Sixth Fleet: Day 3 - PM Cycle

Today has been a big day in the ongoing Sixth Fleet campaign.  Both sides have been trying to get troops on the ground and get in their licks before the conflict comes to a close.

Here's a short recap of the major events:

1.)  The Soviets are trying to cut the Americans off from reinforcing Beirut in a major Middle East conflict.

2.)  The US has responded by dispatching the USS Nimitz to the Mediterranean while the Soviets have a major task force in the Syrian port of Latakia.  The US has other task forces further west that are on the way while the Black Sea Fleet sailed from the Crimea on Day 2.

3.)  Repeated violations of Turkish airspace by the Soviets have cause the Turks to enter the war on the side of the United States.

4.)  Both sides were unable to land troops on Day 2 due to violent storms.

5.)  The Soviets decimated the Turkish surface fleet.

6.)  On the morning of Day 3, the Soviets and Americans landed troops in Beirut.  The Americans also landed a contingent of Marines on nearby Cyprus.

7.)  Negotiations between both sides are progressing very smoothly at the United Nations.  An end to the conflict is in sight.

DAY 3:  1200 - 1800 hrs

Soviet initiative:

Soviet submarine segment:

The Soviet submarine Sumy fires a spread of torpedoes at the US carrier task force, narrowly missing the USS Deyo, a  destroyer with a highly effective ASW component. The Ivdel sinks a nearby Turkish submarine Titeray.

Near Sicily, another US task force with cargo ships and a group of light escorts, desperately tries to escape a wolfpack of Soviet and Libyan subs.  The damaged sub Byngi manages a lucky hit and sinks the frigate Alwyn.  This reduces the number of ships below the threshold for a task force and now they are much like sitting ducks!

American surface segment:

The US carrier task force launches SSMs at the nearby Soviets in Latakia but fail to hit anything. However, they do manage to heavily damage the Soviet sub Sumy, which had been hounding them since the start of the war.

The dissolved task force near Sicily moves back west and links up with another intact US task force off the coast of Tunisia.  The ships are safe but they are unable to get through the Soviet screen of ships off the Libyan coast and the Central Mediterranean.  The door to the Eastern Mediterranean is locked.

Soviet surface segment:

The Black Sea fleet continues its roll-up of the Turks, sinking the Atilay.

US air segment:

Another infuriating result for the Americans as another carrier raid is launched against the Soviet fleet in Latakia and the Syrians repel it with MiGs and Su-20s, shooting down an A-7 in the process.

USSR air segment:

Soviet backfires fly off from the Crimea towards the Tunisian course where the second US task force licks its wounds.  With no air cover to protect them, the US loses a tanker and suffers damage to the frigate, the Rentz.

The Libyans send Su-20s and MiGs to follow up on a bombing of the vulnerable US task force.  Despite the lack of air cover, they shoot down some of the MiGs.  However, the Rentz is sent to the bottom of the sea.

US submarine segment:

Near the coast of Beirut, Egyptian and Israeli subs work at destroying the Soviet submarine fleet, sinking two of the Russian boats.  The Sumy and the Tyumen are gone.

Conclusion:

Well, it was a tough segment for everyone.  The Soviets have suffered some serious losses of submarines while the Americans have taken a hit from their surface ships.  The night phase is next and then we're off to Day 4.


Day 4 Strategic Cycle here.

Comments

  1. When is the ceasefire coming?!! To this observer it seems as if the Soviets are stalling for time in order to do as much damage to US prestige as possible. Will the US accept a ceasefire at this price? If they do, what happens to Turkey, and what will Egyptian policy be henceforth? The US needs to strike a hammer blow for propaganda purposes if nothing else. Can they do it? Looking forward to reading more...

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    1. The Soviets have the big advantage of a larger force than the US in the early stages of the conflict. The US gets another carrier task force (the USS Kennedy) on the morning of Day 4 while the Russian reinforcements start dwindling quickly. Also, with the US fleet scattered over the Mediterranean without much air cover, the Russians are able to strike at the American ships (except the carrier) at their leisure from the Crimea. They will lose that edge with the introduction of the Kennedy to the area. The Russians want a quick and massive win while the US just needs more time.

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