This is the cover of the second edition of the rules, released in 2005. It is a heavily illustrated fast play system for WWII, with 1 infantry figure representing 15 and 1 vehicle representing 5, so units are gathered into companies of infantry (typically 8 figures) and platoons of vehicles (typically 1 model).

This allows for a battalion of infantry, plus a few supports to grace the dining table.

Primarily, the rules ‘look’ like they are for 20mm models, as the wonderful photographs are all 20mm based and the Rapid Fire people have a shop that caters for 20mm models. Though of course, as with most rules, measurement adjustments will easily accommodate other scales if required. 

Recently a new version of the rules (Rapid Fire Reloaded) have been released in a short 16 page A4 soft back format.

They are a stream lined version of the second edition rules, but they are not as encompassing as the earlier set, so one can rely on the older addition for bolt on rules and for fuller explanations of the newer rules when needed and cover things such as paratroopers and aircraft.

Having said that, since the release of Reloaded, an expansion has come out that covers all of that sort of stuff (see below).

Within the 16 pages of rules, there is a rather nice scenario for a Normandy battle on a 6x4 and this consumes 6 of the 16 pages.

A couple of years ago, the new streamlined Rapid Fire rules were published, under the banner ’Rapid Fire Reloaded’. At just 16 pages, gamers found it handy to also refer to the old Version 2 of the rules for the extra areas that reloaded did not cover.

Now some of those rules have been collected together to give a ‘Reloaded Extra’ volume.

Like the Reloaded rules, this is an A5 booklet format by Colin Rumford and Richard Marsh. We get ground attack air strikes, boats and amphibious vehicles, minefields and engineering, artillery expansion, observation posts, command, supply, vehicle repairs, amphibious landings, bunkers, concealment markers, large tank battles, night fighting and snow, SMG companies and solo games.

So overall, some nice stuff to dip into when trying to push to make a more interesting scenario and a bargain at £5.

The new ‘Reloaded’ rules format is brought to the Canadian module, an A5 publication in 24 pages for £7.

Very much in the usual Rapid Fire schematic format, the booklet presents four Canadian scenarios.

Interestingly they have been built around a 6’ x 4’ table because the authors feel that the currently popular game mats are produced in that size and of course handy for those of us with the more ‘standard’ sized gaming area.

Another nice thing is that as well as the schematic map, there is also a photograph of the properly laid out wargames table, which has been a nicely executed touch.

The four scenarios are; Juno Beach (landings) and 7th Infantry Brigade, The Push on Carpiquet Airfield, the Putot Counter-Attack and Bretteville l’Orgueilleuse.

The rear page gives the various vehicle stats for those referred to in the scenarios.

Overall, a nice resource to have.

Another of the ‘Reloaded’ booklets.

This takes its theme  from the 1941 axis campaign to capture Crete (Operation Mercury).

German paratroopers attempt to capture the airfields and once the first has been secured, the 5th Mountain Division will be flown in to consolidate.

Here we get four scenarios that tell that story, covering three days of fighting.

These are bigger than previous scenarios in the series and accordingly, in the 20mm scale, the table size grows to 8x6, though 7x5 can be used. I also have some 12mm forces, so there will be scope here to reduce that table size.

The scenarios cover Malame Airfield, Prison Valley, Retimo and Heraklion. The gamer needs plenty of infantry / paratroopers, but demands on vehicles and guns are low.

Updated 2nd May - This dropped through the letter box today.

Visually, the nicest of the booklets so far. It is in the same A5, high quality paper format as the booklets before it. With 40 pages including covers, which have all the vehicles stats on the back cover and rear inner face.

Giving us four scenarios based around The Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry in NW Europe 1944, the actions are inspired by Tom Holland’s book ‘Brothers in Arms’.

Our four scenarios are;

Inland from Le Hamel - D-Day 6th June 1944

On to Rauray - 26th June 1944

The battle for Gheel - 11th September 1944

Assault on Prummern - 18th November 1944

All the scenarios are playable at 1/72 on a 6x4 and the range of kit needed looks to be fairly typical of what might be in an average collection.

Below - The nicely modelled Jagdpanther is one of the many inspiring photographs from the booklet.

For our first face-to face gaming, we went to the east front and based the scenario around the attack on a rial hub.

This went extremely well. We both enjoyed the pace and feel of the game and the charm of the 1/72 on the table was not lost on either of us.

This is a very straight forward rule set, but it seemed to have all of the important ingredients that heavier sets present and in that regard they are both clever and a pleasure to use.

I have put up a post on the blog that looks at the rules and the game and discusses this as a new project. LINK

https://battlefieldswarriors.blogspot.com/2023/07/defend-engine-shed-and-new-project.html