As part of the run-up to the release of Harpoon Commander's Edition, I've decided to dust off some After Action Reports that I did for Harpoon Classic's first battlesets, GIUK, NACV and MEDC.

 

It is hoped that, besides enjoyment of a Cold War era story played out in Harpoon scenarios, this series of AAR's will stimulate one or more of the community's scenario designers (old and new alike) to fashion new Cold War scenarios for the Westpac theater. Enjoy.

 

Scenario 1: NACV 1.0 – Any Port in a Storm

 

Background

 

Although war at sea has been raging for several days, many merchant ships have not yet made it to safe haven, and additionally, many NATO warships have not yet organized themselves into task forces. There is a race between NATO combatants to shepherd the scattered merchantmen to port, and Soviet submarines to sink as many of these merchantmen as possible.

 

What Happened

 

At dawn on the first day, about 40 nm east of Rockall, the Akula class nuclear attack submarine Puma sunk the SS Aurora and the SS Texas Clipper, both commercial merchant ships bound for Bergen. Hours later, the tanker Anco Challenger was sunk by the same Akula, this time some 50 nm east of Rockall. These losses in the opening days of the war were sufficient to let NATO know it was going to be a tough slog.

 

The Okean AGI Ekholot later spotted the container ship Sea-Land Economy, north of Rockall, and made a contact report, but soon thereafter she reported coming under attack by Harpoon missiles and contact was lost.

 

It was a brutal start to war in the Atlantic.

Scenario 2: NACV 2.0 – War off the Eastern Seaboard

 

Background

 

Soviet submarines have declared open season against coastal shipping off the US East Coast. US ports, bases and airfields are also vulnerable to attack from these units. Together, it was hoped that these attacks would tie up valuable NATO ASW forces which were badly needed elsewhere. For the Soviets, it was important that NATO shipping be put at risk along the entire transit route, from pier to pier, not just at sea.

 

What Happened

 

The Okean spy trawler Reduktor was caught only 70 nm east of Boston when war broke out. She didn’t last long. The Okean AGI Repiter, suffered a similar fate.

 

Several Soviet merchantmen, caught by fate and politics off the coast of America when war broke out, were quickly singled out for capture or destruction because of the likelihood of their passing information about Western shipping movements along to Moscow. Almost universally, their crews refused to surrender. The Soviet registered merchant Okha was sunk somewhere north of Chesapeake Bay, while enroute to New York. Likewise with the merchant Aleksey Chirikov, which sank west of Nova Scotia after coming under attack by an unknown assailant.

 

The story of the merchant Kandalaksha, sailing east about 125 nm south of Halifax, was more glamorous, if there can be such a thing in war. The skipper was an ex Navy man, and he gave great account after the war. As with the others, his ship also came under attack, apparently by AGM-65 Maverick. She took several hits and even destroyed a P-3C Orion with a manportable SAM before succumbing. The crew abandoned ship and were later picked by a US Coast Guard cutter.

 

Soon after approaching and attacking the tanker Victory, the Victor II attack submarine K-476 came under attack herself and was hit and damaged by a lightweight torpedo. Her wake homing torpedo, however, chased down and sank the Victory. This sub also claimed to have put a couple of Type 53 torpedoes into the Mobil Condor but the massive supertanker did not sink.

 

Another Victor II, the K-495, sank the tanker Stolt Viking, and soon afterward, it was also able to tag the commercial transport Federal Maple.

 

The Victor II SSN K-517 encountered and sank the commercial transport Hellenic Glory. However, he came under air dropped torpedo attack almost immediately, but managed to escape and recovered to attack and sink the merchant Atlantic Freezer. This submarine later encountered a US Navy group and while he managed to fire several torpedoes, he came under attack and was lost. The Knox class frigate Trippe claimed the kill.

 

The Kilo diesel sub B-177 intercepted the same US Navy group later, hitting the Sacramento oiler Seattle. A second torpedo finished the oiler, and the Kilo escaped cleanly. No such luck for the Charlie II class SSGN K-212. He was maneuvering into a position to launch her missiles when he was attacked and destroyed. The capable crew of the Trippe also claimed this kill.

Scenario 3: NACV 3.0 – Bears at Bay

 

Background

 

Much of NATO's sea power was based in European Atlantic ports. The shallow waters of the Bay of Biscay is a virtual highway for merchant and naval traffic. Because shallow water makes ASW detection more difficult, Soviet submarines hope to attack here with a good chance of success. Rather than focus on merchant shipping, however, Soviet sub skippers were directed to seek out and destroy NATO warships, particularly NATO ASW forces.

 

What Happened

 

The USSR hoped to knock France out of the war early on by convincing her that the cost of conflict would be much higher than her population were willing to pay. Numerous Soviet submarines were deployed to the Bay of Biscay to intercept shipping heading to France.

 

Just as with what happened on the North American east coast, the Soviets also lost 7 merchants that were in the local area. The real story, however, lay with the submarines. Everywhere, Soviet sub skippers complained that torpedo performance was miserable, and their boats had to expend a lot of their onboard warload. Nevertheless, they managed to inflict serious damage on NATO.

 

Having lurked quietly in the days before the outbreak of war, the Victor III class attack submarines K-244 and K-254 immediately attacked, sinking the French Navy's Georges Leygues frigate La Motte-Picquet and the helicopter carrier Jeanne D’Arc. A patrolling British Nimrod pounced on the K-254 and it was sunk while attempting to carry out an attack against the destroyer Cassard. K-244, meanwhile, was attacked by both a Nimrod and an Atlantique, and suffered heavy damage. He came to the surface and some of the Soviet crew managed to escape before the submarine sank.

 

To the west, the Victor II sub K-371 sank the tanker Mobile Marketeer and the merchant United Pioneer. The skipper simply could not pass up the opportunity. The K-371 later encountered a Spanish task group some 120 nm west of Brest, and managed to sneaked into the middle of the formation and engage. Her attack sank the Descubierta frigate Infanta Cristina and the helicopter carrier Principe de Asturias, before coming under attack herself. During his successful escape, the K-371 sank the missile frigate Santa Maria. The crew was decorated for their bravery and skill.

 

The Charlie II cruise missile sub K-308, which was patrolling about 120 nm northwest of La Coruna, Spain, and being escorted by the Sierra attack sub Tula, fired two SS-N-9 Siren missiles at the commercial transport SS Oriental Lady. One struck and sank the targeted merchant.

 

Also off the coast of Spain, the Kilo diesel B-190 sank the transport Lucky Two and the merchant Olive Bank.

Always fun to read AARs. Thanks for sharing them.

Scenario 2: GIUK 2.0 – Gauntlet

 

Background

 

The Soviets will attempt to seize Norwegian bases in any all-out-war. This will be done by physically seizing some bases, and cutting off others from the rest of NATO. NATO must resupply these bases using naval convoys. The success or failure of the convoys will be of paramount importance to both NATO and Soviet commanders. A small NATO replenishment group, believed to consist of two to three merchantmen, and escorted by a similar number of combatants, has been sighted along the Norwegian coast. Using the available air, surface, and submarine units, attack the group. Priority targets are the merchantmen, although the escorts may be attacked if this will further the primary mission.

 

What Happened

 

Soviet special forces had seized the Norwegian airfield at Banak in the early hours of the conflict, and by now the USSR had forward deployed initial force of Soviet Air Force aircraft into the area to enable better access to the enemy installations arrayed along the Norwegian coast to the south.

 

As soon as they were operational in their new facilities, six Soviet Air Force MiG-23 Floggers took off from Banak with the objective of knocking out the radar at Narvik. There were no SEAD assets available, so the Floggers were pressed into the anti-radar role with commanded guided AS-7 Kerry tactical air to surface missiles. The Floggers took advantage of the rough terrain to mask their approach, and no opposition was encountered. Nine of the AS-7 missiles struck home, inflicting moderate damage in and around the Narvik radar installation but nothing sufficient to knock out the radar. It was still active. A follow-up strike several hours later inflicted more damage, but still the radar stayed up, a testament to either its rugged design or the unsuitability of the weapon in the SEAD role. And worse, the local supply of AS-7 Kerry missiles was now exhausted. The local Soviet commander elected not to pursue further strikes against the Narvik radar. There were more pressing targets arising from local Norwegian resistance.

 

Meanwhile, at sea, the Victor II attack submarine K-513 picked up a surface contact about 250 nm south of Narvik. More contacts were soon detected as the sonar plot firmed up. Identifying an Oliver Hazard Perry class missile frigate, the Victor II moved to attack.

 

Using his periscope to visually survey the enemy group, now identified as the NATO replenishment group earlier reported, the skipper of the K-513 was late in noticing an approaching SH-60B Seahawk helicopter. Soon thereafter, and before she could complete the approach, the K-513 came under attack. He managed to evade, however, and once again moved to prosecute the NATO group. The K-513's torpedoes sank the lead escort, the Perry frigate USS Boone. Performance of the Type 53-65 torpedoes was dismal overall, but a pair of wake homers did find and sink both the merchant Eastern Valor and the Royal Navy Type 22/2 frigate HMS Brave.

 

It was enough to turn back the NATO group. The Soviet Navy had achieved its first victory at sea.

Scenario 3: GIUK 3.0 – Hide and Seek

 

Background

 

Soviet submarines were a grave threat to NATO plans to resupply Europe. But for Soviet submarines to get into the convoy routes, they had to pass through the narrows around Iceland. It was here that NATO hoped to concentrate its outnumbered ASW forces in an attempt to catch and kill Soviet submarines as they attempted to transit to and return from the convoy routes of the North Atlantic. Soviet submarines north of the GIUK Gap were ordered to 'transit to the southwest through the gap, attacking any targets that present themselves.' Those submarines that were south of the Gap and in need of resupply were ordered to 'attack any targets encountered while moving northeast toward port.' The area was known to be heavily patrolled by at least one NATO ASW surface group, with possible SSN support. Due to the success of Soviet Spetsnatz raiding parties in Iceland, however, NATO's land based air support was expected to be minimal.

 

What Happened

 

This initial transit of Soviet submarines both north and south was largely uneventful. And although no submarines were lost during these first hours of hostilities in the GIUK Gap, neither did they achieve any kills. The only Soviet unit to have reported any action of significance was the Juliett class SSG K-85.

 

Her skipper detected a pair of contacts detected about 50 nm from the western coastal icepack, in the Greenland-Iceland region of the Gap, and launched all three of his SS-N-3 Shaddock missiles at one of them. Although all three missiles launched successfully and were believed to have performed within expectations, none found their target, and it is believed they must have either failed in the terminal phase or were shot down by point defences. No evidence of a successful engagement was ever found by the skipper of the Juliett, and NATO still refuses comment on the matter.

 

The K-85 withdrew to the north to refuel and rearm somewhere north of Jan Mayen.

Scenario 4: GIUK 4.0 – Convoy, Medium Opposed NATO Transit

 

Background

 

NATO forces in Norway required resupply of war materials to continue resisting the Red Army forces that were rapidly gaining ground. These supplies could only be transported in sufficient quantity by sea. It was therefore as important to NATO to get their merchants safely into port and unloaded, as it was to the Soviets to sink them before delivery. NATO resupply could only delay the USSR's inevitable victory. A specific convoy, consisting of 4-8 merchants, cargo ships and tankers, and escorted by NATO surface forces, was sighted moving north along the Norwegian coast. Its expected destination was Narvik.

 

What Happened

 

A pair of MiG-29s probing air defences around Narvik encountered and shot down a trio of RAF Harrier II GR.5 jump jets about 50-60 nm south of the port. Behind them came a flight of Su-24 Fencers configured for SEAD, and a portion of these were now directed to strike the radar at Narvik (where the earlier attack by MiG-23s had failed the day before). Two of four AS-12 Kegler anti-radar missiles struck Narvik, immediately shutting down its radar. Four of the Su-24s pushed on to attack Bodo.

 

The Fencers were jumped by a fourth Harrier, probably a survivor from the group shot down by the Fulrcums earlier. But in any event, they used their superior speed to evade this GR.5 and launched their remaining four AS-12 missiles at the Bodo radar. The air defences at Bodo, however, were made of sterner stuff, and HAWK SAMs shot down all the Kegler missiles. A pair of MiG-23 Floggers lagging behind the Fencers killed the GR.5 with an AA-7a Apex shot.

 

About 285 nm south of the port at Narvik, the Tango diesel sub Gorkovsky Komsomolets detected a surface contact. A Royal Norwegian Navy surface action group, comprising an Oslo frigate and four Hauk missile craft, were spotted coming out of Narvik. Unknown to them, a Soviet group, centred on the Kresta missile cruiser Severomorsk, was lurking off the coast, and it now energized its radars. Immediately, a second NATO surface group comprising at least two combatants was detected about 275 nm to the south, also heading north.

 

Although its radar was down, Soviet aircraft still avoided Narvik due to the danger posed by RBS70 laser beam riding SAMs. The Soviets were instead focusing their attention on the more serious threat, the airfield at Bodo.

 

Two MiG-29s encountered and shot down two of a quartet of Norwegian F-16s about 60 nm north of Bodo. Two Floggers following behind the Fulcrums killed one of the surviving F-16s, but the other evaded their AA-7a Apex shots. Contact was lost with the nimble F-16 as he ducked into a fjord, but when he came out, the Floggers were in position and waiting, and the NATO fighter was hit with a pair of AA-8 Aphid heat seekers.

 

Meanwhile, two Norwegian F-16s that approached the Soviet SAG were shot down by SA-N-4 Gecko air defense missiles from the Krivak II frigate Razitelny. Two more F-16s approached the Soviet naval group, but again, air defences reached out and killed them both, namely SA-N-7 Gadflys from the Sovremenny destroyer Bezuprechny and more SA-N-4s from the Razitelny.

 

Later in the day, four Su-24s returned to attack the Bodo radar and they let loose their SEAD warload from maximum range. Six AS-12 missiles hit home and the Bodo radar was destroyed.

 

About 15 nm north of the second of the oncoming NATO surface groups, the quiet Kilo class diesel sub B-227 came under torpedo attack, but managed to evade. A short while later, B-227 again came under helo launched torpedo attack and again it evaded. The NATO torpedoes seemed to have trouble with the shallow rocky bottom along the Norwegian coast.

 

The other NATO SAG – comprising a Spruance destroyer, Perry frigate and Knox frigate - had closed to missile range, and now fired six Harpoons at the Soviet formation. The Bezuprechny and the Mod Kashin destroyer Slavny fired their SA-N-7 and SA-N-1 Goa SAMs, and knocked down all the Harpoons. Two more missiles were spotted incoming at wavetop height, but again Bezuprechny swatted them down with Gadfly.

 

The Gorkovsky Komsomolets had in the meantime maneuvered into an ambush position and now engaged the lead NATO group, shooting two torpedoes at the racing Spruance. Both torpedoes missed, and so the Tango's crew frantically prepared and launched two more. The American destroyer had slowed to creep speed, evidently having detected the first two torpedoes as they raced past, and was now listening for the attacking Soviet sub. It was a fatal mistake, as the next two torpedoes did not miss. Both hit and blew up the USS Stump. During the chaos that followed, Gorkovsky Komsomolets was able to fire another torpedo that hit and mortally wounded the Knox frigate USS Paul.

 

Three Su-24 Fencers now approached from the ravaged northern NATO group from the northwest, having skirted wide to the open ocean side. They were more than a little eager, and expended their full missile load against the surviving Perry frigate. Five of the 12 AS-14 Kedge hit and obliterated the USS Doyle. The Fencers received cheers from the sailors as they passed west of the Soviet SAG, just outside the AAW envelope (just to be sure).

 

On the northern edge of the Soviet surface group, the Nanuchka III missile corvette Storm fired its load of six SS-N-9 Siren missiles against the Oslo group that had just emerged from Narvik. One Siren hit and destroyed each of the fast attack craft Terne and Hauk, and another hit and destroyed the Oslo frigate Trondheim. The Slavny fired two SS-N-2C Styx missiles at the two remaining Hauk missile boats that continued to race in from the north, now only 29 nm away. Both the Tjeld and Orn were hit and destroyed.

 

A pair of Royal Navy frigates, believed to be a Leander/3A and a Type 22, were detected a little further south and closer to shore, but also moving north. Then a Type 42/3 destroyer appeared. These were soon determined to be escorting what appeared to another Leander frigate (possibly a Leander/2B) and at least three, maybe four, merchants as well as a pair of oil tankers. It was undoubtedly the convoy ! It was clearly evident that NATO was really trying to push this one through. A new strike flight was immediately prepared and launched from Banak.

 

Before the second NATO group could be engaged, however, 8 Harpoons were detected incoming. All were shot down but they required close range intervention from the SA-N-9 Gauntlet systems aboard the Udaloy destroyer Admiral Spiridonov.

 

The Gorkovsky Komsomolets, which had turned its attention to the new target, was detected and attacked by a Lynx HAS.3, but miraculously both Sting Ray torpedoes passed aft and the sub survived.

 

The flight of six Fencers from Banak finally arrived on the scene and made their attack run. Two Su-24s launched all of the remaining AS-12 Kegler, 8 missiles in all, at the Type 42 destroyer. The next four Fencers launched 12 TV guided AS-14 Kedge missiles, three at the nearby picket Leander/3A frigate Andromeda and the remainder at the Type 42. During their egress, they came upon and killed the HAS.3 helicopter that had been prosecuting Gorkovsky Komsomolets earlier, with an AA-8 Aphid shot, just as it was returning to ship to rearm and refuel. (The survival of the Gorkovsky Komsomolets would later prove to be a critical component of the Soviet operation). None of the anti-radar Keglers got through, but five of the AS-14s struck along the length of the Type 42/3 destroyer Gloucester, and she was destroyed by their hammering impact.

 

With the convoy now 145 nm south of Bodo, the skipper of the Kilo diesel sub B-227 displayed remarkable patience and skill in maneuvering inside the ASW screen. He waited for the Type 22/3 frigate Chatham to pass to his north before he engaged the Leander/3A frigate from long range, firing a single 533mm torpedo. The Leander/3A frigate Danae ate the torpedo amidships and sank in minutes.

 

The NATO convoy was now exposed and in a very bad position. The Chatham was 30 miles to the north, and the Soviet surface ships were able to slip in behind her and in front of the convoy. The convoy ran right over the top of Gorkovsky Komsomolets and she fired torpedoes at all of them. Chatham was now racing back at 30 knots, but it was too late. Torpedoes struck each of the merchants Apollo, Fortune Victory and Queen Sea, as well as the tanker Aquarius. The crew aboard Gorkovsky Komsomolets raced to reload, and fired again. This second salvo killed the merchant Aurora and the tanker Virgo.

 

With the merchants destroyed, the Nanuchka III missile craft Tucha turned its attention to Chatham, and launched three SS-N-9 Siren missiles. One of these monsters hit home, and she was finished.

Scenario 5: GIUK 5.0 – Gatekeeper

 

Background

 

The GIUK gap is one of the most important pieces of naval real estate in the world, connecting the Norwegian Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Because NATO owned it, Soviet forces have to run through a barrier of ASW defenses before they can reach their targets in the Atlantic. At the beginning of the war, the Soviets were surging large numbers of submarines through the GIUK gap. It was vital to the Soviets that they get through to attack NATO convoys and naval forces operating in the Atlantic. Other Soviet subs, possibly damaged or with their weapons expended, will be moving north for repair and resupply. These units were valuable to the Soviets, but not as valuable as the combat ready subs moving south. If NATO could erect a barrier here, they hoped to catch some of the Soviet subs trying to get into the open ocean of the Atlantic. These NATO units would likely include ASW aircraft based in the UK and Iceland, British nuclear and diesel submarines, and British ASW hunter-killer groups centered around Invincible class helicopter carriers.

 

What Happened

 

More than 30 Soviet submarines were now enroute to the infamous G-I-UK Gap.

 

The Victor II sub K-488 was dropped on by an ASW aircraft late in the afternoon, but it was able to evade. Two hours later, the cruise missile submarine it had been assigned to escort, the Oscar class Minsky Komsomolets, was also attacked. Numerous torpedoes were dropped on the Oscar, but they were sufficiently far away that he was able to outrun those that managed to track and chase him. During the melee, the K-488 was re-attacked but again escaped. The Minsky Komsomolets eventually received a single hit amidships that inflicted only moderate damage, but uncontrolled flooding and then a second hit aggravated the huge sub's troubles. By the time he sustained a third hit, the situation had become grave. Later that evening, while the crew struggled with the damage and as the Minsky Komsomolets attempted to limp away, he took a fifth hit and that was enough to finish her. The K-488 recorded the collapsing noises as the Oscar's wreckage spiralled down to the ocean floor.

 

About 200 nm southwest in the middle of the eastern Gap, the Victor I class attack sub B-369 was also hit by a torpedo and lost.

 

Half an hour later, the cruise missile sub that the B-369 had been escorting, the Echo II class SSGN Krasnovardeets also came under attack. She returned fire with a torpedo, and sank the Leander/3A frigate Scylla, which had probably been responsible for sinking the B-369 earlier. The Krasnovardeets took a hit that caused moderate damage. He evaded another torpedo but then took a second hit, which inflicted very serious damage, including breaking some of the steering gear. She was crippled now, and another torpedo was detected. The crew worked frantically to repair the damage. The crew of the Krasnovardeets managed to repair his damaged steering mechanism but then they came under attack again. Fortunately the new torpedo appeared to be tracking north and not homing. This torpedo soon ran out of fuel, but another fresh torpedo was dropped very close. Miraculously, the Krasnovardeets evaded this one as well.

 

Meanwhile, in the western Gap, the Victor I class attack sub 50 Let SSSR had been dropped on, but the torpedo was far away. Her cohort, the Echo II cruise missile sub K-134, immediately moved to the north to avoid approaching the enemy torpedo as it searched in relentless, robotic circles. The 50 Let SSSR was attacked again about an hour later. She took a hit that inflicted severe damage. A second hit finished her.

 

It was about 4 o'clock in the morning when the Akula attack sub Kashalot detected a distant surface contact just north of where the Echo II sub Krasnovardeets had been attacked earlier. Murmansk passed this information to Krasnovardeets and she surfaced to prepare to fire her missiles. In the darkness it took longer than the usual 15 minutes to prepare, but the seas were calm and she soon fired all four of her SS-N-3 Shaddock missiles at the contact, now some 110 nm away. Unfortunately, the time to impact came and went, and the Kashalot later reported that she had heard no explosion. Kashalot reacquired the contact again shortly before dawn, and she slowed to analyze the track. It was evidently a warship, running at sprint and drift in an obvious ASW prosecution method. Kashalot fired a single Type 65 torpedo from long range. The contact was eventually identified as a Type 22/2 frigate, and by now there was a second contact. The torpedo missed. Kashalot now elected to attack the second contact, and fired a second Type 65. Running at 50 knots, the mammoth torpedo ran down and destroyed the Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll. Soon afterward a carrier and another ship was detected about 27 nm to the southeast, too far for a torpedo. Kashalot passed the info to Murmansk, but there were no other cruise missile submarines or bombers available or within range.

 

Early that morning, about 75 nm west of the Icelandic coast, the Victor I sub K-306 and its cohort, the Charlie I cruise missile sub K-121, detected a pair of torpedoes from long range. A NATO submarine was immediately suspected. Its skipper had probably tried to run his torpedoes in at slow speed and long range, hoping to surprise the Soviets. It became apparent that one torpedo each had been assigned to the K-306 and K-121, but they were still far away. The K-306 slowed to steerage speed in an attempt to assess the risk and try and detect the NATO sub. The Charlie moved off to the north to await the results of the engagement. Then the incoming torpedo then kicked up to 35 knots. Tigerfish ! The K-306 went to flank speed and moved north. The Tigerfish ran out of fuel shortly thereafter and the K-306 was able to return to the cat and mouse game. A second torpedo was soon detected. Again K-306 was forced to run away.

 

The Tigerfish that had been chasing K-121 had long since run out of fuel, but a lightweight torpedo was soon detected right on top of the Charlie I. A trap ! The NATO sub skipper had fired his torpedoes from long range simply to flush the Soviets and allow attack by an orbiting aircraft. The K-121 succumbed to this new assault, but even so managed to surface and put off survivors. The skipper reported sighting a P-3 overhead, and released a communications buoy before the boat slipped back beneath the waves.

 

Meanwhile, the K-306 had also been dropped on and was now running for its life. He evaded the lightweight torpedoes, but as it slowed to listen, it detected a Mk 24 Tigerfish still distant but running. Contact with this torpedo was soon lost. Minutes later, however, another torpedo appeared about 2 nm distant. Again the K-306 went to flank and ran away. She slowed again in a while to listen, but was almost immediately hit, probably by an air dropped lightweight torpedo, and was lost.

 

Before noon, about 108 nm to the west, the Foxtrot diesel B-833 had a Mk 46 NEARTIP dropped on her. It was close, and he could not evade it, and was lost.

 

Later in the afternoon, about 300 nm west of Keflavik, the Foxtrot diesel B-135 was also dropped on. She was hit by one and possibly two torpedoes, and was lost. The Foxtrot diesel B-139, which was 30 nm to the northwest, reported later having heard two distinct explosions.

 

The Soviets had lost 7 submarines, and one Echo II class SSGN was heavily damaged and out of missiles, and would probably have to head for Cuba.

 

But the first wave of the surge was through the Gap before midnight that night. More than twenty Soviet submarines had now broken into the open Atlantic.

Scenario 4: NACV 4.0 – Infiltration

 

Background

 

NATO's southern Atlantic sea lane enters the Mediterranean to provide reinforcements to southern NATO countries. Although this sea lane takes longer to transit than the direct route across the Atlantic, NATO considered it to be less prone to attack due to its greater distance from Soviet air and submarine bases. Soviet submarines are now concentrating on attacking the NATO forces to the north of the convoy route, while the submarines that have infiltrated the sea lane would attack merchants.

 

What Happened

 

About 30 nm east of the Azores, the Victor III attack sub Daniil Moskovskiy encountered a NATO task group and engaged. It sank the Descubierta frigate Infanta Elena, but was then quickly pounced upon and struck by at least three lightweight torpedoes that destroyed her.

 

Meanwhile, 240 nm south of Sable Island, the Sierra attack sub Krab encountered and successfully attacked and sank the Perry missile frigate Simpson. During the engagement, he escaped several torpedoes that had been launched against him. Later, northeast of Bermuda, the Krab encountered a merchant group of three vessels. He sank them all - the merchants Pearl Delta and Queen Sea, and the container ship Sea-Land Commerce.

 

Northeast of the Azores, the Charlie II cruise missile sub K-308 came under torpedo attack. He was struck by a single lightweight torpedo and severely damaged. The crew had a great deal of difficulty dealing with flooding and damage to her propulsion systems, but managed to escape several more torpedoes and eventually ran north, heading home.

 

The Victor II sub K-495 was not so lucky, taking a single torpedo hit and was destroyed 70 nm to the south of the K-308.

Scenario 5: NACV 5.0 – Ambush: Soviet attack on a NATO carrier group

 

Background

 

NATO intended to reinforce Iceland's defenses by stationing a carrier battle group in the area. Once the carrier arrived, the combination of forces at Iceland would be almost impossible to penetrate. The Soviets of course wanted to prevent this and felt that they must sink the carrier before it reached Iceland. A combination of submarines and land based aircraft were assigned to to attack the primary target: an American aircraft carrier.

 

What Happened

 

Two Soviet spy trawlers which had moved up from the Caribbean into more lucrative but dangerous positions along the US East Coast were eventually spotted and sunk. To Moscow's chagrin, they were unable to give any significant information regarding the US Navy movements before their loss.

 

The Akula attack sub Pantera eventually found the US CVBG about 140 nm southwest of Halifax. Eager to score a major kill, her skipper launched a single Type 65 heavyweight torpedo at what he believed to be the carrier contact, from long range. This torpedo, however, found and sank the Belknap cruiser USS Wainwright. Later, as he continued to stalk the carrier battle group, the Pantera launched three more 650mm wake homing torpedoes at the carrier. At least one of these struck its target, and damaged it. An couple of hours later, with the limping carrier now only a few miles away, the Pantera launched two more 533mm torpedoes. Both struck home, causing the Nimitz class nuclear carrier USS Eisenhower to list heavily and eventually sink. The Pantera crept away in the confusion and on the way out, sank the Improved Spruance destroyer USS Deyo.

 

Unfortunately for the US Navy, between the decapitated carrier battle group and Sable Island lay two more Soviet hunter killers, the Victor III type 50 Let Komsomolsk-na-Amur and the Victor II sub K-387. The 50 Let detected a submarine contact far to the northwest, ahead of the American formation. This contact soon materialized at 10 nm distance as an American SSN moving at flank speed, probably a Los Angeles. The 50 Let came to shallow depth and launched an SS-N-16 standoff ASW missile. It was a gutsy move this close to the enemy battle group, but the skipper wanted an American sub badly. It worked. The SS-N-16 dropped a lightweight torpedo right on top of the target, and it had nowhere to run. The torpedo hit and it was over. (The SSN turned out to have been the Improved Los Angeles submarine USS San Juan).

 

The next sonar contact was a surface ship only a dozen miles away. When this contact firmed up, 50 Let engaged again, this time with a Type 65 torpedo. The monster wake homer missed, however, and so the Soviet skipper followed up with a 533mm torpedo. This one struck and sank the Knox frigate USS McCandless.

 

It was a huge victory for the Soviet Navy, and it was enough. The remaining American ships returned to port. For them, the reinforcement of Iceland would have to wait for another day.

Scenario 6: NACV 6.0 – Brawl

 

Background

 

An escorted convoy was slowly moving from Norfolk to Portsmouth. For NATO, the importance of getting these supplies, men and material to Europe could not be overstated. For the Soviets, it was just as important to prevent it. Air attacks against the convoy's escorts would facilitate submarine attacks against the more valuable merchant ships.

 

What Happened

 

Just before dawn, west of Ireland, the Victor III attack sub K-502 detected a surface target just 4 nm to the north. The Soviet skipper fired a single 533mm torpedo at the target, and scored a hit. It was the end of the war for the Type 22/3 frigate HMS Campbeltown. Not long afterward, another target was detected some 40 nm to the west, and so the K-502, ever on the hunt, headed in that direction.

 

Three hours later the contact was now only 7 nm away and had been joined by another contact … a carrier. Another hour drifted by, and the two targets had been identified as the Invincible VSTOL carrier HMS Illustrious and the auxiliary Fort Austin, with a third unknown surface contact further to the north. The formation was passing broadside to K-502.

 

The Soviet skipper elected to shoot one torpedo at each of the Illustrious and Fort Austin. A hit was scored on the Fort Austin and she blew up immediately. The other torpedo was also a hit, badly damaging the Illustrious, but she was still making speed. A second 533mm torpedo was dispatched to finish her, but it missed.

 

A short while later, K-502 launched another torpedo at the limping carrier and another at the northerly target. A hit was achieved on the Illustrious, and through his periscope, the skipper of the K-502 could see that she was settling into the water, clearly sinking. However, the torpedo that had been fired at the northerly target, now believed to be an escort, had missed. By now, this escort was conducting a hunt of its own. K-502's skipper swung round the periscope only to see the Type 42/3 destroyer HMS Edinburgh bearing down at high speed. Torpedo in the water ! K-502 launched a final torpedo of her own, and dove at flank speed, angling south. The last Soviet torpedo – a down the throat shot – was a hit and the Edinburgh was broken in half.

 

Meanwhile, some 170 nm south of Halifax, the Kilo diesel sub Komsomolets Tadjkistana reported coming under torpedo attack, probably from an American Orion. At least four air dropped torpedoes followed, but the Tadjkistana evaded them all. The US Navy sub hunter was relentless, however, and the fifth and final torpedo homed true. The Soviet sub was lost.

 

To the north, only about 40 nm south of Nova Scotia, the Kilo diesel B-404 also came under torpedo attack. It evaded two air dropped torpedoes and it appeared for a while that the assailant had been evaded. But two hours later, B-404 was attacked again, around noon. Again a myriad of lightweight torpedoes were evaded. Once again, some sense of calm, however fleeting, returned to the crew. Later that night, however, just before midnight, B-404 came under attack again. She evaded two more torpedoes, but not the third. Two Mk 46 torpedoes struck in rapid succession and the B-404 was sunk.

 

At dawn the next morning, some 400 nm west of Ireland, B-7, one of two elderly Foxtrot diesels hunting together, came under attack. He was bracketed by multiple torpedoes, and unable to run, was hit and sunk. Then the other, B-855, also came under attack and it too was lost.

 

Early in the afternoon of the same day, the Foxtrot diesel Valdimirsky Komsomolets was attacked and sunk northwest of Ireland, ending a bad day for Soviet submariners.

 

It wasn’t until dawn of the following day that a new NATO target was found, by the Sierra nuclear attack sub Krab about 450 nm east of Newfoundland. Her skipper picked up at least 10 contacts, likely a convoy if not the objective convoy. Krab engaged a while later, but immediately came under torpedo attack. The Krab was lost in the melee, but not before destroying the Perry missile frigate USS Stark. Details remain sketchy, but some reports indicate that the Krab may have used a nuclear torpedo. Both sides continue to deny the allegation to this day.

 

A group of six Tu-22M Backfires were dispatched from the Kola and were heading to the last known position of this convoy when they were intercepted by RAF Tornado F.3s about 300 nm west of Ireland. They evaded several Sky Flash and AIM-9L missile shots and scrubbed the mission, heading home.

 

Around noon, about 560 nm west of Iceland, the Kilo diesel B-354 detected a surface contact. The target, eventually identified as a Type 23 frigate, passed within 11 nm before contact was lost an hour later. Late that night, B-354 picked up the target's signature again, closer now at only 6 nm. But again contact was lost shortly thereafter. When contact was finally regained, the target was 13 nm away and moving south at high speed. The opportunity had been lost.

 

Just after midnight, about 300 nm southwest of St Mawgan, the Charlie II cruise missile sub Berkut detected a contact. Her skipper ordered the sub to come to shallow depth and launch four SS-N-9 Siren missiles, but no explosion was detected. The contact, now positively identified as a warship, probably a Royal Navy frigate, was now headed northwest toward the Berkut and her escort, the Victor III attack sub K-414. It was no doubt investigating along the bearing where the missiles had originated. To deal with the threat, K-414 loosed a Type 53 torpedo from long range and settled down to wait. The reward was a distant explosion a little while later. K-414 had sunk the Type 22/3 frigate HMS Cumberland.

 

During the night, in the mid Atlantic, the Foxtrot diesel B-397 came under torpedo attack, and in reply fired its own torpedo down the attack bearing. The assailant turned out to be the Perry missile frigate USS John L. Hall. The Soviet 533mm torpedo struck home, sending the Perry to the bottom.

 

It was, however, the last time the Soviets would gain contact with the enemy convoy. The Backfires could not sneak through the Iceland-UK Gap as long as American and British fighters patrolled the skies. Two days later, the NATO convoy safely arrived in Europe.

Scenario 6: GIUK 6.0 – Fortress Keflavik

 

Background

 

Iceland was a vital base for NATO anti-submarine and air defense operations. Soviet bombers trying to fly south had to pass near Iceland or more heavily defended Britain, and moreover, Soviet submarines operating in the Norwegian sea or trying to reach the Atlantic could be attacked by patrol planes based at Keflavik. It was critical to the Soviets to stop these operations, and they hoped to do this either by using bomber raids to reduce the effectiveness of these forces or attempting to take control of the island. Since Iceland had no armed forces of its own, and strictly limited the armed forces of the NATO partners that occupied the airfield at Keflavik, an assault by Soviet forces was probable. Using the forces assigned the USSR would reduce the NATO defenses on Iceland, and then launch an amphibious invasion of the island. The NATO air defenses were thick, expected to consist of up to seven squadrons of fighters, plus SAMs and radar stations. E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft were stationed at Keflavik and would patrol in the vicinity.

 

What Happened

 

In the mid afternoon, a flight of 12 Tu-22M Backfires took off from the airfield at Kirovsk. At the same time, six Tu-95 Bear G departed from the airbase at Monchenegorsk. Later, at a predetermined time, six Tu-16 Badgers took off from the Soviet occupied airbase at Bodo in Norway. All three bomber flights were headed for Iceland.

 

US Air Force F-15s patrolling the outer periphery of Iceland's airspace forced the Bears and Backfires to alter course and swing wide to the west. The slow moving Bears were eventually discovered and all of them shot down in screaming panic somewhere west of Scoresbysund, Greenland, but the Backfires pushed on. About 150 nm south of Scoresbysund, they released their load of 36 AS-6 Kingfish missiles. Three Backfires were caught and killed on egress, but they had accomplished their mission. 15 missiles struck the Keflavik airbase, knocking it out of service. The six Badgers weren't needed, they turned for home, sparing their missiles for another day.

 

The Minsk VSTOL carrier group was operating some 525 nm north of Keflavik, only 60 nm southeast of Jan Mayen, and as it approached NATO controlled battlespace, the group commander called for air support. Four Su-27 Flankers departed from Bodo to give CAP to Minsk. By now, the American F-15s were probing the area, and it was only a matter of time before the Minsk was discovered.

 

As the Su-27 flight orbiting over Minsk was already getting low on fuel, and some F-15s were known to be in the area, the flight lead elected to try and lure the Eagles into the missile envelope of the naval formation. The tactic worked, and as the Eagle drivers chased the Flankers, the Slava missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov lit up its radars and engaged. All four F-15s were knocked down by SA-N-6 Grumble air defense missiles.

 

Revealing his presence first was a risky move for the Soviet commander, and now it was NATO's turn to show why. With the protection of the Su-27 Flanker combat air patrol gone, at least for the time being, 8 missiles were detected approaching the Minsk group. An orbiting pair of Yak-38 Forgers closed and identified them as Tomahawks, splashing four of the cruise missiles with their Aphid heat seeking missiles. The Udaloy destroyer Admiral Tributs knocked down several others with SA-N-9, and the rest fell into the water, apparently out of fuel.

 

The Minsk SAG now went fully active, the threat from Keflavik having been eliminated and their presence now known to NATO. 16 more missiles were detected incoming, again determined to be Tomahawks. Forgers managed to splash six, Minsk and her SA-N-3B Goblet killed another, and the rest were knocked down by Ustinov. A lone P-3C Orion, likely an orphan of Keflavik, was spotted west of the Minsk SAG. It brazenly approached and launched four Harpoons. Both the Orion and her Harpoons, however, soon fell victim to Grumble.

 

A group of British RAF Nimrod MR.2 maritime patrol aircraft were detected approaching the Minsk group from the south, and soon afterward, 12 Harpoons. Forgers splashed three of the missiles and the Nimrods, and the remaining Harpoons were also shot down by surface ship air defenses. But now the Ustinov's magazines were empty of the venerable SA-N-6. More Orions had arrived to exploit this opportunity and launch yet more Harpoons, and four of these struck the Udaloy destroyer Admiral Tributs. She blew up immediately.

 

More missiles, likely Tomahawks, were detected to the southwest. It wasn't over yet. The SA-N-3B Goblets from Minsk and SA-N-4 Gecko local area air defence SAMs soaked up the 12 incoming Tomahawks, with help from the Forgers. Four more Harpoons were shot down by the Sovremenny destroyer Osmotritelny. Finally, Bodo's Flankers returned to the area, and the marauding Orions were intercepted by the long legged Soviet fighters on their return to Stornoway.

 

The Minsk CVBG soon picked up a SH-2 Seasprite helicopter about 160 nm to the southwest. Likely from a NATO surface action group, and no doubt the source of the Tomahawks. 12 Tu-16 Badgers were directed to scramble from Bodo immediately.

 

Far to the south, at the entrance to the eastern Gap, the Victor II sub K-495 came under torpedo attack, apparently from a Tigerfish fired by a Royal Navy SSN. Sonar showed only faint whispers of the NATO nuke boat. K-495 evaded the torpedo but the enemy sub was still out there, somewhere.

 

Finally, a Spruance destroyer was detected 130 nm to the southwest of the Minsk CVBG. Then a Coontz destroyer and a Perry frigate appeared on ESM. 8 Harpoons were launched from the NATO SAG, but the Forgers were able to splash them all.

 

When the Badgers finally arrived on scene, they launched 8 AS-6 Kingfish missiles at the Perry and Spruance pickets (four for each) and retired to observe what happened next. Two missiles hit and destroyed the Spruance destroyer USS Thorn, but the rest were shot down. The remaining 16 missiles were then launched along what appeared to be the bearing of the Perry and Coontz. Three of these missiles got through and struck the Perry frigate USS Robert G. Bradley, obliterating her. The Badgers now had a good idea of the composition of the enemy group, as ESM picked up Belknap and Leahy missile cruisers, a Virginia nuclear powered missile cruiser, an Iowa battleship, a Knox frigate and a Wichita replenishment vessel. This explained why so few Kingfish had managed to penetrate the NATO SAG defences. The Badgers forward deployed at Bodo were now low on missiles, so 10 Tu-95 Bear G and four Backfires were launched out of the Kola to deal with the new threat.

 

8 more Harpoons arrived from the NATO SAG. Forgers splashed five of them but the Soviet VSTOL jets were now in danger of themselves coming within the enemy SAM envelope. One Harpoon got through and struck Ustinov, causing minor damage. Not long after, 20 or more new Harpoons were detected. The Soviet commander braced for the worst. But miraculously, almost all of these Harpoons fell short of their target, apparently having been launched on bad BOL data.

 

The Bears finally arrived hours later, and launched 20 AS-4 Kitchens from a position just north of Jan Mayen, focusing their efforts on the large guided missile cruisers and the battleship. The four Backfires, which had taken a flight path further to the south and were much closer to the Minsk group, waited until the Kitchen missiles had streamed overhead before launching their own 12 AS-6 Kingfish missiles. The hope was that the US Navy SAG would commit to engagement of the slower moving Kitchens before the Kingfish missiles arrived, thereby buying the AS-6 missiles precious seconds in penetrating the AAW screen. It worked.

 

SM-2ER Standards began to rise from the enemy SAG just as the AS-4s entered their envelope. The US Navy cruisers continued to pump out SM-2ER missiles against the Kitchens until the Kingfish flight passed the slower missiles about 30 nm out. One AS-6 penetrated the screen, struck and exploded the Coontz destroyer USS Dewey. Two AS-4s struck and sank the Belknap cruiser USS Josephus Daniels, while another slammed against the thick hide of the battleship USS Iowa, causing only moderate damage.

 

At dawn the next morning the US Navy group was continuing to shadow the Minsk group, following from about 80-90 nm away. It was decided that the less capable Bear G's would be sufficient to deal with the continuing threat, and 10 of these bombers took off from Monchenegorsk.

 

The Bears arrived later that morning without incident and fired a total of 20 AS-4 missiles. The Soviet SAG now joined the fray, firing four SS-N-12 Sandbox surface to surface missiles from each of the Minsk and Ustinov. It now appeared that the bulk of the American anti-air warfare defence was being performed by a Leahy cruiser. Two SS-N-12s and two AS-4s all dived on the Virginia nuclear cruiser USS Mississippi and exploded her.

 

Five more AS-4 missiles struck the Iowa, and this brutal hammering was enough to finish her. Although still afloat, the Iowa was on fire from bow to stern, and her surviving crew abandoned ship. The hulk continued to drift for hours afterward before finally rolling over and sinking.

 

With the anti-air threat now significantly reduced, and with the Leahy's magazines believed to be empty, three Yak-38 Forgers took off from Minsk to assess the enemy group and if necessary, finish her. Three of their four AS-10 Karen TV guided missiles struck the Wichita AOR Savannah, causing serious damage and starting a fire aboard. Two more AS-10s struck the Leahy cruiser USS Dale, again inflicting serious damage. The remaining four AS-10 missiles were launched at the Knox frigate USS Aylwin, but here none of them struck home and one of the Yak-38s was downed by a RIM-7H Sea Sparrow for its efforts.

 

The US Navy SAG began to move off to the southeast, skirting the northeast coast of Iceland, obviously withdrawing from the battle zone and retiring to the UK for repairs. The Minsk SAG and her phibs continued to Keflavik and Reykjavik without further incident.

Scenario 7: GIUK 7.0 – Doolitov's Raid

 

Background

 

NATO committed massive amounts of air power to the land campaigns in Norway and on the Central Front in Europe. As a result the Soviets were finding it tough going in these theaters. If they could successfully strike behind the lines, in much the same way the US did to Japan during World War II, and inflict serious damage on the cities and NATO bases on the British Isles, NATO might be forced to withdraw air assets from the front lines to better defend the British home turf. A large Soviet force was given orders to strike bases in the British Isles. The force consisted of a large SAG and a number of submarines carrying conventional warhead missiles, as well as a force of long range bombers and various other air assets.

 

What Happened

 

While the Soviets had a stranglehold on northern Norway, its seizure of the airfield at Orland in the south was not yet secure. A NATO counter-attack was expected at any time.

 

With the Minsk group having delivered its load to Iceland, and now withdrawn for repair and resupply, the Baku group was pushed south to support the strikes against the UK. The Baku group was now cruising about 250 nm north of Vagar, and moving south, launching Forgers to probe the area ahead. But soon the Yak-38s had to turn back, with Royal Navy Sea Harriers in hot pursuit. Two of the Yaks were lost to the Sea Harriers, but managed to bring down one of the British jets. The surviving Sea Harrier chased the remaining Forgers right into the midst of the Baku group, and was shot down by gunfire from the Soviet ships. An RAF Buccaneer S.2B that also been following behind – no doubt conducting reconnaissance - was also claimed by gunfire. Two more Buccaneers that strayed into the missile envelope were shot down by SA-N-7 Gadfly shots from the Sovremenny class destroyers Sovremenny and Okrylenny.

 

A similar story was repeated to the east, with MiG-23 Floggers flying out of Orland probing the North Sea zone between the UK and Norway. They encountered RAF Lightning F.6s but the British planes turned back rather than engage. Two other F.6s were also encountered, and these were shot down by AA-7A Apex missile shots.

 

Seven Tu-22M Backfires had been launched from Kola to strike at the three front line British bases at Vagar and Saxa Vord, and the Norwegian port of Bergen. They arrived at their initial points without incident. Six AS-6 missiles were launched against Bergen. Five of them struck in and around the port facilities and put it out of action. Six AS-6s had been launched against Saxa Vord and nine against Vagar. Three of the AS-6 missiles struck the airfield at Saxa Vord, causing heavy damage. Six more hit Vagar and put it out of action.

 

Four RAF Phantom FGR.2 fighters attempted to penetrate and destroy the group's Hormone B helicopter but are shot down by four SA-N-6 Grumble from the Kirov battlecruiser Kalinin. Soon thereafter, another British Phantom and six US Navy F/A-18 Hornets approached, launching 24 Harpoons. The RAF Phantom, leading the pack, was shot down by SA-N-6. Forgers were scrambled to try and deal with the Hornets and Harpoons. All of the latter attackers were shot down, but at heavy expenditure of precious SAMs. The three Yak-38 Forgers then encountered two F.6, and an exchange of fire ensued. Three Yaks were lost to the elderly but effective Red Top heat seeking missile, and both F.6 were downed by AA-8 Aphid.

 

Two Royal Navy naval groups were soon suspected to be lurking on both the western and eastern sides of Vagar.

 

RAF assets continued to probe the Baku group. Three Harrier II GR.5 jets and a Tornado F.3 were shot down by SA-N-9 missiles from the Udaloy destroyer Marshal Vasilevsky. The Kalinin also opened fire on several Tornado F.3 fighters approaching the formation, shooting down three, but the orbiting Ka-25 Hormone B helicopter was hit by Sky Flash and destroyed. Not long afterward Marshal Vasilevsky shot down four Hawk T.1A jets that had been following behind the Tornados. The British were quite obviously reaching deep into their reserves to defend the homeland.

 

Six Floggers, enroute to strike Saxa Vord, shot down a Harrier II GR.5 and a pair of Lightnings. Seven of their AS-7 command guided missiles went on to hit the airfield, and following this attack, it was very badly damaged. While returning to base, the Floggers were jumped by a lone Tornado F.3, but the RAF pilot had bitten off more than he could chew, and was shot down by the Soviets.

 

9 Tornados were now orbiting near the Baku group, and soon, three of them moved off to the east. These three F.3s were later detected near Orland, but fortunately for the Soviets, they had moved an SA-10 Grumble battery to protect the seized facilities there. The SA-10 crew shot down all three Tornados just north of the airfield. Late that evening the remaining four Tornado F.3s departed from their patrol positions near the Baku group and returned to base.

 

The next day the RAF fighters returned to keep an eye on the Baku group. Kalinin engaged and shot down three Tornado F.3s that had strayed into the missile envelope, while Marshal Vasilevsky shot down three Phantom FGR.2 jets that were attempting to penetrate the formation.

 

Soviet long range bombers were now ready to conduct another strike. Seven Backfires launched to attack the large RAF airbase at Kinloss. This attack would be timed with several other strike operations. A new flight of Floggers were launched from Orland to finish off Saxa Vord. At Keflavik, which was just now beginning to being operations of forward deployed Soviet aircraft, Fencers launched to carry out a SEAD strike against Stornoway. All of these attacks were timed to occur just after dawn.

 

During their ingress, the Floggers spotted a helicopter about 75 nm east of Saxa Vord, and another about 25 nm north, but there were no interceptors detected. The Floggers began their attack runs without meeting any fighter resistance at all, and a handful of AS-7 Kerry missile hits finished Saxa Vord. During their egress, the Floggers killed a Sea King HAS.5, probably one of the two helicopters spotted earlier.

 

The Backfires launched their 21 AS-6 Kingfish missiles safely, about 90 nm east of Saxa Vord, and just west of a major storm system that was now lashing the North Sea coast of Norway. Six missiles got through to strike Kinloss, causing havoc among the flight line (destroying at least half a dozen parked Tornado F.3s and other aircraft) and putting the airfield out of action.

 

To the west, the Fencers also got through, and 7 AS-12 Kegler anti-radar missiles and put down the Stornorway radar for good.

 

The precarious position of the British was now clear, and the Soviets were hoping to exploit the situation as quickly as possible, but there were "friends" in the neighbourhood who intended to intervene.

 

A single RAF Tornado F.3 had resumed a high orbit near the Baku group, and while this did not appear to be especially unusual at the time, shortly thereafter 20 enemy missiles were spotting coming in on the deck from the south. Five of these missiles, and the Tornado, were dropped by SA-N-6, but then the remaining 15 missiles disappeared from radar. For a few moments, the radar operators frantically searched their screens. The enemy missiles, now believed to be Tomahawks, re-appeared to the west. Three Yak-38 Forgers joined the fray and knocked down several of the Tomahawk cruise missiles with AA-8 Aphid shots. The rest of the missiles were brought down by a mixture of SA-N-6 and SA-N-7. Three had Tornados attempted to move in and collect the Forgers, but they were also intercepted by SA-N-6. The Tomahawk attack was a strong indication of the presence of a US Navy force somewhere southwest of Vagar.

 

The Udaloy destroyer Marshal Vasilevsky came under torpedo attack as the group came within about 115 nm of Vagar. She immediately fired her own torpedo down the bearing, and turned north to launch a helicopter. The hostile torpedo was soon classified as a Mk 24 Tigerfish. Sonobuoys dropped from the Ka-27 Helix soon located a Royal Navy Swiftsure class attack boat some 17 nm south of the Baku group. The Helix hammered the NATO SSN with active sonar, and then dropped a E45-75A lightweight torpedo. It missed, and the Helix dropped another. The second did not miss. Crushing noises from implosion were confirmed. (The SSN was later reported to have been HMS Sovereign).

 

Not long afterward a second torpedo was detected, this time to the west. Again a helo was dispatched to investigate. This torpedo was soon classified as an American Mk 48 ADCAP. A second helo was launched to join the hunt, but contact with the hostile torpedoes was lost, and with no contact on an American sub materializing.

 

A pair of ships, believed to be Royal Navy auxiliaries, were spotted near Vagar. A pair of Forgers, armed with TV guided AS-10 Karen missiles, were launched to investigate these contacts. Two AS-10s each struck the oiler Appleleaf and the merchant New Sea Pioneer, causing moderate damage to both ships. They were being escorted by a Type 22 frigate, which the Yaks purposely avoided. On their way back to Baku, the Soviet pilots spotted a Lynx HAS.3 that appeared to be trying to sneak in close to the formation. They had no fuel to pursue this new target but instead passed the information to Marshal Vasilevsky, whose radars and SA-N-9 went into action and soon knocked down the enemy helicopter.

 

A new torpedo contact was detected to the north of the Baku group, but it was quite distant. A Ka-25 Hormone helicopter sent in that direction to investigate found nothing and returned without success. No sooner had it returned to ship, then another torpedo was detected to the north. This time a Ka-27 Helix was sent back again to look for the NATO submarine. To assist, the Akula attack sub Pantera, which had been escorting the Oscar SSGN Arkhangelsk back to the Kola peninsula and was now only 50 nm west of the area, was diverted from its mission to look for the NATO sub. It never did locate the enemy submarine and returned to its previous task.

 

A new pair of Forgers swooped in on the auxiliaries they had damaged earlier, pounding them with 57mm rockets. The New Sea Pioneer, already afire, blew up and sank. The Appleleaf took more hits and was extensively damaged, but still afloat and mobile.

 

Forgers soon returned to their old punching toy, the Appleleaf, this time loaded with 500 kg iron bombs. The pair swooped in low and released eight bombs, but embarrassingly, none hit. The Baku commander was furious. He immediately ordered both targets, the Appleleaf and the Type 22/1 frigate HMS Brazen, attacked with SS-N-22 missiles. One missile was fired from each of the Sovremenny and Okrylenny. Amazingly, the Appleleaf survived once more, its assigned missile passing harmlessly aft, much to the amazement and relief of her weary crew, but the HMS Brazen was hit and blown up by a Sunburn. The crew of the Appleleaf surrendered shortly thereafter, taken prisoner aboard Baku and their ship scuttled.

 

Murmansk was satisfied for the time being that sufficient damage had been inflicted on the British Isles, and ordered the Baku group to withdraw northward.

Scenario 1: MEDC 1.0 - Coastal Action

 

Background

 

In the Mediterranean, the Warsaw Pact was concerned about NATO forces attempting to use their smaller forces to penetrate their coastal boundaries, especially around partner Syria.

 

What Happened

 

War in the Med started slowly. Soviet surface forces operating in the Eastern Med comprised two surface action groups, primarily made up of various corvettes and fast attack craft, for a total of 18 ships. It was decided that it would be better to disperse these units to maximize "search and maneuver" operations, and the two SAGs were therefore split up into four smaller groups. Several hours later, an unknown naval group was spotted visually on the horizon, south of Cyprus. It was a Turkish Navy SAG, comprising a Yavuz frigate escorted by a pair of Dogan missile boats. Hell soon broke loose with missiles fired in each direction. The Harpoons arrived first.

 

The Soviet Nanuchka III missile craft Grad succumbed first, struck by a pair of Harpoons. His destruction was followed by the Petya II class corvette P205, which was destroyed by a single hit. Although the Mod Kashin class destroyer Smyshlenny fought valiantly, her point defence guns knocking down at least one Harpoon in spite of the complete, utter and unexplained failure of her SAM systems, he was struck and blew up after being hit by three Harpoons.

 

The Soviet group had already loosed all of its SSMs, a mixture of SS-N-9 Siren and SS-N-2 Styx monsters, but these failed miserably. Those that were did not dive into the sea after suffering some failure or another were swatted down by the Yavuz's Seasparrows. Their only success came in achieving a kill on the Dogan fast attack craft Marti, which was obliterated by two Styx hits.

 

Further to the north, and closer to the shores of Cyprus, a second Soviet group launched a salvo of missiles against the Turkish survivors. Three of the four Sirens directed against the Yavuz instead tracked on the Dogan missile boat Ruzgar; needless to say, she was destroyed.

 

These did not go unanswered, however, as a second group of Harpoons were soon detected incoming. The Mod Kashin class destroyer Ognevoy opened up with her SA-N-1 Goa SAM system, managing a couple of hits before being rapidly overwhelmed. Four hits finished the Ognevoy. The Nanuchka III missile craft Zyb fell next. The last of the Russian group to fall was the Osa II missile boat Brestskiy.

 

Further to the west, a third Soviet group sought revenge, launching another six Sirens in the direction of the Turks. Despite this last stab at the enemy, the local Soviet commander had to acknowledge defeat, and directed his forces to return to the relative safety of the Syrian coast. It wasn't known until later that three of these final Sirens had struck and destroyed the Yavuz frigate Turgut Reis.

Scenario 2: MEDC 2.0 – Breakout

 

Background:

 

The soft underbelly of Europe was too inviting a target to pass up. The USSR intended to distract NATO forces from the Central Front by sending air strikes against Turkey, Greece and Italy, while the Soviet Black Sea fleet hoped to break out into the Mediterranean Sea after these NATO defenses were smashed. Soviet forces would then have the opportunity to strike at NATO merchant shipping and coastal military targets as they freely roamed the Med. Of course, first they had to get the initial wave of Black Sea forces out of the Aegean and into the Mediterranean.

 

What Happened

 

Two large Soviet SAGs from the Black Sea Fleet were assigned the grim mission of attempting to break out of the Black Sea. Not unexpectedly, the first of these to approach the chokepoint at the Bosporous-Dardanelles was immediately pounced upon.

 

NATO had good intelligence, and just as it did near Cyprus, the Turkish Navy was again able to achieve surprise. Without warning, the Petya II corvette P207 was struck and mortally wounded by a Penguin Mk 2 missile. A full missile exchange ensued. SS-N-2 Styx missiles claimed the Kartal class fast attack craft Atmaca and Karsiga. With that, the Turkish group lost their nerve, turned tail and ran back to their coast. One of six Sirens fired against an unidentified Yavuz frigate struck home and claimed her.

 

Meanwhile, in the eastern Med, two Syrian groups were operating north and south of Cyprus when they came under missile attack from an unknown assailant. The northern group, comprised of Osa I and II missile boats escorting a Petya II, was obliterated by Harpoons. The focus of the attack on the southern group (which had a similar composition) came against the Petya II, which was also sunk. Contact was lost with this second group in the hours that followed, and presumably they suffered a similar fate.

 

In a bold move, a pair of Syrian MiG-25 Foxbat interceptors took off from the airfield at Minakh in an attempt to intercept a NATO E-3 Sentry AWACS which was then orbiting west of Incirlik, Turkey, under the protection of two pairs of American F-15 Eagles. The Foxbats used their tremendous speed to blow past the Eagles and evade a score of Nike-Hercules SAM launches to attack the AWACS, downing it easily. Their timing was impeccable, because a second AWACS was taking off from Incirlik and it too came under fatal attack. A pair of Eagles attempted to intercept the Foxbats on their egress and return to Minakh, and missiles were exchanged but without result. The damage had been done. So severe was this Syrian blow against NATO that the Turkish border was quickly shut down and a massive manhunt ensued in search for spies friendly to the Warsaw Pact.

 

Meanwhile, back in the Black Sea, the leading Soviet SAG came under air attack. A mixed force of Italian Tornado and Greek Starfighter aircraft launched Kormoran and Bullpup missiles against the Soviet ships. A Bullpup hit and destroyed the Tsiklon, a Nanuchka III missile craft. A Kormoran likewise hit and sank the Nanuchka III ship Raduga. The Starfighters lingered in the area after expending their missiles, orbiting just outside SAM range. The reason why soon became clear. Several more groups of aircraft were soon detected closing on the Soviet formation from the south. Mavericks launched from Turkish F-16s claimed more Soviet ships, including another Nanuchka III, a Petya II and a Mod Kashin destroyer. The Mod Kashin destroyer Slavny did manage to claim an F-16 that strayed too far inside the defensive AAW envelope.

 

Finally, four Su-27 Flankers arrived on scene. (Some Russian Navy officers who were willing to talk to Western media after the war did acknowledge that it was a major mistake not to provide more extensive air cover for these ships). The Flankers immediately confronted and ravaged the NATO strikers, shooting down numerous NATO strikers and claiming a 4-to-1 kill ratio, losing only one of their own, before being forced to retire for lack of fuel and weapons. Another pair of Flankers approaching from the east had similar success.

 

The destroyer Slavny and missile corvette Molniya continued to fight valiantly, claiming another Turkish Navy Kartal class missile craft, Pelikan, and several Greek Air Force Corsairs, but they no longer had air cover and succumbed soon thereafter.

 

NATO attempted to mimic Syrian success in killing the AWACS. Four Greek F-4E Phantoms attempted to penetrate north and snag an orbiting Soviet A-50 Mainstay, but these brave pilots were intercepted and destroyed by Su-27 Flankers, at a loss of two of the precious Soviet fighters. Closer to Sevastopol, a pair of Flankers running CAP were surprised and destroyed by a pair of Turkish Phantoms. Even further north, a trio of Greek Phantoms unknowingly overflew the second large Soviet SAG in the Black Sea darkness and were shot down by gunfire. Two others were dispatched by SA-N-7 Gadfly missiles from the Sovremenny class destroyer Bystry. The crew of the Soviet Mainstay escaped, shaken but unharmed. Several hours later, to the east, a pair of American Eagles attempted to snatch the Mainstay orbiting near Sevastopol, but were themselves bagged by Soviet Flankers before they could close to lethal distance.

 

Meanwhile, an emboldened Syria launched a second assault against Incirlik. Three groups of MiG-29s, 15 aircraft in all, took off from Minakh, while 12 Su-24 Fencers departed Damascus, all of them headed for Incirlik airfield. A pair of Foxbats flew down the Syrian coast and again using their extremely high speed, managed to down a pair of orbiting F-15 Eagles. The initial assault by the Fulcrums inflicted moderate damage on Incirlik with a barrage of iron bombs. However, the first group of Fencers was jumped by F-15s on their ingress, and four were lost before the survivors scrubbed the mission and returned to Damascus. A pair of F-15s pursued the Fulcrum strike force as it returned to Minakh, but one was felled by their MiG-25 escorts and the other fell victim to Syrian SA-6 Gainful batteries arrayed in defence of the airfield.

 

The Soviets seemed to learn their lesson after the loss of the first SAG, and now quartets of Su-27 Flankers were on CAP almost constantly. One group of four penetrated south of Istanbul and surprised six Italian Harriers, killing them all before turning homeward, whereupon they bushwhacked five Greek Mirages on their return.

 

A large group of Starfighters flew into the SAM envelope of the surviving Soviet SAG, apparently enroute to Sevastopol, and half of these were felled by SA-N-3 Goblet missiles from the Kara class cruiser Ochakov. This seemed to signal a second large NATO anti-ship strike. The remaining half dozen Starfighters were intercepted and destroyed by a trio of Fulcrums just south of Sevastopol. MiG-23 Floggers arrived on the scene, intercepting four Harpoons that were streaming in toward the Soviet SAG and then chasing down the P-3 Orion that had just launched them. Again NATO had attempted to penetrate the Soviet airspace and destroy the second SAG just as it had done to the first (albeit with heavy losses). This time, however, the Soviet Floggers and Flankers shot down several Italian Tornados and their Greek Phantom escorts.

 

The Soviets had thus far largely been unable to garner effective support from either of its Warsaw Pact partners Romania, Hungary or Bulgaria, but fortunately, the United States was having the same difficulty in gaining support from its ally Israel. The lack of Israeli involvement was probably what made it possible for the Soviets to convince the Syrians to attack Turkey. Soon the Syrians made a second attempt on Incirlik. Half a dozen Fencers took off from Damascus, armed with all the remaining AS-14 Kedge missiles in the Syrian arsenal. The follow-on strike on Incirlik was very successful, inflicting heavy damage on the airbase.

 

Despite this success, the Syrians continued to suffer at sea. A group of four Syrian Osa I and II missile boats patrolling near the Syrian coast, northeast of Cyprus, were surprised and pounced upon by a group of Italian Tornados. The NATO strikers killed three of the missile craft with Kormoran missiles before breaking off.

 

Soviet Su-27 Flankers probing the area around Istanbul and the entrance to the Bosporous-Dardanelles detected a force of 9 Greek Mirages, no doubt enroute to making another antiship strike against the Kara SAG, and these were jumped by the Flankers over the city of Istanbul. The Greeks were annihilated, their flaming wrecks falling into the city. More importantly, however, one of the Flanker pilots spotted what had to be a NATO naval group operating in the Sea of Marmara.

 

The NATO surface group discovered in the confined waters of the Bosporous-Dardanelles was soon found to comprise at least two Turkish Navy Yavuz frigates and two Dogan missile boats. The twelve Flogger J aircraft that had been pressed into the naval strike role rather than their usual ground attack function immediately loosed their warload of AS-14 Kedge and AS-12 Kegler anti-radar missiles. The Yavuz frigates Yildirim and Fatih were hit and destroyed, as well as one of the Dogan fast attack craft.

 

Earlier, a force of nine Tu-16 Badger bombers took off from Krasnodar, together with six Su-24 Fencers configured for SEAD. The Fencers' targets were the surviving long range air surveillance radars at Incirlik and Konya, deep inside Turkey. Four Su-27s continued to push south past Istanbul, clearing the way for what was to come next. While the Turkish navy was being devastated, 230 miles to the east the SEAD Fencers loosed their AS-12 Kegler ARMs near simultaneously. The Tu-16 Badgers that had been trailing the strike formation now rose to high altitude and launched no less than 18 AS-6 Kingfish missiles against their target – the airfield at Cigli. No sooner had they completed launch procedures than a half dozen F-16s were detected 50 nm to the west and closing. Seconds later, the radars at Konya and Incirlik went off the air. The Fencers had done their job. Cigli was now the only undamaged Turkish air force base, and it was about to receive some very nasty visitors. Although relatively inaccurate in this role, the AS-6 cruise missiles carried huge blast-fragmentation warheads that were bound to cause severe damage to exposed airfield. At least half of these are believed to have struck home; the airfield at Cigli was rendered inoperable and the Turks were unable to repair it for the duration of the conflict.

 

NATO was relentless in its objective, however, the destruction of the Black Sea Fleet. A trio of MiG-29 Fulcrums that were performing combat air patrol in defence of the Kara SAG now moved to intercept a group of approaching F-16s. All of F-16s were killed in exchange for a single Fulcrum. Six Greek A-7 Corsairs were discovered flying up the Romanian coast and were intercepted by MiG-23 Floggers out of Odessa. Another four were detected closing on the Kara SAG, but with the most recent Soviet air strikes now over, the local Flanker and Fulcrum gap was withdrawing, and the naval group was now exposed. Fortunately, the SAG was capable of defending itself against the threat, and all four Corsairs were downed by SA-N-3 Goblet SAMs launched from the Ochakov. Twelve more Tornados were detected streaming in, but again the Soviets had a flight of Flankers available nearby, and these ate the Tornados alive.

 

With NATO, and especially Turkey, now on its heels, the Soviets launched a further strike against Konya. This time with Su-24 Fencers flying from Odessa. Their Su-27 Flanker escorts encountered only minimal resistance on ingress, knocking down two Turkish Phantoms and an USAF F-15. A pair of unfortunate S-2E Trackers, departing Konya at the last moment, also fell victim. The Fencers obliterated the airfield at Konya with AS-14 Kedge missiles and 500 kg iron bombs.

 

At Incirlik, a similar fate was suffered. The Syrian Fencers returned, and met no resistance. The already badly damaged airbase was blanketed with cluster bombs, leaving what was not destroyed outright coated in deadly submunitions for the foreseeable future. With Turkish defences broken wide open, the Soviets now moved to exploit the pathway to the eastern Mediterranean and the soft underbelly of NATO and the shipping lanes.

 

A pair of Syrian MiG-25s on reconnaissance patrol spotted a NATO SAG west of Cyprus, and again the Badgers of Krasnodar were called into action. Two new NATO groups were subsequently discovered, for a total of two Greek and one Turkish SAG. With no Turkish air support remaining available and the nearest NATO airfield over 300 miles away at Crete, the NATO ships were terribly exposed. A few Greek Starfighters did arrive on scene eventually, but the appearance of these elderly fighters was really only a token effort. They could not hope to keep up with the Foxbats and were batted aside easily.

 

Skirting the northern coast of Cyprus, the Badger lead commanded a climb to high altitude. From the numerous blips on his radar screen, he selected what he believed to be the remaining Turkish missile craft and a few of the Greek capital ships for engagement. There was no Aegis here, and the Kingfish missiles tipped over and dived at break neck speed. Single missiles struck the Greek FRAM I class destroyers Kreizis, Kanaris and Sachtouris, and two hit the Kortanaer frigate Elli. It was more than enough. Another blasted the Dogan missile boat Volkan.

 

A few Soviet submarines had lurked the Mediterranean before war start, and these also saw action. The K-138, a Victor III class SSN encountered the remnants of the ravaged Greek SAG southwest of Cyprus later that day, and moved to intercept. The Cannon class light frigate Panthir was torpedoed and sunk, but two other Greek frigates that reported coming under attack by wake homing torpedoes managed to evade them. (The Tango class diesel sub B-319 later reported being attacked by a torpedo from an unknown source, west of Cyprus, but it evaded successfully. Its assailant was most likely the Greek group that later themselves fell victim to the combined action of the Badgers and the Victor III). Meanwhile, B-225, another Tango class diesel winding its way south through the Aegean, also reported being attacked by a torpedo. Its luck did not hold, however, and contact was lost; it is presumed the sub was sunk.

 

Having survived the waves of NATO anti-ship strikes, the surviving Soviet SAG now approached the Bosporous-Dardanelles. Unknown to the Soviets, the surviving missile boat Dogan, which had lurked among the panicked commercial shipping in harbor at Istanbul, now managed to surprise the Kara SAG as it approached the chokepoint. It launched four Harpoons at the Soviet group once they came within range. The orbiting Flankers shot down three of the missiles, and the fourth was downed by SA-N-4 Geckos from Ochakov. The Dogan was dispatched by 130mm gunfire. As the Kara SAG entered the chokepoint, the Greek Air Force continued to throw what it had left at the Soviets, but these assets largely comprised elderly Starfighters. Though valiant, they stood no chance against the Su-27s.

 

Some hours later, a new NATO naval group was discovered moving north through the Sea of Marmara. This soon turned out to be two NATO groups in close proximity, including what appeared to be large number of helicopters. With the inventory of Kingfish missiles in short supply, the Soviets launched a Fencer group from Odessa to engage. A trio of Italian Sparviero missile hydrofoils were spotted in the lead. Two of these were struck and destroyed by AS-14 Kedge missiles. The larger, southern group was quickly identified as an Italian task force centred around what was probably a Garibaldi helicopter carrier. The frantic warble of the RWR soon indicated Standard SAMs incoming ! The Fencers loosed their AS-12 Kegler anti-radar missiles and turned northward at high speed. The sky soon filled with the smoky tendrils of missile trails heading north and south. Maybe this was a target worthy of Kingfish after all. None of the Keglers were believed to have found targets, but they soaked up precious NATO SAMs and the Fencers did manage to sink the surviving Sparviero on their egress.

 

Just before a new Soviet strike formation of Fencers and Badgers arrived on scene, the Italians attacked the Kara SAG with surface-to-surface missiles. At least 10 Otomat missiles were detected incoming. These were knocked down by the Flankers overhead, but two SM-2ER Standards had been launched against the Kara cruiser Ochakov[, and both of these struck home, causing minor damage to her bridge and destroying her Palm Frond radar, and also causing a fire to break out. One of the Flankers was also shot down by Standards. Buoyed by their success in striking Ochakov with the Standards, the Italians launched a flurry of them against the Soviet SAG, following up with another salvo of Otomats. The Soviets responded in kind, loosing all of their Sunburns and Sirens against the Italian helicopter carrier and her escorts. None hit. Several more Standards hit Ochakov, which was by now suffering a fairly serious fire, but thankfully none of the Otomats struck home.

 

Finally the Badgers arrived. The Garibaldi and Animoso were both destroyed by Kingfish hits, and the Italians were forced to withdraw. Tending the fire aboard Ochakov, the Soviets elected not to pursue, but it was apparent now that they would successfully push through the chokepoint, at least into the Aegean. That much was now obvious to NATO as well, or at least to Turkey, which reluctantly entered into bilateral peace negotiations with the USSR some hours later.