1942 is a simulation of the opening months of WW2 in the Pacific.  Published in 1978, it is one of GDW’s Series 120 games ,all of which were designed to be finished in two hours.  I’ve played a couple of the tactical games, but have always been intrigued by the three strategic games (1940, 1941 and 1942) in the series.  For me, 1942 is a more interesting topic than the already over-published Fall of France and Barbarossa campaigns.  I picked up a used folio version on EBay.

As you can imagine, it is a highly abstracted game.

Land units have a single strength rating, and all can move five hexes per turn.

There are no naval counters or combat.  Land units simply move across sea hexes.  A designated number of units can move (NMPs) by sea each turn.  Additional NMPs are expended for amphibious landings, and to keep an invasion beach open as a source of supply.  Some Japanese units have inherent naval movement capabilities.

Land based air units have an “umbrella” extending four hexes from base.  Air units either attack units moving by sea, or assist in land combats within their “umbrella”.  Air units may displace eight hexes and still maintain their “umbrella”. Japanese naval air units move by sea, but must be reconstituted (taken off board) for two turns after use.

Cities provide supply points to support units.  Ground units out of supply cannot attack, and air units cannot function.  Once a city is captured, it no longer provides supply to either side.

My initial impression is…… this is going to be really good, or really marginal.