Team Yankee/WWIII: Nordic Forces

It’s 1985 and the Cold War just got hot!

Both Norway and Denmark were quick to join NATO after its establishment in 1949. However, Sweden and Finland remain neutral, each for their own reasons, but always wary of their massive Soviet neighbor.

Inside You Will Find:

Background on World War III in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. 

Denmark

The Danish Jyske Division was responsible for the defense of the Jutland Peninsula and constituted the second half of the two main components in the LANDJUT (NATO Allied Land Forces Schleswig- Holstein and Jutland) Corps. In case of rising tensions between the West and the East, the division would start the mobilization of its reserve forces and deploy its three brigades into their forward defensive positions, in and around Schleswig-Holstein, where they would meet up with their West German counterparts.

Each of the three brigades was made up of one tank battalion, two mechanized infantry battalions, and one artillery battalion. Furthermore, each brigade had an armored engineering company assigned to it. A Danish tank battalion was made up of two tank squadrons and one mechanized infantry company, while each mechanized infantry battalion comprised two mechanized infantry companies and one tank squadron.

Finland

The Soviet high command had a number of wartime plans for Finland. Some involved the invasion and conquest of the whole of Finland, with Helsinki, Vaasa, and Oulu as the primary Soviet objectives and even involved the use of Finland as a launch point for the invasion of Sweden. Other plans varied between limited offensives, allowing Finland to maintain its neutrality, or requests for access to Finnish territory for troop movements.

Norway

During the Cold War, Norway held the dubious distinction of being one of only two NATO nations to share a border with the Soviet Union. 

With the likelihood of war growing, it seemed Moscow’s priorities in Norway centred on destroying or capturing Norwegian airfields to prevent them from being utilised for offensive operations against military assets based in the nearby Kola Peninsula. This was combined with a planned offensive into northern Norway to secure these facilities for their own use. Once captured the Soviets could then use these as a base for offensive air and naval operations against NATO forces in the North Sea and North Atlantic.

Sweden

The Swedes are mostly self-sufficient in their military technology with their own unique turretless S-Tank with its autoloader and powerful gun. Their well-armed infantry is mounted in the Pbv 302 APC armed with a 20mm autocannon. Supplementing their locally manufactured equipment the Swedes also field Centurion tanks, with upgraded fire-control systems and Explosive Reactive Armor. 

Like NATO and the other neutral nations, Sweden was critically aware of the building tensions between the West and the Soviet bloc. Sweden began mobilizing its defense forces as early as the end of June 1985 as US forces began readying to reinforce their units in West Germany. The Swedish Air Force had stepped up active patrolling and Coastal Forces were on high alert.

Instructions on how to build:

• Finnish T-72FM1, T-72FM2, or T-55M Armored Companies, and BMP-1 or BTR-60 Jääkäri Companies,

• Swedish Strv 103 S-Tank or Strv 104 Centurion Tank Companies, and Pbv 302 Armored Rifle Companies,

• Norwegian Leopard 1 Tank Squadrons, and M113 Storm Squadrons,

• Danish Leopard 1 or Centurion DK Tank Squadrons, and M113 Armored Infantry Companies.

• Three scenarios featuring World War III: Nordic Forces.

• Detailed painting guides to help you prepare your Forces for combat.