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Thursday 27 May 2021

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.


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).

8 comments:

  1. Thanks for the 'heads up' on this Bob as the Operation Barbarossa one is of particular interest:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Steve J.,

      I found Andrew’s book about Operation Barbarossa very helpful when I set up my mini-campaign last year.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  2. Bob
    Thanks for the mention and your kind comments.

    Cheers
    Andrew

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rumblestrip (Andrew),

      I was very impressed by the whole book, and it will certainly help me to develop my own Eastern Front/Great Patriotic War project.

      Hopefully, my review will help you to sell a few more copies of your excellent book.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  3. Hi Bob -
    Looks like a 'must buy'! So...
    Cheers,
    Ion

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Archduke Piccolo (Ion),

      Its price is very reasonable in PDF and printed formats, which is why I have both!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  4. Thanks for the reminder about Barbarossa and the news about Kharkov, I'll be investing. Great to see Portable Wargame in the Kharkov book!

    Cheers

    Jay

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Old Trousers (Jay),

      I’m very pleased to have been of help ... and hopefully the inclusion of ideas for using the PW to fight the Kharkov campaign will help to spread the word about the rules.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete

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