AAR: The Odd Angry Shot [Spoiler Alert]

Here's another After-Action Report re-printed with permission from the author.

AAR: The Odd Angry Shot [spoiler Alert]

A Harpoon 3 scenario

By Paul Bridge

Report by Freek Schepers

 

 

During the 1950s and 60s the UK Forces were engaged in a not so small conflict in Yemen.  In 1962 a coup in Northern Yemen organised by the Egyptians overthrew the Iman al-Badr in the Capital Sanaa, at the same time Egypt landed forces into the North of the country.

 

The loyalist forces backed by the UK fought back the incursions into Southern Yemen, but at no time did UK and Egyptian forces go head to head apart from the Odd angry shot at each other nothing happened.  Things came to a head when Egypt had at least 40,000 troops in country and at over 100 aircraft based in Northern Yemen , these aircraft were conducted strike missions on villages in S. Yemen in support of the N. Yemen forces.

 

In late 1964 UK had recieved some shocking news... Egypt wanted to become more involved .... strike UK Assets in S. Yemen, Oil Instalations were going to be the prime target, and the UK Forces were on high alert!

 

The conflict started quite, French planes were buzzing overhead and I managed not to annoy them into hostility. I used the quite of the pre-dawn morning to drop Gurka's around the three Dessert Forts. Egyptians were not known for night-fighting after all. They were reinforced during the day but communication problems with my Indian friends prevented good damage reports, so as the conflict went on I supported them with flights of hunters in an attempt to breach the Forts to 50% damage.

 

Fighters were dispatched overhead BP Torrey Canyon and the BP refinary. They strafed some dows into oblivian though one got luckey and downed a Hunter.

 

At 6 am Fagots and Frescos started on dawn patrol and covered some attack planes. My Intel reported over 100 planes opposing me, and I ordered my bombers to go after their hangars and revetments.

 

By 9 am 6 hangars and revetments lay in ruins, but still the enemy was starting to throw larger groups of attack planes at my units in the desert. A Cavalry unit, a radar site were lost and a bold attack damaged Frigate Hermione escorting Torrey Canyon. She later sunk. The Brits had the distinct advantages of the superb Red Top missile, the slightly lower ranged firestreak and medium range SAMs. All took terrible toll from the airplane.

 

The AEW and the DDs radar planes provided excellent early warning and though some gunnery duels were lost most Jemeni and Egyptian planes made one way trips.The Bullpup B missile was the final victor, together with bombs and rockets 16 hangars and revetments were destroyed and the AAA, while exacting some toll from the strikers, was largely brushed aside.I carefully scouted the exit of the Red Sea for long range arty and found only some AAA, so Torrey Canyon got through. All had become quite and my CAPs were placed over the BD refinary when two Badgers were detected heading straight for the convoy. Sea Vixen just made the intercept on burner, and both Badgers died but after releasing a few Kennels. A second Sea Vixen with Firestreaks shot down these 200dp weapons which could have ruined my day.

 

A few heavy airstrike on the fortresses cofirmed heavy damage and victory was awarded just after a last minute submarine scare which turned out to be biologic Good scenario, great design of surprises early and late!I think one small DB issue; I loaded hunters with Bullpup but was unable to release them. Must have been a loose connector to their guidance systems. The Odd Angry Shot turned into a 120 against 31 air to air kill ratio, 4 airbases flattened, a frigate lost for 3 dows and a DD and various small ground units lost. The oil was delivered and refined for the latest model Fords though!

 

Freek

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