Soviet invasion of Norway 1963
I've been working on a hypothetical Soviet invasion of northern Norway in Oct 1963, during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The scenario assumes no actual combat in central Europe, just LOTS of mobilization and sabre rattling on both sides.
The thinking is limited hostilities confined to northern Norway in order to agree to a to cessation of hostilities and a return to the original borders as a trading card for being allowed to place missiles in Cuba. After all, you can always blame a rogue commander and have him shot before things get totally out of hand!
The Norwegians have mobilized but not deployed their regular army in order to not provoke the Soviets. However their Homeguard and a handful of regular recon/Jaeger formations are defensively deployed ... "Just in Case". The USMC Battalion Landing Team (BLT) that's always afloat has been landed/deployed in order to insure the Soviets will be facing American units should they try anything. Gotta love international politics.
My questions are:
I assume the Soviets aren't going to send more then one Cat A Tank division (T-62/BTR-60) into northern Norway, the terrain is hardly suited to tank warfare, and the single division should be sufficient to punch thru any serious resistance encountered.
What other major (division size) formations would likely be available/used in northern Norway ... Airborne? Mechanized? Naval Infantry? Leg Infantry?
And just what would they be equipped with? T-55? T-44? T-34/85's presumably for the "Invisible Division" - Divisional Commander-Second Formation. BTR-50's? I presume BTR-152'a for the "Invisible Division".
Also would the less capable divisions spearhead the drive leaving the better equipped/manned/trained formations available to be used when and where needed? Or do you lead with your best?
I've dug around a bit but unfortunately can't read Russian and the stuff I can find in English covering this time period is sparse indeed.
Thanks for any help anyone can give!
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Suhiir - Wargame Junkie
People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." - Albert Einstein
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