Rolling Thunder: Skyhawk is a game which puts the player in the cockpit of an A-4E Skyhawk of VA-72 flying missions during the last five months of 1966 when the Rolling Thunder air operations became very intense. Your base of operations is the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt on duty at Yankee Station. To order the game, click here!
Enjoy a podcast about the game conducted by Lead Pursuit. Click here!
You play as a Navy pilot flying strike missions against targets in North Vietnam. Your goal will be to survive a mission or a campaign.
The Skyhawk was a nimble aircraft and was capable of carrying slightly over four tons of ordnance. Depending on your target, the player has the opportunity to load out his aircraft to meet the mission requirements. The missions will not be easy. President Johnson and his civilian advisors may even change your target or ordnance loading depending upon the political situation in the USA.
Facing you will be a determined North Vietnamese force. It is possible you will face small arms fire, AAA, SAM launches, and encounters with MiGs.
You will have help. US Support Forces allow the player to attack NV defense forces before you attack your target. Their success could make your job easier.
The player may fly a single mission or play one of the three campaigns included in the game. These campaigns are First Tour of Duty: Yankee Station: 10 August 1966 – 10 September 1966, Second Tour of Duty: Yankee Station 20 October 1966 – 27 December 1966, and the third campaign combines the two campaigns above with additional rules.
Optional Rules include Skyhawk repairs, flying as part of a division, pilot rotation scheduling, using multiple divisions, rescuing downed pilots, engine hits and fire, altitude and bombing penalties, and optional Skyhawk damage rules.
For Errata Click Here!
Enjoy a podcast about the game conducted by Lead Pursuit. Click here!
You play as a Navy pilot flying strike missions against targets in North Vietnam. Your goal will be to survive a mission or a campaign.
The Skyhawk was a nimble aircraft and was capable of carrying slightly over four tons of ordnance. Depending on your target, the player has the opportunity to load out his aircraft to meet the mission requirements. The missions will not be easy. President Johnson and his civilian advisors may even change your target or ordnance loading depending upon the political situation in the USA.
Facing you will be a determined North Vietnamese force. It is possible you will face small arms fire, AAA, SAM launches, and encounters with MiGs.
You will have help. US Support Forces allow the player to attack NV defense forces before you attack your target. Their success could make your job easier.
The player may fly a single mission or play one of the three campaigns included in the game. These campaigns are First Tour of Duty: Yankee Station: 10 August 1966 – 10 September 1966, Second Tour of Duty: Yankee Station 20 October 1966 – 27 December 1966, and the third campaign combines the two campaigns above with additional rules.
Optional Rules include Skyhawk repairs, flying as part of a division, pilot rotation scheduling, using multiple divisions, rescuing downed pilots, engine hits and fire, altitude and bombing penalties, and optional Skyhawk damage rules.
For Errata Click Here!
Steven K. Dixon 2023
Above: Final Map. Helping you in your attacks are various support units. Their job will be to reduce NV defensive fire as you make your attack. You could face small arms fire, AAA, SAMs and a possible MiG. Counters are final and will appear in the game.
To submit questions concerning rules: Click here!
