Additional Special Rules:
Inexhaustible reserves: The German success in counterattacking towards Kiev had caused STAVKA to deploy masses of troops in the area to hold the line. Poor intelligence and reconnaissance work often meant that entire formations of Soviets had been missed and seemed, to the Germans, to just keep coming from an inexplicable, and inexhaustible reserve of men, guns and tanks.
The Soviet player may reroll their first failed ‘reserves’ dice, even if the overall roll includes one or more successful dice rolls already.
Red Star above: Throughout the counterattack the German commanders bemoaned continuous air attacks from IL-2 fighter bombers despite the often terrible weather in which they flew. Soviet pilots and ground crews alike worked around the clock to try and assist their struggling comrades.
Soviet aircraft units may reroll their first failed attempt to arrive on the battlefield. However, when shooting with their cannons the enemy is always treated as concealed.
If the Soviet army contains no aircraft units add one for no additional points cost. This unit only arrives on a roll of a 5+ each turn and does not benefit from the reroll provided above.
1st of the SS: 1st SS Panzer Division Leibenstarte Adolf Hitler were the Waffen SS’ premium unit. The division had fought hard at Kursk on the offense and now faced a similar attack order against less prepared opponents. Having been to Italy to re-equip with more heavy tanks and fresh infantry the unit was as powerful if not more powerful than months prior.
Reduce the cost of the ‘SS-Panzergrenadier’ company and ‘SS-Panzer company’ command cards by 2 points each if used to construct a German force.
In addition, for 1 point per tank you may upgrade ALL tanks in a Tiger heavy tank company or black box support unit from a Tiger heavy tank company to SS heavy tanks. Their motivation becomes “Fearless 3+”
Furthermore, for 3 points per tank you may upgrade ALL tanks in a Panther tank company or black box support unit from a Panther tank company to SS heavy tanks. Their motivation becomes “Fearless 3+” and their skill becomes “Trained 4+”
SS corporal Alfred Schneiderheit: During the temporary halt to the German attack on the 16th November SS corporal Schneiderheit and his platoon were encircled by the Soviets as part of 1st SS Panzergrenadier regiment. With his anti-tank rifles Schneiderheit saw of several tank and infantry attacks through the night, and was wounded, before leading his platoon the next morning in a daring counterattack which broke the regiment’s encirclement. Earning a Knights Cross.
If the German force contains any SS-Panzer grenadier platoons replace one unit leader with Alfred Schneiderheit. Schneiderheit is an SMG team and his unit’s ‘Rally’ and ‘Counterattack’ ratings both improve to 2+.
Heavy rains: Late autumn in Ukraine often sees heavy rains which saturate the ground and soon turn any battlefield into a quagmire and November 1943 was no different, with both sides struggling through the mud.
Any open ground is treated as muddy ground as described in the Flames of War rulebook. Furthermore, any German aircraft must reroll their first successful attempt to arrive.
~Lucas
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