Invasion of saudi arabia during 1980s

What can Soviets do to minimize losses to saudi airforce?

Exist. I recall stories of USAF fighters being pulled off intercepts in DS so Saudi fighters could engage. Allegedly the AWACS controllers had to walk them through every step of the way.
 

Khanzeer

Banned
Exist. I recall stories of USAF fighters being pulled off intercepts in DS so Saudi fighters could engage. Allegedly the AWACS controllers had to walk them through every step of the way.
And this is 1991 when saudis had f15 for almost 9 yrs ?
 
And this is 1991 when saudis had f15 for almost 9 yrs ?

Like I said, allegedly. Unless the US comes in to bail them out or some ASB gives them the clone army from Star Wars, I can’t see the Saudi’s lasting longer then a few weeks..

Of course, the Soviets can and probably will fuck themselves up here if they don’t handle certain aspects, like Mecca, with exquisite care. I’m just imagining time with a cover of a Kabba in flames from a missed Soviet air strike...
 

Khanzeer

Banned
Like I said, allegedly. Unless the US comes in to bail them out or some ASB gives them the clone army from Star Wars, I can’t see the Saudi’s lasting longer then a few weeks..

Of course, the Soviets can and probably will fuck themselves up here if they don’t handle certain aspects, like Mecca, with exquisite care. I’m just imagining time with a cover of a Kabba in flames from a missed Soviet air strike...

Soviets will probably avoid all military action in the holy cities altogether, jeddah though would likely be blockaded and port bombed
It would not be unlikely for royal family to leave Riyadh and take refuge in the holy cities

There has been incidents of muslim armies in the past burning Kabba and sacking medina but clearly this not something Soviets would want to emulate

Muslim forces from yemen though can lay siege to the holy cities, In fact it would bring preferable if Muslim allies Yemeni and iraqis in this case do most of the leg work

Soviets can limit themselves to mining /blockading the harbors, providing air support and military advisors for more sophisticated equipment.
 
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The logistical capacity of the Soviets to support a very large expeditionary force overseas is questionable. They could support an offensive corps (say 1 airborne division, one armoured division, three mechanised brigades & a composite naval infantry division) coming out of Iraq, while having the Iraqi & Yemeni forces commit on a larger scale. This alone would be enough to utterly thrash the Saudis.

I know OP specified no American involvement, but even in that case would be an interesting scenario. Can XVIII Airborne Corps deploy in strength to hold the invaaion before Saudi falls, or is the US forced to make an opposed landing to liberate the Arabian Peninsula?
 

Khanzeer

Banned
Soviets could sent Central Asian divisions in, though. Kazakh, Uzbek, Tajik soldiers would be fine in the holy cities.
That could backfire, a mutiny from amongst the religious minded men OR the soviet central asians can be nominal muslims and if they drink or misbehave in anyway the blame will still fall on the Soviets
 

Khanzeer

Banned
The logistical capacity of the Soviets to support a very large expeditionary force overseas is questionable. They could support an offensive corps (say 1 airborne division, one armoured division, three mechanised brigades & a composite naval infantry division) coming out of Iraq, while having the Iraqi & Yemeni forces commit on a larger scale. This alone would be enough to utterly thrash the Saudis.

I know OP specified no American involvement, but even in that case would be an interesting scenario. Can XVIII Airborne Corps deploy in strength to hold the invaaion before Saudi falls, or is the US forced to make an opposed landing to liberate the Arabian Peninsula?
I dont think Soviets can deploy more than one airborne division and maybe brigade of naval marines for long
They may support the allies with more equipment and advisors
However if they keep their objectives limited & clear then its doable.
Focus on invasion/ destruction of military economic infrastructure and NOT occupation.
 
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