Current and Finished Projects > Stories

The Whaling War - a possible future history (Consolidated)

<< < (4/5) > >>

GTX_Admin:
The Battle Spreads

…almost immediately, the whaling ships were ordered to scatter and head either back to Japan or to neutral ports.  No longer ‘shackled’ to the whaling ships, the crews of the Hyūga and Atago were now free to operate as they wished.  For now though, they continued to head South East deeper into the Pacific.  The crews knew that if they could hold out a little longer, they would be joined by more forces already being readied in Japan.  These forces would include not only more destroyers and submarines but also the Hyūga’s sister ship, the Ise, as well as the already mentioned Soryu super carrier.  Until, these forces arrived though, the Hyūga and Atago would essentially be on their own, hence their direction of travel.  However, the Japanese were still able to cause trouble for the OCDF.

To the North West, the Japanese now called upon one of their allies from the earlier war.  Although Indonesia (as a Dutch colony) had been occupied by the Japanese in the past, over the recent decades, the western countries to the South had been seen as the more likely enemy.  After the East Timorese gained independence in the late ‘90s, Indonesian pride had been bruised.  It was this (and the large cash payments offered) that caused the Indonesians to allow the Japanese to base their combat aircraft on Indonesian soil a few years earlier.  Now, with the Oceanic Confederation distracted by events in the Pacific and with the naval base near Perth severely damaged, the Indonesians (with the strong backing of the Japanese, including many exchange officers) decided to strike back.

The attack would be threefold.  Firstly, TNI-AU Su-30s and Su-27s would strike at the port of Darwin using Yakhont supersonic missiles supplied earlier by the Russians.  Next, TNI-AU F-2As (two squadrons worth had been supplied by the Japanese) would strike at Port Moresby (the OCDF used the nearby Jacksons International Airport as an operating base).  Finally, thousands of Indonesian troops (not to mention a few Japanese ones as well) supported by helicopter gunships and TNI-AU BAe Hawks surged across the border with East Timor.  Despite the valiant attempts of the OCDF forces stationed there, East Timor was very quickly once again under Indonesian occupation.

To the south, Darwin was hit hard, with 14 Yakhonts striking the ships in harbour and the surrounding docks.  However, only three naval vessels were hit – a hydro-graphic ship, a patrol boat and a mine hunter.  Four civilian vessels including a high speed ferry full of tourists were hit though. Never-the-less, the Indonesians essentially achieved their mission, with the Darwin port facilities being declared non-usable and thus unable to support any OCDF operations in the near term.

To the east, Jacksons International Airport was hit hard too.  Fortunately for the OCDF though, the only military aircraft there were two PC-9 FAC aircraft, a C-130J and a single F-16B undergoing maintenance.  Never-the-less all were destroyed, along with two airliners and a number of hangars.  Not everything went the Indonesia way though, as on the return flight, the F-2As were intercepted by two F-16As which managed to bring down two F-2As before having to turn back.

Much to everyone’s disbelief, the war had now widened…

GTX_Admin:
Planning

…having been struck again, and with part of its territory now occupied, the Oceanic Confederation recoiled back somewhat.  This war was getting larger, and the OCDF resources, though capable and proven were only so big.

However, the anger of the public wasn’t easing.  If anything it was stronger than ever.  To complicate matters, the UN was of no use.  With Japan (and India) both having been admitted permanent seats on the Security Council a few years earlier (ironically supported by Australia), no resolution stopping the war was allowed to pass.  Furthermore, the Oceanic Union (primarily Australia in this case) was unable to rely on its main allies (the USA and UK) as these were increasingly tied down in the quagmire in Iraq and Afghanistan.  They would endeavour to supply what help they could though.  The upshot of all this was that the OCDF would need to resolve this war by itself.

There were now a range of issues to deal with:

•   Find and neutralise the threat posed by the remaining Japanese warships;
•   Prevent any further Japanese incursions;
•   Retake East Timor;
•   Neutralise (and arguably punish) Indonesia; and
•   Prevent any more attacks on the Oceanic Confederation.

For now, the first two involved finding the Japanese forces.  The Hyūga and Atago had done well to lose themselves.  OCDF forces continued to search, but for now were not finding anything.  It was even rumoured that they may have sought sanctuary in South American ports, possibly in Ecuador.  As to the Soryu super carrier and any additional Japanese forces, these had not yet shown up, though OCDF was expecting them.

That left Indonesia and East Timor to deal with.  Given the nature of Indonesia geography, any invasion would not be easy.  There were so many small islands where forces could hide.  It was quickly decided that any land force involvement would need to be centred only on the island of Timor.  To prevent any other Indonesian involvement, it’s Navy and Air Forces would need to be neutralised…

GTX_Admin:
Operation Tempestade

…and so, Operation Tempestade was launched.  This was based upon detailed plans made over the years by Australia and would involve the simultaneous invasion and liberation of Timor and the neutralisation of the Indonesian military, the Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI).  Because of the already extensive losses incurred by the OCDF, this operation would need to be carried out swiftly – a long, drawn out battle simply couldn’t be sustained.  The OCDF would have an ally though.  Thanks to a secret alliance made years earlier (actually with Australia, though it had been transferred to the Oceanic Confederation), Singapore now also entered the fight.

The first element of Op Tempestade involved the neutralisation of the Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara or TNI-AU) and air elements of the Army ((Tentara Nasional Indonesia  Angkatan Darat or TNI-AD).  To do this, the OCDF redeployed some of the forces currently operating to the East in the Pacific.  A force of F-111s (including a small number of QF-111Gs), F/A-18A+s, and JAS-39A/Bs as well as former RAAF (now OCDF) BAe Hawks were quickly assembled.  To this, were added a number of MQ-9 Reaper UAVs (the OCDF already operated its sibling, the Mariner) that had been rapidly transferred to the OCDF from the USAF along with a large quantity of munitions (the last few days had already used up a large portion of the OCDF’s stocks).  In  addition, the Singaporean Air Force added its F-16s and F-15SGs.

The more capable and powerful aircraft (F-111s, F-15SGs, F-16s, F/A-18A+s) targeted the main Indonesian airbases at Iswahyudi, Abdulrachman Saleh, Hasanuddin, Halim Perdanakususma, Pekanbaru and Adisucipto.  For the most part, these used AGM-158 JASSMs and AGM-142 Raptors to strike from afar.

Although these opening attacks were devastating, many aircraft never-the-less survived.  Immediately afterwards, the surviving Indonesian forces launched as many combat aircraft as possible – it was just as though someone had disturbed a wasp nest.  However, these now flew into an ambush.  Expecting (indeed counting upon) just such a reaction from the Indonesians, the OCDF had sent two C-130J-30 Hercules transports to accompany each of the two Wedgetails operating in support.  However, these were no ordinary Hercules.  Each had been specially modified to deploy Meteor ELRAAMs from its rear.  The Meteors had been offered a few years earlier when the second batch of Gripens had been purchased - now they found their first use.  As soon as each missile was deployed, it quickly fired a booster motor (specially fitted to build up the speed before the ramjet took over) and was guided using inputs from the Wedgetails’ radar.  The effect would be devastating, with in excess of 80 missiles in the air at one time - virtually all the Indonesian fighters were shot down before they even had a chance to realise what was going on.  Upon their return, the crews of the Hercules quickly re-designated their aircraft as FC-103Js and painted kill markings on the sides.

As soon as the Meteors had done their work, the OCDF followed up by sending a large number of MQ-9 UAVs over to patrol Indonesian airspace around the island of Timor.  Each of these was armed with a pair of AGM-119 Penguin ASMs and four AIM-132 ASRAAMs to help prevent any further Indonesian aerial or seaborne incursions to the main landings in Timor...

GTX_Admin:
Battle of Dili

…whilst the aerial decimation of the TNI-AU took place (and it continued as OCDF and Singaporean aircraft continued to launch sorties against the TNI-AU airbases), the OCDF also initiated the invasion/liberation of Timor.  Because of the nature of the Indonesian invasion and the previous problems encountered years earlier, it had been decided to occupy the whole of the island rather than simply liberate East Timor.  The first phase though would be the capture of the main airport at Dili.

However, because the airport was strongly defended, the OCDF knew they would need some serious firepower.  Therefore, on the evening of the 25th December, the East Timorese people received a Christmas present as 4 OCDF C-17s and 12 C-130Js came in low and fast.  Using a special version of the LAPES (Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System), each C-17 dropped a single M1A1 tank whilst each C-103J dropped a single ASLAV.  Meanwhile a large number of helicopters (mainly MRH-90 Wombats and UH-60 Black Hawks) from the OCS Kokoda (rapidly brought into service using a combination of OCDF and contractor crews), OCS Manoora and OCS Canterbury also descended on the airport.  Supporting the transport helicopters (which now flew sortie after sortie between the ships and Dili) were a number of the OCDF’s Tiger ARH attack helicopters and a small number of the new AH-90 Devil (as in Tasmanian Devil) assault helicopter (this later beast was essentially a MRH-90 with the cockpit replaced by the tandem seat arrangement and nose cannon of the Tiger ARH – it was also referred to as the ‘Euro-Hind’).

As darkness descended, the battle around Dili Airport increased in intensity…

GTX_Admin:
The Fighting Continues

…Over the next 4 days, the battle for Dili Airport ranged.  The OCDF received a major shock when it was discovered that the Japanese/Indonesians had both armour and helicopter support in place.  This, in the form of Type 90 and T-72M1 (the Indonesians had quietly purchased a number of these from the Russians) tanks as well as APCs of various forms plus Kawasaki OH-1, Fuji Heavy Industries AH-1S Cobras and AH-64Ds combat helicopters, was a painful experience.  A number of ASLAVs and two M1A1s were destroyed in the battle for Dili before the offending tanks were destroyed.

With the airport in OCDF hands, more reinforcements were rapidly flown in.  Though this was in no way an easy activity as the surrounding area was still occupied.  The effect of this was shown dramatically when a C-17 was hit by a SAM upon approach.  Although able to crash onto the airfield, it was unable to leave and in fact was shortly destroyed by mortar fire.

In an effort to unbalance the enemy and to help relieve pressure on Dili, during the night of New Year’s eve, the OCDF quickly launched a new operation far to the west near Kupang.  This involved a para-drop by forces from mainly New Zealand and Australia supported by a number of Tiger and Devil helicopters.  The OCDF Navy also got involved with a contingent of landing craft escorted by surviving patrol boats delivering some armoured vehicles.  Whilst in no way able to take the capital of East Nusa Tenggara (West Timor), this force did cause the Indonesians/Japanese to waver.

Meanwhile in the air over (and more often than not, amongst the treetops) Timor, helicopters from both sides fought a vicious air-to air battle …

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page