2009 · Wargame

PQ-17: Arctic Naval Operations 1941-1943

A two-player operational wargame of air and naval operations in the Arctic and North Atlantic during 1941–43. One player escorts and protects convoys to and from north Russia while the other seeks to locate and interdict them amid severe weather and limited fuel. Players maneuver hidden blocks on a wide-area map to represent search and movement, revealing unit identity only when discovered; detailed 1" counters for individual capital ships, cruisers, submarines, escorts and merchant groups remain off-map on task force displays to track damage and fuel without bookkeeping. Reconnaissance cards, air units, and an abstract combat display resolve searches, submarine attacks, AA and air strikes, and surface actions. Seasonal weather, polar ice, and fuel endurance affect movement, detection and combat. Nine historical and a randomized 1942 scenario recreate major actions and operational dilemmas, each playable in a few hours or linked into a year-long campaign.

groupPlayers

2

schedulePlaying time

210 min

psychologyComplexity

4.1 / 5