Cold War Gone Hot, Canada 1985

[Viper4Dan]

Just before New Years, a group of the HotLead boys from the Stratford area gathered at the stately manor of one, James Manto, for food, fun, frivolity, fellowship and a lot of dice rolling. They were also gracious enough to let me run a Cold War scenario and test out my home brew skirmish rules (judiciously plagiarized and reconstituted from numerous sets I've used or developed over the years). All figures were 28mm, most with a fair amount of conversion of weapons and/or green stuff alterations.


SCENARIO: Northern Lights, Northwest Territories, December 1985
UNIT:  Soviet 621st Separate Air Assault Battalion

In August, Soviet forces swept across most of West Germany and into Austria and Denmark, starting what is now being called World War 3. Heavy American and NATO reinforcements checked the Soviet advance, then pushed them back, stabilizing the front lines in Europe from Rostock in the north to Salzburg in the south. Other fronts, involving NATO & Warsaw Pact support of their allies, have also stabilized throughout the middle East, Asia & Africa. Fortunately, no nuclear weapons have been used, yet! As both sides regroup, there is increasing activity along the fringe frontiers as each side looks for an opening and an advantage.

You are lieutenant Yuri Alexov on the 3rd Company of the Soviet 621st Separate Air assault Battalion of the Far Eastern Military District. Your unit was to be dropped into the Northwest Territories near a number of NATO radar and weather stations, with orders to capture them, relay any useful data to HQ and then destroy them. It was hoped that this would create a blind spot in NATO's defenses and allow Moscow to dispatch a sizeable force to disrupt and distract NATO in their own backyard.

Using a strong winter storm as cover and to avoid detection by NATO radar, your transport aproached their drop off point. As the first of your troops parachuted from the transport, the plane developed  catastrophic engine failure and plummeted from the sky, crashing into the Arctic treeline.  Wth any luck, the storm covered this from view.Your few troops are all that escaped this disaster. You are kilometres off target, but are dedicated to your mission. The nearest weather station is only two days march away. Perhaps the bad weather will hold and provide you with cover.  You have come across, and taken, an isolated woodsman's house, killing its owner in the process. This will make an excellent spot to rest and regroup your men, and try to make contact with Moscow before proceeding. However, your sentries have spotted what looks to be a small unit of Canadian soldiers headed in your direction.....

Orders: Destroy the enemy troops and stop anyone from either escaping or sending out a distress signal.

SCENARIO: Northern Lights, Northwest Territories, December 1985
UNIT: Canadian 2RCR Platoon

In August, Soviet forces swept across most of West Germany and into Austria and Denmark, starting what is now being called World War 3. Heavy American and NATO reinforcements checked the Soviet advance, then pushed them back, stabilizing the front lines in Europe from Rostock in the north to Salzburg in the south. Other fronts, involving NATO & Warsaw Pact support of their allies, have also stabilized throughout the middle East, Asia & Africa. Fortunately, no nuclear weapons have been used, yet! As both sides regroup, there is increasing activity along the fringe frontiers as each side looks for an opening and an advantage.

You are Lieutenant Dave MacLean,  2 RCR. Your platoon of regulars and reservists having been training with the 1st Canadian Rangers Patrol Group for the past three weeks to sharpen your arctic survival skills. Barracks rumor has it you're company is being sent to Norway shortly. Your Ranger training Sergeant, Gordon Ikkidluak, is quiet, tough as nails, and the type of marksman who would give the boys back at sniper school a run for their money. Eveyone respects him, and the men's training is going well.

Yesterday, you received a radio message from your CO. A local trapper (old Bill Silversmith) spotted a fireball crashing from the sky to earth a few kilometres from your location. He also thinks he saw something that looked like parachutes. No civilian or military aircraft have been reported missing, and Bill's radio has since gone dead. With the intensity of the storm, no aircraft can be sent to search the area for at least another 48 hours. You are the closest unit to Bill's shack, and have been ordered to make contact with him and investigate. HQ advises caution, this may be more than just a simple plane crash.

Orders: Make contact with Bill and investigate the crash site. Report back to HQ asap.

Both sides were roughly a platoon in strength. The Soviets had a BMD-1 light tank for support. Canadians had a BV202, and a dog sled!

The table was covered in snow and forests, with a cabin and barn located in roughly the middle of the 8 x 4 table. The game played out as a slow Canadian advance on the Soviet position across a wide front. The appearance of the BMD, and the Soviet realization that the Canadians had a Carl Gustav ATG limited any great "heroic action" by either side. After a few casualties were suffered by each side, and the Canadians lost their BV202 to RPG fire, both sides disengaged. The Canadians now had a rough idea of what to report back to HQ, and the Soviets needed to find a new location to either await new orders, be reinforced or rescued.

[Viper4Dan]

A general view of the table and two local landmarks!

[Viper4Dan]

HLBS BV202

[Viper4Dan]

Soviet & Canadian support vehicles!

[Viper4Dan]

Soviets in the Snow!

[Viper4Dan]

More Soviets

[Viper4Dan]

2RCR

[Viper4Dan]

Carl Gustav team in cover, and trying to find a some high ground to spot the enemy!

[Viper4Dan]

2 RCR

[Will Bailie]

Hey, I remember this movie:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_III_(miniseries)



Looks a very cool game!

[von Lucky]

Only reason I wished I lived in the northern hemisphere - I can play winter scenarios at Christmas time with snow falling outside (I know, I know - most of the time it'll just be wet and windy). Lovely looking game - thanks for sharing.

[grant]

Bravo Zulu!

At least 2RCR wore their whites properly.

What figs did you use for Cold War Canadians?

[Viper4Dan]

The Canadians are Gripping Beast Falklands War Argentinians, with a few British  as well. For most of the Canadians I just took an Argentinan body, nipped off the head, and added the Gripping Beast Falklands British heads in wool hats. A few needed a bit of green stuff to give them hoods on their jackets. You could use the same figures, all in green, with the helmet in camo, as Canadians in Fall uniform in Europe.

The Russians are a mix of Regiment Games Ice Station Zebra Soviet figures (with an AK added to them), and Warlord and Westwind WWII Russian scouts with a bit of green stuff added and weapon swaps.

The BMD and BV202 are from HLBS, the trailer full of arctic supplies is by Copplestone, and the dog sled and team are by RAFM (love their arctic range!).

[Burnt65]

It was a great game!!
Too bad Patrick didn't get any troops on the board!

[Marine0846]

Great looking game.
Must have be very "cool"  playing it.