Herman Hum
09 May 05, 18:52
AAR: Canary's Cape [Spoiler Alert]
A Harpoon 3 scenario
By Miguel Molina
October 2005.
Islamic extremist parties have come to power in several Arab countries. Algeria was the first, despite of the efforts of Western Allies on both sides of Atlantic to stop these regimes. Soon, all North African countries fell under the rule of N.A.I.L., Northern Africa Islamic League, including Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, and the surprisingly the pro-western Kingdom of Morocco.
Morocco, with the help from other NAIL countries, pressed her ancient claim on the African Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla. The relationship between Spain and Morocco had deteriorated sharply after Perejil Islot affair and the Western Sahara referendum. Spain answered by reinforcing her military at those two cities. But, as the situation started to cool down, a secretly assembled NAIL amphibious force landed on the Canary Islands and captured the islands in spite of stiff resistance by local forces.
While politicians are discussing the invasion in the U.N. and NATO, Spain mobilizes her military forces to re-take the islands. http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/8252/canary7zz.th.gif (http://img440.imageshack.us/my.php?image=canary7zz.gif)
I examined the forces that I had available and decided that my air assets were too limited to properly suppress the enemy airbase at Rabat. I united the surface groups in order to free some escorts for a surface bombardment mission. As the frigates Baleares and Blas de Lezo approached Rabat, I judged that my best course of action was to try and keep the surface group hidden and undetected. I stationed all available fighters near Rabat and promptly shot down all reconnaissance aircraft with aerial gunnery in order to save my missiles for more capable opponents. I re-armed all aircraft for the air superiority mission and was able to shoot down the AEW assets from the islands as well. With my eastern flank secure, the amphibians only had a single threat axis.
The approach to Las Islas Canarias was mostly uneventful. The Orion MPA were my hammer element for two groups of frigates. Once they were sunk, I re-assigned them to the AEW role and they were able to give me an excellent aerial picture of the situation. I encountered a few subsurface contacts which were promptly dispatched with the plentiful helo assets. As the Phibron got nearer to the islands, it must have been detected for a swarm of aircraft suddenly started to appear over the airbases. All available aircraft were scrambled but the distance from Spain meant that only the CAP already on station would be effective. The sheer volume of aircraft was daunting. Every AAM was expended to bring down the attackers. The aircraft armed with Harpoon missiles were able to launch in a salvo from standoff range and thus survived to fight another day. The AGMs caused me severe consternation as they soaked up many of the CAP's available SR AAMs. I decided to engage with aerial gunnery in order to save my LR AAMs to deal with the incoming waves of strikers.
The decision proved to be fortuitous as the Fencers had their own protective AAMs. A few were flipped at the CAP but none scored hits. The attackers were all destroyed with no missiles to spare. The final segment to the landing zone was anticlimactic as the enemy sent individual interceptors to investigate the Orion patrols. These lone patrols were set upon by roving gangs of Harrier interceptors before they could react. The Phibron arrived at the landing zone with only minutes to spare and the day was won.
A very nice scenario with forces not normally seen. It was quite challenging due to the steadily increasing distance from friendly air cover. Thanks for the scenario.
.
Scenario posted at hh (http://www.harpoonhq.com/harpoon3/scenarios/index.html).
A Harpoon 3 scenario
By Miguel Molina
October 2005.
Islamic extremist parties have come to power in several Arab countries. Algeria was the first, despite of the efforts of Western Allies on both sides of Atlantic to stop these regimes. Soon, all North African countries fell under the rule of N.A.I.L., Northern Africa Islamic League, including Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, and the surprisingly the pro-western Kingdom of Morocco.
Morocco, with the help from other NAIL countries, pressed her ancient claim on the African Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla. The relationship between Spain and Morocco had deteriorated sharply after Perejil Islot affair and the Western Sahara referendum. Spain answered by reinforcing her military at those two cities. But, as the situation started to cool down, a secretly assembled NAIL amphibious force landed on the Canary Islands and captured the islands in spite of stiff resistance by local forces.
While politicians are discussing the invasion in the U.N. and NATO, Spain mobilizes her military forces to re-take the islands. http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/8252/canary7zz.th.gif (http://img440.imageshack.us/my.php?image=canary7zz.gif)
I examined the forces that I had available and decided that my air assets were too limited to properly suppress the enemy airbase at Rabat. I united the surface groups in order to free some escorts for a surface bombardment mission. As the frigates Baleares and Blas de Lezo approached Rabat, I judged that my best course of action was to try and keep the surface group hidden and undetected. I stationed all available fighters near Rabat and promptly shot down all reconnaissance aircraft with aerial gunnery in order to save my missiles for more capable opponents. I re-armed all aircraft for the air superiority mission and was able to shoot down the AEW assets from the islands as well. With my eastern flank secure, the amphibians only had a single threat axis.
The approach to Las Islas Canarias was mostly uneventful. The Orion MPA were my hammer element for two groups of frigates. Once they were sunk, I re-assigned them to the AEW role and they were able to give me an excellent aerial picture of the situation. I encountered a few subsurface contacts which were promptly dispatched with the plentiful helo assets. As the Phibron got nearer to the islands, it must have been detected for a swarm of aircraft suddenly started to appear over the airbases. All available aircraft were scrambled but the distance from Spain meant that only the CAP already on station would be effective. The sheer volume of aircraft was daunting. Every AAM was expended to bring down the attackers. The aircraft armed with Harpoon missiles were able to launch in a salvo from standoff range and thus survived to fight another day. The AGMs caused me severe consternation as they soaked up many of the CAP's available SR AAMs. I decided to engage with aerial gunnery in order to save my LR AAMs to deal with the incoming waves of strikers.
The decision proved to be fortuitous as the Fencers had their own protective AAMs. A few were flipped at the CAP but none scored hits. The attackers were all destroyed with no missiles to spare. The final segment to the landing zone was anticlimactic as the enemy sent individual interceptors to investigate the Orion patrols. These lone patrols were set upon by roving gangs of Harrier interceptors before they could react. The Phibron arrived at the landing zone with only minutes to spare and the day was won.
A very nice scenario with forces not normally seen. It was quite challenging due to the steadily increasing distance from friendly air cover. Thanks for the scenario.
.
Scenario posted at hh (http://www.harpoonhq.com/harpoon3/scenarios/index.html).