Cold War Gone Hot

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Well I thought it might be neat to discuss what might have happened if the Cold War had gone hot. What would have happened, major events that might have happened (hypothetically speaking), technological differences and tactical differences of each side. Who do you think would have emerged victorious?

[timshatz]

Back in the 80s, I remember a bunch of scenarios that used to be run involving Western Europe. As I recall, all them ended with the West not stopping the Warsaw Pact. Mostly because they brought more to the party and had shorter re-supply lines.

After that, it went nuclear. First tactical, then strategic. Lots of units made it through without a scratch, but only because they were on the High Seas, in the Air or Roadbound and on the way somewhere. The the lines of communication were gone.

Went with stalemate only because it wasn't complete nuclear destruction but the original states weren't running the show either.

[FLYBOYJ]

I went with NATO but I think Europe would have been destroyed - we know the Warsaw Pact had the numerical advantage but I think the short range tactical nukes would have been the deciding factor. I also believe the technological edge would of erased most of the numerical advantage but still the victory would have been at a steep price.

With all that said, I don't think NATO would have been occupying any Soviet territory as well - in the end I believe the victory would have been "conditional."

[rochie]

have gone with stalemate, mainly because i think nukes would have been used as fighting would have gone on and on and someone on either side may have desperate enough to look for a quick advantage.
not sure about nato's so called quality was as a great an advantage, i think it was there but mabye not as big as advertised and as was said quantity is an advantage all of its own

[timshatz]

I read a good analysis on the cold war going hot some time ago. One of the points they brought up was there being a pause in the fighting after about 30 days or so because both sides run low on ammunition and other critical suppliers. They use up so much that they litterally have to wait for the next shipment.

[rochie]

was wondering how realistic was the fighting described in red storm rising by tom clancy ? i mean the known weapon systems not the made up ones like the frisbee stealth aircraft

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by rochie

was wondering how realistic was the fighting described in red storm rising by tom clancy ? i mean the known weapon systems not the made up ones like the frisbee stealth aircraft

Excellent book, I love reading it over and over sometimes. I like to think that is how would have panned out, but I think I have to agree with Joes post up there.

We all know the fighting would have taken place mostly in Western Europe with the Soviets coming though the Fulda Gap. The quick Soviet attack would have pushed NATO further and further back. Tactical nukes would have been deployed and eventually the US would get whole more Mechanized and Armour divisions over to Germany and together with the NATO Allies the war would have been fought to an eventual conditional victory for NATO. Neither side being able to keep any of the enemies land which in the end would signal NATO victory.

The price would be heavy though...

[The Basket]

Well...be careful what you wish for!

The Russian bear is still swinging!

[JugBR]

the roachs...

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by JugBR

the roachs...

[Amsel]

I voted for "other". Eastern Europe would be liberated from the commies. Africa and Central America and parts of S.America would become marxist controlled. Cuba would be liberated by pro-American revolutionaries. Seattle would be bombed and burnt to the ground and mass starvation in the USSR would cause millions of civilian casualties. China would most likely donate troops to the Soviet bloc in exchange for food and weapons, but would remain economically inferior. Eventually the U.S.-Mexican border would be militarized to turn back the hordes of refugees from the south and marxist terrorists.

[SoD Stitch]

Agree with DA; WP would've probably made it close to the Atlantic, if not all the way, before we'd have a chance to push back. I think we would've ended up having to land our forces on the French or Spanish coast by the time we got to Europe with our airborne and seaborne forces; Germany would almost certainly have been overrun by the time we got there. I think it would've come down to NATO (specifically, the US) lobbing a couple of Pershing II's into WP formations, then everybody coming to their senses and deciding this might not be such a good idea (i.e.: escalation). Everybody would back off, we'd declare peace, and the USSR would get to keep Germany.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by SoD Stitch

and the USSR would get to keep Germany.

That I do not see happening. I think in the end it would have returned to pre war borders.

[Flyboy2]

The one thing about Red Storm Rising is that the Soviets lost because of an oil shortage... I'm not quite sure that would have happened. I always thought it would look a little more like World War I with a stalemate, except with nuclear bombs

[Kruska]

I voted US and NATO.

The Warsaw Pact forces would have run into a stalemate within a week, due to logistical/infrastructural problems, their inferior material and subsequently suffering extreme losses.
In a last effort to turn the tide, the reds would have launched a limited number of mid range nukes into Germany awaiting the response. A similar number of NATO nukes would have been launched into East-Germany, Poland and Czechoslovakia signaling; “you want more – you can have it”.

Russia would have called of the attack and in consequence the Eastern Block would have broken apart within weeks.

Regards
Kruska