Battle/1st Campaign Report: 1986 Soviet Amphibious Landing in Northern Germany ('Naval Command 2021' Rules) - Part 1

Recap: During the ‘table top’ exercise (see my BLOG October 10th, 2024) we determined how to conduct a Soviet Amphibious Landing in the Baltic on the West German Baltic Coast (1986 Cold War fictional scenario) within the rule set of Naval Command 2021. In October we concluded:
4 AIST-class air-cushion vehicles delivered 2x CIE Naval Inf. & 2x PLT Naval Inf.
6 Mi-8 transport helo’s delivered 6 PLT air assault (wave 1)
5 Ropucha-class LST’s delivered 3 CIE T-72 tanks, 2 CIE Naval Inf, 2 PLT recon & 2 PLT Anti-Air.
6 Mi-8 transports helo’s delivered another 6 PLT Air Assault (turn 5)
1 Alligator-class LST delivered: 1 artillery battery (6 guns) & 10 trucks
1 Ivan Rogov-class delivered 10 T-72 (1 CIE) & 30 BMP (vehicles for 1 BAT) & Commander Land Forces HQ
Reserve: 1 Alligator, loaded with 10 trucks, artillery battery (6x 2S1), field hospital.

On Sunday 1st december 2024 we played the same scenario, now under tactical circumstances. The Soviet Amphibious Taskgroup was almost the same, but now the West German coast would be defended by a West German submarine, a Brequet Atlantic MPA and NATO aircraft would be standing by to attack the Taskgroup when it was properly detected.
The Naval Wargame was conducted with 1:3000 ship miniatures and 1:600 aircraft on a 4 x 6 ft blue sea mat with a (cloth) 4 ft x 2 ft cm print of a beach superimposed over the short (4 ft) side of the sea mat. We used the Naval Command 2021 rule set; slightly adapted to our needs. Although I acquired 2 Soviet T-43 minesweepers since the last game, we didn’t look into mine warfare aspects. As targets for a possible ‘Naval gunfire support’ (NGS: artillery support by naval ships in support of the Land Forces (Chapter 32.2 and 32.3)) I had included a couple of 6 mm. Land Forces artillery pieces on an island in front of the coast. For submarine operations it was decided that all was ‘deep’, except near the coast or the island.

During Turn 1 NATO had the initiative. The German Brequet Atlantic was radar active patrolling the West German coast; the German Type 206 submarine (Type 209 NAVWAR) sat quiet in her submarine patrol zone near the island (blue flag in above picture). Of the Soviet Taskgroup only the Udaloy (upfront) and 1 Sovremenny (right flank) destroyer were radar active; the Udaloy was also active on sonar.
The German Type 206 passively detected the Udaloy active sonar at 25 nm. Also the Atlantic MPA detected the Udaloy; at 70 nm. by active radar. The Soviet Kilo-class upfront (red flag) was unable to passively detect the tiny German Type 206. However, the big sonar of the Udaloy was able to detect the Type 206, resulting in 1 marker. The Soviet Sovremenny detected the Atlantic MPA by active radar. No combat phase, but NATO got an enemy report from the Atlantic MPA that at least 2 Soviet destroyers were near the German coast. That triggered the planning for a possible NATO air attack on those vessels, as they might be part of the Soviet Taskgroup (of which NATO didn’t have an exact location).

During turn 2 USSR had the initiative. 2 Soviet Ka-27 ASW helo’s deployed to the front of the ASW-screen around the Soviet Taskgroup, to investigate the initial sonarcontact by the Udaloy destroyer. The Taskgroup proceeded as planned. The Atlantic MPA descended to ‘low’ and turned towards the 2 Soviet radar contacts, keeping out of their AAW weapons. The MPA detected the Berezina-class tanker at 70 nm. The German Type 206 moved silently towards the Udaloy and detected the Soviet Kilo-class submarine as well. The Kilo-class was not able to detect the much smaller Type 206 submarine. The Udaloy was unable to remain in sonar contact with the type 206. Both Ka-27 ASW helo’s were struggling to get sonar contact at the Type 206 as well.
Based on the detection of 2 Soviet destroyers and their tanker, surrounded by a couple of unidentified radar contacts, it was decided by NATO that the Soviet Taskgroup had been found and a detailed air-attack planning started.

During Turn 3 USSR kept the initiative. The Udaloy ASW-destroyer closed in at the silent German Type 206. The Soviet Krivak 2 ASW-frigate at the opposite flank became active on sonar and radar and maintained position. The Taskgroup proceeded towards the German coast. Frustated activated the Soviet Kilo-class submarine her powerful sonar, to try to find the Type 206… The Atlantic MPA flew towards the Kilo-class, but had to stay outside the AAW-‘umbrella’ of the Soviet Udaloy. In the meantime the Atlantic detected the Krivak 2. Although considered a very bold move, the Kilo-class sub was able to detect the Type 206. Worse, also the Udaloy detected the type 206 again. Three markers, the German sub was located; 20 nm. away from the SSN-14 equipped Udaloy. During the combat phase only the Udaloy was able to fire: 2 SSN-14 on the location of the Type 206: both missed, due to countermeasures deployed by Type 206 and/or dodgy firing solutions. The NATO air attack planning was still ongoing.

During turn 4 USSR kept the initiative. The Type 206 dived below the thermocline layer to ‘deep’. Initially all Soviet units lost sonar contact on her. Unfortunately, the Udaloy found the sub again quickly. A Ka-27 ASW helo closed in on this position. The Type 206 detected a nearby Sovremenny destroyer. The Atlantic MPA kept her distance towards the Soviet AAW-capable warships and could not detect or attack the Soviet Kilo-class. During the combat phase the nearby Ka-27 helo attacked the Type 206 with 2 homing torpedo’s. 1 hit, resulting in 1 Fire and 2 structure damage markers. The continuing fire resulted in a third structural damage marker. Damage control by the tiny sub didn’t help. She was crippled and couldn’t perform her mission…

During turn 5 USSR kept the initiative. More combatants within the Soviet Taskgroup went ‘active’, as the flagship (Sverdlov-class cruiser) was convinced a NATO airstrike on the Task Group was a strong possibility. Both Grisha-class ASW-frigates became ‘active’, as well as the old Kashin-class AAW destroyer. The Taskgroup was now protected by 2 Sovremenny destroyers (SA-N-7 AAW-system), 1 Udalaoy (SA-N-9 VLS), 1 Kashin (SA-N-1) and several SA-N-4 capable ships (Krivak 2, Grisha). The Soviets kept hunting the crippled Type 206. A second Ka-27 fired 2 torpedo’s at her and she sank. However, during the ASW hunt the Udaloy did close the German island within 20 nm. The unknown and undetected deployed 152 mm howitzers opened fire on the Udaloy at 17 nm and did hit her once, resulting in 1 fire damage and 2 structural damage. Her helo pad was therefore destroyed. Still no sight of a NATO air attack.

During turn 6 USSR kept the initiative (again!). The NATO strike package (4 Buccaneers with a total of 16 Sea Eagle ASM, protected by a pair of Harrier FRS-1) showed up. Split into 2 flights and moved into position at very low level. 

The Udaloy - on fire- tried to move away from the hostile island. During the combat phase 2 Buccaneers fired at the 2 front Ropucha-class LST’s. The other 2 Buccaneers fired from the left flank towards the Sverdlov Cruiser (assessed to be the flagship) and 1 of the 2 Moskva-class helicopter cruisers. Following the Naval Command 2021 Rule Set, a lot of Soviet ships were able to shoot at the incoming Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles. Mind you, these were crossing targets (and not incoming targets) for most of the time, outside -real world- max. range of those Soviet AAW weapons. I can’t imagine that a AIST air cushion vehicle can hit a passing subsonic Sea Eagle at 4-5 nm with her radar guided AK 230 (30 mm. self defense gun; actual range < 1,5 nm); but according to the rules she can (Rule: this system can hit within 12 nm.- CLOSE RANGE)! And those 2 single-arm SA-N-7 systems of a Sovremenny did fire many SA-N-7’s at crossing targets at a range of > 12 nm. (Rules: at MEDIUM range < 30 nm.). A more realistic range of SA-N-7 against crossing targets is prob. <12 nm. I think ‘Naval Command 2021’ is too optimistic about Russian AAW and doesn’t take into account Rate of fire and/or the amount of fire channels… 

Anyhow, the Sverdlov cruiser was substantial damaged by 2 Sea Eagles, but the 12 Sea Eagles aimed at the Ropucha’s and the Moskva-class cruiser were all ‘splashed’ (even by very old SA-N-1, SA-N-3, SA-N-4 or AK-230). 

And then we went for dinner - real world. Which was the end of this tactical game.

This enjoyable Naval Wargame took us approx. 4 hours to play. There was no time left to conduct the actual landing at the beach or to conduct Naval Gunfire Support… The plan is therefor to play ‘Part 2’ of this game on December 15th and start closer to the German coast (in order to conduct the actual landing). I assume we leave the damaged Sverdlov-class out of the equation but keep the slightly damaged Udaloy in …

Preparation for ‘Part 2’:
- prepare missing Ship Data Cards for: T-43 minesweeper, Polnocny LCT, Grisha ASW-corvette, Berezina-class tanker.
- think about some (temporary?) base for all the Landing Ships of the Task Group. So you have to move 1 large base, instead of lots of individual ships.

Additional Remarks, after some investigation (some days later).

I looked into the actual ranges (and reaction times) of the Soviet Naval SAM-systems: SA-N-1, SA-N-3 and SA-N-4 are probably unable to fire at a sea skimming 'Sea Eagle' missile. For rate of fire: SA-N-4 twin launcher: 2 missiles/min. reload time SA-N-7 (Sovremenny) single-arm launcher: 24 sec! Max. distance AK-630/AK-230 and SA-N-5/8 against air targets: approx 2 nm. Max. range SA-N-4 and SA-N-7: 7 nm. Verdict: most of the Sea Eagles couldn't be hit and would probably reach their targets... with severe hits on 2 Ropucha's, 1 Sverdlov and 1 Moskva-class.