Chains of War 6 - The One-Two Punch 4/7/18

[fitzpatv]

Never say never!. Ironically, as soon as I stopped posting AARs on this series, I started to do better at it. Scenarios 6-8 have been played. AARs on Scenarios 9-12 will follow, but no promises on the timing.

As the USA struggles to respond to the Chinese onslaught, the SSNs Key West and North Carolina sortie from Apra Harbor on Guam. They need to reach an exit box about 60nm away inside 8 hours, which would be simple enough had the Chinese not mined the harbour exit and posted a posse of subs outside.

In addition to the SSNs, you have some unusual units to assist you – six CUSVs (Unmanned Surface Vessels) adapted for mine-clearing and ASW duties. Half are outfitted for each task and each trio consists of a ‘Hunter’, with suitable sonar and carrying a Knifefish UUV (Unmanned Underwater Vehicle) and two ‘Killers’. Not sure exactly what the ‘Mine Killers’ do other than setting mines off, as they appear to have no minesweeping systems, but the ‘ASW Killers have short-ranged, slow torpedoes. You are also given a pair of MH-60 Knighthawk mine-clearing choppers.

4/7/18 11:00L: It made sense to move the Mine Hunter out of the harbour first (the exit is narrow but there are no navigation issues). Meanwhile, I set-up a Minesweeping Mission and assigned one of the choppers. The ocean floor drops off sharply just outside Apra and it didn’t seem feasible that there would be mines beyond a couple of miles out, so I kept the area tight. The plan was to sweep a narrow channel, then move the other USVs out, followed by the SSNs.
We soon picked-up several underwater contacts, including an obvious Kilo (the rest being biological). I was a little concerned that the SSNs might be hit with anti-surface missiles before they had enough depth to dive, but this didn’t happen. Just as well, as there was no defence beyond reaching diving depth fast.

The chopper began detecting and detonating MDM-5 mines, helped by the CUSV’s sonar. The latter’s reward was to take some modest blast damage and she lost her Knifefish, which I’d launched to see what it could do (not much, it seems). Happily, this cost no points – the USVs are expendable. The second blast experienced also knocked-out the Hunter’s sonar, so she withdrew.

12:00L: With 9 mines disposed of, the ASW Hunter and one Killer headed out, followed by the North Carolina. The sub soon pinpointed and then sank the lurking Kilo for 50VP – it was hopelessly outranged. She and Key West then got clear of Guam without encountering any mines.

13:00L: The two SSNs now aimed to leapfrog each other, with one moving at Creep and the other at Full, while maintaining an interval of some 10nm. Two of the ASW CUSVs went ahead as escorts.

14:00L: Just past a prominent submarine volcano (too deep for any Chinese sub to hide behind), two Shang SSNs showed-up and began pumping torpedoes at kinematic range to make-up for the huge US range advantage (21nm to 8). It didn’t do them much good and both were sunk in short order for another 50VP each.

A third Shang began firing from further away and proved harder to pin down. Her profligate expenditure of torpedoes had both American SSNs stepping lively to get out of the way. Key West and North Carolina then worked round to come at the Shang from different directions. In the interim, both CUSVs were torpedoed and sunk, but it mattered little as, once North Carolina managed a clear shot, the Chinese sub’s fate was sealed.

With the score reaching 200, the game ended in a Minor Victory, with no need to reach the exit zone. I assume that this trigger means that it is not possible to get a Major Victory or Triumph.

Needed some thinking about and the duel with the Shangs was stimulating but, overall, easier than I’d imagined. Have to say I liked the new bathymetric layer that came with Tiny – much clearer than the old one and the graphics looked good.

[BDukes]

Thank you!

Mike