General remarks:
Part 3 of our fictional 1986 Baltic Campaign, played at ‘action speed’. See the Feb. & Apr. 2025 entries for Part 1 and 2.
Part 3 of our fictional 1986 Baltic Campaign, played at ‘action speed’. See the Feb. & Apr. 2025 entries for Part 1 and 2.
Reminder of General Wargame Rules used:
- House rule: Air miniatures: Helicopters can stay airborne for max. 4 turns; patrol aircraft for 8 turns, fighters active for max. 3 turns (Yak-38 VSTOL only 2 turns) and strike aircraft conduct 1 attack and return directly to base. Each Air miniatures represent 1 aircraft (not a flight of 4).
- Rule Book: Naval Command 2021 Edition. After a lot of discussions last months, we followed the Air Defense rules, including the AD marker rules.
- Each start of a (following) wargame reflects the end situation of the former wargame, taking into account damage and losses of participants.
- House Rule: units at sea/air may conduct more than 1 detection: either vis., radar, sonar etc. The number of detections within 1 type (radar, sonar, etc.) is equal with their sensor rating related to this type. This provides modern units several advantages.
- House Rule: certain weapons are limited in range (20 mm AA-gun can’t reach the 12 nm. edge of the ‘close range’ band). The most realistic range of weapons is to be used (Source: OSINT or ‘Harpoon V’ data).
- House Rule: use of (air dropped) sonar buoys: they deploy on a line of 10 nm. At both ends 1 sonar buoy, either passive or active (sonar rating: ‘1’). 2 passive successful detections results in: crossfix (successful location of submarine or surface vessel); only 1 passive detection results in 1 bearing of a location, no distance information (1 detection marker).
- House Rule: a Task Group Commander needs to contact a superior to launch on-call strike- or CAP-aircraft from ashore airbases. Before any aircraft deploy, each turn dice has to be rolled (‘7’ or higher: permission granted). On the first turn: 1 dice. If unsuccessful: the following turn: 2 dice. Still no ‘7’: 3 dice, etc. Weaponizing and transit of the aircraft takes 2 turns in addition.
- Scenario Rule: Use of nuclear weapons is not allowed. Long range nuclear-capable weapons (like Tomahawk, SS-N-12, etc.) is therefore not allowed.
- Scenario rule: ’non-historical’ availability of units: we assumed that USSR carrier ‘Baku’ and both Udaloy DDG’s are fully operational in 1986 (including their SA-N-9 SAM) and that the 3 German Type 143A fast attack craft are equipped already with RIM-166 Rolling Airframe (RAM) close-range SAM. We also assumed that Danish F-16 are equipped with AGM-84 Harpoon’s.
- USSR Amphibious Taskgroup: Victory: major victory = 2 Battalions Land Forces surviving the naval wargame and at least 2 Mi-8/17 transport helo’s. Minor victory: at least 50% of USSR combatants (carrier, cruiser, destroyer, frigate, submarine) survives naval wargame.
- NATO Taskgroup: find USSR Amphib. Convoy and stop Amphibious ships. Major victory: at least 50% of larger USSR landing ships (LSD, LST) is destroyed (‘vessel kill’) Minor victory: 40% of larger USSR landing ships is not Amphib. capable anymore (‘mission kill’). Other minor victory (in case of not sinking the USSR Landing Force): 60% of NATO sea- and air forces survives the Naval wargame and can engage the enemy next wargame.
- USSR Taskgroup (TG) consist of 11 Amphibious units (represented by 1 x Ivan Rogov), 1 x ultra-modern ‘Kiev’-class carrier (carrying the transport helos and 12 Yak-38 ‘Forger’), 1 old Sverdlov-class cruiser, 5 destroyer/frigates (1 Udaloy I-class and Krivak II frigate slightly damaged) and 1 ‘Charlie I’-class nuclear submarine (used all her SS-N-7 missiles in part 1). The Taskgroup carries 8 SS-N-22, 4 SS-N-2 and 9 SS-N-14 missiles (old version; only to be used against submarines).
- the remaining NATO Taskgroup (TG) consist of 1 ASW-frigate (modern UK Type 22 Batch 1 class), 1 Dutch AAW-frigate (flagship HNLMS Tromp, with SM-1/MR). Fleet tanker HNLMS Zuiderkruis and badly hit HNLMS Kortenaer returned to port over night. The submarine HNLMS Zwaardvis had been sunk in part 2. On call (ashore): 4 modern Danish F-16 fighter bombers (2 AGM-84 Harpoon each) and Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) support. 3 German Type 143A Fast Attack Craft (FAC; armed with 4 x MM-38 Exocet each) managed to reach the small island in front of the West German coast, near the possible Soviet Landing Zone. Together the 2 NATO Task groups have 8 Harpoon SSM’s left (range: 70 nm.) and 16 MM-38 Exocets (range: 22 nm.).
- a new set of markers is in use, so you can read what their function is. Some ‘old’ markers are also in use: 2 Blue golf Tees: (NATO)sonobuoy line of 10 nm. Blue flag: NATO. Damage tokens: blue water drop (flood), yellow flash (fire), brown sticks: structural damage, white square: system damage. Orientation of photo's: the beach is in the South; most photos are looking East.
Tactical situation at the beginning of Turn 1 (Part 3):
The Soviet Task Group continued south towards the West German Coast. 3 Ka-25/27 ASW helicopters are deployed around the Task Group, together with a Be-12 waterline MPA. The Soviet nuclear ‘Charlie I’-class submarine has gone ‘deep’ and has positioned itself halfway between the 2 trailing NATO frigates and the Soviet Task group. Both Udaloy I-class ASW destroyers had probably still 60% available of their capable SA-N-9 point-defense VLS systems. The slightly damaged Udaloy I DDG (2 structural damage markers; speed: -2) and Krivak II FFG (3 structural damage markers; speed: -3) were still mission capable and not slower than the Amphibious Convoy.
The 2 NATO frigates deployed 1 ‘Lynx’ ASW helicopter and were supported by a Dutch Lockheed ‘Neptune’ MPA. Distance towards the Soviet Taskgroup: approx. 60 nm. During the night they had followed the Soviet Amphibious Task Group at safe distance (outside SS-N-22 range). 3 German Type 143A Fast Attack Craft (FAC; armed with 4 x MM-38 Exocet each) managed to reach the small island north of the West German coast, near the possible Soviet Landing Zone. Soviet units are all radar active. All NATO units as well, exempt the UK Type 22 frigate and the 3 Type 143A FAC’s. Both NATO surface combatants have manually reloaded (at sea) their close range SAM-systems; HNLMS ‘Tromp’ has 31 SM-1/MR (70 %) remaining. Both have an operational ‘Lynx’.
Turn 1 (NATO initiative): during the night NATO lost (sonar)contact on the USSR ‘Charlie I’ submarine. A Submarine Patrol Zone (Chapter 9) is established (centre is visualized by red flag). USSR Task Group approaches the intended Landing Zone at 47 nm. The 3 German FAC’s (FGS Gepard, Wiesel & Puma) pass the eastern side of the island. The Lockheed ‘Neptune’ deploys sonobuoys, south of the 2 NATO frigates, trying to localize the USSR submarine. Because this submarine is deep & silent running, none of the NATO ASW assets was able to detect her at intermediate range. However, the ‘Neptune’ was able to detect the (old) Sverdlov-class cruiser and HNLMS ‘Tromp’ detects the Be-12 waterplane. The NATO Taskgroup is also detected: the ‘Charlie I’ submarine detects the sonar transmissions of ‘Tromp’, a Ka-27 helo also detects ‘Tromp’ (by radar) and the nearest ‘Krivak’ frigate detects ‘Tromp’ by ESM. The ‘Neptune’ is detected by the Sovremenny DDG. Based on his detections, commander of the NATO task group liked to order an air attack on the Sverdlov-class cruiser (flagship of the USSR Amphibious Group?). No NATO combat actions this turn, as only 8 RGM-84 Harpoon SSM’s are in range. USSR is out of range (nuclear capable SS-N-12’s are not allowed).
The Soviet Task Group continued south towards the West German Coast. 3 Ka-25/27 ASW helicopters are deployed around the Task Group, together with a Be-12 waterline MPA. The Soviet nuclear ‘Charlie I’-class submarine has gone ‘deep’ and has positioned itself halfway between the 2 trailing NATO frigates and the Soviet Task group. Both Udaloy I-class ASW destroyers had probably still 60% available of their capable SA-N-9 point-defense VLS systems. The slightly damaged Udaloy I DDG (2 structural damage markers; speed: -2) and Krivak II FFG (3 structural damage markers; speed: -3) were still mission capable and not slower than the Amphibious Convoy.
The 2 NATO frigates deployed 1 ‘Lynx’ ASW helicopter and were supported by a Dutch Lockheed ‘Neptune’ MPA. Distance towards the Soviet Taskgroup: approx. 60 nm. During the night they had followed the Soviet Amphibious Task Group at safe distance (outside SS-N-22 range). 3 German Type 143A Fast Attack Craft (FAC; armed with 4 x MM-38 Exocet each) managed to reach the small island north of the West German coast, near the possible Soviet Landing Zone. Soviet units are all radar active. All NATO units as well, exempt the UK Type 22 frigate and the 3 Type 143A FAC’s. Both NATO surface combatants have manually reloaded (at sea) their close range SAM-systems; HNLMS ‘Tromp’ has 31 SM-1/MR (70 %) remaining. Both have an operational ‘Lynx’.
Turn 1 (NATO initiative): during the night NATO lost (sonar)contact on the USSR ‘Charlie I’ submarine. A Submarine Patrol Zone (Chapter 9) is established (centre is visualized by red flag). USSR Task Group approaches the intended Landing Zone at 47 nm. The 3 German FAC’s (FGS Gepard, Wiesel & Puma) pass the eastern side of the island. The Lockheed ‘Neptune’ deploys sonobuoys, south of the 2 NATO frigates, trying to localize the USSR submarine. Because this submarine is deep & silent running, none of the NATO ASW assets was able to detect her at intermediate range. However, the ‘Neptune’ was able to detect the (old) Sverdlov-class cruiser and HNLMS ‘Tromp’ detects the Be-12 waterplane. The NATO Taskgroup is also detected: the ‘Charlie I’ submarine detects the sonar transmissions of ‘Tromp’, a Ka-27 helo also detects ‘Tromp’ (by radar) and the nearest ‘Krivak’ frigate detects ‘Tromp’ by ESM. The ‘Neptune’ is detected by the Sovremenny DDG. Based on his detections, commander of the NATO task group liked to order an air attack on the Sverdlov-class cruiser (flagship of the USSR Amphibious Group?). No NATO combat actions this turn, as only 8 RGM-84 Harpoon SSM’s are in range. USSR is out of range (nuclear capable SS-N-12’s are not allowed).
Turn 2 (USSR initiative): NATO rolled for air strike: unsuccessful.
USSR Convoy closes the coast up to 42 nm. Most USSR combatants turn towards the HNLMS ‘Tromp’ in order to improve the defense of the seaward flank of the USSR convoy. The USSR admiral wants to extinguish this NATO threat before the actual landing. The ‘Charlie’ class submarine deploys within her Submarine Patrol Zone a little more than 12 nm. west of ‘Tromp’ (the 30 nm Patrol zone is now removed). Because the submarine is still ‘deep’ & silent running, no NATO assets (Lynx helo, sonobuoys, ship-borne sonar) are able to detect her! The 3 German FAC’s use max. speed to get round the island and stay close to land to get closer to the USSR Task Group. Several USSR units try to detect the 3 small ships but are unable to succeed. The ‘Neptune’ MPA got an ESM-bearing on the ‘Baku’ carrier. In theory, if ‘Tromp’ would have fired at this precise moment 8 RGM-84 Harpoon SSM’s towards the ‘Baku’ carrier, non of the capable ‘Udaloy’-class DDG’s would be in the right position to help defending the carrier. However, as players we saw this opportunity, but we decided that the NATO Commander hadn’t the same situational awareness as we had (because he lacked too much active detections to realize this chance). So no combat this turn.
Turn 3 (NATO initiative): NATO rolled with 2 dice for air strike: unsuccessful… The Russian rotated their Yak-38 ‘Forger’ CAP-aircraft. During the Navigation Phase Russian combatants made good their AAW-screen around the Amphibious Convoy. Both NATO frigates and the ‘Neptune’ MPA proceed towards this screen. Still no NATO sonar detections on the closing USSR ‘Charlie I’ class submarine…The NATO MPA detected the ‘Ivan Rogov’ Landing Ship Dock. The NATO Commander gets a better picture on the USSR convoy! USSR is still ‘in the dark’ with regard to the developing German FAC-threat.. No combat phase: the USSR units are (just) out of range; the NATO units wait for the planned air-attack…
USSR Convoy closes the coast up to 42 nm. Most USSR combatants turn towards the HNLMS ‘Tromp’ in order to improve the defense of the seaward flank of the USSR convoy. The USSR admiral wants to extinguish this NATO threat before the actual landing. The ‘Charlie’ class submarine deploys within her Submarine Patrol Zone a little more than 12 nm. west of ‘Tromp’ (the 30 nm Patrol zone is now removed). Because the submarine is still ‘deep’ & silent running, no NATO assets (Lynx helo, sonobuoys, ship-borne sonar) are able to detect her! The 3 German FAC’s use max. speed to get round the island and stay close to land to get closer to the USSR Task Group. Several USSR units try to detect the 3 small ships but are unable to succeed. The ‘Neptune’ MPA got an ESM-bearing on the ‘Baku’ carrier. In theory, if ‘Tromp’ would have fired at this precise moment 8 RGM-84 Harpoon SSM’s towards the ‘Baku’ carrier, non of the capable ‘Udaloy’-class DDG’s would be in the right position to help defending the carrier. However, as players we saw this opportunity, but we decided that the NATO Commander hadn’t the same situational awareness as we had (because he lacked too much active detections to realize this chance). So no combat this turn.
Turn 3 (NATO initiative): NATO rolled with 2 dice for air strike: unsuccessful… The Russian rotated their Yak-38 ‘Forger’ CAP-aircraft. During the Navigation Phase Russian combatants made good their AAW-screen around the Amphibious Convoy. Both NATO frigates and the ‘Neptune’ MPA proceed towards this screen. Still no NATO sonar detections on the closing USSR ‘Charlie I’ class submarine…The NATO MPA detected the ‘Ivan Rogov’ Landing Ship Dock. The NATO Commander gets a better picture on the USSR convoy! USSR is still ‘in the dark’ with regard to the developing German FAC-threat.. No combat phase: the USSR units are (just) out of range; the NATO units wait for the planned air-attack…
Turn 4 (NATO initiative): NATO gets the approval for an F-16 air-strike! The British Type 22 ASW-frigate activates her radars and sonar, given the current tactical situation. The ‘Neptune’ MPA closes in on the Russian combatants. The Russian fleet is now split: their amphibious convoy, protected by the ‘Sverdlov’-class cruiser and ‘Baku’ carrier closes the coast at 33 nm. and starting to prepare for the landing. The other USSR combatants focus mainly on both NATO frigates, supported by the ‘Neptune’ MPA. Both frigates take a more southern course, to keep some distance from the Russian combatants. During the Detection Phase the 3 German Type 143A FAC’s are suddenly visually detected by an USSR Ka-27 helo. The Russian Admiral is surprised by this new fast moving threat.
In retaliation the ‘Sovremenny’ fired 3 SS-N-22’s on the torpedoed
HNLMS Tromp and 5 on the British Type 22 frigate! I was surprised that according to the rules SM-1/MR doesn’t have a capability against sea skimming SS-N-22’s, so 2 out of 3 SS-N-22 missiles got
through the close range AD capabilities of ‘Tromp’. With some luck the Type 22 GWS Seawolf SAM-system managed to splash 1 SS-N-22 destined for ‘Tromp’. ‘Tromp’ is being hit by 1 SS-N-22, resulting in adding ‘3 x structure’ to her torpedo damage….Her damage rating is only 10.
The British Type 22 ASW-frigate defended herself bravely but 3 of the 5 SS-N-22’s hits her… resulting in 9 initial damage markers (5 x fire, 3 x structure and 1 flood). Her damage rating is only 10…
On the east flank of the USSR screen the shaken Mod Kashin fired 2 salvo’s of 2 SS-N-2 Styx missiles at the 2 nearest recently detected German FAC’s, who closed the Russians with a speed of almost 40 kts. With the very modern ‘RAM’ SAM-system and use of their 76 mm gun the 2 ships managed to take out 3 of these rather old missiles, but 1 hit FGS Gepard, resulting in 3 damage markers (fire, flood and structure) on a damage rating of only 4… I was surprised that the defense rating of this slow, large and low flying SS-N-2 missile (’12’) in the Fleet List is higher than sea skimming and much smaller MM-38 Exocet (’11’) or RGM-84 ‘Harpoon’ (’11’). That doesn’t feel right…
Anyhow, up to the Damage Control Phase. Damage report HNLMS ‘Tromp’ (rating: ’10’): 2 x flood, 5 x structure. Damage control resolves 1 flood. The ongoing flooding results in extra 1 system damage marker. Result (70% damage?): max speed: 1, negative effect on sensors and flight deck.
Damage report Type 22 (rating ’10’): 1 x flood, 5 x fire, 3 x structure. Damage control resolves 2 fires but the ongoing flood and ongoing 3 fires results in 1 extra ‘structure’ and 1 extra ‘fire’, so the ship still has 90% damage: max speed: 3, no flight deck and (own assessment) an imminent threat of an exploding fuel bunker or ammunition magazine.
Damage report FGS Gepard (rating ‘4’): flood, fire & structure. Damage control resolves the fire but the ongoing flood results in a total of 2 x flood. So this 75% damage results in a speed limitation. I was surprised the rules don’t point towards a limitation in weapon systems… so I assume all 4 MM-38 Exocets are still available (especially because the fire is out)?
Damage report ‘Sovremenny’ (rating ’11’): flood, fire and structure. Damage control resolved the fire but the ongoing flood results in an extra ‘Systems’ damage marker. Result (27% damage): max speed: 6, negative effect on sensors & flight deck.
At the end of this turn the deployed NATO Lynx helo had to land on her mothership (after 4 turns). However non of the NATO frigates were able to receive her, given their damage status, so she flew towards the nearest German island and made an precaution landing there. The 3 deployed Russian Ka-25/27 helo’s had also problems finding a landing spot (after 4 turns) as the flight deck of ‘Baku’ was busy with the rotation of another Yak-38 CAP-flight, together with the preparation of 6 Mi-8 transport helo’s on deck for the upcoming amphibious landing. Of the Russian combatants only 1 undamaged ‘Udaloy’ was able to take 1 Ka-27 onboard. The slightly damaged ‘Udaloy’ and the recently damaged ‘Sovremenny’ had their flight decks damaged; the slightly damaged ‘Krivak’ didn’t have a flight deck; only the Mod Kashin could receive a Ka-25 helo (but has no hangar so could only refuel her, not re-arm). The third helo found a spot on the ‘Baku’, as the flight deck of the ‘Ivan Rogov’ was full with ‘amphibious stuff’.
Turn 5 (USSR initiative): the Russian Admiral was quite pleased with his combatants: they had taken out both NATO frigates and damaged 1 Fast Attack Craft while the USSR landing Force didn’t take any hits. He didn’t have any time to celebrate, because all 3 FAC’s were still afloat and at least 2 of them had no damage at all. During the navigation phase, FGS 'Wiesel' and 'Puma' turned towards the less defended Amphibious Convoy, while the damaged FGS 'Gepard' steered towards the nearby Mod Kashin (which didn’t have any SS-N-2 missiles left). The Russian combatants (now all out of anti-ship SSM’s) tried to close the gap, in order to fire with their guns on those FAC’s. Some of them have a speed limitation due to structural damage (‘Sovremenny’, ‘Krivak’, 1 x ‘Udaloy’). Although the Russians didn’t close the gap (yet), during the Combat Phase the German Commander of the 3 FAC's decided to take out as much Russian Air-Defence capable ships as possible to prepare for the upcoming NATO Air-strike…
So the damaged FGS 'Gepard' & FGS 'Puma' fired 4 sea skimming MM-38 Exocet each at respectively the damaged ‘Sovremenny’ and the ‘Mod Kashin’. The ‘Sovremenny’ and nearby ‘Udaloy’ managed to take out 4 MM-38 and another (?) ‘Udaloy’ defended the ‘Mod Kashin’ (as she has very little capability against sea skimmers). Unfortunately, with the AD calculations we forgot to take into account the actual recent ‘systems’ damage of the ‘Sovremenny’… On the other hand, the ‘Mod Kashin’ forgot to use her SA-N-1 SAM-system in a surface-to-surface role against the incoming FAC’s (Chapter 20.3 of Rules). Anyhow, the Russian AD screen was able to defend against 8 Exocets.
Damage control Phase: HNLMS ‘Tromp’ was overwhelmed with the damage but the ongoing flood didn’t result in additional damage.. The Type 22 frigate managed to resolve the extra fire, but the remaining fires resulted in 1 extra fire. Her ongoing flood didn’t result in additional damage.. The ‘Sovremenny’ managed to resolve her only flood.
Turn 6 (NATO initiative): (after 2 turns preparation & transit) 4 x Danish F-16 appeared above the German island. The Russian combatants still tried to close the gap with the FAC’s. During the combat Phase FGS Wiesel fires the last 4 MM-38 Exocet (sea skimming) at the nearest ‘Udaloy’-class DDG. With her 2 single-rail SA-N-7 launchers the damaged ‘Sovremenny’ splashes 2 of them (we forgot to take into account her diminished AD capabilities: ‘-1’ on her AD-radar). The targeted ‘Udaloy’ took out the remaining 2 Exocets. However, those ships have now
some AD-markers… In return the ‘Sovremenny’ fired with its twin 130 mm main gun at the nearest FGS 'Puma', resulting in 1 structural damage marker (25% damage). The 4 F-16’s fired 8 air-launched AGM-84 Harpoons at the Amphibious Convoy around the Landing Ship Dock ‘Ivan Rogov’, at a range of 60 nm. Position provided by Lockheed ‘Neptune’ MPA, confirmed by their F-16 ground-attack radar. The nearby ‘Sverdlov'-class cruiser is no match for the very modern Harpoons.. Only the SA-N-9 SAM's of the 'Baku' carrier are able to open fire at the 8 sea skimming missiles. Three are plashed but 5 are hitting the convoy (5 x 3 = 15 damage points). We assumed that at least the ‘Ivan Rogov’ (damage rating: 13) is sunk, but it might be
that an additional convoy ship nearby is also hit by 1 or more Harpoons? But we didn’t lay out the whole convoy on the table… Assuming NATO only took out 1 Landing Ship Dock (LSD), the damage is 1 Battalion (equipment, men, etc.).
In the meantime…. the ‘Charlie I’ submarine moves in for the kill. She has changed depth (NATO is still not able to localize her!). During the Combat Phase she fires 4 wire guided torpedoes at max. range (bearing only launch). One heavy torpedo hits HNLMS Tromp, resulting in 2 x flood & 2 x structure. While her crew is fighting the damage, ‘Tromp’ fires in retaliation 3 RGM-84 Harpoons at the old Mod ‘Kashin’-class DDG and 5 at the ‘Sovremenny’-class DDG. 
The SA-N-1 SAM-system of Mod Kashin has no capability against the 3 sea skimming Harpoon’s, but the ship is rescued by the nearby ‘Krivak’ class frigate and the capable SA-N-9 system of an ‘Udaloy’-class DDG.
The 5 sea skimming Harpoons were not countered by the reasonable AD-systems of the targeted ‘Sovremenny’-class DDG (2 x single-rail SA-N-7, 130 mm gun, etc.) partly due to bad dice. If we followed our House Rule with realistic AD-ranges for SAM’s, no other USSR vessel could help the ‘Sovremenny’…However, this house rule triggered discussions, so we adapted this temporarily on the spot: for close range SAM-systems we assumed they can reach the full 12 nm. (according to Naval Command 2021 rules) but not the gun/CIWS-systems; therefor we still use OSINT realistic data. With this adaptation the nearby Russian combatants (‘Udaloy’-class DDG’s at 7,5 nm. and 10 nm. range) were able to splash 4 out of 5 RGM-84 Harpoons. One ‘Harpoon’ hit the ‘Sovremenny’, resulting in: 1 fire, 1 flood and 1 structure. 
In retaliation the ‘Sovremenny’ fired 3 SS-N-22’s on the torpedoed
HNLMS Tromp and 5 on the British Type 22 frigate! I was surprised that according to the rules SM-1/MR doesn’t have a capability against sea skimming SS-N-22’s, so 2 out of 3 SS-N-22 missiles got
The British Type 22 ASW-frigate defended herself bravely but 3 of the 5 SS-N-22’s hits her… resulting in 9 initial damage markers (5 x fire, 3 x structure and 1 flood). Her damage rating is only 10…
On the east flank of the USSR screen the shaken Mod Kashin fired 2 salvo’s of 2 SS-N-2 Styx missiles at the 2 nearest recently detected German FAC’s, who closed the Russians with a speed of almost 40 kts. With the very modern ‘RAM’ SAM-system and use of their 76 mm gun the 2 ships managed to take out 3 of these rather old missiles, but 1 hit FGS Gepard, resulting in 3 damage markers (fire, flood and structure) on a damage rating of only 4… I was surprised that the defense rating of this slow, large and low flying SS-N-2 missile (’12’) in the Fleet List is higher than sea skimming and much smaller MM-38 Exocet (’11’) or RGM-84 ‘Harpoon’ (’11’). That doesn’t feel right…
Anyhow, up to the Damage Control Phase. Damage report HNLMS ‘Tromp’ (rating: ’10’): 2 x flood, 5 x structure. Damage control resolves 1 flood. The ongoing flooding results in extra 1 system damage marker. Result (70% damage?): max speed: 1, negative effect on sensors and flight deck.
Damage report Type 22 (rating ’10’): 1 x flood, 5 x fire, 3 x structure. Damage control resolves 2 fires but the ongoing flood and ongoing 3 fires results in 1 extra ‘structure’ and 1 extra ‘fire’, so the ship still has 90% damage: max speed: 3, no flight deck and (own assessment) an imminent threat of an exploding fuel bunker or ammunition magazine.
Damage report FGS Gepard (rating ‘4’): flood, fire & structure. Damage control resolves the fire but the ongoing flood results in a total of 2 x flood. So this 75% damage results in a speed limitation. I was surprised the rules don’t point towards a limitation in weapon systems… so I assume all 4 MM-38 Exocets are still available (especially because the fire is out)?
Damage report ‘Sovremenny’ (rating ’11’): flood, fire and structure. Damage control resolved the fire but the ongoing flood results in an extra ‘Systems’ damage marker. Result (27% damage): max speed: 6, negative effect on sensors & flight deck.
Turn 5 (USSR initiative): the Russian Admiral was quite pleased with his combatants: they had taken out both NATO frigates and damaged 1 Fast Attack Craft while the USSR landing Force didn’t take any hits. He didn’t have any time to celebrate, because all 3 FAC’s were still afloat and at least 2 of them had no damage at all. During the navigation phase, FGS 'Wiesel' and 'Puma' turned towards the less defended Amphibious Convoy, while the damaged FGS 'Gepard' steered towards the nearby Mod Kashin (which didn’t have any SS-N-2 missiles left). The Russian combatants (now all out of anti-ship SSM’s) tried to close the gap, in order to fire with their guns on those FAC’s. Some of them have a speed limitation due to structural damage (‘Sovremenny’, ‘Krivak’, 1 x ‘Udaloy’). Although the Russians didn’t close the gap (yet), during the Combat Phase the German Commander of the 3 FAC's decided to take out as much Russian Air-Defence capable ships as possible to prepare for the upcoming NATO Air-strike…
Damage control Phase: HNLMS ‘Tromp’ was overwhelmed with the damage but the ongoing flood didn’t result in additional damage.. The Type 22 frigate managed to resolve the extra fire, but the remaining fires resulted in 1 extra fire. Her ongoing flood didn’t result in additional damage.. The ‘Sovremenny’ managed to resolve her only flood.
Turn 6 (NATO initiative): (after 2 turns preparation & transit) 4 x Danish F-16 appeared above the German island. The Russian combatants still tried to close the gap with the FAC’s. During the combat Phase FGS Wiesel fires the last 4 MM-38 Exocet (sea skimming) at the nearest ‘Udaloy’-class DDG. With her 2 single-rail SA-N-7 launchers the damaged ‘Sovremenny’ splashes 2 of them (we forgot to take into account her diminished AD capabilities: ‘-1’ on her AD-radar). The targeted ‘Udaloy’ took out the remaining 2 Exocets. However, those ships have now
that an additional convoy ship nearby is also hit by 1 or more Harpoons? But we didn’t lay out the whole convoy on the table… Assuming NATO only took out 1 Landing Ship Dock (LSD), the damage is 1 Battalion (equipment, men, etc.).
Who met Victory conditions?
During the campaign NATO couldn’t delay or prevent the USSR Amphibious Landing. At the end probably 1 Soviet Battalion was badly hit (sinking of the ‘Ivan Rogov’ LSD), but 2 USSR Battalions were not destroyed, most of their Landing Ships are not hit and the ‘Baku’ carrier is fully operational. Naval Gunfire Support by the cruiser and the ‘Sovremenny’ is also still possible. So we consider this is a Major Victory for the USSR. At a high cost to NATO: 1 submarine sunk, 2 ASW frigates beyond repair (HNLMS Kortenaer & Type 22), HNLMS Tromp beyond repair and 2 German FAC’s damaged. The damage to the Russian Fleet is much smaller. However, the fleet is slightly damaged and will struggle to sail back to Kaliningrad or Sint Petersburg. Their stock on AD missiles is probably below 40%, they are below 30% on ASW-weapons and they rely on the ‘Baku’-carrier as one of the remaining flight decks for ASW-helo’s. They are completely empty on anti-ship missiles…
During the campaign NATO couldn’t delay or prevent the USSR Amphibious Landing. At the end probably 1 Soviet Battalion was badly hit (sinking of the ‘Ivan Rogov’ LSD), but 2 USSR Battalions were not destroyed, most of their Landing Ships are not hit and the ‘Baku’ carrier is fully operational. Naval Gunfire Support by the cruiser and the ‘Sovremenny’ is also still possible. So we consider this is a Major Victory for the USSR. At a high cost to NATO: 1 submarine sunk, 2 ASW frigates beyond repair (HNLMS Kortenaer & Type 22), HNLMS Tromp beyond repair and 2 German FAC’s damaged. The damage to the Russian Fleet is much smaller. However, the fleet is slightly damaged and will struggle to sail back to Kaliningrad or Sint Petersburg. Their stock on AD missiles is probably below 40%, they are below 30% on ASW-weapons and they rely on the ‘Baku’-carrier as one of the remaining flight decks for ASW-helo’s. They are completely empty on anti-ship missiles…
What did we learn?
- Our recent spreadsheets on units, weapons and our aircraft management administration works and makes the game a little faster (vs. searching in the Rules or Fleet Lists).
- Our very recent ‘Quick Reference Sheet’ for the equations regarding sonar/radar detections, use of Air Defense, Torpedoes and anti-ship missiles, Damage, etc. speeded up the last game (6 turns in 1 day!).
- We adapted some of our (house) rules, like more detail to dipping sonar/sonobuoy (sonar rating ‘1’ for older aircraft (until 1980s) and ‘2’ for modern aircraft/equipment (like: Nimrod, P-8 Poseidon, NH-90, maybe Ka-27 and P-3C?). And: if an MPA leaves the game without a proper hand-over to the next MPA, her sonobuoys are no use anymore. Sonobuoys can last at least 6-8 turns. And the actual range limitations to close range AD systems (based on OSINT) are only to be applied to gun/CIWS systems and not to SAM’s….
- Regarding official Naval Command Rules: I found the reference to ‘flights’ in Chapter 24 ‘Air Operations’ not so realistic. To my professional knowledge a CAP is mostly 2 fighters (and not four, like a ‘flight’). Especially if you want to maintain a CAP 24/7 above your head; that takes a lot of airframes to accomplish. Other issue: we missed a realistic speed for ‘intercept’ missions of fighters against other aircraft. The highest speed in the table ‘aircraft speed’ of chapter 14 ‘Navigation Phase’ is 60 cm/turn, but that is for Fixed wing AEW/MPA. A fighter is faster… So we made this 100 cm, otherwise a Nimrod (jet) or AWACS (jet) could keep their distance to a fighter by flying away?
- Throughout Naval Command 2021 the Russian Navy on average seems to be presented with better equipment than comparable Western units. AD radar ratings in the Fleet Lists of 1980s Sovremenny’s and 1990s Udaloy’s I consider ‘pretty high’. The defense rating of 1970s SS-N-2 ‘Styx’ I consider not very realistic (compared to western missiles), etc. But sometimes it is the other way around: the 4th ‘Kiev’-class carrier (‘Baku’, later renamed into ‘Gorshkov’) didn’t get better radar ratings than her older, less capable siblings.
- I finally did understand the Air defense method of Naval Command 2021 (Chapter 19). I am not really fond of it, because some rules I don’t consider realistic but every time when I make this remark I have to tell myself: I am playing a game, not a simulation!
- Any wishes? Yes, I would like to investigate more detailed rules on naval mine warfare…
- And…. with so many ships who are limited to close range Air Defence, together with our house rule that at least guns/CIWS use actual firing ranges (based on OSINT), we ran into the challenge that most of this point-defense AD systems had a range < 4-5 cm. (smaller than the actual length of a 1:3000 scale frigate/destroyer….). If units want to help each other, they must sail exactly side-to-side, otherwise their short AD range is not sufficient. Which is visually not recommended. You could get rid of the House rule (so they can reach 12 nm.) or maybe try to work with a bigger table and use distances in inches vs cm. (we will try that next time!). Otherwise..... Point defense is exactly that: you can’t defend others than yourself…
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