Overview

Luftwaffe: The Game of Aerial Combat Over Germany 1943-45 is an operational wargame simulating the American strategic bombing campaign against Germany in WWII. One player controls American bomber and fighter groups conducting raids on German industrial targets, while the other controls German air defenses attempting to intercept and destroy the bombers. Originally published by Avalon Hill, the Decision Games edition includes additional optional rules.

Components

• 1 Game map (Germany and surrounding regions with air zones)
• Counters for American bomber groups, fighter groups, and German interceptor units
• Mission cards / raid tracks
• Weather cards
• Combat resolution tables
• Damage and VP tracking charts
• Dice

Setup

1. Place the map centrally.
2. Sort counters by nationality and type.
3. American player selects bomber groups and fighter escorts for each raid.
4. German player deploys interceptor units across defensive zones.
5. Set up weather conditions for the campaign month.

Turn Structure

The game is played over multiple raids representing a three-month bombing campaign (Advanced/Tournament rules require up to 10 separate raids).

Each raid follows these phases:

1. Planning Phase: American player secretly plans bomber routes and assigns fighter escorts.
2. Approach Phase: American formations fly toward targets; German player allocates interceptors.
3. Interception Phase: German fighters attempt to engage bombers before they reach targets.
4. Combat Phase: Resolve air-to-air combat between interceptors and bomber/fighter formations.
5. Bombing Phase: Surviving bombers drop ordnance on target.
6. Return Phase: American formations return to base; additional German interception possible.
7. Assessment Phase: Calculate damage to targets and losses on both sides.

Actions

American Player

• Plan raid routes avoiding heavy defenses
• Assign fighter escorts (P-47, P-51) to bomber groups (B-17, B-24)
• Select strategic targets (factories, oil refineries, airfields, transportation)
• Decide whether to abort damaged formations

German Player

• Deploy interceptor units (Me 109, FW 190, Me 110) across defensive zones
• Allocate fighters to intercept specific American formations
• Manage flak defenses around key targets
• Decide when to commit reserves

Combat

• Air combat resolved using Combat Results Tables (CRT)
• Factors include unit strength, altitude, weather, and escort presence
• Flak resolved separately for bombers approaching targets

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Victory is determined by comparing American bombing success against German interception effectiveness:

• American VP: Destroying strategic targets, reducing German war production
• German VP: Shooting down American bombers and fighters

The VP balance at campaign end determines the winner. Decisive, substantive, or marginal victory levels exist for both sides.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Weather: Significantly impacts operations — cloud cover protects bombers from fighters but reduces bombing accuracy.
• Fighter range: Different American fighter types have different escort ranges (P-47 shorter, P-51 longer).
• Attrition: Both sides suffer long-term attrition; replacement rates differ.
• Advanced rules add fuel limitations, night bombing, jet fighters (Me 262), and more detailed combat.
• Tournament rules increase realism and game length.

Player Reference

Raid Phases:

1. Planning → 2. Approach → 3. Interception → 4. Combat → 5. Bombing → 6. Return → 7. Assessment

Key Units: | Side | Units | |——|——-| | American | B-17, B-24 (bombers); P-47, P-51 (fighters) | | German | Me 109, FW 190 (fighters); Me 110 (heavy fighter); Flak batteries |