The Kamchatka Raids

[Poohbah]

One thing that gets a tad confusing is when people talk about the Kamchatka Raid.

There was more than one. There were minor raids via SEALs, or the odd EASTERN EXPRESS, or a submarine heading in and laying mines, the odd Tomahawk salvo, etc.

Then there were the big ones.

So, here goes:

The first big one was in September, 1986, and was codenamed VERMONT CEDAR. This was the biggest one. It involved a multi-carrier battlegroup, a surface action group centered on the USS Missouri , EASTERN EXPRESS strikes from Hong Kong, and special operations support from, of all branches, the Air Force.

The second big raid was codenamed AGILE SEXTANT, and was done in August, 1987. Three carriers plus a VLS Tico, a VLS Sprucan, and two 688Is salvoing TLAMs on the initial salvo. Known in Pacific Fleet as Raid on Kamchatka II: Electric Boogaloo.

Third time around, they went way early to distract Ivan from other activities in Alaska and Canada. Same basic force package as the second go, codenamed COPE LONDON to make Ivan think it was a training exercise. Nicknamed Raid on Kamchatka III: Kill a Commie For Mommy because the main effort was on Mother's Day.

The last big effort was just before the start of BORDER FURY, and it involved rumors of an amphibious raid by the First Marine Amphibious Force. Ivan obligingly shoved a bunch of (increasingly scarce) troops into the Kamchatka Peninsula, which then proceeded to be used by PACFLT as a bombing range. Official codename was VERTICAL SHOTGLASS, nicknamed Raid on Kamchatka IV: Beating a Dead Horse.

[jemhouston]

Why am I sorry only one involved a Battleship? Nothing quite says Die Commie than a 16" shell.

I suspect we all know and fear the Air Force personal involved.

[Wolfman]

Indeed, said person being Poohbah’s boss…

[Matt Wiser]

Don't have a battleship available? U.S.S. Salem (CA-139) took part in at least two of the raids. The 8-inch shells leave craters that may not be as big as a battleship's, but they'll do the job.

[Poohbah]

Don't have a battleship available? U.S.S. Salem (CA-139) took part in at least two of the raids. The 8-inch shells leave craters that may not be as big as a battleship's, but they'll do the job.

Looks like she was there for the '88 raid (Kill A Commie for Mommy) and '89 (Beating a Dead Horse).

Petropavlovsk was pretty much a ghost town by '89; anything of real value had already been blown up.

[Matt Wiser]

The facilities were certainly trashed, but convoys to/from Alaska used the anchorage, and sub tenders used the bay to support SSN/SSBN operations.

[Jotun]

Don't have a battleship available? U.S.S. Salem (CA-139) took part in at least two of the raids. The 8-inch shells leave craters that may not be as big as a battleship's, but they'll do the job.

Looks like she was there for the '88 raid (Kill A Commie for Mommy) and '89 (Beating a Dead Horse).

Petropavlovsk was pretty much a ghost town by '89; anything of real value had already been blown up.

Raid IV could also be named "Bouncing the rubble"…

[Matt Wiser]

Probably, but the chance of catching a convoy using the anchorage to lay up, and do some anti-shipping sweeps, was worth the opportunity. Remember, it wasn't just Kamchatka that was hit during these operations, but also the Kuriles and the occupied Aleutians.

[jemhouston]

Laying mines in the harbors and approaches would be useful

[Matt Wiser]

They did: SSNs came in and laid mines, and during the carrier air strikes, the last sorties flown against Petropavalosk were A-6s and A-7s with mines-a la Haiphong in '72. They did the same around the Kuriles as well. Soviet Pacific Fleet's minesweepers were pretty busy for a while afterwards, then an SSN would come in and plant some more.

[Belushi TD]

Almost sounds like an opportunity for a sub skipper to bag a minesweeper.

Belushi TD