AAR: Oubliette [Spoiler Alert]
A Harpoon Classic scenario
By Brad Leyte





The navigator plotted a course for Point Echo Zulu northeast of Sakhalin Island at coordinates 51 29 N 145 12 E. At our current speed of advance (8kts), SSBN Tennessee should be able to arrive at her designated deterrent patrol station in time. Since the SSN Tullibee was already in the Sea of Okhotsk, I would use her to scout the area before the SSBN's arrival. The nearest base was Naha, over 1500nm away. This meant that there would be no air cover as none of the P-3 Orion MPA had sufficient range to reach the area. The only plane able to reach the Sea of Okhotsk was the EP-3 Elint platform and she was unarmed.



As she set out on her mission, SSN Tullibee immediately detected a submerged contacted. After working up a TMA [Target Motion Analysis], she generated a firing solution and launched two Mk 48 AdCap torpedoes at the target. They were counter-detected when they got within 2nm and the submarine raced to evade. It turned out to be a Tango-class diesel, but the Mk 48 torpedoes were easily capable of 40kts+ speed and they easily caught her. First on the scoreboard was the USN!



I ferried my aircraft assets over to Naha from Andersen air field to give them just a bit more range and ordered the SSBN Tennessee and her escorting SSN Chicago escort to cross the Kuriles and into the Sea of Okhotsk. Soon, the SSBN detected several surface contacts. They tried to avoid contact and just let them pass, if possible, but the enemy wasn't playing along. The group consisted of a Mirka-class corvette and a Krivak-class frigate. Both had reasonable sonar systems that would be effective if they got too close. I decided not to risk detection of the SSBN so the Chicago engaged the Mirka with two Mk 48 torpedoes at a range of 7nm. Both vessels detected the weapons close to the Mirka and turned to flee. The Mirka was caught and one detonated under her keel, snapping it. The Krivak kept running and was a mission-kill as far as I was concerned for it cleared the way for the SSBN.

After re-fueling at Naha, I ordered the EP-3 Aries to reconnoitre the region. She carefully and cautiously scouted and detected several Tu-142 Bears, Be-12 Mail, Il-38 May active in the area along with several hunter-killer ASW groups. She wove and weaved among them until her ESM detected Foxbats rising to intercept her. Pucker time. She dove to the deck and slunk out of the area, grateful to have escaped with her own skin. It was certainly a nervous time, but worthwhile since it gave me an indication of the forces arrayed against the SSBN.



Not soon afterwards, the Chicago detected another submarine in her path. Although she never fully classified it, it was close and could not be allowed to get any closer. Two more Mk 48 torpedoes settled the issue and no return fire was detected. Unfortunately, someone else was having a spot of luck. The SSN Tullibee had detected a submarine in the SSBN's patrol area and was moving to investigate when she suddenly struck by a weapon without warning for a total loss of boat and crew. Sometimes, the enemy does something right, too.



Chicago and Tennessee continued their ingress and soon came across a KPUG (Russian ASW group) centred on the CVHG Kiev. They tried to box around it and soon encountered a submarine in their path. Both subs slowed to a crawl in hopes of allowing their hunters to pass them, but Russians were not giving up so easily. Suddenly, the KPUG turned in their direction and all hope of remaining invisible disappeared. Chicago decided to engage the CVHG first as she carried most of the deadly Helix helicopters. Three Mk 48 AdCap Mod 5 were sent after her and two hits were sufficient to leave her dead in the water. Unfortunately, the KPUG refused to quit so the Chicago was forced to engage one escort after another. Next to die was the CG Kara as she sailed blissfully to her doom. She was soon followed by the DDG Kashin and then the FFG Krivak. Although tempted to sink the surviving valuable replenishment vessels, they were not part of the mission and torpedoes were limited. The sailors aboard Chilikin, Andizhan, and Kazbek would never know how lucky there were this day.



With the primary threats sunk, the submarine group arrived intact at their deterrent patrol position and total victory was awarded.

A nice challenging submarine scenario. Thanks for sharing it.

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AAR: Minnows [Spoiler Alert]
A Harpoon Classic Commander's Edition scenario
By Patrick Howard





With only a meagre number of air assets available, I carefully husbanded them. I launched an Atlantic to get a quick situation report. It was ordered to evade radar and try to take a circuitous route, but was detected by EMB-145 and Flankers from Jamnagar as soon as she launched. There would simply be no way to avoid a fight with Indian interceptors. Instead of trying to avoid them, I decided to pull a bait and switch routine, instead.



I ordered the Atlantic to high altitude and to activate her radar. The air crew complained strenuously, but I had to offer the Indians some enticement. I promised the aircraft commander that there would be friendly air cover nearby. The Atlantics performed their role as bait magnificently. As planned, the Flankers, MiG-27 Bahadur, and MiG-21 Bison all came snooping. I had my JF-17 Thunder waiting low in the grass to ambush them and the plan worked like a charm. Flight after Indian flight when down in flames without returning fire. After the long-ranged air patrols were decimated, the EMB-145 AEW planes were meat on the table for the Falcons who cleared enough breathing room for the Atlantics to manoeuvre, but just barely.

It seemed that nearly every plane in the Indian air force carried the super-lethal AA-12 Adder - Bahadur, Bison, Flankers. I would not have been surprised to find the Mainstay had them, too! Every plane in the theatre seemed to be drawn to the Atlantics like moths to open flames. Even Hawks from distant Oman came to try their luck before being shot down in flames.

Although the EMB-145 from Jamnagar were handled somewhat easily, the Mainstay was detected over Bombay and there was no way to get at her since my fighters would no longer enjoy the support of land-based radar at Karachi. It was pretty much a Mexican standoff, but my main ships were exposed the Mainstay's radar.

Meanwhile, down south, a Dauphin launched from FF Zulfiqar for a quick peek without success and got jumped by Harriers for her troubles as she tried to return to base. It was hard-won intelligence, but now I knew that there was a carrier around. The life expectancy of the frigate dropped precipitously and I was not disappointed. Soon, a Bear appeared and reported her position. Not long afterwards, she simply exploded and sank without a trace; never even detecting the weapon that sank her.



With some breathing room around Karachi, the Orion was sent out again. Flying below the enemy's radar coverage, it found unknown group her infrared sensors. Rather than risking one of my sparse assets with long-ranged radar, I sent Falcons in for a look and they found the frigates Vindhyagiri and Shivak along with a number of very large ships. They made their egress on afterburner while chased by SA-17 Grizzly and shot down 2 helos to help blind the group.

They re-armed and attacked with Mirage carrying ARMs. The escorts were quickly sunk followed by the tankers. It looked to be a pretty good war up to this point. Unfortunately, the situation changed quickly and not for the better. The Atlantics were operating a bit more distant from Karachi and paid the price. They were out of range from ground-based Karachi radar thereby allowing the Indian Flankers to close to Adder range undetected. Before they knew it, AA-12 Adder were detected. Scratch one Atlantic.

Another Atlantic was ordered aloft. As she crept to her patrol area at low altitude, she stumbled upon an Arleigh Burke destroyer! The crew vainly tried to escape, but 2 Standard SAMs put a quick end to that foot race. My surface group was nearby and itching to take on the Americans, but their orders were not to attack and to concentrate only on Indian merchant shipping.



SS Hurmat detected the Viraat carrier group. Although she was a mouth-watering target, she allowed them to pass since they were not the objective of the mission. At this point, my sole surviving reconnaissance asset was the Orion and it blinked off the screen. I never even knew what got her. Now, I was operating pretty much blindly and it showed.

My surface group stumbled over DDG Rajput. Although they managed to sink her handily, the jig was up and Indian forces converged on them from all compass points to wipe them from the face of the earth. With only two surviving submarines as my striking power, I gambled that all the northern shipping targets had been sunk and ordered them to patrol near Bombay. Once on station, they soon detected two unescorted ship groups consisting of tankers and freighters. Three were immediately dispatched with torpedoes and victory was awarded.

Another great scenario from Patrick Howard. Thanks for sharing it.

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AAR: United We Sail [Spoiler Alert]
A Harpoon Classic scenario
By Mark Gellis

The United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) was blessed with a fairly modern military. The Emir was considered by many to be a thoughtful and wise man for looking out for his country’s future. Unfortunately, this did not apply to his grand nephew, Dhargan, whom he had appointed to the defence ministry. In fact, many of the country’s military officers derisively referred to him as Dhargan, the Dotard. Worse yet, he had been left in charge of military procurement. So, the military was armed with fine aircraft, ships, and missiles that were all visually stunning. However, they lacked a significant military system for mine or anti-submarine detection. Dhargan had skimped on its purchase simply because it did not look as cool as the AMRAAM for the air force. Today, the country would find out exactly how Dhargan got his nickname.

The Iranian mullahs had been threatening military action to close the Strait of Hormuz. Now it would be a test of wills. The four tankers of the Emirate would have to survive and make their journey to India. The little task group was escorted by the corvette Baynunah. A missile boat would precede the group and give additional early warning.

Right away, the Iranians were determined to stop the transit. Two Combat Air Patrols [CAP] consisting of F-16 Falcons were stationed over the convoy. These were immediately engaged by Phantoms operating out of Bander-e-Abbas. However, the arms embargo against Iran proved to be telling. The Phantoms engaged with Sparrow missiles that were at least one generation behind the AMRAAMs carried by the Emirate’s Falcons. An exchange of missiles soon left four Phantom crews floating in the water. Additional flights of Fencers and F-5 Tigers fared no better and Darghan was feeling pretty impressed with himself for having seemingly provided the right weapons for his warriors.

A number of Pasdaran Boghammer boats were manoeuvring aggressively against the missile boat. Since the navy was still operating under orders of “Do not fire unless fired upon”, the captain could do little. Although he had air support overhead, he felt that he could handle the small arms normally found on a Boghammer. As the first gunboat approached, a mass of small arms fire suddenly erupted from the Boghammer. Worse yet, the fire was superbly effective! The first salvo was able to totally knock out all the defensive and offensive systems on the little missile boat. The FPB was totally defenceless. Quickly, the captain ordered the loitering Mirage strike fighters to attack the gunboat as his own boat continued to be shot to pieces. Only the timely intervention of the fighters prevented their annihilation as they laid a stick of bombs right over the little Boghammer. After seeing the deadly result from a single Boghammer attack, the air force tracked down and destroyed two additional Pasdaran craft before they got anywhere near the convoy.

With no more air or surface opposition, the convoy approached the narrowest part of the Strait. Shore batteries near Bandar-e-Abbas detected them and launched four SS-N-22 Sunburn missiles. Two Falcon CAP were still on patrol and swatted them quite adroitly with AIM-120 AMRAAM.

The air force and navy had performed well thus far, today. However, the only sub-surface detection system was carried by the Alouette helicopter aboard the Baynunah. It was a Magnetic Anomaly Detector. This device detected the sub-surface disturbance in the Earth’s magnetic field caused by large metallic bodies like submarines. Unfortunately, there was only one of the devices and only one helicopter to carry it. A patrol was set up whereby the helo made continuous sweeps in front of the convoy’s Path of Intended Movement [PIM]. This was akin to having a blind man trying to guide you across a cattle paddock through the use of his white cane to avoid the cow flops. Theoretically, this is possible, but if he misses one, it could certainly get messy.

Just past the narrowest point, a MAD contact was reported. As, it was not moving, it was determined to be a mine. Explosive Ordnance teams were flow out of Abu Dhabi and they successfully cleared two mines and allowed the convoy to proceed towards India. However, just as the convoy was about to enter the Arabian Sea, the Alouette ran low on fuel and had to land. With no replacement available, the convoy proceeded on course. However, fate would not smile on the Emir’s forces this day as soon after the helicopter landed, two torpedoes fired from an undetected Kilo submarine smashed into the corvette and turned her into a massive fireball. Twenty-five seconds later, two more hammered the previously damaged missile boat. With the only two naval vessels exterminated, the convoy of unarmed tankers turned around and headed back to the UAE. The day would belong to the Iranians.

Thanks for another fun scenario.

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