Able archer 83 is the codename for a command post exercise carried out in november 1983 by the north atlantic treaty organization nato. Nov 01, 2016 able archer 83 is based upon more than a thousand pages of declassified documents that archive staffer nate jones has pried loose from several u. Too many people have died i dont know if the total death toll is in the millions so far, but its certainly at least in the 5 figures, if not 6, huge amounts of military hardware have been expended. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading able archer 83. Able archer 83 by nate jones overdrive rakuten overdrive. As with able archer exercises from previous years, the purpose of the exercise was to simulate a period of conflict escalation, culminating in the us military attaining a simulated defcon 1 coordinated nuclear attack.
An analysis of the origins, nature and impact of the able archer 83 incident. What the west didnt know at the time was that the soviets thought operation able archer 83 was real and were actively preparing for a surprise missile attack from nato. The book contains an unmatched collection of previously secret documents about the war scare of 1983 and the able archer exercise at the center of it. Oct 21, 2016 able archer 83 is an invaluable resource on one of the most dangerous moments of the cold war. Today november 7 marks the 30th anniversary of the beginning of able archer 83, a nato exercise that utilized new nuclear weapons release procedures to simulate the transition from conventional to nuclear war with the soviet union. The final exercise, able archer 83, was a nuclear command and control exercise intended to simulate an escalating conflict with the soviet union leading to the simulated use of nuclear weapons by nato. Did the able archer 83 nearly cause a nuclear holocaust. Nate joness new book on able archer 83 does all those things so well you should go out and buy it right now. How close did the soviet union and the united states come to nuclear war in 1983. President reagan and the war scare of 1983 able archer 83. In rebuttal,i would cite the damascus road conversion of president reagan after he read a secret report of the russian reaction to able archer 83. Able archer is the final episode of deutschland 83.
In the series finale, the west continues with its nuclear war game, and martin, unwelcome on both sides of the border, contemplates a way to keep the east from making a devastating mistake. The exercise provoked a strong soviet military response that created what some have called the most serious threat of nuclear war since the cuban missile crisis. The secret history of the nato exercise that almost triggered nuclear war jones, nate on. Nate joness new book on able archer 83 does all those things so well you should go out and buy it. Therefore, i have decided to place it here to see if the article has what it takes to become featured. Dec 22, 2016 and then able archer 83, a vast nato war game exercise that modeled a soviet attack on nato allies, ended.
Deutschland 83, the finale bold guard and able archer. The secret history of the nato exercise that almost triggered nuclear war kindle edition by jones, nate, blanton, thomas s download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In hacketts books, it is a group of young officers. Able archer 83 was a tenday nato command post exercise starting on november 2, 1983 that spanned western europe, centred on the supreme headquarters allied powers europe shape headquarters situated at casteau, north of the belgian city of mons. Able archer 83 is a reminder not only that nuclear weapons are one of the few existential threats the united states and its allies face, but also that humility is key to the conduct of national. Europeans were declaring the outbreak of a cold war ii, and president mitterrand. The secret history of the nato exercise that almost triggered nuclear war edited by nate jones. The physical able archer 83 collection, onsite at the national security archive, contains unpublished primary and secondary sources.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Able archer 83 was a tenday command post exercise starting on november 2, 1983, 1 2 that spanned western europe, centered on the supreme headquarters allied powers europe shape headquarters in casteau, north of the city of mons. Although us officials saw able archer 83 as a routine exercise, it resulted in an unprecedented soviet reaction which. Collection nate jones, able archer 83 access open for. Able archer 83 is an invaluable resource on one of the most dangerous moments of the cold war. An american rf4b phantom ii jet lands on the aircraft carrier uss midway during fleetex 83 exercises.
And when he realized it, he was horrified and changed his approach to the ussr completely. Able archer 83 the secret history of the nato exercise that almost triggered nuclear war edited by nate jones. Leonard perroots, general who defused nuclear crisis with. Able archer 83, the london cia station reported, presumably on the basis of. Oct 21, 2016 on october 20, 2016, archive foia project director nate jones joined by archive director tom blanton gave a special presentation on able archer 83, the nato nuclear war game that put u. The physical able archer 83 collection, onsite at the national security archive, contains unpublished primary and secondary sources related to the 1983 war scare. The secret history of the nato exercise that almost triggered nuclear war. It was an annual command post exercise thus involving only headquarters, not troops on the ground of natos allied command europe ace, and it was designed to practise command and staff. Able archer was a complex simulation of a hypothetical war with the warsaw pact that included a series of fictional military exercises escalating to the launch of nuclear weapons. In november 1983, soviet nuclear forces went on high alert.
This book will appeal to subject matter experts, cold war students, those interested in the reagan administration, and anybody who thinks that accidental nuclear war or war through misperception are impossible. Able archer 83 project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. After months nervously watching increasingly assertive nato military posturing, soviet intelligence agencies in western europe received flash telegrams reporting alarming activity on u. Jan 25, 2017 in his book based on newly declassified documents, nate jones tells the chilling story about how, in november 1983, a soviet misinterpretation of nato war games almost led to nuclear war.
Able archer considers the unique requirements of traveling professionals protecting their tools, methods, and goals. Able archer is a line of purposedriven inspired by the work of international photojournalists, news writers and guerrilla filmmakers. Nov 09, 2015 able archer 83 is an invaluable resource on one of the most dangerous moments of the cold war. Able archer almost started a nuclear war with russia in 1983. In various books, articles, and interviews, moreover, he did. Thirtytwo years ago, a nato nuclear release exercise named able archer 83 may have inadvertently placed our relations with the soviet union on a hair trigger, according to an abovetop secret presidents foreign intelligence advisory board report released last month to the national security archive after a twelveyear fight. Poor martin got the biggest wakeup call of his life as he realised that able archer was just a training exercise, but that the east.
Why the key able archer 83 report should be released under uk foia. Able archer 83 was a tenday nato command post exercise starting on november 2, 1983, that spanned western europe, centered on the supreme headquarters allied powers europe shape headquarters situated at casteau, north of the belgian city of mons. I am delighted to welcome francesca akhtar to cold war conversations. Fischer in her book the reagan reversal, pin able archer 83 as profoundly affecting president reagan and. When candidate reagan said he would destroy communism, we might just call that bluster. Oct 20, 2016 able archer 83 the secret history of the nato exercise that almost triggered nuclear war. With astonishing and clarifying new details, he recounts the scary series of the close encounters that tested the limits of ordinary humans and powerful leaders alike. Dec 06, 2016 able archer 83 is an invaluable resource on one of the most dangerous moments of the cold war. The secret history of the nato exercise that almost triggered nuclear war by nate jones, nate jones isbn. Blanton, 9781620972618, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Able archer 83 begins with a narrative and analysis of the context of relations between the united states and the soviet union in the early 1980s, when the leaders in moscowalready alarmed at natos decision to deploy pershing 2 missiles and glcmswere grappling with president ronald reagans hostile rhetoric and supporting actions. If you want to learn from history, this is the place to start.
The able archer 83 sourcebook national security archive. Able archer 83 the secret history of the nato exercise that almost triggered nuclear war. Nov 05, 2015 thirtytwo years ago, a nato nuclear release exercise named able archer 83 may have inadvertently placed our relations with the soviet union on a hair trigger, according to an abovetop secret presidents foreign intelligence advisory board report released last month to the national security archive after a twelveyear fight. Able archer 83 is based upon more than a thousand pages of declassified documents that archive staffer nate jones has pried loose from several u.
Able archer 83, the london cia station reported, presumably on the basis of information obtained by the british from gordievsky, that the soviets had been alarmed about the real possibility that the united states was preparing a nuclear attack against them. Convenience is a wondeful thing posted in peer pressure, your own worst enemy is yourself with tags a fruitless struggle, abortion, books by hillary clinton, prochoice, prolife on may 7, 20 by snrubgorp. Therefore, the soviets readied their nuclear forces and placed air units on alert. By nate jones with a foreword by tom blanton the new press, november 2016 in person. I seriously doubt the soviet union would be able to get off so easily as all that. I do believe that this article meets all exist prerequists for fa status, as was noted on the military history talk page. Able archer exercises simulated a period of conflict escalation, culminating in a simulated defcon 1 coordinated nuclear attack. The work concerns a joint nato military exercise in november 1983 designated as able archer 83. Inside able archer 83, the nuclear war game that put u. Nov 01, 2016 able archer 83 is an invaluable resource on one of the most dangerous moments of the cold war. Another notable incident in 1983 occurred during an annual nato command post exercise codenamed able archer 83. The soviets were familiar with this exercise from previous years, but the 1983 version included two important changes. The secret history of the nato exercise that almost triggered nuclear war book online at best prices in india on. Collection nate jones, able archer 83 access open for research acquisition nate jones donor nate jones date recieved august 2014 size 4 boxes processed by elena burger scope note books, article excerpts, archival documents, letters, memos regarding the able archer 83 war scare.
Able archer exercises simulated a period of conflict escalation, culminating in a coordinated nuclear attack. Information from shape historical files exercise able archer was held from 711 november 1983. Jun 16, 2017 able archer 83 begins with a narrative and analysis of the context of relations between the united states and the soviet union in the early 1980s, when the leaders in moscowalready alarmed at natos decision to deploy pershing 2 missiles and glcmswere grappling with president ronald reagans hostile rhetoric and supporting actions. And then able archer 83, a vast nato war game exercise that modeled a soviet attack on nato allies, ended. Marc ambinder explains the anxious period between the united states and the soviet union from 1982 to 1984, with the able archer 83 war game as the fulcrum of the tension. Oct 17, 2016 able archer was a complex simulation of a hypothetical war with the warsaw pact that included a series of fictional military exercises escalating to the launch of nuclear weapons. Able archer 83 is the codename for a command post exercise carried out in november 1983 by. Updated edition of the able archer 83 sourcebook unredacted. Jones wrote, it was the sonofabitch that didnt get the word that acted on his gut to deescalate, rather than escalate, the nuclear tension and likely. After months nervously watching increasingly assertive nato.
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