Scenario Design & Discussion

AAR: Allegro [spoiler Alert] A Harpoon Classic scenario By Christopher Stoner [a.k.a. DarkNite] PTM Tze Chiang had been the hero of the opening act in what would soon be known as the Spratly Affair. Her four victories over two Batillo-class gunboats and two H-6 Badger bombers made her the must successful command in the history of the Republic of China’s armed forces. However, Lieutenant Zhao knew that luck was a finite quantity and he firmly believed that he and his crew had used up all of theirs in the first scene. She was currently paired up with the frigate, Hsi Ning off the coast of Labuan. I ordered CAP [Combat Air Patrols] aloft over all of …

Christopher Stoner (aka DarkNite) has released a new HCCE scenario for the Westpac Battleset called "Allegro", a sequel to "Prelude" and apparently Part 2 of a three part series. Check it out ! This one looks at a PRC/Taiwan battle without actually involving the Taiwan Strait! Your primary mission will be to guide your SAG and Amphib groups from Taiwan past enemy units from the Chinese and Philipino sides trying to locate them. Use every trick you can think of because once you're spotted it can easily become a slugfest. Grab it at the HC Scen/AAR Page.

The Ninth Immortal A new HCCE scenario for the Westpac Battleset (BLUE side) War with the People's Republic of China is several days old, and going well. So well, in fact, that there are signs of severe fractures in the political structure in Beijing. National Command Authority is becoming increasingly concerned that the PRC may raise the stakes and risk nuclear escalation rather than face humiliation. Satellite reconnaissance indicates a brand new Chinese ballistic missile submarine is preparing to go to sea. To play from the Red side, try the scenario "Dynasty". and ... Dynasty A new HCCE scenario for the Westpac Battleset (RED side) The war with…

Predator or Prey A new HCCE scenario for the Westpac Battleset (RED side) Having taken responsibility for its own defence, and in the face of increased dialogue and openness on the part of the North, the Republic of Korea has tacitly encouraged the departure of US troops on the Korean Peninsula. Responsibilities elsewhere have accelerated this redeployment and reshaped the American presence from a military force into a wholly diplomatic delegation. An end to the decades old stand-off between the two Koreas appears imminent, and yet something is not quite right about this new atmosphere of peace and reunification. Key anti-Communist legislation was recently dismantled…

Get Your Goat A new HCCE scenario for EC2003 Mediterranean Battleset (RED side) Relations between Spain and Morocco deteriorated after the departure of the Socialist government in Madrid, re-opening numerous old wounds. A brief but anxious confrontation in July 2002 had failed to resolve a longstanding quarrel over certain disputed territories in the Strait of Gibraltar, principally among them Leila (called Isla Perejil in Spain), Ceuta and Melilla. Morocco now claimed sovereignty over all three areas, declaring that Spain should be satisfied enough with its claim to the Canary Islands. In reply, Spain has renewed a permanent military presence at Ceuta that had not e…

AAR: Prelude [spoiler Alert] A Harpoon Classic scenario By Christopher Stoner Most of my units had specific orders for deployment, but no particular orders were issued for the Sea King based at Labuan so she was sent to Swallow Reef to give them a modicum of search capability. As I was operating essentially in the blind, I ordered my only Thunderhawk and MD 500 Defender helicopters into the air for a quick look around. The Thunderhawk quickly spotted a number of PLAN ships from their distinctive emissions and was ordered to run down their lines of bearing in order to localize them. There were several surface contacts. Many turned out to be Neut…

AAR: My Love is Vengeance [spoiler Alert] A Harpoon Classic scenario By Brad Leyte "Revenge is a dish best served cold." Many years had passed since the Cole was bombed, but there were still many men aboard her who remembered that fateful day. When the Captain announced the mission to his crew, everyone could feel the electricity in the air. Every man swore an oath to himself. Today would be the day that the Cole balanced the books. It was Retribution day. With only a 24hr. time frame for the operation, the aircraft from Diego Garcia were immediately sent aloft. I didn't have a target yet, but DG was a long ways off. Better to have them on hand and…

I am thinking about a new scenario design, would it be realistic to assume that if the UK would be attacked would Canada, Aussies and New Zealand (being all LOYAL subjects of the Queen) be expected to join in the defense of the UK even if (mainly Austrailia and NZ) may noy not be directly treatened. God save the Queen

Christopher Stoner (aka DarkNite) has released a new scenario for Westpac called Prelude. The scenario examines a Spratly Islands conflict. Check it out. Grab it at the HC Scen/AAR page.

The relationship between Singapore and Malaysia has never been particularly great, due in large part to historical sensitivities, some stemming from the time of their separation in 1965. Diplomatic level interventions by Australian in the 1980s (through the Five Power Defence Arrangement, or FPDA) helped to encourage better dialogue and cooperation, particularly in defence matters, but there remains an underlying friction between Singaporeans and Malays. Modern era difficulties include unresolved territorial and airspace disputes, customs and immigration issues, new cross-border bridges and railways, and the continued reliance of Singapore upon fresh water supplies from M…

Resolve AAR Taiwan has managed to stem the tide of PRC fury against their fortress island. Unfortunately the mandarins in Beijing are unwilling to cease hostilities. Enter the United States Navy and, for good measure, Air Force. The Pentagon has concluded that one good parlyzing strike to Chinese strategic nuclear forces may be enough to force their concession. Easier said than done. Their target, Datong Missile Base, lies 1000nm inland, beyond a coastal belt of stalwart air defenses and naval task forces. The Lincoln carrier group, steaming off southern China, is given the mission of opening a lane for a bomber strike targetting Datong. Her airwing is co…

AAR: Waking the God of the Dead [spoiler Alert] A Harpoon Classic scenario By Brad Leyte Captain Goldman was re-examining the map for the umpteenth time. Where would be the best points for ingress and egress? It seemed as though any point he chose would likely be covered by one of the numerous airfields dotting the Iranian landscape. "Well, that's why they call it an INTEGRATED Air Defence System," he chided himself as base S-2 walked up to him. Benjamin Dayan asked him what ordnance he planned on using. To which Goldman asked, "What can I have?". "Anything you like. It's been approved by the Prime Minister, himself," replied Dayan. "Well, I'll m…

It has been said in recent years that modern warfare clearly favors the attacker. Whether true or not, it is also said that this perception may encourage countries to favour pre-emption. It is certainly clear from recent conflicts that early battles usually determine the success of entire campaigns, and in fact, a highly successful pre-emptive strike may prevent (or at least delay) future war. Israel is no stranger to pre-emption. In the late 1970s, Iraq persuaded France to construct a research reactor near Baghdad. This light water nuclear reactor was named Osiraq by the French, an amalgam of the name of the Egyptian god of the dead, Osiris, with that of Iraq. This expan…

The eruption of a new civil war in the Balkans on the eve of the XX Winter Olympics drastically complicated European efforts at achieving security in Torino. The air forces of Switzerland and Italy were already working closely to ensure the Games were safe from terrorist attack, but the sudden outbreak of armed conflict on their doorstep was completely unexpected. Their accord did not cover military threats. The situation in the Balkans was still very unclear, but it appeared that several of the former territories of Yugoslavia were ganging up on Slovenia. Preliminary intelligence analysis indicated that the conflict may be rooted in tensions arising from Slovenia having …

During the Cold War, the Baltic Sea was the "playground" of maritime reconnaissance and electronic surveillance assets of both NATO and the Warsaw Pact. Both sides employed their assets to continuously monitor each other's activities. The West German Naval Air Arm's Atlantic maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) of Marinefliegergeschwader 3 (MFG3) "Graf Zeppelin", based at Nordholz, flew continuous patrols over the Baltic Sea and Danish approaches to monitor the buildup of Soviet naval forces which would have to transit through these waters to reach the North Atlantic. The area was vital to NATO's overall defence strategy, which depended on countering any offensive brought by Wa…

The launch of a Chinese lunar module experiment has failed, with the spacecraft returning to earth somewhere in the central Sea of Okhotsk (according to USAF Space Command). What is alarming, however, is that a scientist from the Chinese space program has defected to Japan, and he has some ominous news. He claims that the rocket was actually carrying an anti-satellite weapon that was being launched by the PRC as a prelude to an impending attack against Taiwan. The race is on to recover the module. Grab it at the HC Scen/AAR page.

AAR: My Pet Dragon [spoiler Alert] A Harpoon Classic scenario By Brad Leyte I don't often get a chance to play the red side. So, when I saw that this scenario was playable from either side, I jumped at it. As the PRC prepared for the impending assault, the general vicinity of the CVBG was revealed. Ground-based radar was able to detect the distinctive emissions from an E-2 Hawkeye. Although they didn’t know the exact location of the carrier, they knew that it could not be far away and decided to re-configure the aircraft to defend their bases, first. In accordance with the orders, the PRC would not take any offensive actions in hopes that…

AAR: Constant Glance [spoiler Alert] A Harpoon Classic scenario By Brad Leyte "They're fighting over gas!?!", Bradford exclaimed? "I can't believe that they are fighting something when my brother-in-law has such a vast oversupply." A few grins lit up across the room at that. It was intended to lighten the mood and was only partially effective. The entire staff at US-Eastern European Task Force [EETF] HQ could see the dire situation they were in. Odessa had just launched her aircraft in what she would hope to be a lightning quick strike into the Crimea. With luck, they would be able to suppress the lightly defended airbase near Kerch before the Russ…

Chinese political influence over the path of the Asian Super Highway has threatened plans for the future expansion of Indian trade ties in Indochina. China has convinced Bangladesh and Myanmar that their economic interests would be better served by linking Chittagong with a trilateral road network with Myanmar and Kunming in China. While the Super Highway is being purpose built to advance multilateral commerce, China has been keen to extract military advantages. There is strong Indian opposition to the Chinese "meddling" in plans that they had already believed finalized. In reply, the PRC has followed up on its political pressures by convincing both Bangladesh and Myanmar…

Iran's stubborn refusal to submit to the authority of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with regard to its nuclear program led to its emergency reference to the UN Security Council. Resolutions aimed at sanctioning Iran and leaving the door open for further action were vetoed by both Russia and China. The EU3 (France, Germany and the UK) and the United States nevertheless pressed ahead with their cooperative efforts to find a way to bring punitive action against Iran. The debacle in Pakistan, however, badly aggravated the situation. US intelligence discovered (thanks to a tip from the Mossad) that Pakistan had covertly assisted in the escape of mastermind Osam…