dylanjones

Yes, it is going to take a wee while for you to close the distance! You could fire from a fair way out as the sea-skimming Harpoons won't cross their radar horizon until they get within 24nm (I assume we're using Smarter Radars rather than the H4.1 rules regarding airborne SS radars and so the Big Bulge can't detect them). If you fire from 52nm out then the Sov won't detect the Harpoons when they climb to Low altitude on the turn of launch.

Happy to class them as hostile. I don't have any changed orders at this time.

P3 responds, "This is Islamic Republic of Iran aircraft in international airspace. Good day to you".

Righto, so we know the lead vessel is the Sov. I assume the three vessels in a line each 1nm apart are the merchants and the back vessel is the frigate. I'll orbit my P3 to maintain 55nm distance from the Soviet group at Hi alt. The Phantom can keep on trucking along on present course until feet wet at which point it can light up its radar.

SHUK, do you want me to risk my P3 by closing to make visual ID of the contacts (I'll need to get to 11nm in order to ID which are warships and which are merchants). OR, are you prepared to risk your helicopter to do so, and I'll orbit the P3 keeping radar contact?

OK, turn the P3 to course 140. Keep the radar on. Do not approach closer than 20nm to the presently detected contacts. Launch one Phantom and have it proceed down the ESM bearing to the Big Bulge B at Low altitude (300m) keeping its radar off at this stage and just visually searching (sorry I don't know how to get the bearing of an ESM line off SIMPLOTVIEWER).

OK, RED AIR ORDERS are, P3 turn onto bearing 110 continue at cruise speed and energise radar and begin surface search. If contacts are detected, close to visual range to identify. Launch Phantoms and at this stage fly at cruise speed to the Iranian vessels and orbit overhead at LOW altitude (300 metres).

Sure. Note that the Sov will be able to turn enough (45 degrees) to un-mask its other SAM launcher in one ET. And that is assuming the captain isn't smart enough to turn as soon as he detects your vessels. Note also that because your SM-1s are not Autonomous you won't be allowed to fire them in the second fire phase on an ET. You can only fire in the first fire phase. I'll have my Phantoms follow your Harpoons by 5nm. We'll commence our attack run as your missiles launch but from 5nm further back. That way I can orbit at Low altitude 25nm out and be able to drop down to Vlow (and below the radar horizon) if I get any RWR indication of enemy SAMs engaging me while I'm stooging about.

Launch P3. Climb to High altitude while proceeding on course 247 degrees to the coast. Keep radars off until feet wet. Listening on ESM. Ready Phantoms so they are at +5 armed as discussed earlier with 6 Mk83 thousand pound bombs, 2 AIM7F, and a 1st Gen jammer pod.

Pity we lost other captain but I think we're ready to go now.

Huh I wonder where Larry gets his info from because that link I posted earlier in this thread quite clearly explains that the Iranian Sumners had reloads for their four Standard launchers. Once the single reload was gone though it was back to port for any more. It even has photos showing them.

I'm happy with the planes.

Yes, I thought of that too - but you'd be mad to enter a gun fight against a Sov with its two 130mm auto turrets. If you could cripple the Sov though then you could use the two Sumners to destroy the rest of the Russian force at your leisure with their five inch guns. Nice details of the Iranian Sumners here: https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2016/02/28/the-shahs-sumners/

I thought we had another red player - so one captain for each vessel and me with the planes? Frankly, this is a pretty unbalanced scenario with the inclusion of the Sov. The Pr.956 is basically a super-warship in the 1980s! Great anti-surface warfare and anti-air warfare capabilities. I'd have been happier with only two Iranian vessels if the Russkis had a Udaloy or another Krivak instead of the Sov. But we'll just have to rely on luck and cunning. My Phantoms have no chance if they have to fly through the Sov's SAM umbrella without distractions. So that is why I'd prefer to line up alongside the Harpoons and force the Russians to choose what to engage. If we're lucky a few will get through. If we're only allowed two warships I'd recommend two Combattante so we get maximum Harpoon. (sadly, the boats are likely to have short, exciting lives once they open fire)

I assume that we're using the latest 2012 damage point values? So the Sov has 223 DPs. The Krivak has 162 DPs. Saam has 84 DPs. Combattante has 34 DPs. etc

Don't want Mavericks. 2nm max range is useless and they have tiny warhead that won't do any good. Want Mk83 free-fall bombs that do 40pts damage each.

I'll load the Phantoms with six Mk83 slicks, 2 AIM7Fs, and an ALQ-101 1st Gen jammer pod. This is going to be something of a suicide mission for my DEF-ATA 3/1 Phantoms going up against a Sov with its SAM system and auto 130mm. So can I recommend that we launch a coordinated attack once we find the Soviets with the P3. I assume that they won't be able to engage us until we shoot at them (or possibly get too close to them). So lets make it an overwhelming attack with SSMs and the Phantoms coming in at the same time on the same axis. Hopefully we'll overload their defensive capabilities and get a few hits that way. I can orbit my Phantoms over the Iranian warships until we're ready to strike and then match velocity with the SSMs launched from the ships (assuming you're going to choose at least one Combattante with Harpoons, if not both). I'll send my Phantoms in at Low, dropping to Vlow once I get 15nm out. The Harpoons will be coming in at Vlow. The Soviets will have the minimum time to engage all of that. I can't think of a better way of doing it - but open to ideas.

I'm keen to have a go - happy to have the Red air. I am an experienced H4.1 player/referee.