The World of DPTST4: HMS Invincible
The British Are Coming!
The British Are Coming!
Credit: US Department of Defense
So when DPTST 4 was originally envisioned (and frankly early in development) the concept was there would be a Falklands war style battle relying on strained logistics. The carrier group would be the starting point of all Bluefor attacks. One day the map (codenamed DPTST FALK) will see the light of day, until then we have Knife Fight. DPTST4 will focus on large logistical trains and long range attacks, focusing on 2 choke points. In the east, land based fighters will dominate, and carry out dangerous battles in the mountains. In the west, troops will try to hold crucial cities along the coast with the help of the USS Theodore Roosevelt and the HMS Invincible.
Including the Invincible might sound a little odd to some of you. As a carrier, it’s pretty limited in DCS. With only a complement of AV-8B’s and SA342’s and yet, that might be the best thing about it. Now alas, I do not operate with fools and incompetents, and you may very well say to yourself “why in heavens name have you not used the Apache”. Yes, indeed, the British being one of the major operators of the AH-64, it makes sense to let you use such a beast of an aircraft there. Except it doesn’t. The UK didn’t start operating the AH-64 until 1995. Desert Storm was over by that point, It’s totally out of place for a 1980’s campaign. Then why are US Apaches there? Well, by 1987 2 operational AH-64 squadrons existed, and I think one might have been deployed to Europe. I play fast and loose with a lot of capabilities and dates for DPTST, because it’s more important that we get the atmosphere down then the die hard facts. I will die on this hill. You won’t use shrikes if you can actively use HARMS.
Credit: UK Defense Forum.
Anyways, The SA342 is new to DPTST, and is hell bent on making a good impression. It’s closer to the fight than the CVN’s complement, and therefor gets to be up close and personal with a lot of the Redfor forces. Don’t get comfortable though, because the Soviet SA-19s and MIG-21s will blow you out of the sky in a heartbeat. The SA342 never entered the Fleet Air Arm in a combat sense. They did However, operate as trainers for pilots since the Lynx was about to come out. It’s not hard to imagine an alternate history where the Gazelle also entered full service as a light attack helicopter for the fleet. Speaking of the Lynx, stepping in for it is the UH-1 Iroquois. You, like I, might be very surprised to hear the UK never operated the UH-1. We have however painted it up like an Lynx and opted for it to avoid the SH-3 from taking center stage on the Carrier again.
Now for the meat and potatoes: The AV-8B Harrier. It is an attack aircraft that needs little introduction. Made famous by the Falklands war, Images of it’s carrier based exploits have permeated the imaginations of thousands. In DPTST4, the A4s perform CAS, the A6s perform strikes, and the EA6s perform SEAD. It’s the AV8 that performs all 3. Escorting the Invincible will be multiple British frigates defending the airspace. Mary Golding once referred to the Invincible as a mini aircraft carrier, nowhere near the size of the great American carriers. In many ways she’s right, but for decades HMS Invincible served with distinction in the royal navy for 25 Years, and by the time of DPTST4, she’s practically brand new. The Invincible is ready to defend Georgia and support the NATO forces in whatever way it can.
