Northern Inferno - Beware the Badgers

[MikeJ19]

This one looks very intimidating and fun!

[MikeJ19]

My orders

[MikeJ19]

Where my forces start

[MikeJ19]

This will be the first time I face a triple threat - air, surface and underwater.

[Ancalagon451]

Su-17 have no air-to-air capacity other than a pair of guns.

I think it's more probable that the soviet planes simply go for stand-off attacks with heavy antiship and ARM missiles (not a spoiler since I don't really remember, but both Badgers and Fitters are notable carriers of this type of weapons).

Ancalagon

[Gunner98]

Very true, I think the only Soviet Ftr that has the range at the time would be the MiG-25 and that was in the PVO (Air Defence Forces) not Naval Aviation or VVS. The MiG-31 was in service but the BM with the refueling probe didn't enter service until the early 90s, and they were also PVO.

You'd need some type of alternate reality to see them escorting bombers ...[;)]

[Ancalagon451]

MiG-31 IOC was (historically) in 1982. In fact, from an "in universe" perspective the first prototype is scheduled to take-off the next month talk about coincidences.

Albeit there is in fact another fighter with the required range, the Tu-128 Fiddler, but it is also a PVO interceptor, so it would be very unconventional for the soviets to employ them for bomber escort.

Ancalagon

[ultradave]

This is a tough one. An onslaught of supersonic cruise missiles. Where DO they get them all?

[MikeJ19]

I was already intimidated. Now I am quivering...

Okay kidding aside, thanks for the input and advice. I'm learning, slowly, about the different abilities of the various planes and ships.

I've taken a closer look at the likely loadouts for the Badger and Fitter. They can engage from a long way out.

A question about quidance. The AS-6 has a range of about 180nm, but sensors have ranges of 80nm (Active radar) and 10nm (Passive radar), so they are launched in the general direction with the hope that they find something as they get closer? They do not need someone to be identifying the target as they come in?

Have a good day,

[Gunner98]

They do not need someone to be identifying the target as they come in?

Targeting is one of the tricky things to do for the Soviet AI, and to play them as well. They need to have a good idea where you are before they launch and then the active seekers on the CMs will take over. They will use subs, AGIs, lurkers and Bear Recon/EW/ELINT to localize your ships. He can also use Su-17Rs but that is risky business.

You can remain relatively safe if you poke out his eyes but there are usually a lot of eyes out there.

B

[MikeJ19]

Bart,

Thanks for the quick response. The removal of the eyes is going to be important, but difficult to get them all!

[Ancalagon451]

About the WRA, if you look carefully will see that all the standing rules are for ships of 1500 tons or smaller.

Against bigger ships which do not have specific values defined the AI will default to the "Ship-Unspecified" WRA which does indeed allow firing.

The ruleset is meant to avoid the AI wasting such a powerful and scarce weapon against lesser combatants in an expensive overkill.

Ancalagon

[MikeJ19]

Ancalagon451,

Aah, that makes sense now. Once again, my lack of basic naval knowledge shows. 1500 tons sounds big, but is not.

Thanks for helping me understand,

[MikeJ19]

Here is my mission

[MikeJ19]

My naval task units

[MikeJ19]

My airfields and the planes that are at them.

[MikeJ19]

Some questions about some markings (Reference points?) on the map.

[Ancalagon451]

Indeed those are suggested setups for your planes, you are of course free to follow them or not.

AEW stands for "aerial early warning" and means a type of plane with an onboard long range radar, intended to pick aerial contacts over an area for other assets to investigate/engage or as a warning of an incoming threat. AWACS is the most famous and capable of the breed but since they don't exist yet, in this scenario you'll have to make do with much older and less capable Shackletons (they are still good enough for most threats).

BARCAP stands for "barrier combat air patrol" and is a variant of the general CAP mission in which your fighters "draw a line in the air" so to speak and shot any enemy trying to cross it. It's meant to block the way to the enemy's target, in this case, your fleet. Of course, it must still be flown with fighters and not bombers [:)].

Don't remember what PIM stands for, sorry.

Ancalagon

[Schr75]

PIM is short for:
Plan of Intended Motion. Basically just an aimpoint to set your course.

Søren

[mikkey]

Another your nice AAR from NI campaign. Thanks.