In 2044, the Empire of Japan decided to take advantage of the UKA's heavy involvement in Europe and the new outbreak of fighting in the Midwest. Four Imperial Japanese Navy task forces set sail. The first landed invasion forces in the lightly defended province of Alaska. Sitka, Juneau, and Ketchikan were occupied. The second of these task forces launched a surprise air attack on the UKA's Hawaiian fleet anchorage at Lahaina Roads. It sank the only UKA vessel in Hawaiian waters: a coastal minesweeper. The Japanese then landed three Special Naval Landing Force Brigades and attempted to capture the fortified Lahaina Naval Base. During the fighting, Royal Navy dive bombers sank both of Japan's remaining aircraft carriers as well as a dozen transports. Unable to support the invasion, the Japanese Navy withdrew, unable to reload the marine force ashore. The third task force, composed of two disguised raiders, landed a Special Naval Landing Force battalion at key choke point in the Nicaragua Canal. Both ships were scuttled in the channel, an act that brought the Colombians, the co-owner of the canal into the war, but effectively denying rapid reinforcement of both nation's Pacific Fleets. The final task force attempted to invade northern Taiwan, with a force of four light cruisers, six destroyers, and 260 transports, many of them sailing ships, carrying three Japanese infantry divisions. A desperate battle off the northern point of Taiwan, the tiny Taiwanese fleet, composed of six tiny ex-Roman destroyers sank all of the Japanese warships and a large number of transports, saving the island.
After the failure of its two most important offensives with terrible losses, coupled with the later torpedoing of a Japanese battleship by a UKA submarine, caused the Japanese to sue for peace before any more damage was done. This war brought the UKA and Taiwan much closer together than they had been before. A mutual defense pact was signed in October 2044, that provided for a UKA Royal Navy Base and airfield to be set up in northern Taiwan. A month later, Chilung, the site of a pre-1985 Taiwanese navy base destroyed by nuclear attack in 1985, was chosen to be a joint Taiwanese-UKA base.
TheNew Chilung is built among the ruins of the pre-1985 city. The attack on Old Chilung was an airburst, after over fifty years there is little or no residual radiation. New Chilung has a population of 35,100, with most of its people working either directly for the two navies or providing serves and support for them. THe town is filled with brothels, gambling halls, tattoo parlors, curio shops and other forms of sailor's recreations. Part of a company of Taiwanese marines are always assigned to patrol the streets during the evenings to prevent disorder. Usually, the sailors of the Royal Navy have been on their best behavior when mingling with the local civilians and their Taiwanese Navy counterparts. The UKA is quite popular, as the people of Taiwan see the UKA as its shield against the hated Japanese. However, both Captain Gholston and the local authorities are concerned that the rapid influx of RAF and Royal Army personnel unfamiliar with Chinese custom may wreck havoc with the carefully nutured feelings of goodwill.
RN Chilung is commanded by Captain Karla Gholston. An experienced administrator, Gholston has been the base commander since it opened in 2044. The Taiwanese base commander is Rear Admiral Hong Huizuo, the third highest ranking officer in the Taiwanese Navy.
Chilung is currently listed as a hardship duty station. Families are not allowed to reside with service members on Taiwan. Eventually, this restriction may well be lifted after the base facilities are enlarged and upgraded.
The UKA has no ships home ported at Chilung. Due to the build up for Operation Bifrost, the RAF's 100th Recon Group and 163rd Fighter Group will be based here, as the nucleus of a Far Eastern Air Force. This assignment may will be permanent.
In addition, the China Expeditionary Brigade of the Royal Army is to have its headquarters here. Eventually, two of the three battalions of the 56th Infantry will be stationed on the base.
The Taiwanese Navy is based out of Chilung. Currently this consists of the battleship Chiang Kai Shek, the destroyers Jianzhen, Ling, and Dong Jiang. A new frigate, the Xuenwen, newly purchased from the Kingdom of Northern Italy, is working up at the harbor. Taiwan's Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Cui Chia Pao, has his headquarters at Chilung.
Taiwan's Marine Battalion is based at Chilung and provides most of the base's security.
The Chilung Officer's Club is a simple, concrete block structure that provides the bulk
of the entertainment for the officers stationed here.
Officer's Quarters
Senior officers are being housed in Quonset huts as shown above. Due to the lack space during the current build up, many base officers are being
forced to move into tents while their superiors are taking over the huts. The enlisted members of the team will get their own barracks wing, while all
officers and warrant officers will get huts for the short duration the team will be here.
Interior of Main Enlisted Barracks
The enlisted barracks at Chilung are spartan. The base is new, and there hasn't been
enough time and money to finish things to the standards of the larger bases state side.
To make things worse, the major influx of personnel for Operation Bifrost is rapidly
overcrowding what there is. Most of the army troops and RAF ground crew will be living in tents for the time being.
Row of New Enlisted Barracks
Most of the enlisted men who do have "permanent" shelter live in these simple huts.
Duffy's Tavern, the Temporary NCO Club
Base facilities for enlisted entertainment have been lagging. Needless to say, Duffy's can't possible handle all the NCOs
from the expeditionary force!
The Bomb Dump
Lacking proper storage facilities, the bombs stockpiled on base are stacked outdoors in a large dump on the west side of the base. Good thing the Japanese
carrier force is so weak these days.
A View of the Entrance of Chilung Harbor.