I seem to remember doing something like this a few years ago in this forum only we looked at WW2 level technology. First according to the terms of the OP we’re looking at the height of the Cold War. To me that means 1960’s-1970’s. Things weren’t so high-tech then. Computers, sat-nav, spy satellites, etc. either didn’t exist or were in their infancy. Okay, just for fun, here is a possible Soviet invasion scenario.
Operation: “Endgame”
Objective: “You have been tasked with invading the United States and ending the war forever.”
Limitations: Unable to use nuclear weapons.
Assumption: Non American portions of NATO, SEATO will be, or have been, neutralised militarily or politically.
Resources: Soviet Air Force, Army and Naval units as required.
Enemy Resources: Remnants of U.S. Continental forces air and land forces when U.S. worldwide commitments to NATO/SEATO have been deducted. U.S. Navy.
Phase 1:
• Clandestine build up of Air assets in Cuba and in friendly South American regimes in range of swift air lift to Cuba on commencement of hostilities, in order to effectively challenge U.S. land based air power.
• Create/promote major conflict in SE Asia involving China, to focus American attention into the Pacific. Ideal result would be movement of U.S. Naval assets from Eastern to Western Seaboard, but not vital to operational success.
Phase 2:
• Clandestine mining of approaches to Panama, Suez Canals using either timed or remote controlled seabed mines.
• Clandestine location of SOSUS net in North Atlantic pending its destruction/sabotage.
• Movement of as many SSBN, SSN and SSB assets as is practicable without arousing undue suspicion, into the North Atlantic.
• Move SS Baltic fleet into North Sea to prevent /delay movement of U.S.Forces from Europe.
Phase 3:
• Activate mines in Canal approaches, clandestine mining of the Straits of Hormuz. Sabotage SOSUS net.
• Sortie Red Banner and Black Sea Fleets.
• Activate air assets warning order for lift to Cuba, activate Cuban bases.
• Movement of 3rd Shock Army from Eastern Europe to pre arranged embarkation points and transport across Atlantic using MORFLOT assets to Cuba.
• Surprise Air, SSN, SSBN, SSB strike against U.S. Continental Air and Naval assets and port/airbase facilities using mix of explosive and Chemical/Biological weapons. Aim: destruction or neutralisation.
• Red Banner and Black Sea fleets engage remaining U.S. Naval assets in Atlantic Western Seaboard to cover MORFLOT. Outright destruction desirable but not necessary for success of operation.
• Night Parachute assault to seize and hold key strategic locations in Texas.
• Air lift Airborne Divisions to consolidate positions gained by paratroops.
• Amphibious assault on Texas littoral by Marine Divisions, establish beachhead and link with Airborne Divisions if possible.
• Disembark 3rd Shock Army.
By attacking the Gulf of Mexico and the Texas littoral the initial aim is to seize or destroy U.S. Oil reserves and means of production. The next phase would be an assault on the Midwest to disrupt transcontinental communications. Major U.S. centres of population and production are concentrated on the West and East Coasts. Attacking through the middle will mean engaging the enemy in the areas most favourable to armoured/mechanised formations and the resultant disruption of fuel and food supplies will mean starvation in the cities and a breakdown of government/organisation.
The holding of territory is unimportant here, the objective is interdiction of food, fuel and other strategic supplies, so destroying farms/farmers and crops and trans-continental communications links are to be the priority.
Owing to the widespread civilian ownership of firearms, troops are not to differentiate between soldiers and civilians; all Americans are to be treated as combatants, regardless of age or gender.
It is expected that U.S. Society will break down in a week without food and fuel, American “individualism” will come to the fore in a scramble for survival. Meanwhile, without port facilities the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Fleet effectiveness will deteriorate to the stage where it cannot effectively interdict movement across the Atlantic.
The mining/blocking of the Panama Canal will delay any redeployment of U.S. Assets from the Pacific for several weeks to allow either a greater build up of Soviet forces on the American mainland or the deployment of the surviving Soviet naval elements to intercept.
The Soviet Pacific fleet will be expected to delay such redeployment at any cost and is considered expendable for the purpose of this operation.
Not a perfect plan by any means, but I think there’s enough there to shake up some of the more complacent posters among you.
