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 …

The North Atlantic D+11 (20 July, 1987) Part III

It had taken longer than expected but on D+11 SACLANT secured HMS Illustrious and her escorts for operations in the Norwegian Sea and Barents. After the loss of Invincible, the British government became extremely reluctant to risk another Royal Navy aircraft carrier. Morale in Great Britain had taken a hit when news of Vince’s sinking …

The North Atlantic D+4 (13 July, 1987) Part I

D+4 began on a somber note for SACLANT. Word reached Norfolk at 0040 hours that HMS Invincible had sunk in the North Sea. The damaged baby carrier had been moving on her own power towards Scotland when she suffered a massive explosion, began taking on water, and rapidly developed a severe list to port. At …

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 …