Soviet Air Mobile Forces on the Eve of Battle: D-1 (8 July, 1987) **

 

Both NATO and the Warsaw Pact had sensible notions about what moves the other would presumably make in the opening hours of a conflict. Awareness is not enough to bring about the defeat or neutralization of those moves on the battlefield, however. Countermoves and defensive measures were created, worked into preexisting operational plans, and practiced. But their real value would remain unknown until the shooting started.

NATO had a high regard for Soviet air assault forces and their capabilities, especially after seven years of observing them in action in Afghanistan. Alliance planners had a keen idea of how the Soviets would employ these forces in the first phase of a campaign against Western Europe. In the confusion of those first minutes, with the skies over West Germany and Denmark filled with hundreds of Warsaw Pact and NATO aircraft, heliborne troops would probably land at dozens of sites spread across NATO’s rear areas. Their objectives would range from seizing bridgeheads on the Weser and other rivers, to assaulting forward division and corps headquarters.

The Soviets had many specialized air assault battalions and regiments available to them for these tasks. The 35^th Guards Air Assault Regiment was GFSG’s main air assault component.  Additional air assault battalions had taken part in the June exercises and had remained in Eastern Europe instead of returning to the Soviet Union. As tensions rose, and diplomacy broke down, company, and battalion-sized air assault forces began preparing for their wartime missions.

NATO, in turn, was preparing to defend headquarters, air defense sites, bridges, REFORGER and nuclear weapons sites against potential air mobile assaults. Security was increased practically everywhere it might be needed at a time when every available soldier was desperately needed farther forward. West German, Dutch, Belgian, and Danish reserve units that should’ve been moving to join their parent active duty brigades and divisions were instead finding themselves watching over bridgeheads on the Weser, and Rhine rivers, or babysitting road intersections hundreds of kilometers away from the border. USAREUR focused its best security units on REFORGER sites and the field locations of its GLCM and Pershing II missiles. USAFE contributed to the later but its main security focus was the defense of its fixed installations across Europe.

At forward airbases across East Germany on 8 July, Soviet paratroopers were reviewing plans and making the final preparations for their coming missions. The commander of the 1185^th Air Assault Battalion had the utmost confidence in his unit. His faith did not stem from hubris or arrogance. All of his company commanders, and the majority of NCOs were, like him, veterans of Afghanistan. When he had taken command of the battalion one year earlier, he made it a point to bring in as many experienced men as possible. That experience was going to be needed in the coming days.

The 1185th’s role in the coming campaign was important. The battalion was to be transported in its entirety to secure a number of  strategically important bridgeheads on the Weser River and hold them until relieved by armored spearheads from the 3^rd Shock Army. The battalion commander received assurances that his forces would be rescued within 3 days, yet he was not prepared to stake his life and that of his men on the promise of an arrogant tank general. In all likelihood it would be twice that amount of time before his battalion was rescued, if at all. In war there are no guarantees, he knew all too well. Therefore, he was bringing as much ammunition, rations, and other essential supplies forward as was possible.

As he stood sweltering in the mid-afternoon heat, watching one of his assault companies go through calisthenics, he hoped other air assault unit commanders were thinking along similar lines. In fifteen hours or so they would all be on the ground behind NATO lines in hostile territory, and cut off from resupply. The mere thought was enough to send a chill up his spine.

The colonel took one last look at his men and walked away, wondering just how many of them would be alive at the same time tomorrow.