AAR: Go Tell the Spartans [Spoiler Alert] – Turkey

AAR: Go Tell the Spartans [spoiler Alert] – Turkey

A Harpoon 3 scenario

By Stephen Mills

Relationships between the two allies have been, historically, unpredictable. This scenario assumes a flare-up simply getting outside the control of politicians.

 

This is not as unlikely as it might first appear. Air-to-air combat between the two countries are not all that infrequent. Usually, after a period of posturing, things settle down. However, there is always the possibility for escalation. This becomes increasingly true with the enhanced Air Defences often operating at a semi-autonomous level.

 

With the increasing militarisation of the Eastern Aegean, it is sometimes easy to overlook the fact that both countries share a common and disputed border. Across the Evros/Meric River, the defences of the 4th Corps, 1st Hellas Army stand facing the Turkish 1st Army.

 

Although this might look one-sided, reinforcements would rapidly be rushed to the front; especially from the 3rd Corps based in Thessaloniki. If there ever were an attack it would be those reinforcements that could prove critical.

Kemal reminisced over his last visit with his grandfather before he passed away. His grandfather had been taught by his grandfather, "Bir Yunanliya asla güvenemezsin." [You just can't trust a lousy Greek.] Once again, he thought, they had proven that their promises of peace were worthless. The briefing officer droned on about their treacherous attack across the Meric River. However, a determined and fierce response was underway. They would feel the rage and ire of the Turkish people and Kemal was proud of the fact that he would be an instrument of their vengeance while strapped into his F-16 Falcon.

Even though our beleaguered countrymen were sending out desperate calls for assistance from the Kavala region, high command estimated that they could hold their embattled positions for another 48 hours. Therefore, the Falcons stationed at Balikeshir, Bandirma, and Akinci were re-armed with all available AMRAAM. The first objective of the battle would be to win aerial superiority over the area.

SSKs Dolunay and Doganay were sent to close up the choke points in the southern Aegean and prevent any reinforcement by sea while SS Saldiray did the same in the Sea of Crete. The flotilla of Kilic-class missile patrol boats currently assembled around Askaz/Marmaris was ordered to support them with their medium-range Harpoon AShMs [Anti-Ship Missiles].

First up were the Phantoms out of Eskisehir and Konya. They were backed up by four Falcons with AMRAAM out of Balikeshir. The Falcons were positioned as CAP [Combat Air Patrols] over the transports and the Dardanelles. A choke point acts in both directions and the entire purpose of the mission was to get the transports to Kavala. Helos from frigates Turgut Reis and Estocin went up immediately to establish an airborne radar picture of the Aegean.

Right away, Falcons were detected throughout the area along with RF-4E Phantom reconnaissance planes. The Turkish Block 30 Falcons only carried Sidewinders so they were assigned to deal with the spy boys. As with any battle, keeping the enemy blind is always a good tactic. First blood went to the sons of Ataturk as they shot the unarmed RF-4E Phantom out of the air!

Soon afterwards, missiles were detected inbound on the SAM batteries protecting the Dardanelles. “Damn, damn, damn,” Mehmet, the Air Defence co-ordinator, thought. “I forgot to check the status of the various radar stations in the theatre.” He immediately ordered that section of the Air Defence System under EmCon [Emissions Control]. That seemed to work as the missiles flew harmlessly past without hitting anything. Mehmet let out a huge sigh of relief. Maybe I’ll still have a job tomorrow.

He wasn’t the only Turk with problems, today. An Exocet AShM attack was detected inbound against the transports. The closest Falcons only had AIM-9M Sidewinders left. They would have to do. A pair of missiles targeted on each Exocet was sufficient to bring them all down. The ships had not even left the harbour, yet, and they were already facing their enemy’s missiles.

The Patriot battery based on the island of Skiros made it death to approach them. Several Falcon and one Phantom learned the hard way as they tried to close the distance in order to bag the Orion and Saab AEW [Airborne Early Warning] aircraft circling over the base. The SAM bubble created by the Patriot battery made any Greek aircraft within it virtually impervious.

Doganay was on her way to close off a chokepoint when she found herself under attack. Someone else already had the same idea and they got there first! Luck was not with the crew of the Doganay as she was swarmed by an Orion MPA [Maritime Patrol Aircraft] and a flock of helicopters. To make matters worse, a torpedo was already in the water and was rapidly closing the distance. Doganay was not even able to fire any weapons in her own defence as her torpedoes were only effective against ships. She died quickly as the torpedo slammed into her sail.

The men of the Marine landing force knew that they faced a serious battle at Kavala, but they did not anticipate the Heraklean effort expended to ensure that they would never arrive. A Corsair II attack suddenly materialized over the island of Chios. Evidently, they had been using island to mask their approach. They were only detected as they popped up in order to fly over Chios. Although the attack was daringly executed, the strike planners could not anticipate two flights of Falcons waiting for them on the other side. Two plucky pilots survived a barrage of sixteen AMRAAM thereby forcing the Falcons to close for a Sidewinder engagement. They exchanged missiles, but the SLUFs [short Little Ugly, er, Fellas] lost the contest.

The death of the Corsairs did serve another purpose. Additional fighters, tasked with protecting the highly exposed FFG Estocin, were drawn southward in anticipation of additional attacks on the Marine Landing Force. They were totally spoofed and Estocin lay exposed. Once again, eight Exocet AShMs were detected. Estocin would have to deal with them herself. By the time the sea-skimming missiles were detected, they were already well within her SAM envelope. Still, she performed admirably. One by one, her Standard SAMs were able to claw five of the deadly spears from the air. Her CIWS [Close-In Weapons System] shot one more down and another was seduced by her SRBOC [super-Rapid Blooming Chaff] system. The last one flew doggedly onwards until it inexplicably flew right between the radio masts and directly into the ocean behind them. For five seconds, everyone continued to hold their collective breath until Ozel, the TAO [Tactical Action Officer], said, “Typical Greek workmanship.” Everyone in the Combat Information Centre thought that his attempt at levity was meant to rouse them from the shock over their survival. However, Ozel had an ulterior motive. During the attack, he had soiled himself and was hoping to distract the others from the puddle forming under his station.

The Turkish photo-reconnaissance aircraft were luckier than their Greek counterparts. They detected and classified two separate SAGs [surface Action Groups] sailing forth from the Grecian mainland. One was promptly engaged by a SAM from DDG Kimon but escaped on afterburner. Saldiray was well out of position to intercept, but Dolunay might be able to hold the pass next to Andros.

Unfortunately, Saldiray garnered a great deal of unwanted attention. A swarm of ASW helos was also detected approaching her. A flight of Falcons was sent in to try and cull out the ASW helos. It was like a wolf in the proverbial henhouse. Each and every sub hunter was massacred by the combination of AMRAAM and Sidewinders. Regardless, Saldiray was out of position and would play no further role in the events unfolding.

In order to reduce the air threat from the SAG, F-4 Phantoms from Konya ducked in low and launched their missiles against DDG Nearchos and turned her into a pyre before she was able to launch a single weapon in her own defence. Eight Falcons from Akinci were sent in to finish off the survivors. Just like the currency market, the exchange rate was exceedingly poor. Four Falcons were lost in killing the four ships. To add insult to injury, the Kilic-gunboat squadron was slaughtered by Phantoms with Harpoon missiles before they were able to release a single missile of their own.

Although the situation in the central and southern Aegean was in doubt, the landing zone was almost a milk run. Four Falcons with GBU-10E LGBs easily prepared Kavala by flattening all the installations. Now they just had to await the ships’ arrival.

Limnos was very threatening as she was astride both of the approach routes for the Mine Squadron and the Marine force. Turkish command elected to raid Limnos and, hopefully, shut it down. The raid was very costly. It was not even possible on afterburner. Half of the raiders were shot down before they could release their GBUs. The survivors were so busily avoiding SAMs and AAA fire that they only managed to damage two structures.

Like a spider in her lair, Dolunay sat quietly on the bottom of the Pass. She had peeked up to see a pair of Ydra and Adrias missile boats pass and she had returned to the bottom. Her commander knew from the Phantom reconnaissance pass that there were two very juicy targets in the centre of the formation. After waiting an agonizing twenty-three minutes, she returned to periscope depth to find DDGs Kimon and Formion in the middle of the channel. With only a final few adjustments in her firing solutions, she struck at Kimon and Formion with four torpedoes each.

Knowing that she revealed her presence, she order flank speed to clear the datum point. Many other Turkish skippers would have ordered a withdrawal. However, this commander decided that if they were able to “shoot” their way into the formation, they would also “shoot” their way out. He drove his boat deeper into the strait. Several ASRoc torpedoes were launched in her direction. One tracked her but was drawn off by a decoy. Her torpedo men raced to reload her tubes. The spread fired at Kimon was a complete miss and only one hit on registered on the Formion. However, that single torpedo was sufficient to leave her settling by the stern.

Sonar reported yet another torpedo in the water! Decoys were launched, but the little submarine had already exhausted her batteries and she was wallowing at periscope depth. The captain saw that there would be no escape this time. He ordered his torpedoes fired on a BOL [bearing-Only Launch] attack towards the final target in the formation, FF Ydra. The Greek torpedoes struck the brave little submarine 13 seconds after her final torpedo left the tubes. There was no one to hear thunderous explosions from the detonation of her torpedoes as they struck the Ydra. Unlike at Thermopylae, there would be no survivors to tell of the gallant stand at this pass.

FFG Gelibolu was scouting way out front of the transports when sonar reported a subsurface contact. The TAO immediately ordered the ship to creep speed and turned to run down the bearing to the contact. The entire formation quickly launched every available helicopter. With that many dipping sonar in the air, the conclusion was foregone. A small sub contact was found to be creeping along at two knots. Well, thought the TAO, at least we know that it is not a school of fish. Two Mk46 NEARTIP torpedoes confirmed his hypothesis as they exploded 30 seconds after launch. An oil slick soon marked the grave of a Greek submarine.

Since the Patriot unit on Limnos meant death to any and all that approached it, all that the Greek commander could do was position Falcon patrols to shoot down the Grecian Harpoons as they approached from the SAGs. This was a job for which they were well suited. Not one AShM reached the formation. With total aerial supremacy guaranteed over the central Aegean Sea, the landing ships made their uneventful voyage to Kavala and disgorged their Marines. Seeing that their treacherous ways would bear no fruit, the Greek High Command opened a dialogue for a cessation of hostilities.

Linguistic assistance provided by Noyan Unal.

Home of the Harpoon3 PlayersDB

 

FilesOfScenShare