"STEEL THUNDER" GUIDE / FAQ / WALKTHROUGH V0.441 Written by Bamse 2003 mN while relaxing at Rancho Zoidberg. Based on the original Commodore 64 game by Accolade released in 1988. Played on the CCS64 V2.0 Beta Emulator for the Commodore 64. Table of content: 1. Introduction 2. About "Steel Thunder" 3. Getting Familiar With "Steel Thunder" 3.1. The Tanks 3.2. The Armament 3.3. The Different Tank Stations *Not Yet Completed* 3.4. The Theatres Of War *Not Yet Completed* 3.5. The Enemy Units *Not Yet Completed* 3.6. The Promotion Ranks *Not Yet Completed* 4. Playing "Steel Thunder" 4.1. Emulator Issues *Not Yet Completed* 4.2. The Keyboard Control 4.3. A Driving Lesson 4.4. A Shooting Lesson 4.5. General Gameplay Hints 5. Mission Guide 5.1. Cuba 5.2. Syria *Not Yet Completed* 5.3. West Germany *Not Yet Completed* 6. Frequently Asked Questions 6.1. Questions and Answers *Not Yet Completed* 6.2. Abbreviations *Not Yet Completed* 7. About This Document 8. History ### 1. Introduction This Guide / Walkthrough / FAQ is written due to the lack of information on this special game available on the Internet. If you have something to add or complain about feel free to mail. !This version is still full of mistakes & far from being complete or 100% accurate - so any help will be appreciated! ### 2. About "Steel Thunder" "Steel Thunder - American Battle Tank Simulator" has been released in 1988 for the Commodore 64 by Accolade, Inc. and later found it´s re-release for IBM compatible PCs. It´s a tank simulation giving you the command over one of four selectable tanks of the U.S. Army. It has enough depth and variety to teach you the basics of tank operation and strategy and offers plenty of ways to test and perfect those skills. Besides, it´s the best and most accurate tank simulation on the Commodore 64. ### 3. Getting Familiar With "Steel Thunder" ## 3.1. The Tanks There are four different tanks for you to choose. The choice depends on the special conditions and objectives of the upcoming mission. # 3.1.1. M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank "The M1A1 Abrams has armor impervious to almost all anti-tank weapons. It moves like lightning and hits with its first shot even while going 70 mph cross-country. The high-tech gunsights see targets under all conditions." The M1A1 Abrams carries 40 rounds for its potent gun. Its amazing speed and thick armor help in defeating heavy enemy tanks. Use it if you expect to fight a lot of T80s. Weapons: 120mm Main Gun .50 Caliber Machine Gun 2x .30 Caliber Machine Gun Armor: Heavy Composite Armor Speed: 90 Mph Crew: 4 # 3.1.2. M60A3 Main Battle Tank "The M60A3 is a mainstay of US reserve armor, with a stabilized 105mm gun and a superb all-weather gunsight. It has good armor and decent speed." The M60A3 carries more big rounds than other tanks and is well-armored, but is not the fastest. Use the M60A3 against light armor and older tanks. Weapons: 105mm Main Gun .50 Caliber Machine Gun .30 Caliber Machine Gun Armor: 4.8 Heavy Steel Armor Speed: 50 Mph Crew: 4 # 3.1.3. M3 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicle "The M3 Bradley is a fast, lightly armored scout/attack vehicle designed to support the heavier tanks. Its TOW missiles destroy any target." The M3 Bradley is fast and carries a lot of rounds, but is thinly armored. Use it to mop up hoards of infantry and light armor, but steer clear of tanks. Weapons: 25mm Chain Gun Twin TOW Missile Launcher .30 Caliber Machine Gun Armor: Light Spaced Armor Speed: 60 Mph Crew: 5 # 3.1.4. M48A5 Patton The M48A5 Patton has a big gun to dispatch light armor and bunkers, but it lacks gun stabilization, high speed and night / thermal sight. Try it on some easy day mission. Weapons: 105mm Main Gun .50 Caliber Machine Gun .30 Caliber Machine Gun Armor: 4.8" Heavy Steel Armor Speed: 30 Mph Crew: 4 ## 3.2. The Armament # 3.2.1. Types Of Ammuniton You have to distinguish between three types of ammunition: missiles, rounds (shells) and bullets. The only missiles available in the game are the TOW missiles of the M3 Bradley. Rounds (shells) are used with the tanks main gun, bullets are used with the tanks machine gun. # 3.2.1.1. Missiles TOW-2 Missiles: Effective Range: 71 - 4000 Yards (All In Sight) Max. Firing Rate: 3 Rpm TOW (Tube launched, Optically tracked, Wire guided) missiles destroy any target. # 3.2.1.2. Main Gun Rounds 25mm AP Chain Gun: Effective Range: 0 - 2500 Yards Max. Firing Rate: 200 Rpm AP (Armor Piercing) rounds will puncture lightly armored vehicles. Can not pierce bunkers or heavy tanks. 25mm HE Chain Gun: Effective Range: 0 - 2500 Yards Max. Firing Rate: 200 Rpm HE (High Explosive) rounds are useful against soft targets. Can not pierce bunkers or heavy tanks. 105mm / 120mm APFSDS: Effective Range: ??? Max Firing Rate: ??? APFSDS (Armor Piercing Fin-Stabilized, Discarding Sabot) rounds are useful to destroy heavy tanks. 105mm / 120mm HEAT: Effective Range: ??? Max Firing Rate: ??? HEAT (High Exposive Anti-Tank) rounds are used to blast everything except heavy tanks and bunkers. 105mm / 120mm HEP: Effective Range: ??? Max Firing Rate: ??? HEP (High Exposive Plastic) rounds are useful against bunkers. 105mm / 120mm APERS: Effective Range: ??? Max Firing Rate: ??? APERS (Anti-Personnel) rounds mow down infantry. # 3.2.1.3. Machine Gun Rounds .50mm Caliber Machine Gun: Effective Range: 0 - 1996 Yards Max. Firing Rate: 600 Rpm Useful against soft targets and thin armor. .30mm Caliber Machine Gun: Effective Range: 0 - 2250 Yards Max. Firing Rate: 900 Rpm The coaxial machine guns main purpose is to defeat enemy infantry. # 3.2.1.4. Other Smoke Mortars: Defense weapon to throw 3 smoke grenades at once to hide your tank in fumes. # 3.2.2. Armament Of The Available Tanks # 3.2.2.1. Armament Of The M1A1 # 3.2.2.2. Armament Of The M60A3 # 3.2.2.3. Armament Of The M3 # 3.2.2.4. Armament Of The M48A5 # 3.2.3. External Armor Final preparation before starting the mission is to choose an external armor appliable to any of the four selectable tanks. The choice should correspond to the expected main enemy armament of that mission. Blazer Reactive Armor: Explosive boxes defeat HEAT rounds and missiles. Extra Tank Treads: Helps against HEP and small AP and HEAT rounds. Sand Bags: Helps against HEP and small HEAT rounds and missiles. None: No extra external armor. ## 3.3. The Different Tank Stations ## 3.4. The Theatres Of War # 3.4.1. Cuba # 3.4.2. Syria # 3.4.3. West Germany ## 3.5. The Enemy Units Infantry: 3 are considered as one target Mortar: Bunkers: heavy armored Headquarters: heavy armored Scouts: BTR-70: 12.7mm Cannon PT-76: 76mm Gun BMP-2 30mm Gun T62A: heavy armored T80: heavy armored SA-9: Frog-7: ### 4. Playing "Steel Thunder" ## 4.2. Emulator Issues ## 4.2. The Keyboard Control Since the original manual provides you with an already complete explanation of the game-keys this section only deals with the slightly different keys of emulated versions due to the differences between the old C64 keyboard and nowadays pc keyboards. Note that the keys correspond to the European keyboard layout only! Also keep in mind that certain options are only available in certain tanks (e.g. the TOW launcher is only implemented in the M3 Bradley). 4 Driving Section 5 Weapon Section A (TOW, Gun, Sight, Filter, Zoom) 6 Weapon Section B (Turret, Smoke, Aux, Gun) 7 Damage Overview 8 Stores & Scores 9 Map TAB Return To HQ (Mission End / Abort) ^ Energy On / Off 1 Engine On / Off 2 MP On / Off Left Control Turret Power On / Off . Sight Normal / Zoom , Sight Day / TTS M Filter Clear / SMTRI / Filter N Fire Control Computer B EL or Hyd Normal / Manual V Stabilizer On / Off C TOW Launcher Up / Down Y Smoke Mortars Ready / Safe Backspace ES ??? On / Off X Aux On / Off F1 Throw Smoke Mortars F3 Weapon Select Main / Machine Gun F5 Laser Ranging or Main / Machine Gun ??? Ss / Lo / Hi F7 Ammunition Select AP / HE Right Shift Turret Turning Sensitivity Rough / Medium / Precise Home Fire Extinguisher Return "Gunner, Identify" Space "Gunner, Target" / "Cease Fire" 0 "Driver, Straight" Insert "Driver, Backwards" ´ "Driver, Circle" ß "Driver, Close On Target" ## 4.3. A Driving Lesson Using the M3 Bradley we first turn on the tanks energy (^), then its engine (1). After some seconds all lights turn to green and we are ready to move. We can now accelerate (Joystick Up), slow down until the tank stops or drives backwards (Joystick Down) and turn left or right (Joystick left / Joystick Right). Don´t worry, you can not hit any object while driving, even if you dash midship towards your own headquarter. ## 4.4. A Shooting Lesson To see what the following keys do we switch from the driving view to weapon section A (5). We turn on the turrets power (Left Control), then we ready the smoke mortars (Y) to be prepared. To make aiming easier we turn on the gun stabilizer (V) and switch the EL ??? to normal (B). If neccessary we change the sight from normal to thermal (,) or the filter from clear to SMTRI or filtered (M). We can also turn on the TOW launcher (C) we are about to use but keep in mind that your driver refuses to drive with the launcher up. But since we drive by ourselves we keep it on. In fact, it´s quite useful because than we can, while full speed driving, switch over to the weapon stations and have the tank stopped without slowing down manually. Before shooting at a target we always have it identified by our gunner (Return) since we never shoot friendly units. He can even identify objects only a pixel in size, but he tends to identify units as rubble when any destroyed object is with it in the scope or the sight is not clear of smoke. In that case we adjust the scope until the desired unit is the only object in sight, even if only one pixel of it is seen at the verge of the scope. ### 5. The Missions ## 5.1. Cuba # 5.1.0. 4A71 - Rest And Relaxation Primary Objective: Relaxe Enemy Forces Around Target: None Difficulty Level: None Promotion: None Medal: None Not a mission. By taking it you reject the "real" ones and cancel. # 5.1.1. 4A72 - Destroy An Enemy Mortar Post Primary Objective: Destroy Enemy Mortars Secondary Objective: None Enemy Forces Around Target: Mortars, Infantry, PT-76 Difficulty Level: Very Easy, Practice Mission Promotion: None Medal: None Selected Tank: M3 Bradley Armament: 750 AP Rounds 750 HE Rounds 21 TOW 800 .30mm Caliber Rounds External Additional Armor: None Take the recommended M3 and load as much TOW missiles as you can (21 that is) and head northeast until you pass the friendly US tank platoon. Keep driving northeast while checking the horizon north to east with the gunsight (zoom is not neccessary) until the first enemies appear in sight. Have them identified and than destroyed via TOW while they are still only a few pixels in size. Drive stop-and-go-like closer to the area to have new enemies come in sight. After destroying 3 mortars your mission is accomplished, but destroy any target in that area to have the mission be perfect. To improve your statistics you can now defeat other targets shown on the map with your remaining TOW missiles the same way you destroyed the mortars. Keep an eye on approaching BTR-70s or BMP-2s, they can surely inflict some damage to your M3. This mission will give you the oportunity to get familiar with the steering and systems of "Steel Thunder"´s simulated tanks (see the "4.3. Gameplay Tips" section for details). # 5.1.2. 4A73 - Stop An Advancing Enemy Patrol Primary Objective: Destroy Enemy Patrol Secondary Objective: None Enemy Forces Around Target: BTR-70, Infantry Difficulty Level: Very Easy Promotion: Sergeant Medal: None Selected Tank: M3 Bradley Armament: 750 AP Rounds 750 HE Rounds 21 TOW 800 .30mm Caliber Rounds External Additional Armor: None Quickly dash north until you reach the target area. Sneak forward while permanently checking the northern horizon with the scope. At length you see 3 - 4 BTR-70s which should be destroyed via TOW before they start making trouble. Defeating 3 BTR-70s will be enough to complete the mission, but make sure to wipe out the entire patrol, including the 4 - 5 infantries. Again, you can improve your statistics by destroying other targets around the area with your remaining ammunition. # 5.1.3. 4A74 - Eliminate Enemy Scouts Primary Objective: Destroy Enemy Scouts Secondary Objective: None Enemy Forces Around Target: Infantry, Scouts, PT-76 Difficulty Level: Very Easy Promotion: Sergeant Medal: None Selected Tank: M3 Bradley Armament: 750 AP Rounds 750 HE Rounds 21 TOW 800 .30mm Caliber Rounds External Additional Armor: None Head pass the U.S. tank platoon east towards the primary target. Shoot 3 scouts as soon as they get in sight to accomplish this mission, but also kill the enemy infantry. Avoid to get too far south until all units of the primary target are destroyed. If you feel like shooting you now can turn south to encountern an enemy BTR-70 and BMP-2 platoon. Waste your remaining TOWs on them. But approach carefully, don´t get into their weapon-range. # 5.1.4. 4A75 - Destroy An Enemy Mortar Post Primary Objective: Destroy Enemy Mortars Secondary Objective: None Enemy Forces Around Target: Mortars, Infantry, PT-76 Difficulty Level: Very Easy Promotion: Staff Sergeant Medal: None Selected Tank: M3 Bradley Armament: 750 AP Rounds 750 HE Rounds 21 TOW 800 .30mm Caliber Rounds External Additional Armor: None Again, head northeast until you pass the friendly US tank platoon. Keep driving northeast while checking the horizon until the first enemies appear in the scope. Destroy them via TOW. After defeating 3 mortars your mission is accomplished, but destroy any target in that area to have the mission be perfect. # 5.1.5. 4A76 - Ambush A Supply Convoy Primary Objective: Destroy Supply Convoy Secondary Objective: None Enemy Forces Around Target: BTR-70, BMP-2, Truck, SA-9 Difficulty Level: Easy Promotion: Staff Sergeant Medal: Yes Selected Tank: M3 Bradley Armament: 750 AP Rounds 750 HE Rounds 21 TOW 800 .30mm Caliber Rounds External Additional Armor: None One can not avoid to meet enemy units before reaching the primary target. Take the route east right through the friendly U.S. tank platoon, then heading rather through the enemy scouts than the BTR-70s and BMP-2s north of them along the way. Crack the scouts with TOW missiles and the surrounding infantry via chain gun. Always have an eye to the north and south to prevent BTR-70s from closing in. If they do, use TOW missiles to stop them. After defeating the scouts and passing the area look out for the convoy you approach from the southwest. Altogether there are 4 trucks, 2 BMP-2s, 2 BTR-70 and a SA-9 forming this convoy, start defeating the BTR-70s and BMP-2 first! # 5.1.6. 4A77 - Disable Enemy Communications Primary Objective: Destroy Communication Posts Secondary Objective: None Enemy Forces Around Target: T62A, BTR-70, BMP-2, Mortars, Infantry, Communication Post Difficulty Level: Easy Promotion: 2nd Lieutenant Medal: None Selected Tank: M3 Bradley Armament: 750 AP Rounds 750 HE Rounds 21 TOW 800 .30mm Caliber Rounds External Additional Armor: None Dash northeast until you reach the friendly U.S. tank platoon, then head east. On your way to the primary target you get very close to first a BTR-70s and BMP-2 column in the south, then a group of enemy infantry and mortars in the north. Stop once in a while and check the south then north for any enemy units. Wipe them out before they start attacking you. If you´re good at aiming with the TOW launcher you can defeat them with TOWs, there will be enough left to destroy your primary target. Make sure there are no units surviving south and north before you head on to the communication posts, or they will make lots of trouble and damage with a pincers attack while you concentrate on destroying the troops around the communication posts east. Around the posts there will be at least one T62a and some BMP-2 with infantry - have them destroyed first. One destroyed communication post will be enough to complete the mission, but again: leave no units alive. # 5.1.7. 4A78 - Disrupt An Armored Column Primary Objective: Destroy Tank Platoon Secondary Objective: None Enemy Forces Around Target: T62A, BTR-70, BMP-2, PT-76, SA-9, Truck Difficulty Level: Easy Promotion: 2nd Lieutenant Medal: Yes Selected Tank: M3 Bradley Armament: 750 AP Rounds 750 HE Rounds 21 TOW 800 .30mm Caliber Rounds External Additional Armor: None This time you should neither take the direct nor the fast way to your primary target, but the elegant one avoiding as much combat as possible. So head southeast past the U.S. tank platoon until you reach the lower border of the map. Then head east right towards the enemy BTR-70s and BMP-2 column. Destroy all eight units. Dash on eastwards and follow the road shown in the map "in a bow" towards the primary target avoiding to get close to any other enemy forces displayed on the map. West of San Luis, north along your way, you should then encounter a secret enemy convoy of one BTR-70 and five trucks not shown on the map. Destroy the BTR-70 with your TOW and the trucks with your chain gun. Drive on "following" the road northwards until eventually the tank column gets in sight of your scope. There are five BTR-70 and two T62A which should be dealt with first. Your mission will be completed by then, but don´t forget about the remaining PT-76 and SA-9 to have the column wiped out entirely. ## 5.2. Syria # 5.2.0. 5A71 - Rest And Relaxation Primary Objective: Relaxe Enemy Forces Around Target: None Difficulty Level: None Promotion: None Medal: None Not a mission. By taking it you reject the "real" ones and cancel. # 5.1.1. 5A72 - Destroy Enemy Headquarters Primary Objective: Destroy Enemy Headquarters Secondary Objective: None Enemy Forces Around Target: T80, T62A, BTR-70, BMP-2, PT-76, Frog-7, Bunker, Headquarter Difficulty Level: Moderate, Practice Mission Promotion: None Medal: None Selected Tank: M3 Bradley Armament: 750 AP Rounds 750 HE Rounds 21 TOW 800 .30mm Caliber Rounds External Additional Armor: None On this mission you have to spare your precious TOW missiles for the T80s, T62As and bunkers. Have these targets be destroyed as soon as they appear in sight using the TOW missiles, then switch to your chain gun using AP for the softer targets. But keep at least 4 TOW missiles left to crack the headquarters otherwise your mission can not be completed! So first head east to the enemy platoon consisting of about six BMP-2s and one or two PT-76s and have it annihilated using the chain gun. Then head northeast to the enemy bunkers. Destroy the five bunkers using TOW missiles after you got rid off the surrounding T80 and T62A. Also destroy the BMP-2s and BTR-70 in that area. You now should have about 14 TOW missiles left, enough for the remaining enemy forces. Head quite straight east towards your primary target avoiding the troops in the north and south. Since you can not be sure of the exact position of these troops you should occationally check the northern and southern area. When you reach the headquarters make sure to crack any T80 and T62A before you waste your remaining TOW missiles on the enemy headquarters - after destroying two of the three the mission is already accomplished. # 5.1.2. 5A73 - Destroy An Oil Depot Primary Objective: Destroy Oil Depot Secondary Objective: None Enemy Forces Around Target: T62A, BMP-2, PT-76, Oil Depot Difficulty Level: Moderate Promotion: 1st Lieutenant Medal: None Selected Tank: M3 Bradley Armament: 750 AP Rounds 750 HE Rounds 21 TOW 800 .30mm Caliber Rounds External Additional Armor: Extra Tank Treads Take the direct way through the two US platoons east then southeast towards the oil depot. You won´t be able to avoid meeting enemy forces either north or south along the way so keep your eyes open. It can be a bit tricky, because one of the enemy platoons will be behind your own troops making it hard for the gunner to identify them. Keep in mind that a moving unit is a hostile unit and don´t shoot friendly units! The oil depot itself isn´t that much of a problem. Have the patroling T62As, BMP-2s and PT-76s easily cracked from afar with your TOW missiles, but keep five missiles for the oil tanks though only three of them must be destroyed to complete the mission. # 5.1.3. 5A74 - Blow Up An Ammunition Dump Primary Objective: Destroy Ammunition Bunkers Secondary Objective: None Enemy Forces Around Target: T80, T62A, BRT-70, BMP-2, PT-7, Bunker Difficulty Level: Easy Promotion: 1st Lieutenant Medal: None Selected Tank: M3 Bradley Armament: 750 AP Rounds 750 HE Rounds 21 TOW 800 .30mm Caliber Rounds External Additional Armor: Sand Bags Move east, leaving the US platoon south of you, until you see the first units of the enemy BMP-2 column southwest of your primary target. Destroy the six BMP-2s and two PT-7 from afar via TOW missiles, then move on northeast avoiding the troops northwest of the ammunition dump. Around your target there are some hostile tanks, BMP-2s and one or two BTR-70. Defeat them on sight before you deal with the five bunkers. You should have enough TOW missiles left for all of them. # 5.1.4. 5A75 - Ambush An Enemy Supply Convoy Primary Objective: Destroy Enemy Convoy Secondary Objective: None Enemy Forces Around Target: Difficulty Level: Moderate Promotion: Captain Medal: None Selected Tank: M3 Bradley Armament: 750 AP Rounds 750 HE Rounds 21 TOW 800 .30mm Caliber Rounds External Additional Armor: None --- # 5.1.5. 5A76 - Disable An Enemy SAM Installation Primary Objective: Destroy Enemy SAM Site Secondary Objective: None Enemy Forces Around Target: Difficulty Level: Moderate Promotion: Captain Medal: Yes Selected Tank: M3 Bradley Armament: 750 AP Rounds 750 HE Rounds 21 TOW 800 .30mm Caliber Rounds External Additional Armor: None --- ### 6. Frequently Asked Questions ## 6.1. ## 6.2. Abbreviations AP: [Weapon] Armor Piercing Rounds APC: [Unit] Armored Personal Carrier APERS: [Weapon] Anti-Personnel Rounds APFSDS: [Weapon] Armor Piercing Fin-Stabilized, Discarding Sabot Rounds AUX: [System] BTR-70: [Unit] BMP-2: [Unit] EL: [System] ES: [System] FROG-7: [Unit] HE: [Weapon] High Explosive Rounds HEAT: [Weapon] High Exposive Anti-Tank Rounds HEP: [Weapon] High Exposive Plastic Rounds HQ: [Unit] Headquarter MP: [System] PT-76: [Unit] SA-9: [Unit] SAM: [Unit] SMTRI: [System] SS: [System] STA: [System] Stabilizer T62A: [Unit] T80: [Unit] TOW: [Weapon] Tube Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire Guided Missiles TTS: [System] Tank Thermal Sight ### 7. About This Document ### Initiated on September the 27th 2003 mN, written & copyright by Bamse. E-Mail: bamse2000@gmx.de ### 8. History ### 27.09.2003mN Guide created 30.09.2003mN Cuba completed, weapons added, Abbr. added 02.10.2003mN Syria started -eof-