0615_01: The Frontier of Freedom (Chinese Intervention) - MC 03 Korea '85

Central Korean Peninsula, June 15th 1985: After ten bloody days of conflict between NATO and the Warsaw Pact in Central Europe, North Korea seizes the opportunity to attack its neighbor during this period of global strife. With the majority of US military assets fixed in the war in Europe, North Korea makes preparation for a well orchestrated invasion. At 0300 on the 15th of June NKPA artillery batteries release a thunderous volley that can be heard for miles as the North Korean People's Army surges across the Demilitarized Zone into the Republic of Korea. At that same moment secret North Korean tunnels that had been dug under the DMZ open releasing columns of NKPA tanks and troops behind enemy lines. Soon after NKPA amphibious units land on South Korean beaches and NKPA airborne units drop behind enemy lines causing havoc and confusion. Yet again South Korea must fight for its right to exist as it makes its defiant stand on the Frontier of Freedom. [Size: very large] Designer's notes: North Korea takes full advantage of its doctrinal shock effect by utilizing tunnels under the Demilitarized Zone and carrying out both airborne and amphibious operations. This confusion cripples the US and ROK chain of command in and around Seoul for much of the first day until the situation can further develop. This scenario adds more strategies and operations that allow the intervention of the Chinese. The first operation is full intervention on July 10th which is the earliest that they will intervene. This also triggers the US VII Corps to arrive from the recently resolved European conflict with replacements. Their rapid theater transfer is made possible through new equipment sent from the United States and other war stock location while the troops were airlifted into Pusan. The other operation is that a gradual intervention where Chinese and US air units arrive first then the ground forces arrive later. This would be useful for if the NKPA is still doing well and you do not want to trigger additional US forces, but the situation turns sour later. The final operation is the limited intervention that sends only additional air forces and supplies to the region. Use this if the NKPA is doing exceptionally well. Of course the length of the scenario is also extended beyond July 10th. The Chinese infantry are some what of an awkward unit compared to anything represented thus far in the Modern Campaigns series. They are relatively weak defensively and can suffer large numbers of casualties when used improperly but they can be a unstoppable juggernaut on the assault. They are also extremely mobile for foot infantry. The Chinese Type 80 tank was released to the press in 1987. It is widely speculated that this tank was in limited service prior to this so it has been included in small numbers in the Chinese elite 1st Tank Division in the Beijing Assault Force. Because of the Type 80's infancy in this operation it is prone to maintenance failures.