The Chase of the Bismarck - Operation Rheinübung 1941

The Chase of the Bismarck - Operation Rheinübung 1941 is played on a turn-by-turn basis, each representing nearly five hours of real time. Each turn, both players secretly move some or all of the ships and air units under their command to their own search board.

Each player can then call up areas in which they have enough search factors to locate their opponent's ships. This is the "operational part of the game".

If opposing ships are found in the same area, they can begin fighting on the battle board. This is the "tactical part of the game".

The game ends if the Bismarck is sunk, arrives in a friendly port or if the last turn of the game (May 29 evening) has been played.

The design approach for Chase of the Bismarck was to focus entirely on the operational game experience and to keep the tactical combat as simple as possible.

No two games will play the same here, as there were many variables that impacted the way the game played. And there are many decisions the German player must make:

Do we take the Denmark Strait or would we prefer to take a passage a little further south? Could the high-risk passage through the English Channel even be an option? Which convoy route will be followed? Where and when should the meeting with the supply tankers take place? Should the Kampfgruppe remain united or split up into individual ships? Which port, if any, should be visited?

But the Allied players also have a variety of decisions to make:
Should ships be grouped in a few critical hexes to maximize search factors and potential combat strength there? Or is it better to split the units to cover a large area (as long as visibility remains good).

Should the Rodney remain as an escort to the convoy or should it participate in the search for the Bismarck?

This variety of imponderables makes the game varied and versatile, and most importantly, fun.

Contains:

•             Two operational search boards
•             One combat board
•             Approximately 300 counters
•             45 Ship Cards
•             Several game aid cards
•             2 player screens
•             Several blue and red wooden blocks
•             Optional damage tracking chart
•             Rulebook
•             Two ten-sided dice