Strategy & Tactics #263: Würzburg Pentomic – The Battle That Never Was presents a fascinating Cold War-era simulation as part of Cold War Battles 2 (CWB2), designed by Joseph Miranda. This issue includes two complete games — Würzburg Pentomic and Kabul ’79 — both exploring conflicts that either shaped history or could have changed it dramatically.

Würzburg Pentomic depicts a hypothetical Soviet invasion of West Germany during the mid-to-late 1950s. This is the “battle that never was” — an operational simulation of what might have happened had the Cold War turned hot in Central Europe during the early atomic age. Players take command of either the Soviet Red Army or NATO’s U.S. and West German forces as they battle for control of the vital city of Würzburg and surrounding terrain.

• Cold War Command Simulation: This low-to-intermediate complexity wargame captures the tension and uncertainty of postwar Europe. Each side commands a mix of infantry, armour, mechanised, and airmobile forces, supported by artillery, reconnaissance, and special operations units. The inclusion of atomic weapons and air mobility provides players with strategic flexibility — and the risk of devastating escalation.
• Game Scale and System: Each hex on the Würzburg Pentomic map represents 1 mile (1.6 km), and each game turn equals 12 hours of operations. Units are typically battalion or regimental level, though the counter set includes forces as large as divisions and as small as companies. Units are one-step formations, with their reverse sides showing “untried” status, creating fog of war and uncertainty on the battlefield.
• Dual Game System: In addition to Würzburg Pentomic, the magazine also includes Kabul ’79, covering the Soviet seizure of the Afghan capital. Both games share a unified rules system covering movement, combat, bombardment, suppression, air power, reinforcements, and random events, with individual scenario-specific mechanics for each campaign.
• Features & Special Rules:
  • Atomic weapon deployment and fallout effects
  • Air mobility, paratroop drops, and reconnaissance
  • Suppression and recovery mechanics
  • Guerrilla and irregular warfare (for Kabul ’79)
  • Fog of war via untried units
  • Special operations and engineering actions

Each turn follows a structured phased sequence including random events, atomic weapon interphases, reinforcements, movement, combat, and recovery for both sides. This structure delivers a deep, fluid experience where careful coordination and timing are crucial for success.

Game Components & Features:

• 1 x 22x34” full-colour operational map
• Sheets of die-cut counters representing Cold War combat formations
• Two complete games: Würzburg Pentomic and Kabul ’79
• Rules for atomic weapons, air mobility, and random events
• Playable by 2 players; suitable for solitaire with minor adjustments

Scale:
Players: 2
Level: Battalion / Regiment
Hex: 1 Mile (1.6 km)
Turn: 12 Hours

Strategy & Tactics #263: Würzburg Pentomic – The Battle That Never Was immerses players in the high-stakes world of Cold War warfare. With its atomic-era tension, tactical decision-making, and historically grounded design, it offers a chilling glimpse into a conflict that, thankfully, remained only hypothetical.

Available now from Milsims Games — Australia’s trusted source for wargames, strategy titles, and historical simulations for over 50 years. Price-match guarantee and fast shipping from Mont Albert, VIC.

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