AP - Bay of Bengal - 2nd Edition

Bay of Bengal is a standalone supplement for the Great War at Sea series focusing on naval operations in the northeastern Indian Ocean from the late eighteenth century through World War II. The game highlights the defense of the maritime routes linking India, the British Empire’s most valuable possession, to the rest of the empire.

The module covers conflicts ranging from World War I commerce raiding to the Japanese Indian Ocean offensive of 1942, while also exploring alternative-history scenarios.

Game system

The game uses the Great War at Sea system, designed to simulate operational naval warfare during the first half of the twentieth century.

Players command squadrons of cruisers, battleships, carriers, and convoy forces while managing reconnaissance, logistics, and amphibious operations.

The system combines operational movement maps with tactical combat resolution when opposing fleets make contact.

Included scenarios

The module includes multiple historical and hypothetical scenarios set in the Bay of Bengal and the eastern Indian Ocean.

The German Raider Campaign
Indian Ocean, 1914-1915

Royal Navy forces attempt to protect British trade routes from German commerce raiders.

The Japanese Indian Ocean Raid
April 1942

Japanese naval forces seek to cripple the British Eastern Fleet and disrupt Allied communications.

Alternative scenarios

Additional scenarios explore hypothetical escalations of naval warfare in the region.

Objective

Players seek to control sea lines of communication, protect or intercept convoys, destroy enemy naval forces, and secure strategic bases throughout the northern Indian Ocean.

Players

2 players

Playing time

Approximately 30 minutes to 2 hours per scenario.

Complexity

Medium

The system offers an accessible introduction to operational naval wargaming while retaining significant historical depth.

Game scale

Turn: varies by scenario

Units: individual ships, squadrons, and convoys

Area covered: Bay of Bengal and eastern Indian Ocean

Replayability

Multiple historical and alternative scenarios

Wide variety of fleets and missions

Strong emphasis on reconnaissance

Asymmetric strategic situations

Numerous operational choices.

Components (indicative)

1 scenario book

Operational maps

Counters and player aids compatible with Great War at Sea

Theater-specific rules.