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Second Battle of the Coral Sea

Second Battle of the Coral Sea

The year is 1987, and China has blockaded Taiwan, completing its invasion of the island. With the U.S. cut off, tensions have erupted into open conflict. The Chinese PLA Navy's carrier fleet now pushes southward into the Coral Sea, threatening regional stability and U.S. strategic interests.

Command the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and a Submarine Attack Group in a decisive battle to destroy the Chinese carrier fleet. Engage enemy forces, neutralize their naval assets, and turn the tide in this critical confrontation. Victory here will be pivotal in the fight to restore balance in the Pacific.

Objective: Eliminate the PLA Navy carrier group and reassert U.S. dominance in the region.

Good luck, Commander!

Context:
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In 1987, the Cold War’s twilight years were marked by a dramatic and unforeseen shift as China stepped into the spotlight of global conflict. While the United States and Soviet Union dominated the world stage, Beijing quietly embarked on an ambitious military modernization campaign. With Taiwan at the center of China’s nationalist ambitions, the People’s Liberation Army began a rapid expansion of its naval and air capabilities, spurred by covert technology acquisitions and strategic partnerships. As U.S.-China relations deteriorated over disputes about arms sales to Taiwan, Beijing issued a stark ultimatum: cease all military aid to the island or face severe consequences. Washington, determined to uphold its commitments to Taiwan’s security, refused to bow to the pressure.

In a bold move, China imposed a naval blockade around Taiwan, cutting off vital supply lines and triggering a series of confrontations with the U.S. Navy. Meanwhile, Chinese forces launched a full-scale invasion of the island, citing the need to "reunify the motherland." The world watched in shock as Taiwan’s defenses crumbled under relentless aerial bombardment and amphibious assaults. Beijing’s calculated gamble caught the West off guard, exploiting a distracted United States still entangled in Cold War brinkmanship with the Soviet Union. Calls for U.S. intervention grew louder as Taiwan’s survival hung by a thread, but the logistics of challenging the blockade and avoiding a direct conflict with Beijing stalled an immediate response.

By late 1987, the conflict escalated beyond Taiwan. Emboldened by its rapid success, China deployed its newly christened carrier fleet to project power deep into the Pacific. The Coral Sea became the next flashpoint, with Chinese naval forces threatening to encircle key U.S. strategic positions. This bold maneuver forced Washington’s hand. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and a Submarine Attack Group were dispatched to the region, tasked with halting China’s expansion and turning the tide in what had become a broader war for dominance in the Pacific. The stage was set for the Second Battle of the Coral Sea, a clash destined to shape the balance of power in Asia for decades.