I need help with my WWIII 1946 Mega Campaign especially in seeing the conflict from the Soviet side. I am an American and all of my indoctrination, information and world view is based on the evil Soviet Empire drilled into us here in the states for decades. I of course have read and logically know that there are two sides to the story but I could really use some help in seeing things from the Soviet side and espesially in making the mission narratives more realistic from the Soviet view point.
My head is filled with standard lines about comrade this and capitalist pig that. Any help would be most welcome.
I also an woefully uneducated in naval operations and could really use some help in making these careers more compelling and realistic. The US Navy will play a huge role in this Mega Campaign.
Drop me a line if you want to help.
Hkellogg36@gmail.com
ROSOBORONEXPORTCORP
Guest
I can't speak directly to the question (as I'm not from a former Soviet Bloc country). However, I have attached two useful references.
I think it is useful to remember that the difficulty of the Russian Civil War and the Great Patriotic War / Great Domestic War (ie. WWII) had considerable influence on society. Survival rates were higher in Gulags than on the front lines and society adapted to casualties as best as possible (industrial and political casualties as well as military). During the war many units had as much as ten times the attrition rate we had in the West and the Pacific.
Unit level innovation:
- I remember reading an analysis of the battle of Khalkin Gol. The conclusion was that the Japanese were better trained, better drilled and had a more effective command structure. This resulted in the Japanese following through with their plans, tactics and training. As a result of doing so they were soundly defeated.
- In comparison, the Soviets made mistakes at the command level (eg. sending poorly trained reserves into the assault if I recal), but showed considerable tactical innovation at the unit level. This is the opposite of American Cold War propaganda. We were taught for years that Soviet citizens couldn't innovate as they "only worked one job, were terrified of superiors and supervised at all times".
- Additional evidence can be found in the use of transfers to aid unit level exchange of tactics and training, as well as the gradual process of improving designs on the production lines themselves.
"Lend lease" interviews:
- The lend lease interviews with veterans that are being conducted and translated are also a very valuable resource. The most useful parts for your purposes won't be the actual combat descriptions. I'd recommend looking at the biographies up to the start of the war. I might also look at the discussion of VE day and any discussion of transfers between locations or units. These parts give a better idea of life and the views of the pilots. See:
http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/english/
I have some input.
First) Make the West the aggressors. Set up a phoney attack in Cuba, or sabotuers on the eastern seaboard. The president attacks and then informs the public of the massacre he had set up.
Second) Make the US Navy already in the Black Sea when the West attacks. A dedicated task force should be in the area around Turkish shores.
The Soviets will probably fly out Tu-4s as spotter planes, so F4Us will probably have to intercept. Marines should invade the Crimea and head to Stalingrad or something. Soviets have trouble but try consistent aerial attacks on US fleets. Submarines are also used, but the surface fleet is kept back to repel the invasion as it lands at the shores.
Third) US nukes Leningrad for symbolic reasons early on. The Soviets, who are not nuclear armed yet, send mass armies west. The US Navy blockades Sakhalin and pushes North through China to cut off the Soviet front lines from their factories in the east. B-32 Dominator makes debut in Europe. The US Army pushes east, first into Berlin, then into Poland to secure harbors and ports. The Polish are 'liberated' a third time and join the West. There is no East Germany
NOW from the Soviet side......
Tons of units are still deployed to Czechoslavkia and East Germany. Artillery is the main threat to the US forces. The Soviets alert their naval air forces and train them for long range ship strike missions. The Soviets need to deprive the Americans of ports so Poland is important to defend. A lot of AAA and artillery are seen as the answers. Tanks mass but face possible nuclear attacks so they remain hidden and travel at night. The attempt to ambush the advancing Western armies, while attempting to make the US Army stretch beyond it's own limits. French send aid to Italy to help defend Austria. P-47s and SBDs make up the meat of this force, but the Soviets may or may not try to push there.
[b]Now about the Navy side.[/]
I think it's likely that a combined fleet of American, Australian, British, Canadian, and New Zelander vessels would have formed to make it most likely that supplies keep flowing from the USA. It's probably that Turkey may take sides in this war, and it would be with the West. The fleets could rotate out of Istanbul, which would help contain parts of the Soviet Navy. The Battle of the Atlantic would start again, as would a Battle of the Pacific. Searching out Russian subs would be a great priority early on.
The enlisted aviator programs would likely extend for the Navy and Marine Corps. The US would use many escort carriers in support of invasions, but most likely in support of the supply convoys. Great battles may have happened in Finland.
I hope this helps....
Very nice both of you.
I'll have to post some of my Soviet Mission Descriptions and briefings so you two can help with the Sovieting of them.
Again really good stuff.
Thanks
