Strategy and Tactics 357 : CENTCOM Persian Gulf War 2001 2003

Publisher: Decision Games / Strategy & Tactics
Designer: Joseph Miranda
Language: English
Period: Afghanistan and Iraq Wars (2001-2003)
Type: Operational modern wargame – primarily solitaire

Game Overview

CENTCOM: Persian Gulf War 2001-2003 is the featured wargame in Strategy & Tactics magazine issue #357, simulating the early 21st-century military campaigns conducted by US-CENTCOM in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The player commands coalition forces — including the United States, NATO allies, the Northern Alliance, and other partners — in operations aimed at defeating Al-Qaeda and the regime of Saddam Hussein while stabilizing the Persian Gulf region.

Enemy actions are controlled by the game system, representing OPFOR forces such as the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and Iraqi military units. Strategic events and instability are modeled through the Persian Gulf Instability Index (PGII), which can shift throughout the campaign and generate unexpected developments.

The standard scenario covers the period from October 2001, beginning with the invasion of Afghanistan, to June 2003, the anticipated end of Operation Iraqi Freedom. An optional scenario extends the campaign through early 2005.

Game Scale & System

• Players: 1 (optional multiplayer variant available)
• Level: Operational
• Time scale: One turn equals 3 weeks to 6 months of operations
• Map scale: 1 hex ≈ 43 miles (69 km)
• Unit scale: Brigade groups, divisions, and corps
• System: Expeditionary Warfare Points used to mobilize and conduct operations.

Players must coordinate coalition operations across multiple theaters while dealing with logistics, political instability, and evolving enemy threats.

Game Components

• One 22″ × 34″ full-color map
• 176 die-cut counters
• Game rules included in the magazine
• Historical articles and analysis accompanying the game