Drive on Metz, The - Patton in France

The Drive on Metz is a two-player game recreating General George S. Patton’s attempt to seize the key city of Metz and get across the Moselle River before the retreating Germans could form an effective defense. The American forces, comprised of three divisions of the 20th Corps, had just completed an epic pursuit across France after the Allied breakout from the Normandy beachhead. The exhausted Allied forces were at the end of their supply line and had barely enough resources left for one last push.

The defending German forces, four divisions of the 82nd Corps of the German 1st Army, were a combination of hastily collected and organized units, including fresh units from the German interior and remnants of units that Patton had been pursuing across France.

The battle, which began on 7 September 1944 and lasted for about a week, was a singular opportunity that could have gone either way.

Game Components:

• One 4-page, color instructions booklet
• 40 color, die-cut 5/8” mounted game pieces
• One 11” x 17” color game map with tables
• One 4-page, color BATTLESSON booklet
• Game setup illustration, optional rules, and player’s notes

Number of Players: 2
Ages: 12 and up
Playing Time: approx. 40 minutes
Complexity: 3
Solitaire Suitability: 8
Scale: Each unit is 1 regiment or brigade, each hex is 4 kilometers, and each turn is 1 day