Storm of Steel: Ju-87 STUKA, Eastern Front

ETA Q2 2024

Storm of Steel: Ju-87 STUKA, Eastern Front is a solitaire tactical air wargame where you take the role of a Staffelkapitän – Flight leader. Select, equip and fly your aircraft, lead a squadron of Stuka dive bombers and execute close air support missions along the Eastern Front from the opening day of Operation Barbarossa on June 22, 1941 up to the Kursk offensive in 1943.

Take command of the legendary Stuka dive bomber on combat missions over the vast battlefields on the Eastern Front. Select and equip your Stuka Staffel with individual and historically named pilots and gunners or create your own. Lead your unit during the opening days of Operation Barbarossa, targeting Soviet airfields, troop concentrations, rail lines, convoys, tank formations, and more. Attempt the final drive on Moscow during Operation Winter Storm. Continue your career to participate in Case Blue and the offensive on Stalingrad. Use the newly converted Ju-87G Stuka tank killer during Operation Citadel to destroy enemy armor. Conduct maritime missions to sink, and disrupt the Red Navy on the Gulf of Finland and the Black Sea utilizing specialized ordnance.

Manage StG-1, 2, or 77, and fly with your Staffel of up to ten Stukas deep into enemy territory. Avoid enemy fighters, bad weather, and murderous anti-aircraft fire to deliver your deadly payload accurately to its target. Log your missions, scores, gain experience for yourself and your unit. An experienced-based promotion system provides an increased level of proficiency for your crew. Between missions; manage replacements and repairs of your aircraft as well as your wounded and KIA crew.

Become a legend while leading your Staffel to victory, or forever disappear into the vast Russian Steppes.

Game Features:

• Solitaire Play
• Historical Units and Missions
• Mission & Campaign Generator specific to each historical period. Never play the same mission twice
• Individual Pilot and Gunner Careers with dozens of historical Stuka crew counters or “name your own”
• Campaign play spanning Barbarossa, Case Blue, and Kursk
• Experience-based promotion system
• Historically accurate payloads and specialized ordnance to choose from
• Crew Stress mechanic adds an additional dimension to player’s tactics
• Simulated enemy fighter presence according to specific periods
• Detailed Aircraft damage model
• Customizable Unit composition
• Crew and Aircraft Repair, Replace and Recovery system

Product Information:

• Complexity: 5 out of 10 (Medium)
• Solitaire Suitability: 10 out of 10 (designed for solitaire play)
• Time Scale: Variable/Single Missions-Operations-Grand Campaign
• Map Scale: Abstracted Zones representing average Ju-87D Range
• Unit Scale: Single Aircraft, Squadron (Staffel), and two to three Stuka formations
• Players: One (solitaire game)
• Playing Time: 15 minutes per mission, 2-3 hours per segment, longer for Operations and Campaign

Components:

• Air Operations Display Mat (full size 22″ x 34″)
• 2 counter sheets (9/16″ size)
• 16 Aircraft Cards
• 24 Event Cards
• Rules booklet
• Mission Log (Sheets)
• 3 Player Aid Cards
• Sequence of Play Card
• One 10-sided and two 6-sided dice
• Box and Lid

Game Credits:

Designer: Joe Fernandez

Artist: Bruce Yearian

Project Director: John Kranz