.
.
by Mark Bevis.
Softcover (8.3×11.7 inches). 87 pages. 2025 reprint of 2024 reprint of 2001 book.
Subtitle: Helion Order of Battle 1
As the subtitle indicates, this is a book of OOBs — and an absolutely fantastic one at that. Every wargamer who has ever wanted to delve deep into TO&Es probably knows about Bevis and his MicroMark OOBs. I certainly do — they were a staple on MagWeb for years. Here they are in booklet format.
This first book consists of six chapters by theater: North-West Europe (including the Home front); North Africa; the Middle East, Central and East Africa; the Mediterranean; the Far East, Australasia and India; and Special Forces (all theatres). TO&Es (Tables of Organization and Equipment) are given down to section level where possible and list equipment, vehicles, and weaponry. This includes support units as well as main combat units. On occasion, you can choose from a number of variants for a specific regiment, reflecting changes over time.
Note that this volume often consolidates units while the Supplement volumes expand them. For example, 7th Armored has a listing for Sep-Dec 1941. The Supplement 1 volume divides this time period into four listings.
The booklet contains no photos or maps. Indeed, there is very little text other than the WWII TO&Es. You read this like a wargamer.
And it “reads” brilliantly. It even includes Training and Morale ratings for specific units. It’s enough to make a scenario designer cry with joy.
Pair this with Bill Rutherford’s US Army WWII Unit Organizations: A Gamer’s Guide and you have the main WWII Western armies in book format. Add in the online Nafziger files for opponents.
I can’t say I read every listing — just skimmed a few here and there. Nor am I conversant in British TO&E, but what I see jives with the general idea I have from gaming with British troops.
Kudos to Helion for the reprint — and here’s to many more publishings of Bevis’ work. Perhaps the next series could be the Soviet Union?
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
