Herman Hum
12 Jun 06, 17:26
AAR: Beida-La-Boom [Spoiler Alert]
A Harpoon Classic scenario
By Mark Gellis
History is full of interesting surprises. The mercurial leader of Libya, having made much of his reputation as a foe of the West, ultimately decided that the future of his country (and his own future) might be secured more easily by adopting a policy of moderation.
He was promptly ousted from power and forced into exile.
The new regime is openly hostile to the West. Its ultimate goal is to dominate North and Central Africa and it has started an aggressive campaign of purchasing weapons form nations such as China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran. In addition, it has purchased materials necessary for the creation of chemical and biological weapons.
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1089/beidalaboom4uw.th.gif (http://img208.imageshack.us/my.php?image=beidalaboom4uw.gif)
Operation Yankee Slam was underway and the Marine Expeditionary Unit – Special Operations Capable [MEU-SOC] was nearing their line of departure. Unfortunately, the only meaningful air cover was based at Aviano airfield, nearly 700nm away. The task group only had a handful of Harriers for local protection so an E-3 Sentry and a gaggle of F-15 Eagles were tasked with immediate air protection for the ships. An EC-130E also accompanied them and thoroughly jammed Libyan radar to the point of near uselessness.
The Libyans may not have been technologically advanced, but they were brave, nonetheless. Several flights of antiquated MiG-25 Foxbats and F-1ED Mirage rose to challenge the Eagles for aerial supremacy. They were easily chopped from the air with no losses. It appeared as though they did not even detect the AMRAAM hidden within the cloud of jamming. As unofficial USAF doctrine dictates, ‘Fair fights are for suckers.’
With local aerial supremacy assured, TF Kearsage unleashed a volley of TLAM towards Beida-La-Braq and Benghazi airfields. Since no interceptors were airborne, most of the TLAM arrived to hammer the runways and pretty much shut down the air force. Task Force Kearsage moved deeper into the Gulf of Sidra in order to reach the launch point for her Marines. The SSN Scranton would accompany her and screen her during her transit through the ‘Gulf of Death’, as Colonel Khaddafi referred to it.
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/6048/capcoverage7jc.th.gif (http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=capcoverage7jc.gif)
The Libyan navy also made an appearance. Four Osa-Class missile boats along with two corvettes sortied from their base and made an attack run. Only one boat was successful in releasing her missiles before AH-1W SuperCobras from the Kearsage turned them all into Swiss cheese. The AGM-114 Hellfires were built for destroying armoured tanks and easily punched the four Osa-class boats full of holes. The Styx Surface-to-Surface Missiles [SSMs] were easily shot down by the Aegis system on the Ticonderoga cruiser escort.
http://img434.imageshack.us/img434/9494/hellfirevsosa9qf.th.gif (http://img434.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hellfirevsosa9qf.gif)
Instead of braving the SAM [Surface-to-Air Missile] capabilities of the second group of Nanuchka missile boats, the Scranton elected to allocate one UGM-84 Harpoon to each of the corvettes. With no warning due to the intense jamming by the Senior Scout, the Harpoons slammed into the little ships and set them ablaze and adrift on the ‘Line of Death’. Colonel Khaddafi named it appropriately. He just forgot to mention that it would be the ‘Libyan Line of Death’, once again.
http://img434.imageshack.us/img434/5693/scrantondiscoversminefield1jz.th.gif (http://img434.imageshack.us/my.php?image=scrantondiscoversminefield1jz.gif)
Everything seemed to be going well for the Americans when the sonar watch of the SSN Scranton called out, “Contact! Bearing 127 and she’s close!” Immediately, the Officer of the Deck [OoD] ordered, “All stop. Emergency back.” Intelligence had warned them that the Libyans might employ mines, but would they really have laid them in the middle of the Gulf of Sidra and in international waters?
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/2115/middleofminefield6yx.th.gif (http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=middleofminefield6yx.gif)
Carefully, the sub crept up to communications depth and reported their discovery to the Operation Commander aboard the Kearsage. The two MH-53 Sea Dragon helos were immediately dispatched. Upon arrival, they quickly ascertained that these were indeed mines. In fact, the Scranton had just missed hitting one ever so closely! The Libyans would gladly sacrifice their air force and navy in order to bag one 688-class Los Angeles submarine!
The helos quickly deployed their Mine Countermeasure sleds and went to work. The mine nearest the Scranton took immediate precedence and was cleared by combat swimmers. The minefield appeared to be somewhat extensive, but very thinly laid. The Sea Dragons were able to sweep them fairly easily. The crew of Scranton proceeded on their screening mission, but none could escape the uneasy feeling of just how close they had come to a ‘submarine / mine interface’.
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/4953/campshowsonir2kt.th.gif (http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=campshowsonir2kt.gif)
With most of the Libyan air force floating in the Mediterranean, the Global Hawk drone was ordered to seek out the CBR [Chemical-Biological-Radiological] facilities. A lone, SA-6 Guideline radar was detected. Even the Libyans were not crazy enough to station SAMs in the middle of nowhere, were they? The Hawk closed on the SAM site with caution. As she drew near, her IR cameras picked up telltale heat sources that were soon classified by the photo interpreters as the likely targets.
The Marines and CIA operatives were loaded into their new Osprey and older Ch-53 Sea Stallion aircraft. The Harriers were loaded for SEAD [Suppression of Enemy Air Defences]. Under the cover of darkness, the Harriers led the way and stole in flying NOE [Nap of the Earth]. Couple with the superb EW support from the Senior Scout and approaching at 100 feet AGL [Above Ground Level], the SA-6 defenders did not even react as several laser-guided bombs smashed the battery into oblivion.
http://img434.imageshack.us/img434/6576/usmclanding5az.th.gif (http://img434.imageshack.us/my.php?image=usmclanding5az.gif)
With air defences flattened, the Marines quickly swooped into the compound and established a cordon. The Marines held the perimeter while a thorough search was conducted by the CIA. Only after they found what they were looking for were the buildings demolished by the heavy weapons teams. The entire operation had been carried of without a hitch or loss. The strike elements landed on the Kearsage and the mission was deemed a complete success by National Command Authority.
Thanks very much for another well-coordinated scenario incorporating surface, sub-surface, and aerial elements. Even though the Libyans were out-classed, it did appear as though they made a good effort in denying the Americans victory.
SZO file archives (http://www.xtreme-gamer.com/forums/downloads.php?do=cat&id=30) - Home of the Harpoon3 PlayersDB
http://img271.echo.cx/img271/7972/badger0ma.th.jpgFilesOfScenShare (http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/FilesOfScenShare/) http://www.taitennek.nl/site-pics/website-logo.png (http://www.taitennek.nl)
http://img108.exs.cx/img108/5898/hgbanner33xr.jpgHarpGamer.com (http://www.harpgamer.com) - Home of the HCDB.
A Harpoon Classic scenario
By Mark Gellis
History is full of interesting surprises. The mercurial leader of Libya, having made much of his reputation as a foe of the West, ultimately decided that the future of his country (and his own future) might be secured more easily by adopting a policy of moderation.
He was promptly ousted from power and forced into exile.
The new regime is openly hostile to the West. Its ultimate goal is to dominate North and Central Africa and it has started an aggressive campaign of purchasing weapons form nations such as China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran. In addition, it has purchased materials necessary for the creation of chemical and biological weapons.
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1089/beidalaboom4uw.th.gif (http://img208.imageshack.us/my.php?image=beidalaboom4uw.gif)
Operation Yankee Slam was underway and the Marine Expeditionary Unit – Special Operations Capable [MEU-SOC] was nearing their line of departure. Unfortunately, the only meaningful air cover was based at Aviano airfield, nearly 700nm away. The task group only had a handful of Harriers for local protection so an E-3 Sentry and a gaggle of F-15 Eagles were tasked with immediate air protection for the ships. An EC-130E also accompanied them and thoroughly jammed Libyan radar to the point of near uselessness.
The Libyans may not have been technologically advanced, but they were brave, nonetheless. Several flights of antiquated MiG-25 Foxbats and F-1ED Mirage rose to challenge the Eagles for aerial supremacy. They were easily chopped from the air with no losses. It appeared as though they did not even detect the AMRAAM hidden within the cloud of jamming. As unofficial USAF doctrine dictates, ‘Fair fights are for suckers.’
With local aerial supremacy assured, TF Kearsage unleashed a volley of TLAM towards Beida-La-Braq and Benghazi airfields. Since no interceptors were airborne, most of the TLAM arrived to hammer the runways and pretty much shut down the air force. Task Force Kearsage moved deeper into the Gulf of Sidra in order to reach the launch point for her Marines. The SSN Scranton would accompany her and screen her during her transit through the ‘Gulf of Death’, as Colonel Khaddafi referred to it.
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/6048/capcoverage7jc.th.gif (http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=capcoverage7jc.gif)
The Libyan navy also made an appearance. Four Osa-Class missile boats along with two corvettes sortied from their base and made an attack run. Only one boat was successful in releasing her missiles before AH-1W SuperCobras from the Kearsage turned them all into Swiss cheese. The AGM-114 Hellfires were built for destroying armoured tanks and easily punched the four Osa-class boats full of holes. The Styx Surface-to-Surface Missiles [SSMs] were easily shot down by the Aegis system on the Ticonderoga cruiser escort.
http://img434.imageshack.us/img434/9494/hellfirevsosa9qf.th.gif (http://img434.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hellfirevsosa9qf.gif)
Instead of braving the SAM [Surface-to-Air Missile] capabilities of the second group of Nanuchka missile boats, the Scranton elected to allocate one UGM-84 Harpoon to each of the corvettes. With no warning due to the intense jamming by the Senior Scout, the Harpoons slammed into the little ships and set them ablaze and adrift on the ‘Line of Death’. Colonel Khaddafi named it appropriately. He just forgot to mention that it would be the ‘Libyan Line of Death’, once again.
http://img434.imageshack.us/img434/5693/scrantondiscoversminefield1jz.th.gif (http://img434.imageshack.us/my.php?image=scrantondiscoversminefield1jz.gif)
Everything seemed to be going well for the Americans when the sonar watch of the SSN Scranton called out, “Contact! Bearing 127 and she’s close!” Immediately, the Officer of the Deck [OoD] ordered, “All stop. Emergency back.” Intelligence had warned them that the Libyans might employ mines, but would they really have laid them in the middle of the Gulf of Sidra and in international waters?
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/2115/middleofminefield6yx.th.gif (http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=middleofminefield6yx.gif)
Carefully, the sub crept up to communications depth and reported their discovery to the Operation Commander aboard the Kearsage. The two MH-53 Sea Dragon helos were immediately dispatched. Upon arrival, they quickly ascertained that these were indeed mines. In fact, the Scranton had just missed hitting one ever so closely! The Libyans would gladly sacrifice their air force and navy in order to bag one 688-class Los Angeles submarine!
The helos quickly deployed their Mine Countermeasure sleds and went to work. The mine nearest the Scranton took immediate precedence and was cleared by combat swimmers. The minefield appeared to be somewhat extensive, but very thinly laid. The Sea Dragons were able to sweep them fairly easily. The crew of Scranton proceeded on their screening mission, but none could escape the uneasy feeling of just how close they had come to a ‘submarine / mine interface’.
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/4953/campshowsonir2kt.th.gif (http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=campshowsonir2kt.gif)
With most of the Libyan air force floating in the Mediterranean, the Global Hawk drone was ordered to seek out the CBR [Chemical-Biological-Radiological] facilities. A lone, SA-6 Guideline radar was detected. Even the Libyans were not crazy enough to station SAMs in the middle of nowhere, were they? The Hawk closed on the SAM site with caution. As she drew near, her IR cameras picked up telltale heat sources that were soon classified by the photo interpreters as the likely targets.
The Marines and CIA operatives were loaded into their new Osprey and older Ch-53 Sea Stallion aircraft. The Harriers were loaded for SEAD [Suppression of Enemy Air Defences]. Under the cover of darkness, the Harriers led the way and stole in flying NOE [Nap of the Earth]. Couple with the superb EW support from the Senior Scout and approaching at 100 feet AGL [Above Ground Level], the SA-6 defenders did not even react as several laser-guided bombs smashed the battery into oblivion.
http://img434.imageshack.us/img434/6576/usmclanding5az.th.gif (http://img434.imageshack.us/my.php?image=usmclanding5az.gif)
With air defences flattened, the Marines quickly swooped into the compound and established a cordon. The Marines held the perimeter while a thorough search was conducted by the CIA. Only after they found what they were looking for were the buildings demolished by the heavy weapons teams. The entire operation had been carried of without a hitch or loss. The strike elements landed on the Kearsage and the mission was deemed a complete success by National Command Authority.
Thanks very much for another well-coordinated scenario incorporating surface, sub-surface, and aerial elements. Even though the Libyans were out-classed, it did appear as though they made a good effort in denying the Americans victory.
SZO file archives (http://www.xtreme-gamer.com/forums/downloads.php?do=cat&id=30) - Home of the Harpoon3 PlayersDB
http://img271.echo.cx/img271/7972/badger0ma.th.jpgFilesOfScenShare (http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/FilesOfScenShare/) http://www.taitennek.nl/site-pics/website-logo.png (http://www.taitennek.nl)
http://img108.exs.cx/img108/5898/hgbanner33xr.jpgHarpGamer.com (http://www.harpgamer.com) - Home of the HCDB.