Northern Fury #21, Sweep up

[bladesinger79]

Pre-mission edits:
• At Kangerlussauq AB, VMFA-332 had all changed to SLAM loadouts except for 2 under maintenance. The 4 Hornets in reserve will be SLAM loads; I added 48 SLAM missiles into the base magazines. Ready times for those will be 7 hours. The remaining aircraft were left alone.
• All flight ready fleet Tomcats are loaded with Phoenix heavy loadouts, and all fleet Hornets are SLAM loadouts. Only a few extra aircraft were taken off unavailable status.
• VA-65 “Fighting Tigers” at CFB Goose Bay changed from Skippers to all SLAM loadouts, ready times remained unchanged.
• VMFA-251 “Thunderbolts” 1-6 at Nuuk Airfield changed from different loadouts to all HARMs.
• All ships were filled with maximum magazine amounts for the simple fact that I still am a no-go on UNREP operations.

Pre-mission actions:

• I launched 2x VF-251 Hornets armed with HARMS to attack enemy radars from Nuuk Airbase.
• From Kangerlussauq, I launched 2x VF-332 Hornets armed with SLAMS to help attack ground targets. Also launched the only two available Orions to help hunt for subs near the carrier groups.
• I had each carrier group launch 4 more Tomcats to establish air superiority. The Enterprise sent SLAM armed Hornets to attack Vestmannaeyjar Island’s defenders. In addition, I increased more ASW platforms launched to help hunt subs. I stretched out the close and medium ASW zones.

THE BATTLE

Zulu 0600
I launched 2 Orions and 2 Hercules tankers from Kangerlussauq as support for fueling and ASW for the surface forces. From Nuuk airfield, I launched a flight of Hornets to attack radars.
Each CVBG launched 8 Tomcats, 6 Hornets, 3 Vikings, and several ASW helos to begin operations.
Zulu 0613:
Multiple bogeys detected launched from Keflavik and are circling north and west of the airbase. Multiple ground contacts were discovered in and north of Vestmanneyjar. Heavy jamming has affected all units; missiles will suffer inaccuracies for it until I can destroy the enemy jammers. One airborne jamming aircraft was detected flying north from Keflavik. I sent flight 7448 (Red Rippers 1 & 2) to intercept running on afterburners.
Zulu 0615:
Red Rippers #6 fired first shots at confirmed Su-24MP Fencer K north of Keflavik.
MiG-23MLK Flogger K launched from Vestmanneyjar at low altitude, another one followed minutes later.
Zulu 0617:
Hornets from flights 7454 and 7455 open fire at the bridges on Highway 1 and ground targets at Vesstmanneyjar.
Red Rippers #6 kills Fencer K took 2 AIM-54s and a AIM-7P to do it. Enemy jamming is proving to be a problem.
Zulu 0618:
Red Lightnings #1 and #2 each kill one MiG-23MLK Flogger K from Vestmanneyjar after four total shots. Dice rolls do not favor me.
Zulu 0620:
Wave of enemy fighters from Keflavik is a mix of Fencer Ds and a few Flogger Ks. My fighters from Carl Vinson and Big E engage. Five total flights attack from the north, west, and south against the enemy. They never had a chance.
Meanwhile, the four bridges and a mobile unit were destroyed by my Hornets.
Zulu 0627:
Several Su-27 Flankers emerged from Reykyavik airport, moving southwest and southeast. My Tomcats on station from 50-60nm moved in to intercept with Phoenix missiles.
SSMs fired from an unknown location at TG Algonquin from NNE, relatively close to the USS Scranton (SSN 760).
Fists of the Fleet #3 & #4 each shot down the last two remaining attack aircraft, they continued to Iceland for ground targets.
Zulu 0630:
Enemy SSMs are reaching TG Algonquin, many have been shot down to this point. Four ASW platforms are racing to the anticipated enemy sub location to the NE of the TG. I had them fly minimum altitude to use their MAD sensors, while two with active sonobuoys will drop in a spread pattern.
Hornets from Carl Vinson had begun air to ground attacks, two jammer stations fired upon.

Zulu 0636:
Flight 7452 fired SIX missiles at a lone MiG-23MLK Flogger K, all missed from either spoofed by chaff or simply missed. To Hit percentages were all 70% or better. Took a seventh missile from Red Lightnings #2 to finish it off.
Zulu 0639:
Two known jammer stations and one ZSU-23-4 Shilka destroyed by Carl Vinson Hornets, while the 656th Engineer Battalion depot was hit, damage assessment unknown.
An ELINT station was destroyed by units from Fist of the Fleet.
Zulu 0642:
Second wave of SSMs fired at TG Algonquin, location of enemy sub remains unknown. The TG successfully defended themselves once again.
Zulu 0651:
Dragon Lady detected a sub contact 149nm north of Iceland, suspected of firing the missiles. Thanks to prior planning, I have an Orion from Kasserlussauq on the way to destroy it.
Zulu 0654:
Second sonar contact, GOBLIN by USS Scranton, 8.4nm SSE, I closed the distance and added ASWs to confirm before firing.
Zulu 0657:
Third wave of SSMs attack TG Algonquin. FFG-45 De Wert (Perry class) was sunk by a missile.
Zulu 0659:
Goblin contact lost, sunk by USS Scranton. Later confirmed as a Victor III class sub.
Zulu 0719:
Multiple ground targets hit by SLAM missiles. Notable target was a mobile Jammer platform. Nearly all enemy jamming was eliminated in the area.
Damaged targets were the 1140th Artillery Regiment Depot, and the 1682nd Logistics Battalion.
Zulu 0730:
VP-8 “Tigers” #4 engaged and destroyed an SSBN SSE of Gunnbjrn Fjeld, 30nm off the coast of Greenland. Scoring confirmed it to be an Oscar class boomer.
All ten operational Hornets from Kasserlussauq are launched to attack Iceland. Several tankers were stationed near the coastline for support.
Zulu 0743:
A Su-24MR Fencer E attempted to launch from Keflavik but was intercepted and destroyed by Flight 7814 (Red Rippers #1) who was loitering 35nm from the airfield to the NW. Enemy jammers appeared to have halted in the area.
Zulu 0748:
Four Su-27 Flankers attempted to break out of Reykyavik to attack Flight 7815 (Red Rippers #4, Tomcatters #1). All four were shot down with no losses.
Zulu 0820:
Hornets from Kasserlussauq are refueling at the coast of Greenland to continue their attack missions on Iceland.
I also launched Tomcats from Goose Bay, hoping they will fit on the Carl Vinson. If not, I will redirect them to Kasserlussauq for further developments.
Zulu 0842:
Multiple enemy planes launched from Keflavik, headed south to attack Flight 7818 (Starfighters #1, #2). Emissions detected suggest MiG-29 Fulcrums. I take to the attack the moment they were in weapons envelope and acceptable altitudes.
Zulu 0850:
Flight 7814 (Red Rippers #1, #2) engaged a MiG-23MLD Flogger K near Keflavik. Chaff spoofed 2 Phoenix missiles up close. Took two Sparrows until it was finally shot down. Two Foxhounds from Iceland tried to shoot down Hornets from Greenland but were shot down by Red Ripper #1 and Red Pokadots #4. The rest of the Hornets resumed their ground attack missions.
Zulu 0905:
Flight 7982 (Red Pokadots #3, #4) launched their SLAMs at the supply Depot south of Saudarkrokur airport, along with three of the four bridges at Hwy 1. Flight 7980 (Red Pokadots #1, #2), fired at the remaining bridge, then turned south to attack supply depots and a battalion logistics base east of Reykjavik. The bridges were all destroyed, but the depots needed more strikes.
Zulu 0910:
Three Foxhounds launched from Keflavik airfield to intercept my Hornets. Flights 8080 (Starfighters #6, #7) and 7814 moved in to stop them from in front and from behind. Flight 8080 shot down all three before Flight 7814 could help.
Zulu 0935:
Multiple contacts launched from Hornafjordur airport, mostly Flankers and Floggers. Flight 8116 (Flighting Swordsmen #10, #12) moved in to intercept quickly. All non-combatants were ordered to return to CVBG Enterprise to clear the way for my fighters.
Zulu 0940:
Multiple air contacts launched from Keflavik and Reykjavik for another air showdown. Eight total fighters were counted. Starfighters #6, #7 shot down the four Flankers with six total missiles fired, then sped away to avoid the long-range missiles from the remaining Flankers. Starfighters #5, #10 from flight 8211, and flight 8212 (Swordsmen #4, #5) rushed in to join the fight to save their buddies.
Zulu 1050:
Flight 8212 (Swordsmen #4, #5) shot down two Floggers south of Akureyri Airport, they held position for some time until they would run Bingo on fuel.

CURRENT SCORING AS OF ZULU 1050:
NATO: USS Underwood (FFG 36 Perry Class)
1x Lynx HMA.8
1x SF-2F Seasprite (I don’t know how this happened)

Russia:
6x 120mm/24 2S9-1 Sviristelka Self Propelled Mortar
4x 23mm ZSU-23-4 Shilka
2x 23mm ZU-23-2 [BTR-ZD]
2x BMD-3 [AT-5 Spandrel A] IFV
8x Bridge (Two-Lane, 60 Tons)
3x Building (Tents)
2x Diesel (40k Liter Tank)
4x Infantry Section [7.62mm MG/Unguided Infantry Anti-Tank Weapon]
2x MiG-23ML Flogger G
16x MiG-23MLD Flogger K
4x MiG-29 Fulcrum C
5x MiG-31 Foxhound
1x PLA-671RTMK Victor III [Shchuka]
1x PLARK-949A Oscar II [Antey]
1x Radar (Generic Air Traffic Control)
3x SA-18 Grouse [9K38 Igla] MANPADS
16x Su-24M Fencer D
1x Su-24MP Fencer F
1x Su-24MR Fencer E
7x Su-27P Flanker B
7x Su-27S Flanker B
1x Su-27S Flanker B
1x Vehicle (1L222 Kvant [Apure/Avtobaza] Mobile Jammer+ELINT)
1x Vehicle (1L257 Krasukha-4 Mobile Jammer+ELINT)
1x Vehicle (Heart Ache [1RL248-1/2/3 SPN-1/2/3] Jammer)
1x Vehicle (Paint Box [1RL237 SPN-30] Jammer)
3x Vehicle (Truck Depot, 40x Vehicles)

Zulu 1053:
2x Flankers launched from Akureyri airport and flew south to attack Flight 8212. They were shot down, but it cost 6 total missiles to do it (the dice rolls were NOT in my favor). Flight 8212 fled south as two more Flankers chased them from 30+ nm away to gain distance before returning into the fray. 4 missiles missed their targets with hit percentages of over 70%, I had them retreat while sending 4 other Tomcats to assist. Flight 8299 (Fighting Swordsmen #1, #2) came to the rescue from north of Vestmannaeyjar Island, and each shot down on pursuing Flanker.
Zulu 1106:
Enemy fighters were launched from Reykjavik, the first one identified as a Foxhound; the other unknown hostile bogey. Flight 8299 flew west to intercept. Fighting Swordsman #1 fired a Phoenix missile from 80nm to force the Foxhound to go defensive at long range. The tactic paid off, shooting down the first enemy at 67nm. Fighting Swordsman #2 does the same and earned his first kill of the battle.
Zulu 1118:
Flight 8299 flew north towards Akureyri airport to engage a lone Mig-23ML Flogger G circling south of the airportand destroyed it. They were ordered to RTB back to CVBG Enterprise.
Zulu 1126:
USS Scranton detected a sonar contact bearing north at estimated 9nm. The sub turned north to investigate. The contact was later confirmed as biological.
Zulu 1135:
Flights 8324 (Red Lightnings #9, #10), 8343 (Red Lightnings #3, #5) and 8344 from the Carl Vinson (Red Rippers #6, #7) were sent to northern Iceland to draw out and destroy any remaining enemy planes in that area. I had estimated that less than 20 total Russian planes remained in the AO.
Zulu 1143:
A lone fighter launched from Reykyavik in probable hopes to make a difference in the fight. Sadly, Flight 8386 (Red Lightnings #1, #2) were circling like hawks nearby and made short work of him. It was confirmed to be a Flanker.
Zulu 1151:
A lone Mig-23MLD Flogger K tried to launch from Isafjordur but met a fiery death by Flight 8344. It was Red Ripper #7 who earned the kill on one shot.
Zulu 1153:
Flight 8324 discovered a Su-24MR Fencer E about 18nm NW of Raufarhofn airport. Red Lightnings #9 earned his first kill of the day.

At this point, I had established air supremacy around the area. If anything tried to take off from an airfield in Iceland, it was going to die quickly and to the point before it could reach altitude to engage my Tomcats.

Zulu 1200:
VF-143, the Pukin’ Dogs, had successfully transferred to the USS Carl Vinson, perhaps a bit too late for the party, but fully ready to join in. I had to refuel them once during their flight to do it.
Zulu 1248:
VA-65, the Fighting Tigers, had successfully landed on the USS Enterprise to join the war.
Zulu 1320:
(PLAYER NOTE: I made an executive decision to run editor and activate the two dormant Hornet squadrons sitting in the hangars of the USS Carl Vinson and USS Enterprise. To have 24 aircraft taking up space for days, I felt it was time the hangar crews got the job done and had these planes ready to go. Also, I unassigned the 12 Greyhound cargo planes so that I can send them back to Kasserlussauq. I just wanted them off my carrier).
Zulu 1405:
I launched Dragon Lady from Kasserlussauq and sent it to recon the area around Keflavik and Vestmannaeyjar Island to spot ground targets. Lots of opportunities.
Zulu 1415:
Big-E launched all 22 available Hornets on a massive ground attack wave to knock out as many priority targets before the mission ends. If anything remains, targets of opportunity will be attacked in southern Iceland.
Zulu 1441:
Three Su-27 Flanker aircraft tried to launch from Keflavik. Flight 8559 (Pukin’ Dogs #5, #6) takes their first chance to distinguish themselves in the battle for the first time. All three were shot down.
Zulu 1450:
Fighters from Big-E struck their targets with great success. All bridges on the eastern half of the island were destroyed, along with an artillery battery, an HQ unit, and heavily damaged a few supply depots.
Zulu 1500:
Now it’s Vinson’s turn. All ground-attack aircraft were launched to obliterate Keflavik and most of Reykyavik. Keflavik got wrecked but a few targets remained.
Zulu 1533:
Sonobuoys detected a Sierra II class SSN 93nm from CVBG Vinson. VP-8 #5 (Tigers) engaged and destroyed it.
Zulu 1630:
There is a lull in the battle. No contacts from Iceland, and my battle groups are running out of guided missiles both air and ground. The only Phoenix and SLAM missiles remaining are mounted on the fighters, the cargo holds are empty of both. I have no supply ships to help replenish them. From here on out, it’s AMRAAMS and Sparrow for air combat, and lots of bombs for ground strikes.

Zulu 1730:
Kasserlussauq launches their final wave of Hornets to attack as many remaining targets around Keflavik and Reykyavik as possible. The mission will take a few hours to accomplish. After refueling enroute to Iceland, I had VFM-332 rebase to the Enterprise once they deliver their payloads. Keflavik targets were all destroyed except for the two helipads which should have been very heavily damaged. Several ZSU-23s were destroyed at Reykjavik.
Zulu 2249:
Polka Dots #3 was shot down by a MANPAD during a bombing attack on targets near Vestmannaeyjar Island. Bad move on my part, didn’t spot enemy SAMs.

The last three hours were spent on bombing everything on the island that was not an airport or not in red. When it was all over, no enemy targets were found on Iceland.
Final Score: 398.

End notes:
Enterprise had 18 Tomcats with Phoenix loadouts and zero reloads.
Carl Vinson was better off, 26 Tomcats had Phoenix loadouts but 6 reloads available.
Had to dig into using more bombs and Maverick missiles.
TG Wasp had not reached Vestmannaeyjar Island.
Seemed like there were probably about 20 total Russian fighters grounded on Iceland, they just didn’t launch.
I never used any Tomahawks, felt there would be a need for them later in other scenarios which in truth does not carry over into NF #22, and so on.
Total landslide victory for NATO.

AS OF: 2/25/1994 12:00:00 AM

SIDE: NATO
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------
1x F/A-18D Hornet
1x FFG 36 Underwood [Perry Class]
1x Lynx HMA.8
1x SH-2F Seasprite


EXPENDITURES:
------------------
3x 20mm/85 M61A1 Vulcan Burst [100 rnds]
1x 76mm/62 Compact HE Burst [4 rnds]
250x AGM-84E SLAM
2x AIM-120A AMRAAM
102x AIM-54C Phoenix
18x AIM-7M Sparrow III
24x AIM-7P Sparrow III
2x AIM-9M Sidewinder
15x AN/SSQ-53A DIFAR
315x AN/SSQ-53B DIFAR
118x AN/SSQ-53D DIFAR
6x AN/SSQ-62A DICASS
370x AN/SSQ-62B DICASS
109x AN/SSQ-77B VLAD
26x GBU-12D/B Paveway II LGB [Mk82]
1x Generic Flare Salvo [3x Cartridges, Single Spectral]
2x Mk214 Sea Gnat Chaff [Seduction]
2x Mk48 Mod 5 ADCAP
3x Mk50 Barracuda Mod 0 ALWT
14x Mk82 500lb LDGP
28x Mk82 500lb Snake Eye
30x Mk83 1000lb LDGP
43x RIM-66E SM-1MR Blk VI
24x RIM-66M-1 SM-2MR Blk III
16x RIM-7M Sea Sparrow
8x Sea Wolf Blk 1
2x SSQ-963A CAMBS III



SIDE: WP
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------
6x 120mm/24 2S9-1 Sviristelka Self Propelled Mortar
6x 122mm/38 D-30 2A18 Towed Howitzer
18x 23mm ZSU-23-4 Shilka
34x 23mm ZU-23-2 [BTR-ZD]
4x A/C Hangar (2x Medium Aircraft)
18x BMD-3 [AT-5 Spandrel A] IFV
28x Bridge (Two-Lane, 60 Tons)
3x Building (Barracks)
5x Building (Tents)
1x Commercial Dry-Bulk Carrier - Handysize [35,000t DWT]
2x Diesel (40k Liter Tank)
4x Infantry Section [7.62mm MG/Unguided Infantry Anti Tank Weapon]
6x Mi-24V Hind E
6x Mi-8MTV Hip H
6x Mi-8T Hip C
3x MiG-23ML Flogger G
17x MiG-23MLD Flogger K
4x MiG-29 Fulcrum C
7x MiG-31 Foxhound
1x PLA-671RTMK Victor III [Shchuka]
1x PLA-945A Sierra II [Kondor]
1x PLARK-949A Oscar II [Antey]
40x PT-76B Amphibious Tank
1x Radar (Generic Air Traffic Control)
17x SA-18 Grouse [9K38 Igla] MANPADS
2x SA-19 Grisom [2S6M] TELAR
16x Su-24M Fencer D
1x Su-24MP Fencer F
2x Su-24MR Fencer E
8x Su-25 Frogfoot A
11x Su-27P Flanker B
4x Su-27S Flanker B
8x Su-27S Flanker B
1x Vehicle (1L222 Kvant [Apure/Avtobaza] Mobile Jammer+ELINT)
1x Vehicle (1L257 Krasukha-4 Mobile Jammer+ELINT)
1x Vehicle (Heart Ache [1RL248-1/2/3 SPN-1/2/3] Jammer)
1x Vehicle (Paint Box [1RL237 SPN-30] Jammer)
7x Vehicle (Truck Depot, 40x Vehicles)


EXPENDITURES:
------------------
143x 23mm ZSU-23-4 Shilka Burst [50 rnds]
4x 30mm 2S6 Burst [50 rnds]
2x AA-10 Alamo A [R-27R, MR TSARH]
10x AA-10 Alamo C [R-27ER, LR TSARH]
1x AA-7 Apex E [R-24MR, SARH]
5x AA-9 Amos [R-33, SARH]
10x Generic Acoustic Decoy
92x Generic Chaff Salvo [4x Cartridges]
38x Generic Chaff Salvo [5x Cartridges]
22x SA-18 Grouse [9M39]
8x SA-19 Grisom [9M311]
24x SS-N-19 Shipwreck [P-700 Granit]

[Gunner98]

Thanks for the report.

Munitions management is key to this and many other of the scenarios. I built this blog a few years ago to help players work through it a bit, and explain some of my design decisions.

http://northernfury.us/blog/post25/

B

[bladesinger79]

Indeed. Without supply ships for either CVBG, munitions was getting tight for AGMs and AAMs. Had this been a continuous war scenario without pauses, Enterprise would have been in big poodoo sailing northeast to Norway; facing hordes of fighters with about 30 total Phoenix missiles remaining. Iceland would have fallen back to NATO with little difficulty thanks to a dazzling show of NATO air superiority.