A Sandbox

One of the great things about these games is the pool of aircraft that players provide. Random aircraft are then parceled out at the capricious whim of Richard when successful calls are made. Previous games have seen air and indeed artillery assets commanded at Divisional and Corps level and allocated where deemed most necessary to succeed.  Despite my best efforts, the Shackleton was never called on to provide Close Air Support for NATO. But we have plans for Electronic Warfare assets in future games, to add to the Command and Control mayhem. So maybe it'll get a spin then. 

Generally around this time, Richard Phillips hosts a big Cold War Commander game at his place, The Unit, in Stone, Staffs. This year, was a Northern Front game, with a soviet invasion force cutting across Finland in an effort to secure the northern reaches of Norway. This has irked the Finns, who have decided that once bitten is twice shy and have ignored warnings from the Kremlin and have mobilised their forces. Along with a NATO task force of US, Dutch and Royal Marines, they have established a defensive line, seeking to defeat a force of Czechoslovakian and other WarPac forces including a naval brigade who have landed on the outskirts of Tromsø.. So, with that scene set, forces deployed on Saturday morning, teas and coffees primed, battle was joined.  Tromso before the battle.. tanks and APC's are deployed from landing craft of various types.  The Finnish forces dug in on the Lyngen Line, field defences based on the Lyngen Alp...