The Central Front D+6 (15 July, 1987) Part IV

0700 Continued- Artillery barrages and airstrikes preceded the Soviet divisions westward advance. A full regiment of MiG-29 Fulcrums was on station over the area, keeping NATO airpower from inflicting damage on the advancing first-echelon regiments, and giving protection to the MiGs and Sukhoi attack planes flying strikes in support of the units on the ground.  …

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The Central Front D+6 (15 July, 1987) Part III

0500- Elements of the 2nd Guards Tank Army (2GTA) begin a series of supporting attacks against the Dutch 4th and 1st Divisions. The 207th Motor Rifle Division moved into the 4th Division’s sector expecting to find the enemy quickly. This was not to be the case. The two forward brigades had largely withdrawn, as per …

The Central Front D+6 (15 July, 1987) Part II

Upon returning to  NORTHAG’s wartime headquarters just after midnight, General Martin Farndale took some time to reflect on the conduct of his command in the war so far. After six full days of fighting, the Northern Army Group’s performance had exceeded virtually all expectations. The Dutch, West German, British, and Belgian corps’ making up NORTHAG …

The Central Front D+6 (15 July, 1987) Part I

Minor adjustments were made to General Snetkov’s original attack plan, but it generally remained intact and entirely feasible. 2nd Guards Tank Army, reinforced with East German divisions, was in position to commence attacks against the Dutch 1st and 4th Divisions as originally intended. Simultaneously, 20th Guards Army’s lead divisions would advance towards the seam separating …

The American Homefront D-1 (8 July, 1987)

At 7 PM Eastern Daylight Time, the nightly news broadcasts on CBS, NBC, and ABC started. Two of the ‘Big Three’ anchors were broadcasting live from Europe. Tom Brokaw was in London, and Peter Jennings was in Brussels. Dan Rather remained at the CBS studios in New York City much to his chagrin. He wanted …

The North Atlantic D+6 (15 July, 1987) Part II

As the cargo ships assigned to Convoy 27-1 continued to unload in LeHavre on the morning of D+6, SACLANT unceremoniously declared the convoy defunct. The destroyers and frigates that escorted the merchantmen across the Atlantic departed LeHavre before dawn and began their return journeys back to the east coast of the US. These ships would …

The North Atlantic D+6 (15 July, 1987) Part I

The Norwegian Sea was setting up like a chessboard. In place of the traditional white and black sides were the more contemporary red and blue representing the Soviet Union and NATO. The collection of US and allied warships steaming north was as impressive, and indomitable a collection of sea-going knights, bishops, and rooks as any …