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Warsaw Pact: Planning for

Operations Against Denmark
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 Directorate of
Intelligence

Warsaw Pact: Planning for

Operations Against Denmar

A Research Paper

This papcrwasnrcna cd by
fflcc o Sovic LAnalysis wit
assistance fro
SOVA, and wit a contrbtion from
Officc of Europcan Analysis.

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Reverse Blank
April 1989
 Warsaw Pact: Planning for
Operations Against Denmark

Summary A substantial body of evidence indicates that, in the event of a

l'dor'uwn aonnadafde NATO-Warsaw Pact war, Pact planners remain committed to a coordi-
aifl J 989nated, phased offensive operation against Denmark. Such an operation
would be undertaken in support of the Pact's main offensive against
NATO's center. Pact plans appear to envisage initiating the operation
through Jutland into Denmark prior to NATO reinforcement, after
destroying or neutralizing NATO air, air defense, and naval forces in
southern Denmark and northern West Germany, and after the required
Pact transport, fighter aircraft, and other support assets become available.
Four divisions probably would attack the Jutland Peninsula and Fyn
Island, while naval infantry, airborne, sea-landing, and mechanized cle-
ments would assault Sjaclland Island (Zealand). The operation would place
a heavy demand on Soviet military airlift and scalift assets and also would
pose major naval mineclcaring problems for Pact commanders.

Because of these considerations, and the prohibitive risks and.uncertainties

associated with initiating airborne and amphibious operations prior to
attaining air superiority and sea supremacy, we believe the operation would
not be planned to begin before late in the first week of the war. Pact plan-
ners would prefer to launch the operation earlier but rareitmvlb.eliev-
operational constraints preclude this course of action.

Recent Warsaw Pact announcements regarding unilateral reductions and

the reorientation of their forces toward defense could eventually lead to a
less threatening and less capable array of Pact forces onnosieDenm_.
Nevertheles. ,
oviet war planners continue to attempt to improve Pact
capabilities for airborne and amphibious operations against Denmark in
the context of a theaterwide offensive against NATO. They have been
refining their force structure, streamlining command and control proce-
dures, and updating assault planning in the region. We believe this activity
stems from Soviet concern over force deficiencies in the Pact's existing
planning and uncertainty about the reliability and capabilities of Polish
forces. Other major considerations for Pact planners may be their percep-
tions that NATO's military strategy has become more offensive and that
NATO forces available for employment in the Danish area have become
more capable. Improvements may be an
outgrowth of the development and maturation of Soviet conceits_f r
combined, theaterwide offensive operations.

SOvr 89-seaCX
Reverse Stank jiz--989-
Contents

Page
Summary iii
The Basic Scenario I
Rationale for Planning Changes 2
The Current Operational Environment 4
Conclusions 6

Appendixes
A. Non-US NATO and National Ground Forces in Schleswig-Holstein 7
and Denmark When Fully Mobilized
B. Highlights of Pact Amphibious Exercises in the Baltic Region, 9
January 1984-September 1988
C. Warsaw Pact Air Operations Versus Denmark I 1

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 Warsaw Pact: Planning for
Operations Against Denmark

In recent years, Soviet and East European leaders The basic sccnario underlying Pact planning against
have stressed such topics as "defensive defense and Dcnmark has remained unchanged concc tall since
reasonable sufficiency;" however, Soviet war planners the 1970s.
apparently have not as yet reduced the importance
they attach to planning for offensive operations in the
Baltic region in the early stages of a general offensive
against NATO. Recent Warsaw Pact announcements
regarding unilateral force cuts and the reorientation
over time of forces toward defense could lead to a
reduction in the threat of an immediate military The Basic Scenario
assault against Denmark. Nonetheless, unless the Good reporting throughout
overall strategic concept of offensive or counteroffen- the 1970s and early 1980s showed that Pact planning
sive operations into NATO territory is clearly aban- against Denmark remained relatively constant during
doned, assault operations against Denmark will rc- that period. The basic scenario for operations in the
main an element of Pact planning for war against region at that time-unchanged conceptually to
NATO. In particular, Pact planners would hope to date-was as follows:
seize Denmark in support of offensive operations on
the main attack axis in Central Europe. The Pact Pact forces first would launch operations to destroy
would gain significant military and political advan- or neutralize NATO's air, air defense, and naval
tages by a successful assault against Denmark: con- forces.
trol of the Danish Straits and airspace and the
potential damage to NATO's political structure if a On day 3 of the war, the Polish-commanded front
m r begin
Dewould anduoperations
has reoffensive ocptal
ch n e into ic
member country were defeated at a critical point Jutland and
early in the war along the coastal axis toward Brussels and the
French border.
Pact control of Denmark would prevent NATO from
thI1 70
operating naval or amphibious forces against the The main effort of the front would be an offensive
Pact's flank or rear via the Baltic Sea. It also would along the coastal axis to seize crossing points over
afford Pact naval and, especially, air forces access to the Rhine River-the initial objective-and then to
the North Sea littoral, potentially hindering NATO's proceed to the French border via Brussels. Along
critical supply by sea and threatening bases in the this main axis, the 2nd Polish Army would serve
United Kingdom. Economic and political centers in Thei
initially as Basic~l1
the front's Scnai with the 4th
first echelon,
. southern Norway also would be put at risk Polish Army in the second echelon ready to be
committed once the front attained its immediate
Control of the Danish Straits would require not only objectives across the Rhine. One Sovict tank army
. landings on the Danish Islands but also the conquest
of the entire Jutland Peninsula (see map). Seizure of A front isa joint-forces command, roughly analogous to a
Wsern army grour, consisting of ground and air fores, combat
the Danish Islands would keep NATO maritime support demcnts, and, somctimes, naval forces. Athough front
forces out of the Baltic; however, without a coordinat- uniman and control eements exist
ed advance intu Jutland, it would also expose those , fronts are acuivated as commands only in wartime.

Pact forces involved to attack from northwestern

Europe southern Norway, and the United Kingdom.
 _I
from the western USSR also could be used to The offensive against Sjaclland also would begin on
augment the offensive on this axis. Pact planners day 8 of the war. The 6th Airborne Division would
expected the entire operation along this axis-to conduct an airbornc operation in the vicinity of
the French border and North Sea coast-to be Haslcv carly that day, and the 7th Sca-Landing
completed by days 12 to 14 of the war. Division, supported by the Combincd Baltic Flcct
and undcr East German air covcr, would conduct
. The front's secondary offensive effort would be to amphibious assaults to establish beachheads in the
attack into the Jutland Peninsula and against Sjacl- bays of Koge and Faske. The 15th Mechanized
land Island (Zealand) to seize Denmark and secure Division, transported to Sjaelland on Polish mcr-
the Danish Straits. The Ist Polish Army, supported chant ships, would land by the end of day 8 and
by airborne and amphibious forces, would conduct advance north to Helsingor, bypassing Copenhagen.
the operation. Along this axis, four divisions of the There it would secure positions on the north and
1st Army-thc 8th and 12th Mechanized Divisions northeast Danish coasts to protect naval passage
and the 16th and 20th Armored Divisions-would through the Danish Straits. Part of the airborne-
be responsible for seizing the Jutland Peninsula and amphibious force would move west to Korsor Har-
Fyn Island. A joint airborne and amphibious opera- bor and take up positions along the west coast to
tion against Sjaelland would involve the Polish 6th protect sea passage between Sjaclland and Fyn
Airborne and 7th Sea-Landing Divisions (these Island. Reinforced battalion-size forces would carry
small divisions were both redesignated brigades in the offensive into the Fallstcr and Lolland Islands.
1986), as well as Poland's 15th Mechanized Divi-
sion. This force would operate in conjunction with If resistance were strong on Fyn and Sjaclland
the Baltic Fleet's 336th Naval Infantry Regiment Islands, the operation to seize Denmark probably
and units of the 3rd Guards Motorized Rifle Divi- would n .be ompleted until day 13 of the war.
sion (Klaipeda, USSR). In addition, units of the
East German 8th Motorized Rifle Division might be
involved. Rationale for Planning Changes
Polish planners in the late 1970s recognized that force
- The first-echelon divisions of the Ist Army, that is, requirements for operations against Denmark, cou-
the 8th and 12th Mechanized Divisions, would be pled with commitments for operations on the northern
committed at a point near the inner-German border coastal axis, could overtax the capabilities of Polish
and attack on the Schwerin-Rendsburg- forces-especially the air forces. In addition, as the
Frcderikshavn axis. The 8th Mechanized Division Polish crisis of 1980-81 deepened, Pact leaders be-
would advance west on a line north of Hamburg to came coneerned that the unrest could degrade Polish
secure positions on the north bank of the Elbe River military capabilities to carry out assigned wartime
to block the river access to Hamburg. The 12th missions, During that period, the Poles reportedly
Mechanized Division would attack north through sought Irom the Soviets a reduction of Polish missions
Schleswig-Holstein and into Denmark to the within the war plan. Although we have no firm
Kolding-Vamdrop-Bramming line-the immediate evidence of a formal reassessment, the Soviets in the
objective on this axis-by about day 7 of the war. I980s appear to have been modifying war plans for
On day 8, the 16th and 20th Armored Divisions the region. In particular, the mix of Pact forces
would be committed from the 1st Army's second exercising the offensive scenario has varied in recent
echelon and would continue the attack nor'h to years. (Sec table for a comparative listing of available
Frederikshavn-the subsequent objective. As the forces possibly earmarked for the Pact offensive
two armored divisions started this advance to the against Denmark in 1978 and 1987.)
north, the 12th Mechanized Division would swing to
the east to secure Fyn Island.

- 2
Table 1
Full Mobilization of Warsaw Pact Assault/Combat
Forces Versus Schleswig-lolstein and
Denmark, 1978 and 1987

Nationality Unit Personnel Tanksa

Number Type

1978 Total 85,500 1,720

Polish 59,900 1.240
6th Airborne Division 4,000 0
7th Sca-L.anding Division 5.600 90 PT-76s
8th Mechanized Division -1,000 185 T-54/55;
12th Mechanized Division -1,300 200 T-54/55s
15th Mechanized Division 10.500 195 T-34/T-54/55s
16th Armored Division 8.900 285 T-54/55s
20th Armored Division . 8,600 285 T-54/55s
Soviet 4.000 255
336th Naval Infantry Regiment (Baltic FleeC 2.000 40 PT-76/T-55s
3rd Guards Motorized Rine Division (Baltic Military District) 12,000 215 T-54/S5s
East Gernian 11,600 225
8th Motorized Rifle Divisiot 11.600 225 PT76/T-55s
1987 Total 110,500 2.090
Polish 60.000 1.285
6th Airborne Brigade 4.200 0
7th Sca-landing Brigade 5,600 90 l'T-76s
8th Mechanized Division -- i_1,000 200 T-54/55s
12th Mechanized Division -11,300 200 T-54/55s
15th Mechanized Division 10500 225 T-34/T-54/55s
16th Armored Division _8,900 285 T-54/55Rs_
20th Armored Division 8.600 285 T-54/55/72s
Soviet 38.000 580
336th Naval inrantry Brigade (Baltic Flet) 3.400 40 PT-76/T-55s
6th Guards Motorized Rile Division (Northern Group of 14,000 270 T-80s
Forces)
7th Guards Airborne Division (Baltic Military District) 7.400 0
94th Guards Motorized RifneDivision (Group of Soviet Forces 14,000 270 T-64s
in Germany)
East German 11,600 225
8th Motorized Rifle Division 11,600 225 PT-76/T-55s
Personnel rigurcs are rounded to nearest hundred; tank. figutres
arc
rotunded to nearest 5.

.3
Another consideration for Pact pla .ners in recent The Current Operational Environment
years may have been their perecptir, of NATO force Pact military planners rmain committed to the con-
developments. Beginning in the late 1970s and early cept of a combined airbornc-amphibious operation
1980s, the Sovicts saw: against the Danish Islands. That opcration currently
is planned to occur in conjunction with a land thrust
. Development of a ncw, more ofTcnsive NATO mar- into thc Jutland arca, requiring linkup and subsequcnt
time strategy, accompanied by quantitative in- offensive opcrations to scure the rcst of Denmark.
creases and qualitative improvements in NATO Because Soviet planners now perceive significantly
naval forces in the region. increased force requirements in the region, the Pact is
working to refine its capabilities to aecomplish as-
- Improvements in NATO air forces and a more signed objectives in the region.
aggressive NATO approach to the air-land
campaign. In part, the Pact has improved its ability to conduct
successful operations against Denmark through
- Increases in the size and capabilities of NATO forcewide improvements (for example, increased em-
ground forces earmarked for wartime operations in phasis on combined-arms formations; fielding of more
the Jutland area. For example, the Soviets may have capable artillery systems; deployment of ncwer gener-
inferred (incorrectly) from NATO exercises that a ation tanks and armored vehicles; introduction of
British corns and a West German mechanized better helicopters and combat aircraft; and improve-
division would operate in the region. They may also ments in the capabilities of air-cushion vehicles).
believe that US Marine Corps units have contingen-
cy missions in the vicinity. (Sec appendix A for a
listing of non-US NATO and Danish ground forces
available for wartimeaptrations in the area.)

Yet another important factor behind the Sovietst

reexamination of options against Denmark may be
their own development of combinedatheaterwide of-
fensive operations.

Formal Pact acceptance (except Romania)

in 1979-80 of the Statutei institutionalizcd oWartime
met ntecpbltc farcsinvhce)
a wartime command structure that would give the
Soviets control of combined, joint operations in the
Western and Southwestern Theaters of Military Op-
erations (TMOs).'

avial fo wa4iepeain nteac.

A TiMO is a prtienar territory ahsociatad air. and h Pih apabe.

scoahraas)
that naiionanbcdndorrimsanithin which aay orss iremd
farcetconduct rttnad siaroaegnic npkrrstaions.

_sr
Our analysis of recent exercises sheds light on the key an early amphibious opcration, therefore, would in-
question of the timing of the airborne-amphibious volvc moving vulnerable shipping into NATO-con-
operation against Denmark. Some of the exercise trolled or contested waters while simultaneously at-
scenarios suggest that the operation would be tempting to achieve air supremacy, clear the region of
launched on day I or 2 of the war, but others imply a NATO submarines and fast patrol boats, and sweep
later assault. In any case, we believe that Pact mts.
commanders would prefer to seize objectives in Den-
mark in the first days of a NATO-Pact war to The mincelearing phase of the operation could pose
facilitate the success of their theater strategic offen- particularly difficult problems for Pact commanders.
sive. Nonetheless, certain prerequisites-principally Danish military leaders have identified naval mining
air and sea supremacy-must be met before such operations as a decisive element of their national
operations can be launched with any reasonable ex- defense and accordingly have placed considerable
pectations of success. The Soviets probably believe emphasis on developing and maintaining their mining
that, in a conventional conflict, contests for control of capabilities, including providing for wartime coverage
the sky and the Baltic Sea probably would go on for at of minefields by combat aircraft and shore-based
least the first several days of the war. The assault artillery. At the same time, the basic mincclearing
operation also would depend heavily on the success of capabilities of Soviet mine warfare forces arc poor.
the complementary Pact land offensive northward Many Pact minesweepers are equipped with gear that
through Schleswig-llolstein and the Jutland Peninsu- is out of date by Western standards, and participation
la, allowing for an early linkup with the assault by mine-warfare units in amphibious exercises usually
landing forces. In the absence of any one of these has been artificial, often with no actual streaming of
components-air superiority, sea supremacy, and a minesweeping gear.
successful land offensive-Pact planners would be-
lieve that the assault landing operation probably Analysis of the Soviets' actual minesweeping ef-
would fail. forts-for example, against their own mines in the
Gulf of Suez in 1974-suggests that their mine
There arc a number of risks involved for the Pact in countermeasures (MCM) forces may have great dif-
mies
launching an assault landing operation against Den- cultics in clearing NATO minefields under wartime
mark during the first days of a NATO-Pact war. As conditions, especially when faced with conplex West-
the theaterwide air supremacy campaign unfolded, air er mines activated by various combinations of mag-
Th mielaigpaeo
assets critical to the success of the assault would be netic, acoustic, and pressure heoeaincudps
triggers.
forced to attempt reconnaissance, fighter protection,
and ground support operations in contested airspace. The nature of the sea bottom and channels found in
(See appendix C for a description of Pact air opera- the Danish Straits provides an ideal environment for
tions against Denmark.) Furthermore, the substantial laying bottom mines, which, because of the hydro-
airlift resources required to deliver the essential cc- graphic environment of the area, probably would be
ments of an airborne division to objectives in Den- difficult and time consuming to locate and neutralize.
mark-80 to 90 percent of the Soviets' total military The Soviets understand this potential problem and
air transport force-would be at s~ubstantial risk in might be able to offset this MCM disadvantage
such an environment. somewhat by using explosive ordnance-especially
developed for MCM purposes-to destroy mines lo-
An analogous situation probably would develop at sea. cated within the transit lanes leading to amphibious
The seizure of sea supremacy would be an essential landing areas.
prerequisite to the operation and an important deter-
minant in its timing. The Soviets probably expect
NATO to exercise air-sea denial of the southern
Baltic Sea region upon the outbreak of war. Mounting
Despite the countermeasures the Pact might choose to The arrival of sizahle NATO reinforcements-in
use, clearing NATO mines from the Straits would particular, a US Marine Expcditicnary Force-in thc
require careful planning and precise navigation be- rcgion prior to the beginning of hostilitics would have
cause of the unfamiliar waters. Pact sweeping of, or a significant impact on the Pact's planned assault
hunting for, NATO mines in the Danish Straits landing operation. Pact commanders would bcon-
probably could be accomplished only with extensive frontcd with thc undesirable options of proceeding
air cover and support from surface combatants. This against a strengthened enemy, delaying the operation
suggests that the Pact would attempt such operations until additional forces could be diverted from other
only after its forces had gained-at least temporar- areas to cope with the NATO reinforcements, or
ily-sca control and air superiority in the western forgoing the operation entirely. Each of these alterna-
Baltic. tives would further increase the risks of failure associ-
ated with the theater offensive's main effort against
Beyond the formidable mineclcaring challenges fac- NATO's Central Region j
ing the Pact, there are broader resource constraints.
To put together a combined force capable of success- Conclusions
fully conducting assault landing operations against In sum, we believe the Soviets would launch their
Denmark earlier than currently planned, the Soviets primary assault landing opcration against Denmark
would have to divert air, airborne, and ground forces only after the air and sea supremacy battles had been
from the-main offensive against NATO's center. This at least temporarily won-in the most optimistic
force drain would endanger the primary air operation scenario, probably not before late in the first weck of
and the central breakthrough effort in the Western hostilities. Pact planners would prefer to attack earlier
TMO, risking theater objectives and, ultimately, the but apparently are constrained by operational consid-
success of the theater strategic offensive. For this erations. Only if the constraints could be overcome
reason, it seems unlikely that the Soviets would adopt would NATO face an increased possibility of assault
this option.' landings against the Danish Straits earlier in the war,
and this would be highly utnlikely.=
' When implemented, the force reductions and doctrinal changes
recently annourccd by Soviet and East European leaders would
result in a further diminution of the capability of Pact forces to frne ihteudsrbl pin fpoedn
carry out early olfensivc assault operations against Denmark. In
order to play an efrfctive role in the offensive, some units would
have to be reconstituted-manned, equipped, and pssibly rc- agis astegh ndeey6elyn h prto
tiined -prior to commitment to th conmiat
uni diinlfre oudb ietdfo te

_ 6
 Appendix A

Non-US NATO and National

Ground Forces in Schleswig-Holstein
and Denmark When Fully Mobilized

The non-US NATO ground forces available for the Table 2

defense of Schlcswig-Holstcin and Denmark at full Full Mobilization of Danish
mobilization consist of West German and Danish and West German Forces in
Army and militia units. The arca falls under the
control of NATO's Baltic Approaches Command
(IBALTAP), which includes Allied Forces, Schlcswig- N U------
" lHolstcin and Jutland (LANDJUT), and Sjaclland Unt Ttnai
Antank
COMZEALANDTanks
(CM E LN). Weapons
Total 172.816 640 420
LANDJUT, the only multinational corps that would ve German 41316
fight in West Germany, consists of the German 6th 6th Panzer- 26.847
Panzergrenadicr Division, the Danish Jutland Divi- grenadier
sion, assorted West German and Danish nondivisional i-j ion
corps units, and national militia forces from both Nondivisional 7.339
countries. The corps is expected to defend Schleswig- corp
tro-ps
Holstein and the Jutland Peninsula along a line from 4ce Tcrritorial 9,130
Defevnse
Hamburg to Lucbeck. The Jutland Brigade, a Danish Command
light infantry brigade, would be available to Danish 129.500
BALTAP to reinforce LANDJUT. Royal Danish 72,000
Army

Upon mobilization, COMZEALAND would be a ttumc Guard 57,500

purely Danish forc^ consisting of several regimental
combat teams on the Danish Islands. This force is
expected to resist any Pact airborne or amphibious peacetime at less than 25 percent of their wartime
force that pcne:rates \Vest German and Danish air strength, arc armed with 1960's vintage weapons. and
and naval defenses. arc poorly trained. Unlike the West German Territo-
rial Forces, the Danish Home Guard units in the area
The 3undeswchr combat units in Schleswig-Holstein are equipped solely with small arms.
are maintained at rcihively high levels of readiness.
The typical combat unit is manned in peacetime at 80 The Danish forces in COMZEALAND are less capa-
percent of wartime authorized strength. The units arc ble than the Danish units in LANDJUT. These forces
generally well equipped but not to the extent that arc manned at low levels, equipped with t950's
units elsewhere in West Germany arc. Although vintage weapons, and arc even more poorly trained
nominally light infantry units, the West German than the units in Jn land. More important, in compar-
Territorial Forces in the area have been equipped with ison with the Polish, East German, and (especially)
heavier weapons, including Leopard I tanks, in recent Soviet assault forces they are likely to face on thc
years. These units would provide rear-area security battlefield, tte Danish troops generally arc equipped
between the corps' main defense positions and the with older, less capable weapons and do not appear to
Danish border. be as well trained.

The Danish units committed to LANDJLNT are nomi-

nally the largest and best equipped units in the Royal
Danish Army; however, these units are manned in

~
The dt ~
ADU r ~ oi ~ ~
DaihuiscmiJ ~ -

Rarsh be.ek 7
 Page# 8
Blank Page or Missing from Archival Copy
 i~I

IL
mi

10
 Appendix C

Warsaw Pact Air Operations

Versus Denmark

In the first five or six days of offensive operations in a Warsaw PactAir Units andAircraft That
Central European conflict, the Soviets and their Pact
allies would carry out an air opcration-a series of
some five to seven massed airstrikes combined with
conventionally armed short-range ballistic missiles 4th Strategic Air Army (Legnica)
and cannon and rocket artillery employed in a defense
suppression role. The air operation is designed to Jfighter-escort reginents 130 Su-27 Flankers and
achieve air supremacy-reducing NATO's inventory MiG-23 Flogges
of combat aircraft on the Continent by 40 to 50 46th Strategic Air Army (Smolensk)
percent-and to reduce NATO's nuclear delivery Iinediunthontherreginients 113 Tu-16 Badgers
capabilities as quickly as possible following the onset 60 Tu-22 Blinders
10T-2tBackfires
of hostilities. The air operation would be conducted on
three or four axes, with the preponderance of aircraft Btic Fleet Air Forces
operating on the Ruhr and Frankfurt axes against J Soviet ,ediunt bomber 42 Tu-22f Backfires
airfields in NATO's Central Region, in support of the
theater's main offensive. I East Germanfighter- 30Su-22 Fitter K's
bomrber wing
There are 54 NATO airfields that would support 1 Poltsh fighter-bomber regiment 50 AG-17 Frescos
combat aircraft in Central Europe in the event of
hostilities. All arc likely to be attacked at least once Coastal Front Air Forces
7 Polish fighter-hoorber regimernts 133SSu-1? Fitter C/A'r
during the initial air operation. Of the 54 airfields, six 30 St-7 Fitter As
are located in Denmark. If reinforcement of NATO 145 MiG-I7 Frescos
airfields proceeded according to current plans, some
thice of the six Danish airfields would be equipped ib t gJAG F
with high-quality aircraft-approximately 100 F-15s
and F-16s-within six days of a mobilization deci- I Fast Germanfighter- 30 Su-22 Finer-Ks
sion.' Although all six airfields would probably be
struck at least once during the course of the air 46hSraeI
2 Fast German fighter
irAm Smlnk
wings 50 AUG-21
operation, the three equipped with Danish or US Fishbed D/F's
35tIG-23
F-16s and F-15s would almost certainly be attacked Flogger B/G's
repeatedly if allied aircraft were not relocated to other
airfields. 31Sovietfighter-btmberregiments 43 iG-21
Fishhed L/N'r
45 AuG-27
If the initial Warsaw Pact air operation in Central Flogger 0/is
Europe were successful and air supremacy were 43 Su-25 Frogloot
achieved within five days as planned, more Soviet and I Soviet fighter reginent 42 MG-29 Fulcrum As
Pact air assets might then be available for a variety of
other tasks, including strikes in preparation for sci-
zure of the Danish Straits. The aircraft likely to

Not including possible reinforceme7t by combat or US bircrobt

Mhrine Crps wing. rir

UF
participate in preparatory strikes-maintaining air involvement limited. On thc othcr hand, thc air assets
supremacy and providing direct air support during an of thc Coastal Front probably would bc dedicated in
attempt to seize the straits-would be drawn tempo- toto to supporting the front. Such operations, how-
rarily from the organizations and assets listed above. evcr, would involve not only air support for thc
Given Soviet estimates of reasonable attrition, about airborne and amphibious assault in connection with
75 percent-some 1,100 aircraft---of the Pact assets the attempt to seize thc Danish Straits, but also
listed might still be available after ive days of support for the front's ground fore offensives on both
hostilities, the earliest that preparatory strikes might the Jutland and North Sea coastal axes. As a result,
reasonably be expected to begin. Nonetheless, com- the number of aircraft available in support of the
pcting tasks would remain. For example, after com- airborne-amphibious assault would be relatively
pteting the initial air operation in the Western TMO, small. In addition, most of the front's aircraft arc
the 4th Air Army (Legnica) would have continuing obsolescent and have realistic combat radii of less
mission commitments in support of the main offensive than 400 kilometers.
against NATO's center on the Ruhr and Frankfurt
axes. The 46th Air Army (Smolensk) also would
have continuing commitments, not only in the West-
ern TMO but also in neighboring theaters as well. heut
the number of aircraft drawn from these two henee,
air armies to support operations against Denmark
probably would be small, and the duration of their

_ 12
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