The Invasion of Greymouth

[powerandpassion]

With the forthcoming invasion of Taiwan, a comfortable armchair and knowledge about the capabilities of F16’s and Shenyang FC31’s, I wonder if knowledgeable forumites can help wargame what will happen. In this case, comparing the geography can help. Taiwan is played by the South Island. This South Island has 26 million people spread out on a 50km thin flat plain that is centred on Greymouth. Tall mountains rise behind this plain and fall directly into the sea. There is no Christchurch, it’s all deep blue Pacific. The nation of Greymouth has an aggressive nieghbour, played by the North Island. It’s Premier, Chairman Miao, stroking the fluffy, white cat in his lap, presses the button on a massive air and missile strike on Greymouth, to destroy all port, road bridge, rail junction, water, sewerage, power and airfield facilities. The riskiest part of this mission is next landing an amphibious invasion force, for without occupying Greymouth, the campaign will fail. The distance the amphibious force must travel is the same as Mt Taranaki to Nelson, and here it is most vulnerable. The weather must be good, and most of the fleet are commandeered ferries carrying occupation troops, LCTs carrying tanks and APCs and, critically, tankers of fuel, enough for three weeks supply. It is most important that port infrastructure and airfields at Greymouth are made serviceable again, to allow resupply and discourage any attempt by Greymouth allies in Sydney (Guam) or the Chatham Islands (Okinawa or Subic Bay) from landing supplies or troops. Sydney and the Chatham Islands are well within missile range of the North Island. The North Islands airfields constitute an unsinkable aircraft carrier. The North Islands submarine fleet makes it exceedingly dangerous for opposing surface fleets. The North Island has been stockpiling raw materials that make it’s war industry impervious to economic boycott. It has produced and stockpiled enough ammunition for a year long campaign, while Greymouth has done the same. If Greymouth falls and is occupied, it will be exceedingly difficult for Sydney and the Chatham Islands to reoccupy Greymouth. All the parties are nuclear equipped and have promised each other mutually assured destruction in response to any first use of nuclear weapons. In accordance with the Geneva Convention, all use of chemical or biological weapons are off the table. Therefore only conventional weapons may be used. You must choose your side, North Island or Greymouth, and work with your published conventional resources and skill to prevail. If Greymouth falls, a light is extinguished, and it’s population turned into slaves. If the North Island is defeated, all its Generals will be cruelly executed!

[davidd]

Does the Geneva Convention not have something to say about hurling nuclear weapons about promiscuously? Or don't they even express an opinion?

[powerandpassion]

Group Captain, while the North Island and, reputedly, Greymouth have nuclear weapons, for this exercise, irrespective of what Convention or Treaty requires, no nuclear weapons will be used in the conflict. This must be an entirely conventional war. Thermobarics and white phosphorus are in the toolkit.