Start of reboot of southern portion of turn. 1 of DEADLY NORTHERN LIGHTS, due to tragic play choices!!! Lol..ahem.

SITUATION:

FUBAR… Soviet use last A/S marker and a load of air to secure the area over Denmark.

NATO deploys two AS marker in a hope of capturing air control of at least 1 sea lane that heads to Denmark…

The Soviets try to counter but actually take a fair bit of damage, due mainly to deft flying by the US and UK pilots! The West Germans hold their own as well, and send the Soviets packing with losses – a Damage and a Step loss of which all abort. While the US/UK knock 2 steps off the Mig 23’s.

NATO has limited air for this, but place F4s into action, squaring off against Mig23s. The F4s with AWAC advantage, and pilot advantage smoke the 23s.
This potentially opens the way for better spotting and intercept for the NATo side and a chance to take out landing craft.
The next zone, scores aborts a step and a damage!…this may cause a delay in plans for a turn 1 invasion by the Soviets.

For if I read rules right they get a bonus for Air Sup +Naval Surveillance meaning they get at least a tier 2 intel report on ships entering. NATO can now conduct strikes effectively from air and sea in this critical sea zone with solid escorts from air. German subs can also effectively attack as well. Pic 5 shows overall picture. I’ve left counters on map for image collection.

“Hey Yanks, do your avionics & AWACS report show high speed incoming aircraft, tagged Flagon range 150kms, and closing at …Mach 1.5!
Contact in 90 seconds. ”
“ahh Roger that Queenie..ahh, Ascot 7. We are evading and heading for the big boy Badgers in the rear! Light ’em up. Those hot shots are coming too fast to get us, heading to ceiling and firing sidewinders in 11 seconds.”

Switching to his Squadrons channel: This is YellowDog to all Dogs – engage the Badgers and ECM units as a priority. Then scoot.

” They have lock on us, deploying chaff, K-8’s and R-60’s are all over us. ” Ascot 1, 3 and 5 out of action and RTB. Ok, chaps lets keep the fighters occupied while the Yanks hit those Badgers!”

“YellowDog Ldr to Ascot 7 – good job on the interference we are thru the Su15’s, Engaging Badgers ! Looks like some are turning tail after my cannons ripped them a new one!”

YellowDog Ldr to Control advise Danes, incoming Tupo’s count 20. Im guessing they are headed for our AA.

On the Ground: “hurtigt, hurtigt” [hurry, hurry]” Said the Command officer of the Hawk Site -Targets are coming into range. Fire now!

The sky darkened as the Hawks struck home, smoke billowed, and the crews quickly reloaded. The Badgers formation began to break up, and their payload drop was ineffective…this time.

So what happened?
In the opening of the turn the Soviets over committed to Air Superiority in the Copenhagen region.

NATO placed scare resources into screening for A/S in two locations EAST of Copenhagen, hoping to interfere with any incoming WP squadrons.

When the Su 15’s got in range the US/NATO F4’s could have fought it out and let the TU16’s thru, or evaded, and hit the TU-16’s.

Here is what the combat would have looked like if they went head to head Image 4. all 4 of the escorts would abort, with just 1 damaged Su 15. The Tu-16’s would be free to then hit their target.

The Intercept of Badger Strikes!

So instead the F4’s attempt to evade the Su15’s. But first they must survive fire. The Brits take damage and abort, the Americans are un damaged and stay.

The US go into attack, 1 TU aborts in a ‘split attack’ the other manages to avoid the fire of the F4’s.

As the Tu16 that remains enters the range of the Hawks’ they open fire. knocking a step off and damaging the squadron. The final shot show the attacking going in for No Effect!

” Wait…yes its likely a ASW force. rig for silent running “Commander Otto der Schwieger or ‘Silent Otto’ as he was known said.
He and the other subs in his pack would quickly follow suit. They would await the primary target – Taskforce #2. But first they had to survive the patrol above them.
The Soviet efforts bore no fruit.

As the 15 ship TF#2 steamed towards the Danish coast – Otto and his wolfpack struck. Despite the best evasive tactics, and heavy depth charge attacks from the Inner sector protecting the core of the TF, some torpedoes got thru!

LST’s or landing craft were hit, Otto raised scope to capture film and could see, men and equipment roiling thru the air. These were good kills! But the Soviets fight back aggressively, and take out some of Otto’s force.

” Possibly a full 1/2 a Battalion sunk. Good job men, back to the deep. Rig silent running at 200m, dead slow” He said.

Next Up Taskforce #3 attempt to run the gauntlet.