                The Battle of the Nicobar Islands
                       By:  M.C. Schroeder

  During the CIS/NATO war of the late 1990's several third world
countries attempted to take advantage of the conflict to further
their own agendas.  An example of this is the case of the Republic
of India (ROI).  During the first weeks of the war the CIS had
seemed to be remarkably successful against the initially poorly
prepared and uncoordinated Western forces.  Following the news of
the apparent capture of the Azores (See HDS2MS03), the Dardenelles
(See HDS3MS02) and significant portions of Norway (see HDS1MS01)
and Germany, the ROI decided to jump in on the apparently winning
side.  However, this bold move was a bit premature (Never believe
the AgitProp of a country eager to obtain you as a cobelligerent).
While in the short term the ROI managed to gobble up some small
islands in the Indian Ocean (e.g., The Maldives), in the long term
all they really managed to accomplish was to buy into the eventual
losing side of a long war of attrition.

  The initiation of hostilities by the ROI could not have come at a
worst time for the West.  The closing of the Suez Canal due to
fighting in the Med left only the routes via the Cape of Good Hope
and the Indian Ocean (IO) available for the transport of oil.  The
Western Alliance had no choice but to move quickly to secure these
remaining SLOCs and to punish the ROI.  A USN CVBG would have been
perfect for the task, however the remaining CV's were busy
elsewhere.  As a substitute, the USN and RAN formed a strong SAG
('Task Force Siva') to take on the ROI in its own neighborhood.
This group transited from Australia to the IO via the Straits of
Malacca.  The ROI was given advance warning of this move by the
CIS (who provided very little else other than some minor Maritime
Air units based at Calcutta) and attempted to ambush the western
SAG with a CVHBG as it entered the IO.  However, the USN/RAN had
been reading the ROI naval codes for about a generation and turned
this planned ambush into a Indian debacle.  This initial phase of
the struggle for control of the IO is the subject of this scenario.

  Blue Victory Conditions:
    Minimum:   Damage 2 bases to > 50%
               or
               Sink 1 ROI CVH.

    Total:     Sink 2 ROI CVH's
               and
               Destroy 2 ROI bases
               and
               Take station off Diego Garcia with 4 ships
               for at least 2 hours.

  Red Victory Conditions:
    Minimum:   Damage Diego Garcia to > 50%
               or
               Sink 2 ships.

    Total:     Sink 4 ships
               and
               Destroy Diego Garcia.

  Designer Notes:  This scenario is unusual in that it starts out
with the USN at an apparent disadvantage.  Western forces lack the
flexibility inherent in the CVH possessed by the ROI and start with
their forces widely separated.  The ROI starts the scenario with
interior lines, superior numbers and air capable ships.  However,
the west has the quality advantage and this can be crucial.
Western forces should try to use their superior equipment to attrite
the ROI down to size.  The ROI on the other hand should mass forces
to deal with one threat at a time.  In either case, I think this
scenario can be challenging and fun.

  With the demise of the HSWBBS, it will be difficult to reach me
with any comments concerning this scenario.  If you have any, send
them to:
                M.C. Schroeder
                24 Pine Knoll Dr.
                Berwick, ME 03901

  Enjoy!  Mike S. (Torr)

Downloaded from Firedrake.org, filename HDS4MS01.
