“The increasing destabilization of the political and economic situation in the Soviet Union is undercutting our positions in the world. The pride and honor of the Soviet people must be restored in full.”
Public Declaration of State Committee for the State of Emergency in the U.S.S.R., June 11, 1985
1985: Under an Iron Sky is the spiritual successor of The Next War by SPI: an operational, highly detailed simulation of a NATO – Warsaw Pact conflict in Central Europe.
Rules include every aspect of modern warfare, leaving little or nothing on an abstract level: air war, helicopters, electronic warfare, SAM networks, AWACS, special forces, revolts, nuclear and chemical warfare…..you name it. In order to survive, both sides must keep a constant eye on the front line, the rear areas and on the sky above.
20250722 0751ZT: NATO and Warsaw Pact started talk for a ceasefire. OUT OF STOCK.
Far from being a simple reprint, this 4th echelon brings a lot of new and revised stuff. Here’s a partial list:
- No Fixed Reinforcements: The reinforcements schedule will depend by the strategic decisions, and by the allocation of limited airlift, sealift, and rail transport capacity. As in the previous echelons, the enemy has a vote too, and the outcome of the battle of North Atlantic will be a key factor.
- Mobilisation and Tension Phase: Using the Event Cards and the same system as 1985: Sacred Oil, the Warsaw Pact must decide how much time to allocate for mobilizing and preparing its forces—potentially giving NATO the opportunity to respond in kind. The length of the build-up period, along with the unfolding political and military events during the crisis, will shape the final readiness levels of both sides.
- Lines of Communication Map: Reinforcements appear at their historical location, no matter how far or impractical, and must be moved or transported to the operational theatre using any available method.
- Geolocated Air Bases Map: New, big Geolocated Air Bases Map for NATO and Warsaw Pact, allowing a better control over the air war.
- Updated Graphics: The graphics for the maps, counters, and charts have been updated to the style used in 1985: Sacred Oil.
- Updated Rules: Rules updated with latest changes from 1985: Deadly Northern Lights and errata.
- Updated OOBs: Several OOBs have been updated, using the latest discoveries made during the development of the C3 series.
Components
- 3x 95x65cm and 2x smaller matte laminated maps, depicting Central Europe from Denmark to Northern Italy
- 2000+ counters matte laminated counters, representing Warsaw Pact and NATO combat and support units
- 1x Lines of Communication map, used for strategic movement and combat
- 2x Geolocated Air Bases maps, allowing a better management of the air warfare
- 42 Cards covering forces mobilisation, special operations and political events
- 40 pages Rules booklet
- 40 pages Scenario / Designer’s Notes booklet
- 8 pages Field Manual
- 2x Charts & Tables booklets
- 4x Players’ Aid charts
- 1x War Room Poster, A3 format
- 2x 20-sided dice
Highlights
- Order of Battle and TO&E are not “generic”, but set exactly in July, 1985
- 14km per hex, 48 hours per game turn
- Division / Brigade sized ground combat units
- Squadron sized Air and Helicopter units
- Extensive air war rules covering Escort, Intercept, SEAD, Wild Weasel, Ground Strike and more
- EF-111 and Yak28 PP Offensive ECM Squadrons
- E-3 Sentry and A-50 Mainstay AWACS Squadrons
- Special Forces, Airmobile, Paratroops, Electronic Warfare, Artillery, SSM, SAM and Air Defense Artillery units
- Chemical Warfare, Nuclear Warfare and uncontrolled escalation to Strategic Nuclear Exchange
- Specific operational tactics like Airmobile Antitank Battalions, Active Defense and Single-Echelon Assaults
- Variable reinforcements, depending on the political and military events
- Unrest and Revolts in Warsaw Pact countries
- Two different Campaign Games:
- “Forward, Comrades!”, the Warsaw Pact offensive in Central Europe
- “It Started in the Shipyards”, NATO intervention in support of widespread revolts in Warsaw Pact satellite countries
- Four smaller scenarios:
- “Checkpoint Charlie”, the battle for West Berlin
- “A Damned Nice Thing”, Warsaw Pact main attack against NORTHAG
- “Mind the Gap”, Warsaw Pact secondary attack against CENTAG
- “Operation Quartet”, Warsaw Pact offensive against Italy following a stalemate on Central front
- “To Shatter the Old World” Campaign, combining 1985: Under An Iron Sky, 1985: Deadly Northern Lights, and 1985: Sacred Oil. Nothing can be worse.
Additional Content
- 1985:UAIS 4E Rules v48, valid for all the 1985 modules.
- 1985:UAIS 4E Rules v46, French version 1.1
- 1985:UAIS 4E Rules v48, Spanish version
- 1985:UAIS 4E Additional Rules, Spanish version
- 1985:UAIS 4E Sequence of Play, Spanish version
- 1985:UAIS 4E Field Manual 01-004, Spanish version
- 1985:UAIS 4E additional Soviet break-down regiments, ready to print
- 1985: UAIS 4E Designers’ Notes
- 1985: UAIS 4E Countersheet 9R, if you messed up when punching out the counters
- 1985: UAIS 4E VASSAL Module, version 1.05
- The Sleepwalkers: A full campaign AAR by Lionel Martinez
Price and Availability
170 euros, VAT included where applicable.
20250722 0751ZT: NATO and Warsaw Pact started talk for a ceasefire. OUT OF STOCK.