World at War #96: The German Navy’s War Plan Z is a grand strategic, two-player wargame designed by Joseph Miranda that explores an alternate history scenario — what if Adolf Hitler had not cancelled Germany’s massive naval expansion program in 1939? In this timeline, World War II does not begin that year. Instead, Hitler waits until the Kriegsmarine’s ambitious Plan Z fleet is completed, triggering a very different kind of war in the 1940s — one dominated by massive naval operations between Germany and the Allies.

• Alternate Naval History: The game assumes the Kriegsmarine completes War Plan Z, producing powerful battleships, aircraft carriers, and cruisers to challenge the Royal Navy and Allied fleets. With no western campaign, France remains an Allied power, and the Soviet Union coexists uneasily with Germany after dividing Poland. The resulting conflict becomes a vast naval struggle across the Atlantic and North Sea.
• Strategic Operations: War Plan Z is a strategic-level simulation where players control fleets, air groups, and ground forces across broad oceanic theatres. The system models combat, logistics, reconnaissance, intelligence, and base control. Players conduct a series of actions per turn, depending on their ability to secure and maintain forward bases, representing the global reach of naval warfare.
• Global Scope and Scale: Each map area covers approximately 550 miles (885 kilometres), and each turn represents one month of operations. Ship units represent divisions or squadrons of vessels — two fleet aircraft carriers, divisions of battleships, flotillas of destroyers, or groups of submarines. Air units represent six to twelve squadrons, while ground formations stand in for divisions or corps used to seize and defend key bases.
• Asymmetric Objectives: The German player must use superior technology, daring raids, and advanced naval coordination to disrupt Allied shipping and challenge maritime dominance. The Allied player must manage global logistics, protect convoys, and gradually bring overwhelming industrial might to bear against the Reich’s ambitious fleet.

The German Navy’s War Plan Z presents a fascinating “what if” vision of World War II — a global naval war that might have unfolded had Germany chosen to fight at sea rather than on land. Combining grand strategy with operational realism, it offers deep replayability and thought-provoking historical speculation.

Game Components & Features:

• 1 x 22x34” full-colour map depicting North Atlantic and European waters
• 228 die-cut 9/16-inch counters representing ships, air units, and ground forces
• Rules for logistics, reconnaissance, and combined-arms operations
• Action-based gameplay simulating operational tempo and command decisions
• Playable in multiple sessions for two players

Scale:
Players: 2
Level: Strategic
Map Area: 550 miles (885 km)
Turn: 1 Month
Units: Naval divisions, corps, and air groups

World at War #96: The German Navy’s War Plan Z is a compelling strategic simulation for naval enthusiasts and alternate history fans alike. It challenges players to rethink the dynamics of the Second World War through a lens of maritime power and strategic foresight — envisioning a conflict where the fate of Europe is decided not on land, but across the high seas.

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

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