AAR: My Pet Dragon [Spoiler Alert]

AAR: My Pet Dragon [spoiler Alert]

A Harpoon Classic scenario

By Brad Leyte

The European Union has long been unhappy with American economic and military sanctions against the People's Republic of China. In recent years, the EU has grown increasingly concerned that the sanctions were unduly stifling European prosperity by blocking access to a huge market. The EU continued to bring diplomatic pressure to bear on Washington as the sanctions dragged on, hoping that eventually they would be lifted. Instead, when American intelligence community insisted that it had discovered an apparent link between China and the Iranian nuclear weapons program, the sanctions were tightened, much to the chagrin of the EU. The focus has now shifted away from diplomacy, and the EU is determined to exploit potential economic opportunities in the PRC. Cargo ships are now enroute from the EU to China, carrying Ariane 5 rocket components from France and Type 212 submarine technology from Germany. The convoy is defended. The Americans are incensed and vow to stop the shipment.

 

1.0. SITREP:

 

The Americans have deployed their carrier George Washington to show their displeasure at the EU's refusal to bow to their illegal sanctions. It was last reported near Taiwan. We do not, however, anticipate the Americans to carry out their threat of military force. With elections upcoming in the US, the political price would be too high.

 

The PRC has pledged to open up further sectors of its markets to EU companies if the delivery is completed on time.

 

It is possible that other small nations in the region may bow to pressure from Washington, and voice their concerns with the EU action. We do not expect this protest to be any more than a token effort.

 

2.0. ORDERS:

 

Charles de Gaulle CSG > Escort the cargo ships to port at Shantou.

 

German SAG / Flag Hessen > Escort the decoy cargo ships to Zhanjiang.

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 a diplomatic solution would be found. However, the Vietnamese were the first to get aggressive by blatantly violating PRC airspace around Hainan Island. Until the diplomats were able to get a handle on things, Vietnam would be considered hostile. They came snooping around sovereign Chinese airspace, were warned, and then shot out of the air.

They continued their belligerence around the convoy centred on the Charles de Gaulle. She also splashed the Fishbeds that had nosing around the declared Exclusion zone surrounding her. A volley of Dong Hai 10 ALCM [Air-Launched Cruise Missiles] was sent to Hanoi to remind them who the biggest wolf was in the region.

One of the few things the PRC leadership truly feared was the American TLAM. They had carefully analyzed the use of TLAM in the Middle East and were in awe of its fearsome striking power. Even now, a wave of TLAM could be approaching the PRC and they wouldn't know about it. So, they kept a substantial proportion of their ready assets in the air in hopes of spotting these deadly missiles. They were much relieved when this threat failed to materialize.

Instead, the Americans sent their forces in piecemeal while the PRC was able to hit with a mailed fist. Growlers tried to jam the radar, but they, in turn, were easily identified, located, and killed. Hornets were also detected conducting probes of the defences, but they were all killed quite handily before they were able to deliver any type of attack.

Except for a startling SRBM attack on Lingshui and Shantou, the Americans seemed to be offensively ineffective. Once the PLAN decided that no attack would be forthcoming, they quietly re-armed their Flankers with AShMs [Anti-Ship Missiles]. The Maritime Patrol Aircraft [MPAs] had positioned themselves around the Hawkeye in a semi-circular pattern and just outside the estimated radar coverage. While the bombers were launching, they all converged on the Hawkeye in hopes of locating the carrier.

Without any opposition from Combat Air Patrols, they were able to close and pinpoint the carrier. The strike elements were then able to time an excellent time-over-target attack. Anti-Radiation Missiles were launched at maximum range and they were followed by the strike elements. When the entire task force turned on their radar to engage the ARMs, they revealed themselves entirely and set themselves up for AShM attack.

Within a matter of minutes, the carrier was left a blazing wreck and many of the SAMs had been expended. A late-arriving group of Badgers gave the survivors the coup de grace.

Meanwhile, off the coast of Vietnam, the SSN Amethyste detected another carrier task group centred on the Chakri Nareubet and had crept inside the Thai formation. From a distance of only 3nm, she unleashed a full volley of torpedoes towards the carrier and dove deep to evade. The group did not even appear as though it had detected the attack for it just kept sailing along blissfully. Amethyste recorded three explosions as she made her escape. Once clear, victory was granted. Now, the Americans would think twice before venturing back into the South _China_ Sea.

Thanks for the scenario.

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