Okay, Gulf Strike arrived yesterday, maybe even the day before, I've been away house sitting for a week. The game is in pristine condition, appeared to even have the original shrink wrapping on the package. Since I found it so late in the evening I only had time to page thru each of the booklets (the box was stuffed to the brim with supplements and counters and maps galore). Hopefully I'll spend some time with the game before Pete slaughters me and place my findings as a paper wargame novice in this thread.

Hey Tony...Congratulations. Like we have spoken about, the rules, at first glance are the makings of nightmares, but the game is an outstanding look at the higher end, not quite strategic, of operational warfare in the 80-90's middle east.

 

One thing to remember, and that has been the devil to me is that aircraft counters are squadrons, ship counters are, for the most part, groups of ships in that type (I refuse to believe that a carrier is more than one, and believe that was the designer's intent), and that a game turn is 2 days.

 

I look forward to discussing this gem with you, and maybe one day we can fight.

I have begun setting up the Tanker War - variant 1, from the 2nd Edition booklet. I have the entirety of the three main maps, the Iraq extention from 3rd Edition, and the strategic map on my table down in the cellar - all under plexi-glass - it's beautiful, you must see it.

 

I have only gegun setting up the forces, and will probably start a new thread for an incremental AAR.

Excellent, Thursday is my next potential day to look at Gulf Strike. Will undertake basic air ops as you suggested.