July 12th, 1943. In the Prokhorovka sector, during the decisive Battle of Kursk, the forces of the 5th Guards Tank Army receive orders to launch an immediate counterattack against the positions of the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. At dawn, the Luftwaffe destroyed dozens of units that were preparing to begin the offensive, but this did not halt the plans.
The objective is clear: to stop the German advance and regain the initiative through a massive armored assault. Soviet doctrine relies on speed, concentration of force, and close-range combat to offset the tactical and technical superiority of the Panzer units.
The Ditch and the Embankment is a small solo Print and Play wargame set during the armored clash between German and Soviet forces that took place on July 12th, 1943, near the Russian town of Prokhorovka, during World War II. It uses the same core mechanical structure as the mini-wargame Hill 226, published this same year, with several modifications related to the terrain where the battle unfolds.
In this game, the player commands the Soviet side of the 5th Guards Tank Army, tasked with halting the advance of the Leibstandarte Division of the II SS Panzer Corps as it pushes toward the town of Prokhorovka.
GAME OBJECTIVE
To help halt the advance of the spearhead of the II SS Panzer Corps, you must eliminate at least 6 of the 8 German units before the Luftwaffe launches another attack and disrupts the counteroffensive plans.
You have a limited number of turns to complete this mission. Each turn represents one hour remaining before the Luftwaffe bombing resumes. It does not matter if you run out of units.
If Turn 8 ends and you have not destroyed at least 6 German units, you lose the game.
If all Soviet units are destroyed, you lose the game.
