Baltic Approaches D+13 (22 July, 1987) Part VI

1230– The Soviet amphibious group passes 20 miles south of Bornholm. Earlier in the morning the damaged cruiser Alexander Nevsky was detached from the group as its maximum speed was reduced to less than ten knots. The ship was becoming a liability. One of the surviving frigates of the Surface Action Group was tasked with escorting the cruiser back to port.

16 miles behind the Soviet amphib group was its Polish counterpart. Both groups continued moving west at 15-16 knots, roughly six hours behind schedule. At the present rate neither one was expected to reach the vicinity of their intended landing beaches until long after dark. This was something the Red Banner Baltic Fleet’s commander Admiral Vitaliy Ivanov had hoped to avoid. An opposed landing after running a gauntlet of enemy ships and submarines was difficult enough in daylight hours. Doing so after dusk would be a complex, and dangerous task at the very least.

1300– Fighting on Mon intensifies as East German troops come into contact with elements of the 3^rd Zealand Battle Group which have recently arrived on the island. The main area of the fighting is the villages of Stege and Lendermarke. The Danes are struggling to keep the East Germans contained on Mons until the remainder of the 3^rd and additional reinforcements arrive.

1400– This time it was the Danish Navy’s turn to strike. The 2^nd Squadron (FGE Frigate Squadron) and 4^th Squadron (TBE Torpedo Boat Squadron) conduct a coordinated Harpoon missile attack on the Soviet amphib group. The effectiveness of the US Harpoon missiles was considerably higher than that of the Exocets used earlier in the day by West German naval forces. Of forty missiles fired, half make it through the dense curtain of SAMs and find targets. Three amphibious vessels are sunk (2 Ropuchas, 1 Alligator) and a further three damaged. One destroyer and one frigate each are also destroyed, with four other escort warships absorbing varying degrees of damage. After expending their Harpoons, the Danish ships move in to conduct torpedo and gun strikes.

1420– The Soviet escort force fires its last remaining anti-ship missiles at the Danish squadrons with disappointing results. One enemy frigate is sunk, and another damaged. One of the Danish fast attack craft in the 4^th Squadron is hit and sinks with all hands.

1435-1500 The 2^nd Squadron breaks off its planned second attack and withdraws west to reposition itself. 4^th Squadron continues in, commencing its attacks with torpedoes and 76mm naval gun fire. Limited damage is inflicted. No Soviet ships are sunk, but three more vessels (two warships, 1 amphib) receive battle damage. Three of the Danish Willemoes-class missile boats are destroyed.

Next come the Harpoon missiles from the two land-based batteries located on Zealand. These were not attacked earlier in the morning by East German warplanes. Two Krivaks and the Ivan Rogov are hit. The frigates sink within fifteen minutes of each other.

1530– NATO warplanes make their first appearances over Mon, providing close air support for Danish troops. The Danes are struggling to keep the East Germans from spilling over onto Zealand, especially since there are additional Pact landings likely in the coming hours.

1610– The losses and damage to the Soviet amphibious group force Admiral Ivanov to postpone further Pact landings. The Soviet group is ordered to disembark its naval infantry onto Bornholm, while the Polish group receives orders to seek shelter in the nearest East German or Polish Baltic port.

1800– Surviving escort warships and amphibious vessels approach Ronne on Bornholm. The extent of Soviet losses at sea on this day start to become apparent. In all likelihood there will be no further attempt to move Soviet and Polish naval infantry troops to the Zealand beaches.

1945– Danish Home Guard units and the 3^rd Zealand Battle Group are pushed off of Mon. The island is now entirely in East German hands. However, expanding beyond there into Zealand may prove to be too much for the 29^th Motor Rifle Regiment. Unfortunately, the regiment’s commander has not been told when to expect the arrival of his unit’s sister regiment.

2000-2359- The remainder of the night passes dubiously for both NATO and the Warsaw Pact. There is much uncertainty for commanders around the Baltic. For NATO it remains unclear if more Pact landings are coming. Swedish reconnaissance reports have confirmed the presence of Soviet amphibious ships at Bornholm, and a West German submarine radioed in news that the Polish amphibious ships were moving back east. After receiving this report, NAVBALTAP issued orders for all NATO naval units to refrain from attacking Polish targets unless in self-defense. Within an hour traffic went out from AFNORTH to all NATO air, land, and sea units in theater issuing similar orders.

There was a desire at NAVBALTAP to go after the Soviet amphibious group and the docks at Bornholm. Unfortunately, D+13 had been a day of heavy casualties for the West German and Danish navies. The assets simply were no longer available, and AIRBALTAP had its hands full contending with close air support missions in Jutland, reshuffling squadrons, and reestablishing heavy combat air patrols over Denmark in preparation for whatever might be coming next.

The day ended for NATO and the Warsaw Pact on a quiet, reflective note of ambivalence. But both sides recognized that the lull was only temporary. Soon enough the war would resume again.