Origins 91 Air Strike Tourney

Combat Summaries: Round One

by J.D. Webster

First of all, let me apologize for the sketchiness of some of the action summaries. There was simply too much going on at the four tables for me to do much more than record results and impressions. What follows comes strictly from my notes and memory with some additional details added by a few of those who were there. Please do not be offended if I do not get all the details right.

Table 1:

Quickdraw and Iceman-II got to be the Iraqis and rolled up a reasonable defense which included the Olk-35 guns, two MiG-21s and the SA-6b site. Top Wop, Slather, Wildman andBozo weretearned upon the attackandelectedFA-18s. The target turned out to be the POL area to the south of Waterloo. Wildman and Bozo were tasked with the Iron-hand mission. As luck would have it, the defenders set up the SA-6 on the side of Waterloo that the Hornets would enter on giving them a clean field of fire.

All four Hornets entered simultaneously with the Strikers hugging the map edge furthest away from the SAM site. The Iron Hand agressively went to work with Wildman quickly unloading a HARM at the SA-6b site which was trying for a lock. The AGM-88 hit for "D" damage suppressing the site for a turn. The MiGs entered and charged the two Strike Hornets who used Autotrack mode and met the MiGs with a Sparrow apiece.

Top Wop's AIM-7 blasted one MiG away, but the other MiG dodged Slather's first AIM-7. Slather followed up with a second shot which hit and did heavy damage. In the next game turn, Bozo and Top Wop both unleashed AIM-9Ls at short range in the face of the damaged MiG, flown by Quickdraw, which immediately entered a vertical dive maneuvering such that the missiles missed. Unfortunately for Quickdraw, he failed to allow enough altitude for a pullout and dissappeared into the ground in a large fireball. Free of the MiG threat, the strikers raced on for their target. Meanwhile, the SA-6 site had come back up and Wildman was occupied dodging the first of five SA-6 missiles fired at him in the optical mode (the site learned quick, eh?).

Elsewhere Bozo lead the two strike aircraft in and took out an SA- 13 vehicle with CBUs before it could fire then followed up with an attack on an OLK-35 gun site which was sniping at Slather's Hornet. His attack did 2D damage silencing the guns long enough for the two Strike Hornets to reach the POL site. The other defenses were out of range. Wildman in the meantime was still in trouble. Having dodged three missiles, he had been unable to counter attack and was also under AAA fire.

The SA-6 site, with lethal determination, would launch two more missiles. Wildman dodged the fourth SAM but the fifth finally connected and he died in the fireball. Meanwhile, the largely unmolested Strike Hornets did 9D (61) by TopWop) of damage with their bombs, torching the PO Lsite forever, and raced off to safety with Bozo just behind.

Top Wop was given a kill for his MG-21 and he, Slatherand Bozo each got 1/3rd credit for the other MiG. All recieve credit for solidly hitting their assigned targets. Wildman received a posthurnious Bronze Star for his duel with the SAM site. All in all an excellent effort.

Table 2:

Z-Man and Raider Red are the illustrious defenders while Zee and Madman are the Iron Hand with Popcorn and Iceman being the strikers. The assigned target is some rail yards in the center of the city. Z-man and RR roll up SA-8s with the two hidden Stingers, the S-60 plus ZU-23s and the MiG-2 1s for defense. The SA-8s are deployed in the city which hinder their T-level lines of sight but are otherwise well centered to defend all targets. The guns are also well placed to cover most targets and protect the SAMs. Like table 1, the attackers opt to use Hornets.

The FA-18s all enter at T-level but the ironhand climbs up on the first turn. The two SA-8 vehicles attempt quick reaction lock- ons with radar and one manages to launch two missiles at Madman. Madman and Zee answer with a pair of Harms on the next turn, both at the same site. Madman gets a suppression result but Zee's shot is a good one which kills the S AM vehicle but only after Madman is forced to dodge the two SAMs.

In the meantime, the two MiGs are closing in on the Hornets. The Strike Hornets stay low as does Zee who gets hit by small arms fire, fortunately for no effect. As Madman swings back around from his defensive maneuvers, the second SA-8 launches a missile at him with optical guidance. Zee pulls up and launches an AIM-9 at one of the MiGs but the missile malfunctions. He follows up with another shot at the MiG as Madman decoys the third SA-8. At this point Popcorn and Iceman start their pop-ups to acquire their targets and come under heavy AAA fire.

The SA-8 switches to Popcorn and qets off a quick shot as he passes by and Madman is fired on by a hidden Stinger. Zee's attack on the MiGs keeps them off balance enough that they are no threat to the rest of the Hornets after dial. His second AIM-9 hits and does light damage to one MiG. Popcorn manages to decoy the SA-8 but takes light damage from a ZU-23 gun battery and aborts his run to do damage control. Iceman successfully gets his bombs off doing 2D damage to one of the railyard hexes and exits under heavy AAA fire closely followed by Zee and Popcorn who decided not to try to return for another attack. Madman luckily decoys the Stinger and seeing that he is left behind with the two MiGs also makes a quick run for home at T-level.

Though Madman and Zee were quite active, the strike resulted in little damage to either side. Z-man, who ran the ground defenses did a goodjob while the MiGs could have done better if they tried. Popcorn could not get his reattack in due to the short length of the scenario. All told, a poor attack, a good defense.

Table 3:

Wahoo and Redneck formed the intrepid Iraqi defenders and rolled MiG-21 s, SA-11s, and the S-60 and ZU- 23 guns. Cougar and Gunner were the strikers while Soleman and Maddog were the Iron Hand. The defenses were arranged so that there was a SAM vehicle on each side of the airfield as well as some guns. The two attacking teams elected the Hornet.

Unlike the others, this Hornet attack group entered play in the ML band and were immediately engaged by a couple of the SA- 11 sites. Unfortunately for the defenders, they used the radar mode so Soleman and Maddog immediately cut loose with HARMs. The Hornet weapons won the race and dusted the two SA- 11 units before their missiles got to the Hornets. Cougar and Gunner held back to let the Iron Hand do more dirty work and at this point the defenders MiG-21s split and were coming across the board, one at each pair of Hornets. Maddog and Cougar each locked one up and dusted both with Sparrows. Pretty good for the Hornets so far eh!

Unfortunately, the remaining SA-11 unit was more effective and launched several missiles optically to keep the strikers and Iron Hand busy. One of the missiles hit and destroyed Soleman's F-18. Alsofiredon but dodging a missile each, Cougar and Gunner were both forced to release their bombs from afar to try and score points before time ran out. As it was, I believe Gunner missed and Cougar achieved the dubious feat of suppressing a hangar while taking light damage from AAA. The SA- 14 took a pot shot at somebody but they turned and got out of range.

Despite the early loss of two SA- 11s and both MiGs, the Iraqis still managed to turn the tables and save their airfield so a good job there. Maddog did well on the attack but the Strikers were stifled by the remaining SA-11 vehicle and the loss of Soleman didn't help. The Hornet force could have done much better.

Table 4:

Grossman, Slick, Woof and Hollywood are teamed together for the attack and like the other tables also elect to use Hornets. Dragon and Bald Eagle get to defend the airfield as the Iraqis and roll up two MiG-21s, the SA-8s with hidden Stingers and the very accurate OLK-35 guns. Their defense is centered about the airfield with the hidden Stingers further out. Woof and Hollywood are the assigned Iron Hand.

The terrain on this map is very open with little cover for the Hornets but they enter at T-level anyway. Dragon and Bald Eagle each take a MG and entering high head straight for the Hornet pack. This immediately gets the attention of Hollywood and Woof who pull up for Sparrow shots. Woof achieved a lock on first and launched two AIM-7s (one malfunctioned) in the next turn at Dragon. Dragon fails to spot the good missile but Baldy does and warns him so he can engage it. As he did so, Hollywood locked him up as well.

The two sides closed rapidly, but Dragon managed to dive into ground clutter causing the one AIM-7 to miss. At this point Grossman and Slick peeled off from their low level run ins to help deal with the MiGs. It was now a four vs. two furball but Dragon and Baldy quickly brought up their SA-8 SAM units to help. Hollywood offed two Sparrows at Dragon at the same time as an SA- 8 popped an optically guided SAM at him.

In the next few turns, Woof and Slick also fired AIM-9s, two at Dragon and one at Baldy. Hollywood however lost his lock and his missiles when the SA-8 he ignored pasted him for Heavy damage. the SAM site immediately launched at him again. Woof also gets engaged by the second SA-8 unit but presses for a gun attack at Dragon who has decoyed both AIM-9s. Slick's missile crippled Baldy but to be sure Slick fired another AIM-9 which does fireball the MG. Hollywood dodged the second SAM but progressed to Cripple damage and retreated. Woof raked Dragon with gunfire and did Heavy damage.

Woof then took a proximity hit from the SA- 8 for no damage but was again launched at and as he broke away, a hidden Stinger team fired one up his tail. The SA-8 missed but the Stinger didn't and blew him up. Slick and Grossman, who had menTily been circling around in the furball as well, suddenly realized that their Iron Hand was gone and that the airfield defenses were still intact so they hastily aborted. Dragon's MG turned after them but progressed to Cripple damage and decides to break off.

Dragon is made a people's Hero and gets two kisses from Saddam later in the war. Overall, the combined SAM / MiG defense worked well. The Hornets got way too engrossed with the MiGs and forgot their real missions much to their detriment.

Origins 91 Air Strike Tourney Report

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© Copyright 1991 by J.D. Webster
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