Fabulous AAR for “Deter, Detect, Defend”

September 14, 2014 · Posted in Command · Comment

Dan Eldredge over at Arcadia Prime has posted a wonderful two-part after-action report (Part 1, Part 2) on the popular Command scenario “Deter, Detect, Defend” , which really reads like a novel – or, given the subject matter, a personal diary of the descend into the horrors and challenges of strategic nuclear war.

1. DEFCON 1 IN EFFECT FROM RECEIPT OF THIS MESSAGE. THREAT OF NUCLEAR ATTACK BY SOVIET FORCES CONSIDERED REAL AND IMMEDIATE. THE ASSESSMENT IS THAT NUCLEAR ARMED BOMBING FORCES ARE INBOUND FOR TARGETS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST OF THE UNITED STATES AND PROBABLY CITIES IN CANADA. THE THREAT FROM BALLISTIC MISSILES IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.
2. MISSION CONFIRMED. DEFEND MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS IN YOUR AO FROM SOVIET BOMBERS AND MISSILES.
3. RELEASE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IS REPEAT IS AUTHORIZED. EMCON STATUS AT YOUR DISCRETION. AIR DEFENSE WEAPONS FREE.
4. INITIAL SOVIET STRIKES AGAINST ALASKA AIR DEFENSE ZONE APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND IT IS ASSESSED THAT MINIMAL ATTRITION OF INCOMING BOMBER FORCES MAY BE EXPECTED. MOST DEW LINE STATIONS ARE NO LONGER REPORTING FOR REASONS UNKNOWN.
5. ARMY AIR DEFENSE MISSILE BATTERIES IN THE SEATTLE/PUGET SOUND AREA SUBORDINATED TO NORAD REGIONAL COMMAND UNDER PROVISIONS OF SAGE. HQ I CORPS IN FORT LEWIS HAS ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR CIVIL DEFENSE IN THE URBAN CENTERS OF WA AND OR.
6. HQ 13TH NAVAL DISTRICT WILL PROVIDE UPDATES AS NAVAL ASSETS PERMIT.
7. GOOD LUCK. CINC NORAD SENDS.

A great read for anyone curious as to how such an attack might have unfolded in 1962. Chris Comars’ scenario Wargasm is essentially the flip-side to this one, covering the offensive SAC operations against the Soviet Union at the same timeframe. Give them both a try and tell us your stories on the forums!

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Dr. Strangelove, Cuba, Gulf and sub-o-rama: Nine new Command scenarios available

September 3, 2014 · Posted in Command · Comment

Miguel Molina has released a new revision of the Command community scenario pack, the compendium of Command scenarios crafted by the user community. The new release contains nine brand-new scenarios:

688 Attack Sub #4: Mumar Cadaver: The Libyan government continues to support terrorist attacks against US interests. You are in command of the USS Los Angeles and have been ordered to sink a Libyan tanker convoy and send a clear message to the errant regime.
688 Attack Sub #8: Surprise Party: Command a deep and fast Alfa-class SSN against an American carrier task force or defend it in a silent, high-tech Los Angeles-class SSN. Prime targets and formidable adversaries.
Baltimore on the Prowl: The years following the 1948 Arab-Israeli war saw numerous attacks conducted by Palestinian terrorists. This scenario assumes that, while the American President had no intention of putting troops on the ground to protect Israel, he was willing to commit naval forces to reduce the smuggling of arms in the Mediterranean
Caribbean Task For Ruby: Post-Cuban Missile Crisis, Soviet and Cuban forces continue to arouse the suspicions of America. Your task force has been sent to investigate and uncover possible tactical missile deployments in this cold war thriller.
Corvette Group off Bressay: It is 2022 and the political cards have shuffled, leaving the UK and Norway to square off in the North Sea. Can you lead British forces to victory or will Norwegians rule the north once again?
Resolution 1737: Command US forces in conducting an opposed blockade in the Gulf against America’s perennial adversary Iran. Another hard-hitting scenario from one of the Command community’s most prolific scenario writers, Mark Gellis.
Seawolf #1: Ivan Marches: In this Cold War remake of a classic SSN21 scenario, civil war has broken out and US and Soviet forces are moving quickly to support their allies. Command the USS Seawolf in the critical task of shadowing a large Soviet convoy and determining if Soviet missile submarines are on the move.
The Transit: Its 1985, the Third World War has been raging over a week and you are in command of the Spruance class destroyer DD-969 USS Peterson. Your mission is collecting your convoy in Savannah Georgia and getting them to Bordeaux France.
Wargasm: It is 1962 and you are one of the Strategic Air Command’s finest. Your job is conducting thermonuclear war against the forces of the Soviet Union. A massive and and well-researched scenario. (Note: The corny-sounding title is from authentic declassified nuclear war plans of the era!)

As always, the community scenario pack is available for download at the WarfareSims download section: http://www.warfaresims.com/?page_id=1876

With the new scenario pack release, the total number of released Command scenarios is now 181!

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New public release: Command Build 562

August 28, 2014 · Posted in Command · Comment

The summer is over, and we are back.

Today we are releasing Build 562, a new public update for Command. This is a recommended update for all existing players.

You can download the update HERE or HERE . You must first have Command v1.04 installed before applying this update.

The full release notes are available on the release thread on the Matrix Games forums.

This update is defined by two significant improvements.

1) Speed. Major portions of the core execution pipeline have been re-architected to optimize performance and scalability. The boost is most noticeable on "heavy" scenarios (not just in terms of number of units but also activity, e.g. numerous concurrent pathfinding processes, everybody jamming and scanning everybody etc.). Stability is also improved.

2) Air Refueling fixes. You asked for smarter and more dependable refueling AI & mechanics, and we listened.
The list of tweaks & improvements is too long to list here, but three major changes stand out:
a) Crews are now context-aware in their logic of picking the most suitable tanker. Depending on what the aircraft is supposed to be doing (enroute to mission, returning, free-roaming, on patrol, on support circuit etc.) the optimal choice is often significantly different.
b) Tankers are now smart enough to avoid overbooking (and thus getting completely drained). They now reject refueling requests that they estimate they will not be able to service.
c) Aircraft returning from a mission (e.g. strikers on the RTB leg) will opt to bypass available tankers and head straight for their home bases if possible. This lightens the load on available tanker assets and eliminates the need to manually change the "use refuel" doctrine mid-mission. If they do need to refuel on the return leg they do as before.

And as you no doubt know by now…. this update is paving the way for even better things coming in the future. Stay tuned.

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Shangri-la, sub ops and Growler-fest: Nine new Command scenarios available

August 10, 2014 · Posted in Command · Comment

Miguel Molina has released a new revision of the Command community scenario pack, the compendium of Command scenarios crafted by the user community. The new release contains nine brand-new scenarios:

The Old Regime and the New Nation, 1966: Franco’s regime is reluctant to abandon its colonial possessions and responds forcibly to provocations from Nigeria. This hypothetical scenario features the combat swan song of the famous He-111 bomber.
Team Mysore, 2017: Tensions between India and Myanmar have continued to mount. Indian intelligence indicates that Myanmar plans to attack Indian-flagged merchant vessels. Available Indian forces, centered around the new destroyer Mysore, are limited and far closer to Myanmar threats than any support. Will they be enough?
Marinha do Brasil – PASSEX 2010 – Carl Vinson, 2010: Based on an actual 2010 exercise. Take command of a Brazilian diesel submarine, penetrate a US carrier group’s defences and claim the big prize, the carrier itself.
Growler vs Growler, 2014: EA-18G Growler, the USN’s top-line SEAD and electronic attack aircraft. S-400 (NATO: SA-21 “"Growler”), the most modern operational long-range Russian SAM system. FIGHT!
Team Dido, 1964: Based on the historical conflict between Indonesia, Malaysia and the UK. The British government offers increased assistance to Malaysia including two of its RN frigates in the region. But Indonesia may up the ante more than usual this time.
Shangri-la Comes Calling, 1965: In the mid-1960s, tensions increased dramatically between Egypt and the United States. With Egypt threatening maritime traffic in the eastern Mediterranean, the United States has decided to act pre-emptively. An air strike against an Egyptian air base has been selected as a suitable demonstration of American resolve. The Shangri-la carrier group is the nearest available force for this operation.
Memphis Goes North, 1981: During 1981, the submarine USS Memphis completed an around-the-world cruise. This scenario assumes that during this time she was also called upon to assist in the completion of a covert CIA mission.
Helping Brothers, 1990: Egypt is in social unrest and riots due to the ascendance of extreme Islamic elements. The country is on the brink of civil war. The military government try to control of the situation by means of martial law. Libya decides to support the Islamist rebels by supplying weapons and sends a small convoy with supplies for them. Egypt will have none of this.
Frozen War, 2014: Chile and Argentina are at it again over oil exploration in the Antarctica. Can things get hot in the coldest part of the world? Yes, they can.

As always, the community scenario pack is available for download at the WarfareSims download section: http://www.warfaresims.com/?page_id=1876

With the new scenario pack release, the total number of released Command scenarios is now 172!

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New Command scenario: Frozen War

August 10, 2014 · Posted in Command · Comment

Author: Miguel Molina ‘Meroka37’

Chile vs. Argentina
Date/Time: 22nd August 2014 / 08:00:00 Zulu
Location: Antarctic
Playable Sides: Chile, Argentina

Background (Fictional)

During 1995 the Chilean government decided to send several expeditions to explore the Antarctic region for oil reserves. These explorations ended in a low level conflict with Argentina, the issue was resolved under UN.

In 2014, in spite of agreements to abandon any kind of oil survey in the area signed, an oil Chilean company with the back up of British companies resumes the search for oil.

Argentina has obtained reports about these plans and also about the Chilean base from which all exploration team operates.

After an ultimatum by Argentina to Chile to cease what it is seem as illegal behavior, the old conflict is back.

NOTE: Let the scenario run for 1 second before start giving orders to units.

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