The Southern Flank D+22 (31 July, 1987) Part II

On the morning of D+22 one of the very few remaining Soviet submarines in the Mediterranean struck gold. A Kilo class diesel-powered attack sub came across a US Navy auxiliary ship southwest of Crete. The ship was the USS Butte, a Kilauea class ammunition ship returning to Naples. During an underway replenishment of the Saratoga …

The North Atlantic D+8 (17 July, 1987) Part III

1030-1200 Hours- Following the emergency broadcast from the stricken Tu-95 Bear, and the ill-considered acknowledgements by other Soviet aircraft, the search for signs of the enemy surface action groups intensified. USAF F-15 Eagles did locate and dispatch the second Bear, but the Helix remained airborne and undetected. As time went on, radio traffic between Soviet …

The North Atlantic D+8 (17 July, 1987) Part II

On board the command ship USS Mount Whitney Strike Fleet Atlantic’s commander reminded himself that although the war could not be won in Norwegian Sea, it could easily be lost there. The strike fleet he commanded was the most powerful assemblage of naval power since the end of World War II. Along with the four …

The North Atlantic D+2 (11 July, 1987) Part I

Defensive operations at the GIUK barrier were underway in earnest by dawn on 11 July. The tempo of operations increased through the morning, and afternoon, peaking at some point around 1600 Zulu. The first wave of Soviet SSNs and SSGNs heading south encountered an aggressive, well-coordinated, multi-layered defense made up of MPAs, surface ships, and …

The North Atlantic D+1 (10 July, 1987) Part II

Deployment and preparation of the forces dedicated to defense of the GIUK gap continued through the afternoon and into the evening of 10 July. US Orions from Iceland and RAF Nimrods out of Scotland had already been patrolling non-stop since the start of hostilities and had scored a respectable number of kills already. The tempo …

The North Atlantic: D+0 (9 July, 1987) Part I**

Senior NATO commanders understood and accepted the fact that they would, in all likelihood, be forced to spend the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours of the war reacting to Soviet intentions, and actions. NATO was, after all, a defensive alliance, and this was a war that had been precipitated  by the Kremlin. For at least …

Outpost Iceland, D-2 (7 July, 1987) **

For an island with the history, and reputation of a peaceful kingdom, Iceland proved to be a remarkably vital component in NATO war planning. Iceland's location was the primary factor which made it so significant. Situated in the North Atlantic  between Greenland and Scotland, the island was a logical choke point to counter the Soviet …