Between Ascension and San Carlos: The Carrier Duel, Revisited

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HalfLifeExpert
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Between Ascension and San Carlos: The Carrier Duel, Revisited

Post by HalfLifeExpert »

I gave an AAR of this scenario quite a while ago, but today I decided to give it another go.

But first, a fictional newspaper report i have crafted that I believe would have greeted people on the day after the battle ends.
REPORT FROM SOUTH ATLANTIC:

ROYAL NAVY TRIUMPHANT: UK Naval Forces destroy Argentinian Fleet south of Brazil!


Sunday, April 25 1982.

The Naval forces of the United Kingdom sent to the South Atlantic in response to Argentina's invasion of the Falkland Islands 23 days ago have engaged in battle with the naval forces of Argentina south of Brazil. Reports from both the Royal Navy and attached correspondents say that in a two day engagement, the British forces, led by the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible, have sunk nine Argentinian warships, including the aircraft carrier Vientecinco de Mayo (25th of May) and the cruiser General Belgrano, along with several destroyers and other warship types. Buenos Aires has refused to comment on the outcome of the battle or their losses, but have confirmed that such a battle did indeed take place.

The Royal Navy admits to having lost one Sea Harrier fighter plane, as well as three helicopters. The pilot of the Sea Harrier, as well as the crew from one of the helicopters, have been rescued, with searches continuing for the crews of the other two helicopters lost. Additionally, the Royal Navy also has stated that they have rescued a number of survivors from the Argentinian warships, who are being transferred to Ascension Island, the nearest British controlled territory, for treatment and internment for the duration of the conflict.

If the reports of Argentinian losses, and relative few British losses, are correct, than this represents a decisive victory for the United Kingdom. Such losses would be irreplaceable for Argentina, and give Buenos Aires not much in the way of preventing the British from landing troops to retake the Falkland Islands.

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher issued a statement upon learning of the victory, in which she offered the Argentinian government a peace deal in which the UK offers safe passage home, under the watch of the Royal Navy, for all Argentinian forces on and near the Falkland Islands in exchange for return of the islands to British control. If refused, she stated that British forces would still be obliged to take the islands back by force, noting that such forces needed for this were well on the way.

As of this printing, no response has yet been given by the government in Buenos Aires, though some anonymous sources suggest that the military junta led by General Leopoldo Galtieri may accept Thatcher's terms, as Argentinian Admiral Jorge Anaya reportedly announced to them that he could no longer provide any real protection or support to the troops, not even be able to safely evacuate them from the islands, referred to as Islas Malvinas by the South American country.


Unlike my last time playing this scenario, I suffered no naval losses, and only a few aircraft.

I started with a similar strategy of using my Harriers to blast the Argentinian S-2 Tracker aircraft, as well as diverting the Tankers and their escorts on a wider path to the southeast, moving on a wider route away to hopefully stay out of range of Argentinian forces. I also sent HMS Splendid on a more south westerly course, hoping to find and intercept the Belgrano group.

I was able to blast all four S-2s before the battle began. Also, the HMS Splendid was able to find the Belgrano group and attack. Her first torpedo attack sank one of the escorting destroyers, which also coincided with an attack by a Lynx helicopter armed with Sea Skuas. Three of those four missiles hit the Belgrano, followed shortly by a torpedo from Splendid, causing the cruiser to sink. The other destroyer in the group slipped away.

Simultaneously, I had found the other two Argentinian groups. And once the Veinetecinco de Mayo was in range, I coordinated with my search helicopter to try a one off first strike against the Vientecinco de Mayo during the night, hoping to catch them off guard. The two Harriers, each armed with 3 1000lb bombs, reach their target and score several hits. Though the carrier is not sunk. I send another Lynx Armed with Sea Skuas to try a follow up attack. All four missiles strike the carrier. The flattop would later succumb to her damage and sink.

After sinking the Belgrano, HMS Splendid happens upon Argentina's Type 209 submarine, and sinks it without much difficulty.

Throughout the next day, I would launch several Harrier strikes against the remaining Argentinian warships. While returning to Invincible after an attack on two Drummond class corvettes, one of the Harriers was shot down by a Sea Dart missile from one of the enemy Type 42 DDGs.

Ultimately all remaining Argentinian ships would be sunk by my aircraft (Harriers with bombs, Lynxes with Sea Skuas) as well as a couple that were sunk by the Tankers detached escorts with Exocets. I would lose two Lynxs and one Sea King to Sea Dart missiles. HMS Splendid also bagged one of the Dummond class corvettes.

Also HMS Splendid ran out of torpedoes trying to sink the other two Drummonds before my airstrikes, but escaped undamaged despite a running battle with them where several torpedoes were fired at Splendid.

The Tankers made it to the safe zone undamaged and with well over 20 hours to spare.

For all intents and purposes, Argentina practically had no navy left after this battle.

I ignore the score because there clearly is a bug as it still said 'Disaster: 0'

Here are the losses and expenditures:

SIDE: UK
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------
2x Lynx HAS.2
1x Sea Harrier FRS.1
1x Sea King HAS.5


EXPENDITURES:
------------------
2x 30mm ADEN Mk4 x 2 Burst [50 rnds]
10x AIM-9L Sidewinder
1x Generic Chaff Salvo [5x Cartridges]
28x Mk13 1000lb GPB
9x Mk24 Tigerfish Mod 1
11x Mk8 Straight Runner
6x MM.38 Exocet Blk I
1x Sea Dart Mod 0
20x Sea Skua



SIDE: Argentine
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------
9x A-4Q Skyhawk [A-4B]
1x C 4 General Belgrano [Brooklyn Class]
2x D 1 Hercules [Type 42]
2x D 25 Segui [Sumner Class]
1x D 27 Comodoro Py [Gearing FRAM II]
3x P 31 Drummond [A 69]
1x S 31 Salta [Type 209-1100]
4x S-2E Tracker
2x SA.319B Alouette III
6x SH-3D Sea King
1x V2 Veinticinco de Mayo [Colossus]


EXPENDITURES:
------------------
6x 100mm/55 Model 1968 PFHE
11x 114mm/55 Mk8 HE(MP) HE
2x 20mm/70 Oerlikon Mk7 Burst [20 rnds]
26x 40mm/56 Mk1 Twin Bofors DP Burst [4 rnds]
1x 40mm/70 Twin Breda Compact Burst [32 rnds]
3x A.244
8x Corvus Chaff [Distraction]
8x Corvus Chaff [Seduction]
2x Generic Acoustic Decoy
4x Sea Cat Mod 1
4x Sea Dart Mod 0
3x Syllex Chaff



giantsquid
Posts: 274
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2014 7:01 pm
Location: Milan, Italy

RE: Between Ascension and San Carlos: The Carrier Duel, Revisited

Post by giantsquid »

Thanks for your report and the narrative/newspaper. I really appreciated it. Unfortunately it's difficult to simulate a prudent behaviour with the S-2. They should just act as scout for the Skyhawks
Sorry for the 0 points. Probably I made some mess with the scoring. I was my second scenario...

Francesco
Bert Blitzkrieg
Posts: 55
Joined: Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:40 am

RE: Between Ascension and San Carlos: The Carrier Duel, Revisited

Post by Bert Blitzkrieg »

And now switch sides and play the Argentinian side!
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