Last Hope 09 – Aegean Eclipse
OPERATION: AEGEAN ECLIPSE
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 Stars)
Situation Update: The Balkan Crisis
November 18, 1985. The southern flank of the Warsaw Pact is beginning to crumble. Following the total neutralisation and subsequent capitulation of Libya on October 26, the Western Mediterranean has been completely cleared of hostile threats. Seizing this historic momentum, Allied forces in Central Europe have launched a massive, coordinated counter-offensive, breaking Soviet defensive lines and steadily pushing the Red Army back toward pre-war borders.
This unexpected Allied breakthrough has been heavily catalyzed by severe internal chaos within the Soviet Union, which is currently fracturing from within due to massive economic gridlock and mounting political protests across several republics. Because the Kremlin has been completely distracted trying to maintain its domestic grip, they have failed to heavily fortify Crete, an island they occupied at the start of the war but left largely neglected. However, this window of opportunity is rapidly closing. Intelligence warns that if the Soviet regime manages to brutally suppress these internal uprisings, they will immediately shift their heavy military reserves to the island, deploying long-range SA-10 Grumble SAM systems and lethal ‘Redut’ coastal anti-ship complexes.
To preempt this catastrophic scenario and permanently deny Moscow its last southern stronghold, NATO has rapidly assembled a powerful naval strike component. Positioned roughly 100 miles southwest of Crete, Task Group 62.1 "Iron Anvil" – centered around the battleship USS Iowa and the amphibious assault ship USS Nassau – is maintaining strict EMCON under the cover of a storm. Providing vital high-altitude air cover and radar picket coordination just outside the immediate threat envelope is Task Group 41.2, centered around the USS Nimitz.
The Tactical Hammer: Soviet tactical aviation operating out of mainland Greece is exhausted and heavily fatigued after weeks of brutal, grinding air battles against NATO forces in Italy. However, the moment our assault begins, they will scramble whatever operational aircraft reserves they have left to launch a desperate counter-strike. To crack open the island’s defenses from long range, the operation will proceed in two strict phases. First, you must utilize USS Iowa’s BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles and Nassau’s AV-8B Harriers to blind their early warning network and systematically crush their mobile armored reserves to the west. Only then will the Pentagon authorize Phase II: a night vertical envelopment utilizing CH-46 "Phrogs" to deliver Marines directly onto a vital tactical landing zone near Tymbaki, clearing the way for heavy Newport-class LST reinforcements.
Your Orders: Admiral, you are entering a multi-layered, four-star night tactical nightmare. Maintain absolute vigilance and execute your objectives with clinical precision.
Blind the Early Warning Network: Launch long-range missile strikes to locate and destroy the P-18 ‘Spoon Rest’ radar station near Georgioupoli. Concurrently, you must track down and eliminate all mobile ‘Rubezh’ coastal anti-ship missile sites near Vathi Beach, clear the hostile garrison on Gavdos Island, and neutralize the heavy Soviet armored reserves (T-72/T-55 tanks, BM-21 Grads, and 2S3 Akatsiyas) positioned west of the landing zone.
Intelligence Report:
Aerial Threat: High. The night skies above Crete are deceptive. While fatigued, Soviet Air Force tactical fighters and interceptors from mainland Greece are ready to scramble the moment the island comes under fire. Furthermore, having completely lost their core bomber regiments of Tu-16s and Tu-22s during the catastrophic air battles in the North earlier in the war, the remaining Soviet naval aviation elements may resort to a highly unconventional, lone-wolf tactic. A single, high-speed Tu-22M3 Backfire-C may attempt a radio-silent, ultra-low-altitude dash at sea level to slip under your radar horizon and loose a single, lethal AS-4 missiles directly at USS Nassau.
Naval Threat: Low. The remnants of the Soviet surface fleet in the area are heavily depleted and playing defensive, but keep your escorts alert for localized patrol of Nanuchka or Osa class boats.
Subsurface Threat: Unknown. Soviet attack submarines are highly active in the Eastern Mediterranean, utilizing the deep waters around the Aegean to screen the island. Maintain a tight ASW perimeter around your capital ships.
Shore Defenses: Serious. The southern coast of Crete remains a dangerous perimeter. Mobile ‘Rubezh’ anti-ship launchers threaten any capital ship drawing too close to Vathi Beach, while hidden AA batteries and tactical SAMs create a deadly low-altitude umbrella over the Tymbaki valley.
Victory Conditions: Clear Gavdos Island, destroy the P-18 radar station near Georgioupoli, neutralize all active ‘Rubezh’ coastal sites at the sountern part of the island, crush the Soviet armored reserves to the west, and successfully deliver your CH-46 "Phrogs" to the Tymbaki landing zone while ensuring the survival of USS Iowa and USS Nassau.
Force the eclipse, Admiral. The Iron Curtain has to be moved back.
