War

Post descriptions and reports of your brilliant successes and unfortunate defeats here.
Shadow of the Condor
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RE: War - Day Six: Lights Out

Post by Shadow of the Condor »

And it's over. The GBUs finish off the power plant. The only downside to this mission was the +3 stress to everyone, but that was about it.





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"Shouldn't we be leading the shark back to shore, instead of him leading us out to sea?"
Shadow of the Condor
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RE: War - Day Seven:Attack!

Post by Shadow of the Condor »

My first "big" strike - 8 planes. The war is getting late, and all I have is one lost pilot and 11 VPs. I chose the 4 VP missile factory mission and gave it my best. Screen shots later, but - for now, enjoy the story...

Al-Furat manufacturing center…

The men inside their buildings had suspended their work. The sandstorm outside had reduced visibility to almost nil, and – although they were protected by the thick walls of the facility’s buildings, no one wanted to take a chance that the power could be lost while they were working on a task…

Meanwhile, in the loading building, the dispatcher was trying to contact one of the vehicles scheduled to return to Al-Furat. When he failed, he silently hoped there wasn’t going to be anyone on the road in the desert right now…

40 km south of the Al-Furat manufacturing center…

The driver was on the road - heading north. His skill contributing to the defeat of the enemy was that of a very select group of men – even more select then the pilots in the air force. He was a driver of a TEL. His vehicle resembled a caterpillar – inching its way along the paved road surface. He was on his way back to Al-Furat, and would be happy to get there. Already driving for two hours, he had a precise schedule to stick to not be seen by the Americans and their satellites or reconnaissance planes. He wasn’t too happy about the radio not working, but he wasn’t overly concerned, neither. No one transmitted over the airwaves anymore…

He was rounding a sharp curve in the road when the sand hit. He wasn’t going very fast, and the squat, eight-wheeled vehicle was heavy enough to not tip over.

Except for today.

The wind stung the windows and doors of the truck and some of it actually made its way inside the cab of the vehicle. The driver cursed and let go of the wheel for a moment to wipe the sand from his eyes. The wheels started to straighten out just before the road did. The result was they neared the edge of the road. The vehicle’s weight now worked against it; as the edge of the road began to give way the vehicle shifted left and settled into the gully about 2 feet below the level of the road.

Again the driver cursed, and sat for a minute – debating the wisdom of going outside to look at the wheels. He was still debating when his answer was provided for him.

The transporter, now sitting at about a 30 degree angle with its left side two feet below its right side had its undercarriage exposed to the elements. A gust of wind hit the vehicle at just the correct angle, with just the right force, and the right side of the vehicle began to lift off of the ground. As more of the undercarriage was exposed, the greater effect of the wind on the vehicle. The driver didn’t move, and hoped futilely that the wind would abate, but it didn’t. As the effect increased past 45 degrees, the inertia of the moving vehicle took over and the transporter flipped onto its side.

The driver managed to scramble outside to the relative safety of the blowing sand, and hid behind the vehicle, wondering what he was going to do next…

300 miles above Al-Furat…

The American satellite continued its west to east track as it spiraled over the planet in a polar orbit. Not at a geo-stationary orbit of 22,300 miles meant that its cameras would only be over its target a short while. Again, on a command from its microprocessor brain, the camera began to snap pictures. Of particular interest was that the sandstorm which had occluded views of the facility was now about 100km to its south…

Dhahran Airbase, Saudi Arabia…

The analysts pored over the latest batch of pictures with the same intensity as they did when the war started. They, too, noted the passing of the storm, and wondered if it would reach them before the day was out. The weathermen said no, that the storm would die out. One of the analysts noted a small blob on the road south of the facility – or; more correctly, just off of the road south of the facility. Enhancing the image resolved the blob into a squat shape with what looked like eight small legs pointing skyward.

The commanders read the report of the analysts, and they agreed with their conclusion – the vehicle was a launcher, and the building just to its north had to be the missile facility everyone had been searching for. Al-Furat was under suspicion of being that facility, but without proof and it sitting almost in the middle of a town, the coalition forces had been reluctant to attack.

Today, however, they had the proof they needed…

USS America…carrier flight operations…
Mission minus 2 hours…


The plan was straightforward. Eight aircraft would sortie to the facility today. Intelligence promised a full spectrum of defenses from low altitude AAA to high performance enemy aircraft, and everything in-between. The Iraqis had to prevent the destruction of the facility at all costs.

Today, Cherub and Dino would provide air cover, each with five Sparrow and two Sidewinder missiles. Lightning would be flying his first mission of the war, and he carried a jammer pod as well as two Walleye missiles and a HARM. Banzai, Cowboy, and Topo would be the main strike element, each with three Mavericks and a HARM. Wraith and Fox carried one Maverick and two Walleyes each, along with a single Sparrow missile to aid in air defense after they bombed the target…

Mission minus fifteen minutes…en route to Al-Furat…

The planes didn’t have much time to react. Topo and Lightning both reported a radar lock on their planes. Lightning fired a Walleye in the direction of the launcher, and Topo fired a HARM. Neither was affected by the lock, nor did either report any explosions…

Al-Furat…Turn 1

The Hornets all approached from the south at high altitude. A MiG-21 and –23 were in their path, and a MiG-25 was northwest of the site. West of the site was another MiG-21…

On the ground in their path was a pair of ZSU-23 AAA guns and a SA-6 AA missile system. The SA-6 could reach up and hurt one of the pilots. As Wraith targeted the MiG-21 in their path with a Sparrow, Banzai fired the Harm at the SA-6. The missile site exploded, but the MiG-21 survived Wraith’s attack.

The MiG-23 in the south now targeted Fox, and Cherub fired a Sparrow trying to suppress the attack. The MiG pilot held his focus and fired on Fox. Fox evaded the shot successfully.

Dino and Cherub were trying to gain a lock on their targets. Finally Dino had the Mig-21 locked in and fired both of his Sidewinders – destroying the plane. Cherub locked onto the MiG-23 and hit it with both Sidewinders.

The Hornets moved north, out of range of the ZSUs below them. The MiG-21 that was west of the site had moved to a position east of it.

Al-Furat…Turn 2…

Protecting the complex were four missile systems – three of which could reach high altitude and had radar capabilities. The pilots – still at high altitude - now had to either try for the target and hope to hit it, exposing themselves to only one salvo of missile fire, or try for the sites and either destroy them or expose themselves to two or more salvos. In the end, Cowboy locked his HARM on the SA-11 site, but his shot missed. Wraith fired a Maverick at the site and also missed. Banzai, meanwhile targeted buildings in the complex and fired. The three missiles scored one hit…

The Americans were now fired on by the SAMs in the facility area. The SA-11 fired on Fox but Fox evaded successfully, as did Topo, who evaded an SA-2 missile. Cherub barely evaded a shot from the SA-3 system in the facility, and Banzai narrowly evaded a shot from the MiG-25 now in range…

Topo now lined up the target and fired his three Mavericks, scoring a single hit. Fox did better, scoring two hits with his Walleyes but missing with his Maverick. Finally, Lightning fired his Walleye, but missed the target. With most of their missiles gone, the Americans moved over the target and dropped to low altitude…

Al-Furat…Turn 3…

Dropping low allowed the pilots to strafe the target, and allowed only the SA-13 site to target them. Cowboy missed the target with his three Mavericks while he barely evaded a SA-13 missile, and both Wraith and Banzai made gun runs on the target but missed.

For some reason, the MiG-25 did not engage the Americans, while Cherub, Dino, Lightning, and Topo all made gun runs on the target. Dino scored a hit, but the others missed. The misses meant the planes would have to loiter in the target area and try again. Wraith, with a Maverick and a Walleye still at his disposal, moved south and clmbed to high altitude. The other seven Hornets stayed over the target, and were joined by the lone remaining MiG-21…

Al-Furat…Turn 4…

Staying in the target area proved successful as although Fox missed on his strafing run, but Wraith hit the target with a Maverick, and Banzai hit it on a strafing run. The facility was a total loss, and the mission was accomplished; but the Americans still had to extricate themselves.

Banzai barely avoided an SA-13 missile, while the SA-11 barely missed Wraith. Banzai also evaded the shots of the SA-2 and the SA-3. Fox evaded the attack of the MiG-21, and both Fox and Cherub missed hitting the MiG-21 with any of their missiles. Dino, Lightning, and Topo made a final strafing run over the SAM sites once the facility was destroyed, but they all missed. The Hornets them climbed high and flew south, back to their home…
"Shouldn't we be leading the shark back to shore, instead of him leading us out to sea?"
Shadow of the Condor
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RE: War - Screenshots

Post by Shadow of the Condor »

The en route random event didn't bode too well for me...



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"Shouldn't we be leading the shark back to shore, instead of him leading us out to sea?"
Shadow of the Condor
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RE: War - Screenshots

Post by Shadow of the Condor »

The first turn shows the plan - break through the MiGs in the south, fly in high, launch the Mavericks, and dive low into the target area if needed. Nice thing about plans...sometimes they work.



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"Shouldn't we be leading the shark back to shore, instead of him leading us out to sea?"
Shadow of the Condor
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RE: War - Screenshots

Post by Shadow of the Condor »

Turn 2, and the two MiGs in the south are eliminated, and all eight pilots advance north. They do come under fire from the SAMs in the target area, however. In retrospect I should have gone low sooner and taken my chances with the ZSUs...



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Shadow of the Condor
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RE: War - Screenshots

Post by Shadow of the Condor »

Turn 3, and the target is wearing down. Not fast enough, however, as I end up loitering and strafing to finish it off.



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Shadow of the Condor
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RE: War - Screenshots

Post by Shadow of the Condor »

Summary - I forgot to capture turn four [&:] - but the mission was ultimately successful. Stress levels could be worse, and the recon of +4 now means 5 mission cards to pick from for the next two days...



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Shadow of the Condor
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RE: War - Day Eight

Post by Shadow of the Condor »

Day eight, and the high water mark seems to have passed. I chose an Intercept mission when presented with the targets. Not a lot of VPs, but I'm concentrating on finsihing this war with only the one loss...

Again, presented from a different point of view...

Day eight…

The destruction of the missile factory yesterday signaled the beginning of the end of the air war. With Iraq’s ability to create their missiles severely hamstrung, it had no chance to hold back the rising tide of equipment and manpower at its border. All it could really hope to do was make the operation as costly as possible; and now the ability to do even that was almost gone.

The commander of the air group that defended Tallil air base was in the air with his MiG-29. His wingman was also in a MiG-29, and there was a MiG-23 and MiG-21 in formation with them. They were flying east.

He had no great love for his current leaders, but even less so for the foreigners attacking his country. He knew that his options for survival – let alone victory – were limited. His men and planes were pushed beyond their limits, and no end was in sight. His decision was one he didn’t lightly make, but he did so because there really wasn’t any other option.

Iran.

He had been approached discreetly by one of his pilots who had relatives living near Tehran, and the idea was presented. Normally, he would have had the pilot arrested on the spot, but this was not a normal time. The officer was right. The time had come to decide – run or die.

The group was flying east. The MiG-29s were leading on the flanks and the other two were in the center. The commander estimated he had about two hours to fly. He hated himself for running, but he was beginning to hate even more himself for having stayed so long.

But right now, he hated himself the most. He felt rage, frustration, and futility all at once.

The Americans were back.

He stared blankly at the threat receiver light flashing at him from his cockpit panel. He didn’t understand it. How were they always able to anticipate his moves?? How were they always in the air, ready to fight?? They never seemed to have the problems of no maintenance, no fuel, no pilots, no support…

It just wasn’t fair

His conscience chided him that it wasn’t supposed to be fair…

He railed and turned to meet his attackers. To their credit, the rest of his formation did so as well. He had targeted one of the Americans and was about to fire when his receiver screamed in his ear that he was about to be hit. He violently horsed the plane right and the enemy’s missile had missed. His mind then reverted back to his training and experience. Another warning was sounding, but he was calm and slipped his plane back left as his previous target had shot back at him. He was about to fire when the warning sounded yet a third time. He smiled grimly as he maneuvered yet again, thinking maybe the enemy would use up all of their mis..

The AWACS personnel onboard the flying radar confirmed there were now only three targets left…then two…and a bit later only one. It too winked off of the controller’s scope display, and the Hornets were ordered home…
"Shouldn't we be leading the shark back to shore, instead of him leading us out to sea?"
Shadow of the Condor
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RE: War - Day Eight

Post by Shadow of the Condor »

An Intercept mission, and all of the pilots carry 4 AIM-7s and two AIM-9s. Four planes, and this time, I decided to spli them up to surround the enemy, assuring (hopefully) of at least one Sidewinder attack. It works...



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Shadow of the Condor
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RE: War - Day Eight

Post by Shadow of the Condor »

Turn two, and both MiG-29s have been eliminated. The west MiG-29 locked onto Thumper but Fox suppressed the attack with a Sparrow. Dino then fired a Sidewinder at the -29 that missed, and finally Thumper destroyed the MiG-29 with a pair of Sparrows. In the east, Cherub hit the second MiG-29 with a pair of Sparrows as well. In this shot of Turn 2, Fox has already shot down the MiG-21 with a pair of Sparrows...



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Shadow of the Condor
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RE: War - Day Eight

Post by Shadow of the Condor »

Thumper killed the MiG-23 with his last two Sparrows. The Hornets never moved from their initial deployments, making the SA-3 a non-factor. After turn two, there were no targets left in range. The Summary screen...



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Shadow of the Condor
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RE: War - The Last Mission

Post by Shadow of the Condor »

The pilots had one last mission in theater before their carrier redeployed back to the States. The mission today was the one that would signal the end of the Hornet's role. Today, four Hornet pilots would fly close air support as the ground war began...

Thumper, Banzai, Griffin and Fox would fly the last mission, with Fox providing air cover and the other three pilots carrying four Maverick missiles each. Nothing hindered their approach to the front lines, and Thumper was in radio contact with a close air support liason officer embedded with one of the lead armor units. He directed the planes and identified targets. In the end, twelve Iraqi tanks were smoking ruins and a gash was torn in the defensive line for the coalition forces to drive through. The fall of Iraq was underway...

After landing, the pilots didn't cheer or celebrate. Most phoned loved ones and let them know they were coming home. Some sat quietly and contemplated the events of the past two weeks. None would ever be the same, and all silently hoped they would not have to go into combat again.

Epilogue...

The camera lights were very bright, but his eyes adjusted as the briefing began. From a hospital bed in West Germany, Hammer answered questions about his captivity and his release on the end of the war. He was happy to be home, and as he talked, a picture of his family was inset on the screen. When asked if he had anything to say to his former captors he thought for a moment and looked into the camera.

"You lose".
"Shouldn't we be leading the shark back to shore, instead of him leading us out to sea?"
Shadow of the Condor
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RE: War - Thank you!

Post by Shadow of the Condor »

This was great fun! I hoped the story wasn't too bad, and I want to say again to the developers, well done! [&o] 19 points at the end. I think I played conservatively with regard to mission selection, and the thought in the back of my mind was to always look ahead to resources and pilots that would be available for the next mission. I am looking forward to other campaigns. Here's the final summary screen:



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Erik Rutins
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RE: War - Thank you!

Post by Erik Rutins »

Great story, great AAR - thanks Condor, it was a pleasure reading through the report of your Iraq campaign.
Erik Rutins
CEO, Matrix Games LLC


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Dan Verssen
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RE: War - Thank you!

Post by Dan Verssen »

Very exciting! A great mix of game and story.
-Dan Verssen
Dan Verssen Games (DVG)
www.dvg.com
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