Spoiler Alert

After Action report

Scenario: PACIFIC, the sixth scenario of the 21st Century Ocean Wars Battleset
Database: PlayersDB 6.4.9. [latest version]
Designer: Freek Schepers
Author: Frans Koenz [aka Taitennek]

Side: RUSSIA

[quote]ORDERS FOR RUSSIA:

SITUATION:

The war has been raging for three weeks. Japan has remained neutral thus far and has not allowed US warships into its ports.

INTEL:

Our attack on the Kitty Hawk CVBG has led to the confirmed loss of her underway replenishment ship. She now must make port and is short of SAMs. Agents in Yokosuka reported many inbound cargo flights to Atsuki NAS and report that the Kitty Hawk is about 4 hours away from docking in Yokosuka.
This gives us the political and military opportunity to finish her off.

MISSION:

Sink the Kitty Hawk, Destroying the US bases in Korea and Japan may be a necessity.

ROE:

Weapons are free. US and Japanese military targets may be attacked. Refrain from using nuclear weapons or attacking civilian sea or ground targets.

EUBanana
AAR: WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST [Spoiler Alert]

LOCATION : HONG KONG
DATE/TIME: 5 JULY 1999, 04:00:00 ZULU



I'm not an old hand at this game so after a few attempts to work out the interface and how its done, this was my first "proper" game.

Only Women and Children was the scenario - in short, the British evacuation of Hong Kong after a Chinese invasion. I'm playing the Brits. Starting assets were two frigates (a Type 23 and a Type 22 Batch 3) and two destroyers (the Brit AA destroyers with Sea Darts and not much else) guarding a convoy, a whole bunch of cruise liners and tankers at Hong Kong. For whatever reason, those four surface ships have no helicopters, which proves quite a drawback later on.

HMS Triumph, Trafalgar class SSN, is not too far away, about a hundred miles east of HK or so.

British air power is pretty absent, Hong Kong is bare, but I got some Nimrods, E-3s and Tornados at Naha, which is a damn long way away.

The CHinese have one airbase north east along the coast from HK aways, and unknown naval assets.

So, we set off. Everybody is observing passive ENCOM so we're as sneaky as possible. The frigates lead the convoy, the destroyers are on the northern edge on AA picket duty about 15 miles out from the vulnerables. Plan is to head south of Taiwan and then double around to Naha, rather than sail up the Chinese coast, which seems to be begging for death.

HMS Triumph is sent first and a Nimrod is scrambled to do recon on the straits south of Taiwan, as it looks like thats the choke point. While they are vectoring in that direction a whole bunch of Chin aircraft sortie but far to the northeast of the convoy and not threatening it in any way.

When my Nimrod gets in range just south of Taiwan, lo, a submarine contact is discovered, a Kilo-class. It's a sneaky little ***** so it resists my ASW attempts. My Nimrod ends up dropping a few sonobuoys and running away, as the Chinese scramble fighters from the mainland to try and engage it. But! they must be at max range or thereabouts as soon they have to turn back, and then my Nimrod doubles back. This happens a good half a dozen times. Eventually the Kilo is buried underneath a mass of sonobouys, and then the Stingray torpedoes follow. It takes a good four to kill the thing as they keep missing... but kill it they eventually do. All shows blank after a quick further patrol, and its dangerous with these Chin fighters, so the Nimrod goes home.

Time passes. The Chinese air sortieing quiets down a bit. My E-3 east of Taiwan spots Chinese naval units along the coast, so just as well I didn't go that way. I'm just congratulating myself on a job well done when HMS Triumph, now at the area where the Nimrod was battling, finds another contact which the ASW a/c must have missed, a Han class SSN.

I try and scramble my Nimrod again as its still a fair way away, but for some weird code reason it won't take off! Apparently the erks are on a break or something, but the bottom line is, the Han has to be dealt with by my naval assets.

Triumph sneaks up on the Chinese Han without too much problem. By now the convoy is drawing near, must be about 80 miles west of Triumph, so I wanna make sure the strait is clear so the convoy can go through. And then another problem! the water is apparently too shallow for Triumph to get too close, the strait is apparently off limits to subs (even trying to go on the surface doesn't work apparently). I fire off a couple of Spearfishes at a decent range but both miss the Han, and the Chinese sub retreats a bit, out of easy passive sonar listening range, so the screen goes a bit blank aside from a very vague contact.

So, decisions. Triumph can't deal with it apparently, and the convoy is near. I sling Triumph onto active sonar, to pinpoint the Han, which Triumph manages to do. Its way out of torpedo range - mutually, fortunately. Triumph sits back and acts as spotter.

I detach my two frigates from the convoy and form a mini SAG with them, two frigates line abreast, and they burn rubber at flank speed towards the Han, wanting to make sure the tankers are nowhere near the thing. Locating it isnt a problem as Triumph has it well lit up from further back. The frigates get in range and let rip with baby torpedoes, Mk46s and Mk50s, the things the choppers normally carry. Needless to say the sub has noticed these flank speed frigates so it fires a volley of torpedoes back - the frigates about turn and flank speed away! All torpedoes miss. The frigates about face again for another pass, and this time the Han is stupid and comes straight at them. There's another mutual volley - the frigates about face again and the Chinese torpedoes miss, but the Chinese sub keeps on a-coming, and gets three baby torps in the face. (it takes all three to kill it as well...).

Victory! the frigates return to the convoy and resume station ahead.


...and thats about it really. The convoy cruises past the strait unmolested, the rest of the Chinese units too far away to catch.

Now my convoy is on the far side of Taiwan and all seems peachy. And its late RL, so I save the game and hit the sack! However, there looks to more to come, as those Chinese naval units are nosing around the northern end of Taiwan, and might possibly be able to intercept me.

(And maybe theres another sub...)

Taitennek
SPOILER ALERT

After Action Report
Scenario: INDIAN OCEAN [21st Century Ocean Wars Battleset] by Freek Schepers.
Reporter: Taitennek

Side: RUSSIA

ORDERS RUSSIA:

Eyes-only Senior-Captain Petr Velikij.
The President congratulates you on your successful passage into the Indian Ocean.
You are authorized to conduct Operation Breshnjev.

ORDER OF BATTLE:

We have been preparing Operation Breshnjev for three months. An obsolete container ship has been prepared to carry a flight of Yak-38 Forgers and their armament. The ship has been cruising in the IO for a month. The Battlecruiser Petr Velikij, the transport Boris Butoma, and the Destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov have slipped into the Indian Ocean last week.

SITUATION:

The war in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Barentz Sea has swung in favour of the Americans. Our long-range airpower has been destroyed and our remaining tactical fighter squadrons are barely sufficient for defence of the Motherland.
However, our alliance with China has brought good results; Thailand and Indonesia have been defeated and India has suffered terrible losses and has secretly opened Cease-fire negotiations with China and Russia.

MISSION OPERATION BREZHNEV:

Your mission is to permanently destroy the US influence in the IO. You are ordered to destroy the airbase and defensive installations on Diego Garcia.
Secondly, you are ordered to sink the Maritime Pre-positioning ships based at DG. These ships are pre-loaded with enough armour, artillery, and stores for 2 fighting divisions now being airlifted to the IO Theatre of war. They must be destroyed.
Upon completion of your mission make your way towards Cochin, India, where repair facilities will be made available under our Cease-fire agreement.

CLARIFICATION OF VICTORY CONDITIONS:

* Damage 10 enemy ships [50%], focus on MPS ships;
* destroy 6 of the airbase units on DG;
* ensure Petr Velikiy survives.

[This is a part of the written orders for Russia, the complete text can be found in the scenario itself].

Game Time: 02:00:00 Zulu
Game Date: 3 January 2004

My Tactic:

I will close in with the BCGN and K-456. The BCGN will fire all SS-N-19 Shipwrecks at the 2 frigates; you [probably] wonder why I fire all long-range anti-ship missiles on just 2 targets; the Underwood-class frigate is equipped with a MK13 Mod. launch system for SM1MR and AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles; if these ships survive the attack, the mission will turn into a disaster. After firing long-range missiles I have to close in to less than 10nm to destroy enemy surface targets with other systems; that makes the BCGN vulnerable to damage. Only few hits with Harpoon's could cause the loss of the entire Battlecruiser].
I will take out other vessels with medium- and short-range weapons. The K-456 will attack ground installations with SS-N-19 Shipwreck missiles against ground targets and ships with the remaining shipwrecks against surface targets, after she is in firing position.
The Udaloy and AOR are too far from the theatre to take part of the action. The Shaposhnikov will escort the AOR and conduct ASW-operations during her passage to Cochin-India. What will happen with the converted container vessel depends on what is going to happen with the onboard aircraft and helicopter.


Game on!

After 5 minutes I was able to launch a KA-27 Helix helicopter. With her Radar and ECM equipment active, she soon picked up several surface contacts [13 Maritime Pre-positioning Ships, escorted by 2 Underwood-class frigates] in the Bay of Diego Garcia. Some minutes later the ships grouped together into 3 groups. 1 group [without escort] was heading northeast and the other two groups were heading northwest, each group was escorted by 1 Underwood-class frigate.




Suddenly the BCGN came under fire; 16 AGM-84 Harpoon missiles were picked up and I gave the order "ALL WEAPONS FREE". The Pyotr Velikiy survived the attack without damage.
30 minutes after Zero Zulu [02:00:00] I launched 1 Yak-38 "Forger" for CAP around the enemy convoys and 1 KA-29TB Helix-B helicopter, armed with AT-6 "Spiral" short-range [5.7nm] missiles to attack the US Artillery Battery on Diego Garcia.

03:30:00 Zulu Time.

I launched the attack; each frigate 9 missiles. Both Frigates were hit and sank, as well as 2 other enemy vessels...
Meanwhile the helicopter was attacking the Artillery Battery, after firing a few missiles, she was hit by ground fire from AAA-units. The k-456 was rather successful; only 2 missiles did not reach their ground-targets, but she took out 5 of 6 ground targets [the sixth ground-target, the Artillery Battery, was destroyed by cannon fire from the BCGN]; with her other Shipwrecks she took out 5 of 7 enemy surface vessels. After her successful raid the k-456 will conduct anti-submarine/ship operations on the path of the BCGN on her voyage home.

05:12:00 Zulu Time.

All vital installations on Diego Garcia are destroyed now, except the runways. The convoy [5 ships], the one heading to the northeast, is the next target. This convoy leaft the harbour without escort. Now the BCGN is behind the convoy and closing in. The Converted container vessel now is prepared to launch their Forgers again for CAP ahead the path of the BCGN.






05:50 - 06:45 Zulu Time.

Hunting down the remained MP-Ships [the ones heading NE] with the BCGN, sinking one after the other [very hard nuts to crack, these MPS, they are massive and can survive several hits], the BCGN Peyotr Velikiy ran out of ammo. I left the last MP-ship; heavily damaged, knowing that it would only be a matter of time before she would sink.
Operation Brezhnev was very successful!!!

I managed to sink 13 ships, including 2 frigates and their helicopters, only 2 ships could get away, one of them is on fire.
I also managed to destroy Diego Garcia Airbase, including 20 aircraft
I only lost 1 helicopter so far.






Now it is time for heading home.

2 new surface contacts appeared on the radar screen, as well as several air contacts. The BCGN was not longer alone.
I ordered one of the helicopters to investigate the surface contacts.
The 2 surface contacts are the Thai VTOL-carrier Chakri Nareubet and the frigate Naresuan. Suddenly Harriers took off from the carrier [the Chinese information that the Thai VTOL-carrier did not have an air-wing, was not correct]. Soon 4 Harriers were underway to the BCGN. I managed to take them out before they could fire their missiles. The K-456 now is heading to the Thai ships for interception. That will take some time because the distance between the 2 Thai ships and the submarine is still 80nm. Suddenly there were torpedoes in the water. My submarine was detected by one of the helicopters of the Thai TF.
I have to sink these ships. They become a threat to the BCGN. She has only few rounds anti-ship ammo left. I launched the Forgers again to intercept enemy ASW-helicopters, I managed to shoot down 1 helicopter but lost the 3 aircraft by enemy fire.
The K-456 crept towards the enemy Taskforce, surrounded by 2 enemy Seahawks. I managed to sink both ships and even was able to escape from enemy torpedoes. The 2 remaining helicopters were shot down by a Tupolev-142 Bear-F......, the same aircraft managed to shoot down an American Orion some 45 minutes later.....great fun, flying with the Russian Bear.






13:00-17:00 Zulu Time.

The Battlecruiser still has to travel almost 900nm before she reaches Cochin-India. Several new unknown aircraft were visible on the screen. More trouble was underway. During the whole mission, the Battlecruiser was very lucky; it survived 2 massive missile-attacks and still was undamaged. I perhaps ran out of anti-ship ammo, but still have enough SAM's. Although there is a new threat, I turned off all Radar and ECM-equipment and rely on the airborne radars. At least 9 aircraft are approaching the BCGN. Later a Bear-F got exact position of 4 aircraft. A few minutes later a second group's position was clear, 4 aircraft on a distance of 150nm and closing in with 500 miles an hour. Time to ring the ship's alarm-bells again.

1 Hornet opened fire and destroyed the KA-29TB Helix-B. I used the helicopter as an ECM/radar-platform; only a Tu-95 is between me and the enemy formation and they still are coming closer to my ship. I launched another helicopters [the converted container vessel still has 1 helicopter onboard] to act as radar-picket in order to keep my ship's radar off as long as possible. At 115nm one of the Tu-95 identified the approaching aircraft......F/A-18E Super Hornet!!! Big trouble underway!

Soon the BCGN was under attack; 16 HARM-missiles were fired, I rapidly launched SAM's, but these damned rockets are going too fast. Soon the first missiles came in.....After the attack, the BCGN had 14 percent damage, all sensors [4].

During her voyage the BCGN was attacked two more times, but survived without further damage. The Converted container vessel was sunk by the enemy, but the ship was already given up after their aircraft and helicopters were destroyed.

I reached Victory conditions, too bad that the Peotr Velikiy was damaged, but the result is more important; 2 Russian naval vessels [a BCGN and a SSGN] and some helicopters were able to destroy an US-airbase, including aircraft, 13 of 15 US ships, 2 Thai warships and some more aircraft. All Russian warships survived. After repairs to her sensors, the BCGN Pyotr Velikiy soon will rule of the Indian Ocean again.

Wow! I have played a lot of scenarios, but this is a great one!!!!
Thanks Freek for sharing it with us.

Taitennek
SPOILER ALERT

After Action Report

Scenario: NORTH CAPE
Designer: Freek Schepers
Database: PlayersDB 6.4.9 [updated 27 July 2006]
Side : NATO
Reporter: Taitennek
===============

ORDERS FOR NATO:

SITUATION:

Russian ground troops have passed the border of Finnmark. Air support is nearly absent due to successful strikes on Kola Bases. The Dutch amphibious ship HMS Rotterdam has delivered several companies of Marines. US and British subs have severely damaged Russian ASW hunting groups in the Barentz Sea.

INTEL:

Remnants of ASW groups [including frigates, destroyers, patrol vessels, and submarines] are known to be in the Barentz Sea.

MISSION:

The LPD and its escorts are needed elsewhere ant the Dutch ships are ordered to make best speed west. Air support is not available.

CLARIFICATION ON VICTORY CONDITIONS:

Bring the Dutch ships west of line of re. points in 10 hours.

====

GAME ON!!!

GAME DATE: 15 December 2003
GAME TIME: 12:00:00 Zulu Time.

I'm in command of the Dutch Taskforce due south on her way to ref. TGT8-TGT9, some 110nm westward, a Norwegian PTM, the HMS Orn [Hauk-class fast missile patrol craft] and land-based units are the disembarked companies of the Dutch Royal Marine Corps.
The F801 HMS Zeven Provincien, the flagship of the Dutch Royal Navy is escorting the L800 HMS Rotterdam. Both ships are cruising along the coast of Norway, the third vessel, the F812 HMS Witte de With is cruising in the Norwegian Sea at a distance of 35nm. The Norwegian PTM is hidden in a fjord. I have 5 SH-14D Lynx Helicopters ready and will use them for reconnaissance duties and ASW-operations.


L 800, Hr Ms Rotterdam [Photo: Koninklijke Marine]

TACTIC:

The L800 and F801 plot a course along the coast side and will play hide-and-seek in the Norwegian Fjords. The F812 acts as the first line of defence. I will use the Norwegian PTM for a surprise attack on enemy units, once they have been identified.
I realise that is a kind of suicide mission, but the survival of the LPD and escort is priority #1.

Time is a crucial factor; I have to make best speed through narrow streets and fjord passages to reach the reference points within 10 hours. That is a hard nut to crack: I have to reach points at 22:00:00 Zulu time.
I have my own rules of engagement: Only if the unit is hostile, or recognized by recon flight of the helicopters. There is a possibility of casualties by friendly fire, but I cannot risk the loss of surface vessels [+200 officers and enlisted] for just one unknown [friendly] aircraft or submarine. I will take all measurements to identify air/surface contacts, but if they coming in too close, I will shoot them out of the air/water.

13:00 - 13:45 Zulu Time.

Some surface vessels are now visible on radar. A SH-14D Lynx helicopter is airborne to investigate contacts. All at sudden an unknown flying object with a speed of 124nm/h. This can only be a helicopter. I marked the helicopter as hostile as well as the ship from where she took up. The decision was right. The helicopter was Russian and the ship as well; the Nepristupnyy [Neustrashimyy-class FFG]. Soon more Russian ships could be identified; the Revnostnyy [KRIVAK-II-class FFG] and within minutes a third Russian warship; the Admiral Chebanenko, a modified UDALOY-class DDG. Then the Russians managed to destroy the Dutch helicopter. Too bad, but the information was crucial!
These ships are a major threat! I'm glad that I have 2 air-defence units under my command. Now I know the positions of the Russian forces. It is a race against time to reach VC, as well as a possible clash with dangerous Russian opponents before I reach the area.

Taitennek

F802 Hr Ms Zeven Provincien [Photo: Koninklijke Marine]

13:45 – 14:45 Zulu Time.

A second helicopter is in the air to guard the Russian ships from a distance. Soon the HMS Rotterdam and the HMS Zeven Provincien will be under cover of the Norwegian Fjords. The HMS Witte de With will continue her voyage on the Norwegian Sea, the Norwegian PTM is now in open sea as well and will attack the Nepristupnyy.
At 14:35 I fired Harpoon missiles at the Russian ships. The Revostnyy was hit by 1 missile, the other ships survived the attack. I managed to take out 3 helicopters.
Suddenly a sonar contact appeared. An unknown submarine was detected at a distance of 15nm of the HMS Witte de With. I launched another helicopter to investigate the submarine.
It could be an allied sub, but I cannot risk my ships.
Meanwhile one of the Russian warships fired missiles at my Task force. I managed to take out the missiles before they could harm my ships.


Russian KRIVAK-II class Frigate [Photo: via http://www.fas.org ]

14:45 – 15:30 Zulu Time.

A second attack with P-270 Moskit [NATO codename Sunburn], all heading to the HMS Rotterdam. Again, I managed to survive this attack as well. The HMS Witte de With now returns to the Task Force. Only 50nm to go….. The Norwegian PTM was not lucky; she was hit by 2 missiles and sunk on a distance of 21nm of the Nepristupnyy, she did not fire her weapons.
Finally, at 18:30 Zulu Time, I crossed the imaginary line of success with the 3 vessels undamaged.


Norwegian Hauk-class PTM [Photo: Norwegian Navy]

Russian losses:
3 Helix A helicopters
1 Krivak II
1 Submarine [Tango class]

NATO losses:
1 Lynx SH-14D helicopter
1 PTM Hauk

A small, but exiting scenario! Thanks for sharing it with us.


This scenario is posted in the: SZO file archives - Home of the Harpoon3 PlayersDB



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Taitennek
SPOILER ALERT

After Action Report

Scenario: INCOMING MAIL
Designer: David Steinmeyer
Database: PlayersDB 6.4.9 [updated 27 July 2006]
Reporter: Frans Koenz [aka Taitennek]
Side: Soviet Union

BACKGROUND:


The Soviets have two weapons that can reach NATO convoys in the Atlantic: submarines and long-range aircraft. Long-range bombers on the Kola Peninsula can easily hunt the Atlantic. With Iceland in Soviet hands, however, they can attack at will and their range would be greatly increased.


A standard NATO convoy crossing the Atlantic would consist of 40-50 merchant ships. Eight to ten escorts, and if they are lucky, a helicopter carrier, will provide protection from submarine and air attack.

Here, a large NATO convoy has been detected by a Soviet Radar Ocean Reconnaissance Satellite [RORSAT] and Tu-95 Bear Ds are sent out to pinpoint their position. Following close behind the Bears are two squadrons of Backfire bombers.

This could be a very bad day for NATO…


Russian Charlie-II class nuclear submarine
[Photo: http://www.grazehay.org ]

Game Date: 01 May 1991

Game Time: 19:30:00 Zulu

30 minutes after game start, I launched a Tu-95 Bear D to track the enemy convoy.

Suddenly a torpedo was in the water. The K-479, a SSGN [NATO-codename: Charlie II] was under attack. It is perhaps a bizarre manoeuvre, but I had to know what fired the weapon and rose to periscope depth. Immediately several air contacts appeared on my screen. Helicopters! After some time I lost contact with the 1st torpedo, but a second one was launched and another one. I crept to maximum depth and hoped that the enemy would lose contact. No way; sonar buoys splashed into the water. This game of cat and mouse went on for some time.

20:00:00 – 22:30:00 Zulu Time:

Meanwhile, carefully approaching, the Tu-95 Bear picked up 10 air contacts, and a surface contact appeared on the screen of the K-479. It was identified as the HMS Annapolis, a Canadian ASW-Frigate; so far, so good.


British destroyer HMS Birmingham
[Photo: RN]

22:30:00 – 24:00:00 Zulu Time:


9 Tu-22m Backfire Bombers are ready on Keflavik airfield; each armed with 2 AS-4 “Kitchen” missiles. I launched the aircraft in groups of three.

The Tu-95 now is surveying the area and picking up new surface contacts. Later, the whole convoy is in sight; more than 40 ships, including the British VTOL-carrier HMS Invincible with escort.

What you call a “Fette Beute” [Movie “Das Boot”……….ping………ping…….]

Time for tactical choices:

I realise that our submarines are quite noisy and the enemy ASW-capabilities are rather advanced. This convoy is protected by 7 escorts, 1 VTOL carrier, 3 Atlantic Conveyor-class merchants and a navy supply ship [HMS Fort Grange].

I can only survive with fast movements [approach – attack – disappear] with the K-479. The 9 Backfires will be used for an attack on escorts only. If I succeed, the other submarines can take out the remaining ships before they reach their destination.

I have a nuclear option; 4 SS-N-9 missiles with nuclear warheads. The ROE [Rules Of Engagement] don’t mention the use of nuclear weapons, but, if the submarine survives, and all other assets are destroyed and there is still a convoy left, I will use these MD-weapons to ensure the destruction of the enemy convoy.

23:30:00 – 00:30:00 Zulu Time.

My forces now have exact positions of all individual units of the convoy. The 3 bomber groups are now 200nm south east of the convoy and flying to a position southwest of the convoy. The K-479 is approaching from the east and is now within firing distance for the SS-N-9 “Siren”-missiles. But I like to proceed approaching the convoy at creeping speed at maximum depth. The K-438 and K-488 are making best speed to the spot, but both submarines have to travel more than 200nm to reach the area.


HMS Invincible
[Photo: unknown]

Meanwhile enemy ASW-operations are increasing, it seems that the enemy has picked up sonar contact, and I decided to go to periscope depth with the K-479 for a hit-and-run operation; 2 escorts cruising at close distance. Once I was on periscope depth I launched 4 missiles; 2 per ship. I managed to sink both vessels! 4 helicopters are circling around my submarine and suddenly a torpedo was launched. I survived the attack with a short sprint at maximum speed/depth and the launch of decoys, realising that this was only the second of many manoeuvres to avoid incoming torpedoes to come.


As the nuclear option is no option [yet], I now only have torpedoes left. That means I have to close in to the convoy [less than 5nm]. From time to time I have to increase distance to the convoy when British Sea Harriers chasing the Tu-95 Bear, or when SAM-missiles are being fired from the escorts.

00:30:00 – 02:00:00 Zulu Time.

At 00:50 I launched AS-4 Kitchen missiles at the HMS Invincible and the HMS Birmingham. Both ships were hit and sunk. 5 minutes later missiles hit the HMS Fort Grange, 3 Atlantic Conveyor-class merchants and 5 other escorts. The convoy is now protected by only 2 escorts. Meanwhile I lost the Tu-95; she was hit by SAM’s. All Backfires returned save to their base, except 1, she now must take over surveillance duties. When I checked reports of the Backfires, I noticed that 1 Backfire has a missile left. I already noticed that many helicopters landed on 1 ship. I fired the last AS-4 at that vessel and after it was hit it sunk. It was the HMCS Huron, a Canadian destroyer.
Suddenly another torpedo was in the water; once again I survived an attack on the K-479.


Soviet Tu-22M Backfire with AS-4 "Kitchen" missiles

The score so far:


8 destroyers/frigates
1 VTOL carrier
1 AEFS
3 Atlantic Conveyor-class merchants
2 Merchants

The K-479 now has fired all her weapons except the nuclear SS-9-N missiles. She is now on course outside the convoy. I now have to wait until the 2 other submarines have arrived at the scene. It takes 17 hours before I can launch aircraft.

At 04:00:00 I launched a Backfire to guard the convoy. The K-479 now is cruising west of the convoy at a distance that she can launch the nuclear missiles if necessary.


Sea King HAS-5
[Photo: RN]

Several hours later, on the 3rd of May 1991 00:00:00 Zulu Time


The Convoy is cruising north eastward without air protection, only [8] helicopters are circling in front of the convoy.

The Tu-95 Bear is circling above the convoy and 8 Backfires are underway.
I managed to destroy 6 helicopters with cannon fire with, however, 2 survived. 7 more merchants were sunk after the attack with the Backfires. Now it is up to the submarines to inflict as much damage as possible. 22 merchants left, 5 are damaged.

May 3rd, 1991, 03:00:00 Zulu Time.

The K-513 fired her first torpedo in this operation and sank a damaged merchant. Soon, she destroyed the second one. The K 438 and K 488 are now in position to fire torpedoes, as well. The K 479 is cruising at 80nm east of the convoy. The Tu-95 Bear is still circling above the convoy as a lonesome guard with enough fuel aboard for another 20 hours flight. Dinner is served.


Russian Victor-I Submarine
[Photo: via http://www.hazegray.org ]

One after the other merchant was hit by torpedoes.


Suddenly the K-438 disappeared from my screen. I have really no idea what happened; the only helicopter just landed on a container vessel. There are no other submarines nearby, all torpedoes she fired hit target. Very strange…. Could it be an overheated reactor? Perhaps it was the fact that I made the voyage to the convoy at maximum speed at 600m all the time? A secret weapon?

The 2 other submarines had fired all their torpedoes and were heading north. Only 3 ships are left, 1 of them is heavily damaged. At day 3, 20:15:00 Time. A Backfire fires 2 missiles and hit both ships. The mission was a success!!! Not a single ship survived the attacks.

Russian losses:

1 Tu-95 Bear
1 SNN Victor II

Thank you for sharing this scenario with us!

Taitennek
SPOILER ALERT

After Action Report.

Scenario: Western Approaches [21st Century Ocean Wars Battle Set]
Designer: Freek Schepers
Database: PlayersDB 6.4.9. [latest version]
Reporter: Frans Koenz [aka Taitennek]

Side: RUSSIA

SITUATION:


The war in Europe is swinging into our favour. Many convoys have been decimated by Tu-22 naval bombers and submarines. NATO has switched tactics from large convoys to small ones.

INTEL:

A 4-ship, 2-escort mini-convoy has been sighted in the Atlantic 2 days ago. Lately convoys have used Liverpool, Portsmouth, or La Rochelle as disembarkation points.
Expect strong ASW-patrols by fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. Sub threat is unknown.

ORDERS:

You are ordered to find and destroy the convoy before it reaches the safety of the protected UK coastal waters.

A RORSAT satellite will pass through your theatre of operation daily at 13:00.

In recognition of the spectacular successes achieved by your command against the convoys, you are awarded the Order of Putin.



[Putin Order]

Captain, we need to count on you one more time. We have received your contact report and know that you are short of torpedoes. Use them wisely and return to base after this mission.

VICTORY CONDITIONS:

Destroy 3 of the merchants;
Protect 2 of your submarines;
Scenario duration: 44 hours.
++++

Game date: 02 April 2004.
Game time: 12:00:00 Zulu time.


Akula-class Submarine underway
[Photo: USN]

I’m in command of 3 submarines, 2 nuclear submarines [the K-157 and K-263, both Akula-class subs], and the B-401, a conventional powered Kilo-class submarine.
Soon all three submarines picked up the first sonar contacts. At 13:00 the RORSAT flew over the area and all surface contacts and some air contacts became visible; including the enemy convoy. 4 merchants and 2 escorts, both Underwood-class Frigates of the US Navy, cruising at a distance of 340nm west of the English Channel.

Time to the hunt for the convoy.


Underwood-class frigate [Photo: USN]

My tactic:

I will move my nuclear submarines towards the French harbour La Rochelle.

Together they have enough torpedoes to engage the enemy convoy. The B-401 Novosibirsk will continue with her patrol in the Irish Sea and guard the entrance to Liverpool. She is fully armed and capable to attack the convoy on her own. Too bad that I have no long-distance reconnaissance aircraft to patrol on the Atlantic. I now have to rely on the sonar equipment aboard the submarines. The next fly-over of the RORSAT is scheduled for the next day at 13:00 hrs. Till that time I have to survive with my submarines. I cannot risk the loss of a single unit.

Several hours later [19:50:00].

Sonar buoys are splashing in the water around the B-401 Novosibirsk [SSK Kilo]. A rather critical situation because the submarine has no space to manoeuvre vertically. With minimum speed at maximum depth [100 meters], the B-401 slowly moves away from the sonar buoys. After 1 hour, the sonar buoys disappeared. A quick rise to periscope depth learned that a Lynx helicopter was circling at a distance of 5nm. Back at the more comfortable depth. In the meantime a new day has come. There are still aircraft nearby the B-401, but it is now 4 hours ago that the last sonar buoy was dropped.


Lynx helicopter of the RN
[Photo: unknown]

03 April 2004, 03:10:00 Zulu Time.

Sonar buoys were dropped again nearby the B-401. The enemy was still searching for the submarine. Amazing that this submarine still is not attacked and destroyed. The enemy ASW-capability is superior and the submarine is still in shallow waters at a depth of 90 meters.

Still ten hours to go before the RORSAT flies over.

The 2 other submarines are now cruising southwest into the Biscayan Gulf; distance: 200nm from La Rochelle. Only 3 fishing vessels are visible on the screen. 15 minutes later, another aircraft was spotted by the passive sonar of the B-401.

I will recommend promotion for the captain of the B-401 if he survives this operation. Perhaps he will be honoured with the Putin-Order as well… His submarine is now 90nm away from the entrance to the Irish Sea.

03 April 2004, 10:00:00 Zulu Time.

The B-401 is now in shallow waters of the Celtic Sea and creeping towards the Irish Sea. From time to time her passive sonar picked up air contacts, but she is still not detected. I am a bit concerned about an unknown surface contact at a distance of 16nm. Meanwhile the 2 other submarines have reach the coastal waters of the French Harbour La Rochelle and now ready to ambush the convoy if it is heading to La Rochelle. 3 hours left until the RORSAT will show the position of the convoy, as well as the surface vessels in the Celtic Sea.


SSK Kilo-class submarine [Photo:unknown]

03 April 2004, 13:10:00 Zulu Time.

The RORSAT has passed the theatre and provided all the information I need. The exact position of the convoy, as well as other surface, and airborne contacts. My concerns about the unknown surface contact near the B-401 were right; a frigate of the Royal Navy [FFG Duke, Type 23] at a distance of only 12nm.

Now the B-401 is not longer necessary for the operation; she must leave the Celtic Sea and return to base. It seems that she has to fight her way out to the safe depths of the Atlantic Ocean.

The K-157 Vepr and the K-263 Delfin are in position to intercept the convoy and her escorts. The convoy [position: 45:14N –06:03E] is heading westward and 220nm away from La Rochelle. Now it is only a matter of a few hours.


Type 23 Duke class frigate [Photo: RN]

03 April 2004, 14:13:00 Zulu Time.

A very short visit to periscope depth. The enemy frigate has made a sprint and is now on a distance of less than 4nm. The frigate is on an interception course with the B-401. Immediately I fired 2 torpedoes [53-63 K/KE WH].