After Action Report: Operation Island Wind

A scenario by Akula

 

North Korea has recently been threatening to test a long range ballistic missile, shrugging off the concerns of the world community.  Despite the threat of sanctions, they have persisted with preparations. North Korea's persistence in testing their new Taepodong missile system is of great concern to the world.  What is more alarming is that recent satellite intelligence has captured the possible arming of a payload onto this missile.  This test must not be allowed to occur.  The Parliament has approved an offensive operation to destroy this weapon before it can be fully armed and launched. Intelligence reports that the area of the target is heavily defended by air, land and sea assests.  Recent imagery shows several advanced SAM installations as well as numerous flak emplacements near the target.  Intel suggests that we currently have less than 24 hours before imminent launch.  It is imperitive that the target be nuetralized as soon as possible.

 

Let me say, first of all, this scenario is indeed a job well done, especially for a first completed and released scenario. I don't profess to be an expert, but I've created a few scenarios and played a few, and this one was really a good job. Hats off !

 

As well, I must point out just how "prophetic" this scenario turned out to be. The very same day that Akula posted his scenario announcement, North Korea launched half a dozen missiles or more, arousing Japan’s ire.

 

To set up for the strike against the missile base, I moved the three surface action groups (centred on the Kongo class Aegis destroyers Chokai and Myoko, and the Takanami class destroyer Onami) westward through the Sea of Japan, creating an AAW barrier that I would seek to exploit later. The submarine Oyashio set out on a sweeping course along the DPRK’s northeast coast, sniffing out surface and subsurface contacts alike.

 

In the air, F-15J and F-2 fighters were directed to probe the DPRK air defences along their eastern coast. An E-767 AEW&C platform was moved into an orbit near Miho to give decent coverage over the battle zone.

 

The DPRK air force responded promptly, their antiquated Soviet era fighters launching to meet the JASDF efforts. Unlike the Fulcrums, the more numerous Fishbeds and Frescos had no chance of tackling the JASDF fighters, but that didn’t prevent them from making the attempt. Consistently and continually they rose from DPRK airfields, but each time they were swatted down by either AMRAAM air-air missiles or SM-2s from the JMSDF warships.

 

However, it turns out that I didn’t show enough respect for the long range SA-5 SAMs, and several Eagles were lost to barrages from these “flying telephone poles”. Ashore, a pair of F-2s were struck down while probing the defenses around Kojo. A decent SEAD capability and a few standoff weapons were sorely missed.

 

A quartet of North Korean missile craft were soon discovered off the coast of Kojo, moving at speed to counter the Chokai SAG. Several F-2s were rearmed with ASM-2 antiship missiles, and shortly thereafter the enemy formation was decimated.

 

It wasn’t long until the Oyashio encountered its own nemesis, a Romeo submarine cruising silently eastward. Though hardly a match for the modern Japanese sub, the Romeo was nevertheless a direct threat. The target was at near maximum range, so two Type 89 torpedoes were launched. One struck home, its victim unaware of its impending doom until the last moment.

 

By now, the density of the air defences around Hochon missile base had largely been determined, and the news was not good. Without SEAD capability and a general lack of precision guided weaponry, killing this threat was not going to be easy. And time was running out. I needed a solution … fast.

 

It was decided that the Takanami group would run for the coast near Hochon, and hopefully get into a position where it could use its 5 inch gun to shell the local air defences. Helicopters from all three SAGs – armed with Hellfires - would add to the offensive firepower while Eagles and a E-767 were moved in behind the naval AAW screen.

 

The plan worked perfectly. Well, almost perfectly. Takanami was able to hit several AAA positions along the coast, making way for the helicopters to peel back the next layer of defences with Hellfire strikes. The DPRK attempted to intercept the helicopters and attack the Japanese warships just offshore, but were easily dispatched by the AAW umbrella. In the end, only one SH-60JKai was lost, to an unknown attacker. (Special thanks to Akula for making it possible for me to do something I haven't done in awhile in HC: conduct a naval bombardment of shore targets. )

 

Another small group of North Korean fast attack craft was encountered near Hochon, but an assortment of Harpoon and SSM-1 antiship missiles from both the Chokai and Takanami groups made sure they were no threat, now or ever.

 

A pair of Romeos was also discovered further offshore by the Myoko SAG, and pounced on by the group’s helicopters. The aged subs had no chance.

 

With a path to the target blown wide open, several waves of F-2 fighters, operating at near their maximum endurance, penetrated into DPRK territory and one by one loosed their GCS-1 guided bombs. The launch site severely damaged, minimum victory was attained with about four hours left to go.

 

Thanks to Akula for a challenging and enjoyable scenario. Superb job !

Just finished playing (and winning ) this excellent scenario. Thanks Akula for a fun piece of work!

 

The North Koreans certainly have numbers and small groups of fast boats assailed me on multiple occasions, getting in the way of my FS-X strikers or trying to harm my own surface groups. Thankfully the FS-X were able to bomb the ships (except for one poor pilot who bit the waves after a AAA hit). As well, an early precaution was to arm some Seahawks in the ASuW role instead of ASW, and came in very handy, minimizing the expenditure of harpoons.

 

The destruction of the Taepodong and launcher was accomplished with almost 9 hours left in the scenario (time was certainly on my mind, my FS-X had to switch to cluster bombs to finish the job within the alotted time)

 

Equipment tally:

 

Friendly Losses:

3 x F-15

2 x FS-X

 

Enemy Losses:

1 x Taepodong and launch site

1 x Romeo SS

1 x SA-5 battery

2 x SA-3 battery

3 x ZSU-23

2 x KS-12

2 x S-60

11 x Patrol boats

72 x Aircraft (Mig-29, Mig-23, Mig-21, Mig-17)

Damaged 1 x Hochon Missile Base