Thread by @LetsPlayHistory

Let's try this again.

NATO AIR COMMANDER
@hexsides @hollandspiele

It's 1987, USSR has declared war on NATO. First contact is imminent along the inner German border, thousands of Soviet tanks pouring west.

#wargames #boardgames #soloboardgames #solitairewargames #sologaming

NATO AirCmd has a number of US, UK, CAN, NL, BEL, GER planes with Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs) available to take off and support NATO ground forces in GER and AUT against the luming assault by large Warsaw Pact (WP) formations. More currently being relocated to arrive soon.

Turn 1:

Central Army Group (CENTRAG) immediately asks AirCmd to initiate Close Air Support (CAS) missions in support of US V Corps and WG II Corps in thrustlines CHARLIE and FOXTROT for a total of 6 CAS hits.

Recon for Battlefield Surveillance fails due to WP air superiority.

Im order to change that, NATO AirCmd decides to launch Offensive Counter-Air (OCA) and Destroy Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD) raids, in addition to CAS support of US V Corps.

An Offensive Electronic Warfare (OEW) Mission is launched by US and BEL F-16s (OCA at 1).

Followed by an OCA raid against WP interceptors and ground facilities.

The escorting UK TORNADO with PGMs faces a tough dog fight, enabling the group to get into the danger zone. Ground defences are neutralised by the 2 GER F-4Fs, and the 2 UK HARRIERs strike hard (OCA at 2).

High above, in the meantime the F-117 stealth bomber remains undetected and brings its PGMs onto target (DEAD at 0|3).

Raid 1 CHARLIE: CAS raid closes in on Eisenach. They don't encounter inerceptors. An easy day for escorting CAN CF-18 and GER TORNADO. But Surpression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) by US F111F fails, it is hit by Self Aiming Missiles (SAM). US A-10 and UK JAGUAR break off. -3 RP

Raid 2 FOXTROT: A small CAS group insert air space above southern Bohemia. NL F-16 manages to fight interceptors, GER ALPHA however gets hit by EAD, the raid is aborted. -2 RP

NATO ground forces are left with no CAS at all. The WP divisions push in northern Germany, taking Hamburg and Hannover. WPVP at 4.

NATO reinforces Bremen +3.

With 3 RP a PGM is acquired.

DEAD and OCA (-1 from OEW) remain.

Turn 2:

Jamming prevents Recon Missions.

With two planes damaged, NATO AirCmd happily receives reinforcements.

NORTHAG wants to react to WP advance in northern Germany and demands 3 CAS hits each in thrustlines ALPHA and BRAVO.

NL and BEL F-16s conduct OEW escorts (OCA at 2).

The US F-117 arrives undetected in the target area and fires PGMs to destroy Enemy Anti-Air Defenses. DEAD at 1|2.

Despite OCA of 2 (+1 from OEW), the OCA raid is intercepted by MIGs (10) and CAN CF-18 is damaged, forcing the group to abort its mission.

Raid 1 ALPHA: In support of WG I Corps a CAS group heads for Hamburg. Newly arrived US F-15 faces no enemies and leads the group into the danger zone. US F-16 and F111E succeed in SEAD. US A-10 with PGMs and UK TORNADO strike for 3 CAS hits. +3 RP

Raid 2 BRAVO: Another strike force arrives in the danger zone above Hannover. US F-15 leading the way is unopposed. UK JAGUAR and GER TORNADO suppress EAD. US A-10 with PGMs and UK TORNADO deliver 3 CAS hits. +3 RP

With only one plane damaged, a good turn for NATO AirCmd so far.

Thanks to CAS the still disorganized WG I Corps and BAOR retake Hamburg and Hannover. The Counterattacks cause severe damage to WP ground forces.

While Linz stands strong, WP seizes Fulda and Nuremberg. WPVP at 1.

NATO receives 7 ground reinforcements and another A-10.

With 10 RP, NATO AirCmd acquires 2 PGMs and quick repairs CAN CF-18 ande starts repairs of US F111F.

The situation is normal.

OCA is reduced by enemy activities (now at 1|2), DEAD remains at 1|2.

Turn 3:

With the successful counterattacks in the north, CENTAG requests CAS in DELTA and FOXTROT to push the enemy back.

Battlefield Surveillance grants an Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) for next turn.

Location of enemy HQs in Delta fails, however.

NL and BEL F-16s on OEW escort again to hamper air detection (OCA at 2).

The F-117 with PGMs attacks EAD undetected (DEAD at 2|2).

A group conducts OCA against enemy interceptors. Escorted by CAN CF-18, the GER ALPHA succeeds in SEAD. UK JAGUAR and TORNADO strike (OCA at 3).

Raid 1 DELTA: A US group attacks massed WP forces at Nuremberg. Unopposed the A-10s with PGMs deliver 4 CAS hits. +3 RP

Raid 2 FOXTROT: UK and GER TORNADOs fail SEAD, US F-15 damaged by SAMs, UK HARRIERs abort mission. -2 RP

Raid 3 DELTA: A-10 and HARRIER deliver 2 CAS hits.

A massed WP armored assault takes Giessen, the Fulda Gap is on fire. Landshut falls, leaving Munich unprotected. Meanwhile NATO forces in Hamburg, Hannover and Linz hold. US VII Corps pushes the enemy back in a ferocious counterattack and takes Nuremberg and Bayreuth.

WP brings in massive reinforcements to regain the initiative and support the continuos attack through the Fulda Gap.

NATO gains 8 reinforcements.

With 9 RP, an F-15 is repaired immediately and 2 PGMs are acquired.

DEAD remains at 2, OCA at 2|2.

Turn 4:

AWACS grants better chances for escort missions.

In the hope of relieving Frankfurt and Munich, CENTAG demands CAS in CHARLIE and ECHO.

BF Surveillance gains no intel. Enemy HQ located in CHARLIE. Staging area recon fails.

As usual, NL and BEL F-16s on OEW (OCA 3).

Sneaking in high above, the F-117 conducts a successful DEAD raid (DEAD at 3).

A mixed group of British, Canadian and US planes conducts an OCA raid. Protected by NATO air superiority, OCA is raised to 5!

The strike force aiming at the enemy HQ location near Fulda, however, gets attacked by SAMs, a UK TORNADO is damaged, the mission aborted.

Raid 1 CHARLIE: In order to slow down Soviet forces steamrolling through the Fulda Gap, a US strike force heads for Giessen. The A-10s with PGMs deal 4 CAS hits. +5 RP

Raid 2 ECHO: At Landshut another group conducts a successful raid, delivering 2 CAS hits. +2 RP

Despite CAS, Frankfurt falls and can only be retaken by US V Corps' counterattack. WG II Corps takes Nuremberg, but overall, the WP forces outnumber NATO ground forces massively. WPVP at 4.

DEAD and OCA remain at 3 and 4.

With 10 RP, 2 planes are repaired, 2 PGMs bought.

Turn 5:

Now NATO HQ gets out of touch of the situation, calling for a major air offensive and an attack in ECHO.

BF Surveillance grants no intel. This time the WP staging are in CHARLIE is located.

NL and BEL F-16s going on OEW escort mission again.

The stealth bomber is in the sky again, raising DEAD to 4 by destroying EAD infrastructure.

The OCA raid succeeds at ease, OCA is at 7 now, NATO rules the skies.

Almost all raids succeed. Only in ALPHA is a GER ALPHA plane damaged and the raid aborted, as the GER F-4F fails SEAD.

At Fulda two hits on the WP staging area are dealt, slowing down enemy reinforcements.

-1 RP for only 6 successful raids.

Hamburg, Kassel, Nuremberg, Regensburg and Gmunden fall to the Soviets. Regensburg retaken by WG II Corps' counterattack. A tough push against Giessen prevents a WP breakthrough to Frankfurt.

NATO gains 9 reinforcements, but the enemy is still overwhelming in numbers. WPVP at 7.

Due to Civilian Casualties, Regensburg falls into Soviet hands again.

With 8 RP, an UK TORNADO and GER ALPHA are immediately repaired and a pilot recruited.

DEAD at 4, OCA at 6.

So far the enemy was unable to break through to the Rhine, but how long can NATO hold?

Get ready for take off!

Turn 6:

With WP forces threatening Bremen, the Rhine, Stuttgart, Landshut and Salzburg, SACEUR orders to commence The Big Push (5 successful CAS raids), and NORTHAG requests 3 CAS hits in BRAVO to releive Kassel.

Despite total air superiority, Surveillance grants little intel on enemy activities. But enemy HQs are located in CHARLIE and staging areas are identified in all thrustlines.

NL and BEL F-16s on OEW escort mission (OCA at 7). No OCA or DEAD missions are issued.

Raid 1 BRAVO: US CAS group inbounding on Kassel. A-10 gets PGMs at target.

Raid 2 BRAVO: Another group follows closely. Another A-10 strafing the enemy.

+3 RP for 3 CAS hits.

Raid 3 BRAVO: GER group comming in for FOFA strike on staging area. ALPHA damaged by EAD, aborted.

Raid 4 CHARLIE: Mixed group hits WP forces at Fulda for 1.

DECAP CHARLIE: An UK group with HARRIER, TORNADO and Jaguar destroys enemy HQ location. Card 39 is removed from the deck.

Raid 5 FOXTROT: An UK and US group inserting air space over Austria, pilot pulling out some tricks to evade from SEAD, HARRIER strafing Societ forces.

Raid 6 FOXTROT: Another group follows. This time the F-117 is here to provide SEAD.

+3 RP for 5 successful CAS raids.

Despite tough defense from NATO, WP takes Bremen. BAOR counterattack takes Kassel back. Fulda is freed, while Stuttgart and Landshut stand no chance. And even Salzburg falls. The first breakthrough for WP.
The Big Push allows counterattacks on Landshut and Bremen. WPVP at 10(+1).

The Warsaw Pact has brought all forces to bear, all thrustlines are maxed out. NATO receives just 6 reinforcements to bolster Bremen, Kassel and Landshut.

SIERRA HOTEL brings the UK pilot back for free.

With 10 RPs, 3 PGMse acquired.

DEAD reduced to 3, OCA remains at 6.

Turn 7:

CENTAG, aiming to exploit recent successes, orders CAS in ALPHA and CHARLIE.

Battlefield Surveillance grants BAOR reinforcements in BRAVO, for next turn.

NATO AirCmd prepares CAS raids in 5 thrustlines.

NL and BEL F-16s on OEW escort allow F-117 to bring DEAD to 5.

Raid 1 ALPHA: With DEAD and OCA maxed out, an US/UK group encounters no difficulties when it's A-10 with PGMs and UK JAGUAR strike for 4 CAS hits.

Raid 2 BRAVO: Same goes for the group in the neighboring thrustline over Hannover. HARRIERs causing 2 CAS hits.

Raid 3 CHARLIE: An US group with two A-10 and PGMs faces no resistance, hitting Gotha for 4.

+8 RP (3 for ALPHA)

Raid 4 DELTA: UK and GER group trying to relieve Strasbourg, 1 hit on Stuttgart.

Raid 5 ECHO: Finally, another CAS raid for 1 hit on Regensburg.

NATO ground forces push enemy back with WG I Corps' counterattack, retaking Hamburg. US V Corps' counterattack on Gotha delivers hard blow to Soviet defenders. Strasbourg falls, as the enemy crosses the Rhine into France. Bavaria is surrounded.

WPVP at 10.
Reinforcements arrive.

With 10 RP, two pilots and a PGM are acquired, as well as the GER ALPHA repaired.

Turn 8:

While WP has driven spearheads through Austria and Baden, CENTAG plans to keep the initiative, while US reinforcements land in France and Italy, and SACEUR announces a major air offensive.

As DEAD is back at 4 and OCA at 5, OEW escorts and DEAD raid are conducted.

Recon missions located staging area in CHARLIE.

Massive NATO air superiority garantees successful CAS and FOFA raids.

+8 RP

With double cohesion than WP forces (8+4CAS+6Resolve), NATO lunges against Gotha and, with US V Corps' counterattack, deals 4 damage total. FOFA reducing reinforcements to 1!

Major Air Offensive allows recapture of Hannover and Regensburg. The situation swings in favor of NATO.

I'll end the game here. WPVP is at 8. NATO ground forces have 8 cohesion in all thrustlines. With CAS raids on each, it is almost impossible for WP to beat them. Even if they won every combat in the remaining 2 turns and NATO got no pushbacks at all, WPVP would be at 15 max.

Focussing on DEAD and OCA raids early on, as well as lucky recovery draws, and a F-117 that didn't get shot down on every raid in the game, helped a lot.

I think, it is time to tackle the Tactical Surprise scenario next time! Gung ho!

@threadreaderapp please unroll