After Action Report
Scenario: NORTH CAPE
Designer: Freek Schepers
Database: PlayersDB 6.4.9 [updated 27 July 2006]
Side : NATO
Reporter: Taitennek
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ORDERS FOR NATO
SITUATION:
Russian ground troops have passed the border of Finnmark. Air support is nearly absent due to successful strikes on Kola Bases. The Dutch amphibious ship HMS Rotterdam has delivered several companies of Marines. US and British subs have severely damaged Russian ASW hunting groups in the Barentz Sea.
INTEL:
Remnants of ASW groups [including frigates, destroyers, patrol vessels, and submarines] are known to be in the Barentz Sea.
MISSION:
The LPD and its escorts are needed elsewhere ant the Dutch ships are ordered to make best speed west. Air support is not available.
CLARIFICATION ON VICTORY CONDITIONS:
Bring the Dutch ships west of line of ref. points in 10 hours.
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GAME ON!!
GAME DATE: 15 December 2003
GAME TIME: 12:00:00 Zulu Time.
I'm in command of the Dutch Taskforce due south on her way to ref. TGT8-TGT9, some 110nm westward, a Norwegian PTM, the HMS Orn [Hauk-class fast missile patrol craft] and land-based units are the disembarked companies of the Dutch Royal Marine Corps.
The F801 HMS Zeven Provincien, the flagship of the Dutch Royal Navy is escorting the L800 HMS Rotterdam. Both ships are cruising along the coast of Norway, the third vessel, the F812 HMS Witte de With is cruising in the Norwegian Sea at a distance of 35nm. The Norwegian PTM is hidden in a fjord. I have 5 SH-14D Lynx Helicopters ready and will use them for reconnaissance duties and ASW-operations.
TACTIC:
The L800 and F801 plot a course along the coast side and will play hide-and-seek in the Norwegian Fjords. The F812 acts as the first line of defence. I will use the Norwegian PTM for a surprise attack on enemy units, once they have been identified.
I realise that is a kind of suicide mission, but the survival of the LPD and escort is priority #1.
[center]
[/center][center]L800 Hr Ms Rotterdam [Photo: Koninklijke Marine][/center]
Time is a crucial factor; I have to make best speed through narrow streets and fjord passages to reach the reference points within 10 hours. That is a hard nut to crack: I have to reach points at 22:00:00 Zulu time.
I have my own rules of engagement: Only if the unit is hostile, or recognized by recon flight of the helicopters. There is a possibility of casualties by friendly fire, but I cannot risk the loss of surface vessels [+200 officers and enlisted] for just one unknown [friendly] aircraft or submarine. I will take all measurements to identify air/surface contacts, but if they coming in too close, I will shoot them out of the air/water.
13:00 – 13:45 Zulu Time.
Some surface vessels are now visible on radar. A SH-14D Lynx helicopter is airborne to investigate contacts. All at sudden an unknown flying object with a speed of 124nm/h. This can only be a helicopter. I marked the helicopter as hostile as well as the ship from where she took up. The decision was right. The helicopter was Russian and the ship as well; the Nepristupnyy [Neustrashimyy-class FFG]. Soon more Russian ships could be identified; the Revnostnyy [KRIVAK-II-class FFG] and within minutes a third Russian warship; the Admiral Chebanenko, a modified UDALOY-class DDG. Then the Russians managed to destroy the Dutch helicopter. Too bad, but the information was crucial!
These ships are a major threat! I'm glad that I have 2 air-defence units under my command. Now I know the positions of the Russian forces. It is a race against time to reach VC, as well as a possible clash with dangerous Russian opponents before I reach the area.
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[/center][center]F802 Hr Ms Zeven Provincien [Photo: Koninklijke Marine][/center]
13:45 – 14:45 Zulu Time.
A second helicopter is in the air to guard the Russian ships from a distance. Soon the HMS Rotterdam and the HMS Zeven Provincien will be under cover of the Norwegian Fjords. The HMS Witte de With will continue her voyage on the Norwegian Sea, the Norwegian PTM is now in open sea as well and will attack the Nepristupnyy.
At 14:35 I fired Harpoon missiles at the Russian ships. The Revostnyy was hit by 1 missile, the other ships survived the attack. I managed to take out 3 helicopters.
Suddenly a sonar contact appeared. An unknown submarine was detected at a distance of 15nm of the HMS Witte de With. I launched another helicopter to investigate the submarine.
It could be an allied sub, but I cannot risk my ships.
Meanwhile one of the Russian warships fired missiles at my Task force. I managed to take out the missiles before they could harm my ships.
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[/center][center]Russian KRIVAK-II class Frigate [Photo: via www.fas.org][/center]
14:45 – 15:30 Zulu Time.
A second attack with P-270 Moskit [NATO codename Sunburn], all heading to the HMS Rotterdam. Again, I managed to survive this attack as well. The HMS Witte de With now returns to the Task Force. Only 50nm to go….. The Norwegian PTM was not lucky; she was hit by 2 missiles and sunk on a distance of 21nm of the Nepristupnyy, she did not fire her weapons.
Finally, at 18:30 Zulu Time, I crossed the imaginary line of success with the 3 vessels undamaged.
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[/center][center]Norwegian HAUK-class PTM [Photo: Norwegian Navy][/center]
Russian losses:
3 Helix A helicopters
1 Krivak II
1 Submarine [Tango class]
NATO losses:
1 Lynx SH-14D helicopter
1 PTM Hauk
A small, but exiting scenario! Thanks for sharing it with us.
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