New Command scenario: Red Storm – Fill the Gap

April 14, 2014 · Posted in Command

Database – DB3000
Author – Doug Joos ‘djoos5’

NATO vs. Soviet Union

Date/Time: 10th November 1990
Location: G-I-UK Gap and Iceland
Playable Sides: NATO

In 1990, inside the Soviet Republic, hardline Communists within the politburo and military, who do not abide President Gorbachev’s perestroika and glasnost stage a coup d’état and wrest the control of the Soviet power to themselves. Knowing NATO would be quick to react against them and would try to return the former president to power; they unleash the Soviet Navy and ramp up Eastern European Bloc forces. It is the onset of World War III.

NATO, having been taken by surprise by the coup, reacts as quickly as possible but fails to stop the capture of Iceland by the Soviets. With the G-I-UK gap now compromised, the American, Norwegian and British Navies rush to fill the gap with attack subs so as to contain the Soviet forces. With SOSUS mostly out of commission, it is the only way that NATO can keep Soviet Boomers from sailing off their coasts. In France and Germany, the land forces clash and the Europeans desperately cry to the United States for resources. The US Navy 2nd Fleet, hampered by scheduled servicing of its ships, turns its one active carrier, the USS Nimitz, north towards Iceland and the Faroe Islands to project power at the island nation as well as into the Norwegian Sea.

Note

This is Scenario 1, Fill the Gap, of a three-scenario campaign called Red Storm. In this first encounter, the United States, along with its NATO allies have been taken by surprise by the Soviet aggression. The player will face a situation with limited assets and a number of objectives, of which the Primary will be the ultimate goal for success of the scenario. Points will be earned on all objectives, but scores are affected most by primary goal success.

The following scenarios will pick up where the last has left off and take into account munition usage, maintenance and losses, along with reinforcements. Additional assets will be made available to each side as the war progresses and the combatants gain a better control of their situations.

Orders for Commander NATO Forces

DEFCON-1. RULES OF ENGAGEMENT OPTION ALPHA NOW IN EFFECT. THIS MESSAGE IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD THAT HOSTILITIES BETWEEN NATO AND THE WARSAW PACT HAVE INITIATED. NUCLEAR OPTIONS ARE RESTRICTED UNLESS ORDERS COME FROM COMMAND AUTHORITY. TAKE ALL MEASURES CONSISTENT WITH THE SAFETY OF YOUR COMMAND.

Situation

The Soviet Union has made a surprising initial strike against NATO forces both within Europe and at sea. Using a modified freighter, the Soviet Army was able to infiltrate troops into Reykjavík and captured the capital of Iceland. Their forces quickly took control of the airport within the capital along with the one at Keflavik and began to ferry in more troops, SAM batteries, and fighters.

With the capture of Iceland, the SOSUS net was disrupted and now it is unknown the threat that comes from Soviet fast attack and boomer subs. NATO must race to get their own subs in place to stop the Soviet submarines from leaving the North Sea and taking up positions along allied coasts. At the same time, the USS Nimitz is being moved north towards Iceland to project power and eliminate the Soviet forces before they can reinforce.

Enemy Forces

The primary threat from the Soviet Union at this time is fast attack and missile subs escaping out of the North Sea into the Atlantic. The presence of both classes of submarines will disrupt re-supply convoys to Europe along with increase the threat of tactical nuclear strikes against NATO.

Also, air units based in Iceland will also hamper shipping and air corridors between the United States and Europe. It is not certain but Norwegian spotters believe that a flight of Tu-16’s were seen passing over soon after the loss of Reykjavik. We can only assume that the bombers are now located on Iceland and could be a threat to land and ship forces.

Satellite and snooper vessels along the Norwegian and Kola Peninsula have reported the surge of nine subs – both nuclear ballistic missile boats and their fast attack escorts. The Soviet Typhoons have not been reported leaving their arctic patrols, but not so the Yankees. These less capable subs need to be maneuvered south to increase their potential strikes on NATO territories, both in Europe and the United States.

These initial unit advances are a priority for all NATO units operating in the Atlantic and North Sea.

Friendly Forces

CVBG -9 [CVN 65-Nimitz (Nimitz), CG 52-Ticonderoga (Bunker Hill), CG 49-Ticonderoga (Vincennes), DD 963-Spruance (Stump), DD 965-Spruance (Kinkaid), FFG 9-O.H. Perry (Wadsworth), FFG 7-O.H. Perry (O.H. Perry), AOR 1-Wichita (Wichita)]

CAW: 12 F-14A, 12 F-14B, 24 F/A-18A, 10 A-6E, 4 EA-6B, 4 E-2C

SSN 719 SSN 719-Los Angeles (Providence)

SSN 704 SSN 704-Los Angeles (Baltimore)

SSN 713 SSN 713-Los Angeles (Houston)

S 107 S 107-Trafalgar (Trafalgar)

S 318 S 107-Kobben (Kobben)

Stornoway, UK AB [10 P-3C, 12 F.3, 12 F-15C]

The outbreak of war and early loss of Iceland caused for a re-direct of a USAF F-15C fighter regiment to the United Kingdom. CINCLANT ordered the aircraft to be stationed in Stornoway, UK to assist with air cover until the US Navy could get carrier task force CVBG-9 into position. Once on station, the F-15C regiment is to move to Germany.

Due to other current operations, it will be at least 72+ hours before additional forces can be expected to arrive.

Primary Objective

NATO forces are to search for and destroy all three Soviet missile subs (SSBN and SSGN) that sailed from Polyarny within the last week. Destruction of the fast-attack subs is discretionary, but will assist in the overall effort.

Secondary Objective

CVBG_9 is to transit the Atlantic North/NorthEast and assist by rapidly attriting Soviet military capabilities stationed on Iceland. In particular: neutralizing air fields, land-based anti-air missile batteries and other high-order threats. As it is the only operational carrier in the region at this time, it is paramount that no damage comes to the ship.

Execution

At your discretion; destroy enemy high-value targets.

Command & Signal

Command: USLANTCOM
Signal: EMCON StateC, unrestricted emissions

Rules of Engagement (RoE)

Only nuclear weapons are restricted unless ordered from USLANTCOM.

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