BFP 4: Crucible of Steel
Published by: Bounding Fire Productions. January 2011
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Introduction:
From the back of the included magazine: CoS takes a focused look at the climactic German offensive of the Eastern Front known as Operation Citadel, or the Battle of Kursk. The scenarios contained in CoS depict some of the many struggles, both large and small, that occurred on the southern part of the Kursk salient between Army Group South and the Voronezh Front in the first half of July, 1943.
The fighting on the southern salient at Kursk was immense in scope, ferocious in nature, epic in consequence, and was witness to one of the largest tank engagements in history. Fighting during the battle led to staggering losses for both combatants.
Crucible of Steel includes the following:
32 Action-Packed Scenarios
2 full sheets of counters, depicting more units, weapons, vehicles, and planes that are depicted in the scenarios
3 double-wide 16"x22" geomorphic mapboards. These maps represent the "tank-country" and villages of Kursk, and are printed in two 8"x22" sections on heavy card stock (BFP DW-2, DW-3, DW-4)
3 8"x22" geomorphic mapboards, also printed on heavy card stock (BFP L, M, N)
Huge magazine with articles on the project, slopes, fortifications, and dug-in tanks
Rules pages describing new terrain counters, vehicle listings/notes, and special units
The fighting on the southern salient at Kursk was immense in scope, ferocious in nature, epic in consequence, and was witness to one of the largest tank engagements in history. Fighting during the battle led to staggering losses for both combatants.
Crucible of Steel includes the following:
32 Action-Packed Scenarios
2 full sheets of counters, depicting more units, weapons, vehicles, and planes that are depicted in the scenarios
3 double-wide 16"x22" geomorphic mapboards. These maps represent the "tank-country" and villages of Kursk, and are printed in two 8"x22" sections on heavy card stock (BFP DW-2, DW-3, DW-4)
3 8"x22" geomorphic mapboards, also printed on heavy card stock (BFP L, M, N)
Huge magazine with articles on the project, slopes, fortifications, and dug-in tanks
Rules pages describing new terrain counters, vehicle listings/notes, and special units
Map board(s):
Board: BFP-L
, BFP-M
, BFP-N
, BFP DW-2a
, BFP DW-2b
, BFP DW-3a
, BFP DW-3b
, BFP DW-4a
, BFP DW-4b









Articles and Resources:
Title | Author | Description | Page/url |
---|---|---|---|
A Walk through Crucible of Steel | Chas Smith | Review | 10 |
Slopes in ASL | Chas Smith | Rules and Strategy | 6 |
Dug-in/Entrenched AFVs | Chas Smith | Rules and Strategy | 6 |
Fortifications Primer | Chas Smith | Rules and Strategy | 17 |
Reviews:
This publication has been rated: 9.67/10 by 3 users. Write a reviewSetting a new standard Bill Brodie: 10.0 out of 10. [Review score: 4] [Agree] [Disagree] ASL'ers are getting a wealth on high quality products not only from the official source, MMP, but from third part producers. Crucible of Steel pushes the standard to a higher level. This products has it all. It includes 32, yes, 32, new full colored scenarios covering the fighting on the southern flank of the Kursk salient during Operation Citadel. There is nothing new abou... Read full review... |
An excellent module Michael Rodgers: 9.0 out of 10. [Review score: 2] [Agree] [Disagree] The only reason I did not give it a ten is because I am not fond of third party counters. In other words, I would have given a ten if they could have done this without counters. The production values are excellent; on a par with MMP. The glossy magazine is enjoyable to read and I found the Fortifications Primer to be especially good and useful to me. Despite playing for more than 20 years, I found... Read full review... |
This module is a must have Paolo Cariolato: 10.0 out of 10. [Review score: 2] [Agree] [Disagree] I welcome every publication from BFP, but with CoS they put up their best effort to date. The scenario pack features mainly medium of big engagement against fortified of heavy fortified defence, but this is Kursk so no one is complaining. I played a solid 40% of the scenarios of this pack (also che big bad boy "Flying Turrets") and found tons of fun doing it, and I'm planning to play al... Read full review... |
Scenarios:
Scenario | Played | Total | Rating | Location | Theatre | Attacker | Defender | Length | Balance | Popularity* |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BFP-99: Ivanovskii | 0 | 21 | 6.31 | Ivanovskii Vyselok, Russia | ETO | German (SS) | Russian | 3.1 hrs | 60% German (SS) | 1% |
BFP-90: Early Morning Action | 0 | 29 | 6.40 | Bolshoi-Majatschki, Russia | ETO | German (SS) | Russian | 3.5 hrs | 59% German (SS) | 2% |
BFP-80: Ratushniak's Sacrifice | 0 | 19 | 6.30 | South of Bykovka, Russia | ETO | German (SS) | Russian | 4.2 hrs | 63% Russian | 1% |
BFP-76: Trial of the Infantry | 0 | 16 | 6.06 | Near Zadel'noe, Russia | ETO | German | Russian | 4.9 hrs | Balanced | 1% |
BFP-79: A Hard Push | 0 | 18 | 6.11 | Near Bykovka, Russia | ETO | German (SS) | Russian | 5 hrs | 79% German (SS) | 1% |
BFP-102: Tolstoy Woods | 0 | 180 | 7.18 | Tolstoy Woods, Russia | ETO | Russian | German | 5.1 hrs | 57% German | 10% |
BFP-87: Fork in the Road | 0 | 11 | 5.91 | Hill 254.5, Russia | ETO | German | Russian | 5.1 hrs | 67% Russian | 1% |
BFP-97: Renewed Pressure | 0 | 20 | 6.67 | Near Batratskaia Dacha, Russia | ETO | Russian | German | 5.3 hrs | Balanced | 1% |
BFP-73: Preliminary Move | 0 | 15 | 6.94 | Near Gertsovka, Russia | ETO | German | Russian | 5.4 hrs | 71% German | 1% |
BFP-92: Trenches in Flames | 0 | 18 | 7.11 | North of Djen Uroshaja, Russia | ETO | German | Russian | 5.4 hrs | 78% German | 1% |
BFP-89: Relentless Pressure | 0 | 22 | 6.20 | East of Maslovo, Russia | ETO | Russian | German | 5.9 hrs | 57% German | 1% |
BFP-88: The Bunkered Village | 0 | 15 | 6.74 | Luchanino, Russia | ETO | German | Russian | 5.9 hrs | 56% Russian | 1% |
BFP-95: Obian Highway | 0 | 48 | 7.18 | South of Novoselovka, Russia | ETO | German | Russian | 6 hrs | 61% Russian | 3% |
BFP-101: Panzer Spirit | 0 | 33 | 6.88 | Near Jamki, Russia | ETO | Russian | German (SS) | 6.2 hrs | 60% Russian | 2% |
BFP-100: Tiger Vanguard | 0 | 17 | 6.43 | Kazachie, Russia | ETO | German | Russian | 6.4 hrs | Balanced | 1% |
BFP-84: Kreida Station | 0 | 54 | 6.93 | Kreida Station, Russia | ETO | German | Russian | 6.8 hrs | 58% Russian | 3% |
BFP-85: Churchills at Kursk | 0 | 4 | 6.40 | Northwest of Ternovka, Russia | ETO | Russian | German (SS) | 7.5 hrs | 100% German (SS) | 0% |
BFP-82: Steamroller | 0 | 23 | 7.14 | State Farm Ssolojew, Russia | ETO | German | Russian | 7.7 hrs | 57% German | 1% |
BFP-103: Knife in the Flank | 0 | 15 | 6.24 | Vypolzovka, Russia | ETO | Russian | German | 7.8 hrs | 80% German | 1% |
BFP-75: Schreiber's Success | 0 | 18 | 6.21 | Beresov, Russia | ETO | German (SS) | Russian | 9 hrs | Balanced | 1% |
BFP-81: Iron Coffins | 0 | 9 | 6.50 | Near Beresov, Russia | ETO | German (SS) | Russian | 9.1 hrs | Balanced | 1% |
BFP-78: Operation Wheatfield | 0 | 8 | 6.09 | South of Razumnoe, Russia | ETO | German | Russian | 10.1 hrs | 63% German | 0% |
BFP-91: Death Roamed Freely | 0 | 9 | 5.88 | Staryi Gorod, Russia | ETO | German | Russian | 10.3 hrs | Balanced | 1% |
BFP-94: To the Last Shell | 0 | 8 | 7.36 | Gresnoe, Russia | ETO | German (SS) | Russian | 12.3 hrs | 57% German (SS) | 0% |
BFP-96: Hotly Contested Town | 0 | 11 | 7.50 | Verkhopenye, Russia | ETO | German | Russian | 14 hrs | 78% Russian | 1% |
BFP-77: Burning Down the House | 0 | 15 | 6.63 | Cherkasskoye, Russia | ETO | German | Russian | 15.6 hrs | 64% German | 1% |
BFP-93: Klein Stalingrad | 0 | 9 | 6.50 | Melikhovo, Russia | ETO | German | Russian | 16.4 hrs | Balanced | 1% |
BFP-74: Coiled to Strike | 0 | 13 | 5.85 | Near Butovo, Russia | ETO | German | Russian | 17.2 hrs | 58% Russian | 1% |
BFP-86: Panzer Regiment Rothenburg | 0 | 5 | 6.86 | Northeast of Krutoy Log, Russia | ETO | German | Russian | 17.2 hrs | 82% German | 0% |
BFP-98: Place of Honor | 0 | 5 | 6.40 | Oktiabrskii, Russia | ETO | German (SS) | Russian | 18.7 hrs | 67% Russian | 0% |
BFP-83: The Second Belt | 0 | 31 | 7.91 | Lutschi, Russia | ETO | German (SS) | Russian | 22.7 hrs | Balanced | 2% |
BFP-104: Flying Turrets | 0 | 8 | 5.90 | Southwest of Prokhorovka, Russia | ETO | Russian | German (SS) | 45.9 hrs | 69% German (SS) | 0% |
* Popularity is the sum of Roar and Archive reported playings based as a percentage of the parent publication's total games.
(Dark) grey rows indicate Night scenarios.
Median length of scenarios: 7.15hrs
Average rating of scenarios: 6.59
Total playing time: 325.7hrs