Coming Soon!

[Zemke]

****Brand new Danube '85 Campaign Scenario - World War III
Inspired by Twilight of the Gods and Bolt out of the Blue, World War III is a newly edited version of a hypothetical Soviet invasion of Western Europe in 1987.

Situation:

By 1987 and the Soviet Union can see the hand writing on the wall. The Western coalition is outspending the Soviets militarily in every area, on the land, air and sea, fielding new weapon systems designed to fight the numerically superior Warsaw Pact forces. Desperate to preserve the Socialist system and the dream of communism, (in addition to maintain power), the Politburo is desperate to stop their downward spiral to bankruptcy. They see only one desperate option left to them. They will begin to build up their forces in the west for a final showdown. They attempt to keep NATO in a indecisive mindset by "dezinformatsia" and the rule of divide and conquer. They engage each of the Western Democracies diplomatically. They begin to negotiate with the US in reducing their mutual conventional and nuclear weapons. They engage West Germany with opportunity to trade agriculture and consumer products for Soviet Oil and Natural Gas. The UK, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands are each engaged with what appears to be a lowering of the Iron Curtain and a true attempt to reduce the tension between the East and the West. What the West does not know, it is all part of a deliberate plan to divide the allies and cause uncertainty, the decision for war has already been made.

The war will achieve one of two results, complete victory with Soviet domination of Europe, or if their attack fails to achieve complete victory then to hold a significant portion of West Germany and force the Western Coalition to the negotiating table, trading West German Territory for significant economic and political gains. They understand that desperate times call for desperate measures.

There is just one problem, they cannot hide the preparations for war. The NATO intelligence community can see a huge build up of Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces. The Western political leaders cannot accept that the Soviets would truly risk the destruction of their Country and way of life in what the West views as war with no true winners. They don't understand the Politburo already clearly see the end of their country and their way of life if something isn't done immediately.

As NATO watches Division after Division begin to shift westward into what can only appear to be forward assembly areas there is a significant difference of opinion of the West's political leadership. The US is very leery but can't believe the Soviets are truly this desperate. They hedge their bets and begin spinning up their REFORGER units but will not actually deploy them unless the Soviets really show their hand. They move some of their forces out of their barracks to Assembly Areas and initial defensive positions. West Germany, which has the most to lose, begins to deploy the Bundeswehr along the border hoping for two things, draw the rest of NATO out of their barracks and into their General Defensive Positions and two, make sure there are forces available to slow the Soviets if they do attack. Mesmerized by the bear, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands are uncommitted and feel that the Soviets are bluffing. They don't understand that Soviets aren't bluffing and everyone on 5 June 1987 finally recognize the Soviet desperation as they begin to roll westward over the border into Western Germany. World War III has begun.

World War III is a scenario of Huge Proportions. You will get fight the biggest hypothetical tank battle in the history of the world. Some of the features of this scenario follows:

- Increase of the OOBs for both the Warsaw Pact and NATO. You will see the full weight of both coalitions arrive on the battlefield.
- Special Forces are handled in a new way with organic Aviation Assets allowing you to move them key areas such as road junctions, blow bridges, conduct raids and generally cause much Mayhem in the enemies rear.
- The battlefield will be deadly. If the enemy can see you he can hit you. If he can hit you he can kill you.
- Infantry in good defensive terrain or dug in are harder to kill.
-Helicopters are more venerable, air defense is more deadly.
-Air Assault Infantry are fragile, enemy units and particularly enemy air defense is the last thing they want to see, forcing good reconnaissance of routes prior to moving air assault infantry.
- Movement rates have slightly altered to allow more rapid movement along major road networks (Autobahns).
-WP artillery greatly increased, allowing the WP to achieve over whelming fire superiority at the start of the war allows the massing of combat power at the decisive points on the battlefield.
-The Hind and AH-64 have longer range missile systems. Don't get too excited though, the air defense capability of all ground forces have been increased. The day of attack Helo's and Air Assault Infantry moving with impunity around the battlefield are over with in this scenario.
- Increase of US morale ratings with the counterbalance of more WP forces available for the attack.
-More than double the number of air units for WP and NATO.
-Planning tools included to allow the commander to determine flow of reinforcements and operations, (must have at least a Power Point reader and Excel reader to use), some will be in Adobe.
-All the might of American REFORGER units and strategic reserve units now in play.
-New or modified art based on Volcano, BOTB and original creations.

This scenario is now in the building of the planning tools phase and will be available soon.

This scenario would not have been possible without the previous works of "Twilight of the Gods", by Dave and the ground breaking "Bolt Out of the Blue", by Aaron, and of course the game itself Danube 85' by HPS and Glenn.