Community Scenario Pack #45: 21 new, 24 updated, 550 total!

November 1, 2021 · Posted in Command · Comment 

Hot on the heels of Red Tide and the accompanying v1.04 update, it’s now the turn of another Command staple, the Community Scenario Pack (CSP). Brandon Johnson (Kushan) has updated the pack to version #45, with updates & refreshes to 24 existing scenarios, as well as 21 brand-new creations. Let’s take a look:


Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 2024: The 572 islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands were taking on increasing strategic importance in the early portion of the Twenty-first Century. The northernmost part of the archipelago is a mere 22 nautical miles away from (a PRC friendly) Myanmar, and Indira Point, the southernmost point in the islands, is only 90 nautical miles from Indonesia. These islands dominate the Bay of Bengal and the Six Degree and Ten Degree channels through which more than 60,000 commercial vessels traverse each year!

As commander of the PLA(N) forces you are tasked with taking Great Nicobar Island by amphibious operation. Your carriers are to support the amphibious operations and if necessary, engage Indian naval forces. You will have support from H-6K “God of War” Badgers and AEW aircraft, deployed to southern China and allowed to overfly Myanmar.

Baltic Fury 3 – Warsaw Uprising, 2024: Over the past five days the air and sea fight in the central and western Baltic has been withering. Casualties have been high with huge stocks of munitions being expended. Since Bornholm was captured an expanding Soviet presence on that island has forced you to limit your activities to being largely defensive. That is about to change.

Caribbean Fury 5 – Caribbean Cruise, 1994: Six weeks into the war, this is the fifth and final scenario of a short campaign. The situation in the Caribbean has fallen into something of a routine. Beyond an occasional Soviet submarine, the area has been quiet for over a month.

Of course, there is always one fly in the ointment, and here is it Venezuela. Rhetoric and accusations over the strike at Manodez Air Base, as well as strong evidence that Soviet submarines are replenishing at Puerto La Cruz have fueled the tensions but so far, restraint has been shown by both sides.

Growing intelligence indicators, however, predict that this situation is about to change.

CSG-21 in the Eastern Mediterranean, 2021: CSG-21 approaches the Syrian coast, where its aircraft are expected to engage in the first combat sorties from a UK aircraft carrier in a generation.

Dutch Convoy in the North Atlantic, 1963: This scenario assumes that hostilities between the Soviet Union and NATO broke out during the late Spring of 1963.

You are in command of a Dutch convoy currently enroute to the United States to pick up replenishments for NATO forces.  You mission is quite simple–get as many of your ships to Boston as possible.  Sink any Soviet ships or submarines that get in your way.

Kanton Island – Kiribati, 2024: In 2022 the People’s Republic of China (PRC) began an extension of the Kanton Island Airport in the Republic of Kiribati. Over the next two and a half years the 20 remaining islanders were relocated from the island and the island was transformed into a major PLA(N) forward operating base.

In response to the PRC construction, the USN reactivated the airfield on Johnson Island but without any significant facilities and only a skeleton staff. Aircraft can stage and refuel at the island but no reloads are available there.

Nicaragua Missile Crisis, 2024: Daniel Ortega the, once and future, dictator of Nicaragua won the 2021 election handily and quickly assumed full power dissolving the last vestiges of democracy in the country. Ortega rapidly strengthened his ties with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), accepting arms/training and signing agreements to host People’s Liberation Army (PLA) air bases and port facilities.

In late September 2024 an unusual convoy departed the PRC with two (2) Ro-Ro vessels with unusually large ramps headed for Nicaragua. When they arrived, they disgorged between 12 to 24 Transport Erector Launches (TELs) with, what analysists believed were, nuclear capable missiles on them. By late October these TELs were dispersed in central Nicaragua with the United States demanding their removal. The clock had been turned back about 50 years and the United States faced yet another “Missile Crisis!”

Northern Fury 41 – Tour de Force, 1994: The global war between East and West has been raging for a month, NATO is on the offensive, but the Warsaw Pact is far from defeated and still has the ability to counterattack.

You are in command of Strike Fleet North (STRIKFLTNOR) and control all naval and air assets north of the GIUK gap and above the Arctic Circle in Norway. Your boss, Admiral Falkner commanding Strike Fleet Atlantic (STRIKFLTLANT) from shore at Faslane Scotland has given you his command ship (USS Mount Whitney) and most of the offensive power of NATOs Atlantic Fleet.

Northern Fury 45 – A Rock on the Beach, 1994: Six weeks into World War Three and the Warsaw Pact has been halted on all fronts, now NATO is striking back. Overnight 31 March/1 April STRIKEFLTLANT conducted amphibious and airborne operations to sever the Soviet land and sea line of communications (LOC) in Norway. As anticipated the Soviets reacted strongly and you, as commander of the 6th Marines Regimental Landing Team (RLT), acting as the floating reserve have been committed to stabilize a difficult situation.

Your task in this scenario will be to seize and hold the area north of Narvik, in preparation for another brigade of the 82nd Airborne to jump in and seize the town itself.

Operation El Dorado Canyon, 1996: Kushans masterpiece recreation of the 1986 US strikes on Libya but set 10 years later!

Operation Rimon 20, 1970: One of the forgotten engagements of the Cold War, this engagement really happened.

Very soon after the Six Say War, a stung, Nasser launched the “War of Attrition” with the idea of wearing down Israeli forces in the Sinai. After Israel launched Operation Priha (Blossom) in January 1970 striking the Egyptian heartland Nasser had had enough and traveled to Moscow to solicit more support.

Knowing the Soviets were flying over Egypt the Israelis backed off fearing a confrontation with the superpower, but as things progressed, they had a change of heart and decided to actively engage the Soviets and give them a blackeye. The Israelis developed a plan to draw the Soviets into and ambush and developed a crack squad of pilots to go up against a group of average Soviet fliers.

After a series of morning strikes to lull the Egyptians and Soviets into thinking it was just another day the stage was set for the afternoon ambush. The results were predictable…

Operation Urgent Fury, 1983: In mid-October 1983 the island of Grenada was in chaos with at least 19 soldiers and civilians killed in a confrontation on 19 October. The dead included the deposed Prime Minister, Maurice Bishop, his partner, Jacqueline Creft, two cabinet ministers and two union leaders. General Hudson Austin, of the People’s Revolutionary Army (PRA) of Grenada, seized power and declared a four-day ‘shoot on sight” curfew across the island.

Long a bone of contention for the Reagan Administration was the expansion of the Point Salines International Airport in the southern portion of the island.  Despite the fact that the project was proposed and funded with the help of Britain, Canada, Cuba, Libya, Algeria, and other nations, the Administration pointed to the construction by Cuban nationals as a clear sign of nefarious intentions. With the shoot on sight curfew order Hudson gave the United States it’s rational for invasion, the rescue of some 600 medical students on the island…

Pacific Fury 1 – Bolt from the Blue, 1994: Your carrier and its battle group are the US Navy’s ‘Forward Deployed’ force based in Yokosuka Japan as part of the US 7th Fleet. In a normal year, your force would spend the winter months in port refitting, but this is not a normal year. Instead, the battle group deployed to the Philippines in early January for a multi-carrier exercise with USS Constellation and USS Abraham Lincoln, then a Freedom of Navigation run through the Strait of Taiwan, and finally an amphibious exercise with the South Koreans.

Now, plans to head home were canceled last night and we’ve been ordered to deploy to the south coast of Hokkaido for a deterrence operation. Should be a quiet week. What could possibly go wrong?

Pacific Fury 2 – Bombeska on Hokkaido, 1994: You have been given the Job of neutralizing Japanese and American forces on the island of Hokkaido to ensure safe passage of naval and air forces into the Pacific. While your commander is dealing with Moscow you have been given this critical but secondary task. In London they called it ‘The Blitz’ but in Russia we will call it the ‘Bombeska’.

It won’t be easy, especially when many of your assigned forces have separate chains of command and/or have different objectives.

Pacific Fury 3 – Caught Flat Footed, 1994: Due to the increased tensions with the Soviets the Pacific Fleet’s exercise schedule has been ramped up, and your CVBG has been participating in a series of exercise over the past six weeks.

About 30 minutes ago you received a FLASH message from 3rd Fleet HQ in San Diego. You are now tasked to collect your battlegroup together and take Connie and her chicks north to reinforce the Independence around Japan. Unfortunately, a series of seemingly disconnected events have created a situation which you are not at all comfortable with.

Pacific Fury 4 – I Come from a Land Down Under, 1994: You are Commander of the newly formed Combined Task Force 165 (CTF-165). Your TF consists of mostly Australian and New Zealand assets but there are also American, Pilipino, Bruneian and British forces assigned to you. Your primary task is the reinforcement of Brunei, a small British aligned Sultanate rich in oil and natural gas on the Northwest coast of Borneo.

The main opposition is from the Soviet base at Cam Ranh Bay Vietnam but based on events of the past few days you should be prepared for anything.

Pacific Fury 5 – Shemya Shakedown, 1994: You are Commander of the 143rd Red Banner Missile Aviation Division based at Mongokhoto Airbase, part of the Soviet Pacific Fleet. In response to an American attack on the Crimea a couple days ago you have been tasked to attack an American base in the Near Islands, part of what the US calls the Aleutian Islands Chain.

Of course, there are a few complications; the Americans have deployed a squadron of F-15s there as part of their NORAD defense, you have the unreliable support of a PVO squadron of MiG-31s, and you must be very careful not to damage their COBRA DANE radar or they will think we are starting a nuclear war.

Saving the Third Temple, 1973: Syrian armored forces pushed into the Jordan river valley just north of the sea of galilee late today. The IDF has only a thin screen of troops on the western escarpment and is stretched to the breaking point. Without us air support they may be forced to resort to nuclear weapons to eliminate the Syrian salient. NCA has authorized one day of air strikes within Israel and the Golan to support the IDF.

Shandong Lashes Out, 2021: The confrontation with VPN vessels in the Spratlys has resulted in the attacking vessel and other VPN vessels taking refuge in Cam Ranh Bay. The Central Military Committee has determined to send a message to all nations that interference with PRC activities within the Nine-Dash Line will not be tolerated. The 24th Air Regiment and Shandong Carrier Strike Group (CSG) will launch a series of airstrikes on Cam Ranh Bay over a 36-hour period. The intention of degrading VPN capabilities by destroying as many faculties and vessels in the naval base as possible.

The Battle of Bejaia, 1999: The horrific civil war in Algeria has drawn the attention of the European Union, which seeks to support Algeria’s elected government and bring the bloodshed to an end. Recent intelligence has raised concerns that the rebels will attempt to seize control of the port city of Bejaia or commit massacres in some of the surrounding towns.

You are the commander of an E.U. task force.  Your instructions will be provided as the scenario unfolds.

Vengeance, 2021: Commander, as you know an Iranian proxy group recently murdered the crew of an Israeli merchant vessel in cold blood. The Cabinet has decided a reprisal for this cowardly act is necessary. An Iranian task group consisting of two frigates and an oiler are in Port Said, Egypt and will depart for Latakia, Syria on, or about, the morning of 4 Jun 2022. This task group is being accompanied by the Russian Frigate Admiral Essen.

Your mission is to sink, at least, one of the Iranian Naval Vessels, preferably a surface combatant, with torpedoes. You may not use Harpoon missiles for this mission. You will have limited intelligence in order to maintain plausible deniability, should something go wrong. Mossad will place assets to report on the Iranian progress on civilian and merchant vessels and you will have data from Satellites and Over the Horizon Radars. IAF recon assets, including drones, will stand down during the Iranian transit.


The new community scenario pack is, as always, available for download at the Command Team site: http://command.matrixgames.com/?page_id=1876 , and also on the Steam workshop.

The CSP now proudly counts 550 scenarios in its stable!

The scenarios of Red Tide

October 7, 2021 · Posted in Command · Comment 

The release of the new “Red Tide” campaign pack and the accompanying v1.04 upgrade for CMO is getting closer, in two weeks from now. Let us take a look through the scenarios in this hypothetical 1985 worldwide conflict, a much-anticipated release by the creator of “Northern Inferno”.


The Bedford Incident

USS Bedford, a US 2nd Fleet destroyer is on patrol near the Svalbard Islands together with HNoMS Narvik, and they have been repeatedly overflown by Soviet aircraft, including low-level passes at main deck level.

Bedford has also had fleeting contacts on sonar, which is believed to be an unknown submarine in territorial waters.

Even though hostilities have not broken out, the Bedford’s captain is hell bent on bringing it to the surface – or worse…


Kobayashi Maru

Soviet doctrine called for an all-out attack on any American Carrier Battle Group (CVBG) within reach in the first minutes of a conflict. Not only were CVBGs powerful naval forces, but strategic nuclear strike platforms as well.

To accomplish this goal, American Carriers were relentlessly followed from the moment they left port, either with satellites, destroyers or intelligence ships (AGIs) which would follow the carrier battle group wherever it went, always reporting the CVBG’s position.

If peace suddenly changed to war, the units shadowing the CVBG would give the other attacking forces the position of the carrier, and if possible also attack it themselves.

With this in mind, an agreement was formulated called the “Incidents at Sea Agreement” between the USA and the Soviet Union: Hostile acts include not only firing weapons, but also locking a fire-control radar onto another vessel.

With such an expansive definition of a “hostile act”, what can possibly go wrong?


Unwanted Visitors

Since the sinking of the Golf-class SSB, NATO and the Soviet Union are now at war. Frantic talks between both sides have led to nothing with blame been levelled at each other; inside sources in Geneva have said the latest round of peace talks “are not going well.”

A state of war now exists between Soviet Union and NATO. SACLANT has deployed NATO’s Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) from the South-Western approaches to a position from which it can both deter and destroy any Soviet naval movements in the GIUK Gap. Standing-alert air assets in Iceland and Norway have also been made available.

A few days ago, the Northern Fleet sortied several surface units into the GIUK Gap area to hunt down any NATO forces. NATO has deployed its own alert units to counter this force, but NATO assets are currently limited until reinforcements can be mobilized and arrive in-theater.

Can NATO’s ragtag alert force successfully engage the powerful Soviet fleet?


Fire Cracker

Brunei has complained to the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) on the infringement of its Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ) by the Soviet Union and Vietnam; these countries have also been harassing local shipping outside the EEZ as well.

Yesterday the Waspada and Seteria, two of Brunei’s fast attack craft, were sunk with the loss of all hands whilst patrolling their EEZ. Their attackers are unknown, but it is believed Vietnamese units were involved.

Brunei has requested military assistance from the FPDA. Malaysia and Singapore have deployed units to the area to assist, with the United Kingdom flying in a detachment of Buccaneer strikers from Cyprus. The Australia and New Zealand government has diverted a Bersama Lima deployment (TU 544.01.02 and TU 544.01.03) from Singapore to the South China Sea in Response. Task group 544.01.01 is already on station in the Brunei EEZ. Additional UK and Australian aircraft are deployed on Brunei Int. airport.

Coming together, the FPDA responders are determined to repulse any intruder – by any means.


Trident Spear

The war is two weeks old now, and over the past few days Norway’s northern air defence system has been devastated by bomber and Spetnaz attacks. Just last week, forces from UK, Australia and New Zealand were in a major engagement in the South China Sea against Soviet and Vietnamese Forces; all sides were bloodied in that engagement.

In the North Atlantic, STANAVFORLANT has been decimated by a sneak Backfire strike, the survivors withdrawing to Faslane for repairs and replenishment. Soviet submarines which repositioned prior to the commencement of hostilities are now wreaking havoc in the Greenland – Iceland – United Kingdom (GIUK) Gap. NATO ASW forces are responding in force.

The British carrier HMS Illustrious and her battle group, along with Dutch and Canadian ships and submarines are now in position to stem the tide of Soviet submarines flooding into the North Atlantic to join their counterparts who have previously taken up station.

Iceland has been reinforced by Canadian Aurora MPAs and elderly F-101 Voodoos from reserve units, and the UK is continuing to fly Nimrods out of RAF Lossiemouth. The SOSUS network is online and operational and provides early warning detection and tracking of Soviet submarines – and lots of them.

Can Lusty and her company seal the gap?


Gauntlet

Over the last week, Soviet special forces have destroyed the SOSUS buildings and infrastructure at Gibraltar, rendering the network useless in the Gibraltar Strait area.

To plug the gap, NATO has deployed two “CATAS” (towed array) ships in the area, HMS Sirius and USS Moosbrugger, bolstered by additional units from Portugal and Spain.

NATO believes the destruction of the local SOSUS node is a pre-amble to a surge of Soviet submarines, possibly escorted by surface ships and aircraft, which may try and enter the Mediterranean via the Gibraltar Straits. Such a move would greatly increase the threat to NATO forces in the Med.

Nothing must be allowed to pass through the Rock.


Commerce Raider

Heavy fighting has continued at sea for the last 3 weeks. Soviet forces have crossed the border into Norway, with the Norwegians taking heavy casualties in defence of their homeland.

At sea, losses have been heavy on both sides – in men and material.

NATO needs to resupply Europe and is in the process of forming new convoys to Europe; 3 Cdo Brigade is now afloat and on route to reinforce NATO’s northern flank in Norway.

But the entire world is now at at war: Brazil and Chile have decided to side with NATO and assist in providing escort for convoys in the South Atlantic en-route to Europe. The French meanwhile have forces in the Cameroons with a naval presence off West Africa.

The United Kingdom has detached its Falkland islands guardships to provide escort for a small convoy, leaving the islands to protection by Chile. RAF Ascension island has been reinforced with detachments of strike, MRR (maritime recon) and tanker assets to assist the safe passage of the convoy.

A number of Soviet submarines and warships are known to be operating in the South Atlantic, with MMR aircraft based in Angola to support their search operations in the area. Latest intelligence suggests Cuban units are operating alongside their Soviet allies.

The South Atlantic convoy is clearly drawing a lot of attention. But nevertheless, it has to get through.

Authors Note:
Commerce raiding is a form of naval warfare used to destroy or disrupt logistics of the enemy on the open sea by attacking its merchant shipping, rather than engaging its combatants or enforcing a blockade against them.


Enemy at the Gate

Whilst on patrol, the French SSBN “FS Le Redoutable” ran into a Soviet Whiskey-class SSK in the Mid-Atlantic, and sustained a near-miss torpedo explosion. The explosion caused major flooding in the reactor compartment as well as damage to communications and sensors. After emergency repairs, she is now making best speed to the sanctuary of Brest naval base to conduct further repairs.

Obviously, a predictably-tracked western strategic missile submarine is a prize target for Soviet forces, and it is a safe assumption they will do everything in their power to destroy her completely. Accordingly, French naval forces have established an ASW barrier to protect her whilst she returns to port.

Authors Note:
France was a founding member of NATO and fully participated in the Alliance from its outset. Paris was home to its first permanent Headquarters.
In 1966, France decided to withdraw from the NATO Integrated Military Command Structures. That decision in no way undermined France’s commitment to contribute to the collective defence of the Alliance. Instead, it aimed, in the words of General de Gaulle, to “modify the form of our Alliance, without altering its substance.”


Deja Vu

After the Soviet strikes on British, Australian and New Zealand forces in the South China Sea, the United States has deployed the Midway CVBG to the area to deter Soviet influence in the area. Select Japanese ships are also in support.

Soviet forces have now resupplied their bases in Vietnam and are posed to conduct further attacks in the area. Naturally, the Midway CVBG’s presence makes it one of their prime targets. Vietnamese forces are also on high alert and are likely to support any Soviet operations after their attacks on Australian and New Zealand Forces.

The Midway group has been tasked with conducting “Alpha Strikes” and mining operations against Soviet forces in the Cam Ranh Bay area, while simultaneously repulsing any attacks on own or allied forces.

Built during WW2, the Midway is by this time one of the oldest and smallest active USN carriers, and one of the last to operate the classic F-4 Phantom II and A-7 Corsair II aircraft. Is the “Midway Magic” up to such a demanding task?


Midway

Task Group 70.02 was formed from units scattered throughout the Pacific at the start of the war, including the training carrier USS Lexington, and has now been deployed to conduct defensive operations in the vicinity of Midway island to deter any invasion by Soviet forces on the islands.

Intelligence indicates that a number of  Soviet warships, including amphibious units and the carrier Minsk, have deployed from Pacific Fleet bases and are enroute to the islands with the intention to seize them and use them as a forward operating base against the Hawaiian islands.

The “Blue Ghost”, with a scratch air group composed of anything that can operate off her, has now taken station north of the islands to deter any invasion ideas the Soviets have for Midway. Forces from Canada, Australia and the US Coast Guard have been formed into a task unit and will be providing close ASW defence of the Islands.


Hells Highway

Soviet motorized and armored units have crossed the Norwegian border a week ago, and have met stiff resistance from Norwegian forces.

NATO deployed a Rapid Reaction Force (RRF) which has been air dropped into northern Norway, comprising of UK paratroopers and Italian mountain troops, but they urgently require further support to stem the Soviet onslaught.

3 Cdo Brigade and the 1st Combat Group NL Marines have been embarked at Faslane and are now  in an amphibious group led by HMS Hermes, which has been rushed out of reserve status due to the current conflict. The group has been ordered to make a fast transit to the port of Trondheim to unload their embarked forces.

The war-worn Hermes has one last job to do…


End Game

With most of Norway now under Soviet control, SACLANT has been ordered to take direct action against Soviet installations in the Kola Peninsula and to neutralize remaining Red Banner Northern Fleet naval units in the Norwegian and Barents Sea.

Three NATO CVBGs centered around the carriers Saratoga, America and Foch and their escorts have converged on the Azores approximately 3 days ago.

As the Soviet theater commander, you have been ordered to conduct a maximum-effort strike against the CVBGs that have formed in the Atlantic Ocean. You have all the available assets at your disposal: A surface-action group centered on the Kirov, multiple attack and cruise-missile submarines, multiple naval aviation bomber regiments and satellite support. Nuclear anti-ship weapons have been released to your authority.

The theater may be complex, but your task is fundamentally simple: Eliminate the NATO threat to the Rodina at all costs.


“Living your life with me, I am you, you see,
There is part of me in everyone,
So reach down grab my hand, walk with me through the land,
Come home where you belong…”
(Lucifer Morningstar a.k.a. Devil, borrowing the voice of James Hetfield, Metallica 1983)

Stay home and play: Twelve new CMO community scenarios

March 23, 2020 · Posted in Command · Comment 

Kushan has released the updated version of the Command community scenario pack. In addition to updated and refreshed versions of existing works, the new release includes twelve new scenarios:


119 Squadron Makes a Little Noise, 2021 – This scenario assumes that Syria is using local militias to support its political agenda in Lebanon. There is compelling evidence that the militias have conducted terrorist operations both in and outside Lebanon and are planning attacks on Israel.

Air Battle over Metema, 2019 – Hostilities have erupted between Sudan and Ethiopia.

Assault on Banak, 1985 – A “Bolt out of the Blue” Warsaw Pact assault on NATO began at 04:00 utc/Zulu time this morning. Since then airfields and army units in northern Norway have been hit hard. You have been ordered to get your Type 207 Class submarine r underway ASAP and interdict a Soviet amphibious group rounding Nord Kapp destination Banak Diversionary Airfield. Your mission is to engage and destroy as many Soviet Amphibious vessels as possible and still bring your crew home!

Fiery Cross Reef, 2021 – The world is at war… After three weeks of fighting the fronts are stabilized on fronts, except in the Middle East where Israel is driving into Southern Lebanon and Damascus. The time has come for the West to take the offensive and the first move will come against the PRC/PLAN with the Spratly/Paracel Islands as your target.

Hormuz, 2020 – Iran decides to close the Straits of Hormuz.

Operation Quiet Rodeo, 1994 – During the 1990s, the United Kingdom and Libya provided support to different factions during the Civil War in Sierra Leone. This scenario assumes the situation escalated. British and Libyan forces have become directly involved in the conflict and, on occasion, have engaged each other in combat.

Senkaku Islands Clash, 2019 – The Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands are disputed by the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), Taiwan and Japan, with Japan currently controlling the islands. For decades they were little more than navigational markers and a fishing grounds until in the late 60s when oil reserves were discovered near the islands. This increased in 1971 as the United States turned over control of the Ryukyu Chain, including the Senkaku, to Japan. Jockeying for control of the islands really began in earnest in the 1990s with the situation becoming more nationalistic during the 2010s. By 2016 the dispute had reached a fever pitch when the United States confirmed it was committed to assisting the Japanese Self Defense Forces with the defense of the Islands.

The Battle of Vogel Seamount, 1981 – This scenario assumes hostilities erupted between NATO and the Soviet Union in 1981.

The Corfu Channel Episode, 1946 – The historical Corfu Channel Incident does not make a very good war game scenario. It involves several British ships conducting a Freedom of Navigation Operation. Two British ships were damaged by mines and more than forty British sailors were killed. This version assumes that the British have more information and have sent two minesweepers to clear the mines and a surface action group to protect them. The scenario is set at about the same date as the actual Incident and the SAG includes most of the historical vessels involved.

Vikrant goes to War, 1971 – You are Commander, Eastern Fleet of the Republic of India’s navy with war against Pakistan considered imminent. After deliberate preparations, the Fleet has sortied with your flagship INS Vikrant and you have been briefed by the Chief of the Naval Staff on the Chief of Naval Operations intentions for your force.

Northern Fury #40: ‘Tongs’ – The new global war between East and West has been raging for a month, NATO is on the offensive but the Warsaw Pact is far from defeated and still has the ability to counter attack. The ground war in Europe continues to be brutal and deadly. Conflicts in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean have stabilized in NATO’s favour. Commander STRIKFLTLANT has set in motion a series of attacks designed set up the conditions for upcoming amphibious operations in central Norway – Operation Thor’s Lightning. This is one of those actions.

Mediterranean Fury #4 – Secure the Flank – Three days into World War Three and you as Commander 6th Fleet are finally able to focus your efforts. It looks like the Turks are solidifying their position on the Bosporus, although it will be a while before the Soviets are finally dealt with; Libya and Algeria have been neutralized, at least for now; it’s been very quit in the Balkans and Aegean Sea; and the sting has been taken out of Syria’s offensive capability. Now it is time to make sure Syria is pummeled into submission!


The new community scenario pack is, as always, available for download at the WS site: http://www.warfaresims.com/?page_id=1876 , and will also soon be available on the Steam workshop.

The CSP now proudly counts 521 scenarios in its stable!

The scenarios of The Silent Service – Part 2

February 22, 2018 · Posted in Command · Comment 

The Silent Service, the new expansion for CMANO, is due for release on March 1, using the new v1.14 game update. Following Part 1, we now conclude coverage of the  scenarios of this new battleset. We use the default listing order (easiest to hardest) but players can also choose to try the scenarios in chronological order, or in any order of their preference.


Suckerpunch

Date: 25 March 1987
Location: West Atlantic
Playable Side: Soviet Union
Duration: 32 hours

The United States enjoyed technical superiority in terms of sonar, signal processing and submarine quieting for the majority of the Cold War. In the mid-1980s however, the Soviet Union made massive leaps in quieting their submarines, with the newest Victor-III & Akula class submarines being comparable in stealth to the United States Sturgeon class. These dramatic advances were in no small part the result of the Walker spy ring, and the Toshiba-Kongsberg affair.

After decades of being ‘one step behind’ in terms of operational freedom, in the spring of 1987 Admiral Chernavin initiated Operation Atrina, known afterwards in US naval intelligence circles as ‘The Great Soviet Sub Suckerpunch’ – and some of the finest Soviet submarines ever assembled surged out on the Atlantic.


The Enemy Below

Date: 28 August 1950
Location: Sea of Japan
Playable Side: United States
Duration: 2 days

The UN intervention in Korea is going poorly. The Korean People’s Army (KPA) has pushed UN forces back to a pocket extending approximately 60nm from the port of Busan. The remnants of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Army and the US 8th Army are currently preparing to mount a desperate defense of this perimeter along the Nakdong River.

The speed and momentum of the KPA assault has exceeded all pre-war calculations; intelligence suspects that the KPA is receiving material assistance from the Soviet Union and People’s Republic of China. While the bulk of the US 7th Fleet prepares to mount a counter-attack at Seoul, the USS Segundo is tasked with identifying Soviet shipping that may be assisting in the war effort.


The Good Shepherd

Date: 7 September 1978
Location: Adriatic Sea
Playable Side: United States
Duration: 16 hours

The arrival of USS Preserver (ARS 8) in Tivat, Yugoslavia on the 8th of August 1978 marked the first time in history a United States Navy vessel had entered a Yugoslavian port for routine repairs, and was a significant step forward in US-Yugoslavia relations.

NFSP-01–the first convoy carrying military materiel from the United States to Yugoslavia under president Carter’s military aide programme–is approaching its destination port of Split and is due to arrive in 12 hours at 0900L. Meanwhile, the Soviet union has announced a ‘Naval Quarantine’ of the Adriatic and has publicly committed to preventing arms reaching Yugoslavia.

The USS Memphis, operating with the support of the USS John F Kennedy CVBG in the Mediterranean, is tasked with guiding NFSP-01 safely to its destination and avoiding a confrontation with the Soviet Union…


They Shall Not Pass

Date: 29 November 1985
Location: GIUK Gap
Playable Side: NATO
Duration: 2 days

Following an incident at sea between a US destroyer and a Soviet spy ship, the world teeters on the brink of World War Three.

As the Soviet Red Banner North Fleet sorties from its bases in the Barents Sea, NATO submarines in the east Atlantic scramble to form a barrier and intercept the Red submarines before they can break out into the western Atlantic.

How many subs will slip through?


Beans and Bullets

Date: 6 December 1985
Location: North Atlantic
Playable Side: Soviet Union
Duration: 1 day

World War III has been raging for a full week, and as yet neither side has secured a firm advantage. The Soviet Union has made rapid gains in Europe, but the Red Army is suffering heavily from NATO air attack. On the Naval front, NATO has managed to contain the Red Banner North Fleet within the Norwegian Sea and yesterday conducted a massive carrier-borne air offensive against the Soviet Union with heavy losses on both sides. The Soviet Navy will now retaliate, starting with the carrier group’s supply train.


Carrier Killer

Date: 6 December 1985
Location: East Atlantic
Playable Side: Soviet Union
Duration: 8 hours

Yesterday NATO conducted a massive carrier-borne strike against Soviet facilities in the Kola Peninsula and occupied Norway, severely damaging several airfields and logistic centres. In retaliation, Soviet Naval Aviation executed a multi-regiment missile strike on the NATO carrier group, sinking the carriers USS John F Kennedy and USS Dwight D Eisenhower. The remaining carriers USS America and USS Forrestal are headed south to replenish their magazines, with the presumed intent to return to the Norwegian Sea to assist in the sea control campaign.

While the carrier strike group retreats to re-arm, the Red Banner Northern Fleet’s Submarine Division has one final surprise in store: an Oscar-class cruise missile submarine is assigned to eliminate the NATO group.

Click HERE to read the detailed mission briefing for this scenario!


Mid-Atlantic Blues

Date: 9 December 1985
Location: East Atlantic
Playable Side: Soviet Union
Duration: 32 hours

After nearly two weeks of fighting, NATO force in Europe are beginning to falter. The front line is slowly but surely slipping west of the Rhine, with heavy losses on both sides. The surprise counter-attack by the Soviets in the Norwegian Sea has put extra pressure on NATO Sea Lines of Communication between mainland Europe and the United States.

In order to bolster their flagging defences, NATO is relying on a number of convoys from the United States carrying troops and materiel. While the Greenland-Iceland-UK submarine barriers are containing the bulk of Soviet submarine activity, a small group of Soviet submarines has managed to get into position off the west coast of France…


Long in the Tooth

Date: 12 December 1985
Location: West Atlantic
Playable Side: Soviet Union
Duration: 36 hours

The Third World War has raged for a week. Soviet ground forces have made massive gains in Europe, steam-rolling West Germany and pushing NATO back to the French border. Desperate fighting is taking place in Belgium and the Netherlands, while Norway is under attack in the north.

Due to the efforts of NATO anti-submarine forces, the Red Banner Northern Fleet submarine force has been largely contained within the eastern Atlantic where they are creating havoc with Allied shipping. Unbeknownst to the NATO alliance, an elderly November class attack submarine has managed to approach the US East Coast undetected, and has just received orders to make her presence felt…


By Other Means

Date: 18 December 1985
Location: Cam Ranh Bay
Playable Side: United States
Duration: 12 hours

The arrival of NATO reinforcements from the United States dramatically changed the situation in Europe, with the Soviet ground forces being pushed back beyond the East German border from their furthest points of advance in Eastern France and the Benelux. With neither side seeming likely to employ the use of nuclear weapons, peace negotiations are underway in Geneva.

Meanwhile in the Pacific theater, Vietnam and North Korea are under increasing pressure from the Soviet Union to open a second front to strengthen the bargaining position of the Warsaw Pact at the negotiating table. With the bulk of the Soviet Pacific fleet concentrated in the safety of the Okhotsk bastion, Naval Special Warfare Command in conjunction with the 7th Fleet has been tasked with sending a clear message to would-be adversaries in the Pacific.

Opening the new year in style: The community scenario pack hits 400!

January 2, 2018 · Posted in Command · Comment 

imageMiguel Molina has released the updated version of the Command community scenario pack. In addition to updated and refresh versions of existing scenarios, the new release includes twelve new creations, bringing the total number of community scenarios to four hundred!

——————————————————-

Merry Christmas (1985): On Christmas Eve of 1985, the ongoing Middle East crisis erupted into full scale global war with Warsaw Pact forces crossing the Inter-German Frontier and assaulting NATO Forces worldwide as of 10:00 UTC. Intel indicated a Soviet Victor I was southbound and moving in the direction of the Kings Bay Submarine Base and Naval Station Mayport, possibly to interdict forces sortieing out of Mayport or Kings Bay. VP-30 out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville was assigned to detect and neutralize the threat posed by the Victor. USS Mahan (DDG-42) is patrolling outside of Mayport in case the Victor breaks free. Weather conditions are extremely poor with a gale center west of Bermuda and strong high pressure centered over Ohio. The gradient flow between the two is causing near gale conditions over the Operations Area (OpArea) with seas of 12 to 18 feet. Heavy shipping in the area will also increase the ambient noise in the water column.

Sanitizing NORLANT (1962): During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the United States Navy’s Atlantic Fleet was fully engaged in creating and enforcing the "quarantine" ordered by President Kennedy with few resources to spare for the defence of the coast north of Bermuda. Although Cuba dominated American naval operations, there were also an unknown number of Soviet patrol submarines of the Zulu SS type and ballistic missile submarines of the Golf SSB type believed to be operating in the northwest Atlantic.
You are Commander, Anti-Submarine Warfare Atlantic Fleet (COMASWLANT), now designated Commander Task Force-83 and based at Norfolk Naval Base. Your mission will be to locate, track and if necessary prevent Soviet submarines from closing the US east coast. It’s a big ocean, resources are limited and the stakes are high.

Strike Quick (1999): After a contentious budget battle, the F/A-18 now plays second fiddle to a reinvigorated Tomcat. With production of new Super Tomcats spooling up, the USMC has gotten modestly upgraded Navy birds to replace their A-6s. And just in time, for they are called to action: A semi-botched coup in the Philippines has led to the gruesome specter of multiple political factions engaged in a bloody fight for control. The US seeks to stop and intervene, and its closest aircraft are in Okinawa. No sooner have they been introduced than the Super Tomcats will receive their baptism of fire.

Northern Fury 23 – Swift, Silent, And Deadly (1994): The new global war between East and West has been raging for the past 10 days, the situation is stabilizing but violent clashes abound. The US 2nd Fleet is now entering the final phase of its first major counter-attack. A ceaseless combination of bomber and carrier borne attacks over the past 60 hours has reduced the defences on Iceland significantly. Now all that is left is the task of sweeping up the last few targets and preparing the ground for the amphibious assault by the Marines tomorrow. You are the CO of the Force Recon Battalion of 2nd MEF (Marine Expeditionary Force) and you will be leading a risky para drop onto Iceland tonight. If all goes well you will link up with the landing elements of the two assaulting Marine Regiments by this time tomorrow. A quick scan of the Drop Zone names however, reminds you that on operations such as these don’t always go right…

Northern Fury 24 – Battlewagons To War! (1994): The US 2nd Fleet is now entering the final phase of its first major counter-attack. A ceaseless combination of bomber and carrier borne attacks over the past 60 hours has reduced the defences on Iceland significantly! Now all that is left is the task of sweeping up the last few targets and preparing the ground for the amphibious assault by the Marines tomorrow. The Marine Force Recon element is going in right now and a Battalion landing team seized the airport at Vestmannaeyjar late yesterday. Your job is to soften up any defences and support the buildup of the new airbase. As commander of the Covering Force for the Amphibious assault arriving in a few hours, you command two Battleship Task Groups, and for tonight’s operation you are also protecting the advance element of the Amphibious Task Force, LPD Shreveport. You have a busy night ahead of you, targets to shoot at, marines to deliver, supplies to position and bases to prepare – not many in your force will sleep tonight…

Northern Fury 34 – The Longest Battle (1994): A week into World War III and your life has changed dramatically. As a rather young, newly promoted Rear Admiral (lower half) you were six months into a staff job at the Pentagon, now with a second star on your shoulders, you are in charge of organizing and protecting merchant traffic in the Atlantic! You and your staff of 60 arrived aboard the USS John F. Kennedy 3 days ago in Miami. Fresh after defeating Cuba, Nicaragua and Honduras in an impressive 3-day strike campaign, the Commander and crew of the CVBG is not overly welcoming. They want to be part of the campaign to evict the Russians from Iceland, but instead, they have lost 20% of their hanger space to your HQ (a maze of trailers, shelters and tents for both sleeping and working), and traded in two thirds of the Hornets for more Vikings and Sea Kings.
Because CINCLANT (VAdm Falkner) is heading north with 4 CVBG’s, 2 BB SAGs and the Amphibs accompanied by the British and French carriers and a couple other SAGs, his flagship and staff are quite busy. (See the Northern Fury background document for more details). Therefore, he directed that the John F. Kennedy (CV-67) reconfigure to conduct Sea Control and command all forces securing the SLOC (Sea Line of Communications) between Europe and North America.
Your task is to assemble escorts and aircraft from across the Atlantic, organize hundreds of merchant vessels into convoys and defend them from upwards of 60 Soviet submarines. All this while preventing any escalation of the war, and not losing any of your assets…

Northern Fury 36 – Wrestling An Octopus (1994): Strike Fleet Atlantic (STRIKFLTLANT) is now in the second phase of its counter attack in the Atlantic. Fighting on Iceland continues but 2 MEF believes that they will have the island clear within the week. A massive NATO attack two days ago halted Soviet plans to seize Oslo but with Berlin and Copenhagen in Russian hands, the situation is not yet assured. The Soviet Ground Commander in Norway has one final shot in his quiver that will put NATO back on it’s heals and stabilize the situation.
You are commanding 2nd Bde, 82nd Airborne Division and have recently been deployed out of Theatre Reserve to Norway in a last ditch effort to halt the Soviet advance. Your limited forces are being hindered by a general shortage of ammunition – it will only get worse if you fail…

Indian Fury 1 – Persian Pounce (1994): You are commanding the US 5th Fleet (re-established Dec 93, HQ – USS La Salle), based in Manama, Bahrain. Your command oversees both afloat and shore-based units that rotationally deploy or surge into the Gulf. Units under your command are American (USN, USMC, USAF and US Army), British, French, Italian, Spanish, and Australian. Although much of your force is off on independent operations in the Indian Ocean and beyond, the primary responsibility in this region is safe and secure passage of commercial shipping through the Persian Gulf and Straights of Hormuz.
For this task you have: The USS Saratoga CVBG patrolling in the Gulf of Oman; 16 independent warships patrolling different areas of the Gulf and Straights, from several nations; one submarine; several support vessels; several air squadrons; and a mine countermeasures group.

Halloween Horror (1991): To avenge the arrest of the “Gang of Eight” following the failed August 1991 coup in Moscow, the captain of a Soviet Delta-IV ballistic missile submarine has deployed his sub unauthorized to the open sea, threatening to launch a nuclear attack on the US eastern seaboard unless Gorbachev and Yeltsin are executed. With the clock ticking to the deadline given, and in the midst of the gathering “perfect storm” of 1991, the US and Soviet navies must join forces to stop the rogue submarine.

Hunter-Killer Duel in the Celtic Sea (1987): In the early days of the War, one of NATO’s concerns was the threat posed by Soviet submarine forces. British submarine forces in the northeast Atlantic are tasked with eliminating this threat. Some of RN’s finest are under your control, with numerous missions underway.

Mediterranean Tsunami (2019): The Russian cyber-attack on the Baltic States on Saturday, April 20th succeeded far beyond all expectations! Within hours the banking systems of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania completely collapsed as did much of the power grid and governmental functions. On Sunday, the attack spread to telecommunications and a general denial of service attack on the internet system itself. On Tuesday the 23rd violent disturbances broke out in Navra, Tartu and Rezekne with young Russian men clashing with police. As the crisis entered its fifth day the Prime Minister of Latvia was shot and killed by an assassin while visiting the town of Balvi. On Thursday full scale food riots had broken out across all three countries and, blaming Russia, fighting between ethnic Russians and Latvians became intense in the eastern portion of the country. Up until this point Russian President Vladimir Putin had been very silent on the Baltic developments, but now he called for “Volunteers” to aide their beleaguered and oppressed fellow Russians.
As chaos continued to descend upon the Baltic all three jointly invoked NATO Article Five asking Brussels for aide. Debate raged in NATO General Council over the weekend until it was proven on Monday that “Little Green Men” were appearing more and more often in the growing civil unrest. Late that day NATO authorized support for the Baltic Republics and that evening a British Tornado air strike destroyed a convoy of “volunteers” crossing the Russian border near Luta, Estonia. Tuesday became a free for all over the skies of the Baltics with NATO and Russian Jets mixing it up over the border area and several NATO aircraft were downed by Russian S-400 missile sites. To date the crisis had been confined to the Baltics and Baltic Sea but at 18:00 UTC a French satellite pass noted the Russian SSBNs getting underway from the Kola Peninsula and other satellite passes confirmed the rest of the Northern Fleet was getting ready to stand up…

Mediterranean Fury 3 – Casbah Crunch (1994): In the Allied Forces South (AFSOUTH) Area of Operations (AO), the Soviets attempted an airborne and amphibious assault on the Bosporus in the opening hours of the war. This failed but it was a bold and bloody fight (Med Fury 1, not yet built), and linked to an attempted coup of the Turkish Government. Ankara is in lockdown and it is unclear how successful or not the coup actually was, news footage of street fighting, explosions and aircraft circling the city are airing around the world but the president of Turkey is still claiming power via radio broadcasts. Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary have joined the fight, seemingly reluctantly, and are contesting the airspace in Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
Nearly simultaneous to the attack in the Black Sea, a Container ship transiting through Port Suez exploded and caught fire; quick action by the local authorities pushed and towed it out to open water where it burned to the waterline and sank, but the Suez Canal remains open.
During the first night of the war Syria made a surprise and somewhat uncoordinated attack on Israel through the Golan Heights supported by Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Beirut government has decried the violence but unrest is rapidly spreading and it very likely Lebanon will quickly plunge into a renewed civil war.
Your mission is to sink the Soviet Ship Leningrad, hopefully without causing war with Libya. This is a delicate task and you have significant force at your disposal, but your forces are very dispersed and if Libya enters the war, the balance will equalize quickly.

—————————————————–

As always, the community scenario pack is available for download from the Command downloads page: http://www.warfaresims.com/?page_id=1876 . The complete pack will also become later available for download on the Command workshop on Steam.

« Previous PageNext Page »