NATO vs. Soviet Union WW3 Simulation - Able Archer 83
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- čas přidán 8. 04. 2022
- As Europe was sleeping on November 7, 1983, the Soviets began mobilizing their troops, preparing their air force, and transporting nuclear weapons to their borders. NATO agents stationed in Berlin soon noticed all the movement and uncertainty took over.
Earlier that day, NATO forces had gathered at its headquarters in Brussels to practice an unconventional exercise that went by the name of Able Archer.
The objective of the exercise was simple: to simulate the outbreak of a global conflict and a Soviet nuclear attack. The simulation was successful, and all parties were satisfied.
Still, nobody knew that the Soviet Union truly believed it would be invaded by NATO and that World War 3 was almost about to break out…
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Mark Felton is my real dad.
Fortunately, two years after this American boxer Rocky Balboa defeated Russian boxer Ivan Drago in a much anticipated heavyweight fight in the Soviet Union. While the crowd initially showed complete disdain for Rocky, his inspired performance against the much larger Russian gradually won them over. The crowd erupted in applause when Rocky knocked Drago out in the final round! Rocky gave a victory speech, acknowledging that the local crowd's disdain of him had turned to mutual respect during the fight. Rocky finally declares, "If I can change and you can change, everybody can change!" American/Soviet relations from that point on were much improved all the way up until the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Thanks Rocky!
I hear Poland wants to host a 40th anniversary re-enactment
I was a young squaddie stationed in Germany as part of BAOR. It was customary for the Brigade or part of it, to be “Called out” twice a year, usually in the wee small hours. We weren’t supposed to know the date, but “rumour control” would circulate the date a day or so beforehand and we’d get our kit sorted and sleep in our uniform, ready to rock. It had never failed us. In ‘83, we’d had three call outs, after the second one, we were told that should be it. I think it was mid October, it wasn’t of course, but the “Rumour Mill” warned us and we were ready. This time, we were promised no more that year, unless it was actual war. Within ten days, the alarms sounded. I’m not going to say panic ensued, more like pandemonium broke out! The reason I remember that night so well, I had just collected my LMG (a Bren gun, chambered in 7.62 NATO) plus extra mags and a webbing sleeve, containing a spare barrel and cleaning kit! I didn’t know the Sqn had any spares. It was then, I realised, “Rumour Mill” hadn’t spouted and none of the married lads had come in from the married quarters. Nobody knew if it really was war, but we certainly thought it was very likely and acted like it was. Part of me wishes I could join the Ukrainians, not just because I think Putins a tyrannical bully in ga ga land, but because, it was what we trained for, I can’t explain the frustration. I just hope the Russian people realise Putin doesn’t give a toss about them or what happens to their soldiers. My heart breaks for the innocents of Ukraine 🇺🇦
I was in the Navy at this time. We all knew how tense things were with the Soviets. But none of us realized till years later that 1983 was the closest the world came to annilation. This would be a very good video to send to the White house and Kremlin right now.
1983. The year I graduated from High School and also took the Air Force entry exam. Wouldn't want it any different. An exciting time to be a Patriotic American.🎉
During the early 80's I joined the USAF and remember this time well. Assigned to the 552nd AWAC division. Tense times in the military.
Funny, I just watched Threads which is a 1984 BBC film about a Soviet nuclear attack on Sheffield, England. It was extremely relevant in spite of there no longer being a Soviet Union.
The US and Soviets came closer in 1984. Miscommunication about a rocket used in upper atmosphere experiments was thought to be an ICbM launch. The Soviets literally had their hands on "the button", when the leadership called the US just to make sure.
Darn. How many times during the 20th century did we come close to World War 3?
I am surprised you forgot to mention one major part of 1983, that's the multiple missile launches detected at Serpukhov-15 and if it weren't for the level headedness of Lieutenant-Colonel Stanislav Petrov who was covering for a sick colleague that night, we would be living in a very different world to today. The culmination of Able Archer 83 and the shoot down own Korean Air 007 had put the tensions between East and West to such a high degree that Nuclear war could've been possible if it weren't for him going against the system and not retaliating to, what would later appear to be, the dawning sunlight reflecting off of freak high altitude cloud! He was discharged for his actions in what should've been commendation for avoiding nuclear catastrophe. Great video and very apt for the current climate.
"...Nato wiping out the city of Kiev [with a nuclear weapon], to warn the Russians they were serious, and ready to escalate the conflict"
We need more of this stuff from the last cold war! This was super informative
If you are interested in this, I suggest a German series called Deutschland 83. It covers able archer.
as always interesting and informative. Thank you
I was on Minuteman Alert during Able Archer. Funny thing is I remember Elizabeth Dole was filling in for President Regan and as I remember in the exercise she chose to launch everything in response. I might be wrong it was almost 40 years ago but I remember our part of the exercise was supposed to go longer than a few minutes.
Being a member of the USAF in 1983 made life quite "interesting" that year!
I remember that time, I was in the Marine Corps and we were on board an LPD Amphibiouas Ship off Alaska training then put on High Alert for a combat landing of Russian soil. It was a scary moment until our orders to stand down. We were just one reinforced Battalion on four ships the time.
Probably could have mentioned the contribution of podpolkovnik Stanislaw Petrov is preventing nuclear war. Nonetheless is a good vid.
What you forget to mention is that the Soviet Union had conducted huge Warsaw Pact exercises in East Germany in 1981 and that IT was placing Intermediate Range Balistic Missiles into Eastern Europe at the rate of one a week during 1983! I'm sick of the narrative that it was Reagan and NATO which had built up Russian nervousness/paranoia!!!