Baltic Approaches D+15 (24 July, 1987) Part I

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0015– The remaining vessels of the Soviet amphibious group depart Bornholm and sail east. Their destination has not yet been determined, though Baltic Fleet has advised the group commander to be prepared to make an opposed landing on the Polish coast along with other Baltic Fleet warships and embarked naval infantry later in the day.

0100– Swedish naval forces detect the movement of Soviet amphibious forces east, away from the Danish coast and towards the waters of the central Baltic Sea. The Swedes are aware of the situation in Poland and the enemy ships are likely heading there. However, Gotland, or the Swedish coast were also potential targets.  In Stockholm, the Swedish government and military debate the pros and cons of conducting a major attack on the Soviet ships later in the morning.

0325– Preparations for a two-division sized attack on the rebellious Polish forces in western Jutland continue. Northern Group of Forces has been directed to suspend its northern advance and hand off responsibility to East German forces when they arrive later in the morning. However, there have been no signs of GDR regiments or divisions moving towards Jutland, leaving NGF’s commanding general to wonder when, or even if, the East Germans will arrive.

0407– Orders are transmitted to all NATO air and sea forces in the Baltic to avoid engaging Polish aircraft, surface ships and submarines unless fired on first. Sweden sends out similar orders to its forces a little while later.

0445– On the Danish coast, the East German 28^th Motor Rifle Regiment digs in on the southern tip of Zealand and prepares to defend the toehold on Denmark’s largest and most populous island. Assurances that reinforcements are to arrive later in the morning continue to arrive from higher headquarters but the 29^th MRR’s commander is unconvinced.

0520– East German MiG-23s and NATO fighters clash in the skies over Zealand. The mission of the GDR MiGs is to open a hole in the air defenses of southern Denmark long enough for ground-attack aircraft to fly missions in support of the 28^th MRR.

0655– LANDJUT’s commander and his battle staff studied the maps and intelligence reports carefully through the early morning hours. After much debate and hypothesizing the decision was made to move a brigade of the US 9^th Infantry Division (Motorized) south to bolster the defenses keeping Soviet tank and motor-rifle troops from breaking through and linking up with the paratroopers at Skrydstrup Airbase.