It’s Sunday, October 10th, 2021. The USS
Ronald Reagan is returning from her deployment in support of the Afghanistan drawdown, and due
to the low intensity nature of the conflict, is operating with a smaller
escort than usual; the USS Shiloh, a Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser,
alongside the USS Barry and USS Curtis Wilbur, two Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers
are all that remain with her at this time.
In the carrier’s absence, all has not remained
peaceful in the South China Sea. Repeated clashes between Philippine and Chinese fishing ships,
the latter likely members of the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia, an asymmetrical naval
force comprised mostly of small civilian vessels, have led to numerous Pilipino fishing boats
being fired upon, and ultimately sunk.
With tensions at a fever-pitch, the
People’s Liberation Army Navy has opted to deploy a Surface Action Group to the Spratlys,
consisting of a Type 054A guided missile frigate, as well as two smaller Type 056 Corvettes.
It has also forward based a handful of aircraft to two airfields within the Spratly
islands: Subi Reef and Mischief Reef.
The ramp up in tensions has hardly gone unnoticed
by the United States, with another Arleigh Burke Class destroyer, the USS Mustin, being dispatched
to bolster the Reagan’s Carrier Strike Group 5.
On top of this, Carrier Strike Group 1 has been
surged from it’s base in the United States to conduct deterrence exercises with CSG5 once
it reaches the waters surrounding Japan.
Before linking up with the Ronald
Reagan and her strike group, the USS Mustin will perform Freedom of Navigation
Operations within the Spratly Islands.
These exercises involve sailing through
another nation’s claimed territorial waters, exercising an international protection called
“Innocent Passage,” where so long as no wartime activities are undertaken; such as the
gathering of reconnaissance, firing of weapons, or interfering with communications, the
vessel is legally protected during the duration of the voyage through these waters.
This is a common strategy employed by the US Navy to promote compliance with such freedom of
navigation laws. In this instance, it is done with the intent of deterring Chinese aggression,
show American resolve to regional allies, and effectively communicating “You don’t want
smoke” to the People’s Liberation Army Navy.
Due to the heightened tensions, all ships are on
relatively high alert. The USS Ronald Reagan has three Super Hornet squadrons readied for immediate
combat operations, two armed with a standard air to air complement, another armed with the
RGM-84 Harpoons for anti-shipping duties. Another squadron of Super Hornets is also on
elevated alert, able to be crewed and armed for anti-air or anti-shipping within an hour, as
opposed to the 90+ minutes it normally takes.
On a racetrack pattern close to the strike group,
and within the protective A2AD bubble it affords, flies one E-2D Hawkeye, callsign Baseplate,
providing airborne early warning and control to a four-ship formation of F/A-18Es,
part of a constant Combat Air Patrol the Ronald Reagan keeps in the air.
Beneath the waves lurks the USS Seawolf, likely the single most advanced hunter killer
submarine in the world. She will be supporting the Ronald Reagan, patrolling to her north in search
China’s recently sortied Carrier Strike Group.
The Chinese Carrier Strike Group, centered
around the Shandong aircraft carrier, comprises two Type 052D Destroyers, and two Type
054A Frigates, alongside the air wing of 26 J-15s, two squadrons of which are intended for fleet
air defense, unlike the largely multirole capability of US carrier-based aviation.
Supporting assets aboard the Shandong include a handful of Z-18 helicopters for Airborne
Early Warning and Anti-Submarine Warfare, as well as a token complement of Z-9 helicopters
for light cargo and troop ferrying.
Unlike the American Carrier, the Chinese carrier
is not in a state of extremely high readiness. While certainly in a higher ready
state of readiness than normal, due to the imminent commencement of exercises,
not all aircraft are ready to participate; and as such only a single squadron of
J-15s is armed for immediate sorties.
Additional vessels deployed during this
period include two Type 039A Yuan submarines, transferred from the North Sea Fleet in recent
days, which patrol the East and West ends of the Spratly Islands. Due to the proximity of the
American Carrier Strike Group to the exercises, an independent Type 054A frigate has also
been tasked to shadow the American Carrier group for the duration of the exercises;
as has been done many times in the past.
The recent actions of the PLAN have
not been to directly incite a conflict, but rather to push the normative boundary further
towards Chinese control of the South China Sea. For this reason, as tense as the atmosphere may
be, China does not foresee a clash coming of it. The United States does not view the
situation quite the same way.
From Woody Island airfield, a
flight of four JH-7AIIs take off, accompanied by an escorting J-11. These aircraft,
as part of the broader exercises in the region, will be performing a mock attack on the USS
Mustin, not unlike the mock Tu-22 Backfire raids seen so frequently during the Cold War.
Shortly into their flight, the E2D Hawkeye, Baseplate, picks up the formation on its
search radar. Relaying this information to the USS Mustin, the information is
viewed with wariness, but not alarm.
Additional F/A-18E Super Hornets are
considered to provide air cover in the region, but overflying a number of HQ-9 surface to air
missile systems, which the US perceives to be on a hair trigger is deemed as a poor decision.
In the Spratlys, the Type 039A Yuan class submarine charged with patrolling the Eastern end
of the island chain is shadowing the USS Mustin. Under normal circumstances, as capable as
the 039A may be, an Arleigh Burke class destroyer stands a good chance of detecting the
submarines. However, due to Innocent passage laws, the Mustin is not permitted to conduct
any Anti-Submarine Warfare activities. With her sensors cold, and travelling at close to
25 knots, the Mustin does not detect her tail.
As the range to the Mustin draws close, the
flight of JH-7s light their afterburners, flips on their radars and jammers,
and plunge down to low altitude.
The flight of JH-7s dips below the radar horizon,
disappearing from Baseplate’s radar screen. Not able to turn on her own radars, nor to conduct
any activities which could bolster her defense, the USS Mustin is effectively blind.
This fact is not lost upon her captain as, minutes after the contact drops, the Mustin’s
AN/SLQ-32 passive electronic intelligence suite picks up a torrent of jamming coming from
the JH-7 flight’s last known bearing. The computer systems aboard the Mustin rapidly give
an estimation of the jamming aircraft’s range. Close. Too close, and closing rapidly.
Furthermore, the telltale signature of a fire control radar is detected among the tsunami
of noise being put out by the JH-7’s jammers.
Determining this to be an existential
threat to the vessel and her crew, the captain’s nerve breaks.
The Mustin’s targetting radar crackles to life, instantly resolving the ambiguous contact’s
location. As the J-7s approach to less than 20 nautical miles away, AN/SPG-62 radar
illuminators aboard the Mustin lock onto the aircraft. Perceiving this to be a
legitimate threat in the heat of the moment, the crew aboard the Mustin salvo 8 RIM-162
ESSM missiles, two at each of the JH-7s.
Faced with an incoming salvo of missiles, the
JH-7 pilots make a split second decision. Despite having a firing solution, the notion of firing
upon US vessels is not within their calculus, and they opt to immediately and violently
evade the incoming missiles. However, at this range, the outcome
is a foregone conclusion.
Three of the four JH-7s are
destroyed. The lone survivor, tail between his legs and heading home, is
deemed a non-threat, and is not re-engaged.
While the USS Mustin was firing on the flight of
JH-7s, beneath the waves the type 039A submarine shadowing her was listening in on the entire
engagement. Following a heated debate between the officers aboard, it is decided that the only
scenario in which a US destroyer would begin firing a large number of missiles while
conducting an innocent passage transit, is if it intends to destroy Chinese vessels. As
such, the crew of the 039A opts to retaliate in kind. The submarine fires all 6 of its loaded
torpedoes, targeting the USS Mustin.
Detecting the launch transient on her
now fully manned AN/SQS-53C sonar array, the Mustin immediately swings the rudder hard
a-port. As soon as it is out from behind her, the Mustin rapidly gains a high confidence
solution on the offending submarine. It is immediately decided aboard the
Mustin to engage and destroy the threat. She salvoes four RUM-139C anti-submarine rockets
to the location of her sonar contact. As they impact the water, they release their payloads,
a total of four Mk 54 lightweight torpedoes. As they search for their target, the Mustin is
running for her life, deploying her SLQ-25 ‘Nixie’ torpedo countermeasures all the while. However,
the Mustin is facing modern torpedoes which are not easily fooled by decoys; and at such a
close range there is no outlasting them.
Impact. The first torpedo detonates underneath the
left screw, knocking out all propulsion aboard the vessel. In rapid succession, another torpedo
detonates just forward of the previous hit. With all propulsion knocked out, she now
has fires abound and nearly all of her stern compartments are breached. With water
flooding into the vessel, and despite sailors fighting the casualties as best they can, the
order to abandon ship is given. Meanwhile, the Type 039A isn’t faring any better. While
the USS Mustin is taking a beating, the Mk 54 torpedoes acquire and track down the submarine,
and despite the 039A’s best evasion efforts, she too is hit by a torpedo,
and breaks up under the sea.
As the Mustin slips under the waves, there is
a flurry of diplomatic activity between Beijing and Washington, desperately attempting
to avoid further escalation. However, with such a momentous loss of life and hardware
due there is no longer any room for detente. The USS Ronald Reagan launches two additional
four-ship flights of F-18E super hornets for fleet air defense, as well as beginning the
readying process for the fourth super hornet squadron with heavy counter-air loadouts
to engage in fleet defense operations.
While the aircraft are heading out to their patrol
locations, let us take a moment to reflect on the actions of the day so far. While the JH-7s were
not sent out with the goal of actually attacking the US destroyer, their provocative actions
can easily be seen as an existential threat to the safety of the crew. This is an example
of the Fog of War, which manifests throughout the scenario in the form of understandable, though
mistaken actions. Although technically firing the first shot, if one takes into consideration the
environment the Mustin’s captain was in, and the unprecedentedly belligerent behavior of the JH-7s,
it would be far from accurate to call the United States the aggressor. Now, back to our battle.
The Chinese have not responded to the situation quietly. Upon learning of the destruction of
the USS Mustin, and loss of contact with the in-theater 039A, Chinese theater command opts to
sortie the remaining aircraft at Woody Island, Subi Reef and Mischief reef to
protect the Airborne Early Warning, Tanker, and Maritime Patrol aircraft which have
been on a racetrack pattern to the north of CSG5. The Shandong Aircraft Carrier will also contribute
to this force with a four-ship flight of J-15s, alongside two Airborne Early Warning
helicopters within her air wing. Additional AEW and MPA airframes, as well as a
number of l drones are sortied from Lingshui and Jialaishi airbases in Hainan. All available
H-6 bombers from Guiping/Mengshu airbase, belonging to the PLAN’s 1st and 23rd Air regiments
are placed on the highest level of alert, and are ready to be launched at a moment’s notice.
Upon reaching their patrol zones, the three flights of super hornets receive instructions to
destroy the three BZK-005 drones which have been surveilling the Ronald Reagan and her escorts
for the past several hours. Believing that the USS Mustin was attacked unprovoked from the air,
and subsequently sunk after defending herself, taking a Chinese vessel with her, the Captain of
the Ronald Reagan has sensibly opted to prioritize fleet protection over politics. Deeming the three
Chinese drones to be of limited escalatory value, and an effective way to degrade ISR coverage of
the American Carrier Group, destroying them is seen as a prudent way of protecting his force
from any further unprovoked aggression.
In the northwest, Scarface fires his AIM-9X
sidewinder, and destroys the BZK-005 without incident. ‘Hammer’ however, faces
an entirely different situation. Tasked with targeting the drone in extremely
close proximity to the 054A frigate Hengshui which has been shadowing the CSG, he fires
his sidewinder. As it impacts the drone, Hengshui sees this and interprets it as a broader
attack on Chinese aerial assets in theater. The captain decides to fire upon the flight of
American F/A-18s, in accordance with his orders, yet this ultimately serves only to push the
situation further up the escalation ladder.
8 of her 32 HQ-16A Surface to Air missiles are
fired, two at each of the aircraft. There is scarce time for the super hornets to react.
However, these missiles are not as capable as the US ESSM, and only two Super Hornets are
destroyed. Opting to conserve her munitions so as to be capable of weathering a counterattack,
the Hengshui does not further engage the flight of super hornets.
-
Immediately upon being informed of this, the
commander of the USS Ronald Reagan authorizes a strike against the Hengshui. Two four
ship flights of F-18Fs from VFA-101 launch from the Reagan’s flight deck, and immediately
begin positioning for an attack. Simultaneously, the USS Shiloh, as well as both flights of
Super Hornets release their RGM-84 Harpoons. Immediately dipping down to a handful of feet
above the surface, the Harpoons blaze towards the lone frigate. Detecting the threat, the
Hengshui lets loose a wall of steel from her remaining loaded VLS cells, each HQ-16
missile hurtling the incoming Harpoons. However, despite a valiant effort and a large
number of successfully missile intercepts, the Hengshui is unable to halt the overwhelming
hail of munitions. She suffers multiple waterline hits, sinking the ship, along with most
of her crew, in a matter of minutes.
With the loss of a major surface combatant
and on top of other recent losses, the PLA deems this the “gloves off” point and
sets it’s aim on destroying the American carrier. The Americans, however, anticipate this and deploy
two additional flights of Super Hornets, all available air-counter-air begins flying north to
engage and destroy the Chinese tankers, AEW, and MPA aircraft. As the hornets fly north however,
they are met with an unwelcome surprise.
The J-11s and J-16s defending the aforementioned
high value assets are armed with the modern PL-15 missile, a Chinese counterpart to the
American AMRAAM. Developed specifically with the intention of out-ranging the
AMRAAM, it affords those aircraft armed with them the ability to take the first shot, an
opportunity which is not passed up by the PLA.
Seeing the missiles, the Americans charge onwards,
understanding that their missiles will need all the kinetic energy they can get in order to
maximize their pK, or probability of kill.
Lesser airmen would have immediately gone
defensive, a noteworthy example of the superb amount of training and experience American
naval aviators have under their belts.
Once the AMRAAMs are fired however, the American
pilots being fired upon quickly make a break for sea level, knowing that if they drag the
PL-15s into thicker, denser air, they will lose speed faster and have a harder time maneuvering
The opening salvo is largely ineffective. Firing at such a long range, the PL-15s are low on energy
by the time they meet the Super hornets. Despite launching well over a dozen missiles, only 5 Super
Hornets are hit. The American counterfire however, is devastating. Out of the 6 Chinese aircraft
who launched the initial salvo of PL-15s, 4 are destroyed outright, with more
AMRAAMs still incoming. Despite the PL-15s longer range, the AMRAAM benefits from
decades upon decades of institutional expertise in designing Air to Air missiles, and as such is able
to achieve a vastly higher kill probability.
In the west, the Chinese J-15 flight is engaged by
American Super Hornets. Armed only with the PL-12, the significantly less capable predecessor
of the PL-15, the four-ship flight of J-15s doesn’t even get a chance to fire before
being knocked out of the sky by AMRAAMs. Due to the capabilities of the Super
Hornet’s radar, the J-15s don’t even know they’re being targeted until the AMRAAM’s
onboard radar activates and direct the missile in its terminal guidance stage
Despite the American technological advantage in missiles, the Chinese aircraft
refuse to go down without a fight.
The final J-16 in the engagement charges forth,
determined to buy time for further Chinese airframes to arrive in the defense of the high
value assets he has been charged with protecting. Firing off all of his missiles against the horde
of American Super Hornets bearing down upon him, he forces the American pilots to go defensive,
buying as much precious time as possible for Chinese reinforcements to arrive.
Fate is not kind on this day, as all of his PL-15 missiles fail to hit their
targets, and his aircraft is shot down.
While the initial air exchange is happening,
the largest combat launch of aircraft in decades is underway. From Jialaishi airbase in
Hainan, a total of nearly 60 aircraft from the 22nd and 24th Air regiments, all of the available
aircraft capable of being launched in short order, begin doing so. In addition to the air superiority
mission, the previously readied H-6 bombers launched from Guiping/Mengshu airbase, and head
south to provide additional offensive firepower to the strike on the USS Ronald Reagan.
As the Super Hornets pressed on northwards, many of the initial F/A-18s had expended
their long-range air to air munitions, and are forced to return to the Ronald
Reagan to re-arm as swiftly as possible.
This time, the United States will be faced
with a much more even numbered fight. Two additional four-ship flights of J-15s have
been sortied from the Shandong aircraft carrier, and race to their comrade’s aid. Three remaining
J-11s provide a last line of defense against an aerial attack and recognize this as an existential
threat to the assets they are guarding.
Sallying forth and firing their
PL-15 missiles at the Americans, they are once again met with the steady nerve
from the more experienced American pilots. Holding off on evasive maneuvers until
they able to fire off their own munitions, the Americans counter volley with their
missiles; and then immediately hit the deck.
The Chinese score several hits, 3 F/A-18s
destroyed with the first volley. However, this comes at the cost of all the
aircraft firing that initial volley. Yet again, the American technological edge in
missiles proves to be the deciding factor.
The two flights of J-15s, still rushing to disrupt
the American attack on Chinese ISR assets, enter into the range of American AMRAAMs, and are fired
upon. Like the previous flight of J-15s, these are wielding only the outdated PL-12 missile, and
are thus unable to get the first shots off.
However, these AMRAAMs are the final salvo
the westernmost Hornet flight is carrying, and after only one J-15 is taken out,
the flight is essentially a sitting duck. Both flights of J-15s fire
missiles at the Super Hornets, two at each aircraft for a total of 8 missiles
screaming towards the Super Hornets.
Going defensive, the flight of F-18s are
left unscathed, not a single missile is able to hit it’s target; a testament to the
obsolescence of the PL-12. During this time, the remaining two AMRAAMS from another flight
of Hornets are fired at the J-15s. One of the two AMRAAMs connects, destroying another Chinese
aircraft. However, a second volley has been fired at the initial flight of Super Hornets.
Going defensive once again, the F/A-18s are again able to evade all of the incoming PL-12s.
The J-15s fire yet another salvo, most of which is targeting the initial F/A-18 flight. These
missiles finally score a hit, and destroy one Super hornet. The other missiles of the salvo,
targeting another flight of Super Hornets, achieve more success, destroying two
F-18s. However, this is the last of their long-range air to air missiles. Unable
to do more against the AMRAAM laden F/A-18s, the J-15s return to the Shandong to hopefully
re-arm and sortie again as soon as possible.
Unbeknownst to the J-15 pilots, the Super
Hornets are also nearly out of munitions. The final flight of F/A-18s have merely two
AMRAAMs between them. Determining that due to fuel concerns they are incapable of reaching the
high value targets before they escape to the A2/AD bubble of their own CSG, they opt to return
home. Turning hot towards the fleeing J-15s, the Super Hornets let loose both of
their remaining AMRAAMs. Both impact.
While the last of the previous engagement’s
Super Hornets are returning home, the fourth squadron finishes readying. Armed with the
maximum amount of missiles an F/A-18 can carry, they are going to be even more capable than
the two squadrons which had just engaged the Chinese aircraft and come out on top.
Believing retreat to be an effective symbol of defeat, and emboldened by his successes so
far, the commander continued towards Japan, and ultimately the protection of
other US 7th and 3rd Fleet assets.
While the J-11s are transiting towards the
carrier, the final 4 F/A-18s from the original two, pre-readied Air to Air squadrons are sortied,
heading to the original race track pattern to provide a forward counter air presence,
and discouraging Chinese ISR assets from resuming their actions further south.
At the very edge of its detection radius, the E2D Hawkeye detects a single air contact to
the north, seemingly coming from Hainan Island. Shortly thereafter, it detects a few more. Shortly
after that, a LOT more. The captain of the Ronald Reagan recognizes this as far more than Chinese
reinforcements to protect their ISR assets. He orders an immediate launch of all
aircraft ready for air-to-air missions from the newly readied squadron 4.
With the carrier also conducting recovery operations as well, the sortie
rates of the USS Ronald Reagan drop, and it takes longer to get all three four-ship
flights airborne. Once this is managed though, the Super Hornets make their way as far north
as possible to engage the mass of J-11s.
Upon reaching approximately a hundred
nautical miles from the enormous formation, the F/A-18s turn on their AN/APG-79 radars,
and feel a jolt of adrenaline as they see just how many J-11s are out there. Closing to
their weapons employment zone, they unleash a rain of missiles the likes of which has never
been seen in any air engagement in history. Missile after missile erupts from the pylons of
the F/A-18s, which are utilizing their radar’s Track-While-Scan capability to lock up and fire
upon multiple targets without missing a beat.
These J-11s, although numerous,
are only armed with PL-12 missiles, reflecting the low availability of the PL-15
in the Chinese inventory. Without the reach to counterfire, the J-11s have no choice but to go
defensive and roll with the punches. However, against a missile as capable as the AMRAAM, these
defensive maneuvers do little to save them.
It is a slaughter, J-11 after J-11 is destroyed
at an unbelievable cadence. Across the board, in a matter of seconds, dozens
of airframes are sent hurtling out of the sky without even so much as a
single counter missile fired in return
In all, 37 aircraft are destroyed. However,
while this is an immense tactical victory in the largest aerial engagement fought in
decades, the Hornets are out of missiles. With no choice but to return to their carrier
to re-arm, there are now zero aircraft capable of guarding the carrier and her E-2D Hawkeye
from the J-11s that remain in the air.
With nothing left to stop them, the Chinese J-11s
continue southwards, the westernmost group of the formation splits into two elements. One continues
south and will attempt to engage the E-2D Hawkeye, and the other will break to the east
and continue escorting the H-6 bombers to their weapon employment zone.
It is at this point that the Chinese anti-ship assets come into range. The Shandong
Carrier Strike Group fires it’s 32 YJ-18s. These missiles have a trick up their sleeve. At
the end of their subsonic sea skimming flight, they have a solid rocket booster which will give
them the ability to sprint the last portion of their attack at an extremely high speeds.
The Yulin Surface Action group, slightly closer and timed such that
the salvoes will arrive simultaneously, launches its YJ-83s, a less sophisticated but
still potent sea skimming anti-ship missile.
As the YJ-83 laden flight of H-6s closes to
within missile range, it lets loose a torrent of munitions. All of its YJ-83s are salvoed in
rapid succession, side by side with the YJ-18s. At the same time, the Carrier Strike Group
begins to fire upon the incoming missiles. From all of Ronald Reagan’s escorts, SM-6s erupt
from the VLS cells. Allocating two per munition, so as to destroy the incoming missiles
at as far of a range as possible. Immediately after launching this first salvo, the
CSG launches additional SM-6 missiles to counter the J-11s attempting to engage the E-2D Hawkeye.
One per aircraft, to conserve munitions. It is at this point in time that the Chinese forces commit
the rest of their munitions to the attack.
First, the H-6J bombers salvo their entire
complement of YJ-12s. Targeting the carrier escorts, destroying them will render the
Ronald Reagan effectively defenseless, unable to intercept the PLA’s trump
card. From northwestern Hainan, DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missiles stream
forth from the launchers of the 625th Brigade. These missiles are unable to be intercepted
by most conventional interceptor missiles, and travelling at immensely high speeds,
even the few munitions that can intercept them will have a difficult time doing so.
The American CSG however, is no easy target. Detecting the sea skimming YJ-83s
from the Yulin surface action group, it again launches a furious barrage of SM-6s
towards the incoming missiles. This happens just as the first missiles of the initial salvo
are beginning to intercept their targets.
The interceptor missiles are only partially
effective. While nearly all of the H-6 launched YJ-83s are successfully destroyed, the YJ-18s
make it through the withering barrage largely unscathed. As the last missiles of the
first salvo intercept their targets, the first missiles of the second
salvo begin intercepting theirs.
Against the Yulin’s YJ-83s, the SM-6 missiles
wreak havoc. They successfully intercept the entire package of missiles. Against the
aircraft, the missiles perform similarly.
A large chunk of the J-11 force is destroyed
outright by the initial volley. However, despite the immense success the CSG has enjoyed
so far in intercepting incoming missiles, it is beginning to run low on its own SM-6
interceptors. Following up on the remaining airborne J-11s with SM2s, the CSG prioritizes
its SM-6s for intercepting enemy munitions.
Her last few SM-6 missiles are
fired at the incoming YJ-12s, and proving deadly effective against them.
As the last of the SM-6s are depleted, the CSG
switches to its numerous, but short ranged ESSM missiles. Letting loose a deluge of RIM-162s, the
strike group attempts to intercept the incoming YJ-12s. While most intercepts their targets, even
having the CIWS pitch in, a single missile gets through. It slams into the superstructure of
the USS Shiloh, crippling her, and putting her out of the fight. Simultaneously, the cascade
of DF-21Ds begin entering their terminal phase. Before being crippled, the USS Shiloh managed
to get off a handful of SM-2ER Block 4 missiles, specifically tailored to intercept such
ballistic missiles in their terminal phase.
As the DF-21D missiles draw nearer and nearer,
the SM-2 block 4s manage to intercept a few of the re-entry vehicles, but
it is simply not enough.
Multiple DF-21D warheads, travelling at Mach 9
impact the USS Shiloh, the USS Ronald Reagan, the USS Barry, and the USS Curtis Wilbur.
While these ships are immensely survivable, multiple hypersonic re-entry vehicles filled
with explosives cause too much damage to handle. Despite crews heroically fighting
casualties, all vessels give the order to abandon ship shortly after impact.
The F/A-18s still in the air, low on fuel and without any friendly bases to fly to, begin
making their way towards Vietnam. As if to add insult to injury, the YJ-18s activate their rocket
motors and sprint towards the sinking husk of the Ronald Reagan. Multiple missiles impact before
she finally slips beneath the waves. The E-2D is swiftly engaged and destroyed by the few J-11s
still airborne, who then return to their base. Off the coast of Vietnam, out of fuel, the
F/A-18s conduct a mass ditch into the sea. Meanwhile, the survivors of Carrier Strike Group 5
wait in the ocean, dazed, waiting for rescue.
This simulation still simplifies a significant
chunk of the tactical and operational challenges in a real-world flashpoint. For every
detail we’ve managed to include, there are many more we’ve had to omit. Join us
on our talk show, HypOps Fox-2 where we host a roundtable discussion with various experts and
discuss the challenges and technical details of attacking a Carrier Strike Group, in the
nitty gritty detail it properly deserves.
You might have noticed that every single aircraft
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