The Korean War is often called the forgotten war. In fact, some politicians refused to call it a war at all; they said it was only a “police action.” Well, I have talked to men who were in WWII and in Korea also, and they said it was a real war. And, none of them ever forgot it.
One of the most interesting things about the conflict in Korea was the air war. At first, the Allies took a beating as Stalin secretly sent some of Russia’s best WWII aces to pilot the swept-wing Mig-15 jet for the North Koreans and Chinese. But the appearance of the North American F-86 evened the odds. There is still debate as to which airplane was superior, but there is no question as to which pilots were the best. The Americans claimed a 14-to-1 kill ratio against the Migs. The Communists denied the numbers and, after the Soviet Union collapsed and records were released, the ratio was reduced to an uncontested 7-to-1. This is still an amazing figure.
This game employs models of all the important fighters used by the Allies and the Communists during the Korean War. The game compares the sortie records of an Allied fighter squadron using the F-86 and the sortie records of a Communist fighter squadron using the Mig-15. The two squadrons are not actually engaged in combat with each other, but the squadron with the highest kill score in three sorties wins the game. Since “Migs and Sabres” is designed to be played solo, the main opponent for both sides is the element of luck. Even if two players play the game, luck is still the predominant factor.
The recent article and game by Marvin Scott entitled “Mig Pilot” (Lone Warrior #145) was a major source of ideas for this game and should be read for background information. Korean Air War by Robert F. Dorr and Warren Thompson (2003) is an excellent reference. Motorbooks International of St. Paul, MN prints the book, and the paperback costs $24.95.
The models should be copied onto card stock. Use a stylus or dried up ballpoint pen to score the lines that will be bent at the base of the wings and the stabilizers. Cut out the halves of the planes with scissors and glue them together with rubber cement. Bend the wings and the stabilizers out. The Mig, Meteor, and the F-80 have a separate horizontal stabilizer that must be notched and placed into a notched vertical stabilizer. Use a small amount of rubber cement to hold them in place.
You may want to try the airplane stands. Cut the thick black lines and bend the lighter gray lines. (Be sure to score them first.) Cut the black line between the two boxes at the bottom. Bend out the tabs at the top and the halves of the base at the bottom. Fold the two halves of the stem together and glue them. The two boxes at the back of the stand give you a place to write the Basic Value number and the ID number of the airplane. The ID number will be used to determine order of movement when I develop a game where one side has more than one fighter on the board.
As with the previous games, a sheet of colored models will accompany this article in MagWeb.com. I hope you enjoy the game.
MiGs and Sabres
Related
MiG Pilot Korean War Solo Game
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