Untitled Document
KHARKOV,
UKRAINE, 12 March 1943: As the German Army fell back from its defeat at
Stalingrad the Russians threatened the entire eastern front unless
they were stopped. General Feldmarschall Erich von Manstein, commander
of Army Group Don, requested reinforcements and was sent Paul
Hausser in command of the SS Panzer Corps. One of the units of
these reinforcements was the LSSAH, which was thrown into the
line defending Kharkov. Attacking them were the hundreds of T-34s
of the Southeast Front, composed of a number of Soviet armored
army-sized formations, which continued to move west, slicing through
the vast plains of the Ukraine, finally reaching a force that
would stand and fight. The SS clashed with the Russians on the
8th of February, 1943. The 1st SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, fighting
alongside I/1st SS Panzer Regiment, halted the Soviet juggernaut
at the village of Merefa. Still, the Soviets disregarded their
heavy losses and pushed the SS back into Kharkov proper. Envisioning
another Stalingrad-like encirclement and destruction, Hausser
ignored Hitler’s orders to hold the city at all costs and
withdrew to the southwest while continuing to fight delaying actions.
Hausser, having disobeyed Hitler, needed to take back Kharkov
and with the support of von Manstein on 2 March the LSSAH was
formed into three Kampfgruppen which would attack into and capture
Kharkov.
During the year 1976 a ground-breaking
tactical-level game called “TOBRUKTM” was released.
The brainchild of designer Hal Hock, it quickly broke new ground.
Years later it was the inspiration behind a new and much-expanded
system. That all happened with the publication of ADVANCED TOBRUKTM
in 2002. One ‘Best of’ award nomination later ... and
a lot of hard work by the publisher and enthusiasts ... and ATS
2014 was in print in the form of color rules set and play aids.
Prior to the release of ATS 2014, a TT Kharkov module was the
only one available for system enthusiasts. That’s all changed
now with ATS BACKHAND BLOW ‘43—a new release
that features full-size ATS counters in the 5/8” Personnel
and 3/4” AFVs enthusiasts clamored for. What’s more,
the map is expanded—a hex size that is befitting the subject
matter—and close-in nature of the urban warfare depicted.
The module includes two sheets of 176 5/8” die-cut German
and Russian Personnel and Weapon counters, plus a sheet of 108
AFV/VEHICLES in 3/4” size, a total of 460 counters in all—everything
you need to play (just bring your standard ATS markers). You also
receive 10 scenarios (all playable on the map provided) in color
format, and color Battlefield WalkaroundTM special rules in 3-hole
format. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. THIS IS NOT A COMPLETE
GAME! Ownership of the ATS 2014 rulebook and play aids plus standard
system small and large marker counters is required (plus one or
more 10-sided dice).
