Northern Inferno - Opening Moves

[MikeJ19]

Having tried out the tutorials for about a month, it is time to try the first scenario in Northern Inferno.

I remain a little overwhelmed, the employment of naval and air assets is still very new to me. But, I am enjoying the learning process.

As is shown below, this is a 3 day battle starting on the evening of 07 August. I'm going to be playing as the NATO player. Nice to see a couple of Canadian vessels.

[MikeJ19]

Here are my orders.

I have read stories about the GIUK Gap, so this is going to be fun.

[MikeJ19]

A look at the Soviet resources:

[MikeJ19]

NATO has a lot of different types of resources to throw into this battle.

I need to do so more studying of the capabilities of the units. The DB is an awesome tool (I'm so happy that I downloaded the photos, they really make things better), but I think that I will get a better understanding of what is important as the battle plays out.

I my orders, I was assigned two ASW Patrol areas. This is where I am supposed to find and destroy the Soviet subs.

(It is interesting to see the word "prosecute" being used. I do not ever remember seeing that word in an Army operational order - unless there was something for the legal folks to do.)

[Ancalagon451]

This one is a fairly easy introductory scenario.

Make sure that the patrol areas of your MPAs cover the full prosecution zone (it's better if you divide it in halves or even in thirds), and they will do most of the work by themselves.

Ancalagon

[MikeJ19]

Ancalagon,

Thanks for the advice.

Can anyone confirm that EMCON Alpha - limited emissions means that for the most part I should be trying to use passive means only to find the Soviets.

Thanks and have a good day,

[KungPao]

Good luck Mike
I enjoy reading your AAR in FCRS, looking forward on this one

EMCON Alpha - limited emissions means that for the most part I should be trying to use passive means only to find the Soviets

copy from another online source : EMCON Alpha is the most restrictive form of emissions control and is called when the ship absolutely doesn't want to be found. During EMCON Alpha, no emissions are permitted at all.
You may have to change some units EMCON setting depends on tactical situation.

In this scenario, the intact SOSUS line will help you a lot, just be careful sometime the detection is not accurate at all. your ASW plane will fly to wrong direction based on these incorrect detection. So you may have to manually override some of the command

I was assigned two ASW Patrol areas

you will need more than two. I think I created 10 Patrol zone in my game

last note, have mercy on dolphin and whale [8D]

[MikeJ19]

KungPao,

Thanks for the kind words and the advice. I have read that the SOSUS detection can be problematic. Your suggestion of manually override is a good one.

Have a good day,

[MikeJ19]

Thoughts on the Battle...

Wide variety of platforms/resources:
- 9 ships
- 4 helicopters operating off the ships
- 4 Nimrods
- 15 P3-B Orions
- Radar Stations
- SOSUS buoys

Two Patrol Areas, covering the approaches to the gap between Greenland and Iceland and the approaches to the gap between Iceland and Norway. I have been told to break these patrol areas into smaller ones. I think that I want to layer them.

The task is for three days, so I need to husband my resources to provide coverage for the entire time. Also, need to think of the differences between day and night observation. My sensors for the most part are all weather, but night time will reduce the effectiveness of some.

Breaking down my mission – to prevent Soviet Subs from entering the North Atlantic via the GIUK Gap. This means that I need to find/identify Soviet subs and then destroy (prosecute) them.

Both patrol areas are deep – and I want to use that to identify Soviet subs as far North as possible to give me more time to attack them.

I have lots of methods for finding the Soviet subs. The SOSUS buoys are going to identify a lot of the targets. Initially, the contacts will be only a bearing to the potential target, but as the Soviet subs move, the data from the SOSUS Buoys should let me direct the naval patrols and supporting air assets into the correct places to attack.

I have lots of resources to attack the Soviet Subs. My ships, helicopters and airplanes all have weapons to destroy subs.. It is very much a combined effort. I think that I can layer it as well. I have four naval task units – so could have two working each patrol area – which improves my depth.

I need to figure out a good rotation for my planes. The loadouts for my planes require careful consideration. It takes time to switch loads, so this will require some forethought. This is something that I have not really had to do previously, so it is going to be a neat challenge.

The Soviets are going to attack me too. I do not think that the Bears can talk with the Soviet Subs, so I think that most of the Soviet actions will be independent. Each naval task unit has at least one ship that has AA weapons.

[MikeJ19]

Here is my plan. I still need to figure out the loadouts and rotation of my planes.

[MikeJ19]

Contact!

Is there any way to hide the "x" that mark patrol areas? They help make a busy screen even busier.

[Gunner98]

Looking good Mike.

You may not need it here as you will be on top of all the action, but consider using ASW Strike missions as well. You patrol areas will have assets finding the subs but you often need more than one asset to localize a contact, so having AC on a strike mission will tell the AI to automatically launch (within the parameters you set) to support a find.

The downside of that however is your strike assets are used up quickly if you have a lot of biologic contacts.

B

[Ancalagon451]

Is there any way to hide the "x" that mark patrol areas? They help make a busy screen even busier.

Unfortunately there isnt, that's already the diminished/subdued mark for a reference point, you can't go smaller than that without deleting it.

I personally find them not hard to ignore, pay attention only to colored signals in the map.

Ancalagon

[Gunner98]

Is there any way to hide the "x" that mark patrol areas? They help make a busy screen even busier.

Menu Map Settings/Reference Point Visibility/Normal or Small or Do not Show

I like the small myself but DNS is sometimes very useful

B

[Ancalagon451]

Well, talk about missing the obvious [:'(].

Ancalagon

[MikeJ19]

Bart and Ancalagon451,

Thanks for the input and I have changed them to small. I really like that look.

Good idea about the strike missions. I will hold off for now, but may need to add them!

Have a good day,

[MikeJ19]

This is about to get very hot...

[MikeJ19]

I've lost a couple of ships - not good. But have taken out some Soviet subs - good.

I think that I am losing control of my forces...

[MikeJ19]

I have completely lost the plot on my planes.

I should have planned the air missions with more thought - rather than sending a bunch of them up.

I will take some time and try to regain control of my forces.

[MikeJ19]

Things are moving more slowly at the moment.

Is there any way to easily figure out who sank the Soviet subs?