DATE: June 9, 2009
To: CINC, Northern Theater Command
NorFleet Headquarters & Staff
NorFleet Surface Fleet Command
NorFleet SubOps Command
NorFleet Naval Aviation Command
All subordinate Northern Fleet commands
Cc: CINC, 30th Corps
CINC, VDV Northern Military District
CINC Special Forces (Spetsnaz)
From: The Genshtab, Moscow
Encryption: High
Re: OPERATION NORTHERN STORM
Background on Operation Northern Storm
Six months ago, our great leader, President Voronov, foresaw a future in which Russia would once again rule the pan-Slavic regions of eastern Europe that is so rightfully ours. In those six months we have built up a massive number of armies and air forces which we estimate outnumber those of NATO by four to one. To secure our victory, however, the commander and staff of the great Northern Red Banner Fleet was tasked with orchestrating a plan that would guarantee safe passage of our nuclear attack submarine fleet into the Atlantic where they will be in a position to attack shipping between North America and Europe. With Europe cut off from supply and reinforcements, a Russian victory in Europe would be inevitable.
Now, six months later, we are just moments away from H-Hour, with all signs pointing to a successful victory in the Atlantic. Already our fleet of 20 nuclear attack submarines is halfway to the GIUK gap, having used decoys in port to disguise their departure and the grinding noise of the ice floes to mask their initial movements to the northwest. Meanwhile, our special forces units have slipped byNATO defenses and are ready to attack key enemy assets in the region. And our surface fleet has sortied without a comensurate response from NATO, currently outnumbering our enemy's surface forces by almost three to one. Given these circumstances, it would seem that victory is already at hand.
However... recent reports from our currently deployed nuclear subs in the Atlantic are reporting a much higher rate of encounters with sono-buoys, dipping sonars and closely passing sonar-equipped warships than in previous months, particularly along the eastern US seaboard. At first we wrote this off to bad luck and assumed they would be able to escape detection prior to D-Day, but then we checked our RORSAT and EORSTAT imaging satellites and saw that the patrol patterns of US ASW aircraft very closely correseponded with the true position of our subs, a sign that our sub deployments are being detected regularly by MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detection) as they take up their positions in the Atlantic. We attribute the enemy's improved surveillance capability to two factors -- SOSUS, which is giving the enemy enough advance warning and movement data to conduct highly effective ASW air patrols, and the recent deployment of US SURTASS vessels. (SURTASS vessels, which are known to detect subs at extremely long ranges through the use of powerful sound-energy waves, were previously tied up in port prior to December of last year due to protests from environmentalists over their harmful effect on marine life. The enviropnmentalists lost out, however, no doubt due to the increasing tensions between our two countries.) Neither of these assets presents much of a concern to upcoming operations, however, since the northern SOSUS relay station is about to be destroyed, and the SURTASS vessels will be relatively easy to sink once the war begins since they tend to operate independently of any escorting warships. Unfortunately, this does not help the dozen or so nuclear subs presently being tracked by NATO assets. Thus, these subs are likely to be prosecuted and sunk very soon after hostilities commence, effectively reducing our submarine strength in the Atlantic significantly.
This means that our hope to control the Atlantic sea lanes now rests entirely with the two wolfpacks, which in our estimation is still enough to claim a victory, but only just barely. And that assumes the wolfpacks make it to the Atlantic relatively intact.
Therefore, in order to increase our margin of victory and ensure overwhelming supremacy in the North Atlantic, other measures may need to be considered. Fortunately, we have many options at our disposal, since "controlling the Atlantic" can be defined in any number of ways. Having surface assets deploy to the Atlantic, of course, is one possibility, as even a single destroyer can be deadly against unescorted freighters -- which, since we are not yet at war, are still plentiful (only now will the enemy likely form escorted convoys). Another possibility is to commit more ground forces to the capture of key air bases in the GIUK region order to deny NATO the ability to use these bases against our anti-shipping assets in the Atlantic. Even better would be the ability to base our own aircrat at such bases, thus forming a safe air corridor through which we can conduct long-range maritime strikes. The farther south we can control such bases, the greater the degree of ultimate victory, since it will effectively bring the war closer to NATO's back yard and divert all Atlantic Alliance sea and air power away from the European front.
On the other hand, when all is said and done, you may feel that our best chance lies with simply committing every asset to protecting the wolfpacks as they transit southward so that they arrive in the Atlantic intact. If that is your choice, then so be it. It is not our concern how we attain dominance in the Atlantic, only that we attain it.
The challenge ahead is a formidable one. But based on your previous success at overcoming great obstacles through shrewdness and ingenuity, we of the General Staff have great faith in your capabilities and that you will all serve your motherland well.
HEADQUARTERS LOCATION
To facilitate the execution of Operation Northern Storm (aka "Pacific Breeze") we have created a new, joint command headquarters -- Northern Theater Command -- in nearby Polyarnyy, 25 km. west of Murmansk/Severomorsk. This is where your senior commanders and their headquarters staff will oversee all ongoing naval, air and ground operations. Individual task force and unit commanders will immediately embark for their forward deployed flagships and command posts.
To get to Theater Headquarters, proceed immediately from Northern Fleet Headquarters in Severomorsk. A special helicopter will take you to Theater Command Headquarters (note the picture of the new HQ below the red naviagation bar). When you arrive, you will give the sentry a new password, which is: "deep freeze." (Use lower case spelling).
Northern Theater Command Headquarters will be made up of the usual staff positions such as Intelligence (S2) and Operations (S3). Given the large forces and short decision cycles involved, the CINC may want to give the Operations staff the authority to draft and issue orders to the subordinate commands in his behalf. It is also recommended, though not necessary, that there is someone among the headquarters staff who is keeping an eye on logistics (S4).
COMMANDS AND ORGANIZATION
Your commander-in-chief (formerly CINC Northern Fleet in Stage I) will be the Northern Theater Commander, whose command will be comprised of three component commands -- the Naval Command, the Air Command and the Ground Forces Command. Under each of these component commands there may be any number of task force or unit commanders appointed as per the discretion of the Theater Commander.
AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY
The area of responsibility for Northern Theater Command is the Barents Sea, Norwegian Sea, Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic as far south as Rockall and the northern UK. (Strikes may be launched at targets beyond this area, however, as long as they support Northern Theater Operations).
As your command will primarily be concerned with forward-deployed forces, you will not be responsible for home air defense, base/littoral security or our strategic SSBN bastions. These responsibilities will fall to CINC Northern Fleet (umpires) though you should keep in mind that activity in these areas may have an effect on Northern Theater operations.)
MISSION
To gain control of the North Atlantic by any means possible, including -- but not limited to -- the transit of the Northern Fleet's nuclear attack submarine fleet.
TIMING
The estimated length of time that it will take to get the subs safely into the Atlantic is estimated to be three days. If the transit is successful and the wolfpacks arrrive in the Atlantic hunting grounds relatively intact, your mission will be considered completed.
However, if you choose to add other operational goals in order to ensure that we secure the Atlantic sea lanes, then the operation may not be over until the result of those missions is known. Depending on the nature of those missions this may extend the time period for another day or two, perhaps longer.
There is also the possibility that NATO will initiate its own response, forcing us to defend our holdings or institute yet more operations to counter their actions. This again may delay the final outcome of our efforts in the North Atlantic/GIUK region.
It is our judgement that the longest that this operation can last is three weeks. That is the time that we estimate is the longest NATO can hold out in Europe without supplies or reinforcements from North America. As long as no convoys get through the North Atlantic in that time, three weeks should be plenty of time for our combined armies to crush and destroy the forces currently in Europe at this time. (If the conflict lasts longer than that, it is likely that supplies have somehow gotten through).
So, either upon the completion of your various missions, or at the end of three weeks you will all be relieved of command.... one way or the other!
FORCES
The following forces have been assigned to the Atlantic Theater Command:
Naval Forces:
-- All forward-deployed Northern Fleet naval forces. (Those already assigned to "Northern Storm" Operations during Stage I).
-- 1 brigade of naval infantry (marines).(See TO&E document at Theater Headquarters for details.)
-- All Northern Fleet amphibious assets (minus those used for Operation Chopstick. See Fleet status report at Northern Fleet HQ for a listing of these assets).
-- Up to 16 light frigates for forward escort and patrol duties. No more than 4 ships of any one class, however. (Choose them from the FFLs listed in the Stage I Fleet Status Report located back at Northern Fleet HQ.)
Ground Forces:
-- 1 division from the 30th Corps. You may choose either the 45th Motorized Rifle Division or the 107th Motorized Rifle Division. (Orders of battle for these divisions are slightly different. You'll find TO&Es for these divisions is available in the Documents section of your new headquarters).
-- 76th Guards Airborne Division (VDV). An order of battle for this division is also located in your Documents area.
Air Forces:
-- All Northern Fleet naval aviation assets.
-- Various squadrons from 10th Air Army Frontal Aviation. (Listed under Air Command at Theater HQ).
INTELLIGENCE
For intel on the various areas of interest within your theater, look in the Intel and Documents sections of both Northern Fleet Headquarters and Theater Command Headquarters. Any document links that are listed but not yet active means that the documenet is still in the process of being written.
For a snapshot of the current situation, take a look at the main Sitmap located in the Situation Room. This map provides the latest, up-to-the-minute information on sightings based on reports that we've received within the last 12 hours. (Clicking on the base and port icons will bring up a separate information window describing the various faciliites and defenses at each installation).
The Map Room area at Theater Command Headquarters will provide detailed maps of different parts of your Area of Responsibility (AOR) as well as a map showing the situation in the central European theater. You can also find tactical (TacOps) maps at this location as well. Studying these maps may give you a tactical advantage when the time comes to engage in combat in these areas. The Map Room area at Northern Fleet Headquarters can also be useful, as these will provide information on NATO delpoyments throughout Europe, Africa and other locations. This may help in second-guessing which reinforcing NATO units may be coming, and from which direction.
The Northern Fleet Intel Area is a place where you can learn about the the armed forces of the various NATO members.
The most up-to-the-minute intel reports, however, will be coming by way of your Situation Reports, or SitReps. (Your first SitRep of the battle will be arriving shortly, in fact. Please stand by...)
Whatever has not ben included in these documents may be requested through the GRU. However, keep in mind that the GRU is a national asset and must be shared by all threaters in this conflict. There may also be some delay before your request can be processed, given the rapid pace of events and the correspondingly rapid turnaraoundi time.
TERRAIN
Most of the ground activity will take place close to a shoreline, which makes sea control particularly critical. While there are only a few key ports with loading/docking facilitites, the region abounds with tiny fishing hamlets that can at least provide a supply point that all but the largest warships and carriers can use as a supply point for our troops.
LOGISTICS
Sometime soon, a logistics report will be furnished, providing your S4 with valuable information about how long your forces can sustain battle without resupply. For now, please refer to the DTOS file available at the Northern Fleet HQ library (under Planning Tools) which will provide more information in this area.
We also have good news from our comrades at the FSB. It seems that we have secured an agreement with the governments of Cuba, Argentina and Angola to provide us with logistics support in the form of covertly disguised tankers and freighters. These merchants will be flagged as belonging to neutral countries, with names carefully chosen to match those of ships that have been slated for scrapping in some far removed area of the world but whose identification number has not yet been stricken from the international ship registries. This should provide a short period of time -- a few days at least -- in which these ships can operate as neutrals without being discovered. ou will be apprised of the location of these ships once your fleet is under way. You may use these ships for resupply and replenishment, thus lessening the need for a secure Sea Line of Communications (SLOC) between our surface fleet and their home ports.
WEATHER
As one might expect, the weather in early January in the GIUK region will be extremely cold and severe. In fact, the current outlook during this time period is in fact even worse than normal for this time of year. Commanders should bplan accordingly.
Very soon a weather map will be furnished to your HQ staff, providing detailed weather reports around the GIUK region as well as a 5-day forecast.
REINFORCEMENTS
You will notice that throughout your listings of forces there are some units that have been retained for higher command and are not under your control at this time. (Generally these are listed in dark gray). If, however, you feel the operation is not going as successfully as you had planned you are free to request -- in fact it is your duty to request -- reinforcements from among these listed reserve units. Keep in mind, however, that doing so may mean we have fewer assets to commit to either the central front in Europe or to our home defense.
[GM: Bonus points will be given to the team that uses the fewest reserve units while meeting their mission objective. The number of points awarded will be based on the difference in the number of reserve units used, when compared and subtracted from one another. Units will be compared according to type. So, if Team A meets their objective but requested 3 extra fighter squadrons while Team B met their objective but only requested 1 squadron, Team B would receive a bonus of 2 points for Stage II.]
FINAL INSPIRATIONAL-TYPE COMMENTS <g>
Gentlemen, we are at the precipiece of history. As we speak, a dozen armies are massing along the Polish border in preparation for our great offensive against the meddling exploiters of NATO. However, even though the bulk of the fighting will take place on the rolling plains of central Europe, the war will be decided in the remote, freezing waters of the North Atlantic, the Norwegian Sea and the surrounding coastlines. The eyes of all of Russian mothers who are giving their sons to this great cause will depend on you for the final victory. I know you won't let them down.
Good luck, and good hunting.
Admiral Rykov,
Marshal of the Fleets,
GenShtab, Moscova