1983NewsJanuary 26, 1983: News - Lotus 1-2-3 is released for IBM-PC compatible computers.
June 18, 1983 : News - STS-7: Regardless of the war in Europe the NASA Space program proceed and Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space, on the Space Shuttle Challenger.
July 16, 1983 : News - The 1984 Winter Olympics to be held in Sarajevo,Yugoslavia are cancelled by IOC, respecting the tradition that the games cannot be held.
December 31, 1983: News - In the U.S., inflation is down to an annual rate of 3.22 percent. Paul Volcker has lowered interest rates to 9 percent, and this is encouraging more lending, investment and home buying.
December, 1983: News - N.1 on the charts in the UK is “Dancing with tears in my eyes” of the Ultravox. No.1 in the US is “Eve of Destruction” by Bob Dylan, cover of the sixties classic of Barry McGuire.
Central Front / EuropeFebruary 1, 1983: Central Front/Europe- The new Soviet fighter, the Sukhoi Su27 enters in servive with Soviet VVS his NATO codename is “Flanker”. It is far more advanced than its western counterpart the F15 “Eagle”.
March 4, 1983 : Central Front/Europe- The Socialist Bettino Craxi is elected PM of Italy. He will lead a five party coalition Socialist, Social-Democrat, Republican, Liberal, Democratic-Christian and external support of the Communist Party.
March 8, 1983: Central Front/Europe- In the West German federal elections of March 1983, Kohl win a smashing victory. The CDU/CSU win 48.8%, while the FDP win 7.0%.
March 15, 1983: Central Front/Europe- In USA the new AWACS, the Boeing E4 “Sentinel”, based on the Boeing 757 passenger airplane enters in service with USAF.
March 23, 1983: Central Front/Europe- Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI): United States President Ronald Reagan makes his initial public proposal to develop technology to intercept enemy missiles. The media dub this plan "Star Wars".
March 31, 1983 : Central Front/Europe- Korean Air Flight 007 takes off from Anchorage, Alaska, heading for Seoul, South Korea. It veers slightly off course, flies over the southern tips of Kamchatka Peninsula and Sakhalin Island, Soviet territory, and is shot down by a Soviet Sukhoi Su15 aircraft. All 269 on board are killed.
April 1, 1983 : Central Front/Europe- NATO Intelligence Report start to notify massive troops movement in all Warsaw Pact countries. All the Units of Soviet Group of Forces in Germany are at maximum strength and are deployed in this order: In Northern East Germany is the 2nd Guards Tank Army, in the Central Area are stationed the 3rd Shock Army and 8th Guards Army, facing Bavaria there is 1st Guards Tank Army with 20th Guards Army in the rearguard while Czechoslovakia is given to the responsibility of Soviet Central Group of Forces.
April 4, 1983 : Central Front/Europe- Warsaw Pact announces that a major exercise, involving all members of the Pact, will be going on in East Germany for more than a month.
April 7-14, 1983: Central Front/Europe- NATO troops are alerted, the front is divided as follows: The Northern Front is assigned to the 8th West Germany Mechanized Division, Northern Army Group is composed by the 1st West German Corp , 1st Netherland Corp, 1st British Corp, 1st Belgian Corp, with UK Mobile force and US III Corps as reinforcement, Central Army Group is composed by West Germany II Corp, US VII Corp, the West Germany II Corp with France II Corp, Canadian Brigade and France 1st Army as reinforcement.
April 21, 1983: Central Front/Europe- NATO Secret Services are providing conflicting reports about the Warsaw Pact troops movements, with the majority of them, in particular the ones coming from West Germany Intelligence, are conferming that Warsaw Pact is just doing an Exercise.
April 30, 1983: Central Front/Europe- NATO publishes an update of its Order of Battles and Warsaw Pact and other Communist states as well.
WarPact & AlliesAlbania20 -Chengdu F7A Fishbed
36 -Shenyang F6 Farmer
36 -Shenyang F2 Midget
48 -Nanchang A5 Fantan
36 -MiG21 PFM Fishbed
8 -Ilyushin Il28 Beagle
36 -Mil Mi24 Hind
Bulgaria80 -MiG 21PFM Fishbed
32 -MiG 23BM Flogger
36 -MiG 19 PF Farmer
60 -MiG 17 Fresco
24 -MiG 29 Fulcrum (on order)
36 -Sukhoi Su25 Frogfoot (48 In Delivery)
Czechoslovakia300 -MiG 21PFM Fishbed
40 -MiG 21R Fishbed
50 -MiG 23MF Flogger
30 -MiG 23BN Flogger
36 -MiG29 Fulcrum (On Order)
110 -Sukhoi Su20 Fitter
48 -Sukhoi Su25 Frogfoot (On Order)
30 -MiG 17 Fresco
30 -Mil 24 Hind
36 -MiG31 Foxhound
East Germany250 -MiG 21 PFM Fishbed
50 -MiG 23MF Flogger
100 -Sukhoi Su20 Fitter
30 -Mig 17 Fresco
24 -Mil 24 Hind
36 -Sukhoi Su24 Fencer
24 -MiG 29 Fulcrum (On Order)
72 -MiG31 Foxhound
12 -Sukhoi Su 25 Frogfoot (72 In Delivery)
Hungary60 -MiG 23 MF Flogger
116 -MiG 21PFM Fishbed
40 -Sukhoi Su20 Fitter
36 -MiG 23BN Flogger
12 -Sukhoi Su25 Frogfoot (36 In Delivery)
24 -MiG 29 Fulcrum (on order)
Jugoslavia200 -MiG 21PFM Fishbed
200 -Soko J-22 Orao
180 -Soko J-21 Jastreb
24 -Sukhoi Su25 Frogfoot (96 In Delivery)
120 -MiG23 Flogger
84 -Sukhoi Su20 Fitter
12 -MiG 29 Fulcrum (48 In Delivery)
96 -Mil Mi24 Hind
Korea (North)120 -MiG21 Fishbed
120 -Shenjang F4 Farmer
350 -MiG 17 Fresco
30 -Sukhoi Su 20 Fitter
70 -Ilyushin Il28 Beagle
Poland300 -MiG 21 Fishbed
60 -MiG 23 Flogger
100 -MiG17 Fresco
160 -Sukhoi Su20 Fitter
60 -Mil Mi24 Hind
48 -MiG 31 Foxhound
48 -Sukhoi Su25 Frogfoot
4 -MiG 29 Fulcrum (36 In Delivery)
24 -Sukhoi Su 27 Flanker (On Order)
USSR24 -Tupolev Tu160 Blackjack
100 -Tupolev Tu22 Backfire
120 -Tupolev Tu95 Bear
140 -Tupolev Tu22 Blinder
425 -Tupolev Tu16 Badger
30 -Myaschishev Mya4 Bison
250 -MiG 25 Foxbat
800 -MiG 23 Flogger
750 -Sukhoi Su15 Flagon
90 -Tupolev Tu28P Fiddler
210 -Yakovlev Yak28 Firebar
125 -Sukhoi Su25 Frogfoot
400 -Sukhoi Su24 Fencer
1700 -MiG 23/27 Flogger
150 -MiG 25 Foxhound
1500 -MiG21 Fishbed
600 -Sukhoi Su17 Fitter
200 -MiG 29 Fulcrum (400 In Delivery)
160 -Sukhoi Su 27 Flanker (On Order)
2000 -Mil Mi 24 Hind
800 -Mil Mi 28 Havoc (On Order)
NATO & AlliesAustraliaRAAF24 BAC TSR.2 Storm
75 McDonnell F18 Hornet
64 Northrop F5A Freedom Fighter
96 Northrop F20 Tigershark
20 Lockheed P3C Orion
24 McDonnell P4A Pegasus (On Order)
16 Northrop F20 Tigershark (96 In Delivery)
36 General Dynamics F111C Aardvark
RAN12 McDonnell A4G Skyhawk
36 McDonnell F4J Phantom
24 Grumman F14A Tomcat
24 McDonnell F18A Hornet (on order)
Austria32 Saab 105OE
4 Saab Jas 37 Viggen (24 On Order)
BelgiumForce Aerienne Belge116 General Dynamics F16 Fighting Falcon
36 Lockheed F104 Starfighter
80 Dassault Mirage V
64 Dassault Mirage F1
36 Dassault Mirage 2000 (on order)
80 Sepecat Jaguar A/E
Aviation Legere de la Force Terrestre
36 Aerospatiale SA342 Gazelle
Canada
RCAF58 Canadair CF116A Freedom Fighter
55 McDonnell F101 Voodoo
92 Canadair CF104 Starfighter
64 McDonnell F4E Phantom
138 Canadair CF18 Hornet
64 British Aerospace Harrier
120 Canadair CF20 Tigershark
64 Panavia Tornado IDS
RCN36 McDonnell F4J Phantom
24 McDonnell F18 Hornet (On Order)
24 Lockheed P3C Orion
Denmark60 General Dynamics F16 Fighting Falcon
60 Saab J35 Draken
48 Saab J37 Viggen
32 Lockheed F104 Starfighter
France
AdlA50 Dassault Mirage IVA
250 Dassault Mirage F1
300 Dassault Mirage III/5
24 Dassault Mirage 2000 (120 In Delivery)
190 Sepecat Jaguar A/E
18 Dassault Mirage 4000 (72 In Delivery)
24 British Aerospace Harrier (On Order)
Aeronavale70 Breguet SuperEtendard
32 Vought F8A Crusader
30 Breguet Atlantic
48 Sepecat Jaguar M
36 McDonnell F4J Phantom
24 McDonnell F18A Hornet
ALAT240 Aerospatiale SA342 Gazelle
West Germany
Luftwaffe60 Panavia Tornado
240 McDonnell F4F Phantom
170 Lockheed F104G Starfighter
24 Norhrop F20 Tigershark (120 In Delivery)
72 British Aerospace Harrier
80 General Dynamics F16 Fighting Falcon
48 McDonnell F15C Eagle
4 Dassault Mirage 2000 (72 In Delivery)
Marineflieger112 Panavia Tornado
60 Lockheed F104G Starfighter
24 Breguet Atlantic
48 McDonnell F4J Phantom
8 McDonnell Douglas F18A Hornet (36 In Delivery)
24 McDonnell P4A Pegasus (On Order)
Heer120 Bell AH1G Cobra
64 McDonnell AH64A Apache (On Order)
Great Britain
RAF220 Panavia Tornado IDS
125 McDonnell F4M Phantom
50 English Electric Lightning
150 Sepecat Jaguar GR/T
140 British Aerospace Harrier
65 Hawker Siddeley Buccanners
48 McDonnell F15C Eagle
50 Hawker Nimrod
48 BAC TSR.2 Storm
72 General Dynamics F16A Fighting Falcon
48 Northrop A9 Warthog
64 British Aerospace Mk.T1A
Boeing E4A Sentinel (4 On Order)
FAA42 British Aerospace Harrier
24 Grumman F14A Tomcat
36 McDonnell Douglas F18A Hornet
24 Sepecat Jaguar M (48 In Delivery)
Army72 McDonnell AH64A Apache (On Order)
Greece40 Dassault Mirage F1
64 McDonnell F4E Phantom
72 Northrop F5A Freedom Fighter
50 Lockheed F104G Starfighter
65 Vought A7D Corsair
8 Northrop F20 Tigershark (32 In Delivery)
Italy
AMI88 Panavia Tornado IDS
200 Lockheed F104S Starfighter
100 Fiat G91
18 Breguet Atlantic
36 Aermacchi MB339K Veltro
72 Northrop F20 Tigershark
72 General Dynamics F16A Fighting Falcon
36 British Aerospace Harrier
18 Aeritalia Sparviero
24 McDonnell P4A Pegasus (On Order)
MM36 McDonnell Douglas F18A Hornet (On Order)
48 McDonnell F4J Phantom
Aviazione Esercito48 Bell AH1G Cobra
Japan
IJAF100 McDonnell F15A Eagle
200 McDonnell F4EJ Phantom
90 Lockheed F104EJ Starfighter
70 Mitsubishi F1
24 Northrop F20 Tigershark (72 In delivery)
72 General Dynamics F16A Fighting Falcon
IJN36 McDonnell Douglas F18A Hornet (On Order)
48 McDonnell F4J Phantom
48McDonnell P4A Pegasus (On Order)
72 Lockheed P3C Orion
IJA72 McDonnell AH64A Apache (On Order)
Korea (South)36 General Dynamics F16A Fighting Falcon (140 In delivery)
66 McDonnell F4D/E Phantom
146 Northrop F5E Freedom Fighter
36 Northrop F20 Tigershark
Netherlands124 General Dynamics F16A Fighting Falcon
54 Lockheed F104G Starfighter
70 Northrop F5A Freedom Fighter
12 Lockheed P3C Orion
16 Northrop F20 Tigershark (96 In Delivery)
8 McDonnell AV8A Harrier (48 In Delivery)
36 Panavia Tornado IDS
48 McDonnell F4E Phantom
New Zealand12 McDonnell A4K Skyhawk
5 Lockheed P3C Orion
24 Northrop F20 Tigershark
24 Northrop F5A Freedom Fighter
Norway72 General Dynamics F16A Fighting Falcon
60 Northrop F5A Freedom Fighter
8 Lockheed P3C Orion
48 Northrop F20 Tigershark
24 British Aerospace Harrier
Portugal42 Fiat G91
48 Vought A7 Corsair
24 General Dynamics F16A Fighting Falcon (On Order)
Spain
EdA72 Dassault Mirage F1
24 Dassault Mirage III
78 Dassault Mirage 2000 (on order)
40 McDonnell F4D Phantom
60 Northrop F5A Freedom Fighter
6 Lockheed P3A Orion
36 Sepecat Jaguar A/E
Marina24 British Aerospace Harrier
Ejercito24 Aerospatiale SA342 Gazelle
Sweden200 Saab Viggen
150 Saab Draken
36 Saab Lansen
8 McDonnell AV8A Harrier (36 on order)
Saab Jas39 Gripen (200 On Order)
Turkey210 Lockheed F104S Starfighter
100 McDonnell F4E Phantom
100 North American F100 Super Sabre
100 Northrop F5A Freedom Fighter
Northrop F20 Tigershark (80 on order)
48 Northrop A9 Warthog
USA
USAF269 Boeing B52 G/H
75 Boeing B52 D
615 Boeing KC135A
56 General Dynamics FB111A
490 General Dynamics F16A Fighting Falcon (1388 In Delivery)
756 McDonnell F15A/C Eagle (1472 In Delivery)
90 Northrop F20 Tigershark (360 In Delivery)
90 Panavia Tornado
733 Northrop A9 Warthog
34 Boeing E3A Sentry
6 Boeing E4A Sentinel (36 In Delivery)
350 Vought A7D Corsair
100 General Dynamics F111A/D
100 McDonnell RF4C Phantom
2000 McDonnell F4E/D Phantom
50 McDonnell F4G Phantom
42 General Dynamics EF111A Raven
42 Grumman OV10A Bronco
27 Lockheed AC130A Spectre
USN478 Grumman F14A/B Tomcat
408 Mc Donnell F18A Hornet (In Delivery 820)
445 Grumman A6E Intruder
459 Vought A7D Corsair
6 Grumman EA6 Prowlers (24 In Delivery)
48 McDonnell AV8A Harrier (366 In delivery)
260 McDonnell A4M Skyhawk
154 Lockheed P3C Orion
64 McDonnell P4A Pegasus (120 in delivery)
USMC124 McDonnell F4N Phantom
264 McDonnell AV8A Harrier
120 McDonnell A4M Skyhawk
60 Grumman A6E Intruder
ARMY4000 Bell UH1H Huey
410 Sikorski UH60A Black Hawk
600 Bell AH-1 Cobra
36 Hughes AH64 Apache (410 on Order)
May 1, 1983: Central Front/Europe- At midnight GDR Luftstreitkräfte and USSR VVS start striking in West Germany with the air cover of MiG 29 Fulcrums. At the same time Soviet T80s Tanks formation cross the IGB (Inner German Border) and pushes towards the Fulda Gap. At the same time Rote Armee Fraktion terrorists detonates bombs on major roads in order to delay the movement of NATO troops and vehicles.
May 1, 1983: Central Front/Europe- At 12:20 in the afternoon on the east of the West German town of Kielbach a platoon of four M1A2 Abrams Tanks is moved to stop an anticipated Soviet lunge for the junction to the Fulda Gap. By 13:40 the 2nd Battallion of 178th GITR had been destroyed with just two BMP-2s surviving, of the four NATOs M1A2s, two are immediately repaired while a third one suffers major damage. At 14:05 2 flights of RAF 2 (AC) Squadron Tornados flying at extremely low level destroyes other twentyfour Tanks of the 178th.
May 1, 1983: Central Front/Europe- Soviet tanks division push into central West Germany aiming at Frankfurt with an attack from the Thuringian Bulge through the Fulda Gap. The distance from the Inner German Border to Frankfurt is a mere 100 km. Capturing Frankfurt would effectively cut West Germany in half, and given the importance of north-south lines of communication, would leave NATO’s forces in southern Germany isolated. The main attack is performed by the Soviet 8th Guard Army against the V US Corps. West Berlin is attacked by the 20th Guards of Soviet Army and by GDR units.
May 2, 1983: Central Front/Europe- All NATO members declares war to Warsaw Pact following article 5 of the NATO statute. Australia and New Zealand joins NATO declarations.
May 2,1983: Central Front/Europe-British Government declares Mandatory Draft for all Citizens with age between 18 and 35.
May 2, 1983: Central Front/Europe- GDR special troops of the 1st Army and part of Soviet 2nd Army Tank Guards pushes into northern West Germany in order to get to Denmark.
May 2, 1983: Central Front/Europe- POMCUS Tank crews are flown from the United States to West Germany to be th crew of tanks divisions already placed in West Germany. At the same time Mission Reforger is activate with additional Army and Marines units deployed to Europe through Lockheed C141 Cargos.
May 2, 1983: Central Front/Europe- Vicious fights are happening in West Berlin with RAF Harriers providing ground support amongst the buildings on fire. West German Polizei, already trained in the use of small arms and mortars joins the fight with the Berlin Brigade of US Army and and Berlin Infantry Brigade of British Army as well against East German 1st Motorized Rifle Division, that has been trained for that specific target for three years.
May 2, 1983: Central Front/Europe- China release an official statement that say “Though PRC understands the actions put in place by the Warsaw Pact to free West Germany, the People of China will remain neutral and will act in order to help peace to be succesful”.
May 3, 1983: Central Front/Europe- All major European Leaders, Helmuth Kohl, Francois Mitterand, Bettino Craxi and Margaret Tatcher fly to Washington for a summit with Reagan where they evaluate all alternatives to counter the Communist attack, including the utilization of the remaining nuclear arsenal. This one is discarded for the fear of a Soviet reprisal on London and Paris. it is decided to hold the positions and not retreat in Middle East and Central America but to suspend any offensive plan. United Kingdom will support South Africa and Rhodesia in Southern Africa to drain resources to USSR in the support of Angola.
May 3, 1983: Central Front/Europe- Warsaw Pact, Soviet 120th Guards MRR and 39th Guards Motorized Division are at 30 Kilometers from Hamburg that is evacuated by civilians.
May 3, 1983: Central Front/Europe- In Rome Pope John Paul II call for an immediate stop to all offensive operation and for a return to Peace.
May 4, 1983: Central Front/Europe- In a frantic meeting President Reagan asks Japanese and South Korean PM, that have flown to Washington to show their support, to reinforce their borders but to avoid any attack. The opening of another front might not be sustainable by United States.
May 4, 1983: Central Front/Europe- Soviet Spetsnaz and Yugoslavian Army attack north-eastern Italy. The move is a surprise since Italian Intelligence was reporting a strike of the Hungarian Army through Austria and Italian Army units were deployed on that front. The attack is supported by Soviet and Yugoslav MiG29s and Mil Mi24 Hinds. The city of Gorizia is occupied.
May 4-5, 1983: Central Front/Europe-Soviet 2nd Army Tank Guards conquer Kiel and Lubbeck in northern Germany in their push to isolate Denmark.
May 5, 1983: Central Front/Europe- Soviet troops attacks on the Northern Europe front and occupy the town of Vardo in Norway.
May 5, 1983: Central Front/Europe-Italian Communist Party leader (that has more than 30% of seat in the parliament) in a public speech severs all ties with USSR and East Bloc Communist Parties. It confirms thay even if will not enter in the government it will provide external support. This is a major blow to the communist strategy that was hoping in a Communist insurrection in Italy togheter with terrorists actions by the Red Brigades.
May 6, 1983: Central Front/Europe- GDR forces enters Copenhagen and conquer the whole Denmark that is placed under Soviet Military Government.
May 7, 1983: Central Front/Europe- Soviet Spetsnaz units are infiltrated in West Germany with the task to eliminate RAF and Luftwaffe Harriers that are proving very effective against Warpact armoured divisions.
May 7, 1983: Central Front/Europe- Italian Government has activated the “Gladio” plan. It was a plan set-up in the early fifties in case of a Communist insurgence that foresaw a “Stay Behind” structure with depots hidden in northern Italy as long as former soldiers trained to use them in emergency. At the same time Hungarian Army joins Soviet and Yugoslav Armies on the Italian Front.
May 9-24, 1983: Central Front/Europe- Major tank battle outside of Hamburg, Soviet forces are stopped by massive low level attack by Tornado units from RAF, USAF and Luftwaffe. In detail they apply the FOFA NATO doctrine that foresee to destroy the enemy forces that are coming to the front in a way to stop supplies to the first line troops.
May 10, 1983 : Central Front/Europe- Sweden decide to renounce to its neutrality and support Norway in his fight against USSR. This was a serious and unexepected blow to Soviet strategy in that area. Finland see herself too endangered and would remain neutral.
May 10-31, 1983: Central Front/Europe- Soviet troops continue to advance in Scandinavia and arrive (32Km- 20 Mi) to Hammerfest in Norway.
May 12, 1983: Central Front/Europe- In the Caucasus fighting starts between Turkish and Soviet armies. In the area Soviets have reserve units coming from eastern regions not equipped with the latest vehicles but with old T62 tanks instead.
May 14, 1983: Central Front/Europe- After nine days of vicious fightings the city of Trieste falls in Yugoslav hands, civilians scared by the memories of the 1945 event during Yugoslav occupation leave the town.
May 15, 1983: Central Front/Europe-Warsaw Pact forces complete the occupation of West Berlin. The City is under control of GDR 1st Motorized Rifle Division.
May 16, 1983: Central Front/Europe-French President Mitterand places all French forces under NATO command, the forces are assigned to the Central Front. At the same time ANZACs forces are deployed in Italy, to support Italian Army.
May 18, 1983: Central Front/Europe-United Nations Security Council activities in New York are suspended since the Soviet Union Ambassador is absent. UN General Secretary Javier Perez de Cuellar asks all Nations to stop fightings and start Peace talks.
May 21, 1983: Central Front/Europe- Under American request, Israeli Air Force pilots are sent to Turkey to supplement Turkish Air Force Pilots.
May 24, 1983: Central Front/Europe- Soviet and Yugoslav forces are stopped in Italy in the Friuli region, along the Tagliamento River, before they would be able to get to the Padania plain. Massive low level attacks from Italian Air Force Tornados have helped by stopping supplies arriving on the front.
May 28, 1983: Central Front/Europe-Using Denmark as a base Soviet units start to attack Sweden, with fighters leaving from bases in Estonia and Lithuania try to gain Air Superiority.