Old Gamers Never Die: Another ‘Sea Power’ After Action Report (Told as a News Story)

USS Nimitz Repels Soviet Attacks in Eastern Mediterranean

By A. D. Grant, New York Times Staff Writer

ABOARD USS NIMITZ, October 21, 1984

In a dramatic turn of events in the eastern Mediterranean, the USS Nimitz and its battlegroup have successfully repelled Soviet air and submarine attacks while en route to the coast off Lebanon. The five-ship battlegroup, commanded by Rear Admiral Alex Diaz-Granados, includes two Ticonderoga-class AEGIS cruisers, a Spruance-class destroyer, and an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate.

The battlegroup set out on a routine “show the flag” cruise amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. However, the escalating war in Western Europe between NATO and the Warsaw Pact forces has thrust the Nimitz into the heart of the confrontation.

For security reasons, details of the initial clash at sea remain murky. Lt. Juan Carlos Hernandez, the Nimitz’s public information officer, confirmed that F-14A Tomcats from the battlegroup’s combat air patrol (CAP) shot down at least two Soviet Tu-22M Backfires. Additionally, an S-3B Viking anti-submarine patrol plane, operating in an anti-ship role, sank a Soviet Okean-class spy ship which was trailing the American warships and transmitting their position to the Backfires.

In a related incident, a civilian airliner was warned via radio to steer clear of the battle area, thus averting a potential tragedy at sea. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the initial engagement, it is clear that the Nimitz battlegroup remains vigilant and continues its air operations.

The battlegroup expects further Soviet air and submarine attacks as tensions continue to rise in the region. “We are fully prepared to defend our forces and maintain our presence in the Mediterranean,” Lt. Hernandez said.

As the conflict unfolds, the Nimitz battlegroup’s actions serve as a stark reminder of the volatile nature of the Mediterranean theater and the ever-present threat posed by Soviet forces in the area.

P.S. This is an after-action report from a session of the game Sea Power: Naval Combat in the Missile Age (2024 Triassic Games and MicroProse). I played the scenario “Hair Trigger” from the Jane’s Redux “mod,” but not all the way through, which is why the NYT article ends without a clear resolution.