Gale Force Nine are going to be trying to get more people into World War II tank games with Tanks: WWII Skirmish Game which pits the tanks of the era against each other using simple and easy to learn mechanics.

The Depot is open today for us to have a look at the big heavy German tanks that are going to be available for you to pick up in expansions. All of these tanks will become available in April 2016 to support the launch of the game.

Panther Expansion

Leading the way for the Germans we have this set which allows you to build both a Panther and the Jagdpanther for your battlefield needs. Each of them does something slightly different...

"Considered one of the best tanks of World War II for its excellent firepower and protection the Panther tank was Germany’s answer to the Soviet T-34. Built on the same chassis, the Jagdpanzer traded the Panther’s turret for extra armour and a much bigger gun."

Both of these tanks have the Blitzkrieg rule which allows them to make extra moves instead of repairing. If you want to push your luck then these are the tanks for you. The bigger gun on the Jagdpanther is also something you need to consider - do you like the trade-off for movement?

Panzer IV Expansion

Coming up next we have the Panzer IV which found itself fighting throughout most of the war. The thing I like about this tank is that extra layer of armour around the sides giving it an almost futuristic look.

"The Panzer IV was the only German tank to remain in production throughout the war. Continuous upgrades to its armour and weapons allowed it to counter new threats as they appeared on any German front."

While the tank doesn't have the brute force of the other two it is decidedly cheaper and you could run a few of these as support tanks. Take into account that once again it has Blitzkrieg as a rule so you can get it into the right positions for fighting the enemy and throwing caution to the wind.

StuG Expansion

Last but not least for the Germans we have Warren's favourite vehicle. The StuG G is a landmark vehicle in the German arsenal and was a deadly tank destroyer.

"The original StuG was designed as an infantry support weapon, but in response to skirmishes with Soviet armour it was upgraded with an anti-tank gun and the StuG G was born. With their low, turretless silhouette they proved most effective in defensive roles and were especially deadly when carrying out ambushes."

Cheap and slow but easy to field with a reasonable gun you could put a few of these onto the tabletop and hold them back to ambush the enemy as they engage your heavier tanks. Use the Panther to soak up fire and then bring in the StuG to land the killing blow.

Will you be going for the glamorous German tanks?