Vietnam '65

Vietnam '65 is a strategy game set in 1965, during the US ground war in Vietnam. As a US Army commander, you wage a counter-insurgency campaign to secure the Ia Drang valley on the Cambodian border. You must win the support of the local population while fighting Vietcong insurgents and the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), and maintain support for the war back home.

The conflict

Vietcong infiltrate from the Ho Chi Minh trail, intimidate local people, lay mines and ambush your forces. The NVA, a trained conventional army with ambitions to take control of the valley, operates across the border to support the insurgency and launch offensives when the time is right. The valley is a stepping stone in its effort to unite North and South Vietnam under communist rule.

Winning the local population’s support brings intelligence, which is important to counter-insurgency warfare. Losing the support of the American people also puts the war at risk, so you manage political support at home as well as the campaign in Vietnam. Victory conditions include Hearts and Minds.

Command the campaign

Coordinate ground troops, special forces, artillery, mechanized units, local forces and airmobile assets. Airmobile operations, fire support bases and air strikes play important roles. You can train the South Vietnamese Army (ARVN), conduct Green Beret operations, and use transport helicopters, APCs, armor, gunships and engineers.

The campaign also includes an operational intelligence map, napalm strikes, medevacs, field repairs, minesweeping, ambushes, logistics, road and base construction, and NVA offensives. As you rise through the ranks, your personalized uniform changes from that of a junior Lieutenant to a General.