Herman Hum
09 Nov 05, 02:25
AAR: Thunder Dragon [Spoiler Alert]
By Brad Leyte
One of the most significant obstacles to a forced reunification between the PRC and the Republic of China (ROC, commonly referred to as Taiwan) is the US Navy. The presence of a US Navy carrier strike group in the vicinity would pose a very serious danger to PRC military action. Does the PRC possess the capability to neutralize the threat? Try it and see for yourself.
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/8383/thunderdragon4fb.th.gif (http://img151.imageshack.us/my.php?image=thunderdragon4fb.gif)
Operation Thunder Dragon was in full effect; the hunting and trapping of an entire USN carrier battlegroup. I checked my forces and found that I had a fair number of aircraft and ships. Unfortunately, most of them were near or past obsolescence. However, to paraphrase Comrade Stalin, "Quantity is a quality in and of itself."
My patrol assets were sent aloft immediately in hopes of catching a sniff of electronic emissions from the CVBG. Intelligence had reported that there was a CVBG in the area, but could not be more specific. Almost right after takeoff, the enemy emissions were detected smack in the middle of the Yellow Sea. This was both a curse and a blessing. While she was technically 'surrounded' by my airbases, most of my aircraft would not be able to reach her. Their legs were that short. Once the general area of the CVBG was established, the Maritime Patrol Aircraft [MPA] dove for the deck. They were already in the estimated envelope of the enemy SAMs. No sense in giving them easy targets.
http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/8828/carrierspotted4lt.th.gif (http://img390.imageshack.us/my.php?image=carrierspotted4lt.gif)
I decided that only a full force effort would suffice in breaching the layered defences of a CVBG. Firstly, the outer air battle against AMRAAM-armed Hornets would have to be won. Then, the ring of SAMs thrown up by the Aegis escorts would be the next layer. Finally, the short-ranged point-defense missiles like Sea Sparrow and RAM [Rolling Airframe Missile] would round out the CVBG defences. They were formidable indeed.
I decided that even if many of my aircraft were obsolescent, the enemy would still need at least one missile to destroy them. Since those missiles were going to be fired regardless, they may as well kill old planes with their cadet pilots instead of the few modern planes in the PLAAF inventory. With very few standoff weapons or ARMs [Anti-Radiation Missiles], I sent the old and slow planes toward the suspected CVBG's position. They went in at high altitude with their puny radar searching desperately for the enemy. I expected the radar emissions to attract the enemy Hornets the same way that sugar attracts real Hornets. The more modern Flankers, J-10, and bombers stole in at low level and under EmCon [Emissions Control].
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/5305/boltoenablearm5dr.th.gif (http://img395.imageshack.us/my.php?image=boltoenablearm5dr.gif)
I was trying to coordinate a Time-Over Target [TOT] attack that would have most of my assets arriving over the target at relatively the same time in order to swamp the defences. The employment of my sacrificial lambs worked. Most of the defending Combat Air Patrols [CAPs] were drawn to them and engaged with AMRAAM from maximum range. The price was high, but not crippling. Once the AMRAAMS were depleted, my Flankers were able to close and kill the defenders with their own Alamo AAMs.
While the aircraft made their approach, the flotillas of missile boats started blinking off of the screen. They immediately turned on their radar to discover swarms of inbound Surface-to-Surface missiles [SSMs]. Without any meaningful air defences, a score of the puny boats disappeared in massive explosions and still the enemy ships were hidden.
As the bombers closed the range, a contact report was received! I wanted to precede the approach of the strikers with a salvo of ARMs in hopes of taking out some of the enemy SAM defences. However, the enemy was not co-operating with my plan. They refused to radiate their radar and thus offered no targets for my ARMs. Since I had their approximate location, I decided to coax the enemy into radiating their radar by firing a few SSMs on Bearing-Only Launch [BOL]. I was hoping that they simply could and would not ignore an inbound flight of missiles. My tactic worked well beyond my highest expectations. From a flight of eight missiles, 2 struck the DDG Hopper and killed her since the enemy had elected to remain under EmCon and was thus denied many active defences. But, with every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The enemy group was now thoroughly warned and SAMs flew from the VLS magazines.
ARMs were immediately released and one managed to hit the CVN but only did 2% damage. A flight of missile-armed JH-7s tried to close and release their Anti-Ship Missiles [AShMs] but they were quickly plucked from the sky by SAMs before they could open fire. The 'sacrificial lambs' were ordered to try and blind the enemy by shooting down his AEW and helo assets. They were wiped out, but managed to distract the SAM shooters while the Beagle bombers crept in at low altitude.
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/2763/bombrun8sh.th.gif (http://img395.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bombrun8sh.gif)
The Beagles ran through the gap created by the destruction of DDG Hopper. The commander of PLAAF Bomber Squadron 8 ordered his command of 15 Beagles to ignore the enemy and concentrate on 'putting their pickles into the target'. He and his crew died in a fireball seconds later. The rest of his command continued to close on the enemy carrier. One by one, they were torn from the sky by Sea Sparrows and Standard SAMs until there was only one left. The last Beagle doggedly flew on and had just released its bombload when it was destroyed by a SAM. The crew would never know that their stick of bombs had fallen just short of their target. All of this action was witnessed by Ensign Gai as he floated in the water after being one of the first planes shot down. He would watch the rest of the battle from this front row seat. He never knew that this battle was happening exactly 65 years after another famous battle, The Battle of Midway. The date was June 4, 2007.
After his rescue, Ensign Gai would learn that the sacrifice made by his squadron was not in vain. The enemy had exhausted many missiles to destroy Bomber Squadron Eight. A follow-on flight of Beagles were able to release their 10 AShMs which all struck the CVN and left her ablaze from bow to stern. The CVBG was basically dead in the water and limping along at only 5 knots. This allowed the flotillas of the East China Sea fleet to close the distance and launch their Seersucker and Sardine SSMs which promptly sank the now defenceless survivors. Over 7,000 sailors and airmen died this day in ironic contrast to the Incredible Victory won 65 years prior around Midway Island.
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/722/coupdegrace3am.th.gif (http://img395.imageshack.us/my.php?image=coupdegrace3am.gif)
Thanks for another cool scenario. I enjoy playing the Red side. It was a huge challenge to go up against the might of a US CVBG and survive! The situation really reminded me of the old spaghetti westerns where an embattled wagon train (or Custer) is surrounded by swirling masses of indians.
Check it out on the
http://img108.exs.cx/img108/5898/hgbanner33xr.jpg
HarpGamer.com (http://www.harpgamer.com) - Home of the HCDB.
SZO file archives (http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/downloads.php?do=cat&id=30) - Home of the Harpoon3 PlayersDB or at
http://img271.echo.cx/img271/7972/badger0ma.th.jpg
FilesOfScenShare (http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/FilesOfScenShare/)
By Brad Leyte
One of the most significant obstacles to a forced reunification between the PRC and the Republic of China (ROC, commonly referred to as Taiwan) is the US Navy. The presence of a US Navy carrier strike group in the vicinity would pose a very serious danger to PRC military action. Does the PRC possess the capability to neutralize the threat? Try it and see for yourself.
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/8383/thunderdragon4fb.th.gif (http://img151.imageshack.us/my.php?image=thunderdragon4fb.gif)
Operation Thunder Dragon was in full effect; the hunting and trapping of an entire USN carrier battlegroup. I checked my forces and found that I had a fair number of aircraft and ships. Unfortunately, most of them were near or past obsolescence. However, to paraphrase Comrade Stalin, "Quantity is a quality in and of itself."
My patrol assets were sent aloft immediately in hopes of catching a sniff of electronic emissions from the CVBG. Intelligence had reported that there was a CVBG in the area, but could not be more specific. Almost right after takeoff, the enemy emissions were detected smack in the middle of the Yellow Sea. This was both a curse and a blessing. While she was technically 'surrounded' by my airbases, most of my aircraft would not be able to reach her. Their legs were that short. Once the general area of the CVBG was established, the Maritime Patrol Aircraft [MPA] dove for the deck. They were already in the estimated envelope of the enemy SAMs. No sense in giving them easy targets.
http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/8828/carrierspotted4lt.th.gif (http://img390.imageshack.us/my.php?image=carrierspotted4lt.gif)
I decided that only a full force effort would suffice in breaching the layered defences of a CVBG. Firstly, the outer air battle against AMRAAM-armed Hornets would have to be won. Then, the ring of SAMs thrown up by the Aegis escorts would be the next layer. Finally, the short-ranged point-defense missiles like Sea Sparrow and RAM [Rolling Airframe Missile] would round out the CVBG defences. They were formidable indeed.
I decided that even if many of my aircraft were obsolescent, the enemy would still need at least one missile to destroy them. Since those missiles were going to be fired regardless, they may as well kill old planes with their cadet pilots instead of the few modern planes in the PLAAF inventory. With very few standoff weapons or ARMs [Anti-Radiation Missiles], I sent the old and slow planes toward the suspected CVBG's position. They went in at high altitude with their puny radar searching desperately for the enemy. I expected the radar emissions to attract the enemy Hornets the same way that sugar attracts real Hornets. The more modern Flankers, J-10, and bombers stole in at low level and under EmCon [Emissions Control].
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/5305/boltoenablearm5dr.th.gif (http://img395.imageshack.us/my.php?image=boltoenablearm5dr.gif)
I was trying to coordinate a Time-Over Target [TOT] attack that would have most of my assets arriving over the target at relatively the same time in order to swamp the defences. The employment of my sacrificial lambs worked. Most of the defending Combat Air Patrols [CAPs] were drawn to them and engaged with AMRAAM from maximum range. The price was high, but not crippling. Once the AMRAAMS were depleted, my Flankers were able to close and kill the defenders with their own Alamo AAMs.
While the aircraft made their approach, the flotillas of missile boats started blinking off of the screen. They immediately turned on their radar to discover swarms of inbound Surface-to-Surface missiles [SSMs]. Without any meaningful air defences, a score of the puny boats disappeared in massive explosions and still the enemy ships were hidden.
As the bombers closed the range, a contact report was received! I wanted to precede the approach of the strikers with a salvo of ARMs in hopes of taking out some of the enemy SAM defences. However, the enemy was not co-operating with my plan. They refused to radiate their radar and thus offered no targets for my ARMs. Since I had their approximate location, I decided to coax the enemy into radiating their radar by firing a few SSMs on Bearing-Only Launch [BOL]. I was hoping that they simply could and would not ignore an inbound flight of missiles. My tactic worked well beyond my highest expectations. From a flight of eight missiles, 2 struck the DDG Hopper and killed her since the enemy had elected to remain under EmCon and was thus denied many active defences. But, with every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The enemy group was now thoroughly warned and SAMs flew from the VLS magazines.
ARMs were immediately released and one managed to hit the CVN but only did 2% damage. A flight of missile-armed JH-7s tried to close and release their Anti-Ship Missiles [AShMs] but they were quickly plucked from the sky by SAMs before they could open fire. The 'sacrificial lambs' were ordered to try and blind the enemy by shooting down his AEW and helo assets. They were wiped out, but managed to distract the SAM shooters while the Beagle bombers crept in at low altitude.
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/2763/bombrun8sh.th.gif (http://img395.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bombrun8sh.gif)
The Beagles ran through the gap created by the destruction of DDG Hopper. The commander of PLAAF Bomber Squadron 8 ordered his command of 15 Beagles to ignore the enemy and concentrate on 'putting their pickles into the target'. He and his crew died in a fireball seconds later. The rest of his command continued to close on the enemy carrier. One by one, they were torn from the sky by Sea Sparrows and Standard SAMs until there was only one left. The last Beagle doggedly flew on and had just released its bombload when it was destroyed by a SAM. The crew would never know that their stick of bombs had fallen just short of their target. All of this action was witnessed by Ensign Gai as he floated in the water after being one of the first planes shot down. He would watch the rest of the battle from this front row seat. He never knew that this battle was happening exactly 65 years after another famous battle, The Battle of Midway. The date was June 4, 2007.
After his rescue, Ensign Gai would learn that the sacrifice made by his squadron was not in vain. The enemy had exhausted many missiles to destroy Bomber Squadron Eight. A follow-on flight of Beagles were able to release their 10 AShMs which all struck the CVN and left her ablaze from bow to stern. The CVBG was basically dead in the water and limping along at only 5 knots. This allowed the flotillas of the East China Sea fleet to close the distance and launch their Seersucker and Sardine SSMs which promptly sank the now defenceless survivors. Over 7,000 sailors and airmen died this day in ironic contrast to the Incredible Victory won 65 years prior around Midway Island.
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/722/coupdegrace3am.th.gif (http://img395.imageshack.us/my.php?image=coupdegrace3am.gif)
Thanks for another cool scenario. I enjoy playing the Red side. It was a huge challenge to go up against the might of a US CVBG and survive! The situation really reminded me of the old spaghetti westerns where an embattled wagon train (or Custer) is surrounded by swirling masses of indians.
Check it out on the
http://img108.exs.cx/img108/5898/hgbanner33xr.jpg
HarpGamer.com (http://www.harpgamer.com) - Home of the HCDB.
SZO file archives (http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/downloads.php?do=cat&id=30) - Home of the Harpoon3 PlayersDB or at
http://img271.echo.cx/img271/7972/badger0ma.th.jpg
FilesOfScenShare (http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/FilesOfScenShare/)