Strategy & Tactics #343: Operation Albion & the Baltic Campaigns 1917–1918 is a two-player operational wargame that recreates Germany’s decisive campaign against Russia in the Baltic during the final year of World War I. This was one of the war’s few joint land, naval, and air operations—culminating in the capture of Riga, the invasion of the Baltic islands, and ultimately contributing to the collapse of the Russian Provisional Government.

• Historical Background: In late 1917, as the Eastern Front weakened, Germany launched Operation Albion, an ambitious amphibious assault to seize the islands of Ösel, Moon, and Dago (Saaremaa, Muhu, and Hiiumaa) from Russian control. Supported by powerful naval forces, marine detachments, and air reconnaissance, the operation achieved a swift victory that broke Russian morale and secured dominance in the Baltic. The campaign not only hastened Russia’s withdrawal from the war but also laid the groundwork for German intervention in the Finnish Civil War (1919).
• Gameplay & Objectives: One player commands the German forces, coordinating amphibious landings, naval engagements, and ground assaults across the Baltic coast and islands. The opposing player leads the Russian defenders, attempting to repel invasions, hold key objectives, and manage dwindling resources as political chaos spreads. The game’s structure rewards strategic planning, inter-service coordination, and efficient use of limited logistics.
• Game System & Scale: Operation Albion is built around an action-based command system that integrates land, naval, and air operations. Players can conduct multiple actions each turn, representing simultaneous offensives, redeployments, and intelligence efforts. Each turn represents one day to one month of real time, depending on the pace of operations, allowing flexible control over the campaign’s flow.
• Scale & Units:
  • Ground Units: Regiments, brigades, and divisions representing infantry, marines, and artillery.
  • Naval Units: Formations of one to three battleships or battlecruisers, four to eight cruisers, or flotillas of destroyers and support ships.
  • Air Units: Squadrons representing reconnaissance and strike aircraft operating from land and sea bases.
  • Each inch on the map equals 40 kilometres.
• Post-Albion Expansion: The game extends beyond the 1917 operations to include the German intervention in the Finnish Civil War (1919), allowing players to explore the broader strategic implications of Germany’s Baltic dominance and its role in the post-war political landscape.
• Strategic Challenges:
  • Coordinate amphibious landings under fire while maintaining naval supremacy.
  • Balance logistics and command across sea, land, and air operations.
  • Use reconnaissance and intelligence effectively to anticipate enemy movements.
  • Adapt to unpredictable weather and morale conditions that reflect real WWI campaign dynamics.

Game Components:

• 1 x 22” x 34” full-colour map depicting the Baltic theatre of operations
• 176 die-cut ⅝-inch counters representing naval, air, and ground units
• Comprehensive rulebook detailing campaign mechanics and historical context
• Player aids and scenario setup sheets for quick play and reference

Scale:
Players: 2
Level: Operational
Turn: 1 Day to 1 Month
Map Scale: 1 Inch = 40 Kilometres
Units: Regiments, Brigades, Divisions, Squadrons, and Naval Groups

Gameplay Focus: Operation Albion & the Baltic Campaigns 1917–1918 captures the intricacies of early combined-arms warfare, highlighting the importance of coordination between naval firepower, land assaults, and air support. With flexible pacing and asymmetric objectives, it offers deep historical insight into one of WWI’s most overlooked yet strategically significant operations.

Strategy & Tactics #343: Operation Albion & the Baltic Campaigns 1917–1918 is a must-have for fans of World War I operational games, naval warfare, and historical strategy simulations.

Available now from Milsims Games — Australia’s leading retailer for historical and strategic wargames for over 50 years. Includes price-match guarantee and fast local shipping from Mont Albert, VIC.

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