Flexing the Lats: Updates on the War

July 4, 2098 |

The Destruction of the Murmansk Battlegroup and the West African Carrier Strike Force

In West Africa, the last emblem of Soviet Air Superiority on the high seas falls. Following the gain of Imperium air superiority, Relentless air-based anti-shipping attacks on the Soviet Carrier eventually led to the destruction of its carrier. Without the carrier's aircraft to defend it, and with the Imperium continuing its policy of ranging against hostile naval assets, air-to-ship missiles levied lethal damage against the ships escorting the carrier. In time, virtually the entirety of the Soviet West African Fleet found itself at the bottom of the ocean. The Imperium West Africa Contingent now sails to reinforce the Strait of Gibraltar, while the Mediterranean Contingent of the Middle East Theater Command Sails inland to tackle the threat of the Black Sea Fleet.

In the North Sea, a combination of ground-based and carrier-based anti-shipping assets dealt the final blows to the Soviet Murmansk Battlegroup. A Soviet inability to get within range of the Imperium and allied Naval Assets meant that the Imperium was able to levy decisive strikes against the Murmansk Battlegroup. In a last-second attempt at retreat, the Soviets only managed to compound their problems, as air-based anti-shipping assets were able to pick off the last of the hostile Battlegroup. The Carrier Strike Group and Naval Contingent from Homeland Theater Command arrived in the North Sea shortly after a pitstop in Lunar Greenland, markedly increasing the size of the naval presence in the region.

Flexible Asset Management

Instead of striking from inside of the Sedrosian territories in the Middle East, Imperium High Command has determined it to be strategically advantageous to begin long-range ground-based strikes against the Black Sea Fleet from Nebelystan. Existing Imperium assets in Nebelystan have already begun such strikes against the Black Sea Fleet, while Imperium assets in Sedrosia are moving into Nebelystan to begin complementing these operations. In addition, Imperium aircraft in Nebelystan have begun launching from air bases in the nation to run long-ranged strikes (both of the conventional warfare and electronic warfare variety) against the Soviet Black Sea Fleet and Mediterranean Sea Fleet. From China and Nebelonian Iran, airstrikes and missile strikes continue to rain hellfire against Soviet air bases and combat assets in the Caucuses Region and across the Southern Soviet Border. In particular, anti-radiation missiles and Suppression of Enemy Air Defense Operations are being utilized heavily in order to lower the Soviet missile intercept rate on the border. Surface-to-ship and air-to-ship strikes are being run from Luna's territories in the European mainland against the Soviet Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea Fleet.

In order to make logistics more efficient, Lunar Greenland is being utilized for forward operations in addition to Jan Mayen. The Interim Government in Britain (aka Victoria) has allowed Imperium and allied ships to dock in the British Isles, but this will be done sparingly and for very short periods of time in order to avoid potentially overburdening British infrastructure. 

The Imperium has also decided to heavily reinforce Alaska, not just with troops and armor but also with missile batteries. These missile batteries will aid the Imperium in surface-to-surface strikes against Soviet air bases and fortifications on the other side of the Bering Strait. In addition, Universal Mobile Target Air Defense Systems (UMTADS) are being moved into Alaska in order to reinforce the IADS net over the entire region. That being said, the effective combination of Imperium and Zukesan Air Power has played a critical role in maintaining Air Superiority which has shown to be critical in such incidents as the Shumshu Island Incident, where Zukesan aircraft successfully engaged a Soviet Fighter Contingent, and the Kamchatkan Tip Incident, where two Imperium aircraft managed to shoot down three Soviet Aircraft (including a Soviet AWACS!), while deterring a further four Soviet Aircraft from engaging) in the Far East of Russia so far, and with the Imperium now able to ramp up its air-based anti-radiation and SEAD strikes thanks to the incorporation of more UMTADS in the region (and perhaps more importantly, because the Soviets have been losing aircraft at an extremely high rate), the dismantling of the Far East Soviet Air Bases and SAM network has begun.

Lateral Agility

With ZUKAREVIC, China, and Ajako being entrusted with the blockade of the Malacca Strait, the Imperium contingent there has set sail for the Strait of Hormuz, and the Contingent in the Strait of Hormuz has moved to the Bab al-Mandab blockade. The Contingent formerly responsible for the Bab al-Mandab blockade has now been moved to reinforce the Suez Canal Blockade. In addition, with the West African Contingent moving up to Gibraltar, the Task Force in charge of the Gibraltar Blockade has now moved deeper into the Mediterranean. The old Gibraltar Task Force and the old Bab al-Mandab Task Force, now free of their blockading duties, have begun launching carrier-based airstrikes against the Black Sea Fleet and Mediterranean Sea Fleet. Since the two Soviet fleets are currently stuck in the Sea of Marmara, both of these Task Forces, in combination with strikes originating from Lunar and Nebelonian soil, began dealing significant damage to Soviet Naval assets in the region. However, a good chunk of Soviet defenses have held up so far, meaning that the Imperium will continue these relentless strikes. 

In order to maintain aerial impunity, Combat Air Patrol missions are being launched from Imperium bases in Poland and from Lunar Austria and Lunar Czechia in order to maintain air superiority over the Western Russian Border. In addition, surprise missile strikes have been launched from these territories in order to deal significant damage to Soviet Air Defenses and Air Bases on the Western Russian Border. A lack of Soviet preparedness meant that these strikes were somewhat successful, but Soviet Air Defenses still were able to protect a few of their installations.

Similarly, the Imperium Homeland Theater Command and the Canadian Air Force have collaborated in order to gain Air Superiority in the far north. By combining aerial refueling tankers with the Canadian Armed Forces military infrastructure in the Far North, the Imperium has managed to gain air superiority over the North Pole. In addition, Arctic Icebreaker vessels are being used to set up pockets from which VLS-enabled guided missile cruisers can launch strikes against airbases, air defenses, and other military targets on the Northern Soviet Border region. These Icebreaker vessels are also being used in order to set up mobile logistics infrastructure in order to keep supply lines between these missile cruisers and the rest of the North American Combat Infrastructure intact.

Altered Rules of Engagement

Naval Warfare:

1. Due to true range (not the theoretical range that contractors claim, the actual range where the weapon system is effective in real combat) of air-based anti-shipping missiles being better than anticipated, engage hostile naval assets at a MINIMUM distance of 175 nautical miles instead of 100 nautical miles
2. Dedicate CIWS to ship defense. Now that we are aware of Soviet Kamikaze Drones and their capabilities, CIWS systems are going to be much more effective in taking them down from both high and low altitudes. 
3. If a ship appears to be surrendering, do not trust it. While false surrender is a war crime, the Soviet Federation has already shown it is willing to commit such war crimes. Any ships that appear to be surrendering should be sunk on sight.
4. Treat decoy missiles as real missiles. We have enough escorts and ammunition to do this, especially now that we have greatly improved our logistics chains both in Europe and Asia. Since war production is ramping up at an excellent pace, this is a viable long-term strategy.
5. Cycle redundant systems and constantly run surge protectors in order to maintain resilience against EMP attacks.
6. Directives from June 3, 2098 still apply except where noted otherwise.

Aerial Warfare:

1. Maintain Air Superiority. We have this in most of the key battlegrounds, but even where it seems like a large scale air incursion may be unlikely (such as Lunar Austria or Nebelonian), continue to regularly run Combat Air Patrol Operations
2. Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses. After Air Superiority is gained, the second priority is to neutralize hostile air defenses, so anti-radiation strikes and strikes against SAM sites should be run regularly
3. Target Hostile AWACS. Our stealth technology is superior to theirs, meaning we can use datalink and stealth technology to hit accurate FOX-3 shots against hostile AWACS at a higher rate. 
4. Saturation Strikes. By combining missile salvos with airstrikes, hostile air defenses and assets will be overwhelmed, so even if the Soviets do get a solid interception rate, damage will still be done to the targets we are trying to hit
5. Anti-Radiation. Another key target that should not be neglected is hostile early warning and ground-based radar assets. When opportune, be sure to hit these targets in order to limit the enemy's battlefield awareness.

Miscellaneous Directives:

1. Use satellite datalink for both air-based and ground-based missile strikes in order to improve accuracy hitting Soviet airbases and any other targets that may be getting hit.
2. Ramp up countercyberwarfare and cybersecurity operations in order to keep friendly electronic systems protected from malware, DDoS attacks, or any other potential similar threat.
3. Regularly use ground-based radar jammers and Scratcher aircraft in order to continue limiting Soviet battlefield awareness.
4. Keep friendly ground-based missile and early warning systems on the move constantly. Consistent use of shoot-and-scoot doctrine will make it much harder for the Soviets to target our weapons systems.

Miscellaneous Headlines

• Regan decries the attack on Anchorage, Soviet chants of TRD, saying "It is no wonder that they have declared war on our people, on our liberty, on our very way of life. Morkav and his tyrannical government have whipped the Soviet people into a gen0cidal frenzy so many times, that the very act of mass murder is now part of their national DNA."
• All signs are green for the Imperium economy as the nation continues to ramp up production to fight the Soviet Federation
• Access to advanced electronics and materials for the Soviet Federation was cut off due to the Soviet inability to trade outside of the Mediterranean or Baltic Seas
• Vilania Steps into Host World Cup in Place of Copa America 2098, IFAPO World Cup 2100 still set to be played in the Imperium
• Public opinion of Zukesa has improved to the point where it is now the second-favorite nation of Imperium citizens, behind only the Imperium itself
• Constellation Aerospace announces delays on new spyplane, aircraft may not enter production until 2101
• Recruitment numbers up 20% for the Imperium nationwide after 4 consecutive years of nationwide recruitment drops
• Cybersecurity stock indexes spike as the military continues reinforcing against cyberattack threats