Gaming WWIII: User Feedback On The Third World War: Designer Signature Edition

The Third World War series was the gold standard of NATO-Warsaw Pact operational level wargames in the 1980s. Each of the four titles can hold its own against competition from the ’80s and even beyond. Separately, they examine what shape NATO-WP operational level conflicts would take in specific theaters. Central Europe in Third World War: …

Gaming WWIII: User Feedback On 1985: Sacred Oil

Over the last two weeks, a cadre of very fortunate wargamers (who will be referred to as Lucky Bastards or LBs from here on in) managed to get their hands on copies of two of the most anticipated wargame titles of the year. Their victories are a testament to patience, resilience, and the advantages of …

Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf D+20 (29 July, 1987)

In the pre-dawn hours along the Iraq-Iran frontier a number of small unit engagements, allegedly between Iranian and Iraqi ground units, broke out on the western side of the Shatt-al-Arab waterway. By the time dawn came, forward Iraqi positions near the border were reportedly under fire from Iranian artillery batteries. A short time later, the …

2021 Holiday Tournament: Championship

Championship Round All good things must come to an end. But before this tournament concludes, there is a smidge of business left to handle. That would be selecting a champion between the two remaining wargames. 😊 So, without further ado, let’s get to it. Author’s Note: Category scoring will be presented a bit differently. Each …

Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf D+19 (28 July, 1987)

0100- The destruction of Madrid and Gorki on the afternoon of D+18 brought a temporary pause to military and diplomatic activity across the Persian Gulf region. It was unclear what the future would bring in the aftermath of the limited nuclear exchange. Governments in the Middle East became increasingly anxious as the minutes and hours …

Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf D+17 (26 July, 1987)

Iraq’s leadership continued to hunker down through most of D+17. Saddam Hussein remained in Tikrit, coordinating political and military responses as the situation facing the nation on multiple fronts continued to deteriorate. In moderate Arab states around the region, Iraqi ambassadors were being summoned by national leaders to explain Iraq’s intentions with regards to Kuwait, …

Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf D+16 (25 July, 1987) Part II

Iraqi forces remained in Kuwait. Despite the Iraqi government’s assurances that this would not be the case for very long, initial indications revealed otherwise. The heavy Republican Guard divisions departing Kuwait to counter the Iranian buildup opposite Iraq’s southeastern border were in the process of being replaced by less-capable Iraqi Army formations. This was not …

Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf D+16 (25 July, 1987) Part I

In the early hours of D+16 the Soviet departure from Iraq was accelerating. At the embassy in Baghdad, thick streams of black smoke went up into the sky as embassy personnel and diplomats continued to incinerate classified documents practically by the bushel. The Aeroflot airliners that had arrived in Baghdad on the previous day were …

D+16 Primer Part II

Southern Flank- With NATO’s control of the Mediterranean near certain, Sixth Fleet is looking to extend that dominance into the Black Sea, as the next phase of the war at sea. Meanwhile on land, Pact forces continue to advance in Thrace despite absorbing high casualties in exchange for minimal gains of territory. Romania has been …

Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf D+15 (24 July, 1987) Part II

There is general acceptance among Third World War historians that July, 1987 was a most inopportune time for Saddam Hussein to play a high stakes game of poker. A global war was underway. The United States and Soviet Union were fixed on the struggle for supremacy and national survival being waged. Smaller nations in Europe …