Command: Modern Operations Command:MO LIVE - Old Grudges Never Die

Command: Modern Operations Command:MO LIVE - Old Grudges Never Die is a scenario set during the Syrian Civil War, amid rising tensions between Russia and Turkey. You play as either country, trying to protect national honour while keeping hostilities limited. US, Coalition, Syrian, ISIS and rebel forces complicate the situation, and victory is not always measured by casualties.

Turkey

As commander of Turkey’s 10th air force wing, you must protect Turkish airspace, particularly from Russian incursions. Your forces include two F-16 squadrons based at Diyarbakır and an F-4 squadron at Malatya Erhaç. Two Coalition tankers and a 737 Wedgtail operate from Incirlik in support, but are not under your command. A navy frigate and submarine are also available if needed.

US, British, French and German Coalition aircraft are conducting missions against rebel targets in northern Syria. Some have cleared Turkish airspace, and many operate from Incirlik, so you are instructed to accommodate them. Russian aircraft have no authority to cross the border, while Syrian forces generally remain at their bases. You must use non-lethal means unless given permission to start a war. You are also instructed to use your F-4s to bomb Kurdish forces in retaliation for Russian damage to the Turkoman Brigades.

Russia

As commander of Russian forces in Syria, you lead a force of more than 40 aircraft, from modern fighters to unmanned surveillance drones, as well as a SAM system, two submarines and a ship patrolling off the coast. Your force is surrounded, vulnerable and outnumbered.

Your main task is to support Syria in the civil war by attacking ISIS and western-supported or non-aligned rebels, and supporting Kurdish and Syrian forces in the north. You must also watch for NATO, especially Turkey, while keeping the Americans and Europeans out of the conflict. Strategic Forces from Engels airbase are scheduled to conduct another cruise missile mission, with missiles likely to fly through Turkey. You have authority to fight back if the Turks start hostilities, but must avoid drawing the US and NATO into the conflict.

Escalation and scoring

Each side has a counter that affects the scenario’s outcomes. The Turkish counter gains 1 point for each Turkish aircraft shot down, plus 1 for the first Turkish aircraft shot down; it loses 1 for each Russian aircraft shot down. It gains 3 points if Syria enters the war, if there is a major civilian disaster, or if the Turkish submarine is sunk. It loses 1 point if a Russian submarine or Russian SSV is sunk.

The Russian counter gains 1 point for each Russian aircraft shot down, plus 1 for the first Russian aircraft shot down; it loses 1 for each Turkish aircraft shot down. It gains 3 points if a Russian submarine is sunk (there are two) or if there is a major civilian disaster. It loses 1 point if the Turkish submarine is sunk, and gains 1 if the Russian SSV is sunk.

The counters can trigger intervention, with the following effects and probabilities:

• US intervention: Russia loses 50 VPs, and an F-15C AAW CAP operates over Syria. This has a 50% probability when the Turkish counter is above 5, 70% above 7 and 90% above 11.
• Coalition intervention: Russia loses 50 VPs, and an AAW CAP with Typhoons and Rafales operates over eastern Syria. This has a 60% probability when the Turkish counter is above 10 and 80% above 15.
• Syrian intervention: Turkey loses 50 VPs, and Syria conducts AAW and strike missions. This has a 40% probability when the Russian counter is above 5, 60% above 7, 70% above 9 and 80% above 11.