Version 1.0 Setting Background

[Mahatatain]

Thanks again for all the comments and insights very useful indeed.

For the timeline Im creating I think that Operation Restore Hope in Somalia wont have happened as I agree with raketenjagdpanzer.

GW1 presents a much larger problem though because without the lessons learned there, as Legbreaker pointed out, there are a load of other changes that would need to be made, particularly in the form of new vehicles and weapon systems that wouldnt have been developed and I dont fancy attempting to try to work out (as a GM) what doesnt exist (I dont think that I have the knowledge to do it anyway!). I could simply just take whats in the books but as Im using a variant of the v2.2 rules that is already blurred and Im going to end up in lots of conversations with my players regarding what gear is and isnt available.

I therefore need to keep GW1 in the background somehow and my thought is to have a smaller scale version of GW1 that involves less commitment in terms of British troops but which still generates the learnings that the real one did. While this might have some slightly unrealistic elements to it I dont think that its a major issue. It will cause increased friction between NATO and the Soviet Union but then that just helps explain the eventual descent into the Twilight War several years later.

One thing though several people have mentioned Webstrals timeline of events. Does anyone have a link to this because I would like to have a read and quite possibly just use it!

Lastly I need to go and refresh my memory of Iran according to the RDF sourcebook as that is also different to reality and needs to be covered off.

Thanks for all the comments.

Mahatatain.

[Raellus]

In my opinion, IRL the chaos going on in the Pact countries in the 89-95 era encouraged other countries to take actions they wouldn't have dreamed of if the USSR was still stable and in control.

I agree. In my T2KU, the Soviet Bloc doesn't fall, and the USSR's continuance as a global superpower prevents client/satellite states like Iraq and Yugoslavia from going off script, so to speak. Therefore, in my T2KU, there's no GW1 and no Balkans wars. I don't know exactly why I don't like the idea of GW1 being a part of the Twilight War timeline, but I just don't.

I like to look at T2K as an alternate history/universe where the Cold War doesn't end, but instead goes hot. It's probably a function of growing up during the last decade of the Cold War, and discovering T2K in '86. If I'd come to the game later, like after GW1, I think my preferences would be a little different. But there's definitely more than a hint of nostalgia at play for me.

[Mahatatain]

I agree. In my T2KU, the Soviet Bloc doesn't fall, and the USSR's continuance as a global superpower prevents client/satellite states like Iraq and Yugoslavia from going off script, so to speak.

Just being picky a little Rae (sorry) but can you really describe Yugoslavia as a satellite state of the USSR I'm not an expert on the history of Yugoslavia but Tito fell out with Stalin in 1948 and I thought that Yugoslavia was always regarded as a bit of an independent communist state from then onwards. For a start I don't believe that they were ever members of the Warsaw Pact and they also founded the Non-Aligned Movement.

[dude_uk]

One thing though several people have mentioned Webstrals timeline of events. Does anyone have a link to this because I would like to have a read and quite possibly just use it!

http://www.ludd.ltu.se/~antenna/webstral/index2.htm

A truly excellent read. The only grating thing about it, is that there has not been a sequel!

It gives solutions to several Gulf War headaches and in fact gives opportunities for later problems. Namely:

1) The Gulf War is allowed to go on because Hussain starts it without Soviet permission.
2) The Soviets then use it as political currency to curry favour with the west.
3) It gives the Soviets a chance to see the armoured UK/US war machine in action with no cost to themselves.

With regards to the British, either downgrading the force to a Brigade level formation or going one Brigade with Challenger 1 and Warrior and one with Chieftain and FV432. There were 180 challengers that went to the gulf, which then left around 850 Chieftains in the UK/Germany.

Part of me thinks that all the shiny toys went to the gulf in our timeline, so that BAE/Vickers et all would have decent footage for the foreign sales market.

[Raellus]

Just being picky a little Rae (sorry) but can you really describe Yugoslavia as a satellite state of the USSR I'm not an expert on the history of Yugoslavia but Tito fell out with Stalin in 1948 and I thought that Yugoslavia was always regarded as a bit of an independent communist state from then onwards. For a start I don't believe that they were ever members of the Warsaw Pact and they also founded the Non-Aligned Movement.

You're absolutely right, Mahatatain. However, the Yugoslavs always had to look over their shoulders and consider the potential reaction of their powerful Slavic neighbor before acting. IIRC, Yugoslavia (under Tito) at one point considered annexing Albania but decided against it because they did not want to draw the ire of the Soviet Union. Even though the Yugoslavs tried to straddle the fense between east and west, there was always a bear in the room. With a healthy, robust Soviet union looking right over their shoulder, it is debatable whether the Yugoslavian government would have allowed the dissent and nationalism that led to the breakup and ethnic conflict which enveloped the country in the early '90s. Even if it did start to break up in a continued Cold War scenario, it's possible that the Soviet Union could have stepped in to stop it from doing so. They could have justified it to the west as a peacekeeping mission. This would certainly have increased tensions between east and west. Now that I think about it, I kind of like this idea because it segues nicely into the start of WWIII in Europe five or six years later.

It may be a case of correlation without causation but I don't think it's any coincidence that the breakup of Yugoslavia began shortly after the fall of the Soviet empire and not before.

[B.T.]

I don't know, if this is a silly idea, but just thinking:

IIRC, Yugoslavia fell apart after Tito's death. In a Twilight version, Tito's death and uprisings in Yugoslavia might have been starting a little earlier, coincidantially while there was trouble in Kuwait. Then it could be, that the NATO states (and allies) went for Saddam, whereas the Soviets are "helping the socialist brothers" in Yugoslavia.
Therefore both things could have been happening: A downscaled GF1 and a Soviet peacekeeping mission on the Balkans.

[James Langham]

Without the Gulf War, the British Army may well have looked at replacing the Challenger I. It had a very poor image after the Canadian Army Trophy Competition in 1987 and only it's performance in the Gulf gave it the good image back (it ironically achieved the longest range kill of the war at 4k). Without the war it may well have been replaced faster (and even if the Challenger II is bought it is likely it will have a different name).

[Mahatatain]

Thanks again for all the help/comments.

dude_uk - thanks for the link - I'll have a read of the 81 pages......

Rae/B.T. - I see what you mean about Yugoslavia (though it's also interesting to speculate what would have happened if Milo!ević had managed to keep it together as a country) but for the purposes of filling in the gap in the v1.0 background/timeline I need to keep Yugoslavia together as a country so that it can side with Romania in 1996 and both can then join NATO. Therefore the Yugoslav Wars can't happen in the timeline, at least in the same way as they did in reality.

James - that's exactly why I need to include GW1 in some form - without it there is a whole load of technology advances/changes that need to be reviewed.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

On a separate note are there any other major events in world history that need to be reconsidered for the v1.0 background/timeline to make sense

Thanks for all the help.

Mahatatain.

[Legbreaker]

The technology itself doesn't need to change much at all given both editions of the game were written before any significant lessons could be learnt (or before even knowledge of the lessons in V1.0).
It's just as matter of resisting the urge to introduce additional tech and alter orbats from what they otherwise would have been. Essentially, just leave everything as it is in the books and you save a hell of a lot of trouble for yourself.

[Graebarde]

Let me tell you how I played out the scenario. I have used it for the start of a game played entirely in the US with a group of 'civilians', so it's primarily a back story to the game, but.......

The date of Iraq's invasion/incusrion/what ever you want to call it, occured in 1996. The Iraqi forces had been reequipped by the Soviets after their war with Iran in the 80's. Guns for oil as it was. They also had Soviet 'advisors and technicians' in country. At the time there WERE the 6th largest army in the world, yada yada...

The second thing I had was the relationship between the Saudi's and US was on-off affair. There WAS pressure agains them resulting from 'infadels on Saudi soil.'

So the stage is set per se.

Day one: The Republican Guard Corps with Special Forces roll into Kuwait. Yes there was saber rattling for a short time before. But as they were as stated in essence a Soviet satellite/client, no actions were taken before K-day.

On the SAME day, in the early morning hours, a large freighter was making passage up the Suez from the south. In the narrow track of water, which is not all that deep either, it is scuttled by explosions. Egyptian forces are searching for crewmen from the freighter. This action effectively closes the Suez canal. US forces from the east coast are now faced with an added minimum of two weeks transit as they have to go south around the Cape.

The sun rises on the Persian Gulf. The Indian Ocean CTF (I have it as the Eisenhower) has been dispatched to the Gulf with the Amphibs in tow. As they approach the coast of Oman, south of the Straights of Hormuz, a super tanker is making passage. BOOM!! An unexplained explosing rips through the tanker, setting it adrift and on fire. Was it a missle mine torpedo Nobody knows, but the CFT is stopped short until it can be determined.

Iraq has also sent a message to the Saudi's telling them IF they do not evict the infadels, or make effort to interfer in Kuwait, they might face the same. It does have the effect of causing the Saudi's to hesitate, buying time for the Iraqi to consolidate, which they do rapidly. Much faster than might be expected. (it's my game guys, in their ideal world.)

Day Two: Kuwait has fallen rapidly in the face of overwhelming forces. Follow-on has come across the desert from the north west and is positioning along the Saudi northern border. Iraq sends it's warning again, and this time says if the infadels are not sent packing immediately, Saudi will pay. NO forces from the US are forthcoming at the moment, but there is a scramble in CONUS to find units to deploy. The RDF is centered around the 24th Mech Division and 9th Infantry as well as the 6th ACCB. The ready brigade from the 82nd sits on the tarmac waiting for a green light.

Day Three: The US limited number of troops in Saudi have NOT been sent packing. The Suez is still closed and will probably be for a while. Secondary exlposions have occured on the freighter. SoH are shut as the tanker continues to burn and drift. NO OIL IS COMING OUT OF THE GULF. Oil prices have shot through the roof in the US. Up three dollars at the pump in three days. First brigade of the 24th have been loaded on Fast Transports and are heading for the long trip to PG. Marine regiment from Okinawa is loading rapidly for transit to PG.

Day Four: Early morning. Iraqi corps rolls south across the Saudi border. A second corps heads southwest across the desert for KKMC. Special Forces brigade heads for the major pipeline running across the north Saudi.

Saudi gives the green light to US for aid. Combat airwing from US, which has prestaged in Italy during the past couple of days, heads for Saudi. Ready Brigade from 82nd is given green light and is wheels up within a very short time. Mission is to secure airheads for the 9th as much as anything. 9th is loading at McChord for a very long flight. Heavy elements of the division are loading on vessels in the Puget Sound.

The Iraqi forces are making good headway down the coast and across the desert. By afternoon, the pipeline has been breached, rather two pumping stations have been damaged enough no oil flows west.

The first wave of the 82nd gets a warm greeting. Iraqi fighters jump them. Yes it is a bloody loss for the Iraqi, but they still manage to down four C141 loaded with paratroopers, who were not prepared to make a jump. It was suppose to be a landing at a 'friendly' airfield.

Iraq warns Saudi's their oil fields will burn if they do NOT turn the infadels away. Too late for them to do such, as there is now blood in American eyes.

MEU elements from the IO task force are airlifted in jumps from ship to Bahrain. Oman has given permission for landing of heavy elements of the division. Marines begin amphibious landing OTS into Oman. They face a 500 plus road march north. A logitics nightmare.

Mine sweepers are working hard to clear the straights.

The cargo vessels at Diego Garcia with equipment for a heavy brigade slice are underway. WHERE will they unload Oman does not have all the facilities they might need. (I was/am not 100% on this, but that is where the vessels need to unload at this time.)

Day Five: Iraqi forces fighting Saudi forces along the coastal highway with good results against the Saudi's. KKMC is being approached. Heavy fighting.

82nd has the remnants of their ready brigade on the ground in the Saudi capital. Speed bumps against the Iraqi armor. First elements of 9th are on the ground. Marines are forming for movement north. Every HET in Oman has been given to help with the move, which is barely enough for the tank company and AmTracks. Crews go with their vehicles.

Long range attacks on Iraqi forces by Naval Aviation off the Eisenhower has slowed the process, however hard lessons are learned by the surviving aviators. Iraqi Air Defense is better than thought. The Iraqi air force is also in the furball, though suffer heavy losses.

Day Six:
Some time after midnight, reports of oil wells afire reach HQ. The threat has been fulfilled. Iraqi SF units are busy in the oil fields. 9th elements are sent to clean them out.

Marines from Bahrain are forming hasty defense line at Dahrain. By mornings light the Iraqi are within 30 miles of their location. Air attacks continue against the column with AAA/SAM fire taking the toll. It's a war of attrition at this time. USAF is busy up north, as the ALOC has moved south around the area where Iraqi fighters have still attacked transports.. with success at a cost.

By sundown, the air above northern Saudi has become a black oily cloud as close to 200 wells and counting are afire.

In the US, two refinerys have had 'unexplained' explosions: BP Houston, and Belle Chase LA. over the past two days. The oil prices are through the roof. Pump price of gas is rapidly approaching ten dollars a gallon. Srock market is in turmoil with bubble burst. down 20% in the week. Precious metals are up as is the rest of the commodity market.

Day Seven:
Marines from Oman are still half a day from Dahrain as Iraqi artillery, much of it MRL, rains down on them. 9th elements have arrive to assist the defense of what the US knows is a life line to the gulf at Dahrain.

Troops are spread thin on the ground. (Note there is no build up of two months to fight this war. It's boots on the ground into the line fighting.)



To make a long story short... Yes the Iraqis are pushed back north. It's a bloody fight from day one. The corps coming from the north through KKMC has reached the capital by end of day 9. SCUD attacks decimate facilities, primarily port side and airfield. USAF has taken a hit from the first wave of SCUDS. The SCUDS were more effective than thought as well. So much for intelligence reports and suppositions.

Oman is used until the straights are cleared, which took the better part of two weeks before the Eisenhower was allowed passage. They never did learn what caused the tanker to explode. It sank when it was run aground out of shipping lanes.

Other attacks occured in the US before the war in Europe started. One of mention is the LNG carrier that wiped out Perth Amboy NJ and much of the area, which caused quite a panic in NYC with reports of a nuclear attack. The ensuing firestorm was what did the majority of the damage to the city. Cost of life was extremely high as well. The American people are enraged, much like they were after 9/11.

Nasty Guard is mobilizing for a war in the Gulf. In GW1(2) there was a problem with the NG round out brigades. I recall two in particular that did not meet the criteria for deployment within the alloted time. MS brigade for 1 CAV had major problems, as did the LA guard brigade for the 5th.

Personally I never liked the round-outs and being MY game, I had the guard organized in 25 divisions regionally much as they had through their histories. The Regular army had 18 divisions and six brigades and 9 cavalry regiments/brigades of with four were ACCB, for 23 division equivalent active. The USMC had three active and one reserve division. Total force ready withing 120 days (on paper at least) was 52 divisions. Note that not all of the NG elements were full strength, nor were all the regulars for various reasons. This count does not include special operations units.

Just my take on the start of the Twilight war. I know it is not even close to canon. As for the war in Europe, it starts and funcitons much as what was envisioned by the cold war. NOT with intrigue of the Germans, though when the war started, there were defections by DDR units to FRG units, but it was a bloody long and hard fought war from the start. It started in October, at the end of REFORGER, as divisions were worn out from field exercise and the division returning to the states was in trumoil of going home.

Soviets rolled from barracks to the attack. The Norway theater was filled by 10th Mountain, 6th Marines task force, and 34th Infantry from Minnesota area (it was their war time mission to defend Norway.) As the game I have is set in Minnesota, the loss of troops from the 34th hits home.

[Mahatatain]

My only comment, I don't see Gorbachev making such a statement. By '86 or so, he and Reagan were having competing charm offensives. My thinking is, after Chernenko dies in 1985, he names Viktor Chebrikov to the top slot...and he begins to make things worse instead of better.

I saw this in the 1990 Timeline thread and it set me thinking that Gorbachev doesn't work in the timeline I'm putting together so I'm going to replace him wth Viktor Chebrikov. Thanks for the info Jason.