What were the SIGMA War Games?

Introduction The Sigma war games were a series of classified high level war games played in the Pentagon during the 1960s to strategise the conduct of the burgeoning Vietnam War. The games were designed to replicate then-current conditions in Indochina, with an aim toward predicting future events in the region. In almost all runs, the… Read More

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What is a Tactical Wargame?

Introduction Tactical wargames are a type of wargame that models military conflict at a tactical level, i.e. units range from individual vehicles and squads to platoons or companies. These units are rated based on types and ranges of individual weaponry. The first tactical wargames were played as miniatures, extended to board games, and they are… Read More

What is Kriegsspiel?

Introduction Kriegsspiel is a genre of wargaming developed by the Prussian army in the 19th century to teach battlefield tactics to officers. The word Kriegsspiel literally means “wargame” in German, but in the context of the English language it refers specifically to the wargames developed by the Prussian army in the 19th century. Kriegsspiel was… Read More

What is Military Wargaming?

Introduction A wargame, generally, is a type of strategy game which realistically simulates warfare. A military wargame, specifically, is a wargame that is used by military organisations to train officers in tactical and strategic decision-making, to test new tactics and strategies, or to predict trends in future conflicts. Refer to Wargame, Kriegsspiel, Tactical Wargame, and… Read More

What is a Wargame?

Introduction A wargame is a game that realistically simulates warfare, as opposed to abstract strategy games such as chess. Wargaming may be played for recreation, to train military officers in the art of strategic thinking, or to study the nature of potential conflicts. Many wargames recreate specific historic battles, and can cover either whole wars,… Read More

What is Dissimilar Air Combat Training?

Introduction Dissimilar air combat training (DACT) was introduced as a formal part of US air combat training after disappointing aerial combat exchange rates in the Vietnam War. Refer to Aggressor Squadron and US Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Programme (aka TOPGUN). Background Traditionally, pilots would undertake air combat training against similar aircraft. For example, pilots… Read More

Covid, Online Wargaming, & Keeping Soldiering Skills Sharp

An online soldier community that has been deploying video games to help keep battlefield skills sharp has started to attract toplevel interest. Players in the tri-Service UK Fight Club have turned to wargaming titles as a way of engaging each other online and practising manoeuvres that could be used on real-life exercises. Now, having picked… Read More