Vietnam ‘65

Set in 1965 during the height of the US ground war, you command American forces in a counter-insurgency (COIN) operation to secure the Ia Drang valley near the Cambodian frontier. Success depends on winning the "Hearts and Minds" of the local population, which requires tracking down and destroying Vietcong (VC) insurgents infiltrating from the Ho Chi Minh trail. These enemies destabilize the region by intimidating civilians, laying mines, and ambushing troops. You will also face the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), a well-equipped conventional force seeking to seize the valley as a step toward unifying Vietnam under communist rule. The NVA supports the insurgency and launches offensives from across the border. Your mission demands the coordination of ground troops, special forces, artillery, mechanized units, airmobile assets, and the training of local ARVN troops. Crucially, securing local cooperation provides essential intelligence. Additionally, you must manage political support back home; losing the backing of the American public guarantees defeat. The game authentically captures the Vietnam War through vital airmobile operations, fire support bases, and air strikes. As you progress, rise through the ranks from Lieutenant to General and watch your uniform change. Features include Hearts and Minds victory conditions, a political support model, a full range of US units, firebase support, Green Berets operations, an intelligence map, ARVN training, napalm strikes, medevacs, minesweeping, logistics, construction, and NVA offensives.