Designed by Marc William Miller
Published by GDW, 1978

Summary

Players: 2
Playing Time: not indicated
Scale: Operational
Time: 6 hours per turn
Distance: 33 nautical miles per hex
Units: Individual capital ships; pairs of destroyers; flights of aircraft

Components

Container: Ziploc bag
1 unmounted two-color 22"x28" map of south Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and the Indian Ocean
1 16-page 8 1/2"x11" B&W rulebook with scenarios and charts
1 5 1/2"x 8 1/2" pad for Hit Records and Task Force Locations
1 8 1/2"x11" cardstock Naval Gunnery table
2 8 1/2"x11" cardstock Task Force Composition charts
2 40 single-sided multi-color die-cut 1/2" cardboard counters

Counter Manifest

Japanese Naval Air Elements (white on red)
7 F1M2 Pete Scout Float Planes
7 E13A1 Jake Scout Float Planes

Imperial Japanese Navy (red on white)
4 BB: Haruna; Hiei; Kirishima; Kongo
5 CV: Akagi; Hiryu; Shokaku; Soryu; Zuikaku
1 CVL: Ryujo
7 CA: Chikuma; Chokai; Kumano; Mikuma; Mogami; Suzuya; Tone
3 CL: Abukuma; Sendai; Yura
10 DD
21 A6M2 Zero Fighters
24 B5N2 Kate Torpedo Bombers
24 D3A1 Val Dive Bombers
Task Force Markers (1 to 4)
2 IJN Markers
1 Japanese Marker

Royal Navy (black on light blue)
2 CV: Formidable; Indomitable
1 CVL: Hermes
4 B: Ramillies; Resolution; Revenge; Royal Sovereign
1 BB: Warspite
4 CA: Cornwall; Dorsetshire; Emerald; Enterprise
2 CL: Caledon; Dragon
1 CLA: Heemskerk
15 DD
1 D: Hollyhock
1 M: Erebus
1 AS: Lucia
2 AO: Athelstane; British Sergeant
9 Albacore Torpedo Bombers
6 Fulmar Carrier Fighters
3 Martlet Fighters
3 Swordfish Torpedo Bombers
2 Hurricane II Fighters
4 Force Markers (A to D)

Royal Navy Air Elements (white on blue)
6 Catalina Seaplanes
6 Walrus Scout Float Planes

Royal Air Force (black on grey)
6 Hurricane II Fighters
2 Blenheim Bombers
2 Fulmar Fighters
4 Airfield Markers
8 Markers (A to H)
4 British Control Markers

Markers (black on white)
14 Shipping
6 Blanks (4 light blue; 2 blue)

What the designer says:

“The Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor was an incredible stroke -- it destroyed a sizeable fraction of the American fleet, and allowed the Japanese navy a great degree of freedom during the first months of the Pacific War. By March of 1942, the Japanese advance had taken most of southeast Asia, and the fleet then faced the British naval strength in the Indian Ocean. According to Japanese intelligence estimates, a bold surprise attack on the twin ports of Colombo and Trincomalee would destroy the British fleet just as the American fleet had been destroyed.”

What the reviewers say:

“IOA uses the basic system that previously appeared in Midway and Coral Sea ... This is a simove game and not for solitaire play.” R.Berg in S&T 70.

“It’s a playable representation of carrier combat that Flattop! has improved on at some sacrifice in playability. But unless you have a friend who enjoys stalking wounded tigers in the bush at night, you’ll probably have difficulty finding a British player.” M.Colleran in F&M 15.

“The unusual situation makes Indian Ocean Adventure a more interesting simulation ... [u]nfortunately, as a game it is too unbalanced.” F&M 67.

Collector’s Value

Boone lists low, high and average prices of 9/60/22.72 at auction and 20/60/43.33 for sale.

Other games of this type

Flat Top (Battleline); Midway (AH); Battle for Midway; Coral Sea (GDW); the Fast Carriers (SPI); Early Pacific Battles (Bruce Moore); Santa Cruz (SoPac); Tokyo Express (20th Century); CV (Yaquinto); Carrier Strike (WWW); Kamikaze (SJG); Carrier Battles (Rising Sun); Incredible Victory (Quarterdeck).