Heroes of Omaha and Panzer Lehr

WWII Skirmish Campaigns

by Bill Rutherford

published by J&D Publications

This 60-page scenario book (magazine format, staple-bound) addresses the US drive from Omaha Beach to St. Lo and the Panzer Lehr counterattack during June and July 1944. The first several pages detail general scenario conventions, a short campaign history, and provide conversion notes for no less than 11 different skirmish rules sets. There's a three-page *annotated* bibliography - a must-read to get you pointed at the "good" books, with reasons why!

As is usual, the book contains three loose campaign games - Bloody Omaha, consisting of three scenarios on and just after DDay, Toward St. Lo, consisting of two scenarios taking place later in June, and Lehr Counterattack, consisting of six scenarios in mid-July. The tail end of the book consists of six pages of advertising by folks selling tanks and infantry.

In the middle is the meat - those eleven scenarios. Their format's unchanged from previous Skirmish Campaign releases in that each scenario is four pages long, includes a page of historical introduction, special scenario rules, an historical outcome, campaign notes and player notes, a simple but very functional game map, and an order-of-battle page with detailed squad-level OBs for each side. Forces typically include a core force of a bit less than a platoon per side, reinforced with troops rolled for on a variable attachments table included for each side, said troops typically consisting of an additional squad, an infantry heavy weapons team, perhaps a sniper, or an AFV of one sort or other (as long as that sort is a Pz I, Pz II, or SdKfz 222 - these light vehicles rule when they appear!), as appropriate to the specific scenario. They involve a several troop types, (six different!) nationalities, and a variety of missions. Victory conditions are generally point-based, with points awarded both for accomplishing one's mission and for inflicting casualties, though in most cases the scenario winner will be obvious... The scenarios, if they're to a standard format, are quite different from one another in complexity and details, providing a variety of tactical problems to solve. Perhaps the single common factor is the ubiquitous hedgerow. Just about every scenario involves attacking or defending the things.

If WWII skirmish gaming interests you, this well-written, interesting scenario book is worth a read. OmahaiPz Lehr should be available for $14.95 from your local gameshop but if you can't get it there, contact the authors at J&D Publications, 405 Kunkle Lane, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 or go to their website at www.skirmish campaigns.com.Recommended!-

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