Taitennek SPOILER ALERT


After Action Report

Scenario : Atlantic Convoys
Designer : Freek Schepers
Side : NATO
Reporter: : Taitennek

Introduction.

This scenario takes several days to cover. So, I have decided to report by day.

I am in command of two large convoys [30+8 and 16+7], an Amphibious Group [12], a CVBG [7], 5 nuclear attack submarines [including the brand new SSN 21 USS Seawolf], as well as more than 200 aircraft and helicopters [some of the units are in maintenance or need longer readiness times before they can come in action].
My orders are to transit the convoys and the Amphibious Group through the Atlantic to Portsmouth in the UK. The aircraft carrier must survive in a position to cover future convoys. No losses of LHA, LHD, LSD and LST are allowed.

For a comprehensive version of the orders, please click here .



DAY #6



December 1st, 2003.
00:00:00 Zulu Time.

The day started with the detection of several air contacts north of convoy #2.

I launched Sea Harriers [4] to investigate and destroy the contacts. 4 Tomcats are in the air as well, but have to reach the area first.

5 Backfires are approaching convoy #2!

The Sea Harriers successfully intercepted the incoming bombers; none of the enemy aircraft could launch their missiles.

After arrival of convoy #1, I formed a new taskforce [3 ships, CG 55, DD 978 and FFG 50] for patrol duties at the entrance of the English Channel.

14:33:00 Zulu Time.

Suddenly the sky was filled with incoming missiles, unknown where they came from.

The just formed taskforce immediately fired SAM’s. Soon other escorts started firing SAM’s as well and managed to destroy all incoming missiles [later identified as Shipwrecks].



SH-60 Oceanhawk with Dipping sonar [Photo: US Navy]

Suddenly the sky was filled with incoming missiles, unknown where they came from. The just formed taskforce immediately fired SAM’s. Soon other escorts started firing SAM’s as well and managed to destroy all incoming missiles [later identified as Shipwrecks].


During the rest of the day and evening, there were no enemy contacts detected. Only the passes of the Russian RORSAT.


DAY #7


December 2nd, 2003.
00:00:00 Zulu Time.


At 04:00:00 Zulu Time, the second convoy has finally reached the entrance of the English Channel. Most of the escorts are about coming home in their homeport Portsmouth.
Only the pass by of the Russian RORSAT’s does remember me that there is war going on.There were no attacks since the last attack with Shipwrecks last afternoon.

I do not expect Russian attacks, but have taken measurements to protect the convoys and AG during their presence in coastal waters of Portsmouth. Helicopters are patrolling in the English Channel and at the entrance to the Channel. A small surface group [3 escorts] is patrolling there as well. And last but not least: the 3 remaining submarines are in the area, in case a Russian submarine should slip through the barrier.




Portsmouth Naval Docks [Photo: BBC]



The CVBG is underway to her new position [ref. point "2ndc12]. The CVBG is still intact, only 2 of her aircrafts were destroyed during the transit.
As I said in my report of the second day, I didn’t match the Victory conditions for this scenario. I did lose too many ships and I was not able to maintain the schedule.

The Amphibious Group, however, completed the transit without losses to the ships. The CVBG is still intact. But the convoys…….

Convoy #2 did suffer 4 losses [not that bad, if I had reached the waters of Portsmouth in time, convoy #2 would match the VC].
Convoy #1 did suffer heavy losses, 18 merchants and 1 escort.
2 submarines were destroyed as well.
Only few [7] aircraft were destroyed.

Russia suffered great losses as well:
19 submarines [18 nuclear powered, 1 diesel-electric],
105 aircraft,
7 surface vessels.

Great Scenario!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing it wih us!
Taitennek:smoke:

P.S.
For your convenience, the complete AAR can be viewed here

Freek
Inspired by Frans I decided to replay the Atlantic Convoy Scenario, but from the Russian side. Some years ago after I made Atlantic convoy for NATO side, Herman took the scen, and created two Russia-playable sides; one 'easier' and one 'harder'. These scens were transformed to PDB and for the first time in years I decided to replay it

Scen: Atl_R1_1
Game: Harpoon 3.6.3
DB: PlayersDB
Designer: Herman Hum (based on my Atlantic/NATO)

Day one; November 26th

I have good intel of two convoys, and amphibious group all heading for Portsmouth and a CVBG somewhere in the Atlantic. I have a number of submarines already staked out on their projected route, a larger number in transit from the GIUK gap, two Bears on patrol, and some AGIs. Northern Fleet has promised a Backfire mission consisting of 9 planes every twelve hours or so; after they refuel in the North Atlantic I can take control to use them. Also some fighters may be available and a steady stream of Bears for recon are expected from the Kola bases.

I start by plotting my subs to go south at speed. I use my two Bears and the AGIs to scout the Atlantic, sniffing for ESM signals. Initial satelite passes show no enemy ships -- but indicate some safe area's for my Bears to use.

Soon I detect aerial radars, and am able to plot bearings on what I think are the CVBG and two convoys. The Bears go low and around the detected helo's and E2 for a cross bearing. This is rewarded with signals from a cruiser and soon I have the approximate posits of two convoys plotted. However 'approximate' does not cut it, I need precise course and speed for the convoys to plot good intercept courses for my subs -- which are way out of position and will need to race at 26-30 knots to catch up.

Meanwhile, 3 of my subs racing south from the GIUK gap detect enemy subs from their launch transient. Each makes a fast turn, goes to flank speed and fires a torpedo back along the bearing of the inbound. One of my subs is lost to the Mk48, and it seems none of my torps find targets. Soon after, one of my SSKs close to the Channel detects an aird dropped torp and is hit; two subs lost for no wins -- two-nil for the AI!
The situation improved though when a satelite pass revealed the exact location south of Newfoundland of a convoy of at least 30 ships. As the sat passed overhead the visual sensors ID'ed the escorts which was English and included Invincible and a US Bunker Hill class cruiser. I could vector two subs at full speed to this convoy; with an intercept location around 10 hours steaming away. The satelite also detected a lone AO tanker close to one of my racing subs, and I was able to torpedo her in the absence of escort.

The Bears went low and approached the other two convoys along their ESM tracks, and at 90 miles distance went to high alt and used its radar to plot the convoys location and speed. Both Bears were successfull, but both were intercepted by Harriers and by land based fighters from UK.

After a few hours of game time I thus had a good fix on all convoys, and multiple ESM tracks giving the the approximate location of the CVBG.

I ordered my remaining submarines to form 4 wolf packs ahead of the three convoys -- where the amphibious convoy closest to the Channel had 5 subs in range, the convoy south of Newfoundland 2 and the convoy in the mid-Atlantic two packs of 5.

While the packs raced to their intercept locations 9 Backfires arrived on station south of Iceland.
Topped up with fuel I calculated they could just reach the convoy south of Newfoundland and I moved one Tu22 ahead of the other 8 to act as radar Recce unit. Two Bears were available but I was not going to try getting them close to convoys with embarked fighters.

After nearly 4 hours transit the Backfires penetrated the fighter defences at low altitude, climbed to vHigh altitude, switched on their Downbeat radars and fired 27 Missiles at 9 ships. Most were intercepted by SAMs from the CG, but some came through and destroyed two ships -- far away from my viccond of killing 25.
On the way back to the refuel point the Backfires overflew one of my subs and spotted a P3 dropping a torp on her -- thankfully some miles away -- obviously dropped on an imperfect solution. My sub got away and my Tu22s all returned to base.

Fairly regularly over the next hours one of my racing subs were detected by Canadian or British patrol planes, and I learned these often dropped a torp in the hope of spooking me into flank speed. I learnt to wait until the torpedo's course was clear and indicated danger. I also managed to avade a few more US subs/torps.

Around 10 hours later my first Wolfpack of 5 subs was in an intercept position ahead of the amphibious group. A satelite pass revealed that the defences were very strong with helo's, two layer of escorts along the path of intended motion and North of the group. I decided to move a Victor-3 south, pass at creep speed south of the group and they try to attack from the rear. It looked that the speed of the group varied from 6 to 11 knots, so I felt an attack from behind was possible. The other four subs drifted ahead of the amphibs.

Now came a nerve-wrecking period in which clearly the escorts had some contacts with my subs. I plotted regular lines of sonarbuys and a number of times had to steer clear of air dropped torps, sometimes slow, sometimes at flank speed. After several hours, three of my subs ahead of the group were sunk within a short period; I had now lost 5 subs for only three ships sunk.

A second Tu22 raid became available with an escort of Flankers and I used these to organise a combined sub and bomber attack on the amphibs. The Flankers managed to kill four Tornado's and an E3, and opened the way for 9 Backfires to attack the convoy. One Destroyer was killed, but also the amphibs were localised and had to change course and my sub south of them managed to approach at 11 knots from the rear. This Victor in quick succession torpedoed 5 amphibious ships before managing to escape West. My viccond of killing the amphibs was now achieved. She was also one of only two of the 5-ship wolfpack to survive the attack!

One of the two subs which intercepted the British escorted convoy now tried to penetrate this 14 knot convoy from the front and was attacked by three torpedoes which all missed. Having been detected this Akula sub raced at 35 knots into the convoy, firing at any ship coming in range. This split the convoy in two and brought my sub in the convoys rear where she picked of 10 merchant ships and the Invincible before running out of torpedoes and escaping West.

The end of the first day thus saw the Russians having lost 6 subs, 3 Flankers, 3 Backfires, 4 Bears but having killed 12 merchant ships, 5 amphibs, and E3 and 4 Tornado's and a number of escorts.

My mission for the coming days is to inercept the remaining convoy to kill another 13 merchant ships without losing too many more subs (as that is also a viccond).

Later more!

Freek

Freek

At the end of day 1 two wolfpacks of 5 submarines each had managed to intercept the Amphibious group and a convoy. Both packs suffered the loss of three subs, mostly detected by helicopters along the PIM of the convoys. In each case one sub managed to penetrate the convoy, empty its magazines and escape to the West (rear) of the convoy. Two Backfire attacks by 9 planes each had scored some hits but I was clearly up against well defended targets!

At 00.00 on November 27th a RORSat satelite passed over the mid-Atlantic. The previous day I had positioned two Oscar class subs under the satelite track, and from numerous ESM tracks I knew a CVBG was close by. At midnight I brought the two Oscars to periscope depth, but the satelite pass did not reveal any surface ships -- jamming by the CVBG was probably too heavy even for the 400nm space based Radar Ocean Recon sat. My Oscars went back to deep.

A third Wolfpack of 5 subs was now in place of the second convoy, but as it had been nearly a full day since I last localised that group, I needed to know if they had changed course. My last Bear F approached the extrapolated path of the convoy at low altitude and rose to vHigh when I expected it to be within the 90nm range. The convoy HAD changed course, now being on a 55 degrees bearing at 14 knots and was around 60nm from my pack. A short sprint from my subs brought them straight ahead of the ships.

While this was going on, the 4 surviving subs from the two attacks on the amphibs and the convoy kept being detected by helicopters, and frequently had to avade air dropped torpedo's. At around 1am they managed to creep clear and set course back to the Gap, their torpedo's mostly expended.

The Wolfpack stalking the second convoy contained a Charley-class, and when I localised a ship doing 24 knots ahead of the convoy, I decided to take a chance on firing her 8 Sirens at this presumed ASW picket. This DDG/FFG (never found out) shot down all Sirens and pretty soon helicopters were dropping buoys not on the Charley but on an accompanying Victor which was quickly lost.

Half an hour later the lead Victor of my pack had 5 localised targets within torpedo range and fired. At the same time another of my subs got hit by an air-dropped torp just before coming into torpedo firing range. Almost immediately counterfire was detected (ASROC?) and my lead Victor raced into the ranks of the convoy which was splitting into two halves. Fire control on my older Victor was mediocre; the first salvo only got two hits but reloading was quick and she managed to sink 5 more ships in the next 20 minutes. Merchants racing away from the inferno of burning tankers and LPG-carriers came in range of my other subs around the convoy. One fired on two targets, then detected two air-dropped torps close in; and I quickly BOLed a salvo of 4 UUSET torps (figuring if my sub survived the torps she could take control of these wire-guided fish). Unfortunately my the two torps acquired my Victor and again only two of the 5 subs from the pack survived the pack attack. The UUSET did find targets though.

A quick tally indicated that I'd now lost 11 submarines -- and while I sank a large number of ships I was not sure if I'd achieved the 25 ship kill viccond. However my orders stated clearly that I could not afford to lose more submarines so seeing the convoy take time to regroup, I extracted both my surviving subs from this pack to the South and West of the group.

After saving and exiting I was awarded victory at 0236; November 27th.
Not an easy victory as I'd lost 10 nuclear subs and a Kilo, 3 Backfires, 3 Flankers and 4 Bears. I was very surprised all 4 of my AGI had survived!

NATO lost in those 26 hours: 7 amphibious ships (some must have sunk during the night), 25 Merchants, one helicopter carrier, one AEGIS class cruiser, 2 Spruances and a Burke; plus loads of embarked helicopters and Harriers and an E3 and 4 Tornado F3s in UK.

Thanks to Frans for stimulating me to replay this scen -- and thanks to Herman for crafting the missions when it was still DB2K and converting it to PDB (everything worked!). Yes and 3.6.3 proved rock-solid and fast on my 5 yr old machine.

Freek
Scen: Matrix Shield
Designer: Herman Hum
GE: 3.8.0 RC5
DB: PlayersDB

I command SSK Winter, a Kilo-class sub in the Baltic sea.

My mission is to stay on station, awaiting transit by German or Norwegian SSKs and sink one of them.

On game start I detect several submerged bearings among lots of surface contacts . I plot their bearing using refpoints and move to create a baseline for a cross bearing. Almost immediately Sonar reports a blade-count (5 knots) on one of the bearings, so I change course for her. This quickly enable me to plot out that the enemy sub is heading to starboard of my sub. I plot an intercept course at 5 knots. I suspect this contact is for real as false contacts generally don't have a sustained 5 knot speed and a clear bearing change.

After an hour the contact is classified as a type 206 German sub, and her course is plotted. Several hours later I suspect I'm geting closer but the uncertainty zone still extends to 13 miles, well outside torpedo range. I decide to search with Active sonar. This is a mistake - active sonar does not resolve the position of the sub. I suspect he's about 5 miles out and fire 2 Test-71 torpedo's at slow speed setting (24 knots). The enemy speeds up to 22 knots on a perpendicular course to my incoming torps. Surprisingly, he does not fire a return shot.

When my torpedo's are on the enemies stern I order them to 40 knots via my wire guidance. Almost immediately I lose the wires to the torps and both torps start to persue a neutral Ro-Ro ship and hit her! Now I'm looking at court-marshall but still want to collect the type 206!

The type 206 comes back to its previous heading of 71 degrees at 5 knots. I plot an intercept course again at 5 knots. While I never get a good fix, I wait untill the plotted range is under 3 nm and fire three Test-71s, this time at high speed setting. I cut the wires and clear the area to avoid counterfire.

This time Plot has a good fix on the sub when it speeds up and the torps quickly overtake and kill the German. Sigh of relieve - again no counterfire.

My plotting party maintains a bearing on the Norwegian Ula class sub, but I easily avoid it over the next several hours untill victory is reported.

Thanks for nice small sub scen.

Freek

sharker2003
This is a partial AAR of Freek's Blockade scenario. Will post the follow-up when we get all the players together again (Me, Herman and John) and finish it up, at least not until the week after next as I'm getting underway on Friday. Anyway really liked this scenario and had fun playing it.

AAR for Israeli Side
*_POSSIBLE_SPOILER_ALERT*, DON'T READ IF YOU PLAN TO PLAY AS UNIFIL OR HEZBOLLAH SIDE:

Objective for Israeli side was to locate and sink Hezbollah Romeo sub using air and submarine assets. Surface assets were restricted to S of 33N. Secondary objectives were to sink PL supply boats lost in an enormous clutter of neutral traffic.

My initial action was to launch my first of two Dauphin helos (equipped with torpedoes)from the FFG's to begin the Maritime Domain Awareness/Situational Awareness portion of this little operation.

I sent my first on a sweep to the south of my FFG's, just to ensure no one was knocking at Israel's door and because I reasoned that the FFG commander would want their own AOR swept before releasing the helo's to patrol North. For organization I broke the Tactical Screen up into two seperate zoom windows, a North and South AOR, divided at the 33rd parallel. As my helo finished it's Southern Sweep my FFG detected by radar our first challanger of the day, two DE-type warship's to the north, heading into Israeli Territorial Waters and on a southerly course to cross the 33rd parallel at 28 kts. I vectored my helo towards them for an ID and issued Level One verbal warnings. The helo indentified them as two UNIFIL vessels, and though they did not respond to my hails they altered course west, away from Iraeli TTW and proceeded west a mile or so north of the 33rd. My FFG's turned and kept pace on our respective side of the line. As my helo proceeded north of the 33rd the Northern AOR was dense with commericial traffic, UNIFIL warships and aircraft operating in close proximity to Israeli aircraft. It was in this tense environment that my subs made initial contact with the rogue Romeo and began tracking. Based on the intel we were provided I made a rough guess at her destination and best speed she could be making and guessed about where I would find her, then split my subs to converge on that point. Little did I realize how accurate my guess was, LEVIATHAN acquired her early, right on top of the reference point I laid as my best guess! With the pincher's of the glorious Israeli crab slowly closing on the unwitting sub, we recieved an awful fright when, as my Dauphin was buzzing a UNIFIL warship near the sub, DOLPHIN detected two torpedoes headed straight for the UN vessel!! Perfectly pre-positioned, my helo, which could only look at the UN vessel and think 'poor bastards' swooped in and dropped two torpedoes literally on top of the Hezbollah sub's towel-wrapped head. At the same time we detected the UNIFIL vessel returning fire with ASROC as my subs increased to Flank to close...that Romeo's goose was literally cooked 6 different ways once it let those torpedoes fly. The resulting detonation and shriek of fatiguing metal was greeted with cheers by our victorious freedom fighters. I noticed the UNIFIL warship appeared to escape unscathed.

My helo, low on fuel by this point returned to mother to get stuffed and strapped while her counterpart was immediately launched to resume the patrol...more camel-jockey's remained to be located and sunk. Things were going swimmingly when LEVIATHAN's passive sonar operator again tore than headphone's away in pain...torpedoes in the water! WHAT? Turns out they came from a UNIFIL ship, which 'claimed' they issued Level III verbal warnings to surface prior to firing on an unidentified sub contact, but which we never received. Regardless my sub easily outran the ineptly fired torpedoes. Seething with rage we burned to return fire but, tragically ROE prohibited my subs from firing on UNIFIL ships. Turning our hatred where it belonged, on the Muslims, my Israeli sub resumed its patrol.

At this point it was getting LATE, and this combatant commander was ready for 40 winks, so we were looking for a stopping point. Ironically as I was preparing to log off my helo detected a Hezbollah fishing dhow! My sub loosed a fish at her at long range and I sat back to watch the fun. Unfortunatly the Dhow responded by taking off at 33 knots and outran the torpedo!! I was *HIGHLY* peeved at this and it's my only issue with an otherwise excellent scenario - having spent a year in the Persian Gulf boarding more than 300 dhows I can tell you I've never met one I can't outrun...in my sneakers. They do a max of 8 knots. Seriously. But anyway, as we saved and logged off for the nite my helo was swooping in with warshot, so maybe we'll sink her yet.

Great, great scenario...I really enjoy the Maritime Domain Awareness missions, the moderate extra traffic in this scenario is confounding and it probably 1/10th of what you actually see in these littoral environments, but for one person to manage it conveys the difficulty of sorting the good guys from the bad just right. Had fun and look forward to playing again!

Brandon

The success of the Reformed Russian Republic in Norway increased the importance of supply interdiction in the Baltic Sea. The logistical requirements of the R3 army were enormous. Tons of supplies attempted to make transit of the shallow waters between Denmark and Norway.

The threat to these small convoys was limited in scope. Because of the success of R3 airfield strikes, the NATO aircraft that remained had adopted a defensive posture, awaiting reinforcements. The few offensive missions that NATO launched were primarily offensive counter-air and aimed at the R3 air bases. Convoys of five to seven ships were just too far down the list to merit much air attention.

The small missile boats of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany performed in the opening days of the war exactly as had been anticipated. They ducked out of hiding, acquired targets for their Harpoons and Otomats, launched their attacks, and died.

R3 commanders used this opportunity to try and move small quantities of sensitive materials back to research installations in the East.

Only submarines remain to oppose them.

Quiet and small, if employed correctly, they are very hard to detect. The departure of the front-line R3 ASW units to the front as escorts for the R3 Carrier Battle Groups increased their effectiveness. Plugging the choke points out of the Denmark Sea provides the best opportunity to stop the transit of materials in this area.

Yesterday I played Herman MP using RC8

The Scenario was Plug The Gap (not released yet I think).

I started with three D/E Nordic subs and I was tasked to prevent some escorted merchants carrying WOMD from passing the Kattegat. Not much info I thought.

I started bringing two of my subs on E/W line to cover the gap, and moving the third South to give me early Intel. Detected small corvette type Russian warships in two groups but without merchants. My main challenge would be to to find and ID hostile merchants from the neutral ones. I would need to make persicope sweeps, and while the corvettes had poor sonar, they have OK radar!

I intercepted a few merchants coming ahead of the escorts just to calibrate my scope and found I needed to be within 2nm to classify them as neutral. That meant I'd have to ID the hostiles based on behaviour.

The corvette groups were approaching the exit to the Kattegat and my two Northern subs (having passed the third one) and I started seeing them move N/W to open sea at 20knots. Sonar also detected two merchants moving at 15 to 20 knots behind the corvettes. As neutrals generally don't move at more than cruise speed I decided these were my targets and ordered my forward sub to chase after them at 17 knots. A difficult intercept.

At this point the corvette contacts were jumping all around my Swedish sub, and I decided to stick up the periscope. Even before the ESM reported enemy radar emissions, Herman shouted 'Found you' on gertrude! I fired a spread of FFV wire guided torps in reply, turned north and raced away with torpedo's following in my wake. Three corvettes raced south, one straight to my Danish sub trying to intercept the targets. The Danish captain fired a further 2 Mk37s to that target. Heard 'Damn' on gertrude (one of the best sounds I believe). Hermans corvette turned east and fired BOL torps. I fired another FFV torp from the North at slow speed just in case one of the corvettes would avade my torpedo's and turn back.

Within minutes 3 corvettes sunk, unfortunately so did my Danish sub of which the 17 knot top speed was not enough.

I now realised that in spite of this carnage, what I thought were the two primary targets might escape West out of the Kattegat so the Swedish sub turned and moved in at 17 knots to intercept. It had to pass very close to 3 remaining corvettes and when sonar detected excited shouts from the targets I fired another group of torps at this group. Also fired my last two Bearing-only at the two merchants. I scored one hit on a corvette but obviously I had a torp in my baffles as suddenly I lost the second sub.

My third sub was on the East side of the Kattegat and had just ID'd another merchant as neutral. It went to flank speed to try to head off the merchants which were running full speed South with two FFV torps in persuit. I could not see the results of the torps but could see one enemy bearing turning back North and one remaining steady.

As I could not intercept the escaping merchie in time I fired 3 torps at her hoping to force her to flee south again. This ploy failed as the torps only had 35 knot speed and not enough range.

Game ended in a draw and I found I had killed one of the primary targets and 5 corvettes but lost two.

A great game and RC8 behaved well. Only issue was that anytime I went to persicope depth; when I resubmerged the speed would go to zero and I'd have to reorder speed/heading a few times.

Sweden's neutrality lasted only as long as the Reformed Russian Republic had no need of anything that Sweden had and not a moment longer. The determined resistance of the United States' 1st Special Forces put the R3 theatre commander behind schedule by 36 hours. Behind schedule has never been a comfortable place for a Russian Commander and this commander was determined to be uncomfortable only for a very short period of time. His plan to get things moving again involved turning Norway's southern flank. But, in order to do that, staging bases closer than Germany were required. Unfortunately for Sweden, bases that fit the bill were Swedish. The remaining life of Sweden's neutrality was measured in hours.

NATO wanted to provide assistance. The problem was, other than providing advanced warning of the attack, NATO had nothing to give. The few remaining Norwegian F-16s could not be re-oriented to cover Swedish airspace without leaving the northern FEBA vulnerable. CENTAF simply had no aircraft to spare. RAF operational reserves had been released to guard the northern approaches to the UK. The German air force ceased to exist as an effective fighting force 90 seconds after the first shots were fired. Combined chemical, biological, and conventional missile, artillery, and air attacks have a tendency to do that.

Although alone in the snow, the Swedes were not without hope. Sweden had been neutral. Sweden had not been stupid. Sweden's defense expenditures had increased from 2.9% of GNP in 1987 to 4.5% of GNP in 1996. A large portion of that money was spent on the procurement of Viggens, Sweden's latest multi-role fighter aircraft. It was with the Viggens that this battle would turn.

"Project Peninsula 94: Reconnaissance"
Scenario designed by Herman Hum

Based on an original Harpoon Classic HDS-II-scenario
Database: Players DB 6.4.9

A. Foreword:

Herman likes to rebuild HC scens, especially those of the HC HDS-II-Battleset, with AGSIs permission. "Reconnaissance” is part of a group of scenarios which belong thematically together. The Nato side has eight first line subs and a very difficult mission: First to get six subs in designated search areas. Second, keeping them six hours there - weapons tight. After that weapons are free and the subs have to kill Soviet HVUs. Scenario duration is 36 hours.

B. My experience

It all starts on January 3rd, 1993, at 10:53 PM. I set course for six subs to the designated areas, some of them being already close to it. Therefore I set my subs to deep and speed to cruise at most.

Soon it becomes clear that there are lots of Soviet ships and subs underway. This is a grave problem for SSN Omaha, already being in shallow waters without much space to hide.

11:17 PM
Bogie over SSN Dallas. Dallas detects several support vessels crawling around. Nearby is the CVHG Adm. Gorshkov, another target.

11:54 PM
Phibs detected. So now I had contacts on several targets to sink after the six hours period of waiting.

January, 4th, 1993
00:25 AM
The first subs, SSN Dallas and SSN Augusta, have reached the search zones. I send them deep, crawling.

08:00 AM
For subs are now on station. Still underway are SSN Omaha and SSN Groton (this one has about 150nm to go and a lot of ships and subs nearby).

09:35 AM
SSN Cincinatti has a visitor only 5 nm away - a red sub. Has he got me? Another skunk closing in. I decide to shoot. Both killed with torpedoes.

11:20 AM
SSN Omaha has reached its search zone - at least.

11:37 AM
SSN Birmingham reports torpedo contact. No problem. Contact fades out.

08:00 PM
SSN Groton detects a sub right in front. Evade! 40nm left to go to designated area.

09:23 PM
Ships over SSN Dallas! Has the sub been detected? What to do? Too many skunks to sink...

January, 5th, 1993

00:36 AM
SSN Groton has reached its search zone. Now all six subs have made it. From now on six hours weapons tight. Then the duck shoot can start.

Sometime between 01:00 AM and 02:00AM
SSN Dallas has been sunken. Just did not notice it. Six subs, six search areas - hard to handle. Anyway: Dallas had been on station for more than six hours. Thus it is not so bad.

02:03 AM
SSN Augusta has been detected! Several ships and subs closing it. No chance to evade, I guess. Ok - head to head. What marvellous subs these 688s are! The Augusta sinks several ships and at least one sub with MK48s. Then the path is clear and she evades.

06:36 AM
The last six hours period ends - weapons free!

The subs get new courses and start prosecuting the HVUs. I am rather sure I'll get the targets.

10:53 AM

Defeat! Game time is over. 36 hours are gone.

C. Resume

I missed my chance winning this one by losing too much time with the SSN Groton heading for its search area. I had to risk more and accelerate the sub to cruise or full speed. That could have saved me some hours and therefore the game.

All in all this is a real nice remake of the original scenario. I really had a lot of fun.

Thank you for rebuilding it, Herman!

Ralf

AAR (SP) "A Fight to the Death" - playing Soviet side
H3 ANW 3.8.0 RC11
Player's DB 7.4.7
Pentium 4 2,93 Ghz / 1Gb RAM

1. Introduction

This scen is one of my all-time favourite ones. I wrote about playing it MP as Soviet side and losing without any chance.
Winning it against the AI is possible, but not so easy….

2. How it worked

1994-12-19; 12:00 Start

I am lucky this time! My CVGB is in the North of the map, not so much away from my land base and it is unlikely that there was a Nato CTF between them.

Instantly I launch every AC stationed at Kevlavik. I sent my Backfires and Badgers North-West and station them directly over the CVBG.

Kevlavik gets support too: I fley four Flankers to Iceland and station them on CAP right in from of the base.

I then send one Bear-D right beside the CVBG and the other one far Southeast.

12:59

Time to start actions: I order the South-Eastern Bear to go active. Numerous surface contacts - south to my CVBG and not so far away! The carrier is identified - luck!

I send the four Badger bombers south in order to attack the carrier.

13:05 Bear Southeast shot down. Tomcats.

All Badgers launch their missiles.

13:07 Two Badgers shot down.

13:14 Several Hits on Nimitz reported.

Meanwhile I have sent my Backfires - all six of them - on full speed and low altitude South-West. Heading for the wounded Nimitz. Each Backfire carries ten Kickback missiles.

13:20 I start all fighters from my carrier and sent them south in order to harass the Tomcats and Hornets and keep them North of the group.

13:24 Another Badger shot down. Both sides lose AC in a furious air battle.

13:28 All Backfires have reached their positions SouthWest to the CVBG and launch their missiles! 60 missiles on their way towards the US carrier.

It has worked like it did in Clancy's "Red Storm Rising": There an obviously incapable admiral sent all his Toms north killing drones he thought to be bombers and left his back door open. There too he was visited by Backfires inbound from North-West.

13:30 Five Backfires shot down.

13:33 Nimitz has got hits, doing only eight knots.

13:33 First salvo SSMs from my CVBG

13:40 Second salvo.

13:44 Nimitz down to four knots.

13:45 Final SSM salvo fired.

13:45 TASMs coming it!

13:51 TASMs without exception intercepted. Nimitz down to zero knots; "Probable kill - on fire".

14:03 Goblin detected.

14:05 My CVBG heads for Iceland at creep speed in order to avoid a nasty surprise. All AC back on the carrier or at Kevlavik. The CVBG has some helos in the air.

14:38 The VicCond have been successfully completed!

3. Hints for rebuilding it

a) Single player

- The Soviet side should get at least two subs, one close to the Nato CVBG.
- The Soviets should have some more fighters. All in all at least one full regiment (20-24 AC).
- AEW birds for Kevlavik
- The AI should set up better CAP for the US CVBG. There should be fighters all around the group - not only in the PIM - , thus denying the red player surprise attacks on the carrier.

b) Multi player

- More SAMs for Kevlavik
- at least 10 interceptors for Kevlavik; a full load on the Soviet carrier.
- AEW birds at Kevlavik