AAR CAMPAIGN #12 THE CHANNEL WARS

This AAR was posted by Frans Koenz on StrategyZoneOnline.com and is re-printed here with the permission of the author.

AAR CAMPAIGN #12 THE CHANNEL WARS

Scenario 3: Quotient.

Scenario by: Herman Hum and Brad Leyte (CV32)

Side: France

The 1994 conflict was the beginning of a new arms race.  Many weapons slated for retirement were refurbished instead and many procurement programs were accelerated.

 

France never truly recovered from the Iberian conflict of August, 1996.  It never again fully trusted its European neighbours although it participated alongside them in the conflicts that followed with Bangladesh, India, and the New Soviet Confederation (NSC).  With the US and NSC effectively removed from participation as major players on the world stage, the EU was the sole remaining "superpower".  Rivalries grew between its members in mid-2002 (especially between France and the UK) and France officially withdrew from the EU later that year.  On the surface, it appeared that the disagreement was being fueled by the commonly held belief that France was failing to abide by the spirit of the 1998 Code of Conduct on foreign arms sales but some believed that the dispute had much deeper roots.  By Februry, 2003, the UK and France were battling each other with economic sanctions and embargoes and each stepped onto the slippery slope to war once more.

 

When war broke out, the French carrier, Charles de Gaulle, was in the North Sea, off Dogger Bank.  The nearest British naval group was off of Ireland and is now steaming at high speed towards the Channel.  The de Gaulle would have to enter the race to gain an advantageous position for the upcoming confrontation.

 

///SECRET///DGA-NET///1515Z030301

 

From: FRENCH HIGH COMD HQ PARIS

To:  TASK GROUP CHARLEMAGNE - FLAG de Gaulle

Subj: Channel zone objective

 

1. SITREP

 

The French air force has achieved marginal air superiority in the Channel zone.  Enemy air activity is still considered heavy. Intelligence reports that an enemy carrier group was near Ireland but is proceeding east at high speed.  The best estimate of enemy intentions is to place the carrier group in the Channel zone.

 

2. ORDERS

 

Break off exercises in the North Sea.  Proceed at best possible speed to the Channel zone.  Prepare to engage and destroy the enemy carrier group and other enemy surface combatants.  The submarine threat is considered high.  French air force assets can provide only limited support at this time.

 

3. ROE

 

Warning level RED.  Engage and destroy enemy surface combatants as encountered.  Primary target is the Invincible-class CVH.

Right after start of the game, UK launched a massive air attack on the French TF.

I directly launched all Rafale fighters to intercept the enemy and managed to destroy all attacking aircraft (70 fighters, 3 Nimrod MR.2P and 2 Sentry AEW.)

In the meantime, a British Trafalgar-class submarine was spotted. I launched an ASW aircraft to locate the submarine and sank it with torpedoes.

Now it was time to plan a French attack on the British aircraft carrier and its escort.

First, I ordered the French submarine Perle and the CTF to make best speed through the Channel to engage the enemy.

I launched The Tankers for air-replenishment and some hours later I launched all aircraft based at Cambrai. Several hours later the submarine Perle was able to fire torpedoes at the British CTF and sank the Illustrious and 2 of her escorts with torpedoes. The Rafale and Etendards based on the R91 attacked the CTF at the same time and managed to take out the brand new Type 45.1 Daring-class destroyer. This was a very hard nut to crack due to her excellent defense systems. Finally, I cracked the last British destroyer with Exocet missiles fired by the destroyers who arrived at the scene.

My orders were specific: sink the British Illustrous. I crossed the Channel and finally sank the last British destroyer west of Brest.

British losses:

70 Attack/Fighter

3 Nimrod MR.2P

2 Sentry AEW.1

13 Helicopters

1 Trafalgar-class submarine

1 Type 42.1 Birmingham-class destroyer

1 Type 42.3 Manchester-class destroyer

1 Type 45.1 Daring-class Destroyer

1 Illustrious aircraft carrier

French losses:

30 Attack/Fighter

Much fun while playing this scenario

Cheers,

Taitennek.

This scenario is available at the SZO scenario archives, as well as at the scenario-page of my website, the PDB-Depot www.taitennek.nl

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