Korea: Summer 2000.

[Rainbow Six]

What Simonmark6 said. You probably know the Aussie Army better than most of us Leg and know how many troops they would be able to send overseas – what you put forward in the Australia thread a couple of weeks ago seems quite plausible to me. I guess the only question would be whether the logistics were in place for the 9th Brigade to be able to relieve the 3rd Brigade...I suppose it depends on when the Indonesians make their move.

Originally Posted by Legbreaker

There's bound to be some indications of Indonesia's intentions beforehand, so we should be able to justify pushing the reserve call up back about 6 months. Perhaps the official explanation, at least the one given to Indonesia anyway, was that it was a response to Australia's UN obligations in Korea, or to help out in Cyprus letting the British got to war in Europe. A bit thin, but aren't most political statements?

The timeline is important here too. 3rd Brigade probably goes over to Korea first and the reserves are called up at the same time to begin training. Recruiting efforts kick into overdrive and maybe conscription sugar coated as a way of reducing unemployment, kick starting the economy or something like that.

Officially the reserves are only supposed to serve inside Australia as a defence only force, somewhat like the WWII militia were supposed to, however once Indonesia makes it's move, 1st (less 1 Armoured Regiment aka Koalas - protected species not allowed outside Australia ) and 7th Brigades are sent into action, 9th Brigade is sent to relieve 3rd in Korea who are brought back home for predeployment training and reaclimatisation for PNG and to give commanders an airborne option (3 Para battalion).

8th, 11th and 13th Brigades are deployed to the north of the country while 4th and 5th Brigades (plus the Koalas) are kept as "strategic reserve" but sent into disaster relief duties when the nukes hit.

3rd Brigade may not make it to PNG but could be redirected as a "fire brigade" at home.

[Legbreaker]

Well, that's half the problem. A year or so back I was all about minimal Australian presence in Korea, yet lately I've gone the other way. Both approaches seem to have equally valid logic behind them.

Hmm, Might work and publish both options...

[simonmark6]

More choice is always better: I prefer a shopping list to mix and match my scenarios rather than a one size fits all prescription. I would definitely like to see both alternatives.

[StainlessSteelCynic]

Originally Posted by Legbreaker

Well, that's half the problem. A year or so back I was all about minimal Australian presence in Korea, yet lately I've gone the other way. Both approaches seem to have equally valid logic behind them.

Hmm, Might work and publish both options...

WHAT?!
You mean you've changed your ideas! And I thought you were simply stuck forever in your fossilized state of mind...

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Here's an idea I just had...for good or ill:

You know how the Soviets were calling on their "Socialist brothers" and stripping divisions in Eastern Europe to throw into the meat-grinder of the Siberian front? What if the Chinese were doing the same with the North Koreans? A little tit-for-tat, we-saved-your-bacon-in-'48-now-pony-up action?

Given that the west was using the Sino-Soviet war as a proxy war, providing our Most Favored Nation Trading partner with weapons and ammo, gleefully watching them smash the Soviets (and vice-versa) I'm wondering if the Chinese wouldn't take the heat off of S.Korea by thinning out a potentially ambitious North Korea by "asking" for a few divisions to plug the lines.

Until the nukes fly in '97, this would leave the Korean Peninsula relatively quiet and keep the NKs from getting too ambitious without their Chinese masters keeping them from doing something stupid to S.Korea, which might piss off the west and stop the lend-lease from flowing in.

[Webstral]

I don’t know what things look like in v2 and later, but in the v1 chronology it’s pretty clear that the North Koreans are clients of the Soviets. I have no doubt that the Soviets encouraged the North Koreans to invade the ROK as a means of diverting American resources that might otherwise be sent to Europe or the Middle East.

[Legbreaker]

Yes, in reality, North Korea drifted out of the Chinese sphere of influence and more into the Soviet. The vast majority of NK equipment came from the Soviets, even though the two countries had somewhat of a falling out in the 70's (I think it was).

The North Korean invasion of South Korea in December 1996 could have been prompted and encouraged by the Soviets to help stem the build up of Nato forces in Europe where the Pact forces were a little light on the ground at the time.

[boogiedowndonovan]

Originally Posted by Webstral

I don’t know what things look like in v2 and later, but in the v1 chronology it’s pretty clear that the North Koreans are clients of the Soviets. I have no doubt that the Soviets encouraged the North Koreans to invade the ROK as a means of diverting American resources that might otherwise be sent to Europe or the Middle East.

well, V2.2 BYB says that the newly reunified Republic of Korea came to the assistance of the Chinese early in the war and suffered accordingly.

It does not mention how the reunification occured, but I would assume that it was peaceful.

I don't remember what V2.0 says, my copy is buried away under some boxes.

[Legbreaker]

V2.0 BYB says exactly the same thing, word for word.
However, I'm of a mind to simply ignore that single paragraph and take note of the information given in the various vehicle guides. Korea might be unified in 2000, but it seems near impossible for it to happen in time for them to do much to help China.
South Korea on the other hand with it's strong and vital military industry is well positioned to supply China with equipment. Makes sense really as they've then got a "testing ground" right next door so to speak to see how their weaponry stands up to Soviet/North Korean gear and make adjustments accordingly.