The Next War, Operation Attila - D+12, Air War

The key to the entire war has become the air war and its effects on Warsaw Pact's supply.
The recent breakthrough in SOUTHAG defenses by 1st Czech Army probably forced a change of strategy at SHAEF, as the majority of the available planes were allocated to Central Sector.

Air Combat Phase

Warsaw Pact focused its Air Superiority aircraft in Central and Baltic sectors, assigning every available bomber to support Operation Boreal Light - Soviet paratroopers attack to Copenhagen.

NATO took a big risk by assigning practically every available airplane to ground support in North and Central sector, including the F-15 wings.

Despite the absence of any escort and the interception by 600+ enemy fighters, NATO fighter-bombers were able to penetrate the battlefield with a total loss of 50 planes (3-4 steps) destroyed and 75 damaged.

NATO Ground Support in North Sector

NATO Ground Support in Central Sector

Operation "Hand of God" Continues

NATO air campaign against Warsaw Pact's supply system and infrastructures continued, using an unprecedented quantity of airplanes. Soviet intelligence estimated 1500+ NATO bombers and fighter-bombers were allocated to the operation.

Despite that, the recent buildup of air defenses and reorganization of supply depots by Warsaw Pact brought some results. Only 4 out of 6 supply lines were interdicted, and only 3 out of 6 main supply depots were forced to redeploy backwards.

Therefore, a small but significant flow of ammunition and fuel will reach Warsaw Pact's front division in the next few hours, at least in Baltic and North air sectors.

NATO air losses during D+12 air strikes were reported as follows:

Airplane	Shot Down	Damaged	dest/damage steps
A-10	15	17	1/1
F-4	3	30	0/2
Jaguar	16	32	1/2
Mirage	4	45	0/3

Operation Hand of God, D+12

Wild Weasel Strike

Ground Strike

Supply Interdiction Strike

Front Supply Head Displacement