AAR: Operation Thistle - BAT90B2 [Spoiler Alert]

AAR: Operation Thistle - BAT90B2 [spoiler Alert]

I examined the forces available under my command and surmised that the subsurface threat would be high due to the fairly high number of ASW-capable platforms. I hoped that my units would actually be able to detect the submarines in the first place. Since the orders allowed for it, I re-configured my fighter assets to full defensive mode with the AMRAAM in lieu of the less effective SkyFlash AAMs.

My AEW assets were positioned north of the Faeroe Islands and well north of the Norwegian bases. They immediately detected EW emissions but could do nothing about them since I had no EW assets of my own.

A flight of Fencers stole in and detected my Oslo-class FF right away. This earned her a salvo of SS-N-12 Sandbox missiles which promptly blew her out of the water.

SSN Valiant caught scent of a submarine and quickly called in an Orion to prosecute it. Unfortunately, it turned out to be just a whale wandering by; a nice diversion. However, the Orion was armed with Harpoons so immediately put in an attack on a nearby SAG centred on the CG Slava to no effect. A Norwegian diesel submarine was also ordered to intercept along with all available ASuW forces on the air bases.

Meanwhile, the Norwegians, Swedes, and British fighters were slowing winning the aerial battle. The position of Harstad made it very challenging. It was forward enough to allow the Fulcrums based there plenty of manoeuvring latitude. The EW environment was really knocking my aerial picture for a loop but must have done similar things to the Russians as I was often able to sneak in and fire deadly AMRAAMs and escape without any return fire even though the Russian missiles had greater range than my AMRAAMs.

An attack from ALCMs was detected near Gardermoen and easily defeated. However, I worried that it was going to be a very long day since the AI could conceivably fire unlimited numbers of these stealthy missiles. It only takes a few to ruin anyone’s day so I moved my AEW assets ever closer to the Russian bases on the Kola peninsula in hopes of earlier detection. Unfortunately, this move garnered the attention of Foxhounds on patrol and the Sentry was sent scurrying for friendly air cover. This was going to prove a difficult exercise. Eventually, I was able to determine a point that was just outside the patrol range of the Foxhounds. I was pretty certain that my AEW aircraft were out of range but it still disconcerting every time I saw the interceptors come rushing at the Sentry only to turn back from lack of fuel.

Roving groups of Fencer bombers were detected and dispatched with Sidewinders relatively easily. It would prove to be the only easy part of the afternoon.

Sure enough, successive waves of ALCMs were detected approaching Bergen but picked up early enough to ensure each was destroyed.

The Time-Over-Target strike on the Slava SAG was perfectly executed and resulted in the destruction of the Slava and another cruiser. A nearby Tornado promptly destroyed the ASW helo coverage and set the stage for the diesel submarine to penetrate the screen. Kobben unleashed her torpedoes and killed DDG Udaloy, DDG Kashin, and CG Kresta while biting off a piece of the CG Kara.

The Sentry positioned over the Faeroes got the surprise of their life when a flight of Fulcrums ‘materialized’ right next to them and unleashed a volley of Alamo AAMs. They quickly beat feet while screaming for cover. Luckily for them, a flight of Tornados was in the vicinity to dispatch the intruders. It was very unnerving to count down the seconds as the missiles closed on my Sentry; all the while praying that they would run out of gas. To add insult to injury, it happened again! Those Fulcrums are bad news. My AEW survived the second raid, too.

With the Slava SAG pretty much destroyed, a second, more powerful SAG, was detected on the horizon. This one was centred on BCGN Lazarev. The Orion that detected it quickly loosed 4 Harpoons and was rewarded with 2 hits on a Kara-class cruiser as the SAG was operating under EmCon and thus did not detect the ASMs until it was too late. A second ASuW effort was organized and launched.

The BCGN was a real threat since my oil rigs were already under its offensive SSM umbrella. My only hope was to keep the enemy blind as to the position of my vessels or else I could expect another barrage of those super lethal projectiles. The SSN Valiant crept to a position in front of the SAG and waited. She loosed her torpedoes and ran for her life but could not evade the 12 torpedoes fired back at her. Her consolation was to destroy the BCGN and 2 DDGs with her weapons.

The second airstrike destroyed the remainder of the SAG and the rest of the game was spent maintaining barrier CAPs and hunting down submarines attempting to approach the oil rigs. As expected, intermittent ALCM attacks kept the defenders on their toes and victory was granted with 2 hours remaining on the clock.

Thanks for a very enjoyable scenario.