Close The Atlantic: Simulating Modern Naval Combat in a WW3 Scenario – Now on WargameVault.com

ByDaniel Kling Lorentsen
Cover design for "Close The Atlantic." Featuring a dramatic image of modern naval combat with warships and helicopters on a stormy sea. The text includes the book title, "World War Three," and "Copyright 2024 Michael Raymond. Available at WargameVault.com.

Independent game designer Michael Raymond has released “Close The Atlantic,” a modern naval combat board game, now available on WargameVault.com. The game focuses primarily on convoy operations and includes scenarios that explore naval battles in the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean.

Designed to simulate a contemporary WW3 scenario across Europe, “Close The Atlantic” operates within a time frame that spans from April to September, determined by a D6 die roll at the start of the game. The game advances on a weekly turn basis starting from the first week of the determined month. Players must also consider environmental challenges; for example, October introduces an increased risk of hurricanes, impacting naval operations.

In this strategic board game, reminiscent of a WW3 scenario, units feature symbols for military assets like aircraft and missiles. The layout includes columns named Aberdeen and Helsinki, with icons representing varied unit types. A perfect find on WargameVault for fans of naval combat-themed challenges.

The game features three scenarios that can be played separately or combined to depict a comprehensive WW3 scenario. It abstracts the complexities of ground battles but introduces air and missile strikes against front lines in later scenarios. This abstraction extends to the equipment used in the game, simplifying the technical specifics to focus more on strategy and planning.

A board game setup inspired by a WW3 Scenario features red squares labeled with military symbols and operations like "ECM," "ASW Helo," and "TAC AIR." Gray sections denote "Neutral" and "Storms." Cities, including Paris, London, Sarajevo, and Amsterdam, set the stage for intense Naval Combat strategies perfect for WargameVault enthusiasts.

“Close The Atlantic” is available in a rules book that includes a map and counters for home printing. Players looking for a more tactile experience can order full-sized maps and die-cut counters directly from the publisher. The counters represent various military units—ranging from single submarines to groups of up to 100 aircraft—and include numeric indicators to help track resources like missile counts during engagements.

A strategic board game map depicting parts of the USA, Canada, and Europe. Blue and red tiles with ship icons are placed on a sea area labeled "Central Atlantic," setting the stage for Modern Naval Combat in a WW3 Scenario. Explore more at WargameVault.com.

Daniel Kling Lorentsen is the editor of Tabletop Gaming News, with a passion for tabletop games that began in the '90s. Starting with Dungeons & Dragons and Warhammer, his journey in the gaming industry has been diverse—from working at a prominent gaming store and illustrating RPG books and board games, to consulting hedge funds on RPG trends. Since 2005, Daniel has written extensively about games and managed several gaming websites, applying his deep industry knowledge to keep readers informed about the latest in tabletop gaming.