AAR Old versus New #2, Part 2

[FransKoenz]

Part 2.

4 June, 2002, 11:30:00 - Zulu Time…

Meanwhile I started the attack on the Enterprise Group with 8 Tornado IDS.
I managed to launch all missiles and all aircraft returned to base safety.
At least 6 missiles hit the USS Enterprise, the cruiser USS Leyte Gulf and 1 of the Arleigh Burke class destroyers, the USS Stout.
I repeated the attack, but without success and against the loss of 1 Tornado.
The aircraft need 5 hours to re-arm. Gibraltar is out of order, after a Tomahawk attack. Only 1 cruise missile came through, but it destroyed the ammo dump……

The attack against the Nimitz Group was partly a success:
I managed to sink two ships and damage all other units, but, against what prize: I started the attack with 52 aircraft. Only 28 aircraft managed to survive the attack.
It is now rather difficult to attack the surface group. Almost all Tornado IDS were destroyed. Attacking a surface group with a cruiser, frigates and 2 LHD, without HARM makes no sense. That is just spoiling ASM and aircraft. But I have to.

Back to Gibraltar……
I have reload magazines of the two British submarines [HMS Splendid and HMS Superb] with Harpoon missiles, launched them against the USS Perry and USS Spruance. Both ships were hit and sank almost instantly.
Then the HrMs Tonijn was finally in position to attack the carrier group…
First I attacked the Enterprise with 4 Mk48 ADCAP as well as the AOE, the USS Sacramento with 2 Mk48. Minutes later, the Enterprise was a burning wreck and the USS Sacramento on her way to the bottom of the Ocean. Later, the HMS Splendid and HMS Superb finished the job by killing the remaining escorts.
This was a big hit. No submarines were lost, Tornado F.3 intercepted the helicopters in the first place and later the fired ASROC, launched by the enemy escorts.
There is no direct threat to Gibraltar anymore. I will transfer all the available aircraft to UK airbases. My navy assets will keep on patrolling in the area. In fact the two ships are now useless; no enemy to hunt for and no weapons left to fight. The HrMs Tonijn is now underway to the entrance of the Strait of Gibraltar.
The 2 British nuclear submarines are now heading northwest at maximum speed to the area west of Ireland/UK. I can put them in action again against the surface group. After all, if the enemy group is heading to the UK for an amphibious assault operation, they must close in xxxnm. My submarines are on scene before they arrive. Enough Spearfish left in the magazines…

The situation in the Atlantic Ocean:
After the aircraft on the bases in UK were re-armed again, I launched them for an attack on the surface Group. The Amethiste, the French nuclear submarine was able to close in within firing range to launch Exocet missiles. I managed to hit A Perry Class frigate. The ship later disappeared from my screen.
Meanwhile the Aircraft arrived on the scene. I only attacked the combatants and managed to damage some vessels, but the air attack was not a success and the losses were high. I am running out of aircraft, others need to reach base and re-arm first.
All I know is that the American surface group used large amount of SAM against my missiles.
I consequently conducted patrols nearby the surface group with fighters and took out almost all aircraft/helicopters. The American version of the Harrier, the AV-8B’s, armed with AIM-9 only, were no match against the Rafale and Naval Harrier F/A.2.
[my favourites in this scenario: the Rafale fighter with her 8 Mica IR/Radar air-to-air missiles and rather good survival score, as well as the British Harriers, armed with the AIM-120, onboard the British VTOL carriers].
After the Amethiste launched the Exocet’s, she closed in to launch torpedoes. But she was detected and a torpedo was launched. The game is out for this unit. I immediately dived to maximum depth with maximum speed to close in and launch my torpedoes.
I was not able to reload all the magazines again; the Amethiste was hit by the torpedo and destroyed. The launched torpedoes, however, damaged/destroyed 4 enemy units.
Meanwhile, A Eurocopter NFH [Charles de Gaulle Group] detected a submerged contact. I ordered to attack the contact. Another Eurocopter is underway to assist. Suddenly, the contact, now classified as an American submarine fired torpedoes. The French Destroyer D 610 Tourville is under attack. The Tourville was stationed 30nm ahead of the Charles the Gaulle group for ASW sprint drift operations together with 4 ASW-helicopters [Eurocopter NFH]. I launched Murene torpedoes. The first enemy torpedoes did not make any victims and the submarine did not launch other torpedoes, so, I must conclude that the submarine was hit by a Murene.
The HMS Torbay and HMS Trafalgar [both at 50nm] are closing in to the enemy surface groups as well, but have no Harpoon missiles onboard. So, the old fashion torpedo attack is upcoming in a couple of hours.

North of Scotland:
The USS Nimitz is, despite the damage [85%], still capable to launch aircraft; At least 8 A/F-18E Super Hornet are approaching the UK mainland. No doubt that they are on a strike mission against my airfields.
I have launched all available fighters to intercept the incoming aircraft. I want to avoid that the few strike assets which are available, will be destroyed in their hangars when they are re-arming].

Suddenly, at 18:30:00 Zulu time, I reached VC. [at that time, the USS Vincennes finally sank, she performed very well! I only could break her after her magazines were empty. Chappeau!].

The score at 18:30:00 Zulu time:

Losses USA:
Aircraft: 65
Helicopters: 38
Surface combatants: 9 [including 1 aircraft carrier]
Damaged: 4
Surface support vessels: 3
Damaged: 1
Submarines: 3

Losses Europe:
Aircraft: 84
Helicopters: 2
Submarines: 1
Installations: 5

But I continue to play some longer to launch all available aircraft for a “Coupe de Grasse” against all enemy assets.
We Europeans know how to die, but we are familiar with the art of killing as well. [:D]

I will use the land based aircraft for the attack on the Nimitz group. This group counts 3 ships, and all units are more or less heavily damaged. 18 aircraft are available [Rafale, Tornado IDS, and Buccaneer]. Too bad that I can’t the aircraft based at Gibraltar Highway and the French airfields for the final strike. These aircraft should land to refuel first. I think, the 18 will be enough for the “Coupe de Grasse”.. If necessary, I will put the HMS Argyll into action.
The frigate is equipped with 8 Harpoon ASM, and her Sea Wolf VLS is fully loaded. The HMS Nottingham is out of decent SAM. I have split the group and the HMS Nottingham is underway to safe waters of Scotland.
The remaining ships of the enemy surface group, 9 ships, 2 of them are damaged, heading a northeast course, are almost within firing range of the 2 British submarines, eta 19:45:00. So, the HMS Trafalgar and HMS Torbay, will strike first.
Within 4 hrs, all remaining strike aircraft, [xx] on the 3 carriers will be ready again for action.
In the meantime, I will keep fighters in the area to take out all helicopters that might be a threat to my submarines. I can close in pretty much; the escorts do not launch SAM’s, I bet, the magazines are empty. 6 Harriers, armed with Mk83 1000 lbs bombs, Sea Eagle, and Brimstone ASM, are underway to the surface group [they were airborne at 18:30:00]. I will try to take out remaining escorts.

Only 1 thing really concerns me: the submarine threat is still unknown!

18:30:00 -23:47:00 Zulu Time,

I first attacked the remaining escorts with Sea Eagle ASM. Both ships were hit. The Perry class frigate is on fire. Then I attacked other ships with Mk83 bombs. I managed to destroy a supply vessel, damaged a cruise liner and the LHD Tarawa.
And finally, at 20:48:00 the HMS Torbay arrived at the scene and finished the job by sinking all remaining ships. I ordered the 3 carrier groups to start the voyage home.
In the UK more and more aircraft became available again. I launched them for the final strike, at 23:47:00 32 Sea Eagle missiles ended the voyage of the USS Nimitz and her escorts.
The only survivors are the enemy submarines I could not detect.

This scenario was a real challenge! These aircraft carriers are really hard nuts to crack. I finally reached VC, but against a very high prize. The American escorts performed very well and were responsible for the slaughter of my aircraft. But at the end, they were out of SAM’s and useless for the defence of the aircraft carriers.

Freek, thanks for sharing this scenario with the community!

Checking the scenario with the SE after playing learned me that 2 american submarines were operational nearby The French Charles de Gaulle group. I was very lucky this time.