Command: Modern Operations Command:MO LIVE - Spratly Spat

Command: Modern Operations Command:MO LIVE - Spratly Spat is a modern naval scenario about a confrontation in the Spratly Islands. You command either Chinese forces or a regional coalition supported by the United States, as they contest control of the South China Sea.

The Spratly dispute

China seeks to protect sea lines of communication linking it with the Middle East and Africa, and has expanded and modernized its navy for that purpose. It has also challenged neighboring countries over South China Sea islands and atolls, carrying out land reclamation that has turned deserted atolls into air bases and ports. The Spratly Islands offer a strategic position from which to influence the wider sea and project power farther south.

Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei all claim territory in the Spratlys. Vietnam lost a naval skirmish over South Johnson Reef in 1988, while the Philippines later won a challenge to China’s territorial claims, a result China ignored. China relies on a post-World War II map’s nine-dash line to claim maritime territory almost as far as Indonesia, and its military strength gives it leverage over the smaller regional powers.

The United States has supported its regional allies, but its military commitments in the Middle East, election-year politics and uncertainty over China policy have limited its involvement. US warships, including a carrier group, have made temporary freedom-of-navigation passages through the region, but the scenario asks whether a united regional force with limited US assistance could challenge the Chinese Navy and deter further expansion.

Choose a side

As the Chinese side, you may attack only surface ships and submarines that violate Spratly waters in zones V1–V4. If attacked, you may engage all known air and sea targets in the region, but may not strike land bases or facilities outside the Spratlys.

As TF Guardian, you may engage all known air and sea targets in the region if attacked, but may not strike land bases or facilities outside the Spratly Islands.

Chinese forces

The Chinese order of battle includes the Liaoning Carrier Strike Group, with the carrier Liaoning, eight J-15 multirole fighters, four J-15S multirole fighters, four Z-F18FQ ASW helicopters and four Z-18YJ AEW aircraft. Its escorts and support ships are Changsha, a Type 052D destroyer carrying one Z-9C ASW helicopter; Shenyang, a Type 052C destroyer; Wuhan, a Type 052B destroyer; Sanya and Hengshui, Type 054A frigates, each carrying one Z-9C ASW helicopter; Chaohu, a Type 093A replenishment ship; and the Type 056A frigates Jingmen and Suqian. The force also includes one submarine, an SSK or SSK to be assigned later.

Supporting air forces include:

• Yaxian-Sanya Air Base: 14 JH-7A attack aircraft
• Woody Island Airstrip: 12 J-11BH Flanker B multirole aircraft
• Lingshui Air Base: 14 J-8F fighters
• Haikou Airport: four Y-8Q Cub ASW aircraft and three Y-8X Cub MPA aircraft
• Guiping Mengshu Air Base: six HY-6D tankers and 20 H-6G/M Badger bombers

TF Guardian forces

TF Guardian’s ships are BRP Gregorio Del Polar, a Hamilton Class High Endurance Cutter carrying one Bo-105C ASW helicopter; HQ Dinh Tien Houang, a Gepard frigate; KD Lekiu, a frigate carrying one Lynx Mk 300; KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda, a Sigma frigate carrying one AS535 ASW helicopter; ROC Ma Kong, a Kidd destroyer carrying two S-70C ASW helicopters; ROC Wu Yi, a Wu Yi replenishment ship; RSS Tenacious, a Formidable frigate carrying one S-70B ASW helicopter; and USS Chung Hoon, an Arleigh Burke Flight IIA destroyer carrying two MH-60R ASW helicopters. The force also has two SSN or SSK submarines to be assigned later.

Supporting air forces include:

• RMAF Labuan: 14 Hawk 208 multirole fighters, eight SU-30MKM Flanker G multirole fighters, eight F/A-18D Hornet multirole fighters and two KC-130T tankers
• Antonio Bautista Air Base: 12 F/A-18C Hornet multirole fighters, four EA-6B Prowler jamming aircraft and two KC-130J tankers
• Bien Hoa Air Base: 14 SU-30MK2V Flanker multirole fighters
• Phang Rang Air Base: 14 SU-22M-4K Fitter attack aircraft
• Phu Cat Air Base: six SU-27SK fighters
• Beneto Ebeun Air Base: six Orion P-3C AIP aircraft