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The AVALON HILL

Published First Day O f Every Other Month

SUBSCRIPTION $4.98

VOLUME 2, N0.2

Publication Office: 210 West 28th Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21211

JULY 1965

Additional Tournament & Optional Rules Are D-Day Used in in Improved Version
The l a s t two i s s u e s of t h i s m a g a z i n e have f e a t u r e d a r t i c l e s on the behindt h e - s c e n e s activity of g a m e publishing. The a p p e a r a n c e of D-DAY '65 e x e m p l i f i e s a t h i r d a r e a - t h a t of a continuous r e s e a r c h and d e s i g n p r o g r a m of testing improvements to old products. Good " S t a r t e r 1 ' G a m e D-DAY w a s o r i g i n a l l y r e l e a s e d by Avalon Hill in 196 1. Since that t i m e i t h a s continued to b e a b e s t - s e l l e r and h a s become one of the t h r e e top s t a r t e r " g a m e s , alongside of G e t t y s b u r g and T a c t i c s 11. In s h o r t , we f e e l t h a t DDAY h a s finally e a r n e d i t s s p u r s . Since 1961 w e have a l s o compiled a l i s t of suggestions f o r changes and i m p r o v e m e n t s , t e s t i n g out m a n y f o r t h e i r m e r i t s . D-DAY '65, then, i s the tangible r e s u l t s of t h e s e t e s t s . Two G a m e s in One As in Midway and Bulge. D-DAY bec o m e s two g a m e s in one: A b a s i c v e r sion that i s r e l a t i v e l y s i m p l e and d e signed to g e t the beginner quickly into the a r t of w a r g a m i n g ; and a t o u r n a m e n t v e r s i o n designed f o r those that want i t r e a l i s t i c to the nth d e g r e e . The playing b o a r d now contains g r i d coordinates p r i n t e d d i r e c t l y on the map. One m a j o r change i s found in the North S e a a r e a w h e r e S q u a r e s 1-13 through 1-15 ( p r e v i o u s l y w a t e r s q u a r e s ) have been made land s q u a r e s b o r d e r e d by r i v e r lines. Supply and Isolation r u l e s apply only in the T o u r n a m e n t v e r s i o n . A. m a j o r addition to the supply r u l e i s the r e q u i r e m e n t t h a t no Allied Unit c a n be m o r e than 17 s q u a r e s away f r o m t h e i r s o u r c e of supply which i s e i t h e r a c o a s t a l s q u a r e o r a n inland port. T h i s r u l e s out the u s e of South F r a n c e a s a sight. potentially d a n g e r o u s 1 s t i ~ v a s i o n In r e a l i t y , South F r a n c e w a s invaded l a t e r on a f t e r the Allies had m a r c h e d a c r o s s m u c h of F r a n c e . T o offset the G e r m a n advantage, the Allies g e t a r e p l a c e m e n t r a t e of 2 a t -

NEW D-DAY '65 - HOT OFF THE PRESS

Medical Research
By Capt. C h a r l e s Wickstrom D-DAY h a s been u s e d i n the Medical L a b o r a t o r i e s a t Edgewood A r s e n a l , Maryland, in psychological studies. s o m e involving the u s e of d r u g s , by the psychopharmacology group t h e r e . Between M a r c h a n d August of l a s t y e a r . 59 D-DAY g a m e s with 81 invasions w e r e conducted u n d e r controlled condit i o n s , involving s u b j e c t s f r o m v a r i o u s p a r t s of the United S t a t e s with a n a v e r a g e a g e of just o v e r 24 y e a r s . During the g a m e s both method a n d m a n n e r of play w e r e c a r e f u l l y o b s e r v e d . GERMAN S E T - U P : H e r e i s a r e c o m mended G e r m a n s e t - u p designed t o p r e clude a s u c c e s s f u l Allied invasion c l o s e to Germany. Not shown i s South of F r a n c e w h e r e the G e r m a n p l a y e r h a s placed no Units a t all. t a c k f a c t o r s p e r T u r n s t a r t i n g i n the 9th week. In addition, s t r a t e g i c a i r power b e c o m e s a g r e a t a i d to the Allied c a u s e . The r u l e s t o the T o u r n a m e n t v e r s i o n a r e found in the Battle Manual t h a t a l s o includes d i a g r a m s , h i s t o r i c a l c o m m e n t a r y a n d a n appendix of q u e s tions and a n s w e r s . Available a t Cost New C o m ~ o n e n t s T h e r e i s not enough s p a c e t o r e p r i n t the new r u l e s i n t h i s magazine. But s u b s c r i b e r s can obtain the n e c e s s a r y i t e m s . Instruction F o l d e r a n d B a t t l e Manual, by enclosing just 50$ a n d a s e l f - a d d r e s s e d r e t u r n envelope (6 x 9 s i z e envelope p r e f e r a b l e ) . (The u s u a l $1.00 m i n i m u m c h a r g e f o r r e p l a c e m e n t p a r t s i s waived in t h i s c a s e . ) It i s not n e c e s s a r y f o r you t o p u r c h a s e the instead new b o a r d ($3.00 postpaid) we'll s i m p l y throw in, g r a t i s , the Gridcoordinate s h e e t . The complete p r i c e of D-DAY '65 r e m a i n s a t $4.98. P a r t s include Ins t r u c t i o n F o l d e r , Battle Manual, T r o o p C o u n t e r s , O r d e r of Battle C a r d , T i m e R e c o r d C a r d , Combat R e s u l t s Table a n d 1 Die. G a m e s R e c o r d e d on Tape F u l l video t a p e and sound coverage ( 3 TV c a m e r a s & 2 sound t r a c k s ) ena b l e s complete r e p l a y of e n t i r e D-DAY g a m e s whenever d e s i r a b l e f o r study of t h e p l a y e r s ' m o v e s and r e a c t i o n s t o g a m e situations, d i e r o l l s , and o t h e r events. An o v e r h e a d c a m e r a zoomed i n f o r c l o s e - u p s of soak-off a t t a c k s a n d o t h e r combat d e t a i l s . In the m o s t commonly u s e d version, t h e r e w e r e two Allied p l a y e r s and two G e r m a n s i n e a c h game. The g a m e s w e r e conducted duplicate fashion l i k e a team-of-four b r i d g e match. That i s , a n identical s t a r t i n g situation i s s e t up on two b o a r d s i n different r o o m s (actually, t h e " s t a r t i n g r 1 situation could b e middle o r end g a m e ) . One half of a t e a m i s the A l l i e s i n one r o o m , while the o t h e r half of the s a m e t e a m i s the G e r m a n s in the o t h e r room. The winning t e a m i s then d e t e r m i n e d by comp a r i n g the situations on the two b o a r d s a t s o m e l a t e r t i m e . If you have t h r e e f r i e n d s who a l s o play D-DAY you might find t h i s a n i n t e r e s t i n g way t o conduct your own match, with one Allied p l a y e r a n d one G e r m a n on e a c h t e a m ( r a t h e r than two of e a c h a s h e r e ) . Game o u t c o m e s , when g a m e s w e r e not c a r r i e d t o completion, w e r e adjudicated on a "10 pt m u s t " s y s t e m . A g a m e t h a t goes t o completion under t h i s (Continued on P a g e 2)

THE GENERAL

a bi-monthly. magazine mailed pretty close to the first day o f January, March, May, July, September and November. The Avalon Hill General is edited and published by the Avalon Hill Company, Baltimore, Maryland.
Copyright 1964 T.A. H. C. Baltimore. Maryland. Printed in U. S.A.

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(Continued f r o m Page 1. scoring system i s scored 10 to 0. Analysis of 47 games with 69 invasions in which drugs were not administered to any of the participants reveals that s c o r e s averaged slightly over 2 to 1 in favor of the Allies (totals 316-154). That i s , simply being on the Allied side gives a player, on the average, twice a s good a chance of winning a s a player on the German side. Of course, the game balance may change somewhat with the skill level of the players. Results indicate that (1) a group of men who have never seen the game D-DAY before can l e a r n to play D-DAY capably within the time period allotted, and ( 2 ) that the drugs used affected the way the men approached the game a t least a s much a s in the actual moves they made. They became easily distracted, unconcerned, and in some c a s e s euphoric, and forgetful, f o r example forgetting t o move some units while moving others twice. Their overa l l strategy appeared to be the same, but they became lax in some details. Games in which drugs were administered to one side h u r t the Allies m o r e when a tough invasion was required (e. g. P a s de Calais o r North Sea), but hurt the Germans m o r e when they had a lot of regrouping t o do following a southern a r e a Allied landing. The r e sults would thus s e e m to indicate that the difficulty in concentrating caused by the drug affected play mainly in c a s e s where elaborate planning was required. We would expect a l a r g e r dose of drug t o cause breakdown of simpler planning procedures, such a s conduct of an isolated attack o r a n unobstructed advance toward the objective. The game of chess i s a l s o being used in s i m i l a r studies. Other Avalon Hill games purchased in connection with this r e s e a r c h program include Afrika Corps and Tactics 11. AH Comment: Captain Wickstrom h a s been a long-time aficionado of Avalon Hill games; having visited the testrooms on many occasions. Now, the good captain is on his way t o Viet-Nam where he will undoubtedly clean up the

flown to c a r r i e r s . (All planes anywhere a r e always "ready" but s t i l l require one turn t o do it. ) 6. Planes on Midway a r e destroyed by attackers (Midway Reduction Table) onlv after the defense factor h a s been reduced to 0, thereafter factor applies to planes on Midway. If a t f i r s t glance there would seem t o never be any planes on Midway. I by Robert Olson would point out the ready rule which might ground them. When the reduc1. Jap always moves f i r s t , then U. S. tion factor i s 0, the odds a r e com2. Jap always s t r i k e s f i r s t , submits puted on the basis of the number of full battle plan, then U. S. : attacking planes a s defending fighte r s , after a fighter battle die roll, a ) Except Jap may hold back fighte r s on ship and after U. S. playif any. e r submits attack plan, if any, 7. B-17 attack table reads 4.z 1 hit, may o r d e r covering fighters in 5 = 3. 6 = 5. T,he hits received a r e air only above square in which apportioned among a l l the ships in c a r r i e r i s in, f r o m which fightthe square attacked by the Jap playe r s came. e r a s he s e e s fit. b ) Obviously U. S. player submits a ) The B-17 attack and q1ready91 full attack and defense plan a t rules a r e based on the number once since he has nothing to gain of s q u a r e s f r o m Midway to the by r e s e r v e s . attacked square. For every ( 3 ) 3. As outlined in General, ( I thought of squares traveled on a mission, Jap player this too)U. S. player the B-17's a r e grounded for one need not bring their units on the turn. Thus a maximum mission board ever, a t a l l , if they wish, but of 21 s q u a r e s would cost 7 t u r n s once on the board, may not be taken while within 2 squares of Midoff the board. way the B-17's may a t t a c k e v e r y a ) U. S. player may enter ships turn. ( 3 1- 2 = 0). onto the board. G. H, ( 1 + 7 ) 8. Surface Combat: i s had anytime (and optionally F - 7 ) and (1) 1 ships a r e in same squares. Since thru 7. Jap moves f i r s t U. S. player can b ) The Jap player must always always move away but ( m y ) r u l e s enter the board f r o m the westprovide no ship may move thru a n e r n squared. enemy occupied square without comc ) At 0500 AM each player h a s an bat, thus U. S. ships could be boxed option. All ships which have in by nine Jap ships in an a r e a . (innot a s yet entered the board eluding one in U. S. ship zone a f t e r (who a r e allowed to by the timeJap move, ) which forces trapped table) may move six squares. ships to fight the ship & its zone o r the f i r s t four by night to any one of surrounding ships a t its opsquare s o long a s the oncoming tion. units do not pass thru any a r e a However, for each four moves on which was occupied by a n e n e m y surface action board, ships not inship during the night, plus two volved in the action may move two squares for the 0500 turn. Of turn i s marked off s q u a r e s and course ships may move normally the time sheet, and on each turn and visibly onto the board a t (four battle moves)only, the trapped night. (Presuming i t i s necesplayer may t r y to roll out. If the s a r y to do s o ) trapped ships succeeds in sinking 4. The Jap attack radius for planes i s i t s p u r s u e r s on the battle board. eight squares, the U. S. player normal movement resumes. (A seven. Not.only i s this in line with single Jap ship seldom stay fact a s the Jap plane radius was afloat four turns in a match with longer, but i t i s a n e ~ e s s a r ~ b a l a z s e v e r a l U. S. c r u i s e r s , ) except a ing factor here, though not applicBB. able to the two player "secret" 9. I still think the Zuiho and Hosho game. a r e short planes and optionally give the Zuiho 1 D and 1 F and the Hosho 5. At 1700, June 5th. Midway receives 2 F extra in line with my references. a flight of 5T, 5D, 5 F which a r e It doesn't matter much. Going back ready for action a t 0500 June 6th if to Surface Combat for a moment, Midway i s still in action. (Where obviously the player may use any they came f r o m I don't know, p e r remaining a i r power he has to deshaps remains of c a r r i e r forces o r troy ships in his square before he P e a r l which they could have if the must fight them, but this a i r s t r i k e battle was desperate.) These planes must come from a s h i p which i s may of course be subsequently

m e s s in that a r e a . o r at l e a s t convince them of the advantages in giving vent to their basic destructive complexes over a D-DAY game board instead of flat on their back in a steaming jungle.

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PAGE 2

Midway-Solitaire

and

one

THE GENERAL
in the same square a s an enemy ship, thus can't come f r o m a s u r face trapped c a r r i e r (which would not have a r m e d planes on deck in a n eminent surface action). Tactically the Japs will t r y to back the U. S. fleet o r ship against an edge zone which reduces the squares Theoretically needed to t r a p to the U. S. could do the s a m e to a lone Jap ship. As a n "optional" rule, the U. S. has to move first a t night which brings Jap night s u r face superiority into play - Remember Savo? All in a l l this makes a good game of solitaire. T r y i t sometime. counterattack. Also I do not think that a single airborne (AIB) division could effectively divert an entire German Corps f r o m defending the obviously main objective of the Allied attack, i. e. breaching the r i v e r ; i t i s sufficient for the airborne division to attack the Corps with its own basic factor. 11. Leapfrogging. Currently thd Allied player may leapfrog paratroopers deep into German held t e r r i t o r y . By leapfrogging I mean dropping an A/B unit five squares f r o m anotherA/B unit already behind German lines. With four A / B units the Allied player can place a unit thirty-two squares into German t e r r i t o r y . (An invasion in Normandy could gain additional supply by leapfrogging into Bremen! ) The principal reason (I believe) for the five square limit i s that the Allies lacked the necessary a i r superiority deep in German t e r r i t o r y t o protect the vulnerable transports. 111. Supply and Entry. Currently the Allied player may bring in divisions a t a beach-head subject only to beachhead reinforcement table. The r u l e s which I currently p o s s e s s ( a s found in local s t o r e s June 10) clearly state (Allied Reinforcement Sec l c ) 'I.. .total number of Units on land plus those chosen to be brought in must not exceed supply capacity. " I t seems, however, that the AH r e s e a r c h staff i s unaware of this since a l e t t e r to them gave m e the answer which I presented a t the beginning of the paragraph. This p e r mits the Allies to have ashore twelve unsupplied divisions a t P a s de Calais by rotating them with f r e s h divisions f r o m Britain. If there was enough war m a t e r i a l to supply five divisions i t i s clearly impossible for six divisions to fight on this m a t e r i e l otherwise the supply capacity of the square would state six. If a division can not expect to eat, fight, o r move would i t be brought ashore to starve ? While supply i s not possible f r o m a disputed square i t i s a t p r e s e n t possible to bring ashore reinforcements on the square. I think that this i s too liberal since bringing in troops under f i r e (from the s e a into a German zone of control) i s equivalent to another invasion. A solution might be to r e s t r i c t entry to disputed squares which a r e adjacent to undisputed squares. Other importantrules a r e a s follows: 1. Allied units do not have to attack doubled German units during the invasion. I suggest that this be limited to doubled units on the coast only (excluding such cities a s Nantes and Amsterdam). 2. The stack rule in which all units on a square a c t a s a single unit on defense in cities i s obsolete but may be retained for play balance.

PAGE 3
3. Headquarters other than 0. B. West and SHAEF a r e not allowed except in some PBM and multiple commander games. They may be used a s a play balance factor. The German need for small units for paratroop proofing anddelay may alsobe satisfied by allowing the subdividing of divisions into equivalent brigades. (i. e. the 91st Inf., a 4-4-3, might become two 2-23s). 4. The second invasion may come anytime after the eighth week. This is unrealistic and unfair and a cutoff date such a s the 17th week should be instiutted. 5 . F i r s t w a v e troops a r e not allowed to move inland event if unoppossed. (second and l a t e r weeks troops may be moved inland immediately). 6. Paratroops may not land adjacent to German units regardless of t e r rain. (Rules: Parachute Movement lb). 7. Use of the new 8 112 x 11 odds table i s mandatory for a l l Avalon Hill battle games except Bulge (i. e. odds round off in favor of the defender. F o r the PBM enthusiasts I have been requested to say this: CTD (Closing transactions date) i s the date on which sale$ a r e made, i. e. a CTD of 1 July would appear in an evening paper of 1 July o r a morning paper of 2 July. My thanks to Stephen Geisinger, Ralph Fellows. John Wladis, Stanley Hoffman, J i m Kobylecky and Gorden Sorensen. On the 30th of June I report to the United States Naval Academy and may therefore be a while in answering your letters--but don't l e t that stop you f r o m making your troubles and opinions known !

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AREA NEWS...
East
Laurence Plumb 126 Washington Highway Amherst, New York 14226 EDITOR - covering Maine. New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Europe.

Another Look at D-Day

by Laurence Plumb It has been my experience after several y e a r s of D-Day playing and after countless arguments with opponents that the endlessly shifting D-Day rules definitely require clarification. In this a r t i c l e I have chosen to discuss those which I have found to occur f r e quently enough to warrent inspection. I. Rivers. In D-Day, a t present, r i v e r s function a s in the other Avalon Hill games. Previously, any unit attacked from a combinatibn of r i v e r and non-river s q u a r e s fought a t basic odds with the units attacking a c r o s s the r i v e r being halved; a l s o defending units one square back f r o m a r i v e r were doubled. With the present board and the present ruling it i s unfair and unrealistic. In the other games (such a s Stalingrad) the r i v e r s pass thru squares and the defending units zone of control. The attacker, in o r d e r to c r o s s , must enter the defenders zone of control permitting counterattack. In D-Day the attacker i s allowed to attack without crossing the r i v e r (hardly r e a l i s t i c ) and i s thus safe f r o m counterattack. I favor retention of the old rules since the defending units were doubled one square behind a r i v e r thereby forcing the attacker to c r o s s the r i v e r and subject himself to

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AH Note: Elsewhere in this issue, r e a d e r s will find notice of D-DAY '65 which i s a g r e a t step forward in the clarification of many of the original ambiguous rules.

Marc Nicholson 2425 Meadow Road Louisville 5, Kentucky

EDITOR covering Delaware, Maryland D. C.. Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida. Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama. Mississippi.

Help the Poor Americans

by Marc Nicholson In my own experience and inopinions expressed by people who have written

THE GENERAL
to me. The Battle of the Bulge appears t o be one of th8 l e a s t play-balanced of a l l of the AH games. The complaints that I have received r e a d v e r y much like those against Afrika Korps l a s t year. The Americans (Allies) have too few units a t the s t a r t ; the reinforcements a r r i v e just in time to be eliminated; etc. The Amerjcan situation has been described a s "highly frustrating. " "hopeless,I1 and llimpossible.ll In my experience, the Americans have won only one out of eleven games. My c o r r e s pondence shows a n equal percentage of American loss. I have put together a few ideas that might put some hope back into the American Situation. F i r s t of all, forget the Basic Game (the only way the German player could lose would be to fie in the middle of the game and even then i t would be close). Second, use a l l of the Tournament rules a s well a s a l l of the Optional rules, with a few exceptions. ( I hate playbalance. It always ruins historical a c curacy. All of the following a r e not new rules, but a r e merely adaptions of existing rules. ) Eliminate F o r t s To begin with, the Germans have no u s e for F o r t r e s s e s o r Fortifications-throw them out. Next, r a i s e the number of American Tactical Air factors; a n extra eight o r ten a i d s the American a lot and i s stillaccurate. Now, d e c r e a s e the isolation period required for elimination of German units f r o m six to four turns. Finally, include uncertain o r d e r of appearance only for German units ( I have this idea. Actually, the a r r i v a l o f German units was f a r m o r e predictable than that of the Americans. ) Germans Must Control Elsenborn Ridge down the Germans considerably. Elsenborn Ridge extends f r o m Northeast of Monschau to the square directly Northwest of Stavelot. There can be no change in the St. Vith a r e a that makes any sense whatsoever.

PAGE 4
of any kind to the parent regiment. Third, these delaying units can be built only on certain types of squares. These "special" squares a r e cities, road junctions, river crossings and rough-terrain road squares. Also, squares where a road e n t e r s dense woods, only on entrance squares. In short, any square Creat American "Delaying" Units in which a road c r o s s e s o r enters anything besides a plain square. Fourth. The last and best idea tries to delaying units cannot be built within count f o r the small American units in squares a German unit the r e a r a r e a s . Each American regithere i s an intervening American unit. merit can create one Itdelaying Fifth, if an American unit ends its turn which has no factor but which adjacent to a delaying unit, the delaying does have a zone of control. other words, these units a r e automatically unit i s removed. Thus, a delaying unit cannot exist next to another American eliminated but the Germans must stop combat unit. The logic behind this i s when they enter their zone of control that the delaying units, a s small units, (sort of like outposts in Gettysburg). would be absorbed by any nearby l a r g e ~h~~~ delaying units a r e subject to sevunits. Sixth, delaying units cannot be eral restrictions. First, they have no used to block r e t r e a t routes after commovement factor; they must remain on bat; in this situation the German unit the square on which they were created disregards the presence of the delaying until they a r e eliminated or removed unit. Finally. I use s p a r e counters voluntarily by the American f r o m other AH games a s delaying units. Second, they can be built only on I put the regiment number on the unit to squares through which their parent regprevent any regiment havingmore iment (or brigade) has moved and only than One unit On the board a t on the s a m e turn that their parent u n i t the same time. moved through that particular square. Their construction impairs no penalty Next issue, tactics in The Bulge.

Mistakes Lead to Defeat The g r e a t e s t reason for one's defeat i s not a s one would think. It i s not always the skill of an opponent nor i s i t Myron R. Brundage the luck of the die, but rather i t i s more 330 W. Dickens often than not the tactical e r r o r s that Illinois b0b14 lead one down the road to defeat. Tactical e r r o r s of many proportions and of EDITOR covering Ohio, In degrees are produced by both nois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Below them that ~ I ~ ~ ~ i ~ ~ ~, ~ ~~ Louisiana. ~ ~ k i sides. ,~ ~ a r e but~a few of ~ add to the reasons why one loses. An e r r o r made and followed up immediately by an opponent can be disastrous. F o r example, in Bulge if the U. S. player fails to fill the gap on the by Myron R. Brundage Our River between 00-18 and Clervaux in the f i r s t move the German onslaught Read LIFE'S Waterloo Article will pour thru i t on the next and down the BastOgne. Before I begin, I have something of Often the effect of e r r o r s goes uninterest for you Waterloo fans. As you noticed f o r several rounds before they probably know last month marked the begin For the Ger150th Anniversary of that bloody battle. man player has a beautiful o ~ ~ o r t u n i t ~ LIFE magazine h a s in i t s June 11th i s On the very first of killing four sue an excellent article complete with U. S- units and of tying down the flanks colored strategical maps showing each with "Engages" at One One day's s p e a r heads. There a r e sketches Leaving the U-S. player without a prayand paintings depicting famous scenes e r f o r adequately closing up the gap in f r o m the battle and a two page gallery the center of the defensive line and unof the uniforms worn by the various able to take up better defensive positions. fact, i t s a must for units involved. reading by any AH wargamer. But, a l a s , the mistake i s often made

If the above ideas do not help the Americans enough, you might like to add one o r both of m y optional rules. I invented these remembering the actual campaign. The reason the Americans actually won the Battle of the Bulge can be attributed to t h r e e main things that a r e presently unaccounted f o r in theAH game. F i r s t was the stubborn defense of Elsenborn Ridge, which was vital t o the German attack plan. Second was the defense of St. Vith, which slowed down German movement in the Northern Ardennes. Third and most important was the delay caused to the German units by company and batallion sized American units in the r e a r a r e a s such a s Werbomont. My new r u l e s t r y t o accoailt f o r the above situations. Starting with the simple, I make total control of Elsenborn Ridge a condition for German victory. This idea should not cost the Americans any units that they would not l o s e anyway, a n d i t slows

How to Lose at Bulge

The following article i s dedicated solely to those persons who a r e continually losing to the men with the fabulous averages and fool proof systems.

in which the German player only seeks to stackthree high and kill the four units while completely forgetting to hamper the U. S. r e t r e a t to better ground.

THE GENERAL
Thus, in the succeeding three rounds the U. S. player can hold back the G e r mans in rough t e r r a i n where their defense factors a r e automatically doubled. The German player h a s c o s t himself time by this mistake while giving his opponent ample opportunity to fortify Bastoghe and Spa and their outlying towns. Making them a s the AH t e r m says, "A tough NUT to crack!" If the German player hadn't made the m i s take, control of Bastogne could be his in a m a t t e r of three turns with very little effort o r m a t e r i a l s involved. Other major tactical e r r o r s that the German player makes while being so engrossed in beating back the U.S. player a r e forgetting toprotect the r e a r and flanks f r o m U.S. units that come on the board after the 20th a.m. They threaten supply lines on both north and south and the recapture of Spa and Bastogne if either i s held by the Germans at the time. The U. S. player frequently makes into the the mistake of putting his battle. Instead of maintaining adequate Reserves on board to reinforce the weak spots in thefront line and seconda r y defense lines in c a s e of breakthroughs. Also, a good portion of the time the U.S. player fails to r e t r e a t in an orderly manner. Both sides add to their e r r o r s bynot using the built-in Tactical tools which come with the game. F o r example, the German player who does not seek to "Engage" the U. S. F o r c e s e a r l y in the game with his weaker units while his heavier units vanguard a c r o s s the Our River, will not be able to capture Bastogne by the third turn. And the U. S. player who does not seek to get a s many "Engages" a s possible will not hold the Germans back o r kill time till h i s r e i n forcements come. Both sides should not forget the s t r a tegic position they hold and the r e c o u r s e that must be followed. The U. S. i s on the defense and i t s job i s to check the German onslaught along a defensive line for a s long a s i t can with a minimum of units, until such time that i t can bring up enough units to turn to the offensive and drive the Germans back. The German's position meanwhile i s to c r a c k thru the b a r r i e r s in his way to the objectives by concentrating his heavy units towards those a r e a s while occupying the U. S. F o r c e s along the line with his l e s s e r units. One final e r r o r for the U.S. player to avoid i s if a l l i s going bad elsewhere on the board and the German .player i s pushing towards the Meuse don't wait till the last minute to fortify behind it. Especially a t the Northwest c o r n e r where the Sambre and Meuse Rivers combine to f o r m a natural stronghold, which if the German player ever manages to get his 20 units ( r e g u l a r ) o r 50 factors Panzer (Tournament) over will leave the U.S. player completely unable to get at them.

PAGE 5
nent; and (4) Time i s on your side. The enemy must accomplish his designs quickly if he i s to succeed. With these thoughts than in mind, we can now plan our campaign strategy. The Solution Our solution i s logical and immedia t e and s o obvious a s to be overlooked - delay. As .you will remember, delaying tactics were embodied inNicholson1s plan, but a s such were more of an end result than a method. Here, the r e v e r s e will be true. In actual play the delaying tactics take the form of placing the numerous P-A-A cavalry units in such a way a s to impede the French advance. F o r example, in the starting move the P-A-A commander would be wise to place the Blucher HQ unit on the Charleroi-Brussels Road in o r d e r to stop the advance of the French uponthe heights south of Quatre B r a s . After observing the French 7:00 AM move, he would then position other cavalry units in accordance with what he estimates to be the intentions of the French player. This procedure i s continued until either the delaying units a r e exhausted o r the enemy comes into contact with the main elements of the army. The Virtues of the System In the main then, that i s it. By such a doctrine of defense you will accomplish two important things. F i r s t , you will seriously delay the progress of the French attack and second, youwill gain reinforcements which will more than offset the units sacrificed in gaining time. I cannot reinterate too highly the importance of properly estimating the enemy's intentions, for this i s integral to the wise placement of not only the delaying units but the main body of the a r m y itself. Close attention must be placed to wide enveloping movements. a s these constitute the greatest t r i a l for this method of defense. They involve the use of many units to cover a l a r g e expanse of t e r r a i n and s o must Be done carefully to avoid waste and gain maximum effect. One Man's Opinion In closing. I would like to say that this i s only one man's opinion on the subject and should be taken only a s such. I would enjoy hearing any comments on i t and a l s o ideas which you have yourself. In r e g a r d to my l a s t column, I'm pleased to r e p o r t that I've received a l a r g e and favorable response from wargarners throughout the country. I want to take this opportunity to thank those of you who wrote in and to apologize to those who I was not able to reply personally.

West
Stan Wolcott P. 0. Box 381 Hastings, Nebraska EDITOR covering North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado. Idaho. Utah, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Canada.

WaterlooA Defensive Strategy

by Stan Wolcott With the publication in the l a s t issue of the General of Marc Nicholson's a r t i c l e , entitled 'lWaterloo Defense". I was prompted tovoice my own thoughts on the subject. A Critique Commenting upon the plan put forward by Mr. Nicholson, I will say that although I applaude its originality. I find i t h a r d to s e e i t s efficacy. In a t tacking, the only thing the P r u s s i a n s will accomplish, will be to annihilate themselves; none else i s certain. True, the French timetable for attack may be upset f o r several moves, but what after that? The P-A-A commander will probably find himself having to stave off a major French onslaught with only his light Anglo-Allied units. Thus, I feel that the P-A-A player i s actually defeating himself by following such a course of action. The Problem In order to find an alternate solution which might be preferable, l e t u s r e examine the situation carefully. As the P-A-A commander you a r e confronted with the dilemma of having to face a numerically superior a r m y . F o r r e a sons of morale and politics you a r e prohibited f r o m making any l a r g e scale. retrograde movements. Also any offensive on your p a r t i s precluded by the fact of your insufficiency of force. You do however, have several redeeming advantages, which if used properly, may garner victory: ( 1 ) You a r e in possession of strong defensive positions; ( 2 ) You a r e fighting along interior lines with a good network of roads to expedite movement; (3) Within a short period, reinforcements will bring parity and eventually superiority over your oppo-

ALL

THE GENERAL

PAGE 6
to think a little and plan ahead. J u s t a s m o s t people a r e b o r n young, m o s t w a r g a m e r s ' f i r s t thoughts on s t r a t e g y won't b e v e r y profound. The f i r s t t r i t e thoughts that will c r o s s his skull will b e on how to b e s t u s e that new r u l e he found. Soon, he will find this inadequate and t u r n to the all-knowing and prolific editors. The two s t r a t e g i c gems I have decided to s h a r e with you a r e a s follows: Spreading: In your line purposely make weak spots. This will make the greedy a t t a c k e r split h i s m a s s in o r d e r to take advantage of the weak spots. The t i m e gained in maneuvering will m o r e than make up f o r the units lost. Mass: If you a r e low on units, f o r m weak a r e a s in a l l s q u a r e s of one line. This will make the enemy m a s s and you will be able t o m e e t this attack in one a r e a r a t h e r than in many. Due t o the s c o r e s of people who have a s k e d m e , I will now give my opinion on how t o defend in the Bulge. Strategically: F o r m up in the south and attack toward the Our. This will f o r c e the G e r m a n t o waste a considerable p a r t of his strength in defending the Clervaux-Diekirch a r e a . After he h a s shifted h i s strength shift y o u r s ( t h r u Wiltz) to the center of h i s line. The l o s s of the southern p a r t will not be d i s a s t e r o u s . Grand Tactically: Shift your hill positions often. This will f o r c e the slower G e r m a n t o run around looking f o r a n opening. Tactically: Keep your units in compact f o r m . Always attack lone units, even r a i d r e a r a r e a s . Amen.

Southwest

Club News...
A Club in the San F r a n c i s c o Bay A r e a h a s no f e e s collected. Meetings a r e e v e r y t h r e e weeks a t m e m b e r s houses. All who have attended a meeting have stayed on because they have s o much fun. Simple organization. We do need s o m e w o r k e r s f o r nonphysical jobs. Also, David May, 7370 Cabrillo, La Jolla, Calif. 92037, i s forming a club in San Diego, T e r r y G r i n e r , Route one, G r e e n a c r e s , Washington 99016, i s forming one inspokane, and in Portland. I think, W. Gerald White, 4004 S. E. Pine S t . , Portland, Oregon 97214 i s forming one. F u r t h e r m o r e , a l l s t a t e s west of the Mississippi, including Wisconsin and Michigan, a r e now p a r t of a PBM league that h a s Multi-Commander games with The E a s t , especially Spectre. No dues, t e l l what g a m e s you own and your ability. Big Commands, not s i x o r eight divisions. It i s a t l e a s t worth a t r y . 670 Darre11 R d . , Hillsborough, Calif. 94010, Jack Greene, Jr.

Tom A. B o s s e l e r 5423 Fallbrook Avenue Woodland Hills, California EDITOR covering Oklahoma, Texas. New Mexico. Arizona, Nevada. California. Hawaii. F a r East.

Theory of Defense
By Tom B o s s e l e r This i s s u e ' s a r t i c l e will b e mainly concerned with defense and i t s application to the Bulge. ~ o n t r a r ~ ~ o p u opinion, l a r there a r e four different types of defenses. The f i r s t of these can b e t e r m e d the "cordon". This i s m e r e l y a m a s s of units on one line. The advantages a r e twofold: f i r s t , the a t t a c k e r i s f o r c e d t o attack a v e r y heavily defended a r e a and second, many t i m e s h e will find homself on the losing s i d e of the casualty list. The disadvantages a r e a l s o twofold: if the a t t a c k e r m a k e s a breakthrough t h e r e a r e no r e s e r v e s to stop h i s d r i v e and often, by holding attacks. the defense will have t o hold the line t o the l a s t man. T h i s would cripple maneuverability. The next defense i s the "reserve". The r e s e r v e defense constitutes a weak l i n e with powerful r e s e r v e s . Whenever the enemy m a k e s a breakthrough the r e s e r v e could b e thrown in, to stop it. If, however, the a t t a c k e r m e r e l y "nibbles" a t the defender's line, the defender will soon find himself with a h a i r y r e s e r v e and no f r o n t l i n e (according t o Liddell-Hart this would be a p r e c a r i o u s position. ) One of my o t h e r llvisionsllh a s taught m e that one of the m o s t effective def e n s e s i s the llposition". This i s nothing but holding a l i n e (by vigorous counter-attacks) until the enemy s u c cumbs t o your s u p e r i o r intellect and stamina. The main disadvantage i s that in m o s t g a m e s the defender doesn't have the "gray m a t t e r g 1 , guts, o r the units t o stage such a marvelous o p e r a tion. The l a s t m a j o r defense I will cover i s the "checkered-line" (B. H. LiddellH a r t ' s Strategy). T h i s is a bunch of units a r r a n g e d in checker-board fashion with r e s e r v e s appearing in the c e n t e r . As you can s e e , a l l s i d e s a r e defended instead of just the front a s in conventional defenses. Strategy on the Defensive So that h e m a y not become the "vanquished" the defender will often have

The Pennsylvania branch of Spectre now wishes to announce the presentation of i t s f i r s t annual tournament f o r Avalon Hill g a m e r s . P l a y will be resolved by a point basis f o r the following four tournament games: Afrika Korps - 2 points Stalingrad - 2 points T a c t i c s I1 - 1 point Gettysburg - 1 point Gettysburg and Stalingrad will be played with no optional r u l e s . Afrika Korps will u s e the supply r u l e & the B r i t i s h 4-4-7 s t a r t a t Mechili rule. T a c t i c s I1 will u s e only the isolation and supply r u l e s . E n t r i e s a r e limited to those living e a s t of Mississippi. Also, a l l e n t r i e s m u s t own a t l e a s t 2 of the 4 tournament games. A s soon a s a player l o s e s one game he d r o p s out of play and i s eliminated. The player with the m o s t accumulated points by Sept. 1, 1966 will win the tournament. A trophy will b e forwarded to the winner. All those i n t e r e s t e d shall send a 25C e n t r y f e e (to cover the p r i c e of the trophy), a stamped self-addressed envelope, and t h e i r p r e f e r e n c e of games and s i d e s . All e n t r i e s must be postm a r k e d by July 19. Contact T h i r d A r m y of P e n n a . , c / o Donald Greenwood, 128 W a r r e n S t r e e t , S a y r e , Penna.

Concise Guide to Military Miniatures

An illustrated booklet, listing a wealth of s o u r c e s f o r thousands of m i l i t a r y miniatures, h a s just been r e l e a s e d . Titled "Concise Guide", this booklet provides a d i r e c t o r y t o the b e s t d e s i g n e r s , d e a l e r s and manufacturers of model soJdiers and r e l a t e d a c c e s s o r i e s of v a r i o u s s c a l e s that can b e used in conjunction with board games. Complete information can b e obtained by writing: J a c k Scruby, 2044 South Linwood, Visalia. California.

Reading List..

Soldier, by Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway and H a r d d H. Martin, 1956. Strategy F o r The West, by A i r M a r s h a l John C. S l e s s o r , 1954. A m e r i c a n Defense And National Security, by Timothy W. Stanley, 1956. New Developments In A r m y Weapons, T a c t i c s , Organization And Equipment, by Capt. Marvin L . Worley, J r . , 1958.

THE GENERAL

AH Games Get Playboy

Do you have your (snort, pant) June yet? Then turn to page 153 and check the colorful display of Avalon games. They appear there as s%gested gift items Apwas strictly pearance in this It us It certainly i s rewarding to know that Avalon Hill games a r e thought of in such high regard by a magazine that exerts a g r e a t deal of influence on an above -average generation. So do us a favor, huh. And write to Playboy to tell them that youquite agree with their taste in games (boardgames, that is). Your efforts might lead to a feature article that can broaden the awareness of the existence AvalOn games' Address your letters Magazines 232 E' Ohio Streets Illinois 60611s Attn: Gifts for Dads & Grads.

I DiplomacyI All Sports Digest Magazine Endorsement I Published in Boston 1 for Sports Fanatics
1

MAE 7

Information regarding the World War I based cold-hot war game titled Diplomacy can be obtainedfrom: G~~~~ Research. 48 Wareham Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Many Avalon Hill playe r s have this game in their possession and claim that i t i s quite enjoyable. he only drawback, i t s c r i t i c s state, is the fact that i t is no fun as a twoplayer game. ~t should be played by six or seven players

Working hand-in-hand with several sports game companies is the S o r t s Di est, a newspaper tabloid pubm : n l y for the enrichment of the sports game aficionado. This tabloid is currently running an interesting series of articles ongamingphilosophy~

ALL

Inquiries should be made directly to ALL SportsDigest, 2309East F i r s t St., Duluth 12, Minnesota.

CONTEST $8
You a r e in a Mercedes and trailing you begin the last lap at L ~ M Towin, youfigure youmusttakechances on all remaining corners. Thus, in this contest, you must take every c o r n e r safely one gear above specifications. The RACING PLAN lists all the n e r s you must c o r n e r safely before crossing the finish line. F o r contest purposes, the Corner Table, below, a s sumes that all of the c o r n e r s a r e dangerously slippery. On the RACING PLAN you must s e l e c t the stock that will act a s the die roll. You must select a different stockfor e a c h c o r n e r and they be chosen only f r o m the l i s t below. The judges will consult the sales-inhundreds column f o r the closing N.Y. Stock Exchange transactionsof Monday, August 9, 1965. The l a s t digit of the sales-in-hundreds column will a c t a s the die roll and when matched up with the Corner Table will tell you whether Or "at You have cornered safely.

LeMans Chance Table

One of the least talked about of the Avalon Hill games i s the racing game. Le Mans. Although the military games of Avalon Hill rank over their nonmilitary games, t h e r e i s a g r e a t deal of enjoyment derived f r o m these. Le Mans offers t r u e racing - that of letting the driver truly make the decisions while most racing games a r e a l l throw the dice and move. ~h~ CHANCE TABLE f o r taking a corner a gear higher is quite lopsided. ~h~ chances are the same that a pen.1ty will be inflicted on both a tlwettt sharp corner,and a ttwetlt Hairpin. This i s the new Chance Table that I have devised that I feel i s much m o r e in keeping with the approximate r i s k s taken:

HOW YOU WIN ~ Ten ~ winners . willbe named. Winning entries will be those who get through all of the c o r n e r s safely. In the event that no one reaches the finish line, winn e r s will be those who come closest before spinning out. In c a s e of ties, e a r l i e s t postmarks decide. Winners will be awarded FREE ~ v a l o n =11 games of their choice. This contest i s f r e e to all subscrifill in the RACING PLAN bers. simply and mail to: The Avalon Hill Magazine, 210 W. 28th Street, Baltimore, Md., 21211. Entries must be postmarked no later than sunday, ~~~~~t 8, 1965, p r i n t your name and addr e s s clearly and make s u r e you l i s t the game you wish a s winning prize. Those who tlo not wish to mutulate their magazine may send a copy o r photostat. Naturally, ~nly one to a subscriber allowed.

r I

1
I I

- - - - -- - --- Stock

--'

----

RACING PLAN
(AH use only)

corner 2 km.

Corner Table

DIE
1

2 3 4 5 6

SHARP Spin Spin s Pit 6 s s s s s s s

HAIRPIN Spin Spin Pit Pit Spt Pit Spt Pit s Crack Up 8 s s s

1
1 Safely Cornered 6 spin o u t 7 Safely Cornered 8 Spin o u t 9 Safely Cornered 0 Safely Cornered

3 km.
Mulsanne Arnage 11 km. 12 km.

I
1

2 Spin Out
3 Safely Cornered

1
1 1
1

I.

The m o r e lethal the turn, the higher the r i s k s . On a wet Hairpin, you have a m e r e 20% chance of coming out unscathed. Almost invariably everybody will take almost a l l of the c o r n e r s a gear higher. This table will cut down on that tremendously. Any comments will most gladly be received a t my home address: Ken Hoffman, 266 Carroll St., New Bedford, Mass.

4 Spin Out 5 Safely Cornered

I
Stocks: Ampex G. E. Motorola Sears White Motor Zenith

Name

j Address

chrysler
Ford I. B. M.

1 I 1

'

city. State

I Prize

THE GENERAL

PAGE 8
a r e the best c a r s (in that o r d e r ) ; the f i r s t two, because of their high top gear, and the other two because of their combination of both high safe and high chance movement r a t e s . On the Monte Carlo course, the s a m e c a r s a r e among the best, but two more must be added to the list. F i r s t the Triumph, because of i t s "10" when chancing s h a r p corners. (There a r e t h r e e m o r e s h a r p c o r n e r s on the Monte Carlo course than on the Le Mans. I do not count the two "split-up" c o r n e r s . ) Second i s the Cooper. If this c a r gets into the lead it i s almost impossible to catch. (It takes hair-pins safely a t seven. ) However, it has a weakness in i t s slow s t a r t , which often r e s u l t s in taking a s many a s three turns to crawl out of a corner in f i r s t gear after a spin out. The worst c a r s on either course a r e the Austin Healey and the Mercedes. However, it i s still fun to r a c e with one of these c a r s once in a while, because i t is such a challenge to win with such a miserable c a r . Some Tips on Playing ( 1 ) (Mirabeau. Station, and Gasometer corners - hairpins). I notice that on these c o r n e r s , most players who could have moved one square into the corner on the outside by taking a chance, instead stop on the "two" and go through a t a chance on the next turn. It doesn't s e e m to make any difference since it i s one square longer around the outside anyway, and i t ' s natural to put things off. But suppose you spin out. If you take the chance a t the f i r s t opportunity, instead of waiting a turn, and spin out, you a r e one turn ahead. ( 2 ) In a close r a c e (unless i t i s the l a s t lap) it i s even more important to r i s k Mirabeau corner in order to beat the other r a c e r s through Station. By moving into the one-car wide section f i r s t , you present the c a r s behind you with a tough decision. They can either slow down (sometimes clear to f i r s t g e a r ) o r go ahead and chance Station also. In the l a t t e r case, a l l you have to do i s slow down to f i r s t , move one square, and l e t the other c a r s pile into you. (They won't be able to shift down in the corner. ) This will result in pit stops f o r them but not for you. ( 3 ) If someone i s slipstreaming your c a r through a corner, you can speed up and automatically spin out. This results in an automatic smash-up f o r the c a r behind you. ( 4 ) Wait until the l a s t lap to use up a l l of your hard brakings. Then you won't have to make a pit stop. Incidentally, I would like to hear f r o m other L e Mans fans. Write and tell me which c a r s o r which course you like best.. Jared Johnson, 3923 P e r r y Street, Denver, Colorado.

Racing Hints for LeMans

by Jared Johnson In Le Mans some c a r s a r e better suited for one course than the other, thus it i s best to decide which course to r a c e on f i r s t and then choose c a r s . Personally I prefer the Monte Carlo course. There a r e more curves on tllis course and a s a result the c a r s tend to stay closer together than they do on &e Le Mans course. (At l e a s t i t looks that way. ) This keeps players f r o m becoming discouraged too easily, when they get way behind. I have played several games on the Le Mans course where the two players in l a s t place decided to ruin the game by slowing down to f i r s t gear and moving one square per turn. (Technically t h e r e i s nothing illegal about this. ) When the r e s t of the c a r s came around, the t r a c k was blocked up and nobody could get by. This was especially annoying to the person in f i r s t place a s he saw everyone else catching up to him. Sometimes they would just l e t a couple of people through and block up the r e s t . By the time the ensuing argument was over, none felt like playing anymore. On the Le Mans course, the Jaguar, the F e r r a r i , the Lotus, and the M. G.

Discount Offer
The Coupon shownbelow i s for the benefit of the full-year subscriber. As soon a s you have accumulated 4 such caupons, l each from this and succeeding i s s u e s , you a r e entitled to a $1.00 discount applied to the purchase of any Avalon Hill game. Here's how i t works Each coupon i s worth 25f. But one coupon alone does not entitle you to a 25f credit. You must accumulate 4 different coupons before taking advantage of the $1.00 credit. When you have accumulated 4 coupons, then you clip them a l l together and send them in with your o r d e r for an Avalon Hill game. When ordering in this manner, you simply send u s a check o r money-order for $1.00 l e s s than the usual retail value of the game. Coupons a r e valid only when o r d e r ing games by mail directly from The Avalon Hill Company. Coupons can not be redeemed a t any retail outlet.

Contest #7 Ends in 12-Way Tie

The following players came up with the optimum solution for "Bonapartels Bungle", l a s t i s s u e ' s contest situation. And for you l o s e r s welcome to the llNapoleonic e r r o r " . The winners a r e :

Grid-Coordinates for PBM

A special "Grid-Coordinate" sheet is now available to subscribers free of charge. This sheet outlines grtd-coordinates for all seven AH games that can be played by mail. It also includes the brand new Play-by-Mail chance tables for Afrika Korps (Supply Table), Stalingrad (Weather Table), and Tactics I1 (Weather Table). For your copy, please send a self-addressed envelope with a 5f stamp stuck firmly to it. Send no money. But if you don't send a return envelope, you're in trouble. Our normally pleasant staff can understandably be out of s o r t s e a r l y in the morning when opening the mail. Their mood worsens when your correspondence contains no money; and when they don't even find a return envelope a macabre atmosphere pervades. So keep us cheerful - send a r e t u r n envelope to Avalon Hill a t our 210 W. 28th Street, Baltimore, Maryland address. Attention: "PBM Sheet.

Paul Mitchell, Natick, Mass. Bob Collman, Rt. #3, Box 2553, Enunclaw, Washington. Robert S. Liebl, 70 Pinetree Lane, Willingboro, N. J e r s e y l s t / L t . W. L. MacMuroy, J r . , HQ, 2nd MI Bn (ARS), APO New York, Europe. Kenneth Bunger, 4105 N. 54th St., Omaha. Nebraska 23rd Ave., Art Schneider, 6720 Kenosha. Wisconsin Henry H. Bodenstedt. 86 Manalapan Avenue, Freehold, New J e r s e y Bruce Baird, 2505 N. 84th Street, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin Victor Madeja, 287 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, New York Ronald Papandrea, 303 15 Austin Dr. Warren, Michigan Ralph Fellows. Tremont Street, Duxbury, Massachusetts L a r r y Little, 332 Homestead Road, Wayne. Penna.

. 1SAVE THIS COUPON [

GOOD ONLY WHEN APPLIED TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF AVALON HILL GAMES

JULY 1965
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

THE GENERAL

PAGE 9

Tactics & Strategy-Part

by David B. Whiskeyman

This i s the second in a s e r i e s of articles dealing with offensive and defensive maneuvers. The maneuver presently concerned with i s . .

Turning movements- - This movement is a close cousin to envelopment; however, i t s identity i s determined by its objective. Whereas the envelopment seeks the enemy's destruction in position, the turning movement threatens his lines of supply and communication, usually forcing the opposing force to abandon ihe otherwise advantageous position. The value of this maneuver cannot be s t r e s s e d too strongly, for i t can take ( o r regain) l a r g e a r e a s without actually engaging the enemy. With the use of a turning movement, s m a l l e r forces can "urge" a strongly situated foe f r o m his position by threatening his lines of supply and/or communication. As a n example of what problems this movement can present to an enemy. this situation i s s e t up: Rommel, having reached Tobruch too l a t e to make an easy capture, made one a s s a u l t against the f o r t r e s s before his supply problems reached the point where he could do no more than keep the d e s e r t port under seige. In the meankhile, with the British 7th in Tobruch and the Australian 7th keeping Rommel's r e connaissance busy in the Msus a r e a , the remaining portion of the Eighth Army r e t i r e d to the Libyan border. Therefore, on his 2nd July turn Romme1 decides to close the distance between his a r m y and his foes. Now, in late July, the British make their move.

The frontal a s s a u l t is generally used In either of two instances: a s the sec3ndary (or holding) attack, o r in a despetate l a s t lunge a t the enemy aenter when a l l else has failed to break h i s ranks. In few AH war games a r e frontal attacks suitable as even secondary, o r jiversionary assaults. However, the offers this opportunity. Diagram C shows a frontal attack a s made i n T h e Battle of the Bulge. In this diagram i t is the U. S. 22nd A. M. turn, and i t is a holding attack (under the supposition that the main attack i s on the f a r flank) with the intention of holding the heavy German forces in position.

b i a g r i m A:' the situation after m e l ' s 2nd July movement.

om-

~ i a ~ r a B: m the situation after the British 2nd July (turning) movement. In diagram B, the underlying motives of how the advance was c a r r i e d out a i e thus: with the July reinforcements due to a r r i v e , the 4th Indian (along with two flank units) can move to and around the German flank while the 18th infantry and two divisions, the 50th and the 2nd South Africans, fill in the gap. Howe v e r , the key to this particular movement i s the 7 t h b a t t a l i o n of the 2nd South African. If i t were not holding El Adem, the German-Italian force could escape to f o r m a new line immediately to the west (this time with mountains on both flanks). As i s i s , the suddenly beleaguered force can escape, but in a l l probability would not be able to r e f o r m on a North-South defensive until they had been pushed back too Mechili. (This a s s u m e s the Germans fail to receive supply f o r a t l e a s t two m o r e turns and that the British p r e s s their advantage. ) Although this maneuver s e e m s v e r y s i m i l a r to a n envelopment r e m e m b e r i t s objective makes the distinction. The final point to be made h e r e i s the fact that a turning movement need not penetrate the enemy's r e a r s o f a r a s this one; the advance might have tnoved further west before cutting north. if a t all. The necessary depth of penetration i s relative to the situation. Frontal Attacks--Perhaps the poore s t type of assault, the frontal attack .seldom stands a chance of breaking the enemy ranks. It i s in fact the quickest way to defeat one's own a r m y (if that course of a c t i o n i s pursued). They have a history of high casualty r a t e s ; a tradition which seldomfails to hold credence. The actual reason behind this i s that a t r u e frontal attack i s made with tvail: able strength disposed equally along t h e front.

Diagram C: a U. S. holding attack in the Battle of the Bulge. In this attack the U.S. f o r c e s were equally disposedalong the line, although i t makes no difference whether the troops had attacked f r o m different sect o r s ( s q u a r e s ) o r f r o m a l l sectors, nor if more units had been thrown into the line; the disposition and number of troops in the a s s a u l t was dependent upon the tactical situation the American David commander wished to instigate. B. Whiskeyman, 112 S. Broad Street. Lititz. Pennsylvania 17543.

..

Tactics on Afrika Korps

by John Finoh
Below you will find a detailed debcription of w i c k Opener" which is a plan for the e a r l y capture of Tobruch by the Afrika Korps. A p r i l - F i r s t German Turn Rommel (Giving a l l Axis unit8 a two move bonus)--Then to (Covering the Home B a s e )

- W-8

HI-3

THE GENERAL
Ariete Suo~lv #l

-I L 3
- =us

Brescia Pavia Savena Trenta

-5-3 -J-3 - K-3

-J-3

I I
I

Operation Churchill
by Richard L. Dalton I have named this strategy in honor of the late, g r e a t Winston Churchill who was the Admiralty's champion f o r the persuit of the Bismarck. I, like he, believe that the B i s m a r c k must be found immediately and then, a t the soonest favorable moment, be brought to action. Mathew Buvnoski's Tactics and Strategy (January '65 i s s u e ) i s a fine basic plan but the part of " F i r s t Move1# i s uncertain and could prove a failure. It i s a sometimes thing, left to chance. This i s where 'Operation Churchill' comes in. It may be split into two moves; f i r s t i s the difusion phase Rodney E-5, D Victorious D-6, c P r . of Wales C-6, C Dorsetshire D-5, D Aurora C-7, C Kenya C-8. C Manchester A-6, C Hermione E-5, C Arethusa B-6, B Birmingham B-7, C D-8*A Kg. Geo. V D-6, C Suffolk B-5, B NorfolkA-5,D Re~ulseD-7sA Edinburgh F-6, C Ramil1ies G-3, D F o r c e H H- 5, D Hood C-5. C only unexplored a r e a s ; A-7--A-g--B-8--E-b--E-B second i s the regroup phase; Galatea E-8. B Repulse D-7,A Ramillies G-4, A Aurora D-8,A Edinburgh F- 6. C Rodney F-5. B Birmingham A-8, C D-5* C Kg. Geo. V E-6, C Kenya C-8, C P r . of Wales C-7, c Victorious E-5s C Hermione E-5, C Arethusa B-7, D Dorsetshire D-6. C Suffolk B-6, C Norfolk A-6, C Manchester A-7, C F o r c e H H-5. D if s t i l l lost, Bismarck i s in B-8, A or C Thus the B i s m a r c k i s found in two t u r n s a t the most and the time element i s on the side of the British. He does not need to fight a t night and can u s e this time a s a breather period for r e grouping his f o r c e s f o r his daylight attacks. Using the '9-area defense' the Bismarck can be dealt with v e r y easily.

1 Do-it-Yourselfers Design
Own Battle Games
Since the inception of The General, we have received quite a number of l e t t e r s f r o m s u b s c r i b e r s who have designed their own battle games. And f r o m the number of blank Unit Counter sheets and hexagon sheets that a r e o r d e r e d f r o m u s , we'd say that this s e e m s to be a favorite pastime for many of you. We couldn't possible describe a l l of the games in The General, however, we feel we would be doing you subscribe r s an injustice if we did not, a t least, make you aware of these games. We a r e therefore listing the names of those who we know have designed competant games in their own right. A major World War game between England and Japan, played on a huge 44" x 90" map of 1/4" squares, has been designed by Lawrence Wolfe, 12 Archwood Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas. Hilary Smith, 7805 Maple Ridge Road, Bethesda 14, Maryland has come up with a 3' x 5' map of Europe. His 10-member club has been working on this game for over a year and the game provides f o r Russian, German. French, British and Italian commanders. Salamis & Thermopylae, a game depicting the actual battles fought by the ancient Greeks and P e r s i a n s , has been designed by William C. Weiss, R. D. #1, Box 52. Hershey. Pa. The playing pieces of this game include T r i r e m e s (ships having t h r e e banks of o a r s ) . Cavalry, Chariots, Lancers and Archers. David Nelson, 39 14Ashville, Garland, Texas has thought up a World War I1 game that begins play in 1939. A B i s m a r c k type game has been designed by Robert Bickel and James Maxeiner, 22 Woodcrest Drive, Ladue, Missouri. And another naval game, patterned after Midway, i s the brainchild of Michael R. Meylan. And to all the others who a r e looking f o r opponents to t e s t out your own games with, simply drop us a line and we'll be glad to include mention of it in future issues.

By u s e of the Rommel unit, coast road and by skirting west of Agedabia along the coast, the Italians a r e able to s e a l off Bengasi. A~ril-First Allied Turd 7A/1 7A/2 4115 4117 41/11 POL

- Same - Same - Same - Same -5-62

By s e a to ~bbruch 22 GDS - G-18 2/2SG Bengasi K-18 2 13 7/31 Motor H 1 8 Supply # 1- Tobruch

--

Except for the s e a t r a n s f e r , the All i e s respond normally. However, the 22 GDS unit i s overextended to protect the coast road a t Tmimi. April-Second German Turn W-5 (Giving Supply #2 a two Rommel move bonus) Then to W-3 (Covering the Home B a s e )

--

2113 2115 211104 Afiete Supply # l Supply #2

-F-17

-F-17 -F-17 -F-14 - Mechili

- G-2

Bologna Brescia Pavia Savena Trenta

- H-3 -C- 10

- C-10 -1-2
-

The 22 GDS unit is eliminated while the Ariete unit prevents the encirclement of the 21st Division. The 21st advances to G- 18, which was llvacatedllby the 22 GDS. Meanwhile the Italians advance, leaving two divisions a t Bengasi. April-Second Allied Turn 7A/ 1 7A/2 4115 4117 41/11 POL

- K-3'5 - K-35 - J-33 - J-33 -J-33 - 5-62

Supply # 1 & 2 - Tobruch 9A/20 - Tobruch 213 - Tobruch 7/31 Motor - Tobruch 212SG auto. elim.

No r e s i s t a n c e can be offered a t the Mechili P a s s ; the 9A/20 led units must attack o r r e t r e a t , while the 213 unit i s useless without northern support. These units therefore r e t r e a t to Tobruch since only poor r e s i s t a n c e i s possible on the surrounding escarpment. Because of the l a r g e concentration of Axis troops nearby the other Allied f o r c e s a r e obliged to protect the Salum P a s s . At the beginning of May, the German 15th Division and possibly m o r e supplies will a r r i v e . It will be a fullmonth before Allied reinforcements a r r i v e , therefore the attack on Tobruch should be completed by this time. Any comments may be a d d r e s s e d to: John Finch, 37 Greenway North. Albany New York.

League Going Strong

The Huntington PBM League, now six months old, has gathered interested m e m b e r s f r o m all over the nation. The league's main function i s to a c t a s a coordinating center for players who wish to m e e t competition on the s a m e level with their own ability. Write to: Avalon Hill PBM League, Box 572. Huntington, Indiana 46750.

Best Stalingrad Defense Ever

by Ron Bullis I have devised the following Stalingrad initial placement which i s one of the best t h e r e i s - - b e t t e r than any that have appeared in the "General" anyhow. I have used compass bearings in.stead of a grid-coordinate because of

THE GENERAL
the numberous grids now being used, and this will simplify the task of anyone setting this perfect system up. I a m alsousing the attack-defense-movement factors instead of identification for e a s i e r setting i t up. 4-6-6 4-6-6 5-7-6 5-7-4 4-6-6 4-6-6 4-6-4

PAGE 11
Lwow 5-7-4 5-7-4 Cernauti Cernauti 4-6-4 Kiev 5-7-4 5-7-4 Kiev Bucharest 5-7-4 4-6-4 2W Odessa 2 W Odessa 4-6-4 2W Odessa 4-6-4 BILitovsk 4-6-4 13 SE 5-7-4 13 SE BILitovsk 5-7-4 13 SE BILitovsk 7-10-4 4 SE Cernauti I find that this defense has numerous 1 SW 2 W 1 NE 6 SW 6 SW 6 NE

5W 2 SW 1E 1W 3 SW 1 NE 1 NE 1 NE 1 SE 1 SE 2 SE

9W
14 NE 4 W 7 E 1 NW 1 NW 3 NE

Archangel Riga "NE" Lake Onega Tampere Leningrad Leningrad Konigsberg

OPPONENTSWANTED

9W

Daugavpils Riga Kaunas Vilnius Minsk Kaunas BILitovsk BILitovsk BILitovsk BILitovsk BILitovsk BILitovsk BILitovsk Kiev

OPPONENTSWANTED To: Virginians From: Larry s. BurstF* Virginia Sector of Staff* Subject: information Of fast growing war game' O r Baniration is at L a r r y J o e Bvratyn 6103 P i n t o P l a c e Springfield. Va. 22150 Sorry, in only to member.. WESTERNERS PREFERRED. No experience needed, but it will be useful, Opponents are wmted for of KORPS, STALINGRAD,

OPPONENTSWANTED

OPPONENTS WANTED

OPPONENTS WANTED

T h e

Need opponents badly. Send hot parThe D e s e r t Vampire wiahes t o F o r W e s t e r n e r s , Multi-commandgames ~ ~ ~ binept l c ein e r a ~l ~ ~ ishes to t i c u l a r s t o cold northland in care of h i s Blood Bank. All wishing to with e a s t . Big commands, not eight learn s t d i n g r a d . U you don't mind S a m Leakin, 4300 Northwood Drive. donate t h e i r blood on the 0 1 laughing yourself t o death t r y William divieions. J a c k Greene, J r . . 670 DarAnchorage, Alaska. C e m e t e r y Ridge or on the beaches of Gilbert. 63 pinebook D ~ . , u t c h m o n t re11 Rd.. Hillsborargh, Calif. 94010. IOWANS wanted in the Black Hawk F r a n c e (as the allies), send blood type N. y . 10538. P.S. Don't everyone take L e t the f a c t s s p e a k f o r themselves. I County area to play Avrlon Hill War and a d d r e s s to: Ed. Birsan, 48-20 the Russians. have won 2 A.H. contests. Will win Games.in person. Sorry. no play-by39th s t r e e t , on 181and c i t , N. y . with a n y s i d e ~ a c t i e s11. w a t e r l o o , ATTENTION AMERICANS! SPECTRE mail. Call 266-1970. or write: Bruce Stalingrad. D-Day, Gettysburg ('62). NEEDSYOU! Joinin t h e s u m m e r buildKindig. 3422 RowndStreet. Cedar Falls. m y AH g a m e or invention you or I own. up of SPECTRE f o r c e s . Joln the l a r g e Afrika Korps. and Midway. Charlea Iowa 50613. I would like t o f o r m a club or join one n u m b e r s in yovr s t a t e , o r 'start one of Hickok. Windyhill, Box 6. Harrisburg. Opponentswanted; y a r r own. E x p e r i e n c e not n e c e s s a r y if one exist.. A s k for D~~~ ~ ~ .t d l ~ ~ toplaySTALINGRAD. Pen"'y1vania' D-DAY. BULGE. AFRIKA KORPS, and 1.a 3-3072. f o r " b o o t r l c a m p s a r e i n existance. Send T O a l l sane Avalon Hill P l a y e r s , as TACTICS 11. Will be Russiana in STAL.. name. a d d r e s s , a g e , g a m e s , experi*poke*man of World Conquests Inc. I Allies in D-DAY, e i t h e r in BULGE. Wanted: Play-By-Mail Allied player m c e , and any other i d o r m a t i o n to: b e s e e c h you t o join u s i n the fight G e r m a n s in AFRIKA KORPS and e i t h e r f oir Battle the Bulge. Must b e willSPECTRE, ~ ~ ~ of ~ , ~ ~ ~ 4413 ~ willow ~ wooda , ngamst s p e c t r e led by ~~i~~ H in TACTICS. P l e a s e contact Dana ing to be defeated. Write or c a l l Robert We have and will defend the Nation's Annandale, Virginia. , " ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ s u ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ , 4 T ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Trem ~ b l a y . Wenham R d . , Topsfield. T * I f t h e r e i s i a n y T ' e p a " i e r . 72 ~Coventry Circle. North capital a n d beg a l l to fight, destroy. to H, Falconer, 4759 Hersbolt Conn. Telephone 239.~986. Haven. and o b l i t e r a t e this v i l e nationwide club. ane living i n t h e portlandarea ~ h plays o M a . s . Avenue, Lon Beach 90808, A S p e c t r e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e will be sent Would like to e s t a b l i s h a combat = o m D~eichnrganieediaFargeas, 1908QuincySt.. N.W., AH g a m e s , please contact me a t once! to Arizona. All i n t e r e s t e d in details mand staff i n the Seattle area. Anydesperately in "eed of in-person washington, D.C. 20011. brilliant 0 b e r Kommand with a Fifth w r i t e a p0.t c a r d t o Jay Hawkin=. 2005 body i n t e r e s t e d please contact Dean my n e a r e s t ~t Pennsylvanian.!= Column must be stopped, They haven E l s f Campbell Ave.. Phoenix. Arizona. Wolbach. 3709 Wallingford N.. Seattle ~ 0 n c . r o f Our s t a t e ( ~ c rh eate ~a t one lives 8 0 ~~i~~ =ibby, a bnnle yet and Include name, a d d r e s s . and Phone 98103. (ME-2-1782). Also need OP~ h i a Nation! ) ~n A.H. P I ~ ~ - B ~ - M 16 wiililm s t . . portland. ~ a i " 04103. ~ ~ I every Hill organib c r . The r e p r e s e n t a t i v e arrives the ponents to cut fledgling PBM teeth. I B a t t l e s ! E n l i s t In The T h i r d A r m y Of Telephone- 774-6047. zation to their downfall with sue13th of June and l e a v e s the 15th of July. Play Tactic. 11D-Day* Stalingrad, ~ e n n s y l v m i a .A Division o f spectre. I I C I U ~ S wanted t o oppose the n ~ i g h t i e s t cess, write to Randy Holmes, THE ROGUES of C h l r l o t t e s v i l l c a r e a r m y i n existance. We play a l l A.H. U i n t e r e s t e d c o n t a c t B o b E m m e r s . P.O. 60045 for details on how to help stop If YOU wish to engage our G e r m a n A r m y now r e a d y t o play the G e r m a n s ~n Bulge Box 353. Boalsburg, Penna. 16827. We battle games and a l l challenges. this fantastic organization. in 'Battle of t h e B u l g e u s i n g t h e t o u r n a o r the B r i t i s h in Afrika Korps. Writr will also take and destroy any club Contact The Third ArmyTPenna. d optional ~ r u l e * please Jackson, 1706 Old F o r g e Road. - e a s t of the M i s s i s s i p p i ! ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ 128 l warren ~ d street, ~ merit a n ~ ~ contact ~ ~ a r r y d , wanted: Opponent to play-by-mail or our Commander-in-Chief, J o h n S i l v e r t Chnrlotfesville. Virginia 22902. g a m e n e . Pe,crn"a. s n re, P live 8bst.lingrrd" or "Afrika Korps". ' e n a t 2533 F l a i r Knoll Drive. Northopponents f o r the following g a m e r . signed e s p e c i a l l y f o r m.c. p-b.m. N~ experienccnece.sary. Also, 1 would e a s t Atlanta 29, Georgia. We will play ~ i a m a r c k . D - m y , Stalingrad. WaterJoin t h e undefeated Royal of of the Capital-Michigan intersec. like to s t a r t a N o r t h e r n V i r g i n i a AH in Person Or Preferably loo. Midway. Baffle of the Bulge. and Grand Fenwick. The game. Strategy cams club. A~~~~~ i n t e r e s t e d w r i t e , tion i n ~ ~ t c rte e k l , ~&qichigln Attention a l l G e r m a n G e n e r a l s wishing w.i l l play on any sldc. ~ f r i k a~ o ~ p s I. although deaigned to offer a c h a l l e n g e Matthew Buynoski, 41 o r c h a r d J~~ ~ ~ t P. t 0. . BOX 246, Oakton. Va. to run the gauntlet of d e f e n s e by the w r i t e or c a l l Bill Rabe. 9 Church St., to e v e r y player. can b e ==aily s e t up. place, B~~~~ Creek, Michigan please o r hone 385-7414. B r i t i s h in the Libyan D e s e r t , or by t h e ord dent own. N. J. Phone. 298-3548. C u r i o u s ? Send s e l f a d d r e s s e d , s t a m p Matthew Buynoski, 41 Orchard A s p e c t r e A r m y h a s been f o r m e d A m e r i c m * i n the Ardenne* (tourn. or ace-to-Face only) ed envelope to: Dan Drewek. 311 Weat and T ~ X Wargarners ~ S should write. place, ~ ~ c r e e~ k , phone f 963-0106. l ~ b a s i c ) Your choice and a11 sf Optional ~ a d i s o n i a n . ~ re you enjoying your LexingtonBlvd., Milwaukee.wis.53217. A unique orgmi.ation i s i n cfhave 14 very few opponents, Rules or none. Send opening m o ~ e t so games this s u m m e r ? Join our club and The MIT War G a m e s Society and D~~ plenty of ( 6 yrs. ), Will feet allowing the high common to take RaY Wolo@zyn. 2126 A n g e l c r e s t Dr.. m e e t new oppenenta and new horizons. K=ieg.*piel Bund are putting t h e i r 150=dvantlge of c v e r y o n s ' ~ability whether teach talent, or give good fight to Hacineda Hei hts. Calif. 91745. w e have excellant .election of 0 r e c o r d a t stake. Anyone who would of A f r i c a or the =i..led i t be in the ~ e s e r t a A.H. w a r p m c s . (except ~ i e u c h e s s ) . like t o help u s toward the 250-0 mark . must stepps of R U S S ~ ~ We d e s i r e d . My tactical sense i s v e r y w r i t e t o ~ o b e r Reuschlein, t 2225Kcyss thinks he c a n c h a n g e the o s h o ~ l d o r w h o ~~d~~ T Caithness, Scotlmd; would like to ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o. r The r o U.S.A. v I P00rly developed, rind I h o w i t can be A r e . , U . d i ~ n11, Wisconsin. or call: w r i t e t o Stanley D., Hoffman, 63 ~ t . from some .eriou, Bulge, w r i t e to: =ddie Robishelux. GOC. improved only by p r i h l experience. 5-2866. F e e l f r e e . A L Rd.. Buffalo, N.Y. 14226. Any Vernon ~ f player., ~ i ~ ~ ~ T~~~~ Army, 4405 D r i f t m o d . Corprrs d ~~ l ~ ~ 1 . 0 play Afrika K o r p o r StallnWill 1 ' h e T i m e December 16. 1914. 0:5@0 =me. any side, m y number. only please. Christi, T e x a s 78411 Today! Will u * e e i t h e r side. but d The Ardcnnes {Pectre c a l l s ' Mass. resident8 join SOLDIERS OF THE SOUTH A R ~ ~ ~ !8-d. ! All those wishing t o b e p i g s k i n p l a a t e r e d f i c i l l r u l e s and 2nd Edition PBM ddm -tivjcctiv. To reach the M e " . . ,,,. ne the ,.,inning .ide. contact: Defend your confederate honor contact J. " I m p r c ~ a b l e " S t e r r e t t . 2100 table enly. Send acceptance o r f i r s t l S v ebeen waitimg s i n c e the i n v a s i a f o r joaeph picariello, 74 woodland R d , , on the noble of Gettysburg, If N.W. 8th Gainesville, 'lorida. move t o H. P i e r r e Noye*. 823 I r t h r e p t h i s move. n i c k YOU^^. 501 r a i r w a y Waltham. Maes. 02154, Phone 8948877. willing to our Yankee ( F o r the ignorant. I a m r e f e r r i n g to Drive, Stanford. c a l i f . 94305. ~ ~ nd.. ~ i ~ d * "N. . J. 07038. ~ mexpcricncedwargdmerswhomlny mail, Robert MurFootball Strategy). Opponent wanted f o r p l a y b y m a i l g a m e mm. of TL. m i e. would like to t r y a m o r e sophisticated 1hy, 22 place, Mill Valley, Attention Confederate Army C a m of Afrilra Korps or D - m y . 1 Uke 01 ~ i in spain ~ dur. i Calif.mia. ~ ~ ~ and Jim~ ~ G.af..l to pl.y.by.m.il: manders your e i t h e r *id=. Any apecific r u l e s you ing1936 w i t h 8 p l a y e r s a n d e i m u l t a n e o u s ~ l ~ this ~ means i ~ ~ ,Sorry, no D - ~ IG.rm*n). Y A f r i h Korp*(Allie*I. want to use, with the letter now Inthe C o d . A r m of C e n t r a l * P a . movement. AH type movement and hexa ames. I' O r Cetty'burg We m u s t f r e e the S o i t h and d r i v e out tothere Jon Vogel, 68 ~ r 0 - ds t . . ~ l ~ m i ~ ~ pieces, This game has been play.tested '58 (Union). I a m willing to join any a l l Union f o r c e s anywhere. H u r r y . so i n two PBM games = ,d is completely in the A1ameda-contl costa llUb Tn offenses as p h m b , closta..I debugged, l","tK~bllt~~~c;"~Zi',~ntIh;i;xi Hunt' l W 7 Baatogne d e f e n s e s o r p l s h the enemy as possible. Contlct: Lt. Gen. J i m D. Hoffman, 63Mt, YernonRd,, Buffalo, Station Rd., Lafayettc. Cal. Telephone% AH game in the flesh develop a new Jay Birnic. 7 Clem8on Dr.. C a m p Hill. N, Y , 14226, 935-5811 (Age 15). ~ ~ ~ s s : ~ : Penna. 17011. Opponent. wanted f o r T a c t i c s 11. GetC O ~ ; ~ :; e ; r l e ; t ; p r e f e r a Tournament game of of Attention a l l AH p l a y e r s in the Twin Anyone F o r T o t a l W a r ? Tactics-11 all Either t ~ S b u r g64* and Afrilu Korps. . , i d ~ a ~ b 303 i ~ , vGginia. write: the Bulge, with the Weather option u.ed. c i t y area or the suberbe. Also m y r e g u l a r and optional 1961 Rulca. (Nuside. any one of the t h r e e . Also, in~ l p i n e ~ o a d . staunton. v i r g i n i a , or Write: Pat Carrick, 16832 Janine Dr., p l a y e r s across the r i v e r i n Wisconsin. c l e a r provimion m a y be excluded f o r c a l l TU 6.6893. the-fleeh player. in my area. Write. whittiWh If you are i n t e r e s t e d i n joining n AH those who f e a r quick annihilation. ) Ed D o t o d i e ? ~ e n e n l . t t . 682 Oakmolt. Portervill*. P e o p l e o f wargaming club please contact David Either side. Ted Pittman, 2-10 27th Calif. 93257. P.S. I have only the 2nd nlinois now. Send your n a m e and a d Ed Hughes and L. Amemon. L496 H a r t f o r d Ave.. St. d r e s s on an index c a r d (3 x 5 ) with l i s t Avc., Aetoria. New York Youanywhere lrom Paul. Minnesota. OR CALL 698-6300. Anyone in area of Mass. live or b y m a i l ; " ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ " = , ' t ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ n ~ ~ ~ ~ ' m of games owned, game. played and your Of to the shores Of NormmdY. T h e r e a r e no d u e s a t thia t i m e so don't t o play and o r a l l A v d o n Hill game. record, if any, is kept. write tm K ~ , , er Of 'I' D-DAy and We p r e f e r to have the G e r m a n s in XK l e t that stop you f r o m contacting m e . will take e i t h e r eide. ~ l c a s s .omcone x a m i n s k i , 1743 N. wood s t . . c h i c a g o , andStalingrad, but will t a k e e i t h e r aide. E n t i r e l y new. completely r e v i s e d line n l i n o i s 60622. 18 y e a r s or older if i n t e r e s t e d c a l l ~ ~ ~ ~ , e~pe:::~::' l :~:' ~ pr~::~~ e ~ , , To be beaten Inywargame, write' of products and P r i c e s just out! Inor write. Clinton Matthew@. 55 Ward ence of c o m m a n d ( s ) t o William P. mein. ~ooking f o r the beet most a b l e ( s i c ) opEd 'lo S' St'. Bedcludes blank battle, naval, and a i r c r a f t 1641. 8th Ave.. Noith. ~ o r DadBe, t St., Randol h. Maas. Phone 963-0095. ponenta in n i l AH w a r g a m e s except ford* L5522. c o u n t e r s , hexagon eheets. and a r t w o r k Iowa. We, the mzmbers of the Willingboro ~ i ~ u -~ ~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ k Bo~ , h l l ~, ~ . ~ i l l ~ , done t o You* specifications. F o r SamT h e OKW ( O b e r k o m m m d o dcr WchrWarmongera. d o h e r e b y challenge anyNot going t o boast of g r e a t tactical TO: AII A H players in e a s t e r n and ples and f u r t h e r information. w r i t e t o m a c h t ) c h a l l c n ~ e s any club*that will one to any Avalon Hill w a r game. Scability b e c a u s e netions apeak louder Southern Oklahoma. G-3. C 1 0 Ralph Fellows. T r e m o n t St.. l e o t your aide, r u l e s , g r i d Bystem, and than words. Contact Benjamin R. FROM: r e n t h my ~ ~ a d ~ u a ~ t e r s . takk the Allies to a clob vs. club comDuxbury. Mass. 02332. seAd to: R o b e r t Schulz Liebl. 70 P i n e petition involving Stalingrad. D-Day. Spectre. 2233 South Louisville, ~ o b i n s o n . Jr., 762 19th St.. N.E., H e r e ' s a chance f o r someone t o play t r e e La.. Willingboro. N. 3. A f r i k a Korp.. B i s m a r c k . and Midway Washington 2. D.C. T u l s a , Oklahoma 74114. Afrika K o r p s w i t h lnoPPonent who live* Ronald A. Wright of 36 R e i d T e r r a c e , pbm sy*tem). The pbm (if you have a p N E SUBJECT: w h e r e are you? w e need just scrolls t h e Mediterranean f r o m the ~ o n dd u Lac, Wieeonsin. 54935. i s *y.temn we use allows very f a e t play. YOU! Contact John Hall. a t the ANYONE who plays AH g a m e s within s i t e of the o r i g i n a l Battle. I will take planning a multi-player. play-by-mail F o r d e t a i l s and Instruction. write. above a d d r e s s . I won't be traveling d i s t a n c e of ~ e w ~edfo~d, e i t h e t side. U s e the supply r u l e on game similar to J o n P a r i c a ' s e x c e p t KPGA. :lo Richard Berkeeth. 221 -1home f o r r while thi* s u m m e r . ~ a a . 7 opponenteneeded badly. pleaee pg. 7 0 1 the M a r c h i s s u e of t h e General. that he will use STALINGRAD inotead 1 1 . St.. R i v e r F a l l s . Wi.. 51022; or but momeone e1.e in the orw r i t e or call: en off man, 266 c a r Write: B r u c e F . Hoff. A m e r i c m E m of D-DAY. Anyone i n t e r e s t e d should OKW, c l o D a v i d L. Arneson, 1196 Hartr o l l St., New Bedford, Maas. (992ganization will contact you. bassy. A. P . 0.. N. Y.. N.Y.09223. f o r d Ave.. Saint Paul. Minnesota 55116. w r i t e to h i m sa soon as po*siblc. 9062). John R. W I I .

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THE GENERAL
possibilities t o counter the G e r m a n ' s f i r s t attack. You will note that t h e r e a r e two 3 - 1 a t t a c k s p o s s i b l e - - a g a i n s t the 6-9-6 a n d a'gainst the 7-10-4 i n t h e south. C a r e f u l o b s e r v a t i o n s will show that both a t t a c k s would b e too r i s k y f o r t h e G e r m a n t o t r y . 1 ) Against the 6-9-6, a v i c t o r y h e r e will not gain too much t e r r i t o r y , a n d t h e G e r m a n m u s t s o a k off a 7-7-6 t o a t t a c k a t 3-1. 2 ) In the south, the G e r m a n m u s t a l s o s a c r i f i c e too many men, a n d a l s o only gain t h e P r u t r i v e r l i n e , a n d then can b e bottled u p within the D n e s t r . Many R u s s i a n units h a v e been placed i n t h e south f o r the following r e a s o n s : 1 ) T o p r e vent the G e r m a n f r o m attacking t h e r e . 2) T o p r o t e c t the Bug l i n e on the f o l lowing move. The u n i t s a t B r e s t Litovsk can e a s i l y b e moved e i t h e r t o t h e south o r t o the n o r t h , depending on w h e r e the G e r m a n c o m m a n d e r a t t a c k s . The 2-3-6 a t Minsk should b e moved n o r t h e a s t of B r e s t Litovsk on t h e following move t o delay the K r a u t s . The units in Finland a r e placed s o a s t o p r e v e n t the e n e m y of taking positions 2 NW Leningrad a n d blocking Russian maneuverability. Note: On t h e second move depending on the G e r m a n a t t a c k s , the 6-9-6 should b e moved t o 1 W Vilnius with the neede d units t o prevent a 3-1 a t t a c k . Any c r i t i c i s m s ? No, I don't think t h e r e would be. Ron B u l l i s , 1215 E. Main, Osage, Iowa. a n d 6D f r o m Midway t o the E n t e r p r i s e . If you k e e p a l l your s h i p s in the s a m e s q u a r e , you have a l i t t l e bit of a n edge on the Japs. H e r e i s how you play it. When the t i m e c o m e s t o s t r i k e , the Japs have 3 options if h e h a s spotted you. 1. He can a t t a c k you with e v e r y thing he h a s . 2. He c a n keep half h i s f i g h t e r s home a n d send half with h i s a t t a c k f o r c e . 3. He can keep a l l h i s f i g h t e r s home and send out h i s a t t a c k without e s c o r t o r k e e p h i s a t t a c k f o r c e on the d e c k a n d s w e a t i t out i n t h e h o p e s t h a t he will b e a b l e t o s t r i k e back next t u r n . Your c o u r s e of action i s a l m o s t always the s a m e . All D & T a t t a c k Jap f l e e t s a n d a l l 32 F c a p your fleet. A.H. h a s a d v i s e d m e that F i g h t e r s on c a p have a r a n g e of 14 s q u a r e s . T h e r e f o r e i t i s l e g a l t o send m o s t of your 18 CAPing F i g h t e r s t o l a n d on Midway a t the end of the t u r n . The 14 Squadrons t h a t took off f r o m Midway m u s t land on the C a r r i e r s . T h i s b i t of c h i c a n e r y enables you t o have 32 F to the 28 J a p f i g h t e r f o r c e . I a d m i t that 4 F i s n ' t much of a n edge but i t ' s t h e b e s t you can expect if the Japs u s e option $1. If the J a p s play $ 1 a g a i n s t you, m a t c h h i m 1-1 on the F i g h t e r s b e c a u s e you a r e going t o need a l l the help you c a n get t o b e a t off h i s a t t a c k on your c a r r i e r s . Don't w o r r y about a d v e r s e r e s u l t s on the fighter battle b e c a u s e your a t t a c k a g a i n s t h i s f l e e t should sink a t l e a s t one of h i s c a r r i e r s and possibly m o r e . This m e a n s that he h a s l o s t a minumum of 21 parking places and somebody will have t o go into the drink. If he e l e c t s option $2, you can l e a v e 15 F i g h t e r s a g a i n s t h i s 14 f o r c i n g h i m t o fight 1-2 on F Vs F and plunge your r e m a i n i n g 17 F i g h t e r s into h i s a t t a c k . You should go ahead with your a t t a c k a g a i n s t his fleet b e c a u s e his 14 f i g h t e r s c a n ' t possibly do a s much d a m a g e t o your a t t a c k f o r c e a s your 17 f i g h t e r s will do to h i s . If he c a l l s h i s a t t a c k off you should s t i l l p r o c e e d with y o u r s . It s e e m s h e a r t l e s s t o o r d e r s u r e death f o r s o m e of your squadrons but you s t i l l have a good chance t o sink one of h i s carriers. If he e l e c t s option $ 3 you m u s t go ahead with your a t t a c k even if h e c a l l s his off. If you c a l l off your attack, you have allowed the Jap t o buy t i m e , and if h e can buy enough of i t , the e n t r i e s of the Zuiho will mean the end of your Fighter superiority. I played m y s t r a t e g y a g a i n s t M a r k F l u c h e of San Antonio, Texas. He kept a l l h i s F i g h t e r s h o m e e v e r y t i m e I attacked. He shot down 20 of m y Att a c k s q u a d r o n s b e f o r e I finally nailed one of h i s c a r r i e r s , but I s t i l l made a profit of 1 A i r c r a f t . Even though I had m i s e r a b l e die r o l l s and had t o c o m e back a n d a t t a c k h i m 2 o r 3 t i m e s , I eventually gained a i r s u p e r i o r i t y and

PAGE 12
maintained i t until M a r k slipped up on m e with the Yamato, Nagato and Mutsu and s a n k m y e n t i r e f o r c e in a ship t o ship engagement. Naburally, being a Gentleman of the F i r s t Water, I didn't c a l l t h i s uncooth, sly, snide, underhanded, d i s r e s p e c t f u l b r e a c h of etiquette t o M a r k ' s attention. I just r o s e slowly f r o m the t a b l e with a good n a t u r e d s m i l e on m y f a c e , a n d belted h i m in the Chops ! If your a t t a c k c o m e s in the 1700 h r . move a n d h e h a s n ' t spotted you, send your 18 F f r o m the C a r r i e r s along with your a t t a c k f o r c e a n d C A P with 3 Fighte r s f r o m Midway. You will probably l o s e 3 o r m o r e s q u a d r o n s in the a t t a c k a n d your Midway f i g h t e r s will enable you t o keep m o r e f i g h t e r s on the C a r r i e r s . Never move your f l e e t f u r t h e r f r o m Midway than the Middle Zones B, E , & H of the C a r e a s . T h i s puts you beyond 14 s q u a r e s f r o m Midway. As your D & T ' s a r e l o s t you can keep m o r e a n d m o r e F i g h t e r s on b o a r d s o you need not a l w a y s send a l l of the CAP t h a t took off f r o m the C a r r i e r s t o Midway. The only thing you m u s t do i s land the planes that c a m e in f r o m Midway on C a r r i e r s b e c a u s e they can't r e t u r n t o Midway. I ' m s u r e you have a l l h e a r d of the Rambling Wreck f r o m Georgia Tech. After reading t h i s a r t i c l e , - you should r e a l i z e how I c a m e to b e known a s "the total l o s s f r o m Holy S/Sgt. Louis Zocchi, 139 Cross". B e l v e d e r e C i r c l e , Biloxi, Mississippi.

..

"Midway's" Hidden American Power

by S/Sgt. Louis Zocchi The Japs have 38 T t o the A m e r i c a n s 17. The Japs have 28 D t o A m e r i c a n s 42 a n d both s i d e s have 32 F i g h t e r s . At f i r s t glance, t h e 66 s h i p d e s t r o y i n g a i r c r a f t of the Japanese a i r f l e e t s e e m m o r e powerful than the 59 a t t a c k s q u a d r o n s the A m e r i c a n s have. The B a s i c deciding f a c t o r i s t i m e . 1 _ F The J a p s could get a l l t h e i r f o r c e on t h e b o a r d a t the s a m e t i m e , they would e a s i l y walk o v e r the A m e r i c a n f l e e t . But, the t i m e i n t e r v a l between a r r i v i n g f o r c e s p e r m i t s the Japs t o b e attacked b e f o r e they a c r u e overwhelming power. A talley of t h e F i r s t Jap S t r i k e f o r c e r e v e a l s that they have a total of 59 Attack planes and 28 F i g h t e r s . A total of t h e A m e r i c a n a i r c r a f t r e v e a l s 59 a t t a c k planes a n d 32 f i g h t e r s , if you count the Midway F o r c e . The p r o b l e m i s t o b r i n g the Midway f o r c e into a n a c t i o n t h a t will b e fought f a r beyond t h e i r 14 s q u a r e range. The a n s w e r i s on the E n t e r prise. A r m everything on the f i r s t t u r n . On the second t u r n t r a n s f e r 8 F f r o m The E n t e r p r i s e t o Midway a n d the 2T

P
Question Box
AFRIKA KORPS
Q:

A G e r m a n 7-7-10 Unit i s attacked a t 3 - 1 a n d f o r c e d t o r e t r e a t . But the only r e t r e a t r o u t e i s into a z o n e of cont r o i of a 1-1-6 Unit. Does t h i s r e t r e a t e s t a b l i s h a n automatic v i c t o r y ? Since a 7-7-10 Unit a g a i n s t a 1-1-6 effects a n a u t o m a t i c v i c t o r y wouldn't the 1-1-6 Unit's zone of control b e nullified and the 7-7-10 Unit be allowed to r e m a i n on b o a r d ? A: No - the 7-7- 10 i s eliminated bec a u s e the 7-7-10 Unit, a s a l o s e r on defense, d o e s not have control of the situation, thus would not b e in the prope r organizational f r a m e of mind a s it would b e while attacking. BULGE
Q: A r e t r o o p s

in f o r t r e s s e s (in the Tournament G a m e ) r e q u i r e d to withd r a w o r c o u n t e r - a t t a c k when a n "Engaged" o r "Contactt' h a s been d r a w n ? A: No - b e c a u s e of the f a c t that no zones of control e x i s t outside of f o r t r e s s e s , Units inside a r e not r e q u i r e d t o a t t a c k o r withdraw even though a d j a cent t o the enemy. Of c o u r s e , the r e v e r s e situation a l s o applies.