| Geoffrey Sponge | 09 Apr 2013 3:46 p.m. PST |
I've just picked up a new book for the kindle with a paperback edition being published on 15/4/13 – "the Red Effect" by Harvey Black. It's a traditional NATO v Warsaw Pact scenario set in 1984 & concentrates on BAOR & 3rd Shock Army. It appears to be the first of a trilogy & covers the build up to the attack, particularly the Russian preparations & BRIXMIS intelligence gathering, until H Hour +1. It's very similar to "Chieftains" (including, possibly as a nod & wink to the older classic, a Chieftain crew from the 14/20 Hussars – allegedly the Regt in "Chieftains" – commanded by a Welsh Lieutenant). Apart from the odd "eh?" moment (the whole of 4th Armd Div used as the Covering Force rather than a Brigade from each of the forward Divs comes to mind) it appears fairly realistic. Well worth a read. John. |
troopwo  | 09 Apr 2013 5:52 p.m. PST |
Thank you. Look forward to it. |
| Sparker | 09 Apr 2013 7:25 p.m. PST |
Wow – looks great! Thanks for the gen. On the Waaay! $15.63 AUD from the Book Suppository! |
| laager50 | 10 Apr 2013 1:59 a.m. PST |
Thanks. Added it to my wise list. |
| Gennorm | 10 Apr 2013 4:22 a.m. PST |
Thanks for the tip. Will get it. |
| Count Belisarius | 10 Apr 2013 6:35 a.m. PST |
I'm now traumatized! Do I buy the Kindle now or wait until the paper edition next week! :) Andy |
| Paul B | 10 Apr 2013 8:31 a.m. PST |
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| Count Belisarius | 10 Apr 2013 8:36 a.m. PST |
Went for Kindle. I've no patience, me…. :) |
| Milites | 10 Apr 2013 10:47 a.m. PST |
Interesting, author had a background in military intelligence during the period covered, so hopefully not a Clancyesque piece of tommy-rot. |
| (Jake Collins of NZ 2) | 10 Apr 2013 12:57 p.m. PST |
The fact he calls it 3rd Shock Army still is a bit of a worry. Hope its not chock full of the misconceptions of NATO military intelligence circa 1984. I'd hoped for a book that incorporated "what we know now" as a sort of update to Hackett, etc. I think that could be really good value, plenty of surprises for both sides. |
| Sparker | 10 Apr 2013 1:53 p.m. PST |
The fact he calls it 3rd Shock Army still is a bit of a worry. It is? Please explain! Thats what the formation opposite the BAOR was called in 1984, so if writing a novel set then, surely that's fine? |
| Milites | 10 Apr 2013 4:55 p.m. PST |
Yup, 3rd Shock it was, and they had very nice counters, if I remember, with shockingly optimistic attack and defence factors IIRC. link |
| Formerly 298TYR | 07 Aug 2013 12:58 p.m. PST |
Sorry guys – "3rd Shock Army" was in reality 3rd Red Banner General Army and had been since the late 1950's – even though we (NATO) carried on calling it by it's former name. Shock does sound very aggressive amd unique mind so good for dramatic reasons ! |
| Ben Waterhouse | 16 Aug 2013 8:55 p.m. PST |
I called it 3SA when playing with my china graph pencils in a barn near Hildersheim in 1984… |
| VonTed | 18 Aug 2013 11:11 a.m. PST |
Regardless I want the next in the series. |
| Count Belisarius | 18 Aug 2013 4:15 p.m. PST |
Which is due out in the next 3-4 weeks apparently! :) Looking forward to it! A |
| Sparker | 22 Aug 2013 8:25 p.m. PST |
I called it 3SA when playing with my china graph pencils in a barn near Hildersheim in 1984… Did you pinch mine you pikey! Always going missing! |
