The Southern Flank D+21 (30 July, 1987)

AFSOUTH planning for offensive operations accelerated when word was received from Brussels that the NATO counterattack in Northern German was underway. Debate raged in Naples over what shape NATO’s counterblow on the Southern Flank would take. Sixth Fleet was pressing for a campaign against Soviet ports and airbases on the Black Sea coastline while officers …

The Southern Flank D+19 (28 July, 1987)

Rescue operations in Madrid were well underway on D+19. AFSOUTH continued to direct rescue and relief assets into the area. Torrejon, the US airbase situated just east of the Spanish capital received considerable damage. Air operations were impossible for the time being. Madrid–Barajas Airport, the international airport that serviced the city, was in no better …

The Southern Flank D+17 (26 July, 1987) Part I

From the NATO perspective, conditions on the Southern Flank were leaning in favor of the alliance. The successful attacks by US carrier aircraft on the Soviet amphibious group off the coast of Bulgaria had removed the threat of a Pact landing at the Bosphorus from the board. Meanwhile, the Pact offensive into Thrace was making …

The Southern Flank D+16 (25 July, 1987) Part II

The Warsaw Pact advances into Thrace on D+16 closely resembled those of the previous day: Strong resistance by the Greek and Turkish defenders and minimal gains by the Bulgarian 1st and 2nd Armies. The lack of progress by Pact forces since crossing the border two days earlier appeared to indicate a likely failure of the …

The Southern Flank D+15 (24 July, 1987) Part I

The centerpiece of land operations on the Southern Flank on D+15 continued to be in Greco-Turkish Thrace. Two Bulgarian army groups that crossed the border on the previous day continued their advances south and east. The main effort was in the east where the 1st Bulgarian Army was pressing towards the Bosphorus. The secondary advance …

The Southern Flank D+14 (23 July, 1987) Part II

The remainder of the day in Thrace continued along the same lines as the first part. Heavy fighting, especially in eastern Thrace, coupled with minimal advances. The first echelon of Warsaw Pact ground forces was made up primarily of the two Bulgarian army groups, with a small number of Soviet regiments in accompaniment. The plan …

The Southern Flank D+14 (23 July, 1987) Part I

The storm broke in Thrace at 0445 hours on 23 July, 1987 (D+14). The long awaited Warsaw Pact ground offensive commenced when Bulgarian forces crossed into Greek and Turkish territory. This was preceded by a moderate number of Soviet air attacks targeting NATO airbases, headquarters, and air defense sites in Greece, and Turkey. The air …

The Southern Flank D+13 (22 July, 1987) Part II

Kennedy and Saratoga had moved into the Eastern Mediterranean on the previous night, later than originally planned. COMSIXTHFLT had held them back following their UNREP to goad the Soviets into thinking the two carrier battle groups were going north to the Adriatic instead of deeper into the Med. The enemy, however, did not take the …

The Southern Flank D+13 (22 July, 1987) Part I

Preparations continued in the Southwestern TVD’s area of operations through the first half of D+13. In Bulgarian Thrace six divisions were massed along the border with Greece and Turkey. Five more were located in staging areas 25-30 kilometers to the north. Convoys of armored vehicles and supply trucks motored south to the border area. After …

The Southern Flank D+12 (21 July, 1987)

D+12 was a relatively quiet day on the Southern Flank, all things being equal. An intermission of sorts, with some participants exiting the field as others prepared to make their entrance. Whereas the combat in more northern areas of the European continent was constant and ferocious, the same did not hold true for Southern Europe, …