Harpoon 3 scenarios for the PlayersDB

[Herman Hum]

Harpoon Designers Series I - GIUK Battleset

The demise of the Soviet Union has led many to speculate that the danger of war in Europe and the surrounding seas has been dramatically reduced. A student of history would note two major contradictions to this premise: First, that nature abhors a vacuum, and that something must fill the void created by the demise of the Soviet Union, and second, that what was once before and is now again Russia has never experienced a peaceful change between forms of government.

The GIUK Gap will thus remain essential to Russia, as their fleets (both merchant and combatant) must transit the choke points inherent in the Norwegian and Baltic Seas. Add to this the oil deposits in the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea, and the geography and politics once again make this region ripe for a war or power grab.

The scenarios presented here run the range from a resurgent Soviet Union to Civil War in and amongst the Commonwealth of Independent States. It will be for history to decide if the new politics of the region have really changed the spots of the leopard. The player may now explore the new dynamics of conflict in a newly unstabilized region with new tensions and shifting alliances.

This Battleset was originally made for the Harpoon Classic Designers Series I and has been re-built for compatibility with the PlayersDB with the consent of AGSI.


The Svalbard Incident



Following the demise of the "Evil Empire", the West believed that the "Red Threat" had completely evaporated. However, those same Western governments failed to anticipate the profound effects that hunger and poverty would have on the people of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The government of the CIS, faced a hungry populace on the verge of rebellion, realized that the West either could not or would not provide the massive capital outlays required to end the depression within the CIS. This left the government with the belief that only two options remained: allow the disintegration of the CIS (and subsequent Western takeover), or seize what was needed to end the economic nightmare.

That choice having been easily made, the military leaders began to look for ways to enhance the probability of a favourable conclusion to the forthcoming war. These military leaders, operating within the newly created "Advisory Council for the Restitution of the CIS Superpower" (consisting entirely of the new power element within the Commonwealth and led by the military) determined that preliminary warnings should be kept to a minimum. Land forces would conduct minimal mobilizations, since the West would require several months to establish a satisfactory defensive posture following their own military cutbacks. This delay would allow the month required to fully mobilize CIS armour and mechanized infantry forces and allow the first phases of a substantial land offensive before the West could effectively respond. The initial "incidents" would be arranged at sea. Diplomatic efforts would be used to confuse the situation by assuring the Western European nations that the CIS had no intention of involving them in its conflict with the United States.

On April 2, CIS naval units began harassing US forces. These actions continued until the morning of April 4, when five CIS-initiated ramming incidents occurred between ships of the two superpowers. Also on the 4th, the CIS discovered a U.S. amphibious task group conducting exercises in the Svalbard Islands...

Original designer: Cass M. Johnson
Author: Herman Hum

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[Herman Hum]

Harpoon Designers Series I - IOPG Battleset

This BattleSet would be a sleepy backwater, forgotten in the march of history, were it not for oil. Oil has produced the money for modern weapons, promoted envy and greed, and exacerbated religious and racial hatred..

The strategic significance of the oil fields of the Arabian Gulf are amply demonstrated by the continuous presence of U.S. Navy warships in the region since 1948, and the recent humiliation imposed on Iraq by an international coalition. Were it not for this strategic significance, the rest of the world would probably be glad to let the indigenous population get on with killing each other.

This area has been torn by violence for the length of recorded history, and there is every sign that this proclivity for violence is growing with time. The presence of "Westerners" and "Orientals" has added fuel to the flames of bigotry, just as oil money has bought the modern tools of death and suffering. These two factors make for an ugly set of circumstances.

As long as the industrialized nations rely on the region for oil, the pressure will continue to rise. The scenarios included with this revised BattleSet may be viewed as ventings of this pressure: sometimes a small blast, other times a huge explosion, but always violent and sharp.


To Enter Paradise



Historians in the 21st Century will not agree on a start date for the First EurAsian War; some will argue, in fact, that there was none: the FEW will be for them nothing but a coalescing of several separate local wars. All will agree, however, that the collapse of the Soviet Union and then the partial collapse of the Western monetary system created a number of interacting power vacuums. And while the Rightful Restoration and the Koranic Compact initiated the creation of a new world order, they also fanned the flames of smouldering and ongoing conflicts all across Asia and Europe...

The First EurAsian War will spread to the Indian sub-continent and the Middle East simultaneously. In 1992 and 1993, the New Russian Republic (under Gospodin Boris Yeltsin) and the short-lived CIS will have made a serious attempt to control all of the old Soviet nuclear weapons and to systematically destroy many of them. They will be 99.9% successful. This scenario will examine the results of that near perfection as it unfolds in India.

In late December of 1996, three trucks will leave Lahore (Pakistan) and enter India at Amritsar. Their drivers will be three Indian brothers. Their father was one of the many nameless that had died trying to build the Ayodhya mosque in 1991. These brothers take their Islamic religion seriously; and they will not forget. They will have made this particular trip dozens of times. Until that day, their cargo will always have been cotton -- for their Uncle's mills.

A tactical nuclear device does not weigh much. Neither does a notebook computer and a reasonably effective detonating mechanism. Certainly, the routine weigh-in outside of Amritsar will reveal nothing unusual. Only Geiger counters, or a complete unloading of the hundred odd bales of cotton in each truck could have done that. Needless to say, that won't happen. As a consequence, three 50 Kiloton nuclear "landmines" will enter India undetected in late December 1996.

The three brothers will take breakfast together one last time in Karmal. Jinnah will leave first, his journey being the longest -- and, as it turns out, the only one that will be successful. He will arrive in early January. And Allah will be smiling...

Jinnah lifted the lid of his notebook computer and waited as it booted itself up. He smiled as the screen displayed a reminder his mother had suggested... "Be sure to say your prayers, Jinnah. Now press <return> to enter Paradise."

The Restored Romanov Empire

Civil War in the old Soviet Republics culminated in the restoration of the Romanov family to the Russian Throne in 1996 (the so-called Rightful Restoration). The Romanov's have gained ascendancy over their Social Fundamentalist adversaries. The European Union, originally neutral, has committed itself reluctantly to the Fundamentalist cause.

All of Cobalt Shiva's scenarios take place in the course of what he calls the First Eurasian War (FEW), 1996-99.

This scenario is a re-make of a Harpoon Classic scenario from the Harpoon Designers Series I and has been re-made for Harpoon 3 with the consent of AGSI.

Original designer: Cobalt Shiva
Author: Herman Hum

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[Herman Hum]

Harpoon Designers Series I - NACV Battleset

Independent of the politics of the moment, the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC's) across the North Atlantic are the lifeblood of Europe. Trans-Atlantic trade has steadily increased over the centuries, and is essential to the economic health of both Europe and the Americas.

Wars over and about trade rights and shipping have raged through the centuries here, as various European and American naval powers have fought to either close or maintain the SLOC's. World War Two's "Battle of the Atlantic" (really more of a campaign than a battle) was the most costly in terms of lives and shipping tonnage, though fewer ships were lost then than in the wars of the Napoleonic period. The tendency towards fewer larger ships has continued, and the world's trade is now carried in fewer vessels than at any time since the early 19th century.

When this paucity of available hulls is compared to the increased lethality of Submarines, Aircraft, and Warships, the possibility of immediate and catastrophic losses to the shipping connection between Europe and the Americas becomes daunting indeed. The current proliferation of modern diesel electric submarines and the spectre of modern Nuclear Submarines for sale or lease by the successors to the Soviet Union cast further shadows on the stability and security of trans-Atlantic trade.

Trying to predict the "if's," "when's," and "who's" of such a future conflict is at best a crap shoot. The only historical certainty is that conflict is likely and may be inevitable. Harpoon's revised NACV BattleSet provides the player with Scenarios that run the range from small incidents, civil war, and police actions, to all out war. Welcome to the North Atlantic, a body of water well known for its own violent disregard for human life, where man adds to the carnage on a regular basis.


Homecoming



Coincidental with their attacks on Orland and Bergen, the Romanov's will also attempt to close the Suez and Panama Canals, and they will succeed. This will follow the successful decoying of substantial U.S. forces into the Pacific. (Alaska was, after all, unfairly traded away in 1867 for $7 million dollars; it was time for it to re-join a re-born Empire!) The immediate consequence will be the temporary isolation of the remaining forces in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

Their greater than expected success in the Norwegian Sea will present them with an unprecedented opportunity, the outright destruction of an entire U.S. carrier group, at relatively no cost. They will choose not to, but what if they had?

The Romanov's will, in fact, opt to pursue their original plan. First, they will aggressively target all European-bound merchants. Second, they will occupy the Faeroes, and prepare for a January invasion of Iceland. If the original Romanov Strategy will be judged brilliant for its operational boldness, it will still be flawed by a tactical rigidity that will characterize its execution and that has characterized Russian arms for centuries! (Their most recent excuse for this shortcoming has been Scientific Socialism. Oh, well.)

Russian submarines and Backfires will pretty much have their own way in the Atlantic in the two days following the fall of Bergen. The subs will then turn northward, to rendezvous with a re-supply group entering the Norwegian Sea. But what if they had decided, instead, to concentrate on the destruction of the Eisenhower? This scenario is designed to help you answer that question!

The Restored Romanov Empire

Civil War in the old Soviet Republics culminated in the restoration of the Romanov family to the Russian Throne in 1996 (the so-called Rightful Restoration). The Romanov's have gained ascendancy over their Social Fundamentalist adversaries. The European Union, originally neutral, has committed itself reluctantly to the Fundamentalist cause.

The causes of the civil war and eventual restoration lay in long suppressed ethnic tensions, the food and fuel riots of '94 and '95, and the annexation of the Crimea by the Russian Republic. Not surprisingly, the majority of Russians turned to the only symbol of stability and dignity that seemed even remotely credible... not only to the "man in the street," but to the demoralized Military as well. Seemingly overnight, a new sense of purpose revitalized the spirit and purpose of the great Slavic people. Mother Russia would have her dignity -- and her Empire -- back.

All of Cobalt Shiva's scenarios take place in the course of what he calls the First Eurasian War (FEW), 1996-99.

Original designer: Cobalt Shiva
Author: Herman Hum

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[Herman Hum]

Harpoon Designers Series I - MEDC Battleset

The Mediterranean Sea is the cradle of Western Society. It is also the scene of more battles and has a longer documented history of sea battles than any other region of the world. All the great societies that developed along the shores of the Mediterranean grew to be dependent upon commerce carried on its waters.

With this dependency came conflict, and the conflicts have continued unabated through the centuries. As added fuel to the economic motivations, the various peoples and religions of the Mediterranean Basin have been warring and feuding for millenia. The introduction of modern weapons, sensors, and platforms has served to shrink the already confined waters of the Mediterranean Sea to a nearly unbearable point.

The Med is also rife with choke points through which shipping must pass: The Strait of Gibraltar, the Dardanelles, and the Suez Canal immediately come to mind, but modern sensors make the entire area a manageable body of water. The confined waters and prominent choke points also make the Med a fruitful hunting ground for modern submarines.

Land based air power also exerts a greater influence here than in most other locations. Virtually every nation that borders the Med has aircraft with the range and sophistication to present a significant air threat to shipping which must pass close by to reach its destination. A word of warning: only the geography remains constant here. Everything else is subject to change on short notice. The included scenarios reflect the range and scope of possible conflict here in man's most ancient battle grounds...

This Battleset was originally made for the Harpoon Classic Designers Series I and has been re-built for compatibility with the PlayersDB with the consent of AGSI.


Yom Hadin: Judgment Day



With the fall of the "Soviet Union" and the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, the world has become an even more dangerous place. Third World countries with hard currency are able to purchase many weapons previously unattainable from the arms-rich and cash-poor CIS. Such is the case with Libya. Isolated from the world in early 1992 due to its links with international terrorism, the West expected that Libya would halt its support for terrorism. Nothing could be further from the truth. After implication in several large truck bombings across Europe and overt threats of retaliation from Israel, Libya played its trump card.

October 6th, 1993, known to Jews as the holiday of Yom Kippur, will now have a new and chilling significance. During celebration activities in the morning, a huge explosion rocks Tel Aviv. Thousands die as the explosives disseminate the persistent nerve agent VX across a large part of the city. Through sensitive intelligence sources and methods, the MOSSAD (Israel's Intelligence service) is able to track the plotters support directly back to Libya. An emergency session of the Knesset releases the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) to take whatever action they deem necessary to "secure the safety of the Israeli people and the Jewish State." The IDF, demonstrating unusual reserve, does not assemble and use the devices they deny possessing. Rather, they set in motion their most elite forces to execute operation "Judgment Day."

Author: Herman Hum

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[Herman Hum]

Asian Clash Battleset

The East Asian Hemisphere is on the move. Most of the countries in this region are world economic players with their own agendas for the region. Disputes about historical territorial rights between Japan, Russia, the PRC, the ROC, and the two Koreas turned this region into a boiling kettle and a potential war region.

Another subject of great concern are the needs for energy by Japan and the PRC. Both nations are prepared to start a military conflict in order to get control of the huge oil and gas reserves in the East China Sea.

Other areas of potential conflict are the sleeping war between the Koreas, the relations between the PRC and the ROC, and the Kurile / Sakhalin Islands situation.

Prelude



Tensions between China and Japan are growing after another violent incident between Chinese fishermen and the Japanese Coast Guard in coastal waters off the disputed Senkaku Islands.

The tiny little Islands of the Senkaku Archipelago suddenly became very important for both nations after the discovery of huge gas and oil reserves in coastal waters off the Islands.

Both nations are prepared to risk a military conflict to get control over the area......

Author: Frans Koenz

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[Herman Hum]

Georgian War Battleset

On 8 August, 2008, the "new" Russia announced - in blood - that it would not tolerate freedom and self-determination along its borders. Georgia is an independent, functional democracy tied to the European Union and striving to join NATO. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin put it bluntly: Today, Georgia, tomorrow Ukraine (and the Baltic states had better pay attention).

Working through their mercenaries in South Ossetia, Russia staged brutal acts of provocation against Georgia from late July onward. On 7 August, Georgia's President finally had to act to defend his people.

But when the mouse stirred, the cat pounced.

The Kremlin spent months planning and preparing this operation. Any soldier above the grade of private can tell you that there was absolutely no way Moscow could have launched a huge ground, air, and sea offensive in an instantaneous "response" to alleged Georgian actions.

Just as Moscow has reverted to its old habit of sending in tanks to snuff out freedom, Washington has defaulted to form by abandoning Georgia to the invasion - after encouraging Georgia to stand up to the Kremlin. This invasion is reminiscent of 1956, when the Hungarians were encouraged to defy Moscow - then abandoned by the West. And, again, of 1991, when Iraq's Shia were urged to rise up against Saddam only to be promptly deserted.

A Georgian Affair



On 8 August, 2008, ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet deployed to the coast of Georgia to take participate in the "forcing to peace" operation.

The Ukrainian government saw the writing on the wall. With this invasion, the Kremlin was re-asserting control over its sphere of influence on the former Soviet republics.

In hopes of checking future aggression from Crimean bases leased to Russia, the Ukrainian parliament demanded that the vessels which participated in this naked act of aggression not return to those ports.

Russian Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Anatoly Nogovitsyn, replied in a Moscow press conference, "These are our bases and we will return there," he stressed.

The Ukrainian armed forces have been ordered to enforce the parliamentary decree.

Author: Herman Hum


Georgia Peach



On 13 August, 2008, President Bush directed the United States Navy to oversee a "rigorous and ongoing" air and naval humanitarian mission to Georgia.

20 August, 2008, DDG McFaul, WHEC Dallas, and LCC Mount Whitney were soon enroute to Georgia after picking up aid supplies in Crete.

21 August, 2008, Russian forces block the only land entrance to the Georgian port of Poti after vowing to withdraw troops the day before.

Special thanks to Freek Schepers and Ralf Koelbach for their kind assistance in testing this scenario for compatibility with ANW.

Author: Herman Hum


Montreux Convention



Since 1936, the Montreux Convention has governed the passage of naval vessels through the Straits of Bosporus and the Dardenelles. Turkish sovereignty over these waters was recognized with all signatories. The Convention limits vessels to 15,000 tons with a maximum combined tonnage of 45,000 tons for countries not sharing a border on the Black Sea. Foreign naval vessels are limited to 21 days within the Black Sea.

On 21 August, 2008, three NATO frigates from Spain, Poland, and Germany sailed into the Black Sea and were joined by the American frigate, Taylor, for port visits and exercises off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria.

On 27 August, Russia's ambassador to NATO gave an interview with newspaper, Vremya Novostei, warning that, any NATO attack on the Moscow-backed regions would mean, "a declaration of war on Russia."

Many thanks to Ralf Koelbach and Freek Schepers for testing ANW compatibility of this scenario.

Author: Herman Hum

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[Herman Hum]

Papa and Son Battleset

The Papa and Son Battleset was written by Ralf Koelbach for the HUD3 and Harpoon ANW. They have been re-written for compatibility with the PlayersDB and Harpoon 3 by Herman Hum with the consent of the author.

These scenarios are designed for beginners. All scenarios use the same map, starting with using smaller parts of this map. The complexity and difficulty of the scenarios increases steadily.



Wolves vs. Wolves

Wolves vs. Wolves gives you a first feeling about what sub vs. sub means. No ships and no aircraft are involved. You can and must concentrate on sub warfare. You will learn how diesel/electric subs perform vs. nuclear attack subs.


Channel Engagement

Channel Engagement gives you a first feeling about what ship vs. ship combat in the Cold War environment meant. No subs and no fixed-wing aircraft are present. Thus, you can and must concentrate on ASuW warfare. You will learn how modern naval warfare vessels perform. Most of all, you will see that guns have lost their status as the primary weapons they were in World War II.


Mixed Doubles

Mixed Doubles puts you in control of combined surface and subsurface forces. You will learn how to coordinate ships and submarines.


Wings of Steel

In "Wings of Steel", aerial warfare is introduced.

You are facing a Russian anti-surface task force [KUG] approaching the English Channel from the East. At all costs, you must prevent this Task Force from reaching the Atlantic and becoming a major threat to our vital sea lanes.

UnRep or lose

In "UnRep or lose", Underway (ship-to-ship) Replenishment is introduced.

You are facing an ugly situation: War has started some hours ago. The Russians strive to reach the Atlantic with their subs in order to close the vital sea lanes as soon as possible.

Some hostile subs are already in the English Channel. You have to stop them with only few assets available.

While your subs are combat ready, the deadly ASW helos on the Spruance destroyers are not. They are waiting for the torpedo loadouts.

The AOE ship is not far away. Conduct UnRep ops or your helos are toothless and the red subs will break through.

Author: Ralf Koelbach

Eyes and Claws (Act I)



This is the sixth scenario of the PaSon battleset. These scenarios are designed for beginners. They presume that the USSR did not collapse back in the early 90s. In fact, the Cold War went hot and NATO and the USSR got their shoot out. They met with their best equipment and fought it out. All scenarios of this battleset use the same map, starting with using smaller parts of it. The complexity and thus difficulty of the scenarios increases steadily.

Eyes and Claws introduces new tactical elements. You will learn how to coordinate aircraft with ships and submarines. Aerial refueling is introduced, too.

Most important is the optimal coordination between your eyes in order to find the enemy and your claws in order to destroy his facilities.

Author: Ralf Koelbach and Herman Hum


"Eyes and Claws (Act II)"



This is the seventh scenario of the PaSon battleset; the "pro version" of Eyes and Claws, the sixth scenario of the PaSon battleset. While the PaSon scenarios are designed for beginners, this one should be a match for experienced Harpoon players, too.

Like the whole PaSon battleset, this scenario also assumes that the Soviet Union never collapsed and the Cold War went hot. There is a strong Red beachhead in Norway which has to be eliminated with limited resources.

The Harriers are dedicated to Roberto Yeager. Use them wisely

Author: Ralf Koelbach and Herman Hum

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[Herman Hum]

Harpoon Commander's Edition WestPac Battleset

The Western Pacific is the home to a number of interesting naval scenarios. There are a number of old disputes here, ranging from the failure of the PRC to recognize the independence of Taiwan to the 50-year old conflict between North and South Korea. The Western Pacific is a huge expanse of water, providing plenty of open water for the hunted as well as the hunter.

Since the close of the Cold War and disintegration of the Warsaw Pact military bloc, the expected arean of any major armed conflict has shifted more and more to the Western Pacific region. As of 2005, conflict rages in Iraq, Afghaistan, Sri Lanka, and any number of smaller conflicts around the world. However, the rocketing growth of the Chinese economy and the disquieting actions of North Korea dominate the spectre of major military conflict in this 21st century.

China's growing military might creates uncertainty for the rest of the world. Will China use force to bring Taiwan back under its control, potentially dragging the USA and Japan into direct armed conflict? How fiercely will China exploit and defend deposits of natural resources and the sea lanes which carry the lifeblood of its burgeoning economy?

North Korea, always on the brink of mass starvation, continues its development of nuclear weapons and the long-range missiles that could carry them. Will the world react at some point to enforce UN resolutions with military action? Will China come to North Korea's aide? Will North Korea continue to proliferate missile technology to dangerous nations around the world?

Japan, relaxing its pacifist constitution with each passing year, seeks to strengthen its own defensive capabilities in the face of the growing might of China and the constant danger posed by North Korea. Memories of a harsh Japanese colonial rule, however, continue to run deep in the Pacific Rim. How will its neighbours respond to a more offensively minded Japanese military?

Pocket democracies Australia and New Zealand, facing many potential enemies, meanwhile, use ever penny they can spare to defend their hopelessly large coastlines and their long and vulnerable trade routes.

The United States of America, embroiled in multiple conflicts around the world and the never ending War on Terror, is shifting a majority of its military power to the Pacific. Can the US keep pace with China's explosive growth? Can the global policeman meet every new challenge?

The Backyard



The Cold War finally went hot and furious as battles arose around the world. This scenario deals with a U.S. multi-carrier attack supported by Japanese forces in the Western Pacific. The U.S. forces must neutralize the Soviet fortresses in the theatre. Those Red bases are heavily protected.

This scenario was originally written by Ralf Koelbach for Harpoon Classic Commanders Edition and has been re-made for Harpoon3 and the PlayersDB with the consent of the author.

Author: Herman Hum

The Backyard II: Final Shootout



The Cold War finally went hot and furious as battles arose around the world. This scenario deals with a final U.S. multi-carrier attack supported by Japanese forces in the Western Pacific. The U.S. forces have neutralized all but one of the Soviet fortresses in the theatre. Now it is time to finish the job.

This scenario was originally written by Ralf Koelbach for Harpoon Classic Commanders Edition and has been re-made for Harpoon3 and the PlayersDB with the consent of the author.

But beware, the Soviets have reinforced their last bastion to the utmost.

Author: Herman Hum


Operation Island Wind



Dateline July 1, 2008

North Korea has recently been threatening to test a long-range ballistic missile; shrugging off the concerns of the world community. Despite the threat of sanctions, they have persisted in their preparations.

This scenario was originally written for Harpoon Classic by Scott Boles (a.k.a. Akula) and has been re-made for compatibility with Harpoon3 and the PlayersDB with the consent the author.

Author: Herman Hum


HENHouse



The Soviet HEN submarines - the Hotel-class SSBNs, the Echo-class SSGNs, and the November-class SSNs - that began deploying in the early 1960's, introduced a major technological breakthrough that gave them a dramatic acoustic advantage over the US Navy's Skipjacks and Skates. The new concept was rafting - whereby a submarine's engineering plant was placed on a flexible mount or raft within the submarine - dramatically reduced the transmission of mechanical vibrations through the hull and into the surrounding water.

This scenario is a re-make of the Harpoon Classic scenario written by Brad Leyte and has been re-written for compatibility with Harpoon3 and the PlayersDB with the consent of the author.

Author: Herman Hum


Operation Shield



War in the Far East. Today, at an emergency meeting of the United Nations, North Korea announced that it has declared war on Japan and the United States for what it terms 'egregious acts of aggression' against the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. A British-authored resolution to condemn North Korea and demand its immediate cessation of hostilities was blocked in the Security Council when China exercised its power of Veto.

This scenario was originally written for Harpoon Classic by Scott Boles and has been re-made for compatibility with Harpoon3 and the PlayersDB with the consent the author.

Author: Herman Hum


Middleweights



Past Japanese militarism and colonial rule has continued to strain relations with its neighbours, most notably, South Korea. One of the principal disputes between them has been over territorial claims to a pair of tiny rocky islets that lie almost mid-way between them in the Sea of Japan, know as Dokdo in the ROK and Takeshima in Japan. These desolate rocks sit in rich deepwater fishing grounds and above unexploited energy reserves potentially worth billions.

Past threats by Japan to conduct a survey of the area, presumably in preparation for drilling efforts, have been met by South Korea sending reinforcements to shore up its Coast Guard presence there. Persistent North Korean hostility has only served to aggravate the tension between the South and Japan. The South has consistently refused to join in enforcing tough sanctions against the DPRK, frustrating Tokyo's efforts to rein in Pyongyang. The American withdrawal from the Peninsula two years earlier and its current pre-occupation with the Middle East war, have underscored a long past history of distancing itself from the Dokdo-Takeshima dispute.

This scenario was originally written by Brad Leyte for the Harpoon Classic Commander's Edition and has been re-built for Harpoon 3 with the consent of the author.

Author: Herman Hum


Thanh Hoa Bridge



"The juxtaposition of American air might against the Thanh Hoa Bridge, fearfully known as the Ham Rong or Dragon's Jaw Bridge, may become, if it hasn't already, the arch-symbol of the air war against the North Vietnamese. Destruction of the bridge became an intense obsession of American military planners. The Vietnamese, obsessing no less, fought to preserve the bridge, which, for them, had become the supreme symbol of their resistance to American air power. It's not without plausibility then, that the destruction of this sacred symbol by the Americans may have been more important than the destruction of the structure itself."

By Gary W. Foster

This scenario was originally written for Harpoon Classic and has been re-made for compatibility with Harpoon3 and the PlayersDB.

Author: Herman Hum
Original Author: Tony Eischens


Labyrinth



Some weeks ago, a major undersea earthquake, followed by a large tsunami, wrought severe damage in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu, leaving thousands homeless. An international effort to provide disaster relieve was led in particular by Australia and France, both having deployed naval and air force contingents to the area in the aftermath. The stress of the disaster and resulting political instability in the area was intensified by the startling discovery of serious radiological contamination in the tidal zones where the tsunami had come ashore. Analysis soon revealed that the contamination was linked to ultra-secret nuclear weapons testing by the French in New Caledonia; testing which had only recently resumed in clear contravention of international treaty. A referendum on the question of independence in New Caledonia was only days away and news of the French indiscretion (at the expense of the region's ecology) was spreading like a new tidal wave. France became desperate to both retain control of the territory and to hide evidence of their transgression.

This scenario was originally written for Harpoon Classic and has been re-made for compatibility with Harpoon3 and the PlayersDB.

Author: Herman Hum
Original Author: Brad Leyte

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[Herman Hum]

Show of Force Battleset

These scenarios are based upon events described in the book, "Show of Force", by Charles D. Taylor, 1980, Charter Books. The United States has, ostensibly, established a Trident re-supply base in the Indian Ocean. The Soviets claim that such a base is meant to de-stabilize the region. Both nations have deployed extensive fleets to the Indian Ocean in a "Show of Force".

Sending a Message



The United States has established a Trident re-supply base in the Indian Ocean. The Soviets claim that such a base is meant to de-stabilize the region and prevent the self-determination of African nations and others within the area due to intimidation.

Author: Herman Hum

Warnings



This scenario is based upon events described in the book, "Show of Force", by Charles D. Taylor, 1980, Charter Books.

The United States has established a Trident re-supply base in the Indian Ocean. The Soviets claim that such a base is meant to de-stabilize the region and prevent the self-determination of African nations and others within the area due to intimidation.

Both nations have deployed extensive fleets to the Indian Ocean in a "Show of Force".

In retaliation for American ASAT operations, the Soviets have replied in-kind and destroyed all reconnaissance and communications satellite coverage over the Indian Ocean. Two gigantic fleets are lumbering towards each other whilst out of contact with their respective National Command Authorities.

Author: Herman Hum

Showdown



These scenarios are based upon events described in the book, "Show of Force", by Charles D. Taylor, 1980, Charter Books. The United States has established a Trident re-supply base in the Indian Ocean. The Soviets claim that such a base is meant to de-stabilize the region and prevent the self-determination of African nations and others within the area due to intimidation. Both nations have deployed extensive fleets to the Indian Ocean in a "Show of Force".

Without guidance from NCA, both theatre commanders are operating under their final orders received. What began as a show of force has evolved to a battle of attrition. Control of the African and Indian Ocean sphere will be decided for the next fifty years.

Author: Herman Hum

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[Herman Hum]

Black Sea Battleset

The Black Sea is the back door to the Russian Empire. Along its shores, the armies of Alexander, Xerxes, and the Ottomans have marched. Strife has been a constant on her waters. The cultural and religious tensions of this polyglot region have not mellowed with age. Instead, they have festered and fermented to yield a witches' brew of hatred, envy, and fanaticism.

Welcome to the world of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Nicolae Ceausescu, and the Crimean. Enjoy your visit and remember to keep your powder dry...

Re-Take: Orange or Red?



The Ukraine's "Orange Revolution" has failed. The pro-Russian party which won the last elections has used its renewed power to move the country back towards Russia and an autocratic regime.

Russian forces were invited to "secure" Ukraine's borders against "potential aggressors". There has been a massive influx of Russian naval aircraft and the Ukraine is now "guarded" by Russian warships and submarines.

A few hours prior to that, parts of Ukraine's armed forces declared that they will not follow any orders of the new regime dominated by Russia. They have taken sides with "Free Ukraine" - a political movement of those still believing in the "Orange Revolution".

The "Free Ukrainian Forces" (FUF) have joined a US Carrier group which has arrived in order to protect Romania and its forward-based deployment against any Russian attack out of the Ukraine.

The stakes are high and an epic clash is about to begin.

This scenario is a re-make of a Harpoon Classic scenario written by Ralf Koelbach for the HC_EuroDB (edited by Rene Haar) and has been re-made for compatibility with the PlayersDB and Harpoon3 with the consent of the author.

Author: Herman Hum

Serpent's Island



Starting from 1878 back when the Treaty of Berlin offered it to Romania and until today, this piece of rock has played various roles that have reflected the interests of the countries in the region. After being a simple location for a lighthouse used for guiding navigation, it became a strategic point for the USSR, the latter annexing it in 1948 through a simple handing over minute, out of the desire to complete its control of the Danube by taking advantage of the military and strategic context of that time. After the fall of the Soviet Empire when it became part of Ukraine, the latter being USSR's successor state, the island has changed its nature and even its importance, with its statute now having major implications in establishing and delimitating [sic] Romania's and Ukraine's territorial seas and continental shelf. And those implications stem from the perspective and goal of exploiting the area's reserves of more than ten million tones of oil and 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas.

The basic treaty between the two countries, a treaty that Romania signed on June 2, 1997 under pressure to fulfil the border stability criteria needed to join NATO, has re-opened the issue in the context of subsequent border delimitation [sic] negotiations.

SOURCE: http://www.nineoclock.ro (March 4, 2009)

"World Court draws border between Romania, Ukraine"

The International Court of Justice has drawn the boundary between Ukraine and Romania in the Black Sea, striking a compromise in the longstanding argument.

The court discounted arguments and maps presented by both countries and drew a maritime boundary between the rival claims.

At stake is access to billions of cubic meters of natural gas and an estimated 10 million tons of oil, but it was unclear how the new line would divide those resources.

Romania said it got 79% of its claim. But Ukraine's deputy foreign minister Oleksandr Kupchyshyn said both parties were satisfied with the judgment, which he called a wise compromise.

The decision Tuesday by the court, the U.N.'s highest judicial body, is final and binding on both sides.

SOURCE: USA Today (March 4, 2009)

"State raid on Ukraine gas HQ raises fears of energy crisis"

Fears of a new European energy crisis were mounting on Wednesday after masked gunmen from Ukraine's intelligence agency stormed the headquarters of the state gas company in a raid that could throw relations with Russia back into crisis.

[snip]

Millions of European consumers were left without gas for the first two weeks of this year after Russia severed supplies to Ukraine over a payment dispute that observers said involved political wrangling. Ukraine acts as a conduit for 80 per cent of Russian gas bound for Europe.

SOURCE: Adrian Blomfield, Daily Telegraph
(March 4, 2009)

"I...drink...your...milkshake. I drink it up!"
Daniel Plainview, "There will be Blood", Miramax films, 2007

Author: Herman Hum

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Harpoon Designers Series III - NACV Battleset

A war between the United States and the former Soviet Union would have been fought in many places and in many ways. A major effort would have been made by both East and West for control of the North Atlantic. For the Soviets that means two things:

First - Neutralizing all enemy opposition in the area of the Kola Military installations.

Second - Stop the United States from getting large convoys of men and material to Europe. Iceland clearly becomes the high ground. In HDS III we will tell the Story of the North Atlantic in both the GIUK BattleSet and the NACV BattleSet. Operations North of Iceland and in the Norwegian Sea are covered in the GIUK. Operations South of Iceland and along the Eastern Sea Board of the United States are covered in the NACV battle set.

The theme is a historical fictional World War III set about 1990. The forces of the post-Soviet post-capitalist states which formerly made up the Soviet Union in conjuction with SE Asian allies are attempting to influence the world by force.

This Battleset was originally made for the Harpoon Designers Series III created by B.I. Hutchison (1994) and has been re-made for Harpoon 3 with the consent of AGSI.


Be Quick



A war between the United States and the former Soviet Union would have been fought in many places and in many ways. A major effort would have been made by both East and West for control of the North Atlantic.

The Soviets have initiated a surprise attack against the Norwegian peninsula. Soviet forces worldwide have begun a maximum effort towards mobilization. Many ships are caught at set and make their way to the relative safety of port.

Author: Herman Hum

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[Herman Hum]

Battles of the Third World War Battleset

"The reason for The War was named Etienne Duperre, a Belgian with a French father and German grandfather. As a minor political figure, a functionary in the Banking Committee of the European Economic Community, he was quiet, efficient, and young for his post. His personal passion was the idea of a United Europe - a single political entity composed of all European nations. The combination of the industries, populations, and creativity of Western Europe would create a third superpower (the fourth if you count China).

He was not alone in his passion, especially at the EEC, where many young people assumed that "someday" there would indeed be a United Europe, in the same sort of way people assume that "someday" men will land on Mars. It took a disaster to do it: the Depression of 1990. The EEC had gone to great lengths to integrate the economies of its member nations, much more so than even their close proximity would dictate. When the crash came, they all fell."

"Battles of the Third World War", Larry Bond, 1987, Game Designers' Workshop

Tattletale



"StaNavForLant is NATO's Standing Naval Force Atlantic. With the creation of the FES, it was used as a test group for integrating the operations of the ships belonging to the individual FES navies. StaNavForLant normally consists of five to six frigates, one from each NATO country, and an auxiliary ship. As the Soviets mobilized, StaNavForLant was assigned to the North Sea in search of a reported submarine.

The Soviets have also decided to assign a unit to StaNavForLant."

This scenario was inspired by the situation described in the "Battles of the Third World War" compilation from Game Designers' Workshop.

Author: Herman Hum


01.2 Tattletale II [Mediterranean]



Soviet doctrine called for an all-out attack on any American Carrier Battle Group (CVBG) within reach in the first minutes of a conflict. Not only were CVBGs powerful naval forces, but strategic nuclear strike platforms, as well.

To accomplish this goal, American carriers were relentlessly tracked from the moment they left port. In addition to using satellites, espionage, and direction-finding stations, the Soviets had one unique tactic: a "Tattletale".

A Soviet destroyer or intelligence ship would follow the carrier battle group wherever it went, constantly reporting the group's position (invaluable in wartime) and recording its activities.

If peace suddenly changed to war, the tattletale would give the other attacking forces up-to-the-minute target coordinates of the carrier itself. It could also execute a (hopefully surprise) close-range attack on the carrier.

The Project 61M [Mod Kashin] class was specially fitted for this role. Its P-15 [SS-N-2C] missiles faced aft. Many U.S. sailors assumed that their first news that the Russians had declared war would be a Mod Kashin turning away and going to flank speed as it fired its missiles and ran.

This scenario was inspired by the situation described in the "High Tide" compilation from Clash of Arms.

Author: Herman Hum


Surface Contacts



"P-3s are used not only for ASW patrol, but also for detecting, tracking, and attacking surface contacts. They are the only platform with the range and sensors to track surface units in open ocean. In this engagement, a P-3 attacks a surface formation it has previously located."

This scenario was inspired by the situation described in the "Battles of the Third World War" compilation from Game Designers' Workshop.

Author: Herman Hum


Ambuscade for the Illustrious



"During the weeks of crisis prior to the war's outbreak, British naval forces began assembling into task groups, "just in case the balloon goes up." As part of the process, intensive ASW exercises were held to shake down the units and get them used to working together. In peacetime, such surface forces are often trailed by hostile submarines. Both sides get to practice."

This scenario was inspired by the situation described in the "Battles of the Third World War" compilation from Game Designers' Workshop.

Author: Herman Hum


Power Sweep



The war has not been kind to the Soviet navy; especially their submarine forces. In order to protect their remaining submarine units, the Soviets have been forced to begin escorting their less capable boats with first-line SSNs.

In this engagement, a Soviet SSN is guarding two other units as they proceed south through the Norwegian Sea. Once the group has reached the Atlantic, the SSN will perform its own mission while the SS and SSGN attack surface shipping.

First, though, NATO will try to stop them.

Author: Dave Steinmeyer


Whose Minefield?



'The Soviets have laid thousands of mines to protect the SSBN bastion and to attack NATO submarines trying to sink Russian ships in home waters. A few minefields are laid out as "snorkeling-havens:" boxes with one way in and out, known only to the Russians. Since a snorkeling sub is noisy, it can attract unwelcome attention, but this way it can proceed to one of these havens, snorkel, then proceed back to its station. Friendly fighters overhead protect against ASW aircraft and surface ships. A British submarine is going to try and make one haven a little less safe.'

Author: Herman Hum


Incoming Mail



Incoming Mail is a rebuild of a scenario from the original paper rules of Harpoon as was published in "Battles of the Third World War." It is Dave's fourth scenario effort. Thanks for sharing it with the community.

The Soviets have two weapons that can reach NATO convoys in the Atlantic: submarines and long-range aircraft. Long-range bombers on the Kola peninsula can easily hunt the Atlantic. With Iceland in Soviet hands, however, they can attack at will and their range would be greatly increased.

A standard NATO convoy crossing the Atlantic would consist of 40-50 merchant ships. Eight to ten escorts and, if they are lucky, a helicopter carrier, will provide protection from submarine and air attack.

Here, a large NATO convoy has been detected by a Soviet Radar Ocean Reconnaissance Satellite (RORSAT) and Tu-95 Bear Ds are sent out to pinpoint their position. Following closely behind the Bears are two squadrons of Backfire bombers.

This could be a very bad day for NATO...

Author: Dave Steinmeyer


Courrier Entrant



The Soviets have two weapons that can reach NATO convoys in the Atlantic: submarines and aircraft. Long-range strike bombers on the Kola peninsula can attack at will with Iceland in Soviet hands. A standard convoy includes 40-50 merchant ships spaced 1nm apart in a rectangular latticework. Eight to ten escorts, and, if they are lucky, a helicopter carrier will provide protection from submarines and air attack.

Here, a large NATO convoy has been detected by a Soviet Radar Ocean Reconnaissance Satellite (RORSAT) and Tu-95 Bear Ds are sent out to pinpoint their position. Following closely behind the Bears are two squadrons of Backfire bombers.

This could be a very bad day for NATO...

Author: Herman Hum


Get the Kiev



"The Kiev class had proven to be one of the most successful units of the war. Its 20 ASW helicopters allowed it to smother any submarines it detected, and its own defenses combined with those of its escorts made it a difficult target. That didn't stop NATO from trying."

This scenario was inspired by the situation described in the "Battles of the Third World War" compilation from Game Designers' Workshop.

Author: Herman Hum


The Experiment



"After the first two weeks of the war, NATO planners had begun to worry about the submarine exchange ratio. It was higher than expected, and there was very little difference between the loss rates of the first- and second-line subs. No new weapons or equipment had been discovered, so the planners assumed that Soviet tactics were the cause.

It has long been standard procedure for the Soviets to operate their boats in pairs. Several of the first-line boats that had been lost were last seen in an area where two Soviet boats were detected. As a test, two NATO submarines are being sent out together."

This scenario was inspired by the situation described in the "Battles of the Third World War" compilation from Game Designers' Workshop.

Author: Herman Hum


14.2 The Bastion



'NATO Intelligence has determined the possible locations of several Soviet SSBN patrol areas. One of the newest and best NATO submarines has been ordered to enter one zone, where a Typhoon-class SSBN is probably hiding. The patrol zone is located under the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ), in a minefield. The NATO sub is to destroy the sub and its escort, showing the Soviets that NATO is capable of beating its best in its home territory.

The Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) is an area of large ice floes covering roughly 75% of the sea surface. There is no possibility of air or surface units operating in these waters. The collision of ice chunks creates a high background noise, while their melting affects the local water salinity, which does strange things to sound beams. Additionally, the uneven underwater surface of the ice floes causes massive reverberations for active sonar.'

This scenario was inspired by the situation described in the "Battles of the Third World War" compilation from Game Designers' Workshop.

Author: Herman Hum


Lone Wolf



Three NATO diesel submarines travelled north together, guarding each other during snorkel periods. They had intended to conduct wolf-pack operations near the Soviet sub base at Polyarnyy. They have been plagued by bad luck, however. First, one unit was sunk by a Tango-class SS before the other two could sink it. Then as they approached their objective, one of the remaining two boats hit a mine and was lost. The remaining ship, a Dutch Walrus-class, continued north and has run afoul of a coastal ASW group.

Author: Dave Steinmeyer


The Norwegian Deeps



A common subsurface encounter between opposing forces in the deep waters off Norway.

This scenario was inspired by the situation described by the Harpoon scenarios for miniatures (version 3) from Game Designers' Workshop.

1.0 SitRep:

The submarine war has been going moderately well for the Soviets. NATO has been unable to seize control of the Norwegian Sea.

2.0 Intelligence:

GRU suspects that this is a transit zone for NATO subs as they deploy towards the Barents Sea.

3.0 Orders:

Conduct ASW patrol within your zone for the next 24 hours. Destroy any hostile submarines attempting to traverse your Area of Responsibility.

Author: Herman Hum


17.0 One Day in the Atlantic



A common encounter between a Knox-class frigate and a Soviet submarine.

This scenario was inspired by the situation described in the Harpoon scenarios for miniatures (version 3) from Game Designers' Workshop.

Author: Herman Hum


In the Barents Sea



"This scenario depicts a USSR hunter-killer group prosecuting a submarine."

Author: Herman Hum


The First Team



This scenario depicts USS Midway's air group attacking a powerful Soviet Surface Action Group (SAG) in the Pacific. If the Soviet ships can get into launch position, they will conduct a coordinated strike with two regiments of Backfires flying from the Kamchatka Peninsula. The US commander must cripple the SAG before it gets within launch range and demonstrates both how the US Navy planned to deal with a Soviet SAG and how the Soviets planned to use layered defenses on their warships to defend against air attack.

This scenario was inspired by the situation described in the "Battles of the Third World War" compilation from Game Designers' Workshop.

Author: Herman Hum


The Night Before the Day After



A crisis has developed between the Soviet Union and the West. The politico-military leadership of both sides is fearful of the threat posed by the other side's ballistic missile submarines. In an attempt to limit the damage to their homelands in a strategic nuclear exchange, orders have gone out to the nuclear attack submarines to destroy all hostile ballistic missile submarines immediately.

Author: Herman Hum

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Harpoon4.1 Battleset

These scenarios were inspired by the situations described in the Harpoon 4.1 QuickStart Paper Rules for Miniatures from Clash of Arms.

Special thanks to Mike Harris for his help in preparing the majority of the original Harpoon4.1 scenarios.

Northern Aggression



"Waves of ultra-nationalism have swept through Russia with the disappearance of President Yeltsin. Sources at the Kremlin claim all is well, but anxiety and chaos run rampant in the streets. The Military, long without pay and in despair over massive civil unrest, steps into the power vacuum and takes control. Realizing that tan external enemy will give focus to the passions of the mob, territorial claims over disputed boundaries with Poland are pursued.

Germany, not comfortable with a growing militant Russia, has volunteered to assist Poland. The Polish Army stands ready to meet any threat, but the Polish Navy, without Soviet assistance, lies in disrepair and is unable to sortie more than a handful of ships. Under the guise that the economy will improve if better natural resources are obtained and that the land in dispute with Poland is rich in such resources, the Russian Navy begins to encroach upon Polish waters.

Realizing that the line must be drawn before it is too late, Germany declares a 'do not enter' zone 25nm around the coast of Poland. While the Russians are wary of such an ultimatum, a quick victory will help with matters at home (so will a defeat, but Russia cannot afford to lose the ships). The German government cannot run the risk of being exposed for providing direct military support and is expected not to intervene."

Author: Herman Hum


2.0 Test of Nerves



"With the continuing escalation of skirmishing in the Baltic between Russia and Germany, tensions were rising worldwide. As long as the conflict remained in the Baltic, most other nations were willing to wait and watch. Once events turned against the Russians, reinforcements were brought in from the Russian Northern Fleet. This altered the situation and the NATO allies were compelled to assist the Germans, as required by the Treaty."

Author: Herman Hum

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High Tide Battleset

Some Western economists, watching the Soviets spend a third or more of their Gross National Product (GNP) on their armed forces, had long predicted the collapse of the Soviet Union, but they were not believed. Their figures were estimates at best, their arguments weakened by conflicting and incomplete data. Even staunch anti-Communists viewed their results as wildly optimistic.

The Soviets were also experts at putting up a good front. Their many technological breakthroughs, huge manufacturing infrastructure, and incredible natural resources all strongly suggested that the Soviet economy would, at worst, just plod along at a slow pace. The idea of an enemy's political, industrial, and military structure collapsing just because of bad economic policy was seen as wishful thinking by many Western decision-makers.

Reality was even worse than the economists knew. Although officially spending only 10 to 15 percent of its GNP on defense, the real figure was well over 30 percent, perhaps as much as 50 percent. No country is that wealthy. In the winter of 1987, Russia's leadership faced the awful truth. In 5 years, no more than 10, the Soviet economy would fail.

No military produces, or adds anything to an economy. Its job is to protect and, in the Soviet Union, to command. Internally, it preserved the leadership and, externally, defined the Soviet Union as an empire and superpower. Without it, the USSR's status would diminish to that of a third-rate country.

Mikhail Gorbachev instituted Glasnost and Perestroika to correct the imbalance and to try to stave off disaster. The 12th 5-year Plan (started in 1986), included massive cutbacks in military spending. A year later, the military started to put a lot of pressure on the leadership and Gorbachev felt it.

Unfortunately, he had nothing to show for his reforms. While it would take some time to see positive effects, the immediate effects had been intensely negative. The same Soviet economists that had predicted eventual collapse now predicted immediate collapse. Staying with Gorbachev's program, even if it would eventually be successful, meant a period of intense instability, economically and politically. It also required even more drastic reductions in the armed forces to continue the reforms.

Faced by threats from within and without, the Politburo rejected Gorbachev and his plan. Alexander Zhirinov, a "more conservative" member of the Politburo, became the new Party leader. His credentials included a strong background in economics.

Caught between reform and ruin, Zhirinov came up with a third option: outside assistance. The Soviet Union demanded trade credits, aid, and technological assistance in exchange for stability. The military, the cause of all the strain, served as the cudgel, to give their demands weight.

The Soviet demand hits the NATO councils like a thunderbolt. While economists argue over the data, satellites reveal the Soviets mobilizing. NATO first stares in disbelief, then frantically tries to catch up. Talks begin in Geneva.

Many dismiss the mobilization as a sham or bluff, while others believe it is all too real. Believers urge NATO to accede to the Soviet requests, hoping the price for peace to be less than the cost of war. Others try to buy time for NATO to organize. The Soviets truly want peace in return for billions in aid and trade credits. The price is too high for the West to pay, in cost or in principle. NATO offers less and demands concessions the Soviets will not make.

The talks fail due to unrealistic Russian expectations, unwillingness by NATO to see the threat clearly, and because a half-century of political and military inertia does not allow either side to turn away.

David and Goliath



Act I: Onslaught

"In a carefully planned series of attacks, the Warsaw Pact begins a war against NATO. Their goal is to seize West Germany, gutting NATO militarily and economically. The Soviets will demand a high price for Germany's return, or assimilate its industry and technology for their own use."

"The Soviet Union, battered by a series of economic disasters, has demanded substantial economic assistance from NATO and the USA. If not, it threatens, "it cannot be responsible for the peace and stability of Europe." The corrupt old men in the Kremlin expect that either way, they will win: Either they get the aid they need to stave off collapse, or they will launch an attack on NATO. They have already started a program of propaganda inside their borders, blaming all their troubles on a deliberate program of economic strangulation, all orchestrated by the West. The implied threat has not been lost on NATO, and while negotiators frantically try to satisfy almost impossible Russian demands, the military frantically mobilizes. The Soviet Defense Council has decided that the Geneva conferences are an attempt by NATO to buy time while it further tightens its economic stranglehold on the Soviet Union. Offensive operations against NATO, before they are fully mobilized, now offer the only way to alter the correlation of forces and break the economic conspiracy."

Author: Herman Hum


Who's Mining the Store (Baelt)



Act I: Onslaught

"In a carefully planned series of attacks, the Warsaw Pact begins a war against NATO. Their goal is to seize West Germany, gutting NATO militarily and economically. The Soviets will demand a high price for Germany's return, or assimilate its industry and technology for their own use."

"One of the strategic imperatives for the Danish and Federal German (West German) Navies in the opening days of a large-scale war between NATO and the Warsaw Pact is the mining of the narrow straits in Danish waters. A successful campaign of bottom mining would bottle up the Soviet Baltic Fleet and its Polish and German Democratic Republic (East German) allies.

The capacity of the NATO forces to lay minefields was staggering. In just one sortie of all capable vessels, the Danish and German forces could lay over 3,000 mines.

As open warfare erupts, NATO Naval Command issues the order to close the straits to Warsaw Pact shipping. The first lift of mines has gone off without a hitch; the ships returned and many loaded more mines, others converted back to their primary role as attack submarines and missile patrol boats. The second sortie, designed to thicken the initial minefields, has just left harbour."

This scenario was inspired by the situation described in the "High Tide" compilation from Clash of Arms.

Author: Herman Hum


7.6 Foxhunt



Act I: Onslaught

"In a carefully planned series of attacks, the Warsaw Pact begins a war against NATO. Their goal is to seize West Germany, gutting NATO militarily and economically. The Soviets will demand a high price for Germany's return, or assimilate its industry and technology for their own use."

"Large scale strikes by Soviet Naval Aviation (SNA) on NATO port facilities and energy infrastructure slow reinforcements and disrupt transportation.

Spetsnaz attacks further disrupt transportation and communications lines. One group, landing in Norway, cuts a critical North-South reinforcement highway. Soviet forces, landing near Tromso, Norway, rapidly secure the northern third of the country, then head south.

Keflavik, Iceland, a vital base for maritime patrol aircraft and fighters as well as a SOSUS station, is pounded by land-attack SS-N-3s from Echo II-class SSGNs. Using a combination of fuel-air-explosive and persistent chemical warheads, this vital base is neutralized for the critical opening phase of the war. By the time it recovers, the Russians figure it won't matter.

The first few days of the war find the Soviets advancing through Europe and NATO reeling. Decision-makers in Washington, London, and Paris must decide whether or not to use nuclear weapons to redress the imbalance."

"The first major convoy, escorted by a group led by USS Leyte Gulf, has left the United States enroute to Germany. SNA strike regiments have mounted a number of small-scale operations without success. Naval intelligence has positioned assets to predict the time before the Soviets a full-scale strike on the vital convoy."

Author: Herman Hum

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