Herman Hum
02 May 05, 02:06
I played from the Israeli side and started off by breaking up my groups into individual ships and spreading them out in hopes of getting some ESM cross-detections. I saw that the PCFG Mivtach had no SSM armament and was thus the weakest of my assets so I chose her to be my "beater" to flush the game for my "hounds".
After gaining separation from one another, I set the Mivtach and 2 other ships from the flanks on intermittent active radar watches so that only one would be active at any particular time. I felt that this would, hopefully, prevent me from total surprise from the Syrians. The Mivtach increased her speed to flank since she had the duty of 'sniffing' out the prey. Through careful choreography, my missile-armed boats were in a line abreast with the Mivtach ahead of them but still within their SSM coverage. It was a tricky manoeuvre maintaining position, but I wanted to be able launch an immediate SSM attack against any contacts that appeared suddenly within visual distance of the Mivtach. I felt that only visual contact would be able to confirm the hostile nature of a contact.
I found a few ships which turned out to be Neutral. A very suspicious grouping of ships appeared from the NW. I was very tempted to open fire despite the ROE but the Mivtach proved that they were harmless fishing vessels. Whew, that was a close one. If only those fisherman knew how close they came to "sleeping with the fishes", they'd never go out to sea again!
As I made for Point X, the Mivtach came across a Motor Torpedo boat. While she immediately reversed her course in hopes of avoiding a torpedo/SSM attack, the nearest PCFG unleashed a single Gabriel SSM. The missile ran true and skewered the MTB. The Mivtach resumed her original course.
Minutes later, a contact was detected radiating Drum Tilt FCR and was immediately classified as hostile since neutral vessels only carry the Decca series of radar. I shut down all radar and closed to maximum SSM range before firing a pair of Gabriel SSMs at her. She was struck by both missiles and went down in a flash.
As I resumed the sweep, the Miznag reported missiles and promptly exploded. However, her death was not in vain as she was able to give a bearing on the missiles before her destruction. The MT Natya was caught and quickly sunk by another Gabriel SSM, soon after.
Three vessels were detected close ashore along the bearing reported by the Miznag. I grew very suspicious of them and gathered my flock for a maximum missile barrage should they prove hostile. The hounds gathered around while the Mivtach closed the distance to investigate. This was going to be real 'quick-draw'.
Suddenly, they were all confirmed as hostile. I loosed two Gabriel SSMs at each contact and immediately shut down my radar and ran at flank speed on different bearings. I hoped that any potential return fire would be BOL and I was trying to clear the datum point. I was successful. Three explosions registered without any damage to my remaining ships. Soon afterwards, I was awarded victory.
A very nice and tense situation, Quinton. Great pucker factor. Thanks very much sharing it with the community.
After gaining separation from one another, I set the Mivtach and 2 other ships from the flanks on intermittent active radar watches so that only one would be active at any particular time. I felt that this would, hopefully, prevent me from total surprise from the Syrians. The Mivtach increased her speed to flank since she had the duty of 'sniffing' out the prey. Through careful choreography, my missile-armed boats were in a line abreast with the Mivtach ahead of them but still within their SSM coverage. It was a tricky manoeuvre maintaining position, but I wanted to be able launch an immediate SSM attack against any contacts that appeared suddenly within visual distance of the Mivtach. I felt that only visual contact would be able to confirm the hostile nature of a contact.
I found a few ships which turned out to be Neutral. A very suspicious grouping of ships appeared from the NW. I was very tempted to open fire despite the ROE but the Mivtach proved that they were harmless fishing vessels. Whew, that was a close one. If only those fisherman knew how close they came to "sleeping with the fishes", they'd never go out to sea again!
As I made for Point X, the Mivtach came across a Motor Torpedo boat. While she immediately reversed her course in hopes of avoiding a torpedo/SSM attack, the nearest PCFG unleashed a single Gabriel SSM. The missile ran true and skewered the MTB. The Mivtach resumed her original course.
Minutes later, a contact was detected radiating Drum Tilt FCR and was immediately classified as hostile since neutral vessels only carry the Decca series of radar. I shut down all radar and closed to maximum SSM range before firing a pair of Gabriel SSMs at her. She was struck by both missiles and went down in a flash.
As I resumed the sweep, the Miznag reported missiles and promptly exploded. However, her death was not in vain as she was able to give a bearing on the missiles before her destruction. The MT Natya was caught and quickly sunk by another Gabriel SSM, soon after.
Three vessels were detected close ashore along the bearing reported by the Miznag. I grew very suspicious of them and gathered my flock for a maximum missile barrage should they prove hostile. The hounds gathered around while the Mivtach closed the distance to investigate. This was going to be real 'quick-draw'.
Suddenly, they were all confirmed as hostile. I loosed two Gabriel SSMs at each contact and immediately shut down my radar and ran at flank speed on different bearings. I hoped that any potential return fire would be BOL and I was trying to clear the datum point. I was successful. Three explosions registered without any damage to my remaining ships. Soon afterwards, I was awarded victory.
A very nice and tense situation, Quinton. Great pucker factor. Thanks very much sharing it with the community.