Andromeda at the Ready 1984
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2021 2:09 pm
In this enjoyable little scenario, the British frigate Andromeda has to protect a merchantman (the Dover Belle), which has been damaged by Iranian mines in the Gulf. Iran alleges that the ship is carrying contraband, but the UK elects to protect its citizens. To do so, the Andromeda has four Exocets, 18 Sea Wolf SAMs and some 20mm guns. She is assisted by the oiler Olmeda, which carries similar light guns and a couple of Wessex choppers to supplement the frigate's Lynx (which has Sea Skua missiles). Travelling separately is the minesweeper Ledbury, detailed to sweep suspected mines from the Dover Belle's path back to the UAE for repairs.
In addition to mines, the Iranians have a highly-dangerous Kaman missile gunboat with early-model Harpoons, which comfortably outrange your Exocets, as well as 76mm guns (note that Andromeda has NO meaningful gun armament!). They also have a Bayandor-class frigate with guns and decent sensors and an unknown number of basic Peterson patrol boats, armed only with machine-guns. In the air, Iran has some F-5 Tiger II fighter-bombers with Sidewinders and iron bombs.
Andromeda starts 116nm away from Dover Belle and cannot help much to begin-with. Moving fast risks mines, while going cautiously could easily mean being too late. I went at Olmeda's best speed of 20 knots. A complication is that the AI-controlled Dover Belle's course is not clear, which is especially problematic for Ledbury. I had the minesweeper move at Creep towards a suitable midway point, with the intention of reversing course at an appropriate point and sweeping ahead of the freighter.
It seemed best to keep Olmeda close to Andromeda, as her choppers were useful for recon, she was quite hard to sink and might divert fire from the freighter.
It was necessary to ration the helicopters' sorties, given their turnround times and, needless to say, keep a watchful eye for fighters while they were airborne.
I soon found that Andromeda's surface search range was just 25nm (not 120), presumably due to 'curve of the Earth' issues (1984 technology).
After about three hours, Andromeda and Olmeda rendezvoused with Dover Belle and then conformed to the freighter's speed (she wasn't badly damaged and could make 18 knots). It seemed as though her master was making for Dubai, so I amended Ledbury's course accordingly.
A couple of F-5s circled the convoy on what appeared to be a recon mission. After another hour, a Peterson craft approached from the E. I wondered whether to use the Lynx's missiles on such a small target, but it seemed best given our lack of guns. The patrol boat was duly sunk for 15VP and the chopper made it home before the Tigers arrived.
Two hours later, we heard that an Omani fishing boat had been sunk by a mine and were given the location as an approximate fix on the Iranian minefield. As Ledbury headed in that direction, the Bayandor suddenly appeared about 8nm away. Ledbury headed away at speed and the Lynx was summoned to cripple the Iranian frigate with four Sea Skuas. Unfortunately, a bug meant that the remaining three missiles in the magazine couldn't be loaded (as they were less than the standard sortie payload), so the chopper was relegated to recon duties.
Andromeda came within range of the Bayandor and finished her off with an Exocet (15VP). Not long afterwards, Ledbury, having guessed wrong as to the extent of the minefield, hit one and took damage.
Two F-5s then made a run at the convoy with bombs, but were splashed by the frigate's Sea Wolves for 15VP each). Not long after this, Andromeda hit a mine, despite following directly behind Ledbury. Again, the damage was only slight - either I was lucky or they weren't very powerful mines.
Some nine hours in, it got to the stage where I felt sure that I was through the minefield. Ledbury was limping a bit with flooding, but looked likely to make it to port. At this point, the Lynx detected the deadly Kaman 35nm SE of the fleet.
Using the Lynx for spotting, Andromeda got between Kaman and Dover Belle. The same 'curve of the Earth' problem that hampered us earlier now worked for us by negating the Iranian's range advantage. She couldn't see us, we were jamming her and Andromeda got into range, fired two Exocets and blew her apart (15VP).
With a pair of F-5s keeping their distance and no sign of any more Iranian warships, everyone made it to Dubai for 100VP and the scenario ended as a Major Victory with a score of +175. A Triumph would have entailed destroying more enemy ships and aircraft.
Overall, a good, challenging short scenario with plenty of atmosphere.
In addition to mines, the Iranians have a highly-dangerous Kaman missile gunboat with early-model Harpoons, which comfortably outrange your Exocets, as well as 76mm guns (note that Andromeda has NO meaningful gun armament!). They also have a Bayandor-class frigate with guns and decent sensors and an unknown number of basic Peterson patrol boats, armed only with machine-guns. In the air, Iran has some F-5 Tiger II fighter-bombers with Sidewinders and iron bombs.
Andromeda starts 116nm away from Dover Belle and cannot help much to begin-with. Moving fast risks mines, while going cautiously could easily mean being too late. I went at Olmeda's best speed of 20 knots. A complication is that the AI-controlled Dover Belle's course is not clear, which is especially problematic for Ledbury. I had the minesweeper move at Creep towards a suitable midway point, with the intention of reversing course at an appropriate point and sweeping ahead of the freighter.
It seemed best to keep Olmeda close to Andromeda, as her choppers were useful for recon, she was quite hard to sink and might divert fire from the freighter.
It was necessary to ration the helicopters' sorties, given their turnround times and, needless to say, keep a watchful eye for fighters while they were airborne.
I soon found that Andromeda's surface search range was just 25nm (not 120), presumably due to 'curve of the Earth' issues (1984 technology).
After about three hours, Andromeda and Olmeda rendezvoused with Dover Belle and then conformed to the freighter's speed (she wasn't badly damaged and could make 18 knots). It seemed as though her master was making for Dubai, so I amended Ledbury's course accordingly.
A couple of F-5s circled the convoy on what appeared to be a recon mission. After another hour, a Peterson craft approached from the E. I wondered whether to use the Lynx's missiles on such a small target, but it seemed best given our lack of guns. The patrol boat was duly sunk for 15VP and the chopper made it home before the Tigers arrived.
Two hours later, we heard that an Omani fishing boat had been sunk by a mine and were given the location as an approximate fix on the Iranian minefield. As Ledbury headed in that direction, the Bayandor suddenly appeared about 8nm away. Ledbury headed away at speed and the Lynx was summoned to cripple the Iranian frigate with four Sea Skuas. Unfortunately, a bug meant that the remaining three missiles in the magazine couldn't be loaded (as they were less than the standard sortie payload), so the chopper was relegated to recon duties.
Andromeda came within range of the Bayandor and finished her off with an Exocet (15VP). Not long afterwards, Ledbury, having guessed wrong as to the extent of the minefield, hit one and took damage.
Two F-5s then made a run at the convoy with bombs, but were splashed by the frigate's Sea Wolves for 15VP each). Not long after this, Andromeda hit a mine, despite following directly behind Ledbury. Again, the damage was only slight - either I was lucky or they weren't very powerful mines.
Some nine hours in, it got to the stage where I felt sure that I was through the minefield. Ledbury was limping a bit with flooding, but looked likely to make it to port. At this point, the Lynx detected the deadly Kaman 35nm SE of the fleet.
Using the Lynx for spotting, Andromeda got between Kaman and Dover Belle. The same 'curve of the Earth' problem that hampered us earlier now worked for us by negating the Iranian's range advantage. She couldn't see us, we were jamming her and Andromeda got into range, fired two Exocets and blew her apart (15VP).
With a pair of F-5s keeping their distance and no sign of any more Iranian warships, everyone made it to Dubai for 100VP and the scenario ended as a Major Victory with a score of +175. A Triumph would have entailed destroying more enemy ships and aircraft.
Overall, a good, challenging short scenario with plenty of atmosphere.