Coral Sea Solitaire
A purpose-designed one-player wargame
covering the aero-naval battle that took place between the US and
Imperial Japanese Navies in May 1942. It was the first of the Pacific
War.
CSS is based on the game system used in World at War number three Solomons Campaign;
however, there are significant differences owing to the smaller scale
of this operation and the systemic necessitates inherent in a solitaire
design. The player controls various US and Allied forces; the game
system controls Japanese forces. The player may utilize his forces as
he pleases within the structures of the rules, while Japanese forces
are moved and fought by the
Historically, US strategic intelligence was good in terms of
identifying Japanese forces and their intentions. Consequently, the
player will have a certain edge over the IJN insofar as he will have a
general knowledge of the location and objectives of major IJN task
groups. That
The game map shows the Coral Sea and adjoining waters, islands and
bases as they were in 1942. Each hexagon on the map represents 75 miles
from side to opposite side. Each game turn represents 12 hours. Each
aircraft strength point represents from six to 24 aircraft, depending
on type and pilot quality. Naval units represent one ship for carriers,
battleships and heavy cruisers, and two or three ships for other units.
The rules contain a little more than 11,000 words. That works out to
mean an experienced player can finish a game in about three to four
hours. Rules cover such things as: leadership, random events,
reinforcements, task force organization, carrier operations, surface
combat, shore bombardment, transporting ground units, amphibious
landings, air bases, anti-aircraft fire, fatigue, night operations, fog
of war, scouting, alternative deployments, and panic.
Other Articles:
- The Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942
- The Second Crimean War
- The Dodecanese Campaign: Germany’s Last Offensive in the Med
- Eggheads at War: Operations Research in World War II