Herman Hum
01 Jul 05, 02:19
AAR: Operation Raffles - Invasion [Spoiler Alert]
By Paul Bridge
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/595/invasionaegis9bx.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=invasionaegis9bx.gif)
Today was the day that Imperial forces would remove the Communist government from Indonesia. The British Empire might be on the road to granting her colonial possessions independence, but today, she would prove that the Lion Rampant still had her claws.
After a quick examination of the forces available, I ordered the ready-force Canberra bombers aloft from Selatar - destination: Adisumarmo. After reading reports of how HMS Eagle was almost blown out of the water, the Badger bombers were judged to be the most lethal force in the Indonesian arsenal. I hoped that a swift strike on their home base at Adisumarmo would be able to silence them quickly and painlessly. These bombers were joined by Canberra from Butterworth. I tasked the Mirage bombers with Pekanbaru as she was the closest target to Butterworth air base.
HMAS Melbourne was originally tasked for ASW, but I changed her orders instead to make a high-speed run towards Pontianak and snuff that base with a naval bombardment. The limited number of my air assets made me dubious of their ability to properly nullify that base. The landing forces plotted their paths through the straits; right next to a known helicopter base. The strait was an obvious choke point for submarines, I felt that the increased risk from a round-about journey did not outweigh the benefits of getting my Marines to their destination, soonest.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/7913/canberrarecon4tb.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=canberrarecon4tb.gif)
Right away, two Mitchell bombers were detected rising from Pontianak, but both were quickly intercepted and killed by SeaVenom from HMAS Melbourne. The lone Canberra reconnaissance plane already aloft was ordered to identify the numerous surface contacts that had been detected throughout the area. Next to the Badgers, the Komar missile boats were my next greatest fear due to the fearsome punch they could deliver from their Styx SSMs.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/9032/pontianakstrike8um.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pontianakstrike8um.gif)
Three Hunters from Kuching AB became operational and tried to make a quick bomb attack on Pontianak. Unfortunately, everyone missed missed their target. Evidently, one squadron commander had been gun-decking his readiness reports on the level of training his pilots had been receiving. Luckily, the second flight was armed with Bullpup missiles and led by a more competent leader who delivered his ordnance right on target by killing the hangars.
Next, four MiG Farmers launched on patrol to challenge the AEW aircraft. They were intercepted and killed by Sea Vixen from HMS Victorious, but this came at a high price as two planes exploded in fireballs from the dogfight.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/7576/khalijatistrike8fv.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=khalijatistrike8fv.gif)
Two Canberra then tried to sneak in through the side door to attack Khalijati AB, but ran right over an AAA battery! Argh, the element of surprise was totally lost and the MiG Fishbed on Combat Air Patrol [CAP] moved to intercept. Now it was a race to see who reached their release point first! The Canberra won the footrace this time and released their ordnance while the Fishbed turned to make her run. Although they managed to successfully target aircraft facilities, the damage was minimal. This was likely due to the known presence of enemy fighters in their rear aspect. The aircrew simply rushed to complete their bomb runs and were too hasty. Free from their ordnance, the pilot declared that they were no longer on government time and ran for home as fast as their little engines could carry them.
The lone Fishbed on CAP would not be denied. The Canberra fled at 590 kts, but the MiG went to afterburner and could make 890 kts in a sprint. Now the question would be, "Who would run out of gas first?" While great for short sprints, the MiG-21 proved why it was only a point defense fighter and had to give up the dash in very short order. The Canberra crews breathed a collective sigh of relief, but kept a close watch astern for any other hunters. Four more Canberra were enroute to finish what their cousins had started.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/9306/adisumarmostrike1cj.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=adisumarmostrike1cj.gif)
Meanwhile, four other Canberra were about to pay a most unwelcome visit to Adisumarmo AB. Knock, Knock! They were more successful that their brethren and managed to smash a large hangar. HQ fervently hoped that it contained some of the lethal Badger bombers that had wrought such havoc on Her Majesty's Navy.
The second wave of Canberra were approaching their initial point for bomb release on Khalijati when the protective Fishbed was once again spotted trying to intercept. Another footrace ensued as the bombers climbed desperately to bomb release altitude. This flight proved to be calmer. They both laid their stick of bombs in two separate deliveries right across two hangars and caved them in before fleeing the scene of the crime. This time, there was no pursuit.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/2853/khalijatistrike27ec.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=khalijatistrike27ec.gif)
Eight more Canberra were approaching Adisumarmo and Iswahjudi at oblique angles. The four attacking Adisumarmo were spotted just as they were releasing their Bullpup missiles. The MiG Fresco was just attempting a turn to intercept when the missiles arrived to smash the surviving aircraft facilities. Adisumarmo was out of business. However, this time, a price would be paid by the raiders. The Fresco had an unseen wingman who dove in from the sun and managed to intercept and shoot down three of the Canberra bombers. Overall, the British were trading their heavy bombers in the air for the Indonesian heavy bombers on the ground.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/6457/adisumarmostrike25zg.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=adisumarmostrike25zg.gif)
Their sacrifice was not in vain as it distracted the fighters from the second group climbing to release altitude over Iswahjudi AB. A score of iron bombs rained down and totally levelled the airbase. Her Majesty's forces would face no harassment from this particular airfield anytime in the near future.
One by one, the Indonesian air forces were hammered into submission. Mirage strikers from Butterworth put Pekanbaru out of commission with little opposition. However, Khalijati was still operational and a second strike would be required. Once again, Canberra bombers closed on the air base with the airborne CAP racing back to defend the airbase. This time, the bombardiers were steadier and laid enough of their bombload on the airbase to prevent further air operations for the next twenty-four hours; more than enough time to get the Marines ashore.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/496/komarattack3kh.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=komarattack3kh.gif)
The Recon elements had a busy time, themselves. Several Indonesian gunboats were detected in the path of the Amphibious groups. It was determined that only the Komar warranted immediate attention as she had the most deadly armament, Styx SSMs. Buccaneers from the Victorious quickly put her on the bottom. As the Melbourne was making her way towards Pontianak, two more Komar PGMs were spotted and they were dangerously close to the carrier group. A Canberra-strike group armed with Bullpup ASMs were quickly diverted from their strike mission to Khalijati to deal with this immediate threat while the Task group ran away as fast as they could. The Canberra crews were able to destroy one boat with an ASM while leaving the other dead in the water from nearby bomb bursts.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/7805/subcontact0vv.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=subcontact0vv.gif)
The Dutch ASW screening force detected a submarine running near the surface with her gunwales awash. This submarine was thoroughly investigated by aircraft, but gave no hint as to her nationality. Intelligence had warned that Soviet submarines were also in the area and that our Rules of Engagement [ROE] ordered us to avoid provoking a war with the Soviets. Since her intentions could not be properly ascertained, the amphibious ships were ordered to give her a wide berth. The Dutch commander, however, was much more daring and closed the range to the submarine, but it took no hostile action. Today, at least in this instance, it was live and let live.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/7475/dutchasw7vq.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dutchasw7vq.gif)
With no aerial resistance remaining from the Indonesians, the camera-equipped Canberra aircraft concentrated on surveillance of the landing beaches, Indonesian navy, and the Soviet Surface Action Group [SAG]. The Canberra nearest the Soviet task group detected intense jamming from the ships so decided to investigate for visual confirmation. As she closed, her Radar Warning Receiver [RWR] went wild with fire control emissions being detected. She tried to pull away, but was caught and killed by a SAM from the CG Kanin. Evidently, the Soviets had decided to choose sides in the conflict.
The loss of the plane was quickly reported and the Victorious commander ordered immediate unrestricted anti-submarine warfare. The previously detected submarine was still in contact and four helicopters were launched to prosecute her. She barely detected the air-dropped torpedo before it slammed into her engine room and instantly flooded it. She sank stern first with no survivors.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/8004/deathofansag3ln.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=deathofansag3ln.gif)
A group of seven Canberra returned to the scene of the crime and proceeded to sink every offending vessel in the group with a combination Bullpup missiles and iron bombs. The Kanin would claim one more victim before she, herself, was struck by three of these potent missiles and exploded in a gigantic ball of flame. The Soviet navy would fight their first and last action of this conflict only to end as a forgotten footnote in history.
The surviving Canberra force re-armed and made repeated runs over the invasion beaches to smash concentrations of artillery, troops, and AAA. By the time the invasion forces arrived to unload the Marines, there was no one left to oppose them. The Marines stormed Government house and captured the communist leader; who had remained alone in the Chamber of Deputies. Regime-change had come to Indonesia.
Thanks for a very challenging scenario.
Posted at hh (http://www.harpoonhq.com/harpoon3/colonialwars/).
By Paul Bridge
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/595/invasionaegis9bx.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=invasionaegis9bx.gif)
Today was the day that Imperial forces would remove the Communist government from Indonesia. The British Empire might be on the road to granting her colonial possessions independence, but today, she would prove that the Lion Rampant still had her claws.
After a quick examination of the forces available, I ordered the ready-force Canberra bombers aloft from Selatar - destination: Adisumarmo. After reading reports of how HMS Eagle was almost blown out of the water, the Badger bombers were judged to be the most lethal force in the Indonesian arsenal. I hoped that a swift strike on their home base at Adisumarmo would be able to silence them quickly and painlessly. These bombers were joined by Canberra from Butterworth. I tasked the Mirage bombers with Pekanbaru as she was the closest target to Butterworth air base.
HMAS Melbourne was originally tasked for ASW, but I changed her orders instead to make a high-speed run towards Pontianak and snuff that base with a naval bombardment. The limited number of my air assets made me dubious of their ability to properly nullify that base. The landing forces plotted their paths through the straits; right next to a known helicopter base. The strait was an obvious choke point for submarines, I felt that the increased risk from a round-about journey did not outweigh the benefits of getting my Marines to their destination, soonest.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/7913/canberrarecon4tb.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=canberrarecon4tb.gif)
Right away, two Mitchell bombers were detected rising from Pontianak, but both were quickly intercepted and killed by SeaVenom from HMAS Melbourne. The lone Canberra reconnaissance plane already aloft was ordered to identify the numerous surface contacts that had been detected throughout the area. Next to the Badgers, the Komar missile boats were my next greatest fear due to the fearsome punch they could deliver from their Styx SSMs.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/9032/pontianakstrike8um.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pontianakstrike8um.gif)
Three Hunters from Kuching AB became operational and tried to make a quick bomb attack on Pontianak. Unfortunately, everyone missed missed their target. Evidently, one squadron commander had been gun-decking his readiness reports on the level of training his pilots had been receiving. Luckily, the second flight was armed with Bullpup missiles and led by a more competent leader who delivered his ordnance right on target by killing the hangars.
Next, four MiG Farmers launched on patrol to challenge the AEW aircraft. They were intercepted and killed by Sea Vixen from HMS Victorious, but this came at a high price as two planes exploded in fireballs from the dogfight.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/7576/khalijatistrike8fv.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=khalijatistrike8fv.gif)
Two Canberra then tried to sneak in through the side door to attack Khalijati AB, but ran right over an AAA battery! Argh, the element of surprise was totally lost and the MiG Fishbed on Combat Air Patrol [CAP] moved to intercept. Now it was a race to see who reached their release point first! The Canberra won the footrace this time and released their ordnance while the Fishbed turned to make her run. Although they managed to successfully target aircraft facilities, the damage was minimal. This was likely due to the known presence of enemy fighters in their rear aspect. The aircrew simply rushed to complete their bomb runs and were too hasty. Free from their ordnance, the pilot declared that they were no longer on government time and ran for home as fast as their little engines could carry them.
The lone Fishbed on CAP would not be denied. The Canberra fled at 590 kts, but the MiG went to afterburner and could make 890 kts in a sprint. Now the question would be, "Who would run out of gas first?" While great for short sprints, the MiG-21 proved why it was only a point defense fighter and had to give up the dash in very short order. The Canberra crews breathed a collective sigh of relief, but kept a close watch astern for any other hunters. Four more Canberra were enroute to finish what their cousins had started.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/9306/adisumarmostrike1cj.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=adisumarmostrike1cj.gif)
Meanwhile, four other Canberra were about to pay a most unwelcome visit to Adisumarmo AB. Knock, Knock! They were more successful that their brethren and managed to smash a large hangar. HQ fervently hoped that it contained some of the lethal Badger bombers that had wrought such havoc on Her Majesty's Navy.
The second wave of Canberra were approaching their initial point for bomb release on Khalijati when the protective Fishbed was once again spotted trying to intercept. Another footrace ensued as the bombers climbed desperately to bomb release altitude. This flight proved to be calmer. They both laid their stick of bombs in two separate deliveries right across two hangars and caved them in before fleeing the scene of the crime. This time, there was no pursuit.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/2853/khalijatistrike27ec.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=khalijatistrike27ec.gif)
Eight more Canberra were approaching Adisumarmo and Iswahjudi at oblique angles. The four attacking Adisumarmo were spotted just as they were releasing their Bullpup missiles. The MiG Fresco was just attempting a turn to intercept when the missiles arrived to smash the surviving aircraft facilities. Adisumarmo was out of business. However, this time, a price would be paid by the raiders. The Fresco had an unseen wingman who dove in from the sun and managed to intercept and shoot down three of the Canberra bombers. Overall, the British were trading their heavy bombers in the air for the Indonesian heavy bombers on the ground.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/6457/adisumarmostrike25zg.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=adisumarmostrike25zg.gif)
Their sacrifice was not in vain as it distracted the fighters from the second group climbing to release altitude over Iswahjudi AB. A score of iron bombs rained down and totally levelled the airbase. Her Majesty's forces would face no harassment from this particular airfield anytime in the near future.
One by one, the Indonesian air forces were hammered into submission. Mirage strikers from Butterworth put Pekanbaru out of commission with little opposition. However, Khalijati was still operational and a second strike would be required. Once again, Canberra bombers closed on the air base with the airborne CAP racing back to defend the airbase. This time, the bombardiers were steadier and laid enough of their bombload on the airbase to prevent further air operations for the next twenty-four hours; more than enough time to get the Marines ashore.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/496/komarattack3kh.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=komarattack3kh.gif)
The Recon elements had a busy time, themselves. Several Indonesian gunboats were detected in the path of the Amphibious groups. It was determined that only the Komar warranted immediate attention as she had the most deadly armament, Styx SSMs. Buccaneers from the Victorious quickly put her on the bottom. As the Melbourne was making her way towards Pontianak, two more Komar PGMs were spotted and they were dangerously close to the carrier group. A Canberra-strike group armed with Bullpup ASMs were quickly diverted from their strike mission to Khalijati to deal with this immediate threat while the Task group ran away as fast as they could. The Canberra crews were able to destroy one boat with an ASM while leaving the other dead in the water from nearby bomb bursts.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/7805/subcontact0vv.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=subcontact0vv.gif)
The Dutch ASW screening force detected a submarine running near the surface with her gunwales awash. This submarine was thoroughly investigated by aircraft, but gave no hint as to her nationality. Intelligence had warned that Soviet submarines were also in the area and that our Rules of Engagement [ROE] ordered us to avoid provoking a war with the Soviets. Since her intentions could not be properly ascertained, the amphibious ships were ordered to give her a wide berth. The Dutch commander, however, was much more daring and closed the range to the submarine, but it took no hostile action. Today, at least in this instance, it was live and let live.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/7475/dutchasw7vq.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dutchasw7vq.gif)
With no aerial resistance remaining from the Indonesians, the camera-equipped Canberra aircraft concentrated on surveillance of the landing beaches, Indonesian navy, and the Soviet Surface Action Group [SAG]. The Canberra nearest the Soviet task group detected intense jamming from the ships so decided to investigate for visual confirmation. As she closed, her Radar Warning Receiver [RWR] went wild with fire control emissions being detected. She tried to pull away, but was caught and killed by a SAM from the CG Kanin. Evidently, the Soviets had decided to choose sides in the conflict.
The loss of the plane was quickly reported and the Victorious commander ordered immediate unrestricted anti-submarine warfare. The previously detected submarine was still in contact and four helicopters were launched to prosecute her. She barely detected the air-dropped torpedo before it slammed into her engine room and instantly flooded it. She sank stern first with no survivors.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/8004/deathofansag3ln.th.gif (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=deathofansag3ln.gif)
A group of seven Canberra returned to the scene of the crime and proceeded to sink every offending vessel in the group with a combination Bullpup missiles and iron bombs. The Kanin would claim one more victim before she, herself, was struck by three of these potent missiles and exploded in a gigantic ball of flame. The Soviet navy would fight their first and last action of this conflict only to end as a forgotten footnote in history.
The surviving Canberra force re-armed and made repeated runs over the invasion beaches to smash concentrations of artillery, troops, and AAA. By the time the invasion forces arrived to unload the Marines, there was no one left to oppose them. The Marines stormed Government house and captured the communist leader; who had remained alone in the Chamber of Deputies. Regime-change had come to Indonesia.
Thanks for a very challenging scenario.
Posted at hh (http://www.harpoonhq.com/harpoon3/colonialwars/).