AAR: Resolve [Spoiler Alert]

[Herman Hum]

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A very interesting mission this is: to suppress the enemy without causing too much damage. How ironic can orders be? This scenario is fraught with real life Rules of Engagement.

I launched my Ready +5 fighters immediately with supporting AEW units. I also launched my SEAD aircraft while re-arming others for the SEAD role because I didn’t want to inflict any more damage that absolutely necessary. I calculated that if I could keep the enemy blind, my bombers could penetrate without opposition.

One Hawkeye was assigned to cover Taiwan, who was lacking in any kind of AEW support. She looked pretty naked and open to attack. I also transferred my B-2 Spirits and B-1 Lancers to Taiwan in order to minimize their fuel demands.

Meanwhile, my CVBG had to play an offensive lineman’s role. [The designer of this scenario must be a football aficionado.] I was going to open a hole in China’s defensive line so that my running backs [B-1s and B-2s] could penetrate and run like crazy for the goal line, the ICBM base. The orders stated that the bombers had to make their ingress between the bases of Longyou and Beihai. I selected a point between Sek Kong and Beihai in order to create a rift in the IADS. This was the widest stretch of territory between all the bases. I hoped that I could escape detection and any roving air patrols.

My CAPs constantly encountered roving enemy air patrols of various sizes. These were easily dispatched from long range with BVR missile engagements. The enemy continued into the face of the missile fire without regard for their personal safety and were summarily butchered.

The SEAD planes were also enjoying success. Their volleys of decoys against Suixi, Ganghou, and Sek Kong coaxed the defending SAM batteries to radiate with active radar. These systems were quickly silenced by HARM-equipped aircraft following behind the decoys. Once a major breach was established in this new Great Wall of China, my fighters were able to hold the breach open whilst the stealthy bombers stole in on their mission.

After going ‘feet dry’ over the coast of China, the bombers plotted a circuitous route to the Datong ICBM complex in hopes of avoiding enemy contact. One nebulous radar return from any one of them could ruin their entire day.

As the strikers approached from the SW, all four aircraft separated to attack individually. This was done for two reasons. The multiple axes of attack allowed for the units to triangulate on radar contacts and also allowed for the possibility that if one or more elements were intercepted, the survivors could continue the mission. A Phalcon AEW unit was operating directly over the ICBM complex. This was very bad news as any radar return received by them would alert the entire region and the bombers were essentially defenceless.

The ‘escorting’ B-1 Lancers pinpointed the defending SAM batteries at 20nm range. There were a lot of them so they concentrated on the most lethal ones, the SA-10s and the LY-60s. They lofted their JSOW munitions and followed them in. If the B-2 strikers were detected, they would have to sacrifice themselves in hopes of drawing off any interceptors or SAMs. Brave men they were, indeed.

The JSOW weapons were easily shot down without inflicting much damage. Now the pucker factor was intense. The bombers closed on their targets, the command bunkers. Sweat was rolling off their brows as the radar intensity levels increased as more waves were reflected off of their aircraft. Would they be as invisible as advertised?

One Spirit found itself within range and loosed its Penetrators towards the bunkers. She immediately tried to pull off target but, being unwieldy aircraft, could not execute her turn quickly enough and carried on over the target. Ground defences identified her and killed her with SAM/AAA fire. Luckily, her bombs found their targets and demolished all three bunkers. The second B-2 was not needed. It was now time to get out of Dodge.

The surviving strikers were still on the egress portion of their flight when Victory was awarded over their radios. The ICBM command complex had been destroyed for the singular loss of a B-2 Spirit. It was expensive for the aircrew but cheap in terms of the entire war.

Thanks for an interesting and challenging scenario.

[CV32]

Thanks for the AAR, Herman. Glad you liked the scenario. :D

[Herman Hum]

This AAR has been re-posted with permission from the author.

Originally posted by DarkNite,Feb 1 2006, 10:30 AM HarpGamer.com (http://harpgamer.com/harpforum/index.php?showtopic=572) :
Resolve AAR

Taiwan has managed to stem the tide of PRC fury against their fortress island. Unfortunately the mandarins in Beijing are unwilling to cease hostilities.

Enter the United States Navy and, for good measure, Air Force. The Pentagon has concluded that one good parlyzing strike to Chinese strategic nuclear forces may be enough to force their concession. Easier said than done. Their target, Datong Missile Base, lies 1000nm inland, beyond a coastal belt of stalwart air defenses and naval task forces.

The Lincoln carrier group, steaming off southern China, is given the mission of opening a lane for a bomber strike targetting Datong. Her airwing is composed of the latest models in the US inventory: Super Hornets, CV & VTOL JSFs, Growlers and even SV-22s. Keeping a respectful distance from the coast but remaining close enough for comfortable air operations the strike planners conclude that Sek Kong and Ganzhou airbases are the keys to the kingdom. Take those two facilities and their associated air defenses out and the bombers would have a clear route to China's hinterland.

Arming her JSFs with AAW ordnance, including advanced AIM-120C-7 missiles, a fighter sweep of three 4-ship JSF-C flights is launched toward Sek Kong and the Shantou naval complex. Following at a respectful distance are two EA-18G Growlers with the mission of mapping out the target area's electronic order of battle. A pair of 4-ship JSF-B flights guards the sweep's egress routes while a Hawkeye and a flight of Super Hornet's run CAP over the battle group.

At the same time Taiwan's meager air defense contingent, based at their two remaining airfields, ready to intercept inbound Chinese attacks. Just off the eastern coast a US ARG lies at anchor, supporting mop-up operations on shore. Fifteen hundred miles away on Guam the Air Force launches two preeminant surveillance assets, an RQ-4A Global Hawk and a U-2R Dragon Lady. The Global Hawk eeks northwestward at a snail's pace to penetrate Manchurian airspace and take station northeast of Datung - where it will remain for the remainder of the two day operations window. The U-2 heads southwest to aid the Lincoln group in estimating the PRC defenses.

As the Lincoln's fighter sweep enters engagement range they increase altitude and activate their multimode radars. This draws immediate attention from patrolling PRC aircraft and the two sides vector to intercept. Their radar also detects a small surface group steaming toward the Lincoln's location who energize their own radars. The Growlers are by now close enough to identify these as Jiangwei II, Luda III and Maanshan class frigates - as well as identifying the radar signature of a SA-10b SAM site at Sek Kong.

While the JSFs deal with inbound Flankers, J-10s and Finbacks an alpha strike of Super Hornets and the remaining Growlers launch with a payload of ARMs and decoys. Once formed up they take a heading toward Sek Kong. The Lincoln's flight deck continues to hum with activity as the group's two ASUW guard FA-18Es are launched toward the inbound surface group. They in turn are backed up by two S-3 Vikings meant to attack any survivors.

The plan goes like clockwork. Naval fighters clear the skies of Chinese interceptors while the strike groups accomplish their missions. Only one hitch occurs - USS Momsen (Arleigh Burke Flt II DDG) detects a sub on passive sonar to the northeast. The group instantly slows and launches an SV-22 to pursue contact. As returning aircraft touch down the SV-22 localizes and destroys a Ming-class SSK before it can position for an attack on the CVBG.

As the air wing rearms battle coordinators in the CIC consult BDA information and data from the U-2R now on station. Although Sek Kong's SAM defenses have been neutralized it's radar and runways are still a threat. Elint shows that Ganzhou does not appear to have any significant air defenses. A two-prong strike is planned. The Lincoln sends JDAM equipt JSF-Bs escorted by JSF-Cs and a defense suppression package to silence Sek Kong while two B-1B bombers from Anderson Field are dispatched with a full load of AGM-158A JASSM's to strike Ganzhou. Sek Kong is left a smoking ruin but strangely very few of the 24 JASSMs sent at Ganzhou make it to target. A follow up Tomahawk strike decimates the airfield, however.

ROC airfields have meanwhile needed to repulse Flanker CAPs sent over the Taiwan Strait. Losses are heavy as the superior SU-27s engage Taiwanese Falcons and Mirage 2000s but they are eventually driven off. After hours of flying time the Global Hawk finally reaches station and maintains a very high altitude race track pattern outside detection range of Datong and passively observes. Several fighters and SAMs are detected but of greater concern is the strong signature of a Phalcon AEW aircraft directly over the base!

Anderson Field launches an EP-3E to spell the U-2R and take up station to the south of Datong to better triangulate radar emissions. The Lincoln moves north to cover the gap in the coastal defenses for the upcoming bomber raid. During this period it is noted that Phalcon coverage over Datong goes down for an hour, obviously they have only one AEW with an approximate 18-hour loiter time. A strike plan is formed but is disrupted when both Global Hawk and Aries aircraft are discovered and shot down in short order - the first US air assets to be lost so far.

Rebounding, Anderson launches its' second Global Hawk and the refueled U-2R to replace the lost surveillance assets. Strike planners intend to have the bomber package - 2 B-2 Spirits and 2 B-1 Lancers - make their attack run during the Chinese AEW's refueling period less than 12 hours before the end of the mission window. It's Datong's SA-10b battery that most concerns them as it poses the highest risk to the inbound attack. Options are called for.

Again the Lincoln steps up to the plate. They propose to send a strike package of 10 FA-18Es armed with AGM-84K SLAM-ER standoff weapons, whose stealthy characteristics, long range and surface skimming attack profile give the highest probability of success against the SA-10 emplacment. The problem is that they will need to penetrate far into enemy territory, well beyond their unrefueled range, to perform the attack. Four KC-767As from Anderson are tasked to support.

Two four-ships of JSF-Cs cover the air defense gap, keeping their radars silent, and attend to two tankers. The other two tankers follow the Super Hornet package deep into China, loitering outside radar coverage as the attack aircraft make a low-level run on the Datong SAM site. Although the Phalcon AEW is watching over the base the FA-18s make it to their release point undetected, launch their weapons and head for the circling tankers. ELINT determines that the Chinese had minimal warning of the inbound missile strike and the SA-10 battery goes off line!

All aircraft recover without incident, leaving the U-2R and Global Hawk on station. With scant time remaining Anderson launches the bomber package and supporting tankers. The bombers top off their internal fuel near Taiwan and fly on toward their insertion point, patrolled again by JSF-Cs from the Lincoln. Once more Mr. Murphy shows his hand as suddenly the Phalcon AEW lands to refuel, at least two hours before schedule! There is no way the bombers can make it to the base before it resumes station.

So be it.

About this time the Lincoln's Hawkeye picks up contacts steaming full speed from the north towards the CVBG. It is a powerful surface action group centered around a Guangzhou destroyer. A squadron FA-18Fs and EA-18Gs are sent to deal with it and leave them in smoking ruins before they can launch their weapons.

As the bombers enter the airspace around Datong the two-ship flight of B-1Bs seperates and flies to the west at high altitude where it then activates its' APQ-164 radar and launches its' JASSMs at Datong airfield. In no time Chinese interceptors are in hot pursuit, leaving the near-invisible B-2As a clear run to the missile complex. Weaving its' way between inbound fighters the B-1s accelerate to up to 900 knots leaving the short-legged fighters gasping in their dust. Their mission accomplished, the Bones head for home.

On final approach to target the B-2s gain altitude to escape the less capable remaining air defenses and pick up the target bunkers via electro-optical sensors. One pass and six deep penetrators later the Datong missile facility has been disabled. The B-2s leave the SAM envelope and hug the ground on their way to the coast.

Mission accomplished!

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