Kanev: Parachutes Across the Dnepr, September 23-26, 1943

About this board game

Kanev: Parachutes Across the Dnepr, September 23-26, 1943 is a two-player operational-level board wargame with an approximate playing time of 360 minutes, first released in 1981.

The game explores the confrontation between Soviet and German forces at the lower Dnieper River in September 1943. This campaign featured the largest Soviet airborne offensive during World War II, placing both players in command of one of the opposing armies.

Each turn represents 8 hours, while every hex covers 1.67 kilometers. Units range from companies to divisions, creating a broad operational view of the fighting across the battlefield.

Units project zones of control, forcing opposing formations to maneuver carefully or risk being stopped in their tracks. Engagements are resolved with dice rolls on a ratio-based Combat Results Table, with outcomes modified by terrain, leadership, and other factors consulted on charts.

• Airborne assaults and air support
• Reserve units for exploiting breakthroughs and redeploying after battles
• Victory points typically awarded for occupying strategic locations

Keeping forces in reserve is a strategic option that can let a player immediately exploit a breakthrough or reposition units after combat. The game ends after a set number of rounds, and the player with the higher total of victory points wins.

Kanev includes a 21-by-32-inch mapsheet, 200 half-inch counters, a 12-page rules booklet, and an errata sheet. Together, these components support a detailed operational contest focused on movement, combat, airborne operations, reserves, and control of key locations.