Warsim's Point

Second Scenario in the Indonesian Confrontation Watch out for the Badgers!

FIRST STRIKE
http://www.harpoonhq.com/harpoon3/colonialwars/
1 June 1966
Duration - 15 Hours
Sides - United Kingdom Only
Location - South China Sea

Following an failed attempted Coup in Indonesia by anti-communist forces , the Communist Government but all blame onto the United Kingdom ,over the years communist forces had infiltrationed into Malaysia and Borneo conducting terrorist attacks on the infastructure of these countries .
The UK and Australian and New Zealand forces had been hard pushed to stop these incursions, but had played no part in the failed coup.
Indonesia has threatened to attack any British Flagged ships in its area,but at the present time Hostilities havn't broken out.
The RMS Queen Mary onroute from Hong Kong to Singapore is a prime target and has been given escort to Singapore !

First Strike AAR

The following is a transcript of a BBC Home Service broadcast aired on June 2nd 1966 following the attack on British forces by Indonesian bombers in the South China Sea the previous day.

BC – BBC reporter Brian Cadbury
Capt M-B - Captain Hugh G. McCracken-Butt, RN OHM, SSPT3, (Retrd)

BC – Good evening. My guest tonight is noted Naval expert Captain The Honourable Hugh G. McCracken-Butt. Captain McCracken-Butt joined the Royal Navy just in time for the Invergorden Mutiny and served as Naval Attaché to Afghanistan during the Second World War. He commanded a minesweeper flotilla on the Solant during that Korean thing and slept through Suez completely. Captain McCracken-Butt, good evening. We hope that you can make sense of the reports coming out of the Far East about the loss of Her Majesties Ships Devonshire and Barrosa yesterday.

Capt M-B – Good evening. Yes that’s what I’m here for. Thirty-years of naval service has taught me the difference between bow and stern if nothing else.

BC – Quite. Captain, it is reported that HMS Devonshire was sunk by Soviet made missiles launched from heavy bombers. She was fitted with our latest air defence missiles, does that mean all of our ships are now vulnerable to Soviet air attacks?

Capt M-B – Devonshire was fitted with the Sea Slug missile system yes. And insiders’ report that they fought off the first attack and shot down four of the six missiles launched in the second attack to reach her. Her defences were just overwhelmed and it would not have happened except that the RAF abandoned the Navy again. It was Kuantan all over again if you ask me.

BC – For those listeners that might have forgotten, back on December 10th 1941 the battleships Prince of Wales and Repulse were sunk by Japanese bombers off the Malaysian port of Kuantan. Fighters from the Royal Air Force arrived at the scene of the disaster long after the enemy departed. Go on please Captain.

Capt M-B – It’s that useless Javelin fighter they sent to Singapore, it has no range or endurance. They only made two interceptions and they lost one of their own while barely managing to shoot down one of those bloody Badgers after it launched its missiles. Fine heirs to the legend of the Few they showed themselves to be. Bah.

BC – But is it not true Captain, that RAF Shackelton Long Range Patrol planes provided valuable reconnaissance to the Eastern Flotilla as they escorted RMS Queen Mary to the safety of Singapore naval base?

Capt M-B – I suppose it’s possible that they might have done some good. One plane did drop some depth charges and a torpedo on a Dutch submarine, or maybe it was fish.

BC – Indonesian, the aggressors here were Indonesian, not Dutch. Indonesia is mostly the former Dutch East Indies.

Capt M-B – Yes, yes I know all that. We beat the Dutch at Camperdown; did I mention that? The Royal Navy I mean. Before my time though.

BC – What about the sinking of HMS Barrosa?

Capt M-B – Barrosa was lost performing what we professional sailors call ‘picket’ duty. That is to say that she was sent out by herself to warn the main force of any threat. I think they got the idea from the bloody Yanks or something.

BC – It has been reported that three Indonesian bombers actually flew right over her and then turned around and attacked. This was the second air strike and if it had of launched on the Queen Mary flotilla, it might have been resulted in the loss of that valuable ship. Is it fair to say that HMS Barrosa bought Queen Mary a chance by throwing herself at the enemy? Does that not conform to the highest traditions of the Service?

Capt M-B – Well if you put it like that, perhaps. I would like to ask where the RAF was while Barrosa fought for her life. Bloody awful Javelins. They are the Bolton-Paul Defiant’s of the Cold War if you ask me.

BC – I did not actually ask that but returning to the subject, HMS Troubridge sank an Indonesian freighter with gunfire that appeared to be acting suspiciously and shadowing the Queen Mary flotilla. Was this action justified by international law?

Capt M-B – Of course it was. You have to know that there was some bloody Dutchman on the telephone to some bloody Russkie bomber pilot. That’s the way these things work you know.

BC – Can we Briton’s consider this a victory since RMS Queen Mary made it to Singapore undamaged? In spite of losing two valuable warships and a fighter jet?

Capt M-B – Damn right we can.

BC – Captain McCracken-Butt, thank-you for your insights into this tragic action. Next on BBC Radio, a man who herds cats for a living and coming up on News at Ten, why this Beatles’ music fad and both ‘rock’ and ‘roll’ will die out by Christmas. This has been Brian Cadbury for the BBC Home Service.

First Strike was played using GE 3.6.2 at full reality with aircraft logistics on. Thanks for the scenario, Paul. Must continue the Indonesian Crisis and move on to 'The Empire Strikes Back'.

Thank you Chris for the Excellent BBC Home Service report