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Carrier Force

Game Mechanics

Carrier Force is one wargame which simulates, at the operational level, naval battles in the Pacific Ocean during the Second World War. The game opposes US forces to Japanese forces. The player can face another player or the computer, which then controls the Japanese. The game features four individual scenarios that retrace the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Battle of Midway, the Solomon Islands Campaign and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands respectively. In the first, the Japanese must escort troops, to arrive at Port Moresby, and repel the attacks of the American Navy. To secure the area and thus facilitate landing, they can rely on their aircraft. Other scenarios are similar and include aviation, aircraft carriers, submarines and warships. The game takes place in turn, each representing an hour. A complete scenario corresponds to a duration of two to three days. The game offers two cards, divided into hexagonal boxes representing a distance of about 50 miles. The first, used for the scenario that retraces the Battle of Midway, is centered on the Midway Islands and the second, used for the other three scenarios, is centered on Guadalcanal. On the screen is displayed only a fraction of these cards, about 30 cases. The player must scroll horizontally or vertically so that he can visualize other areas. The status of ships and aircraft, as well as the pilot reports, are also displayed on the screen. At the beginning of a game, each vessel and aircraft is placed on the map at its historic position. However, it is possible to make this placement random.

All the ships involved in the four simulated historic battles are represented in the game, including even vessels of aircraft carriers, mine draggers and patrol boats. Each vessel is characterized by its speed, cannons, anti-aircraft defences and shielding. The game also includes twenty types of aircraft, each characterized by its speed, endurance, air combat capability and bombing accuracy. In addition to the forces in attendance, the game also takes into account the weather conditions, which can change during a scenario and have an impact on the confrontation. Basic cloud coverage thus significantly limits the effectiveness of air operations.

The winner of a game is determined by a point system that is accomplished by destroying or damaging enemy ships. Japanese forces receive more bonus points by bombing American bases and landing troops.