Operation Watchtower: ASL Historical Study Guadalcanal

About this expansion

Operation Watchtower: ASL Historical Study Guadalcanal is a two-player historical tactical game for the Advanced Squad Leader system, with scenarios averaging about two hours to play. It presents sixteen scenarios covering key actions from the Guadalcanal campaign.

Set during the first American offensive in the Pacific, the study follows fighting from August through December 1942. Players encounter the aftermath of Colonel Ichiki’s failed attacks across the Tenaru, the struggle for Edson’s Ridge, the Marine offensive at the Matanikau River, and the assault on the Gifu strongpoint.

Each scenario offers a focused look at a different moment in the campaign while helping players understand the circumstances behind the historical decisions. The game uses ASL’s squad-level scale, representing units of five to ten men alongside individual leaders, vehicles, and guns.

• Sixteen scenarios on cardstock
• A 42×30 historical map
• A countersheet of 1/2-inch counters
• Chapter Z additions for the Edson’s Ridge mini-HASL
• A historical write-up of the Guadalcanal campaign

With a time scale of two minutes per game turn and a map scale of 40 meters per hex, Operation Watchtower emphasizes detailed tactical action within a broader historical study. The scenarios vary in length, while the overall experience is rated high in complexity.

Designed for two players, the game is also suitable for solitaire or team play. Its solitaire suitability is rated medium, making it an option for players who want to explore Guadalcanal’s battles alone as well as across the table.