I selected to play this scen from EU side in ANW.
I started by putting up CAP and both P3s to search for the Amphib formation.
My strategy was clear - no American amphib group could be defeated by three FFGs and 10 F16s without ASMs. So my three subs would play the main roles.
My own French and Russian SSNs quickly picked up and identified Austin on passive sonar. I plotted a course for my two SSNs and one SS (at snort depth adnd 12 knots) to close on the formation.
Meanwhile my 4 bomb armed F16s made a futile attempt to bomb the American base and were shot from the sky by an undetected Patriot battery.
Soon I found out the composition of the formation; and blade count gave me accurate speed of the heavies.
My P3s and F16s could not get close enough to get a course; and one of each died trying.
The enemy course remained elusive. Using cross bearings - plotted as nav-zone lines on the chart - I concluded it was zig zag-ing. Course was important as my intention was to drift my Russian Sierra class into the formation. I was up against a Burke class so needed to be a hole in the water.
Suddenly I got a warning of launch transient! Sierra had stumbed over an escorting Los Angeles-class SSN. My Sierra responded instantly; firing back a torp down the bearing and racing away. I ordered my torp to high speed, cut the wires and hoped for the best. Minutes later I put a second UUSET on the LA, which was making its own avasive action.
When sonar cleared all three torps had run out of fuel and my SSNs now 'boxed' the LA-class - which continued to creep at 5 knots.
Hours later my French and Russian SSNs approached the enemy formation which was drifting for reasons I was soon to find out. A helo detected Sierra, and dropped two torpedoes. The torpedoes however ignored Sierra (about 1nm away) and instead chased the French SSN 10nm to the south. The French SSN avaded both torps in spite of its low speed, and thus played a crucial role in bringing Sierra to the front of the enemy formation intact.
From 3nm away, when I detected another torp in the water I fired 4 torps at Burke. She blew up in a nice explosion. minutes later, CG Eerie was at the edge of my torp range and I fired another spread of 4. Eerie joint Burke and the last torp even ran on to sink one of the amphibs. At that moment, three other air dropped torps locked on to Sierra and killed her.
While I fought my way through the escorts, the Americans had not been silent. Harriers were suddenly detected inbound Llajes by the Portugese Frigates. When they went active, ASMs were fired from the last group of Harriers. Sea Sparrows shot down the missiles. 4 more Harriers continued on to Llajes, F16s got three and some inbound helo's but the last Harrier managed to help the American ground forces destroy two French tank platoons on the Azores.
With the escort sunk, I launched helicopters which found and killed the Los Angeles close to where it had attacked my sub hours ago, and my French SSN used her last torpedoes and Exocets to kill the last two amphibs. Victory was awarded shortly afterwards.
Thanks for a nice game - the late airstrike was a nasty surprise and so was the American SSN in perfect position to protect the amphibs.
Freek
I started by putting up CAP and both P3s to search for the Amphib formation.
My strategy was clear - no American amphib group could be defeated by three FFGs and 10 F16s without ASMs. So my three subs would play the main roles.
My own French and Russian SSNs quickly picked up and identified Austin on passive sonar. I plotted a course for my two SSNs and one SS (at snort depth adnd 12 knots) to close on the formation.
Meanwhile my 4 bomb armed F16s made a futile attempt to bomb the American base and were shot from the sky by an undetected Patriot battery.
Soon I found out the composition of the formation; and blade count gave me accurate speed of the heavies.
My P3s and F16s could not get close enough to get a course; and one of each died trying.
The enemy course remained elusive. Using cross bearings - plotted as nav-zone lines on the chart - I concluded it was zig zag-ing. Course was important as my intention was to drift my Russian Sierra class into the formation. I was up against a Burke class so needed to be a hole in the water.
Suddenly I got a warning of launch transient! Sierra had stumbed over an escorting Los Angeles-class SSN. My Sierra responded instantly; firing back a torp down the bearing and racing away. I ordered my torp to high speed, cut the wires and hoped for the best. Minutes later I put a second UUSET on the LA, which was making its own avasive action.
When sonar cleared all three torps had run out of fuel and my SSNs now 'boxed' the LA-class - which continued to creep at 5 knots.
Hours later my French and Russian SSNs approached the enemy formation which was drifting for reasons I was soon to find out. A helo detected Sierra, and dropped two torpedoes. The torpedoes however ignored Sierra (about 1nm away) and instead chased the French SSN 10nm to the south. The French SSN avaded both torps in spite of its low speed, and thus played a crucial role in bringing Sierra to the front of the enemy formation intact.
From 3nm away, when I detected another torp in the water I fired 4 torps at Burke. She blew up in a nice explosion. minutes later, CG Eerie was at the edge of my torp range and I fired another spread of 4. Eerie joint Burke and the last torp even ran on to sink one of the amphibs. At that moment, three other air dropped torps locked on to Sierra and killed her.
While I fought my way through the escorts, the Americans had not been silent. Harriers were suddenly detected inbound Llajes by the Portugese Frigates. When they went active, ASMs were fired from the last group of Harriers. Sea Sparrows shot down the missiles. 4 more Harriers continued on to Llajes, F16s got three and some inbound helo's but the last Harrier managed to help the American ground forces destroy two French tank platoons on the Azores.
With the escort sunk, I launched helicopters which found and killed the Los Angeles close to where it had attacked my sub hours ago, and my French SSN used her last torpedoes and Exocets to kill the last two amphibs. Victory was awarded shortly afterwards.
Thanks for a nice game - the late airstrike was a nasty surprise and so was the American SSN in perfect position to protect the amphibs.
Freek
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