Battle of Midway wargame comes to Woodstock June 1

Before the Japanese launched the massive attack that has gone down in history as the Battle of Midway, they wargamed the battle aboard one of their battleships. The wargame didn’t go well for the Japanese but, they were so confident considering their overwhelming success the first six months of the war, that the judge overruled the outcome of the wargame. They should have paid more attention.

The U.S. Navy, Army Air Force and Marines ambushed and defeated the Japanese in a battle many consider a turning point in the Pacific during WWII.

?Stand-ins for the Japanese and Americans will consider the outcome of a Battle of Midway wargame for themselves when they conduct a Battle of Midway wargame starting at noon., Saturday, June 1. Rather than in the cabin of an Imperial Japanese Navy battleship, this wargame will take place on dry land at Ethereal Confections, 140 Cass Street, Woodstock, IL.

?The game is sponsored by Steve Fratt of FrattSpiel Games and Richard Rostron of Woodstock-based Padowski Publications. Other cosponsors include MD Trains in the Woodstock Square and Games Plus in Mt. Prospect. Fratt has created numerous games for his college students, as well as games used in K-12 schools.

?Rostron is the author of the historical-fiction novel, “The Burning Sea of Iron Bottom Bay.” He expects to release his next novel, “The Ghost of Lexington and Concord” soon. The prior is currently available in Read Between the Lynes, My Little Bow Peep Shop and MD Trains in The Woodstock Square.

?Fratt will manage that game, which is expected to run until 5 p.m., with other volunteers. As many as 30 combatants are expected to participate in the wargame.

?“It’s a fog-of-war game,” said Fratt. “That means the opposing sides won’t necessarily know what the other side is doing. They’ll have to make decisions based on whatever information they can gather and then, well, guesswork.”

?The concept of a fog-of-war is to increase the realism of the wargame. The rules for the game are a combination of rules from Fratt’s games and others who will help manage the contest.

?Fratt, a military history professor has previously run the game at Trinity College in Bannockburn and at Great Lakes Naval Base where the Americans were played by active-duty U.S. Naval officers.

?Those who wish to join the action can call Fratt at (847) 693-8460.