Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1941
Pearl Harbor
US & CAN - $29.99
with complete historical game
1942
Each issue is packed full of:
• In-depth analysis
• Detailed maps
• Orders of battle
SUBSCRIBE ONLINE
www.strategyandtacticspress.com
CALL TO SUBSCRIBE
(661) 587-9633 phone
(661) 587-5031 fax
SUBSCRIBE BY MAIL
Strategy & Tactics Press
P.O. Box 21598
Bakersfield, CA 93390-1598
T RADING M A NA GEMENT WARFA RE
THE
NEW
Alcohol Reference
Tobacco Reference
Mild Violence
WW
W
WWW
WWW.PARADOXPLAZA.COM
W
WW
W..P
.PA
PA
PARADOXP
RA
RAD
RAD
ADO LAZA.C
A.C
A.C
COM
OM | H
HT
HTT
HTTP://FORUM.PARADOXPLAZA.COM
TT
TTP
P::/
P:/
://
/FO
/F
FO
FOR
RU
RUM
UM
UM..PA
.P
PARA
PARA
RAD
AD
DOX
OXP
OXPL
XPLA
LAZ
AZ
AZA.C
A.C
.COM
OM | WWW.COTA-GAME.COM
WWW
W
WW
WW
WW..CO
.C
CO
COTA
TA-
TA
A--G
GAM
GA
AM
AME.C
E.C
.COM
COM
OM
World at War 14 | OCT−NOV 2010 3
© 2010
2010
01
01
10
0 PARADOX
PA
PARAD
RA
RAD
DO
OX
X INTERA
INT
IN
INT
NTERACT
ERA
ERA
ACTI
CT
TIV
VE.
VE
E. ALL
E. LL RIGHT
GH
G
GHTS
H
HT
TS RESERVED
ESE
ES
ESERVE
SERV
RVE
VE
ED.
D..
D
The Strategy & Tactics
of World War II
#
14 | OCT−NOV 2010
6 24 42
the industry to support them. 60 World at War (©2010) reserves all rights on
by John W. Whitman Media Reviews the contents of this publication. Nothing may be
reproduced from it in whole or in part without prior
permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. All
42 correspondence should be sent to World at War c/o
Decision Games, P.O. Box 21598, Bakersfield CA 93390.
Spain in World War II GAME EDITION RULES
The Blue Division in Russia, 1941−44
Franco sends a division of volunteers to Invasion Pearl Harbor
fight against communism in the USSR. by Adrian McGrath & Chris Smith
by Javier Romero
Built-in alarm
LCD complications
Electro-luminescence backlight
Japanese Perspective to the Americans: the seizure and considered the historic air-raid-only
occupation of the island by a Japanese operation a high-risk affair, and rightly
T
hough daring, the Japanese ground force. And though, immediately so, it had little chance itself of provid-
air raid on Pearl Harbor on 7 after the air raid, the US Army went ing a knockout blow. Even if the oil
December 1941 didn’t work to on full alert to defend the island from storage tanks and the docks had been
prevent the Americans from rebuilding seemingly imminent invasion, no destroyed (as has since been much
there and then using that base as the such effort followed up the air raids. discussed by historians), and even if
jump-off point for their counteroffensive The 360 Japanese planes that the US aircraft carriers in the Pacific
across the Pacific. In the attack, the attacked that day, though successful in had all been sunk, the Americans could
US lost five battleships sunk and three destroying US ships and planes, failed have and would have continued the
others badly damaged, while 18 other to do what Japanese soldiers of their war. The US still had three carriers in
warships were also sunk or damaged regular army or elite SNLF (Special the Atlantic that could’ve been moved
and some 300 aircraft were destroyed. Naval Landing Forces) could’ve done: to the Pacific, and production of new
Over 2,000 US military personnel and take and hold Oahu. SNLF units, of carriers would’ve no doubt then have
civilians were killed, with over 1,000 course, did succeed in similar-sized been given even higher priority.
more seriously wounded. In return, the amphibious operations in the invasions Even if the Japanese had accom-
Japanese lost only 29 planes, five midget of the Dutch East Indies in early 1942; plished the best possible results from
submarines and one fleet submarine. so it’s certainly possible such a unit, their air raid, then, it still wouldn’t have
Their victory seemed complete, but perhaps together with a regular army knocked the US out of the war. Had
that balance sheet was soon revealed formation of about the same size, the Japanese been able to secure Oahu
to have been decisively misleading. could’ve been similarly well used in as an imperial base, however, they
Only one thing could actually have an amphibious invasion of Oahu. would thereby have at least set back the
made Oahu and Pearl Harbor useless Even though Japanese planners American counterattack for the longest
US Perspective
Folio
that could’ve been hoped for: aggressive, born — moved to internment camps on
determined and resolute. At every one or another of the islands or even the
Game
level above that, however, on both land US mainland. The economic, strategic
and sea, it was marked by command and social disruption from that would’ve
indecision and paralysis, poor to been immense and long lasting over
non-existent communication, lack of
an overall plan and general confusion.
Coupled with the Japanese determina-
the years and decades that followed.
In the final analysis, then, though the
impediments to a Japanese landing’s vic-
Series
tion shown there — for instance, they tory on Oahu would’ve been numerous, The Folio Game Series provides
crashed their destroyer-transports on the potential rewards also outweighed dozens of games using the same
shore when it proved too difficult to the risks. From a purely strategic eight-page Standard rules
get their small boats safely in — we can perspective, the only truly disastrous (Musket & Saber for 19th century battles,
see the outcome of combat on Oahu outcome for the Japanese would’ve Fire & Movement for WWII and
would’ve been anything but certain. occurred had their aircraft carriers been Modern battles) with a short Exclusive
Another potentially important sunk in a counterattack by US carriers rules sheet for each individual game to
factor, coming from the civilian society or submarines. Failing that extreme capture the unique aspects of each battle.
on Oahu, would’ve manifested itself outcome, even had the Japanese landing Each game can be played in about 90
had any number of Issei risen in force been defeated — or if it simply had minutes, allowing for multiple games to
support of an invasion. While posing to be abandoned once ashore — the be played in an afternoon or evening.
little direct military threat to US gains for the Japanese would still
forces, such a development would’ve have been great. In return for risking
NEW
certainly and completely poisoned the equivalent of two regiments, they RELEASES
the relations between them and all the likely would’ve bought themselves up AVAILABLE
ethnic-Japanese on the island, both to two years more to prepare for the US
during and after the campaign. During onslaught west of Hawaii. If nothing
the campaign, it would’ve worked to else, that time could’ve been well put below
further slow and confuse US command- to use in China or India, which in turn SAIPAN: Conquest of the Marianas
control. Particularly in the urban areas, would’ve freed many more Japanese 1/10th actual size
it’s easy to imagine the distrust (and forces for the defense of the homeland. see back cover for full list of titles
likely acts of retribution) that would’ve It would seem, then, the ultimate SAIPAN
WORLD WAR
overarched and slowed all American element in this matter was surprise, and
Conquest of II BATTLES
the Marian
as FOLIO GAM
Saipan was a
critical objective E SERIES
Navy’s “island in the
hopping” campaign US
Pacific; its two in the
airfi
for heavy bombers.elds were suitable
divisions were Hence three
scheduled to US
operations once any kind of ad hoc history shows the Japanese had that in
on 15 June 1944, invade Saipan
supported by
Saipan
two-dozen battleships nearly
bombardment that had begun
two days before. a
30,000 fanatic More than
Japanese were
on the island, entrenched
dug into caves
formidable defensive and other
battle for Saipan positions. The
proved to be
fiercest battles one of the
of the Pacific
deadliest up to
that time for
War, and the
both sides. Conquest of the
Maria nas
Game Conten
ts:
Stephan, John J.
Reserved.
Copyright ©
2010, Decision
Games, Inc. All
Rights
www.decisiongameReserved. Made & Printed
directed from Oahu. That is, given the Japan’s Plans for Conquest After Pearl Harbor.
broadly accepted racism of the day Honolulu: Univ. of Hawaii Press, 1984.
(on both sides of the racial divide),
Invasion
Pearl Harbor
Invasion Pearl Harbor, designed by also infantry, since they wouldn’t have sub-routine for players to engage each
Adrian McGrath & Chris Smith, deals been able to carry much in the way other’s carriers, and that can have a
with a fascinating historical “what of heavy weapons for the invasion. dramatic impact on the game. It would
if.” That is, what if a Japanese ground The Japanese player has to select also affect the bigger picture, since
force had invaded Oahu at the time an invasion beach, trading off ease of the destruction of either side’s carriers
of their historic carrier air attack on 7 landing (heavy versus light surf) versus at the very opening of the Pacific war
December 1941? The “what if” aspect the distance to his main objectives would’ve had huge implications.
always creates challenges for a designer. on the island. Looking at the order of There are also some special rules.
One of the things the designer has to battle, you can see the Japanese are out- The Japanese player can declare
do in a case like this is determine a point numbered, but they have a distinct edge “Banzai!” charges. Plus Japanese units
of view. Since the battle being modeled in command control, being allowed to get “attack momentum” when they
didn’t actually occur, there have to be move and fight within the American advance after combat, allowing them
some basic assumptions made initially. turn cycle. The US player moves his to attack again immediately. Again,
In Invasion Pearl Harbor, that means forces by randomly picking chits and that reflects the two sides’ relative
taking a look at both sides’ ground activating the corresponding sub-com- differences in tactical proficiency and
forces. Historically, the US Army was in mands. The Japanese player can choose command efficiency at that opening
relatively poor shape at that time. The to interrupt that process at any time to stage of the war. If the Japanese get
divisions on the island had only recently launch his ground force into action. That rolling, they can tear up an entire US
been created by splitting in two the shows the relative advantage of superior line in one series of attacks. That might,
previous single division that had been command control in a simple manner. however, also leave them overextended
stationed there. Their artillery still hadn’t Broadly, the Japanese are operating to such an extent that a US counterat-
been uncrated, and unit-training hadn’t inside what today would be called the tack can cut them up badly in return.
taken place above company level. So American player’s “OODA loop.” (That’s The Americans have battleship
the designers show American forces as, US military jargon for the time it takes a row. Even though those USN battle-
essentially, nothing more than a mass commander to “Observe, Orient, Decide wagons were sunk or damaged
of rifle companies. Add to that the game and Act” — or, in English, the time need- at their moorings, they can still
takes place over the three days imme- ed for him to decide to do something, fire their big guns. They can make
diately following the devastating aerial give an order to get that thing done, things hot for the Japanese.
attack on Pearl Harbor, and you can see and then see it actually carried out.) The Japanese have to move quickly
how the US ground force representation Another advantage for the Japanese in order to secure their objectives. The
further reflects the element of surprise player is his ability to use gunfire sup- idea is, even if they don’t capture the
as well as the historic breakdown port from battleships offshore, as well island, they can still cause enough
in American command control. as calling in air strikes from his carriers. damage to significantly alter the course
The Japanese have two elite, but That involves the bigger picture. Both of the Pacific war in their nation’s favor.
only regimental-sized, forces: a special the IJN (Imperial Japanese Navy) and Effectively, in the game Oahu becomes
naval landing force (SNLF) and an USN (US Navy) had aircraft carriers an arena for both sides to fight what
infantry regiment. Those units are operating in nearby waters. There’s a could’ve been a decisive battle. ✪
BB Hiei
6
2
2
IJA-5
7
1 3
CV
Enterprise
2
3
USMC-1
US Army
1
The Greek Civil War, 1943−49
by Brian R. Train
Greek communists
Occupied Greece
A
s German spearheads drove Gen. Kutrzeba’s plan envisaged Phase 1: Poznan Army Attacks
toward the center of Poland, an assault by the entire Poznan Army
they bypassed the Polish Poznan across the Bzura between the towns of The Battle of the Bzura River began
Army. That force, commanded by Maj. Leczyca and Lowicz. An “operational on the morning of 9 September 1939,
Gen. Tadeusz Kutrzeba and based in group” of three infantry divisions in the when the commander of the Polish 25th
western Poland, at first fought only center, supported by a heavy artillery Infantry Division ordered one of his
minor border skirmishes, and then soon regiment, were to deliver the blow battalions to probe the German line.
found itself behind the frontlines and that would destroy the German 30th One of the companies that crossed the
out of contact with its neighbor, Lodz Division. The whole army was then to river captured a small village named
Army, to the south. The latter force was exploit southeast, coming in behind the Tum. Those troops dug in and began
conducting a fighting retreat eastward. German forces pursuing the withdraw- harassing fire against enemy supply
The Poznan Army therefore also moved ing Lodz Army. The idea was to overrun columns spotted moving nearby, despite
east to try to regain contact with Lodz any other enemy units encountered a strong German counterattack.
Army. By 8 September it was facing the along the way, and then eventually Later that day the main body of the
north flank of German Army Group link up with Lodz Army. The ultimate Poznan Army began to cross the Bzura
South, commanded by Gen. Gerd von objective was to relieve Warsaw, which under the cover of an artillery barrage
Rundstedt, across the small Bzura River. was threatened by German Tenth Army. and stormed the German positions.
Moving south to join the Poznan
Army were the surviving units of Maj.
Gen. Wladyslaw Bortnowski’s Pomorze
Army. Bortnowski’s command had
suffered severe casualties in the fighting
in the northwest at the very beginning
of the campaign, with several of its divi-
sions crushed by German armor in the
Polish Corridor. Once the Germans took
control of the Corridor, they moved the
bulk of their forces to the east and used
them to strike south from there toward
Warsaw. That move inadvertently left
the Pomorze Army free to make its move
south under only minimal pressure.
Facing the Poznan Army across the
Bzura was Maj. Gen. Kurt von Briesen’s
30th Infantry Division, covering the
northern rear flank of Gen. Johannes
Blaskowitz’s Eighth Army. Spread over
a front of 19 miles, the 30th Division
concentrated its forces in the towns
along the Bzura and controlled the
space between them with outposts
and patrols. Because the Germans
were overextended during this por-
tion of their advance, the 30th was
on its own, with the nearest friendly
units approximately a day away.
German air reconnaissance failed to
detect the Poles as they moved at night.
Thus, Eighth Army didn’t expect an
attack into their rear area. The German
high command then dismissed the
skirmishes that began to take place
along the front of the 30th Division as
nothing more than localized events.
D
uring World War II, Japan proved cally hampered its planners. Industrial Though the Japanese government
especially vulnerable in the production was slow to produce needed high command talked about total war,
industrial arena. The nation items; capacity was small, and an they didn’t understand it. While they
was resource poor and had to make do overarching vision of how to improve established an Institute for the Study
with what it had. “Have not” realities in those things was limited. Japan’s of Total War, and used slogans such as
money, resources, and manufacturing, leaders mostly didn’t understand the “Defense State” and “Super-Defense
as well its high command’s refusal to military potential of a nation is directly State,” the institute was really only a
face the reality of a long war, chroni- proportional to its industrial potential. subordinate group within the cabinet
Tsukushi Maru
Awa Maru
The Japanese based their ammunition re-supply on expenditure compared to other countries) totaled 1,024 vehicles. In 1942, it was
rates from the Russo-Japanese War and from their more recent 1,065. US light and medium tank production was 4,052 in 1941 and
experience in China. Ammunition was issued in Kaisenbun increments: 24,997 in 1942. The Japanese had 12 plants that could’ve produced
the number of rounds necessary for each weapon in a division more tanks (had there been the plan and the steel), but the decision
for four months of combat. Planners assumed only 20 days of to cut tank production meant eight of those facilities converted
actual weapons firing every four months. In comparison, US ground to produce prime movers, marine engines and aircraft parts.
ammunition supply tables, dated 23 December 1941, allotted roughly Japanese production dropped to 786 tanks in 1943, while
three times as much ammunition as did the Japanese Kaisenbun. US output in 1943 peaked at 29,497. The Japanese built a single
Japanese totals were based on what could be produced. large wartime plant dedicated to construction of combat vehicles
Experience quickly showed that triple the amount of munitions in 1942. Due to economic weakness and tactical doctrine, Japan
produced was actually needed. As it turned out, the men in the front never developed a range of armored and motor carriages for
lines commonly fired all the ammunition available, and there was never self-propelled weapons. The Japanese Army produced just 26
enough. The Army wanted to triple the Kaisenbun for its southern self-propelled guns in 1942, 14 in 1943 and 59 in 1944.
armies as well as for the units in Manchuria. As the war progressed, In November 1943 the Japanese established the Munitions Ministry,
there was also a need for more artillery ammunition, but the Japanese so as to unify and control administration and production of both raw
couldn’t keep up with that trend because, as steel became harder to materials and military materiel. That reorganization brought a shake up
produce, artillery shells became correspondingly harder to manufacture. of managerial functions. The Japanese hoped the new ministry would
Production and transport shortfalls prevented any provide coherent and unified direction to the war economy, a way to
hope of increasing the Kaisenbun for the troops on Japan’s efficiently move men, materials, capital and transport assets to key war
far-flung frontiers. Gunpowder and ammunition plants had industries. It was also supposed to control labor and wages and manage
never been attractive investments for private concerns. finance. Execution of such administration and production had previously
Expansion would occur only if the government funded it. been left to various government departments and the Army and Navy.
Munitions plants take time to build and enter production. A Total Mobilization Bureau was established within the new ministry
Japanese weapons production figures were often so small as to provide what amounted to a “general staff” for the war economy.
to be completely out of touch with the reality of requirements. The Regardless of the plan, the ministry was a failure. It failed
Army produced 604 heavy pieces of field artillery (larger than 105mm) to coordinate labor, money and accounting. Decisions resulted
from 1941 through 1945. The US produced 7,803 155mm and larger not from a judgment of what was best for the country but from
guns, many of which were self-propelled. At the same time, Japan bitter arguments in which the strongest personality got what
produced 6,512 pieces of 70mm to 105mm sizes. The US produced he wanted. The Army and Navy continued to draw up their own
27,082 self-propelled guns and howitzers of similar caliber, as well munitions production plans and put their own supervisors in
as 116,114 tank guns and wheeled howitzers. Japan produced munitions factories. Those junior officers brought with them little
2,073 mortars in World War II whereas the US produced 105,054. industrial training or experience. The three ministries would often
Japan deliberately set tank production priority low in 1943. Their end up ordering the same item from the same factory. Factory
1941 light and medium tank production (all were light models when managers then had to figure out who actually needed what. ★
T
he opening of Operation Spain needed imported petroleum and role on the diplomatic front, as well as
Barbarossa on 22 June 1941 was wheat. Further, the country was still in the internal politics of Spain, between
received with satisfaction by suffering from the effects of the civil war. 1941 and 1944. To understand why that
the Spanish military, as they had felt Any Spanish involvement in World War was so, it’s necessary to understand the
ideologically uneasy about the German- II would therefore have to be minimal. combat history of the division itself.
Soviet non-aggression pact of 1939. The The Germans and the Falange had to The Falange had initially proposed to
official view in Franco’s Spain was the content themselves with sending a single form a division recruited among its party
communists, led by the Union of Soviet division of volunteers to fight in the east. militias and under its own command
Socialist Republics, were responsible for During its entire existence, that in the style of the Germans’ Waffen SS
the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War division was a political football with and the Italian-Fascist Blackshirts, but
of 1936. If the Spanish military could which the Falange and the military the military blocked that idea. During
be said to have been satisfied with the tested their leverage inside Franco’s the civil war, Franco’s generals had
German attack on the USSR, the Spanish regime. The “Blue Division,” and its never allowed political militia units to
ruling party, the Falange was wildly successor “Blue Legion,” played a key grow larger than battalion-size. The
enthusiastic. The idea quickly grew
of sending an expeditionary force to
avenge the Red aggression of 1936−39,
when the Soviet Union actively
supported the Spanish Republic.
Franco accordingly offered Germany
Spain’s military support for the inva-
sion on 24 June, and Ramon Serrano
Suñer, the leader of the Falange and
Spain’s foreign minister, spoke to an
enthusiastic crowd gathered in central
Madrid. He called on his listeners
to join the Germans in the fight to
save European civilization from the
Bolshevik menace. Despite the desires
of the Falange and the support of the
German embassy, however, Franco
couldn’t afford to declare war on the
USSR. Britain controlled the seas, and
the destruction caused by the battles of Lake Ilmen and the city of Novgorod. North toward Tikhvin was ultimately
June and July, and the brutal German That same day, the first snow began to intended to link up with the Finns along
policies toward Poles, Jews and Russians. fall along that portion of the front. the Svir River east of Lake Ladoga, there-
Initially scheduled to reinforce by completing the siege-ring around
Army Group Center’s drive on Moscow, Across the Volkhov Leningrad. The Soviets counterattacked
the 250th was redirected to Army continuously and by 6 November the
Group North’s Sixteenth Army. On 12 On 19 October the division was Axis offensive been stopped cold, both
October, Spanish National Day, the ordered to take the offensive. Its 269th figuratively and literally. All Axis units
division began to relieve the 126th Regiment crossed the Volkhov and estab- east of the Volkhov were ordered onto
Infantry Division on the Volkhov lished a bridgehead to reinforce a similar the defensive, while the temperatures
River. The Spanish sector included the move by the German 18th Motorized dropped dramatically: down to ‑23
confluence between the Volkhov and Division. The offensive of Army Group degrees Fahrenheit (‑30 Centigrade)
Gen. Agustín Esteban Infantes Translation: « BLUE DIVISION ON THE ROADS OF RUSSIA, SPAIN TO FIGHT WITH COURAGE »
Just like the army and air force, the Spanish Navy contributed to the war against Krasnyi Bor
Russia, though in a different manner. The participation of the ground and air elements
received a lot of coverage during and after the war (there have been hundreds of In a single day of fighting on 10
books and a few films and documentaries), neither the Germans nor the Spaniards February 1943, the Blue Division lost
gave much publicity to the service of Spanish naval personnel on German ships in 3,600 men out of the 5,600 involved.
the Baltic Sea. In fact, it was kept secret by the Spanish Navy until the 1990s. The determined resistance of the
In the summer of 1940, Germany and Spain signed the Bar Agreements, by which the division stopped the onslaught of four
Germans agreed to transfer technology and technical advice to the Spanish Navy to build Soviet rifle divisions, 80 to 100 tanks,
submarines, mine warfare and torpedo boats. In exchange, the Spanish would supply two ski brigades and 150 artillery
Germany with certain strategic minerals (tungsten, wolfram, copper). By the summer of batteries. An estimated 7,000 to 9,000
1942 the Spanish Navy was also granted authorization by the Germans to send personnel Red Army troops fell that day. Gen.
to receive training under combat conditions aboard ships operating in the Gulf of Finland.
Infantes committed everyone he had,
The first contingent of Spanish sailors arrived in Germany in November 1942. They including the remnants of the 2/269,
served aboard ships and participated in several actions, such as mining and counter-mining, plus artillerists, clerks, cooks and all
maintenance of the mine barrier closing the Gulf of Finland, anti-submarine patrols, and other rear echelon troops. Another 100
defense against Soviet air raids. By March 1943 the first group was back in Spain. A second officers and men, who were in the rear
contingent arrived in April 1943 and participated in the same type of missions until the summer. waiting to be rotated back to Spain, also
Overall, some 134 Spaniards served on German ships in the Baltic during 1942−43. volunteered to go back to the front.
Spaniards served on the following ships: two cruisers (Admiral Scheer and Emden), six After enduring their bloodiest day,
mine warfare ships, six minelayer boats and two anti-submarine boats. The Spanish the Spaniards fought through six more
crews of six fast attack boats given by Germany to Spain also received training with months of static warfare. They managed
the 9th Fast Attack Flotilla in Gotenhafen (now Gdynia) in June and July 1943. ★ to keep their sector more or less intact,
while taking an average of 30 casualties
per day. During the summer of 1943
Withdrawal
Balance Sheet
Diehards, 1944−45
Despite official late-war Spanish neutrality, many radical Falangists were willing to
comply with the promise of “1 million Spanish bayonets to defend Berlin from the Red hordes,”
which Franco had made in more optimistic times. Aware of that, the Germans organized the
recruitment of Spanish volunteers. They also tried to recruit volunteers among the thousands
of Spanish workers in France. Some of them were used to infiltrate the French resistance,
as those groups had thousands of Spaniards in its ranks, most of them civil war veterans.
Company-sized Spanish units fought in Romania, Hungary and Yugoslavia in 1944-45 in the
German 3rd Mountain, 121st Infantry divisions and the Brandenburg Panzergrenadier Division.
The Waffen SS also formed several Spanish units. One company fought partisans in
Italy from November 1944 until the end of the war as part of the 24th SS Mountain Infantry
Division. The 101st and 102nd Spanish SS Volunteer Companies fought in Pomerania in
February 1945 as part of the Wallonian SS Brigade. The survivors were transferred to
Einheit Ezquerra, a Spanish SS unit organized by Capt. Miguel Ezquerra, a Blue Division
veteran who’d refused to return to Spain. According to his memoirs, that unit participated
in the final defense of Berlin in April 1945 as part of the 11th SS Nordland Division, taking
part in the fighting around the Moritz Platz and the Luftwaffe Ministry building. ★
Elite Beat action in Iraq against the native forces south through Malaya, and then was
The Indian Army in World War II used there in a coup that deposed the annihilated in early January by a
British-client Iraqi monarchy and put Japanese armored attack at the Battle
When the Second World War a pro-Axis dictator in its place. In the of Slim River. The 9th Indian Division
began, the Indian Army (of the British wake of the coup, the division was managed to survive to the end of the
Commonwealth) numbered 189,000 rushed from India to Iraq and landed siege of Singapore, when it was sur-
men in 82 battalions. Though well in Basra without a fight. From Basra, rendered with the rest of the garrison.
trained and led, those units at first 10th Indian Division slowly advanced When the Japanese invaded Burma
lacked tanks, motorized transport and north, eventually taking the key cities of they encountered 17th Indian Division,
artillery. Further, the battalions weren’t Baghdad, Mosul and Kirkuk. Later, the which fought well and fell back in good
organized into brigades or divisions 10th also participated in the invasion of order, though it took thousands of casu-
until 1940. Starting then, three battalions Vichy Syria, spearheading the northern alties in the process. With India directly
were usually brigaded, and three thrust along the Euphrates to Aleppo, threatened, the British Commander-
brigades bound together with an artil- a campaign in which the division was in-Chief there, Sir Archibald Wavell,
lery regiment to form a division. There “blooded, but not too deeply,” according abolished the old Indian command
were also 37 British infantry battalions to Gen. Slim. In August 1941, the 10th structure to form 14th Army (at the time
in India when the war began, and they was chosen once again, this time for the five divisions divided into IV and XV
were integrated into the new Indian joint Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran. The Corps), which he placed under Slim.
divisions. Higher-echelon formations division started off in the central border At Wavell’s insistence, the British
(divisions, brigades and regiments) region and drove for Paitak pass in the effort to reconquer Burma began in
were all commanded by British officers, Zargos Mountains, which it took with December 1942 with a modest offensive
who made up the majority of the ease. From there, it marched toward down the Arakan peninsula, a narrow
officer corps. Even so, by the end of the the city of Kermanshah, where its com- strip of land bisected by a steep moun-
Second World War there were more than manders accepted the surrender of all tain range. Taking it would protect the
8,000 Indian commissioned officers. Persian forces. During the campaign, the important port of Chittagong (in mod-
Gen. William Platt had two Indian 10th lost just 22 dead and 42 wounded. ern Bangladesh) and outflank Japanese
divisions at his disposal when he invad- Both 4th and 10th Indian Divisions forces on the main front to the north.
ed Italian Eritrea in March 1941. Starting fought in the desert campaign against Conducted by XV Corps, the attack was
in the Sudan, 4th Indian Division, which Rommel. During Operation Crusader spearheaded by 14th Indian Division,
had already fought the Italians at the (November−December 1941), the 4th which had been reinforced to an
Battle of Sidi Barani in Libya (December launched a holding attack against unmanageable strength of nine brigades.
1940), crossed into Italian Eritrea and German forces while 4th British Armored The assault got off to a good start,
engaged 17,000 well trained, equipped Brigade moved around the flank, with units advancing along both sides
Italian troops. They fought a series pushing Rommel past Bengazi. of the mountains. Early in the new year,
of sharp engagements, pushing the The 10th Indian Division saw however, the division was stopped by
Italians north toward the Red Sea. The heavy fighting at the Battle of Mersa Japanese troops entrenched at a place
worst fighting was in February at Keren, Mettruh (24−27 June 1941) along with called Donabik, about 10 miles from the
a town in the mountains and rough elements of 5th Indian Division. There end of the peninsula. With the attack
terrain south of the Eritrean capital the Indians, along with the elite 2nd New bogged down, the Japanese hit 14th
and accessible only through a pair of Zealand Division, were surrounded by Indian Division’s flank, badly mauling
ravines that were heavily defended by German forces and forced to breakout two brigades. On orders from Slim
Italian forces. The 4th Indian Division to the east. The 4th Indian Division later the rest of the bloated division, whose
pushed into the Italian positions there fought in Italy, most famously in the commander he removed, withdrew
for more than a week without success. battle for Monte Cassino, conducting from Arakan. When the Japanese
The attack was renewed in mid-March two frontal assaults against German attacked Arakan in February 1944, 5th
by 5th Indian Division, which didn’t fight forces there without success. and 7th Indian Divisions bore the brunt
its way through the ravines to take Karen Indian units actually provided the of the assault, turning back the attack
until the 27th. With that battle lost, Italian bulk of Britain’s ground force manpower in the bloody Battle of the Admin Box
forces surrendered throughout Eritrea. in the Far East. The first units to fight (named after the 7th’s administrative and
More desert fighting was seen by Japanese forces in that theater were 9th headquarters area, which was converted
10th Indian Division. Commanded by and 11th Indian Divisions during the into an all-around defensive perimeter).
Gen. William Slim, who would go on to Malaya disaster. The 11th was ground While Slim deployed four divisions
glory in Burma, the 10th had first seen down as the Japanese advanced to support the Admin Box defense, in
Technology tion intended to sub-contract work to The Hog Island ships would see
Backdate private US and foreign companies in extensive use in the Second World War,
The Liberty Ships order to build the ships, which were to with 58 of them being sunk during that
be constructed according to specific later conflict. Their program would
During the Second World War the preset designs with pre-fabricated parts. also provide the basis for the future,
US was noted for its superior logistics. The first such yard was much larger, liberty ship program.
That ability to get anything, anywhere, located at Hog Island in Philadelphia, In a continuation of the Hog Island
in massive quantities was itself a prized Pennsylvania. As it turned out, it would designs, the 1936 American Marine Act
commodity. Ideas that had earlier been actually be the only yard that would was passed to subsidize commercial
modeled and developed by Henry build the vessels. They built two types naval vessels to support the US Navy as
Ford and the other mass-production of designs, and the contract was origi- auxiliaries. An initial order of 50 ships
specialists allowed the US to deliver nally for 180; however, only 122 were was given in 1936, with the number
huge amounts of equipment to the completed by war’s end. Those ships, increasing steadily each year until 1940,
ever-hungry Allied war machine all though advanced for the time, weren’t when 200 were ordered. The designs
around the globe. The use of “liberty available quickly enough to have much required steam turbines instead of coal
ships” — so called because President of an impact on the war, the first one fired boilers; however, US industry then
Roosevelt predicted they would “bring only being completed on 5 August 1918. lacked the ability to build all the needed
liberty to Europe” — was crucial The first “Type A” design was a gener- turbines; so, many of the ships weren’t
within that overall effort. With over 18 al cargo hauler, while the second, “Type completed, despite increasing urgency
shipyards producing 2,751 of them, B,” was intended to be able to serve as that the orders for them be filled.
they are the most-produced large either a troop transport or hospital ship. The United Kingdom got involved
ships of any type ever constructed. Only 24 ships were completed before the when it ordered 60 ships to replace
The earliest forms of liberty ships, armistice, with 12 of each type seeing losses due to German U-Boat attacks
and the original idea for producing large service. The ships were noted for being in 1940. The resultant “Ocean Class”
numbers of identical ships, can actually modern; they were oil-powered and design took a technological step back
be traced back to the First World War. capable of speeds of up to 15 knots. They because it called for coal-powered
Then the Emergency Fleet Corporation were called “Hogs,” not just because reciprocating engines (the UK lacked
was formed by the US Shipping Board, of their place origin, but also because domestic oil fields but had substantial
as it was perceived the country’s armed they weren’t aesthetically pleasing to coal mines). The Ocean Class was based
forces lacked the transport ships needed the eye. Designed to be mass produced, on a design first produced in 1879.
to meet its commitments. The corpora- they were ugly next to more sleek craft. The US Maritime Commission then
Behind the Lines Okinawa, involving several thousand of the more gruesome tasks was the
Graveyard at Wiseman’s Cove aircraft (some alone, some in groups). clean up and disposal of human remains
Dozens of US ships were sunk or badly that hadn’t been immediately taken care
The battle for Okinawa in 1945, damaged. As the battle dragged on, the of after the battle. Ships that could be
codenamed Operation Iceberg, was attacks on the invasion fleet intensified. repaired were placed in a dry dock that
one of the largest amphibious invasions The Americans began to have a serious had been towed to the anchorage. Ships
of the Second World War. Adm. Kelly problem because damaged ships that could be stabilized were prepared
Turner was selected to command the needed to be sailed or towed back to for the cross-ocean transit to the
Allied invasion force. He in turn selected bases on Guam and Hawaii for repair. United States. Ships that were mortally
a group of small islands called Karema- The distance involved made that wounded were cannibalized for parts.
Retto as the preliminary landing point. impractical. Turner therefore selected Much of the work was done by the
Those islands were about 20 miles west the anchorage at Karema-Retto to survivors of the damaged ships’ crews.
of the southern tip of Okinawa. They become the fleet repair forward base. Those ships with working guns were
were grouped in a rough circle and so The codename for the task force kept manned against the threat of
offered a protected anchorage for ships commander at Karema-Retto was additional kamikaze attacks, and several
and a seaplane base for search and “Wiseman,” and the repair anchorage’s ships were indeed sunk by kamikazes
rescue missions of downed pilots. On code name was “Wiseman’s Cove.” after reaching the supposedly safe
26 March the US 77th Infantry Division LST (Landing Ship Tank) 884 and the anchorage. One of the worst losses
hit the beaches and quickly seized the transport USS Hinsdale were the first was an attack on 27 April against the
islands. The main attack on Okinawa kamikaze victims towed there. Soon casualty collection ship USS Pickney.
began on 1 April. Some 1,600 Allied the anchorage was filled with dozens The destroyer USS Aaron Ward was
ships were involved in transporting the of badly damaged warships. They were taking on ammunition from the supply
assault troops, providing gunfire, carrier met by damage-control parties and ship Mayfield Victory. At dusk a flight of
aviation cover and logistical support. casualty collection teams. Because of Navy PBM seaplanes was returning to
Both sides recognized the Okinawa the threat of delaying while still within the anchorage. A single kamikaze snuck
operation as a prelude to the invasion range of kamikaze attacks, casualties in immediately behind that forma-
of the Japanese home islands. The were often kept aboard their stricken tion and thereby avoided detection.
Japanese were desperate to stop that ships while they traveled to Karema- Anti-aircraft guns initially held their
invasion, and their efforts included the Retto. Thus, Wiseman’s Cove was soon fire to avoid hitting the friendly planes;
mass use of suicide forces to destroy known as “Wiseman’s Graveyard.” so the lone attacker was able to close
American ships. The Japanese had Once the ships arrived, damage-con- with the ships. As the batteries began
conducted kamikaze attacks in prior trol teams assessed their condition. The firing, the Aaron Ward cast off lines
battles, but the Okinawa campaign took ships were divided into three categories: and began sailing away. The kamikaze
them to a new level. Japanese pilots flew locally repairable, repairable for transit skimmed past the destroyer and the
some 1,900 kamikaze missions over back to the US, and beyond repair. One transport, striking the Pickney. Sixteen
wounded sailors and 18 medics and
crew members on the Pickney perished.
Even so, Kerama-Retto provided a
relatively secure repair and refit location
that was also still strategically near the
Okinawa fighting. Sailors reported the
worst time at Kerama-Retto was at night,
when the damaged ships were blacked
out. Night watches were set with rifles
and machineguns to repel anticipated
Japanese suicide swimmers and small
USS attack boats (which never came).
Bunker Hill The ultimate value of the anchorage
hit by two
kamikazes in
at Kerama-Retto was proven by the
30 seconds on fact it provided vital maintenance
11 May 1945 throughout the Okinawa campaign.
off Kyushu;
372 dead,
—Roger Mason
264 wounded
yards farther south. Not surprisingly, boats coming from the Elliott, those the island. No foul-ups occurred, and
the exercise, being the first full-scale carrying Company F, 2nd Battalion, the carrier commanders expressed sat-
amphibious operation ever conducted 1st Marine Regiment; Battery H, 3rd isfaction with their part of the rehearsal.
by the US Marines and Navy, ran behind Battalion, 11th Marine Artillery Regiment Off of Red, Blue and Green Beaches
schedule: it wasn’t until 2:00 p.m. and the Navy beach party, failed to stood six destroyers, four cruisers and
the run-in to the beach began. note the recall order and went on to five minesweepers prepared to conduct
By the time the boats approached make their landing in water waist-high. a pre-landing bombardment to start
Koro, the tide had gone out, exposing Another Marine who saw the return at 10:30 a.m. At 10:15 a.m. Marines
large coral heads, some two or three signal, but elected to ignore it, was from the Fuller mistakenly landed on
feet in diameter, visible just below Col. Clifton Cates, commander of the Red Beach. As the second wave neared
the surface. With a two-foot draft 1st Marine Regiment. After seeing the shore, the destroyer USS Ellet, with just
on the loaded boats at the stern, the other boats pull back from the beach, minutes to go before the Navy was to
propellers of many of them struck the and then realizing why, he muttered “To begin firing on Koro, was seen racing
coral and were damaged. Many of the hell with it,” and with only his orderly toward shore. Her captain frantically sig-
boat coxswains heading for Red Beach as company he jumped over the side naled all troops were to leave the island.
stopped their vessels and ordered of his small boat and waded ashore. That process was soon begun, while the
their Marine passengers over the side While the assault craft returned shore bombardment was postponed to
while still 100 yards from the landing to their transports, other troops, mid-afternoon. When the ships’ guns
area. There the water was well over mostly support personnel, hadn’t did finally open fire, the opinion of
the heads of the Marines, and many even completed their loading most who observed it was the accuracy
barely escaped drowning. Other boat process for the move to Koro. Slow was terrible due to the fact the gunners
crews navigated around the coral to and complicated loading procedures, lacked experience against shore targets.
land their passengers onshore. Even as well as mechanical breakdowns of On 31 July two battalions of the 2nd
so, some Marines, especially those numerous landing craft, were to blame. Marine Regiment and elements of the
from the troop transport Fuller, missed While the landings on Red Beach 11th Marine Artillery Regiment boarded
Red Beach by over 1,800 yards. foundered, those taking place on Blue landing craft and moved to within
As the confusion mounted on and Beach ran close to plan, as did the 2,000 yards of Blue and Red Beaches,
offshore at Red Beach, the next wave smaller landing on Green Beach. Most respectively. Having accomplished that
from the Fuller approached. Within it of the troops on the former had to feat, they returned to their transports.
was naval Lt. Jack Clark, beach master off-load about 100 yards from shore and Unfortunately, some of the landing
of the Fuller, as well as the man in wade in due to the coral obstructions. boats heading back to the transports
charge of all landing craft repairs. After As night fell, the Marines on Koro were missed and not picked-up as Task
reaching the island, he went along the tried to make camp, gather food and Force 62 weighed anchor and steamed
shore to see how the overall operation rest. Most of the supplies and equipage for Guadalcanal that evening. The boats
was faring. He was soon convinced that was supposed to land with them chased the transports until they were
things were generally falling apart and, had failed to do so. As a result, those spotted and taken aboard. Operation
if it continued, many of the boats would men had little food or shelter that night. Dovetail was thus mercifully over.
be so badly damaged they wouldn’t Starting 29 July the troops who’d Lessons were learned from the
be available for the actual attack on stayed on Koro the night before were Koro rehearsal that benefited the
Guadalcanal. He contacted Capt. ferried back to their transports. Adm. Guadalcanal invasion, including
Theiss, skipper of the Fuller, who in turn Turner was furious with the results improved combat loading and the
radioed that assessment to Adm. Turner of the 28th and determined no forces general pooling of landing craft
and Gen. Vandegrift. Those officers sent would be landed on the island on the among the transports. That aside, the
out a boat carrying their aides to survey 30th. Instead, the troops would simply conclusion reached by Gen. Vandegrift
the situation. Soon afterward the signal board the landing craft, approach in his autobiography probably best
to abort the entire exercise was issued. to within 2,000 yards of Red and summed up the general opinion of
While the men from the Fuller Blue Beaches and then return to the the outcome of Operation Dovetail.
struggled ashore, most boats carrying transports. The original plan had He wrote: “I shuddered to think
members of the 1st Marine Regiment, called for a live-fire exercise by the what would have happened if those
which were then still coming in from warships and aircraft of Task Force 62 beaches [at Guadalcanal] turned-out
the transports Elliott, Barnett and the for 30 July, and that would proceed. to have been defended in strength.”
flagship McCawley, were also signaled At 10:00 a.m. flight operations began
to return to their ships. Of the Higgins with aerial attacks on the north end of — Arnold Blumberg
in the Ardennes and were able to studying the Maginot Line for 15
smash through that lightly defended years and is a member of Association
section to outflank the fortifications. du P.O. de Sentzich, a Maginot Line
France fell a few short weeks later. historical preservation group. Rupp
While true, that overview is has been researching German records
incomplete. The French defenses were concerning combat operations against
outflanked and their whole nation did the line since 1987, and has personally
indeed succumb less than a month surveyed the battlefields. You couldn’t
later. But what most historiographic find two people more qualified, and
studies don’t tell is that Germany did it shows in this masterful volume.
indeed attack the Maginot line in 10 As usual for Osprey, the maps and
separate corps-level and division-level illustrations are superb, complementing
attacks. Those operations resulted in the text and allowing the unfolding
some of the heaviest fighting of the events to come to dramatic life
campaign, but were overshadowed
by the French Army’s defeat and The Bad There’s little to complain
subsequent surrender, and thus have about. I would’ve liked to have seen
been largely forgotten. Until now. This more about the opposing command-
96-page book examines the opposing ers and how their personalities and
armies, their leaders and their plans, experiences shaped the campaign.
and provides a detailed examination of More importantly, the text explains
The Maginot Line 1940: Battles the seven largest German operations there were a total of 10 division-sized
on the French Frontier, by Marc launched against the Maginot Line. and corps-sized operations against
Romanych and Martin Rupp (Osprey the Maginot Line, but it only details
Publishing, Campaign Series #218, The Good The best aspect of this seven. What about the other three?
2010). Reviewed by Andrew Hind. new release is the subject matter
itself. This volume is one of precious Overall This valuable and
Throughout the 1930s, at great few English-language books, and readable book fills an important
expense, France built a series of easily the most digestible, to cover historiographic niche, and it deserves
imposing fortresses along its German this aspect of World War II. Though of a place on the bookshelves of every
border that were intended to serve as a modest size, the book still manages student of the Second World War.
deterrent to invasion. The Maginot Line to look at the campaign in depth, and
was the lynchpin of French strategy. it offers strong analysis of the failings
In May and June 1940, that strategy of the French command and the Attention WaW Readers:
was revealed to be ill-founded when fortifications in which they put so We’re always looking for media reviewers for
Germany won a stunning victory much trust, thereby identifying why Strategy & Tactics and World at War.
across western Europe, defeating the the battle was ultimately lost by them. Any media will do: book, magazine, film,
Allied armies and occupying Belgium, The book is also strong because website, etc. Absolute maximum word count
Holland, and France in only six weeks. its authors, Marc Romantch and is 500. We want critical analysis, not just
History books tell us that instead of Martin Rupp, are two of the most descriptions. Contact Chris Perello, at:
directly assaulting the Maginot Line, esteemed English-language voices chris@christopherperello.com
the Germans identified a weak point on this subject. Romantch has been
Though German troops occupied aid to the Jews. He would have been
Assisi, Italy, during World War II, several considered a traitor had he known
hundred Jews fled there for protection about their mission and not acted to
because they revered the spiritual legacy stop it, yet he did intervene against the
of St. Francis. The brave Assisians, who SS and Gestapo on a regular basis.
sheltered and hid those Jews from It is significant these interviews
the Germans at great personal risk, corrected misinformation that appeared
sustained that legacy. Bishop Giuseppe in the movie The Assisi Underground.
Nicolini (the bishop of Assisi), German That film failed to give credit to Nicolini.
Col. Valentin Müller (a physician The State of Israel presented the Medal
and devout Catholic), and Don Aldo of the Righteous Gentiles to Brunacci
Brunacci (the bishop’s secretary) and (posthumously) to Nicolini in 1977.
coordinated that successful endeavor. St. Bonaventure University awarded
The book chronicles how the Brunacci the Gaudete Medal in 2004
citizens and clergy were able to keep in recognition for his exemplifying
Three Heroes of Assisi in World War II: the refugees from being arrested and the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi and
Bishop Giuseppe Nicolini, Colonel deported to concentration camps. They inspiring others. Footnotes throughout
Valentin Műller, Don Aldo Brunacci, escaped the fate of 7,000 other Jews who the book provide documentation
by José Raischl SFO and Andrė Cirino were deported from Italy to Auschwitz. and information for further research.
OFM (Editrice Minerva – Assisi, 2005). The German commander wasn’t told This book is an excellent reference for
Reviewed by Annie Laura Smith about the Assisian underground’s Judaica and Holocaust studies. ★
SUBSCRIBE ONLINE
www.strategyandtacticspress.com
CALL TO SUBSCRIBE
(661) 587-9633 phone
1941
Pearl Harbor (661) 587-5031 fax
BACK
issues
AVAILABLE GU ARDS
Red Arm
Brig.
or at Kur TAN
Gen.
sk, July K:
William
GUARDS
KABUL 1979: Fatal
T. Sherman
194
Grant
TANK: Battle
Cold War Victory
The Strategy
The
of
6-7 Ap
Wins
at Shiloh
at Kursk
| ATOMIC WAR
& Tactics
Battl
WilUR
Sh
ril 186
e ZBUR
oh OMIC:
PE
G
|
| HURTGENFulani Jihad
ARMY:FOREST
of World
NT
2 e That Never
War II
Was
The Battl
| THE
Davy Crockett
| MANCHUR
& Elvis
BULGE
#264 SEP-OCT
IA:Presley
: Hitler’s| Caesar’s Last Battle
Japan’s
2010
3
Last Stand
View
| Russia
Invade
s Georgi
a, 2008
#13 AUG-SEP
2010
S&T 263 |
JUL-AUG 2010
(661) 587-9633 | (661) 587-5031 fax | P.O. Box 21598 | Bakersfield CA 93390 | www.strategyandtacticspress.com
n
o
Ir
f
o
s
rt
ea
H
li of
&
sa s
s
er er
iv k
n a
U eM
pa Th
ro m
Eu ro
F
w
www
www.paradoxplaza.com
.pa
.parad
araddoxp
oxppl
laz
aza.c
aza.com
a.com
om | h ht
htt
http://forum.paradoxplaza.com
ttpp:/
:/
///fo
/f
f
foorum
ru
rum
u m.pa
.p
pa
para
rad
ad
a doxp
do
ox
o xpl
xp laz
la
aza
az a.c
.c
co
com
omm | www
www
www.victoria2.com
ww
w w.vi
.v
viict
v cto
ctoria
toori
riia
riaa22.c
.ccomm
© 2010
2010
0 Parad
Pa
arad
r dox
radox
o Int
In
Intera
nt
ntera
teracti
era
er
raactive.
ct
cti
tive
ve.
ve.
e. All
Al
A ll r
rig
righ
ig
igh
gh
g hts
ts res
re
r esserv
erv
er
erved
rved.
ed
ed
d.. Vi
Victoria
Victo
ct
cto
c toria
to
oria
riia
r ia 2 is
is a trad
trad
ra
r ade
ad
adema
em
ma
m ark
rk of
of Par
Pa
Pa
Parado
arradox
ad
ado
ado
d ox Inte
IInt
nt
n
nte
nteractive.
teractiv
terac
ac
ct
tiv
ive
ive..
Introducing the Decision Games
Folio Game Series
The Folio Game Series provides dozens of games using the same eight-page Standard rules
(Musket & Saber for 19th century battles, Fire & Movement for WWII and Modern battles) with a short
Exclusive rules sheet for each individual game to capture the unique aspects of each battle. Each game can
be played in about 90 minutes allowing for multiple games to be played in an afternoon or evening.
AACHEN
WORLD W
First to Fa ll AR II BATT
LES
Before October
1944, no large FOLIO GA
had been direc
tly assaulted
German city
ME SERI
army. German
fight stubbornly
soldiers were
by any Allied
continuing to
ES
throughout Europ
after Germany’s e, even
defeat became
so US comm
anders had every a certainty;
worr y resistance reason to
on German soil
tenacious. In would be
the city of Aach
Aachen
street fighting en itself, the
was expected
just as it had to be severe,
been in other
cities. The situa hard-fought
tion along the
was even wors border itself
e; the infamous
loomed in front West Wall
of Aachen, enclo
the city with sing
miles of conc
casemates and rete bunkers,
“dragon’s teeth
of foreboding
the attack, as
generals, was
among the GIs
.” The sense
assig
well as their comm ned to First to Fall
evident and warra anding
nted.
Aachen utilize
s the new Fire
combat syste & Movement
m that’s desig
can augment ned so players
their units with
fire” during the “support
course of the
mortars to fighter turns.
-bombers, units From
receive support can
assets to enga
positions and ge
formations, allow enemy
to develop at ing combat
all levels. A singl
battalion, for e recon
exam
by anti-tank guns ple — perhaps supported
— could be taske
assault a lone d to
enemy regim
defending a road ent of engineers
junction. As that
gets underway attack
, however, the
may find itself recon battalion
strafed by enem
bombers. More y fighter-
support will be
take the road necessary to
junction, but
assets are limite
d.
In Aachen, the
attritional desig
new Combat n of the
Results Table
true nature of simulates the
battles in Europ
typically two- e. Units are
sided formation
incur casualties s that
, accurately replic can
the realities of
combat and the ating
losses sustained high
by both sides
the actual fightin during
g
the battle is thus in Aachen. Winning
a matter of mane
firepower and
asset manageme uver,
nt.
Game Conten
ts:
•
•
17 x 22” (43 x 56
120 die-cut coun
cm) terrain map Aachen
ters
• One Standard
Rules booklet PLAYERS
• One Exclusive for this series
Rules booklet 2
for this title
LEVEL II III X XX XXX
BATTALION
HEX SCALE
2 mi (3.2 km)
PLAYING TIME
Each counter repres
ents 1-2 hrs
formation from among an individual historical
forces that fough the German and
US COMPLEXITY
t across Holland, •••••
armor regiments, including LOW
1613 infantry battalions,
paratroopers, recon
elements, and more. Minutes to lea
SOLITAIRE ••••• rn. Quick to pla
HIGH
y. Historicall
A FOLIO SERIES
A product of
GAME
Decision Games
y Accurate.
Copyright © ,
2010. All Rights Inc.
Reserved.
P.O. Box 21598 | Bakersfield, CA 93390-1598 | (661) 587-9633 phone | (661) 587-5031 fax | www.decisiongames.com
What If: Pearl Harbor Invasion | Greek Civil War: Prequel to Cold War | Bzura Counteroffensive, 1939 | Japan Mobilizes for War
1941
Pearl Harbor
5.99
$