Category: WWIII: West German

With the launch of the WWIII: West German, I thought I would look at how a new player or someone on a budget could get a competitive force on the table with new equipment such as the Leopard 2A5, Marder 2, Wiesel, and JagdpanzerKanone.  For a new player, it opens the door to playing WWIII without needing to buy, assemble or paint too much and get into playing the game quicker. So, if we look at what we get in the starter set, that might help us decide what formations to run.

The starter set contains the following:

• Complete A5 Rulebook
• West German “Start Here” booklet
• 3 x Leopard 2A5 Tanks
• 2 x Leopard 2 Tanks
• 4 x Marder 2 Scouts
• 3 x M109A3G or M109G 155mm Self-propelled guns
• 1 x M113 OP
• 2 x PAH Helicopters with rare earth magnets and flight stands
• 2 x Tornado aircraft with rare earth magnets and flight stands
• 4 x Decal Sheets
• 12 x Unit Cards

Because the rulebook is included in the box you’re already saving some money. One very cool thing about this starter box – is it includes an OP.  Now if we look at what formations are in the WWIII: West German book we should be able to figure out how to use what comes in this starter force. The best formations straight out of the box are the Leopard 2 Panzer Aufklarungs Kompanie, Leopard 2A5 Panzer Kompanie, and the Marder 2 Panzergrenadier Kompanie.

We are going to look at the Leopard 2 Panzer Aufklarungs Kompanie formation first:

• 1 Leopard 2 Panzer Aufklarungs Kompanie HQ
• 2-4 Marder 2 Spah Trupp
• 1-2 Leopard 2A5 Panzer Zug or Leopard 2 Panzer Zug
• 0-1 Fuchs Panzer-Aufklarungs Zug
• 0-1 Gepard Flakpanzer Batterie

Straight out of the box we can use all the Leopards and Marders as part of this formation and apply the rest of the box as support.  Looking at 105pts, this is what we could build using this starter force and an extra box:

FORMATION
Leopard 2 Panzer Aufklarungs Kompanie HQ	1 x Leopard 2A5	17pts
Marder 2 Spah Trupp	2 x Marder 2 Scout (50mm)	4pts
Marder 2 Spah Trupp	2 x Marder 2 Scout (50mm)	4pts
Leopard 2A5 Panzer Zug	2 x Leopard 2A5	34pts
Leopard 2 Panzer Zug	2 x Leopard 2	22pts
SUPPORT
M109G Panzerartillerie Batterie	3 x M190G	7pts
M113 OP Observation Post	1 x M113 OP	1pt
PAH Anti-tank Helicopter Flight	2 x PAH	8pts
Tornado Strike Flight	4 x Tornado	8pts

We have used everything in the box and added a box of two Tornados.  Now this formation has five units for the break – and all small units at that. Bearing in mind that whilst small, they can be used with great skill and frustrate opponents. The Marder 2s have been upgraded to 50mm for 1pt this means the unit has AT13 instead of AT11, which is worth it.  Note, that the sprue contains both barrels but only one turret, so you could magnetize the barrels to interchange them or just glue in the one you prefer.

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $170:

1 x TGRAB03 West German Starter Force: Panzeraufklärungs Kompanie (Plastic)	110
1 x TGBX15 Tornado Strike Flight (Plastic)	35
1 x WW3-05 WWIII: West German, Hardback	25
TOTAL	$170

We can change up this formation by adding a few extra models and not using everything in the starter force to give you some more options and make the formation a bit more resilient.  An example force could look like this:

FORMATION
Leopard 2 Panzer Aufklarungs Kompanie HQ	1 x Leopard 2	11pts
Marder 2 Spah Trupp	2 x Marder 2 Scout (35mm)	3pts
Marder 2 Spah Trupp	2 x Marder 2 Scout (35mm)	3pts
Marder 2 Spah Trupp	2 x Marder 2 Scout (35mm)	3pts
Marder 2 Spah Trupp	2 x Marder 2 Scout (35mm)	3pts
Leopard 2A5 Panzer Zug	3 x Leopard 2A5	51pts
Gepard Flakpanzer Batterie	6 x Gepard	15pts
SUPPORT
M109G Panzerartillerie Batterie	3 x M190G	7pts
M113 OP Observation Post	1 x M113 OP	1pt
Tornado Strike Flight	4 x Tornado	8pts

Now this formation has only five units to break before it has to roll formation morale – and all small units at that. Keep in mind that whilst small, they have a high skill cap and are very capable of frustrating opponents. With a three-tank unit of Leopard 2A5s and a unit of six Gepards, you now have two units that should be more robust and output a lot more firepower.  Note, to achieve this, we had to downgrade the Marder 2s to a 35mm gun.

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $301:

1 x TGRAB03 West German Starter Force: Panzeraufklärungs Kompanie (Plastic)	110
1 x TGBX15 Tornado Strike Flight (Plastic)	35
1 x TGBX19 Marder II Zug	50
3 x TGBX07 Gepard Flakpanzer Batterie	81
1 x WW3-05 WWIII: West German, Hardback	25
TOTAL	$301

You could also drop two Gepards and add in an infantry platoon – either in formation Fuchs Panzer-Aufklarungs Zug for 4pts (and upgrade one Marder 2 Spah Trupp to 50mm for 1pt) or take an Fallschirmjäger Zug for 5pts.  Whilst the Fuchs infantry is in-formation, it is small with four stands and the Fallschirmjäger has six stands which would hang around longer but being support, does not count towards the formation break.

The next formation we can look at is the Leopard 2A5 Panzer Kompanie.  This formation is made up of the following units:

• 1 Leopard 2A5 Panzer Kompanie HQ
• 1-2 Leopard 2A5 Panzer Zug
• 1 Leopard 2A5 Panzer Zug or Leopard 2 Panzer Zug or Marder 2 Panzergrenadier Zug or Marder Panzergrenadier Zug
• 0-1 Jaguar Jagdpanzer Zug
• 0-1 Gepard Flakpanzer Batterie
• 0-2 Luchs Spah Trupp
• 0-1 M109G Panzerartillerie Batterie or M109A3G Panzerartillerie Batterie

From our starter box we can go two ways to filling out the formation, depending on your preference – Leopard 2s or Marder 2 Infantry in the second compulsory unit.  the good news is that the M109s are now part of the formation and you can choose the short or long barrel option.  An example force with Leopard 2s:

FORMATION
Leopard 2A5 Panzer Kompanie HQ	1 x Leopard 2A5	17pts
Leopard 2A5 Panzer Zug	2 x Leopard 2A5	34pts
Leopard 2 Panzer Zug	2 x Leopard 2	22pts
Gepard Flakpanzer Batterie	4 x Gepard	10pts
M109G Panzerartillerie Batterie	3 x M190G	7pts
FORMATION SUPPORT
Marder 2 Spah Trupp	2 x Marder 2 Scout (35mm)	3pts
SUPPORT
M113 OP Observation Post	1 x M113 OP	1pt
Roland Flarakpanzer Batterie	2 x Roland	3pts
Tornado Strike Flight	4 x Tornado	8pts

As you can see, using everything except the PAHs and 2 Marder 2s.  The formation break is 5 units and with the M109s in formation we can still use a troop of Marder 2 Spah as support.

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $251:

1 x TGRAB03 West German Starter Force: Panzeraufklärungs Kompanie (Plastic)	110
1 x TGBX15 Tornado Strike Flight (Plastic)	35
2 x TGBX07 Gepard Flakpanzer Batterie	54
1 x TGBX08 Roland Flak Batterie	27
1 x WW3-05 WWIII: West German, Hardback	25
TOTAL	$251

If we took the Marder 2 infantry instead of Leopard 2s in the formation, this is how it could look:

FORMATION
Leopard 2A5 Panzer Kompanie HQ	1 x Leopard 2A5	17pts
Leopard 2A5 Panzer Zug	2 x Leopard 2A5	34pts
Marder 2 Panzergrenadier Zug	3 x MG3 team with Panzerfaust 44 anti-tank 2 x Milan missile team 1 x Carl Gustav anti-tank team 3 x Marder 2 (50mm)	12pts
Gepard Flakpanzer Batterie	4 x Gepard	10pts
M109G Panzerartillerie Batterie	3 x M190G	7pts
SUPPORT
M113 OP Observation Post	1 x M113 OP	1pt
PAH Anti-tank Helicopter Flight	4 x PAH	16pts
Tornado Strike Flight	4 x Tornado	8pts

We are using everything except for two Leopard 2s and one Marder 2.  Adding the usual Gepard Flakpanzer Batterie and additional PAHs and Tornados.

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $272:

1 x TGRAB03 West German Starter Force: Panzeraufklärungs Kompanie (Plastic)	110
1 x TGBX15 Tornado Strike Flight (Plastic)	35
1 x TGBX12 BO-105P Anti-tank Helicopter Flight	35
2 x TGBX07 Gepard Flakpanzer Batterie	54
1 x TGR703 Panzergrenadier Zug	13
1 x WW3-05 WWIII: West German, Hardback	25
TOTAL	$272

Looking at the Marder 2 Panzergrenadier Kompanie now, this formation is made up of the following units:

• 1 Marder 2 Panzergrenadier Kompanie HQ
• 1-2 Marder 2 Panzergrenadier Zug
• 1 Marder 2 Panzergrenadier Zug or Leopard 2A5 Panzer Zug or Leopard 2 Panzer Zug
• 0-1 Jaguar Jagdpanzer Zug
• 0-1 Gepard Flakpanzer Batterie
• 0-2 Luchs Spah Trupp
• 0-1 M113 Panzermorser Batterie
• 0-1 M109A3G Panzerartillerie Batterie

Straight out of the box we can use most of the kit except for the Leopard 2s (unless we add them as Formation Support black box choice):

FORMATION
Marder 2 Panzergrenadier Kompanie HQ	1 x G3 rifle team 1 x Marder 2 (35mm)	2pts
Marder 2 Panzergrenadier Zug	3 x MG3 team with Panzerfaust 44 anti-tank 2 x Milan missile team 1 x Carl Gustav anti-tank team 3 x Marder 2 (35mm)	11pts
Leopard 2A5 Panzer Zug	3 x Leopard 2A5	51pts
Gepard Flakpanzer Batterie	4 x Gepard	10pts
Jaguar Jagdpanzer Zug	3 x Jaguar 1	6pts
M109A3G Panzerartillerie Batterie	3 x M190A3G	8pts
SUPPORT
M113 OP Observation Post	1 x M113 OP	1pt
PAH Anti-tank Helicopter Flight	2 x PAH	8pts
Tornado Strike Flight	4 x Tornado	8pts

We use everything in the box except for the two Leopard 2s.  It’s versatile and provides six units for the formation break.  M109A3Gs are part of the formation.  I have added Jaguars to provide some long-range AT23 goodness.

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $279:

1 x TGRAB03 West German Starter Force: Panzeraufklärungs Kompanie (Plastic)	110
1 x TGBX15 Tornado Strike Flight (Plastic)	35
1 x TGBX04 Jaguar Jagdpanzer Zug	42
2 x TGBX07 Gepard Flakpanzer Batterie	54
1 x TGR703 Panzergrenadier Zug	13
1 x WW3-05 WWIII: West German, Hardback	25
TOTAL	$279

If you wanted a second infantry platoon in formation, then remove the PAHs and Jaguars and add a second Marder 2 Panzergrenadier Zug and an M113 Panzermorser Batterie:

FORMATION
Marder 2 Panzergrenadier Kompanie HQ	1 x G3 rifle team 1 x Marder 2 (35mm)	2pts
Marder 2 Panzergrenadier Zug	3 x MG3 team with Panzerfaust 44 anti-tank 2 x Milan missile team 1 x Carl Gustav anti-tank team 3 x Marder 2 (35mm)	11pts
Marder 2 Panzergrenadier Zug	3 x MG3 team with Panzerfaust 44 anti-tank 2 x Milan missile team 1 x Carl Gustav anti-tank team 3 x Marder 2 (35mm)	11pts
Leopard 2A5 Panzer Zug	3 x Leopard 2A5	51pts
Gepard Flakpanzer Batterie	4 x Gepard	10pts
M113 Panzermorser Batterie	3 x M113 Panzermorser	3pts
M109A3G Panzerartillerie Batterie	3 x M190A3G	8pts
SUPPORT
M113 OP Observation Post	1 x M113 OP	1pt
Tornado Strike Flight	4 x Tornado	8pts

This now gives you seven units for the formation break and gives the option to attack and defend and now has two templates.

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $330:

1 x TGRAB03 West German Starter Force: Panzeraufklärungs Kompanie (Plastic)	110
1 x TGBX15 Tornado Strike Flight (Plastic)	35
1 x TGBX19 Marder II Zug	50
1 x TGBX09 M113 Panzermorser Zug (x3)	30
2 x TGBX07 Gepard Flakpanzer Batterie	54
2 x TGR703 Panzergrenadier Zug	26
1 x WW3-05 WWIII: West German, Hardback	25
TOTAL	$330

You could swap out the M113 Panzermorser Batterie and replace it with a Formation Support Marder 2 Spah Trupp thus maximizing your Marder 2 purchase. You could use the starter box to expand on the formations above, however, I am interested in the new formations the book has to offer and I wanted to see how the starter box is applicable to them as well.  I believe this is a great starting point to add the Black Box Formation Support.  For example, the new Fallschirmjager Kompanie with the Wiesels!  This formation is comprised of:

• 1 Fallschirmjager Kompanie HQ
• 2-3 Fallschirmjager Zug
• 0-1 Wiesel TOW Panzrabwehr Zug
• 0-1 Wiesel FK 20mm Flugabwehr Zug

It has no inherent tank, reconnaissance, or artillery support, but if we add the starter force it gives you all three.  An example force could look like this:

FORMATION
Fallschirmjager Kompanie HQ	1 x G3 rifle team	1pts
Fallschirmjager Zug	5 x MG3 & G3 team with Panzerfaust 44 anti-tank rocket 1x Milan missile team	5pts
Fallschirmjager Zug	5 x MG3 & G3 team with Panzerfaust 44 anti-tank rocket 1x Milan missile team	5pts
Fallschirmjager Zug	5 x MG3 & G3 team with Panzerfaust 44 anti-tank rocket 1x Milan missile team	5pts
Wiesel TOW Panzrabwehr Zug	4 x Wiesel TOW	5pts
Wiesel FK 20mm Flugabwehr Zug	6 x Wiesel 20mm	4pts
FORMATION SUPPORT
Marder 2 Spah Trupp	2 x Marder 2 Scout (50mm)	4pts
Leopard 2A5 Panzer Zug	3 x Leopard 2A5	51pts
SUPPORT
M113 OP Observation Post	1 x M113 OP	1pt
M109G Panzerartillerie Batterie	3 x M190G	7pts
Roland Flarakpanzer Batterie	6 x Roland	9pts
Tornado Strike Flight	4 x Tornado	8pts

You want to take all three infantry platoons and max out on Wiesel’s for the formation break of six units.  Add Leopard 2A5s and Marder 2s as formation support with the artillery, AA, and the Tornados will round out the force to give it some balance.  If you want one or two of your platoons to have the option of Huey’s to provide some mobility on the battlefield, then you could drop some of the Roland’s to achieve it.

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $376:

1 x TGRAB03 West German Starter Force: Panzeraufklärungs Kompanie (Plastic)	110
1 x TGBX15 Tornado Strike Flight (Plastic)	35
3 x TGBX08 Roland Flak Batterie	81
1 x TGR002 Wiesel TOW Panzerabwehr Zug	27
2 x TGR001 Wiesel FK 20mm Flugabwehr Zug	44
3 x TGR712 Jäger Zug	54
1 x WW3-05 WWIII: West German, Hardback	25
TOTAL	$376

The same approach can be taken to apply to the other new formations including the Gebirsjager Kompanie and the Heimatschutzbrigade Jager Kompanie.  I have existing formations already but I wanted to add some new models to them with the starter force in mind.

As you can see, the starter set is very useful as starting block to build your army. It provides lots of different options based on what sort of list you want to run, whether you are on a budget, or if you want to flesh out the last part of your list.  I will be getting one of these boxes to start my West German journey (yes yet another army) and I will be looking to create a Marder 2 Panzergrenadier Formation as my first stop!

~ John.

 

Leopard gets new spots with Wayne Turner

It’s 1985 and the Cold War just got hot!

Hauptmann Müller watched from his turret as the Soviet T-72s emerged from the village. ‘Wait’ he thought to himself as more enemy tanks moved beyond the cover of the village houses. The Soviet tanks keep coming, he counted eight, no nine, but more kept coming. They spread out slowly into line abreast, unaware that Müller’s company of Leopard 2 tanks were watching them from the forest just 1500 meters away.

Müller could wait no longer. “FIRE,” he ordered and the world around the Soviet tanks erupted in flame and destruction.

Check out WWIII: West German in the online store here…

Formations and Units

World War III: West German allows you to build twelve different fighting companies. You can field three different tank companies including the new Leopard 2A5 Panzer Kompanie. This formation fields the up-armored Leopard 2 with its distinctly angled spaced armor on its turret front, as well improved side armor. These improvements make it one of the most heavily armored tanks available with its Front 22, Side 12, and Top 2. This is further enhanced by sophisticated Chobham Armour giving it further protection from HEAT (High Explosive Anti-tank) weapon commonly used by infantry anti-tank weapons and guided missiles. On top of this it is armed with the powerful 120mm L/44 gun (Anti-tank 22) with an advance stabilizer, making it just as effective stationery or on the move (ROF 2 Halted or Moving).

World War III: West German is the latest supplement for World War III: Team Yankee. It introduces the forces of West Germans to the turbulent battles of World War III from 1985. World War III: West German and the West German range of Team Yankee models contains everything you need to hold back the red menace.

Inside you will find background on the West German Bundeswehr (armed forces) and Heer (army) and their role in the initial stages of World War III. You will also find the stories of Panzer Division 1 and Kampfgruppe Müller as they fight to defend their country from the invading communist forces

 

The Leopard 2 Panzer Kompanie is based around the excellent Leopard 2 main battle tank. This tank does not have as much armour (Front 18, Side 7, Side 2) as the Leopard 2A5, but is still at the cutting edge of modern weapons technology. It is armed with the same excellent gun as the Leopard 2A5. The West Germans also fielded large number of Leopard 1 tanks. These usually provide the Panzergrenadier Brigades with their tank element. The Leopard 1 is armed with a 105mm L7 gun (Anti-tank 19) that is fully stabilised giving it a ROF of 2 whether stationary or moving. The Leopard 1 is lightly armoured (Front 9, Side 5, Top 1) and is quite mobile.

The Leopard 2, Leopard 2, and Leopard 1 tanks’ parent Panzer Kompanie formations are adaptable. In each Panzer Zug unit can be swapped with one of the different types of Panzergrenadier Zug. This gives the company an integrated infantry element. These Formations also contain various units from the division as part of a battlegroup that includes Jaguar 1 tank-hunters armed with the powerful HOT anti-tank missile (anti-tank 23), Luchs Späh Trupp (armoured car patrol) to advance ahead of your force, discovering the enemy, Gepard anti-aircraft tanks to sweep the sky of Soviet aircraft, and M109G self-propelled guns to prepare the enemy’s positions before an attack. The Leopard 2A5 and Leopard 2 formations also get access to the M109A3G. This self-propelled artillery vehicle is updated with the longer 155mm howitzer improving the bombardment firing range out to 112”/280cm!

 

 

World War III: West German contains three different Panzergrenadier Kompanie formations representing the mechanized infantry of the Heer (Army) of the Bundeswehr (Federal Armed Forces).

The Marder 2 Panzergrenadier Kompanie lets you field the Marder 2 infantry fighting vehicle. This vehicle was designed, but never adopted by the West German due to the end of the Cold War. However, the alternative World War III: Team Yankee timeline it made a logical addition to the arsenal of the Heer. The Marder 2 was one of the most heavily armoured and armed infantry fighting vehicles to be designed. It is designed to replace the Marder 1 (see below), taking the same number of passengers (2). However, the Marder 2 IFV is well armoured (Front 6, Side 4, Top1) with the addition of composite layered armour giving it Chobham (Front and Side Armour 16 against HEAT weapons), making it near invulnerable to a weapon like Soviet RPG. It is also uniquely armed with Rh 503 autocannon which can be either 35mm or 50mm caliber. Both calibers have ROF 3/3 and Advanced Stabilisers and Laser Range Finders. The 35mm is AT 11, FP 4+, while the 50mm is AT 13 and FP 4+. The Marder 2 can also mount a Milan anti-tank guided missile with the Milan Mount rule. You can also field a Marder Panzergrenadier Kompanie with the older Marder 1 IFV. The Marder adds additional firepower to the Panzergrenadiers with its 20mm Rh 202 gun (ROF 3 halted, 2 moving). The third type of Panzergrenadier Kompanie formation is mounted in M113 armored personnel carriers.

he Panzergrenadier Zug units are small but well-armed. Its three MG3 teams (ROF 3 halted, 2 moving) are additionally armed with Panzerfaust 44 anti-tank rockets (Anti-tank 15). The Zug also comes with two Milan anti-tank missile teams, or three in the case of the units mounted in the roomier M113 APC. The Milan is a powerful European developed anti-tank weapon more than capable of taking out most Soviet tanks (Anti-tank 21).

Like the Panzers, the Panzergrenadiers often swapped one of their three Panzergrenadier Zug units for a Leopard 2A5, Leopard 2, or Leopard 1 Panzer Zug. Panzergrenadier Kompanie formations are also well supported by attached units from the brigade and division. As well as the Panzergrenadiers and Leopard tanks, you can field M113 Panzermörser 120mm self-propelled mortars to provide immediate fire support. Anti-tank fire support comes from Jaguar 1 or Jaguar 2 tank-hunters. The Jaguar 2 is armed with an American Improved TOW missile (Anti-tank 21). The Panzergrenadiers are also supported by Luchs recon, Gepards anti-aircraft, and M109G artillery.

The third type of formation you can build is the reconnaissance troops. There are three different Panzeraufklärungs Kompanie. These troops come from the Panzer Division’s Panzeraufklärungs Bataillon, or armoured reconnaissance battalion. As the testbed for both the Leopard 2A5 and Marder 2, Panzerlehrbrigade 9 has formed an experimental Panzeraufklärungs Kompanie armed with Leopard 2A5 or Leopard 2 and Marder 2 IFVs. The Marder 2s are organized into Späh Trupp units of two vehicles with the Scout and Spearhead rules.

The Leopard Panzeraufklärungs Kompanie is built around the mixed company of the battalion and contains Luchs armored cars and Leopard 1 tanks. The Leopard 1 tanks are an older model of main battle tank build for maneuver and firepower over armor and many are still in service with the West German Heer in 1985. The Leopard 1 tank’s role in the Panzeraufklärungs Kompanie is to provide heavy firepower while the Luchs armored cars advance ahead. The Leopard 1 is armed with a 105mm L7 gun (Anti-tank 19), a weapon that can cause problems for any Soviet spearhead.

The Luchs itself is an impressive vehicle. It’s as long as a Leopard and is 8-wheel drive giving it fast on-road performance and excellent cross-country capabilities. It is armed with a 20mm RH 202 gun. The Luchs Späh Trupp has both the Scout and Spearhead rules, allowing them to fulfill their role with skill, pushing to the edge of the enemy’s positions and then quickly escaping when the fireworks start. The Panzeraufklärungs battalion has its own infantry for clearing and reconnoitering terrain such as dense woods and villages in support of the Luchs.

The Fuchs Panzeraufklärungs Kompanie represents the infantry element of the battalion. The Fuchs Panzeraufklärungs Zug is mounted in Fuchs 6-wheeled armoured transports. They are organized much the same as the Panzergrenadiers but only have one Milan anti-tank missile team. The rest of the formation is made up of Luchs Späh Trupp units and options for Gepard AA tanks and Leopard 1 tanks.

 

World War III: West German also contains three infantry formations. The first of these is the Fallschirmjäger Kompanie. These troops give West German a helicopter-borne infantry element. A Fallschirmjäger Kompanie comes with three Fallschirmjäger Zug unit, each containing five MG & G3 teams (Range 16”/40cm, ROF 2/1, AT 2, FP 5+) with Panzerfaust 44 anti-tank rockets (Range 12”/30cm, ROF 1/1, AT 15, FP 5+, HEAT, Slow Firing). The unit also has a Milan ATGM and can be mounted in two UH-1 Huey helicopters. The Fallschirmjäger also has its own light armor, the Wiesel. This light tracked vehicle comes in two variants, the Wiesel TOW armed with the Improved TOW ATGM, and the Wiesel FK 20mm armed with the 2cm Rh 202 anti-helicopter cannon.

You can also field a Gebirgsjäger Kompanie (Mountain Infantry Company). This formation has four Gebirgsjäger Zug units as well as their own tanks, recon, mortars, and anti-aircraft weapons. Each Gebirgsjäger Zug has five to seven MG & G3 teams with Panzerfaust 44 anti-tank rockets and one or two Milan ATGMs. These troops have the Mountaineers rule allowing them to scale cliffs and similar impassable terrain.

Finally, we have the Heimatschutzbrigade (Homeland Security Brigade) Jäger (Light Infantry). The Jäger Kompanie formation contains three Jäger Zug units, a M113 Jäger Panzermörser Zug, and either a Kanonenjagdpanzer Zug or a Heimatschutzbrigade Leopard 1 Panzer Zug. All these Heimatschutz troops are reservist troops with less Skill (4+ instead of the normal West German 3+) and have lower Rally and Remount ratings (4+ instead of 3+), but retain the West German Morale rating of 3+. The Kanonenjagdpanzer Zug contains 3-4 Kanonenjagdpanzer assault guns armed with 90mm guns (Range 32”/80cm, ROF 2/1, AT 16, FP 2+, Forward Firing, HEAT). They have enough armor to protect them from lighter weapons (Front 6, Side 3, Top 1).

Support

All these formations have access to supporting forces that include rocket artillery, artillery observers, anti-aircraft missiles, anti-tank helicopters, and ground attack aircraft. The LARS Raketenwerfer Batterie (LARS Rocket Launcher Battery) is armed with two to four truck-mounted LARS (Leichte Artillerie-Rakuten-system, light artillery rocket system). Each LARS truck mounts two 18 tubes 110mm rocket pods and can fire all 36 rockets within 18 seconds giving you a devastating SALVO template.

The West Germans also field the heavier 227mm MARS Raketenwerfer Batterie (MLRS in US service). This weapon system has a longer artillery range and uses the MLRS rule that sees each launcher count as two weapons when firing a SALVO bombardment. Both the LARS and MARS can fire optional Minelets, allowing them to drop a minefield on an enemy position during the battle. The M113 OP observation post can act as an observer the LARS, MARS, M109Gs, M109GA3s, or Panzermörser mortars.

To supplement the firepower of Gepard anti-aircraft tanks is the Roland FlaRakpanzer Batterie (Roland anti-aircraft rocket battery). Like the Gepards, you can take 6, 4, or 2 Rolands in your battery. The FlaRakpanzer is armed with the Roland 2 anti-aircraft missile with excellent range (56”/140cm) and is guided (no To Hit penalty for range over 16”/40cm). Additional anti-aircraft troops can be added to your force with the Fliegerfaust Gruppe. This unit can only be added to your force if you already have Gepards or Rolands. It added 2 to 6 Redeye teams to your force. The Redeye is an American man-portable guided surface-to-air missile (range 48”/120cm).

The PAH (Panzer-Abwehr-Hubschrauber, or anti-tank helicopter) is a light and highly maneuverable Bölkow Bo-105P helicopter armed with six HOT anti-tank missiles. The PAH pops above the trees to fire its guided missiles, before dropping back down into concealment. The powerful HOT missile easily cuts through most armored vehicles.

Air support comes from the Tornado Strike Flight. The Luftwaffe (air force) operates Tornado Interdictor Strike (IDS) aircraft. These come in low and fast before dropping their KB44 bomblet payload from their MW-1 submunition dispenser (SALVO, anti-tank 8, Firepower 3+).

Main Changes to Note from Leopard

The main changes those of you with Leopard will notice are the additional Formations and Units. We have added six new formations; Leopard 2A5 Panzer Kompanie, Marder 2 Panzergrenadier Kompanie, Leopard 2 Panzeraufklärungs Kompanie, Fallschirmjäger Kompanie, Gebirgsjäger Kompanie, and Jäger Kompanie. World War III: West German now also includes the three Formations from the Panzertruppen booklet; Leopard 1 Panzer Kompanie, M113 Panzergrenadier Kompanie and Fuchs Panzeraufklärungs Kompanie.

We have added options for an additional Marder transport and an M3 team in the Marder Panzergrenadier Kompanie HQ, while the Panzergrenadier Zug can add a Carl Gustav team to the Unit (Range 16”/40cm, ROF 1/1, AT 17, FP 3+, Assault 5, HEAT, Slow Firing). We have also reorganized the Panzer Kompanie formations into three Panzer Zug units with up to four tanks in each Panzer Zug unit.

We have also broken up the Gepard FlaKpanzer Batterie into more options, so now you can take 6, 4, 3, 2 Gepards in your Unit. We have done the same thing with the M109G and M109A3G Panzerartillerie Batterie units. However, the Luchs Späh Trupp units have gone up and they now cost 2 points per Unit, which is still good value for a very handy Spearhead unit.

We have updated the Milan Mount rule to be more flexible. Instead of having to commit your Milan team to be removed from the game to have its missile mounted on its Marder, you can now fire the Milan from the Marder as long as the Milan team is a Passenger. Once the Milan team dismounts the Marder can no longer fire a Milan weapon.

Scenarios

World War III: West German also contains three scenarios to test your skills with your West German force.

The first scenario, ‘At the Forward Edge of Battle’, pits a Marder Panzergrenadier Kompanie against the initial wave of the Soviet attack. You must delay them before withdrawing to your next delaying position.

The second scenario, ‘Delaying Attack’, sees a Leopard 2 Panzer Kompanie advancing to head off a Soviet attack, delaying it until their fellow units can prepare positions in another location.

The third scenario has a Leopard 2 Panzer Kompanie advancing to attack a surprised Soviet force that has advanced beyond its immediate reserves.

Painting Guides

World War III: West German also contains a detailed painting guide to help you prepare your West Germans for combat. You will find details on what colors to use, with options for the three-color NATO scheme or simple one-colour Gelboliv (Yellow Olive) scheme. It also contains guides for painting and basing your panzergrenadiers.

New Models

The key new models to come out with World War III: West German are:

TGBX18 Leopard 2A5 Panzer Zug (x5 Tanks) (Plastic)
TGBX19 Marder 2 Zug (x5 IFVs) (Plastic)
TGBX17 UH-1 Huey Transport Helicopter (x2 helicopters) (Plastic)
TUBX24 M109 Field Artillery Battery (x3 SP guns) (Plastic)
TUBX25 M270 MLRS Rocket Launcher Battery (x3 SP rocket launchers) (Plastic)
TGR703 Panzergrenadier Zug or Panzeraufklärungs Zug
TGR712 Fallschirmjäger Zug, Gebirgsjäger Zug, or Jäger Zug
TGR001 Wiesel FK 20mm Flugabwehr Zug (3x Wiesel FK 20mm)
TGR002 Wiesel TOW Panzerabwehr Zug (4x Wiesel TOW)
TGBX16 Kanonenjagdpanzer Zug (4x Kanonenjagdpanzer)

Plus all the other great models you need to build a West German force for World War III; Team Yankee.

~Wayne

WWIII: West German is live on Forces, and on the Digital app so you can start putting together your West German force  NOW!

Check out everything you need to know about Digital right here…

It’s time for the WWIII: West German Live Launch! Join us over the next 12 hours as we upload articles and videos all about the latest WWIII: Team Yankee book as we take a look at the West German forces as the cold war goes HOT!

Be sure to tune in to our Live game of WWIII: Team Yankee, as our Soviet underdog Luke is playing against the West German Twitch Chat!

Click here to tune in  12.30pm PST/19.30 PM GMT time and watch the carnage happen… 

Join us LIVE on Twitch 16th May 18:30PST/13:30GMT for the VERY FIRST game of Twitch Plays World War III: Team Yankee.

It’s the Soviet army (Guest Staring: Luke from Battlefront Miniatures) VS the West German Twitch chat (YOU) in this fast-paced 70pt skirmish. Be sure to check out our Twitch channel in the link below and follow us so that you don’t miss it!

Click here to go to the Battlefront Miniatures Twitch Channel…

The Battlefield

So that chat can get right into this we’ve taken the liberty of rolling a mission so that people can figure out their plans!

The mission is Dust Up. You can find the WWIII Missions PDF here. See you all on the Live Launch!

Two weeks untill the  WWIII: West German Live Launch on Sunday 16th May starting at 8am PST/ 3pm GMT where we will be updating the Live Launch website with articles and videos. Be sure to join as we upload new content throughout the day all about what you can find in World War III: West German.

Stay Tuned!