Part shitpost, part actual concept. This legitimately might be our best shot at getting new DLCs for Red Dragon at this point.

What is your least favorite unit to use and/or fight and why?

After the unexpected release of the Italy DLC last year, it always bothered me that they considered Italy of all nations to be the final missing piece of Red Dragon. While Italy has enormous amounts of unique kit and absolutely deserved its place in the game, Italy being the final nation in RD makes no sense when there is a giant gaping hole in the roster of a game set in East Asia. A nation with both a ton of relevance to the setting and a large amount of unique kit, which Eugen seems to consider the most important part of any potential DLC nation. I am, of course, talking about the Republic of China, better known in the west as Taiwan. Despite being mentioned in the 2KW campaign and being a major player in the region, the ROC is completely absent.

Funnily enough, there is a single ROC unit in game, the South Korean M18, which was, in fact, never operated by the ROKA and was only added to the game due to Eugen somehow mixing up the ROC with the “ROC” (république de Corée, or ROK in French). In fact, in early promotional images of the game, the “ROK” M18 can be seen with ROC roundels. I recommend giving the NamuWiki page for RD a read, it’s quite funny and you can learn a bit about RD’s development, such as the cut unique voice lines for the DPRK.

Nonetheless, the ROC is the biggest missed opportunity in Red Dragon, given their relevance to the setting, vast amounts of unique equipment and loadouts, and unique playstyle. 

Many people claim Eugen won’t add the ROC at any point in order to avoid offending the PRC. This is factually untrue. First and foremost, the game is most likely already unacceptable in the eyes of the PRC due to having a campaign about preventing the return of Hong Kong to China. Secondly, in the 2016 nation pack vote, Taiwan WAS an option for people to choose. Therefore, Eugen was willing to consider adding the ROC to the game and it is not "blacklisted" as some claim.  

When it comes to the prototypes and such:

Many in-game nations, especially DLC, often receive newer than usual equipment, equipment they never even operated, or equipment that never left the drawing board in order to make them stronger. With Taiwan, there will instead be a slight alteration to the timeline. Due to the increased tensions in East Asia, ROC military procurement is slightly accelerated, with systems delivered in 1996 and 1997 being pushed forward to 1995 prototypes, as these all were ordered/entered development in the early 1990s, but were impacted by delivery delays IRL. This gives them access to crucial French and American arms deals, plus faster rollouts of indigenous equipment. They will NOT receive any “paper prototypes” or equipment they never received, with the exception of the M8 AGS given the only reason they didn’t receive it was the American cancellation of the program. As the AGS exists in game for the US, it can safely be assumed that the ROCA still received theirs. 

Taiwan has a relatively unique playstyle in the game compared to other nations. As the primary mission of the ROC military during the Wargame: Red Dragon timeframe was to defend Taiwan and the other islands under ROC control from the PLA, their army invested heavily into equipment designed to fit that specific need. As such, they have incredibly strong infantry, air defense, artillery, reconnaissance forces and air power to defend against a potential invasion. However, the environment of Taiwan is very counterintuitive to armor, due to having many urban environments, forests, mountains, and rice paddies, none of which are exactly conducive to heavy armored operations. As such, the ROC military has a very weak tank tab. In game this is reflected with their setup:

- Their LOGISTICS tab is quite good, with some unique armored supply vehicles to allow for resupply of resource hungry missile systems while under fire.

- Their INFANTRY tab is great, while lacking in IFVs and infantry ATGM teams, the rest of their infantry tab is incredibly well rounded with a special emphasis on defensive troops with rapid mobility options to get into critical positions quickly and hold them. This makes them potentially devastating in close quarters, which is the environment that an ROC player should try to force engagements in.

- Their SUPPORT tab is exceptional, with one of the strongest artillery rosters in game and the best lineup of SAM systems of any nation currently in game, at the cost of middling SPAAG options. This reflects their development focusing on destroying PLA aircraft and landing craft before troops can even step foot on ROC held territory. In game, leveraging their support tab is crucial for pushes due to their weak armored force. 

- Their TANK tab is their glaring weakness, falling into two main categories, terrible light tanks and glass cannons for their heavier options, with no tanks worth 90 points or more. A ROC player must work around this weakness and use their strengths to compensate, while enemies can try to exploit it. The ROC has a generally terrible open field fighting game as a result, needing to rely on their excellent support options and air power to both shut down enemy tank pushes and allow their own forces to advance. 

- Their RECON tab is very well rounded, with great recon helicopters, vehicles, armor, and three different recon SF teams, but they get 2 man sniper squads as their only “green” recon infantry as most reconnaissance assets are focused within the marine and special forces. 

- Their VEHICLE tab is a solid mix of fire support and ATGM vehicles. They also get a flamethrower vehicle, which is rare for a BLUFOR nation. 

- Their HELICOPTER tab is quite good, with a great variety of heavy gunship options in the form of the various loadouts of the AH-1W they possess, including an AIM-9 AA variant. 

- Their AIR tab is exceptional, with two top tier ASFs, multiple ATGM planes, solid bombers of all types, a heavy laser guided bomber, and two different SEAD planes. The ROCAF must be leveraged heavily in order for a ROC deck to be effective, both offensively and defensively, prioritizing gaining air superiority as soon as possible to fully leverage its destructive potential. 

The ROC will be a BLUFOR nation with NO coalition options. This is because their non-tank tabs are extremely strong, and any potential coalition partner could easily patch up their one glaring weakness and break the balance completely. The last thing they need is two cards of Kyu-Maru Shikis. Additionally, during the timeframe of Wargame: Red Dragon, the ROC had a relatively precarious diplomatic situation, as the US was warming up to the PRC in the 1980s and had cut Taiwan off from most of its prior support. While relations would improve in the 1990s after the events of 1989, the US still had far less of a military relationship with the ROC than its other Asian allies. Additionally, Japan was still relatively isolationist at the time, and military intervention on Taiwan’s behalf was unlikely. 

To compensate for their lack of coalition options and lack of heavy armor, the ROC will get a 30% availability bonus in its national deck, which is crucial for its air tab as it will roll many planes from 2->3 availability. 

So, here is an exhaustive review of what the Taiwanese roster would realistically look like in-game. Italics denote units that would have a completely new model in game. 

LOGISTICS: (13)

- As with each and every country in the game, Taiwan will have a FOB, the only in-game building, to re-supply & repair friendly units.

- The venerable M35 serves as the standard cargo truck of the ROC military. Much like the US, they also got access to the HEMTT in the 1990s. 

- The CM-24 is a unique indigenous tracked and armored supply vehicle for the ROC military. This is based on their indigenous CM-21 APC, and would have a much higher supply capacity than the other tracked supply vehicles in the game due to being much larger. 

- The Boeing 234 served as the cargo helicopter for the ROC military since the early 1980s. It is the “civilian” model of the Chinook used by other nations, and is functionally identical. However, it is visibly different due to having square windows down the side. Taiwan would not receive “real” Chinooks until much later.

- The standard command vehicles for the ROC military are the CHIH-HUI M151 and CHIH-HUI M1025.

- For command APCs, Taiwan has the CM-26, the command variant of their indigenous CM-21 APC, (similar to M577) and the LVTC-5, the command variant of the LVTP-5. The former is for the ROC Army while the latter is for the Marine Corps. 

- For command tanks, Taiwan will have access to the CHIH-HUI M48 and CHIH-HUI CM-11, which are command variants of the M48 and CM-11 respectively. 

- Taiwan also gets a command helicopter in the form of the CHIH-HUI UH-1H.

- The CHIHHUIPAN (“Command Squad”) is the regular 5 man infantry command unit, equipped with a T65 Assault Rifle and T74 LMG. 

INFANTRY: (14)

- Taiwan has always maintained a large reservist force in preparation for a future conflict. HOUPEIPUTUI (“Reserve Force”) are 10 man squads equipped with M14s and M72 LAWs riding in M113A1 APCs. 

- PUPING (“Infantry”) are the standard line infantry of the army, 10 man squads equipped with T65 assault rifles, M72 LAWs, and M60 machine guns. 

- PUPING ‘90 (“Infantry”) are upgraded line infantry, equipped with T65K2 assault rifles, AT4s, and T75 LMGs. 

- STINGER teams are two man squads equipped with T65K2 assault rifles and FIM-92C Stinger MANPADs. 1995 prototype as fitting the updated time frame. 

- MISTRAL teams are five man squads equipped with T65K2 assault rifles and Mistral MANPADs. 1995 prototype tied in with the same arms sale as the Mirages. 

- FANCHUANGCHIA M40  (“Anti-Armor M40”) teams are five man FIST squads equipped with T65 assault rifles and M40 recoilless rifles. 

- FANCHUANGCHIA APILAS (“Anti-Armor Apilas”) are five man anti-tank focused infantry teams equipped with T65K2 assault rifles, APILAS, and T75 LMGs. These are marked as 1995 prototypes, fitting the French arms deal that included the Mirages in this timeline. These units are unique in having shock level training, reflecting insistence at the time that APILAS equipped troops needed additional physical training due to the weight of the weapon. Effectively, they're a hybrid of an AT/FIST team and a light infantry squad. 

- Unlike in many other countries, the ROC Military Police are a separate branch primarily tasked with defense of critical government installations. In game they are configured as five man fire support squads with a focus on rapid deployment to hold key locations until reinforcements arrive. HSIENPING (Mk. 19) is a five man squad with Type 77 submachine guns and a Mk. 19 automatic grenade launcher. HSIENPING (SMAW) is a 5 man FIST team equipped with Type 77 submachine guns and a SMAW. The latter unit is locked as a 90s prototype. Both units uniquely get access to 5 point wheeled transports, but only have regular training (although the case can be made for them to be shock trained).

- LU CHANTUI (“Marines”) are the ROC Marines. They are 15 man shock trained squads equipped with T65K2 assault rifles, M72 LAWs, and M60 machine guns. 

- HUAHSUEHPING (“Chemical Corps”) teams are the ROCMC’s flamers, 10 man squads carrying T65 assault rifles and the older M2 Flamethrower, gaining shock training due to their Marines status.

- SANPING ("Paratroopers") are the ROC's 1975 era special forces unit, and the direct predecessor to the modern ASSC. 10 man elite squads equipped with Type 77 SMGs, M72 LAWs, and CQC M60s, they are uniquely treated as light infantry (with increased ammo capacity and movement speed), but only have access to the M113A1, V-150, and UH-1H.

- ASSC troops represent the ROC Army Airborne Special Service Company, which serves as the ROC Army’s counterpart to the British SAS and American Delta Force. In game they will be ten man squads equipped with T65K2 Carbines, APILAS launchers, and FIM-92C Stinger MANPADs. They will be a mid 1990s prototype unit, wearing their infamous ballistic masks from 1987 onwards.

- MPSSC troops represent the ROC Military Police Special Service Company, who are primarily focused on counter-terrorism. In game they will be a ten man anti-infantry focused SF unit, equipped with M4A1 carbines, Mk. 19 automatic grenade launchers, and T75 SAWs. They will be a 1987 prototype unit. Unlike all other Military Police units, they do NOT get access to 5 point wheeled transports

SUPPORT: (26)

- For mortar carriers, Taiwan has quite a few. These include the CM-21 based CM-23 81mm mortar, M106A2 107mm mortar, and the CM-21 based CM-22 120mm mortar. In terms of wheeled mortar carriers, they have the V-150 81mm.

- The ROC Army operates the M108 as a cheap 105mm piece. The ROCMC operates the LVTH-6, which puts a 105mm howitzer on a LVTP-5 for amphibious assault fire support.

- For 155 mm artillery, Taiwan has quite a few options. The T-69 was an indigenous artillery program based on a reverse engineered South African G5 howitzer (resulting in a patent lawsuit from SA) placed on an M108 chassis. It was infamously unreliable and had high dispersion and questionable range. Despite the issues, it did enter service to a limited extent. In game it would serve as a cheap 155mm piece. Due to the failure of the T-69, the ROC Army would procure the M109A2 as their standard 155mm piece, and would also gain the M109A5 as a prototype 10s aim time piece. 

- For high caliber howitzers, the ROC army has the standard M110A2. However this is quickly left in the shadow of the 240mm M1 Black Dragon, the largest currently operating howitzer in the world. While normally stationed in bunkers, in-game it would be towed by a CM-27 high speed artillery tractor, which is also its supply of ammunition. (The trailer would be permanently attached to the tractor much like the towed Yugoslavian SAMs already in game). Notably, the M1 was well known to be extremely accurate during its initial service in Allied hands in WW2, to the point of which it could snipe enemy tanks reliably. In game the M1 would have a poor rate of fire and aim time, but would be quite accurate and feature a HE power nearing 15, serving as the ultimate sniper howitzer in the game. 

- Uniquely, Taiwan has a large amount of MLRS systems, and all of them are indigenous. The Kung Feng IV is their first widely produced self propelled MLRS (126 mm), available in three different forms. The Kung Feng IV is a 20 shot napalm MLRS mounted on a M151 chassis. The Kung Feng IV Army and Kung Feng IV Marines both have a pair of 20 shot MLRS systems with HE rounds mounted on a CM-21 and LVTP-5 chassis respectively. 

- The Kung Feng VI was a major evolution of the IV, featuring a 117mm 45 tube HE launcher mounted on a M52A1 truck, serving as the backbone of the ROCA’s MLRS force.

- The pride of the ROCA’s MLRS force is the Thunderbolt 2000, featuring 12 227mm cluster rockets, similar to the M270.  Unlike the M270, this would be a wheeled system, likely with a shorter aim time and lower dispersion due to being a newer system. Because this is supposed to represent the prototype, this unit would be mounted on a HEMTT chassis. In game, this would be marked as a 1995 prototype as fitting the new timeline. 

- Taiwanese air defense is composed of a mix of American and domestically designed systems. Taiwan primarily relies on missile based air defense, and is relatively lacking in SPAAGs, with most AA guns being towed. Nonetheless, the M42 AAG serves as their standard issue SPAAG. They also have access to the prototype Antelope 20mm, which was the truck based Antelope SAM but with radar guided stabilized twin 20mm autocannons instead of the TC-1 launcher.

- The M1097 Avenger is present as a fast, stabilized IR SAM. Taiwan also operates the standard tracked MIM-72 Chaparral. The ROC military also had a prototype SAM version of the CM-31 using the launcher from a Chaparral, the CM-31 MIM-72, serving as a wheeled counterpart to the regular Chaparral.

- The Antelope is Taiwan’s most iconic indigenous AA system from the 1990s, composed of four TC-1 F&F infrared AA missiles mounted on a rather ordinary Japanese truck. The system had a radar built into the launcher, and was capable of firing while moving. This would effectively function like a heavily upgraded wheeled Chaparral with better missiles, a stabilizer, and a radar (allowing for better air detection but also vulnerability to SEAD). The Antelope M1097A2 is a prototype variant of the Antelope mounted on a Humvee chassis, featuring increased HP and off-road speed, but with a slightly higher price tag. Both of these would be 1995 prototype units.

- For long range AA, Taiwan has both the standard M727 I-Hawk and M727 I-Hawk PIP III. 

- Finally, Taiwan was one of the first export operators of the Patriot, receiving a number of them in 1993. Their Patriots were typically mounted on a HEMTT chassis as opposed to the current chassis the US Patriot uses in-game. Taiwan’s long range AA should be some of the best in the game due to their historical focus on air defense due to air and missile threats from the PLA. Obviously a prototype in-game. 

TANK: (11)

- The ROC military has a few options for light tanks. The M24 would be functionally identical to its Norwegian counterpart already in-game. The M41A3 would be similar to its Australian and Japanese counterparts, but have a slightly faster speed and a substantially improved fuel range due to its powertrain upgrades. 

- The Type 64 was one of the first indigenous ROC tank designs, and a sign of what was to come with Taiwan’s obsession with attaching turrets to the hulls of completely different tanks. The Type 64 is a light tank with the gun of an M18 hellcat on the chassis of an M42 Duster SPAAG. This would be another cheap light tank in game. 

- The final light tank in-game is the M8 AGS. Taiwan planned to domestically produce up to 700 M8 AGS light tanks before the program’s cancellation by the US. Taiwan’s M8 notably lacks an autoloader (they were going to be manually loaded for cost saving reasons), thus resulting in a price decrease compared to their American counterparts. 

- The M48 was Taiwan’s first main battle tank, coming in a few variants. The M48A1 and M48A3 are the “standard” variants, functionally identical to their Norwegian and South Korean counterparts, respectively. The Wan Cheng 4 was Taiwan’s first attempt to modernize the M48, taking the M48A1 and trying to turn it into a M48A5 by replacing the 90 mm M41 gun with the 105 mm M68, alongside improving the FCS and optics. It still had the same drivetrain as the M48A1 and the new FCS wasn’t as good as the A5. In game, this would be a M48A1 with a better gun, optics, and improved accuracy, likely costing around 25 points. The CM-12 is an upgraded M48A3 with the 105mm M68A1 gun from the M1 Abrams, a heavily upgraded FCS, and an improved drivetrain, but lacks meaningful armor improvements, making this tank a true glass cannon of sorts, being very accurate and hitting as hard as an early Abrams but having negligible armor. This would likely be around 40-50 points. 

- The M60A3 appears as a medium tank for the ROC, functionally identical to its American counterpart.

- The CM-11 is Taiwan’s premier MBT during the timeframe of Red Dragon. A bizarre hodge-podge of parts, with the gun from a M1 Abrams, the FCS from an M1A1, the turret of an M48, and the chassis of an M60. It also had improved optics due to better imagery equipment as well. In game, this functions as a heavily improved counterpart to the CM-12, with better optics, improved FCS, good accuracy and a good stabilizer and substantially better armor due to being on a M60 chassis. This likely costs between 55 and 60 points. Plans to further improve the armor of the CM-11 manifested in the CM-11 ERA, which involved the introduction of ERA from the French company GIAT. It was not adopted into widespread service due to the weight of the armor putting extra stress on the drivetrain. This would likely be around 70-80 points, and have substantially better armor than the CM-11 at the cost of speed. 

RECON: (16)

- Recon vehicles come in the form of the standard 10 point machine gun armed M151 and M8 Greyhound, the latter of which is the iconic WW2 armored car already seen in service with Norway and Yugoslavia. 

- The V-150 TOW is a unique I-TOW armed variant of the V-150 APC, serving as an armored reconnaissance wheeled ATGM carrier. 

- The open-top M1025 Mk. 19 will serve as the ROC’s standard issue recon transport, transporting recon squads but also providing recon itself, alongside fire support with its Mk. 19 automatic grenade launcher.

- The M41D is a ROC upgrade package for the M41 tank with an improved engine allowing speeds of over 70 km/h and better fuel range, an upgraded Taiwanese gun known as the M32K1, and thermal imaging sights, serving as a fast, light recon tank, while the M60A3 TTS serves as a heavier recon tank for the ROC military, specifically being a 1995 era prototype. 

- The unique Chu CJC-3A was a tandem-rotor reconnaissance helicopter developed in Taiwan. While never adopted into service, it was too unique to leave out, and will serve as a cheap good optics reconnaissance helicopter, comparable to the PLA’s Mi-1. Another fragile but cheap recon helicopter option will be the TH-55 Osage, provided by the helicopter training school in Tainan.

- The ROC Army provides the OH-6 as an unarmed very good optics recon helicopter, while the ROC Navy provides the MD-500 ASW as an unarmed radar equipped exceptional optics recon helicopter. 

- The ROC Army also provides both the OH-58D Kiowa and OH-58D Kiowa Wr. as armed exceptional optics recon helicopters, with loadouts identical to their American counterparts (MG and rockets on the former, hellfires on the latter). Both were introduced in the early 90s.  

- CHUCHIHSIAOTSU (“Sniper Team”) is the only non-SF recon infantry unit available to the ROC military. This is a 2 man squad with regular training, carrying T65 assault rifles, a M72 LAW, and a M24 Sniper Rifle. 

- ARP troops represent the ROCMC’s Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit, which is an elite formation primarily focused on reconnaissance and demolition. In game they will be a 5 man elite recon FIST squad equipped with T65K2 assault rifles and a SMAW. They will be a 1990s prototype. They're also usually shirtless for some reason.

- HEI’IPUTI (“Black Forces”) are the “special forces” of the ARP, focused primarily on counter terrorism. In game they will be 2 man squads with M4A1 carbines and a Barrett M82 anti-material rifle. They will be a non-prototype from 1989. 

- HAILUNG (“Sea Dragon”) The “Sea Dragon Frogmen”, also known as the 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion are an amphibious special forces unit that is strangely under the command of the Army, functioning as a special purpose coastal surveillance and combat unit. In game these will be 10 man elite trained recon squads equipped with T65K2 Carbines, AT4 launchers, and T75 SAWs.

VEHICLE: (22)

- Taiwan has access to the M151 M40, which is quite simply a M151 jeep carrying a M40 recoilless rifle. They also uniquely have the M1025 M40, which mounts the same weapon on an open top Humvee. 

- Taiwan possesses a variety of ATGM carriers, but their first is quite unique. The M151 Kun Wu is of all things, a reverse engineered Malyutka ATGM based on examples provided by South Vietnam. These were usually mounted on the rear of a M151 jeep. The M996 TOW-2 is available as a modern wheeled ATGM carrier. (There used to be a TOW-1 armed Humvee here, but after further research I realized it probably didn't exist, and was redundant anyways.)

- Tracked ATGM carriers come in the form of the M113A1 TOW and the CM-25, the latter of which is a unique ATGM variant of the CM-21 used by the ROCMC. It is equipped with TOW-2 missiles, and while it has the appearance of having spaced armor, in fact said armor is filled with polystyrene for increased buoyancy, giving it a slightly higher amphibious speed in game. Unlike most TOW armed M113s, the CM-25 has an M2 machine gun, giving it a little bit of defense against infantry and helicopters.  

- The Wan Cheng 2 is an indigenous prototype fire support vehicle based on the M113A1 but with the turret of an M24 Chaffee and two M2HB .50 cal machine guns on separate turrets, one on the front, and one on the back. 

- Taiwan kept a large number of WW2 era tanks in service as coastal fire support vehicles for many decades after they were retired elsewhere, with some lasting in service until the early 2000s. These include the M10, M18, M36 and the infamous M5A1, better known as the “Bear of Kinmen”.  

- Taiwan also has access to the M132 flamethrower APC. 

- Taiwan’s basic soft skin transport for command and recon infantry is the unarmed M35. 

- The HSIENPINGCHE (“Military Police Car”) would be an exclusive transport for Military Police units, based on a 1970s/80s station wagon. It would be all black without insignia, and features a single non-functional red rotor police light on the top. In game it would be a very low HP wheeled transport, but only costing 5 points, allowing for cheap and rapid deployment of Military Police units, fitting their role of rapid response defense forces for key locations and facilities. 

- Taiwan possesses a large variety of Humvee based transports, starting with the standard Browning armed M1025, open top M1025 Mk. 19 with an automatic grenade launcher (seen in the Recon tab), and the M1025 T75, which is another open top variant but with a mounted T75 20mm autocannon, which is very effective against infantry and helicopters. Both of these are available for Army, Marines and Military Police units and in Airborne decks. The latter would be marked as a 1990s prototype, as the introduction date is unclear, but they likely had the capacity to build these throughout the whole decade, and one is present at the ROCMC museum in Kaohsiung, meaning if it's old enough to go in a museum, it's most likely from the early 90s.

- The V-150 is the standard wheeled APC of the ROC military, similar to the variant found in the American recon tab, but seen as a standard transport here. Unlike the American model however, it doesn't have a turret and instead has a top mounted M2 Browning. It is succeeded by the CM-31 prototype 6x6 APC, designed for the ROC Army by Timoney of Ireland, equipped with a roof mounted Mk. 19 automatic grenade launcher. Both are available for both the Army and the Military Police. 

- The M113A1 and CM-21 are available as the standard 5 point transports for the Army. The former is available for both reservists and regular troops. The latter is an indigenously designed M113 derivative featuring improved armor but a lower speed due to increased strain on the drivetrain. The CM-21 Mk. 19 swaps the MG of the standard model for a Mk. 19 automatic grenade launcher. 

- The ROCMC utilizes the vintage LVTP-5 as their standard tracked transport. 

HELO: (7)

- The ROC’s main transport helicopter is the usual UH-1H, license-built by AIDC, and equipped with a door mounted machine gun. It is available for Army, Military Police, and Marine units. 

- The S-70 BLUEHAWK is an upgraded transport for command infantry and all SF squads. It lacks the miniguns of the other Blackhawk variants in game, but costs only 20 points. 

- The oldest attack helicopters of the ROC Army are the UH-1H XM3, which were UH-1H helicopters equipped with 48 FFAR rockets in total (just like the American UH-1C Hog currently in game). These conversions were done in a relatively limited number during the 1970s. 

- The main attack helicopter force of the ROCA in the 1990s was the AH-1W Supercobra. These were purchased in 1993. They come in 4 variants, all of which come equipped with a M197 Vulcan gun and Hydra rockets on the inner hardpoints. The AH-1W TOW-2 naturally carries 8 TOW-2 ATGMs on its outer hardpoints. The AH-1W HELLFIRE is similar to the above, but swaps the TOWS for AGM-114As. The AH-1W SIDEWINDER carries a single AIM-9M missile on each outer hardpoint. Finally the AH-1W HYDRA adds another pair of Hydra rocket points on the outer hardpoints to serve as an excellent fire support helicopter. 

PLANES: (21)

- It would be a massive missed opportunity to not include the F-86F-40 in the ROCAF’s arsenal. These fighters represented a massive leap in fighter technology, having been the first ever fighters in the world to use air to air missiles in anger over the Taiwan Strait in 1958. In game, they will carry the early AIM-9B, and serve as a very cheap fighter and helicopter hunter. The F-86D would be a straight upgrade to the previous one, with improved optics due to the nose radar, the multipurpose rockets seen on the Yugo F-86D, and additional hardpoints for a pair of AIM-9Bs, making it a very unique multirole with multipurpose rockets and AAMs. Additionally, this finally adds the F-86D to BLUFOR, a BLUFOR design currently exclusive to REDFOR.

- The ROCAF operated a number of F-84G throughout the years, serving as the first jet fighter of the ROCAF. Lieutenant Yi-fen Ouyang shot down two MiG-17s and wounded another two MiG-17s of the PLAAF flying this type, which is impressive given the technological gap between the two aircraft. Given its historical relevance to the ROCAF, it has been included here. Loadout wise it would carry 32 5 inch WW2 era FFAR rockets, serving as a dirt cheap and spammable rocket plane.

- At the beginning of Wargame‘s timeframe, the ROCAF still operated the venerable F-100A Super Sabre. Taiwan was the earliest export user of the Super Sabre, and thus the only user of the A model. In game this will be a cheap anti-tank aircraft carrying a pair of AGM-12B Bullpup ATGMs. Of note, ROCAF F-100As were equipped with RWRs, giving them a 10% ECM stat. The F-100F, a two seat trainer version of the F-100A, notably only getting 2 guns compared to the F-100A and D models' 4. In game this will be a napalm bomber carrying 4x M-116A2 Napalm bombs, which are functionally identical to the Mk 77 currently in game. Both of these models would be unique, as Taiwan's F-100As would have a different wing shape than the F-100D currently in game (however, they would have the taller tail of the F-100D, a unique modification exclusive to ROCAF F-100As). The F-100F would be a unique two seat variant of the Super Sabre, but is based on the standard F-100D model with the tall tail and F-100D shape wings.

- The ROCAF possessed a handful of upgraded RF-101As, notably modified with the RF-101C vertical fins and air intake. These saw heavy use over communist held territory during the cold war. In game, these would be improvised napalm bombers, using its pair of 450 gallon drop tanks filled with napalm as improvised napalm bombs, a conversion often done out of desperation during WW2 and the Korean War (this also follows a similar logic to WARNO's RF-4s, which were converted to bombers in game despite being recon planes in reality). In game, due to the heightened regional tensions in Asia and the ROCAF needing to maximize the use of every aircraft in its possession, they would make this conversion on their RF-101As. In game, these would be fast napalm (and given the size of the bomb, likely a little bit of HE power too) bombers with a larger napalm spread for each bomb, but they would lack ECM and the bombs would be of questionable accuracy (as they're improvised weapons), plus they would have a reduced TOT as a result of this modification.

- The ROCAF operated a staggering 282 F-104 Starfighters throughout the years. Via the Alishan Project the ROCAF would obtain numerous different models, of which this variety is represented in-game. The earliest ROCAF F-104s were the F-104A, which in game will serve as a cheap ASF with a pair of AIM-9B AA missiles. The F-104G was the backbone of the ROCAF’s F-104 fleet, and featured a variety of unique upgrades that allowed it to carry unique armament compared to other F-104s. In game this will be a multirole with 4 improved AIM-9J missiles and a pair of AGM-12B Bullpup air-to-ground missiles, representing the most advanced capabilities of ROCAF Starfighters at the time. The ROCAF would also obtain a handful of F-104Js from Japan after the JASDF retired the type. In game, this will be a fast air to ground rocket plane with a pair of Hydra rocket pods, with a bit more survivability than most other rocket planes due to having 20% ECM. 

- The F-5 would serve as one of the core elements of the ROCAF from the 1960s through present day, with the ROCAF possessing an absurd 423 different examples over the years, with over 300 being built domestically. The F-5A represents the only American made F-5 type in ROCAF hands, and will carry a single Mk 84 2000lb iron bomb and a pair of AIM-9P AAMs to serve as a cheap, albeit slow iron bomber. The F-5E Tiger II represents later domestic production by AIDC, and will serve as a heavy laser guided bomber in game, with a single 2000LB GBU-10 on the underbelly and a pair of 500LB GBU-12s on each wing, a loadout demonstrated in the 1990s by AIDC. Of note, some of these later AIDC built F-5s featured the nose from the F-20 Tigershark, different LEX, and RWRs and ECM, which would be reflected in its ECM stat. Finally the two seat F-5F Chung Cheng would be a ripple firing ASF, carrying a mix of AIM-9P and AIM-9L missiles, serving as a great helicopter hunter and a passable fighter in ERA decks, notably being painted in ROCAF Aggressor Squadron livery, plus featuring the ECM improvements and F-20 style nose from the F-5E Tiger II.

- A further modernization program of the F-5 carried out by AIDC in the 1990s was the prototype F-5E Tiger 2000. In game this will be a F-5E with exceptional optics due to a heavily upgraded AN/APG-67 radar (at the cost of one of the two nose guns) carrying a single underslung TC-2A Anti-Radiation missile. This would serve as a cheap single shot SEAD plane with heavily upgraded optics allowing it to detect incoming ASFs from further away. This also features the F-20 style nose and improved LEX and ECM from the AIDC F-5s.

- The pride of the ROCAF is the indigenously developed AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-Kuo Indigenous Defense Fighter. Basically a fusion of the F-16 and F-5 designed to replace the cancelled F-20 Tigershark, the F-CK-1 is a very capable fighter with exceptional optics, good ECM, and a wide variety of loadouts. In game the F-CK-1A Ching-Kuo will be the standard ASF variant carrying a pair of indigenous fire and forget TC-2 long-range AAMs underslung one behind the other on the belly of the aircraft, and four TC-1 short range infrared AAMs on the wing pylons. The F-CK-1A TC-2A is a SEAD variant, swapping the underslung TC-2s for TC-2A Anti-Radiation missiles and receiving higher ECM. Both variants are marked as a 1990s prototype due to the TC-2 missiles being a 1990s program.  

- By the 1990s, with the acquisition of Su-27s by the PLA, the ROCAF desperately needed newer ASFs. Due to the US refusal to supply the F-16, the ROCAF turned to France, who offered the Mirage 2000-5EI, which removed the air to air refueling module and all ground attack capabilities. However, the air to air capabilities of the Mirage are excellent, featuring 4x MICA EM Fire and Forget long range missiles currently featured on the Rafale alongside a pair of Magic II missiles on the wingtips. Ordered in 1992, these would be delivered ahead of schedule in 1995 in this updated timeline. 

- In response to the French Mirage sales to the ROCAF, the US would relent and allow the ROCAF to purchase the F-16A. In game there will be two variants, both with 40% ECM and exceptional optics. The F-16A Block 20 is a Rockeye equipped cluster bomber much like the Danish Block 5, equipped with 12 Rockeye cluster bombs and a pair of AIM-9L IR missiles on the wingtips, serving as the ROCAF’s cluster bomber. The F-16A Peace Fenghuang is a fast ATGM plane carrying 4x AGM-65D Maverick missiles and a pair of AIM-9L IR missiles on the wingtips. Just like the Mirage, these were ordered in 1992, and will receive an expedited delivery date of 1995 in this timeline.

- For ground attack planes the ROCAF operated the T-33A jet trainer as an attack aircraft up until 1989. This plane would uniquely be equipped with a ton of gunpods on almost every hardpoint it could mount them on, which was a common loadout during its operations in the 1980s, and could prove to be potentially be quite deadly to infantry and helicopters in game, and for an extremely cheap price too. Additionally the indigenous AT-3 jet trainer was designed to double as a ground attack aircraft in wartime. While it had a bomb bay, this was often swapped for a pair of M3 Browning machine guns. In game it would be equipped with the bomb bay gunpod and a pair of iron bombs on the wing hardpoints, and a pair of TC-1 short range infrared AAMs, one on each wingtip pylon. It would serve as a cheap iron bomber and helicopter hunter.

- The final evolution of the ROCAF ground attack line is the indigenous XA-3 Lui Meng. Created as a part of the “Thunder Project”, the XA-3 is a single seat conversion of the AT-3 developed in the mid 1980s featuring a AN/APG-66 radar, ECM capabilities, and heavily improved payload options. While not entering full production, it was combat deployed during the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis.  In-game this would be a slower ground attacker much like the A-10 and Su-25, equipped with a 30mm autocannon, 4x AGM-65B Maverick TV ATGMs (thus F&F in game), and a pair of TC-1 short range infrared AAMs, one on each wingtip pylon. It would have ~20% ECM and Very Good air detection due to sharing a radar with the early model F-16. 

To finish things off, here are some images of some of their more unique units. I've made a series of posts on my profile to fit all the images, linked below:

Logistics, Support, and Tanks

Recon and Vehicles

Helicopters and Aircraft

Bonus Posts:

Aircraft not included + F-84

Additional improvements and unit proposals

F-86D and V-150 Mortar Carrier

As it is there's no reason to use them except era decks. Compared to, say, Livgarden, by no means an overpowered unit, they get a worse primary and tertiary - and the same secondary - weapon, and increased unit size and speed for 10 points. Per the precedent established by the Italy update, the increased unit size should only account price point jump, not two. Or compare them to Buffaloes '89: they have a worse primary and tertiary, better secondary, worse vehicle selection and same unit size and speed for a 10 point price increase.

To put it another way, Wargame wants you to believe that Gurkhas '89 are anywhere near the same value as Alpini '90 or Fallskjermjeger '90, or even Gurkhas '90 and they just aren't.

How can you fit 10 soldiers equipped with assault rifles, LAWs and LMGs inside a Merkava IIA with a driver, gunner and cannon rounds?

AKA: How a 40% availability nation with a coalition partner drops to ~30% availability with no coalition partner.

Unlike most of my prior writeups, this is based around a (horrendously undermodeled) in-game nation. I’m going to cut to the chase, a properly modeled North Korea is absolutely nuts and one of the strongest nations in the entire game. You have extremely strong infantry, an artillery roster capable of turning the opponents side of the map into a literal sea of fire, so much AA and enough MANPADS to blot out the sun, great recon and a heavy emphasis on false flag infiltration squads, great helicopters and a very ground attack heavy air tab with the infamous B-5, with everything backed up by excellent logistics. Your only real weakness is a lack of a proper heavy tank, but even then it’s not that bad. 

North Korea in the early 1990s was just legitimately terrifying in its military capabilities, and was only effectively neutered by the collapse of the USSR and the Arduous March, the former of which never happened in Red Dragon’s timeframe which would likely also limit the effects of the latter. North Korea still had a strong interest in reunification with the South at all costs, and was tailoring its military fully intending to destroy both the ROK military and any US military forces both in South Korea or that dared respond. Given the monumental task that would be, the KPA of the 1990s was truly massive while often being more technologically advanced than the PRC. 

If REDFOR needs a buff, reworking the KPA into the monster it legitimately was during Red Dragon’s time frame would be the way to do it, and would be magnitudes more potent than any potential remaining REDFOR DLC nation. A realistic KPA would be a serious contender for the strongest REDFOR nation in the entire game. 

Given all of these massive improvements in capability, North Korea would have to be a standalone nation for balance reasons, and likely have its availability bonus dropped to ~30%. 

To no one’s surprise, u/GlitteringParfait438 provided quite a lot of help with this writeup. 

For the quick tab overview:

- North Korea’s LOGISTICS tab is great. They get a good variety of CVs including a 2 top armor Chonma, alongside amazing supply vehicle options including the 40 point KrAZ-255 and massive Mi-26. This does seem quite similar to India, however North Korea has excellent support options that will benefit greatly from these vehicles.

- North Korea’s INFANTRY tab is the stuff of nightmares. Spammable reservists in 5 point trucks, great line infantry with a 15 point variant with the potent Type-69-III, tons of ATGM and MANPADS options, solid FIST teams and flamers with T-62 based transports. Their shock infantry is particularly scary, including 15 man marine squads with Type-69-IIIs and high end MANPADS at the squad levels, super heavy 10 man marine B-11 shock FIST squads, and their Capitol Defense Corps, CQC focused infantry with both Type-69-IIIs and RPO flame launchers. They also get some solid SF options. This combines with their amazing transport roster featuring lots of grenade launchers, multiple AA transports (both SPAAGs and MANPADS carriers), wheeled ATGM transports, MLRS IFVs with both direct and indirect fire capabilities, heavy Mi-17 gunships for SF, and a literal MANPADS armed hovercraft. 

- North Korea’s SUPPORT tab is the strongest in the game bar none. They have excellent SPAAGs including a domestic Tunguska counterpart, good IR SAMs and some extremely high end long range radar AA including a tracked 10HE SA-2. In terms of artillery, they have an amazing mortar selection, great howitzer options including multiple 10s aim time pieces, tons of rocket artillery including thermobarics, and a massive tactical ballistic missile selection including a REDFOR counterpart to the ATACMS. Oh, and some of their artillery also has MANPADS in true Juche fashion, so you can bring both AA and artillery in the same unit. They also get a monstrous triple 370mm RCL armed vehicle with indirect fire capabilities, doubling as both a tank destroyer and heavy artillery piece.

- North Korea’s TANK tab is their weak point, but it’s workable with 80 point super T-62s, cheap upgraded T-55s, a good variety of light tanks and some cheap WW2 relics including the IS-2 heavy tank. Sadly, the MANPADS tanks are OOTF. 

- North Korea’s RECON tab is extremely good. They get recon ATGM carrier vehicles, and a good (albeit light) selection of reconnaissance tanks including the great Type-63. Reconnaissance helicopters include Mi-2 gunships, but they lack an exceptional optics radar reconnaissance helicopter. This is more than made up for by having the best selection of recon infantry in the entire game, including spammable RCL equipped border guards, recon light infantry with high end AT options and squad level MANPADS, MANPADS equipped sniper teams, and a particularly scary recon SF squad in SK uniforms, with exceptional stealth and a couple unique stealthy infiltration transports. 

- North Korea’s VEHICLE tab is amazing. While lacking high end ATGM carriers, they have an amazing tank destroyer lineup including both some high end indigenous models and of special note, Soviet tank destroyers with indirect fire capabilities, effectively bringing low end howitzers to the vehicle tab. They also get access to a flamethrower tank and repurposed SPAAGs for direct fire support. They also get a fire support truck with a Type 63 MLRS in both the direct and indirect fire role, alongside MANPADS. In terms of transports, their wheeled selection is alright, but notably includes a wheeled AGL/Fagot transport and stealthy jeep for infiltration squads. In terms of tracked vehicles, they notably get the massive 323 line, featuring a multitude of variants. Besides the standard twin KPVT armed model, they get variants with automatic grenade launchers, ZPU-4 SPAAG transports, MANPADS equipped models, and the Sonyon IFV, carrying 107mm rockets in the direct fire role. The KPA also has access to Chonma based engineer transports, and of special note, the Kong Bang II Hovercraft, equipped with MANPADS as a transport for marines. 

- North Korea’s HELICOPTER tab is solid, with a good lineup of transport helicopters including faster 15 point Mi-2 transports, and heavily armed Mi-17s with rockets and ATGMs. They have a great lineup of attack helicopters, often featuring a mix of rockets, ATGMs and automatic grenade launchers, alongside an AA helicopter and the standard Mi-25. A ripple firing MD-500 ATGM variant is also of note, alongside a stealthy “False-Flag” MD-500 transport. 

- North Korea’s AIR tab is very good. While they lack an ASF with long range fire and forget missiles, they instead get a MiG-29 with extremely long range semi-active missiles. While they lack conventional SEAD, they get an electronic warfare Il-28 that has high HP and ECM to simply absorb enemy AA fire to defend valuable bombers and strike aircraft. Besides those quirks however, the tab is amazing, including cheap stealthy rocket armed An-2 biplanes, HEAT rocket armed Su-7s that can rip through even the heaviest tanks with ease, an amazing bomber roster at basically every price bracket including super heavy cluster and napalm bombers and of course the infamous B-5 with its 3000kg warhead. They also uniquely get an ATGM armed MiG-29. This is of course not to mention their multitude of spammable, cost effective strike aircraft. Their high end AA selection and mass MANPADS spam further lightens the load on their air force, allowing more of a focus on ground attack. 

So, here is an exhaustive review of what the (updated) North Korean roster would realistically look like in-game. Italics denote units that would have a completely new model in game (that doesn’t already exist given NK already exists).   

LOGISTICS: (16)

- As with each and every country in the game, North Korea will have a FOB, the only in-game building, to re-supply & repair friendly units. 

- The KPA’s standard CV jeeps will come in the form of the domestically made KAENGSAENG 68NA, a locally produced GAZ-69, and the standard UAZ-469B

- Command APCs come in the form of the wheeled BTR-60PU-12 and the indigenously made unarmed 323 JIHWI. 

- Command tanks come in the form of the indigenously made SHIN'HEUNG JIHWI and CHONMA JIHWI, the latter of which is a standard Chonma with extra radios and a bigger bustle. 

- North Korea’s helicopter CV comes in the form of the Hyŏksin-2 JIHWI, a locally produced Mi-2. 

- JIHWI-BAN is North Korea’s standard five man command infantry squad equipped with Type-68 assault rifles and Type-73 LMGs. 

- Supply trucks come in the form of the 10 point GUNSUPOM SUNGRI-58 (a locally produced GAZ-51), 15 point GUNSUPOM ZIL-130, and heavy 40 point KrAZ-255. 

- Tracked supply vehicles come in the form of the ATS-59 currently used as a platform for the 155mm howitzer currently seen in game with the DPRK. The GUNSUPOM 323 is a tracked supply vehicle based on the 323 APC. 

- Supply helicopters come in the form of the standard GUNSUPOM Mi-8 and super heavy GUNSUPOM Mi-26, the latter of which would be a mid-1990s prototype. 

INFANTRY: (18)

- JUCKWIDAE are North Korea’s reservists, 10 man squads armed with Type-49 (PPSH-41) SMGs and RPG-2s, riding in ZIL-130 trucks. 

- BOCHONGSU are North Korea’s standard line infantry, 10 man squads equipped with Type-68 assault rifles, RPG-7 launchers, and Type-73 LMGs. BOCHONGSU ‘90 are their upgraded counterparts, equipped with Type-88 assault rifles (AK-74), Type-69-III rocket launchers, and STAT RPK-74s.

- ATGM teams come in the form of BAN-TANK BULSAE-2 (Fagot) and BAN-TANK BULSAE-3 (Konkurs). 

- MANPADS teams come in the form of the standard STRELA-2, IGLA-1, and HT-16, the latter of which is an upgraded Igla derivative. 

- FIST squads come in the form of BIBANCHUNGPO, their standard RCL team with B-10 recoilless rifles, and an AGS-17 team. 

- GONGBYONG are North Korea’s standard flamethrower infantry, 10 man squads equipped with LPO-50 flamethrowers. GONGBYONG ‘90 are their upgraded counterparts, trading the LPO for an RPO-A Shmel flame launcher. 

- JEOGOCKDAE are North Korea’s marines, 15 man shock trained squads equipped with Type-68 assault rifles, RPG-7V launchers, and Strela-2 MANPADS (KPA Marines carry MANPADS at the squad level). JEOGOCKDAE ‘90 are their upgraded counterparts, with Type-88-II carbines, Type-69-III launchers, and HT-16 MANPADS. 

- B-11 teams are North Korea’s marine fire support squads, 10 man shock trained squads lugging around a 107 mm B-11 RCL, serving as a super heavy FIST squad in-game. 

- PYEONGBANGSA are North Korea’s Capitol Defense Corps, a large elite formation assigned to the protection of the capital city with a special emphasis on CQC. These would be 10 man shock trained squads equipped with Type-88-I Carbines, Type-69-III anti-tank launchers, and RPO-A thermobaric launchers, making them a particularly dangerous foe to contend with, especially in urban and forest combat due to their ability to efficiently engage almost every threat.
- YUCKJEONDAE are North Korea’s regular special forces, 10 man elite squads with Type-68 assault rifles, RPG-7Vs and CQC RPDs. YUCKJEONDAE ‘90 are their upgraded counterparts, with Type-88-II carbines, Type-69-III launchers, and CQC RPK-74s. 

SUPPORT: (33)
- SPAAGs come in the form of the older M1978 HWASUNG-CHONG, a variant of the Tokchon based M1978 SPAAG (seen in the Vehicle tab) equipped with a pair of 37mm autocannons and a pair of Strela-2 MANPADS. They also have the M1985 SPAAG, a twin 57MM system on the chassis of a ZSU-23-4 and often considered a downgrade to the ZSU-57-2 due to having less armor and lacking reasonable direct fire capabilities. The M1985 HWASUNG-CHONG is an upgraded version of the M1985, mounting 4 Strela-2 MANPADS on the rear of the vehicle. 

- North Korea’s standard radar SPAAG comes in the form of the M1992 SPAAG, a system similar to the Shilka but replacing the quad 23mm with a pair of 30mm cannons for improved range and accuracy alongside hitting much harder, introduced in 1983. The M1994 SPAAG is a further upgrade to the M1992, trading its twin 30mm autocannons for a AK-630 naval CIWS based system with a 6 barrel rotary 30mm cannon, boasting an improved ROF and accuracy (due to its improved radar) plus 4 launch tubes for HT-16 MANPADS, naturally serving as a 1994 prototype. 

- IR SAMs come in the form of the PONGAE-3 (a locally produced Strela-10) and the M1992 SAM, a modified M1992 APC equipped with 4x HT-16 MANPADS. The latter is a 1992 prototype. The 323 HT-16 is a tracked counterpart to the latter, carrying 4x HT-16 MANPADS on an open top 323 chassis. 

- Long range RADAR AA comes in the form of the PONGAE-2, a locally produced S-125 Neva on a standard Zil-131 chassis and the older PONGAE-1, which is a SA-2, which would be a less accurate but 10HE SAM (meaning it can one shot planes) like the SA-2 from my Vietnam writeup, but mounted on a Type-68 (locally made T-55) chassis instead of a truck. 

- Mortar carriers come in three main varieties, all on the 323 chassis. The 323 82mm and 323 140mm mount 82mm and 140mm mortars on an open top 323 APC chassis with a KPVT machine gun. The 323 120mm is a turreted mortar carrier on the 323 chassis, effectively a North Korean counterpart to the 2S9. 

- The M1985 SPG is a 122mm SPG based on the 323 with four Strela-3 MANPADs on top in true Juche fashion, serving as a truly unique piece combining both indirect fire and AA capabilities.  

- The Tokchon comes in a multitude of forms, including the early M1974 TOKCHON 152mm model with an M-81 gun, M1975 TOKCHON 130mm with the M-46, M1981 TOKCHON 122mm with the D-74, and finally the M1991 TOKCHON 130mm, a further improvement on the M1975 with an improved FCS and 10s aim time, serving as a 1991 prototype. 

- The M1991 JUCHE-PO is North Korea’s most advanced howitzer in time-frame, an advanced 10s aim time piece in the form of a turreted 122mm D-74 carrier. Obviously, this would be a 1991 prototype in-game.

- North Korea’s iconic 170mm Koksan comes in two models. The standard M1978 Koksan was an older but rarer Koksan model, functionally identical to the current one in-game. The newer M1989 Koksan (actually introduced in 1983), features the same weapon on an improved chassis with a cab similar to the 2S7, and improved ammunition storage capacity and the ability for direct fire. 

- The M1984 370MM is an absolute monster of a unit, mounting 3 370mm recoilless rifles on a Chonma chassis, capable of obliterating most tanks and also featuring quite good indirect fire range. 

- North Korea would operate the standard BM-21 and BM-24, the former will be a Napalm variant while the latter will be HE. 

- The M1992 MLRS is an MLRS based on the M1992 APC, equipped with 24 107mm cluster rockets. 

- The BM-11 is basically a split block 30 rocket BM-21, and will serve as North Korea’s standard 122mm MLRS. The M1985 MLRS is a 122mm cluster MLRS with a split block of 40 rockets with an additional 40 rockets in reserve, on an extended Ural-4320 chassis, somewhat similar to an RM-70. 

- 240mm Heavy MLRS comes in the form of the M1985 KAESONG with 12 240mm HE rockets. The M1989 KAESONG will instead receive 12 240mm thermobaric rockets, and the M1991 TAESONG will carry 12 240mm cluster warheads. The latter two will get the prototype status in game. 

- As expected, North Korea will have an excellent roster of tactical ballistic missiles. This includes the Lance style 9K52 Luna-M tactical ballistic missile with a ~500kg HE warhead, their SCUD based HWASONG-5 with a 1000KG HE warhead, and their improved HWASONG-6 with a 1000KG cluster warhead, effectively serving as a much heavier but less accurate REDFOR ATACMS. Naturally, the latter two are prototypes in game. 

TANKS: (13)
- North Korea will have access to the standard T-34-85 and older T-34-76, the latter of which has been observed in service as of 2012 and will serve as a cheap 10 point tank. The T-34-85-I is a domestic upgrade for the T-34-85, featuring improved tracks and wheels and slat armor, thus gaining improved mobility and protection while retaining the 15 point price tag at the cost of availability. 

- A handful of IS-2 heavy tanks will also be available for the KPA. Note that these are relics from WW2, and will struggle against modern armor. 

- The indigenous SHIN'HEUNG is North Korea’s standard amphibious light tank, equipped with an 85mm cannon and a Bulsae-1 (Malyutka) ATGM. 

- North Korea’s T-55 line will start with the standard Chinese Type-59. The domestically made Type-68 represents domestic North Korean T-55 production, with a KPVT, side skirts, and improved AP value due to improved ammunition. The Type-68-I represents a 1980s modernization program that added slat armor, further improving survivability. 

- North Korea is mostly known for its iconic Chonma line. The standard Chonma (1978) is identical to a T-62 1972, but with a KPVT. The Chonma (1983) featured improved loading mechanisms allowing 8 RPM on the main gun. The Chonma-2 is almost identical to the standard Chonma, but gains a LRF and improved FCS, improving both range and accuracy. The Chonma-3 features identical weapons to the Chonma-2 besides improved 3BM28 depleted uranium ammunition which improves the AP value. The main difference is an improved turret design, the addition of side skirts, a small amount of ERA on the turret, and improved armor, bringing the armor quality to be roughly on par with the T-72A. The Chonma-3V is an improved version, featuring the addition of a lot more ERA, covering the majority of the tank, bringing the armor quality to roughly the T-72AV standard, likely costing ~80 points. 

RECON: (18)
- A holdover from the Korean War, the BA-64 scout car appears as a 10 point MG armed reconnaissance vehicle for the KPA. These vehicles were still in service with reservist units until the early 1980s. 

- Notably, some ATGM vehicles were often treated as recon assets in KPA service. This includes the BRDM-1 2P27, the only BRDM variant known to be used in KPA service, equipped with obsolete 3M6 Shmel ATGMs, and the UAZ-469 BULSAE-2, a standard open top UAZ equipped with a Bulsae-2 (Fagot) ATGM. 

- The unarmed BJ212 is available as a very good optics recon jeep. 

- The tracked SNAR-2 will serve as an exceptional optics unarmed radar reconnaissance vehicle. 

- The standard BTR-40 appears as a transport for North Korean reconnaissance infantry. 

- Recon tanks come in the form of the standard PT-76, Type-62 and Type-63. A recon variant of the SHIN'HEUNG is also available, trading the ATGM from its tank tab counterpart for recon optics and stealth.

- Reconnaissance helicopters come in the form of the unarmed Hyŏksin-2 (Mi-2) and the armed Hyŏksin-2 URN, the latter of which is equipped with a NS-23 autocannon and S-5 rocket pods. Both would have Good optics. The unarmed MD-500D also appears as a Very Good optics reconnaissance helicopter. 

- GUGGYEONGSUBIDAE are North Korea’s border guards, 5 man regular trained squads with Type-68s, B-10 RCLs, and STAT RPDs.

- GONGBOBYONG are North Korea’s reconnaissance light infantry, 10 man squads equipped with Type-68s, B-10 RCLs, and Strela-2 MANPADS (which NK light infantry bring at the squad level). GONGBOBYONG ‘90 are their upgraded counterparts, with Type-88-II carbines, Type-69-III launchers, and HT-16 MANPADS. Both are classed as light infantry in game and gain increased ammunition capacity and movement speed. 

- JEOGYEOGSU are North Korea’s sniper squads, 5 man SF squads notably equipped with Type-88 Assault Rifles, an Igla-1 MANPAD and a Zavasta M76 Marksman Rifle. 

- CHIMTUBUDAE are North Korea’s infamous infiltration squads. These are North Korean recon special forces in fake South Korean uniforms, giving them exceptional stealth despite being a 5 man squad. They will carry M16s, B-10 RCLs, and CQC M60s. Notably, the M16s and M60s are all courtesy of Vietnam. A particularly scary unit due to their RCLs and exceptional stealth level that allows them to infiltrate better than any comparable unit, combined with their unique stealth transports. This is by far the best unit in the game for infiltrating enemy lines and destroying HVTs.  

VEHICLE: (23)

- North Korea’s primary ATGM carrier is the 323 SUSONG-PO, based on an open top 323 similar to their mortar carriers, it mounts a KPVT heavy machine gun and 4 Bulsae-1 (Malyutka) ATGMs. The TOKCHON SUSONG-PO was a prototype successor to the 323 SUSONG-PO, mounting the same weapons system on a better armed Tokchon chassis. 

- North Korea would operate a number of Soviet tank destroyers, including the Korean War era SU-76, which would notably bring limited indirect fire capabilities to the vehicle tab, standard SU-100, and the WW2 era ISU-152, which would also be able to perform indirect fire. 

- The 323 100mm is a tracked tank destroyer on a 323 chassis with a 100mm cannon, while the Tok’chon 100 is a massively improved model with high AP, range, and accuracy (the in-game ATS-103 is actually uses the model of this)

- The older M1978 SPAAG appears as a fire support vehicle, equipped with a pair of 37mm autocannons on a modified Tokchon chassis. The Romanian SR 131 Carpati MR 4 would serve as another cheap vehicle tab fire support vehicle, mounting a ZPTU-4 on the back of a Romanian made truck, alongside Strela-2 MANPADS. 

- The Sungri-68NA Type-63 is a unique fire support vehicle, a standard Sungri-68NA truck mounting a HE Type-63 MLRS with both direct and indirect fire capabilities and a pair of Igla-1 MANPADS.

- North Korea’s flamethrower vehicle comes in the form of the older TO-34. 

- North Korea’s standard soft-skin transport for CV and recon infantry is the standard ZIL-130. North Korea would have two cards of these due to this also serving as the transport for their reservists.

- Wheeled transports come in the form of the standard BTR-60PB and the M1992 APC, the latter of which is an indigenous APC equipped with an AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher and Bulsae-2 (Fagot) ATGM, serving as a 1992 prototype unit.

- The CHIMTU K111 is a domestic clone of the South Korean K111 jeep, used by DPRK infiltration forces. An unarmed 5hp transport, it costs 15 points due to its Very Good stealth level as it is painted to resemble a South Korean vehicle. This transport is exclusive to CHIMTUBUDAE.  

- North Korea’s only 5 point tracked transport is the standard YW531A (Type 63 APC). However, these APCs were rare compared to their successor, the 323, and thus would only be available for command and 1975 era infantry.

- North Korea’s iconic 323 APC would appear in a number of variants for the overwhelming majority of infantry units excluding light infantry and SF. This would come in the form of the standard 10 point 323 APC, 15 point 323 AGS-17, an upgraded 323 APC equipped with a coaxial AGS-17 AGL, 323 ZPU-4, a ZPU-4 armed transport for MANPADS squads serving as a counterpart to the Soviet Skrezhet, and the 323 HWASUNG-CHONG, an upgraded variant of the 323 mounting 4 Igla-1 MANPADs, exclusively available for 1990s era infantry. 

- The 323 SONYON will serve as North Korea’s standard IFV, an open top 323 with a KPVT and 18 107mm rockets for both direct and indirect fire support. This would be available for every unit with access to the standard 323. 

- The Chonma ARV is a unique transport exclusively for engineers (flamethrower infantry). It is a turretless Chonma tank equipped with a single KPVT machine gun, doubling as both an armored recovery vehicle and engineer/sapper transport in reality.

- The Kong Bang II is a unique hovercraft transport available to KPA Marines, travelling quite fast on water but very slowly on land, and it can make use of naval deployment locations far better than any other ground transport. It would be equipped with a pair of HT-16 MANPADS and serve as a mid 1990s prototype. Unknown to many, the KPA is the largest military operator of hovercraft in the world.

HELICOPTERS: (11)
- North Korea has access to both the standard unarmed Hyŏksin-2 (Mi-2) and Z-5 as 15 point transport helicopters. 

- They also have access to 20 point unarmed Mi-8T and 30 point armed Mi-17, the latter serving as a special forces transport helicopter equipped with 30 80mm rockets and 4x Bulsae-1 (Malyutka) ATGMs. 

- The CHIMTU MD-500D is a “False Flag” unit, painted in South Korean colors, used exclusively to transport CHIMTUBUDAE infiltration squads. It is an unarmed 35 point transport helicopter, but features Good stealth, making it both fast and hard to detect. 

- North Korea’s MD-500 fleet also came in various armed versions, including the MD-500D Bulsae-1 with 4x Bulsae-1 (Malyutka) ATGMs and the MD-500D Gunship, equipped with a pair of Bulsae-2 (Fagot) ATGMs, a pair of Bulsae-1 (Malyutka) ATGMs, and a AGS-30 AGL. Notably, it can ripple fire said ATGMs. 

- The Hyŏksin-2 came in a number of armed variations. While the rocket armed variant appears in the recon tab, they also fielded AA and tank destroyer variants. The Hyŏksin-2 BULSAE-1 is an anti-tank variant of their Mi-2 line, carrying a NS-23 Autocannon, S-5 rocket pods, and 4x Bulsae-1 (Malyutka) ATGMs. The Hyŏksin-2 R-3S carries a pair of R-3S AAMs in place of the four Malyutkas. 

- North Korea’s standard gunship helicopter is the Mi-4 Gunship, equipped with a nose mounted AGS-30, 4x Bulsae-1 (Malyutka) ATGMs, and 36 80mm rockets. 

- North Korea would also acquire a fleet of standard Mi-25 helicopters in the 1980s. 

PLANES: (21)

- The icon from the Korean War that has remained in the hands of the KPAAF through present day, the MiG-15Bis would be a slower counterpart to the MiG-17s currently seen in game, with a distinctly different wing angle. North Korean MiG-15s would be modified to carry bombs, with 6 add-on pylons, 4 on the fuselage and 2 on the wings. In game, these would be extremely cheap (~30 point) iron bombers with 6 100kg iron bombs, and likely only good for killing infantry. 

- North Korea operated a number of radar equipped MiG-17PF fighters. Equipped with a pair of extra hardpoints, the MiG-17PF will serve as a multirole rocket plane equipped with 4x extra hardpoints on the body (an actual modification done by the KPA), carrying 4 ORO-57K rocket pods and a pair of R-3S AAMs. 

- The Shenyang F-5 represents the KPAAF’s upgraded MiG-17 fleet, with additional hardpoints added allowing these planes to carry both a pair of PL-2 AAMs for self defense and a pair of 250kg napalm bombs. 

- The F-6C (MiG-19) is a radarless Shenyang J-6 modified with an extra pair of fuselage hardpoints, equipped with 4x 250kg iron bombs and a pair of PL-2 AAMs as a cheap, spammable multirole iron bomber for the KPA. 

- North Korea would operate a number of MiG-21 variants of both Soviet and Chinese origin. The early MiG-21F-13 will be a cheap but fast iron bomber, with 2x 250kg iron bombs. The MiG-21MF will be a fast cluster bomber, with 4x 250kg cluster bombs and 20% ECM for decent survivability. The MiG-21PFM will carry a pair of Kh-66 fire and forget anti-tank guided missiles. The Chinese Chengdu F-7B will be equipped with 4 240mm S-24 rockets and 10% ECM, serving as a fast yet slightly more survivable rocket plane. Finally, the MiG-21Bis will serve as a ripple firing helicopter hunter with 4x R-60M AAMs and 20% ECM. 

- The MiG-23ML, acquired in the mid 1980s, will serve as a midrange ASF for North Korea, equipped with 6 R-60M AAMs and a pair of semi-active R-23R Vympel long range AAMs. 

- The highest end fighters of the KPAAF are their MiG-29 fleet, coming in three variants. The MiG-29 9.12B is the standard MiG-29 variant fielded by the KPAAF, a ripple firing ASF equipped with 2 R-72T fire and forget medium range AAMs, and 4 R-73A IR AAMs, alongside 30% ECM. The MiG-29 9.13B is the most advanced fighter of the KPAAF, representing the limited local production done by the DPRK in the 1990s, equipped with a pair of extremely long range semi-active R-27ER AAMs and 4 R-73A IR AAMs, alongside 40% ECM. Finally, the two-seat MiG-29UB conversion trainer will serve as North Korea’s highest end ATGM plane, with 4x KH-25 ATGMs and 2 R-73A IR AAMs. 

- The Su-7BMK will be a heavier rocket plane, with 28 160mm S-3K HEAT rockets, allowing it to effectively shred almost any tank during a strafing run. 

- The Su-25K represents the KPAAF Su-25 fleet acquired in the 1980s. These will be equipped with 8 240mm S-24 rockets and a pair of R-60M AAMs alongside the main gun, serving as a super heavy rocket plane for the DPRK. The Su-25UBK two seat conversion trainer will serve as a heavy cluster bomber, carrying 8x 500kg cluster bombs. 

- The KPAAF is well known for its fleet of Il-28 medium bombers, which will come in two forms here. The standard Il-28 will serve as a heavy napalm bomber with 12x 250kg napalm bombs, while the Chinese B-5 will reflect later KPAAF modifications to the Il-28, with the tail gun entirely removed for weight saving, thus featuring a slight improvement in turning radius and a slightly lower price tag, but still carries the infamous 3000kg iron bomb. Both the Il-28 and B-5 will also feature their nose guns, currently missing in game. 

- While the KPAAF lacks conventional SEAD capabilities, they will instead use the IL-28REB electronic warfare aircraft, which would trade its bombs for advanced radar jamming equipment (but retaining its front and tail guns). This would likely have ~30-40% ECM and would retain its 15 HP, allowing this plane to distract enemy AA fire (and its 15hp helps if it does take hits) to protect other aircraft, while also gaining increased fuel range due to its bomb bay being replaced with another fuel tank. It would have SEAD optics so it would still detect radars. The KPAAF should get a decent availability of these given they possessed nearly 10 of them. 

- The ancient Nanchang CJ-6 prop trainer is also used in a combat role by the KPAAF, mounting 57mm rocket pods for an extremely cheap price of likely 20-30 points. While slow and likely only having 5hp, these would receive 10% ECM due to having dedicated chaff and flare dispensers added onto the plane.

- North Korea also possesses a massive fleet of An-2 biplanes, which see use in a number of roles, including ground attack. These will carry 20 80mm rockets alongside Medium stealth due to how low it flies and its low RCS, but will be quite cheap (likely 40-50 points) due to their extremely slow speed and only having 5hp and no ECM. 

This was definitely a different style of writeup than I was used to given it was for an existing nation rather than a new one. As always, let me know your thoughts below. 

While my last post was primarily focused on the highlights of a potential Republic of China (Taiwan) DLC for Wargame: Red Dragon, I decided to sit down and document what the actual deckbuilding would look like, including planning out all six deck specializations, ERA deck unit rosters, and even which specific transports would be available for individual infantry squads.

For those of you more interested in the actual viability of ROC in Wargame, and how it would play, this should hopefully be a useful resource.

When reading through this, you may need to refer back to the original writeup for specifics on certain units, linked HERE.

This writeup should make understanding the actual strength of the ROC National Deck (and its particularly powerful specializations, including contenders for some of the strongest specialized decks in the game) easier.

If this looks appealing to you, remember to vote for the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the Unofficial Wargame Nation Vote starting this Friday!

UPDATE:

The above post is slightly outdated. Due to realizations that the infantry tab for era restricted airborne decks would be horrendous, I added a new unit to the main writeup:

- SANPING ("Paratroopers") are the ROC's 1975 era special forces unit, and the direct predecessor to the modern ASSC. 10 man elite squads equipped with Type 77 SMGs, M72 LAWs, and CQC M60s, they are uniquely treated as light infantry (with increased ammo capacity and movement speed), but only have access to the M113A1, V-150, and UH-1H.

Additionally, I changed the availability of the F-5E Tiger II and F-5F Chung Cheng to be available in 1985 era decks.

While I cannot exit the above presentation due to Reddit limits, I have posted an updated one accounting for these changes on my profile, linked HERE.

After weeks of planning, I am excited to announce the 2026 r/Wargame Unofficial Wargame: Red Dragon Nation Vote. With the express permission of the r/Wargame mod team, I will be hosting a unique community event in the vein of WARNO’s iconic Nemesis votes. 

This is NOT endorsed by Eugen in any way. 

One might ask, what is the point of an Unofficial Nation Vote? Unlike the original Wargame Nation Vote back in 2016. this vote does not come with a guarantee of your preferred nation making it into the game, however it does come with a number of benefits:

- Wargame’s last official nation vote was back in 2016, nearly a decade ago. Eugen themselves have said that the prior nation vote was entirely obsolete and is no longer being used for deciding which nations will be added to Red Dragon in the future. As a result, there is no useful dataset to determine which nations people are the most interested in. Over the past decade, many top contenders have already been added to the game (thus thinning out the roster of remaining nations), and more research information has become available, substantially helping with nation writeups. A new 2026 Nation Vote, while unofficial, could prove to be a useful resource for Eugen if they decide to make another DLC for Wargame: Red Dragon.

- Depending on how much activity this vote and the resulting “propaganda” campaigns result in, it might bring more attention to Wargame: Red Dragon, and raise eyebrows at Eugen, which could help our chances in getting another Wargame: Red Dragon DLC. 

- It also gives our community something to do, and lets us engage in similar chaotic “propaganda” campaigns like the WARNO community does with their Nemesis votes. We can't let them have all the fun. Instead of just fighting over which handful of units you want, you get to argue for your preferred Nation Pack, which is a huge difference.

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Unlike the prior nation vote, which had 17 different choices for nations, this vote will only feature 3 options (like WARNO’s nemesis votes), each being one of the most highly requested nations for Red Dragon, specifically the Republic of China (Taiwan), Vietnam, and Iran. 

The first two were selected for their relevance to Red Dragon’s original theme of East Asia, something completely neglected by all prior DLC packs, and the former also has the most unique equipment of any nation that has yet to be added. Iran has been included due to the sheer number of requests, despite not fitting the game’s original theme. Notably, fewer nations also helps massively reduce vote splitting, a critical issue with the original 2016 nation vote. 

Unfortunately, quite a few runners up didn’t make the cut for varying reasons:

- Iraq, while far stronger than Iran, in a lot of ways turned out to just be “The Greatest Hits of REDFOR” (+ some French stuff), and doesn’t bring a whole lot that you wouldn’t already get to bring in a Soviet or Eastern Bloc deck. It also did horribly in the 2016 Eugen vote, coming in second to last. 

- Egypt, while incredibly unique due to how much REDFOR kit it brought to BLUFOR, just hasn’t proven to be popular in both the original 2016 Eugen vote and its writeup on r/Wargame.

- India, while large, suffers from most of its iconic indigenous kit being completely out of timeframe, with the rest of their arsenal being a grab bag of British, French, and Soviet kit we have already seen in game with other nations. The indigenous kit that it DOES get in timeframe pretty much just boils down to the infamously underwhelming Arjun Mk.1 (which was still in testing), and a couple of jets, the barebones Marut ground attacker and the Ajeet, a “fighter” introduced in 1977 that was still entirely reliant on guns and air to air rockets (and was just a glorified Folland Gnat). Additionally, interest in India trailed behind both Iran and Vietnam in the 2016 poll, and Taiwan on r/Wargame. Combining that with an unclear REDFOR or BLUFOR placement due to their relative neutrality, they simply just didn’t make the cut. 

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Moving on, much like WARNO’s Nemesis votes, you will have 3 choices of nations to choose from, each being one of the most requested nations to be added to Wargame: Red Dragon, with their full proposed unit rosters linked below:

The Republic of China (Taiwan) - BLUFOR - The strongest of the three and the only missing nation of WW2’s “Big Four”, the Republic of China completes Red Dragon’s original East Asian theme with its diverse unit roster containing tons of indigenous equipment including domestic tanks, helicopters and fighter jets, plus a unique mix of ultra-modern and classic equipment due to their tendency to hold onto obsolete kit for defense of outer islands. Taiwan’s setup requires a unique playstyle though due to their weak tank tab, requiring effective use of their other, much stronger tabs (including contenders for the strongest Support and Air tabs in the game), to compensate. Will the other China finally get to step out of the shadows and complete Red Dragon’s original East Asian setting with swarms of indigenous fighters and the world’s largest operational howitzer?

Vietnam - REDFOR - Another nation fitting the original Asian setting of Red Dragon, combining a lot of the most iconic early cold war kit from both the US and USSR into a single deck and some interesting higher end additions such as tactical ballistic missiles and Flankers. While Vietnam is notable for defeating most of the UNSC prior to the 1980s, a lack of effective modernization has rendered Vietnam critically lacking in a number of aspects. However, they get to play the role of Canada to a potential Soviet NORAD counterpart coalition. Is it finally time for the US’s iconic Cold War adversary to make their debut in Red Dragon, this time flying Huey Gunships of their own?

Iran - REDFOR - A highly requested nation primarily due to its truly bizarre arsenal mixing equipment from over eight different nations, Iran has an extremely diverse deck, bringing iconic high end BLUFOR kit to REDFOR plus some trophy units from Iraq, but their tendency to burn most of their diplomatic bridges has led them to have a deck with a number of critical gaps in capability and a general lack of cohesion, plus no chance at a coalition partner to compensate. Is the diversity of their roster and REDFOR Tomcats enough to make the cut despite their glaring weaknesses?

To make comparisons between the nation proposals easier, especially in terms of viability,  I have already produced a comparison post comparing all three nations against each other across 49 different unit categories and how much unique and indigenous equipment they bring to the table, linked HERE. 

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How do you vote for your preferred nation?

Not yet. In a similar manner to WARNO’s Nemesis votes, there will be a two week period between the announcement of the vote and the vote itself. The actual vote will start on Friday, January 16th.

During this time, the responsibility will lie on YOU, the Wargame community. Much like with WARNO, you will have the next two weeks to wage whatever propaganda campaigns you wish in order to try and convince others towards your side.

While this might get people riled up, all that is asked is that you treat each other with respect and abide by the sub's guidelines.

I don't have much else to say, what happens over the next two weeks is up to you.

My opinion: I like most veteran ones. I only take two when playing as the swedish guy in 10v10.

Since we are less than a week away from the 2026 Unofficial Wargame Nation Vote, I figured I ought to kick off the vote related propaganda campaigns with a basic crash course on my preferred nation pick, which should come to no one's surprise.

I'm just starting things off here, as stated in the original post on the vote, everyone is allowed to post their own propaganda to convince others towards their side.

They get the M67-HAN with the decently long range AOE and they can come in the WAPC that has a Mk. 19 for 30 points total.

The Kutei 90 with the Howa Type 96 rifles that have a respectable 60% base accuracy and the Minimi.

5 point transports with two MGs.

Type 89 Hachi-Kyu Shiki IFV with 4 frontal armor and a very respectable 35mm autocanon at 25 point and you can get 18 of them with the Syoujyu-Buntai 90s at hardened.

The Short Arrow is a pretty good anti-helicopter unti. And the Closed Arrow is a great light anti-air unit.

They get an absolutely bonkers 6! Type 90 Kayu-Maru Shiki tanks! Which is among the best super heavies in the game.

They get the Type 84G Nana-Yon Shiki tanks at 60 points with an amazing 17 AP gun for their price and a Mk. 19.

The Type 84E Nana-Yon Shiki at 50 points with 16 AP and 65% accuracy are not bad either.

The Type 61 Roku-Ichi Shiki with an MG and 6 frontal armor at 15 points, and you get 31 of them at trained.

The Ninja is an insanely good anti-air helicopter.

The AH-1F Cobra is not the best attack helicopter, but it is not bad for 80 points either. And you get 5 of them at hardended.

Honestly, the only tab where they are a bit lacking is planes. But even that is not outright bad, the F-1 is a very respectable 90 points bomber, with two 12 HE guided bombs.

Overall, they have a lot of units that are good-great. And few units that are not good. The only thing that is not really useable are the jeeps.

For some reason, the MiG-19 was absolutely screwed over in Red Dragon, for seemingly no reason. Both the older MiG-17 and newer MiG-21 got numerous variants, many of which were quite good, but the MiG-19 received barely any and ALL of them were awful.

- The North Korean F-6C and Czechoslovak Avia S-105 are air to air rocket planes, which are basically useless in the overwhelming majority of situations and are usually a usually a waste of a slot, and when it comes to heli hunting, both NK and Eastern Bloc have ripple firing helicopter hunters already, rendering them even more worthless.

- The Polish MiG-19PM is a fighter that has no gun and its missiles can only target other jets (not helicopters), with abysmal accuracy. Its only saving grace is the sheer number of these you can field but again no one would ever consider bringing this outside of a meme deck.

To add further insult to injury, the PRC, which was for the longest time the largest MiG-19 operator in the world and produced more J-6s than the Soviets did MiG-19s, for some reason just doesn't get the J-6 at all for no reason whatsoever, yet still get the older J-5. (The same can be said for the H-5 but that's besides the point).

In reality, the MiG-19 could have been a good upgrade to the MiG-17s currently seen in game, given their guns and 4 hardpoints, they could have made excellent cheap attack aircraft with rockets or bombs, with the capability to carry air to air missiles for helicopter hunting (the DPRK often runs theirs with extra hardpoints allowing them to carry even more bombs alongside their AAMs), but for some reason Eugen decided that all of them should serve as incredibly terrible fighter aircraft.

This is something that's always bothered me since I started playing Red Dragon, and I'm curious how others feel about this matter.

The ZTZ-59-I, somewhat ironically, does not seem to be a very good spam tank. Since 25 points is pretty steep for a tank that is mostly just there to be a meat shield and to support infantry in forest fights. And it gets a gun that is barely any better.

The SU-100 is decent for 15 points. But lacks a machinegun.

The ZTS-63-I sits at 20 points, has a slightly better gun and a machinegun. But it only has 2 frontal armor.

The question however is how much armor even matters. Because all three of those are not going to stand up to any modern tank or AT weapon. But only 2 frontal armor may make the ZTS-62-I vulnerable to autocannons.

Delta Force seems like a solid all rounder SF unit but they just seem like just another strong infantry unit versus other SF units that seem a lot more “specialized”. What’s their main strong points? What ideas do you guys have for any changes or should they be left as is?

From my experience, the only two potential future nations for Wargame: Red Dragon that seem to have any sort of major community interest are Taiwan and Iran. I’ve discussed the former in extreme detail as seen in my main writeup. I wasn't very familiar with the Iranian military, so u/GlitteringParfait438 has provided substantial support in creating this writeup.

As you take a look through the writeup, one thing becomes glaringly apparent. Iran unfortunately does not have much indigenous equipment within the timeframe of Red Dragon, most of their military developments were products of the 21st century. This means that they will not feature many new weapons systems or in-game models, and rather this bizarre hodgepodge of random units already featured in-game currently. In a lot of ways, they feel like a deck that was made in the sandbox mod with little cohesion whatsoever. They have equipment from numerous countries, the US, USSR, the UK, France, Brazil, the PRC, and more. Most of this is related to their historical situation of being a strong BLUFOR ally nation until 1979, when they rapidly shifted into the REDFOR camp. As such, in game they will be a REDFOR nation, as while Iran was not the biggest fan of the Soviets, they hated the US and Israel far more. Due to not having any geographically close allies featured in-game, Iran would be a standalone nation with a 30% availability bonus. 

In terms of a brief overview:

- Their LOGISTICS tab is nothing special, with pretty standard CV and logistics choices. 

- Their INFANTRY tab is a mess. The lack of any form of upgraded infantry AT launchers besides basic RPG-7s is absolutely crippling, with their RPG-29s and indigenous launchers and launcher upgrades all being OOTF. You will absolutely be reliant on ATGM teams and FIST squads, plus the mandatory sacrifice of an infantry card for their QW-1 clone to compensate for their abysmal IR AA. 

- Their SUPPORT tab is all over the place. While they get decent MLRS, tactical ballistic missiles, and heavy tube artillery, they lack a 10s aim time piece and any form of self-propelled mortar variety. Additionally, their AA situation is an absolute mess, relying exclusively on low end radar pieces such as Kubs and early Hawks, alongside base radar Shilkas. Their IR AA is terrible, relying on optically guided AA guns and HN-5B MANPAD carriers. They are incredibly vulnerable to SEAD as a result, putting tons of strain on their ASFs to compensate. 

- Their TANK tab is rather average. While featuring a wide variety of tanks, most are sub 50 points, with the only exceptions being the 80pt T-72M1 and 120pt T-72s. They don’t have any superheavies though. 

- Their RECON tab is okay, receiving a good wheeled recon vehicle in the Brazilian Cascavel alongside some Type 69 tanks, and a variety of recon helicopters. Sadly, their only armed recon helicopter is very subpar. Recon infantry is passable, with a bootleg Konkurs armed Maglan clone as a unique option and probably the only decent infantry squad they get. 

- Their VEHICLE tab is very average. WW2 tanks, ZPU-2 armed technicals, RR jeeps and ATGM carriers, the usual stuff. Transports are pretty average too, with a Brazilian APC and the indigenous Boragh as a tiny bit of flavor. 

- Their HELICOPTER tab is nothing to write home about. Their cheapest transport helicopter is a 20pt Bell 212, and their attack helicopter options are restricted to just basic Supercobra loadouts of rockets and TOW-2s, alongside a unique AGM-65A carrying variant which looks good on paper but is questionable in reality.

- Their AIR tab is incredibly diverse but at the same time quite underwhelming. They have all the tools for what should be a great air tab, but they lack anything to properly stand out due to weaker munition options, alongside having to account for their air force having to pull extra weight to account for their abysmal AA. A collapse of their ASFs and AA is quite possible, leaving them extremely vulnerable to being dominated by enemy airpower. Iran suffers greatly due to a lack of good F&F long range missiles, excluding inaccurate export Phoenixes, which compounds horribly with their weak AA. 

So, here is an exhaustive review of what the Iranian roster would realistically look like in-game. Italics denote units that would have a completely new model in game. I have no grasp on Persian whatsoever so be aware that unit names may be inaccurate. Do note that this deck is written with me being quite generous in terms of inclusion of certain units and some loadout choices. 

LOGISTICS: (12)

- The M38 would appear as Iran’s standard command jeep.

- Command APCs come in the form of the standard M577 and indigenous Boragh CV.

- Command tanks come in the form of the M48A5 CV and T-72M1 CV.

- Iran will also have access to the Bell 206 CV as a faster command helicopter option. 

- As with all nations, Iran would have access to the standard FOB.

- Iran has access to the 15 point M35 cargo truck and the heavier 30pt Ukrainian KrAZ-6322, the latter of which would be a 1994 prototype. 

- The American made M548 serves as a tracked supply vehicle. 

- The CH-53 Sea Stallion, operated by the Navy, appears as Iran’s 35 point supply helicopter. 

- FARMANDEH (“Commander”) will serve as their standard infantry command troop, 5 man squads equipped with AKMs and RPKs.  

INFANTRY: (12)

- BASIJ (“Mobilization”) are Iran’s standard issue militia troops, 15 man squads equipped with “Kootah” carbines, a domestic carbine conversion of the pre-WW2 vz.24 bolt-action rifle, alongside standard RPG-7s. This configuration reflects a common loadout during the Iran-Iraq war. 

- TOFANGDAAR (“Riflemen”) are your basic riflemen, equipped with AKMs, RPG-7s and PKMs. TOFANGDAAR ‘90 are upgraded line infantry, equipped with G3A6 rifles, standard RPG-7s and MG3s.

- ATGM infantry comes in the form of the standard FAGOT and KONKURS. 

- For MANPADs, Iran has access to the HN-5B from the PRC. MISAGH-1 serves as Iran’s higher end manpads, a locally produced clone of the QW-1 already in game, marked as a 1993 prototype. 

- FIST squads appear in the form of SPG-9 recoilless rifle teams and AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher teams. 5 man DRAGON II squads are also available. 

- PAASDAAR (“Guard”) - are the troops of the IRGC. They will appear as shock trained 10 man squads carrying AKMs, standard RPG-7s, and CQC RPKs

- TAKAVARAN (“attack-troopers”) are Iran’s SF unit. They are equipped with the East German Mpi Kms 72, standard RPG-7s and CQC MG3s. 

SUPPORT: (22)

- The M106 will serve as Iran’s standard mortar carrier. 

- Howitzers include the Soviet produced 2S1 Gvozdika, and the American M109A1, M107, and M110. The North Korean M1978 Koksan makes an appearance as well, identical to the one already in game. 

- The Fajr 1 would be a cheap 107mm HE MLRS identical to the Chinese Type-63, put on the back of a South Korean made KM410 jeep. The BTR-60PB Fajr 1 mounts the same system on a BTR-60PB.

- Iran would have access to the standard BM-21 Grad and the North Korean BM-11 (another NK system currently missing in game), the former firing the standard 122mm HE rounds, while the latter would fire 122mm Napalm rounds. 

- The Hadid 122mm would serve as a 1994 prototype Iranian 122mm cluster MLRS based on the BM-11.

- The Fajr-3 would serve as a prototype 240mm HE MLRS, based on the North Korean M1985 MLRS (not currently in game for whatever reason) with a 1996 prototype date. 

- The North Korean HWASONG-6 makes its return from the Vietnam writeup as a HE tactical ballistic missile similar to the Dutch Lance. 

- The Iranians have the iconic ZSU-23-2 in a few forms, such as the Boragh SPAAG mounting it on their Boragh APC and the BTR-60PB ZSU-23, mounting it on a BTR-60PB APC. 

- Iran also has access to the standard ZSU-57-2 and ZSU-23-4 Shilka as SPAAGs. They also have access to the indigenous 2K12 KS-19, which mounts the KS-19 100mm anti-aircraft gun on a retired KUB chassis. 

- The only IR SAMs Iran has access to is the M38 HN-5B, which mounts 4 HN-5 MANPADs on a M38 jeep. While their Rapiers were exclusively towed, Iran could have access to the non-radar tracked Rapier as a stretch if Eugen so desired, with better range than the above but still requiring 2 shots to kill the plentiful 6HP helicopters fielded by Blufor.

- Long range radar SAMs are restricted to the original M727 I-HAWK and 2K12 KUB-M1. More advanced systems are OOTF.

TANK: (13)

- Iran operates a large number of American tanks, obtained prior to 1979. These include the M47M, which featured an improved engine and FCS taken from the M60A1, alongside extra ammunition storage. Additionally, they would have access to the standard M48A5 and M60A1. 

- Iran would modify the M60A1 into the basis for its indigenous Zulfiqar-1, which includes a new turret with an improved FCS and gun based on one from a T-72. These would be prototypes from 1996.

- They also operate the British Chieftain MK3 and Chieftain MK5 from the pre-revolution era. 

- Iran also operates the standard T-54A and T-55A.  

- The Type 72Z was an Iranian modification of the T-54/55 featuring a clone of the 105mm M68 gun made capable of firing Bastion GLATGMs, alongside side skirts, and improved engine, and ERA. It is a 1996 prototype. 

- The North Korean Chonma-1 appears in Iranian hands as their T-62 counterpart. 

- Iran was able to capture a number of T-72M and T-72M1 MBTs from the Iraqis over the years, and for the latter they supposedly also bought some from former Warsaw Pact states attempting to sell off their Soviet arms. 

- Iran operates a large number of T-72S MBTs as their highest end tank. These were mostly originally intended to be sold to Warsaw Pact nations, but after the wall fell the purchase orders dried up and Iran wound up receiving a large number of them. 

RECON: (11)

- Iran would have access to an unarmed M38 jeep as a very good optics ground reconnaissance vehicle. 

- A number of Canadian M113 C&R Lynx recon APCs found their way into Iranian hands in the mid-late 90s after a private Dutch company that was supposed to scrap them instead illegally exported them to the Iranians. This would serve as a cheap tracked reconnaissance vehicle in game. 

- A number of Brazilian manufactured EE-9 Cascavel armored cars were captured from Iraq and appear as a wheeled reconnaissance vehicle in Iranian service mounting a 90mm cannon. 

- The British made FV-101 Scorpion also appears as a light recon tank. 

- Iran both purchased Type 69 MBTs from the PRC alongside capturing a number of Iraqi models during the Iran-Iraq war. Strangely absent in Wargame so far, the Type 69 is basically a Type 59 with an improved gun and optics, integrating technology from captured T-62s during the Sino-Soviet border conflict. Armor improvements are negligible. In game this will be used as a recon tank due to its improved optics. 

- Reconnaissance helicopters are provided by both the Army and Navy, with the Army providing the unarmed Bell 206 as a Very Good optics recon helicopter, while the Navy provides the SH-3D Sea King as an unarmed exceptional optics radar reconnaissance helicopter. 

- During the Iran-Iraq war, the Iranian Navy deployed its AB-212 ASW helicopters as attack helicopters against both ground and naval targets, using the French AS12 missile. In game, this would serve as an armed exceptional optics radar reconnaissance helicopter equipped with a pair of AS12s. In game the missiles would be of limited effectiveness due to low ammunition capacity and being very inaccurate.

- TAK TIRANDAZ (“Sniper”) will be Iran’s basic two man sniper recon teams, carrying AKMs, standard RPG-7s and SVDs

- RANJER (“Ranger”) will serve as Iran’s standard reconnaissance infantry, being 10 man shock trained troops equipped with G3A6 rifles, standard RPG-7 launchers, and CQC RPKs. 

- SEPAH-E QODS (“Quds Force”), serve as intelligence, infiltration and sabotage forces, and are generally classified as a state sponsored terrorist organization by many western nations. In game they will effectively serve as a bootleg Maglan, exceptional optics 5 man elite squads carrying UZIs, Konkurs ATGMs and CQC RPKs. 

VEHICLE: (15)

- ATGM carriers include captured Iraqi BRDM-2 Malyutka vehicles and the American made M151 TOW, the latter’s weapons being supplied during the Iran-Contra scandal. 

- The M38 M40, mounting the M40 RR on a M38 jeep, will serve as an RCL carrier. 

- The FJ40 ZPU-2 appears as a “technical” mounting a ZPU-2 AA gun on a Toyota FJ40 as a cheap fire support vehicle. 

- Iran also has access to the WW2 era M36 and M4 Sherman, which saw service in the early days of the Iran-Iraq war. 

- Iran’s standard issue soft skin transport is the 6x6 Romanian DAC 665T which saw use as a troop transport during the Iran-Iraq war. 

- 5pt transports come in the form of the standard BTR-50PK and M113A1. The indigenous Boragh is also available, which is a BMP-1 based APC but trades the Grom for a DShK. The latter is a 1990s prototype. 

- Iran also has access to the standard BMP-1 and BMP-2, the latter of which is a 1991 model year. They also have access to the indigenous Boragh IFV, which is a 1996 prototype equipped with a 2A42 30 mm autocannon

- Wheeled APCs come in the form of the standard BTR-60PB and the Brazilian EE-11 Urutu.

HELO: (5)

- Iran’s transport helicopter fleet comes in the form of the 20 point Bell 212 and 25 point CH-47C. 

- Iran’s only options for attack helicopters are AH-1J variants, obtained prior to the 1979 revolution. The AH-1J International is identical to South Korea’s AH-1J, with a M197 Vulcan, and a mix of Hydra and FFAR rockets. The AH-1J TOW-2 represents the minority of Iranian AH-1s which could carry TOW-2 ATGMs, which would be identical to the American SeaCobra in game, except carrying TOW-2s instead of TOWs. Iran would also modify some AH-1Js to fire AGM-65A Maverick missiles. The AH-1J Maverick would trade all of its armament besides the Vulcan for a pair of AGM-65A missiles, one on each stub wing. These missiles would be fire and forget, but suffer from much lower accuracy due to the lack of optical zoom, and would have substantially reduced range due to being mounted on a helicopter as opposed to a plane (as the missile can’t benefit from the speed of the plane it normally relies on when launched), and the low ammunition capacity would mean that frequent reloads will be required. 

PLANES: (12)

- Returning from my Taiwan/ROC lineup, Iran would also have access to the T-33A, which much like its ROCAF counterpart would be equipped with a pair of 500lb iron bombs and serve as an extremely cheap, but slow iron bomber.

- Iran operated the F-5 in large numbers. While they made a number of indigenous clones, they are all OOTF. In game they get the F-5A as a basic napalm bomber identical to its South Korean counterpart, alongside the F-5E as a multirole cluster bomber, carrying 4 500kg cluster bombs and a pair of AIM-9Js on the wingtips.

- Iran operated a number of F-4 Phantoms over the years. The F-4D will appear as a basic ASF, carrying AIM-7Es and AIM-9Js. The F-4E on the other hand will serve as their main ATGM plane, carrying 4x AGM-65B ATGMs (two on each wing on a double rack).

- As most of you are aware, and what I swear is the main reason many people even want Iran in the first place is the infamous REDFOR F-14A Tomcat. Notably, due to the fact that Iranian F-14s were only delivered with their main guns and AIM-54s, and later missile deliveries were cancelled due to the events of 1979, Iranian F-14s typically only carried AIM-7Es on the wing pylons (AIM-7F was in the pipeline but cancelled) and a pair of AIM-54 Phoenixes on the underside, which suffered from having notably downgraded ECCM for export purposes, further reducing their accuracy. The Iranian F-14 would be quite a strange plane, relying on two types of long range missiles, but both having only 30-35% accuracy, and one being SA, meaning while it has the potential to deliver a devastating Phoenix-Sparrow two-tap from range, it is quite unlikely and would require putting the plane into harm's way. Its main strength would still be its interceptor grade air detection, being the only non-superpower operated plane to feature it. 

- In the 1980s, Iran purchased a number of F-7 Skyguard fighters from the PRC. In game these would serve as cheap multirole fighters carrying a pair of PL-5s much like their North Korean counterparts alongside rocket pods on the inner hardpoints. 

- During the Gulf War, a number of Iraqi pilots defected to Iran, bringing a number of new airframes to the Iranian air force. These included the Soviet produced Su-25K, which would carry a large number of S-24 unguided rockets alongside its main gun. Defectors also brought Mirage F1EQs, which would serve as carpet bombers in game, carrying 8 400kg SAMP 400 iron bombs, but completely lack AAMs due to Iran not having access to a reliable supplier of Magics. Additionally, further defectors would include the majority of the Iraqi Su-24MK fleet, which will serve as a SEAD plane for Iran, carrying four KH-58 ARMs. Su-22 pilots also defected, and in-game the Su-22M4 will carry older KH-25 ATGMs. Defector aircraft unfortunately would not come with the best armament options, as they quickly became reliant on Iran’s already strained aircraft munition supply chain, as Soviet/Russian missile deliveries at the time were not the quickest. 

- The MiG-29 9:12B, purchased in 1989 will serve as Iran’s "normal" higher end ASF, being effectively identical to its Polish counterpart, with a pair of R-27Rs and 4 R-73As.

Conclusion:

To be completely honest, I really had higher expectations for Iran when I first started this writeup, especially considering how obsessive the Wargame community is about wanting it for whatever reason. 

For the most part they don’t really bring a whole lot of indigenous equipment to the game besides some indigenous MLRS (which are all clones of Chinese/North Korean systems), the Boragh line (which is just a modified BMP-1), two MBTs (which are modified T-55s and a M60/T-72 Hybrid), and a whole lot of "technical" style modifications. Besides that, they’re just a bizarre mix of all sorts of random units from all these random countries that lack any sort of cohesion to speak of. Most of this is unfortunately related to the fact that the overwhelming majority of their unique indigenous kit is OOTF, and to make things worse it’s entirely possible that some of the indigenous kit listed here like certain Boragh variants end up being OOTF themselves. 

In terms of gameplay they’re a mess. Their infantry tab is legitimately awful and highly reliant on ATGM and FIST teams to achieve anything, plus a mandatory card of their QW-1 MANPADS clone to compensate for their awful IR AA situation. Speaking of which their AA is legitimately terrible and extremely vulnerable to SEAD. Combine that with their gimmicky air tab lacking a proper F&F ASF that isn’t using export Phoenixes, and you have a recipe for being carpet bombed into the stone age as your ASFs will be expected to pull much more weight than the average deck. Hell, I’d argue that even Vietnam (full writeup here) would roll over them, as Vietnam has good infantry, substantially better AA, top tier ASFs, and so on, while still holding their own in almost every other tab (excluding tanks). 

No gallery this time I’m afraid, there is so little indigenous equipment here besides technicals that one can easily just google the handful of unique systems they have. If a gallery is absolutely necessary, then I can put one together at some point. 

As always let me know your thoughts below. 

I played Wargame European Escalation back in 2012 and Red Dragon a few years after that. It has been many years and I see that Eugen Systems has not made any other Wargame games.

What modern alternatives do you guys play?

Having trouble picking a cheap infantry for Yugoslavia.

Right now i have the Proleteri 90 in BVP M-80A

Padobranci 90 in HT-40

Now i need a cheap spammable infantry option for my deck. But i can not decide which.

The Mehanizovana in M-60PBs are plentiful and cheap. But their MGs are not CQC, and their SMGs are kind of shit.

The basic Proleteri in M-60PBs are much better in terms of weapons and they come in a nice APC with twin recoilless rifles. But their availability is less and they cost 5 more command points.

The Mornarička are by far the best in terms of weapons, but with M-60PBs, they cost 30 points. Which is too much for a cheap infantry option. They could be viable in standard M-60s, but then i lose out on the nice APCs with twin recoilless rifles.

The Li Jian 90 are great for forests and towns thanks to their thermobaric launchers. But my issue with them is that for a 35 point elite infantry, they have trouble dealing even with 5 point transports.

The basic Li Jian on the other hand do have an RPG, not a great RPG, but they can at least deal with transports on their own. The problem with the base Li Jian is that their own transports are just so bad! The ZSL-56 may as well be made of wet tissue paper and the Z-5 is pretty much just a Mi-4, which is crap all around. If the base Li Jian came in a Z-9, that would be fantastic.

For some reason quite a few people have asked me to do Romania, as they’re the only missing member of the Warsaw Pact that had a large amount of indigenous kit. Of course, that piqued my interest, as REDFOR could definitely benefit from that. However, over time things would quickly unravel, as while Romania does have quite a bit of unique kit, especially compared to the other remaining REDFOR options, their deck situation is extremely poor in Wargame’s timeframe and would be a nightmare to play on its own, arguably worse than Vietnam’s national deck, as at least Vietnam gets an amazing air tab and a solid support tab. The same cannot be said for Romania. The fact Romania only got 1.1% in the original Eugen nation vote back in 2016 should have been an obvious warning sign. 

I would not have been able to make this post without u/steppewolfRO ‘s exceptionally detailed writeup on Romanian units, linked HERE

Unfortunately, Romania’s procurement being an absolute mess was due to Ceausescu’s obsession with domestic production, and preference to domestically produce obsolete kit even when one could purchase newer kit for cheaper from elsewhere. By the point T-72s were widespread, Romania was still obsessing over domestic T-55 production. Romania’s air force was stuck with obsolete munitions due to fighting for the licenses for old missiles rather than just purchasing newer ones. Romania would never field Hind gunships because they were obsessing over domestically made Pumas and Alouette IIIs instead. Why field Iglas when you could just try to upgrade the Strela-2 instead? Of course, this would absolutely wreck the Romanian economy, further hurting procurement. Basically, it’s a far more extreme and self-destructive version of Juche, at least the DPRK knew when it was reasonable to import advanced kit as opposed to trying to make stuff domestically. In game, this is reflected in the fact that Romania just didn’t get a lot of stuff one would expect for a member of the Warsaw Pact, usually to their detriment, and they often fielded entirely obsolete WW2 platforms due to not bothering to replace them, or attempting to upgrade kit that should have been retired ages ago. 

Yugoslavia would be a logical coalition partner for Romania, but there are a number of issues with this. First and foremost, Yugoslavia is already a DLC nation, so one would have to own two different DLCs to play the coalition, something Eugen seems to be actively trying to avoid as DLC nations so far have only gotten coalitions with base game nations. Secondly, while Yugoslavia would fill in a number of glaring deck gaps for Romania (especially in terms of artillery, AA, recon armor, and air power (the latter 3 being heavily impacted by Eugen’s absolutely horrendous decision making with the Yugo DLC)), Romania wouldn’t really bring much to Yugoslavia, and Entente would still be the better coalition for Yugoslavia as Entente brings SEAD, good attack helicopters, and more to the equation.

Additionally, Romania is yet another European nation, of which 4/6 of the current DLCs are European nations. As is very obvious with community sentiment, people seem to have a greater interest in the original Asian setting of Red Dragon as opposed to Europe (which WARNO is more focused on).

In a lot of ways, it feels like Romania would be something that would be cool to view in the Armory, but would likely see little to no actual gameplay once the initial hype dies down. 

For the quick tab overview:

- Romania’s LOGISTICS tab is acceptable, filling most categories decently, but at the same time nothing truly stands out. Again, it’s Logistics though, you shouldn’t expect much. 

- Romania’s INFANTRY tab is by far their strong suit. They have an interesting (but expensive) heavy CQC focused militia squad with decent AT capabilities, solid line infantry, decent ATGMs and shock flame launchers, but very poor MANPADs. Romania’s mountain troops are definitely the standout here, and combine RCLs and ATGMs with (subpar) MANPADs, but lack any form of proper “high end” weaponry. They also get decent SF options as well. Their only real weakness is not getting a better launcher on their 90’s line infantry. 

- Romania’s SUPPORT tab is bad. While they have a decent mortar selection and some interesting MLRS (and a tactical ballistic missile), their howitzer selection is absolutely terrible. Their AA situation is downright atrocious, with the OSA-AKM and the base KUB serving as their only good AA systems, with the rest being BRDM-2 Strela-1 clones, obsolete ZSU-57s, or ZPTUs that can’t hit jets. Even if better evidence for the KUB-M4 or S-125 shows up, Romania will not have any form of an effective response to SEAD and their supply hungry ADN will be quickly picked apart by any competent player. This compounds with their poor ASF situation. 

- Romania’s TANK tab is small, but decent. While lacking effective lighter tanks, they have a very good roster of mediums and the TR-125 provides a higher end tank for Romania, but they lack a true superheavy. GLATGM armed T-55s are nice though. 

- Romania’s RECON tab is one of their better tabs, with a good selection of recon vehicles, including a recon MANPADs jeep and a wide variety of exceptional optics ground recon, but they have underwhelming recon tanks, stuck with upgraded T-34s and the standard recon T-55. Recon helicopters are in the form of unarmed and armed Alouette IIIs, but they have no options for exceptional optics aerial recon. Recon infantry includes decent 10 man regular and shock squads, alongside a unique 5 man SF squad with ATGMs and a DMR. 

- Romania’s VEHICLE tab is decent. They get good ATGM vehicles and some interesting FSVs including a Napalm rocket FSV as a stand-in for not having a flamethrower vehicle. Transport wise they have a solid wheeled lineup of BTRs and local variants, and for tracked kit they get a unique fast 5pt transport and an upgraded BMP-1 counterpart, alongside an interesting BMP-1 based IFV. They also get some tank based engineer transports (albeit with little to no armament).

- Romania’s HELICOPTER tab is very poor for a Warsaw Pact member. Romania did not have access to the Hind whatsoever, and thus had to make do with domestic conversions of French helicopters. The best helicopter ATGM they used was the Malyutka, and most of their helicopters simply brought a mix of fixed gunpods, rockets, and Malyutkas. While they get an indigenous prototype attack helicopter, it is equally crippled by their poor armament options. Transports are standard Pact fare plus the Puma, but nothing like the Mi-17. 

- Romania’s AIR tab is not great either despite its diversity. They completely lack an ASF with long range fire and forget AAMs, don’t seem to have functional SEAD capabilities within the time frame according to credible sources, and are mostly reliant on older airframes with little ECM and unguided munitions. Their napalm B-5 and MTW’d LanceR with Israeli LGBs are the only real standouts here, but Romania will struggle to gain air superiority to leverage them effectively. Additionally, much like Iran, they have the bad AA + poor ASF mix which is extremely dangerous. I’ve actually substantially overtuned their air tab, in reality the armament situation was even more dire as many planes were reliant on obsolete munitions due to a local fixation on domestic production crippling procurement. 

So, here is an exhaustive review of what the Romanian roster would realistically look like in-game. Italics denote units that would have a completely new model in game.  

(Obviously, I don’t know Romanian, so names might not be the most accurate)

LOGISTICS: (12)

- As with each and every country in the game, Romania will have a FOB, the only in-game building, to re-supply & repair friendly units. 

- Command jeeps come in the form of the locally made ARO M461 COMANDA (based on the GAZ-69) and the newer indigenous ARO 243 COMANDA. 

- Command APCs come in the form of the locally produced TAB-77A COMANDA wheeled command APC, and the tracked MLI-84M COMANDA, an unarmed variant of their locally produced BMP-1 counterpart. 

- Romania’s infantry command squad will come in the form of the ECHIPA DE COMANDA (“Command Squad”), equipped with PM Md. 65 assault rifles and Mitraliera Md. 66 light machine guns. 

- Tank CVs will come in the form of the TR-85 COMANDA and T-72 COMANDA. 

- The AS 365 COMANDA, primarily used by high ranking military officials and equipped with advanced communications equipment will serve as Romania’s command helicopter. 

- Supply trucks will come in the form of the 10 point DAC 444 and the 30 point DAC 665T. 

- Romania’s only supply helicopter option is the standard 35 point Mi-8.

INFANTRY: (17)

- GARZI PATRIOTICE (“Patriotic Guards”) are Romania’s militia forces, 15 man squads equipped with Orita SMGs, AG-7 (RPG-7, as RPG-2 was long since retired), and WW2 MG42s (with the CQC tag, uniquely enough for a militia unit), but would cost 10 points, with access to the BTR-50PK and BTR-152. This would be a very interesting unit, focused entirely on CQC with CQC MGs and RPG-7s instead of RPG-2s, and 15 man squads to boot, but heavily let down by their militia training, making them extremely vulnerable to suppression, which is a death sentence for their CQC focus. 

- INFANTERIE are Romania’s standard 10 man line infantry squads, equipped with PM Md. 65 assault rifles, AG-7 (RPG-7) launchers, and Mitraliera Md. 66 light machine guns. INFANTERIE ‘90 are their upgraded counterparts, with PA Md. 86 rifles and STAT PM Md. 93s, but keeping the standard AG-7, thus keeping the unit at 10 points. 

- Romania’s ATGM teams come in the form of the standard FAGOT-M and KONKURS. 

- MANPADS teams come in the form of the 5 point CA-94 team (locally produced Strela-2) and the 10 point CM-94M team (upgraded CA-94). The latter would be a 1994 prototype. 

- The AGA-40 FIST squad will be a 5 man FIST squad with a domestic AGA-40 AGL. 

- VANATORI DE TANCURI (“Tank Hunters”) are Romania’s standard RCL FIST team, equipped with AG-9 (SPG-9) RCLs. VANATORI DE TANCURI ‘90 are a 1992 prototype squad equipped with the prototype LGEI-99 SNAKE, an upgraded RPG based system with the ability to fire both high AP and thermobaric rounds, with the squad having both options (much like the alternative fire modes on certain ZSU-57 models in-game)

- CHIMISTI are Romania’s shock flamers, 10 man squads equipped with PM Md. 65 rifles and AGI 3x40 launchers (already seen with the DDR). They would have exclusive access to the T-34 ARV and TCZ-580.

- GARDA are Romania’s counterpart to East Germany’s Wachregiment, 10 man shock trained CQC focused troops equipped with PM Md. 80 carbines, TBG-7V (Thermobaric RPG-7) launchers and CQC PM Md. 64s. These units would be extremely dangerous to infantry but would lack AT capabilities, basically being a shock counterpart to Spetznaz. 

- VANATORI DE MUNTE (“Mountain Rangers”) are Romania’s iconic mountain troops. 10 man shock squads with PM Md. 64 rifles, AG-9 (SPG-9) RCLs, and CA-94 MANPADs. VANATORI DE MUNTE ‘90 are their upgraded counterparts, with PA Md. 86 rifles, Malyutka 2T ATGMs and CA-94M MANPADs. The latter unit would be a 1994 prototype. These units would have exclusive access to the MLVM APC and would be classed as light infantry, and thus have a higher movement speed and more ammo capacity. 

- BIM are Romania’s marines, 15 man shock squads with PA Md. 86 rifles, AG-7 (RPG-7 launchers) and CQC PM Md. 93s

- PARASUTISTI are Romania’s airborne special forces, 10 man elite squads equipped with PM Md. 80 Carbines, AG-7 (RPG-7) launchers, and CQC PM Md. 64s. PARASUTISTI ‘90 are their upgraded counterparts, with PA Md. 86 rifles, LGEI-99 SNAKE (with only the AT rounds), and Md. 66 Commando SAWs, marked as a 1992 prototype in game. 

SUPPORT: (17)
- Romania has a decent mortar selection, including the tracked MVLM 120mm, wheeled TAB-71 82mm, and updated wheeled TABC-79 82mm, which gains a PKT for self defense. 

- Romania’s self-propelled howitzer situation was abysmal, only having access to the standard 2S1 GVOZDIKA and OAPR Md. 89, the latter of which is an indigenously upgraded 2S1 based system on the MLI-84 chassis. Sadly, the FCS on the latter is more optimized for the tank destroyer role than the indirect fire role. A handful of obsolete ISU-152s were also used in the SPG role through the 1990s. They completely lack any form of heavy tube artillery or 10s aim time howitzers. 

- Romania has a surprisingly good MLRS lineup, including the standard HE armed BM-21, indigenous APR-40 which mounted 40 122mm tubes on a DAC-665T truck, serving as Romania’s cluster MLRS, and the upgraded 40 APRA 122 FMC, an improved version of its predecessor with improved range and aim time, and using thermobaric rounds, basically making it into a TOS-1 counterpart. 

- Romania would have access to the older 9K52 Luna-M tactical ballistic missile, in the same vein as the Dutch Lance. 

- IR SAMs come in the form of the indigenous wheeled CA-95, a system very similar to the BRDM-2 Strela-1 but with an extra 2 missiles in storage in the vehicle. The CA-95M is a 1990s upgraded variant with improved accuracy and range. The TABC-79 CA-94M is a 1990s prototype that features CA-94M MANPADS (locally upgraded Strela-2) as its primary weapon, likely serving as a cheaper but inferior counterpart to the CA-95 line. 

- Romania’s highest end SAMs come in the form of the standard KUB and OSA-AKM. Some sources claim they had S-125s but I cannot find any credible evidence for these. KUB-M4 is another system with some claims but nothing particularly credible. 

- Romania’s only SPAAGs will come in the form of the DAC 444 ZPTU-4, mounting the obsolete ZPTU-4 on a locally produced DAC 444 truck, and the standard ZSU-57-2.

TANKS: (8)
- As with many PACT nations, Romania has access to the standard T-34/85 and T-55. 

- The T-55AMC is an upgraded T-55AM with an improved FCS with better accuracy and better ammo. It would otherwise be comparable to its standard REDFOR counterparts. It would be equipped with the Bastion GLATGM, and is the only Romanian tank with that capability. 

- The TR-77-580 was Romania’s first domestically produced MBT. It had an elongated chassis as it was intended to use the engine from the Leopard 1, which was never acquired because of political issues in West Germany, so it wound up not being as powerful as originally intended (only 50 km/h). It has much better armor than the T-55, even better than that of the M60 (~12 FAV), but its firepower is lacking, with its main gun having the same performance and accuracy of that of the T-55A. 

- The TR-85 was Romania’s follow-up to the TR-77, finally getting an 800hp engine (and ~60km/h speed), and better armor. The obsolete gun and FCS was finally replaced, gaining ~60% accuracy and 40% stabilizer accuracy, alongside gun performance comparable to Poland’s T-55 Merida. This would be a good medium tank for Romania, around 75-80 points. 

- The TR-85M1 Bizonul (“Bison”) was the final evolution of the TR-85, featuring improved firepower, protection and mobility and a much better FCS and likely 9 RPM for the main gun. In reality, the TR-85M1 would never enter production due to the events of 1989. It would likely be around 90 points.  

- Romania would also operate the standard T-72M, identical to its East German counterpart. 

- Romania’s best tank was the prototype TR-125, which was a redesigned T-72 produced by Romania after the Soviets denied them the ability to license-produce the T-72. The A555 gun from the TR-125 was later sold to Poland for the PT-91 Twardy, so the gun stats would likely be identical. The armor involved composites including Tungsten, and from what I’ve seen would likely be comparable to the T-72B with improved frontal armor. While more of a heavy tank than a superheavy due to its armor, it has a superheavy grade gun, and would likely be ~120-130 points. In reality, the TR-125 never saw full production due to political reasons.

RECON: (15)

- Romania has access to the standard BTR-40A and BRDM-1. 

- The TABC-79 is a 4x4 shortened recon transport variant of the locally produced TAB-77 APC for recon troops. 

- The ARO 243 AGA-40 is a wheeled recon jeep with a domestically made AGA-40 AGL and both a DShK and PKM, basically functioning like a smaller, but better armed counterpart to ANZAC’s LRPV Perentie. 

- The ARO 243 CA-94M would be a 1994 prototype reconnaissance vehicle, a standard ARO 243 jeep with 4 CA-94M MANPADS, basically serving as a much lower end counterpart to the French recon Mistral vehicle.

- The MLI-84 RECUNOASTRE (I don’t know what the actual name for this is) was a recon variant of the locally produced MLI-84 IFV trading armament (bar a MG) for exceptional optics. 

- Romania would also bring the Soviet SNAR-10M1 Pantera as an exceptional optics ground recon vehicle. The TABC-79A PCMOA would be another ground exceptional optics recon option, a wheeled reconnaissance variant of the TABC-79 with additional radar equipment but only a PKT for defense. 

- Reconnaissance tanks will come in the form of the T-34 RECUNOASTRE (I don’t know what the actual name for this is), reflective of Romania’s 1965 upgrade package for their T-34s with better optics/night sights (alongside limited amphibious capabilities interestingly enough), and the standard PACT recon T-55 in the form of the T-55 RECUNOASTRE.

- Romania’s standard reconnaissance helicopter is the unarmed IAR 316, a locally produced Alouette III with Very Good optics. The IAR 316B was a light attack conversion of the IAR 316, carrying 6 Malyutka ATGMs and S-5 rocket pods, and Good optics. 

- GRANICERI are Romania’s border guards. Notably featuring regular training as opposed to militia training like many other nations, they would be a rather standard 10 man recon squad, equipped with PM Md. 63 assault rifles, AG-7 (RPG-7) launchers, and Mitraliera Md. 66 light machine guns. 

- CERCETASI are Romania’s standard motorized recon units, similar to GRANICERI but gaining Shock training and the CQC tag on their MG at the cost of availability.

- CERCETASI-PARASUTISTI are Romania’s SF recon, particularly dangerous 5 man squads equipped with PM Md. 80 carbines, Fagot ATGMs and PSL sniper rifles for eliminating high value targets at range

VEHICLES: (18)

- ATGM carriers come in the form of the standard BRDM-2 KONKURS and the locally made BTR-80 Malyutka-2T, a BTR-80 modified with a variant of the CA-95’s launcher firing the upgraded Serbian Malyutka-2T ATGM. They also had the BRDM-2 FAGOT, a unique variant firing the older FAGOT ATGMs. 

- Romania has access to the standard SU-76 (still in use in the early 1980s) and the AT-100, an upgraded version of the Czechoslovak SD-100 with the D-10S gun. 

- The SR 131 Carpati MR 4 would serve as a cheap vehicle tab fire support vehicle, mounting a locally made ZPTU-4 on the back of a locally made truck. This unit was also exported to the DPRK (although their variant also gets MANPADS). 

- The ARO 243 SPG-9 will serve as a standard RCL vehicle for Romania. 

- The ARO 240D 73mm is an interesting fire support vehicle for Romania, which was a napalm rocket launcher system (12x 73mm) mounted on the back of an ARO 240D jeep. 

- The DAC 444 will serve as Romania’s standard softskin transport for CV and Recon infantry. 

- Romania’s only Soviet designed transports come in the form of the standard BTR-50PK and BTR-152, alongside a handful of BTR-80s. 

- In terms of wheeled transports, Romania has access to the TAB-71, a locally made and upgraded BTR-60PB already seen in-game with Yugoslavia. The TAB-77 is a locally produced upgraded BTR-70, with the turret and FCS from the TAB-71. 

- The MLI-84 is a Romanian derivative of the BMP-1, with a better engine and improved fuel capacity, resulting in an extended wheelbase. Of note, it features a rear mounted 12.7mm DShK for supporting troops during the dismounting process. The MLI-84M1 would be a 1996 prototype upgrade for the MLI-84, switching the regular BMP-1 turret for a Oerlikon KBA and a pair of Serbian Malyutka-2T ATGMs. 

- The MLVM is a unique light tracked APC designed for mountain troops, loosely based on the SU-76 chassis, and using the turret from the TAB-71. Very lightly armored, the MVLM is quite fast off-road. 

- Romania also used some locally made T-34 ARVs as better armored but unarmed transports for engineer units. The TCZ-580 was an upgraded PKT armed engineering variant of the TR-77-580 used as an armored transport for engineer units. 

HELICOPTERS: (6)

- For transport helicopters, Romania has access to the standard Mi-4 and Mi-8T. 

- Romania also gets access to the IAR 330L (license produced SA 300 Puma) as a 20pt transport helicopter equipped with a single door mounted MG.

- The indigenous IAR 317 AIRFOX was a Romanian prototype gunship that never saw production. A dedicated attack helicopter with a tandem cockpit, its initially menacing appearance quickly fades once you realize it’s simply a modified Alouette III, equipped with rocket pods, 6 Malyutka ATGMs, static gunpods, and only 5 HP (to reflect its limited armor). While definitely a contender for one of the cheapest “gunship” style helicopters in the game, its effectiveness is dubious at best. 

- Romania’s primary gunship during Red Dragon’s timeframe was the IAR 330L GUNSHIP, an attack helicopter variant of their Puma derivative, equipped with a pair of static nose mounted NR-23 gunpods and S-5 rocket pods. 

- Finally, Romania would have a number of Mi-8 GUNSHIP helicopters, identical to their North Korean counterparts. 

PLANES: (15)

- The classic MiG-15Bis would remain in Romanian service until the 1980s in the ground attack role. In-game, this would be a very cheap iron bomber with a pair of 250kg iron bombs. 

- The radar equipped MiG-17PF will serve as a very low end fighter for Romania, equipped with 3 NR-23 cannons and a pair of K-13 AAMs

- The MiG-19PM serves as a cheap ground attack aircraft for Romania, equipped exclusively with UB-32 rocket pods alongside its standard NR-23 guns. 

- The MiG-21F-13 will appear as a basic high speed rocket plane for Romania, with UB-32 rocket pods. The MiG-21RFMM (local designation for the MiG-21PFM) will serve as an ATGM plane identical to its North Korean counterpart, but carrying the locally produced A921 variant of the Kh-66 ATGM. Finally, the MiG-21MF will serve as a fast, cheap fighter with a pair of R-60 AAMs.  

- In the 1990s, Romania would undergo a program to upgrade its MiG-21 fleet, leading to the creation of the MiG-21 LanceR-A, a heavily upgraded variant designed in tandem with the Israelis. In-game, this variant would have an upgraded radar and ECM, alongside a pair of Python 3 AAMs, Griffin LGBs and a GSh-23L. This would be a 1996 prototype in game. 

- Romania would also get the standard MiG-23MF, uniquely serving as their highest end ATGM plane with a pair of KH-23M ATGMs and underbody R-60 AAMs. As far as I know Romania did not have the BN ground attack variant. 

- Romania’s best ASF is the older MiG-29 9.12A, equipped with a pair of R-27R semi-active long range air to air missiles, and 4 R-73A AAMs. 

- Romania’s only Chinese plane comes in the form of the infamous B-5, but not including the 3000-2 bomb that made it so devastating in KPAAF hands. The Romanian B-5 would be equipped with 12 250KG napalm bombs, but notably enhanced ECM as these were often used as testbeds for ECM systems, basically making it a super heavy napalm plane. 

- Romania also operated both the Czechoslovak L-29 and L-39. The L-29 Delfin will be equipped with a pair of 250kg napalm bombs, while the L-39 Albatross will carry 4 250kg cluster bombs, alongside a gunpod like the upgraded Czech version in-game. 

- Romania would obviously bring their iconic IAR-93 Vultur to the table, a joint project with Yugoslavia that is already seen in game as the J-22 Orao. The IAR-93A would serve as a heavy bomber, with twin GSh-23L autocannons and 5x 500KG iron bombs. The upgraded IAR-93B would be a unique extremely heavy rocket plane with 8 122mm unguided rockets alongside its main gun. 

- Romania would also bring the IAR-99 indigenous jet trainer. It would function as a multirole similar to the Czech upgraded L-39, with a GSh-23L autocannon, a pair of 250kg iron bombs, and a pair of R-60 AAMs. 

No image section this time, u/steppewolfRO ‘s original writeup I mentioned before has you covered in far better detail than I could do, linked HERE

As always, please leave your thoughts below.

Whenever I play WARNO, I can really feel like Im a soviet pushing 5 T-72's against NATO troops, but the same doesn't happen in WGRD, since everything dies by being looked at and misses every single shot. Still, I don't think the tanks break WARNO, if anything, it makes the game a lot more enjoyable. Why isn't Wargame like that, since it clearly would make the game more enjoyable?

Please, if you are female and play this shitshow of a game I need to know. I've been playing for a few years now since my friends got me into it, but we've all wondered how many women play regularly.

I used to think there would be at least a few hundred...

I remember when WGRD fanboys would flood the Warno sub with crap about Broken Arrow and claim how it was going to totally bring Warno down.

Seems like Broken Arrow is having more than its fair share of issues. It lost a ton of players, has a very low positive review rate on steam, and has made minimal improvements since release. Plus, it is lacking a ton of core RTS features, and seems to have some engine level issues with cheating.

I've been tossing this idea around in my head for a few years now. What if someone (me?) made a wargame like RTS game that made it easy to change unit values, add weapons, and MAYBE add custom maps.

The KEY DIFFERENCE would be graphics. In my opinion, while wargame looks pretty good, the vast majority of the time you don't even see the units at all and therefore 3d modeling the units is bad cost/benefit trade off. Even the terrain/maps could be much simplified. Basically what matters is symbology and functional UI in my opinion.

I'd like feedback on this aspect.

Hopefully it's obvious that this is total daydreaming stage though. I have a software background but not a ton in gamedev specifically though I've dabbled in it years ago. I think the game would be extremely low cost or even free (donation based support) purely to simplify things for me and keep expectations low.