Twilight grind meets fast armor thrusts in this late-sixties Cold War sandbox.
Checkpoint Charlie lets NATO and Warsaw Pact finally clash on European soil. Moreover, it slots cleanly into the broader World War III ecosystem many of us know. The pitch is simple but tasty: you get tanks, jets, and infantry trading shots across tense borders.
What Is Checkpoint Charlie
This book drops you into the late 1960s and early 1970s when sparks could start a fire. Inside, you find full forces for the European theater, from heavy armor to AA screens. Moreover, it stays fully compatible with ’Nam and Fate of a Nation. That means you can cross-pollinate matchups for spicy what-ifs. The rules ride on the World War III: Team Yankee engine, with a few era tweaks layered in. Consequently, veterans can jump in quickly, while newcomers get a stable chassis.
American Battle Plan: Six Formations
The U.S. lineup opens with the M60 Patton Tank Company. It fields two or three platoons of M60s with the M68 105mm and both .50 and 7.62 machine guns. Moreover, you can bolt in M114 recon, M106 mortars, a M113-mounted Mech Platoon, and M150 TOWs. One tank platoon can swap for the M60A2 Starship, which fires the MGM51 Shillelagh missile. Consequently, you can pivot from classic gun duels to missile ambushes without rewriting the list.
The M48 Patton Company brings the earlier but sturdy 90mm-armed Patton. It mirrors the same in-formation options, including the M103 Heavy Tank Platoon. Meanwhile, the M103 Company steps up with the big M58 120mm gun. It hits like a truck, yet it is slow firing and less nimble. Additionally, it brings the same infantry, mortar, recon, and TOW staples. Therefore, you can theme around brute force or balanced arms and still feel period-right.
The American Mech Company rides in M113s and brings layered firepower. Platoons mix M60 teams with M72 LAW, M60 LMGs, and M47 Dragon missiles. Moreover, the company can add tanks, two M114 Cavalry Sections, two M150 TOW Platoons, plus M125 and M106 mortars. This gives you mounted mobility and dismounted bite. Consequently, objectives can be seized fast and then held under a wall of lead.
Recon, Airpower, and Support
Eyes forward come from the M114 Armored Cavalry Troop. Its formation fields two to six M114 sections, one to three Sheridan sections, a Mech Platoon, and mortars. The M114 is stealthy and quick, with a remote-fired .50 that fits the recon job. Meanwhile, the M551 Sheridan provides the hammer. Its 152mm gun can throw the Shillelagh missile when enemy armor shows up. Additionally, an Airmobile Rifle Company brings two to three Airmobile Platoons, a UH-1 Huey Aviation Platoon, plus an Airmobile MG Platoon and 81mm mortars. The 1st Cav vibe is strong, and inserts can happen anywhere the rotor wash allows.
Dedicated support rounds out the toolkit. You get M109 artillery, M113 FIST, and layered air defense from M163 VADS, M42 Dusters, and M48 Chaparral SAMs. Moreover, AH-1 Cobras stalk armor while F-4 Phantom flights bring loud, fast punishment. You can also add Formation Support and even an Allied Formation from NATO partners. Consequently, list building can lean pure U.S. or tilt into combined ops without breaking theme.
Summary
Checkpoint Charlie delivers a tight era focus with broad tools for American commanders. Tanks range from nimble M60s to bruising M103s, while mech infantry and recon knit the battle plan together. Moreover, airmobile inserts and serious support give you tempo choices every turn. The models live across current Battlefront ranges, with new releases queued. Additionally, an all-plastic M48 Patton Tank Company starter lands with decals and a code to unlock U.S. forces on the new Forces site. That code also unlocks the full digital book, which includes Americans, British, West Germans, Soviets, and East Germans. Finally, the first releases hit stores on October 25, with the full range rolling through November.
If you love Team Yankee’s cadence but want a different historical flavor, this is it. The rules feel familiar, yet the kit screams late-Cold-War grit. Moreover, force variety looks deep without losing that period soul. So pick a formation, dial up your air cover, and push for the crossing. The border is tense, the clock is ticking, and your Pattons are thirsty.
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