AAR Old vs new #2

 

AAR Old versus new #2, Part 1.

 

Before starting the game, I always explore the scenario [Where is what] and make notes on paper;

I launch the aircraft I need in the first stage [mostly, available AEW/EW/ASW and fighters] and re-arm aircraft if necessary;

I plot course for the naval taskforces and submarines, plot ASW-missions with the formation editor, etc. etc...

 

It is always a challenge to engage the massive and technical advanced Armed Forces of the USA.

In this second [of 3] scenario, I play Europe.

This scenario is btw, one of my favourites:

 

 

Here are the Freek’s orders:

 

#2.0 BATTLE FOR EUROPE

 

This is the second scenario in the series exploring US vs. EU war.

THIS SCENARIO SHOULD BE PLAYED WITH THE NUCLEAR OPTION ENABLED.

Second battle

The Atlantic war continues. Air units are replenished, task forces re-located, and preparations made for invasion. This scenario lasts 15 hours and can be played from both sides (US is recommended first). This is a large scenario. This scenario has been built for the PlayersDB v7.4.7

 

Orders for Europe The air battle over Europe was undecided. We lost more fighters and our bases were hard hit but neither side has air superiority. This is the time to attack!

Intel USAF and Navy aircraft are out of action due to heavy losses over UK and FR. US carriers have minimal air wings operational and are moving to N-Sea and Med. Amphibious convoy is approaching in Mid-Atlantic. Closest fully operational carrier is 1500 miles West of Ireland. We expect that it will ferry F-14s and F-18s into theatre.

Mission 1. Close on the amphibious forces with all available UK and FR fleet units. Ferry Harriers to Illustrious/Ark and coordinate an attack together with Etandards/Rafales off Charles de Gaulle. 2. DE, UK, and FR Naval aircraft have been assembled at hidden bases in N-UK. FR has launched two satellites from Kourou last night. Use their reconnaissance to attack Nimitz somewhere North of Scotland. Continue the attack until the carrier is significantly damaged. 3. Don’t let anything pass Gibraltar

Victory conditions are to destroy 1/3rd of US fleet and significantly damage at least one of the carriers.

 

 

4 June, 2002, 10:00:00 Zulu Time…

 

First impressions, first moves:

 

Gibraltar Area:

About 40 Aircraft are stationed on 1 airbase and 1 road base. 2 ships of the Royal Navy, a DDG and FFG, together with submarines, the Superb and Splendid are now patrolling in the East Med. I have set up ASW patrolling Mission in the Strait of Gibraltar.

The Dutch S803 Tonijn is patrolling in the AO, 60nm west of the entrance to the Strait.

2 Tornado F.3 are airborne, but I have launched another 6 F.3’s, as well as 1 SH-3D AEW.

 

Atlantic Ocean:

3 Carrier Groups and submarines are operating 360nm west of Ireland.

4 Rafale M are in the air, but I launched another 4, together with an E-3C Hawkeye. I have plotted ASW patrols around the Carrier Groups. XX British Harriers are on their way to the British VTOL carriers. It will take at least 1.5 hrs. to complete the transit, and another 6 hrs. to re-arm the aircraft.

 

Scotland Area:

About 50 aircraft, armed with ASM, are available on 9 Dispersed fields. 2 ships are patrolling off coast the Orkney Islands. 4 aircraft are in the air, but launched all available Tornado F.3.

 

France:

There is at the moment no a real threat for France. I launched the 2 Sentry’s, 1 to guard the Northern area, and the other one for AEW-duties above the AO southwest of France, as well as 1 Atlantique Brequet ASW units, and 2 fighter groups.

 

Game on!

 

Within minutes, my screen was filled with all kind of contacts. As soon E-2 Hawkeye from the French aircraft carrier R91 Charles de Gaulle turned on her radars, a large surface group became visible west of the EC carrier groups. She detected airborne contacts southwest of the CTF Ark Royal. I have reasons to believe that the US aircraft are underway to the aircraft carrier operating nearby Gibraltar. 4 Tomcats are operating northwest of the CTF’s.

2 Tornado’s [Northwest of the Shetlands] detected surface and airborne contacts north of Scotland.

And finally, the area around Gibraltar… An unknown submerged contact has been detected in the Med, just outside the entrance to the Strait. The British FFG is patrolling nearby and now is underway to investigate the just detected contact, together with 1 helicopter.

There is some air activity east of the Strait. 2 airborne Tornado’s have been ordered to investigate the contacts. I launched more Tornados’ from GIB AB. I also launched 2 extra ASW-helicopters to assist in the hunt for the enemy submarines in the Strait of Gibraltar. Soon, ships were detected, operating south of the Iberian Peninsula.

 

I now have a clue where the enemy forces are operating.

Time for tactical decisions:

 

NORTH:

I do expect massive attacks with Tomahawk cruise missiles. Intelligence reports that at least 1 CG and 2 DDG, as well as 1 DD are escorting the USS Nimitz. Submarine threat is unknown.

 

Attack with all Rafale fighters, armed with AM.39 Exocet

Attack with all Tornado fighters, armed with AS.34 Komoran only,

Attack with all Tornado fighters, armed with AS.34 Komoran/AGM-88A HARM,

Attack with all Buccaneer Bombers with BAe [P3T] Sea Eagle ASM

EW mission with the [only] EW available EF-111A Raven,

Radar Picket duties by the British TG, as well as ASW-duties with onboard helicopters.

 

CENTRAL:

I do expect attacks with Tomahawk cruise missiles, but it will take some time before they arrive at the scene. The only thing I can do right now is to launch aircraft to protect the airfields in France, the Central Command facility in Brussels and bases in NL, and in the South UK.

8 Mirage 2000 will assist in the interception of the plane group, that has been detected in the AO, and will land at Gibraltar [if they survive].

 

SOUTH:

I do expect attacks with Tomahawk cruise missiles at my assets around Gibraltar as well; The aircraft that have been detected in the AO could attack Gibraltar first and land on the Enterprise. If this happens, I might loose the Gibraltar assets. Together with the launched Mirage F2000 from Brest, I will try to destroy the aircraft with Tornado F.3 from GIB before they reach target/destination.

Another point of concern is the narrow Strait of Gibraltar…

US submarines could lay in ambush positions… I launched 4 helicopters to ‘sweep’ the Strait, but ordered the captains of the 2 ships to stay out of the strait to avoid torpedo attacks. The ships are moving at maximum speed away from the Strait, it is only a few miles to reach waters that can’t be reached by US MK48 ADCAP torpedoes.

The 2 British submarines will travel through the Strait and together with the Dutch SSK, they will attack the Enterprise Group.

8 Tornado fighters, armed with AGM88A and AS34, will launch an attack on the Enterprise group.

If I succeed to destroy incoming Navy fighters, , the Enterprise is nothing more than a 300m long sitting duck without her aircraft for the submarines and ships… But I have to survive the attacks first of all.

 

WEST:

A large surface Group, centred around 3 or more LHA, LHD, LPD, with moderate escort is moving east, towards the UK. Their intentions are unknown, but they are there and therefore a threat to our assets in the area and the European mainland. I do expect attacks with cruise missiles as well.

3 submarines are available in the area, but they are not within strike distance for the couple of next hours. They will close in and finally attack the surface Group.

=

In the following hour both sides suffered losses: the F.3 Tornado fighters are simply not capable to match the Super Hornets and Tomcats with their AIM-54 Phoenix and AIM-120 AMRAAM. I managed to kill few enemy aircraft, but, only with massive missile attacks [ 5:1].

Meanwhile, a swarm Tomahawks was detected, all underway to the UK. Airborne F.3 Tornado fired missiles, took [almost] out of all of them, but with the result that some of my fighters did not have any AAM left to engage enemy fighters [a game failure; the airborne F.3 had to ignore these incoming missiles and do the job, intercepting enemy fighters instead of spoiling air-to-air missiles] Ground based AAA can handle that. I had to call them back to avoid being destroyed. Units of the enemy Carrier Group North of Scotland are firing missiles continuously. I bet it are Tomahawk Cruise Missiles. Nasty thing: fighters are escorting the Tomahawks.

Already in an early stage of this battle, Helicopters detected 2 enemy submarines in the Strait of Gibraltar. Both submarines were destroyed almost instantly by Marconi Stingray torpedoes. This hurts. 2 capital units, destroyed within less than 10 minutes.

The aircraft in the Northern area are underway for a strike mission against the US CSG. I took out most of the incoming missiles. The 2 British naval units took care of all remaining incoming missiles so far, but ships of the enemy group are launching cruise missiles continuously.

Losses in the Atlantic were moderate; Only few Tomcats were responsible for the loss of very valuable assets. The enemy plane group, operating somewhere in the Atlantic is clearly heading towards the USS Enterprise. I have put in 8 aircraft [based at Gibraltar highway to engage this group.

The USS Enterprise is harmless without the aircraft. I hope that the French Mirage 2000 perform better than the Tornado F.3

8 Tornado IDS are approaching the Enterprise group. Armed with HARM and Komoran. A single Tornado F.3 is underway to take out 2 airborne contacts west of the E-Group [later identified as 1 E-2C and 1 EA-8B]. The sky is clear, no enemy fighters are in the air and I took out all AEW/EW units.

 

At 11:05:00 I started the attack on the Nimitz Group:

The 2 Dutch F-16 are almost within firing position: targets, the E-2C and helicopters. 4 other Tornado fighters are assigned to assist, in case that the carrier launches fighters.

First I ordered the 16 Tornado IDS to attack with HARM/Komoran ASM; after launching the HARM against the CG 54, DDG 52, and DDG 53, all aircraft closed in at maximum speed at low altitude to launch the Komoran ASM.

The US escorts almost reacted instantly with a swarm SM2MR II and III. I managed to launch all Komoran ASM. Now, it is time to get the hell out of there. The second wave contains 16 Rafale with Exocet ASM. Target: the USS Nimitz:

Then the 8 Tornado’s with Komoran ASM only:

And finally the 12 S.2B Buccaneer with the BAe [P3T] Sea Eagle ASM to finish the job.

28 planes survived the attack.

 

Losses after the first 90 minutes

[including the losses of the first attack on the Nimitz Group]

 

USA:

Aircraft: 33 fighter, 6 AEW.

Helicopters: 13

Ships: 2

Submarines: 2

 

Damaged units:

Ships: 3 [including USS Nimitz 85%]

 

Europe:

Aircraft: 61

Helicopters: 2

Facilities: 1

 

 

4 June, 2002, 11:30:00 - Zulu Time…

 

Meanwhile I started the attack on the Enterprise Group with 8 Tornado IDS.

I managed to launch all missiles and all aircraft returned to base safety.

At least 6 missiles hit the USS Enterprise, the cruiser USS Leyte Gulf and 1 of the Arleigh Burke class destroyers, the USS Stout.

I repeated the attack, but without success and against the loss of 1 Tornado.

The aircraft need 5 hours to re-arm. Gibraltar is out of order, after a Tomahawk attack. Only 1 cruise missile came through, but it destroyed the ammo dump……

 

The attack against the Nimitz Group was partly a success:

I managed to sink two ships and damage all other units, but, against what prize: I started the attack with 52 aircraft. Only 28 aircraft managed to survive the attack.

It is now rather difficult to attack the surface group. Almost all Tornado IDS were destroyed. Attacking a surface group with a cruiser, frigates and 2 LHD, without HARM makes no sense. That is just spoiling ASM and aircraft. But I have to.

 

Back to Gibraltar……

I have reload magazines of the two British submarines [HMS Splendid and HMS Superb] with Harpoon missiles, launched them against the USS Perry and USS Spruance. Both ships were hit and sank almost instantly.

Then the HrMs Tonijn was finally in position to attack the carrier group…

First I attacked the Enterprise with 4 Mk48 ADCAP as well as the AOE, the USS Sacramento with 2 Mk48. Minutes later, the Enterprise was a burning wreck and the USS Sacramento on her way to the bottom of the Ocean. Later, the HMS Splendid and HMS Superb finished the job by killing the remaining escorts.

This was a big hit. No submarines were lost, Tornado F.3 intercepted the helicopters in the first place and later the fired ASROC, launched by the enemy escorts.

There is no direct threat to Gibraltar anymore. I will transfer all the available aircraft to UK airbases. My navy assets will keep on patrolling in the area. In fact the two ships are now useless; no enemy to hunt for and no weapons left to fight. The HrMs Tonijn is now underway to the entrance of the Strait of Gibraltar.

The 2 British nuclear submarines are now heading northwest at maximum speed to the area west of Ireland/UK. I can put them in action again against the surface group. After all, if the enemy group is heading to the UK for an amphibious assault operation, they must close in xxxnm. My submarines are on scene before they arrive. Enough Spearfish left in the magazines…

 

The situation in the Atlantic Ocean:

After the aircraft on the bases in UK were re-armed again, I launched them for an attack on the surface Group. The Amethiste, the French nuclear submarine was able to close in within firing range to launch Exocet missiles. I managed to hit A Perry Class frigate. The ship later disappeared from my screen.

Meanwhile the Aircraft arrived on the scene. I only attacked the combatants and managed to damage some vessels, but the air attack was not a success and the losses were high. I am running out of aircraft, others need to reach base and re-arm first.

All I know is that the American surface group used large amount of SAM against my missiles.

I consequently conducted patrols nearby the surface group with fighters and took out almost all aircraft/helicopters. The American version of the Harrier, the AV-8B’s, armed with AIM-9 only, were no match against the Rafale and Naval Harrier F/A.2.

[my favourites in this scenario: the Rafale fighter with her 8 Mica IR/Radar air-to-air missiles and rather good survival score, as well as the British Harriers, armed with the AIM-120, onboard the British VTOL carriers].

After the Amethiste launched the Exocet’s, she closed in to launch torpedoes. But she was detected and a torpedo was launched. The game is out for this unit. I immediately dived to maximum depth with maximum speed to close in and launch my torpedoes.

I was not able to reload all the magazines again; the Amethiste was hit by the torpedo and destroyed. The launched torpedoes, however, damaged/destroyed 4 enemy units.

Meanwhile, A Eurocopter NFH [Charles de Gaulle Group] detected a submerged contact. I ordered to attack the contact. Another Eurocopter is underway to assist. Suddenly, the contact, now classified as an American submarine fired torpedoes. The French Destroyer D 610 Tourville is under attack. The Tourville was stationed 30nm ahead of the Charles the Gaulle group for ASW sprint drift operations together with 4 ASW-helicopters [Eurocopter NFH]. I launched Murene torpedoes. The first enemy torpedoes did not make any victims and the submarine did not launch other torpedoes, so, I must conclude that the submarine was hit by a Murene.

The HMS Torbay and HMS Trafalgar [both at 50nm] are closing in to the enemy surface groups as well, but have no Harpoon missiles onboard. So, the old fashion torpedo attack is upcoming in a couple of hours.

 

North of Scotland:

The USS Nimitz is, despite the damage [85%], still capable to launch aircraft; At least 8 A/F-18E Super Hornet are approaching the UK mainland. No doubt that they are on a strike mission against my airfields.

I have launched all available fighters to intercept the incoming aircraft. I want to avoid that the few strike assets which are available, will be destroyed in their hangars when they are re-arming].

 

Suddenly, at 18:30:00 Zulu time, I reached VC. [at that time, the USS Vincennes finally sank, she performed very well! I only could break her after her magazines were empty. Chappeau!].

 

The score at 18:30:00 Zulu time:

 

Losses USA:

Aircraft: 65

Helicopters: 38

Surface combatants: 9 [including 1 aircraft carrier]

Damaged: 4

Surface support vessels: 3

Damaged: 1

Submarines: 3

 

Losses Europe:

Aircraft: 84

Helicopters: 2

Submarines: 1

Installations: 5

 

But I continue to play some longer to launch all available aircraft for a “Coupe de Grasse” against all enemy assets.

We Europeans know how to die, but we are familiar with the art of killing as well.

 

I will use the land based aircraft for the attack on the Nimitz group. This group counts 3 ships, and all units are more or less heavily damaged. 18 aircraft are available [Rafale, Tornado IDS, and Buccaneer]. Too bad that I can’t the aircraft based at Gibraltar Highway and the French airfields for the final strike. These aircraft should land to refuel first. I think, the 18 will be enough for the “Coupe de Grasse”.. If necessary, I will put the HMS Argyll into action.

The frigate is equipped with 8 Harpoon ASM, and her Sea Wolf VLS is fully loaded. The HMS Nottingham is out of decent SAM. I have split the group and the HMS Nottingham is underway to safe waters of Scotland.

The remaining ships of the enemy surface group, 9 ships, 2 of them are damaged, heading a northeast course, are almost within firing range of the 2 British submarines, eta 19:45:00. So, the HMS Trafalgar and HMS Torbay, will strike first.

Within 4 hrs, all remaining strike aircraft, [xx] on the 3 carriers will be ready again for action.

In the meantime, I will keep fighters in the area to take out all helicopters that might be a threat to my submarines. I can close in pretty much; the escorts do not launch SAM’s, I bet, the magazines are empty. 6 Harriers, armed with Mk83 1000 lbs bombs, Sea Eagle, and Brimstone ASM, are underway to the surface group [they were airborne at 18:30:00]. I will try to take out remaining escorts.

 

Only 1 thing really concerns me: the submarine threat is still unknown!

 

18:30:00 -23:47:00 Zulu Time,

 

 

I first attacked the remaining escorts with Sea Eagle ASM. Both ships were hit. The Perry class frigate is on fire. Then I attacked other ships with Mk83 bombs. I managed to destroy a supply vessel, damaged a cruise liner and the LHD Tarawa.

And finally, at 20:48:00 the HMS Torbay arrived at the scene and finished the job by sinking all remaining ships. I ordered the 3 carrier groups to start the voyage home.

In the UK more and more aircraft became available again. I launched them for the final strike, at 23:47:00 32 Sea Eagle missiles ended the voyage of the USS Nimitz and her escorts.

The only survivors are the enemy submarines I could not detect.

 

This scenario was a real challenge! These aircraft carriers are really hard nuts to crack. I finally reached VC, but against a very high prize. The American escorts performed very well and were responsible for the slaughter of my aircraft. But at the end, they were out of SAM’s and useless for the defence of the aircraft carriers.

 

Freek, thanks for sharing this scenario with the community!