After the Last War: Chapter 3

[Bernard Woolley]

With thanks to Matt Wiser.

*

D+100

*

Extract from the President's Daily Brief.

Southern Africa

Angola
The situation in Angola is currently unstable. The withdrawal of all Cuban and most Soviet forces coupled with the severe losses that the Angolan armed forces have suffered has left something of a vacuum. There are indications that opposition groups, including UNITA may be seeing to take advantage of the situation. A small Soviet training and advisory team have remained in Angola, as have a company of paratroops, officially assigned as embassy 'guards'. There are also indications that senior members of the governing MPLA are dissatisfied with the current leadership and a coup attempt cannot be ruled out.

Mozambique
South African forces have completed their withdrawal from Mozambique, leaving a country that seems to be sliding back into civil war. While the Soviet backed FRELIMO remains in power, the opposition RENAMO has started a low-level insurgency, mainly in the country's central and northern regions. As in Angola, losses suffered by the Mozambican Armed Forces mean that it is harder for the FRELIMO government to tackle the growing insurgency. The Soviets have withdrawn most forces from Mozambique, as per the Disengagement Agreement. A company of Naval Infantry remain, attached to the embassy security force. However, they have been spotted providing security at the ports of Beira and Maputo. The Soviets used both ports when evacuating personnel and equipment from Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe
Of all the countries in Southern Africa, Zimbabwe is the least stable. Its armed forces have been shattered by the fighting and its leadership is unstable. An ongoing purge of the Zimbabwean Defence Force and the ruling ZANU-PF party has contributed to the instability, which from all indications can only get worse. The withdrawal of the Soviet-East German advisory and training team, bar a company of Spetsnaz, has removed the one force that President Mugabe could depend on. It is notable that ZDF units that may be described as 'coup protection' forces, have effectively been destroyed. Theoretically leaving the Mugabe regime vulnerable.
URGENT LATE ADDITION
An urgent message from our embassy in Pretoria, has advised that the South Africans have strong indications that a coup is underway in Harare. The embassy is currently monitoring Zimbabwean TV and radio and military officers have begun to broadcast that they are taking action against “criminal elements” who are said to have misled President Mugabe and be behind the country's problems. Information is currently sparse and somewhat contradictory. The CIA Pretoria Station Chief has reached out to the South African Secret Service for information.

Botswana
Botswana is beginning to stabilise now that Angolan and Zimbabwean forces have withdrawn from the country. Botswana Defence Force reservists have, in the main, been released from military service. Although, the regular BDF remains at a high state of readiness. The 47 South African Brigade has remained in Botswana at the invitation of its government.

Namibia
The situation in Namibia has stabilised with the withdrawal of Angolan forces from the northern part of the country. The South African 71 Motorised Brigade has remained in Namibia to help defend the country and rebuild its army. Of the Namibian Army's three manoeuvrer brigades, only the South African trained and equipped 21 Motorised Infantry Brigade is considered operational. Of the other two brigades, 12 Motorised Infantry Brigade collapsed in the face of the Angolan-Soviet offensive, and the 26 Motorised Infantry Brigade took significant losses, in part due to poor leadership and training. South Africa has made good the material losses suffered by 21 Motorised Infantry Brigade. This includes some T-54 and T-55 tanks captured from Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The South Africans have rebuilt the surviving Namibian and Mozambican T-54 and ex-Zimbabwean T-55s, replacing their 100mm with the South African version of the M68/L7 105mm gun, new fire control, night vision equipment, electrical system, appliqué armour etc.
The SAAF has also deployed its No.3 Squadron, which is equipped with the Mirage F1AZ, to Grootfontein Air Force Base. The deployment of older jet fighters to Namibia is seen as being less provocative than sending more modern aircraft.


*


1302 hours GMT. Kumchom, PDRK.
“Target tank! Load fin!” Lieutenant Jim Robinson snapped.
“Identified!” His gunner reported.
“Loaded!” The loader barked, confirming that the 120mm APFSDS round was loaded and that he was clear of the breach.
“Fire!”
“Firing now!”

The North Korean Ch'ŏnma-214 tank exploded as the fin round fired by the Australian M1A1 (AIM) smashed through its turret face. The appliqué turret armour proved to be no impediment to the DU round.

“Target!” Robinson's gunner reported, on seeing the round strike.
“Target!” The lieutenant confirmed. “Target stop!”

*

Robinson had recently received a battlefield commission from sergeant, taking over command of 2 Troop, A Squadron, 3rd Armoured Regiment. His predecessor had been promoted and posted back to Australia to the School of Armour at Puckapunyal. Robinson had taken over just in time for his regiment to be part of the allied advance into North Korea.
Australian and New Zealand forces had been formed, along with an American heavy brigade, into a divisional sized formation named Task Force Chauvel. It formed part of IX (US) Corps, along with the 2nd Infantry Division and the brigade sized Task Force Taylor. The 2nd Infantry Division had punched through North Korean defences and was pushing steadily north, while the two Task Forces were clearing up pockets of resistance before joining the general advance. [1]

*

Robinson's troop of three Abrams was supporting an attack by B Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment on a mixed force of dug in North Korean regulars and militia. The .50cal HMG of the infantry's M113AS4 had not been powerful enough to provide enough direct fire-support, with the 120mm guns of the tanks being intended to act as 'equalisers'. However, to complicate matters, while the infantry were mounting their attack, a group of six Ch'ŏnma-214 tanks had suddenly appeared, intent on a counter-attack. Robinson's troop has reorientated themselves and engaged the North Korean tanks. It had been a rather messy engagement, but the Abrams has over-matched the Ch'ŏnma-214s, destroying them without loss to themselves.

With the threat of an armoured counter-attack eliminated, the Australian tanks turned back to supporting the infantry. Understandably, the infantry assault had slowed down while the tanks were occupied and was in danger of bogging down.

“Gunner! Target building! Second from the right! One with tracer fire coming from it!”
“Identified!”
“Load HEAT!”
“Loaded!”
“Fire!”

The HEAT round blew a hole in the front of the house, the firing coming from it stopped for a moment. However, after a moment it resumed, forcing 'Diggers' who had tried to take advantage of the explosion to take cover again.

“Driver, forward!” Robinson ordered. “Gunner, re-engage with co-ax!”
“Firing now!”

The gunner sprayed the building with fire from the Abrams' co-axial machine-gun as the tank advanced on the fortified house. The North Koreans switched to firing on the armoured monster bearing down on them, their rifle and machine-gun bullets bouncing off and even a few RPGs doing little more than damaging paintwork.

“Driver, halt!” Robinson barked just as the end of the tank's gun barrel poked through the hole the HEAT round had made. “Load cannister and fire!”

As soon as the loader indicated that he was clear of the breach, the gunner pushed down on the firing pedal. The tank rocked back on its suspension as the main gun fired a M1028 canister round. The 1,100 tungsten balls tore through the house and anybody who was unfortunate enough to be inside.

“Driver reverse.” Robinson ordered. “Back us out slowly.

As the Abrams pulled back, the much abused house collapsed, burying anyone who might have survived.

“Nice shooting Alpha Two One.” The voice of the infantry company commander said in Robinson's headset. “Got another target for your tanks, though, over.”
“Send it and we'll make it go away, over.”

1315 hours GMT. Outside Helmstedt, West Germany.
2nd Lieutenant Hannah Warburton stepped out of the Land Rover that had brought her to the laager of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. She was joining the regiment, which was currently being held in reserve near the West German border town.

“Sorry, I'm looking for H.Q A Squadron.” She said to a passing corporal.

The JNCO looked the young officer up and down before replying.

“Over there, Ma'am. Can't miss them. See yon Spartan and the two Challys, that's where you need to be.” He said in a broad Aberdonian accent that Warburton only just understood.
“Thank you, Corporal.”

She headed off towards the three parked armoured vehicles, which she could just make out under their camouflage nets. Some tents were also pitched under some nearby trees. Soldiers made their way back and forwards, apparently busy, while the crew of one of the Challenger 2s seemed to be performing maintenance on the tank.

“Halt!” An authoritative voice called out. “Yes, you!”

Warburton turned to see a stern looking sergeant wearing a Regimental Police brassard. He had his right hand on the butt of his Browning pistol.

“I'm Lieutenant Warburton, I'm joining A Squadron.” She said plaintively.
“That's as maybe, but I need to see your MOD90.”

Warburton rummaged around in her pockets until she found her identity card and handed it across. The sergeant scrutinised it carefully before handing it back.

“Follow me, Ma'am. The O.C will want to speak to you before you report to your troop.”

The young subaltern followed the sergeant, who led her to the Spartan APC, which had a tent pitched to its rear.

“Major Currie, are you there, Ma'am. It's Sergeant Marnoch.”
“What is it, Sergeant Marnoch?” A voice asked from inside the tent. “Can it wait? I've finally gotten ten minutes to myself to have lunch.”
“New officer, Ma'am. Will be Captain Potter's relief.”
“Okay, send them in.”

Warburton stepped into the tent and saw that the Officer Commanding A Squadron was sitting on a folding stool eating a curry from a mess tin. The major indicated that Warburton should sit on another stool.

“Second Lieutenant Hannah Warburton, Ma'am. I've been posted to take over 3 Troop...I have my orders here...somewhere.”
“Never mind about that, Lieutenant. We've been expecting you. I'm Major Currie, O.C A Squadron.” Major Ailsa Currie replied. “Bet you were expecting to be the only woman in the squadron, eh? Well, I'm glad to say that with your arrival, our numbers have just doubled.” She added with a smile. “Just out of The Shop?”
“Yes, Ma'am. Graduated a month ago.” Warburton confirmed. “Was at Bovington after that until my posting came through.”

Currie digested that information as she ate some of her lunch.

“What were you before the rule on women in close combat units was changed?” She asked.
“Royal Engineers, Ma'am.” Warburton replied. “I've always wanted to be in a tank regiment, though. My Father was in the 17th/21st Lancers, and he let me sit in his tank on a few occasions. Loved it, so when the ruled changed, I asked to change to the RAC.”
“You request the Scots DG?” Currie wondered.

Warburton hesitated.

“Ah, no, Ma'am, it was my third choice after my Father's old regiment and the Queen's Dragoon Guards.”

Currie burst out laughing, much to Warburton's surprise.

“Don't worry about it, Lieutenant. I'm an incomer myself. My old regiment was The Scottish Horse; I ended up here via a series of accidents and coincidences.
“What did they call you at Sandhurst?”
“Ma'am?”
“Your nickname, Lieutenant. We call had them, not that I'm telling you mine!”
“Ah, Toastie, Ma'am. After the type of bread.” Warburton told her. “My family are distant relations to the eponymous bread company too.”
“Good to know. Well, let me take you to meet your predecessor. He'll get you settled in before he heads off.”

*

Newly promoted Captain Tom 'Sherman' Potter had finished packing his personal kit and was now waiting for transport to take him to his new posting. It felt to be leaving the troop that had become his home, but that was the army for you.

“Squadron commander's on her way over with your relief, Sir.” The Troop Sergeant warned.
“Thank you, Sergeant.” Potter replied, making himself presentable.

He smiled slightly to himself on spotting that Major Currie still wore her Scottish Horse beret and cap badge, despite having been officially transferred to the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards when she had become a substantive major. The 2nd lieutenant with her looked green and like she had just come out of the box. Her uniform looked brand new and was well-pressed. A contrast to Potter's rather faded and 'lived in' uniform.

“Good afternoon, Tom.” Major Currie said brightly. “This is Lieutenant Hannah Warburton. She has been given the dubious honour of taking over your troop.”
“Good afternoon, Ma'am. Nice to meet you, Lieutenant. Not sure if I should be glad you've arrived, given I am being sent into exile!” Potter replied.
“You're going to the Lothians and Border Horse, Tom. Not the Gulag Archipelago!” Currie countered. “I'm ex-yeomanry myself, Hannah, so I won't hear a word against them.” She explained. “Even of they are the Lothians. Anyway, shall leave you in Captain Potter's capable hands. He will introduce you to the troop. I'll see you at 1600 for an O Group.”

1516 hours GMT. CFB Goose Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada.
Lieutenant Randall Whitcomb was still sweating and was exhausted as he landed his CF-188A Hornet. He had spent the last hour and a half trying to chase down a highly elusive target, with mixed results.

*

Whitcomb put his Hornet into a maximum G turn as he tried to get his opponent into his sights. He was just lining up for a Sidewinder shot when the target jinked away, Whitcomb reversed his turn trying to follow the other aircraft, but it managed to turn harder than him.

“Guns! Guns! Guns!” The other pilot announced over the radio.
“Goddammit.” Whitcomb muttered.

He levelled out and pulled back on the stick, and pushed the throttle forward, engaging full reheat. The Hornet zoom climbed, Whitcomb being pushed back into his seat. He rolled the Hornet over, pushed the nose over and cut the throttle back to idle. The APR-73 radar quickly picked up the other aircraft circling below. Had the Rules of Engagement allowed it, Whitcomb could have easily killed it with an AMRAAM, but he was required to visually identify the target.

The small, two-tone grey aircraft had evidently picked up the radar transmissions, as it turned sharply as Whitcomb dove on it. However, this time the Hornet had the advantage. Whitcomb heard 'growl' of a Sidewinder lock-on in his ears and pushed the pickle button.

“Fox Two! Fox Two!” He announced, before pulling back on the stick to slow his descent.

*

“That was a good fight, Randall.” Whitcomb's opponent said a little while later in the debrief.

The other pilot was an ex-CF-116 Freedom Fighter old enough to be Whitcomb's father. Indeed it was his age that had been the reason that he had not been recalled to active service. Instead he had continued to fly contractor operated ex-Swiss Air Force Hunter F.58s. Although, these aircraft also now had a NORAD role as well as a training one.

“You got me in the end once you decided to play to your aircraft's strengths, rather than get in a turning fight. You would have gotten me in the end in a turning fight, because the Hornet retains more energy in a turning fight than a Hunter, but not before I was able to gun you.”
“Thanks, Gus. You were sneaky as hell!” Whitcomb replied.
“As any potential opponent you may run into!” Gus replied. “At the moment you are assigned to NORAD, but you may end up being posted to Germany, and while all is peaceful at the moment, we can't assume the war isn't going to heat up again. You need to be prepared for the fact that you may come up against agile opponents. I don't think the Soviets have much that can out-turn a Hornet, but an advanced Flanker, or Fulcrum potentially could. What we did today was to allow you to push your Hornet to the limit in a, relatively, safe environment. Tomorrow, we'll make it harder by bringing in a second Hunter and the day after we'll even things up again by having you fly with a second Hornet.
“Any questions?”
“Yeah, you have a two-seat Hunter with you, Gus. I don't know if we have time, but I would like a ride in it before we do the two V one tomorrow?”

Gus thought for a moment.

“We still have time today and the range is available. If you're up for it, I will make a call and get us a slot.”
“I'm up for it.”

*

The two-seat Hunter in question was something of an unusual aircraft. It had been built as an F.58 for the Swiss Air Force. However, after retirement from military service it had been heavily modified by having its nose replaced by dual cockpit section from a T.8C. The aircraft was unofficially referred to as a T.68C. As it had a 'big-bore' Avon engine, it was more sprightly that other Hunter two-seat marks, like the T.7.

Climbing into the right-hand seat, Whitcomb found himself faced with a cockpit that was radically different from his Hornet. The smell reminded him of some classic cars that he had sat in.

“Ready to go, Randall?” Gus asked, once the pair were strapped in.
“Let's do this.”

1600 Hours GMT. The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
Even with the Armistice, General Richard Meyers USAF, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was a busy man. NATO Europe still was the main theatre, even with the Cease-Fire still in place, though he-along with the rest of the Joint Chiefs-expected the Armistice to collapse in a hail of Soviet artillery fire once the Soviets had “Secured” Poland. Even with the end of hostilities in Southern Africa, both the Middle East and Korea were still active theatres. The Iraqis had not mounted a serious counterattack, though an attempt by II Guards Corps to go around Samawah had been parried, first by 278th ACR, then by 4th AD, and then broken up with a quick counterattack of their own. As for I Guards Corps and the Army's remaining heavy divisions? Someone had apparently convinced Saddam that those units would be needed to either counter a Coalition move north of the Euphrates towards Baghdad or an Iranian entry into the war, and all signs from CENTCOM pointed to the Iranians being either ready or nearly so. But only Tehran knew when it was going to go.

Not just the active or semi-active theatres occupied the Chairman's attention. Expanding the force structure was high on his agenda, and not just the Army. The Marines had stood up the Fifth Marine Division, which had fought at both Iwo Jima and Khe Sanh, but like its Army counterparts, it would be several months at least before the division was combat-ready. The Navy, for its part, was bringing older ships out of mothballs and three new Carrier Air Wings were seriously working up. While the Air Force was reactivating several wings that had been disbanded in the 1960s and early 70s, but it would be some time before new production and aircraft from AMARC would enable those new squadrons and wings to be mission-ready.

General Meyers was going over some papers from the Navy on how repairs to the carrier United States were progressing when one of his senior aides, a Navy Captain, came to him. “General? The Chief of the British Defence Staff is on the line. We have a secure video hookup in your conference room.”

Meyers' eyes perked up. This was unusual, and Sir Michael was likely working late.

“Did he say what the issue was?”
“No specifics, sir, but he did mention the Middle East,” the four-striper, who wore the Dolphins of a submariner, said.

Hmm... Just what I was thinking about a few minutes ago, the Chairman mused.

“That's interesting. Inform General Pace, and I'd like him to join us in the Conference Room.”
“Aye, aye, sir.” The Captain said, then he left to inform the Vice-Chair, General Peter Pace, USMC.

Meyers went to the conference room, and was joined a couple of minutes later by Pace, who had been to the Middle East a few weeks earlier to mend fences with the Gulf Allies about the theatre’s seeming lack of priority and their insistence-along with CINC-CENT's, that Saddam and his Regime had to become a thing of the past. Pace had understood, but also had to remind General Abazid, CINC-CENT, and the Allied commanders in the region that the main theatre, NATO Europe, had to come first. And with Korea still very active and the KTO in stalemate, Korea had drawn some forces originally meant for CENTCOM, while Norway and Austria had also drawn forces intended for the KTO. Both Meyers and Pace knew that Abazid had taken the bad news gracefully, but in private, both also knew that Abazid had been privately furious about being “poached” for units intended for his command.

Then another aide said, “Sirs, Sir Michael's ready.” Then the viewscreen came to life, with Field Marshal Sir Michael Walker, the British Chief of the Defence Staff.

“Good afternoon, General,” Sir Michael said. “How are things in Washington?”
“Fine, Sir Michael,” the Chairman replied. “Right now, some of my staff are taking bets as to when this Armistice is going to fail. People here think it's a question of when, not if.”
“They are not the only ones, General. Some of the staff here in Whitehall are doing the same thing.” There was some laughter, then he went on. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this concerns our armoured brigade in the KTO.”

Uh-oh, both Meyers and Pace thought at the same time. This is not good.

“Would you please explain, Field Marshal?” Meyers asked.
“Certainly,” Sir Michael said. “We're going to have to pull the brigade back to the UK. In six weeks at the latest.”

Pace looked at the Chairman, who looked like he was dreading having to tell Abazid that he was going to be losing one of his best formations.

“May we ask why, General?”

Sir Michael saw the expressions on the CJCS' and his deputy's faces and knew that this was going to be a hard sell. It had been hard enough selling it to the PM, and he also had talked to not only the Australian and New Zealand Defence Attaches, but also the Kuwaiti and the Saudi attaches as well. No one had been pleased.

“It's a question of logistics, gentlemen. We can either support and sustain the brigade, or support the Kuwaitis and Omanis who use some of our equipment and munitions...”
“But not both,” General Meyers observed.

Sir Michael nodded.

“But not both.” He went on. “Believe me, gentlemen, the PM was less than thrilled with this. Not to mention the Australian and New Zealand Defence Attaches, along with the Kuwaitis and Saudis. They were somewhat mollified when we told them what was going out to replace the brigade.”

But not very, he thought to himself.

“I see...” Meyers noted. “And that would be?”
“We're sending a reinforced battalion task force built around 1 Para, with artillery, engineers, and so on. The RAF is now able to send enough Tornados to get 1435 Flight up to Squadron strength, and we'll be redesignating them as 35 Squadron. The Navy will send a pair of escorts and a submarine to add to the naval forces already there.” Before either Meyers or Pace could say something, he added his own observation. “I know, it's nowhere near the ground combat power that 3 Armoured Brigade has, but it's a force that, at the present time, we can adequately support and maintain, along with supporting the Allies who do use our equipment.”
“I see,” Meyers nodded.

Sir Michael went on.

“There's one other thing: having that brigade home helps us as we're standing up new formations, just as you are, and having a combat-experienced formation available to reform a division can only help in that regard.”

Pace nodded. As a Marine, he knew what that would entail. In World War II, the Corps had built 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Marine Divisions around a nucleus of combat veterans.

“That it can, Sir Michael.”
“Agreed,” Meyers said. “Thank you, Sir Michael. We do appreciate the call,and your honesty. Even if we're not that thrilled with what you had to tell us.” And that was an understatement.
“Believe me, General, this was the easiest conversation on this subject that I've had today, apart from the Defence Secretary,” Sir Michael said.
“I'll bet,” Meyers nodded. “Thanks again, Sir Michael, and we'll probably be talking again before too long.”
“That we will,” the CDS agreed. “Have a good evening.”
“You too.”

After the connection was cut, the CJCS turned to his deputy.

“Well, Pete?”
“General, I wouldn't wake Abazid up for this,” Pace replied. “My I suggest a call with him tomorrow morning at 1100 our time?”
“Agreed, and make arrangements for Sir Michael to join in. If Abazid hears from him as to why he's losing his theatre reserve, and what is coming to replace them, he'll be a lot more understanding. But I do agree with his basic point. That festering sore that is Saddam's regime needs to go.” Meyers thought for a moment. Then he went on. “Talk to Schoonover. See if the Army has anything available that would enable Abazid to reform a theatre reserve, and also perform the mission to secure his lines of communication. And one other thing: dig out that scenario that we did back in the day when Rumsefeld and Wolfowitz ran things, the minimum force option, because that's what Abazid is basically doing.”
“Minus the 101st Airborne,” Pace said.

He had played the commander of I MEF in that exercise.

“Yeah,” Meyers said. “Send a copy to Sir Michael, and I'm waiving security on that one. Ask him to have his people go over it and see if Abazid does X instead of Y, it might speed things up and also reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, the threat to his LOCs. Remember: he was the Red Team commander for that one.”
“That I do, sir,” Pace said, remembering the exercise. Abazid had, as the Red Force commander, avoided direct combat with advancing combat forces and had gone after the weakly protected supply columns and depots instead. A three-week campaign, according to the CPX scenario, had lasted over six. And neither Rumsfeld or Wolfowitz had been pleased.
“Any other questions, Pete?”
“No,sir.”

The Chairman nodded, then got up from his chair.

“That's your homework for tonight.”

1703 hours GMT. HMS Ardrossan, Colwell Bay, Hampshire.
The grain carrier lying on its side partially blocked the western entrance to The Solent. Most big ships heading into Southampton preferred to use the wider eastern entrance, and it the route that ships in convoy were taking. However, this ship had been sailing independently; its captain had insisted, and as she was Chinese, he had the right. To save time, the captain had decided to take the western entrance to The Solent, unfortunately, she ship had found herself sharing space with a Soviet mine. The Lymington and Yarmouth RNLI crews had risked potentially hitting other mines to rescue most the ship's crew. A Royal Navy SAR Merlin from RNAS Lee-on-Solent had picked up the remainder.

Rescuing the crew had been one thing, but now there was the problem of salvaging the ship. She had gone down just off Hurst Point, almost at the narrowest point of the entrance. The salvage would be challenging, but very necessary if other ships were to be able to use the western entrance. However, before the operation could begin, the area had to be cleared of any mines. The Auxiliary Mine Sweeping Service had regularly been sweeping The Solent, so whatever had sunk the grain carrier must have been sophisticated and probably a ground mine. The 11th MCM Squadron had deployed several Hunt and Sandown class MCMV to the area to clear any remaining mines.

*

HMS Ardrossan still had that 'new-car' smell, her work-up only having been completed a month ago. However, there were still times where Lieutenant Commander Jennifer McNair had to remind herself she was not back aboard HMS Eyemouth. For example, on waking up in her cabin on a couple of occasions, she had thought she was back aboard her old ship. Both ships were very similar, but Ardrossan had slightly more modern systems and incorporated an updated armament. For example, she had the new 30mm DS30M Mark 2, replacing the older DS30B, and had Browning HMGs, rather than M134 Miniguns. None of those, of course, were useful in her current mission. McNair was also pleased that Ardrossan was a happy ship, with no tensions between the regular sailors and RNR who made up her crew.

“Got a candidate, Ma'am.”
“Send the SeaFox-I over to take a look, and signal Roebuck.” McNair ordered.

The UUV made its way over to the suspect object. The visibility was poor, but the SeaFox-I had a high intensity searchlight.

“Looks like a rock, sorry, Ma'am.”
“Best to be safe that sorry. On to the next candidate.”

The next object was clearly a mine. It was even possible to read some of the Cyrillic writing on its casing.

“Mark it's position and reel the SeaFox-I in.”
“Aye, aye, Ma'am.”
“Get one of the Cs ready to deploy and signal the other ships that we are preparing to dispose of a mine.” McNair instructed.

Once the inspection model SeaFox had been reeled in, a SeaFox-C, which had a shaped-charge warhead was deployed. The C model was set to automatic and headed off to the location of the mine. As it neared its target, the operator aboard Ardrossan took over control.

“Ready to fire, Ma'am.”
“Okay, stand-by.” McNair replied. “Warn the other ships again.”
“Aye, aye, Ma'am.”

McNair waited thirty seconds after the warning signal had been sent.

“Fire.” She ordered.
“Firing now.”

The shaped-charge warhead blew the mine open, disrupting its firing circuit and destroying its warhead. The resulting explosion was nowhere near as spectacular as it would have been had the mine warhead functioned as intended. Ardrossan moved on continuing her search for more mines. Six further ground mines would be located and disposed of by the MCMV before it was considered safe enough for the salvage vessels to move in and begin to recover the grain carrier.

There might be a cease-fire in place, but there was certainly not peace in the waters off the British Isles and Western Europe.

***

[1] Orbat of the corps was:

IX (US) Corps

2nd Infantry Division (-) (+)
1st Brigade
- 1-72nd Armor Regiment: M1A2
- 5-20th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized): M2A3
- 2-24th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized): M2A3
2nd Brigade (-)
- 2-72nd Armor Regiment: M1A2
- 3-72nd Armor Regiment: M1A2
- 1-5th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized): M2A3
81st Infantry Brigade (Mechanized)
- 1-303rd Armor Regiment: M1A1
- 1-803rd Armor Regiment: M1A1
- 1-161st Infantry Regiment (Mechanized): M2A2
- 3-161st Infantry Regiment (Mechanized): M2A2
2nd ID Combat Aviation Brigade
- 5th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment (+): M1A2, M3A3, AH-64D, RAH-66A, UH-60L
-- E Troop, 303rd Cavalry Regiment: M1A1, M3A2
- 1-2nd Aviation Regiment (Attack): AH-64D, RAH-66A, UH-60L
- 2-2nd Aviation Regiment: UH-60L, EH-60L
2nd ID Divisional Artillery (-) (+)
- 8-8th Field Artillery Regiment: M109A6
- 2-146th Field Artillery Regiment: M109A6
- 1-15th Field Artillery Regiment: M2001
- 6-37th Field Artillery Regiment: M109A6
- 7-17th Field Artillery Regiment: M44 NLOS
- 4-94th Field Artillery Regiment: M270 MLRS
- F Battery, 26th Field Artillery (Target Acquisition)
2nd ID Divisional Support Command
- 2nd Support Battalion (Forward)
- 181st Support Battalion (Forward)
- 296th Support Battalion (Forward)
- 302nd Support Battalion (Forward)
- 702nd Support Battalion (Main)
- G Company, 2nd Aviation Regiment (AVIM)
2nd Combat Engineer Battalion (+/-)
- 286th Combat Engineer Company
- 5-5th Air Defense Regiment: M6, Avenger, Stinger MANPAD
-122nd Signal Battalion
-102nd Military Intelligence Battalion (Combat Electronic Warfare & Intelligence)
- 2nd Military Police Company: M1117
- 4th Chemical Company: M1135

Task-Force Taylor
- Provisional Cavalry Squadron: M1127, M1134
- 225th Support Battalion (Forward)
- 7-8th Field Artillery Regiment: M777
2nd Brigade (Motorized), 25th Infantry Division: (+)
- 2-221st Armor Regiment: M1A1
- 5-14th Infantry Regiment (Motorized): M1126, M1134
- 1-21st Infantry Regiment (Motorized): M1126, M1134
- 3-21st Infantry Regiment (Motorized): M1126, M1134
- 1-24th Infantry Regiment (Motorized): M1126, M1134

Task Force Chauvel
- 3rd Cavalry Regiment: ASLAV
-- F Troop, 116th Cavalry Regiment – OR NG: M1A2, M3A2 (US)
- Force Intelligence Group: (NZ)
- 1st Battalion, Royal Fijian Infantry Regiment: Bushmaster IMV
TF Artillery
- 4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery : M777
- 16th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery (-): L119
- 1-148th Field Artillery Regiment: M109A6 (US)
- 17th Air Land Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (-)(+)
-- 112th Air Land Battery,16th Air Land Regiment: Rapier
-- 113th Air Land Battery, 16th Air Land Regiment: Rapier
-- 114th Air Land Battery, 17th Air Land Regiment: Starstreak HVM
-- 115th Air Land Battery, 17th Air Land Regiment: Starstreak HVM
-- 22(D) Battery (Wellington), Royal New Zealand Artillery: Mistral
-- Battery, 19th Air Land Regiment, RAA: Leopard Marksman
TF Support
- 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment (+):
-- 1063rd Engineer Company: (US)
- 2nd Engineer Regiment: (NZ)
- 3rd Combat Signals Regiment (+)
--2nd Signals Squadron: (NZ)
- 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion
- 463rd Support Battalion: (US)
- 2nd Royal New Zealand Army Logistics Regiment (NZ)
- 2nd Health Services Battalion (NZ)
- 2nd Military Police Platoon (NZ)
- 161st Reconnaissance Squadron (+): AH-1V Taipan
-- A Squadron (+): S-70A, CH-47D
2nd New Zealand Brigade
- 1st Battalion, The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment: NZLAV
- 3/1st Bn, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (-)(+): NZLAV
-- G Company
-- H Company
-- J (Wellington Mounted Rifles) Company
-- Support Company
- 4th (Australian) Armoured Regiment: Leopard AS1
3rd (Australian) Brigade (-)
- 3rd Armoured Regiment: M1A1 (AIM)
- 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment: M113AS4
- 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment: M113AS4
(US) 116th Cavalry Brigade
- 1-82nd Cavalry Regiment (Mechanized Infantry): M2A2
- 2-116th Cavalry Regiment (Armored): M1A1
- 3-116th Cavalry Regiment (Armored): M1A1

66th Combat Aviation Brigade (+) - WA NG
- 1-189th Aviation Regiment (Attack): AH-64A, OH-58D, UH-60L - Montana NG
- 78th Aviation Battalion (-): UH-60L, CH-47D

[Bernard Woolley]

Accompanying Pictures

[jemhouston]

Any chance NATO is helping Poland or is that considered too dangerous?