The Blue Effect. The day the Cold War turned Hot. Cover Reveal.

by harveyblackauthor on 20/03/201415/07/2018

The cover is now very close to publication!

The Avro Vulcan bomber, an Icon of the Cold War and of the Royal Air Force.

More about the Avro Vulcan in future Posts and of the great work being done to keep this particular aircraft flying.

And a big thank you XH558 team for allowing me to use the above photograph

Cover image (C) of Andrew Brown and the Vulcan to the Sky Trust – image of XH558

I will keep you posted as to the publication date, but there is a good chance that it will be out before the end of April. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support in reading the first two novels in the series, it is really appreciated. HB

‘The Black Effect’ – Available on Kindle.

The Black Effect

An economy on the verge of collapse, demands from their allies for funding to continue the expansion of communism, and a conventional Army, Navy and Air Force costing the country 20% of its GDP… The Soviet Union is in trouble. Where should they turn for a solution?

Their answer: the capitalist West. On the 4th July 1984, the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact launched a massive preemptive conventional strike against the West, sending the NATO forces reeling.

Follow Jacko and Bradley and their allies as they fight off the Soviet Union. Can the NATO forces recover and hold their ground? Will the Soviet Union succeed? Or will it end in an outright defeat? Follow the series of gripping events in The Black Effect, the second installment in Harvey Black’s Cold War trilogy.

The first novel in my ‘Cold War’ trilogy, The Red Effect, published by SilverWood Books, is now available. Thoroughly enjoyed writing it, as i do with all my novels. There will be three books in total, covering the hypothetical invasion of West Germany, the Federal Republic of Germany, by the Warsaw Pact in the mid 1980’s. Book 1, ‘The Red Effect’, encompasses part of the intelligence build up leading to the initial Warsaw Pact strike against the NATO forces lined up against them. The purpose of the next few posts is to give the reader some additional background information to enhance their reading experience.

‘The Red Effect’ by Harvey Black – Available now. The Cold War that became a Hot War.

Site and content is copyrighted to Harvey Black.

The Black Effect (Cold War 2). The latest Review!

by harveyblackauthor on 15/03/201415/07/2018

The Black Effect. The day the Cold War turned Hot.

Your Weekend Read: Harvey Black’s Cold War Series

Written by Breach-Bang-Clear on 14 March 2014.

Looking for a good book? How about checking this out for your Weekend Read. Mad Duo

Your Weekend Read: Harvey Black’s Cold War Series

As someone from the GWOT (Global War on Terror) generation the Cold War has always fascinated me. My time in the Marine Corps was spent preparing for counter-insurgency, not the massed conventional warfare that the Cold War generations prepared for. So the idea of two massive armored forces clashing on the European Continent has always drawn my interest. Nothing has fulfilled this interest as much as Cold War gone hot novels.

I’ve read all the classics Red Storm Rising, Team Yankee, Chieftains, the list goes on. However, the majority of great Cold War gone hot fiction was written during the Cold War or in the 90’s. That is until now, with Harvey Black’s Cold War series. The series includes two novels, The Red Effect and The Black Effect. These two books are in my opinion not only a refreshing addition to the genre but surpass any I have read in the past.

These first two books cover the lead up to a clash between NATO and the Warsaw Pact in The Red Effect and then the actual conflict itself in The Black Effect. In Black’s novels we follow the lead up to and conflict from three perspectives – the tactical, operational, and strategic levels. The actual units that the series is built around are varied, so it lends the reader a much broader and richer perspective than other books in this genre.

The main focus of NATO forces is on British units. This adds a certain element for American readers, as it gives insight into how the British Armed Forces prepared and how they would have deployed in response to a conflict with the Warsaw Pact. Black’s experience in the British Army as an intelligence section trooper in BRIXMIS (British Commander-in-Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany) adds unparalleled insight and detail to the narrative concerning British forces. The British units followed in the novels include an armored unit, a mechanized infantry unit, an SAS patrol, an intelligence unit like the one Black served in and all the units leadership elements.

For those of you in the U.S that are concerned about reading about U.S. units, a Cavalry unit from the 11^th Cav is also part of the story. However, it is how Black portrays the Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces that I feel add a particular depth to the novels. The Warsaw Pact units are portrayed just as thoroughly as the NATO units. They are not just cardboard cutouts of the typical mindless Soviet automatons found in other novels. In Black’s novels the Warsaw Pact forces are in some cases apprehensive about what their leaders intend to do, and show the same type of bond found in any Armed Forces of worrying more about their fellow soldiers and than what some Commissar is spouting about. I think this adds to the story and is a more realistic outlook on what the Soviet soldier would have went through – as anyone who has talked to a former Warsaw Pact soldier knows, they were not all dyed in the wool believers in the Communist cause.

In the first book we follow these elements as they come to terms with what is about to happen. It is the Summer of

1984. It begins with the different units during peace time,training in NATO’s case and participating in a large scale exercise for the Warsaw Pact forces. As the novel progresses NATO begins to come to grips with the increasing likelihood of a shooting war with the Soviets. While NATO prepares the Warsaw Pact makes it final preparations before preemptively striking. Although the first book may seem to lack action for some readers, its attention to detail is amazing, and it really does set the stage for the massive conflagration in the second book.

I will not spoil the second book but be prepared for the most detailed writing I have ever encountered when it comes to the combat sequences of the of the “Cold War gone hot” genre. This is not just a listing of specs, like what millimeter cannon a T-64 has, but the portrayal equipment, tactical and battlefield friction is so authentic it must be read to be appreciated. The second book mostly involves combat and weaves together a particularly vivid description of what transpires in the massive battlefield that a Warsaw Pact vs. NATO fight would have encompassed. Readers are immersed in all levels of battle, from the fighting hole to the harrier cockpit, and even to the naval battle in the Atlantic. Black’s experiences in the British Army add much that is lacking in similar novels written by civilians.

If you are a fan of this genre I don’t recommend you think about purchasing the novels in the series; I’m flat telling you that you are missing out if you don’t buy them. You’ll be hard pressed to find as detailed and tactically sound of a series on this topic. The novels are available in print and for kindle at a rather affordable price, and if you’re anything like me you’ll find yourself reading them several times. Black will be continuing the conflict in a third book that I am sure will not disappoint.

Buy The Black Effect in print here; purchase it for your Kindle here.

Buy The Red Effect in print here; purchase it for your Kindle here.

Harvey Black:

Have a good weekend and enjoy Your Weekend Read.

Groz

About the Author: Sean “Groz” Burke is a former Assault Section Leader in the Marine Corps infantry with combat deployments to assorted sunny Middle Eastern and African locations. During his tenure as a gyrene many doors were kicked, gates blown and people’s days excessively ruined. During these deployments Sean often instructed the use of foreign weapon systems, helped his command understand the armament capabilities of the enemy and was his unit’s resident “terp wrangler.” He attended numerous PME schools, including Sensitive Site Exploitation and the Iraqi Arabic and Culture Course. After departing the Marine Corps Sean graduated Temple University with a degree in history and is now (no shit) a high school teacher. When not teaching he continues to compulsively study foreign weapon systems, world affairs and foreign policy. Groz is one of the biggest geardos the Mad Duo knows (which is really saying something). He is a wealth of information regarding al things Cordura, Steel and COMBLOC.

Mad Duo, Breach-Bang-CLEAR!

http://www.breachbangclear.com/site/10-blog/684-your-weekend-read-harvey-black.html.

The Black Effect

Their answer: the capitalist West. On the 4th July 1984, the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact launched a massive preemptive conventional strike against the West, sending the NATO forces reeling.

‘The Red Effect’ by Harvey Black – Available now. The Cold War that became a Hot War.

‘The Blue Effect’ Is due out in 4-6 weeks.

Site and content is copyrighted to Harvey Black.

The Cold War. A Hot war in reality. Part 1

by harveyblackauthor on 10/10/201315/07/2018

The Cold War. A Hot war in reality. Part 1

I have completed the second novel of my new ‘Cold War’ series. There will be three books in total, covering the hypothetical invasion of West Germany, the Federal Republic of Germany, by the Warsaw Pact in the mid 1980’s. Book 1, ‘The Red Effect’, will encompass the intelligence build up leading to the Warsaw Pact strike against the NATO forces lined up against them. The Black Effect follows on……

The Cold War era started very soon after the end of the second world war, when the communist east, led by the Soviet Union, and the Western world, led by the United States and its NATO allies, faced each across what became known as the ‘Iron Curtain’.

The capital of Germany, Berlin, was divided into four Sectors. The consequence being, that the three Western Allied powers now controlled territory deep within the Soviet Union Zone of Germany.

Over time, the tensions between the four Allied powers increased, eventually resulting in the Berlin blockade in 1948, when the Soviets attempted to starve West Berlin into submission and force the other three Allied powers out. This failed and the Soviets eventually relented, but an ever-increasing number of East Germans fled to the West; between 150,000 and 300,000 a year during 1951-1953. As a consequence restrictions were placed on movement between the divided country. From 1961, the border was closed and Berlin completely encircled, first by barbed wire, then bricks and finally a concrete wall, along with the infamous ‘death strip’.

Access was now restricted between Berlin and the West. A wall, 124 mile miles in length, was placed around the three sectors of West Berlin, cutting off the city from the rest of the world.

The badly damaged Reichstag. Berlin 1945

An Iconic picture of the face-off between the West and the East. The Cold War starts – October 1961

Another iconic picture of a GDR Border Guard fleeing across the barbed-wire to escape to West -Berlin (1961)

The Reichstag, showing the Berlin Wall in place behind it. – West Berlin 1981.

I shall cover various aspects of the two opposing forces, providing the backdrop and background information my Cold War trilogy.

In 1984/85, the Warsaw Pact was already a significant force, the Soviet Union in particular. For this, and the next Post, I will cover the Soviet and NATO strategic inventory, which was being modernised by both the Warsaw Pact and NATO.

SS-19. In 1984/5, the Soviet Union had some 360 of these ICBM’s (Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles), most of them of the mod. 3 variety, with 6 MIRV’s (Multiple Independently targetable Reentry Vehicles), basically multiple nuclear warheads.

The SS-19, deployed in 1982, was 27 metres in length, 2.5 metres wide and weighed in excess of 100,000 kilograms. It had a two-stage liquid fuel propulsion system with a PBV (Post-Boost Vehicle for a hot launch) which gave it a range of up to 10,000 kilometres. Mod 3 would carry a 550 kiloton yield (MIRV), whereas the Mod 2, would carry a 5 megaton yield warhead.

Apart from the SS-19’s, the most modern ICBM in their armoury, the Soviet Union had 520 x SS-11, 60 x SS-13, 150 x SS-17 (many being deployed with 4 MIRV’s) and 308 x SS-18 (Being upgraded to carry 10 MIRV’s).

Minuteman III missile inside its Silo, 60 miles from Grand Forks Air Base, late 1980.

NATO too, in particular the United States, modernised their nuclear arsenal in the race to reach a state of ‘mutual assured destruction’. NATOs strategy was dependent on the Soviet Union believing that NATO would respond with an all out, devastating nuclear response to any aggressive moves they might make, whether Nuclear or Conventional. The focus very much on the Iron Curtain hot spot that stretched along the Inner German Border. There were many incidents that came close to inciting a nuclear exchange.

NATO’s strategic forces (I shall cover bombers and submarines at a later date) were underpinned by the United Staes, United Kingdom and France. The US had 450 x LGM-30F (minuteman II), 550 x LGM-30G with 3 MIRV (minuteman III) and 37 x Titan 2, phasing out by the end of 1987.

A minuteman III missile being launched. An ICBM, with a three-stage power plant, consisting of three solid-propellant rocket motors; first stage – Thiokol; second stage – Aerojet-General; third stage – United Technologies Chemical Systems Division.

With a height of 18 metres, diameter of just under 2 metres it weighed significantly less than the SS-19, at 36,000 kilograms. But it still had a range of over 6,000 miles and could travel at a speed in excess of 15,000 mph, Mach 23! It carried a warhead of 170 kilotons, 350 kilotons or up to 450 kilotons. With three MIRV’s, this was capable of a significant punch.

The British and French nuclear forces were very much submarine and air launched (apart from tactical nuclear weapons), I will cover those at a later date.

There were also the conventional forces lined up along the Inner German Border, the visible barrier between the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR), or better known as West and East Germany. I shall be covering their organisation and equipment over the coming months.

The T-62 might be an old tank, but in the early days it was the mainstay of the Soviet Army.

Weighing in the region of 40 tons, it could still travel at a top speed of nearly 50mph with its V-12, 38 litre engine.

This one, on display in the Bovington Tank Museum, was captured from the Iraqi forces during the 1991 Gulf War.

Infrared searchlight on the right of the turret, next to the 115mm main gun.

These days the Infrared could easily be detected by modern equipment.

A Soviet T-62 in East Berlin. – East Berlin, 1984

t-54/55 on parade – East Berlin 1984

Although it can be classed as an insignificant tank, and maybe not even referred to as a Main Battle Tank, when up against T-64’s, T-72’s and T-80’s, it is still very much in use across the world. One thing I would like to point out, in 1984/5, the Soviet Union had 35,000 T-54/55/62’s in service. The British Army at that time had less than a 1,000 MBTs. Quality versus quantity? Would we have had enough ammunition?

My intention is not to portray a particular message, but just share some of my research and experiences with you. This is the first of my new ‘Cold War’ series, supporting the writing of my new ‘Cold War’ series of novels, covering the hypothetical invasion of West Germany by the Warsaw Pact in the 80’s. ‘The Red Effect’.

Photographs and Blog are copyrighted to Harvey Black

Cold War Kit. Part 5. Lynx Helicopter.

by harveyblackauthor on 10/09/201315/07/2018

Cold War Kit. Part 5. Lynx Helicopter.

. The first novel in my ‘Cold War’ trilogy, The Red Effect, published by SilverWood Books, is now available. Thoroughly enjoyed writing it, as i do with all my novels. There will be three books in total, covering the hypothetical invasion of West Germany, the Federal Republic of Germany, by the Warsaw Pact in the mid 1980’s. Book 1, ‘The Red Effect’, encompasses part of the intelligence build up leading to the initial Warsaw Pact strike against the NATO forces lined up against them. The purpose of the next few posts is to cover some of the Iconic pieces of equipment that would have played a part, should the Cold War have turned Hot.

. .

‘The Red Effect’ by Harvey Black – Available now. The Cold War that became a Hot War.

The perception of a potential Third World War, was generally one of a nuclear war. It may have come to that. In reality we will never know. But, one scenario is that of a conventional war. The massed forces of the Warsaw Pact against the supposedly technically superior, but weaker, NATO armies, that may well have escalated into a nuclear exchange. But a pure conventional war was just as likely.

Westland Lynx.

Multi-purpose military helicopter.

Went into operational usage in 1977.

Primarily as a battlefield utility, anti-armour, search and rescue and ant-submarine warfare helicopter.

Westland Lynx AH7.

Maximum speed of 200mph.

Crew of 2-3 plus 8 troops.

Attack – 2 x 20mm cannons, 2 x 70mm rocket pods, 8 x TOW ATGM.

Westland Lynx.

The worlds first fully aerobatic helicopter.

Original Lynx powered by two Rolls-Royce gem 2 turboshaft engines.

Four-blade semi-rigid main rotor system.

Westland Lynx.

The Cold War variant. Used for two key roles in the Army. First to provide an HELARM. Mounted with TOW anti-tank missiles a flight of perhaps six would be on standby to support the troops on the ground by helping to stop or slow down a massed tank breakthrough.

In the early 80s, 1 British Corps required an Airmobile Brigade to provide a powerful, but flexible, force blocking Soviet breakthroughs or supporting a counter attack. One flight would carry Milan-teams, armed with a Milan Firing-post and the Milan-2 anti-tank missile.

i hope this has given you a further insight into what kit was around during the Cold War in the 80s. The equipment Photographs and Blog are copyrighted to Harvey Black.

‘The Red Effect’ by Harvey Black – Kindle and Paperback version out now! The Cold War that became a Hot War.

The Black Effect – Paperback now out for preorder.