Coral Sea - Campaign Commander Series (English)

"Coral Sea" is a new volume of the ?Field Commander? and reflects the South Seas campaign between the spring of 1942 and 1943. Japanese expansion reaches its limit in the Solomon Islands archipelago and in New Guinea. The initial Japanese force - South Seas Detachment - began to expand crushing the weak Australian garrisons in the area from its base in Rabaul, which would be the Japanese logistics and command center in the area. The air-naval battle of the Coral Sea was a serious blow to this force since its only aircraft carrier - the light aircraft carrier Soho - was sunk and the amphibious invasion force to take Port Moresby had to return to Rabaul without fulfilling its mission.
After that, the imperial forces tried to reach Port Moresby by land and spread throughout the Solomon Islands, creating air bases and observation stations throughout the archipelago. The threat to the Allies was that Japanese forces would be able to cut off naval communications between the United States and Australia.
While Allied forces reinforced Australia and the New Caledonia area looking for an opportunity to counterattack and stem the tide that was spreading throughout the area.
The return to Australia of units that were fighting in the Middle East made it possible to start an offensive in Papua/New Guinea that was to last 6 bloody months for the possession of the enclaves of Buna and Gona in the north coast of New Guinea.
In the Solomon Islands, the American counterattack began on August 8, 1942 and also gave way to a harsh and bloody campaign until February 1943, with successive attacks and counterattacks by both sides. Finally leaving the island in American hands.
Along with the land battle scenarios, air-naval operations were also protagonists of the combats since both navies did everything possible to support their land forces and keep them supplied, so that air-naval battles were numerous and costly, as the last of them in this period? The Battle of the Bismarck Sea - which marked the beginning of the allied supremacy in the area. The Imperial Navy based on the island of Truk made several incursions into the area to support the small South Seas naval detachment.
Finally the Japanese had to cede the initiative to the allies in the area when they were their resources exhausted, divided between two fronts. The Allies had exhausted the Japanese thrust and were preparing to go on the offensive. But that's another story?
The game is developed on an operational scale ? 1:300,000 scale zonal map. Designed for two players, one leads the JAPANESE forces and the other the ALLIED forces. The game lasts approximately 3-4 hours and uses a double system of tokens/map and cards in its mechanics. Players must use their military forces and resources to gain victory points by eliminating enemy forces and occupying cities on the map. It is not a card engine game, but the cards are used to trigger events, influence battles and get reinforcements and resources to fight on the map.
At the start of the game the JAPANESE player will have the Initiative and must spread out across the map to earn Victory Points. The ALLIED player starts from a situation of weakness and will get stronger as the game progresses. He will have to wait for his chance to inflict costly defeats on the Japanese. The island of Guadalcanal will be crucial in the development of the game, as well as the actions in Papua/New Guinea.
Like all the games in this Series, it has a very simple rulebook and is designed to make the games highly interactive, creating a solid and enjoyable gaming experience for those who don't have the time or space to lay down a game. game of greater duration and scope.
The JAPANESE player must face the historical dilemma: concentrate on taking the Solomon Islands, Papua or try both at the same time? The ALLIED player must be patient and make their enemy overextend, amassing forces to carry out deadly offensives that put the forces of the Empire of the Rising Sun in check.

Components:

• 1 80x60 cm map of the South Seas, Solomon Islands and Papua/New Guinea.
• 2 d10 dice
• 176 counters (1 template)
• 1 Booklet of Rules of the Series ?Field Commander? and ?Coral Sea? Exclusive Rules, historical and designer notes.
• 70 cards (divided into two decks + help cards + promos)
• 3 plastic bags