String of Pearls Project

[kevinkins]

New Beta4 ..."String of Pearls 2020B4"

There are several supply ships that are placed for illustrative purposes only. The OOB is not final and not a complete list. Please all your forces for planning. Please be advised that "God" mode is on in the editor.

Kevin and Magi

Not related to the Glenn Miller song from a by-gone era ...

"The String of pearls is a geopolitical theory on potential Chinese intentions in the Indian Ocean region. It refers to the network of Chinese military and commercial facilities and relationships along its sea lines of communication, which extend from the Chinese mainland to Port Sudan. The sea lines run through several major maritime choke points such as the Strait of Mandeb, the Strait of Malacca, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Lombok Strait as well as other strategic maritime centers in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Maldives, and Somalia. The term as a geopolitical concept was first used in an internal US Department of Defense report, "Energy Futures in Asia." The term has never been used by official Chinese government sources, but it is often used in Indian media."

I put a in few hours of research and editor time and thought of posting a map for others to use. This message is to gauge interest.

The naval bases are: Chongjin Port (North Korea), Moresby Port (Papua New Guinea), Sihanoukville Port (Cambodia), Koh Lanta Port (Thailand) Sittwe Port (Myanmar), Dhaka Port (Bangladesh), Gwadar Port (Pakistan), Hambantota Port (Sri Lanka), Maldives, Seychelles, Lagos Port (Nigeria), Mombasa Port (Kenya), Dar es Salaam Port (Tanzania) Djibouti Port (Djibouti Luanda Port (Angola).

Each base would be standardize around a dock, a small airfield, HQ and comm building, fuel and ammo. Overlays would be provided.

Kevin

[kevinkins]

Any thoughts?

[Ferret69]

Very interesting information, I'd like to have a map for these, could contribute quite well to some scenarios I have ideas for.

Ferret

[magi]

^^^what ferret says....

[hellfish6]

So these would be facility imports?

[kevinkins]

Yes, except they will not have a great level of detail. The overlays will allow players to add what they wish at each port.
I will be posting a map with all the locations and another file with a scenario based on one of the ports, I am testing that one right now. I am open to ideas as to what would be helpful to everyone as a package. Just let me know.

Kevin

[kevinkins]

Here are three items to take a look at:

The String of Pearls Project master map (1); a folder with the overlays (2); and a scenario that uses part of the master map near Sri Lanka.

Kevin

Edit: looks like the file upload function is down right now ... stay tuned.

[kevinkins]

Not down. Overlays = too many bytes. What's the limit per upload? Thanks guys.

Kevin

[mikmykWS]

Instruction on reducing the size here

tm.asp?m=3428983

[kevinkins]

Thanks Mike. Before I try that process, whats the upload limit at this site? It must be finite. Need to know what to shoot for.

Kevin

[mikmykWS]

No idea. Best to ask the matrix folks in the general forum.

Thanks!

Mike

[kevinkins]

Here is the String of Pearls Project Beta minus all but one of the overlays i.e. the one used in the demo scenario. Please take a look at the master map and the scenario. I may have to upload the other overlays in batches if the project is of interest. Thanks.

Kevin

[kevinkins]

Wanted to add these solid geopolitical videos that discus the string of pearls.

Kevin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we-WWt_z7Yc&t=69s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QQkmVbf2k4


PS Any testing to report of other comments?

[Ferret69]

Hi kevin,
I've been moving house recently and thus my beloved PC gaming has had to take a back seat, however I will be looking at this ASAP, hang in there!

Ferret

[jmax]

Just wanted to chime in, this is something I'm keenly interested in as well!

[kevinkins]

Took a break from String of Pearls to work on a few lua code ideas.

But as a reminder:
The zip above has two files: one is "Lance the Boil" which is a scenario ready for testing. The other is the String of Pearls Project "master map". I would like to wrap up this scenario to work on 2 more for a total 3 for the next community pack. Please use the master map for your own scenarios. Thanks.

Kevin

[magi]

looking at this and playing for a while... there are a few things i dont understand.... like why use a Nimitz class carrier if you are only going to have 16 aircraft on it... it would be more plausible to have a second lha/lhd.... this assortment of ships would have more escorts.... and this is a good scenario a couple upgraded lcs in asw role... they would be useful... the ships are spread out far to much and are undefended...

i believe the briefing/mission orders need to be more refined... like what is the eof-1 spearhead doing...? i suspect its to supplying the fob when its established... can i attack their commercial vessels...? building an air base in a half hour is an interesting notion....

the last 688 flt I will be decommissioned in 2019 i believe... so you might want to use flt II/vls or a virginia class....

the type 093 shang... went sonar active and gave its position away... the j-3's are emcon active so loose benefit of their low observability...

im going to play some more now...

[kevinkins]

Thanks a lot. Looking forward to other improvements. BTW ... the idea is just to clear the beach for the jump jets not building an airfield. But you are making great points. Not sure how to handle giving the player a full aircraft carrier in a low intensity quick battle where the politicians will step in. But maybe the briefing can handle the explanation.

Kevin

[magi]

well... ive thought about this... and this is just a suggestion... as india has agreed to allowed the us to use the base you could add a single unit blue AB as a component to it... and call it INS Garuda/usa.. or whatever... that way you could have your aew.. f/a-18's.. growlers.. a couple of tankers.. p8's.. hi-end strike munitions etc whatever.... and it would be very plausible as the political/military dynamics already exist in your story line... then you could get rid of the cvn... use the lha/lhd with a mix of sea assets and your MEB.... walla... it would be more realistic and kinda cool....

im using a rq-180 for isr.... they are amazing... i also have an mq-c4 triton.... very useful... its so hard to find any mobile units... until they shoot you...

[kevinkins]

Great ideas magi. I will send a PM with my thoughts re: your suggestions. I would like to keep the sea basing idea. But the Nimitz is not a requirement. I am glad and experienced eye is looking at this.

Kevin