TF Amethyst

TFA2 24.4 – Big Adjustment

Exactly at 23:30, the scheduled meeting was started. Vex immediately asked Admiral Reed, “Why did you cancel the procurement of nuclear aircraft carrier and nuclear-powered submarine?”

“Because we have to,” Admiral Reed calmly replied. “The procurement for nuclear reactor and nuclear refueling facility turned out to be harder than my initial estimation.”

“And the replacement?”

“Wakanda-class aircraft carrier, it’s based on America-class.”

As he tilted his head Vex asked another question, “By using America-class’s hull, I believed Wakanda-class will be 76 meter shorter than Ronald Reagan-class.”

“After some enlargement, it’s only 56 meter shorter.”

“How many aircraft it can carry?”

“Around half of Ronald Reagan-class,” Admiral Reed replied. 

Then, in cheerful tone Mendel added, “The standard complement is 24 F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, 8 E/A-18G Growler, 3 MV-22 Osprey, 3 EV-22D Hawkeye, 3 MH-60K Knighthawk, and 2 MQ-9B Sea Reaper. 

It also has free hangar for 4-6 friendly aircraft that need emergency landing and have to stay.”

“41 aircrafts and 2 UAV,” Vex muttered under his breath.

“Actually,” Heiko put Wakanda-class’ picture to the white board and pointed at its hangar deck. “We can increase its capacity up to 52 aircraft, but Admiral Mendel wants to use the space to store additional spare parts of aerial assets.”

“Well,” Admiral Mendel calmly said. “We don’t operate on earth. If Super Hornet needs emergency engine replacement we can’t send Osprey to take it from nearby naval station.”

“I see.” Vex took a deep breath before asking another question, “And what is the standard complement for America-class?”

After clearing his throat Admiral Mendel explained, “For amphibious assault, 6 AV-8B Harrier II, 4 AH-1Z Viper, 12 MV-22 Osprey, 4 CH-53K King Stallion, and 3 UH-1Y Venom.

For air assault, 20 MV-22 Osprey and 4 AV-22 Black Osprey. 

For sea control, 20 AV-8B Harrier II, 3 SH-60H Seahawk, and 3 EV-22D Grey Osprey.”

“What about aerial asset for destroyer and frigate?”

“Each destroyer and frigate will have a pair of SH-60H Seahawk and MQ-8C Fire Scout.” 

“Okay.” Vex tapped his finger on the table for a moment before asking again, “What is the replacement for Virginia-class?”

“Ghost-class submarine, we built it from scratch, based on Soryu-class.” Heiko calmly replied. “We have increased its sea endurance to 105 days. It’s far below Virginia-class, but Admiral Mendel said it’s enough for global projection of sea power.”

“Unlike Virginia-class, I believed Ghost-class doesn’t have vertical launchers for Tomahawk.”

“It doesn’t, but it can fire UGM-109D medium-multirole Tomahawk from its torpedo launcher.” 

Vex nodded a few times and then asked another question, “As far as I know, Japan doesn’t use Soryu-class as a mean to deliver their frogman. Is that not a problem for us?”

“We had made some modification to meet this mission profile.”

Vex then turned his gaze towards Admiral Reed. “Can I see the final list?”

“Sure.” Wasting no time Admiral Reed projected the lists to the white board.

Asset of ASG (169 units):

2 units Wakanda-class Aircraft Carriers

2 units America-class LHD

4 units San Antonio-class LPD

18 units Omaha-class Aegis Heavy Destroyer

36 units Orion-class Multi Mission Aegis Frigate

24 units Ghost-class Submarine

12 units Seagull-class Patrol Boat

8 units Phoebe-class Mine Warfare Vessel

4 units West Island-class 25.000 ton Oiler/Supply Ship

6 units East Bay-class 15.000 ton-class Oiler/Supply Ship

51 units non-combatant ship and hovercraft.

After observing the list for a while Vex said, “The final list has more ships but without nuclear aircraft carrier and nuclear-powered submarine.”

“Yeah,” Admiral Reed replied briefly. 

“The cost also below our initial budget,” Heiko added. “Nuclear refueling facility is very expensive. When we cancel it, we have huge surplus in our budget.”

“I see,” Vex nodded before continuing, “I believe we had recruited the necessary personnel.”

Admiral Mendel replied, “In total we have 52.850 sailors, 9.210 naval air wing crew, 27.300 marines and frogmen, 37.120 workers of naval industrial complex. As for their family, it consisted of 213.400 adults and children.”

“What about the spear tip of the ground elements?”

Major General Ingram who so far was only listening calmly replied, “One Marine Expeditionary Brigade and one Marine Artic Brigade, 1800-2100 marines each, not including sailors. I build it based on Marine Expeditionary Unit, with increase in fire power and combat duration up to 18 days before it need resupply 

As for special mission units, I formed five companies of Marine Recon, 90 personnel each. I will also enlarge frogman platoon into a company level by bringing 223 additional frogmen.”

“Do you have any adjustment on ground vehicles?”

“I had to revise my request from 7000 to 10.200 ground vehicles. However, I don’t put new type of vehicle. It will use weapon, sensor, transmission, engine, and other things that had become standard of GCG.”

“Okay.” Vex heaving a deep sigh before going silence for a very long time. 

In a regretful tone Admiral Reed then said, “Vex, I’m truly sorry. It must be messed your power projection up, but we have to do it.

 

It’s impossible to keep the development of aircraft carrier under the table for a long time. And so, we have to acquire all assets and the capability to maintain its life cycle at one sweep, and then tied up any loose ends.”

In an instant question mark appeared in Vex’s mind, “Tied up any loose ends?” 

“Yes.” Heiko calmly added, “In short, we recruit engineer, technician, mechanic, and other people who participated. As soon as the procurement is completed, we send them to Amstell. There, they will help us build naval industrial complex.”

“Do they agree with our term?”

Heiko nodded. “We had to increase the sign-up bonus, yearly salary, or family benefit for some people, but they all agree with the clause about new life and total cut-lose to their old life.”

“I see,” Vex calmly said. “This is definitely not a small adjustment. But at least, you use same standard for equipment that had been used by TF Amethyst.”

After deeply looking at Vex for a while Admiral Reed said, “Vex, we have not telling you the biggest adjustment yet.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.” In a regrettable tone Admiral Reed added, “We failed to secure Tomahawk.”

“Huh?” In an instant a deep shock was reflected in Vex’s eyes. “What do you mean we failed secure Tomahawk?”

“We only managed to secure medium-multirole Tomahawk, but not the real BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missile.”

“Damn…” In an instant Vex felt an urge to bang his head into the wall. “In east coast of Amstell, we have a massive uninvited guest. The most ideal scenario will be to hit them from 1500 km away, to avoid extra-long-range deployment.”

“I’m sorry, but we had tried our best,” Heiko weakly said.

“I see.”

Vex actually loved the concept of medium-multirole Tomahawk. It was developed base on air launch Tomahawk. It had only 135 kg warhead and effective range of 300-400 km. Its potential was only 30% of Tomahawk, but so the price.

Moreover, it had reached full operational capability but never entered service because budget cut on USAF. In short it was cheap, proven weapon system, and the procurement would not attract attention so TF Amethyst could buy it as many as possible. Unfortunately, right now what TF Amethyst needed the most was the real Tomahawk. 

“Well, it’s no use in crying about it now. How many medium-multiroles Tomahawk do we have?” 

Heiko calmly replied, “Three thousand units, consisted of UGM-109D, RGM-109D, and AGM-109D. We have also acquired the capability to produce 70% of its component.”

“At least we also have some good news.” Vex nodded before asking, “And what about the other missiles for Aegis?”

“We can secure SM-2 and Sea Tamir as much as we want, but we only got a few hundreds of SM-3 and SM-6.”

“Give me the written detail of every single thing I need to know. I need a few days to study it before we can start the shipment.”

“Okay.”

Without delay Admiral Reed handed over a memory card to Vex. After that, other than Vex who fully put his attention into his laptop, everyone else returned to their personal quarter.

*****