The Transit, 1985

[hellfish6]

For testing. A long transit across the Atlantic with randomized Soviet subs.

USS Peterson escorts a convoy from Savannah to Bordeaux.

October 1985


SECRET

TO: CDR TASK UNIT 24.3.1

FR: CDR CTF 24 (LANT ASW)

RE: CONVOY SB 1085-01

//BEGIN MESSAGE//

COMMANDER:

STRATEGIC SITUATION

HOSTILITIES BETWEEN ALLIED/NATO FORCES ARE WARSAW PACT ARE NOW IN THEIR SECOND WEEK. PACT FORCES CONTINUE PUSHING INTO GERMANY AND NORTHERN ITALY. 2 MARDIV AND 82D AIRBORNE CONTINUE EFFORTS TO CLEAR ICELAND OF SOVIET PARATROOPERS.

ATLANTIC MARITIME SITUATION

SOSUS CAPABILITIES IN NORTH ATLANTIC HEAVILY DEGRADED. EXTENSIVE LOSSES TO ALLIED CONVOYS AND NAVAL FORCES DUE TO SOVIET NAVAL BOMBERS AND SUBMARINES. SOVIET SUBMARINES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INFILTRATE THE GIUK GAP, EXPECT TO ENCOUNTER NUMEROUS SOVIET SUBMARINES.

NATO ASW EFFORTS IN CENTRAL ATLANTIC HAVE BEEN THINNED OUT. EXPECT MINIMAL SUPPORT ON YOUR TRANSIT.

SOVIET SATELLITE RECON DEGRADED, BUT STILL ACTIVE AND PROVIDING CUEING TO SUBMARINES.

MISSION SPECIFIC SITUATION

PATROL SQUADRON SIXTEEN (VP-16) PROVIDES ASW AIR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT CENTRAL ATLANTIC AREA. BASES AT NAS JACKSONVILLE, NAS BERMUDA, AZORES.

ROYAL NAVY BERMUDA STATION HAS HMS ROTHESAY ASSIGNED

PORTUGUESE NAVY HAS STRONG PRESENCE IVO AZORES.

FRENCH AND SPANISH FORCES PATROL APPROACHES TO BAY OF BISCAY

CENTLANT SOSUS NETWORK IS OPERATIONAL.

EXPECT SOVIET SUBMARINES IVO KING'S BAY NAVAL SUBMARINE BASE. SOVIET DOCTRINE IS TO DETECT/DESTROY BOOMERS NEAR THEIR HOME PORTS.

FRIENDLY MINEFIELDS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF KING'S BAY. AVOID.

FRIENDLY FORCES

USS PETERSON (DD-969)

HSL-30 DET P (SH-2F)

MISSION

YOUR MISSION IS TO ESCORT SAVANNAH-BORDEAUX CONVOY 1085-01. ASSEMBLE CONVOY AT YOUR DISCRETION. DEPART SAVANNAH NO LATER THAN 4 HOURS FROM NOW.

FOLLOWING VESSELS ARE ATTACHED TO YOUR COMMAND:

M/V YPSILANTI COMET (SAVANNAH)

M/V RECIFE CLIPPER (SAVANNAH)

M/T EXXON EDELWEISS (VIC PORT ST LUCIE, FL - RENDEVOUS ENROUTE)

M/V ESTUDIANTE ESTEBAN (SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - RENDEZVOUS ENROUTE)

CONVOY SB 1085-01 WILL DELIVER THE VEHICLES OF THE 48TH INFANTRY BRIGADE AND MISC SUPPLIES TO THE FRENCH PORT OF BORDEAUX. ARRIVE NLT 1200 GMT 18 OCT 85.

EXECUTION

AT YOUR DISCRETION. RECOMMEND 'LEAP-FROGGING' FROM SAVANNAH TO BERMUDA TO AZORES TO BORDEAUX TO UTILIZE AIR COVER.

COMMAND AND SIGNAL

EMCON STATE AT YOUR DISCRETION

ADMINISTRATIVE

BUNKERING AVAILABLE AT BORDEAUX. DESTROYER TENDER USS YOSEMITE AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRS AND STORES AT BORDEAUX.



GOOD LUCK



//END MESSAGE//

[hellfish6]

Anyone tried it?

[snowburn]

Testing right now...

[Flankerk]

Currently forming up my convoy..
So far all fine, like the orders and the mission itself, and the forming up is a good idea. Did wonder about weather and if it could be added in?
More updates on progress no doubt to follow.

[Primarchx]

Played for a while but it's a grinder. I got frustrated when an Echo was firmly located and identified by a SOSUS sensor but P-3s were flying right by it searching for subs that had older, gigantic uncertainty areas instead of the sure-thing Echo.

[Flankerk]

Made it to a few days in, and many things are working, however a few critical one's I don't think are.
Unless my maths is wrong, the convoy in the allotted time can never make the end goal markers?
My convoy is maxxed out at 16 knots, and it took a good long time to form up. The Esteban named one was some 800 nm away from my main area when the scenario starts, in the end the only available option was to steam her at 24 knot flank towards the assembly area. The trouble is she was then hit by a submarine and there is no way to protect her.

I think the position of Recife also needs checking, she tends to be in or amongst some sand banks I think and struggles to path out of the area.

The allied forces did track down some subs and I think sank four so far. The game runs relatively slowly though I don't know if there are any patrols or contacts that can be dropped, i did wonder about biologics? not sure to be truthful.

Thought orders were detailed clear and authentic, the only really critical one is the distance.

[ojms]

ORIGINAL: Flankerk


Made it to a few days in, and many things are working, however a few critical one's I don't think are.
Unless my maths is wrong, the convoy in the allotted time can never make the end goal markers?
My convoy is maxxed out at 16 knots, and it took a good long time to form up. The Esteban named one was some 800 nm away from my main area when the scenario starts, in the end the only available option was to steam her at 24 knot flank towards the assembly area. The trouble is she was then hit by a submarine and there is no way to protect her.

I think the position of Recife also needs checking, she tends to be in or amongst some sand banks I think and struggles to path out of the area.

The allied forces did track down some subs and I think sank four so far. The game runs relatively slowly though I don't know if there are any patrols or contacts that can be dropped, i did wonder about biologics? not sure to be truthful.

Thought orders were detailed clear and authentic, the only really critical one is the distance.

Hi,

I've found the same so ended up going into the scenario as the editor and making some changes! Increased the time to make sure there was enough time and also changed some of the missions from ASW strike to Patrols.

[tommo8993]

I like this mission but also had the same issue. Maybe some faster ships

[ojms]

I'm tempted to go through and make a few more changes to the scenario and perhaps re publish it as "The Transit Mk2".

[Dimitris]

Is this ready for release?