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About Combat Mission Cold War
Combat Mission Cold War places players in the tense years of 1979‑1982, when NATO and the Warsaw Pact began shifting from industrial to digital warfare. The sandbox lets you test “what‑if” battles across the Fulda Gap, using era‑accurate tanks, aircraft and infantry. The title offers fifteen stand‑alone scenarios and three full campaigns—US, Soviet and NTC—each built on historically‑inspired maps. Multiplayer options span online, LAN and split‑screen, letting friends clash with the same detailed tactical formations.
01 / THE GUIDE
Historical Scenarios
The game provides fifteen stand‑alone scenarios set in the US V and VII Corps sectors of West Germany, recreating possible engagements that never occurred. These missions range from small platoon actions to larger battalion battles, giving players a variety of tactical challenges. The scenarios are set in the US V and VII Corps sectors of West Germany, allowing experimentation with different unit mixes and doctrines from the early Cold War period.
- Compare outcomes when using 1979 versus 1982 equipment to notice doctrinal shifts.
- Use the sandbox nature to test unconventional unit pairings for insight.
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Campaign Overview
Three full‑length campaigns let you command either US or Soviet forces. The NTC campaign puts you in a US Army Company Team facing the premier Soviet OPFOR in the California Mojave Desert. The US West German campaign follows the 2nd Bn TF of the 28th Infantry Regiment across the Fulda corridor, with separate 1979 and 1982 versions. The Soviet campaign tracks the first 48 hours of a fictional invasion, focusing on the 120th Motor Rifle Regiment’s push toward divisional objectives.
- Play the 1979 and 1982 US campaign versions back‑to‑back to spot equipment evolution.
- Follow the Soviet “Ride of the 120th” to experience early‑war offensive tempo.
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Unit and Equipment Variety
Players can field a full suite of era‑accurate tanks and mechanized infantry, including rare models like the M1 (105) and Soviet T‑80. Ground units are organized into highly detailed, historically accurate formations, from Company Teams to Battalion Task Forces. The game also models weapons effects with a level of detail described as “second‑to‑none within the wargaming industry,” ensuring each vehicle’s performance reflects its real‑world counterpart.
- Mix M‑60A3s with T‑80s to gauge Cold War armor balance.
- Experiment with the M150 TOW for anti‑tank support in small engagements.
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Aircraft Effects
Air power is represented through iconic platforms such as the US F‑4 Phantom, A‑7 Corsair, and Soviet MiG‑23/27, Su‑17, Su‑25 Frogfoot, and Mi‑24 Hind variants. Their effects are modeled to reflect the legendary capabilities of each aircraft, adding a vertical dimension to ground battles. Both air and artillery can deliver Single and Dual‑Purpose Improved Cluster Munitions, giving players a sense of emerging electronic warfare and digital age impacts.
- Use the F‑4 Phantom’s strike capability to soften Soviet armor before a ground push.
- Observe how cluster munitions alter battlefield dynamics compared to conventional shells.
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Multiplayer Modes
Combat Mission Cold War supports online PvP, LAN PvP, and shared/split‑screen PvP, allowing head‑to‑head battles with friends or strangers. Players can take command of US or Soviet tactical formations, so they can test their strategies against human opponents. Family Sharing and Remote Play Together are also listed, with Remote Play Together allowing the game to be streamed to other players for shared PvP sessions.
- Try split‑screen PvP to compare your tactics directly with a partner on the same map.
- Use LAN mode for low‑latency matches when playing locally.
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