WW2 Operational Level Rules - Part II

The next major thread of tabletop operational rules are those based on KISS Rommel.  The KISS part of the name thankfully isn't an order but stands for Keep It Simple Stupid, and the combat rules are pretty simple.

KISS Rommel first emerged back in issue 175 of Wargames Illustrated as a set of Simple WW2 Western Desert Rules by Norman Mackenzie.  I don't know if back issues are still available but the original rules, and variants for other theatres, can be found here, here and here.

These rules are a similar battalion per unit scale to Megablitz but more streamlined.  However, the most interesting part to me is the battle set-up system.  Each player has a deck of cards representing the divisions under their command.  In a typical game the player may choose one and is then randomly dealt another four.  One of each deck represents a division failing to arrive or being redeployed, so a player will end up with 4-5 divisions of varying type and strength.  A simple campaign system has the first battle be at Tobruk with victory pushing the location one or two points towards a last stand in Tunisia or Cairo.  It would be easy to graft on a handicapping system like reduced supply, or increased enemy air superiority, as you get further from your home base to represent the famous pendulum of war.

The combat rules are very simple with units making 5+ attacks and the defender getting a 4+ to 6+ save depending on type and circumstances.  Ranges are short except for artillery and aircraft.  Hit units are scattered, not destroyed, if near their divisional HQ and each division may return one unit to the fight at the beginning of their turn.  

These simple but relatively elegant ideas seem to 'just work' and spawned a wave of imitations and variations.  An Italian version Alto Comando can be found here.  An English version called High Command is here.  The WW2 Divisional Wargame Rules from Pz8 are also a development with slightly expanded combat rules and can be found here.

In the above links there are variants for Eastern Front, Greece, Blitzkreig era France, the Pacific and the inevitable Normandy/1944-5 ETO.