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TIGERS TO THE FRONT!—Army Group North 1944 2nd EDITION
[4031]

$24.95

by scott holst

Date Added: Friday 14 January, 2005

Well I’ll try and give a fair review of this pack. I picked this pack up while at ASLOK last year and managed to get a couple of games in. As far as I can tell, the scenarios I played seemed fun and balanced, but that is very subjective in the eyes of the beholder. For physical quality, the Map is a work of art and made from good quality heavy paper stock. The scenario cards on the other hand are of fair looking quality. There is also a table of notes on Identifying Terrain types and a Fortification purchase Table. Although CH! Did forget to include the following:
The grey looking rocks example BB12, are crags.
Cost for this pack is 25 buckaroos and it is designed by Mark Porterfield.
The Scenarios:
you get 10 scenarios on card stock/ Black & white, as mentioned above, these are not very good copies, the cards ink is very dark, so ya gotta look a bit harder to see what the nomenclature of various units are, but it is readable.

Cats and Birds
Played this one at ASLOK and found it to be a great little scenario. This is an 8 turn affair with only part of the map in use. Playing time should be around 3 to 4 hours for slow players and under two hours for quick players. Basically, the Germans have to do the old take the hill trick and not lose too many panzers in the process.
The Germans get some really nifty stuff in this one; 12 1st line squads, 9-1, 8-1, 8-0, HMG, MMG, three LMGs, 50mm MTR, 10-2 and 9-1 Armour Leaders, two Tiger VIE’s and one late model tiger VIE(L) plus one 3.7 Flak truck.
The Russian have some really good stuff also to give the Germans grief. They get air support in the form of 44 FB’s, heres your chance to use some of those FB’s from HoB’s OtO module as well as ATMM capability, now those tigers will have to just a bit more careful when approaching those Russkies. There are eight 447's, two crews, 9-1, 70, MMG, two LMG’s, 50mm MTR and two 76L Artillery pieces.
A very nifty design and fun to boot with the Germans attacking and the Russians defending.

Pioneer Spirit
Have not played this one, but it does look fun, but there is errata:
__OBJECTIVES: The Germans win at the end of any game turn in which they Control =_ 7 buildings__
Anyway, once more the germans are attacking into the flank of the Russians, trying to take a few buildings from the nasty russians. The game length is 5 turns and should play in under two hours.
The Germans have seven 838 Assault Engineers, three 548's, one crew, 10-2, two 8-1's, MMG, three LMG’s, two Flame throwers, three DC’s, one 81mm MTR and two tiger tanks in support.
The Russian get to defend with some really cool toys in the guise of three 458's, five 628's, one crew, one 9-2(ya unbelievable huh?), one 8-0, MMG, two LMG’s, 50mm MTR, 8 concealment’s, 12 AP mine factors, four trenchs, 76L ART piece and a real nasty ISU-152 AFV.
So basically there toys for both sides to enjoy, weather this one is balanced or not, I don’t know.

Rear Guard
A change of pace, the Germans are defending against a combined arms attack of nasty Russian with KV’s, Shermans or they can pick T-34/85's instead. Once more, the playing area is restricted to a certain portion of the map with the Russians being tasked with either exiting units off board or capturing building locations within 5 turns. Yup, another small yet short scenario for an evening ASL playing. I also like VC’s that give the attacker a choice and keeps the defender guessing till the end, makes for a real tense game.
The Germans get two 467's, three 447's, 8-1, 7-0 and a 6+1 (I guess they finally sent Klink to the eastern front) an HMG, LMG, PSK, eight concealment’s, 9-1 Armor leader, StuG IIIG(L), PZ VI(L), KFZ 1, two trench’s.
The Russians get three 458's, nine 447's, 9-1, 8-0, 149 hero, MMG, two LMG’s, ATR, 50mm MTR, and a choice of which tanks the Russian might think best suited for his attack:
three KV-1s and three Shermans or five T34/85's. Tough choices indeed. Go for the guys who can chuck smoke or for the T-34's which would be suited for exiting due to their quick speed. Anyway, this one looks cool, but looks can be deceiving.

A Nasty Surprise
A really small scenario with a quirky VC and only 5 turns using a mild size portion of the map.
Here the Russians are attacking once more but with a small twist, they gotta get thier artillery to pre-designated locations in good order to win or if they destroy or recall the two tiger tanks, they win immediately, so once more, a double bladed VC to keep the Germans in the dark to the Russian players real intentions.
The Germans get four 467's, 8-1, MMG, two LMG’s, 9-2 armor leader and two Tiger L’s. The Russians get twelve 447's, a crew, 9-1, 8-0, MMG, two LMG’s, 50mm MTR and one 45LL ATG. For reinforcements which enter on turn one, you get five crews, two 122L Artillery pieces, three 76L artillery pieces and five trucks to tow them on board. In a way its almost tempting to go forth with the 9-2 Armor leader and his tank to cause grief, but do you really want to take a chance of getting DI’ed?

Tigers to the Rescue
Another interesting action, the Germans are besieged by the nasty Russians and only a few Tigers are sent to get them out of their predicament. Here the Germans can cause CVP’s to the Russian attacker as well as try to exit past the Russians and get double VP’s to go against what the Russians cause the Germans in CVP’s. A very fluid encounter indeed. Made even more intense with the arrival of three Tigers to give a helping hand. Basically this is a 6 turn affair with a small portion of the map in play.
The Germans get eight 467's, 8-1, 7-0, MMG, two LMG’s, PSK, 50mm MTR, ten Concealments and get three tigers entering on turn one to give the Russians grief.
The Russians get four 628's, ten 447's, a crew, 9-1, 8-1, 8-0, MMG, three LMG’s, ATR, 50mm MTR, two DC’s, 76L Artillery piece and a T-34/M43. Now prior to play, the Russians get to pick which group of armor they want to enter on turn two:
two T-34/85, KV-1s and ISU-152 OR KV1s, two Shermans and ISU 122. Once more I would recommend the Smoke capable armor in the second group. Its always good to chuck a little smoke on to an AFV and then have DC boy run up and plant a DC on to a tiger.

Right Hook
Here we have purely an infantry engagement with an initial groups setting up for both sides and making a roll for different reinforcement groups for each side. Once more the Russian is attacking with 6 turns of game time to complete his mission and a portion of the map is in play. The Russians need to control two of three locations to win the game, pretty simple and straight forward.
The Germans get six 467's, 9-1, 8-1, 7-0, MMG, two LMG’s, two sniper generating 50mm MTR’s and three foxholes. For each reinforcement group, the Germans get to dice for the following:
1st group: three 468's, 8-1, LMG 2nd group: four 467's, 228, 9-1 and a DM’ed 81mm MTR 3rd group: three 467's, 8-0, dm’ed MMG, dm’ed 50mm MTR.
The Russians get four 458's, twelve 447's, 9-2, two 8-0's, HMG, MMG, three LMG’s, two sniper generating 50mm MTR’s.
For reinforcements, the Russians can dice for the following:
1st group: six 447's, 8-1, MMG, LMG 2nd Group: 6 458's, 8-0, LMG, Flame Thrower and DC
Hmmmm I wonder if Human wave might be the ticket here.

Ripping the Line
Another take the hill scenario with the Germans defending with a few pillboxes and 75L ATG against a massive onslaught of Russian Infantry and Armor. What really make this one stand out though is the use of Fortification points that are allocated to the German from the Fortitification table. So in essence, you will have a highly mobile and huge force of Russian slamming into a well prepared defense of Germans with 5 ½ turns to complete the mission. Usually I hate scenarios where all the defender does is sit around and waits for the Russians to come to him. Will this one play like that? Possibly, possibly not, just eyeballing it seems like fun to play. I should also add that the Russian get three Rocket missions to knock the Russian about. So the Germans will need to spread out, then coalesce when the Russians begin their death ride.
The Germans get 10 467's, a crew, 9-1, 8-1, 7-0, HMG, MMG, 3 LMG’s, 2 50mm MTR’s, PSK, 3 Pillboxes, a 75L ATG and 60 Fortification Purchase points.
The Russians get 3 628's 5 458's, 10 447's, 2 crews, 9-2, 8-1, 8-0, HMG 50 cal, 2 MMG’s, 3 LMG’s, 2 DC’s, 1 Flame Thrower, 2 dm’ed 50mm MTR’s, 2 dm’ed 82mm MTR’s. T-34/85, 3 T-34/M43's, 2 KV-1s’s or the Russian player may use an Assault Gun Platoon instead: 2 ISU 152's, 2 ISU 122's.
Pretty cool Russian OB going at the Germans in this one, I have not played this one, but I would definitely go for the Assault Gun Group, tough Armor, good Smoke making capability.

Pebbles in the Stream
This is small set-piece engagement of combined arms using a small portion of the map and is a 51/2 turns long. Short and sweet. Once more a small force of Germans must cause casualties as well keep the Russians from exiting guys from the map. The germans get 6 467's, 1 crew, 8-1, 8-0, MMG, LMG, PSK, 75L ATG, some foxholes and as reinforcements, they receive 2 StuG IIIG’s entering on turn 2.
The Russians get 6 447's, 9-2, 8-0, LMG, ATR, 8-1 Armor Leader, 2 T34/85's and 4 T-34/M43's. The Russians also gotta enter as Riders.

Cat Scratching
An interesting scenario where both sides are up close and personal, also, this is not a large scenario, perhaps boarder line medium would be more appropriate. Once more the Russians are attacking to take hills or building locations from the Germans and have 51/2 turns to complete their mission. Even more interesting is that the Russians are given PF capability in this one, not as good as the Germans when searching or firing the things but if close enough, they might be effective. Anyway, the Russians only get 2 PF’s for the whole game, so pick your targets wisely.
The Germans get 5 Tigers and 1 10-2 and 1 9-1 Armor leaders that set-up on the hill and the Russians get to set-up 3 447's, 8-1, a hero, MMG, Radio with 122mm OBA with HE/ Smoke to bring down on the Germans heads. The Germans get 6 467's, 8-1, 7-0, MMG, 2 LMG’s, PSK, a 9-2 Armor leader and a Tiger tank which all enters on turn one to help the beleaguered Tigers on board. What really is attractive about playing this one are the numerous armor leaders the Germans receive in this scenario.
The Russians Get to help their boys with the following reinforcements: 2 628's, 8 447's, 2 crews, 9-1, 8-0, 2 LMG’s, 2 DC’s, 122L and 85L artillery pieces, 2 Trucks that are used to tow said ART pieces, 4 T34/M43's, 2 ISU 122's and a 9-1 Armor leader. A nice start out small and build up to a crescendo type of scenario. Is it balanced? Don’t know, but it does look like a blast to play.

Tigers on “The Balcony”
Well here it is, a large engagement of titanic proportions! The whole TttF Map is used and the Germans are Attacking a dug-in and well equipped Russian force with 9 turns to complete the mission. The Germans can either control a certain amount of Hill hexes or cause the Russians CVP’s. The Russians also get to HIP their on board Armor as well as a few squads, hint hint, hide the Russian Radio man! I played this one at ASLOK and it actually went down to the wire if I recall. I was the Russians, so this one calls for a good reverse slop defense. This is also a long scenario, it took us I think around 12 hours to play, but it is well worth it just because it has that Hill 621 feel to it.
The Germans get 6 548's, 8 8-38's, 14 467's, 2 crews, 10-2, 9-1, 2 8-1's, 3 8-0's, yes! 3 HMG’s can we say death star? 4 MMG’s, 7 LMG’s, 4 PSK’s, 2 sniper generating 50mm MTR’s, 2 Flame Throwers, 5 DC’s, a Radio with 105mm OBA HE/ Smoke on call, 8-1 Armor Leader, 3 StuG’s, 1 StuH 42(L), 2 81mm MTR’s, and a Kfz 1 (a Kubal Wagon).
Reinforcements entering on turn one: 4 Tigers, 9-2, 9-1 Armor leaders.
Reinforcements entering on turn four: 4 Tigers with a 10-2 Armor Leader
A very nice Order of Battle for the Germans, the Germans also get a pre-game Smoke FFE, two of them to place on the Russians and thus give some cover to the attacking German hoards.
The Russians get a lot of Stuff, 5 628's, 10 458's, 20 447's, 8 crews, 9-2, 9-1, 8-1, 2 8-0's, 7-0, 50cal HMG, 2 HMG’s, 3 MMG’s, 5 LMG’s, 3 ATR’s, 4 50mm MTR’s, Flame Thrower, 2 DC’s, a radio with 82mm MTR OBA, 2 45LL ATG’s, 2 76L ART pieces, 2 85L ART Pieces, 2 82mm MTR’s, 2 T-34/M43's, 6 trenches, 24 AP and 4 AT minefields.
Reinforcements entering on turn two: 2 crews, 2 122L Artillery Pieces, ISU-152, 3 T-34/85's, 5 T-34/M43's, 2 Trucks, 2 9-1 Armor leaders.
The Russians also get’s Air Support on turn three but it is only one FB and its recalled after turn four. So make your attack and go home.
One important thing I want to say about the 122L ART pieces, use them to guard your flanks against any German Armor that might try to whip around your positions. Keep the Russian Armor Reinforcements in a reverse slope type of defense, don’t try to be a hero and go charging out at the Germans, it will only get you killed!

All in All not a bad pack of scenarios, I wish the graphics were a bit more crisp, but I might just be splitting hairs. Anyway enjoy and have a happy newyear.

Scott

Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]