Location: East China Sea, 22 July 2006. Taiwanese Kuang Hua II frigate Kang Ding Environment: 0900, daylight, slight seas (Sea State 3). Wind from 120 °T at 15 knots. Visibility is 70%, with scattered (25%)cloud cover. Acoustic conditions are poor with sonar performance 60%of listed Annex K ranges. Maximum depth is Intermediate II. There are no Convergence Zones. Taiwanese Operational Situation: A massive political rally in Taipei has pushed the Taiwanese president closer and closer to a declaration of independence.Successive rounds of strong rhetoric from both sides followed the rally, and the tension between Taiwan and the People ’s Republic of China has gotten considerably worse. Calls for full Taiwanese independence have been matched by threats of a Chinese invasion, followed by warnings of American intervention.The PLA has decided that another demonstration of its military power is required, and they have announced that they will conduct a large-scale missile exercise. Taiwanese Tactical Situation: Intelligence reports from multiple sources strongly indicate that the PLA is quietly mobilizing.There has been a significant transfer of naval assets to the East Sea Fleet, including a doubling of their amphibious assault forces. Numerous mobile missile units have been deployed from their garrisons, under the pretense of the announced exercise.PLAAF Flanker air-defense fighter units are deploying to wartime positions and strategic SAM units have been placed on alert. The exercise is to be conducted this morning and reportedly will include a DF-31 ICBM and over a dozen CSS-6 and CSS-7 SRBMs.The DF-31 shot is an obvious warning to the United States not to get involved with internal Chinese affairs.More critically, all intelligence data indicates that several CSS-6 missiles will overfly Taiwan. The consensus of the Taiwanese leadership is that China will strike soon after the exercise while America analyzes its position.We cannot afford to wait for the U.S.President to make his decision, so we will preempt the Chinese attack, to throw off their timetable and give the U.S. time to mobilize its forces and come to our aid. Taiwanese Orders: The PLAN has arrogantly placed one of their missile monitoring ships, Yuanwang 1 , just outside our territorial waters to monitor the missilefirings and our reactions as well.The Dragon SAG has been deployed to capture or sink this ship.But this must occur within our territorial waters if we are to have legitimacy within international law. Locate, board and bring Yuanwang 1 well within our territorial waters.If you have to sink the ship, it must do so within 12 nm of our coast.To support your mission, each ship in the Dragon SAG has a marine squad assigned to it. Air support can be requested, but this should be considered an emergency action.If faced by Chinese warships, do not hesitate to engage from within Taiwanese waters.If engaged by Chinese warships, concentrate on inficting maximum damage. Taiwanese Forces: Chi Teh , Ex-US Kidd class DDG Cheng Ho , Kuang Hua I class FFG Cheung Kung , Kuang Hua I class FFG Kang Ding , Kuang Hua II class FF Chi Yang , Ex-US Knox class FF Taiwan Setup: See accompanying map.The Dragon SAG starts 35 nm bearing 160 °T from Yuanwang 1. Formation, course, and speed should be decided by the player. All radars are off and all aircraft are at Alert +15. Taiwanese Victory Conditions: Decisive : Successfully capture the spy ship*. Tactical :If engaged by PLAN forces, sink the spy ship in Taiwanese waters and lose two ships or less. If the spy ship escapes, serious damage must be inficted on the PLAN ships, with at least two ships sunk. *Successful Capture =Must spend two Tactical Turns alongside the spy ship for transport of prize crew and marines.Must reach minimum safe distance (10 nm)inside Taiwanese waters to maintain the claim on ship.Until that point, Chinese warships can still sink or recapture ship to prevent Taiwanese possession. PLAN Operational Situation: A massive political rally in Taipei has pushed the Taiwanese president closer and closer to a declaration of independence.Successive rounds of strong rhetoric from both sides immediately followed the rally and the tension between Taiwan and the People ’s Republic has gotten considerably worse. Calls for full Taiwanese independence have been matched by threats of a Chinese invasion, followed by warnings of American intervention. The PLA has decided that another demonstration of its military power is required, and they have announced that they will conduct a large-scale missile exercise. PLAN Tactical Situation: To curb any further independence nonsense, the Central Committee has decided to make a strong show of force to demonstrate our resolve.However, it is believed by all levels of the government and the military that an invasion of Taiwan will be necessary, and soon. The transfer of naval assets to the East Sea Fleet has already begun. Within the week, our amphibious assault forces will be doubled. Numerous mobile missile units have been deployed from their garrisons, under the pretense of the announced exercise. PLAAF Flanker air-defense fighter units are deploying to wartime positions and strategic SAM units have been placed on alert. The missile exercise is to be conducted this morning and will include a DF-31 ICBM and fifteen CSS-6 and CSS-7 SRBMs.The DF-31 shot is an unambiguous warning to the United States not to get involved with internal Chinese affairs. More critically, six of the CSS-6 missiles will directly overfly Taiwan. This exercise will force the U.S. and Taiwanese presidents to reconsider their positions and attempt diplomatic overtures. By then it will be too late, and the Taiwan question will be resolved. PLAN Orders: We have placed the missile monitoring ship Yuanwang 1 just outside Taiwanese territorial waters to monitor the missilefirings and their reactions as well.It is very unlikely that the Taiwanese navy will do anything,but to be on the safe side, your SAG will patrol nearby. Stay at least 25 nm away from the Yuanwang 1 unless ordered to close by the East Sea Fleet commander or upon receiving a distress call from the monitoring ship. There are no intelligence indications that any significant Taiwanese naval force is at sea. However,if Taiwanese forces attack the monitoring ship, take all measures to protect it. If the ship is sunk, exact appropriate revenge on the ship that committed the crime. PLAN Forces: Wuhan, Type 052B [Luyang I] DDG Ma An Shan, Type 054 [Jiangkai] FF Tonqing, Type 055 [Jiangwei I] FF Yuanwang 1, Yuanwang AOG PLAN Setup: See accompanying map. The Covering force starts 25 nm bearing 350 °T from Yuanwang 1 . Formation,course,and speed should be decided by the player. All radars are off and all aircraft are at Alert +15. Chinese Type 052B DDG Wuhan (sinodefense.com) PLAN Victory Conditions: Decisive :Successful escape of monitoring ship* and no loss of any Chinese warships. Tactical : 1) Successful escape of monitoring ship and the loss of only one of your ships or 2) monitoring ship is sunk by Taiwanese and over 50%of Taiwanese forces are sunk and only one of your ships are sunk. If the PRC forces must sink the monitoring ship, then the best they can do is deny the Taiwanese victory. *Successful Escape =monitoring ship is still capable of making way or is taken under tow by a PLAN warship. Must reach a minimum safe distance (10 nm) outside of Taiwanese waters to be clear of the situation. Notes: 1) The monitoring ship is not equipped with scuttling provisions to prevent capture. Only normal external methods may be employed to sink the vessel. 2) If the Taiwanese player is too slow to use his helicopters,the referee can provide him with an HF/DF bearing to the PRC covering force, based on detection from land-based DF stations. 3) Because of lack of firm information on new PRC weapons,use the Compact 100mm/55 (France) for the 100mm gun,Goalkeeper CIWS for the Type 730. The YJ-83 has I/M/TARH (3rd Gen) guidance, with a range of 5.4 -135 nm. It has a cruiseflight proflle at VLow, a 990 knot speed, and a 33 damage point warhead. The ROF is estimated at 4 per Engagement Turn, and it has a VSmall signature. Data on the radars is downloadable at www.clashofarms.com/the-cic.html, except for the Type 362. It is a dual-function radar: AS:33/21/15/7/2 SS:30/17/10/5/3 Annex A Ship Stats BT Back to The Naval Sitrep # 27 Table of Contents Back to Naval Sitrep List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List & copy Copyright 2004 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history and related articles are available at http://www.magweb.com