WAR-WACHT AM RHEIN

1. TITLE: Wacht am Rhein
2. PUBLISHER: Simulation Publications Incorporated (SPI)
3. SCOPE: Battle of the Bulge, December 16, 1944 - January 2, 1945
4. RULEBOOK VERBAGE: WACHT AM RHIEN is a grand tactical simulation of the Battle of the Bulge which occurred from December 16, 1944 to the beginning of January 1945, in heavily forested Ardennes region of Belgium. The game enables players to recreate the decisive engagement that represented Hitler's last major effort to win the Second World War. The American victory in this battle truly spelled the end for the Third Reich.
5. GAME BOX VERBAGE:
6. YEAR PUBLISHED (EDITIONS): February, 1977. Only one published edition by SPI. SPI errata (as of July, 1977 published by SPI authored by Joe Balkoski; another set published by the same author, and yet another possibly duplicate authored by Joe Balkoski was published in FIRE&MOVEMENT issue #8. Published errata 1978 taken from on Web Grognards (Paul F. Smith). Issued in both double flat tray and detergent size box.
7. CREDITS
   • Game Design: James F. Dunnigan.
   • Physical Systems and Graphics: Redmond Simonsen
   • Game Development: Joseph Balkoski, Jay A. Nelson
   • Research Assistance: Danny S. Parker
   • Staff Playtester: Steve Ross
   • Graphic Production: Larry Catalano Bob Fitzpatrick, Kate Higgins, Manfred F. Milkuhn, Bob Ryer.
8. NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2+ (multiplayer teams)
9. WGA COMPLEXITY SCALE (1-10): 7
10. TYPICAL PLAYING TIME (HOURS): Three Scenarios and Campaign game. Playing time being research from available literature.
11. MAP SCALE: 1 mile per hex.
12. UNIT SCALE: Battalions, batteries, headquarters.
13. TIME SCALE PER TURN: 41/2 hours for AM turn, 15 hours for night time turn. Total of three turns per day.
14. NUMBER OF GAME TURNS: Bastogne(16 turns), Kampfgruppe Peiper(16 turns), Race for the Meuse(21 turns), Campaign game (55 turns)
15. ARTICLE LISTING: Click here
16. GAME INVENTORY: 1600 counters (eight full size counter sheets), four unmounted 22" x 32" game mapsheets, 24 page rules booklet, 2 identical sets of Charts and Tables, one German turn-record reinforcement track, one US turn-record reinforcement track, one die.
17. WBC & AVALONCON HISTORY: Not Applicable
18. PBEM TOOLS:
• No Java application VASSAL module at this time.
19. PBEM OPPORTUNITES: Contact Wargame Academy if interested. A Group effort would be required to create a VASSAL module. As a relatively simple game, such would be a reasonable goal.
20. WARGAME ACADEMY COMMENTS: Haven't played personally this one but held in high regard by gamers of this era.
21. WARGAME ACADEMY GAME TOOLS: One unpunched 1976 version with errata sources and related material the original owners collected. Softcopy rulebook, softcopy errata.
22. ACCOLADES: 1977 Charles Roberts Award Best Tactical Game nominee.