WWIII Book Review: The Next War Part I

The premise of The Next War, as I discussed in the introduction, was to warn that deeper cuts to US defense spending (in 1998 and the years beyond) could have disastrous consequences if the US military was called upon to fight a major war. Given the fact that this book was championed and co-written by …

Ukraine Update 11 June, 2023: Counteroffensive Underway

We have not done a Ukraine update for a bit. Since the Ukrainian counteroffensive is now officially underway, I thought this would be a good time. As most of you are aware, Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced the start of Ukraine’s counteroffensive earlier this weekend. “Relevant counteroffensive defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine.” Following months of …

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 …

World War III Aircraft Losses: Introduction

The official records of NATO and Warsaw Pact aircraft losses on the Central Front in the Third World War were compiled after three years of deep, detailed research. Vast stockpiles of data and statistics were reviewed and analyzed until it was certain that every inch of the air war on the Central Front had been …

Ukraine Update: 15 February, 2023

Aside from a post about the decision by NATO members to send a limited number of MBTs to Ukraine I have not discussed the war over there too much lately. As winter set in and the battleline more or less frozen in place there was not much to talk about. That is no longer the …

Happy Valentines Day & A Brief Course Deviation

Happy Valentines Day! This is one of the more polarizing holidays on the calendar. Most folks either love it or hate it. Usually depending on whether there is a significant other in their life or not. In any event, I hope that everyone enjoys themselves today. Now for the bad news. I need to revise …

Today’s Friend, Tomorrow’s Enemy D+24 And Beyond: Poland

After forty-plus years of submission to Moscow, Eastern Europe decoupled from the Soviet orbit in the aftermath of World War III. The wounds and trauma inflicted on the satellite states from 9 July through early August, 1987 served as a spark on the powder keg Eastern Europe had become in the previous decade. In retrospect …

Ukraine 2023 Update: Challengers, Leopards and Abrams Will Be Heading To Ukraine

We’re jumping back to reality for a short spell to discuss the decisions by Germany and the US earlier in the week to supply Ukraine with main battle tanks. Specifically, Leopard 2s and M-1 Abrams. Great Britain also announced last week it will be sending around a baker’s dozen Challenger 2s to Ukraine. Overall, the …

The Central Front Mobilization Race Part III

On 28 June, 1987 the Soviet general secretary informed the Ministry of Defense that Zapad ’87 was to commence on the first of July. A final decision on the date hostilities were to commence was not mentioned. Senior Soviet generals suspected Zapad would transition directly into a broader mobilization and from there to war. Marshal …

The Central Front Mobilization Race Part II

In the early June, 1987 senior Soviet military leaders were being queried daily by the new leadership in the Kremlin about theater mobilization procedures. Specifically, General Secretary Romanov was most interested in the amount of time that the vaunted Soviet military would need to prepare for a conventional conflict in Europe. Chief of the General …