Well, Jupiter appeared me in dream tonight, and ordered me to reveal where our path is leading.
This is the concept art for the box. More to come after the hard-earned holidays!
A blog about Wargaming
Well, Jupiter appeared me in dream tonight, and ordered me to reveal where our path is leading.
This is the concept art for the box. More to come after the hard-earned holidays!
Comrades,
the development of the 1985: Under an Iron Sky continues!
As you probably know, this new version will fully cover the tension period before the beginning of the conflict, using the same gripping, difficult to predict escalation system introduced by 1985: Sacred Oil.
Warsaw Pact will of course lead the dance, executing a strategic plan that could be anything from an out-of-the-barracks surprise attack to a full mobilisation taking weeks. NATO will mostly react to the Communist moves within the uncomfortable limits dictated by the political priorities and by the decisional process within the alliance.
In the end, the outcome of the Tension Period will determine how well both sides are prepared for the showdown. Air combat, airfields capabilities, ground combat, movement, logistic infrastructure, strategic transport capability, and reinforcements schedule will all be affected by the result of the Tension Phase.
Enough talking, here's a preview of some NATO Cards. We are now running some test to fine tune the cards value and several details, so please keep in mind that the values and the text could be provisional.
I think I don't have to stress that every true Socialist should immediately volunteer for this 4th Echelon by writing to info@TRLGames.com! Strength through discipline and solidarity!
Comrades,
the development of 1985: Under an Iron Sky is proceeding very well, I'd dare to say that we are half way to completion.
This 4th Echelon will bring the module up to the standard used by Deadly Northern Lights and Sacred Oil. This means updated components, more strategic choices, more detailed control on what is going to happen before the conflict starts, and generally speaking more stuff.
First things first, the almost definitive components list:
And remember! As a true children of the Rodina and committed Socialist, immediately volunteer for this 4th Echelon by writing to info@TRLGames.com! Strength through discipline and solidarity!
Several areas of the operational maps have been reviewed and modified: some examples are the Northeast map covering a part of Poland, the Vosges area in France, parts of the Netherlands coast, and the naval bases already defined in Deadly Northern Lights.
The graphic has also been updated using the style introduced by Sacred Oil.
As in the other 1985 modules, the Lines of Communication Map is used for strategic decisions and movements, like the airlifting of REFORGER personnel to Europe, the mobilisation of the Soviet Military Districts, and the NATO sea supply line in the Atlantic. As the Sacred Oil veterans know, it is used both in the Tension build-up period and after the conflict has started.
The Tension Rules determine which cards can be played by each side and their effect, re-creating the dynamics of a typical Cold War crisis - with the notable difference that this one is not going to end well.
Each Event Card has a minimum Tension Level required for using it (red circle), a Tension Cost determining its approximate effect on the tension between the two Blocs (orange circle), and a Victory Cost if its use reassigns important assets from another strategic front (green circle).
Here's some Eastern Bloc Event Cards. Note that the required Tension Level is always zero for the Eastern Bloc, as the Kremlin has no constraints on the actions deemed as necessary to ensure the world's peace. Also, values and text are still provisional.
The Air Bases Charts now have the airfields positioned at their geographical location. This should make the organisation of the air missions a lot easier. Yes, they will be quite big :)
Rules have been updated with latest changes from Deadly Northern Lights and errata. Also, the rules and scenarios booklets will be printed in full colour, and updated to the now standard two-columns layout.
An A3 (297x420 mm) propaganda poster is included, to help convincing reluctant people of the righteousness of the Socialist Cause.
Comrades! In this special edition of the Pravda we will meticulously examine the glorious Socialist forces assigned to liberating the proletariat in southern Germany, oppressed by the illegal government of Bonn and their capitalist collaborators from the American VII Corps and other NATO lackeys, already described in a previous issue of the Pravda.
This sector of the Western Theatre will be covered by the fourth module of the Marxist - Leninist doctrinally correct C3 series, designated as object C3-1985-4 "In a Dark Wood".
Finding any coherent historical Warsaw Pact plans for a war against NATO is nearly impossible. Most available plans are heavily influenced by political agendas, starting with a NATO attack followed by a Warsaw Pact counteroffensive, often involving indiscriminate use of tactical nuclear weapons from the outset. Additionally, the expected rate of advance for Warsaw Pact forces is utterly unrealistic, likely the result of either excessive vodka consumption or the need to appease the Politburo.
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An improbable Czechoslovakian war plan, reaching Nurnberg by D+2. |
The Warsaw Pact's strategic plan used for the C3 series, codenamed Operation Ladoga, focuses its main effort on northern Germany, specifically in the BAOR and West German / Dutch I Corps sectors (see The Dogs of War and Die Festung Hamburg modules).
Therefore, the Warsaw Pact's objective in southern Germany is not a grand breakthrough to the Rhine, but a deliberate, energetic offensive to pin down and inflict as much damage as possible to the NATO forces and the incoming reinforcements in the sector.
To this end, some formations from the Belorussian and Carpathian Military Districts began mobilizing early to be ready by D0, providing the offensive in the Southern sector with sufficient punching power. The full Czechoslovak People's Army is also present, bringing four first-line divisions, and an additional four second-line divisions within a few days.
Let's go down to the details of the Warsaw Pact forces that will engage US VII Corps in the Wurzburg - Nurnberg sector.
The main Soviet formation is the 28th Combined Arms Army from the Belorussian Military District, including the following units:
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Soviet 6th Guards Tank Division |
Mass firepower and bombardment of strategic objectives could make a difference in a sector where the difficult terrain limits the space of manoeuvre to a few, well identified roads.
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Soviet 164th Missile Brigade |
On short and medium term, Czechoslovakia can contribute to the liberation of Europe with two armies from Western Military District: The 1st Army including four first-line division, and the 4th Army with four second-line divisions.
The equipment of these two armies is on average below the standard of the Soviet units in eastern Europe. The most used MBT is still the T-54/T-55, and the self-propelled / towed artillery ratio is far from optimal as at least half of the division-level artillery still uses old M-30 / D-30 towed guns.
Moreover, it must be noted that the Czech tank regiments include only one motorised rifle company each, making them practically "pure" tank units.
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Czech 1st Tank Division |
On the other hand, the artillery support from Western Military District is above average, as it includes a good number of locally produced SpGH DANA self-propelled artillery and RM-70 Multiple Launch Rocket System.
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Czech SpGH DANA, and its C3 unit equivalent |
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Czech RM-70 Rocket Artillery, and its C3 unit equivalent |
Last but not least, the Czech can also add some attack helicopter and a small airmobile unit to the fray:
NATO OOB for this sector had several unique features and assignments, requiring additional research and, guess what, more discussions than usual.
In this post, I will describe some of the NATO formations committed to the defense of US VII Corps sector and adjoining areas.
You will also find a snapshot of some documents we used to define the details, they should help to give an idea of how deep the rabbit's hole goes.
And remember the drill! Volunteer now for OPERATION APEX PREDATOR by writing to info@TRLGames.com, or have Gunnery Sergeant Hartman unhappy and stomping your guts out.
WG 12. Panzer Division Structure and Fire Support - Please note the US units in it. |
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A General Defense Plan for US VII Corps Sector |
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A plan for WG 36.Pz Brigade |
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A local counterattack plan for WG 36.Pz Brigade |
In the end, the most probable NATO General Defense Plan for the area covered by the map had the following formations assigned, from North to South:
All considering, a dangerous beast.
An anomaly in NATO deployment, WG 12.Pz was in theory subordinated to WG III Corps, but actually deployed far from it. As a consequence, its 34.Panzer Brigade was assigned as WG III Corps operational reserve, while its remaining two brigades (35.PG and 36.Pz) were under US VII Corps command.
To compensate for the loss of 34.Pz Brigade, the US 1ID (Fwd) Brigade was attached to WG 12.Pz until the arrival of the rest of the division via REFORGER.
Well trained and heavily equipped, the Canadian brigade could hold its ground in a more than satisfactory manner, and could be assigned to US VII Corps or WG II Corps. We opted for the former.First serious draft for the box art of the C3 Module #4, In a Dark Wood. Forests are never particularly reassuring, particularly when you are in enemy territory.
I think you know the drill....Report for Duty by writing to the Quartermaster at info@TRLGames.com, and reserve your combat equipment!
Also, we'll probably have a big announcement in a couple of weeks...No, it's not what you expect :)
Well, after a long pause in Greece we are back to our favourite, familiar and apocalyptic World War Three environment! Ah, nothing better than the smell of napalm in the morning.
Here's the first complete, almost approved version of the map for the C3 Module #4 - In a Dark Wood. Actually, Tony is still griping about it, but that's not big news...He always does :D
The map is slightly bigger than the Less Than 60 Miles one, in order to include the whole US VII Corps Area of Responsibility.
The discussion in the development team (Tony, Nicolas, John, Lionel and me) is now moving to the Warsaw Pact OOB, the NATO chain of command, and the exact TO&E of French II Corps divisions....We will see what is going to happen there.
In the meantime, do not wait! Volunteer immediately for OPERATION APEX PREDATOR by writing to info@TRLGames.com, and prepare to join the fight in the US VII Corps sector.