CV32

The European Federation at the Gates to the Med
EC2000 Battle for the Atlantic
 
In controlling the North Atlantic, the Federation stands to gain control over the entrance to the Med. Even now Arab sentiment and careful negotiations with the Federation may reap a fruitful agreement on a joint participation in the control of the Mediterranean Sea. By holding bases at the entrance, specifically Gilbraltar and some naval ports, the Federation begins to consolidate its power base in the Mediterranean. There are some who believe that Italy grows weary, and may draw back from their membership in the Federation, but only if 1.) Spain stays out of the Federation - an important partner to acquire if the Federation expects to maintain control of the Straits of Gilbraltar, and 2.) The Allied effort proves that it is incapable of keeping the Med a free seaway.

The European Federation Enters the Atlantic
EC2000 Battle for the Atlantic
 
The European Federation now controls the Baltic, and has captured bases on the British Isles, sending the Royal Navy scattering to friendly ports. The North Sea is firmly in Federation hands. The British Parliament has become split over the topic of joining the European Federation and abandoning its alliance with the Americans. A handful of ships stationed off Norway and two carrier groups steaming up through the Denmark Straits is all that stands in the way of the Federation plowing south and making a second attempt at wresting Iceland from the Allies, and securing the North Atlantic.

The birth of the satellite – Near East Federation
EC2000 Battle for the Gulf of Oman
 
Just when everything was looking better for the Allies, India joins the European Federation and several Arab States to form the Near East Federation. Intelligence estimates that its only a matter of time before China, and several South East Asian countries join up. Strangely enough, Vietnam remains decidedly neutral and even leaning toward Allied sympathies; the desire for western capital is clearly their priority. Japan and Thailand also remain steadfast supporters of the Allied cause. However, Malaysia and Indonesia are firmly sided with the new Near East Federation, bringing with them enormous oil reserves. Having India and the various Arab states joining the conflict brings the Federation huge numbers of naval and air units to their cause. This is an immense problem for the Allies, considering the fact that assets have been spread very thin. However, thanks to forward thinking by some of the air force and naval brass, there were recent air reinforcements added to Diego Garcia and Hufhuf, Saudi Arabia. Add to that a number of new carrier groups repositioning to the Indian Ocean with several new destroyer and cruiser squadrons forming, and also some Iowa-class BB's and Virginia-class CGN's around which to center some new strike groups; the odds are becoming somewhat better. In addition, the recent withdrawal of France from the European Federation last month brings a much-needed ally to the Allied forces.

Operation Jewel Thief
EC2000 Battle for the Gulf of Oman
 
The failure to neutralize Sri Lanka by wresting away the Federation control of the island has escalated the conflict in the East Indian Ocean. The Allies must try once again in Operation Jewel Thief. The Federation has now committed several destroyer and frigate scout and attack squadrons to the detail of taking out Surat Thani and the American amphibious force stationed there. There are intelligence reports that two carrier groups are also committed to the effort as well as several submarine units, one of which is reported to be an Echo II-class strike force armed with Sandbox cruise missiles. By eliminating the Allied amphibious threat at Surat Thani, it opens the sea lanes for a Federation freeway to the Chinese and Southeast Asian Federation allies. A sidenote to the recent conflict is an incident to be credited to the bizarre annals of military history - the Foch, a French Clemenceau-class carrier, found itself isolated after an engagement in the Northwest Indian Ocean and was surrounded by several Federation sub units, supported by a destroyer strike group - and a BCGN cruiser was approaching on the horizon. With her air units lost, destroyed or away on missions, the Foch found herself a sitting duck. A sizable portion of her crew, still sympathizers with the Federation, were threatening mutiny, while loyal Allied French sailors and officers found themselves in the position of give up their ship, fight a mutiny or take her down with all hands. Cooler heads prevailed. The captain of the Foch handed over the carrier in April, with all hands. A valuable French carrier once again found itself on the naval roster of the Federation.

East Indian Jewel
EC2000 Battle for the Gulf of Oman
 
With the successful conclusion of Operation Jewel Thief, the Allied forces have secured Sri Lanka. They now have a launch point to control the East Indian Ocean, taking some of the pressure off Diego Garcia as being the supplying and staging base of future operations. Also included in this coup was the recapturing of several key British naval ships - amphibious units of the Ocean-class and Type 23-class frigates. The loss, however, of Surat Thani prompted the construction of a new naval base in a free zone established on the Malay penninsula. In a fitting gesture, this new port was named Surat Thani - a renaming in honor of the lives and equipment lost at the old base.

The Final Showdown
EC2000 Battle for the Gulf of Oman
 
The demise of the European Federation last month was met with joy and celebration throughout the Allied powers of the world. A meaningful treaty is expected within weeks, with reparations and prisoner exchange to be negotiated over the next few months. In addition, the Allied victory in the East Indian Ocean a few weeks ago caused several Indian surface units to be handed over, including a Cochin-class carrier. This is now under Allied command guarding the Straits of Hormuz. This major victory was believed to signal the end of the upstart Near East Federation. The reverse, however, seems to have taken place. There are indications that the Arab situation has remained belligerent. Hardliners in the Arab faction are diehards and claim to be the true defenders of the Near East Federation. Not accepting the end of their European sponsorship nor the loss of Indian support, they have dug in their heels. Their policy is a fanatical last-stand position. In addition, a few renegade EuroFed hardliners have sequestered some capital ships, submarines and surface units. They have delivered them back into the hands of the Arab factions already in place, and are conducting a coordinated attack on the Allied interests in the Persian Gulf. Abu Dhabi is their primary target. Intelligence reports also show that they intend to attack any Allied long-range missile platforms approaching the area. This would indicate that the Tico SWP platforms are to be targeted. Equally in danger are amphibious units and the carriers. They should be provided with extra air and sea protection due to the volatile nature of the area and the fanaticism of these Arab factions.

The discovery of oil deposits in northern Norway has led to border disputes between Russia and Norway. Recently Russia has seized territory in northern Norway including a Norwegian airbase. NATO is tasked with sending in SEALs to take out Russian SAM sites and to repel the invasion.

Under Fire
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the Caribbean Basin battleset. (This is a custom battleset right now, available for download here at HarpGamer, but it is intended to become an official battleset in an upcoming patch for HCE. Once that patch is released, I will upload a new version specifically for that battleset).
 
This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side only.
 
The death of Manuel Marulanda, the founder and longtime leader of the narco terrorist group FARC, in early 2008 spelled the beginning of the end of its insurgent activities in Colombia. Although FARC had been historically resilient and was still in possession of considerable resources, Bogota and Washington seized this opportunity to further weaken the organization. Previous clandestine efforts by Venezuela to provide financial and military support to FARC were fully exposed, much to the embarrassment of the regime in Caracas. Within a few short years, the combined efforts of the USA and Colombia had reduced FARC to a mere shadow of its former self and democracy in Colombia was thriving as a result. When an American Congressional delegation was sent to Colombia to investigate and report back on the success of their efforts, unhappy neighbors saw an opportunity to dampen the celebrations.

The Origin of Storms
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the EC2003 GIUK Gap battleset. This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side.
 
Environmental terrorists have disabled the world's first floating nuclear power plant, the massive Russian Rosenergoatom-Sevmash platform in the Barents Sea, inadvertently triggering a meltdown of one of the two reactors and a resultant environmental catastrophe.
 
The eco terrorists are a previously unknown group, going by the name Desdenova, and with apparent links to Norway. The Norwegians were opposed to the floating nuclear power plant from the outset, and Russia now blames Oslo for having masterminded the attack, claiming an attempt to grab oil and gas reserves in the region.
 
The Royal Norwegian Navy is moving to protect its territorial integrity and to attempt to contain the contamination, but the Russians have declared an absolute exclusion zone in the Barents and have prohibited all foreign entities from entering the area. A Royal Navy carrier group is caught in the storm.

Serhiy's Decision
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the EC2003 Battle for the Mediterranean Battleset.
 
This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side.
 
Although formally established by presidential decree on a warm summer day in August 1992, the slow and painful partition of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet between Ukraine and the newly independent Russian Federation took several more years. Arguably, the first ship of the Ukrainian Navy came into being on 26 January 1992 and in considerably less peaceful fashion. The collapse of the USSR in December 1991 caused the crew of the Project 159A (NATO Petya II) class light frigate SKR-112, most of them Ukrainian by nationality, to make a fateful decision. That morning in January, captain-lieutenant Serhiy Nastenko raised the state flag of Ukraine aboard his ship and together, he and his crew took an oath of allegiance to their new motherland. Black Sea Fleet Command was outraged, compelling Nastenko and his crew to eventually flee from the Russian naval base at Donuzlav, hoping to seek refuge in Odessa. Ships and aircraft of the Black Sea Fleet still loyal to Moscow set out in pursuit of the mutineer.

Oubliette
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the Westpac Battleset.
 
This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side.
 
The war in Central Europe is bogging down, and although NATO has suffered horrendous losses, the Soviet armored thrust has lost its momentum. There are rumours of growing dissension and unrest among the upper echelons of military command in Moscow. The risk of the Soviets resorting to the use of nuclear weapons in desperation has climbed considerably in the past few days.
 
US Navy ballistic missile submarines, already deployed and at sea, have been directed to their patrol stations in case things go south. Several of these boomers, including the USS Tennessee, have been ordered to take up positions where they could potentially exploit depressed trajectory launches of their missile load, reducing warning time substantially.

Iron Wolf
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the EC2003 GIUK Gap battleset. This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side.
 
The three small Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are no strangers to a hard life of aggression, occupation, and oppression. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, a determined populace grabbed the opportunity for independence once again. But history had taught them a lesson: that their long term survival was dependent upon becoming part of an international alliance. In Spring 2004 they became full members of NATO. Without any strategic depth, there is nothing that the Baltic states could do to stop a reasonably determined Russian attack, so instead NATO has opted to do such things as emphasize early warning and control, improve the defensive capabilities of local light forces, and have NATO air forces take turns in providing fighters for territorial air defence. There is at least one significant flaw in the arrangement. The Baltic states still rely heavily on Russia for their supplies of natural gas and oil, and their power grids remain linked. In 2007, they entered into an agreement with neighbor (and NATO partner) Poland to replace the ageing (Chernobyl type) nuclear reactor at Ignalina in Lithuania. The Ignalina reactor has now been shut down, and the new powerplant is still under construction, despite the protests of Russia and Belarus regarding the increased pressure on the regional fossil fuel supply. The Baltic states therefore remain critically exposed, and their former ruler has decided to make its move.
 
And of Gediminas, who on Ponary's crest,
Warm in hunter's bearskin, lay down to rest.
Soothed by the songs of the wise Lizdejko,
Lulled by the rush of the sweet Vilejko,
He saw a wolf of iron in his dreams.
- Pan Tadeusz, a poem by Adam Mickiewicz
 
Russia has declared that Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are in violation of their natural gas supply agreements, and has suddenly cut off both the fuel supply and shut down the electrical grid. Large parts of the Baltic states are now without power, particularly in border areas. Protests from Baltic governments and NATO HQ in Brussels have been ignored in Moscow and Minsk, except for harshly worded warnings to refrain from interfering in "internal state affairs". A Russian attack is believed imminent, likely supported by Belarus. Their timing is unfortunate for NATO; the currently assigned NATO fighter force is a contingent of elderly Luftwaffe F-4F Phantoms on their final deployment.

Foxes in the Hen House
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the Westpac battleset. This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side.
 
The Soviet HENS submarines - the Hotel class SSBNs, the Echo class SSGNs and the November class SSNs - that began deploying in the early 1960s introduced a major technological breakthrough that gave them a dramatic acoustic advantage over the US Navy's Skipjacks and Skates. The new concept was rafting - where a submarine's engineering plant was placed on a flexible mount or raft within the submarine - dramatically reduced the transmission of mechanical vibrations through the hull, and into the water.
 
Intelligence reports that three Soviet nuclear submarines, believed to comprise the Hotel II class SSBN Ukrainsky Komsomolets, Echo I class SSGN K-122 and the November class SSN Leninsky Komsomol, are transiting the Strait of Tartary, enroute to their deployment zones in the Western Pacific. The Skipjack attack submarines USS Shark and USS Sculpin have recently passed through the La Perouse Strait and have been directed to intercept the Soviet boats before they can deploy into their patrol zones.
 
This scenario is the early Cold War version of blind man's bluff, where to make noise is to invite death.

India is at war with Pakistan. The Indian government has imposed a blockade around Pakistan. Everything, including food and medicine is not allowed into Pakistani ports. With millions of civilians in dire need of food and medical supplies the US under a UN mandate decides to break the blockade.

Carrier Clash
HDS3 MEDC Battleset
 
The premise of the scenario is as follows: The East-West conflict rages on. In this scenario Blue atempts to locate and destroy all Red targets. ORDERS FOR BLUE 1. This is a SINKEX. Locate and destroy all red targets in your OPAREA.

Intel reports indicate Russia is using the current stalemate and resulting semi-truce to bring in reinforcements for the Northern Fleet from their far eastern military districts. National Command Authority has ordered Strike Fleet Atlantic to conduct offensive amphibious operation aimed at securing Iceland from Russian control in an attempt to forestall the coming Russian attack.

Shinano Redux
EC2000 Battle for the Norwegian Sea
 
You are commander of the USS Archerfish, the fourth hull of the Seawolf class. (Which is modeled in this scenario by the SSN-23). The Russians have borrowed from an American idea and built a mobile offshore base. The structure is now enroute from the White Sea to the North Cape, where it is expected to take part in the ongoing wartime operations against NATO. Since the Russians already control the Norwegian Sea, the movement of this new asset into a threatening position is not acceptable. You must penetrate hostile waters, find and sink the Russian MOB. The enemy is expecting you, so you can be certain there will be plenty of ASW activity in this theater. (Released September 2002).

Heatwave (Part 3 of 3)
HDS3 MEDC Battleset
 
All of the scenarios in this series are based on the premise that the post Cold War world is not typified by peace, but is instead punctuated by fragmentation, revolution and chaos. In July 1994, the unrest in Algeria that had been simmering for years finally exploded into a major armed conflict. The terror campaign that had been carried out by Islamic extremists since the early 1990s reached an awful crescendo when they finally seized power of the country. Algerian government forces, demoralized and fearful of repercussions against their families, lay down their arms and capitulated to the rebel army by August 1995. It did not take long for the new Islamic government to gain support from Iran and Libya for its anti-Western stance. A major program to build a powerful Algerian military was funded by trading oil to Russia for arms. In March 1995, Algerian forces began harassing Western ship traffic in the Western Mediterranean. On 27 August 1995, a civilian airliner carrying French and Italian diplomats, travelling from Morocco to Tunisia, was hijacked by Islamic extremists. The hijackers were given sanctuary in Algeria and the passengers held for ransom. A Coalition of Western nations responded. (Released July 2000).

Poison Oasis (Part 2 of 3)
HDS3 MEDC Battleset
 
All of the scenarios in this series are based on the premise that the post Cold War world is not typified by peace, but is instead punctuated by fragmentation, revolution and chaos. In July 1994, the unrest in Algeria that had been simmering for years finally exploded into a major armed conflict. The terror campaign that had been carried out by Islamic extremists since the early 1990s reached an awful crescendo when they finally seized power of the country. Algerian government forces, demoralized and fearful of repercussions against their families, lay down their arms and capitulated to the rebel army by August 1995. It did not take long for the new Islamic government to gain support from Iran and Libya for its anti-Western stance. A major program to build a powerful Algerian military was funded by trading oil to Russia for arms. In March 1995, Algerian forces began harassing Western ship traffic in the Western Mediterranean. On 27 August 1995, a civilian airliner carrying French and Italian diplomats, travelling from Morocco to Tunisia, was hijacked by Islamic extremists. The hijackers were given sanctuary in Algeria and the passengers held for ransom. A Coalition of Western nations responded. (Released July 2000).

Operation Sandstorm (Part 1 of 3)
HDS3 MEDC Battleset
 
All of the scenarios in this series are based on the premise that the post Cold War world is not typified by peace, but is instead punctuated by fragmentation, revolution and chaos. In July 1994, the unrest in Algeria that had been simmering for years finally exploded into a major armed conflict. The terror campaign that had been carried out by Islamic extremists since the early 1990s reached an awful crescendo when they finally seized power of the country. Algerian government forces, demoralized and fearful of repercussions against their families, lay down their arms and capitulated to the rebel army by August 1995. It did not take long for the new Islamic government to gain support from Iran and Libya for its anti-Western stance. A major program to build a powerful Algerian military was funded by trading oil to Russia for arms. In March 1995, Algerian forces began harassing Western ship traffic in the Western Mediterranean. On 27 August 1995, a civilian airliner carrying French and Italian diplomats, travelling from Morocco to Tunisia, was hijacked by Islamic extremists. The hijackers were given sanctuary in Algeria and the passengers held for ransom. A Coalition of Western nations responded. (Released July 2000).

The Last Hours (Part 7 of 7)
Campaign 4 - The War with UBAN
New World Order series
EC2000 NACV battleset
 
The aggression of UBAN in the Middle East and Persian Gulf regions, and more ominously, the open support for the UBAN exhibited by the NSC, has had widespread reverberations. When war broke out in the Persian Gulf, a NSC carrier battlegroup was on exercise off the coast of Morocco. Its operations in the Atlantic were apparently unscheduled, the group having already carried out the bulk of planned maneuvers in the Gulf of Sidra in August 1995. The nearest NATO group was off the Azores, enroute to Brest and returning from support of peacekeeping efforts in Angola. It was immediately turned around and chopped to the Med.
 
A single Typhoon class SSBN is known to be operating somewhere in the waters between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. All other known enemy SSBNs have either been destroyed or are laid up in port. Use the limited assets available to find and sink this serious threat to life on earth as we know it.

Rogue Warrior (Part 6 of 7)
Campaign 4 - The War with UBAN
New World Order series
EC2000 NACV battleset
 
The aggression of UBAN in the Middle East and Persian Gulf regions, and more ominously, the open support for the UBAN exhibited by the NSC, has had widespread reverberations. When war broke out in the Persian Gulf, a NSC carrier battlegroup was on exercise off the coast of Morocco. Its operations in the Atlantic were apparently unscheduled, the group having already carried out the bulk of planned maneuvers in the Gulf of Sidra in August 1995. The nearest NATO group was off the Azores, enroute to Brest and returning from support of peacekeeping efforts in Angola. It was immediately turned around and chopped to the Med.
 
A medium-sized NSC naval group returning from a visit to Cuba has managed to slip in close to the Canadian coast and has destroyed several merchant vessels, including a luxury cruise liner (the NSC claims it was a disguised intelligence collection ship). We did not expect to have such a dangerous enemy force so close to our own shores, and available assets are limited. Eliminate the threat quickly and decisively.

Iceberg Alley (Part 5 of 7)
Campaign 4 - The War with UBAN
New World Order series
EC2000 NACV battleset
 
The aggression of UBAN in the Middle East and Persian Gulf regions, and more ominously, the open support for the UBAN exhibited by the NSC, has had widespread reverberations. When war broke out in the Persian Gulf, a NSC carrier battlegroup was on exercise off the coast of Morocco. Its operations in the Atlantic were apparently unscheduled, the group having already carried out the bulk of planned maneuvers in the Gulf of Sidra in August 1995. The nearest NATO group was off the Azores, enroute to Brest and returning from support of peacekeeping efforts in Angola. It was immediately turned around and chopped to the Med.
 
This scenario examines the submarine vs submarine battle in the coastal waters of Canada. The primary mission is to find and sink enemy cruise missile submarines before they can attack surface shipping and land-based targets.

Skipping Stones (Part 2 of 7)
Campaign 4 - The War with UBAN
New World Order series
EC2000 NACV battleset
 
The aggression of UBAN in the Middle East and Persian Gulf regions, and more ominously, the open support for the UBAN exhibited by the NSC, has had widespread reverberations. When war broke out in the Persian Gulf, a NSC carrier battlegroup was on exercise off the coast of Morocco. Its operations in the Atlantic were apparently unscheduled, the group having already carried out the bulk of planned maneuvers in the Gulf of Sidra in August 1995. The nearest NATO group was off the Azores, enroute to Brest and returning from support of peacekeeping efforts in Angola. It was immediately turned around and chopped to the Med.
 
The blatant refusal of NSC forces to recognize the GIUK embargo and the continued threat of choking off access to the Med has left the Coalition with little choice but to reinforce local defences. The politicians are working feverishly to avoid it, but the diplomatic picture looks grim.

Crashing the Party (Part 3 of 7)
Campaign 4 - The War with UBAN
New World Order series
EC2000 NACV battleset
 
The aggression of UBAN in the Middle East and Persian Gulf regions, and more ominously, the open support for the UBAN exhibited by the NSC, has had widespread reverberations. When war broke out in the Persian Gulf, a NSC carrier battlegroup was on exercise off the coast of Morocco. Its operations in the Atlantic were apparently unscheduled, the group having already carried out the bulk of planned maneuvers in the Gulf of Sidra in August 1995. The nearest NATO group was off the Azores, enroute to Brest and returning from support of peacekeeping efforts in Angola. It was immediately turned around and chopped to the Med.
 
The encroachment of Breakwater 9 and the destruction of Turkish bases by NSC military forces has escalated this conflict into world war. The NATO group has now been tasked with the destruction of the NSC group as a prelude to its entry into the Med. A French naval group will be providing support.