Posted on by — 25 Comments

Less Than 60 Miles – DEFCON 3

Less Than 60 Miles, the first C3 module covering the Warsaw Pact offensive in the Fulda Gap, is now at DEFCON 3 and approaching DEFCON 2.

This second echelon will be more an update than a simple reprint. Here’s a summary of the main changes:

  • Rules updated with the most recent features introduced by The Dogs of War and Die Festung Hamburg.
  • Counters with the most used Posture on the back side, minimizing the need for Posture markers.
  • Revised NATO OOB, representing West German III Corps as a separate high-level Command.
  • Revised mobilisation rules for West German Teilaktiv battalions and Heimatschutz brigades.
  • Update of several US battalion designations, more exactly pinning the transition from the Combat Arms Regimental System to the US Army Regimental System.
  • Several changes to the Warsaw Pact OOB, from Soviet Army-level independent tank regiments to East German pure tank regiments.
  • An expanded Field Manual 02-002 Battlefield Operations, covering Operational Procedures and Operational Planning. Start reading it immediately, before it’s too late.

CENTAG needs YOU to stop the communist hordes!
Report for Duty by writing to the Quartermaster at info@TRLGames.com.

NOTE: If you are already enlisted, there’s no need to reiterate. Your enthusiastic desire to die, I mean fight for Freedom is well noted.

Posted on by — 3 Comments

SDHistCon Online 2023

Comrades!
Saturday, March 18th we will be at the San Diego Historical Convention Online.

We will run an exercise covering opposed river crossing, retrograde operations, interdiction, bombardment, and more. The scenario will use Die Festung Hamburg and will include the East German 8th Motorized Rifle Division and the BALTAP covering forces of West German 6. PanzerGrenadier Division.

The exercise starts at 17.03.2023 1800 Berlin Time (1000 PDT) and lasts 2 hours, including the time for singing the anthem of Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics and for doctrinal / political questions.

Enlist at this link! Participation is voluntary. Absences will be reported.

Posted on by — 2 Comments

C3 Combined Campaign – VASSAL Module

Forward Command Posts rarely have the space to unfold all the 1:20000 tactical maps needed for serious planning.

This VASSAL Module gives Army Group and Front Commanders what they need, when they need it. NORTHAG / Northern Front Sector 1, NORTHAG / Northern Front Sector 2 and CENTAG / Central Front Sector 1 are covered and can be used in every possible combination, allowing to plan and follow the battle in detail.

The module contains the complete setup for the July is the Cruellest Month campaign, and several useful additional features such as:

  • Formation Boundary lines
  • Movement Axis arrows
  • Victory Points markers
  • Warsaw Pact Echelon Planning

Deployment Procedure:

  1. Download the latest VASSAL version (3.6.12 or higher)
  2. Download and unzip the C3 Combined Base module
  3. Download and unzip the C3 Combined Extension module
  4. Open the C3 Combined Base module in VASSAL
  5. Add the C3 Combined Extension to the C3 Combined Base module
Posted on by — 15 Comments

1985: Deadly Northern Lights Upgrade Kit

This kit will allow AFNORTH and Baltic / North Sea Theatre Commanders to update 1985:DNL to the Second Echelon standards. It is unfortunately available in a very limited quantity!

SITREP UPDATE 20230202 1745ZT: Well, it survived 30 minutes. I’m sorry for the ridiculously fast sequence of events.

Please be aware that:

  1. it is practically a Second Echelon unboxed version; the only missing parts are the Task Forces and Air Combat charts already fielded during the first mobilisation.
  2. The equipment will be airlifted from France. Deployment to non-European fronts can be expensive (40+ Euros).

Report to the Quarter Master here!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Die Festung Hamburg – France POMCUS Committed!

As usual, we were keeping a small strategic reserve in Europe earmarked for emergencies and counterattacks.…..Tonight, SACEUR ordered to commit a significant part of it to the front.

Please be aware that:

  1. The equipment will be airlifted from France. Deployment to non-European fronts can be expensive (40+ Euros)
  2. France POMCUS is out of Field Manuals (the 8-pages examples booklet). The original booklet is downloadable here, and to make up for its absence each box will contain one extra 98×75 cm map of NORTHAG Sector 1, useful for planning / reserve / War Room poster.

SITREP UPDATE 20230130 1531ZT: Fighting definitively stopped on the whole front. There’s no survivors.