Historical Background: After the failure of the German counter-offensive on Mortain (Unternehmen Lüttich), the Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler began its deployment in direction of Alençon, threatened by units of the XVth US Corps. During this time, US tanks of the 3rd US Armored Division "Spearhead" were coming from la Ferté Macé, as vanguard of the VIIth US Corps. The 14th of August was the beginning of the battle of Rânes between SS panzers and US tanks. The battle lasted three days and finally SS troops left the battlefield to withdraw to Putanges and then Argentan. The liberation of the city of Fromentel on the the 17th of August by US tanks was the end of the battle of Rânes. For the Germans, the main action was, at that time, to exit the Falaise pocket before its definitive closure by Allied armies. The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.
Briefing: Axis player [Germany] : 5 command cards. Allied player [United States] : 6 command cards, you move first.
Conditions of Victory: 6 medals. The city of Rânes is a temporary medal objective for the Allied player.
Special Rules: - Use "Mobile Artillery" rules (Troops 14) to the Allied artillery battery. - Use "Heavy Anti-Tank Guns" rules (Troops 23) to the Axis artillery battery.
Scenario Bibliography: - "Album Historique - Leibstandarte SS" - Ed. Heimdal. - Magazine Batailles & blindés n°60 - La guerre éclair de la 3rd Armored Division.
Warning: Please note that this scenario was not approved by Richard Borg or Days of Wonder, so you have to check yourself about playability, potential gaming issues, etc.
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