Where the Iron Crosses Grow

Combined Operations, European Theatre
1939-45

Review from Dave Popplewell

Rules by Ralph Gibson & Mark Webb

These wargame rules are designed for platoon and company level actions, using the traditional one to one scale and were published in 1995. Unfortunately, with the publication of glossier rules these seem to have been overlooked. This is a shame as the rules have been well and clearly put together and are the fastest playing at this scale that I have ever played. Infantry actions in particular being fast and furious. A one platoon a side game being finished in under half an hour !

However the main emphasis is on AFV combat, and this is where the most detail lies. For example, there are 17 different entries on the AFV damage table. For those who only care whether a tank is in the game or not this might be 16 too many. However, for tankies or panzerpushers, this is right up your autobahn. This alone sets these rules apart from others, instead of putting extreme detail in everything and making for a sloooow game, the detail is in the AFV rules and everything else has been focussed so that the game can be handled quickly and cleanly.

The rules seem to be comprehensive, I liked the battlefield deployment and choice of action rules. target location, AFV rules and lists, infantry, artillery, morale, comms, hidden movement, air attacks, field engineering and weather. The only thing I miss are rules for infantry and engineer generated smoke (Just like "Two up, bags of smoke") and that is nitpicking. There are counters to be cut out for the status and hidden movement. Additional sheets have been produced for Air landings and inland water crossings, so feedback is occurring.

So, WHERE THE IRON CROSSES GROW are fast playing, one to one WW2 rules with a strong emphasis on AFV combat. Available from Richard Tyson at 40 Old Road, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, Beds LU7 7RE

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