How do you imagine a superpower shooting war in the 80s?

[Impaler[WrG]]

The Soviets were deadly afraid that America would launch a Nuclear strike, they considered us totaly loose cannons capable of blowing up the world just to spite them (a view we encouraged with Brinksmanship). They on the other hand would never have intentialy launched first (due to poor comand and control and sloppy launch proceduces their was considirable risk of an accidental Soviet launch or launch initiated by mid-level comand, their were several near misses too) or made any other provocative first move like a full scale land invasion of Europe. Both sides placed massive conventional armies facing each other across the Iron Curtain as largly symbolic displays of strength and determination, the only way in which these forces would have fought would be in the vengfull but pointless aftermath of a Nuclear exchange assuming any of them survived that is.

[TCO]

Originally posted by Lonestar


I can see that someone didn't pay attention to the whole John Walker=Traitor thing.

Green flare, motherfukker.

[TCO]

Originally posted by Zkribbler
I did read the book. Probably Clancy's weakest.


Commies aren't always the bad guys. Rent:
The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming! with Alan Arkins and Jonathan Winters.
and of course....
Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love to Bomb

The weakest (and there have been some weakies) was Patriot Games. Completely trite. One of the few times, the movie was better then the book. Had a decent story and cleared out all his crap.

RED OCTOBER was his best. My old man got me an autographed copy 6 months before he died (and weeks after the book came out). I read it on cruise on my first submarine and was amazed how he got a bit of a feel for what it's like. The inscription from the author read: "Good luck on your 688 cruise! -Tom Clancy"

[TCO]

I'm more of a PAC sailor any way...

[TCO]

Originally posted by Impaler[WrG]
The Soviets were deadly afraid that America would launch a Nuclear strike, they considered us totaly loose cannons capable of blowing up the world just to spite them (a view we encouraged with Brinksmanship). They on the other hand would never have intentialy launched first (due to poor comand and control and sloppy launch proceduces their was considirable risk of an accidental Soviet launch or launch initiated by mid-level comand, their were several near misses too) or made any other provocative first move like a full scale land invasion of Europe. Both sides placed massive conventional armies facing each other across the Iron Curtain as largly symbolic displays of strength and determination, the only way in which these forces would have fought would be in the vengfull but pointless aftermath of a Nuclear exchange assuming any of them survived that is.

KAL.

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by TCO


Green flare, motherfukker.

Those *******s were reading everything we transmitted. If a war had broken out in the early '80s the USN would have been up you-know-what creek without a paddle.

[TCO]

We routinely operated for months without an outgoing radio transmission. It's a different world, when you are a badass on the scope collecting tonnage. Broom on the mast, sukka.

[Lancer]

I'll go with the brain sucking aliens because the tech required to come to this planet is so far in advance of ours that one can assume their weapons would be equally advanced.

Regarding WW3 in the 80s, the balance had returned with the abrams. In the 70s the Sovs win unless we nuke em which we would have...which would have been the end of Lancer btw.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Zkribbler
The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming! with Alan Arkins and Jonathan Winters.

I loved that movie.

[chequita guevara]

Re: How do you imagine a superpower shooting war in the 80s?

Very short.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Brachy-Pride
no one doubted in the 80´s a sea of russian tanks would easily have conquered west europe, now that is not sure

Actually, lots of people doubted it, since every previous estimate of Soviet military superiority had been proven well before then to be a fabrication to justify a military build up on the part of NATO: the bomber gap, the fighter gap, the missile gap, the mine shaft gap, etc.

[lord of the mark]

this should be moved to the history forum.

[chequita guevara]

Do we get +1s?

[Zkribbler]

Re: Re: How do you imagine a superpower shooting war in the 80s?

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Very short.

Goodbye, Mom.
I'm off to drop the Bomb.
So don't wait up for me.

While you swelter,
Down there in your shelter,
You can see me...
On your T.V.

While we're attacking frontally
Watch Brinkeley and Hunteley
Discuss countrapuntally
The cities that we've lost.

I'll see you soon
When the war is over.
An hour and a half from now!

[TCO]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara


Actually, lots of people doubted it, since every previous estimate of Soviet military superiority had been proven well before then to be a fabrication to justify a military build up on the part of NATO: the bomber gap, the fighter gap, the missile gap, the mine shaft gap, etc.

America, **** yeah!