Briefing
Greetings, Special Agent.
We have a special case on our hands today. As tensions around the island nation of Taiwan rise by the day, allied nations reach out frequently for our help. Today is no exception. This morning at 09:43 Taipei Standard Time, the Taiwanese Navy identified a foreign vessel entering itโs waters.
Upon making contact, the ship left westward for international waters. However, a UAV was dispatched and managed to snatch a picture of the vessel. The ship did not identify, nor does it match the database of known vessels operated by any Navy around the world. It comes close to several, but appears to be altered for a different purpose.
The Taiwanese government signed a contract for our services to identify the original make and model of the vessel.
As always, Special Agent. The Contract is yours, if you choose to accept.
Materials
Answer Instruction
Use the answer to unlock the flagfile, this will reward you with your badge.
Answer Format: type-123q-nato-reporting-name
Answer Sample: type-555d-kingkong-IV
Flagfile
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Official Write-up
Provided here is the official write-up, it does contain the answer. Use this if you’re stuck, or want to verify if you got the answer correct.
โ ๏ธ SPOILER: Official Write-up
Naval Intrusion
The challenge involves identifying a modified Chinese naval vessel that was spotted in Taiwanese waters. A UAV captured images of the vessel, which appears to be altered from its original design and lacks clear identification markers.
Available Materials
- UAV photograph of the unidentified vessel
- Time and location context (09:43 Taipei Standard Time)
- Information about the vessel’s behavior (left westward for international waters)
- Context that the vessel appears to be modified from a known design
Solution Path
Step 1: Visual Analysis
When analyzing the vessel photo, focus on:
- Overall hull design
- Superstructure configuration
- Weapon placement
- Sensor arrays
- Distinctive features of Chinese naval architecture
Step 2: Identifying the Base Vessel
Key characteristics point to the Type 054A (Jiangkai II) Class Frigate:
- Built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard and Huangpu Shipyard
- Operated by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)
- Distinctive features match despite modifications
Step 3: Format Requirements
The answer must be submitted in this specific format:
type-[number][letter]-[nato-reporting-name]
Example format:
type-555d-kingkong-IV
The correct answer format would be:
type-054a-jiangkai-II
Key Formatting Rules
- All lowercase for “type”
- Hyphen between each component
- NATO reporting name must match exactly (including capitalization)
- No spaces anywhere in the answer
Tips for Solvers
- Focus on base hull design rather than modifications
- Compare with known Chinese naval vessels
- Pay attention to the exact spelling and format of NATO reporting names
- Check PLAN (People’s Liberation Army Navy) vessel databases
- Verify your formatting matches the requirements exactly
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Incorrect capitalization of NATO name
- Missing or extra hyphens
- Incorrect spelling of “jiangkai”
- Wrong case for the letter ‘a’ in ‘054a’
- Adding extra spaces
- Using wrong Roman numerals (II vs 2)
Research Resources
- Naval technology websites
- Maritime defense publications
- PLAN vessel catalogs
- Naval recognition guides
- Maritime OSINT databases
Verification Steps
To confirm you have the correct vessel, verify:
Weapon systems align with known configurations
Matches basic hull design
Fits timeline of Chinese naval development
Operating in the expected region
Size matches reported class
Creator: Frank Diepmaat