The Central Front: D+0 (9 July, 1987) 0800-1200**

Except for a small number of generals in Brussels and at Ramstein AB, as well as  a slightly larger cadre of pilots and squadron intelligence officers at RAF Alconbury,  no one in Western Europe had any idea about how effective the early morning F-117 strikes had been. Remarkable post-strike videos from the targeting pods on …

The Central Front: D+0 (9 July, 1987) 0545-0800**

The first wave of Soviet and Warsaw Pact aircraft launched against targets in West Germany, and the Low Countries was mainly consisted of anti-radiation missile-armed MiG-27 Floggers, and Su-17 Fitters weighed down with gravity bombs. Overhead, a regiment of MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters flew cover on the strike force. Fifty miles east of the border, offensive …

The Central Front: D+0 (9 July, 1987) 0500-0545**

By the time he arrived back at Wunsdorf, General Snetkov had a fair idea of what was happening. NATO had defied all expectations and launched a number of daring airstrikes against the command bunkers of his most powerful army groups. How NATO had even been aware of their existence was beyond him at the moment. …

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 …

Northern Flank: D+0 (9 July, 1987) 0401-2359**

The Northern Flank was a geographic area that the Soviet military regarded as being vital to its war plans. Northern Norway was of especially significant value. Securing it, or neutralizing the NATO airbases located there was essential to the defense of the Soviet homeland, as well as the Soviet Union’s ability to fight a naval …

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

The post-Vietnam years were a period of reassessment, and regeneration for the US Air Force. The service’s Vietnam experience was, and still is, comprehensively regarded as an example of how an air war should not be run. Restrictive rules of engagement, micromanagement, and a cumbersome,  ineffective process of changing tactics and strategy once it became …

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, …