Strike Fighters 2 North Atlantic Campaign Background


Operation Northern Sabre

September 1979. As the Soviet Army invades West Germany, an entire division of Soviet Airborne troops parachute onto Iceland, covered by Spetsnaz Special Forces already on the ground to disable the early warning systems. The capture of Iceland is essential to Soviet victory in Europe - it allows the Soviet Northern Fleet to break out into the North Atlantic and disrupt the US convoys attempting to reinforce Europe. But the NATO forces catch a lucky break as one of the Spetsnaz attack is foiled, and the Airborne troops are forced to land on eastern half of the Iceland.

Soviet air force quickly forward deploys several MiG squadrons onto small airstrips around the Iceland to prevent any NATO reinforcement from arriving by air. And the Soviet Northern Fleet is sending in the Kiev Carrier Battle Group to block reinforcement by sea, supported by over 200 land-based, long-range heavy bombers which can strike anywhere on Iceland.

The US 2nd Marine Amphibious Group is quickly assembled to reinforce the Iceland ground defenses, and the USS Nimitz Carrier Battle Group, already underwary to a routine Med cruise, is diverted north to provide cover.