PUBLISHING

TM
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
KURSK

BATTLEGROUP

KURSK
TABLETOP WARGAMES RULES FOR 15mm & 20mm MINIATURES

by WARWICK KINRADE
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

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BATTLE GROUP • KURSK
BATTLEGROUP KURSK

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

CONTENTS
Battle Group Kursk Intro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Game Size Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
THE BATTLE OF KURSK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Operation Citadel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Force Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Timeline for the Battle of Kursk - North . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Timeline for the Battle of Kursk - South . . . . . . . . . . . 26
‘THE INGLORIOUS 12th JULY’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
1. First Charge at Hill 252.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
2. West of the Oktiabrski State Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
3. Defence of the Stalinskoe State Farm . . . . . . . . . . 145
4. Holding the Flank at Mikhailovka . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
5. The Death’s Head at Andreevka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
6. Surrounded at Komosolets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
7. Counter-Attack at Vinogradovka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

THE ARMY LISTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

Unit Availability Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
The German Army at Kursk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
German Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Armoured Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Soft-skinned Vehicles and Aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
German Guns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Panzer Division Battlegroup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Infantry Division Battlegroup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
The Russian Army at Kursk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Russian Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Armoured Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Russian Guns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Soft-skinned Vehicles and Aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Tank Corps Battlegroup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Rifle Divison Battlegroup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Battle Group Organisation Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Rules Referece Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
German Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Armoured Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Soft-skinned Vehicles and Aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
German Guns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Russian Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Armoured Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Russian Guns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Soft-skinned Vehicles and Aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176

BATTLES AT KURSK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

The Terrain of Kursk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Scenarios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Clash of Reconnaissance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Attack/ Counter-Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Flank Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Bridgehead Breakout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Defence Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
High Ground . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Strongpoint Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

CREDITS
Written by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Warwick Kinrade
Archive Photography from . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bundesarchiv, Koblenz
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Novosti Archive, Moscow
Miniature Photography by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Warwick Kinrade
Art and Sketches by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dave Pentland
Production by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Artorus Games Ltd
Model Painting for guides by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sean ‘Wiking’ Allen
Proofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Henry Hyde
Playtesting by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Piers Brand, Gary Byrne,
Tom Hannigan, Cyril Vallinie, Brain McAfee, Ken Kinrade, Michael
Hughes, Andy Edwards, Russ Mason, Andy Fox and Captain Beaky.
Miniatures shown from the following manufacturers: Plastic Soldier
Company, SHQ Miniatures, Elhiem Figures, WarModelling, AB Figures,
Battlefield/Blitz Miniatures, Britannia Miniatures, Wargames Foundry,
Altalya, the HobbyDen, PMT, Unimodel, Revell.
Models from the collections of: Ken Kinrade, Piers Von Brandt, Tom Hannigan
and Warwick Kinrade.
With special thanks to: all those that helped out, in large or small ways,
including Will Townshend at Plastic Soldier Company and especially my wife
and boys, and the invaluable support of my family and good friends.
Produced by Iron Fist Publishing Ltd. First published in Great Britain, in 2012.
This edition published in 2014. The contents are © Iron Fist Publishing Ltd
and may not be reproduced without the prior permission of the publisher.
All archive photographs are used under licence and with permission. The
copyright of all images is recognised and no claim is intended. Images may
not be reproduced without the prior permission of the copyright holder.
First Printed in Lithunania, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-9573132-0-0
Battlegroup TM Iron Fist Publishing Ltd

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BATTLEGROUP
KURSK
W elcome to Battlegroup Kursk,
a set of tabletop miniature
wargames rules for recreating the
epic battles of World War II on the
Eastern Front, in the summer of 1943,
using 15mm or 20mm miniatures.
Kursk is still regarded as the greatest
tank battle in history, but it was not
just a tank battle. Although named
after the town that was the German
objective (but which did not feature
in the fighting at all), the Battle of
Kursk was actually the major German
offensive operation of the summer of
1943, codenamed Operation Zitadelle
(Citadel), and it involved the greater
part of the German Army’s tank
strength on the Eastern Front.
In response to the (rather easily)
predicted German offensive the Red
Army had amassed a formidable
defensive force and dug-in on the
steppes, in trenches, strong points
and behind minefields and barbed
wire. They had also massed their
own tank forces behind the front lines
ready to launch their own counter-
attacks and were very well prepared
for what the German Army was
about to unleash upon them.
For the World War II wargaming
enthusiast, Kursk has an almost
irresistible draw. Its imagery of
massed tanks clashing across the
rolling wheat fields provides scope
for using many tank models, and
can be realistically light on terrain,
and makes such clashes completely
authentic. But it was not just a tank
battle, it would be a mistake to think
of Kursk as just tanks verses tanks.
All arms of both sides were heavily
engaged in hard, attritional warfare.
Infantry manned the Russian trenches
or advanced alongside (and often
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
KURSK
in front of) the advancing German
tanks. Massed artillery hammered
the front lines and rear echelons of
both sides, night and day, whilst the
air war was fiercely fought, with the
Luftwaffe and Red Army Air Force
fighting an evenly matched duel for
air superiority above the battlefields.
So, yes, you can have the armour,
the Tiger tanks and massed T-34
onslaughts, but the full force of both
sides’ combined arms are covered in
the following rules. Just as in 1943,
tanks, infantry, artillery and aircraft
all have their part to play in securing
victory on your miniature battefield.
So, muster your forces, make your
plans and prepare to engage your
enemy – ‘Panzer vorwärts!’
Below: A column of Panzer III Ls move up to their
jump-off positions during Operation Zitadelle.
(Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-219-0562A-06)
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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
HOW THIS BOOK WORKS
Within this book you will find all
the information you need to play
table-top wargames recreating the
epic battles of the Kursk salient, and
beyond. This book is divided into
four main sections. First you will find
the rules of the game, detailing how
units are given orders and how they
move and fire at each other.
Second, you will find the historical
background, giving the player a
general overview of the Kursk battles
and how they were fought. This
is by no means a comprehensive
background to the battle. It offers only
a taste of what was a massive clash
of forces, and such levels of detail are
beyond the scope of this rulebook.
It is recommended that players do
some further reading, which will help
inform your games, inspire you to
create your own historical scenarios
and add an extra level of depth to
your hobby. This section also include
six scenarios to play, and a short
campaign follows later.
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Third, is the army list section, and
this is split into two. The first half
deals with the German Army in
1943, giving some more detailed
background on its equipment, as well
as gaming data, and finally includes
two army lists for the Germans from
which to select your battlegroup. The
first is the Panzer Division list, the
second is the Infantry Division list.
The second half of this section repeats
all this information for the Russian
forces, again with two army lists, the
Soviet Tank Corps and Rifle Division.
The fourth section of the book is
the miniature showcase and hobby
section, giving gamers some advice
on collecting, modelling and painting
miniatures for the Kursk battles. It
is naturally aimed at those new to
the hobby, but more experienced
wargamers and painters may well
find some useful information in the
advanced painting guides.
Finally, there are the appendices.
These include quick reference
sections so that players don’t need
to keep flicking through the book to
find rules information and thus slow
down their battles.
GETTING STARTED
It is not necessary to learn all the
rules presented here before you
play. It is far easier to read the rules
through once, get some miniatures
out on the tabletop and start moving
them around and rolling some dice.
A small introductory game is the
simplest way to start, with just a few
infantry and tanks. From this small
beginning you can then build up your
games to include artillery, aircraft,
engineers and all the other specialist
units. After two or three games you
will have mastered the basics and
have a good understanding of the
rule mechanics. The scenarios section
contains an introductory scenario,
‘Clash of Reconnaissance’ which is
included for players to use as their
first game.

GAMING PRINCIPLES
These rules assume a few basic
principles that both players should
adhere to. These are:
i. Co-operation
Like all games, there is also a social
side to wargaming. It is a shared
experienced, and both sides are
supposed to enjoy themselves. Games
are best played in a spirit of friendly
co-operation. Being ruthlessly
competitive, nit-picking over rules
or line of sight decisions and not
accepting the vagaries of lady luck
with good grace only serves to ruin
the game for everybody. This is not a
competitive sport. So play as friends,
give your opponent the benefit of the
doubt, play to win but don’t worry
overly about who wins or loses. It is a
game – for fun, so enjoy yourself and
make sure your opponent does too.
ii. Scale
This game is written for miniatures
at two sizes. 20mm (1/72nd scale and
1/76th) and 15mm (1/100th scale).
Models in these sizes are commonly
available and can provide a good-
sized game on a 6'x4' table top in an
evening. Of course, larger games,
with more models and larger tables
can also be played (and should be). In
the end the best advice here is to play
on the largest table you can manage.
A word of warning: too many models
on too small a table makes for a poor
game, with no room for decisive
manoeuvre; instead it will become a
dull grind of attrition and dice rolling.
Advice on table size for both scales of
models is given later.
iii. Measuring Distances
This can be a fraught issue when
distances become critical to victory
or defeat. Distances should never
be premeasured. The troops on
the ground have to estimate them,
so should you. When measuring
distances, always measure from the
firing vehicle’s hull to the target
vehicle’s hull, not from the end of
the gun barrel. Some tanks have very
long guns and can thus gain extra
distance on the tabletop. Likewise,
when measuring for damage or if a
vehicle is within a blast radius, use
its hull for determining distance. Just
because a piece of modelled stowage
or a long barrel is in range, does not
mean the vehicle itself is.
For infantry units, when moving, no
element within a unit should move
more than its maximum movement
allowance. When measuring ranges
the majority matter – so, if more
models in a unit are at short range
than effective range, the unit counts
as being at short range.
iv. Gauging Line of Sight
Mostly this will be obvious, but
sometimes it is unclear whether a
unit can see another. There is no
easy way to settle this, and it comes
down to the players to decide. As a
guide, a firer should be able to see a
reasonable amount of its target, not
just a gun barrel sticking out. In the
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
KURSK
event that the players can’t decide,
roll a dice for it. 1-3 the target can’t
be seen; 4-6 it can, so take the shot.
Players should also remember rule
i. above – be generous and give the
benefit of any doubt to the firer, and
expect the same in return.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
Before you can play a game, you are
going to need some vital stuff.
1. Battle Groups
You will need two battlegroups of
miniature soldiers, tanks and guns
– one German, one Russian. These
will be from the players’ collections,
(or from one player’s collection),
and should be the right models, and
should be painted. Of course, what
level of painting is up to the players,
but the game is drastically enhanced
by using well-painted miniatures.
Those willing to field unpainted
models need to take a hard look at
themselves and seek forgiveness for
their sins against gaming! (Seriously
though, paint the models, it is a major
part of the wargaming hobby).
2. Rulebook
Well, if you’re reading this you have
one. The more experienced you
become with the rules, the less you’ll
refer to the rulebook, until eventually
you might not need it at all – ironic,
that! The rules reference sheet also
provides all you need to play.
3. Opponent(s)
Somebody to play against as the
opposing commander. Great games
can also be played with multiple
commanders on each side.
4. Battlefield
A good-sized flat area on which to
place the model terrain. Any flat area
will do, dining room table, floor etc,
but a purpose built wargaming table
is best. The larger the better, but 4'x4'
is regarded as the smallest practical
gaming table. Most of us use a 6'x4'
or a bit larger. A lucky few have far
larger tables.
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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

5. Dice
This game is played using six-sided
dice, referred to as D6. They are easily
available at gaming stores or online
and about ten should do. You might
also need a twelve-sided dice (D12). A KURSK BATTLEFIELD
A detailed 6'x4' gaming board including a few features of the Kursk
6. Pen and Paper battlefields, suitable for an evening’s gaming. There is more detail of
The game requires some book- how to construct this board on page 189.
keeping and note taking, so a pen and
paper will come in handy for this.
You will also have a Battle Group
Organisation Chart (see appendix),
and the back of this comes in handy
for notes, etc.

A narrow stream acts as an area of

rough ground and a linear obstacle.

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
KURSK

The road is blocked by an anti-tank

ditch, impassable to vehicles and
infantry, without a bridge!

A small farm or hamlet beside a

ripe wheat field. The buildings
have distinctively white-washed
walls and thatched roofs.

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YOUR BATTLE GROUP
In order to play, you are going to
need a battlegroup. Collecting and
painting miniatures is a large part
of the wargaming hobby, and as
such building up this collection can
become something of life’s work for
dedicated (obsessive) wargamers
(author included here). This book
includes four different ‘types’ of
army, the principal combatants of the
Kursk battles, and each has its own
advantages, disadvantages and ‘style’
of player. You’ll learn the ins and outs
as you go, but suffice to say, infantry-
based forces, often backed up by
artillery, will fight very different
battles to mobile armoured units with
lots of tanks.
The heart of your hobby is your
collection of miniatures, but this
should not be confused with your
battlegroup. A battlegroup is small
combined-arms force created for a
specific game. Your collection will be
far larger, and include many different
units. You won’t use them all every
game, but occasionally you will be
able to get them all out and have a
really big battle. As most wargamers
find, their collection is rarely
complete, there is always something
to add or new models to include. If,
by some good fortune, an army is
completed, then invariably they start
on another one.
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ARMY LISTS, POINTS AND
BATTLE RATING
The army lists contain a lot of
different units, from infantry squads
and tanks, to command units, signal
teams, artillery, medics, etc. Each is
listed with a points value and a battle
rating.
Points values are how you pick a
force. In simplistic terms, the higher
the points value, the ‘better’ the unit.
A powerful tank with a big gun is
worth more than an infantryman
with a mere rifle. Heavy artillery
is worth more than light artillery.
When picking a force, it will be to a
maximum points value, set by the
players before the game. If both sides
have an equal number of points, then
you will get an even game (well, that
is the theory). Of course, how you use
the force, your luck on the day, and
lots of other factors will ultimately
decide who gets the victory.
Game Size Minimum Maximum ‘Standard’
Points Points Points
Squad 100 350
Platoon 351 750
Company 751 1250
Battalion 1251 2000+ 1500
Units also have a battle rating. This
is discussed in detail later, but a
unit’s battle rating is a gauge of the
effectiveness and importance of
your battlegroup, and will be very
important in deciding whether you
win or lose a game. See page 43 for
full details on battle rating.
NOTES ON INFANTRY BASING
How infantry are based doesn’t really
have an impact on the game, as long
as it is obvious which squad the
models belong to, then any basing
method will work. Individual basing
obviously allows for the easy removal
of casualties, but multiple basing
allows for faster movement and easy
identification. If using multiple bases,
the best thing to do is also have a
few markers or small dice to show
casualties sustained by the base. So,
a five man base would remain on the
table until all five men have become
casualties, but after four casualties
would only have a Rate of Fire of
1. This small additional amount of
bookkeeping won’t affect game play
at all. A combination of multiple
bases and single figures is probably
the best compromise.
GAME SIZE
This game is designed to be played
at four different sizes, from small
squad vs squad actions up to larger
battalion actions. The larger the game,
the more miniatures you’ll need,
as well as a correspondingly larger
tabletop. Below is a guideline for the
minimum, maximum and standard
recommended points required for
the different sized games, as well as a
recommended table size.
20mm 15mm
table size table size
250 6' x 4' 4' x 4'
500 6' x 6' 6' x 4'
1000 6' x 8' 6' x 6'
6' x 10' 6' x 8'
or larger or larger
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

THE BATTLE OF

KURSK
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

A WAR TO END ALL WARS...
The war on the Eastern Front was
on a scale almost unimaginable
in the West. Some of the statistics
speak for themselves. Out of
Germany’s 13.5 million wartime
losses, approximately 10 million died,
were wounded, missing or became
prisoners of war on the Ostfront.
It was a war that saw levels of
carnage and destruction that
had never been seen before (and
have never been seen since), in
a titanic clash of the world’s two
largest military forces. The Red
Army claimed to have destroyed
or disabled 506 German fighting
divisions, plus a further 100 divisions
of Germany’s allies. 50, 000 tanks,
77, 000 aircraft and 167, 000 artillery
guns and mortars can be included
in the tally. No doubt such figures
are inflated, but that such immense
numbers can even be credited,
testifies to the scale of the fighting
endured by both sides on the eastern
front. Conversely, Russian losses
were equally as appalling. 12 million
Russians are estimated to have died
defeating Hitler’s armies.
It is not widely acknowledged, but
the above figures also go to show
that, under-recognised in the West,
without doubt the Red Army bore the
greatest weight of the war against
Hitler and rise of fascism. The utter
defeat of Hitler’s Nazi regime was
principally a victory for the Red
Army and the Communist system of
the Soviet Union (now so reviled).
It is unlikely that any western nation
could have endured the German
onslaught unleashed in 1941 and the
massive losses that followed on the
world’s bloodiest ever battlefields,
their huge sacrifices eventually
brought the Red Army to the streets
of Berlin, enforcing a German
unconditional surrender in May 1945
that the western allies were as yet in
no position to demand.

OPERATION BARBAROSSA winter weather, was able to halt the

1 350 days of brutal combat began

on 22nd June 1941 with the
launching of ‘Operation Barbarossa’,
German advance and regain some
lost ground.

the German invasion of Russia. It was TURNING THE TIDE

a huge operation and it caught the
Russian Army and Premier Stalin by
surprise. Stalin had ignored warnings
that Hitler planned to attack Russia,
and now the German’s powerful
blitzkrieg raced across the Soviet
Union’s borders, and swept all before
it. Three Army Groups oversaw
the invasion: Army Group North,
Army Group Centre and Army
Group South, and all three swiftly
made massive gains. The Luftwaffe
targeted, and all but destroyed,
the Red Air Force at its bases, and
had soon achieved complete aerial
supremacy. The Panzer divisions
struck deep into Russian territory and
the Red Army found itself repeatedly
out-manoeuvred and encircled.
Millions of men were captured and
it seemed that Hitler’s prophecy
that they would simply ‘kick in the
door and the whole rotten structure
will fall’ was coming true. It was not
until the German Army threatened to
encircle and overrun Moscow itself
that the Red Army, aided by savage
AT STALINGRAD
Thwarted at the gates of Moscow,
the German high command turned
their attention to the south, and the
massive and strategically vital oil
fields of southern Russia. ‘Operation
Blue’ saw the German Army renew
its drive eastwards, this time with
the prize of massive oil reserves as its
goal. Now their sweeping advances
brought them to the southern city
of Stalingrad on the Volga river, and
there, in a five month battle that
saw some of the most sustained
and savage house-to-house fighting
ever, the Red Army was able, with
huge losses on both sides, to halt the
Germans again. Sucked into a war of
attrition for possession of the city, the
German 6th Army struggled, street-
by-street, factory-by-factory, room-
by-room, against an almost fanatical
defence that would not break.
Right: German infantry occupy a
battle-damaged village.
(Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-022-2924-36)

12

Unknown to the Germans, the
Russians had also mustered their
strength for a counterattack. As
winter arrived, again attacking
through deep snow, the Red Army
surrounded and trapped a quarter of
a million German soldiers in a pincer
movement around Stalingrad.
Unable to keep their trapped and
beleaguered Army supplied by air
drops or break through on the ground
to the city, the German 6th Army,
after heavy losses, surrendered.
Defeat at Stalingrad was a heavy
blow to the German Army in the
east. The size of the invasion had
already stretched German resources
in manpower and military-industrial
output to the limit. It was a sudden
loss of a large number of men who
were all but irreplaceable. The vital
oil fields remained in Russian hands.
The Red Army also now knew that
the fearsome German war machine
was not invincible.
With renewed confidence and belief,
the Russians launched more offensive
operations – principally aimed at
recapturing the industrial city of
Kharkov. This they did, only for their
attack to run out of impetus, ground
down by a stubborn German defence,
before the SS Panzer Corps unleashed
their own counter-offensive against
the weary attackers. It was the
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
German Army’s turn to smash the
Red Army’s divisions in the snows
around Kharkov. By mid-March 1943,
Kharkov was back in German hands
and the Red Army was in retreat
again.
Victory in the winter campaign at
Kharkov would set the scene for the
fighting in the summer of 1943, and
Operation Zitadelle.
OPERATION ZITADELLE
THE LAST GREAT OFFENSIVE
Having failed to defeat Russia in 1941
and then again in 1942, the German
High Command (OKH) was well
aware that Russian manpower and
manufacturing capacity would soon
13
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
surpass and then grow to dwarf the
capacity of Germany and her allies.
Lost men and materiel would see the
Wehrmacht ever weakening, whilst
the Red Army, with its seemingly
limitless manpower, grew ever
stronger. By OKH’s calculations 1943
would be the last hope they had to
finally defeat the Russians before any
chance of a decisive victory faded,
and the war became a fight to stave
off their own defeat.
As the OKH staff examined their
maps of the front, there was only
one place on the entire Eastern Front
that offered the prospect for a major
victory that could decisively turn
the tide of the war, and that was at
the Kursk salient. Here there was
a bulge in the Russian front line,
centred on the town of Kursk, which
the Germans already surrounded
on three sides. If they could ‘pinch
off’ the bulge by attacking from the
north and south, they could encircle
and trap 1.3 million men and smash
a huge hole in the front. Pushing
through this hole, they could swing
north-east and threaten Moscow
again, forcing the Russians to
consider negotiating a peace treaty in
Germany’s favour.
14
The Kursk salient had to be the
location for the Wehrmacht’s summer
offensive. The strategic plan called for
a swift attack, as soon as the spring
thaw was complete and the ground
had dried enough for mass tank
movements. OKH was also expecting
a Russian summer offensive, and the
sooner they attacked, then the better
the chances that they would beat the
Red Army to the punch and gain the
initiative. Russian reinforcements,
earmarked for an offensive, would be
drawn into a defensive fight at Kursk,
forestalling their own attacks.
The plan was not roundly approved
by Germany’s generals. Heinz
Guderian, then in command of
organising and equipping the Panzer
divisions, was already pushed to
rebuild the Panzers’ numbers after
their losses of 1942. Those forces that
were ready should not be thrown
away in an offensive that had, in
his opinion, only a slight chance
of ultimate triumph. He favoured
a defensive strategy, a chance to
strengthen the army for a fresh
offensive in 1944. But Hitler rejected
his opinion. For political reasons,
Germany must been seen to be
winning in the east, to keep her allies
in the war.
An invasion of Italy and perhaps
northern Europe was also imminent.
Germany could not be seen to be
on the defensive, or worse, losing
the war. General Zeitzler, who
was primarily responsible for the
1943 summer offensive plan, was
given the go ahead. The attack was
codenamed Operation Zitadelle
(Citadel). As a result of the winter
fighting, the Kursk salient lay at the
point where Army Group South and
Army Group Centre met, and both
would be providing their divisions
for the offensive. Army Group
South would attack from the south,
mustering in the area just north and
east of Belgorod, whilst Army Group
Centre would attack from the north,
from the area south-east of Orel. The
two forces’ spearheads would meet
at Kursk, thus turning the bulge
into an encirclement. Once cut off
the Red Army’s divisions trapped
inside would have to surrender or be
destroyed.
For the coming offensive Army
Groups South and Centre assembled
a massive force, spearheaded by
the rebuilt Panzer divisions. These
would be further strengthened
with the deployment of the Tiger
tank battalions, heavy anti-tank
battalions equipped with massive
Ferdinand tank-hunters and the
first deployment of the new Panzer
V Panther tanks. The attack date
was first set for early May, but due
to spring rains, the preparation
and positioning of forces were
incomplete. In order to bring up more
divisions, the start date for the attack
was delayed until June, then moved
back again to early July, to allow the
deployment of more heavy tanks,
especially the Panthers which were
only now being rushed to the front
from factories and training grounds
in Germany. For two months the
German build-up of forces continued
– but it had not gone unnoticed.

DEFENCE IN DEPTH
THE RUSSIAN PREPARATIONS
In previous years, the Soviets had
twice been caught by surprise by the
German summer offensives, but their
High Command (STAVKA) would
not be caught out again.
Their staff were looking at the same
map of the Eastern Front as their
German counterparts, and along with
intelligence reports, they knew full
well where the German hammer-
blow must fall, when the better
weather conditions allowed.
Stalin was keen to launch his own
offensive before the Germans
could attack, but for once he was
persuaded to wait. STAVKA did
have an offensive planned, but it
would only be initiated after they
had absorbed and ‘bled white’ the
Wehrmacht’s own offensive power.
Like a boxer, they would strike on the
counter-punch, first waiting for their
opponent to punch himself out before
unleashing their own husbanded
reserves in a powerful counterattack.
The first part of the overall strategic
plan involved the defence of the
Kursk salient. They could not
allow the Panzer divisions to break
through, as they had before, and
encircle them. The tanks must be
stopped in a defensive battle of
attrition. The Central and Voronezh
Fronts formed the north and south
of the salient, and these were now
heavily reinforced.
Next, an entire Reserve Front (called
Steppe Front) was put in place behind
them. This would act as a second line
should the Germans break through,
but would also feed its units into
the front to stop-up any threatened
German penetrations.
The Kursk salient was turned into a
defensive labyrinth. Belts of resistance
points were constructed. Each was
equipped with multiple anti-tank
guns, infantry ‘tank-hunter’ teams,
mortars, machine guns and sappers.
40,000 mines were sown to channel the
attackers onto the resistance points,
which were laid out chequer board
fashion, for mutually supporting fire.
Over 3,000 miles of trenches were
dug to connect the strongpoints in
the Central Front alone. Villages were
fortified. The defensible belts stretched
back from the front lines up to 18
miles, and there were three belts. The
immense size of the defences and
the number of troops manning them
turned the entire salient into a tank
‘killing field’. The Soviets’ principle
objective was the destruction of the
German armour; thus would the
German Army be denuded of its
offensive strength.
Despite all the digging, the Red
Army’s defence would not be a static
one. Behind the front line, rifle units,
the Tank Corps and Brigades were
placed ready to counterattack the
German spearheads with massed
armour. Behind them were the
artillery regiments of heavier guns
and Katyusha rocket launchers.
All these would have the full
support of the Red Army Air Force
(VVS), which in previous campaigns
had been ineffective, leaving the
Luftwaffe to dominate the skies.
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Above: Panzer V Panther on the proving ground.
(Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-733-0030-20)
By the summer of 1943 the VVS’s
heavy losses had been replaced and
its aircraft and crews were now
available in large enough numbers
to match the Luftwaffe. They would
contest control of the skies in the
aerial battle and attack the German
formations as they moved up to the
front, as well as targeting Luftwaffe
airfields.
The Red Army’s preparations and
planning were meticulous and on a
vast scale. Civilians were conscripted
to help with the digging work. There
could be no repeat of the German
breakthroughs in 1941 and 1942.
THE ZITADELLE PLAN
The German plan for Operation
Citadel involved three armies.
Two, 9th Army in the north and 4th
Panzer Army in the south would
go on the offensive. The third, 2nd
Army, would hold the western end
of the salient with just seven infantry
divisions in a defensive line covering
a distance of over 170 miles. It was a
thin screen, but the Russian strength
was also massed against the northern
and southern shoulders of the salient,
with just their 60th Army and 38th
15
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Above: Russian riflemen man their trench lines, nothing
more than a ditch with earth spoil. (Novosti 186266)
Army’s 12 smaller rifle divisions to
face 2nd Army. With no Tank Corps
to support the Russian divisions, it
would not be possible for the Soviets
to attack here and force any decisive
or threatening breakthrough.
9th Panzer Army’s powerful attack
from the north would utilise all five
of its corps, with the main effort
being mounted in the centre of their
line by XLVII and XLI Panzer Corps,
reinforced by 150 Tiger tanks and 160
Ferdinand heavy tank destroyers. For
the start of their attack, 9th Panzer
Army had at its disposal 14 Infantry,
6 Panzer and 1 Panzer Grenadier
divisions.
16
In the south, Army Group South’s
attack would involve two distinct
thrusts. The first would be made by
4th Panzer Army’s 3 Corps, with the
main effort being mounted in the
centre and right of the line by XLVIII
Panzer Corps and II SS Panzer Corps.
Again, heavily reinforced by 100
Tigers and 200 of the new Panther
tanks, these would all be deployed
by the Grossdeutschland Panzer
Grenadier division. The attack had at
its disposal four infantry divisions,
two Panzer divisions and four Panzer
Grenadier divisions.
Just to the south of this attack would
come Army Groups Kempf’s flanking
attack, striking from the area east
of Belgorod, which again had three
Corps. III Panzer Corps would be
the main cutting edge, supported
by the infantry of XI Corps (also
called Corps Raus) and XLII Corps,
which was opposite South-Western
Front’s 57th Army. In total it fielded
six infantry and three panzer
divisions. Their task was to provide
protection to 4th Panzer Army’s
eastern flank against the arrival of
Soviet reinforcements from further
east, thus freeing the SS and XLVII
Panzer Corps to break through and
drive northwards to Kursk without
becoming bogged down holding off
Russian counterattacks along their
eastern flank.
The northern and southern attacks
were to quickly break through

and meet up just east of Kursk,
thus encircling the Russian armies
within. Cut off from supplies and
reinforcements, eight or nine Russian
Armies would have to surrender or
be annihilated.
COUNTER-STROKE:
THE SOVIET STRATEGIC PLAN
The Soviet defensive scheme for the
Kursk salient was only the beginning
of a much broader strategic plan for
the entire war in 1943. Once the first
German blow had been absorbed
and the Panzer divisions crippled,
then the Soviets would begin their
own offensive. The first blow would
come from the Orel salient, just north
of the Kursk salient, where Bryansk
Front would attack towards Orel and
Bryansk and, in the process trap, the
German 9th Army as it was attacking
south towards Kursk. As this
offensive began, so a second attack
would commence south of the Kursk
salient, utilising South West Front
and the remaining reserves of Steppe
Front to recapture Belgorod and then
Kharkov.
Bold those these plans were, they
were not all STAVKA had planned.
The success of these attacks would be
the signal for new attacks further to
the south, and then the beginning of
a general offensive across the entire
eastern front line, from Leningrad
in the north to the Black Sea in
the south, with the aim of driving
the Germans back to, and then
establishing bridgeheads over, the
river Dniepr. It was all planned out
on a massive scale, but if any of the
following offensives were to happen,
first the defences at Kursk had to
hold fast.
PANZER VORWÄRTS!
THE BEGINNING OF
OPERATION ZITADELLE
After seemingly endless delays and
snarl-ups, Hitler issued a directive,
ordering the offensive to start on July
5th – Operation Zitadelle was finally
to begin. The opening bombardment
began at 0100 hours, in darkness
the Nebelwerfer rounds screamed
overhead and the guns thundered
as German assault units advanced
to their lines of departure, ready to
begin their attacks at first light.
PANZER ACES
With the first mass deployment of Tiger
tanks, it was almost inevitable that the
rise of the Panzer Ace would begin
at Kursk. Several famous tank aces
took part in the operations at Kursk,
some of them going on to be virtual
household names amongst wargamers.
Michael Wittmann knocked-out 30
Soviet tanks during the operation.
Franz Staudegger destroyed 22 T-34s in
a single engagement, using up all his
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
On airfields around Belgorod,
Kharkov and Orel, the Luftwaffe’s
squadrons of Stukas, Focke-Wulf
190s, He-111 bombers and their
fighter cover were armed, fuelled and
ready for take-off.
The Red Army was also in a state
of high readiness. They had, over
the past weeks, come to full alert
several times, only for no attack
to materialize. This time, Marshall
Zhukov had to decide whether
the attack was real or a feint. The
weight of artillery now impacting
on his lines, both north and south,
suggested that the threatened storm
was about to break. He ordered his
own artillery batteries to return fire.
It was a carefully timed counter-
bombardment, aimed at suppressing
the German guns and saturating
the predicted German mustering
areas with artillery fire, to disrupt
the enemy’s (no doubt meticulously
planned) first assault forces.
So confident was Marshall Koniev
that his defences would hold that
when, on July 4th, a reconnaissance
aircraft spotted an entire German
tank regiment laagered in woods, and
a request for a heavy bombing raid to
destroy them was made, he declined,
not wishing to give the German
commanders any indication that the
Russians had guessed their plan and
were waiting for them. ‘Let them
come,’ he said, knowing they were
advancing into a trap...
ammunition in the process. Amongst
the Wehrmacht the likes of Kurt Knispel
fought at Kursk, Germany’s highest
scoring tank ace. On their own, the
Tiger crews of the 503rd would claim
385 Russian tanks destroyed during
Citadel. The 503rd had a preponderance
of tank aces among their ranks. Along
with Knispel, serving as a gunner, they
had Heinz Gartner and Heinz Rondorf
both of whom would go on to score
over 100 ‘kills’ during their service.
17
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
GERMAN ORDER OF BATTLE
‘OPERATION ZITADELLE’
FROM ARMY GROUP CENTRE
(von Kluge)
9th ARMY (Model)
20th Corps
45th Infantry Division
72nd Infantry Division
137th Infantry Division
251st Infantry Division
46th Panzer Corps
7th Infantry Division
31st Infantry Division
102nd Infantry Division
258th Infantry Division
SOVIET ORDER OF BATTLE
KURSK SALIENT
CENTRAL FRONT
(Rokossovsky)
13th ARMY (Puchov)
17th Guards Rifle Corps
6th Guards Rifle Division
70th Guards Rifle Division
75th Guards Rifle Division
18th Guards Rifle Corps
2nd Airborne Guards Rifle Division
3rd Airborne Guards Rifle Division
4th Airborne Guards Rifle Division
15th Rifle Corps
8th Rifle Division
74th Rifle Division
148th Rifle Division
29th Rifle Corps
15th Rifle Division
81st Rifle Division
307th Rifle Division
48th ARMY (Romanenko)
42nd Rifle Corps
16th Rifle Division
202nd Rifle Division
399th Rifle Division
18
47th Panzer Corps
2nd Panzer Division
9th Panzer Division
20th Panzer Division
6th Infantry Division
12th Panzer Division
10th Panzer Grenadier Division
505th Heavy Panzer Detachment
41st Panzer Corps
86th Infantry Division
292nd Infantry Division
18th Panzer Division
23rd Corps
78th Sturm Infantry Division
216th Infantry Division
383rd Infantry Division
73rd Rifle Division
137th Rifle Division
143rd Rifle Division
170th Rifle Division
60th ARMY (Chernyakhovsky)
24th Rifle Corps
42nd Rifle Division
112th Rifle Division
30th Rifle Corps
121st Rifle Division
141st Rifle Division
322nd Rifle Division
Independent 55th Rifle Division
65th ARMY (Batov)
18th Rifle Corps
69th Rifle Division
149th Rifle Division
246th Rifle Division
27th Rifle Corps
60th Rifle Division
193rd Rifle Division
37th Guards Rifle Division
181st Rifle Division
194th Rifle Division
354th Rifle Division
656th Heavy AT Detachment
909th Assault Gun Detachment
ARMY RESERVE
4th Panzer Division
Luftflotte Six
2nd ARMY (Weiss)
13th Corps
82nd Infantry Division
340th Infantry Division
327th Infantry Division
7th Corps
88th Infantry Division
26th Infantry Division
75th Infantry Division
68th Infantry Division
70th ARMY (Galanin)
28th Rifle Corps
132nd Rifle Division
211th Rifle Division
280th Rifle Division
102nd Rifle Division
106th Rifle Division
140th Rifle Division
162nd Rifle Division
354th Rifle Division
2nd TANK ARMY (Rodin)
3rd Tank Corps
16th Tank Corps
11th Guards Tank Brigade
FRONT RESERVE ASSETS
Independent 9th Tank Corps
Independent 19th Tank Corps
16th AIR ARMY (Rudenko)
3rd Bombing Air Corps
6th Mixed Air Corps
6th Fighter Air Corps

GERMAN ORDER OF BATTLE
‘OPERATION ZITADELLE’
FROM ARMY GROUP SOUTH
(von Manstein)
4th PANZER ARMY (Hoth)
32nd Corps
57th Infantry Division
255th Infantry Division
332nd Infantry Division
48th Panzer Corps
3rd Panzer Division
Panzer Grenadier Division
‘Grossdeutschland’
10th Panzer Brigade (Panthers)
11th Panzer Division
167th Infantry Division
SOVIET ORDER OF BATTLE
KURSK SALIENT
VORONEZH FRONT
(Vatutin)
6th GUARDS ARMY (Chistiakov)
22nd Guards Rifle Corps
67th Guards Rifle Division
71st Guards Rifle Division
90th Guards Rifle Division
23rd Guards Rifle Corps
51st Guards Rifle Division
52nd Guards Rifle Division
375th Rifle Division
Independent 89th Guards Rifle Division
96th Tank Brigade
230th Separate Tank Regiment
245th Separate Tank Regiment
1440th SP Artillery Regiment
93rd Artillery Regiment (122mm)
142nd Artillery Regiment (152mm)
7th GUARDS ARMY (Shumilov)
24th Guards Rifle Corps
15th Guards Rifle Division
36st Guards Rifle Division
72nd Guards Rifle Division
2nd SS Panzer Corps
1st SS Panzer Grenadier Division
‘Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler’
2nd SS Panzer Grenadier Division
‘Das Reich’
3rd SS Panzer Grenadier Division
‘Totenkopf’
Luftflotte Four
25th Guards Rifle Corps
73rd Guards Rifle Division
78th Guards Rifle Division
81st Guards Rifle Division
Independent 213th Rifle Division
38th ARMY (Chibisov)
50th Rifle Corps
167th Rifle Division
232nd Rifle Division
340th Rifle Division
51st Rifle Corps
180th Rifle Division
240th Rifle Division
Independent 204th Rifle Division
40th ARMY (Moskalenko)
47th Rifle Corps
161st Rifle Division
206th Rifle Division
237th Rifle Division
52nd Rifle Corps
100th Rifle Division
219th Rifle Division
309th Rifle Division
Independent 184th Rifle Division
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
ARMY DETACHMENT KEMPF
(Kempf)
3rd Panzer Corps
6th Panzer Division
19th Panzer Division
7th Panzer Division
168th Infantry Division
503rd Heavy Panzer Detachment
11th Corps ‘Corps Raus’
106th Infantry Division
320th Infantry Division
42nd Corps
39th Infantry Division
161st Infantry Division
282nd Infantry Division
69th ARMY (Kruchenkin)
48th Rifle Corps
107th Rifle Division
183rd Rifle Division
307th Rifle Division
49th Rifle Corps
111th Rifle Division
270th Rifle Division
1st TANK ARMY (Katukov)
6th Tank Corps
31st Tank Corps
3rd Mechanized Corps
FRONT RESERVE ASSETS
35th Guards Rifle Corps
92nd Guards Rifle Division
93rd Guards Rifle Division
94th Guards Rifle Division
Independent 2nd Guards Tank Corps
(joined 5th Guards Tank Army on 11th July)
Independent 3rd Guards Tank Corps
13th Artillery Penetration Division
17th Artillery Penetration Division
2nd AIR ARMY (Krasovsky)
1st Bombing Air Corps
1st Assault Air Corps
4th Fighter Air Corps
5th Fighter Air Corps
19
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

SOVIET ORDER OF BATTLE

KURSK SALIENT
STEPPE (RESERVE) FRONT
(Koniev)
5TH GUARDS ARMY (Zhadov)
32nd Guards Rifle Corps
13th Guards Rifle Division
66th Guards Rifle Division
6th Airborne Guards Rifle Division
33rd Guards Rifle Corps
95th Guards Rifle Division
97th Guards Rifle Division
9th Airborne Guards Rifle Division
5th GUARDS TANK ARMY 5th AIR ARMY
(Rotmistrov) (Gorunov)
5th Guards Mechanized Corps 7th Mixed Air Corps
29th Tank Corps 8th Mixed Air Corps
18th Tank Corps 3rd Fighter Air Corps
53rd Guards Separate Tank Regiment 7th Fighter Air Corps
1549th SP Artillery Regiment (152mm)
1st Separate Guards Motorcycle
Regiment
678th Howitzer Regiment
689th Howitzer Regiment
76th Guards Mortar Regiment
6th Anti-Aircraft Division

Independent 42nd Guards Rifle Division

Independent 10th Tank Corps

Notes on Orders of Battle
Not included in the German OoB are
any attached Assault Gun Brigades
(Sturmgeschütz), or additional Corps
Below: SS Panzer Grenadiers at rest in
the flat grasslands of the Kursk steppe.
(Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-219-0553A-16)
and Army artillery assets assigned for
the operation.
The Russian OoB does not include
units smaller than Divisions, such as
pioneer battalions, additional anti-
tank regiments, artillery assets and
independent tank regiments attached
to those divisions (except for those
within 5th Guards Tank Army due to
its pivotal role at Prokhorovka).

20

TIMELINE FOR
THE BATTLE OF KURSK
‘Soldiers of the Reich! This day you are to take part in an offensive of such importance that the
whole future of the war may depend on its outcome. More that anything else, your victory will show
the world that resistance to the power of the German Army is hopeless.’
‘The next two or three days will be terrible. Either we hold or the Germans take Kursk. They are
putting everything on one card. It is matter of life or death to them. We must take care to see that
they break their necks.’
KURSK – THE NORTH
9th Army: consisting of 23rd Corps,
46th Panzer Corps, 47th Panzer Corps
and 41st Panzer Corps.
G eneral Walter Model’s plan
for 9th Army’s attack in the
north would see four corps take the
offensive. On the attack’s left, with
the objective of capturing the town
of Maloarkhangel’sk was 23rd Corps,
consisting of four infantry divisions.
Protecting the right flank of the main
attack was 46th Panzer Corps, with
another four infantry divisions. The
‘schwerpunkt’ of the offensive would
consist of 47th and 41st Panzer Corps.
In total, three infantry, one Panzer
Grenadier and six Panzer divisions,
with extra anti-tank, heavy tank and
assault gun support. Their task was
to smash the Soviet defence lines
and reach Kursk, to link up with 4th
Panzer Army’s advance northwards.
5TH JULY
9th Army began its attack on the
northern flank of the salient at 0430.
An 80 minute artillery preparation,
directed at the forward Soviet
defences was supported by heavy
aerial bombardment by Luftflotte 6.
The initial attack provoked a Russian
counter-bombardment, returning fire
with almost 1, 000 guns and mortars.
– Führer’s message to all soldiers
– Nikita Khrushchev, 5th July
The 9th Army’s first assault came
from 23rd Corps on its left flank.
The Corps’ three attacking infantry
division went ‘over the top’ with
the objective of capturing the road
junction town of Maloarkhangel’sk.
The spearhead of the attack was 78th
Sturm Infantry Division, with 654th
Heavy Anti-Tank Battalion attached,
equipped with Brummbär and
Ferdinand assault guns. The 216th
and 36th Infantry Divisions would
also join the offensive.
In bitter fighting and amidst large
Soviet minefields, the Corps gained
only a 1.5km penetration into the
first defence line. Even so, the
Soviet commanders, recognising the
importance of Maloarkhangel’sk,
reinforced their lines with 139th Tank
Brigade and 1447th Self-Propelled
Artillery to help stem the tide.
But the 23rd Corps’ attack was a
diversion from the main assault, as
47th and 41st Panzer Corps struck
southwards. In all, another three
infantry divisions supported by a
single Panzer division (20th) were
committed on the first day. General
Model held his five Panzer divisions
and one Panzer Grenadier division
back, waiting to be launched into the
infantry divisions’ initial gains. The
Soviet 15th Rifle Division was all but
routed by the attack as, led by the
two available Tiger tank companies
of 505th Heavy Tank Detachment, it
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
pushed 5km from its start lines and
seized the village of Bobrik in 29th
Rifle Corps’ sector of the front.
The Luftwaffe flew 2088 sorties in
support of the offensive, but faced
strong resistance from Soviet fighters.
The 292nd Infantry Division, again
with Ferdinand support, pushed back
the Soviet 81st Rifle Division from its
first defence line, with the Ferdinands
making short work of the T-34s and T-
60s counterattacking in the afternoon.
The 46th Panzer Corps’ three infantry
divisions were the 9th Army’s right
flank protection, and 258th, 71st and
31st Infantry Divisions only managed
to merely inch forwards against
fierce enemy fire. The 31st Infantry
Division captured the fortified village
of Gnilets.
By evening the German onslaught
had pushed no more than 5km south
into, but not through, the first line
of defences, and only on a 6km long
front. Monitoring events, General
Rokossovsky, commanding the
Soviet Central Front, had determined
Model’s plan to outflank his strongest
positions on the Olkhovatka Heights
via the rail junction town of Ponyri
Station. He ordered the 600 tanks,
500 guns and 50,000 men of 2nd Tank
Army towards Ponyri. Rokossovsky
estimated that July 6th would surely
see Model release his main Panzer
formations here.
21
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
6TH JULY
As he brought up his reserves, General
Rokossovsky also ordered 3rd Tank
Corps to counterattack the previous
day’s German gains, but delays in the
night march meant that only a single
tank brigade was ready to attack at
dawn, and they found themselves
roughly handled by the Panzers.
2nd Tank Army’s 3rd and 16th Tank
Corps, 19th Separate Tank Corps
with 9th Tank Corps, brought up
from Central Front reserve, were
committed, but they attacked
piecemeal throughout the day, and
only 200 tanks of the 465 on strength
actually made it into the battle.
The 9th Army’s offensive escalated
as General Model released two of
Below: Panzer Vorantreiben! Note the wide open
terrain. (Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-219-0562A-04)
22
his ‘held-back’ Panzer divisions to
help extend yesterday’s slim gains
and prise open the Russia defences,
targeting the bare ridgelines of the
Olkhovatka Hills. On a front of just
ten miles, 1,000 tanks and assault
guns now lined-up to face each other.
With poor weather limiting the
Luftwaffe’s support throughout the
day, General Model released the
first of his waiting Panzer divisions
to join the battle. 101 tanks of 4th
Panzer Division joined the 20th
Panzer Division at Samodurovka,
and throughout the day they made
four attacks, each time being repulsed
by the forces of 17th Guards Rifle
Corps. Meanwhile, 118 tanks of 2nd
Panzer Division struck for the village
of Ol’khovatka. Behind Stuka attacks,
the division assaulted Hill 257, the
high-point of the ridgeline north of
the village. After heavy fighting the
division was finally repulsed at 1700.
The 6th Infantry Division, attacking
in support of 2nd Panzer at Hill 225,
also stalled.
During the day’s fighting, 505th
Heavy Tank Detachment encounter
105th Tank Brigade’s T-34s and
KV-1s, and destroyed 46 out of the
50 vehicles in just a few minutes of
fighting. In the afternoon, another 150
tanks of 19th Separate Tank Corps
counterattack 2nd and 9th Panzer
Divisions’ attempted advance.
The 292nd and 86th Infantry
Divisions both attacked southwards
towards Ponyri Station, but both
are halted just north of the town. In
response to the growing pressure on
Ponyri, 103rd Tank Brigade reinforced
the defenders.
23rd Corps’ attack towards
Maloarkhangel’sk again failed to
make much ground, even with the

support of Brummbär assault guns
from 216th Sturm Panzer Battalion.
On the right flank, 46th Panzer Corps,
now reinforced by some tanks of 20th
Panzer Division, were still unable to
make any significant gains against
ferocious Red Army defence by the
280th Rifle Division and 132nd Rifle
Division.
The air war over the front also
escalated, with the Red Army
Air Force holding its own against
the Luftwaffe and denying them
the freedom to operate with air
superiority. Both sides claimed heavy
losses inflicted on the other.
JULY 7TH
The 18th Panzer Division entered the
battle for Ponyri Station. Supported
by 272nd Infantry Division and
216th Sturm Panzer Battalion they
made five assaults west of the town,
and each time were thrown back by
the Soviet’s elaborate barbed wire,
minefields, tank counterattacks and
very heavy artillery fire. 9th Panzer
Division push back 6th Guards Rifle
Division west of Ponyri, whilst the
86th Infantry captured the May 1st
State Farm, east of the town, which
was now slowly being enveloped.
The day ended with the Germans
occupying the western half of
Ponyri Station and the Russians the
east. In order to recapture the lost
ground 1023rd Rifle Regiment, 17th
Guards Rifle Corps’ last reserve were
committed, along with the 129th
Tank Brigade, 1442nd Self-Propelled
Artillery (equipped with SU-152s)
and 14th Anti-Tank Brigade, as well
as some available units from 3rd Tank
Corps.
The 47th Panzer Corps’ battle for
the commanding high ground of the
Ol’khovatka Heights continued. 2nd,
4th and 20th Panzer, led by 505th
Heavy Tank Battalion’s Tiger tanks
attacked at Samoduvokva.
Although the Tigers inflicted heavy
losses on any attempted Soviet tank
counterattacks, their dug-in anti-tank
defences and minefields could not
be penetrated. There is a noticeable
increase in Soviet air activity, with
their fighters starting to intercept
many more German bombing
missions. Both sides claimed to have
the advantage, with over 100 enemy
aircraft destroyed. It was the first sign
of the Red Army Air Force getting the
upper hand.
JULY 8TH
The day of ‘maximum effort’ to
achieve the breakthrough saw five
Panzer divisions attacking shoulder
to shoulder. From west to east the
20th, 4th, 2nd, 9th and 18th Divisions
all attacked southwards, their tanks
followed by SPWs and more foot-
bound grenadiers. They advanced
into a storm of Russian fire from
the ridgeline ahead, their counter
BATTLEGROUP •• KURSK
KURSK
bombardment seemingly ever more
intense. In places, the Russians have
deployed 70-100 anti-tank guns per
kilometre of front.
The 33rd Panzer Regiment’s 2nd
battalion (from 4th Panzer Division)
was led by Borgward IVs of 312th
Funklenk Company and by evening
they had broken into the village of
Teploye and captured it, but could
not secure it against fire from higher
ground further south. Attacks to
exploit the village’s capture failed
to take these vantage points. There
was similar intense fighting around
Ol’khovatka, but it does not fall.
The missing third company of 505th
Heavy Tank Detachment’s Tigers
arrived and moved straight from
the railway sidings into battle, but
by day’s end, only three Tigers were
left serviceable, and the battalion
was pulled from the front to refit and
give the workshops time to repair
the recovered Tigers. By July 10th, 29
Tigers were ready for action again.
There was more see-saw fighting
for Ponyri. The 307th Rifle Division
counterattacked through the town
and recaptured some of it, before
more German troops were sent in
to counterattack again. These fresh
troops pushed on, and despite heavy
losses, they brought most of the town
into German hands by the evening.
After four days of strenuous effort by
the Luftwaffe they were starting to
run low of fuel and spares for their
aircraft. Their support of the offensive
was weakening.
JULY 9TH
The 10th Panzer Grenadier
Division was ordered to reinforce
the continued attempts to break
through at Ponyri Station. The
Soviets reinforced the defences
with 3rd and 4th Guards Airborne
Divisions. Intense infantry fighting
in Ponyri was compared with that at
23
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Above: Tigers of SS ‘Das Reich’ advance during the
Battle of Kursk. The division’s panzer regiment was
equipped with a singe heavy tank company.
(Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1978-020-01A)
Stalingrad, gaining the ruined town
the nickname ‘Little Stalingrad’. Hill
239, just east of Ponyri, was finally
captured by the 508th Grenadier
Regiment.
The day was spent in regrouping the
battle-worn tank forces of 9th Army.
505th Heavy Tank Detachment was
moved into reserve after three days of
intense combat.
On the Ol’khovatka ridge the Russians
had been pushed back to the last
hill line, behind them was the open
steppe all the way to Kursk. The 3rd
Anti-Tank Brigade held up continued
German attacks from Teploye, losing
all its guns in the process.
The 9th Panzer Division came under
attack from Sturmovik ground attack
aircraft armed with 37mm underwing
24
cannons, a new weapon in the Soviet
airforce’s armoury.
Premier Stalin, on advice from
STAVKA, gave General Zhukov the
go ahead to launch Operation Kutuzov
against the Orel Salient. Bryansk
and Western Fronts began to bring
forward the tank units for an assault
that would begin on July 11th.
JULY 10TH
It had become obvious to the Soviet
commanders of Central Front that the
German attacks were weakening.
General Model accepted that his
Panzer divisions no longer had
the combat power to force a route
south against the strong defences.
He now changed strategy. Unable
to withdraw his battered units, he
had to continue to maintain pressure
on the defenders to prevent them
redeploying units to aid the Soviet
defence against the southern pincer.
With 2nd SS Panzer Corps and 48th
Panzer Corps still making progress,
he began a series of rolling battles of
attrition along his front, seeking to
pin enemy forces rather than break
through them. Ferdinand assault
guns led a renewed attack on Hill
253.5, but were again forced to
withdraw by the defenders’ massed
firepower.
The change in strategy effectively
saw the end of 9th Army’s ‘Citadel’
offensive, with all hope of reaching
Kursk now abandoned. Model’s
forces remained in the line fighting
smaller holding actions until forced
to withdraw by the beginning of
Operation Kutusev to the north, which
threatened to cut them off from their
supply route to Orel.
At a cost of 50,000 casualties and 400
lost tanks and armoured fighting
vehicles, 9th Army’s offensive had
only gained a maximum of 15km of
ground and had nowhere managed
to breakthrough the Soviet defensive
belts. Ponyri Station was never fully
captured. The offensive was a failure.

OPERATION KUTUZOV
As the battles on the northern and
southern fronts of the Kursk salient
still raged, STAVKA ordered the start
of Operation Kutuzov, the planned
and prepared assault upon the Orel
Salient, aimed at recapturing the city
of Orel and, in the process, encircling
the German 2nd Panzer Army, 11th
Army and 9th Army, trapping half
a million men. This was part of
the STAVKA’s overall plan for the
summer counter-offensive, designed
to strike the Germans after they had
expended their own strength on the
Kursk salient.
Deciding that the German Panzer
divisions were now fully committed
to the Kursk battle, and that their
combat strength had been bled,
Bryansk Front and West Front began
the attack, with Central Front due to
turn over to the offensive from their
heavy defensive battles against 9th
Army as soon as it could. It was part
of the original plan to launch Kutuzov
and its parallel operation south of
Kursk, Operation Rumyantsev, on the
same day. But events in the south
prevented this co-ordination, with
so many Soviet forces committed
to preventing 4th Panzer Army
breaking through, especially reserve
forces from Steppe Front originally
earmarked for Operation Rumyantsev.
Operation Kutuzov started before
dawn with a massive bombardment
of the German front lines and
bombing raids on strategic locations
behind the lines. Much of this was
conducted by artillery regiments
moved from the northern Kursk front,
approximately 3,000 guns and 300
rocket launchers in all. In previous
days, engineers had been lifting
German mines, before the tanks
of Bryansk Front smashed into the
German infantry division’s defences
at the nose of the salient. They were
planning to carve two paths into the
German lines, dissecting them then
surrounding them. As the attack
from the east began, West Front
attacked the salient from the north,
advancing southwards towards the
towns of Bolkhov and Khotynets,
thus outflanking Orel from the
north. When Central Front joined the
offensive on the 15th July, it would do
likewise from the south, sealing the
city’s encirclement.
The size of the attack immediately
confirmed to Generals Von Kluge and
Model that this was no local counter-
strike, but part of a wider plan to
smash the entire of Army Group
Centre. Model immediately relocated
19th Panzer and 38th Infantry
Divisions from the Kursk attack to
shore up the creaking front line, and
moves all the heavy anti-tank units
designated for his Citadel assault
north to the increasingly desperate
defensive struggle.
The Germans were not without
warning of the attack; aerial
reconnaissance had confirmed the
build-up of enemy forces, and their
front line units were reinforced
and already on alert when the
attack began. The onslaught was no
surprise, but the weight of the Red
Army’s seemingly endless forces
gradually forced the Germans back.
The new reinforcements helped slow
the Soviet advance, but could not halt
it. After a week of heavy fighting, the
town of Bolkhov fell. Central Front’s
attack had begun slowly, its offensive
strength seriously weakened by its
protracted fighting in the previous
week. But it soon recaptured all the
meagre gains of 9th Army’s attack
and was threatening to break through
itself. The boot was now firmly on the
other foot, with Soviet Rifle divisions
and Tanks Corps attacking against
the entrenched German defenders
and forced to grind down the enemy
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
resistance in battles of attrition.
The Soviets committed 3rd Guards
Tank Army from their central
strategic reserve to aid the assault
from the north and, by the end of
July, Orel was finally under threat of
being overrun. Facing encirclement,
General Model began to withdraw
his divisions and every road through
Orel was choked with retreating
columns of men and vehicles. Despite
stiff rearguard actions, Soviet tank
forces reached the outskirts of Orel on
the night of 3rd August. The city was
cleared of its last defenders by the
5th, but left in ruins by the fighting
and German demolitions of its
factories, railways, bridges and any
useful infrastructure.
In order to save his 28 infantry
divisions, eight Panzer divisions
and two Panzer Grenadier divisions,
General Model withdrew Army
Group Centre towards the a new
main line of resistance. Known as the
Hagen Line, it stretched north-south
across the neck of the former salient,
protecting the city of Bryansk, a vital
supply base and road and rail hub for
Army Group Centre.
Throughout early August, the swift
and orderly German withdrawal
and Russian pursuit continued. By
mid-August, after over a month of
constant fighting, the Soviet forces
had drawn up before the Hagen line.
This marked the end of Operation
Kutuzov; six weeks of battle had seen
the Orel salient liberated. 2nd Panzer
Army and 9th Army had lost the
equivalent of 14 divisions of men and
materiel, all increasing hard for the
Third Reich to replace. Soviet losses
are estimated at 400,000 men.
Breaching the Hagen Line would be
their next objective.
25
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
TIMELINE – THE SOUTH
4th Panzer Army (consisting of 48th
Panzer Corps, 2nd SS Panzer Corps and
3rd Panzer Corps)
4TH JULY
PRELUDE TO BATTLE
48th Panzer Corps
With the final issuing of the Fuhrer’s
directive to start the offensive,
the Germans began operations to
prepare the ground for the next
day’s main assault with a series of
reconnaissance in force missions.
After a 15 minute Stuka attack and
an artillery and mortar bombardment
following it, grenadier battalions
of 11th Panzer Division and the
Grossdeutschland Panzer Grenadier
Division probed the front from
Zybiro to Pushkarnoe. Their aim was
to clear the Soviets’ forward outposts
and observation posts and to place
their own artillery observers in the
villages of Butovo and Gertsovka to
direct fire for the next day. There was
a fierce infantry fight at Gertsovka
and Gertsovka Station, defended by
210th Rifle Regiment’s 2nd Battalion
and 213th Rifle Regiment’s 2nd
Battalion, both eventually falling.
There was a seven hour battle for the
village of Butovo, the defenders of
199th Guards Rifle Regiment’s 3rd
Battalion standing to the last man,
aided by anti-tank guns. It was a
foretaste of the fighting to come.
2nd SS Panzer Corps
2nd SS Panzer Corps’ reconnaissance
in force began at 0115 (on July 5th)
rapidly seizing the Soviet forward
outposts in the Erik river valley, with
6th Guards Army’s forward positions
forced to withdraw to the main line
of resistance.
A German pioneer captured by a
Russian patrol whilst lifting mines
to clear the way was interrogated
and revealed that the German attack
was due to begin at dawn on the
26
5th. Rations and schnapps (always
a giveaway of approaching action
to German soldiers) had been
issued. Convinced that the long
expected assault was imminent,
General Zhukov ordered the entire
Voronezh Front to begin its counter-
bombardment. At 0110 (July 5th), 600
hundred medium and heavy guns,
mortars and Katyushas opened fire
along a 20km front. Aimed at the
suspected German troop assembly
areas and pre-identified artillery
positions, the furious bombardment
caught the Germans by surprise.
Causing delays and disruption
and the loss of artillery pieces and
crew further to the rear, the Soviet
bombardment forced the assault’s
start time to be delayed by three
hours as units regrouped. But as the
Soviet guns fell silent, the Germans
soon recovered and proceeded as
planned, but they now knew their
offensive had not achieved any
surprise – the Red Army was lying in
wait for them.
3rd Panzer Corps
Completing its preparation around
Belgorod, new bridges were now
in place and 503rd Heavy Tank
Battalion’s Tigers moved up to cross
and lead the assault. But the Russian
forces had noted the build-up and
were ordered to stand ready.
JULY 5TH
Delayed, but not halted, 4th Panzer
Army led its attack with two Corps.
On the left, 48th Panzer Corps, on the
right 2nd SS Panzer Corps, smashed
onto the lines of 6th Guards Army
with approximately 1,000 tanks and
350 assault guns under an umbrella of
air support, the Luftwaffe conducting
2,000 air sorties against Voronezh
Front in 24 hours, despite the Red
Army Air Force’s attempted pre-
emptive strikes. Their first objectives
on the way to Kursk were the towns
of Oboyan and Prokhorovka.
48th Panzer Corps
48th Panzer Corps attacked with the
Grossdeutschland Panzer Grenadier
Division, 3rd Panzer and 11th Panzer
Divisions, supported on either flank
by 332nd Infantry Division (right)
and 167th Infantry Division (left
– adjoining the SS Corps).
Grossdeutschland attacked along the
Butovo to Cherkasskoe road on a
3km front, but were stalled by dense
minefields and anti-tank gun fire in
the Berezovt ravine, losing 36 tanks in
the process (mostly new Panthers).
Meanwhile, Combat Group
Schimmelman, the lead element of
11th Panzer Division, fought their
way to the outskirts of Cherkasskoe.
The town was held by the 67th
Guards Rifle Division’s 196th Rifle
Regiment and 611th Anti-Tank
Regiment, which were destroyed in
the efforts to hold their strongpoints.
To clear the town 11th Panzer brought
forwards their Flammpanzer company.
The 199th and 201st Guards Rifle
Regiments were also breached
on either flank, forcing them to
withdraw before being surrounded.
They fell back to the second defence
line along the Pena river, held by the
90th Guards Rifle Division.
3rd Panzer Division struck due north
from Gertsovka towards Korovino.
The division’s 349th Panzer
Grenadier Regiment captured the
high ground before Korovino and
cleared anti-tank strongpoints from
the vantage points. The first echelon
of Soviet defences had been breached.
2nd SS Panzer Corps
Further east, 2nd SS Panzer Corps
launched its assault against the
52nd Guards Rifle Division. The first
panzers struck their line just after
0400 hours. The 1st SS Liebstandarte
Adolf Hitler attacked along the
Bykovka road, each yard gained
heavily contested by anti-tank fire.
At 1610, the village of Bykovka fell

to 2nd Panzer Grenadier Regiment,
who immediately pressed on for the
Psel river. 1st SS Panzer Regiment
encountered a second defence line
near the village of Iakovlevo, and
after a brief engagement retired
for the night. They had already
achieved a 20km penetration of the
Soviet defences. Just to the east, 1st
SS and 2nd SS Das Reich, advancing
on Berezov, annihilated the 1008th
Anti-Tank Regiment’s 24 guns for
the loss of 33 tanks (most were later
recovered, repaired and back in the
line). 3rd SS Totenkopf captured and
cleared the village of Gremuchii.
Alarmed by the sudden gains and the
crumbling of 52nd Guards Division’s
first line, Soviet tank regiments were
ordered to the second line with
the aim of counterattacking in the
evening to regain the lost ground.
At the last minute, the attack was
cancelled, with the German forces
deemed still too powerful for any
attack. The tanks would fight in a
defensive infantry support role.
3rd Panzer Corps
3rd Panzer Corps’ flank protection
mission first involved crossing the
Northern Donets river, either via the
previously established Mikhailovka
bridgehead or various bridges
constructed by engineer units. 3rd
Panzer Corps was to keep pace with
2nd SS Panzer Corps’ advance, thus
freeing them from attacks from their
exposed eastern flank, which General
Kempf’s forces would block.
General Kempf’s part in the Citadel
plan got off to a poor start. Artillery
preparations began at 0330, and
assault units started to move-up to
the western river bank. The 168th
Infantry Division, already holding
the bridgehead opposite Belgorod,
found the 81st Guards Rifle Division
tenacious in defence and were
instantly checked at the town of Stary
Gorod. The vanguard of the Corps
attack would be its three Panzer
divisions: 6th, 7th and 19th, each led
by a company of 503rd Heavy Tank
Battalion’s Tiger tanks (thus dividing
the battalion’s combat power which
was seen as a mistake by its own
commander).
The heavy Tigers’ found great
difficulty in crossing the bridges. One
bridge was instantly destroyed by
Russian artillery and rocket fire, and
another would only sustain 24 tonnes,
not enough for the 60 tonne tanks.
They had to wait whilst engineers
worked furiously, under fire, to
construct a 60 tonne rated bridge.
Russian defences proved far tougher
than expected. Initial gains were slim.
7th Panzer’s attack did split the 78th
Guards Rifle Division’s lines and
reached forested high ground above
the fortified villages of Razumnoe
and Krutoi Log, gaining 6km. Much
of 6th Panzer Division had to move
south to cross the Northern Donets
at Dubova, and then re-deploy
northwards once on the eastern bank,
thus they did not actually make it
into combat on the first day. 19th
Panzer Division’s vanguard later
attacked the village of Razumnoe,
routing the 225th Rifle Regiment
by day’s end. But the offensive had
already fallen behind schedule and
the Soviet 7th Army was rapidly
bringing up its reserves under cover
of darkness.
It would be a slow four or five day
grind through the defences to reach
the chalk hills east of Belgorod and
break through to the open steppes
beyond, during which 3rd Panzer
Corps would suffer the heaviest
loss in men and equipment of any
of the Citadel units, with massive
losses amongst engineer units as they
attempted to clear routes through
dense enemy minefields.
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
6TH JULY
After the night re-arming, refuelling
and trying to rest despite the sudden
summer thunderstorms, the offensive
resumed by mid-morning. It was
a slow, bloody grind through the
Soviet defences, and nowhere were
the expected gains and objectives
captured. After a 90 minute artillery
preparation, the tanks rolled again.
48th Panzer Corps
11th Panzer and Grossdeutschland
moved north-east, clashing with 3rd
Mechanised Corps and 90th Guards
Infantry Division, fighting along the
Pena river and around the villages of
Alekseevka and Lukhanino. These
were the second line defences, heavily
reinforced overnight by new tanks
and anti-tank units. 11th Panzer and
167th Infantry Division had captured
the village of Olkhovka by dusk.
Meanhwhile, 3rd Panzer’s forward
reconaissance units reached Rakovo
on the Pena river only to find the
river unfordable by armoured
vehicles due to the marshy ground
conditions. 67th and 52nd Guards
Rifle Divisions withdrew to avoid
being destroyed. Losses amongst
the Panzer IIIs and IVs mounted. In
all, 4th Panzer Army registered 262
armoured fighting vehicles lost in just
two days of fighting.
2nd SS Panzer Corps
2nd SS Panzer Corps continued its
attacks, driving into the heart of 6th
Guards Army. 57th Guards Rifle
Division was effectively destroyed as
a combat unit, with its last survivors
being cleared from Iakovlevo. An
additional 12km had been gained,
capturing the village of Luchki
before nightfall. A counterattack by
5th Guards Tank Corps was repelled
outside Luchki. SS Totenkopf also
repelled a counterattack from the
east by 2nd Guards Tank Corps. This
division was now holding the 2nd
SS Corps’ eastern flank, which had
become extended as the spearheads
27
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
advanced. They were unable to
join the push north as there was no
infantry division available to replace
them in the line.
SS Das Reich captured Point 243
near Luchki after a fierce fight. Tiger
tanks destroyed 12 T-34s after a
huge artillery bombardment and
repeated Stuka dive bombings.
Pioneers cleared the strong points
with flamethrowers. The Soviets
moved 31st Tank Corp to block
the advance of SS Liebstandarte
Adolf Hitler, whilst 1st Tank Army,
supporting the Voronezh Front, now
had approximately 1,000 tanks facing
4th Panzer Army’s assault.
This day, the Red Army Air Force was
encountered in far greater numbers,
competing for air superiority with the
Luftwaffe. As a result, the Luftwaffe
found themselves overstretched, with
almost constant requests for close air
support from Stukas.
3rd Panzer Corps
The Corps began to bring its full
combat strength to bear in a drive
north-east to reach the Northern
Donets river valley. The 168th
Infantry Division still struggled to
make gains against the 81st Guards
Rifles Division, which itself was
now forced to commit its training
battalion. 7th Panzer Division’s
advance encircled Krutoi Log,
trapping a Soviet rifle regiment.
Fighting around Rasumnoe saw the
destruction of 34 T-34s by Tigers and
other tanks as 7th Panzer Division
engaged the second defence lines,
held by the 73rd Guards Rifle
Division, reinforced by two tank
regiments. 7th Panzer engaged in
a head-on battle with 73rd Guards
Rifle Division and 31st Anti-Tank
Brigade’s 72 guns. The arrival of 6th
Panzer Division’s units outflanked
the defences and forced them to
withdraw. This left the battered
7th Panzer Division holding the
28
flank, awaiting relief from infantry Grossdeutschland’s Panthers hit an
regiments so it could move on. unmarked minefield. Only 40 of the
But the two infantry regiments new tanks were left from the 184 that
with this task were already being started out three days previously.
engaged and pinned in place by local Most had been damaged by mine
counter-attacks further south. 7th strikes or broken down. Many would
Panzer would be unable to leave its quickly be returned from workshops,
flank protection mission to join the but for now their inexperienced crews
northern push, a situation that would fought badly under-strength.
constantly dog the Corps’ attack for
the next week. With the tanks halted,
Grossdeutschland’s reconnaissance
7TH JULY battalion, with assault gun support,
48th Panzer Corps attacked and captured Hill 230 east
In 48th Panzer Corps’ sector, of Syrtsevo. Under heavy artillery
Grossdeutschland and 11th Panzer bombardment, the division had
Division attacked behind an outflanked the Soviet defences and
intense artillery and Nebelwerfer re-gathered its units for an assault
bombardment, followed by more on the village on the 8th. Soviet
Stuka attacks. The Stuka crews were commanders, seeing the weakness
flying six or more sorties aday, and of the defences, redeployed more
facing strengthening Soviet fighter forces from the western flank of 48th
defences. It seemed every wood Panzer Corps’ penetration, facing
along the routes of attack were to be them eastwards along the main
repeatedly bombed and strafed. So
far, 100 Luftwaffe aircraft had been
shot down.
Grossdeutschland stormed the village
of Dubrova at first light, with 11th
Panzer joining their northern push
towards the vital village of Syrtsevo.
This was the last major stronghold
before Oboyan and General Vatutin
at Voronezh Front commanded it
must be held at all costs. To this end
they unleashed 100 T-34s and T-70s
of 1st Tank Army in a large counter-
attack. Supported by Pe-2 and IL-2
Sturmovik attacks, the Soviet tanks
halted the advance towards Syrtsevo.
For hours the tank battle swirled,
with the 6th Guards Tank Corps,
3rd Mechanised Corps and 1st
Mechanised Corps suffering heavy
losses under the Germans’ longer
range guns. The Soviets were forced
to withdraw, with the Germans
advancing in their wake. Meanwhile,
67th Guards Rifles dug in at Syrtsevo,
supported by more tanks and heavier
76.2mm and 85mm anti-tank guns.
The advance stalled again when

Oboyan road, around the village of
Verkhopenya.
2nd SS Panzer Corps
Nightfall saw little respite from the
battle, as there was intense fighting
in darkness by SS Liebstandarte Adolf
Hitler near Teterevino with roving
Soviet tanks. Fighting subsided as the
night mists arose. At dawn, the attack
resumed. 4th Panzer Army were now
fielding some 600 tanks along a 45km
front.
In misty conditions, 2nd SS Panzer
Corps resumed its advance at dawn,
with the objective of capturing the
small town of Prokhorovka, just 8km
away. As the morning progresses
ever greater numbers of Soviet tanks
were encountered as 1st Guards Tank
Army threw everything they had left
into the advance’s path. In fluid tank
battles, the Germans’ advance was
slowed but not halted, with heavy
losses in T-34s.
2nd Guards Tank Corp attacked
the eastern flank of 2nd SS Panzer
Corps, thinly held by the SS
Totenkopf Division. They reported
the destruction of 50 enemy tanks,
supported by the arrival of Hs-129
ground attack bombers. This day
would see the worst losses so far in
tanks along the Voronezh Front for
the Soviets.
3rd Panzer Corps
19th Panzer Division were engaged in
heavy fighting for the fortified village
of Kreida; bold action by its panzer
grenadiers captured Kreida Station,
then the village itself, then the next
village of Belovskoe before they
moved on to the next line of trenches
defending Blishnaya Yigomenka and
its wooded hills.
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
The 429th Grenadier Regiment
of 168th Infantry Division were
attached to Kampfgruppe Köhler of
19th Panzer Division to clear Soviet
resistance bypassed by the initial
advances. The rest of 168th Infantry
were still locked in combat against
the immovable 81st Guards Rifles
Division at Stary Gorod. 6th Panzer,
and those elements of 7th Panzer that
could be spared, attacked the village
and road junction at Miasoedovo. 117
tanks and 45 Tiger tanks smashed the
Soviet defences in the area, but the
92nd and 94th Guards Rifle Divisions
had already arrived to block further
advances northwards.
The rest of 7th Panzer Division
remained in place guarding the
Corps’ right flank.
Below: Soviet infantry and heavy artillery en route to
Vornonezh Front. The Red Army’s seemingly endless
reserves eventually wore the German offensive down.
(Novosti 613286)
29
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
JULY 8TH
“I think we’ve had it.”
General Katukov, 1st Guards Tank
Army, on hearing of the fall of
Syrtsevo
48th Panzer Corps
48th Panzer Corps renewed its
attack on Syrtsevo, but at first light
3rd Mechanised Corps launched a
pre-emptive counterattack. They
lost 40 T-34s and T-70s to the long
guns of Tigers and Panzer IVs.
The remaining defenders were
subjected to an intense artillery
bombardment and air attack before
3rd Panzer Division’s 6th Panzer
Regiment led the attack, supported
by Grossdeutschland’s grenadiers. The
village, now a ruin, fell.
6th Guards Army defences were
being eroded away by holding the
Psel river line and the main routes
to Oboyan without withdrawing.
Needing fresh forces, more units
were moved from the western
flanks. This was of grave concern
to STAVKA, who were planning
a major counterattack with these
forces. Meanwhile, Grossdeutschland
redeployed their forces for an
advance towards the village
of Verkhopenya (with a good
bridge over the Psel) and Hill
260.8 astride the main Oboyan
highway. A mistaken report of the
fall of Verekhopenya saw their
reconnaissance battalion and assault
guns dispatched, only to discover
that it was not Verkhopenya that
had fallen, but another village along
with a small bridge over a tributary
of the Psel. Assault guns formed
a bridgehead, which was rapidly
counterattacked. The attack was
repelled with the loss of 35 Russian
tanks for the loss of no assault guns.
Verkhopenya only came under attack
in the evening.
2nd SS Panzer Corps
SS Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler resumed
its attack at 0500, and soon took
the hamlet of Bol Majatschki with
30
Panzer grenadiers and assault guns.
The main force of SS Liebstandarte
Adolf Hitler and SS Das Reich were
driving north-east, having laagered
around Teterevino, again aiming for
Prokhorovka.
They encountered a series of strong
counterattacks by groups of up
to 60 Russian tanks with infantry
riding the tanks and Sturmovik air
support. Large numbers of tanks
were destroyed by the protective
screen of PaK40 and 88mm anti-
tank guns established in the night to
protect Tetervino. There was fighting
around the villages of Wesselyi and
Kalinan on 2nd SS Panzer Corps’
eastern flank. SS units stormed Hills
239.6 and 227.4 with Stuka support.
Both were fortified positions but
capturing them outflanked the
defenders of Wesselyi and it soon
fell as well. Periods of heavy rain
turned the ground into a morass, but
the SS attacks reached the village of
Solotino. The Russians claimed 40
German tanks knocked out, whilst
the Germans claimed 121 Russian
tanks destroyed.
Unterscharführer Staudeggar,
commanding his Tiger tank, was
called upon to aid the defence of
Tetervino from repeated Russian
tank attacks. His damaged tank alone
accounted for 32 Russian tanks in two
attacks on the village.
SS Totenkopft units were finally
released from their flank protection
duties by the arrival of units from
167th Infantry Divisions, freeing
more of them to aid the attack north.
This screening force was being
subjected to repeated attacks from the
east, that should have been prevented
by the advance of 3rd Panzer Corps.
3rd Panzer Corps
General Hoth exhorted Kempf to
close up with 2nd SS Panzer Corps
and push on to aid the coming battle
for Prokhorovka. But, with heavy
losses, this was already in serious
doubt amongst Kempf’s command.
Still, 6th Panzer Division lunged
another 8km forward, capturing the
strongpoint of Melikhovo, but were
unable to cross the Lipovyi Donets
river, the major natural obstacle to
linking up with 2nd SS Panzer Corps.
7th Panzer Division were still tied
down on flank protection duty as the
Soviet 7th Army reinforcements had
begun local counter-attacks on the
right flank. South of their positions,
the 106th Infantry Division were also
under attack by Soviet infantry with
tank support.
7th Army were making a stubborn
and skilful defence of their sector to
frustrate the German advance. Only
6th Panzer had made any significant
gains, becoming the lone spearhead
of the attack.
JULY 9TH
48th Panzer Corps
For 48th Panzer Corps,
Grossdeutschland, preceded by
artillery and Stuka attacks, pounded
Verkhopenya. From 0600, grenadiers
and pioneers cleared the village
building by building. Returning
artillery and Katyusha fire hindered
the attack. The division’s fusilier
battalion, reconnaissance battalion
and supporting assault guns were the
only units free to continue to push
northwards for Oboyan, and were
engaged in heavy fighting at the
village of Novoselovka and Hill 260.8.
Meanwhile, 3rd Panzer Division
were halted in front of the village
of Beresovka, under heavy fire
from the covering points 243 and
247. Lacking heavy tanks, they
suffered losses and could not push
northwards due to pressure on the
western flank of the corps’ drive.
Grossdeutschland received new orders
to assist 3rd Panzer Division. This
effectively ended the division’s push
northwards, as the Soviet commander
maintained pressure on the flanks,

and thus tied down two Panzer
divisions. Thereafter, only 11th
Panzer Division were still driving
for Oboyan.
In the late afternoon Grossdeutschland
stormed Points 243 and 247. There
was intense fighting, repeated
Nebelwerfer barrages and Stuka
air strikes. This attack freed 3rd
Panzer’s units to attack Beresovka
again, forcing 117th Tank Brigade
to withdraw, their rearguard then
becames surrounded in the retreat by
elements of Grossdeutschland and was
destroyed.
11th Panzer Division’s attack was
renewed, meeting fierce resistance
from 16th and 71st Tank Brigades.
11th Panzer made slow gains as
Soviet reinforcements were fed into
the battle, more tanks and anti-
tank guns blocking the route north.
Fighting this day (and on the 10th)
would leave the division still 20km
from Oboyan.
2nd SS Panzer Corps
Under a grey sky heavy with rain, 3rd
Panzer Corps’ inability to close up
with 2nd SS Panzer Corps began to
have its effect. The SS Panzer Corps’
flank remained exposed to repeated
counterattacks. The SS Das Reich
Division were moved to take over
the northern area of the eastern flank,
freeing SS Totenkopf for offensive
actions northwards at the point of the
penetration. This move saw SS Das
Reich holding position until July 12th,
unable to take a full role in the drive
towards Prokhorovka.
3rd Panzer Corps
Very little ground was gained
in a day of hard fighting as 6th
Panzer Division re-grouped around
Melikhovo, with reconnaissance
forces venturing northwards, but
found their route blocked by more
Soviet forces. 19th and 7th Panzer
Divisions were holding the flanks
or had stalled. The Corps’ primary
role as a flank guard are now a
failure, as 5th Guards Tank Army
were starting to arrive in the combat
area unhindered and would soon
be preparing for their huge counter-
attack at Prokhorovka.
JULY 10TH
48th Panzer Corps
Meanwhile, 48th Panzer Corps
continued its operations on the
western flank, with Grossdeutschland
and 3rd Panzer Division destroying
6th Tank Corps. 11th Panzer
Division managed only small gains
northwards on the Oboyan road.
US and British forces began landing
in Sicily, putting extra demand on
Germany’s strategic reserves. Hitler
wanted the SS Divisions for the new
Italian front.
2nd SS Panzer Corps
5th Guards Tank Army were
moving into positions after covering
hundreds of kilometres from Steppe
Front’s reserve. Their orders were
to block any further penetration
at Prokhorovka. It contained five
fresh Tank Corps, with 830 tanks
and self-propelled guns. 2nd SS
Panzer Corps’ drive continued
towards Prokhorovka. SS Totenkopf
attacked and captured the village
of Klujtski on the river Psel. Led by
their Tiger tanks, they forced the 11th
Mechanized and 33rd Rifle Corps
to withdraw, and followed up by
establishing a small bridgehead over
the Psel.
Once on the northern bank, Panzer
grenadiers led an attack on Hill 222.6,
which covered the left flank of SS
Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler division’s
main drive. No large bridge over the
river meant no armour support for
the assault, but they still captured the
high ground.
SS Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler’s 2nd
Panzer Grenadier Regiment, with
tank and assault gun support,
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
attacked the heavily fortified Hill 244.
After four hours of combat against
dug-in infantry and T-34s, they
eventually seized the high ground.
Voronezh Front was in danger of
disintegrating under the constant
German pressure.
3rd Panzer Corps
General Kempf was informed that
24th Panzer Corps was to reinforce
his stalling offensive. The last of
Army Group South’s Panzer reserves,
24th Panzer Corps consisted of 17th
and 23rd Panzer Divisions and 4th SS
Panzer Grenadier Division Wiking.
They will take several days to reach
the front. Meanwhile, 3rd Panzer
Corps’ three panzer division were
now down to half strength in tanks
and assault guns.
The 47 remaining tanks of 6th Panzer
Division were contained around
Melikhovo by 69th Army’s 92nd
Guards, 94th Guards and 705th Rifle
Divisions. They needed 7th and 19th
Panzer Division’s assistance, but both
were engaged on the flanks and tied
down by counterattacks.
19th Panzer and 118th Infantry
Divisions were clearing the eastern
bank of the Northern Donets river
as the Russians here disengaged and
withdrew. This was part of a plan to
shorten their lines and create a new
reserve to block the northern thrust.
In the night, some of the remaining
tanks moved to join 6th Panzer
Division for a dawn push. General
Von Manstein was now desperate for
a break through to aid 2nd SS Panzer
Corps’ advance.
JULY 11TH
48th Panzer Corps
48th Panzer Corps’ Grossdeutschland
Division was still rolling up Russian
anti-tank and artillery positions
on the western flank. Its objectives
were complete by 1000 hours. With
the threat to the western flank now
deemed eliminated, Grossdeutschland
31
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Above: Motorised transports dispersed in a valley are joined
by a 37mm FlaK(36) on a SdKfz 7 and ammunition trailer.
This shot provides a good view of the rolling terrain.
(Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-022-2926-14A)
were to regroup before rejoining
the push north to Oboyan on the
next day. It had just 36 tanks still
serviceable, including 10 Tigers.
3rd Panzer would move up to take
Grossdeutschland’s positions.
The Russians were also regrouping
for a long planned counterattack
from the west, planning to unleash
it on July 12th. The German high
command had made a mistake,
underestimating the strength of
Russian reserves here and weakening
its defences too soon.
2nd SS Panzer Corps
SS Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler resumed
its advance, attacking along the road
to Prokhorovka. Their objective was
Hill 252.2. They encountered a wide
32
anti-tank ditch and halted, awaiting
bridging units to cross. Meanwhile,
9th Guards Airborne Division were
deploying onto Hill 252.2, forming
a screen for the tanks of 5th Guards
Tank army deploying behind. They
were subjected to heavy Stuka attacks
throughout the day.
The Liebstandarte Panzer Grenadier
Regiment moved to clear woods
north of the village of Storozhevoe,
but the viilage was held despite
vicious close quarters fighting. SS
Das Reich attempted to capture the
village of Vinogradovka but were
thwarted by the need to protect the
flank from constant harassing attacks.
Unable to move northwards, this in
turn leaves the SS Liebstandarte Adolf
Hitler Division’s flanks exposed, and
forced their advance to halt in mid-
afternoon, despite the capture of the
Oktobrskii state farm from dug-in
KV-1 and T-34 tanks of 28th Tank
Corps. The SS Totenkopf divison are
still engaged, attempting to seize all
of Hill 226.2 north of the Psel.
By nightfall, the Tank Corps of 5th
Guards Tank Army had been ordered
into their start positions around
Prokhorovka for their morning
counter-offensive.
3rd Panzer Corps
The dawn assault began with Tigers
of 503rd Heavy Tank Battalion in the
vanguard. They made a 6km gain to
reach Kazach’e and capture it from
the battle-weakened 81st Guards Rifle
Division, which had redeployed to
prevent a northern breakthrough.
Only the already weakened 375th
Rifle Division remained in reserve for
69th Army.
General Krivchenkin, commander
of 69th Army, appealed to General
Vatutin at Front for more reserves,

knowing that his forces were unlikely
to hold much longer. 19th Panzer
Division attacked along the river to
capture the villages of Khokhlovo
and Kiselovo.
JULY 12TH
Soviet forces holding the front lines
around the Orel salient, north of the
Kursk battles, launched Operation
Kutuzov (see Operation Kutuzov).
48th Panzer Corps
48th Panzer Corps faced renewed
assaults from its western flank as
Grossdeutschland division regrouped
along and west of the main Oboyan
highway. 3rd Panzer Division
moved northwards to take over
the Verkopenya sector, with 332nd
Infantry Division in turn taking
over from them around Rakovo. The
Soviet assaults began at 0900 with
ad-hoc forces of already heavily
damaged units, now reinforced
by 5th Guards Tank Corps. They
smashed into 332nd Infantry
Division’s positions near Chapaev,
with Russian tanks reaching Rakovo
by nightfall. 3rd Panzer Division
were also pushed back, and their
evening counterattack failed to retake
any of the lost ground, leaving the
hard-won village of Verkopenya now
under threat.
Grossdeutschland and 11th Panzer
Division were both forced to fight
defensive battles against forces sent
to pin them in place. They held out,
but no ground was gained towards
the objective of Oboyan.
2nd SS Panzer Corps
SS Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler division
resumed it advance on Prokhorovka
from the vicinity of the Oktabryski
state farm and Hill 252.2. 1st Panzer
Grenadier Regiment cleared the
village of Storozhevow and prepared
to move against the next village
at Jamki. 2nd Panzer Grenadier
Regiment advance from Hill 252.2
along the railway line with 1st SS
Panzer Regiment in support with the
division’s remaining 67 tanks.
5th Guards Tank Army launched
their own counterattack behind
a 15 minute barrage of artillery
and Katyusha fire, unleashing an
avalanche of Soviet armour. 18th
Tank Corps was on the Soviet right,
with 29th Tank Corps next to them
and 2nd Guards Tank Corps beyond
them. 5th Guards Mechanised Corps
was held as the reserve. The assault
was supported by self-propelled
guns and two additional Katyusha
regiments. In total, 501 T-34s, 261
T-70s, 31 Churchill MkIVs, 21 KV-1Ss
and 37 self-propelled guns (SU-76s
and SU-122s) were ordered to close
rapidly with the enemy, hoping to
engage the Tiger tanks at under
500 metres. In fact, in all three SS
divisions facing the assault there
were only 15 operational Tigers
in total. As 2nd SS Panzer Corps
front was engulfed in the attack, SS
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler were caught
in the centre.
Waves of Soviet tanks and mounted
infantry appeared. 18th and 29th
Tank Corps were the first echelon,
and both sustained heavy losses.
On a clear day, with good visibility,
they were spotted at long range and
the powerful German tank guns
began to knock out the charging
tanks, soon assisted by the forward
PaK-40 armed anti-tank defence
screen and Panzer grenadiers armed
with magnetic mines. A swirling
melee of tanks ensued, but by 0900
the first waves had been driven
off. Continued, relentless attacks
followed.
T-34s penetrated through 1st SS
Division’s reconnaissance battalion,
and reached their artillery guns,
crushing two 150mm howitzers
before being destroyed themselves.
On the German right, SS Das Reich
were heavily engaged by 2nd Guards
Tank Corps, whilst on the left, SS
Totenkopf still pushed north, along the
ridgeline north of the Psel river. The
Eicke Panzer Grenadier Regiment,
supported by 3rd SS Panzer
Regiment, all but destroyed the 52nd
and 98th Guards Rifle Divisions in
the process and gained 9 km.
Meanwhile, attacks continued
throughout the afternoon, with
neither side gaining any ground,
and by nightfall both front lines
had moved very little. 5th Guards
Mechanised Corps diverted forces to
intercept SS Totenkopf’s penetration.
The 18th and 29th Tank Corps, both
badly mauled, established new
defensive positions and prepared
for renewed attacks on the 13th. 5th
Guards Tank Army’s counter had
stalled the SS advance, but at a very
heavy price.
3rd Panzer Corps
The Russians launched a diversionary
attack on 3rd Panzer Corps’ right
flank. Three rifle division of 7th
33
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Guards Army gained a mere 2km.
General Kempf was instructed that
his Panzer divisions must cross the
Northern Donets that day to be of
any aid to the rest of the offensive
now embattled at Prokhorovka. He
identified the bridge at Rzhavets
as his objective, but was still 12
kms short. A plan for a sneak night
march to Rzhavets is implemented. A
column of 2nd Battalion, 11th Panzer
Regiment and 2nd Battalion 114th
Panzer Grenadiers, led by a single
captured T-34, would make a daring
drive through the enemy lines in
darkness. The men were allowed to
smoke and ‘act casually’, but not talk!
In the darkness, they are mistaken
for re-deploying Russian forces and
almost reached Rzhavets before the
leading T-34 broke down and had
to be pushed into a ditch. Having
passed through the Russian defences,
the column surprised the defenders
of Rzhavets and quickly scattered
them, capturing the river crossings.
19th Panzer Division drove along the
river to rendezvous at Rzhavets and so
reinforce the bridgehead. In so doing,
THE CANCELLATION OF
OPERATION CITADEL
By 13th July it had become clear
that the Panzer divisions were worn
out from the heavy combat of the
past eight days. The troops were
exhausted, their combat strength
severely weakened by the seemingly
never-ending supply of Red Army
units thrown into every developing
breach or possible breakthrough.
Every kilometre of the advance
had been hard fought. Unlike in
the great Blitzkrieg assaults of 1941
and 1942, the Soviet soldiers had
not broken before the Panzers. The
daily toll of attrition had greatly
weakened the Panzer divisions. For
Germany the strategic and political
situation had also changed.
34
they establish a second bridgehead
over the river at Schlevokovo. The
Russians move to attack Rzhavets
from three sides, with more fighting
at Alexsandrovka against elements
6th Panzer. These German units were
then pulled out to join the bridgehead
forces for the breakout attempt.
JULY 13TH
48th Panzer Corps
The day was spent in re-grouping its
forces and re-organising to counter-
attack against the Russian gains from
the west. The Russians continued
to press from the west, and again
this pinned the Panzers in place, not
allowing them to deploy for the push
northwards.
The focus of the offensive had now
shifted away from the left flank, to
the battles around Prokhorovka and
3rd Panzer Corps’ bridgehead. All
efforts to reach Oboyan had now
effectively ended.
2nd SS Panzer Corps
Following the furious tank battles of
the 12th, 2nd SS Panzer Corps were
again to press their attack, with the
The American and British landings
in Sicily had been successful, and
it seemed Italy no longer had the
stomach for a war fought over
its homeland. The capitulation
of the entire Italian Army would
put southern Europe in jeopardy,
and the German High Command
needed reliable troops to shore up
the Italian Front. Hitler’s favourites,
the vaunted 2nd SS Panzer Corps,
were earmarked for the task, and as
such had to be extricated from their
battles south of Kursk.
Also, the Soviets had launched their
own offensive against Orel, and it
seemed, even at this early stage, that
the weight of the attack would not
be halted. Army Group Centre had
to pull 9th Army out of the line
focus now shifting away from SS
Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler’s drive to
SS Totenkopf’s break through north
of the river Psel, which threatened to
envelop Prokhorovka from the west.
5th Guards Tank Army, having spent
the night preparing defences, digging
in tanks and laying mines, were
now on the defensive. 10th Guards
Mechanised Brigade was moved to
attack SS Totenkopf, and succeeded in
preventing a repeat of the previous
day’s lost ground. The SS Totenkopf
were now down to just 54 serviceable
tanks (and its 20 assault guns still
guarding the Psel bridges). By
day’s end, they had no Tiger tanks
operational. In the afternoon, the
division pulled back, conceding its
gains. SS Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler
resumed its attack at midday after
a meeting between General Hauser
(2nd SS Panzer Corps) and General
Hoth (4th Panzer Army) who agreed
that the Soviet forces must now also
be exhausted. The 1st SS Division’s
two-pronged assault failed, being
repulsed by the dug-in remnants
of 18th and 29th Tank Corps.
Meanwhile, SS Das Reich continued
to fight its way eastward, planning
to save it from encirclement
and destruction. Army Group
Centre could not allow itself to
be surrounded and trapped; such
an event would be catastrophic
for the entire Eastern Front and
surely see the war lost. To free Von
Kluge’s hand, his part of the Citadel
offensive from the north would have
to be abandoned.
The decision was made on the 13th,
but it was not officially ordered until
17th, but by then the German Army
had shot its bolt, and no further
offensive operations would ensue.
All that remained was for a fighting
withdrawal back to their start lines,
and in many cases well beyond.
Attack would now turn to defence.

to link up with 3rd Panzer Corps’
leading units and attack Prokhorovka
from the south-east. They attacked
from Ivanovka and Vinogradovka,
but further south, 3rd Panzer Corps
still could not break through the last
10 km to link their forces into one
front. These eastward attacks would
be the last offensive actions of 2nd SS
Panzer Corps, stalled short of their
objectives, as orders were received
to hold on the defensive on the 14th,
until the order for withdrawal was
received.
At a meeting at Rastenburg, the
Führer, in conference with Generals
Von Manstein (Army Group South)
and Von Kluge (Army Group Centre),
ordered the cancellation of Operation
Citadel.
3rd Panzer Corps
6th Panzer Division attempted to
exploit the gains from its surprise
raid, but on hearing of the fall of the
Rzhavets bridge, General Vatutin
(Voronezh Front) ordered General
Rotmistrov (5th Guards Tank Army)
to send a blocking force south. ‘Group
Trufanov’ was dispatched to prevent
3rd Panzer Corps forcing its way the
last 15km to Prokohorvka. There were
furious battles against Trufanov’s
two reinforced Mechanised Brigades
for the Rzhavets and Shchelokovo
bridgeheads, with multiple Russian
counter-attacks re-capturing
the village of Rydinka, but with
heavy losses. The Germans gained
little ground in the face of the
reinforcements, even as their own
strength in the bridgehead grew.
JULY 14TH – JULY 16TH
48th Panzer Corps
Grossdeutschland and 3rd Panzer
Division began a two day counter-
attack against 5th Guards Tank
Corps and 10th Tank Corps,
driving them back west and all but
destroying them to recapture the
ground lost on the 12th and 13th.
This stabilised their western flank
of their penetration (again), but still
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
OPERATION RUMYANTSEV
Delayed by three weeks due to the Kursk fighting, Operation Rumyantsev
was not finally authorised to begin until August. With the objective of
recapturing Belgorod and Kharkov (the Soviet Union’s third largest city), it
would involve Voronezh Front, Steppe Front and South-West Front in the
elimination of the German held salient south of Kursk, and thus threaten
a large part of Army Group South with encirclement and destruction. It
was planned as an even larger counter-offensive than the earlier Kutuzov
operation. Developed in tandem with Operation Kutuzov to the north, the
offensives could not be launched simultaneously as first planned, due to
the disorganisation and losses caused by the Citadel fighting. When the Red
Army forces required for the attack were finally in position (and in many
cases rebuilt with fresh troops and new tanks) the assault was only deemed
ready to begin on August 3rd.
The assault began north-west of Belgorod in overwhelming force, with
subsequent attacks following on the 4th, 5th and 8th of August further
along the flanks as more divisions went on the offensive to pin German
forces in place. Already weakened and battle-weary German units were
pressed back. The leading Soviet tank units gain 20km on the first day. The
167th Infantry Division suffered especially heavy losses, being massively
outnumbered.
2nd SS Panzer Corps was recalled to the area from the Mius river, to assist
the defence of Kharkov and were detraining there in a few days to meet the
new threat. 5th SS Panzer Grenadier Division Wiking were also redeployed
again to aid 3rd Panzer Corps’ defence.
Despite rapid shuffling of forces, the Soviet attack continued to make gains,
and Belgorod was abandoned before the defenders were surrounded. A
three day German counterattack by SS Divisions Das Reich and Wiking
at Bogodukhov slowed the attackers, but the advance towards Kharkov
was inexorable, and the Germans retreat steadily. On 17th August
Grossdeutschland, 7th Panzer and 19th Panzer Divisions combined for
another counterattack, mustering just 100 tanks between them. Despite
making gains and encircling some forward Soviet units, they could not halt
the Soviet advance. The 57th Infantry Division was shattered by sustained
artillery, breaks and routs.
There were desperate battles west of Kharkov to delay the city’s
encirclement, which helped the Germans extract more units. Kharkov
itself is razed as the Germans abandon it. The Russians launched an all-
out assault on the city on the 22nd August, but most of the Germans had
already withdrawn. The ruins of the city were liberated (again).
Rumyantsev was a success, but at a heavy price for both sides, one that the
Germans could least afford to pay. Their Panzer divisions, already heavily
damaged in the drive to Kursk, were now just shells of units. At the end of
August, 11th Panzer Division reported only 820 grenadiers and 15 tanks
ready for combat. 19th Panzer Division had even less, with just seven tanks.
Operation Rumyantsev was the final nail in the coffin for the Operation
Citadel plan. Instead of tearing a hole through the Eastern Front (again),
Army Groups Centre and South were now in retreat.
35
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
no ground was gained towards the
objective of Oboyan. All three of the
Corps’ Panzer and Panzer Grenadier
divisions were now worn-out,
and lacked the fighting power to
turn back northwards – even if the
Russian flank attacks would have
allow them.
2nd SS Panzer Corps
This day saw the launch of Operation
Roland, a quickly revised plan for the
capture of Prokhorovka by swinging
the weight of the attack away from SS
Totenkopf on the left to SS Das Reich
on the right, after achieving a link-up
with 3rd Panzer Corps. SS Totenkopf
would hold its position north of the
river Psel, whilst SS Liebstandarte
Adolf Hitler prepared an attack on
their own right flank to aid SS Das
Reich’s main push.
This new attack still made little
headway and there remained
BEYOND KURSK
THE BATTLES OF LATE
SUMMER AND AUTUMN 1943
As the fighting around Kharkov
came to an end in August 1943, the
STAVKA offensive plan was still not
complete. The Soviet high-command
had grander plans still, as throughout
August and into September every
Soviet Army Front, from the far north
to the very south, would go over to
the offensive – assaults suddenly
exploding like firecrackers along the
thousands of miles of front line.
Everywhere the German Army and
its allies found themselves suddenly
beset. Troops were tied down in
defensive battles, unable to move to
reinforce more threatened sectors.
The Red Army pushed hard, and the
Germans were finally forced to give
ground before them.
The Red Army was now involved
in a general offensive, but the
focus of its efforts were against
36
130km between the 4th Panzer
Army’s southern attack and 9th
Army stalled at the north shoulder of
the salient.
3rd Panzer Corps
The battered remnants of the Corps
joined Operation Roland, attacking
towards Prokhorovka from the
south-east and attempting to trap the
Russian forces between themselves
and SS Das Reich to the west. There
was more heavy fighting against
Group Trufanov, now reinforced
with more anti-tank units, but this
change of direction of attack failed to
bring any sudden breakthrough, as
the Russian defences remained solid
before the Corps’ advance.
24th Panzer Corps’ divisions, still
being withheld from the front, were
redirected away from their assemble
area around Kharkov to assist the
defence of the Northern Donets river,
the German Army Group South,
which was forced to withdraw to
the river Dniepr to save itself from a
humiliating defeat and destruction.
General von Manstein demanded that
the Führer give him freedom of action
to save his endangered divisions,
or that the Führer replace him. The
Führer gave way, finally breaking his
‘stand at all costs’ order and, at Von
Manstein’s direction, the German
Army began a massive withdrawal,
pursued all the way by the Red Army.
The Dniepr (one of Europe’s largest
river and two miles wide in places)
was held by the Wotan line, a bulwark
along the Eastern Front, just as the
Reich had established the Atlantic
Wall on its western borders. But the
line existed in name and as ‘future’
plans only. Very little in the way of
solid defences had actually been
constructed. Even so, the Dniepr still
represented a formidable barrier to
the Red Army. STAVKA commanders
now under attack around Izium.
These fresh divisions would not
arrive to aid Operation Roland.
JULY 17TH
2nd SS Panzer Corps
All three SS divisions were ordered
to return to their Citadel start lines,
and were then to be pulled from the
front line in order to be re-deployed,
to meet a new and threatening Soviet
assault along the Mius river in the far
south. The SS divisions central role in
Operation Citadel was over.
Along the entire front, north and
south, the German Panzers had been
halted. They had inflicted massive
losses on the enemy but the critical
break through was never achieved
and both the northern and southern
attacks never reached Kursk.
knew that they could not allow the
Germans to become well dug-in on
the far bank. They rapidly thrust
tank columns at key crossing points.
German resistance now became
ferocious, knowing that the defenders
had to buy time for escaping units to
withdraw over those vital bridges.
Throughout the late summer and
into autumn these mobile battles
continued, as Army Group South
spilled back across the bridges and
then fanned out again to establish its
new front line.
In general, the withdrawal was
orderly and a great success (if any
strategic withdrawal can be), but,
in several places, the Russians did
manage to penetrate through the
German lines and to establish their
own small bridgeheads over the
river, ready to be exploited when
their forces had closed up behind
the Germans. This would be the
next phase of the war to liberate the
Motherland.

ARMY LISTS
T his book contains four
Army Lists, for battlegroups
constructed from four different
types of divisions. There are two
for the Germans – Panzer divisions
and infantry divisions, and two for
the Russians – tank corps and rifle
divisions. These are the principle
organisations that fought the Battle
of Kursk, and the character of the
parent unit will be apparent in your
battlegroup. The Panzer division
(always popular) has the majority of
the tanks, but an infantry division
can also have some tank support,
but will mostly be relying upon its
infantry and artillery. Also, when on
the defensive, players will find that
an infantry (or rifle) division is well
worth considering, as these have
access to lots of prepared defences
and thus can be far more effective
fighting on the defensive than their
tank-heavy counterparts.
Each Army List is organised into ten
different types of units, divided into
THE
two halves. The first half is called
Front Line Assets. This consists of the
principle combat units of the battle-
group, its infantry, tanks and artillery,
along with its battlefield command
and any prepared defences.
The second half is called Support
Assets, second line and specialist
units which lend aid to the front
line. These include such specialists
as Reconnaissance units, Engineers,
Logistics, Additional Fire Support
and Specialist Units.
Support Assets can only be taken by
first including Front Line assets. For
each Front Line asset included in
your battle-group you are allowed
to purchase a unit from a Support
section. Which Support section you
can take is dictated by which Front
Line Asset was chosen. The details
are covered below, and again in the
Army Lists themselves.
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
FRONT LINE ASSETS
Forward Headquarters
This is the battlegroup commander
(that’s you) and any specialist units
which are attached to him, such as
Communications units. The Forward
Headquarters can sometimes be a
fighting unit, right up to operating in
the tank, whilst attached to it might
be radio vehicles, messengers or other
sub-commanders.
For each Forward Headquarters
unit in your battlegroup you can
include a single unit chosen from
either Logistics, Specialist units or
Additional Fire Support.
Infantry
These are the ground-pounders,
the squads and platoons of fighting
infantry, which might be directly
supported by infantry-borne heavy
weapons like machine guns or lighter
mortars.
For each infantry unit in your battle-
group you can also include a single
unit chosen from either
Engineers, Reconnaissance or
Specialist units.
Tanks
The front line armour,
squadrons of the main
fighting vehicles, including
self-propelled guns as well as
the tanks.
For each Tank unit in your
battlegroup you can also
include a single unit from
either Engineers, Logistics,
Reconnaissance or Specialist
units.
37
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Artillery
These are the guns dedicated to
supporting your own battlegroup.
They might be deployed in close
support, as actual models on the
table, or a bit further to the rear
as off-table support. These are the
battalion’s, regiment’s or division’s
own ‘organic’ guns. Larger guns from
the supporting corps, army and front
level artillery units must be taken
from Additional Fire Support.
For each Artillery unit in your battle-
group you can also include a single
unit from Additional Fire Support.
Defences
This part of the army list can only be
used if the battlegroup is the defender
in an Attack-Defence scenario, in
which case they may be dug-in to
prepared positions, behind minefields
and anti-tank ditches, inside pillboxes
and strong points, etc.
Defences do not allow a battlegroup
to include any extra support units.
SUPPORTING ASSETS
Reconnaissance
Any battlegroup can be supported
by its parent division’s (or corps’)
reconnaissance units, seeking out the
enemy for them and aiding the battle-
group commander by providing
him with good intelligence on the
enemy’s positions and movements.
Reconnaissance units vary from
infantry patrols on foot, to fast
moving units on motorcycles (or
even horses), to armoured cars and
light tanks and can also include aerial
reconnaissance units.
Logistics
Second line logistical support units
include supply vehicles, which bring
extra ammunition and fuel to the
front lines, to the medical support of
aid posts and combat medics. They
aren’t fighting units, but still fulfil an
important role.
38
Engineers
Negotiating a battlefield requires
many engineering tasks, from
building bridges and clearing
minefields, to clearing enemy strong
points with special weapons like
flamethrowers. Engineer support
includes all this, in the form of
pioneer (or sapper) units and
specialised engineering vehicles, like
bridge-laying vehicles, demolition
units and recovery vehicles.
Additional Fire Support
Beyond your battlegroup’s parent
division, there is a whole army of
extra artillery units which can lend
support. Demand upon these units is
always great, and every battlegroup
commander cannot have all the
aid he would like, but corps, front
and army command can lend the
support of heavier guns, as well as
providing a few useful tactics, like
counter-battery fire missions to attack
off-table enemy artillery or pre-timed
barrages and air strikes.
This section also includes the army’s
Close Air Support Table, which are Above: SS soldiers (actually dismounted cavalry)
used should an aircraft arrive to aid advance in an anti-partisan sweep.
This photo was taken in May 1943, perhaps
the battlegroup.
during the build-up for Operation Citadel.
(Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1991-0205-510)
Specialist Units
These are the oddities and rare units.
These are units or vehicles that don’t
easily fit into the other categories,
as well as rare units which, whilst
present at Kursk, would not have ratings, how many Officer units it
formed the backbone of a battlegroup includes and how many Scout units.
– often this includes uncommon
heavy anti-tank or anti-aircraft guns When creating a battlegroup, units
or some unique, ‘Elite’ rated units. are ‘bought’, using points. Before a
game, the players should have set a
USING THE BATTLE GROUP points limit, for example 1000 points,
ARMY LISTS and these points are spent on units.
The Army Lists included allow you As you select a unit, note it down
to select a (hopefully) balanced force on the organisation chart along with
to play a game. The easiest way of its Battle Rating, until you have no
doing this is to use a Battle Group points left. You should only expend
Organisation Chart (see the example the points available to you; do not
overleaf). This chart contains all the exceed the total.
different types of unit and places
to note down points values, battle
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

UNIT AVAILABILITY INFANTRY REQUIREMENT TABLE

The Army Lists also place some Game Level Max Restricted German Infantry Russian Infantry
restrictions on how many units your Points Units Min Max Min Max
battlegroup can include. Squad 350 2 1 squad 1 platoon 1 squad 2 platoons
Platoon 750 3 1 platoon 2 platoons 1 platoon 4 platoons
Infantry Platoons Company 1500 4 2 platoons 3 platoons 2 platoons 6 platoons
A battlegroup must include some Battalion 3000 5 3 platoons 6 platoons 3 platoons 9 platoons
infantry. It cannot function without
infantry to support the tanks and
hold the ground it captures. The Restricted Units take more than a single unit of a
German player and Russian player The army lists note some units as Restricted unit, but each one still
have different maximum limits, being ‘Restricted’, these are rare units counts as a Restricted choice.
because of the different character to which an army just would not
of their fighting forces and the have easy access. Restricted units Unique Units
quantities of infantry each side are limited by the size of game. In a Some units have the ‘Unique’
could historically field. The size of squad-level game, you may take two special rule. This means you can
the game also dictates the minimum restricted units. In a Platoon-level only include one of them, regardless
and maximum amount of infantry game you may take three Restricted of the size of the game. Some
your force can include, shown on units. In a Company-level game, very rare units are rated as both
the Infantry Requirement Table you may take four Restricted units. ‘Restricted’ and ‘Unique’, this means
above. In a battalion-level game, you may you only have one, and it counts as
take five Restricted units. You can one of your restricted choices.

39
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

EXAMPLE OF USING
AN ARMY LIST
In this example, I will be selecting
a Russian Tank Corps battlegroup
of 600 points for a platoon-level,
meeting engagement game. In
this size of game I can include a
maximum of three Restricted choices.
First, I must meet the minimum
requirement of infantry in a platoon
game, which is (ta-da) a platoon! I
start with a motorised rifle platoon
for 58 points. For its own ‘organic’
platoon support I also include a
Maxim MG team for 18 pts and
an anti-tank rifle team for 14 pts.
In all that is 90 points and 7 BR.
The platoon also allows me up to
four choices from Reconnaissance,
Engineers or Specialist Units.
Next, I need some tanks. I’ll include a
T-34 platoon for 100 pts, and an SU-76
battery for 75 pts. That is another 15
BR, and the SU-76 battery is my first
Restricted choice. Each allows me a
further two support choices.
From Logistics I’ll take a single
supply wagon for 4 points and 1 BR.
From Special Units my force will
include a SU-152 for 52 pts and 3 BR.
Using both my allowed additional
fire support choices, I’ll take a 2nd
priority artillery request for my FAO,
and a counter-battery fire mission.
That is just 20 points and 0 BR.
My grand total is now 486 points, and
34 BR. That leaves me another 114
points to spend.
To assist my FAO further I’ll take
a wire team from the Forward HQ
section, for 7 pts and 0 BR. That
also allows me a further additional
fire support or logicstics choice. I’ll
take the fire support, in the form of
a timed Katyusha barrage for 30 pts
and 0 BR.
I have just 77 points left, and feel I
need more tanks. I can only get one T-
34 for that, but a whole platoon of T-
60s. I’ll take the platoon of three light
tanks for 50 pts and another 6 BR.
With just 27 pts left I have no anti-
aircraft defence, should I risk it?
The cheapest is 28 pts, so I would be
1 point over. My opponent agrees
to this, so I can take a quad Maxim
MG mounted on a Gaz truck for 28
pts and 2 BR. It is also my second
Restricted choice.
Done! My battlegroup is now ready
for action. It cost 601 pts, and will
start the battle with a healthy total
of 40 BR. It also has two Scout units
but only one Officer (and no Senior
Officer at all), meaning command and
control are going to be touch and go
with at least 27 units.

So far I’ve spent 265 pts on the core

of my force. Next for some artillery
units. I’ll include a Forward Observer
Team for 16 pts and 1 BR. He will be
spotting for a heavy mortar battery of
two 120mm mortars, each upgraded
with a loader team for 78 pts. So that
is another 94 pts and 3 BR in all. It also
allows me up to two additional fire
support choices should I want them.

I’m not the defender in an Attack/

Defence scenario, so I can’t take any
Defences. But, I still have 254 points
left to go. Next I’ll look at some
Support choices.

Firstly, Reconnaissance. My force will

be screened by a Mechanised Infantry
Patrol in a White scout car, with anti-
tank grenades for 33 pts and 3 BR and
a Jeep recce team for 18 pts and 1 BR.
Usefully, both can also spot for the
mortar battery too.

40
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

VEHICLE PROFILES
Each vehicle has its own profile, giving details of its
movement, armour and armament, as follows;

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer IV H
8" 12" - K N(M) N 75mmL48 Turret 9
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

Off-Road: the distance a vehicle can move on the table top

(in inches) for a normal move, whilst travelling off-road (or
partially on a road and off-road).

O NT E
Road: the vehicle’s top speed, travelling flat out whilst it FR SID
stays on a road for its entire move.
E AR
SID RE
Special: any special rules the vehicle has for movement,
such as extra mobility or being unreliable. The full rules can
be found in the Unit Special Rules section.

Armour: rated from A to O (with A as the best), each vehicle

has an armour rating for front, side and rear armour. These
are used for hits from the vehicle’s front quarter, left and
right quarter and rear quarter. It also notes if a vehicle is
Open-Topped. The vehicle’s side armour due to its Schürzen
is given in brackets.
Weapon: the vehicle’s main armament and any secondary
weapons are listed here. The weapon’s full profile will be
given in the gun profiles section.
Mount: how the weapon is mounted, dictating its arc of fire.
Ammo: the number of shots the weapon has for the
entire game. This is not a literal number, but represents
‘burst’ of firing at the enemy, given that one shot rolled
for isn’t actually one shot fired. Before the start of a game,
ammunition must be allocated as either HE or AP. So, if a
vehicle has an ammunition capacity of 9, it could allocate
this as 4 HE and 5 AP, or 7 HE and 2 AP. This is entirely
up to the commanding player. Some guns only have one
ammunition type, so they automatically have just that! A
vehicle that runs out of a type of ammunition cannot fire it
again until it is re-supplied.

GUN PROFILES
As well as vehicles, all guns also have a profile.

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-70
50mmL60 (PaK38) HE 3/6+ 2 2 2 2 2 -
AP - 5 5 4 3 2 -

Ammunition: the types of ammunition available for that
gun, usual HE (High Explosive) or AP (Armour Piercing).
Some guns only have one type.
HE Effect: the number of dice and the roll required to inflict
damage with the gun’s high explosive shell, used against
infantry and deployed guns. Expressed as 3/6+, this means
three dice needing 6+.
Armour Penetration Values: each shell’s value, rated from
15 to 1 (with 15 as the best) when rolling to penetrate a
vehicle’s armour. For HE rounds this is a constant value,
because a shell’s blast doesn’t get smaller over range. For AP
shells the value reduces over range, as the shell’s velocity
naturally drops off. Some longer guns include a penetration
value for the 50-70" range band.

41
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
THE GERMAN ARMY
AT KURSK
TANKS
Panzer III
Still a mainstay of the Panzerwaffe
for Operation Citadel was the Panzer
III. The tank was recognised as a
declining asset, with its light armour
and limited main gun size, and the
Germans knew it was not a match for
the Soviet T-34. By the time of Kursk
the decision to phase out the Panzer
III for its replacement, the Panther,
had already been taken, but as yet
Panther production had been unable
to meet the demand.
By the summer of 1943, the Panzer III
had developed to its final mark, the
Ausf M. This was the most common
mark of tank available to the Panzer
divisions. Mounting the 50mm L60
KwK39 gun, and with 50mm of frontal
armour, the Ausf M’s main difference
to the previous Ausf L (also in wide
use at Kursk), was its improved water-
wading equipment, sealed air intakes
and exhaust louvres.
The Ausf L mounted the same
weaponry as the Ausf M and had
improved its frontal and turret
armour over the Ausf J (again some
of which were still in service). The
Ausf J mounted a shorter 50mm L42
cannon, (although some were also
retro-fitted with the higher velocity
L60 gun). The Ausf N replaced
the 50mm gun with a short 75mm
L24 howitzer for close support fire
with high explosive shells, and was
deployed alongside Tiger companies.
Other variants of the Panzer III
included the Befehlspanzer
command tanks, Beobachtungswagen
(artillery observation tank) and the
42
Flammpanzer III, a modification of
the Panzer III M replacing the main
weapon with a flamethrower and
a 1,000 litre fuel tank. These were
deployed to support the attacks
of the 6th Panzer, 11th Panzer and
Großdeutschland Divisions and proved
highly effective in clearing Soviet
trenches and strongpoints.
The Panzer IIIs were deployed in
mixed companies, fighting directly
alongside the larger Panzer IVs.
The Panzer III could also be fitted
with Schürzen plates. This was
stand-off armour developed to defeat
Russian anti-tank rifle fire against
a tank’s more vulnerable sides.
Large numbers of plates were issued
and fitted by the crews but, at the
beginning of the Kursk offensive, as
many tanks were not equipped with
Schürzen as were.
In all, over 600 Panzer IIIs were listed
on the Germans’ strength for the
beginning of the offensive, making it
the second most common tank, after
the Panzer IV.
Panzer IV
The most numerous tank available
to the Panzer divisions for Operation
Citadel was the Panzer IV. It had
become the workhorse of the German
tank force in 1942, and would remain
so until the end of the war. The latest
development of the tank was the Ausf
H, but it had only been in production
since April 1943, meaning the earlier
Ausf G was by far the most numerous
mark available at Kursk.
The Ausf G mounted the 75mm L43
gun, (a few would be retro-fitted with
the longer L48 gun of the Ausf H),
but at the beginning of the offensive
Army Group Centre’s tanks had no
Ausf H available, and Army Group
South could only muster 115 from a
total of 700 Panzer IVs.
The Ausf G had 50mm of frontal
armour, carried an ammunition load
of 87 main gun rounds and was also
armed with two 7.92mm machine
guns (co-axial and bow mounted).
The Ausf H had better frontal armour
of 80mm, as well as other technical
improvements, including vision ports,
air filters and a mount for a cupola
anti-aircraft machine gun. Both had a
crew of five. The Panzer IV operated
in mixed companies directly alongside
the Panzer IIIs. Like the smaller tank
many were equipped with Schürzen,
but many were not.
Panzer V – Panther
Development of the Panther began
in 1942, and production started in
1943, after close study of Russian T-34
tanks revealed that the current Panzer
IIIs and Panzer IVs were outclassed
by their enemy’s equipment.
Brand new at Kursk, the Panther
tank was to see its first combat with
Panzer Battalions 51 and 52, both
attached to the Großdeutschland
Panzer Grenadier Division with 4th
Panzer Army in the south. They had
been rushed through development
and testing in order to make some
200 vehicles available for the
offensive. Much was expected of
this new design, but many of its
technical problems had not been
fixed by the time Operation Citadel
was to begin. Much of this work was
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

43
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
still being done as the tanks were
loaded on trains from their testing
ground at Erlangen for movement to
Kharkov and then to the front line.
Likewise, the crews had not had time
to become accustomed to the tank or
each other, and there were significant
weaknesses in the training – tellingly
in radio protocols and commander
to gunner communications (always
regarded as the keys to good tank
operations by the Panzerwaffe).
Mechanical problems, especially with
the vehicle’s final drive and electrics,
plagued the tank’s first deployment.
The Panther’s debut was considered
a failure (although Panthers
destroyed more Soviet tanks that any
other German armoured fighting
vehicle). Given its teething troubles,
this verdict was no great surprise.
Despite its size, classified as a
medium tank, the Panther was the
replacement for the now defunct
Panzer III. The mark available to
Großdeutschland was the Ausf D.
Armed with the new and very
powerful 75mm L70 gun and two
machine guns, the Panther had a
crew of five.
The Panther was the basis for
a Panzerbeobachtungswagen
(observation) tank for commanders
to operate alongside the other
tanks, fitted with additional radio
equipment. There were also a few
Bergpanther recovery vehicles issued
to Panther units. Of the 200 tanks
deployed for Operation Citadel just
four were Bergpanther recovery
vehicles.
Panzer VI – Tiger
The cutting edge of the Panzer and
Panzer Grenadier divisions would
be the fearsome Tiger. A heavy tank
equipping the heavy company of
the SS Panzer Grenadier divisions
and the independent heavy tank
battalions, the Tiger had gained a
fearsome reputation as the most
formidable tank in the world. First
44
deployed in the winter of 1942, most part had been removed from the
a captured vehicle (abandoned Panzer divisions as no longer fit for
after sinking in a bog) had been combat duties. A few still survived,
thoroughly investigated by the Red but most of these had been converted
Army, and by summer 1943 it was a to command tanks or artillery
well known enemy. Much of Soviet observation vehicles. The Ausf F was
planning for the defensive fighting the final production model, armed
centred on stopping and destroying with a 20mm cannon and single co-
the Tigers. axial machine gun.
The Tiger was to be deployed at Panzer T34(r)
the very front of the panzerkiel (tank The German Army quickly
wedge) tactics employed by each recognised the quality of the T-
division. This was a break from the 34, and many captured tanks
stated tactic of deploying entire were pressed into service. For the
battalions of heavy tanks at the Kursk offensive the 2nd SS Panzer
schwerpunkt (decision point) of a Grenadier Division Das Reich were
battlefield. Despite many complaints, equipped with 26 enemy machines.
the heavy tank battalions were split These were the product of a tank
into individual companies and workshop captured during the
dispersed to support different Panzer winter counter-offensive that re-took
divisions. Kharkov. Their tanks were modified
slightly, with a commander’s cupola
Armed with an 88mmL56 gun and added. Other T-34s, pressed directly
two machine guns, it was crewed by into service from the battlefield, were
five men, who considered themselves not modified. Before deployment the
the elite of the tank force. It carried tanks had large recognition symbols
92 rounds of ammunition, with a painted upon them, in an attempt to
standard load split 46/46 between
armour piercing and high explosive
shells. For all its reputation, heavy
armour and large gun, the Tiger
had many drawbacks. It was slow,
it had reliability problems, needed
a lot of maintenance in the field and
its weight meant its engine could
overheat and catch fire.
Many of the earlier mechanical
problems with such a heavy tank
had now been ironed out and the
Battle of Kursk would become almost
synonymous with the Tiger tank. In
fact, just 150 Tigers would take part
in the Citadel attack, their presence
and effect on the battlefield dwarfing
their actual numbers. It was still the
largest gathering of such heavy tanks
ever mustered by the German Army.
Panzer II
A light tank that had served since
1939, by the time of Kursk the Panzer
II had become obsolete and, for the

avoid the inevitable misidentifaction
and friendly fire. Even so there was
always caution about pushing the
tanks to the front. The Das Reich T-34s
were engaged successfully defending
the right flank of II SS Panzer Corps.
SdKfz 301
Borgward B IV remote-
controlled demolition tank
Designated as the SdKfz 301, the
Borgward B IV was developed in
1941 on the Munitionsschlepper
VK301 chassis, to attack enemy
hardened positions and clear
minefields, after the German
Army’s experiences during the
invasion of France. It was a remote-
controlled vehicle, being driven
from a command tank (a Panzer III,
although by 1943 these had started
to be replaced by StuGs). The small
‘tankette’ carried a 1,100 lbs
demolition charge. The vehicle
was first driven to its start line by
a human driver, who then left the
vehicle to be guided to its final target
by radio control. Once at its target,
the demolition charge would be
set down, and the vehicle would
be reversed away to safety before
the charge was blown on a delayed
fused. The charge was large enough
to set off pressure fuses on mines or
destroy bunkers and pillboxes.
The vehicle’s top speed was 38kph,
but when in remote control mode it
had to move far slower due to the
care required by the operator. The
first version, the Ausf A, was updated
to the Ausf B in 1943, with the
addition of better radio equipment.
The Borgwards equipped specialist
Funklenk companies, attached to
assault units to clear the path for the
following tanks and assault guns.
Widely deployed by 9th Army, they
proved useful in places, but the
cleared lanes in minefields were
still hard to mark due to the enemy
bombardments, and the churned
ground meant identifying the cleared
route was difficult for following
drivers. Many Borgwards were lost
to artillery fire, including one of 314
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Funklenk Company which took a
direct hit, detonated and set off a
chain reaction that destroyed two
other Borgwards, the command tank
and the Ferdinand tank destroyer
following!
Special rules for using Borgwards
in the game are included in the
Battlefield Engineering section.
ASSAULT GUNS
StuG III
The Sturmgeschütz III had been in
service since 1940. It was built on the
Panzer III chassis, and started service
with a short 75mm gun for close
infantry support but, by 1943, due to
its versatility, its role had changed. It
had become an all-purpose armoured
vehicle, used by anti-tank units and
as a stand-in tank for some Panzer
units as well as equipping the assault
gun battalions of Panzer divisions.
Below: At Kursk, the Panzer IV was the workhorse of
the Panzerwaffe. The Ausf G was the most common
German tank deployed. This is the improved Ausf H,
with turret Schürzen and longer L48 gun.
(Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-088-3715-24)
45
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Assault gun battalions were also
commonly attached to infantry
divisions.
By 1943 the StuG had reached its final
mark, the Ausf G, armed with the
75mm L48 gun of the Panzer IV and
single remotely operated machine
gun. Many earlier marks were still in
service as well, including the earlier
Ausf F which lacked the latter’s
better armour protection and a few
Ausf Ds and Es, still armed with the
short 75mm main gun.
Each StuG unit was also supported
by the StuH42 assault howitzer,
which was the standard StuG re-
armed with a 105mm howitzer for its
heavier high explosive round.
Ferdinand
Making its debut on the battlefield
at Kursk, the Ferdinand was a
super-heavy assault gun, built from
a rejected design for a heavy tank
(which later became the Tiger).
Production had already started on
90 tank chassis, so instructions were
issued for them to be converted into
a heavy assault gun/tank destroyer
to carry a formidable 88mm L71 gun
in a fixed super structure. Regarded
as a wonder-weapon by Hitler, who
earmarked the entire production
run for deployment for Operation
Citadel, the Ferdinand had serious
drawbacks. It mounted no secondary
weapon for anti-infantry defence. It
carried only 42 shells and weighed
62 tonnes, so much that recovery
vehicles could not move stranded
vehicles, which then had to be
abandoned. Its massive weight meant
it also lacked battlefield mobility.
For Kursk two new battalions
were formed, to be issued with
Ferdinands by June 1943. Panzerjäger
Regiment 656 included Battalions
653 and 654, each with 45 machines.
They operated alongside Funklenk
Company 314, equipped with remote-
controlled Borgward BIV demolition
46
vehicles. All were deployed to
reinforce 9th Army’s attack in the
north, hoping to make up for its
relative lack of Tiger tanks. Their
overall performance was deemed as
poor. It powerful gun scored kills out
to 3,000 yards, but many Ferdinands
were disabled by mines and had to be
abandoned.
Sturmpanzer IV ‘Brummbär’
A development of the Panzer IV
chassis, the Brummbär was a 150mm
infantry assault gun mounted
in an armoured superstructure,
deployed for close infantry support,
especially in built-up areas. It was
first deployed on the Eastern Front
for the Kursk offensive. The earlier
production model did not include the
bow mounted machine gun. A single
unit was equipped with Brummbärs,
Sturmpanzer Battalion 216. 45
machines were available to assist 9th
Army’s attack, of which 19 were lost
in the first days of the battle.
SELF-PROPELLED GUNS
Marder variants
The Marder was a hybrid vehicle,
mounting an anti-tank gun on
available tracked chassis, usually that
of the Panzer II or Panzer 38(t).
Most utilised the 75mm L46 gun,
but the PAK36r was armed with
a captured Russian 76.2mm gun.
Marders were issued to Heer,
Luftwaffe and SS anti-tank units as a
mobile version of the towed gun to
provided infantry units with some
mobile anti-tank defences.
Wespe
Another debutant at Kursk, the
Wespe was a self-propelled artillery
gun mounting a 105mm light
howitzer upon the Panzer II chassis,
the Wespe (Wasp) was issued to
Panzer artillery units in the Panzer
divisions for mobile artillery support.
Hummel
Like the Wespe, another vehicle
making its first contribution to the
war, the Hummel was a heavy self
propelled artillery gun, developed on
the larger Panzer IV chassis to carry a
150mm howitzer. Only one battery of
each Panzer division was issued with
Hummels.
Grille
A self-propelled artillery gun
mounting the 150mm infantry gun
upon a Panzer 38(t) chassis for the
heavy infantry gun battery of Panzer
grenadier battalions, each division
being able to call upon just six guns.
There were two marks, the Ausf H
and Ausf K, both deployed at Kursk.
They were used for mobile close fire
support. A third mark, built on the
Panzer II chassis, only saw service in
North Africa.
Hornisse
A self-propelled anti-tank gun
mounting an 88mm Pak43 on the
same chassis as the Hummel. It
was a long range tank destroyer.
Deployed in independent heavy
Panzerjäger battalions, these could be
allocated to corps to support attacks
(just as with the Tiger battalions).
Most of the Hornisse available for
Operation Citadel did not see battle
due to unresolved technical problems
that meant they were not deemed
fit for combat by early July. They
would come into their own in the late
summer and autumn battles as the
Russian unleashed their own counter-
offensives, north and south of the
Kursk salient. It was also referred to
as the Nashorn.
ARMOURED CARS
Sdkfz 222 and 223
A light, four-wheeled armoured car
which saw service throughout the
war and in all the German Army’s
major campaigns. It was armed with
a turret mounted 20mm cannon
and co-axial machine gun. Its
open-topped turret was given extra
protection from enemy infantry by
the addition of a mesh, anti-grenade
screen over the top. The 223 was

the same vehicle, but with the main
weaponry replaced by extra radio
equipment.
Sdkfz 231 and 232
Developed as an eight-wheeled
heavy armoured car with good
cross-country performance, to equip
the reconnaissance battalions of the
Panzer divisions, the 321 and very
similar 232, were used by the heavy
armoured car company, and usually
operated in support of the lighter
four-wheeled vehicles. It was armed
with a 20mm cannon and a co-axial
machine gun.
Sdkfz 233
A development of the 231 armed
with a short 75mm howitzer for
close support, the 233 was issued
to reconnaissance battalions, with
six vehicles supporting the lighter
armoured cars.
Sdkfz 263
The command variant of the
basic 231, the 263 was a radio
communications vehicle which acted
as a hub for the division’s radio
network. It was not a combat vehicle,
and was armed with a single machine
gun for self-defence.
ARMOURED PERSONNEL
CARRIERS
Sdkfz 251/1 and variants
Manufactured by Hanomag, from
which it took its nickname, the
SdKfz 251/1 series provided the
Panzer Grenadier regiments with
armoured transport from which to
operate alongside the tanks. The
initial tactic required the vehicle to
deliver its squad of eight men directly
onto the target, firing from its open
topped transport compartment. This
resulted in heavy losses in vehicles
and production fell behind losses.
The shortage resulted in a change of
tactics, with the vehicle dropping the
infantry off short of the target and
providing covering fire for the attack
on foot. This resulted in a sudden
increase in infantry casualties. An
inability to replace these losses
resulted in another change, so that
by the end of the war, the Panzer
grenadiers were once again fighting
from the vehicle itself.
Variants of the basic /1 troop
transporter included command and
radio halftracks, a close support
vehicle mounting the 75mm howitzer
known as the ‘Stump’, as well as a
platoon command vehicle mounting
a 37mm gun, derisively known
as the ‘door knocker’ because of
its lack of power. Others included
mortar section transport, a light
bridging vehicle and flamethrower-
armed variant for pioneers and an
ambulance variant.
At Kursk, the Panzer grenadiers
generally advanced behind the tanks,
inside the protective ‘Panzerkeil’
wedge, but close by to offer the tanks
their infantry protection or race
forwards to overrun an objective or
assault a Soviet strongpoint.
Sdkfz 251/1 – standard troop transport
Sdkfz 251/2 – 80mm mortar carrier
Sdkfz 251/3 – radio communications
Sdkfz 251/4 – ammunition carrier and
tractor for light infantry gun
Sdkfz 251/5 – engineers’ radio
command vehicle (until 1943)
Sdkfz 251/6 – command post
Sdkfz 251/7 – engineers’ assault bridge
Sdkfz 251/8 – ambulance
Sdkfz 251/9 – 75mm howitzer
Sdkfz 251/10 – 37mm anti-tank gun for
platoon headquarters section
Sdkfz 251/11 – telephone exchange and
cable layer
Sdkfz 251/12 – artillery observation
vehicle (until 1943)
Sdkfz 251/13 – artillery counter-battery
fire control (until 1943)
Sdkfz 251/14 – artillery counter-battery
fire control (until 1943)
Sdkfz 251/15 – artillery counter-battery
flash spotter (until 1943)
Sdkfz 251/16 – engineers’ flamethrower
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Sdkfz 250/1 and variants
Developed specifically for use by
the Panzer divisions’ reconnaissance
troops, the small 250 carried a
section of just four men. Like its
larger cousin, the vehicle was also
developed for various roles, as a
command and observation vehicle,
mortar carrier and gun-armed
support vehicle with 75mm, 37mm
and 28mm guns.
The /9 was developed as a possible
replacement for the reconnaissance
battalion’s wheeled armoured cars
whose off-road performance was
deemed as poor, especially in wet
conditions.
Sdkfz250/1 – 4 man troop transport
Sdkfz250/2 – telephone cable layer
Sdkfz250/3 – radio vehicle
Sdkfz250/4 – observation post for StuG
batteries
Sdkfz250/5 – observation post
Sdkfz250/6 – ammunition carrier for
StuG batteries
Sdkfz250/7 – 80mm mortar carrier
Sdkfz250/8 – 75mm howitzer
Sdkfz250/9 – 20mm cannon in turret
Sdkfz250/10 – 37mm anti-tank gun for
platoon headquarters section
Sdkfz250/11 – 28mm Panzerbusche 41
anti-tank gun for platoon headquarters
Sdkfz250/12 – Artillery observation
SOFT-SKINNED VEHICLES
Half Tracks – various size
The German Army developed a
standard pattern for its halftrack
prime movers, ranging from the
small, 1 tonne rated SdKfz 10 to the
enormous, 18 tonne rated SdKfz
9. All were the same vehicle, only
increasing in size. Many were also
used as personnel transports because
their half tracked configuration was
superior to wheeled trucks, and as
mobile weapon platforms, notably for
anti-aircraft weapons. The SdKfz 10
was the standard mount for a 20mm
cannon, and the SdKfz 7 the standard
mount for a 37mm cannon or quad
47
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
20mm guns. Both also towed extra
ammunition trailers.
Rated from one tonne up to a massive
18 tonnes, they served throughout
the war. The massive 18 tonne ‘Famo’
was used as a heavy recovery vehicle
and crane by Panzer workshop units.
Sdkfz 10 – 1 tonne chassis
Sdkfz 11 – 3 tonne chassis
Sdkfz 6 – 5 tonne chassis
Sdkfz 7 – 8 tonne chassis
Sdkfz 8 – 12 tonne chassis
Sdkfz 9 – 18 tonne chassis
Motorcycles
Motorcycles were issued to dispatch
riders, military police and security
troops, and had originally been
widely used by motorcycle-borne
(Kradschützen) infantry battalions.
These had been largely disbanded as
the Panzer grenadiers took over their
role as mobile infantry.
Kübelwagen
The standard issue field car for
officers was the Kübelwagen, or
bucket car. It was adequate for the
task, but lacked the motive power
to be used as a towing vehicle.
An amphibious version, the
Schwimmwagen, was also issued.
Light Trucks/Heavy Cars
Stoewer, Horsch, Daimler-Benz,
Krupp and others all provided the
German Army with heavy cars and
light trucks for personnel transport,
general service and as gun tows.
Each was officially rated with a
towing capacity for the weight of gun
it could pull.
Medium Trucks
The German Army made use a wide
variety of trucks. Standard issue
was the Opel Blitz, and these served
throughout the war, but captured
French and British lorries also served,
alongside some Italian vehicles, like
the well regarded Lancia 3RO.
48
Heavy Trucks
Motorised transport was always in
short supply, but the German Army
was supplied by MAN, Bussing-Nag,
Henschel and Mercedes with large
six-wheeled trucks.
AIRCRAFT
JU-87D STUKA
For Operation Citadel the backbone
of the Luftwaffe’s ground attack force
was still the infamous Stuka dive
bomber. During Citadel the crews
would, on average, fly six sorties a
day in support of the ground forces.
By 1943, the Stuka was starting
to show its age as new designs of
aircraft surpassed its performance,
but the number of aircraft the
Luftwaffe had available meant that it
would still see heavy use.
Standard armament was two machine
guns in the nose, a single 550lb bomb
under the fuselage and four 110lb
bombs under the wings. Its steep dive
bombing attacks (accompanied by its
distinctive and intimidating siren-
call), were highly accurate.
JU-87G
A development of the Stuka, the G or
‘Gustav’, mounted two anti-aircraft
37mm cannons under the wings for
tank hunting. The ‘Gustav’ first saw
action during Operation Citadel
and only a few were available, but it
proved effective and more Gustavs
would see service on the Eastern
Front in subsequent months. It was
not used in the dive-bombing role.
FW-190 F
A superb fighter aircraft, the FW-
190 F variant was developed for the
fighter-bomber role, in expectation
that it would replace the aging
Stukas. The F2 mark of the aircraft
was armed with two machine guns in
the nose.
Over the southern front of the
Kursk battlefields, the FW-190s
were armed with anti-personnel
sub-munitions (cluster bombs)
dropping hundreds of small (2kg)
winged bomblets. Called ‘butterfly
bombs’, they showered an area in
explosives. These proved highly
effective against the soviet defences
and artillery positions. Operating at
very low level, the FW-190s played an
important part in assisting 4th Panzer
Army’s initial penetrations in the
south. As the battle progressed, they
would increasingly find themselves
forced into dogfights by the strength
of the Red Air Force.
HS-129B
Almost uniquely the Henschel 129
was a dedicated tank-buster. Its
only role was to find and attack
enemy armour on the ground. The
aircraft itself was rather pedestrian,
underpowered and lacked
maneouvrability, and over Kursk
the HS-129s operated in tandem
with Me-109 or FW-190 cover. The
aircraft’s armament was designed for
tank hunting. It carried two machine
guns, two 20mm cannons and a
30mm cannon under the fuselage. It
could also carry two bombs under
the wings.
FIESELER STORCH
A light, general purpose transport,
liaison and observation aircraft,
heavily used on the Eastern Front
as a platform for an Air Observer. It
had a very short take-off and landing
distance, making it capable of landing
in difficult spots. It was also used
as an air ambulance and for special
operations. It was unarmed.
FW-189A UHU ‘Eagle Owl’
The Luftwaffe requested a high-
performance, fast reconnaissance
aircraft in 1938, and in 1940 the
FW-189 had been accepted and went
into production. An unconventional
design, with twin booms and an
all-perspex crew nacelle for all-
round vision, it was a reliable,
fast and tough aircraft that served
throughout the war. It was capable

of out-running and out-turning
most Russian aircraft, but it was also
armed, mounting two MG15s at the
wing roots and two machine guns
in dorsal mounts for defence. It had
a crew of three and also included
camera equipment. Later, the design
was developed into a night fighter.
HS-126
Developed in the early 1930s, this
light scout biplane was used by
the Luftwaffe in the early part of
the war for aerial reconnaissance,
but its short-comings soon became
apparent. Too slow and under-armed
with a single machine gun, it was
an easy target for patrolling enemy
aircraft. It was still being used for
air reconnaissance in 1943, but only
in limited numbers, being largely
replaced by the Fieseler Storch and
Uhu. Later in the war it was used as a
glider tug.
HE-111
The Luftwaffe’s workhorse bomber
throughout the war, the HE-111
first saw service during the Spanish
Civil War, and would be used for
strategic bombing raids throughout
WWII. It was also used for battlefield
interdiction missions to strike at
locations of strategic importance
supporting combat operations, such
as rail hubs and troop concentration
areas. On the front line it, was of
limited use, but attempts to bomb in
close support of ground units were
attempted (with limited success).
ANTI-TANK GUNS
37mm PAK 36
An obsolete weapon by 1943, the
PaK 36 had been the standard issue
anti-tank weapon in 1939, but its
0.6kg shell fired at 1,030mps was
insufficient to meet the threat of the
Red Army’s heavier tanks, and it was
replaced in 1940 by the PaK 38.
50mm PAK 38
A superior anti-tank weapon,
the PaK 38 fired a 1.82kg shell at
1,180mps, providing adequate, if not
outstanding, anti-tank capability.
In 1943, it was still in widespread
service with most infantry divisions,
as its replacement was just being
introduced.
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Above: Feuer! A PaK38 opens fire, near Kharkov 1943
(Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-238-2030-08A)
75mm PAK 40
A new(ish) weapon in the German
arsenal in 1943, the 75mm PaK40
was a far superior anti-tank weapon
to those that had gone before. Its
4.1kg shell was fired at a muzzle
velocity of 930mps, making it capable
of penetrating any Red Army tank
armour. It would remain in service
until the end of the war.
88mm Flak 18/36 dual purpose
AA/AT gun
The infamous ‘88’ was actually an
anti-aircraft weapon, developed to
engage bombers at high altitude,
but proved itself a formidable gun
in ground combat as well. Versatile,
it could be deployed as additional
artillery, utilising its good high-
explosive shell, or as an anti-tank
gun, firing a 9.6kg armour piercing
shell at 840mps.
76.2mm PAK 36(r)
A captured Russian 76.2mm L54 gun,
deployed in large numbers to combat
heavier tanks from 1942 onwards.
49
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
75mm PAK 97/38
A captured Polish and French 75mm
L36 gun mounted on the PAK 38
carriage. It was a stop-gap measure
to meet heavier tanks, but was
replaced by the wider availability
of the PAK40. Over 3,000 were
manufactured.
MORTARS
50mm
The Granatwerfer 36 was a
light infantry weapon deployed
with infantry platoons for high
explosive support fire up to 500m.
In was regarded as ineffective, and
withdrawn from service, but many
still remained with their units.
80mm
Each infantry company could call
up its own pair of 80mm mortars,
with extra fire support provided
by the battalion’s battery of seven
granatwerfer 34 80mm medium
mortars, for high explosive and
smoke bombardments. It was the
most reliable and fastest responding
indirect fire an infantry unit could
call upon. It fired a 3.5kg bomb up
to 2.5km. Captured Russian 82mm
mortars were also used.
120mm
The Granatwerfer 42 was a heavy
mortar, launching a 15kg bomb up
to 6km. The 120mm was copied
from the Russian design, with no
significant alterations, and entered
service in 1942. It was a powerful
and popular weapon and could fire
captured ammunition.
GUNS AND HOWITZERS
20mm Flak 38
Widely issued to all units, the Flak 38
was the standard light anti-aircraft
weapon. It was mounted on a flat
platform, a wheeled trailer or on a
variety of self-propelled carriages.
37mm Flak 36
A heavier anti-aircraft weapon, with
longer range and better performance
50
at altitude, it was preferred for its
greater damage to enemy aircraft,
especially from its high-explosive
incendiary shells. It was ground
mounted and carried on various
mobile platforms.
75mm Infantry Gun
As well as its mortars, each infantry
battalion could also call upon the
short range support of its infantry
gun battery. Equipped with leIG18
light guns, these weapons were
something of a throwback to earlier
wars, when light artillery guns had
deployed amongst the infantry
companies.
As the war progressed, they were
gradually replaced by lighter, cheaper
and just as effective mortars, but
many did remain in service. Early
versions of the gun had wooden
spoked wheels for horse towing,
later models had pneumatic tyres for
motorised towing. Captured Russian
76.2mm guns were also used.
100mm Gun
A long, heavy weapon, kept in
limited service because of its range,
production was halted in 1943. A
single battery of 100mm K18 heavy
guns was deployed by each artillery
regiment. It fired a 14kg high-
explosive shell up to 19km. Its 15kg
anti-tank round, fired at 830mps
proved it to be a useful, if large, ad-
hoc anti-tank gun.
105mm Howitzer
The workhorse of the German
artillery throughout the war, the
leFH18 began service in 1935. It was
upgraded in 1940 to take a more
powerful charge by modifying its
recoil mechanism and adding a
muzzle brake. It fired a 14kg shell up
to 10km. Many batteries were horse
drawn throughout the war.
150mm howitzer
The 15cm sFH18 was adopted as the
German Army’s heavy (officially
medium) artillery and deployed
alongside the 105mm. It fired a
43kg shell out to 13km. Many other
variants and captured guns were also
fielded.
150mm Infantry Gun
The largest infantry gun in service
with the German Army was the
sIG33. A single battery was equipped
with the heavier guns, which proved
highly effective, firing a 38kg shell
up to 4.7km. It could also fire smoke
shells. The weapon was developed
into the Sturmhaubitze 43 for
mounting on armoured fighting
vehicles.
Nebelwerfer
150mm/ 210mm/ 280mm
Equipping special ‘Nebeltruppen’,
the launchers were originally for
deployment as smoke launchers
(hence the name), but they were more
often used to provide additional
high-explosive firepower. The 150mm
rocket was designed so that when
the nose impacted, the charge would
scatter just above the ground, proving
more effective than the same size of
conventional shell. The Nebelwerfer
41 had six tubes, fired by remote
control, one after the other, in a salvo
of 6 shells in 10 seconds. The rockets’
large exhaust flame left a distinctive
smoke trail which could give away
its position to counter-battery fire. To
counteract this, the crews trained to
deploy, fire and move again quickly.
The larger Nebelwerfer 42 was
essentially the same weapon
launching 210mm rockets. The
280mm (and 320mm) rockets were
launched from a mobile ‘frame’
trailer. Others were fired from static
wooden frame launchers.
The Nebelwerfer saw its first major
deployment at Kursk, and proved
highly effective. Their intimidating
screeching noise in flight added to
their impact.
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

GERMAN EQUIPMENT
The following pages detail the game profiles for all the German armoured
vehicles, soft-skinned vehicles and guns at the Battle of Kursk. For ease of
reference during game play they are repeated in the Appendix.

ARMOURED VEHICLES
PANZER III SERIES
Pz III N

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer III J
8" 12" - L N N 50mmL42 Turret 10
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer III L
8" 12" - L N N 50mmL60 Turret 9
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer III M
8" 12" - K N (M) N 50mmL60 Turret 9
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer III N
8" 12" - K N (M) N 75mmL24 Turret 6
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Flammpanzer III
8" 12" - K N N Flamethrower Turret 4
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer III H 8" 12" - N N N Dummy Gun Turret -

Observation Tank MG Co-axial -

51
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

PANZER IV SERIES

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer IV E-F1
8" 12" - L N N 75mmL24 Turret 8
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer IV G
8" 12" - L N(M) N 75mmL43 Turret 9
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer IV H
8" 12" - K N(M) N 75mmL48 Turret 9
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

PANZER V

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panther
10" 14" Unreliable H K L 75mmL70 Turret 8
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

PANZER VI

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Tiger
8" 12" - H J J 88mmL56 Turret 9
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

PANZER T-34(r)

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

T-34/43
12" 16" Mobility K L M 76.2mmL42 Turret 10
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

PANZER II

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer II F
8" 12" - N O O 20mmL55 Turret 18
MG Co-axial -

52
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

BORGWARD B-IV

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Borgward B-IV
8" 12" remote O O O Demo-charge - 1
control

STURMGESCHÜTZ III SERIES

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

StuG III A-E 8" 12" - L N N 75mmL24 Hull 5

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

StuG III F
8" 12" - L N N 75mmL43 Hull 5
MG Pintle -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

STuH 42 F
8" 12" - L N N 105mmL28 Hull 4
MG Pintle -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

StuG III G
8" 12" - J N (M) N 75mmL48 Hull 5
MG Pintle -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

StuH 42 G
8" 12" - J N (M) N 105mmL28 Hull 4
MG Pintle -

TANK DESTROYERS

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Marder II
8" 12" - N O O 75mmL46 Hull 4
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Marder III H
8" 12" - L N O 75mmL46 Hull 4
Open-Topped MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Marder III M
9" 13" - N O O 75mmL46 Hull 3
Open-Topped MG Bow -

53
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Marder III 9" 13" - L N O 76.2mmL54 Hull 3

(38t PaK 36r) Open-Topped MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Ferdinand 6" 9" - A J N 88mmL71 Hull 5

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Hornisse
8" 12" - N O O 88mmL71 Hull 4
Open-Topped

SELF-PROPELLED GUNS

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Brummbär 8" 12" - H L (K) M 150mmL12 Hull 4

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Grille H
7" 11" - L N O 150mm SiG33 Hull 2
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Grille K
7" 11" - N O O 150mm SiG33 Hull 2
Open-Topped MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Wespe
8" 12" - N O O 105mmL28 Hull 3
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Hummel
8" 12" - N O O 150mmL30 Hull 2
Open-Topped

OTHER VEHICLES

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Munitions Carrier* 8" 12" - N O O - - -

* Various converted or custom-built tracked light armoured vehicles were used as supply vehicles, such as the SdKfz4 (Maultier with armoured cab),
SdKfz 252, turretless PzII, Lorraine-Schlepper and turretless captured T-70.
54
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

ARMOURED CARS

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 222
8" 24" - O O O 20mmL55 Turret 18
MG Co-axial -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 223 8" 24" - O O O MG Turret -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 232
8" 24" - N O O 20mmL55 Turret 18
MG Co-axial -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 233
8" 24" - N O O 75mmL24 Hull 3
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 236 8" 24" - N O O MG Bow -

SdKfz 251/1
SDKFZ-251 SERIES

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 251/1
12" 16" - O O O MG Pintle -
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 251/2
12" 16" - O O O 80mm mortar Hull 6
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 251/3
12" 16" - O O O MG Pintle -
Open-Topped

55
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 251/9
12" 16" - O O O 75mmL24 Hull 12
Open-Topped MG Pintle -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 251/10
12" 16" - O O O 37mmL43 Hull 15
Open-Topped MG Pintle -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 251/16
12" 16" - O O O 2 x Flame Throwers Hull 3 each
Open-Topped MG Pintle -

SDKFZ-250 SERIES
SdKfz 250/3
VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT
Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 250/1
12" 16" - O O O MG Pintle -
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 250/3
12" 16" - O O O MG Pintle -
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 250/7
12" 16" - O O O 80mm mortar Hull 4
Open-Topped MG Pintle -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 250/8
12" 16" - O O O 75mmL24 Hull 7
Open-Topped MG Pintle -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 250/9
12" 16" - O O O 20mmL55 PIntle 10
Open-Topped MG Co-axial -

56
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 250/10
12" 16" - O O O 37mmL43 Hull 10
Open-Topped MG Pintle -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 250/11
12" 16" - O O O 28mmSPzB41 Hull 16
Open-Topped MG Pintle -

SOFT-SKINNED VEHICLES

Movement Hits Transport Special

Off-Road Road Capacity
Motorcycle 6" 24" 1 1
Motorcycle and sidecar 6" 24" 1 2
Kettenkrad 14" 22" 1 2
Staff car 6" 24" 2 3
Kubelwagen 6" 24" 2 3
Schwimmwagen 6" 24" 2 3 amphibious
Steyr Heavy car 6" 24" 2 5
Krupp Protze 6" 24" 2 8
Opel Blitz 6" 24" 3 12
Opel Maultier 9" 16" 3 12
RSO 9" 12" 3 10 Fiat Truck
Heavy Truck 6" 24" 4 24
The Germans used a wide variety of
1 tonne Sdkfz 10 12" 16" 2 5
medium and heavy trucks, from various
3 tonne Sdkfz 11 12" 16" 3 8
manufacturers, civilian versions and
5 tonne Sdkfz 6 12" 16" 3 10
captured vehicles from other nations.
8 tonne Sdkfz 7 12" 16" 4 12
For civilian medium trucks treat them as
12 tonne Sdkfz 8 12" 16" 4 15
an Opel Blitz. All heavy trucks have the
18 tonne Sdkfz 9 12" 16" 5 - repair
same standard profile.
recovery
AIRCRAFT
Aircraft Role Hits Weaponry

Fw-190F Fighter 3 2 x MGs

1 x cluster bomb or
1 x large bomb

Hs-129B Fighter Bomber 4 2 x MGs

2 x 20mm cannons
1 x 37mm cannon
2 x light bombs

Ju-87D Dive Bomber 4 2 x MGs

1 x large bomb
4 x small bombs

Ju-87G Fighter Bomber 4 2 x 37mm cannons

Hs-126 Scout Plane 2 None

Fw-189A Fast Scout Plane 3 2 x MGs

Fieseler Storch Spotter Plane 2 None

He-111 Bomber 8 5 x large bombs

57
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

GERMAN GUNS
120mm mortar
MORTARS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

50mm HE 3/5+ 1 1 1 1 1 1
80mm HE 4/4+ 2 2 2 2 2 2
120mm HE 6/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 3

AUTOCANNONS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

20mmL55 HE - 1 1 1 1 1 1
AP - 2 2 1 1 1 -
37mmL98 HE - 2 2 2 2 2 2
AP - 3 3 2 2 1 -

VERY LIGHT GUNS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

28mmPzB41 AP - 3 3 2 1 1 -
37mmL43 (PaK36) HE 2/5+ 1 1 1 1 1 -
AP - 4 4 3 2 1 -
50mmL42 HE 3/5+ 2 2 2 2 2 -
AP - 4 4 3 2 1 -
50mmL60 (PaK38) HE 3/5+ 2 2 2 2 2 -
AP - 5 5 4 3 2 -

LIGHT GUNS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

75mm (IG18) HE 3/4+ 2 2 2 2 2 -

75mmL24 HE 4/4+ 2 2 2 2 2 -
AP - 4 4 3 2 1 -
75mmL36 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP - 6 6 5 4 3 -
75mmL43 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP - 7 7 6 5 4 3
75mmL46 (PaK40) HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP - 8 8 7 6 5 4
75mmL48 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP - 8 8 7 6 5 4
75mmL70 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP - 11 11 10 9 8 7
76.2mmL42 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
AP - 6 6 5 4 3 -
76.2mmL54 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
AP - 7 7 6 5 4 -

58
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

MEDIUM GUNS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

88mmL56 HE 4/3+ 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP - 9 9 8 7 6 5
88mmL71 (PaK43) HE 4/3+ 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP - 15 15 14 13 12 11
100mmK18 HE 5/3+ 4 4 4 4 4 4
AP - 10 10 9 8 7 6
105mmL28 HE 5/3+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
105mmL42 HE 5/3+ 4 4 4 4 4 -
122mmL23 HE 6/3+ 5 5 5 5 5 -
150mmL12 (SiG33) HE 7/3+ 5 5 5 5 5 -
150mmL30 HE 7/3+ 5 5 5 5 5 -
150mm Nebelwerfer HE 6/3+ 4 4 4 4 4 4

HEAVY GUNS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

170mmL50 HE 6/2+ 6 6 6 6 6 6
210mmL31 HE 7/2+ 7 7 7 7 7 7
210mm Nebelwerfer HE 6/2+ 5 5 5 5 5 5
280mm Nebelwerfer HE 8/2+ 6 6 6 6 6 6

59
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

– EASTERN FRONT 1943 –

PANZER DIVISION
BATTLEGROUP
(also Panzer Grenadier Division)
FORWARD HEADQUARTERS UNITS
Each unit taken from Forward Headquarters allows a support choice from either: Logistics or Additional Fire Support

Forward Signals Unit . . . . . . . . . . 18 pts 1-r BR

Unit Composition: 3 men
Transport: Medium Radio Truck
Special Rules: Communications

Options: Upgrade Medium Truck to:

SdKfz 251/3 Radio Half Track . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts
SdKfz 251/3 SdKfz 250/3 Radio Half Track . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts

Forward Headquarters . . . . . . . . 24 pts 3-r BR Replace 3 men and radio truck with:

Unit Composition: 3 men SdKfz 236 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts

Transport: SdKfz 251/3 or SdKfz 251/6 SdKfz 223 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts

Special Rules: Senior Officer, Artillery Spotter, Unique Pz III M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .+42 pts +2 BR
Pz IV H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +50 pts +2 BR

Options: Replace 3 men and SdKfz 251/3 with:

Panzer II F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . free Comms Relay Team . . . . . . . . . . . 14 pts 0-r BR
Panzer III J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts Unit Composition: 2 men
Panzer IV G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +26 pts Transport: None
Panzer IV H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +32 pts Special Rule: Communications
Tiger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +61 pt

Wire Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 pts 0-i BR

Luftwaffe Air Control Officer . . 26 pts 1-r BR Unit Composition: 2 men
Unit Composition: 2 men Transport: None
Transport : Kübelwagen Special Rule: Wire Communications
Special Rules: Officer, Air Spotter 3+, Unique

Options: Upgrade Kübelwagen to:

Motorcycle Dispatch Rider . . . 12 pts 0-r BR
Unit Composition: 1 man
Medium Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pt
Transport: Motorcycle
SdKfz 250/3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +12 pts
Special Rule: Dispatches
SdKfz 251/3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +12 pts

Dispatch Rider

60
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

INFANTRY UNITS
Each unit taken from Infantry allows a support choice from: Reconnaissance, Engineers or Specialist units.

Panzer Grenadier Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 pts 11-r BR

For each Platoon you may choose 4 Support units

Platoon Composition: 1 Panzer Grenadier Platoon Light Mortar team . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 pts 1-r BR
Command Squad, 3 Panzer Grenadier Squads and 3 Unit Composition: 2 men with 50mm mortar
MG Teams and up to 4 Platoon Support Options. Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts

Panzer Grenadier Platoon Command Squad

Unit Composition: 6 men Heavy Machine Gun team . . . . . 18 pts 1-r BR
Transport: Medium truck or Heavy car . . . . . . +4 pts Unit Composition: 3 men with a tripod MG34
Special Rules: Officer, Mortar Spotter Replace MG34 with tripod MG42 . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Options: Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . +5 pts

3 Panzer Grenadier Squads Anti-tank Rifle team . . . . . . . . . . . 14 pts 1-r BR

Unit Composition: 5 men Unit Composition: 2 men with AT rifle
Transport: mount in a medium truck . . . . . . . +4 pts
Options:
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . +5 pts
Medium Mortar team . . . . . . . . . 24 pts 1-r BR
Unit Composition: 3 men with 80mm mortar
3 MG Teams Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Unit Composition: 3 men with a bipod MG34
Transport: Transported in platoon’s other vehicles.
Anti-tank Gun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 pts 2-r BR
Options:
Unit Composition: 50mm PaK38 gun with 3 crew
Upgrade any MG34 for bipod MG42 . . . . . . +4 pts
Upgrade anti-tank gun to 75mm PaK40 . . . . . +14 pts
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Platoon Support Options
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
The platoon may include up to four of the following
additional units. No unit may be taken more than once. Opel Maultier Tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
SdKfz 6 half track tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
Combat Medic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 pts 0-r BR SdKfz 251/1 tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +16 pts
Unit Composition: 1 man
Special Rule: Medic

Panzer Grenadier Squad . . . . . . . 26 pts 2-r BR

Squad Composition: 1 Panzer Grenadier squad
and 1 MG Team Game Size Infantry Restrictions
In a Squad-level game you must include at least 1 Infantry squad.
Panzer Grenadier Squad
You cannot include more than 1 Infantry platoon.
Unit Composition: 5 men
Transport : mount in a medium truck . . . . . . . . +4 pts In Platoon-level game you must take at least 1 Infantry platoon.
Options: You cannot include more than 2 Infantry platoons.
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . . +5 pts
In Company-level games you must take at least 2 Infantry platoons.
MG Team You cannot include more than 3 Infantry platoons.
Unit Composition: 3 men with a bipod MG34
Transport: Transported in platoon’s other vehicles. In Battalion-level games you must take at least 3 Infantry platoons.
Options: You cannot include more than 6 Infantry platoons.
Upgrade any MG34 for bipod MG42 . . . . . . . +4 pts
61
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

Armoured Assault Pioneer Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 pts 19-v BR (Restricted)

For each Platoon you may choose 4 Support units

Heavy Machine Gun team . . . . . 21 pts 1-v BR
Platoon Composition: 1 Assault Pioneer Platoon Unit Composition: 3 men with a tripod MG34
Command Squad, 3 Assault Pioneer Squads and 3 MG Replace MG34 with tripod MG42 . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Teams and up to 4 Platoon Support Options. Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts

Assault Pioneer Platoon Command Squad

Unit Composition: 6 men with anti-tank grenades Anti-tank Rifle team . . . . . . . . . . . 16 pts 1-v BR
Transport: SdKfz 251/16 Unit Composition: 2 men with AT rifle
Special Rules: Officer, Mortar Spotter

Anti-tank Gun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 pts 2-v BR

3 Assault Pioneer Squads Unit Composition: 50mm PaK38 gun with 3 crew
Unit Composition: 5 men with anti-tank grenades Upgrade anti-tank gun to 75mm PaK40 . . . . . +14 pts
and 2 demoliton charges Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Transport: SdKfz 251/1 Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Options: Opel Maultier Tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
Squad may take a flamethrower . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts SdKfz 6 half track tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
Squad may take a mine sweeper . . . . . . . . . . +5 pts SdKfz 251/1 tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +16 pts

3 MG Teams
Unit Composition: 3 men with a bipod MG34
Transport: Transported in platoon’s other vehicles.
Options:
Upgrade any MG34 for bipod MG42 . . . . . . +4 pts

PaK 40 and SS crew

Platoon Support Options
The entire platoon may be upgraded to Elite for
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +55 pts +7-e BR
Self Propelled Infantry Gun
SdKfz 251/9 Halftrack . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 pts 1-r BR
Grille . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 pts 2-r BR
The platoon may include up to four of the following
additional units. No unit may be taken more than once.

Combat Medic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 pts 0-v BR Towed Anti-Aircraft gun . . . . . . . 31 pts 2-v BR

Unit Composition: 20mm FlaK and 3 crew
Unit Composition: 1 man
Special Rule: Medic Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
SdKfz 10 half track tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
Upgrade AA gun to 20mm FlaKvierling . . . . +12 pts
SdKfz 11 half track tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts

62

Armoured Panzer Grenadier Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 pts
For each Platoon you may choose 4 Support units
Platoon Composition: 1 Panzer Grenadier Platoon
Command Squad, 3 Panzer Grenadier Squads and 3
MG Teams and up to 4 Platoon Support Options.
Panzer Grenadier Platoon Command Squad
Unit Composition: 6 men
Transport: SdKfz 251/10
Special Rules: Officer, Mortar Spotter
Options:
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . +5 pts
3 Panzer Grenadier Squads
Unit Composition: 5 men
Transport: SdKfz 251/1
Options:
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . . +5 pts
3 MG Teams
Unit Composition: 3 men with a bipod MG34
Transport: Transported in platoon’s other vehicles.
Options:
Upgrade any MG34 for bipod MG42 . . . . . . +4 pts
Platoon Support Options
The entire platoon may be upgraded to Elite for
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +55 pts +7-e BR
The platoon may include up to four of the following
additional units. No unit may be taken more than once.
Combat Medic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 pts
Unit Composition: 1 man
Special Rule: Medic
Light Mortar team . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 pts 1-v BR
Unit Composition: 2 men with 50mm mortar
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Heavy Machine Gun team . . . . . 21 pts 1-v BR
Unit Composition: 3 men with a tripod MG34
Replace MG34 with tripod MG42 . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
15-v BR
Anti-tank Rifle team . . . . . . . . . . . 16 pts 1-v BR
Unit Composition: 2 men with AT rifle
Medium Mortar team . . . . . . . . . 24 pts 1-r BR
Unit Composition: 3 men with 80mm mortar
Replace with SdKfz 251/2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Anti-tank Gun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 pts 2-r BR
Unit Composition: 50mm PaK38 gun with 3 crew
Upgrade anti-tank gun to 75mm PaK40 . . . . . +14 pts
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Opel Maultier Tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
SdKfz 6 half track tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
SdKfz 251/1 tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +16 pts
Self Propelled Infantry Gun
SdKfz 251/9 Halftrack . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 pts 1-r BR
Grille . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 pts 2-r BR
Towed Anti-Aircraft gun . . . . . . . 28 pts 2-r BR
Unit Composition: 20mm FlaK and 3 crew
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
SdKfz 10 half track tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
Upgrade AA gun to 20mm FlaKvierling . . . . +12 pts
SdKfz 11 half track tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
0-v BR
SdKfz 251/10
63
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

Armoured Panzer Grenadier Squad . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 pts 3-v BR
Squad Composition: 1 Panzer Grenadier Squad
and 1 MG Team
Panzer Grenadier Squad
Unit Composition: 5 men
Transport : SdKfz 251/1
Options:
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . . +5 pts
MG Team
Unit Composition: 3 men with a bipod MG34
Transport: Transported in squad’s other vehicles.
Options:
Upgrade any MG34 for bipod MG42 . . . . . . . +4 pts
Upgrade the entire squad to Elite . . . . +12 pts +1-e BR
Assault Pioneer Squad . 54 pts 3-v BR (Restricted)
Squad Composition: 1 Assault Pioneer Squad
and 1 MG Team
Assault Pioneer Squad
Unit Composition: 5 men with anti-tank grenades and
2 demolition charges
Transport : SdKfz 251/1
Options:
Squad may take a flamethrower . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Squad may take a mine sweeper . . . . . . . . . . . +5 pts
MG Team
Unit Composition: 3 men with a bipod MG34
Transport: Transported in platoon’s other vehicles.
Options:
Upgrade any MG34 for bipod MG42 . . . . . . . +4 pts
Upgrade the entire squad to Elite . . . . +12 pts +1-e BR

Below: Grim-faced soldiers of SS Das Reich show the strain of

battle as they advance past a Tiger tank.
(Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1973-080-50)

64
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

TANK UNITS
Each unit taken from Tanks allows a support choice from: Reconnaissance, Engineers, Logistics or Specialist units.

Panzer III Squadron . . . . . . . . . . 85 pts 9-r BR Panzer III

Unit Composition: 3 Panzer III Js Unit Composition: 1 Panzer III
1 Panzer III J (Officer, Mortar Spotter) Panzer III J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)
2 Panzer III Js Panzer III L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 pts 3-r BR
Panzer III M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 pts 3-r BR
Options: Upgrade all tanks in the Squadron to: Panzer III N . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)
Panzer III Ls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +20 pts
Panzer III Ms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +25 pts
Panzer IV
Unit Composition: 1 Panzer IV
Panzer IV Squadron . . . . . . . . . . 135 pts 9-r BR Panzer IV E . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)
Unit Composition: 3 Panzer IV Gs Panzer IV F1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)
1 Panzer IV G (Officer, Mortar Spotter) Panzer IV G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 pts 3-r BR
2 Panzer IV Gs Panzer IV H . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)

Options: Upgrade all tanks in the Squadron to:

Panzer IV Hs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +15 pts (Restricted)

Panzer V Squadron . . . . 220 pts 9-r BR (Restricted)

Unit Composition: 3 Panther Ds
1 Panther D (Officer, Mortar Spotter)
2 Panther Ds

Panther D
Special Rules: Unique, Unreliable

Panzer V
Unit Composition: 1 Panzer V Panther
StuG III Squadron . . . . . . . . . . 110 pts 9-r BR
Panther D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)
Unit Composition: 3 StuG III Fs
Special Rules: Unreliable
1 StuG III F (Officer, Mortar Spotter)
2 StuG III Fs
StuG III
Options: Upgrade all StuGs in the Squadron to: Unit Composition: 1 StuG
StuG III Gs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +20 pts StuG III A-E . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)
StuG III F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 pts 3-r BR
StuG III G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 pts 3-r BR
For each Tank Squadron you may take 3 Support units.

Panzer II
Panzer Ace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +20 pts 0-e BR
Unit Composition: 1 Panzer II
Special Rules: Elite, Unique
Panzer II F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 pts 2-r BR (Restricted)
Upgrade a single tank or assault gun chosen from the
Tanks or Special Units section of the Army List to a
Panzer Ace. This tank becomes Elite and gains +1 to
hit with Aimed Fire from its main gun (both HE and
AP shells).

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

ARTILLERY UNITS
Each unit taken from Artillery allows a support choice from: Additional Fire Support.

Forward Observer Team . . . . . 16 pts
Unit Composition: 2 men
Transport : Kübelwagen
Special Rules: Artillery Spotter+
Options: Upgrade Kübelwagen to:
SdKfz 250/12 (as SdKfz 250/3) . . . . . . . . . . . . +16 pts
SdKfz 251/18 (as SdKfz 251/3) . . . . . . . . . . . . +16 pts
Aerial Artillery Observer . . . . . 66 pts
Unit Composition: 1 Fieseler Storch
Special Rules: Artillery Spotter+, Unique
1-r BR Armoured Forward Observer . . . 29 pts 2-r BR
Unit Composition: 1 Panzer II F
Special Rules: Artillery Spotter+
Options: Upgrade Panzer II F to:
Panzer III H observation tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . free
Heavy Mortar Team . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 pts 1-r BR
Unit Composition: 120mm mortar and 3 crew
3-r BR Options:
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Mount in Medium Truck or Heavy Car . . . . . +4 pts

Light Panzer Artillery Battery . . 86 pts 4-r BR Towed Artillery Gun

Unit Composition: 2 Wespe Unit Composition: 1 gun and crew
105mm Howitzer with 4 crew . . . . . . . 36 pt 2-r BR
Options:
Medium Panzer Artillery Battery
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 pts 4-r BR (Restricted)
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Unit Composition: 2 Hummel
SdKfz 6 halftrack tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts

Nebelwerfer Artillery Battery 150mm Howitzer with 4 crew . . . . . . . . 54 pt 2-r BR

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 pts 2-r BR (Restricted)
Unit Composition: 2 SdKfz 251 Wurfrahmen 40
Self-Propelled Artillery
Unit Composition: 1 Self-Propelled gun
Wespe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 pts 2-r BR
Hummel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 pts 2-r BR (Restricted)
SdKfz 251 Wurfrahmen 40 . 43 pts 2-r BR (Restricted)
Options:
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Heavy Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts
SdKfz 6 halftrack tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
100mm Cannon with 4 crew . . 50 pt 2-r BR (Restricted)
Options:
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts
SdKfz 6 halftrack tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts

Off-Table Artillery Fire 150mm Infantry Gun with 4 crew . . . . 54 pt 2-r BR

Unit Composition: 1 Battery
Options:
2 105mm howitzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 pts 0 BR
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
2 150mm howitzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 pts 0 BR
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts
2 100mm cannon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 pts 0 BR
SdKfz 6 halftrack tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
2 170mm cannon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 pts 0 BR
2 150mm Nebelwerfer . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 pts 0 BR
2 210mm Nebelwerfer . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 pts 0 BR Off-Table Mortar Fire
2 280mm Nebelwerfer . . . . . . . . . . . . 252 pts 0 BR Unit Composition: 1 Battery
2 80mm mortars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 pts 0 BR
2 120mm mortars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 pts 0 BR

66

DEFENCES
Each unit taken from Defences allows no support choices.
May only be taken if your battlegroup is the Defenders in an Attack-Defence scenario.
Improvised Barricades . . . . . . . . . 5 pts 0 BR
10" of improvised barricades made of earth-filled
boxes, rubble, furniture, destroyed vehicles etc.
Counts as hard cover for infantry behind it.
Machine Gun Dug-out . . . . . . . . . 32 pts 1 BR
3 men and a tripod MG34 in reinforced cover. The
cover is lost if the MG team move.
Mortar Pit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 pts 1 BR
3 men and an 80mm mortar in reinforced cover. The
cover is lost if the mortar team moves.
Fortified Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 pts 0 BR
A chosen building, anywhere on the table, it counts
as reinforced cover rather than hard cover.
Foxholes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 0 BR
Deploy up to 10 infantry in foxholes; they count as in
reinforced cover until they move.
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Sniper Hideout . . . . . . . 15 pts 0 BR (Restricted)
A single sniper in reinforced cover. It can be placed
anywhere outside of the opponent’s deployment
zone. The cover is lost if the sniper moves.
AT Gun Dug-out
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 pts+gun 0 BR+gun (Restriced)
Reinforced cover for a single anti-tank gun and crew
until the gun moves. The gun must be purchased
separately from the army list.
Booby Trapped Building . . . . . . 25 pts 0 BR
Any chosen building on the table has been wired
with booby-traps. The first time an enemy unit
enters the building roll a D6. On a 2+ it detonates
and the unit take a 3/3+ HE hit. On a 1 there is a
fault and the booby trap fails to go off!
Improvised Road Block . . . . . . . . 5 pts 0 BR
Something large and heavy across a road. Place on
any road or track, anywhere on the table. It counts as
an obstacle.
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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

RECONNAISSANCE SUPPORT UNITS

Sniper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 1-v BR Panzer Grenadier Foot Patrol . . 36 pts 3-v BR
Unit Composition: 1 man Squad Composition: 1 Panzer Grenadier squad
Special Rules: Sniper Scout and 1 MG Team
Special Rules: Scout, Mortar Spotter
Options:
Add a spotter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +5 pts
Panzer Grenadier Squad
Unit Composition: 5 men
Spotter: A sniper with a spotter increases its maximum
range from 30" to 40", hitting on a 6. Options:
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . . +5 pts

Mounted Panzer Grenadier Patrol MG Team

Unit Composition: 3 men with a bipod MG34
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 pts 3-r BR
Unit Composition: 4 men Options:
Transport: SdKfz 250/1 Upgrade any MG34 for bipod MG42 . . . . . . . +4 pts
Special Rules: Scout, Mortar Spotter

Options:
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . . +5 pts

Motorcycle Reconnaissance Patrol

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 pts 1-r BR
Unit Composition: 3 men
Transport: Motorcyle and sidecar SdKfz 233

Special Rules: Scout, Mortar Spotter

Armoured Car
Unit Composition: 1 Armoured Car
Recon Platoon Command Special Rules: Scout, Mortar Spotter
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 pts 2-r BR SdKfz 222 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 pts 1-r BR
Unit Composition: 4 men SdKfz 231 or 232 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 pts 1-r BR
Transport: SdKfz 250/10 SdKfz 233 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 pts 1-r BR
Special Rules: Officer, Scout, Artillery Spotter, Unique SdKfz 250/7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 pts 1-r BR (Restricted)
SdKfz 250/8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 pts 1-r BR (Restricted)
Options: SdKfz 250/9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 pts 1-r BR (Restricted)
Replace SdKfz 250/10 with SdKfz 250/11 . . . free

Aerial Reconnaissance
Unit Composition: 1 Aircraft
Special Rules: Scout2, Mortar Spotter, Unique
Hs-126 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 pts 2-r BR
Fw-189A ‘UHU’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 pts 3-r BR

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

ENGINEER SUPPORT UNITS

Light Bridging Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 pts 2-r BR Recovery Vehicle

Unit Composition: 6 men Unit Composition: 1 Recovery Vehicle
Transport: Heavy Truck with a Bridge Special Rules: Vehicle Recovery, Vehicle Repair
Special Rules: Bridging SdKfz 9 ‘Famo’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 pts 1-r BR
Bergpanther . . . . . . 38 pts 2-r BR (Unique, Restricted)
Options:
Replace truck with SdKfz 251/7 . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
Borgward Demolition Squadron
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 pts 5-r BR
Heavy Bridging Unit . . 36 pts 3-r BR (Restricted) Unit Composition: 1 StuG III F and 1 Borgward B-IV
Unit Composition: 12 men 1 StuG III F (officer)
1 Borgward B-IV
Transport: 2 Heavy Trucks with a Bridge
Special Rules: Remote Control Demolition, Unique
Special Rules: Bridging, Unique

Options: Options:
Per extra 6 men and heavy truck . . . . . . . +24 pts each Add up to 3 Borgward B-IVs . . +10 pts each +1-r BR
Replace StuG III F with Panzer III L . . . . . . . . . . . free

Flammpanzer III . . . . . 50 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)

Unit Composition: 1 Flammpanzer III Ausf. M

LOGISTICS SUPPORT UNITS

Stretcher Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 1-i BR

Unit Composition: 2 men
Special Rules: Medic

Ambulance . . . . . . . . . . 14 pts 2-i BR (Restricted)

Unit Composition: 1 Kübelwagen Ambulance
Opel Blitz Ambulance
Special Rules: Medic

Supply Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 pts 1-i BR

Options: Upgrade Kübelwagen Ambulance to:
Unit Composition: 1 medium truck
Ambulance medium truck . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts
Special Rules: Resupply, Unique
SdKfz 251/8 Ambulance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts

Options:
Add up to 3 medium trucks . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts each
Forward Aid Post . . . . . . 20 pts 5-i BR (Restricted)
Replace a single truck with
Unit Composition: 4 men with a tent
Armoured Munitions Carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts
Special Rules: Unique

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

SPECIALIST SUPPORT UNITS

Heavy Tank Hunter

Unit Composition: 1 vehicle
Ferdinand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 pts 5-r BR (Restricted)
Hornise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)
Heavy Anti-Tank Gun . 51 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)
Unit Composition: 88mm AA/AT gun with 4 crew
Captured Tank
Options: Unit Composition: 1 vehicle
Add 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts Panzer T-34r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 pts 3-r BR
SdKfz 7 tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts

Anti-Aircraft Vehicle
Unit Composition: 1 vehicle
Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Gun
SdKfz 10 with 20mm . . . . . . . 16 pts 1-r BR (Restricted)
Unit Composition: 1 vehicle
SdKfz 6 with 37mm . . . . . . . . 20 pts 1-r BR (Restricted)
Marder II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 pts 1-r BR (Restricted)
SdKfz 7 with 20mm Vierling 36 pts 1-r BR (Restricted)
Marder III H . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 pts 1-r BR (Restricted)
Marder III M . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 pts 1-r BR (Restricted)
Marder 38t (36r) . . . . . . . . . . 34 pts 1-r BR (Restricted)
Assault Howitzer
Unit Composition: 1 vehicle
StuH 42 F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)
Panzer VI Squadron . . . . . . . . . . . 223 pts 12-r BR StuH 42 G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)
Unit Composition: 3 Tiger Is Brummbär . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 pts 4-r BR (Restricted)
1 Tiger I (Officer, Mortar Spotter)
2 Tiger Is
Special Rules: Unique Panzer VI
The squadron counts as 3 special unit choices Unit Composition: 1 Panzer VI Tiger
Tiger I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 pts 4-r BR (Restricted)

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

ADDITIONAL FIRE SUPPORT

Off-Table Artillery Support Request Pre-Registered Target Point . . . . 15 pts 0 BR

3rd Target Priority (5+) . . . . . . . . . . . 5 pts 0 BR
2nd Target Priority (4+) . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 0 BR
1st Target Priority (2+) . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 pts 0 BR Counter-Battery Fire Mission . . 10 pts 0 BR
The counter-battery fire mission is effective on a 5+

German Army Fire Mission Requests

Timed 105mm Barrage . . . . . . . 10 pts 0 BR
Fired by a battery of 4 105mm howitzers. Before the
Regimental Battery (2+ comms test)
game write down which turn the guns will fire on. The
1-3 2 80mm mortars
points cost includes a pre-registered target as the target
4-6 2 120mm heavy mortars
point of the barrage.

Divisional Battery (3+ comms test)

1-3 2 105mm howitzers
Timed 150mm Barrage . . . . . . . . 20 pts 0 BR
4 2 100mm cannons
Fired by a battery of 4 150mm howitzers. Before the
5-6 2 150mm howitzers
game write down which turn the guns will fire on. The
points cost includes a pre-registered target as the target
Corps Battery (4+ comms test)
point of the barrage.
1-2 2 150mm howitzers
3-4 2 170mm cannons
5-6 2 150mm Nebelwerfers

Army Battery (5+ comms test)

1-2 2 150mm Nebelwerfers
3-4 2 210mm Nebelwerfers
5 2 280mm Nebelwerfers
6 2 210mm howitzers

JU-87D ‘Stuka’ Dive Bomber

German Close Air Support Table 1943

D6 Aircraft
Timed Fw-190 Air Strike . . . . . . . 5 pts 0 BR
1-3 Ju-87 D or G Stuka
An air strike by a Fw-190 carrying 1 large bomb. Before
1-5 1 large bomb, 4 light bombs
the game write down which turn the aircraft will arrive
6 2 37mm cannons
on. The points cost includes a pre-registered target as
the target point of the air strike.
4 Fw-190 F
1-2 No bombs
3-4 1 cluster bomb
Timed Ju-87 Air Strike . . . . . . 15 pts 0 BR
5-6 1 large bomb
An air strike by a Ju-87 Stuka carrying 1 large and 4
small bombs. Before the game write down which turn
5 Hs-129 B
the aircraft will arrive on. The points cost includes a
1 No bombs
pre-registered target as the target point of the air strike.
2-6 2 light bombs

6 Choose Timed He-111 Air Strike . 25 pts 0 BR (Restricted)

Select any of the above aircraft An air strike by a He-111 bomber carrying 5 large
bombs. Before the game write down which turn the
You may always choose an aircraft from lower down the aircraft will arrive on. The points cost includes a pre-
table over a higher roll. You must still roll for armament. registered target as the target point of the air strike.

71
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

PANZER GRENADIER DIVISION

EXAMPLE OF A GERMAN PANZER GRENADIER DIVISION ORGANISATION – 1943
GROßDEUTSCHLAND
Originally a Wehrmacht Infantry Division,
Großdeutschland was regarded as the elite
formation of the German Army. Following its
successful deployment in the third battle for
Kharkov in the winter of 1942-43, it was re-equipped and
re-designated as a Panzer Grenadier Division in June 1943
for the beginning of ‘Citadel’.
Along with its new halftrack armoured personnel carriers,
Panzer Regiment 39 composed of two additional panzer
battalions (51 and 52) were both equipped with the new
Panther tank. This made it the most powerfully-equipped
Wehrmacht division in the offensive. Rushed to the battle,
the new Panther’s performance would ultimately prove
disappointing, although most were lost to mechanical
failures and mine strikes rather than enemy fire. For the
attack, the division was also reinforced with an assault
gun battalion, which would operate for much of the
offensive in tandem with the division’s reconnaissance
battalion.
As part of 48th Panzer Corps Großdeutschland began
offensive operations on July 4th with an infantry-led
reconnaissance in force to clear the path for the following
tank assault. Despite setbacks with the Panthers, the
division smashed the initial defences of Voronezh Front,
and in the subsequent twelve days fought its way ever
northwards, closing on its objective of Oboyan, until
pressure from its left (western) flank forced it to re-orient
in that direction and distracted it from the northern push.
After the cancellation of Operation Citadel, the division
would be withdrawn back to Army Group reserve, rebuilt
and used as a mobile reserve, engaged in the fighting
withdrawal across the eastern Ukraine, where it gained its
nickname, the ‘Führer’s Fire Brigade’.

Panzer Regiment ‘Großdeutschland’
Battalion I
Battalion II
Panzer Grenadier Regiment
‘Großdeutschland’ 1
Battalion I (Armoured)
Battalion III (Motorised)
Battalion III (Motorised)
Heavy Battalion
Panzer Fusilier Regiment
‘Großdeutschland’ 2
Battalion I (Armoured)
Battalion III (Motorised)
Battalion III (Motorised)
Heavy Battalion
Artillery Regiment ‘Großdeutschland’
Battalion I
Battalion II (self propelled)
Battalion III
Anti-Aircraft Battalion
‘Großdeutschland’
6 Batteries
Panzerjäger Battalion
‘Großdeutschland’
Company I (self-propelled)
Company II Only the first battalion of each of the
Company III panzer grenadier battalions had halftrack
transports. The other battalions had
Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion motor transport but fought on foot.
‘Großdeutschland’
The artillery regiment was equipped
Assault Pioneer Battalion with 105mm howitzers. Each battalion
‘Großdeutschland’ included a single battery of 150mm guns.
Battalion II was equipped with Wespen
Assault Gun Battalion and a single Hummel battery. Battalion III
‘Großdeutschland’ also included a Nebelwerfer battery.
3 Batteries
The anti-aircraft battalion had three
Signals Battalion batteries of 88s, two batteries of 37mm
Medical Battalion guns and one battery of quad 20mm guns.
Supply Column
The panzerjäger battalion had one
Division Headquarters company of 20 Marders and two
Divisional Escort Company companies equipped with towed Pak38
Military Police Troop 50mm guns.
39th Panzer Regiment (attached) The armoured reconnaissance battalion
Battalion 51 (Panthers) included light armoured cars, heavy
Battalion 52 (Panthers) armoured cars and halftrack mounted
infantry. It also include its own anti-tank
At Kursk the Panzer Regiment was guns and mortars. It operated in tandem
equipped with 28 Panzer IIIs (and 14 with the StuG battalion.
Flammpanzers) and 68 Panzer IVs. The
heavy company was equipped with 15 The assault gun battalion was equipped
Tiger tanks. with 35 StuG IIIs and supporting StuH 42s.

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PANZER DIVISION
EXAMPLE OF A GERMAN PANZER DIVISION ORGANISATION – 1943

The division immediately moved up behind 6th Infantry

2nd PANZER Division before launching its Panzers southwards,
A pre-war regular unit raised in 1935 in
directed at capturing the Ol’khovatka ridge and, beyond
Austria, and known as the ‘Wien’ or ‘Vienna’
the hills, the town of Ol’khovatka itself. For its mission,
division, 2nd Panzer had already taken part
the division was led by the Tiger tanks of 505th Heavy
in the invasions of Poland, France and Russia
Tank Detachment for the first two days of combat.
and by 1943 was an experienced, veteran Wehrmacht
Panzer division.
Fiercely engaged against 70th and 75th Guards Rifle
Divisions and supporting tanks of the Russian 164th and
Under the command of Generalleutnant Vollrath Lübbe,
107th Tank Brigades, 2nd Panzer could only make small
it formed part of 47th Panzer Corps, under 9th Army at
progress south, encountering dense defences between
the north shoulder of the Kursk salient, and had been
Ol’khovatka and the village of Samodurovka. After five
BRought up to full strength for the beginning of Operation
days of ferocious fighting that was claimed to dwarf that at
Citadel.
El Alamien and Stalingrad, the division had not captured its
objective, and suffered very heavy losses in tanks.
Having concentrated in the area of Gremiachevo on the
Ruda river for the start of the offensive, the division was
The division was organized as a standard Heer Panzer
only ordered to join the offensive on July 6th, having
Division for 1943.
waited out the opening of the attack on standby in reserve.

Panzer Regiment 3 Signals Battalion 38 The Panzerjäger (anti-tank) battalion

Battalion I Medical Battalion 38 was equipped with 30 Marders in its first
Battalion II Supply Column 38 company, with the rest being towed guns.

Panzer Grenadier Regiment 2 Division Headquarters The armoured reconnaissance battalion

Battalion I (Armoured)
Battalion II (Motorised)
Panzer Grenadier Regiment 304
Battalion I (Armoured)
Battalion II (Motorised)
Artillery Regiment 74
Battalion I (self propelled)
Battalion II
Battalion III
Anti-Aircraft Battalion 273
6 Batteries
Divisional Escort Company
Military Police Troop
At the beginning of combat operations
north of Kursk, 3rd Panzer Regiment was
equipped with 32 Panzer IIIs (most being
Ausf L or M) and 66 Panzer IVs (all Ausf
G).
Only the first battalion of each of the
Panzer grenadier battalions had halftrack
transports. The other battalion had motor
transport but fought on foot.
included light armoured cars, heavy
armoured cars and halftrack mounted
infantry. It also included its own anti-tank
guns and mortars.
The assault pioneers were specially
equipped for close combat and clearing
strong points, with flamethrowers,
demolition charges, etc.
The supply column included field
workshops, armourers, field kitchens,
post office and other rear echelon units.

Panzerjäeger Battalion 38 The artillery regiment was equipped

Company I (self-propelled)
Company II
Company III
Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion 2
Assault Pioneer Battalion 38
with 105mm howitzers. Each battalion
included a single battery of 150mm guns.
Battalion I was equipped with 12 Wespen
and 6 Hummeln.
The anti-aircraft battalion had three
batteries of 88s, two batteries of 37mm
guns and one battery of quad 20mm guns.

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

– EASTERN FRONT 1943 –

INFANTRY DIVISION
BATTLEGROUP
FORWARD HEADQUARTERS UNITS
Each unit taken from Forward Headquarters allows a support choice from either: Logistics or Additional Fire Support

Forward Headquarters . . . . . . . . 24 pts 3-r BR Forward Signals Unit . . . . . . . . . . 18 pts 1-r BR

Unit Composition: 3 men Unit Composition: 3 men
Transport: Kübelwagen Transport: Radio medium truck or radio van
Special Rules: Senior Officer, Artillery Spotter, Unique Special Rules: Communications

Options: Replace Kübelwagen with:

Heavy Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . free Comms Relay Team . . . . . . . . . . . 14 pts 0-r BR
Schwimmwagen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts Unit Composition: 2 men
Transport: None
Special Rule: Communications
Luftwaffe Air Control Officer . 26 pts 1-r BR
Unit Composition: 2 men Motorcycle Dispatch Rider . . . 12 pts 0-r BR
Transport : Kübelwagen Unit Composition: 1 man
Special Rules: Officer, Air Spotter 3+, Unique Transport: Motorcycle
Special Rule: Dispatches
Options: Upgrade Kübelwagen to:
Medium Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pt
SdKfz 250/3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +12 pts Wire Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 pts 0-i BR
SdKfz 251/3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +12 pts Unit Composition: 2 men
Transport: None
Special Rule: Wire Communications

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INFANTRY UNITS
Each unit taken from Infantry allows a support choice from: Reconnaissance, Engineers or Specialist units.
Grenadier Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 pts 11-r BR
For each Platoon you may choose 4 Support units Combat Medic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 pts 0-r BR
Unit Composition: 1 man
Platoon Composition: 1 Grenadier Platoon Command Special Rule: Medic
squad, 3 Grenadier Squads and 3 MG Teams and up to
4 Platoon Support Options.
Light Mortar team . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 pts 1-r BR
Grenadier Platoon Command Squad Unit Composition: 2 men with 50mm mortar
Unit Composition: 6 men
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Transport: Medium truck or Heavy car . . . . . . +4 pts
Special Rules: Officer, Mortar Spotter
Options: Anti-tank Rifle team . . . . . . . . . . . 14 pts 1-r BR
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . +5 pts Unit Composition: 2 men with AT rifle

3 Grenadier Squads
Unit Composition: 5 men Medium Mortar team . . . . . . . . . 24 pts 1-r BR
Transport: mount in a medium truck . . . . . . . +4 pts Unit Composition: 3 men with 80mm mortar
Options: Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . +5 pts

3 MG Teams Anti-tank Gun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 pts 2-r BR

Unit Composition: 3 men with a bipod MG34 Unit Composition: 37mm PaK36 gun with 3 crew
Transport: Transported in Platoon’s other vehicles. Upgrade anti-tank gun to 50mm PaK38 . . . . . +8 pts
Upgrade anti-tank gun to 75mm PaK97/38 . . +12 pts
Upgrade anti-tank gun to 76.2mm PaK36(r) . +14 pts
Platoon Support Options Upgrade anti-tank gun to 75mm PaK40 . . . . . +22 pts
The Platoon may include up to four of the following Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
additional units. No unit may be taken more than once. Horse and Limber tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Heavy Machine Gun team . . . . . 18 pts 1-r BR
Unit Composition: 3 men with a tripod MG34
Infantry Gun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 pts 1-r BR
Replace MG34 with tripod MG42 . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Unit Composition: 75mm infantry gun with 3 crew
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Horse and limber tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Grenadier Squad . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 pts 3-r BR
Squad Composition: 1 Grenadier Squad and 1 MG
Team Game Size Infantry Restrictions
In a Squad-level game you must include at least 1 Infantry Squad.
Grenadier Squad You cannot include more than 1 Infantry Platoon.
Unit Composition: 5 men
Transport : mount in a medium truck . . . . . . . . +4 pts In Platoon-level game you must take at least 1 Infantry Platoon.
Options: You cannot include more than 2 Infantry Platoons.
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . . +5 pts
In Company-level games you must take at least 2 Infantry Platoons.
MG Team You cannot include more than 3 Infantry Platoons.
Unit Composition: 3 men with a bipod MG34
Transport: Transported in Squad’s vehicle. In Battalion-level games you must take at least 3 Infantry Platoons.
You cannot include more than 6 Infantry Platoons.
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Assault Pioneer Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 pts 8-r BR (Restricted)

For each Platoon you may choose 4 Support units Combat Medic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 pts 0-r BR
Unit Composition: 1 man
Platoon Composition: 1 Assault Pioneer Platoon Special Rule: Medic
Command Squad, 2 Assault Pioneer Squads and 2 MG
Teams and up to 4 Platoon Support Options.
Light Mortar team . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 pts 1-r BR
Assault Pioneer Platoon Command Squad Unit Composition: 2 men with 50mm mortar
Unit Composition: 5 men Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Transport: Mount in a heavy car . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Special Rules: Officer, Mortar Spotter
Options: Heavy Machine Gun team . . . . . 18 pts 1-r BR
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . +5 pts Unit Composition: 3 men with a tripod MG34
Replace MG34 with tripod MG42 . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
2 Assault Pioneer Squads Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Unit Composition: 5 men with anti-tank grenades
and 2 demoliton charges
Transport: Mount in a medium truck . . . . . . . +4 pts Anti-tank Gun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 pts 2-r BR
Options: Unit Composition: 37mm PaK36 gun with 3 crew
Squad may take a flamethrower . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts Upgrade anti-tank gun to 50mm PaK38 . . . . . +8 pts
Squad may take a mine sweeper . . . . . . . . . . +5 pts Upgrade anti-tank gun to 75mm PaK40 . . . . . +22 pts
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
2 MG Teams Horse and Limber tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts
Unit Composition: 3 men with a bipod MG34 Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Transport: Transported in Platoon’s other vehicles. SdKfz 6 halftrack tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
Options:
Upgrade any MG34 for bipod MG42 . . . . . . +4 pts
Medium Mortar team . . . . . . . . . 24 pts 1-r BR
Platoon Support Options Unit Composition: 3 men with 80mm mortar
The Platoon may include up to four of the following Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
additional units. No unit may be taken more than once.

Assault Pioneer Squad 46 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)

Squad Composition: 1 Assault Pioneer Squad and 1
MG Team

Assault Pioneer Squad

Unit Composition: 5 men with anti-tank grenades and
2 demolition charges 80mm mortar team
Transport : mount in a medium truck . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Options:
Squad may take a flamer thrower . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Squad may take a mine sweeper . . . . . . . . . . . +5 pts

MG Team
Unit Composition: 3 men with a bipod MG34
Transport: Transported in squad’s vehicle
Options:
Upgrade MG34 for bipod MG42 . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts

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TANK UNITS
Each unit taken from Tanks allows a support choice from: Reconnaissance, Engineers, Logistics or Specialist units.

StuG III Squadron . . . . . . . . . . . 110 pts 9-r BR StuG III

Unit Composition: 3 StuG III Fs Unit Composition: 1 StuG
1 StuG III F (Officer, Mortar Spotter) StuG III A-E . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)
2 StuG III Fs StuG III F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 pts 3-r BR
StuG III G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 pts 3-r BR
Options: Upgrade all StuGs in the squadron to:
StuG III Gs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +20 pts
Panzer III
For each StuG squadron you may take 3 Support units. Unit Composition: 1 Panzer III
Panzer III J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)
Panzer III L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 pts 3-r BR
Panzer IV
Panzer III M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 pts 3-r BR
Unit Composition: 1 Panzer IV
Panzer III N . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)
Panzer IV E . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)
Panzer IV F1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)
Panzer IV G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 pts 3-r BR
Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Gun
Panzer IV H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 pts 3-r BR
Unit Composition: 1 vehicle
Marder II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 pts 1-r BR (Restricted)
Marder III H . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 pts 1-r BR (Restricted)
Marder III M . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 pts 1-r BR (Restricted)
Marder 38t (36r) . . . . . . . . . . 34 pts 1-r BR (Restricted)

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ARTILLERY UNITS
Each unit taken from Artillery allows a support choice from: Additional Fire Support.

Forward Observer Team . . . . . . 16 pts 1-r BR Aerial Artillery Observer . . . . . . 66 pts 3-r BR
Unit Composition: 2 men Unit Composition: 1 Fieseler Storch
Transport : Kübelwagen Special Rules: Artillery Spotter+, Unique
Special Rules: Artillery Spotter+

Heavy Mortar Team . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 pts 1-r BR

Towed Artillery Gun
Unit Composition: 1 gun and crew
105mm Howitzer with 4 crew . . . . . . 36 pt 2-r BR
Options:
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
SdKfz 6 half track tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
150mm Howitzer with 4 crew . . . . . . 54 pt 2-r BR
Options:
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Heavy Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts
SdKfz 6 half track tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
100mm Cannon with 4 crew . . 50 pt 2-r BR (Restricted)
Unit Composition: 120mm mortar and 3 crew
Options:
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Mount in Medium Truck or Heavy car . . . . . . +4 pts
Off-Table Artillery Fire
Unit Composition: 1 Battery
2 105mm howitzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 pts 0 BR
2 150mm howitzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 pts 0 BR
2 100mm cannon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 pts 0 BR
2 170mm cannon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 pts 0 BR
2 150mm Nebelwerfer . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 pts 0 BR
2 210mm Nebelwerfer . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 pts 0 BR
2 280mm Nebelwerfer . . . . . . . . . . . . 252 pts 0 BR

Options:
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts
Off-Table Mortar Fire
Unit Composition: 1 Battery
SdKfz 6 half track tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
2 80mm mortars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 pts 0 BR
2 120mm mortars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 pts 0 BR
150mm Infantry Gun with 4 crew . . 54 pt 2-r BR
Options:
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts
SdKfz 6 half track tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts

105mm leFH18 light field

howitzer battery

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
DEFENCES
Each unit taken from Defences allows no support choices.
May only be taken if your battlegroup is the Defender in an Attack-Defence scenario.
Improvised Barricades . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 pts 0 BR
10" of improvised barricades made of earth filled
boxes, rubble, furniture, destroyed vehicles etc. Counts
as hard cover for infantry behind it.
Machine Gun Dug-Out . . . . . . . . . . 32 pts 1 BR
3 men and a tripod MG34 in reinforced cover. The
cover is lost if the MG team move.
Machine Gun Pillbox . . 54 pts 1BR (Restricted)
3 men and a tripod MG42 in hardened cover. The cover
is lost if the MG team move.
Mortar Pit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 pts 1 BR
3 men and an 80mm mortar in reinforced cover. The
cover is lost if the mortar team moves.
Fortified Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 pts 0 BR
A single, chosen building, anywhere on the table, it
counts as reinforced cover rather than hard cover.
Foxholes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 0 BR
Deploy up to 10 infantry in foxholes; they count as in
reinforced cover until they move.
Trenches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 0 BR
Up to 10" of trenches which count as reinforced cover
for infantry in them.
Sniper Hideout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 pts 0BR
A single sniper in reinforced cover. It can be placed
anywhere outside of the opponent’s deployment zone.
The cover is lost if the sniper moves.
AT Gun Dug-out . . . . . . 20 pts+gun 0 BR+gun
Reinforced cover for a single anti-tank gun and crew
until the gun moves. The gun must be purchased from
the army list.
AT Gun Bunker 30 pts+gun 0 BR+gun (Restricted)
Hardened cover for a single anti-tank gun and crew
until the gun moves. The gun must be purchased from
the army list as normal.
Minefield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 pts 0 BR
A single mixed anti-tank and anti-personnel minefield.
80
Command Bunker . . . . . 30 pts 3 BR (Restricted)
Special Rules: Senior Officer, Mortar Spotter, Unique
A command post in a wood and earth bunker. 4 men in
hardened cover. The cover is lost if the command unit
moves.
Artillery Observation Post . . . . . . . . 26 pts 1 BR
Special Rules: Artillery Spotter+, Unique
A Forward observer team has in reinforced cover.
The cover is lost if the FAO team move. Includes an
Forward Observer Team.
Booby Trapped Building . . . . . . . . . 25 pts 0 BR
A chosen building anywhere on the table has been
wired with booby-traps. The first time an enemy unit
enters the building roll a D6. On a 2+ it detonates and
the unit take a 3/3+ HE hit. On a 1 there is a fault and
the booby trap fails to go off!
Barbed Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 0 BR
Up to 10" of barbed wire. It is an obstacle for vehicles
and infantry.
Improvised Road Block . . . . . . . . . . 5 pts 0 BR
Something large and heavy across a road. Place on any
road or track, anywhere on the table. It counts as an
obstacle.
Anti-Tank Ditch/Embankment . . . . 20 pts 0 BR
(Restricted)
10" of ditch or embankment, impassable to vehicles
without a bridge.
Off-table 88 Anti-Tank Shot . . . . . . 5 pts 0 BR
The positions are covered by 88s well-camouflaged
behind the lines. You may take a single 88mmL56
Aimed Fire – Armour-Piercing shot at an enemy
vehicle within 30" of your table edge. The shot will hit
on a dice roll of 6, with a penetration value of 6. This
requires no orders to use.
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

RECONNAISSANCE SUPPORT UNITS

Sniper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 1-v BR Fusilier Foot Patrol . . . . . . . . . . 36 pts 3-r BR

Unit Composition: 1 man Squad Composition: 1 Fusilier Squad and 1 MG Team
Special Rules: Sniper Scout Special Rules: Scout, Mortar Spotter

Fusilier Squad
Options:
Unit Composition: 5 men
Add a spotter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +5 pts
Options:
Spotter: A sniper with a spotter increases its maximum Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . . +5 pts
range from 30" to 40", hitting on a 6.
MG Team
Unit Composition: 3 men with a bipod MG34
Options:
Motorcycle Reconnaissance Patrol
Upgrade any MG34 for bipod MG42 . . . . . . . +4 pts
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 pts 1-r BR
Unit Composition: 3 men
Transport: Motorcyle and sidecar
Special Rules: Scout, Mortar Spotter

Aerial Reconnaissance
Unit Composition: 1 Aircraft
Special Rules: Scout2, Mortar Spotter, Unique
Hs-126 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 pts 2-r BR
SdKfz 222

Armoured Car Recon Platoon Command . . . . . 35 pts 2-r BR

Unit Composition: 1 Armoured Car Unit Composition: SdKfz 222
Special Rules: Scout, Mortar Spotter Special Rules: Officer, Scout, Artillery Spotter, Unique
SdKfz 222 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 pts 1-r BR

ENGINEER SUPPORT UNITS

Recovery Vehicle Heavy Bridging Unit . . 36 pts 3-r BR (Restricted)
Unit Composition: 1 Vehicle Unit Composition: 12 men
Special Rules: Vehicle Recovery, Vehicle Repair Transport: 2 Heavy Trucks with a Bridge
SdKfz 9 ‘Famo’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 pts 1-r BR Special Rules: Bridging, Unique

Options:
Light Bridging Unit . . . . . . . . . 18 pts 2-r BR Per extra 6 men and heavy truck . . . . . . . +24 pts each
Unit Composition: 6 men
Transport: Heavy Truck with a Bridge
Special Rules: Bridging

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

LOGISTICS SUPPORT UNITS

Supply Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 pts 1-i BR Stretcher Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 1-i BR

Unit Composition: 1 Medium Truck Unit Composition: 2 men
Special Rules: Resupply, Unique Special Rules: Medic

Options:
Add up to 2 Medium Trucks . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts each Ambulance . . . . . . . . . . 14 pts 2-i BR (Restricted)
Unit Composition: 1 Kübelwagen Ambulance
Special Rules: Medic
Forward Aid Post . . . . . 20 pts 5-i BR (Restricted)
Unit Composition: 4 men with a tent Options: Upgrade Kübelwagen Ambulance to
Special Rules: Unique Ambulance Medium Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts

SPECIALIST SUPPORT UNITS

88mm FlaK36 dual anti-

aircraft/anti-tank gun

Anti-Aircraft Vehicle
Heavy Anti-Tank Gun . 51 pts 3-r BR (Restricted) Unit Composition: 1 vehicle
Unit Composition: 88mm AA/AT gun with 4 crew SdKfz 10 with 20mm . . . . . . 16 pts 1-r BR (Restricted)
SdKfz 6 with 37mm . . . . . . . 20 pts 1-r BR (Restricted)
Options: SdKfz 7 with 20mm Flakvierling
Add 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 pts 1-r BR (Restricted)
SdKfz 7 tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts

Towed Anti-Aircraft Gun

Heavy Tank Hunter
Unit Composition: 1 vehicle
Ferdinand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 pts 5-r BR (Restricted)
Hornisse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 pts
Assault Howitzer
Unit Composition: 1 vehicle
StuH 42 F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 pts
StuH 42 G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 pts
Brummbär . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 pts
Unit Composition: 1 anti-aircraft gun with crew
20mm AA gun with 3 crew . . . . . . . . . . . 28 pts 1-r BR
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
3-r BR (Restricted) Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
SdKfz 10 halftrack tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
37mm AA gun with 3 crew . . . . . . . . . . . 36 pts 1-r BR
3-r BR (Restricted) Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
3-r BR (Restricted) Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
4-r BR (Restricted) SdKfz 11 halftrack tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts

82
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

ADDITIONAL FIRE SUPPORT

Off-Table Artillery Support Request Pre-Registered Target Point . . . 15 pts 0 BR

3rd Target Priority (5+) . . . . . . . . . . . 5 pts 0 BR
2nd Target Priority (4+) . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 0 BR
1st Target Priority (2+) . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 pts 0 BR Counter-Battery Fire Mission . . 10 pts 0 BR
The counter-battery fire mission is effective on a 5+

German Army Fire Mission Requests

Timed 105mm Barrage . . . . . . 10 pts 0 BR
Regimental Battery (2+ comms test) Fired by a battery of four 105mm howitzers. Before
1-3 2 80mm mortars the game write down which turn the guns will fire on.
4-6 2 120mm heavy mortars Points cost includes a pre-registered target as the target
point of the barrage.
Divisional Battery (3+ comms test)
1-3 2 105mm howitzers
4 2 100mm cannons Timed 150mm Barrage . . . . . . 20 pts 0 BR
5-6 2 150mm howitzers Fired by a battery of four 150mm howitzers. Before
the game write down which turn the guns will fire on.
Corps Battery (4+ comms test) Points cost includes a pre-registered target as the target
1-2 2 150mm howitzers point of the barrage.
3-4 2 170mm cannons
5-6 2 150mm Nebelwerfers

Army Battery (5+ comms test)

1-2 2 150mm Nebelwerfers
3-4 2 210mm Nebelwerfers
5 2 280mm Nebelwerfers
6 2 210mm howitzers

German Close Air Support Table 1943 FW-190 F

D6 Aircraft Timed Fw-190 Air Strike . . . . . 5 pts 0 BR

1-3 Ju-87 D or G Stuka An air strike by a Fw-190 carrying 1 large bomb. Before
1-5 1 large bomb, 4 light bombs the game write down which turn the aircraft will arrive
6 2 37mm cannons on. The points cost includes a pre-registered target as
the target point of the air strike.
4 Fw-190 F
1-2 No bombs
3-4 1 cluster bomb Timed Ju-87 Air Strike . . . . . . 15 pts 0 BR
5-6 1 large bomb An air strike by a Ju-87 Stuka carrying 1 large and 4
small bombs. Before the game write down which turn
5 Hs-129 B the aircraft will arrive on. The points cost includes a
1 No bombs pre-registered target as the target point of the air strike.
2-6 2 light bombs

6 Choose Timed He-111 Air Strike . 25 pts 0 BR (Restricted)

Select any of the above aircraft An air strike by a He-111 bomber carrying 5 large
bombs. Before the game write down which turn the
You may always choose an aircraft from lower down the aircraft will arrive on. The points cost includes a pre-
table over a higher roll. You must still roll for armament. registered target as the target point of the air strike.

83
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

INFANTRY DIVISION
EXAMPLE OF AN INFANTRY DIVISION’S ORGANISATION – 1943

78th STURM DIVISION

of the number of dug-in T-34s in the area. Led by the
Formed in Stuttgart, originally as the 78th Infantry
Ferdinands, which were in turn led by Funklenk Company
Division, the unit was re-designated as the 78th
314’s remote controlled Borgward IV demolition vehicles,
Sturm Division in January 1943. The Sturm (Assault)
the division’s powerful attack could only gain 1.5km
Division was a standard infantry division, but issued
from its start lines. Operations to clear dense minefields
with additional forces and weapon assets, including
were hampered by very heavy enemy 152mm artillery
Nebelwerfer and 120mm mortar battalions, and given
fire, which destroyed several Borgwards. The mines also
extra training to assault enemy positions with demolition
disabled several Ferdinands.
charges and flamethrowers. It was to be used to spearhead
infantry attacks.
Stalled in its drive to capture Maloarkhangel’sk, and with
the Corps’ objective of the village of Ponyri still yet to fall,
Under the command of Lieutenant General Hans Traut,
the division was ordered to shift the direction of its attack
and operating as part of XXIII Panzer Corps on the left
southward, to threaten Ponyri with encirclement from
flank of 9th Army’s offensive, the 78th Sturm Division led
the east and to help protect the main attacking Panzer
the Corps’ attack to capture the town of Maloarkhangel’sk,
division’s eastern flank from the constant flow of Soviet
with the aid of the attached 654th Heavy Panzerjäger
reinforcements. The division took heavy losses in the
Battalion’s Ferdinands and the StuGs of 189th
following Ponyri battles.
Sturmgeschütz Battalion – 72 vehicles in total.

The 78th Sturm Infantry Division was destroyed in 1944,

On July 5th, the 78th Sturm Division faced the Soviet
defending Orsha and Minsk during the Soviet Operation
strongpoint at Hill 257.7, nicknamed ‘Panzer Hill’ because
Bagration summer offensive.

Füsilier (infantry reconnaissance)
Battalion 178
Panzerjäger (anti-tank) Battalion 178
Flak Battalion 178
Heavy Flak Battalion 293
Heavy Mortar Battalion 5
Nebelwerfer Battalion 178
Pionier (Engineer) Battalion 178
Nachrichten (Signals) Battalion 178
Feld-Ersatz (Training and Replacement)
Battalion 178
Divisions-Nachschubführer (Supply) 178
Sturm Regiment 14
1st Grenadier Battalion
2nd Grenadier Battalion
Sturm Regiment 195
1st Grenadier Battalion
2nd Grenadier Battalion
Sturm Regiment 215
1st Grenadier Battalion
2nd Grenadier Battalion
Artillery Regiment 178
3 light battalions
1 medium battalion
Sturmgeschutz Battalion 189 (attached) The Nebelwerfer Battalion was added
specifically for the Citadel offensive.
Pioneer Battalion 725 (attached from Army
Reserve) The Heavy Mortar Battalion consisted of
2 batteries, both of 13 120mm mortars.
Each Sturm Regiment consisted of only It was not part of the standard infantry
two battalions, a standard infantry division’s tables of organisation and
regiment consisted of three battalions equipment (TO&E).
in 1943. Each was supported by a heavy
company of 75mm and 150mm infantry Pioneer Battalion 752 was attached
guns, a support company of 80mm from 9th Army Reserve for the Citadel
mortars, heavy machine guns and 20mm offensive to increase the division’s
flak guns, a Panzerjäger company of manpower for the assault.
PaK40s and a pioneer company.
StuG Battalion 189 was equipped with 36
The Artillery Regiment was equipped StuG IIIs at the start of the offensive and
with three battalions of 105mm howitzers operated in direct support of the infantry
(12 guns in each) and a single battalion of and pioneers.
150mm howitzers (another 12 guns).
The Panzerjäger Battalion was equipped
with Marder IIs and PaK40s.
The Flak Battalion and Heavy Flak
Battalion were not standard to infantry
divisions. Flak Battalion 178 fielded 16
88mm guns and 17 20mm cannons. Flak
Battalion 293 doubled this allocation.

84

THE RUSSIAN ARMY
AT KURSK
TANKS
T-34
The backbone of the Red Army’s tank
force in 1943 (and until the end of the
war) was the ubiquitous T-34.
In many ways, the T-34 was a superb
medium tank, with respectable
armour protection and a proficient
(if not exceptional) 76.2mm main
gun, it was fast and had good
manoeuvrability. Its cross country
performance was excellent due to its
wide tracks and suspension system.
It was also produced in vast numbers.
Following the Soviet Army’s
disastrous losses in 1941 their
armoured units were devastated and
had to be quickly rebuilt. A strategic
decision was made early on in the
war that Soviet military-industrial
output would concentrate on quantity
rather than seek to improve quality
through technical development. As
Stalin said, ‘Quantity has a quality all
of its own’, and as such, the T-34 was
selected as the best of the currently
available medium tank models
for mass production. Communist
organisation was able to manufacture
staggering numbers of armoured
vehicles, over 15,000 T-34’s in 1943
alone, far outstripping the German
Army’s supply of tanks.
In 1943, the T-34 model 43 was an
excellent all-round tank, available
in huge numbers. It did have many
drawbacks, though. First, was the
quality and training of the crews.
Nobody could doubt the crews’
bravery, but training was basic,
especially in battlefield tactics.
Three days of basic training was not
unusual before a crew was embarked
for the front. Many crewmen had
never experienced a motorised
vehicle before. A qualification for
tank command was prior experience
on a tractor before training! The
higher commanders’ understanding
and use of armoured formations was
also poor, but by 1943, many hard
lessons had been learnt about the
deployment and use of tanks.
The T-34’s other main drawback was
the layout of its turret. The two-man
turret meant the commander was
also the gunner, so he was unable
to observe targets and keep the
tank in formation whilst manning
the gun. The 43 model only had
a radio receiver (earlier models
had no radio at all), so could only
receive orders and not communicate
with other vehicles to co-ordinate
actions. These radios were not
reliable and radio discipline was
often poor. Under fire crews could
often be heard swearing and cursing
at the enemy, and blocking the
airwaves for orders. Ammunition
for the main gun was also poor.
Disparities in manufacturing meant
the ammunition was sometimes
unreliable. The T-34 had poor sight
optics compared to their enemy’s and
its external auxiliary fuel tank had
a tendency to burn (in fact, German
crews targeted them deliberately).
Steel quality was also inferior to that
of the Germans, so that although
armour thickness was good, it was
not as strong as the comparable
thickness on German tanks. A high
velocity penetration and ammunition
detonation inside a T-34 usually lifted
its turret clean off, sending smoke
rings into the sky. The Germans joked
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
that the T-34s always ‘lifted their hats’.
Each series of smoke rings soon came
to designate another destroyed T-34.
One continual problem crews of
the T-34s faced was that, as the
mechanics of their vehicles too, their
overalls always became impregnated
with fuel, oil and grease. This meant
that the crew’s clothing easily caught
fire if the vehicle started to burn,
resulting in terrible crew casualties. It
became a matter of bravado between
crewmen as to how many times they
had been set alight!
The T-34 had a crew of three or four:
a driver/mechanic, a radio operator/
machine gunner, a commander/
gunner and a loader. There were
slight differences in design from
factory models, but all were basically
the same vehicle. The tank mounted
a 76.2mm L42 gun with 7.62mm
machine guns in the bow and co-axial
mount. A T-34/43 carried a standard
ammunition load of 100 main gun
shells, of which only 20 were usually
anti-tank ammunition. At Kursk,
given the expected amount of enemy
armour to be engaged, more armour
piercing shells were issued.
KV-1
Developed in the late 1930s after
the Russians experienced heavy
tank losses in their Winter War with
Finland in 1939-1940, the KV-1 was a
heavy tank, weighing in at 45 tonnes.
When the German Army attacked in
1941, the Russians could field nearly
700 heavy tanks.
The KV-1E outclassed anything the
German Army had to oppose it,
but poor crew training and tactical
85
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
use, and its ongoing mechanical
problems resulted in heavy losses,
mostly to BReakdowns. Still, the
KV-1E was selected as the best heavy
tank available for mass production
through 1941 and 1942. The tank’s
main drawbacks were its poor crew
compartment layout, it was slow, and
its massive weight resulted in many
mechanical problems with its power
train. To solve these, the KV-1S was
developed. Armour was removed
(the KV has the dubious distinction
of being the only tank to have less
armour at the end of the war than at
the start). Its gun was also improved,
but a lighter KV-1 seemed to be very
close to a T-34, and as such the heavy
tank’s useful days were numbered.
By Kursk, the KV-1S was the most
numerous of its type in the tank
brigades.
In 1943, all KV-1s were withdrawn
from use by the Tank Corps, being
proven to be too slow for their role in
exploiting breakthroughs, and were
redeployed into those tank brigades
supporting rifle divisions. This was
their main role at Kursk.
The summer of 1943 would be the
swansong of the KV-1. The KV tank
production programme was closed
in late 1943 in favour of increased
production of the T-34, the new
T34/85 and production of a stop- gap
measure, the KV-85, whilst work on
the new JS series of heavy tanks
was completed.
The KV-2, nicknamed the
‘Dreadnought’, was a close support
variant of the heavy tank mounting
a huge 152mm howitzer in a large
box-like turret and used for engaging
hardened bunkers. Only 334 were
ever produced, and their deployment
in 1941 saw most destroyed or
captured. It was too big and too slow
and suffered heavy losses. Very few
remained on the Red Army’s strength
by the summer of 1943.
86
T-60 and T-70 and T-70s continued to serve in a
The T-60 was developed in early reconnaissance role, in turn replacing
1941 and accepted into service as a the remaining armoured cars. Spare
modern light tank to replace other light tanks’ hulls were re-used as
aging and failing Soviet light tank (turret-less) artillery gun tractors
designs. Small and fast, the T-60 was or for mounting multiple rocket
armed with a 20mm cannon (actually launcher rails, designated as the BM-
an aircraft weapon adapted to fit the 8-24.
turret). Various automobile factories
were turned over to the tank’s LEND-LEASE TANKS
production, and large numbers of T-
60s took part in the Battle for Moscow Churchill III and IV
in the winter of 1941. A British design of heavy tank,
the Churchill was slow and under
The T-60 (and later the T-70) became gunned with its 6 pounder gun, but it
an important part of the Red Army’s had respectable armour and proved
armoured units, but heavy losses in to have good ground covering
1942 and other developments in tank powers, especially in climbing steep
warfare meant that the light tank hills (not much use in the rolling
(as an idea) was rapidly becoming fields of the Kursk salient). It was not
obsolete. well liked, and Soviet commanders
requested that either better tanks
Production of the light tank only should be sent, or more useful
continued because the factories vehicles like trucks and jeeps be sent
producing them lacked the in their place.
machinery to manufacture heavier
tanks. Hence, the T-60 and T-70 were
still present in large numbers in 1943
and formed a full third of the Tank
Corps strength at the Battle of Kursk.
Deployed in a front line combat role
alongside the T-34s, the T-60s and
T-70s suffered terrible losses to the
larger German tanks. This may help
account for the Germans’ high tank-
verses-tank kill ratios.
The T-70 was a development of the
T-60, up-armed with a better (but
still poor) 45mm gun. Weighing in
at just 6 tonnes, both had a crew
of two, a driver/mechanic and the
commander/gunner. Its top speed
was approximately 45 kph. Despite
their size, these light tanks could
not match the T-34’s cross-country
performance and thus could not
keep up during BReakthrough and
exploitation operations.
Re-organization of the Tank Corps
in late 1943 saw the light tanks
removed from the order of battle in
favour of extra T-34s, but the T-60s

21 Churchill tanks formed the only
‘heavy’ tank unit in 5th Guards Tank
Army, most being destroyed around
Prokhorovka.
Matilda II
Another British tank, the Matilda
had been developed in the 1930s as
a heavy cruiser tank to accompany
infantry attacks. By 1943, it was
completely obsolete, and another
western tank heavily derided by
the Soviet commanders and the
unfortunate crews that had to use
it to face the enemy. Armed with a
woefully underpowered 2 pdr gun
and a single machine gun, it was
badly under gunned to face the
German armour. With a top road
speed of just 15mph, the tank’s only
saving grace was its 78mm frontal
armour. Over 1,000 Matilda IIs saw
limited service with those tank
brigades supporting Rifle divisions.
M3 Grant
In all, 1,400 M3s were delivered
to the Red Army, whose attitude
of ‘want not, waste not’ saw them
sent into combat despite their many
drawbacks. An American tank design
replaced by the M4 Sherman, the
M3 Grant was shipped as part of the
lend-lease agreement to widespread
disfavour. The Soviet soldiers named
it ‘a grave for seven BRothers’ and
the ‘field crematorium’ due to the
ease with which the tank burned.
Its weaponry, a 37mm gun and
75mm howitzer, were ineffective
in tank verses tank combat, and it
was slow, with a tall profile. Most
were deployed in static positions
to support infantry in the first and
second line of defences and as such
they suffered terrible losses.
The Soviet Union received the M3A3
and M3A5 variants of the Grant.
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Valentine III
The only lend-lease tank to receive
any favour from the Red Army
was the Valentine. The decline in
the use of the T-60 and T-70 light
tanks, mostly because production
was cut in favour of the SU-76, saw
the Valentine employed in the light
tank’s reconnaissance role. Use of
the Valentine by the British Army
was also in decline as it became
obsolete, being replaced by the M4
Sherman and, as part of the lend-
lease agreement, the entire Canadian
production run of the infantry
tank, some 1,400 vehicles, was
shipped to Russia. These started to
see widespread service in the tank
brigades and corps by late 1943. None
saw combat during the Kursk battles,
but they were in combat by the
autumn of 1943. It is included here
for use in post-Citadel games during
the Soviet counter-offensives.
Below: A column of T-34s during a road march.
Virtually all roads in Russia were dirt tracks.
(Novosti 851331)
87
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
The tank itself had several drawbacks.
The mark III was armed with the
capable 6 pdr gun, but its small turret
precluded the introduction of the large
tanks guns needed, and its resulting
two man turret crew was deemed
inefficient. Its top speed was poor, a
mere 15mph.
M3 Stuart
Another tank disliked by the
Russians, the early M3 Stuart light
tank was an obsolete American
design that had seen action in the
deserts of North Africa, but had not
performed well, neither had its later
upgrading as the M5. It was armed
with a badly underpowered 37mm
gun and two machine guns, bow
and co-axial mounted. Like the other
lend-lease vehicles it was fielded,
but few survived combat. The Soviet
Union received 1,676 M3A1 tanks,
and most saw service on the southern
fronts.
M3A1 White Scout Car
A four wheeled version of the
American M3 half track, for increased
road speed. The M3 Scout Car was
adopted and liked by Russian troops,
as a scout vehicle and a command
vehicle. It could transport a small
squad of six men and was armed
with a single .30 cal or .50 cal machine
gun on a pintle-mount. With 3,300
supplied to the Soviet Union, they
served until the end of the war.
ASSAULT GUNS
SU-76
Known as the Suka, or ‘Bitch’, the SU-
76 was (second only to the T-34) the
armoured fighting vehicle produced
in the greatest numbers. A staggering
14,000 were manufactured during
the war. SU-76M batteries were
mobile assault guns, despite their
appearance and use of the Zis3 gun,
they were never deployed as mobile
artillery. Instead they were used for
direct fire infantry support and as
tank hunters. Small, light and mobile
88
they might best be compared with the
German Marders they would face.
The vehicle had many drawbacks and
mechanical problems, mainly due
to poor manufacturing standards.
Drivers found they had to leave their
hatch open to avoid being rendered
unconscious by exhaust fumes
that leaked into the compartment,
especially when idling. Crews
disliked the vehicle for its thin
armour, but, much like the German
StuG III, they proved cheap and
effective support for infantry during
offensive operations.
SU-122
The Soviet High Command was well
aware that their tank weapons lacked
the penetrating power to defeat the
heavy German armour and sought
a quick stop-gap measure to aid the
Tank Corps. Having encountered and
captured German StuG assault guns
they chose to copy the format and a
medium assault gun was designed
using the T-34 chassis. Armed with
the 122mm L23 howitzer, the result
was the SU-122. Its first deployment
into combat would be at Kursk,
where the much hoped-for effect
failed to materialise. It would be
replaced by the far superior SU-85
medium assault gun by early 1944.
SU-152
An emergency measure quickly
developed to help counter the threat
of the Tiger tanks, the SU-152 used
the KV’s heavy chassis to mount a
152mm ML-20 model 37 howitzer.
Few in number (it only went into
production in January 1943 after just
25 days of development), it proved
a formidable weapon. It could fire a
43kg armour piercing shell capable
of defeating 124mm armour at
1,000 yards, making it easily able to
penetrate a Tiger’s front armour at
normal battle ranges. This earned
it the name ‘Zvierboi’, the ‘animal
killer’. The Germans called it the
Dosenöffner – ‘can opener’.
In all, only 24 SU-152s made it to the
Kursk battlefields, in two regiments
of 12 vehicles, but many more would
follow in subsequent months. The
vehicle’s main drawback was its
ammunition capacity. Only 20 of its
big shells could be carried, but more
were crammed in. Crews also reported
that such was the recoil of firing the
main gun, it would cause so much
vibration that it disabled the vehicle’s
own radio after about eight shots!
ARMOURED CARS
BA-10
A pre-war design, the BA-10 was a
heavy armoured car with six wheels
and a turret mounted 45mm gun.
It suffered massive losses during
the early years of the war and no
production was dedicated to building
new vehicles, so that by the summer
of 1943 very few remained. With tank
production being deemed a far higher
priority, the BA-10 would become all
but extinct after 1943.
BA-64
In general, the Russian Army
seemed to have placed little faith in
armoured cars. The reconnaissance
role was often carried out by infantry
mounted on motorcycles, cavalry, or
by light tanks. Due to losses and poor
performance, post-1942 armoured
cars never featured heavily in their
order of battle, with only two main
types used.
The smallest was the BA-64, a
light, four-wheeled reconnaissance
vehicle armed with a single DP light
machine gun. It was little more than
an armoured GAZ jeep. Used for
scouting and liaison work with the
Tank Brigades and Corps, post-Kursk
it would fall from favour as a front
line vehicle.
Right: A Zis3 field/anti-tank gun deployed in a
cornfield. The landscape is little changed since
medieval times. This gun has had its muzzle
brake unscrewed – reason unknown.
(Novosti 42339)

ANTI-TANK GUNS
PTRD Anti-Tank Rifle
The standard issue infantry anti-tank
weapon, the PTRD was a 14.5mm
single shot heavy rifle issued to
infantry platoons. In widespread
service from 1941 onwards, the
rifle was a hefty 35lbs and required
two soldiers to operate it. It could
penetrate 35mm armour at 100m
range, but by 1943 this was only
effective against tanks’ side armour
(and the Germans developed
Schürzen plates to prevent this). For
want of a more modern solution, the
anti-tank rifle remained in service
until the end of the war. Over 200,000
were manufactured.
45mmL46 Model 37
Heavily based upon the German
37mm PaK 36, the model 37 had its
caliBRe increased to make a viable
high-explosive round available. In
the early years of the war it was a
capable anti-tank gun, generating a
muzzle velocity of 820mps, but with
the increase in tank armour by 1943,
it had become somewhat obsolete.
By the Battle of Kursk its role had
changed, generally being deployed
for direct high explosive fire
rather than anti-tank fire. Its main
advantage was that it was light
and easily moved by its crew when
horse or motorised transport was
unavailable (which was often). It
remained in production until 1944.
45mmL68 Model 42
An expedient modernisation and re-
design of the generic model 37 gun,
the model 42 had increased barrel
length for extra velocity and accuracy.
It could generate an impressive
1,070mps. Firing a high velocity
armour piercing round, it could
penetrate 80mm armour at 500 yards.
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Production began in 1943 and some
guns would reach the units defending
Kursk. It would eventually replace
the model 37.
57mmL73 Zis2
The 57mm Zis2 anti-tank gun had
a difficult and rather complex
gestation. It began development
before the war, performed well
in trials and went into service in
1941, and was then cancelled by the
Red Army as too complex as they
standardised equipment to maximize
production. It was also thought
to be well over the requirement to
penetrate German armour. As the
45mm anti-tank gun became obsolete
against the heavier German tanks, the
57mm gun was revived in June 1943.
A few were in production by the
Battle of Kursk, but it was too large
for horse towing, and most infantry
units had no motorised transport, so
89
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Above: The heavies. Batteries of 152mm ML20 gun-
howitzers in their gun pits. (Novosti 613436)
those few guns that were available
went to motorised infantry units. Its
armour penetrating round generated
990 metres per second velocity, and it
was a respectable anti-tank gun.
ARTILLERY GUNS
76.2mm L16 Infantry Gun
model 27/39
An archaic design, modernised twice
from the Tsarist 3" light howitzer of
WWI vintage, the model 27/39 was
intended for close infantry support.
Heavy for its size, it was regarded as
adequate for its role and remained
in production until 1944. Early guns
had spoked wooden wheels, later
guns changed to pneumatic tyres
for vehicle towing. Each infantry
battalion fielded a battery of six guns.
76.2mm L54 Zis3 field gun
A new weapon under development
when war BRoke out, the Zis 3
was first developed as a field gun,
90
replacing aging early models as
the standard field gun of divisional
artillery batteries. Intended as field
artillery, the gun found a duel role,
being issued with armour piercing
ammunition and used as an effective
anti-tank gun. It generate a muzzle
velocity of 740mps and its larger
shell could penetrate 88mm armour
at 1,000 metres. Especially at Kursk,
divisional gun batteries were often
called upon to engage enemy tanks.
The gun gained the nickname
‘Crash-boom’ with German soldiers.
As a field gun it had a range of
approximately 13km.
122mm Howitzer, model 38
The Red Army had begun to move
towards heavier caliBRe divisional
and corps level artillery, and the
122mm model 38 howitzer was a
workhorse of these units. Firing a
hefty 21kg shell over 11 kilometers,
the 122mm howitzer was produced in
large numbers; 32 were issued to each
rifle division! A 1943 modernisation
programme was introduced, adapting
the gun carriage and introducing
a muzzle brake. This weapon was
also issued with a High Explosive
Anti-Tank (HEAT) round, but its
effectiveness in an anti-tank role
was serious degraded by the rifled
barrel’s spin.
122mm Cannon, model 37
Known under the designation A-19,
this powerful cannon was corps level
artillery. It fired a 25kg shell up to
16km, and would later be used as
the basis of a tank gun to equip the
JS-II heavy tank and ISU-122 heavy
assault gun. It looked very similar
to the model 38 152mm corps gun,
distinguishable by its slightly longer
barrel.
152mm ML20 gun howitzer
The success of the A-19 122mm
cannon led to the decision to mount
a 152mm gun howitzer barrel on the
same carriage. Its heavy 43kg shell
could fire out to 17km range.
152mm howitzer model 38
The largest divisional artillery gun
was 152mm howitzer, firing a 40kg
shell up to 12km.

203mm B4 model 31
The largest howitzer in common
use, this massive gun was
supported on tracks (they were
not powered though), for better
weight distribution. Held by the
Army Reserve, the heaviest artillery
batteries were under the control of
high command and deployed for
major breakthrough operations.
Firing a 99kg shell up to 16 km, the
203mm gun was a monstrous gun
and not used as a battlefield weapon.
ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS
DshK heavy machine gun
The Red Army’s standard issue heavy
machine gun was the 12.7mm DshK,
known as the ‘Dushka’. Its massive
weight meant it was impractical
for issue to the infantry and most
weapons were deployed on tripod
mounts as anti-aircraft guns. A
wheeled carriage was tried, but was
still deemed impractical in size and
too heavy for infantry to pull.
Quad Maxims
The Red Army was actually poorly
equipped with battalion, regimental
and divisional level anti-aircraft
weapons. One of the most effective
was a quad water-cooled Maxim
mount. It was very heavy and had to
be either placed in a static position
or mounted upon the back of a truck,
commonly known as the Gaz AAA.
37mm 81-K cannon
The most common tactical air defence
weapon was the 37mm model 39
cannon. Issued to divisional air
defence units, it was almost a direct
copy of the 40mm Bofors gun, and its
performance was very similar. It was
used throughout the war. The Soviet
Union also received over 5,000 40mm
Bofors guns via lend-lease.
85mmL53 KS-12 Model 39
Intended primarily for national air
defence, deployed around cities and
strategic sites, the 85mm gun was
not an ‘army’ weapon. In 1943, in
preparation for the coming Kursk
battles a number of emergency army-
level heavy anti-tank units were
formed, equipped with the 85mm
gun. Intended to counter the German
heavy armour, the 85mm became
known as the Russian ‘88’. Unlike
its German counterpart, it was not
widely used for anti-tank work after
the arrival of more suitable anti-tank
guns in greater numbers. This gun
would be the basis of the 85mm gun
later mounted in the T-34/85 and
SU-85.
MORTARS AND ROCKETS
50mm
Entering service in 1938 the light
mortar was used as a squad support
weapon. The British also provided
over a hundred thousand 2" light
mortars via lend-lease. Post 1943, the
light mortar was withdrawn from
service. It had a maximum range of
800 yards.
82mm model 41
The standard battalion mortar fired
a 3.3kg bomb up to 3km. To increase
mobility, it was equipped with a
set of detachable wheels, which
were removed before firing. These
weapons were regarded as artillery
by the Soviet Army rather than as
infantry weapons.
120mm model 38
The standard regimental heavy
mortar design used throughout the
war. Simple and dependable, it fired
a 16.5kg bomb up to 6.5kms. So good
was it, that the German Army copied
the design without alteration for their
own use.
BM-13 Katyusha
Developed in secret under the
codename ‘Guards Mortars’, the
multiple rocket launcher was
called Katyusha (Little Kate) by the
Russians, and ‘Stalin’s Organ’ by the
Germans, due to the fierce shrieking
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
noise of it firing. It was mounted on
a Zis-6 truck with 12 rails to launch
132mm rockets, each with a 5kg
explosive charge, firing up to 8.5km.
Cheap and easy to manufacture, they
became very popular, deployed to
supplement the conventional artillery,
especially by Tank Corps – Katyusha
being the main organic artillery
available to these units in 1943.
Many other transporters would also
be tried, including various trucks
(some armoured) and the light T-60
tank chassis. In 1944, Katyushas
were standardised on lend-lease US
Studebaker trucks.
There are recorded instances
during the fighting around Kursk
of Katyushas being used for direct
fire against tank formations,
disconcerting for the tank crews, but
not actually very effective.
AIRCRAFT
IL-2 Sturmovik
Nick named the ‘Beast’, the
Sturmovik was the Red Air Force’s
principle ground attack aircraft, as
important to them as the T-34 tank
was to the army. It had a rugged
design that went through various
versions. By 1943 the Sturmovik had
reached the -m3 designation, with the
introduction of a rear facing gunner’s
position (single-seater variants had
been very vulnerable to fighter attack
from behind) and extra armour
around the cockpit.
By 1943, Russian aircraft factories
were producing 1,000 Sturmoviks per
month!
It was a rugged, dependable aircraft,
heavily armoured for its ground
attack role, and remained in service
throughout the war. Its standard
armament was four 7.62mm machine
guns in the wings and it could
carry an underwing payload of four
bombs, 200 PTAB anti-tank bomblets
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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
or eight 82mm rockets. At Kursk,
Sturmoviks were also first equipped
with two 37mm cannons underwing,
replacing the payload.
Petlyakov PE-2
A Soviet twin-engined, three-man
light bomber used in the dive-bomber
role, the PE-2 was armed with two
forward firing machine guns, a rear
facing heavy machine gun and a
second rear facing heavy machine
gun under the fuselage. Standard
bomb load was four 500lb bombs in
the internal bomb bay. Alternatively
eight 200lb bombs could be carried
with four more 200lb bombs under
the wings.
The PE-2 saw heavy combat
during the Battle for Kursk, mostly
interdicting German supply routes
behind the front line. It was known as
the ‘Peggy’, or the ‘Buck’ to the allies.
Yakolev YAK-1 and 9
The Yak-1 and the 1942 development
the Yak-9, were the Soviet’s main
fighter aircraft of the war. In it, the
Red Air Force had an aircraft capable
of matching the Luftwaffe’s Me-109s
and FW-190s. It was armed with a
20mm cannon in the nose, along with
a secondary machine gun. It could
carry two 250lb bombs under its
wings.
Later in the war, the final version
(a reworking of an early design,
hence the designation Yak-3) would
go into production. For speed and
manouevrability, this was arguable
one of the best fighter aircraft in the
world in 1945.
Bell P-39 AircoBRa
Regarded as failure by the USAAF
(and briefly the RAF) in the Pacific
and North African theatres, the
AircoBRa was supplied in large
numbers (almost 5,000) by the US
via lend-lease, and was quickly
emBRaced by the Red Air Force.
Armed with a nose-mounted 37mm
92
cannon and two .50 cal machine guns,
the VVS removed its standard wing
mounted weapons to increase the
aircraft’s roll rates. It was primarily a
close support fighter (its high altitude
performance was poor), and could
carry two 250lb bombs for ground
attack missions.
It continued to serve on the eastern
front until the end of the war, gaining
a significantly better combat record
in Red Air Force hands than with the
other allied air forces.
PO-2
A two man biplane, the PO-2 was
nicknamed the ‘sewing machine’ by
German troops due to its distinctive
engine sound. It was known as the
‘crop duster’ to Russian troops,
as that was the aircraft’s civilian
role. It was successfully used as a
night bomber because it could glide
silently, dropping its bombs from the
darkness without detection. It was
also used as a stand-in reconnaissance
aircraft over the Kursk battlefields
by 5th Tank Corps, but proved very
vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire because
of its low top speed. It was armed
with a rear facing machine gun (only
really useful for defence) and could
carry up to 300lb of bombs below its
wings.
IL-4
A four-engined medium bomber
deployed by the VVS for long
range bombing missions. This
tactic proved unpopular with VVS
commanders and the bomber was
generally used for medium range
raids against military targets and
battlefield interdiction, attacking
railheads, enemy airfields and troop
concentration areas.
SOFT-SKINNED VEHICLES
Soft-skinned transport vehicles
were always in short supply in the
Red Army. A pre-war programme
to mechanise the army was largely
undone by the huge losses sustained
in 1941 and 1942 amongst transport
vehicles, especially the specialised
artillery tractors.
The Russian Army used many
civilian type trucks, often
manufactured by Gaz and Zis. The
Gaz AA was a two axle (four-wheel)
small truck with the AAA a slightly
longer three axle (six-wheel ) version.
The Zis 5V was of simple wooden
construction made cheaply for the
army. Demand always outstripped
supply, and so the US provided
thousands of Studebaker 2.5 tonne
trucks via lend-lease. These vehicles
became much loved by the Red Army,
along with many Willys jeeps and
¾ tonne trucks. Many Studebakers
became artillery tows as well as
transport for the motorised infantry
battalions. The YaG 10 (six-wheeled)
and YaG 12 (eight-wheeled) were
both large trucks, manufactured in
small numbers for the Red Army.
Lacking trucks, horse power was the
order of the day, especially in the
Rifle divisions. Most guns were horse
towed and supply vehicles were often
horse drawn wagons. Where horses
were not available manpower had
to stand in, especially pulling lighter
infantry and anti-tank guns.
Where available, artillery tractors
included the small open Komsoloyet
tractor for light guns, the larger
Konitern tractor and finally the
massive Voroshilovets, specially
designed to haul the huge 203mm
howitzers.
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

RUSSIAN EQUIPMENT
The following pages detail the game profiles for all the Russian armoured
vehicles, soft-skinned vehicles and guns at the Battle of Kursk, and for the
battles that followed later in 1943. For easy of reference during game play, they
are repeated in the Appendix.

ARMOURED VEHICLES
T-70 light tank
LIGHT TANKS

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

T-60
12" 19" - M N O 20mm Turret -
MG Co-axial -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

T-70
10" 15" - K N O 46mmL46 Turret 7
MG Co-axial -

KV SERIES

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

KV-1E
6" 10" Unreliable H K L 76.2mmL42 Turret 11
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -
MG Turret (rear) -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

KV-1S
8" 12" - J K M 76.2mmL42 Turret 11
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -
MG Turret (rear) -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

KV-2
4" 8" Unreliable H K L 152mmL24 Turret 3
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -
MG Turret (rear) -

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

T-34

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

T-34/43
12" 16" T-34 Mobility K L M 76.2mmL42 Turret 10
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

SELF-PROPELLED GUNS

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SU-76M
9" 14" - N O O 76.2mmL54 Hull 6
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SU-122 12" 16" - L M N 122mmL23 Hull 4

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SU-152 10" 14" - J K L 152mmL29 Hull 3

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

BM-8-13
9" 14" - M O O 132mm rocket Hull 3
launcher

SU-152 ‘animal-killer’

ARMOURED CARS

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

BA-10
8" 24" - N O O 37mmL45 Turret 10
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

BA-64
8" 24" - N O O LMG Turret -
Open-Topped

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

LEND-LEASE VEHICLES

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Bren Carrier
16" 24" - O O O LMG Hull -
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

M5 Halftrack
12" 16" O O O MG Pintle -
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

M3A1 White 8" 24" - O O O MG Pintle -

Scout Car Open-Topped

LEND-LEASE TANKS

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

M3 Grant
8" 13" - L M O 37mmL53 Turret 14
75mmL30 Hull 5
MG Turret -
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Matilda II
5" 8" - K K L 2 pdr Turret 9
MG Co-axial -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Valentine III
5" 8" - K K L 2 pdr Turret 8
MG Co-axial -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Churchill III/IV
5" 8" - I J J 6 pdr Turret 6
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

M3A1 Stuart
12v 18" - L M M 37mmL53 Turret 12
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

RUSSIAN GUNS
120mm mortar crew
MORTARS
WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE
0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

50mm HE 3/5+ 1 1 1 1 1 1
82mm HE 4/4+ 2 2 2 2 2 2
120mm HE 6/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 3

AUTOCANNONS
WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE
0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

20mm HE - 1 1 1 1 1 1
AP - 2 2 1 1 1 -
37mmL60 HE - 2 2 2 2 2 2
AP - 3 3 2 2 1 -

VERY LIGHT GUNS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

37mmL45 HE 2/5+ 1 1 1 1 1 -
AP - 4 4 3 2 1
45mmL46 HE 3/5+ 1 1 1 1 1 -
AP - 4 4 3 2 1 -
45mmL66 HE 3/5+ 1 1 1 1 1 -
AP - 5 5 4 3 2 -
57mmL73 (Zis 2) HE 3/5+ 2 2 2 2 2 -
AP - 8 8 7 6 5 -

LIGHT GUNS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

76.2mmL16 HE 4/4+ 2 2 2 2 2 -
76.2mmL26 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
AP - 4 4 3 2 1 -
76.2mmL30 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
AP - 5 5 4 3 2 -
76.2mmL42 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
AP - 6 6 5 4 3 -
76.2mmL54 (Zis 3) HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
AP - 7 7 6 5 4 -

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

MEDIUM GUNS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

85mmL54 HE 4/3+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
AP - 9 9 8 7 6 -
122mmL23 HE 6/3+ 4 4 4 4 4 -
AP - 3 3 2 1 1 -
122mmL46 HE 6/3+ 4 4 4 4 4 -
AP - 13 13 12 10 9 -
152mmL24 HE 7/3+ 5 5 5 5 5 -
152mmL29 HE 7/3+ 6 6 6 6 6 -
AP - 10 10 9 8 7 -
132mm Rocket HE 6/3+ 5 5 5 5 5 -

HEAVY GUNS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

203mmL49 HE 8/2+ 7 7 7 7 7 7

INFANTRY ANTI-TANK WEAPONS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

PTRD anti-tank rifle AP - 2 1 - - - -

AIRCRAFT WEAPONS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

82mm Rocket HE 3/3+ 6 6 6 6 6 -

PTAB Bomb HE 6/5+ 6 6 6 6 6 -

LEND-LEASE WEAPONS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

37mmL53 HE 2/5+ 1 1 1 1 1 -
(v.light) AP - 4 4 3 2 1 -
75mmL30 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
(light) AP - 5 5 4 3 2 -
2 pdr (v.light) AP - 3 3 2 1 1 -
6 pdr HE 3/5+ 2 2 2 2 2 -
(v. light) AP - 7 7 6 5 4 -

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

SOFT-SKINNED VEHICLES

Movement Hits Transport Special

Off-Road Road Capacity
Motorcycle 6" 24" 1 1
Motorcycle and sidecar 6" 24" 1 2
Gaz 67B Jeep 6" 24" 2 3
Staff car 6" 24" 2 3
Willy’s Jeep 6" 24" 2 3
Civilian medium truck 6" 24" 2 10
Gaz AA Truck 6" 24" 2 10 Lend-lease Willys Jeep
Zis-5V Truck 6" 24" 3 10
Gaz AAA Truck 6" 24" 3 12 The failure of the lend-lease scheme
Zis-42M Truck 12" 16" 3 12 to provide combat-worthy tanks saw
2.5 tonne truck 6" 24" 3 15 the Russians request that its allies
Yag-10/12 heavy truck 6" 24" 4 20 provide more trucks instead. Jeeps and
Gaz 55 ambulance 6" 24" 2 - medic
Studebaker trucks became commonplace,
Komsomolet tractor 12" 16" 1 1 light gun and eventaully provided the Red Army
Komintern tractor 12" 16" 3 1 medium gun with the majority of its motorised
Voroshilovets tractor 12" 16" 5 1 heavy gun transport and light gun tows. In 1943,
horse-power was still relied upon,
Horse drawn wagon 4" 6" 2 10-20 especially in the Rifle divisions.
Horse and limber 4" 6" 2 1 gun

AIRCRAFT

IL-2 Sturmovik

Aircraft Role Hits Weaponry

IL-2 Fighter Bomber 4 4 MGs

8 82mm rockets, or
4 small bombs, or
2 PTAB bombs, or
2 37mm cannons

PE-2 Dive Bomber 4 2 MGs

4 medium bomb, or
8 small bombs

Yak 1 or 9 Fighter 3 20mm cannon

2 small bombs

P-39 Aircobra Fighter 3 37mm cannons

2 MGs
2 small bombs

PO-2 Scout Plane 2 1 MG

IL-4 Bomber 6 5 large bombs

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

– EASTERN FRONT 1943 –

TANK CORPS
BATTLEGROUP
(also Mechanised Corps)
FORWARD HEADQUARTERS UNITS
Each unit taken from Forward Headquarters allows a support choice from either:
Logistics or Additional Fire Support

Forward Headquarters . . . . . . . 22 pts 3-r BR

Unit Composition: 3 men
Transport: Gaz Jeep
Special Rules: Senior Officer, Mortar Spotter, Unique

Options: Replace Gaz Jeep with:

White Scout Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +18 pts
Replace 3 men and Gaz with Jeep with:
T-34/43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +27 pts
Radio Communications Truck

VVS Air Control Officer . . . . . 26 pts 1-r BR Forward Signals Unit . . . . . . . . 18 pts 1-i BR
Unit Composition: 2 men Unit Composition: 3 men
Transport : Gaz Jeep Transport: Radio Medium Truck or Radio Van
Special Rules: Officer, Air Spotter 3+, Unique Special Rules: Communications

Options: Upgrade Gaz Jeep to:

Medium Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pt
Comms Relay Team . . . . . . . . . . 14 pts 0-i BR
Unit Composition: 2 men
Transport: None
Motorcycle Dispatch Rider . . 12 pts 0-i BR
Special Rule: Communications
Unit Composition: 1 man
Transport: Motorcycle
Special Rule: Dispatches
Wire Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 pts 0-i BR
Unit Composition: 2 men
Game Size Infantry Restrictions
Transport: None
In a Squad-level game you must include at least 1 Infantry Squad.
Special Rule: Wire Communications
You cannot include more than 2 Infantry Platoons.

In Platoon-level game you must take at least 1 Infantry Platoon.

NKVD Officer . . . . . 26 pts D6-r BR (Restricted)
You cannot include more than 4 Infantry Platoons.
Unit Composition: 3 men
In Company-level games you must take at least 2 Infantry Platoon. Transport: Gaz Jeep
You cannot include more than 6 Infantry Platoons. Special Rules: Senior Officer, ‘Fight Damn You!’,
Mortar Spotter, Unique
In Battalion-level games you must take at least 3 Infantry Platoon.
You cannot include more than 9 Infantry Platoons.

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

INFANTRY UNITS
Each unit taken from Infantry allows a support choice from: Reconnaissance, Engineers or Specialist units.

Motorised Rifle Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 pts 5-i BR

For each Platoon you may choose 4 Support units
Maxim Machine Gun team . . . . . 18 pts 1-i BR
Platoon Composition: 1 Rifle Platoon Command Unit Composition: 3 men with a Maxim MG
Squad, 4 Rifle Squads and up to 4 Platoon Support Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Options.

Rifle Platoon Command Squad Light Mortar team . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 pts 1-i BR

Unit Composition: 3 men Unit Composition: 2 men with 50mm mortar
Transport: mount in a Jeep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Special Rules: Officer, Mortar Spotter
Options:
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . +5 pts Anti-Tank Rifle team . . . . . . . . . . 14 pts 1-i BR
Unit Composition: 2 men with AT rifle
4 Rifle Squads
Unit Composition: 8 men with 1 DP LMG
Transport: mount in a medium truck . . . . . . . +4 pts Anti-Tank Gun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 pts 1-i BR
Options: Unit Composition: 45mmL46 gun with 3 crew
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . +5 pts Upgrade anti-tank gun to 45mmL66 . . . . . . . . +8 pts
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Komsomolyets tractor tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Platoon Support Options
Become an SMG Platoon by replacing all the Rifle
Platoon’s small arms with SMGs for free. Infantry Gun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 pts 1-i BR
The Platoon may include up to Unit Composition: 76.2mm infantry gun with 3 crew
four of the following additional Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
units. No unit may be taken Horse and limber tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts
more than once. Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts

Anti-Aircraft DshK Machine Gun team

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 pts 1-i BR
Unit Composition: 3 men with a DshK MG
Gaz AAA Truck

Motorised Rifle Squad . . . . . . . 14 pts 1-i BR Tank Rider Squad . . . . . . . . . . 12 pts 1-i BR
Squad Composition: 1 Rifle Squad Squad Composition: 1 Tank Rider squad

Rifle Squad Tank Rider Squad

Unit Composition: 8 men with 1 DP LMG Unit Composition: 8 men, all with SMGs
Transport : mount in a medium truck . . . . . . . . +4 pts Transport : The Squad must start the game as tank
Options: riders on any available tank or assault gun.
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . . +5 pts Options:
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . . +5 pts
Squad may replace all small arms with SMGs for free

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TANK UNITS
Each unit taken from Tanks allows a support choice from: Reconnaissance, Engineers, Logistics or Specialist units.

T-34 Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350 pts 30-r BR SU-76 Battery . . . . . . . . 75 pts 6-r BR (Restricted)
Unit Composition: 10 T-34/43s Unit Composition: 3 SU-76s
1 T-34/43 (Officer) 3 SU-76s
9 T-34/43s
A SU-76 Battery allows 2 Support choices
Special Rules: Stal! Stal! Stal!, T-34 mobility
A T-34 Company allows 6 Support choices
T-34
Unit Composition: 1 T34/43
T-34 Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 pts 9-r BR T-34/43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 pts 3-r BR
Unit Composition: 3 T-34/43s
3 T-34/43s Special Rules: Stal! Stal! Stal!, T-34 mobility

Special Rules: Stal! Stal! Stal!, T-34 mobility

A T-34 Platoon allows 2 Support choices Light Tank
Unit Composition: 1 Light Tank
T-60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 pts 2-r BR
Light Tank Platoon . . . . . . . . . . 50 pts 6-r BR T-70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 pts 2-r BR
Unit Composition: 3 T-60s
3 T-60s Special Rules: Stal! Stal! Stal!

Options: Upgrade all T-60s in the platoon to:

T-70s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +15 pts SU-76
Unit Composition: 1 SU-76
Special Rules: Stal! Stal! Stal! SU-76 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 pts 2-r BR
A Light Tank Platoon allows 2 Support choices

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

ARTILLERY UNITS
Each unit taken from Artillery allows a support choice from: Additional Fire Support.

Forward Observer Team . . . . . 16 pts 1-i BR Mortar Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 pts 2-i BR

Unit Composition: 2 men Unit Composition: 2 82mm mortars and 3 crew each
Transport : Gaz Jeep Options:
Special Rules: Artillery Spotter+, Unique Include a 3 man loader team . . . . +10 pts per mortar
Add 1 additional 82mm mortar . . +22 pts +1-i BR
Options: Upgrade Jeep to:
Bren Carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts
Heavy Mortar Battery . . . . . . . 58 pts 2-i BR
Unit Composition: 2 120mm mortars and 3 crew each
Guards Mortar Battery . . . . . . . 100 pts 2-i BR
Options:
Unit Composition: 2 BM-13 Katyusha
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . +10 pts per mortar
Options: Replace both BM-13 with: Add 1 additional 120mm mortar . +29 pts +1-i BR
BM-8-13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +20 pts

Off-Table Mortar Fire

Off-Table Artillery Fire Unit Composition: 1 Battery
Unit Composition: 1 Battery 2 82mm mortars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 pts 0 BR
2 BM-13 Katyusha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 pts 0 BR 2 120mm mortars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 pts 0 BR

102

Each unit taken from Defences allows no support choices.
May only be taken if your battlegroup is the Defender in an Attack-Defence scenario.
Improvised Barricades . . . . . . . . 5 pts
6” of improvised barricades made of earth filled boxes,
rubble, furniture, destroyed vehicles etc. Counts as
hard cover for infantry behind it.
Machine Gun Dug-out . . . . . . . . 32 pts
3 men and a Maxim MG in reinforced cover. The cover
is lost if the MG team move.
Mortar Pit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 pts
3 men and a 82mm mortar in reinforced cover. The
cover is lost if the mortar team moves.
Foxholes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts
Deploy up to 10 infantry in foxholes; they count as in
reinforced cover until they move.
Sniper Hideout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 pts
A single sniper in reinforced cover. It can be placed
anywhere outside of the opponent’s deployment zone.
The cover is lost if the sniper moves.
Anti-Tank Rifle Team Hideout . . 20 pts 1-i BR
A small 2 man team armed with an anti-tank rifle, well
hidden, in a camouflaged foxhole. These teams had
orders to allow the enemy to pass by then attack from
the rear. The team can be deployed anywhere outside
the attacker’s deployment zone. They are in reinforced
cover. If the team moves the cover is lost.
Dug-in T-34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 pts
A single T-34 dug-in up to its turret. The tank cannot
move at all in the game, but always counts as an
obscured target and gains +1 level to its armour values
from all directions. When dug-in, a T34 cannot use the
Stal! Stal! Stal! special rule.
Dug-in T-34 Platoon . . . . . . . . . . 125 pts
Three T-34s dug-in up to their turrets. The tanks
cannot move at all in the game, but always counts as
an obscured target and gain +1 level to their armour
values from all directions. When dug-in, a T34 cannot
use the Stal! Stal! Stal! special rule.
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
DEFENCES
0 BR Improvised Road Block . . . . . . . 5 pts 0BR
Something large and heavy across a road. Place on any
road or track, anywhere on the table. It counts as an
obstacle.
1-i BR Anti-Tank Ditch/Embankment
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 pts 0 BR (Restricted)
10” of ditch or embankment, impassable to vehicles
without a Bridge.
1-i BR
Counter Bombardment . . . 20 pts 0 BR (Unique)
The counter bombardment is a tactic designed to hit
the enemy just as they are themselves preparing to
0 BR attack, causing confusion, delays and disorganisation
as well as catching enemy units in their assembly
areas after they had emerged from their own cover.
Use the Counter Bombardment after both sides have
0-v BR deployed, but before the first turn has been started.
Roll a D6.
1 No Effect
The bombardment is off target and has no effect.
2-5 Hit
Delays and disorganisation mean that your
opponent must take 1 Battle Counter at the
beginning of his first turn.
6 Direct Hit
Delays and disorganisation mean that your
opponent must take 2 Battle Counters at the
beginning of his first turn.
3-r BR
Also, roll a D6 for each enemy unit already deployed.
On a 6 the unit is marked as Pinned. If the enemy has
no units on the table then this part of the Counter
Bombardment has no further effect.
For the Motherland! . . . . . . 15 pts 0 BR (Unique)
9-r BR The Russians are fighting the Great Patriotic War to
expel fascist invaders from their homeland, and at
Kursk resisted the German attack with great resilience
and courage. At the start of a game a Russian battle-
group rolls a D6 and adds this score to its total morale
value for the battle.
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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

RECONNAISSANCE SUPPORT UNITS

Sniper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 1-v BR Infantry Foot Patrol . . . . . . . . . 22 pts 2-i BR
Unit Composition: 1 man Squad Composition: 1 Rifle Squad
Special Rules: Sniper Scout Special Rules: Scout, Mortar Spotter

Options:
Rifle Squad
Add a spotter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +5 pts
Unit Composition: 8 men with 1 DP LMG

Spotter: A sniper with a spotter increases its maximum Options:

range from 30” to 40”. Hitting on a 6. Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . . +5 pts

Mechanised Infantry Patrol . . . 28 pts 3-i BR Motorcycle Reconnaissance Patrol

Unit Composition: 6 men with 1 DP LMG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 pts 1-i BR
Transport: White Scout Car Unit Composition: 3 men
Special Rules: Scout, Mortar Spotter Transport: Motorcyle and sidecar
Special Rules: Scout, Mortar Spotter
Options:
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . . +5 pts
Replace White Scout Car with M5 halftrack . +4 pts

Jeep Reconnaissance Team . . . . . 18 pts 2-i BR

Unit Composition: 3 men
Transport: Jeep BA-64 armoured car
Special Rules: Scout, Mortar Spotter
Armoured Car
Unit Composition: 1 Armoured Car
Light Tank Special Rules: Scout, Mortar Spotter
Unit Composition: 1 Light Tank BA-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 pts 1-i BR (Restricted)
Special Rules: Scout BA-64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 pts 1-i BR (Restricted)
T-60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 pts 2-i BR M3A1 White Scout Car . . . 20 pts 1-i BR (Restricted)
T-70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 pts 2-i BR
Valentine III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 pts 2-i BR

Aerial Reconnaissance
Unit Composition: 1 Aircraft
Special Rules: Scout2, Mortar Spotter, Unique
PO-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 pts 2-r BR

PO-2

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

ENGINEER SUPPORT UNITS

Repair Vehicle Heavy Bridging Unit . . . 36 pts 4-i BR (Restricted)
Unit Composition: 1 Medium Repair Truck Unit Composition: 12 men
Special Rules: Vehicle Repair Transport: 2 Heavy Trucks with a Bridge
Repair Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 pts 2-i BR (Restricted) Special Rules: Bridging, Unique

Options:
Sapper Squad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 pts 2-r BR Per extra 6 men and heavy truck . . . . . . . +24 pts each
Squad Composition: 1 Sapper Squad
Special Rules: Engineers
Light Bridging Unit . . . . . . . . . . 18 pts 2-i BR
Sapper Squad Unit Composition: 6 men
Unit Composition: 8 men with anti-tank grenades Transport: Heavy Truck with a Bridge
Transport : mount in a medium truck . . . . . . . . +4 pts Special Rules: Bridging
Options:
May take a flamethrower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
May take a mine sweeper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +5 pts Anti-Tank Mine Dog . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 0-i BR
Squad Composition: 1 man and his dog
May take a demoliton charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +5 pts
Special Rules: Mine Dog

LOGISTICS SUPPORT UNITS

Supply Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 pts 1-i BR Combat Medic . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 pts 0-i BR

Unit Composition: 1 Horse Drawn Wagon Unit Composition: 1 man
Special Rules: Resupply, Unique Special Rules: Medic

Options:
Stretcher Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 1-i BR
Add up to 2 horse drawn wagons . . . . . . +4 pts each
Unit Composition: 2 men
Replace any horse drawn wagon with
Special Rules: Medic
a medium truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts each

Ambulance . . . . . . . . . 14 pts 2-i BR (Restricted)

Forward Aid Post . . . . . 20 pts 5-i BR (Restricted) Unit Composition: 1 Jeep Ambulance
Unit Composition: 4 men with a tent Special Rules: Medic
Special Rules: Unique
Options: Upgrade Jeep Ambulance to:
Ambulance medium truck . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts
M5 halftrack ambulance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
SPECIALIST SUPPORT UNITS
Lend-Lease Tank
Unit Composition: 1 Lend-lease tank
Special Rules: Stal! Stal! Stal!
Churchill III or IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 pts
M3 Grant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 pts
Matilda II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 pts
Valentine III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 pts
M5 Stuart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 pts
Heavy Assault Gun
Unit Composition: 1 heavy assault gun
SU-122 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 pts
SU-152 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 pts
Anti-Aircraft Vehicle
Unit Composition: 1 vehicle
Gaz truck with quad Maxim MGs . . . . 28 pts 1-i BR
(Restricted)
106
Heavy Anti-Tank Gun
Unit Composition: 1 anti-tank gun with crew
3-r BR 76.2mmL54 Zis 3 AT gun with 3 crew . . 43 pts 2-i BR
3-r BR Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
3-r BR Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
2-r BR Komsomolyets tractor tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
2-r BR
57mmL73 Zis 2 AT gun with 3 crew . . . . 43 pts 2-i BR
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Komsomolyets tractor tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
3-r BR
3-r BR
Towed Anti-Aircraft Gun
Unit Composition: 1 anti-aircraft gun with crew
37mm AA gun with 3 crew . . . . . . . . . . . 36 pts 1-i BR
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

ADDITIONAL FIRE SUPPORT

Off-Table Artillery Support Request Pre-Registered Target Point . . . . 10 pts 0 BR

3rd Target Priority (5+) . . . . . . . . . . . 5 pts 0 BR
2nd Target Priority (4+) . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 0 BR
1st Target Priority (2+) . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 pts 0 BR Counter-Battery Fire Mission . . 10 pts 0 BR
The counter-battery fire mission is effective on a 4+.

Russian Army Fire Mission Requests

Timed 122mm Barrage . . . . . . . . . 20 pts 0 BR
Regimental Battery (not available, any regimental guns Fired by a battery of six 122mm howitzers. Before the
are always taken as Artillery units) game, write down which turn the guns will fire on. The
points cost includes a pre-registered target as the target
Corps Battery (3+ comms test) point of the barrage.
1-3 3 82mm mortars
4-6 3 120mm mortars
Timed 152mm Barrage . . . . . . . . . 30 pts 0 BR
Army Battery (4+ comms test) Fired by a battery of six 152mm howitzers. Before the
1-2 4 76.2mm cannons game, write down which turn the guns will fire on. The
3-4 2 Katyusha rocket launchers points cost includes a pre-registered target as the target
5 4 122mm cannons point of the barrage.
6 4 152mm howitzers

Front Battery (5+ comms test) Timed Katyusha Barrage . . . . . . . 25 pts 0 BR

1-2 4 122mm howitzers Fired by a battery of two Katyusha rocket launchers.
3-4 4 152mm howitzers Before the game, write down which turn the battery
5-6 4 203mm howitzers will fire on. The points cost includes a pre-registered
target as the target point of the barrage.

Russian Close Air Support Table 1943

D6 Aircraft Timed IL-2 Air Strike . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 0 BR
1 Fighter (choose from Yak 1 or 9 or P-39) An air strike by a Sturmovik carrying 4 small bombs.
1-2 No bombs Before the game, write down which turn the aircraft
3-6 2 small bombs will arrive on. The points cost includes a pre-registered
target as the target point of the air strike.
2-3 IL-2 Sturmovik
1-2 2 PTAB bombs
3 4 small bombs Timed PE-2 Air Strike . . . . . . . . . 20 pts 0 BR
4-6 8 82mm rockets An air strike by a PE-2 carrying 8 small bombs. Before
the game, write down which turn the aircraft will
4 IL-2 Sturmovik arrive on. The points cost includes a pre-registered
1-6 2 37mm cannons target as the target point of the air strike.

5 PE-2 Dive Bomber

1-2 4 large bombs Timed IL-4 Air Strike . . 25 pts 0 BR (Restricted)
3-6 8 small bombs An air strike by a IL-4 bomber carrying 5 large bombs.
Before the game, write down which turn the aircraft
6 Choose will arrive on. The points cost includes a pre-registered
Select any of the above aircraft target as the target point of the air strike.

You may always choose an aircraft from lower down the

table over a higher roll. You must still roll for armament.

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

TANK CORPS
EXAMPLE OF A TANK CORPS’ ORGANISATION – 1943

18th TANK CORPS
Formed in the Volga military district in March 1942, by the
summer of 1943 the 18th Tank Corps was part of 5th Guards
Tank Army, itself part of the Steppe Front reserve, located
around Stary Oskol.
On 7th July, 5th Guards Tank Army received orders to move
to the Oboyan area to reinforce the strained defences of
Voronezh Front. Covering the distance in a rapid three day
march, the tanks and motorized infantry were in place by the
10th. They then moved forwards into the Prokhorovka area
on 11th July as part of General Rotmistrov’s plans for 5th
Guards Tank Army’s counterattack against the penetration
and threatened breakthrough of II SS Panzer Corps.
18th Tank Corps rapidly moved south and concentrated its
units around the village of Petrovka, to the north-west of
Prokhorovka. They were selected (along with 29th Tank Corps
and 2nd Tank Corps), to form the first wave of 5th Guards
Tank Army’s massed tank attack on the morning of the 12th.
After the completion of a 15 minute preliminary
bombardment by Katyusha rockets, mortars and artillery, the
leading tank companies moved into the assault at 0630. On
the attack order, ‘Stal! Stal! Stal!’ they advanced with infantry
riding upon the tanks, through the front lines of 23rd Guards
Airborne Regiment, attacking into the area between Petrovka
and the Prokhorovka-Belgorod railway line. The 170th and
180th Tank Brigades took the lead. Soon the two tank brigades
encountered the vanguard tanks and anti-tank gun screen of
1st SS Panzer Grenadier Division Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler.
Under orders to close to point blank range to engage the Tiger
tanks (of which there were actually only four present), the
T-34s and T-70s emerged from dead ground to be spotted by
their enemy at over 3,000 yards range.
Engaged at very long range, losses start to mount in a
pell-mell rush across the ripe wheat and maize fields of the
Oktiabrskii State Farm. At under 1,000 yards the high velocity
guns, superior gun sights and the training of the enemy
gunners was decisive. Barely a shot missed, each hit tearing
through the armour of a T-70 or T-34. By the afternoon, the
following 181st Tank Brigade had penetrated the flanking
screen of 1st SS Reconnaissance Battalion and were fighting for
the Komosolets State Farm. 36th Guards Heavy Tank Battalion
had also advanced in the second wave with their Churchill IVs
and were fighting close to the bend in the Psel river against
3rd SS Panzer Grenadier Division’s right flank protection.
The day’s repeated charges sustained heavy losses, but forced
the 1st SS Panzer Grenadier Division onto the defensive,
thwarting its own attempt to capture Prokhorovka and thus
achieving its mission. Withdrawing and regrouping, by mid-
afternoon, 18th Tank Corps had lost approximately 101 of its
190 tanks. Greatly weakened, it would return to battle again
on the 13th, this time fighting defensively to prevent the SS
division’s continued advance.
Re-equipped, the 18th Tank Corps would go on to take part
in Operation Rumyantsev and claim the liberation of the city of
Kharkov in August 1943.

Under Major General Bakharov

The Corps’ Headquarters included 5 T-34s. The anti-aircraft artillery regiment was
Corps HQ Company issued with 16 12.7mm heavy machine
419th Signals Battalion Each Tank Brigade officially consisted of guns and 16 towed 37mm anti-aircraft
115th Signals Battalion three battalions, two equipped with 32 guns. It was not sufficient to provide
Medical Platoon T-34s and one with 21 T-70s. adequate air cover for the entire Corps
Mobile Bakery during the attack.
Military Police Office On July 11th, 110th Tank Brigade actually
Mobile Repair Base listed 25 T-34s and 21 T-70s. 170th Tank The armoured car company was
Brigade listed 22 T-34s and 17 T-70s. 181st equipped with 24 BA-10s and 20 M3A1
110th Tank Brigade Tank Brigade listed 24 T-34s and 20 T-70s. Scout cars for reconnaissance only.

181st Tank Brigade The Guards Separate Tank Regiment Motorcycle troops were also equipped
fielded 21 Churchill Mk IVs. This was with armoured cars.
170th Tank Brigade attached to the Corps to replace the
missing self-propelled artillery regiment. The medical platoon had a mere eight
36th Guards Separate Heavy Tank 17 Churchills were lost on July 12th. truck ambulances for the entire Corps.
Regiment
The Motorised Rifle Brigade consisted
32nd Motorised Rifle Brigade of three Motorised Rifle Battalions.
Although nominally truck-borne, most
1000th Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment rode to battle on the engine decks of the
T-34s.
736th Separate Anti-Tank Artillery
Regiment The anti-tank artillery regiment was
equipped with eight towed 45mm and 12
292nd Mortar Regiment towed 76.2mm guns.

1694th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment The 292nd Mortar Regiment was

equipped with 36 120mm mortars (not
29th Separate Armoured Car Katyusha).
(Reconnaissance) Company

78th Separate Motorcycle Battalion

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

– EASTERN FRONT 1943 –

RIFLE DIVISION
BATTLEGROUP
FORWARD HEADQUARTERS UNITS
Each unit taken from Forward Headquarters allows a support choice from either: Logistics or Additional Fire Support

Forward Headquarters . . . . . . . 22 pts 3-r BR

Unit Composition: 3 men
Transport: Gaz Jeep
Special Rules: Senior Officer, Mortar Spotter, Unique

Options: Replace Gaz Jeep with:

White Scout car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +18 pts

Radio Truck
VVS Air Control Officer . . . . 26 pts 1-r BR
Unit Composition: 2 men
Transport : Gaz Jeep
Forward Signals Unit . . . . . . . . . . 18 pts 1-i BR
Special Rules: Officer, Air Spotter 3+, Unique
Unit Composition: 3 men
Transport: Radio Medium Truck or Radio Van
Options: Upgrade Gaz Jeep to:
Special Rules: Communications
Medium Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pt

Motorcycle Dispatch Rider . . . . 12 pts 0-i BR Comms Relay Team . . . . . . . . . . 14 pts 0-i BR
Unit Composition: 2 men
Unit Composition: 1 man
Transport: None
Transport: Motorcycle
Special Rule: Communications
Special Rule: Dispatches

Wire Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 pts 0-i BR

Unit Composition: 2 men
Transport: None
Special Rule: Wire Communications

NKVD Officer . . . . . . 26 pts D6-r BR (Restricted)

Unit Composition: 3 men

Forward Headquarters group

Transport: Gaz Jeep
Special Rules: Senior Officer, ‘Fight Damn You!’,
Mortar Spotter, Unique

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

INFANTRY UNITS
Each unit taken from Infantry allows a support choice from: Reconnaissance, Engineers or Specialist units.

Rifle Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 pts 5-i BR

For each Platoon you may choose 4 Support units

Platoon Composition: 1 Rifle Platoon Command

Light Mortar team . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 pts 1-i BR
Unit Composition: 2 men with 50mm mortar
Squad, 4 Rifle Squads and up to 4 Platoon Support
Options. Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts

Rifle Platoon Command Squad

Unit Composition: 3 men Anti-Tank Rifle team . . . . . . . . . . 14 pts 1-i BR
Special Rules: Officer, Mortar Spotter, Ura! Ura! Unit Composition: 2 men with AT rifle

Options:
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . +5 pts
Anti-Tank Gun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 pts 1-i BR
Unit Composition: 45mmL46 gun with 3 crew
4 Rifle Squads
Upgrade anti-tank gun to 45mmL68 . . . . . . . . +8 pts
Unit Composition: 8 men with 1 DP LMG
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Special Rules: Ura! Ura!
Horse and limber tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts
Options:
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . +5 pts

Infantry Gun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 pts 1-i BR

Platoon Support Options
Unit Composition: 76.2mm infantry gun with 3 crew
The Platoon may include up to four of the following
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
additional units. No unit may be taken more than once.
Horse and limber tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts
Maxim Machine Gun team . . . . . 18 pts 1-i BR
Unit Composition: 3 men with a Maxim MG
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts

Rifle Squad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 pts 1-i BR

Squad Composition: 1 Rifle Squad

Rifle Squad
Unit Composition: 8 men with 1 DP LMG
Rifle Squad
Special Rules: Ura! Ura!
Options:
Game Size Infantry Restrictions Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . +5 pts
In a Squad-level game you must include at least 1 Infantry Squad.
You cannot include more than 2 Infantry Platoons.

In Platoon-level game you must take at least 1 Infantry Platoon.

You cannot include more than 4 Infantry Platoons.

In Company-level games you must take at least 2 Infantry Platoons.

You cannot include more than 6 Infantry Platoons.

In Battalion-level games you must take at least 3 Infantry Platoons.

You cannot include more than 9 Infantry Platoons.

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

Rifle Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 pts 16-i BR

For each Company you may choose 12 Support units

Company Composition: 1 Rifle Company Command Light Mortar team . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 pts 1-i BR
Squad, 3 Rifle Platoons and up to 4 Platoon Support Unit Composition: 2 men with 50mm mortar
Options per platoon. Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts

Rifle Company Command Squad

Unit Composition: 4 men Anti-Tank Rifle team . . . . . . . . . . 14 pts 1-i BR
Special Rules: Officer, Mortar Spotter, Ura! Ura! Unit Composition: 2 men with AT rifle

3 Rifle Platoons
Unit Composition: 1 Rifle Platoon Command Squad Anti-Tank Gun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 pts 1-i BR
and 4 Rifle Squads (see opposite for details) Unit Composition: 45mmL46 gun with 3 crew
Special Rules: Ura! Ura! Upgrade anti-tank gun to 45mmL68 . . . . . . . . +8 pts
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Horse and limber tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts
Platoon Support Options Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Each Platoon may include up to four of the following
additional units. No unit may be taken more than once
per platoon.
Infantry Gun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 pts 1-i BR
Unit Composition: 76.2mm infantry gun with 3 crew
Maxim Machine Gun team . . . . . 18 pts 1-i BR
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Unit Composition: 3 men with a Maxim MG
Horse and limber tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

TANK UNITS
Each unit taken from Tanks allows a support choice from: Reconnaissance, Engineers, Logistics or Specialist units.

T-34 Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 pts 9-r BR Lend-Lease Light Tank Platoon . . 84 pts 6-r BR
Unit Composition: 3 T-34/43s Unit Composition: 3 Valentine IIIs
3 T-34/43s 3 Valentine IIIs
Special Rules: Stal! Stal! Stal!
Special Rules: Stal! Stal! Stal! T-34 mobility
A T-34 Platoon allows 2 Support choices Options: Upgrade all Valentine IIIs in the platoon to:
M3 Stuarts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6 pts

T-34 A Lend-Lease Tank Platoon allows 2 Support choices

Unit Composition: 1 T34/43
T-34/43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 pts 3-r BR
Lend-Lease Medium Tank Platoon . . . . . .
Special Rules: Stal! Stal! Stal! T-34 mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 pts 9-r BR
Unit Composition: 3 Matilda IIs
3 Matilda IIs
Special Rules: Stal! Stal! Stal!

Options: Upgrade all Matilda IIs in the platoon to:

M3 Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +40 pts
Churchill III or IVs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +56 pts

A Lend-Lease Tank Platoon allows 2 Support choices

KV-1E
Lend-Lease Tank
Unit Composition: 1 lend-lease tank
Churchill III or IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 pts 3-r BR
M3 Grant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 pts 3-r BR
KV-1 Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 pts 9-r BR Matilda II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 pts 3-r BR
Unit Composition: 3 KV-1Ss Valentine III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 pts 2-r BR
3 KV-1Ss M3 Stuart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 pts 2-r BR

Options: Upgrade all KV-1S in the platoon to: Special Rules: Stal! Stal! Stal!
KV-1E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +9 pts

Special Rules: Unreliable (KV-1E only)

A KV-1 Platoon allows 2 Support choices

KV-1 Tank
Unit Composition: 1 KV-1 tank
KV-1S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 pts 3-r BR
KV-1E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 pts 3-r BR

Special Rules: Unreliable (KV-1E only)

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

ARTILLERY UNITS
Each unit taken from Artillery allows a support choice from: Additional Fire Support.

Forward Observer Team . . . . . . . 16 pts 1-i BR Mortar Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 pts 2-i BR

Unit Composition: 2 men Unit Composition: 2 82mm mortars and 3 crew each
Transport : Gaz Jeep Options:
Special Rules: Artillery Spotter+, Unique Include a 3 man loader team . . . . +10 pts per mortar
Add 1 additional 82mm mortar . . +22 pts +1-i BR
Options: Upgrade Jeep to:
Bren Carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts

Heavy Mortar Battery . . . . . . . 58 pts 2-i BR

Unit Composition: 2 120mm mortars and 3 crew each
Guards Mortar Battery . . . . . . . 100 pts 2-i BR
Options:
Unit Composition: 2 BM-13 Katyusha
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . +10 pts per mortar
Options: Replace both BM-13 with:
Add 1 additional 120mm mortar . +29 pts +1-i BR
BM-8-13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +20 pts

Off-Table Mortar Fire

Unit Composition: 1 Battery
3 82mm mortars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 pts 0 BR
3 120mm mortars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 pts 0 BR

Heavy Artillery Battery . . . . . . 86 pts 4-i BR

Zis3 field gun
Field Artillery Battery . . . . . . . 55 pts
Unit Composition: 2 76.2mm Zis3 guns and 3 crew
Options:
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . +10 pts per gun
Horse and limber tow . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts per gun
Off-Table Artillery Fire
Unit Composition: 1 Battery
2 BM-13 Katyusha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 pts
2 76.2mm Zis3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 pts
2 122mm howitzers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 pts
2 152mm howitzers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 pts
Unit Composition: 2 122mmL23 howitzers and 4 crew
each
Options:
4-i BR Upgrade both 122mmL23 howitzers to 152mmL24
howitzers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . +10 pts per gun
Horse and limber tow . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts per gun
Upgrade both 122mmL23 howitzers to 122mmL46
cannons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +36 pts
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . +10 pts per gun
Horse and limber tow . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts per gun
0 BR
0 BR
0 BR
0 BR

122mm howitzer

113
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Each unit taken from Defences allows no support choices.
May only be taken if your battlegroup is the Defender in an Attack-Defence scenario.
Improvised Barricades . . . . . . . . 5 pts
10" of improvised barricades made of earth filled
boxes, rubble, furniture, destroyed vehicles etc. Counts
as hard cover for infantry behind it.
Machine Gun Dug-out . . . . . . . . 32 pts
3 men and a Maxim MG in reinforced cover. The cover
is lost if the MG team move.
Machine Gun Pillbox . 54 pts 1BR (Restricted)
3 men and a Maxim MG in hardened cover. The cover
is lost if the MG team move.
Mortar Pit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 pts
3 men and an 82mm mortar in reinforced cover. The
cover is lost if the mortar team moves.
Fortified Building . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 pts
A single, chosen building, anywhere on the table,
counts as reinforced cover rather than hard cover.
Foxholes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts
Deploy up to 10 infantry in foxholes; they count as in
reinforced cover until they move.
Trenches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts
Up to 10"of trenches which count as reinforced cover
for infantry in them.
Sniper Hideout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 pts
A single sniper in reinforced cover. It can be placed
anywhere outside of the opponent’s deployment zone.
The cover is lost if the sniper moves.
Anti-Tank Rifle Team Hideout . . 20 pts 1-i BR
A small 2 man team armed with an anti-tank rifle, well
hidden, in a camouflaged foxhole. These teams had
orders to allow the enemy to pass by then attack from
the rear. The team can be deployed anywhere outside
the attacker’s deployment zone. They are in reinforced
cover. If the team moves the cover is lost.
Barbed Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts
Up to 10" of barbed wire. It is an obstacle for vehicles
and infantry.
114
DEFENCES
0 BR AT Gun Dug-out . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 pts + gun
0 BR + gun
Reinforced cover for a single anti-tank gun and crew
until the gun moves. Gun must be purchased from the
army list.
1-i BR
AT Gun Bunker
. . . . . . . . . . . . 30 pts+gun 0 BR+gun (Restricted)
Hardened cover for a single anti-tank gun and crew
until the gun moves. The gun must be purchased from
the army list as normal.
Artillery Observation Post . . . . . . . 26 pts 1-i BR
1-i BR Special Rules: Artillery Spotter+, Unique
A Forward observer team has in reinforced cover. The
cover is lost if the FAO team move.
0 BR Command Bunker . . . . 30 pts 3 BR (Restricted)
Special Rules: Senior Officer, Mortar Spotter, Unique
A command post in a wood and earth bunker. 4 men in
hardened cover. The cover is lost if the command unit
0 BR moves.
Booby Trapped Building . . . . . . . . 25 pts 0 BR
Any building on the table has been wired with booby-
0 BR traps. The first time an enemy unit enters the building
roll a D6. On a 2+ it detonates and the unit takes a
3/3+ HE hit. On a 1 there is a fault and the booby trap
fails to go off!
0-v BR
Minefield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 pts 0 BR
A single mixed anti-tank and anti-personnel minefield.
Improvised Road Block . . . . . . . . . . 5 pts 0 BR
Something large and heavy across a road. Place on any
road or track, anywhere on the table. It counts as an
obstacle.
Dug-in T-34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 pts 3-r BR
A single T-34 dug-in up to its turret. The tank cannot
move at all in the game, but always counts as an
obscured target and gains +1 level to its armour values
0 BR from all directions. When dug-in, a T34 cannot use the
Stal! Stal! Stal! special rule.
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

Dug-in T-34 Platoon . . . . . . . . . . 125 pts 9-r BR

Three T-34s dug-in up to their turrets. The tanks
cannot move at all in the game, but always count as
an obscured target and gain +1 level to their armour
values from all directions. When dug-in, a T34 cannot
use the Stal! Stal! Stal! special rule.

Dug-in KV-1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 pts 3-r BR

A single KV-1E dug-in up to its turret. The tank cannot
move at all in the game, but always counts as an
obscured target and gains +1 level to its armour values
from all directions. When dug-in a KV-1E does not
suffer from the Unreliable special rule. Dug-in T-34

Counter Bombardment . . . 20 pts 0 BR (Unique) Anti-Tank Ditch/Embankment

The counter bombardment is a tactic designed to hit
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 pts 0 BR (Restricted)
10" of ditch or embankment, impassable to vehicles
the enemy just as they are themselves preparing to
without a bridge.
attack, causing confusion, delays and disorganisation
as well as catching enemy units in their assembly
areas after they had emerged from their own cover.
For the Motherland! . . . . . 15 pts 0 BR (Unique)
The Russians are fighting the Great Patriotic War to
Use the Counter Bombardment after both sides have
expel fascist invaders from their homeland, and at
deployed, but before the first turn has been started.
Kursk they resisted the German attack with great
Roll a D6.
resilience and courage. At the start of a game, a
Russian battlegroup rolls a D6 and adds this score to
1 No Effect
its total morale value for the battle.
The bombardment is off target and has no effect.
2-5 Hit
Delays and disorganisation mean that your
opponent must take 1 Battle Counter at the
beginning of his first turn.
6 Direct Hit
Delays and disorganisation mean that your
opponent must take 2 Battle Counters at the
beginning of his first turn.

Also, roll a D6 for each enemy unit already deployed.

On a 6 the unit is marked as Pinned. If the enemy has
no units on the table then this part of the Counter
Bombardment has no further effect.

Command Bunker

Off-table Zis 3 anti-tank shot . . . . . 5 pts 0 BR

The positions are covered by anti-tank guns, well-
camouflaged behind the lines. You may take a single
76.2mmL53 Aimed Fire – Armour-Piercing shot at an
enemy vehicle within 30" of your table edge. The shot
will hit on a dice roll of 6, with a penetration value of
4. This requires no orders.

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

RECONNAISSANCE SUPPORT UNITS

Sniper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 1-v BR

Unit Composition: 1 man
Special Rules: Sniper Scout
Sniper Team
Options:
Add a spotter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +5 pts
Infantry Foot Patrol . . . . . . . . . 22 pts 2-i BR
Spotter: A sniper with a spotter increases its maximum Squad Composition: 1 Rifle squad
range from 30" to 40", hitting on a 6. Special Rules: Scout, Mortar Spotter

Armoured Car Rifle Squad

Unit Composition: 1 Armoured Car Unit Composition: 8 men with 1 DP LMG
Special Rules: Scout, Mortar Spotter Options:
BA-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 pts 1-i BR (Restricted) Squad may take anti-tank grenades . . . . . . . . +5 pts

Cavalry Squadron . . . . . . . . . . 30 pts 2-i BR Motorcycle Reconnaissance Patrol

Squad Composition: 1 Cavalry Squadron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 pts 1-i BR
Transport: Horses Unit Composition: 3 men
Special Rules: Scout, Mortar Spotter Transport: Motorcyle and sidecar
Special Rules: Scout, Mortar Spotter

Cavalry Squadron
Unit Composition: 8 men with 1 DP LMG

116
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

ENGINEER SUPPORT UNITS

Repair Vehicle Heavy Bridging Unit . . . 36 pts 3-i BR (Restricted)

Unit Composition: 1 Medium Repair Truck Unit Composition: 12 men
Special Rules: Vehicle Repair Transport: 2 Heavy Trucks with a bridge
Repair Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 pts 2-i BR (Restricted) Special Rules: Bridging, Unique

Options:
Sapper Squad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 pts 2-r BR Per extra 6 men and heavy truck . . . . . . . +24 pts each
Squad Composition: 1 Sapper Squad
Special Rules: Engineers
Light Bridging Unit . . . . . . . . . . 18 pts 2-i BR
Sapper Squad Unit Composition: 6 men
Unit Composition: 8 men with anti-tank grenades Transport: Heavy Truck with a bridge
Transport : mount in a medium truck . . . . . . . . +4 pts Special Rules: Bridging
Options:
May take a flamethrower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
May take a mine sweeper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +5 pts Anti-Tank Mine Dog . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 0-i BR
Squad Composition: 1 man and his dog
May take a demoliton charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +5 pts
Special Rules: Mine Dog

LOGISTICS SUPPORT UNITS

Supply Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 pts 1-i BR Combat Medic . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 pts 0-i BR

Unit Composition: 1 horse drawn wagon Unit Composition: 1 man
Special Rules: Resupply, Unique Special Rules: Medic

Options:
Add up to 2 horse drawn wagons . . . . . . +4 pts each
Stretcher Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 1-i BR
Unit Composition: 2 men
Special Rules: Medic

Ambulance . . . . . . . . . . . 14 pts 2-i BR (Restricted)

Unit Composition: 1 Jeep Ambulance
Special Rules: Medic

Options: Upgrade Jeep ambulance to:

Supply Wagon Ambulance Medium Trucks . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts

Forward Aid Post . . . . . 20 pts 5-i BR (Restricted)

Unit Composition: 4 men with a tent
Special Rules: Unique

117
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
SPECIALIST SUPPORT UNITS
Heavy Infantry Support Tank
Unit Composition: 1 Heavy Tank
Special Rules: Unreliable, Unique
KV-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 pts
Heavy Anti-Tank Gun
Unit Composition: 1 anti-tank gun with crew
76.2mmL54 Zis 3 AT gun with 3 crew . . 33 pts 2-i BR
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Horse and limber tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Komsomolyets tractor tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
85mmL53 AA gun with 4 crew . . . . . . . . 51 pts 3-i BR
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Horse and limber tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
Komsomolyets tractor tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +8 pts
118
45mm Anti-Tank Gun Battery . . 48 pts 3-i BR
Unit Composition: 3 45mmL46 anti-tank guns with 3
crew each
3-r BR Special Rules: Unique
Options:
Upgrade all 45mmL46 guns to 45mmL66 . . . . +20 pts
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . +10 pts per gun
Horse and limber tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2 pts per gun
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts per gun
Towed Anti-Aircraft Gun
Unit Composition: 1 anti-aircraft gun with crew
DshK HMG with 3 crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 pts 1-i BR
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
37mm AA gun with 3 crew . . . . . . . . . . . 36 pts 1-i BR
Include a 3 man loader team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +10 pts
Medium Truck tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +4 pts
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

ADDITIONAL FIRE SUPPORT

Off-Table Artillery Support Request Pre-Registered Target Point . . . . 10 pts 0 BR

3rd Target Priority (5+) . . . . . . . . . . . 5 pts 0 BR
2nd Target Priority (4+) . . . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 0 BR
1st Target Priority (2+) . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 pts 0 BR Counter-Battery Fire Mission . . 10 pts 0 BR
The counter-battery fire mission is effective on a 4+.

Russian Army Fire Mission Requests Timed 122mm Barrage . . . . . . . . . 20 pts 0 BR

Fired by a battery of six 122mm howitzers. Before the
Regimental Battery (not available, any regimental guns game, write down which turn the guns will fire on. The
are always taken as Artillery units) points cost includes a pre-registered target as the target
point of the barrage.
Corps Battery (3+ comms test)
1-3 3 82mm mortars
4-6 3 120mm mortars Timed 152mm Barrage . . . . . . . . . 30 pts 0 BR
Fired by a battery of six 152mm howitzers. Before the
Army Battery (4+ comms test) game, write down which turn the guns will fire on. The
1-2 4 76.2mm cannons points cost includes a pre-registered target as the target
3-4 2 Katyusha rocket launchers point of the barrage.
5 4 122mm cannons
6 4 152mm howitzers
Timed Katyusha Barrage . . . . . . . 25 pts 0 BR
Front Battery (5+ comms test) Fired by a battery of two Katyusha rocket launchers.
1-2 4 122mm howitzers Before the game, write down which turn the battery
3-4 4 152mm howitzers will fire on. The points cost includes a pre-registered
5-6 4 203mm howitzers target as the target point of the barrage.

Russian Close Air Support Table 1943 Timed IL-2 Air Strike . . . . . . . . . 10 pts 0 BR
D6 Aircraft An air strike by a Sturmovik carrying 4 small bombs.
1 Fighter (choose from Yak 1 or 9 or P-39) Before the game, write down which turn the aircraft
1-2 No bombs will arrive on. The points cost includes a pre-registered
3-6 2 small bombs target as the target point of the air strike.

2-3 IL-2 Sturmovik

1-2 2 PTAB Bombs Timed PE-2 Air Strike . . . . . . . . . 20 pts 0 BR
3 4 small bombs An air strike by a PE-2 carrying 8 small bombs. Before
4-6 8 82mm rockets the game, write down which turn the aircraft will
arrive on. The points cost includes a pre-registered
4 IL-2 Sturmovik target as the target point of the air strike.
1-6 2 37mm cannons

5 PE-2 Dive Bomber

Timed IL-4 Air Strike . . 25 pts 0 BR (Restricted)
An air strike by a IL-4 bomber carrying 5 large bombs.
1-2 4 large bombs
Before the game, write down which turn the aircraft
3-6 8 small bombs
will arrive on. The points cost includes a pre-registered
target as the target point of the air strike.
6 Choose
Select any of the above aircraft

You may always choose an aircraft from lower down the

table over a higher roll. You must still roll for armament.

119
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
RIFLE DIVISION
EXAMPLE OF A RIFLE DIVISION’S ORGANISATION – 1943
51st GUARDS RIFLE DIVISION
The 76th Rifle Division was awarded its ‘Guards’ title in
November 1942, in recognition of its role during fighting
to recapture the town of Kletskaya. It was then re-
designated the 51st Guards Rifle Division.
By the summer of 1943, it was deployed as part of
Voronezh Front’s 6th Guards Army. The 51st Guards Rifle
Division was one of three divisions forming 23rd Guards
Rifle Corps, deployed along the Voronezh Front, covering
30km of the front line north of Belgorod. In expectation
of a German offensive, the Corps was deployed with two
divisions (52nd Guards Rifle and 375th Rifle) in the first
echelon, holding the first defence lines behind anti-tank
and anti-personnel minefields, with the weaker 51st
Guards Rifle Division deployed approximately 10km
behind. It occupied the second line of defences and anti-
tank strongpoints (again behind minefields) on higher
ground between the villages of Syrtsevo and Nepkhaevo
– thus blocking the main Belgorod to Oboyan road. It also
had the 28th Anti-Tank Brigade in direct support, as they
were deployed protecting an area deemed to be good tank
country for the enemy to exploit. The 23rd Guards Rifle
Corps was also supported by 96th Tank Brigade’s 61 T-34s.
On July 5th, the Corps’ forwards defences came under
heavy assault from II SS Panzer Corps, and the front line
was breached at Bykovka, Berezov and Gremuchii by
tanks and Panzer Grenadiers. In heavy fighting, the SS
tanks pushed through the first line defences, splitting 52nd
Guards Rifle Division in two, to reach 51st Guards Rifles’
forward positions that evening along a 6km front where,
coming under sustained fire from 28th Anti-Tank Brigade,
the Germans halted for the night.
3rd Battalion, 156th Rifle Regiment was attached to the
52nd Guards Rifle Division to help defend the village of
Berezov, and had been reinforced with engineers armed
with flamethrowers. It formed an all-round defence of
the village, but when the German advance swept around
Berezov, they were cut off, and only 41 men from this
reinforced battalion eventually escaped to their own lines.
On July 5th, the division was also engaged defending a
strongpoint at Hill 218.3 and the village of Vorskla, but at
1630, Army Headquarters received reports that both had
fallen, and the village of Solonets was also being attacked,
but had held. The attack was expected to be renewed
next day and that night was spent in furious activity to
reinforce the weaker second defence line.
120
5th Guards Tank Corps was assembled behind 51st
Division’s positions, with orders to counterattack through
the infantry positions with some 200 tanks. This attack
was soon cancelled, as the German offensive was deemed
to be still too strong, battle attrition having as yet failed
to weaken the enemy so that the counterattack might be
expected to succeed. Instead, the tanks aided the defence,
and gradually withdrew before the German advance. The
51st Division’s right flank was supported by elements of
the newly deploying 3rd Mechanised Corps, who had also
expected to join the aborted counterattack.
On July 6th, at 0600 the division was engaged by a
reconnaissance-in-force from the two SS divisions it was
facing, at Solonets, Iakovlevo and Luchki. On Hills 243.2
and 246.3, the division endured massive barrages of
Nebelwerfer ‘screechers’.
Not until 1120 did the enemy actually strike, unleashing
two Panzer Grenadier regiments and 100 tanks in an
attack on Iakovlevo and Luchki, with at least 50 Luftwaffe
fighter-bombers overhead. The remaining tanks of 230th
and 245th Tank Regiments (96th Tank Brigade) held
the attack for several hours, before extra enemy tank
reinforcements sent to aid the assault on Luchki forced
a breakthrough and captured the village. The defending
156th Rifle Regiment’s survivors made a disorganised,
pell-mell retreat to the northwest, but order was restored
by evening as they re-grouped in the Sukho area. There
was fierce streetfighting in Iakovlevo throughout the day,
and it too had fallen by the evening.
In all the 51st Guards Rifle Division had offered no
more than two hours serious resistance against the two
elite enemy Panzer Grenadier divisions, and had lost
over half its manpower by 7th July – despite only being
heavily engaged on July 6th. Even the commitment of the
division’s training battalion had not helped. The division’s
retreat saw the second defence line breached.
On July 7th, 23rd Guards Rifle Corps commander was
relieved of his command and the 51st Guards Rifle
Division’s commander, Major General Tavartkiladze, was
promoted to replace him. Now with only approximately
30% of its manpower remaining, the division’s dwindling
resources were continually pushed back to, and then
across, the Psel river. Now engaged by the advancing
Panzers of SS Totenkopf they were unable to prevent that
division crossing the Psel. In subsequent fighting north of
the Psel, on the 11th, 12th and 13th July, the 51st Guards
Rifle Division was all but destroyed.

154th Guards Rifle Regiment
(3 battalions)
156th Guards Rifle Regiment
(2 battalions)
158th Guards Rifle Regiment
(2 battalions)
122nd Guards Artillery Regiment
(under Major Uglovsky)
Reconnaissance Battalion
Anti-Tank Battalion
Engineer Battalion
Signals Battalion
Training Battalion
Service Units
In all the division could field 42
45mm anti-tank guns in its rifle
regiments. Its anti-tank battalion was
entirely equipped with 76.2mm guns.
The seven (it should have been nine)
infantry battalions were equipped
with 45 50mm mortars, 74 82mm
mortars and 18 120mm mortars.
On 4th July, the division reported
8,405 men on its strength, instead of
a TO&E of 10,595 men. This may be
accounted for because two battalions
were detached to 52nd Guards Rifle
Division’s command, to strengthen
the first line defences, along with
some of the division’s anti-tank guns.
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
The 122nd Guards Artillery
Regiment was poorly equipped with
only 76.2mm guns. It had no 122mm
or 152mm howitzers on its strength.
It also had no Katyusha support.
The supporting 96th Tank Brigade
started the Kursk battle with 61 T-34
tanks but was reduced to 20 vehicles
by July 11th. They mostly fought
dug-in as static pillboxes.
Below: Red Army infantry disembark from a Matilda II
whilst under mortar fire. This photograph was taken
during an attack by South-West Front in 1943.
(Novosti 491038)
121
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
BATTLES AT
KURSK
W ith the rules and models you
are now ready to play a game
– but what will that game be? The
details of deployment, terrain layout,
reinforcements and such like are all
covered by the scenario. This outlines
the rules of how to put your forces
on the tabletop, and any special rules
like flanking forces or reinforcements.
There are six basic scenarios, three
meeting engagements (where both
forces are on the march before they
clash), and three Attack/Defence
scenarios (where one side is already
dug-in and awaiting an attack).
Players should decide before they
select their forces whether they will
be playing a Meeting Engagement
(the favoured default position, as this
doesn’t require too much in the way
of specialist units or model defences),
or an Attack/Defence scenario.
They can then either choose which
scenario to play (by mutual consent
of course!), or roll a D6 as follows.
122
D6
1-3
MEETING ENGAGEMENTS
Scenario
Attack/Counter-Attack
4-5 Flanking Attack
6 Bridgehead Breakout
ATTACK/DEFENCE
D6 Scenario
1-3 Defence Line
4-5 High Ground
6 Strongpoint Assault
Each scenario gives a situation report,
outlining what is happening (or
about to happen) on the tabletop. It
gives details of how many objectives
to use, and where they can be placed.
It also details how each battlegroup
will be deployed with how many
units and where they can go. Follow
the instructions in order, and you’ll
get an exciting game (well that is the
theory anyway!).
It is worth noting here that none
of these scenarios require both
sides to simply line up their entire
battlegroup 24" or 36" apart and just
start blasting away at each other.
There is nothing wrong with this
approach for beginners, but it is not
much like a real battle during WWII.
With more mobile forces, battles were
far more fluid that this simplistic
approach, which harks back to
Napoleonic or medieval battles
when armies often did formally line
up before the battle began. A more
staggered start also avoids handing
a huge advantage to the player
who has the first turn, as he gets
first chance to open fire and tear his
opponent’s battlegroup apart before
he can respond (not a very satisfying
game for either player).
Setting up terrain is left to the
players’ discretion. A random
terain generator is provided here,
which is just one method of placing
terrain. Other methods, including
attempting to replicate a real location,
or allowing one player to lay out
the terrain without him know
which table edge or corner will
be his deployment zone (this
avoids handing him a large
advantage or skewing the terrain
deployment in his favour – surely
not!). If you have a willing helper
a good method is to allow an
independent third party to layout
the terrain.
When using the terrain generator,
don’t be too rigid. It is better to
create a realistic and interesting
table than to stick with the dice
rolls, which might in the end
create terrain you don’t want or
that makes for a difficult battle.
As ever, common sense is the best
guide here.

THE TERRAIN OF KURSK
T he battlefield over which the
Kursk offensive would roll is an
area known as the Central Russian
Uplands, with the Russian Army’s
salient holding the southern region
of the uplands, centred on the city of
Kursk itself.
The uplands are broad plains with
occasional rolling steppes. They are
not actually hilly as the name would
suggest, but more a series of low
ridges, punctuated by small groves
of trees, and steep ravines thick with
vegetation. These ravines, called
balkas (dry stream beds) fill quickly
with water and drained equally
quickly after the frequent summer
thunderstorms, but at their base they
are often permanently very marshy.
These natural barriers, prone to flash
flooding, would greatly impede
German movement and assist the
Soviet defences. This was accentuated
because they were often not marked
on maps.
The region’s actual rivers were
generally fordable, with low banks.
The exception to this general rule was
the Northern Donets, just south of
the city of Belgorod. This was a major
obstacle for the Germans with a very
steep western bank. There were also
many narrow, slow-flowing streams
feeding these rivers. Streams were
generally fordable, running through
narrow, wooded valleys.
When Operation Citadel began, it
was the height of summer, with long
days and short nights. With dawn
breaking just before 3am, and the sun
not setting again until gone 10pm,
this made for very long days of
combat, and short recovery times in
the hours of darkness. The weather
was generally sunny and hot, but
also very humid, with frequent
thunderstorms later in the days.
Roads were all unpaved dirt tracks,
very dusty in the high summer, but
quickly turning into a morass under
the sudden falls of rain. Railway lines
provided good movement routes,
being well drained by their ballast,
but were infrequent.
A notable feature of the battlefield
was the low hills or ridgelines topped
by Kurgans, the old burial mounds
of Scythian chieftains on man-made
hillocks. Some of these were dug-out
and converted into strongpoints.
Positioned on high points, the
Kurgans became the hilltop reference
points on military maps, thus often
becoming the focus of fighting to gain
the high ground.
This rolling landscape was dotted
with large and small farming
hamlets, flanked by rolling farm land.
Extensively cultivated, especially
with wheat, in July it had yet to be
harvested and, abandoned by the
locals, had grown man-high. The
wheat, maize and sunflowers grew in
massive fields, providing tanks with
long lines of sight to the horizon,
especially from the vantage points.
Uncultivated ground was often very
tall grass, again as high as a man,
useful for hiding men and guns.
Although most of the forests had
long been cleared for agriculture
there were still many stands of trees
(birch and alder predominantly),
varying in size, which provided both
sides with a degree of protection and
useful troop concentration points. So
commonly did the Russians defend
the woods that it quickly became
German practice to target every wood
in their path with dive bombers,
whether it was known to be occupied
by the enemy or not.
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
The many farms and villages
consisted of thatched wooden huts
covered in clay, often with white-
washed exteriors. Each cottage would
include its own vegetable patch. The
few larger towns were agricultural
collection points, gaining some brick
buildings as collective barns and
grain silos. There were occasional
wooden windmills serving the
collective farms.
None of this terrain was to come
as any surprise to the attacking
Germans, who had already captured
the region once in 1941 and had
extensive maps and climatic
information to aid their planning.
COLLECTING KURSK
TERRAIN
The terrain over which a battle
is fought has a large effect on the
style and outcome of the fighting.
Characterising a game as taking
place at Kursk will, to a large degree,
be dependent upon using the
appropriate terrain. The advantage
here is these are the wide open
steppes of Russia, nowhere near as
densely occupied as western Europe,
which means far fewer terrain models
are needed.
With long lines of sight and wide
fields of fire being a significant factor,
too much terrain will interfere with
this, so when it comes to a ‘Kursk-
style’ game, less is more. A few
thatched cottages, a stand of trees and
a large cornfield should be ample to
start with.
You can build up a terrain collection
by adding more cottages, a barn,
maybe a windmill or grain silo. Crop
fields are important, as are additional
woods, a stream or marsh and
perhaps even a railway line on an
embankment.
123
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
USING AND
POSITIONING TERRAIN
Before playing a battle you will need
to lay out the battlefield. There are
various methods of doing this, but
one common method is to use a
random terrain generator. A terrain
generator is included here to cover
the broad type of terrain fought over
at Kursk. This is not the only method
of creating a battlefield. Players
should feel free to use any method
they find works for them.
Using the Terrain Generators
To use the terrain generators first
divide your table into roughly 24"
by 24" squares. Then roll a D3. This
gives the number of pieces of terrain
in the area. Next, roll two differently
coloured D6s, and cross-reference the
terrain table opposite.
When generating terrain, it is less
important that you follow the rules
exactly than it is that you create an
interesting battlefield. Terrain can
spill over the edges of its designated
124
24"x24" area, by up to about half its
size. Tracks and streams should lead
from a table edge to another table edge
or to some other suitable feature. For
tracks, this is likely to be a building
or a village. If a road crosses a stream
then there will be a wooden bridge (or
remains of a bridge) or a ford. In the
end, try to use common sense when
generating your terrain and make the
miniature world ‘work’.
KURSK TERRAIN GENERATOR
The terrain at Kursk is the broad
Russian steppe. It has large, gently
rolling fields, which at the height of
summer are dense with tall wheat
and sunflowers. Unlike western
Europe, most field did not have
hedgerow boundaries, although
they could have some. There are a
few scattered woods and copses and
far fewer roads and tracks than in
Europe. The peasant cottages, barns,
collective farms and villages were
mostly made from wood. The few
larger towns, such as Ponyri, had
some larger brick buildings.
There were a few smaller streams
feeding the main rivers and in low-
lying areas these were still marshy.
A balka is a dried up stream bed,
which might still fill with water after
a rain storm, but its steep banks and
vegetation provided good cover.
TERRAIN TYPES
Crop Field
Up to 20" square of tall crops (wheat,
maize or sunflowers). The field may
be edged by up to 20” of hedge.
A large crop field can be up to 40”
square.
Small Hill
A low hill up to about 10"square.
Large Hill
A hill up to 20" square. Each table
may only have one large hill. Re-roll
any subsequent large hill results.
Kurgan
A round, man-made burial mound up
to 5" across. It can be placed on top of
other hills.
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

KURSK TERRAIN TABLE

1 2 3 4 5 6

1 Small Hill Small Hill Small Hill Kurgan Kurgan Large Hill

2 Crop Field Crop Field Crop Field Crop Field Large Crop Field Large Crop Field

3 Copse Copse Copse Wood Wood Large Wood

4 Stream Stream Marshy Ground Marshy Ground Balka Lake/Pond

5 Small Building Farm Farm Village Village Large Building

6 Track Track Wreck Wreck Balka Railway Line

Copse
A small area of trees up to 10" square.
Units may only fire up to 5" through
woods.

Wood
An area of up trees to 20" square.
Units may only fire up to 5" through
woods.

Large Wood
An area of up trees up to 30" square.
Units may only fire up to 5" through
woods. Each table may only have one
large wood. Re-roll any subsequent
large wood results.

Stream Village TERRAIN FEATURE

A fordable stream. It is difficult
ground for vehicles. It should be
edged by bushes and trees.
Marsh
An area up to 10" by 10" of boggy
ground. Difficult ground for vehicles.
It provides soft cover for infantry.
Small Building
A peasant cottage, perhaps with a
small, fenced vegetable patch.
Large Building
A barn, grain silo, windmill, small
church (Eastern Orthodox) or perhaps
a railway halt.
Farm
Two or three small buildings such as
cottage, stable, barn, pig-sty, chicken
coup, etc.
Four to six small buildings with
a track leading to and from it.
Buildings can often be quite widely
scattered.
Track
A dirt road, one vehicle wide.
Railway Line
On an embankment running through
this area, from one board edge to
another.
Wrecks
A few destroyed vehicles or farm
carts. Most likely to be Russian tanks!
Lake/Pond
A pond or small lake up to 20"
square. Impassable to infantry and
vehicles.
Balka
Ravines carved by streams, often tree
lined and dense with undergrowth,
but marshy at their base, balkas
provided excellent hidden positions
and routes of movement for Russian
troops. Representing a balka is going
to be tricky, as they are below ground
level. So, unless you are fortunate
enough to have a pre-made balka,
placing one will need some invention.
A path between two hills, lined with
trees and bushes marking the edge,
can work. As a rule, any unit inside
isn’t visible to another unit unless it
is also in the balka, or on the edge (i.e.
looking in). Moving inside a balka
counts as difficult ground, but if a 1
is rolled on the dice then the vehicle
becomes immobilised as it bogs down
in the marshy bottom!

125
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

CLASH OF RECONNAISSANCE
This a brief introductory scenario,
designed to allow new players a chance
to try the rules in a small action before
pitching into a larger battle. As such,
it only includes basic forces for both
sides, an infantry platoon supported by
light armour. None of the more complex
specialist units are included.

SITUATION REPORT
Operating well in front of their
main forces, both sides’ forward
reconnaissance units are in no-man’s
land, seeking out the enemy, routes of
advance, possible ambush positions
and artillery targets. When the two
forces suddenly stumble into each
other, a fight ensues.
Scenario Type: Meeting Engagement
Battle Size: Squad
TERRAIN
Set up the terrain in any mutually
agreed manner. The map shown
above is only an example of the sort
of terrain you might use, but feel free
to create your own table top.
VICTORY
The first battlegroup to exceed its
total Battle Rating must withdraw
and loses the battle. Their opponent
is the winner.
GERMAN FORCES
Grenadier Platoon
50mm PaK38 anti-tank gun and
truck tow
SdKfz 232 Armoured car (scout)
SdKfz 233 Armoured car (scout)
Reserve
Pz IV G tank
Total Battle Rating: 18
Officers: 1
126
DEPLOYMENT
1. Determine Table Edges
Roll a D6. The player that rolls the
highest may choose which is his table
edge. His opponent automatically
gets the opposite table edge.
2. Place Objectives
Both sides place a single objective
marker in their half of the table. This
cannot be within 10" of the another
objective or 10" of any table edge.
SOVIET FORCES
Rifle Platoon
Anti-tank rifle team
82mm mortar team
45mmL66 anti-tank gun and
truck tow
Sniper and spotter team (scout)
BA-10 Armoured car (scout)
T-70 light tank (scout)
Reserve
T-34 tank
Total Battle Rating: 15
Officers: 1
3. Deploy Reconnaissance Forces
Both players take it in turns to place
all units from their reconnaissance
support. These can be placed
anywhere in their half of the table,
but not within 10" of the table’s centre
line. The player with the most scout
units starts deploying first.
If one side has no scout units, then his
opponent may position his own scout
units anywhere on the table and they
may start the game with the Ambush
Fire order.
4. Main Force Arrival
From turn 2 onwards, D6 units are
placed on the player’s table edge as
the rest of his forces arrive on the
table. Continue this until all the forces
are on the tabletop.
5. First Turn
Both player’s roll a D6 and add
the number of scout units in their
battlegroup. The side with the highest
total takes the first turn. On a tie, the
side with the most scout units wins. If
it is still a tie, then re-roll.
6. Reserve
At the beginning of each player’s
turn 4, they may place their reserve
unit on the table edge.
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

ATTACK / COUNTER-ATTACK
SITUATION REPORT: 20"
An enemy attack has broken through
and is threatening to penetrate deeper
into your division’s rear echelons,
which may force a withdrawal of 20"
troops currently engaged at the front.
10"

Your battlegroup has been held

in reserve to counter just such an
eventuality. You must move fast to
intercept the enemy breakthrough
and halt it. Reconnaissance units
are already tracking the enemy’s
movements and will guide you. Both
sides are on the march, so you must
move directly into battle, there is little
time for preparation.
Scenario Type: Meeting Engagement
TERRAIN
Set up the terrain in any mutually
agreed manner.
VICTORY
The first battlegroup to exceed its
total Battle Rating must withdraw
and loses the battle. Their opponent
is the winner.
DEPLOYMENT
1. Determine table corners.
Both sides roll a D6 and add the
number of scout units in their
battlegroup. The player with the
highest total chooses which table
corner will be his deployment zone,
his opponent automatically gets the
opposite table corner.
all air cover. Any aircraft counters
drawn from the pot automatically fail
to arrive. The counters are treated as
1s instead.
4. Deploy Reconnaissance Forces
The players take turns to place all
units from their reconnaissance
support. These can be placed
anywhere in their half of the table,
but not within 10" of the table’s centre
line. The player with the most scout
units starts deploying first.
If one side has no scout units, then his
opponent may position his own scout
units anywhere on the table and they
may start on Ambush Fire.
10"
20"
20"
5. First Turn
Both players roll a D6 and add
the number of scout units in their
battlegroup. The side with the highest
total takes the first turn. On a tie, the
side with the most scout units wins. If
it is still a tie, then re-roll.
6. Main Force Arrival
From turn 2 onwards D6* units are
placed on the player’s table edge,
within 20" of his table corner, as the
rest of his forces arrive on the table.
Continue this until all the forces are
on the tabletop.
* In Company-sized games roll 2D6.
In Battalion-sized games roll 3D6.

2. Place Objectives
Place four objectives on the table. The
side with the most scout units places
the first, then take it in turns. No
objective can be within 10" of another
objective or any table edge.

3. Weather Conditions
Roll a D6. On a roll of 1 there is a
sudden thunderstorm, grounding

127
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
FLANKING ATTACK
20"
20"
SITUATION REPORT
The vanguard of your battlegroup
has sighted the enemy, moving
forwards to engage you. You have
recalled your forward reconnaissance
units to assist in the coming battle,
and in the meantime you have been
holding back, waiting for these units
to arrive as a flanking force.
Now all is in place and there is no
further time to waste. Your vanguard
must begin clearing the route of
advance; the rest of the battlegroup is
closing up behind them fast.
Scenario Type: Meeting Engagement
TERRAIN
Set up the terrain in any mutually
agreed manner.
VICTORY
The first battlegroup to exceed its
total Battle Rating must withdraw
and loses the battle. Their opponent
is the winner.
DEPLOYMENT
1. Initial Forces
Both sides determine their initial
forces. Both sides have D6 units
chosen from their battlegroup already
128
20"
20"
deployed on the table. This may
not include any scout units, but
apart from this restriction, it can be
any units the commander wishes.
All the other units will arrive as
reinforcements.
2. Place Objectives
Place D3+2 objectives on the table.
The first objective must be the exact
centre of the table. After this, the
players take turns to place objectives,
starting with the player with the most
scout units. These objectives cannot
be within 10" of each other or any
table edge.
3. Weather Conditions
Roll a D6. On a roll of 1 there is a
sudden thunderstorm, grounding
all air cover. Any aircraft counters
drawn from the pot automatically fail
to arrive. The counters are treated as
1s instead.
4. Determine Deployment Zones
There are two deployment zones,
each 20" from a table corner. One
player should be allocated a random
table corner, with his opponent
automatically getting the opposite
corner.
5. Determine Flanking Zone
Both players roll a D6 and add
the number of scout units in their
battlegroup. The one with the highest
total may choose which of the other
corners (not being deployed on
by either side) will be his flanking
deployment zone. His opponent
then automatically gets the opposite
corner as his flanking deployment
zone.
7. Deploy Scouts
All the battlegroup’s scout units (if
any) must start the game deployed in
the flanking deployment zone, up to
20" from their table corner.
8. First Turn
Both players roll a D6 and add
the number of scout units in their
battlegroup. The side with the highest
total takes the first turn. On a tie, the
side with the most scout units wins. If
it is still a tie, then re-roll.
9. Reinforcement arrival
From turn 2 onwards D6* units are
placed on the player’s table edge, up
to 20" from their main deployment
zone corner, as the rest of his
battlegroup’s forces arrive on the
table. Continue this process until all
the forces are on the tabletop.
* In Company-sized games roll 2D6.
In Battalion-sized games roll 3D6.

BRIDGEHEAD BREAKOUT
SITUATION REPORT
About an hour ago, the leading
elements of your battlegroup
captured an intact river crossing
and are now holding position to
secure their tactical gain. The rest
of your battlegroup is now racing
to reinforce them and carry the
attack beyond the bridgehead. But
your forces defending the bridge
have just reported that fresh enemy
units have been sighted, and aerial
reconnaissance confirms enemy
forces are being redeployed to attack
and eliminate the bridgehead.
Both sides are now on a collision
course for a major engagement
around the bridge.
Scenario Type: Meeting Engagement
TERRAIN
Set up the terrain in any mutually
agreed manner. At one end of the
table, approximately 5" to 10" from
the edge, is a river, stream or marshy
ditch. In the centre of this obstacle
is the bridge, as shown on the map.
This obstacle is difficult ground (not
impassable).
VICTORY
The first battlegroup to exceed its
total Battle Rating must withdraw
and loses the battle. Their opponent
is the winner.
DEPLOYMENT
1. Holding the Bridge
Roll a D6 and add the number of
scout units in your battlegroup. The
side with the highest total starts the
game holding the bridge.
2. Place Objectives
Place D3+2 objectives on the table.
The first objective must be the bridge.
After this the players take it in turns
20"
to place objectives, starting with the
player who will be attacking the
bridge. These objectives cannot be
within 10" of each other or any table
edge.
3. Determine Initial forces.
Both sides have a D6 units chosen
from their battlegroup already
deployed on the table. This must
include any scout units in the
battlegroup before any other units
are chosen. Once all the scouts are
deployed then any other units can be
chosen. All the battlegroup’s other
units will arrive as reinforcements.
4. Weather Conditions
Roll a D6. On a roll of 1 there is a
sudden thunderstorm, grounding
all air cover. Any aircraft counters
drawn from the pot automatically fail
to arrive. The counters are treated as
1s instead.
5. Deployment Zones
The side holding the bridge has a
deployment zone of up to 20" from
the bridge itself. His opponent’s
deployment zone is up to 15" from
the opposite table edge, as shown on
the map.
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
15"
6. Deploy Initial Forces.
The players take turns to place their
initial units in their deployment zone.
The player with the most scout units
starts deploying first.
7. First Turn
Both players roll a D6 and add
the number of scout units in their
battlegroup. The side with the highest
total takes the first turn. On a tie, the
side with the most scout units wins. If
it is still a tie, then re-roll.
8. Main force arrival
From turn 2 onwards, D6* units are
placed on the player’s table edge as
the rest of his forces arrive on the
table. Continue this process every
turn until all the forces are on the
tabletop.
* In Company-sized games roll 2D6.
In Battalion-sized games roll 3D6.
129
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
DEFENCE LINE
10" Front Line Zone
Third of table
SITUATION REPORT
Your battlegroup’s objective is to
advance and smash through an
enemy defence line. First you must
probe the defences to find the weak
spot, then unleash the full force
of your battlegroup to destroy the
enemy and advance deeper into
enemy lines.
The enemy lines have already been
under heavy artillery fire, and as such
will already be weakened. But it is
likely that reinforcements will have
been dispatched to plug any gap, so
be aware that, should you penetrate
the lines, a counter-attack will be
closing in – destroy it.
Scenario Type: Attack/Defence
TERRAIN
Set up the terrain in any mutually
agreed manner.
VICTORY
The first battlegroup to exceed its
total Battle Rating must withdraw
and loses the battle. Their opponent
is the winner.
* In Company-sized games roll 2D6. In
Battalion-sized games roll 3D6.
130
DEPLOYMENT
1. Determine Table Edges
The defender may choose which of
the short table edges the Attacker
must deploy on. He gets the opposite
table edge.
2. Determine the Attacker’s Probing
Force and Main Force
Probing Force
The probing force must include all
the Attacker’s reconnaissance units.
These will be the first to test the
enemy defences. It can also include
up to three additional units. These
can be any units the attacker wishes.
Main Force
The rest of the attacker’s
battlegroup are his main force.
These begin to arrive from turn 3
onwards, on his table edge. D6*
units arrive at the beginning of
each of the attacker’s subsequent
turns, until they are all on the table.
3. Determine Initial Defenders
All the defender’s defences must
be placed in the front line zone; this
is the central third of the table, as
shown on the map. In addition to the
defences, the defender can also place
2D6 units in the front line zone. These
can be any units from his battlegroup
that the commander wishes.
4. Defender’s Reinforcements
Any units not deployed in the front
line zone are his reinforcements.
From turn 5 onwards D6* units will
automatically arrive on his table
edge, until all the units are on the
tabletop.
5. Defender Places Objectives
Place three objectives on the table.
The defender places two objectives in
the front line zone, and one anywhere
else on the table, but not with 10" of
a table edge or any other objective.
The defender cannot claim an all
objectives secured victory.
6. Weather Conditions
Roll a D6. On a roll of 1 there is a
sudden thunderstorm, grounding
all air cover. Any aircraft counters
drawn from the pot automatically fail
to arrive. The counters are treated as
1s instead.
7. Deploy Initial Defenders
Place all the initial defenders
anywhere in the front line zone. D3
units may start the game issued with
the Ambush Fire order.
8. Deploy Attacker’s Probing Force
The attacker’s probing force units are
placed within 10" of the attacker’s
table edge.
9. Resolve Bombardment
A D3 of the defender’s deployed
units are marked as Pinned, due
to the preparatory bombardment.
Allocate the Pinned markers
randomly.
10. First Turn
The attacker takes the first turn.

HIGH GROUND
SITUATION REPORT
Your battlegroup’s objective is to
clear and capture high ground along
the division’s route of advance. It
will be well defended, and expect
minefields, but in order for the rest
of the division to press its attacks, it
is vital that any threat from the high
ground is quickly neutralised. The
enemy will fight hard to hold their
positions, and aerial reconnaissance
indicates they have reserves ready to
counter-attack.
To deal with the waiting enemy,
your attack will be unleashed in two
waves. The first wave should draw
the enemy’s fire and force them to
commit their reinforcements. The
second wave should move to engage
and destroy those reinforcements and
push-on to overrun the objectives.
Scenario Type: Attack/Defence
TERRAIN
Set up the terrain in any mutually
agreedmanner. Place a hill
somewhere in the defender’s half of
the table. This is the high ground, the
target of the attack. Place the initial
defences (see below) on the hill or
anywhere within 10" of the hill.
VICTORY
The first battlegroup to exceed its
total battle rating must withdraw and
loses the battle. Their opponent is the
winner.
DEPLOYMENT
1. Determine the Assault Wave
First Assault Wave
Half the units in the attacker’s
battlegroup must be in the first
assault wave (round fractions up).
Second Assault Wave
Half the units in the attacker’s
10"
battlegroup will be in the second
wave. The second wave will enter
via the attacker’s table edge at the
beginning of turn 4.
2. Determine Initial Defenders
Half the units in the defender’s
battlegroup will start the game
deployed on the table, defending the
hill. This must include any defences.
All those units not deployed start the
game in reserve.
3. Defences
The defender always starts the
game with three defences. These are
always part of the defender’s force, in
addition to any other defences taken
as part of their battlegroup.
MMG Bunker
10" Trench
1 Minefield
4. Place Objectives
Place three objectives on the table.
The first is placed on the hill. The
players then take turns to place
objectives, starting with the attacker.
They should be placed anywhere in
their half of the table, but not with 10"
of another objective and not within
10" of a table edge.
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Half Table
Hill
Anywhere in the
defender’s half
5. Weather Conditions
Roll a D6. On a roll of 1 there is a
sudden thunderstorm, grounding
all air cover. Any aircraft counters
drawn from the pot automatically fail
to arrive. The counters are treated as
1s instead.
6. Deploy Initial Defenders
Place the initial defenders anywhere
in their half of the table. D6 units
may start the game issued with the
Ambush Fire order.
7. Deploy Attacker’s First Wave
The attacker’s first wave units are
placed within 10" of the attacker’s
table edge.
8. First Turn
The attacker takes the first turn.
9. Defender’s Reserves
From the beginning of turn 4, D6
of the defender’s reserve units
(commander’s choice) will arive on
his table edge.
10. Attacker’s Second Wave
At the beginning of the attacker’s
turn 4, all his second wave units
arrive on his table edge.
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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
STRONGPOINT ASSAULT
10"
20"
10"
SITUATION REPORT
Advanced reconnaissance units
have reported the presence of an
enemy strongpoint, well dug-in and
equipped. Your battlegroup has been
re-direct to engage the strongpoint
and destroy it. As you advance
towards it, you can detach part of
your force to outflank the position,
but beware of enemy reinforcements
in the area.
Scenario Type: Attack/Defence
TERRAIN
Set up the terrain in any mutually
agreed manner. The strongpoint will
be placed in the defender’s half of
the table.
VICTORY
The first battlegroup to exceed its
total Battle Rating must withdraw
and loses the battle. Their opponent
is the winner.
DEPLOYMENT
1. Position the Strongpoint
The strongpoint must be constructed
in the defender’s half of the table,
and not within 10" of any table edge.
It consists of all the Defender’s
defences, and an additional bunker.
132
Half Table
The bunker is taken in addition to the
defender’s other forces for free.
2. Place Objectives
Place four objectives. The players take
it in turns, starting with the defender,
to place objectives anywhere on the
table. An objective cannot be within
10" of another objective or any table
edge. The attacker’s first objective
must be placed on the bunker.
3. Determine Initial Defenders
Half the defender’s remaining
units (round fractions up) are the
initial defenders. The defender is
free to choose which units from his
battlegroup will be deployed.
4. Defender’s Reinforcements
Any units not chosen as initial
defenders are automatically his
reinforcements. D6* units will start to
arrive from the defender’s table edge
from turn 4 onwards.
5. Determine Attacker’s
flanking force
The attacker may detach up to six
units of his choice as his flanking
force. These will arrive later in the
game. Note down whether these
forces (if used) will arrive from left
flank or right flank.
6. Weather Conditions
Roll a D6. On a roll of 1 there is a
sudden thunderstorm, grounding
all air cover. Any aircraft counters
drawn from the pot automatically fail
to arrive. The counters are treated as
1s instead.
7. Deploy Initial Defenders
Place all the initial defenders
anywhere in his half of the table. D3
units may start the game issued with
the Ambush Fire order.
8. Deploy Attackers Force
The attacker deploys all his forces,
not including any flanking force, up
to 20" from his table edge.
9. Determine Preparatory
Bombardment
D3 of the defender’s units are marked
as Pinned, due to the preparatory
bombardment. Allocate the Pinned
markers to the defender’s units
randomly.
10. First Turn
The Attacker takes the first turn.
11. Flanking Force
From turn 3 onwards, roll for the
arrival of the flanking force. Roll a D6
and add the turn number. If the result
is 8 or more, then the flanking force
arrives, deploying within 10" of the
centre point of the left or right board
edge (attacker’s choice as written
down earlier).
* In Company-sized games roll 2D6.
In Battalion-sized games roll 3D6.
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

THE INGLORIOUS

12 JULYth

A narrative campaign for the great tank battle at Prokhorovka

 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
O n July 12th, the decisive
turning point of the Battle of
Kursk occurred south of the town of
Prokhorovka, when 5th Guards Tank
Army launched its huge counter-
attack against the advancing forces of
II SS Panzer Corps. The massed tank
battle at Prokhorovka has achieved
legendary status, both for its size and
ferocity. If Prokhorovka had fallen,
then II SS Panzer Corps may well
have broken through the Russian
defence lines and found itself free to
advance north to Kursk itself. It was
the Russian stand here that prevented
that breakthrough and effectively
ended the Germans’ hope of victory in
what would become their last strategic
offensive on the Eastern Front.
Following their defeat, the German
Army would be thrown into a two-
Below: A StuG III with schürzen holds
its position beside a recent victim.
(Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-688-0162-23)
134
year withdrawal and retreat that only
ended in the streets of Berlin and with
their unconditional surrender.
This short campaign deals with the
events of that fateful day. It is series
of seven historical re-fights, all set
on the 12th July as elements of 5th
Guards Tank Corps counter-attack II
SS Panzer Corps.
Who actually won the day is still
the subject of much debate. Both
sides can claim the victory (such are
the vagaries of real warfare). The
Russians can point to the Germans’
failure to take Prokhorovka and their
subsequent withdrawal. In turn, the
Germans can point to the huge losses
inflicted on their enemy and the fact
that the massed counter-attack failed
on its own terms. When you play this
campaign, then you can determine
the answer for yourself.
THE SITUATION SOUTH OF
PROKHOROVKA
During Operation Citadel, the town
of Prokhorovka was an important
objective on II SS Panzer Corps’ route
north towards linking up with 9th
Army east of Kursk. Prokhorovka
sat in a land bridge between the
Psel and Northern Donets rivers,
meaning if they captured it, the three
SS divisions would not be required
to conduct difficult river crossing
assaults to reach Kursk. Of course,
the Russians could also see its tactical
importance, and accordingly it was
heavily defended.
Still, despite the depth and weight
of the Russian defences south of
Prokhorovka, the three SS divisions
had, for the past week, consistently
pushed northwards, overcoming
each defence line in turn. With
heavy artillery and air support, their

tanks and half track-borne infantry
relentlessly pushed on towards
the prize of Prokhorovka. It was to
prevent them breaking through that
the entire 5th Guards Tank Army was
moved from Steppe Front’s strategic
reserve to Voronezh Front reserve,
then into the front line in the area,
and ordered to prepare for a counter-
attack. The full tank army would seek
to smash through the SS divisions,
halting their assault and destroying
them in turn.
By 11th July, the Tank Corps of 5th
Guards Tank Army were in position.
Ahead of them, the defenders of
Prokhorovka, mostly the survivors
of 9th Guards Airborne Division
with a few supporting tanks, had put
up a stubborn defence, first at the
Komosolets State Farm, then at Hill
252.2, then at the Oktaibrskii State
Farm. Fighting for every step of the
way, 1st SS Division had eventually
taken all these landmarks. Now it
seemed Prokhorovka, just a few
kilometres ahead, must be next.
On 1st SS Division’s left flank, the 3rd
SS Division had advanced and forced
a crossing of the Psel river and was
moving along the northern bank to
out flank Prokhorovka from the west.
Again more Russian reinforcements
were being thrown in to slow or
halt that advance. On the right, 2nd
SS Division and the 167th Infantry
Division were protecting the right
flank of 1st SS’s gains, and seeking
to push eastwards, with the aim of
linking up with III Panzer Corps
advancing from their bridgehead
over the North Donets river at
Rzhavets. This would trap substantial
Russian forces in an encirclement,
and free the divisions of III Panzer
Corps to advance and encircle
Prokhorovka from the east.
5th Guards Tank Army’s General
Rotmistrov was finally in position
and ready to launch his grand
counter-attack on July 12th. He
would be seeking to encircle the 1st
SS Division with attacks on the their
right by 2nd Tank Corps and 2nd
Guards Tank Corps, and on their
left by 18th Tank Corps, whilst 29th
Tank Corps struck in the centre.
He had also diverted some of his
forces to establish new blocking
positions against the advance of III
Panzer Corps (forces that would
be missed later in the day). He also
hoped that by swinging westwards
around the southern bank of a bend
in the Psel river, he could overrun
3rd SS Division’s Psel bridging
point, thus isolating them north
of the river, cutting them off from
1st SS and preventing their further
advance northwards. It was a bold
plan, but with nearly 500 tanks at
his command, supported by fresh
motorised infantry, artillery and
Katyushas he had the combat power
to do it. Success would see the
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
destruction of the three vaunted SS
divisions and a gap torn through
Army Group South’s front.
The battle started at 0800 with an
initial Russian artillery barrage, but
the artillery was ineffective; there
was not enough guns and rocket
launchers, and the Red Army Air
Force was not yet present to give aid.
Soon, the morning skies were once
again filled with waves of German
aircraft which, for a while, had a free
rein over the battlefield.
Lacking effective artillery
suppression, the Russian tanks would
be striking directly into the teeth of
powerful and well deployed anti-
tank defences, instead of smashing
through an already weakened foe.
The German commanders were
well aware that the counter-attack
was brewing. The Russian build-
up of tanks and men had not gone
unnoticed, and the SS had brought
forward their own anti-tank guns.
After just 30 minutes, the Russian
bombardment ended and General
Rotmistrov ordered his tank
battalions forwards.
With 18th Tank Corps on the right,
closest to the Psel river, 29th Tank
Corps in centre, striking along the
railway embankment, and 2nd Tank
Corps on the left, the initial attack by
three Corps was instantly in trouble.
Tanks began to burn as the waiting
German guns zeroed-in and took a
heavy toll. 1st SS Panzer Regiment,
already concentrating for its own
planned attack northwards, moved
instantly to engage the headlong rush
of T34s, and their long 88mm and
75mm guns soon took their own toll.
The wheat fields and wooded copses
were shrouded in the blue-black
smoke of burning tanks. But this was
just the start, merely the first wave
as more tanks followed and pressed
on. A further attack against the 2nd
SS on the Russian right also began,
led by 2nd Guards Tank Corps, but
135
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
it too was repulsed with few gains.
In places, isolated units of tanks
broke through, overrunning German
artillery positions and reaching
the Komsomolets State Farm, but
there was little co-ordination and
no mutual support for these gains.
By late morning 1st SS’s grenadiers
had been forced to pull back from
Oktiabrskii State Farm and Hill 252.2,
but they would be re-taken by mid-
afternoon in strong counter-attacks.
In the chaos of the fighting, the
Russian armour was taking a severe
beating, despite the reckless bravery
of their crews – with many stories
being told of tanks ramming enemy
tanks and crews manning their guns
to the last round, even as their tank
burned about them.
By afternoon, the Red Army Air Force
had started to show up in strength,
and the fight for air superiority
over the battlefield was also in full
swing, as wave after wave of Stukas,
protected by their close fighter
escorts, were called upon to aid the
defenders. Sturmoviks raced in low
overhead, but the battered German
defenders would not yield. Local
attacks and counter-attacks continued
throughout the afternoon, and there
was fierce fighting for the villages
along the Psel, like Vasil’evka,
136
Andreevka and Mikhailovka. West
of the railway embankment, the
Germans attacked and captured
the village of Storozhevoe and
Vinogradovka.
By nightfall, the battlefields were
littered with the wreckage of the
day’s savage fighting. The Germans
had lost very little ground, but they
had exhausted themselves in the
defensive struggle. Only north of the
Psel had 3rd SS Division managed to
gain ground, and it seemed now they
must become the main focus of the
German advance. 3rd SS would face
a second heavy counter-attack on the
13th that ended this advance. There
had still been no link-up between
II SS Panzer Corps and III Panzer
Corps’ advances, and all the fighting
units were battered and barely fit
for combat any longer. Prokhorovka
itself, tantalizingly close, remained
just beyond the SS’s grasp, and would
remain so on the 13th July as well.
In the end, the grand Russian
counter-attack had failed to achieved
most of its objectives and had only
gained any ground at a very heavy
cost but, in turn, it had finally halted
the Germans’ relentless advance,
and it would never get started again.
Prokhorovka would not fall.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
To play this campaign you will need
a few things, listed below.
Model Collections
You will need substantial model
collections, both for the Russian Tank
Corps and the German SS Panzer
Grenadier divisions. Some of these
battles are large, battalion-sized
games, involving many tanks.
Terrain
Fortunately a terrain collection for the
rolling steppes around Kursk is not
too taxing, and the same applies here.
Common items will be:
• Woods. You’ll need a few of these, as
there are some battlefields with large
wooded areas.
• Nine or ten buildings. These are
generally wooden, whitewashed
cottages with wooden or thatched
roofs. You can vary this with a
few barns, a church and maybe a
windmill.
• A railway line, on top of an
embankment. This runs through
several battlefields, but as it is on the
edge of many it can be placed off the
board if needs be.
• Corn and wheat fields. There
are a lot of these and they can be
represented in different ways,
including cut up door mats, yellow
cloth or teddy bear fur.
• A few scrub hedges, a marsh,
and characterful additions such as
wrecked vehicles, craters, barbed wire
and the remains of former defences
will all add a lot to the battlefield’s
‘battle-worn’ character.
OPPOSING FORCES
1st SS Panzer Grenadier Division
Although not fighting alone, 1st SS
Panzer Grenadier Division will bear
the brunt of the Russian attack. When
the 1st SS Panzer Grenadier Division
began their offensive on 5th July its
TO&E listed the following principal
armoured fighting vehicles:
13 Panzer IIIs (all long 50mm)
83 Panzer IVs (mixed Gs and Hs)

13 Tigers
34 StuG IIIs (all long 75mm)
20 Marders
A week of constant fighting had
substantially reduced this, but by
12th July the division was still a
powerful, combat-effective unit.
5th Guards Tank Army
At full strength after being held in
reserve with Steppe Front, when
the Army was given its marching
orders to advance to Oboyan, it was
a powerful unit of over 600 tanks and
self-propelled guns and 37,000 men,
consisting of:
5th Guards Mechanized Corps
(225 tanks, 21 SP guns)
29th Tank Corps
(229 tanks, 37 SP guns)
18th Tank Corps
(183 tanks)
76th Guards Mortar Regiment
1446th Self-Propelled Artillery
Regiment (10 SU-76, 10 SU-122)
1529th Self-Propelled Artillery
Regiment (11 SU-152)
1st Separate Guards Motorcycle
Regiment (10 T-34s)
678th Howitzer Artillery Regiment
689th Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment
6th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division
377th Separate Engineers Battalion
It completed a long road march,
almost unmolested by enemy air
attacks, before deploying around
Prokhorovka. For the 12th July, 5th
Guards Mechanized Corps was
directed south to meet III Panzer
Corps’ push from their bridgehead
(known as ‘Group Trufanov’ and
outside the scope of this campaign),
and other units already in-situ were
included in the attack, although these
were already weakened formations.
2nd Tank Corps was under its
command for the attack, adding a
further 100 tanks (but half were T-70s).
PLAYING THE CAMPAIGN
The campaign is played out over
seven battles, all taking place through
the morning and afternoon of 12th
July. Although they are presented in
chronological order, many overlap, so
the opposing sides would be fighting
it out on battlefields very close to
each other, almost at the same time.
The seven battles are as follows:
1. First Charge at Hill 252.2
The first clash of the morning as the
tanks of 32rd Tank Brigade charge
the slopes of Hill 252.2, defended
by II Battalion, 2nd Panzer
Grenadier Regiment and the Tiger
tanks of II Battalion, 1st SS Panzer
Regiment.
2. West of the Oktiabrski State Farm
II Battalion, 2nd Panzer Grenadier
Regiment are engulfed by 170th
Tank Brigade’s first assault west
of the Oktiabrski State Farm – the
crux of 1st SS Division’s defences.
3. Defence of Stalinskoe State Farm
25th Tank Brigade run into 1st
SS Panzer Grenadiers’ anti-tank
defences holding the Stalinskoe
state farm.
4. Holding the flank at Mikhailovka
Tanks of 170th Tank Brigade
threaten to break through south of
the village of Mikhailovka, and 1st
SS Reconnaissance Battalion must
fight hard to protect their division’s
left flank.
5. The Death’s Head at Andreevka
On the right of the Russian attack,
the tanks of 29th Guards Tank
CAMPAIGN POINTS
Russian Win German Win
1. First Charge at Hill 252.2
2. West of the Oktiabrskii State Farm
3. Defence of the Stalinskoe State Farm
4. Holding the Flank at Mikhailovka
5. The Death’s Head at Andreevka
6. Surrounded at Komsomolets
7. Counter-Attack at Vinogradovka
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Brigade seek to break through the
right flank of 3rd SS Totenkopf’s
positions and cut off their
bridgehead over the Psel river. The
3rd SS Division counter-attacks to
halt them at Andreevka.
6. Surrounded at Komsomolets
2nd SS Panzer move to wipe out
the surrounded survivors of 1st
Battalion, 170th Tank Brigade
after they penetrate as far as
Komsomolets state farm.
7. Counter-Attack at Vinogradovka
Having resisted the enemy’s
morning assaults, 2nd SS Panzer
Grenadier Regiment launch a
rapid counter-attack in the late
afternoon to snatch the village of
Vinogradovka.
VICTORY AND DEFEAT
Having played out seven battles,
you will no doubt be keen to know
who has won and who has lost the
campaign. This is done by allocating
campaign points to each side. Victory
in each battle will gain a set number
of campaign points (between 1 and
3), depending on how important that
battle is in the greater scheme of the
day.
Both sides should keep running totals
of how many campaign points they
have, and the side with the most after
the final battle is the overall winner of
the campaign. The campaign points
are as follows:
2 2
2 1
1 2
2 3
3 2
1 2
2 1
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1
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

138
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

139
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

A PROKHOROVKA MEGA-GAME
Combining the Battles

T he first three battles of this

campaign happen at about
the same time on battlefields
directly adjacent to each other, so
the ambitious amongst you could
combine them into a single mega-
game. You will need at least three
players a side for this, and preferably six, and a lot of toy Additional Russian Reinforcements
soldiers, but for a full day’s entertainment re-creating the Turn 9 (arriving on centre table)
first couple of hours of the massed tank counter-attack it From 31st Tank Battalion
should be a blast! 6 T-34s
7 T-70s
To play the mega-game set up the three boards next to Infantry Company as tank riders
each other in the above manner, to make a 20'x 6' table. +4 officers and 48 BR

Both sides use the forces listed in the scenarios and the Turn 11 (arriving on western table)
deployment zones given in the scenarios, and each side From 170th Tank Brigade
combines all three total battle ratings to get a single 5 T-34s
grand total. 4 T-70s
2 Infantry Platoons as Tank Riders
Orders +2 officers and 33 BR
Due to the size of the game command and control will
have to be dealt with differently. The entire force gets Additional German Reinforcements
5D6+ its total officer units. This grand total is then Turn 9 (arriving on centre table)
divided between the commanders to issue orders to 1st SS Panzer Regiment and 1st SS Artillery Regiment
their own forces. The commanders can freely trade 3 Pz IV G
orders, as long as they don’t exceed their overall total. 3 Pz IV H
It is perfectly acceptable for a commander who doesn’t 2 Wespes
need all his orders (not that likely) to pass them on to a 2 Hummels
commander who needs more. This sort of trading between 2 Resupply Trucks
commanders is a fun extra element of the mega-game. + 2 officers and 30 BR

Tank Onslaught Special Rule Turn 10 (arriving on eastern table)

The Russian tanks are looking to press further south. For Armoured Panzer Grenadier Platoon
every three Russian vehicles that exit off any southern table Grille
edge, the Germans must take an addition Battle Counter. PaK40 with crew and half track tow
Resupply Truck
Optional Additional Reinforcements +1 officer and 20 BR
The three attacks detailed only cover the first hour
(approximately) of combat. You can extend the mega- Turn 11 (arriving on western table)
game further by including the following additional 3 StuG III Gs
reinforcements, which are the second wave of Russian Pz III H observation tank
attacks, starting from about 1000 hours. Resupply Truck
+1 officer and 11 BR

140

1. FIRST CHARGE AT HILL 252.2
SITUATION REPORT
The 32nd Tank Brigade (of 29th
Tank Corps) had been in its jump off
positions for the planned attack since
the morning of July 11th. With its
tanks hidden in woods and orchards
around Lutovo, the brigade had
filled its fuel tanks and stocked up on
ammunition. Its commander, Colonel
Linev, had his attack orders and as
the rocket salvoes whistled overhead,
he was now awaiting the code word
to begin.
His brigade would be leading 29th
Tank Corps’ attack, striking directly
south along the railway line to
re-capture Hill 252.2 and press on
southwards to the Komosoloyet’s State
Farm. It was their task to be the centre
of the massed armoured assault. At
0830 hours, when the code word of
‘Steel!’ was received from General
Rotmistrov’s headquarters, Linev’s 63
T-34s accelerated into the attack.
They were almost instantly engaged
by 1st SS Panzer’s anti-tank screen
occupying the captured defences on
Hill 252.2, and in just the first ten
minutes of the advance 32nd Tank
Brigade had lost 20 tanks – almost a
third of their strength. The tank crews
bravely pressed the attack, reaching
the northern slopes of Hill 252.2
under ever increasing artillery and
mortar fire. Fifteen of the remaining
tanks swung eastwards, crossed the
railway line and found a gap in the
defence screen, allowing them to
advance beyond Hill 252.2 and on
towards their objective further south.
Meanwhile, the rest of the brigade,
with the first battalion advancing
under the covering fire of the second
battalion, swept up Hill 252.2 and
became entangled with advancing
elements of 1st SS Panzer Regiment
on the forward slopes, including the
regiment’s 6th company, equipped
with Tiger tanks. There was a swirling
mêlée of tanks, with ranges down to
just fifty feet and heavy losses on both
sides. The hillside became shrouded
in dust and the smoke of burning
vehicles. Identifying friend from foe
became difficult.
Despite the chaos, more German
Panzer IVs, stationed beyond an anti-
tank ditch further south, began taking
their toll, but Linev’s bold T-34s kept
going, bypassing these enemies, and
kept heading south. Those that made
it were soon engaged by artillery
and self-propelled guns (Wespe and
Hummel) with direct fire.
One hour behind the first waves of T-
34s, a second entire brigade (the 31st
Tank Brigade) was about to begin its
own advance along exactly the same
axis, with a further 29 T-34s and 38
T-70s about to arrive in the wake of
the first wave.
Scenario Type: Company
THE BATTLE
Play the game on a 8'x6' boards.
This battle takes place as 32nd Tank
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Brigade’s T-34s close in after their
initial rush and losses, and the
Germans’ own Panzer attack towards
Prokhorovka had itself just started
from Hill 252.2. Deploy the Russian
forces within 5" of the northern table
edge. The Germans deploy up to 30"
from the southern edge, or inside
the state farm. D6 units may start on
Ambush Fire. The Russian take the
first turn.
THE BATTLEFIELD
This is the area and summit of Hill
252.2, just west of the main railway
line. It has already been heavily
fought over, so liberally scatter
wrecked vehicles (from both sides),
impact craters and other detritus like
barbed wire about. Behind the hill is
an anti-tank ditch. Further westwards
are the occupied buildings of the
Oktiabrskii State Farm, surrounded
by its ripe wheat fields.
OBJECTIVES
There are four objectives. The summit
of Hill 252.2, the Oktiabrskii State
Farm, the road exit south and the
road exit west. The Germans cannot
win an ‘all objectives secured’ victory.
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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

ALTERNATIVE FORCES
The scenario lists historical forces
for the battle, but players might like
to use the army lists to create their
own forces from their own model
collections. In this case, the Russian The German player gets 1,200 points
player gets 1,200 points and must and must choose his battlegroup from
choose his battlegroup from the the German Panzer Division army list.
Russian Tank Corps army list.

SOVIET FORCES GERMAN FORCES

First Wave (Turn 1) Stragglers from 1st Battalion, 23rd
Forward HQ - Tiger tank Armoured Forward Observer
1 T-34 (officer) Guards Airborne Rifle Regiment,
(senior officer) in Panzer II F
3 T-34s tank riding on any T-34.
Tiger tank squadron
3 T-34s Motorised Rifle Company
Panzer IV G squadron 2 150mm howitzers (off-
3 T-34s 1 Company HQ
Panzer IV H squadron table)
3 Motorised Infantry
Second Wave (Turn 2) Platoons
Panzer Grenadier Platoon Luftwaffe Air Control Officer
Forward HQ - 1 T-34 (senior Panzer Grenadier Platoon in SdKfz 250/3
officer) Aerial Reconnaissance
(both have enough foxholes for the
3 T-34s PO-2
entire platoon) Timed Ju-87 Air Strike
3 T-34s
2 Timed Katyusha Barrages
PaK-40 Battery Reserves (Turn 3)
Third Wave (Turn 3) 3 PaK-40s and crew Panzer IV H squadron
1 T-34 (officer) Total Battle Rating: 90
3 T-34s Officers: 7
SdKfz7 with 20mm Vierling Total Battle Rating: 74
3 T-34s Officers: 8

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2. WEST OF THE OKTIABRSKI

STATE FARM
SITUATION REPORT
Closest to the Psel River, the 180th
Tank Corps would be conducting
their part of the morning’s attack,
led by 181 Tank Brigade’s 41 tanks
and 170th Tank Brigade’s 39 tanks,
with the following echelon of 36th
Guards Heavy Tank Regiment’s 16
functioning Churchills.

They were faced with the open wheat

fields west of the Oktiabrski State
Farm, held by elements of 1st SS
Panzer Grenadier Regiment, bristling
with their anti-tank screen of PaK
40s. First they had to negotiate a balka
running down to the Psel, before
emerging through, and around, the
village of Petrovka.

The terrain forced the weight of

the attack to the corps’ left, closest
to the state farm, and from here
the advancing tanks immediately
encountered a furious barrage of
anti-tank fire. With orders to press
south and capture the river side
villages, they bravely forged on,
leaving wreckage scattered through
the fields. German air attacks swept
down upon them, and again no air
cover was present for protection, and
the tankers suffered.
The initial shock of the heavy losses
slowed the advance, and by midday,
they still had not pushed beyond the
state farm, which was being stoically
held by 2nd Battalion of the 1st SS
Panzer Grenadier Regiment. Only
when it fell would they be able to
advance further that afternoon.
Scenario Type: Platoon
THE BATTLE
Play the game on a 6'x6' table. The
Germans are defending and are
deployed first, dug-in within 30"
of their (southern) table edge. D6
units may start on Ambush Fire. The
Russain’s first wave are deployed
within 5" of their (northern) table
edge. In subsequent turns, the
following waves are deployed on the
Russian northern table edge. German
reinforcements arrive on the southern
table edge. The Russians are attacking
and take the first turn.
THE BATTLEFIELD
The battlefield is the open fields
between the Psel river and the
Oktiabrski state farm. In the north-
west corner is the southern edge of
the village of Petrovka. There are
woods and marshy ground to the
west, close to the Psel river, but apart
from a few copses, the terrain is wide
open fields.
OBJECTIVES
There are three objectives on
the table: the largest building of
Petrovka, the junction of two farm
tracks and the point where the farm
track exits the eastern table edge
(heading to the state farm itself).
ALTERNATIVE FORCES
The scenario lists historical forces
for the battle, but players might like
to use the army lists to create their
own forces from their own model
collections. In this case the Russian
player gets 800 points and must
choose his battlegroup from the
Russian Tank Corps army list.
The German player gets 800 points
and must choose his battlegroup from
the German Panzer Division army list.

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

SOVIET FORCES GERMAN FORCES

First Wave (Turn 1) from 127th Guards Rifles, tank
Veteran Panzer Grenadier 2 105mm howitzers (off-
Forward HQ - T-34 (senior riding on any of the tanks.
Platoon table)
officer) Motorised Rifle Platoon
80mm mortar team 2 80mm mortars (off-table)
3 T-34s Motorised Rifle Platoon
HMG team Timed Ju-87 Air Strike
3 T-34s
Combat Medic 5 off-table 88mm anti-tank
Timed Katyusha Barrage
(enough foxholes for the entire shots
Second Wave (Turn 2) 120mm mortar battery (off-
platoon and support)
3 T-34s table)
Reserves (Turn 3)
3 T-34s
PaK-40 Battery StuG III G squadron
Total Battle Rating: 61
3 PaK-40s and crew
Third Wave (Turn 3) Officers: 3
Reserves (Turn 4)
3 T-70s
Sniper and spotter team StuG III G squadron
3 T-70s
Forward Observer Team
Wire Team Total Battle Rating: 40
Officers: 3

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

3. DEFENCE OF STALINSKOE
STATE FARM
SITUATION REPORT
As 18th and 29th Tanks Corps were
beginning their charges, so 2nd
Corps, west of the railway line, was
about to play its part. In position at
Jamki, the Corps’ 25th Tank Brigade,
under Colonel Volodin, would
take the lead attacking south-west,
directly towards the Stalinskoe
branch of the Oktiabrskii state farm.

During the previous evening, units

of 1st SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment
had captured the farm and deployed
to defend it. Informed of the Soviet
tank build-up around Prokhorovka,
the divisional command sent a strong
detachment of the 1st SS Panzerjäger
Battalion to create a barrier at
Stalinskoe, including Marder self-
propelled guns commanded by SS
Oberscharführer Kurt Sametreiter.
The 25th Tank Brigade’s coming
attack would lead them directly into
the German sights.
Colonel Volodin had re-organised
his battalions for the attack. It would
be led by the 362nd Battalion, in
which he placed all his T-34s, and
supported them with SU-76 and
SU-122 self propelled guns of 2446th
Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment.
His second battalion, containing all
his T-70 light tanks, would advance
to the left and rear of the main attack.
They would be carrying men of the
25th Motorised Rifle Battalion.
The attack began at 0830, even
though no Katyusha or artillery fire
had prepared the way. Stalinskoe
state farm remained untouched as
the T-34s moved out. Driving south-
west, with the aim of capturing the
Storozhevoe woods, the leading T-34s
quickly came under accurate anti-
tank fire, and were suddenly in deep
trouble. The self-propelled guns leap-
frogged forwards, only to become the
targets themselves.
Regardless of the losses, they pressed
on at top speed and plunged into
the enemy lines. It was a courageous
but doomed attack; only a few of
the vehicles survived the encounter.
Every self-propelled gun was
knocked out and 26 of the 32 T-34s
that had set out were destroyed.
The Colonel himself was seriously
wounded in his own T-34.
The disastrous attack aborted, the few
survivors pulled back and formed a
single composite battalion, consisting
mostly of the remaining T-70s which
hadn’t been heavily engaged. They
would be called upon to make a
second attack, later in the afternoon.
Scenario Type: Platoon
THE BATTLE
Play the game on a 6'x6' table. The
Germans are defending and deploy
first, anywhere in their (southern)
half of the table. D6 units may start
on Ambush Fire. The first Russian
wave is deployed up to 5" from their
(northern) table edge and 40" from
the eastern table edge. Subsequent
waves are placed on the same table
edge. The Russians take the first turn.
THE BATTLEFIELD
The edge of Storozhevoe woods,
with the state farm and its orchard
are on the southern table edge . The
main railway line embankment, lined
with hedges and trees, runs along
the western table edge. Apart from a
couple of stands of trees, the rest of
the table top is open ground.

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

OBJECTIVES own forces from their own model The German player gets 600 points
There is single objective, the Stalinskoe collections. In this case the Russian and must choose his battlegroup from
state farm. Neither side can claim an player gets 700 points and must the German Panzer Division army list.
‘objectives secured’ victory. choose his battlegroup from the
Russian Tank Corps army list.
ALTERNATIVE FORCES
The scenario lists historical forces
for the battle, but players might like GERMAN FORCES
to use the army lists to create their
Veteran Panzer Grenadier Forward Observer Team
Platoon 2 120mm mortars (off-table)
SOVIET FORCES HMG team 2 105mm howitzers (off-
First Wave (Turn 1) Tank riding on any tanks Combat Medic table)
3 T-34s Motorised Rifle Platoon (enough foxholes for the entire Timed 150mm barrage
3 T-34s Motorised Rifle Platoon platoon and support)
Reserves (Turn 4)
Second Wave (Turn 2) 2 counter-battery fire missions PaK-40 Battery 2 Marder III (H and M)s
3 SU-76s 3 PaK-40s and crew 1 Resupply Truck
3 SU-122s Total Battle Rating: 61
Officers: 2 Marder Battery Total Battle Rating: 27
Third Wave (Turn 3) 3 Marder III (H and M)s Officers: 2
3 T-70s
3 T-70s

146

Top: A Marder II ‘Kohlenklau’ takes up a firing
position. (Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-197-1235-04)
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Above: SS soldiers in their SdKfz 251/1
await the order to assault. Visibility is poor,
they seem to be inside a smoke screen
(Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1984-036-26)
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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
4. HOLDING THE FLANK
AT MIKHAILOVKA
SITUATION REPORT
Having finally flooded past the
Oktiibarskii state farm, the Russian
181st Tank Brigade had orders to
make for the village of Mikhailovka,
then swing south-east, to outflank
the defenders of the Komosolets
state farm, their main objective.
Pushing south rapidly, the brigade’s
leading tanks encountered the 1st
SS Panzer Grenadier Division’s
flank guard, elements of their
reconnaissance battalion, holding east
of Mikhailovka.
The armoured cars and infantry of 1st
SS Reconnaissance Battalion put up
a desperate defence, holding on until
StuGs could be directed to their aid.
Even then, the weight of Russian
numbers was too much, as more
148
T-34s and T-70s poured southwards. game on Ambush Fire. German
Fire from north of the Psel river (from reinforcements arrive from within 10"
units of 3rd SS Panzer Grenadier of the south-east corner of the table.
Division on higher ground) aided The Russians take the first turn.
the defence, but was still unable to
stem the endless tide. The SS soldiers THE BATTLEFIELD
withdrew and 181st Tank Brigade The fields east of Mikhailovka. In the
was then able to race on, eventually north-west corner is the edge of the
attacking the Komsomolets state farm village itself. There is a balka (marked
and penetrating 5km into the German by an area of broken ground and
lines. trees) running north-west to south-
east, with several large wheat fields.
Scenario Type: Platoon
THE BATTLE
Play the game on a 6'x6' table. The
Russians first waves deploy in a 20"
square area in the north-eastern table
corner. The initial German defenders
deploy up to 20" from their southern
table edge. D6 units may start the
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

OBJECTIVES
There are three objectives to the table.
The first is a building in Mikhailovka.
The second is on the edge of the large
woods. The third is where the farm
track exits the southern table edge.

SPECIAL RULES
Off-table 88 Fire: 88mm guns can fire
onto the table, over Mikhailovka from
across the Psel. These off-table guns
are treated as other off-table anti-
tank guns, but can attempt to hit any
Russian unit that moves with 50" of
the north-west corner of the table.

ALTERNATIVE FORCES
The scenario lists historical forces
for the battle, but players might like
to use the army lists to create their
own forces from their own model
collections. In this case the Russian
player gets 700 points and must
choose his battlegroup from the
Russian Tank Corps army list.
GERMAN FORCES

The German player gets 700 points Panzer Grenadier Platoon Reserves (Turn 3)
and must choose his battlegroup from (with enough foxholes for the entire Armoured Fusilier Platoon
the German Panzer Division army list. platoon) PHQ – 4 men in a SdKfz
250/10
SdKfz 232 Squadron 3 Squads – each 4 men in a
RUSSIAN FORCES 3 232 armoured cars SdKfz 250/1
SdKfz 250/8
First Wave (Turn 1) Fourth Wave (Turn 4)
SdKfz 233 Squadron
3 T-34s Motorised Rifle Platoon
3 233 armoured cars StuG III G Squadron
3 T-34s in trucks
3 StuG III Gs
2 BA-64 armoured cars Motorised Rifle Platoon
PaK-40 Battery
on foot
2 PaK-40s and crew Total Battle Rating: 39
Second Wave (Turn 2)
Officers: 5
3 T-70s 82mm mortar battery (off-
2 80mm mortars (off-table)
table)
6 off-table 88mm shots (see
Third Wave (Turn 3) 1 122mm Timed Barrage
the special rules).
3 T-70s
Total Battle Rating: 42
Officers: 2

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

5. THE DEATH’S HEAD

AT ANDREEVKA
SITUATION REPORT
3rd SS Panzer Grenadier Division,
Totenkopf, had established a
bridgehead over the Psel river, and
had managed to push some of its
forces over and continue its northern
advance. As the SS soldiers fought
to expand their bridgehead, 3rd SS
established its own flank guard,
linking it to 1st SS in the area of the
villages of Vasil’evka and Andreevka.
By late morning, the tanks of 18th
Tank Corps had pushed as far south
as Andreevka, with the Corps’
commander, General Bakharov,
directing the Churchill tanks of
36th Guards Separate Heavy Tank
Regiment to clear and capture the
village.

The defenders of 3rd SS Division’s

6th Panzer Grenadier Regiment were
dug-in, especially around the church,
with a few tanks in support, and
they had reinforced the division’s
flank with anti-tank guns in case of
an enemy attempt to overrun their
bridgehead. More reserves from the
StuG brigade were also being held in
waiting to counter-attack an expected
flank move – so when it materialised
in the afternoon, the Germans were
ready and reacted swiftly.
With 127th Guards Motorised Rifle
Regiment’s dismounted infantry
alongside the tanks, there was hard
fighting for the village itself, but
the SS grenadiers grimly hung on
to the church. The Churchill tanks
duelled with the deploying SS StuGs
in the southern fields, which were
counter-attacking to halt the threat.
With nine Churchills knocked out in
the engagement, the Guards armour
withdrew.
Andreevka was still in German
hands and the stubborn defence freed
Totenkopf to continue its assault north
of the Psel again, with its vital bridge
still secure.
THE BATTLE
Play the game on a 6'x6' table. Place
the initial German defenders in their
deployment zone in the village of
Andreevka. They are dug-in and D6
units may start the game on Ambush
Fire. The initial Russian attackers are
placed on the table within 5" of the
eastern table edge, and within 40" of
the southern table edge, as shown on
the map.
German reinforcements can be placed
anywhere along the western table
edge when they arrive.
Russian reinforcements are placed
anywhere on the eastern table, when
they arrive.
The Russians take the first turn.
THE BATTLEFIELD
The village of Andreevka is stretched
along the northern edge of the table,
along with its church. Behind it are
woods and rough ground leading
down to the Psel river, just north
of the tabletop. South of the village
are the ubiquitous corn fields over
which the tanks advanced. Close to
the centre of the table is a low-lying
pond/lake with an area of marshy
ground around it. There has already
been fighting in the area, so a few
wrecks and impact craters should be
liberally scattered about.

150
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

OBJECTIVES German Reinforcements: From collections. In this case the Russian

There is single objective on the table,
Andreevka church. Neither side can
win an ‘all objectives secured’ victory.
SPECIAL RULES
Russian Reinforcements: From
the start of turn 2 begin rolling
for Russian reinforcements. D3
reinforcement units (player’s choice)
arrive at the start of turn 2, and on
every further turn until they are all
on the table.
the start of turn 3 begin rolling player gets 700 points and must
for German reinforcements. D3 choose his battlegroup from the
reinforcement units (player’s choice) Russian Tank Corps army list.
arrive at the start of turn 3, and on
every further turn until they are all The German player gets 700 points
on the table. and must choose his battlegroup from
the German Panzer Division army list.
ALTERNATIVE FORCES
The scenario lists historical forces
for the battle, but players might like
to use the army lists to create their
own forces from their own model

GERMAN FORCES

Initial Defenders PaK-40 Battery

RUSSIAN FORCES
Initial Attackers
Churchill Squadron
3 Churchill IVs
Churchill Squadron
3 Churchill IVs
Motorised Rifle Platoon
Motorised Rifle Platoon
all as tank riders or on foot
Veteran Panzer Grenadier 2 PaK-40s and crew
Reinforcements (Turn 2) Platoon
Churchill Squadron HMG team Reinforcements (Turn 3)
3 Churchill IVs Light mortar team StuG III G Squadron
(with enough foxholes for the entire 3 StuG III Gs
Forward Artillery Observer platoon)
Katyusha battery (off-table) StuG III G Squadron
82mm mortar battery (off- Panzer IV Squadron 3 StuG III Gs
table) 3 Panzer IV Gs
(may start the game dug-in) Total Battle Rating: 44
Total Battle Rating: 38 80mm mortar battery (off- Officers: 4
Officers: 2 table)

151
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

6. SURROUNDED AT KOMSOMOLETS
SITUATION REPORT
After the 18th Tank Corps’ units
forced a passage past 1st SS
Reconnaissance Battalion, their
lead unit, 1st Battalion, 170th Tank
Brigade, again pressed ahead, cutting
cross-country south-east. Here, the
brigade’s units ran directly into the
SS division’s artillery lines, which
engaged them over open sights in
a furious firefight that saw several
artillery guns overrun and crushed
by charging T-34s.

The brigade’s lead elements fought

their way through to Komsomolets
state farm. Under Major Ivanov,
15 tanks carrying infantry of 53rd
Motorised Rifle Brigade survived the
morning’s running battles, pressing
ever southwards.

The state farm was quickly in Russian

hands but, reacting to the threatening
penetration, 2nd SS Panzer Grenadier
Division diverted some of its Panzer
units northwards, and then swung
eastwards, cutting off the marauding
T-34s from the rest of the following
brigade. What had seemed like
a potential vital breakthrough
suddenly became a desperate battle
for survival for the cut-off and
surrounded Russian units.
Facing in all directions, the T-34s
were hastily dug-in, infantry fanning
out between each tank as the German
artillery and Nebelwerfers brought
down a sustained bombardment on
the Komsomolets area. Within the
hour, Stukas were plunging in to
wipe the state farm off the map.
Clinging to the slim hope that 1st
Battalion 170th Tank Brigade offered
of victory, more units were directed
to their relief. 2nd Battalion’s tank
column pushed down the railway
line only to run into an anti-tank
ambush that destroyed several tanks
and forced the rest to retreat behind a
smoke screen.
Now, with the Russians trapped and
softened up by artillery and bombing,
2nd SS moved to eradicate the little
redoubt inside the German lines. The
Russians repulsed the first attack, but
after several hours of combat, all their
tanks had been lost, Major Ivanov
was dead (his body was later found
close to his burnt out tank), and the
surviving infantry fled northwards as
best they could.
Battle Size: Platoon
THE BATTLE
Play the game on a 6'x6' table.
This battle takes place in the mid-
afternoon of 12th, after the area has
been hammered by artillery and air
strikes, as the Germans move in to
wipe out the Russian redoubt.
The Germans can split their forces
between three deployment zones,
in the north-west, south-west and
south-east corners, each in a 10"
square at the corners. The Russians
deploy in a 30" square area around
the road junction, as shown on the
map, and should be in positions for
an all-round defence. 2D6 units may
start the game on Ambush Fire.
The Germans take the first turn.
THE BATTLEFIELD
This is the area south of Komsomolets
state farm, just west of the main
railway line where it turns southeast
towards Belekhino. It is an area of
wide open fields where the survivors
of 170th Tank Brigade’s 1st Battalion
and 53rd Motor Rifles are dug-in
for a hasty all-round defence. This
area has been heavily fought over, so
add lots of craters and wrecks (from
both sides), and other detritus of the
previous battles.

152
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

OBJECTIVES ALTERNATIVE FORCES

There is a single objective, at the road
junction at Komsomolets. Neither
side can claim an ‘all objectives
secured’ victory.
SPECIAL RULES
For the Motherland!: Expecting
reinforcements to arrive at any time,
the surrounded Russians are fighting
hard to hold their precious gains.
They gain a bonus D6 Battle Rating,
roll before the start of the game.
The scenario lists historical forces
for the battle, but players might like
to use the army lists to create their
own forces from their own model
collections. In this case the Russian
player gets 500 points and must
choose his battlegroup from the
Russian Tank Corps army list.
The German player gets 600 points
and must choose his battlegroup from
the German Panzer Division army list.

RUSSIAN FORCES GERMAN FORCES

Forward HQ Motorised Rifle Platoon Panzer Grenadier Platoon Luftwaffe Air Control
T-34 (senior commander) Maxim MG team on foot Officer in SdKfz 250/3
Anti-tank rifle team Panzer Grenadier Platoon
T-34 Platoons on foot 3 Timed Stuka Air Strikes
3 T-34s Motorised Rifle Platoon 2 Timed 105mm barrages
3 T-34s Maxim MG team Panzer IV Squadron
(all may start the game dug-in) Anti-tank rifle team 3 Panzer IV Gs Total Battle Rating: 41
Officers: 5
Total Battle Rating: 35+D6 Panzer III Squadron
Officers: 3 3 Panzer III Ls

153
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

Above: Ju-87 Stukas bank in over a Russian town.

(Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-646-5188-17)

154

7. COUNTER-ATTACK
AT VINOGRADOVKA
SITUATION REPORT
By mid-afternoon, the 2nd SS Panzer
Grenadier Division Das Reich had
repulsed the enemy’s attacks on the
Corps’ flank, and was now ready
to begin its own advance, pushing
eastwards.
The fighting north of their positions
was still intense, and they had
already been called upon to commit
some of their tanks to it, around
Komsomolets state farm. But the
division also had its own orders. As
part of its mission to link up with
Army Detachment Kempfe’s pushing
northwards from their Rzhavets
bridgehead, Das Reich was to attack
eastwards, and capture the villages
of Storozhevoe and Vinogradovka.
Fighting in and around Storozhevoe
(further north) had been heavy all
day, but now the division ordered
troops from 1st Battalion, 3rd SS
Panzer Grenadier Regiment to attack
and take Vinogradovka.
The village had been a staging post
for earlier Russian attacks and was
held by the remnants of the Russian
26th Tank Brigade and 285th Rifle
Regiment, support by 1695th Anti-
Aircraft Artillery Regiment.
With continued air support pinning
any enemy reinforcements in place
further south, the Panzer Grenadiers
attacked from the west, led by
tanks of 2nd SS Panzer Regiment.
The fighting continued through the
late afternoon and evening as the
Germans cleared the village, house by
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
house. By nightfall the Russian were
pulling back and reported that the
village was in German hands.
Battle Size: Company
THE BATTLE
Play the game on a 6'x6' table.
The Russian forces are defending and
may deploy up to 36"(halfway) across
the table from the eastern table edge.
A D6 units may start on Ambush Fire.
The Germans are attacking and are
deployed up to 5" from the western
table edge. The Germans take the first
turn.
THE BATTLEFIELD
Vinogradovka is a scruffy village
strung out along a north-south track,
155
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

represented by about seven or eight

small cottages with vegetable patches
and a windmill. East of the village
is a large wood. There are the usual
cornfields surrounding the village
and another wood in the south west
corner of the table, through which
some of the German attackers arrive.

OBJECTIVES
There are three objectives on the
table. Two buildings in Vinogradovka
(one in the south and the windmill
in the centre), and the track where it
exits the table just north of the village.

SPECIAL RULES
Flanking Force: The German flanking
force arrive from with 20" of the
south-west corner, through the
woods, on turn 4.

ALTERNATIVE FORCES
The scenario lists historical forces
for the battle, but players might like
to use the army lists to create their GERMAN FORCES
own forces from their own model
collections. In this case the Russian Forward HQ 2 105mm howitzers (off-
player gets 800 points and must in SdKfz 251/3 table)
choose his battlegroup from the 2 120mm mortars (off-table)
Russian Rifle Division army list. Armoured Panzer Grenadier Timed 150mm barrage
Platoon
The German player gets 950 points Flanking Force (Turn 4)
and must choose his battlegroup from Panzer IV Squadron Armoured Panzer Grenadier
the German Panzer Division army list. 3 Panzer IV Hs Platoon

Panzer III Squadron Panzer IV Squadron

RUSSIAN FORCES
3 Panzer III Ls 3 Panzer IV Hs
AA Battery SU-76 Squadron
3 37mm AA guns with 3 SU-76s Armoured Forward Total Battle Rating: 60
loader teams Observer Officers: 6
(deployed in gun pits) 45mm Anti-Tank Battery Pz III J OP tank
3 45mmL66 anti-tank guns
T-34 Squadrons
3 T-34s 82mm Mortar Battery
3 T-34s 2 82mm mortars and
loader teams
Rifle Company
1 Company HQ Total Battle Rating: 52
3 Motorised Rifle Platoons Officers: 4
2 76.2mm infantry guns
2 Maxim MG Teams

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APPENDIX
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

BATTLE GROUP ORGANISATION CHART

FRONTLINE ASSETS
BATTLE GROUP TYPE:
pts FORWARD HEADQUARTERS br
TOTAL POINTS: TOTAL BR:

OFFICERS: SCOUTS:

pts TANKS br

pts INFANTRY br

pts ARTILLERY br

pts DEFENCES br

SUPPORT ASSETS
pts LOGISTICS UNITS br pts RECONNAISSANCE UNITS br

pts ENGINEER UNITS br

pts ADDITIONAL FIRE SUPPORT br

pts SPECIAL UNITS br

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RULES REFERENCE SHEET

BATTLE COUNTER TAKEN
• Unit Destroyed
Any unit is destroyed, or routs, or a
gun/vehicle is abandoned.
• Rally
TURN Remove 1D6 pinning markers for
MOVEMENT SUMMARY TABLE
1. Roll Orders Dice each counter taken.
Squad 1D6+officers Unit Off-Road On-Road
• Under Air Attack
Platoon 2D6+officers Infantry 5" 5" First time a unit is attacked by an
Company 3D6+officers Vehicle see vehicle data aircraft.
Battalion 4D6+officers
Cavalry* 8" 10" • Under Flamethrower Attack
Bicycle 3" 12" First time a unit is attacked by a
2. Issue First Order
flamethrower.
Horse towed gun 4" 6"
3. Issue Second Order • Senior Officer Destroyed
Manhandled very light gun 3" 4"
Extra counter if a destroyed unit was
Manhandled light gun 2" 3" a Senior Officer.
4. Issue Third Order...etc
Continue this process until all Manhandled medium gun 1" 2" • Out Scouted
orders are issued. Manhandled heavy gun - - If enemy has more scout units.
Aircraft anywhere • Enemy Captures an Objective
5. Rally If enemy claim an objective.
Remove pinning markers from * Once per game a cavalry may charge up to 12"
• Tactical Co-Ordination
pinned units.
Attempt to use the special order.

ARTILLERY FIRE SEQUENCE

Spotter Sequence Fire For Effect
UNIT MORALE TABLE – D6 1. Request Artillery Fire 1. Determine the number
D6 Roll Infantry Gun Vehicle Aircraft 2. Priority Check of shots
1 Pinned/Rout-Surrender Abandoned Abandoned1 Return to Base 3. Communication check 2. Roll for Barrage Accuracy
2 Pinned/Rout-Surrender Abandoned Pinned OK 4. Position spotter round 3. Allocate Direct Hits
3 Pinned2 Pinned2 OK OK 5. Roll for deviation 4. Allocate Pinning Hits
4 OK OK OK OK 6. Fire for Effect 5. Resolve Direct Hits
5 OK OK OK OK 6. Resolve Pinning
7. Rounds Complete
6 OK3 OK3 OK3 OK3 Spotter Round Accuracy
1 Wild Artillery Barrage Accuracy
Notes Misses by 4D6" in a 1 Miss
1
Only abandoned if the vehicle is already pinned, immobilised, a soft-skinned vehicle, random direction No Effect
or the vehicle has enemy infantry within 10” and no friendly infantry within 10" i.e. 2-5 Miss 2-5 Pinning
in close support). Otherwise treat as Pinned. Misses by 2D6" in a Pinning Test
random direction 6 Direct Hit
2
Veteran and Elite Infantry units treat this Pinned result as an OK result. 6 Accurate Roll for damage
3
As well as passing the morale test, the unit is inspired to get in the action. The unit Misses by 1D6" in a
may immediately attempt a ‘Beyond the Call of Duty’ test. random direction

UNIT EXPERIENCE TEST

AREA FIRE EFFECT TABLE – D6 ‘BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY’,
TAC CO-ORD & ASSAULTS
RoF Range Infantry Deployed Soft-skinned Open-topped Enclosed Aircraft
Inexperienced unit: 4+
gun vehicle vehicle vehicle Regular unit: 3+
9+ Short - 0-10" 2+ 2+ 2+ 4+ 5+ - Veteran unit: 2+
Medium - 10-20" 3+ 3+ 2+ 5+ - - Elite unit: 2+
Long - 20-30"+ 4+ 4+ 2+ 6+ - 6+
5-8 Short - 0-10" 3+ 3+ 2+ 5+ 6+ -
Medium - 10-20" 4+ 4+ 2+ 6+ - - COVER SAVE TABLE
Long - 20-30"+ 5+ 5+ 3+ - - 6+ Infantry /  Vehicle
1-4 Short - 0-10" 4+ 4+ 2+ 6+ - - Deployed Gun
Medium - 10-20" 5+ 5+ 3+ - - - Open 6+ none
Long - 20-30"+ 6+ 6+ 4+ - - - Soft 5+ 6+
Hard 4+ 4+
Armour Piercing shell 1 - 6+ 3+ 6+ 6+ - Reinforced 3+ -
HE from very light gun 1 5+ 5+ 2+ 5+ 6+ 5+ Hardened 2+ -
HE from light gun 1 4+ 4+ 2+ 4+ 6+ -
HE from medium gun 1 3+ 3+ 2+ 3+ 5+ -
HE from heavy gun 1 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 4+ -
1
Range has no effect on Area Fire from High Explosive or Armour Piercing shells.
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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

OBSERVATION TABLE – D6 SMALL ARMS RATE OF FIRE

Infantry in the Open Firing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2+ Weapon RoF Max Range Crew Special
Infantry in the Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3+ Rifle 1 30" -
Obscured Infantry Firing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3+ SMG 1(2)* 10" -
Obscured Infantry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4+ DP Light MG 2 30" 1 man
Maxim Medium MG 5 30" 2 men
Deployed Gun in the Open Firing . . . . . . . . . . . . automatic
DShK Heavy MG 6 40" 3 men
Deployed Gun in the Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2+
MG34 – bipod mount 5 30" 2 men
Obscured Gun Firing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2+
MG 42 – bipod mount 6 30" 2 men
Obscured Gun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3+
MG34 – tripod mount 7 40" 2 men
Vehicle in the Open Firing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . automatic MG42 – tripod mount 8 40" 2 men
Vehicle in the Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2+ Tank MG (bow, co-axial, etc) 3 30"
Obscured Vehicle Firing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2+ Pintle mount MG 5 40"
Obscured Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3+ Light Autocannon 6 50" 2 men also Light HE
Heavy Autocannon 8 50" 3 men also Light HE
Aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . automatic Multiple Autocannons 10 50" 2 men also 2 Light HE
Multiple Medium MG mount 10 30" 3 men
Modifiers Man-pack Flamethrower 10 5" 1 man Open Cover save
If the observing unit has the Scout special rule . . . . . . +1 Vehicle Flamethrower 10 10" - Open Cover save
If the target unit is an Infantry team of 3 men or less . . . . -1
* increases to 2 at under 5” but only when used with the Infantry Assault order.

AIMED FIRE TO-HIT TABLE – D6

Range Small Arms MGs Autocannon Flamethrower AP Shell HE Shell AP Shell Modifiers HE Shell Modifiers
0-5" 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ Target Moved last turn -1 Target Moved last turn -1
Target is Obscured -1 Target is Obscured -1
5-10" 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 2+ 2+ Firer Moved (or will move) Firer Moved (or will move)
10-20" 4+ 4+ 4+ - 3+ 3+ this turn -1 this turn -1
20-30" 5+ 5+ 5+ - 4+ 4+ Target is a Deployed gun -1 Ace crew +1
Ace crew +1
30-40" - 6+ 6+ - 5+ 5+
40-50" - - 6+ - 6+ 6+
50-70" - - - - 6+ 6+

1s always miss, 6s always hit, regardless of modifiers.

ARMOUR PENETRATION TABLE – 2D6 RESULTS

Greater Than = Destroyed
SS O N M L K J I H G F E D C B A
Target Destroyed. Must take Battle Counter.
1 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 - - - - - - - - -
Less Than = Glancing Hit
2 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 - - - - - - - - No Effect. Target must take Morale test.
3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 - - - - - - -
Equal to = Pinned
4 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 - - - - - - Target Pinned. Must take Morale test.
5 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 - - - - - Double 1 = Immobilised
6 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 - - - - Target Immobilised. Must take Morale counter.
7 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 - - -
8 3 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 - -
ANTI-TANK GRENADE ATTACKS
9 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 - 1 Heavy Casualties
Remove 1D3 infantrymen.
10 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12
2-4 Casualty
11 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Remove 1 infantryman.
12 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 5 Success - Side Armour
13 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Penetration 6 attack against side armour.

14 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 6 Success - Rear Armour

Penetration 6 attack against rear armour.
15 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8

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GERMAN EQUIPMENT
The following pages detail the game profiles for all the German armoured
vehicles, soft-skinned vehicles and guns at the Battle of Kursk. For ease of
reference during game-play they are repeated here.

ARMOURED VEHICLES
PANZER III SERIES
Pz-III N
VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT
Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer III J
8" 12" - L N N 50mmL42 Turret 10
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer III L
8" 12" - L N N 50mmL60 Turret 9
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer III M
8" 12" - K N (M) N 50mmL60 Turret 9
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer III N
8" 12" - K N (M) N 75mmL24 Turret 6
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Flammpanzer III
8" 12" - K N N Flamethrower Turret 4
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer III H 8" 12" - N N N Dummy Gun Turret -

Observation Tank MG Co-axial -

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PANZER IV SERIES

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer IV E-F1
8" 12" - L N N 75mmL24 Turret 8
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer IV G
8" 12" - L N(M) N 75mmL43 Turret 9
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer IV H
8" 12" - K N(M) N 75mmL48 Turret 9
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

PANZER V

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panther
10" 14" Unreliable H K L 75mmL70 Turret 8
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

PANZER VI

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Tiger
8" 12" - H J J 88mmL56 Turret 9
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

PANZER T-34(r)

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

T-34/43
12" 16" Mobility K L M 76.2mmL42 Turret 10
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

PANZER II

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Panzer II F
8" 12" - N O O 20mmL55 Turret 18
MG Co-axial -

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

BORGWARD B-IV

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Borgward B-IV
8" 12" remote O O O Demo-charge - 1
control

STURMGESCHUTZ III SERIES

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

StuG III A-E 8" 12" - L N N 75mmL24 Hull 5

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

StuG III F
8" 12" - L N N 75mmL43 Hull 5
MG Pintle -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

StuH 42 F
8" 12" - L N N 105mmL28 Hull 4
MG Pintle -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

StuG III G
8" 12" - J N (M) N 75mmL48 Hull 5
MG Pintle -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

StuH 42 G
8" 12" - J N (M) N 105mmL28 Hull 4
MG Pintle -

TANK DESTROYERS

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Marder II
8" 12" - N O O 75mmL46 Hull 4
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Marder III H
8" 12" - L N O 75mmL46 Hull 4
Open-Topped MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Marder III M
9" 13" - N O O 75mmL46 Hull 3
Open-Topped MG Bow -

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Marder III 9" 13" - L N O 76.2mmL54 Hull 3

(38t PaK 36r) Open-Topped MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Ferdinand 6" 9" - A J N 88mmL71 Hull 5

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Hornise
8" 12" - N O O 88mmL71 Hull 4
Open-Topped

SELF-PROPELLED GUNS

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Brummbär 8" 12" - H L (K) M 150mmL12 Hull 4

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Grille H
7" 11" - L N O 150mm SiG33 Hull 2
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Grille K
7" 11" - N O O 150mm SiG33 Hull 2
Open-Topped MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Wespe
8" 12" - N O O 105mmL28 Hull 3
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Hummel
8" 12" - N O O 150mmL30 Hull 2
Open-Topped

OTHER VEHICLES

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Munitions Carrier* 8" 12" - N O O - - -

* Various converted or custom-built tracked light armoured vehicles used as supply vehicles. Such as SdKfz4 (Maultier with armoured cab),
Sdkfz 252, turretless PzII, Lorraine-Schlepper and turretless captured T-70.
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ARMOURED CARS

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 222
8" 24" - O O O 20mmL55 Turret 18
MG Co-axial -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 223 8" 24" - O O O MG Turret -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 232
8" 24" - N O O 20mmL55 Turret 18
MG Co-axial -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 233
8" 24" - N O O 75mmL24 Hull 3
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 236 8" 24" - N O O MG Bow -

SdKfz 251/1
SDKFZ-251 SERIES

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 251/1
12" 16" - O O O MG Pintle -
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 251/2
12" 16" - O O O 80mm mortar Hull 6
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 251/3
12" 16" - O O O MG Pintle -
Open-Topped

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 251/9
12" 16" - O O O 75mmL24 Hull 12
Open-Topped MG Pintle -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 251/10
12" 16" - O O O 37mmL43 Hull 15
Open-Topped MG Pintle -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 251/16
12" 16" - O O O 2 x Flame Throwers Hull 3 each
Open-Topped MG Pintle -

SDKFZ-250 SERIES
SdKfz 250/3
VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT
Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 250/1
12" 16" - O O O MG Pintle -
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 250/3
12" 16" - O O O MG Pintle -
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 250/7
12" 16" - O O O 80mm mortar Hull 4
Open-Topped MG Pintle -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 250/8
12" 16" - O O O 75mmL24 Hull 7
Open-Topped MG Pintle -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 250/9
12" 16" - O O O 20mmL55 PIntle 10
Open-Topped MG Co-axial -

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 250/10
12" 16" - O O O 37mmL43 Hull 10
Open-Topped MG Pintle -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SdKfz 250/11
12" 16" - O O O 28mmSPzB41 Hull 16
Open-Topped MG Pintle -

SOFT-SKINNED VEHICLES

Movement Hits Transport Special

Off-Road Road Capacity
Motorcycle 6" 24" 1 1
Motorcycle and sidecar 6" 24" 1 2
Kettenkrad 14" 22" 1 2
Staff car 6" 24" 2 3
Kubelwagen 6" 24" 2 3
Schwimmwagen 6" 24" 2 3 amphibious
Steyr Heavy car 6" 24" 2 5
Krupp Protze 6" 24" 2 8
Opel Blitz 6" 24" 3 12
Opel Maultier 9" 16" 3 12
RSO 9" 12" 3 10 Fiat Truck
Heavy Truck 6" 24" 4 24
The Germans used a wide variety of
1 tonne Sdkfz 10 12" 16" 2 5 medium and heavy trucks, from various
3 tonne Sdkfz 11 12" 16" 3 8 manufacturers, civilian versions and
5 tonne Sdkfz 6 12" 16" 3 10 captured vehicles from other nations.
8 tonne Sdkfz 7 12" 16" 4 12 For civilian medium trucks treat them as
12 tonne Sdkfz 8 12" 16" 4 15 an Opel Blitz. All heavy trucks have the
18 tonne Sdkfz 9 12" 16" 5 - repair same standard profile.
recovery

AIRCRAFT Aircraft Role Hits Weaponry

Fw-190F Fighter 3 2 MGs

1 cluster bomb or
1 large bomb

Hs-129B Fighter Bomber 4 2 MGs

2 20mm cannons
1 37mm cannon
2 light bombs

Ju-87D Dive Bomber 4 2 MGs

1 large bomb
4 small bombs

Ju-87G Fighter Bomber 4 2 37mm cannons

Hs-126 Scout Plane 2 None

Fw-189A Fast Scout Plane 3 2 MGs

Fieseler Storch Spotter Plane 2 None

He-111 Bomber 8 5 large bombs

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

GERMAN GUNS
120mm mortar
MORTARS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

50mm HE 3/5+ 1 1 1 1 1 1
80mm HE 4/4+ 2 2 2 2 2 2
120mm HE 6/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 3

AUTOCANNONS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

20mmL55 HE - 1 1 1 1 1 1
AP - 2 2 1 1 1 -
37mmL98 HE - 2 2 2 2 2 2
AP - 3 3 2 2 1 -

VERY LIGHT GUNS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

28mmPzB41 AP - 3 3 2 1 1 -
37mmL43 (PaK36) HE 2/5+ 1 1 1 1 1 -
AP - 4 4 3 2 1 -
50mmL42 HE 3/5+ 2 2 2 2 2 -
AP - 4 4 3 2 1 -
50mmL60 (PaK38) HE 3/5+ 2 2 2 2 2 -
AP - 5 5 4 3 2 -

LIGHT GUNS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

75mm (IG18) HE 3/4+ 2 2 2 2 2 -

75mmL24 HE 4/4+ 2 2 2 2 2 -
AP - 4 4 3 2 1 -
75mmL36 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP - 6 6 5 4 3 -
75mmL43 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP - 7 7 6 5 4 3
75mmL46 (PaK40) HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP - 8 8 7 6 5 4
75mmL48 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP - 8 8 7 6 5 4
75mmL70 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP - 11 11 10 9 8 7
76.2mmL42 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
AP - 6 6 5 4 3 -
76.2mmL54 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
AP - 7 7 6 5 4 -

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

MEDIUM GUNS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

88mmL56 HE 4/3+ 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP - 9 9 8 7 6 5
88mmL71 (PaK43) HE 4/3+ 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP - 15 15 14 13 12 11
100mmK18 HE 5/3+ 4 4 4 4 4 4
AP - 10 10 9 8 7 6
105mmL28 HE 5/3+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
105mmL42 HE 5/3+ 4 4 4 4 4 -
122mmL23 HE 6/3+ 5 5 5 5 5 -
150mmL12 (SiG33) HE 7/3+ 5 5 5 5 5 -
150mmL30 HE 7/3+ 5 5 5 5 5 -
150mm Nebelwerfer HE 6/3+ 4 4 4 4 4 4

HEAVY GUNS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

170mmL50 HE 6/2+ 6 6 6 6 6 6
210mmL31 HE 7/2+ 7 7 7 7 7 7
210mm Nebelwerfer HE 6/2+ 5 5 5 5 5 5
280mm Nebelwerfer HE 8/2+ 6 6 6 6 6 6

169
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

170
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

RUSSIAN EQUIPMENT
The following pages detail the game profiles for all the Russian armoured
vehicles, soft-skinned vehicles and guns at the Battle of Kursk. For ease of
reference during game play they are repeated here.

ARMOURED VEHICLES
T-70 light tank
LIGHT TANKS

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

T-60
12" 19" - M N O 20mm Turret -
MG Co-axial -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

T-70
10" 15" - K N O 46mmL46 Turret 7
MG Co-axial -

KV SERIES

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

KV-1E
6" 10" Unreliable H K L 76.2mmL42 Turret 11
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -
MG Turret (rear) -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

KV-1S
8" 12" - J K M 76.2mmL42 Turret 11
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -
MG Turret (rear) -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

KV-2
4" 8" Unreliable H K L 152mmL24 Turret 3
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -
MG Turret (rear) -

171
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

T-34

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

T-34/43
12" 16" T-34 Mobility K L M 76.2mmL42 Turret 10
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

SELF-PROPELLED GUNS

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SU-76M
9" 14" - N O O 76.2mmL54 Hull 6
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SU-122 12" 16" - L M N 122mmL23 Hull 4

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

SU-152 10" 14" - J K L 152mmL29 Hull 3

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

BM-8-13
9" 14" - M O O 132mm rocket Hull 3
launcher

SU-152 ‘animal-killer’

ARMOURED CARS

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

BA-10
8" 24" - N O O 37mmL45 Turret 10
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

BA-64
8" 24" - N O O LMG Turret -
Open-Topped

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

LEND-LEASE VEHICLES

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Bren Carrier
16" 24" - O O O LMG Hull -
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

M5 Halftrack
12" 16" O O O MG Pintle -
Open-Topped

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

M3A1 White 8" 24" - O O O MG Pintle -

Scout Car Open-Topped

LEND-LEASE TANKS

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

M3 Grant
8" 13" - L M O 37mmL53 Turret 14
75mmL30 Hull 5
MG Turret -
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Matilda II
5" 8" - K K L 2 pdr Turret 9
MG Co-axial -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Valentine III
5" 8" - K K L 2 pdr Turret 8
MG Co-axial -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

Churchill III/IV
5" 8" - I J J 6 pdr Turret 6
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

VEHICLE MOVEMENT ARMOUR ARMAMENT

Off-Road Road Special Front Side Rear Weapon Mount Ammo

M3A1 Stuart
12" 18" - L M M 37mmL53 Turret 12
MG Co-axial -
MG Bow -

173
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

RUSSIAN GUNS
120mm mortar crew
MORTARS
WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE
0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

50mm HE 3/5+ 1 1 1 1 1 1
82mm HE 4/4+ 2 2 2 2 2 2
120mm HE 6/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 3

AUTOCANNONS
WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE
0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

20mm HE - 1 1 1 1 1 1
AP - 2 2 1 1 1 -
37mmL60 HE - 2 2 2 2 2 2
AP - 3 3 2 2 1 -

VERY LIGHT GUNS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

37mmL45 HE 2/5+ 1 1 1 1 1 -
AP - 4 4 3 2 1
45mmL46 HE 3/5+ 1 1 1 1 1 -
AP - 4 4 3 2 1 -
45mmL66 HE 3/5+ 1 1 1 1 1 -
AP - 5 5 4 3 2 -
57mmL73 (Zis 2) HE 3/5+ 2 2 2 2 2 -
AP - 8 8 7 6 5 -

LIGHT GUNS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

76.2mmL16 HE 4/4+ 2 2 2 2 2 -
76.2mmL26 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
AP - 4 4 3 2 1 -
76.2mmL30 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
AP - 5 5 4 3 2 -
76.2mmL42 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
AP - 6 6 5 4 3 -
76.2mmL54 (Zis 3) HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
AP - 7 7 6 5 4 -

174
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

MEDIUM GUNS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

85mmL54 HE 4/3+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
AP - 9 9 8 7 6 -
122mmL23 HE 6/3+ 4 4 4 4 4 -
AP - 3 3 2 1 1 -
122mmL46 HE 6/3+ 4 4 4 4 4 -
AP - 13 13 12 10 9 -
152mmL24 HE 7/3+ 5 5 5 5 5 -
152mmL29 HE 7/3+ 6 6 6 6 6 -
AP - 10 10 9 8 7 -
132mm Rocket HE 6/3+ 5 5 5 5 5 -

HEAVY GUNS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

203mmL49 HE 8/2+ 7 7 7 7 7 7

INFANTRY ANTI-TANK WEAPONS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

PTRD anti-tank rifle AP - 2 1 - - - -

AIRCRAFT WEAPONS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

82mm Rocket HE 3/3+ 6 6 6 6 6 -

PTAB Bomb HE 6/5+ 6 6 6 6 6 -

LEND-LEASE WEAPONS

WEAPON AMMO HE EFFECT RANGE

0-10" 10-20" 20-30" 30-40" 40-50" 50-70"

37mmL53 HE 2/5+ 1 1 1 1 1 -
(v. light) AP - 4 4 3 2 1 -
75mmL30 HE 4/4+ 3 3 3 3 3 -
(light) AP - 5 5 4 3 2 -
2 pdr (v. light) AP - 3 3 2 1 1 -
6 pdr (v. light) HE 3/5+ 2 2 2 2 2 -
AP - 7 7 6 5 4 -

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 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

SOFT-SKINNED VEHICLES

Movement Hits Transport Special

Off-Road Road Capacity
Motorcycle 6" 24" 1 1
Motorcycle and sidecar 6" 24" 1 2
Gaz 67B Jeep 6" 24" 2 3
Staff car 6" 24" 2 3
Willy’s Jeep 6" 24" 2 3
Civilian medium truck 6" 24" 2 10
Gaz AA Truck 6" 24" 2 10 Lend-lease Willys Jeep
Zis-5V Truck 6" 24" 3 10
Gaz AAA Truck 6" 24" 3 12 The failure of the lend-lease scheme
Zis-42M Truck 12" 16" 3 12 to provide combat-worthy tanks saw
2.5 tonne truck 6" 24" 3 15 the Russians request that its allies
Yag-10/12 heavy truck 6" 24" 4 20
provide more trucks instead. Jeeps and
Gaz 55 ambulance 6" 24" 2 - medic
Studebaker trucks became commonplace,
Komsomolet tractor 12" 16" 1 1 light gun and eventaully provided the Red Army
Komintern tractor 12" 16" 3 1 medium gun with the majority of its motorised
Voroshilovets tractor 12" 16" 5 1 heavy gun transport and light gun tows. In 1943,
horse-power was still relied upon,
Horse drawn wagon 4" 6" 2 10-20
Horse and limber 4" 6" 2 1 gun especially in the Rifle divisions.

AIRCRAFT

IL-2 Sturmovik

Aircraft Role Hits Weaponry

IL-2 Fighter Bomber 4 4 MGs

8 82mm rockets, or
4 small bombs, or
2 PTAB bombs, or
2 37mm cannons

PE-2 Dive Bomber 4 2 MGs

4 medium bomb, or
8 small bombs

Yak 1 or 9 Fighter 3 20mm cannon

2 small bombs

P-39 Aircobra Fighter 3 37mm cannons

2 MGs
2 small bombs

PO-2 Scout Plane 2 1 MG

IL-4 Bomber 6 5 large bombs

176
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5
AIR ATTACK

5 MINE
STRIKE
MINE
STRIKE
CONFUSION CONFUSION
AMMO
LOW
AMMO
LOW

AIR ATTACK AIR ATTACK AIR ATTACK AIR ATTACK

BEYOND BEYOND
BREAK BREAK
THE CALL THE CALL
DOWN DOWN
OF DUTY OF DUTY
177
 BATTLEGROUP • KURSK

NOTES

180
 OBSERVATION TABLE – D6 SMALL ARMS RATE OF FIRE
Infantry in the Open Firing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2+ Weapon RoF Max Range Crew Special
Infantry in the Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3+ Rifle 1 30" -
Obscured Infantry Firing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3+ SMG 1(2)* 10" -
Obscured Infantry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4+ DP Light MG 2 30" 1 man
Maxim Medium MG 5 30" 2 men
Deployed Gun in the Open Firing . . . . . . . . . . . . automatic
DShK Heavy MG 6 40" 3 men
Deployed Gun in the Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2+
MG34 – bipod mount 5 30" 2 men
Obscured Gun Firing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2+
MG 42 – bipod mount 6 30" 2 men
Obscured Gun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3+
MG34 – tripod mount 7 40" 2 men
Vehicle in the Open Firing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . automatic MG42 – tripod mount 8 40" 2 men
Vehicle in the Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2+ Tank MG (bow, co-axial, etc) 3 30"
Obscured Vehicle Firing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2+ Pintle mount MG 5 40"
Obscured Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3+ Light Autocannon 6 50" 2 men also Light HE
Heavy Autocannon 8 50" 3 men also Light HE
Aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . automatic Multiple Autocannons 10 50" 2 men also 2 Light HE
Multiple Medium MG mount 10 30" 3 men
Modifiers Man-pack Flamethrower 10 5" 1 man Open Cover save
If the observing unit has the Scout special rule . . . . . . +1 Vehicle Flamethrower 10 10" - Open Cover save
If the target unit is an Infantry team of 3 men or less . . . -1
* increases to 2 at under 5", but only when used with the Infantry Assault order.

AIMED FIRE TO-HIT TABLE – D6

Range Small Arms MGs Autocannon Flamethrower AP Shell HE Shell AP Shell Modifiers HE Shell Modifiers
0-5" 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ Target Moved last turn -1 Target Moved last turn -1
Target is Obscured -1 Target is Obscured -1
5-10" 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 2+ 2+ Firer Moved (or will move) Firer Moved (or will move)
10-20" 4+ 4+ 4+ - 3+ 3+ this turn -1 this turn -1
20-30" 5+ 5+ 5+ - 4+ 4+ Target is a Deployed gun -1 Ace crew +1
Ace crew +1
30-40" - 6+ 6+ - 5+ 5+
40-50" - - 6+ - 6+ 6+
50-70" - - - - 6+ 6+

1s always miss, 6s always hit, regardless of modifiers.

ARMOUR PENETRATION TABLE – 2D6 RESULTS

Greater Than = Destroyed
SS O N M L K J I H G F E D C B A
Target Destroyed. Must take Battle Counter.
1 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 - - - - - - - - -
Less Than = Glancing Hit
2 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 - - - - - - - - No Effect. Target must take Morale test.
3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 - - - - - - -
Equal to = Pinned
4 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 - - - - - - Target Pinned. Must take Morale test.
5 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 - - - - - Double 1 = Immobilised
6 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 - - - - Target Immobilised. Must take Morale test.
7 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 - - -
8 3 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 - - ANTI-TANK GRENADE ATTACKS
9 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 - 1 Heavy Casualties
Remove 1D3 infantrymen.
10 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12
2-4 Casualty
11 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Remove 1 infantryman.
12 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 5 Success - Side Armour
Penetration 6 attack against side armour.
13 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
6 Success - Rear Armour
14 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Penetration 6 attack against rear armour.
15 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8
RULES REFERENCE SHEET
BATTLE COUNTER TAKEN
• Unit Destroyed
Any unit is destroyed, or routs, or a
gun/vehicle is abandoned.
• Rally
TURN Remove 1D6 pinning markers for
MOVEMENT SUMMARY TABLE each counter taken.
1. Roll Orders Dice
Squad 1D6+officers Unit Off-Road On-Road • Under Air Attack
Platoon 2D6+officers Infantry 5" 5" First time a unit is attacked by an
Company 3D6+officers Vehicle see vehicle data aircraft.
Battalion 4D6+officers • Under Flamethrower Attack
Cavalry* 8" 10"
First time a unit is attacked by a
2. Issue First Order Bicycle 3" 12"
flamethrower.
Horse towed gun 4" 6"
3. Issue Second Order • Senior Officer Destroyed
Manhandled very light gun 3" 4" Extra counter if a destroyed unit was
Manhandled light gun 2" 3" a Senior Officer.
4. Issue Third Order...etc
Continue this process until all Manhandled medium gun 1" 2" • Out Scouted
orders are issued. Manhandled heavy gun - - If enemy has more scout units.
Aircraft anywhere • Enemy Captures an Objective
5. Rally If enemy claim an objective.
Remove pinning markers from * Once per game cavalry may charge up to 12"
• Tactical Co-Ordination
pinned units. A senior officer attempts to use the
special order.

ARTILLERY FIRE SEQUENCE

Spotter Sequence Fire For Effect
UNIT MORALE TABLE – D6 1. Request Artillery Fire 1. Determine the number
D6 Roll Infantry Gun Vehicle Aircraft 2. Priority Check of shots
1 Pinned/Rout-Surrender Abandoned Abandoned1 Return to Base 3. Communication check 2. Roll for Barrage Accuracy
2 Pinned/Rout-Surrender Abandoned Pinned OK 4. Position spotter round. 3. Allocate Direct Hits
3 Pinned2 Pinned2 OK OK 5. Roll for deviation 4. Allocate Pinning Hits
4 OK OK OK OK 6. Fire for Effect 5. Resolve Direct Hits
5 OK OK OK OK 6. Resolve Pinning
7. Rounds Complete
6 OK3 OK3 OK3 OK3 Spotter Round Accuracy
1 Wild Artillery Barrage Accuracy
Notes Misses by 4D6" in a 1 Miss
1
Only abandoned if the vehicle is already pinned, immobilised, a soft-skinned vehicle, random direction No Effect
or the vehicle has enemy infantry within 10" and no friendly infantry within 10" i.e. 2-5 Miss 2-5 Pinning
in close support). Otherwise treat as Pinned. Misses by 2D6" in a Pinning Test
random direction 6 Direct Hit
2
Veteran and Elite Infantry units treat this Pinned result as an OK result. 6 Accurate Roll for damage
3
As well as passing the morale test, the unit is inspired to get into the action. The unit Misses by 1D6" in a
may immediately attempt a ‘Beyond the Call of Duty’ test. random direction

AREA FIRE EFFECT TABLE - D6 UNIT EXPERIENCE TEST

‘BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY’,
RoF Range Infantry Deployed Soft-skinned Open-topped Enclosed Aircraft TAC CO-ORD & ASSAULTS

gun vehicle vehicle vehicle Inexperienced unit: 4+

9+ Short - 0-10" 2+ 2+ 2+ 4+ 5+ - Regular unit: 3+
Veteran unit: 2+
Medium - 10-20" 3+ 3+ 2+ 5+ - -
Elite unit: 2+
Long - 20-30"+ 4+ 4+ 2+ 6+ - 6+
5-8 Short - 0-10" 3+ 3+ 2+ 5+ 6+ -
Medium - 10-20" 4+ 4+ 2+ 6+ - -
COVER SAVE TABLE
Long - 20-30"+ 5+ 5+ 3+ - - 6+
Infantry /  Vehicle
1-4 Short - 0-10" 4+ 4+ 2+ 6+ - - Deployed Gun
Medium - 10-20" 5+ 5+ 3+ - - -
Open 6+ none
Long - 20-30"+ 6+ 6+ 4+ - - -
Soft 5+ 6+

Hard 4+ 4+
Armour Piercing shell 1 - 6+ 3+ 6+ 6+ -
HE from very light gun 1 5+ 5+ 2+ 5+ 6+ 5+ Reinforced 3+ -
HE from light gun 1 4+ 4+ 2+ 4+ 6+ - Hardened 2+ -
HE from medium gun 1 3+ 3+ 2+ 3+ 5+ -
HE from heavy gun 1 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 4+ -
1
Range has no effect on Area Fire from High Explosive or Armour Piercing shells.
 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5
AIR ATTACK

5 MINE
STRIKE
MINE
STRIKE
CONFUSION CONFUSION
AMMO
LOW
AMMO
LOW

AIR ATTACK AIR ATTACK AIR ATTACK AIR ATTACK

BEYOND BEYOND
BREAK BREAK
THE CALL THE CALL
DOWN DOWN
OF DUTY OF DUTY

1943, KURSK... Still the greatest
tank battle in history and the
last strategic offensive of the
German Army on the Eastern
Front. Kursk was their final
effort to break the Red Army
and win World War II, and saw
two weeks of savage fighting
across the rolling steppes of
southern Russia. Within you
will find all you need to recreate
those epic battles with 20mm or
15mm miniatures.
PUBLISHING
• RULES
Easy-to-learn, fast-to-play, hard-
to-master gaming rules with an
authentic feel for the combined-arms
warfare of the period, utilising the
innovative ‘Battle Rating’ system.
• BACKGROUND
An overview of the Battle of Kursk,
providing the background to
your games, along with a detailed
timeline for the principle combat
operations.
• ARMY LISTS
Army Lists designed to play with
the character of the four main
combat formations: German Panzer
and German Infantry Divisions,
Russian Tank Corps and Russian
Rifle Divisions.
TM
• SCENARIOS
Six endlessly re-usable general
scenarios and a short campaign,
‘the Inglorious 12th July’ for
the fierce tank battles south of
Prokhorovka, including seven
historical battles to re-fight and
one mega-game.
• PAINTING GUIDES
Inspiring and informative painting
and modelling sections and step-by-
step guides to painting the vehicles
of the battle, each described to
three different levels of finish.
Plus, a guide to building a Kursk
wargames table.
BATTLEGROUP • KURSK
Kursk ADDITIONAL
UNIT SPECIAL RULES
T hese a few special rules for units
in Battlegroup Kursk that aren’t
covered in the main rulebook.
2-4 Casualty
5 Hit!
• ‘Fight Damn You!’
The presence of an NKVD political
officer ‘bolsters’ the morale of the
troops (or instills fear). If a Russian
battlegroup includes an NKVD
officer, then before the start of the
game roll a D6 and add the result to
the battlegroup’s Battle Rating.
• Stal! Stal! Stal!
• Mine Dog
As an interim anti-tank measure, the
Red Army trained dogs, with anti-tank
mines harnessed to them, to run under
German tanks. Predictably, they were
not very effective, and resulted in a
standing orders for German soldiers to
shoot dogs. At close assault range (5”)
an anti-tank Mine Dog may attack a
German vehicle by using the Infantry
Assault order, then rolling a D6. Each
dog can only be used once!
Mine Dog Attack Table
1 ‘Damn You Shepski!’
The dog scores a hit against the
rear armour of the closest Russian
armoured vehicle within 10” of the
dog.
The dog is killed by defensive fire;
remove it from play.
The dog scores a hit against the
vehicle’s side armour, with an
armour penetration value of 4.
6 Critical Hit!
The dog scores a hit against the
vehicle’s rear armour, with an
armour penetration value of 4.
At Kursk, standing orders for
Russian tank crews were to close
with the enemy rapidly, fire on the
move and attempt to engage the
enemy tanks at point blank range.
The crews carried out the orders
with reckless bravery in headlong
charges, whilst suffering heavy
losses to the enemy’s long range
guns. Russian light, medium or
lend-lease tanks may use the Stal!
Stal! Stal! rule (as noted in the
Army Lists). Instead of ordering
each vehicle individually as normal,
the Russian player may choose to
use a special order, declare ‘Stal!
Stal! Stal!’ and can then use D6
light, medium or lend-lease tanks
instead of just one. Roll the D6 each
time ‘Stal!’ is declared. It can be
used multiple times in a turn, but
individual vehicles can only benefit
once per turn.
Each tank ordered using the Stal!
Stal! Stal! special rule must then
take two normal Moves (which
must be towards an enemy unit or
their opponent’s table edge) and
can then take a single Area Fire shot
(with high-explosive or small arms).
The Stal! Stal! Stal! rule does not
apply to Russian heavy tanks,
assault guns, or any dug-in tank.
These must be given an Order using
the normal rules.
• T-34 Mobility
One of the T-34’s many assets was
its good suspension system and its
low ground pressure due to its wide
tracks, allowing it greater mobility
than other tanks of its size and
weight. When rolling for crossing
difficult terrain and obstacles, a T-34
may re-roll the D6 if it wishes. The
Russian player may always take the
lower of the two dice rolls.