This game simulates the battle between Fregattenkäpitan Peter Strasser’s Naval Airship
Division and the British aerial defences from August 1914 to October 1918. Rather
than trying to simulate individual raids, the game simulates the “chess game” played
between Strasser and the British - as they gradually strengthened their aerial defences
around the country, and he tried to remain one step ahead by varying his targets
and by introducing higher and higher-flying Zeppelin types (“Super-Zeppelins” then
“Height-Climbers”).
The game focuses especially on the following key aspects of the conflict:
- The build-up of the British aerial defences, from essentially nothing at the outbreak
of war, through the gradual integration of the various defensive components (fixed
anti-aircraft / mobile anti-aircraft / fighters), to the upgrading of those components
to be effective against the higher-climbing Zeppelins;
- The strategic decisions made by Peter Strasser, in selecting the target areas to
attack and the routes to and from those target areas, and in selecting the mix of
Zeppelin types in his fleet to maximise his ability to target important areas while
minimising his Zeppelins’ vulnerability to the British defences.
The game is designed for 2 players, but can be easily adapted for solo play.
Time Scale: 1 month per turn
Ground Scale: irregular areas
Unit Scale: 1 raiding group of Zeppelins of the same type
