The dogs of war

At 0400 Zulu Time, July 24 1985, Warsaw Pact forces cross the Inner German Border and assault NATO positions in West Germany. The main thrust, formed by 10 Soviet Category I Divisions, is in the BAOR sector and points directly to the Ruhr area.

Taking its roots from SPI’s Central Front and NATO: Division Commander, The Dogs of War is the second module of the C3 series, focused on Command, Control and Communication.

All the elements of modern mechanized warfare are covered: Chemical and Nuclear Weapons, Attack Helicopters, Engineers, Electronic Warfare, Counter-battery Fire, Ribbon Bridges, Army Doctrines, Reconnaissance units, Close Air Support coordination and more.

Several typical wargame mechanics have been reinterpreted, and both sides will fight three equally dangerous foes: the enemy, their own plan and time. Even a simple action can quickly turn into a disaster when facing an opponent using more efficiently the real key to victory: the OODA Loop theorized by John Boyd in the early ‘80s and used today as the basis for several military doctrines.

Military doctrine, tactics and peculiarities for each side are represented, allowing a skilled commander to use his own strength points and exploit the enemy’s weak ones. Some examples are:

    West German Auftragstaktik (Mission-Type Orders), giving Bundeswehr a flexibility hardly obtained by other armies.
    British Engineers, allowing extensive use of prepared defense positions.
    BAOR logistic deficiencies and ammunition shortage.
    Soviet Sappers, first-line assault units used to crack the toughest nuts.
    Soviet Assault From March doctrine.
    Warsaw Pact vulnerable supply network.

Game Highlights :

    5 km per hex, 3 hours per game turn
    Regiment / Battalion sized ground units
    Detailed Order of Battle set in 1985
    Close Air Support and Attack Helicopters
    Command, Control & Communication related problems
    Electronic and Intelligence Warfare
    Artillery interdiction and Counter-Battery fire
    Chemical and Nuclear warfare
    Specific events for Warsaw Pact and NATO
    Random events to further increase battlefield chaos

    Two Campaign Games:
        "The River Weser Deep and Wide", Warsaw Pact offensive in BAOR sector.
        "One Minute to Midnight", all-out chemical and nuclear warfare after several weeks of tension and build-up

    Four Smaller Scenarios:
        "Welcome to Braunschweig", West German 2 Panzer Brigade defense of the city against Soviet 35th Motorized Rifle Division.
        "They Came Before Dawn", Soviet 76th Guards Airborne assault to key crossings on Weser and Leine rivers.
        "Give Me the Night", British 1st Armoured Division fight to slow down Soviet 3rd Shock Army assault.
        "Queen's Gambit", British 3rd Armoured Division counter-attack at D+4.

Game Components :

•     98×55 cm matte plasticized map, covering BAOR area of responsibility
•     1000+ 5/8″ matte plasticized counters
•     44 Action and Event Cards
•     30 pages Rules Booklet
•     30 pages Scenarios & Designer’s Notes Booklet
•     10 pages Examples of Play Booklet
•     2x Tables booklets
•     4x Players' Aid Charts
•     2x 10-sided dice
•     10x zipbags