AAR: First Strike [Spoiler Alert]

[Herman Hum]

I re-organized my ships in hopes of keeping as many escorts between the Queen and the threat axis. There were many unidentified vessels in the area so I had my Shackelton MPA investigate them and found many of them to be neutral. Only one vessel was from Indonesia but she was not operating in an openly hostile manner so I was not allowed to engage her. Instead, I kept a close eye on her throughout the voyage.

My fighters positioned themselves as BarCap in hopes of intercepting any potential attacks from Indonesia. As the island was very large, an attack could conceivably appear from a very wide area. I kept my fingers crossed that I would have sufficient warning from my radar picket vessel, DD Barrosa.

As I ran for port, the enemy did not appear before my fighters ran low on fuel and had to return to base. I did not want to leave the ships unprotected by CAP so I immediately launched replacements once the original fighters landed. My replacements were just about at their Bingo fuel level when their radar turned to hash from jamming. They moved to investigate and found two Badgers inbound. As I was still under strict orders not to initiate combat, I had them close on the bombers in hopes of enticing them to fire first. My gambit prevailed. Once I was in position behind the bombers, the tail gunners opened fire on me and thus allowed me to destroy them. And not a moment too soon, either. Just after destroying them, my fighters were forced to return to base for re-fueling. Now the TF was relatively naked for aerial attack.

I was not to be disappointed. Not long after my aircraft landed, my radar screens again turned to hash. Three more Badgers were detected inbound. I was totally helpless to act. HMS Barrosa tried in vain to position herself so that the bombers would overfly her in hopes of getting her batteries into action. However, their is now way that a ship can intercept aircraft. The bombers closed and released their Kennel missiles unmolested. Pucker time.

DDG Devonshire tried to engage the AShMs but only succeeded in destroying one. The rest of them continued to close as the AAA defences opened fire without any success. Closer and closer they came; directly in line with the cruise liner and HMS Ajax. I kept my fingers crossed and was "rewarded" by seeing them strike the escort instead the Queen Mary. Long live the Queen.

One final "Vic" of Badgers appeared. I thought that I was totally out of luck. I had no CAP and was short of SAMs. The situation could not be more dire. "Fortunately", the bombers elected to attack the radar picket vessel, HMS Barrosa. She never had a chance and was demolished by 6 Kennel missiles.

Although there was a submarine warning in effect, I made the run to Singapore without further incident. A very nice and compact scenario. Short but very intense, at times. Thanks for writing it, Paul.


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[sirius]

From Randomizer
The following is a transcript of a BBC Home Service broadcast aired on June 2nd 1966 following the attack on British forces by Indonesian bombers in the South China Sea the previous day.

BC – BBC reporter Brian Cadbury

Capt M-B - Captain Hugh G. McCracken-Butt, RN OHM, SSPT3, (Retrd)

BC – Good evening. My guest tonight is noted Naval expert Captain The Honourable Hugh G. McCracken-Butt. Captain McCracken-Butt joined the Royal Navy just in time for the Invergorden Mutiny and served as Naval Attaché to Afghanistan during the Second World War. He commanded a minesweeper flotilla on the Solant during that Korean thing and slept through Suez completely. Captain McCracken-Butt, good evening. We hope that you can make sense of the reports coming out of the Far East about the loss of Her Majesties Ships Devonshire and Barrosa yesterday.

Capt M-B – Good evening. Yes that’s what I’m here for. Thirty-years of naval service has taught me the difference between bow and stern if nothing else.

BC – Quite. Captain, it is reported that HMS Devonshire was sunk by Soviet made missiles launched from heavy bombers. She was fitted with our latest air defence missiles, does that mean all of our ships are now vulnerable to Soviet air attacks?

Capt M-B – Devonshire was fitted with the Sea Slug missile system yes. And insiders’ report that they fought off the first attack and shot down four of the six missiles launched in the second attack to reach her. Her defences were just overwhelmed and it would not have happened except that the RAF abandoned the Navy again. It was Kuantan all over again if you ask me.

BC – For those listeners that might have forgotten, back on December 10th 1941 the battleships Prince of Wales and Repulse were sunk by Japanese bombers off the Malaysian port of Kuantan. Fighters from the Royal Air Force arrived at the scene of the disaster long after the enemy departed. Go on please Captain.

Capt M-B – It’s that useless Javelin fighter they sent to Singapore, it has no range or endurance. They only made two interceptions and they lost one of their own while barely managing to shoot down one of those bloody Badgers after it launched its missiles. Fine heirs to the legend of the Few they showed themselves to be. Bah.

BC – But is it not true Captain, that RAF Shackelton Long Range Patrol planes provided valuable reconnaissance to the Eastern Flotilla as they escorted RMS Queen Mary to the safety of Singapore naval base?

Capt M-B – I suppose it’s possible that they might have done some good. One plane did drop some depth charges and a torpedo on a Dutch submarine, or maybe it was fish.

BC – Indonesian, the aggressors here were Indonesian, not Dutch. Indonesia is mostly the former Dutch East Indies. Capt M-B – Yes, yes I know all that. We beat the Dutch at Camperdown; did I mention that? The Royal Navy I mean. Before my time though.

BC – What about the sinking of HMS Barrosa?

Capt M-B – Barrosa was lost performing what we professional sailors call ‘picket’ duty. That is to say that she was sent out by herself to warn the main force of any threat. I think they got the idea from the bloody Yanks or something.

BC – It has been reported that three Indonesian bombers actually flew right over her and then turned around and attacked. This was the second air strike and if it had of launched on the Queen Mary flotilla, it might have been resulted in the loss of that valuable ship. Is it fair to say that HMS Barrosa bought Queen Mary a chance by throwing herself at the enemy? Does that not conform to the highest traditions of the Service?

Capt M-B – Well if you put it like that, perhaps. I would like to ask where the RAF was while Barrosa fought for her life. Bloody awful Javelins. They are the Bolton-Paul Defiant’s of the Cold War if you ask me.

BC – I did not actually ask that but returning to the subject, HMS Troubridge sank an Indonesian freighter with gunfire that appeared to be acting suspiciously and shadowing the Queen Mary flotilla. Was this action justified by international law?

Capt M-B – Of course it was. You have to know that there was some bloody Dutchman on the telephone to some bloody Russkie bomber pilot. That’s the way these things work you know.

BC – Can we Briton’s consider this a victory since RMS Queen Mary made it to Singapore undamaged? In spite of losing two valuable warships and a fighter jet?

Capt M-B – Damn right we can.

BC – Captain McCracken-Butt, thank-you for your insights into this tragic action. Next on BBC Radio, a man who herds cats for a living and coming up on News at Ten, why this Beatles’ music fad and both ‘rock’ and ‘roll’ will die out by Christmas. This has been Brian Cadbury for the BBC Home Service.

First Strike was played using GE 3.6.2 at full reality with aircraft logistics on. Thanks for the scenario, Paul. Must continue the Indonesian Crisis and move on to 'The Empire Strikes Back'.

Thanks for great AAR Chris

The Scenario can be found at http://www.harpoonhq.com/harpoon3/colonialwars/

http://www.harpoonhq.com/harpoon3/colonialwars/images/harp.jpg

[CV32]

Great stuff, Paul.