Modern War #38 - Soyuz 81

From Decision Games:

The Magazine:

Soyuz '81 - Soviet Plans to Invade Poland: When the growing economic crisis in Poland gave rise to the Solidarity labor movement, the Soviets began plans to snuff it out with a military intervention.

Other Articles:

• Perfect Storm - Liberation of Kuwait 1991: The Iraqi invasion of oil rich Kuwait in August 1990 brought on a massive international coalition, culminating in a rapid and decisive victory.
• The 1982 Hama Uprising in Syria: Thirty years before the Arab Spring of 2011, the Syrian government crushed an uprising in the city of Hama using an unprecedented degree of brutality.
• Russian Naval Renaissance - Portents of Russia's Return to the Oceans: Analysis of Russia’s renewed commitment to expanding its naval power.

The Game:

Soyuz ’81 is an intermediate low complexity two-player wargame covering the possibilities inherent within the first month of that never-run operation. The Soviet side encompasses all Soviet, East German and Czechoslovakian forces. The Polish side consists of that nation’s regular army and state militia. Each hex represents 16 miles (26 km) from side to opposite side. Each turn represents one tenth of a month (approximately three days). Each unit of maneuver is a division. The game map covers Poland and the adjacent jump off areas for the Soviet Army.

The Soviet player is cast in the role of aggressor, attempting to make work a classic strategy of “converging columns” advancing from around the periphery of Poland. His success or failure will be reckoned on his ability to bring that country to heel without having to expend an inordinate amount of military and political power to do it.

Components: One 22" x 34" map on one sheet & 176 counters