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STANAVFORLANT Holds the Line, 1968

This scenario assumes World War III started in 1968 with a Warsaw Pact invasion of Turkish territory. Soviet goals appeared to be modest, limited to seizing control of the Turkish Straits and areas of eastern Turkey that would give them direct access to their allies Syria and Iraq.

During the first week of fighting, Turkey took serious losses. Much of its navy and air force have been destroyed. Warsaw Pact troops are in control of towns like Edirne and Corlu in the west, and Igdir and Kars in the east. Across the rest of Europe, fighting has been limited. So far, the Soviet Union has not attempted to invade other NATO territory. Instead, it has heavily reinforced its borders and focused its attacks on disrupting resupply efforts and slowing down preparations for any counterattacks in the Mediterranean.

As the war enters its second week, however, intelligence sources warn that the Soviets may attempt to seize the island of Jan Mayen in the Norwegian Sea. Jan Mayen is not critical in and of itself, but an increased presence of Soviet forces in the Norwegian Sea would threaten Atlantic sea lanes and force NATO to pull ships and submarines out of the Mediterranean.

As the admiral in charge of TG Wasp, you command an anti-submarine carrier and her escorts, and you will be responsible for protecting Jan Mayen. You have done well against the Soviets so far, inflicting significant losses to their submarine force. This new mission, however, may prove challenging. Ships from the newly formed STANAVFORLANT are available to assist TG Wasp, along with the British submarine Odin, but you will be facing both a Soviet surface group and a Soviet wolfpack.

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Scenario Author: Mark Gellis