AAR: Incoming Mail [Spoiler Alert]

August 7, 200620 yr

Here's another excellent AAR. It is reprinted here with permission of the author:

SPOILER ALERT

After Action Report

Scenario: INCOMING MAIL

Designer: David Steinmeyer

Database: PlayersDB 6.4.9 [updated 27 July 2006]

Reporter: Frans Koenz [aka Taitennek]

Side: Soviet Union

BACKGROUND:

The Soviets have two weapons that can reach NATO convoys in the Atlantic: submarines and long-range aircraft. Long-range bombers on the Kola Peninsula can easily hunt the Atlantic. With Iceland in Soviet hands, however, they can attack at will and their range would be greatly increased.

A standard NATO convoy crossing the Atlantic would consist of 40-50 merchant ships. Eight to ten escorts, and if they are lucky, a helicopter carrier, will provide protection from submarine and air attack.

Here, a large NATO convoy has been detected by a Soviet Radar Ocean Reconnaissance Satellite [RORSAT] and Tu-95 Bear Ds are sent out to pinpoint their position. Following close behind the Bears are two squadrons of Backfire bombers.

This could be a very bad day for NATO…

Russian Charlie-II class nuclear submarine

[Photo: www.grazehay.org]

Game Date: 01 May 1991

Game Time: 19:30:00 Zulu

30 minutes after game start, I launched a Tu-95 Bear D to track the enemy convoy.

Suddenly a torpedo was in the water. The K-479, a SSGN [NATO-codename: Charlie II] was under attack. It is perhaps a bizarre manoeuvre, but I had to know what fired the weapon and rose to periscope depth. Immediately several air contacts appeared on my screen. Helicopters! After some time I lost contact with the 1st torpedo, but a second one was launched and another one. I crept to maximum depth and hoped that the enemy would lose contact. No way; sonar buoys splashed into the water. This game of cat and mouse went on for some time.

20:00:00 – 22:30:00 Zulu Time:

Meanwhile, carefully approaching, the Tu-95 Bear picked up 10 air contacts, and a surface contact appeared on the screen of the K-479. It was identified as the HMS Annapolis, a Canadian ASW-Frigate; so far, so good.

British destroyer HMS Birmingham

[Photo: RN]

22:30:00 – 24:00:00 Zulu Time:

9 Tu-22m Backfire Bombers are ready on Keflavik airfield; each armed with 2 AS-4 “Kitchen” missiles. I launched the aircraft in groups of three.

The Tu-95 now is surveying the area and picking up new surface contacts. Later, the whole convoy is in sight; more than 40 ships, including the British VTOL-carrier HMS Invincible with escort.

What you call a “Fette Beute” [Movie “Das Boot”……….ping………ping…….]

Time for tactical choices:

I realise that our submarines are quite noisy and the enemy ASW-capabilities are rather advanced. This convoy is protected by 7 escorts, 1 VTOL carrier, 3 Atlantic Conveyor-class merchants and a navy supply ship [HMS Fort Grange].

I can only survive with fast movements [approach – attack – disappear] with the K-479. The 9 Backfires will be used for an attack on escorts only. If I succeed, the other submarines can take out the remaining ships before they reach their destination.

I have a nuclear option; 4 SS-N-9 missiles with nuclear warheads. The ROE [Rules Of Engagement] don’t mention the use of nuclear weapons, but, if the submarine survives, and all other assets are destroyed and there is still a convoy left, I will use these MD-weapons to ensure the destruction of the enemy convoy.

23:30:00 – 00:30:00 Zulu Time.

My forces now have exact positions of all individual units of the convoy. The 3 bomber groups are now 200nm south east of the convoy and flying to a position southwest of the convoy. The K-479 is approaching from the east and is now within firing distance for the SS-N-9 “Siren”-missiles. But I like to proceed approaching the convoy at creeping speed at maximum depth. The K-438 and K-488 are making best speed to the spot, but both submarines have to travel more than 200nm to reach the area.

HMS Invincible

[Photo: unknown]

Meanwhile enemy ASW-operations are increasing, it seems that the enemy has picked up sonar contact, and I decided to go to periscope depth with the K-479 for a hit-and-run operation; 2 escorts cruising at close distance. Once I was on periscope depth I launched 4 missiles; 2 per ship. I managed to sink both vessels! 4 helicopters are circling around my submarine and suddenly a torpedo was launched. I survived the attack with a short sprint at maximum speed/depth and the launch of decoys, realising that this was only the second of many manoeuvres to avoid incoming torpedoes to come.

As the nuclear option is no option [yet], I now only have torpedoes left. That means I have to close in to the convoy [less than 5nm]. From time to time I have to increase distance to the convoy when British Sea Harriers chasing the Tu-95 Bear, or when SAM-missiles are being fired from the escorts.

00:30:00 – 02:00:00 Zulu Time.

At 00:50 I launched AS-4 Kitchen missiles at the HMS Invincible and the HMS Birmingham. Both ships were hit and sunk. 5 minutes later missiles hit the HMS Fort Grange, 3 Atlantic Conveyor-class merchants and 5 other escorts. The convoy is now protected by only 2 escorts. Meanwhile I lost the Tu-95; she was hit by SAM’s. All Backfires returned save to their base, except 1, she now must take over surveillance duties. When I checked reports of the Backfires, I noticed that 1 Backfire has a missile left. I already noticed that many helicopters landed on 1 ship. I fired the last AS-4 at that vessel and after it was hit it sunk. It was the HMCS Huron, a Canadian destroyer.

Suddenly another torpedo was in the water; once again I survived an attack on the K-479.

Soviet Tu-22M Backfire with AS-4 "Kitchen" missiles

The score so far:

8 destroyers/frigates

1 VTOL carrier

1 AEFS

3 Atlantic Conveyor-class merchants

2 Merchants

The K-479 now has fired all her weapons except the nuclear SS-9-N missiles. She is now on course outside the convoy. I now have to wait until the 2 other submarines have arrived at the scene. It takes 17 hours before I can launch aircraft.

At 04:00:00 I launched a Backfire to guard the convoy. The K-479 now is cruising west of the convoy at a distance that she can launch the nuclear missiles if necessary.

Sea King HAS-5

[Photo: RN]

Several hours later, on the 3rd of May 1991 00:00:00 Zulu Time

The Convoy is cruising north eastward without air protection, only [8] helicopters are circling in front of the convoy.

The Tu-95 Bear is circling above the convoy and 8 Backfires are underway.

I managed to destroy 6 helicopters with cannon fire with, however, 2 survived. 7 more merchants were sunk after the attack with the Backfires. Now it is up to the submarines to inflict as much damage as possible. 22 merchants left, 5 are damaged.

May 3rd, 1991, 03:00:00 Zulu Time.

The K-513 fired her first torpedo in this operation and sank a damaged merchant. Soon, she destroyed the second one. The K 438 and K 488 are now in position to fire torpedoes, as well. The K 479 is cruising at 80nm east of the convoy. The Tu-95 Bear is still circling above the convoy as a lonesome guard with enough fuel aboard for another 20 hours flight. Dinner is served.

Russian Victor-I Submarine

[Photo: via www.hazegray.org]

One after the other merchant was hit by torpedoes.

Suddenly the K-438 disappeared from my screen. I have really no idea what happened; the only helicopter just landed on a container vessel. There are no other submarines nearby, all torpedoes she fired hit target. Very strange…. Could it be an overheated reactor? Perhaps it was the fact that I made the voyage to the convoy at maximum speed at 600m all the time? A secret weapon?

The 2 other submarines had fired all their torpedoes and were heading north. Only 3 ships are left, 1 of them is heavily damaged. At day 3, 20:15:00 Time. A Backfire fires 2 missiles and hit both ships. The mission was a success!!! Not a single ship survived the attacks.

Russian losses:

1 Tu-95 Bear

1 SNN Victor II

Thank you for sharing this scenario with us!