Ambush at Rannungen: A 1985 MBT Scenario

NOTE: This game is no longer for sale.

All briefings and maps can be downloaded from the files section of this page for free. The maps should be printed on 12 x 18 inch paper to produce an 11 x 17 inch map.

Ambush at Rannugen depicts a never fought 1985 engagement in the Fulda Gap using Jim Day's and GMT’s MBT Game pitting a reinforced US tank company team of the 1st Infantry Division (Forward) against a reinforced Warsaw Pact Motorized Rifle Battalion in Germany.

The scenario reflects my experience as a Company Commander in 1984-1985 The game explores a way to use terrain in a different manner to defeat the enemy. In a conventional defense, the US establishes a killing zone by positioning on good terrain with frontal and flank shots to destroy the enemy once he enters the zone. Here, the tactic is to position the US force in such a manner that he is rewarded with shots on the enemy's rear and flanks while at the same time perhaps avoiding some of the enemy's artillery bombardment. The dicey part, however, is withdrawing and getting to a new position after finishing the engagement.

Like other scenarios I have released, it is not balanced although players may balance it as they deem fit.

To play the game, you must have a copy of the initial GMT MBT Game. The expansion includes 4 11 x 17 maps scaled at 100 meters per hex (the same scale as the MBT game), a Scenario Briefing, a US Battle Book and a Soviet Battle book with deployment instructions and order of battle listing, and a terrain key. The map is based on a period map of the battle area and utilizes contours to depict elevation.

Expansion sets are not required (BAOR, FRG, and the forthcoming Canadian supplement) provide additional vehicle counters as well as leaders. A list of substitute counters is provided to enable the player to field the complete order of battle for both sides or the players can use some of the expansion set vehicles or combine sets to complete the order of battle.

Rannugen can be played with two players but may be more interesting if played with up to 4 players on the US side (CO and the five platoon leaders), and 5 on the USSR side (Battalion Commander and 4 company commanders), and a referee.

—description from the designer