Red Stars over the Rhine

[James G]

This is going to be another short WW3 story. The whole conflict will not be covered.
Instead, we will see the war fought through the eyes of one man: a Soviet Air Force general.

[lordroel]

Dec 2, 2020 20:02:09 GMT James G said:

This is going to be another short WW3 story. The whole conflict will not be covered.
Instead, we will see the war fought through the eyes of one man: a Soviet Air Force general.

That is going to be interesting to see.

[James G]

Red Stars over the Rhine


One


Associated Press – March 19th 1988

Reports from Havana claim that a series of bomb blasts have rocked the Cuban capital. There have been at least two, possibly three, explosions this morning. Unverified claims have come out of Havana that Fidel Castro, Cuba’s long-serving leader, and key figures in his regime too, have been targeted by these attacks. Further reports suggest that an attempt – by persons unknown – to topple the Castro regime remains underway following the bombings with gunfire being heard in government districts.


Pravda – March 22nd 1988

Counter-revolutionaries given a beating in Havana!
Following the recent attempt at an illegal coup d’état in the Cuban capital, loyal soldiers to the people’s regime remain on the offensive against those seeking to overturn the nation’s will to remain free from Imperialists. Victories have been won across Cuba and it cannot be long now until those who have sought to seize power are completely defeated.
General Secretary Gorbachev has spoken at length with Comrade Castro to affirm his support and denounce the American-backed effort to destabilise Cuba.


BBC News – April 10th 1988

Fighting continues in Cuba this evening with deaths and injuries reported to be now in the hundredfold as the revolt against the Castro Regime continues. News out of Havana suggests that the city has finally been cleared of rebellious soldiers after they held onto a portion of it for several weeks. There is fighting elsewhere in Cuba though with aircraft, artillery and tanks too reported to be in use by each side during offensive and counteroffensive.
Speaking to his people, and the listening world, Fidel Castro has once more laid the blame for all the casualties incurred at the door of the White House. This has been firmly denied by Washington with President Reagan’s official spokesman affirming previous State Department remarks that there is no United States involvement with the current situation in Cuba.


Agence France-Presse – April 28th 1988

Civilians continue to flee from fighting in Cuba as the uprising against the regime shows no sign of abating. Boats and watercraft of various forms have been arriving for more than a month now in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Mexico. Many more have made shore in Florida too with arrivals into the United States being treble those seen elsewhere; this has included too hi-jacked aircraft and defectors aboard military aircraft.
In response to repeated pleas from Congressional figures, plus Cuban-American expatriates in Miami, the White House has confirmed that the U.S. Coast Guard will be increasing activity in the Straits of Florida to assist with humanitarian efforts. Bodies have been washing up on beaches for several weeks now. It is thought that hundreds, maybe as many as a thousand, Cubans might have perished during attempted crossings as they seek to flee the war-torn island.


ABC – May 4th 1988

A Defence Department spokesman has confirmed this evening that a U.S. Coast Guard vessel has been fired upon by Cuban naval craft with casualties caused. At a Pentagon briefing, ABC and other media outlets have been told that the incident occurred in the Florida Straits late this morning. The Cubans fired first, the spokesman stated, and gunfire was returned under the internationally-recognised right of self-defence.
Questioned as to whether there is a risk of further incidents, and a response too, the Pentagon has said that Coast Guard contingent in the Straits will be protected against further attacks. U.S. Navy ships are being tasked to the region to help ensure that the rescue effort underway of civilians can continue free of armed attacks.
President Reagan will speak to the country tonight in light of recent developments regarding this latest, unexpected twist in the Cuban Civil War.


Radio Habana Cuba – May 16th 1988

Imperialist attacks against the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces continue.
American aircraft have now joined their warships illegally operating inside the sovereign waters of Cuba and striking against self-defence vessels. There have now been a total of four incidents where Yankee attacks have been launched without provocation.
Brave Cuban sailors and airmen have lost their lives in these attacks.
President Castro has called upon all Cubans to remain on their guard against further American efforts to overthrow the regime. The counter-revolution is on its last legs, he has assured the people, and this last Imperialist roll of the dice to allow it to continue by attacking Cuban ships will surely fail.


CNN – June 1st 1988

Unexpected – and I must make clear unconfirmed – reports are arriving here in Atlanta the Premier Mikhail Gorbachev has resigned from his post in Moscow. Health concerns are apparently the reason for this. However, at a time like this, with US-Soviet relations being strained as the Cuban Civil War rages, there have been immediate reactions to the news of Gorbachev’s reported resignation that this is related to that issue.
Neither the White House nor the State Department has yet to make a comment on these reports coming from Moscow.
As to whom might replace Gorbachev, should it be true that he has left office, C.N.N. will bring the news to you the moment we know it.


Reuters – June 9th 1988

The new Soviet leader, Premier Nikolai Ryzhkov, has once more spoke at length to parliamentarians in Moscow expressing concern over the situation in Cuba. The former Chairman of the Council of Ministers, who recently succeeded Gorbachev – in what Washington officials have called a ‘soft coup’ – for the position of General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, spoke to the Duma with his remarks on Cuba broadcast afterwards.
Ryzhkov has claimed that the uprising and continuing civil war in the Caribbean island nation is supported in full by the United States with mercenaries alleged to now be on the ground. He dismissed U.S. State Department assertions that those were volunteer civilians from Florida and called them ‘agents of the C.I.A’.
The Castro Regime in Cuba will not be allowed to fall, Ryzhkov ended his remarks by saying, and Moscow will do ‘everything possible’ to ensure ‘people’s democracy’ is retained.


TASS – June 13th 1988

Piracy in the Caribbean!
Yesterday evening, two Soviet-flagged ocean-going ships ferrying humanitarian aid to Cuba were attacked at sea and subsequently boarded by armed men. The civilian-crewed vessels were assailed by unknown forces close to Havana and taken to a rebel held port soon afterwards where their sailors remain captives to be held at gunpoint.
Foreign Minister Shevardnadze, already in New York at the United Nations for matters concerning the illegal rebellion in Cuba, has already made a statement deploring this incident.
He is now returning home for government discussions.


Extract from the President’s Weekly Radio Address – June 16th 1988

…which are false. There has been no involvement, overt nor covert, of United States Armed Forces personnel during the revolt in Cuba. Neither do those claims made by Moscow of hi-jacking of Soviet ships – ones shipping arms too, not medical supplies – by American military personnel have any merit at all.
Time and time again, my administration has sought to bring an end to the fighting and all the deaths ongoing in Cuba. We want peace for Cuba and her people. There has only been rejection and wild allegations made and then attacks on Coast Guard vessels aiding civilians as the response from Havana.
This latest incident in the Caribbean is naturally concerning to all Americans, but I wish to assure you all that the United States seeks no conflict with any nation. Precautions will be taken to ensure our security and there will be no walking away from Cubans in need as they seek to escape their country over dangerous waters.
Through Secretary of State Shultz, my administration is aiming for further talks with the government of Premier Ryzhkov and will…





Top Secret message to SACEUR – June 18th 1988

National Intelligence Assets can confirm that there are now Soviet paratroopers in Cuba STOP Regiment-sized force currently in-place with addition of rest of parent division expected to join them within the next few days STOP Intentions of Moscow unknown in this yet suspected to stop fall of the regime which is on its last legs STOP Suspected possible air deployment to join paratroopers though this is unconfirmed RPT unconfirmed at this time STOP
National Intelligence Assets and addition information supplied by NATO allies highlight concerning Soviet and WarPac military manoeuvres in Eastern Europe STOP Unclear why this course of action being taken by Moscow STOP Further military activity beyond the borders of WarPac nations by Soviet Military detected too STOP
This message is a War Warning STOP
Diplomatic activity underway and NATO partners seeking solution to growing crisis in the Caribbean less it spiral out of control STOP No desire to see crisis spread to Europe STOP
Precautions are to be taken to make impossible any Soviet / WarPac move in Europe STOP SACEUR will make proactive measures following the General Defence Plan STOP Causing civilian note of activity is not desired but regarded as unfortunately likely STOP
NATO Council meeting in Brussels tomorrow STOP US SecDef in attendance STOP


Personnel order sent from Soviet Air Force HQ to Twenty–Fourth Air Army– June 20th 1988

Commander Twenty–Fourth Air Army (Special Purpose) is relieved of command with immediate effect.
Report to Soviet Air Force HQ in Moscow for re-assignment.
Command duties to be assigned to First Deputy until new commander arrives.


Alert message to United States Air Forces Europe commander – June 20th 1988

Situation in the Caribbean has rapidly escalated. US Navy destroyer attacked and sunk by submarine of unknown origin. Air clashes between Cuban fighters and US Air Force aircraft. Havana in Soviet hands with massacres reported of both rebels but also regime figures.
WarPac activity in Eastern Europe inconsistent with any possible defensive measures. Intentions unknown for ground and air deployments of these Soviet and Soviet-allied forces.
No one is picking up the phone in Moscow: diplomacy at a standstill.
USAF-E is to begin deployment from peacetime stations at 0001 hrs tomorrow: 6/21/88.
Deployment plan GREEN ODYSSEY. Caution to be employed to guard against terrorist/special forces threats.


Personnel order sent from Soviet Air Force HQ to Twenty–Third Air Army – June 21st 1988

Commander Twenty–Third Air Army is to assign duties to First Deputy with immediate effect.
New assignment to command Twenty–Fourth Air Army (Special Purpose) begins at once.
Report to 24AA HQ at Vinnitsa by fastest available transport.

[James G]

Two


Aged 57, General–Lieutenant Nikolai Fedorovich Popov was a career Soviet Air Force (VVS) officer. He’d been in uniform all his adult life and in the air as much as possible. On the officer track though, Popov had risen faster than he’d thought he ever might and to great heights too. He had command of an entire air army with the VVS’s Frontal Aviation. No longer was he flying Sukhoi-7Bs or Su-17Ms – Popov had been a ground attack pilot – but instead a desk. Yet, whenever he could, and he could find the requirements to do so, he wanted to be airborne. He was at home up in the clouds or at the command of a supersonic jet racing frighteningly low in the sky when armed with bombs and rockets. Never having seen action himself, Popov had begun to believe that he never would. Retirement and a life on the ground had seemed to be his future.

Born back in 1932 to a poor rural family in Western Russia, a different life awaited Popov if the world hadn’t been as violent as it became. At age 8, the Nazi war machine unleashed itself upon the Soviet Union. His family were killed and he was evacuated as an orphan. Too young to fight the hated invaders, Popov spent the war waiting upon his chance for vengeance upon those who murdered his mother, father and sisters. That wasn’t to be though: the war ended before he was able to see action. He was adopted by a cousin who’d lost his similar-aged son and Popov found his new father a tough but fair man. Uncle Vanya was a war hero after serving in the Great Patriotic War as a fighter pilot. Popov was put on the path to follow his benefactor. It was no easy going. He had to do well at school and in extra-curricular activities which benefitted the state. Uncle Vanya had a spotless war record and had never been involved in political issues. The KGB in the last days of Stalin were pretty wild but Popov never came on their radar. He joined the VVS out of university and flew for his nation like his uncle had. The war hero died when Popov was 26, and he mourned him, but his life was moving on. He married and had two boys. The youngest of them didn’t survive past his first week and Popov’s wife – his beloved Irina – lost her battle too with post-natal complications. A widowed father, Popov didn’t remarry but threw himself into his career. His boy followed him from post to post, often abroad where he, like his father, saw a lot. The KGB now had their claws into Nikolai Nikolayevich where they had made him one of them but Popov didn’t hate his boy despite him being a Chekist. That was the fate he had been given, what the state wanted from his child.

Until yesterday, Popov had been in command of the Twenty–Third Air Army. This was a peacetime command within the Trans-Baikal Military District where he led thousands of men who flew and supported hundreds of combat aircraft. Deployed in Siberia, the Twenty–Third Air Army had a wartime role against either China directly or in support of another (the First Air Army) along the Pacific shores in opposition to the Americans, the Japanese and anyone else who threatened his nation. Fighters, ground attack aircraft and battlefield assault aircraft were under his command with that Frontal Aviation force headquartered at Chita. Then the transfer order came. It was sudden and Popov had momentary concern. He hadn’t done anything wrong but it still caused a little worry. However, he quickly told himself that there was no need to fret. He wasn’t being relieved of command and recalled to Moscow but instead given a new command. The Twenty–Fourth Air Army was different to the Twenty–Third Air Army. He had served in the former a few years past, commanding one of its subordinate bomber divisions, before being given command of the latter force. Stationed at various sites across the western half of the Ukraine, through the Carpathian Military District, the Twenty–Fourth Air Army had the designation ‘Special Purpose’. It was a strike force, designed not for the immediate battlefield role but instead for long-range attack missions. Well-equipped and with highly-rated personnel, the wartime role for the Twenty–Fourth Air Army was in European skies behind one of the other air armies that had aircraft with lesser range and a mission similar to the Twenty–Third Air Army should that have ever gone to war.

It was his to command. The responsibility was huge. Why the former commander was relieved of duty, he didn’t know. Popov didn’t ask either. He obeyed his orders and travelled to the Twenty–Fourth Air Army HQ at Vinnitsa as instructed by the fastest available transport. He flew by jet in an airliner in VVS colours (a Red Star on its tail). The Twenty–Third Air Army had a single Tupolev-134 twin-jet for staff use. He wasn’t qualified as a pilot so flew as a passenger with more than a dozen hand-picked members of his staff who he took with him. Each man was indispensable to Popov and he wanted them at his new command. There would be a professional set-up at Vinnitsa but he had no wish to be taking over all on his lonesome without trusted people. VVS protocols for urgent staff replacement allowed for this and so Popov stayed within the rules. The Tu-134 flew westwards across the Soviet Union with refuelling stops made on the way. Going was good and he reached Vinnitsa quickly. Back to Chita the aircraft flew, to an air army which Popov had been told wasn’t going to see action as one and was in fact having combat assets transferred away. What was going on with China and the brewing conflict, Popov didn’t know but there was no plan for war between the two communist neighbours.

Popov met the acting commander upon arrival. General-Major Lylunin was known to him from Popov’s time in the Ukraine and he knew that the other officer would have liked to have been given full command of the Twenty–Fourth Air Army. That wasn’t the case though: it was Popov’s. The two of them spoke only of matters of importance rather than catching up as old acquaintances might wish to. Popov had questions and Lylunin briefed him extensively. As per standing orders, in a process begun before Lylunin’s former superior was relieved of command (escorted back to Moscow by a pair of KGB officers, Popov was told), the Twenty–Fourth Air Army was in the midst of deployment to new forward bases away to the west. Over in Poland and the eastern half of Czechoslovakia, there were to be operating sites for Popov’s new command. Reinforcements were arriving to join the Twenty–Fourth Air Army too. There were problems everywhere. Lylunin was on top of many of them, but it was going to take Popov to sort out plenty more, especially the most difficult ones. A shift west of his headquarters was another one. Malacky Airbase in Slovakia already had some of the staff there but there needed to be a speed up of that. Popov set his own people to work, those he’d brought with him from Chita, to jump on other issues too. He hadn’t found the Twenty–Fourth Air Army in an unprepared state but there was a lot to be done… in a short time frame too.

Not long before midnight, Popov received fresh orders. These came from his new superior: the commander of what was to be the First German Front. That was a wartime-created headquarters with several air armies including his own now under command along with multiple ones of ground forces too. Popov was told that the international situation had gotten worse. Full details were not given to him yet he was informed that the Americans had attacked Soviet naval forces in the Caribbean. These were unprovoked attacks being made, one which claimed Soviet lives and threatened world peace. In light of such events, the decision had been made in Moscow that there would be a retaliation. The Imperialists have struck in the Caribbean and suffer the consequences in Europe. What was going to happen come the early hours of June 23rd was revealed to him. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to saw his jaw almost hit the floor. Yet… Popov expected something like this. It was why he was in command of the force which he was and why it was in the midst of a deployment to wartime stations. His country as under attack and a military response was the only course of action available less there be another Barbarossa. He had his orders and his mission to fulfil. No one asked for his input in the decision to go to war or how it should be done. He was told all he needed to know and instructed to follow his orders.

That he would do. In thirty hours time, Popov would take the Twenty–Fourth Air Army to war. There would be Red Stars over the Rhine soon enough.

[gillan1220]

Subscribed!

[James G]

Three


Popov went to Malacky by helicopter. He left Lylunin back at Vinnitsa with the First Deputy remaining there for the time being while he joined the air army’s Chief-of-Staff who was already across in Czechoslovakia. General–Major Lazarenko was someone unknown to Popov. He was surprised that the man was still in-place when Lylunin had said that Lazarenko and the former commander of the Twenty–Fourth Air Army had been reportedly close comrades, yet the Chief-of-Staff hadn’t been relieved of his command. Before he left for Malacky, Popov decided that if things on the ground there were as bad as they seemed when viewing them from Vinnitsa, he would replace Lazarenko. Lylunin hadn’t done so in spite of all the reports coming back of delays in the transfer forward of assets. The command upheaval might have stayed his hand but Popov was in no mood to allow for any more unavoidable delays. They were on the cusp of war and this was no time for messing around. Colonel Babaev, a man whom Popov had brought with him from Chita when handing over command of the Twenty–Third Air Army, was ready to take his place. He joined Popov on the helicopter for the night flight over the Carpathians and into the Slovakian portion of one of his country’s subservient allies. Going was tough as unexpected bad weather was encountered. The pilot of the Mil-6 heavy-lift helicopter took them lower and slower to get out of the storm clouds. One of the young staff officers lost his dinner. Popov turned away from the sight as he felt his own stomach grumble. This was no fun! He could only hope they got on the ground soon enough… alive too.

Thankfully surviving the unpleasant flight, Popov arrived at the airbase outside Malacky. The place was a madhouse. In the darkness, there was plentiful activity on the flight line as well as everywhere else across the facility. Jet engines roared, trucks were arriving and men were moving around with haste. This was a Czechoslovak Air Force facility and the base commander came out to greet Popov while giving him a salute. Popov returned it briskly and avoided conversation with the man. He had no time for such people as these. The military forces of the Eastern Europe countries, the Czechoslovaks, Hungarians, Poles & East Germans – Germans! –, were meant to be allies but he had little regard for them at all. Unlike other commands taking part in military operations beginning in just over twenty-four hours, Popov’s Twenty–Fourth Air Army would have no attachments from the air arms of those WarPac nations. Basing facilities westwards of the Ukraine were being used inside Czechoslovakia and Poland though. He intended to have no direct dealings with their people on the ground. His staff would relay his orders to them and both the Czechoslovakian & Polish Air Forces would do as it was told when it came to all on-the-ground assistance which Popov wanted from them.

Lazarenko wasn’t up to the job. That was clear pretty fast. The man was a careerist who had no ambition, no drive and no rush to him. He was acting like this was peacetime, not that the Twenty–Fourth Air Army was on the cusp of going to war. Popov relieved him of his duties as Chief-of-Staff and sent him back to Vinnitsa. Lylunin would find a role for him there, something unimportant in administration for the time being. As long as he was out of Popov’s way, he didn’t care. Babaev took over. He met with the senior staff present and then presented a briefing for Popov once his commander was ready. Malacky was the forward headquarters from where the Twenty–Fourth Air Army would fight the war it was instructed to take part in: the key people were here. The Communications, Intelligence, Operations, Security & Supply Officers were in attendance for the meeting below ground in one of the bunkers. Babaev, knowing his commander, had everything arranged to his liking. Popov got the briefing on the current state of his command in the manner which he wished to listen so what needed to see to could be addressed. He had his own way of doing things and that was why he brought along Babaev who understood this perfectly.

The deployment schedule was the first priority. The peacetime strength of the Twenty–Fourth Air Army contained two independent combat regiments and three full divisions each with a trio of regiments each. All of these units were transferring forward to new bases closer to where they would see action out over the southern reaches of West Germany soon enough. Of the three divisions, the 138th Fighter Aviation Division, was the furthest-most behind schedule. Two of the subordinate regiments of MiG-23 fighters had yet to fully arrive at their temporary bases here in Slovakia. The third regiment had on strength the brand new Sukhoi-27 air superiority interceptors. They were already at their airbase in the south of Poland and Popov was pleased to hear that. There were only forty of them though. The other eighty fighters to provide escort for his strike forces on their upcoming missions, all of those MiG-23s rolled for the fighter mission (these weren’t dual-rolled for ground attack), were yet to be where they should be. The 138th Division’s commander was to get on top of this at once or he was going to gone. As to the other divisions, the 32nd & 56th Bomber Aviation Divisions each had moved two thirds of their strength forward already. The remainder of the mass of Sukhoi-24 & Su-24M deep strike aircraft each had were following. There were hiccups here but not serious as being seen with the 138th Division. The independent regiments of electronic warfare jets (Yakolev-28PPs) and high-speed reconnaissance-fighters (MiG-25RBs) had made their deployments successfully into Slovakia. There were wartime reinforcements for the Twenty–Fourth Air Army, also in the midst of deployments. Another reconnaissance regiment – more MiG-25RBs but also Su-24MRs for defence suppression too – was on its way from the Turkestan Military District and wouldn’t arrive in Poland until tomorrow. There was a three-regiment division of Su-24s & -24Ms coming from the Caucasus: they were meant to be here this evening. Moreover, attached to the Twenty–Fourth Air Army yet retaining certain independence seemingly just to make Popov’s life more difficult, was the 15th Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Division. These were with Long-Range Aviation, a component part of the VVS but different from Popov’s own Frontal Aviation. With their five dozen long-range bombers due to act in the stand-off missile-carrying role, the 15th Guards Division wasn’t coming forward into Eastern Europe. The Tupolev-16s and Tu-22s were to remain at their peacetime bases in the north of the Ukraine and up in Belarus too. Popov would direct their strike activities, but Long-Range Aviation would be responsible for everything else. In all honesty, he’d rather not have them with the Twenty–Fourth Air Army. That wasn’t his choice though.

His briefing moved to the important matters which would allow the Twenty–Fourth Air Army to fight the war he was leading it into. At all of the airbases to where his aircraft were deploying to, the ground facilities were being stretched to accommodate this transfer. There weren’t enough Hardened Aircraft Shelters and so engineers were constructing field revetments. NATO air attacks in a counter-offensive fashion weren’t to be expected, Popov had been told by his superior, but his orders still ran for him to see his aircraft protected on the ground. This was something which he fully agreed with as he had doubts over the ability of those friendly forces stationed west of him to stop any counterattacks coming this way. The Twenty–Fourth Air Army was more than just its aircraft though: there were all of those uniformed personnel under Popov’s command. He had thousands of people who were transferring station. Every one of them was important in terms of them playing their assigned role. Accommodation, workspaces and equipment for them were of great importance. This was a bigger challenge in terms of deployment than just the combat aircraft. The Czechoslovaks and the Poles were assisting where they were able too but this was an ongoing process on a huge scale.

For the combat missions which the Twenty–Fourth Air Army was soon to fly, the way ahead would be opened by them tomorrow. The First German Front included the Fourteenth & Thirty–Sixth Air Armies (with WarPac attachments) and they would be on the frontlines straight away with Popov’s command operating behind them. Coordination would need to be done aplenty though: the Twenty–Fourth Air Army wasn’t acting alone. Radio codes, IFF signals, safe travel lanes where ground forces weren’t to open fire with missiles & guns unless aircraft would be positively identified as hostile all needed to be arranged with everyone on the same page. With shorter range than his Su-27s, those MiG-23s for strike escort would not only be flying from deployment sites in Slovakia and the south of Poland but also using forward sites over in the Bohemian region of Czechoslovakia. There were touch-&-go airstrips to be made use of, some of them straight stretches of road now being clearly of obstacles. Refuelling and rearming, just the basics, would be undertaken at them. When the two other air armies did as projected and moved to captured NATO sites in West Germany once tanks had got there, the touch-&-go sites would still be used yet there would be more activity for Twenty–Fourth Air Army assets at fixed airbases in Bohemia too as they were vacated. The supply issues for all of this planned activity was immense along with the security and communications set ups. Popov was briefed upon all of this with his attention on where things were not ready yet. He issued orders to see what he saw as wrong corrected.

Finally, the briefing at Malacky turned to the initial objectives for the Twenty–Fourth Air Army once Popov took his strike force to war…

[forcon]

Good work.

I saw a clip on YouTube once, where American pilots remarked on the stark difference between NATO and Russian airfields. I think it was from the 1990s. One thing that was really obvious was the seemingly filthy state of Russian airfields; the Americans were wondering how the Russian's could operate from them. The Russians told the Americans that they had no need for pristine airstrips, because their aircraft had a much better rough-field capability. That should be something NATO planners take into account.

[James G]

Dec 5, 2020 17:13:38 GMT forcon said:

Good work.

I saw a clip on YouTube once, where American pilots remarked on the stark difference between NATO and Russian airfields. I think it was from the 1990s. One thing that was really obvious was the seemingly filthy state of Russian airfields; the Americans were wondering how the Russian's could operate from them. The Russians told the Americans that they had no need for pristine airstrips, because their aircraft had a much better rough-field capability. That should be something NATO planners take into account.

Thank you.
This beefed up 24th Air Army is huge - it was before reinforcement too - and cannot be concentrated in a few places. It has a lot of Su-24s as well as MiG-23s: they are all 'rough field' capable. The MiG-25s and the Su-27s need better facilities yet still can operate from many sites.
NATO was going to do the same though with Harrier, A-10 and Alpha-Jets deploying all over the place.
The next update will be of two ORBATs: pre-war and wartime organisations.  

[stevep]

  James G , forcon ,

  When it comes to dirty airfields I assume its things like loose material getting sucked into jet intakes, rough ground causing wear and tear on landings and take offs or possibly also dirt getting into components during maintenance and repair activities.

  Difficult to tell with Popov whether he's the expert he thinks he is or an arrogant idiot.  He has a clear contempt for the eastern European subjects of the empire which could come back to bite him if it becomes clear with possible delays and errors in operation and support and the like.  Also was Lazarenko actually that incompetent or just Popov was unwilling to accept the size of the task involved and the inevitable problems that would result?  Plus probably a desire to have a known yes man in place.  We might find out as time goes on.

  Steve

[James G]

Dec 6, 2020 13:37:43 GMT stevep said:

  James G , forcon ,

  When it comes to dirty airfields I assume its things like loose material getting sucked into jet intakes, rough ground causing wear and tear on landings and take offs or possibly also dirt getting into components during maintenance and repair activities.

  Difficult to tell with Popov whether he's the expert he thinks he is or an arrogant idiot.  He has a clear contempt for the eastern European subjects of the empire which could come back to bite him if it becomes clear with possible delays and errors in operation and support and the like.  Also was Lazarenko actually that incompetent or just Popov was unwilling to accept the size of the task involved and the inevitable problems that would result?  Plus probably a desire to have a known yes man in place.  We might find out as time goes on.

  Steve

Foreign Object Damage that is called. That type of stuff, if the runways & taxiways & flight ramps are not swept regularly, will get sucked into an engine or cause a tyre failure.
But it will be munitions spread from RAF & Luftwaffe Tornados, and USAF aircraft too, if Soviet air defences don't hold that will be a bigger issue.

Popov is making his mark. He is no hero for this story. He hates Germans but holds WarPac countries military's in contempt too. It is a lot to do with the scale of the challenge but some men just aren't up to it either. He issues his orders and wants it done... regardless of issues. Not the sign of a good commander to be honest.

[James G]

Four


Peacetime ORBAT for the Twenty–Fourth Air Army (Special Purpose)


Reporting directed to 24 AA (SP) HQ

118th Electronic Warfare Aviation Regiment
36x Yakolev-28PP – unarmed electronic jamming aircraft

511th Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment
24x MiG-25RB – high-speed reconnaissance & interceptor aircraft (with precision bombing capability)


32nd Bomber Aviation Division

7th Bomber Aviation Regiment
40x Sukhoi-24M – long-range tactical strike aircraft

727th Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment
40x Sukhoi-24M

953rd Bomber Aviation Regiment
40x Sukhoi-24


56th Bomber Aviation Division

230th Bomber Aviation Regiment
40x Sukhoi-24M

314th Bomber Aviation Regiment
40x Sukhoi-24

947th Bomber Aviation Regiment
40x Sukhoi-24M


138th Fighter Aviation Division

168th Fighter Aviation Regiment
16x MiG-23ML – fighter-interceptors
24x MiG-23MLD – fighter-interceptors
5x MiG-23UB – conversion trainers & fighter-interceptors

190th Fighter Aviation Regiment
40x MiG-23MLD
5x MiG-23UB

831st Fighter Aviation Regiment
40x Sukhoi-27S – fighter-interceptors
5x Sukhoi-27UB – conversion trainers & fighter-interceptors



435no Combat Aircraft in total

240no Su-24 Fencer C & Su-24M Fencer D
90no MiG-23ML Flogger G & MiG-23MLD Flogger K & MiG-23UB Flogger C
45no Su-27S Flanker B & Su-27UB Flanker C
36no Yak-28PP Brewer E
24no MiG-25RB Foxbat B






Wartime ORBAT for the Twenty–Fourth Air Army (Special Purpose)


Reporting directed to 24 AA (SP) HQ

39th Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment
12x MiG-25RB
10x Sukhoi-24MR – defence suppression bombers
{regiment transferred to 24 AA (SP) from the 73rd Air Army in the Turkestan Military District}

118th Electronic Warfare Aviation Regiment
36x Yakolev-28PP

511th Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment
24x MiG-25RB


15th Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Division
{division transferred to 24 AA (SP) from 46th Air Army (Long-Range Aviation) in both the Belorussian & Kiev Military Districts}

51st Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment
20x Tupolev-16K – missile-carriers

269th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment
20x Tupolev-16K

341st Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment
20x Tupolev-22KD – missile-carriers


32nd Bomber Aviation Division

7th Bomber Aviation Regiment
40x Sukhoi-24M

727th Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment
40x Sukhoi-24M

953rd Bomber Aviation Regiment
40x Sukhoi-24


36th Bomber Aviation Division
{division transferred to 24 AA (SP) from 34th Air Army in the Transcaucasian Military District}

34th Bomber Aviation Regiment
28x Sukhoi-24

143rd Bomber Aviation Regiment
28x Sukhoi-24M

168th Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment
28x Sukhoi-24M


56th Bomber Aviation Division

230th Bomber Aviation Regiment
40x Sukhoi-24M

314th Bomber Aviation Regiment
40x Sukhoi-24

947th Bomber Aviation Regiment
40x Sukhoi-24M


138th Fighter Aviation Division

168th Fighter Aviation Regiment
16x MiG-23ML
24x MiG-23MLD
5x MiG-23UB

190th Fighter Aviation Regiment
40x MiG-23MLD
5x MiG-23UB

831st Fighter Aviation Regiment
40x Sukhoi-27S
5x Sukhoi-27UB



601no Combat Aircraft in total

324no Su-24 Fencer C & Su-24M Fencer D
90no MiG-23ML Flogger G & MiG-23MLD Flogger K & MiG-23UB Flogger C
45no Su-27S Flanker B & Su-27UB Flanker C
40no Tu-16K Badger G
36no MiG-25RB Foxbat B
36no Yak-28PP Brewer E
20no Tu-22KD Blinder B
10no Su-24MR Fencer E

[forcon]

IIRC, the clip I was referrencing (I'll look for it, but no promises) included the Russian pilots talking about how their aircraft weren't nearly as vulnerable to foreign object damage as NATO models were. I'd take that with a fairly large spoonful of salt though.

Those numbers actually seem a little less than I expected. I suppose the Soviets counted more on mobile SAM cover than NATO, OTOH.

[James G]

Dec 6, 2020 20:32:26 GMT forcon said:

IIRC, the clip I was referrencing (I'll look for it, but no promises) included the Russian pilots talking about how their aircraft weren't nearly as vulnerable to foreign object damage as NATO models were. I'd take that with a fairly large spoonful of salt though.

Those numbers actually seem a little less than I expected. I suppose the Soviets counted more on mobile SAM cover than NATO, OTOH.

It is only one - of eight - air armies for German operations. Including WarPac jets - all under Soviet higher command - maybe as many as 3500 frontline aircraft. Should eb plenty!
The Soviet Air Force actually had few SAMs. The Air Defence Forces had loads and so did the Army, but the VVS only had a few for local base defence.

[James G]

Five


The command staff for the Twenty–Fourth Air Army includes senior officers for reconnaissance and security. These are VVS men, career officers within the Soviet Air Force. The two colonels report directly to Popov as the air army’s commanding officer. The Reconnaissance Officer, Colonel Budychenko, leads his team of professional officers who deal with all reconnaissance matters including the operations of the now two independent air regiments of recon-jets assigned to the Twenty–Fourth Air Army. Budychenko will work extensively with both the Intelligence & Operations Officers too so that Popov’s new command can function as the effective fighting force it is soon to be. Also at the forward headquarters bunker in Slovakia is Colonel Morozov: the Security Officer. Physical security is his duty to supervise. Control over the ground troops – organic and attached – to protect the Twenty–Fourth Air Army is upon his shoulders along with the air defence missile teams spreading out like the riflemen are across all of the facilities which the air army is using.

However, Popov has two more men at Malacky Airbase for reconnaissance and security. Neither of them is a VVS officer nor under his command either. Colonel Sozonov is from the GRU – Military Intelligence – and his chain-of-command is separate from the Twenty–Fourth Air Army. A powerful and secretive organisation, the GRU has all sorts of intelligence & reconnaissance assets ranging from satellites to global electronic listening stations to spies on the ground in the West. From Sozonov, Popov can expect excellent information to allow him to undertake his mission of supporting the war soon to commence against NATO. Yet, what he will receive will be decided by those not here at Malacky and will be filtered. He has no command over what Sozonov will provide to his staff. Acting upon it is what he would have to do though, prioritising targets identified by the GRU unless doing so directly contradicts his own precise orders. There is going to be a balancing act there.

Colonel Vavilin wears the uniform of the KGB. A short, fat man, the Chekist at once gives Popov the creeps. He doesn’t like his cold eyes and his false smile. Everything with his look, his demeanour and what he says puts Popov on edge. He wants to be far away from the man, a very long way indeed. Vavilin mentions that he knows Popov’s son. From anyone else, that might have been a friendly sign. It isn’t from this man. Like Sozonov, Vavilin is outside of Popov’s command. He reports to whomever he does and Popov doesn’t want to know who that is. Vavilin says that he is here to support the combat operations assigned to the Twenty–Fourth Air Army but Popov knows different. He had left a KGB man back at Chita and that Chekist had been all about ‘political security’ just as this one is. Vavilin has armed men with him but only a few. Guarding against sabotage and raiders isn’t what he is in Malacky to do. He won’t be providing intelligence information either. Instead, his (unsaid) mission is to root out treason. Vavilin will define what treason will mean. Anyone within the Twenty–Fourth Air Army, Popov included, could be removed and arrested for a fate unknown at the word of this Chekist. He certainly has informers everywhere and his nose will be in every matter. Unpleasantness surely awaits Popov with the activities of this man here in Slovakia with him. A KGB man sent to find traitors will always find them… he’ll have a quota to fill.


Following his command briefing and then meeting Sozonov and Vavilin, Popov receives an encoded message coming down from the headquarters of the First German Front. The wartime command is up and running as it prepares to send war across the Inner-German Border (and the Czech-West German frontier too) at first light tomorrow. Popov doesn’t know where the HQ is located – that is a secret even from him – but he suspects it is a mobile one somewhere in either Bohemia or Saxony. The message he receives will have come through several broadcast stations, hidden and likely soon to be mobile as well.

West Berlin is in the hands of WarPac forces.

Details of how exactly this has happened, Popov isn’t given. He is informed that the outpost of Imperialism deep inside East Germany has been taken by force of arms. Suspecting that there is a heavy doze of optimism in the proclamation of victory, he doesn’t believe that there isn’t still fighting there: NATO has had four decades of preparations to make a fight of it. Still… he is sure he wouldn’t have been informed of this had victory not been completely assured. When the fighting started there, he isn’t told either. West Berlin has been ‘liberated’, so the word used is, and that is that.

The message tells him that there is not yet any wider conflict raging in Europe. Further fighting has taken place in the Caribbean – details aren’t given – but West Berlin has been seized without a full eruption of war between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. He can only speculate on the politics going on to see such a situation currently as this. No one is going to inform him of those particulars yet he understands that that doesn’t matter. The end of the message tells him what he expects: full-scale war is to still begin tomorrow on schedule. He is instructed by his superior, a Soviet Army man who surely has thousands of tanks ready to go across the Fulda Gap and also into Bavaria too, to take all necessary defensive measures ahead of that. NATO, he is told, could possibly continue the aggression they started in Cuba by making a series of air attacks.

Popov sends a return message to acknowledge receipt of his instructions and then goes back to his command staff. The matter of what had happened with West Berlin isn’t something he discusses with them. There are more important things for those serving with the Twenty–Fourth Air Army to focus on ahead of seeing battle for the first time.

[forcon]

Nice work.

Pop is going to be on the list of NATO kill/capture (almost certainly the former, via airpower) targets. But he won't be that high up though - there are, as you say, eight different air armies with their own commanders.

I do recall the mentioning in another story (maybe Night Witches or TLW?) NATO having its own network in East Germany of resistance fighters that could be activated in wartime with assistance from SAD and the 10th SFG. If something like this existed in Poland or Czechoslovakia, Popov will want to watch his back. Keeping his eyes open for a prowling F-117 would also be wise, if a little futile!