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 Firestorm Red Thunder

World War III did not start with one particular act, but rather a steady series that lead to the greatest conflict since World War II. Over the coming weeks will will explore the headlines that brought the world back to the Battlefield.

Firestorm Red Thunder is coming...

 Firestorm Red Thunder

Persian Gulf War Heats Up
Associated Press news story
16 July 1985:

Escalation of the Persian Gulf War continued today when Iranian aircraft attacked two oil tankers just outside the territorial waters of Bahrain. A ship of Dutch registry was reported sunk early this morning shortly after leaving port.

At this time there is no report of survivors. The second ship, registered in Panama, was inbound to Bahrain when it was attacked by two Iranian war planes. Casualties are reported to be high.

Iran Continues Attacks in Gulf
Television news story
22 July:

Despite condemnation by the UN, Western European nations, Japan, and the U.S., Iran has pledged to continue attacks on any vessel that enters the Persian Gulf, now declared a war zone by that country. Outside the Straits of Hormuz, entrance to the Persian Gulf, the number of tankers sitting at anchor, waiting for a break in the deadlock, continues to grow.

16 July 1985 - Team Yankee

The ships’ owners and their captains feel that this deadlock will not last long. As one ship’s captain stated, ‘They have tried this before and always backed off. They need us too much to keep this up for long.’


26 July 1985 - Team Yankee

Iron Lady Stands Strong
The Daily Telegraph
Friday 26 July:

“We did not fight two World Wars to defend Europe from dictatorship and oppression just to hand it over to the next tyrant bent on world dominance!” The British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, lived up to her nickname as ‘The Iron Lady’ today.

Echoing Winston Churchill, the British leader during World War Two, she delivered a strong speech in parliament condemning the Soviet Union’s demands and vowing that Britain would resist aggression in Europe “with every last breath”.


U.S.S Charles Logan Attacked
Department of Defense press release
Saturday 27 July:

The destroyer U.S.S. Charles Logan, while on patrol in international waters off the Straits of Hormuz, was rammed, then fired upon by a Soviet Cruiser of the Gorki class this morning. U.S. forces returned fire. Damage and casualties on either side are not known at this time.

27 July 1985 - Team Yankee


27 July 1985 - Team Yankee

National Guard Called Up
White House press release
28 July:
In view of the current crisis, the President has issued an order federalizing 100,000 Army Reserve and National Guard personnel. Personnel and units affected have been notified and are reporting to their mobilization stations.”


Soviet Allies Stand Strong
TASS news release
28 July:
A meeting of the Warsaw Pact ministers ended today with a pledge to stand together in the face of threats and increased war preparations on the part of the United States.

28 July 1985 - Team Yankee

Representatives from Poland, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, and the Soviet Union released a joint statement pledging to meet American aggression against any member state with retaliation in kind.”

29 July 1985 - Team Yankee

Pope Calls For Calm
Vatican press release
29 July:
A request on the part of the Holy Father to travel to Moscow to talk to the Soviet premier in an attempt to find a peaceful solution to the current crisis was denied. The Holy Father calls for both sides to remember their responsibility to their people and to the world and again offered his services in any future negotiations.

Meanwhile in Germany Chancellor Helmut Koh released the following press release; “Once more the storm clouds of war hang heavy over Germany. Despite our best efforts, the current crisis looks to be without a peaceful resolution. The Federal Republic of Germany will stand fast with our NATO allies and face any aggression directed against our nation and Europe. We stand as one.”

French Stand With NATO
BBC news release, 30 July:
“A stormy session between the French president and the Soviet foreign minister in Paris today ended when the Soviet foreign minister warned the French president that the national interests of France would best be served if that nation did not involve itself in the current crisis between the Soviet Union and the United States.

30 July 1985 - Team Yankee

In a statement immediately after the meeting, the president announced that France would stand by her treaties and do her part to defend Europe against aggression from any quarter. The president went on to announce that the French military forces, with the exception of its strategic nuclear forces, would actively cooperate with other NATO nations during the current crisis.”

1 August 1985 - Team Yankee

Countdown to WWIII?
Television news story, 1 Aug:
Unconfirmed reports from Brussels, headquarters for NATO, state that the NATO nations have ordered their armed forces to mobilize and commence deployment to wartime positions.

While there is no official word from Washington concerning this, announcement of an address to the nation by the president at seven o’clock this morning, followed by a joint press conference by the secretaries of state and defense, seems to add credibility to these reports.

East German authorities have closed all border posts to the east and cut the railway line to the west leaving West Berlin cut off from the west. Tegel Airport is operating and the West Berlin Air Corridor is still open, but flights and available seats are limited.



Last Updated On Wednesday, August 9, 2017 by Chris at Battlefront