JTS PzB Kursk Released

[Compass Rose]

In early July, 1943 for the last time as equal combatants; German and Soviet forces fought one of World War 2’s most pivotal battles at Kursk in Southern Russia. The battle was to be the zenith for Germany; it was never to drive the initiative in the East again. Kursk was to be the first time that the Russians stopped a German summer offensive before it had achieved its strategic aims and more significantly build their own operation where there was a clear defensive and offensive phase. The German attack was but Act I in the Russian plan.
Battles of Kursk – Southern Flank is the first release in John Tiller’s Panzer Battles series. With a focus on the more climactic southern attack, players will understand why both sides viewed the battle as a victory; though many would consider it pyrrhic. Fought across nine days from July 4th to July 12th the battle was much more than the imagined storming of a fortified line. Meeting engagements, hasty defences and even the first widespread use of tank busting aircraft were more typical of the day to day fighting. Both side deployed their countries elite forces. The Germans fielded their carefully reconstituted Panzer forces, led by the II SS Panzerkorps. The Soviets deployed the armies that had recently crushed the German 6th Army at Stalingrad, newly replenished and promoted to Guards honorifics.



Scenarios
Battles of Kursk – Southern Flank includes 60 scenarios ranging from 5 turns to 38 turns in length. All nine days of battle are covered with a good mix of small (battalion/regiment), medium (division) and large (corps) engagements.
July 4th; XXXXVIII Panzerkorps preliminary attacks – 2 scenarios
July 5th; II SS Panzerkorps – 4 scenarios
July 5th; III Panzerkorps – 4 scenarios
July 5th; XXXXVIII Panzerkorps – 6 scenarios
July 6th; II SS Panzerkorps – 7 scenarios
July 7th; III Panzerkorps – 6 scenarios
July 7th; XXXXVIII Panzerkorps – 1 scenarios
July 8th; Voronezh Front – 9 scenarios
July 9th; XXXXVIII Panzerkorps – 7 scenarios
July 10th; II SS Panzerkorps – 6 scenarios
July 11th; II SS Panzerkorps – 4 scenarios
July 12th; Voronezh & Steppe Fronts – 4 scenarios

Just under half of all the scenarios are less than 15 turns in length and can be comfortably played in an hour or so.

Features
Game features include:
--A game scale of 1 hex equal to 250 meters, 1 turn equal to 30 minutes, with platoon and section size units.
--60 Scenarios – covering all sizes and situations, including specialized versions for both head to head play and vs. the computer AI.
--The Master Map covers 102,000 hexes covering the area of the German attacks and the initial Soviet counterattacks. 45 sub maps are included.
--An Order of Battle with over 15,800 units from two Soviet Fronts and a German Army Group including units from Wehrmacht, SS, and Luftwaffe formations as well as Guards and regular Russian Army units.
--Unit component, Order-of-Battle and Scenario Editors which allow players to customize the game.
--Sub-map feature allowing any of the included maps to be "chopped" up into smaller segments for custom scenario creation.
--All new map graphics with 3D overlay to improve height perception. --Fortifications and other icons are integrated into the game map.
--Three different counter sets switchable in game including side on, top down and NATO symbols.
--All new images for unit art for both sides, including infantry, guns and vehicles.
--Exceptional Documentation including a 57 page ‘Visual order of Battle’ and 84 page ‘Designer notes’.

--Battles of Kursk – Southern Flank provides multiple play options including play against the computer AI, Play by E-mail (PBEM), LAN & Internet "live" play, and two player hot seat.










PzB Kursk can be only purchased directly from the JTS store located here: http://www.johntillersoftware.com/PanzerBattles/BattlesOfKurskSouthern.html