The Central Front D+15 (24 July, 1987) Part II

Precisely on time at 0100, the scheduled reconnaissance mission by the TR-1 tactical reconnaissance aircraft commenced. The aircraft, a variant of the venerable U-2, was an invaluable reconnaissance and intelligence asset. Therefore, its flight path was nowhere near the battlefront. The TR-1’s patrol pattern was essentially a fixed straight line established just east of the Rhine. This aircraft carried no cameras. It carried a side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) which pointed perpendicular to the line of flight and looked for vehicles on the ground. Generally, there was always a TR-1 airborne and on patrol, but owing to maintenance issues, a four-hour gap had developed late on D+14 where there was no coverage. To compensate, the current TR-1’s mission time was reduced to 120 minutes. It would be relieved early and return to its forward-operating base in Belgium where its data would be removed and sent up the line for analysis.

Soviet reconnaissance efforts in these early morning hours were more conventional and less dependent on technology. Small groups of reconnaissance troops and accompanying BRDMs probed the ground between friendly and enemy formations, searching for a small opening to slip through and gain access to NATO lines. These missions were generally regarded as suicidal since the soldiers inevitably revealed their locations the moment their reports were radioed back to higher headquarters. They were also crucial and necessary.

NATO units on the ground were also conducting their own reconnaissance missions. Lightly-armed British, West German and Belgian reconnaissance troops and their thin-skinned armored vehicles moved about on the same ground, searching for telltale signs of the disposition of Soviet forces. More importantly, they tried to uncover evidence that would reveal details of the enemy’s plan of attack. More often than not, the recon troops of both sides ended up stumbling into each other and never came close to fulfilling their missions. The first contact of the day came about from these chance encounters.

On the western side of the Leine, 47^th Guards Tank Division was prepared for commitment. The entire division, as it stood following two weeks of war, was across the river and as first light appeared in the sky, its advance guard was approaching the positions of the 56th Guards Motor Rifle Division, which was fast approaching combat ineffectiveness. The motor rifle troops had been in heavy combat practically since the moment it crossed the Leine only a few days earlier. It could accomplish no more in its current condition. The 47^th Guards would take it from here and was scheduled to jump off at 0720 and continue what looked to be the main attack towards the Weser.

To the south, 6^th Guards Tank Division was seventy percent across the Leine. Its lead regiment, the 79^th Guards Motor Rifle regiment had been stopped the previous night by a Belgian counterattack. Two tank regiments were now almost in position to resume operations against the Belgian division in place between 6^th Guards and the Weser. The orders for the Soviet division were to occupy the Belgians and continue to produce the impression of a secondary attack until the follow-on divisions were across the river and fully prepared to start the true main attack towards the Weser, 23 kilometers southeast of where NORTHAG believed the main attack was now underway.

The data from the 0100 TR-1 flight, along with data from other reconnaissance platforms, arrived on SACEUR’s desk at 0500. His senior intelligence officer was also present to provide answers to any questions the man charged with the defense of Western Europe might have about the data. There were none. The still images of radar pictures and the accompanying summaries were enough.  He studied the contents of the folder closely. After fifteen minutes, General Galvin concluded that the data did not strongly support his notion that the main Soviet attack would be launched towards a point south of Hameln. The Leine crossing sites remained active, both northern and southern. The fact that the Soviet divisions now closing in on the river appeared to be moving towards Bruggen and Alfeld instead of Freden seemed to be the final nail in the coffin.

Yet for some reason he couldn’t explain or fathom, SACEUR remained dubious.