Canary's Cage Walk Through

A walk through of the the Canary's Cage scenario set in 2005

The scenario is centred around Spains attempt to retake the Canary islands from the NAIL coalition. This isnt a very difficult scenario to play but is very satisfying all the same

The scenario and our equipment

The scenario

NAIL (Northern Africa Islamic League) is the coalition of Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia and the Kingdom of Morocco, they have managed to launch a surprise assault on the Spanish Canary islands which is off the West coast of Africa.
Our role is to prevent further reinforcements reaching the islands and launch an offensive to retake the islands.
Surprisingly no other nation is willing to support us in this cause which is being reported as ''The Spanish Falklands''

Our 2 main objectives are to stop the NAIL amphibious landing force, and to ensure the safe passage of our own landing force which is Grupo Delta.

There is little in the way of information as to what equipment the enemy may have deployed in the area but we are advised to make use of ASW patrols. Given the nations that make up NAIL we can expects a good mixture of American, European and Soviet hardware

Our Equipment (available only)



Torrejon AB
2x KC-130H Hercules tankers
11x F/A-18A Hornets, standard cap
1x Falcon 20C OECM
1x Boeing 707-351C ELINT surveillance

Moron AB
2x KC-130H Hercules tankers
8x F/A-18A Hornets, AMRAAM lite
7x F/A-18A Hornets, Harpoon
3x Orion P-3B Maritime surveillance

Rota AB
6x AV-8B Harrier II Night attacks, AMRAAM

Grupo Alfa
The group consists of 7x guided missile frigates (2x F101, 2x F71, 3x F81 class) and the aircraft carrier R11 Principe de Asturias
4x AV-8B Harrier II Night attacks, AMRAAM
4x AV-8B Harrier II Night attacks, Sidewinder
6x Assorted ASW helicopters
1 SH-3W Sea King, AEW
1 AB.212 EW

Grupo Delta
This will be our landing force, the group consists of 7 guided missile frigates (2X F101, 2x F31, 1x F71 2x F81 class) and 4 transport vessels (2x 1179 LST 2x L51).

Submarines
We also have 4 submarines at our disposal 3x S-70 and 1x S-60

Building the picture

Without more information about probable targets and enemy forces its difficult to put together much of a plan to retake the islands.
I'll put together ASW patrols for both Grupo Alfa and Delta as well as launch their AEW and EW aircraft.
From Rota and Morton i'll launch Harriers and F18's to counter any NAIL threats. i'll be trying to keep the Harriers based on the carrier on the deck as the Principe de Asturias only has 24 AMRAAM's and 24 Sidewinders available, i'll be trying to save these for when the carrier is out of the effective patrol range from the aircraft stationed at out other AB's.

Without a doubt we are going to have to strike at least one of the air fields in the Canary's along with an anti ship missile strike against NAIL's amphibious force. This is as a minimum and we may need to strike more targets. A fair assumption will be the need for HARM missiles for use against SAM sites and a runway disabling weapon
7 F/A-18's are already equipped with Harpoon anti ship missiles. I am also arming 3 F/A-18's at Torrejon with AGM-88B HARM's and another 3 at Torrejon with GBU-24/B Paveway II. These 6 aircraft have a arming time of 6hrs, we have 2 days and 5 hours to complete our objectives
On board the carrier i will equip 3 Harriers with GBU-12D/B Paveway's so the group is able to conduct missions with ground or surface contacts.

Within minuets of our sensors coming online we are starting build a picture of the NAIL operations, already we can see 2 F16CG Blk42 Falcons's departing and an E-2C Hawkeye group operating. the 2 F16's are quickly hunted down by 2 Rota based Harriers, in that time we also get a better picture of Sidi Slimane AB



The radar at Sidi Slimane AB will pose a problem as it has a 160nm range which means it can track all aircraft departing Rota and Moron departures soon after takeoff. Because of its good location it also covers a good amount of the airspace we will use to guard our surface fleets and also the airspace we will use on attack and support missions to the Canary islands, effectively turning the airbase into an early warning station for the NAIL forces at the islands.



At Marrakesh AB we see an almost identical picture, 1 I-HAWK SAM unit and accompanying radar unit

To the West we have detected 4 PCFG (guided missile patrol craft) ahead of Grupo Alfa and off the coast of Safi is what i strongly believe to be the NAIL amphibious invasion force, so far confirmed is 2x guided missile frigates and 1x tank landing ship.

Still inside the first hour of engagements and we have now destroyed:
1x 012 Rais Hadj Mubarek [PL-877EKM Kilo]
1x E-2C Hawkeye Group II
4x F-16CG Blk 42 Falcon [Peace Vector II Upgr]

As for the islands, im still trying to build a better picture of what is deployed there, in addition there has been an order for one of our submarines to deploy a recon team to the landing area

To Cmdr S 72 Tramontana

Proceed to Landing Zone and insert UOE team, we need to explore the designated landing area before Grupo Delta arrives.

Stick to your primary order, do not attack unless you are fired upon and in self-defense.

Tramontana must be before 23:00 GMT. Once in land the UOE Team must recon the area for enemy installations.

Good Luck!



-Rmks- UOE (Unidad Operaciones Especiales), this is the Spanish marines SpecOps.-

Deal with them on the ground

With NAIL launching aircraft from both Sidi Slimane and Marrakesh this will become an increasingly frustrating problem in the longer term of this this operation as our aircraft will have to fly longer and longer missions ending with them needing tanker support.
If we can disable the radar and runways at Sidi Slimane and hopefully also at Marrakesh this will severely hamper the enemy's ability to track our aircraft and disrupt their ability to conduct airborne missions in the area.



Firstly 3 F18 aircraft with AGM-88B HARM weapons will approach Sidi Slimane AB aiming to destroy the I-HAWK SAM system. The falcon 20C will be flying with them in an attempt to confuse the enemy systems during the approach. F18's from Moron will be on station to intercept any alert aircraft trying to scramble. Providing the target is destroyed a team of 3 F18's carrying GBU-24/B Paveways with the intention of destroying the runway will approach.

(weapons and fuel dependant)

After destroying the radar unit as Sidi Slimane the HARM flight will continue straight on to Marakech to target the radar unit there, Harriers from Morton will already be on stations to stop any scrambling aircraft, the Paveway carrying aircraft will be close behind the HARM units providing they have successfully targeted the 1st runway

remaining weapons

Any remaining weapons will be put to use against the enemy radar installations.

Currently all 6 aircraft are being rearmed with a launch ready time of 18;00Z

Ath the same time i will enable 3 carrier based harriers with GBU-24/B Paveways

Anti Ship Strike (2d 3hrs remain through to 2d 1hr)

With the enemy fleet now fully identified 65nm off the Safi coast we are ready to launch an anti ship missile strike against them


7 aircraft will depart Moron armed with Harpoon anti ship missiles, they will join the Falcon 20C OECW enroute from Torrejon.

5 primary targets have been selected for this strike. the F911 Murbarak guided missile frigate at the rear of the fleet, hopefully this reduces the fleets missile defences enough to target the 3x L9030 BATRAL's and the 1x LST 1179.

14:25Z the Falcon 20C departs Torrejon AB at 14:28z
15:03Z Harpoon Equipped F18's depart Moron AB and proceed South West towards the fleet.
15:55Z the F18's have already dropped to low level and begin their attack runs on the fleet behind them the Falcon 20C circles attepting to Jam The fleets sensors and defensive systems
16:02Z the missile strike is over



The mission has only been a partial sucsess with the F911 Murbarak and 2x L 9030 Champlain's [BATRAL Class] confirmed as sunk. This will mean another strike mission will need to be launched with tanker support due to the increasing range from Morton.
The other possibility which is now a preferred option is that the submarine S 63 is able to strike the group.

4d 1hr remaining

Rota harriers have been engaged with MiG-25P Foxbat A, these have been tracked from the Canary islands although im not sure which AB.
We have also spotted numerous helo's operating ahead of NAIL's amphibious force, these are most likely ASW patrols
Our own ASW patrol infront of Grupo Alfa proves efficent in detecting and destroying 1x S 849 Romeo

Runway Bombing (1d 23hr remaining)

Ending the bombing operation was a bit of a disappointment, i managed to destroy the radar units at both Sidi Slimane and Marrakesh but failed to disable the runways at either AB.

Now rather than try again i think ill rearm these aircraft and use them in bombing the islands

Grupo Alpha has engaged the 4 Ramadam PCFG and destroyed them, as Grupo Alpha fired harpoons 6x F16's departed Sidi Slimane attempting to head West over the coast, i had aircraft on station for the bombing run and managed to strike against all 6 so the operation wasnt a complete waste.

At the end 6x F16 and 2x Radar units are destroyed in adition to 1 lightly damaged SAM control unit.

Ending the operation with 1d 22hrs remain

Enemy losses
1x 012 Rais Hadj Mubarek [PL-877EKM Kilo]
4x 670 Ramadan
6x AS.565MA Panther
1x E-2C Hawkeye Group II
1x F 911 Mubarak [Perry]
14x F-16CG Blk 42 Falcon [Peace Vector II Upgr]
2x L 9030 Champlain [BATRAL Class]
4x MiG-25P Foxbat A
1x Mirage F.1CH
2x Mirage F.1CH-200
2x Radar (AN/TPS-63)
1x S 849 Romeo
4x SH-2G(E) Seasprite
2x Vehicle (AN/MPQ-46 HPI)
1x Vehicle (AN/MPQ-50 PAR)
1x Vehicle (AN/MPQ-51 ROR)
1x Vehicle (AN/MPQ-55 ICWAR)

Sub Strike (1d 16hrs remain)

Just after 01:00z the Spanish submarine S63 was ideally positiond to strike the remaining transport vessels in the NAIL amphibious fleet. This had been helped by the now lack of NAIL ASW aircraft having been detected and destroyed earlier.

Firing 2 torpedoes at each of the 2 vessels the submarine began diving and heading away from the fleet to make its escape to the South, torpedoes successfully struck both targets with them sinking within a few minuets.

Unfortunately during the escape S63 was hit and sunk shortly before 01:15z. while this is disappointing it is not hopefully a significant loss.

S73 is now positioned ahead of the NAIL fleet waiting to launch a similar attack on the remaining guided missile frigates.

Time to strike (1d 15hrs remain)

As we build an increasingly more accurate picture of enemy movements across the islands we can start to form a more detailed plan of how we can limit NAIL's detection of our forces and also limit their ability to counter



Our first strike on the islands is going to be conducted in 2 stages, the first from a carrier based group.
The second strike will involve F18's from Torrejon and tankers from Torrejon and Moron. This second stage will be significantly more complicated and will need to to be carefully managed to ensure its success

At 02:36z 7 Harriers depart the aircraft carrier Principie de Asturias. 3 armed with GBU-12D/B Paveway's, the remaining 4 aircraft will act as escorts on the bombing run. In this strike i'll only be committing to air targets if they pose an immediate threat to the Paveway group. Additional aircraft have re based to the carrier from Rota bringing with them extra munitions but there is still a shortage of AMRAAM's and Sidewinders



02:37z 2x KC-130 tanker aircraft depart Torrejon and head South West to the designated refuelling points

02:46z Harriers identify an opportunistic target, a lone E-2C Hawkeye, this is a relatively high value target so the aircraft is engaged and destroyed with a single Sidewinder

02:54z the Harriers destroy their first target with a single Paveway

03:06z 6X F18's depart Torrejon armed with AGM-88B HARM's and GBU-24B Paveway's. they immediately head South West following the tankers at a low speed to conserve fuel. on the return flight these aircraft along with the KC-130 tankers will land at Moron to reduce their required fuel.

03:09z the 3 Paveway Harriers begin their run on to target 2 which is SA-3B SAM site. Having to evade a barrage of surface to air missiles 3 separate Paveway units are dropped and destroy the SAM launchers on the ground.
As previously suspected a radar installation has been detected and confirmed as an AN-TPS unit.

03:11z the Harriers drop their final remaining Paveway on the newly discovered radar unit and destroy it.

In addition to the Harriers successful strike mission only 1 sidewinder was fired which is a big bonus.
Also a fairly large amount of intelligence was gathered regarding aircraft stationed at Gando AB

3x Su-24MK Fencer D
7x Su-22M-3K Fitter J
4x Mirage F.1ED
1x MiG-25P Foxbat A

While the numbers of aircraft may be unreliable it does give us a better indication of what aircraft are based here and what tactics and weaponry may be used against us.

The MiG-25P Foxbat A is naturally a fighter aircraft. The Su-24MK Fencer D and Su-22M-3K Fitter J are attack aircraft, thankfully neither are able to carry anti ship missiles but are limited to rockets and iron bombs, i would expect these to be used in a more defensive role against our fleets. I would initially think the Harriers would easily be able to engage these aircraft even in relatively large numbers, but with a limited munitions supply i think being able to confine these aircraft to the ground or destroy them on their parking ramps would be a much better option. Of course this will be dependant of what we can identify on the ground at Los Rodeos when the F18's are attacking nearby targets.

04:47 the F18's and 2 KC130 tankers approach the refuelling area off the coast of Safi, at the same time 2 more tankers are taking off from Moron to provide fuel for the returning aircraft.





05:35z 4 HARM weapons are fired at the SAM site at Los Rodeos resulting in its destruction

05:38z 4 Paveways destroy the 2x SSC-3 Styx TELAR [3P51] targets

05:41z 2 Paveways destroy an ANT-TPS radar unit, the presence of which had been suspected

the aircraft will now return to Moron via a refuelling stage at the same location as the outward trip

in addition at Los Rodeos our aircraft only detected 2 MIG 29 Fulcrum C's this makes the bombing of Gando AB a higher priority

Overall the bombing raid has been of the highest success. MIG 29 Fulcrum C's were engaged in the air by the HARM F18's. All targets selected for the operation have been destroyed leaving the enemy with a reduced situational awareness or SAM protection.

they will now be solely reliant on their surface vessels to detect our aircraft

Bombing Gando AB (1d 11hrs remain)

Our bombing aircraft are nearly at the the tankers on the return to Moron, they have burned alot less fuel than i anticipated so i will now launch 2 groups of 3 F18's all equipped with Paveway weapons, the sole intention of this stike is to destroy the Gando runway

At this stage we are now seeing very little activity form the NAIL air forces and virtually no air activity around Sidi Slimane and Marrakesh.

All 6 aircraft are in the air by 06:22z, these were previously the aircraft that took part in the Harpoon anti ship strike

07:37z air to air refueling is now completed and the aircraft begin their flight to Gando AB meeting up with 4x Harriers which will provide fire support as the F18's are only quipped with Sidewinders and no AMRAAM's

08:16 12 Paveway's inflict heavy damage to the runway at Gando AB

Another successful bombing raid helps make up for the disappointing attempt at bombing the runway at Sidi Slimane AB. Later we learn 99.99% damage was sustained to the runway.

Hopefully now NAIL will be reliant on just one airbase to defend the islands, taking into account the lack of radar coverage they now have after the previous strike this will put us in a muc stronger position.

1d 9hrs remain

Target Los Rodeos

09:49 3 Harriers from Grupo Alpha loaded with 6 GBU-12B/D Paveways take off with another 4 Harriers as escort

10:04z 6 paveway weapons are dropped on the runway at Los Rodeos AB,

The strike is a complete failure with as little as 6.7% damage to the paved surface, compared to the 99% damage to the paved runway at Gando, virtually no damage has been inflicted upon the enemy, The aircraft now based at Moron will have one last opportunity to fly a bombing raid on the islands,

As the strike force returns to the carrier, vessels from Grupo Alpha has successfully sunk a F951 FFG and is now aiming to clear a path for Grupo Delta to approach the islands

12:51z a lone KC-130 tanker departs Moron to provide fuel for 3 F18's loaded with 6 Paveway's which will be departing shortly

At the same time Grupo Alfa has arrived off the Canary islands, heading towards the group but just out of Harpoon range is the remaining 3 guided missile frigates that belonged to the NAIL amphibious group.

13:32z 3 F18's depart Moron armed with Paveway's as does another KC130 for a seperate group of F18 paveway equipped aircraft

14:02z the second group of F18 Paveway aircraft depart Moron

14:44z the first group of F18's completed their air to air refuelling and proceed towards the target area

15:05z the second group of F18's have refuelled

15:30z all 6 paveway's from group 1 hit the runway at Los Rodeos AB inflicting heavy damage to the runway

16:00z group 2 drops their payload on their 2nd choice targets as the runway has no been disabled, the paveways destroy 4 aircraft on parking ramps

16:15z Grupo Alfa destroys the last of the remaining vessels from the NAIL amphibious fleet, it is now believed all NAIL naval units in the area have been eliminated

Liberating the Canary island (20hr 6mins remain)

With 20hrs remaining the guided missile cruiser F31 Descubierta leads Grupo Delta past the carrier Principe de Asturias on their way in to the landing area.

at 01:19 (16hrs 40mins remaining) the landing craft make their final preparation for launch, they are underway heading for the landing zone at 01:23z

at 04:04 (13hr 55min remaining) the landing craft arrive at their landing zone and begin disembarking

almost immediately the remaining NAIL forces surrender



To Cmdrs Grupo Delta and Grupo Alfa,

Our men has landed in Tenerife Island, we have received a message from Headquarters, the enemy has announced a cease fire and agree to abandon the islands.

Congratulations!

Spoilers, NAIL equipment.

available only

Sidi Slimane AB
5x Mirrage F.1CH (Maritime strike escort)
Loadout - 2x R.550 Magic 1 + 2x Super R.530F + 1x 1200 litre drop tank

6x Mirrage F.1CH (Maritime strike)
Loadout - 2x R.550 Magic + 6x T.25 250kg GPB + 1x 1200 litre drop tank

6x F-16CG Blk 42 Falcon (AAW Patrol)
Loadout - 2x AIM-7M Sparrow III + 2x AIM-9M Sidewinder + 2x 370 USG drop tank

6x F-16CG Blk 42 Falcon (Maritime strike)
Loadout - 2x AGM-84G Harpoon ICR + 2x AIM-9M Sidewinder + 2x Optional AIM-9M Sidewinder + 2x 370 USG drop tank + 1x 300 USG drop tank

1x E-2C Hawkeye (AEW)

Marakech AB

5x F4E Phantom (Maritime strike)
Loadout - 2x AGM-65B Maverick EO + Optional AIM7F Sparrow III + 1x AN/ALQ-119 DECM POD + 2x 370 USG drop tank + 1x 600 USG drop tank

3x Mirrage F.1CH-200 (Maritime strike escort)
Loadout - 4x R.550 Magic 1 + 3x 1200 litre drop tank

3x Mirrage F.1CH-200 (AAW Patrol)
4x R.550 Magic 1 + 3x 1200 litre drop tank

8x F-16CG Blk 42 Falcon (AAW Patrol)
Loadout - 2x AIM-7M Sparrow III + 2x AIM-9M Sidewinder + 2x 370 USG drop tank

Gando AB
8x Mirrage F.1ED (AAW Patrol)
Loadout - 3x R.550 Magic 1 + 2x Super R.530F + 1x 1200 litre drop tank

13x SU-24MK Fencer D (Maritime strike)
Loadout - Optional 2x AA-8 Aphid RT-60TM + 3x AS-14 Kedge KH-29L

13x SU-22M-3K Fitter J
Loadout - 1x AS-9 Kyle KH28 + 1x Metel Emitter locator + 1x SPS-141MVG-E Gvozdika DECM pod + 2x 820 litre drop tank

2x E-2C Hawkeye (AEW)

4x MIG-25P Foxbat A (AAW Patrol)
Loadout - 1x AA-6 Acrid A R-40R SARH + 1x AA-6 Acrid B R-40R IR + 4x AA-8 Aphid R-60T

Los Rodeos AB

4x MIG 29 Fulcrum C (Maritime strike escort)
Loadout - 6x AA-11 Archer R-73 + 1x 1500 litre drop tank

4x MIG 29 Fulcrum C (AAW Patrol)
Loadout - 6x AA-11 Archer R-73 + 1x 1500 litre drop tank

4x SU-24MK Fencer D (Maritime strike)
Loadout - 10x FAB-500M-54 GPB

SAM BTy I-HAWK P1 located at Sidi Slimane AB, Marrakesh AB

Radar AN/TPS-63 located at Sidi Slimane AB, Marrakesh AB, Gondo AB, Los Rodeos AB and Lanzarote

SAM Bn SA-3b GOA Located at Gondo AB and Los Rodeos AB

Amphibious Group

3x F946 Abu Qir Guided missile frigate
1x F916 Tabe Guided missile frigate
3x L9030 Champlain BRATAL Class transport
1x LST 1179 Newport Tank landing ship
1x F911 Murbarak Guided missile frigate

Patrol group

4x 670 Ramadan Fast guided missile patrol craft

Other Surface vessels

1x 801 Rais Hamidou Fast guided missile patrol craft
2x F951 Najim Al Zafir Guided missile frigate
1x 416 Ziyad Fast guided missile patrol craft
2x 901 Mourad Rais Guided missile frigate

Sub Surface Vessels

4x 849 Romeo
1x 012 Rais Hadj Murbarak
1x 311 Al Badr

Big Tip for scenario is to keep your fleet hidden, once spotted you start seeing more NAIL anti ship missions.
Try to disable the runways and radar, the NAIL aircraft are not modern nor advanced but they have in total 95 fixed wing aircraft which will be a massive challenge to engage in aerial combat. By disabling the runway at Gando alone you are able to prevent the use of up to 40 fixed wing aircraft,

[goofey]

Nice work. I got creamed in the scenario first time through tonight. But maybe better luck tomorrow, using your guide. We’ll see.

[喷子之神]

good job