An In-Depth History and Analysis of the Third World War
For NATO and Warsaw Pact commanders on the flanks and at sea, news of the exchange halted operations for a period of time as preparations for potentially yet another round of nuclear exchanges got underway. In each theater, these preparations were complicated by conditions exclusive to each respective theater of operation. On NATO’s Southern Flank, …
Continue reading "D+18 On The Flanks And At Sea 1830-2359 Zulu 27 July, 1987"
The order to temporarily stop offensive operations took time to circulate. In some instances, units were in heavy contact when the halt order arrived. Without being given a sufficient explanation of the reasons for the order, unit commanders began to disentangle their forces from the enemy, pull them back, establish a hasty defense and then …
Continue reading "The Central Front D+18 1830-2359 Zulu 27 July, 1987 Part II"
At 1900 Zulu, President Ronald Reagan addressed a nation on the verge of complete panic, its citizens in urgent need of information. His speech was made over the radio since the E-4B did not carry the equipment necessary for him to make a television broadcast. Nonetheless, his words were carried by the major networks and …
D+18 1730-1830 Zulu **All times in this line are Zulu (GMT)** 1735- Five minutes prior to the scheduled launch time, a hotline message is transmitted to Moscow. Its contents were mainly solely to inform Soviet leadership that the US response will be proportionate to the initial Soviet attack. Reagan suggests that the two leaders speak …
Moscow, USSR 1705 Zulu (2005 Local Time) “Both of our missiles have successfully hit their targets,” KGB Chairman Viktor Chebrikov reported. General Secretary Romanov took the news with equanimity. “Thank you, Viktor Mikhailovich.” He then turned away from the window and looked in the direction of the other Defense Council members. “So, now we wait, …
Aboard NEACP-Primary, 1636 Zulu (1236 Local Time) “FLASH OPREP-3 PINNACLE—NUDET!” a USAF captain seated at a console in the battle staff area called out. “Coordinates: longitude 40 degrees—” “Forget the lat/long,” the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff barked. “Just give us the altitude and map location.” “Altitude 6,000 feet. Central district of Madrid, …
Aboard NEACP-Primary, 1620 Zulu (1220 Local Time) The Soviet SS-19 intercontinental ballistic missiles were detected less than twenty seconds after launch by a Defense Support Program satellite. Its onboard computers analyzed the launch data and transmitted a detection alert to the earth below. Alarms went off at ground stations on three separate continents. Five seconds …
Washington DC 1608 Zulu (1208 Local Time) Things were moving faster now. The first flight of helicopters were approaching the Pentagon, White House, and Capitol Hill. The Central Locator Service was activated and the locations of every person in the presidential line of succession were being confirmed and passed along to HMX-1. At each of …
Washington DC, 1600 Zulu (1200 Local Time) Upon receipt of a hotline message at the National Military Command Center, the contents are translated into English. Both copies are then transmitted to the White House Situation Room for distribution. This was the standard protocol followed in normal circumstances. In the case of this particular message, its …
**This is a transcript of the Hotline message transmitted by Moscow and received in the National Military Command Center at 1555 Hours Zulu (1155 Local Time) 27 July, 1987** Mr. President, I will begin this message by reminding you the Soviet Union never wanted this war. It was the reluctance of you and other Western …
Continue reading "D+18 1201-1600 Zulu 27 July, 1987 Part IV"
Third World War 1987 