[center][h2][b]Spearhead in the Gap[/b][/h2]
[i]Assault: Tactical Combat in the 1980s[/i]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/lTuEecI.png?1[/img][/center]

[right][b][i]01 April 1985[/i][/b][/right]
The United States Army Europe (USAREUR) or 7th US Army as well as the entire Bundeswehr and British Occupation Army have gone on alert, establishing a defensive line west of the One Kilometer (1K) Zone separating West Germany from East Germany and Czechoslovakia.

Elements of the US 3rd Armor Division (SPEARHEAD) have been alerted to an anticipated invasion of West Germany by units of the Deutsches Demokratische Republik  and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic. First Brigade of the 3rd Armor have been deployed to the area around the Fulda Gap near Bad Hersfeld. The American built combat vehicles have been preparing a defense of the sector in order to deny enemy penetration to the west.

[hr]

[right][b][i]0630 hours 03 April 1985[/i][/b][/right]

The sun’s rays began spreading out across the landscape around a quarter after six in the morning. The sun wouldn’t be completely risen for another forty-five. At six thirty, the temperature in the German state of Hesse was 43 degrees (F) or 6 degrees (C). For those who would survive the day, the sun would only warm the air to a balmy 48 degrees (F) or 9 degrees (C). 

The winds were wafting lightly from the west around 3MPH with gusts up to 6MPH. The skies had been overcast for the past few days, but this day, the 3rd of April was partly cloudy with gaps of blue. A person on the ground could peer into the skies above to view the NATO and WARSAW Pact aircraft engaged in a deadly ballet. F-15s, F-16s, A-10s, F-4s, F-104s, Jaguars and Panavia Tornados streaked from the west while MiG-23s, MiG-25s, MiG-27s, MiG-29, MiG-31s, Su-17s, Su-20s, Su-22s, Su-24s and Su-25s parried their advances from the east. The skies were painted with the condensation trails (contrails) of multiple jet engine aircraft circling, climbing and diving. An occasional parachute could be seen, where some unlucky, Brit, German, American or Russian lost a duel to their adversary in the sky.

The ground where the American and East German soldiers prepared to meet each other was wet and sloppy. Many of the farmer’s fields could soon be turned into a muddy quagmire if excessive numbers of vehicles were to pass through them. Small patches of snow remained in the shadowy areas, under trees or behind barns and houses.