Three WW II Scenario Books

Reviewed by Bill Rutherford

The Russo-Finnish Winter War 1939 - 1940; Hungary's "Fast Corps" 1941; and Eastern Front 1944 (Volume 1), all published by Tac Publications, dist. by Caliver Books These three scenario books are all digest-sized and staple-bound. They are to a standard format, that being an introduction and brief historical background for the campaign (and there typically is one), followed by any special rules, followed by scenario narratives, maps, any tables of organization and equipment charts, and a bibliography.

Production qualities are similar: no-frills, very serviceable, with simple but clear maps. They have one other thing in common and that is their no-nonsense approach to presenting scenario information in an easy-to-read manner with an over-riding objective of getting troops onto the tabletop. The scenarios were all written with Tac: WW II in mind but will work without any modifications with any set of tabletop rules that use a one model equals one platoon, and one turn equals approximately 20 minutes (plus or minus) scales.

The Russo-Finnish Winter War, 32 pages in length (exclusive of advertising) covers the five months of the winter of 1939 - 1940 and starts out with extensive weather rules. This was the coldest winter in about 100 years and several rules let the player forces suffer as the prototypes did, with various visibility effects, movement problems, problems with getting troops to even do anything, and mechanical problems for equipment. There are eight scenarios, following a standard format of: parameters (times, length, weather, etc.); battle description; one side's mission, forces, and deployment; the other side's information; umpiring recommendations; special rule; victory conditions; an afterward; and campaign consequences. The umpiring recommendations typically note how important (if at all) an umpire is, which side should run the game in the umpire's absence, and why.

The campaign consequences are interesting, as the scenarios are chronologically ordered, five of them being playable as a loose mini-campaign. Losses in a given scenario may affect unit strengths and performances in later scenarios. The scenarios range in size from a single battalion on one side (OK - they're Finnish Border Guards and they're BADLY outnumbered) up to a division (guess who's attacking the Border Guards?) and lengths range from just under six hours to 24 hours. Scenarios invariably pit badly-outnumbered Finns defending, though one features a Finnish counterattack to retake a Soviet-held island. The book wraps up with a list of all of the equipment and troops used in the scenarios (in Tac: WW II terms, but useful with other rule sets), orders of battle for the two sides, some more Tac: WW II rules suggestions, and a bibliography.

Hungary's Fast Corps, 48 pages long, addresses the Fast Corps' invasions of Yugoslavia and of the Soviet Union between April and October of 1941. The format is that of Winter War, with twelve scenarios depicting the early-war exploits of the Fast Corps. They range in size from two to six battalions per side and in length from a bit under five hours up to thirteen hours. The scenarios, again, are chronologically ordered, and can be linked very loosely into a campaign tracing the major early actions of the Fast Corps. Scenarios range from urban assaults, bridgehead defenses, opposed river crossings, an island assault, counter-attacks, and include one solo scenario and also a duplicate scenario that pits two Hungarian players against one another, with each player controlling the other player's Soviet foes. The order of battle information for the Fast Corps is particularly interesting, as it's based on extensive research of several relatively unknown (in the West) Hungarian sources. The bibliography lists these sources, though to make use of them, one needs to be able to read Hungarian…

Eastern Front 1944 runs some 39 pages and is an account of the German defensive battles up until August 1944. There are ten scenarios, in standard format. The first five revolve around the seige of Tarnopole and are linkable into a loose minicampaign. The other five scenarios detail German defenses and counter-attacks, with one being fought against partisans. The orders of battle are of standard German and Soviet organizations but include suggestions on reducing their strengths for battlefield conditions. This is possibly the most "standard" of the three scenario books, but the scenarios are nonetheless well done and one even involves a German flak train…

These scenario books are excellent values, covering a number of out-of-the-ordinary battles in a fascinating manner. They should be available from your FLGS for $8 - $10. If they're not available there, you can get them for £5.00 apiece plus shipping from the distributor, Caliver Books, 816-818 London Road, Leigh on Sea, Essex, England SS9 3NH.

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