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EDIT: new version uploaded (updated scoring table etc.)

In 1967 the Federal German Navy played a wargame ("Repräsentative Schnellbootlage 1970") to evaluate the cost-value ratio of the planned modernisation of "Zobel Class" (Type 142) FPB's to "Type 142A" (upgrade with M-20 fire-control radar and DM2A1 wire-guided torpedos). This study also showed how the operational situation of FPB's in the Baltic was assesed by the experts of the Navy.

So I wanted to make a scenario out of the following historical facts that I know about this wargame from open literature:

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The wargame should play in February 1970. In the night 8 "Zobel Class" FPB's should attack an OPFOR supply convoy which should replenish a beachhead on Seeland.
OPFOR had 3 Fitter missions available for armed recon. Federal German Navy had 2 F-104 missions available for armed recon.

The OPFOR convoy consits of 4 Alligator LST's escorted by 2 conventionally armed "Kotlin Class" destroyers. 2 groups of 3 "Shershen Class" torpedo boats each and a group of 3 "OSA Class" missile boats escorting the convoy 10-15 miles in front of the HVU's.

No mines and no submarines in the operation area.

The Zobel boats should attack the LST's as primary targets. Engagement of the escorting FPB-groups only in situations were this is absolutely necessary for fulfilling the mission.

The Zobel boats should be equipped with ECM and chaff. OPFOR destroyers have their air-search radars active all time. Surface-search radars of OPFOR torpedo/missile boats are active occasionally only.

The Zobel boat squadron is splitted in 2 divisions and cruising from the southern exit of the "Great Belt" to "Moens Klint". In vicinity of "Groensund" they split in 3 subdivisions and will attack the OPFOR convoy with full speed. Emissions are allowed only occasionally by the leader boat.
If OPFOR aircraft are detected by ESM then the non-modernised Zobel boats [Type 142] should open blind fire in direction of the aircraft. Modernised Zobel boats [Type 142A] will use radar fire-control.

Combat action was assumed in 2 phases:
1st phase: Evading the escorting FPB-groups (prefered). If evasion is not possible, then engage
with 40mm artillery. It was supposed that OPFOR FPB's would stop the engagement
when they reach operational range of destroyer's artillery (to avoid friendly fire).
2nd phase: The subdivisions which reach the OPFOR HVU's will engage the destroyes
and then the LST's (primary target). Torpedos will be fired at maximum range.

In case of non-modernised boats (Type 142) the chances were estimated "very tough but not impossible".
For modernised boats (Type 142A) the experts estimated "good prospect for success for single-shot torpedos with good hitting-rate".
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Interesting tactical problem, it took a while for things to develop but I quite enjoyed the scenario. But then any scenario that includes F-104's is off to a good start.

Not so random observations:

- I hate straight-running torpedoes...

- The lack of neutral traffic simplifies the target acquisition process. Understood that the intention is to model a military exercise where civilians are generally omitted from play.

- I need to learn how to employ fast attack craft better. First run through was a mission failure even if it was hard fought. Sorry, no score or expenditures since I restarted the scenario before posting this.

-C

Thanks for your feedback.

Yes, I hate the straightrunners also... I think the scenario replicates quite good why the navy finally decided to upgrade the Zobel-boats with radar control and wire guided torpedos.

neutral traffic... well, I do not have details if neutral/civil traffic was considered in the wargame. I think it was not, because the decision about the cost-value was on the key aspects radar fire-control (AAW, anti-missel defence) and advantages of wire-guided torpedos, not in identification.

Enjoyed this scenario a lot. Should think about including it in the community pack.

[Spoiler] Used the F-104s to scout for the task force. Detected the screening Osa missile boats and tried to bypass them. The German torpedo boats can outrun them but not the Styx ASMs. I was surprised to find that the CM was 100% effective against the Styx missiles.

Per the briefing, the 40 mm Bofors were used to knockout the 6 missile boats; 3 sunk, 3 damaged. They outranged the Russian guns. Big advantage for the German boats. Also launched several straight runners which took out one of the Russian torpedo boats.

Visually ID'd two Russian frigates and 4 LSTs in the task force. The database showed the frigate with significant range advantage with it's cannon. Was tempted to use the long range wire guided torpedoes on them but remembered the objective is to stop the LSTs. Launched all the wire guided torpedoes at the 4 Alligators. All hit their targets and the scenario ended. 4 LSTs and 3 missile boats sunks. Zero German boats lost.

I tried this one out. Quite nice so far.

[Spoilers.]

At 1800, I sent my boats towards the rendezvous point and then launched a couple of F-104s to scout the area. It took me a while but at 1830, I found the screening force (three groups) and the convoy some distance behind them. I attacked one Alligator with the F-104s and then they headed home (Winchester).

At 1900, I launched a single F-104 to keep any eye on the enemy ships. I was able to do this and increased the speed on the attack boats to 30 knots. My plan was to get past the screen and then sweep around to the south and attack the Alligators from the E or SE, where I would be screened to an extent from gunfire from the frigates.

At 2118, my boats were attacked by Russian aircraft. I lost one attack boat. The real "damage" was that the Russians now knew where I was and the screening force turned towards me. At 2150, missiles were launched. I was able to spoof or shoot down 12 SS-N-2 Styx missiles without losing any boats. I accelerated to flank speed and blew past the screening force.

At 2258, the convoy was NW of my attack boats. I turned at flank speed and attacked!

At 2308, I began firing on the Alligators. All four were damaged. At first, the Russian frigates did not return fire. Did they see me? Was I in range?

At 2312, the frigates made up for their slow response. A vicious battle ensued and, at the end (around 2330), I had sunk all four Alligators, but my forces had taken heavy losses. I limped away with only two of my boats intact.

Lessons learned...I should have not attacked the first Alligator with the F-104s. Instead, I should have attacked the frigates escorting them, hopefully damaging them enough that they would have not been able to return fire when my boats attacked the Alligators. Then I could have picked off the Alligators at my leisure and probably would have suffered fewer losses. The other option to is to rely more on hit and run attacks, coming just close enough to the Alligators to fire on them and then turning away quickly before the frigates could attack my ships. It probably would not have been a perfect solution--the guns on those frigates have a lot more range--but I might have reduced losses.

Overall, a solid little scenario. You still need to set up the scoring, I think--I was told I had 175 points but the game did not say if that was good, average, or what. And maybe flesh out the orders, etc. But this is definitely on track to be a solid scenario. Good work.

Thanks everybody for testing and your feedbacks.
Yes, optimising the scoring will be necessary. I will upload an update as soon as I fixed it.
Does anybody know, how the scenario can be ended when all friendly boats get lost? Does this require lua-scripting?

Uploaded an update/fixed socring