The Last War: 352

[Bernard Woolley]

Merry Christmas, everybody!

*

With thanks to Matt W.

*

D+22

*


1001 hours GMT, 14th May. Camp Murray, W.A.
The recently re-joined Army National Guard captain had expertly put six shots into the target with her M9 pistol before switching to an M4 carbine and demonstrating similar expertise. The instructor who had been tasked with getting re-enlisted personnel qualified with small arms had been impressed. Most returning Guardsmen had grown rusty in the years they had been out of the service.

“Excuse me, Ma’am, can I ask how you managed to maintain your shooting skills?”
“My husband’s current duty station is South Korea, Staff Sergeant.” Captain Mary Hathaway replied. “As the senior US officer in country, he’s a target for the North Koreans, so I always made sure that I can use most small arms in the army. I’m just sad I had to hand in my personal M9 when I was evacuated.”
“Well, that would explain it, Ma’am.” The Staff Sergeant observed. “Not sure if there is much I can teach you but let me know if you want to schedule any more range time or check out on any other small-arms. We’ve got a bunch back there.” He added, cocking his head towards the armoury.

*

“At fifty, I suspect you’re the oldest captain the battalion.” The Commanding Officer of the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Edward ‘Ed’ Fletcher said during his interview when Hathaway had reported to the unit.

Her eyes narrowed; she did not like to be judged by her age. Besides, Hathaway always kept herself in good shape. She was fitter than many people ten years her junior.

“No offence meant, Captain.” Fletcher hurriedly added. “It’s just that you’ll stand out. But, anyway, I value experience over youth.” He paused to check Hathaway’s record. “I see you were in Company B of this battalion before you left the Guard. And that you speak Russian, German and Korean! Impressive.”
“Thank you, Sir.” She replied. “I learned German at High School and Russian when I first joined the battalion. Korean, I picked up living there.”
“Again, Captain, I’m impressed. I’m going to send you back to Company B. They’re a little short of Korean speakers and I want you to take charge of those who do speak it. However, be aware that there is a chance that we could get called out on a State mission if we’re needed.”

Hathaway was surprised by this news.

“The State wants to call out highly qualified linguists to, what, guard stuff, or deal with riots?”

Fletcher nodded sadly.

“Most of our major units are now overseas or preparing to go. The State Guard is recruiting more personnel, but right now it’s only about a hundred strong. We helped man the State EOC after the air raid and some of our personnel were sent out to help search for the shot down bomber crews.
“It wasn’t the best use of our skills, but we have to be prepared for it.”

*

“Captain Hathaway? I’m Captain Donald Lee.” B Company’s commander said. “Welcome to Company B, it’s good to have you aboard.”

Hathaway immediately warmed to the company commander, who must be at least a decade junior to her. She certainly got a better impression than the Colonel, who had managed to put his foot in it almost immediately from the start.

“A pleasure, Sir.” She replied. “It’s nice to be back in the Guard.”

Lee looked a little surprised to have been addressed as ‘Sir’, by Hathaway.

“Ah…you don’t have to call me ‘sir’, Captain Hathaway.” He said. “I suspect you have seniority over me, so Captain is fine, or Donald if it’s just the two of us.”
“Thank you, erm, Donald. I’m Mary.” Hathaway replied.
“Okay, Mary, I’m glad we sorted that out.” Lee said with a broad grin. “I’m very glad to have another Korean speaker on the team. I speak Japanese, German and Russian myself, which is not too relevant to a lot of the jobs we’re being given. I’m equally happy you’ll be taking charge of the Korean team.
“Did the Colonel tell you about the other stuff?”

Hathaway nodded.

“He did. The Colonel warned me that we might get called out for State tasks. Do I need to book time to practise with a nightstick?”
“It’s a sonova…I mean it’s not great, is it?”

Hathaway laughed at Lee’s slight discomfort.

“Donald, one of the first things you will learn about me is that I can and do swear four different languages. Sometimes all in the same sentence!”

1025 hours GMT. Near Pyongyang, DPRK.
To Lieutenant Commander Kristine Redmond, this day had been a mix of the usual and the unusual. The three Americans in this compound all had been tortured the previous day, and they had given their captors an anti-war statement as a result. Though all three had wished they could've held out longer, their SERE instructors had reminded them that everyone had a breaking point, and that each individual's was different. And to Commander Redmond, one of the three in the compound had to use her best judgement as to when to give in, for USAF Captain Cheri Krause had a broken arm, and had to be careful as to when she gave in. Redmond knew that a “reasonable” resistance posture was needed, and the last thing she-or the other two prisoners-wanted was to take torture to the point of permanent maiming. Something that the North Koreans were perfectly capable of.

After the torture sessions, the three POWs had been tossed back into their cells, and they were using the time to ‘Bounce Back’ as those in Hanoi had put it, to regroup and recover. But Redmond, Krause, and Army CWO Amanda Cole were in no shape to go another round. While talking under cell doors, Cole had said, “If they come back, I'll tell them whatever they want.” And both Redmond and Krause felt the same way.

The day had started off like the others since their arrival, with the three being taken out into the compound to work in the “garden” the NK guards had made them start. So far, nothing had sprouted-yet, and yet the guards insisted on their working as if there were. Even going to the extreme of using the contents of the prisoners' waste buckets to fertilize the hopeful crops.

Though not able to do much with her broken arm still in a cast, Krause was still going along with the charade of “working.” The guards didn't pay as much attention to her as Redmond and Cole, and it certainly beat sitting in a cell for twenty-three and a half hours out of twenty-four. Dressed as the other two, in sleeveless pyjamas and shorts-their “Work Uniform”, she saw two familiar figures, followed by several guards, approaching.

“Commander?
“Yeah?” Redmond replied. Then she saw them for herself. “Sour K and Lt. Fuzz coming.”

Those were the nicknames they had given the Camp Commander and Political Officer. The former didn't speak English, but the latter did, and fluently. Not only that, the man seemed to be very eager, if a little bit naive. And all three had noticed that he had tried to turn his eyes away during their respective torture sessions.

Sour K came over and regarded all three. They could tell he was looking them over, then he nodded to the Political Officer.

“You will all go shower and change your clothes.” Lt. Fuzz said, and this time, he came across as very eager. “Immediately.”

As the three POWs went to the shower, they noticed that the two officers-and the guards-followed them every foot of the way. As they stripped down and got under the lukewarm water, the trio were still being watched.

“What's with them?” Krause asked. She needed help bathing due to her arm.

Commander Redmond looked at the NK officers, then said in a low tone of voice,

“Search me, but they think everything around here needs a senior officer's attention.”

She helped Krause get cleaned up, then took care of herself.

“Lt. Fuzz doesn't seem to mind.” Cole added.

She noticed that the Political Officer's eyes were a bit wide as he watched. But Sour K's expression was stone-faced. As usual.

After they were finished, dried off, and dressed in their long pyjamas, the three POWs were taken outside, where a truck was waiting. They were blindfolded, and the two uninjured prisoners were handcuffed behind their backs, while Krause was put into the truck semi-gingerly, then the other two were loaded into the truck.

After a drive of about two hours, the three prisoners could hear the sounds of traffic growing, along with the other sounds of a big city. That meant Pyongyang. Now what? Another trip to that museum? That came to Commander Redmond's mind, but she couldn't tap to either Cole or Krause with her feet, since there were guards sitting between the POWs, and nobody wanted to take that chance. So, the three just sat in silence, waiting to find out where their captors intended to take them.

The truck made its way through the streets, before it stopped, then the POWs heard a gate open. After driving through, the gate closed, and the guards unloaded their human cargo. Their handcuffs and blindfolds were removed, to reveal a large and very elegant house, and to the POWs, it reminded them of their SERE training, where the North Vietnamese used the Colonial Mayor's Mansion in Hanoi for ‘Peace’ delegations to meet with POWs-who were held at the same complex-the Plantation or Citadel. A NK officer coming down the steps was a further reminder.

Without any preamble, the NK officer said:

“There are some foreign Anti-Imperialists who would like to meet with you. You will show a proper attitude and respect at all times, or you will be severely punished. Is that clear?”

The three POWs nodded, then they were conducted up the steps and into the house. They were taken to a large room, with a table and chairs set up for them, and in front of the table, were several Westerners along with a couple of TV crews. One was clearly NK, but Commander Redmond wasn't sure about the others.

“Play this by ear, and don't get into a pissing contest with these clowns.” She whispered.
“Got you.” Cole whispered, and she passed it to Krause. “I'm not ready for another stint in the ropes.”
“You're not the only one.” Redmond whispered back.

“Come!” The NK officer said, and the three POWs went into the room and found chairs. After they sat down, one of the Westerners, a middle-aged man, stood up.
“Hello. We're from the Socialist Workers' Freedom Party and the World Peace Council. We'd like to talk with you about the war, and how the victory of the Socialist Forces in Europe and in Asia will benefit the world.”

Oh, boy, Redmond thought. This could get interesting. Or ugly. The only good thing? Those TV Cameras. If the footage was released, the Intel people will know we're still alive.

“Uh, all right.” Commander Redmond said.

As the Westerners found their own seats, WO Cole tapped to Redmond with her foot, Welcome to the Pyongyang Dog-and-Pony Show.

Then a younger woman, this a blonde in her thirties, got up to talk and started an Anti-American diatribe. As she did, Redmond tapped back. Yeah.

1035 hours GMT. Uppsala Air Base, Sweden.
The detachment of Buccaneers sent to Rygge Air Base in southern Norway to help deal with the attempt by Soviet and East German FAC to break out into the North Sea, was supposed to have returned to Bodo. However, with the threat posed by the Kirov class battlecruiser Dzerzhinsky the detachment had instead been forward deployed to Uppsala. Four additional Buccaneers had been despatched from Bodo, while a C-17 had brought in a load of Sea Eagle missiles.

Some very hurried planning had been carried out and the Buccaneer detachment would be joining Viggens, Gripens, Tornados, F-16s, Tornados and Typhoons from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and West Germany. USAF F-15C and F-22s would provide additional escorts. Being armed with the longest-ranged weapons, the Buccaneers would attack first, with the other aircraft following the Sea Eagles before launching their own weapons.

*

Wing Commander Schofield taxied his Buccaneer to the end of the runway. Operating from a Swedish air base was the last thing he had ever expected to do.

“Seems our life has become moving from one SNAFU to another SNAFU.” Schofield commented as he ran up the throttles.
“You can say that again, Boss.” Squadron Leader Maconie replied. “We’re like the fire brigade these days – rushing all over the place responding to emergencies.”

Once airborne, the Buccaneers split into two formations of four aircraft and one of six. Since they were operating over relatively short distances, the Buccaneers could carry a full war-load of four Sea Eagles each. As was becoming normal, they were also carrying four 1,000lb ‘iron bombs’ in their weapons bay.

*

The aircraft assigned to the mission had taken off from various airfields under total radio silence. However, other aircraft using the bases had continued to use minimal radio traffic as normal. Masking that there was a particular mission underway. The Soviets did not realise what was going on until a ‘Mainstay’ operating over Estonia picked up the various formations. It directed Naval Aviation and PVO fighters to intercept. Unfortunately, they very quickly ran into a line of F-22A Raptors that the ‘Mainstay’ had not detected. Those that got past the Raptors were attacked by Eagles, Typhoons and Gripens. A large-scale ‘furball’ developed over the Baltic, which diverted the Soviet aircraft from their task.

To make matters worse for the Soviets, a pair of Raptors took advantage of the confusion to sneak in over the Estonian coast and shoot down the ‘Mainstay’. For a vital ten minutes, there was a total lack of fighter control on the Soviet side.

*

In the newly established NATO Headquarters Eastern Baltic, senior naval officers followed the progress of the emerging engagement. The Dzerzhinsky battle group moving southwest out of the Gulf of Finland was of most concern. However, there was also a smaller battle group, led by a Sovremenny class destroyer, plus four Nanuchka class corvettes, was also of concern. They directed that it was to be attacked only after the main group. However, two submarines were ordered to close in on the second group and by ready to attack it.

1125 hours GMT. Near Tolmin, FYR of Slovenia.
‘CRACK!’

Caporale Catarella watched with satisfaction as the bullet from his BM59 rifle struck the commander of the T-72 tank. The soldier slid down into the turret and disappeared.

‘CRACK! CRACK!’

Catarella fired twice more, shooting off the radio aerials of the T-72BK. He ducked down back into cover.

“Time for us to get back to the battalion.” He said to his spotter.

Rather than getting a reply from the spotter, there was a ‘tinkle’ of glass breaking and a thump. Catarella turned and saw that the other soldier was lying flat on his back, his right eye missing. Someone, probably a Soviet marksman, or sniper had shot him through the pair of binoculars he had been using. Catarella said a silent prayer and crossed himself, before taking one of the man’s dog tags and his AR70/90 rifle. Having no intention of leaving it for the Soviets.

Catarella low crawled to a new position from where he could observe the enemy. To his surprise he saw a group of Soviet motor riflemen had reached his old position. Surprise turned to anger as he saw them apparently looting the corpse of his spotter. He took careful aim and shot two of the motor riflemen, the rest scattering for cover.

*

Over the next two hours Catarella made his way back to the positions of the 27th Bersaglieri Battalion ‘Jamiano’. Having evidently been stung by his efforts, a group of motor riflemen continued to dog him. He finally managed to shake them off, by ambushing them. He allowed the motor riflemen to get close, before throwing a grenade and emptying the AR70/70 rifle into them. Satisfied that the pursuit was over, he smashed the rifle against a rock, unslung his own BM59 and went on his way.

“Catarella coming in!” He called out to the outposts of his battalion.

After narrowly avoiding death, he had no intention of being killed by his own side. However, there was no reply.

“Catarella coming in!” He called out again.

He slung his rifle and cautiously approached the outposts. To his horror they were empty. Catarella found that the main fighting positions were empty too. He could see tank track marks from where vehicles had withdrawn.

Two knocked out vehicles, one an Ariete tank, the other a Dardo IFV and spent bullet casings were the only other signs that the battalion group had ever been there. Catarella closed in on the tank and saw that it had taken a direct hit to its turret roof, probably from an artillery shell. The IFV had evidently been penetrated by a tank shell. He could smell the sickly-sweet smell of death and decided not to approach any further.

Catarella sat down on a convenient rock and pondered his situation. He was now cut off from his battalion and was utterly alone. What was he to do?

1131 hours GMT. MNMV Unity, Broad Sound.
Before leaving port, Unity and her sistership Parker had taken on six firefighters, two powerful portable pumps, USAR equipment and various miscellaneous firefighting equipment. Unity crew, plus Spenser and Randall had helped the BFD firefighters load the equipment.

Lieutenant Harry, up on the bridge, making preparations to sail, had happened to look down at the right moment to catch the end of what looked like a confrontation between one of the firefighters and Randall. He did not hear what it was about but did catch a “...uck you” from Randall before she turned away to carry some SCBA equipment onboard. Harry had managed to catch the firefighter on his own just before the MSA sailed.

“I don’t know what transpired between you and Detective Randall, but I know the FD’s reputation. I don’t want to see any of your crap on my ship.”
“Hey, Skipper, it was just banter.” The firefighter replied.
“That’s Sir to you! While you are on my ship, consider me only just below God. You f*ck with anyone on my ship and you are in some serious trouble. Minesweepers can be dangerous places to those who are not used to them. You clear?”
“Crystal, Sir.”

*

The small convoy of two MSA and three Coast Guard cutters rounded East Point, transiting from Broad Sound into Nahant Bay. A huge column of black smoke was visible in the distance, rising high into the sky.

“Jesus.” Lieutenant (J.G) Malone muttered.
“You can say that again, Sam.” Harry replied.

He turned to Spenser and Randall, who were also standing on the bridge of Unity staring at the rising smoke.

“You never did say quite why you wanted to come along, other than saying you know people there. Can’t have been for the fun.”
“We both know the Police Chief in Paradise.” Randall replied. “We want to make sure he’s okay.”
“Besides, my Boss, Captain Healy is also there.” Spencer added. “I’m sure he’d appreciate someone checking up on him.”

*

As they had been briefed, Paradise Harbor was still useable, although it looked like the fire front was awfully close. Amongst the civilians who had gathered in the harbor, were two figures wearing turnout coats and yellow helmets. They were two members of the volunteer fire department who had not been on call when the missiles had struck, and thus found themselves cut-off from their colleagues. They had organised civilians into rescue teams, saved who they could with the merge resources they had to hand, before leading everybody to the harbour, where they hoped help might come.

Unity carefully came alongside before tying up. After helping the firefighters and crew to unload the equipment, Spenser and Randall sought out one of the members of the local volunteer fire department.

“Firefighter, do you know if Chief Stone and Captain Healy of the State Police ate okay?” Spencer asked.
“Chief Stone is at the Command Post, Officer. Don’t know about any Captain Healy, though. Look, I’ll radio the C.P.”

*

“Chief, Captain Healy, got someone down at the harbor asking for you.”

Stone took the offered radio handset.

“Stone, who wants me? Over.”
“Chief Stone, it’s Spencer here. Sunny Randall and I thought that we’d help out with the relief supplies and check up on you and Captain Healy were okay. Over.”
“It’s much appreciated, Spencer. I can’t talk long, so give my regards to Sunny. I think Captain Healy wants to talk to you. Over.”

Stone handed the handset to the State Police Captain.

“Spencer, Healy, shouldn’t you be at the Port of Boston, right now? Over.” He asked gruffly.
“Probably, Captain. But you left me as senior officer, so I gave myself permission to join this operation. Sounds like you’re okay too. Over.”

Healy chucked before replying.

“Yeah, Spencer, I’m okay. For now, at least. Get yourself back to Boston as soon as you can, you bum! Out.”

*

“You know, Sunny, I’m feeling kind of unappreciated here.” Spencer observed, once he had handed the radio back to the volunteer firefighter.
“I know the feeling. Well, we don’t do this to be appreciated, do we?” Randall replied.
“Can’t be for the money, either.” Spencer said with a smile. “Time we got back to work.”

1136 hours GMT. Dzerzhinsky, northern Baltic Sea.
“Sound Action Stations!” Captain Sidorov snapped.

He was irritated that the air cover that was supposed to be protecting his ship had been drawn off by NATO fighters. The Kontr-admiral commanding the group did not seem particularly concerned, believing that the warships’ air defences would protect them. While Dzerzhinsky had formidable air defences; his S-300 missiles had the ability to hit targets beyond the horizon; Sidorov knew what had happened to some of his ship’s sister vessels when attacked by NATO aircraft. Besides, while the S-300s could hit targets over the horizon, they had to know where the targets were. Something that was lacking at the moment.

*

Wing Commander Schofield felt that the surface of the Baltic was much smoother than he was used to, making the ride the Buccaneer was delivering even more comfortable than usual. At the briefing, he and his detachment had been warned about the capabilities of the SA-N-20 Gargoyle and SA-N-6 Grumble that Dzerzhinsky was armed with. If his aircraft was detected, the Gargoyles could blot it and the others in his formation out of the sky well before they could launch their Sea Eagles.

To reduce the danger to the attacking NATO aircraft, a pair of Royal Swedish Air Force S 100B Argus would provide targeting data via data link. That would allow the Buccaneers, and the Viggens, Gripens and Tornados to fire their missiles without needed to ‘pop-up’ above the horizon.

“Coming up on I.P, Boss.” Maconie announced.
“Roger that. Arming missiles.” Schofield replied. “Give me a count down, Stu.”
“You got it.” The navigator confirmed. “Time to launch in five…four…three…two…one…NOW!”

Schofield pushed the pickle button. The first of fifty-six Sea Eagle missiles the Buccaneer formation would fire dropped away from the port outer pylon of his Buccaneer. He pushed the pickle button three more times, launching the remainder of his Sea Eagles. Seeing that the other three aircraft in his formation had also launched their missiles, he transmitted the codeword for them to reverse course and return to Uppsala.

There were still some spare missiles at Uppsala, which would allow at least some of the Buccaneer detachment to mount a second attack. Should that be necessary.

The Swedish and West German aircraft kept as close to the three formations of British Sea Eagles as they could. Finally, they too were able to launch their RBS-15 and Kormoran 2 missiles. Some of the German Tornados also fired HARM anti-radiation missiles.

*

“Missiles incoming! Missiles incoming!”

Sidorov studied the radar repeated display besides his command chair in the battlecruiser’s Operations Room. He could see that his opponents had been smart, the missiles were coming in from more than one direction. Something that would complicate defending against them.

“Open fire, set the system to automatic.” Sidorov ordered.
“Aye, Comrade Captain.”

With the command system set to automatic, Dzerzhinsky’s various missile and gun systems would be under computer control. Sidorov and his men would be effectively reduced to spectators. Unless something went badly wrong.
Sidorov smiled slightly as he felt his ship vibrate, signifying that the first S-300 missiles were being launched. Dzerzhinsky had ninety-six S-300 missiles, plus sixty-four 3K95 Kinzhal, before the ship’s CWIS was considered. [1] Even with the SAMs mounted on the escorts it was going to be close. It was almost inevitable that at least one ship was going to take a hit.

“Comrade Captain, we have a problem!” The shout brought Sidorov back to the real world.

*

While the operation to deal with the Dzerzhinsky battle group, the planners had managed to obtain the services of a pair of EF-111B Ravens and a single EC-130H Compass Call. Quite an achievement given how in demand these aircraft were.
The crews of these three aircraft had been waiting until Dzerzhinsky opened fire before starting their work. The Ravens jammed the group’s radars, while the Compass Call shut down all communications, other than visual signalling.

Both variants of the S-300s that Dzerzhinsky had fired had terminal IR seekers, just in case they lost radar guidance. However, as they were still climbing when they lost guidance, the seeker was rendered irrelevant. All ninety-six S-300s would go ballistic and simply fall into the Baltic Sea.

*

“Пиздец.” Sidrov muttered as he realised that he had just lost all of his long-range SAMs.

He idly wondered if his will was up to date.

***

[1] Forty-eight each of the S-300F and S-300FM variants.

[Bernard Woolley]

Accompanying Pictures

[jemhouston]

Those battlecruiser blow up so nicely.

Where is Captain Mary Hathaway from?

[Jotun]

Whoa. Another sea battle. I bet there is other flight crews and pilots in the other detachments who are maybe feeling a bit like some kind of airborne fire brigade the may they are bouncing from air station to air station in order to put the hurt on some enemy shipping.

Ah well, if it works…

Is Iron Feliks able to track all 96 missiles at the same time? It takes a lot of computing power and I am not sure the Kirovs ever had that ability.

I am toying with the idea of writing a description of the effects a Kormoran 2‘s warhead has, you can add it to the next chapter, or bin it.

Caporale Cattarella would be best served by taking off to the west as quietly as possible and as quickly as he dares. This looks a lot like a classic Medal of Honor or Call of Duty ego-shooter scenario. If he does not start to pick up enemy weapons and ammo while hauling a** back to his own lines, I‘ll be very disappointed

Thanks for the new chapter!

[Eaglenine2]

Question why are Buccaneers carrying bombs?

[Rocket J Squrriel]

Question why are Buccaneers carrying bombs?

If I recall from an early chapter involving South African Bucc's the bombs are for any enemy fighter that gets in a tail chase with them at low level. A few 1000lb's going off in front of them might wreck the fighter's day.

[Matt Wiser]

Whoo-hoo! Glad to see a new chapter before the holidays, and BZ as usual, And so to business:

Iron Feliks is in for it. No doubt about that, and the question now becomes: does she make it back to port, or does she become a new feature on charts of the Baltic labeled "Wreck"?

Commander U.S. Forces Korea's wife in the Guard? Well, now. Can't have her deploy to Korea... Europe, though, is a possibility. State missions would include natural disasters, such as Mount St. Helens going "Burp" a la 1980...

The NKs are doing what they did with the Pueblo crew in 1968 to this new batch of prisoners. Same playbook as the NVN in Hanoi as well. However, this time, when these NK cheerleaders get back home, law enforcement may very well be waiting for them at the airport. FYI the air routes out of Beijing are open to the U.S. West Coast, the Middle East, and Australia. Flying on a Chinese airliner is all but certain, as the Western carriers are supporting the military, CRAF style.

That Italian sniper is now on an E&E. Ivan's going to be nearby, and he had better figure out his evasion method. Or it's "For you the war is over", in Russian-accented Italian.

Nice job, and get with 353!

[Johnnie Lyle]

I’m interested in what MI did in the EOC. No doubt Plans could use a good crystal ball reader, and military experience is good for generating operational plans, but MI is not the usual kind of intel we have in a disaster.

[James1978]

341st Military Intelligence Battalion is a Linguist unit. I suspect they are an available unit in green, so they are what the state gets.
By this point, everyone has been federalized. Most of the light units left in CONUS are headed to the southern border, and it sucks if your state didn't have a large MP unit. So any Guard units made available for state missions, is by the grace of the DOD.

Air routes out the PRC to the US west coast are going to be longer flights than usual. Look at the great circle routes.
Beijing to LAX goes over the Soviet mainland, Sea of Ohotsk, Kamchatka, and the Bering Sea.
Shanghai to LAX and goes over South Korea, the Sea of Japan and Hokkaido
Hong Kong to LAX just skirts South Korea, and goes over the Sea of Japan and Hokkaido, and skirts the Aleutians.

Flights from Hong Kong and Shanghai can divert and skirt Japan's east coast, and only add about 30 minutes. Flights out of Beijing will have to fly south to around Shanghai first. Even then, the great circle still takes them a little too close for comfort to areas that the PVO may decide that any A330, 747 or 777 is a CRAF/equivalent bird that deserves a missile. I suspect to some degree, the insurers have a big say in routing at the moment. I'm sure all of it will annoy the Chinese to no end.

[Bernard Woolley]

Those battlecruiser blow up so nicely.

Where is Captain Mary Hathaway from?

She's General Hathaway's wife. She was referenced in the last chapter.

Whoa. Another sea battle. I bet there is other flight crews and pilots in the other detachments who are maybe feeling a bit like some kind of airborne fire brigade the may they are bouncing from air station to air station in order to put the hurt on some enemy shipping.

Hopefully this will be the last time for a little while that they need to bounce stations at the last minute. They'll be absolutely knackered at this point.

Is Iron Feliks able to track all 96 missiles at the same time? It takes a lot of computing power and I am not sure the Kirovs ever had that ability.

He was volley firing missiles, so does not need to track all of them at once. It would be a case of tracking one group untill they nose over and the IR tracker takes over. At that point her FCS would switch to controlling the next group. Iron Feliks is now seeing the downside of setting the FCS to auto. A human crew would have aborted the firing seqence as seeon as they realised their radars were being jammed. Iron Feliks' computer system has just carried on with its last set of instructions. It will still try and 'capture' the missiles, fail and report 'FAULT', but by that time it's too late.

I am toying with the idea of writing a description of the effects a Kormoran 2‘s warhead has, you can add it to the next chapter, or bin it.

I'd never bin anything of yours!

I‘ll be very disappointed

No promises!

Thanks for the new chapter!

YAWV, meine freunde.

Question why are Buccaneers carrying bombs?

If I recall from an early chapter involving South African Bucc's the bombs are for any enemy fighter that gets in a tail chase with them at low level. A few 1000lb's going off in front of them might wreck the fighter's day.

It's for the patented 'Bomb In Face' defence. It can be used either at low level, where the bomb will hit the ground/water and actually explode, or at higher altitudes, where the Buccaneer would drop the bomb in retard mode. The chances of it hitting a pursuing fighter at higher altitudes is small, but not zero, so a fighter pilot has to take it into account. The RAF practiced the 'BIF' defence with the Buccaneer, Jaguar, Harrier and Tornado.
There is also another good reason to carry 'iron bombs' - they are useful for sinking crippled enemy ships.

Whoo-hoo! Glad to see a new chapter before the holidays, and BZ as usual, And so to business:

You are very welcome and thanks for your contribution.

Going to have to say 'no comment' to a lot of things.

Commander U.S. Forces Korea's wife in the Guard? Well, now. Can't have her deploy to Korea... Europe, though, is a possibility. State missions would include natural disasters, such as Mount St. Helens going "Burp" a la 1980...

Even in 2005, I'd suggest that the unit could do a lot of its job from CONUS. Captain Hathaway may not deploy any further than Camp Murray

Nice job, and get with 353!

Thanks again and will do once Christmas is out of the way!

I’m interested in what MI did in the EOC.

Probably the same as it did recently in @. I can't find the web page now, but the battalion did help man the State EOC during the COVID-19 response. They're also tagged to use their linguist skills for State tasks. Not to mention basic stuff like filling sandbags. They may be cunning skilled linguists, but they are also soldiers.

341st Military Intelligence Battalion is a Linguist unit. I suspect they are an available unit in green, so they are what the state gets.
By this point, everyone has been federalized. Most of the light units left in CONUS are headed to the southern border, and it sucks if your state didn't have a large MP unit.

The WA Army National Guard is, at this point, probably going to be down to administrative and training units. It does have an MP company that's part of the 420th Chemical Battalion & it probably still has the 741st Ordnance Battalion available. The State Guard really is tiny, while it maintains two 'brigades', in @ it's only around 80 personnel. At it's largest it was about 160-170 strong. I've assumed a decline, with a rise in recruiting. Unfortunately for the State Guard, most of those interested in joining a state military force went for the the newly established Naval Militia. Which as a clear role. The SG will continue to grow, albiet slowly.

So any Guard units made available for state missions, is by the grace of the DOD.

Spot on, although if there is a major disaster, or an enemy attack of some kind, I don't see the DoD witholding resources.

[Nik_SpeakerToCats]

All you need now is a nice Alaskan or Icelandic volcano to clog the airways...

[Jotun]

All you need now is a nice Alaskan or Icelandic volcano to clog the airways...

The consensus in AH seems to be that alternate volcano eruptions and earthquakes are Alien Space Bat territory. So no convenient ash clouds to impede air traffic.
The next volcano with influence on air traffic would be Eyafjallajökull in 2010ish.

[Bernard Woolley]

I'd agree with that. However, I think that stuff like weather can be changed by butterflies flapping their wings. But not big stuff like volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or hurricanes etc.

[Jotun]

I'd agree with that. However, I think that stuff like weather can be changed by butterflies flapping their wings. But not big stuff like volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or hurricanes etc.

Hurricanes are weather, so I‘d give them a pass. But only sparingly.

[Johnnie Lyle]

I'd agree with that. However, I think that stuff like weather can be changed by butterflies flapping their wings. But not big stuff like volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or hurricanes etc.

Hurricanes are weather, so I‘d give them a pass. But only sparingly.

Hurricanes are also pretty resistant to human activity. The real butterflies will be what’s in the path of said hurricanes, and especially our response to same. The @2005 Atlantic hurricane season was particularly active, and should take center stage, when Bernard gets that far, approximately 2045 :p

[trekchu]

I know I've said this before, but "High Water mark", yadda, yadda.

That being said, ultimately time is and always will be against the Soviets... supply issues are a thing, yes, but unlike the Soviets, NATO forces almost always fall back on their own supply infrastructure while the Soviets move farther away from theirs and then have to make do with what their own Artillery hasn't blown up.

That also being said, someone refresh my memory, but discounting the Iron Felix, what's left of the Soviet surface fleet in terms of useful capital ships? Do they still pose a credible threat or are we going to see the Aurora depart from Leningrad next?