diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index 1687914..a5ae914 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -3,28 +3,52 @@
 #
 # This playbook will install ansible to the target host.
 #
+# - installation instructions from https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/installation_guide/installation_distros.html#installing-ansible-on-debian
+#
+# - requires that "UBUNTU_CODENAME" is set, as per reference installation doc;
+#   - Debian 12 ... "jammy"
+#   - Debian 11 ... "focal"
+#   - Debian 10 ... "bionic"
+#
 ###########################################################################
 # tasks file for ansible role
 
 ############################################################
-# ensure python3-pip package has been installed
-
-- name: Confirm python-pip3 installed (Ubuntu/Debian)
+- name: Ensure required supporting packages are installed (Debian)
   apt:
     name:
-      - python3-pip
-    state: latest
-  when: ansible_os_family == "Debian"
+      - ca-certificates
+      - curl
+      - wget
+      - gnupg
+      - lsb-release
+    state: present
+  when: ansible_distribution == "Debian"
 
 ############################################################
-# using the pip3 command rather than the pip ansible module
-# because ansible can get in a weird state depending on the
-# python version used on the target host
-
-- debug: msg="Installing ansible via pip"
-
-- name: Installed ansible using pip3
+- name: Retrieve GPG key (Debian)
   shell:
-    cmd: pip3 install ansible
+    cmd: >
+      /usr/bin/wget -O-
+      "https://keyserver.ubuntu.com/pks/lookup?fingerprint=on&op=get&search=0x6125E2A8C77F2818FB7BD15B93C4A3FD7BB9C367"
+      | gpg --dearmour -o /usr/share/keyrings/ansible-archive-keyring.gpg
+
+############################################################
+- name: Add the stable docker repository (Debian)
+  shell:
+    cmd: >
+      echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/ansible-archive-keyring.gpg] http://ppa.launchpad.net/ansible/ansible/ubuntu {{ UBUNTU_CODENAME }} main"
+      | tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ansible.list
+
+############################################################
+- name: Update package cache (Ubuntu/Debian)
+  apt:
+    update-cache: true
+
+############################################################
+- name: Install ansible package (Ubuntu/Debian)
+  apt:
+    name:
+      - ansible
 
 # EOF
diff --git a/vars/main.yml b/vars/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4099b40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vars/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+# vars file for role_ansible
+
+UBUNTU_CODENAME: "jammy"
+