"Book Review: Red Army " Topic

"If you are a wargamer, the chances are pretty good that you've read Red Storm Rising and Team Yankee at least once, probably more. This book deserves to be right next to them on the shelf; it's that good and I've just read it for I think the third time.

This is the story of WW3 entirely from the Soviet perspective. To be specific, the perspective of the Russians in East Germany facing off against NATO's Northern Army Group. Characters include Front, Army, Brigade and Battalion commanders, as well as tankers, infantry soldiers, gunners and a fighter pilot.

Written by an former US Army intelligence officer, the narrative grasps the operational and tactical details beautifully, and touches on some of the political aspects as well. The reasons for the war are skipped entirely (just like in Team Yankee) to focus on the action, and there is plenty of it. Tank battles, reconnaissance in force, deep penetrations, and airborne operations – they are all in there. Plenty of scenario material to keep the busiest wargamer occupied for awhile!…"
Full review here
link

Amicalement
Armand

This book is absolutely outstanding – I recommend it to any Cold War gamer. Ralph Peters was of course a US Army Intel officer, and his knowledge of the Soviets really comes through.

I enjoyed it, and recommend it as well.

It is a super book I read it in one sitting on holiday which didn't make me popular for a day or two. Dare I say it but it is in a different league to Red Storm Rising or Team Yankee as a piece of military literature and as a military analysis.

That said, I do think it is over generous to the Soviet side's capabilities. I was lucky enough to talk to a number of former Soviet officers including GSFG in a business context in the 1990s. Shared interest in general military history and an 'it's all ancient history now' attitude made for some frank conversations. Generally they had a much lower opinion of the professional capability (fighting spirit, operational competence, equipment) of the Soviet army of the period 1980s than contemporary Western observers had. To the extent that many officers (I was told this was a widely held view anyway) strongly believed that a major conventional attack on the central front would have been defeated by NATO from the mid 1980s onwards.

Whether or not that was the case- this book is very well worth a read.

Sorry for my repeat post – a TMP glitch, and it won't let me delete it!

Anyway, its worth saying twice – a damn good book!

Excellent book. I have it in paperback and r-read it every few years. With TFL releasing I Ain't Been Nuked, Mom and BF going Modern, this is the perfect inspiration.

Excellent book. Well written and thought through.

I look at it as a worst case view of how thing might have gone. It's been a while since I read it but as I remember it things went really well for the Soviets with them getting a fair amount of good luck.

Buyed! …

Amicalement
Armand

Just ordered. Thanks for the tip.

Yes, the Russians did get a few good luck opportunities but also the numbers played into the game. Yes, the US has great technology and we win head to head but what happens when it is 3 divisions to 1 and the Russians are bringing significant air power to the game. We have to resupply and I believe that is where we are the most vulnerable.

Is this new, or the same book I read 30 years ago?

Well its certainly not new, and yes, my God, it probably is getting on for 3 decades ago now…

Yes please guys, TMP, and indeed the whole Internet, is only for real grognards!

No piece of information should be repeated, ever. We don't want to make things easy, don't we?

I, for example, had never heard of the book and surely should have been left in oblivion instead of being given a chance to read it and to hang out with the cool old guys!

Happy for that my friend!!! (smile)

I feel better for not to be the only one!! (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Trojan, get a copy right away, it is a great read and only a couple of bucks on Amazon. One tip:unless you are used to reading books with Russian protagonists, keep a note pad handy and write down the full names of the characters. It gets a bit confusing when Captain Kalashnikov, Michail Timofyevitch and Mischa is the same guy, just adressed by different people.

I'll add my voice to the chorus of a approvals for Red Army. Red storm rising has more for the hardware junkies and team Yankee is a bit of tanker's but Red Army was my favourite. The other that deserves a mention is Bob Forrest-webb's Chieftains, which is good but definitely the bleakest of the set. It used to be as rare as hen's teeth but is now available on kindle.

Has anyone read the Red Effect or Armageddon's song series?

Trev

This sounds interesting, especially as the author served in the Russian army and can bring that insight.

Yes, 'Chieftains' is also a classic from the British tanky perspective. Yes have read the Black Effect and saving the Red Effect for later when I start painting up for Battlefront's Cold War Gone Hot in October. I believe the Green Effect is out now too…

I thought the Black Effect was pretty good, it ought to be with the writer an ex Int Corps SNCO whose been out on BRIXMIS ops!

I always wanted to read a story about ww3, where it was two soldiers from opposing sides, sitting in a cafe somewhere in the ruins, talking about what happened.

Too bad I'm not a good fiction writer.

Arrived on time for my holiday :0)

Red Army ,Chieftain and Ice Station Zebra are the only Cold War gone hot books I still have on my shelf.
An excellent book. Got a copy many years ago and is very likely time to read again.
Highly recommended.

Started reading Armageddon's song, could not put it down, the guy knows his stuff ( I was in tanks in the 70's) I finished 'Stand to' and promptly ordered the other 4!They really are great reading.

Definitely my favorite cold war novel, captures the era so well. I also have re-read it several times. I also recommend The Third World War by Sir John Hackett, and I here there are .. 2 updates to that book that I have not yet read.

Read in 2 days by the pool. I'd rate it as 'OK'. Basically Ivan, Vassily and Vlad reminisce about Olga, Svetlana and Irina while battling their way through the BAOR who make they pay for every foot, the Americans save the day or would have had the West Germans not turned out to be sausage-eating surrender monkeys. Interesting operational-level stuff though.

Got that book a few years back. Interesting read.

"… had the West Germans not turned out to be sausage-eating surrender monkeys. Interesting operational-level stuff though"

Interesting, we had trouble getting them to withdraw to better positions on exercise and with 3 UK Armd Div on exercise in 86 I remember the Bundeswehr Liaison officer arguing that their plan was to head East and that was that, they could only contribute a small force to our plan!

Tally Ho!