WWII INFANTRY SKIRMISH VOTING RESULTS:
Voters, By Scale - 15mm

A meeting engagement between Soviet tanks (supported by a squad of assault troops) and two squads of Germans (supported by a Tiger II). The focal point of the battle was a small grain silo/processing plant. The IS-2 was disabled early on by an extremely lucky shot from a Pak 40, and things went downhill from there. End result: a total Russian rout. [11 Nov 1999]

Tarawa Atoll, morning of 20 November 1943. Lt. Col. H. Ameys 2nd Bn. 2nd Marines storm Red 2 on the northern coast of Betio Island. Very tough going for the leathernecks. [13 Apr 99]

The last game we played was from Battleground's Panther's East packet. It involved many russian armor units (t-34 41's, su-76's and t-70's) breaking through a german force of pz4's, tigers, and panthers. The game played very well!!!! We were able to play all very detailed 10 turns in under 3 hours. Highlights include the t-70's knocking out one tiger at point-blank range, the su-76's firing their little hearts out, and the panthers melting everything in their way! Every game we have played from the various scenerio packs has been very successful and fun. Next, we are off to the Bloody Bocage! [30 Mar 99]

Streets of Stalingrad urban infantry fight. [28 Mar 99]

Our most recent game involved a Soviet counterattack against a German-held village on the approaches to Moscow during Operation Typhoon, October 1941. Despite an enormous numerical advantage (2+ companies vs. a reinforced platoon), the Soviet attack was stopped by German artillery, 88's and mud. We used Grey Storm/Red Steel (after BAPS, my personal favorite) with 15mm figures by Old Glory & vehicles/ordnance by Quality Castings and Military Miniatures. [26 Mar 99]

Tried doing the large scenario in Easy Eight's Tanker's Challenge supplement for Battleground.

Thirty some t-34's versus half a dozen PzIV's and panthers (we modified to fit available models). The scenrio really goes overboard for a 1-1 scale. Even in 15mm there was too much stuff- the game took over six hours. [8 Feb 99]

We played a multiplayer game in 15mm using the Anti-Tank Rapid Fire amendments from WI coupled with the infantry rules from Overlord, but set on the eastern Front in 1944.

The forces involved [on a 1 figure = 1 man, 1 model = 1 vehicle]were 2 full strength companies of Soviet troops [based 4 and 3 figs to an element] with a company [10] of t-34s and an attached Assault gun platoon of ISU-122/152s versus a 3 platoons of German infantry, 6 Pz Ivs and 2 Tigers.

We were able to complete a move in less than 30 minutes, and there were no periods where a player was uninvolved over the whole 7 hour game.

we're familiar with the overlord rules to the point where we are usimng them as a framework for a generic ww2 set rather than a campaign specific set as they are written.

There is a lot of ambiguituy over the definition of skirmish and tactical level, as opposed to scale of figure representation. To me, they are two separate areas. For example, in games where 1 fig = 1 man, and 1 model = 1 vehicle, many rules go for involved resolutions of hit location and effect. This is skirmish. However, there seems to be no middle ground between this and the ratio troops of Rapid Fire.

Using ratios to represent troops is a personal anathema of mine, as is moving individual figures. Nor do I want to be poring over multiple tank location hit charts.

I believe that the minimum unit of maneuver should be the fire-team/half-squad in WW2 games, but I find it looks silly to have that unit represented by one or two figures. As for tank platoons being represented by 1 model, well, I don't see the point, particularly in 15mm.

So I regard the limits of rules as:

Skirmish: no more than a platoon per player, based individually, and certainly not more than a platoon of tanks.

Tactical: 1 figure = 1 man, 1 model = 1 vehicle, but the base unit of maneuver and effect is the half-squad, and tanks are either hit and killed or hit and no effect - but there are recognisable differences between vehicle capabilities without the minutiae of skirmish. Here, a player can comfortably field and handle a battalion-sized infantry force, with associated tank Company, IOW a Battlegroup.

Then there is the operational level, where representations of the units are used, utilising representative figures and abstracted model/vehicle ratios. This I see as operational. [8 Feb 99]

Last game had early T-34s against a German Recon platoon with some armored cars and Pz IIs. Very great game, quick to play and great realism. I think Battleground WWII is the best skirmish in the market. Usually this game is billed as pure "infantry" but we have found that it is a great game for armored actions too. [8 Feb 99]

Last game I played in, which used Battleground, was a west-front scenario written by me, run by our local club. The scenario involved a German mech-inf force (2 halftracks and 4 trucks, a squad of inf each, a single panther, and a couple of towed light guns) hastily taking up a defensive position along a lightly wooded ridgeline, with some minor earth works already in place (from a previous encounter). The German goal was to stop an American mixed column (several M4's, an M10, trucks full of infantry) from passing through the area. Unknown to the German player, however, was that the American column arrived just as the Germans were starting to take up position. It turned out to be in an interesting skirmish, but next time we refight it we are planning on giving the Germans some mortars to break up the American column a little bit.

The BattleGround rules, while really aimed at mixed, or infantry actions, work really well. In the past, the ruleset I liked the most was Overwatch, but that is almost a purely armour game. It is very well suited, however, for 1:285 microarmor matches. [8 Feb 99]