lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Jun 1, 2018 20:07:10 GMT
Maps: Soviet planning for invasion of Europe in 1970
Map I: Warsaw Pact Greece, Turkey Plans.Soviet map illustrating the Warsaw Pact invasion of Greece and Turkey. Caption reads: "Situation as of 18.00, 4.7 [July 4] on the Southern Axis and the Decisions of the 'Easterners'".  Map II:Warsaw Pact Turkey Plans
Soviet map illustrating in an exercise the massive use of nuclear weapons during a Warsaw Pact offensive to capture the Turkish Straits. Caption reads: "Actions of the Troops of the 2nd Southern Front on the Maritime Axis"  Map III: Warsaw Pact Austria, Italy Plans
Soviet map illustrating the Warsaw Pact invasion of Austria and its intentions for the subsequent invasion of Italy. Caption reads: "Situation as of 18.00, 4.7 [July 4] on the South-Western Axis and the Decisions of the 'Easterners'".  Map IV: Stavka Plans - Greece and TurkeySoviet map illustrating the Stavka Directives and Plans in an exercise for a Warsaw Pact initial offensive into Greece and Turkey. Caption reads: "Troop positions of the sides as of 20.00, 29,6 [June 29] on the Southern Axis and the Decisions of the 'Easterners'".  Map V: Stavka Plans - Western Europe
Soviet map illustrating the Stavka Directives and Plans in an exercise for an initial Warsaw Pact offensive into West Germany, Austria and Italy. Caption reads: "Troop positions of the sides as of 20.00, 29.6 [June 29] on the South-Western Axis and the Decisions of the 'Easterners'".  Map VI: Turkish StraitsSoviet map illustrating the characteristics of the Turkish Straits relevant to its seizure and use by Warsaw Pact forces. Caption reads: "Characteristics of the Straits".  Map VII: Air Forces Against NATO Naval Forces
Soviet map illustrating the roles of Soviet Long-Range Aviation (strategic bombers) and Naval Aviation against NATO naval forces and bases in theater. Caption reads: "Combat Actions of the Navy Fleets"  Map VIII: Warsaw Pact Planned Weapons Shift
Soviet map illustrating in an exercise the shift from using conventional weapons to the massive use of nuclear weapons during a planned Warsaw Pact offensive through the Alps into Italy. Caption reads: "Actions of the Troops of the South-Western front in the Eastern Alps" 
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stevep
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Post by stevep on Jun 2, 2018 11:29:23 GMT
Interesting and frightening, especially given the massive use of nukes from early stages if not the start. Would be a huge amount of deaths even if the nuclear use was kept 'tactical'. I wonder if its deliberate that the 1st maps have dates from 4th July or possibly, if that's when the attack actually started that the Soviets thought to take the Americans off guard? Notice the latter Stavka plans have an earlier date, 29th June so presuming they come from another set of plans. Not sure if use of nukes in the Alps might hinder as much as they help? Going to be a lot of disruption in some vital bottlenecks.
Anyway, thanks for an interesting if worrying set of details.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Jun 2, 2018 11:56:13 GMT
Anyway, thanks for an interesting if worrying set of details.
Yes, these kind of maps show us things we are glad that never happened. |
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James G
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Post by James G on Jun 2, 2018 18:53:26 GMT
Those passes through the Alps depicted in the map as invasion routes were going to be a bit radioactive.
The Italian Army had Lance SRBMs zeroed-in on them with American-issued nukes under NATO Nuclear-Sharing. Things would get very hot there in the cold Alps.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Jun 2, 2018 19:23:27 GMT
Those passes through the Alps depicted in the map as invasion routes were going to be a bit radioactive. The Italian Army had Lance SRBMs zeroed-in on them with American-issued nukes under NATO Nuclear-Sharing. Things would get very hot there in the cold Alps. Poor Austria and lucky Switzerland. |
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stevep
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Post by stevep on Jun 4, 2018 16:03:06 GMT
Those passes through the Alps depicted in the map as invasion routes were going to be a bit radioactive. The Italian Army had Lance SRBMs zeroed-in on them with American-issued nukes under NATO Nuclear-Sharing. Things would get very hot there in the cold Alps. Poor Austria and lucky Switzerland.
Agree with the 1st but doubt anyone, especially in central Europe, will count as lucky given such a widespread nuclear exchange.  |
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Jun 4, 2018 16:17:52 GMT
Is the nuclear blast i see on the Map VII: Air Forces Against NATO Naval Forces near the Syrian border a city in Turkey ore a city in Syria.
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stevep
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Post by stevep on Jun 4, 2018 16:31:11 GMT
Is the nuclear blast i see on the Map VII: Air Forces Against NATO Naval Forces near the Syrian border a city in Turkey ore a city in Syria.
I suspect its on/near Iskenderun [aka Alexandretta ] in Hatey province, which is a Turkish finger of land pushing south from the base of Anatolia along the coast. Can't see the Soviets attacking Syria which in this period was an ally whereas Iskenderun is a strategic position and I think contains some important military and intelligence bases.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Jun 4, 2018 16:57:03 GMT
Is the nuclear blast i see on the Map VII: Air Forces Against NATO Naval Forces near the Syrian border a city in Turkey ore a city in Syria. I suspect its on/near Iskenderun [aka Alexandretta ] in Hatey province, which is a Turkish finger of land pushing south from the base of Anatolia along the coast. Can't see the Soviets attacking Syria which in this period was an ally whereas Iskenderun is a strategic position and I think contains some important military and intelligence bases.
Also, why is Cyprus not a target, there is a RAF Akrotiri there, i believe in 1970 if i am reading it right (plucked it from this place: THE HISTORY OF RAF AKROTIRI 1955 - 2005) there should be No. 56 Squadron (Lightning interceptors), No. 9 Squadron and No. 35 Squadron (Vulcan bombers), that should make Cyprus a target for massive air raid, nuclear attack ore if the Soviets have learned form the German airborne operations in Crete in 1941, a Soviet air landing. |
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stevep
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Post by stevep on Jun 5, 2018 10:41:23 GMT
I suspect its on/near Iskenderun [aka Alexandretta ] in Hatey province, which is a Turkish finger of land pushing south from the base of Anatolia along the coast. Can't see the Soviets attacking Syria which in this period was an ally whereas Iskenderun is a strategic position and I think contains some important military and intelligence bases.
Also, why is Cyprus not a target, there is a RAF Akrotiri there, i believe in 1970 if i am reading it right (plucked it from this place: THE HISTORY OF RAF AKROTIRI 1955 - 2005) there should be No. 56 Squadron (Lightning interceptors), No. 9 Squadron and No. 35 Squadron (Vulcan bombers), that should make Cyprus a target for massive air raid, nuclear attack ore if the Soviets have learned form the German airborne operations in Crete in 1941, a Soviet air landing.
Good point on Cyprus being a potential nuclear target. Not sure if worthwhile having an airbourne landing presuming they would have removed the main reason for attacking with a nuclear strike. There are a couple of possible reasons that come to mind. a) Since the bases are British sovereign territory and Britain is a nuclear power it may be that the Soviets have decided that they will only use nukes against non-nuclear powers, in the hope of avoiding a wider nuclear exchange, possibly even thinking/expecting that the west would only rely with nuclear attacks on attacking Soviet forces and the E European satellites.
b) Since there are Vulcans there are they may be equipped with nuclear weapons as part of the British deterrent it would be dangerous to remove them. Especially since if there is an increase in tension its possibly that the forces are on quick alert, or even having some units in the air at all times. In which case nuking their bases especially if as part of a wider nuclear strike and with communications possibly seriously degraded, the commanders of the Vulcans in the air could decide that they need to perform their nuclear missions, which would probably be against targets in the Soviet heartland. Which would of course escalate things dramatically and probably result in a full-scale nuclear exchange.
Alternatively, if the Vulcans have no nuclear weapons, as I think the R force was in service by this time, the Soviets may think its irrelevant or can be handled by conventional air power.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Jun 5, 2018 15:43:41 GMT
Also, why is Cyprus not a target, there is a RAF Akrotiri there, i believe in 1970 if i am reading it right (plucked it from this place: THE HISTORY OF RAF AKROTIRI 1955 - 2005) there should be No. 56 Squadron (Lightning interceptors), No. 9 Squadron and No. 35 Squadron (Vulcan bombers), that should make Cyprus a target for massive air raid, nuclear attack ore if the Soviets have learned form the German airborne operations in Crete in 1941, a Soviet air landing. Good point on Cyprus being a potential nuclear target. Not sure if worthwhile having an airbourne landing presuming they would have removed the main reason for attacking with a nuclear strike. There are a couple of possible reasons that come to mind. a) Since the bases are British sovereign territory and Britain is a nuclear power it may be that the Soviets have decided that they will only use nukes against non-nuclear powers, in the hope of avoiding a wider nuclear exchange, possibly even thinking/expecting that the west would only rely with nuclear attacks on attacking Soviet forces and the E European satellites.
b) Since there are Vulcans there are they may be equipped with nuclear weapons as part of the British deterrent it would be dangerous to remove them. Especially since if there is an increase in tension its possibly that the forces are on quick alert, or even having some units in the air at all times. In which case nuking their bases especially if as part of a wider nuclear strike and with communications possibly seriously degraded, the commanders of the Vulcans in the air could decide that they need to perform their nuclear missions, which would probably be against targets in the Soviet heartland. Which would of course escalate things dramatically and probably result in a full-scale nuclear exchange. Alternatively, if the Vulcans have no nuclear weapons, as I think the R force was in service by this time, the Soviets may think its irrelevant or can be handled by conventional air power.
If you also look at Map VII: Air Forces Against NATO Naval Forces you see that there are at least 6 nuclear plums over the Crimea, i assume that a Vulcan taking of from RAF Akrotiri has the range to reach the Crimea but do not know if the Crimea was in the RAF strike package if there was a nuclear war. |
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stevep
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Post by stevep on Jun 6, 2018 14:53:40 GMT
Good point on Cyprus being a potential nuclear target. Not sure if worthwhile having an airbourne landing presuming they would have removed the main reason for attacking with a nuclear strike. There are a couple of possible reasons that come to mind. a) Since the bases are British sovereign territory and Britain is a nuclear power it may be that the Soviets have decided that they will only use nukes against non-nuclear powers, in the hope of avoiding a wider nuclear exchange, possibly even thinking/expecting that the west would only rely with nuclear attacks on attacking Soviet forces and the E European satellites.
b) Since there are Vulcans there are they may be equipped with nuclear weapons as part of the British deterrent it would be dangerous to remove them. Especially since if there is an increase in tension its possibly that the forces are on quick alert, or even having some units in the air at all times. In which case nuking their bases especially if as part of a wider nuclear strike and with communications possibly seriously degraded, the commanders of the Vulcans in the air could decide that they need to perform their nuclear missions, which would probably be against targets in the Soviet heartland. Which would of course escalate things dramatically and probably result in a full-scale nuclear exchange. Alternatively, if the Vulcans have no nuclear weapons, as I think the R force was in service by this time, the Soviets may think its irrelevant or can be handled by conventional air power.
If you also look at Map VII: Air Forces Against NATO Naval Forces you see that there are at least 6 nuclear plums over the Crimea, i assume that a Vulcan taking of from RAF Akrotiri has the range to reach the Crimea but do not know if the Crimea was in the RAF strike package if there was a nuclear war.
Oops! I hadn't actually looked for signs of western counter attacks. They might well be from Vulcans based in Cyprus, although there are a fair number of other options. Suspect that the Vulcans, for nuclear use, may be for more strategic targets but could well be wrong.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Jun 6, 2018 15:21:24 GMT
If you also look at Map VII: Air Forces Against NATO Naval Forces you see that there are at least 6 nuclear plums over the Crimea, i assume that a Vulcan taking of from RAF Akrotiri has the range to reach the Crimea but do not know if the Crimea was in the RAF strike package if there was a nuclear war. Oops! I hadn't actually looked for signs of western counter attacks. They might well be from Vulcans based in Cyprus, although there are a fair number of other options. Suspect that the Vulcans, for nuclear use, may be for more strategic targets but could well be wrong.
Well if you look at Map II:Warsaw Pact Turkey Plans you see near 11A three nuclear explosions what looks like a beachhead, do not know if that is in Turkey ore in Bulgaria. |
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stevep
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Post by stevep on Jun 7, 2018 16:04:23 GMT
Oops! I hadn't actually looked for signs of western counter attacks. They might well be from Vulcans based in Cyprus, although there are a fair number of other options. Suspect that the Vulcans, for nuclear use, may be for more strategic targets but could well be wrong.
Well if you look at Map II:Warsaw Pact Turkey Plans you see near 11A three nuclear explosions what looks like a beachhead, do not know if that is in Turkey ore in Bulgaria.
Ah those do look to be in Bulgarian, although close to the border so they could be tactical strikes to hit at forces invading east Thrace. [Either that or in the general chaos some of the Soviet strikes are some way off target, which is unlikely but not totally impossible].
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Jun 7, 2018 16:12:56 GMT
Well if you look at Map II:Warsaw Pact Turkey Plans you see near 11A three nuclear explosions what looks like a beachhead, do not know if that is in Turkey ore in Bulgaria. Ah those do look to be in Bulgarian, although close to the border so they could be tactical strikes to hit at forces invading east Thrace. [Either that or in the general chaos some of the Soviet strikes are some way off target, which is unlikely but not totally impossible].
But who might want to invade Bulgaria, except Turkey the Black Sea is a giant Soviet Lake. |
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