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The Blue Effect. Now Available on Kindle.

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9781781322215-PerfectCOVER.indd

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Now available on Kindle.

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Harvey Black (6)

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

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The Blue Effect_high resolution-2

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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

Now available.  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

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9781781322215-PerfectCOVER.indd

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‘The Black Effect’ – Available on Kindle.

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TBE revised - FOR SCREEN-1

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.

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RedEffect72dpi-4

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

Site and content is copyrighted to Harvey Black.

 

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

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9781781322215-PerfectCOVER.indd

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The cover is now very close to publication!

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Harvey Black (6)

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

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The Blue Effect_high resolution-2

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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

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9781781322215-PerfectCOVER.indd

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‘The Black Effect’ – Available on Kindle.

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TBE revised - FOR SCREEN-1

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.

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RedEffect72dpi-4

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

Site and content is copyrighted to Harvey Black.

 

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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 11th 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!

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.

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RedEffect72dpi-4

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‘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.

 

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The Cold War Years. A Hot War in reality. Part 3

I have just sent the third novel of my new ‘Cold War’ series, The Blue Effect, to my Editor. On target for a May publication. This will be the final book in the trilogy, 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 the intelligence build up leading to the Warsaw Pact strike against the NATO forces lined up against them. The Black Effect takes it to a new level. The Blue Effect? Well you will have to read it to find out.

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’.

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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.

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Remains of the Berlin Wall. Berlin 2012.

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Remains of the Berlin Wall. Berlin 2012.

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

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

I believe that this soldier has since died. May he rest in peace.

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I shall cover various aspects of the two opposing forces, providing the backdrop and background information in preparation for the release of my third Cold War novel. In the meantime, you could always read my WW2 series, Devils with Wings. 🙂

In 1984/85, the Warsaw Pact was already a significant force, the Soviet Union in particular.

The majority of the Strategic Nuclear forces for both NATO and the Warsaw Pact were very much land or submarine based. Although I need to cover the Strategic Airforce for both sides, for this post i want to cover another element of the nuclear arsenal available. During the 80’s another nuclear delivery means came into being, the Intermediate Range Nuclear Missile and the Tactical Nuclear Missile.

The Soviet Union had 378 x SS-20 (Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles, IRBM)

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SS-20 IRBM. 

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SS-20 was deployed from 1976 to 1988.

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NATO reporting name was SS-20, Sabre. Range of 3,400 miles and carried a warhead of 3 x 150 kiloton MIRVs.

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IRBM’s in NATO forces were attached to their ground forces rather than held back as a strategic force. Saying that, the decision to use them would sit with the highest political levels as the use of tactical nuclear weapons could well escalate to a full scale nuclear exchange.

United States – 4 x Pershing I/II SSM (Surface to Surface Missile) battalions and 8 x Lance SSM battalions.

United Kingdom – 1 x Lance SSM Missile Regiment (12 Lance)

Federal Republic of Germany – 4 x Lance SSM Battalions.

France – 18 x S-3 IRBM’s and 5 x SSM Regiments with Pluton.

Netherlands – 1 x SSM Battalion (4 x Lance).

Belgium – 1 x Lance SSM Battalion (4 x Lance).

Italy – 1 x Lance SSM Battalion (4 x Lance).

 Turkey – 4 x SSM Battalions with Honest John.

Greece – 2 x SSM Battalions with Honest John (8 x missiles).

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Pershing I, carried on its own TEL (Transporter, Erector and Loader). Range of 460 miles, it was very much a theatre nuclear weapon. It carried a range of nuclear warheads from 60 to 400 kilotons.

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Pershing II.  This weapon was developed as there was a requirement for a smaller warhead, but with greater accuracy. Theatre, or Tactical, nuclear weapons were coming of age. It had a range of 1,100 miles and a 5 to 80 kiloton warhead. For the first time there was a real risk of nuclear weapons being used on a conventional battlefield.

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MG-52 Lance was a mobile, tactical surface-to-surface missile.

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Although the United States and Britain would arm it with nuclear warheads,

it could also be used with conventional warheads.

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Range of 75 miles, a true tactical weapon.

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Carried a variety of warheads up to 100 kilotons.

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Honest-John was the first nuclear capable surface-to-surface missile in the United States arsenal.

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Honest-John, M-31, had a range of just over 15 miles and could carry a 20 kiloton warhead. It was also capable of carrying a Sarin nerve gas, cluster munitions.

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The S-3 was a two-stage, solid propellant Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile. A range of 3,500 kilometres carrying a warhead of 1.2 megatons. It couldn’t function well as a battlefield tactical weapon.

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With its own TEL, Pluton was a Short-Range tactical Ballistic Missile (SRBM). A conventional, or a 15 or 25 kiloton nuclear warhead. It had an operational range of 80 miles.

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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.

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Leopard C1 Tank.

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Leopard 1, the Canadian variant.

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Leopard C1, Main Battle Tank. They had a 105mm, L7 gun, developed by Britain’s Royal Ordnance  Factories.

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Multi-fuel, 10 cylinder engine, 830 hp. 10-70mm of RHA armour, this tank was used by the Canadian Army.

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42.5  tons, crew of 4 and a top speed of 40mph.

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A 105mm gun was its main weapon, supported by 2 x 7.62mm MGs

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105mm rifled barrel.

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This was the preferred replacement for the British Centurion as the new Chieftain was seen as too powerful for anything other than a global conflict

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A great tank.

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Leopards on the move.

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HarveyBlack-Red Effect150313

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’.

I have already started on the first of my Apocalyptic novels, based in the UK. Based on the aftermath of a strategic nuclear exchange, it will be hard hitting and realistic. I have also started the research for the fourth book in my Devils with Wings series, placing Max and Paul in ever more dangerous situations.

For those that have read my novels I tank you very much for your support. It is that support that encourages me to continue writing.

Photographs and Blog are copyrighted to Harvey Black