WW3 in in the late sixties Vietnam era?

How likely is WW3 breaking out say from 1967-1970? How would it go? Do the Soviets have the nuclear weapons to counter the US?

If it is around the time of peak US deployment in Vietnam how would this affect the conventional situation in Europe.

Didn't the US have the advantage in nuclear technology?

Thoughts?
 
It would be worse than the Cuban Missile Crisis, but not as bad as WW3 in the 80s. Partially as a result of Cuba, the USSR resolved never to let itself be caught at a disadvantage again, and greatly increased nuclear build up. Also, China has had the bomb since 1964.
 
If the Soviets attack when the Americans have the peak of their forces in Vietnam how much farther could they get before the US pushes the red button?

Did the US still have enough a presence in Europe to hold them?

Assuming the Soviets either launch their missiles first or retain some sort of second strike what would happen to US troops in Vietnam?
 
If the Soviets attack when the Americans have the peak of their forces in Vietnam how much farther could they get before the US pushes the red button?

Did the US still have enough a presence in Europe to hold them?

Assuming the Soviets either launch their missiles first or retain some sort of second strike what would happen to US troops in Vietnam?

In Europe, let's say 24 to 48 hours before the Soviets breakthrough Fulda and advance toward Rhein Mein and Frankfurt break out the tac nukes Vietnam has utterly gutted the US army in Europe missing an entire re equipment cycle and skimming off the Officers and NCOs. Nam gutted the miliary the US will have to break out the nukes to hold Europe west of the Rhine.
 
In Europe, let's say 24 to 48 hours before the Soviets breakthrough Fulda and advance toward Rhein Mein and Frankfurt break out the tac nukes Vietnam has utterly gutted the US army in Europe missing an entire re equipment cycle and skimming off the Officers and NCOs. Nam gutted the miliary the US will have to break out the nukes to hold Europe west of the Rhine.
About the Indochina theatre-would the Soviets and potentially Chinese intervene directly here in the event of WW3? Could we see SOG battling spetznaz in the jungles around Hanoi?
 
About the Indochina theatre-would the Soviets and potentially Chinese intervene directly here in the event of WW3? Could we see SOG battling
spetznaz in the jungles around Hanoi?

? The Soviets don't give a fuck about Indochina in WW3 every EVERYTHING goes to achieving victory in Western Europe Indochina is very very low of the priority list
 
If the Soviets attack when the Americans have the peak of their forces in Vietnam how much farther could they get before the US pushes the red button?

Did the US still have enough a presence in Europe to hold them?

Assuming the Soviets either launch their missiles first or retain some sort of second strike what would happen to US troops in Vietnam?

Would they not get ample time to regroup since the Soviets would not attack out of the blue. Also, the US had troops in Germany at the time. Just hold the line until the French are mobilised
 

GarethC

Donor
LBJ panics and dithers before following the Kahn escalation ladder to use nuclear strikes on Warsaw Pact armored formations, then on logistics nodes, then on satellite population centers, then on Soviet counterforce targets, in each case allowing the Politburo time to surrender or respond in kind.
There is a significant risk SAC launches on its own rather than waiting - not so much Wing Attack Plan R for Robert, as the whole SIOP.

Nixon... I personally reckon he'd take the crisis briefing, finish his whisky, bet everything on black and roll the dice.
 
Would they not get ample time to regroup since the Soviets would not attack out of the blue. Also, the US had troops in Germany at the time. Just hold the line until the French are mobilised

NATO forces are not likely to hold very well. The deliberate deprivation of conventional in favor of nuclear forces during the 1950's was supposed to have been made good, but Vietnam and it's aftermath derailed the program. As a result, the Soviets managed to maintain a overwhelming conventional superiority until the 80's. As others have noted, NATO's options for a late-60's Soviet assault are pretty much go nuclear or go home.
 
Well the French go nuclear at the very least start dropping tac nukes (did they have the means to hit Russia at this point? once the reds cross the Rhine and then the Americans and Brits almost certainly have launch aswell
 
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