Second World War at Sea is a game series produced by Avalanche Press covering naval combat during World War II. The series is based on Avalanche Press' Great War at Sea. The two series share many features although they are separate both from a rules standpoint and a scale standpoint (see SOPAC below).
Game Mechanics
The SWWAS series simulates World War II naval combat using a dual operational/tactical system with the following characteristics:
Each major surface unit (Aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers and fleet destroyers) are represented with a single 1"/.5" rectangular counter containing the ship's statistics (below). Minor surface warships (escorts) as well as auxiliaries and merchant ships, are portrayed via 1/2" square counters with the associated statistics. Aircraft squadrons (representing from 8–24 aircraft), as well as the game's various status markers, are also 1/2" square counters. The game provides highly abstracted statistics on the various counters for the following: For ships: Surface gunnery factors, divided into "Primary" (Battleship-caliber guns of 12–18" bore), "Secondary" (cruiser guns from 5"-10" bore) and "Tertiary" (minor guns from 3"–5" caliber) ratings. Armour Torpedoes or mines Anti-aircraft factors Speed For air units: Air-to-air combat factors Air-to-surface combat factors Land-bombardment factors Range Each game is played on an operational map divided into a grid of squares, each representing a 36-mile-wide area. Unit counters do not move directly on the operational map, but rather are represented by fleet markers. Players plot their unit's moves, and track damage and fuel consumption, on separate data sheets for their associated fleets. Each provided operational scenario will task each player with specific objectives - run a convoy to a port, prevent that convoy passing, bring the opposing fleet to battle, and so on. When two opposing fleets come into contact on the operational map, combat switches to the tactical map.
The tactical map is a grid of hexagons on which individual warship counters can manoeuvre. When units come within range of each other, their gunnery and other factors are translated into numbers of dice rolled to attempt to hit enemy targets. These die rolls are subject to various modifiers for environmental, technical and other factors. Hits, especially those which penetrate armour, will gradually erode the ability of a ship to fight, and ultimately can sink it. Once play on the tactical map terminates it resumes on the operational map until the next time two fleets come into contact.
Titles In series
SOPAC
SOPAC was the first Second World War at Sea game and extended the Great War at Sea series to World War II. SOPAC was released in 2000 and eventually sold out in 2004. The game had 350 counters, 1 operational map and 20+ scenarios.
SOPAC'''s scale was different from that of the Great War at Sea series because the area on the map could not fit using the earlier scale on the available map size. This means that the two related series' can not use each other's maps.
Eastern FleetEastern Fleet was the second game in the series and covered the British Eastern Fleet's operations in the Indian Ocean. The game has 210 counters, 1 operational map and 10 scenarios.
MidwayMidway covers the Battle of Midway as well as other scenarios in that area and period of the war. The game has 490 counters, 1 operational map and 11 scenarios.
Bomb AlleyBomb Alley was the fourth game and according to Avalanche Press, "the most ambitious" (although that title would only last until Leyte Gulf was released). It covered the entire naval campaign in the Mediterranean including the Malta convoys. The game had 840 counters, 2 operational maps and 50 scenarios. The game is out of print, but Avalanche state a replacement is planned.
Leyte GulfLeyte Gulf was the first game produced through Avalanche Press's Classic Wargames program. The game had 2,170 counters, 3 operational maps and 22 scenarios. Leyte Gulf was Avalanche Press's largest and most expensive game and is now out of print.
Strike SouthStrike South covers Japanese operations in 1941 and early 1942, including the invasions of Malaya, the Philippines, and the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia). The game has 420 counters, 2 operational maps and 15 scenarios.