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Federative–Aegean War
Topic Started: Nov 3 2015, 02:24 AM (94 Views)
Federative Union
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See Kuzka's Mother for the buildup to this thread.

The Project 999 Екатеринбург Yekaterinburg-class1 of nuclear-powered Strategic Purpose Underwater Missile Cruiser (RPKSN) was the pride of the Federative Union's formidable Red Navy. When submerged, a ship of its class had a displacement greater than that of a RHN Centaur-class aircraft carrier. Her three onboard OK-950 PWR nuclear reactors generated enough energy to power a large city, allowing the ship to operate indefinitely with an endurance limited only by the available storage of consumables for her crew of two hundred and ten officers and enlisted men and women. A terrifying arsenal of 48 RSM-56 Bulava ballistic missiles, each bearing ten MIRVed nuclear warheads could lay waste to an entire continent, or when outfitted with R-27K Zyb hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missiles, could target enemy fleets from half a world away. A secondary complement of 320 supersonic long-range 3M-54 Klub cruise missiles could devastate international shipping in coordination with the rest of the Red Navy's massive subsurface fleet. The vessels could also engage surface ships and enemy submarines by way of ten 533 mm torpedo tubes, each capable of launching T-10 nuclear-tipped torpedoes. Despite having a good number of stealthy features, similar to those found on the smaller Molot-class2 RPKSN, the substantial risks that came with being actively hunted by nearly every available United Commonwealth and Ceroulian ASW asset forced the Red Navy to take considerable steps to protect its investment. To reduce the need for long-range naval aviation to provide air defense, each ship of the class was outfitted with upwards of 600 60R7 Vityaz surface-to-air missiles in vertical launch tubes. The vessels were also outfitted with extensive ASW countermeasures, and boasted a high degree of survivability with their triple hull design. Perhaps more unconventional however was the practice of pairing each ship with three to six escorts, each belonging to the Red Navy's newest and stealthiest class of nuclear attack submarine, the Graney-class3.

Nonetheless, such an advanced and powerful class of warship came at an immense cost, and its practical utility beyond that of an impressive political and propaganda instrument was hotly debated in the upper echelons of the Federative naval community. With a price tag of 1.5 trillion Rubles (£16 billion) per ship, it would constitute one of the most expensive naval project ever undertaken by the UFSR. Despite the criticism surrounding the project, the Politburo approved the necessary funding and allocation of resources, and two ships, TK-519 and TK-520, were laid down at the Solvychegodsk shipyards in 2007 and constructed under a veil of absolute secrecy. The lead ship, TK-519, was completed and launched in March of 2013, beginning sea trials shortly thereafter under the command of Captain Alexei Andreyevich Vostrikov4, a highly decorated Federative naval officer with a long and prestigious career in the Submarine Force. Following the successful completion of her sea trials, TK-519 entered service with the Red Banner Northern Fleet in May of 2015, attached to the venerable 24th Submarine Division, while her sister ship TK-520 was attached to the Red Banner Far Eastern Fleet to bolster the Red Navy's strength in the Leucothian. Vostrikov remained in command, and would see TK-519 and her crew through the first real test of the ship's capabilities: launching the opening salvo of the Federative–Aegean War.


1: Yekaterinburg-class submarine
2: Molot-class submarine
3: Graney-class submarine
4: Cpt. Alexei Andreyevich Vostrikov


TK-519 RPKSN
Flagship, 24th Submarine Division, Red Banner Northern Fleet

Mid-Atlantean Ocean
257 kilometers southwest of Sámótheá

08.21.2015
03:40


"Comrade Captain, all compartments report manned and ready."

Captain Alexei Andreyevich Vostrikov nodded at his executive officer. Vostrikov was a cold and distant man who never let a smile appear on his severe face. He had served with distinction in the Red Navy's Submarine Forces for the entirety of his career, making a name for himself in the international naval community in 1990 when he prevented a high-ranking Federative captain from defecting with an Akula-class ballistic missile submarine. He hunted the captain and his vessel for several weeks before destroying both of them with all hands. It was rumored that Vostrikov received the Order of Valenin for his actions. Needless to say, no one dared to question his loyalty or sense of duty.

"Very well, you have the conn." Vostrikov's executive officer, Captain Vladimir Aleksandrovich Borodin was at least a decade younger than his gray haired senior, but was among the best in the Red Navy when it came to having a hermetic understanding of subsurface naval tactics. While he had developed the utmost respect for Vostrikov, he was sympathetic to the initial concerns of his crew regarding their captain's ruthless reputation. When Borodin conveyed their concerns, Vostrikov was appalled to learn that Borodin had allowed his men to confide their grievances in him.

"Comrade Captain, the Political Department stands ready for today's patriotic duty."

Vostrikov barely acknowledged the ship's political officer as he brushed past him alongside Borodin into the spacious bridge of TK-519. Its personnel stood at attention as the two men entered. Vostrikov activated the ship's PA system, bringing the microphone to his mouth.

"Comrades, this is your captain. In the history of the Federative Navy, no sailors have been given such a boat as TK-519. It is the finest submarine in the world. You have been given the honor to be her crew, and I have been given the honor to be your captain. Without me, you are nothing. Without you...I am nothing. Our orders are clear: this morning we will debut the most advanced ballistic missile system in the world, and use it to destroy the Aegean Navy. All hands standby for missile launch."

Vostrikov released the microphone and turned to Borodin. "Captain you may proceed with missile launch." Borodin nodded and began barking orders. A fury of commotion consumed the bridge.

"Navigator Voslensky, maintain current course and speed!"

"Maintaining course steady, 2-9-0, maintaining speed, 12 knots."

"Missile control, prepare silos eight through twenty for firing."

"Central command missile control manned and ready, preparing silos eight through twenty for firing ballistic missiles!"

"Numbers eight through twenty hatches open, silos flooded!"

"Proceed with activation of the warheads on numbers eight through twenty missiles, switch fire control console to primary."

"Warheads activated, console position one primary!"

At this point Vostrikov stepped in. "Up scope, Demichev back to the conn. Prepare for emergency dive after launch!" He grabbed the handles of the photonics mast as it descended to his height, and peered through the night vision scope. Only darkness filled his view as Vostrikov surveyed the surrounding sea. There was no sign of any merchant or naval activity. mid-range sensors confirmed this. "Down scope!"

The mast submerged below the surface of the water, retracting into the ship's conning tower. Borodin stood at Vostrikov's side.

"Ready for firing sequence Comrade Captain."

Vostrikov nodded. "Launch the missiles."

The ship trembled as the twelve ballistic missiles departed their silos through frigid Atlantean waters. They quickly broke the surface and thundered into stratosphere, leaving large columns of steam in their wake. Their eight thousand kilometer journey to their targets in the Eastern Aegean would take them into low Valeria orbit (LVO) where each of the missiles' ten multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) would separate and track to their targets on an unpredictable ballistic trajectory at hypersonic speeds. Each of the hypersonic glide vehicles were nearly impossible to intercept by all but the most advanced Hardenburghian anti-ballistic missile systems. The Aegean Navy operated no such systems. While such a strike could have been carried out in a more conventional manner by Federative forces in the Balkans and Eastern Aegean, there were political purposes to be had from this kind of strike, to showcase the extent of the UFSR's advanced military capabilities, and that there was no place in Valeria safe from Novgorod's reach.

"Comrade Captain, all missiles are away!"

Vostrikov nodded. "Dive the boat. Make your depth three hundred meters." The blare of the diving alarm sounded.

"Closing all hatches, silos eight through twenty free of water."

"Making depth three hundred meters!...200 meters........220 meters........260 meters........280 meters........300 meters, Comrade Captain!

"Good, level the planes."

"Leveling bow planes."

TK-519 leveled out at three hundred meters, one hundred and fifty meters short of the test depth for her class, as her four Graney-class escorts would level out at various depths above and below her. The operation would have garnered the attention of every Western sonar buoy, submarine, and missile launch detector in the Northern Hemisphere. While Western retaliation was unlikely, the entire Red Banner Northern Fleet was to remain on high alert, and it was best for TK-519 to return to its stealthy seclusion as soon as possible.

As the ship leveled out, Vostrikov activated the PA system once more.

"Comrades, this is your captain. In ten minutes time the Aegean Navy will have been sent to the bottom of the sea and our Motherland will be at war. The success of this operation will be fully realized upon our next surfacing, but our mission is far from over. Much will be expected of us in the days ahead. We will not shrink from our responsibilities and we shall not fail in our patriotic duty to defend the Motherland."

As Vostrikov hung up the microphone, a wave of emotion overtook the ship's crew, with many breaking into song:

"Soyuz nerushimy respublik svobodnykh
Splotila naveki veliky Novgorod!
Da zdravstvuyet sozdanny voley narodov
Yediny, moguchy Federativnyy Soyuz!

Slav'sya, Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye,
Druzhby narodov nadyozhny oplot!
Partiya Valenin - sila narodnaya
Nas k torzhestvu Kommunizma vedyot!
"

Edited by Federative Union, Nov 3 2015, 02:38 AM.
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Hardenburgh

Rhodes Naval Base,

Western Aegeania


A scorching morning sun, emerged from the azure blue waters of the Aegean and cast its brilliant rays asunder. It was mid summer in the Eastern Aegean and another balmy day awaited the servicemen of the Royal Aegeanian Navy.

Admiral Petros Voulgaris observed the the picturesque scene from the veranda of his well-appointed villa, part of the complex designed for officers and their families, set away into cliffs forested with cedar trees, overlooking the anchorage of the Aegeanian fleet. A maid set a platter of cold meat and fresh bread before him before pouring him a cup of steaming black coffee from a silver cafetiere. Reaching for a napkin, Voulgaris brushed his meticulous white uniform down then spread the cloth over his knees and relished the delicious breakfast which had been set out before him.

Voulgaris had been joined by an assortment of senior officers and captains, all clad in the same white uniform, as well as the Hardenburghian liaison officer from the Aegean Fleet- a short, red-haired Hibernian called O’Connell. The relaxed and informal nature of the gathering considered, it would have been impossible to tell that Aegeania was presently faced by one of the most severe security crises since the Great War. The final architraves of the Kingdom’s once great colonial empire had been lost whilst Federative divisions massed on the northern border.

This appalling situation seemed to trouble no one, but a young and nervous looking officer who sat close to Voulgaris at the head of the table. Ill at ease and unable to relax, he gestured for the Admiral’s attention.

“Sir, please, I have brought with me some intelligence reports which require your urgent attention.”

After delicately finishing a few morsels of bread and taking a sip of his coffee, Voulgaris nodded.

“If you could summarise them for me Petior, I’d be much obliged”.

The young Officer reached for a notebook and then spoke.

“Well… I think we should give these rumours of a Federative invasion much more serious consideration. Naval intelligence has reported an up-spike in Federative naval activity in our neighbourhood, and of course… there’s the situation on the border.”

Voulgaris smiled confidently.

“You know?” he said in an assured way “I have been in the military for a long time now… lets see… forty years! In that time, do you know how many of these Federative War Scares there have been?”

Petior shook his head.

“Well… it’s an annual occurrence. At some point in the year, there are Federative military movements which appear threatening. Warships and aircraft buzz our airspace whilst divisions mass on our borders. Does anything come of it?”

Again, Petior shook his head.

“You know what it is?” Voulgaris asked rhetorically. “Posturing. Quite simply, posturing. Our nation sits on the jugular of Federative communications in the Aegean. They like to remind is, in rather excessive fashion that close alignment with Hardenburgh and Ceroulia would result in a rather severe retaliation… yet, you know why they wouldn't dare attack us?

Petior cleared his throat, “Why, Sir?”

Voulgaris placed his napkin on the table in a crumpled pile and stood up, looking towards the glittering sea. He extended his arm in a flamboyant manner towards the large assortment of warships which swayed at anchor in the bay below. Two Hardenburghian built Invincible Class aircraft carriers swayed gently at anchor, their decks bustling with fighter jets. Closer to their position and further away, near the industrial dockside some nineteen frigates and destroyers as well as a flotilla of submarines could be seen. Meanwhile, in the distance lay two large cruisers as well as an array of amphibious warships.

“This, m’lad, is the most formidable concentration of naval power the Eastern Aegean has known in its history. What’s more, the Hardenburghian navy is ready to help defend our independence. The Federative Union many be powerful and menacing, but its leaders are not idiots”.

The young officer, evidently unassured by his superiors declarations, sank back into his chair whilst Voulgaris sat down and continued his breakfast.

“We will dispatch a few frigates today… and some corvettes perhaps, but we must be delicate. The last thing we’d want to do is escalate this situ…”

Voulgaris’ words were cut short as a violent and loud explosion tore through the Frigate Hydra, turning it into a crumpled and twisted wreck of burning steel. Thick black smoke spiralled into a column which climbed high into the sky. O’Connell, a rather candid individual stood up.

“The fuck? Must be a magazine explosion…”

Promptly, as further two destroyers burst into flame and smoke his hypothesis was disproven. The stricken vessels exploded violent sending a tirade of shrapnel raining down towards the Verandah. Ducking down, O’Connell took shelter beneath the table quickly being joined by Voulgaris.

Petior said what everyone else knew, “The Federatives! They’ve come.”

A relentless succession of explosions ricocheted through the naval base. The dry docks collapsed, the fuel storage that could have sustained Aegeanian naval operations for six months was reduced to a fierce fire. The wail of sirens and roar of engines could be heard from across the bay as fire fighting teams struggled to cope with the fierce blaze that, uncontrolled, began to consume the entire base.

The attack not over. The two elegant cruisers which swayed at anchor were next to go. As soon as the attack had begun, their captains’ had made attempts to withdraw from the anchorage. These, however, were completely unsuccessful. Multiple projectiles slammed into the warships. Their magazines detonated after which they flopped to port and disappeared beneath the waves leaving a trail of flotsam and jetsam, and a few crew members who hadn’t been pulled beneath the waves. Many where bloodied and blackened, screaming for their lives.

The aircraft carriers Aegeania and Anatolia lay at anchor in the middle of the bay, both ships the pride of the Aegeanian navy. The two aircraft carriers were symbolic of the Kingdom’s status as a world power. Their destruction however, was swift and effective. Aegeania was hit first. A single projectile crashed through the decks and impacted the aircraft hanger’s magazine. Instantly, the armaments for the aircraft detonated. A powerful explosion shook the surrounds, throwing the breakfast table over. Then, the deck was peeled off like the lid of a sardine can, the aircraft stowed on top sprinkling off into the sea. No order to abandon ship was given. Desperately, the crew clambered to the deck of the smoking hulk and attempted to jump into the water, before the magazines detonated a second time, and the twisted remains tunnelled fervidly beneath the water.

Anatolia remained untouched for a while longer, as a series of destroyers and corvettes moored around her were crippled by the relentless bombardment. Eventually, the carrier took a hit to the magazine. Unfortunately, an armament shipment had been received which exploded immediately killing all in its path. A fearsome fire broke out onboard a ship which, despite the best efforts of fire-fighting teams spread insatiably. A short while later the order to abandon ship was received.

In the space of ten minutes, Aegeanian naval power had been eliminated as an effective force. Voulgaris stood frozen in a state of shock, as he watched the smouldering remains of his fleet, a formidable force a mere ten minutes ago, slip beneath the waves. He turned to his deputy, Mikipolis, who stood still in a similar state of disbelief, unable to comprehend the destruction that had unfolded before his very eyes. It seemed unreal.


“Inform command immediately… and issue orders to our forces at sea… we’re at war”
Edited by Hardenburgh, Dec 30 2015, 08:23 PM.
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