Strategy & Tactics #321: Paratrooper – Great Airborne Assaults, Korea is a two-player tactical wargame that simulates the intense and daring airborne operations of the Korean War. Designed around a flexible system for parachute and glider landings, the game captures the challenges of coordination, timing, and logistics that defined these early Cold War assaults. Each player commands either airborne forces conducting bold insertions behind enemy lines or defending ground units attempting to repel or contain them.

• Historical Background: During the Korean War, airborne troops were deployed in several critical operations intended to outflank enemy positions, capture key terrain, and disrupt communications. Paratrooper – Great Airborne Assaults, Korea recreates two of these pivotal missions: Operation Tomahawk (March 1951), in which General Matthew Ridgway launched a coordinated drop to trap withdrawing North Korean and Chinese forces; and Sukchon-Sunchon (October 1950), an ambitious airdrop north of Pyongyang aimed at cutting enemy escape routes. Both scenarios showcase the logistical and tactical complexity of airborne warfare in rugged Korean terrain.
• Gameplay & Objectives: The airborne player must plan and execute parachute or glider drops, establish defensive perimeters, seize objectives, and link up with advancing ground forces. The defending player must react quickly, mobilising scattered units to repel or contain the assault. Players manage command points to conduct key actions—such as calling in air support, coordinating artillery, or moving reserves—while balancing risk and timing.
• Game System & Scale: The game features quasi-tactical combat with a strong emphasis on command and control. Each turn represents about one-third of a day’s operations, and each hex represents approximately 600 metres (half a mile). Ground units are organised as companies and platoons, with air units providing critical firepower and mobility. The system’s command-point mechanic gives players freedom to choose when and where to act, while limiting the number of operations that can be undertaken in a turn—simulating the friction and chaos of real airborne missions.
• Scenarios Included:
  • Operation Tomahawk – Ridgway Springs the Trap, March 1951: The U.S. 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team drops behind enemy lines in a daring bid to encircle retreating Communist forces south of the 38th Parallel.
  • Sukchon-Sunchon – Air Assault on North Korea, October 1950: UN paratroopers land deep behind enemy lines in one of the war’s earliest airborne operations, aiming to block escape routes north of Pyongyang.

Game Components:

• 1 x 22” x 34” full-colour tactical map of Korean terrain
• 176 die-cut counters representing airborne, ground, and support units
• Rules for parachute and glider drops, air support, and command-point management
• Two historically inspired scenarios for varied tactical play

Scale:
Players: 2
Level: Company / Platoon
Hex: 600 Metres (0.5 Miles)
Turn: One-third of a day

Gameplay Focus: Paratrooper – Great Airborne Assaults, Korea brings to life the drama of airborne warfare in the Korean War, blending precise tactical decision-making with the unpredictability of combat drops and shifting front lines. Its dual-scenario format offers players two unique challenges: the chaos of a bold offensive and the desperate defence of vital positions under fire.

Strategy & Tactics #321: Paratrooper – Great Airborne Assaults, Korea delivers a fast-paced and historically grounded wargame experience ideal for players who enjoy tactical-level engagements, combined-arms operations, and airborne history.

Available now from Milsims Games — Australia’s trusted source for historical wargames, strategy titles, and military simulations for over 50 years. Price-match guarantee and fast shipping from Mont Albert, VIC.

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