"Cold War Gone Hot" Topic

One of the recent supplements from Osprey for Force on Force is Cold War Gone Hot:

World War III in 1986

Cold War Gone Hot, the latest companion volume for Force on Force, looks at the 44-year history of the Cold War and asks, "what if?"

If you were to wargame the Cold War "going hot," what year would you set your game in?

Somewhere around 1986-1988

1946 and 1986 for me…

1977-1982

85-88, 33 (UK) Armd Bde great days to be in Germany!

Tally Ho!

1985

Maybe early 80's like 1983-84 one reason I have a bunch of US Marines wearing the old steel pot from Mongrel and no one makes US Marines in Kevlar helmets for anything later in 28mm. But Ive been thinking more and more about just switching to 20mm for that reason.

Mid-80's. You can use all the older equipment and the newest stuff also. Wider range of scenario options.

The 1946 option mentioned above wouldn't be for these rules as any W.W. II set would work. Here's a question if the Western Allies and Soviets got at it in '46. What do you rank the US/British troops? Most of the veterans would have been home by then, replaced by green troops. Britain was short of manpower after fighting the Germans for 6 years. Do you try to re-arm the Germans, but haven't most of them also had enough? The Soviets would most likely still have combat veterans in units, but they are also short bodies for a long conflict.

1946 works perfectly well with Force-on-Force… I know as I have played it.

Though Im biased as I contributed to the Cold War book.

1985 – 89

Best blend of kit

1961.

Like what most others said: mid to late 1980s

The 80's.

Depends…if I want the Pact to have a decent chance, probably 1959-1978 or so. Closer to parity in equipment, better(ish) internal relations, and the US folks have some significant reliability issues with their armor. For a nice mix (but with almost a given win at anything above the tactical level for NATO) the mid-to-late 80's. Frankly, the Pact was lucky to be able to deploy 50% of their equipment by then…

Another vote for 85-89 although I have often wanted to run a game based on Churchill's "Operation Unthinkable" which were the plans for a UK/US vs. Soviets post WW II. So that would be 1946 but more likely 1948 or 49. As mentioned above the veteran troops of the US would have all returned home for the most part although it would have been easy to call them back up. As to the quality of Soviet forces while there may have been many veteran units these would have been reluctant after so many years of war. The Germans would perhaps of been eager to reclaim some of their lost territory and a chance to redeem themselves in the West's eyes. The big issue is that a ground war in Eastern Europe and Russia or even a battle on German soil would have favored the Soviets. The UK/US would have to deal with long supply lines and the shaky nature of the French government at the time would have complicated matters more.

1968- 'Prague Spring', Viet Nam, Mid-East.

Early '80s or mid '50s

1979-80

Early 80's.

Mix of both old and new gear, and that was when I started my military career, so the equipment, I'm most familiar with.

mid 70s to early 80s.

Sovs actually have a chance of winning then and I just prefer the older kit to Challengers, Warriors etc.

After Able Archer '83 and the tragic downing of Korean Airlines Flight 007, early 1984 would be a likely target date for the Cold War heating up, originating in Western Europe as the Soviets attempt to take out the Pershing missile batteries. 1961 (after the Bay of Pigs operation) and 1963 (Cuban Missile Crisis) would be other likely candidates, likely beginning with a short conventional naval campaign, ending in a nuclear exchange.

Good topic!

1966 if only for the reason that I have a PanzerGrenadierKompanie im Schwerpunkt designed by a Bundeswehr major.

The fact that I have a supporting US ACAV armored company along with T-62s and T-55s might also have something to do with it.

Wyatt

Happy to try anything pre Abrahms and Apache .

Gotta agree with Martin Rapier. Closely balanced and some neat kit. Personally my favorite post-WWII tank is the whole M-60 family. I'd love to see how the M-60A2 would've fared in combat.

link

link

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For real Cold War fun.

Mid 80s.

Provides an excellent mix of equipment and color scheme variation.

I was always somewhat partial to a "Patton's dream" 1945 scenario: everyone is already in place, so let's just see what happens.

I used to have nuclear nightmares in the early 80s, so while that era has the potential for a good fight, things seem likely to end up in radioactive rubble.

Then it's time to play Twilight:2000 or Gamma World. :D

1988-89 for the best kit (although my campaign is set in an alternative 1992) or 83 – 84 (the one I would have actually been in).

Mid-seventies to early-eighties.

Oddball

Yes the Germans had had enough, but a few less than judicious rapes would have convinced them that yes, they had a dog in the fight.

I used to know a german woman who was born in 1930 and her mother made her eat so that she would be too fat to be attractive to Russian soldiers, almost starved to death fattening up her daughter.

1983-84.

1985 or so. With Pres. Ronald Reagan elected for a second 4 year term, the Soviets realise that their odds are not going to get any better.

1981-1983

1985, the last year I was in green before joining the Senior Service….

SLRs instead of plastic SA80's, Chieftains and Chally 1's, FV432 and Warriors (well the demo bn anyway); whats not to like?

Yeah Sparker, it is the transition – you can have the last of the Chieftans or the first of the Warriors. Thr Sovs have a similar range.

Is it that time of year again
TMP link

I still vote 1956.

pre 87

before the leap into Abrams and Leo 2s and challengers and reactive armour, bull pup rifles and laser guided weapons.

cheers
Matt

I've started 1983-84 (based on Able Archer) for Cold War Commander; I'd probably do something about a decade earlier too for variety.

In the air, I'm slowly collecting enough 1/600 aircraft to have my choice of periods.

Chris

In the air, I'm slowly collecting enough 1/600 aircraft to have my choice of periods.

What rules are you planning to use and why?