Harpoon Scenario:
Sea of Fire

A Kuril Islands Mini-Campaign

Introduction

By Matt Irsik

Editor's note: This is the first of a two-part mini-campaign. The second part will be published in the next issue, along with an order of battle of the Japanese Navy.

After years of negotiations, the Russians and Japanese finally came to an agreement on the return of the Kuril Islands to Japan. While this move didn't sit well with right-wing Russians, no one was complaining (at least not to loudly) about the resulting Japanese economic aid. As the Japanese went about reintegrating the islands into their country, the Nationalist Party in Russia came into power with promises of returning Russia to its former glory.

The Nationalists announced that their first step would be to strengthen the Russian military. The Russian Navy benefited from this rearmament program, not only through the building of new ships, but also through the return to service of ships that previously had been committed to reserve (or the breakers). Many of these older ships were in a poor state of repair and preservation, but they could be returned to service far more quickly than new hulls could be commissioned.

Meanwhile the Japanese were busy in the Kurils, cleaning up after 40 years of Russian/Soviet occupation. Even with mess left behind, the Japanese were happy to have the islands back, especially when an oil exploration company announced the discovery of a major oil deposits near the island of Urup.

The Japanese government quickly announced plans to tap into the deposits and even gave projections of the expected value of the new oil fields. This announcement got the attention of the Russian Nationalist Party, which was having trouble funding its "Return to Glory" plan. The party leaders decided that they deserved the money from the oil more than the rich Japanese and started to plan how they could get the island back. They began by accusing the Japanese of having previous knowledge of the oil deposits and deliberately shortchanging the Russian people. Initially, the party leaders demanded that the Japanese share the profits from the oil sales with the Russians, but an agreement on the percentage that went to Russia could not be reached. Finally, the party leaders demanded the Japanese return the islands or suffer the consequences.

The Japanese refused the Russian ultimatum and the United States and United Nations rushed to try and defuse the situation. United Nations-sponsored negotiations to resolve the situation began immediately, but quickly broke down.

The next day Russia declared a 100-mile naval and air exclusion zone around the island of Urup. This was followed by the landing of paratroops and the departure of a naval task force from Vladivostok with reinforcements. In the United States, congressional debates raged over the situation without resolution.

Meanwhile, the President ordered American forces out of Japanese bases and potential zones of conflict, until the United States could decide what steps it would take. The Japanese government decided that it must make a stand here or lose face in the eyes of the world and planned to launch a counterattack. In the U.N. closed door sessions ran day and night to try and resolve the situation without bloodshed as the two old enemies moved to renew their acquaintance.

The following scenarios are designed to cover the focal point of the campaign: Urup Island, and how the conflict might escalate. Each scenario can be played alone or can be linked by using the rules at the end of this section.

More Kuril Islands

BT

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© Copyright 1999 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms.
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