Theatre Intel Thread: - Korea

[Labyrinth]

To:  General Adams - USPACOM Operational HQ, Camp LaGuardia, Seoul

From:  Director Reynolds - CIA, Langley, Virginia, USA

General, I am sure by now you have heard todays news and seen that the information relating to the North Korean aircraft that we engaged in October has somehow been leaked to the press.  I wouldn't be too concerned about North Korean propaganda, but I was somewhat alarmed to read the same story in the pages of USA Today and SNN.  I'm preparing a press statement about the issue, stating that we will be launching an inquest into these claims.  I don't think we can deny the incident, but without hard proof that it was not a civilian aircraft that was shot down, we're going to generate a wave of negative criticism of our involvement in Korea. 

I want you to divert some of your SF units to try and trace the wreckage of the aircraft.  Use any resources you deem necessary, but keep it very low profile.  If we're found out, it could be deemed as hostile action by the North Koreans, and we need a leg up at the moment, not more bad press.  If the North haven't removed all the evidence, hopefully we can still manage to find something tangible to back up our claims.   I also want a detailed analysis of the cockpit voice recording from that F-16 at the time of the kill.   In the mean time, I want all Coalition aircraft operating in that area to be equiped with and use video recording equipment to prevent this happening again.

Brief me on your progress as soon as possible.

[Labyrinth]

56415656933311DECRYPT SECURE TRANSMISSION > FOLLOWS:

From: General Adams – USPACOM Operational HQ, Camp LaGuardia, Seoul

To: Director Reynolds, CIA, Langley, Virginia, USA

 I’ve recently received the cockpit voice recording analysis from Osan.  Aircraft Oscar-Sierra Zero Four Three, callsign Pegasus Four Three, was piloted by Lt. J. Wheeler, who fired an AMRAAM at what was believed to be an enemy aircraft.  Looking at the transcript,  Lt. Wheeler used the term “Bogey dope”, meaning he requested further data on a radar contact he had, as he was unable to identify it.   Tactical Air Control then identified the bogey as “Bandit”, which means they must have had some kind of reference to indicate the aircraft was hostile.  They responded almost immediately – could they have acted hastily and made a mistake?  Or was it Lt. Wheeler who clearly states “Playtime three minutes to Joker”?  This means he had three minutes left in the combat zone before his fuel became critical and he would be forced to return to base.  Could he have reacted hastily knowing that the bandit may have got away if he didn’t engage?  Or was he in pursuit of his own glory for scoring a combat kill? 

Personally, I don’t believe that Lt. Wheeler was at fault; he acted on the information given to him by TAC and given the time delay in his transmission, it’s estimated that he was still at least four miles away from the other aircraft when he engaged it.   He couldn’t have necessarily made an accurate identification from that range, and so he could only rely on command to confirm the target.  He would have known he’d hit the target from the smoke trail.

This leads us on to the conclusion that, if the bogey was in fact a civilian aircraft, the error in target analysis was made by TAC.  We’ve checked their recorded data, and it does indeed appear that it was a hostile aircraft.  It wasn’t registered on any civilian databases, even in Korea, and actually appeared to be of Russian origin.  The bandit had the signature of an Antonov AN-2 Colt.  This is the aircraft that the North Koreans say was shot down, but we’ve seen them being used in the past to insert special forces.  I enclose a picture taken three years ago by a USMC UH-1N that shadowed a similar aircraft, further East, for two hours. 



I have every reason to suspect that this is what we shot down.  We just need to find some kind of proof.  I’ve directed resources towards establishing this evidence as soon as possible, and will keep you informed of our progress.

[Labyrinth]

To: General Adams - USPACOM Operational HQ, Camp LaGuardia, Seoul

From: Brigadier Lewis - 4th BCT, 10th Mountain Div., Fort Campbell, Pyongyang

Subject: Sitrep from FOB Fort Campbell

Until about a month ago, the garrison force at Fort Campbell was continuing on duties to provide Coalition patrols in Pyongyang, ensuring an allied presence in the area to prevent rioting and insurgencies. Our hearts and minds campaign here was moving along slowly but surely, with a few locals coming round to our way of doing things, but there was still a lot of unrest in the area; there were even some completely self-funded insurgencies rising up from small sheer groups loyal to the old regime.

The whole deal with this air engagement has really poured fuel on the fire and now we've got what looks at a glance like a full scale insurgency in this zone.  Two weeks ago we had a routine patrol out in Pyongyang, when they came under applied firepower.  They sustained some casualties, but were coping until a cut-off force came in and closed the ambush.  It was a bloodbath, with only a small flanking scout-sniper contingent of the unit returning home.  The rest are presently considered MIA as we can’t verify their situation, although reports suggest it's likely they were killed.  This has caused a big stir here at Fort Campbell – we hadn’t encountered an organised attack like this in Pyongyang since the garrison force arrived, and humint suggested that this was not the last we would hear of it, and that enemy movements were on the up.

Since then, we've taken a lot of casualties, some of whom we've managed to casevac to South Korea - thankfully none of our air assets have come under direct fire at this time, except when on the ground. 

The situation has gotten progressively worse – in the last week our patrols have required double the numbers of men with double the firepower to cover an area half the size, and LRRP is pretty much impossible now due to the new insurgency.  Presently, our LOE's have now been pushed right back - growing numbers of insurgents in the area has meant that we have had to increase perimeter defences rather than extending patrols.  Previous intel pointed towards enemy manoeuvres to the North-East of Pyongyang, but now it seems like the attacks are coming in from all sides.

General, I'm very concerned about this sudden increase in hostility towards our activities here. We can hold our own in the immediate future, but should our supplies stop coming through, there is every possibility that we could loose the position here within a fortnight.

I will keep you informed if the situation deteriorates further.

[Labyrinth]

To: General Adams - USPACOM Operational HQ, Camp LaGuardia, Seoul

From: Master Sergeant Bud Jackson, attached to 3rd Armoured Cavalry Regiment, to the North of Yonchon, on the DMZ, South Korea


General, our intelligence personnel have been examining the satellite photographs we’ve had sent through from the CIA.  We’ve all been concerned by an unequal number of tunnel entrances North of the DMZ compared to South.  There is an extra tunnel entrance surrounded by mining equipment across the border from our position here near Yonchon, which doesn’t appear on the satellite image from six months ago.  Seismograph measurements indicate that it is likely that the tunnel extends beneath the DMZ, but has not yet been pushed through.  I’ve got a unit of M-1’s at each existing tunnel entrance to effectively prevent them being used, but we don’t know if, when or where any new tunnel will emerge. 

We’ve sent a few men down into the tunnels, but they’ve all been ordered not to proceed into North Korea presently, in case insurgents had planted a similar surprise at the other end.  The interiors of the tunnels appear to have no defences.  Some are large enough to move tanks through; others contain underground railways.  We’re determined to halt any attack before it starts, and I believe we have enough firepower here to cope.

I was more concerned by some other news I just received from the D-boys who came to us to re-supply before continuing to look for that plane.  They said that they’d been out over the border when they’d picked up an enemy comms signal.  The frequency was slightly outside that normally used by North Korea in the past, and three members of the group identified that the language being spoken was Mandarin.  Mandarin, Sir, that’s Chinese.  Why are they speaking Chinese?

I will send further reports as events unfold.

[Labyrinth]

To:  Brigadier Lewis - 4th BCT, 10th Mountain Div., FOB Fort Campbell, Pyongyang

From:  General Adams - USPACOM Operational HQ, Camp LaGuardia, Seoul


URGENT:
Be advised: Sig Int has received word that enemy radio communications have been intercepted spoken in Mandarin Chinese language.  I wanted you to know this as it could explain a thing or two about your new insurgency.  Please note nothing is confirmed at this stage, but be prepared as we may get more than we bargained for in Pyongyang.

[Labyrinth]

From: 1 Sergent Major Geert Keppens, UN Outpost 34, DMZ

To: Adjudant Chef Klaartje De Decker, UN Frontline HQ, Munsan, South Korea


Adjudant, I am arranging the transporting of a North Korean woman to you presently.  We have had her in our outpost being interrogated for the last three weeks.  We got out of her that she is an informant, and she seems to be giving all sorts of valuable intelligence, having lived in the region of a North Korean weapons plant and nearby encampment, as I understand.  I will send you the full details shortly, but it looks as if she is prepared to help us, so please expect her on the next Chinook to land in Munsan tomorrow.

1 SM Keppens

[Labyrinth]

56415656933311DECRYPT SECURE TRANSMISSION > FOLLOWS:

From: General Adams – USPACOM Regional Command, Camp LaGuardia, Seoul

To: Director Reynolds, CIA, Langley, Virginia, USA
Cc: Sir Jonathan Brockenhurst, SI7 HQ, London

Subject:  Fallen Promise Debrief and current Theatre SitRep


Please pass on my thanks to Colonel Costigan for the part that his unit played in Fallen Promise – we’d have struggled without them according to Brigadier Lewis, who assures me that an allied foothold in Pyongyang has now been regained.  The 10th Mountain Div. are now carrying out routine patrols again, with the additional objective to find and secure any weapons caches they may come across.  Task Force Black were able to secure about 50% of these during their actions in the area two weeks ago.  The US, UK and Russian embassies were also secured, and the respective ambassadors are all safe. 

North Korean movements seemed to focus around their own embassy and that of the Chinese (adding to the speculation of Chinese involvement in North Korea), and there are still troops there presently who will engage allied soldiers if they approach, although we can generally move around these areas without sustaining contact.  There are a few die-hards in the city keeping my boys on their toes, however on the whole, it seems that the majority of North Korean forces have withdrawn from Pyongyang for the time being.

Finally, I wish to mention that I was personally informed by Col. Costigan that a briefcase from a British agent was recovered in the city, that contained documents confirming the involvement of both Russia and China in this war.  I’ve been informed that the UN have come by a North Korean informant who may have more information on this, but we can only hope at this stage.  While the evidence points to foreign involvement, I personally have not seen any hard proof of this so far, and would be grateful if you could inform me when such proof is acquired, so that we can be prepared and I can ensure that our Int personnel are properly briefed.

[Labyrinth]

From:  Sir Jonathan Brockenhurst, SI7 HQ, London

To:  Director Reynolds, CIA, Langley, Virginia, USA

From information obtained on Operation Fallen Promise, I report that as of 20.47hrs last night, we can officially confirm that North Korea has been receiving foreign assistance in the form of military adivsors, weapons platforms, vehicles and logistical equipment, and several thousand cases of assault rifles and RPG's, and the chinese equivelents of an as yet unconfirmed type of surface-to-air missile system.

Please ensure that this information is passed to the relevant heads of department in Korea at USPACOM and our Coalition and UN HQ's.  Be advised that at this stage, security clearance for this information will be on a need-to-know basis only, until we can formulate more specific battle plans incorporating this information.  General clearance will be given in due course at a time that is deemed appropriate.

[Labyrinth]

From:  Adjudant Chef Klaartje De Decker, UN Frontline HQ, Munsan, South Korea

To:  General Adams – USPACOM Regional Command, Camp LaGuardia, Seoul


General, please find my brief concerning the informant we have acquired.  I will await your word on whether or not to send her back into North Korea in an intelligence gathering role.  I hasten to point out that she has come to us seeking asylum and she may be killed if she ventures north of the border again.

She says that the North are building SAM's, possibly Chinese copies of a Russian or Western design.  I have my best intelligence operatives working on finding an exact or approximate type match as we speak, and I will forward you our findings in due course.  She also says that there are some much larger missiles being designed, probably a continuation of the North Korean Taepo-Dong missile project.  She says these are a long way from being ready, so perhaps we can stamp this out before it becomes a problem.  I look forward to hearing your views.

Adj. Chef De Decker (f.)


North Korean Defector Profile:

Name: Tysanne Ling
Sex: Female
Age: 27 yrs

Miss Ling never liked the North Korean regime, having been forced into National Service.  In the end, she resorted to using the combat skills that she had gained to overpower a sentry post on the DMZ and flee to the South.

Miss Ling comes from the township of Kananyangpo, about 20 miles from Olchon.  After escaping across the DMZ, she turned herself in to a UN outpost in South Korea, where she was incorrectly charged with working as a spy for North Korea.  She was initially maltreated, but began giving more information than was requested during interrogation, and eventually was cleared of the charges on the basis that she worked as an informant for the Coalition.

She knows nothing of the North Korean aircraft except that they do exist and are being used.  However, she was able to reveal the location of a North Korean underground munitions factory near Olchon, the entrance of which was later confirmed on satellite photographs.  The black-box flight recorder data recovered from Flt. Lt. Wilson’s F-18 confirms that this is the one he sighted before being shot down nearly 18 months ago.

The factory is producing both surface-to-air and ballistic missiles.  From the detailed descriptions given by Miss Ling, these are initially suspected to be copies of MIM-172 SAMs, and Taepo-Dong ballistic missiles.  The former is of little threat, but could still pose a danger to low flying aircraft and jeopardise our fast air capability and helo supply drops.  The latter is only in initial development stages, but when ready could bring mainland Japan into range of North Korean strikes, possibly even Alaska.  These missiles would be required to be moved to specific launch sites after completion, as the factory area is not suitable for such a purpose.

It is suspected that the MIM-172 design specifications could have been granted by China, although we are still looking for a way to confirm this.

[Labyrinth]

From:  Adjudant Chef Klaartje De Decker, UN Frontline HQ, Munsan, South Korea

To:  General Adams – USPACOM Regional Command, Camp LaGuardia, Seoul


General, please forward this file on to all ranking personnel at USPACOM and Allied Intelligence Services.  Our Int. team here have examined the information given by Tysanne Ling and cross-referenced her descriptions with known SAM systems delivered to China in the the last 30 years.  The description doesn't fit that of a Russian SAM system, which usually utilise free-standing missiles, and after careful investigation it has been confirmed that there is an 89% probability that the SAMs that are being built at the Olchon missile factory are indeed Chinese copies of MIM-172 "Quadrant" missiles.  I enclose a System Datafax for your information.  The missiles aren't advanced, but could still pose a threat to our aircraft.  Couple this with the Taepo-Dong ballistic missiles, this has the potential to be a big issue for us; while none of the missiles are currently in a ready state, I'm sure you'll agree that actions to prevent their completion may need to be taken.

Adj. Chef De Decker (f.)


GRS-1 SA/SM (MIM-172 “Quadrant”)

Approximate dimensions and data

First flight: October 14th 1978
Designer: TARG Weapon Systems, USA
Length: 13.8ft (4.2m)
Width: 8 in (20cm)
Wingspan: 20 in (50cm)
Flight Speed: Mach 2.5
Range: 24km
Motor: Phased solid-fuel rocket motor
Fins: Four forward fins; four aft fins.
Exported and manufactured under license in: Albania, Chad, China, Egypt, Lithuania, Pakistan, Sudan, Slovenia, Turkey



History

Never adopted by US or Coalition forces, the TARG Weapon Systems GRS-1 (more commonly known as the MIM-172 Quadrant) is a multi-mode fin-stabilised phased boost Air Defence / Anti-tank (ADAT) missile, which was developed in response to the United States’ Mutual Defence Assistance Act.  It can carry a variety of different tracking systems, although the majority of these are all but obsolete against 21st century technology.  However, the missile still represents a threat to un-armoured vehicles and has been used to good effect in minor skirmishes across developing nations to knock out fire support units.

Remote control

Quadrant can be piloted via remote control and steered on to target when it’s ALEXA/ALERT targeting computer will take over and guide the missile on to a direct hit.  On-board servos alter the axis of the stabiliser fins, causing a deviation in flight path.  Because of the reliance on radio signals to guide the missile, during this first phase of flight the missile is exceptionally vulnerable to electronic counter-measures.

ALEXA – Aircraft Low Energy X-ray Analysis

An alternative to Infared targeting, Quadrant emits X-ray pulses onto the target, picking up armour or an airframe.  The narrow FOV of the X-ray emitter means that it only becomes effective when pointed at the target.  (Initial guidance is performed by the launch crew using radio control.)  Because the missile aims at an X-ray signature, the missile can usually be diverted using chaff dispensers on board the target vehicle. 

ALERT – Aircraft Low Energy Radar Tracking

An alternative to ALEXA, this system uses active radar tracking, increasing the FOV and producing a system that is much more effective, albeit more expensive.  As a result, this system is the most rarely encountered in service.  While having a much increased hit probability than ALEXA, it is still possible to use chaff to induce a course deviation.

[Labyrinth]

From:  Major General Ng Chee Khern, Chief of Republic of Singapore Air Force (UN Contingent, Osan Air Base, South Korea)

To:  General Adams – USPACOM Regional Command, Camp LaGuardia, Seoul


General, I am pleased to report that one of my pilots may have found you the proof you require, at least in part, to clear the name of the United States after the accusations from North Korea of shooting down unarmed civilian aircraft.  You asked all Coalition and UN aircraft to ensure that the video mode in their flight data recorders was switched on, in the hope that this would provide evidence should we engage any further aircraft.  It seems this plan has worked exactly, in that at 1550 hrs today, one of my pilots, Yew Kuan Fli, who was on a routine photo-reconnaissance mission over the DMZ, picked up a radar blip nearby and turned his RF-5S Tigereye aircraft toward it.  He saw two parachutes come from the aircraft, which he says were munitions drops.  He identified the aircraft as an Antonov AN-2 Colt, the same type that was shot down before, and this one was painted in military camouflage, and had military markings.  He indicated to the aircraft to change course, which it did not, and on acquiring the aircraft in his sights, he fired on the aircraft using 20mm cannon in order to ensure that the video would be able to clearly record the enemy aircraft and his actions.  Make no mistake, General, we have a confirmed enemy aircraft kill, and video evidence to back up our claims.  This is no aid aircraft.  I attach a brief video sequence of the actual kill for your information, in which you can clearly see the distinctive bi-plane configuration which I'm sure you will also identify as an AN-2 Colt.  I look forward to celebrating this victory with you in person when you next visit the base here at Osan.



( Full video playback: http://www.stirlingairsoft.com/g2/d/3743-1/RF-5S_Intercept.wmv? )

[Labyrinth]

From: Sergeant Dave O'Rourke, Delta Force, Location: |||||||||||||  (Decrypt: No)

To: General Adams – USPACOM Regional Command, Camp LaGuardia, Seoul


SECURICOM SERVICES DECRYPTION VERSION 3.1
TIME: 03:31
BURST TRANSMISSION>>>:
TRANSCRIPT ENABLED>>>:
AUTO-REDACT: ON>>>:

General, Sergeant O'Rourke here.  Objective complete sir.  We have found the aircraft at Grid ||||||||,||||||||.  Fuselage mostly survived the fall.  The missile must have stuck a wing.  I'm uploading a photo to you now, taken on the NV camera.  We must have missed this three times; it's so dark out here.  But I trust this is the evidence you need.  We found AK's on board - this was no civvie plane.  Tell |||  ||||||||||| that he's in the clear.  The North's story doesn't hold water now.  We've got the proof.  O'Rourke Out.



<<<TRANSMISSION TERMINATED.

[Labyrinth]

From: General Adams – USPACOM Operational HQ, Camp LaGuardia, Seoul

To: Director Reynolds, CIA, Langley, Virginia, USA

Subject:  Theatre Sitrep - Korea


Well, I'm sure by now you've heard the news about the planes that were shot down - they've both been confirmed as military, so we can finally breathe a sigh of relief on that one.  While it looked for a moment like our overt ops here in Korea were gonna get us a shit storm from the anti-war guys back home and in the North, we've got what we need now to confirm that our presence here is worth it. 

All in all, right now, the campaign couldn't be going better for us.  We've pushed the front line back as far as Pyongyang and even further into the mountains beyond.  We've quelled the rebellions down in the south around the North-South Korean border, and we've even heard reports that all the suspected tunnelling in that area has now ceased - maybe they were too scared to face a company of M1's coming at them!!

We have air superiority over most of North Korea right now, and ground troops have reasonably unimpeded access right up to Pyongyang.  For now, we're holding position and giving the men a chance to recouperate and get their heads together - most of them are pretty new in the area and are still gathering valuable topographical data and searching for weapons caches. 

There is still a lot of guerilla activity further to the North of our positions though.  I know our presence there would be highly unwelcome and any over movements beyond our current positions is likely to result in a slaughter or at best a pyrrhic victory, which wouldn't go down well at all at home.  Can you imagine it?  "Yes Mothers of America, all your sons have died, but we got a flag to show for it!"  I think not.

I'm sure you will pull the right strings in the right places to ensure that the right people are brought into theatre to keep the remainder of the North Korean fighting forces in place, and you know I'm not talking about G.I.'s here.  If the going gets tough, I'll need your help.  Until then, let's celebrate a job well done so far.

[Labyrinth]

From:  General Hill-Fung Yeung, Commander, PLA Forces, New DMZ, China-Korea Border

To:  General Maeng - Staff Officer to North Korean Command, Sinuiju, North-West  North Korea


General, as you doubtlessly know, the new DMZ on the border between our two countries is now in place.  We are keen to ensure that this business with the Americans stays in your country.  We do not intend to bring the war to our lands.  In the unlikely event that Korea should fall, we want the Americans to know that there is a limit to their invasion, and that to go beyond that limit will have serious consequences. 

We understand that the introduction of this new DMZ will be beneficial for you in terms of safeguarding some of your assetts, as emergency assistance from us is not far away should you ever really need it.  I'm sure you know what it is I am referring to and that you will be agreeing with me as you read this.

Doubtlessly the Americans will probably have their ears to the ground and become aware of our actions at some point, so I expect you will want to move your men further North to ensure that Sector 32 is not compromised by 'visitors' when you most require aid from those who wish to keep the USA in its place!

My Captain, Kar-Lock Ho will liase with your Chung-Jang Tam to finalise proceedings, and we should have men in place in exactly one week.  I'll be sending my best, General, mark my words.

[Labyrinth]

From: Director Reynolds, CIA, Langley, Virginia, USA

To: General Adams - USPACOM Operational HQ, Camp LaGaurdia, Seoul


General, we have received word from our SF recon teams in the area that there is a lot of North Korean activity near the new DMZ on the border with China.  We can't confirm just yet, but we suspect that the Koreans will be trying to establish some way of shipping kit across the DMZ.  We don't have the full details at this time but I will brief you as we go. 

We know that some of the assistance the Koreans have been getting is coming from China, and so I shouldn't be surprised if we see some of the chinks helping smuggle supplies across the DMZ into Korea.  Foundation Day is coming up, so I expect they're trying to get it in before then.

I'm sending in Task Force Black to ensure that whatever is going on there, we'll put an end to it if possible.  I also want you to select some of your best to back them up, and send them in too.  This is a black op, General, so please, keep this low profile and send only troops who you have given this kind of mission to before.

The Koreans will be expecting us to hit them in about a week, just before Foundation Day, so I'm deliberately going to send them in before hand, to get on the ground early and take the Koreans by surprise if we can, if they're not already in postion that is....  I want all troops in position by 5 days before Foundation Day at the latest.  Then we will begin a sweep and clear to locate and knock out all North Korean assets in the area.

Let me know when your troops are ready and I will have them met by Task Force Black at an agreed RV beyond our front lines.