CarlManvers2019
Writers Blocked Douchebag
Say, any chance that the Soviets are gonna at some point get desperate and ask for aid in the midst of war from their enemies?
Alternate History World War III: 1988, aka "The War of '88"
- Thread starter Tiamat
- Start date
-
- Tags
- crossover sci-fi world war 3
Tiamat
I've seen the future...
CarlManvers2019
Writers Blocked Douchebag
Maybe yes, maybe no? Sorry, no spoilers.
Okay, that said, maybe there should be surprisingly accurate stuff to go against Soviet Propaganda and whatever local Far-Lefties in the USA say like comparing them all to NAZI's
By proceeding to actually give outright information about all the people, MINORITIES even, who died in the Gulags
Also, maybe the fact that it's the "Western Imperialists" actually doing the whole racial and sexual equality thing atm
It's not glamorous, or nice, but being treated like any other soldier with the same expectations to risk their lives for their country goes to show that Patriotism and Nationalism does not equate to xenophobia towards everyone not of a very specific group or characteristics
Tiamat
I've seen the future...
And now, a pictorial introduction to our two dramatis personae KGB agents. First, here's Colonel Leonid Petrovkin. As stated, he's a twenty year veteran of the KGB, currently with First Chief Directorate, which handles foreign espionage:
And here is Major Irina Ilyasov. She's a 15 year veteran of the KGB, and Leontev's right-hand woman. She also is a "graduate" of a program within the KGB known only as the Red Room...but says little if anything about it.
EDIT: Changed Leontev's name to Leonid in the chapter and hence did it here too, Leonid just rolls off easier and is more authentically Russian.
Also, note I changed the appearance of Irina to reflect someone else I think fits her description better, Adrianne Palicki in this case. Let's just say I did this for a personal reason as the original actress I had in mind, Amber Heard has turned out to have some issues I have a VERY strong opinion about.
Another Edit: Changed Irina's last name to Ilyasov, trying to keep it as "authentic Russian" as I can...
And here is Major Irina Ilyasov. She's a 15 year veteran of the KGB, and Leontev's right-hand woman. She also is a "graduate" of a program within the KGB known only as the Red Room...but says little if anything about it.
EDIT: Changed Leontev's name to Leonid in the chapter and hence did it here too, Leonid just rolls off easier and is more authentically Russian.
Also, note I changed the appearance of Irina to reflect someone else I think fits her description better, Adrianne Palicki in this case. Let's just say I did this for a personal reason as the original actress I had in mind, Amber Heard has turned out to have some issues I have a VERY strong opinion about.
Another Edit: Changed Irina's last name to Ilyasov, trying to keep it as "authentic Russian" as I can...
Last edited:
Kujo
For the FEDCOM! For the Archon-Prince!
Be careful of who you target, you go all out and you end up with a very ready to 'launch' secretary of interior or education who reads off their cards and does just what you thought you would prevent. Reagan was joking when he stated the 'Bombers' were on the way in 30 minutes (paraphrasing... LOL), if you 'execute' folks by spec ops and/or nukes well it's likely you will have Minutemen, M-X Peacekeeper and Trident C-IVs with B-1s/B-52s conducting the "Grand Tour". To quote the Bible Hosea 8:7 "you sow the wind and you shall reap the whirlwind!" I would hope that the young 'Hawk' can at least shift the river if he can't dam it, otherwise there will be plenty of damning and the Soviet leadership may not be alive to see it... Great chapter, Thank you and Merry Christmas!
World War III: 1988, Addendum E: "CIA Case Profile of KGB Operative Borya Morozov"
Tiamat
I've seen the future...
For those wondering what sort of fellow Morozov is...
************************************************************************************************************
World War III: 1988
Addendum E: "CIA Case Profile of KGB Operative Borya Morozov."
"In regards to Colonel Borya Morozov, little is known about his personal life, though it's known he was born and raised in the Soviet republic of Georgia...it's rumored that he was born in the same province as one Josef Stalin, but a more outlandish rumor was that he was the bastard son of the infamous Lavrentiy Beria and one of his former victims. While the former is certainly possible, the latter is unlikely. It is said that Morozov may have started the rumor about his parentage himself because he found it 'amusing'. As of 1988 when WW3 began, Morozov had been a veteran of the KGB for close to 25 years. One of his earlier known activities was his participation in the brutal suppression of the 'Prague Spring of 1968', where he is suspected to have been personally involved in the torture and execution of a notable dissident group. Other suspected activities included raids into remote areas of China during Sino-Soviet Conflict, disinformation and 'decapitation' activities (in a few instances, literally) of various ethnic and dissident groups within the Far East and Baltic States, and further disinformation activities in regards to United States foreign policies in the 1970's. He is also suspected to have participated in Operation Cascade when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. During the following years, it is here where Morozov's reputation as a remorseless sociopath truly began to circulate.
In the province of (REDACTED), in Afghanistan, Mujaheddin resistance had been particularly stubborn, and Morozov was called in to deal with the matter. One town in particular, (REDACTED) was suspected to hold a number of fighters, who often would vanish into the hills whenever the Soviets came around. Morozov arrived there on the morning of April 12, 1984 with an entire VDV company, along with another company of the KGB's Vympel unit. While the Mujaheddin waited in the hills for the Soviets to leave, Morozov ordered the men to round up all the civilians still in the town...old men, women and children, and had them paraded to a clearing next to the town that could be seen by anyone up in the hills. The children were separated from the adults and corralled into two groups. The group of women and old men were then all ruthlessly executed via AK-74 and PKM machinegun fire, with Morozov shooting several of the adults himself. When there was still no reaction from the Mujaheddin in the hills, Morozov signaled to two men from the Vympel who were equipped with LPO-50 flamethrowers...who then proceeded to burn all the children alive.
At that point for the Mujaheddin it was too much. As they screamed and wailed as they began to fire from their hiding spots at the Soviets, Morozov signaled to his radioman in cover, who immediately gave the coordinates where the fire was coming from to several 2B9 Vasilek mortar platoons who began to rain fire on the positions. This was followed by several rocket and strafing runs by a squadron of MI-24 Hinds that were on standby. In the end, none of the Mujaheddin survived, and the town of (REDACTED) ceased to exist. Morozov then followed this tactic with another nearby town, and again, until all resistance in the province of (REDACTED) had crumbled completely.
It was later claimed in regard to inquiries about the operation, Morozov casually replied 'If you must kill a wasp, you must also burn out the nest. You must find what they treasure most, the one thing in them that is soft, vulnerable...and stomp on it. When you break them, completely, then there will be no more fighting, it is simple as that. And if it comes to complete extermination, the result is the same.'"
---Excerpt from declassified CIA document, Case Profile #53691263, Ref: KGB Operative Borya Morozov, obtained via Freedom of Information Act, 2000.
************************************************************************************************************
World War III: 1988
Addendum E: "CIA Case Profile of KGB Operative Borya Morozov."
"In regards to Colonel Borya Morozov, little is known about his personal life, though it's known he was born and raised in the Soviet republic of Georgia...it's rumored that he was born in the same province as one Josef Stalin, but a more outlandish rumor was that he was the bastard son of the infamous Lavrentiy Beria and one of his former victims. While the former is certainly possible, the latter is unlikely. It is said that Morozov may have started the rumor about his parentage himself because he found it 'amusing'. As of 1988 when WW3 began, Morozov had been a veteran of the KGB for close to 25 years. One of his earlier known activities was his participation in the brutal suppression of the 'Prague Spring of 1968', where he is suspected to have been personally involved in the torture and execution of a notable dissident group. Other suspected activities included raids into remote areas of China during Sino-Soviet Conflict, disinformation and 'decapitation' activities (in a few instances, literally) of various ethnic and dissident groups within the Far East and Baltic States, and further disinformation activities in regards to United States foreign policies in the 1970's. He is also suspected to have participated in Operation Cascade when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. During the following years, it is here where Morozov's reputation as a remorseless sociopath truly began to circulate.
In the province of (REDACTED), in Afghanistan, Mujaheddin resistance had been particularly stubborn, and Morozov was called in to deal with the matter. One town in particular, (REDACTED) was suspected to hold a number of fighters, who often would vanish into the hills whenever the Soviets came around. Morozov arrived there on the morning of April 12, 1984 with an entire VDV company, along with another company of the KGB's Vympel unit. While the Mujaheddin waited in the hills for the Soviets to leave, Morozov ordered the men to round up all the civilians still in the town...old men, women and children, and had them paraded to a clearing next to the town that could be seen by anyone up in the hills. The children were separated from the adults and corralled into two groups. The group of women and old men were then all ruthlessly executed via AK-74 and PKM machinegun fire, with Morozov shooting several of the adults himself. When there was still no reaction from the Mujaheddin in the hills, Morozov signaled to two men from the Vympel who were equipped with LPO-50 flamethrowers...who then proceeded to burn all the children alive.
At that point for the Mujaheddin it was too much. As they screamed and wailed as they began to fire from their hiding spots at the Soviets, Morozov signaled to his radioman in cover, who immediately gave the coordinates where the fire was coming from to several 2B9 Vasilek mortar platoons who began to rain fire on the positions. This was followed by several rocket and strafing runs by a squadron of MI-24 Hinds that were on standby. In the end, none of the Mujaheddin survived, and the town of (REDACTED) ceased to exist. Morozov then followed this tactic with another nearby town, and again, until all resistance in the province of (REDACTED) had crumbled completely.
It was later claimed in regard to inquiries about the operation, Morozov casually replied 'If you must kill a wasp, you must also burn out the nest. You must find what they treasure most, the one thing in them that is soft, vulnerable...and stomp on it. When you break them, completely, then there will be no more fighting, it is simple as that. And if it comes to complete extermination, the result is the same.'"
---Excerpt from declassified CIA document, Case Profile #53691263, Ref: KGB Operative Borya Morozov, obtained via Freedom of Information Act, 2000.
Last edited:
World War III: 1988, Addendum F: "NATO and Western-Aligned R&D and Acquisition, Armaments and Land Systems 1987."
Tiamat
I've seen the future...
***************************************************************************************************************
World War III: 1988
Addendum F: NATO and Western-Aligned R&D and Acquisition, Armaments and Land Systems 1987.
With the increase in tensions worldwide in 1987, NATO and Western-aligned countries began increased production and modernization of their armed forces, especially after the announced increase in defense spending by the Reagan Administration. While this is not a complete list, these are some of the significant vehicles and systems that were quickly developed and fielded in varying numbers prior to the outbreak of the war.
Australia
MRV-75 Recon/Infantry Support vehicle
The MRV-75 was an upgrade made to the Australian’s MRV’s, which were originally American-made M113’s that mounted 76mm Cockerill cannon-armed Scorpion turrets. The upgrade was carried out by AAI Corporation in the US, using lessons learned from their work on development of the RDF-LT program, and resulted in a vehicle that was considered visibly an almost entirely different system altogether, or to paraphrase one Australian soldier, "what happens when we let the Yanks go mad scientist with our tracks." The engine and transmission were overhauled, with slat armor designed to protect against RPG antitank rockets bolted to the sides of the vehicle. A redesigned turret was installed that mounted an Ares 75mm hypervelocity autocannon, whilst retaining the coaxial L-43A1 machinegun. Day/Night optics were installed for the driver, commander and gunner, while thermal sights were also installed for the commander and gunner. A laser rangefinder and optics intensification equipment was also installed for the gunner to aid in accurate gunnery use. A Mk-19 40mm auto-grenade launcher was also fitted externally on the left side of the turret that could be aimed and fired from under armor, to provide additional explosive firepower, as the 75mm Ares cannon was primarily used with armor-piercing ammunition. On the right side of the turret, a twin TOW launcher was fitted for use against heavier threats. North Korean and Indonesian troops who encountered these vehicles nicknamed them the “Green Dragons”, much like their predecessors the M113 ACAV’s were called in the Vietnam War.
Belgium
FN Herstal BRG-15 Heavy Machinegun
The FN Herstal BRG-15 was quickly developed as an answer to the Soviet’s KPV, a heavy machinegun that straddled the line between the M2 .50 cal. Machinegun and several of the heavier autocannons in use by NATO. The weapon fires a 15.5x106mm cartridge with a muzzle energy of roughly 40,000 joules per second, about twice that of the .50 BMG cartridge. It is a gas operated weapon with a rotating bolt, and has a dual feed mechanism with ammo containers on both sides of the gun that can be selected via a switch, with spent casings ejected out of the bottom. A quick-change barrel is provided for the weapon to allow for fast barrel changes during engagements, and a rail is mounted on top of the receiver to allow the mounting of various optics if desired. The weapon can be mounted on any NHT mounts including tripods for ground and antiaircraft use as well as on vehicle mounts. It was soon adopted for use by several militaries including the United States (particularly the U.S. Marine Corps and Special Operations units), Australia, Belgium, France and Israel. The weapon was popular for the ability to use two different types of ammunition on the fly, and could be used more effectively against some armored vehicles without needing a larger autocannon.
FN Herstal P90 PDW (Personal Defense Weapon)
The P90 was FN Herstal's answer to a NATO request for a Personal Defense Weapon that could equip rear-area and support troops, vehicle crews and some special operations units. It was to be compact and capable of automatic fire, and also be capable of penetrating some of the various types of body armor that were becoming prevalent among the forces of the Soviet Union and WARPA states. Development began in 1986, but was hurried and accelerated as the world situation began to deteriorate. The P90 came out in late 1987 and was considered to be a firearm unlike anything most of the world had ever seen. The weapon is not much larger than a shoebox, and was often nicknamed the "shoebox gun" by NATO troops and Western police who first laid eyes on it. It makes extensive use of molded polymer with a detachable, top-mounted horizontal-fed, semi-translucent magazine holding fifty rounds of ammunition. The PDW utilizes a bullpup-type layout with the receiver to the rear of the firing handle and cartridge ejection downwards making it possible to use for both left and right handed shooters. The ammunition for the weapon was a new proprietary cartridge, FN 5.7x28mm, a new type of high velocity pistol cartridge capable of penetrating a standard Kevlar Level IIIA vest at 200 meters. The weapon underwent extensive testing with the Belgians, Canadians, French, British, Americans and West Germans, who praised the weapon, but also voiced concern over adopting a new ammunition cartridge into the NATO arsenal, something that was especially raised by West Germany. After some hard lobbying by FNH, the FN 5.7x28mm cartridge was officially adopted into the NATO arsenal. Adoption by military forces was slow however, especially with the new proprietary 5.7x28mm cartridge, with the primary customers being Belgium, France, and the Netherlands before the war began. However, an unexpected customer was the various police departments of Western-aligned countries, and this was where sales truly took off as various police departments were looking for a compact automatic weapon that could penetrate the body armor of possible saboteurs and terrorists without over-penetration, especially in metropolitan areas that included critical sites such as ports, rail stations and power plant facilities. Perhaps one of the biggest customers, surprisingly was the various metropolitan police departments of the United States who wanted a compact automatic weapon that could be used against potential KGB saboteurs and Spetsnaz teams wearing body armor. The P90s for American use were manufactured exclusively out of the FNH manufacturing plant in Columbia, South Carolina. When the '88 War began production of American-built P90s were shifted more toward CONUS-based U.S. military and security personnel, including some State Guard units.
Canada
LAV MPLS (Multiple-Purpose Launch System)
This vehicle is yet another modification of the LAV (Light Armored Vehicle) 8x8 wheeled vehicle, designed to accompany light vehicle formations and airborne troops. It is a variant that has the area behind the driver and commander in the vehicle chopped down to form a sort of flatbed, upon which a remote turret is mounted sporting four Chaparral antiaircraft missiles, twin Hydra 70 eight-shot rocket pods, and two Hellfire ATGM missiles. An M3M .50 caliber machine gun is also coaxial mounted with the launchers on the turret for use against light vehicles and personnel, while another 7.62mm FN MAG machine gun is mounted at the commander's hatch for local defense. The turret has a small phased array radar along with an IR module to assist in target acquisition. It was manufactured at first for the Canadian Army to provide better antiaircraft coverage and increased fire support, until it was also quickly picked up for service by the U.S. Marine Corps who made extensive use of them along with the U.S. Army, in particular the Airborne and some light infantry brigades. Another customer was the Australians, who ordered them along with standard LAV-25’s for use in the Australian Army. This vehicle was often the bane of Soviet and WARPA troops, vehicles and low flying aircraft whenever encountered.
ADATS (Air Defense Anti-Tank System)
The ADATS program was produced by Lockheed Martin for Canada, to create a dual-purpose anti-armor, anti-aircraft supersonic missile with laser-guided electro optical sensors, plus TV and FLIR sensors. After a lengthy R&D and testing period, Canada originally ordered more than several dozen of these mated to an M113 chassis in 1986, but when the world situation began to deteriorate ramped up further orders. The Canadian ADATS system consists of an M113A3 with a mounted turret that has Day/Night optics, a laser guidance system, FLIR, and a phased array radar. Eight ADATS missiles are housed, ready to fire in twin quad packs on each side of the turret, with the optical sensors located on the center front of the turret. Additional reloads, one for each launcher are carried internally in the vehicle.
France
AMX-40B Main Battle Tank
When France announced it was reintegrating it's military command into NATO, a hard look was made at it's current equipment. It was felt the AMX-30 tank may not be up to par against the current Soviet tank formations, and a stopgap measure was chosen with the AMX-40 which was originally a late-edition export variant of the AMX-30, but had received no sales. A modification was made to the vehicle design including a new engine, lugs for reactive armor plates, and a license-produced Rheinmetall 120mm cannon with a redesigned fire control suite. Instead of a 20mm coaxial autocannon mounted in the turret like earlier French tanks, the AMX-40 instead mounts a coaxial 15.5mm BRG-15 heavy machine gun alongside the main gun, along with a more standard AAT-F1 machine gun for the commander's cupola. The vehicle, dubbed AMX-40B was immediately placed into high rate production, and managed to equip several French armor battalions before the outbreak of war. Compared to it's predecessor it had a much better cannon and fire control suite while remaining highly mobile, with the option for increased armor protection via ERA, but still remained one of the lightest armored MBT's during the war.
New Zealand
A-4K Super Skyhawk Fighter/Attack Aircraft
The Kahu Program was an effort by the RNZAF to make a cost-effective upgrade to the A-4 Skyhawks that were in use by the service. As matters began to rapidly deteriorate worldwide, the government and military made a query with McDonnell Douglas and Northrop Grumman to bring them into the project. One of the largest changes made to the Kahu Program was the installation of the APG-65 radar system from the F-18 Hornet, this resulted in a far more superior radar set with track-while-scan, look-down-shoot-down, and BVR capability. The ability to carry and launch both AIM-7 Sparrow and AGM-84 Harpoon missiles were added to the aircraft in addition to the capability of carrying AIM-9 Sidewinder, AGM-65 Maverick and GBU-16 Paveway, which altogether greatly boosted it's offensive and defensive capabilities. The project was considered a success, and another batch of A-4 Skyhawks were pulled from the AMARC "boneyard" in the US and given the same upgrade, and were also sold to the RNZAF. McDonnell Douglas and Northrop Grumman, after having had a frayed relationship over a dispute with the F-18 project, found the results of this program to be promising and offered it as an upgrade package to the Israeli's fleet of A-4 Skyhawks, who also purchased the upgrades. The A-4 Super Skyhawk went on to be a successful and effective aircraft during the Third World War in both the Pacific and Middle East.
United Kingdom
FV-108 Scythe Light Tank/Reconaissance Vehicle
The FV-108 Scythe was another modification of the CVR(T) series of vehicles in use by the British Army. It utilizes the same base chassis of the other vehicles, but in this version an LRF (Low Recoil Force) variant of the Royal Ordnance 105mm cannon is mounted in a low-profile casemate-design turret along with an autoloader. A coaxial L37A1 machinegun is also fitted. A variant of the fire controls and optics used on British Challenger tanks were incorporated into the vehicle. These vehicles were often assigned to the British Army’s reconnaissance regiments to provide additional fire support when they made contact with enemy armor formations.
Marksman SHORAD Vehicle
The British Challenger tank was a great leap forward for the British armored formations, but it was felt they needed a well-armored ADA vehicle that could keep up with the new tanks, especially with the threat of war looming. The Marskman is a modified Challenger tank chassis with a new heavy armored turret mounting twin 35mm Oerlikon autocannons. A Marconi series 400 radar along with advanced fire controls allows for rapid acquisition and engagement of low flying aircraft and helicopters, in addition the guns can elevate from -15 to +85 degrees allowing for engagement of ground targets like infantry and vehicles as well. An L37A1 machinegun is also mounted on the commander’s hatch along with several banks of smoke grenade dischargers for local defense. Production was quickly ramped up for both the United Kingdom as well as Jordan, who also operated the Challenger tank.
West Germany
Heckler and Koch G11 K2 Assault Rifle
The program to develop a new revolutionary “Future Assault Rifle” had been in development by Heckler and Koch for some time since the 1970’s, along with a new type of caseless 4.7mm ammunition that would be much lighter than 5.56x45mm NATO, with the resulting weapon to be more resilient in harsh climates along with the ability to carry more ammunition. Unfortunately, the rifle program had run into various cost overruns as for all intents and purposes it was an entirely new weapon system. The first batch of rifles, G11 K1, were finally ready for testing in March 1987, and with war potentially looming on the horizon both research trials and procurement was carried out an exponential rate. After a short trial in both West Germany and the United States, a few changes were implemented and the G11 K2 underwent manufacture and was issued primarily to the West German Kommando Spezialkräfte KSK special forces, along with Fallschirmjäger paratroopers before the war broke out. An unknown number, perhaps no more than several hundred, were also delivered to the US Military, supposedly for use by some Special Operations troops and U.S. Marine Recon units operating in Norway and Iran.
Panther ATGM/SAM Armored Carrier
As the West Germans quickly upgraded their MBT brigades to the Leopard 2, they found themselves with a significant number of Leopard 1 tanks. A conversion was devised to make some of the Leopard I’s into tank destroyers, and the Panther was developed and fielded. The original turret of the Leopard is removed and an elevating, extendable hydraulic crane arm on a flat rotating turret is installed which can fold down onto the roof of the vehicle. On the end of the retractable arm is a 12-tube launcher containing six FIM-92 Stinger antiaircraft missiles and six HOT ATGM missiles. A TV camera with FLIR, night vision and image intensification is installed in the launcher and fed down to a fire control station inside the vehicle. An MG-3 7.62mm machine gun is also provided for defense on the commander’s hatch near the front of the vehicle, while a rear hatch is provided for reloading the missiles. The vehicle retains the same engine and suspension of the Leopard I tank, and due to the lighter weight with the original turret removed gained an increase in mobility along with a lower silhouette. These vehicles were often used alongside Jagdpanzer 105’s (described below) in a supplementary role for antitank and antiaircraft duties, with a secondary role as armored reconnaissance utilizing the camera and sensors on it's retracting crane.
Marder Begleitpanzer 1A3/40 Fire Support Vehicle/Armored Personnel Carrier
As war appeared more inevitable in Europe, the West Germans felt that while the Marder 1A2 APC’s had good armor protection, the firepower needed an upgrade while giving better protection to the gunner and commander, and plans were dusted off from the earlier aborted "Begleitpanzer" concept. A new version of the Marder, the 1A3/40 was devised with a new enclosed turret providing better protection to the gunner and commander. The main weapon is a modified Bofors L70 40mm autocannon with a dual feed system for both amor-piercing and explosive ammunition. A coaxial MG-3 machinegun is also mounted, while another MG3 machine gun is mounted in a remote overhead weapon station in the rear much like the earlier Marders. The turret also has improved day/night optics and a laser rangefinder installed for accurate fire. An innovative 3-round revolving, re-loadable cassette launcher with HOT ATGM's was also installed in the turret to give it additional punch against heavy armor. The only drawback was with the larger turret and increased armament came an increase in profile and weight, along with a reduced infantry complement in the vehicle. While originally designated as an APC, it was more often used in the fire support role alongside standard Marder 1A2’s, with extra ammunition stowed in the vehicle along with a two or three-man scout team or crew-served weapon team.
Jagdpanzer-105 Tank Destroyer/Assault Gun
By 1987 it was felt by the West Germans that the Jagdpanzer 90, while potentially effective as an infantry support gun, was doomed if facing Soviet tanks with it’s 90mm cannon. At the same time, they had a number of Rheinmetall 105mm cannons from Leopard I’s that were being replaced with Leopard II’s. An upgrade was proposed and immediately implemented to replace the Jagdpanzer’s 90mm gun with the 105mm gun, and this was carried out on the majority of Jagdpanzer 90’s, turning them into Jagdpanzer-105’s. The laser rangefinders, ballistic computers, and night vision were also upgraded to match the new guns and increase accuracy. The two MG-3 machineguns were also retained. While it was initially used as a tank destroyer, it saw more use as an assault gun to support infantry, especially when attacking fortification strongpoints as the war progressed. Belgium was also a recipient of this vehicle as they had the majority of their Jagdpanzer 90's upgraded to the 105 variant as well.
MaK Wildcat Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Vehicle
The Wildcat is a highly mobile self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery vehicle consisting of a modified TPz Fuchs wheeled 6x6 armored carrier, mated to a powered hydraulic turret sporting twin Mauser MK-30 autocannons that can be elevated and depressed for use against both air and ground targets. It has a fire control suite consisting of a Siemens AG search radar, IFF, FLIR and image intensification. Originally a testbed prototype, it was quickly placed into mass production for use by Jager infantry, and Fallschirmjager battalions. The final version that was produced featured an improved gyrostabilizer allowing it to shoot quite accurately on the move, coupled with it's relatively small size and high speed making it a highly nimble and lethal threat to enemy aircraft, light armored vehicles and troops. Austria and the U.K. also purchased quantities of the vehicle for use by their infantry battalions. It was also utilized in another form by U.S. Army Light Infantry divisions, who felt it would be an excellent wheeled SPAAG and could provide complementary firepower alongside their other ADA assets. The U.S. version had the system's turret, radar, sensors and armament purchased and installed on Cadillac Gage LAV-300 MkII chassis and dubbed the M-26 Wildcat.
Wiesel BTM-263 Mortar Carrier/Reconnaissance Vehicle
The West Germans employed a wide number of modifications to the Wiesel AWC (Armored Weapons Carrier) up to the outset of the war, as it was fast, quiet, light enough to transport via helicopter and easy to maintain. An experimental version that was quickly placed into high production was the BTM-263. In this variant, a one-man turret that was developed by the French is mounted in the vehicle, which contains a long-barreled, breech loaded 60mm mortar along with a coaxial MG-3 machinegun that can elevate from -7 to +70 degrees for both direct and indirect fire. A mortar ballistic computer is provided for the main gun along with a day/night camera, long range antenna and shotgun microphone for reconnaissance work. These were quickly taken into service with the Bundeswehr’s Fallschirmjäger Battalions for immediate fire support and reconnaissance duties. Another customer was the U.S. Army’s Airborne and Ranger battalions who made extensive use of this vehicle alongside several other modified versions of the Wiesel.
**************************************************************************************************************
World War III: 1988
Addendum F: NATO and Western-Aligned R&D and Acquisition, Armaments and Land Systems 1987.
With the increase in tensions worldwide in 1987, NATO and Western-aligned countries began increased production and modernization of their armed forces, especially after the announced increase in defense spending by the Reagan Administration. While this is not a complete list, these are some of the significant vehicles and systems that were quickly developed and fielded in varying numbers prior to the outbreak of the war.
Australia
MRV-75 Recon/Infantry Support vehicle
The MRV-75 was an upgrade made to the Australian’s MRV’s, which were originally American-made M113’s that mounted 76mm Cockerill cannon-armed Scorpion turrets. The upgrade was carried out by AAI Corporation in the US, using lessons learned from their work on development of the RDF-LT program, and resulted in a vehicle that was considered visibly an almost entirely different system altogether, or to paraphrase one Australian soldier, "what happens when we let the Yanks go mad scientist with our tracks." The engine and transmission were overhauled, with slat armor designed to protect against RPG antitank rockets bolted to the sides of the vehicle. A redesigned turret was installed that mounted an Ares 75mm hypervelocity autocannon, whilst retaining the coaxial L-43A1 machinegun. Day/Night optics were installed for the driver, commander and gunner, while thermal sights were also installed for the commander and gunner. A laser rangefinder and optics intensification equipment was also installed for the gunner to aid in accurate gunnery use. A Mk-19 40mm auto-grenade launcher was also fitted externally on the left side of the turret that could be aimed and fired from under armor, to provide additional explosive firepower, as the 75mm Ares cannon was primarily used with armor-piercing ammunition. On the right side of the turret, a twin TOW launcher was fitted for use against heavier threats. North Korean and Indonesian troops who encountered these vehicles nicknamed them the “Green Dragons”, much like their predecessors the M113 ACAV’s were called in the Vietnam War.
Belgium
FN Herstal BRG-15 Heavy Machinegun
The FN Herstal BRG-15 was quickly developed as an answer to the Soviet’s KPV, a heavy machinegun that straddled the line between the M2 .50 cal. Machinegun and several of the heavier autocannons in use by NATO. The weapon fires a 15.5x106mm cartridge with a muzzle energy of roughly 40,000 joules per second, about twice that of the .50 BMG cartridge. It is a gas operated weapon with a rotating bolt, and has a dual feed mechanism with ammo containers on both sides of the gun that can be selected via a switch, with spent casings ejected out of the bottom. A quick-change barrel is provided for the weapon to allow for fast barrel changes during engagements, and a rail is mounted on top of the receiver to allow the mounting of various optics if desired. The weapon can be mounted on any NHT mounts including tripods for ground and antiaircraft use as well as on vehicle mounts. It was soon adopted for use by several militaries including the United States (particularly the U.S. Marine Corps and Special Operations units), Australia, Belgium, France and Israel. The weapon was popular for the ability to use two different types of ammunition on the fly, and could be used more effectively against some armored vehicles without needing a larger autocannon.
FN Herstal P90 PDW (Personal Defense Weapon)
The P90 was FN Herstal's answer to a NATO request for a Personal Defense Weapon that could equip rear-area and support troops, vehicle crews and some special operations units. It was to be compact and capable of automatic fire, and also be capable of penetrating some of the various types of body armor that were becoming prevalent among the forces of the Soviet Union and WARPA states. Development began in 1986, but was hurried and accelerated as the world situation began to deteriorate. The P90 came out in late 1987 and was considered to be a firearm unlike anything most of the world had ever seen. The weapon is not much larger than a shoebox, and was often nicknamed the "shoebox gun" by NATO troops and Western police who first laid eyes on it. It makes extensive use of molded polymer with a detachable, top-mounted horizontal-fed, semi-translucent magazine holding fifty rounds of ammunition. The PDW utilizes a bullpup-type layout with the receiver to the rear of the firing handle and cartridge ejection downwards making it possible to use for both left and right handed shooters. The ammunition for the weapon was a new proprietary cartridge, FN 5.7x28mm, a new type of high velocity pistol cartridge capable of penetrating a standard Kevlar Level IIIA vest at 200 meters. The weapon underwent extensive testing with the Belgians, Canadians, French, British, Americans and West Germans, who praised the weapon, but also voiced concern over adopting a new ammunition cartridge into the NATO arsenal, something that was especially raised by West Germany. After some hard lobbying by FNH, the FN 5.7x28mm cartridge was officially adopted into the NATO arsenal. Adoption by military forces was slow however, especially with the new proprietary 5.7x28mm cartridge, with the primary customers being Belgium, France, and the Netherlands before the war began. However, an unexpected customer was the various police departments of Western-aligned countries, and this was where sales truly took off as various police departments were looking for a compact automatic weapon that could penetrate the body armor of possible saboteurs and terrorists without over-penetration, especially in metropolitan areas that included critical sites such as ports, rail stations and power plant facilities. Perhaps one of the biggest customers, surprisingly was the various metropolitan police departments of the United States who wanted a compact automatic weapon that could be used against potential KGB saboteurs and Spetsnaz teams wearing body armor. The P90s for American use were manufactured exclusively out of the FNH manufacturing plant in Columbia, South Carolina. When the '88 War began production of American-built P90s were shifted more toward CONUS-based U.S. military and security personnel, including some State Guard units.
Canada
LAV MPLS (Multiple-Purpose Launch System)
This vehicle is yet another modification of the LAV (Light Armored Vehicle) 8x8 wheeled vehicle, designed to accompany light vehicle formations and airborne troops. It is a variant that has the area behind the driver and commander in the vehicle chopped down to form a sort of flatbed, upon which a remote turret is mounted sporting four Chaparral antiaircraft missiles, twin Hydra 70 eight-shot rocket pods, and two Hellfire ATGM missiles. An M3M .50 caliber machine gun is also coaxial mounted with the launchers on the turret for use against light vehicles and personnel, while another 7.62mm FN MAG machine gun is mounted at the commander's hatch for local defense. The turret has a small phased array radar along with an IR module to assist in target acquisition. It was manufactured at first for the Canadian Army to provide better antiaircraft coverage and increased fire support, until it was also quickly picked up for service by the U.S. Marine Corps who made extensive use of them along with the U.S. Army, in particular the Airborne and some light infantry brigades. Another customer was the Australians, who ordered them along with standard LAV-25’s for use in the Australian Army. This vehicle was often the bane of Soviet and WARPA troops, vehicles and low flying aircraft whenever encountered.
ADATS (Air Defense Anti-Tank System)
The ADATS program was produced by Lockheed Martin for Canada, to create a dual-purpose anti-armor, anti-aircraft supersonic missile with laser-guided electro optical sensors, plus TV and FLIR sensors. After a lengthy R&D and testing period, Canada originally ordered more than several dozen of these mated to an M113 chassis in 1986, but when the world situation began to deteriorate ramped up further orders. The Canadian ADATS system consists of an M113A3 with a mounted turret that has Day/Night optics, a laser guidance system, FLIR, and a phased array radar. Eight ADATS missiles are housed, ready to fire in twin quad packs on each side of the turret, with the optical sensors located on the center front of the turret. Additional reloads, one for each launcher are carried internally in the vehicle.
France
AMX-40B Main Battle Tank
When France announced it was reintegrating it's military command into NATO, a hard look was made at it's current equipment. It was felt the AMX-30 tank may not be up to par against the current Soviet tank formations, and a stopgap measure was chosen with the AMX-40 which was originally a late-edition export variant of the AMX-30, but had received no sales. A modification was made to the vehicle design including a new engine, lugs for reactive armor plates, and a license-produced Rheinmetall 120mm cannon with a redesigned fire control suite. Instead of a 20mm coaxial autocannon mounted in the turret like earlier French tanks, the AMX-40 instead mounts a coaxial 15.5mm BRG-15 heavy machine gun alongside the main gun, along with a more standard AAT-F1 machine gun for the commander's cupola. The vehicle, dubbed AMX-40B was immediately placed into high rate production, and managed to equip several French armor battalions before the outbreak of war. Compared to it's predecessor it had a much better cannon and fire control suite while remaining highly mobile, with the option for increased armor protection via ERA, but still remained one of the lightest armored MBT's during the war.
New Zealand
A-4K Super Skyhawk Fighter/Attack Aircraft
The Kahu Program was an effort by the RNZAF to make a cost-effective upgrade to the A-4 Skyhawks that were in use by the service. As matters began to rapidly deteriorate worldwide, the government and military made a query with McDonnell Douglas and Northrop Grumman to bring them into the project. One of the largest changes made to the Kahu Program was the installation of the APG-65 radar system from the F-18 Hornet, this resulted in a far more superior radar set with track-while-scan, look-down-shoot-down, and BVR capability. The ability to carry and launch both AIM-7 Sparrow and AGM-84 Harpoon missiles were added to the aircraft in addition to the capability of carrying AIM-9 Sidewinder, AGM-65 Maverick and GBU-16 Paveway, which altogether greatly boosted it's offensive and defensive capabilities. The project was considered a success, and another batch of A-4 Skyhawks were pulled from the AMARC "boneyard" in the US and given the same upgrade, and were also sold to the RNZAF. McDonnell Douglas and Northrop Grumman, after having had a frayed relationship over a dispute with the F-18 project, found the results of this program to be promising and offered it as an upgrade package to the Israeli's fleet of A-4 Skyhawks, who also purchased the upgrades. The A-4 Super Skyhawk went on to be a successful and effective aircraft during the Third World War in both the Pacific and Middle East.
United Kingdom
FV-108 Scythe Light Tank/Reconaissance Vehicle
The FV-108 Scythe was another modification of the CVR(T) series of vehicles in use by the British Army. It utilizes the same base chassis of the other vehicles, but in this version an LRF (Low Recoil Force) variant of the Royal Ordnance 105mm cannon is mounted in a low-profile casemate-design turret along with an autoloader. A coaxial L37A1 machinegun is also fitted. A variant of the fire controls and optics used on British Challenger tanks were incorporated into the vehicle. These vehicles were often assigned to the British Army’s reconnaissance regiments to provide additional fire support when they made contact with enemy armor formations.
Marksman SHORAD Vehicle
The British Challenger tank was a great leap forward for the British armored formations, but it was felt they needed a well-armored ADA vehicle that could keep up with the new tanks, especially with the threat of war looming. The Marskman is a modified Challenger tank chassis with a new heavy armored turret mounting twin 35mm Oerlikon autocannons. A Marconi series 400 radar along with advanced fire controls allows for rapid acquisition and engagement of low flying aircraft and helicopters, in addition the guns can elevate from -15 to +85 degrees allowing for engagement of ground targets like infantry and vehicles as well. An L37A1 machinegun is also mounted on the commander’s hatch along with several banks of smoke grenade dischargers for local defense. Production was quickly ramped up for both the United Kingdom as well as Jordan, who also operated the Challenger tank.
West Germany
Heckler and Koch G11 K2 Assault Rifle
The program to develop a new revolutionary “Future Assault Rifle” had been in development by Heckler and Koch for some time since the 1970’s, along with a new type of caseless 4.7mm ammunition that would be much lighter than 5.56x45mm NATO, with the resulting weapon to be more resilient in harsh climates along with the ability to carry more ammunition. Unfortunately, the rifle program had run into various cost overruns as for all intents and purposes it was an entirely new weapon system. The first batch of rifles, G11 K1, were finally ready for testing in March 1987, and with war potentially looming on the horizon both research trials and procurement was carried out an exponential rate. After a short trial in both West Germany and the United States, a few changes were implemented and the G11 K2 underwent manufacture and was issued primarily to the West German Kommando Spezialkräfte KSK special forces, along with Fallschirmjäger paratroopers before the war broke out. An unknown number, perhaps no more than several hundred, were also delivered to the US Military, supposedly for use by some Special Operations troops and U.S. Marine Recon units operating in Norway and Iran.
Panther ATGM/SAM Armored Carrier
As the West Germans quickly upgraded their MBT brigades to the Leopard 2, they found themselves with a significant number of Leopard 1 tanks. A conversion was devised to make some of the Leopard I’s into tank destroyers, and the Panther was developed and fielded. The original turret of the Leopard is removed and an elevating, extendable hydraulic crane arm on a flat rotating turret is installed which can fold down onto the roof of the vehicle. On the end of the retractable arm is a 12-tube launcher containing six FIM-92 Stinger antiaircraft missiles and six HOT ATGM missiles. A TV camera with FLIR, night vision and image intensification is installed in the launcher and fed down to a fire control station inside the vehicle. An MG-3 7.62mm machine gun is also provided for defense on the commander’s hatch near the front of the vehicle, while a rear hatch is provided for reloading the missiles. The vehicle retains the same engine and suspension of the Leopard I tank, and due to the lighter weight with the original turret removed gained an increase in mobility along with a lower silhouette. These vehicles were often used alongside Jagdpanzer 105’s (described below) in a supplementary role for antitank and antiaircraft duties, with a secondary role as armored reconnaissance utilizing the camera and sensors on it's retracting crane.
Marder Begleitpanzer 1A3/40 Fire Support Vehicle/Armored Personnel Carrier
As war appeared more inevitable in Europe, the West Germans felt that while the Marder 1A2 APC’s had good armor protection, the firepower needed an upgrade while giving better protection to the gunner and commander, and plans were dusted off from the earlier aborted "Begleitpanzer" concept. A new version of the Marder, the 1A3/40 was devised with a new enclosed turret providing better protection to the gunner and commander. The main weapon is a modified Bofors L70 40mm autocannon with a dual feed system for both amor-piercing and explosive ammunition. A coaxial MG-3 machinegun is also mounted, while another MG3 machine gun is mounted in a remote overhead weapon station in the rear much like the earlier Marders. The turret also has improved day/night optics and a laser rangefinder installed for accurate fire. An innovative 3-round revolving, re-loadable cassette launcher with HOT ATGM's was also installed in the turret to give it additional punch against heavy armor. The only drawback was with the larger turret and increased armament came an increase in profile and weight, along with a reduced infantry complement in the vehicle. While originally designated as an APC, it was more often used in the fire support role alongside standard Marder 1A2’s, with extra ammunition stowed in the vehicle along with a two or three-man scout team or crew-served weapon team.
Jagdpanzer-105 Tank Destroyer/Assault Gun
By 1987 it was felt by the West Germans that the Jagdpanzer 90, while potentially effective as an infantry support gun, was doomed if facing Soviet tanks with it’s 90mm cannon. At the same time, they had a number of Rheinmetall 105mm cannons from Leopard I’s that were being replaced with Leopard II’s. An upgrade was proposed and immediately implemented to replace the Jagdpanzer’s 90mm gun with the 105mm gun, and this was carried out on the majority of Jagdpanzer 90’s, turning them into Jagdpanzer-105’s. The laser rangefinders, ballistic computers, and night vision were also upgraded to match the new guns and increase accuracy. The two MG-3 machineguns were also retained. While it was initially used as a tank destroyer, it saw more use as an assault gun to support infantry, especially when attacking fortification strongpoints as the war progressed. Belgium was also a recipient of this vehicle as they had the majority of their Jagdpanzer 90's upgraded to the 105 variant as well.
MaK Wildcat Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Vehicle
The Wildcat is a highly mobile self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery vehicle consisting of a modified TPz Fuchs wheeled 6x6 armored carrier, mated to a powered hydraulic turret sporting twin Mauser MK-30 autocannons that can be elevated and depressed for use against both air and ground targets. It has a fire control suite consisting of a Siemens AG search radar, IFF, FLIR and image intensification. Originally a testbed prototype, it was quickly placed into mass production for use by Jager infantry, and Fallschirmjager battalions. The final version that was produced featured an improved gyrostabilizer allowing it to shoot quite accurately on the move, coupled with it's relatively small size and high speed making it a highly nimble and lethal threat to enemy aircraft, light armored vehicles and troops. Austria and the U.K. also purchased quantities of the vehicle for use by their infantry battalions. It was also utilized in another form by U.S. Army Light Infantry divisions, who felt it would be an excellent wheeled SPAAG and could provide complementary firepower alongside their other ADA assets. The U.S. version had the system's turret, radar, sensors and armament purchased and installed on Cadillac Gage LAV-300 MkII chassis and dubbed the M-26 Wildcat.
Wiesel BTM-263 Mortar Carrier/Reconnaissance Vehicle
The West Germans employed a wide number of modifications to the Wiesel AWC (Armored Weapons Carrier) up to the outset of the war, as it was fast, quiet, light enough to transport via helicopter and easy to maintain. An experimental version that was quickly placed into high production was the BTM-263. In this variant, a one-man turret that was developed by the French is mounted in the vehicle, which contains a long-barreled, breech loaded 60mm mortar along with a coaxial MG-3 machinegun that can elevate from -7 to +70 degrees for both direct and indirect fire. A mortar ballistic computer is provided for the main gun along with a day/night camera, long range antenna and shotgun microphone for reconnaissance work. These were quickly taken into service with the Bundeswehr’s Fallschirmjäger Battalions for immediate fire support and reconnaissance duties. Another customer was the U.S. Army’s Airborne and Ranger battalions who made extensive use of this vehicle alongside several other modified versions of the Wiesel.
**************************************************************************************************************
Last edited:
Tiamat
I've seen the future...
An update, expanded the American, Soviet and NATO lists, Addendums A, C and F respectively, and a few things.
France builds a stopgap tank, the AMX-40 to increase firepower to their armored force, as the Leclerc was still being developed and wasn't ready in time. Not much difference in armor compared to the AMX-30 (aka, not great) but still mobile and sports a Rheinmetall 120mm cannon with an upgraded fire control suite, better engine and lugs for ERA (explosive reactive armor) panels. How many get built and how much it makes a difference when the war starts remains to be seen...
The Soviets preview their other long-rumored attack helicopter the MI-28 "Havoc", though how many get produced is another question. And no coincidence whatsoever it closely resembles the AH-64 Apache, tovarisch. A "new" assault rifle is seen in the hands of some VDV troops, an early version of the AN-94 Abakan, though how many get built is again an open question. And something that which does see a lot of production, the MT-LB modified with a DsHK heavy machine gun and a 2B9 Vasilek automatic gun-mortar on a rotating bustle. Yes, very nasty for both direct and indirect fire support. Ivan loves his artillery and mortars.
The Americans also manage to produce some other armaments. A limited number of Israeli Spike ATGM missiles are bought to supplement and/or replace some, but not all Dragon ATGMs (although the Dragon gets a PIP package to improve the warhead), and a ground mount is developed for it. The LAV 8x8 vehicle with 105mm casemate cannon is built for the U.S. Marines and French. The HMMWV Avenger ADA vehicle is rushed into production along with the HMMWV FSV mounting a 25mm Bushmaster cannon (Yes, it exists, or did exist IRL), both get built for the American light infantry as well as the Australians and New Zealand. And finally some details on the various American configurations for the Wiesel vehicles that were bought from West Germany.
I think that covers it. I still have an addendum planned for the "600 ship" U.S. Navy, still haven't decided if they can reach 600 in time, though they did reach 594 in 1987 IRL. The Soviets are not sitting on their hands with their navy either though. I also hope to cover some watercraft that were developed before the war broke out. I want to be clear though, I'm just a fan of military tech, history and fiction, and I am NOT an expert in such matters, so I really do appreciate any ideas or input from you all. As you've seen I am taking a bit of a "20 minutes into the future" approach to this, just to make it more interesting...and I really do blame the Twilight 2000 game for that. Yes, I'm looking at you CurtisLemay!
I need to give credit where due, and a fair amount of inspiration for all this came from conversations with CurtisLemay and his friend Matt, the Twilight: 2000 tabletop RPG game and supplements, as well as Paul Mulcahy's own Twilight 2000 site which has an insane amount of details on various weapons and vehicles and other goodies: Paul Mulcahy’s Pages
I appreciate all the kind words and feedback, and have several more story chapters planned as I want to get into the war and it's buildup from the POV of the men and women on the ground, at sea and in the air, on both sides. It will indeed be worldwide, and the world in the aftermath will be VERY much different than it was IRL when the Cold War ended. And yes, we will see some characters we all know and love get sucked into the war as well...
Next chapter I hope to have up soon will be "Berlin Blitz", some covert shenanigans go a bit south in West Berlin and...well, you'll see. Until then.
France builds a stopgap tank, the AMX-40 to increase firepower to their armored force, as the Leclerc was still being developed and wasn't ready in time. Not much difference in armor compared to the AMX-30 (aka, not great) but still mobile and sports a Rheinmetall 120mm cannon with an upgraded fire control suite, better engine and lugs for ERA (explosive reactive armor) panels. How many get built and how much it makes a difference when the war starts remains to be seen...
The Soviets preview their other long-rumored attack helicopter the MI-28 "Havoc", though how many get produced is another question. And no coincidence whatsoever it closely resembles the AH-64 Apache, tovarisch. A "new" assault rifle is seen in the hands of some VDV troops, an early version of the AN-94 Abakan, though how many get built is again an open question. And something that which does see a lot of production, the MT-LB modified with a DsHK heavy machine gun and a 2B9 Vasilek automatic gun-mortar on a rotating bustle. Yes, very nasty for both direct and indirect fire support. Ivan loves his artillery and mortars.
The Americans also manage to produce some other armaments. A limited number of Israeli Spike ATGM missiles are bought to supplement and/or replace some, but not all Dragon ATGMs (although the Dragon gets a PIP package to improve the warhead), and a ground mount is developed for it. The LAV 8x8 vehicle with 105mm casemate cannon is built for the U.S. Marines and French. The HMMWV Avenger ADA vehicle is rushed into production along with the HMMWV FSV mounting a 25mm Bushmaster cannon (Yes, it exists, or did exist IRL), both get built for the American light infantry as well as the Australians and New Zealand. And finally some details on the various American configurations for the Wiesel vehicles that were bought from West Germany.
I think that covers it. I still have an addendum planned for the "600 ship" U.S. Navy, still haven't decided if they can reach 600 in time, though they did reach 594 in 1987 IRL. The Soviets are not sitting on their hands with their navy either though. I also hope to cover some watercraft that were developed before the war broke out. I want to be clear though, I'm just a fan of military tech, history and fiction, and I am NOT an expert in such matters, so I really do appreciate any ideas or input from you all. As you've seen I am taking a bit of a "20 minutes into the future" approach to this, just to make it more interesting...and I really do blame the Twilight 2000 game for that. Yes, I'm looking at you CurtisLemay!
I need to give credit where due, and a fair amount of inspiration for all this came from conversations with CurtisLemay and his friend Matt, the Twilight: 2000 tabletop RPG game and supplements, as well as Paul Mulcahy's own Twilight 2000 site which has an insane amount of details on various weapons and vehicles and other goodies: Paul Mulcahy’s Pages
I appreciate all the kind words and feedback, and have several more story chapters planned as I want to get into the war and it's buildup from the POV of the men and women on the ground, at sea and in the air, on both sides. It will indeed be worldwide, and the world in the aftermath will be VERY much different than it was IRL when the Cold War ended. And yes, we will see some characters we all know and love get sucked into the war as well...
Next chapter I hope to have up soon will be "Berlin Blitz", some covert shenanigans go a bit south in West Berlin and...well, you'll see. Until then.
Georgiaboy1966
Member
Around this time, there was put forth for the Navy, the idea of the "Arsenal Ship", taking civilian bulk cargo ships, putting VLS launchers in the holds and use AIGIS linked ships to guide the weapons. Also, an idea was to use shipping containers to contain pop up launchers and guns, can place several harpoon launcher cells in containers. Use containers to make flat areas on ships to place helicopters and VTOL jets.
Tiamat
I've seen the future...
It's actually an interesting concept, though it's also a bit of a radical departure. The material I've found seems to indicate this concept didn't come out until the mid-late 1990's (if anyone has information that refutes this, please let me know). Now, with new emphasis to get that 600 ship US navy built, I could see the US Navy and DARPA playing with this concept back in the early-mid 80's, but again, it's just a concept. Now, we could say once things go south with the Soviets after the '86 coup, Reagan puts new emphasis on increasing the US Navy's firepower capabilities, and the USN decides to purchase eight merchant cargo vessels and get them up to USN standards and begin making the modifications to turn them into "Arsenal Class" warships with most of the container deck fitted with launch tubes for Tomahawk, Sea Sparrow and Harpoon, and a rear deck for a helipad or VTOL. And of course, mounts for CIWS and close-range guns. Only question is, do they get retrofitted and launched in time, and even then they'd require sea trials, though those could be abbreviated (and pray that no major bugs are found when the shooting starts).
Last edited:
CarlManvers2019
Writers Blocked Douchebag
Kujo
For the FEDCOM! For the Archon-Prince!
Not sure if I would want to be filling out my navy with 'rocket ships', even though the missiles themselves are tested, CIWS should be ok as point defense, but this concept has 'Q Ship' written all over it. If I am a Soviet sub driver, CG/BCNG/CVLGN group commander they would be my first targets as they are civilian hulls, yes you build them for safety and for icebergs but not for SS-N-19 shipwreck missiles. Think a purpose built launch ship with a large RO-RO hull as a starting position would be a better investment, if you have the time and the ability to get it through congress...
Cause if you need the 'converted' hulls to have anything to do with guidance, you may as well fill them up with M26 MRLS rockets and have an updated rocketship/naval bombardment ship for NATO troops on the North German plain.
Not saying it's a bad concept, it's just seems like a 'filler' ship with great fire-power (if you can get some one to guide the missiles/coordinates preloaded), but as such would be a prime target of any Akula, Alpha or Oscar class sub, as well as any Soviet Missle boat/TU-95 squadrons as it screams out "I am a Glass Cannon"
Thank you, looking forward for more!
Cause if you need the 'converted' hulls to have anything to do with guidance, you may as well fill them up with M26 MRLS rockets and have an updated rocketship/naval bombardment ship for NATO troops on the North German plain.
Not saying it's a bad concept, it's just seems like a 'filler' ship with great fire-power (if you can get some one to guide the missiles/coordinates preloaded), but as such would be a prime target of any Akula, Alpha or Oscar class sub, as well as any Soviet Missle boat/TU-95 squadrons as it screams out "I am a Glass Cannon"
Thank you, looking forward for more!
Tiamat
I've seen the future...
And that's where I think the USN would be concerned....yes, a big "missile ship" would in theory pack tremendous firepower...but that's also a big floating potential target for the Soviets, probably as much emphasis would be placed on sinking those as they would on trying to sink the carriers. Now, an advantage the "Arsenal ships" WOULD have, they'd have some degree of defensive and offensive protection if you parse up the vertical launch tubes with not just Tomahawk but also Harpoon and Sea Sparrow. But again, big ship, big target. The Navy would have to ensure these were properly escorted by ASW frigates and destroyers, something they're already doing with the carrier groups and battleships. And as pointed out, a civilian vessel is going to have to be retrofitted extensively to be closer to a warship standard, and even then it's more a compromise.
You COULD build purpose built ships for these "missile platforms" that would be more resilient to attack, that would be more sensible. It would be like a battlecruiser, or rather battleship with a ton of missiles. But again, big high priority target. For missile systems you've already got the Ticonderoga class cruisers that are getting built around this timeline, and the completion of those are getting accelerated, not to mention the purpose built and retrofitted systems on the Spruance class destroyers.
One thing I will say though, the USN refits and rearms two of it's Des Moines-class battlecruisers, the USS Salem and USS Des Moines and brings them up to modern specs, retaining it's main guns but giving it modern radar and firing system upgrades as well as CIWS, Harpoon, and Tomahawk capability. The USS Des Moines gets sent to the Pacific while USS Salem is assigned to the North Atlantic.
Tiamat
I've seen the future...
Hi all, I hope to have the next chapter up this weekend, but first wanted to share a few things, without hopefully giving away any spoilers, just what DARK MIRROR is...
As 1988 approaches, the Kremlin as already stated is convinced that war with the Americans and their allies is inevitable, and unfortunately a similar sentiment is being shared by the White House and several NATO countries as well. But while the Kremlin is accelerating production of armaments and have put forth in production several new weapon systems, there is still the knowledge the United States, the "Arsenal of Democracy" is outpacing them in technology, it not quantity and is also ramping up production of armaments to it's allies. It's industrial capacity as well as ability to churn out more sophisticated armaments is something the Soviets are deeply worried about. To win any war involving the United States, the Soviet's and it's allies must strike hard and fast and take as much territory in Europe and elsewhere before additional reinforcements and armaments from the US mainland show up from across the oceans, and/or find some way to interdict said reinforcements. The question is, how?
First answer: Naval interdiction. Very hard and unlikely they can pull it off. The US Navy doesn't quite reach 600 ships but it's damn close, and it's arsenal of carriers, battleships, cruisers, destroyers and frigates, and submarines outgun the Soviet Navy (which is no pushover in itself, it should be noted). The US Navy's first priority is going to be to destroy as much of the Soviet surface fleet as it can, it'll get bled likely hard in the process, but it's going to aim for just that. The Soviet submarine fleets are another matter, and those will take longer to be hunted down, and will create havoc on their own....but while they can kill merchant convoys, they can't kill enough of them, and they're going to be just as busy dodging the ASW escorts as well as the anti-submarine "wolf packs".
Second answer: Air interdiction, including a conventional bombing campaign. Again, not very likely at all. The Soviets do have a number of air bomber fleets....Backfires, Bears, Badgers, etc. The problem again however is proximity. The bombers need to fly a long range and will invariably trip the American's EW (Early Warning) radar network, and will get shredded by CONUS air interceptors and SAM's. Plus a lot of said bombers are already gong to be tasked with hitting targets in Europe and elsewhere, not to mention the ones tasked for nuclear strikes if it comes to that...
Third Answer: Strategic nuclear strikes. Well...not much needs to be said on that. The Soviets aren't THAT desperate or stupid...yet.
Fourth Answer: Spetsnaz and KGB saboteur teams. The GRU and KGB has it's orders and has a multitude of Spetsnaz and saboteur teams that will deploy to the US (if they haven't already) to attempt bombing and assassination attempts of key components of the US civil and military infrastructure. They'll try to hit weak points like gathering areas for off duty base personnel, rail junction links, oil refineries, etc, but the US law enforcement and FBI will be on high alert, and will deploy some counter assets of their own which will get discussed later. But even if they are successful, how well can they tip the odds in the Soviet's favor? The Kremlin and KGB are a bit skeptical of their chances....hence, DARK MIRROR.
DARK MIRROR, it should be emphasized, is NOT a program specifically targeting civilian administration or infrastructure. The aforementioned assets have orders targeting those. DARK MIRROR is, without getting into specifics, a full blown terror campaign. How bad, you ask? Well, think of the nasty days of the Red Army Faction, Red Brigades, Action Directe, Shining Path, the PLA and PLF, Weathermen Underground, etc. during the 70's and 80's, all rolled into one. The aim is more or less simple....kill Americans, everywhere on their native soil, and in droves. The goal is to break the American's morale by inflicting horrendous casualties on the civilian populace, and with some well-planted disinformation? Create some chaos and paranoia in the process. Remember the paranoia and finger pointing a lot of Americans were making after Pearl Harbor and 9/11?
The Americans, while fearful of terrorist attacks on the US mainland didn't really treat it as much of an existential threat until the mid-late 1990s IRL, and even then the events of 9/11 were a huge shock. While the FBI and other groups are taking precautions, the general populace may not be completely prepared mentally for what's to come. The Soviets have guessed this, and also aware of the fact that Americans are sensitive to heavy casualties. The Americans in their eyes have not known hardships like the Soviets did when the Nazis last invaded them during WW2, in fact the last time America was invaded was the War of 1812 (not including the Japanese invasion of the Aleutian Islands during WW2 that is) Thus, the end conclusion. In their eyes, break the American's WILL to fight, and perhaps cause some of them to turn on each other, and they'll hopefully come to the table asking for a ceasefire and negotiation of terms....
The problem of course, is that the Kremlin don't really know the Americans as well as they like to think they do. Ironically, the aforementioned Leonid Petrovkin and Irina Ilyasov might...they're both KGB and dedicated professionals. They're also part of the First Chief Directorate which handles foreign espionage, so they've spent quite an amount of time overseas, in particular studying the Americans, thus, unlike their superiors, they understand the Americans. And Leonid will begin to wonder if Admiral Yamamoto of Imperial Japan felt the same way when war was deemed inevitable with the United States in 1941. "I fear we have only awakened a sleeping giant and filled it with a terrible resolve."
It's important to keep in mind also, this operation is more an unholy child of both the KGB and the Kremlin. The Army and more specifically, the GRU is on the sidelines of this particular operation and some know only the basic outline, but those that know aren't at all thrilled about this and feel it could blow up in their face. But again, remember the three elements of the Soviet hierarchy: Red Army, Kremlin, and KGB. The Kremlin and KGB are essentially running the show, with the USSR's Defense Minister basically being a Yes-Man and giving orders to the Army, thus his nickname "the Nodding Ass"...much like Wilhelm Keitel.
So what will Leonid and Irina do? That remains to be seen. They are both loyal patriots, but they will soon find themselves wondering what is the fine line between patriotism and sheer lunacy? As for the Soviets themselves....as stated, DARK MIRROR is a Faustian bargain, borne out of desperation, that may very well backfire on them, horribly.
As 1988 approaches, the Kremlin as already stated is convinced that war with the Americans and their allies is inevitable, and unfortunately a similar sentiment is being shared by the White House and several NATO countries as well. But while the Kremlin is accelerating production of armaments and have put forth in production several new weapon systems, there is still the knowledge the United States, the "Arsenal of Democracy" is outpacing them in technology, it not quantity and is also ramping up production of armaments to it's allies. It's industrial capacity as well as ability to churn out more sophisticated armaments is something the Soviets are deeply worried about. To win any war involving the United States, the Soviet's and it's allies must strike hard and fast and take as much territory in Europe and elsewhere before additional reinforcements and armaments from the US mainland show up from across the oceans, and/or find some way to interdict said reinforcements. The question is, how?
First answer: Naval interdiction. Very hard and unlikely they can pull it off. The US Navy doesn't quite reach 600 ships but it's damn close, and it's arsenal of carriers, battleships, cruisers, destroyers and frigates, and submarines outgun the Soviet Navy (which is no pushover in itself, it should be noted). The US Navy's first priority is going to be to destroy as much of the Soviet surface fleet as it can, it'll get bled likely hard in the process, but it's going to aim for just that. The Soviet submarine fleets are another matter, and those will take longer to be hunted down, and will create havoc on their own....but while they can kill merchant convoys, they can't kill enough of them, and they're going to be just as busy dodging the ASW escorts as well as the anti-submarine "wolf packs".
Second answer: Air interdiction, including a conventional bombing campaign. Again, not very likely at all. The Soviets do have a number of air bomber fleets....Backfires, Bears, Badgers, etc. The problem again however is proximity. The bombers need to fly a long range and will invariably trip the American's EW (Early Warning) radar network, and will get shredded by CONUS air interceptors and SAM's. Plus a lot of said bombers are already gong to be tasked with hitting targets in Europe and elsewhere, not to mention the ones tasked for nuclear strikes if it comes to that...
Third Answer: Strategic nuclear strikes. Well...not much needs to be said on that. The Soviets aren't THAT desperate or stupid...yet.
Fourth Answer: Spetsnaz and KGB saboteur teams. The GRU and KGB has it's orders and has a multitude of Spetsnaz and saboteur teams that will deploy to the US (if they haven't already) to attempt bombing and assassination attempts of key components of the US civil and military infrastructure. They'll try to hit weak points like gathering areas for off duty base personnel, rail junction links, oil refineries, etc, but the US law enforcement and FBI will be on high alert, and will deploy some counter assets of their own which will get discussed later. But even if they are successful, how well can they tip the odds in the Soviet's favor? The Kremlin and KGB are a bit skeptical of their chances....hence, DARK MIRROR.
DARK MIRROR, it should be emphasized, is NOT a program specifically targeting civilian administration or infrastructure. The aforementioned assets have orders targeting those. DARK MIRROR is, without getting into specifics, a full blown terror campaign. How bad, you ask? Well, think of the nasty days of the Red Army Faction, Red Brigades, Action Directe, Shining Path, the PLA and PLF, Weathermen Underground, etc. during the 70's and 80's, all rolled into one. The aim is more or less simple....kill Americans, everywhere on their native soil, and in droves. The goal is to break the American's morale by inflicting horrendous casualties on the civilian populace, and with some well-planted disinformation? Create some chaos and paranoia in the process. Remember the paranoia and finger pointing a lot of Americans were making after Pearl Harbor and 9/11?
The Americans, while fearful of terrorist attacks on the US mainland didn't really treat it as much of an existential threat until the mid-late 1990s IRL, and even then the events of 9/11 were a huge shock. While the FBI and other groups are taking precautions, the general populace may not be completely prepared mentally for what's to come. The Soviets have guessed this, and also aware of the fact that Americans are sensitive to heavy casualties. The Americans in their eyes have not known hardships like the Soviets did when the Nazis last invaded them during WW2, in fact the last time America was invaded was the War of 1812 (not including the Japanese invasion of the Aleutian Islands during WW2 that is) Thus, the end conclusion. In their eyes, break the American's WILL to fight, and perhaps cause some of them to turn on each other, and they'll hopefully come to the table asking for a ceasefire and negotiation of terms....
The problem of course, is that the Kremlin don't really know the Americans as well as they like to think they do. Ironically, the aforementioned Leonid Petrovkin and Irina Ilyasov might...they're both KGB and dedicated professionals. They're also part of the First Chief Directorate which handles foreign espionage, so they've spent quite an amount of time overseas, in particular studying the Americans, thus, unlike their superiors, they understand the Americans. And Leonid will begin to wonder if Admiral Yamamoto of Imperial Japan felt the same way when war was deemed inevitable with the United States in 1941. "I fear we have only awakened a sleeping giant and filled it with a terrible resolve."
It's important to keep in mind also, this operation is more an unholy child of both the KGB and the Kremlin. The Army and more specifically, the GRU is on the sidelines of this particular operation and some know only the basic outline, but those that know aren't at all thrilled about this and feel it could blow up in their face. But again, remember the three elements of the Soviet hierarchy: Red Army, Kremlin, and KGB. The Kremlin and KGB are essentially running the show, with the USSR's Defense Minister basically being a Yes-Man and giving orders to the Army, thus his nickname "the Nodding Ass"...much like Wilhelm Keitel.
So what will Leonid and Irina do? That remains to be seen. They are both loyal patriots, but they will soon find themselves wondering what is the fine line between patriotism and sheer lunacy? As for the Soviets themselves....as stated, DARK MIRROR is a Faustian bargain, borne out of desperation, that may very well backfire on them, horribly.
Last edited:
D
Deleted member 88
Guest
Its a long shot, but if the Soviets could aim to attack as much government infrastructure and high level personnel as possible-that might buy time long enough for them to shore up their gains in Europe and force the US to negotiate lest it come to nuclear war.
Kill Ronald Reagan, Bush Sr. and as many other high ranking cabinet officials as possible, hit major American factories, and infrastructure, power plants, dams, that sort of thing.
Of course not every operation is going to succeed-the aim is to ensure at least some do-in this case I'd say forty percent success is pretty good.
If I were running Soviet strategy-I'd aim for a quick limited war, the Soviets don't have the industry to go toe to toe with the US in a slugging match, nor are the Soviet vassals reliable enough in the long run-the Poles and Balts especially.
Thing is, the NATO isn't designed for an offensive war, once the slugging in Europe starts-the Soviets should be on the defensive. NATO can use tactical nukes-but then that risks escalation. Shape the battle and wage it within that parameter. Don't let the Americans set the pace.
With luck-the Americans will be bled out and not want to risk Armageddon, and the Soviet vassal states will still be subdued, albeit precariously.
But that's just my thought process if I was running things from the Soviet side.
Kill Ronald Reagan, Bush Sr. and as many other high ranking cabinet officials as possible, hit major American factories, and infrastructure, power plants, dams, that sort of thing.
Of course not every operation is going to succeed-the aim is to ensure at least some do-in this case I'd say forty percent success is pretty good.
If I were running Soviet strategy-I'd aim for a quick limited war, the Soviets don't have the industry to go toe to toe with the US in a slugging match, nor are the Soviet vassals reliable enough in the long run-the Poles and Balts especially.
Thing is, the NATO isn't designed for an offensive war, once the slugging in Europe starts-the Soviets should be on the defensive. NATO can use tactical nukes-but then that risks escalation. Shape the battle and wage it within that parameter. Don't let the Americans set the pace.
With luck-the Americans will be bled out and not want to risk Armageddon, and the Soviet vassal states will still be subdued, albeit precariously.
But that's just my thought process if I was running things from the Soviet side.
CarlManvers2019
Writers Blocked Douchebag
I wonder how both would have plans in-regards to winning the “hearts and minds” of the people
USA’s Hollywood and Academia are probably having a much earlier struggle regarding the America and West they love to bash, as @Tiamat pointed out, this war can also bring out the best in them and make them side with their nation
But I still think a significant portion are going crazy and romanticising the Communists
en.m.wikipedia.org
May even have to look out for guys writing fiction too.....or I misunderstood and the author here says that he helped destroy the Soviet Union, dunno
USA’s Hollywood and Academia are probably having a much earlier struggle regarding the America and West they love to bash, as @Tiamat pointed out, this war can also bring out the best in them and make them side with their nation
But I still think a significant portion are going crazy and romanticising the Communists
Voyage from Yesteryear - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org
May even have to look out for guys writing fiction too.....or I misunderstood and the author here says that he helped destroy the Soviet Union, dunno
CarlManvers2019
Writers Blocked Douchebag
In-Hindsight, I think the Soviets will probably fail really fucking badly at winning said Hearts and Minds but be extremely hypocritical and keep saying the Capitalists are worse!!!
Say, any efforts by millionaires-billionaires-trillionaires and more in not just funding the war effort but also discrediting the Communists and other Anti-Capitalists by them doing charity and entrepreneur work?
Say, any efforts by millionaires-billionaires-trillionaires and more in not just funding the war effort but also discrediting the Communists and other Anti-Capitalists by them doing charity and entrepreneur work?
Kujo
For the FEDCOM! For the Archon-Prince!
Soviets don't know US history, the Civil War taught use that it is much better to expend things then people (having a Government that gave a damn about people help too). Where as Soviet friendly fire causalities would be seen as a 'cost' of doing business, NATO and the US in particular it's an outgrowth of using things instead of people. If you are a US Grunt you keep firing at that position until nothing moves, if it's a group of your squad mates... The Soviets that MRR is in the way of advance and is danger close so just hit everything with VX the Tank Regiment behind will pick up the advance.
Basically the way NATO and US fight is friendly/civilian causalities are accidents, Soviets their in the way. The more the Soviet attitude is on display the worse it will go for them.
Can't wait for the next chapter, Thank you!
Basically the way NATO and US fight is friendly/civilian causalities are accidents, Soviets their in the way. The more the Soviet attitude is on display the worse it will go for them.
Can't wait for the next chapter, Thank you!
Tiamat
I've seen the future...
Interesting points here, I'll try to answer as best I can, again without spoilers.
The GRU Spetsnaz and KGB saboteur teams, with possible help from the East German Stasi, have their plans as stated to go after key civil infrastructure and personnel. Actually getting to some of them will be the problem. Law enforcement in the larger cities, and especially around port, manufacturing and refinery facilities are going to be spending extra on vehicles, weapons and antiterrorist training, within reason anyway. Some of the larger cities like New York City for example, will form their own antiterrorist task forces, if they haven't already. A movie example would be the ATAC (Anti Terrorist Action Command) squad from the movie Nighthawks.
Another element is the State Guards, not to be confused with the National Guard. The State Guards are going to get some additional funding to aid in the event of civil unrest or a nuclear attack, and more importantly to protect key infrastructure areas, doubly so when the FBI and CIA both confirm the very real possibility the GRU, Spetsnaz, Stasi and who knows who else will try to launch attacks inside the U.S. if and when the war comes. The emergency funding will come especially when Reagan and Weinberger get a report detailing the actual equipment and readiness levels for the State Guard which was, well, not great, and Reagan leans on the states to start whipping the Guards into better shape.
For more info on the State Guards, you can look here: State defense force - Wikipedia
That said...going after an American general or maybe a cabinet member on the Hill is one thing...and something that some of the Soviet/COMBLOC teams will probably attempt. Aiming for high profile figures like Reagan or Bush, or one of the Joint Chiefs? Not a good idea, as that could risk serious escalation, and just getting to the higher profile figures will be near impossible. D.C. and the Pentagon along with a few other key sites are going to be shut off from the general public with round the clock protection by U.S. Army National Guard, Marines, FBI and Secret Service.
As for when the Soviets go to war, something to consider here: The Soviets built their army to be an OFFENSIVE instrument. Strike hard, and go fast. Push NATO out of Germany and the Low Countries, take Denmark, and try to take the northern half of Norway, then force the allies to the table. Failing that? Push into France. The Soviets didn't really build their military as much for defensive purposes, as they felt the best defense was always a good offense, and with the Kremlin junta paranoid and convinced war is inevitable, they're going to decide at some point to do just that based on some key impending events...
While the Soviets have concerns about the reliability of some of it's satellite states like Poland and Czechoslovakia, keep in mind Gorbachev was deposed before he was able to institute more key reforms that began to make him popular in Eastern Europe. Here the Soviets and their friends like Honecker have clamped down viciously on any form of dissent. But how long they can continue to clamp down on such dissent remains to be seen once the war starts. And wouldn't the Americans and Brits, among others be interested in taking advantage of said tensions? Hmmm....
As for NATO not being an offensive force? Not entirely true. Even if NATO was tasked with defending Europe, it also knew it would theoretically have to fight hard and counterattack to retake lost ground from the Soviets and WARPA, on the assumption they could tilt the odds in their favor. So, there are a lot of pro and counter arguments to be made for the strategies on both sides.
As for bleeding the Americans to the table, the Soviets are counting on just that. They're hoping that America hasn't shaken off Vietnam just yet and hope the Americans will start pleading for peace in the face of mounting casualties and a possible impending nuclear Armageddon. However, in the cruelest form of irony, some key decisions, such as certain operations involving Dark Mirror might end up inducing the opposite reaction altogether. Also remember, this is after the events in Mexico with GREEN FOX. The Americans are pissed about the Cubans and Libyans showing up with self styled revolutionaries in Mexico and the deaths of multiple Americans along the Texas border, and while the Soviets weren't directly involved in that, the images of Soviet equipment in Mexican warehouses (yes, they were Cuban supplied, but that's sort of beside the point) and the backhanded comments from the Soviets themselves did the Kremlin no favors in the eyes of the American public.
The Americans and Brits may already have some plans in regards to winning hearts and minds of certain people in Eastern Europe, but thats just all rumor now, isn't it....??
As for Hollywood...again, I want to remind everyone, this is the late 1980's, the era that gave us movies like Red Dawn and Top Gun. America under Reagan has gotten a serious dose of patriotism, with "Let's Make America Great Again"....yes, Reagan coined that long before Trump did. And with the events of late, sure, it's bringing out the antiwar leftist factions, but nobody in Hollywood wants to be the next Hanoi Jane either. So anyone romanticizing the Communists, again after certain events that play out, are gonna be doing it in their bedrooms, not in Times Square.
As for that fellow you mentioned....oh please, I've barely heard of the man, he sounds like another idiot who wants to think he should get partial credit for ending the Cold War just like the man who directed "The Day After". The credit for ending the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union goes to several personas and factors, but he's not one of them.
The GRU Spetsnaz and KGB saboteur teams, with possible help from the East German Stasi, have their plans as stated to go after key civil infrastructure and personnel. Actually getting to some of them will be the problem. Law enforcement in the larger cities, and especially around port, manufacturing and refinery facilities are going to be spending extra on vehicles, weapons and antiterrorist training, within reason anyway. Some of the larger cities like New York City for example, will form their own antiterrorist task forces, if they haven't already. A movie example would be the ATAC (Anti Terrorist Action Command) squad from the movie Nighthawks.
Another element is the State Guards, not to be confused with the National Guard. The State Guards are going to get some additional funding to aid in the event of civil unrest or a nuclear attack, and more importantly to protect key infrastructure areas, doubly so when the FBI and CIA both confirm the very real possibility the GRU, Spetsnaz, Stasi and who knows who else will try to launch attacks inside the U.S. if and when the war comes. The emergency funding will come especially when Reagan and Weinberger get a report detailing the actual equipment and readiness levels for the State Guard which was, well, not great, and Reagan leans on the states to start whipping the Guards into better shape.
For more info on the State Guards, you can look here: State defense force - Wikipedia
That said...going after an American general or maybe a cabinet member on the Hill is one thing...and something that some of the Soviet/COMBLOC teams will probably attempt. Aiming for high profile figures like Reagan or Bush, or one of the Joint Chiefs? Not a good idea, as that could risk serious escalation, and just getting to the higher profile figures will be near impossible. D.C. and the Pentagon along with a few other key sites are going to be shut off from the general public with round the clock protection by U.S. Army National Guard, Marines, FBI and Secret Service.
As for when the Soviets go to war, something to consider here: The Soviets built their army to be an OFFENSIVE instrument. Strike hard, and go fast. Push NATO out of Germany and the Low Countries, take Denmark, and try to take the northern half of Norway, then force the allies to the table. Failing that? Push into France. The Soviets didn't really build their military as much for defensive purposes, as they felt the best defense was always a good offense, and with the Kremlin junta paranoid and convinced war is inevitable, they're going to decide at some point to do just that based on some key impending events...
While the Soviets have concerns about the reliability of some of it's satellite states like Poland and Czechoslovakia, keep in mind Gorbachev was deposed before he was able to institute more key reforms that began to make him popular in Eastern Europe. Here the Soviets and their friends like Honecker have clamped down viciously on any form of dissent. But how long they can continue to clamp down on such dissent remains to be seen once the war starts. And wouldn't the Americans and Brits, among others be interested in taking advantage of said tensions? Hmmm....
As for NATO not being an offensive force? Not entirely true. Even if NATO was tasked with defending Europe, it also knew it would theoretically have to fight hard and counterattack to retake lost ground from the Soviets and WARPA, on the assumption they could tilt the odds in their favor. So, there are a lot of pro and counter arguments to be made for the strategies on both sides.
As for bleeding the Americans to the table, the Soviets are counting on just that. They're hoping that America hasn't shaken off Vietnam just yet and hope the Americans will start pleading for peace in the face of mounting casualties and a possible impending nuclear Armageddon. However, in the cruelest form of irony, some key decisions, such as certain operations involving Dark Mirror might end up inducing the opposite reaction altogether. Also remember, this is after the events in Mexico with GREEN FOX. The Americans are pissed about the Cubans and Libyans showing up with self styled revolutionaries in Mexico and the deaths of multiple Americans along the Texas border, and while the Soviets weren't directly involved in that, the images of Soviet equipment in Mexican warehouses (yes, they were Cuban supplied, but that's sort of beside the point) and the backhanded comments from the Soviets themselves did the Kremlin no favors in the eyes of the American public.
I wonder how both would have plans in-regards to winning the “hearts and minds” of the people
USA’s Hollywood and Academia are probably having a much earlier struggle regarding the America and West they love to bash, as @Tiamat pointed out, this war can also bring out the best in them and make them side with their nation
But I still think a significant portion are going crazy and romanticising the Communists
Voyage from Yesteryear - Wikipedia
May even have to look out for guys writing fiction too.....or I misunderstood and the author here says that he helped destroy the Soviet Union, dunno
The Americans and Brits may already have some plans in regards to winning hearts and minds of certain people in Eastern Europe, but thats just all rumor now, isn't it....??
As for Hollywood...again, I want to remind everyone, this is the late 1980's, the era that gave us movies like Red Dawn and Top Gun. America under Reagan has gotten a serious dose of patriotism, with "Let's Make America Great Again"....yes, Reagan coined that long before Trump did. And with the events of late, sure, it's bringing out the antiwar leftist factions, but nobody in Hollywood wants to be the next Hanoi Jane either. So anyone romanticizing the Communists, again after certain events that play out, are gonna be doing it in their bedrooms, not in Times Square.
As for that fellow you mentioned....oh please, I've barely heard of the man, he sounds like another idiot who wants to think he should get partial credit for ending the Cold War just like the man who directed "The Day After". The credit for ending the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union goes to several personas and factors, but he's not one of them.