Herman Hum
05 Mar 06, 02:26
AAR: Blame it on the Kellys [Spoiler Alert]
A Harpoon Classic scenario
By Brad Leyte
A growing dispute between Indonesia and Papua-New Guinea about rights to a newly discovered uranium deposit on their mutual border has led to the intervention of China and Australia on opposite sides. China, eager to gain access to the uranium, has sent a sizeable force into the region to support the Indonesian claim. Indonesia has likewise shifted considerable military assets eastward into the disputed area. Overflights of Papua-New Guinea airspace by unknown (and presumably Chinese) aircraft have already been reported. Meanwhile, Australia is moving to support its old colony, and New Zealand is pledging assistance.
1.0. SITREP:
The Australian Defence Forces are still heavily committed to the ongoing conflict in Iraq, but we have begun the first stages of a deployment to Port Moresby (AFA) and a jungle airstrip (AGA) to the northwest near Mount Wilhelm on the island of New Guinea. We may have underestimated Chinese commitment to enforcing the Indonesian claim to the uranium deposit. Military air activity near Jayapura and Merauke, and along the border has become heightened within the past 24 hours and unknown warships have been reported offshore.
A combined Indo-Chinese surface action group was spotted transiting east through the Celebes, and an Australian civilian (reportedly a retired RAN officer) aboard a yacht in the Coral Sea has reported having sighted a submarine - possibly Chinese - southwest of Port Moresby.
The ADF is mobilizing to meet the threat, but the austere bases at Scherger, at Dili (in East Timor) (ASA) and the jungle airstrip (AGA) cannot be used until RAAF Hercules transport aircraft have landed there with the proper equipment.
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/8363/blameitonthekellys5hp.th.gif (http://img34.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blameitonthekellys5hp.gif)
As the orders arrived from Canberra, all that I could think about was the poem that went, "For want of a nail..." When were the pongos ever going to learn that the pointy end of the spear is pretty damned useless without the beans, bullets, and gas needed to get them there? Now, due to a shortage of spare parts, no ASW helos could be operated from the frigates that depended so heavily upon them. Well, the bean counters finally got their way. I just hope that they are the same ones who have to count the bodies that result from their parsimonious conduct after this operation is over.
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/6548/kellystart9zu.th.gif (http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kellystart9zu.gif)
The few available Seahawks at my command were based at Townsville and they were virtually stranded there as they had no range to even get near the AO. Instead of operating from the fantail of frigates, they were now grounded. The RAN was basically naked to submarine attack. As a stop-gap measure, I allocated a pair of P-3 Orions to each TF to them give a modicum of stand-off ASW capability. Unfortunately, this meant that one of my primary LR patrol assets was being wasted babysitting the Amphibs. But, as in any conflict, the primary mission was still the safety of the transports. Without the men and supplies aboard, all the fancy planes just sit on the tarmac.
Until the forward bases at Dili and PNF [Papua New Guinea] could be made ready, the only assets I had capable of LR strikes were the F-111 Aardvarks out of Amberley. They were order to try and interdict the Indonesian airfields on PNG. They couldn't destroy them quickly, but they might be able to impede their sortie rate.
Richmond sent her contingent of C-130 Hercules to get the base at Dili and Scherger prepared while Port Moresby sent her supply-laden transports to PNG [Papua New Guinea]. Now it was a race against time. Australia may be an island continent, but she was a BIG island continent to cross.
The Wedgetail AEW planes and tankers re-located to Tyndal so that they could cover the Celebes and Coral Seas. Until the forward bases were operational, Task Group AKS was on its own.
Since the Hornets could not displace to Dili before the arrival of the base engineers, they were re-armed for Counter-air missions and ordered to conduct a sweep of the southern Indonesian PNG base. They could barely reach it and hoped to cull some of the anticipated fighter coverage before the arrival of the Aardvarks.
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/9632/beaglehawkattack5ct.th.gif (http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=beaglehawkattack5ct.gif)
Meanwhile, Indonesian Hawks and Beagles hammered the mine facilities. The mine superintendent was screaming for help over the sound of bombs dropping over his head. However, there was nothing to do but watch. At least they provided good intelligence. The mine security team leader was a former soldier and thus able to identify Flankers and J-10s in the strike groups.
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/2531/flankerfrhasanuddin9dl.th.gif (http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=flankerfrhasanuddin9dl.gif)
Task Group AHS detected four Flankers and two Tigers rising out of Hasanuddin and heading directly for them. From the profile that they were flying, it was quite certain that they were up to not good. The TG commander opened fired at maximum range. They used up most of their LR SAMs, but killed all six strikers. The group had to reposition the escorts since they only had SR SAMs left. It was a gamble, but he felt that he needed to get them away from the MEUs [Mission Essential Units] so that they could have a longer engagement sequence. If he mis-judged the Threat Axis, then the transports would get mauled.
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/8232/pngfightersweep9xk.th.gif (http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pngfightersweep9xk.gif)
The fighter sweep over PNG was a resounding success as J-10s, J-11s, and then Su-30MKK Flankers all took their turn in trying to intercept the Hornets. They were all smashed to the ground with LR AMRAAM engagement without loss to the Hornets. However, matters were becoming dire in the West. Task Group AHS came under AShM [Anti-Ship Missile] attack from six Badgers. SAMs were used up at a tremendous rate. It was only hoped that they would last long enough until the cavalry arrived. After the missile attack was defeated, the Chief of Staff reported that they were critically low on SAMs. "Well, would you rather take them home with us?" replied the Commander? The six Badgers were a bit too anxious to evaluate the effectiveness of their attack. They drifted into range of the Sea Sparrows and all six were subsequently killed. Hopefully, there would be no repeat of that potentially devastating attack.
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/6049/ashmvsahs9bn.th.gif (http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ashmvsahs9bn.gif)
Four Searchmaster followed the Badger attack. Intelligence reported that they were only capable of rocket armament that had a maximum range of 3.5 miles. FFG Perth easily plucked them all out of the sky, but exhausted her remaining Sea Sparrows doing it.
The C-130 transports arrived on PNG without incident and immediately began transforming the base for operations. After the offensive fighter sweep, the Hornets from Tyndal retired to the jungle strip on PNG. Enroute, they managed to kill a number of attack helos and Hawks to relieve the pressure on the beleaguered mining encampment.
The airstrip on Dili was another story, altogether. There, the transports almost had to fight their way into Dili. If not for the Hornet escorts, who performed the snowplough duties through the flights of fighter patrols from Hasanuddin, the Hercs would not have arrived, at all.
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/5858/trucksravagedbyhornet6yz.th.gif (http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=trucksravagedbyhornet6yz.gif)
Once forward bases secured, it was only a matter of time. The Hornets were operating at the long end of their logistical shoestring, but they managed to get by, even if just barely. The endless shuttle flights between the larger bases were able to maintain a constant flow of supplies sufficient to maintain the operational tempo. On PNG, several Indonesian truck convoys were ravaged as they attempted to approach the mine and seize it from the civilians.
Slowly, but surely, the Aardvarks chipped away at the base defences. Once they were suppressed, the airfields were shut down in one quick strike and PNG was isolated from the Indonesian high command.
The situation in the Java Sea was also solidifying. After fighting their way into Dili, the ADF was able to bring that base into operation quickly and then was able to station a CAP [Combat Air Patrol] over the near-defenceless Task Group. However, they proved unnecessary as no further attacks materialized.
While the transports were making their respective transit to the Java Sea and to Port Moresby, a Wedgetail patrol reported some strange emissions north of PNG. An Orion was sent to investigate and found an Aircraft Carrier! Evidently, the Chinese were extremely serious about this operation for they had sent out their one and only Varyag-class carrier. Luckily, no fighter radar emissions were detected as the crew of the Orion dove to the deck, turned off their radar, and beat a hasty retreat. The Hornets re-armed from their mud-moving missions and were re-configured for anti-ship strike.
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/6581/coupdegracemao0cb.th.gif (http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=coupdegracemao0cb.gif)
A full squadron strike caught the carrier group unawares. They had been operating with their radar silent and paid for their error as they were unable to maximize the number of engagement cycles against the incoming Harpoon wave. As a result, the majority of the missiles managed to slip through the defences and lay waste to the carrier. The pride of the PLAN was listing 23 degrees to port as the Hornets retired from their mission of mayhem.
During their egress, the Chinese embassy in Canberra issued a request for a formal cease fire to the Australian Prime Minister. Evidently, the price of the uranium had just been too high for Occidental tastes. The day belonged to the RAN, the RAAF, and the RNZN.
Thanks for a neat little hurly-burly in the southwest Pacific theatre.
SZO file archives (http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/downloads.php?do=cat&id=30) - Home of the Harpoon3 PlayersDB
http://img271.echo.cx/img271/7972/badger0ma.th.jpgFilesOfScenShare (http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/FilesOfScenShare/)
http://img108.exs.cx/img108/5898/hgbanner33xr.jpg
HarpGamer.com (http://www.harpgamer.com) - Home of the HCDB.
A Harpoon Classic scenario
By Brad Leyte
A growing dispute between Indonesia and Papua-New Guinea about rights to a newly discovered uranium deposit on their mutual border has led to the intervention of China and Australia on opposite sides. China, eager to gain access to the uranium, has sent a sizeable force into the region to support the Indonesian claim. Indonesia has likewise shifted considerable military assets eastward into the disputed area. Overflights of Papua-New Guinea airspace by unknown (and presumably Chinese) aircraft have already been reported. Meanwhile, Australia is moving to support its old colony, and New Zealand is pledging assistance.
1.0. SITREP:
The Australian Defence Forces are still heavily committed to the ongoing conflict in Iraq, but we have begun the first stages of a deployment to Port Moresby (AFA) and a jungle airstrip (AGA) to the northwest near Mount Wilhelm on the island of New Guinea. We may have underestimated Chinese commitment to enforcing the Indonesian claim to the uranium deposit. Military air activity near Jayapura and Merauke, and along the border has become heightened within the past 24 hours and unknown warships have been reported offshore.
A combined Indo-Chinese surface action group was spotted transiting east through the Celebes, and an Australian civilian (reportedly a retired RAN officer) aboard a yacht in the Coral Sea has reported having sighted a submarine - possibly Chinese - southwest of Port Moresby.
The ADF is mobilizing to meet the threat, but the austere bases at Scherger, at Dili (in East Timor) (ASA) and the jungle airstrip (AGA) cannot be used until RAAF Hercules transport aircraft have landed there with the proper equipment.
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/8363/blameitonthekellys5hp.th.gif (http://img34.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blameitonthekellys5hp.gif)
As the orders arrived from Canberra, all that I could think about was the poem that went, "For want of a nail..." When were the pongos ever going to learn that the pointy end of the spear is pretty damned useless without the beans, bullets, and gas needed to get them there? Now, due to a shortage of spare parts, no ASW helos could be operated from the frigates that depended so heavily upon them. Well, the bean counters finally got their way. I just hope that they are the same ones who have to count the bodies that result from their parsimonious conduct after this operation is over.
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/6548/kellystart9zu.th.gif (http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kellystart9zu.gif)
The few available Seahawks at my command were based at Townsville and they were virtually stranded there as they had no range to even get near the AO. Instead of operating from the fantail of frigates, they were now grounded. The RAN was basically naked to submarine attack. As a stop-gap measure, I allocated a pair of P-3 Orions to each TF to them give a modicum of stand-off ASW capability. Unfortunately, this meant that one of my primary LR patrol assets was being wasted babysitting the Amphibs. But, as in any conflict, the primary mission was still the safety of the transports. Without the men and supplies aboard, all the fancy planes just sit on the tarmac.
Until the forward bases at Dili and PNF [Papua New Guinea] could be made ready, the only assets I had capable of LR strikes were the F-111 Aardvarks out of Amberley. They were order to try and interdict the Indonesian airfields on PNG. They couldn't destroy them quickly, but they might be able to impede their sortie rate.
Richmond sent her contingent of C-130 Hercules to get the base at Dili and Scherger prepared while Port Moresby sent her supply-laden transports to PNG [Papua New Guinea]. Now it was a race against time. Australia may be an island continent, but she was a BIG island continent to cross.
The Wedgetail AEW planes and tankers re-located to Tyndal so that they could cover the Celebes and Coral Seas. Until the forward bases were operational, Task Group AKS was on its own.
Since the Hornets could not displace to Dili before the arrival of the base engineers, they were re-armed for Counter-air missions and ordered to conduct a sweep of the southern Indonesian PNG base. They could barely reach it and hoped to cull some of the anticipated fighter coverage before the arrival of the Aardvarks.
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/9632/beaglehawkattack5ct.th.gif (http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=beaglehawkattack5ct.gif)
Meanwhile, Indonesian Hawks and Beagles hammered the mine facilities. The mine superintendent was screaming for help over the sound of bombs dropping over his head. However, there was nothing to do but watch. At least they provided good intelligence. The mine security team leader was a former soldier and thus able to identify Flankers and J-10s in the strike groups.
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/2531/flankerfrhasanuddin9dl.th.gif (http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=flankerfrhasanuddin9dl.gif)
Task Group AHS detected four Flankers and two Tigers rising out of Hasanuddin and heading directly for them. From the profile that they were flying, it was quite certain that they were up to not good. The TG commander opened fired at maximum range. They used up most of their LR SAMs, but killed all six strikers. The group had to reposition the escorts since they only had SR SAMs left. It was a gamble, but he felt that he needed to get them away from the MEUs [Mission Essential Units] so that they could have a longer engagement sequence. If he mis-judged the Threat Axis, then the transports would get mauled.
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/8232/pngfightersweep9xk.th.gif (http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pngfightersweep9xk.gif)
The fighter sweep over PNG was a resounding success as J-10s, J-11s, and then Su-30MKK Flankers all took their turn in trying to intercept the Hornets. They were all smashed to the ground with LR AMRAAM engagement without loss to the Hornets. However, matters were becoming dire in the West. Task Group AHS came under AShM [Anti-Ship Missile] attack from six Badgers. SAMs were used up at a tremendous rate. It was only hoped that they would last long enough until the cavalry arrived. After the missile attack was defeated, the Chief of Staff reported that they were critically low on SAMs. "Well, would you rather take them home with us?" replied the Commander? The six Badgers were a bit too anxious to evaluate the effectiveness of their attack. They drifted into range of the Sea Sparrows and all six were subsequently killed. Hopefully, there would be no repeat of that potentially devastating attack.
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/6049/ashmvsahs9bn.th.gif (http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ashmvsahs9bn.gif)
Four Searchmaster followed the Badger attack. Intelligence reported that they were only capable of rocket armament that had a maximum range of 3.5 miles. FFG Perth easily plucked them all out of the sky, but exhausted her remaining Sea Sparrows doing it.
The C-130 transports arrived on PNG without incident and immediately began transforming the base for operations. After the offensive fighter sweep, the Hornets from Tyndal retired to the jungle strip on PNG. Enroute, they managed to kill a number of attack helos and Hawks to relieve the pressure on the beleaguered mining encampment.
The airstrip on Dili was another story, altogether. There, the transports almost had to fight their way into Dili. If not for the Hornet escorts, who performed the snowplough duties through the flights of fighter patrols from Hasanuddin, the Hercs would not have arrived, at all.
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/5858/trucksravagedbyhornet6yz.th.gif (http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=trucksravagedbyhornet6yz.gif)
Once forward bases secured, it was only a matter of time. The Hornets were operating at the long end of their logistical shoestring, but they managed to get by, even if just barely. The endless shuttle flights between the larger bases were able to maintain a constant flow of supplies sufficient to maintain the operational tempo. On PNG, several Indonesian truck convoys were ravaged as they attempted to approach the mine and seize it from the civilians.
Slowly, but surely, the Aardvarks chipped away at the base defences. Once they were suppressed, the airfields were shut down in one quick strike and PNG was isolated from the Indonesian high command.
The situation in the Java Sea was also solidifying. After fighting their way into Dili, the ADF was able to bring that base into operation quickly and then was able to station a CAP [Combat Air Patrol] over the near-defenceless Task Group. However, they proved unnecessary as no further attacks materialized.
While the transports were making their respective transit to the Java Sea and to Port Moresby, a Wedgetail patrol reported some strange emissions north of PNG. An Orion was sent to investigate and found an Aircraft Carrier! Evidently, the Chinese were extremely serious about this operation for they had sent out their one and only Varyag-class carrier. Luckily, no fighter radar emissions were detected as the crew of the Orion dove to the deck, turned off their radar, and beat a hasty retreat. The Hornets re-armed from their mud-moving missions and were re-configured for anti-ship strike.
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/6581/coupdegracemao0cb.th.gif (http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=coupdegracemao0cb.gif)
A full squadron strike caught the carrier group unawares. They had been operating with their radar silent and paid for their error as they were unable to maximize the number of engagement cycles against the incoming Harpoon wave. As a result, the majority of the missiles managed to slip through the defences and lay waste to the carrier. The pride of the PLAN was listing 23 degrees to port as the Hornets retired from their mission of mayhem.
During their egress, the Chinese embassy in Canberra issued a request for a formal cease fire to the Australian Prime Minister. Evidently, the price of the uranium had just been too high for Occidental tastes. The day belonged to the RAN, the RAAF, and the RNZN.
Thanks for a neat little hurly-burly in the southwest Pacific theatre.
SZO file archives (http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/downloads.php?do=cat&id=30) - Home of the Harpoon3 PlayersDB
http://img271.echo.cx/img271/7972/badger0ma.th.jpgFilesOfScenShare (http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/FilesOfScenShare/)
http://img108.exs.cx/img108/5898/hgbanner33xr.jpg
HarpGamer.com (http://www.harpgamer.com) - Home of the HCDB.