Chains of War Bonus Scenario: Armed Diplomacy

[HalfLifeExpert]

"The Great Taiwan Turkey Shoot"

Final Score: 1300


This was a pretty interesting and fun scenario. I was determined to not be the aggressor, and allowed the PRC to go hostile. That happened when I entered the Strait with the Independence, and I launched fighters in proportional response to the air contacts I was seeing from over the Mainland.

The penalties for losing just one aircraft seem kind of harsh to me (-100 for each plane lost). But I got both CVBGs completely through the Taiwan Strait, the Nimitz from the North and the Independence from the South. Not a scratch on any US ships or subs. In fact the SSN Portsmouth got right on top of a Ming sub before the PRC went hostile, and was able to torpedo it immediately after hostilities started. A second Ming was sunk by the Independence group much later on. I wiped out both PLAN Surface groups with Air and Sea launched Harpoons. Toward the end, with the Air threat basically gone, i pounded Huian Air Base relentlessly, both to try and knock out the Q-5IAs on the ground and as a show of force, as i wasn't confident enough in my own skills to launch a coordinated attack on multiple airbases. I don't think any A/C were destroyed, but i may have caused serious damage to the runways using Paveways.

Even though i lost a lot of points from my A/C shot down, plus two F-14s and 1 F-18 that were 'mission killed' and thankfully didn't affect my score, I don't see how this could be considered anything but a decisive victory.

SIDE: United States
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------
4x F/A-18C Hornet
3x F-14A Tomcat


EXPENDITURES:
------------------
39x RIM-66J SM-2MR Blk II
2x Mk48 Mod 5 ADCAP
118x AIM-7P Sparrow III
112x AIM-54C Phoenix
84x AIM-120A AMRAAM
46x AIM-9M Sidewinder
11x Generic Flare Salvo [3x Cartridges, Single Spectral]
38x RGM-109C Tomahawk Blk II TLAM-C
39x RGM-109C Tomahawk Blk III TLAM-C
8x UGM-109C Tomahawk Blk II TLAM
9x 20mm/85 M61A1 Vulcan Burst [100 rnds]
8x UGM-109C Tomahawk Blk III TLAM
28x AGM-84D Harpoon IC
16x AGM-84E SLAM
6x UGM-109C Tomahawk Blk III TLAM
6x UGM-109C Tomahawk Blk II TLAM
21x Generic Chaff Salvo [5x Cartridges]
16x AGM-88C HARM
5x RGM-84D Harpoon IC
23x RIM-66M-1 SM-2MR Blk III
2x RIM-66E6 SM-1MR Blk VIB
2x RIM-7P Sea Sparrow
81x AN/SSQ-53D DIFAR
83x AN/SSQ-77B VLAD
59x AN/SSQ-62B DICASS
31x GBU-16B/B Paveway II LGB [Mk83]
1x Mk46 NEARTIP Mod 5
2x RUM-139A VLA [Mk46 Mod 5]
12x GBU-10E/B Paveway II LGB [Mk84]



SIDE: China
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------
8x J-7E Fishbed [MiG-21 Copy]
35x J-7II Fishbed [MiG-21 Copy]
11x J-6A Farmer [MiG-19P Copy]
2x Type 035G Ming
6x J-8B Finback B [J-8II]
10x Radar (Bar Lock A [P-37])
9x J-11 Flanker B [Su-27SK Copy]
2x Type 053H2 Jianghu III [535 Huangshi]
2x Type 053H1G Jianghu V [558 Zigong]
4x Type 051 Mod 1 Luda I [105 Jinan]
1x Type 051 Mod 2A Luda I [131 Hefei]
12x HQ-2b Guideline Single Rail
3x Vehicle (Chop Rest)
3x Vehicle (Gin Sling B [ZD-2(B)])
6x J-7D Fishbed [MiG-21 Copy]
1x Vehicle (Flap Lid B [5N63S])
1x Vehicle (Clam Shell [5N66])
1x SA-10b Grumble [5P85S] TEL
44x H-6D Badger
1x Type 053H1 Jianghu II [545 Linfen]
1x Type 053H1 Jianghu II Mod [555 Zhaotong]
1x Type 051 Mod 2B Luda I [109 Kaifeng]
2x SH-5 Harbin
8x J-7EH Fishbed [MiG-21 Copy]
1x A/C Hangar (2x Large Aircraft)
1x Ammo Shelter
3x J-8B Finback B [J-8II]
1x Bunker (Large C3M)
1x Ammo Pad


EXPENDITURES:
------------------
6x PL-8A [Python 3]
9x Generic Flare Salvo [4x Cartridges, Single Spectral]
90x Generic Chaff Salvo [4x Cartridges]
4x Generic Acoustic Decoy
12x 23mm Type 23-3 Burst [40 rnds]
2x PL-7 [R.550 Magic 1]
14x SA-10b Grumble [5V55RUD]
58x AA-10 Alamo C [R-27RE, LR SARH]
7x AA-11 Archer [R-73]
23x 30mm Type 30-1 x 2 Burst [30 rnds]
110x 37mm/63 Twin Burst [20 rnds]
6x HQ-7 Crotale [FM-80] Naval
13x 23mm AM-23 x 2 Burst [50 rnds]
1x 23mm AM-23 x 2 Burst [50 rnds]
12x C-601 [YJ-6, CAS-1 Kraken]
30x Generic Chaff Rocket
1x 720 liter Drop Tank
4x YJ-82K
6x HY-2 [C-201, CSSC-3 Seersucker, Land-Only]
4x Yu-4A
8x HQ-61A

[Gunner98]

This is a fun scenario.

My fight started early when a couple Hornets got jumped flying through the straights. When that happened I was still in very defensible positions - about an hour in. So I flooded the skies with A2A and gained air superiority fairly quickly - since there was so much support in the air only 3 were lost in addition to about 7 mission kills. Then snipped at every radar I could, took out the SAGs, Closed Huian runways to keep the Q-5's on the ground. Got 4 subs and transited both CVBGs.

Great fun.

B

[Primarchx]

I'm enjoying it as well. The pucker factor just went waaay up as two 25+ bomber raids are hitting me simultaneously with Flanker fighter cover and a Silkworm site just opened up. Yikes!

[HalfLifeExpert]

Well Primarchx, it sounds like your PRC Counterpart is a bit more competent than the one I faced. I only just now, looking at the Losses and expenditures, realized I had Silkworms fired at me.

I faced two Badger raids, but they were not even close to simultaneous. They had Flanker cover, but each time a number of the Badgers were way out ahead where the Flankers could not help them.

The first one was interesting, as it came from southern China, somewhere north of Hainan Island. I got very scared as I thought they had the location of the Independence CVBG, but they were actually bearing down on the USS Bunker Hill, the detached cruiser. I had it to the southwest of Taiwan with its radars on to support the Independence group, which was still on EMCON. But the timing for the raid was not good, as most of the Independence's fighters were on the ship being refueled/rearmed, or on their way back to the ship due to needing both. So I scrambled Six F-14s from the Nimitz and sent them south, down the strait, to hit the Badgers from the left. Those F-14s, plus a few F-18s from the Independence, were able to wreck total havoc amongst those bombers, although I lost one F-18 to a Badger's tail gun when they got in close to engage with sidewinders and guns. A couple of the Badgers got close enough to fire their AShMs at the Bunker Hill, but she had no problem defending herself from those.

I think the shooting started so far from the start for me (almost the entire fight was after nightfall for me), was because none of my assets entered the strait until the carriers did. I did scare off a couple flights of J-7s, a couple hours apart, north of Taiwan with an equal number of F-14s in the early afternoon of the first day. I could have picked them off as I ridiculously outranged them with Phoenix missiles, but hostilities had not started so there was a merge, but no shooting. On the second intercept, one J-7 actually made a dash toward my AWACS bird out of Okinawa, and I peeled off one of the F-14s in pursuit, ready to fire at a moments notice. The J-7 turned back after briefly getting a little to close to the AWACS.


Also, I have a question for both of you, did you keep both CVBGs together and transited the Strait from one direction, or did you do a pincer around Taiwan like I did, Nimitz from the north and Independence from the south, passing each other, and exiting the Strait on their opposite sides?

[Gunner98]

Nimitz from the north and Independence from the south, passing each other

I did the same. Seemed that it might waist too much time grouping them and thought that the power of one BG would be enough in one area, two together would be overkill. Better to cause the PRC to disperse his efforts.

Didn't intend to start things happening as early as they did - figured that a gradual escalation would be good - first an armed sensor run (that got jumped and started it all), then an ES-3 ELINT run, then an EA-6B then a P-3, then the EP-3. Gradually building a picture of what was happening. They were all lined up in that order but it didn't quite happen that way. Worked to my advantage however because I had space and time on my side - used the Tankers a lot though.

I now see the advantage of taking out his radars, I didn't get any badger attacks because I don't think he ever found me. Kept both BGs on EMCON throughout.

The detachment of the Bunker Hill worried me. Did not like the idea of a small BG like the Independence running the straights without a Tyco, so she was regrouped. Ended up not firing a missile though.

Initially detached a Spru to escort the Repen ships back to Okinawa to get them out of the way - then thought better of it and raced her back to the Nimitz group to be better used.

Found a Silkworm site when doing a Maverick run on the remnants of an SA-2 unit, he wasn't emitting after a TLAM hit but was not sure if he still had a radar so went in @200 ft and on the way found an unidentified unit - reminded me of what the briefing said about SSMs so scouring the coast was the next priority.

Tricky bit was the AD complex at the north end of the straight. A couple SA-2, a couple radars and some surprises - took a coordinated effort from both CVNs, some F-15 cover, TALDs, HARMs and TLAMs. Fun op to set up.

Was surprised by the limited number of TLAMs available but that is probably best for balance, had to snipe with them and plot each route - was down to 5 remaining at the end. None of the classic dump and overwhelm the defences, each shot was accompanied by a hope that there were no surprises along the way as the layers got peeled back one or two targets at a time

Working on the campaign now - 'Gods of War' is another good one.

B

[Primarchx]

Still beating back the bombers. It's a pain running two, large, distant air battles at the same time! The saving grace is that the H-6 ASMs have such a short range so I have lots of time.

I had wiped out every EW and SAM acquisition radar - either by ARM or TLAM - in the path of my passage, which is Indy up front heading south to north, followed by Nimitz behind. Joined the Bunker Hill to the Indy group. Indy's ASW screen picked up a pair of SSKs at the entrance to the straight and quickly dispatched them. However more than once it appeared that the Chinese were getting Bunker Hill's location/identity from unknown sources prompting two shore-battery attacks.

USS Providence was hunting an SSN to the north but failed to localize it in the shallow water. Instead it was positioned to intercept the PLAN northern SAG, which it sank completely in a pair of Mk 48 salvos before slipping away to patrol Indy's northern Strait exit.

[mikmykWS]

Nice work gents.

Mike

[Gunner98]

Nice work gents.

Back at you Mike - these are great scenarios - thanks a bunch.

Bart

[Tailhook]

Just finished this one up. China got the ball rolling pretty early. They sent some Fishbeds to check out one of my AWACS jets out of Kadena on a friendly intercept. They must not have liked the F-14 on their wing though because they broke suddenly and put a heater into one (pilot saved it after a nasty fire but it was down for the rest of the mission). After that I used Tomahawks to snipe any and all ground radars with coverage over the straights, including SA-2 sites. 4x F-18s slinging HARMs backed by a Prowler and 4x escorting F-14s took out the only SA-10 I detected. The rest of the time featured American Airpower absolutely clubbing Chinese jets. The only luck the Chinese had was rushing a pair of Flankers between the gap of F-15s out of Kadena and F-18s from Independence (in the South) to knock down a P-3 and damage another, both sanitizing the straight before some F-15s could save them. I located a pair of Chinese SAGs but both were easy prey to Harpoons with LGBs finishing off wounded survivors. They never even got close to my ships. The P-3s and my own Subs took care of five enemy subs throughout the mission. Independence joined up with Bunker Hill and sailed North through the straight and Nimitz sailed south. Never saw any sort of maritime strike, most likely because the Chinese were totally blinded to the position of my forces. Even if they had, I had more than enough Phoenix's left onboard to crush any bomber waves. Shore sites would have been interesting depending on the number but I had a lot of missiles ready for defense. I never bombarded any shore sites besides SAMs and Radars because it didn't seem politically prudent although I would have had an easy enough time of it once the Straight was cleared. The most amusing part was towards the beginning when a pair of F/A-18s RTB'ing from CAP caught a Ming on the surface. I had them dive down and strafe her. Must have took out the engines or something because it lost power.

Total score of 1900 points.

SIDE: United States
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------
1x P-3C Orion Update III


EXPENDITURES:
------------------
1x Generic Flare Salvo [3x Cartridges, Single Spectral]
50x AIM-54C Phoenix
28x AIM-7P Sparrow III
5x AIM-9M Sidewinder
27x RGM-109C Tomahawk Blk II TLAM-C
85x AIM-120A AMRAAM
73x AN/SSQ-53D DIFAR
160x AN/SSQ-62B DICASS
87x AN/SSQ-77B VLAD
12x 20mm/85 M61A1 Vulcan Burst [100 rnds]
5x Mk50 Barracuda Mod 0 ALWT
40x AGM-84D Harpoon IC
1x RIM-66M-1 SM-2MR Blk III
4x GBU-16B/B Paveway II LGB [Mk83]
13x AGM-88C HARM
4x Generic Chaff Salvo [5x Cartridges]
100x AN/SSQ-53B DIFAR
2x Mk48 Mod 5 ADCAP



SIDE: China
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------
35x J-7II Fishbed [MiG-21 Copy]
2x SH-5 Harbin
11x J-7E Fishbed [MiG-21 Copy]
12x Radar (Bar Lock A [P-37])
8x J-7D Fishbed [MiG-21 Copy]
4x Type 035G Ming
6x J-8B Finback B [J-8II]
1x Type 053H1 Jianghu II [545 Linfen]
4x Type 051 Mod 1 Luda I [105 Jinan]
2x Type 053H1G Jianghu V [558 Zigong]
1x Type 053H1 Jianghu II Mod [555 Zhaotong]
30x HQ-2b Guideline Single Rail
5x Vehicle (Chop Rest)
5x Vehicle (Gin Sling B [ZD-2(B)])
1x Type 051 Mod 2B Luda I [109 Kaifeng]
1x Vehicle (Clam Shell [5N66])
1x Vehicle (Flap Lid B [5N63S])
4x SA-10b Grumble [5P85S] TEL
1x Vehicle (China Type 571 Illuminator [HQ-61A])
4x HQ-61A
1x Vehicle (China Type 571 Search [HQ-61A])
2x Type 053H2 Jianghu III [535 Huangshi]
1x Type 051 Mod 2A Luda I [131 Hefei]
1x Radar (China JY-11B)
12x J-11 Flanker B [Su-27SK Copy]
3x J-6A Farmer [MiG-19P Copy]
1x Type 091 Han


EXPENDITURES:
------------------
1x PL-7 [R.550 Magic 1]
76x Generic Chaff Salvo [4x Cartridges]
5x 23mm Type 23-3 Burst [40 rnds]
10x Generic Acoustic Decoy
17x SA-10b Grumble [5V55RUD]
10x HQ-7 Crotale [FM-80] Naval
10x 100mm/56 Frag
279x 37mm/63 Twin Burst [20 rnds]
100x Generic Chaff Rocket
1x 720 liter Drop Tank
6x HQ-61A
11x AA-10 Alamo C [R-27RE, LR SARH]