The Central Front: D+0 (9 July, 1987) 0130-0400 Part I**

News of the raid at Geilenkirchen reached NATO headquarters in Brussels within minutes. SACEUR wasted no time in getting the word out. In less than a minute flash messages were being transmitted to every NATO installation, and combatant command across Europe warning them to be prepared for the sudden appearance of Spetsnaz commandos or saboteurs …

The Northern Flank: D+0 (9 July, 1987) 0100-0400 Part II**

Norway Continued... The first naval engagement of the Third World War came off of the North Cape shortly after 0200. A trio of Norwegian Storm-class fast attack boats were patrolling the approaches to inland waterways when they stumbled across three radar contacts moving southwest at moderate speed north of Svaerholt. The contacts would turn out …

The Northern Flank: D+0 (9 July, 1987) 0100-0400 Part I**

As was the case on the Central Front, the Soviets intended to utilize their special operations assets fully in the opening hours of hostilities on the Northern Flank. They faced unique obstacles in the northern region, however. Foremost was the meteorological restriction brought on by the midnight sun. During this time of the year, a …

Ignition on the Central Front: D+0 (9 July, 1987) 0100 Hours**

At 0100 hours local time (GMT+2) on 9 July there were two dozen Soviet special operations teams in place across the Federal Republic of Germany. The majority were moving towards their mission objectives by then. Some were already in position and waiting. The teams were made up of anywhere between eight and twenty Spetsnaz commandos, …

The Central Front Chessboard: D-1 (8 July, 1987) **

General Galvin had decided to remain at NATO headquarters in Brussels for the time being instead of moving to his wartime headquarters. It was SACEUR’s prerogative where he chose to direct the defense of Western Europe. For the moment, Galvin preferred his office and the command room in Brussels to a command post nestled deep …

Search for the Stealth: D-1 (8 July, 1987) Part II **

Sergeant Richard Lawson walked into the pub shortly after 1400. The short, stocky NCO stopped and spoke to the bartender for a brief moment, then exchanged greetings with a few of the older gentlemen at the bar. Prokofiev got the idea they knew Lawson personally and were pumping him for news. On the other hand, …

Strategic Considerations: Red Banner Northern Fleet, D-1 (8 July, 1987) **

Commander of the Soviet Red Banner Northern Fleet Admiral Ivan Matveyevich Kapitanets looked down at the stack of yellow message forms on his desk and shook his head tiredly. He was already aware of the disappointing news they contained. Each message was a report detailing the position, speed, and course of a ship under his …

SAC on the Eve of War: D-1 (8 July, 1987) **

In the final hours of peace on 8 July, 1987, the US Air Force’s Strategic Air Command found itself in a peculiar position. As the other major commands in the Air Force and in other service branches prepared for war, SAC was maintaining a low key, business-as-usual approach. It was strange development, but nevertheless true. …

Soviet Air Mobile Forces on the Eve of Battle: D-1 (8 July, 1987) **

  Both NATO and the Warsaw Pact had sensible notions about what moves the other would presumably make in the opening hours of a conflict. Awareness is not enough to bring about the defeat or neutralization of those moves on the battlefield, however. Countermoves and defensive measures were created, worked into preexisting operational plans, and …

Airbase Angst: D-1 (8 July, 1987) **

Airbase commanders on both sides of the Iron Curtain breathed a collective sigh of relief as the sun rose in the eastern sky on the morning of 8 July, 1987. In NATO and Warsaw Pact air forces alike, the lessons of the Six Day War were well known. The preemptive airstrikes Israel launched against Egyptian …