Roleplay: African Army Buildup

[KevinB]

Good thread.

DT Defense Consultants Report

A few facts that I'm adding to the scenario first:

Over 5 years, if we use the Swiss defense budget as a guide, I have $15.5 billion to spend, which I'm rounding up to $16 billion due to economic activity over the next five years.

I'm estimating that before this assignment, there were at least 200,000 men in the army alone with varying states of training and competence.

However, just taking a look of the equipment available to work with, there's a lot to work with already.

First thing I did is I came up with a structure of how I want the army to look like:

Army​

2 Armored brigades
3 Mechanized brigades
3 Motorized brigades
1 Air Assault brigade

Air Force​

3x18 Fighter squadrons
2x14 Attack squadrons
2x14 Jet Trainer squadrons
2x14 Basic Flight trainer squadrons
Various transport and helicopter capabilities

Then I equipped them:

Army​

70,000 men
288 T-55/Type 59s modified to IDF Tiran 5
190 Achzarit APC (formerly T-55/Type 59s)
190 BMP-1 IFV
190 BMP-2 IFV (mostly used)
76 PT-76 Israeli-modified with 90mm gun, new engine, and targeting systems
120 BRDM-2 in various variants
64 Raad 2 155mm SP gun (Iranian knockoff of M109 SP gun) w/ 16 BL-904 counterbattery radar systems from China.
64 BM-21 122mm MRL (mostly used)
64 Type 95 SPAA/SAM
200 SA-16 MANPADs
600 Toophan 1/2 ATGM (Iranian knockoff of TOW ATGM)
5,000 Land Rover 4x4s and Unimog trucks
Assualt Rifle: Beryl Mod. 96 (Polish AK-74 clone chambered in 5.56 NATO)
Sniper Rifle: G3s modified with scopes and full-auto function removed
Sidearm: Glock 17
SAW: Negev LMG
GPMG: Pakistan Ordnance Industries licensed copy of MG-3
Support Weapons: RPG-7, 60 and 81 mm mortars
Heavy Machine Gun: POI copy of Chinese Type 54 in 12.7mm Soviet

Army Reserves​

40,000 men
84 PT-76s unmodified
130 BMP-1s
100 D-30 122mm howitzer
75 Type 86 100mm anti-tank guns
600 HJ-73 ATGMs
210 QW-2 MANPADs
Assualt rifle: AK-47
All other weapons: war left overs

I decided to go with mostly modified Chinese and Soviet weapons because of the Ebonians familiarity with them. We gave the bulk of modification contracts to Israel because of their experience with this type of job. We also procured Iranian, Pakistani, and Israeli weapons because of their cost and reliability. In the regular army, I emphasized mobility of forces and rapid response. The Tiran 5s should be able to hold their own against most types of MBTs in use in Africa. I decided to purchase BMP-2s to augment the BMP-1s because is many nations that use both vehicles deploy them together to compliment each other. I went with the Raad 2 because of the M109 is a well regarded and proven artillery piece. The Toophan series saw combat along the Israeli-Lebanon border and knocked out Merkava IV MBTs, so when we had to chance to procure some; we did.

Finally, the most important aspect is the establishment of the part-time reserve force. If the regular army is decimated in the early stages of war, the losses can be replaced.

More on the rebuilding Ebonia's army later....it's late.

 

[KevinB]

Air Force​

18 Cheetah C strike fighters
18 Mirage 5 fighters
18 MiG-21-2000 fighter
14 Su-17 attack planes
14 A-5C attack planes
28 K-8 Karokorum trainers
28 PC-9 basic trainers
60 Mi-8 transport helicopters
45 Mi-24 "Hind" gunships
8 Super Puma SAR
80 An-2/Y-5
15 An-26 COIN
6 Il-76 transports (leased from Russia)
10 BT-67 (Canadian modified DC-3)
10 Y-8 transports
5 AC-47 gunships
1 Learjet for VIP transport

Air Force Reserves​

45 J-7 early variant fighters
7 Mirage 5
18 L-39 airplanes used for light attack

The Ebonian Air Force desperately needed a dedicated strike fighter, so since the South Africans are retiring their Cheetahs, we were able to pick some up. We also needed a helicopter gunship, so we picked up some used Hinds. We bought all new training aircraft with an emphasis on having an attack capability if need be. We also increased our air transport capability dramatically.

Navy​

2 Type 053H2 (Jianghu-III class) frigates
6 Osa/Huangfeng-class FAC modified with C-802 missiles
12 Shanghai II-class patrol boats

Air Defense​

Purchased 10 Kolchuga radar stations and set up HQ-2B (Chinese modified SA-2) and SA-10 launchers all across the country to deter enemy aircraft.

Also spent money on training by bringing British and South Africans to work on small unit tactics and Israeli trainers to work on armored warfare and our air force. Finally, the Brits would be hired to work on our navy.

 

[kato]

28 K-8 Karokorum trainers
28 PC-9 basic trainers

56 trainers for somewhere around 100 mainstay aircraft? isn't that a bit... excessive?

 

[Todjaeger]

56 trainers for somewhere around 100 mainstay aircraft? isn't that a bit... excessive?

Not necessarily... the RAAF has about 100 frontline combat aircraft, with a flight training establishment of about 50 trainers split between the PC/9-A and the Hawk 127. This doesn't include the basic flight training done under contract by BAE using approx. 50 PAC CT-4 Airtrainers.

-Cheers

 

[KevinB]

56 trainers for somewhere around 100 mainstay aircraft? isn't that a bit... excessive?

Not when you factor in transport aircraft and reserve aircraft.

 

[SuperSixOne]

Plan A. - Scrap the entire millitary with the exception of a small highly trained emergency reasponse group for terrorism. The spend the rest on
on the economy improvments, call up president bush and ask him to build an airbase in your country, then sit back and watch the U.S. counter any attacks because they will view it as a conflict of intrest if they loose the country in which their airbase is in.


On another note,

Airforce/Navy

Sell everything in the airforce and navy, pilots and crews are expensive and aircraft/ships consume alot of fuel while requiring alot of maintenance. I mean EVERYTHING. Then buy as many G2G (scuds preferably) G2A and land based Anti-ship missle systems from Pakistan/China as you can afford, if they won't sell to you go to Iran. Thirdworld countries in africa lack the means to counter most missle types effectivly. Turn the army into a highly skilled SF group with sniper's and special forces as the focus with only the aircraft needed to operate/insert the SF groups.

 

[Aussie Digger]

Plan A. - Scrap the entire millitary with the exception of a small highly trained emergency reasponse group for terrorism. The spend the rest on
on the economy improvments, call up president bush and ask him to build an airbase in your country, then sit back and watch the U.S. counter any attacks because they will view it as a conflict of intrest if they loose the country in which their airbase is in.


On another note,

Airforce/Navy

Sell everything in the airforce and navy, pilots and crews are expensive and aircraft/ships consume alot of fuel while requiring alot of maintenance. I mean EVERYTHING. Then buy as many G2G (scuds preferably) G2A and land based Anti-ship missle systems from Pakistan/China as you can afford, if they won't sell to you go to Iran. Thirdworld countries in africa lack the means to counter most missle types effectivly. Turn the army into a highly skilled SF group with sniper's and special forces as the focus with only the aircraft needed to operate/insert the SF groups.

Special forces require a base of trained infantry personnel (predominantly though other Corps of course provide appropriate personnel as well) to recruit from.

Firing anti-ship missiles at fishing trawlers is going to do wonders for your international reputation as is firing on smugglers. In addition it's going to be costly.

I get the feeling that there's a few things you may not have fully considered in your post...

 

[SuperSixOne]

Special forces require a base of trained infantry personnel (predominantly though other Corps of course provide appropriate personnel as well) to recruit from.

Firing anti-ship missiles at fishing trawlers is going to do wonders for your international reputation as is firing on smugglers. In addition it's going to be costly.

I get the feeling that there's a few things you may not have fully considered in your post...

You could use the emergency response group for the fishermen, or just law-enforcement period (non millitary). I'd fire an anti-ship missle on the smugglers. It would do wonders in scareing the living daylights out of the other ones. Then claim it was the only means avalible to stop them at the time and you were cracking down heavily on smuggling in general.



EDIT: THe reason for this approach is because the logistics involved in general warfare are simply to large and overwhelming for a country to cope with overnight. Especially one in this situation.

 

[Aussie Digger]

You could use the emergency response group for the fishermen, or just law-enforcement period (non millitary). I'd fire an anti-ship missle on the smugglers. It would do wonders in scareing the living daylights out of the other ones. Then claim it was the only means avalible to stop them at the time and you were cracking down heavily on smuggling in general.



EDIT: THe reason for this approach is because the logistics involved in general warfare are simply to large and overwhelming for a country to cope with overnight. Especially one in this situation.

The topic as I understand it is about building up a force over a 5 year period.

Not entering general warfare tomorrow...

I think you might find a few of your regional neighbours who HAVE invested in a military capability might not think too highly of you firing anti-ship missiles indiscriminately.

Building a relatively capable defence force within a 5 year period is achievable with help. Look at Timor Leste...

You are hardly starting from scratch in this scenario...

Cheers

AD.

 

[Waylander]

Maybe you look at this too much from a computer game perspective?

Your small contingent of special forces and some cruise missiles are not going to save if an enemy state or a big guerilla force is going to swap over your country.
There are so many scenarios were your special forces are screwed, because they lack manpower, lack AT-assets, lack protected transport assets, lack recce assets, lack AA-assets, lack nearly everything for a mission outside the spectrum preferable for special forces.

And what do your cruise missiles and SRBMs help in time of war with a big guerilla force? You fire them into the jungle?
Or with a neighbour?
You fire the ones you have (Because of your financial situation you won't have endless missiles) onto some possible infrastructure targets and the enemy army keeps coming with hundreds of thousands of men, artillery, tanks, planes, etc...
Even against old equipment your special forces are heavily outgunned, outmanned, outmaneuvered....
They are just screwed.

 

[SuperSixOne]

Maybe you look at this too much from a computer game perspective?

It's difficult not to. The whole situation is ficticious in just about every way. Even the country is made up. If it were a real situation we could handle it much better as we would know the dynamics of the conflict.

 

[Waylander]

There are real world facts which you can (and should) take into account when planning such a fictional army buildup.

And so far many posts here were very good and this thread is one of the most interesting here.

But your idea of special forces and SRBMS/cruise missiles only is not one of the well thought ideas.
I don't want to sound harsh or offend you!

But military reality makes your idea obsolete.
Special forces as well as SRBMs andcruise missiles are good assets which can perform very well in their niche (Especially the special forces in an african environment).
But you cannot build an army with them.

 

[nero]

well said

The topic as I understand it is about building up a force over a 5 year period.

Not entering general warfare tomorrow...

I think you might find a few of your regional neighbours who HAVE invested in a military capability might not think too highly of you firing anti-ship missiles indiscriminately.

Building a relatively capable defence force within a 5 year period is achievable with help. Look at Timor Leste...

You are hardly starting from scratch in this scenario...

Cheers

AD.

.


very well said !!

people also tend to forget that many african countries r land-locked, & therefore does not require a navy or coast-guard !!


.

 

[Waylander]

A limited sea patrol capability is still needed when you have a sizeable coastline.
Hunting smugglers and criminals as well as protecting fishing areas or stopping pirates is elemental if you want your country to prosper.

But realy warfighting capability is really not used. In the end if you want to kill a lonely ship out there you take a helo with an ATGM near the shore or a plane with a Maverik when the target is not in range of helos.

 

[MarcH]

Army:
- 250 type 59 MBTs in poor condition
scrap/sell
- 300 T-54/55 MBTs in poor condition
competition for an upgrade programme
- 160 PT-76 amphibious tanks
no change
- 80 type 62 light tanks in poor condition
scrap/sell
- 320 BMP-1 of different variants
competion for an upgrade, to bring them on a common standard + purchase of 80 additional
- 120 BRDM-2 (BTR-40) scout tanks
no change
- 150 type 63 AFVs
scrap/sell
- 100 D30 howitzers
no change
- 75 type 86 anti tank guns
no change
- 600 HJ-73 ATGMs
- 210 QW-2 manpads
- 30 SA-16 manpads -> buy additional
- several thousend trucks and off-road vehicles of chinese and russian origin, mostly old and worn out and in need of replacement
->keep what's possible, rest scrapped


- you're troops are equipped with old AK-47 and G-3 assault rifles
standardize on AK-47
- your ammunition stocks are very low
buy ammo

Airforce:
- 12 MIG-29A none flying condition
buy 12 additional second hand examples, restore them and upgrade them to SMT standard, PGM's, R-73, R-77, KAB-500... the complete package
- 80 MIG-21 of various variants, 20 of which are in a flying condition
48 restored to flightworthy conditions
- 17 SU-22, 6 of which are in a flying condition
scrap
- 25 upgraded Mirage 5 received from Belgium in the 90's in good condition
sell them
- 45 J-7 fighters in various early variants
scrap or sell them
- 35 J-6 fighters, mothballed since the 90's
scrap or sell them
- 43 L-39 jet training aircraft, poor condition
restore them, buy 5 additional
- 24 Zlin aircraft for basic training, poor condition
restore them
- 30 Mi-8 helicopters in rather good condition
keep them for utility
- 8 recently acquired Super Pumas
fit them out for SAR
- 80 AN-2/Y-5 utility/ liaison aircraft
keep 24, rest used for spare parts
- 15 AN-26 transport planes
keep them
- 5 AN-12 Clubs, not flying
restore 4 to flightworthy conditions
- 3 DC-3
scrap/sell
- 5 Lear Jets for VIP transport
modify 2 for Elint
- your ammunition stocks are very low here as well

Navy:
- 1 Romeo class SSK, very bad condition, inoperable since the 80's
scrap
- 12 OSA-1 class FACs
- 10 Huangfeng-class FACs
no change
- 30 type 62 (Shanghai-II class) patrol vessels in rather good condition
no change
- 100 land based CSS-N-5 Sabot AShMs
scrap/sell

new purchases:
-24 L-159 ALCA for COIN/CAS
-100 G6-52 artillery systems
-20 Tor M1 SAM Systems
-some new AK-47's and RPK's + ammunition and a service facility
-400 Kornet ATGM's.
-new communication equipment
-tender to replace those old chinese/russian trucks
-tender for a light reconaissance UAV (for example Sperwer)
-48 JF-17, to replace the Fishbeds
-4 Il 76/78 with refuelling kits, to replace the An-12's in the long run.

 

[Waylander]

Aren't those Kornets a little bit overkill when the biggest possible armored thread is a T-72A/M/M1?

I would go for cheaper ATGMs.
You may not safe that much money but every drop helps.

The Type 86 AT guns might also be too much. Scrap them or at least put them into storage.
Most enemy armor can be dealt with by using roughly modern RPGs and every possible heavy armor threat can be dealt with ATGMs and your own MBTs.

I would also shrink the navy to a better coast guard with the air force giving you the main anti-ship capability.

Ships are expensive to operate and this would free additional funds for other equipment.
I would also like to see some Mi-24D or H to be bought.

Many very good and interesting suggestions here.

 

[MarcH]

Well, maybe overkill today, but who guarantees me, that those T-72 don't get an update ?
One driving factor in my ideas is to save on crew training. Therefore the choice for fixed wing aircraft instead of Hinds for COIN and CAS "light".
Well, those AT guns...more D 30 to replace them on a 1-1 basis would be nice.
Maybe from russian stocks ? :unknown
I don't think shrinking the navy is a good idea. They are necessary for fishery protection as well as patroling the rivers in the south. Getting a working naval aviation takes to much time and money. So I keep the numbers of those cheap vessels.

 

[Waylander]

Even upgraded T-72A/M/M1 should be doable with older ATGMs and RPGs with tandem warhead (7V for example IIRC).

I find the idea good to get additional D 30s.

For fishery protection the Type 62s are enough and the FACs are not suitable for patrolling the rivers in the south.

You would not need a real naval aviation capability. It is not like you intend to fight real enemy surface action groups.
You normal fighters should be able to hit lonely vessels you think should be killed by using something along a Ch-25ML or using AT-6 from Hinds nearer to the shore.

Getting Hinds operational should be doable I think.
They are so versatile and give you the ability for CAS, quick transport of small groups, AT-missions,...
Very good especially for a country like our example.

 

[MarcH]

The Kornets aren't that expansive. They can be used for years to come, and are a nice deterrent for gready neighbours. Variants with thermobaric warheads will help to get insurgents out of their holes.
Hinds sound good in first place, but I got not enough chopper pilots, and don't intend to change this.
On the other hand, I got enough jetpilots. Therefore, I go for L-159 instead. The Czechs sell them really cheap.
The type 62's will be heavily tasked to patrol the rivers. Hell, this is Africa, I would suspect the rivers to be the lifelines of the country.
That leaves the 1600km coastline. More than enough to patrol for the FACs.
For prestige gains, one could send them to patrol the Lebanon or whatever coast. I wouldn't intend to send one single soldier away, til the last warlord has been killed.

 

[Waylander]

Getting some former WarPac mercenary pilots for the Hinds shouldn't be that big problem while you train your own additional pilots.
And you don't need to have the Hinds operating from day 1 on.
Plan with them getting fully operational in 2-3 years while you softly increase operating them in hot missions.

I thought about it and agree that I am wrong about the decrease in naval assets. Your arguments sound plausible and I underestimated the importance of rivers for African countries in my first thoughts.

And while Thermobaric warheads for Kornets are very nice using them is not very suitable for an african country.
They are just too expensive for regular use against buildings and fortifications.
Remember that the US is bitching about the regular use of Javelins in Iraq and the high costs of it.

And while Kornet (With thermobaric warhead) is better and cheaper in this role it is still not economic to use it for an african country.
And changing some of your 400 Kornets to thermobaric warheads also decreases your overall AT-capability.

Better to go with shitloads of cheap mortars and RPGs to burrow the enemy out of their holes.

Because of this I am also ethusiastic about more D 30s.