United States 1998-1999
Disaster Relief and Homeland Security
The nuclear strikes in November 1997 triggered considerable panic in the civilian population. Although only one city was attacked directly (Washington DC), the major cities of Seattle, Dallas / Fort Worth, Utica (NY), and Omaha were in close proximity to military targets and suffered considerable damage, while Baltimore, Des Moines, St. Louis, Minneapolis / St. Paul, Albany, and Colorado Springs faced considerable fallout from nearby strikes. The states of Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana had essentially suffered nuclear carpet bombing, and huge areas were blasted and charred.
At the time of the strike, the United States Army and Marine Corps had a mere 7 divisions and 2 brigades available for immediate action, and by activating training formations the Army was able to put another 7 divisions and 1 brigade into action to assist. This immediately ended the flow of reinforcements and replacements to the active theaters of war just as they too were reeling from the affects of full scale nuclear combat.
Luckily, most of Congress and the President survived the attack, and a Vice President was quickly appointed and Congress set up shop at its evacuation facility (Al Gore, Democratic, selected for his experience, his moderate Democratic party views and in an effort to unify the country by having a bi-partisan government).
Panic and flight created considerable difficulties, as did communications as the nuclear strikes had created substantial EMP, and huge stretches of the country saw the majority of civilian electronics destroyed. Radiation also created huge numbers of casualties in the Midwest and Northeast, and millions died that winter from Influenza and other illnesses that were normal but were hitting people with compromised immune systems.
The civilian economy essentially came to a halt for months during this time, with only vital sections (food production, transportation of the same, and energy production) managing to continue and only with substantial military help.
Mexico 1998
After the nuclear strikes on North America, which also resulted in a major strike that destroyed the Panama Canal (and the majority of the population of that country), the socialists and communists in Mexico managed to take control in elections, and bought off the army with promises. Cuba, seeing an opportunity to get rid of the Soviets, persuaded Mexico to take them, and also sent vast amounts light and medium anti tank and anti aircraft missile systems and a considerable number of vehicles as well as a large number of aircraft. Between the equipment and Soviet personnel, as well as calling up all of its reserves, the Mexicans tripled the size of their active army and now had a dangerously powerful force just south of the US border. The United States, still reeling from the strikes of November 1997, missed most of this activity, which occurred in December 1997 and the winter of 1998.
July 1998
The Mexican Army has expanded from its pre-war strength of 3 mechanized brigades, 3 armored cavalry brigades and 36 infantry brigades to 3 mechanized divisions, 3 armored cavalry divisions and 36 motorized light infantry divisions. It remained weak in heavy artillery, but has huge numbers of portable light and medium anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, and is supported by 60 Mig21 fighter bombers, 20 F5 fighter bombers, 20 MD attack helicopters, 40 transport helicopters and 20 transport aircraft. In addition, the Soviets move 24 Mig23 and 24 Mig29 aircraft to Mexico from all over Latin America, as well as 20 attack helicopters, 40 transport helicopters and 20 transport aircraft. The Soviets also have a mechanized rifle division (Division Cuba), and a parachute brigade (created from advisors and personnel available).
The Unites States has 14 divisions and 3 brigades in the Continental United States, all of which are scattered throughout the country providing disaster relief and security. The Air Force and Navy have 300 first line fighters (F22, F15, F16) which are concentrated in the northern US as part of NORAD and have a dedicated air defense mission, and 500 jet trainers (T33, TA4) which are combat capable and have for the most part been reassigned to provide air support in ongoing fighting in Alaska and Western Canada.
The United States is as naked to invasion as it will ever be.
August 1998
The Mexicans wait for the first hurricane of the season, and are not disappointed. Tropical Storm Danny hit the coast of Alabama on July 19, and this resulted in most aircraft in the southeast United States being grounded. On July 19, the Mexican and Soviet Army launched a full scale invasion of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, supported by air strikes and special operations troops and a pre-arranged civil uprising in major cities in the area.
Battle of Southern California
The US 6th Marine Division was stationed at Camp Pendleton and had just finished training when it was deployed to provide security to San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles Counties after November 1997. Scattered throughout the area, its headquarters was at Camp Pendleton, while its field units were scattered over a huge area assisting police and California State Guard troops in trying to maintain order. On July 18, a series of riots exploded as Soviet and Mexican special operations troops triggered gang and race war between Hispanic and other minority communities, focusing the attention of military and civilian forces on dealing with that crisis. Thus the entire area was completely unprepared when the Mexican 2nd Army crossed the border. San Diego was attacked by 3 Mexican motorized light infantry divisions, and the Marines in the area suffered terrible losses before they were able to organize for a last stand at the San Diego Naval base. This allowed for the successful evacuation of the base and destruction of what couldn’t be moved, but only at the cost of nearly all of the Marines. Mexican losses were heavy as well, but sustainable.
Meanwhile, 1 armored cavalry division and 1 mechanized infantry division crossed the border from Mexacali and bypassed San Diego, sweeping into Temacula and then Camp Pendleton. This forced the evacuation of the Marine base, and the destruction of another significant portion of the 6th Marine Division, and also resulted in the fall of most of Orange County relatively undamaged. By the third day of fighting, only a weak regiment of Marines remained, and they were forced to pull back to Long Beach in an effort to cover the evacuation of that naval facility and its subsequent destruction to keep it out of enemy hands.
Further east, the Mexicans crossed into the Imperial Valley with 1 motorized light infantry division, and overran the Marine Corps and Army facilities at Yuma with another. Both of these divisions then drove into California, with one driving into Palm Springs and then moving to capture March Air Force base and 29 Palms Marine Corp base. Light security forces assigned to those areas fought determinedly before being overrun, and survivors were forced to retreat north to Barstow. Meanwhile, the Hermosillo Divison, which had captured Yuma, moved north cutting Interstates 8, 10 and was about to cut Interstate 40 when the US 10th Cavalry Regiment (the training outfit at the National Training Center at nearby Fort Irwin) supported by T33s operating out of Nellis Air Force Base badly mauled the Mexican division at Needles, forcing it to retreat back to Blythe. The 10th Cavalry then covered the evacuation of the China Lake, Fort Irwin, and Barstow military bases and well as the survivors from March AFB and 29 Palms and then retreated to Las Vegas, insuring the security of Nevada at least.
Meanwhile, the US Army quickly sent the 91st Infantry Division from its job of providing security for the San Francisco Bay Area and sent it south, leaving only a brigade behind to continue that vital mission. The division took up defensive positions holding the entrances of the Central Valley, and tied in with surviving marines holding the coastal highway passes.
By the end of August, Mexican forces had completed mopping up in Southern California and the last US troops had either been eliminated or evacuated by sea. However, the huge population living in the area was now in flight, as the US Army cut the supply of water to Southern California, as all three of the major aquaducts feeding the area came from US controlled territory. The entire population panicked, and the Mexican Army was forced to institute draconian measures to keep even a measure of order. A major cholera and typhus outbreak occurred almost immediately as well, and the entire situation was an outright disaster of biblical proportions. A temporary cease fire went into effect as the Mexican Army was forced to halt operations to keep order, while the US Army was processing millions of refugees. By the end of 1998 the population of Southern California had shrunk from its prewar figure of 18 million to a mere 3 million. Mexican forces managed to restore some of the water flowing from the Colorado River and Owens Valley, while political pressure forced President Dole to relent and open the water back up from the Central Valley (although at a much reduced level). Nearly 5 million people fled to the Central Valley, another 2 million to Mexico, but the rest (8 million in all) were dead of disease, panic, civil unrest, or the fortunes of war. Mexican forces have suffered severe casualties trying to keep order, and the Mexican 2nd Army is unable to take advantage of the weak US forces holding the passes and drive further north.
Historians decades later still condemn and praise President Dole for his decision to cut off the water to Los Angeles.
Arizona and New Mexico
The Mexican 3rd Army drove into practically undefended New Mexico and Arizona with a total of 3 divisions. The Mexican 2nd Armored Cavalry Division crossed at Lukeville, Arizona, and then drove full speed cutting Interstate 8 and then sweeping into Phoenix from the west, capturing Luke AFB intact after destroying the light security forces defending it, and then sending out columns that captured Flagstaff (cutting Interstate 40). Meanwhile, the Mexican Mexicali motorized light infantry division overran weakly defended Fort Huachuaca and Davis-Monthan AFB, home to a major US Army intelligence and signals intelligence facility, and the US Air Force Aerospace Maintenance & Regeneration Center (still holding a large supply of useful aircraft). With almost nothing available to commit to creating a front, the President agrees to ordering the few dozen remaining flyable B52s to carry out carpet bombing missions on both facilities to deny them to the enemy. Further bombing is then ordered to level Hermosillo, the primary logistics base supporting the Mexican 2nd and 3rd Armies. Civilian casualties are extremely heavy during the strikes, and Mexican and Soviet aircraft inflict heavy losses as well, but the strikes gut the Hermosillo Division and wreck the Mexican supply line, preventing their forces in Arizona from moving further north.
They also destroy the critical US facilities and prevent the Mexicans from making use of them. Further strikes level Luke AFB and level Juarez on the border with El Paso.
Meanwhile, the Juarez motorized light infantry division is attacking Fort Bliss, which is defended by US Army school units, and those units put up a brave stand, buying time for the evacuation of that base, as well as delaying the critical link up with Soviet parachute units that were dropped on Holloman Air Force Base (and the critical Alamagordo space and nuclear facility). B52 strikes are ordered against the Mexican and Soviet forces, inflicting serious damage on them, and destroying the facilities to keep the enemy from gaining their use, and also buying time for the 6th Infantry Division to be sent down from the Denver area to hold Albuquerque and Santa Fe (and safeguarding the evacuation of Los Alamos). Survivors from Fort Bliss evacuate to Roswell and nearby Cannon AFB where they dig in with local air force security forces.
US air strikes inflict severe losses on the Mexican 3rd Army and prevent it from following up its easy invasion. They keep the damage of the invasion limited to southern New Mexico and Arizona and buy time for the US Army to form a line that stabilizes the situation. The cost is high in American and Mexican civilian lives and rare US aircraft, but well worth the cost.
Battle of Texas
The Mexicans invaded Texas with their strongest forces, consisting of 2 mechanized divisions, 1 armored cavalry division, 6 motorized light infantry divisions and Soviet Division Cuba. The US Army had a single infantry division and 2 mechanized cavalry brigades in Texas at the time, providing disaster relief at Dallas Fort Worth or providing security for vital oil refining and port facilities in Beaumont, Houston, Galveston and Corpus Christi. Significant Air Force security forces were in the San Antonio area, as it was home to the majority of the US Air Force training bases that remained operational, while sizeable US Navy security forces were in Corpus Christi. None of these however were prepared or equipped for sustained conventional ground combat or deployed to deal with such.
The Mexican 3rd Armored Cavalry Division and Presidential Guard Mechanized Division crossed into Brownsville and drove headlong for Corpus Christi, which was defended by elements of the 116th Cavalry Brigade, some Navy security troops and a few A4s that were refitted training aircraft. Although the US forces inflict some losses, they are quickly overrun, and the Mexican forces take the city and its oil refineries intact, along with Corpus Christi naval base and several naval air stations nearby. The rest of the 116th Cavalry is hurriedly rushed down from Houston and Beaumont to make a stand at Victoria, and heavy fighting guts the brigade, but also inflicts heavy damage on Mexican forces.
Meanwhile, Division Cuba, along with the Mexican 1st Mechanized Division, Durango, and Torreon motorized light infantry divisions cross the border at Laredo and drive at high speed toward San Antonio. US Air Force security forces in that city are nearly wiped out covering the evacuation of the bases in that area, and survivors hurry up the road to Austin and then further north. The 36th Infantry Division, which had been formed after the nuclear strike from training units in Texas, is hurried down from Dallas Fort Worth to defend the Texas state capital and cover the evacuation of Fort Hood, Austin, and delay the enemy assault on Dallas and Fort Worth. The Mexicans use their two infantry divisions to pin down the 36th, while Division Cuba sweeps around through Luling, La Grange and Bryan into the US rear, and the Mexican 1st Mechanized drives hard on Houston to the east. The 36th is badly mauled and forced to retreat north, while the 116th, already heavily involved in Victoria, is effectively destroyed.
Houston and Galveston are captured essentially undamaged, although the Mexicans are forced to commit 2 more infantry divisions to trying to secure the vast urban area, particularly the important oil production and refining facilities. Soviet and Mexican forces then capture the wreckage of Fort Worth and relatively undamaged Dallas before damage to their supply lines by unrelenting US air strike forces them to halt offensive operations. Surviving US forces retreat to Louisiana and Oklahoma and wait for reinforcements. Texas, with its large population erupts in guerilla warfare against occupying enemy troops, and between guerilla attacks and air strikes (that gradually diminish as the US runs out of ammunition and aircraft to spare) the Mexican 4th Army is forced to focus on pacifying the area it holds instead of continued operations.
Meanwhile, in western Texas, the Mexicans cross at Eagle Pass with their Chihuahua motorized light infantry division. This division is able to capture the oil fields of Odessa Midland intact, and then proceeds to capture Lubbock before a counterattack by the 278th Cavalry Regiment, hurriedly moved from Fort Sill, mauls it and forces it to fall back to Odessa. The 278th, severely damaged itself, is content to hold Lubbock and wait for reinforcements.
The loss of Texas however is a major disaster for the United States, as the loss of Houston, Beaumont and Corpus Christi costs the United States 20% of its refining capability and the loss of Odessa, along with offshore drilling on the Texas Gulf Coast (as they cannot be logistically supported without the Texas coast) results in a 25% reduction in available domestic oil production.
1999
Mexican and Soviet forces continue to battle local guerillas and struggle to maintain order in the conquered areas they control. US air strikes have cut the flow of replacements and spares reaching the front to a trickle, but at the cost of severely reducing the remaining air strength of the United States (and the destruction of the Mexican and Soviet air strength in Mexico, along with most of its air defenses).
The US evacuates most of its forces in Europe (leaving only 25,000 men organized into the VII Corps, consisting of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Armored Divisions) under British command). The returning 7th Army, consisting of a shadow of its former self with the III, V, and XII Corps, and 1st, 3rd, 4th, 30th, 35th, and 45th Infantry Divisions is rushed to Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma to establish a firm defense line. However, the 7th Army has a mere 90,000 men, 180 tanks, and similar numbers of artillery and armored personnel carriers. Supplies of munitions and spares are exhausted as war production has been completely disrupted by continued problems with food shortages, disease and now fuel shortages. US forces are unable to do more then launch limited probes and establish a firm line. Special operations troops however do what they can to support local guerillas in Texas and other occupied areas.
Meanwhile, the US has also evacuated Asia and the many of its troops from the Middle East. This brings home the remnants of the 8th Army (I Corps, XI Corps, III MEF, along with 1st Cavalry Division, 2nd Infantry Division, 10th Mountain Division, 25th Infantry Division, 40th Infantry Division, and 3rd Marine Division). However, the 8th Army consists of a mere 50,000 men including support troops, and has only 100 tanks and similarly small numbers of heavy guns and armored personnel carriers. Its big enough however with survivors of the Battle of Southern California to establish a firm defense line preventing any further Mexican movement north into Central California and Nevada, but not big enough nor sufficiently supplied to move south either.
In Utah and Colorado, the 5th Army is organized, consisting of survivors from New Mexico, West Texas and Arizona, plus the newly returned remnants of the 82nd Airborne Division and 1st Marine Division. These 2 divisions add only the 1st MEF to support them, and only 16,000 fighting and support troops, but its enough to stabilize the line in northern New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle and northern Arizona.
The front remains in stalemate for the remainder of the year, and neither side looks ready to be able to act in 2000 either.
Battle of Alaska 1997 – 1999
July 14, 1997
The Soviets launch a massive attack on Alaska as part of their coordinated assault on NATO throughout the world. The US Pacific Fleet is mostly concentrated near Korea and is out of position initially, enabling the Soviets to get surface forces into the Gulf of Alaska and land troops. Meanwhile, the bulk of available Soviet bombers, transports and long range fighters, supported by every available tanker that is available, fly into Alaska. Cruise missiles and bombers also attack US Air Force bases in Alaska to suppress air defenses. Both sides suffer heavy losses, with the bulk of planes shot down being Soviet, but Soviet cruise missiles and bombers knock out Eielson AFB at Fairbanks and suppress Elmendorf sufficiently for transports carrying paratroopers to get through.
Soviet landings occur at
Kodiak Island Coast Guard base – 1st Naval Infantry Brigade, which overruns the small US Coast Guard contingent and seizes the important airfield.
Eielson AFB/Fort Wainwright (Fairbanks)- 106th Guards Airborne Division, which lands on top of the 207th Infantry Brigade/7th Infantry Division. The US brigade, only recently mobilized, is still undergoing refresher training on D-Day, and is caught completely by surprise. Nevertheless, it puts up determined and fierce resistance before survivors are forced to retreat southwest along the Alcan Highway. The battle also takes out an important interceptor base, and cuts the Alaskan Pipeline. The 106th is left wrecked as well, but holds Fairbanks for the time being.
Elmendorf AFB/Fort Richardson (Anchorage)- home of the headquarters of the 7th Infantry Division, a regular Army division which had only two brigades at the start of the 2nd Korean War. One of these went to Korea to provide a round-out brigade for the 25th Infantry Division, while the remaining brigade and the headquarters went to Alaska to take over for the 172nd Infantry Brigade, which also went to Korea. There the 7th Infantry took command of the Alaskan Scouts brigade/Alaskan National Guard, and the 207th Infantry Brigade/Alaskan National Guard. On D-Day, the Soviets dropped the 6th Guards Airborne Division by parachute, and on D+2, landed the remainder of the 20th Army, consisting of the 139th Light Infantry Division, 141st Light Infantry Division and 1st and 2nd Arctic Mechanized Brigades on the Seward Peninsula. Although US Naval forces soon destroyed the Soviet Pacific Fleet, they did so too late to prevent a landing. The severely outnumbered 7th Infantry fought bitterly but was overwhelmed and mostly destroyed, with a few survivors retreating north toward Fort Greeley. The battle also resulted in the capture of Anchorage and Seward. Soviet losses were heavy, but the loss of Fairbanks, Anchorage and the Aleutians enabled the Soviets to fly in the remainder of the 11th Army including the 104th Guards Airborne Division.
Aleutians – elements of the Soviet 1st Naval Infantry brigade seized US bases at Shemlya Air Station (Kiska) and Dutch Harbor which were undefended or defended by light security forces. This action took out key NORAD radars, and also gave them airbases linking them back to Siberia.
By the end of July, the US Army was rushing reinforcements to the area. Air Force units, supported by the Canadians, had managed to secure the air space over Juneau and the Inside Passage connecting Puget Sound to Juneau and barges and ships were bringing the up reinforcements to Juneau and then Skagway, while the AlCan Highway was in constant use as well.
Situation August 1997
Soviet Forces
Fairbanks area- Soviet 11th Army with 106th Airborne Division, 104th Airborne Division
Anchorage / Seward – Soviet 20th Army with 6th Airborne Division, 1st Arctic Mechanized Brigade, 2nd Arctic Mechanized Brigade, 139th Infantry Division
Aleutian Islands / Kodiak Islands – Soviet 141st Infantry Division, 1st Naval Infantry Brigade
US / Canadian Forces
Fort Lewis, WA - 6th Army
Juneau / Skagway – XI Corps with 26th Light Infantry Division, 38th Infantry Division
Whitehorse- X Corps with 34th Infantry Division, Canadian 2nd Infantry Division, Canadian 3rd Infantry Division
Fort Greeley (100 miles SE of Fairbanks) – 7th Infantry Division (remnants)
Western Alaska (HQ Nome) – 1st Alaskan Scouts Brigade
The US forces in Western Alaska and Fort Greeley are essentially cut off, but have adequate supplies to survive (but not do much else). The Soviets have sufficient supplies to hold, but not attack either as their Pacific Fleet has been destroyed. They are however getting a trickle of supplies in by air, mostly munitions.
August – October 1997
The 6th Army is able to get forces into place but not do much more the begin probes when the Alaskan winter sets in. The Soviets have sufficient fuel and supplies to hold out through the winter and see no reason to move.
November 1997
The Soviets use tactical nuclear weapons to destroy Skagway, Juneau and Whitehorse, inflicting serious damage to American and Canadian support and logistics units, and wrecking the supply lines of the 6th Army. The Americans reply in kind, destroying captured airfields at Kiska and Kodiak Island as well as Elmendorf Air Force base (inflicting some damage to Anchorage as well).
November 1997 – April 1998
Winter prevents any significant operations, and both sides suffer significant casualties due to harsh weather and supply problems. Neither side is getting much from home any more and both sides are essentially marooned for the winter.
Summer 1998 (May – September)
The Soviets attack Fort Greely, and overrun the survivors of the 7th Infantry Division which is effectively destroyed, but not before inflicting serious losses on the Soviet 6th Guards Airborne which is now reduced to a small brigade in size.
The Americans manage to repair the port facilities at Juneau and Skagway enough for a trickle of supplies to reach the American and Canadian forces. It is enough for the X and XI Corps to make a march on Fairbanks, and in heavy fighting, American and Canadian troops take the city and drive surviving Soviet paratroopers into full retreat. Casualties are heavy however, and by September cold weather has brought the Americans and Canadians to a halt at Fort Greeley.
Winter 1998-1999
Worsening conditions in North America and the Soviet Union end any further supply to Alaska (for the Soviets) or reduce it to a trickle. Both sides go into cantonment and wait for better days.
Summer 1999
The supply situation does not improve with summer, as the US has bigger problems dealing with the situation at home, while Canada is at its limit as well. American and Canadian forces aggressively patrol, but lack sufficient logistical support or manpower to attempt a march on Anchorage.
Winter 1999-2000
The return of winter ends most operations. In western Alaska, the Alaskan Scouts and local militias control that region, while troops and local militias also control northern Alaska. Soviet forces are limited to the Anchorage / Seward area, with some surviving pockets that are dying out in the Aleutians and Kodiak Island. US and Canadian forces hold Fairbanks, Fort Greeley and Juneau and have a secure supply line, although little is being delivered along it.