WWII: 2 RECENT 1944 28MM RULES OF ENGAGEMENT GAMES

This week I am writing about two recent 28mm WWII games using Rules of Engagement that Colin Jack put together.

The vital US fuel depot

The first was a game played at Hugh Wilsons last Thursday and was set in Lorraine in 1944. A German force had broken through the US lines and was attempting to capture a small town which contained the HQ of a US Armoured Division and both a fuel dump and an ammo dump.

M4 Sherman ablaze....

The Germans had a motorised infantry platoon supported by a mixed group of vehicles with more vehicles arriving later using a cahnce mechanism. The Americans had various HQ infantry units and a group of M4 Sherman tanks which were in the process of being repaired. In addition a French force with Shermans and a M10 Wolverine was moving to their support.

M4 Sherman in repair motor pool explodes...

All the German vehicles started with a limited number of turns of fuel - this was diced for using a D10 - and after that many turns movement they would run out of fuel on a D6 score of 1 or 2.


The game was fought along a 12ft by 5ft table. The major problem the Germans had was that due to their fuel shortage none of their vehicles could move fast. This severely limited their movement range and most ran into fuel problems before they reached the town. However for the loss of a Panzer IV they managed to knock out 2 Shermans and the French M10. The high quality of the German infantry in the scenario - their experience rating was 3+ - was the decisive factor as this allowed them to defeat the inexperienced rear echeleon US troops whose experience rating was only 5+.

The long lasting Panzer IV knocked out by French M10

The second game was played at the SESWC this week and was set during the Battle of Falaise. A Canadian regimental HQ was deployed holding the summit of hill 117 and was attacked by a German armoured and infantry force attempting to break out from the pocket.

Tigers sweep forward - were that many running at Falaise?

The German Tigers - yes they had 2 of them - very quickly knocked out both the Canadian M10s. However lucky firing by Shermans and artillery caused the crews of 2 of the German tanks to bail out. This and the good firing by the Canadian infantry proved enough to enable them to stop the German breakout in its tracks.

Shermans deployed to protect the field hospital

With more games we are getting used to ROE - we are missing less of the important raules - there are a few anomalies that we need to read up on further but the rules certainly work.  I think the fun part still seems to be the tank actions....