ASW screens for surface groups

[Sykoticwit]

How do you guys normally set up ASW screens for surface battle groups like carriers. I normally set an outer screen of S=3's 150nm or so away from the carrier, in a chevron pattern ahead of the surface ships. Then I usually set a screen of SH-60's 35-50 miles ahead of the lead ship in another chevron. If I don't have S-3's or some kind of fixed wing ASW plane, I push my helicopters out 75ish nm.

How do you guys do it?

[Rory Noonan]

I keep helos around 30-35nm away from the lead ship, MPAs more like 50-75nm. While keeping the aircraft further out means you can detect goblins in your path earlier, putting them too far ahead means they can sneak in behind the screen from the sides.

I also tend to put my lead ASW frigates quite far ahead, about 20-30nm, and frequently detach a few to run ahead and screen well in advance.

[FlyingBear]

Do you find helos at tens of miles from the lead ship to be effective? I find that when trying to search such a large area with short range dipping sonar the search density gets too low and the risk of subs leaking through is too high.
My thinking is that since effective torpedo range is little more than 5 miles, being certain to detect a sub at 10 miles is more important than having a chance of detecting it at 30 miles. On the other hand, detecting Charlies before they can launch helps preserving SAMs (and before about 1985 a Charlie launch can even be dangerous).

Which leads me to:
- SSNs about 100 miles out
- S-3: 50 - 80 miles up to 45 degrees to either side of the PIM, which also covers the sides of my force with a sonobuoy fence on both sides
- Frigates or destroyers in a passive ASW screen 25 - 35 miles out.
- Close in AAW escorts can sometimes double as active ASW screen, especially putting an SQS-26/SQS-53 cruiser a couple miles ahead of the carrier serving both as an AAW goalkeeper and active sonar platform (if they are that close to the carrier they will soon hear it anyway)
- Helos with dipping sonar 8 - 12 miles out, with the sole job of protecting the carrier. But I have almost never had them make the first detection on an approaching sub.

Not sure if I should reverse the order of the SSNs and S-3s.

That's how I do it... [:)] The "Carrier Battle Group ASW test" I uploaded some time ago is set up roughly that way.

[Primarchx]

MPA 50-100nm
Helo Screen 20-35nm
QR ASW Helo (at least one on Ready 5)
Depending on speed, sonar sets and situation I'll run ASW surface units with active sonar as well.

Between sonobuoys and dipping sonars this will usually do the trick for subs coming in from the front quarter.

[magi]

If you have a surface unit running active sonar.... Won't that give a bearing location to that unit to opfor...?
For that reason I never use active sonar unless necessary in a given tactical situation… Maybe I am wrong…

[Primarchx]

ORIGINAL: magi

If you have a surface unit running active sonar.... Won't that give a bearing location to that unit to opfor...?
For that reason I never use active sonar unless necessary in a given tactical situation… Maybe I am wrong…

Like I said, certain situations, speeds and active sonar capabilities. Not always. But active sonar can certainly provide an advantage in some circumstances.

[magi]

ORIGINAL: Primarchx

ORIGINAL: magi

If you have a surface unit running active sonar.... Won't that give a bearing location to that unit to opfor...?
For that reason I never use active sonar unless necessary in a given tactical situation… Maybe I am wrong…

Like I said, certain situations, speeds and active sonar capabilities. Not always. But active sonar can certainly provide an advantage in some circumstances.

Yes... of course....