WestPac

Coral Sea 2025
Stop the Chinese advance with a scratch team. The title is "Coral Sea", however this may play out more like ADBA in February of 1942, which was a disaster for the Allies. Your results may vary. Uses Build 2023.11 or newer. Duck.

25 downloads

Submitted July 13

King1ASuW

This scenario is the second in a series in which some of the Naval Gun weapon types newly developed or being investigated are at you disposal in a large scale exercise between AUKUS members USA (Red side) and combined AU, UK and guest NZ (Blue side).
Here the Blue side has HMAS Hobart played by an Indian type 15B DDG that includes a 127/64 Oto LW mount with extended range and guided Vulcano weapons.
Compare this with the realistic Hobart included in scenario #1 of the King Series (KingASW)

9 downloads

Submitted June 1

KingASW

What are the future weapons of choice for screening a surface group from enemy surface and submarine attack? Some years back it was thought that the humble naval gun was an antique, but with ever improving missile and area AA defenses new high technology artillery rounds are being studied and developed for both anti surface and subsurface attack.
This scenario is is intended to be the benchmark (current equipment) in a series in which some of the weapon types newly developed or being investigated are at you disposal in a large scale exercise between AUKUS members USA (Red side) and combined AU, UK and guest NZ (Blue side).
HMAS Perth (39) forms the centre piece of the Blue side, along with UK Astute class SSN Arafura (Hypothetical RAN AUKUS unit) you should be able to get the upper hand over the American buddies playing Red.

5 downloads

Submitted June 1

Tindal Tallyho

170909
Scenario Background:
In August 2023 it was announced that RAAF Tindal would be upgraded to host USAF B-52 bombers.
In this scenario, which is aimed to be the first in a series, RAAF Tindal hosts not just the USAF B-52 but also thier long range IFR tankers, F/A-18 tankers, F22 fighters and F15 attack aircraft supported by RAAF AEW and maritime patrol and F/A18 and F-35 attack/fighter units. A small RAN surface group is present to patrol close in waters to the north.
The principal task is to provide anti shipping patrols over the numerous seas between Australia and China. Some Chinese air defense is present, but not numerous nor widespsread. Chinese submarine patrols may also be present.
An intersting aspect is the management of RAAF F35 fighters as escort units, and the difficulty in giving them sufficient range (via IFR tankers) to operate away from base.

19 downloads

Submitted August 13, 2023

Heart 3

The Heart of the Problem, Part 3
It is October 2022 and the Chinese have invaded Taiwan. The US is on the way to help. This might prove difficult. A larger and challenging scenario that explores the difficulty of reinforcing Taiwan. OOB and situation is pretty close to what's in the theater today. Uses GE ver. 2022.11. Duck.

70 downloads

large
intense
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:

Updated August 27, 2022

Taiwan Strait Transit

The aim is to transit a group of international ships the length of the Straight between Taiwan and Mainland China.
Expect resistance to this transit by Chinese aircraft from both shore and ship based groups.
You need:database HCDB2-170909, Westpac Battleset and HUCE version minimum 2021.009.
Game intensity is moderate and significant time can be spent at accelerated time settings if desired.

54 downloads

Updated January 3, 2022

The Chinese are Coming!!! (Against ARC21). Mid-2021.

The Chinese are Coming!!! (Against ARC21). Mid-2021. Hypothetical Scenario.
A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for Western Pacific WesPac Battleset and the HCDB2-170909 (or later) 1980-2025 era Platform Database. This scenario is designed with Advanced Scenario Editor Build 2017.013 and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.
This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/Allied side or from the Red/Chinese side. You should play a few times first the Blue side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red side.
Image: San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS New Orleans (LPD-18), joined by the Royal Australian Navy's Anzac-class frigate HMAS Parramatta (FFH-154), the French Navy's amphibious assault helicopter carrier FS Tonnerre (L9014), and Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force's Osumi class tank landing ship JS Osumi, transit together during exercise Jeanne D'Arc 21 (ARC-21), off the coast of Kagoshima, Japan on May 14, 2021. US Marine Corps photo by a serviceperson on duty, and in consequence on public domain).
Putting President Putin aside and his current hybrid-war generated tensions in Easter Europe, expansionist China imposes a greater military, economic and politic challenge to the Western powers and other Far East allies.
After historical periods targeted against other neighbours from 2012 China expansionism reveals itself clearer, marking an oceanic path. Beyond old vindications on nearer islands from Japan, Philippines and other countries, it's a subjacent strategy to exercise control on the Chinese sea approaches just to the second "string of pearls" (islands) and beyond, with complete domination of the sometimes named East and South china Seas.
This scenario is centred on mid-2021, when annual French training mission ARC21 arrived near Japan, and international situation degenerates hot.
The scenario reflects the complete Japanese and US order of battle in the region in 2021, and a very approximative Chinese order of battle of its Eastern Theatre Command forces, both PLAAF and PLAN (only main and selected warships), with some (air defence) PLAGF elements.
This scenario is apparently cumbersome, but easier to command than others with fewer forces. Also it was surprisingly easier to program than other a lot smaller.
Both sides forces are asymmetrical but probably balanced ... or not.
Enrique Mas, November 14, 2021.

134 downloads

Submitted November 14, 2021

Toolbox exercise

A very simple scenario allowing use of exportDLL "Toolbox" (obtained from the downloads - tools/mods/... section) to practice your skills in using IFR tankers to extend the range of air groups. A couple of few simple targets at long range from your airbases make it essential to use tanker supported strike groups.

13 downloads

Submitted July 11, 2021

Nicobar.zip

Nicobar Waltz
China and India are at war. If the Indians can defend the Andaman and Nicobar islands they can cut off the supply of oil and gas to China. The Chinese have knocked the US out of the fight and are determined to take them. This is intended for show what it would be like for a 2nd world country to take on China these days, and is intended for intermediate to advanced players. Duck.
Prepared with Scenario Editor 2015.027, playable with GE 2015.027 or newer.

63 downloads

Submitted April 22, 2021

Transit

This is a revamp of an old scenario played in the Westpac Battleset using HCDB data base with operations revolving around a small surface group comprising RAN helicopter carrier Canberra transiting from north of Australia thru to Singapore. Air assets are available from Australia and Singapore and need to be used along with Canberra's helos to seek out and destroy hostile installations.

35 downloads

Submitted March 31, 2021

August 1988 Sea of Okhotsk skirmish

August 1988 Sea of Okhotsk skirmish, hypothetical scenario.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for Western Pacific WesPac Battleset and the HCDB2-170909 (or later) 1980-2025 era Platform Database. This scenario is designed with Advanced Scenario Editor Build 2017.013 and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.
This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/Japanese side or from the Red/Soviet side. You should play a few times first the Blue side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red side.
Image: JMSDF DDH-141 Haruna pulls into Pearl Harbor in 2008, previously to exercise RIMPAC 2008. 26 June 2008. (Released U.S. Navy photo by Michael R. McCormick, U.S. Navy, took by a US serviceperson on duty, and in consequence in public domain).
From the WWII end Southern Kuril Islands are in dispute between the extinct Soviet Union, and later our current days Russia, and Japan.
In this simple but not easy to win scenario, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JSMDF) Third Escort Flotilla confronts elements of the historical Soviet local forces, 10th Operational Squadron, better known as Pacific Squadron.
Third Escort Flotilla comes with its historical ship composition, reflecting the concept of eight ships and six helicopters by Escort Flotilla, previously to the later eight ships and eight helicopters system after the in service entry of the Hatakaze-class. In this concept are including different indigenous designs of anti-air warfare destroyers (DDG), with different ships carrying the Standard missile launchers in fore or aft position, to cover all the formation firing arcs.
This scenario is inspired in the great Sake in the Rocks scenario by Jay Wissmann, published in Admiral Trilogy Naval SITREP 58-59. At start I pretended to simply reproduce the scenario, but soon it evolved in a very different beast and year, and after some short-term Japanese ships and helicopters upgrades present in the Database.
Enrique Mas, 29 November 2020.

68 downloads

Submitted November 29, 2020

HB5

Headbutt #5, 5th in a series, Carrier combat USN vs PLAN. BLUE or RED. Easier for RED, harder for BLUE

76 downloads

Updated April 16, 2020

HB4

Headbutt #4, 4th in a series, Carrier combat USN vs PLAN. BLUE or RED.

70 downloads

Updated April 16, 2020

Mar3

Send the Marines- as requested. Retake Guam and defeat a larger PLAN force with a reduced air wing. Fortunately, you have some grunts...

68 downloads

Submitted April 16, 2020

PAC - PAC6

By Palex80

This is the sixth and final part of the series.
As with all previous scenarios: Only to be played by the BLUE side.

PRELUDE:
The sudden deployment of nuclear weapons by the Israeli Defence Force came as a surprise to all involved conflict parties. Faced with annihilation after the collapse of the front along the Gaza strip and the breakthrough achieved by US-backed Egyptian Army units, the Israelis resorted to the last possible measure available to them. The ensuing nuclear storm engulfed US forces in Egypt as well and led to a limited US nuclear strike on Israeli units by B2 bombers. The last shot in that side-conflict fell, when the “Tanin”, a Dolphin class Israeli submarine, unleashed a nuclear-tipped cruise missile strike on the Diego Garcia installation, where the B2 bomber strike originated from. Following that strike, both the Israelis and the US-Egyptian coalition decided to disengage.
ECON quickly distanced itself from the Israeli actions, just as Greater Russia did.
Turkey decided to stay neutral again, following the defeat of its air force over the Aegean by ECON forces and being effectively isolated after Egypt left the conflict.
The war was approaching a stalemate between the two pacts.
It was Vladimir Putin who surprised ECON leadership with an ambitious plan to carry the fight to the enemy and potentially accelerate the end of the war.

149 downloads

Updated March 8, 2018

Second Cold War ASW Warfare in the Sea of Japan, late November 2017.

Second Cold War ASW Warfare in the Sea of Japan, late November 2017.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the Western Pacific Battleset and the HCDB2-170909 (or later) 1980-2025 era Platform Database. This scenario is designed with Advanced Scenario Editor Build 2017.013 and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later. This scenario is very probably more funny, fast and furious than the precedent and similar "ASW Forms, Harpoon 3 Battles of the Third World War", settled some twenty-five years before, on late August 1991

Image: The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force anti-submarine warfare helicopter destroyer Hyuga (DDH-181) during Annual Exercise ANNUALEX 21G. On deck two SH-60J (two first ones) and two SH-60K behind, with ESM sensors relocated up in the nose middle. November 17, 2009, photo by John M. Hageman, U.S. Navy, a serviceperson on duty and in consequence in public domain, took from Wikipedia Commons.

This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/Allied side or from the Red/Russian-? side. You should play a few times first the Blue side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red side.

An anti-submarine warfare derivative scenario from the precedent "ASW Forms, Harpoon 3 Battles of the Third World War, late August 1991", with updated and contemporary Orders of Battle and better and more realistic warships and submarines availability and deployment.
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The scenario is settled at the start of a contemporary Second Cold War going hot because many causes, the opening movements and contacts, and the first days of true combat.
At November 2017, few weeks after the WWIII start in Europe after the Putin's Russia invasion of the Baltic States after the Zapad-17 drills and the subsequent NATO response, in the Far East Japan was keep neutral to avoid a second front for the NATO and other allied Western forces.
In the Sea of Japan trading lanes and fishing zones were maintained open and accessible, but with the months pass the tension was increasing.
At last, Russia decided to attack the Japanese maritime traffic to create a Far East second front and alleviate the pressure in the main European/North Atlantic theatre of operations.

Note: the scenario is qualified as "Historical" because the forces present in the scenario were the historically deployed or very near to the zone of operations in November 2017, including the US Navy ships forward deployed to United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka (and not damaged in recent collisions!), the most modern Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force submarines and warships, basically those from Sasebo District Fleet and Sasebo Naval Base, the Russian Pacific Fleet, and the Chinese North Sea Fleet.

Enrique Mas, October 29, 2017.

147 downloads

Updated October 30, 2017

ASW Forms, Harpoon 3 Battles of the Third World War, late August 1991.

ASW Forms, Harpoon 3 Battles of the Third World War, late August 1991.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the Western Pacific Battleset and the HCDB2-170909 (or later) 1980-2025 era Platform Database. This scenario is designed with Advanced Scenario Editor Build 2017.013 and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.

Image: Only three years later of the scenario date and to show the forces concentration level in the region, a 24 May 1994 aerial view of the United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka naval base. The ships tied up at the piers are (bottom to top) the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force destroyers Sawagiri (DD-157), Asagiri (DD-151), the helicopter carrying destroyer Kurama (DDH-144), the destroyer USS O'Brien (DD-975), the Japanese guided missile destroyer Kongo (DDG-173) and the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) with VLS, first of Flight II. At the top, off to the right, is the amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19). To the far right at Berth 5 are four Japanese Yushio-class submarines. Official US Navy photo by PH1 (Photographer's Mate First Class) H. Johnson, U.S. Navy, a serviceperson on duty, and in consequence in public domain, took from Wikipedia Commons.

This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/Allied side or from the Red/Soviet-? side. You should play a few times first the Blue side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red side.

A Sea of Japan scenario inspired by some good old scenario booklets of the Harpoon 3 series of the late 1980s edited by GDW, of great value for fun testing of generic tactics and weapons. Actually is a mix-up of originally random table generated ASW operations centred scenarios, do easier as only the Computer Harpoon can provide. And also reflecting all the knowledge acquired the last years in some matters, as about Soviet/Russian and others platforms characteristics, OOBs and historical deployments.

The scenario is settled at the start of the conventional WWIII as was forecasted for the whole World for circa May 1991 and later in some of the GDW edited booklets, the opening movements and contacts, and the first days of true combat.
At August 1991, after three months of WWIII start, in the Far East Japan was keep neutral to avoid a second front for the NATO and other allied Western forces.
In the Sea of Japan trading lanes and fishing zones were maintained open and accessible, but with the months pass the tension was increasing.
At last, the Soviet Union decided to attack the Japanese maritime traffic to create a Far East second front and alleviate the pressure in the main European/North Atlantic theatre of operations.

Note: the scenario is qualified as "Historical" because the forces present in the scenario were historically deployed or very near to the zone of operations in August 1991. As example, Japanese Mitsubishi SH-60J Seahawk were first deployed just in August 1991, USS Truxtun (CGN-35) departed Bremerton for her WESTPAC deployment on 16 August 1991, and the Soviet naval vessels are those historically deployed at that time in its Pacific Fleet.

Enrique Mas, October 28, 2017.

145 downloads

Updated October 30, 2017

Fire and Fury

By CV32

Fire and Fury

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the Westpac Battleset.

This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side, and requires database HCDB2-170714 or later.

Long suspected of having a nuclear weapons program, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) caused worldwide alarm when it tested its first atomic bomb in 2006, in spite of years of negotiations aimed at preventing just that. In parallel with the Bomb itself, the Hermit Kingdom also pursued the means to deliver it. And in July 2017, barely a decade after first becoming a nuclear power, the DPRK demonstrated what appeared to be the first successful test of a potential intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). This time around, there was a very different personality sitting behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office. A man who declared in no uncertain terms that the North Korean regime would face the 'fire and fury' of American military power if they threatened to use their newfound weapons against the United States of America.

1,546 downloads

Submitted August 23, 2017

Reagan against China, December 2016-early 2017. Hypothetical/Historical Scenario.

Reagan against China (and F-35B first blood), December 2016-early 2017. Hypothetical/Historical Scenario.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for EC2003 Battle for the Western Pacific BattleSet and the new HCDB2-170401 (Previously 170122) 1980-2025 era Platform Database. This scenario is designed with advanced Scenario Editor and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.

Image: Aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 perform a diamond formation flyby over the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) during a Tiger Cruise air power demonstration. U.S. Navy photo of 18 October 2009 by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Torrey W. Lee/Released, and took from Wikipedia Commons.

This scenario is designed to be played from the US/Blue side or from the Chinese/Red side. To avoid spoilers you should play a few times first the US/Blue side, and only later play the Chinese/Red side.

The scenario is based in current historical events, mainly the steaming of the just formed Chinese aircraft carrier CV-16 Liaoning CVBG thought the Bashi Channel in the contested sea area from 26 December 2016. But it was very improbable the political motivation in either side capable to generate an open war. At least President Obama had wanted to leave to posterity and to President-Elect Trump a strange and complicated legacy, to force the new incumbent to keep a very strong and militant posture against China.
Also, one of the aims of this scenario is to show how numerous and modernized are the Chinese forces at the current times, forgetting the usual conception about they're obsolete and simple forces (but depicting also his lack of enough naval helicopters, tankers and EW aircrafts).
Is showed the more accurate possible Chinese order of battle (December 2016) of his three fleets attack submarine force, his People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) air elements, some very few People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) combat elements, and a few PLAAF strategic elements, as UAVs, AWACS or ELINT aircrafts.
Worth of remembering is, after the full of naval, military and security incidents year of 2014 the World was beginning the so-called Second Cold War. Mostly as result of President of Russia Vladimir Putin (ex-KGB lieutenant colonel) actions, provoking in succession the Crimea, Ukraine, Donetsk, Baltic States, October 2014 Swedish submarine incursion, G-20 Brisbane meeting naval crisis, November 2014 Faslane submarine incident, frigate Yaroslav Mudryy February "Channel Dash", April 2015 Finnish submarine incursion (for many observers causing the pre-mobilization of Finland reserve forces), Russian intervention in Syria from 30 September 2015, March 2016 detection by the French of a Russian submarine near Bay of Biscay, the propaganda stunt of the deployment of the only one Russian aircraft carrier Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov steaming (a lot, literally) from Kola Bay towards Eastern Mediterranean from October 15, 2016, and with constant and multiple Russian overflies with military warplanes entangled in potential incidents with commercial flights in Europe. That without counting in other unrelated naval incidents, just as the Iranian seizure of the Maersk Tigris in 28 April 2015 (and neither counting in landlocked actions, as the counter-ISIS operations in Middle East).
But meanwhile, more towards Far East a less perceived and growing problem was China, as reflected in the transfer of the 60% of the USN and USAF combat forces to the Pacific Theater of Operations from 2012, move to be completed by 2020.
In some places of the South China or East Philippine Sea multiple countries claimed Spratly Islands archipelago (Chinese: Nansha islands, Filipino: Kapuluan ng Kalayaan, Malay: Kepulauan Spratly and Vietnamese: Quan dao Truong Sa), China was for years mongering his plans and established a permanent base at least from 1987, and 1988 included a naval battle against Vietnam, the Johnson South Reef Skirmish. Also at least from 1995, as denounced by Philippines, China was building structures with military capabilities, including from 2012 more relevant structures, as the 3000+ meters long (Very Large Airport in Harpoon parameters) runway in Fiery Cross Reef (finished at March 2016) and other smaller finished in Mischief Reef, and more important, building artificial reefs and islands above previous simple shoals for claiming territory, and equipping them with advanced weapons. At last in an undetermined date late April 2015 China claims as territorial waters the 12 nautical miles circling his "new" islands.
As the US official doctrine is Freedom of Navigation (FON) worldwide on international waters, and as in this case with fears about a decision not to send naval vessels into the zone would inadvertently help the Chinese build their own case for sovereignty in the area, some air and surface elements of US Navy begin to orbit near the Chinese claims, but not crossing the 12 nm line.
Between the first incidents were a VP-45 Pelicans' P-8A Poseidon in surveillance mission carrying a CNN TV team inside, warned by the Chinese to no flight 12 nm near of Fiery Cross Reef on 20 May 2015, and the trailing for some hours of the USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) by the Chinese frigate Yuncheng (571) on 11 May 2015. Late, from 26 October 2015, USS Lassen (DDG-82) implement the Freedom of Navigation (FON) near the Chinese occupied Subi and Mischief Reefs in the Spratlys, and a clash of destroyers was possible, but avoided with the humble and shy behaviour of the US side, transiting without radars illuminating or the helicopter flying.
Other previous very important situation, and after some months without US aircraft carriers in the region, was from 1 to 8 March 2016, when the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) Carrier Strike Group (JCSCSG or Carrier Strike Group Three) transited the Luzon Strait on the contested area. Other possible incident in our timeline was the sailing of the cruiser USS Chancellorsville between Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Mansiloc Spanish historical name) and Mischief Reef on late March 2016, when was persistently trailed by Chinese frigate Yueyang (575) but the action was limited to an exchange of weather pleasantries.
But perhaps in the December 2016 transit of the Liaoning CVBG another outcome would have been possible ...

Enrique Mas, 24 January 2017.

843 downloads

Updated April 3, 2017

Battle of Chancellorsville: The Red Badge of Courage, March 2016. Alternate History Scenario.

Battle of Chancellorsville: The Red Badge of Courage, March 2016. Alternate History Scenario.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition introductory scenario for the Western Pacific Battleset and the HCDB-150928 1980-2015 era Platform Database or the HCDB2-170401 new 1980-2025 era Platform Database . This scenario is designed with advanced Scenario Editor and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.

Image: USS Chancellorsville (CG-62) steams port side of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in 8 July 2010. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Stephen M. Votaw, a serviceman on duty and in consequence in public domain, took from Wikipedia Commons.

This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/US side or from the Red/Chinese side. To avoid spoilers you should play a few times first the Blue side, and only later play the Red side.

The scenario is based in current historical events, mainly the navigation of the USS Chancellorsville (CG-62) on the contested area in late March 2016, as is the US clear aim to keep open to all maritime traffic the region sea, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. But is very improbable the political motivation in either side capable to generate an open and all-out war.
Is basically an introductory scenario, inspired by the (continuous) current events.
After the full of naval, military and security incidents year of 2014 the World was beginning the so-called Second Cold War. Mostly as result of President of Russia Vladimir Putin (ex-KGB lieutenant colonel) actions, provoking in succession the Crimea, Ukraine, Donetsk, Baltic States, October 2014 Swedish submarine incursion, G-20 Brisbane meeting naval crisis, November 2014 Faslane submarine incident, frigate Yaroslav Mudryy February "Channel Dash", April 2015 Finnish submarine incursion (for many observers causing the pre-mobilization of Finland reserve forces), Russian intervention in Syria from 30 September 2015, March 2016 detection by the French of a Russian submarine near Bay of Biscay, and with constant and multiple overflies with military warplanes entangled in potential incidents with commercial flights in Europe. That without counting in other unrelated naval incidents, just as the Iranian seizure of the Maersk Tigris in 28 April 2015 (and neither counting in landlocked actions, as the ISIS operati
ons in Middle East).
But meanwhile, more towards Far East was China a less perceived and growing problem.
In some places of the South China or East Philippine Sea multiple countries claimed Spratly Islands archipelago (Chinese: Nansha islands, Filipino: Kapuluan ng Kalayaan, Malay: Kepulauan Spratly and Vietnamese: Quan dao Truong Sa), China was for years mongering his plans and established a permanent base at least from 1987, and 1988 included a naval battle against Vietnam, the Johnson South Reef Skirmish. Also at least from 1995, as denounced by Philippines, China was building structures with military capabilities, including from 2012 more relevant structures, as the 3000+ meters long (Very Large Airport in Harpoon parameters) runway in Fiery Cross Reef (now finished, at March 2016), and more important, building artificial reefs and islands above previous simple shoals for claiming territory. At last in an undetermined date late April 2015 China claims as territorial waters the 12 nautical miles circling his "new" islands.
As the US official doctrine is Freedom of Navigation (FON) worldwide on international waters, and as in this case with fears about a decision not to send naval vessels into the zone would inadvertently help the Chinese build their own case for sovereignty in the area, some air and surface elements of US Navy begin to orbit near the Chinese claims, but not crossing the 12 nm line.
Between the first incidents were a VP-45 Pelicans' P-8A Poseidon in surveillance mission carrying a CNN TV team inside, warned by the Chinese to no flight 12 nm near of Fiery Cross Reef on 20 May 2015, and the trailing for some hours of the USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) by the Chinese frigate Yuncheng (571) on 11 May 2015. Late, from 26 October 2015, USS Lassen (DDG-82) implement the Freedom of Navigation (FON) near the Chinese occupied Subi and Mischief Reefs in the Spratlys, and a clash of destroyers was possible, but avoided with the humble and shy behaviour of the US side, transiting without radars illuminating or the helicopter flying.
Other previous very important situation, and after some months without US aircraft carriers in the region, was from 1 to 8 March 2016, when the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) Carrier Strike Group (JCSCSG or Carrier Strike Group Three) transited the Luzon Strait on the contested area.
And the last possible incident in our timeline was the sailing of the cruiser USS Chancellorsville between Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Mansiloc Spanish historical name) and Mischief Reef on late March 2016, when was persistently trailed by Chinese frigate Yueyang (575) and the action was limited to an exchange of weather pleasantries, but other outcome was possible, re-enacting Stephen Crane's Battle of Chancellorsville-inspired The Red Badge of Courage ...

Enrique Mas, 1 April 2016.

212 downloads

Updated April 2, 2017

Solving the Spratlys problem: Stennis Compromise, March 2016. Alternate History Scenario.

Solving the Spratlys problem: Stennis Compromise, March 2016. Alternate History Scenario.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the Western Pacific Battleset and the HCDB-150928 1980-2015 era Platform Database. This scenario is designed with advanced Scenario Editor and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.

Image: An VFA-14 "Tophatters" F/A-18E Super Hornet (Squadron with the only Super Hornets with the old APG-73 radars in the CVW-9, the others have the APG-79 AESA) participates in an air power demonstration near the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as the ship operates in the Pacific Ocean on April 24, 2013. Photo took from Wikipedia, realized by Seaman Apprentice Ignacio D. Perez U.S. Navy, a serviceman on duty and in consequence in public domain.

This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/US side or from the Red/Chinese side. To avoid spoilers you should play a few times first the Blue side, and only later play the Red side.

The scenario is based in current historical events, mainly the navigation of the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) Carrier Strike Group (JCSCSG or Carrier Strike Group Three) from the Luzon Strait on the contested area from 1 to 8 March 2016. But is very improbable the political motivation in either side capable to generate an open war.
Also, one of this complex scenario aims is to show how numerous and modernized are the Chinese forces at the current times, forgetting the usual conception about they're obsolete and simple forces (but including his lack of enough naval helicopters, tankers and EW aircrafts).
Is depicted the more accurate possible Chinese order of battle (March 2016) of his South Sea Fleet, his People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) aviation elements, his People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Southern and Eastern Theatre Commands, and a few strategic elements, as AWACS or ELINT planes.
After the full of naval, military and security incidents year of 2014 the World was beginning the so-called Second Cold War. Mostly as result of President of Russia Vladimir Putin (ex-KGB lieutenant colonel) actions, provoking in succession the Crimea, Ukraine, Donetsk, Baltic States, October 2014 Swedish submarine incursion, G-20 Brisbane meeting naval crisis, November 2014 Faslane submarine incident, frigate Yaroslav Mudryy February "Channel Dash", April 2015 Finnish submarine incursion (for many observers causing the pre-mobilization of Finland reserve forces), Russian intervention in Syria from 30 September 2015, March 2016 detection by the French of a Russian submarine near Bay of Biscay, and with constant and multiple overflies with military warplanes entangled in potential incidents with commercial flights in Europe. That without counting in other unrelated naval incidents, just as the Iranian seizure of the Maersk Tigris in 28 April 2015 (and neither counting in landlocked actions, as the ISIS operati
ons in Middle East).
But meanwhile, more towards Far East was China a less perceived and growing problem.
In some places of the South China or East Philippine Sea multiple countries claimed Spratly Islands archipelago (Chinese: Nansha islands, Filipino: Kapuluan ng Kalayaan, Malay: Kepulauan Spratly and Vietnamese: Quan dao Truong Sa), China was for years mongering his plans and established a permanent base at least from 1987, and 1988 included a naval battle against Vietnam, the Johnson South Reef Skirmish. Also at least from 1995, as denounced by Philippines, China was building structures with military capabilities, including from 2012 more relevant structures, as the 3000+ meters long (Very Large Airport in Harpoon parameters) runway in Fiery Cross Reef (now finished, at March 2016), and more important, building artificial reefs and islands above previous simple shoals for claiming territory. At last in an undetermined date late April 2015 China claims as territorial waters the 12 nautical miles circling his "new" islands.
As the US official doctrine is Freedom of Navigation (FON) worldwide on international waters, and as in this case with fears about a decision not to send naval vessels into the zone would inadvertently help the Chinese build their own case for sovereignty in the area, some air and surface elements of US Navy begin to orbit near the Chinese claims, but not crossing the 12 nm line.
Between the first incidents were a VP-45 Pelicans' P-8A Poseidon in surveillance mission carrying a CNN TV team inside, warned by the Chinese to no flight 12 nm near of Fiery Cross Reef on 20 May 2015, and the trailing for some hours of the USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) by the Chinese frigate Yuncheng (571) on 11 May 2015. Late, from 26 October 2015, USS Lassen (DDG-82) implement the Freedom of Navigation (FON) near the Chinese occupied Subi and Mischief Reefs in the Spratlys, and a clash of destroyers was possible, but avoided with the humble and shy behaviour of the US side, transiting without radars illuminating or the helicopter flying.
At last, and after some months without US aircraft carriers in the region, when on 1 March 2016 the JCSCSG (Group AEC) transited the Luzon Strait, everything was possible...

Enrique Mas, 15 March 2016.

709 downloads

Updated April 2, 2016

Clash of DDGs, Spratly Islands 26-27 October 2015.

Clash of DDGs, Spratly Islands 26-27 October 2015. Historical Scenario.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the Western Pacific Battleset and the HCDB-150928 1980-2015 era Platform Database or the new HCDB2-170522 New Standard 1980-2025 era Platform Database. This scenario is designed with advanced Scenario Editor and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.

This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/US side or from the Red/Chinese side. To avoid spoilers you should play a few times first the Blue side, and only later play the Red side.

Image: The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG-82) during a scheduled port visit in Da Nang, Vietnam, on 7 November 2009. Cmdr. H.B. Le, commanding officer of Lassen was visiting Vietnam for the first time since he and his family fled the country in 1975. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel Viramontes/Released) 091107-N-7280V-386. Photo in public domain because taked by a US serviceperson on duty and publicly released, taked from Flickr.

After the full of naval, military and security incidents year of 2014 and the not less eventful first eight months of 2015, the World was beginning the so-called Second Cold War. Mostly as result of President of Russia Vladimir Putin (ex-KGB lieutenant colonel) actions, provoking in succession the Crimea, Ukraine, Donetsk, Baltic States, October 2014 Swedish submarine incursion, G-20 Brisbane meeting naval crisis, November 2014 Faslane submarine incident, frigate Yaroslav Mudryy February "Channel Dash", April 2015 Finnish submarine incursion (for many observers causing the pre-mobilization of Finland reserve forces), and with constant and multiple overflies with military warplanes entangled in potential incidents with commercial flights in Europe. That without counting in other unrelated naval incidents, just as the Iranian seizure of the Maersk Tigris in 28 April 2015 (and neither counting in landlocked actions, as the ISIS operations in Middle East), and at last, the use by Russia of Latakia as advanced air base from operations against the opposition to the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from 30 September 2015, with unpredictable consequences.
But meanwhile, more towards Far East was China a less perceived and growing problem.
In some places of the South China or East Philippine Sea multiple countries claimed Spratly Islands archipelago (Chinese: Nansha islands, Filipino: Kapuluan ng Kalayaan, Malay: Kepulauan Spratly and Vietnamese: Quan dao Truong Sa), China was for years mongering his plans and established a permanent base at least from 1987, and 1988 included a naval battle against Vietnam, the Johnson South Reef Skirmish. Also at least from 1995, as denounced by Philippines, China was building structures with military capabilities, including from 2012 more relevant structures, as the 3000+ meters long (Very Large Airport in Harpoon parameters) runway in Fiery Cross Reef, and more important, building artificial reefs and islands above previous simple shoals. At last in an undetermined date late April 2015 China claims as territorial waters the 12 nautical miles circling his "new" islands.
As the US official doctrine is Freedom of Navigation (FON), and as in this case with fears about a decision not to send naval vessels into the zone would inadvertently help the Chinese build their own case for sovereignty in the area, some air and surface elements of US Navy begin to orbit near the Chinese claims, but not crossing the 12 nm line.
Between the first incidents were a VP-45 Pelicans' P-8A Poseidon in surveillance mission carrying a CNN TV team inside, warned by the Chinese to no flight 12 nm near of Fiery Cross Reef on 20 May 2015, and the trailing for some hours of the USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) by the Chinese frigate Yuncheng (571) on 11 May 2015.
At last, from the late hours of 26 October 2015, USS Lassen (DDG-82) implement the Freedom of Navigation (FON) near the Chinese occupied Subi and Mischief Reefs in the Spratlys, and a clash of destroyers was possible.

Enrique Mas, 27 October 2015.

583 downloads

Updated May 22, 2017

Tesseract

By CV32

Tesseract

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the Westpac Battleset.

This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side only.

A month ago, the Peoples Republic of China seemed to finalize its grip on the South China Sea, appearing to complete efforts to establish full fledged military installations on several newly created man made islands. Its territorial ambitions and aggressive land reclamation policies in the region have long aggravated and alarmed its neighbours in Southeast Asia, but the events of the past two weeks have been deeply disconcerting. The Chinese have now moved troops and weaponry into these new bases, and declared an air defense identification zone that encompasses almost the entirety of the South China Sea. In an emergency meeting of the Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN), all but Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar have agreed to send military forces into the Spratly archipelago to confront the Chinese.

224 downloads

Submitted September 29, 2015

LCS Goes to War 2, the Real Thing, Spratly Islands, 11 May 2015. Historical Scenario.