THE GENERAL

"AV~ON GIL: @EMEmm&

... a losing venture published bi-monthly, pretty
close to the first day of January, arch, May, July, September and November. The General is edited and published by The Avalon Hill Company almost solely for the cultural edification of adult (It also helps to sell Avalon Hill products, tool) Articles from subscribers are considered for ~ublicationon a gratis contributory basis. Such articles must be typewritten and not exceed 700 words. Examples and diagrams that accompany such articles must be drawn in black ink, ready for reproduction. N o notice can be given regarding acceptance of articles for publication. All back issues, except Vol. 1, Nos. 1 & 4, which are out of stock, are available at $1.00 per issue. Full-year subscriptions B $4.98. @la7 The Avalon Hill Company, Baltimore, Maryland. printed in U.S.A.

The A v a h Hill Philompby - Part 3

A s m o s t of you know, the Battle of Jutland h a s finally been r e l e a s e d by The Avalon Hill Company. It i s the one battle game in Avalon Hill's line that h a s v a r i e d f r o m i t s t i m e - t e s t e d land battle f o r m u l a e . The v e r y f a c t that i t s design concept i s totally different f r o m any of the o t h e r g a m e s , n e c e s s i t a t e d a lengthy period of testing - the r e a s o n why Jutland w a s not published on i t s projected publication date of M a r c h 1 s t . H e r e in the offices of the General, J a m e s Dunnigan, publisher of Kampf Magazine, and r e s e a r c h d i r e c t o r f o r " P r o j e c t Jutland", w a s interviewed r e garding his contribution t o the project. THE GENERAL: M r . Dunnigan - what exactly i s your organization Kampf? DUNNIGAN: Actually, Kampf i s s o m e thing of a n experiment. All of th6 people involved i n Kampf a r e college students e i t h e r graduate o r undergraduate a n d what we a r e t r y i n g t o do in Kampf i s t o find a new approach t o presenting h i s tory. THE GENERAL: A s f a r a s Avalon Hill i s concerned who got i n touch with who? DUNNIGAN: When I f i r s t developed Kampf i t w a s done quite independently of Avalon Hill. The f i r s t i s s u e w a s published and r e a l l y had not been meant a s a n a s s a u l t on the Avalon Hill g a m e Battle of the Bulge. Actually I w a s m o r e incensed a t the official h i s t o r y than I w a s a t the game. However, Avalon Hill recognized that my thinking a n d t h e i r thinkingas t o the p r e s e n t a t i o n of m i l i t a r y h i s t o r y r a n p a r a l l e l t o one another a n d coming b a c k f r o m one of m y f r e q u e n t t r i p s t o Washington t o do r e s e a r c h I stopped off at B a l t i m o r e a n d we h a d a d i s c u s s i o n about Bulge - both t h e game a n d the Kampf i s s u e . THE GENERAL: Then apparently Avalon Hill approached you with the idea of digging up the h i s t o r i c a l data f o r Jutland. DUNNIGAN: Actually i t w a s a bolt out of the blue. I had n e v e r thought of d e signing a game. My i n t e r e s t had a l ways been i n history. I sympathized with Avalon H i l l ' s ,problems in designing g a m e s . I r e a l i z e d they had t o bala n c e playability with h i s t o r i c a l authenticity. I a l s o r e a l i z e d i n r e s e a r c h i n g t h e f i r s t i s s u e of Kampf that i t would b e no e a s y m a t t e r t o combine both of t h e s e e l e m e n t s , playability and authenticity. THE GENERAL: When did you actually begin the r e s e a r c h on t h i s g a m e ? DUNNIGAN: Actually I began i t t h e m o m e n t Avalon Hill approached m e with a n offer t o design the game. It w a s , I believe in A p r i l , 1966. THE GENERAL: Y o u r e a l i z e , M r . Dunnigan, that Jutland w a s originally scheduled t o b e published on i t s fiftieth a n n i v e r s a r y , May of 1966. H e r e i t i s exactly one y e a r l a t e r . What happened? DUNNIGAN: Well, f i r s t m y Spring f i n a l s happened. And then the new G I Bill happened which allowed m e t o a t tend school during the Summer. I a l s o had KAMPF t o contend with and a f t e r a two week vacation in September i t w a s back u p t o Columbia f o r the r e g u l a r F a l l s e m e s t e r . About that t i m e I bel i e v e you finally c o r n e r e d m e (in s t a c k l e v e l 5 of B u t l e r L i b r a r y I believe) and found out that I thought you had said sixty instead of fifty. Now maybe they'll move your office out f r o m under the b o i l e r r o o m . Seriously, because I had t o prove a point t o Avalon Hill, the d e l a y w a s caused by m y r e s e a r c h i n g the h i s t o r i c a l d a t a f r o m e v e r y conceivable s o u r c e imaginable, cross-indexing t h i s information o v e r a n d o v e r again. THE GENERAL: Avalon Hill's selection of Jutland i n the f i r s t place i s built on the p r e m i s e that a ship t o ship naval g a m e i s needed t o complement t h e i r l a n d battle t i t l e s . Now, M r . Dunnigan, exactly what w a s the h i s t o r i c a l situation a n d background leading u p t o the battle of Jutland ? DUNNIGAN: Most people don't r e a l i z e i t but t h e Battle of Jutland w a s probably the m o s t c r u c i a l battle i n t h e f i r s t World War. What brought t h a t on w a s the deadlock on the W e s t e r n and E a s t e r n f r o n t s . B r i t i a n ' s s u p e r i o r Navy had blockaded Germany in 19 14. G e r many soon r e a l i z e d that she would be s t a r v e d out of the w a r u n l e s s she broke t h i s blockage. Unwilling t o r i s k h e r i n f e r i o r f l e e t in a s u r f a c e engagement she had f i r s t sought t o blockade England with h e r s u b m a r i n e s by sinking m e r chant s h i p s around and about England. G e r m a n y invariably took A m e r i c a n l i v e s . The United States responded by threatening t o e n t e r the war on the side of the a l l i e s u n l e s s Germany c e a s e d endangering A m e r i c a n l i v e s and prope r t y . G e r m a n y r e a l i z e d then that unl e s s she defeated the B r i t i s h s u r f a c e f l e e t she would s t a r v e herself out of the w a r within t h r e e y e a r s . T h i s i s what actually happened. T h e r e was in f a c t g e n e r a l starvation i n G e r m a n y in 1919 - l e s s than s i x months a f t e r the War ended. THE GENERAL: H i s t o r i a n s have commented that the battle of Jutland w a s the f i r s t and l a s t g e n e r a l action between m o d e r n battleships. Actually, how many b a t t l e ships w e r e sunk in t h i s event? DUNNIGAN: Actually, no battle ships a t a l l w e r e sunk. The battleships a t that t i m e w e r e m a s t e r p i e c e s of m o d e r n technology. P r o t e c t i o n of t h e s e s h i p s including compartmentalization. foot thick side a r m o r , a r m o r e d bulkheads.

COVER STORY:
Never before h a s the pre-publication announcement ( M a r c h i s s u e ) of a new game m e t with such a n avalanche of i n q u i r i e s . m o s t l y r e g a r d i n g the m a n n e r of play without the need of a playing b o a r d of s o m e s o r t . Those of youwho a r e a l r e a d y i n p o s s e s s i o n of the g a m e , need r e a d no f u r t h e r . Move s t r a i g h t t o "Avalon Hill P h i losophy - P a r t 3". (Do not p a s s Go, do not collect $200). You know, by now, that the i m m e n s i t y of maneuver p r e cluded i t s play on a r e g u l a r , o r even king s i z e , playing b o a r d . Maneuvering individual ship c o u n t e r s , approximately 2" long, r e q u i r e s much m o r e space than does the 1/2" T r o o p counters. While i t would have been possible t o i n c o r porate play on a playing b o a r d , a s w a s actually done on a n o r i g i n a l mock-up t e s t v e r s i o n , the s a c r i f i c e of r e a l i s m w a s too g r e a t .

..

In b r i e f , g r e a t e r e m p h a s i s h a s been placed on r e - c a p t u r i n g h i s t o r i c a l a c c u r a c y than f o r any o t h e r game. Ample optional r u l e s in the T o u r n a m e n t G a m e allow p l a y e r s t o f a c e s o m e , o r a l l , of the p r o b l e m s that confronted t h e a c t u a l c o m m a n d e r s , Jellicoe a n d S c h e e r . The only p r o b l e m s you will confront i s w h e r e t o find the game. Since AH d e a l s m o s t l y through w h o l e s a l e r s , who i n t u r n s e l l t o r e t a i l s t o r e s , we l e a r n the n a m e s a n d a d d r e s s e s of only a s m a l l n u m b e r of o u t l e t s w h e r e t h e y ' r e sold. T r y t h o s e l i s t e d on page 14 of t h i s , and p a s t i s s u e s , f o r a s t a r t e r . Jutland r e t a i l s f o r $6.98 - m a i l o r d e r s a t t h i s p r i c e , (add 65C f o r special d e l i v e r y ) can now b e a c c e p t e d . Howe v e r , you will probably get i t q u i c k e r f r o m your f a v o r i t e outlet who will have Jutland i n stock right now.

PAGE 3
Damage control w a s s o g r e a t t h a t t h e only way you could possibly sink one of t h e s e ships w a s t o t a k e the c r e w off i t a n d u s e i t f o r gunnery p r a c t i c e . THE GENERAL: In o t h e r w o r d s i n t h i s game t h e r e a r e going t o b e a heck of a l o t of floating hulks lying a r o u n d on t h e living r o o m f l o o r . How have you r e flected t h i s i n the r u l e s of the g a m e ? DUNNIGAN: YOU will notice t h a t e a c h ship i s a s s i g n e d a protection f a c t o r . T h i s protection f a c t o r r e f l e c t s two things. F o r one i t r e f l e c t s the amount of heavy a r m o r piercing s h e l l s that would have t o hit the ship i n a s h o r t period of t i m e i n o r d e r t o detinate t h e ship's magazines. In the c a s e of t h e heavily a r m o r e d b a t t l e s h i p s t h i s w a s p r a c t i c a l l y i m p o s s i b l e . The protection f a c t o r a l s o r e f l e c t s the ability of the ship t o s t a y afloat i n the f a c e of w a t e r l i n e a t t a c k usually by t o r p e d o e s but often by shell a l s o . F o r example, the Konig h a s a protection f a c t o r of 14. T h i s m e a n s that i t would take 14 h i t s in one b a t t l e t u r n in o r d e r t o sink t h i s 26,000 ton b a t t l e ship. THE GENERAL: Well what happens if i t only sustained, s a y 11 h i t s i n a single turn ? DUNNIGAN: Eleven h i t s would do cons i d e r a b l e p e r m a n e n t damage, but only t o the s h i p ' s m a c h i n e r y a n d weapons. T h i s would not sink the ship in that t u r n u n l e s s the s h i p had a l r e a d y been t u r n e d into a d e f e n s e l e s s hulk previously. Generally speaking, i t t a k e s twice t h e protection f a c t o r , in t h i s c a s e 2 8 h i t s , t o sink a ship. F o u r t e e n would do i t i n one t u r n but the odds a g a i n s t making that many h i t s i n one b a t t l e t u r n a r e quite high. What t h i s "magic n u m b e r " of 14 i n d i c a t e s i s the n u m b e r of h i t s in a s h o r t period of t i m e that would " s h o r t circuit" the s h i p ' s d a m a g e cont r o l ability. B e s i d e s causing m a s s i v e i n t e r n a l d a m a g e we consider t h i s numb e r of h i t s t o be sufficient t o p e n e t r a t e and detonate t h e s h i p ' s m a g a z i n e s . T h i s w a s , in f a c t , the only thing that could, a n d did, sink t h e s e s h i p s s o quickly. THE GENERAL: Getting back t o o u r original question, exactly which s h i p s w e r e sunk a t Jutland? DUNNIGAN: On the B r i t i s h side the 19,000 ton battle c r u i s e r Indefatigable, the 27,000 ton b a t t l e c r u i s e r Queen Mary a n d the 17,000 ton b a t t l e c r u i s e r Invincible w e r e l i t e r a l l y blown out of the w a t e r b y the G e r m a n b a t t l e c r u i s e r s . In addition the 13, 000 t o 14, 000 ton a r m o r e d c r u i s e r s Defense, Black P r i n c e and W a r r i o r w e r e s i m i l a r l y shot t o pieces. The B r i t i s h a l s o l o s t 8 d e s t r o y e r s . The s u p e r i o r protection of the G e r m a n ships enabled the G e r m a n s to come out of the b a t t l e with f a r f e w e r l o s s e s . The G e r m a n s only l o s t one battle c r u i s e r , Lutzow, a n d t h i s 26, 000 ton ship w a s not a c t u a l l y sunk by the B r i t i s h but w a s i n f a c t scuttled by i t s G e r m a n c r e w b e c a u s e i t w a s unable t o g e t back t o p o r t , due t o i t s slow speed caused by 24 heavy shell hits. At that t i m e the B r i t i s h F l e e t w a s between the Lutzow a n d The High S e a s F l e e t . The G e r m a n s a l s o l o s t the 13,000 ton p r e dreadnought battleship P o m m e r n which took two t o r p e d o e s a m i d s h i p s during a night B r i t i s h d e s t r o y e r a t t a c k . The G e r m a n s a l s o l o s t f o u r light c r u i s e r s a n d five d e s t r o y e r s . The B r i t i s h even admitted a f t e r the battle that the inf e r i o r i t y of t h e i r own s h e l l s a n d the s u p e r i o r i t y of the G e r m a n protection undoubtedly saved a s many a s half a dozen G e r m a n battleships f r o m c e r t a i n destruction. THE GENERAL: In the design of the g a m e we find that G e r m a n y ' s 23 capital s h i p s w e r e s u p e r i o r t o the B r i t i s h in a l l c a t e g o r i e s that m a t t e r e d . They w e r e b e t t e r a r m o r e d a n d protected, they u s e d s u p e r i o r t a c t i c s a n d d e s p i t e t h e usually l a r g e r c a l i b e r of B r i t i s h guns managed t o give a s well a s they got i n a gun duel. Now, exactly how did you d e t e r m i n e the gunnery f a c t o r s f o r each of the s h i p s ? DUNNIGAN: The f i r s t question I had t o a n s w e r w a s , what sank a ship? I found out that p r a c t i c a l l y nothing could sink t h e s e ships. Actual f i r e power consiste d of a n u m b e r of v a r i a b l e s . The m o s t i m p o r t a n t w e r e ability of s h e l l s t o p e n e t r a t e a r m o r , a n d not c a l i b e r a n d weight of shell. Rate of f i r e w a s i m portant since the s m a l l e r the gun t h e higher w a s the r a t e . F i r e control p r o c e d u r e s a n d equipment and of c o u r s e the skill of the gun c r e w s t h e m s e l v e s w e r e a l s o important. The end r e s u l t was, of c o u r s e , percentage of effective s h e l l s that h i t the target. I e m p h a s i z e effective because n e a r l y half of the B r i t i s h heavy a r m o r e d p i e r c i n g s h e l l s w e r e duds a g a i n s t a r m o r . Our p r o b l e m w a s then how to r e l a y the effectiven e s s of f i r e power with the effectiveness of protection. We handled f i r e power f i r s t . Taking a n a r b i t r a r y n u m b e r , s a y one, f o r the s m a l l e s t type heavy gun, that i s the G e r m a n 11 inch 40 c a l i b r e long we proceeded to r a t e it, using the base no. 1, a g a i n s t a l l o t h e r guns in accordance with the previously l a i d down c r i t e r i a . This gave u s o u r f i r e power. The r a n g e was found to be d e pendent mainly o n the effective r a n g e of the f i r e control equipment, which w a s about 20,000 y a r d s . All the heavy guns a t Jutland could f i r e a t l e a s t that f a r . The effectiveness of f i r e changed with r a n g e mainly because of the efficiency of the f i r e control equipment. Once we knew how many effective h i t s could be delivered by e a c h ship we had to d e t e r m i n e how many h i t s would be needed to s h o r t - c i r c u i t , a s we began to s a y , the t a r g e t s h i p s damage control. THE GENERAL: Obvious, then, this

THE GENERAL
was a v e r y t i m e consuming portion of the d e s i g n and probably one of the m a j o r r e a s o n s why i t took a l m o s t a y e a r to do. Actually, what w a s the h a i r i e s t p a r t of the design of this g a m e ? DUNNIGAN: When i t c o m e s to s h e e r difficulty, and that's not just the drudg e r y involving r e s e a r c h , I would s a y that the m o s t difficult d e s i g n a s p e c t w a s in writing the r u l e s . We of the Kampf design t e a m m a d e the u s u a l m i s t a k e a m a t e u r game d e s i g n e r s make when we w r o t e up r u l e s which l e f t too many loopholes. Avalon Hill h a s l e a r n e d long ago that even in a g a m e with little o r no h i s t o r i c a l relationship the r u l e s m u s t be v e r y p r e c i s e otherwise the game will go off into u n r e a l i s t i c andunwieldly tangents which no one planned, wanted o r will enjoy. In Jutland we t r i e d to r e c r e a t e the o r i g i n a l situation a s much a s possible. Good game design would provide the b a s i c e l e m e n t s of the situation but without r u l e s w h i c h a c c u r a t e l y r e f l e c t e d the conditions under which the o r i g i n a l c o m m a n d e r s l a b o r e d good des i g n could produce a totally u n r e a l i s t i c situation. O u r expensive play t e s t p r o g r a m h a s , a s we hope, proved that we have o v e r c o m e the r u l e problem.

T H E GENERAL: I s e e that much thought and t i m e h a s been devoted to the play t e s t evaluation questionnaire that you sent. out to p r e - t e s t e r s . Exactly of what value w e r e t h e s e p l a y - t e s t e r s to you? DUNNIGAN: We r e a l i z e d f r o m the v e r y beginning that Jutland, like o t h e r Avalon Hill g a m e s , would be played by people with a wide v a r i e t y of i n t e r e s t s s o m e of them would be i n t e r e s t e d others mainly in m i l i t a r y h i s t o r y would be i n t e r e s t e d mainly in a good game while s t i l l o t h e r s would be i n t e r e s t e d in the r e a c t i o n s of themselves and t h e i r f r i e n d s in a n unusual situation. What o u r extensive random play t e s t p r o g r a m t r i e d to do w a s to r e a c h a s many different types of Avalon Hill c u s t o m e r s a s p o s s i b l e and s e e what t h e i r r e a c t i o n s would be to the game. What we t r i e d to do in effect with the play t e s t p r o g r a m w a s to please everyone. E v e r y c r i t i c i s m , e v e r y question a s to the g a m e and i t s r u l e s we t r i e d to s a t i s by by modifying the game. This was t i m e consuming. It was also very f r u s t r a t i n g . Basically though the r e a l value of the play t e s t e r s w a s in debugging the game.

THE GENERAL: Well we notice that you a l s o had s o m e difficulty in the h i s t o r i c a l d a t a itself. F o r instance, the s o - c a l l e d authentic h i s t o r i c a l d a t a of t h r e e v e r y prominent s o u r c e s , Die Deutschen Kriegschiffe, J a n e s fighting ships and B r a s s e y ' s Naval Annual. They don't even a g r e e o n the deck plans of c e r t a i n s h i p s s o who do you go by in these instances ?

THE GENERAL
DUNNIGAN: I usually go by the s e a t of my pants. Janes and Brassey's usually contain accurate deck plans of British ships but when i t came to German ships there were wide variations. There were also certain variations in the British ships a s changes were made during the war that Janes o r B r a s s e y s did not catch. Actually this wasn't a very important point. However I did follow through on i t and we tried to incorporate a s much a s possible accurate data for the deck plans. F o r the Germans the best source was not Janes o r Brassey but E r i c h Groner's Die Deutschen Kriegschiffe. I, myself, a m still undecided a t this point a s to how f a r Avalon Hill plans to go with historical authenticity in their games design after the obvious success of Jutland. Just out of curiosity, what a r e Avalon Hill's thoughts in this a r e a ? THE GENERAL: F r o m this point on Avalon Hillls philosophy will be to place historical accuracy uppermost in the future design of games. If balance i s what the players want, then they can obtain this by a proper selection of the optional rules that we will include to satisfy this s o r t of thing. Incidentally this game balance bit has been somewhat of a thorn in the side of Avalon Hill. Let's face i t - most battles a r e not balanced to begin with. One side felt that they had a definite advantage in the f i r s t place o r they wouldn't even have made an attack. Mr. Dunnigan what a r e your thoughts on balancing a game with historical setting. D UNNIGAN: A game that has been c a r e fully designed according to reliable h i s torical information i s like a piece of precision machinery. When you s e t out to alter it, say for purpose of "play balance" you must either do extensive redesign work o r else watch the game change considerably, usually for the worse. JUTLAND was a good example of this. F r o m the very beginning the Germans realized that they were l o s e r s . Their idea of a "victory" was to m e r e ly cut the British fleet down to size so that they could LATER engage them in a full scale "battle for the North Sea.". The British, on the other hand, had their prestige and the "Trafalgar T r a dition" to worry about. Unless they won a great victory the world would realize, as Jellicoe and a few others already had, that the British fleet was not invincible. And then there was the problem of the British trying to get through the German controlled Baltic to Russia. In dealing with the problem of "conditions of victory1' and "play balance" we thought primarily in t e r m s of "incentives". That i s , we sought to r e create in the game the s a m e incentives which originally brought the two fleets together. By sticking to the historical format we neatly avoided the "play-balance" trap. Again the key to the whole problem was good, solid, nothing left to chance research. THE GENERAL: Not let's get into the digging up of the historical data itself. How were you able to combine this usually irreconsolable m a r r i a g e between historical accuracy and playability? DUNNIGAN: Actually history i s something of a game itself. History i s often called the study of cause and effect. If the causes a r e known the effect might be open to statistical prediction. It i s on this supposition that Avalon Hill's game formulae i s based. If we depend on history itself for the rules of the game we will have in effect united history with game playability. However, the depth of r e s e a r c h i s a l l important nothing can be left to chance. We must put the player a s much a s possible into the same position a s the original commander. Thus, i t i s not enough simply to obtain an accurate o r d e r of battle and an accurate account of the original campaign o r battle. Reading between the line of history we find that in Jutland, for instance, such mundane technical m a t t e r s a s the direction of the

PAGE 4
wind, thickness of transverse bulkheads, fuel capacity of the destroyers, mentality of the ship and division commande r s , f i r e control and damage control procedures, the system of manufacturing and proof testing shells a s well a s many other seemingly minor variables would have a profound effect on the design of the game if they were left unnoticed and not incorporated in the game itself. Thus the more authentic the r e search for the game the e a s i e r i t i s to devise rules which take into account every eventuality. THE GENERAL: By the looks of things, you've certainly done your part. Jutland i s probably the most accurately researched game in the entire line. If i t plays a s well a s it has been researched, then we can look forward to a "long run", a s they say in theatrical circles. We thank you again for being with us and wish you continued success with "Kampfl'.

ED NOTE: Information on Kampf can be obtained from: 8512 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn. New York.

Simultaneous Movement by Frederick R . Guest

-

1. Use two acetate sheets - - one sheet per side. a. Each counter o r group of count-

e r s is indicated by writing a number on the sheets with a g r e a s e pencil.

rye=. a ~
Orill;
Porit

Value d

of c o u n t e v s K e p t o n a shcct of paper

merits,

After each side records his movethe acetate sheets a r e put together on the game board to resolve battles, if any. b.

of c. Battles occur only if the movement for each is identical when meeting.

(A) No battle because Redwas in and out of square E2 before Blue 9 got into position D3. (B) Battle takes place with Red 15

in square E3 and Blue 9 in D3. Battle would also have occurred if Red 15 would have remained in E2 after a move of 1.

PAGE 5
2. Attrition table would have to be r e vised to account for both a r m i e s in movement when meeting. Present BLITZKRIEG table would be used when one side i s attacking the opponent's counters which have not moved ( a s sumed to be on the defensive).

THE GENERAL
The odds would then be Blue 5 = 3 factors, Red 2, 4 and 6 = 19 factors o r 6to-1. Use the, "Both Armies Moving Table" in this situation, since a t such an overwhelming superiority of strength i t i s assumed that Red 2 would also seize the initiative with R e d 4 and 6 and counter-attack. If Red 6 was only 2 factors strong, the battle would be r e solved a s follows:

EXAMPLE of Table when Both A r m i e s a r e Moving:

If, for example, a battle of three-toone was taking place on a roll of 3, the group with the odds of 1 would lose 2 factors. I suggest a r e t r e a t movement of 1
BATTLE EXAMPLES:
(A)

move in c a s e s where more than one factor i s lost. Also, a forward move of 1 move in case the opposing player loses m o r e than 2 factors. This rule also applies to the BLITZKRIEG Table.

RED RE

4 7

4 F~~tovs

2 Factors

K = '

ID N O T

MOVE

The identity and strength of counters 2 squares away f r o m each other would be revealed and positions marked on own acetate sheet, if desired. All other positions would be revealed a t the time the sheets a r e placed one on top of the other, but not the identity and strength. Secrecy and bluffing could be used to incorporate the element of s u r p r i s e into the game.

Blue 5 moves to D l ; Red 4 moves to E2; Red 2 r e m a i n s on E l . Battle occ u r s between Blue 5 and Red 2 and 4. Blue 5 may soak off against Red 2, since Blue i s the attacker, but Blue 5 ' s remaining f o r c e s m u s t be used against Red 4. The present BLITZKRIEG At-

trition Table i s used in resolving the battle with Red 2 since Red 2 i s on the defensive. The table to be used for the remaining f o r c e s of Blue 5 v e r s u s Red 4 i s the, "Both Armies Moving Table, I ' a s previously described.

This example i s the same a s in (A) except that Blue 7 i s now in the picture. Red 4 m u s t deploy a p a r t of his f o r c e s against Blue 7, who i s on the defensive, EXAMPLE OF SOAK-OFFS:
A R C D E F G M

before engaging Blue 5. The attacker has the choice of how many f a c t o r s he will deploy against units in a defensive position.

In (A) 13, 15, 17 and 19, all a r e weak units, but Red does not know it, although he knows there a r e a t l e a s t four units there. Red would know the identity of Blue 1 and 7 and Blue would know the identity of Red 2. The Blue 13, 15, 17 and 19 could very well each be stacked to the maximum of 12 factors. The completely hidden rule, a s devised by AVALON-HILL, could also be used.
3. To simplify recounting moves, each turn should be made in two phases:

Blue 5 Red 2 Red 4 Red 6

= 3 factors = 12 f a c t o r s = 4 factors = 3 factors

EXAMPLE:
P H U E TURM
TYPE

1
2

2
3

T&a\

Blue 5 m u s t soak off against Red 2 a t l e a s t 1-to-6. This leaves Blue 5 with only 1 factor to use against Red 4

and 6, which would be a 7-to-1 odds. However, g r e a t e r than 6-to-1 odds would enable Red 4 and 6 to aid Red 2.

k w o r ~IOVCS 3

6
4-

Id

moves ,

THE GENERAL
Each phase i s further broken down into sub-divisions a s follows:

---

P T aI I <
MRAI-+4

T-Y PE

Pha4e
diifhxed

FTR

*.

12

id4cve5

PAGE 6

4 - 1 4 .

T6c
MDM
Sf+C

12

9 7
I
i
3 1

IFI\ 16
11

2 '

9
9
> 3 1 3

3 1 3 1 3 1

,I 20 : !f I
. I

'1 I 40

* It i s assumed that Infantry and

same rate.

A r t i l l e r y do not move consistently a t the

MOVES TO BE MADE BY PHASE ONLY: Subdivisions a r e used only f o r the purpose of determining whether contact between units took place when paths (lines) cross. Moves should be made in phases and not by subdivisions. The ,following a r e examples of P h a s e s , Subdivisions and Moves:

Exaw\p\es

05

Modes

- 5 A C or MOM vs & , Y Q B

PAGE 7

THE GENERAL

B a t t l e t a K c s p \ a c e with
ev\
S T L ~ . ~ ~ C

Q\rc

~ - ~ . ( t m

C-+ a n d Red i~ s q ~ a v c c 05 s contvo\ o v e v lap)

When l a n d u v \ ; t s become en3 a9 ed i~ b a t t \ c . C h c y w u s t & t o p at ~ o

of c o n t a c t . Rctveats OY a d v a ~ c e s , as i ~ d i c a t e dby the 4 t t v ; t ; o r l Tables,

a f e m a d e fqo*

p o i ~ 03 t contact.
adveuce

If n o r c t ~ e a tor 50v, units r / e w a i n

may

; s calle:

en3a3ed until

the

$ollowi\tq phase. ( I t t h i s t i m e ,

the./

c o n t i n u % t o b a t t l e o r they move c a t

may

of

battle

p o s i tie\\
4. MORE ON AIR MOVEMENT: E a c h p l a y e r would d e t e r m i n e , s e c r e t l y , the n u m b e r of planes to be used f o r the attack. F i g h t e r s not participating i n a t t a c k s could be used to i n t e r c e p t the o t h e r p l a y e r s attacking planes. The line of flight of a t t a c k i n g a i r c r a f t would then be indicated o n the a c e t a t e s h e e t s and then placed a s in l b above under simultaneous movement. After t h i s i s done, intercepting f i g h t e r s could be used. However, intercepting f i g h t e r s could not begin t h e i r flights until a t tacking plans a r e a t l e a s t 5 s q u a r e s away f r o m f r i e n d l y units. EXAMPLE:

&ise~~a$24)

F T R v s MDM ou S a c

MOM

WOJ~S

Squares p e r phase

Subdivided i ~ t 0 3 -3 -3 m o v e s
Avmoy vnove.5 3 s q ~ c a v ePCY ~

?has

~ubd;&Jsd into
attle

1-1- 1

mo J e s

05 MDM

me&

SIA~~;V;S;OW

NO,i

Ji.lEL: FTR

elects To r e m a i n o n

i n t c v c e p t i n q squavc

move 5 .

THE GENERAL
Red fighters could not begin their fljght until attacking Blue r e a c h e s square G3, which i s 5 squares away f r o m Red 15 on L2. Therefore, Red would complete the second subdivisionof the phase on square N3 and Blue on square 14. The interception would be made on square L4 where Blue and Red completed subdivision 3. I t i s assumed that Red remained on square L4 an additional 2 moves, since itonly took two moves to get to that square, while i t took Blue 3 moves to get to the same square. Red fighters could have continuedonto square 54. In this case, contact would have been made somewhere between squares J 4 and L4. In the above example, even though fighters move a t a r a t e of 4 s q u a r e s per subdivision, Red fighters moved only 2 squares during the second subdivision of the phase. This r e p r e s e n t s the remaining moves (after being detected) of the attacking a i r c r a f t f o r the same (second) subdivision. This lag compensates for fighter take-off p r e paration time, after the fighters have been alerted of the attacking a i r c r a f t by land units 15 on square L2. (THIS IS AN EXCEPTION TO THE "MOVE BY PHASE ONLY RULE. ") It would take a SAC group longer than two turns to complete a total of 40 squares the allowable total number of moves MDM would take longer than one turn f o r 20 squares. F T R , one turn for the 24 s q u a r e s allowed. TAG l e s s than one turn f o r 16 squares, etc. Flight could begin during any phase (any subdivision f o r intercepting fighters) and couldoverlap into the next phase o r turn. A r e s t r i c t i o n that should be made i s that planes, upon returning to their base, m u s t wait a t l e a s t one phase before being used again. Aircraft m u s t make o r use up their maximum number of moves p e r phase while in flight, according to the Table. During f i r s t phase, a i r c r a f t in flight can move l e s s than the maximum number of moves (Represents different takeoff times. ) Aircraft may o r may not move while in flight. However, the maximum number of moves, p e r phase, i s s t i l l u s e d up except during f i r s t phase, a s stated above. This enables F T R ' s , r e g a r d l e s s of different movement factors, to e s c o r t bombers. EXAMPLE: A r e c o r d should be kept of the number of moves that were used up in each square. This i s important, especially during short range bombing runs, when a square a longer period of time o v e ~ affords a better chance of making contact with units that might be passing through the square that i s being s t r a t e gically bombed. 5. MISCELLANEOUS: a. Artillery - Range 2 squares - 1 roll of die per 4 attack f a c t o r s -Roll of 1 o r 6 -opponent l o s e s 1 factor. b. Navies should be allowed to blockade ports. No supply o r reinforcements through a blockaded port. In the "Art of c. Strands of War War on Land, " Lt. Colonel A. H. Burns, , mentions four strands of war; D. S. 0. these could be built into the game: 1. The commander quality & capability. 2. The troops quality and capability. 3. Morale. 4. Resources. Build these strands of war into the game by the use of tables.

PAGE 8
Between June 1941 and November 1942 the number of Soviet Infantry f o r mations had increased f r o m 175 to 442 although a l a r g e number of these were rifle brigades. The number of a r m o r e d formations increased in both quantity and quality with the m a s s production of the new and superior T-34. As for numbers, a r m o r e d and mechanized brigades increased f r o m 78 to 186 and in the spring of 1942 theywere reorganized into a r m o r e d and mechanized corps putting them a t p a r with their German a r m o r e d divisional counterparts. Meanwhile the number of Soviet cavalry divisions increased f r o m 30 to 35. The German's f o r c e s a t this time were increased only by a few divisions m o s t of which came f r o m Italy and Hungary. It should be noted that in this period just previous to Stalingrad the Soviet Army a t the front had increased i t s superiority a t a r a t e of a t l e a s t 2:l in men and 3: 1 in tanks. With the German l o s s e s a t Stalingrad the German onslaught stopped. Not yet decided the outcome of the E a s t e r n campaign was now in doubt. In the spring of 1943 the Soviets were forced to refit and regroup due to the mud. The Germans tried to do the same, but the l o s s of the 6th Army couldn't be made up. So the number of German formations dropped f r o m their peak of 214 to 190 although this included the l o s s e s of many allied formations: Romanians, Hungarians, Italians, etc. The number of Russian formations a t this time r o s e again: Infantry divisions and brigades increased f r o m 442 to 513, a r m o r e d and mechanized brigades r o s e f r o m 186 to 290 and cavalry divisions increased f r o m 35 to 41. The manpower s c o r e stood a s follows: Russian Frontline troops 5. 1 million. German and allied front line troops 3 million. Production also went up f o r the Soviets, the monthly tank production figu r e s was 2000 per month, Soviet a r t i l l e r y had increased, and the Soviet ~ r became mobile with the deliveries of American trucks - 434,000 since the summer of 1942. 1943's summer also marked the creation of 29 new Soviet formations The Soviet a r t i l l e r y division. The battle of Kursk was a draw, the Soviets replaced their tank l o s s within a few months, the Germans never r e covered. In 1944 the Red Army reached i t s peak World War I1 strength although according to German calculations, i t had suffered 14 million casualties. In that year Germany l o s t the war in a s e r i e s of attacks by the Russians known a s "Stalin's ten destructive blows. " I shall not speak of these a s they only resulted

Comments to: F r e d e r i c k R. Guest, 50 M a r i c r e s t Drive, Tonowanda, New York 14150.

--

The Red Army

by Victor J. Gervol, J r . In this brief article I a m going to t r y to outline in cold hard facts the growth of the Russian Army in World War 11. I hope that I can show you the reader what faced the Germans and what the odds were. Hitler's campaign against the Russians ended in 1945 in the rubbled s t r e e t s of a gutted Berlin; this i s the story of the a r m y that ended the thousand y e a r Reich. At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the USSR had an estimated a r m y of 108 Rifle o r infantry divisions, 36 a r m o r e d o r mechanized brigades and 30 cavalry divisions. By the s t a r t of Operation B a r b a r o s s a in June 1941, these figures had r i s e n to 175 Rifle divisions, 78 a r m o r e d o r mechanized brigades, while the number of cavalry divisions remained the same. In man power the s c o r e stood at: The Soviet Army 4.7 million men, The German Army 3. 3 million men. I would like a t this time to point out the superiority of the German Army in both training and quality. A single German tank division could and did often times out perform entire Russian tank corps, this however was not due to superior German equipment, but to German soldier performance. Indeed, the Soviet tanks during WWII were superior to a l l of their German counterparts.

--

PAGE 9
in German l o s s e s of both men and land, while dear Germany's allies also deserted. The Russians had paid for their victories a s can be seen by the reduction of their rifle divisions f r o m a strength of 12,000 men in 1941 to between 6000 and 8000 a t this time, of which only between 4000 and 6000 were alive o r combat fit. In early Spring 1945 the Russians used the lull in combat to i n c r e a s e their strength f r o m 513 to 527 in Rifle divisions, 290 to 302 in a r m o r e d b r i gades, and 29 to 43 a r t i l l e r y divisions. Material strength f o r the Russians was a s follows: Spring 1945 Tanks: 13,400 F r o n t line aircraft: 16,600 Men: 5. 3 million The German a r m y was quite a bit under p a r m o s t of their divisions being only the strength of a regiment. Material was a s follows: Tanks: 3,500 F r o n t line aircraft: too few to matter Men: 1.8 million In the words of General Manstein f r o m whom I quoted almost all of the above: "Never, not even during the f i r s t y e a r s of the war, were Soviet commanders compelled to fight against superior numbers. Never were they asked to win a victory against an enemy superior in numbers. " So you s e e the war on the e a s t e r n front, in the end quantity overwhelmed quality. One important fact which i s still a m y s t e r y i s the Soviet airborne forces. The Soviets had them, they numbered over a million men and women. But why were they never employed against the G e r m a n s ? The answer i s c l e a r to many people, in the e a r l y stages of the war, they couldn't, and in the l a t t e r stages they didn't need to. But i s this the truth, o t h e r s feel that the Russian goal was England, but with development of the A-Bomb the gamble wasn't worth it. Questions ? Comments ? Write: Victor J. Gervol, J r . , Minister of the Interior. Aggressor Homeland. 5131 Juniata St., Duluth. Minnesota 55804. Recommended Reading: The Red Army by Liddell Hart, Hitler Moves E a s t 1941-1943 by Paul Carell, and Barbarossa: The Russian German Conflict 1941 1945 by Alan Clark. Some of the g r e a t naval battles of the war were fought there. This i s the f i r s t of a two p a r t s e r i e s describing a method by which naval and a i r power can be included in AvalonHill'sGuadalcanal game.

THE GENERAL
turns during one regular Guadalcanal turn. TURN 1 (night-planes not allowed to fly). Each player secretly w r i t e s his naval operations stating the number and kind of ships being brought on and f r o m which square(s) that they will enter. A. American player (AP) brings on his ships and moves them. B. Japanese player ( J P ) bring on his ships and moves them. C. Surface Combat i s resolved. TURN 2 (Night) J P moves ships, AP moves ships, Surface combat. TURN 3 (Day-Planes may fly) AP moves ships, J P moves ships. Surface Combat r e solved. TURN 4 (Day) J P moves ships, AP moves ships, Surface combat. NORMAL LAND MOVEMENT OCCURS -INCLUDING TROOP AND SUPPLY LANDINGS. Surface Combat Firing Range Hits to Sink

NAVAL STRENGTHS It i s assumed that c a r r i e r s remained out of range of the present mapboard hence they a r e not included in the o r d e r of battle. The table below l i s t s the type of ships, number for each side. movement factor, surface combat value, etc. SHIP MOVEMENT Ship movement consist of 4 turns before each land movement portion and 4 turns after each land movement portion--thus ships move a total of eight Type No. of Jap. Ships U . S. Move

a. b.

Transports move 2 when loaded,, 3 when empty. Transports have a defeniive surface combat factor of 3. ORDEROFAPPEARANCE Japanese 5CA- Chokai, Aoba. Kako. Kinugasa, Furutaka 2CLTenryu, Yubari American

Date Aug. 7

1DD- Yunagi

6CA- Australia, Canberra, Chicago. Vincennes, Astoria, Quincy 8DD- P a t t e r son, Bagley. Blue, Monssen, Buchanan, Sedfridge, Mugford, J a r v i s 4TR- McCawley, Little Gregory, Elliot

Aug. 14

3DD- Asagumo. Oite, Yamagumo 1CA- Tone 3DD- Asugiri, Shirakumo, Yugiri 4CA- Atago, Maya, Takao, Myoko 4TR- Nagomaru, Sadomaru, Yamatsukimaru, Nagaramaru 2BB- Kongo, Haruna 2BB- Hiei, Kirishima 5DD- Samidare, Teruzuki. Inazuma, Shirayuki, Hatsuyuki board. 1BB- North Carolina 2BB- Washington, South Dak. 4DD- Benham, Gwin, Preston, Walke

Aug. 28

Sept. 11

Navy

8 Air

Force in Guadalcanal

Oct. 9 Nov. 13

by Richard C. Giberson Anyone familiar with the Battle of Guadalcanal r e a l i z e s that the Navy had a prime role in the overall action.

* Indicates e a r l i e s t date of a r r i v a l on playing

THE GENERAL
TURN 5 s a m e a s TURN 4. TURN 6 s a m e a s TURN 3. TURN 7 s a m e a s TURN 2. TURN 8 s a m e a s m o v e m e n t portion of TURN 1. Ships should a l l b e "off the board" a t the end of movement o n TURN 8. If not i t i s a s s u m e d they w e r e damaged and not able to move. They m a y not again be moved till the next week on TURN 2. Ships s t i l l o n the b o a r d f o r two consecutive weeks a r e automatically sunk. SHIP MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS Ship movement n e x t to the i s l a n d i s r e s t r i c t e d a s follows: TR and DD c a n move o n the o c e a n s q u a r e adjacent to a c o a s t square. They m u s t be o n such a s q u a r e to d i s e m b a r k t r o o p s a n d / o r supplies. T h e r e m u s t be one o c e a n s q u a r e between CA o r C L and land, and two o c e a n s q u a r e s between BB and land. Ships m a y move "around" the land a r e a s a t a c o s t of one m o v e m e n t factor f r o m t h e i r t u r n allowances. Movement i s allowed on the l e t t e r e d and numbered s q u a r e s . Only one ship c a n occupy a s q u a r e ( s e v e r a l m a y e n t e r the b o a r d through the s a m e square). Ships have no "zone of control" thus e n e m y s h i p s m a y move past each other on adjacent squares without stopping. Ships leaving the b o a r d one week cannot r e a p p e a r until the t h i r d week following. Thus s h i p s leaving the b o a r d on Aug. 7 cannot r e a p p e a r 'ti1 Aug. 28. Ships c a n be " r e p a i r e d 1 ' a t the r a t e of one "hit" r e m o v e d f o r e a c h additional week beyond the m i n i m u m that they s t a y off the board. SCORING Only s h i p s that a r e sunk s c o r e . BB15 pts. CA, TR-12 pts. CL, DD-9 pts. Surface combat, A i r power and Log i s t i c s will be d i s c u s s e d n e x t month ( i s s u e that is). C o m m e n t s and o t h e r wise to R i c h a r d C. Giberson, 1422 Agnes, Richland, Washington 99352. ing e i t h e r s e l e c t units o r , if you wish, e n t i r e s e t s t o your g a m e s in the approxim a t e r a t i o of five t o two can allow a t t a c k e r s to c a r r y on a t r u l y sustained offensive o r a dual advance; d e f e n d e r s c a n afford m i n o r counterattacks without disengaging the v e r y m a i n s t a y s of t h e i r line. A good example of the beneficial eff e c t s of escalation can b e seen in D-Day. Most of you a r e a w a r e of the e s s e n t i a l l y setpiece n a t u r e of the game. Maybe s o m e of you old hands can r e c a l l that l i n e f r o m the '61 R e f e r e n c e F o l d e r about the "mobile b a t t l e situation s o m e w h e r e i n c e n t r a l F r a n c e , I ' and just how often i t o c c u r r e d . Well, now i t can. Add a n Afrika K o r p s s e t t o each side and twelve m o r e infantry divisions to the "D-Daytt group in Britain. With the G e r m a n AK u n i t s having t o s t a r t behind P a r i s , you can s e e a lively, fluid battle. I p e r sonally u s e a t r i p l e d Allied a r m y and a doubled G e r m a n a r m y with a l l the AK units of one s e t thrown in. T r i p l e d n a v i e s in Midway make f o r r e a l action. We a l l know how the G e r m a n s stand i n Stalingrad; t r y escalation t h e r e . Some w o r d s of caution: 1 ) Some AH g a m e s a r e delicately balanced. You could double the R u s s i a n s a n d quintuple the G e r m a n s in Stalingrad and still play, but a g a m e l i k e Bulge would b e d e s t r o y ed. I wouldn't a d v i s e l a r g e i n c r e a s e s i n Bulge, Waterloo, o r Afrika K o r p s , although you can juggle t h e m some. 2) When mixing a r m i e s , b e s u r e t h e a r m i e s c o r r e s p o n d i n s t r a t e g i c posture. Don't add Bulge a r m i e s t o D-Day o r Stalingrad, f o r instance, of the "blue1' a r m i e s will b e lucky t o hold t h e i r own. It i s n ' t enough t o match r e d s with r e d s and blues with b l u e s - - a l l of one side m u s t b e s t r a t e g i c a l l y offensive, the o t h e r defensive. L e t m e anticipate the c r i e s of t h o s e who howl about " r e a l i s m . " In r e g u l a r D-Day you have e v e r y "real" unit that w a s i n the Allied a r m y , but how I1real" i s i t if you have only twelve divisions facing the Moselle and n e v e r even s e e t h e R h i n e ? I s n ' t the c o u r s e and n a t u r e of the fighting m o r e i m p o r t a n t than avoiding having two u n i t s with the s a m e n u m b e r on t h e m ? How " r e a l " i s i t f o r t h e collapse of Smolensk t o c o r r e s p o n d with the collapse of G e r m a n offensive ability? B e f o r e closing, l e t m e point out what can happen if you become addicted t o commanding t r u e m a s s a r m i e s a s I have. Out of f o u r p l a i n m a p s h e e t s f r o m A v a l o n Hill ($1 a p i e c e ) I made a huge four-byfive foot b o a r d of c e n t r a l E u r o p e e n c o m p a s s i n g everything f r o m Stettin t o Sverdlovsk on the s a m e s c a l e a s the DDay board. The g a m e initially w a s a purely land one employing t h r e e blue a n d two r e d D-Day a r m i e s , s o m e Staling r a d units, e l e m e n t s of two A f r i k a Korps a r m i e s , a n d i s vaguely b a s e d on the G e r m a n Operation ' B a r b a r o s s a ' a f t e r which i t ' s named. The G e r m a n f o r c e s w e r e blue and the R u s s i a n s w e r e red. Soon t h i s wasn't quite enough, however, b e c a u s e the G e r m a n wanted t o be a b l e t o do what h i s a c t u a l p r e d e c e s s o r s did; n a m e l y , have many divergent, powerful, a n d simultaneous advances underway; while The R u s s i a n wanted t o have a ( c o u n t e r - ) a t t a c k ability without having t o withdraw the keystone units of h i s d e fensive line. A s in w a r everywhere t h e s e days, t h e c a l l of escalation sounded sweetly, and off we went. Today the G e r m a n h a s 1200 units of a l l types, including a i r , m a r i n e s , r a n g e r s , a r t i l l e r y , and p a r a t r o o p s , facing 900 R u s s i a n units equally v a r i e d . The t r o o p counters a r e a l l AH o n e s and p r e s e n t l y include five D-Day s e t s , two Waterloo, two Staling r a d , e l e m e n t s of two Afrika Korps, two B l i t z k r i e g s , and one each of Guadalcanal, Chancellorsville, and Bulge. P l a y t a k e s a couple of d a y s , but when i t ' s o v e r , you've fought a n exciting back-and-forth campaign that I f e e l i s the a c t u a l objective of any t r u e w a r gamer. C o m m e n t s , i n q u i r i e s , o r your s p a r e and unwanted Guadalcanal o r Blitzkriega i r c o u n t e r s will b e a p p r e c i a t e d by John Michalski, 1118 S. 35th S t r e e t , Milwaukee, Wis. 53215.

Rommel's Thrust 1941

by Doug C r a g o e When R o m m e l a r r i v e d i n North Africa in M a r c h of 1941, he found the Italian A r m y and A i r F o r c e in bad r e pair. The B r i t i s h OIConnor Campaign had c a p t u r e d the city of Agheila and l a r g e n u m b e r s of m e n and supplies. (See Mar-Apr. i s s u e . ) But R o m m e l had brought with h i m the 5th Light Divis i o n ( T h i s unit w a s r e n a m e d the 21st P a n z e r later*. ) The 15th P a n z e r would
8 E a c h of R o m m e l ' s P a n z e r Divisions w a s m a d e up of: A P a n z e r Regiment of 2 battalions ( e a c h of 4 companies). A company had 21 tanks. The total of the r e g i m e n t was 194 tanks, including command and s i g nal tanks. However, until the s p r i n g of 1942 e a c h battalion w a s m i n u s one company. By then the company w a s included i n e a c h b a t t a l i o n and the p r o p o r tion of m e d i u m tanks w a s increased. A Motorized Infantry Regiment of 3 battalions ( e a c h of 4 companies). An A r t i l l e r y Regiment of 3 battalions (of 3 b a t t e r i e s and e a c h of 4 guns). One battalion w a s heavily equipped with 150 MM howitzers. An anti-tank Battalion (of 3 companies, e a c h with 1 2 anti-tank guns).

Escalation . . .
by John Michalski How often have you s o weakened the enemy defense that just one m o r e push would b r e a k h i m , only t o find your own a r m i e s on the v e r g e of extinction? How often h a s the l o s s of one a t t a c k reduced your a r m y t o i m p o t e n c e ? O r f o r c e d you t o b e unable t o pose even a t h r e a t t o two f r o n t s simultaneously? T h e s e questions should c a l l t o mind MANY g a m e s if you fight a t a l l vigorously. One a n s w e r to t h i s maddening situation i s escalation. The i n v e s t m e n t of a m e r e $1.20 f o r two additional s e t s of t r o o p c o u n t e r s can do w o n d e r s f o r you. Add-

An a r m o r e d Reconnaissance Battalion (with 30 a r m o r e d c a r s ) .

PACE 11
be landed in May. The location of the British troops in Cyrenaica was unknown to Rommel, therefore he thought the turning the situBritish might attack. ation from bad to worse. (Actually, the British had withdrawn many units and were not planning an attack. ) Rommel attacked to gain the initiative first. His 5th Panzer Regiment was equipped with 120 tanks but only 60 were medium (Panzer I11 and IV). The Ariete Division could also add80 tanks. His attack was completely successful. His Italian superiors tried to limit the attack but he pressed on. Later Berlin gave him supreme control of his army. His attack was divided in many directions. Therefore, there would be many columns moving a t the same time, all having to have proper co-ordination, right directions and objectives. F o r this Rommel was constantly observing the movements and battles ofhis troops. He flew from unit to unit in an airplane, guiding lost units, giving o r d e r s , and making his presence known to the troops.

THE GENERAL

..

rived. The 2 l s t Panzer would make a supporting attack from the .south-east. The attack was launched on the 3 1 s t of April and beat back the British holding positions, threatening Axis supply lines. After this, however, the Afrika Korps did not have sufficient forces to take the fortress. Operation Battleaxe The German disposition of forces in June was a s follows: 15th Panzer occupied the Bardia, Salum front, the bulk of the 21st was in r e s e r v e south of Tobruk. To meet the British counterattack, the 15th had 80 tanks but reinforced by tanks of the Zlst, totalled 150, of which 95 were Panzer I11 o r IV. Even though Rommel anticipated a British attack he had only small supplies of petrol. On the 15th of June the British launched their attack on the Salum front. Immediately the 21 s t Panzer aided the 15th. The battle ended three days later, a complete German victory. The British lost 87 tanks and about 500 men while the Germans lost 570 men killed o r captured and 25 tanks totally destroyed. This battle impressed Rommel's superiors. They said they would reinforce the army with 2 more German mechanized divisions and about 7 Italian armored and mechanized divisions. However, these were not delivered. With them Rommel said he could have withstood the British Winter Offensive. Doug Cragoe, 2 Linden Lane. Springfield, Illinois 62707.

Assault on Tobruk Rommel's f i r s t attack was c a r r i e d out on April 12, 1941. The Brescia Division (holding the western front of the f o r t r e s s ) would attack in addition to 2 l s t Panzer on the SouthEast. The 21st was stalled in front of an anti-tank ditch, so Rommel decided to renew his a t tempts a few days later when more artillery and the Ariete Division a r rived. The second major attack was made by the 15th Panzer that had just a r -

How to Capture Antwerp Without Really Trying

by Richard Shagrin Friends, Romans, Countrymen-lend me your e a r s ! I come not to praise the Americans, I come to bury them. Even though the Avalon Hill company has seen fit to aidthe "poor American", the Germans (you and I) can still easily stomp. All that i s required i s a

true blitzkrieg that will capture Bastogne by the third of fourth turn. A tall order ? Not if you go about i t properly. And this article i s designed to tell you how to do it--9 times out of 10. The board i s divided by the center fold roughly in half--Concentrate your eff o r t on the Southern half. Get a 3 to 1 against the fourth division's eighth regiment on TT31. This bottles up a third of the American's strength on this side--unless you get a contact--in which case 418 will get away, and you will have to kill i t j n Diekirch next turn. Attack the 418 only from TT30 in o r d e r to force i t back down the road, to the Southeast. Move a c r o s s the river into the vacated square --the regiments have an even harder job to get around you then. If you should roll an exchange- -you will have to give up an 8-4 panzer grenadier but this i s a necessary risk. Attack 7lCCB at 8 to 14 on the off chance you will be able to move a c r o s s the river and s u r round 7lCCB which should be attacked a t 8 to 1. Attack 281109 a t 6 to 1. Use about half a r m o r here - -if you can advance 3 o r four after combat, move onto the Clerf River. LL27 i s always a very nice square to advance to--especially if the Americans retreated 281109 into Clervaux. Do not attack 28/110, infantry units on 0 0 2 3 and 0 0 2 6 will keep i t from bothering you-o r even escaping if you have adyanced 3 o r 4 after your attack on 281109. Put a 5-4 a r m o r unit on 0022, an infantry unit on PP19, and an infantry unit and your l a s t 5-4 a r m o r unit onQQ17. This completes what would be Army Group South in a multi-player game. Army Group North i s loaned a couple of infantry divisions from the Fifth Panzer Army to kill 1061422 on TT14 the f i r s t turn and to capture St. Vith the second turh. The F i r s t SS division and those two loaned infantry divisions attack a t 5 to 1, which guarantees that they will be f r e e to hit St. Vith next turn. One Regiment i s placed on .VV13 and cleverly moves to UU13, thus surrounding both regiments of the 106th can reach. The other that t h e - ~ e r m a n s regiment of that division and another division a r e placed on UUll to attack the 1061423 a t two to one. Naturally the 5 to 1 i s settled before the 2 to 1. The 14th armored cav i s surrounded by two divisions--one each on TT9 and TT11. One regiment on T T l l attacks it a t one to 3, and will probably be able to r e t r e a t to S S l l and then RR12, neatly bottling up the 99th division, even if you don't get an engaged o r contactwith your one to two attack from SS9. What --you don't see how units c a n g e t t h e r e ? Well that f o r t r e s s the 14th cav i s in i s infernally convenient. Place unit on UU8, move to TT9 and then down road to SS9. Remember to attack a t one to

THE GENERAL
two--you don't want to d r i v e h i m back-not with the new r u l e s . The o t h e r r e g i m e n t of the division a t t a c k s 991361 a l s o a t one to two and the 9th SS division a t t a c k s 2/38 a t 6 to 1 f r o m SS7 and, when 2/38 r e t r e a t s to Monschau o r thereabouts, m o v e s onto RR7, neatly s e v e r i n g the 2nd infantry division's chance of getting into action f o r about five turns. Well, t h e r e i t is--with l u c k the A m e r i c a n h a s 4 units to hold the e n t i r e front--two 7-4s in the south p l u s one r e g i m e n t of the 28th division, e i t h e r 109 o r 110, since he h a s to hold C l e r vaux to c r a m p your supplies. And, in the north, one regiment--the one i n St. Vith. Even if you g e t l o u s y die r o l l s , you should have Bastogne before the P a r a t r o o p e r s a r r i v e to give the A m e r i c a n s the f o r t r e s s making capability they need to win. R e m e m b e r to k e e p a unit two s q u a r e s f r o m a l l A m e r i c a n units you can, s o t h a t they cannot build f o r t r e s s e s . On the enclosed s a m p l e s e t up, f o r example, note t h a t I have a unit on VV29--from the h a r d school of e x perience I l e a r n e d t h a t if the A m e r i c a n 4/16 i s allowed to build a f o r t r e s s on VV31, your supplies a r e s e v e r e l y r e stricted. PLAN TW3 s a m p l e s e t u p ( P l a c e m e n t of G e r m a n Units i n Bulge) ARMY GROUP NORTH SS7 9SS SS8 SS9 TT9 TTll UUll UU13 UU14 TT15 SS15 ARMY GROUP SOUTH QQ17 PPl9 0022 0023 00 26 PP26 PP27 QQ28 RR28 RR 29 TT30 VV 29 2771554, 1161310 791153 3/13, 1161312 791154 150,326 2 5 L e h r l l , 3/14, 3/15 167 276, 3521703 L e h r 12. 1 161406 Lehr / 1 grenadiers, 3521704 a s s i s t a n c e of Bob Collman. David Butl e r and T e r r y G r i n e r in the developm e n t of t h i s offense. Any e r r o r s and imperfections a r e , of c o u r s e , m y own responsibility. R i c h a r d A. Shagrin, Room 356, Haggett Hall, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105. just a i i t t l e bit longer and throw the l e t t e r in the c o r n e r t o s i t f o r a month. 6. You b e c o m e a n g r y a t Avalon Hill f o r changing the r u l e s t o t h e i r g a m e s s o often when you r e c e i v e the f i r s t P B M sheet f r o m a new G e r m a n opponent a n d h e i s : ( a ) isolating the 4-4-7 a t M s u s in Afrika Korps, ( b ) fighting a n 8 - 1 battle a g a i n s t the 4-6 c a v a l r y unit a t TT-10 in Bulge, ( c ) setting u p a heavy defensive f o r c e t o prevent a n invasion a t South F r a n c e in D-Day. 7 . It i s a t r a u m a t i c experience when you: ( a ) have t o look a t your opponent's units upside down, ( b ) l e a r n thatAvalon Hill h a s just come out with a new r e v i s e d up-to-date v e r s i o n of a game and you have just purchased the old s e t , ( c ) have just s e t up m o s t of the units on the O r d e r of Appearance C a r d , but the l a s t piece i n your hand and the vacant spot on the c a r d do not match, ( d ) l o s e a n a l l - skill g a m e by one lousy r o l l of the die. 8. The m a i n disadvantage t o playing P B M is: ( a ) you have a neverending f e a r of making a stupid mistake on the Battle Sheet, thus check everything o v e r ten t i m e s before sending i t off, ( b ) you don't get the satisfaction of watching your opponent sweat, ( c ) i t s e e m s r i d i culous t o spend a couple of d o l l a r s on s t a m p s f o r a g a m e that would c o s t nothing in person. 9. While your opponent i s taking h i s t u r n , you: ( a ) keep asking h i m if h e ' s finished t o u p s e t h i m with your e a g e r n e s s , and m a k e h i m think h e ' s made a m i s t a k e which you s e e a n d h e doesn't, ( b ) chuckle t o yourself e v e r y t i m e your opponent m o v e s a piece, ( c ) look o v e r the b o a r d , shaking your head, and mumbling t c h , tch, (d) All of the above. 10. When you a r e playing a w a r game you: ( a ) actually s e e the a r m i e s moving a c r o s s the land, the c l a s h between a r m o r a n d a r t i l l e r y , the c a v a l r y m e n on h o r s e s splashing a n d c h a r g i n g a c r o s s the r i v e r , the f i e r c e fighting and the smoke of the battle, a n d h e a r the gunshot and cannonfire, the planes diving overhead, a n d the c o m m a n d e r s shouting t h e i r o r d e r s t o t h e i r troop, and feel the t h r i l l of v i c t o r y a s your m e n c h a r g e a c r o s s t h e battlefield and up the hill t o r o u t the enemy, ( b ) s e e a b u n c h of l i t t l e p i e c e s of c a r d b o a r d on a p a p e r m a p with hexagons a l l o v e r i t . Comments t o J a r e d Johnson, 1548 Rochelle Drive, Chamblee, Georgia 30005. A f t e r completing the t e s t check page 15 f o r evaluation of r e s u l t s .

A H Psychoanalysis
By J a r e d Johnson Being a n Avalon Hill addict cannot f a i l t o have i t s effects i n the developm e n t of c e r t a i n i d i o s y n c r a s i e s a n d q u i r k s . T h i s l i t t l e t e s t should help you to d i s c o v e r m o r e about yourself by i.eaching down into your sub-conscious and determining what effects playing Avalon Hill g a m e s h a s had on you. 1. If you s e e that your opponent i s about t o m a k e a 29-10 a t t a c k which h e thinks i s 3-1, you will: ( a ) t e l l h i m before h e r o l l s the die. ( b ) h a r d l y b e a b l e t o wait t o t e l l h i m . . . . a f t e r h e r o l l s the die, ( c ) suggest h e check everything o v e r carefully b e f o r e h e ' s finished b e c a u s e although you don't want t o win a c r u c i a l battle in t h i s m a n n e r , you s t i l l c a n ' t b r i n g yourself t o i n f o r m h i m of h i s m i s t a k e outright.

2. While your opponent i s taking h i s t u r n you: ( a ) watch h i m carefully t o m a k e s u r e he doesn't cheat b e c a u s e you a r e paranoic, ( b ) keep straightening up all of the units on the b o a r d e v e r y t i m e they a r e jiggled, b e c a u s e you have a n obsession with keeping everything neat and o r d e r l y . ( c ) look through the r u l e s f o r s o m e new loophole. 3. When you a r e losing, you: ( a ) s t a r t to complain about the crooked d i c e , ( b ) s t a r t leafing carefully through the r u l e s , ( c ) give up e a s i l y s o you can s t a r t a g a i n a n d g e t revenge, ( d ) go on suicide c h a r g e s b e c a u s e you get a t h r i l l out of watching your units get eliminated i n r e c k l e s s b a t t l e s you didn't d a r e r i s k while you s t i l l had a chance. 4. When your opponent h a s m a d e a big blunder e a r l y in the g a m e , you: ( a ) ignore i t b e c a u s e you don't want t o win that way, ( b ) quickly take advanta g e of it b e c a u s e you know you will b e a b l e t o win no o t h e r way, ( c ) r e f u s e t o take advantage of i t but s t i l l point i t out t o your opponent saying how you could kill h i m if you wanted t o but your going t o give h i m a b r e a k b e c a u s e you don't want t o r u i n the game s o soon, a n d r u b i t i n how stupid h e i s , ( d ) u s u a l l y don't spot i t i n the f i r s t place. 5. When you r e c e i v e your opponent's P B M s h e e t s a f t e r a one-month i n t e r v a l you: ( a ) quickly m a k e your move and r e t u r n t h e m the s a m e day just t o s p i t e h i m , ( b ) decide t o keep h i m waiting

T h i s setup i s p a r t i c u l a r l y useful f o r a multiple c o m m a n d e r ( f r o m 2-8) game, with two G e r m a n c o m m a n d e r s . The A r m y Group South c o m m a n d e r should be s e n i o r c o m m a n d e r if t h e r e i s no T h e a t e r commander.

I would like to mention the a i d and

RESULTS O F PSYCHOANALYSIS TEST: If you w e r e a b l e t o find suitable a n s w e r s f o r m o r e than s i x of the questions, you need help!

PAGE 13

THE GENERAL

Winners - Contest 4 8
Congratulations goes t o David B u t l e r , who s t r u c k out the side. The f i r s t b a t t e r was e r a s e d o n a low outside pitch, h i t t e r #2 fell victim on a high outside pitch. and b a t t e r # 3 w a s had on a high inside pitch. Those "rookie p i t c h e r s " e a r n i n g free games are: 1. David J. B u t l e r , Boise, Idaho 2. J a m e s Secna, Tuscon, Arizona 3. Vince Meconi, Wilmington, Delaware 4. Roy Massion, Elgin, Illinois 5. John Michalski, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 6. Steve Dodge, Coronado. California 7. B r e n t E l l e r b r o e r , Long Beach. California 8. T e r r e l l E . G r a y , Jr.. Wilmington, Delaware 9. Norman Zinkham, Rosetown, Canada 10. David S u m m e r , Birmingham, Alabama A f r e e Avalon Hill g a m e h a s been awarded t o each of the w i n n e r s .

OPPONENTS WANTED ADVERTISEMENT

Please print or type your advertisement on the spaces provided be1ow;maximum (including your name and address) 35 words per ad.

29

30

3 1

32

33

34

35 WORDS

All ads are inserted as a free service to full-year subscribers. Only one ad per subscriber per issue is allowed. Ads will not be repeated from issue to issue, however, subscribers may re-submit the same ad, or new ads, for each succeeding issue. Ads received after the 15th of the month preceding publication will appear in the foIlowing issue. N o ads will be accepted unless printed on this form.

CONTEST NO. 19
A s G e n e r a l R o b e r t E. L e e , you have o r d e r e d a n a t t a c k a g a i n s t Gamble's Union C a v a l r y Brigade, positioned a t the b a s e of S e m i n a r y Ridge ( s q u a r e 11-11) just w e s t of Gettysburg. You have d i r e c t e d Heth and McIntosh t o make the attack. S u c c e s s of your o v e r a l l battle s t r a t e g y depends o n w h e r e a n d how you think Heth a n d McIntosh will a t t a c k Gamble. T h u s , you m u s t g u e s s which s q u a r e s Heth a n d McIntosh will b e on and t h e i r d i r e c t i o n of attack. On the Battle P l a n e n c i r c l e one s q u a r e designating w h e r e Heth will be; one s q u a r e f o r w h e r e McIntosh will b e (they m a y b e on the s a m e o r different d i r e c t i o n of a t t a c k s q u a r e s ) ; and f o r both Units. In addition, w r i t e in t h e c o r r e c t attacking odds. T h e i r exact s q u a r e s a n d d i r e c t i o n of a t t a c k will b e d e t e r m i n e d by the closing New York Stock Exchange t r a n s a c t i o n s of Monday, June 12, 1967 (consult m o r n i n g paper of June 13. ) The l a s t digit in the s a l e s - i n - h u n d r e d s column will b e consulted f o r each of the t h r e e v a r i a b l e s under the stock l i s t e d on the Battle P l a n . Vote f o r B e s t 3 A r t i c l e s A l l e n t r a n t s m u s t l i s t what they p e r sonally f e e l a r e the t h r e e b e s t a r t i c l e s in t h i s i s s u e . T h i s selection h a s no b e a r i n g on the contest r e s u l t s , but ent r i e s not containing t h i s information will b e voided.

Don't f o r g e t t o vote on what a r e the t h r e e b e s t a r t i c l e s of t h i s i s s u e . . . r e c o r d your votes w h e r e provided on the Contest E n t r y blank.

Subscriber Discount ...

The Coupon shown below i s f o r the benefit of the f u l l - y e a r s u b s c r i b e r . A s soon a s you have accumulated 4 such coupons. 1 each f r o m t h i s and succeeding i s s u e s . you a r e entitled t o a $1.00 d i s count applied t o the p u r c h a s e of a n y Avalon Hill g a m e s , p a r t s , play-bym a i l equipment a n d the G e n e r a l . H e r e ' s how i t w o r k s Each coupon i s worth 25C. But one coupon alone d o e s not entitle you to a 25C c r e d i t . You m u s t a c c u m u l a t e 4 different coupons b e f o r e taking advantage of the $1.00 c r e d i t . When you have accumulated 4 coupons, then you clip t h e m a l l together and send t h e m in with your o r d e r f o r a n Avalon Hill game. When o r d e r i n g in t h i s m a n n e r , you simply send u s a check o r m o n e y - o r d e r f o r $1. 00 l e s s than the u s u a l r e t a i l value of the game:

------I

--____

BATTLE PLAN
I Last
1
Goodyear I. B. M. Heth's M s ' Digit s q u a r e square U. S. Steel Direction of a t t a c k frontal frontal frontal frontal p a r t i a l enf1de p a r t i a l enf'de p a r t i a l enflde p a r t i a l enf'de f u l l enfilade f u l l enfilade

one

1
I I

Attacking odds: Headlines of 3 B e s t A r t i c l e s :

I
T e n Winners t o b e Named The f i r s t ten contestants t o submit p e r f e c t , o r n e a r p e r f e c t , Battle P l a n s will b e a w a r d e d a f r e e Avalon Hill g a m e of t h e i r choice. Attacking odds m u s t m a t c h the a t t a c k c o r r e c t l y - t i e s will b e broken in favor of c o r r e c t a t t a c k s a t the higher odds. E n t r i e s m u s t b e p o s t m a r k e d no l a t e r than June 11, 1967. E n t r a n t s m a y s u b m i t c o p i e s o r photos t a t s - one t o a contestant, only.

I
I

SAVE THIS COUPON

GOOD TOWARD T H E PURCHASE O F A L L AVALON HILL PRODUCTS

Name Address City

I
I
I

; State
I
Prize

THE GENERAL

PAGE 14

True Spirit of Blitzkrieg

by Steve Bachmann Does B l i t z k r i e g r e a l l y hold f o r u s the World War I1 type of w a r f a r e and t a c t i c s we a l l y e a r n f o r ? The r e a l i s t i c a n s w e r i s no. A typical B l i t z k r i e g g a m e will go somewhat l i k e t h i s : The two m a j o r p o w e r s will o v e r r u n t h e s m a l l c o u n t r i e s quite quickly. H e r e we have t h e blitzk r i e g i n Blitzkrieg. But h e r e i t ends. What happens when t h e f o r c e s m e e t ? F r o m then on i t i s typical World War I w a r f a r e : a n a t t r i t i o n i n g of f o r c e s until finallv one of t h e two b r e a k s . So Blitzk r i e g i s in r e a l i t y a fine World War I g a m e , not World War 11. A r m o r c a n ' t b e potent i n B l i t z k r i e g b e c a u s e i t s s t a c k ing i s s o l i m i t e d . T h e r e f o r e , expendable infantry d o e s t h e job m u c h n i c e r i n fighting s t a c k s of twelve along t h e f r o n t . But i s n ' t t h i s how a b l i t z k r i e g w a r would g o ? Well, t h e book P a n z e r L e a d e r by Heinz Guderian, one of t h e d e v e l o p e r s of b l i t z k r i e g , points a g a i n s t t h e way B l i t z k r i e g e n d s up t o be. E a r l y i n the book Guderian t a l k s about h i s t h e o r i e s a g a i n s t World War I positional w a r f a r e a s opposed to mobile w a r f a r e with a r m o r . The a r m o r s m a s h e s t h e hole, and flows f o r w a r d ( l i k e i n Bulge) and t h e infantry follows up, protecting flanks and occupying t h e t e r r i t o r y . But what i s i n B l i t z k r i e g ? A r u s h f o r position on the m a p b o a r d and then i t ' s fought out. The a r m o r d o e s n ' t go f i r s t t o b r e a k a hole a f t e r t h e l i n e s a r e drawn. The i n f a n t r i e s fight i t out. P u r e a r m o r f r o n t s a r e chewedanct blunted by equally powerful heavy infantry s t a c k s . Now, a n a n a l y s i s of t h e s c h w e r punkt t a c t i c a s i t i s now i n Blitzkrieg: The infantry a c h i e v e s the elimination f i i s t and is followed u p by t h e a r m o r . Now a quote f r o m P a n z e r L e a d e r : "Des p i t e t h e v e r y plain l e s s o n s of t h e Weste r n Campaign, the S u p r e m e - G e r m a n command did not hold u n i f o r m views about the employment of a r m o r e d f o r c e s . T h i s b e c a m e evident d u r i n g t h e v a r i o u s war games that were held in preparation f o r the o p e r a t i o n a n d f o r t h e p u r p o s e of t r a i n i n g the c o m m a n d e r s f o r t h e i r m i s s i o n s . The g e n e r a l s who c a m e f r o m a r m s of t h e S e r v i c e o t h e r than the p a n z e r t r o o p s w e r e inclined to the opinion that the initial a s s a u l t should b e m a d e by infantry d i v i s i o n s a f t e r heavy a r t i l l e r y p r e p a r a t i o n a n d that t h e t a n k s should only b e sent i n t o complete t h e b r e a ~ t h r o u g h a f t e r a penetration t o a specified depth had b e e n made. The P a n z e r g e n e r a l s held t h e c o n t r a r y view. They wanted the P a n z e r divisions t o be

Where Avalon

Hill Games Are Available

your f a v o r i t e d e a l e r h a s not y e t been l i s t e d , d r o p u s h i s n a m e and a d d r e s s s o that we m a y include h i m i n the next issue.
St. P a d Bookkstationery Co. 6th k Cedar St. Paul, Mtnu. 55101 The Toy Shoppe. hc. 77 W . Broadway Eugene, Oregon 97401 Meler h Frank company. 1.c. 621 S. W. Fifth Avenue Portland. Oregon 97201 Bowen's Toyland Bedford Shopping center Bcdford. Massachusetts Jordan Marsh company B0.to". Maasnchuaeff. Harvard cooperative society 1400 Massachusetts Avenue Cambrtdge. Mae.. 02138 LFavilf k Pierce 1316 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge 38. Mass. Martin's Came.. Dc. 263 Picrse Street Blrmmgham. Michigan
J . N. Murhead company

The following n a m e s of d e a l e r s supplement l i s t s found i n p r e v i o u s i s s u e s . T h e s e l i s t s r e p r e s e n t d e a l e r s who have stocked Avalon Hill g a m e s recently. If
Toy World 8331 On the MakL B u c l l Park C e n l r B w o a Park. California Blrdiell Toy House 1159 Broadway Walnut Creek. Calif. The Gift Toy shop 96 B l o ~ r n Street West Toronto 5, Ontario, Canad.

Marshall Field k company 111 N. Statc s t r e e t Chtcago. Illinois 60690

Toy Fair stores. Lfd. 122 T o m k corntry Cedar Rapids, lowa Hufzlcr'a Brothers Howard h saramga street. Baltlmorc. Maryland AL. lawerr. Ins. 7227 Wisconsin Arenu. Brthclda. Maryland

Gimbcl's New York 33rd Street k Broadway New York. New York

Dand'a Bookshelf Morri.v.lle Shopping contcr Mo.ri.ville. Penn.ylva.la John Wanamakor 13th k Market Streets Philldelphia. Penn.~Lvania

Little Folks store. 1C. 131 N. Monroe Strcct

22370 Michigan Avmue Dearborn. Michlgr"

elk ~ y l o r Company Rocky Mount. N. Carolina

i n t h e f o r e f r o n t of the a t t a c k f r o m t h e v e r y beginning, b e c a u s e they r e g a r d e d t h e i r a r m a s the m o s t powerful a t t a c k ing weapon. They expected the a r m o r would thus a c h i e v e a deep and r a p i d breakthrough, which initial s u c c e s s could b e i m m e d i a t e l y exploited by t h e t a n k s ' speed of a d v a n c e . I' So i n s u m m a r y B l i t z k r i e g , though a good w a r g a m e is not a b l i t z k r i e g w a r . A t t r i t i o n , the World War I g a m e i s a m o r e accurate name for it a s it stands now, a s B l i t z k r i e g soon t u r n s into positional w a r f a r e a s t h e g a m e g e t s going, not mobile w a r f a r e a s the n a m e i m p l i e s i t should b e . But, a s a l w a y s i s t h e c a s e , i t ' s e a s i e r t o p r e s e n t t h e p r o b l e m than t h e solution. The p r o b l e m , then, i s how t o m a k e t h e a r m o r a m o r e potent f o r c e . My suggestion i s t h i s r u l e : Arm o r may b e stacked u p to 18 f a c t o r s high, providing t h a t t h e s t a c k contains a r m o r p i e c e s only. T h i s will allow t h e a r m o r t o m a s s m o r e power p e r s q u a r e , t h e r e b y making i t m o r e d e s i r a b l e t o b e , kept s e p a r a t e f r o m infantry, and give t h e g a m e m o r e fluidity. A s i n Staling r a d , then, and in Bulge, w h e r e your a r m o r g o e s you should go. T h i s p r o vision will end s t a l e m a t e d f r o n t s , and give B l i t z k r i e g t h e b l i t z k r i e g t a c t i c . A few m o r e r u l e modifications: F o r t h o s e of you who don't have twelve h o u r s t o play a t o u r n a m e n t g a m e of B l i t z k r i e g , h e r e a r e s o m e modifications f o r a "basic-tournament" game. Let a r m o r s t a c k 3 p i e c e s high, a g a i n i t h a s t o b e a p u r e a r m o r stack, and u s e a u t o m a t i c v i c t o r y . T h i s will give a l l you p a n z e r l e a d e r s the opportunity t o show y o u r f i n e s s e a s a u s e r of the b l i t z k r i e g t a c tic. C o m m e n t s should be a d d r e s s e d to: Steve Bachmann, Culver M i l i t a r y Acade m y , Band, West Lodge, C u l v e r , Indiana 46511.

The Forgotten Attack

By R o b e r t Shalvoy Most w a r g a m e r s today consider the 2- 1 and t h e a s s o c i a t e d a t t a c k s t o b e a l m o s t sinful a n d avoid t h e m "like the plague". They go about t h e i r g a m e s using just the 3- 1 o r b e t t e r and 1-3 o r w o r s e a t t a c k s and find that m o s t of t h e i r g a m e s do not go a s well a s t h e i r opponents' a n d end up on t h e losing side. T h e s e people have p a s s e d up the g r e a t e s t weapon f o r t h e G e r m a n A r m y s i n c e the P a n z e r c a m e into being. T h i s i s the 2- 1 "keep ' e m honest'' a t t a c k . M r . Knabe did not go f a r enough i n h i s u s e of t h e 2-1. On that s a m e t u r n he could have a l s o b r o k e n the Nemunas R i v e r . He failed t o u n d e r s t a n d that t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t o b s t a c l e t o the G e r m a n advance i s t h e r i v e r . T o advance tow a r d the t h r e e c i t i e s b e f o r e t h e r e p l a c e m e n t s take o v e r t h e g a m e , the G e r m a n c a n n o t b e h e l d u p f o r many moons sitting i n f r o n t of t h e r i v e r s . But f o r one r e a son o r a n o t h e r , t h e G e r m a n just cannot get h i s p r e c i o u s 3 - 1 a c r o s s a r i v e r . In t h i s c a s e , he should and m u s t i n Stalingrad u s e t h e 2- 1. He h a s nothing t o l o s e and everything t o gain. In m o s t g a m e s h e would l o s e . But by using the 2-1 e a r l y in t h e g a m e , a s attacking a c r o s s t h e Nemunas on the f i r s t t u r n a n d winning, he will f o r c e the R u s s i a n t o make h i s l i n e s t r o n g e r t h a n h e n o r m a l l y could get away with since you have shown t h a t you will u s e the 2-1 if given a chance. The R u s s i a n will soon find t h a t h e i s running out of men and will think, "I a l w a y s had enough m e n before; what happened? " In closing, m a k e t h e R u s s i a n work not only t o p r e v e n t a n y 3 - 1 ' s a g a i n s t h i s defensive positions but a l s o to p r e vent 2 - 1 ' s . T h i s will m e a n that h e m u s t p r o t e c t h i s r i v e r s with m o r e men and will b e f o r c e d to l e v a e gaps. You m a y w r i t e to: R o b e r t Shalvoy, 15 Ludlow M a n o r , E. Norwalk, Conn. 06855.

PAGE 15

THE GENERAL
easy. I c o n s i d e r d u e s o r t e s t s to be a sign of a good club. Of the Jutland review appearing in June "Strategy & Tactics" magazine.. "the only fault we find in o u r p r e - t e s t ing of Jutland i s that i t doesn't lend i t self t o postal play. T h i s i s obviously the p r i c e of the high d e g r e e of r e a l i s m you have reached: i n s h o r t ; we feel i t s the b e s t g a m e your company h a s produced lately. " A s a new entity in the field of w a r g a m e publications, Strategy & T a c t i c s g e t s a five s t a r rating f r o m t h i s review. Info available a t Box 65, Adelphia, New J e r s e y 07710. Speaking of Wargame Magazines, the B r i t i s h approach t o t h e h i s t o r y of the second World War i s available in a s e r i e s of m a g a z i n e s titled, of a l l things, "History of the Second World War. " It i s published e v e r y Thursday by P u r n e l l & Sons, Gulf House, 2 P o r t m a n Street. London W1, England. T h e i r p r i c e i s 1916 (whatever that i s ) , around 50$ a n i s s u e o u r dough. Editor-in-Chief i s S i r B a s i l Liddell H a r t . Need we s a y m o r e ? T h i s magazine a c c e p t s no a d s a n d will b e published f o r 96 weekly i s s u e s . By the end of the 96th week, the whole s t o r y will have been told. When you w r i t e t o t h e m , mention that you h e a r d about i t in The G e n e r a l . P e r h a p s you'll r e c e i v e special consideration.

9
The Infiltrator's Report
To d e t e r m i n e which clubs a r e worthwhile, special agent Jewett w a s a s s i g n e d t o infiltrate a l l m a j o r clubs. ( T o m a s k e d t o b e r e f e r r e d to by l a s t n a m e only t o avoid r e c r i m i n a t i o n s ) . His r e port follows: The biggest c l u b s of a l l a r e A g g r e s sor-Homeland, S. P. E . C. T. R. E., Dusk and U.S.C.A. C. All four of these clubs have m e m b e r s throughout the U. S. and have individual a r m y g r o u p s in many l o c a l a r e a s . T h e s e big c l u b s a r e the b e s t o r g a n i z e d and offer the b e s t s e r v i c e s of them all. Of t h e s e f o u r , A g g r e s s o r i s the biggest and the best. The obvious disadvantages of these l a r g e groups a r e the difficulties in r e ceiving high c o m m a n d p o s t s and a f e e l ing of unimportance in s u c h a l a r g e organization. To join A g g r e s s o r w r i t e to: John Rancourt, 38 Sanger Ave., Waterville, Maine 04901; f o r S. P. E. C. T. R. E . : J o s e p h T h o m a s , 735 E l m wood, Dearborn. Michigan 481 24; f o r Dusk: T e r r y Sweet, 447 Broadway, Bangor, Pa. ; f o r U. S. C. A. C. : William Speer, 103 Spring Rd., Malvern, Penn. 19355. The next c a t e g o r y i s the middle sized w a r club. -They have f r o m ten to twenty-five m e m b e r s . The b e t t e r clubs of this s i z e have a l m o s t a s much to off e r a s the l a r g e groups. Also advancem e n t i s f a s t e r . T h e s e clubs could s o m e day be new A g g r e s s o r - H o m e l a n d s o r could die out. The b e s t of these clubs i s (of c o u r s e I wouldn't be p r e j u d i c e ) Red Lions. T h i s club i s v e r y active. Another good club i s P r a e t o r i a n Guard. W a r m a s t e r i s a good b e t too. All these clubs a r e nation-wide in scope. To join the Red Lions w r i t e to: Tom Jewett, 4244 Harwood D r . , D e s Moines, Iowa 503 12; f o r P r a e t o r i a n Guard: F r a n c i s D. Phillips, 1000 Oakland Ave., Monroe, New York 10950; f o r W a r m a s t e r : G a r y Charbonneau, 34 Gibson Rd., Silver Bay, Minnesota 55614. The final type of organization i s the v e r y s m a l l l o c a l club. I t i s usually made up of a few f r i e n d s . Ads by many of these c l u b s a r e r a r e l y s e e n in the "General", but they e x i s t in l a r g e numb e r s . These clubs a r e usually e a g e r f o r new m e m b e r s f r o m a l l o v e r the country. They have i n t e r and i n t r a - c l u b w a r s , not to mention offering high c o m mand positions. F o r two of these clubs, w r i t e to: C h r i s Hoyt, 1118 R e e v e s D r . , Grand F o r k s , North Dakota 58201 o r G a r y Cockrell, 68 E a s t e r n Ave., E l s m e r e , Kentucky 41018. When seeking to join a club you m a y find that i t r e q u i r e s d u e s a n d / o r a n e n t r a n c e test. Do not l e t t h i s w o r r y you. Dues a r e usually slight a n d t e s t s

The International F e d e r a t i o n of Wargaming ( f o r m e r l y the USCAC) i s planning a convention a t Malvern. Pennsylvania on July 15th. Displays will b e s e t u p by the US A r m y showing m o d e r n m i l i t a r y equipment. F i l m s will a l s o b e shown. Military Miniatures d i s t r i b u t o r s and AH g a m e s will b e on display a n d can b e purchased. Exhibits will a l s o b e on display f r o m the m a j o r clubs of the country. Lunch and Dinner will b e s e r v e d . A f t e r dinner a s p e a k e r will b e coming i n t o speak t o the people that attend. The c o s t of the dinner will b e slight. R o o m s will b e provided f r e e t o anyone that n e e d s t o s t a y o v e r night. AH g a m e s of Jutland a n d D-Day will b e given away. P r i z e s will be a w a r d e d f o r the m o s t t r a v e l e d w a r g a m e r , the m o s t r e p r e s e n t e d c l u b and the b e s t club display. G a m e s will b e provided if you wish t o play. T i c k e t s will b e available 01 May f o r $. 50. For more information contact: William S p e e r , 103 Spring Rd., Malvern, P a . 19355. " T h i s i s the b e s t way f o r students t o l e a r n Shakespeare, wish we had m o r e g a m e s f o r them", i s the comment of P e a h C o r p s volunteer Mrp. Catapano who i s using Shakespeare in the Dowa Day Secondary school, P.O. X Mponela, Malawi, Africa. Have we left out your "Opponents Wanted'' a d ? Probably: if you have been blowing your own horn, selling used g a m e s , o r just plain running a t the mouth. With r e q u e s t s f o r a d s coming in a t e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g r a t e s , space l i m i t a t i o n s now preclude the publication of any a d s u n l e s s they a r e specifically f o r obtaining new opponents. In addition, no a d will b e printed u n l e s s i t contains n a m e s and a d d r e s s e s . " F o r s a l e s " will b e i n s e r t e d when space p e r m i t s . F o r the ultimate in w a r g a m e r e a l i s m , why not employ background music. Inquiries on the availability of "war m u s i c " on t a p e can b e a d d r e s s e d to: M. I. T. Strategic G a m e s Society, c / o George P h i l l i e s , 4371 Burton House, 420 M e m o r i a l Drive, Cambridge, M a s s . 02139. An i n t e r e s t i n g bunch of s t a t i s t i c s just a r r i v e d f r o m Raymond L . P i c h e , 21 Chapin P l a c e , Hartford, Conn. 06 114. Comparing "opponents wanted" a d s , i t s e e m s that opponents f o r Blitzk r i e g a r e " m o s t wanted. " (15.6%). The top 5 in t h i s c a t e g o r y a r e : Blitzk r i e g , Afrika K o r p s , Bulge, Stalingrad a n d D-Day. At the b o t t o m a r e B i s m a r c k , U-Boat a n d Chancellorsville. (Egad, a n d we've just put out another naval battle game. )

Another w a r g a m e publication that we found slipped i n s u r r e p t i t i o u s l y under t h e door i s "The Spartan. I ' It i s the spokesman f o r USCAC which e x i s t s t o provide w a r g a m e r s with a s many side a c t i v i t i e s t o wargaming a s possible. F o r the life of u s , we couldn't locate a mailing a d d r e s s . Maybe t h a t ' s why s o m e m e m b e r s have not forwarded t h e i r d u e s , Since they l i s t t h e i r s u p r e m e c o m m a n d e r a s William Speer, we'll give you h i s 103 Spring Road, Malver, Pennsylvania a d d r e s s t o w r i t e to. T h e r e ' s new hope f o r a n old malady; Inventionitus. T o t h o s e who a r e of a n inventive mind but find your g a m e s una p p r e c i a t e d by your f r i e n d s , help i s on the way. Now t h e r e i s the !'War Games Inventors Guild" dedicated t o the emancipation of the w a r game d e s i g n e r . Under the counciling of a legislative body called the Council of M a s t e r s , the g a m e inventor will m e e t o t h e r s like himself t o s h a r e the good and the bad of t h e i r own c r e a t i o n s . Write: Gary Gygax, 330 C e n t e r S t r e e t , Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. A competitor in the field of ,adult s t r a t e g y g a m e s i s the 3M company ($7.98 i t e m s . ) So what game i s played in a lunch hour league in t h e i r executive offices ? ? ? Football Strategy, what else ! We finally found out why a l l of these w a r g a m e clubs have such fantastic pbm won-lost r e c o r d s , they never finish g a m e s i n which they a r e losing.