gemerson

File Name: BRICS #1: Monkey's Paw (Battle of the Netherlands Antilles) File Submitter: gemerson File Submitted: 22 Jul 2012 File Category: Caribbean Basin DB Used: HCBD-120522 Authors: Greg Emerson Battleset-Carribean Basin: .scs - CDB - CDB BRICS Conflict #1 (Circa 2016 - 2018) - Monkey's Paw (Battle of the Netherlands Antilles) BRICS - An economic (and military) alliance between Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. From the present to this hypothetical series of engagements, the alliance had influenced several other nations and influenced a number of clients. Scene Setter (Taken from "The BRICS Conflict - A Brief History of the Third World War (2016 to 2018)"): The 2013 attack by the US and Israel on Iran has caused oil and Petroleum prices to sky rocket. OPEC has chosen to keep the prices high in order to help establish a new Persian Republic. As a result of high energy and fuel prices, the Eurozone, US and other western economies, which were in economic trouble in 2011-12 collapsed into a second deep recession, with no end in sight. The seemingly innocuous economic alliance born in 2011 was now riding a wave of economic influence and geo-political power. The economies (and more importantly, the defense budgets) of Brazil, Russia and South Africa have been capitalizing off of vast oil revenues and have been pouring in from their existing and newly discovered reserves. Both China and India have been enjoying an industrial boom, at the expense of the old order economic powers that have been withering. A large number of second-tier economies in the Asia-Pacific, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin American economies that have developed or recovered more quickly, have attempted to stay neutral as the storm clouds have been gathering. In May 2016, as the BRICS alliance and their surrogates attempted to sweep away the old order and establish their place on the world stage, the world war many feared would occur started in the most unlikely of places - the Caribbean Sea. Background: When the Netherlands economy crashed with the rest of the Eurozone, it liquidated several territorial holdings in an attempt to save money. In 2014, the Netherlands Antilles in the Southern Carribean Sea was divided between Columbia and Venezuela. Shortly thereafter, a vast oil and natural gas reserve was discovered undeneath the continental shelf in that location. Venezuela's Hugo Chavez immediately claimed the whole area and old animosities between Venezuela and iits Western neighbor Columbia, resurfaced. Columbia took the peaceful path toward development. They contracted with the US oil companies eager for work, in the struggling post-recession business climate. It was discovered their reserves rivalled Brazil's. Once production began and revenues came poring in, Columbia used its revenues to improve its economic standing in the Latin American region. Venezuela on the other began preparations fo take the reserves by force. Chavez, now suffering from another serious bout of cancer signed several agreements with Brazil and Russia, which included contracts for defense infrastructure improvements. In 2015, Chavez lost his fight against cance and died. His successor claimed Columbian spies had poisoned him, causing the cancer. Venezuela began inciting the few anti-government groups left in Columbia , in an effort to foment class warfare. Lastly, Brazil brokered a deal with Russia on Venezuela's behalf or several new naval platforms including a new Steregushchiy class frigate, which was named the Hugo Chavez and two next generation Kilo class submarines, armed with the Club family of missiles. These platforms were delievered in early 2016. It is now June 2016, the US Navy, now a shadow of its former self as a result of the financial meltdown and forced budget cuts is participating in one of the few regional exercises it now participates in - Carribean Partnership, with the Columbian Navy. Click here to download this file

Wow, I guess pigs really can fly - fancy that. Heck, it only took them, what, 12-years to conduct the first test-fining. It just goes to prove that a broken clock really can be right once a day! Keep this good work up and we'll see about nominating a new theme song for the RCN Sub Force. All joking aside, I'm glad you guy's sub program is making some turns in the right direction. Hopefully, we will soon see some more successful M-48 tests. Congrats.

Thanks, Brad. Look for the first two on Sunday afternoon!

The Dutch Caribbean Station is similar to France's posting of ships to their few remaining far-flung holdings. Your right, these wee little spots can be to basis for some interesting situations. Stay tuned for some BRICS action in the near future! The first two scenarios are done. When I get two more ready, I'll post the set. (or show I send what I have done now - what says the forum).

I hoping this is more than just a teaser. Lord willing (and the creek don't rise) - on Monday, I will restart NNSotD! Watch for it.

With the reactivation of its old Foxtrot, Ukraine is taking babysteps toward restarting a submarine program. As the old saying goes - a journey of 1,000-miles begins with a single step. Sure a full-blown program is years away, but ya gotta start somewhere, right.

Per HII: http://ir.huntingtoningalls.com/phoenix.zh...&highlight= it looks like its going to have a bow-mounted dome (likely a towed-array) and torpedo launchers. It will also probably mount the new BAE Systems replacement for the SLQ-32 EW suite. That little toy is really nice, as I got to talk with BAE Systems reps about it at SAS.

Here's the photo!

I whole-heartedly concur, with your closing statement. The HII reps I talked with said it would mount the Sea-RAM and ESSM for AirDef. ASuW included either the 57mm OtOMelara or the new BAE Systems mount (pretty slick looking design - see the attached photo) and capable of firing the high-tech DART rounds, two 25mm Bushmasters and a compliment of harpoons. It would also be capable of supporting FireScout and ScanEagle UAVs along with embarking two MH-60 helos. The only drawback I see is the price. Its less than LCS, but to export it HII is going to have stiff competiotion with overseas builders that can crankout good platfroms, with a cheaper pricetag.

Clemens, Nice breakdown of the problem with LCS. I was at SAS in April HII has a patrol vessel (their submission for the CG OPC). They have fitted it out with an array of weapons and are hoping to get foreign sales for it. I say build the freakin' things here! They are cheaper than LCS and they have REAL teeth. The people who designed the LCS concept need to be reduced in rank to E-1 snipes and sent to the bilges with toothbrushes. As far as naval engineers go, they suck like a CHT pump!

"History teaches us, mankind learns NOTHING from history." Hagel The LCS multi-mission concept is something akin to the old TV show WKRP in Cincinnati's episode about the turkey giveaway at Thanksgiving. The plan was to release a bunch of live turkeys from a helo above a shopping center parking lot. Cool concept on paper, by lousy in the execution phase - as the station's air asset wound-up carpet bombing gobblers and causing considerable property damage to patron's cars. All of the eggheads who conceived LCS failed to examine the results of Denmark's excursion into this endeavor. The Flying Fish (Flyvefisken) class ship was a white elephant and the Dane's gave them away to Lithuania, Finland and a couple of other smaller navies. On top of this, one flavor is all-aluminum. (doesn't anyone remember what happened to the USS Stark?) This goes to show me a lot of the US Navy brass are insane. Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different results. I would be interested hear the thoughts of others on this issue.

LCS is a warship?! No way, man. You've GOT to be kidding me! (Completely and utterly laced with sarcasm).

Hey guys, Thanks for all your assistance. I just tried placing airfield in Columbia and Venezuela and it WORKED!!!!! Thanks for all your help. Just another reason why this forum ROCKS! The first BRICS scenario is close to completion.

Yer right there!

This isn't "news." India has high hopes, but doesn't possess a credible infrastructure, to bring those hopes to reality. Because of this, they are still relying on the Russians to complete many of their programs - and they are so far behind, it ain't funny. Perasonally, I think they have the cart before the horse - they are wanting to building all these fancy ships and they don't a have capable yard to keep up with the workload. They should modernize their yards, so they are able to crank-out larger numbers. Until, they do, it will be a loonnngggg time before their dreams become reality!

Thanks Commander! A breath of fresh air and sanity is a GREAT way to start the week.

So you have to cycle through the groups until you find it. I'll try it during my next design session and get back to you. THANKS!!!!!

Okay, I have found them. How do you use them? I want to place one in Columbia, but when I select the first 'Airbase, Large No., BLU,' it doesn't appear anywhere on the screen. How do I locate it and then move it to where I want in Columbia.

Hey guys, I could find an entry for INTL Airbase. Could someone point me in the right direction.

It was surprising to hear this morning that Russia was condemning the Asad violence. Fancy that!

Well, blast! I thought I had come up with a new inovation. I can now add some air asets to my first BRICS scenario. Thanks, for pointing me in the right direction - just another reason why this board ROCKS!!!!!

Greetings, I have been working on a few scenarios in the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa region and have seen there is a lack of any airfields in the HUCE DB for these areas. While I was driving into work this morning and idea hit me - INTL Arfld Lg and INTL - Arfld Sm. Like any other unit in the new group, they can be placed anywhere. Basic numbers could be assigned for their air defense and any additional SAMs can be separately placed around the units. Large airfields could handle all large fixed wind aircraft, while the small version would only be capable of suppporting VSTOL and helicopters. I believe this would be a very beneficial addition in the next HUCE DB upgrade.

Congrats, Tony. Welcome to the club! Recommended reading - Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerich.

The Aussies are following the lead of many other navies. Instead of building full-blown flat tops, they're building smaller, air-capable platforms (these include ROKs Dokdo, Japan's Cruiser-Destroyers and Spain's Juan Carlos). They only thing left are the aircraft. If the JSF can ever come within budget and get mass-produced, the main airwing component will be in place. Has anyone designed any scenarios examining the effectiveness of the new "light" carriers? I would be interested in trying them out.

Man, it sucks when Murphy pays a visit to your ship.