Baltic Fury 1 AAR

[maverick3320]

13 Feb 1994

Per the scenario designer's notes:


You are the commander NATO’s BALTAP (Baltic Approaches) Command. BALTAP is a joint force of land, sea and air forces arrayed specifically to keep hostile WP forces bottled up in the Baltic Sea. Your forces are primarily Danish and German but some NATO reinforcements can be expected. The restricted waters in the western Baltic funnel hostile forces directly to the island of Zeeland and Copenhagen itself. One thing is certain, there will be a lot of combat power deployed into a very small space.

Precautions over the past few hours have put a flight of F-16s forward on Bornholm Island, a few ships to sea and a NATO AWACs forward in the area of Kiel Germany. Other forces are preparing but so far there have been no hostilities.



Things don't look good.

The bad news: my intel tells me that the Soviets have a bunch of empty ports and the airfields covered with IR-defeating smoke. There are at least a dozen subs out there, well over 200 front-line fighters, along with a good amount of enemy strike and support aircraft. Judging by the number of Soviet airfields in range of the AO I could be in for a world of hurt. A Soviet SAG with a Kynda CG, 2x Sovremmeny DDGs, and an FFG Neustrashimyy are also headed my way. Further, it looks like Poland may be leaning toward joining the USSR and Sweden is blocking off it's airspace to NATO (but not to the USSR, for the most part). The airspace I can operate in is quite restricted which will likely make any strike attempts difficult as I'll have to funnel them through the anticipated Soviet CAP. Last but not least, there is a large mass of apparently civilian shipping north of Poland...right in the area where I will likely need to be firing any anti-ship missiles. I'm sure the Soviets will have no qualms hiding amongst the civilians as in other Fury scenarios. Curiously, though, there are no civilian ships around the NATO ports. Looks like all the European civilian captains have better intel than SACEUR...

The good news: well, there isn't a whole lot. I've got an AWACs up. There are 4x F-16s with AIM-9Ls forward positioned on Bornholm...which are looking more like a liability at this point. Germany has 50+ Tornados IDS available (although it will take 6 hours for the loadouts), and Denmark has a similar number of F16As, although with a shortage of AIM-9s. Germany also has some Mig-29s, potentially my best air-to-air assets, along with some F4 ICEs that have an extremely limited number of AMRAAMs (24 I believe). I'm also "promised" 12x Tornado ADVs from England at some point. Scattered throughout the AO are 3x Patriot batteries along with a number of HAWKs as well. I have a good number of Atlantic ASW aircraft but until I have some sort of idea of what the air picture will look like I'm going to be quite conservative with them. I have a few subs at sea, but until I have an idea of what the Soviet naval picture looks like I'm going to keep them quiet. There are dozens of Harpoon- and Exocet-armed patrol boats in port, but readiness timelines are all over the place so I'll have to develop a strategy for them once I have a better operational picture. I have a few German DDGs and DDs, but I'm wary of sending them off into a heavy sub threat without having control of the air as well.

One last note: BVR engagment logic is locked at "crank if possible". I edited this immediately, as I can't think of a reason why the theater commander (or whoever is my boss in this scenario) would dictate tactics to me. From experience, the Tornado/Sky Flash combo is basically useless if the Tornados try to crank after firing.

My plan: To absorb the anticipated blow as best as possible. I set up three CAPs in the center of the map, just north of Rugen. Tornado loadouts would be a heavy mix of HARMs and Kormorans, with some AIM-9Ls thrown in for backup air defense. My main air platforms, the F16s, are manueverable, but they are going to be outclassed by the Soviet air both at range and in close (AA-11s give me nightmares). So my basic plan is to try and set SAM traps for as many front-line Soviet fighters as possible, as I believe the Soviet fighters to be their center of gravity. Hopefully I can send in my F-16s while the Mig-29s are dodging Patriot and HAWK missiles. At sea, I'm going to be extremely conservative with my surface forces until I have a better idea of what I'm up against.

AND SO IT BEGINS

The Soviets put what seems like 100+ aircraft in the air heading toward Roskilde and Vaerlose - fighters, jammers, bombers, everywhere. I have no hope of stopping them with my air so I watch as my SAMs do the best they can. A hasty evac of all the helos as Roskilde leads to disaster as the Soviet fighters detect them at long range and kill almost all of them. Roskilde takes a pounding like I've never seen an airfield get hit before; with one HAWK battery and a few MANPADs there was no hope of defense. Verlose fares a bit better, but is still almost completely wiped out. While the eastern Danish airfields are being pounded, ARM missiles start popping up everywhere headed toward most of the Danish land-based radar sites. Further ARM attacks go after the Patriots and HAWKs; thankfully, I'm able to protect my Patriots for the most part. Bornholm is also bombed into oblivion by waves of Fitters. Both Roskilde and Vaerlose would burn throughout the scenario.

After the first wave, there were two additional large attack waves. My interceptor/fighter force slowly started taking losses, even with cautious use and judicious micromanagement. Micromanaging can only go so far when your fighters are outnumbered 5 to 1! However, attrition started to set in for the Soviets. I focused everything I could on the Flankers as they seemed the largest threat, and eventually by the end of the scenario I rarely saw them. In between, though, their long-range missiles made things very interesting.

Poland, as expected, declared for the Soviets mid-scenario; thankfully they didn't add a lot to the fight other than a few patrol boats that were easily swept aside, and a SA-10 site that was less easily dispatched, but eventually buried under a blizzard of Tornado-flung HARMs. Having no jammer or ELINT aircraft made strikes somewhat risky business.

Throughout the scenario, bases, including BALTAP HQ and several naval bases, started taking hits from high explosives (presumably Spetznaz/commandos). F35 Draken recon, equipped with IR, was the only way to find them, and usually it was after they had struck. In several cases they were able to hit passing ships from 10km away (?). Eventually, though, they were all taken care of.

By mid-scenario I was able to inflict enough losses on the Soviet front-line fighters to allow my strike aircraft some breathing room. The Tornado/Kormoran combination went to work on the plethora of Grishas, Pauks, Nanachukas, Krivaks, and Tarantuls. The Soviet SAG was eventually destroyed as well, after taking down several NATO strike aircraft. NATO surface forces didn't fare well, either. Multiple patrol boats were hit by Su-24 strikes, and 5-6 of them were torpedoed when a group of seven Type 143s stumbled upon a diesel sub that I never did find. Multiple other boats were threatened by numerous SSC-1 Sepal strikes (range of 250km!); thankfully, the slow speed of the missiles allowed my CAPs to down most of them, followed by the RIM-116s, which did an excellent job throughout the scenario in close air defense. If only they could reach 36,000 feet...

The fourth and last wave was composed almost entirely of Mig-29s and attacked what was left of Roskilde. Rather than tangle with 40 Mig-29s, I let them attack and then pounced on the trailing formations, downing eight with F16As and Tornados. A NATO fighter push further east led to a massive group of Mig-23 Flogger Ks heading out to intercept, so NATO beat a hasty retreat and called it a day.

Overall, a massive and extremely fun scenario. Challenging on every front; I scored well, but many of the Soviet air losses were due to poor AI; in the hands of a reasonably competent player the USSR would have rolled NATO hard (which is what I suspect may happen in the book). As always, cheers to Gunner98 for the scenario design.

Final score: 525 (Triumph, but certainly didn't feel that way)

SIDE: NATO
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------
2x Alpha Jet A
3x BR.1150 Atlantic
12x F-16A Falcon
2x F-16B Falcon
1x F-35XD Draken
9x F-4F Phantom II ICE
4x Lynx Mk80A
2x Lynx Mk90A
13x MiG-29 Fulcrum A
2x RF-35XD Draken
1x RF-4E Phantom II
2x Sea King Mk41
2x Sea King Mk41
5x Sea King S-61A-1
4x Tornado F.3
5x Tornado IDS
2x A/C Hangar (2x Medium Aircraft)
27x A/C Hangar (2x Small Aircraft)
1x Ammo Revetment
2x Building (Airport Terminal)
2x Building (Control Tower)
2x Building (Medium)
5x Building (Small)
2x Radar (AN/FPS-110)
7x Radar (AN/FPS-6A HF)
1x Radar (AN/FPS-6B HF)
5x Radar (Coastal ACSR)
3x Radar (Coastal ACSR)
2x Radar (Coastal)
5x Radar (MPDR-30 TMLD)
2x Radar (RV-377)
1x Radar (S-244 HF)
1x Radar (S-723)
1x Radar (SRS)
1x Radar (THD-1955 MPR)
2x Radar (THD-1955 MPR)
1x Underground Hardened Bunker (C3M)
8x 35mm Twin Oerlikon [UAR-1021 Skyguard FCR] [Cargo]
17x M192 I-HAWK [Cargo]
8x Mk29 Sea Sparrow [Cargo]
2x Roland 3 [Cargo]
4x Stinger Dual MANPADS [Cargo]
4x Vehicle (AN/MPQ-50 PAR) [Cargo]
4x Vehicle (AN/MPQ-51 ROR) [Cargo]
2x Vehicle (AN/MPQ-53) [Cargo]
4x Vehicle (AN/MPQ-55 ICWAR) [Cargo]
8x Vehicle (AN/MPQ-57 HPI [TAS Camera]) [Cargo]
4x Vehicle (UAR-1021 Skyguard) [Cargo]
1x D 181A Hamburg [Type Z101A]
1x F 340 Beskytteren
2x P 540 Willemoes
9x P 6111 Albatros [Type 143]
2x P 6121 S 71 Gepard [Type 143A]
5x P 6141 S 41 Tiger [Type 148]
1x S 192 U 13 [Type 206A]
1x S 322 Tumleren [Type 207, Kobben Class]


EXPENDITURES:
------------------
328x 40mm/60 m/36 Single Bofors Burst [2 rnds]
59x RGM-84D Harpoon IC
73x FIM-92E Stinger RMP Blk I
133x Generic Chaff Salvo [5x Cartridges]
194x MIM-23C I-HAWK
63x RIM-7H Sea Sparrow
21x AIM-120B AMRAAM
69x 76mm/62 Compact HE Burst [4 rnds]
20x FIM-92C Stinger RMP
91x RIM-116A RAM Blk 0
16x RIM-7M Sea Sparrow
94x AIM-9N Sidewinder
304x AIM-9L Sidewinder
216x 40mm/70 Single Bofors Burst [4 rnds]
65x AA-10 Alamo A [R-27R, MR TSARH]
81x AA-11 Archer [R-73]
40x Generic Flare Salvo [3x Cartridges, Single Spectral]
35x 20mm/85 M61A1 Vulcan Burst [100 rnds]
34x Roland 3
104x MIM-104C Patriot PAC-2
11x Generic Chaff Salvo [8x Cartridges]
4x 27mm Mauser BK-27 x 2 Burst [60 rnds]
2x Generic Flare Salvo [4x Cartridges, Single Spectral]
53x AN/SSQ-41B Jezebel LOFAR
2x Mk46 NEARTIP Mod 5
3x 76mm/62 Super Rapido HE Burst [2 rnds]
4x Tp 617
117x Sky Flash Super TEMP Mod.
25x RIM-66A SM-1MR Blk IV
1x SCLAR Chaff
3x Ariel Mk1 TRD
56x AN/SSQ-47 Julie Active Range-Only
44x Mk82 500lb LDGP
104x AS.34 Kormoran 2
19x 30mm Gsh-30-1 Burst [30 rnds]
30x AIM-9M Sidewinder
152x M/57 75mm Rocket
6x Hot Dog Flare
104x AGM-88B HARM
8x BL.755 No.1 CB [147 x GP Anti-Armor Bomblets]
35x Mk82 500lb AIR [Ballute]
1x DM2A1 Seeaal
2x Generic Acoustic Decoy
50x 127mm/54 HE-CVT [HiFrag]
20x Mk83 1000lb LDGP
1x Mk8 Straight Runner
2x Silver Dog Chaff
6x MM.38 Exocet Blk I
16x 27mm Mauser BK-27 Burst [30 rnds]
1x 30mm ADEN M/55 x 2 Burst [40 rnds]



SIDE: WP
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------
1x An-12BK-PPS Cub D
1x Ka-25BSh Hormone A
3x Ka-27PL Helix A
66x MiG-23MLD Flogger K
4x MiG-23MLD Flogger K
3x MiG-25BM Foxbat F
7x MiG-25RBT Foxbat B
30x MiG-27M Flogger J
33x MiG-29 Fulcrum C
14x MiG-29S Fulcrum C
16x Su-17M-4 Fitter K
50x Su-24M Fencer D
21x Su-24M Fencer D
2x Su-24MP Fencer F
10x Su-24MR Fencer E
20x Su-27P Flanker B
28x Su-27S Flanker B
1x Vehicle (Pelena-1 Jammer)
20x 7.62mm MG [Cargo]
5x Forward Observer + Sensor Tripod (Generic Laser Designator) [Cargo]
12x SA-10b Grumble [5P85S] TEL [Cargo]
5x Spetsnaz Saboteur [Cargo]
2x SSC-1 Sepal Fixed [SM-70] [Cargo]
1x Vehicle (Clam Shell [5N66]) [Cargo]
1x Vehicle (Flap Lid B [5N63S]) [Cargo]
1x BPK Kanin [Pr.57A Gnevny]
2x EM Sovremenny I [Pr.956 Sarych]
5x MPK Grisha II [Pr.1124P Albatros]
1x MPK Grisha III [Pr.1124M Albatros]
8x MPK Pauk II [Pr.1241PE Molniya-2]
15x MRK Nanuchka I [Pr.1234 Ovod]
6x MRK Nanuchka III [Pr.1234.1 Ovod]
2x PSKR Stenka [Pr.205P Tarantul]
4x RK Matka [Pr.206MR Vikhr]
3x RK Tarantul II [Pr.1241.1T]
2x RK Tarantul III [Pr.1241.1MR]
1x RKR Kynda [Pr.58 Grozny]
2x SKR Krivak I [Pr.1135 Burevestnik]
1x SKR Krivak II [Pr.1135M Burevestnik-M]
1x SKR Krivak III [Pr.1135.1 Nerei]
1x SKR Neustrashimy [Pr.11540 Yastreb]
6x SKR Parchim II [Pr.1331]
1x SSV Alpinist [Pr.503R]
1x SSV Meridian [Pr.864]
1x PL-877 Kilo


EXPENDITURES:
------------------
50x RGB-NM-1 [Passive Omni]
17x SS-N-2c Improved Styx [P-15M]
91x SSC-1 Sepal [P-35V]
248x 7.62mm MG Burst [20 rnds]
43x High Explosives
68x AS-11 Kilter [Kh-58U, ARM, Semi-Ballistic]
149x AA-10 Alamo C [R-27ER, LR TSARH]
194x AA-10 Alamo A [R-27R, MR TSARH]
73x Generic Flare Salvo [4x Cartridges, Single Spectral]
173x Generic Flare Salvo [2x Cartridges, Single Spectral]
92x RBK-500-PTAB CB [268 x PTAB-1M Anti-Tank Bomblets]
43x AA-7 Apex E [R-24MR, SARH]
166x Generic Chaff Salvo [5x Cartridges]
203x Generic Chaff Salvo [4x Cartridges]
44x AA-11 Archer [R-73]
38x AS-17 Krypton C [Kh-31P, ARM]
96x Generic Flare Salvo [3x Cartridges, Single Spectral]
22x AS-7 Kerry [Kh-23]
160x AS-18 Kazoo A [Kh-59M]
1152x S-5K 57mm Rocket
4x OFAB-250-270 Frag
14x AA-8 Aphid [R-60M]
144x BetAB-500SP CB [12 x Anti-Runway Penetrator Bomblets]
3x 23mm Gsh-6-23 [50 rnds]
13x KAB-1500L-Pr LGB [Penetrator]
17x AA-10 Alamo B [R-27T, MR IR]
40x KAB-500Kr TV/EO
96x OFAB-100-120 Frag
4x KAB-1500Kr-Pr TV/EO [Penetrator]
4x AS-12 Kegler [Kh-25MP, ARM]
6x 800 liter Drop Tank
2x SET-65M Enot-2 [NATO ET-80A[76]]
2x Generic Acoustic Decoy
10x 30mm Gsh-30-1 Burst [30 rnds]
10x SS-N-22M Sunburn [P-270 Moskit]
2x AA-10 Alamo D [R-27ET, LR IR]
21x RGB-1 [NATO BM-1, Search, Passive Omni]
9x SS-N-9 Siren [P-120 Malakhit]
130x PK-16 Chaff [TSP-60U]
1x AA-10 Alamo E [R-27P, MR ARM]
106x SA-N-4b Gecko [9M33M3]
40x AK-725 57mm/80 Twin HE Burst [6 rnds]
14x AK-630M 30mm/65 Gatling Burst [400 rnds]
2x 23mm Gsh-23L Burst [40 rnds]
1x Generic Chaff Salvo [8x Cartridges]
84x SA-N-7 Gadfly [9M38]
9x SA-N-9 Gauntlet [9M330-2 Kinzhal]
1x 30mm Twin Gatling Gsh-6-30K Burst [375 rnds]
8x AK-130 130mm/54 Twin Frag Burst [2 rnds]
7x SA-N-1b Goa [M-1M/P Volna-M/P, 4K91 / V-601]
14x AK-230 30mm/65 Twin Burst [50 rnds]
18x AK-630 30mm/65 Gatling Burst [400 rnds]
8x PK-2 Chaff [TSP-47]
5x PK-10 Chaff [SR-50]
25x 53-65K WH
2x SS-N-14 Silex [85RU, Dual-Role, UMGT-1 Torpedo + 185kg Unitary]
2x AK-100 100mm/70 Frag
8x 57mm/81 ZIF-75 Quad DP Burst [6 rnds]
20x SA-10b Grumble [5V55RUD]
4x AA-6 Acrid C [R-40RD, SARH]
4x AA-6 Acrid D [R-40TD, IR]
6x SA-5c Gammon [5V28M5]



SIDE: Biologics
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------


EXPENDITURES:
------------------



SIDE: Commercial
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------
4x Commercial Fishing Boat [23m]


EXPENDITURES:
------------------



SIDE: NATO Sp
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------


EXPENDITURES:
------------------



SIDE: Marker
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------


EXPENDITURES:
------------------

[Gunner98]

Great job, thanks for the report.

The feeling of impending doom was exactly what I had hopped for. Cheers