The November 2008 issue of Armchair General magazine compares George S. Patton and Erwin Rommel, plus articles on the Katyn Forest Massacre, Napoleon's Old Guard, Tito, Kasserine Pass, an interview with Carlo D'Este and more.
Read MoreHere are excerpts from the winning Reader Solutions to “Farragut at Mobile Bay, 1864" and a list of honorable mentions. Dale Malchow, Washington – “Battle plan must contain good intel and stress speed through the channel. It should be aggressive, simplistic and exercise command, control and communication. Farragut’s flagship in van of wooden ships to acquire situational awareness.” John Rusko, Ohio – “To heck with those underwater mines, let us move forward with all possible velocity. Our concentrated firepower on the Tennessee should sink her before she can do us any real damage. Acting as one cohesive unit instead of a piecemeal attack will serve our purpose better.” Maurits Wiuff, Denmark – “Farragut’s main advantage lies in his superior fleet strength — mobility and firepower. An attack must be aggressive and fast to keep the initiative.” Congratulations to our Armchair Generals! Dale Malchow, Washington John Rusko, Ohio Maurits Wiuff, Denmark They beat out some tough competition! HONORABLE MENTION William B. Allred, Texas Gavin Bowman, Canada Nick A. Chapman, Mich...
Read MoreA list of games on the subjects of the Siege of Constantinople and the WWII topics of Russian Partisans, North Africa and Buna.
Read MoreLetters to Armchair General magazine, including "The Man Who Never Was" and a lyrical work by a 12-year-old poet.
Read MoreAussies at Buna, 1942 Your mission is to command your Australian troops in an effort to eliminate Japanese defenses southeast of Buna, New Guinea, and capture two enemy-held airfields. What are your orders, commander? Download the map from the link...
Read MoreArmchair General welcomes readers’ original artwork envelopes. Each issue, one is selected to head the "Mailbag" department. Here are the embellished envelopes we received from readers for the September 2008 issue. Matt Thamert, Minnesota John Wilson,...
Read MoreThis month's Mailbag includes clarification on mine-field clearing in Iraq and photographs of World War II invasion vehicles on Peleliu and Saipan.
Read MorePlay the history you read with these games on the Napoleonic Wars, Stalingrad and other East Front battles, and Desert Storm tank battles.
Read MoreNathaniel Eatwell St. James, MN COA 2 accomplishes 3 things: 1) Surprise, which can negate the American numerical advantage. 2) It pulls the Americans away from the beach leaving the invasion force vulnerable. 3) Once in the Mindanao sec. we will have more room for maneuver. Yamashiro (1) and Fuso (2) draw out the Americans where the battleships (4-7) ambush them, the Yamashiro (1), Fuso (2) and Mogami (3) also join the attack. Paul Penrod Bel Air, MD This one rivals the Alamo CDG! Outgunned 4 to 1 to an enemy with radar guided fire. Nishimuras only course would be to stay out of the Surigao Strait (of course, in reality he didn’t!) and try to draw some of the 7th fleet into an ambush. The Japanese had three things going for them, despite the odds—4 destroyers with long-range torpedoes, extensive training in night fighting sans radar, and the Fus and Yamashiro were faster than the modernized U.S. battleships of the U.S. 7th fleet, most of which were at...
Read MoreSeptember 2008 Table of Contents [200k PDF] PDF Sample (3mb) [See a ten page selection of articles from the current issue of Armchair General] Get this issue Digitally [US$5.00 per issue or US$17.97 per year] Discuss this issue/ Leave Feedback [You can also leave comments at the bottom of this page. All comments are read by the editor and publisher.] In this issue, you’ll learn What legendary force, outnumbered 2,000 to 65, chose to fight to the death, making a bayonet charge when ammunition ran out. How the chieftain Shaka reformed Zulu armies to create an empire ONLINE EXTRA: Sojourning Sacred Ground: Tips for Touring Isandhlwana and Rorke’s Drift Who the military theorist was whose opinions prompted the world’s massive naval buildup prior to World War I Why Eric von Manstein may have been the best German Field Marshal of World War II PLUS Ralph Peters’ article on jihadist defeats, from the Danube to Delhi to Plevna, the sequel to last issue’s jihadist victories article Test your own decision-making...
Read MoreEric Hillerson Waupun, WI Breaching an enemy obstacle requires that the breaching force attack using the tenets of breaching: intelligence, breaching fundamentals, breaching organization, mass and synchronization. In order to best fit the fundamentals of breaching (suppress, obscure, secure, reduce and assault) and allow redundancy to ensure success of the entire operation, we must organize our breach teams according to COA 3. COA 3 allows us to have flexibility to quickly assault through the obstacles no matter what the composition of the obstacle. COA 3 allows us to quickly plow through the first obstacle with tanks who then become the support by fire for the AAVs to blast through the wires with a MCLC. Following the AAVs, the second set of plow tanks to breach the last mine belt following each breach team is the dozer tanks to widen the last breach lane, they become a support by fire while the assaulting force moves through the breach lanes. Stephen Duchaine La Junta, CO Course of Action 3 is...
Read MoreClick the above for the full contents of our July issue, available on newsstands around May 20, 2008. FEATURES Virtual Tour: Antietam Military Museums of London Battle of Didgori, 1121 July 2008 Mailbag Play It! Reader Survey As always, our Interactive section features new challenges to overcome. Plus, of course, all of your favorite features. To discuss the rest of the articles in this issue, please click here. Armchair General Military History Forums If you would like to see Armchair General Magazine for yourself, you can find us at most large book retailers (such as Barnes and Noble, Borders, many Wal-Marts, and so forth), or you can subscribe and take advantage of our special low price of 21.95/year. Learn More!* Subscribe to Armchair General! *Specials may expire. Please check subscription page for the latest specials and...
Read MoreCanadian “Great Generals” Part I Before I begin, let me just say that I am slightly biased in my evaluation, as a Canadian, I was a little upset about a couple of potential omissions from your 100 Greatest Generals List in the most recent issue of ACG. I was somewhat dismayed to see that there were no Canadian Generals on your list – granted, we’re not known as a warlike or warrior nation, nor do we celebrate our true warriors with the same vigor as the USA, UK, Russia, France, etc. However, we have produced some very good soldiers (a profile on one or two or an article about valourous Canadian soldiers would be very well received). General Sir Arthur Currie was not on your list, which upset me greatly. Currie, who was not even a trained soldier, beyond some basic militia training, became one of the most innovative generals of World War One. He first truly came to prominence at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. His frightfully detailed...
Read MoreHARD CHOICES: Midway, 1942. Explore the Midway campaign in detail with any of the following strategy titles; War in the Pacific by 2by3/Matrix Games, Carriers at War by SSG, Midway: Turning Point in the Pacific by Avalanche Press, The Rising Sun by Clash of Arms, and Pacific Storm: Allies by Buka. GREAT WARRIORS: British “Red Devil” Paratroopers, 1944-45 Britain’s World War II Sky Warriors. Drop with the Red Devils in these exciting wargames; Airborne Assault: Highway to the Reich by Panther Games, Battles in Normandy by SSG, Market-Garden ’44 by HPS, Lock ‘n Load: Swift and Bold by Lock’n Load Publishing, or The Devil’s Cauldron by MMP. COMBAT! U.S. Squad Patrol: Belgium, 1944. Lead your squad to knock out a German observation post but be forewarned that the guys in the OP may have powerful friends. YOU COMMAND: Farragut at Mobile Bay, 1864. Confederate forts, obstructions, underwater mines, and four Rebel ironclads, including CSS Tennessee are waiting to give you a hot welcome as you lead your naval...
Read MoreWe have had the good fortune to work with Military Channel in some cross promotion, and you may notice us in the coming weeks on their network. You will find our promo at the end of their segments highlighting Great Battles Week (see video below). To anyone who came here after seeing the promos, welcome!
Read MoreVolume V 100 Greatest Generals Ike Sherman Armchair General brings you the very best in interactive Military History in our bi-monthly publication. We put YOU in command! Click each cover for complete index. Subscribe Here! $26.95 for 6 Issues (1 year) SPECIAL PRICE! March 2008Reader Survey May 2008 Reader Survey July 2008 Reader Survey September 2008 Reader Survey November 2008 Reader Survey January 2009 Reader Survey Volume I * Volume II * Volume III * Volume IV If you would like to see Armchair General Magazine for yourself, you can find us at most large book retailers (such as Barnes and Noble, Borders, many Wal-Marts, and so forth), or you can subscribe online! Subscribe to Armchair...
Read MoreArmchair General welcomes readers’ original artwork envelopes. Each issue, one is selected to head the "Mailbag" department. Here are the embellished envelopes we received from readers for the May 2008 issue. Eric Toland, Oregon Gary G. Young, California Johnny Draper, Illinois Brendan Cerasi, Florida Bruce Porvaznik, Minnesota Matthew Salo, California Dawn CaVallero, Hawaii Steve Corotan,...
Read MoreFernando A. Franco St. Paul, MN Of all the tenants of war, “surprise” is the one that will put out of balance the enemy. I have chosen course of action 3 “Trojan Horse.” It is a simple plan that will strike the objective and will deny the enemy to react on time to mount an effective counterattack. On the other hand, it is intended to keep the Hungarian Army in our side and not alienate them against us. The glider assault has a very low chance to success, since first they have to land undetected in the middle of the city and fight their way into a heavily armed fortress. Route siege, doesn’t work, it will put the civilian population and the Hungarian army against us and there is not guaranteed the objective will be killed, captured or may escape with the “Trojan Horse” I will have the SS BN be ready to provide other security and facilitate the extraction of the unit doing the operation. If the “Trojan...
Read MoreWhere in the World is ACG? Armchair General shows up at ENFILADE! 2007 hosted by the Northwest Historical Miniature Gaming Society (NHMGS), historical battles from ancient times to modern conflicts in miniature. ACG continues to inspire scenarios to be transformed into the 3-D environment of historical miniature wargaming. For more information visit nhmgs.org. "I’ll see you on the battlefield!" Bryan Shein President, Pacific Sky Games & Devil Dog Design President, NHMGS See “You Command Historical Miniatures” item in the March 2008 issue Dispatches department for more from Bryan on adapting ACG interactive articles as scenarios for tabletop miniatures gaming. * * * Numerous readers noted the obvious disconnect between the panzers, location, and year cited in this photo’s caption and the actual types of panzers shown and the obviously Eastern Front locale. Mistaken Identity I really enjoyed the January 2008 issue, my very first. However, I feel I must point out an error in the caption to the photo on pages 48-49 [“A Tale of Two Doctrines:...
Read MoreTom Willison Indianapolis, IN I see COA2 as best fulfilling the requirements for a successful commando raid, i.e., preparation, security, surprise and attack. Having neutralized the enemy, it gives the commandos ample time to gather up the prisoners, who in some cases might be confused and resisting the rescue effort. Covered by the Filipino Guerillas, the withdrawal will be swift and orderly. Dale Malchow Edmonds, WA 1. COA2 replicates historical mission resulting in release of 511 of 512 POWs at the expense of 2 Ranger KIAs with 200 enemy losses and 4 tanks. 2. Alamo Scouts’ reconnaissance provided intel to develop a plan incorporating stealth, surprise, speed, and simplicity. 3. Unit Objectives: 2nd Platoon F Company Drop off section to destroy eastern guard towers Proceed to south gate and attack guards in barracks (signal for general attack) After guards eliminated, attack and pin down Japanese in western section of camp After extraction act as rear guard and exit north gate 1st Platoon C Company 1st section attacks pillboxes,...
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