Operation Dauntless

Opposing these lads are elements of the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend" (Hitler Youth) and Panzer Lehr—elite panzergrenadier units. The goal of the British division is to seize the town of Fontenay, then press onward to secure the high ground near Rauray in time for the impending Operation Epsom, to be launched the next morning.

The game by designer Mark Mokszycki uses the same system as Red Winter, his game on the Battle of Tolvajärvi from the Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939. Scale is grand tactical: 90 minutes per game turn, 425 yards per hex, and mostly company sized infantry units with platoon sized armor units. Gone are the Winter War specific rules such as ski movement and night raids, and in their place we have a more detailed armor/anti-tank subsystem. There are lots of tanks on both sides in this one!
Rules for Operation Dauntless include the 12th SS Fanatical Defense Table, British sabot ammo, tank destroyers, self-propelled infantry guns and artillery, combat engineers, troop transport, British air strikes, German nuisance raids (night bombings), infantry anti-tank weapons, German ammo shortage, and abstracted effects of the immense British opening barrage by 650 guns.

Terrain is a mixture of corn and wheat fields, orchards, woods, heavy and light bocage, and small stone farm houses and villages. The Germans begin the game dug in, and they may place a limited number of fortifications during setup.

The game includes a multi-day campaign as well as several shorter scenarios. The Germans are on the defensive overall, but they are armed to the teeth with many powerful panzer formations—including Panzer IVs, Panthers, and Tigers—and will find themselves able to counterattack frequently and effectively. Some of the shorter scenarios feature the Germans on the offensive to recapture lost ground.

The game was designed for two players, but works very well solitaire.

Contents:

3 counter sheets of 5/8 inch counters (roughly 2 sheets of unit counters and 1 sheet of markers)
1 Standard sized map
1 Rule Book (36 pages)
1 Scenario Book (~56 pages; includes 11 tutorials, ~15 scenarios, and optional rules)
1 Reference Book (48 pages; includes designer's notes and complete Order of Battle)
1 Play Book (28 pages; includes full-color illustrated examples of play, Comparisons to Red Winter, Tips & Strategies, and counter manifest)
2 Identical player aid cards
1 Optional rules player aid card
1 British reinforcement card
1 German reinforcement card (11 x 17" size)
1 Flowchart card (double-sided with LOS and Armor Reaction Cycle aids)
1 Campaign Setup card (back: Vehicle Art Key)
1 Turn Track card (with June 16-18 on front, June 25-27 on back)
1 Info & Phase Track card
3 6-sided dice
3 10-sided dice