Peacemakers, Falklands, cable taps and Korean carnage: Seven new Command scenarios available

September 29, 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 seven brand-new scenarios:

  • Operation Vulture, 1954 : The siege of Dien Bien Phu is entering its climax as the French garrison is about to be overrun. The Eisenhower administration decides to intervene decisively, both to help its allies in the region and to send a clear message to the Communist block. An entire SAC combat wing of B-36 strategic bombers is dispatched to Clark AFB and assigned to strike the assault waves of VN forces around the French fortress.
  • En Garde, 2013 : In exercise En Garde 2013, the French carrier group centered on the Charles De Gaulle is tasked to attack and defend against “OPFOR” air, sea and land assets represented by UK forces. Is the CdG up to the task or is another Trafalgar in the cards?
  • Cable-tap, 2015 : As a result of the 2014 election leading to New Zealand/Aotearoa leaving the FVEY Echelon/UKUSA shared-intelligence alliance (UK, USA, Canada, Australia, ex-NZ), the USN submarine Jimmy Carter (the last Seawolf, optimized for SpecOps) has been tasked to infiltrate and tap one of the backbone undersea internet cable links from New Zealand/Aotearoa to the rest of the world. But the mission is already off to a bad start and the NZ forces are now on full alert. Can the JC finish the job?
  • Falkland War, 1982 : The Falklands conflict from the British side. You have at your disposal the full RN task force plus RAF reinforcements at Ascension island. How will you prosecute the war?
  • Havana Daydreamin, 2017 : An emboldened Russia exploits perceived US diplomatic weakness to re-strengthen ties with Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and other countries in the region and establish the so-called Havana Pact, firmly regaining a solid foothold in the Caribbean. A new US administration takes office in 2017 however, and is determined to break this new alliance by any means. Tensions rise steadily until the stage is set for a decisive confrontation.
  • Shoot-out at Package One, 1952 : The Korean War is raging. You are in command of Task Unit 95.22, a joint US-Canadian task force that has spent several days ranging up and down the coast, shelling North Korean military and logistics installations with special attention to the coastal rail lines. Train-busting is a welcome diversion from ASW escort and plane-guard duties and some of the targets in the coastal area between Songjin and Singpo were known as Package One through Package Five, each Package denoting one of the tunnels with the railroad targets strung out between them. It is now dawn, the skies are clear, the winds are calm and it’s time to go train hunting.
  • Building a Cage, 2005 : September 2005. Islamic extremist parties have come to power in several Arab countries. Algeria was the first, despite of the efforts of Western Allies on both sides of Atlantic to stop these regimes. Soon, all North African countries fell under the rule of N.A.I.L., Northern Africa Islamic League, including Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia and the surprisingly the pro-western Kingdom of Morocco. The relationship between Spain and Morocco had deteriorated sharply after Perejil Islot affair and the Western Sahara referendum. Spain answered by reinforcing her military at those two cities. This is the prequel to the famous “Canary’s Cage”.

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 194!

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Command’s birthday presents: Steam and WOTY Edition

September 24, 2014 · Posted in Command · Comment 

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What a year it has been.

Command: Modern Air / Naval Operations was officially released this day last year. It was critically acclaimed by the press and customers alike. It completely shattered sales expectations (Year-1 estimates were reached before the end of the first _month_). It rapidly amassed a thriving community that embraced it, played it, analyzed it, contributed to it, created new content for it and catapulted it to the very top of the wargaming genre. The WS dev team fully supported Command with a series of successive updates which fixed discovered issues and added loads of new and enhanced functionality as well as tons of new content, all available for free.

So as Command completes a wildly successful year, it is time to take the next steps forward.

This Friday, MatrixGames and WarfareSims are releasing Command: Wargame Of The Year Edition (a.k.a the v1.05 update), a comprehensive update that rolls up all previous official updates and adds improved simulation performance, a massive overhaul of air refuelling AI and mechanics, BVR cranking, Non-Cooperative Target Recongition (NCTR) functionality and improved damage & repair modelling, as well as a host of issue fixes and database additions. As with all previous updates, WOTY/v1.05 is available for free to existing owners of Command. The full-pack installer from the MG e-store has been updated to the new version, so new customers will get the latest and greatest out of the box.

On another milestone event, Command will for the first time be made available on Steam, also beginning this Friday. Adding Steam to our distribution channels serves perfectly our established practice of regular public updates and should completely streamline keeping up with our (sometimes frantic) pace of providing new material & content. Even better, existing customers can get a Steam key for free (see here for instructions) to add Command to their collection. WS and MG are fully committed to supporting both Steam and MG-store customers equally so players can follow the evolution of the game on their preferred way.

These “birthday presents” are of course stepping stones to even greater things coming in the horizon. Stick around; Command boasts not only a glorious short past but an even brighter long future.

 

 

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Blockade runners, “routine” air patrols and massive undersea brawls: Six new Command scenarios available

September 20, 2014 · Posted in Command · Comment 

SeaWolfMiguel 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 six brand-new scenarios:

  • Myanmar Defense, 1995 : An ordinary day in a Myanmar Air Force base commander’s life. Ordinary? Maybe.
  • PN Patrol Force PWS – Shoal Patrol, 2013 : The Philippine Navy has built a new Patrol Force base at Oyster Bay on the island of Palawan. Facing directly into the Western Philippine Sea, it provides easy access to the security zone around the vital Malampaya Oil Fields on the North End,  as well as the contested shoals to the West and South. Oyster Bay is now home port for most of the Navy’s major combatants, including two former USCG high-endurance cutters and new additions of Navantia-made OPVs. From here, patrols will be conducted to ensure territorial security and reinforce maritime claims.
  • Submarines off Sao Tome, 2020 : Tensions have increased between China and São Tomé and Príncipe. The tiny African nation’s close ties with both the United States and Taiwan, combined with its harsh criticism of some of China’s African allies, have made it very unpopular with the People’s Republic. Two weeks ago, two Chinese businessmen were targeted by radical anti-Chinese activists and murdered. The Chinese have blamed the São Tomé government and made it clear that unless their demands for a formal apology (and a softening of São Tomé and Príncipe’s stance on China) are satisfied that the situation will escalate.
  • Task Force 45, 1989 : In 1989, the Soviet Union, although facing severe economic difficulties, made some efforts to support some of the remaining communist regimes around the world.  In this scenario, a Soviet convoy with military aid is on its way to Nicaragua.  The United States intends to block this convoy. At the present time, the only force  available is Task Force 45, a surface group with air & submarine reinforcements.
  • The Okhotsk Bastion, 1961 : In response to the USSR declaring the Sea of Okhotsk as Soviet sovereign waters, the Kennedy administration has ordered a more aggressive naval policy and flooded the area with submarines. In response, the Soviets have responded with one of their largest anti-submarine operations. This scenario features hypothetical Soviet aircraft carrier and naval aircraft designs being deployed against the American undersea force.
  • Seawolf #2, Duckshoot, 1996 : US subs and vessels have been ordered to blockade all Cuban ports and patrol the entire Cuban coastline. The goal is to cut supplies and arms from reaching pro-Castro forces on the Island. The Seawolf is to patrol a wide section of the northern Cuban coast. All non-US vessels in this area, are either pro-Castrol naval ships or merchant ships that have ignore our repeated warnings. The Seawolf is free to fire, but only after having clearly identified the target as a non-US naval vessel.

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 187!

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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 

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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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