CV60
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Joined: 10/1/2012 Status: offline
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This will be an ongoing AAR of the Standing Naval Forces Atlantic 1979 scenario. I'm doing it to introduce new players to some of the tactical concepts used in naval operations. Questions are welcome. The scenario begins with this description: Orders for Cmdr NATO Forces Situation CINCLANT has directed the multinational task force Standing Naval Forces Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) to move into the Norwegian Sea at high speed in response to the Soviet sabler-rattling. Enemy Forces Intelligence gathering by P-3B Orion sorties of the Norwegian Sea indicate the Varag, sister ship of the Admiral Golovko, and escorting destroyers are situated in the vicinity of Jan Mayen Island. It is reported that this group will shortly sail at high speed to Murmansk in view of the current crisis. It has also been reported that the group has been ordered to destroy NATO shipping in the Norwegian Sea during their passage back to Soviet territory because of the Stavka's fears of a surprise NATO amphibious assault against the Kola Peninsula. Friendly Forces STANAVFORLANT: flagship USS Luce, HMS Active, HMNLS Van Speijk, FGS Lutjens, HMCS Ottawa and the Norwegian frigate Bergen. Marine ARG: LPH Iwo Jima, LPD's Austin and Ogden, and FFG Talbot. Royal Norwegian Air Force 333 Sqn, Andoya: P-3B Orion MPA Royal Norwegian Air Force 333 Sqn, Bodo: CF-104G Starfighters specialized in anti-shipping strike with Bullpup missiles RAF Lossiemouth: Buccaneers in anti-shipping role, Shackleton AEW.2 RAF Kinloss: Nimrod MR.1 MPA NAS Keflavik: P-3C Orion MPA Mission STANAVFORLANT has been ordered to prevent passage of the Soviet task group to Murmansk and to protect the US ARG from Soviet attack. Execution 1. The Amphibious Ready Group is to make a safe transit to the Vestfjord near Narvik within 36 hrs. 2. STANAVFORTLANT is to prevent the Soviet Task Group engaging the Amphibious Ready Group. 3. Loss of any Amphibious Ready Group Units is considered a mission failure. 4. The RNoAF F-104Gs and Bodo and RAF Buccaneers at Lossiemouth have been authorized to carry out a single strike only. Use them to their full potential. Command & Signal Command: USS Luce Signal: EMCON State B, limited emissions. My analysis of the situation and initial strategy is as follows: Intelligence RED Air: Unknown RED Surface: One KYNDA class CG and unknown number of Destroyers invicinity (invic) Jan Mayen Island. Unknown if any other SAGs or patrol vessels are in the AOR RED Subsurface: Unknown Mission Analysis There are two primary mission objectives: 1) Protect the ARG and 2) destroy the Soviet KYNDA Surface Action Group (SAG). The ARG is my center of gravity. Any loss of any unit in the ARG is a scenario loss. The ARG also has limited protection. Only the USS TALBOT (FFG-4) has a limited AAW/ASW capability. Unable to effectively defend itself, the ARG will need considerable ASW and AAW support from aircraft. The ARG also has approximately 300 nm to travel to reach the safe area, requiring a minimum advance of 9 nm/hour. That gives some time room for manuvers. The second mission is to sink the KYNDA SAG. At least one unit of the SAG is armed with long range SS-N-3 SSMs, with a range of up to 220 nm. This far outranges any of my SSMs. However, by denying the USSR over the horizon (OTH) targeting, NATO can neutralize the long range of his SSMs. The actual destruction of the KYNDA SAG will be accomplished by aircraft. However, the guided weapons of the NATO aircraft are limited to approximately 15 nm in range, within the probable 22 nm AAW envelope of the KYNDA SAG. To minimize aircraft losses, I will try to clear the way with my limitted supply of HARPOON and EXOCET missiles, if I can bring STANAVFORLANT (NATO SAG) within striking range. Manuver To avoid detection, I will have it go to EMCON ALPHA (no emissions) and clear the North Cape area at high speed. After a 2 hour run to open water, the ARG will begin sprint and drift tactics. I have 300 nm to travel in 36 hours. That gives a minimum speed of 9 knts. AAW Four Canadian F-104 with AIM-9N for CAP out of Bodo will provide CAP for the first 3 hours. As the ARG goes further south, I’ll hand off to the F-5s based out of Orland. The problem with the F-104 is that they don’t have a long range, which may require F-5 support earlier than I would like. The F-5’s will also be available for CAP for the NATO SAG, but I won’t launch them unless they are needed. A Shackelton AEW aircraft will provide support to the ARG. Currently, it is 750 nm away from the ARG. I will launch an alert Shackelton after 5 hours to provide back up and to cover the NATO SAG. SSC The airborne P-3B will initially do a radar sweep of the ARG Planned Intended Movement (PIM) to sanitize it. It will then return to ASW box 1 and transition to an ASW mission. After initial sanitization, aircraft that are RTB will re-sanitize the PIM. A P-3B from Andoya will launch to sanitize ASW box 1, positioned on the initial portion of the ARG PIM. One of the two SSC P-3B’s will reconfigure and ready as an ASW back up P-3 for alert missions. The other will remain as a SSC asset for locating and tracking the SAG. USN P-3Cs from Keflavik will provide mid-Atlantic SSC services to locate the KNYDA SAG enroute to ASW patrol stations in ASW Box 3. They will also provide targeting information for any airstrikes against the SAG. After localization, Birddog duties will be handed off to non-US NATO assets ASW Overview: There is no intelligence regarding Soviet submarine assets in the area. However, given the proximity to North Fleet bases, assume that several SS/SSNs are possibly operating in the vicinity. The ARG will transit at high speed to neutralize the SS threat. A series of ASW patrol areas along the ARG PIM will be sanitized by MPA assets before the ARG enters them. From north to south along the PIM they are ASW Box 1, ASW Box 2, ASW Box 4. A rectangular ASW box (ASW Box 3) that will act as a barrier to Soviet subs entering the area from the Atlantic side. Primary mission for USN P-3Cs will provide sanitization of the western half of the ARG PIM (ASW Box 3) against possible Soviet SSNs coming from the west, and provide direct ASW services in support of the NATO SAG. Secondary mission will be SSC against the KNYDA SAG. Primary mission for RAF Nimrods will be to provide sanitization of the southern half of the ARG PIM (Boxes 2 and 4). Depending on how the situation develops, I may use the Nimrods to set up a blocking position similar to ASW Box 3 further south. The ARG only has a single organic Airborne ASW asset, the SH2 embarked on USS TALBOT (FFG-4). This asset will be used during ARG sprint periods, at a point 15-20 nm ahead of PIM. When not airborne, the ARG is tentatively planned to go to cruising or creep speed. ASUW The KNYDA-class cruiser carries eight SS-N-3 missiles with an range of 220nm. Because of this, any OTH targeting platforms within range of the NATO SAG or ARG will be destroyed. After destroying any OTH targeting platform, the affected surface vessels will clear the datum at high speed. Primary ASUW assets will be the Buccaneers and CF-104. Only one vessel in NATO SAG is equipped with only four 65 nm range HARPOON SSMs. Accordingly, the SAG will not close the KNYDA SAG unless the KNYDA or any OTH assets have been neutralized. EMCON NATO surface vessels will be EMCON A. On CAPSTA, fighters will be EMCON A. AEW Aircraft EMCON D. Land based radars EMCON D. SSC aircraft EMCON D. MPA on ASW aircraft will be at EMCON B. Environmental The scenario starts at 2230, in November. Sunrise will be at approximately 0700 Weather is clear, no effect on operations.
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< Message edited by CV60 -- 11/13/2014 2:35:16 AM >
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