World at War #23 Guadalcanal

Pacific Battles: Guadalcanal is a two-player (Japanese vs. US) operational-level game designed by Joseph Miranda. The game includes 228 die-cut counters, with the battalion as the primary maneuver unit, and also includes air units, supply markers, campaign chits, suppression chits, and deception markers. The colorful map features the island of Guadalcanal, with each hex representing approximately two miles across, and includes such prominent locations as Henderson Field and Bloody Ridge, as well as various charts and tables for easy reference during play.

The rules entail a variety of standard and unique rules, features as reinforcements, suppression, logistics, reorganization, headquarters, air operations, naval bombardment, fog of war, engineer units, fortifications, amphibious movement, evacuation, as well as optional rules detailing aspects such as high ground, artillery, air superiority, close air support, capturing supply, and airborne mechanics.

The game sequence is as follows:

PLANNING PHASE

1.      Initiative Determination Phase

2.      Command Marker Phase

3.      Air Mission Allocation Phase

4.      Air Superiority Phase

5.      Reinforcement Phase

6.      Logistics Phase

FIRST PLAYER INITIAL IMPULSE

1.      Movement Phase

2.      Air/Naval Strike Phase

3.      Land Combat Phase

SECOND PLAYER INITIAL IMPULSE

FIRST PLAYER FOLLOW-ON IMPULSE

SECOND PLAYER FOLLOW-ON IMPULSE

Victory Points phase

Victory in the game is determined by the accumulation of VPs for control of important hexes, eliminating enemy units, as well as evacuating friendly units.

Articles in this issue include:

Sword Beach. A detailed analysis of the first day’s actions at the  beachhead in Normandy, June 1944.

The Stalin Line. A detailed analysis of the Soviet fortification line that was intended to stop the German invasion along the border.

The Churchill Conspiracy. A new analysis of the defection of Nazi Number Two man Rudolf Hess, and what it was intended to have accomplished in relation to the overall course of WW2.