Attack Sub Duel off Hokkaido 2003

[fitzpatv]

In this one, Japanese Coastguard vessels have been firing on Russian fishing boats following a dispute over rights near Hokkaido. Russia has threatened to attack Japanese shipping in retaliation. As the skipper of the Japanese diesel sub Harushio, you are detailed to deter such actions by your presence.

There are three merchant vessels rounding the N coast of Hokkaido before heading SW through the Sea of Japan. The destroyer Tachikaze (like the MVs under AI control) is waiting to escort them, but you have to hold the fort until they reach her.

Russian forces are believed to consist of unknown numbers of Kilo subs and Grisha corvettes.

Harushio is armed with four Harpoons and 16 dual-purpose Type-89 torpedoes. Both these and your sonar outrange anything the Russians have, so you have the advantage in any duel. However, you have a lot of ocean to cover, limited speed and endurance and your initial Weapons Hold instructions give the Russians the initiative.

As I soon found, you can lose this scenario by guessing wrong at the start. I was concerned that a Kilo could use the islands of Rishiri and Rebun (off the NW cape of Hokkaido) to hide from my sonar and ambush the MVs as they came past. It also made sense that the Russians would start in the N part of the patrol zone, as it was closer to their bases. Wrong!. A little way in, a Kilo popped-up to the S, well out of my reach, to sink the leading MV. Needless to say, it had been placed by the designer to intercept the merchantman's course. The following ships were doomed, as neither Harushio nor Tachikaze were in position to intervene.

So I tried again and used foreknowledge to intercept the Kilo. I still couldn't get there in time to save the first MV, but was able to take revenge and destroy the Russian sub. This scored 70 VP vs the 50 lost for the merchantman.

The other two MVs then reached safety and scored 70 VP each, but it wasn't over. A Grisha then appeared and, despite a malfunctioning Harpoon and a non-fatal hit, was sunk by Harushio with missiles for another 15 VP.

Right at the end, a second Kilo arrived and sank Tachikaze for 100 VP. It did not help that the destroyer was under AI control. As earlier, Harushio was too late to prevent this, but homed-in on the enemy sub and fired torpedoes - only for the Russian to be saved by the scenario time limit!!. At this point, the score was +75, which is Average. I let the clock run on and 3 minutes, 10 seconds of game-time sufficed to sink the Kilo, which would have made it +145 and a Minor Victory. I'll leave you to judge!.