Herman Hum
15 Nov 05, 17:38
AAR: Syrian WMD [Spoiler Alert]
By Scott Mackenzie
Syria is known to have Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). These weapons are Chemical, Biological and Nuclear (NBC). Syria does not have nuclear weapons yet, but is on the verge of aquiring them through the reactor facilities at Hamahs and Homs. As part of the Axis of Evil, this is the first of a triad of of scenarios designed to keep America safe in its "War against Terror".
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/3282/syrstart5uh.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syrstart5uh.gif)
Admiral Forrester read the Intel report one last time. Well, he thought, we've finally found where those WMDs, originally reported in Iraq, have ended up. We may not have found the weapons, themselves, but we certainly have located the technology for producing them. Those boys in the Agency finally got one right after all these years and now the USN was being called in to do what they do best - blow things up.
As always, the AEW [Airborne Early Warning] aircraft were sent aloft first to establish the radar picture over the region. With all eight aircraft available, the resolution was going to equal a High Definition television program. However, the EW [Electronic Warfare] aircraft were held back on the deck. Instead of blinding the Syrians, Adm. Forrester wanted them to come out over the Mediterannean where he could kill them more easily as they would be out of support from their GCI [Ground Controlled Intercept] radar stations. He recognized that this would be a gamble, but he also knew that the AMRAAM magazines on his carriers were limited and he wanted to save the Slammers for when his boys went downtown. In order to properly bait the trap, one CG from each CVBG was ordered to radiate. Hopefully, the thought of engaging an Aegis cruiser would simply be too tempting for the Syrians to resist.
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/9689/syrtargets3oi.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syrtargets3oi.gif)
The two carriers were re-organized into one CVBG with the extra escorts sent on towards the coast for naval gunfire bombardment of Latakia and Tartus. With only 48 hours and limited magazines, Forrester was going to need every weapon capable of deliver HE on target. This way, the helos could contribute their Hellfire AGMs more effectively. While his plan was not to level the entire country, there were only about 90 targets within the 8 complexes identified on his target list:
- Tadmur CW Facilities
- Aleppo CW Facilities
- Homs CW Facilities
- Latakia CW Facilities
- Homs Nuclear Plant
- Al Safir Scud Base
- Hamah Scud Base
- Hamah Scud Manufacturing
He planned to blast a wide hole in the IADS [Integrated Air Defence System] by annihilating the defences along the coast between Latakia and Tartus. This would open a corridor to the more centrally located facilities. He intended to leave the air bases in the south unmolested and kill the Syrian air force only when it took to the air.
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/6627/syrptmsortie8hi.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syrptmsortie8hi.gif)
The eastern Mediterannean appeared to be pretty quiet. Everyone guessed that the entire world knew that something was brewing when the news on WMD was reported on CNN. A group of ships appeared to sortie from Latakia naval base. SSN Pittsburgh was assigned to identify and, if necessary, neutralize them. They were all making 34kts. so it was very unlikely that they were civilian vessels.
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/7196/syramraamallaround0uw.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syramraamallaround0uw.gif)
Slotback radar from MiG-29 Fulcrums was detected over Syria and Hornets armed with AMRAAM were sent in to sweep them from the sky. Instead of a stealthy approach, the Hornets were ordered to radiate and reveal themselves. Intelligence had reported SA-5 in the Syrian OoB and CAG was hoping that the Syrians would be trigger-happy and fire these at long range. The AMRAAMs quickly and effortlessly shot the Fulcrums and Foxbats out of the air without them even realizing that they were under attack. The SAM crews showed their nervousness and loosed their SA-5 Gammon from long range. The Hornets quickly pulled into a loop and fled on afterburner. The SA-5s did not have sufficient fuel to intercept and soon dropped into the sea. This provocative manoeuvre was repeated until the Syrians had depleted their entire Gammon inventory.
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/251/syrsa55pm.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syrsa55pm.gif)
The previously unknown ships were soon identified as Osa missile boats. SSN Pittsburgh sent a Mk48 torpedo to welcome them. The charge from the Osa squadron was a valiant gesture, but it had been centuries since warfare awarded points for gallantry. Results were all that counted. One torpedo / boat was all that was necessary to wipe out the little squadron.
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/6756/syr40spread8ac.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syr40spread8ac.gif)
With local air superiority estabilished, the SEAD aircraft were sent in to turn out some lights.
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/6286/syrseadaway3dp.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syrseadaway3dp.gif)
They concentrated their HARMs against search and fire-control radar so that strike elements like the Vikings could deliver their payloads unmolested.
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/4385/syrknockknock3rl.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syrknockknock3rl.gif)
Although decimated, the Syrian air force still tried their best to inflict a propaganda victory by attacking the CVBGs with their Fencer bombers. However, the fleet's 'eyes in the sky' gave very prompt warning of their approach. The defending CAP [Combat Air Patrols] held their fire and closed to within Sidewinder range before sending them to meet their compatriots in the Fulcrums and Foxbats.
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/7162/syrfencerflight7yk.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syrfencerflight7yk.gif)
Once a breach was established, the waves of strikers poured through. These were escorted by Prowlers that degraded the SAM systems to the point of near ineffectiveness. With much of the IADS in shambles, the TLAM were finally unleashed. Instead of leading the attack with TLAM, they were held until now so that the Syrians would not have many systems left to attempt to shoot them down. These deep-strike instruments devastated the strategic targets while the aircraft continued to hammer secondary targets. The NGFS [Naval Gunfire Support] group arrived at Tartus and proceeded to level the entire area before moving up the coast to Latakia and repeating the process.
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/1544/syropeningabreach9sn.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syropeningabreach9sn.gif)
Like their predecessors over Vietnam, the aviators from the Truman and the Roosevelt cycled through wave after wave of attacks and exhausted the PGMs [Precision-Guided Munitions] before resorting to iron bombs. With virtually no opposition, the carrier air wings bombed mercilessly and left much of Syria resembling a moonscape of craters. After 46 hours, the Syrian government contacted the UN and agreed to submit to UN-supervised destruction of remaining CBR [Chemical, Biological, Radiological] weapons within the country. Once again, US naval aviation had proven itself instrumental in persuading a nation to modify its behaviour.
Congratulations to Scott on his first scenario and thanks for sharing it with the community.
This scen posted at hhq (http://www.harpoonhq.com/harpoon3/scenarios/index.html).
By Scott Mackenzie
Syria is known to have Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). These weapons are Chemical, Biological and Nuclear (NBC). Syria does not have nuclear weapons yet, but is on the verge of aquiring them through the reactor facilities at Hamahs and Homs. As part of the Axis of Evil, this is the first of a triad of of scenarios designed to keep America safe in its "War against Terror".
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/3282/syrstart5uh.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syrstart5uh.gif)
Admiral Forrester read the Intel report one last time. Well, he thought, we've finally found where those WMDs, originally reported in Iraq, have ended up. We may not have found the weapons, themselves, but we certainly have located the technology for producing them. Those boys in the Agency finally got one right after all these years and now the USN was being called in to do what they do best - blow things up.
As always, the AEW [Airborne Early Warning] aircraft were sent aloft first to establish the radar picture over the region. With all eight aircraft available, the resolution was going to equal a High Definition television program. However, the EW [Electronic Warfare] aircraft were held back on the deck. Instead of blinding the Syrians, Adm. Forrester wanted them to come out over the Mediterannean where he could kill them more easily as they would be out of support from their GCI [Ground Controlled Intercept] radar stations. He recognized that this would be a gamble, but he also knew that the AMRAAM magazines on his carriers were limited and he wanted to save the Slammers for when his boys went downtown. In order to properly bait the trap, one CG from each CVBG was ordered to radiate. Hopefully, the thought of engaging an Aegis cruiser would simply be too tempting for the Syrians to resist.
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/9689/syrtargets3oi.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syrtargets3oi.gif)
The two carriers were re-organized into one CVBG with the extra escorts sent on towards the coast for naval gunfire bombardment of Latakia and Tartus. With only 48 hours and limited magazines, Forrester was going to need every weapon capable of deliver HE on target. This way, the helos could contribute their Hellfire AGMs more effectively. While his plan was not to level the entire country, there were only about 90 targets within the 8 complexes identified on his target list:
- Tadmur CW Facilities
- Aleppo CW Facilities
- Homs CW Facilities
- Latakia CW Facilities
- Homs Nuclear Plant
- Al Safir Scud Base
- Hamah Scud Base
- Hamah Scud Manufacturing
He planned to blast a wide hole in the IADS [Integrated Air Defence System] by annihilating the defences along the coast between Latakia and Tartus. This would open a corridor to the more centrally located facilities. He intended to leave the air bases in the south unmolested and kill the Syrian air force only when it took to the air.
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/6627/syrptmsortie8hi.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syrptmsortie8hi.gif)
The eastern Mediterannean appeared to be pretty quiet. Everyone guessed that the entire world knew that something was brewing when the news on WMD was reported on CNN. A group of ships appeared to sortie from Latakia naval base. SSN Pittsburgh was assigned to identify and, if necessary, neutralize them. They were all making 34kts. so it was very unlikely that they were civilian vessels.
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/7196/syramraamallaround0uw.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syramraamallaround0uw.gif)
Slotback radar from MiG-29 Fulcrums was detected over Syria and Hornets armed with AMRAAM were sent in to sweep them from the sky. Instead of a stealthy approach, the Hornets were ordered to radiate and reveal themselves. Intelligence had reported SA-5 in the Syrian OoB and CAG was hoping that the Syrians would be trigger-happy and fire these at long range. The AMRAAMs quickly and effortlessly shot the Fulcrums and Foxbats out of the air without them even realizing that they were under attack. The SAM crews showed their nervousness and loosed their SA-5 Gammon from long range. The Hornets quickly pulled into a loop and fled on afterburner. The SA-5s did not have sufficient fuel to intercept and soon dropped into the sea. This provocative manoeuvre was repeated until the Syrians had depleted their entire Gammon inventory.
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/251/syrsa55pm.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syrsa55pm.gif)
The previously unknown ships were soon identified as Osa missile boats. SSN Pittsburgh sent a Mk48 torpedo to welcome them. The charge from the Osa squadron was a valiant gesture, but it had been centuries since warfare awarded points for gallantry. Results were all that counted. One torpedo / boat was all that was necessary to wipe out the little squadron.
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/6756/syr40spread8ac.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syr40spread8ac.gif)
With local air superiority estabilished, the SEAD aircraft were sent in to turn out some lights.
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/6286/syrseadaway3dp.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syrseadaway3dp.gif)
They concentrated their HARMs against search and fire-control radar so that strike elements like the Vikings could deliver their payloads unmolested.
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/4385/syrknockknock3rl.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syrknockknock3rl.gif)
Although decimated, the Syrian air force still tried their best to inflict a propaganda victory by attacking the CVBGs with their Fencer bombers. However, the fleet's 'eyes in the sky' gave very prompt warning of their approach. The defending CAP [Combat Air Patrols] held their fire and closed to within Sidewinder range before sending them to meet their compatriots in the Fulcrums and Foxbats.
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/7162/syrfencerflight7yk.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syrfencerflight7yk.gif)
Once a breach was established, the waves of strikers poured through. These were escorted by Prowlers that degraded the SAM systems to the point of near ineffectiveness. With much of the IADS in shambles, the TLAM were finally unleashed. Instead of leading the attack with TLAM, they were held until now so that the Syrians would not have many systems left to attempt to shoot them down. These deep-strike instruments devastated the strategic targets while the aircraft continued to hammer secondary targets. The NGFS [Naval Gunfire Support] group arrived at Tartus and proceeded to level the entire area before moving up the coast to Latakia and repeating the process.
http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/1544/syropeningabreach9sn.th.gif (http://img481.imageshack.us/my.php?image=syropeningabreach9sn.gif)
Like their predecessors over Vietnam, the aviators from the Truman and the Roosevelt cycled through wave after wave of attacks and exhausted the PGMs [Precision-Guided Munitions] before resorting to iron bombs. With virtually no opposition, the carrier air wings bombed mercilessly and left much of Syria resembling a moonscape of craters. After 46 hours, the Syrian government contacted the UN and agreed to submit to UN-supervised destruction of remaining CBR [Chemical, Biological, Radiological] weapons within the country. Once again, US naval aviation had proven itself instrumental in persuading a nation to modify its behaviour.
Congratulations to Scott on his first scenario and thanks for sharing it with the community.
This scen posted at hhq (http://www.harpoonhq.com/harpoon3/scenarios/index.html).