Paper Wars 107: Operation Isabella

Paper Wars #107 – Operation Isabella: What if Spain, 1942 is a complete wargame included in Paper Wars, a quarterly wargaming magazine published by Compass Games, with each issue featuring a full playable game.

The game explores an alternate-history scenario: a German invasion of the Iberian Peninsula in late summer 1942, had the historical plan been executed.

The design uses an alternating-actions system with low-to-medium complexity, offering 2–3 hour playtime and good solitaire suitability.

Operational scale details include:

   Map covering Spain and Portugal (except Spain’s far southeast)

   1 hex ≈ 20 miles
 
   1 turn = 1 week

   Units represent brigades, divisions, or corps

A key feature is political uncertainty: Spanish units may fight for either side, except certain North African Army corps aligned with the Axis.

Technical data

• Publisher: Compass Games
• Series: Paper Wars Magazine
• Designer: Ty Bomba
• Theme: World War II – alternate history
• Players: 2 (solo adaptable)
• Playing time: 2–3 hours
• Complexity: Low to Medium
• System: Alternating actions
• Historical timeframe: Summer 1942 (hypothetical invasion of Spain)