added the Attacker’s Advantage 

rule just to limit that occurrence from happening too much. The unforeseen 

by-product was a nice bit of detail to combat. 

Determined Defense: This is an old SPI rule in disguise. In many 

of their WWII games you could take an extra step loss to cancel one 

hex of a retreat. This rule and table essentially does the same thing 

but adds uncertainty to it. Players should always use this rule when 

their units are surrounded and have no retreat route, because the EX 

result will inflict a step loss on the attacker (reflecting how dangerous 

a trapped defender can be). 

Advance After Combat: It started as “A Advance 2,” and (of course) 

the first hex of the advance had to be into the defender’s vacated 

hex. But a problem soon developed with tank units attacking into 

hexes they could not enter (see the example below). Just because the 

defender has craftily placed his defender on each side of the bridge 

hexside shouldn’t prevent the tank unit from attacking the bridge. 

I originally felt that to allow units to advance in any direction was 

heresy! But I tried it anyway, and it soon became clear that allowing 

units to advance in any direction was similar to the way they moved 

in an Exploitation Phase—so why not? The more I played with it the 

more I liked it. German players will quickly learn that this is a key 

tool in their chances to win. 

Surrender: This rule is pulled from Campaign to Stalingrad, but 

greatly simplified. Units tended to surrender in groups and the greener 

they were, the faster the group would surrender. One tough unit could 

influence the others into holding out. 

Traffic Markers: I wanted to avoid traffic rules that allowed a player 

to circumvent the problem by carefully sequencing the movement 

of his units—I didn’t want players to become traffic control police. 

Besides representing traffic, this rule allows some forest road sections 

to be a muddy mess (4 MPs), and it creates some variations in how 

fast and how far reinforcements arrive (the 7th Armored and the two 

American airborne divisions especially). Their biggest use, however, 

is in strangling a narrow advance. For example, let’s say the German 

player bypasses Bastogne and darts towards the Meuse along a single 

road. The Allied player can place two Traffic markers on the road the 

first turn and then maybe two more in the next. The single road is now 

a traffic nightmare. The lead German units can keep moving forward 

but follow-up units can’t keep up. Reversing direction for the lead 

units is now an extremely difficult undertaking (just like it was for 

the 116th Panzer Division when it made its fateful turnaround near 

Houffalize). Players will notice that the more roads you have open, 

the less effective the Traffic markers become—which is the way they 

should work. 

Roadblocks: As much as I wanted those Traffic markers to represent 

all the delay factors, they just weren’t simulating roadblocks very well. 

These two markers came late in the design and really helped the Allied 

player in slowing down the Panzer Lehr Division’s march through the 

Luxembourg forest, and became a welcome tool for both players in 

plugging holes. The fact that they could use the same rules as Traffic 

markers was a big plus. 

St-Vith Bottleneck: Why are the hexes nowhere near St-Vith? Those 

three hexes experienced traffic delays throughout the campaign (especially 

the bridge at Dasburg). Tying them to St-Vith was somewhat 

arbitrary, but I wanted to give the German player some reward for 

taking that crucial road junction. Even without the Bottleneck rule, 

players playing the German side will notice how dramatically the map 

opens up when St-Vith is captured. 

Night Turns: This developed from my initial Kampfgruppe Peiper 

rule, which allowed those units a night move on the 16th. Not being a 

fan of special rules, I wanted to turn it into a general rule. The result 

added a wonderful element to the game. Night turns are a very valuable 

EXAMPLE: The two Combat Commands attack at half strength 

(they cannot enter those hexes). If the attack succeeds they can 

advance in any direction—it’s not required to enter the defender’s 

vacated hex as in other games. 

At Start Movement Restrictions: The following are the reasons 

I placed movement restrictions on units on Turn 1. 

ALLIED UNITS: 

9Arm/CCA was the reserve for V Corps. 

9 Arm/CCR was the reserve for VIII Corps. 

2 Division was in the middle of an offensive to capture the Roer 

River Dams. 

28 Division: The provisional battalion that starts in Wiltz represents 

the HQ battalion, the divisional marching band and scratch forces 

pulled together for the defense of the town. 

106 Division: The two regiments of the 106th in the Schnee Eifel 

occupied important ground for a later offensive into Germany. 

GERMAN UNITS: 

The 5FJ/13 Regt. had no boats to cross the Our on the first turn. 

The 1SS, 12SS and Pz Lehr were held back for exploitation. 



31 

tool for creating a breakthrough in the mid game if the Americans have 

managed to form a solid line. I’ve also used it to capture a Meuse river 

bridge (in somewhat a coup de main). With a little planning a player 

can put together a powerful double punch with two turns in a row. 

Victory Conditions: The German attack in the Ardennes was an all or 

nothing affair. I didn’t include a partial German victory for making it 

only “so far,” because a player would be tempted to stop, hunker down 

and entrench before the Meuse—which would never have happened. 

Can the Germans Win? If the German player reaches the Meuse 

by the 21st or 22nd of December he has a fair chance at crossing. 

The amount of Allied reinforcements arriving around the 22nd and 

23rd makes crossing on the 23rd difficult. Allied reinforcements and 

Allied air power will make crossing on the 24th and later extremely 

difficult (unless the Allied player has lost a lot of units). Most German 

players will have either won by the 23rd or will consider throwing in 

the towel. 

Why No Generals: It is hard to determine the actual impact corps or 

divisional generals had on the outcome of the battle. If a division performed 

well or poorly, credit or blame often went to the commanding 

general, but in actuality the actions of subordinates, soldiers, or pure 

“chance” could have been much more decisive. Patton is the only general 

I could definitely cite that had an influence on his soldiers—they 

seemed to be motivated by simply being told they were part of his 

army. However, something like this is best shown by the morale ratings 

of his divisions rather than a counter. Finally, the players play 

the role of the generals. 

Supply: Why at the end of the turn? This gives players one turn to 

get back into supply before they run out. If you become surrounded 

you still have the fuel in your tanks and the ammunition at hand to 

last 12 hours. 

Playtesters: My poor playtesters. They put up with so many changes 

and adjustments. I was constantly tinkering with the CRT, the strength 

of the Engineers, and the maximum DCB limit, etc. All were of great 

assistance, but two playtesters stand out: Marty Sample and Lew Ritter. 

If you ever see the names of these gentlemen in the credits for a game, 

you can rest assured the game has had good care. 

Miscellaneous Notes on Units: The two heavy U.S. armored divisions 

(2nd and 3rd) had a brigade structure, but evidence shows they operated 

as Combat Commands during this battle. Likewise with the two 

brigades of the British Guards Armoured Division—one was armored 

and the other was motorized infantry, but in reality they operated as 

two combined arms groups. 

The 4 TQ on the Fuh Bglt/GD/2 unit is not a mistake. This unit contained 

about 43 Mk IVs carrying the L70 cannon. 

The 560th PzJ Battalion was an army unit attached to the 12th SS. 

The real Kampfgruppe Peiper had only one battalion of motorized 

infantry. I added the 1SS/1(-) panzergrenadier regiment for play balance 

sake. 

DESIGNER’S NOTES FOR THE 

SECOND EDITION 

I’m really grateful for the opportunity to upgrade this game. I’ve had a 

lot of positive comments about it since its publication, but there were 

a lot of minor blemishes that surfaced over time that began to bother 

me. I also received constructive criticism from a number of players 

who enjoyed it but saw items that could be improved upon. All the 

feedback was helpful. I’ve gone through all the components of the 

game and tried to improve them without increasing the cost of the 

game. I’ve itemized below the changes in this 2nd Edition. 

MAP CHANGES 

Since doing the original game map in 2003, I’ve had the opportunity 

to travel extensively through the Ardennes. Seeing first-hand some 

of the valleys and roads in the area, I noticed some errors and over 

simplifications I made in the original. This 2nd edition has allowed 

me to fix those and make many other minor alterations. Perhaps the 

most extensive changes on the map occur in the Ambleve River valley 

around Stoumont and on the Our River near Dasburg. 

COUNTER CHANGES 

The counters also received many small changes. All the American 

divisions with 7 Attack Factors were knocked down to 6—I just didn’t 

think they deserved that kind of offensive power. All American CCRs 

and Task Forces were reduced by one Attack Factor. The 1st Division’s 

defense strength was increased to 7 to help it stand out in the defensive 

battles around Elsenborn Ridge. Most of the German Pz IV battalions 

are now rated 5-4-6 instead of the 4-4-6. The range on the German 

Nebelwerfer brigades were reduced from 3 to 2, but are now allowed 

to move one hex on their Fired side. 

RULE CHANGES 

8.0 Stacking: The stacking rule has been simplified and as it turned 

out, the simplification made it a much better rule. Each side may now 

stack only two steps of Silhouetted Tank Units in a hex—divisional 

identity does not matter. The German player now has full freedom to 

add the kind of tank support he wants to a stack, up to the two step 

limit. The rule makes these units excellent support units—allowing a 

huge increase to the strength of a stack, but prohibiting players from 

creating killer stacks of three or more silhouetted tank units. 

10.0 ZOC Bonds: Artillery units can no longer form ZOC Bonds. 

13.4 Capture of Entry Hexes: A lot of questions in the 1st edition 

came in about Off Map Boxes and Blocking so I attempted to clarify 

those rules. To that end I’ve added Blocking Position spaces on the map 

and explicitly laid out the movement and combat options for each off 

map space. Very little in actual rule changes occurred in this section. 

The 15 Factor Limit: Wargames shouldn’t be about piling as many 

factors into a battle as possible. That is unrealistic and causes a player 

to spend more time moving his units—counting and recounting hexes 

to see if he can get another couple factors into an attack. The 15 Factor 

Limit puts a stop to that. I like knowing that a hex is relatively safe 

as long as I get 8 factors in there (counting DCBs). If I really want 

to make it safe I’ll put a tank unit in there and have an artillery unit 

nearby—but I don’t want to waste time wondering if I should put 1 or 

2 more factors in there in case my opponent decides to make a mass 

attack. As the attacker, I like knowing that once I’ve moved 15 factors 

up against the hex I’ve done all I can and I can move on to other parts 

of the battlefield. If I really want that attack to succeed I’ll try to put 

in a good tank unit, support it with one or two artillery units and have 

more units behind the front line ready to exploit any openings. That 

should be enough. 

15.1 Defensive Combat Bonuses (DCBs): This rule changed so now 

DCBs may not exceed the defender’s combined defense strength. In 

the 1st edition there was no limit. 

16.2 Fire Fight Table: The TQ and Elite modifiers are no longer cumulative. 

The best DRM the attacker can get is now –1. In the original 

edition the German player was using his elite Panther tanks to get a 



–2 DRM and getting far too many D1 results. 

16.7 Determined Defense: The DCB value of the defender’s hex is 

now a DRM to the table. So if you are defending in a city hex (DCB = 

4) you modify your Determined Defense die roll by –4. This was done 

to highlight the value of towns and cities. Town and City fighting now 

becomes a very costly affair and something to be avoided if you need 

to keep your loses down. Note that an Elite unit (–1) in a City hex (–4) 

has an excellent chance of turning a retreat into an EX result. 

18.1 Disruption Effects: Disruption is now a shift instead of a unit 

losing an additional step if it retreats again. 

18.4 Broken Status: One of the Living Rule changes back in 2005 

was to add in a Rout result. I’ve incorporated it in the 2nd edition but 

refined it and renamed it Broken instead of Rout. 

19.4 Breakthrough Combat: There is now no limit to the number of 

times a Breakthrough Group can earn the ability to attack again, as 

long as they can continue to roll a D1* result. I did this because I don’t 

want the defender to ever feel safe by putting weak units in the front 

line—there should be a chance they can all be overrun. 

21.1 The Armor Shift: The rule is the same except the TQ numbers 

were taken off of all recon units. Recon units were for screening—a 

defensive action—and to allow them the armor shift was wrong. 

21.2 Red TQ Numbers: All turret-less tanks and tank destroyers are 

now rated with Red TQ numbers. To compensate for this, red TQ 

numbers now qualify for the Armor Shift, but they must reduce their 

TQ number by one when attacking. 

21.4 Recon Units: The special rule for recon units was changed so 

they now treat D1 and D1* results as a DR4 result (the old benefit of 

treating Engaged results as DR1 results was of dubious value). With 

this protection they are now more useful in screening. Note that they 

can still be eliminated in EX and A1/D1 results. 

22.6 Artillery Support in General: Artillery units may now only 

support units with the same army/corps identification color. This helps 

prevent some unrealistic repositioning of corps artillery by cunning 

Allied players far from their corps troops. 

22.8 Defensive Artillery Support: The defender is now limited to using 

only one artillery unit in each battle. In the original game the Allied 

player was shutting down far too many German attacks by using two 

artillery units and having a 33% chance of the ToT result. 

23.4 Out of Supply Effects: The CRT column shift for being OOS now 

only applies to the attacker. The defender now defends at full strength 

until they surrender. This rule will help the 101st Airborne Division 

hold out at Bastogne and Peiper hold out at La Gleize. 

Also, OOS units are now eliminated if they retreat 3 or more hexes. This 

represents a rout of an already suffering unit. This new rule helps the 

Allied player hunt down and eliminate the pesky von der Heydte unit. 

Before it took up to three units to effectively deal with that unit. 

25.22 Replacements: Units that arrive from the dead pile must now 

be placed within 5 hexes of another unit with the same Corps/Army 

identification color. This rule was added to make it less likely that Allied 

replacements would always pop up right in front of the German 

advance on the Meuse. 

27.1 Engineer Units: These units are now eliminated if forced to 

retreat 3 or more hexes in a single combat. This was done to show 

that these units where for emergency purposes only and were not used 

for prolonged combat. 

27.3 British Units: The 29th Armoured Brigade is now allowed to 

cross the Meuse if the German player crosses the Meuse. In addition, 

if the German player manages to exit units off the map towards Antwerp, 

then the Allied player must withdraw British units to counter 

the threat. This will help the German player if he is able to exit units 

off the map. 

30.0 Victory Conditions: Bouillon and Neufchateau were removed 

as VP locations from the West map, as well as four other hexes on 

the East Map. The two on the West Map were not in the direction 

of Antwerp and the hexes removed on the East Map had no military 

value. Capture or isolation of Bastogne has been added to the German 

Victory Conditions to provide incentive for the Allied player to hold 

and then relieve Bastogne. 

33.1 Roadblocks: This rule has been moved to the Optional section 

because they are complicated and not essential to the game. Also, with 

the addition of the Wooded-Rough hexes to the Our River they were 

no longer needed in the initial setup. However, they are fun to use and 

recommended for experienced players. 

The Patton Counterattack Scenario 

I was very surprised to learn how exciting the situation of December 

22nd was. Both sides are poised to make strong attacks. The Germans 

have three panzer divisions on the west map edge and ready to head 

to the Meuse. They also have the 2SS and 9SS ready to punch into the 

Allied line, and the Fuhrer’s Begleit Brigade is in position to collapse 

the St. Vith Goose Egg. The two Fuel Shortage die rolls on the first 

turn make the German initial move different in every game. 

On the Allied side they have British divisions arriving to man the Meuse 

crossings, three of Patton’s divisions coming in from the south (with 

more to follow) and a number of American divisions coming from the 

north. A huge influx of strength to attempt to stop the German drive. 

On top of that you have the drama of two isolated pockets—Peiper’s 

Kampfgruppe and the Bastogne perimeter. Peiper is pretty well sealed 

up, but the Allied player should be seriously worried about the 101st. 

A couple of bad die rolls and McAuliffe will be considering those 

surrender terms. 

CHARTS AND TABLES 

Surrender Table: A “≤ 0” row was added to the table and the “Air 

Drop” result was pushed down to that row. So now the regiments of 

the 106th on the Schnee Eifel are less likely to hold out for an excessively 

long time. 

Determined Defense Table: This table was slightly modified to account 

for the new DCB DRM (see 16.7 above). 

Fuel Shortage Tables: Minor changes were made to these tables to 

better distribute the shortage results. 

Disengagement Table: The chances for a successful Disengagement 

are a little better. Now it happens on a 1-3 rather than a 1 or 2. This just 

felt better. An Elite tank or recon unit can almost always disengage, 

while a low moral infantry unit needs to roll a 1 or a 2. 

Rally Die Rolls: The chances for a successful Rally when adjacent to 

an enemy unit are now slightly more difficult (1 or 2 instead of 1-3). 

Thanks for your interest in the game. If you have any questions please 

check out the Ardennes ‘44 folder at Consimworld or contact me directly 

at Simon7itch@aol.com 

—Mark Simonitch 



33 

Extended Example of Play 

The purpose of the following example of play is to help players get 

started and to clarify many of the rule concepts in the game. The first 

illustration can be used by players to help them set up the game. The 

strategy shown in this example were often used by the designer during 

playtesting, but should not be considered to represent the best possible 

moves. The optional 15-Facor Limit is used in the example. 

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS EXAMPLE: 

arty: Artillery KG: Kampfgruppe 

Bn: Battalion Pz: Panzer 

Div: Division Rgt: Regiment 

FJ: Fallschirmjäger VGD: Volksgrenadier Division 

German Turn 1 (16 AM) 

Movement Phase 

The German Turn 1 illustration shows the game at the end of the German 

Movement Phase. A few things to note: 

1. The 212/316 Rgt takes advantage of rule 29.2 and crosses the Sauer 

below Echternach. 

2. The 276/986 Rgt has moved into the Ernz Noire—a wooded rough 

hex that prevents a ZOC Bond forming between the two American 

units on each side. 

3. The FJ regiment and the 26th VG regiment must use Tactical Movement 

to exit the non-road Wooded Rough hexes. 

4. The Recon unit cannot cross the unbridged river hexside (the bridge 

at Gemünd starts blown (but under construction). One regiment of 

the 26th VG and all units of Pz Lehr are frozen on Turn 1. 

5. The units of the 560 VGD did not move, one of the regiments could 

have moved into the Wooded Rough hex to outflank the U.S. battalion, 

but this would have reduced the odds for the upcoming battle. 

6. Note that the two Silhouetted Tank units of the 116 Pz cannot enter 

or exit a West Wall hex unless via a road (11.5) and so are unable 

to move adjacent to an American unit. Only one Tank unit of the 

116th Pz can take part in combat on the first turn. 

7. Note that these units moved one hex from EZOC to EZOC. This is allowed 

as long as enemy ZOC Bonds were not entered or crossed. 

Rally Phase 

There are no disrupted units, so this phase is skipped. 

Combat Phase 

Determined Defense will only be considered in this example if the 

defender has more than one step or is surrounded. German Artillery 

units will be flipped as they are used. 

A. During the Combat Phase three units of the 212 VGD plus one 

artillery unit attack the 4/12/3 Bn in Echternach. The 212 Fusilier Bn 

is not used in this attack, but will be used in Attack-B. Defender’s 

DCB is +3 but only +2 may be used (15.1). The regiment of the 212th 

attacking across the river is halved, the others are full strength. The 

odds are 10 to 4 + arty shift = 3-1. A die roll of 3 gives an FF result. 

The German player decides to push forward and uses the Fire Fight 

Table rather than take an Eng result. A die roll of 5 results in an Eng+. 

The defender is engaged and one stack of attackers gain an Attacker’s 

Advantage marker. It is placed on the 212/320 Rgt on the German 

side of the Saure. Note: you can see many of the combat results and 

advances by viewing the Allied Turn 1 illustration. 

B. Two regiments of the 276 VGD plus the Fusilier battalion of the 212 

VGD, plus one artillery unit attack the 4/12/2 Bn at Berdorf. Note that 

the German regiment attacking across the Wooded Rough hexside is 

halved. Odds are 8 to 4 + arty = 3-1. The die roll is a 4, giving an EX 

result. The American battalion is eliminated and the German player 

picks the 276/988 (4-5-3) for the step loss. Since the defender’s hex 

is vacated, the German player may occupy the hex (no other advance 

is permitted on an EX). 

C. Three regiments of the 352 VGD and one artillery unit attack the 

28/109/3 Bn at the junction of the Our and Saure Rivers. Two of the 

regiments are halved attacking across river hexsides. Odds are 8 to 4 + 

arty shift = 3-1. The die roll is a 2, giving a DR2 result. The American 

battalion is retreated two hexes and becomes Disrupted. Note that 

the first hex of a retreat may enter an EZOC—as long as an enemy 

ZOC Bond is not entered or crossed. All three German regiments may 

advance one hex in any direction. A crucial advance by the 352/916 

completes the encirclement of the American battalion in Fouhren. 

D. The three units of the 5 FJ plus an artillery unit attack the American 

battalion in Fouhren. The two units attacking across the river are halved. 

The odds are 10 to 4 + arty shift = 3-1. A die roll of 6 results in an Eng. 

An Engaged marker is placed on the American battalion. 

E. Two regiments of the 26 VGD and one artillery unit attack the 

28/110/3 Bn at Hosingen. Note that the regiment attacking out of the 

Wooded Rough hex is halved. The odds are 8 to 4 + arty shift = 3-1. A 

die roll of 5 results in an FF(+1). The German player decides to make 

it an Engage result, rather than push the attack—an Engaged marker 

is placed on the American battalion. 

F. Both panzergrenadier regiments of the 2 Pz attack the 28/110/1 Bn 

at Marnach. One artillery unit is in support. Odds are 8 to 4 + arty shift 

= 3-1. A die roll of 1 gives a DR3 result. The American battalion is 

retreated three hexes and becomes Broken. The two panzergrenadier 

regiments get the Bonus Advance (two hexes). 

G. The 116Pz/60, two regiments of the 560 VGD, plus one artillery unit 

attack the 28/112/3 Bn at Sevenig. Odds are 13 to 4 + arty shift = 4-1. 

A die roll of 2, gives a DR3 result. The American battalion is retreated 

three hexes and becomes Broken. All three German units receive the 

Bonus Advance, but their opportunities are limited to one hex. 

H. Three units of the 116Pz plus one artillery unit attack the 28/112/1 

Bn at Lützkampen. The odds are 13 to 4 + tank shift + arty shift = 

5-1. The die roll is a 5 giving a FF result.The German player decides 

to push forward and selects the Elite Panther battalion as his Lead 

Unit. The Elite status provides a –1 modifier. The German player 

rolls a 2 (modified to 1) on the Fire Fight Table which results in a 

D1. The American battalion is eliminated and the three German units 

may advance one hex. The Panther battalion and the recon battalion 

advance into Lützkampen. 



I. Two regiments of the 62 VGD plus artillery attack the 106/424/1 

Bn in front of Winterspelt. Odds are 8 to 4 + arty shift = 3-1. A die roll 

of 6 results in an Eng. An Engaged marker is placed on the American 

battalion and no advance for the German units. 

J. One regiment of the 62 VGD, one regiment of the 18 VGD attack 

the 106/424/P Bn at Bleialf. Odds are 8 to 4 = 2-1. A die roll of 3 results 

in an EX. The provisional battalion is removed and the German player 

removes a step from one of his infantry regiments (his choice since no 

Armor Shift was used). Since all defenders were removed, the German 

player may occupy the defender’s vacated hex (Limited Advance). 

K. One regiment of the 18 VGD, the 244 Stg Brigade, an artillery 

unit and two regiments of the 3 FJ attack the 14Cav/18 squadron in 

the Losheim Gap. Total German factors = 16, which is reduced to 15 

due to the 15 Factor Limit. Odds are 15 to 4 + armor shift + arty shift 

= 5-1. A die roll of 1 results in a D1*. Since the cavalry squadron is 

in an IP it may not use its special ability and so is eliminated. The 

four German units may advance two hexes in any direction. Note that 

the German units may not advance across the Army Boundary Line 

although two of them attacked across it. Also note, that the 244th Stg 

Brigade may advance an additional hex if it follows the path of a road 

throughout its advance (Road Bonus). The 244th Stg may also conduct 

Breakthrough Combat against the artillery unit (3 factors to 2 with one 

shift for Armor) but the German player declines to do so. 

L. Two regiments of the 12 VGD with an artillery unit attack the 

99/394/1 Bn in hex 1430. Odds are 8 to 4 + arty shift = 3-1. The die 

roll is a 6, resulting in an Eng. The American player places an Engaged 

marker on the American battalion. 



35 

M. One regiment of the 12 VGD, plus the fusilier battalion, plus an 

artillery unit attack 99/393/1 Bn in hex 1432. Odds are 6 to 4 + 1 arty 

shifts = 2-1. A die roll of 1 results in a DR2. The American battalion 

is retreated two hexes and becomes disrupted. The two German units 

may advance one hex in any direction. 

N. Two regiments of the 277 VGD attack hex 1433 with one artillery 

unit in support. 8 to 4 + arty shift = 3-1. A die roll of 3 results in a 

FF. The German player decides to push forward and selects the green 

277/990 Rgt and rolls again. The Fire Fight Table die roll is modified 

+1 for the green unit. A die roll of 5 is increased to 6 giving an A1/Eng 

result. An Engaged marker is placed on the American battalion and a 

step is removed from the Lead Unit. 

326 VGD: Unless I’m feeling lucky, I don’t attack in this sector. The two 

artillery units will stay on their ready side, waiting for an opportune 

time or an Allied counterattack. 

The final tally of the turn is five American step losses to four German 

step losses. The American units, however, are mostly engaged or 

disrupted, making movement in their turn difficult. 

Traffic Marker Phase 

None—the German player does not begin to use his until the 17 A.M. 

turn. 

Supply and Isolation Phase 

All units are in supply. 



Allied Turn 1 (16 AM) 

The Allied Turn 1 illustration shows the positions of the Allied units 

after the Movement Phase and before the Rally Phase. You may also 

see German Turn 1 advances with this illustration. 

Artillery Supply Phase 

All Allied artillery units are already on their Ready side (none but the 

two near Monshau could fire during German Turn 1). 

Bridge Phase 

No bridge blowing allowed on 16th AM, PM or night. 


The Allied player makes the moves as shown in the illustration. A few 

things to notice: 

1. The VIII/333 Artillery group skedaddled to St-Vith. Its dotted path 

lines are not shown in the illustration to preserve clarity. 

2. The 14Cav/32 squadron moved down from Vielsalm to Schönberg. 

Its dotted path is also not shown to preserve clarity. 

3. The 106/423/2 Bn at Born moved 5 MPs taking advantage of Extended 

Movement (it didn’t end in an EZOC). 

4. The 9Arm/CCA created a Breakdown Unit (a Task Force). 

5. These units may not move on Turn 1. 

6. The tank battalion of the 28th Division created a Breakdown unit 

and sent it to Weiswampach. The remainder stayed in Clervaux. 

7. A regiment of the 106th created an infantry battalion. 

Rally Phase 

All Disrupted markers will come off the Allied units (none are adjacent 

to a German unit). The Broken units will become Disrupted. Allied 

units that were Disrupted/Broken were not allowed to reenter an EZOC 

and can only use Tactical Movement. 

Combat Phase 

The Allied player has some tough choices with his Engaged units—if 

he doesn’t move them they will be surrounded and destroyed, however, 

if he attempts to disengage them they may become Disrupted. 

A. The 4/12/3 in Echternach does not attempt to disengage and the 

marker is removed. 

B. The 28/110/3 in Hosingen attempts to disengage. The die roll is a 

1, allowing the battalion to retreat (one or two hexes). Since the unit 

is not disrupted in the disengagement attempt, it may stop in hex 2313 

or 2314 or continue on to 2414. Those three hexes are the only legal 

retreat paths. The Allied player retreats it to 2313. 

C. The 106/424/1 outside of Winterspelt is about to be surrounded, 

so a disengagement is attempted. The battalion is green so the die roll 

must be modified by +1. A die roll of 6 results in a “No + D.” The 

battalion is disrupted and the disengagement attempt is unsuccessful—no 

retreat is allowed. The Engagement marker is replaced with 

a Disruption marker. 

D & E. The two engaged battalions of the 99th are fine where they are and 

no disengagement is necessary. The Engaged markers are removed. 


Placement of the Allied Traffic markers on 16 AM is very critical. You 

want to slow up Pz Lehr, the 2 Pz and the 1SS. The six markers are 

placed in 2113, 1913, 2216, 1527, 1328 and 1129 (those hexes marked 

with a “T”). The Allied player then places his two Roadblock markers 

in the hexes marked with a “R”. These are legal placement hexes 

because they are currently not adjacent to a German unit, within four 

contiguous road hexes of an “in supply” Allied unit. Next, the Allied 



37 

player rolls two dice to see which two Traffic markers are removed 

(the roadblocks are not removed). He rolls a 2 and a 5—removing the 

markers in 2214, 1328. (See the German Turn 2 illustration to view 

which four markers remain.) 


The rapid advance of the 18 VGD has already surrounded and isolated 

the two regiments of the 106 on the Schnee Eifel. All three units are 

indicated as Out of Supply and the Allied player must roll one die to 

see if any Surrender Points are accumulated (an accumulation of three 

points will cause the entire group of three units to surrender). A die 

roll of 2 results in no points accumulated. 

Victory Check Phase 

The German player is far from winning, so this phase is skipped. The 

turn is now over. 

German Turn 2 (16 PM) 

The German Turn 2 illustration shows the positions of the German 

units after the Movement Phase. Allied ZOC Bonds near the front line 

are shown to help players visualize the rule. 


On Turn 2 the German player may flip over six artillery units. He flips 

over one in the 7th Army, two in the 5th Panzer Army, and the last 

three in the 6th Panzer Army. 

Fuel Shortage Phase 

The German player does not start rolling for Fuel Shortage until the 

19 AM turn. This phase is skipped until then. 

Bridge Phase 

The two bridges at Gemünd and Dasburg are completed. The German 

player also begins construction of two bridges in the 7th Army sector. 


Note the following items about the German Movement Phase: 

1. There are two Silhouetted Tank Units stacked in hex 1913—this is 

legal since both are 1-step Silhouette Tank Units. 

2. The Traffic marker in hex 2013 (a forest road) makes the cost of 

that hex 4 MPs for Pz Lehr and the KG Kunkel. 

3. The placement of a Traffic marker at Marnach (2216) adjacent to a 

St-Vith Bottleneck Hex has created a massive traffic jam. The tank 

units of the 2 Pz are only able to move two hexes using Tactical 

Movement. Apparently the bridge at Dasburg was not completed as 

fast as planned or pockets of resistance continue to hold out near 

Marnach. 

4. Nebelwerfer brigades in this 2nd Edition are allowed to move one 

hex even if flipped. If on their ready side this 1-hex movement does 

not require them to be flip. 

5. The three units of KG Peiper use 7 MPs to move four hexes. 

6. A night marker is placed in hex 1134. This stack plus the four units 

of KG Peiper will be able to move and fight in the Night Turn. 

Combat Phase 

Follow the combats with the German Turn 2 illustration and see the 

retreats and advances using the Allied Turn 2 illustration. 

A. The reduced 276/988, and the 212/423 attack the 2-2-6 Task Force 

(with a +1 DCB). The odds are 6 to 3 = 2-1. No Armor Shift is possible 

since the defender is in a Forest hex. A die roll of 1 results in a 

DR2. The task force is retreated two hexes, becomes Disrupted, and 

the attackers receive the Regular Advance (one hex). The advance will 

block the retreat path for Attack B. 

B. The other three units of the 212 VGD attack the 4/12/2 in Echternach. 

The Allied battalion has a +3 DCB (Town) which is reduced to +2 

since DCBs cannot exceed the combined defense strength. The odds are 

8 to 4 = 2-1. The Attacker’s Advantage marker brings it to a 3-1. The 

CRT die roll is a 3 resulting in a FF result. The German player picks 

the 212/320 Rgt as his Lead Unit and rolls again. The result is a 4 = 

A1/DR2. The German player removes a step from the Lead Unit and 

the 4/12/2 must retreat. The American battalion is surrounded and will 

be eliminated if it retreats, so the Allied player declares a Determined 

Defense hoping to get an EX result or at least slow down the German 

advance. The Town provides a –3 DRM to the Determined Defense 

Table. A die roll of 4 modifies to 1, which results in a “Yes –1 step” 

result. The American battalion is eliminated but slows the advance 

down to a Limited Advance. 

C. Its a little risky, but the 352/914 attacks the 28/109/3 Bn in hex 1807. 

The odds are 4 to 4 (1–1). A die roll of 3 results in a FF(+1) which the 

German player accepts as an Eng result. The Allied unit is Engaged. 

D. The four German units that surround the 28/109/2 in Fouhren attack 

with artillery support. The odds are 15 to 4 + arty shift = 4-1. A die 

roll of 3 results in a DR2. The Allied unit has no retreat route so the 

Allied player declares a Determined Defense. The Village provides 

a –2 DRM. He rolls a 3 which modifies to a 1 = Yes (–1 Step). The 

American battalion is eliminated but the Regular Advance is reduced 

to a Limited Advance (only into the defender’s vacated hex). Note the 

11 Stg Bde may not advance across the unbridged river hexside. 

E. Three German units of the 26 VGD attack the 28/110/3 Bn. The 

odds are 15 to 3 = 5-1. The die roll is a 5 resulting in a FF. The German 

player selects the 26/77 Gren as his Lead Unit and rolls on the Fire 

Fight Table. A die roll of 4 results in a A1/DR2. The German Lead Unit 

is reduced a step and the American battalion is retreated two hexes 



and becomes Disrupted. Note that it is allowed to retreat through an 

EZOC in the first hex of a retreat. All three German units can advance 

one hex in any direction. 

F. Two panzergrenadier regiments of the 2 Pz plus an artillery unit attack 

Clervaux. The defenders get an Armor Shift since the attacker has 

no Tank Units involved. The Town provides a +3 DCB. The odds are 10 

to 6 = 1-1 (the two shifts cancel each other out). A die roll of 4 results 

in an FF(+1). The German player takes an Engaged result instead. No 

advance or retreat, an Engaged marker is placed in Clervaux. 

G. The five German units attack the American 28/112/2 Bn near 

Weiswampach. Since the attack is coming across the bridge hexside 

the German player rolls to see the condition of the bridge (rule 7.8), a 

die roll of 3 results in the bridge being destroyed. Now for the combat, 

the odds are 13 to 3 = 4-1. The Allied player calls in artillery support 

and rolls on the Artillery Support Table. A die roll of 2 results in two 

shifts left. Final odds are 2-1. The German player rolls a 5 getting an 

Eng result. The American battalion holds. 

H. Three German units attack the disrupted American battalion near 

Winterspelt. The American unit has a +2 DCB for the Improved Position. 

The odds are 15 to 4 with two shifts right for Armor and the 

Disruption = 5-1. A die roll of 4 results in a DR2. The unit is retreated 

two hexes and since it is already Disrupted it now becomes Broken. 

The German units may advance one hex in any direction. The Pzkw 

IV Tank Unit uses the Road Bonus to advance two hexes. 

I. Three units from the 18 VGD and one 3 FJ unit attack the armored 

cavalry unit near Schönberg. The American unit has a +1 DCB for the 

Forest. Note that the 3 FJ unit is allowed to attack across the army 

boundary. The odds are 11 to 3 (3-1). No armor shift since the defender 

is in Forest. A die roll of 2 = DR2. The defender is retreated two hexes 

and becomes disrupted. All German units may advance one hex in any 

direction being careful not to advance across the army boundary. The 

244 Stg brigade can use the Road Bonus to advance two hexes. 

J. The next attack comes against the flanking battalion of the 99th. One 

unit from the 3 FJ and three units from the 1 SS attack the 99/394/3. 



39 

hexes in any direction. Due to the poor secondary roads no units may 

use the Road Bonus. 

K. Two units from the 12 VGD, two units from the 12SS, plus one 

artillery unit attack the 99/394/2 Bn in hex 1431 (+2 DCB for the IP). 

The odds are 12 to 4 + arty shift = 4-1. A die roll of 5 gives an EX result. 

The German player can take the step loss from any of the involved 

units because there was no Armor Shift used in the battle. The German 

player removes the 12/Fus Bn and the Allied player removes his unit. 

The German player may occupy the vacated hex which cuts off the 

retreat route of the next American battalion to be attacked. 

L. Two regiments of the 12 VGD plus two units of the 1SS, plus one 

artillery unit, attack the 99/394/1 at 15(+) to 4 + arty shift = 4-1. A 

die roll of 3 = DR2. The American battalion attempts a Determined 

Defense (–2 DRM) but fails. It is eliminated and the German units 


M. Two units of the 277 plus one artillery unit attack the 99/393/3 (+2 

DCB). The odds are 6 to 4 + arty shift = 2-1. A die roll of 5 = Eng. An 

Engage marker is placed on the American battalion. 

The 19 German factors are capped at 15, so the odds are 15 to 4 (3-1). 

A die roll of 1 results in a DR3. The American battalion must retreat 

three hexes and becomes Broken. All German units may advance two 

Allied Turn 2 (16 PM) 


All Allied artillery units are turned face up to their ready sides. 

Bridge Phase 

No demolition allowed yet. 


The Allied Turn 2 illustration shows the positions of the Allied units 

at the end of the Movement Phase (I’ve also added into the illustration 

the location of the delay markers which will be placed later). Allied 

ZOC Bonds near the front line are shown. Notice that the artillery units 



that moved only one hex are not flipped to their fired side. A few notes 

about the American moves: 

1: This is a reinforcement entering from the map edge. 

2: This Disrupted unit may use only Tactical Movement and must exit 

the EZOC it is in. 

3: The 9Arm/CCR moves to Weiswampach. It should stay near the 

Clearvaux-Bastogne road to slow up the German advance. 

4: The 9Arm/CCB is the Allied player’s big reserve unit. Historically 

it moved to the St-Vith area and helped stem the tide there. In this 

game it does the same to form a strong St-Vith group. 

5: The Allied player begins to build a strong position around Büllingen 

and Rocherath-Krinkelt. 

6. It’s important for the Allied player to get these two artillery units in 

position to help defend the Elsenborn area. 

Rally Phase 

All Disrupted markers are removed from American units that are not 

adjacent to a German unit. 

Combat Phase 

The Allied player has three units that are engaged, but all are fine 

where they are (the three Engaged markers are removed). There are 

no combats. 


The Allied player can place Traffic markers #2 and #5 (the two that 

were removed last turn). He places one in Hosingen and the other in 

front of KG Peiper. He then places his two roadblocks—one on the 

road to Wiltz and the other in the way of Peiper. He then rolls the die 

two times to see which Traffic markers are removed. He rolls a 4 and 

6 and removes those two markers. 


All units are in supply except the two regiments of the 106th in the 

Schnee Eifel. Those three units are also isolated, so must check for 

Surrender Points. A die roll of 3 results in one Surrender Point (two 

more and those three units will surrender). Note that one marker is 

sufficient for all units in that Isolated Group. 

Dec 16th Night Turn 

Replacement Phase 

Neither player has replacements on the first night turn. 

Allied Night Movement Phase 

The Allied player has no Night Movement. 

German Night Movement Phase 

The German player can move all four units of KG Peiper plus the two 

units of 12SS that were under the Night marker. 

1. The three KG Peiper units that start in this hex move adjacent to the 

Allied unit at A. The two panzergrenadier units use Tactical Movement 

to move two hexes. The Panther battalion unable to move through 

Forest hexes moves forward one hex. 

2. The Tiger battalion takes a different route but has to pass through a 

Traffic marker. It spends 4 and a half MPs to move three hexes. 

3. The two units of the 12SS move to engage at hex B. 

German Night Combat Phase 

A. The three KG Peiper units attack the 99/394/3 Bn. The odds are 15 

to 3 with 1 right shift for Disruption = 6-1. A die roll of 4 results in a 

DR3 which will eliminate the battalion (Disrupted units that suffer a 

Broken result are eliminated). The three German units may advance two 

hexes in any direction. All three can take advantage of the Road Bonus 

to move three hexes—advancing as far as the hex marked “Y”. 

B. The two units of the 12SS perform a Night attack. Note that the 

road into the forest hex allows the Panther battalion to attack at full 

strength. The forest terrain prevents any armor shifts. The odds are 14 

to 4 = 3-1. A die roll of 3 results in a DR2. The American battalion is 

retreated two hexes and becomes disrupted. The two attacking units 


Conclusion 

The German player is in good shape—the road is wide open for KG 

Peiper in the 17 AM turn. The Allied player is also happy with his 

situation—the southern front is shaken but not broken, he is still in 

possession of Clervaux, and he has a strong group forming around 

St-Vith. So what if a few units of KG Peiper break out… 

The illustration shows the position of units after the 

German player has finished his Night Movement 

but before German Night Combat. 



41 





43 

OPTIONAL WHAT IF UNITS 

Units with a blue background on their Turn of Entry code are optional. 

Players may use some or all of the optional units as long as 

both players agree. 

Allied Units 

5th Armored Division: Place it in the Allied Northwest Off Map 

Box on Turn 17. Must remain there until a German unit crosses or 

moves adjacent to the Meuse. 

11th Armored and 17th Airborne Divisions: Are restricted to the 

southwest corner of the map (may enter, but not cross, the Semois 

River). 

90th Division: Only enters the map if one or more German units 

cross the Meuse River (but never before Turn 22). 

German Units 

11th Panzer and 10th SS: Arrives the turn after one or more German 

units cross the Meuse River between Givet and Liege (inclusive), 

but never before Turn 11. 

NORDWIND: The nine units with a green Army I.D. color were 

earmarked for Operation Nordwind. This was Himmler’s offensive 

against the American 7th Army which ended up achieving very little. 

Players wishing to see what would have happened had they been 

committed in the Ardennes may use them. They arrive on Turn 21 

with no restrictions. 

> FUEL TABLE: All Optional German mechanized units suffer Fuel 

Shortage if doubles are rolled when using the Fuel Shortage Tables 

(i.e., you roll the same die roll for both tables). 



GERMAN REINFORCEMENT 

SCHEDULE 

Army Unit Factors TQ Entry 

Turn 2 (16PM) 

6PzA 150 Pz (Skorzeny) 6-5-6 3 K 

6PzA 217 StrmPz 2-1-5 K 

Turn 3 (17AM) 

6PzA 3 FJ / 8 4-6-3 K 

6PzA von der Heydte 2-2-3 Airdrop 

6PzA 394 + 667 Stg 3-2-6 [3] K 

7A 44 Festung 1-2-2 MN 

7A 669 Ost 1-2-3 L 

Turn 4 (17PM) 

6PzA 12SS / 26 7-7-6 K 

6PzA 653 PzJ 4-2-4 [6] K (Rule 27.9) 

Turn 5 (18AM) 

5PzA Fuh Bglt / GD / 2 5-4-6 4 LK 

5PzA Fuh Bglt / 200 Stg 3-2-6 [3] LK 

5PzA Fuh Bglt / FBB 5-5-6 LK 

5PzA Fuh Bglt / 828 (+) 4-4-6 LK 

6PzA 12SS/560th PzJ 5-4-5 [5] K 

Turn 6 (18PM) 

5PzA 902 Stg 3-2-6 [3] L 

5PzA 741 PzJ 2-2-6 [3] L 

6PzA 1000 (+) StrmPz 3-1-4 K 

Turn 7 (19AM) 

6PzA 3 PG / 103 5-4-6 [3] L 

6PzA 3 PG / 3 PzJ 2-2-6 [4] L 

6PzA 3 PG / 8 5-7-6 L 

6PzA 3 PG / 29 5-7-6 L 

6PzA 3 PG / 103 2-2-7 K 

Turn 8 (19PM) 

6PzA 2SS / 2 / 1 7-5-6 4 LK 

6PzA 2SS / 2 / 2 5-4-6 3 LK 

6PzA 2SS / 3 7-7-6 LK 

6PzA 2SS / 4 7-7-6 LK 

6PzA 2SS / 2 3-2-7 LK 

6PzA 2SS / 2 PzJ 3-2-6 [4] LK 

6PzA 9SS / 9 / 1 5-4-6 4 LK 

6PzA 9SS / 9 / 2 5-4-6 3 LK 

6PzA 9SS / 19 7-7-6 LK 

6PzA 9SS / 20 7-7-6 LK 

6PzA 9SS / 9 3-2-7 LK 

6PzA 9SS / 9 PzJ 3-2-6 [4] LK 

Turn 9 (20AM) 

6PzA 519 PzJ 3-2-5 [5] K 

Turn 10 (20PM) 

7A Fuh Gr / 101 6-4-6 4 M 

7A Fuh Gr / 911 Stg 3-2-6 [3] M 


7A Fuh Gr / 99 (–) 4-5-6 M 

7A Fuh Gr / 99 Füs 2-2-6 M 

Turn 11 (21AM) 

5PzA 560 / 1129 4-4-3 L 

6PzA 506 Tiger 8-4-5 5 K 

6PzA 521 PzJ 3-2-5 [5] LK 

7A 79 / 208 4-5-3 M 

7A 79 / 212 4-5-3 M 

7A 79 / 226 4-5-3 M 

5PzA 11 Pz / 15 / 1 6-4-6 4 LK OPT 

5PzA 11 Pz / 15 / 2 5-4-6 3 LK OPT 

5PzA 11 Pz / 61 PzJ 2-2-6 [4] LK OPT 

5PzA 11 Pz / 110 5-5-6 LK OPT 

5PzA 11 Pz / 111 5-5-6 LK OPT 

5PzA 11 Pz / 11 3-2-7 LK OPT 

6PzA 10SS / 10 / 1 3-2-6 4 LK OPT 

6PzA 10SS / 10 / 2 2-2-6 3 LK OPT 

6PzA 10SS / 21 5-7-6 LK OPT 

6PzA 10SS / 22 5-7-6 LK OPT 

6PzA 10SS / 10 2-2-7 LK OPT 

6PzA 10SS / 10 PzJ 2-2-6 [4] LK OPT 

6PzA 10SS / 655 PzJ 3-2-5 [5] LK OPT 


5PzA 9 Pz / 33 / 1 5-4-6 3 L 

5PzA 9 Pz / 33 / 2 6-4-6 4 L 

5PzA 9 Pz / 50 PzJ 2-2-6 [4] L 

5PzA 9 Pz / 10 5-5-6 L 

5PzA 9 Pz / 11 5-5-6 L 

5PzA 9 Pz / 60 3-2-7 L 


5PzA 15 PG / 115 5-4-6 [3] L 

5PzA 15 PG / 115 PzJ 2-2-6 [4] L 

5PzA 15 PG / 104 5-7-6 L 

5PzA 15 PG / 115 5-7-6 L 

5PzA 15 PG / 33 2-2-7 L 

6PzA 301 Tiger 4-2-5 5 K 


5PzA 167 / 331 4-5-3 LM 

5PzA 167 / 339 4-5-3 LM 

5PzA 167 / 387 4-5-3 LM 

5PzA 167 / Fusilier 2-2-3 M 

6PzA 246 / 352 3-4-3 K 

6PzA 246 / 404 3-4-3 K 

6PzA 246 / 689 3-4-3 K 


7A 9 / 36 4-5-3 M 

7A 9 / 57 4-5-3 M 

7A 9 / 116 4-5-3 M 


N 6SS / 11 6-7-3 LK OPT 

N 6SS / 32 6-7-3 LK OPT


45 

N 6SS / 38 3-2-6 LK OPT 

N 17SS / 37 5-7-6 LK OPT 

N 17SS / 38 5-7-6 LK OPT 

N 17SS / 17 2-2-7 LK OPT 

N 17SS / Stg 3-2-6 [3] LK OPT 

N 654 PzJ 3-2-5 [5] LK OPT 

N 20 Volkswerfer S-(1)-1 LK OPT 


7A 89 / 1055 4-5-3 M 

7A 89 / 1056 4-5-3 M 


6PzA 340 / 694 4-5-3 K 

6PzA 340 / 695 4-5-3 K 

6PzA 340 / 696 4-5-3 K 

= Optional Units 

ALLIED REINFORCEMENT 

SCHEDULE 

ID Unit Factors TQ Entry 

Turn 2 (16PM) 

VIII 4 / 70 Tnk (–) 3-2-6 3 AB 

VIII VIII / 174 FA S-(2)-1 B 

Turn 3 (17AM) 

V 1 / 26 6-7-3 H 

V 7 Arm / CCA 9-6-6 3 H 

V 7 Arm / CCB 9-6-6 3 H 

V 7 Arm / CCR 7-6-6 3 H 

V 7 Arm / 814 TD 3-2-6 [4] H 

V 146 Eng 1-2-3 Any town or city hex 

VIII 4 / 8 / 2 2-2-3 AB 

VIII 4 / 803 TD (–) 2-2-6 [3] AB 

VIII 35 Eng 1-2-3 Any town or city hex 




Turn 4 (17PM) 

3A 10 Arm / CCA 9-6-6 3 BC 

3A 10 Arm / 609 TD 3-2-7 [3] BC 

V 9 / 47 6-6-3 J 

V 30 / 117 6-6-3 H 

VIII 4 / 22 / 2 2-2-3 AB 

Turn 5 (18AM) 

3A 10 Arm / CCB 9-6-6 3 BC 

3A 10 Arm / CCR 7-6-6 3 BC 

V 1 / 634 TD 3-2-6 [3] H 

V 1 / 703 TD 3-2-6 [4] H 

V 30 / 119 6-6-3 H 

V 30 / 120 6-6-3 H 

XVIII 82 / 504 4-6-3 E 

XVIII 82 / 505 4-6-3 E 


XVIII 82 / 508 4-6-3 E 

XVIII 82 / 325G 4-6-3 E 

XVIII 101 / 501 4-6-3 E 

XVIII 101 / 502 4-6-3 E 

XVIII 101 / 506 4-6-3 E 

XVIII 101 / 327G 4-6-3 E 

Ind 158 Eng 1-2-3 Any town or city hex 


Ind 705 TD 3-2-7 [3] H 

Turn 6 (18PM) 

V 30 / 99 (Nor.) 2-2-3 H 

V 30 / 526 3-2-6 H 

V 30 / 743 Tnk 4-3-6 3 H 

V V / 190 FA S-(2)-1 H 

Turn 7 (19AM) 

V 1 / 16 6-7-3 H 

V 9 / 39 6-6-3 J 


Turn 8 (19PM) 

XVIII 3 Arm / CCR 9-6-6 3 H 

XVIII 3 Arm TF 4-3-6 2 H 

XVIII 509 Para 2-2-3 E 

XVIII 551 Para 2-2-3 E 

Ind 740 Tnk 3-2-6 3 H 

Turn 9, 20AM 

XVIII 3 Arm / CCB 9-6-6 3 H 

XVIII 3 Arm / 643 TD 3-2-7 [3] H 


V 1 / 18 6-7-3 H 

VII 84 / 334 5-6-3 G 

XXX SAS (–) 1-1-7 FG 


V 1 / 745 Tnk 4-3-6 3 H 

VII 84 / 335 5-6-3 G 

VII 84 / 771 Tnk 4-3-6 3 G 

Ind 29 2-4-3 FG 


3A 4 Arm / CCA 7-4-6 3 BC 

3A 4 Arm / CCB 6-4-6 3 BC 

3A 4 Arm / CCR 7-6-6 3 BC 

3A 4 Arm / 704 TD 3-2-7 [3] BC 

VII 84 / 333 5-6-3 G 

VII 84 / 638 TD 3-2-7 [3] G 

XVIII 517 Ind 4-6-3 E 

XXX 29 Arm / 8 RB 2-2-6 FG 

XXX 29 Arm / 2 F&FY 3-2-6 3 FG 

XXX 29 Arm / 3 RTR 3-2-6 3 FG 

XXX 29 Arm / 23 Hus 3-2-6 3 FG 


3A 5 / 10 6-6-3 BC 

3A 26 / 101 5-6-3 BC


3A 26 / 104 5-6-3 BC 

3A 26 / 328 5-6-3 BC 

3A 26 / 735 Tnk 4-3-6 3 BC 

3A 26 / 818 TD 3-2-6 [3] BC 

3A 80 / 317 6-6-3 BC 

3A 80 / 318 6-6-3 BC 

3A 80 / 319 6-6-3 BC 

3A 80 / 702 Tnk 4-3-6 3 BC 

3A 80 / 610 TD 3-2-6 [4] BC 

3A XII / 182 FA S-(2)-1 BC 

V 30 / 823 TD 3-2-6 [3] H 

XVIII 3 Arm / CCA 9-6-6 3 H 

Br. 34 Tnk (–) 6-4-6 3 FG 

Br. 43 / 129 5-7-3 FG 

Br. 43 / 130 5-7-3 FG 

Br. 43 / 214 5-7-3 FG 

Ind Thrasher 1-2-3 F 


VII 75 / 289 5-6-3 G 

VII 75 / 290 5-6-3 G 

VII 75 / 291 5-6-3 G 

VII 75 / 750 Tnk 4-3-6 3 G 

VII 75 / 629 TD 3-2-6 [3] G 

Br. 53 / 71 5-7-3 FG 

Br. 53 / 158 5-7-3 FG 

Br. 53 / 160 5-7-3 FG 


3A 5 / 737 Tnk 4-3-6 3 BC 

3A 6 Cav / 6 3-2-7 BC 

3A 6 Cav / 28 3-2-7 BC 

3A III / 193 FA S-(2)-1 BC 

3A III / 203 FA S-(2)-1 BC 

3A XII / 177 FA S-(2)-1 BC 

VII 2 Arm / CCA 9-6-6 3 G 

VII 2 Arm / CCB 9-6-6 3 G 

VII 2 Arm / CCR 9-6-6 3 G 

VII 2 Arm / TF 4-3-6 2 G 

VII 2 Arm / 702 TD 3-2-6 [4] G 

VII 4 Cav / 4 3-2-7 G 

VII 4 Cav / 24 3-2-7 G 

VII 628 TD 3-2-6 [4] G 

Br. Gds / 5 12-9-6 3 FG 

Br. Gds / 32 12-9-6 3 FG 

Ind 118 2-4-3 FG 


3A 654 TD 3-2-6 [3] BC 

VII VII / 18 FA S-(2)-1 G 

VII VII / 142 FA S-(2)-1 G 

VII VII / 188 FA S-(2)-1 G 

Br. XXX / 4 AGRA S-(2)-1 FG 

Br. XXX / 5 AGRA S-(2)-1 FG 


3A 5 / 2 6-6-3 BC 

3A 5 / 11 6-6-3 BC 

3A 602 TD 3-2-7 [3] CD 

Ind 5 Arm / CCA 8-6-6 3 G 

Ind 5 Arm / CCB 8-6-6 3 G 


XVIII XVIII / 179 FA S-(2)-1 E 

Br. 33 Arm (–) 6-4-6 3 FG 

Br. 51 / 152 5-7-3 G 

Br. 51 / 153 5-7-3 G 

Br. 51 / 154 5-7-3 G 

Turn 20 (25 PM) 

3A 11 Arm / CCA 9-6-6 3 D OPT 

Turn 21 (26 AM) 

3A 35 / 134 6-6-3 BC 

3A 35 / 137 6-6-3 BC 

3A 35 / 320 6-6-3 BC 

3A 11 Arm / CCB 9-6-6 3 D OPT 

Turn 22 (26 PM) 

3A 6 Arm / CCA 9-6-6 3 BC 

3A 6 Arm / CCB 9-6-6 3 BC 

3A 6 Arm / CCR 7-6-6 3 BC 

3A 6 Arm / 603 TD 3-2-7 [3] BC 

3A 90 / 357 6-6-3 BC OPT 

3A 90 / 358 6-6-3 BC OPT 

3A 90 / 359 6-6-3 BC OPT 

3A 90 / 712 Tnk 4-3-6 3 BC OPT 

3A 90 / 773 TD 3-2-7 [3] BC OPT 

3A 11 Arm / CCR 7-6-6 3 D OPT 

Turn 23 (27 AM) 

Br. 6 / 3 4-6-3 FG 

Br. 6 / 5 4-6-3 FG 

Br. 6 / 6 5-6-3 FG 

Br. 6 Gds Arm (–) 6-4-6 3 FG 

3A 17 / 507 4-6-3 D OPT 

3A 17 / 513 4-6-3 D OPT 

3A 17 / 193G 4-6-3 D OPT 

3A 17 / 194G 4-6-3 D OPT 



47 

INDEX 

150 Panzer Brigade: 27.8 

2nd Division (U.S.): 27.6 

26th VG Division: 31.1 

Advance After Combat: 19.0 

Allied Attacks onto the Map: 13.8 

Allied Air Support: 15.6 

Armor Shift: 21.1 

Army Boundaries: 11.10 

Artillery 

Artillery Supply Phase: 5.0 

Movement and Combat: 22.1–22.9 

See 22.10 for a summary of other artillery effects. 

Attacker’s Advantage Markers: 16.6 

Bonus Advance: 19.1 

Breakdown Units: 26.0 

Breakthrough Combat: 19.4 

Bridges: 7.0 

British Units: 27.3 

Broke/Broken: 18.4 

Combat Modifiers: 15.0 

Combat Results: 16.0 

Command and Control: 14.3 

Dasburg Bridge: 7.10 

DCBs: 15.1 

Determined Defense: 16.7 

Disengagement: 20.0 

Disruption/Disrupted: 18.2 

Echternach: 29.2 

Engaged Markers: 16.5 

Engineer Reinforcements: 13.2 

Engineer Units: 27.1 

Entry Hexes: 13.1, 13.4, 13.7 

Exiting the Map: 11.9 

Extended Movement: 11.2 

EZOC: 

Effects on Movement: 9.2 

Effects on Advance: 19.3 

Effects on Retreat: 17.1 & 17.2 

Effects on Supply Paths: 23.3 

Forest Hexes: 11.5, 15.4, 17.2, 19.2 

Forest Roads: 11.8, 19.1 

Frozen Ground Conditions: 28.1 

Fuel Dumps: 32.0 

Fuel Shortage Phase: 6.0 

Gemünd Bridge: 7.10 

German Divisional Boundaries: 29.3 

German Prime Movers: 22.1, 22.3 

Ground Freeze: 28.1 

Halving Rule: 15.2 

Improved Positions: 15.8 

Isolation/Isolated: 23.6 

Jabos: 15.6 

Kampfgruppe Peiper: 27.5 

Meuse River: 17.2 (retreats) 

Morale 


Morale and Determined Defense: 16.7 

Morale and Disengagements: 20.2 

Morale and Fire Fights: 16.2 

Morale and Surrender: 23.8 

Mud: 28.1 

Night Turns: 25.1, 25.3 

OOS (Out of Supply): 23.4 

Ouren Bridge: 7.8 

Overcast: 28.2 

Poor Secondary Roads: 11.8, 19.1 

Rally Phase: 18.5 

Range: 22.4 

Recon Units: 21.4, 21.5 

Rivers: 

Advance: 19.2 

Combat Across: 15.3 

Movement Across: 11.4 

Retreat: 17.2 

Reinforcements: 13.1 

Remnants: 16.4 

Retreats: 17.0 

Roadblocks: 33.0 

Road Movement: 11.7 

Roer River Dams: 27.6 

Silhouetted Tank Units: 

Stacking: 8.3 

ZOCs: 9.4 

DCBs: 15.1 

St-Vith Bottleneck Hexes: 24.7 

Stacking: 8.2 

Step Losses: 16.3, 16.4 

Strategic Movement: 12.0 

Strategic Surprise: 29.4 

Sturmtigers: 27.4 

Supply: 

Supply Phase: 23.1 

Supply Sources: 23.2 

Supply Paths: 23.3 

Supply Dumps: 32.0 

Surrender Checks: 23.7 

Surrender Thresholds: 23.8 

T.O.T. (Time on Target): 22.8 

TQ Ratings: 21.1-21.2 (Combat), 23.4 (Supply) 

Tactical Movement: 11.3 

Tank Destroyers: 21.2 

Tank Units: 21.0 

Traffic Markers: 24.0 

Truck Markers: 12.6 

Vehicle Units: 11.4-11.5 (Movement), 15.4-15.5 (Combat), 17.1- 

17.2 (Retreats), 19.2 (Advance After Combat) 

Von der Heydte: 27.2 

Weather: 28.0 

West Wall: 15.7 

Wooded Rough: 10.3 (ZOC Bonds), 11.6 (Movement), 15.5 (Combat), 

17.2 (Retreats), 19.2, Advance After Combat


EXPANDED SEQUENCE OF PLAY 

A. GERMAN PLAYER TURN 

1. The Artillery Supply Phase 

Flip over the appropriate number of German Artillery Units to their 

Ready side (see 5.3 for restrictions). 

2. The Fuel Shortage Phase (German Turn only) 

This phase is skipped until Turn 7 (19 AM). 

A. The German player rolls one die for Fuel Shortage Table #1 and 

one die for Fuel Shortage Table #2 (6.1). 

B. The German player places Out of Supply markers on those units 

affected by the results. 

3. The Bridge Phase 

A. The German player may destroy or rebuild bridges (rule 7.0). 

NOTE: No bridge blowing on Turns 1 and 2 (16 AM and 16 PM) with 

the exception of the Ouren bridge (rule 7.8). 

4. The Movement Phase 

All non-engaged German units may move. 

• Disrupted units may only use Tactical Movement (18.2). 

• OOS units may only use Tactical Movement (23.4). 

• Units may build Improved Positions at this time (15.8). 

• Units may Breakdown at this time (26.1). 

• (Allied Turn only) Roll for Offensive Air Support (15.6). 

• Units may be marked with a Night Turn marker during a PM turn; 

these units are restricted in their movement (25.3). 

5. The Rally Phase 

All Disrupted or Broken German units that are not adjacent to an 

enemy unit recover one level. Roll for those that are adjacent to an 

enemy unit (18.5). 

6. The Combat Phase 

A. Remove all ENG markers (16.5) from German units. As each ENG 

marker is removed, decide if that unit (or which units in the stack) 

will conduct Disengagement (20.0). Resolve Disengagement at 

that time. Unengaged units may also use the Disengagement Table 

at this time. 

B. Conduct all Combats (14.0). Units may breakdown before advancing 

after combat (26.2). 

7. The Traffic Marker Phase 

A. Place any Traffic markers from the German Traffic Marker Holding 

Box onto the map (24.0). 

B. (Optional) Place or reposition the two German Roadblock markers 

(33.2). 

C. Roll two dice and remove the German Traffic (Greif) markers 

with those I.D. numbers (24.3). 

8. The Supply and Surrender Phase 

A. Check Supply for all German units (23.1). 

B. Roll for Surrender of all German units that are Isolated (23.7). 

9. The Victory Check Phase (Allied Turn only) 

Check to see if the German player has won a Victory, if not continue 

with another game turn (30.2, 30.3). 

B. ALLIED PLAYER TURN 

The Allied Player Turn is identical to the German Player Turn (switching 

the term German for Allied), except the Allied player has a Victory 

Check Phase and no Fuel Shortage Phase. 

C. END TURN 

Record the completion of a game-turn by advancing the Game Turn 

Marker one box. 

Night Turn Sequence of Play 

A. Allied Night Replacement and Movement Phase: The Allied 

player uses his replacements and the 3 Allied stacks marked 

with Night markers in the PM turn may move. 

B. Allied Night Combat Phase: The 3 Allied stacks marked with 

Night markers in the PM turn may attack.* 

C. German Night Replacement and Movement Phase: The 

German player uses his replacements and the 3 German stacks 

marked with Night markers in the PM turn may move. 

D. German Night Combat Phase: The 3 German stacks marked 

with Night markers in the PM turn may attack.* 

* Artillery on their ready side may provide Artillery Support even 

if not marked with Night markers. 

CREDITS 

Game Design: Mark Simonitch 

ALPHA Developer: John Kranz 

BETA Developer: Tony Curtis 

2nd Edition Developer: Ivano Rosa 

Research: Mark Simonitch and Tony Curtis 

Playtesting: David Aud, Tony Curtis, Skip Franklin, Rick De 

Girolami, John Grant, Chris Hancock, Franklin Haskell, Randy 

Heller, John Kranz, Rick Kurtz, Lew Ritter, Martin Sample, Dick 

Sauer, John Spalding, Phil Wettsch. 

Art Director, Cover Art and Package Design: 

Rodger B. MacGowan 

Layout and Graphics: Mark Simonitch 

Proofreaders: Kevin Duke, Vincent Lefavrais, Hans Korting, 

Peter Rich and Ivano Rosa. 

Production Coordination: Tony Curtis 

Producer: Gene Billingsley, Tony Curtis, Andy Lewis and Rodger 

MacGowan 

Special Thanks: To Tony Curtis, Randy Heller and Joe Youst for 

encouragement and suggestions. To Bruno Sinigaglio and Danny 

Parker for designing inspirational Battle of the Bulge games. 

GMT Games 

P.O. Box 1308, Hanford, CA 93232-1308 

www.GMTGames.com

Living Rules - GMT Games

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