The All-Seeing American Eye: Tales From the Homeland and Abroad

June 3, 2098 |

Baltic Thunder

In spite of the initial setbacks in the Baltic Sea, the Imperium's contingent has begun its retreat towards the North Sea. Despite damage to one of the European Theater Command's Aircraft Carriers, the other Carrier (and its escort vessels) currently remain fully intact and once they have dealt with the Murmansk Battlegroup, will sail to reinforce the Baltic Contingent. Following the lessons learned from the first engagement between the Imperium and Soviet Navies, the following rules of engagement are being implemented by Imperium forces:

1. Nonstop Anti-Submarine Warfare Operations will be carried out by Imperium Helicopters, especially by using dedicated Kestrel Anti-Submarine Helicopters. Kingfisher Multi-Role Naval Helicopters are also being retrofitted in order to supplement these Anti-Submarine Operations.
2. On the high seas, Imperium Naval Forces should begin aerial engagements with hostile vessels at approximately 300 nautical miles, and should begin firing anti-ship missiles as soon as they are within range. Imperium-to-Soviet fleet distance should at MINIMUM be 100 nautical miles, because at over 100 nautical miles of range, the Imperium's Air Superiority will enable its Naval Aviation assets to strike at Soviet shipping targets while the risk for a return strike from Soviet crusiers and submarines remains minimal.
3. Ship-based anti-ship missile usage is to be reduced heavily, as SMs can be repurposed effectively for defending against anti-ship missile defense. Attacking Soviet naval assets should be done primarily by Imperium Naval Aviation, and using SMs on the ships themselves should only be used as a last resort.
4. "Scratcher" aircraft should run at maximum sortie, running electronic warfare in order to blind the enemy navy

The interception of the Murmansk battlegroup by the North Sea Contingent was a moderate success. The hostile force was off guard, and by staying at a distance of 100+ nautical miles, the Imperium was able to use Naval Aviation assets effectively in order to do significant damage, sinking multiple cruisers and a handful of resupply ships. However, some Imperium aircraft were reckless in following the RoE and got shot down by Soviet Standard Missiles. In addition, a few Soviet submarines did sink a couple of Imperium cruisers, but some Soviet submarines also did get submarines sunk as well. Once the Imperium North Sea contingent finishes off the Murmansk battlegroup, it will reroute to continue reinforcing the Baltic Contingent.

As for the Baltic Contingent, it will continue to consistently launch maximum sorties in order to maintain Air Supremacy over the retreat, as well as to fire anti-shipping missiles against the Soviet naval assets. In addition, electronic warfare operations run by E/A-24 "Scratchers" will attempt to hinder the enemy's ability to coordinate attacks against the Baltic Contingent. While Command does anticipate this retreat will suffer a significant amount of casualties, they still believe that the improvements to the Naval strategy and the opportunity to adjust to the surprise attack will play a critical role in preserving as many Imperium ships as possible.

In order to reinforce the region navally, the Imperium is moving in one of its Homeland Theater Command Naval Contingents from Jan Mayen towards the North Sea. This migration is expected to take some time, but it is believed that it should still arrive soon enough to have a strong positive impact on the operation in the region. Finally, Air Force assets (not carrier-based aircraft!) are being launched from bases in the Netherlands and from staging grounds in Greenland in order to supplement anti-shipping operations against both the Soviet Baltic Fleet and the Murmansk Battle Group.

Carrier Battles in West Africa and the Far East

The Imperium West Africa Naval Contingent has followed the new rules of engagement in attacking the Soviet Naval contingent in West Africa. Taking advantage of the element of surprise, the Imperium West Africa Naval Contingent began a long-range engagement with the enemy carrier and her escort. While no shots were taken against ships on either side (yet!), the Imperium was able to win air superiority, taking out 15 Soviet Aircraft (including an AWACS, which would be critical to keeping the Soviet Carrier's battlefield awareness limited, especially in the skies) in exchange for the Imperium's seven. It is expected that Imperium strikes against the carrier and other ships in the region will begin shortly. As is the standard, Kestrels have been running and rotating through anti-submarine warfare operations in an effort to counter the Soviet Submarine threat. The distance between the two navies in that region is estimated to be at around 150 nautical miles, and the Imperium's West Africa Navy Commander, Rear Admiral Alyssa Jace, will no doubt be keen on staying in that range. On the other side of the world, the North Far East Naval Contingent of the Far East Theater Command has begun another long-range engagement of the Soviet naval assets in the region. Initial reports indicate a few ships have been sunk, but it will be unclear for a little while just how much damage was actually done.

Wartime Economics and Long-Range Strikes

As is the case in any and all major wars, the key to victory is through economic dominance. With that in mind, the Imperium has set about with her allies to shut down multiple geopolitical chokepoints from Soviet naval traversal. Aurelia and Johore have already played a critical role in shutting down the Straits of Malacca, while Imperium and Cascadian Naval assets have shut down the Bering Strait (these assets have been moved outside of the range of Soviet ground-based anti-ship assets). Aircraft from Alaska as well as Zukesan Air Assets, enjoying the benefits of Air Superiority due to both allied aircraft's technological and numerical superiorities, have now begun long-range anti-radiation and SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defense) strikes on Soviet assets in Siberia in order to limit the enemy's ability to strike at Imperium and allied ships from their own shores. Combat Air Patrol operations are still being run to keep the Soviet Aerospace Forces in the area at bay. In the Middle East, Imperium ground assets in Sedrosia have launched cruise missile strikes against Soviet naval assets in Istanbul and on Soviet naval infrastructure in the Black Sea and Crimea. From Nebelystani territory, more cruise missile strikes, SEAD operations, and airstrikes have taken place on Soviet airbases and combat assets in Central Asia. These strikes will foreshadow the shutting down of the Suez Canal (Middle East Mediterranean Naval Contigent, Minor Partial, Supported by TUI ground assets in Sedrosian territories), Bab al-Mandab Strait (Middle East Arabian Naval Contigent, Major Partial, Supported by TUI ground assets in Lunoria and Fallenz), and the Gibraltar Strait (Middle Eastern. In addition, allied naval assets and air assets (in the North Atlantic, Lunar, Greenlandic, and Peruvian assets primarily, and in the Far East, Zukesan, Aurelian, Victorian, and Johorian assets primarily) will support the Imperium's mission of sinking hostile Soviet vessels whenever spotted. Finally, JGP Navies and Peru-Bolivia will help prevent Soviet shipping from crossing through the Panama Canal, although considering that there are few Soviet vessels that are even that are that far out, it is unlikely that Panama will be a major flashpoint.

Mapping Blockades (Yellow Dots) and Contested Waters (Orange Highlighter), Shoutout Tang for the Map As Always

In other news, the Imperium has shifted to a full wartime economy. While this is positive for the United Imperium's economy, and will obviously help supplement military production in the fight against the Soviet Federation, the question remains whether this measure will get the Imperium out of the recession for good or will just be a stopgap against it. While the Imperium has coasted well into the 21T+ GDP range, the question remains whether the growth that has been caused by this war will continue or whether it will cease in the short future.

In the Homeland and Other Notes

With the fall of THAE, the Imperium was able to capitalize majorly on newfound peace in the homeland. Due to the short duration of the war, infrastructure damage was minimal, and the Imperium was able to collaborate with the JGP to create a land allocation which everyone was (somewhat) happy with. In order to continue funding the war effort and in order to rebuild after the war, the government is preparing to enter a deficit to fund stimulus packages and government contracts. While the economy is showing signs of life, the war against the Soviet Federation also seems to have quelled many protests, as the nation unites against a common enemy. Protests regarding the hostage crisis at the Imperium crisis were also halted because of a partially successful hostage rescue effort (Imperium soldiers parachuted into the embassy so as to avoid being on Belarus's soil, and were able to recover most hostages, although a few did die and several Imperium operators died during the initial drop; none of the hostage-takers survived, although one was able to detonate a bomb which killed two Imperium operators and one hostage). The feeling of national unity was further bolstered by the United Imperium making it to the final of the King William Cup in Vilania, the third international cup final the Imperium has made it to in this decade. On the topic of soccer, the Imperium was unfortunately forced to delay Copa America due to the ongoing war.

The Updated JGP Land Allocation, With Everyone Gaining A Couple of Good Chunks of Land