Scenario: Operation blue bat - beirut 1958 (hypothetical)

[OpArt222]

SCENARIO: OPERATION BLUE BAT - BEIRUT 1958
(HYPOTHETICAL)
SLOT NUMBER: 550
SCENARIO DESIGNER: OPART222

BACKGROUND
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, reacting to the overthrow of King Faisal’s government in Iraq, alerted U.S. forces and deployed to Europe a tactical strike force from the Ninth Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, and transport planes from Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina. A naval task force of 75 ships, including three aircraft carriers and two cruisers, and 45,000 men, 5,000 of whom were marines, was deployed to the Middle East from the Sixth Fleet in Italy.

The Government of Lebanon, faced with political turmoil, requested United States military intervention to prevent a collapse. With the situation deteriorating, President Eisenhower ordered U.S. forces to begin deploying on July 14th. The purpose of Operation Bluebat was to bolster the pro-Western government of President Camille Chamoun against internal opposition and threats from Syria and Egypt. The plan was to occupy and secure Beirut International Airport, a few miles south of the city, then secure the port of Beirut and the approaches to the city.

The Sixth Fleet consisted of 3 carriers, 2 cruisers, 22 destroyers, and approximately 50 other support vessels under the overall command of Vice Admiral Charles R. Brown. On this date, the 2d Provisional Marine Force (Task Force 62), consisting of three battalion landing teams (BLTs), under the command of Brigadier General Sidney S. Wade was the landing force of the Sixth Fleet.

PhibRon 6 consisted of five ships: the command ship (AGC), the USS TACONIC; an Attack transport (APA), the USS MONROVIA; an attack cargo ship (AKA), the USS CAPRICORNUS; and two LSTs (Landing Ship, Tank), the USS WALWORTH COUNTY and the USS TRAVERSE COUNTY. Off the coast of Lebanon they were joined by two destroyers, USS THE SULLIVANS and the USS WADLEIGH, which were to furnish direct fire support if the landing were opposed.

Besides authorizing the Navy's Sixth Fleet to conduct air operations and to land Marines in Beirut, the President ordered Tactical Air Command (TAC) Composite Air Strike Force Bravo to deploy from the US to Incirlik AB. The strike force, under command of Maj Gen Henry Viccellio, was in place by 20 July. It consisted of F-100s, B-57s, RF-101s, RB-66s, and WB-66s. The Air Force had no tactical controllers in Lebanon, therefore the Navy established procedures for all tactical aircraft involved in the operation.

SCENARIO 550:
This hypothetical scenario takes place on July 16, 1958 after the Marines have secured the airport. The USMC 2d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment are now preparing to advance on the port in support of the Chamoun government forces. Historically the Marines encountered only light resistance securing the port of Beirut, this scenario will provided the USMC player with a far more committed defense from the RED (INM, LCP, and PSP) opposition.

SCENARIO NOTES:
This scenario should be played from the USMC side.
The Off-map 203 MM Artillery Sections are used to represent direct fire support from USS THE SULLIVANS and the USS WADLEIGH.
Airstrikes are available from Tactical Air Command (TAC) Composite Air Strike Force Bravo stationed at Incirlik AB in Turkey.
PhibRon 6 is represented in an abstract manner, and is located at the west edge of the map.

BELLIGERENTS:
USMC: Lebanese Government & United States
RED: Lebanese Opposition - INM, LCP, and the PSP

MAP:
This scenario is staged on the "Beirut, Lebanon 1958 (200 x 160)" map created by OpArt222

SOURCES:
"Operation Blue Bat 1958" Globalsecurity.Org
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/blue_bat.htm

"1958 Lebanon Crisis" - Wikipedia.Org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1958_Lebanon_crisis

"Marines In Lebanon 1958" By Jack Shulimson - The Air University
http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/...st/lebanon.txt

Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection - UT Library Online
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/