AlGrant
Posts: 912
Joined: 8/18/2015
Status: offline
|
Units: USS Tunny / USS Whale
Scenario start: 240800Z AUG 75 - Duration 3 Days
Weather: Moderate Cloud (7k-16k ft) – Heavy Rain – Sea State 4 - Thermal Layer: -131 to -220
Time compression - As Required.
Mission: Find & kill the Soviet SSBN's
================================
This is my second attempt at this scenario. The first was a total failure!
I spent the full 3 days of scenario time searching the SSBN box without finding a single submarine. I did waste time getting into a good position on some unknown 'Goblin' contacts, only for them to be classified as 'Biologics'! Other than that nothing, until the last 15 seconds of the scenario when one of my submarines got nuc'd!
================================
I start by reading the OPGEN & THREAT ORBAT to get an idea of the threat assessment (C2 & C3), OPFOR platforms/weapons/emitters.
Noted that the mission Side Briefing lists Delta I SSBN yet the OPFOR ORBAT lists Yankee I SSBN (we’ll have to see what’s out there, but it won't make much of a difference), but I’ll go with the Side Briefing!
Initial plan- Both boats transit into the search area. USS Tunny to head East towards the central Datum 2 (D2) marker and then track North towards Datum 1 (D1).
USS Whale to enter mid way along the Southern edge of the area and track North.
Once inside the area (assuming no contacts) both units will take a run to PD to watch for any early surf/air contacts before diving again. Normal speed will be 5kts and normal transit depth will be at -180ft (inside the thermal layer), both boats will take regular runs above/below looking for contacts.
I often place Reference Points’s on any contacts of interest to help build an overall picture of activity. Very useful when contacts get lost/dropped.
HMS Swiftsure & HMS Warspite are known to be operating in this area but not under my control. Positive ID will be vital before engaging subsurface contacts.
================================
240800Z AUG 75: Initial courses & speed plotted.
Tunny heading E towards Ref Point D2. Sp 5 kts. Quick run to PD then down to sit inside the layer -180ft
Whale heading NE to enter search are from South. Depth= Deep. Sp 10kts, slowing occasionally to 5kts to check for contacts. When at 10kts depth will be below -800ft to avoid cavitation. Will slow to 5kts on arrival.
241000Z AUG 75: No contacts. Tunny completed initial PD run, all clear as she enters the area. Whale still on transit to OPAREA, Sonar CZ gives her a chance of an early contact along the edge of the area.
Flash msg received – USE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IS AUTHORISED
241327Z AUG 75: Whale takes a 5kt run up from -900ft towards PD. At -154ft she detects a SKUNK at approx.
12nm, small uncertainty zone. RP added to mark the SKUNK location.
Whale's current course would take her to within 5nm of the SKUNK. That’s too close to a non-mission critical contact. Course changed to head NW, keeping some distance between us. Rapidly expanding uncertainty zone around the SKUNK. Made a few depth changes either side of the layer but no further contact.
241527Z AUG 75: Contact Lost! Must still up there, will remain on this course. The renamed RP acts as a good reference now the contact is lost. Once past the RP location, Whale changes course to the N to keep that contact area out of the baffles.
242100Z AUG 75: Tunny arrives at D2 – no contacts. Pushing on a bit further East then Northwards towards D1. Whale now inside the area, No contacts. Heading NE at 5kts, will then push N/NE to a point near D2.
242329Z AUG 75: Whale detects a Goblin directly ahead, range not certain, reported as approx. 16nm, depth 249ft, sp 1kt heading to the NW so we should pass astern of the contact (if it’s a sub). At 1kt that’s slower than the usual ‘creep’ speed. Range starts to firm up to around 9nm, course, speed & depth remain constant. It takes a little under an hour to classify this contact as 'Biologics' - I'm chasing fish again!
Bit of a change of plan. Whale will move closer to Tunny, aiming to get a bit of overlap of the CZ rings.
250619Z AUG 75: Tunny detects a Goblin. She’s at -246ft, sp 5kts and heading NW. Tunny will try to firm up the contact and slip in astern …. Unless it turns out to be fish again! (although 5kts is more like ‘creep’ speed). RP placed on the contact just in case I lose her.
250630Z AUG 75: The Goblin makes a course change to the South. Heading straight towards Tunny, Sp 5kts, depth -194ft, inside the layer with Tunny. Tunny heads up above the layer to try limit detection and also at a better depth if I need to launch subroc (the Nuclear option!). As long as I remain undetected, the goblin coming towards Tunny will make it easier to get in torpedo range. The Goblin makes another course change, heading slightly more to the SE.
250731Z AUG 75: Goblin is classified at SSBN, so manually marked as Hostile. Course plotted to try drop in astern of her. She’s currently at 15nm. She’s made 3 course changes since gaining contact, will need to watch for further changes. Tunny is now deep at -876ft, SSBN is above at -187ft.
Tunny begins closing the gap, being deep prevents cavitation. I keep the SSBN selected on the map, I find this is the fastest way to spot any deviation in the target co/sp/depth.
250914Z AUG 75: SSBN has made another SW course change. Tunny now astern of her at 8.9nm.
A SKUNK contact has been detected to the south and is soon classified as FFL, heading straight towards me at 14kts … not good!
2 mins later a second SKUNK is detected directly along the course between Tunny and the SSBN.
My target is directly ahead and I’ve got 2 SKUNK’s close to her, one heading in my direction. I'm assuming Tunny has been detected.
Command decision …. Take her up above -164ft and launch Nuc Subroc at the SSBN!
As I go up the 2nd SKUNK is also classified as FFL heading towards me at 25kts and a 3rd SKUNK has been detected, closing at 13kts.
Manually targeted the SSBN …. Subroc is ‘geen' ….. Launch!
quote:
FM COMSUBLANT
TO ALL UNITS
//SOVIET SUBMARINE ASSESSED AS CAT 4 SUNK//
BT
Direct Hit …. Result = Minor Victory. Game saved but carrying on to see if I can evade the 3 incoming surf contacts, who will now all be manually marked Hostile.
250918Z AUG 75: Tunny turns South towards her attackers (all have been marked as Hostile) and goes up to PD, nothing to lose as they clearly know I’m here and at least I’ll keep a good fix on them. The 3rd SKUNK is also classified as FFL.
The 2 closest FFL’s are within torpedo range and are allocated 1 Mk48 each. Launching the weapons encourages all 3 attackers to reverse course and run.
The torpedo’s are running. Tunny attempting to exit the area. Turning North, going deep and running at flank speed.
Once I’ve cleared the launch area I’ll drop to 5kts and change course again.
250932Z AUG 75: One torpedo finds It’s target and an FFL is sunk (Scenario score = 1200)
251000Z AUG 75: With a bit of distance between us, Tunny makes a course change and drops to 5kts.
251020Z AUG 75: One of the FFL’s is detected, range 7nm heading back towards me at 25kts. 1x Mk48 launched at her and making another course change.
The surf units don’t worry me as much as any air units up there.
Tunny makes another course change as the FFL turns to try outrun the Mk48, but the torpedo finds her mark and another FFL is down. (Scenario score = 1400).
251054Z AUG 75: Tunny continues to creep away.
Whale, heading NE, picks up a Goblin contact South of her position and turns to investigate.
The Goblin data soon shows it as running at 5kts Hdg 317degs at -938ft.
The bearing is quite good and range between 4-7.5nm but area getting smaller so with that speed and depth I’ll assume it’s a sub (and not fish), she is eventually classified at Victor II, so a torpedo is sent on it's way.
As soon as the Mk48 is running the contact turns directly towards Whale, speed still 5kts. Eventually she picks up the torpedo, does a 180deg turn and increases speed. I allocate a 2nd Mk48 just in case the first doesn’t get the kill.
The Mk48 does it’s thing and the sub is killed. Scenario score goes up to 1500.
251112Z AUG 75: I took my eyes off Tunny an the surviving FFL has got to within 5nm. Tunny turns to bring the tgt within weapons arc and launches a torpedo. The FFL (now classified as SKR Petya II ) turns and runs but is hit and destroyed.
At the same time a torpedo is in the water right next to the Tunny – auto evade kicks in and she runs deep at 30kts.
Tunny launches countermeasures and evades the weapon and will continue to try exit the area at 5kts.
quote:
11:21:13 - Weapon: AT-2UM is attacking USS Tunny with a base PH of 65%. Final PH: 65%. Result: 71 - MISS
The AT-2UM is the torpedo payload delivered by the SS-N-14 Silex. The only Silex armed unit listed in the Threat Orbat is a FFG Krivak I
Not good enough and a second torpedo is detected astern. Auto Evade kicks in and once again she is running at 30kts.
Tunny is running at -1043ft away from the torpedo, suddenly a SKUNK is detected directly ahead.
The SKUNK is about 7nm ahead and Tunny is running towards her at 30kts. No time to hesitate, SKUNK is manually marked hostile and a Mk48 sent her way.
The SKUNK is eventually classified at DDG (so not the Silex shooter) and turns to run, but is quickly caught by the torpedo and sunk. (Scenario score now 1900).
At the same time the torpedo astern drops contact. Whilst that’s good news, the new SKUNK directly ahead coming on at 25kts is certainly not.
Will try deal with it in the same way … manually mark hostile and engage.
The torpedo is running at the now classified FFG, I'm assuming this is the Krivak I, If so then she's fired 2 of her 4 SS-N-14's and I don't feel like facing the others. The enemy clearly know I’m here and I need to know more about what’s up there.
I’m taking the Tunny up for a quick look at PD to see if there’s anything else I need to hit quickly!
251155Z AUG 75: The FFG takes a hit and sinks and my scenario score jumps to ‘Triumph – 2100’. Everything is clear at PD so Tunny drops to 5kts, everything still clear. Whale takes a quick look at PD and everything quiet in her location.
Both boats back down deep, speed 5kts and set course to exit the search area.
251321Z AUG 75: Spoke to soon. Whale detects a SKUNK at 6nm sp25kts.
I don’t like to exit a scenario until all threats have been either dealt with or evaded. So Whale turns toward the SKUNK, manually marked as hostile and engaged. Classified as DDG and sunk.
quote:
FM COMSUBLANT
TO ALL UNITS
//SOVIET warship ASSESSED AS CAT 4 SUNK//
BT
(Scenario score now 2300)
Whale detects an FFG range 9nm, sp10kts, Must be the DDG’s escort - If that's another Krivak then I'm within her SS-N-14 range.
Mark hostile, turn towards her and close to engage. Once in weapons range a Mk48 is sent on it’s way and a 2nd one allocated.
The FFG has now slowed to 2kts, but soon turns to run when she detects the incoming torpedo.
Whilst she’s running the Whale goes up just above the layer to try see if the DDG had more than one escort with her.
As she does that a Goblin is detected, est 16nm ahead and seen to change course and speed.
251355Z AUG 75: Whale's Goblin manually marked as hostile.
The torpedo misses and the FFG turns back towards the Whale. A second Mk48 is launched.
The SKUNK is now classified as Krivak I and has turned to try evade the incoming torpedo.
Another SKUNK detected out at 35nm in the CZ and is incoming at 22kts.
The Krivak I survives the 2nd and a 3rd torpedo!
The Whale has at least 2 surf contact and 1 subsurf in the area. Time to try break contact and exit the area before I run out of luck and available weapons. Her contacts all have expanding uncertainty zones and she seems to be keeping out of trouble.
Tunny suddenly detects a Goblin, 3kts at -627ft close to the area of Datum 2. She turns towards it to try to get a better fix/classification.
I need to remember the 2 RN subs operating in the area, would be a shame to kill a friendly at this stage.
She is eventually classified as SS. The RN subs are SSN’s and the OPGEN lists both Foxtrot and Tango SS’s as potential threats.
The Goblin is marked hostile and engaged at 4nm and is quickly killed.
Tunny again heads to exit the area.
251718Z AUG 75: Whale gets a decent fix on the Goblin detected earlier and turns towards her, she goes up in depth to just above the layer to see if there are any surf contacts close by. Whale then automatically launches a subroc and nuc’s the goblin.
That's enough for now, I decide to leave the second SSBN and get both Tunny & Whale to safety.
They both manage to exit the area without any further contacts or incidents.
I exit the scenario without any losses. Final score was Triumph = 2400
===========================================================
Soviet Union LOSSES:
1x PLARB-667B Delta I [Murena]
3x SKR Petya II [Pr.159A]
1x PLA-671RT Victor II [Syomga]
2x BPK Kanin [Pr.57A Gnevny]
1x SKR Krivak I [Pr.1135 Burevestnik]
1x PL-641B Tango [Som]
1x PL-641 Foxtrot
===================================================
I've had CMANO since mid Aug and this is my first AAR.,
I made a couple of big mistakes in this scenario, the biggest being at 251355Z AUG 75 manually marking this Goblin as ‘Hostile‘!
I’d got so wrapped up in the ongoing fight that I totally forgot to account for the presence of the 2 x Royal Navy SSN’s operating in the area. Even after making as hostile I could have reclassified them and something else if I had remembered. If unsure then ‘Unfriendly‘ would have been a better option.
At 251718Z AUG 75 I think I must have ordered the Whale to Auto-Engage the Goblin. Whale was deep and out of torpedo range at the time, as soon as I went nearer the surface the AI took a shot with a nuclear Subroc. A bit overkill for what turned out to be an SSK.
Al
P.S. I have a website that will be used primarily for my astronomy hobby, however I've also posted a version of this AAR that contains some screenshots of some of the events. http://ukstargazer.net/cmano-ni-barents-sea-boomers/
|
Printable Version
AAR: NI #4 Barents Sea Boomers - 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread