Death Of USS Kitty Hawk D+24 (2 August, 1987) Part II

Two SS-N-19 Shipwreck anti-ship cruise missiles struck USS Kitty Hawk within five seconds of one another. The first Shipwreck hit between the two mid-ship catapults and the second one just aft of the port aircraft elevator. The missiles were each traveling at a speed of close to Mach 2 while carrying 1500-pound warheads. Between the …

Death Of USS Kitty Hawk D+24 (2 August, 1987) Part I

The Soviet Navy’s greatest tactical victory of the war occurred on the final day of the Third World War with the destruction of USS Kitty Hawk in the far northern reaches of the Norwegian Sea. Its effect on the outcome of the war, though, was minimal. The Red Banner Northern Fleet was unable to capitalize …

WWIII Naval Loses: NATO Ship & Submarine Losses, Southern Flank D+1 Through D+24

NATO Naval Losses On The Southern Flank The majority of ship losses in the Southern Flank area of operations came in the first eight days of hostilities. From that point on the number of naval engagements declined considerably.  Ship and submarine losses continued to occur in this time, however. The navies of NATO’s Southern Flank …

Damaged Equals Killed Part II

Across the board in the Third World War, damage control officers and sailors worked heroically to save their stricken ships. Some efforts were ultimately successful while others were not. In many cases owing to circumstances beyond their control. For the officers and sailors who were able to extinguish fires and restore stability and buoyancy, their …

Damaged Equals Killed Part I

The Third World War spanned twenty-five days from beginning to end. In comparison to its predecessors from earlier in the Twentieth Century, the final installment’s longevity is comparable to two shakes of a lamb’s tail. In the previous world wars campaigns that lasted for months on end were the norm. This forced individual commanders to …

WWIII Naval Losses: NATO, D+0 (9 July, 1987)

As anticipated, the first day of the Third World War generated fierce engagements between NATO and Warsaw Pact forces at sea. From the North Cape to the mouth of the Persian Gulf naval and air forces clashed. Surface warships and submarines from both sides were damaged and destroyed. From the opening of hostilities in the …

Naval Losses In World War III: Introduction

Until recent times, the Third World War was widely considered to have been the final war where control of the oceans was a critical prerequisite for victory. NATO and Warsaw Pact naval strategies were focused on the North Atlantic. The mission for NATO was to maintain control of the North Atlantic and its sea lanes. …