Silent Victory: U.S. Submarines in the Pacific, 1941-45 (3rd Printing)

Made the Cut

This 3rd Printing is a straight reprint of the original game, with all know errata corrected.

SILENT VICTORY: U.S. Submarines in the Pacific, 1941-45

"Execute unrestricted air and submarine warfare against Japan."

the time is: 1400 hours, 7 December 1941

Silent Victory is a solitaire tactical level game placing you in command of an American submarine during WWII in the Pacific. Your mission is to destroy as much Japanese shipping and as many warships as possible while advancing your crew quality and decorations - all while remembering you have to make it home.

Silent Victory is purposely designed to deliver a brisk yet intensive gaming experience that forces many decisions upon you as you take command of one of the major U.S. Fleet submarine types in service. Patrols will take you to differing parts of the Pacific as time progresses in the war. The most successful commanders will be those that can manage the risks they take while prosecuting as many targets as possible.

The game engine is built upon the successful The Hunters design and has proven to be a solid, playable experience. All the major U.S. Fleet boat types are accounted for with every level of detail including period of service, armaments, crew makeup, damage capacity, and more.

As a Fleet submarine commander, you will be confronting many decisions during your patrols. To begin with, seven U.S. Fleet submarines are profiled and available for you to choose from. Patrol zones reflect the changing operational areas as the war progresses, from the Philippines to Midway, the Solomons, and even patrols to the waters just off the coast of Japan and China.

Conducting patrols is the heart of the system, as you will be resolving encounters against individual ships, convoys, or even enemy aircraft and submarines. Situations you face and decisions you make suddenly come in quick succession:

• How will you engage a convoy once spotted?
• Do you close the initial target range at increased risk of detection for a more lethal attack?
• If your engagement is at night, will you conduct a surface attack?
• Do you launch one or two fire salvos, and how many torpedoes do you fire?
• Will you try to follow a convoy or ship to engage in additional rounds of combat?
• How will you slip away from escorts to avoid or minimize damage?
• What evasive maneuvers do you undertake?

The major U.S. Fleet submarine types are represented and accurately profiled for the patrols you will undertake are:

• P Class
• Salmon Class
• T Class (early and late)
• Gato Class
• Balao Class
• Tench Class

Patrol Assignments include:

• The Phillippines
• Indochina
• Solomons
• The Marshalls
• Midway
• Java Sea
• The Empire
• China Sea
• Marianas

The game delivers an historical narrative as 720 ship targets are uniquely identified (including tonnage) with their historical counterparts that were sunk during the war, including freighters, tankers, Japanese submarines, and warships.

Game System Highlights:

• 7 U.S. Fleet submarines represented
• 9 Patrol assignments
• 720 named ship targets, including 20 capital ships
• Special missions for transport, minelaying, evacuation, recon, and lifeguarding
• Combat encounters with individual ships, ships, with escort, convoys, and aircraft
• Combat versus Japanese submarines
• Daytime and night engagements including U.S.-style wolfpack patrols
• Submarine damage includes flooding, hull, torpedo doors, periscope, fuel tanks, crew injury (by crew type), engines, hydrophones, AA guns, deck gun, batteries, radio
• Crew advancement and commander decorations to include the Navy Cross and CMOH
• Multi-player and tournament rule options
• Evasive maneuvers, Patrol Abort, Variable Escort Quality, Reassignment to a newer boat, Circular torpedo runs, Random Events, and much much more!

You command one of the deadliest submarines in service during World War II. Will you successfully carry out your patrols, advance your crew status, and survive to tell the tale?

Game Components:

• One ½” full-colour counter sheet
• One ¾” wide full-colour counter sheet
• Rules booklet with designer's notes
• Five player aid cards, 2-sided
• Submarine patrol logsheet, 2-sided
• Four submarine Display Mats, 2-sided
• Submarine Patrol Map
• Submarine Combat Mat
• Three 6-sided, two 10-sided dice, and one 20-sided die
• Boxed

Complexity: Low to Moderate

Average Playing Time: Two-Three Hours

Players: One (with options for more players)

Solitaire Suitability: Very High

Replayability: Very High

Credits

DESIGNER: Gregory M. Smith

DISPLAY & COUNTER ART: Ian Wedge

ART DIRECTOR: Rodger B. MacGowan and RBM Studios

RULES EDITOR: Jack Beckman

PRODUCER: John Kranz