The Last War? : Chapter 398

[Bernard Woolley]

With thanks to Jotun.

*

D+34

*

1031 hours GMT. West of Magdeburg, DDR.
The Recce Troop of the SCOTS DG Battle-Group had halted amongst a small copse of trees just over a kilometre from the outskirts of the East German city. The battle-group had been ordered to advance to the River Elbe and Captain Haig's Recce Troop was trying to see if there was a way to reach the river without entering the city itself. Aerial reconnaissance had revealed that there was a strong concentration of NVA and Soviet troops in Magdeburg itself and the commander of the 1st Armoured Division did not want to be drawn into a costly urban battle.
Haig was scanning the edge of the city with his Scimitar's BGTI when he spotted something that made him stop.

“Driver reverse NOW!” He yelled into the intercom. “Everybody back! Every back!” He added over the radio as he triggered the vehicle's smoke grenades.

A second after Haig's Scimitar retreated into cover, a high velocity shell passed through the space it had been in. Whizzing overhead as it disappeared to the rear.

*

“You reckon it was an anti-tank gun, Sir?” Sergeant David 'Dave' Senior asked.
“I'm certain of it.” Captain Haig replied. “Couldn't swear to the calibre, I was too busy getting the hell out of there before it shot a hole in me!”
“Well, don't worry, Sir.” Senior reassured him. “We'll get a good look at it.”

Sergeant Senior was a member of Arras Troop, I Squadron, The Honourable Artillery Company. He was leading a six-man patrol from the troop, though two of them were members of the Irish Army's Army Ranger Wing. The Rangers had been attached to gain experience, before forming their own detachment as part of 1 Corps' Special Air Service Group.

“Good luck, Sergeant.” Haig said. “If you need support from our battle-group, we'll be here.”
“Appreciate that, Sir.”

*

The patrol made its way forward cautiously. The most dangerous part of the approach was crossing an autobahn, but the patrol managed it unseen, before continuing by paralleling a local road.

“I can see the gun, Boss.” One of Senior's men said. “In the garden of that house by the electricity pylon.”
“Got it.” The sergeant replied.

He studied through a pair of binoculars. Senior recognised it as a MT-12 100mm anti-tank gun, also known as a 2A29. The Soviet Army had replaced it with the Sprut-A and B, so it probably belonged to an East German unit. Where there was one anti-tank gun, there were likely to be more. He scanned to the left and right and looked deeper into Magdeburg.

“I see three more guns.” He said quietly. “Time to introduce them to Exactor.”

The standard tactic to deal with hidden anti-tank guns would be to call down artillery on them. However, nobody wanted to turn East German cities into piles of rubble, or risk civilian casualties if they could be avoided. Instead, Senior would have the small trials team attached to the SCOTS DG Battle-Group target the guns with Exactor missiles. Having plotted their exact positions, he passed the information back and waited. The first two missiles were not long in arriving, taking out two of the MT-12. There was a brief delay as the trials team only had two launchers and it took a moment for one of them to re-target. The crew of the surviving MT-12 hurriedly began to shift their gun, however it was too late. The incoming Exactor missile was simply steered so that the missile struck the gun.
Sergeant Senior signalled back that the fire mission had been a success. In case their position had been compromised, he ordered his patrol to move on. There were other potential targets to hunt for.

*

The Warsaw Pact force holding Magdeburg was rather heterogenous, alongside a Soviet Motor Rifle Regiment equipped with the BTR-90 and T-90, an NVA tank regiment with T-72s and BMP-2s, were NVA reserve units and Hundertschaften and Schwere Hundertschaft of the KdA, which formed two battalions. When British forces had broken through and approached the city, the authorities had ordered that KdA and Volkspolizei armouries be opened, and arms issued to any able-bodied (ish) men between 16 and 60 who were not already serving in the NVA, or KdA. These hastily mobilised militiamen were assigned to existing Hundertschaften, or to new units that would be commanded by VoPos. The military value of the new militiamen was questionable, though many of the older men had previously done military service. However, it did increase the strength of the defenders of Magdeburg.

It was a patrol of one of these new Hundertschaften, led by a VoPo officer that spotted Sergeant Senior's patrol as it re-positioned. Their marksmanship was not the best, but they forced Senior's men to take cover and pinned them in place while they summoned reinforcements.

Senior's men were not as heavily armed as an equivalent patrol of the SAS, or other NATO Special Forces unit. Three of his men, including the sergeant himself, had standard L85A2 rifles, one had a L110A2 LMG, while the two Irish Rangers had AUG A2s. They were able to hold the KdA at bay, but were not able to put down quite enough firepower to allow patrol to escape.

1038 hours GMT. Fort Morgan, Alabama.
Fort Morgan had served the United States of America between 1834 and 1946, protecting Mobile Bay from hostile attack. Although, between 1861 and 1864 it had been used against the forces of the United States. After being recaptured by its rightful owners, it had continued to serve on and off throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries, before being handed over to the State of Alabama in 1946, the army completing its abandonment of the fort in 1947. In 1960, Fort Morgan had been designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Now, the army had returned, in the form of a detachment of the Alabama Army National Guard. Since the sub-launched missile attacks on the US, the Army National Guard and Army Reserve in States that contained vital ports, or other infrastructure near the coast had formed provisional anti-aircraft units, using whatever they could find in storage, which were used to equip provisional units. The detachment at Fort Morgan had a single FIM-92 Stinger launcher, two 40mm M1 Bofors, and four 12.7mm M55 LAAG. Another detachment with a single Bofors and three M55s had taken up residence at Fort Gaines on the other side of the channel.

The detachments had stood to shortly after the suspected submarine had been detected out in the Gulf of Mexico. The submarine had gotten close enough inshore that the gunners spotted the two 3M54K Kalibr (aka SS-N-27 Sizzler) break the surface and begin to climb skywards. The Stinger detachment was the first to engage, locking on to one missile and firing. The Stinger arched upwards, seeking its target. The Kalibr was accelerating up to supersonic speed, but the Stinger just managed to proximity fuze, its warhead blowing the Soviet-built missile in half. However, by the time the Stinger detachment had reloaded, the second Kalibr was passing over Mobile Point itself, pursued by a barrage of 40mm shells and 12.7mm bullets. However, despite everything that was being thrown at it, the Kalibr escaped destruction. It banked over Mobile Bay as it steered towards its target, the Port of Mobile. As it approached its target, the missile encountered USCGC Stingray (WPB-87305), which was helping to shepherd merchant vessels assembling for the convoy. The diminutive cutter opened fire on the cruise missiles with both of its M2 Brownings. Somehow, she succeeded where the Army National Guard gunners had failed. Sort of.

A single 12.7mm bullet clipped one of the missile's rear fins, taking a chunk out of it. The missile turned into the damaged fin and began to spin. Loosing control, the Kalibr slammed into the motor-pool of the 375th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, US Army Reserve. The majority of the unit and its personnel were in Kuwait, as part of the 321st Theater Support Command MMC. However, a few vehicles and a small cadre of personnel had been left behind. The Kalibr destroyed the building in the middle of the motor-pool, along with some vehicles, killing five reservists and wounding another eleven.

1043 hours. Woolston, Southampton, Hampshire.
It had taken just over four hours, and four changes of train, but Lt. Commander McNair had made it to Woolston. She had travelled in civilian clothes, carrying only a couple of bags. The rest of her kit from HMS Eyemouth would be forwarded on to her later. A car, driven by a naval rating in civilian clothes, was waiting for her at Woolston Station and drove McNair to the nearby VT Group shipyard.

The entrance to the shipyard was guarded by soldiers from a General Support Unit. They looked to mainly be men and women in their thirties and forties. Not in the first flush of youth, but fit enough for semi-static guard duties. McNair's MoD 90 was carefully examined, as was the driver's, even though he had passed through the gates a short time before. McNair reported to the Senior Naval Officer assigned to the yard, a retired Commander, who had been recalled to service.

“Good morning, Sir.” She said in greeting. “I'm Lieutenant Commander McNair, reporting to take command of Ardrossan.”
“Good morning, Commander. Please take a seat. I'm Commander Johnston.” The SNO replied. “Can I see your orders?”

McNair handed her written orders across to Johnston. The older officer read them carefully, before handing them back.

“Thank you, those seem in order.” He said. “I imagine you want to take a few minutes to freshen up and get changed?”
“Yes, thank you, Sir. I would appreciate that.”

*

Now in uniform and feeling something close to human again, Lt. Commander McNair approached the gangway to HMS Ardrossan (M118). She boarded, saluting both the colours aft and Officer of the Day, who had been waiting for her.

“I'll let the X know you're aboard, Ma'am.” The sub-lieutenant said. “He's below with the Chief Engineer taking a look at an issue with one of the electric motors.”
“Thank you, Sub. I'll get myself settled in my cabin.” She replied. “Let the X know there is no rush if he's dealing with something important.”
“I'll have someone show you the way, Ma'am and help with those bags.”

McNair smiled and shook her head.

“I've just come from Eyemouth, Sub. I can find my cabin okay, thank you, and I won't have someone taken away from something important to help me with the bags. I appreciate your offer. Carry on, Sub.”

One her way to the captain's cabin, McNair encountered Chief Petty Officer James 'Jimmy' Brassey, Ardrossan's senior sailor.

“Good morning, Ma'am. Welcome aboard Ardrossan. Brian Goodenough let me know you were on your way.”
“I thought he might have, Chief.” McNair replied. “Let's walk and talk. How are things with the ship?”
“Crew are a good bunch, Ma'am. Mix of regulars and reservists with experience aboard Sandowns, or Hunts. We've a couple of niggling issues that need to be fixed before we sail, but the X can fill you in.”

*

Lt. Commander McNair had finished storing what gear she had with her when there was a knock on the cabin door.

“Come in!”

Ardrossan's Executive Officer, Lieutenant Stephen 'Brian' Cant entered. He was wearing a slightly stained set of overalls over his uniform.

“Sorry for not meeting you when you arrived, Ma'am and for being a bit mucky. We had an issue with an electric motor in the engine room and I was giving the Chief a hand.”
“Take a seat, if you can find the space, X.” McNair replied. “Don't worry about not meeting me. I'd rather see my officers getting stuck in to help sort out a problem. It is sorted?”

Cant nodded.

“Yes, Ma'am.”
“Good, we've got orders to sail to Pompey as soon as we can to store. After that, we'll find out where we are going.
“When I was on the train, I had a chance to read some of your record. I see you're an experienced regular.”
“Yes, Ma'am. Have spent most of my career in mine warfare; served aboard Middleton, Helford, and Cromer before I was posted to Ardrossan.”
“Well, I hope you don't mind serving under a reservist. And I'm happy to be called Boss when we're off the bridge.” McNair said with a smile.
“I don't mind at all, Boss.” Cant replied. “I heard about Eyemouth and Richard Montgomery. Took some serious guts to remain that close, plus we heard you bagged a 'Fencer' while at Rotterdam.”
“We were lucky with the Montgomery and being bombed from above does add a bit of spice to minehunting.” McNair observed dryly. “Now, I understand that we still have a few niggling problems to sort out before we're ready to sail.”
“You've met Chief Brassey I see.” Cant observed. “But, yes, we do, nothing major. More annoying than anything else. The Nautis-M system is being troublesome, for example. Some of the computers are not talking to each other, but we're on it. Plus some parts of the interior of the ship still need painting and apparently the yard thinks we should be doing that, so they can get on with Bootle.”

McNair nodded, acknowledging what her Executive Officer had said.

“I'm sure we can get it all sorted. However, get me a list of defects. I need to pass them on to Commodore, Minor War Vessels.”
“I'll get it to you within the hour, Boss.”
“Good man. I'll not detain you any further, X. I'm sure you have a lot to do and I have some paperwork to get on with. Thank you.”

1045 hours GMT. Kommando Führung Spezialkräfte (Special Forces Coordination Command), somewhere in the Black Forest, West Germany.
“Right, gentlemen,” the General der Spezialkräfte, [1] a Heer Generalmajor, former CO of the KSO, told the officers and senior NCOs assembled around a large conference table, “Let us look at the front. A series of fuckups, and a dose of plain old bad luck almost led to a disastrous situation centred on Lübeck. I still don’t know how the hell the whole damn Byelorusian Group of Tank Armies made it through Poland and the shitty infrastructure in Dunkeldeutschland hallway combat capable and nobody picking up on them.
“Anyway. Things are increasingly looking like they are going to ossify, like they did on the Western Front in 1914, hopefully not quite as long. Both sides are pretty much fought out. The Warsaw Pact is bleeding men and material like they are going out of fashion, and something is percolating behind the Curtain. I am talking unrest in the Soviet Republics and the satellite states of the USSR, if the collective NATO spookdom have their shit together for once. The Pact lack the momentum to go on, and frankly speaking, so do we, for the moment. Stalemate.” He looked at the faces of the men arrayed around the table and sipped from his mug of green tea. He motioned at Brigadegeneral Dag Knut Baehr, the current CO of the KSO.

Baehr leaned forward and spoke without the aid of notes.

“We have several pressing issues. The number of fully combat capable special operations forces personnel in our ranks is alarmingly low and not likely to increase any time soon. We simply cannot produce enough operators through the usual training to even remotely fill the ranks.
“I propose the following: We streamline training to the point the trainees skip on the more exotic training courses like desert warfare and the like. Even airborne training, at least HAHO and HALO should be looked at critically.
Furthermore, I propose canvassing the regular troops of all three services for suitable candidates who have proven through combat they have the mindset and motivation, the sheer grit and raw abilities to be likely, promising future operators. I am talking airborne, Jäger, Panzer Grenadiers, Jagdkommando specialists, Seebataillon, air force security, JTACs, and what have you.
“We will have to scour after action reports, medal citations, and the like, and directly approach unit commanders.” He grinned sardonically. “How they are going to LOVE us poaching their gems…
They are going to be sent through a much condensed basic operator course, which we have slimmed down as much as possible. Formal training will be commenced after the war has ended. I HATE we are forced to compromise but wat mutt, dat mutt.”

Baehr nodded at his superior officer.

“Good, thanks, Dag. Make it so. Next up, infiltration of occupied territory. Particularly after the front has solidified. Piggybacking on cavalry raids and the like would be out until things get mobile again.
“We are stuck with going in on shank’s pony, maybe the odd riverborne infil, the Baltic Coast and of course airborne. Helicopter, mostly. Going in for paradrop is a suicide mission. I want ideas, plans. All of us are supposed to be able to think outside the box. Well, THINK. I want viable proposals on my desk day before yesterday! That said, we HAVE to compare notes with with allied SOF units Those in theatre Ori and out of it. The Finns might have an idea or two, as could the Swedes. Hell, we gave Finland the Jäger concept in World War One.
“We have captured so many enemy helicopters from the enemy that we could conceivably airlift an entire light infantry battalion behind enemy lines. Contact army aviation, the air force, the spooks and everydamnbody in theatre for ideas, and mutual support.
“Anything else? No? Good. Get to it! That’s it for today.”

1055 hours GMT. USS David E. Hayden, off Mobile, Alabama.
“Aw, hell.” Lieutenant Commander Shupack muttered as news of the missile strike ashore reached her frigate. “TAO, how long until 'Little Bird' is on station?”
“Five minutes, Ma'am.” The Tactical Action Officer replied.
“Orion Three-Six has evaluated the target as a Kilo class.” The Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer reported.
“I'm going to make an educated guess and say that she is one of the two Kilos the Cubans have.” Shupack commented. “I guess that her crew are either loyal to Raoul, or have not heard about what is going on.”

She paused for a moment to study the tactical plot.

“Doesn't matter either way.” Shupack declared. “As soon as 'Little Bird' is on station, ASWO, drop on the sub.”
“Aye, Ma'am.” The ASWO replied.
“Any news on Antrim's bird, TAO? She fixed?”

The Tactical Action Officer shook his head.

“Still in pieces, Ma'am. Won't be operational for at least an hour.” He said. “Orion Three-Six has advised that they will drop on the target once 'Little Bird' is clear.”
“Nice of them to have such faith in 'Little Bird!” Shupack exclaimed.

Her remark provoked chuckles around the CIC. It was no secret that Naval Aviation, especially the ASW branch, did not have much time for the QH-51A DASH II, believing it to be unreliable. Well, as far as the crew of David E. Hayden were concerned, they were about to prove everybody wrong.

*

Oblivious to all the hopes placed on it, or the doubts that those not aboard its parent ship had in it, the QH-51A DASH II known as 'Little Bird' flew to the co-ordinates programmed into it. Once on station it transitioned back to remote operating by member of the crew in the CIC. Coming to the hover, 'Little Bird' released one of its Mk.54 torpedoes, before climbing away.

*

“Torpedo is running, Ma'am.” The ASWO reported. “Enemy sub is evading, releasing noisemakers. Sounds like she has blown all ballast and is coming up in a hurry.”
“Stand-by for surface action.” Shupack ordered. She looked at the main plot. “We should be within visual range if she surfaces.”
“She should be breaking surface any second...”
“CIC, Bridge, enemy submarine surfacing, bearing 290, range 8 kilometres.”
“Bridge, CIC, thank you.” Shupack replied. “Take with Mk.75! Rapid fire! Engage!”

Shupack both felt and heard the 'thud', ' thud', ' thud' as Hayden's 76mm gun opened fire on the surfaced Kilo class.

“She's going back down!” The TAO reported. “We've got a hit on the sail!”
“Keep firing!” Shupack said. “Where's our fish?”
“Circling below the sub, Ma'am.” The ASWO replied. “If she goes down the torp should get her.”
“Stuck between a rock and a hard place...” Shupack began to say.
“Woa! She's coming back up again!” The TAO exclaimed.
“Cease fire!”
“CIC, Bridge, we can see that the sub's crew are abandoning her!”
“Get us over there and stand-by to pick up survivors!” The captain ordered. “Request assistance in rescuing survivors. Hopefully Antrim will get her ass over here and help.
“I also want a boarding party ready to go if they don't scuttle.”
“Would be nice to take a Kilo as a prize, Ma'am.” The TAO remarked.
“They still give out prize money?” The ASWO wondered.

Lt Commander Shupack chuckled.

“Sorry, but Congress abolished it over a hundred years ago. Though, if we're lucky we might be able to claim salvage rights, like the old Omaha and Somers did back in 1941.”

A USCG HH-60J Jayhawk from CGAS New Orleans and a HH-60H Seahawk from NAS Pensacola were the first help to arrive and began to pick up survivors. Hayden had put her RIBs in the water and they were also picking up members of the Kilo's crew. A team from of the RIBs had also boarded the submarine and had managed to attach a tow-line. Lt. Commander Shupack intended to take the Cuban vessel under tow and bring her to port in Mobile. By the time USS Antrim arrived on scene to assist, Hayden already had the Kilo under tow. Which left the captain of the older frigate, a full commander, slightly peeved, as his ship had missed out on taking part in the engagement.

As Hayden made her way towards Mobile, Orion Three-Six made a low pass, taking photographs and video. Within the hour the images of a US Navy frigate towing her prize would appear on local and national media. Soon after that, the DoD made sure that they went worldwide.

1115 hours GMT. Outside Magdeburg, DDR.
Sergeant Senior rolled back into cover, ejected the empty magazine from his rifle and loaded a fresh one. He took the opportunity to check how many magazines he had left after this one – two.

“How we doing for ammo, guys?” He called out.
“Three mags, including the one in my gat!”
“Two and a half!”
“I've got half of this pouch left and one more!” The LMG gunner said. “So about two hundred and fifty rounds!”
“Three mags!”
“Two mags!”
“Sh*t.” Senior muttered.

If they could not get moving soon, his patrol would run out of ammunition. To make matters worse, the first burst of gunfire from the KdA had gone through their Bowman radio. Each man did at least have two grenades left, however, the enemy were frustratingly keeping out of throwing range. While Senior was contemplating what to do next, he heard the sound of approaching diesel engines.

“Aw, what the f*ck now?” He wondered.

He raised his head and his heart sank as he saw two BTR-90s, with a pair of BTR-60s following, approaching. None of his men had any anti-tank weapons. If they could not escape they were dead.

'THUD! THUD! THUD!'

Senior pushed himself down hard into the ground, expecting to feel the explosion of 30mm shells. Instead he heard an explosion.

'THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!'

After this second burst of cannon fire, Senior looked up again. He saw that both BTR-90s were on fire, their turrets no longer attached to their hulls. The pair of BTR-60s were retreating as fast as they could. As the sergeant watched, one of the older APCs was hit by a couple of cannon rounds and caught fire. Smoke rounds from mortars now began to explode between Senior's men and the KdA.

“Friendly armour incoming, Sergeant!” One of the Rangers called out.

Senior rolled back and saw two Warriors charging towards their positions. The two IFV were firing at unseen targets in the smoke with both their 40mm CTA and co-axial machine-guns. They braked sharply and halted in front of Senior's position and opened their rear hatches.

“Come on! Let's go!” A voice from inside the nearest IFV yelled.

The patrol did not have to be told twice, piling into the back of both Warriors. The IFVs started to move as soon as the last HAC soldier was aboard, not even waiting for their rear hatches to finish closing.

“Thank for the rescue!” Senior said, after he finished sorting himself out.
“Nae bother, Sergeant.” Lance Corporal James Rennie replied from the turret of the Warrior. “We couldnae leave you hangin', not after you helped us out wi' those anti-tank guns an' all.”
“Well, it's much appreciated. I thought were were pretty much f*cked there!” Senior declared.

1231 hours GMT. Appledore Shipbuilders, Appledore, Devon.
A small grey vessel of just over 40m long eased away from the dockside and started to make her way down the River Torridge. Two similar vessels were also beginning their maiden voyages as commissioned warships from Ferguson Shipbuilders on the lower Clyde and the former Hall Russell yard in Aberdeen. The ship on the River Torridge slowly accelerated to 20 knots, her design speed, however, her crew were pleasantly surprised when she actually topped out at 23 knots.

“Looks like she will be a fine ship, Lieutenant.” Admiral Sir James Fraser, RN, CINCJACWA, COMEASTLANT and C-in-C Fleet (he often commented to subordinates that he wore a great many hats!), commented to the ship's captain.

Fraser had wanted to attend the maiden commissioned voyage of one of this new class of vessels. The one at Appledore had been the closest to his Northwood H.Q.

“Thank you, Sir.” Lieutenant Edward 'Ted' Morris, RNR, replied. “The sea trials demonstrated that she is a fine boat. I look forward to taking her into action.”

The vessel in question was HMS Shalford (P3101), the lead ship of the new Ford Class Inshore Patrol Boats. They were inspired by their namesake Ford Class Seaward Defence Boats from the 1950s. They had been ordered in 2003 to fill a gap in the defences of major ports and inshore waters. The Archer and Attacker Classes had the wartime role of inshore patrol and port security, and had already proven their worth in stopping a number of sabotage attacks. However, they had no capabilities to deal with underwater targets, like midget-submarines, or Swimmer Delivery Vehicles. The new Ford Class would fill that gap. They had a sonar capable of detecting small underwater vehicles and even divers. Armament wise they had a single 30mm DS30B cannon, two 7.62mm GPMG, A200/N LCAW torpedoes and depth charges, both large and small. They were slightly longer and beamier than their 1950s predecessors and were made of GRP, rather than steel, meaning construction of the hull had been rapid. Unusually in the 21st Century, they had an open bridge, like the smaller patrol boats they would supplement. As well as the three vessels sailing today; HMS Droxford (P3113) and HMS Beckford (P3104) being the others; three further ships were due to commission later in the week. [2]

“I don't think I've ever had a full admiral fly his pennant from a ship I've been on, Sir.” Morris observed. “Have you ever flown your pennant from a vessel this small before?”

Fraser smiled.

“Oh, yes, Lieutenant. I've flown it from a couple of the P2000s and Gleaner. Shalford is a destroyer compared to those vessels! She does take me back to the first vessel I commanded, though. The old HMS Scimitar, the fast training boat. Had command of her when she was based at Hong Kong. One of the happiest times of my career in the Andrew. I'm sure the same will be true for you with Shalford.”

The admiral remained aboard Shalford for another hour before he departed via a launch that took him back to Appledore. A helicopter flew Admiral Fraser to RAF Chivenor, from where he was flown to RAF Northolt by a Royal Navy Jetstream T.3.

With the admiral gone, the real work began aboard Shalford. She had been ordered to sail to Devonport to finish storing. At the moment she just had limited supplies of 30mm and 7.62mm rounds aboard. More ammunition, plus A200/N torpedoes and depth charges would be loaded at Devonport. Once Shalford was stored and fuelled, she would head to her operational beat – the Bristol Channel. There were several vital ports in that area, including Avonmouth Docks, so it was as good a place as any for the first ship of her class to begin her commission.

1331 hours GMT. North of Hayrabolu, Tekirdağ Province, Turkey.
Troops from several units of the Romanian 1st Army were retreating north in some disarray. The army had been all but shattered by the Turkish Army's V Corps and the main thought of most of the Romanian soldiers was to reach the Bulgarian border, and then to make it home to Romania. Troops from the Bulgarian 2nd Army were trying to push south to launch a counter-attack against the Turkish – American advance, but were being hindered by the near rout happening. [3] NATO artillery fire and sporadic air attacks were making things even more complicated, forcing the Bulgarians to often have to clear wrecked and burning vehicles from State Road D.555, which they were using as their main line of advance. It was not the exactly a multi-lane highway, but it was the only paved road available.

*

The commander of the Bulgarian 5th Tank Brigade cursed as yet another snarl-up brought his brigade to a halt. Again. The remains of a Romanian tank regiment was trying to use the D.555 to retreat at the same time as his brigade was attempting to advance. The road was only really wide enough for a two columns to pass each other. It would make progress slow, but still possible. The problem was that the Romanians were attempting to use the entire road. Something of a stand-off had developed with both sides yelling at each other in a mix of their own languages and bad Russian.

Jumping down from his command vehicle, the Bulgarian brigade commander strode forward on foot, intending to find the senior Romanian and have it out with him. He was already fizzing with anger and having to walk past static, and thus vulnerable, T-72s, BMP-30s, BRM-23s, and BRM “Sova” did nothing to improve his mood.

“F*cking Romanians.” He muttered. “Can't fight for sh*t and can't even get out of the way of those who can.”

He had just reached he point where his troops and the Romanians were arguing when he heard the 'whoosh' of incoming rocket artillery. The brigade commander threw himself into what seemed like a far too shallow ditch by the side of the road and made himself as flat as possible. The rocket artillery barrage was followed up by some very accurate fire from 'tube' artillery. The brigade commander got to his feet as soon as it had lifted and surveyed the chaos it had left behind, he could see dozens of dead and wounded, and Bulgarian and Romanian armoured vehicles were burning.

“Sh*t! F*ck!” He exclaimed.

He was just wondering quite how he was going to sort out the mess when he heard the sound of approaching helicopters. They were US Army AH-1H from 1-238th Aviation Regiment (Attack). Taking advantage of the chaos of the artillery barrages, the Cobras first engaged the surviving air defence vehicles, before knocking out armoured vehicles at the rear of the 5th Tank Brigade's column, and shooting it up with rockets and cannon fire, before withdrawing. The Bulgarian brigade commander saw nothing of the latter part of the attack, a 20mm cannon shell had taken his head off.

The casualties from the artillery and attack helicopters were bad enough, however,A Troop, 15th Cavalry Regiment had found some minor tracks that could be used by armoured vehicles and had led the 177th Armored Brigade to positions near a village called Lahana, where it could engage the trapped Romanian and Bulgarians. With the rest of the 28th Infantry Division (Mechanised) pushing north, and Turkish units threatening their other flank, a rout threatened to turn into massacre. The D.555 turned into a nightmarish scene of burning, exploding vehicles and men running in whatever direction they felt might take them to safety. [4]

With a significant portion of his army falling apart and being carried away by retreating soldiers, the commander of the Bulgarian 2nd Army first ordered a halt, then ordered a retreat to Babaeski. He also gained authority from his Soviet superior to take command of the remains of the Romanian 1st Army until it could be properly reconstituted.

*

Major General Holland looked down from the UH-60A as it flew above the D.555. The scene below him reminded him of footage he had seen of the 'Highway of Death' back in 1991. The difference here was the human toll was much higher, as there had been less opportunity for soldiers to flee from their vehicles, although they had tried. Even in the helicopter, Holland could smell death. The Blackhawk banked away from the road and landed at the forward H.Q of the 177th Armored Brigade a few minutes later.

“Good afternoon, Sir.” The brigade commander, Colonel John 'Carol' Shelby, said in greeting.
“Well good for us anyway, Colonel.” Holland replied. “The Bulgarians and Romanians I saw on my way in didn't look too good.”
“Well, Sir, I do firmly believe in what General Patton said about making the other guy die for his country.”

Holland nodded.

“If it is a choice between my soldiers' lives and theirs, I'll take mine every time. You did a good bit of work here.”
“Couldn't have done it without the Cav, Sir. They found the tracks we used to turn the enemy's flank.”
“Could those tracks support a further advance, Colonel?” Holland asked.

Shelby shook his head.

“They were good enough to get my armoured vehicles up, but wheeled vehicles, other than Humvees, would struggle. I doubt the tracks would support bringing up enough supplies to keep an advance going. My tanks and Brads can go cross country if they need to, but they can't do much without fuel and bullets.”
“That's pretty much what I thought.” Holland replied. “The commander of V Corps has been pushing me to continue the advance, but I wanted to see things for myself before I tell him it's impossible without clearing the main road.”
“I don't envy whoever has that task!” Shelby observed.
“The engineers are on it, Colonel. But they might need some help, so you know what that means.” Holland said.

The Colonel shuddered at the thought.

***

[1] General of Special Forces. Not a rank but the position. A Bundesmarine admiral would also be called General der Spezialkräfte.

[2] Ford Class Inshore Patrol Boats
HMS Shalford (P3101)
HMS Aberford (P3102) (building)
HMS Axford (P3103) (building)
HMS Beckford (P3104)
HMS Brayford (P3105) (building)
HMS Droxford (P3113)
(+ 4 ordered)

[3] Outline Order of Battle:

V Corps
- Corps Cavalry Battalion
- Corps Artillery
- 1st Armoured Brigade
- 3rd Armoured Brigade
- 3rd Mechanised Division
- 61st Infantry Division
- 28th Infantry Division (Mech) (US)

The Orders of Battle for the Romanian and Bulgarian Armies can be found here and here.

[4] Outline Order of Battle:

28th Infantry Division (M) (-)(+)
- 177th Armored Brigade (-)
- 194th Armored Brigade (-)
- 197th Infantry Brigade (-)
- Provisional Aviation Brigade
- 28th ID Divisional Artillery (-)(+)
- 28th ID Divisional Support Command (+)

[Bernard Woolley]

Accompanying Pictures

[Lordroel]

Another good update as always.

To bad, unless you use AI, we will never see that image of USS David E. Hayden towing a Kilo.

[jemhouston]

The Kilo with a little repair would look great next to the USS Alabama.

[Lordroel]

The Kilo with a little repair would look great next to the USS Alabama.

The US has already got one that the Iranians handed over after the Green Revolution in 2000, so i wonder, is the Cuban Kilo a older ore modern version compared to the Iranian Kilo America already has.

[James1978]

Good chapter!

I rather enjoyed the cameo of old coast defense forts.

So have the FRG Specops units taken heavy casualties, or is it that there were never enough of them to begin with?

WAR PRIZE! That was fun.

Were those Warriors that rescued the HAC patrol regular upgunned ones, or the prototype scout variant?

Keep up the good work!

[James1978]

Oh, for anyone who is curious:

28th Infantry Division in Turkey

28th Infantry Division (Mechanised) (-) (+)
177th Armored Brigade (-)
- 1-52nd Infantry Regiment: M2A2
- 1-63rd Armor Regiment: M1A2
- 8-40th Armor Regiment M1A2
194th Armored Brigade (-)
- 4-33rd Armor Regiment: M1A2
- 5-33rd Armor Regiment: M1A2
- 4-15th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized): M2A3
197th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) (-)
- 2-69th Armor Regiment: M1A2
- 1-18th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized): M2A3
- 2-18th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized): M2A3
Provisional Aviation Brigade
- 1-238th Aviation Regiment (Attack) - MI NG: AH-1H, OH-58C, UH-1H
- 2-238th Aviation Regiment (+) - IN NG: UH-60A, OH-58C, EH-60L
-- C Company, 3-159th Aviation: UH-60L
- Composite Cavalry Squadron: M1A2, M3A3
-- A Troop, 15th Cavalry Regiment
-- D Troop, 17th Cavalry Regiment
-- E Troop, 17th Cavalry Regiment
-- Provisional Aviation Troop: AH-1H, OH-58C, UH-1H
28th ID Divisional Artillery - PA NG: (-) (+)
- 4-41st Field Artillery Regiment: M109A6
- 1-77th Field Artillery Regiment: M109A6
- 1-222nd Field Artillery Regiment - UT NG: M109A6
- 1-109th Field Artillery Regiment: M270 MLRS
- F Battery, 109th Field Artillery (Target Acquisition):
28th ID Divisional Support Command (+) - PA NG:
- 75th Support Battalion
- 177th Support Battalion:
- 197th Support Battalion:
- 728th Support Battalion (Main)
- 103rd Combat Engineer Battalion - PA NG: (+)
-- 177th Engineer Company:
-- 522nd Combat Engineer Company:
-- 72nd Combat Engineer Company:
- 128th Military Intelligence Battalion (CEWI) - USAR: (+)
--177th Military Intelligence Company:
- 1-213th Air Defense Artillery Regiment: Avenger, Stinger MANPAD (+)
-- F Battery, 5th Air Defense Artillery
- 28th Signal Battalion – PA NG
- 28th Military Police Company - PA NG: M1114
- 128th Chemical Company - PA NG: M1135
- 164th Chemical Company: M93
- 177th Medical Company:

[Bernard Woolley]

Another good update as always.

Thank you. Appreciated.

To bad, unless you use AI, we will never see that image of USS David E. Hayden towing a Kilo.

It would be quite the sight! I don't really use AI to make images, other than for an occasional bit of fun.

The Kilo with a little repair would look great next to the USS Alabama.

Would indeed. Is one of my regrets that there was no time when I was over there in the '90s to visit USS Alabama.

Good chapter!

Thanks.

I rather enjoyed the cameo of old coast defense forts.

If you are defending a port, then any old coastal defences are probably as good a site to do it from as any. They're where they are for a reason!

So have the FRG Specops units taken heavy casualties, or is it that there were never enough of them to begin with?

I suspect a bit of both.

WAR PRIZE! That was fun.

No prize money, though. Thanks, Congress! The Navy Personnel Act on March 3, 1899 ended it. The closest to that after that act was the award of salvage to the crews of USS Omaha (CL-4) and USS Somers when they captured the German blockade runner Odenwald on November 6, 1941. Which is what Lt. Cdr Shupack was alluding to. The RN formally stopped paying prize money after the passage of the Prize Act of 1948.

Were those Warriors that rescued the HAC patrol regular upgunned ones, or the prototype scout variant?

They were the upgunned FV520 Warrior 2.

Keep up the good work!

Will do my best, and thanks for posting the full orbat for the 28th ID (M).

[Jotun]

So have the FRG Specops units taken heavy casualties, or is it that there were never enough of them to begin with?

Yes.

The @Bundeswehr holds SOF units to absolutely immutable standards. They‘d rather have less operators than not the right ones. In TLW, the BW has had more success selecting and training operators, but in a full-on war scenario, a war of national survival, attrition will be murderous. So the snake eater brass are doing the unthinkable. Change and in some cases lower standards.

"Wat mutt, dat mutt" - North German for "was muss, das muss"…indeed.

[Matt Wiser]

Good chapter! Nicely done as usual, and BZ. And so to business:

There will be a strong WARPAC reaction to the penetration to Magdeburg. And if I was in CINC-WEST's shoes, I'd have the BTG keep going as far as possible. As far as Soviet reinforcements? The first of the Mobilization-only divisions-the ones with early T-64s last used in the 1970s and early model BMP-1s-should be coming into the theater.

Not surprising that the West Germans are cutting some corners to get SOF unit attrition filled.

I would love to see that Kilo moored next to the Alabama. If Sens. Richard Shelby and Howell Heflin, both (R) survived the Capitol attack, they will no doubt be urging DOD to donate the sub to the State of Alabama to moor as part of the museum complex. Too bad the crews who brought it in are not getting any sort of prize money...

The counterattack in Turkey stalls-clearing the wreckage and getting Engineers to make dirt trails into roads will take some time.

Good work, and get with 399!

[Bernard Woolley]

Good chapter! Nicely done as usual, and BZ. And so to business:

Thanks very much

As far as Soviet reinforcements? The first of the Mobilization-only divisions-the ones with early T-64s last used in the 1970s and early model BMP-1s-should be coming into the theater.

They have to get to the front, however. The rail network in Poland and Czechoslovakia is something of a mess, not to mention the road network is starting to break up.

I would love to see that Kilo moored next to the Alabama.

It would be nice to see!

Too bad the crews who brought it in are not getting any sort of prize money...

Might still get salvage money...

The counterattack in Turkey stalls-clearing the wreckage and getting Engineers to make dirt trails into roads will take some time.

It has done the job of stopping the Warsaw Pact advance. It also threatens the right flank of the Soviet 2nd Unified Corps

Good work, and get with 399!

Thanks and will do shortly.

[Lordroel]

So the United States has no got two Kilos, one they got from the Iranians in 2000 and this one.

[Bernard Woolley]

Yes.

[Jotun]

How would one clear a damn series of valleys full of burnt-out vehicles and human remains? My gut says every ARV available, and push and pull stuff to the side until you have a reasonably wide lane….

I‘m pretty sure the site where the Romanians and Bulgarians were annihilated is going to be named Dolinata na smŭrtta (Долината на смъртта)/Valea Mortji/Ölüm Vadisi. It is almost a given. A literal valley/series of valleys and tens of thousands of dead? I think so.

[Eaglenine2]

Should there be M167 VADS in reserve?
Dumb question where is 28th Infantry Aviation Brigade?

[Lordroel]

Yes.

This means the United states, if i count everything right, is in the top 5 of Kilo users.

[James1978]

Should there be M167 VADS in reserve?

Short answer - yes.

Longer answer - yes, but. Good chance a lot of them got sold/given to US allies as they were retired.
And "in reserve" can mean a lot of things. It could mean sitting in a warehouse and officially a mobilization asset, with all the spare parts and manuals carefully inventoried. Or it could mean we put them all in the back for possible foreign sale or to be broken up for spares by US allies who still have the system in active use.

Honestly, I'm not opposed to there being reserve units that still operate the things for airfield/site defense. Or even active units with a single battery that they cross-train on.* Has the advantage of there still being a course for operators/maintainers, and an official supply chain for spares.

* It was not unheard of for field artillery units to have 105mm and 155mm guns on strength, train with both, then deploy with whichever one was best for the job.

Now having said all that, there are just a tremendous number of potential targets in CONUS. I've got a spreadsheet of major ones broken down by state that's shared with Bernard - it's a LOT. But a lot of the deployments like old 40mm with optical fire-control are "feel good" deployments to make the locals feel safe, and maybe they'll get lucky and shoot something down.

Dumb question where is 28th Infantry Aviation Brigade?

LANDJUT. They are a plus-up for US 9th ID(M).

[Matt Wiser]

As far as Soviet reinforcements? The first of the Mobilization-only divisions-the ones with early T-64s last used in the 1970s and early model BMP-1s-should be coming into the theater.

They have to get to the front, however. The rail network in Poland and Czechoslovakia is something of a mess, not to mention the road network is starting to break up.

Comrade Renko will no doubt suggest-strongly-that the Poles and Czechs increase security along the road and rail networks. Or the Soviets will do that for them: Soviet Railway Troops, KGB Troops guarding rail yards, passenger stations, etc., along with major highway junctions. And to repair breaks in the rail network along with bridges? Labor camp inmates from the host country along with Gulag inmates....