Harpoon (1981)

From the web:

This is the first edition of the Harpoon Modern Naval Miniatures Rules was published in 1981. It explained the basics of modern naval combat and allowed players to take on the role of a ship captain or formation commander.

It received the H.G. Wells award as the best miniatures game of 1980.

Because it described the technical aspects of naval warfare in an easily understood manner, an insurance agent in rural Maryland used it as one of his many data sources when he wrote a novel about modern submarines, titled The Hunt for Red October. The book did well.

HARPOON is a system of detailed but comprehensible rules covering the many facets of modern naval actions. HARPOON also achieves realistic results with hypothetical scenarios. But HARPOON is more than a detailed simulation of modern naval tactics: it is an award-winning game, which can provide hours of enjoyment and recreation. Its treatment of modern naval warfare follows the tradition of Jane’s pre-dreadnought naval war game of the 1890’s and Fletcher Pratt’s Naval Wargame of the 1940’s. For a few hours players command a naval task force cruising the high seas and braving the dangers of modern naval warfare!