Introduction
During the Cold War a ruthless conflict was waged on the Angolan border between the South African Defence Force and communist insurgents. Border War is a solitaire game by Decision Games that puts you in the middle of the fighting as commander of a South African battlegroup based on the frontier.
Throughout the Cold War hi-tech mechanized armies faced each other across frontiers. I really like this game because it recreates a war in which this high-tech military technology was actually used by both sides in real battles!
During the Cold War a ruthless conflict was waged on the Angolan border between the South African Defence Force and communist insurgents. Border War is a solitaire game by Decision Games that puts you in the middle of the fighting as commander of a South African battlegroup based on the frontier.
Throughout the Cold War hi-tech mechanized armies faced each other across frontiers. I really like this game because it recreates a war in which this high-tech military technology was actually used by both sides in real battles!
Quick Play Card
I designed a Quick Play Card and a set of Reminder Markers to help a player easily play through an operation.
I designed a Quick Play Card and a set of Reminder Markers to help a player easily play through an operation.
| BW Quick Play Card |
| BW Reminder Markers |
Abbreviations
SADF: South African Defence Force
PSYOP: Psychological operations
SF-K: Special Forces 'K' battalion
MECH: Mechanized Infantry
G-5 Arty: Long range artillery
OPFOR: Opposing forces
FAPLA: Angolan People’s Liberation Armed Forces
SWAPO: Southwest Africa People’s Organization
SADF: South African Defence Force
PSYOP: Psychological operations
SF-K: Special Forces 'K' battalion
MECH: Mechanized Infantry
G-5 Arty: Long range artillery
OPFOR: Opposing forces
FAPLA: Angolan People’s Liberation Armed Forces
SWAPO: Southwest Africa People’s Organization
Campaign Mission 4 - Operation Askari
A Border War campaign consists of four or more missions. Following is a battle report of the final mission of a campaign I played. I hope this report gives you a feel of the game.
Objectives
To Benguela
Mocamedes
Caconda
Cassinga
Cuito Cuanavale
Mavinga
SADF
All battalions and squadrons recruited
24 unexpended Recruit Points available
Main Base at Cunene Hydroelectric
FAPLA and SWAPO
All brigades mobilized
3 extra OPFOR units per battle
A Border War campaign consists of four or more missions. Following is a battle report of the final mission of a campaign I played. I hope this report gives you a feel of the game.
Objectives
To Benguela
Mocamedes
Caconda
Cassinga
Cuito Cuanavale
Mavinga
SADF
All battalions and squadrons recruited
24 unexpended Recruit Points available
Main Base at Cunene Hydroelectric
FAPLA and SWAPO
All brigades mobilized
3 extra OPFOR units per battle
Operation 1
Leader 1, SF-K, Mech 1, Mech 2, Mech 3, Armour and Sapper 1 from Cunene Hydroelectric ground move to boonies NW of Xangango.
Event: OPFOR! (BW09)
Leader 1, SF-K, Mech 1, Mech 2, Mech 3, Armour and Sapper 1 from Cunene Hydroelectric ground move to boonies NW of Xangango.
Event: OPFOR! (BW09)
Battle 1
OPFOR: Cuban Armour, Cuban Mechanized, FAPLA Motorized and SWAPO Infantry
Battle Result: All OPFOR eliminated, no SADF losses
OPFOR: Cuban Armour, Cuban Mechanized, FAPLA Motorized and SWAPO Infantry
Battle Result: All OPFOR eliminated, no SADF losses
Operation 2
Leader 1, SF-K, Mech 1, Mech 2, Mech 3, Armour and Sapper 1 in boonies NW of Xangango, ground move, circumnavigate Xangango (Sappers) and enter Peu Peu.
Event: Intel! (BW14).
Operation 3
Leader 1, SF-K, Mech 1, Mech 2, Armour and Sapper 1 from Peu Peu (Mech 3 left in Peu Peu), ground move to boonies N of Cassinga.
Event: Communist Offensive! (BW04) then Fight for Intel! (BW13) with SF PSYOP.
Leader 1, SF-K, Mech 1, Mech 2, Mech 3, Armour and Sapper 1 in boonies NW of Xangango, ground move, circumnavigate Xangango (Sappers) and enter Peu Peu.
Event: Intel! (BW14).
Operation 3
Leader 1, SF-K, Mech 1, Mech 2, Armour and Sapper 1 from Peu Peu (Mech 3 left in Peu Peu), ground move to boonies N of Cassinga.
Event: Communist Offensive! (BW04) then Fight for Intel! (BW13) with SF PSYOP.
Battle 2
OPFOR: All brigades
Helicopter Reaction Force: Para 1 from Cunene Hydroelectric
Battle Result: All OPFOR eliminated, Mech 1 and Sapper eliminated
Soviet Adviser Intel: Mines at Cassinga!
Operation 4
1 Helo and 1 Airstrike turnaround.
Operation 5
SF-RC, Armoured Car 1, Mech 4, Sapper 2 and G-5 Arty in Cunene Hydroelectric, airfield move to Peu Peu.
Event: OPFOR Infiltration! (BW05)Unita! (BW10) then Unita! with SF PSYOP.
Unita Intel: Objective Moscow at Caconda!
Operation 6
Force 1: SF-RC, Armoured Car 1, Mech 3, Mech 4 and Sapper 2 from Peu Peu (G-5 Arty left at Peu Peu), ground move to boonies S of Lubango.
Force 2: Leader 1 in boonies N of Cassinga, airmobile transport tTo boonies S of Lubango.
Event: OPFOR Hidden Base! (BW06) then OPFOR! (BW07) with SF PSYOP
1 Helo and 1 Airstrike turnaround.
Operation 5
SF-RC, Armoured Car 1, Mech 4, Sapper 2 and G-5 Arty in Cunene Hydroelectric, airfield move to Peu Peu.
Event: OPFOR Infiltration! (BW05)Unita! (BW10) then Unita! with SF PSYOP.
Unita Intel: Objective Moscow at Caconda!
Operation 6
Force 1: SF-RC, Armoured Car 1, Mech 3, Mech 4 and Sapper 2 from Peu Peu (G-5 Arty left at Peu Peu), ground move to boonies S of Lubango.
Force 2: Leader 1 in boonies N of Cassinga, airmobile transport tTo boonies S of Lubango.
Event: OPFOR Hidden Base! (BW06) then OPFOR! (BW07) with SF PSYOP
Battle 3
OPFOR: FAPLA Motorized, SWAPO Motorized, SWAPO Infantry, SWAPO Infantry and FAPLA Air Defence
Helicopter Reaction Force: SF-SWASU from Cunene Hydroelectric
Battle Result: All OPFOR eliminated, no SADF losses
Operation 7
1 Helo turnaround.
Operation 8
Leader 2 from Cunene Hydroelectric, airmobile transport to boonies N of Cassinga.
Event: Track for Intel! (BW12) success with SF-RC
Operation 9
Use Intel! (BW14): Objective Smokeshell at Mocamedes! and objective Vietnam at To Benguela!
Leader 1, SF-RC, SF-SWASU, Armoured Car 1, Mech 3, Mech 4 and Sapper 2 in boonies S of Lubango ground move, circumnavigate Lubango (Sappers) and enter boonies north of Lubango.
Event: OPFOR! (BW08) then CIA Covert Aid! (BW03) with SF PSYOP!
Operation 10
Leader 1, SF-RC, SF-SWASU, Armoured Car 1, Mech 3, Mech 4 and Sapper 2 in boonies N of Lubango, ground move to Mocamedes.
Event: Morale Check! (BW01), morale high!
Operation 11
Objective Smokeshell from Mocamedes, airmobile transport to Cunene Hydroelectric.
Objective Smokeshell captured!
Operation 12
Leader 1, SF-RC, SF-SWASU, Armoured Car 1, Mech 3, Mech 4 and Sapper 2 in Mocamedes, ground move to To Benguela.
Event: Political Crisis! (BW02) UN Emergency Session!
1 Helo turnaround.
Operation 8
Leader 2 from Cunene Hydroelectric, airmobile transport to boonies N of Cassinga.
Event: Track for Intel! (BW12) success with SF-RC
Operation 9
Use Intel! (BW14): Objective Smokeshell at Mocamedes! and objective Vietnam at To Benguela!
Leader 1, SF-RC, SF-SWASU, Armoured Car 1, Mech 3, Mech 4 and Sapper 2 in boonies S of Lubango ground move, circumnavigate Lubango (Sappers) and enter boonies north of Lubango.
Event: OPFOR! (BW08) then CIA Covert Aid! (BW03) with SF PSYOP!
Operation 10
Leader 1, SF-RC, SF-SWASU, Armoured Car 1, Mech 3, Mech 4 and Sapper 2 in boonies N of Lubango, ground move to Mocamedes.
Event: Morale Check! (BW01), morale high!
Operation 11
Objective Smokeshell from Mocamedes, airmobile transport to Cunene Hydroelectric.
Objective Smokeshell captured!
Operation 12
Leader 1, SF-RC, SF-SWASU, Armoured Car 1, Mech 3, Mech 4 and Sapper 2 in Mocamedes, ground move to To Benguela.
Event: Political Crisis! (BW02) UN Emergency Session!
Operation 13
Objective Vietnam from To Benguela, airmobile transport to Cunene Hydroelectric.
Objective Vietnam captured!
Mission Debriefing
2 objectives captured and 14 KIA so mission successful!
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