[chico20854]

October 1, 1997

In the skies over Iran, the operations tempo has slowed significantly as both sides' air forces struggle to obtain sufficient fuel, missiles and spare parts.

Soviet forces recapture Brzeg, Poland and institute brutal reprisals for the citizenry's unopposed surrender to NATO in the spring and friendliness to the Allied occupation force.

Unofficially,

The Freedom ship Jacksonville Freedom is delivered in Galveston, Texas.

The 11th Tactical Air Support Squadron is consolidated into the 18th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Eileson Air Force Base, Alaska (east of Fairbanks).

The Soviet 35th Army in western Korea goes on the attack, taking advantage of the nuclear strike on the American 4th (my 3rd) Marine Division the day before. Allied commanders are dismayed by the sudden and unexplained withdrawal of American carrier air support, forcing them to rely on much-depleted USMC and USAF units.

Headquarters, 17th Air Force is reconstituted at Neuberg AB, Germany.

The 11th Luftjaeger Regiment, originally a Luftwaffe reserve security unit dedicated to defense of radar and communication sites is placed under Army command, converted to infantry and committed to combat. It is deployed along a quieter sector of the Czech border, bolstering NATO's defense of that long and vulnerable sector.

The battered 75th Field Artillery Brigade is withdrawn from the front in northern Poland, handing over its remaining MLRS rocket launchers to III Corps' other artillery brigade, the 212th.

In Bavaria, as the struggle for Ingolstadt drags on, Italian and Soviet forces launch a surprise strike against Danish and Britsh forces, finally capturing Augsburg (or the ruins thereof, having been fought over since early August).

XI German Korps is withdrawn from the front lines north of Lodz and directed to prepare defenses along the Oder River opposite Frankfurt-Oder. The move will alos provide the corps, battered by months of fierce combat in Warsaw, an opportunity to rest and receive replacement troops; replacement equipment is in short supply.

Despite the efforts of HMS Illustrious, the Italian Navy strikes a blow against the NATO naval force operating in the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. NATO forces have permitted local fishermen to ply their traditional trade; Italy's hard-pressed government has exploited this generosity, using several of the craft to lay mines in the overnight hours. The submarine Primo Longobardo sneaks into the operating area in the darkness as well, tailing the USS America as it conducts flight operations. At mid-morning the carrier strikes one of the mines, disrupting operations and blasting a 15-foot long hole in the carrier's port side. As escorts race to assist, the Italian sub opens fire, hitting the carrier with two torpedoes as well as the destroyer Joseph Strauss. The American destroyer goes down while America remains afloat, forced to be withdrawn to Sigonella, Sicily for emergency repair.

Soviet forces on the ground in Iran continue local attacks to keep Allied defenses on alert and deny them the opportunity to rest and improve their positions unmolested.