Menzel Sails The Imperial Japanese Navy To Victory!

Victory in the Pacific maintained its sand plaque status in 2025 and attendance increased from 20 to 26. The default version of the game this year was the tournament scenario from the Kickstarter version: Menzel 3cM. This continues to lower bids and I hope someday this will be the default version of the game.

After five Swiss rounds, Ed Menzel emerged as the only undefeated player at 5-0. He was joined in the Semifinal by our intrepid GM, 4-1, the only holdover from the 2024 Semifinal, and Jim Kramer and John Sharp, both 3-2. David Gubbay and John Pack, both 3-2, rounded out the top six.

In an odd scheduling quirk, the two Semifinal games were also repeats of the Fifth Round matchups Ed Menzel vs. John Sharp and 2. GM of Ted Drozd vs. Jim Kramer.

Ed and John squared off in the first Semifinal playing the Menzel 3b. Ed took the IJN (no bid) and proceeded to play a fairly standard Ed game: converting Pearl on Turn 3 and successfully parrying John’s attempts to retake lost territory or advance towards Japan, leaving him victorious.

Ted and Jim faced each other in the other Semifinal and played Menzel minus the IJN retreat after two rounds. Jim played the IJN for 4.5. Ted was able to save Pearl on Turn 3 and, by Turn 5, had captured Maleolap and Lae. With USN flags in Indo and SPO on Turn 5, the IJN was forced to concede.

This led to a showdown between the formidable Ed and Ted. Playing the Menzel option, Ed took the IJN (for no bid). After a fairly routine Turn 1, the POC stood at 4. On Turn 2, the IJN took the Philippines, Singapore, Lae, and Johnston, increasing the POC to 11. Combat in the Aleutians and CPO at least temporarily halted the IJN advances. Turn 3 saw Ed return to CPO and this time he was able to take Midway while Pearl also fell. POC increased 4 to 15.

The IJN gained another 5 POC on both Turn 4 and Turn 5 but the USN were able to capture Lae and Maleolap and open SPO going into a pivotal Turn 6. The USN selected the Marianas as the place to fight and as often happens, it came down to the day/night roll (even) which Ed won (night). With his carrier fleet hurting after the night round, Ted stayed for a night against the flag and proceeded to win that. After four rounds, every ship was sunk or disabled except the Mississippi (with two damage) to control the area and reduce the POC by 2.

Turn 7 saw the USN capture Saigon, Singapore, Kwajalein, Johnston, and go back to Bataan (the Philippines) but only able to reduce the POC by another 7 to 16. The IJN was able to repulse a key strike at Midway, leading to a near impossible Turn 8. The USN needed to control Japan (and the rest of the board) but was unable to overcome the LBA, ending in a 6 POC Japanese win in the war, in spite of the USNs best efforts.