These are the units that will do the most damage on the battlefield. One should also remember that although some experts discounted the quality of Soviet troops, due to their being conscripted and composed of different nationalities, with different languages, these factors are also true for Nato. Only the USA and the UK had fully-professional forces in 1985; and the USA had not yet recovered from its Viet Nam debâcle.

Therefore expect to be outnumbered by Soviet forces and be attacked by land, sea and air in coordinated thrusts. Russian Special Forces included Spetnatz, who were (and are) highly trained, battle-hardened and formidable. They may appear behind your lines at any time.

The Soviet assault is in columns, led by massed armour followed closely by mechanized infantry who will exit their vehicles to tackle obstacles. There is close air support, massed artillery and air cavalry assault.

During the Pact's assault phase and whilst Nato assembles its forces (an essential component being the US air-sea bridge from the continental USA to Europe), any Nato forces foolhardy enough to try and block the Soviet advance will be rapidly annihilated. Put another way: any Nato unit standing in open ground facing the advancing Soviet forces will be steam-rolled.

Nato reckoned that any delay or break in the US air-sea lift would allow the Pact to advance to the Atlantic in just two weeks. Only the British Isles (with its trusty tank trap, the English Channel) could have held out. This applies to you, playing Nato forces. You must therefore use other means to gain victory.

Nato battlefield tactics originate from European warfare millennia past. Across Europe is a series of large north-south running rivers. Each affords the defender the opportunity to build a defensive system that may punish the invader. Note punish - not stop necessarily.

Since the start of the Cold War, Nato officers have strolled across the North European plain. They have learned every knoll, clump of trees, stream and contour. Engineers have molded this countryside to afford every advantage. You must study the maps and discover them for yourself.

Apparently natural features allow you to position your forces to hit the enemy in their most vulnerable areas - side and rear armour. When their mechanized infantry try to counter-ambush you, pull out and move to your next position. You will lose ground (sorry, Germany), but gain points. Remember this: Nato is prepared to lose ground in order to save lives and punish the enemy; unnecessary dead will be most unwelcome.

You may notice a substantial difference between WW2 and WW3 firepower. Human flesh is as vulnerable as ever, as are soft-skinned vehicles. Armour has improved considerably, but when hit by a TOW missile is not much defence. As an example, think of the destruction of Israeli armour at the hands of Soviet Sam-equipped Egyptian infantry in the 1973 Yom Kippur war.

Battlefield tactics must take account of this increase in firepower. Remember that by far the largest proportion of casualties are caused, not by small arms, or armour, but by artillery (land and air). Best results are gained by using your mobile ground forces to contain and define the enemy, then bombard the enemy from guns and aircraft.

The time may come when, having reached the geographical limit of your theatre, you have to stand and fight. In this back-to-the-wall case, try to avoid allowing any unit to become the target of enemy forces - their concentrated fire is likely to be immediately overwhelming.

We hope you find some of the same pleasure in WW3 as we have.