To the shores of Tripoli… and then back again. It only struck me when I sat down to write this editorial that our theme for this month, America at War, takes us from the famous US Marine action near Tripoli in 1804 (subject of the Marine Corps Hymn), via the Civil War, the Boxer Rebellion in China, the Great War in France and back to the shores of Tripoli (or near enough!), with the US amphibious landings in North Africa during Operation Torch, World War Two. Such effortless continuity, which if I hadn’t pointed out it was an accident might have seemed impressive! The theme of America at War is of course no accident, but rather the result of several months of planning and application by our contributors. One of the quirks of this month’s all-American theme is that none of the articles herein have been written by Americans! We thought it would be interesting (particularly for our US readers) if all the theme articles centred on that great nation were actually supplied by non-residents. So, our America at War theme articles have actually been supplied by an Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman. As well as the half dozen theme articles, we also have a couple of our popular Rules Showcase articles for you, along with a Designer’s Notes, featuring new rules and supplements from Warlord Games and Osprey. I am very pleased to welcome James Morris back to the pages of Wargames Illustrated this month with an article on his fabulous World War Two Crete project and the same goes for Doctor Steve Tibble, who supplies us with the first in a cracking series of articles on re-thinking the Crusades. OBSERVATION POST We take a look at what’s new and forthcoming in our hobby. THEME: “TO THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI” We begin our America at War theme content with the United States’ first military intervention in North Africa. Pete Brown takes up the story ... DESIGNER’S NOTES: DRACULA’S AMERICA, FORBIDDEN POWERS Jonathan Haythornthwaite, author of the top-selling Dracula’s America rulebooks, talks about the latest volume in this Weird Wild West series. THEME: THE DRAGON’S CHOICE *EXTRA MAP* As part of this month’s theme, Dave Tuck and Malc Johnston take a look at the brave men of the United States Marine Corps, in a famous action at the turn of the 20th Century, during the Boxer Rebellion CRETE 1941 - PART 1 James Morris shares his latest project; gaming Crete 1941. In this first of two articles, he tells us why and how the game came together. THEME: WHO’S CIVIL WAR IS THIS ANYWAY? Neil Smith discusses the brave men and their regiments who were not American by birth,
