Eastern Front Tank Leader

OK, this is not TCS. But long before I thought about 3D maps for the TCS, I actually once started an abortive 3D project concerning Western Front Tank Leader, the sequel of the game depicted here. The Tank Leader series by West End Games is probably the best WW2 tactical armor game around, on a similar scale and complexity to Panzerblitz, but much more modern and much more convincing in terms of their recreation of armored combat. Ironically due to the excellent command system the "hard factors" could be represented more objectively than in the Panzerblitz series.

The contour levels on the geomorphic maps of the Tank Leader series are interpreted as being of different height depending on scenario and I decided back then actually having hills on the map would make remembering the current levels easier. I gave up on the project because I did not find any reasonably cheap materials then, but now I've started again. These maps are much easier to do than the TCS maps because the terrain is more stylized and there are fewer levels.

"Hilly" Terrain

"Rolling" Terrain

"Flat" Terrain

In Play

A playing of the Prokhorovka scenario. (This scenario has "rolling" terrain, so the lowermost, green colored, contour level printed on the map is considered flat and only the higher contour level hills are placed on the map.)

Close up, during the first turn. (A Pz IV platoon is already missing to the left.)

Last modified 17.3.1999