USA vs Russia War Scenario

T-90 vs Abrams The autoloader is actually not an advantage, because it forces the ammunition to be stored in the main compartment. A hit to this would immediately destroy the tank and kill the crew, unlike Western tanks which have a separate, blow-out compartment. Additionally, the fire rate is actually very similar (6rds/min to 6-8rds/min) The complex engine of the T90 allows better fuel efficiency, but due to this complexity, it only uses certain types of fuel, and it must be pre-warmed up or else it will freeze and tear itself apart. About the missile, the Israelis actually have developed one, but we choose not to use it because it clearly reveals the position of the tank, leaving it a sitting duck for retaliation Because of these factors (and others I won't mention due to space) I claim that these tanks are of about equal strength www.military-today.com/tanks/top_10_main_battle_tanks.htm Helicopters These can actually be easily transported without using the main aircraft carriers read http://thediplomat.com... The US actually has 9 additional "Amphibious Assault Ships" that would be considered an aircraft carrier in any other navy. Plus, the US has 2 dedicated Helicopter Carriers http://www.militaryfactory.com... Aircraft Carriers Read this intriguing article, http://www.lexingtoninstitute.org... Contrary to popular belief, aircraft carriers are not big, lumbering targets. Instead, they are hard-to-find, quickly moving, elusive targets. Destroying them with missiles such as the DF-21 or other methods is actually extremely difficult. The War After months of preparation, the US declares war mid-April, at the beginning of spring. Simultaneously, a few different things happen. (These first categories are things that will happen on the first day. Later in this argument, I will address the longer term war) Air Having previously taken off from airbases in Turkey, Poland, Germany, Turkey, and the Baltics, a fleet of hundreds of F-15E's and F-16's release their payload of AGM-88 HARM, AGM-158 JASSM, and AGM-158 JASSM-ER missiles with ranges of 150 km, 370 km, and 1000 km respectively. http://www.designation-systems.net... http://www.airforce-technology.com... They are launched at Russian air defense systems, easily outranging the Russian vehicles carrying 9M96, 48N6, and 40N6 missiles, with ranges of 120 km, 250 km, and 400 km, respectively. http://www.globalsecurity.org... F-22’s briefly flash onto radar as they release their payloads of JDAM’s and GBU-39’s on airbases across Western Russia, hitting the explosive munitions and fuel, and destroying many of the costly aircraft before they can take off. In the East, aircraft from 3 of the Pacific carriers as well as bases in Alaska and on the West Coast perform a similar attack on Russian assets there. Sea American submarines that had stealthily entered only weeks before begin combat in the Black Sea. They quickly and simultaneously sink or disable many ships in the Russian Black Sea fleet, before quickly diving and fleeing the area. Soon after, a barrage of tomahawk missiles launched from Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class Destroyers in the Aegean Sea decimate what remains of the fleet. (P.S. the Black Sea fleet has few-none mine warfare craft http://flot.sevastopol.info...) On the other side of the world, a similar operation has occurred in the vicinity of the Russian Pacific Fleet, leaving it crippled. The only difference is that the remaining 2 Pacific aircraft carriers have added their firepower, flying hundreds of sorties over Russian naval assets, specifically targeting dangerous ships such as mine craft and destroyers. In Kattegat (waterway between Norway and Denmark), a force of frigates and destroyers enforce a blockade of Russian trade and bombard the more powerful Baltic fleet located at the Kaliningrad Oblast with missiles. A large submarine force is relocated to the Baltic Sea, and a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare is adopted, with submarines sinking both merchant-ships and warships. Now, onto longer term Economy The American economy begins to mobilize, with the defense budget skyrocketing and major purchases of military assets, especially ground assets, take place. Unemployment all but disappears, as manufacturing companies require more workers to keep up with demand, and the military begins a period of aggressive recruitment. Both debt and GDP growth skyrocket. As assembly lines become more efficient, tanks, planes, munitions, and many other goods begin to roll off regularly. In WWII, the USA built almost 150,000 land vehicles (~60,000 being tanks) , and over 300,000 aircraft. http://www.nationalww2museum.org... Military technology nowadays is much more complex, but the military-industrial complex of the US still is able to produce massive amounts of vehicles and planes. Ground A large ground force consisting of ground troops, tanks, and artillery begins to slowly advance into Russia. Being the combatant with inferior numbers, the commanders are given orders to only engage in battles that are winnable, and to attempt retreat in the face of stiff opposition. Heavy fixed and rotary wing air support assist the ground forces in making small territorial gains, and the ground war quickly turns into a war of attrition, with both sides making swift advances and even swifter retreats. Air In the ensuing weeks after the initial attack, American planes find and destroy most of the few remaining air defense systems. During these weeks, and due to the destruction of these systems along with many Russian fighters, large fleets of conventional bombers such as the B-52H and B-1B begin flying close-up bombing runs against Russian air and ground assets. They are escorted by large groups of fighters, some acting as air-air defense and others participating in the ground attack. More Russian fighters are destroyed as their bases are bombed and they are engaged in air-air combat. However, unlike the initial surprise attack, the Russian planes retaliate and numerous American planes are downed as they cross the large distances between their bases and their targets. Nevertheless, the balance is in the favor of the US, because the remaining Russian planes are too few to significantly penetrate the wall of air defense near American airbases, while the American planes are able to relentlessly pound Russian airbases in the absence of major surface to air threats. Other groups of fighters and bombers attack Russian ground assets, especially artillery, in order to aid the weaker American ground force. The B-2’s are assigned to strategic bombing duty, doing damage wherever they can and generally being a nuisance. One of their first targets are the St. Petersburg shipyards, which are successfully disabled, keeping the Russians from building any new large sized warships. Additionally, helicopters based at American FOBs (Forward Operating Bases) in Russian territory support ground advances, extracting a heavy toll on Russian tanks and troops. Losses taken by American air forces are quickly replaced by the many planes rolling off the assembly line and the many eager new recruits able to be trained using the large inventory of American trainer aircraft. Russian losses are also replaced, although at a much slower pace, and the new pilots are not of very high quality. Sea In a few weeks, the USN has absolute control over the Black Sea and Pacific theaters, with only token resistance in the Baltic Sea. A strict naval blockade is enforced, hurting Russian industry. One way this especially hurts is in iron and steel industries, because Russia imports large numbers of both materials, which are integral in the building of military goods. Another way is the fact that Russia’s largest import is cars, its third largest vehicle parts, and the fifth largest delivery trucks. This blockade hurts all these imports, causing logistical difficulties as trucks break down and replacement trucks and parts become scarce. http://atlas.media.mit.edu... Back on the military side of things, 2 aircraft carriers are repositioned to the Black Sea, where they carry out strikes against Russian oil refineries in the Caucasus, as well as sorties supporting the rest of the land-based air fleet. Destroyers and submarines in the sea fire huge barrages of cruise missiles against Russian airbases, ground assets, factories, oil refineries, and other high value targets. In the Pacific, the five Pacific carriers, in addition to airbases in Alaska and on the West Coast, fly thousands of sorties, attacking any remaining air defense systems, airbases, radar installations, ground assets, etc. Additionally, destroyers and submarines, just like in the Black Sea, fire huge barrages of cruise missiles at many important targets. In the Baltic Sea, a few more weeks of fighting and a few casualties are required before the area is safe enough to bring in remaining naval assets. Sidenote: LogisiticsThe US logisitcal chain could support all this, I will address this next argument (lack of space)Good luck to TheRussian, I'm extrememly interested to see how he responds to my devestating attack strategy :)