Modern War #25: October War – Yom Kippur 1973 (Special Edition) is a strategic two-player wargame simulating the dramatic and hard-fought Arab-Israeli War of 1973. Spanning both the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights, this game recreates the surprise attacks launched by Egypt and Syria on Yom Kippur, Israel’s most sacred day, and the intense counteroffensives that followed. Designed as a Special Edition, it features two full-size maps and an expanded counter mix to portray the conflict in depth.

• Historical Background: On 6 October 1973, Egyptian and Syrian forces launched a coordinated assault on Israeli positions along the Suez Canal and the Golan Heights. Initially caught off guard, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) faced one of the most perilous moments in their history. The ensuing weeks saw massive battles of armour, airpower, and attrition as both sides fought for dominance under global scrutiny. October War places players in command of these opposing coalitions—either the IDF or the Arab forces—to determine the outcome of one of the 20th century’s most pivotal conflicts.
• Gameplay Overview: The game is divided into two theatres of operation—the Sinai Front and the Golan Front. Each theatre uses a point-to-point movement system to represent the key objectives, logistical hubs, and defensive positions over which the battles raged. Players must coordinate multiple formations, manage reinforcement timing, and exploit tactical flexibility as larger units can break down into smaller sub-units to reflect Israel’s superior command agility or Arab numerical advantage. The game’s event-driven system uses tactical and strategic markers to simulate the evolving tempo of war, from air strikes and tank assaults to international interventions and ceasefire pressures.
• Objectives & Strategy:
  • Israeli Player: must weather the initial onslaught, stabilize the front lines, and counterattack to restore territorial integrity while minimizing political fallout.
  • Arab Player: must exploit surprise, seize key crossings and defensive ridges, and inflict heavy losses before the IDF mobilizes and turns the tide.
  Victory depends on territorial control, unit preservation, and political outcomes shaped by event draws and player choices.
• Game System & Features:
  • Point-to-point map system emphasizing operational objectives and lines of communication.
  • Event marker mechanic drives the game’s tempo and models historical shifts such as reinforcements, morale, logistics, and diplomacy.
  • Breakdown and consolidation rules for organizational flexibility and cohesion.
  • Separate Sinai and Golan battlefront maps for simultaneous or individual play.
  • Streamlined yet detailed operational play covering combined arms, air support, and attritional warfare.
  The design offers historical accuracy with accessible mechanics for both experienced and new players of modern warfare simulations.
• Strategic Highlights:
  • Simulates the full scope of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
  • Features dual operational theatres: Sinai and Golan Heights.
  • Dynamic event-driven gameplay for unpredictability and realism.
  • Unit breakdown and recombination rules reflecting real military organization.
  • Captures both tactical combat and political decision-making in the Middle East.

Game Components:

• 2 x 22” x 34” full-colour operational maps of the Sinai and Golan battlefronts
• 352 die-cut counters representing Israeli, Egyptian, and Syrian units
• Event markers, rulebook, and player aids
• Scenario options including historical and “what-if” variations

Scale:
Players: 2
Level: Operational / Strategic
Map Type: Point-to-point system
Map Size: Two 22” x 34” maps
Counters: 352 pieces

Gameplay Focus: October War – Yom Kippur 1973 delivers an immersive recreation of the Arab-Israeli War’s pivotal moments, balancing historical accuracy with dynamic, replayable scenarios. It challenges players to manage combined-arms warfare, political constraints, and logistical endurance across two simultaneous fronts.

Modern War #25: October War – Yom Kippur 1973 (Special Edition) is perfect for enthusiasts of modern military history, Middle Eastern warfare, and operational-level strategy games.

Available now from Milsims Games — Australia’s leading retailer for historical and modern wargames. Includes price-match guarantee and fast domestic shipping from Mont Albert, VIC.

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