Thread by @LetsPlayHistory

1987, the USSR has declared war on NATO to prevent the breakaway of Soviet republics due to use of tactical nuclear weapons in Pakistan.

I've been appointed NATO Air Commander. How long can we withstand (the build-up scenario)?

#wargames #boardgames by Brad Smith @hollandspiele

Turn 1: SACEUR and NORTHAG call for CAS missions against WP ground forces, for a total of 5 raids with 3 hits in BRAVO (A2 Hannover-Berlin).

Battlefield Surveillance grants some minor loss prevention before getting cancled by enemy interceptors. Nothing mission relevant.

Air assets are assigned to five raids with emphasize on BRAVO (1), ALPHA (2) and ECHO (3). However, not enough assets are available to negate Enemy Air Defenses in all thrustlines.

Raid 1 BRAVO: Belgian F16 and Canadian CF-18 escort strike force into the mission area. A US F111F suppresses EAD. German ALPHA and British JAGUAR with PGM inflict 3 CAS hits on Soviet divisions, supporting BOAR attack.

Ground forces unable to exploit to good effect, though.

Raid 2 ALPHA: Dutch and US F-16s clear the way for Raid 2. However, the F-117 fails SEAD. The raid is aborted, The A-10 takes a hit by enemy anti aircraft fire.

Ground forces manage to defend Hamburg, nonetheless.

Raid 3 ECHO: The British TORNADO escorts the force, but German F-4F fails SEAD, resulting in a hit on the TORNADO. Mission is aborted.

Soviet divisions seize Regensburg.

Raid 4 DELTA: The British force is intercepted, a HARRIER taking a hit. Mission is aborted. Soviets take Bayreuth.

Raid 5 CHARLIE: The German force is intercepted, mission aborted, a TORNADO being hit. NATO defends the Fulda Gap.

Soviet divisions advance into Austria and take Linz.

With THE BIG PUSH failing, NATO is left with -1RP, 2 WPVP. At least, 9 reinforcement Points are granted by HQ to slow down Soviet onslaught in CHARLIE, ECHO and FOXTROT as massive Soviet reinforcements pour in.

Interdiction allows to cancle one WP reinforcements for next turn, FOXTROT is chosen.

With only 6 RP, I buy 1 PGM and recruit a US pilot.

A bunch of new planes arrive to support those still capable of fighting next turn.

Turn 2: CENTAG calls for CAS, 4 hits in CHARLIE (Fulda Gap) and 2 in FOXTROT (Linz).

Recon missions fail due to Soviet air superiority, leaving NATO air missions to go in blindly.

This time, however, NATO Air Com decides to send 2 F-16 on Offensive Electronic Warfare Escort (OEW) raids, providing Offensive Counter-Air (OCA) of 1, and the F-117 stealth bomber with PGM on a Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD) mission to provide cover for future attacks.

The F-117 reaches the target area, barely avoiding interceptors (the 1 OCA saves it), but is detected by EAD ground defenses and destroyed before dropping its load (a double 10, how unlucky can one be?!). No DEAD for NATO, and a valuable plane lost.

Only 3 additional raids will be conducted, each going in for CAS, twice around Fulda and one in Austria.

Raid 1 CHARLIE: US F-15 and Dutch F-16 escort the group, meeting little resistance. The F111E obliterates EAD, followed by US A-10 and German F-4F delivering 2 CAS hits.

Raid 2 faces heavier resistance, British TORNADO and Canadian CF-18 forcing interceptors off. ALPHA hits EAD with Precision Guided Missiles (PGM). The HARRIERs deliver another 2 CAS hits.

Providing 5 RP by successfully supporting US V Corps' counterattack with 4 CAS hits.

Raid 3 FOXTROT: Striking a counterattack of WG II Corps on Linz, another group goes in for CAS. Belgian F-16 and US F-15 engage interceptors to clear the way, US F111F succeeds in SEAD, no need for special pilot moves. British JAGUAR and German F-4F score 2 CAS hits. 2 RP gained.

Despite fierce fighting, Hamburg and Nürnberg fall to the Soviets. WPVC at 5. The successfully supported counterattack seizes Linz, WPVC back at 3. No plane other than the F-117 has been damaged.

With 10 RP, a new F-117, repairs for A-10, TORNADO and 2 PGMs are puchased.

Put some tunes on!

Turn 3: NORTHAG calls for 3 CAS hits in ALPHA to retake Hamburg, SACEUR demands a major air offensive with seven successful raids total. That'll be tough.

Again, no air reconnaissance intel for NATO.

NATO Air Command sees no way to launch seven raids, and decides on four. Belgian F-16 and German ALPHA conduct OEW escorts (OCA +1), 3 CAS raids are prepared to strike in ALPHA, CHARLIE and DELTA.

Raid 1 ALPHA: US CAS group closing in on Hamburg. F-15 driving off some MIGs. The F111F's captain evades enemy ground defenses and succeeds in SEAD. A-10 with PGM and F-16 score 3 CAS hits, supporting WG I Corps' counterattack, gaining 3 RP.

Raid 2 CHARLIE: Another CAS strike against concentrated Soviet forces at Eisenach heading for Fulda. Strong Belgian and Canadian Air Escort meets no resistance, however the two German TORNADOS fail SEAD, resulting in a hit on the Dutch F-16. The raid is aborted.

Raid 3 DELTA: In urgent need to push the Soviet forces threatening Stuttgart back, a third group attempts CAS, but is intercepted and forced to break off. One British TORNADO is damaged.

Not the most glorious hour. 5 RP are lost due to failed raids during the major offensive. However, the attack on Hamburg proceeds with an additional pushback. But Landshut falls. WPVP at 2.

NATO gains meagre 1 reinforcement for Munich. With only 6 RP 2 PGMs are acquired.

Turn 4: Again, SACEUR calls for another major air offensive, and NORTHAG demands CAS at Wolfsburg.

Recon fails, once again, because of lacking OCA.

NATO AirCmd orders OEW Escorts, an OCA and two CAS raids. Again, running two raids short for major offensive, even if all succeed.

With OEW Escorts (OCA +1), the F-117 stealth bomber enters enemy air space to conduct a DEAD raid. AGAIN a double 10 and it goes down in flames. Where is the traitor who handed signature data to the Politburo?!

The OCA raid is a success, raising OCA to 2.

Raid 1 BRAVO: The CAS group goes in, escorts having an easy day thanks to OCA. British JAGUAR with PGM and Canadian CF-18 deliver 3 CAS hits.

Gaining 3 RP and a Soviet retreat by BAOR counterattacks.

Raid 2 ECHO: With Munich threatened, another CAS group strikes to relieve pressure. HARRIERs dealing 2 CAS hits.

With only four successful raids, 3 RP are lost by failed major air offensive. No planes (other than the F-117...) damaged or lost.

After fierce fighting, Fulda, Munich (0 Attack Resolve...) and Linz are occupied by Soviet troops. WPVP at 7.

NATO reinforces Salzburg, Giessen and Memmingen. With 5 RP NATO acquires 1 PGM and brings 2 repared planes back into action.

Turn 5: SACEUR calls for 5 CAS raids, CENTAG for 4 CAS hits on Fulda.

Once again, no recon.

OEW escorts raise OCA back to 2.
NATO AirCmd comits five raids for the big push, but lacking DEAD is hanging like a Sword of Damokles over Wolfsburg and Munich.

Raid 1 BRAVO: Intercepted despite OCA, A-10 damaged.

Raid 2 CHARLIE: Gets through, 2 CAS hits by A-10's PGM.

Raid 3 CHARLIE: Gets through, 2 CAS hits by HARRIERs.

Gaining 5 RP and a Soviet retreat by US V Corps' counterattack.

Raid 4 ECHO: Ground defenses force the group to abort mission, a F-4F damaged.

Raid 5 ECHO: Intercepted and aborted, another F-4F damaged.

With only 2 successful CAS raids the big push failes, 3 RP lost, 3 planes damaged.

Defenders in Hamburg get surrounded and destroyed (strength of 8, but 0 Resolve). Hannover and Stuttgart fall. Soviet divisions reach the Bodensee. WPVP at 10. Only Fulda recaptured by V Corps' counterattack. The only (!) NATO reinforcement goes to Salzburg. HQ supplies 3 PGMs.

Strasbourg, Kassel and Bremen will most likely fall next turn. With new PGMs delivered, 7 RP are spent on quick repair of an A-10 and 4 repairs.

Turn 6: The big guys want me once again to deliver a major air offensive... and 4 CAS hits on Gotha.

Guess what, no recon.

Unable to bring in 7 successful raids, NATO AirCmd launches 5 CAS raids with calculated risk (OCA at 1).

Raid 1-3 BRAVO: Trying to strike hard, three CAS groups lock on target. 1 fails SEAD, F111E damaged. 2 delivers 2 hits. 3 fails SEAD, CF-18 damaged.

Bummer...

Raid 4 CHARLIE: Despite weak SEAD capabilities, the raid is a success, the A-10 delivers 1 CAS hit.

Raid 5 FOXTROT: Aborted due to strong EAD, JAGUAR damaged.

None of the objectives has been accomplished. NATO now at -8 RP.

Bremen, Kassel and Strasbourg surrender to Soviet forces. Salzburg delivers a hard resistance and holds. WPVP at 13. NATO reinforces Bremerhaven, Fulda and Salzburg. With -4 RP no recruitments are possible.

WPVP actually at 16 due to extra VP for crushed thrustlines during turn 1-6. NATO HQ nervously sneaking around the big red button.

Turn 7: NORTHAG and CENTAG demand CAS!

Battlefield Surveillance grants little information.

With missing repairs NATO AirCmd lacks opportunities.

OEW escorts raise OCA to 2.

Raid 1 ALPHA: A CAS group launches an attack on Bremen, but is forced to abort the mission by EAD (equal...). -2 RP.

Raid 2 CHARLIE: Thanks to OAC the group reaches the target area where no EAD is launched. A massed A-10 attack delivers 4 CAS hits. +5 RP, WP retreat.

Ground forces at Bremerhaven, Fulda and Salzburg hold against the enemy onslaught. WP armies reach the Rhine. Two NATO reinforcements arrive at Bonn. A plane is hit by friendly fire.

The 3 RP are spent on repairs.

Turn 8: SACEUR is going mad, demanding another major air offensive... CENTAG calls for support for a counterattack from Salzburg.

Recon prevents an enemy airstrike. Recon of enemy headquarter positions fails, however.

NATO AirCmd only commits to 3 raids.

Raid 1 ALPHA: The raid on Bremen gets intercepted, but evades damage when aborting the mission.

Raid 2 CHARLIE: The raid on Gotha faces neither enemy air, nor EAD, scoring 1 CAS hit.

Raid 3 FOXTROT: The raid in support of Salzburg has to evade EAD, a TORNADO damaged.

-8 RP

Bremerhaven holds another round, Fulda pushes the Soviet tank divisions back.

The WP ground forces capture Bonn, the German capital, and Salzburg.

WPVP at 20. Reinforcements skipped. DefCon 1 is reached, NATO launches nuclear missiles to end the Third World War – and the world.

Long live the USSR!

NATO Air Command (me) has failed.

DEAD and OCA raids should have been a priority early on, as especially EAD caused many mission abortions.

A procedural game which got me hooked nonetheless by decision space, strategy and and management that matters.