Red Parachutes: Soviet Airborne Assault Across the Dnepr

About this board game

Red Parachutes: Soviet Airborne Assault Across the Dnepr is a two-player wargame with an approximate play time of 360 minutes, based on the September 1943 Soviet Airborne operation near Kanev.

The game recreates the attempt to force a series of crossings of the Dnepr river. Its 22×34-inch map uses a scale of 2 kilometers per hex, while the playing pieces represent battalions and companies.

Each turn covers approximately one-quarter of a day, divided into AM, Mid-Day, PM, and Night periods. At the beginning of each day, players receive replacements and artillery ammunition before alternating in an Igo-Ugo sequence.

• Move units and conduct special operations
• Deploy reinforcements and arrange airdrops
• Use artillery bombardment and resolve attacks
• Attempt river crossings under dedicated special rules

Combat uses an odds-based combat results table, with many modifiers shaping the outcome of attacks. Special rules cover airdrops, river crossings, artillery bombardment, and other features of the operation, giving the system a broad range of tactical considerations.

With 980 counters, 16 pages of rules plus charts and tables, and a high unit density, Red Parachutes is a medium-high complexity game for players who enjoy detailed operational challenges. The design was released in 1995 and presents the Dnepr operation through a structured sequence of movement, support, combat, and airborne activity.