What follows is an addendum to v1 canon (to bring Sweden into the war on behalf of NATO), for the niche crowd that would like to campaign in Sweden, but prefer the v1 timeline to that provided by 4e. For the sake of edition synergy, I used a bit of the 4e background- namely the primary Soviet units involved in the invasion of Sweden and their respective landing sites. For ease of reference, v1 canon is italicized.
Northern Front, Winter 1996 - Autumn 1997
By the closing weeks of 1996, the Baltic Sea is essentially a Soviet Lake. Pact Naval [air and sea] forces have been able to sweep the Baltic of NATO naval forces. Only land-based NATO air forces and a handful of diesel submarines limit PACT freedom of navigation.
To avoid NATO air power, Pact naval vessels and aircraft routinely enter Swedish territorial waters. Stockholm protests vociferously via diplomatic channels, to no avail. Incidents occur, a few desultory shots are exchanged in the air and at sea. On DATE, Swedish ASW helicopters depth charge a Soviet Tango Class diesel submarine, damaging it and forcing it to surface. Survivors are rescued and interned by the Swedes. Tension builds, but Stockholm refuses to order full mobilization of its military forces in order to avoid further provocation.
By Spring 1997, most Soviet Forces have been pushed out of Northern Norway (isolated pockets left behind continue to resist, as best they can). NATO attempts to advance on Murmansk through northern Finland, without first securing permission from the Finns. Finland strongly asserts its neutrality by attacking the NATO spearhead, stopping it cold (this abrupt halt was more a result of surprise at Finland’s sanguine response, than due to the casualties that it inflicted). Remnants of the Soviet North Sea Fleet destroy a NATO flotilla closing on the Kola Peninsula but suffer crippling losses in turn. Despite its use of force against NATO forces in the north of the country, Finland refuses to ally with the PACT.
Facilitated by numerous tactical nuclear strikes, and reinforcements transferred from the Far Eastern Front, a summer 1997 land offensive in Poland pushes NATO forces back towards the German border, increasing Pact control of the Baltic by making it more difficult for land-based NATO air forces to operate over the region.
Stymied in the far north, Moscow makes the fateful decision to invade Sweden. Long-laid contingency plans for such an operation are dusted off and the Soviet’s last strategic reserve force in Northwestern Europe* (1 VDV airborne division, 1 Naval Infantry Brigade, and 2 recently rebuilt Motor Rifles divisions), are allocated to the task. By invading Sweden, Moscow hopes to knock a troublesome, only nominally-neutral nation out of the war and, more importantly, allow Soviet forces to outflank the NATO units holding firm in northern Norway. The conquest of southern Sweden would also strengthen PACT control of the Baltic Sea, and pose an increased threat to Denmark and NATO’s long left flank in Central Europe.
Mustering its remaining naval and air assets in the region, the PACT launches a large-scale amphibious and airborne invasion- the last of its kind in WWIII- of southeast Sweden. The invasion force is preceded by half-a-dozen precision tactical nuclear strikes (mostly aimed at neutralizing the Swedish air force and navy). Following supplemental conventional airstrikes and a fighter sweep, a Soviet parachute division seizes Arlanda Airport north of Stockholm, while PACT naval infantry battalions land north and south of the capital. Beachheads secured, two motorized rifle divisions arrive by sea during the next few days, and PACT forces begin marching on Stockholm. The Swedish government appeals to NATO for help.
NATO is taken aback by this unexpected development, but the alliance immediately susses out the strategic threat to Norway and Denmark. Preparations for a counter-invasion of Sweden begin.
Despite an overall high state of readiness, Swedish forces are caught out by the surprise Soviet attack. At the time, Sweden’s defense posture was primarily oriented towards the far north- the wilderness frontier region near the borders with Finland and Norway. Several active-duty brigades were on deployment in Northern Norrland, ready to defend Sweden’s territorial integrity in the event that the fighting between NATO, Finnish, and Soviet forces should spill over. Redeployment towards the capital begins almost at once. However, the armored and mechanized brigades will have to transit several hundred miles of wilderness in order to meet the main Soviet threat around Stockholm. During that long road march, the leading armored brigade is decimated by an air-dropped tactical nuclear bomb, temporarily halting the strung-out column.
Meanwhile, Sweden’s Total Defense strategy is belatedly put into effect, and full mobilization begins. Available Swedish forces quickly rally, putting up fierce resistance to the Pact advance, fighting hard to buy time for reserve units to gear up and for outside assistance to arrive. Swedish defense forces outnumber the Soviet invaders on the ground, but the latter have the advantage of being able to use tactical nuclear weapons without worrying about the Swedes answering in-kind. Consequently, concentrated Swedish mechanized formations of regimental strength or greater are decimated before they can mount large-scale counterattacks. The Swedish military is forced to fight a more guerilla-style campaign…
*Pre-war strategic plans called for this force to mount an airborne and amphibious invasion of Denmark’s Jutland Peninsula.
Adventure Handout: Death of a Division- Escape from Escape from Örebro
https://forum.juhlin.com/showthread....Death+Division
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