Nothing like that Northern Wedding
Some 40 years ago, in the darkest stretch of the Cold War, Exercise Northern Wedding ’86 was a massive, three-week NATO maritime and amphibious exercise conducted from late August to mid-September 1986, involving 150 ships, 35,000 troops, and 500 aircraft from 10 Western nations.
The NARA has hundreds of pics from the exercise, and they really show off the might of the Western fleets at the time, including at least three carriers (Nimitz, America, and Ark Royal), the newly recommissioned battlewagon Iowa, and ‘phibs a-plenty, including LHA’s with their original 5-inch guns intact, LSTs, and LPHs.
There were FFGs. Remember how nice it was to have those?
Heck, there were even hydrofoils, with the PHMs out of Key West seen in a rare overseas deployment.
A port bow view of the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) underway during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86, DN-ST-87-00986
A port bow view of the guided missile frigate USS Doyle (FFG-39) participating in an underway replenishment with the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61). The ships are participating in NATO exercise Northern Wedding 86, DN-ST-87-00322
Crew members aboard the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) secure a Helicopter Light Anti-Submarine Squadron 32 (HSL-32) SH-2F Seasprite helicopter on the ship’s fantail during NATO exercise Northern Wedding 86. Of note, BuNo 161642 was a brand-new airframe, having just entered service in 1985. Rebuilt as a SH-2G by Kaman, she was stricken off charge in 2003 and is in the National Naval Aviation Museum’s collection today. DN-ST-87-00325
The No. 1 Mark 7 16-inch/50-cal. gun turret aboard the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) is fired during a main battery firing exercise. The ship is participating in NATO exercise Northern Wedding 86, DN-ST-87-00324
An aerial port quarter view of the battleship USS Iowa (BB 61) firing her No. 3 Mark 7 16-inch/50-cal. guns during NATO exercise North Wedding 86. DN-ST-87-03747
Officers on the bridge of the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) observe the ship’s Mark 28 5-inch/38-cal. guns during a firing exercise. The ship is participating in NATO exercise North Wedding 86. DN-ST-87-00321
A port view of the patrol combatant missile hydrofoil USS Hercules (PHM-2) underway alongside the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) during NATO exercise Northern Wedding ’86, DN-ST-87-00316.
That’s a lot of Harpoons for a 133-foot PHM! Sadly, the 48-knot (not a misprint) USS Hercules (PHM-2) was retired after not quite 11 years of active service. DN-ST-87-00313.
A port quarter view of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) underway off the coast of Norway during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86. At the time, she shipped out with CVW-8 (AJ tail code), including two F-14A Tomcat squadrons, two of A-7E Corsairs, one of A-6E Intruders, one of S-3A Vikings, plus Sea Kings, Prowlers, and Hawkeyes. DN-SC-87-02785
A starboard view of the amphibious assault ship USS Saipan (LHA 2) underway during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86, note her bow 5-inch Mk45. DN-ST-87-01034
An aerial starboard beam view of the amphibious assault ship USS Nassau (LHA 4) being escorted by four CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters flying in formation over the ship. Note her bow 5-inch Mk45. The ship is participating in NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86, DN-SC-88-00894
A port bow view of the amphibious assault ship USS Inchon (LPH 12) underway during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86. Note the little 19,000-ton helio carrier has at least seven CH-46 Sea Knights, four CH-53 Sea Stallions, and two UH-1Ns on her diminutive 592×104-foot flight deck. DN-ST-87-00975
A crew member mans an observation post aboard the tank landing ship USS Spartanburg County (LST 1192) above a Mark 32 3-inch/50-caliber twin gun mount during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86, DN-ST-87-00947
A port quarter view of the British light aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (R-09) underway during NATO exercise Northern Wedding ’86. Note the two Sea Harriers and at least five British Westland-built Sea Kings on her deck. DN-ST-87-00308
A port bow view of the British Type 42 (Sheffield) class destroyer HMS Liverpool (D 92) underway during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86, DN-ST-87-01008
A bow view of the West German Type 101 (Hamburg) class destroyer FGS Schleswig-Holstein (D 182) underway during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86. Schleswig-Holstein was an old girl even at the time, having been ordered in 1958 and just eight years away from disposal. DN-ST-87-00960.
A port bow view of the West German Type 101 (Hamburg) class FGS Hessen (D 184) underway during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86. Note her French armament, including DCN 100 mm/L55 guns and MM38 Exocets. DN-ST-87-01016
When it comes to Marines, you have battleship MarDets pulling shot correction, and M60A1s hitting the beach with snorks, both long-extinct things.
Members of the Marine detachment from the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) act as naval gunfire spotters during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86. You have to love the M81 BDUs, M65 jackets, ALICE gear, M1 helmets with cat eyes, double canteens, and the ciggy, DN-SC-87-04734
Shells fired from the battleship USS Iowa (BB 61) land near the shoreline during live-fire gunnery practice for NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86. DN-ST-87-03458
A Marine M-60 main battle tank is driven ashore from Utility Landing Craft 1660 (LCU-1660) during the NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86. A folding snorkel is attached to the tank. DN-ST-85-00687
And you know, in a big NATO exercise conducted in Russia’s front yard, you had plenty of party crashers show up to observe, giving the Blue Team a good look at (and listen to) real-world Red Team assets.
You know the Leicas, Nikons, and Hasselblads were just clicking away.
A starboard bow view of the Soviet Sovremenny-class destroyer Bezuprechny observing NATO ships during Exercise Northern Wedding ’86, DN-SC-87-04745
An elevated port beam view of the Soviet Krivak I-class frigate Druzhny underway. The ship is observing NATO ships participating in Exercise Northern Wedding ’86, DN-SC-87-04469
A starboard bow view of the Soviet Krivak I-class frigate Zharky underway. The ship is following U.S. ships en route to exercise Northern Wedding ’86, DN-SN-87-04476
A Soviet Tu-20/Tu-95 Bear aircraft is escorted by a U.S. Navy F-14A Tomcat aircraft during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86, DN-ST-87-01015
Good times.