World War III: Warsaw Pact

Oberleutnant Fritz Fischer strode over to his crew waiting patiently beside their T-72M tank.

“Guten Morgen Kameraden,” he greeted them, “we’re going west! Grab your gear and mount up.”

Fischer had just returned from a battalion briefing. It looked like this year’s Warsaw Pact manoeuvres were about to morph into something more. He’d just received orders to assemble his company and move to the West German frontier. Once there they were to await further orders, but rumours were already circulating that war was imminent.

As he and his crew got the T-72 on the road on the morning of 3 August 1985, he pondered what was to come, and how he and his crew would fare.

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The East German Volksarmee, or Peoples’ Army, has the reputation of being the most well-trained of all the Warsaw Pact armies. It has a high proportion of professional soldiers and is well-equipped. Its best divisions are equipped with T-72B or T-72M tanks and BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles. The motor rifle divisions are equipped with fully modernised T-55AM2 tanks, BMP-1s, and BTR-60 8-wheeled APCs.

The Czechoslovak People’s Army fields similar equipment backed up by unique vehicles like the Dana 152mm self-propelled gun, the RM-70 multiple rocket launcher, and the OT-64 8-wheeled APC.

The Polish People’s Army fight alongside the Soviets against capitalism. The Polish people have a reputation as a hard fighting nation throughout their long history.

INSIDE YOU WILL FIND:

• Background on the East German army, 9. Panzerdivision, and Panzer Bataillon 2; Czechoslovak 1st and 4th Armies, and 1. Tanková Divize; and the Polish People’s Army and 20 Dywizja Pancerna.
• Instructions on how to build East German, Czechoslovak and Polish T-72B tank battalions, T-72M tank battalions, T-55AM2 tank battalions, BMP motor rifle battalions, wheeled motor rifle battalions, and a Soviet T-72B Tank Battalion.
• A detailed painting guide to help you prepare your Warsaw Pact forces for combat.
• Two Scenarios to test your skills with your Warsaw Pact force.