The Last War? : Chapter 393

[Bernard Woolley]

D+33

*

1751 hours GMT. RAAF Base Curtin, Western Australia.
Wing Commander Gavin 'Gav' Bruce eased his F/A-18A+ Hornet down onto the runway, before taxing to the dispersal site of A Flight, No. 75 Squadron. Bruce had been flying a sortie over West Timor, escorting four A-4SU Super Skyhawks from No. 2 Squadron. The quartet of 'Super Scooters' had been flying an armed reconnaissance mission, ensuring that the Indonesian forces on the island were abiding by the armistice agreement. The Rules of Engagement were now a little more restrictive than they had been in the past, but they basically boiled down to “if an Indonesian so much as looks at you funny, you can bomb the sh*t out of them”.

Bruce climbed down from his Hornet, one of the recently delivered ex-USN aircraft, still in its faded grey camouflage. He removed his helmet and started to walked to the waiting Land Rover Perentie, which would take him to squadron H.Q. Bruce paused for a moment to watch two Strikemaster Mk 88 take off.

The diminutive jets belonged to D Flight, No. 20 Squadron. The aircraft had originally been withdrawn from service in 1993 and sold to Aeromacchi as part of the deal for the MB.339CB. However, as part of the 'Second Tol Panic' in 2000, the RNZAF had bought back its Strikemasters, as well as acquiring a number of other aircraft and Jet Provosts T.5s. They had been used as COIN aircraft in East Timor for just over six months, before being replaced by more capable A-37B Dragonflies. The Strikemasters had been retained, with two flight of four each being deployed to RAAF Curtain and Scherger to provide FAC, recce and COIN support to local garrisons. A flight of five aircraft was based in New Zealand to train Forward Air Controllers of the New Zealand Army and act as an OCU. [1] The Strikemasters had supplemented Australian Wirraway II in supporting ARES troops, making life hard for KOPASSUS infiltrators. They had even added anti-shipping strike to their capabilities, sinking at least two 'fishing boats' that had landed Indonesian troops.

*

After debriefing, Bruce took his customary seat in the Officer's Mess, ordering a Coke. After the incident on 5th May, he had sworn off alcohol for the duration of the war. He handed a lager to Wing Commander Geoff ‘Watty’ Watkin, who was sitting next to him.

“The whole tempo of operations has changed, hasn't it, Watty.” Bruce observed.
“It has that.” The Commanding Officer of No. 2 Squadron agreed. “I'm not complaining, but it does make me wonder if they will shift some of us elsewhere.”
“What? From this earthly paradise, with its exciting and varied nightlife?” Bruce replied, laughing.
“Talking of nightlife. You remember how Debbie got shot up by that Aussie Hornet driver from their 77 Squadron?” Watkin said.

Bruce nodded.

“Yeah, she broke the blind b*astard's nose when she caught up with him on the ground.”
“Well, she's only shagging him now!” Watkin told him. “Says shooting her up was an extreme form of foreplay!”
“F*ck me that's weird...still, shouldn't kink shame, mate. Whatever floats her boat!”

Watkin laughed loud enough for several other officers in the mess to look towards the two pilots. Wondering what was so funny.

“Anyway, how are you getting on with the 'Super Scooters'?” Bruce asked.
“They're good jets. Have better engines than the Kahu and I prefer the ADENs over the Colts. Much more reliable, haven't had the ADENs jam on me, unlike the Colt. Did I tell you about the time I was over the range back home and the starboard Colt jammed after two rounds...uh, anyway, I'm still not decided on which one I prefer. The Kahu has a better radar than a 'Super Scooter'. There's other stuff in the Kahu that I prefer, like the HUD. In an ideal world the perfect 'Scooter' would have the engine and guns from the 'Super' and the radar and avionics of the Kahu.
“You getting on okay with the new Hornets?”

Bruce nodded.

“No complaints, Watty. They're basically the same as what we already had, bar the faded paint job. Needed a little bit of updating to accept some of our weapons. But, that wasn't a biggie.
“Right, enough shop talk. Time to see if we can get some tucker!”

1806 hours. Castlandhill Hill, Rosyth, Fife, Scotland.
Getting the equipment up to the site of the former Admiralty W/T Station had been quite a challenge, given how narrow the access road was, but it had been managed. While the W/T station had closed a long-time ago, the MoD retained ownership of the site and the two communications masts on them. The presence of those masts had meant that a site slightly to the west had been chosen for the new installation. Moving the equipment had been eased slightly by the fact that it was all accommodated within ISO standard shipping containers.

*

Back in the 1980s the then British Aerospace had proposed what it called 'containerised Sea Wolf'. The system would use three containers fitted together in a sort of L shape to contain an operations room, generator and tracking radar. At least two other modified containers would contain Vertical Launch Sea Wolf. The idea was that the system could be easily fitted to any RFA, or merchant ship to give it an air defence capability. In the 1990s BAE had revived the idea and had gone as far as building two prototypes. The MoD had shown some interest, however in the end had decided not to procure it. BAE had put both prototypes into storage in case the MoD changed its mind, or another customer expressed interest.

The existing systems had been assigned to protect HMNB Rosyth and HMNB Devonport, which were considered the most vulnerable. As a matter of priority the MoD had asked BAES to supply two more ‘Containerised Sea Wolf’ systems so that Portsmouth and Faslane could be protected. The company had reported that it could put together a third system fairly quickly, although, as there were no further spare Type 911 directors, it would need to use a VM40. The latter had been developed in the 1980s as a lightweight alternative to the older Type 910 and was not as advanced as the current Type 911. However, there were a couple of VM40 directors spare, as they had been used in the development of the Lightweight Sea Wolf System. It would take longer to put together a fourth system, but BAES had mentioned that they still had the prototype for the land-based Sea Dart missile system, named Guardian. Plus, there were a couple of spare standard Sea Dart launchers, and Type 909 directors and Type 1022 surveillance radars kicking about at various test sites. The company was sure it could put together at least two Sea Dart based ‘FrankenSAMs’ from the bits and pieces it had, if the navy could crew them. The navy’s response had essentially been “shut up and take my money!” [2]

By the nature of the terrain around the base, the SAM system that would be sent to Faslane would need to be lightweight and mobile. So, the Guardian system would be sent there; it was lighter than ‘Containerised Sea Wolf’ too. One of the heavier Sea Dart ‘FrankenSAM’ would go to Portsmouth, where more construction work would be needed to emplace it and it could take advantage of the radars of the Maritime Integration & Support Centre on Portsdown Hill. In fact, that part of the hill had been identified as the best available location for a Sea Dart installation. The third ‘Containerised Sea Wolf’ would instead be fitted to one of the RFA’s ‘Fort’ class dry stores replenishment vessels, next time one of them was in port.

*

While GWS-26 Mod 3, as 'Containerised Sea Wolf' had been officially designated, came with its own generator, the navy had brought in two additional diesel generators to provide extra capacity. As the set-up would not be on a ship, with its additional generators, they were needed to power the additional ancillary equipment needed. The final touch was to add an air search radar. On the Type 23 that was provided by the Type 996 Mod 1, or the new Type 997 Artisan. Neither of those radars were available for land use, but BAE had a couple of Giraffe AMB, which the company had acquired as part of early development work on a Rapier replacement. The radar was more than suitable to support the land-based Sea Wolf.

A small detachment of fifteen naval reservists had been posted to guard the two communications masts, which had been designated Key Points. With little else to do, the sailors, who had been rotated regularly, had spent their time renovating some concrete pillboxes that dated back to the First World War. These had been built to protect the old Admiralty W/T station and form part of the landward defences of the dockyard and naval base. Now a GPMG and L4A4 'Bren' were mounted in two of the pillboxes. The detachment and the defences they had improved, had now become part of the wider protection for the Sea Wolf battery. Twenty additional sailors and two RM junior NCOs from the Fleet Protection Group, RM detachment at Rosyth had been found to beef up the ground defences of the site. Some additional machine-guns were mounted in the old pillboxes, plus in some newly constructed 'sangars'.

The navy had also decided to moor the test barge, Longbow, in the lee of the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth. It had been used to test the SAMPSON radar and the command and control sub-systems for the Garfish system fitted to the Type 45 and 46. Crucially it had an eight-cell Mk. 41 VLS module. It was almost like having a static Type 45, though one with a limited missile magazine. With a range of 150km, its Garfish missiles could, theoretically, provide protection almost as far north as Peterhead, as far west as Irvine, and south to Gateshead, south of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. That only left a small gap between there and Middlesbrough before reaching the coverage provided by the flight of RAF Broadsword missiles based near RAF North Coates. Of course, it also covered much of the North Sea, where the main threat would come from. [3]

With all the surveying, digging, laying of cables etc. it had taken most of the day to install the battery and make it operational. However, by the early evening the Operations Room had successfully set up a radio and data-link to Longbow and the Sector Operations Centre at RAF Buchan. Via that they would get advanced warning of any air attacks headed their way.

1931 hours GMT. Outer Helsinki Defence Line, Finland.
'BOOM!'
'BOOM!'

Korpraali Marin woke with a start. She had been taking the opportunity to nap, while the company her platoon was part of was in reserve positions. The two loud gunshots nearby were certainly not welcome. Grumbling under her breath she sat up and looked for the source of the shots.

'BOOM!'

“Who is making all that damned noise?” She wondered out loud.
“Couple of middle-aged blokes turned up with some giant rifle a little while ago.” One of the replacement Soldat replied. He was one of the recovered wounded men, hence his more casual reply.
“Well, those old men are disturbing my sleep.” Marin replied grumpily.

'BOOM!'
'BOOM!'

“I'm going to tell them to either shut the hell up, or if they had to do that, do it somewhere else!” She declared, getting up, grabbing her equipment.

She walked a short distance, following the sound of the shots. She found the two middle-aged reservists operating the weapon from a fox-hole. She was about to yell at them for making so much noise, when she spotted they were both wearing the insignia of a Vääpeli. Moreover, the huge rifle, which had its barrel elevated caught her attention.

“That's not a Lahti L-39, is it?” She asked the Vääpeli who had been firing the rifle.
“Its the old 'Norsupyssy' all right.” He replied with a grin. “You want a shot, then, Korpraali?”
“Well, I was coming over to shout at you for making so much noise. I was trying to sleep and I thought you would attract Russkie mortar fire...” She admitted.

The two Senior NCOs chuckled, and waved Marin into the fox-hole.

“I'd have done the same, to be honest!” The first Vääpeli said.
“Yeah, me too.” The second one agreed.
“Come on, give it a go.”

The Vääpeli rolled to his left allowing Marin to take up position behind the L-39. [4]

“What are we doing?”
“Harassing fire into the Russkie lines. That's why we have her elevated.”
“I thought these things were out of service?”

The two Vääpeli looked at each other before answering.

“Theoretically they were finally withdrawn from reserve storage in 1988. But, you know how it is, the ones that weren't sold off stayed in armouries.” The first SNCO said. “Though, this baby is mine.” He added proudly. “Right, that's the safety off and she's ready to go. In no circumstances put your fingers in front of the trigger guard, unless you want them crushed. And make sure you have her tight into your shoulder.”
“Got it.”

Marin braced herself and pulled the trigger.

'BOOM!'

She felt the rifle push back hard against her shoulder, pushing her whole body back slightly. It was quite the experience, if not actually painful.

“Wow!” She exclaimed. “Let's do that again!” She added with some glee.

'BOOM!'

The first SNCO leaned across and safed the L-39.

“Think you've had enough for a first timer, Korpraali.” He said. “We also need to move to a new firing position.”
“Why...” Marin began to say. “Oh.” She said on realising. “I got to go too.”

Marin sprinted back to her slit-trench and had just jumped down into it when the first Soviet mortar rounds began to land. The Finnish brigade commander had been hoping that the Soviets would react that way to the harassing fire from the L-39. A counter-mortar radar had been set up waiting and shortly after the Soviets started to fire, it was able to pinpoint the location of the mortars. A battery of 122 RAKH 89 M1 (the Czech built RM-70) plastered the Soviet mortars.

“Oh.” Marin exclaimed, raising her head, as the mortar fire abruptly stopped. “Well, that was unexpected, but not unwelcome.”

She leaned back against the side of the slit-trench, crossed her arms and closed her eyes. She was asleep again within a few moments.

1959 hours GMT. Erxleben, Börde, DDR.
As part of the counter to the offensive by the Byelorussian group of Tank Armies, COMNORTHAG had ordered that his British and Belgian corps continue their advance into East Germany. Such an advance would potentially draw off reserves that could be used in the offensive against the Dutch and West German Corps, plus it would threaten the left flank of the BTA.

As the armoured formations of 1 (Br) Corps advanced eastwards, their objective Magdeburg, the Parachute Regiment Group and some of the other light infantry formations had been given the job of clearing out the bypassed villages and small towns. One of those was Erxleben, which was being cleared out by 15 Para.

*

Private John Gavin blew the lock out of the house with his Combat Shotgun before giving it a kick. The door offered little resistance, Gavin stepped back to allow a second 'Tom' to throw a grenade in. Erxleben was the second village that 15 Para had cleared, the other being Uhrsleben, and while the civilian populations had fled east, they had quickly learned to expect resistance from Grenztruppen, Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse and the Freie Deutsche Jugend.

Gavin and the rest of the section cleared the house, finding it empty, with signs that the inhabitants had left in a hurry. He paused for a moment in the kitchen, finding some beer and sausages, which he passed on to the rest of the section. Gavin wandered through to the living room and sat down on an arm chair. The neatness of the house offended him for some reason. He realised it was because he had seen so many neat and tidy houses in West Germany smashed to bits. Some with their owners still in residence. He got to his feet, noticing the small TV set in the corner. He kicked it with his right boot, sending it crashing to the ground. With a sweep of his right hand he knocked ornaments off the mantelpiece, some broke on hitting the floor and he ground the bits into the carpet with his boots. One of the other members of the second came into the room on hearing the noise.

“What you daein', John?” He asked.
“Blowing off some steam.” Gavin replied. “Why should the bloody Ossies get it easy when the West Germans have seen so many villages smashed into wee bits?”
“Well, let's dae it properly.” The other 'Tom' declared.

It was a few minutes work to smash everything in the house that could be broken and upturn and break-up much of the furniture. Anything that seemed remotely valuable, including some Ostmark notes and coins were pocketed. Some of the broken furniture was piled up in the living room and a fire started.

*

Sergeant Connolly was not surprised to see so many buildings in the village on fire. That was to be expected, especially when White Phosphorous grenades were being used to 'mark' targets. However, what was a little bit unusual was that houses and other buildings that had already been cleared were now catching fire. He decided he needed to get a grip on it before Lieutenant Bridges, Major Fisher, or worse, Lieutenant Colonel Murray found out, though his real fear was being 'shown up' in front of the CSM, or RSM. He strode towards the nearest burning house, seeing a section under the command of Corporal Milroy emerge from it.

“Corporal Milroy!” Connolly barked. “What the actual f*ck is goin' on?”
“Boys are letting off a bit of steam, Sergeant. They've had it hard recently.”
“Hard? They've had it hard? Don't you think I know that, Jack?” Connolly replied. “They've let off quite enough steam. We might need to occupy these houses, so it would be nice if a few of them were not on fire.” He added sarcastically. “Get your men in order, Milroy, before I give them all a boot up the backside!”
“On it, Sergeant.”

Leaving the corporal to sort out his section, Connolly barked at another section he saw emerging from another house up the street.

“If any of you are thinking about it, don't!” He yelled. “And if any of you have anything you've taken from that house put it back now and nothing more will be said!”

A couple of 'Toms' scurried back into the house, before reappearing a few minutes later.

“What you standing about for? You've got more houses to clear!”

Connolly shook his head. Looting and fire-raising was not something he had expected in his platoon. He wondered how ordinary, law-abiding men could turn to such things. Of course, on the other hand, none of the men in his platoon would ever consider shooting someone in 'ordinary' life. Some sporadic shots that the sergeant recognised as coming from AK-47s brought him back to reality.

“Aw, shite. Here we go again.” He muttered.

2051 hours. HMNB Devonport, Devon, England.
Having been badly damaged by Soviet cruise missiles on 27th April, it had taken herculean efforts by contractors and RN personnel to get the Frigate Support Centre, aka the Frigate Refit Complex, at least partially operational. Two of the dry docks were now operational again, one having been used to repair HMS Loch Glendhu, which had been damaged in the attack. However, the third dock was still out of action, as it still contained the burned out hulk of HMS Jupiter. The 'Sea Wolf' Leander class frigate was now being scrapped on site after anything salvageable had been removed. The first customer for one of the re-opened docks was HMS Lancaster, which had sustained damage after a merchant ship had failed to give way while the frigate was manoeuvring to engage a suspected submarine.

*

“You've done some impressive work, Mr Mitchel.” Rear Admiral John Forbes said to the dockyard manager, as the two stood by the FSC. “I didn't think you'd get the complex working this side of Christmas.”
“Thank you, Admiral.” The manager replied. “We did have to draft in additional personnel and your sailors helped a great deal. Couldn't have done it without them.”
“How long until you can get the third dock operational?” The admiral wondered.

The manager thought for a moment.

“We're working around the clock on Jupiter and once we have her cleared out, we'll need to assess the damage to the dock itself. However, I suspect that the damage is fairly superficial and mainly limited to that part of the sheds above the dock. I'd put it at a minimum of six week, maybe four if we're lucky.”

Before Forbes could reply, the pair were interrupted by the banshee wail of an air raid siren. The admiral's first reaction was to try and get back to his headquarters at Mount Wise, but quickly realised that it would probably take too long. Instead, he followed the dockyard manager to an air raid shelter which had been improvised in the basement of a nearby building.

“Would be just typical for the f*cking Russians to target the centre just after we've fixed most of it.” The manager grumbled as he sat down.

*

To the south of the naval base and dockyard, the 'Containerised Sea Wolf' battery now protecting Devonport had been set up around a car park on Rame Head. The battery had been warned about two subsonic targets approaching from the west, that appeared to be heading for Devonport. They were two of four 3M14K Kalibr (SS-N-27 Sizzler) cruise missiles that had been fired by an Akula class SSN out in the Western Approaches. The submarine was on its way home and had four land-attack missiles that it had not used yet. Devonport and Portsmouth seemed suitable targets.
The battery's Giraffe AMB search radar was now illuminated, searching for the incoming missiles. The two Kalibr were flying up the Channel, hugging the coast line. Using it both as a navigational marker and as away of concealing themselves from anything that might want to shoot them down. However, as they passed Polperro, the AMB radar detected them. However, they were still beyond the 10km range of the Sea Wolf missiles. The 911 tracker was slaved to the AMB radar and was pointed in the direction of the approaching missiles.

“Target hostile missiles.” The Principle Warfare Officer in the Ops 'Room' (container) said. “Take with Sea Wolf.”

The engagement was now automatic from now on. Two missiles roared out of one of the containerised VLS. They accelerated to Mach.3 as they closed in on their target. Two more Sea Wolf missiles were about to be fired, but proved to be unnecessary as the two Kalibr were destroyed.

Further to the east the new Sea Dart 'FrankenSAM' battery on Portsdown Hill was not ready. The concrete of the bunker that was needed to accommodate the launcher had not cured yet. So, it was fortunate that HMS Campbeltown was on her way to Portsmouth to replenish, after forming part of an escort for a convoy to Le Havre. The frigate rapidly came to action stations and engaged the Kalibr, knocking both down.

While the threat of attack by Soviet Long Range Aviation had temporarily diminished, the attack had been a good reminder that threat of missile attack had not gone away. Confirming the decision to site improvised SAM defences at the nation's naval bases was the correct one.

2203 hours GMT. Kiel, occupied West Germany.
While it had been troops from the Soviet 11th Guards Army who had captured the city, and indeed two of their divisions were part of its defences, the government of the DDR had taken over the administration of Kiel. Indeed, they had declared that the city and the part of Schleswig-Holstein occupied by Warsaw Pact forces was now legally part of the DDR. Any officers of the Landespolizei Schleswig-Holstein who were still in the city were arrested and replaced by Volkspolizei brought in from East Germany. NVA reserve formations and KdA were deployed to reinforce the VoPos, a process that was repeated in Lübeck. Less visible were the Stasi officers who set up shop in he occupied areas of West Germany.

Like the polizei, any local politicians and senior civil servants who had not fled were also arrested and a few executed. Some local Communists were officially put in charge, though the East Germans were a little shocked that many socialists and other leftists were not all that keen on working with who they called 'occupiers'; the East Germans were convinced they were 'liberators'. Left-leaning politicians and activists soon made up a significant proportion of those who were arrested and executed, no murdered. More junior administrators were left in place, as removing them would have led to a collapse of government functions that the occupiers needed to continue.

Hans Müller was one of those junior officials. His job was keeping him later in the office since the occupation had begun. The East Germans seemed intent on making things harder, bringing in 'new' ways of doing things that just did not work. Müller and his colleagues had to spend the day both keeping the city functioning, while also convincing their new masters that they were doing things the 'new' way. Müller was also a member of the Gesellschaft für angewandte Physik (Society for Applied Physics). The pass he had been issued by the occupation authorities gave him a good excuse to be out and about after curfew. The same was true of the other three members of his cell, who were also junior officials serving in the various services that were needed to keep Kiel working. [5]

One thing that had been very quickly learned, or perhaps relearned, in the occupied zone was that open acts of sabotage, like blowing things up, or obvious arson, led to harsh reprisals against the civilian population. Instead, the surviving cells took a more subtle approach. They let tyres down, added water to fuel supplies, adulterated rations by doing things like replacing sugar with salt, opened valves so that fuel would leak and so on.

Müller's particular speciality was dropping old nails on the roads used by the NVA and occupation authorities. The nails would embed themselves in tyres and cause slow leaks. It was not a spectacular form of sabotage, but it was effective and was inconveniencing the East Germans. It was also not something that could easily be identified as sabotage.

While walking home from his office; the occupation authorities had confiscated all private motor vehicles and public transport had been severely restricted; Müller had taken the opportunity to drop a few nails here and there. He had gotten rid of the last of the nails and was now only a few minutes walk away from his apartment.

“Halt!” A harsh voice from behind him called out. “Stay where you are!”

Müller did as he was told, making sure his hands were visible. He had been stopped by VoPos before and found the best way to deal with them was to follow their instructions exactly before showing them his official pass.

“What are you doing out after curfew?” The voice asked.

Müller's heart sank when he realised that the questioner was from the KdA and not the Volkspolizei. The latter were harsh, but professional, used to dealing with people as police. The former were a militia, many of whom had developed a resentment for the obviously better off West Germans they were being asked to police.

“I asked you a question, Comrade!” The questioner said, pushing his face into Müller's.

The East German smelled of alcohol, probably looted. The KdA had very quickly developed a reputation of being 'light-fingered', or that 'luxury' items had to be confiscated by them.

“I am a government worker, Comrade.” Müller replied. “I am walking home. I can show you my pass?”
“The capitalist dog has a pass, Comrades!” The man said to the other three KdA with him, who were also obviously drunk. “I don't want to see your verdammt pass! Empty your pockets. Let's see what you've got on you.”

Müller resigned himself to being robbed. He took out his wallet and handed it over. The senior KdA militiaman went through it taking out some Euros and Ostmark occupation notes. The debit and credit cards were of no use, so he threw them to the ground before throwing wallet back to Müller.

“Hold him!”

While two KdA held onto Müller the first man started to go through his pockets. They found a few coins, which were taken and his official pass, which was discarded.

“What the hell is going on here?” An authoritative voice yelled. “Release him, now!”

Müller never thought he would be glad to see a patrol of Volkspolizei, but they had likely saved him from a beating.

“Get on your way before we report you.” The VoPo who had spoken said menacingly to the KdA, who slunk away. “Pick up your things, Comrade.”

While Müller picked up his wallet cards, and the money, which the KdA had dropped when ordered to leave, the second VoPo had picked up his pass and taken a look at it. He handed it to his comrade.

“Official pass, huh?” He commented, handing it to Müller. “You want to make an official complaint about that lot?”

Müller shook his head. He knew that complaining about the conduct of the occupying forces was a waste of time and likely to end with the complainer in serious trouble.

“No, Comrade. It was a...misunderstanding. No harm done.”
“Very well, on your way.”

Once in his apartment, Müller began to think about ways to get back at the KdA. It was not just because he had been humiliated, but the organisation was making life for ordinary people a misery. Hurting them also hurt the occupation. It did not take long to come up with an idea, which made him smile.

Over the next few days two-dozen members of the KdA became seriously ill and eight died after drinking alcohol that had been laced with anti-freeze. Several others died, or went blind after drinking what they thought was schnapps, but was actually industrial alcohol. The now angry NVA military governor of Kiel ordered that consumption of alcohol by the occupation forces was forbidden. Anyone in possession of alcohol faced severe punishment and significant resources were diverted to search for contraband.

The civilian population of Kiel noticed drop in the morale of the occupiers and that the KdA seemed to have become somewhat lethargic. The instance of looting also noticeably dropped, the KdA now wondering what next item might prove to be fatal.

***

[1] More information can be found here.

[2] See this link for information on both systems. This thread also has some interesting information.

[3] The TLW Longbow barge is slightly different from @, in that it has a Mk.41 VLS, while the real barge had SYLVER. The RL version also tested PAAMS (Sea Viper), rather than the fictional Garfish. See this link for an image of the RL barge.

[4] Information on the L-39 can be found here. Forgotten Weapons has a video on the weapon here.

[5] Please see this fact-file for more information on the organisation.

[Bernard Woolley]

Accompanying Pictures

[Lordroel]

Another great update, you are spoiling us to much with the record number of updates in this short time.

[Bernard Woolley]

As the saying goes, when you're hot, you're hot!
Seriously, though, thank you.

[jemhouston]

They've gone from breaking out the museum pieces to breaking out the never was. I'm wondering how many more Frankensystems are coming.


As someone in Texas, I'm jealous of Lahti L-39 anti-tank rifle.

[Lordroel]

As the saying goes, when you're hot, you're hot!
Seriously, though, thank you.

Well then, should we all give yourself something to cool down, before you catch fire.

For a moment i thought, these Finish soldiers using the Lahti L-39 anti-tank rifle where veterans from the Continuation War, but then i toughed to myself, that could not be possible, they would be in their 70-80s.

[Bernard Woolley]

They've gone from breaking out the museum pieces to breaking out the never was. I'm wondering how many more Frankensystems are coming.

I'm pretty sure that there will have been prototypes for SAMs kicking about in various warehouses and sheds belonging to defence companies. BAeD did build LWT Sea Dart and Guardian prototypes in @. Would be interesting to know when they actually disposed of it. As an interesting aside, during my research I found out that LWT Sea Dart was actually sold to the PLAN to rearm their Luda class DDG. They cancelled it in 1984, after deciding that Sea Dart's performance in the Falklands War was dissapointing. IMVHO, that would have been the perfect time to buy it, as we had just discovered what needed improving and were implementing fixes. LWT Sea Wolf was an 'almost was'. I was actually ordered by the RN, for fittment to CVS and the T42B3. It was cancelled in 1992, though in TLW it is fitted to a number of ships in addition to what was planned.

As someone in Texas, I'm jealous of Lahti L-39 anti-tank rifle.

Quite a lot of L-39s did end up in the USA. As did Boys and Solothurn S18-1000. Some uncultured individuals have re-chambred them for .50!

Well then, should we all give yourself something to cool down, before you catch fire.

Don't worry! I'm keeping myself cool!

For a moment i thought, these Finish soldiers using the Lahti L-39 anti-tank rifle where veterans from the Continuation War, but then i toughed to myself, that could not be possible, they would be in their 70-80s.

Would have been plausible for an '80s set story. Still, OTOH, it wouldn't surprise me if some Old Blokes who are still fit(ish) have dug out Carcano M91/38, or 7.62 KIV M/38!

[Lordroel]

Would have been plausible for an '80s set story. Still, OTOH, it wouldn't surprise me if some Old Blokes who are still fit(ish) have dug out Carcano M91/38, or 7.62 KIV M/38!

And trowing Molotov cocktails instead of drinking them.

[Bernard Woolley]

True!

[Matt Wiser]

Man, that was fast! You're on a streak. BZ as usual, my friend, and so to business:

Tensions between occupiers and occupied... From the old East German archives, we found out that the East German Army was to be the main occupation force in West Germany after overrunning it, while Soviet forces continued on west towards the Channel and the Bay of Biscay.

Nothing wrong with using the old Scooter, even extensively refurbished ones! They still pack a punch, and yes, even USN and Marine pilots in SEA frowned on the Colt 20-mm guns. They asked for heavier guns like the Aden, but NAVAIR never bothered to reply. Which is why Ted Swartz in VA-76 used his Zunis to kill a MIG-17 instead of guns.

Not just the Aussies using "FrankenSAMs." Hey, if they work, they work!

Marin's learning that if a weapon can still kill you, it's not obsolete.

Just remember what happened the last time NATO broke through the iGB and headed for Magdeburg....

Good work, and get with 394!

[JBG]

BZ Bernard.

A 37s!

I never expected those.

Jonathan

[Jotun]

Man, that was fast! You're on a streak. BZ as usual, my friend, and so to business:

Tensions between occupiers and occupied... From the old East German archives, we found out that the East German Army was to be the main occupation force in West Germany after overrunning it, while Soviet forces continued on west towards the Channel and the Bay of Biscay.

The Stasi would have executed thousands of politicians, teachers, civil servants, industrialists etc. behind the front, which I explicitlyx included in my contributions and which Jan repeated here, realistically.
As for the NVA occupying...well, bit hard, that, when the front has barely moved westwards since D-Day, at least not nearly as far as their "scientific" methods "predicted"...so the Ossies are forced to employ the aid of an organization that has a high incompetence and assholery per capita ratio.

Another possibility to poison the Ossies would be something that happened directly after WW2 in Kiel and/or Eckernförde during summer 1945 from hunger, desperation and ignorance. Torpedo grease, mixed with an anti-coagulating agent (Triorthokresylphosphate, TKP) that caused severe neurological issues up to and including death, was used as frying oil becasue nothing else was available. It was called the "Eckernförde Sickness".

[Bernard Woolley]

Man, that was fast! You're on a streak. BZ as usual, my friend, and so to business:

Thank you. However, I think my streak is over now!

Tensions between occupiers and occupied...

The fact that the West Germans are way richer, freeer and have access to things that a lot of East Germans could only dream of is being rubbed in the face of the occupiers. IIRC, the DDR always thought of itself as being the most sophisticated WARPACT nation. Imagine finding out that you are only second, or third tier compared to your near neighbours. In a way that cannot be dismissed as propaganda.

Nothing wrong with using the old Scooter, even extensively refurbished ones! They still pack a punch, and yes, even USN and Marine pilots in SEA frowned on the Colt 20-mm guns.

The Colt was known for its unreliability, which has made me think that calling the F-8 the last Gunfighter was a bit ironic. It's main armament was unreliable! It is odd that it was unreliable given that it was derrived from the excellent Hispano HS 404. Although, the British derivative, the Hispano Mk.I had jamming issues when used in Hurricanes and Spitfires. Though, those issues were solved in the Mk.II. The Israelis replaced the Colt with the DEFA and Singapore the ADEN. Since both guns were NIH, I'm not surprised NAVAIR did not both replying. I suppose from their perspective it woud have meant a new gun and calibre to worry about.

Not just the Aussies using "FrankenSAMs." Hey, if they work, they work!

War is the Mother of innovation and improvisaton.

Marin's learning that if a weapon can still kill you, it's not obsolete.

The L-39 is an impressive weapon. It's like someone took a look at a Boys, or Tankgewehr M1918 and said: "Its too small". The Solothurn S18-1000 is supposed to be the acme of AT rifles, though. Btw, the Soviet PTRD-41 AT rifle has been used in @ in Syria and Ukraine. If the S18-1000 was the Mercedes of AT rifles, the PTRD-41 is not even a Lada. It looks like a piece of drain pipe with a trigger assembly!

Just remember what happened the last time NATO broke through the iGB and headed for Magdeburg....

Well, at least on one ocasion, breaking through the IGB was just a War Game, though the Day After the second ocasion was not great!

Good work, and get with 394!

Thanks, though in this case I may take a bit of a break!

BZ Bernard.

Thank you.

A 37s!

I never expected those.

The Kiwis needed a cheap, rugged COIN aircraft for East Timor. The Strikemaster briefly filled the gap (inadequately), but the RNZAF had its eyes on the A-37. It fitted their requirements well. Plus, the Strikemasters were retained for less demanding tasks.

The Stasi would have executed thousands of politicians, teachers, civil servants, industrialists etc. behind the front, which I explicitlyx included in my contributions and which Jan repeated here, realistically.

Anyone seen as a 'class enemy', or just a potential trouble-maker would have, I understand, be executed...sorry, lets just say what it would be, murder. Executed as a word suggests a legal process, which it would not have been. It would have been war crimes. Nobody, whatever their political persuasion would have been safe. Again, from having done a bit of research, socialists and other left-wingers would have been targeted because of their record of opposing authority and being trouble-makers.

so the Ossies are forced to employ the aid of an organization that has a high incompetence and assholery per capita ratio.

NVA reserve formations and the KdA have been assigned to occupation duties, such as they are. I'd not have much faith in either organisation to do that job well. The VoPos are at least police of a sort.

Another possibility to poison the Ossies would be something that happened directly after WW2 in Kiel and/or Eckernförde during summer 1945 from hunger, desperation and ignorance.

Now that is nasty!

[Matt Wiser]

The Stasi would have executed thousands of politicians, teachers, civil servants, industrialists etc. behind the front, which I explicitlyx included in my contributions and which Jan repeated here, realistically.

Anyone seen as a 'class enemy', or just a potential trouble-maker would have, I understand, be executed...sorry, lets just say what it would be, murder. Executed as a word suggests a legal process, which it would not have been. It would have been war crimes. Nobody, whatever their political persuasion would have been safe. Again, from having done a bit of research, socialists and other left-wingers would have been targeted because of their record of opposing authority and being trouble-makers.

Makes you wonder what NATO forces found in the Hackett books as their counteroffensive began after the B-52 strike on the Krefeld Gap...It wouldn't have been very pretty (at the very least).

[Jotun]

The Stasi would have executed thousands of politicians, teachers, civil servants, industrialists etc. behind the front, which I explicitlyx included in my contributions and which Jan repeated here, realistically.

Anyone seen as a 'class enemy', or just a potential trouble-maker would have, I understand, be executed...sorry, lets just say what it would be, murder. Executed as a word suggests a legal process, which it would not have been. It would have been war crimes. Nobody, whatever their political persuasion would have been safe. Again, from having done a bit of research, socialists and other left-wingers would have been targeted because of their record of opposing authority and being trouble-makers.

Makes you wonder what NATO forces found in the Hackett books as their counteroffensive began after the B-52 strike on the Krefeld Gap...It wouldn't have been very pretty (at the very least).

Scenes reminiscent of WW2‘s atrocities, followed by a suspicious drop in enemy combatants being taken prisoner of war?