Original Cold War Battleset
At a time when the potential loss of life from a failed nuclear gambit went beyond rational comprehension, conventional warfare was seen by some to be the last best hope of preserving their ways of living. The war of political rhetoric and posturing that had been raging for nearly four decades was about to come to an end. In its wake though, there would be no quick peace. The time for brinksmanship was past. Now the children of the Cold War would see the heat of battle.
Securing sources of oil and trade shipping routes were key factors in the forging of the wartime alliance between the Soviets, the Chinese, and assorted lesser Pacific Rim countries. Opposing this coalition, the United States, Japanese, Canadian, Australian and European governments fight to remove the perceived threats to their own economies. Most of the smaller countries around the world do not rush to the call for war. They saw that for them, the path to their best possible victory was to not get involved.
This Battleset was originally made for Harpoon3 v3.6.3 and has been re-built for compatibility with the PlayersDB with the consent of AGSI.
WATCH THAT FIRST STEP
LOCATION : NW PACIFIC, COASTAL SEATTLE
DATE/TIME: 12 FEBRUARY 1985, 06:00:00 ZULU
With the first war shots, DEFCON ONE status was automatic. Every submarine in the inventory that was capable of getting underway left port for the greater safety of the open sea. Only those boats with mechanical deficiencies remained docked, to leave when their problems were fixed. As a part of standing plans, all the assets of the United States Coast Guard were folded into the Navy's TOE, to be employed in such a way as to free regular Navy assets for higher priority missions. Their mission: sanitize the area around the sub bases, allowing the remaining subs to get to open water.
AIR LANE RAIDERS
LOCATION : GUAM
DATE/TIME: 12 FEBRUARY 1985, 18:00:00 ZULU
In response to building tensions before the outbreak of actual shooting, CINCPAC executed standing plans to enhance the ELINT capabilities of Guam. The transit schedule for the personnel of the units and members of CINPAC's staff was not hard to obtain and the PACRIM was presented with an opportunity to cripple both a critical ELINT unit and CINCPAC's staff with one blow. For the U.S. commander, the objective will be to escort the ELINT unit through a Soviet air blockade.
FISH IN A BARREL
LOCATION : RED SEA
DATE/TIME: 4 MAY 1985, 03:00:00 ZULU
As the tensions with India increased, U.S. Forces began redeploying the Carrier Battle Group operating in the Mediterranean through the Red Sea and into the Indian Ocean. What was usually a peaceful transition went terribly wrong. An S-3 on a standard patrol ahead of the Battle Group picked up multiple large objects floating in the approaches out of the Red Sea. On closer examination they turned out to be mines; very sophisticated, variable-depth captor-like mines. As the Battle Group turned, something even more surprising occurred. Two large cargo vessels exploded almost simultaneously, blocking the Suez Canal. The American Battle Group was now stuck in a very small ocean. The only potentially hostile nation capable of developing such a mine was the Soviet Union. The tensions with India and the sudden explosion of war with the Soviets have caught an U.S. Carrier Battle Group in a bad place -- transiting the Red Sea. The Soviets and the Egyptians have each mined one end of the Sea, leaving no exit.
BLACK SEA SURPRISE
LOCATION : BLACK SEA
DATE/TIME: 20 May 1985, 02:00:00 Zulu
World wide systems analysts have unanimously agreed that NATO Forces were at least 2 generations ahead of the Soviets in command and control systems. Stolen technical materials confirmed the limited processing power of Soviet tactical computer systems. No one in the West could have predicted the almost seamless operation of Soviet offensive forces. NATO has devoted considerable assets to uncover the secret to their advanced operations. Soviet Black Sea Forces have been operating in an extremely coordinated manner. Their C3I Network has performed better than expected. An obvious conclusion that can be drawn is that somewhere, not far away, a very large and powerful computer center is crunching numbers very rapidly. A very high value target indeed.
CAR CARRIER CONVOYS
LOCATION : COASTAL JAPAN/WESTERN PACIFIC
DATE/TIME: 13 FEBRUARY 1985, 02:00:00
Predictably, when the opening shots of the Pacific Rim War were fired, merchants of all the involved countries - and a great number of neutrals - began to scream for protection. Having taken the lessons of the last World War to heart, Japan knew that the lanes of commerce to the home islands were particularly vulnerable to the threat of submarine attack. The challenge would be to quickly gather the merchants into something at least resembling a convoy, while avoiding losing either the civilian ships or any of their ASW platforms to the PACRIM submarine forces.
END RUN
LOCATION : COASTAL CUBA/HAITI/FLORIDA
DATE/TIME: 01 SEPTEMBER 1985, 10:00:00 ZULU
Cuba has a long history of providing troops to augment the forces of other Communist states. Only recently, however, was Cuba implicated in acts of international terrorism. In the space of a single week, which was proclaimed Siete Dias del Diablo (Seven Days of the Devil) by Castro, more than a dozen acts of terrorism, including bombings, kidnappings, and assassinations aimed at U.S. citizens and interests around the world, were carried out by Cuban-led hit squads. In response, the President of the United States requested from Congress the authority to declare a 100-mile maritime exclusion zone around Cuba. In simultaneous session, both Houses of Congress approved the request in less than an hour. No official response was forthcoming from Moscow, but a SAG centered on the Kirov changed course toward Cuba and has entered the exclusion zone.
BRING ALONG SOME FRIENDS
LOCATION : EASTERN ATLANTIC
DATE/TIME: 01:00:00 ZULU
The war has entered its second month, and the Soviets are exploiting their early gains. Control of Iceland has allowed Soviet surface ships to slip into the North Atlantic to attack convoys of troops and supplies headed for Europe. This scenario will highlight Harpoon II's ability to model theoretical units. The ARAPAHO program was at its peak in the mid-1980s and was discontinued because it was seen as a superfluous system for the needs of the time. However, at a time of global naval warfare, such a system would indeed be very valuable for the U.S. Navy.
ENEMY ON ISLAND
LOCATION : NORTH ATLANTIC
DATE/TIME: 15 FEBRUARY 1985, 04:00:00 ZULU
Soviet Backfire and Badger bombers have pummelled the military facilities on Iceland, and the main amphibious assault is about to begin. There are very limited resources available to counter the landing because of tremendous pressures being applied by the Soviets and their allies. There is no hope that the landing can be stopped, only that it can be delayed or crippled. It is DAY 3 of the war, and the Soviets are grabbing territory they can use for negotiating chips.
MIDWAY REVISITED
LOCATION : CENTRAL PACIFIC
DATE/TIME: 15 MARCH 1985, 18:00:00 ZULU
At least one PACRIM SAG is loose in the Pacific. Centered on the Kirov-class cruiser Frunze, this powerful group must be eliminated quickly. CINCPAC has ordered the Kitty Hawk battle group to locate and engage the Frunze SAG as soon as possible. No additional air support is available, although runways and refuelling/rearming facilities at Midway remain operational. This will be a race to get to Midway, winner takes all.
BATTLE OF THE NORTH SEA
LOCATION : NORTH SEA
DATE/TIME: 22 AUGUST 1985, 06:00:00 ZULU
Warsaw Pact occupation of Denmark and Norway has opened the North Sea to the smaller Warsaw Pact units that normally operated in the Baltic. Each side has occupied and armed several of the oil and gas rigs which dot the North Sea, protecting vital energy sources. Each side raids the other's fields, and a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse ensues among the giant platforms.
REINFORCING THE NORTHERN FLANK
LOCATION : COASTAL NORWEGIAN WATERS
DATE/TIME: 13 FEBRUARY 1985, 02:00:00 ZULU
This scenario occurs just as the war starts, with the NATO player trying to reinforce positions along the coast of Norway, and the Soviet player setting off what will become a long war. This scenario shows us the results of pitting a low-end CTOL carrier against a CVHG, and how the planes perform against each other.
TREMORS
LOCATION : California Coastline
DATE/TIME: 14 February 1985, 02:00:00 ZULU
A major component of any successful offensive operation is the element of surprise. To achieve surprise during the Cold War, long term planning and careful execution have to be the order of the day. The sudden outbreak of war has left many Cargo Vessels at sea without protection. Soviet attack submarines deployed just before the commencement of hostilities have positioned themselves perfectly. Lightly armed trawlers are also creating havoc.
VISIT TO VALDEZ
LOCATION : Alaskan Territory
DATE/TIME: 6 July 1985, 15:00:00 ZULU
America now finds itself in much the same position as pre World War II Japan, depending heavily on the import of raw materials, mainly oil. Soviet submarine forces have managed to stop, at least in the short term, the supply of crude oil from the Persian Gulf. Every drop of domestic production is now critical to the operation of America's Military and Industrial Complex. Should America's domestic supply be interrupted even for a short time, it could force the Americans to negotiate a Peace Treaty very favourable to the Soviet Union.
VIETNAM ESCORT
LOCATION : Western Pacific
DATE/TIME: 20 April 1985, 13:00:00 ZULU
The Vietnamese government has announced a 200 mile territorial limit off the Coast and has begun seizing the merchantmen in transit between Bangkok and Hong Kong. The Soviet Union immediately announced support for the seizures and has agreed to assist the local Government in enforcing its new boundaries. Most of the seized vessels have been returned to their owners after large "transit fees" have been arranged. The United States and the United Kingdom have vowed to reopen the sea lanes.
BATTLE OF THE WESTERN APPROACHES
LOCATION : North Atlantic
DATE/TIME: 8 December 1985, 05:00:00 Zulu
The war has dragged on into winter, and the loss of the North Sea oil and gas rigs is causing an energy crisis in Europe. The extra mouths to feed are also putting a severe strain on food supplies. NATO is required to force convoys through to keep food on the table and keep the population from freezing. A convoy carrying natural gas, fuel, and food is enroute to Liverpool. Iceland is still held by the Soviets, although constant attacks have somewhat weakened the forces operating from the island.
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