Naval Command – Campaign Falklands 1982 Falklands Conflict Campaign Guide for use with the Naval Command wargame rules By Rory Crabb Naval Command – Campaign Falklands 1982 Introduction The Falklands conflict was a ten-week war fought between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the British overseas territories of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The conflict began on the 2nd of April 1982 when Argentine forces invaded the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands the following day. On the 5th of April the British Government dispatched a naval taskforce to re-capture the islands. The Conflict lasted for 72 days until the Argentine surrender on the 14th of June. This campaign guide will allow Naval Command players to re-fight key engagements of the conflict and to play a number of “what-if” scenarios. Some of the scenarios (especially those re-creating air attacks on specific ships) will be very quick to play using the Naval Command rules. It is therefore suggested that these are played in conjunction with other scenarios. For example if a ship survives one scenario it will be available to the player in the next. HMS Invincible returns to Portsmouth (UK), Victorious Campaign Map Map courtesy of the Department of History, United States Military Academy Historical Scenarios Attack on the Santa Fe (25th April 1982) The Argentine submarine Santa Fe has just completed its mission of ferrying a party of marines to Grtviken in South Georgia and is returning to sea. British frigates are in the area keeping a sharp lookout. Santa Fe must safely exit the area and escape to open sea. Royal Navy Forces HMS Antrim (Type 21 Frigate) HMS Plymouth (Rothesay Class Frigate) HMS Brilliant (Type 22 Frigate) Argentine Forces ARA Santa Fe (Balao Class Submarine) Battle Area and Deployment The Royal Navy frigates must deploy first anywhere in the area marked on the diagram. The submarine Santa Fe may deploy within the square area shown on the diagram. The submarine begins the game on the surface. Santa Fe ExitSanta Royal Navy Santa Fe British Victory Conditions In order to win the game the British frigates must sink or cripple the Santa Fe with eight turns. Argentine Victory Conditions The Santa Fe must safely exit the area in as shown on the diagram within eight turns. Air Battle (1st May 1982) Royal Navy Sea Harriers are launched to intercept an Argentine strike force. The Argentine Air Force has been launched to incorrect intelligence that amphibious landings are already underway. Royal Navy Forces HMS Invincible (Invincible Class Carrier) 6 x Sea Harrier Argentine Forces 2x A4 Skyhawks 2 x IAI Daggers 2 x Canberras 2 x Mirage III Airbase – Off Table Battle Area and Deployment The Argentine aircraft enter the area on the first turn. All British aircraft begin the game on-board their carrier (with the exception of CAP aircraft). RoyalNavy Argentine Air Force British Victory Conditions In order to win the game the British Harriers must destroy or drive off all of the Argentine Aircraft. Argentine Victory Conditions In order to win the game Argentine Strike Force must destroy or drive off all of the British Aircraft. British Sea Harriers Sinking of the Belgrano (2nd May 1982) The British Nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror is on a search and destroy mission. Royal Navy Forces HMS Conqueror (Churchill Class Submarine) Argentine Forces ARA General Belgrano (Brooklyn Class Cruiser) ARA Piedra Buena (Allen M Sumner Class Destroyer) ARA Bouchard (Allen M Sumner Class Destroyer) YPF Puerto Rosales (Tanker) Battle Area and Deployment All ships are deployed using blinds. The Argentine ships deploy first and are positioned at one end of the area in a 30 x 30cm square. The HMS Conqueror may deploy anywhere on the table as long as it is not within 30cm of an enemy vessel or blind marker. Argentine Exit Argentine Battle HMS Conqueror Group British Victory Conditions In order to win the game the British Submarine must cripple or sink at least one enemy vessel within eight turns. Argentine Victory Conditions In order to win the game Argentine ships must exit the opposite end of the area within eight turns without losing any ships. The sinking Belgrano Attack on the Sheffield (4th May 1982) The British Frigate HMS Sheffield is attacked by an Argentine air strike. Royal Navy Forces HMS Sheffield (Type 42 Destroyer [Batch 1]) HMS Coventry (Type 42 Destroyer [Batch 1]) HMS Glasgow (Type 42 Destroyer [Batch 1]) Argentine Forces 1x SP-2H Neptune AEW Aircraft 6x Super Etendards (Exocet) Battle Area and Deployment All ships are deployed using blinds. The British Ships Deploy First. The Argentine SP-2H Neptune AEW Aircraft enters the area on the first turn. The Super Etendards may only enter the area once one of the British ships has been detected. Two Super Etendards may enter the area each turn. Royal Navy entine Air Force entine Arg British Victory Conditions In order to win the game the British Ships must survive for at least four turns. Argentine Victory Conditions In order to win the game Argentine aircraft must sink at least one enemy ship within four turns. HMS Sheffield Attack on the Coventry (25th May 1982) British Frigates HMS Coventry and HMS Broadsword are acting as a decoy for enemy aircraft to draw them away from the amphibious landings taking place in San Carlos Water. Royal Navy Forces HMS Coventry (Type 42 Destroyer [Batch 1]) HMS Broadsword (Type 22 Frigate [Batch 1]) Argentine Forces 6x A4 Skyhawks (Bombs) 1x SP-2H Neptune AEW Aircraft Battle Area and Deployment All ships are deployed using blinds. The British Ships Deploy First. The Argentine SP-2H Neptune AEW Aircraft enters the area on the first turn. The A4 Skyhawks may only enter the area once one of the British ships has been detected. Two A4 Skyhawks may enter the area each turn. Argentine Air Force Royal Navy British Victory Conditions In order to win the game the British Ships must survive for at least four turns. Argentine Victory Conditions In order to win the game Argentine aircraft must sink at least one enemy ship within four turns. HMS Coventry The Battle of San Carlos Water (21st – 25th May 1982) Amphibious landings are taking place in San Carlos water. The Naval task force must survive numerous Argentine air strike and safely land as many troops as possible. Royal Navy Fleet Rather than use all of the ships historically involved in the battle, the British player selects from the fleet lists as follows. - 1x Aircraft Carrier - 1x Assault Ship - 1x Auxiliary Ship - 2x Merchant Ships - 2x Destroyers/Frigates Royal Navy Air Cover HMS Hermes (Centaur Class Carrier) – Off Table HMS Invincible (Invincible Class Carrier – Off Table Royal Navy Landing Force HMS Fearless (Fearless Class Landing Ship) HMS Intrepid (Fearless Class Landing Ship) RFA Sir Geraint (Auxiliary Landing Ship) RFA Sir Tristram (Auxiliary Landing Ship) RFA Sir Galahad (Auxiliary Landing Ship) RFA Sir Percivale (Auxiliary Landing Ship) RFA Sir Lancelot (Auxiliary Landing Ship) RFA Fort Austin (Auxiliary Landing Ship) SS Canberra (Merchant Passenger Ship) Europic Ferry 4 (merchant RoRo) Elk 5 (Merchant RoRo) Royal Navy Escort Force HMS Ardent (Type 21 Frigate) HMS Antelope (Type 21 Frigate) HMS Brilliant (Type 22 Frigate) HMS Argonaut (Leander Class Frigate) HMS Plymouth (Rothesay Class Frigate) HMS Yarmouth (Rothesay Class Frigate) HMS Antrim (County Class Destroyer) Argentine Air Forces The Argentine force for this scenario only includes aircraft. After strikes or if driven off aircraft can return to their off table airbase to re-arm and re-fuel. The Argentine player has the following aircraft. 6x A4 Skyhawks 4x IAI Daggers 4x Mirage III 4x FMA OA-58 Pucara 4x SP-2H Neptune AEW Aircraft 1x Airbase (Off Table) Battle Area and Deployment All ships are deployed using blinds. The British Fleet deploy first as shown on the diagram. Argentine AEW aircraft enter the battle area during the first turn. Once targets have been detected the Argentine Air Force may begin to launch airstrikes. Royal Navy Argentine Air Force Air Argentine Target Area British Victory Conditions In order to win the game the British must land at least 60% of their ground forces within 20 turns. Argentine Victory Conditions In order to win the game Argentine aircraft must prevent the British from landing 60% of their ground forces within 20 turns. HMS Fearless in San Carlos Water Hypothetical Scenarios These are ideas for possible scenarios that could be played around the Falklands Conflict. These are “what-if” situations that never happened in reality. Players may wish to create their own scenarios or use the scenarios provided in the Naval Command core rules. Carrier Attack The Argentine aircraft carrier Veinticinco de Mayo and its escorts enters the conflict area. A British battlegroup is sent to intercept. Fleet Engagement The bulk of the Argentine fleet and the Royal Navy taskforce make contact in a devastating battle at sea. Task Force Intercept Argentine ships and submarines attempt to intercept the task force before its arrival at the Islands. The Royal navy must protect the landing ships and merchant navy ships from the attackers. Mainland Strike The conflict escalates leading to British amphibious forces carrying out an attack on the Argentine mainland. ARA Veinticinco de Mayo Royal Navy Task Force Aircraft Carriers Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier (STOVL Conversion) [1953] FP: 5 Max Speed 8 EW 4+ Damage Levels 4/5/6 Missile Defence 7+/12 Target 4+ UEW 2+ Damage Control 5+ Air Defence 7+/30 Special Features: Carrier [5] Aircraft: 4x Sea Harrier, 2x Sea King ASW . HMS Hermes – Task Force Flagship Invincible Class Aircraft Carrier [1980] FP: 5 Max Speed 8 EW 5+ Damage Levels 4/5/6 Missile Defence 6+/12 Target 4+ UEW 3+ Damage Control 5+ Air Defence 6+/30 Special Features: Carrier [5] Aircraft: 5x Sea Harrier, 2x Sea King ASW .