Icelandic/British War

Tetsu

Twice, in 1958 and 1972, Britain and Iceland almost went to war over the size of Iceland`s territorial waters. This did result in Icelandic coast guard ships engaging in skirmishes with British battleships, but cooler heads prevailed and the matter was solved diplomatically both times. What might have happened if the two nations went to war in 1958, or in 1972?
 

Wombat

I'll have to check, but I'm sure in the mid 80s Military Modelling magazine had a article "Wargaming the Cod War" about just this sort of scenario.
 

Tetsu

Yes. Iceland actually does not have a military force, but Britain declaring war would have an interesting effect; the United States is bound by treaty to defend Iceland.
 

aktarian

ASBs, happy with their sucess, congratulate themselves and throw a big party.

Iceland and UK are both part of NATO which will do everything to prevent war from breaking out between two members. US can't afford to loose either ally so they will persuade both parties to "chill".
 

Melvin Loh

Just like Cyprus ?

Wouldn't the US have done everything in its negotiating power to get the Brits and Icelanders to stop their Cod War skirmishes, in order to retain NATO's integrity, in the same way as the Johnson admin did all possible to prevent open war between equally vital Greece and Turkey over Cyprus in the late 1960s ?
 
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