[aotino]

Announcing the "Indochine War".

Hi Harpoon Afficionados,

I am new to announcing my scenarios on this forum, so I would like to introduce my series of battlesets in a fictitious war I have created called the Indochine War - taking place between 2007-2009. There have been 17 scenarios released thus far, and that has taken us through the first half of 2007.

A synopsis of this what-if war is written below. If it perks your interest, you can find the database and scenarios bundled within the PlayersDb Installation file under CasoDb. Please check it out and if you find it engaging, then you can look forward to a long line of scenarios in the future, as I will be at this for some time to come.

Thanks,
Alan Caso

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THE INDOCHINE REGIME

This campaign is not for the purist. This is an eclectic composition of past and future platforms, that is made possible due to a "what if" historical scenario.

COMBAT TIME PERIOD: 2007-2010

HISTORY:
1992-1998

The early to mid-nineties sees China discover enormous oil deposits deep below the Southern Gobi Desert. These reserves are nearly as massive as the Saudi fields, extending off in branches as far north as the Russian Siberian tundra. Normally these deposits would be irretrievable because of their depth and the geological sub-strata, but a breakthrough by Chinese engineers and geologists unlock the secrets of this difficult extraction.

After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the Russian government struggles to find definition and structure. The discovery of the section of Chinese oil deposits which extend into Siberia gives a boost to the new fledgling Russian democracy. However, these deposits remain locked to the Russians deep beneath the surface, because they don't possess the necessary technology. China steps in and helps them retrieve the oil in exchange for the right to purchase much of the huge Russian fleet rusting in mothballs. In addition, they purchase the naval plans to all but a few of their surface platforms. The Russians are content to sit back and get rich selling their military hardware and new found oil. Giving up any last vestiges of being a projecting naval power, the Russians remain satisfied building up their defensive posture and staying behind the scenes.

On the other hand, the Chinese become a major naval power virtually overnight. Within a few short years, they create several carrier groups, cruiser squadrons and develop an amphibious capability second only to the US, while amassing large quantities of DDG's and FFG's. Their amazing ability to take ship plans and mothballed hulks from the former Soviet shipyards and copy and refit them with modernized weaponry is miraculous. In many of their shipyards, platforms are turned out in 210 to 240 days. Keeping in step are the Chinese naval academies and training facilities, creating an entire generation of highly motivated naval and air personnel, with a new cadre of young officers. Naval manoeuvres and war games are stepped up to build experience and confidence. The Western Pacific becomes the personal playground for the Chinese navy, marines and air force.

Due to these extraordinary developments, the United States, United Kingdom and other NATO powers aggressively re-commission mothballed ships and step up development of platforms that are barely off the drawing board. By the mid nineties, the United States brings back recently decommissioned CV's, the Iowas, the Virginias and other CGN's. They reach back for mothballed Adams and Brooke units, and even re-commission surviving Leahy- and Belknap-class CG’s. All other scheduled decommissions are cancelled, and refits are conducted throughout the mothballed navy. The intent is to reinstitute a 700-ship navy as quickly as possible. A hawk is elected President in 1996, and the military arms race is ratcheted up. Development of the F/A-35 program goes forward full throttle, as well as many new weapons systems such as the AIM-120C9. The UK steps up the development of the Queen Elizabeth CV and Daring DDG programs while re-commissioning their older DDG's and FFG's such as the County's and Broadswords. The French put extra resources toward speeding up their Rafale program. France, Great Britain and Italy step up the joint Horizon Frigate project. Australia gets into the race by ordering two refitted Iwo Jima-class Carriers from the US and move forward with their River DDG program. For the first time in 20 plus years, the draft is reinstituted.

About the time that China finds oil, India discovers uranium - huge deposits that turn the country into a major player on the strategic game board. In addition, as if there was some divine entity driving the world into further chaos, diamond deposits are discovered by accident when a national company is strip-mining for iron ore - large and vast, these diamond deposits rival South African reserves. The Indian Government regales in its new-found wealth. Military activists gain control in the '94 elections and the arms build-up is underway, fueled by disputes with Pakistan.

THE BEGINNING OF THE INDOCHINE ALLIANCE
1998 - 2001

The late 90's find India and China realizing that it’s in their common interest to join together and determine the future of Asia. They form the Indochine Alliance. The fragile peace between Pakistan and India threatens the stability of their new alliance, so China attempts to broker an agreement between Pakistan and India. It offers Pakistan a seat at the table in return for their cooperation, although they require acknowledgement that India and China remain the final arbiters in all decisions. In lieu of these stipulations, US pressure on the Pakistani government wins out, and the Pakistan delegation steps away from the talks to claim a neutral position. However, they offer air space to the Allies for continued access to Afghanistan after the Allies make a heavy commitment to provide an increase in military hardware.

North Korea quickly steps on board the Indo-Chine bandwagon, in all probability due to the fact that China dangles South Korea in front of their nose like a carrot. China shares its Russian naval windfall with India and the other members. The Indian shipyards take these plans and produce well-built versions of their own - cheaply and quickly. As the middle of the first decade in the new millennium approaches, the Indo-Chine Alliance has a combined navy of over 800 ships!

THE START OF HOSTILITIES
2001 - 2006

The United States and her Allies, although lagging behind in the naval arms race, are quickly catching up with all their programs in re-commissioning, refitting, new ships and new weapons . However, this is side-tracked when the US is attacked in September, 2001. The Taliban, having been emboldened by the growing destabilization caused by the Indochine Alliance, carries out their terrorist operations. Saddam Hussein, believing that the rise of the Indochine Alliance preoccupies and threatens the US and her allies, begins to wave his stick around the Mideast once again. The American alliance invades Afghanistan and Iraq. By the end of 2006 the US and allies are still fully engaged in these conflicts; however, they have clearly begun to neutralize the two situations. Troop levels are being reduced, and plans for civil authority to be restored is about to be made a reality.

The US and Allies get their naval programs back up to full speed. However, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have seriously delayed their progress. This has undermined Allied plans for having enough resources to discourage any hostile expansion by the Indochines, and has curtailed their ability to respond to any first –strike action taken by the Indochine Alliance. This is not lost on the Indochine military planners. Believing the time is right to strike, The Indochine military machine makes its move.

In a well coordinated campaign, India strikes into Southeast Asia, taking control of Malaysia. While forming a shaky alliance with Myanmar, India threatens Thailand. Caught in the middle, Thailand agrees to join the Indochine Alliance and participates in the overthrow of the Cambodian and Laotian governments. Indonesia avidly joins the alliance, in the hopes of receiving new military hardware. The Indochine Alliance welcomes them eagerly, and provides them with limited naval and air materiel. Knowing their cooperation is invaluable in securing the oil fields there, the Alliance also sees Indonesia providing a buffer zone to Australia. The Chinese leave the administration of the Indian Ocean and the Indonesian theater to their Indian and Thai allies, while the south and western Pacific is the purview of the Chinese.

The Indochine Alliance is undecided about how to deal with Vietnam. The long and difficult history of discord between China and Viet Nam plagues policy makers in Beijing. All initial attempts at a dialogue offered by the Indochines had gone un-answered since the Alliance’s inception, but after the commencement of hostilities, Vietnam voluntarily joins the Regime, and a tenuous peace in Southeast Asia is achieved.

At the same time, Indochine forces invade and occupy Taiwan, the Philippines, and form a blockade around Japan and South Korea with the help of the North Koreans. Surprisingly, China restrains North Korea from invading South Korea. At first, the North Koreans are outraged, crying foul. Their understanding was that they were promised a free hand in the south. China manages to smooth their ruffled feathers. No doubt it's only a matter of time until South Korea is consumed. Behind this terrible drama, the Russians continue to ply the Indochine Alliance with more technology and materiel while making a bloody fortune.

In an effort to isolate Australia and control the trade routes across the Pacific, the Indochine forces strike out south and east towards the Solomons, New Guinea, Micronesia, the Marshalls, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. Many of these islands and atolls were so valiantly liberated by the US Navy and Marines little more than sixty years before; the world sees them fall once again to dark forces. Although the Indochine Alliance is not nearly as oppressive and brutal as their Japanese predecessors, a foreign ruler still remains an insufferable one.

War is declared on the Indochine Alliance at the end of 2006, and countries around the globe align themselves with either the Allies, choose to remain neutral or opt for membership in the Indochine Alliance.

The immediate future sees the Alliance hoping to destabilize other areas in order to spread their influence for future expansion. Renegade nations in Africa and the Middle East are expected to align themselves soon with the Indochine Alliance after receiving heavy financial and military aid. Iran, whose fundamentalism finds a kinship with Indochine ideals, becomes their firmest ally in the Mid-East. In the Southwestern Hemisphere, South America is a ticking bomb. The many small republics comprising this continent find prestige in aligning themselves with major world powers. Therefore, pre-Indochine China spent many years cultivating relations with Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Venezuela, and Cuba by offering to help through investment in refurbishing these nations’ infrastructures; another key strategy was buying their natural resources and providing military hardware. Now as the Indochine Alliance makes its move on the world stage, these countries are willing to align themselves with this extremely rich and resourceful benefactor. These restful nations accept the military hardware and technology in exchange for providing a staging area from which their masters will be able to strike deep into the very heart of the United States. Brazil remains neutral for the moment.

Spring – 2007:

By the beginning of 2007, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have stabilized. The result of the returned draft has helped fill the ranks of the United States and Allied services to full combat strength, with healthy reserves. These wars have also produced a military with veterans possessing combat experience unequalled anywhere else in the world. This experience is being passed on to the new rank and file. The Allied naval build-up is beginning to provide results from a program that has travelled a rocky road. The 700 ship navy is close at hand. This is how we find the situation at the beginning of this series of campaigns.

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