1950s War over Antarctica

[Melvin Loh]

During the 1950s, at the height of the Cold War, tensions extended to superpower rivalries re competing territorial claims to Antarctica, in addition to disputes between other minor powers such as Argentina, Chile, Australia and NZ. These disputes were eventually resolved by the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, which stipulated the preservation of the continent as the common heritage of all mankind, and prohibited all commercial mining and testing for military purposes on the continent. However, WI at some point prior to 1959 Cold War tensions reached such a point that the US and USSER went to war against each other over their respective territorial claims to Antarctica ? How would such an instance of the Cold War turned hot, have looked ?

[Archangel Michael]

I didn't think that the US had any claims to Antarctica.

[David Howery]

are there any exploitable resources in Antarctica? I thought anything that might be there is buried so deep under the ice that modern technology can't get to it yet....

[zoomar]

A World War breaking out over Antarctica in the 1950's is very unlikely, as would one in the 1970's been over the moon, because no exploitable resources of note were there. And, I think Mikey is right - the USA never had territorial claims.

But real resources are not the only reasons to fight wars, so here is a speculative war in 1957-58 just for grins.

The Antarctic War

September, 1957. In a sudden, bloodless, coup, Soviet Marines simultaneously storm and occupy British, Australian, New Zealand, and Norwegian scientific outposts in Antartica, claiming the act is a blow against NATO neocolonialism. The Soviet government makes overtures to Chile and Argentina to enter into a joint administration of all Antarctica with the Soviets on behalf of the United Nations. This offer is wisely rebuffed by the South American nations, under pressure from the USA.

October 1957. During a long and contentious Security Council debate, the US presents largely unsubstantiated evidence that the aim of the Soviets in Antarctica is to construct a series of ballistic missile and air bases in proximity to Australia and New Zealand and thereby neutralize these important SEATO allies. After a 10 day debate, the Council passes a resolution for the unconditional withdrawal of Soviet forces from the former NATO stations with only one dissenting vote - a Soviet veto.

November-December 1957. The USA and UK establish a surface naval blockade of Antarctica, prohibiting the movement of any major Soviet forces to the continent, which is not challenged by Soviet ships or research vessels. In an odd victory for diplomacy and humanitarianism by all sides, the Security Council authorizes the air supply of food and medical supplies to all scientific stations in Antarctica to prevent the death of Russian and captured western scientific personnel in this harsh environmnent. Under strong neutral pressure, the USSR abstains and agrees not to interfere with the supply efforts. The Swedish air force undertakes the relief missions. Argentina and Chile abandon their research stations, leaving the continent inhabited by fewer than 1000 allied and Soviet scientists, support staff and Soviet marines.

On January 29, 1958, under strong political pressure to do something, President Eisenhower declares that the US will undertake the military rescue of what he refers to as "kidnapped" western scientists and support staff. He makes the point of stating that the US has never claimed "a square inch" of Antarctica and that its only aim is the restoration of its allies' legitimate rights.

February 1958. Citing the apparent certainty of military hostilities, the UN and Sweden suspend their relief efforts, stating their belief that the stations on Antarctica should have between 6-9 months before they completely run out of supplies.

February-March 1958. A naval task force including the carriers USS Midway and Independence, two heavy cruisers, several troop transports embarking 7,000 marines and army troops, and assorted anti submarine vessels is assembled at Pearl Harbor and begins heading toward the southwest Atlantic, making a stops in Sydney and Aukland to pick up token Anzac assistance. In the South Atlantic, Britain stations the carrier Illustrious, several destroyers, and 1200 Royal Marines at Port Stanley in the Falklands. In response, Kruschev declares his own submarine blockade of Antarctica, threatening to sink any NATO ships venturing below the Antarctic Circle. Kruschev also claims that any air strikes against Soviet forces in Antarctica would be answered by the Soviets against "the seats of capitalist imperialism in Washington, London, and Paris".

March 21, 1958. The US task force moves south of the Antarctic Circle. The destroyer USS Turner Joy is torpedoed by a Soviet diesel submarine, with heavy loss of life. The submarine is immediately sunk by ASW helicopters and surface ships, and two other suspected subs are attacked. The US task force retreats above the circle to await reinforcement with more ASW ships. The US Government relays a message to Kruschev indicating that any further interfenence with the "relief fleet" will be met by direct action against all Soviet naval and merchant shipping sighted south of the equator.

April-May, 1958. As the Antarctic winter increases in ferocity, the US realizes that air action against the Russians will be problematic and dangerous, and as the sea approaches ice over, the US puts its "relief operation" on hold until spring.

June-July, 1958. Scattered naval actions occur in the South Atlantic and Pacific, resulted in the suspected sinking of three additional Soviet submarines, torpedo damage to the battleship USS Wisconsin and a British fleet oiler, and the boarding and capture of the Soviet ice breaker Lenin.

July 25, 1957. Suddently and unexpectedly Kruschev is removed as Party Secretary and Premier by the Politburo, and Molotov is named Party Secretary. The coup is staged largely because Kruschev has become unstable over the Antarctic episode and engaging soviet forces in a war with no relevance to Soviet broader aims. After initially sounding bellicose, the new Soviet government lets it be known through neutral channels that it no longer has the intention of occupying NATO bases in Antarctica, and will withdraw its forces when the weather improves. Eventually, a treaty very similar to the OTL Antarctic treaty is signed.

The world dodges as big bullet.

[Dunash]

According to some, there already has been conflict over Antarctica: Operation Highjump 1947
http://www.violations.dabsol.co.uk/enigma/enigmapart1.htm

[Archangel Michael]

are there any exploitable resources in Antarctica? I thought anything that might be there is buried so deep under the ice that modern technology can't get to it yet....

My science book says theres oil, natural gas, steel, coal, copper, uranium, and other valuable resources, but since the envirementalists had to bitch about it, we can't drill or explcore for 50 years.

[David Howery]

I'm with the environmentalists on this one; Antarctica has a very fragile ecology, as it is limited to tiny strips of coastline... there is no way that anyone could exploit it's resources without screwing it up.
On a related topic, I remember reading many years ago a fictional novel about a small group of people who were given massive high tech support to go to Antarctica and essentially make it a new nation. Funded by oil companies (who thought the place was swimming in petroleum), the group kicked all the research people out and built a city in the ice. In the end, some S. American nation (I think Chile) got irked, invaded, and killed them all....

[monkey]

The reason the enviromentalists had there way with Antartica is that we dont have the technology to mine minerals or pump oil from beneath moving glaciers up to a kilometer deep. I dont think the amount there is even that much.

[Hyperion]

The US does have territory in Antarctica. Even heard of McMurdo?

[DMA]

The US does have territory in Antarctica. Even heard of McMurdo?


It's only a base. The territory actually belongs to New Zealand. The following nations have territory in Antarctica:


Australia (largest slice)
Norway
New Zealand
UK
Argentina
Chile
France

[Hyperion]

Still, it is an American installation, with Americans working there.

[DMA]

Still, it is an American installation, with Americans working there.


But it's no more American territory than a US military base in Germany.

[Scarecrow]

what about a future war between the nations who have lands on antartica?

Australia vs Norway vs New Zealand vs UK vs Argentina vs Chile vs France over resources, and the US just waits until one has won and takes the resources anyway?

i had thoughts about secret Australian military instilations in Antartica...

[Hyperion]

The US also has the Palmer outpost on an island off the coast of the Antarctica peninsula.

[DMA]

The US also has the Palmer outpost on an island off the coast of the Antarctica peninsula.

So do the Brits, Chileans & Argentines. But the base is in shared territory between those three nations. Again it isn't American territory per se.

The US has lots of bases in Antarctica, including one at the South Pole where several of the borders meet.

[DMA]

what about a future war between the nations who have lands on antartica?


Unlikely. There was actually a novel by Payne Harrison called Thunder of Erebus on a war down there. It has a lot of flaws in it though.



Australia vs Norway vs New Zealand vs UK vs Argentina vs Chile vs France over resources, and the US just waits until one has won and takes the resources anyway?


Doubt it. See above reply. Better yet, go read the novel I mentioned.


i had thoughts about secret Australian military instilations in Antartica...


ooohhh maybe a novel in the works eh? Call it Diggers In The Snow... ;)

[Scarecrow]

hmm. i would have thought that that is where the Special Z Squad was set up...

what about alternate dividings up of the continent?

an Independent, evil WA from my New Israel TL takes a chunk?
South African/Drakan Antartica?
Nazil Antartika?

[DMA]

The South African one is a possibility considering their geographical location