Kharkov, May 1942 – The Last Disaster

Back in June 2018 I wrote a review about Andrew Rolph's BARBAROSSA: KICKING IN THE DOOR. It was an Operation Barbarossa Campaign System that proved very helpful to me when I began looking at developing my own campaign system for the Axis invasion of Soviet Russia.

He has now produced a second book, entitled KHARKOV, MAY 1942 – THE LAST DISASTER, and a couple of days ago he sent me a link so that I could download a free PDF copy. I did so ... and was so impressed that I have now bought a printed edition to add to my bookshelves!

The book follows a similar format to the earlier one, and includes:

• A brief history of the campaign
• Background information useful in adapting the system to different sets of rules and suggestions for additional optional rules
• A comprehensive set of Appendices covering:
• The Tables of Organisation and Equipment to platoon level for all divisions and regiments involved (around forty regimental sized formations)
• A record of the At Start forces and reinforcements
• A chart to track the position and composition of forces on each attack axis
• 19 colour terrain squares of the battlefields (based on nearly 600 square miles of original 1930s maps) which can be used to generate 570 six feet by four feet tabletops
• A Campaign Quick Reference Sheet
• A colour A4 Campaign Map
• A set of suggestions to convert the system to work with the Portable Wargames rules

Not surprisingly, the last was of particular interest to me, and I am sure that other Portable Wargamers will enjoy reading Andrew's very interesting suggestions.

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KHARKOV, MAY 1942 – THE LAST DISASTER is written and published by Andrew Rolph. It is available from the Wargames Vault as a watermarked PDF ($4.99) or as a softback book with coloured illustrations ($10.95) or as a combined purchase of PDF and book (usually $15.94 but currently on sale at the discounted price $10.95).