Ice Station Zebra: The Cold War Gets Hot*
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Date: May 1967*                     
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Battle Location:  Arctic Circle, U.S. Ice Station Zebra*
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Battle Type: Hypothetical U.S. advance versus Soviet delay*
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Description: An experimental U.S. spy satellite successfully flew over Soviet territory and has taken extensive photographs of Soviet airbases and missile installations.  This satellite ejects film canisters that must be retrieved by modified C-113 aircraft upon reentry.  Unfortunately, the ejected film canister reentered on the wrong trajectory and landed near the U.S. geological survey station code named "Ice Station Zebra".  Our last transmission from the station indicated that it was under attack by Soviet airborne troops.  Apparently, the Soviets are willing to risk a military confrontation in order to obtain the film canister.  Obviously, the satellite filmed something that the Soviets are desperate to hide.

You are in command of a U.S. airborne company that has successfully landed just west of the station.  You also landed right in the middle of an arctic blizzard with visibility limited to less than 150 yards.  Also, the Nautilus' radar indicates two separate flights of large Soviet aircraft approaching from the east.  It is likely that these are elite Soviet airborne troops.

Your orders are to recapture the station, retrieve the canister, and hold at all costs.*
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Notes:  If played against the AI, the human player should play the U.S. side.  The Soviets have a more than two-to-one edge, but the U.S. airborne snipers are a big equalizer.  Also, given the bad weather conditions, the Soviet paratroops are likely to drop just about anywhere.*
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Source: Loosely based upon 1968 movie "Ice Station Zebra", starring Rock Hudson, Ernest Borgnine, Patrick McGoohan, and Jim Brown.  In the movie, Navy Captain Ferraday (Hudson) commands a platoon of marines led by Capt. Leslie Anders (Brown).  This is one of my all-time favorite Cold War movies.*
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Design by:  D.W. Bullock*


