March 13, 200818 yr AAR: Oubliette [spoiler Alert] A Harpoon Classic scenario By Brad Leyte The war in Central Europe is bogging down, and although NATO has suffered horrendous losses, the Soviet armored thrust has lost its momentum. There are rumours of growing dissension and unrest among the upper echelons of military command in Moscow. The risk of the Soviets resorting to the use of nuclear weapons in desperation has climbed considerably in the past few days. US Navy ballistic missile submarines, already deployed and at sea, have been directed to their patrol stations in case things go south. Several of these boomers, including the USS Tennessee, have been ordered to take up positions where they could potentially exploit depressed trajectory launches of their missile load, reducing warning time substantially. Blue Orders: *** FLASH *** FLASH *** FLASH *** START MESSAGE 1.0. SITREP: The Ohio class nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine USS Tennessee (SSBN-734) has been given orders to proceed to its deterrent patrol station in the Sea of Okhotsk, a few hundred miles northeast of Sakhalin Island off the Soviet coast. For several days now, the USS Tullibee has been conducting quiet subsurface reconnaissance in that locale, sanitizing the area in anticipation of Tennessee's arrival. The Tullibee has reported increasing Soviet naval activity in the sector in the last 48 hours, including an intercept of what appears to have been radio communications from a Yak-38 Forger pilot. 2.0. ORDERS: USS Tullibee SSN-597 > Continue quiet reconnaissance of the area prior to the arrival of SSBN-734. Once the SSBN arrives, withdraw to a position southeast of the Kuriles and await further orders. USS Tennessee SSBN-734 > Proceed to your designated deterrent patrol station at Point Echo Zulu northeast of Sakhalin Island at coordinates 51 29 N 145 12 E. Escort will be provided by SSN-721. Once on station, stand by for receipt of authorization codes for possible repeat possible depressed trajectory SLBM launch on priority targets. USS Chicago SSN-721 > Penetrate the Sea of Okhotsk and provide safe escort for the SSBN-734. It is imperative that the SSBN reach its patrol station safely. Own ship expendable to this end. The navigator plotted a course for Point Echo Zulu northeast of Sakhalin Island at coordinates 51 29 N 145 12 E. At our current speed of advance (8kts), SSBN Tennessee should be able to arrive at her designated deterrent patrol station in time. Since the SSN Tullibee was already in the Sea of Okhotsk, I would use her to scout the area before the SSBN's arrival. The nearest base was Naha, over 1500nm away. This meant that there would be no air cover as none of the P-3 Orion MPA had sufficient range to reach the area. The only plane able to reach the Sea of Okhotsk was the EP-3 Elint platform and she was unarmed. As she set out on her mission, SSN Tullibee immediately detected a submerged contacted. After working up a TMA [Target Motion Analysis], she generated a firing solution and launched two Mk 48 AdCap torpedoes at the target. They were counter-detected when they got within 2nm and the submarine raced to evade. It turned out to be a Tango-class diesel, but the Mk 48 torpedoes were easily capable of 40kts+ speed and they easily caught her. First on the scoreboard was the USN! I ferried my aircraft assets over to Naha from Andersen air field to give them just a bit more range and ordered the SSBN Tennessee and her escorting SSN Chicago escort to cross the Kuriles and into the Sea of Okhotsk. Soon, the SSBN detected several surface contacts. They tried to avoid contact and just let them pass, if possible, but the enemy wasn't playing along. The group consisted of a Mirka-class corvette and a Krivak-class frigate. Both had reasonable sonar systems that would be effective if they got too close. I decided not to risk detection of the SSBN so the Chicago engaged the Mirka with two Mk 48 torpedoes at a range of 7nm. Both vessels detected the weapons close to the Mirka and turned to flee. The Mirka was caught and one detonated under her keel, snapping it. The Krivak kept running and was a mission-kill as far as I was concerned for it cleared the way for the SSBN. After re-fueling at Naha, I ordered the EP-3 Aries to reconnoitre the region. She carefully and cautiously scouted and detected several Tu-142 Bears, Be-12 Mail, Il-38 May active in the area along with several hunter-killer ASW groups. She wove and weaved among them until her ESM detected Foxbats rising to intercept her. Pucker time. She dove to the deck and slunk out of the area, grateful to have escaped with her own skin. It was certainly a nervous time, but worthwhile since it gave me an indication of the forces arrayed against the SSBN. Not soon afterwards, the Chicago detected another submarine in her path. Although she never fully classified it, it was close and could not be allowed to get any closer. Two more Mk 48 torpedoes settled the issue and no return fire was detected. Unfortunately, someone else was having a spot of luck. The SSN Tullibee had detected a submarine in the SSBN's patrol area and was moving to investigate when she suddenly struck by a weapon without warning for a total loss of boat and crew. Sometimes, the enemy does something right, too. Chicago and Tennessee continued their ingress and soon came across a KPUG (Russian ASW group) centred on the CVHG Kiev. They tried to box around it and soon encountered a submarine in their path. Both subs slowed to a crawl in hopes of allowing their hunters to pass them, but Russians were not giving up so easily. Suddenly, the KPUG turned in their direction and all hope of remaining invisible disappeared. Chicago decided to engage the CVHG first as she carried most of the deadly Helix helicopters. Three Mk 48 AdCap Mod 5 were sent after her and two hits were sufficient to leave her dead in the water. Unfortunately, the KPUG refused to quit so the Chicago was forced to engage one escort after another. Next to die was the CG Kara as she sailed blissfully to her doom. She was soon followed by the DDG Kashin and then the FFG Krivak. Although tempted to sink the surviving valuable replenishment vessels, they were not part of the mission and torpedoes were limited. The sailors aboard Chilikin, Andizhan, and Kazbek would never know how lucky there were this day. With the primary threats sunk, the submarine group arrived intact at their deterrent patrol position and total victory was awarded. A nice challenging submarine scenario. Thanks for sharing it. FilesOfScenShare
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