The Kuriles

The Situation

With the balloon going up, Soviet Boomers deploy to the Sea of Okhotsk. American Hunter Killers must breach the Kurile Island chain to sink the Boomers. In this scenario, an three American nuclear attack submarines must pass through the Kurile Island chain, and enter the Sea of Okhotsk undetected.

The Map

The map shows an area of Asia approximately 1600 km by 1600 km, including the north of Japan, and the tip of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Between these two lie the Kurile Island chain. Each major island is named, and the width and depth of the passage between each island is also noted. Passages marked with an asterisk are commonly used by American submarines penetrating the Kurile Island Barrier.
This information is also offered in table form:

Location	Passage	Width	Depth
Between Shumshu and Kamchatka	A	18 km	170 m
Between Paramushir and Shumshu	B	4 km	160 m
Between Onekotan and Paramushir	C *	65 km	360 m
Between Kharimkotan and Onekotan	D	13 km	150 m
Between Shiashkotan and Kharimkotan	E	29 km	180 m
Between Matua and Shiashkotan	F *	83 km	1460 m
Between Rasshua and Matua	G	28 km	550 m
Between Ushishir and Rasshua	H	19 km	540 m
Between Ketoi and Ushishir	I	28 km	560 m
Between Simushir and Ketoi	J	19 km	280 m
Between Chiripoi and Simushir	K *	65 km	2380 m
Between Urup and Chiripoi	L	28 km	170 m
Between Iturup and Urup	M *	37 km	360 m
Between Kunashir and Iturup	N	19 km	300 m
Between Hokkaido and Kunashir	O	22 km	170 m

Order of Battle

American

SSN 689 Baton Rouge: Los Angeles class nuclear attack submarine
SSN 694 Groton: Los Angeles class nuclear attack submarine
SSN 751 San Juan: Improved Los Angeles class nuclear attack submarine

Russian

1 x Kiev Class (Minsk)
1 x Kara Class
1 x Udaloy Class
1 x Kresta II Class
1 x Modified Kashin Class
3 x Krivak I Class
2 x Krivak II Class
3 x SAM Kotlin Class
3 x Tango Class Submarines
3 x Kilo Class Submarines
3 x Foxtrot Class Submarines
Full compliment of ASW Helos from the above listed vessels
Acoustic mines sown in each channel shallower than 200 m
The Soviets may have an acoustic listening network similar to SOSUS

Determining Victory

Decisive US Victory:	All US submarines enter the Sea of Okhotsk undetected.
Significant US Victory:	All US submarines enter the Sea of Okhotsk, are detected, sink some Soviets, and then evade further detection.
Marginal US Victory:	All US submarines enter the Sea of Okhotsk, are detected, but then evade. No vessels are sunk.
Marginal Soviet Victory:	At least one US submarine is sunk.
Significant Soviet Victory:	More US submarines are sunk than Soviet vessels, or US submarines fail to enter the Sea of Okhotsk.
Decisive Soviet Victory:	All US submarines are sunk.

The Outcome

The Soviet player secretly deploys his forces to cover all of the passages through the Kurile Island Chain. The US sub commander chooses to send his subs through the largest gap - K, between the islands of Chiripoi and Simushir. Not surprisingly, this is the gap most strongly defended by the Soviet player, and where he has deployed his one carrier.
The US subs approach the passage, with USS Groton and USS Baton Rouge ahead and to the flanks, with USS San Juan deeper, trailing and in the centre. Ahead, the Minsk (a Kiev class light carrier) and her escorting vessels are easily detected. To the south west, a Tango class diesel-electric is near the surface snorkling noisely as she recharges her batteries. Intermittant contacts with two other Tangos indicate there is a solid barrier of quiet diesel-electrics blocking the way. The US boats advance at 5 knots, rigged for silent running. The Soviet Krivak stops its sprint, and slows to drift, listening with her variable depth sonar. She detects one of the US boats, and immediately fires her SS-N-14 mount, dropping a torpedo into the water well short of the invading Americans. The plucky frigate immediately comes around and races towards the approximate position of the enemy submarines.

Unaware the torpedo is out of range, the Baton Rouge takes evasive action, producing enough noise that her position could be pinpointed by listeners in California. The Minsk and her remaining escort continue south, while her screen of ASW helos and the listening Tango subs all converge on the US subs. A confused melee of dipping sonars, torpedoes and evading submarines ensues. The Krivak takes a torpedo right down the throat, and sinks immediately. The US submarines momentarily evade the Tangos and at first the Soviet helos cannot detect anything with their pitiable dipping sonars.
With the San Juan running deep and fast through the barrier, she breaks into clear water. Unfortunately Soviet subs and helos continue to close on her two companion vessels. In a last desparate attempt to retrieve the situation, the San Juan comes to shallow depth and launches all 12 of her VLS Tomahawks at the Minsk. Most hit, leaving the carrier burning from end to end. In the ensuing confusion (the helos abandon the fight to ferry crew from the stricken carrier) the US submarines go fast and deep, and break out into the Sea of Othotsk. While not a graceful entry, the US submarines are in.

The result is an American significant victory.

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