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The World War Three Files
The Daily Mail ^ | 2/25/2012 | Donovan Sanderbrook

Posted on 02/26/2012 1:24:46 AM PST by U-238

March 1981, and inside 10 Downing Street, Margaret Thatcher is confronting the most terrible dilemma any British Prime Minister has ever faced. The news could hardly be worse. Across Britain, tens of thousands of terrified people are streaming out of the major cities. Looting is widespread, while every day brings bomb attacks at railway stations and RAF bases. Abroad, the Red Army has sliced through the West’s defences, using chemical weapons to punch through Nato’s front lines. Yugoslavia has fallen, and West Germany and Norway are on the verge of succumbing. After four days of Russian air raids, killing hundreds of people in Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and Southampton, Mrs Thatcher faces the ultimate decision. On her desk is a message from the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, asking for authorisation to launch a nuclear attack across the Iron Curtain. She tells her colleagues that never before has a British Cabinet faced ‘such a grim choice’. But there is no alternative — and with the world staring into the nuclear abyss, Mrs Thatcher gives the go-ahead. This may sound like the stuff of fantasy. We all know that there was no World War III in March 1981.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: coldwar; fuldagap; nato; nuclearwar; redarmy; warsawpact; worldwariii; ww3; wwiii; wwwiii
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1 posted on 02/26/2012 1:24:51 AM PST by U-238
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2 posted on 02/26/2012 1:30:09 AM PST by U-238
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To: U-238

Doesn’t seem much different from the scenario by Sir John Hackett in 1979.


3 posted on 02/26/2012 2:26:34 AM PST by Hardraade (http://junipersec.wordpress.com (nobody gives me warheads anyway))
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To: U-238

How reliable would Warsaw Pact countries be? The Poles wanted to throw the Russians out. And the Chezchs still remember Prauge Spring.
An old saying” Better a known enemy than a forced Ally”. The Warsaw Pact was for the most part a forced ally. They would have fought,but as hard as Russian troops.
Needless to say we are all glad this didnt happen.


4 posted on 02/26/2012 3:23:38 AM PST by Yorlik803 (better to die on your feet than live on your knees.)
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To: Hardraade

Hackett’s book was awsome, especially the part where Marines defeated the Soviets near Greece :)


5 posted on 02/26/2012 4:51:47 AM PST by RaceBannon (Romney would surrender to Islam as fast as Obama promotes it)
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To: U-238

In a college simulation, my country was invaded in a sneak attack and I nuked the invader’s country to oblivion with a first and second strike before they even got anywhere.

There was nothing left.

Hope it taught them a lesson.


6 posted on 02/26/2012 5:47:49 AM PST by UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide (REPEAL WASHINGTON! -- Islam Delenda Est! -- I Want Constantinople Back. -- Rumble thee forth.)
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To: U-238
Scenario is inaccurate in regards to how nuclear weapons would be released. Messages are not left on desks, nor did the PM of the UK have exclusive authority to use nuclear weapons.

BTW, in this scenario, nuclear weapons would likely have been used on 2nd echelon Warsaw Pact forces in Poland long before any Warsaw Pact breakout in the Fulda Gap (where I would have been fighting).

Just my humble opinion of course.

7 posted on 02/26/2012 8:26:06 AM PST by OldCorps
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To: OldCorps

Good post.

Ever wonder why our NATO/Tac Evals only lasted 3-days. . . ?

Expected to go nuke after 3-days and then the war would be over.


8 posted on 02/26/2012 8:34:00 AM PST by Hulka
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To: OldCorps

Of course it would not work. The Soviet Union had scenarios crossing the Bering Strait and invading the United States.is scenario of an extended war involving both conventional and nuclear forces follows an overall Soviet strategy with the following objectives: destroy the most threatening enemy forces, destroy the main links and nodes in the national command and control authority, do not destroy large areas or create nuclear deserts, use minimum weapons yield to prevent target overkill, prepare to strike the most important targets twice, and do not attack and destroy all targets (because it is not possible or desirable).

This nuclear exchange is followed by an invasion of conventional forces involving sea and air battles, tanks, paratroopers and infantry. Airborne units strike across the Bering Sea and invade Alaska. With Nome, Prudhoe Bay, Fairbanks and Anchorage, the Soviets have secured the strategic oil reserves to support the ongoing war effort.

A combined sea, air and paratroop assault on Seattle, Tacoma, Victoria and Vancouver secures the port facilities and gains control of I-90 and I-5 North and South. The Soviets secure their beach-head in the Northwest.

Armored units begin moving east on I-90 to Ellensburg, Washington. At this point, part of the advancing force turns south on Interstate 82. The objective of this unit is to secure the chemical weapons storage at Umitila, the bridge over the Columbia River and the intersection of I-82 and I-84. Securing the intersection of Interstates 82 and 84 opens the back door to Portland. Military units move east on I-84 to flank resistance to a Soviet military push south from Seattle toward Portland and Longview down I-5.

From Ellensburg, military forces continue moving east to Vantage, securing another bridge over the Columbia River and opening the door for a push to Spokane.

Meanwhile, in other parts of the country, an invasion force from Cuba establishes a beachhead on the southern Florida coast. Communist forces pre-positioned in Mexico move across the border into Texas. Elements of the Soviet Red Banner Fleet secure New Orleans. This establishes key access to the central U.S. up the Mississippi River. The Soviets also mount a land, air and sea attack to secure the St. Lawrence Seaway.


9 posted on 02/26/2012 1:45:34 PM PST by U-238
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To: U-238

10 posted on 02/26/2012 1:59:37 PM PST by U-238
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To: U-238
Easier said than done. The US would have put a stop to that before it proceeded that far. On Escalation: Metaphors and Scenarios.
11 posted on 02/26/2012 2:24:39 PM PST by Sawdring
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To: Sawdring

I am very familiar with the book. I have a signed copy and a softback copy.


12 posted on 02/26/2012 2:25:48 PM PST by U-238
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To: U-238

Do you want to give your signed copy to a big fan?


13 posted on 02/26/2012 2:28:34 PM PST by Sawdring
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To: Sawdring

No.I wish I can.But, I cant do that. It was a gift.It was one of the last things my father gave to me before he passed on


14 posted on 02/26/2012 2:30:45 PM PST by U-238
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To: U-238
Your scenario above is pure fiction. Where did you get this stuff?

1. Any massing of forces to invade Alaska and Washington state would have been seen.

2. Alaska and Washington state did not hold enough strategic value to warrant the committment of vast resources to capture them.

3. The Soviets would have well outstripped their lines of supply.

I'm not going to argue about what could have been, but your post does not conform to the reality of my experience as an army officer at that time.

15 posted on 02/26/2012 2:40:23 PM PST by OldCorps
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To: OldCorps

That is what it is fiction. Its a war game exercise.


16 posted on 02/26/2012 2:44:00 PM PST by U-238
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To: OldCorps

I call it the “Red Dawn” scenario.


17 posted on 02/26/2012 2:45:17 PM PST by U-238
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To: OldCorps

If I recall, the Penatgon has similar wargame exercises such as OPLANS


18 posted on 02/26/2012 2:48:47 PM PST by U-238
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To: U-238

A wargame scenario and an oplan are two entirely different things. I’m wasting my time here unless you explain your professional credentials.


19 posted on 02/26/2012 2:53:41 PM PST by OldCorps
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To: U-238

A wargame scenario and an oplan are two entirely different things. I’m wasting my time here unless you explain your professional credentials.


20 posted on 02/26/2012 2:53:41 PM PST by OldCorps
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