Web-Grognards: Victory in the West

VICTORY IN THE WEST

INTRO:
Victory in the West is a set of regiment/battalion level simulations of critical campaigns that occurred on the western German frontier in the fall and winter of 1944-45. Each of the games in this set simulates an engagement between the Allied and German forces in a period that was to mark the beginning of the end for Hitler's Third Reich. Only three games came out with the Victory in the West system; Patton's 3rd Army, Operation Grenade and Sicily. I only have Sicily but might be able to get the other two games later.

SICILY: The Race for Messina 10 July - 17 August 1943

INTRO:
Sicily is a simulation of the Allied campaign to capture that strategic, Axis-held Mediterranean island in the summer of 1943. For the Allied player, the object of the game is to capture the island as quickly as possible while holding losses to a minimum. The Axis player's objective is to frustrate Allied strategy. Depending on his reinforcement schedule, the Axis player may attempt to delay Allied conquest of the island, or decisively defeat the Allies by a strong counterattack.

CREDITS:

Publisher: SPI, 1981

Designer: Dick Rustin

Developer: Greg Costikyan

Graphics: Redmond A. Simonsen

GAME SCALE:
Each Game-Turn represents two days of real time, and each hex represents three miles from side to side.

MINI-REVIEW:
I originally received Sicily with my S&T subscription then traded it off. Almost immediately I missed not having the game. I've always had desire for a good invasion game. Atlantic Wall almost fit the bill. The invasion portion of the game was neat but was too generic. Victory Games had a game on Omaha Beach but it didn't zoom in on the invasion portion. I had an old Rand game on Omaha but it wasn't state of the art when it came out. It felt similar to a Panzerblitz scenario, neither of which feel like an invasion. Sicily has a better invasion feel than the above games. However, the invasion portion is not where Sicily excels, it is the situation that the major players are in. As the British you must smash your way north on the eastern coast. The coastline narrows near the old volcano and the British thrust must split around it. The Americans have a wide open field but have command problems, Monty. The Americans are limited in their offensive but can make a "reconnaissance in force" The Germans and Italians get to pull off the best rearguard action in history. The biggest change from normal games is how you determine the unit strengths. According to the morale value on the counter a random chit is pulled from a cup each time that unit enters combat. The unit size is looked up on the chit and a combat value is found. This can make for some high counter stacks but does add fog of war if you are not allowed to peek.

SEQUENCE OF PLAY:

A. PRELIMINARY STAGE
	1. Weather Phase
		Dice are rolled to determine the weather for the current Game-Turn.
	2. Bookkeeping Phase
		a. Allied Segment
		b. Axis Segment

B. ALLIED PLAYER-TURN
	1. Supply Phase
		a. Mutual Supply Determination Segment
		b. Support Point Segment
	2. Movement Phase
		a. Airborne Segment
		b. Amphibious Segment
		c. Depot Segment
		d. Tactical Movement Segment
		e. Strategic Movement Segment
	3. Combat Phase

C. AXIS PLAYER-TURN
	1. Supply Phase
		a. Mutual Supply Determination Segment
		b. Support Point Segment
	2. Movement Phase
		a. Tactical Movement Segment
		b. Strategic Movement Segment
	3. Combat Phase

D. SPECIAL STAGE (Invasion Game-Turns only)
	1. Allied Phase
		a. Second Movement Phase
		b. Second Combat Phase
	2. Axis Phase
		a. Second Movement Phase
		b. Second Combat Phase

E. GAME-TURN INDICATION STAGE

COUNTER LIST:
In case you need to replace a counter.


ITALY
Armor			Infantry		Coastal
2-24			C-2-8/1-8		C-1-2/1-2
MG B    (b) [1409]	10 Bers    [2011]	95 CCNN [5903]
MG D    (b) [4915]	177 Bers   [2519]	119     [5607]
MG E        [4021]	33/Liv     [3619]	120 (s) [1715]
			34/Liv     [3415]	121 (s) [5321]
1-24						122 (s) [5130]
230     (b) [4527]	C-2-6/1-6		123 (s) [4329]
MG A    (b) [0906]	185        [11]		124 (s) [0912]
MG C    (b) [1612]				133 (s) [1405]
MG F    (b) [4928]	C-1-6/1-6		134 (s) [3623]
TG Carm (b) [4819]	5/Aosta    [1506]	135     [5509]
			6/Aosta    [1805]	136 (s) [2806]
Anti-Tank		29/Asieta  [1611]	137     [0805]
1-8			30/Asieta  [1410]	138 (s) [2319]
1       (b) [2109]	75/Nap     [4519]	139 (s) [2620]
			76/Nap     [4522]	140 (s) [4603]
1-6			171 CCNN   [1706]	143 (s) [1313]
MG H    (b) [4222]				146 (s) [5226]
			1-2			147 (s) [1703]
1-4     		Nav    (b) [5423]	178 (s) [4026]
16      (b) [4405]	AF     (b) [5423]	179 (s) [3906]
104     (b) [2519]	23 Cav (b) [5903]	PD E    [5116]
TG Barc (b) [5304]				PD N    [5314]
			1-6
Artillery		12 MG  (b) [5117]	2-2
1-3			112 MG (b) [1605]	372     [5314]
12          [2011]	17CCNN (b) [3120]
40          [3918]	19CCNN (b) [1511]	Infantry
						C-2-8
Cavalry			1-8			1/AG(d) [Var A]
1-16			MG G   (b) [4326]	2/AG(d) [Var A]
1 Pal   (b) [3219]	51 Bers(b) [0810]	4/AG(d) [Var A]

			2-6			C-1-8
			173CCNN(b) [4828]	1/CUN   [Var B]
						2/CUN   [Var B]
			2-8
			58 Bers(b) [5209]


GERMAN:
Armor			Infantry		Infantry
4-24/2-24		A-2-8/1-8		B-2-8/1-8
129/29PG    [Var F]	71/29PG    [8]		9/26P    [Var J]
			104/15PG   [1309]	PGR/HG   [4121]
3-24/1-24		129/15PG   [1611]	15/29PG  [5]
1/26P/26P   [Var J]				115/15PG [4814]
2/26P/26P   [Var J]	A-3-8/1-8		276/94   [Var C]
1/HGP/HG    [4121]	2/2FJ      [Var I]	267/94   [Var C]
2/HGP/HG    [4121]	6/2FJ      [Var I]	274/94   [Var C]
215/15PG    [3215]	7/2FJ      [Var I]	577/305  [Var D]
			1/1FJ      [Var E]	578/305  [Var D]
Mech Infantry		3/1FJ      [2]		576/305  [Var D]
(A)-2-18/1-18		4/1FJ      [2]
Shm/HG (d)  [4814]				B-2-6/1-6
			1-6			382 (b)  [4814]
B-2-24/1-24		923  (b)   [5-19]
67/26P      [Var J]	926  (b)   [14]		2-6
			Cstl (b)   [5116]	Reg (b)  [5116]
Artillery		Cstl (b)   [0609]
1-4			Cstl (b)   [0609]
14 (d)      [Var H]	{2nd counter, not a duplicate}
76 (d)      [Var G]


BRITISH
Armour			Infantry		Artillery
3-24/1-24		A-3-81-8		1-4
3CLY     (b) [ArmRes]	152/51 (d) [Barks]	7&70      (d) [3]
40RTR    (b) [ArmRes]	153/51 (d) [5131]	57&58     (d) [5]
44RTR    (b) [ArmRes]	154/51 (d) [5230]	64&66     (d) [3]
46RTR    (b) [AmrRes]				75&80     (d) [5]
50RTR    (b) [ArmRes]	A-3-7/1-7		78&111    (d) [5]
Ont/1Can (b) [7]	1/1Can (d) [5030]
TR/1Can  (b) [Barks]	2/1Can (d) [Barkw]	Armoured Artillery
Cal/1Can (b) [7]	3/1Can (d) [Barkw]	1-24
						11RH&142  (d) [3]
Infantry		A-2-8/1-8		24&98     (d) [3]
2-8/1-8		231    (d) [5129]
2/4Hamp  (b) [Port]	13/5   (d) [Acidn]	Anti-Tank
2HLI     (b) [Port]	15/5   (d) [5326]	2-6
7RM      (b) [Port]	17/5   (d) [5326]	73        (b) [3]
1A&S     (b) [Port]	128/46 (d) [Opt 15]	105       (b) [3]
1Welch   (b) [Port]	138/46 (d) [Opt 15]
11KRRC   (b) [ArmRes]	139/46 (d) [Opt 15]	Paratroop
			69/50  (d) [Acids]	3-4/1-4
3-4/1-4			151/50 (d) [5226]	1/1/1AB   (b) [3]
3CDO     (b) [5425]	11/78  (d) [10]		2/1/1AB   (b) [3]
			36/78  (d) [10]		3/1/1AB   (b) [3]
2-4/1-4			38/78  (d) [10]		4/2/1AB   (b) [Opt 4]
40RMC    (b) [4830]				5/2/1AB   (b) [Opt 4]
41RMC    (b) [4830]	A-1-8/1-8		6/2/1AB   (b) [Opt 4]
2SAS     (b) [4]	168/50 (d) [3]		10/4/1AB  (b) [Opt 4]
						156/4/1AB (b) [Opt 4]
						2S/1AL/1AB(b) [5424]
						1B/1AL/1AB(b) [5424]

AMERICAN
Armor			Infantry		Paratroop
3-24/1-24		A-3-8/1-8		3-4/1-4
191      (b) [Opt 15]	16/1       [3724]	1/325/82  (b) [4]
753      (b) [Cent]	18/1       [Kool]	2/325/82  (b) [4]
760      (b) [Opt 20]	26/1       [3724]	3/325/82  (b) [4]
			7/3        [3022]	1/504/82  (b) [2]
2-26/1-26		15/3       [3222]	2/504/82  (b) [2]
70       (b) [3]	30/3       [3222]	3/504/82  (b) [3922]
756      (b) [Opt 20]				1/505/82  (b) [3823]
757      (b) [Opt 15]	A-2-8/1-8		2/505/82  (b) [3823]
			39/9       [3]		3/505/82  (b) [3823]
1-24			47/9       [12]		2/509/82  (b) [4]
601      (b) [Opt 15]	60/9       [12]
645      (b) [Opt 15]	141/36     [Opt 15]	Artillery
776      (b) [Opt 18]	142/36     [Opt 15]	1-4
813      (b) [Opt 18]	143/36     [Opt 15]	17            [3]
894      (b) [Opt 18]	157/45     [4027]	18            [Opt 18]
899      (b) [Opt 18]	179/45     [3926]	36            [5]
			180/45     [3925]	77            [3]
Mech Infantry					178           [5]
(B)-2-24/1-24		3-6/1-6
CCA/2A   (d) [Joss]	1RGR   (b) [3623]	Armored Artillery
CCB/2A   (d) [Kool]				1-24
			2-6/1-6			5         (d) [3]
Recon			3RGR   (b) [3123]	6         (d) [Opt 18]
2-28/1-28		4RGR   (b) [3623]
91       (b) [5]	4Goum  (b) [3]






Counter List Format: 
Unit Type
Counter Values 
Unit ID (Special Identifiers) [Setup Hex, Turn of Arrival, Variable Arrival or Optional Arrival]

Special Identifiers: 
b=Battalion
d=Brigade
s=Special Coastal Battalion [See rule 17.0 Setting Up The Game]


Strength Chits:

Morale Rating 1:		Morale Rating 2:		Morale Rating 3: 
1) A12-B8-C5/A6-B4-C3		1) A14-B10-C7/A7-B5-C3		1) A18-B12-C10/A9-B6-C5
1) A10-B7-C4/A5-B4-C3		2) A13-B9-B7/A6-B4-C3		1) A17-B11-C9/A8-B5-C4
1) A9-B7-C3/A4-B3-C2		1) A12-B9-C6/A6-B4-C3		1) A16-B10-C9/A8-B5-C4
1) A9-B6-C2/A4-B3-C0		2) A12-B8-C6/A6-B4-C3		1) A15-B10-C9/A7-B5-C4
1) A8-B5-C2/A4-B2-C0		2) A11-B8-C5/A5-B4-C3		1) A14-B9-C8/A7-B4-C4
2) A7-B5-C2/A3-B2-C0		1) A11-B7-C5/A5-B3-C2		1) A13-B9-C8/A6-B4-C4
3) A6-B4-C2/A3-C2-C0		4) A10-B7-C5/A5-B3-C2		2) A12-B8-C7/A6-B4-C3
1) A5-B3-C2/A2-B0-C0		4) A9-B6-C4/A4-B3-C2		2) A11-B7-C6/A5-B3-C3
1) A5-B3-C1/A2-B0-C0		3) A8-B5-C4/A4-B2-C2		1) A10-B7-C6/A5-B3-C3
1) A4-B3-C1/A2-B0-C0		2) A7-B5-C3/A3-B2-C0		1) A10-B6-C5/A5-B3-C2
1) A4-B2-C1/A2-B0-C0		1) A7-B4-C3/A3-B2-C0		2) A9-B6-C5/A5-B3-C2
1) A3-B1-C1/A1-B0-C0		1) A6-B4-C3/A3-B2-C0		2) A9-B5-C4/A4-B2-C2
1) A2-B1-C1/A0-B0-C0		1) A6-B4-C2/A3-B2-C0		1) A9-B4-C3/A4-B2-C0
				2) A5-B3-C2/A2-B0-C0
				1) A4-B2-C1/A2-B0-C0

Format: Number of chits) front side of counter/back side of counter.

An example: Look at the first counter in the column with a Morale Rating of 1. If you had a unit with A-1-12 as its counter values, your unit would have a combat strength of 12. When this unit takes a step loss and if you happen to randomly pick this chit again the unit combat strength would be 6. NOTE: In Sicily each time a unit has combat you must pick a new chit randomly from a cup. The time span of a Game-Turn is longer in Sicily than the other two games in the Victory in the West series. During this time replacements were received by units, men were lost to combat, desertion and other operational problems so the unit strengths varied. Remember to keep the new counter with the proper orientation, i.e. flipped or not when choosing a new counter.


Other Counters: 

6 each:
Out of Supply/Isolated

4 each:
8th Army Boundary Markers

3 each:
1 Morale/Pack Trans
2 Morale/Pack Trans

1 each:
Game-Turn
Airfield Marker
Weather
1 Morale/2 Morale
Italian Support Pts
German Support Pts
C.W. Support Pts
U.S. Support Pts
7th Army Supply Marker - Joss
7th Army Supply Marker - Dime
8th Army Supply Marker - Acids
8th Army Supply Marker - Barks

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