Harpoon(tm) Indian Ocean/Persian Gulf Battleset Scenario: Juggernaut ---------------------------------------------------------- designed by Ali Hanafi and Norm Lunde NOTE: This scenario in its original form, as presented here, requires too much memory to run on my system (386SX, 2Mb, DOS 5.0). Try it yourself, but no guarantees . . . Background: The Bengal War of 1995 represents the final attempt of the hatchling Indian superpower to break out of its shell. By crushing its rivals, most notably Pakistan, and seizing the gateway to the Persian Gulf, India would permanently secure its regional supremacy and -- what is more -- establish a stranglehold on the mighty Western powers, including the United States herself. Even with Soviet help in the east, India was forced to commit all of her resources to the gambit. While land forces clashed on the frontier plains and the Indian air force attempted to achieve air superiority by smashing the well-trained and better-equipped Pakistani squadrons on the ground, an amphibious assault force crept up the coast toward Karachi with the first, secretly trained units a newly formed Indian commando division -- a sort of hybrid amphibious/air assault force which soon became known to CNN viewers worldwide as the "Thuggis." A joint Anglo-French ASW exercise -- the first trial of the new CVN Charles DeGaulle -- was rudely interrupted by a Pakistani diesel sub commander who mistook the carrier for Cochin, the pride of the Indian Navy. The Europeans began an aggressive search for the intruder. In the process they stumbled onto and sank an Indian sub lurking nearby -- thus initiating hostilities with India. Pakistan had just unwittingly recruited an ally, and just in time, too. Red Orders: ----------- This is your opportunity to become the greatest hero in all of Indian history! On the eve of our emergence as the Last Superpower, you are to take command of our air and sea forces. The key to our victory will be the amphibious assault on Karachi by our Thuggi troops. Once in range, they will launch helicopter cavalry attacks from the carrier Vikrant and a seaborne invasion from six converted merchant ships. You must escort them safely to Karachi and protect them for six hours. Also, you must prepare the way for them by inflicting at least 60% damage on the defenses at Karachi. You should use your air assets in the north to smash the Pakistani planes on the ground. Conduct air strikes until the only things flying from Pakistani airbases are the white flags! Use the southern bases to provide a CAP umbrella for the invasion force. Beware of possible sneak attacks by Pakistani diesel subs and French carrier aircraft! Minimum Victory Conditions: --------------------------- You must get half of the converted merchantmen and the carrier Vikrant into the vicinity of Karachi and protect them there for six hours. Also, you must inflict 60% damage on the base at Karachi. Total Victory Conditions: --------------------------- Get all of the merchantmen, and Vikrant, safely to Karachi. Inflict at least 60% damage on Karachi, and sink 20 enemy ships. Blue Orders: ------------ The balloon has gone up -- India's aggressive designs on our humble peace-loving nation are now coalescing into action. An invasion force has assembled on our border, and a corresponding increase in Indian air activity indicates that war is imminent. You must take charge of our nation's air defenses, and protect our valuable assets -- without air superiority, our grunts will be overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the enemy. Also, it is rumored that the Indians will attempt some sort of naval assault coordinated with the land invasion. It is imperative that our harbors remain operational and in friendly hands for that is the only way we can obtain assistance from the Americans. Seek out the Indian fleet and cripple it. By a lucky chance, we have won the support of a French carrier group and an English nuclear submarine. They may be able to locate and attack the enemy fleet while our aircraft are occupied with the battle in the north. Blue Intelligence: ------------------ Massive air strikes on our bases can be taken for granted. Any Indian ships operating in the eastern half of the Arabian Sea are bound to be protected by land-based fighters; a submarine attack coordinated with strikes from the French carrier may be more effective than air attacks alone. Composition of the enemy naval force is unknown, but probably includes one of the Indian carriers -- possibly even Cochin. One source reported the departure some time ago of several merchant ships from the naval shipyards at Trivandrum; we don't know what to make of this, but they could be carrying supplies for a large amphibious assault force. Blue Minimum Victory Conditions: -------------------------------- Sink the carrier Vikrant and at least half of the amphibious assault ships in the Indian formation. Blue Total Victory Conditions: ------------------------------ Sink Vikrant and all of the amphibious raiders.