Disproportional Response, 2017

Location: The skies of Western EuropeDate/Time: October 16, 2017 2200 HoursPlayable Sides: USAF (NATO-USA Leads) Description: Kaliningrad is both a city and an oblast in the Russian Federation locked between Poland, Lithuania, and the Baltic Sea. Before it was annexed by the USSR after World War II, the area was part of a unified German state called East Prussia. Its capital was the classic medieval city, Konigsberg. Today, Kaliningrad is a time capsule of the decaying former Soviet Union. But its position is a thorn in the side of NATO and any defense of the Baltic. Russia created an anti-access/area denial ‘bubble’ (A2/AD) with Kaliningrad at the center. Recently they installed S-400 SAMs to increase the range and effectiveness of the position. Commercial flights into and out of Warsaw have been tracked from Kaliningrad for the past three weeks setting up a nervous situation for everyone. Yesterday, amid a NATO cyberwarfare drill, a Russian junior officer sent a salvo into a LOT flight with 39 Americans on board. The explosion rocked the world and NATO had enough of the denial bubble. Tonight, you are to lead the attack to destroy the Kaliningrad position so Polish troops can simply occupy the Russian oblast in the morning. This will be relatively easy. The remainder of NATO is positioning to discourage a Russian response elsewhere in Europe and the Middle East. NATO balanced forces accordingly. Avoid spoilers: Please send feedback to kevinkin@comcast.net. Thanks