Baltic Approaches D+10 (19 July, 1987) Part III

0600– The Warsaw Pact thrust into Jutland was preceded by a limited number of company-sized heliborne assaults on key strategic targets behind the NATO lines. These attacks were not as effective as those launched against NATO positions in Schleswig-Holstein in the opening hours of the war eleven days earlier. The lessons learned on D+0 had been taken to heart and defenses around most potential targets in the rear areas had been strengthened. Still, a few of the attacks were successful and managed to cause problems for NATO through the morning and into the afternoon hours.

 

0800– Polish and Soviet ground forces start crossing into Jutland. The Soviet 6^th Guards Motor Rifle Division crosses in the east, and the Polish 12^th Mechanized Division in the west.

 

0800-1100- Danish and West German forward units make contact with the lead Warsaw Pact advance guards. Short, fierce battles break out along the length of the frontier, while in the skies above, NATO and Warsaw Pact fighters grapple for control of the air over Jutland.

 

1200– By noon the lead elements of the 6^th Guards MRD have pushed 10 kilometers into Jutland against moderate resistance. North of Gejla West German resistance stiffens.

 

1230– NATO wins air superiority. Allied ground attack aircraft join the battle to support the defending troops on the ground.

 

1415– The Polish advance has slowed in the face of two Danish counterattacks at Abild and Oster Host.

 

1600– With the land battle in Jutland hanging in the balance, COMBALTAP queries SACEUR about the possibility of diverting US Marine units slated for Norway to Denmark instead.

 

1825-2300 The 252^nd Motor Rifle Regiment of the 6^th Guards MRD and West German 16^th Panzergrenadier Brigade/6^th PgD clash in a heavy back-and-forth battle at Kliplev, just south of the 6^th PgD’s initial stop line. The engagement lasts close to four hours and when all is said and done, both regiments have suffered heavily. The West Germans hold their defensive positions, but just barely.

 

Author’s Note: First off, Happy New Year! I’m running a bit behind now because I was unexpectedly called into work yesterday and am down in Washington now. Hence the reason this post is coming in timeline form instead of narrative. Apologies. Second, this weekend I will put up a proper New Years post and discuss what will be coming up in the blog for 2020.