Ship’s log: Some time in the 1980s.
On course to target bay; ETA 3 days, due to the barrier islands in the area. Intel reports a hostile fleet – a carrier battle group – protecting the objective. Our escorts for this LST convoy are armed with large caliber cannon in case of just such a threat, yet a battle avoided is better than a battle won. There is a water-filled cavern in one of the islands; I’ll send the convoy through the caves and around the hostiles.
Ship’s log: Day after yesterday.
The cavern was the obvious secondary route; the enemy had planted surface mines and automated torpedoes along the way. Fortunately the torpedoes had no homing or guidance systems, so most of the convoy came through intact. However, the hostile CVBG has been alerted to our presence; battle is inevitable.
Ship’s log: The next day.
“Amateurs study strategy; professionals study logistics” – and both sides had the same inadequate professionals. Our C-squared systems allowed only one escort at a time to defend the convoy; the hostiles’ systems allowed only one element to attack at a time.
The enemy knew we were out here; they knew what direction we’d come from; they were already in a battle formation; yet they had no CAP cover or escort screen in place. The first wave consisted of one carrier-based bomber at a time. Did they never think of mass attacks? We lost two escorts to the bombers before the gunners (on the third escort) found their rhythm, and shot down the remaining planes. The second wave consisted of ship-to-ship shelling. Once again, bad doctrine all around: Their ships took turns firing, only one of our escorts at a time would return fire, and not a single ship (in either fleet) moved during the battle – except those that sunk. I wonder about the quality of a gunnery system that violates the physical laws of ballistics. In any event, most of the LSTs survived; we land the armor division tomorrow.
Ship’s log: One more day.
Another day, another case of bad control. The armor division refused to launch a mass attack, or even any sort of coordinated effort. The objective (the enemy’s theater command bunker) was at the far end of a wide ravine, protected by assorted anti-tank barricades, gun emplacements, and a last-ditch main cannon. Our armor division sent in one tank at a time, giving the enemy enough time between attacks to repair and upgrade their defenses. A quarter of the division was destroyed in the ravine during their approach – at least the hostiles were good enough to remove the wreckage. Three units reached the objective, and were lost while shelling the bunker; a fourth unit completed the job.
Mission accomplished.
