Historical Rhymes: 1987 Vs. 2022

Mark Twain once remarked that “History Doesn't Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes.” I first encountered this quote back when I was in high school around 1994. As a know-it-all teenager at the time, I scoffed at Twain’s words. Yet as I grew older and experienced more of what life had to offer, it became …

Baltic Approaches D+17 (26 July, 1987) Part III

Danish reinforcements started arriving in southern Zealand on the morning of D+17. With the situation at sea decided for the most part, and the threat of further Warsaw Pact amphibious landings now nonexistent, LANDZEALAND saw fit to release a pair of battlegroups from its reserve. Simultaneously, and in coordination with Flag Officer Denmark, units of …

Baltic Approaches D+17 (26 July, 1987) Part I

The Soviets controlled Gdansk. The shipyard was secure, as were other key areas of the port city. The outskirts though, remained unsettled. Pockets of Solidarity members and rebellious Polish military and police, who’d been ejected from the city, fight on into the morning. As the day carries on, the plight of the city becomes a …

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

The journey of the surviving vessels of the Soviet amphibious group ended up taking nearly eighteen hours. Course revisions, increasing harassment by Swedish forces and the incomplete picture on the situation in Poland each contributed to the lengthier-than-expected transit. The original plan had been for the group to skirt the East German and Polish coastlines, …

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

0000-0700 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 …

Baltic Approaches D+14 (23 July, 1987) Part III

1200-2359 The Polish amphibious vessels, and their surviving escorts entered Gdansk Bay shortly after twelve noon. Within ninety minutes the ships were tying up to the docks and not long afterward men and equipment began to disembark. The ships were met by a cadre of senior military officers who briefed them on the situation in …

Baltic Approaches D+14 (23 July, 1987) Part II

0400-1200 The remaining ships of the Soviet amphibious group were anchored off of the southwest coast of Bornholm.  Two destroyers, damaged rather seriously, were tied to the docks in Ronne Harbor as their crews worked to repair what could be repaired. If either vessel was not able to put back to sea on its own …

Baltic Approaches D+14 (23 July, 1987) Part I

0000-0400 The naval battles in the Baltic Sea on D+13 had proved to be decisive and pyrrhic for both sides. NAVBALTAP’s (Allied Naval Forces Baltic Approaches) surface and submarine forces sustained heavy losses, which were not entirely unexpected. Yet the fast attack craft squadrons, and diesel submarines of the Danish and West German navies largely …

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 …

Baltic Approaches D+13 (22 July, 1987) Part V- Charlie

Across western Jutland other paratroopers had shared the experience of their brigade command group and dropped near to or directly on friendly units. In more than one instance the morning’s horror of an airdrop was discussed and news of it started to circulate. As is usually the case with stories of traumatic experiences wrought with …