Return to Europe

Return to Europe: Sicily & Italy July–Nov 1943 is a Strategic level board-wargame of the Allied invasion of Sicily and Southern Italy. The operation was viewed as only a limited offensive to secure the Mediterranean and force Italy out of the war. The Germans also intended only a limited effort to delay the Allies while a strong defense was established at the far North of the peninsula. Both sides scented greater possibilities in the early going and were drawn into what would become a grueling and expensive campaign.

Using a modified version of rules from Desert Fox Deluxe, one player or team of players commands the Allied forces, the other the Axis. In general terms the Allies are trying to knock Italy out of the war and seize the greatest amount of territory as possible, while the Axis seeks to maintain control of Italian territory for the maximum amount of time.

Each game turn represents one month with up to six player impulses in each game turn.

There are two scenarios, but only the campaign scenario included in the printed rules. The second scenario is included in the PDF version of the rules located at the Decision Games website in the E-Rules section for Strategy & Tactics magazine. http://strategyandtacticsmagazine.com/site/e-rules/

Originally published in Strategy & Tactics magazine #341 - Jul-Aug 2023.

Game Scale:
Game Turn: 1 month
Hex: 6.7 miles / 10 kilometers
Units: Company to Regiment

Game Inventory:
One 22 x 34" full color map
One dual-side printed countersheet (280 1/2" counters)
One 16-page rulebook

Solitaire Playability: Medium
Complexity Level: Medium
Players: 2 or more
Playing Time: 4-10 hours

Note: Players will need to provide two 6-sided die for game play.