The North Atlantic D+13 (22 July, 1987) Part V

The first Bear kill came without the assistance of a Hawkeye controller or radar.  The pilot of Taproom 102, a BARCAP F-14, thought he caught a brief glimpse of something in the distance, off his one o’clock position. “Hey Jinks,” he called to his Radar Intercept Officer. “Check out one o’clock. A little low.” The …

The North Atlantic D+13 (22 July, 1987) Part IV

The Tu-95s flew west on a line stretching 353 miles from Hopen to the North Cape. Four of the reconnaissance aircraft were located north of Bear Island, the remainder to the south. Twelve aircraft had taken off from the Kola and now, less than forty-five minutes later, ten remained. One aborted due to engine issues, …

The North Atlantic D+13 (22 July, 1987) Part III

The Badger regiments flew north from their airbases, crossing over the northern Soviet coastline and cruising towards the first navigational waypoint. Eighty miles behind them came the Backfires. Receivers were open on the bombers, the crews anxiously awaiting targeting information from the Bears. The data on the location of the enemy carrier forces they had …

The North Atlantic D+13 (22 July, 1987) Part II

As the Backfires and Badgers lifted off from the Kola, Strike Fleet Atlantic was steaming west at 20 knots. Task Force 20.5 and 21.3 were located 180 and 200 miles southwest of Bear Island respectively. In the late evening the two carrier task forces had moved closer together in order to improve coordination and mutual …

The North Atlantic D+13 (22 July, 1987) Part I

In June, 1987 the Soviet doctrine for direct attacks against a US Navy carrier taskforce called for the commitment of 2-3 bomber regiments per carrier. This translated to roughly one hundred Badgers and Backfires with two-thirds of them armed with anti-ship missiles. The remainder would primarily carry decoys, chaff, and jammers. For a multi-carrier enemy …

WWIII Pop Culture: By Dawn’s Early Light Part II

By Dawn’s Early Light’s greatest asset is its combination of cast and perspective. The story structure is the engine that propels the plot. Instead of one storyline, By Dawn’s gives the viewer four major plotlines moving in the same direction, all closing in on the same convergence point. It has more in common with a …

WWIII Pop Culture: By Dawn’s Early Light Part I

Nuclear war movies generally share similar plotlines, components, and even underlying messages. In probably 99% of these films the viewer is treated to graphic scenes showing the wanton destruction of cities, and wholesale slaughter of millions of innocent men, women, and children. The obligatory towering mushroom clouds and flashes of blinding white light are presented …

WW III Video Game Review: Conflict

The Nintendo Entertainment System owned the late 1980s hands down. From ’85 through to the end of 1990 the NES was king. If you were a kid during around this time you know what I’m talking about. Nintendo could do no wrong and kept belting out smash hits like Lawrence Taylor high on coke. They …

The Central Front D+12 (21 July, 1987) Part V

1645 Three of 2nd Brigade/2nd Armored Division’s maneuver battalions move out from west of Salzhemmendorf. The fourth remains behind to act as the brigade reserve. To the north, the bulk of the British 4th Armoured Brigade emerges from Osterwald and moves in the direction of Oldendorf and Highway 1. The mission of the two NATO …

The Central Front D+12 (21 July, 1987) Part IV

1330 The situation updates soared up the Soviet’s theater command and control network. At Group Soviet Forces Germany’s (GFSG) wartime command bunker in East Germany, General Snetkov reviewed the update and grew concerned. The Hameln attack’s timeline is precise. Delays and deviations now will only cause bigger problems. The general wants to push 3rd Shock …