AAR-Battle Royal, spoiler.

[Flankerk]

This is a scenario using DB2000 built by Mike Mykytyn set at 4/10/05.
Its partially built with MP in mind and features four sides,Japan/ROC, China,Vietnam and a Coalition mostly of UK and Malaysian forces.

The principal objective being to occupy and hold the area of the Spratly Islands. I chose to play as China player side. Available forces consisted of two submarines, 309 a Ming class and 321 a Song class. However my main Task Force was a seven ship group including Ma'anshan ( Lead ship of the class), Nanning and Changsha,( both Luda I class ) and Yulin, a Jiangwei II type. None of these really inspired confidence, however the central ships were Fuzhou, a Hangzhou class ( where it should be ) and a useful Lanzhou. To support these were an AO Taikang.

There were some properly named island garrisons to support and at game start two main airbases in Malaysia and Vietnam posed a threat.

4.00 Game start, Task Force heads towards the central island area, both submarines at cruise speed and periscope depth, patrolling area as not at all confident in their sonar suite.

4.06 One Dauphin available,launched and radar to active, around 15-20 ships detected, classifying hostiles may take a while.

4.42 Several air patrols are operating from respective air bases,contacts classed as probable Hornet and Flanker types.

5.07 One group to the North East of the Spratlys thought to be a five ship group at about eight knots. One Helix A sent to investigate.

5.46 321 headed East as several potential targets located there. 309 headed to North East as not too far from the group being checked by the Helix. That group has now accelerated to 15 knots.

6.01 Helix classifies Takanami as hostile, moves away from group to ensure out of range.

6.08 Once well out of range Helix goes active on radar. Group thought to be mostly Japanese found to be larger than expected, probably seven or so ships including a Towada class which was also classified. 309 is close to the expected path of group which is useful.

7.25 309 at 16 NM out from the group slows to creep speed and dives to shallow.

8.18 At 5 NM range the group makes a course change. Initially thought to be a relatively slight change of direction, but is a virtual turn about.

8.50 Although at far edge of range the firing position is not going to improve. Full spread of torpedoes fired BOL.

8.57 Contact classed as Kang Ding and one unclassified are struck and sinking. Group now moving away.

8.58 Fuzhou launches all 8 SS-N-22M at four of the remaining targets.

9.02 Multiple hits,three likely kills, one ship drops to three knots speed.

9.07 Ikazuki and Cheng Kung engaged by four C-803 each.

9.23 Cheng Kung sunk.

9.30 Four C-602 fired at Ikazuki.

9.41 Probable kill, all ships in group now at stop.

10.20 Dauphin sent out scouting, many neutrals classified, however difficult to scout central area as many air patrols. Occasional conflicts detected but from extreme range. Several ships believed to be sunk, but out of radar horizon to detect by whom or what.

10.43 Gave up even trying to scout in the central area of the Spratlys as many Hornet and Flanker patrols.

12.28 By now, most contacts within 100 NM have been classed as neutral.

14.07 Potential Task Force to South West but radar picture unclear and coverage limited.

14.23 Helix repositioned for better coverage and Dauphin complete with C-801 despatched to check.

14.53 Group is likely a five ship Task Force at 14 knots.

15.17 Group classed as being UK and Malaysian forces. Dauphin launches two C-801

15.19 No hits detected plus Dauphin lost.

15.21 Lanzhou fires all twelve remaining C-602 at group.

15.40 All targets appear hit, one a probable type 42 survives but is down to three knots.

17.10 The type 42 is now at 18 knots but no remaining long range missiles available.

17.38 A helicopter, probably a Lynx engages and hits Changsha but is shot down. Vessel at 15% damage and suffers no criticals.

20.08 Helix lost to a snooping Flanker.

23.06 HMS Liverpool identified from the Mischief Reef garrison, 4 C-802 now in range and fired. Another Helix loses out to a Flanker.

23.10 Multiple inbound aircraft from Vietnam direction. Anti shipping strike thought likely.

23.11 Manually classed strike as hostile.

23.12 All strike aircraft shot down.

23.14 HMS Liverpool hit and sinking.

At four O'clock on the 5th the Victory Conditions trigger.

A nicely balanced scenario, that appears to work as intended under 3.7.
As China side you clearly have to make the most of a varied group of ships. Although you have plenty of anti ship missiles, detecting and classifying is difficult for this player being away from air support.

I particularly liked the well researched garrisons that are named as such.
_________________