A very interesting thread. I'm just starting to play with the new rules and I like them a lot. Re the specific point here about the firepower of the M1/IPM1 (105mm) vs its 125mm gunned Soviet counterparts- I think there are quite few factors to take into account. It is certainly true that...

Very interesting thread but still not sure that the actual rarity of Soviet ERA on the potential 1985 battlefield really merits much consideration of this armour type in this game. The Soviets most certainly experimented with ERA before anyone else- in the 1960s, but they were not able to turn...

Stefano- I think that is a good point. As I understand it, the first type of reactive armour 'Kontact 1' was not actually authorised for production until January 1985 and very few Soviet tanks had it initially. The Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) survey of military equipment in 1990-91...

just my personal opinions- I'm not sure that there is a generally accepted date for a high water mark year in political terms- 1983 is a good candidate but not the only one. It's true that Andropov's death removed an implacable (though very frail) hardliner from the scene- but he was replaced...

Bad maths on my part- 40 tanks of course, not 41. So the larger battalion was well known by 1985 when this training film was produced- so I suspect the increase was early 80s or before.

The tank battalions (in MR Regiments only I think) went to 4 tanks per platoon in the early 80s. I also think this development was limited to the GSFG and maybe Central and Northern Groups of forces. This gave a battalion 41 rather than the usual 31 tanks.

Good idea Clair. As you say the new consolidated rules are probably pretty far along, but I guess it's worth adding thoughts to the mix.

Many thanks for your comments Keith. Really looking forward to the new game(s). If you are still looking for folks to help with the new consolidated rules- proof reading etc- I would be happy to pitch in, and I'm sure my regular partner too. Incidentally, in the course of our gaming we mused...

Thank you Charlie- very kind. The data square at the rear of the minis bases is just to identify the unit, troop type, and speed. We experimented with a version of the unit counter printed on the min base but they were too small. So we created some data cards (don't have a picture at present)...

Oops- re-posted by mistake! Happy for this one to be deleted by someone who knows more than me!

For quite a while my regular gaming partner and I were looking for a way to get back into 'cold war gone hot', having gamed it (pretty unsatisfyingly) in miniature as a teenager in the 1980s when it was 'ultra-modern'. Full disclosure- I am a dyed-in-the wool miniatures gamer, and although...

For quite a while my regular gaming partner and I were looking for a way to get back into 'cold war gone hot', having gamed it (pretty unsatisfyingly) in miniature as a teenager in the 1980s when it was 'ultra-modern'. Full disclosure- I am a dyed-in-the wool miniatures gamer, and although...