Beach Head

A challenging naval battle followed by an invasion with land forces. If your troops succeed in penetrating the island defences, the most difficult challenge still remains; capturing the enemy fortress of Kuhn-Lin!

Skill Levels

Beach Head has three skill levels. Easy, fair and hard. To select the appropriate skill level, type a number between 1 and 3. One is the easiest.

Sequence 1: Aerial Reconnaissance

The opening sequence is an aerial reconnaissance overview of enemy held territory. At this point your first command strategy decision must be made.

Choices: You can choose between two strategies:

1. Take your ten ship fleet through the hidden passage. The advantages to this strategy are:
   1. Catch the enemy off guard and unprepared. His airpower and naval forces will not be as strong.
   2. Your overall point total will be increased if you are successful in navigating the passage.
2. Take the enemy head-on and go straight into battle. The advantage to this strategy is:
   1. Your fleet will not have to navigate the perilous hidden passage. The passage is extremely difficult to navigate because it is mined and torpedoes are launched at random throughout the channel.
   2. To manoeuvre your fleet, move the joystick in the direction you wish to travel. Once moving, your fleet will continue in that direction.
   3. If you choose a frontal attack, proceed directly through the main channel and engage the enemy.
   4. If you choose to navigate the hidden passage, manoeuvre your fleet close to shore along the outer edge of the peninsula. When you have found the passage, the general quarters alarm will sound.

Sequence 2: The Hidden Passage

In this scene you will have to cross through a mined channel and avoid being struck by torpedoes fired by the automated defence system. To manoeuvre your ship, push left on the stick to turn left, right to turn right, forward to speed up and back to stop. Head for the opening directly across from the starting point.

Once you leave the passage you will be in a position to surprise the enemy and catch them in their harbour. Move swiftly to engage the enemy.

Sequence 3: General Quarters

Fighters at twelve o'clock!

Enemy fighter squadrons are now attacking your fleet! If you have surprised the enemy, many of his aircraft are below deck and will be unable to respond to the attack. If you choose strategy two, the number of aircraft attacking your ships is considerably greater.

Use your joystick to aim your anti-aircraft guns and shoot down enemy planes. Pull back to raise or push forward to lower your guns. Press the button to fire. Your ammunition will not run out, but it does take a certain amount of time to replenish. Do not waste shells or you will not be able to fire rapidly at a critical time.

Enemy surveillance aircraft occasionally fly by to report the battle progress back to the island. If you destroy these planes, it will add 2,000 points to your score.

If you survive the onslaught of enemy aircraft, the naval battle begins.

Sequence 4: Battle Stations

Once enemy aircraft have been neutralised, the enemy battleships and cruisers will begin shelling your fleet. The joystick is now used to fire your heavy guns to sink the enemy ships. Again, as in the previous scene, if you have surprised the enemy and caught them out of position, it will take them longer to zero in on your fleet.

To Control Your Guns

Each enemy ship is at a different distance from your fleet. When you fire your guns, a readout will appear on your control panel telling you the distance in metres that your shell was long or short. Your joystick controls the angle in degrees your guns are aiming. Each 0.5 degrees equals 100 metres. For example, if your readout tells you that your shell is 1,000 metres long, then you should decrease your gun elevation by 5 degrees to hit the target.

The control is the same as the anti-aircraft guns. However, the vertical movement will accelerate the longer you hold the position of the joystick.

Bonus Points

The enemy aircraft carrier will attempt to escape. If you sink the carrier, it will add 10,000 points to your score.

After the naval battle, you must manoeuvre your remaining ships into the enemy harbour. Since there is only room for four ships in the harbour, you will be awarded 2,000 points for each extra ship.

Sequence 5: Beach-Head!

Each ship that you navigate into the harbour carries two tanks. After your tanks have landed and your beach-head is established, you must fight your way through the island defence systems to get into the fortress of Kuhn-Lin. Once your tank starts forward there is no turning back! Tanks have side to side mobility but will continue forward at a constant speed.

There are numerous obstacles in your way including mines, anti-tank guns, enemy tanks, bunkers, etc. At this point the enemy is prepared and is throwing all his defence against your tanks to stop them. Each enemy defence system is worth a certain number of points, and their value is displayed when they are destroyed. Each time a tank succeeds in reaching Kuhn-Lin, the difficulty increases for the next tank. It will take you several tanks to finally destroy the fortress.

Sequence 6: The Final Battle

Once a tank has reached Kuhn-Lin, you must land 10 shells in the fortress to destroy it. There are ten targets to hit, but only one is vulnerable at a time. The vulnerable target will turn white. As each white target is hit, another will appear until all ten have been destroyed in sequence.

The fortress is defended by a huge cannon. Once this cannon has sighted you, it will get your range and fire. This cannon never misses. The final battle will require a task force of tanks to win. If you are successful in destroying the Fortress, the enemy surrenders and victory is yours!

Scoring

Even if you destroy the fortress, Beach-Head allows you to compete for high scores. Game scoring is as follows:

Winning Strategy Tips

1. Learn to navigate the secret passage. It is difficult to get your ships through initially, but if you take the time to learn to get your ships through, your score will be higher in the overall game.
2. When the enemy fighters are approaching, aim for the body of the airplane and do not use rapid fire until you zero in on the plane.
3. In the artillery sequence, make small changes in elevation by gently tapping the joystick.

High Score

Instructions for entering your name on the high score table will appear on the screen.

Game Controls

Z - Left, X - Right, * - Up, ? - Down, RETURN - Fire

Beach Head will operate either by the keyboard or a compatible joystick. To use a joystick press the Fire button from the high score table. To use the keyboard press the space bar from the high score table.

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