Indonesian Background
September 20th, 1999: A force of warships from Australia, the UK, France and other nations are engaged in covering the UN Force at Dili, East Timor. The evacuation of our forces continues, but at the coastal town of Mirilian village information has come to hand that General Yuasa Yahnni had been arrested by elements of the “Fretlin” East Timor Revolutionary Army. They have stated their intention to hand the General over to the UNHRC for questioning by the War Crimes Tribunal at the Hague. This would definitely not be in the interests of the Indonesian Republic and a rescue force has been sent.
1850 hrs. Teluk Langsa (LST) has landed a force of Marines on the beach at Mirilian village where it was reported that General Yuasa Yahnni had been intercepted by East Timorese Fretlin Forces and arrested. The General was on his way to West Timor after a successful liaison mission with the Murakin Militia, recently engaged in killing witnesses to the massacres in Dili. The frigates Hassanuddin and Ahmed Yani are escorting her. Dusk is falling with full darkness expected at 1920 hrs.
1950 hrs. An Australian Fremantle-class patrol boat has been sighted approaching.
1955 hrs. The General has been rescued from Fretlin forces. He has ordered the village burned down and all the inhabitants killed as retaliation. 2007 hrs. The village is burning and many of the inhabitants killed. However, the Australian craft continues to approach. Ahmed Yani has detected aircraft with her ESM, and has identified it as an Australian P-3C Orion. As a result, the General has ordered all Marines back to the LST and for militia that had been co-operating to join them there. The ships then gets underway having left the job of killing the witnesses somewhat incomplete.
2032 hrs. An Australian P-3C Orion aircraft over flies the area. The aircraft is showing navigation lights and circles over the village and naval group. All ships are at EMCON to avoid giving anay ESM intelligence to the aircraft.
2040 hrs. The naval force continues toward Bandenoek Island where the Marines are temporarily based. The old engines of Teluk Langsa (1944) are causing problems. Only 5 knots can be made.
2150 hrs. The patrol boat identi-fies itself as HMAS Dubbo and challenges, demanding the darkened ships identity themselves. The Indonesian commander orders his ship to ignore the signal and continue.
2151 hrs. Suddenly, and without authority, the militia on the upper decks of Teluk Langsa opens fire with automatic weapons. The patrol boat returns fire at once at the LST.
2152 hrs. The Indonesian naval force commander gives orders for all ships to fire on the patrol boat. Ahmed Yani scores some hits almost at once. The patrol boat is seen to be on fire and dropping astern.
2154 hrs. Cease fire is ordered. All ships continue running at EMCON.
2200 hrs. Contact with the patrol boat has been lost. No further signals were exchanged. Teluk Langsa has managed to struggle up to 10 knots and the force continues at this speed.
0001 hrs. Sept. 21st. By this time the naval force is in 14D on the map, near a group of islands to the NW of Timor. All these islands are Indonesian territories.
0230 hrs. The Indonesian naval force commander feels obliged to report the full details of what has occurred to Djakarta and Surabaya. He breaks radio silence to report.
0800 hrs. Having passed down the “D” line of the map, they anchor off Jusan village in Karatap bay, where the General, the marines, militia and some prisoners are put ashore.
0900hrs. A message from Naval HQ Surabaya advises that the UNFOR HQ in Dili has dispatched warships to search for the patrol boat Dubbo. They also advise that the naval units have been instructed to ‘arrest’ Teluk Langsa and the two frigates and escort them to Dili. They have been given permission to use force to achieve this. Immediate protests are being lodged in the UN but due to the time of day there could be considerable delay. In addition, the UK and Australia have called on the Security Council to meet in 24 hours to discuss the matter. It is expected that it may take 24 hours before any diplomatic stalling in the UN can cause the orders of UNFOR to be changed.
Indonesian Forces
Group One: Frigates Ahmed Yani (ex-Netherlands van Speijk class) and Hasanuddin (ex-UK Tribal class), LST Teluk Langsa (ex-US LST-542 class)
Group Two: Frigate Fatahilla (Fatahilla class), corvettes Sutedi Senoputra and Kapitan Patimura (both ex-DDR Parchim I class) at Pijilap Harbor.
Group Three: Missile boats Keris, Badek, and Mandau (PSK Mk5 class) at Garaman Township, Merolan Island.
Air Forces: At the start of the scenario (0900) the referee will roll a D10 twice. Each die roll result is separate outcome on the table:
- 1. One A-4 Skyhawk aircraft available at 1000. Configured as air defense only. Enters at H1 and has only nine minutes loiter time. Must depart via the K line along the bottom of the map.
2. One C-130 configured for reconnaissance at A1 at 0900 and has a 2 hour loiter time.
3. One C-130 configured for reconnaissance at K1 at 1100 and has a 2 hour loiter time.
4. One C-130 configured for reconnaissance at K1 at 1100 and has a 2 hour loiter time. Two F-16 aircraft configured for air defense only can accompany it, or can be called on at request, via K8. They have a loiter time of 18 minutes and must exit via the K line along the bottom of the map.
5. Two A-4 Skyhawk aircraft at 1300. Configured for air defense and shipping attack. Enter at K8 and have 9 minutes loiter time. Must depart via the K line along the bottom of the map.
6. One C-130 configured for reconnaissance at K12 at 1400 and has a 2 hour loiter time.
7. One A-4 Skyhawk aircraft available at 1300. Configured as air defense only. Enters at H1 and has only nine minutes loiter time. Must depart via the K line along the bottom of the map.
8. One A-4 Skyhawk aircraft available at 1500. Configure as air defense only. Enters at H1 and has only nine minutes loiter time. Must depart via K line along the bottom of the map
9. One C-130 configured for reconnaissance at K1 at 1300 and has a 3 hour loiter time. Two F-16 aircraft configured for air defense and shipping attack accompany it or can be called on at request, via point K8. They have a loiter time of 18 minutes and must exit via the K line along the bottom of the map.
10. A flight of four A-4 Skyhawks configured for shipping attack and escorted by 2 F-16s configured as air defense, can be called on at K8 within 12 minutes of any time requested.
Indonesian Orders
Group One will get underway and proceed at once to Pijilap Harbor where it is unlikely the UNFOR will attempt to enter. This town is a regional capital with a considerable population and large garrison of Indonesian Troops. Group Two will get underway at once, rendezvous with Group One and escort them into Pijiliap Harbor. Group Three will get underway and screen Group One. A single ship can be detached to search for Dubbo. A very weak emer-gency transmission was been briefly detected from her at 0400, placing her in the Ooroti Passage. It seems the patrol boat is badly damaged. No further transmissions have been picked up. If located, the vessel is to be offered full humanitarian aid and blame for the incident laid at the feet of ‘freedom fighters’ over which Indonesia has no control. If located, the presence of the ship with an Indonesian warship is to be broadcast on open band communi-cations. Hopefully this will give UNFOR something to think about.
More East Timor Crisis
BT
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© Copyright 2001 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms.
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