Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf D+12 (21 July, 1987) Part IV

0430-0545- A short period of time emerged when the airspace around Dhahran was void of US and Saudi fighters. When it became clear what was transpiring, Dhahran-based fighters still airborne were ordered to recover at Al Kharj, or sent to the air refueling tracks to hit the tankers and chase after the Soviet transport aircraft …

Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf D+12 (21 July, 1987) Part III

0220- The level of air activity on the Arabian Peninsula continues to rise. With the first wave of Iraqi aircraft outbound from their targets in Kuwait, the Il-76 Candid transport aircraft carrying men and equipment of the 328th Guards Airborne Regiment, along with their MiG-29 Fulcrum escorts began lifting off from Al-Taqaddum Airbase. Around the …

Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf D+12 (21 July, 1987) Part II

I gripped the phone, inhaled deeply and crafted an acceptable response to my commander’s comment. “Well, Nikolai Vasilyevich Kalinin, today will either bring a historic victory, or forever be remembered as a day of shame for the VDV. It is now up to my men to determine which it shall be.” –Taken from VDV At …

Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf D+12 (21 July, 1987) Part I

Iraq became an official combatant in the Third World War at 0145 hours Arabia Standard Time when the first Iraqi munitions were fired in anger against targets in Kuwait. After nearly two weeks of speculation, and preparing, the wait was over. Republican Guard troops seized Kuwaiti outposts along the border, and established lanes through the …

Gaming World War III: The War Comes Home Part II

Fortress America is not the only member of the Invasion USA game club. There are other games and they’re all pure wargames in the traditional sense. No corners cut in the game design. No over-simplification of the rules. No plastic, miniature figurines passed off as game pieces. The games I’ll talk about today are chock …

Gaming World War III: The War Comes Home Part I

The majority of wargames based on the premise of World War III are set in Cold War era Europe. This holds true for many of the games released between 1975 and 1991, as well as more contemporary examples. While there are certainly games that revolve around a US-Soviet or NATO-Warsaw Pact conflict set at another …

Upcoming Topics for April 2020

Good Saturday Afternoon, everyone. First and foremost, I hope that all of you, and your families are both safe and healthy. We are living in unique times without a doubt. The world hasn’t seen a pandemic like this one in over 100 years and it’s safe to say that no one was prepared for it. …

Air War on the Central Front D+11 (20 July, 1987) Part III

In the last moments of twilight, 2nd ATAF’s ground attack fighters made the last sorties against the Leine bridges, and targets of opportunity in the vicinity. Post-attack reconnaissance missions brought back photographs that revealed another temporary bridge destroyed, and heavy damage to the tank regiment then in the process of crossing the river. For the …

Air War on the Central Front D+11 (20 July, 1987) Part II

Night approached and the Soviet hold on the west bank of the river was strengthening, but not fast enough to suit Soviet commanders. With NATO forces having been pushed off the nearby ridges, the pressure on the Leine crossing points decreased somewhat. The short respite was welcomed and taken advantage of by the Soviets to …

Air War on the Central Front D+11 (20 July, 1987) Part I

At this point in the war, the Soviets and their Warsaw Pact allies were unable to secure control of the skies over the entire front, even for a brief period of time. This stark reality was a harsh pill to swallow, but Pact commanders begrudgingly accepted it as fact. However, the ability to attain air …