TASK FORCE: CARRIER BATTLES IN THE PACIFIC 2
CREDITS
VUCA Simulations English edition
Development:
Patrick Gebhardt
Edgar Gallego
Artworks:
Pablo Bazerque
Japanese edition
Game design:
Ginichirō Suzuki
Coral Sea scenario:
Kazunari Suzuki
Midway scenario:
Hiroyuki Okuyama
East Solomons scenario:
Fukumitsu Ōba
Testers:
Kazuaki Okumoto,
Kazuo Yatsugi,
Yoshitaka Komuro,
Hisashi Suzuki,
Yumi Shina
Japan Wargame Classics I
TASK FORCE: Carrier Battles in the Pacific
First release/Released:
August 8 2009
Publisher:
Shōgō Anraku
Editor:
Yasushi Nakaguro
Publishing house:
Kokusai Tsushinsha., Ltd
1. INTRODUCTION 3
1.1. The scale 3
1.2. The rules 3
1.3. The sides 3
2. GAME EQUIPMENT EXPLANATION 3
2.1. Maps 3
2.2. Combat Units 3
2.3. Game markers & chits 5
2.4. Player Aid Sheets & Charts 5
2.5. Fleet formation sheets 5
2.6. Aircraft status sheets 6
2.7. Dice 6
3. STANDARD PROCEDURES 6
3.1. Initiative player 6
3.2. Day and Night 6
3.3. Stacking 6
3.4. Zone of Control 6
3.5. Handling of combat hits 7
3.6. Handling of Fleet markers 9
3.7. Setup of a scenario 9
3.8. Fog of War 10
3.9. Victory conditions 10
4. SEQUENCE OF PLAY 11
4.1. Naval Movement phase 11
4.2. Naval Combat phase 12
4.3. Aircraft Operations phase 14
4.4. Reconnaissance phase 18
4.5. Administrative phase 19
5. SPECIAL UNITS 19
5.1. Aircraft 19
5.2. Ships 19
You can find additional information about
our games, and helpful materials on:
vucasims.com
Formatting
ÊÊUseful notes and additional information about the
rules is styled this way.
Exceptions to the rules are styled this way.
Examples are styled this way.
CONTENTS

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RESTRICTED 3
1. INTRODUCTION
“TASK FORCE: Carrier Battles in the Pacific” is designed to
be accessible and enjoyable for all—ranging from players with
no experience of wargames, or simulation games, to those with
intermediate or above proficiency in the genre.
There are ten scenarios to play, focusing on Japanese naval
engagements in World War II. The scenarios progressively in-
crease in difficulty. The first four are tutorial scenarios, de-
signed for complete beginners and for players who prefer to
learn the game step by step while playing, with the first three
played solitaire and the fourth (Fictional Carrier Vs Carrier)
played by two players. The purpose of these first scenarios
is simply to teach new players the essential rules appearing
throughout all of TASK FORCE. The other scenarios add grad -
ually more rules and vary in difficulty, whereas the final few
will be best enjoyed by intermediate players. That said, even
the final scenarios will be accessible to a beginner who has
progressed through the preceding ones in turn. Conversely,
the earlier scenarios may be of little interest to intermediate
players due to their low difficulty.
Although this rulebook contains all the necessary rules in or-
der to play the full game, the rules are introduced by playing
scenario by scenario. For newcomers to the genre especially, it
is essential to actually play through the scenarios to test your
understanding.
1.1. THE SCALE
A hex represents an area of 75km from side to side.
Each turn represents a period of 90 minutes (day) or 3 hours (night).
Combat units are represented as follows: Battleships, aircraft
carriers and cruisers count as one ship per counter. For destroy-
ers and transports, it is two ships per counter. And for aerial
units, it is nine aircraft per counter.
1.2. THE RULES
Instead of reading the whole rulebook, you can opt to start
learning the game with help of the tutorial scenarios. Each
scenario will tell you which rules from this rulebook are need-
ed in order to play them, and also the exclusive rules for that
scenario, not common to other scenarios.
1.3. THE SIDES
Two sides fought in the Pacific during World War II: The Japa-
nese and the Allies. The Japanese are represented in the game
by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). The Allies are represent-
ed by the United States and their US Navy (USN), the Com-
monwealth (United Kingdom, Australia) with the Royal Navy
(RN), and also the Netherlands with their ships in the USN
and RN navies.
ÊÊIn this game we will use the term IJN to refer to the Japa-
nese side, and the USN or RN (depending on the scenario)
referring to the Allied side.
2. GAME EQUIPMENT EXPLANATION
The following components are included in the game:
One rulebook.
One scenario book.
Four map sheets.
180 30x15mm counters.
408 15mm square counters.
Two player aid charts.
Two fleet formation sheets
One airbase sheet
One turn track
Two 6-sided dice.
2.1. MAPS
The maps show different areas in which the Pacific War took
place. A hexagonal grid is superimposed to regulate the move-
ment of the playing pieces. Each hex has a unique identification
number to facilitate setup.
2.1.1. Hex Terrain
This is a game about naval conflicts, so the only distinction is
sea or land (with coral reefs counting as the latter).
As you would expect, naval vessels cannot travel to land-cov-
ered hexes, nor can they pass over an area wholly covered by
land. They can however move to hexes with both land and sea
portions. Of course, land is not a problem for air units, who are
unrestricted. Search is done in this game by air units sent to
find enemy naval units, although these aircraft are not repre-
sented by counters, and thus search is unrestricted too.
2.1.2. Turn Track
Shows the passage of time and relevant information, such as
the initiative side, restrictions on certain procedures, and the
duration of each scenario.
2.2. COMBAT UNITS
A unit represents a single combat unit, and a combat unit repre-
sent the military forces that took part in the historical battles.
Destroyers (DD), transports (AK), and aircraft units, when they
are full strength (2.2.1) are 1 unit (as the rest of combat units),
and when they are reduced they are half unit (0.5 units).
There are naval, aerial, and land base units in this game.
Each unit has several numbers and letters printed on it, indi-
cating its name, role and combat abilities.
The unit’s values are color coded by nationality as follows:
Red for JP (Japan)
Blue-grey for US (United States).
Khaki for UK (United Kingdom).
Light blue for AU (Australia)
Orange for DEI (Dutch East Indies)
Coral reef hexsides
block naval unit
movements & ZOC
Land hexes block
naval unit
movements & ZOC

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TASK FORCE: CARRIER BATTLES IN THE PACIFIC 4
Type: the type of ship or aircraft.
SHIP TYPE
BBBattleship CL Light Cruiser
CVCarrier DDDestroyer
CVLLight CarrierAKTransport
CA
Heavy CruiserAOTanker
AIR UNIT TYPE
FFighter
BBomber
DBDive Bomber
TTorpedo Bomb.
Name: the name of the ship, the land base, or the aircraft
Air-to-Air: used by aircraft for attacking other aircraft.
Anti-Air: used by ships and land units to defend against
air attacks.
Air-to-Surface: used for attacking naval and land targets.
Firepower: used by ships to attack other ships and bombard
land bases.
Durability: used by ships and land bases as a measure of
how many hits they can take before being damaged, sunken
or destroyed.
Range: used by aircraft to show the area of influence in hex-
es, where the planes can be sent in raids. Usually it’s 5 hexes.
When the counter shows a number, it’s the reduced range for
TBD Devastator, or extended range (see 4.3.1, 4.3.7, 4.3.8.)
Capacity: the capacity in air units of the land base.
Carrier/Base: it shows the specific base (carrier or land base)
to which the air unit pertains. The home base will be always
the first option for an air unit to return when they get back
from a mission.
ÊÊ
The combat unit’s values are a mix of the capabilities,
weapons, technologies, experience of the crew and pilots,
doctrine, etc.
2.2.1. Steps
Sustaining damage in battle naturally leads to a deterioration
in fighting fitness. “Steps” are the measurements for damage
and correspond to having units placed face-up or face-down.
A full-strength unit has 2 steps and it’s shown by having the
counter face up, and a reduced unit has 1 step and it’s shown
by having the counter face down.

Ships of cruiser class or superior (including Tankers): they
are “significantly damaged” after one step of damage (the
ship is shown as damaged), and a second step sinks them.
A unit of destroyers or transports at full strength has two
ships. Inflicting one step of damage is the same as sinking
one ship: when you flip the counter to its reduced strength
position it shows only 1 ship instead of 2. A step of damage
to a reduced unit means that the last ship has sunk — you
then remove the counter from the board.

An aircraft unit at full strength (9 planes) that loses one
step is flipped to its reduced strength side (4-5 planes),
and after losing its second step is destroyed (removed
from board).

Tankers they are significantly damaged after one step of damage the ship is shown as damaged and a second step sinks them A unit of destroyers or transports at full strength has two ships Inflicting one step of damage is the same as sinking one ship when you flip the counter to its reduced strength position it shows only 1 ship instead of 2 A step of damage to a reduced unit means that the last ship has sunk you then remove the counter from the board An aircraft unit at full strength 9 planes that loses one step is flipped to its reduced strength side 4 5 planes and after losing its second step is destroyed removed from board

Land bases are treated like Carriers (with notable differ-
ences, of course), and thus they take damage and have 2
steps like Carriers.
In this rulebook we will use counter to refer to the physical
cardboard counter, ship to refer to the number of ships of a
counter (full DD and AK having 2 ships), and unit to the combat
units represented. Usually a “counter” is the same as a “unit”,
but in the case of destroyers (DD), transports (AK), and aircraft
units, when they are full strength they are 1 unit, and when
they are reduced they are half unit (0.5 units).
ÊÊ
Note: This way, a ship of Cruiser class or superior is 1 count-
er, with 1 or 2 steps (depends on its damage), 1 unit, and 1
ship. A full DD or AK is 1 counter, 2 steps, 1 unit, and 2 ships.
A reduced DD or AK is 1 counter, with 1 step, 0.5 units, and
1 ship. A full strength air unit is 1 counter, 2 steps, 1 unit. A
reduced air unit is 1 counter, 1 step, 0.5 units.
Inflicting two steps of damage at once to a full strength unit
is possible, forcing the unit out of play.
In some scenarios a unit will begin the game on its reduced
strength side, meaning a single step of damage will remove it
from the game.
2.2.2. Aircraft
Fighters are those aircraft of type F. They have no Air-to-Sur-
face value. Zeros have special rules, as well as Douglas TBD
Devastator. You can see them in the player aid or page 16
Bombers are those who have a B, DB, or T type. and an Air-to-
Surface value. Within Bombers, there is no game difference be-
tween Torpedo, Dive Bombers and (Horizontal) Bombers, except
the values, some scenario restrictions, and when attacking a
base. You can see them in the player aid.
The air units are based in Carriers and land bases, and they are
only placed on the map when they are raiding enemy ships or
bases, or when used in an external CAP mission. At all other
times they are located in their Aircraft Status sheets.
2.2.3. Ships
Carriers are those ships with designation CV and CVL. They
are sea bases to their air units, and their Task Forces are named
Carrier Task Forces.
Non Carrier ships (the other designations) are either grouped into
Fleet Task Forces, or escorting Carriers in the Carrier Task Forces.
There are special rules for types of ships or named ships. You
can see them in the player aid or rule 5.0
The ship units form Task Forces, and are located in the Fleet
formation sheets. They are only placed on the map when they
are withdrawing from the mission because they have Critical
SHIPS
BASE
Firepower
Name
Capacity
Durability
Anti-Air
Full Strength
Ship’s Name
Durability
Type Firepower
Anti-air
Carrier/Base
Durability
Type
Firepower
Anti-air
Full Strength Named Ships Reduced
ReducedFull Strength DDs & AKs
AIRCRAFT
Air-to-Surface
Model
Type
Range
(Reduced or
Extended
range only)
Air-to-Air
Carrier/Base
Full Strength Reduced
Reduced

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RESTRICTED 5
damage, or are escorting withdrawing ships. You will usually
use the numbered Withdrawing marker in their place for con-
venience because the ships are larger than the hexes.
2.2.4. Land Bases
They are treated like Carriers for all game purposes in that they:
Hold air units, and thus have their Aircraft Status sheet

RESTRICTED 5 damage or are escorting withdrawing ships You will usually use the numbered Withdrawing marker in their place for con venience because the ships are larger than the hexes 2 2 4 Land Bases They are treated like Carriers for all game purposes in that they Hold air units and thus have their Aircraft Status sheet

Take damage the same way (and that includes the deck dam-
age and amplification for air units destroyed in the runway).
Do Reconnaisance on their own
And differ notably in that:
They don’t move, they represent the buildings and airport
of the base and they are marked in the map. The counter
is placed in the Aircraft Status sheet for bases. You may
place the other duplicated counter in the map if you prefer
to see its status easily.
They are more vulnerable to air attacks (static target).
When damaged their capacity is reduced.
Their air units may attack at extended ranges
2.3. GAME MARKERS & CHITS
With these, you can track certain statuses on the map and the
status of units.
2.3.1. Fleet markers
Front Back
USN/RN IJN
Front Back
“Fleet markers” indicate the location in the map of either a fleet
(Task Force) or dummy (to deceive the enemy).
2.3.2. Report marker
Front Back Front Back
Carrier Task Force Detected, Fleet Task Force Detected. They
show that the fleet marker has been reconnaised (it’s not a
Dummy) and from now on it’s considered a partially detected
Task Force, and also what the recon said about their composi-
tion (what they saw may be different to what they are).
2.3.3. Damage markers
“Damage markers” (critical/light) are
used for the superior ship classes,
and land bases, to display their level
of damage. For the Minor Damage,
one side shows the “Minor Damage”
and the other side the “Emergency
Repairs” status. For the Critical Dam-
age, it shows the firepower and an-
ti-air penalizations (“0” value”).
2.3.4. Flight Deck
Damage markers
Show if the air units can land or
launch from the Carrier or Land
base. They are placed in the corre-
sponding Carrier or Land base of
the Aircraft Status sheets.
2.3.5. Withdraw markers
Used to remember that the forma-
tion is withdrawing because some
ships suffered Critical damage. The
numbered side is used in the map
for convenience because the ships are larger than the hexes.
The other side is used in the Fleet formation sheet to remember
that if the Task Force has a withdrawing ship, the formation
must withdraw with it.
2.3.6. Turn marker
Placed on the Turn track, they also
show which side moves first in the
Movement phase.
2.3.7. Recon chits
Front Backs
They are drawn from a cup to know the result of a Search in a
hex, and report the result to the opponent. There are 3 results:
“Detected”, “Misdirect”, and “No Contact”. They are explained
better in the Reconnaissance Phase section.
The numbers on the backs may be used for your custom de-
signed scenarios.
2.4. PLAYER AID SHEETS & CHARTS
You can find all relevant information that is needed for play
aggregated in the Player Aid Charts.
2.4.1. Combat tables
When units engage in combat, we need to determine the out-
come of the encounter somehow. For this we refer to the combat
charts. There are four of these:
2.4.2. Anti-air table
Used when an aerial unit attacks a naval unit or a land base,
to model the effect of the target anti-air defenses.
The two columns to either side are for the die roll. The upper
row gives the ship’s anti-air rating. The corresponding cell in
the centre tells you the result of the action.
2.4.3. Aerial combat table
Used when an aircraft engages another in combat.
The columns to either side are for the die roll. The upper row
gives the difference in the units’ air-to-air ratings.
2.4.4. Air-to-surface table
Used when an aerial unit attacks a naval unit or a land base.
The columns to either side are for the dice roll. The upper row
gives the aircraft’s air-to-surface rating.
2.4.5. Naval combat table
Used when a naval unit attacks another, or when they bom-
bard a land base.
The columns to either side are for the die roll. The upper row
gives the ships’ firepower ratings.
2.4.6. Flight Deck damage table
Determines the damage to the flight deck of the Carrier, or the
airport of the land base.
2.4.7. Tactical Victory Points table
Summary of the Tactical Victory Points for sinking ships, by
each side.
2.5. FLEET FORMATION SHEETS
The Fleet markers represent the position of your Task Forces
on the map. And the Fleet formation sheets hold the ships
that form each Task Force. There is one sheet for the IJN and
one for the USN.
Each sheet has up to 6 “ring” formations, TF1 to TF6, used only
for Carrier Task Forces, and up to 7 “column” formations, TF7 to
TF13, used for Fleet Task Forces (Task Forces without Carriers).
Front Back
Front Back
Front Back
Front Back

damage to the flight deck of the Carrier or the airport of the land base 2 4 7 Tactical Victory Points table Summary of the Tactical Victory Points for sinking ships by each side 2 5 FLEET FORMATION SHEETS The Fleet markers represent the position of your Task Forces on the map And the Fleet formation sheets hold the ships that form each Task Force There is one sheet for the IJN and one for the USN Each sheet has up to 6 ring formations TF1 to TF6 used only for Carrier Task Forces and up to 7 column formations TF7 to TF13 used for Fleet Task Forces Task Forces without Carriers Front Back Front Back Front Back Front Back

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TASK FORCE: CARRIER BATTLES IN THE PACIFIC 6
All the ships that are in the map (represented by a numbered
withdrawing marker) instead of in the formation sheet are
ships that are withdrawing due to damage and their escorts
(also withdrawing). When a ship in the map is a Carrier, it still
acts like a ring formation with other ships in the hex (on map
or in other task forces), and non-Carrier ships act like column
formations with other ships in the hex (on map or in other
task forces).
2.6. AIRCRAFT STATUS SHEETS
The air units are based in Carriers and land bases, and they are
only placed on the map when they are raiding enemy ships or
bases, or when used in an external CAP mission. At all other
times they are located in their Aircraft Status sheets.
They show the status of the aircrafts in their bases (Carriers
and Land bases). There is one sheet for the IJN and one for the
USN, and each one has 6 boxes named as the Carrier Task Force
where the air units are located.
Air units can be in one of four different statuses on the Aircraft
Status sheet, explained in the Raid Section (4.3)
ÊÊ
Note: we say “four” because we consider both “Landing”
(from C.A.P. and from Map) as the same satus, and because
“Raid” is a status but it’s represented on the map, not on
the sheet.
A third sheet is included for bases, shared by both players, be-
cause this information is always open even when the advanced
fog of war rules are in effect. The base unit is placed on top
of the No. to show the ownership of the air units in that base.
2.7. DICE
Included in the game are two six-sided dice which are used
mainly for combat resolution.
When we say in these rules “1D6” it refers to the roll of 1 six
sided die. When we say “2D6”, it refers to the roll of 2 six sided
dice, adding both results.
When we say in the rules “DRM” it means “Die roll modifier”,
a modifier (+ or -) applied to the die roll.
3. STANDARD PROCEDURES
The Standard Procedures are general rules, which apply at any time.
3.1. INITIATIVE PLAYER
Initiative determines who goes first during all phases of a turn
except the Aircraft Operations phase, where it is decided by
a die roll.
In odd turns, the IJN player is the initiative player, on even turns
the Allied player. This is indicated on the turn track.
3.2. DAY AND NIGHT
There are rules that apply differently if the turn is a Day turn
or Night turn. The turn track shows a summary of the differ-
ences, and restrictions, but a complete list is shown here for
future references while playing:
DAY NIGHT
MOVEMENT
(IN HEXES)
1 2
MOVEMENT
(TRANSPORTS) Only during odd
numbered turns
Always
NAVAL
COMBAT Restricted
participation
All ships participate
IJN’s DD fire-
power doubled
RAIDS
& CAP Not at the last
turn of the day
No
RECON
Not at the last 2
turns of the day
No
RECON
CHITS USED Do not return
to the cup
Return all of them
(used and in map)
to the cup
FLEET
ARRANGEMENTS
Merge and
Rearrange fleets
Split, Merge, and
Rearrange fleets
Reuse dummies
3.3. STACKING
Players can concentrate their forces by placing multiple units
on a single hex—this creates a “stack.” In TASK FORCE there is
no stacking limit, any number of fleet markers and withdraw-
ing ships, and also a land base, can be stacked in one hex, and
in that case:

Any of those Task Forces may be merged, and/or ships
of those Task Forces may be moved between them, and
they all share the same friendly CAP if attacked by a Raid.
Withdrawing ships that are not inside a Fleet marker may
receive support from other ships in the Fleets of that hex.

But, they are all subject to the same Recon chit sent by the
opponent (if any), and also they all are subject to any Raid
attacking the hex.
3.4. ZONE OF CONTROL
Fleet markers and ships (not land bases) have a “zone of con-
trol” (ZOC) which consists of the six adjacent hexes around
their position. The ZOC doesn’t extend through Reefs and all
Land hexsides.
The ZOC is checked and used at different moments of the game:
(Naval Movement phase) Dummy markers cannot move
into an enemy ZOC.

same friendly CAP if attacked by a Raid Withdrawing ships that are not inside a Fleet marker may receive support from other ships in the Fleets of that hex But they are all subject to the same Recon chit sent by the opponent if any and also they all are subject to any Raid attacking the hex 3 4 ZONE OF CONTROL Fleet markers and ships not land bases have a zone of con trol ZOC which consists of the six adjacent hexes around their position The ZOC doesn t extend through Reefs and all Land hexsides The ZOC is checked and used at different moments of the game Naval Movement phase Dummy markers cannot move into an enemy ZOC

(Naval Movement phase) Task Force markers and ship
units can move into enemy ZOC, but cannot move into a
hex occupied by an enemy unit.
BRIEF SUMMARY
Each scenario has an objective which is usually the capture
of an enemy base, or the defense of the naval base, and/
or the elimination of enemy ships (fleets). To achieve this
objective, you have ships and aircraft units at your disposal.
SHIPS can attack other ships and bombard bases with
their powerful cannons, but they do so at short distanc-
es and the enemy may fire back.
YOUR PLANES are the most effective force, as they at-
tack from a distance from their carriers and bases, and
their bombs and torpedoes are very deadly. Your defense
against the enemy planes are your own planes, and the
anti-air weapons of your ships.
YOUR SHIPS will usually protect the carriers, and the
transports that carry the troops to invade the bases.
ON THE MAP there are Fleet markers (which can be Task
Forces or dummies/misinformation) and bases. Any
ships directly on the map are withdrawing ships and
their escorts.
FLEET MARKERS, if they are not dummies, contain ships.
CARRIERS AND BASES contain planes.
THE WAY to find out which enemy counters are Task
Forces and which are decoys is by having Carriers and
bases near them (as they are the ones that launch planes
to recon the area), or sending other Task Forces to make
contact with them.

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RESTRICTED 7

(Naval Movement phase) After the phase is completed
by both players, all Dummy markers in an enemy ZOC
are removed.

(Naval Combat phase) Exchanges of naval gunfire and
torpedoes are held between units in each other’s ZOCs.
ZOC
ZOC
ZOC ZOC
ZOC ZOC
3.5. HANDLING OF COMBAT HITS
ÊÊNote: It would not be realistic for attacks to do the same
amount of damage to ships of all types; this is because there
are considerable variations in their levels of armour. While
a battleship might survive several bomb or barrage hits or
even a torpedo in its stride (unless they hit at a weak point),
a destroyer will often be sunk by even one. The durability
rating reflects such variations.
This section refers to damage applied to ships and land bases.
When we say “ship” here, it refers to “land bases” too.
By weighing the durability rating against the number of combat
hits, we grade damage using five levels:
Undamaged:
Number of combat hits is less than the ship’s durability.
Minor:
Number of combat hits equals the ship’s durability. Place the
minor damage marker on the ship, showing the “Minor Dam-
age” status. If the ship does not take any more damage un-
til the Admin phase of this turn, the marker will show the
“Emergency Repairs” status, and from then, if it still doesn’t
take any combat hit until the Admin phase of the next turn,
emergency repairs are then performed and the damage marker
gets removed (see 4.5). To remember that, if an attack results in
any combat hit inflicted to a ship that have a Minor Damage
marker on its Emergency Repair status, the marker will show
the Minor Damage status again.
ÊÊ
Note: a Minor damage marker will be removed too if the
ship damage changes to a worse category (Significant,
Critical, Sunk).
Significant:
Applies in two cases:
Number of combat hits exceeds the ship’s durability by 1.
(E.g: the Tennessee takes 9 combat hits.)
A ship with a Minor damage (any status) suffers any fur-
ther combat hit.
When a ship is significantly damaged, it is placed on its re-
duced strength side. It has reduced combat ratings in this state.
Critical:
Applies in two/three cases:

If the ship has Significant damage: Number of combat hits
equals the ship’s reduced strength durability.

If the ship is at full strength: The attack inflicts Signifi-
cant damage, and then Critical damage. In other words, the
leftover number of combat hits after Significant damage
equals the ship’s face-down durability.
This can happen when:
Ship is Undamaged: Number of combat hits = face-up du-
rability + 1 + face-down durability.
Ship has Minor damage: Number of combat hits = 1 + face-
down durability.
Place the Critical damage marker on the ship. It now has an-
ti-air and firepower ratings of 0.
Sunk / Destroyed:
One more combat hit sinks a Critically damaged ship. Remove
ships from the board/sheets when they sink.
If Carrier or Land base, remove the Aircraft units in its READY
and RESERVE Aircraft Status sheet.
If a sunken ship creates a gap in a Fleet Task Force, then close
the formation by shifting other ships along.
If a Carrier sinks in a Carrier Task Force, the ring formation
becomes a column of 4 boxes, and it’s from now on, a Fleet
Task Force (it’s not a ring anymore). Rearrange the line-up of
the column.
If the Repulse sinks, the right-side destroyer shifts to take
its position
Summary of combat hits needed to sink the Tennessee:
FROM UNDAMAGED:
17 hits = 8 + 1 + 7 + 1
( Minor Significant
Critical Sunk)
FROM MINOR DAMAGE: 9
hits = 1 + 7 + 1 ( Signifi -
cant Critical Sunk)
FROM SIGNIFICANT
DAMAGE:
8 hits = 7 + 1
( Critical Sunk)
FROM CRITICAL
DAMAGE:
1 hit
ÊÊ
Note: The only levels of damage are the five defined above.
Leftover combat hits in an attack are dismissed after
each attack.
EXAMPLE: you attack the Tennessee four times, with com-
bat hits of 6, 10, 4, and 6. The first attack inflicts no damage,
because it’s less than the ship’s durability. The second attack
inflicts Significant damage, dismissing 1 combat hit. None
of the next two attacks surpass the ship’s reduced strength
durability—no extra damage is taken.
UNDAMAGED
MINOR
CRITICAL
SUNK
SIGNIFICANT

8 HITS

7 HITS

1 HIT

1 HIT

---

TASK FORCE: CARRIER BATTLES IN THE PACIFIC 8
3.5.1. Applying hits to Destroyers and Transports
A reduced DD and AK have only three levels of damage: un-
damaged, minor damage, and sunk.
A full DD and AK is considered to be 2 reduced units, so when
they take hits the sequence would be like this one: Undamaged
(2 ships) Minor Damage for the first ship Sink the first
ship and flip to the reduced side (undamaged second ship)
Minor Damage to the second ship Sink the second ship and
remove the ship counter.
When there is a Minor damage marker in a DD, it will be always
from the first ship, and if it has 2 Minor Damage markers, it’s
one per ship (see 3.6.5).
3.5.2. Withdrawal
Any ship must break off from their fleet and head for its side’s
starting line if it:
Suffers Critical damage, OR
It’s a Carrier, and suffers at least Significant damage, and
loses the ability to land or launch aircraft units (3.5.5)
A ship that has to withdraw:

May either break off the formation (place a numbered
Withdraw marker in the map, and move the ship counter
and any escorts you wish, or none, out the Fleet Formation),
or keep it in formation (place a Withdraw marker in the
Fleet formation).
In each of its Movement phase, it must head for the play-
er’s starting line.
A Carrier that has to withdraw, also:

Cannot leave unaccompanied: if it breaks off the formation,
at least 1 other ship must be placed with the Carrier (as
part of the Withdrawing marker) to escort it.
For the other ships in the Carrier Task Force, if the Carrier
breaks off the formation, the ring formation becomes from
now on, a Fleet Task Force (of 4 boxes), using the rules for
the columns. Rearrange the line-up of the column.
ÊÊNote: When a withdrawing ship in the map is a Carrier, it
still acts like a ring formation with other ships in the hex
(withdrawing, or in other task forces). Non-Carrier ships act
like column formations with other ships in the hex (with-
drawing, or in other task forces).
ÊÊNote: Yes, you could remove an entire Task Force by mak-
ing all the ships as escorts of the withdrawing ship, and
thus, saving a Fleet marker for any other uses (as they are
usually limited in number), but when playing with the Fog
of War, the ships under a numbered Withdraw marker (on
map) are always visible, while those on a Fleet marker not.
And remember that any ship accompanying a withdrawing
ship must move towards the starting line.
3.5.3. Carriers & Land Bases
Carriers and Land Bases have further damage rules, because
their “air base” role.
3.5.4. Amplified Damage
If an attack results in any combat hit inflicted to a Carrier/
Land Base that has Aircraft units in the READY section, these
aircraft may be hit too and cause more damage to the Carrier/
Land base. Just before applying the combat hits to the Carrier/
Land base, roll 1D6, and if the result is in the range of 1-3, the
aircrafts on the flight deck are striken and explode:
All the air units in the READY slot are destroyed

And remember that any ship accompanying a withdrawing ship must move towards the starting line 3 5 3 Carriers Land Bases Carriers and Land Bases have further damage rules because their air base role 3 5 4 Amplified Damage If an attack results in any combat hit inflicted to a Carrier Land Base that has Aircraft units in the READY section these aircraft may be hit too and cause more damage to the Carrier Land base Just before applying the combat hits to the Carrier Land base roll 1D6 and if the result is in the range of 1 3 the aircrafts on the flight deck are striken and explode All the air units in the READY slot are destroyed

Amplify the damage to the Carrier/Land base, adding to
the combat hits from the attack 1 combat hit per 2 steps
of Fighters destroyed (round up), and 3 hits per 2 steps of
Bombers destroyed (round up).
EXAMPLE: CV Hornet is attacked and it gets 2 combat hits. As
it has 3 steps of Fighters (1 full strength fighter and 1 reduced
fighter) and no Bombers in the READY section, and at least
1 combat hit was inflicted to the Carrier, a die roll is made to
see if the hits strike the aircraft there. A 3 is rolled, and the air
units explode, causing more damage to the Carrier. The fighters
add 2 combat hits (3 steps / 2 = 2. 2 x 1 combat hit = 2 hits). The
amplified damage of 2 combat hits is added to the attack’s re-
sult of 2 combat hits, making a total of 4 combat hits. Minor
Damage to the Hornet. If the aircraft there would have been
Bombers instead of Fighters, the amplified damage would have
been 6 hits, with a total of 8, Significant Damage (1 more hit
would have resulted in Critical damage, it’s dangerous to have
air units in the flight deck when the Carrier is under attack.)
3.5.5. Flight deck / Airway damage
Whenever a Carrier/Land base take Minor and Significant
Damage, roll 1D6 to see if its launching and landing capabil-
ities are affected. If it takes Critical Damage, no need to roll
the die, the aircraft units can’t land on this Carrier/land base
neither launch from it.
ÊÊ
Note: if the Carrier was undamaged and in the same attack
it suffered Significant Damage, you first roll for the effects
of Minor, and then for the effects of Significant.
DIE
ROLL
MINOR SIGNIFICANT CRITICAL
1Can’t land
Can’t launch & land
+ Withdrawal
Can’t land
& launch
+ Withdrawal
2
Can’t launch
Can’t land
+ Withdrawal
3Unaffected
4Unaffected
Can’t launch
+ Withdrawal
5Unaffected
6UnaffectedUnaffected*
* Even if unaffected with a Significant Damage, it must
Withdraw if it had a “Can’t Land” or “Can’t Launch” from
a previous Minor Damage result.”
Can’t Land: no air unit can go to LANDING, or from CAP to
READY, in that Carrier/Land base.
ÊÊ
Note: Carriers/Land bases can still launch aircraft (to CAP/
RAID) even if they cannot return to land on them, as they
may land on other Carriers/Land bases.
Can’t Launch: no air unit can go to CAP/RAID in that Carrier/
Land base.
If the Carrier/Land base had the capabilities affected by a pre-
vious attack, those capabilities are still affected by new attacks
that change the Damage category.
EXAMPLE: CV Hornet suffers a Minor Damage, rolls for flight
deck damage and gets a “Can’t launch” result. If it gets a Sig-
nificant damage result later, and rolls a 2 on the Flight Deck
damage, it will be unable to land (by this damage) and unable
to land (by the previous damage). If it had rolled a 6, it would
have still been unable to land units (and also would have to
withdraw because the previous “Can’t launch” result).
If the capability is affected by Minor damage, and it’s repaired
by emergency repairs later, this also restores its landing and
launching capabilities.
A Carrier that has to withdraw, may still launch/land aircraft
(whichever is undisabled) after breaking from its fleet.
3.5.6. Land Base Damaged
Inflicting a Significant damage to a land base unit halves the
number of aircraft it can hold. If this falls below the number

---

RESTRICTED 9
of aircraft already at the base, remove excess units from its
READY slot first, and then from the RESERVES if there are still
units to remove.
If a land base is destroyed, remove all the aircraft units in its
Aircraft Status chart (any status).
ÊÊ
Note that those that have to return from a mission to it
can’t land on a Carrier, so they usually will be destroyed
too when returning to base.
3.6. HANDLING OF FLEET MARKERS
3.6.1. Dummies
Dummies are used to deceive the enemy, giving you more time
to find their Task Forces and thus striking first.
Dummies are removed from the board when located by:
Reconnaissance planes (see Recon rules)

At the end of the movement phase if an Enemy Task Forces
is in its ZOC.
Dummies may be re-used on night. As the number of fleet mark-
ers (Fleet + Dummies) to use is fixed at 12 throughout the game,
each Task Force wiped out (by destruction, withdrawal, and
merging of entire Task Forces) puts one extra dummy marker
at your disposal. By the same logic, every time you split a Task
Force in two you have one less Dummy to use.
On the movement phase of any turn during the night those
dummies up to the maximum marked before can be stacked on
top of other Fleet markers. Do this out of your opponent’s sight,
in a way that the opponent doesn’t see which is the dummy
and which is the genuine Fleet marker.
ÊÊIn the movement phase you may send the stacks’ markers
off in different directions so your opponent loses track of
previously uncovered Fleets.
Dummy markers can not move into enemy ZOC (3.4).
3.6.2. Detection Level
Undetected Detected Partial detection
A Fleet marker is undetected if it’s showing its flag side.
A Fleet marker is partially detected if it has a Report marker.
A Fleet marker is detected if it’s showing its numbered side.
3.6.3. Splitting Task Forces
On the movement phase of any Night turn you may split Task
Forces into two or more.
Make the adjustments in the fleet formation sheet (observing
the restrictions). New numbered TF marker(s) will be needed
for the new Task Force(s). Make your opponent aware of where
the splitting is being done in the map, and add to this original
marker one (or more) markers. If the original splitting Task
Force was undetected, the new Task Forces are undetected as
well, and if it was detected (face down), the new are detected.
Sacrifice dummy markers if necessary so that you do not ex-
ceed 12 markers.
You can add an extra layer of concealment by stacking dummies
on these markers (as in 3.6.1).
3.6.4. Merging & Rearranging Task Forces
You may arrange your ships between different existing Task
Forces in the same hex. If one Task Force is fully incorporated
into another Task Force(s), set aside its Fleet marker (during
the night you will have one more dummy to place).
You may also reorder as you wish the ships within their own
formations.
That may be done:
At the start of your movement phase.

At the very start of the Raid phase, before it’s started by
the first player
Comply with the restrictions on Fleet formations (see 3.7.1)
If a detected or partially detected Task Force “A” fully merges
with or send ships to an undetected Task Force “B”, this TF “B”
is now detected as well:
If the TF “A” was fully detected (fleet marker showing the
TF number) then the TF “B” will be fully detected.

If the TF “A” was partially detected (it has a Report marker)
then place a Report marker (opponent chooses its side)
with the TF “B”
Consider the ships on map (those that are withdrawing and
those escorting them) as their own formations, so they can also
rearrange and reorder: sending ships to Task Forces, receiving
ships from Task Forces, and reordering their own column for-
mations (the ring formations need no reordering). A withdraw-
ing Carrier must always have at least one escort with it (if it
had one when started the withdrawal).
3.6.5. Splitting & Merging Destroyers (DD)
You may split/merge DD units freely. That may be done:
At the start of your movement phase.

fully detected If the TF A was partially detected it has a Report marker then place a Report marker opponent chooses its side with the TF B Consider the ships on map those that are withdrawing and those escorting them as their own formations so they can also rearrange and reorder sending ships to Task Forces receiving ships from Task Forces and reordering their own column for mations the ring formations need no reordering A withdraw ing Carrier must always have at least one escort with it if it had one when started the withdrawal 3 6 5 Splitting Merging Destroyers DD You may split merge DD units freely That may be done At the start of your movement phase

At the very start of the Raid phase, before it’s started by
the first player
Merge: take 2 reduced DD counters in the same hex. Flip one of
them to its full strength side and set aside the other off board.
Any Minor Damage marker(s) of any of the reduced DDs is
placed on the full counter.
Split: take 1 full DD counter. Flip to its reduced strength side
and place another one (reduced side) in a free box of any for-
mation in the hex, or in the map if you want the DD to escort
another witdrawing unit in the map. A Minor damage marker
will go with one of the reduced units, or with both if there were
2 Minor damage markers.
If you merge a reduced DD with Minor damage, with another
reduced DD undamaged, the final full strength counter will
have a Minor Damage (that one from the damaged ship). In
the very strange case of two reduced DD with minor damage
both, the resulting full counter DD unit would have 2 minor
damage markers, to remember that both of them are damaged.
If one Minor damage marker, then it’s the first ship the one
who is damaged (for handling damage considerations). Do
similarly when splitting a full strength DD into 2 reduced DDs.
3.7. SETUP OF A SCENARIO
Each scenario will list a number of ships and air units, number
of fleet markers (Task Forces and Dummies), land bases (if any),
and in some cases special setup conditions for that scenario.
The scenario special setup rules take precedence over the next
common rules, and sometimes may put an exception to the
regular rules. Follow the setup instructions of the scenario,
while complying with the common setup rules of this section:
3.7.1. Fleet formation sheet (Task Forces)
With the ships offered by the scenario, you may create Task
Forces by placing the ships on the formations. The only re-
strictions, apart from those of the scenario, are the following:
Each sheet has up to 6 “ring” formations, TF1 to TF6, used only
for Carrier Task Forces, and up to 7 “column” formations, TF7 to
TF13, used for Fleet Task Forces (Task Forces without Carriers).
Each box in a formation may hold 1 naval counter.
ÊÊ
Remember that although a full strength Destroyer counter
has 2 ships, it’s still 1 counter.

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TASK FORCE: CARRIER BATTLES IN THE PACIFIC 10
The number of boxes of each formation is a maximum, you
can’t place more counters than boxes.
The formations have special rules. You can see them here and
in the player aid.
In a Carrier Task Force you must always have 1 Carrier in the
central box, and in the other boxes you may place any other
ships except:
Other Carriers

TASK FORCE CARRIER BATTLES IN THE PACIFIC 10 The number of boxes of each formation is a maximum you can t place more counters than boxes The formations have special rules You can see them here and in the player aid In a Carrier Task Force you must always have 1 Carrier in the central box and in the other boxes you may place any other ships except Other Carriers

Battleships (BB) due to their lower speeds. The only ex-
ceptions are the IJN’s high-speed battleships Kongō, Hiei,
Haruna and Kirishima.
Tankers (AO)
In a Fleet Task Force you can’t have Carriers, and the formation
must have at least 1.5 units.
ÊÊNote: Remember: a full strength DD (or AK) is 1 unit, and
a reduced DD (or AK) 0.5 units.
You can’t voluntarily bypass these restrictions when splitting/
merging/rearranging fleets (see 3.6). You may bypass the restric-
tion on minimum ships to form a Fleet Task Forces when you
send other ships to escort a withdrawn ship.
ÊÊNote: you may end up having a Fleet Task Force with less
ships than the stipulated here because: (1) some of they
have been sunk or withdrawn, or (2) a Carrier Task Force
has lost the Carrier and the new Fleet Task Force doesn’t
have enough ships. It’s ok, and you don’t have to replenish
it if you have more Task Forces later in the hex. What you
can’t do is voluntarily move ships out of a Task Force (except
when you decide to send escorts with a newly withdrawn
ship) if that Task Force is then left with only 1 capital ship,
or 2 DD/AK ships.
You may combine two Task Forces (line and/or ring formations)
into one Task Force. Simply put one of the Fleet markers onto
the Fleet formation sheet of the other.
Suppose you have task forces in boxes No.1 and 2, and want
to combine them. To do this you place the TF.2 marker at the
side of the “No.1” label in the fleet formation sheet, and will
use the TF.1 marker in the map.
If the opponent does a Recon on the (combined) Fleet marker,
treat it as a Carrier Task Force if any of the 2 formations is a
Carrier Task Force.
ÊÊ
Note: why would you want to do that? It’s not the usual
thing to do, they are from now on obliged to move togeth-
er (unless they split at night), and it’s only one marker (so
the enemy only has to recon it). But, this way you save up
one fleet marker of the total you can use in the scenario,
so you can use more dummies, and being both Task Forces
together you may rearrange the ships to offer better de-
fense in case some of them are removed. Or for any other
reasons, up to you.
A full strength destroyer unit can be split up as two reduced
destroyer units when forming fleets.
ÊÊ
About fog of war: the opponent will usually see your for-
mation sheet, and viceversa, but during the setup both of
you create the formations simultaneously and hidden from
the other.
3.7.2. Aircraft status sheet
All aircraft units are placed in the READY and/or RESERVE
spaces of their Carriers and Land bases, with a maximum of 4
air units in the READY space.
ÊÊNote: A reduced air unit counts as 0.5 units
ÊÊ
About fog of war: the opponent will usually see your aircraft
status sheet, and viceversa, but during the setup both of
you assign the air units simultaneously and hidden from
the other.
EXAMPLE: Let’s say that in the Fleet formation sheet’s TF.1 you
have the Zuikaku. The Zuikaku’s aerial units (marked “Zui”)
then go to the slots of the Aircraft status sheet’s No.1. They
may go in either the “READY” or “RESERVE” slots. There are no
placement restrictions other than: only four units at maximum
can go in the READY slot.
3.7.3. Fleet markers
With all your Task Forces and air units arrayed, next up is to
place Fleet markers on the map. Both players use 12 Fleet mark-
ers (Task Forces and Dummies). You will have one Fleet marker
per Task Force (with the identifier number of the formation
sheet), and the rest will be dummies. The only restriction is
that at least half of the Fleet markers must be dummies
You can stack as many markers as you like on top of each other…
but it would be wise not to get carried away. With all 12 markers
separate, the opponent will have to search more hexes to find
the Task Forces. At the other extreme, stacking all 12 markers
immediately gives the fleets’ position away.
3.7.4. Recon chits and turn record track
Put all recon chits (54) into any container to allow for random
drawing, such as a cup or a bag. Place the turn marker in the
correct space as indicated in the scenario information.
3.8. FOG OF WAR
This game was designed for the beginners: the aircraft status
sheets and fleet formation sheets can be inspected by all play-
ers at any time.
3.8.1. Optional Advanced Fog of War
If you want a higher layer of concealment in your games, you
may use this rule if all the players agree.
It’s also a special rule for some of the advanced scenarios.
Task Forces:

the fleets position away 3 7 4 Recon chits and turn record track Put all recon chits 54 into any container to allow for random drawing such as a cup or a bag Place the turn marker in the correct space as indicated in the scenario information 3 8 FOG OF WAR This game was designed for the beginners the aircraft status sheets and fleet formation sheets can be inspected by all play ers at any time 3 8 1 Optional Advanced Fog of War If you want a higher layer of concealment in your games you may use this rule if all the players agree It s also a special rule for some of the advanced scenarios Task Forces

Your fleet formation sheet can be inspected only by you,
so when your opponent declares a raid or starts a naval
combat he will not know how much firepower he is up
against until the very last moment.

In a Naval Battle, you only need to show your opponent the
units involved in an attack after it has been declared, to
choose targets and ensure damage is calculated honestly.
In an air Raid, you only expose all the ships in the target
hex after completing CAP interception.
Air units:
Likewise, the aircraft status sheet is kept hidden.

Not the same for the Land-based aircraft sheet, which may
be inspected at any time by all.
Withdrawing Ships not in a Task Force:

They may be always inspected at any time by all the players.
3.9. VICTORY CONDITIONS
Each scenario has its own victory conditions. They can be
found in the scenario information.

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RESTRICTED 11
4. SEQUENCE OF PLAY
TASK FORCE is played in a varying number of game turns,
depending on the scenario.
Turns consist of each force moving their units and engaging
in combat. When all actions are complete the next turn com-
mences; actions can then be performed anew.
Turns are split into five phases, as follows:
4.1. NAVAL MOVEMENT PHASE
In this phase the players reposition their Fleet markers in ac-
cordance with their tactical aims.
The Initiative player conducts this phase first, then the other player.
First of all, you may add dummies (only at night), and split (only
at night), merge, and rearrange your Task Forces, and merge and
split DD units. See 3.6 for full rules and restrictions.
And then, you may move your Fleet markers and withdrawing
ships on map.
Lastly, after both players have moved, remove enemy Dummies
that are in enemy ZOC.
ÊÊNote: Just in case you are a novice player, or with experi-
ence in other type of games different than wargames, be
aware that the direction of movements is unrestricted (at
night you can move one hex in one direction, then one hex
in another), and also that you can choose not to move your
markers, but you cannot pass a move on to the next turn
or another marker.
4.1.1. Movement of Fleet markers
Markers can move one hex during the day, two at night. A Fleet
marker may be moved in any direction(s) – as long as it does not
enter a hex fully covered by land terrain or occupied by an ene-
my fleet marker, even if it’s a dummy, or an enemy withdrawing
ship, neither cross a coral reef or a hexside fully covered by land.
Dummy markers can not move into enemy ZOC (3.4).
ÊÊ
Note: Fleets may enter a hex with an enemy land base
marker, as this marker is placed on map only for easy and
quick consultation on the base’s status.
EXAMPLE A shows a IJN
fleet’s movement options.
It’s blocked from moving
by an enemy marker, and
coral reef hexsides.
EXAMPLE B shows a fleet
that’s blocked from mov-
ing by fully covered land
hexsides.
EXAMPLE C shows a fleet
that’s blocked from moving
by coral reefs on all but one
hexsides.

TURN PHASES
1. NAVAL MOVEMENT PHASE
(SEE 4.1 NAVAL MOVEMENT PHASE)
Players reposition their Fleet markers in accordance with
their tactical aims.
You may merge Task Forces and/or rearrange their compo-
sition. During night turns, you may create new Task Forces
by splitting existing ones.
Initiative player acts first, then the other player.
2. NAVAL COMBAT PHASE
(SEE 4.2 NAVAL COMBAT PHASE)
Opposing fleets exchange naval gunfire and torpedoes if
adjacent to each other.
Attacks are simultaneous.
3. AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS PHASE
(SEE 4.3 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS PHASE)
Aircraft that conducted a raid on the previous turn, or a
CAP mission, lands. You may prepare other aircraft for
combat action, CAP missions, and launch bombing Raid
missions. Lastly any launched Raid mission is resolved,
where air-to-air and air-to-surface fighting may occur.
Just before the phase starts, both players may merge/rear-
range their Task Forces.
Unlike the other phases, a die roll decides which player
goes first in this phase. The player who rolls higher goes
second. In our experience the player going second has an
advantage. Reroll any ties.
4. RECONNAISSANCE PHASE
(SEE 4.4 RECONNAISSANCE (RECON) PHASE)
Players attempt to locate the enemy fleet.
Initiative player conducts recon attempts first.
5. ADMINISTRATIVE PHASE
(SEE 4.5 ADMINISTRATIVE (ADMIN) PHASE)
Emergency Repairs on ships with minor damage take place.
Then, the turn marker is moved to the next slot.
If it’s the first Night turn of that day, after moving the Turn
marker, all the recon markers (used and on map) return
to the recon cup, all the Report markers are removed, and
sighted fleets get hidden.
A
B
C

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TASK FORCE: CARRIER BATTLES IN THE PACIFIC 12
4.1.2. Withdrawals
Ships that are withdrawing because of their damage and their
escorts are always on map . You will usually use the numbered
Withdrawing marker in their place for convenience because
the ships are larger than the hexes. They can be inspected at
any time.. They must head for your starting line following
the movement rules. If the witdrawing ships are inside a Task
Force, then you will use the non-numbered side of the marker
in the Task Force display, and the Task Force will head for their
starting line. They will follow the Fog of War rules agreed by
both players, if any (3.8), in which case they usually cannot
be inspected by the opponent (as it’s the case for any other
Task Force).
4.1.3. Transports (AK)
Transports, or a Fleet marker with Transports, can move only
during Night turns, and during odd numbered Day turns.
They can only move 1 hex per turn (day and night).
4.1.4. Moving out of map:
You can move a marker or unit off of the board entirely, from one
of the edge hexes. The ships that exit the map cannot return.
ÊÊYou may wish to avoid taking damage, which would allow
your enemy to gain VP, or maybe it’s a withdrawing ship
(in which case you don’t have option).
4.1.5. Remove Dummies in Enemy ZOC
When all movement is complete for both players, all Dummy mark-
ers that are in an enemy ZOC must be removed from the board.
ÊÊ
Note: not all adjacent hexes are in ZOC. And remember that
the recon chits under fleet markers will not return to the
chit container until the night.
4.2. NAVAL COMBAT PHASE
Opposing fleets exchange naval gunfire and torpedoes if ad-
jacent to each other.
This phase is resolved for all players simultaneously.
When movement is complete, check if there are any Fleet mark-
ers of the two opposing sides in enemy ZOC (not all adjacent
hexes are in ZOC) or Fleet markers in an enemy land base hex.
If there are, flip all the markers to their back side (showing the
TF number), and then one or more naval battles commence.
A Fleet marker may attack (bombard) a land base if it’s not
involved in a naval battle at the same time. Read the rule 4.2.4
for the conditions and special rules for bombarding land bases.
ÊÊNote: remember that ships that are on map withdrawing
are considered like a Fleet, so they can participate in the
naval combat phase
4.2.1. Designate the Surface Battles Composition
All fleets that are adjacent to the enemy fleet(s) must partici-
pate in surface battles.
If there are doubts about how many battles can be fought, the
initiative player decides the composition (which fleet will par-
ticipate in which surface battle) and the order of the battles.
All the friendly Fleets in a same battle are considered as one
Fleet to resolve it.
It is possible to resolve one surface battle in the case where
a group of Fleets has all friendly fleets in the ZOC of all en-
emy fleets.
EXAMPLE: The initiative player have three options to arrange
the surface combat:
1. A single battle: IJN TF.1 & 2 vs USN TF.1 & 2. Or,
2. Two battles: (A) IJN TF.1 vs. USN TF.1; and (B) IJN TF.2 vs.
USN TF.2. Or,
3. Two battles: (A) IJN TF.1 vs. USN TF.2; and (B) IJN TF.2 vs.
USN TF.1.
In this case, IJN TF.4 must fight with USN TF.3. USN TF.4
cannot participate in the battle including IJN TF.4.
The initiative player must decide now one of these three options:
1. (A) IJN TF.4 vs. USN TF.3; and (B) IJN TF.3 & 5 vs. USN TF.4. Or,
2. (A) IJN TF.3 & 4 vs. USN TF.3; and (B) IJN TF.5 vs. USN TF.4. Or,
3. (A) IJN TF.4 & 5 vs. USN TF.3; and (B) IJN TF.3 vs. USN TF.4.
4.2.2. Naval Battle Procedure
One round of battle is resolved per turn. How a round of bat-
tle plays out depends on whether it is a day or night turn. The
next procedure applies for Day turns, and for Night battles
we apply the procedure too, changing some of the rules. The
Night battles changes are two, and are explained in section
following this one.
For each battle, follow the next procedure in order:
1. The fleets decide the gun range
Only the ships with the greatest gun range involved in this
battle will attack.
ÊÊ
So, if one fleet has CA ships and the other CL ships, only
the CA ships will attack. If the other would have had CA
too, both sides’ CA would attack.
Priority order by guns’ range (higher to lower): Battleships (BB)
Heavy cruisers (CA) Light cruisers (CL) Destroyers (DD)
If both sides agree on a particular ship type, use it instead and
include also the ranges of higher priority. If there is no agree-
ment, use the priority order.
EXAMPLE: if I have both BB and CA and you have only CA
and CL, the basic range is BB: only BB may fire. If you want
to use the CA range, and I agree to, I can use both the BB and
CA, and you the CA. If we agree in using the CL range – (it’s
a nonsense, but who knows…) – then all of the BB, CA and
CL may fire.

order by guns range higher to lower Battleships BB Heavy cruisers CA Light cruisers CL Destroyers DD If both sides agree on a particular ship type use it instead and include also the ranges of higher priority If there is no agree ment use the priority order EXAMPLE if I have both BB and CA and you have only CA and CL the basic range is BB only BB may fire If you want to use the CA range and I agree to I can use both the BB and CA and you the CA If we agree in using the CL range it s a nonsense but who knows then all of the BB CA and CL may fire

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RESTRICTED 13
Once the line-up of participating ships is decided, you select
which ships to attack and which to attack with. The Initiative
player declares the targets and resolves fire first, and then the
second player does so. Lastly, apply damage simultaneously.
2. The Initiative player’s participating ships fix
their targets
Select target naval counters and which participating attacking
naval counters target them. More than one counter can choose
the same target at same time, but one attacking counter may
target only one enemy counter. And if three or more count-
ers attack the same target, split them in groups of one or two
counters.
ÊÊ
Note that we are talking about counters, not ships, so a
full strength DD is 1 counter even if it represents 2 ships.
EXAMPLE: 6 naval counters attacking the same target would
split into three groups of 2 counters, and carry out three sepa-
rate attacks, or 2 groups of 2 counters and 2 groups of 1 counter
(four attacks), or 1 group of 2 counters and 4 of 1 counter (five
attacks), or 6 groups of 1 counter (six attacks).
Target selection is not restricted to a specific ship class. You
can freely choose amongst all the ships of the enemy fleet.
All the targets are decided now, in advance of determining the
attack’s result.
ÊÊNote: What differs from air-to-surface attacks (seen later),
is that all the targets are decided in advance of determining
the attack’s result. If you fire on the same enemy twice and
the first attack sinks the target, the second attack is wasted.
ÊÊRemember that a ship with Critical Damage has 0 Firepower.
3. The Initiative player’s attacking ships fire
For each attack use the Naval Combat Table. Roll 1D6 (Row)
and add a DRM of +1 if the attacking ships are the IJN’s (this
reflects the difference in the two navies’ levels of experience):
Then cross-refer with the sum of all the Firepower values of
the attacking ships (Column).
The result is the number of combat Hits that must be applied
to the target (see 3.5 Handling of Combat Hits). All the attacks
from both sides are simultaneous. This means that you only
will adjust for damage during step 6).
4. The second player’s participating ships fix their targets
Same as 2), but this time the acting player is the second player.
5. The second player’s attacking ships fire
Same as 3), but this time the acting player is the seconf player.
6. Apply damages from all the attacks simultaneously
Now the damage from the attacks on the ships is applied.
EXAMPLE: Suppose that in a daytime naval battle, ABDA’s
TF.7 (initiative player) is in the ZOC of IJN’s TF 10. The range
of both fleets is CA and ABDA doesn’t want to change range
because the IJN fleet has more CL. ABDA player decide that
the CA HMS Exeter (undamaged) and USS Houston (signifi-
cant damage) target the IJN’s CA Haguro (undamaged). Their
combined firepower is 8, so a roll of 4 gives a result of 6 com-
bat hits in the naval combat table. The Haguro’s durability
is less than the attack strength by 1, so it takes significant
damage, but it’s not flipped face-down yet, the results will be
applied at the end of the battle. Now the IJN’s decide that the
CA Haguro will target USS Houston, and that CA Nachi will
target Houston as well but not as a group with Haguro, so that
will be 2 attacks. Haguro’s firepower of 6 (as it’s not damaged
yet) rolls a 4, modified to a 5 because it’s an IJN ship, with a
result of 5 combat hits. The USS Houston’s durability is less
than the attack strength by 1, so it will sink (at the end of the
battle). CA Nachi’s attack is wasted because USS Houston will
sink anyways, IJN may roll, but it’s unnecessary, and may not
change targets. Now there are no more unresolved attacks,
so both apply damage: CA Haguro gets Significant damage
and is flipped down, and USS Houston sinks and is removed
from the game.
4.2.3. Night battles
During night turns we apply two rules. These two rules aside,
battles are conducted the same as in the day.
Step 1 - Range: All the ships participate in battle (not only the
greatest range ones).
Steps 3 & 5 - Fire: IJN destroyers’ (DD) firepower doubles (this
represents the increased effectiveness of their “Long Lance”
torpedoes.)
4.2.4. Bombarding a Land Base
A Task Force may attack (bombard) a land base if:
It’s in the same hex as the land base, and
It’s not adjacent to an enemy Task Force. If it’s adjacent it
will fight a naval battle.
Treat the attack as a naval battle, and refer to the naval com-
bat chart to decide the result. There are some differences with
battles between ships:

two rules aside battles are conducted the same as in the day Step 1 Range All the ships participate in battle not only the greatest range ones Steps 3 5 Fire IJN destroyers DD firepower doubles this represents the increased effectiveness of their Long Lance torpedoes 4 2 4 Bombarding a Land Base A Task Force may attack bombard a land base if It s in the same hex as the land base and It s not adjacent to an enemy Task Force If it s adjacent it will fight a naval battle Treat the attack as a naval battle and refer to the naval com bat chart to decide the result There are some differences with battles between ships

All the ships and the land base (if it has a firepower
value) attack

Any number of ships can attack simultaneously. You do
not need to split into groups of two.

Destroyers do not have double firepower attacking the base
at nighttime.
No surprise attacks (rule 4.2.5)
ÊÊNote: There are some land bases that have firepower, and
they will return fire.
4.2.5. Surprise Attacks
Apply this rule only for scenarios that explicitly says that, and
if both players agree, for some Custom scenarios.
The USN’s major ships are equipped with radar, giving them
significant advantages in naval combat.
Roll 1D6 just before deciding the gun range (step 1):
A result of 1-2: It’s an USN surprise attack
A result of 3-5: It’s a normal naval engagement
A result of 6: It’s an IJN surprise attack
A surprise attack means that the sides do not fire simultane -
ously. The side making the surprise attack acts as if it was the
initiative player, inflicting damage first, and then the opponent
returns fire adjusting for units damaged or sunk.

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TASK FORCE: CARRIER BATTLES IN THE PACIFIC 14
4.3. AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS PHASE
Aircraft that conducted a raid on the previous turn, or a CAP
mission, lands. You may prepare other aircraft for combat ac-
tion, CAP missions, and launch bombing Raid missions. Lastly
any launched Raid mission is resolved, where air-to-air and
air-to-surface fighting may occur.
Just before this phase starts, both players may merge/rearrange
their Task Forces (see 3.6.4), and merge and split DD units, start-
ing with the initiative player.
And then, proceed to the proper Aircraft Operations for the
Air units in their Aircraft status sheet:
A. Aircraft Status (4.3.1) - First the aircraft returning from
a previous turn mission must land, and the other aircraft
may change their status (moved to RESERVES or READY,
or flying a mission like CAP and RAID). Unlike the oth-
er phases, a die roll decides which player goes first in
this step. The player who rolls lowest goes first. In our
experience the player going second has an advantage.
Reroll any ties.
B. Raid execution (4.3.2) - Then both players execute the
RAIDs launched this turn simultaneously. A Raid in-
cludes a possible interception from the target, and then
if any bomber survived, the target bombing (air-to-sur-
face combat).
C. Return to Base (4.3.3) - Finally, all the aircraft proceed to
return to their bases from their missions, changing to a
LANDING status that will be completed in the Aircraft
Operations of the next turn.
ÊÊNote: as you will read in the next section, during the last
daytime turn you will only be able to move units between
the LANDING, READY and RESERVE slots, and during the
night turns only between READY and RESERVE. So, the
entire phase is practically skipped during those turns.
4.3.1. Aircraft Status
Both players roll 1D6 to decide which player goes first during
this step. The player who rolls lowest roll goes first (in our
experience the player going second has an advantage), and
resolves this step, and then the second player. Reroll any tie.
An air unit changes its status by moving its counter between
the different slots of its base (a base is a Carrier or a Land
base) where it is based in the Aircraft status sheet. Each slot
represents the actual status of the different air units that are
inside, and it’s usually correlated to a physical location (the
READY is usually the flight deck, RESERVE the hangar, the CAP
is the air above the base where the air units are patrolling, etc…)
The directional arrows there show to which slots the air units
can (or must in the case of the “LANDING” slots) be moved.
ÊÊA “move” is another way to represent the change of status
of the air unit.
For example, an aircraft in the “READY” slot can move any-
where but the “LANDING” slots, whereas an aircraft in the
“LANDING from map” slot has to be moved to “Reserve.”
ÊÊ
Note: The “RAID” status have no slot, because the units are
moved directly to the map (to the hex where the target of
the mission is located).
Each aircraft unit may be moved a maximum of one slot.
Follow the procedure in order:
A. You may move the air units in the RESERVE and READY
slots as you wish, with the previous restriction: one slot
maximum to an adjacent connected slot following the
arrows direction. And also any restrictions of the status/
slot. (RAID has some restrictions on whom you can fly a
RAID mission, or external CAP mission)
Exception: During the last daytime turn, and all night turns,
you can’t move units to CAP and RAID
B. You must move the air units in the LANDING slots.
ÊÊUnits in the LANDING from CAP slot may go to either the
READY slot or RESERVE slot. Units in the LANDING from
Map slot go to the RESERVE slot.
C. And now, you must check that you have not exceeded
the total aircraft unit limits per base (Ready + Reserve
slots), and total per READY slot:
MAX. AIRCRAFT PER CARRIER
CVL (USN and IJN): 4 units
CVL (RN): 2.5 units
CV IJN: 8 units
CV USN: 10 units
CV RN: 6 units
Max. Aircraft per Land Base: The aircraft capacity of the land
bases are shown in their counters.
Max. Aircraft in READY status: 4 aircraft per Carrier/
Land Base.
Remember that a reduced aircraft counts as 0.5 units.
ÊÊ
NOTE: this limits are based on the scenarios, that are based
on battles and campaigns on the earlier Pacific War. If you
want to design later Pacific War scenarios (or Custom),
be aware that by then the capacity of the Carriers and
bases changed.
If the conditions are not met, remove excess units from play
(crash/emergency landing):

CVL USN and IJN 4 units CVL RN 2 5 units CV IJN 8 units CV USN 10 units CV RN 6 units Max Aircraft per Land Base The aircraft capacity of the land bases are shown in their counters Max Aircraft in READY status 4 aircraft per Carrier Land Base Remember that a reduced aircraft counts as 0 5 units ÊÊ NOTE this limits are based on the scenarios that are based on battles and campaigns on the earlier Pacific War If you want to design later Pacific War scenarios or Custom be aware that by then the capacity of the Carriers and bases changed If the conditions are not met remove excess units from play crash emergency landing

If the excess is for the READY status capacity, remove first
from the units that landed from CAP.
If the excess is in the total of the Carrier or Land base, re-
move first from the units that landed from CAP and from
Map (owner’s choice).
Air unit Status:
RESERVE: An aircraft that has returned from an assignment
and is undergoing maintenance, or is waiting in the hangar.
READY: A combat-ready aircraft, usually aboard the flight deck
or ready to take-off the runway.

Only 4 units maximum can be here at the end of the air-
craft status step.
CAP: (Combat Air Patrol) A fighter plane patrolling a ship or
land base, or a bomber that take off to not be bombarded while
on the runway (this is not CAP, but we include here this option
at player’s discretion).

If a fighter (not a bomber) is in this slot when an enemy
attacks, they will initiate aerial combat.

Any unit will be for 1 turn at most here, because during the
Return to Base step they will have to land.

---

RESTRICTED 15
RAID (this include CAP to other ships/bases): An aircraft in the
middle of a raid on an enemy fleet or land base, or doing CAP
missions to another friendly fleet or land base.
Units are moved to “RAID” if they are going to attack or send
CAP to other Fleets/Land bases:
A. Sending CAP to another Fleet / Land base
If you are going first (only), you can declare you are
doing CAP for another friendly fleet or land base. Send
the fighters (there can’t be bombers) to the target hex
on the map, and it must be within 5 hexes. You can only
send CAP to a hex with Fleet marker(s) if at least one is
detected or partially detected.
B. Raid (Bomb) an enemy Fleet / Land base
You may declare a Raid against an enemy fleet or land
base. Send the air units to the target hex on the map,
and it must be within 5 hexes, or 4 hexes in the case of
the Douglas TBD Devastator. You can only Raid to a hex
with Fleet marker(s) if at least one is detected or partial-
ly detected.
There won’t be option to retreat after initiating a CAP or
Raid mission.
ÊÊ
Raids against Land bases have some special rules. See 4.3.6
rule below.
ÊÊ
Land base units may execute long range raids. See rule
4.3.7 below.
Special rule for the Mitsubishi A6M “Zero”: You can split
a full strength unit into 2 reduced units (by using an extra
counter) so you can send both to different missions (RAID
& both types of CAP). You can merge any Zero units at any
moment, or keep them split.
ÊÊNote: try to remember the home base of the extra counter,
it will have to return to its home base if possible.
LANDING: An aircraft returning from a mission (from CAP on
its base, or from a Raid or CAP on map).
Air units are moved to the corresponding LANDING slot of a
base during the Return to Base step (see 4.3.3), and then, at the
next turn Aircraft Operations phase (see 4.3.1), the surviving
units will land, moving them to the RESERVE slot (for refuel-
ing/maintenance), or even the READY slot (if from their own
CAP, because aircraft returning from raids or external CAP
take longer to reprepare).
During the Return to Base step, a unit from a Raid or external
CAP Mission will return to the LANDING from Map slot, and
a unit from CAP to the LANDING from CAP slot. They will do
enter the LANDING slots of their home bases.
If it’s not possible to land on their home base, you can land
them on a different base (complying with the same require-
ments), and in that case:
They are placed on the LANDING from Map slot (even if
they were on CAP Mission on their home bases).
An aircraft whose home base is a land base can’t land on
a Carrier.
If it’s not possible to land on any base, the unit will be re-
moved from play (crash/emergency landing).
4.3.2. Raid execution
Now that both of you have finished moving your aircraft, let’s
move on to the serious part of the Operations phase.
Both players execute the Raids launched this turn
simultaneously.
Firstly, reveal all the Fleet markers in the target hex. They are
from now on fully detected: set aside the Recon chits and the
Patrol markers (the recon chits will not return to the chit con-
tainer until night).
And now, for each target hex, resolve that Raid. There may be
an air interception, and then a bombing of the ships / land
base in the target:
1. The defending air units intercept the bombers (Air-to-
Air combat)
All the Fleets and land bases in the target hex must inter-
cept a raid against them with all the fighters that are in their
CAP slots.
Exception: for a raid where the bombers are only B17 (even
if they have fighter escorts), the IJN fighters don’t have to
intercept them unless they want to.

Allied Radar: the Allied player may move fighters in a tar -
get’s READY slot to CAP, to be included in the fight, if those
fighters didn’t change their status this turn (they started
the phase in the READY slot).

then a bombing of the ships land base in the target 1 The defending air units intercept the bombers Air to Air combat All the Fleets and land bases in the target hex must inter cept a raid against them with all the fighters that are in their CAP slots Exception for a raid where the bombers are only B17 even if they have fighter escorts the IJN fighters don t have to intercept them unless they want to Allied Radar the Allied player may move fighters in a tar get s READY slot to CAP to be included in the fight if those fighters didn t change their status this turn they started the phase in the READY slot

CAP from other bases: you must include all those fighters
that are in the hex that were sent as a CAP mission from
other Fleets and land bases.
ÊÊNote on Allied Radar: Even when the Allied Fleets go first
they don’t need to send fighters to CAP preventively. The
radar gave the Allies the benefit of not suffering a sur-
prise attack (in theory). Unlike the Allies, the IJN Fleets
going first should plan the CAP missions or risk suffering
a surprise attack.
Resolve the Air to Air Combats (see 4.3.4)
2. The surviving bombers attack the target’s ships / land
base (Air-to-Surface combat)
The attacking Bombers that weren’t intercepted, or those that
were intercepted and got a “*” result in the air-to-air table and
survived, bomb the target. The fighters are not used here.
Resolve the Air to Surface Combats (see 4.3.5)
ÊÊ
Note: the order in which you resolve the Raids doesn’t mat-
ter, but if you want one, the player that acted first in the
phase decides.
ÊÊ
Note: the Raid is resolved per hex, so aircraft that raid from
different bases attacking the fleets and/or bases in the same
hex are considered a single group, so they are intercepted
and attack together. All the fleets and bases in the same
target hex are considered a single group too (but they are
still different formations for anti-air fire considerations,
of course), so any CAP from Carriers (or external) in the
hex protects all the ships, and any ship may be targeted
by the air units.
4.3.3. Return to Base
Now that the Raid has concluded, the surviving air units (raid-
ing or doing CAP) return to their bases to refit and prepare for
more missions.
Both players return to base their aircraft simultaneously. Move
all the aircraft on the map and on the CAP to the corresponding
LANDING slots of their bases, or to another bases if their base
is unable to receive aircrafts.
This step is resolved even if there were no Raids this turn,
because there may be units in CAP missions (in the CAP slot
or in the map).
The conditions to land in a base (put the air units in a LADING
slot of a base) are the following:

The aircraft must land at its home base (its Carrier, or land
base) if possible.
If it’s not possible to land on its home base, then another
base may be choosen, but it must be within 5 hexes, or 4
hexes for a Douglas TBD Devastator air unit
An aircraft whose home base is a Land base can’t land on
a Carrier.

---

TASK FORCE: CARRIER BATTLES IN THE PACIFIC 16
The base must be able to land aircraft (landing capablities
are sometimes disabled when a base sustains damage).
The base must have enough free space
A unit landing on its home base:
from a Raid or CAP Mission in the map, will return to the
“LANDING from Map” slot.
from CAP, will go to the “LANDING from CAP slot”.
A unit that have to land on a different base will go to the
“LANDING from Map” slot (even if they were on CAP Mission
on their home bases). From now on the home base of this unit
is the new base.
Exception: There is an edge case where an air unit can’t
land in its home base because the base has a minor damage
that resulted in a “can’t land”. If the base repairs that minor
damage, the air unit may land later there in the return to
base from another mission.
If it’s not possible to land on any base, the unit will be removed
from play (crash/emergency landing).
4.3.4. Air-to-Air Combat Procedure
This is the sequence for air-to-air attacks when there is a raid
interception: first the patrolling air units engage the raiding
air units, and then the air combats are resolved.
1. Interceptors engage the Raiding aircrafts
The intercepting player decides the pairings of aircrafts that
engage each other:
One unit of interceptors engage one unit of raiders.
If the raiders have fighters, they are intercepted first.

If there are more raiding fighters than interceptors, you
must still intercept every fighter. This means taking on
multiple units with one interceptor, distributing as evenly
as possible (so no interceptor pairs with 3 fighters until at
least all the other interceptors have paired with 2 fighters).
Once all the raiding fighters are engaged (if any), intercept
bombers choosing a mix of (a) Torpedo and (b) Horizontal
and Dive Bombers (B and DB) as evenly as possible (1 T, 1
B/DB, 1 T, 1B/DB… or viceversa)

If there are unengaged interceptors after all the raiding
aircraft have been engaged, target single raiders with mul-
tiple interceptors.
The intercepting player can decide not to pair with B17s.
Special rule for the Mitsubishi A6M “Zero”: Either raid -
ing, or intercepting, you can split a full strength unit into 2
reduced units (by using an extra counter). You can merge any
Zero units at any moment, or keep them split.
ÊÊNote: try to remember the home base of the extra counter,
it will have to return to its home base if possible.
2. Resolve all the air combats
The intercepting player resolves each engagement (pairing of
interceptor(s) and raider(s)), one by one. The order doesn’t mat-
ter. For each combat:
Use the Air-to-Air Table. Roll 1D6 (Row) and cross-refer with the
Air-to-Air values difference (Interceptors’ - Raiders’) (Column).
The result is given as:

Results with an “R” affect the Raider, results with an “I”
affect the Interceptor.

A Number refers to the steps lost by the “R” or “I”. Any steps
lost in excess once all the affected units in that pairing are
shot down do not carry over to other pairings.

extra counter it will have to return to its home base if possible 2 Resolve all the air combats The intercepting player resolves each engagement pairing of interceptor s and raider s one by one The order doesn t mat ter For each combat Use the Air to Air Table Roll 1D6 Row and cross refer with the Air to Air values difference Interceptors Raiders Column The result is given as Results with an R affect the Raider results with an I affect the Interceptor A Number refers to the steps lost by the R or I Any steps lost in excess once all the affected units in that pairing are shot down do not carry over to other pairings

An * means that an intercepted bomber (if it was a Bomber)
that doesn’t end up shot-down (if any damage) may con-
tinue with the Raid mission.
ÊÊNote: an intercepted (paired) Bomber will not bomb the
target in the air-to-surface step unless the result is a * and
it’s not fully shot down (it still has 1 step after this combat).
EXAMPLE: Refer to the picture. The USN raiders have two F4Fs,
two SBDs and two TBDs. The IJN interceptors have four re-
duced Zeros, that the IJN player decided to split up from two
full strength Zeros. The Zeros intercept the fighters (F4Fs) first,
and have two more units as leftover to intercept with. They
cannot attack both of the more powerful dive bombers (SBDs)
because they must mix between T and B/DB, so they target
one SBD (DB) and one TBD (T).
NOT
INTERCEPTED
INTERCEPTION
Now the pairings are resolved in any order. Let’s see what
happens with one of the reduced Zero against the SBD:
1. Interceptors’ air value – Raider’s air value: 3-2 = 1.
2. Refer to the +1 column in the air-to-air combat table, and
roll a die.
3a. If the roll is 1 we get R2. This means 2 steps of damage for
the raiders. Therefore, the SBD unit is shot down or too badly
damaged to continue fighting. Remove the counter from play.
3b. Instead with a roll of 2 we get R2 / I1, i.e the interceptors
take 1 step of damage as well.
3c. With a roll of 6 we get R1 / I1 *. The asterisk means that if
the raiders involved in the pairing (in this case it’s only the
SBD) are not shot down after that 1 step of damage, they will
go on to attack their target (this applies for torpedo, dive and
horizontal bombers.)
The rest of the pairings will be resolved one by one.
4.3.5. Air-to-Surface Combat Procedure
This is the sequence for air-to-surface attacks: first the attack-
ing player chooses a surface target (ship or land base) and a
group of attacking air units (bombers), then the surface unit
defends with ant-air defences, and lastly the surviving air units
attack the unit.
Once an attack sequence is completed, the next group of at-
tackers and target are chosen, and so on. While the air units
can only attack once each, the enemy ships can be targeted
however by different groups of air units.
1. The air units select a target
The attacking player chooses a target from all those ships (or
land base) in the hex, and then one or more attacking bomber
units (not fighters) from all those in the air raid (even if they
came from different bases).

Multiple air units can attack as a group the same ship/
land base.

Each air unit can attack only once, enemy ships/land bases
can be targeted more than once
ÊÊ
Note: It is possible to combine an unlimited number of
aerial units into one group to attack the same target, but
a reasonably good strategy is to combine units for an an-
ti-ship rating of 10 or 12.

---

RESTRICTED 17
2. The target fires anti-air defenses
Before the attacking air units can get their bombs or torpedoes
away, they must face anti-air fire from their target. This can
lead to aircraft either missing their target or being destroyed. A
target will respond with anti-air fire each time it is attacked—
even if attacked multiple times.
Skip if the target has a Critical Damage (because it has an An-
ti-Air value of 0).
Use the Anti-Air Table. Roll 1D6 (Row) and cross-refer with the
target’s Anti-Air value (Column).

Add to the anti-air value the anti-air of their immediate
adjacent ship’s in the formation

Exception: a target ship on the outside of a ring formation
uses only it’s own value (don’t count the Carrier)
+4 +4 +1
BA
EXAMPLE: When attacking the left-side destroyer the anti-air
rating used is 1+4 (i.e the target’s + the neighbouring Prince of
Wales’). Similarly, when attacking the Repulse you use 4+3+0.
+3
+3
BA
+1
+1
A) Only the Kirishima’s own anti-air rating without any ad-
dition from the neighboring Shōkaku. B) If the Shōkaku is
attacked, the rating used is 3+3+1+1+1.
The result is given as A/B, where:
A is the die roll modifier (DRM) for the next Air-to-Surface die
roll. The higher it is, the higher the chance the aircraft’s pay-
load fails to hit its target
B is the Air Steps lost by the units in this attacking group. It’s
the attacking player who apply the result to the air units, but
in the case of both Torpedo (T) and Bombers (B, DB) types in
the group, the losses are applied equally between air unit type
(consider B and DB the same type).
EXAMPLE: an air group attacking a ship consists of 1 full
strength bomber T type, and 1.5 (one full strength and one
reduced) bomber B type air units. They receive a result of 1/2,
so the air-to-surface roll will have a +1 DRM, and now 2 steps
are lost by the air units. One step lose must go for the T, flip-
ping it to the face down side, and the other one for one of the
B (the player may choose to destroy the reduced B unit, or
reduce the full B unit).
3. The surviving air units bomb the target
If there are any surviving air unit in the group, carry out the
bombing attempt with them.
Use the Air-to-Surface Table. Roll 1D6 (Row) and add all the
applicable (if any) DRMs from these two:
Anti-air defenses: + DRM from the previous Anti-Air result (if any).
Stationary target: -2. This modifier applies only for target in
dock (Scenario 1) and any Land base.
Then cross-refer with the sum of all the Air-to-surface values
of the air units in the group (Column).
The result is the number of combat Hits that must be applied
to the target (see 3.5 Handling of Combat Hits).
4. If there are still bombers that have not attacked, repeat
the sequence from step 1.
ÊÊNote: you have a complete example of air-to-surface com-
bats in the Scenario 1 from the Scenario book.
4.3.6. Raiding a Land Base
Raids on Land base units go as usual, plus some special rules:

Horizontal bombing is used rather than torpedoes, all the
Torpedo (T type) air units have air-to-surface values of 2
and are considered B type (Horizontal Bombers) units for
all the rules (air-to-air, anti-air, and the next rule below).
A reduced strength “T” being used as a “B” has an air-to-
surface value of 1.

5 Handling of Combat Hits 4 If there are still bombers that have not attacked repeat the sequence from step 1 ÊÊNote you have a complete example of air to surface com bats in the Scenario 1 from the Scenario book 4 3 6 Raiding a Land Base Raids on Land base units go as usual plus some special rules Horizontal bombing is used rather than torpedoes all the Torpedo T type air units have air to surface values of 2 and are considered B type Horizontal Bombers units for all the rules air to air anti air and the next rule below A reduced strength T being used as a B has an air to surface value of 1

Precision bombing: If there are no intercepting fighters
in a Land base raid, the bombers (B and DB) have their air-
to-surface values doubled, and in the case of B-17s tripled.
ÊÊ Note: one intercepting fighter unit is enough to avoid the
danger of multiplying bomb values.
4.3.7. Long Range Raids from Land Bases
Aircraft units whose home base is a land base may execute
Raids at an extended range, further than the 5 hexes carri-
er-based aircraft are limited to. Those units have this num-
ber (their “cruising range”) above their model denomination.
Consider other units who started a scenario in a land base as
having those ranges too.
USN
Unit RangeUnit Range
B17 18SBD / TBF 10
B25 14F4F 8
B26 12 P39 / P40 6
IJN
Unit Range
Zero /
Betty / Nell
18
Kate / Val 12
Raids to other land bases may be executed at those ranges, and
raids to Fleets at lesser ranges (8 hexes) as we will see now:
4.3.8. Raids from Land base to Land base
Land-based aircraft can raid land bases within their cruising
ranges. The raids take longer the further away the target is,
as follows:
Within 8 hexes: Raid executed in the same Aircraft Oper-
ations phase.
Within 9-16 hexes: In the next Aircraft Operations phase.

Over 16 hexes away: In two Aircraft Operations phases’ time.
Place the aircraft units with delayed attacks on the turn track,
in the box of the turn they will execute the raid. They will be put
on the map that turn to remember that they participate in the
Raid execution. Once a target has been set an attack cannot be
called off. The Return to Base takes an equal amount of turns.
You cannot send aircraft on missions that force them to resolve
the Raid at night, neither if the have to return to base at night.
EXAMPLE: In the turn 3 you launch Betties and Zero from
Rabaul to attack Henderson Field. The distance is 17 hexes so
the journey takes two more turns (4 and 5). The raiders arrive
on turn 5, and the return to base takes two more turns from
there (6 and 7). On turn 8 the aircraft will move from “LAND-
ING from map” to the RESERVE slot.
If at the turn of arrival there are Fleet markers in the land base
hex, they may choose targets between ships and the base, as
usual, but the “T” (torpedo) type air units are still considered
as Bomber units (B) with an Air-to-Surface value of 2.

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TASK FORCE: CARRIER BATTLES IN THE PACIFIC 18
4.3.9. Raids from Land base to Fleets
A raid against a Fleet within 5 hexes still resolves at usual, but
air units with extended ranges may raid a Fleet up to 8 hexes,
if their crusing range allows them to.
If they raid at a range of 6 to 8 hexes, they have to check if they
locate the target. Roll 1D6 for each extended Raid in this table
just before any CAP interception in the target:
DISTANCE SUCCESS
6 hexes 2-6
7 hexes 3-6
8 hexes 5-6
If they don’t locate the target, they won’t participate and will
return to base when all the other raids have finished.
4.4. RECONNAISSANCE PHASE
Players attempt to locate the enemy fleet. The idea of recon is
to ascertain the enemy fleet’s location, searching hex-by-hex.
The Initiative player conducts this phase first, then the
other player.
The recon phase is skipped:
At night
On the final two daytime turns

range of 6 to 8 hexes they have to check if they locate the target Roll 1D6 for each extended Raid in this table just before any CAP interception in the target DISTANCE SUCCESS 6 hexes 2 6 7 hexes 3 6 8 hexes 5 6 If they don t locate the target they won t participate and will return to base when all the other raids have finished 4 4 RECONNAISSANCE PHASE Players attempt to locate the enemy fleet The idea of recon is to ascertain the enemy fleet s location searching hex by hex The Initiative player conducts this phase first then the other player The recon phase is skipped At night On the final two daytime turns

Once all the enemy fleets are discovered (it makes no sense
to do recon when there are no hidden fleets)
Summary: First of all, you may place randomly drawn Recon
chits (without looking the result) on the hexes you want to
scout. And then, your opponent will inspect each Recon chit
one by one and reporting the result of the reconnaissance
based on the chit’s back side and the type of Fleet marker.
4.4.1. Searching for Enemy Fleets
First of all, you may place recon chits on the hexes you want
to scout. The recon chits are drawn randomly from the recon
container, and you can’t inspect the back of the chit (the one
with the result of the reconnaissance), and put on the hexes
on their front side (the “Search” one).
Who can “send” scouts? “Active” Carriers and land bases avail -
able at the start of the turn (so, if a Carrier is sunk, or a land
base destroyed, in the naval combat or raid phase, they are still
counted because they sent the scouts before).
And to which hexes? Scouting range is 8 hexes, that means
that markers can be searched within 8 hexes of a carrier or
land base (counting “1” from the hexes adjacent to them). You
scout hexes, so stacks are treated as one marker in that you
only need one chit to search an entire stack.
And how many of them? It differs by scenario, but here you
have a summary of it…
Allies:
2 hexes per CV and CVL (Exception: CVL Hermes can’t scout).
1 hex per land base in scenarios 6 & 7.
2 hex per land base in scenario 10.
IJN:
1 hex per CVL.
1 hex per CV for scenarios before Midway (included).
ÊÊ
Note: Scenario 8 and 9 are supposed to happen before Midway.
2 hex per CV for scenarios after Midway.
1 hex per land base.
HEXES
PER BASE
CV CVL LAND BASE
IJN
1 (Scen. 5, 6, 8 & 9)
1 1
2 (Scen. 7 & 10)
Allies 2
2
Hermes: 0
1 (Scen. 6 & 7)
2 (Scen. 10)
ÊÊNote: Custom scenarios (hey, they are custom!) may have
a different number of hexes per carrier/land base.
ÊÊNote: Until their overwhelming defeat at Midway, the IJN
did not perform diligent reconnaissance. We reflect this by
allowing the USN to search two hexes per carrier, but only
one hex per carrier for the IJN unless a scenario takes place
after Midway (June 4th, 1942).
ÊÊNote that the range and number of scouts depends on the
base they are launched from, so if an Allied CV has 3 enemy
fleet markers within 8 hexes, and another CV has none at
range, you will only place 2 chits even if theoretically you
could place 4).
4.4.2. Reports from the scouts
And lastly, your opponent will inspect each Recon chit one by
one, without showing the back side to you, and reports the
result of the reconnaissance: The chit will either have a “De-
tected!”, “?” or “Misdirect”, and the report that will be given to
you is as follows:
“?” Result: The opponent will say always “No Contact”
ÊÊ
Low clouds, broken communications equipment,
interception by enemy fighters—any such inci-
dent might have thwarted them.
“Misdirect” Result: The opponent will say…
If it’s a Dummy marker: “No contact.”
If it’s a Carrier Task force: “Fleet Task Force
sighted.”
If it’s a Fleet Task Force: “Carrier Task Force
sighted!!!”
“Detected!” Result: The opponent will say…
If it’s a Dummy marker: “No Fleet sighted.”.
The opponent will show you the Dummy
marker along with any chits underneath it
from previous searches. These chits are not
returned to the chit container until nightfall.
If it’s a Carrier Task force: “Carrier Task Force sighted!!!”
If it’s a Fleet Task Force: “Fleet Task Force sighted.”
Put the chit face up (Search) underneath the Fleet marker after
searching it. Keep them together when moving the marker.
ÊÊNote: The Recon chit is placed underneath the Fleet mark-
er so both of you can later confirm (when the Fleet final-
ly reveals as Task Force or Dummy) that nobody cheat. If
you are people of honor, it’s not needed to have the chit
accompanying the marker, in that case, set it aside, do not
return it to the chit container (until the rules say that you
replenish it, at night)
If the report results in a Task Force sighted:

Carrier Task force Carrier Task Force sighted If it s a Fleet Task Force Fleet Task Force sighted Put the chit face up Search underneath the Fleet marker after searching it Keep them together when moving the marker ÊÊNote The Recon chit is placed underneath the Fleet mark er so both of you can later confirm when the Fleet final ly reveals as Task Force or Dummy that nobody cheat If you are people of honor it s not needed to have the chit accompanying the marker in that case set it aside do not return it to the chit container until the rules say that you replenish it at night If the report results in a Task Force sighted

Put a Report marker with the Fleet, they will move to -
gether until the Task Force is finally revealed (by naval
combat or air raid).
If the Task Force has only one ship, this must be reported.
Scouts would be unlikely to mistake this fact. (Reminder:
a full strength destroyer or transport unit is two ships).
ÊÊ
Note: In the case of Misdirect and Detected you will be
unsure if this is a genuine sighting, but you must know
that the ratio of “Detected!” to “Misdirect” chits is 5:2. This
means that searching a fleet marker twice and getting the

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RESTRICTED 19
same “Task Force sighted” report both times gives you an
86% chance of the report being true.
If you have more than one Fleet marker in a hex, then read the
result for each Fleet marker.
ÊÊNote: Beware having more than one fleet marker stacked
with a Dummy in the same hex, because in case of Detected!
and Misdirect your opponent will have the practical results
of a Detected! (i.e. in the case of a Misdirect he will know
that the Dummy is a Dummy because there will be “Task
Force sighted” and “No Contact”, and in the case of Detected
there will be “Task Force sighted” and “No Fleet sighted”).
Even if there is no Dummy stacked, and there are a Fleet TF
and a Carrier TF, the opponent will know there is at least
a Carrier TF there. So, according to this search system, the
players will not usually stack fleet markers.
4.5. ADMINISTRATIVE PHASE
1. Emergency Repairs on ships with Minor
damage take place:

First, all ships with a minor damage
marker in its “Emergency Repairs” sta-
tus remove the marker.

Then, all ships with a minor damage
marker flip them to the “Emergency
Repairs” status.
2. Then, the turn marker is moved to the next slot (and flip
the marker to show which side has the Initiative).
3. And lastly, if now after moving the Turn marker it’s the
first Night turn of a day (turns 11 and 23):
All the Recon chits (those used and those on map) return
to the recon container.

All the Report markers are removed from the Fleet markers.
All the sighted Fleet Markers get hidden (flip over their
flag side)
5. SPECIAL UNITS
5.1. AIRCRAFT
5.1.1. B17

The B-17s attacked from an altitude beyond the range of
anti-air guns.
They are exempt from the anti-air step.

The IJN’s fighter don’t have to intercept them if they
don’t want to.

They carry out only one attack and then retreat to off
board, off game.

When attacking a base, If no CAP in the base, B17 units
have their Air-to-Surface values tripled.
5.1.2. Zero
You can split a full strength unit into 2 reduced units (by using
an extra counter) during the Aircraft Operations phase, at the
planning, and also when raiding or intercepting. You can merge
any Zero units at any moment, or keep them split.
ÊÊNote: try to remember the home base of the extra counter,
itwill have to return to its home base if possible.
5.1.3. Douglas TBD Devastator
They can only raid a target within 4 hexes of their base. And
same for returning to a base: 4 hexes.
5.2. SHIPS
5.2.1. CV Lexington and CV Saratoga
Treat as DD during Naval Battles. They cannot bombard
Land bases.
5.2.2. British CV (Indomitable, Formidable, Illustrious)
Their flight decks are fitted with armor-plating. Not subject to
bomb damage amplification checks.
5.2.3. BB
Battleships cannot go in Carrier Task Forces (ring formation).
Exception: IJN Kongō, Hiei, Haruna and Kirishima
ÊÊAn icon (
) marks Battleships that may not go in Carrier
Task Forces.
5.2.4. BB Yamato
Yamato had 46cm cannons—completely outclassing the 40cm
or 36cm cannons of other battleships. The Yamato’s superior
firepower is reflected with one of two optional perks.
The IJN player chooses one of these when naval combat begins:
1. One-sided attack: Only the Yamato will attack. You can’t
choose this on night turns.
2. Strike twice: As usual in naval battles, use the largest
gun range type or the type(s) agreed by both players. The
Yamato does 2 attacks: they may be against the same tar-
get but do not add twice the firepower in the same attack.
5.2.5. CL Ōi and CL Kitakami (Torpedo Cruisers)
Those were cruisers armed with long lance torpedoes. The
firepower ratings [4/8] are meant for [daytime battle and base
bombarding / nighttime naval battle].
ÊÊ
Note: The 8 is because the use of long lance torpedoes
during the night, as if it was a DD, and thus the value is
still 4 for bombarding a land base (day and night).

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TASK FORCE: CARRIER BATTLES IN THE PACIFIC 20
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