Midway

The basic idea is each player has his or her own map of the area (in this case the Midway Island) behind a screen. Each player "searches" for the enemy fleet by flying search planes to the hex and calling the hex number. Once found, bombers can be sent in to sink the enemy fleet. The actual attack is fought on a separate battle board where the ships are first placed on hexes and the attacking planes are placed in hexes to indicate which ship it is attacking.

The basic game is very simple. But there are many additional rules, which add realism (and complexity): CAP fighters, surface actions, bases, inaccurate search reports, etc.

The game is superior with a neutral referee for true double blind play.

Expanded by Midway (Coral Sea and the Pacific Theatre Variant/Expansion).

Magazine Reference

• The GENERAL Vol.15,No.5
  • Midway – “Pacific Theatre Via Midway - Coral Sea, Eastern Solomons and Santa Cruz Variants” by Alan R. Moon

Midway (1964)
Designed by Lindsley Schutz & Larry Pinsky

Despite state-of-the-art advancements in naval game design, MIDWAY remains a favorite of many due to the exciting nature of the hidden move/search system which has not been greatly improved upon since. MIDWAY was almost discontinued in 1972 when Tom Shaw was looking for candidates to ax to pare the line down. Only pleas by Don Greenwood redirected the ax to 1914 and enabled MIDWAY to survive to climb into the all time best seller list where it remains a reasonably good seller.

Magazine References:

The GENERAL Index Article List:

• The GENERAL Vol.13,No.6
  • Midway – “Midway By Mail” (Variant) Tom Cragg
• The GENERAL Vol.14,No.5
  • Midway – “Away From the Combined Fleet - New Concepts and Tactics for Midway” (Strategy) William B. Searight
• The GENERAL Vol.16,No.3
  • Midway – “Advanced Level Midway” (Variant/Discussion) Mark Dumdei
• The GENERAL Vol.17,No.1
  • Midway – “Where Did He Come From? - Deep-Sixing Step Seventeen in Midway” (Variant) L. "Dooner" Ross, Scott Tyrer, Kennedy Self
• The GENERAL Vol.17,No.4
  • Midway – “Dirty Weather Cruising - Weather Rules for AH's Midway” (Variant) L. "Dooner" Ross, Scott Tyrer and Kennedy Self
  • The Question Box - Midway, Errata for The Wargamer's Guide to Midway
  • Midway – “Pre-Emption - Naval Aviation Tactics in Midway” (Variant) Captain Roberd D. Harmon
  • The Question Box - Midway

Panzerfaust Article List:

• Number 53 May-Jun '72
  • Midway - "Midway Island" (History / Variant), R. W. Garbisch