As discussed in more detail here.

 

Use this thread for commentary, questions, etc regarding this new demo release.

 

This one was a looooonnng time coming.

 

A great deal of credit owed to the guys who volunteered their time and skills to contribute to the scenarios used in this demo.

Agreed, thanks again to the scenario authors. I didn't think AGSI, Matrix, and USNI would ever get it into play. Oh, and if functionality is wonky, blame me since we took the daring decision to use a beta build for the package.

So how does one get a Total Victory in Scenario #2 of the new demo? I toasted not one but two Libyan small craft, along with some Foxbats who tried to interfere, but all the game gave me was MinVic?

I don't remember now very well what were the orders in the ultimately published edition of the USNI scenarios, but:

- The original alternative and independent Total Victory Condition in the first sketch of the scenario was 12 Libyan ships sunk, and the alternative and independent MinVic condition 9 Libyan ships sunk. Later, for sake of scenario simplification for newbies, the number of libyan ships was reduced in the scenario probably only to the four Nanuchka class boats in the published scenario, and the Victory condition probably reduced to two Libyan ships sunk (number historically damaged/sunked), and only to Minimum Victory level because the limited number of ships sunked requiered to win, and reflecting the confrontation was not finished and extended to the next days/hours.

- Other alternative and independent victory condition was the Ticonderoga SAG three ships on station for 1 hour 50 minutes below 32-30 North. And the stablished level of victory was also Minimum Victory because the same reasons of reflecting the confrontation as limited and not finished.

 

Incidentally, the teleprinter orders are almost 90% historically accurate, and based on this document:

http://www.dod.gov/pubs/foi/reading_room/234.pdf

But I see it's not directly available now ....

The site were I finded it was:

http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/rdroom.html

 

The Libyan air defence SAM network was based on the link to the file on (the pdf document shows on the pictures the Libyan air defence network in Russian, it must be true!):

http://sites.google.com/site/samsimulator1972/home

but the file linked at Download documentation describing "Operation El-Dorado Canyon" is not operative now ...

Okay, thanks. I was somewhat confused because the orders explicitly say to attack and kill ONE Nanuchka. I saw a second one, so I killed it too on general principle, but I had no idea there would be more, and didn't go looking for them. Even the two pairs of Foxbats only got killed because they tried to interfere. I should know better than to trust my orders by now ...

... and be cautious, two allied planes shoot-down or one ship sunked, and you obviuosly loss ...

No worries, Prowlers are my friend ...

I take it that similar victory conditions exist for Scenario #3?

I take it that similar victory conditions exist for Scenario #3?

I suppose yes that victory conditions are keeped on the scenarios, but I don't known what was really released ultimately ...

I don't remember now very well what were the orders in the ultimately published edition of the USNI scenarios, but:

- The original alternative and independent Total Victory Condition in the first sketch of the scenario was 12 Libyan ships sunk, and the alternative and independent MinVic condition 9 Libyan ships sunk. Later, for sake of scenario simplification for newbies, the number of libyan ships was reduced in the scenario probably only to the four Nanuchka class boats in the published scenario, and the Victory condition probably reduced to two Libyan ships sunk (number historically damaged/sunked), and only to Minimum Victory level because the limited number of ships sunked requiered to win, and reflecting the confrontation was not finished and extended to the next days/hours.

- Other alternative and independent victory condition was the Ticonderoga SAG three ships on station for 1 hour 50 minutes below 32-30 North. And the stablished level of victory was also Minimum Victory because the same reasons of reflecting the confrontation as limited and not finished.

 

Incidentally, the teleprinter orders are almost 90% historically accurate, and based on this document:

http://www.dod.gov/pubs/foi/reading_room/234.pdf

But I see it's not directly available now ....

The site were I finded it was:

http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/rdroom.html

 

The Libyan air defence SAM network was based on the link to the file on (the pdf document shows on the pictures the Libyan air defence network in Russian, it must be true!):

http://sites.google.com/site/samsimulator1972/home

but the file linked at Download documentation describing "Operation El-Dorado Canyon" is not operative now ...

Enrique, you had a pretty good description of the situation in your initial orders, if you still have it would it be worth posting a copy here?

Don

Hi, Don:

I've lose or disordened some things of those scenarios, but I suppose you mean this:

Original Blue Orders Scenario 2:

BASIC ORDERS:

(This introductory scenario is pretended to be played mainly by the US/Blue player. The Libyan/Red player has very low possibilities of win):

 

1. Search (easier using the E-2C Hawkeye carrier based AWACS) and sink as fast as you can the Libyan warships that you find with the planes at your disposition.

Basically with A-6 Intruder armed with Harpoon anti-ship missiles and Rockeye cluster bombs. For sake of historicity, the US/Blue player must not change the planes loadouts. The expected enemy warships are Nanuchka II guided-missile corvettes, and perhaps some La Combattante IIG guided-missile patrol boats.

2. Sail with the Ticonderoga Surface Action Group (AAs group) in the Gulf of Sirte waters, showing this way the sea control by the US Navy.

(The Gulf of Sirte is considered to be below of 32-30 North. In the scenario is marked as the line between the YVm and YWm Libyan AD radar emplacements. The Ticonderoga SAG already has a course marked inside the Gulf of Sirte).

3. Avoid any distraction, as the SAM sites, the shore installations or any occasional enemy fighter (If presented, take charge of it with the F-14 or F/A-18 in anti-air patrols), ignore any other of the very numerous contacts, your targets are only the enemy warships, clearly marked as red icons.

4. Avoid any own losses.

 

Historical Background and some Explanations:

(It is not necessary to keep on reading from this point for play the scenario):

1. To win the scenario the US/Blue player must to be proactive, his mission is to guarantee the free transit on the seas, protect the Ticonderoga SAG (AAs group), and deny to the Libyan player warships the use of the waters of the Gulf of Sirte.

2. The US/Blue player only can win if it has very scarce or no losses. The public opinion in the western countries demands actions without any or none own losses.

3. For sake of historicity, the US/Blue player must not change the planes loadouts.

4. 32-30 North is marked as the line between the YVm and YWm Libyan AD radar emplacements.

5. The aim of this mini-scenario is to introduce the player in the fundamentals of ship and task force control, aircraft control and composition and use of carrier air wings, sensors and weapons use, and avoidance of long range SAM (surface-to-air missiles). The US/Blue player US/Blue has a big military capacity at his disposal, but although theoretically it should squash the enemy, the Libyan/Red player still has an opportunity to win within the scenario design, acting stealthy to dispute to the US Navy the dominion of the Gulf of Sirte waters, or infringing losses to US Navy that although very little suppose a moral, political and propaganda defeat for USA.

 

++++++SPOILER ALERT++++++

Historical outcome:

Showing in every moment overall sea control, near 242335Z March 1986 two A-6E Intruders from VA-85 Black Falcons ( From the CVW-17 based in the CV-60 USS Saratoga) are vectored by an E-2C Hawkeye from the VAW-125 Torchbearers (Also called Tigertails) to attack a Nanuchka II PTG (Armed with 4xSS-N-2c Styx/Raduga P-15M Termit big anti-ship missiles) that has left the Libyan naval base at Benghazi intending to close at anti-ship missile range of the USN ships . The A-6E Intruders are armed with one Harpoon missile and Rockeye cluster bombs. As the Nanuchka II (Hull number 416 Ean Mara) stayed close to neutral merchants which precluded the use of Harpoon missiles because his active radar guidance system can homing into the neutral ships, the A-6E Intruders attacked the guided-missile corvette with Rockeyes and she started to burn. But attempts to sunk the Nanuchka II were thwarted when she took refuge behind one of the neutral merchant ships. The damaged PTG was subsequently towed back to the Benghazi port.

Repaired in the USSR between 1990-1991 in the still called Leningrad in the Baltic Sea, today again called Saint Petersburg, was returned to Libya early 1991 with the new name Tariq Ibn Ziyad.

Some eight hours later the day after, near 250730Z March 1986, another Libyan corvette of the same Nanuchka II class (Hull number 419 named Ain Zaquit, Ean Zarquit or Ean Zarguit) exiting from Benghazi was intercepted by A-6E Intruders from VA-55 Warhorses (From the CVW-13 of the CV-43 USS Coral Sea) and disabled by Rockeye munitions; the corvette was later sunk by an AGM-84 Harpoon missile launched from a VA-85 Black Falcons A-6E Intruder.

Blue Orders Scenario 3:

BASIC ORDERS:

(This introductory scenario is pretended to be played mainly by the US/Blue player. The Libyan/Red player has very low possibilities of win):

 

1. Search with planes (easier using the E-2C Hawkeye carrier based AWACS) and sink as fast as you can the Libyan warships that you find with the ships at your disposition, basically with Harpoon anti-ship missiles (In this scenario you can't count with any antiship planes). For sake of historicity, the US/Blue player must not change the planes loadouts. The expected enemy warships are La Combattante IIG guided-missile patrol boats, and perhaps some Nanuchka II guided-missile corvettes.

2. Sail with the Ticonderoga Surface Action Group (AAs group) in the Gulf of Sidra waters, showing this way the sea control by the US Navy.

(The Gulf of Sidra is considered to be below of 32-30 North. In the scenario is marked as the line between the YVm and YWm Libyan AD radar emplacements. The Ticonderoga SAG already has a course marked inside the Gulf of Sirte).

3. Avoid any distraction, as the SAM sites, the shore installations or any occasional enemy fighter (If presented, take charge of it with the F-14 or F/A-18 in anti-air patrols), ignore any other of the very numerous contacts, your targets are only the enemy warships, clearly marked as red icons.

4. Avoid any own losses.

 

Historical Background and some Explanations:

(It is not necessary to keep on reading from this point for play the scenario):

1. To win the scenario the US/Blue player must to be proactive, his mission is to guarantee the free transit on the seas, protect the Ticonderoga SAG (AAs group), and deny to the Libyan player warships the use of the waters of the Gulf of Sidra.

2. The US/Blue player only can win if it has very scarce or no losses. The public opinion in the western countries demands actions without any or none own losses.

3. For sake of historicity, the US/Blue player must not change the planes loadouts.

4. 32-30 North is marked as the line between the YVm and YWm Libyan AD radar emplacements.

5. Time constraints and aircraft disponibility for other tasks precludes in this mini-scenario the use of air assets to sunk the approaching Libyan ships, if some of them is detected. And do not forget the imperious need of sunk them as soon as possible.

5. The aim of this mini-scenario is to introduce the player in the fundamentals of ship and task force control, aircraft control and composition and use of carrier air wings, sensors and weapons use, and avoidance of long range SAM (surface-to-air missiles). Emphasis is put in surface warfare, the US/Blue player must destroy the enemy warships only with his own warships weapons, basically Harpoon missiles, without air support to suppress the opposition. The US/Blue player US/Blue has a big military capacity at his disposal, but although theoretically it should squash the enemy, the Libyan/Red player still has an opportunity to win within the scenario design, acting stealthy to dispute to the US Navy the dominion of the Gulf of Sirte waters, or infringing losses to US Navy that although very little suppose a moral, political and propaganda defeat for USA.

 

Historical outcome:

 

Shortly after 250001Z March 1986 USS Richmond K Turner (CG 20) engaged a surface target that reportedly was firing anti-aircraft small arms fire at a F-14A Tomcat on CAP (Combat Air Patrol) and heading towards the USS Yorktown (CG-48), both cruisers being part of the USS Coral Sea (CV-43) Carrier Battle Group (CVBG). USS Richmond K Turner, without anti-ship air support and as last stand before the employ of Standard surface-to-air missiles in anti-ship use or firing guns at the incoming Libyan ship (At this time the Libyan ship would be inside anti-ship missile firing range, and the Turner was a Leahy class double-ended missile cruiser, devoid of guns and she would have to trust in the guns of the other escort ships), fires against the enemy ship an Harpoon anti-ship surface-to-surface missile at a range of 50 nm (The target was more than 20 nautical miles beyond the radar horizon of the USS Richmond K Turner) based probably in data provided by a E-2C Hawkeye of VAW-127 Seabats, of his own CVBG CVW-13. While

the Turner reported hitting a La Combattante IIG class PTG (Probably hull number 525 Bark, previously named Beir Alkardmen), no wreckage was found.

When the naval encounter was finished, the Libyans had lost some 35 seamen and four ships (One Nanuchka II sunked (Hull number 419 named Ain Zaquit, Ean Zarquit or Ean Zarguit), and another damaged (Hull number 416 Ean Mara), and one Combattante IIG sunked (Hull number 521 named Waheeg or Waheed, ex-Beir Glulud), and another damaged, probably hull number 525 Bark, previously named Beir Alkardmen) in exchange for no loss on the US Navy side.

Following this losses in 25 March, no Libyan naval craft moved beyond the 12 nautical miles territorial waters limit. In response to this absolute admission of sea control, Attaind Document III was finished with success three days before the scheduled timing, and the US forces sailed North, withdrew to less contested waters on March 27, 1986.

But this was not the end of the events, the guide of the First of September Great Revolution of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and as Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution, more known as Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi (When the 1 September 1969, the bloodless coup d'etat against King Idris was successful, Gaddafi was captain, later accepted a ceremonial promotion from captain to colonel and has remained at this rank since then, as admiration sample to Gamal Abdel Nasser, which never had major grade in his military career) had not said his last word, and he gives orders of retaliation by terrorist actions.

Some days later, April 5, 1986, the La Belle discotheque in West Berlin is bombed by a bomb placed under a table near the disc jockey booth, killing a Turkish woman and two U.S. sergeants and injuring 230 people, including more than 50 American servicemen. Libya was blamed for the bombing after telex messages had been intercepted from Libya to the Libyan East Berlin embassy congratulating them on a job well done (No individual was accused of the bombing until the 1990 reunification of Germany and the subsequent opening up of the Stasi (Communist Germany Secret Police) archives. Stasi files led German prosecutors to an Libyan agent who had worked at the Libyan embassy in East Berlin).

But in provision against a such Libyan terrorist response, had been staged a contingency plan for bombing with only a 48 hours delay selected targets in Libya under the code-name Prairie Fire, and executed as El Dorado Canyon. But it's another story and another scenarios ...

I suppose yes that victory conditions are keeped on the scenarios, but I don't known what was really released ultimately ...

 

I'm working from memory, but I don't think we changed any of your vicconds.

We can release the battleset sometime after the current advertising blitz so between late September and the end of the year we can release them for existing owners of the game. (plus the awesome extra scenarios the volunteers made!).