Grognard Simulations, Inc.

I would like to make the following clarification for those interested in this series.

This note applies to the XLVIII game set (GD, 3Pz, 11Pz, XLVIII Enhancement):
These games were designed to be used all together.  In other words, you should have all the 'original' games for the game set, OR all the newly updated games for the game set.  They were NOT designed to be used in a mixed set manner.  For those who have the 'original' versions of these games it will be cost effective to make sure you have the new style maps, a $110 purchase.  Buying the updated games, such as just 11Pz, without buying the newer GD will leave you disappointed because there are features in the newly updated games that will not be completely compatible with the 'original' version.

And for those that simply download the newer version 2.5 rules from the CSW Death Ride Kursk folder header area should understand that when using those rules with the 'original' game set there will be features that are new and will not be able to be used.  But there are many new clarifications and items that will improve your game play experience.

These are the newly updated versions.

The updates of these games are meant to work together.  The enhancement for this updated set of games is meant to support the newer version, not the original version.  If you have the original games and not the C2/FS enhancement in particular, this updated enhancement will not provide you those two important elements of the game system.  The new XLVIII Enhancement will give you the ability to play the air, logisitics, and maintenance portions of the game, but not the command and control or fire support rules.

All Death Ride Kursk XLVIII games come with or allow:

• Numerous Charts and Tables
  

• Rules Written Based on the Seven Battlefield Operating Systems
  

• Detailed but not Overbearing with 4 levels of game play
  

• Basic / Intermediate / Advanced / Ultimate
  

• Each level is clearly marked and enhanced rules are all included and color coded for ease of understanding
  

• There will be a variety of scenarios
  

• The Command and Control and Fire Support Enhancements will be built in to each game
  

• Task Organizing at the most basic level
  

• A separate XLVIII Korps level Enhancement package for Air/Maintenance/Logistics
  

• Excellent Solitaire Play
  

Game Designs: Chris Fasulo Sr
Map Design: Rick Barber
Map Artwork: Kyle Gebhardt

V*************   Death Ride Kursk XLVIII Games  *************V

Gross Deutschland:
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THIS GAME IS THE BASE GAME FOR ALL XLVIII PZK GAMES.  YOU MUST OWN GD IN ORDER TO PLAY 3PZ OR 11PZ OR USE THE XLVIII ENHANCEMENTS
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Scenarios for this game start on 4 July with the start of the entire offensive.

The Box Cover for Gross Deutschland:


This base game has had a complete refresh.  My recommendation to those with the original games is NOT to get this one.  The reason is the considerable cost.  I do have the new maps, and if for some reason you didn't get them as part of your coupon purchases of the IISS games, you can write me direct and I can make a set of maps available for purchase.  The map is the most distinctive part of this refresh, althought the master rules have some important changes in them, and the Orders of Battle are more developed from new information I have examined over the last couple years.
This game, as the base game in the 3 game set, is considerably larger than any of the other games in the series.  It has the largest map area with (18) 11x17 sheets and Gross Deutschland has the 10th Panzer Brigade which adds considerable size to the counter count.  It also makes for some very exciting fighting.

Besides the map and scenarios the rules have undergone some refinements with additional clarifications and diagrams and some new rules.  These new Master Rules (v 2.5e) are available for download at the CSW Death Ride Kursk forum.  These games include the Command and Control and Fire Support Enhancements which means you don’t need to buy anything else to have detailed command and fire support operations if you want them.

The game system has some unique qualities.  Above all the open sequence of play within each players Operations Phase.  The game system models the seven Battlefield Operating Systems (BOS) in some detail and this makes play of the game feel very different from other comparable games.  During this Operations Phase you can perform Maneuver/Fire, Fire Support, Engineering, Intelligence, in any order you desire to support your plans.  During the enemy player turn you have the opportunity to exercise the Air Defense OS, and during other times of the sequence of play you account for Command and Control and Combat Service Support.  There is a lot here to digest and if you want to get closest to being involved in a military Command Post Exercise, this is it.

This game is going to give you a completely new appreciation for the struggles of the Gross Deutschland Division during the Citadelle offensive.  The attacks timetable was disrupted early on and never got back on track.  The division hit the Pena River, bounced back, slid to the right along the southern bank, and then north toward Oboyan.  The sheer quantity of troops set against them is daunting to have to try and wear down.  But this is the nature of the battle.  And the game does a great job of presenting the situation as a real slugging match.

Game Scales are:

• Game Turns are 2 Hours of Daylight and 4 Hours of Night
  

• Hex Scale is 330m per Hex
  

• Red Army Units are Companies
  

• German Units are Platoons and/or Companies
  

Gross Deutschland was the largest German division involved in the battle and was endowed with an abundance of armor.  Unfortunately it was armor (Panthers) that was still too young to work properly and caused everyone lots of headaches.  For this reason it is also the largest game in the series.  Gross Deutschland had the hardest mission as it moved through the center of the area of operations.  Its mission was to spearhead the XLVIII PzK operation and make the main effort up the Oboyan road towards Kursk.  The Division has components of all arms and is a very powerful organization, even without the Panther Battalions.  It is organized the same as an SS Division.  It has a Panzer Regiment with 2 Panzer Battalions (90 MkIII and MkIVs), 2 Panther Battalions (190 Panthers), 2 Panzer Grenadier Regiments each with 3 Infantry Battalions and a Combat Support Battalion, a Panzer Artillery Regiment with 3 Battalions, a Reconnaissance Battalion, PanzerJager Battalion, Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Pionere Battalion, and an Assault Gun Battalion.  YOU have the ability to task organize the Division to make each Battalion a more potent combat weapon by cross-attaching infantry to the armor and vice versa, or even engineers or recon to these Battalions.

Units in this game look like:
Panther Fronts


Panther Backs


Gross Deutschland - Base Game - comes with (in Full Color):

• (18) Map Sections of the Pena River Area of Operations
  

• (16) Counter Sheets with over 3000 Units and Markers
  

• (12) Scenario Cards and a Master Reinforcement/Withdrawals Card
  

• (3) d10
  

• 140 Pg. Master Rules Version 2.5e, now including more diagrams and examples
  

• Supplemental Rules Specific to Gross Deutschland
  

• Order of Battle Cards
  

• Task Organization Charts for Each Major German and Red Army Formation
  

• Command and Control Enhancement Built In
  

• Fire Support Enhancement Built In
  

Price is $300 // $250 LITE version + TX Residents 8.25% Tax + Postage and Handling

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3rd Panzer:
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THIS GAME IS AN EXPANSION GAME AND YOU MUST OWN GD IN ORDER TO PLAY IT
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The Box Cover for 3rd Panzer:


The 3 rd Panzer game has gone through a considerable upgrade.  Chief among those upgrade item is the map and scenarios.  Those who own the original games and received the upgraded maps and scenarios as part of the incentive program for the IISS PzK games do not need to purchase this game unless you simply want every product in the series.

This game includes the Command and Control and Fire Support Enhancements which mean you don’t need to buy anything else to have detailed command and fire support operations if you want them.

3 rd Panzer was not the largest German division involved in the battle.  3 rd Panzer’s mission was to be the left flank guard for the XLVIII PzK.  It was also responsible to cross the Pena River, which was impossible until GD made the crossing further north on a narrower point of the river.  Elements of the 332ID were moved in to 3 rd Panzer’s area in order to allow 3 rd Panzer to close up on GD.  One regiment of 332ID holds the southern bank of the river for most of the battle.  The Division has components of all arms and is an average strength panzer division at this time in the war.  It is organized the same as most panzer divisions.  It has a Panzer Regiment with 1 Panzer Battalion, 2 Panzer Grenadier Regiments each with 2 Infantry Battalions, a Panzer Artillery Regiment with 3 Battalions, a Reconnaissance Battalion, PanzerJager Battalion, Anti-Aircraft Battalion, and Pionere Battalion.  YOU have the ability to task organize the Division to make each Battalion a more potent combat weapon by cross-attaching infantry to the armor and vice versa, or even engineers or recon to these Battalions.  Although the panzer regiment has only 1 battalion it has an organization with companies that 22 tanks each instead of the normal 17.  This helps boost the divisions’ armored component to near around 80 tanks.  It also has 4 companies versus the standard 3 companies.

Units in this game look like:
Red Army Rifle Regiment Elements Fronts


Red Army Rifle Regiment Elements Backs


3rd Panzer - comes with (in Full Color):

• (4) Map Sections of the Pena River Area of Operations
  

• Supplemental Rules Specific to 3rd Panzer
  

• Order of Battle Cards
  

• Task Organization Charts for Each Major German and Red Army Formation
  

• Approximately 1800 Unit Counters and Markers
  

Price is $140 + TX Residents 8.25% Tax + Postage and Handling

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11th Panzer:
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THIS GAME IS AN EXPANSION GAME AND YOU MUST OWN GD IN ORDER TO PLAY IT
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The Box Cover for 11th Panzer:


The 11 th Panzer game has gone through a considerable upgrade.  Chief among those upgrade item is the map and scenarios.  Those who own the original games and received the upgraded maps and scenarios as part of the incentive program for the IISS PzK games do not need to purchase this game unless you simply want every product in the series.

This game includes the Command and Control and Fire Support Enhancements which mean you don’t need to buy anything else to have detailed command and fire support operations if you want them.

11 th Panzer was not the largest German division involved in the battle.  11 th Panzer’s mission was to be the right flank guard for the XLVIII PzK.  It was also responsible to maintain contact with the IISS PzK.  Elements of the 167ID were assigned to help maintain contact with the IISS PzK.  The Division has components of all arms and is an average strength panzer division at this time in the war.  It is organized the same as most panzer divisions.  It has a Panzer Regiment with 2 Panzer Battalions, 2 Panzer Grenadier Regiments each with 2 Infantry Battalions, a Panzer Artillery Regiment with 3 Battalions, a Reconnaissance Battalion, PanzerJager Battalion, Anti-Aircraft Battalion, and Pionere Battalion.  YOU have the ability to task organize the Division to make each Battalion a more potent combat weapon by cross-attaching infantry to the armor and vice versa, or even engineers or recon to these Battalions.

Units in this game look like:
Red Army Tank Brigade Elements Fronts


Red Army Tank Brigade Elements Backs


11th Panzer - comes with (in Full Color):

• (2) Map Sections of the Pena River Area of Operations
  

• Supplemental Rules Specific to 11th Panzer
  

• Order of Battle Cards
  

• Task Organization Charts for Each Major German and Red Army Formation
  

• Approximately 2000 Unit Counters and Markers
  

Price is $150 + TX Residents 8.25% Tax + Postage and Handling

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XLVIII Enhancement:
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THIS IS AN EXPANSION AND YOU MUST OWN AT LEAST GD IN ORDER TO USE IT
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The Box Cover for XLVIII Enhancement:


The XLVIII PzK Enhancement package builds on the detail of the game system.  Those who own the original games will recognize some of the counters in this package as those from the Maintenance, Logistics, and Air Enhancements.  They have been bundled together similar to the ones from the IISS PzK Enhancement package.

Each game now includes the Command and Control and Fire Support Enhancements which mean you don’t need to buy this package in order to have detailed command and fire support operations if you want them.

The specific elements for Maintenance include the chart and track which determine at what level and how long it takes to repair a vehicular unit, and vehicle recovery units which are used to drag the wrecks back to where they need to be in order to have maintenance performed.
As for Logistics there are supply convoys and supply points.  This enhancement is only necessary for those wanting a more detailed picture of how long an organization can last without proper supply.  If you’re not playing a game that lasts more than 3 battle days it is not going to manifest its importance.
And lastly the Air enhancement that is likely the most enjoyable aspect of the package.  It allows you to explore the air campaign in a completely different light.  If you have a team you can make an air commander and that job alone will be lots of fun.

XLVIII Enhancement comes with (in Full Color):

• Air Operations Charts
  

• Logistics Charts
  

• Maintenance Charts
  

• 600 Unit Counters and Markers
  

Price is $55 + TX Residents 8.25% Tax + Postage and Handling

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These games all focus on combined arms operations and have units that are built at Platoon for the Germans and Companies for the Red Army.  There are Company sized units that the Germans can exchange for and use instead of the platoons.

Rules account for primary and secondary weapons and ranges, opportunity fire, overwatch fire, overruns, obstacle breeching and building, and a host of detailed rules.  ALL the rules are contained in the Master Rules, even for the Enhancements.

More advanced enhancement rules cover the assignment of artillery missions such as DS (Direct Support), GS (General Support), and R (Reinforcing), and other limiting factors for artillery fire.  The Command and Control rules include Radio Line-of-Sight, HQ Initiative, and limits on the use of task organized forces.

All in all a very complete and detailed picture of the battle and the way in which it was fought.

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Last modified: January 03, 2023