New Command scenario: Battle of the First Salvo, Eastern Med (The War that never was)

February 10, 2014 · Posted in Command · Comment 

Database – DB3000
Author – Tom Yochum, Yokes

World War III is poised to begin. In the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, the USS Roosevelt is surrounded by Soviet warships. The Russians have three powerful surface action groups converging on the Americans with a singular purpose: sink the carrier!

Who will win the "battle of the first salvo"?

Note: this scenario is based upon the book The War That Never Was by Michael A. Palmer.

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New Command scenario: Battle of Strait of Tiran

February 10, 2014 · Posted in Command · Comment 

Database – DB3000
Author – Steve Raymond (AdmSteebe)

After the Yom Kippur War in October of 1973, Israel was not content with its security. Egypt continuously harassed Israeli shipping vessels and claims of sabotage were rampant. In October of 1977, Egypt restarted hostilities by blocking the Straits of Bab-el-Mandeb. Israel, determined to free its rights to ship through the Red Sea, decimated the Egyptian Navy and sent six ships to the bottom of the sea.

Egypt has now considered blocking the Straits of Tiran. Logistically it appears to be a shoe-in victory with Egypt controlling half of the Gulf of  Aqaba and a neutral Saudi Arabia who refuses to become involved regardless of the situation.

The port of Tiran is a vital logistics point as it has become a feeder route for bases directly north and are much closer that ports in Tel Aviv. It is imperative that Tiran is secure.

The Battle for Tiran: Israel Briefing

We are coming off a huge victory at Bab-el-Mandeb and must continue the pace to secure the Tiran. Egypt, although weakened by the loss, are still steadfast for defeating us by blocking access to the Gulf of Aqaba.

Friendly Forces

We are escorting two container vessels through the Red Sea that are destined for Eilat. Those vessels are imperative for our armed services and must make their destination. They are escorted by the PCFG’s Eilat and Saar. The Ovda AB, has three squadron’s ready.

Enemy Forces

We have received intel that Egypt has shifted some of their air corps to the Hurghada airbase giving them approximately 5 squadron’s their. Egypt has also violated international laws by placing military assets on the disputed islands of Sanafir and Tiran. Our aircraft have not been able to verify what the assets are but belive that they are FROG-7 anti-ship missiles as well as SA-2 or SA-3 SAM’s.

Neutral Forces

Egypt may be using civilian vessels with advanced radar sets that cannot be attacked under any circumstances, regardless of how the vessel is being used.

Objectives

Tiran must be secured at any cost.

1)Destroy Egyptian SSM and SAM sites on Sanafir and Tiran.

2)Destroy Egyptian surface vessels within the straits.

3)Inhibit the Hurghada air base from dispatching aircraft. A first wave of F-4 attack aircraft is being immediately deployed as well as SEAD aircraft. Determine as necessary on follow-up attacks.

4)The container vessels must be escorted to the area north of the Straits.

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New Command scenario: Albania Airstrike

February 10, 2014 · Posted in Command · Comment 

Database – DB3000
Author – Coiler12
Side: Italy
Date: 1984

In response to Albanian harassment and several aerial engagements, a decision is made to strike several Albanian airbases.

Perhaps as part of internal power struggles in the reclusive Balkan state, the Albanian air force has become more active. Albanian planes have harassed shipping in the area and clashed with NATO forces on multiple occasions. In response, Italian commanders have ordered a limited strike against two Albanian airfields that attackers have staged from.

-Despite the low quality of Albania’s military, their radar coverage is superb.

-Enemy ground forces consist of one SA-2 site at each airbase, an unknown amount of light AAA.

-Enemy air forces consist of an unknown quantity of J-6 and J-7 fighters.

-Be prepared for the worst.

-Excessive losses are to be avoided.

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Command news of the week: PBEM extension gets out of beta, new Command release, new review

February 10, 2014 · Posted in Command · Comment 

It has been a busy week as usual.

  • Joint Command, Baloogan’s excellent PBEM extension for Command, has officially gone out of beta status and in now available for general download & use.
    Joint Command has already proved popular with Command players interested in multiplayer and its asynchronous, play-your-turn-at-your-leisure nature perfectly fits the busy lifestyle of most wargamers (as opposed to having to dedicate hours on end to play a real-time MP session). Command’s reliable tactical AI gives players the confidence to issue orders and not worry about micromanagement, while the extensive message log (combined with JC’s visual represenation of the past tactical situation) lets players review what has happened between their turns. Multiplayer for Command is here!
  • Build 490, the latest public version of Command, has been released. This release resolves the stability issues exhibited in Build 488 and adds two useful functionality additions and many new player-requested DB entries, with over 35 new aircraft, ships and land units (including this monster).
  • Finally, Wintermute/Invernomuto at netwargamingitalia.net has reviewed Command and has given it another thumbs-up:

CMANO is a very well made wargame with excellent potential for future development. […] developer support has been impressive, both in terms of bugfixes existing both in terms of adding new features.Three months after release, there have been already two official patches and a dozen unofficial public releases available to players for testing (all, as far as I’m concerned, very stable and perfectly playable).

Despite being a very niche game even within the small community of wargamers, CMANO quickly gathered the attention of grognards. The community of players & testers has been very active and today we have several new scenarios created with the editor and multiple additions & fixes to the game’s database.

In conclusion I would say that, unlike Harpoon, whose development cycle seems to have ended, CMANO presents a great potential for the future, assuming that the level of support from developers remains unchanged and that they nurture a community of loyal fans like the one that surrounds Harpoon.The only really serious drawback, as far as I’m concerned, is the lack of multiplayer, since I tend to get tired in a hurry to play against the AI ​​and given the cost of the title.

The last note re-affirms the significance of Joint Command!

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The sweep continues: Command goes two for two on GrogHeads 2013 Readers Choice Awards

February 3, 2014 · Posted in Command · Comment 

Already rich in critical acclaim, Command has added two more awards to its long list of accolades by gaining first position on two categories on the GrogHeads 2013 Readers Choice Awards.

Command was a candidate on the categories of “Digital Wargame of the Year” and overall “Digital Game of the Year”, and won first place on both. In both categories the magnificent FPC-RS ran up a close second.

(Quote of the week by the GH staff: “[FPC-RS] came second past the post, and Wargame: AirLand Battle ensured that all three titlists had colons in their names.”)

We thank everyone who voted for Command and look forward to the great things coming in 2014. Command’s wild ride has only just begun!

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