NATOPS
This manual prescribes general flight and operating instructions and procedures applicable to the operation of all naval aircraft and related activities. This manual is not intended to cover every contingency that may arise and every rule of safety and good practice. To achieve maximum value, the contents of all directives cited must be studied and understood. Routine interpretation and procedural questions should be referred to appropriate type wing/type command or MAG/MAW NATOPS offices for resolution prior to referral to a cognizant command (COG)/Naval Advisory Group (NAG). Where the need arises, special instructions or waivers will be issued by COMNAVAIRFOR or CMC as applicable.
CNAF M-3710.7, NATOPS GENERAL FLIGHT AND OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS MANUAL, para 1.1.1.a. “Purpose and Scope”, p. 1-1
In the Naval Aviation community the bible for flight rules is the Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization manual or, more simply, NATOPS. The NATOPS is, in effect, the core rulebook on how to operate your aircraft.
[Not NATOPS but close…here is a “Pilots Manual” for the F4U Corsair.]
The NATOPS (rulebook) for Corsair Leader: The WWII Pacific Theater Solitaire Game is a 40-page affair printed on slightly glossy paper and in full color. Broadly speaking, the rulebook for Corsair Leader is broken up into three parts: Components and Set-Up (16 pages), Sequence of Play for a mission (17 pages), and Expansion/Optional rules and end material (7 pages). The rules of play for a campaign and mission are presented in order of their use starting with Campaign Set-Up and logically progressing through a mission with Pre-Flight, Target-Bound, Over-Target, Dogfighting and Air to Ground Attacks, Home-Bound, and Debriefing. One almost does not have to read the rulebook beginning to end before a game; one could almost just read the next section, execute in play, and progress further when needed.
Solo flying
Solitaire wargames, like NATOPS, tend to be very procedural and Corsair Leader is no exception. This is not to say the procedures straight-jacket the players; on the contrary, the procedures (rules) of Corsair Leader tend to focus on planning and relevant tactical choices in combat. In much the same ways NATOPS sets the limits of flying, the rules in Corsair Leader do not restrict the player to a narrow set of choices as to what they are allowed to do. Rather, the rules in Corsair Leader define focus on making a mission happen and enabling player choice at key decision points.
Looking at BoardGameGeek I see several users added various player aids for Corsair Leader presenting an abbreviated set of rules for use at the tabletop. Personally, I see no need for such additional pieces as the Tactical Display and Dogfight boards have most—if not all—the information needed for play. When necessary the rulebook can be consulted and the relevant sections seemingly (coincidentally?) are found on a two-page spread that can be conveniently viewed with the rulebook open.
Tomorrow’s mission
With my review of the NATOPS (core rulebook) for Corsair Leader complete I am going to take on the Introductory Campaign, “Luzon 1945.” Before “kicking the tires and lighting the fires” it looks like some mission planning is in order, which will be the subject of my next post in this series.
Feature image courtesy RMN
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