Guadalcanal - Smithsonian Edition

This week's Wednesday night session with Dan K. found us in the South Pacific, 1942 with Avalon Hill's Guadalcanal - Smithsonian Edition.  The "Battleship" inspired double-blind system remains a functional and fun simulation of aircraft carrier operations.  The Smithsonian edition rules, apparently designed to introduce new players quickly to the game, are annoyingly arranged on a over-sized single sheet. Scenario information, additional rules and historical tidbits are haphazardly complied into a separate booklet. What should be a fairly simple game is somewhat burdened by this layout. We played out the Santa Cruz introductory scenario and traded a few flattops for a draw.