Untitled Document
KHARKOV, UKRAINE, 11
March 1943: Local
Russian command had drawn a line through Kharkov where they would
make their stand. The Gosprom building and Kharkov Zoo lay along
this line. The Zoo, and surrounding Shevchenko Park named for
a WW I general, was the southern flank of this line and the Russians
were determined to hold it. The III Bn/1st Panzer was tasked with
taking this part of town. The German plan was to split their force,
with one group circling south and attacking through the park-like
zoo. Stbf. Hanson, commander of the II Bn/1st SS Panzer Gr Regiment.,
led the attack through the park, supported by 7th Panzer KP under
Ost. Astheger and Ost. Soreman commanding 2nd KP of 1st SS Panzerjäger
Abteilung. The Russian forces, a piecemeal collection of the 208th
SRB 51st NKVD units, militia, the Third Tank Army and the 48th
Rifle Division, were slowly pushed back from the square.
During the year 1976 a ground-breaking
tactical-level game called “Squad LeaderTM” was released.
The brainchild of designer John Hill, it quickly grew into a system
that later ‘advanced’ into ... and even larger system.
Based on some thumbnail calculations, a 15 year-old boy ripping
open the cover on his first edition ‘purple box’ SL
game ... would be ... 53 years-old today. And likely, his ability
to game all weekend ... maybe sipping a soda pop and munching
on some delicious Nabisco® doo dads. Times have changed, and
our teenaged wargamer hasn’t lost one iota of his passion
... for holding building 3N2 ... or rolling a ‘critical hit’
at that key moment .... when a scenario hangs in the balance.
But if our dear half-centurion of gaming greatness wants to admit
one thing that might have changed ... he may be happy to embrace
a ‘super sized’ approach. Enter BACKHAND BLOW ‘43
with the largest counters ... 5/8” MMC/SMC and a massive,
3/4” AFV/VEHICLE/GUN counter presentation. The first ever.
Not just the game pieces
are ‘super sized’ in BB43! The map also is expanded,
and features a hex size that allows the 3/4” AFV counters
to have more ‘elbow room’ than in standard hexes—and
squads and leaders ... even more.
The module includes two
sheets of 280 ½” die-cut German and Russian MMC/SMC/SW
counters, plus a sheet of 176 AFV/VEHICLES/ENTRENCHMENTS in 5/8”
size—everything you need to play (just bring your standard
markers). You also receive 10 scenarios (all playable on the map
provided) in color format, and color special rules in 3-hole format.
Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. THIS
IS THE STANDARD COUNTER VERSION.
