1985: Under an Iron Sky (2018)

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"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.

Being a so-called "Monster", 1985 is not exactly a beer and pretzel game. Rules include every aspect of modern warfare, leaving little or nothing on an abstract level: air war, helicopters, electronic warfare, 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.

Game Parts

3 95x65cm and 2 31x24cm maps, depicting Central Europe from Denmark to Northern Italy
2000+ counters, representing Warsaw Pact and NATO combat and support units
65 pages Rules booklet
60 pages Scenario / Designer’s Notes booklet
10 Charts and Tables sheets in full colour

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
Rules for 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 NATO reinforcements, depending on players’ decisions and events in the battle of North Atlantic
Variable Warsaw Pact reinforcements, depending on Pact’s decision for Mobilization and Norway Invasion
Unrest and Revolts in Warsaw Pact countries
Two different Campaign Games:
1. “Forward, Comrades!”, the classical Warsaw Pact offensive in Central Europe
2. “It Started in the Shipyards”, NATO intervention in support of widespread revolts in Warsaw Pact satellite countries
Four smaller scenarios:
1. “Checkpoint Charlie”, the battle for West Berlin
2. “A Damned Nice Thing”, Warsaw Pact main attack against NORTHAG
3. “Mind the Gap”, Warsaw Pact secondary attack against CENTAG
4. "Para Bellum", Warsaw Pact offensive against Italy following a stalemate on Central front
Playable stand-alone or in combination with 1985:Deadly Northern Lights and 1985:Sacred Oil