Close Combat III Trial Version Walkthrough Getting Started This battle is designed to represent many of the town actions during the Kursk battles in 1943. To start the battle select Play A Game from the Main screen options. This will take you to the Command screen. In the Command screen you will see that this will be a one-day battle, both the German and Russian start with the rank of Major, reality is set at 100% or Grognard, the two-minute warning is set, and the time limit is 30 minutes. Clicking the Settings button can change all of these settings. For the walk through we will assume you do not change them. Now choose which side you want to play by clicking the national flag button of your choice. Click the Next button in the lower right hand corner of the screen and you will advance to the Requisition screen. In the Requisition screen you can inspect your side’s order of battle. The Germans have one Mark III H Leader team, three Heavy Infantry teams, three MG Infantry teams, and 858 requisition points to spend. The Russians have one Group Leader team, three Light Machinegun Infantry teams, three Light Infantry teams, and 858 points. The German teams are of good quality and the Russians are of poor quality. You can spend your points in many different ways but it’s recommended that you buy armor and support units to fill out your ranks. You already have your infantry compliment. * For the Germans A recommended buy for the Germans is to refit your command Mark IIIH to a Panther VG. To refit a unit select the unit in the Active Roster, then click the Refit button at the top of the screen. Then select the unit in the Force Pool. After refitting your leader tank, buy three Medium Tank Panther VD’s, one Medium Assault Gun Sturmhaubitze 42, two Medium Mortar 8cm Mortars, and two Heavy Machine Gun Schweres MG42 (1943) teams. To purchase a unit, double click it in the Force Pool. This will leave you with seven points. * For the Russians A recommended buy for the Russians is to refit your Leader Team to a T34-41, then buy three SU 152’s, one T34-41, two Heavy Mortar 120mm Mortar teams, and two Heavy Machine Gun DShK 1938 Machine Gun teams. After buying your teams push the Next button and go to the deployment screen. If you are playing as the Russian read The Russian’s Point of View. If you are playing as the German read the German’s Point of View. * The Russian’s Point of View In the deployment screen, you must choose where you want to defend. Defending too far forward will allow the Germans to close in early on you. If you deploy too far back the Germans will advance too quickly and with too many of their forces intact. A good strategy is to space infantry teams evenly north and south of the paved road. Be careful to avoid the "Ssyrzewo" area because a barrage will land there at the start of the game. Use your heavy machine guns to back up your troops. Put them in areas with long fields of fire with elevation. Any of the buildings with 2’s on them will do but choose them wisely. Your mortars should be held back away from the front lines and hidden so that they can fire but not be seen. Use your SU 152’s to ambush the German armor and knock out the tanks one by one. If your strategy dose not work the first time try the battle again with a new plan. If all else fails put all your forces north of the road and attack the Germans in a meeting engagement. * The German’s Point of View The victory locations can be taken in any order, but it’s recommended that you follow this route of advancement. Advance along the northern side of the main road taking "Bresowka" first. Then take "Hill 132." After "Hill 132" is secure advance across the road all at once and take "to Kursk" and then "Ssyrzewo." Be sure to avoid the "Ssyrzewo" area until the barrage has lifted. To execute this plan form a hammer by placing all your tanks and Heavy Infantry teams north of the main road near the front lines. Use the Heavy Machine Gun and Machine Gun teams as the anvil south of the road. Hold the front line in the south with the anvil and swing the hammer from north to south to smash the Russian units. If at first you don’t succeed, try again.