Patton’s 3rd Army: The Lorraine Campaign

About this board game

Patton’s 3rd Army: The Lorraine Campaign is a two-player simulation of the U.S. Third Army’s offensive in Lorraine, France, from 8 November to 1 December 1944. Originally published in Strategy & Tactics magazine in 1980, it offers a detailed look at a campaign on the western German frontier during the final period of World War II.

The game includes two scenarios. The Battle for Metz covers 8–19 November 1944 in 12 turns, while the extended scenario covers the full period from 8 November to 1 December in 24 turns. With each game turn representing one day, the campaign unfolds across a 22 × 34-inch map divided into hexes measuring 2.6 miles, or 4.2 kilometers, across.

Units range from battalion to brigade and use ratings for size and morale. Their actual strengths are determined by drawing a chit at random, creating fog of war and keeping unit capabilities uncertain during play. The system is part of SPI’s Victory in the West Game System, a series of regiment- and battalion-level simulations of key Allied and German engagements in the fall and winter of 1944–1945.

• Two scenarios covering 12 or 24 turns
• Variable unit strength determined by random chit draws
• One full-color map and 200 half-inch counters
• Standard and game-specific rulebooks included
• High solitaire playability and medium complexity

Patton’s 3rd Army is designed for two players, with listed play times ranging from 4 to 15 hours and a 1,800-minute listing in BoardGameGeek data. Players must supply one six-sided die for gameplay.