World at War #105 - Operation Ironclad: Madagascar 1942

From Decision Games:

The Magazine:

Operation Ironclad: Madagascar 1942 On 5 May 1942, under the codename Operation Ironclad, the British attacked the Vichy French port of Diego Suarez on the north coast of Madagascar. It was the beginning of a six-month campaign for that island, control of which was vital if the Allies were to keep secure the lines of communication across the Indian Ocean.

Articles

The Vistula-Oder Offensive, 1945 The Vistula-Oder Offensive of 12 January to 2 February 1945, was the largest Red Army operation up to that time in the war. In its first four days, the attackers broke out from their bridgeheads on the Vistula River and advanced up to 100 miles into German territory to a point just 43 miles east of Berlin. Here is our analysis.

Netherlands 1940 Walcheren Island Most of the readers of this publication are familiar with the fact a crucial battle was fought for Walcheren Island, at the mouth of the Scheldt River, in the late autumn of 1944. However, there was also a battle for control of that strategic locale in May 1940. Here is that story.

Defeating the U-boats German U-boats were a major threat to the survival of Britain and its ability to provide a base for the war in the west. From 1939 through 1942, shipping losses to U-boat attacks exceeded new construction. In 1943, the situation finally turned as construction outpaced sinkings.

The Game:

Operation Ironclad: Madagascar 1942. A two-player game covering the British invasion of the island of Madagascar in 1942. At this time Vichy French forces controlled Madagascar with the potential of turning the island into a base for Axis attacks against Allied sea lanes in the western Indian Ocean. Ironclad was the first phase of the invasion which began in May and concluded in November.

Each player is provided with units representing land, air and naval formations. Players move their pieces on the map to engage enemy forces and take critical objectives. Each player has a set of Operations markers which enhance unit actions and take special actions.

The game system models operations which were conducted in sometimes inhospitable terrain. Most actions were along major lines of communications for control of critical towns, ports, and airfields. Many of the combat losses were due to disease (British) and desertion (French), and this is reflected in the combat system.

22 x 34-inch map and one counter sheet of 176 5/8-inch counters.