Last updated 25th January 2012
"Taking into consideration the standard of enemy tactics and our own technical facilities in the last year of the war, it was probably right not to prefer one method of nightfighting, but to employ different methods and combine them according to the situation. In doing this, the main rule of conduct was; pursuit nightfighting against closely bundled bomber streams, "Himmelbett" nightfighting against loose formations or single aircraft, and target area nightfighting in case of surprise attacks and against Mosquitos."
- Generalleutnant Josef "Beppo" Schmid
NIGHTFIGHTER
is a board game of air warfare in the night skies of World War
II. Using a blind play system, an umpire controls the attacking
forces while the defending player must find, fix and destroy the
incoming bombers.
Nightfighter recreates the tactics of night fighting, from the cat's eye intercepts of the London night blitz to the Mosquito intruder operations at the end of the war.
More than forty scenarios describe the development
of nightfighting aircraft and technology. Rules cover
radar-guided interception, searchlights, airborne radar and
electronic countermeasures. Special weapons such as Schräge Musik are
featured. Tactics such as Wile Boar and Tame Boar (Wilde Sau
and Zahme Sau) receive their own scenarios.
The rules are arranged in a programmed instruction format so that players can learn the rules bit-by-bit as they progress through the scenarios.
Nightfighter features more than fifty fighter and bomber variants, from early Blenheim and Ju88 interceptors to advanced fighters such as the Mosquito and He219. Pacific operations see F4U-2s and P61A Black Widow fighters engaging Japanese bomber threats. Rarities such as the Ta154, Me262B-1a and the Japanese J1N1 Gekko are included.
Fast-playing, with scenarios that can be completed in 30-45 minutes, Nightfighter provides a new view of the night hunters of the sky.
ILLUSTRATION: Nightfighter player's map.
The final game contents comprises:
Rule book
Scenario book
Rules supplement book
One 1/2" counter sheet
One 5/8" counter sheet
One 11 x 17" umpire's map
One 22 x 17" player's map
One 11 x 34" playaid/umpire's screen
One Patrol Display
Four 6-sided dice
Nightfighter is published by GMT Games and can ordered HERE. It is designed by Lee Brimmicombe-Wood.
Update 25th January 2012
Solitaire NightfighterNightfighter can now be enjoyed solitaire. A new
set of solo rules, designed by Professor Phil Sabin (creator of
Lost
Battles) is now available for download HERE.
Update 3rd June 2011
Nightfighter CampaignThe game now includes a free 12-page rules supplement, allowing players to play a squadron management campaign in which the player commands a Staffel of Nightfighters in 1942-43.
Update 6th August 2009
Nightfighter is designed to be able to be played with Bomber Command . Both games can be played as stand-alone titles. However Bomber Command playthroughs can be used to generate scenarios resolved by playing Nightfighter.
All questions and enquiries should be directed to the designer Lee Brimmicombe-Wood at: leebwood at googlemail dot com
Nightfighter copyright © Lee Brimmicombe-Wood, 2006-2011. All rights reserved.