December 16, 1944 — The Battle of the Bulge — Combat-honed panzer units led veterans and conscripts forward against a quiet sector of the Allied lines where untried and batle-depleted units were sent to turn recruits into soldiers. Scattered, over-extended, and out-gunned units held on, fighting desperately as reinforcements rushed into the frantic battle against the onoming IRON TIDE. IRON TIDE: Panzers in the Ardennes uses a strength chit-draw mechanic to depict the uncertainties of training, combat, and the for of war. Battalions have set combat values, but regiments and brigades derive their combat strengths from chits that reflect the probable range of effectiveness of troops with a given level of training and equipment. Combined arms, artillery, aircraft, and the power of armor all weight heavily in the scales of battle. IRON TIDE: Panzers in the Ardennes contains: one 28 by 42 inch map 700 die-cut backprinted counters 12-page rules booklet one 17 by 32 inch Turn Record and Order of Battle Chart one 8-1/2 by 11 inch Players Aid card (from the publisher) This game system makes use of hidden combat strengths. Hexagon colored map simulating the Battle of the Bulge from WWII. This game is using a chit pull system similar, but updated from the SPI Operation Typhoon: The German Assault on Moscow, 1941 and Victory in the West series games (Patton's Third Army, Operation Grenade, and Sicily). Players are encouraged to not inspect the enemy side other than what is obvious on top. Thrills and chills as surprises from the hidden stacks upset or reward well laid plans. (user's description)