The Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf D+2 (11 July, 1987)

With the 7th MAB now on the ground and marrying up to its equipment in Dhahran, the US military presence in eastern Saudi Arabia was consolidating quickly. The Marines would be combat-ready  within twelve hours. Additional fighter squadrons, along with tankers, AWACS, and other air assets were set to arrive at airbases in Saudi Arabia, …

Gaming World War III: The Importance of the Time Period

The number of NATO-Warsaw Pact wargames produced in the past forty-five years stands as a testament to the longevity and popularity of the genre. Even today, nearly thirty years since the end of the Cold War, new NATO-WP themed games continue to be developed and sold. Used games still command a hefty price on eBay …

The Southern Flank D+4 ( 13 July, 1987) Part II

The central Med continued to heat up through D+4. The first NATO convoy carrying war material to Greece transited the Strait of Sicily in the morning. It was a small convoy compared to the those sailing across the Atlantic, consisting of four medium-sized merchantmen escorted by two French frigates, and a single US destroyer. As …

The Southern Flank D+4 (13 July, 1987) Part I

At 0125 hours EEST, the Sixth Fleet went to work. Less than an hour before, twenty TLAMs (Tomahawk Cruise Missile Land Attack Variant) were launched from a trio of Los Angeles class attack submarines, and the single TLAM-armed destroyer in the Saratoga’s battlegroup. The missiles approached the Greek-Bulgarian frontier in a staggered pattern, less than …

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

Later in the afternoon, fifteen Bear D reconnaissance aircraft came across Northern Norway, and  headed south over the Norwegian Sea. As the Bears approached within 200 miles of the Icelandic coast they descended to altitudes of between 300 and 500 feet. The five formations of three aircraft each separated as they neared the Iceland-Faroes gap …

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

D+4 marked the first time in the conflict that the combined power of the Soviet submarine, and long range bomber threats were unleashed on the North Atlantic sea lanes simultaneously. Over the course of the day, the Soviets sent three waves of bombers out from bases on the Kola Peninsula. NAS Keflavik, and NATO convoys …

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 Northern Flank D+4 (13 July, 1987) Part II

The Soviet 131st Motor Rifle Division’s progress in Northern Norway remained restricted to a single axis of advance along the E-6 coastal road. The route was heavily constricted. Overland movement was difficult for a large force. The short summer in the Finnmark region created large amounts of standing water from snow, and ice melt. The …

The Northern Flank D+4 (13 July, 1987) Part I

In spite of the urgency attached to the effort, NATO fighter-bombers tasked to hit Andoya did not launch until 0545 CEST. The morning strike was undertaken by eight RAF Jaguars of the No.6 squadron, supported by a USAF EF-111 Raven jamming aircraft. Originally, AFNORTH’s air planners intended to use US F-111s against Andoya. Preparations for …

Baltic Approaches D+4 (13 July, 1987) Part III

The Soviet 4th Air Army intended to begin D+4  with a wave of pre-dawn airstrikes against Danish radar sites, and airbases. NATO’s unexpectedly heavy airstrikes against Warsaw Pact airbases overnight ended up severely disrupting the 4th’s battleplans. The damage inflicted on airfield facilities, runways, and aircraft was serious enough to delay the planned missions against …