[OOC] Able Archer: 1983

[Gunther]

I attended a TOW Trainer Course in 1991. I was hoping they would impart some tactical deployment techniques, but alas, that was not to be. The course had more to do with the specifics and capabilities of the weapon. It is actually quite slow compared to a HEAT round fired from a MBT. On an average encounter, a T72 could get off 3 shots before the missile strikes their tank. They may not be well aimed shots, but nevertheless, they rounds will go down range. The best the tank crew can hope for is to disrupt the aim of the gunner. One too many flinches and the missile could go flying off into the heavens. But as of 1983, no WARSAW Pact tank crews know this.

[Pepschep]

tl;dr: Bombs, both blocks mobilise, Lübeck is empty.

[Gunther]

OK, I better read this. I started my next post last night and have been working on it this morning. I interrupted my writing last night because I had rented "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit."

I really enjoyed this movie. I've been a Kevin Costner fan for decades and have taken to Chris Pine over the past 10 years. He was an excellent choice for James T. Kirk and does a great Jack Ryan too. But more than that, I have been a Kenneth Branagh fan since the 1980s when he directed/produced the Shakespeare movies. I was pleasantly surprised to find him playing the villain in this movie as well as the Director. If you like Cold War Spy thrillers, you'll like this movie. It pits the CIA v. former FSB agents in a high tech thriller. Very well done, Mr. Branagh.

This morning I interrupted by writing for church.

[Gunther]

I added Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester to the roles of the 16th/5th Queen's Royal Lancers. :D Obviously I took some liberty wtih that one. I hope no one minds. Prince Richard served with the Royal Anglian Regiment (Infantry), Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Logistics Corps, 6th Battalion The Rifles (Infantry), Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers, and three RAF units. But I believe those military appointments were "honorary", in name only.

[Gunther]

If you read my WoT, you'll note, I am just getting to a real battle. It is two companies versus my one company and under constant barrage from Artillery for the previous 45 minutes.

[Pepschep]

Gunther, don't you mean it's 8 November rather than 9? Otherwise we skipped an entire day

[Gunther]

Time is difficult for me in this story. It took more than two days for the East Germans to reach Molln and Lauenburg. If they kicked off on the 7th, it is at least the 9th. I know it is difficult to imagine, but it is not like taking a Sunday drive in the country.

[SyrianHamster]

Gunther said
Time is difficult for me in this story. It took more than two days for the East Germans to reach Molln and Lauenburg. If they kicked off on the 7th, it is at least the 9th. I know it is difficult to imagine, but it is not like taking a Sunday drive in the country.

Sorry if that's my fault. I wasn't aware we were following the clock, I just assumed the RP was flowing along a general time line. My bad, I'll be sure to pay attention to the time/day and keep my posts limited to realistic time constraints.

[Gunther]

My apologies. Its just I'm trying to envision digging in all these vehicles into at least hull defilade positions and minefields and obstacles which take time to construct, but the Cavalry/Recce units conducting a series of delaying actions to hold back the East Germans, giving the front line troops time to do all this constructing. IMHO, two days is too fast, and I've attempt to adjust to that. More likely three days, but I'm sure I'm just being nit picky. I'm sorry for that.

[Rare]

I'm done with my CS, it's on page 3. Is it accepted?

[Pepschep]

Okay, 9th. Fair play.

Rare: Your guy needs Gunther's OK to get my OK

[Gunther]

I wrote most of that, Dutchbag. ;)
I tole him to be a Battalion Commander, he would be in his late 30s or early 40s then more than likely a Vietnam Veteran. I also through in the Bronze Star for him.

EDIT: Although 25th ID was no where near Khe Sanh. Their biggest test were the Tunnels of Cu Chi, which I learned yesterday is now part of an historical monument in Vietnam.

[Pepschep]

If you approve, then it's approved.

I wonder how many of the Americans present are Vietnam veterans or have been at Grenada.

[Gunther]

Grenada was in October, 83 and only the US 82nd Airborne, 75th Rangers and US Marines were at Grenada. Those units will be in country soon, but I doubt any Grenada veterans PCS'd from these units to 2nd AD (Forward). PCS: Permanent Change of Station.

When I was with 2-36 IN (M), 3rd AD in 84, my supply sergeant had served a tour with the 4th ID and one with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam. My Battalion Commander was with the 1st Cavalry Division as a Platoon Leader. To be a Vietnam "era" veteran and be in the Army in 1983, at a minimum, the soldier would be 26 years old and that marks 1975 as the last year of the war. More than likely they are older. Most Vietnam veterans left the military and by 1972 - 75, they were downsizing quite a bit. 67 - 72 was the height of the war. More than likely, your veteran served during that time period.

Since we are chatting about this, I am considering working on the 3rd Brigade, 2nd AD Brigade Commander. I could use this character to collaborate with Rare. The FSB Commander essentially runs the Brigade Support Area, or at least his portion of it (75%) and works closely with the Brigade's Supply Officer (S4). I could make up a CS for the Brigade Commander and then use the S4 and S1 and NPCs. The Brigade Commander will definitely be a Vietnam Vet and be an old fart.

[Gunther]

Ok, I created the 3rd Brigade Commander, 2nd AD. He's a frickin' hero:

Character sheet
Name: Chester "Chet" McInnis
Age: 44
Description: Chester McInnis stands 6' 2" and weighs 195 Lbs. He has black hair, kept in a high and tight haircut. When allowed to grow, his temples are gray and many of the strands of hair in his beard and mustache are also gray. He has a scar on his thigh and shoulder from combat in Vietnam in 1966. His steel gray-blue eyes are piercing and makes a butter bar's knees wobble when he stares at them. Colonel McInnis is focused on the mission and requires little sleep at night; one of those types that can operate on four to six hours of sleep. He is a man of few words and more action.

Background: Chet McInnis was born in 1939 to Robert and Barbara (Kellogg) McInnis in Austin, TX. Chet has three older brothers, Robert Jr., William and Allan. When Chet was three years old, his oldest brother Robert, who was 10 helped his mother to take care of him and his brothers. Robert McInnis (Senior) joined the army and served with the 10th Infantry Division from 1943 to 1945. The 10th spent time training in Texas before being shipped over seas. Robert McInnis saw action in Italy between January and May 1945. Robert McInnis served in the 85th Infantry Regiment achieving the rank of Sergeant before being discharged in November, 1945.

Chet's father never really talked about his experiences in Italy, but nevertheless, the four McInnis brothers looked up to their dad as a hero. They would dig his medals out of his old foot locker and stare at them. Their father earned the Silver Star for his actions during the Po Valley Campaign in April.

In 1950, Chet's oldest brother Robert, Jr. joined the Army and served with the 24th Infantry Division at Pusan, Korea during the outbreak of War. Robert McInnis never saw his 19th birthday being one of the earliest casualties of the Korean Conflict.

In 1957, Chet graduated from High School and received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. By this time, His brother Bill was serving as a boatswain's mate aboard the USS Enterprise and his brother Allan was working as a car salesman in Austin, TX. Al never considered joining the military.

Four years later, Chet graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry and went on to the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Airborne School and Ranger School at Ft. Benning, GA. By January, 1962, Lieutenant McInnis had completed these courses and was assigned as a Rifle Platoon Leader to the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Regiment, 82nd Infantry Division (Airborne). Shortly after being assigned to the Airborne, Lieutenant McInnis was sent to South Vietnam to act as an advisor to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. He remained in country for 12 months and returned to Ft. Bragg as a 1st Lieutenant. This was July, 1963. He remained at Ft. Bragg for another year and a half. During this time, he met his wife Shirley. They were married on 15 May 1964.

On 1 June 1964, Chet McInnis was promoted to Captain and attended the Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Ft. Benning, GA in August, 1964. Shirley McInnis accompanied her husband to Ft. Benning and returned to their home in Fayetteville, NC when her husband returned for Special Forces training. Upon completion of IOAC, Captain McInnis attended Special Forces School at the newly opened John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center on Ft. Bragg, NC. He graduated from Special Forces school on 28 August 1965 and was immediately assigned as an Alpha detachment commander in the 1st Special Forces Group deployed to the Republic of Vietnam.

This would be Chet McInnis' second deployment to Vietnam, but first in a combat role. From late 1965 to late 1966, Captain McInnis operated out of Firebase Charlene in the central highlands along the Cambodian border training Montagnards who were then fighting against the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong. In September 1966, while on a patrol near the Ho Chi Minh trail, Captain McInnis' patrol was engaged by several NVA soldiers. The patrol was overwhelmed and everyone in his command perished except Captain McInnis. He received a bullet wound to the thigh and received shell fragments to his shoulder. He crawled two miles away from the battle area and was discovered by Montagnards who got him medical attention. Captain McInnis was medically evacuated to Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, MD. His recovery time was only three months and it was during his time in Maryland that he met his son, Benjamin who was born 21 November 1965. The child was already 10 months old when Chet was able to hold his son.

After discharge from Walter Reed, Chet McInnis was assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group in Bad Tölz, Germany. While with 10th SFG, Chet McInnis learned to speak German and French. He trained closely with German, Austrian and French soldiers. He skiid the Austrian alps and even participated in some cold weather training in Norway with Norwegian soldiers. Chet enjoyed his time with the 10th Group and his wife enjoyed living in Germany as well. The family grew a daughter, Michelle, who was born on April 3rd, 1967.

On 1 June 1968, Chet McInnis was promoted to Major and assigned as the Brigade S3, Operations Officer for the 3rd Brigade, 101st Infantry Division (Airborne) and found himself back in the Republic of Vietnam for a third time in July, 1968. This time, he was in the A Shau Valley and his soldiers were fighting against the NVA regulars.

In May 1969, Major McInnis planned the Operation Apache Snow in conjunction with ARVN officers. The intent of the Operation was to destroy NVA units operating in the mountains. The most notable mountain was known as Hill 937. From 10 May until 20 May 1969, Major McInnis planned no fewer than eleven infantry assaults conducted by soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry; 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment; and the 1st Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. This action will be forever remembered as the Battle of Hamburger Hill. For his role in the battle, Major McInnis received his second Silver Star.

In July, 1969 Major McInnis returned to the US and his family in North Carolina. He took a month leave and then attended the Combined Arms Staff Service School. Once that was complete, Major McInnis was assigned as a Special Staff Officer to the Division Headquarters of the 1st Armor Division in West Germany (1 Sep 69). The McInnis family returned to Germany and remained their for the next five years. During this time, Chet McInnis learned more about Division and Corps level operations.

In September, 1974 Chet McInnis was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was reassigned as Battalion Commander of 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, Ft. Carson, CO. He moved his family into governmental housing on Ft. Carson. LTC McInnis had a successful tour of duty as the BC of 1-12 IN (M). After three years (1977), he stepped down as BC and took the job as Executive Officer of 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized).

In 1979, LTC McInnis attended the US Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. This Officer Professional Development Course is a requirement for promotion to General Officer status. While serving in Vietnam he had established contacts with a few people who would later become elected to political office; one US Senator and one Congressman. These gentleman had the utmost respect for Chet McInnis and insured he was well taken care of.

In 1980, LTC McInnis was sent to 7th Army Headquarters, US Army Europe (USAEUR) in Heidelberg, Germany. His family was by now becoming accustomed to the language and customs in Germany. His initial assignment was as Special Staff Officer in the G3 Operations Center for 7th Army. He held this position for two years until he was promoted to Colonel on 1 June 1982. Effective the same date, he was given command of 3rd Brigade, 2nd Armor Division (Forward) at Lucius D. Clay Kaserne in Garlstedt, Germany.

During his military career, Colonel McInnis spent three tours in Vietnam, with the 82nd Airborne, 1st Special Forces Group and 101st Airborne. He received two Silver Starts, one with a "V" for Victory device and a Legion of Merit. He attended Aiborne, Ranger and Special Forces School. He wears the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) with two stars indicating three tours in combat. Colonel McInnis has remained in the top rankings of his Officer Evaluation Reports since his days with the Special Forces.

Unit: 3rd Brigade, 2nd Armor Division (US) (Forward)
Role: Brigade Commander
Equipment: M1911A1 ACP
Rank: Colonel
Misc.: Spouse: Shirley McInnis lives in housing area in Heidelberg, Germany. Their son, Benjamin is almost 18 and in his senior year of High School. Their daughter, Michelle is 16 years old and a Junior at the same High School. Benjamin McInnis has, like his father received an appointment to the USMA at West Point and intends to be in the Freshman class in the fall of 1984.

[Rare]

This will not die! I'm making my first post as we speak.

[Gunther]

Woo Hoo!

[SyrianHamster]

Rare said
This will not die! I'm making my first post as we speak.

Thirteen hours later and Rare has written a small novel, put it up on the Kindle store, and is making megga bucks whilst we all sit here sucking eggs.

Haha, I'll be concluding Eckhardt's assault on Molln's northern bounds either tonight or tomorrow. Promise.

[FourtyTwo]

I haven't posted in a while, and this I know, but I will get one up shortly. Hopefully. I know that Lubeck is seeing scorched earth warfare, and they've left behind the area, but I'll have my guys sweeping up the last British forces in theater at the Airfield, before then having the Battalion HQ move up to them, and the beginnings of the assault on Hamburg.

[SyrianHamster]

I promise, and I deliver.