DEFCON 2, THE WAR IS EMINENT (PART 5)

Ever since the Soviet missiles are found American U2s are making periodic surveillance flights over Cuba.

27 October, 0900 hours

A U2 spy aircraft flew-up from Macoy Airforce space Orlando, Florida, by Major Rudolf Anderson, to another mission over the Cuban territory. At 1000 hours, he guided his U2 over to the Port of Vain, one of the SS4 missile battery station. Over 70000 feet above and away from the Missile Battery, Anderson has found there is something inbound. Before he finish the thought a Soviet SAM has blow the U2. Anderson got killed and the U2 had spin-down. Ever since the Cuban missile crisis, there is a combat fertility. A US pilot has been killed and an aircraft has been shot-down.

Until the 1600 hours, xCom meeting, this news has not reached to him. A day before the airstrikes as a part of the full scale invasion, there is an unacceptable situation. Kennedy sent, Bobby Kennedy to the Soviet Ambassador, with a clear message that 'the Soviet must dismantle and ship the nuclear missile with immediate effect and the US will stop all the quarantine works along with the plan of a Cuban invasion, now and in future. But secretly Kennedy has put an under-arm offer also, that assure immediate took-back all the Jupiter missiles from Turkey. This was classified by both US as well as by the Russians for a long time. Soviet had got 24 hours to respond to this.

The Cuban, the American, The Russian, and hundreds and thousands of people were got panic about the possible outcome of this crisis. Soviet Nuclear commanders got high alert orders from Moscow.

28 October, 0300 hours, Moscow

The Soviets have announcement to make, a personal message from President Khrushchev to President Kennedy, this time Russians use the Radio Moscow, instead of Western Union Telegram. It was like 'the missile units will dismantled and returned to USSR to end-up the crisis'. Kennedy responded with an order to stop all military activities against Cuba, until the U2 photographs are clear this fact.

October 29th, the surveillance aircraft U2 find the dismantled, launch pads are removed and launch vehicles are get collected stationary. US has suspended all military actions against Cuba and put DefCon 3. For the next few months Americans watching a long and pervasive process happening in a reverse order, dismantling all missiles and warheads from Cuba to USSR. Until the last missile, last Soviet submarine leaves that area, they keep DefCon3 and on high alert.

US has never been in DefCon2 after the Cuban Missile Crisis. Although the Cold War was on high degree, thanks to both the presidents, to have a second thought for a second chance to live this world once again.

All the Best

DEFCON 2, THE WAR IS EMINENT (PART 4)

Mid Noon, October 25th

Nearly 60 Strategic Air Command aircrafts loaded with Nuclear Weapons, were ready to fly anytime anywhere. During October 25th, 26th the US strategic command center remains in DefCon 2. But suddenly the inbound Soviet Ships and Submarines were stopped. Now the world was looking into White House and the xCom understood that the convoy is backing towards the reverse directions. But very soon the Soviet Nuclear Submarine commander got a surprising order to be in stationary about a 100 miles away from the American territorial water. It seems like they don't want to start a war on this stage, as Kennedy also thinks, but they are not backing.

The tension is alive. If there is war particularly a nuclear war, the Strategic Air Command derived one particular nuclear scenario, a Total Nuclear Commitment, known as a Single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP). It envision to send every American Nuclear Weapon, in aircraft, missiles, submarines, not only to USSR but to the entire communist world. Even the ultimate launch authority may Kennedy or Khrushchev, but right after the same the entire nuclear arsenal, in the form of a bomb, or a missile, is going to land in the hands of generals and commandants. These weapons can be released without further following orders, as a part of strategic defense or attacks. One single nuclear detonation can quickly explode to a global nuclear devastation. It was a very dangerous situation, a nervous breakdown or even a crazy captain can make a nuclear holocaust.

In Cuba, although further Soviet Convoys are stopped through the Navel Blockade, but all the landed 136 nuclear warheads are rumbling and all the SS4 missile regiments are operational. Soviet launch captains has received orders to increase the launch readiness to just 2 hours from the previous 5 hours time. The launch vehicles are increased their patrolling intervals and nuclear warheads for the stationary launch sites are bringing closer to the launch pads.

But the U2 over-flights were continuing and the Soviets were not acting against them. The Cuban forces got agitated about the continues violation of the Cuban Airspace. They started shooting the US reconnaissance aircrafts.  The US has sent F15 fighters to protect U2 missions. F15s are fighters as well as bombers and the message was clear 'You shoot, I blow you'. The crisis has escalated to the next level.

When the crisis escalates a new hope of a diplomatic solution came from an unlike resource. ABC reported John Squally met to a Soviet Diplomat called Alexander Fiklisoff, at the Occidental restaurant in Washington DC. As John explained the scenario and possible solution, he put-up a proposal in front of Alexander, as if the entire Soviet Nuclear Arsenal had carried out from the American Subcontinent, the Navel blockade as well as the invasion plans will be dropped and terminated permanently. As he was explaining them are proposals from the higher authorities, Alexander has interrupted about that. Surprisingly John Squally had admitted that it is directly from the President itself. It was a direct blog from the White House. In return from Moscow, President Khrushchev wrote an emotional letter to Kennedy to end the crisis and appreciate the options. But there was some point-mismatching. There were no acceptance tone rather just an appreciation.

2100 hours, 26th of September, in the evening the letter has received to White House and after 12 hours 0900 hours of 27th of September, the xCom gathered in the War Room. The letter from Khrushchev presented to the President as a News Room Bulletin. The interpretation was like  USSR is ready withdraw all it Nuclear Missiles from Cuba, that if US withdraw its Jupiter Missiles from Turkey. But Defense Secretary was not accepting that point. As he read in between Moscow didn't ask for that. President was in a mind-set that may be another letter from Moscow may come with further more clear demands.

Unless there are clear initiative from US, from the diplomatic level, Soviets keeps the ball in their court.

But there were something warming up, something real danger...

DEFCON 2, THE WAR IS EMINENT (PART 3)

While the men at NPIC were analyzing more photographs from U2, they found another SS4 site, then another, again another. They worked through the night, and analyzed that there are more SS4 and SAM sites around each, in Cuba, both operational as well as under construction. NPIC has handed complete surveillance as well as assessment information to NMCC and in the morning NMCC made a briefing to the president Kennedy as well as his National Security Council (NSC).

Along with President Kennedy, there were 4 more person in that room, Marshal Carter of CIA, Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, National Security Adviser George Bounty and other top aids of NPIC. This group became to known as the Executive Committee of National Security Council, the xCom. Marshal Carter has explained to Kennedy about the clear evidence of Soviet SS4 nuclear missile site in Cuba with proof and analysis reports. Kennedy has responded as 'The Soviets are made a bold move, Lets act together'. Discussion turns into a quick solutions, Airstrikes to the Soviet Missile Batteries. Defense Secretary McNamara has interpreted this version as 'we wanted to make sure that there are no operational SS4 sites before the Airstrikes or the Airstrikes must be simultaneous as well as powerful to all operational SS4 sites. orelse it can be cause chaos in the east cost or 600 - 1000 miles area from Cuba.

But nobody in the xCom had idea that there are several Soviet SS4 are full operational in different missile sites, to avoid total strategic drop, like a massive Air raid in all the operational sites. Soviets were good. President Kennedy were here for a primary initiative, complete invasion of Cuba or a complete Navel-blockade of Cuba for further Soviet Aid, or both together. The Military wanted to do both but Kennedy in need of time. He ordered for an increase in the U2 surveillance flights over Cuba.

But no one in xCom was known to be that in Cuba, the Soviet were prepared with Battle Filed Nuclear Weapons, like Short Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM), which can cause serious damages in the invading US marine divisions, in land and sea. Also US was unknown about the threat in the sea, streaming over the Cuban territorial sea, there are 4 heavily armed Soviet Nuclear Submarines were patrolling, with Nuclear Missiles aboard. There were American Aircraft Carriers and Frigates were patrolling in the area without knowing this fact. Soviet Nuclear Submarines have clear orders to use Nuclear Torpedoes against US Carriers in case of a possible threat.

But the real threat was still under the doom. The latest U2 pictures analyzed by the NPIC has some surprising factors. There are 2-3 sites, which are considered as the Soviet SS4 MRBM, were possibly the Soviet Intermediate range Ballistic Missile Batteries (IRBM), the SS20, which can take any strategic position in the entire continent on United Stated within a few minutes. This was a real peace of shocking evidences.

President Kennedy had a discussion with the Soviet Foreign Minister Andre Cremikov, on October 18th about the possible weaponry arsenal of Cuba. But Cremikov had denied the presence of any tactical offense to US and Kennedy has warned him about a surprising attack against Cuba. The next morning, on October 19th, in a meeting with the Joint Chief of Staffs, the senior Military Generals were requesting for a Massive Air Raids but Kennedy has completely denied to an assessment that the Soviets will retaliate or we will force them to do so.

There was serious and dark silence in the operational Submarines without radio communication with their commanders. But US Navy was in touch with them to not make any surprises in the American water. The US Marines were ready for the Cuban invasion, long before, but now there is a necessity. They may be required there within 5 days of the Air attacks in the missile & defense batteries. The CIA has reported that there are more than one Ballistic Missile Regiment is fully operational in Cuba, which means they can make strike within 40 minutes. Kennedy wanted the Air Strikes before any missiles get operational. That window has closed forever.

The Americans were reluctant to confirm that there were Soviet Combat Units in Cuba waiting for the Americans, there were Soviet Tactical Nuclear Defense Systems for a dissuasive battle with the US. The Soviet were far more prepared and forecasted than the Americans. Even the preparation of the Marines for a full scale invasion along with the sea and air supports is completed, they were not prepared for a full scale Nuclear War against Soviets.

On October 22nd, US naval commands ordered to make a complete naval blockade against Cuba. Defense Secretary McNamara ordered an immediate evacuation of US citizens as well as dependents from the Guantanamo Bay and move the strategic marine units instead. In Cuba, the military is in high alert, the anti-aircraft batteries are deployed in an around strategic points, the Soviet combat units are moved to strategic positions, everything on high degree. So do in US, the president is addressing the nation on 1900 hours and the US military is in high alert.

Kennedy addressed the nation as the government is promised to provide complete and close security and surveillance, not only to the to the people of United States but to the allies of America. He continued his speech as they found operational Nuclear Missile Batteries in the island of Cuba, any single missile flied in the western hemisphere from Cuba, will considering an attack against United States and a complete and full scale retaliation will be made against Soviet Union as well their allies. Now the world had know about the crisis.

US strategic Air Command has put their forces into next high defense condition, DefCon 3. As the US NSC has has determined that there are tactical weapons, but was not enough to show to the world. It requires more precise and clear information. US naval commander has ordered to the Naval Night Photographic Division, for a close photographic session in a Soviet Missile Battery. Even through it was risk as they are protected by the SAM batteries, it was necessary.

On October 22nd night, US naval aircraft has flied below 100 feet over a Soviet Missile Site and they found several Missiles, launch Pads, Launch Vehicles, Nuclear Assemblers, SAMs, what not. In UN assembly, the US Foreign Secretary has presented the clear evidence against USSR for a Nuclear Deployment in Cuba. The Soviets were on a same ground before and after.

In the Caribbean Sea, there was another Soviet convoy of 2 Ships accompanied by a Soviet Nuclear Submarine with a Nuclear Torpedo. In White House Defense Secretary Robert McNamara has explained the latest situation as they found the Soviet Nuclear Capable Submarine and US preparation to intercept them. But President Kennedy was reluctant to start the war in that way. He doesn't wat to start war by attacking a Soviet Submarine. The Soviet Nuclear Submarines were fasting in launch depth. Robert Kennedy was updating to the President that this moment has bring the world too close to a Nuclear War and this moment onwards the US NMCC has moved the Defense Condition 2, the DefCon 2, one step away from a Nuclear War.

For US and for the rest of the world !

DEFCON 2, THE WAR IS EMINENT (PART 2)

Black Sea Port, Russia
July 1962

At the Soviet ports, more than 85 ships was prepared to transport 60 Ballistic Missiles, Jet Aircrafts, more than 40000 men to an unknown destination. As a part of the deception plan some soldiers are even got party-wares. Even the ship captains have no idea where they are heading and what they are carrying. Before they start they got 3 packets, to be opened as mentioned each of them. In the first was written 'to be opened after leaving the territorial water of Soviet Union', which was leading to the cross the European water. The second one was directing them to the cross the Gibraltar, through the Atlantic ocean. Once they cross the state of Gibraltar, the third and last packet which had the straight order to reach safe to Havana, Cuba. Everything become clear.

Clear but not easy. As the ship approach Caribbean water, they were closely observed by American aircrafts. The US have reason to be suspicious. From 1961 onwards US has made different plans to full-scale American Invasion in Cuba, codenamed as 'Off-land 360'. Flying-low than 200 feet American Navy aircrafts photographed the ship cargo. Before 2-3 days to Cuba, there are several photographic raids by the American reconnaissances aircrafts.

US National Photographic Interpretation Center (NPIC) assessed these photographs as arms-aid to Cuba, Fighter Jets, Tanks, Trucks etc etc. But none of these photographs or analysis leads to the presence of Nuclear weapons or missiles. The Russian team has orders to move or work only in the night hours, especially in the early morning hours, around 0300 hrs. Moving during those hours keeps the missiles secret from the surveillance eyes of the Americans. But keeping these operations secret from the Cuban citizen was more difficult than that. Moreover the transportation of a 30 meter long missile in a truck through a Cuban village is hectic.

Once the Soviet Military has landed and associated, even in a very difficult as well as poor living and operating conditions like insect-bites and health conditions, they started the assembling jobs. But 12000 feet above, the American U2 spy aircrafts were watching the entire activities, not only in the strategic areas but also into each nuke & corner. U2 can see literally anything on ground, small vehicle, men, Tyre-tracks, from 14 miles above. But from August 1962, for 3 weeks, U2 over-flights are put on hold because of clouding and bad weather and the assembly and consealing of Soviet Missile-sites continued unobserved.

August 29, on a clear sky, a U2 has ordered for surveillance watch-fly over the Cuba. The  NPIC analyzed that the results of this mission was indicating some troubles. There were 'Circled Star' strategic sites spotted in the Cuban land, which clearly indicates the presence of Soviet Surface to Air Missile (SAM) sites. The Soviet SA2 SAMs are highly sophisticated and capable to shoot down even small satellites.

Even though the US National Military Command Center (NMCC) analyzed several problems, but there some problems, which are very critical like, No. 1 the SA2 can shoot down a U2 within seconds and No. 2 is like 'for just to protect a possible Air-Raid from an US bomber unit, Soviets won't install these sophisticated weapons'. So there are something bigger and much powerful things are out there. But the Nuclear weapons as well as its activities are too well hidden. The missiles which are all operational was in ditches, Missile Silos, more than 30 meter depth and the top kept like a tent. So over the top, even to a U2 view, it just look like an ordinary tent.

Until the next U2 operational flight over Cuba on October 14, the US - Soviet situations are like cross road. The Americans are ready and was training for a full-scale Cuban invasion. They know that there are something happening in the Cuban soil, but not known exactly what it is. This surveillance flight on 0700 hours has finished after 6 hours and the data has rushed to the NPIC.

After a long scrutiny of these pictures, the NPIC has found that there are long cylindrical shaped objects moving around, more than 100 meter long, much bigger than intercept missiles. Through a deep strategic analysis and comparison, the NPIC has determined that they are certainly matching the configurations of a Soviet SS4, Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) with Nuclear Warheads, range more than 2000 miles, can take Pentagon in Washington DC and in the other side, the Strategic Air Command in Nebraska, and even the entire South-Eastern United States within minutes.

The NPIC director, Deno Brusioni has messaged to the authorities of NMCC as 'There is a trouble'.

Without even knowing that it was not the real trouble !

DEFCON 2, THE WAR IS EMINENT (PART 1)

October 1962

United States Strategic Air Command has moved the American Military to Defense Condition 2, the DefCon 2, one step away to the Nuclear War. Each one of them in the American Military have targets, Fighters, Bombers, Battle Ships, Cruise Missile Batteries, Paratroopers, every military organism has targeted to somewhere in that small island.

In US as well as in Moscow, accusations and denials has been happening. The Soviets were adamant about the current situation, to the Hell Freeze Level. So do the Americans. The US Invasion Forces are deployed for a massive attack, whole at Sea, in the land and in Air. The Nuclear arsenals has landed into the hands of Captains and Majors.

So far, landed Soviets were not admissible to the US. The tickle under the nose is too much for them. So they started reacting. The attention of the world has become into the small island nation in the western hemisphere, Cuba, where the whole nation has mobilized to protect against the eminent US invasion. 

In White House as well as in Kremlin, there were lack of communication and lack of sleep. The question was 'Whos incharge of the situation, Cuba or Soviet ?'. There was no answer because nobody wanted to take incharge of it in Moscow and they want to confuse the US without it. That was the strategy in the early 1996 and US failed to understand it. But now, in the mid of October, the situation is different. United Stated wanted to hear that answer of that question, from both of them !

In US as well as in Cuba, there were boards displaying information about the 'Hiding Chambers' and precautionary methods of a possible 'Air Raid'. Mock drills from the forces as well as authorities and food storage warnings has issued national level, in both countries. One difference, people were angry in United States but the people in Cuba, were started worrying about the US Airforce Bomber Squadrons. They were become panic. They started dreaming about the Death Eye of that Golden Eagle.

The world is still remembering it as, The Cuban Missile Crisis, the worst stand-off readiness in the history of US Military Forces, DefCon 2, the war is eminent.

In the early April 1996

When Soviet President Nikita Khrushchev and defense minister Marshal Malinowski were walking on the shores of the Black Sea looking across the other side, Turkey, a US backed, NATO allied nation. They were discussing about the US, nuclear missiles in the Turkish territory, targeting straight to Moscow. Khrushchev was bit tight in his thoughts and face, about the next strategic movement against this Hippocratic American action, 15 Jupiter Cruise Missiles, armed with a Nuclear War-Heads. 

Moreover, the Soviets strategic points were all surrounded by the US-NATO allies, 15 missiles in Turkey, 30 more in Italy and 64 in Britain. But most threatening of all, more than 1600 numbers of Long Range Strategic Bombers (LRSB) and 200 Intercontinental Continental  Ballistic Missiles (ICBM), which can strike over the Soviet Union anytime, which gives the Americans a strategic advantage over the Soviet as well as their allies, in the Cold War era. 

For Khrushchev this was unfortunate, despite the strategic disadvantage about the Nuclear and other weaponry arsenal, the Soviet Union is surrounded by US and NATO military bases, where in United States, the Americans were free from any threats like this. 

But there was a ray of hope for him. The only Russian ally in western hemisphere, The Republic of Cuba, Fidel Castro, the only communist fighter under the American nose. Although Cuba also can be lost from the ally-list at any moment, because of their own struggles and sustainability factors because of the US backed invasions and troubles, but both the nations has strong political tie-up. The Americans are tried to over-through Castro, politically as well as Physically from 1964 onwards, through small infiltrations, anti-communist batteries and assassins directly from the CIA. Off-course they are all failed, badly.

The Soviets were not gave much attention to all these until the direct invasion of the US backed Cubans, funded and trained by the CIA.That was a prestigious issue for the Russian allies and it personally it become the duty of General Khrushchev to act for his best friend and his nation.

Khrushchev has decided to move strategic nuclear weapons to Cuba, both to protect them from the American invasions as well as threats and gain advantage on the Cold War game. Through a single action Soviet will get massive advantage over the US, Nuclear missiles just 30 KM away from Washington, 2 minutes travel to take the White House and Pentagon. Moscow was sure that there are no action can give leverage like this. Over the night Khrushchev decided and his sole-mate Generals took this strategic movement highly classified, even without the knowledge of other top officials of the armed forces as well as in the political machinery. The Ministry of Defense in Moscow has fixed General Gribkov to lead the mission and to start talks with Cuba about this. On 3rd day Havana, has replied as 'if this action is necessary for the world of revolution and for the best interests of Soviet Union, it is 'YES''.

General Gribkov, codenamed this operation as 'Operation Anavia', the name of a cold city near to Siberia, the largest seaborne operation in the history of the world. in 4 months, they have to transport and install 60 nuclear missiles, 40000 men, at a distance away more than 8000 miles.

All they have to do it in secretly !