Manila Galleon 1988

Manila Galleon 1988 ... in WWIII.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the EC2003 Battle for Western Pacific Battleset and the HCDB-130818 1980-2015 Era Platform Database.

Image: USS Trípoli (LPH-10), undated, but clearly after 1972(installation of Sea Sparrow. Credited to Dennis Stephenson SMC USN Ret in navysource.org, and showed on Wikipedia as public domain because taked by an US serviceperson on duty.

This scenario is designed to be played with the US-Philippine/Blue side or with by the Soviet-Vietnamese/Red side, to avoid spoilers is better to play a few times first the US/Blue side, and only after the Soviet/Red side. In part is pretended as an introductory scenario, but worth of play for experienced Harpoon players. Second scenario of a series inspired in old boardgames of the 1970's and 1980's, but modified mainly to introduce the accumulated knowledge about weapons and forces deployment after the Cold War end.

In the wake of the Black Sea naval incident of 22 February 1988, and with other clashes droved to WWIII and after the neutralization of a Soviet convoy to Philippines with support of his old Vietnamese allies on the South China Sea,carrying weapons and on board the new revolutionary government to be imposed on Philippines, the US and Allied forces need to keep a firm operations base in Phllippines. As consequence, three Allied convoys with amphibious and transport ships are sailing to Manila to reinforce Philippines against any new Soviet attempt, and to keep at bay the Soviet-driven local insurgence. After the first clash the remaining Soviet Long Range Aviation elements in Vietnam were retired far North, but also most of the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing based at Clark AB is displaced North, to protect Japan and South Korea. The main risk for the Allied convoys reinforcing Philippines will be the Soviet submarines. The reduced US and Allied ASW forces (with old and odd types of planes and ships on his force composition like a remembrance

of the ABDA force 46 years before) in theater have the task of protect the sail and unload of the convoys near Subic Bay.

Enrique Mas, July 2014.