[Australia]: Operation Quickstep

[Owen]

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Date:	6th February 2014 - 16th February 2014
Location:	Coral Sea, New Caledonia, Indian Ocean, French Southern Antarctic Lands
Status:	Concluded - Franco-Argentine Peace Treaty

BELLIGERENTS​

Australia Royal Australian Navy Royal Australian Air Force

Argentina

COMMANDERS AND LEADERS​

Dame Quentin Bryce (Governor-General & Commander-in-Chief) Tanya Plibersek (Prime Minister) Anne Aly (Minister for Defence) Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin (Chief of the Defence Force) Vice Admiral David Johnston (Chief of Joint Operations) Vice Admiral Tim Barrett (Chief of Navy) Air Marshal Leo Davies (Chief of Air Force)

Ignacio Herraro (President & Commander-in-Chief) Unknown (Minister of Defence) Admiral Roberto Sobral (Commander of the Navy General Staff)

DEPLOYED FORCES​

Joint Operations Command: -> Fleet Command --> Surface Combatant Group ---> HMAS Melbourne (186x Regular Personnel, 24x SM-2MR Block IIs, 96x RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles, 8x RGM-84 Block II Harpoons, 4x MU90 Impact Torpedoes, 4x Nulka Decoys) ---> HMAS Anzac (163x Regular Personnel, 8x RIM-7 Sea Sparrows, 8x RGM-84 Block II Harpoons, 6x MU90 Impact Torpedoes, 16x Nulka Decoys) ---> HMAS Parramatta (163x Regular Personnel, 8x RIM-7 Sea Sparrows, 8x RGM-84 Block II Harpoons, 6x MU90 Impact Torpedoes, 16x Nulka Decoys) ---> HMAS Supply (122x Regular Personnel, 8,920 cubic metres of ship fuel, 1,585 cubic metres of jet fuel, 215 cubic metres of fresh water, 280 tons of ammunition, and 470 tons of general cargo) ---> HMAS Brisbane (186x Regular Personnel, 24x SM-2MR Block IIs, 96x RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles, 8x RGM-84 Block II Harpoons, 4x MU90 Impact Torpedoes, 4x Nulka Decoys, 24x AN/SLQ-25 Nixie Decoys) ---> HMAS Perth (163x Regular Personnel, 8x RIM-7 Sea Sparrows, 8x RGM-84 Block II Harpoons, 6x MU90 Impact Torpedoes, 16x Nulka Decoys) ---> HMAS Toowoomba (163x Regular Personnel, 8x RIM-7 Sea Sparrows, 8x RGM-84 Block II Harpoons, 6x MU90 Impact Torpedoes, 16x Nulka Decoys) ---> HMAS Stalwart (122x Regular Personnel, 8,920 cubic metres of ship fuel, 1,585 cubic metres of jet fuel, 215 cubic metres of fresh water, 280 tons of ammunition, and 470 tons of general cargo) --> Submarine Group ---> HMAS Collins (58x Regular Personnel, 22x Mark 48 Mod 7 Torpedoes, 2x SSE decoys) ---> HMAS Farncomb (58x Regular Personnel, 22x Mark 48 Mod 7 Torpedoes, 2x SSE decoys) ---> HMAS Sheean (58x Regular Personnel, 22x Mark 48 Mod 7 Torpedoes, 2x SSE decoys) ---> HMAS Rankin (58x Regular Personnel, 22x Mark 48 Mod 7 Torpedoes, 2x SSE decoys) --> Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Group ---> Clearance Diving Team One (30x Regular Personnel onboard HMAS Melbourne) ---> Clearance Diving Team Four (30x Regular Personnel onboard HMAS Brisbane) --> Fleet Air Arm ---> 808 Squadron (4x MRH-90 Taipans, 2 each on HMAS Supply and HMAS Stalwart) ---> 816 Squadon (3x MH-60R Seahawks each on HMAS Melbourne, HMAS Anzac and HMAS Parramatta with 2x Mark 46 Torpedoes, 4x AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles) ---> 817 Squadon (3x MH-60R Seahawks each on HMAS Brisbane, HMAS Perth and HMAS Toowoomba with 2x Mark 46 Torpedoes, 4x AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles) -> Air Command --> Surveillance and Response Group ---> No. 42 Wing ----> No. 2 Squadon (2x E-7A Wedgetails) ----> No. 3 Squadron (2x MC-55A Peregrines) ---> No. 92 Wing ----> No. 10 Squadron (3x P-8A Poseidons, 1x MQ-4C Triton, Poseidons equipped with 5x AGM-84H/K SLAM-ERs on external points and 6x Mark 54 Torpedoes on internal points) --> Air Warfare Centre ---> Information Warfare Directorate ----> No. 87 Squadron (Air Intelligence Analysis) ----> No. 460 Squadron (Geospatial Intelligence Analysis)

Unknown

CASUALTIES AND LOSSES​

None

None

 

[Owen]

The Operation would get underway. The Air Component part would be done secretly. At RAAF Base Edinburgh, 3 P-8A Poseidons would take off fully loaded and with full complement. 2 would head towards RAAF Base Amberley (PF -> QG) near Brisbane and 1 would head towards RAAF Base Pearce (PF -> OF) in Perth. The MQ-4C Triton would also head towards RAAF Base Pearce. One of the MC-55A Peregrines would head towards RAAF Base Pearce (PF -> OF) while the other went towards RAAF Base Amberley (PF -> QG). At RAAF Base Williamtown near Newcastle, the 2 E-7A Wedgetail's would depart, one would head north towards RAAF Base Amberley (QF -> QG) and one would head west towards RAAF Base Pearce (QF -> PF -> OF). This would become their operating bases for the two theares of Surveillance; Pacific and Indian Oceans. It would take some time for all the aircraft to reach their destinations either in Perth or Brisbane.

The fleet elements would get underway. The Surface Force elements would be relatively public as it would be hard to conceal a deployment from Sydney Harbour. The Submarine elements however would remain secretive. At Fleet Base East, HMAS Melbourne, HMAS Anzac, HMAS Parramatta and HMAS Supply would depart HMAS Kuttabul at Potts Point, near the Sydney CBD/Circular Quay. On the north side of the harbour at HMAS Platypus in Neutral Bay, the 2 submarines HMAS Sheean and HMAS Rankin would depart. They would all head east out of the heads of Port Jackson and into the Pacific Ocean. They would head towards New Caledonia (QF -> QG -> RG) the Surface Force would decide to head along the western coast of New Caledonia scouting for Argentine ships while the submarines would steam head go to the north of New Caledonia and head back down along the eastern coast, this would all be done OUTSIDE of the territorial water mark of 12 nautical miles. Anzac and Parramatta would flank Melbourne and Supply would trail behind. The submarines would act with utter silence as they headed near New Caledonia, no loud noises was to be made by the crew inside the submarines and the speed would be kept slow enough that the ambient noise of the ocean was noisier than the subs to avoid detection. The captains of the submarines and ships would be given detailed maps of New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia. The ships would have full complement and full armament for weapons including the missiles and torpedoes listed in the deployment list.

At Fleet Base West, HMAS Brisbane, HMAS Perth, HMAS Toowoomba, HMAS Collins, HMAS Farncomb and HMAS Stalwart would depart HMAS Stirling towards the Kerguelen Islands in the Southern Indian Ocean (OF -> NF -> ME). This would all be done with relative secrecy as HMAS Stirling is on Garden Island south of Perth and is restricted to the public. The Submarines would be completely secret. They would do exactly the same as the submarines from Fleet Base East have done when they get near the Kerguelen Islands, however the group of vessels would all remain relatively close to each other, Perth and Toowoomba would flank Brisbane and Stalwart would trail. Collins would flank Perth and Farncomb would flank Toowoomba. Their operations would be done outside the territorial waters of any country. The captains would be given detailed maps of Saint Paul, Ile Amsterdam, the Crozet Islands and the Kerguelen Islands.

All ships and submarines sensors would be fully on, with full armament as listed in the deployment list and with full rounds of ammunition for those weapons that aren't missiles or torpedoes. They would have onboard the MH-60R Seahawks and MRH-90 Taipans as listed in the deployment list with appropriate aircrew. All ships and submarines would have their full complement of sailors.

 

[Owen]

The Air Force elements would all arrive at their bases. A massive blunder, however, was noticed by Defence planners. The P-8A Poseidon and E-7A Wedgetail did not have the range to reach the Southern Indian Ocean nor did the Boeing 707 Aerial Refuellers have the range to refuel them. This blunder was kept strictly confidential and classified and the planes would remain at RAAF Base Pearce as a backup. The crews would be told to get some R&R and enjoy Perth. Luckily, the MC-55A Peregrine with a range of 12,500km and the MQ-4C Triton an unmanned aerial vehicle with a range of practically the entire world (15,000km) so far as it has an endurance of 30 hours would be suitable for the mission. This would mean they would have SIGINT/ELINT capacity and surface surveillance capacity but not a strike or air surveillance capacity as provided by the Poseidon and Wedgetail.

The MQ-4C Triton would take off from RAAF Base Pearce fully fueled, being remotely controlled from operators at RAAF Base Edinburgh. They would climb it to 55,000 feet and at a speed of 610km/h. The AN/ZPY-3 Multi-Function Active Sensor X-Band AESA Radar would be active with 360 degree coverage. As the Triton is semi-autonomous, the operators would set all those controls and the area it is to head to (Kerguelen Islands, OF -> NE -> ME), this would be to preserve manpower required. The ESM Suite would also be switched on to listen to radar signals, including the faintess of ones. As it takes 3 hours to get there and 3 hours to get back with an endurance of 30 hours the Triton would spend 24 hours circling the seas around the Kerguelen, Crozet, Ile Amsterdam and Saint Paul Islands, all information and intelligence collected would be preserved for intelligence analysis to comb thrrough. Members of No. 87 Squadron would be presence in the command centre at RAAF Base Edinburgh to dissect and analyse intelligence collected.

The MC-55A Peregrine would also take off from RAAF Base Pearce fully fueled with its crew onboard and head towards the Kerguelen Islands (OF -> NE -> ME). All sensors and electronic warfare and signals intelligence suites would be active. It would climb to 51,000 feet and go at a speed of 0.8 mach. With an endurance of 15 hours it would spend 9 hours around the Kerguelen, Crozet, Ile Amsterdam and Saint Paul Islands before heading back to RAAF Base Pearce. It would have a signals intelligence range of 400km. Both aircraft would arrive before the fleets and would give forward reconnaissance to the fleets.

Over at RAAF Base Amberley, one P-8A Poseidon would be prepared and fully fueled and with the armaments listed in the deployment list with its full crew. The Raytheon APY-10 Multi-mission Surface Search Radar, AN/ALQ-240 Electronic Support Measures Suite, APS-149 Littoral Surveillance Radar System and all other sensors and radars would be switched on. It would climb to 30,000 feet and would cruise at 815km/h. It would head to New Caledonia from QG -> RG. The crew would be monitoring the whole time as they head towards New Caledonia. With a combat radius of 2,222km, they would be ordered to fly from the southern end of New Caledonia, go up the east coast and back down the west coast before flying back to Amberley, taking pictures of the Argentine ships and monitoring surface and underwater vessels. The crew would be alert at all times monitoring the sea and air with their respective sensors. Two members of the crew would be looking outside the huge windows on either side of the plane, taking down notes of what they saw and also taking pictures along with having pairs of binoculars at the ready.

The E-7A Wedgetail at Amberley would also take off fully fueled and with its full crew, heading to New Caledonia (QG -> RG). All sensors and radars would be switched on including the Northrop Grunman AESA Radar in look down mode. It would climb to 41,000 feet and would travel at a speed of 850km/h. With a bit more generous range of 6,500km, meaning it would have a combat radius of 3,250km. It would make a couple of sweeps around New Caledonia before heading back to RAAF Base Amberley, searching for sea and air targets. The crew would be alert at all times monitoring the sea and air with their respective sensors.

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E-7A Wedgetail Crew Patch​	P-8A Poseidon Crew Patch​

@Naio90

 

[Owen]

Over the Southern Indian Ocean the MC-55A Peregrine would arrive near the Kerguelen Islands, still in international airspace though. The pilots would spot the Argentine Fleet of 1 Frigate and 1 Replenishment Ship off the coast of Kerguelen Islands (https://modernnations.com/threads/argentina-operations-against-france.7744/#post-32155) however they wouldn't have landed any forces on the island yet.

"Yeah we see them." They would radio back to RAAF Base Pearce.

The Co-Pilot would bring out a pair of binoculars to look closer at them.

"One smaller combat-like ship and a larger supply-like ship." They would radio back.

The Captain would switch frequencies to radio down to the Argentine ships.

"Argentine Naval Vessels, this is the Royal Australian Air Force. We are conducting surveillance operations in international waters and are operating with due regard as required under international law. You are currently 450 kilometres north-west of the Australian territory of Heard and McDonald Islands. We have no plans to infringe on your right to continue with your operations in the Southern Indian Ocean, but are merely observing the military movements which are close to our territory. A fleet of Royal Australian Navy vessels will be arriving in this area shortly to help with surface-level surveillance. Please contact us if you have any concerns. Repeat, we have no plans to infringe on your right to continue your operations and we will remain in international airspace and operate with due regard as required under international law."

The pilot would radio the crew in the back of the aircraft. "Begin operations."

The crew inside the aircraft would begin getting all their SIGINT and ELINT sensors up and running and the operators would begin to intercept any signals coming from the Argentine naval vessels. They would listen in carefully to all radio communications coming from the vessels. The aircraft would continue making a circle loop in international airspace around the Kerguelen Islands until the fuel got to a level that required 3 hours to return to RAAF Base Pearce.

The MQ-4C Triton would also arrive near the Kerguelen Islands. Its radar would be picking up the movements of the Argentine naval vessels. It would fly directly over the vessels but at 56,000 feet in the air. It would begin taking detailed and high resolution images of the naval vessels as it flew over them and relay them straight back to RAAF Base Edinburgh. The Air Intelligence Analysts would analyse the images.

"One Admiral Gorshkov-class Frigate and one Replenishment Ship. There appears to be a helicopter onboard the frigate." The intelligence analysts would relay this information to the ships and submarines near the islands.

Once the MQ-4C Triton was done taking images of the Argentine ships it would head westwards towards the Crozet Islands.

HMAS Brisbane, HMAS Perth, HMAS Toowoomba, HMAS Collins, HMAS Farncomb and HMAS Stalwart would arrive near the islands coming from the north-east, remaining in international waters. The two submarines Collins and Farncomb would head south to scout the southern coastline of the Kerguelen Islands. The 4 surface vessels would head along the north-western coastline where the Argentine vessels would presumably be (stated they were coming from Crozet), they would keep a safe distance of 18km away from the Argentine vessels, still enough to see them on the horizon but a safe distance as to not be perceived as a threat. HMAS Brisbane's captain would contact the Argentine vessels.

"Argentine naval vessels, this is HMAS Brisbane along with HMAS Perth, HMAS Toowoomba and HMAS Stalwart, we are conducting surveillance missions in the Southern Indian Ocean as per our commitment to protecting the territory of Heard and McDonald Islands. We will be monitoring your movements but we will not interfere with your operations unless they directly endanger our vessels or aircraft. To build a level of trust between us, I will reveal that I am a Hobart-Class Destroyer and Perth and Toowoomba are both Anzac-Class Frigates. Stalwart is a Supply-Class Replenishment Vessel. Myself, Perth and Toowoomba are all armed but we will not fire unless fired upon. This is the direct orders I have been given from the Minister for Defence." The ships would continue transversing along the north-western side of the Kerguelen Islands while remaining the 18km distance from the Argentine ships. They would be scanning the sea and the sky for all aircraft and vessels. Sonars will be attempting to pick up any submarine movements as well.

Meanwhile near New Caledonia the P-8A Poseidon and E-7A Wedgetail would both arrive near New Caledonia in formation, near the southern tip near Noumea and where the Argentine vessels would be. The E-7A Wedgetail would begin picking up the ships on radar and the P-8A Poseidon would also as well. From the big windows on the P-8A Poseidon two operators would be looking out of them, they would be taking notes of the ships and would use binoculars to get a better look. They would also take pictures of the vessels when the clouds were clear. They would note there are two frigate-like vessels and a replenishment-like vessel sitting outside of New Caledonia's territorial waters.

The P-8A Poseidon would radio the Argentine vessels. "Argentine Naval Vessels, this is the Royal Australian Air Force. We are conducting surveillance operations in international waters and are operating with due regard as required under international law. You are currently 1,000 kilometres east of the Australian territory of the Coral Sea Islands and roughly 1,500km east of the Australian mainland. We have no plans to infringe on your right to continue with your operations in the Pacific Ocean, but are merely observing the military movements which are close to our territory. A fleet of Royal Australian Navy vessels will be arriving in this area shortly to help with surface-level surveillance. Please contact us if you have any concerns. Repeat, we have no plans to infringe on your right to continue your operations and we will remain in international airspace and operate with due regard as required under international law."

The P-8A Poseidon would continue around the southern tip, heading up the eastern coast and back down the western coast before returning to RAAF Base Amberley. The E-7A Wedgetail would do the same but do this in about 3 loops.

HMAS Melbourne, HMAS Anzac, HMAS Parramatta, HMAS Sheean, HMAS Rankin and HMAS Supply would arrive near the islands coming from the south-west, remaining in international waters. The two submarines HMAS Sheean and HMAS Rankin would head north to scout the northern coastline of the Kerguelen Islands. The 4 surface vessels would head along near the southern tip where the Argentine vessels would be, they would keep a safe distance of 18km away from the Argentine vessels, still enough to see them on the horizon but a safe distance as to not be perceived as a threat. HMAS Melbourne's captain would contact the Argentine vessels.

"Argentine naval vessels, this is HMAS Melbourne along with HMAS Anzac, HMAS Parramatta and HMAS Supply, we are conducting surveillance missions in the Pacific Ocean as per our commitment to protecting the territory of the Coral Sea Islands, the Australian mainland along with our numerous Pacific Island partners. We will be monitoring your movements but we will not interfere with your operations unless they directly endanger our vessels or aircraft or vessels or aircraft of any Pacific Island nation that doesn't include France. To build a level of trust between us, I will reveal that I am a Hobart-Class Destroyer and Anzac and Parramatta are both Anzac-Class Frigates. Supply is a Supply-Class Replenishment Vessel. Myself, Anzac and Parramatta are all armed but we will not fire unless fired upon. This is the direct orders I have been given from the Minister for Defence." The ships would continue transversing along the southern tip of New Caledonia while remaining the 18km distance from the Argentine ships. They would be scanning the sea and the sky for all aircraft and vessels. Sonars will be attempting to pick up any submarine movements as well.

@Naio90

 

[Naio90]

By now, all argentine fleets operating in the Pacific and in the Indian Ocean would have been notified by the Naval Command of the tensions created by the plotting between Australia and Vietnam. Considering that this present "surveillance" mission was mentioned in that conversation as a potential threat to Argentina and argentine interest, the naval command would be very wary of the presence of the australians, not fully trusting the promise of not intefering, as it was proven that the australians had always some interest playing behind and moving the strings (such as it happened during the failed peace talks with France, exposed in a similar fashion to their conversation with Vietnam). Of course, this would be secret.

The argentine fleets currently of New Caledonia and Kerguelen Island would privately notify of the encounter with australian forces and forward the received message privately as well, asking for potential new orders, but alert and with all defensive systems and radars active.

Eventually, they would communicate with the australian ships.

"HMAS Brisbane this is Argentine Navy Ship Indomita , we are currently maneuvering within the rules of engagement set by the Argentine Naval Command for the operations withing the Argentine-French conflict.

Please, do not interfere under any form with our operations and remain at a safe distance. We are monitoring the movements of all your units, surface, aerial or submarine. Over."

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"HMAS Melbourne this is Argentine Navy Ship General Arenales, we are currently maneuvering within the rules of engagement set by the Argentine Naval Command for the operations withing the Argentine-French conflict.

Please, do not interfere under any form with our operations and remain at a safe distance. We are monitoring the movements of all your units, surface, aerial or submarine. Over."


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The australian ships and units would be tracked and monitored, looking for potentially threatening maneuvers or powering up of their targeting systems. Ship crews would continue their usual operations, taking the necesary steps to mantain a healthy readiness status.

@Owen

 

[Owen]

With the Argentine-France Peace Agreement being signed the Operation would be concluded.

All the aircraft that were airborne would be returned back to their operating bases of either RAAF Base Amberley or RAAF Base Pearce before being refuelled as necessary to return back to their home bases of RAAF Base Edinburgh and RAAF Base Williamtown. The ships and submarine in the area would return back to their home ports of either HMAS Kuttabul or HMAS Platypus at Fleet Base East or HMAS Stirling in Fleet Base West. They would keep their distance from the Argentine ships who would also presumably, be leaving the area. The ships would be replenished by HMAS Supply or HMAS Stalwart as necessary. The Prime Minister would send her personal congratulations to the men and women who served on this mission.

"We congratulate the men and women of our Defence Forces for their courage, bravery and loyalty to this country."

Operation concluded.