Biddle's Team, 1981 -- new beta for testing

[Mgellis]

A new beta...this scenario assumes that Egypt collapsed into civil war in 1981 after Sadat was killed. The Soviets are backing one faction and have a SAG headed toward Egypt...intentions are unclear. The U.S. is supporting another faction and has a group of ships in the area that can form up as a SAG under the command of the cruiser Biddle. Are the two superpowers on a collision course?

As always, please let me know what you think. Please feel free to look at everything including gameplay, how the sides and forces are set up, pacing, the basic concept of the scenario, how the Events work, how the Orders and messages look, if there are any other issues that have to be addressed, etc. Thanks!

Version 3 uploaded 8:45 PM EST 9/23/15

[AlexGGGG]

1. Is it intended that Hatzor does not have compatible missiles for Tomcats? Kind of "Bring Your Own Missile" setup?

2. I scored Triumph (680) despite losing two merchants I was supposed to protect, and one of my own frigates. However I cleaned up all enemy I was aware of with 12 hours to go.

3. I used my sub to deal with Russian SAG, and Russians did not seem to be overly aggressive at ASW. Maybe would you please check the doctrine on them? Because I was orbiting Tomcats literally over the SAG, and I was driving a sub at flank speed under the SAG, and they never ever fired at me, neither air nor water. And there were no ASW helos (do Russians have them?). All in all, the SAG seemed too easy.

SIDE: United States
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LOSSES:
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1x DD 931 Forrest Sherman [ASROC] <--- I lost this to a submarine.


SIDE: Egyptian Rebels
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LOSSES: (mostly to my SAMs)
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8x MiG-21MF Fishbed J
1x S 849 Romeo
8x Su-20 Fitter C


SIDE: Soviet Union
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LOSSES:
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1x BPK Kashin [Pr.61]
5x Commercial Container Vessel - Feeder [1,600 TEU, 20,000t DWT]
2x EM Skoryy Mod [Pr.31 Besshumny]
1x MT Natya I [Pr.266M]
2x PL-641 Foxtrot
1x RKR Kynda [Pr.58]
1x SKR Krivak II [Pr.1135M Burevestnik-M]
1x SSV Moma [Pr.861]


SIDE: Neutrals
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LOSSES:
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1x Tu-134A Crusty <---- not me

SIDE: Egypt
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LOSSES:
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2x Commercial Tanker - Medium Range [40,000t DWT] <-- these I was supposed to protect
6x MiG-23MS Flogger E <--- don't know

[Mgellis]

Okay, I'll start tweaking it and see if I can make it more challenging.

As for the Tomcats, I didn't think Israel would have Phoenix missiles on hand, so I figure folks will just re-load with Sparrows. (Technically, I think Israel would not normally have the right kind of Sparrows, but I made sure they had some on hand.) I can make a note of that in the briefing.

[Mgellis]

Okay, version 2 is up. I think the Soviets will be a little more aggressive now. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

[wild_Willie2]

Ok, I just gave version 2 of your a scenario a go and the ROE are not very clear to me. I am to prevent the Soviets from attacking the Egyptian rebels but am only to fire in case of self defense or if the Soviets initiate hostilities, initiate hostilities against who?

Am I allowed to attack the Soviets if they attack the Israelis or the rebel ships without being attacked myself? I think you should give clearer orders as no US captain would start a war with the Soviets with such vague ROE.

I also noted that the Soviet ASW efforts are still non existing and my sub sank all mayor Soviets combatants without being spotted so the Soviets never even opened fire against my ships, only when I started shelling the freighters did they go active.

The Soviets subs are a real killer though.

Overall a nice scenario with some minor flaws that can easily be fixed.

W.

[AlexGGGG]

Mark,

Haztor is missing AIM-9L, L-version Sidewinder, not Sparrows.

I was first thinking Sparrows are not compatible, but it is Sidewinders.

[Mgellis]

ORIGINAL: AlexGGGG

Mark,

Haztor is missing AIM-9L, L-version Sidewinder, not Sparrows.

I was first thinking Sparrows are not compatible, but it is Sidewinders.

Hmmm...I could have sworn I had added those to the magazine. I'll take care of that and upload a new version. Also, here are the revised orders...is this better?




2. MISSION. PATROL THE RECTANGULAR AREA BOUNDED BY 33°N, 31°N, 29°E, AND 32°E. ASSIST EGYPT AGAINST REBEL FORCES. PREVENT SOVIET AND EGYPTIAN REBEL FORCES FROM HARASSING OR ATTACKING FRIENDLY FORCES OR NEUTRAL SHIPPING.

3. EXECUTION: WEAPONS TIGHT. YOU ARE AUTHORIZED TO INITIATE HOSTILITIES, BUT ONLY AGAINST TARGETS IDENTIFIED AS HOSTILE.

EGYPTIAN REBELS MAY BE TREATED AS HOSTILE.

SOVIET FORCES ARE CURRENTLY CONSIDERED UNFRIENDLY BUT NOT HOSTILE. DO NOT INITIATE HOSTILITIES WITH SOVIET FORCES. IF SOVIET FORCES INITIATE HOSTILITIES AGAINST AMERICAN, EGYPTIAN, OR ISRAELI FORCES, OR AGAINST NEUTRAL SHIPPING, HOWEVER, YOU MAY TREAT THEM AS HOSTILE.

DETROIT (aoe 4) HAS BEEN ATTACHED TO YOUR COMMAND BECAUSE YOU ARE THE CLOSEST MAJOR WARSHIP TO HER CURRENT LOCATION. PROTECTING HER SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A HIGH PRIORITY. RECOMMEND ONE DESTROYER OR FRIGATE BE ASSIGNED AS ESCORT.

B. GROUPINGS AND TASKS: UC COMD DISCRETION.

[Mgellis]

Just uploaded version 3. Please let me know what you think. Thanks.

[AlexGGGG]

I'd say this one is perfect, though I only got Major Victory on this run

[AlexGGGG]

Err, just one more little thing, is it possible to change initial ROE/Doctrine on Tomcats to have Weapons TIGHT, not HOLD?

[wild_Willie2]

I just ran version 3 and the Sowjets actually detected a single torpedo before they all got sunk by the rest

Can't do much more with their hardware so I expect that will have to do.

Good job.

[Mgellis]

ORIGINAL: AlexGGGG

Err, just one more little thing, is it possible to change initial ROE/Doctrine on Tomcats to have Weapons TIGHT, not HOLD?

Will do. Thanks for catching that one.

[Patmanaut]

I´ve played it yesterday, enjoyable, and full of surprises to challenge the player, as is usual with Mark´s scenarios.
One comment; The Tomcat reinforcement that showed up in the game, I´ve sent a 2 plane detachment over the Biddle and the remaining 2 over the Soviet TF in an attempt to provoke them.
The Soviets kept cool and didn´t fire on my F-14s. Later on I assigned Hatzor as their new homebase.
Since they didn´t fire any of their Phoenix missiles, I expected to see them aboard once refueled. Well, somehow they took off with a plain Sparrow and winder configuration. Some sneaky Israeli managed to loot all 8 Aim-54s...

EDIT!! I´ve seen they doesn´t have any Phoenix AAMs on this scenario. I´m sorry. (Maybe a frustrated expectative.)

Saludos

[Mgellis]

Yes, you got it. The F-14s were loaded with Sparrows and Sidewinders. I didn't know if the Israelis were likely to have extra Phoenix missiles lying around, so I figured I better use the Sparrow-Sidewinder loadout. Actually, it looks like the Israelis used a different flavor of Sparrow at the time (an E instead of an F), but I figured they were more likely to have a few American F-brand Sparrows on hand so I hope that's an acceptable level of "poetic license."

ORIGINAL: Patmanaut

I´ve played it yesterday, enjoyable, and full of surprises to challenge the player, as is usual with Mark´s scenarios.
One comment; The Tomcat reinforcement that showed up in the game, I´ve sent a 2 plane detachment over the Biddle and the remaining 2 over the Soviet TF in an attempt to provoke them.
The Soviets kept cool and didn´t fire on my F-14s. Later on I assigned Hatzor as their new homebase.
Since they didn´t fire any of their Phoenix missiles, I expected to see them aboard once refueled. Well, somehow they took off with a plain Sparrow and winder configuration. Some sneaky Israeli managed to loot all 8 Aim-54s...

EDIT!! I´ve seen they doesn´t have any Phoenix AAMs on this scenario. I´m sorry. (Maybe a frustrated expectative.)

Saludos

[Mgellis]

Any more comments or suggestions? Or is this one ready for the Community Scenario Pack? Thanks.