Are we vulnerable to an invasion?, page 9

Originally posted by Raphael_UO
@The Vagabond

Iraq: Just bomb the oil. There would be no need for an invasion.

Outstanding point and well taken, but diplomatically less viable because it cuts out the lifeblood of the Iraqi people. An invasion which directly kills US troops then allows China to "negotiate" a settlement to keep the oil money in Iraqi hands is more politically viable. Otherwise it is plain to see that Iran is acting on orders from China.

Pacific: It is out of the way for a Chinese lead push, unless you live on a flat map. But, in the real world, a straight line between two points doesn't go through the Pacific.

Air superiority in the sea lane is VITAL. Taking Hawaii is not practical because of the long sealane under American airsuperiority prior to landing. Taking Japan is not politically viable, although destroying air and naval forces there, particularly American ones, can be taken as the lesser evil.

Based on staring at the globe next to me for just a couple of seconds I can see that the obvious answer is to make airborne insertions to Nampo Islands from China and the Aleutians from Russia, and operate air cover and anti-submarine helocopters from there to open a sea lane around Southern Japan then North to Alaska. You need a sealane to move sufficient tanks and artillery- you can't just aidrop into Canada and create the necessary reaction to create an opening in the Southern theater.

Alaska: Just bomb the oil. There is no need to invade . Air dropping troops into Canada and building your staging point there would be more efficient since you were planning on "passing through" anyway.

I wouldn't dare an airdrop that far from my air cover. The enemy can emplace air defenses behind you via carrier or movement of forces to Alaska and cut you off from supply while you're understrength. They will hardly even need to move significant ground forces in to deal with your airdrop.
Again the insertion to Alaska is not only about the oil. It demands American retaliation which ensures the diversion of forces from the Southern Theater. It also threatens a push by an armored force through the relatively flat land of central canada and into the American mid-west.

Just to outline my plan in the broad strokes- make quick strikes in the pacific region to destroy American/allied airsuperiority and any surface vessels which are vulnerable.

Cut off American oil supplies by any and all means possible- especially diplomatic. Although not vital, the diplomatic cover is highly useful, especially as NATO could affect Russian cooperation if international opinion does not remain against America until AFTER American forces have been moved to counter the threat in Canda's Yukon Territory.

Create airbases along your sealane, choosing to avoid hard fights and morally damaging moves such as an invasion of mainland Japan.

Move a large force of older hardware to Alaska by sea and push into the Yukon with armor and artillery, threatening to breach the rockies and invade.

Secretly move your best trained infantry and most technologically advanced weapons by freighter into the Carribean, hiding them in prearranged positions. If secrecy is impossible, decieve as to numbers and type of forces by allowing other types of hardware to be left in the open.

Create a Russian diversion (without overt threat) in the North Atlantic if at all possible.

Take advantage of American concentration on the Northern threats to invade Florida, proceeding North up the Eastern Seaboard with the goal of taking Washington DC.