|
 |
| The primary small-arm carried by U.S. troops was a venerable old M16A1. Even though it suffered jamming problems in the Viet Nam era, subsequent improvements to the 5.56mm (.223 caliber) weapon made it a very deadly soldiering rifle, especially at ranges of 500 yards or more. The Russian AK-47, a rifle of 7.62mm (.30 caliber) was more powerful, but less accurate. |
|
 |
| This is a photo of a Minuteman III nuclear missile, ready to launch at F.E. Warren AFB. In the 1970s, the use of Multiple-Independent Re-Entry Vehicles (MIRVs) on the U.S. nuclear arsenal was a brand-new idea. Each Minuteman could carry up to three (3) W62 warheads, targeting three different targets. The design of the LGM-30 also allowed the missile to target the ICBM fields in the southern portion of the USSR, near Uzbekistan and the Ukraine. |
 |
| American troops rode into battle in M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles and M1A1 Abrams battle tanks, replacing old standby M113 armored personnel carriers and M60A3 Patton tanks. This didn't occur until about 1983 or 1984, to counter the growing number of T-80 and BMP-2. Even still, the Russian numerical advantage was somewhat nullified by their lack of quality in some aspects. |
|
| THE OTHER SIDE: The Russian and Eastern Bloc weapons were not as high in quality as NATO. However, in an all-out firefight, quantity becomes a quality in itself. The ability to sustain battle longer than the enemy is an obvious asset. Pictured below is a T-64 that might be used in a European campaign. |
 |
| The U.S. was not the only nation with nuclear missile capabilities. Mother Russia had an arsenal of nuclear missiles that were the equal of NATO, especially during the 1970s. Pictured below is an SS-18, lifting off deep in the Caucasus. |
 |
|