"Chinese soldiers Are On The Ground In Yemen " Topic

"Dozens of unidentified foreign troops reported disembarking in the port of Aden turned out to be Chinese soldiers maintaining security as an unknown party opened fire on a vessel evacuating foreign citizens, a Yemeni official told Sputnik.

"A Chinese military ship arrived in the port to evacuate Chinese citizens…a skirmish which occurred during the evacuation led to the disembarkation of Chinese soldiers stationed on the ship to protect civilians," said Abd ar-Rabb al-Khalyaky, the deputy head of the port union council. After the evacuation, the soldiers returned to the vessel, he said adding that the situation has calmed down…"
Full article here
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We know taht every country who has nationals in Yemen are bailing out, but what caught my attention about this story is that it appears that China has developed the ability to a quickly and effectively deploy its forces thousands of miles away by using its naval assets. This is something that they were not able to do just only a few years ago.(!)

Amicalement
Armand

Whoa ! If so … this could be a game changer ? Not so much they are there to evac PRC civilains. But as noted how quickly they got there. Now the only real questions is, how many troops can they deploy this way ?

The frigate in question was already in the area for "anti-piracy" duties. It's just a matter of being at the right place at the right time.

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In contrast, the United States has NOT evacuated their citizenry, pretty much abandoning them to their own devices on how to escape the conflict.

Meanwhile 3 US navy vessels continue to occupy positions along Yemen's coast.

Because peace has prevailed in the middle east, the US knows this even if the people fighting do not.

From Reuters

The ministry said foreign governments – Pakistan, Ethiopia, Singapore, Italy, Germany, Poland, Ireland, Britain, Canada and Yemen – had requested China's help. A spokeswoman said it was the first time China had carried out a specific evacuation of foreign nationals from a danger zone.

Good thing the Italians, Germans, Poles,Irish, Brittish, and Canadians, Singaporians, etc. know who their friends are.

Nice move by the Chinese

"In contrast, the United States has NOT evacuated their citizenry, pretty much abandoning them to their own devices on how to escape the conflict."

Sanaa still has regularly scheduled airline service. Would that somehow not be good enough for U.S. citizens?

And hurrah for the Chinese Navy. Many of us have been complaining for years that the U.S. has to be the world's policeman. I'm happy to see anyone (especially, or even) the Chinese stepping up.

Sanaa still has regularly scheduled airline service. Would that somehow not be good enough for U.S. citizens?

Perhaps you are confused to the fact that Sanaa is under Houthi control?

You may also be under some confusion that the airport is actually flying. Check again, even though there are commercial flights scheduled, they are all "delayed", pretty-much permanently since the carriers won't enter Yemen airspace. Only successful flights IIRC, are by Air India, after negotiation and permission from the Houthis to perform an air evacuation of foreign nationals.

So if other contries feel the need to ask China (and India) for help in evacuation, you think Americans are safe to wander around?

You probably also missed the fact that the Chinese naval infantry performed a "hot extraction" while under fire from Houthi and allied forces.

Well, if I was there, voluntarily, or otherwise, I would have left long ago, even if I had to swim through croc-infested waters to do so.

No doubt, that would be far less dangerous than remaining in Yemen.

China government has helped 10 countries to evacuate 225 nationals from Yemen in conflict.

"The Chinese government has helped 10 countries to evacuate 225 nationals in conflict-ridden Yemen on Thursday, April 2, 2015 following its own evacuation of 571 Chinese nationals. Linyi missile frigate, carrying the 225 nationals of 10 countries, departed the Port of Aden in Yemen for Djibouti at 16:25 on Thursday, Beijing time, a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said…"

Main page
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Amicalement
Armand

This a great (and unexpected) gaming scenario.

Attacker: Mid-East irregulars
Defender: PLANMC, maybe a company of light infantry w/helis

Terrain setup: urban coastline.

Scenario: The Houthi militias didn't get word that the foreigners are kinda-sorta-friendlies (The Chinese have good relations with Iran, who sponsors the Houthis, so killing Chinamen is a bad idea). Chinese player must protect civilian counters/stands evac'ing @ helipad/wharf. The Houthi player will attempt to occupy the helipad & wharf, as well as capture any civilian units (for ransom money…gotta pay for your insurgency somehow).

You have not to loose your faith my good friend! (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

As I always say, you can get everything you need to game this conflict from GHQ. They even have regional civilians. link

Caesar makes some decent Chinese infantry; they come in a combined box with some French. I own a pack, mostly to use the French as UN peacekeepers. Maybe I should paint and base the PLA too…

Any sense on the proper numbers of combatants to include in gaming a scenario like this? I'm somewhat doubtful that helos would engage in such a spontaneous combat…

The helos would be like the Hueys flying out from the US Embassy in Saigon, maybe not even armed (so as to carry more people).

Though I'd be gaming it in 15mm, not 6mm. Might even 'borrow' this scenario for an Infinity game idea…

Wow!!!

And so it begins ….

Dan
TMP link

Wow ! Talk about necroposting Dan !

Any sense on the proper numbers of combatants to include in gaming a scenario like this?

The only Chinese asset mentioned by name is the Linyi, a Type 054A frigate ( link ). They have a crew of 165 and carry 1 helicopter (Ka-28 or Z-9C). They might have *MAYBE* a platoon of Marines with small arms. A Navy "shore party" is actually more likely, wearing PLANMC camo/gear (depicted in the pic above) but lower combat skills/experience/etc.

A platoon is fine for 15mm or 28mm but I game moderns in 6mm, so I'd probably just go the fictitious route and plus the Chinese up to a light infantry company. Maybe have one platoon on the map holding the evac areas, with the other 2-3 platoons on a Yuzhao-class (Type 071 LPD link ) offshore. The Yuzhao's also carry 4 Z-8 heavy helos (27 passengers each). Fly the reserves onto the board, disembark in the Evac areas and load up any civilians that have reached there.

Good intel Noble. And I agree, 6mm works well for modern and futuristic. If for no other reason than some ranges are closer to reality, etc. … Especially for Infantry combat. Not that there is anything wrong with other scales, 6mm is just my predilection, as well.

China just carried out its first-ever evacuation of another countries' citizens

"A Chinese naval frigate has evacuated 225 foreign citizens from strife-torn Yemen, its foreign ministry said, marking the first time that China's military has helped other countries evacuate their people during an international crisis.

Ten different nationalities were among the evacuees picked up on Thursday afternoon from Aden, Yemen's second city, and transported to Djibouti, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on its website late Thursday.

The ministry said foreign governments – Pakistan, Ethiopia, Singapore, Italy, Germany, Poland, Ireland, Britain, Canada and Yemen – had requested China's help. A spokeswoman said it was the first time China had carried out a specific evacuation of foreign nationals from a danger zone…"
Full article here
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Britain?
Who could imagine that the British would be safe by the Chinese Navy? (smile).

Amicalement
Armand

How many foreign citizens did we (USA) rescue? Or do we just evacuate before things get ugly and forget the rest?

"The ministry said foreign governments – Pakistan, Ethiopia, Singapore, Italy, Germany, Poland, Ireland, Britain, Canada and Yemen – had requested China's help."

I guess the world finally recognizes who's the real go-to world power now!

Dan
PS. We better start learning Mandarin!!!
TMP link
TMP link

From what I saw on CNN. There was no mention of the US evacing any US civilains, yet. Besides governmental like Embassy staff, etc.. However, CNN reported an American from Yemen went back to get his wife and child. He was killed by mortar fire, sadly.

There is talk on CNN just now about why/if the US is going to evac US civilains still in Yemen. The Red Cross is supposed to go in to provide aid to the wounded of all concerned. I hope the Red Cross includes no non-moslems. As they might just become hostages and or beheaded, etc., by the islamists jihadi factions. Even if the Iranians may not sanction/or approve of such terrorist actions.

Red crescent is who would be at lesser risk, with aisiatic security troops to minimise upsetting the Yeminites too much. Still dangerous for humanitarians in any conflict. Always hard to game as the Rules Of Engagement and the long term usually constrains the use of force. Good morale rules could be a way – as the aim of such missions is to avoid shooting you are hoping that your forces presence and posture means the potential hostiles fail morale suppressed/pinned/falling back etc

IIRC, the US embassy evacuated months ago. And in such a hurry that the Marines had to destroy their personal rifles and leave them behind.

How do you say, "thank you for saving my butt" in Mandarin?

From what I heard on the news today, there was no official US evacuation of citizens.

They were left on their own, and at least one person has been killed.

The official line is "they were given multiple warnings" about the dangers of being in Yemen, in response to a question about that at the news conference.

Kyote,

Here are some options in 15mm:

TMP link

TMP link

TMP link

Dan

I think I saw on eBay a PLAN frigate in 1/144 that would go well on the table with 15mm figures – could also provide DF support if it escalates too much. I tend to use smaller scale aircraft with ground forces and smaller again ships. The alternative is a "short" representative ship model.

If playing 6mm and not too fusy about scale Trumpeter makes a Z-8 pack in 1/350th

Empress make some very nice Chinese PLA in which would be ideal for this. I have about 25 from their Kickstarter which I painted last year.

I also have the new Spectre African Militia as an opposition force. They are not quite right for Yemen but good enough for a scenario.

This is a great (and unexpected) gaming scenario.

For 15mm Rebel Minis has the figures. They have the insurgents, western civilians, and even the Chinese soldiers. I would personally recommend QRF'S line of PLA as it is more complete with grenade launchers and SAWs. Rebel's guys are just AR armed for now.

May I suggest FUBAR for the rules? It shines the most in infantry actions.

I have Empress Miniature's Chinese and my PLOs can double as Houthis. Now I only need some civilians… and buildings! It would be nice a pier, and some rubber boats for the evac.

I would personally recommend QRF'S line of PLA as it is more complete with grenade launchers and SAWs

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Got a few more to add to this range, probably later this year.

May I suggest FUBAR for the rules? It shines the most in infantry actions.

I'd run Ambush Alley, personally, but that's because I know and like the rules well enough to stretch them out of period (to the Northwest Frontier).

From other number-crunching I've done, a 1/1200 scale model 3 feet away looks like the real thing ~900 yards away, so I'd actually run a 1/2400 scale ship to look like it's not quite a mile offshore.

How about a similar mission by China to rescue the 400+ Americans still stuck in Yemen? Perhaps as a sign of goodwill – with lots of strings attached, of course?

TMP link

Well, if China wants the majority of Americans to think we should continue "trading" with them, and to continue sharing our technological IP by transferring our plants over there, to get us to continue looking the other way on their expansionist activities in the South China Sea, to abandon Taiwan to an invasion by them, to continue to overlook gross human right violations against their own people … Who knows? Stranger things have happened these last six years or so.

Most of us are just sheep entertained by "Made in China" trinkets we think are absolutely necessary for living, putting our most personal data on social media, so they can better plan our continued dependence. We are Mostly unaware that the illusion of freedom and endless consumption will suddenly shatter, and then reality will set in. But it may be too late for most.

YouTube link

YouTube link

Dan

"…Sanaa still has regularly scheduled airline service. Would that somehow not be good enough for U.S. citizens?"

"Perhaps you are confused to the fact that Sanaa is under Houthi control?"

You appear confused to the fact that the Sanaa airport, and most of Sanaa, have been under Houthi control since September 2014. Why should the U.S. military go to any effort to rescue citizens who have consistently disregarded travel warnings since August 2013?

"How about a similar mission by China to rescue the 400+ Americans still stuck in Yemen? Perhaps as a sign of goodwill – with lots of strings attached, of course?"

Indeed, why not? Saudi air support and Chinese naval infantry against Iranian-backed militia. So glad to see other countries' tax dollars wasted in the MidEast.

Kyote: "You OK Dan ???"

Yeah, man, these meds rock!

Dan