War in the Pacific (first edition) (1978)

War in the Pacific – The Campaign Against Imperial Japan, 1941-45 is a multi-level simulation of the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War Two. The game enables players to recreate the entire course of the war, from the opening Japanese attack on December 7, 1941 to the climactic Allied assaults in the closing days of 1945.

This Monster sized game simulates the conflict in the Pacific on a seven section map representing some 30% of the globe, across which cardboard playing pieces move and engage in combat through an hexagonal grid, which functions much like a chessboard in regulating movement.

Game equipment:

56-page rules booklet
12-page scenarios booklet
Two 16-page charts and tables booklets
3,200 die-cut playing pieces
Seven 22" x 34" colored soft map sheets
Various playing aids, displays and cycle tracks:
- Air/Surface Tactical Display
- Allied Air Display
- Allied Game Turn/Cycle Record Track
- Allied General Record Track
- Allied Naval Task Force Display
- Allied Off-Map Movement Display
- Japanese Air Display
- Japanese Game-Turn/Cycle Record Track
- Japanese General Record Track
- Japanese Naval Task Force Display
2 Dice
2 Plastic trays for playing piece storage
Errata (as of December 1978)

Level Of Complexity: Very High
Average Playing Time: 6 hours (Midway scenario) to 200+ hours

Controversial remake of War in the Pacific (1st edition) is The Eagle and the Sun.
Completely redesigned as War in the Pacific (second edition).
Variant rules for tactical surface combat is War in the Pacific Tactical Surface Combat.

Magazine References:

Moves Article Index:

• Number 30, December/January 1977
  • October War / The Battle for Jerusalem / War in the Pacific (first edition) / Fulda Gap / Air War: Modern Tactical Air Combat / The Conquerors / War of the Ring / Veracruz / Battle Fleet Mars / Wacht am Rhein - "Designer's Notes" (Design Notes), Various
• Number 32, April/May 1977
  • Canadian Civil War / War of the Ring / Gondor / Sauron / War in the Pacific (first edition) / Red Sun Rising / Up Scope! / Veracruz / A Mighty Fortress / Raid! / Descent on Crete / Bundeswehr / The Battle for Jerusalem / Air War: Modern Tactical Air Combat - "Designer's Notes" (Design Notes), Various