Skirmish Campaigns:

Russia ’41 Scenarios

review by Bill Rutherford

Into the Ukraine, by Scott Fisher & Nathan Forney

I have in my hands yet another of the prolific Fisher-Forney team’s WW II scenario books and this 57-page (incl.. inside covers) scenario book is up to the standard set early on, following Skirmish Campaigns’ successful formula of ten scenarios, well supported with historical and rules notes. The introduction broadly describes the theatre of operations. Ten pages are spent describing the historical campaigns from which the book’s scenarios are drawn, the historical setting, and the equipment in use by the protagonists. Three pages of notes describe how to read and use the book’s scenarios, how to convert the scenarios for use with any of eight rule sets, and how to use the scenario victory conditions.

This last is quite important, as Ukraine’s three linear campaign games (5, 3, and 2 scenarios in length, respectively) make sense mainly in how the results of one scenario will affect the next one in sequence. The meat of the volume, of course, is the scenarios themselves. Each is four pages long, with a page each for the Soviet and German OB and variable attachment tables, a page providing complete scenario parameters - settings, special rules, options, victory conditions, campaign notes, etc., and a page for the game map. Maps, as ever, are simple but clear… Six of the scenarios are built around tank versus tank engagements, one has German recce troops protecting a convoy from Soviet armor, one, a Soviet armored assault against German infantry, and two pit Soviet cavalry against German infantry and armored cars. Included in the rule sets for whom conversion data are offered are battalion level rules (those using a squad or vehicle section as the basic element, rather than true skirmish rules such as Battleground WW II); the idea is that in the scenarios upgrade all elements by a level, i.e., squads become platoons, etc., to allow easy generation of slightly larger battles. This is a nice touch, as it adds immensely to the flexibility and scope of these scenarios… Ukraine should be available from your local game shop for $14.95, or failing that, directly from the distributor, Brookhurst Hobbies, at 12188 Brookhurst Street, Garden Grove, CA 92840 or on their website at http://www.brookhursthobbies.com. Check out the Skirmish Campaigns website at http://fisherts.home.mindspring.com/skirmishcampaigns for product information, updates, and downloads. If you liked any of Ukraine’s predecessors you’ll like this volume. I did and I do… Recommended!

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