AAR: F-14 Fleet Defender

Battleset: EC2003 NACV

Source: http://harpgamer.com/harpforum/index.php?showtopic=2465

Author: Ralf Koelbach

Contact: rkoelbach@yahoo.com

Date of release: 30-Dec-2007

Date of play: Late June 2008

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I've finally reached total victory in the above scenario (http://harpgamer.com/harpforum/index.php?showtopic=2465). Now, I am moving on to V1.1, but I wanted to try and write up my first AAR before I get to into that scenario.

 

At game start time I found my sole asset for this scenario - a 2*CV CVBG - about 500NM directly south of Iceland. I had a strong suspicion that there would be Backfires, or at least Badgers based there, and sent out 2-ship sections of F-14’s at full military power at high altitude covering the 90 degree arc NW-NE. E-2C’s were sent up to patrol stations around the formation – along with ES-3’s and EA-6B’s - and promptly reported enemy KA-31 AEW Helix helicopters to the West, NE, and SE.

 

As the positions of the AEW helos were nailed down by cross-bearing ESM cuts at distances of between 200NM-350NM from the centre of my formation, I seemed to have the enemy surrounded.

 

If they were all CVBG’s, I was going to struggle – since those 48*F-14’s were on their own to defend my CVBG. I am used to AIM-120 carrying F/A-18’s and it was a major surprise when I realized these hornets carried only AIM-7’s for BVR combat. If the enemy was uncoordinated and sent unescorted bombers or Recon/ECM aircraft they could have contributed, but throughout the battle enemy coordination was very effective – and without plentiful stocks of the AIM-54C I would have suffered crippling fighter losses, followed by devastating ASM/SSM strikes.

 

That was the question, though. At least one – and likely two – of these groups would have to be based on a CVH, rather than a CV and its’ main aircraft would then be the Forger – irrelevant. It was entirely possible that some of the CV’s were in fact decoys. Only one way to know, and I went active on all airborne search sensors. No ship based radar was activated since elements of my CVBG were in SS-N-12/19 range of each enemy SAG/CVBG, and a 8*ship of Tu-22M’s which were heading South over the NE SAG. The answer was soon delivered as the first sweeps of the E-2C’s painted heavy fighter activity and the largest concentration of large surface craft to the SE. More F-14’s were rapidly sent to take down the CAP of what was now obviously the main enemy force. Minimal detections were made to the West, and medium activity to the NE. That determined the allocation of fighers, in addition to the BARCAP I attempted to throw up across the bearing to each main airfield. EA-6B’s set about jamming anything with a Red Star, and succeeded.

 

Another change as a result of the enemy SAG’s was the targeting priority for the northerly F-14 sections, from bombers to Recon planes. If a Bear-D got even a sniff of my CVBG I was going to suffer an immediate attack from at least 4 directions (the closest airfield which already had a patrolling flight of Tu-22M Backfire-C’s, plus the 3 SAG’s), and likely 5-6 directions since I had to assume there were Oscar SSGN’s outside of the SAG’s but within missile range also. Secondary targeting priority went to the Fencer-E’s which were putting up a very effective ECM barrier through which I could not see.

 

First blood went to the F-14, with all the Su-33 Flanker-D’s on CAP to the SE being splashed without loss, along with about a dozen Forgers. There were two Carrier-like returns and the aircraft composition encountered would indicate that it was a Russian Kuznetsov CV and a Kiev CVH. Two strike groups were launched with F/A-18’s, A-6E’s and EA-6B’s – all armed for ASUW or ECM. In flight they formed into one massive strike group and proceeded SSE, before turning in for the attack from the SW of the confirmed enemy CVBG. At this time the enemy group still had surface based radars off so exact identification was not possible, but I could tell carriers from surface combatants and I knew the two carrriers were real rather than decoys based on the air activity. In total 50% of my strike capacity was sent after this group.

 

I also launched strikes on the other two enemy SAG’s, even though exact composition was not known. For all strikes the targeting priority was either CV/CVH’s or BCGN/CG’s – anything with a fixed-wing aircraft or SA-N-6 Grumble or SS-N-12/19 SSM. Each group had at least the last two, and I now assessed that the Westerly group CV was a decoy, along with one CV from the NE group. Light Forger activity was dealt with easily from this last SAG, but its’ sheer presence complicated my BARCAP allocations to the North. Each of these secondary groups got 25% of my strike capacity.

 

To the North Tu-95 Bear-D’s, Su-24 Fencer-E’s, and MiG-29 Fulcrum-E’s were knocked from the sky, along with the 8-ship of Tu-22M’s as they cleared the enemy SAG to the North. Some Bear-D’s got close to detection range, but the EA-6B’s were on the task, and their Big Bulge radars had a low detection probability anyway.

 

Some F-14’s were also sent East to establish a BARCAP about 300NM out along the bearing to the UK airfield. These were supported by an E-2C, ES-3, and EA-6B. Once the BARCAP stations were established it became a constant chore to replenish them as the enemy continued throwing everything they had at my forces. It was rare to have more than 2*F-14’s ready on my CV’s for most of the game, as they were either airborne or being made ready for combat. Eventually the back of both bases were broken with the fighter activity dwindling, but that took many hours and much combat.

 

The first strike to achieve success was the Westerly group, with their AGM-84’s killing most of the SAG. A BCGN, 2*Kara CG’s, 2*Udaloy DD’s, and 1* Sovremenny DDG sunk beneath the waves, leaving just 1*Sovremenny, the decoy CV, and a handful of missile boats. Interestingly one of the strike pilots reported a detection on a Nanuchka IV, armed with the SS-N-26 Yakhont. That weapon was out of range anyway, and the remnants of the SAG were DIW while recovering survivors. I believe their fervor for battle was diluted by the TOT strike I had just delivered.

 

The SE CVBG soon bore the brunt of another superb TOT strike. AGM-84’s slammed into 1*Kuznetsov CV, 1*Kiev, 1*BCGN, 1*Slava CG, and 1*Azov CG. The targeting template used was perfect, and the CV’s and all SA-N-6 or SS-N-12/19 shooters died under a hail of missiles. There were 2 each Kara and Kresta CG’s, along with 3 each Sovremenny DDG’s and Krivak FF’s. Still, there was reason to believe there was a SS-N-12/19 shooter still in the group, so the S-3B squadrons were rearmed for ASW and prepared for the total destruction of the enemy SAG so they could hunt the likely Oscar class SSGN’s.

 

The final strike met a similar level of success to the first strike. 1*Kiev CVH, 1*CV decoy, 1*BCGN, 1*Slava CG, and 2*Sovremenny DDG’s were promptly sunk in another TOT strike. The remnants included 2*Udaloy DD’s and 3*Tarantul III missile boats. Again, there were indications of at least one Oscar SSGN, in this case it was revealed by a timely KeyHole Satellite pass.

 

The strike pilots were jubilant upon their return, and with good reason:

Quantity Sunk Type Class

1 CV Kuznetsov

2 CVH Kiev (Mod)

3 BCGN Kirov

2 CG Slava

1 CG Azov

2 CG Kara

3 DDG Sovremenny

2 DD Udaloy STK

1 CV CV Decoy

 

The SAG’s were decimated, and would require minimal mopping up at my leisure. I did want to hunt the SAG organic SSGN’s though, since they were still in range of my CVBG. As such, AGM-65’s and AGM-88’s were added to the strike loadouts, along with some decoys to soak up some of the remaining SAM’s.

 

When enough F-14’s could be spared I sent tanker supported sections into the SAM envelope – while high & fast – around Iceland in order to pluck out the deadly 12-ship Tu-22M flights. Any Bear-D’s launched also had a short life once they arrived at their patrol stations. The Fencer-E’s were a constant thorn in my side, significantly degrading radar coverage for much of the game, and soaking up AIM-54C’s. The fact they would separate from their patrol stations around Iceland and head South against my F-14’s sealed their fate. I can’t help but think that they may have stayed in the formation – in SAM coverage from Iceland – If they had not carried their AA-8 Aphid WVRAAM’s. Obviously even Russian ECM operators/pilots wanted to paint a US flag on the side of their aircraft. It was not to be, though. {Note: I may well see about making an “unarmed” loadout with just ECM equipment to determine if these aircraft continue to separate from the formation when lacking weapons suitable for the detected enemy forces – in this case aircraft}

 

The SAG remnants were erased and the S-3B’s moved in quickly, laying hundreds of sonobuoys. They were rewarded with 3-5 sub detections per group, with all detected subs sunk:

 

The ASW crews were beyond jubilant upon their return, also with good reason:

Quantity Sunk Type Class

1 SSGN Oscar-II

1 SSGN Oscar-I

1 SSGN Charlie-II

1 SSN Imp Akula-I

1 SSN Sierra-I

4 SSN Victor-III

2 SSN Victor-II

Now, for the bases. Keflavik was priority 1 as it had Tu-22M’s rather than Tu-16’s. F/A-18’s and A-6E’s were rearmed with decoys, HARM’s, SLAM’s, Mavericks, and Walleye’s. The plan was to saturate the SA-5C and SA-20C batteries with decoys, send in SLAM’s to surgically remove the most potent SAM’s, and HARM anything with a radar. After that the strike A-6E’s would have an easy time getting into range of Keflavik and demolishing it with Walleye’s.

 

And that is how it went. The base was destroyed and the supporting SAM clusters were knocked out. I later killed two SA-6 SAM barges which were placed too far to the East. Had they been SA-10 SAM barges and had their fire discipline been good, many of my strike pilots would not have come home.

 

Minimum victory was awarded here, but I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and again the strike pilots were pressed into their third major series of attacks in just hours.

 

After enough time to rearm the cycle was repeated to the East, this time with S-3B’s assisting with buddy-refuelling stores for the extended range strike. The A-6E’s were almost bingo over the target, without having looked at a tanker since departing the boat.

 

In this case there was just one major SAM concentration protecting RAF Kinloss, and again the most potent threats were surgically removed with SLAM’s after decoys and HARM’s had dealt with the ready launch SAM rounds. Again, Walleye’s demolished the base and the few remaining SAM batteries.

 

Total victory was awarded a short time later, with the following tally:

 

Type Number

Carriers 5

Ships 38

Submarines 18 (some seemed to be counted/reported as sunk 2 or even 3 times)

Aircraft 381

Helicopters 90-odd

Bases 2

AD Mobile 19

 

This was a great scenario, with constant activity until the end. I am looking forward to playing V1.1 next.

 

Thanks Ralf for a great scenario. I may well try to get back into scenario design, using some of the tips you posted in the V1.1 thread.

 

Live Well.

 

Kindest Regards,

trader

Hello,

 

AAR: F-14 Fleet Defender

Battleset: EC2003 NACV

Source: http://harpgamer.com/harpforum/index.php?showtopic=2465

Author: Ralf Koelbach

Contact: rkoelbach@yahoo.com

Date of release: 30-Dec-2007

Date of play: Late June 2008

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

[...]

 

This was a great scenario, with constant activity until the end. I am looking forward to playing V1.1 next.

 

Thanks Ralf for a great scenario. I may well try to get back into scenario design, using some of the tips you posted in the V1.1 thread.

 

Live Well.

 

Kindest Regards,

trader

 

 

What an amgnificient AAR ! This one alone was worth writing the scenario. If V 1.0 was joy, you should love V 1.1

 

Thank you for playing and commenting it.

 

Best Regards,

 

Ralf Koelbach