My guide to formation spacing: https://psteamcommunity.yuanyoumao.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3588041331

Do also bear in mind that the new flight deck mechanics will massively increase response times (but I assume that's why you're updating the scenario)

As for the air base, I recently noticed you can set custom air groups for airfields/carriers, so use that to set it to whatever you want if none of the presets are adequate.

I am going to update the scenario, what would you consider realistic spacing? As the goal is to pass through the strait, I thought they should be fairly close together.

As for the F-4's and E-2's, the Soviet airbase in question had those in its flight deck at the time I originally made the scenario. When I update, it should have removed them.

Just looking through the Encyclopedia, there's roughly 15 Soviet airbases in the game.

The only suitable airbase option I could use at the time also included the F-14 and E-2C. I'll have a look and see if I can't change the loadout at some point.

Much as I appreciate the inclusion of Soviet strategic bombers in a mission, this one needs some tweaking. The bombers need to spawn way further out, or the US force needs to have a CAP already in the air.
US formation also needs to have a more realistic spacing for the escorts, as it is now anything that slips through the air defense will hit the carrier.

As you're probably also aware, the Soviets somehow get F-14s and E-2Cs in this mission.

God this mission chugs bad. A lot of fun, but there's just way too much stuff in it for it to run well. I recommend editing the air groups on the enemy ships, especially the Kiev and other helicopter carriers so they only have one or two helicopters, or none at all. If given a full complement of helicopters, the AI will put up half a dozen or more in a ring around the ship, dropping sonobuoys and hunting for subs that aren't there. That will at least reduce the number of entities the game has to keep track of at once.

It's only now that I realise that there's already a scenario in the game called Breakthrough. I shall rename this scenario 'Flashover'.

Changes have been made. The TU-22's now spawn further away and have one less AS-4 missile each.

Yeah, the PVO airbase has American aircraft for some reason and I can't figure out how to remove them. I'll work something put when I can get around to tweaking.

Okay I was able to get past the initial barrage with minor damage to my iowa but i found it pretty difficult to deal with even with the phoenixes. I recommend putting the bombers back a bit further, and replacing the north west fleet with a russian carrier.

Also for some reason the Russians have an E-2C for AEW

Okay, I will tweak it when I can, but won't be for several hours. In the meantime, try using AIM-54 against them too.

pretty much impossible to stop the AS-4's.

wow on 64GB RAM system with 4070S this lags so much I couldn't finish it :D
Good scenario tho