"Game BATREP - Clemenceau Iran Strike" Topic

Sept 1987 FROM CLEMENCEAU, ON STATION GULF OF OMAN

Iranian attacks on French flagged merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf have increased. Diplomatic protests go unheeded so the French carrier Clemenceau is ordered to strike the Iranian Boghammer speedboat base on Abu Musa Island. Target defended by several AAA batteries and no known SAMS. F-4E's at Bandar Abbas could interfere.

Radio Transcription of Strike Launched 0910 local from Clemenceau
Target: Iran's Abu Musa Island, Boghammer boat base
Weather Clear, wind calm

Strike route to track from Gulf of Oman over United Arab Emirates (UAE) to enter Persian Gulf at closest point to target in SE Gulf.

Strike Composition:-
3 x 2 ship F8 Escort Callsigns: Lascar1, Lascar2, Lascar3
1 x 3 ship Super Etendard AAA Suppression Callsign: Damos1
1 x 4 ship Super Etendard Main Strike Callsign: Damos2 – Target: Boats/Piers
1 x 3 ship Super Etendard Main Strike Callsign: Cesar1 – Target: HQ/Admin
1 x 4 ship Super Etendard Main Strike Callsign: Cesar2 – Target: Supply/Maintenance/Fuel
1 x 1 ship Etendard IVP BDA Callsign: Pirate
USS Constellation AWACS Support Radar & CommIntel Callsign: Banger
USS Constellation 1 x E6-B Prowler ECW Support Callsign: Prowler

MAIN STRIKE FORCE TIME ON TARGET 10.19 LOCAL TIME

TIME ON TARGET MINUS TWO THREE MINUTES
Strike CAG reports three minutes to feet dry UAE heading 315 true, speed 300 knots, followed in line astern by flights all low altitude. Banger reports all clear. Prowler reports no UAE SAM radars.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS TWO ZERO MINUTES
Strike CAG reports feet dry UAE

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ONE NINE MINUTES
Banger reports enemy search radar on. Strike detected. Repeat strike detected.
Strike CAG reports feet wet Persian Gulf.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ONE FOUR MINUTES
Banger reports Bandar Abbas alert F-4's scrambling. Estimates six bogies. Repeat six bogies full burner on intercept. Heading 200, speed 750 knots.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ONE ZERO MINUTES
Banger reports F-4 intercept in five minutes. Three pairs of bogies designated Shark1, Shark2, Shark3.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ZERO NINE MINUTES
Strike CAG releases Lascar escort flights to intercept F-4's. Lascar1 and Lascar2 flights report speed increased to 450 knots, solid radar contacts on inbound F-4's. Airborne RWR alert from ahead. Weapons hot.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ZERO SEVEN MINUTES
Lascar3 flight report solid radar contacts on inbound F-4's. Airborne RWR alert from ahead. Preparing to engage. Weapons hot.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ZERO SIX MINUTES
Lascar3 flight calls Tally Ho Shark1 two, repeat two, attacking F-4E's low altitude.
Lascar31 and Lascar32 declare Fox 2 and engage with MAGIC-2 IR missiles.
Shark11 crippled, Shark12 damaged.
Going to guns.
Lascar31 confirms Shark11 down to guns. F-4E kill.
Lascar32 confirms Shark12 down to guns. F-4E kill.
Lascar3 flight confirms four good chutes. Repeat four good chutes.
Banger confirms F-4 radar contacts lost. Lascar3 flight declares Winchester, repeat Winchester all weapons. Lascar3 flight RTB. Heading 120.

Lascar1 flight calls Tally Ho Shark2 two, repeat two, attacking F-4E's low altitude. Maneuvering. Unable to obtain shot. Shark2 disengaging. Repeat Shark2 disengaging.

Lascar2 reports airborne RWR spike from Shark3. Confirms two hostile missiles inbound from seven point five miles. Evading. BreakBreakBreak. Missiles missed. No damage. Pressing intercept. Payback time. Lascar2 flight calls Tally Ho Shark3 two, repeat two, attacking F-4E's. Lascar21 declares Fox 2 and engages with MAGIC-2 IR missiles. Shark31 damaged. Lascar21 advises Lascar22 break, break, bandit your 6 o'clock. Lascar22 declaring emergency. Transmission cut off. Lascar21 reports Lascar22 going down, repeat, wingman going down. Negative chute, repeat, no chute. Lascar21 reports Winchester missiles, bogies continuing combat, outnumbered, going defensive. Disengaging. Aborting. Lascar21 RTB. Heading 125. Banger confirms Lascar22 radar contact lost.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ZERO FIVE MINUTES
Lascar1 flight requests Banger bogie dope on Shark2. Banger confirms Shark2 abort and RTB heading Bandar Abbas.
Banger reports clarification of situation. Shark1 flight eliminated. Shark2 flight aborted. Shark3 flight damage appears minimal. Maneuvering to engage strike package.
Strike CAG orders Lascar1 flight to intercept Shark3 flight. Lascar1 flight acknowledges, reports out of position, will attempt best effort, Engaging burners.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ZERO FOUR MINUTES
Strike CAG orders strike ordnance hot and confirm bomb computers on. All Damos and Cesar flights acknowledge. Prowler reports negative SAM radars target area.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ZERO THREE MINUTES
Damos2 flight reports airborne RWR alert from Shark3 flight his five o'clock, range nine miles.
Damos2 flight reports two hostile missiles inbound. Evading. Missiles missed. No damage.
Damos2 flight declares emergency. Requests immediate assistance.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ZERO TWO MINUTES
Lascar1 flight calls Tally Ho Shark3 two, repeat two, attacking F-4E's. Lascar1 flight declares Fox 2 and engages with MAGIC-2 IR missiles. Shark32 crippled. Lascar1 flight declares Winchester IR missiles. Shark3 flight disengaging low altitude. Shark32 trailing smoke.
Damos1 flight reports IP reached. Visual on the target. Breaking to begin bomb run.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ZERO ONE MINUTE
Banger confirms Shark3 flight RTB heading Bandar Abbas.
Damos1 flight confirms CBUs hot. Reports heavy AAA in target area.
Damos2, Cesar1 and Cesar2 flights report visual on the target. IP in 30 seconds. Confirm bombs hot. Beginning bomb run.

TIME ON TARGET
Damos1 flight reports bombs gone. AAA severely suppressed.
Damos1 flight reports off safe.
Damos2 flight reports minor AAA fire from target area. Bombs gone.
Cesar1 flight declares bombs gone.
Cesar2 flight declares bombs gone.
Damos2 flight reports off safe.
Cesar1 flight reports off safe.
Cesar2 flight reports off safe.
All flights report good hits. Possible fires and secondary explosions.
Strike CAG advises all flights RTB carrier. Heading 130.

TIME ON TARGET PLUS ZERO TWO MINUTES
Pirate requests Banger bogey dope.
Banger reports all Shark flights eliminated or RTB.

TIME ON TARGET PLUS ZERO FIVE MINUTES
Pirate reports two minutes to target.

TIME ON TARGET PLUS SIX MINUTES
Pirate reports cameras on. IP in 30 seconds. Uncoordinated AAA in target area.

TIME ON TARGET PLUS SEVEN MINUTES
Pirate reports cameras working.
Pirate reports good photo run, off safe. RTB heading 130.

TIME ON TARGET PLUS ONE FIVE MINUTES
Banger reports Shark32 losing speed and altitude.
Banger reports Shark32 radar contact lost.

TIME ON TARGET PLUS TWO ZERO MINUTES
Banger reports Iranian SAR efforts underway.

Strike recovered safe on Clemenceau. Lascar22 confirmed lost with pilot. 3 F-4E's confirmed shot down with another damaged.

BDA revealed disappointing results. Boghammer boats, their piers, HQ/Admin, and fuel facilities all sustained slight damage while supply/maintenance buildings sustained heavy damage. Nonetheless, Iran has been sent a message that attacks on French vessels will be responded to with force.

That would make a great scenario for the Downtown/Elusive Victory system. If you don't mind, I'll write it up when I get a chance.

A really a great AAR. I 2nd kyoteblue, what rules?

Mike

Minis are 1/600 TD, mostly from the lovely and talented Dom Skelton and a few from Larry @ Brookhurst. One mini is one flight or section of 2-4 aircraft.

Rules are Downtown/Elusive Victory expanded to include what I needed. Table is 4 x 6 foot hex mat with 1.5 inch hexes. Each hex is 2.5 miles, I think, so that covers roughly 75 miles by 130 miles – all of the Hormuz Strait plus extra, for example. Target is handpainted on card and fits in one hex.

As far as the game went, the Iranians detected the strike way early. They needed 17+ on 2d10 and got it after only 4 tries – 4 minutes in. I figured alert fighters would launch in 5 minutes, and it's only 120 miles from Bandar Abbas to Abu Musa. Iranian luck ran out pretty much then. First they had trouble getting Sparrow shots off, and missed when they did. I attribute some of that to French onboard jamming and low level flight. When the F-8's closed and engaged in dogfights the F-4's just couldn't catch a break. I figure it was a combo of tired equipment and numerous RIOs being replaced with less capable but politically reliable officers to keep an eye on questionable pilots.

Fun!

Hey! I remember talking about a strike package like this one…

Good to see someone got some entertainment out of it!

Yep! Lots of helpful input went into this.

Number6, that would be great. I treated both sides as Veteran – the Iranians by virtue of training under the Shah as well as years of experience fighting the Iraqis, and the French because of heavy and realistic training.

Oh dear! It appears the Iranians are reacting to the strike. Recon satellites are picking up activity at the Qeshem Island Silkworm site, just off Bandar Abbas. Reef Point P-3 Orions are also reporting short tests of Silkworm aquisition radars at the same location. This is a serious provocation and a threat to shipping through the Strait. Clemenceau has been ordered to prepare a strike…

UAE has just protested the use of its airspace in the previous strike. Ongoing operations will have to be straight up the strait.

Could you take some photos of the next game?

Mike

I'm not really set up for it but I can give it a whack…

Here's game report #2. Sorry, no photos but it's still rather exciting.

Sept 1987 FROM CLEMENCEAU (R-98), ON GONZO STATION GULF OF OMAN

Following the French strike on Iran's Boghammer boat base at Abu Musa, it appears the Iranians are planning an escalation. Recon satellites are picking up activity at the Qeshem Island Silkworm site, just off Bandar Abbas. Reef Point P-3 Orions are also reporting short tests of Silkworm acquisition radars at the same location. This is a serious provocation and a threat to shipping through the Strait. Clemenceau has been ordered to prepare a strike.

Target defended by AAA batteries and newly acquired Chinese HQ-1 SAM batteries, copies of the Russian SA-2. F-4E's from the 91st TFS at nearby Bandar Abbas fly regular CAP missions and are certain to intercept. UAE has protested the use of its airspace in the previous strike. Ongoing operations will have to be directly up the strait.

Radio Transcription of Strike Launched 0850 local from Clemenceau
Target: Iran's Qeshem Island, HY-1 Silkworm Launch Site
Weather Clear, wind calm
Strike route to track from Gulf of Oman through the Hormuz Strait.

Strike Composition:-
3 x 2 ship F8 Escort Callsigns: Lascar1, Lascar2, Lascar3
1 x 3 ship Super Etendard SEAD AAA Suppression Callsign: Damos1
1 x 4 ship Super Etendard Main Strike Callsign: Damos2 – Targets: 4 Silkworm Launchers
1 x 3 ship Super Etendard Main Strike Callsign: Cesar1 – Targets: Fire Control Unit, Target Acquisition Radar, Power Generator
1 x 4 ship Super Etendard Main Strike Callsign: Cesar2 – Targets: Fuel & Reload Units
1 x 1 ship Etendard IVP BDA Callsign: Pirate

USS Constellation AWACS Support Radar & CommIntel Callsign: Banger
USS Constellation 1 x E6-B Prowler ECW & Jamming Support Callsign: Prowler

Strike planners note target orders may be too ambitious for a small strike but the admiral overrules them, maintaining that if each pilot does his job the target will be destroyed.

MAIN STRIKE FORCE TIME ON TARGET 10.06 LOCAL TIME

TIME ON TARGET MINUS TWO ONE MINUTES
Strike CAG reports inbound to target area heading 350 true, speed 300 knots, followed in line astern by flights all low altitude.
Banger reports one flight Bandar Abbas CAP airborne.
Prowler reports Iranian search radars.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ONE NINE MINUTES
Banger reports strike detected. Repeat strike detected.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ONE EIGHT MINUTES
Banger reports Bandar Abbas CAP vectoring to intercept. Designated Shark1, estimate 2 bandits.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ONE SEVEN MINUTES
Strike CAG releases Lascar escort flights to intercept REDCAP.
Banger advises Lascar1, your trade is 030, 75 miles.
Lascar1 reports speed 450 knots, fangs out.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ONE SIX MINUTES
Banger advises Lascar1, your trade 000, 52.5 miles.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ONE FIVE MINUTES
Banger advises Lascar1, your trade is 000, 25 miles.
Lascar1 reports solid radar contacts on inbound bandits. Airborne RWR alert from ahead.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ONE FOUR MINUTES
Banger reports Bandar Abbas alert CAP scrambling. Estimates four bogies. Repeat four bogies full burner on intercept. Heading 175, speed 750 knots.
Lascar1 calls Tally Ho Shark1 two, repeat two attacking F-4E's low altitude.
Lascar11 and Lascar12 declare Fox 2 and engage with MAGIC-2 IR missiles.
Lascar11 confirms Shark11 down to missiles. F-4E kill.
Lascar12 reports Shark12 damaged.
Lascar1 flight confirms one good chute. Repeat one good chute.
Banger confirms F-4 radar contact lost. Lascar1 flight declares Winchester, repeat Winchester IR missiles.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ONE THREE MINUTES
Banger advises Lascar2, your trade is 015, 45 miles. Banger confirms Shark1 RTB.
Strike CAG orders Lascar1 to resume close strike escort.
Lascar2 reports solid radar contacts on inbound bandits. Airborne RWR alert from ahead. Weapons hot.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ONE TWO MINUTES
Lascar2 reports no joy Shark3.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ONE ONE MINUTES
Lascar2 calls Tally Ho Shark2 two, repeat two attacking F-4E's low altitude.
Lascar2 reports being engaged. Breakbreakbreak. Going defensive. Contact with Shark2 lost.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ONE ZERO MINUTES
Lascar2 requests Banger bogie dope Shark2 & Shark3.
Banger confirms Shark2 RTB Bandar Abbas, Shark3 maneuvering to intercept strike.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ZERO NINE MINUTES
Strike CAG orders Lascar1 to intercept Shark3

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ZERO EIGHT MINUTES
Lascar1 reports no joy Shark3.
Damos1 reports airborne RWR spike.
Damos1 reports visual Shark3 inbound two, repeat two attacking F-4E's.
Damos11 orders jettison ordnance and evade.
Damos11 advises Damos12 break, break bandit your 5 o'clock.
Damos12 declaring emergency. Transmission cut off.
Damos11 reports Damos12 on fire and going down, repeat, wingman going down. Negative chute, repeat, no chute.
Damos13 reports damage. Declaring emergency.
Damos1 flight aborting. RTB. Heading 170, leaving strike frequency.
Banger confirms Damos12 radar contact lost.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ZERO SEVEN MINUTES
Lascar1 requests Banger bogie dope on Shark3.
Banger reports loss of radar picture. Merged plots need sorting.
Strike CAG confirms abort of SEAD AAA suppression flight. Declares strike will proceed without SEAD support.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ZERO SIX MINUTES
Lascar1 reports visual contact Shark3.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ZERO FIVE MINUTES
Lascar1 flight calls Tally Ho Shark3 two, repeat two, attacking F-4E's low altitude. Maneuvering. Unable to obtain shot. Shark3 disengaging. Repeat Shark3 disengaging. Lascar1 declares RTB, leaving strike frequency.
Strike CAG orders strike ordnance hot and confirm bomb computers on.
Damos2 and Cesar flights acknowledge.
Prowler reports negative SAM radars target area.
Strike CAG advises feet dry in three minutes.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ZERO FOUR MINUTES
Banger reports clarification all REDCAP flights RTB.
Damos2 reports mud spikes ahead and at 025, 27 miles
Prowler confirms two SAM radars on air. Advises will commence jamming.
Lascar3 flight calls Tally Ho Shark3 two, repeat two, F-4E's. Lascar3 flight declares Fox 2 and engages with MAGIC-2 IR missiles. Lascar3 flight declares no hits, Winchester IR missiles. Shark3 flight disengaging low altitude. Lascar3 declares RTB, leaving strike frequency.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ZERO THREE MINUTES
Strike CAG advises feet dry in one minute.
Cesar1 flight reports SAM radar acquisition, 055.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ZERO TWO MINUTES
Strike CAG declares feet dry.
Cesar1 reports SAM launch, SAM SAM at 11 miles, 030.
Damos2 reports visual on SAM site, 12 miles, 035.
Damos2 flight reports SAM radar lock ahead.
Damos2 flight reports IP reached. Visual on the target. Breaking to begin bomb run.

TIME ON TARGET MINUS ZERO ONE MINUTE
Damos2 reports SAM launch, SAM SAM at 9 miles, 300.
Cesar1 reports SAM launch, SAM SAM at 8 miles, 040.
Damos2 flight confirms bombs hot. Reports heavy AAA in target area.
Cesar1 and Cesar2 flights report visual on the target. IP in 30 seconds. Confirm bombs hot. Beginning bomb run.

TIME ON TARGET
Damos2 flight reports thick AAA fire from target area. Bombs gone.
Cesar1 flight declares bombs gone.
Cesar2 flight declares bombs gone.
Damos2 flight reports off safe.
Cesar1 flight reports off safe.
Cesar2 flight reports off safe.
All flights report good hits. Possible fires and secondary explosions.
Strike CAG advises all flights RTB carrier. Heading 160.
Lascar2 advises will loiter to cover Pirate.

TIME ON TARGET PLUS ZERO TWO MINUTES
Pirate requests Banger bogey dope.
Banger reports all Shark flights RTB.

TIME ON TARGET PLUS ZERO FIVE MINUTES
Pirate reports two minutes to target. SAM radar lock ahead.

TIME ON TARGET PLUS SIX MINUTES
Pirate reports SAM launch, SAM SAM at 9 miles, 000.
Pirate reports cameras on. IP in 30 seconds. Heavy AAA in target area.

TIME ON TARGET PLUS SEVEN MINUTES
Pirate reports cameras working.
Pirate reports good photo run, off safe. RTB heading 160.

TIME ON TARGET PLUS TWO ZERO MINUTES
Banger reports Iranian SAR efforts underway.

TIME ON TARGET PLUS THREE FIVE MINUTES
Damos13 declares emergency. Mayday, mayday. Ejecting, ejecting. Strike CAG relays friendly down. Please advise any chutes sighted. Damos1 lead confirms 1 good chute repeat one good chute. Banger reports SAR helo enroute.

Strike recovered safe on Clemenceau, less two Super Etendards. Damos12 confirmed lost with pilot. Damos13 went down on return flight, pilot recovered. One Iranian F-4E confirmed shot down with another damaged.

BDA revealed mixed results. Two Silkworm launchers sustained heavy damage and two remain untouched. The fire control unit sustained slight damage and the target acquisition radar is undamaged. Fortunately the power generator was totally destroyed, leaving the site down until power can be restored. Refueling capability is intact but one missile reload unit sustained heavy damage.

In retrospect, taking on so many targets at once was ill-advised. Also, it seems the SAMs had difficulty coping with low level aircraft.

Minor note: big difference between an E-6B Mercury ( wiki link ) and an EA-6B Prowler ( wiki link ).

I think I would have wanted twice the number of attack aircraft for that second strike, personally, but I'm used to thinking in terms of US-sized carriers.

Right you are! I had Prowler on the brain and Mercury in the fingers.

Looking at the strike results twice the aircraft would have been good. Either that or focus on critical targets with more ordnance and not try to take everything out.

Given the limited numbers of a/c available, I would have concentrated on the launchers and the radar/C&C. I don't care how many missiles you've got left in the bunkers, because if you can't see the targets, you can't shoot them, and you can't shoot anything if your launchers are craters!

Agreed. Time to go back and do it right. I bet there are more SAMs this time… :)

I'm surprised at the inclusion of US forces in this scenario. France has their own E-2s and given France's role in Op Eldorado Canyon the previous year and the French built aircraft firing a French built missile into the Stark earlier in the year I'm not sure the U.S. would have been too keen in playing along. At least that's the prevailing feeling I remember from that time.

I think it would be a much more interesting scenario forcing the French to come as they are.

Paul

Hey av8,

I got the info from the book Tanker War by Zatarain. The French TF and the Americans were very tight, with French F-8's even flying CAP over the American carriers at times – alone, not as a feel-good display. The US Navy handled AWACS in the south of the Gulf and the USAF and Saudis took the northern half.

Very interesting. I'll have to pick up that book.

Paul

It's a good one. Doesn't get down to Orbats or that level of detail but there a lot of good bits in it. I especially liked the class in Silkworm missiles and tactics, including where the sites were, when they were built, and their vulnerability which led to a nice underground site being built into a cliffside. That cut the launch warning from hours or more down to about ten minutes.

Hi there,

really good stuff. I would like to know, however, what do all these expressions (Tally ho, fox 2, etc) mean. Is there a wensite or something? thanks!

(just starting playing modern air war)

Hey Telaio,

Not sure about a website, although I'd bet there are a few out there. You'll find good direction above in what comes right after each term. For example, a pilot calls Fox Two and launches an IR missile. "Fox Two" means he's about to launch an IR missile. Fox One refers to radar guided. Tally means enemy in sight. Winchester is out of ammo, so "Winchester guns" means he's out of gun ammo. RTB = return to base.

Hope that helps,
Daniel

Here's a start concerning links.

link

Hi Daniel,

thanks a lot. from that page you can go to another one which has the whole thing. I am going to use it for my AIW next game

I love happy endings. :)