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Hi. Played this excellent scenario by Flanker with ANW (BETA) and a slightly tweaked DB2K (Harm sensor set to angle resolution of 1 degree - Ragnar tells me he sorted this months ago, but no guarantees).


1345: Detect an C-802 SSM battery on Dezful. Getting there... but still many more to go!

1353: Attack Cyrus Oilfield with Hellfire equipped SeaHawk. All four hit, fire started.

1400: More TLAM hits.

1416: SSM attack starts on George Washington Group. Mostly I leave it to the SAMs, with an occasional aircraft shot. Good job I thinned down the numbers launched from surface craft...

1430: After Cyrus Oil Field has opened fire, so does Abadan. I decide to destroy Cyrus but leave Abadan alone - it's in an isolated position and is no real danger. SM2s and ESSM continue to fly, with an occasional Sparrow III and AMRAAM to help reduce the numbers of inbound vampires.

1431: 2 Harpoons smash into the Cyrus platform (it's not an island, after all).

1440: 2 more Harpoons impact Cyrus oil field. Burning nicely now. The final volley of Kharg inbounds and Fencer D launched missiles start to approach the George Washington Group - but none come close to hitting my ships. But I lose another Hornet to an SA-5.

1452: I lose another Hornet to a Fencer D at close range, but it's clear now that the volume of fire is not enough to hit the George Washington Group. Several Fencers downed by AMRAAMS before launch. A Sidewinder even manages to down a C801.

1459: A Fencer D gets lucky and puts an Aphid into another Hornet.

1500: All planes set to 6 hours readiness now available... time to get some licks in of my own. Even better, Kharg Island is now wide open for shore bombardment to reduce it's SAMS (and increase effectiveness of TLAM launches from the Albany).

1517: Jask Rapier site missed by HARM (The damn thing survived the entire scenario).

1519: I-Hawk sites on Kharg and Busheyr attacked with HARMS - about 6 hit out of 18 launches.

1529: I lose a Hawkeye to the Bandar Abbas SA-5 site.

1536: Maverick attack on Jask. 3 missiles heavily damage the SSM-802 site and start a fire - the fourth hits the Rapier, but does not start a fire.

1537: By now the Albany has run out of TLAMS. I set a course to the straits and wave goodbye as it slides down out of radio contact. By now about 25 nuclear sites are definitely destroyed. Job Done Albany & Co!

1550: A major attack - over a dozen planes - is noted by a Hawkeye. Not sure which attack group this was aimed at - it may have been an internal shuffled. 3 F-5s are destroyed by a Tomcat for no loss.

1557: Another SSM site is located on Dezful.

1559: DDG Hayler is close enough to Kharg to start picking out facilities by radar.

1610: P 313-6 Shams is destroyed by a Harpoon attack, but a stray Harpoon locks onto the PetroStar VII and hits it. Court of Inquiry will result. I should have been more careful with the launching point... But an even worse situation will occur later!

1611 A HARM successfully knocks out the SA-6a Qeshm Straight Flush search radar.

1613: Another SSM battery located, while the Lengeh radar is HARM'd - it dies within a few minutes.

1615: Four Airguards destroyed for no loss. A Super Hornet is narrowly missed by several SA-5s launched from Bandar Abbas.

1618: I mistakenly attack Sirri and Sir Abunair with a Harpoon apiece. Later I will visit them with LGBs to attack them "properly".

1620: Detect C-802 Kish. By now I can comfortably move aircraft from one carrier group to another - although the Bandar Abbas SA-5 still makes this risky.

1621: Silkworm Kish HARM'd off the air, as is Kish radar.

1628: 71 Alvand hit (but not instantly destroyed) by a Harpoon.

1629: Another SSM spotted. The Tomcat's are proving very handy for this, but I know that when night falls, the Vikings will have more of a chance...

1629: 72 Alborz hit by a Harpoon. Both it and the Alvand will burn through the night...

1633: An unsuccessful HARM attack on the Bandar Abbas SA-5. Both it and the Hornet attacking are unscratched.

1634: Five more HARMS render the Bandar Abbas SA-5 ineffective - for the time being.

1635: Another Harpoon on the 71 Alvand misses. The Taheri radar is instantly destroyed by a HARM.

1641: 82 Naghdi sinks, while the 72 Alborz is hit by another Harpoon.

1647: In desperation I order 20mm attacks on the 71 Alvand.

1650: A HARM attack on Busheyr proves mostly ineffective - all but 3 HARMS aimed at the I-Hawks are shot down. A solitary HARM knocks out the SA-5 search radar. It seems clear that Busheyr cannot be attacked easily from the air - so I resolve to use shore bombardment, after Kharg has been neutralised. A Super Hornet is shot down by an SA-5 fired from Busheyr. I am beginning to regret transferring my Super Hornets from the John Stennis to the George Washington.

1654: P 313-5 Fajr hit by a Harpoon, sinks straight away.

1701: Sirri hit by 2 Mavericks - but does not catch fire.

1706: A Seahawk over Kharg starts to identify the SSMs and other facilities. Much healthier than flying jet aircraft to check...

1715: 431 Kharg hit by a Harpoon. Despite several more hits, it stays operational for the rest of the scenario.

1724: 71 Alvand hit by another Harpoon.

1725: 514 Tonb hit by a Harpoon - but the launching Harpoon is itself destroyed by an SA-5.

1727: A Hornet gets a little too close to Kharg, and is shot down by I-Hawks.

1728: A 3 Hornet HARM attack on Busheyr scores 3 hits on the I-HAWK and SA-5 with no losses.

1736: Major HARM strike (5 planes) attacks all Bandar Abbas SAMs. HQ-2 is shut down, but SA-15 is unharmed, and prevents attack on the airbase.

1738: The HARM strikes finish by using Cluster munitions on the identified Dezful SSMs. Only one is destroyed, although a few are damaged.

1741: Bandar Abbas radar finally burns itself to destruction.

1745: Salt Lake City fires its last TLAM and is sent deep beneath the waves to fight another day.

1748: 514 Tonb sinks.

1759: The TLAMs are still striking - about 60 facilities are hit so far, with 40+ destroyed.

1812: Another air attack starts, but the F-4s are much reduced in numbers.

1815: 431 Kharg hit by 2 more Harpoons.

1815: Another Harpoon hits 431 Kharg. HQ-2 B Bandar Abbas now has no radar - all incoming F-4s destroyed for no loss.

1826: Around a dozen aircraft detected far inland by Vella Gulf.

1838: C-802 Lavan hit by 4 Mavericks. 1 miss.

1846: Inland multiple aircraft ID'd as Fulcrums. Tomcat moves to attack... and scores 6 out of 8. Now THAT was lucky! AALog showed 1st Fulcrum had no idea it was being attacked...

1847: Follow up Tomcat and Hornet polish off the remaining Fulcrums. Two Tomcats lost to Aphids... for about 10 Fulcrums or more.

1905: Al-Farsiyah hit by a Maverick. Massive return fire, no hits.

1923: Remaining 3 Fulcrums hit by 3 consecutive AMRAAMs. No return fire.

1929: Inland SA-5 takes several pot shots at a Tomcat, but fails to hit with anything. From now on, Iranian air power is decisively smashed.

1936: The first of a few Oceanhawks ferried from George Washington to John Stennis becomes available. Now I really must do a good job of sub hunting...

2000: ? Tabas Radar destroyed by HARM.

2030: DDG Hayler detects inbound Silkworms. All destroyed by SAMs. Vella Gulf is now practically out of AEGIS weapons. A couple of air contacts appear, but do not approach either Surface Group.

2042: One of the airbornes is ID'd as a Fulcrum and shot down by an AMRAAM.

2043: The other Fulcrum dies. 2 shots, 2 kills. Makes a change!

2110: After several hours of contacts and numerous sub sweeps, 901 Taregh (Kilo class sub) is finally destroyed by a heli-dropped Torpedo. Now to enter the Strait and get around without anyone else noticing...

2115: ? First Air attack on a nuclear site - Sagahand hit by a Mk84 JDAM. Both DDG Bulkeley and FFG Elrod finish the Kharg SAM sites by shore bombardment.

2120: ? Vella Gulf and Hayler start shooting up Busheyr SAM sites. FFG Elrod has run dry of OTO Melera cannon ammo firing at Kharg Island SAM sites. DDG Hayler has to UNREP further ammo from Vella Gulf... soon the SAM sites are blazing as the WP and HICAP hits start to mount.

2125: ? Abu Musa hit by 4 PaveWays. The airstrikes on the nuclear sites have priority, but clearly I have to neutralise the island sites that Iran has in the Gulf.

2130: ? 152mm Battery hit by 2 Paveways. Several more needed to finish it off. I need not have bothered... I never came in range of the guns!

2135: ? Sir Abunair struck by Paveway and cannon fire. It starts to burn... by dawn it is gone.

2145: ? Karadj Radar struck by HARM.

2150: ? Tehran radar struck by HARM. The Hornet firing is attacked by SA-5 but survives.

2200: ? Ghale-Morghi Radar struck by HARM. SA-5s still belting away - I cannot detect them, Hawkeyes are too distant.

2235: Esfahan Radar survives a HARM attempt, but not the follow up.

2254: Both SA-15 and I-HAWK battalions at Busheyr are destroyed. Concentrate fire on the I-HAWK battalion and the SA-5 regiment (at Busheyr).

2256: SSM-802 battery struck by 4 Mavericks. Again Hayler must restock ammo from the Vella Gulf.

2319: Bandar Abbas SA-5 and HQ-2s radars back on air, both HARM'd back.

2320: ? SA-6a Qeshmn hit by 2 Mavericks


2322: 431 Kharg's Decca radar survives a HARM attempt.

2324: Inland Prowler survives 6 SA-5 attempts.


2327: ? 3 Paveways and 20mm cannon fire hit Al Farsiyah.

2357: Follow up cluster bomb attacks on the detected Dezful SSM sites.

0013: Konarek radar hit by HARM. 431 Kharg hit by HARM.

0023: Sir Abunair hit by Paveway.

0027: C-802 Kish and Silkworm Kish hit by 2 Mavericks each.

0028: Halul Island Oil Terminal hit by 4 Paveways.

0030: Sirri hit by 2 Paveways. Looks like the Iranian archipelago is history...

0032: ? Rapier site Jask hit by another HARM.

0051: Hellfires hit C-802, Silkworm and C-801 sites on Kharg Island. Not enough to destroy any of them yet.

0100: ? Silkworm and C-802 Kish hit by a Maverick apiece. I decide to use a couple of Mavericks to help destroy the SA-5 at Busheyr, which is withstanding a fearsome barrage - must have fired 250 shells, and not yet heavily damaged. BIG mistake...

0118: Tehran radar destroyed, as is Abu Musa. Attacks on the 152mm battery continue with Paveways.

0125: ? C-802 Kish destroyed with single Paveway. I continue scanning the Iranian coast from the Straits westwards, hoping to spot more SSM batteries. I have an IR contact on Dezful, but I cannot localise it. I decide to loiter my expended Vikings over it to narrow down the location.

0130: ? Mk83 Paveway attack on the Dezful 152mm guns. Will they never die?

0133: ? SSM HY-2 battery on (Dezful?) attacked with Mk83 Paveways. It's another stubborn target, only one hit. I decide to ready some Slamer-ATA and JSOW attacks for the Scud batteries on the far NE and NW of the map - TLAMs won't target 'em.

0137: ? DISASTER! A stray Maverick set to launch at the Busheyr SA-5 battery makes a successful strike on the DDG Hayler instead! Again weapon launch point is poor... Initially I thought this wasn't too serious, as only 18% damage caused initially. However, the Aviation Facility and Helo Pad are set ablaze, and DDG Hayler reports flooding several times over the next half over.

0145: ? The flooding continues. The fires are extinguished on the Hayler, but not before a sensor (AN/SQR-19 TACTAS) is taken out.

0148: ? Busheyr Radar destroyed by a double Maverick attack. Why didn't I do this hours ago?

0150: ? DDG Hayler reports pumping water, but now the rudder is damaged. Hayler is crippled just outside Busheyr. Tactically I'd have to call it a loss... although at least Vella Gulf was close enough to evacuate the surviving crew. Damage rose to about 44% before pumping started - after complete, damage was 31%.

0152: SSM HY-2 on Dezful struck by two Paveways. Finally it dies, after cluster bombs and Mk83s just scratched it.

0154: ? C-802 Lavan and another SSM battery struck by Mk83 Paveways. The SSM threat is nearly gone... or so I mistakenly believe!

0156: ? I get messages that over a dozen SA-5s have been launched, but I have no idea from which battery or where they are heading. I head all vulnerable aircraft down to the deck to be on the safe side.

0158: ? Ramendeh under attack again. I have nearly run out of nuclear sites to attack in the dangerous middle zone of Iran... plus the Tehran radar hits should make it easier for the TLAMs to get through (I still have over 50 left to launch from ships).

0203: ? Another 2 Mavericks and four Hellfires slam into SA-5 Busheyr. I am beginning to think it will never die...

0206: ? 3 more SSMs attacked and destroyed around the Straits. The 152mm battery is still hanging on. SA-5s continue to pump out over central Iran at my strike force.

0208: ? 8 more Hellfires strike SA-5 Busheyr. I decide to back off and wait for it to die... but the Hayler isn't going anywhere.

0210: ? Anarak and Talmesi mines come under a barrage of Paveway. I try to use BLU-109 equipped weapons but I only have 2 to split between them... should have thought more about my loadouts 6 hours ago!

0220: ? Hayler reports pumping complete and AN/SQR-19 TACTAS sensor back online. Now if only they can fix the rudder...

0225? Two more Mavericks expended on the 152mm battery on Dezful.

0321: One of the Seahawks doing ASW duty off the John Stennis group picks up an SSM battery by IR.

0329: One Mk83 Paveway later, that SSM-802 is dead. Fast work? Not really, if the John Stennis had been in range...

0330: ? 3 more Mk83s pound the 152mm battery on Dezful.

0342: Halul Island Oil Platform finally burnt to the waves. The Talmesi mines are doomed - time to continue the strike southwards. A Tomcat (I have started using some as strike aircraft) is attacked by 6 SA-5s, all miss.

0343: Finally, contact lost with SA-5 Busheyr and the 152mm battery. Busheyr is now wide open for strike - all SAMS but the Tigercat have been erased. John Stennis Group has cleared the head of the Strait, and now prepares to run past Dezful...

0415: A massed SSM barrage is launched against the John Stennis Group. I have failed to locate 3 SSM sites - one on Dezful, one on the small island off Bandar Abbas, another on the mainland NW of Dezful. Now it's time for the CAP to go to work - I have 2 Hornets overhead, another is launched in time to help beat off the SSMs. SM-2s and ESSMs start to fly...

0425: All the SSMs have been downed, for no hits. But I can only locate one launching battery - the island off Bandar Abbas. Even worse, the SA-5 at Bandar Abbas has been repaired and now starts taking pot shots. I have only one HARM left, on a Prowler - so I launch it to attack the fire control radar on the SA-5. If successful I will destroy it... which is what I should have done hours ago.

0441: An SA-5 destroys a Hornet over Dezful.

0445: ? Shahid and Defence industries complex struck by LGBs. Most hit. Soon have all but Busheyr left to attack.

0520: More LGBs target the remaining damaged SSMs on Kharg Island.

0527: ? Elrod stops by the Bulkley to transfer Hellfire ammo.

0530: ? I target the aviation fuel and control towers at Busheyr air base. Don't want to be surprised by fighters later... Apparently there was also a mobile jammer there, which was also destroyed by cannon fire.

0535: ? Busheyr nuclear sites now come under attack. A few of these down and I've reached 120 destroyed sites...

0728: Finally decided to knock down the Tigercat SAM at Busheyr as well. A single Paveway knocks it into the next world... for some hours I have just launched single strike aircraft as they become available, and it's just a matter of time before enough sites destroyed. All TLAMs now expended - I have to carefully select targets (the 400MW underground reactor was hit by over 10 TLAMS - but survived!)

0731: ? Slamer-ATAs destroyed the located SSM site on the island off Bandar Abbas. I cannot locate the other 2 SSM sites though.

0733: Another Hornet falls to the the Bandar Abbas SA-5. My Slamer-ATA and JSOW strikes head North, supported by Viking Tankers and 3 Prowlers.

0740: A Hornet sent to destroy the Jask Rapier battery is shot down by its target. I got way too close on that one... sheer carelessness on my part.

0745: ? My last HARM knocks out the Bandar Abbas SA-5 fire control radar. Now it's wide open for LGB attack... but too late to avoid my losses.

0840: ? 8 Hellfires launched at Busheyr airbase. They hit various hardened shelters and facilities - no major damage caused, but it might help keep heads down.

0845: My JSOW attack on the NW Scud site will fail - one of the Hornets is knocked down by an SA-5 en route. I only have one JSOW equipped Hornet left (short of tankers) but I press on ahead. Better a damaged Scud then one unhurt...

0855: ? The Slamer-ATA attack on the NE Scud site succeeds - I launch it at point blank range to make sure the missiles have a good launch envelope.

0858: ? Both JSOWs attack the NW Scud site, and cannon fire added makes it heavily damaged. Recall all long distance strike aircraft - not a total success, but not a waste of time either.

0910: ? SA-5 Bandar Abbas struck by 3 Paveways. It's toast.

0934: After a relentless pounding, all but 5 Busheyr nuclear sites have been obliterated by Paveways and Hellfires and I am declared to have achieved Victory Conditions.

Conclusion:
1) My launch envelopes for Mavericks and Harpoons SUCKED.
2) My HARM usage SUCKED - no point targeting search radars.
2) My late priority targeting of SA-5 at Bandar Abbas SUCKED.
3) At best, a marginal victory. No way Hayler was a viable ship - at least one loss. Added to plane losses, I reckon I failed.

Losses for USN:

14 Hornet
8 Tomcat
1 Prowler
3 Viking
1 Hawkeye
1 Super Hornet
1 SeaHawk (lost on the Hayler)

Expenditures for USN

124 AMRAAM
415 M61A1 Vulcan 20mm Burst
47 Sidewinder
95 HARM
44 Maverick
63 Sparrow III
16 SM-2MR Blk IV
176 SM-2MR Blk IIIB
11 Harpoon ICR
13 Tomahawk Blk III
72 ESSM
87 Tomahawk Blk IV TACTOM
131 Tomahawk Blk III
28 Hellfire II
9 Sea Sparrow P
6 Tomahawk Blk III (sub)
6 Tomahawk Blk IV TACTOM (sub)
3 RAM Blk I
15 Harpoon ICR
142 127mm/54 IRGP
34 127mm/62 IRGP
215 DIFAR
479 127mm/54 HECVT
980 127mm/64 HiCap
158 127mm/54 WP
14 CBU-59 APAM
427 76mm/62 HE Compact
15 127mm/62 HiCap
5 127mm/62 HECVT
5 127mm/62 WP
820 12.7mm/50 MG Burst
10 Paveway II LGB (BLU-109)
240 25mm/87 Burst
6 DICASS
2 LHT Mod 0
8 JDAM [Mk84]
46 Paveway II LGB  [Mk84]
36 Paveway II LGB [Mk83]
1 Mk214 Sea Gnat Chaff
1 Mk245 GIANT Flare
8 Mk84 2000lb LDGP
8 JDAM [BLU-109]
6 SLAMER-ATA
40 Mk82-500lb LDGP (Viking)
2 JSOW [BLU-97]

Losses for Iran:

6 Sea King
4 Phantom
12 Airguard
9 Radar Site (AN/TPS-43)
4 Hudong
30 Phantom II
14 Tiger II
3 Radar Site (AN/FPS-113)
1 Do 228-101
16 Tomcat
4 Khadang
1 Bell 214A Huey
4 Structure (Launch Pad)
21 Fencer D
1 Boghammer
1 Buiding (Turbine)
2 Tapi
6 Building (Large)
5 Structure (Tunnel Entrance)
9 Building (School)
5 Building (Large Warehouse)
1 Building (Hospital)
1 Building (Small)
5 Building (Small Warehouse)
5 Structure (Generator)
6 Class C Platform (Iran)
22 Structure (Industrial Plant)
1 Building (Guard Post)
12 SSM (C-802 Bty)
4 Building (Very Large)
2 Saam
2 Radar Site (AN/FPS-100)
1 Hengam Class
2 SAM (I-Hawk Bty)
14 Fulcrum A
6 Building (Reactor)
1 Kilo
1 SAM (I-Hawk Bn)
1 Radar Site (AN/FPS-88)
1 SAM (SA-15 Bn)
1 SAM (SA-6A Bty)
2 SSM (HY-2 Bty)
3 Structure (Tunnel)
2 SAM (SA-5c Regt)
1 Arty - 152mm Bty Dug-in
1 SSM (C-801 Bty)
1 Vehicle (Mobile Jammer)
1 Building (Transformer)
1 SAM (Tigercat X 4)
1 AvGas Tank (50k Gal)
1 SSM (SS-1 Scud B Bn)
Expenditures for Iran:
118 Gammon
80 I-HAWK
117 76mm/62 HE Compact
7 PL-7
5 AK-230 30mm/64 Twin Burst
24 Sparrow II
10 Sidewinder
10 I-HAWK (Aircraft)
42 C-801
27 40mm/70 Single Bofors
49 C-802
30 Silkworm
2 30mm Gsh-6-30 Burst
8 Aphid
18 Gauntlet
18 I-HAWK PIP.3
7 Alamo A MR SARH
5 30mm Gsh-6-30-1 Burst
64 12.7mm/50 MG Burst
2 White Noise Decoy
128 23mm ZU-23-2 Burst
4 Tigercat Mk1
2 Rapier Mk1

Losses for Neutral:

None.


Court of Inquiry for hit on PetroStar VII
Court Martial for hit on DDG Hayler

Final position;-