Slow Drift to War Europe 1984
- Thread starter Farmer12
- Start date
What about he picks up a nice little Russian girl, goes out partying and as he is driving over a bridge.....Oh wait, nah, that would never happen.
Geon
Donor
Actually SlideRuleJockey you're partially right. The KGB was not above using sexy members of both sexes to lure unsuspecting western visitors into compromising positions in order to blackmail information out of them. And what secrets might a U.S. Senator known to womanize be made to reveal? Especially useful if some of that information helps in the upcoming conflict. Or, for later blackmail purposes.
Hey Farmer, no offense but i would love for you to threadmark your updates
just so i don't have to scroll through every page just to search for an TL update.
But other than that, good work so far, can't wait to see the fecal matter hit the rotary fan in Europe.
just so i don't have to scroll through every page just to search for an TL update.
But other than that, good work so far, can't wait to see the fecal matter hit the rotary fan in Europe.
If Ted is in Russia when the action starts, if the Kennedy family tries to get special privileges for Ted, it will not go down well with the US public. Joe Jr died in US service, JFK fought taking his chances like any other PT boat skipper. At a time when literally millions of American young men and women are taking fire all around the world, scrambling to pull Ted's chestnuts out of the fire - chestnuts that he very publicly tossed in the fire - if the Kennedy clan is seeking "special privilege" for Ted, and this comes out, their name will truly be mud.
BTW JFK jr and a number of other Kennedy males in that age group are draftable. I wonder if any have been drafted, or volunteered, or perhaps they had bone spurs?
BTW JFK jr and a number of other Kennedy males in that age group are draftable. I wonder if any have been drafted, or volunteered, or perhaps they had bone spurs?
Prep work for war
21/20 August D-3 In both New Zealand and Australia the peace movement was out in strength it might be a work day but people did not show up for work and instead went the peace protests the sizes of the protests were impressive. But in Australia a larger percentage of the population were not willing put up with being force to hand over a large percentage of the countries wheat not mention the money that had been demanded. The demand for money was also making a lot harder for the peace movement in New Zealand to build up more traction. The believers and their supporters were out but at the same time neither government were going to change their position for the peace movement. At the same time the consensus of opinion was that no nukes would hit New Zealand. But New Zealand would have to deal with the effects of the nuclear winter that would be the result of all the nuclear strikes made across the world.
10am Moscow Gorbachev was already being contacted by some members of the Politburo who were not pleased about going to war with the NATO alliance. But like one of them had commented if we stood up to Romanov right after he had been elected, they would have been purged. So now the maneuvering was beginning. But Gorbachev was quite sure amongst the people he was seeing were agent provocateurs trying to lure him into some sort of plot that would allow Romanov to accuse him of some sort of criminal activity and send him off to the Gulag. That was a place he wanted to avoid at all costs but at the same time he would not entirely stay out of the current power play. He would just be cautiously involved.
General Secretary Romanov was at a meeting of STAVKA. This would be a briefing on the Northern Front and its plans. The Commander of the Northern Front was ready with his briefing. For the drive on Helsinki we have assigned two Armies. The 18th Army with the 67th, 77th, 43rd, 96th MRD with two artillery divisions the 2nd Guard and 20th. As well as the 34th Army 115th, 116th, and 149th MRD. These two armies with a Spetsnaz brigade will keep the bulk of the Finnish army busy. These two armies will attack along a front from the coast to the border with the Republic of Karelia. The 18th Army will be the carryout the drive on Helsinki while the 34th Army will cover its northern flank. The 18th Army will attack along, fifty kilometers of the front. While the 34th Army will cover to the north extending as much as seventy kilometers.
The Finnish Army has taken up positions roughly along the old Salpa line while the fortifications are from World War Two and we do have extensive information on the bunkers and other fortifications. But despite its age we feel that the line will slow our force down. The first section of the line is a little under seventy kilometers in length. Four infantry brigades are setup on the front lines the brigades are the Karelia Jaeger Brigade, Savo Jaeger, Kymi Jaeger, 17th Infantry. While in reserve is the 2nd Armored and the Hameenmaan Jaeger Brigade as well as the 19th and 34nd infantry brigades. The entire 18th Army will hit line from the coast to the lake just norther of Luumaki. Local defense units will be covering the lake and the islands in the lake. The problem with this section of the line is that it is both heavily wooded and has lakes all over the area. The forces holding this section of the line are the 26th, 28th and 29th infantry brigades with the 3rd Armored brigade the Udenmaan Jaeger brigade and the 24th infantry brigade as reserves as well as attached artillery units
The next section of the line runs Along most of the border of Karelia will be covered by category D divisions. Those division will be organized around two armies the 12th and 16th Army. Each army will have three corps and six divisions. The 12th Army will have the 24th Rifle Corp with the 241st, 242nd and the 245th divisions. The second Corp will be the 25th Rifle Corp with the 244th, 245th, 246th. While the 16th Army has the 26th Rifle Corp with the 247th, 248th ,249th and the 14th Rifle Corp with the 250th,251st,252nd. This section of the line ends about fifteen kilometers South of Highway 866. These two armies had a relatively simple mission of holding the line and engaging in limited attacks. We feel that the combat reliability of these units is marginal at best. Also, while roads do exist, they are not highways that allow rapid movement of forces and with the terrain being heavily wooded We feel a more conservative approach is mandated.
The newly formed 8th Army a formation has an excellent military record, will lead the attack along highway 866. The core of this army will be the 30th Guard Corp with the 63rd and 64th Guards Divisions. The 17th Rifle Corp its divisions will be the 253rd ,254th. The 8th Armies mission is to cover the southern flank of the 6th Combined Arms Army. The 30th Guard Corp will lead the attack. The plan is simple enough as the 8th Army drives deep into Finland they will drop off the Rifle Corp. The 17th Rifle Corp will take up blocking positions from south of Kuusamo thru Paltamo. Then elements of the 30th Guard Corp will drive on to Oulu while dropping off units to protect its flanks. This operation will cover the southern flank of our drive on Norway, while crushing the Finnish Armies Northern Jaeger Brigade. A force made up of four light infantry battalions. The Finnish Army has concentrated its forces to the south of Finland.
Next the newly formed 16th Army has the mission of driving into Sweden, the component Corps will be the 6th Guard Corp with the 63rd and 64th MRD, the 22nd Rifle Corp with two category D divisions the 259th, 264th the 20th Rifle Corp with the 260th and 261st divisions and the 21st Rifle Corp with the 262nd and 263rd.
The 16th Army will follow the initial route of the 8th Army then it will. Then the 20th Rifle Corp the drive on Rovaniemi. It is felt that since the two divisions of the 260th and the 261st have received preference in equipment. The 20th Corp will lead the attack against elements of the Kajanaland Jaeger brigade with a similar TO@E of the previously mentioned brigade. At the same time the Corp will be dropping off units to protect the line of supply from the border through Kemijarvi to the city of Rovaniemi. Then the 21st Corp will take over the drive on Tornio. Then the 30th Guards Corp will attack into Sweden with the intention of diverting the Swedish army to this part of Sweden while the 6th Combined Arms Army attacks further north.
The 16th Army will drive on Boden Sweden where the 15th Division of the Swedish Army is based. This division is essentially a light infantry division and it will of course have difficulties in stopping the advance of the 30th Guards Corp. We expect that the 12th Division of the Swedish army will have to assist in blocking the advance of the 30th Corp. Other forces could be sent north but we expect the 30th Corp to force the bulk of the Swedish army busy blocking their advance. Leaving the 6th Combined Arms Army to drive on both Narvik and Tromso.
The 6th Combined Arms Army with the 45th Guards MRD and the 54th, 116th, 131st as well as the 4TH Guards Airborne Corp with the 103rd and 104th Guards division. Also, two category D divisions forming the 22nd Rifle Corp with the 264th and 265th divisions. The army will move north driving first on Sodankyla where the Sodankyla brigade is headquartered. Then on to the city of Kittila after that Muonio. Then next part of the drive will be to Karesuvanto. It will be there that the army will split into two different drives one on Tromso with the 116th and 131st while the 45th Guards and the 54th will drive on Narvik. At the same time the 22nd Rifle Corp will protect the supply lines of the 6th Combined Arms Army. The 4th Guards Airborne Corp can be used in two separate divisional drops one near Tromso and the other near Narvik or one concentrated Corp sized drop on either city.
The final drive will be by the newly formed 20th Army. 26th Army Corp composed of the111th and 196TH MRD as well as the 61st Naval Infantry brigade and the Northern Fleet Spetsnaz Brigade will support their operations. Also 19th with 262nd and 263rd also the 23rd Rifle Corp with the 266th and 267th Divisions and the 268th Division is to be will operate in concert with the 26th Army Corp. All these units will take part in the campaign the 89th MRD will attack along our border with Norway while the 111th and 196th MRD will cut across Finland attack along Finland’s highway 91 marching on village of Ivalo then north along Highway 4 to where Highway 91 breaks away from Highway 4 and goes north and west. Pushing on to crossroads located at the village of Karasjok. Then north to the village of Lakselv cutting Finnmark from the rest of Norway.
The 26th Corp will link up with the 61st Naval brigade. At the same time the 89th MRD and 19th Rifle Corp will attack along our border with Norway. Their mission is to keep the attention of the NATO forces will the rest of the 20th Army drives in on the NATO forces in Finnmark. The intention is to cut off six brigades of the Norwegian Army as well as the American 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade and the British 3rd Commando Brigade which includes one battalion of marines from the Netherlands. Then as an added comment, “My understanding is that the Netherland Marines want to make up for not being with the 3rd Commando during the Falklands campaign.” The comment brought smiled from the members of STAVKA. My intention is to isolate and destroy those units in the North. While driving on both Tromso and Narvik. With a little luck we will control all of Norway north of Narvik. With that the briefing came to an end.
10 Am Pretoria South Africa the day started off a little bit rocky as American citizens called in about the current situation. But one thing Alan had noticed was that no one seemed to be very eager to head home. Some tourists were asking about how to extend their tourist visas. Not that Alan could blame them, especially the families with children. Go home to face a nuclear apocalypse or stay here and live in a racist white run country. Staying alive seemed like a good idea, but he was not too sure that the White run government would be able to stay in power for long. Then again without world opinion to pull them down, that South Africa could just go out and shoot anyone who looked like trouble. Alan could hear Jake talking to the South African Foreign Minister about the requests to extend the tourist visas. The South Africans were actually being quite helpful and understanding about allowing the Americans staying longer. Alan suspected that more than a few in the Foreign Minister figured the more whites in South Africa the better.
Fulda gap The troops were expanding the entrenchments and helping the engineers with the planned minefields and laying wire. At the same time the while car and busloads of civilians were leaving the area. A company from the German Territorial army was moving into Gersfeld. They were going to fortify the town so that when the commies showed up, they would know they were facing the German schutze and not a bunch of amis. A few old alte Hasen from World War two were giving bits of advice about this and that. Like digging trenches between the houses so the troops could move from building to building in relatively good cover. They pointed out that clearing away trees to removed cover and concealment or putting mines in areas that would provide the Commies protection. Or dropping a few mortars rounds in to get the range of various location. Telling the Territorial Army troops that they should be able to hold off Ivan when they did three to one attack but it was the five to one and ten to one attack, that were the tough ones to beat back, but it could be done if everyone kept his head during the fight and fought like hell.
Chuck had a special job he had built fences when he had lived on the farm, so the Major Richards put him in charge of checking on the wire being laid. Many of the troops had never really laid wire or how to use the post hole driver or how to use the wire cutters attach the wire holders amongst other things. This mission did divert him from his companies training program but making sure the wire was put up right was more important and since the engineer units had so many missions to carry out before the war broke out. But wire was important even a single row of razor wire could move enemy troops in the direction the defenders wanted. But there was a shortage of razor wire, but a lot of barb wire had been brought in from the United States and Canada.
Apparently, several freighters from several flags of convenience nations had been given the job of moving the barbed wire and metal fence posts to Germany. No one had really talked about it but the wire was here to be used to fortify their frontline positions. Chuck was going to take advantage of the supply of barbed wire and fence posts, after a discussion with the combat engineers he set about laying wire across the units front from one end to the other. In some places thicker than other, he was going to make it hard for a units to just climb over a fence. First they had to make their way through barbed wire piles entanglements and then through a double apron fence with a claymore place every so often not thick but locate in location that a unit of infiltrator might use. Once this was done and if they had barbed wire left over then another layer of wire would be laid. But this all depended on both time and quantities of fencing material.
To make work a little easier some local tractors with plows were taken in service and a few of the troops had grown up on the farm. The idea was to plow up the whole area in front of the battalion’s position. Then they would disc the ground. Then they would lay a few mines as well as bits of metal. In any event it would slow down the attack and hopefully channelize the attack. The engineers would lay the real minefield infield beyond the plowed areas. It was hoped that the advancing Warsaw pact troops would hit the real mind field and take some casualties before bringing up the mine clearance equipment or possibly with luck take out some of the mine clearance vehicle. It might work on the other hand it might not. But anything that might slow down an attack was a good thing.
In the major cities of Europe, the peace movement was out in force but you could feel the desperation in their voice. They had failed to stop the drive to war and they knew it. But they continued to protest to chant and to march. The watching police were worried that an increasingly frustrated peace movement would revert to violence. The remnants of the Bader Mienhoff gang were out there in the mobs of protesters as were the revolutionary cells and other assorted groups across Europe. The communist parties in both France and Italy were split between the people who would follow the communist party line and the rest who might be communist but they were loyal to their homeland.
10am Nohra East Germany
The commander of the Newly organized Nohra Front composed of the 8tt Guards Armies and the 1st Guards Army with additional divisions that were from the last mobilization. The 8th Guards mission was to break through the lines. The 1st Guards mission would be to exploit the breakthrough. He had ordered the two army commanders and their chiefs of staff as well as all of the division commanders and their chiefs of staff as well as the regimental commanders and their chiefs of staff assigned to his front to this meeting. He wanted to make sure his officers understood what would be necessary, he had learned during the battles of the Rhev meatgrinder. Absolute ruthlessness would be necessary, the mission was to punch a hole in the frontlines of NATO and push onto Frankfort and then on to Channel. This is what was needed to win the war. He was going to make it absolutely clear that casualties were going to happen and those casualties would be heavy.
He was going make sure that the officers understood the need to be ruthless and the need for victory. He wanted them to understand that sacrifices had to be made for the future of the Soviet Union. That officers willing to make the hard decisions and carry them out would be the ones who would be promoted. While those without the will or desire to succeed would be left behind. He would make sure that they understood that anyone not up to the mission would be relieved of command and face the appropriate punishment. Loss of rank, retirement, imprisonment or the firing squad. Also, they needed to consider what could happen to their families. He needed them to be ready to do what was necessary without hesitation.
10am Moscow Gorbachev was already being contacted by some members of the Politburo who were not pleased about going to war with the NATO alliance. But like one of them had commented if we stood up to Romanov right after he had been elected, they would have been purged. So now the maneuvering was beginning. But Gorbachev was quite sure amongst the people he was seeing were agent provocateurs trying to lure him into some sort of plot that would allow Romanov to accuse him of some sort of criminal activity and send him off to the Gulag. That was a place he wanted to avoid at all costs but at the same time he would not entirely stay out of the current power play. He would just be cautiously involved.
General Secretary Romanov was at a meeting of STAVKA. This would be a briefing on the Northern Front and its plans. The Commander of the Northern Front was ready with his briefing. For the drive on Helsinki we have assigned two Armies. The 18th Army with the 67th, 77th, 43rd, 96th MRD with two artillery divisions the 2nd Guard and 20th. As well as the 34th Army 115th, 116th, and 149th MRD. These two armies with a Spetsnaz brigade will keep the bulk of the Finnish army busy. These two armies will attack along a front from the coast to the border with the Republic of Karelia. The 18th Army will be the carryout the drive on Helsinki while the 34th Army will cover its northern flank. The 18th Army will attack along, fifty kilometers of the front. While the 34th Army will cover to the north extending as much as seventy kilometers.
The Finnish Army has taken up positions roughly along the old Salpa line while the fortifications are from World War Two and we do have extensive information on the bunkers and other fortifications. But despite its age we feel that the line will slow our force down. The first section of the line is a little under seventy kilometers in length. Four infantry brigades are setup on the front lines the brigades are the Karelia Jaeger Brigade, Savo Jaeger, Kymi Jaeger, 17th Infantry. While in reserve is the 2nd Armored and the Hameenmaan Jaeger Brigade as well as the 19th and 34nd infantry brigades. The entire 18th Army will hit line from the coast to the lake just norther of Luumaki. Local defense units will be covering the lake and the islands in the lake. The problem with this section of the line is that it is both heavily wooded and has lakes all over the area. The forces holding this section of the line are the 26th, 28th and 29th infantry brigades with the 3rd Armored brigade the Udenmaan Jaeger brigade and the 24th infantry brigade as reserves as well as attached artillery units
The next section of the line runs Along most of the border of Karelia will be covered by category D divisions. Those division will be organized around two armies the 12th and 16th Army. Each army will have three corps and six divisions. The 12th Army will have the 24th Rifle Corp with the 241st, 242nd and the 245th divisions. The second Corp will be the 25th Rifle Corp with the 244th, 245th, 246th. While the 16th Army has the 26th Rifle Corp with the 247th, 248th ,249th and the 14th Rifle Corp with the 250th,251st,252nd. This section of the line ends about fifteen kilometers South of Highway 866. These two armies had a relatively simple mission of holding the line and engaging in limited attacks. We feel that the combat reliability of these units is marginal at best. Also, while roads do exist, they are not highways that allow rapid movement of forces and with the terrain being heavily wooded We feel a more conservative approach is mandated.
The newly formed 8th Army a formation has an excellent military record, will lead the attack along highway 866. The core of this army will be the 30th Guard Corp with the 63rd and 64th Guards Divisions. The 17th Rifle Corp its divisions will be the 253rd ,254th. The 8th Armies mission is to cover the southern flank of the 6th Combined Arms Army. The 30th Guard Corp will lead the attack. The plan is simple enough as the 8th Army drives deep into Finland they will drop off the Rifle Corp. The 17th Rifle Corp will take up blocking positions from south of Kuusamo thru Paltamo. Then elements of the 30th Guard Corp will drive on to Oulu while dropping off units to protect its flanks. This operation will cover the southern flank of our drive on Norway, while crushing the Finnish Armies Northern Jaeger Brigade. A force made up of four light infantry battalions. The Finnish Army has concentrated its forces to the south of Finland.
Next the newly formed 16th Army has the mission of driving into Sweden, the component Corps will be the 6th Guard Corp with the 63rd and 64th MRD, the 22nd Rifle Corp with two category D divisions the 259th, 264th the 20th Rifle Corp with the 260th and 261st divisions and the 21st Rifle Corp with the 262nd and 263rd.
The 16th Army will follow the initial route of the 8th Army then it will. Then the 20th Rifle Corp the drive on Rovaniemi. It is felt that since the two divisions of the 260th and the 261st have received preference in equipment. The 20th Corp will lead the attack against elements of the Kajanaland Jaeger brigade with a similar TO@E of the previously mentioned brigade. At the same time the Corp will be dropping off units to protect the line of supply from the border through Kemijarvi to the city of Rovaniemi. Then the 21st Corp will take over the drive on Tornio. Then the 30th Guards Corp will attack into Sweden with the intention of diverting the Swedish army to this part of Sweden while the 6th Combined Arms Army attacks further north.
The 16th Army will drive on Boden Sweden where the 15th Division of the Swedish Army is based. This division is essentially a light infantry division and it will of course have difficulties in stopping the advance of the 30th Guards Corp. We expect that the 12th Division of the Swedish army will have to assist in blocking the advance of the 30th Corp. Other forces could be sent north but we expect the 30th Corp to force the bulk of the Swedish army busy blocking their advance. Leaving the 6th Combined Arms Army to drive on both Narvik and Tromso.
The 6th Combined Arms Army with the 45th Guards MRD and the 54th, 116th, 131st as well as the 4TH Guards Airborne Corp with the 103rd and 104th Guards division. Also, two category D divisions forming the 22nd Rifle Corp with the 264th and 265th divisions. The army will move north driving first on Sodankyla where the Sodankyla brigade is headquartered. Then on to the city of Kittila after that Muonio. Then next part of the drive will be to Karesuvanto. It will be there that the army will split into two different drives one on Tromso with the 116th and 131st while the 45th Guards and the 54th will drive on Narvik. At the same time the 22nd Rifle Corp will protect the supply lines of the 6th Combined Arms Army. The 4th Guards Airborne Corp can be used in two separate divisional drops one near Tromso and the other near Narvik or one concentrated Corp sized drop on either city.
The final drive will be by the newly formed 20th Army. 26th Army Corp composed of the111th and 196TH MRD as well as the 61st Naval Infantry brigade and the Northern Fleet Spetsnaz Brigade will support their operations. Also 19th with 262nd and 263rd also the 23rd Rifle Corp with the 266th and 267th Divisions and the 268th Division is to be will operate in concert with the 26th Army Corp. All these units will take part in the campaign the 89th MRD will attack along our border with Norway while the 111th and 196th MRD will cut across Finland attack along Finland’s highway 91 marching on village of Ivalo then north along Highway 4 to where Highway 91 breaks away from Highway 4 and goes north and west. Pushing on to crossroads located at the village of Karasjok. Then north to the village of Lakselv cutting Finnmark from the rest of Norway.
The 26th Corp will link up with the 61st Naval brigade. At the same time the 89th MRD and 19th Rifle Corp will attack along our border with Norway. Their mission is to keep the attention of the NATO forces will the rest of the 20th Army drives in on the NATO forces in Finnmark. The intention is to cut off six brigades of the Norwegian Army as well as the American 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade and the British 3rd Commando Brigade which includes one battalion of marines from the Netherlands. Then as an added comment, “My understanding is that the Netherland Marines want to make up for not being with the 3rd Commando during the Falklands campaign.” The comment brought smiled from the members of STAVKA. My intention is to isolate and destroy those units in the North. While driving on both Tromso and Narvik. With a little luck we will control all of Norway north of Narvik. With that the briefing came to an end.
10 Am Pretoria South Africa the day started off a little bit rocky as American citizens called in about the current situation. But one thing Alan had noticed was that no one seemed to be very eager to head home. Some tourists were asking about how to extend their tourist visas. Not that Alan could blame them, especially the families with children. Go home to face a nuclear apocalypse or stay here and live in a racist white run country. Staying alive seemed like a good idea, but he was not too sure that the White run government would be able to stay in power for long. Then again without world opinion to pull them down, that South Africa could just go out and shoot anyone who looked like trouble. Alan could hear Jake talking to the South African Foreign Minister about the requests to extend the tourist visas. The South Africans were actually being quite helpful and understanding about allowing the Americans staying longer. Alan suspected that more than a few in the Foreign Minister figured the more whites in South Africa the better.
Fulda gap The troops were expanding the entrenchments and helping the engineers with the planned minefields and laying wire. At the same time the while car and busloads of civilians were leaving the area. A company from the German Territorial army was moving into Gersfeld. They were going to fortify the town so that when the commies showed up, they would know they were facing the German schutze and not a bunch of amis. A few old alte Hasen from World War two were giving bits of advice about this and that. Like digging trenches between the houses so the troops could move from building to building in relatively good cover. They pointed out that clearing away trees to removed cover and concealment or putting mines in areas that would provide the Commies protection. Or dropping a few mortars rounds in to get the range of various location. Telling the Territorial Army troops that they should be able to hold off Ivan when they did three to one attack but it was the five to one and ten to one attack, that were the tough ones to beat back, but it could be done if everyone kept his head during the fight and fought like hell.
Chuck had a special job he had built fences when he had lived on the farm, so the Major Richards put him in charge of checking on the wire being laid. Many of the troops had never really laid wire or how to use the post hole driver or how to use the wire cutters attach the wire holders amongst other things. This mission did divert him from his companies training program but making sure the wire was put up right was more important and since the engineer units had so many missions to carry out before the war broke out. But wire was important even a single row of razor wire could move enemy troops in the direction the defenders wanted. But there was a shortage of razor wire, but a lot of barb wire had been brought in from the United States and Canada.
Apparently, several freighters from several flags of convenience nations had been given the job of moving the barbed wire and metal fence posts to Germany. No one had really talked about it but the wire was here to be used to fortify their frontline positions. Chuck was going to take advantage of the supply of barbed wire and fence posts, after a discussion with the combat engineers he set about laying wire across the units front from one end to the other. In some places thicker than other, he was going to make it hard for a units to just climb over a fence. First they had to make their way through barbed wire piles entanglements and then through a double apron fence with a claymore place every so often not thick but locate in location that a unit of infiltrator might use. Once this was done and if they had barbed wire left over then another layer of wire would be laid. But this all depended on both time and quantities of fencing material.
To make work a little easier some local tractors with plows were taken in service and a few of the troops had grown up on the farm. The idea was to plow up the whole area in front of the battalion’s position. Then they would disc the ground. Then they would lay a few mines as well as bits of metal. In any event it would slow down the attack and hopefully channelize the attack. The engineers would lay the real minefield infield beyond the plowed areas. It was hoped that the advancing Warsaw pact troops would hit the real mind field and take some casualties before bringing up the mine clearance equipment or possibly with luck take out some of the mine clearance vehicle. It might work on the other hand it might not. But anything that might slow down an attack was a good thing.
In the major cities of Europe, the peace movement was out in force but you could feel the desperation in their voice. They had failed to stop the drive to war and they knew it. But they continued to protest to chant and to march. The watching police were worried that an increasingly frustrated peace movement would revert to violence. The remnants of the Bader Mienhoff gang were out there in the mobs of protesters as were the revolutionary cells and other assorted groups across Europe. The communist parties in both France and Italy were split between the people who would follow the communist party line and the rest who might be communist but they were loyal to their homeland.
10am Nohra East Germany
The commander of the Newly organized Nohra Front composed of the 8tt Guards Armies and the 1st Guards Army with additional divisions that were from the last mobilization. The 8th Guards mission was to break through the lines. The 1st Guards mission would be to exploit the breakthrough. He had ordered the two army commanders and their chiefs of staff as well as all of the division commanders and their chiefs of staff as well as the regimental commanders and their chiefs of staff assigned to his front to this meeting. He wanted to make sure his officers understood what would be necessary, he had learned during the battles of the Rhev meatgrinder. Absolute ruthlessness would be necessary, the mission was to punch a hole in the frontlines of NATO and push onto Frankfort and then on to Channel. This is what was needed to win the war. He was going to make it absolutely clear that casualties were going to happen and those casualties would be heavy.
He was going make sure that the officers understood the need to be ruthless and the need for victory. He wanted them to understand that sacrifices had to be made for the future of the Soviet Union. That officers willing to make the hard decisions and carry them out would be the ones who would be promoted. While those without the will or desire to succeed would be left behind. He would make sure that they understood that anyone not up to the mission would be relieved of command and face the appropriate punishment. Loss of rank, retirement, imprisonment or the firing squad. Also, they needed to consider what could happen to their families. He needed them to be ready to do what was necessary without hesitation.
ferdi254
Banned
Having driven often enogh in that area: There is only one tertiary road out of Thuringia into Hessen going to Gersfeld and only one B to follow up in the West. This B has a nice narrow curve to cross the Fulda. From Gersfeld to the West only one B with forrest on both sides.
The whole area in the east is hilly with forests on both sides and even after a couple of billion euro spent into improving the roads have a lot of serpentines.
If you are on any road there you will be in a valley 0.5 to 3 km wide with a creek/rivulet in the center. The valley will be used for agrarian purposes and will have one(!) road going along it. Every 5-10 km a small village will be sitting along the creek which the road will have to go through. The hills on both sides will be covered with trees.
On the western side due to the Zonenrandförderung and the preparation for WWIII a lot of roads had been improved, bridges will carry tanks and a lot of Umgehungsstrassen (avoiding the towns) had been built. None of that happened in the GDR. Along the Hessen/Thuringia border and the 50 km east of it the roads were not improved compared to 1945, in which after some painful experiences the US Army avoided those valleys best as they could. Three man with a panzerfaust could block a tank company for an hour.
The whole area in the east is hilly with forests on both sides and even after a couple of billion euro spent into improving the roads have a lot of serpentines.
If you are on any road there you will be in a valley 0.5 to 3 km wide with a creek/rivulet in the center. The valley will be used for agrarian purposes and will have one(!) road going along it. Every 5-10 km a small village will be sitting along the creek which the road will have to go through. The hills on both sides will be covered with trees.
On the western side due to the Zonenrandförderung and the preparation for WWIII a lot of roads had been improved, bridges will carry tanks and a lot of Umgehungsstrassen (avoiding the towns) had been built. None of that happened in the GDR. Along the Hessen/Thuringia border and the 50 km east of it the roads were not improved compared to 1945, in which after some painful experiences the US Army avoided those valleys best as they could. Three man with a panzerfaust could block a tank company for an hour.
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ferdi254
Banned
All that did not matter IOTL where the expectation was a tactical surprise of the WP so all that narrow and hairpin bending roads would have been passed already or outside the range of NATO arty or that to busy with ground support or counterarty.
Even today with a modern car and all the improvements of the roads (including two new Autobahnen) it takes one hour to drive from Fulda to Suhl (a small trainstation but the bust suited that there is) and you still have 4 choke points in that way and hardly any alternative routes. In 1984 ther had been 6 choke points in leisurely range of M109‘s. And those should have the firing solutions worked out over the last two months. Firing a couple bomblet shells and some HE rounds with delayed impact fuse on those roads will go a long way to delay/destroy any WP troops.
That the WP had done nothing to improve the roads in that area was a sort of shock to the FRG who had expected (like the NATO had done) that ar least the most crucial pinpoints had been mitigated or all the bridges upgraded to carry a T-72. As that had not happened the expenses to upgrade the road system had been seriously higher than expected.
Even today with a modern car and all the improvements of the roads (including two new Autobahnen) it takes one hour to drive from Fulda to Suhl (a small trainstation but the bust suited that there is) and you still have 4 choke points in that way and hardly any alternative routes. In 1984 ther had been 6 choke points in leisurely range of M109‘s. And those should have the firing solutions worked out over the last two months. Firing a couple bomblet shells and some HE rounds with delayed impact fuse on those roads will go a long way to delay/destroy any WP troops.
That the WP had done nothing to improve the roads in that area was a sort of shock to the FRG who had expected (like the NATO had done) that ar least the most crucial pinpoints had been mitigated or all the bridges upgraded to carry a T-72. As that had not happened the expenses to upgrade the road system had been seriously higher than expected.
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A problem the Soviet forces will have is that map reading was officers only, and access to maps was restricted. On top of that any road signs not taken down are in a different alphabet. This is going to make errors in land navigation more common than "expected" and this is in the pre-GPS era. One wrong turn can lead you in to a lot of problems especially with armored/mech columns on secondary roads.
Farmer 12,
As far as the Finnish Army goes, here's the rough OOB from 1973, which most likely did not change much to 1984 due to lack of purchases, was as follows:
Total mobilization strength: 750 000 (out of population of some 4,9 million)
Finland was divided to 7 Military Regions whose task was to direct military operations in their areas - whether under enemy control or not
Within each Military Regions there were Military Districts to direct operations of Local Forces
General forces:
12 Corps HQ:s - composed of brigades and other units as tailored to tasks. With Roman numerals
9 Jaeger Brigades - Bicycles, trucks. Meant for delay, encounter battles and counterattacks
20 Infantry Brigades - Agricultural tractors. Theoretically meant for all-round operations. Less mobile than Jaeger Brigades.
1 Armored Brigade - T-55, BTR-60, BTR-50, PT-76 - counterattack force
Most important local forces:
33 Independent Battalions spread mostly along Eastern border - their task was to delay the initial Soviet thrust and then to conduct guerrilla operations. Thanks to long preparations their caches etc. have most probably been well prepared
24 Defence battalions - defending airfields, harbors, cities etc.
3 Sissi (Ranger) Battalions - for more demanding guerrilla operations
18 Border Guard battalions - fairly similar tasks to independent battalions, but naturally closer to Eastern border
Gazillion different independent Military Police companies, Security Companies etc.
In general the Cold War Finnish forces were very ill equipped, although long preparations may have given some chance for purchases of basic military equipment. Out of necessity in Finnish doctrine it was expected that enemy could make deep penetrations, which in turn would make Soviets vulnerable to counterattacks on flanks and guerrilla operations sapping logistics.
As for deployment of forces, I would not be surprised if only symbolic local forces were left in Lapland, perhaps with exception of Kemi-Tornio region in order to maintain land connection to Sweden.
Civil defense preparations were fairly extensive and supported by large scale stockpiling of food, fuel, medical supplies, evacuation schemes etc.
As far as the Finnish Army goes, here's the rough OOB from 1973, which most likely did not change much to 1984 due to lack of purchases, was as follows:
Total mobilization strength: 750 000 (out of population of some 4,9 million)
Finland was divided to 7 Military Regions whose task was to direct military operations in their areas - whether under enemy control or not
Within each Military Regions there were Military Districts to direct operations of Local Forces
General forces:
12 Corps HQ:s - composed of brigades and other units as tailored to tasks. With Roman numerals
9 Jaeger Brigades - Bicycles, trucks. Meant for delay, encounter battles and counterattacks
20 Infantry Brigades - Agricultural tractors. Theoretically meant for all-round operations. Less mobile than Jaeger Brigades.
1 Armored Brigade - T-55, BTR-60, BTR-50, PT-76 - counterattack force
Most important local forces:
33 Independent Battalions spread mostly along Eastern border - their task was to delay the initial Soviet thrust and then to conduct guerrilla operations. Thanks to long preparations their caches etc. have most probably been well prepared
24 Defence battalions - defending airfields, harbors, cities etc.
3 Sissi (Ranger) Battalions - for more demanding guerrilla operations
18 Border Guard battalions - fairly similar tasks to independent battalions, but naturally closer to Eastern border
Gazillion different independent Military Police companies, Security Companies etc.
In general the Cold War Finnish forces were very ill equipped, although long preparations may have given some chance for purchases of basic military equipment. Out of necessity in Finnish doctrine it was expected that enemy could make deep penetrations, which in turn would make Soviets vulnerable to counterattacks on flanks and guerrilla operations sapping logistics.
As for deployment of forces, I would not be surprised if only symbolic local forces were left in Lapland, perhaps with exception of Kemi-Tornio region in order to maintain land connection to Sweden.
Civil defense preparations were fairly extensive and supported by large scale stockpiling of food, fuel, medical supplies, evacuation schemes etc.
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The communist party in Italy will be litteraly split, not knowing if Berlinguer death has been butterflyed away (he died in OTL june 1984 due to a stroke) but in any case the PCI under him was not in any good relationship with Moscow and was a founder of the eurocommunism movement (and know perfectely that in case of Soviet occupation he and all his supporter will be declared counterevolutionary) and openly declared that he supported NATO; sure i think that will be very involved on the peace movement but that's all and the hardliner like Cossutta will be already under surveillance and too busy fighting the class traitor in the party to organize something.
More probably being part of a national unity goverment to show overall support
More probably being part of a national unity goverment to show overall support
I couldn't discount the paradox of a Communist party in ambiguous and actually vaguely antagonistic relations with Moscow partaking into a wartime national solidarity government in a Western country... apart the little detail that America would jump with both boots on the very idea.
A quick question about the USS Hornet. Is she the only reserve Essex called up from Bremerton reserve fleet? I assume the Lexington remains as the training carrier in the gulf or did you mean the Hornet to be the Lexington?
Part of the problem with the USS Hornet and other reserve fleet carriers is that they need a lot of work to be ready to go, as well as significant upgrades in things like communications and radar, combat systems and so forth. On top of that they are limited in what aircraft they can carry: A-4, A-7, F-8/RF-8 for attack/fighter/recon; KA-3, E-1/E2, S-2 & various helicopters. The problem is how many of the aircraft that could fit on the carrier(s) can be pulled out of the boneyard and made ready and also you need to find the aircrew and maintenance folks to fly and maintain these no longer in service aircraft - also spare parts and even some missiles might be an issue. Having said that, if you can gt some fixed up and staffed and get some training in before feces+fan=WWIII they can be helpful in aras with less threat (think South Pacific).
Admiral Jellicoe- Sorry only the Lexington is being converted to active duty at Norfolk. The Navy is working on the theory that the war will be a short one and an extra flight deck in the Caribbean would be useful especially since the lack of first line oppositions and the mobility of the Carrier to move around makes it very useful in this part of the world. The only other carrier in the are is the Kennedy and she is due for a refit but it is being delays due to the crisis. The only cruisers in these waters will be the Des Moines and Salem. To put it bluntly in the Caribbean the navies main battles units are the old Lexington, Des Moines and Salem and the lame the Kennedy.
@Farmer12 : I expect that you'll see a bunch of P-2s being reactivated and used fro ASW/maritime surveillance in the Caribbean and coastal areas. The last P-2's flying in the reserve were deactivated in 1978, so there would be a fair number in decent shape. The Soviets had a large number of "trawlers" both more or less legitimate fishing ships and AGI types and the P-2 would be convenient for tracking, and then eliminating these as needed. In the Caribbean they could provide good antisurface coverage as well as decent ASW effectiveness against diesel subs. This frees up the P-3s for more long range and modern threats including any boomers.
sloreck- Thanks for that bit of information, as for the Soviet trawlers be taken out that is quite trues especially since there is evidence that some of those trawlers were armed with underwater torpedo tubes. So taking them out by air would be a good idea but I would not be surprised if some of them had some sort of manpad on board so it might be necessary for the P-2's to keep their distance.
Thank you - that makes more sense - was confused when I saw reference to Hornet but not Lexington. Looking forward to seeing the Salem get some action though, lovely looking ships