Invasion: Malta

Invasion: Malta is a two-player World War II wargame exploring one of the great “what if” operations of the Mediterranean war: an Axis invasion of Malta.

The game presents three different Malta scenarios, each built around a different historical opportunity. Fall 1940 examines an early Italian attempt against weaker British defences. Spring 1941 asks what might have happened if the Axis had chosen Malta instead of Crete. Summer 1942 covers the more developed German-Italian invasion plan, with lessons from Crete applied but a stronger, siege-worn British garrison waiting.

The Axis player must bring forces in through amphibious landings and airdrops, while the Allied player defends from fortifications with artillery support and limited resources. Chit-pull activation, unit efficiency ratings, random events, dummy airdrops, heavy tanks, gas, smoke, deception measures, transport, and anti-tank assets add uncertainty and operational texture.

Also included is Invasion: Leros – November, 1943, a smaller bonus game covering the historical German sea and air assault on Leros. It offers a compact companion battle with similar flavour at roughly one-third of the Malta scale.

Contents include: a two-section 25.5" x 44" Malta map, a 22" x 25.5" Leros map, 704 5/8" counters, a 40-page colour rules book, a 16-page black-and-white scenario book, six 8.5" x 11" player aids, one 11" x 17" player aid, eight setup cards, three Malta scenarios, and the bonus Leros game.