GIUK

Russian Sub Hunters, March 2024. Historical Scenario.

Russian Sub Hunters, March 2024. Historical Scenario.
A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for EC2003 Battle for the GIUK Gap and the HCDB2-170308 new standard 1980-2025 Platform Database. This scenario is designed with advanced Scenario Editor and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.
This scenario is designed to be played from the Red/Russian side or from the Blue/Russian Aggressor side. You should play a few times first the RED side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the BLUE side.
Image: Other more peaceful times, the Russian frigate RFS Neustrashimyy (Temporal hull number 712), lead ship of the Project 11540 Yastreb-class, steams through the Baltic Sea during exercises supporting Baltic Operations BALTOPS 2008. Photo of June 11, 2008, by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Mike Banzhaf, a serviceperson on duty and in consequence on public domain. Took from Wikipedia Commons.
After two long years of Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia tries to keep an image of normality, including pretended normal military exercises, despite its great surface and subsurface loses in the Black sea by Ukrainian USVs (Uncrewed Surface Vessels), substrategic missiles and other minor forces.
This simple scenario tries to depict the pretended "big" ASW exercise publicised by Russia March 13, 2024, and its estimated components.
It's of interest the use of a Project 636.3/Kilo II-class submarine in the exercise, as isn't any in the Russian Baltic Fleet strength, and she is very probably B-608 Mozhaisk sailing in test, destined to be in service in the Russian Pacific Fleet. The only Russian submarine in regular service in the Baltic Fleet is an old Project 877/Kilo-class, B-806 Dmitrov, commissioned 1986.
Also is of interest the comparison between this very simple Russian exercise and any of the iterations of the NATO yearly Dynamic Manta or Dynamic Mongoose ASW exercises, fulls of surface and subsurface forces and with a great variety of hypothetical situations.
Of course this is a training exercise and actual shots, torpedoes and missiles aren't fired and nobody is hurt ... but in the alternate timeline we share now everything is possible, and that previous affirmation can be untrue.
Enrique Mas, March 17, 2024.

22 downloads

Updated March 17, 2024

ASROC Action

By donaldseadog

A scenario to be played by either red or blue. There are two conflict areas, one is red surface groups hunting blue sub groups, the other is red sub hunting blue surface convoy.
The scenario has no deep design but is an extension from a simple scenario written to test ASROC style ASW weapons.
Played in the GIUK 2003 battleset using the default game HCDB database. (HCDB 150929)
The game is best played with a new beta version of HarpoonClassic vers. 2023.007 or better but should also play with the latest official patch 2022.027 from Matrix.

11 downloads

Submitted May 17, 2023

Sink the Kiev earlier. April 1977. Historical scenario.

By broncepulido

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for EC2003 Battle for the GIUK Gap and the HCDB2-170308 new standard 1980-2025 Platform Database. This scenario is designed with advanced Scenario Editor and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.
This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/NATO side or from the Red/USSR side. You should play a few times first the Blue side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red side.
Image: Swiftsure-class nuclear attack submarine HMS Spartan leaving HMNB Clyde, Faslane, June 1, 1993 (Photo: FOSNI PHOTS/MOD, licensed under the UK Open Government Licence version 1.0 (OGL v1.0). Took from Wikipedia Commons).
A long time ago, in a sea world far, far away, it's a period of cold war ...
In April 1977, during Soviet exercise SEVER-77, British nuclear attack submarine HMS Swiftsure get orders for a covert operation: close the then new Soviet CVH Kiev and obtain visual and sonic data about her, and the mission was a great success.
The Soviet task force did sail off Lofoten archipelago in the Norwegian Sea and keep position to perform activities and show presence in face of one of the more clear Western allies, demonstrating the futility of any NATO opposition.
The intelligence operation executed by HMS Swiftsure demonstrated just the opposite.
In this speculative scenario, in an alternate timeline, WWIII breaks out and the UK SSN task is changed to sink the Kiev.
Can you perform it at least as good as historically did HMS Swiftsure?

Enrique Mas, January 21, 2023.

39 downloads

Updated January 21, 2023

Nordstream Aftermath, Baltic Sea October 2022. Hypothetical Scenario.

By broncepulido

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for EC2003 Battle for the GIUK Gap and the HCDB2-170308 new standard 1980-2025 Platform Database. This scenario is designed with advanced Scenario Editor and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.

This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/NATO side or from the Red/NATO side. You should play a few times first the Blue side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red side.

Image: Gulf of Aden February 20, 2009: The Danish flexible support ship HDMS Absalon (L 16, now reclassified as frigate with hull number F 341), right, the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) and the guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72, first Arleigh Burke-class Flight II ship) transit the Gulf of Aden. Vella Gulf was then the flagship for Combined Task Force 151, a multinational task force conducting counter-piracy operations to detect and deter piracy in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Gulf, Indian Ocean and Red Sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky/Released, a serviceperson on duty and in consequence in public domain. Took from Wikipedia Commons).

After the Transnitria War of 1990-1992, the 2008 Russian invasion of Georgia and the first Russian invasion of Ukraine and its Crimea Peninsula and Donbas from 2014 the World was beginning the so-called Second Cold War or the first stages of WWIII. Against all sensible warnings and erroneous appeasement politics the President of Russia Vladimir Putin (ex-KGB lieutenant colonel) was showing clearly his plan to recover the Russian Empire and later Soviet territories for reinstitute the greatness of his Russia, and to guarantee his passage on the History as saviour of the Rodina ... or more probably as a sad and sadistic clown.
At last the Russian campaign for the invasion of Ukraine started on February 24, 2022, and the surprisingly bad performance of the Russian forces, forecasting a long war, and the Western steadfast support of Ukraine surprised the world.
The two most prominent facts at strategic level on the naval side were the closure of the Bosporus strait by Turkey on February 28, and the Russian naval blockade of the Ukrainian ports from the war start, preventing the export of the very need on other world points of the Ukrainian grains.
Most of the Ukrainian navy was seized, blockaded or scuttled in port the first days of the Russian invasion.
But the more important naval actions at tactical, propaganda and boosting of the Ukrainian morale were the destruction or damage of some Russian ships, the naval use of Baryaktar TB2 drones and many retaliatory air strikes on the occupied Snake Island. And of course as the main and most outstanding action the sinking on April 14 of the guided missile cruiser Moskva, flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, probably by the action of shore launched Ukrainian indigenous R-360 Neptune anti-ship missiles, based in ISTAR information supplied by NATO from day one of the invasion, and also previously to it.
After came the yet unresolved and only partly successful bombing of the Kerch Bridge on October 8, 2022, and as latest relevant naval action the four places Nordstream 1 and 2 gas pipelines sabotage on September 26, 2022. The four blasts took place just outside the Danish territorial waters, east the Island of Bornholm, an interesting touristic resort with many medieval points of interest.
Suspicions of a sabotage by the Russian side are based mainly in the post-attack Russian propaganda blaming the Western countries, the damage use by Gazprom as an excuse to justify any failure and compensation to meet its contractual obligations to supply gas to the European countries, and to make impossible for a hypothetical Putin successor the use of resuming its gas exports to negotiate with the Western countries.
Many current ideas on the sabotage execution are the pre-placement in 2021 by specialists from the Russian Ministry of Defence’s Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research (GUGI military unit no. 45707) of explosive charges, or the use of "pigs" (Autonomous mechanical devices used to clean inside the pipes) loaded with explosives, by the Russian pipes owner and operator Gazprom.
This scenario is based in that last action, with the Russian submarines trying to prevent by force the ulterior deployment of Western deep sea research vessels, looking for debris of the Russian implication in the sabotage, killing previously her meagre available escorts.
Enrique Mas, October 23, 2022.

88 downloads

Updated October 30, 2022

Kaliningrad Clash, Part 1

By JSF

Kaliningrad Clash, Part 1 - Nato side
A scenario for Harpoon Classic
Battleset : EC 2003 GIUK
Database: H2DB
by
JSF
The last days saw ever more growing tensions between Nato and Russia. While the war in Ukraine has become one of attrition, several new hot spots came to daylight. The most dangerous one being the Russian Kaliningrad exclave.
Kaliningrad is absolutely vital for the Russians since it is superbly located for cutting off the Baltic Republics from Nato via occupying the Suwalki Gap and threatening Nato countries with Iskander ballistic missiles.
Thsi scenario deals with this extremely dangerous situation. The stakes are extremely high, so is the nervous tension.
Comments and critiques welcome.

51 downloads

contemporary events based

Updated June 26, 2022

Socrates, Socrates Hemlock

By Purrastroika

This is a modernization of the original GIUK scenario "Attack on the Bastion."
Blue's job is to neutralize the boomers, but in order to do that, it may be necessary to
negate the surface playing field. Socrates Hemlock is a slightly easier version of the modification.
Red's job is to protect the Silent Swords of the Rodina. There is a real, but small chance Marko Ramius may make an appearance.
Also, Red's job includes negating Blue's airbase.
Though Red lacks any bombers, I think you should be able to think of something .

Purrastroika, 22 Jan. 2022

462 downloads

Submitted January 22, 2022

Operation Plumbob II - Swineriot

By Purrastroika

A slightly complex Study scenario designed less to be won than for data and player playstyle analysis.
I've attempted to incorporate every single surface/land atomic weapon possible via the use of
land, sea, and air platforms. There are some hopefully helpful prompts before Nuclear Release is granted.
It's meant to be played as Blue Only, has a time limit of eight hours.
The target names correlate to the distance from projected Ground Zero, so make sure you aim your aircraft for Kaliningrad's hypocenter.
Finally, it really isn't fun, unless you like blowing stuff up with nukes (or not I suppose) in a simulation.
But if you like that kind of thing, please enjoy.
Purrastroika, 15 January, 2022.

40 downloads

Submitted January 16, 2022

1GIUK.7z

By Palex80

Following the devastating Sigma variant wave in late 2022, the world started recovering again in 2023. The skirmish along the Russian-Ukrainian border in early 2022 served as reminder that the pandemic was not the only concern. The European Union, exiting the pandemic more divided than ever before, was too weak to keep its cohesion, losing Finland and Sweden in 2023 and Romania in 2024. Norway, Sweden and Finland formed the Northern Block in late 2022, while Romania aligned itself with the Russian-friendly Ukrainian government. Following the Vaccine Shortage Unrest of Warsaw, a state of civil war erupted in Poland. The EU tried to intervene but was warned Russia than any intervention so close to its borders would be met with a Russian response. When evidence surfaced that it was the FSB that sabotaged the two truckloads of vaccines destined for the Warsaw population, it was already too late. The United States of America, their hands full trying to put down the civil unrest in Mexico and preventing it from spilling over the border, were too busy looking elsewhere. The newly formed Russian-Chinese Alliance grasped its chance.

Scenario 1 of the WWIII series

To be played only from the BLUE side

69 downloads

Updated December 18, 2021

The not so Lonely New Queen of the North. March 2021. Hypothetical Scenario.

By broncepulido

The not so Lonely New Queen of the North. March 2021. Hypothetical Scenario.
A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for EC2003 Battle for the GIUK Gap Battleset and the HCDB2-170909 (or later) 1980-2025 era Platform Database. This scenario is designed with Advanced Scenario Editor Build 2017.013 and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.
This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/NATO side or from the Red/Russian side. You should play a few times first the Blue side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red side.
Image: Russian Guided Missile Cruiser Marshal Ustinov (Soviet Project 1164 Atlant, Slava-class for NATO) steaming through the English Channel on November 15, 2018. Aerial photograph took from a Royal Navy Merlin Mk2 Helicopter by LPHOT SEELEY/MOD, and licensed under the Open Government License. In all the three Slava-class cruiser completed, P-500 Bazalt anti-ship cruise missiles are replaced by P-1000 Vulkan anti-ship missiles. Chervona Ukraina/Varyag was from the start equipped with P-1000 Vulkan anti-ship missiles, and in Slava/Moskva and Marshal Ustinov P-500 Bazalt were replaced by P-1000 Vulkan (in service from 1987) in the late 1980s.
From the start, casual observers were surprised by the steadfastness of the new Biden Administration face the aggressive and expansionist Russia and China postures.
One of its first moves was the deployment of B-1B Lancer, with maritime strike capability (nominally equipped with AGM-158C LRASM-A from June 2018), in Norway 22 February-23 March 2021, including one B-1B deployed to Bodo inside the Arctic Circle from March 8.
Less known to the world, that action was in response to continuous near violations of Norway's territorial waters by Russian naval vessels. Most executed sailing west of the Fishermen Peninsula by the Guided Missile Cruiser Marshal Ustinov, temporally the biggest Northern Fleet surface warship after the Pyotr Velikiy CGN, in a clear propaganda stunt but with a 35 years old vessel. Fjords and a big enemy warship playing hide-and-seek, for some a remembrance of 1944 and the ancient German battleship Tirpitz, the Lonely Queen of the North.
In this hypothetical scenario many misunderstood drive to a hot situation and an open conflict, but to avoid an escalade limited to into theater forces and limited ground strikes against the opponent sovereign territories.
Enrique Mas, 4 July 2021.

65 downloads

Submitted July 4, 2021

Escape Beyond Laboe May 1988. Hypothetical Scenario.

By broncepulido

Escape Beyond Laboe May 1988. Hypothetical Scenario.
A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for EC2003 Battle for the GIUK Gap Battleset and the HCDB2-170909 (or later) 1980-2025 era Platform Database. This scenario is designed with Advanced Scenario Editor Build 2017.013 and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.
This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/Federal Republic of Germany-NATO side or from the Red/German Democratic Republic side. You should play a few times first the Blue side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red side.
Image: Baltic Sea, Laboe Naval Memorial and U-995 Type VIIC/41 museum boat, near the Kiel Fjord eastern entrance. 2013 photo by TeWeBs took from Wikipedia Commons.
A classic WWIII in the eighties scenario, inspired on the Kevin Martell's Bugout scenario published at the Naval SITREP 61.
For more details on the situation, read the Naval SITREP 61 scenario.
But the situation is basically WWIII started only about four hours ago, and for keep our Baltic ports and sea lanes open next weeks, Federal Republic of Germany and NATO need transit the MCM ships from Neustadt in Holstein to Kiel and avoid its destruction, under the fears of the WarPac forces overrunning the port.
Enrique Mas, 6 June 2021.

47 downloads

Submitted June 6, 2021

Ambush off Jan Mayen, August 1988. Hypothetical Scenario.

By broncepulido

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for EC2003 Battle for the GIUK Gap Battleset and the HCDB2-170909 (or later) 1980-2025 era Platform Database. This scenario is designed with Advanced Scenario Editor Build 2017.013 and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.
This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/NATO side or from the Red/Soviet side. You should play a few times first the Blue side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red side.
Image: Atlantic Ocean, April 23, 2004, USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) receives ordnance from the fast combat support ship USS Seattle (AOE-3) during an ammunition onload in the Atlantic Ocean. The conventional powered aircraft carrier conducted an underway replenishment with Seattle in final preparations for a scheduled six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. (Released U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Joshua Karsten, USN, took by a US serviceperson on duty, and in consequence in public domain).
A classic WWIII in the eighties scenario, inspired on the Battle of the Norwegian Sea scenario from the 2003 High Tide Harpoon expansion.

NATO forces, centred on the USS John F Kennedy (CV-67) strike group is replenishing East of Jan Mayen Island, after execution of air strikes against Soviet installations in the Kola Peninsula.
At this time the strike group is very vulnerable in case of Soviet surprise attack. Most of the carrier air wing and escort ships aircraft and helicopters are unavailable for thirty minutes because the replenishing manoeuvres, and the group surface movements are limited because the replenishment ships.
The Soviet plan is just that. The general positioning of the NATO carrier group is deduced from previous strikes, and a fair amount of HUMINT and informed guesses (Soviet RORSAT satellites were neutralized in the first hours of the conflict). Soviet surface and subsurface forces are approaching the replenishment area to kill the carrier, supported by surviving air elements after two weeks of war, based both in Soviet Union and occupied northern Norway.
As in the previous August 1988 Sea of Okhotsk scenario, High Tide paper rules scenario was inspirational, but the scenario building execution has changed many things, including historically updated Soviet Order of Battle and US aircraft carrier.
Enrique Mas, 1 January 2021.

88 downloads

Submitted January 1, 2021

Exercise Dynamic Mongoose 2020.

By broncepulido

Exercise Dynamic Mongoose 2020. June 29-July 20 2020. Historical Training Scenario.
A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the EC2003 Battle for GIUK Gap Battleset and the HCDB2-170909 (or later) 1980-2025 era Platform Database. This scenario is designed with Advanced Scenario Editor Build 2017.012 and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.
This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/NATO side or from the Red/Russian side. You should play a few times first the Blue side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red side.
Image: The US surface element in Dynamic Mongoose 2002 was the Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA (With 5"/62 calibers Mk45 Mod 4 gun replacing the previous 5"/54) guided-missile BMD destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) conducting here a photo exercise with the Santa Maria-class frigate SPS Santa Maria (F 81) Southwest Spain, as Roosevelt transited from its homeport in Rota, to Iceland for NATO Exercise Dynamic Mongoose 2020, June 25, 2020. Roosevelt replaces USS Carney (DDG 64) after five years as part of Forward Deployed Naval Force-Europe (FDNF-E), and as the four previous ships based at Rota, has replaced her aft 20mm Phalanx mount by a SeaRAM missile mount (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Austin G. Collins/Released. Photo took by a service person on duty, and in consequence in public domain).

From the last years constant NATO and partners military exercises are a guarantee to prevent any Russia temptation to resolve with an open war its internal issues, with another military offensive action after the Georgia, Crimea and East Ukraine actions.
From the eventful year of 2014 the World was beginning the so-called Second Cold War, the President of Russia Vladimir Putin (ex-KGB lieutenant colonel) was showing clearly his plan to recover the Russian Empire and later Soviet territories for reinstitute the greatness of his Russia, and to guarantee his passage on the History as saviour of the Rodina.
From May 2014 Putin was provoking in succession the Crimea, Ukraine, Donetsk, Baltic States, October 2014 Swedish submarine incursion, G-20 Brisbane meeting naval crisis, November 2014 Faslane submarine incident, frigate Yaroslav Mudryy February "Channel Dash", April 2015 Finnish submarine incursion (for many observers causing the pre-mobilization of Finland reserve forces), Russian intervention in Syria from 30 September 2015, shoot-down by Turkish F-16 fighters equipped with AIM-120 AMRAAM on 24 November 2015 of a Russian Su-24M as consequence of the repeated unlawful overflights of Turkey by Russian warplanes based in Latakia, and after two months of repeated warning, March 2016 detection by the French of a Russian submarine near Bay of Biscay and its SSBN base, the propaganda stunt of the deployment of the only one Russian aircraft carrier Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov steaming (a lot, literally) from Kola Bay towards Eastern Mediterranean from October 15, 2016, and with constant and multiple Russian overflies with military warplanes entangled in potential incidents with commercial flights in Europe, so far as at the Portuguese shores. That without counting in other unrelated naval incidents aside the upcoming Second Cold War, just as the Iranian seizure of the merchant Maersk Tigris in 28 April 2015, the shore-based anti-ship missile attacks against the catamaran transport ex Swift (HSV-2) and US destroyers on the Red Sea in October 2016 and the ulterior retaliation, the first military operation of the Trump Administration on January 28, 2017, the MV-22B tiltrotor raid of SEAL Team 6 operating from USS Makin Island (LHD-8) against Houthi Yemen, the later January 30 incident, when an Al-Madinah-class Saudi frigate was attacked and damaged probably by a Houthi suicide or drone boat off Al Hudaydah, Houthi Yemen, and the constant and intense naval drills as Sea Shield, Dynamic Manta and Dynamic Mongoose 2017. (And without counting in great landlocked actions, as the complex counter-Daesh operations in Middle East, nor the Chinese naval issues and challenges).
For many observers the continuous and large NATO and partners military exercises show to Russia the Western will to resist his threats, keeping a tense peace.
The Russian were also executing continuous exercises and operations, surprising the World again with intervention in Libya airlifting across the Mediterranean Sea via the Russian Khmeimim base in Syria (but previously with Russian military contractors in Libya from 2018, of the Wagner company of Yevgeny Prigozhin). Even more confuse with the unexpected support of Turkey to the opposing side, including first line naval vessels, and airlifted elements of the Assadist Syrian National Army, dating from officially 2 January 2020 (Approbation of the intervention by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey). To clarify (or not) sides, Russia's Putin is supporting the 2014 elected House of Representatives relocated to hotels in Tobruk, and Erdogan's Turkey is supporting the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord, with the UN Security Council endorsement, and as added complication Al-Sisi's Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, as Russia, supports the Tobruk's House of Representatives government and opposes the Turkish intervention because the East Mediterranean balance of power. And Egyptian Army heavy elements wait to cross the Egypt-Libya border from 14 July 2020, when Tobruk's House of Representatives approved a motion authorising Egypt to directly intervene military in Libyan ground if needed.
Dynamic Mongoose 2017 was developed near Iceland first time as is usually executed near Norway, with participation of Icelandic elements, now in the way to be converted in true armed forces. From this 2020 edition, second time in Iceland, it has been decided that the exercises will be held alternately in Iceland and Norway. Iceland will provide facilities in the security area of Keflavik Airport and the Icelandic Coast Guard will participate in the exercises.
Probably part of the exercise, as showed in this scenario, was to control the passage of Russian submarines between Greenland and Iceland, but this is only an informed guess.
For sake of comparison and of the evolving forces, you can play also the previous Dynamic Mongoose 2015 and 2017 scenarios, and see the meagre elements deployed this year of Covid-19.
Of course this is a training exercise and actually shots, torpedoes and missiles aren't fired and nobody is hurt ...

Enrique Mas, 21 July 2020.

68 downloads

Updated July 20, 2020

Return to Origins. Overture 1989.

By broncepulido

Return to Origins. Overture 1989.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for EC2003 Battle for the GIUK Gap Battleset and the HCDB2-170909 (or later) 1980-2025 era Platform Database. This scenario is designed with Advanced Scenario Editor Build 2017.012 and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.

This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/US side or from the Red/USSR side. You should play a few times first the Blue/US side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red/USSR side.

Image: A port beam view of the Belknap-class guided missile cruiser USS Biddle (CG-34) underway during Operation Desert Shield. Observe SPS-48E height-finding radar in the foremast and SPS-49(v)5 radar in the mainmast, both result of the NTU upgrade completed July 1987 (replacing previous SPS-48C and SPS-40 radars), and also Phalanx CIWS and Harpoon missile mounts (U.S. Navy photo released or took 1990-11-30 by CW02 Ed Bailey, USN/Released, took by a service person on duty, and in consequence in public domain. Took from Wikipedia Commons).

This scenario is inspired in the recently released Harpoon V jumpstart scenario.
After the overture movements of WWIII in May 1989, detached surface units of the carrier force striking Soviet targets at the Murmansk Oblast, steaming the Norwegian Sea, are returning South trying to evade the scarce Soviet forces on pursuit.
Fight will be fast and short but hard.

Enrique Mas, July 18, 2020.

79 downloads

Updated July 18, 2020

Harpoon 3 Battles of the Third World War, May 1991. HCDB2

By broncepulido

Harpoon 3 Battles of the Third World War, May 1991. HCDB2 version.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the EC2003 Battle for GIUK Gap Battleset and the HCDB2-170909 (or later) 1980-2025 era Platform Database.

Image: Soviet CVH Baku Project 11434 circa 1988 (from 1990 named Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Gorshkov. Decommissioned in 1996, heavily modified in Project 11430, and in service for India from 2013 as INS Vikramaditya), including her distintive and probably never operational massive phased-array radar Mars-Passat/Sky Watch. US Navy photo and in consequence in Public Domain, took from Wikipedia Commons.

This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/Allied side or from the Red/Soviet side. You should play a few times first the Blue side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red side.

A North Atlantic-GIUK scenario inspired by some good old scenario booklets of the Harpoon 3 series of the late 1980s edited by GDW, of great value for testing generic tactics and weapons. Actually is a mix-up of individual sea-operations centred scenarios on a great sea extension as only the Computer Harpoon can provide. And reflecting all the knowledge acquired the last years in some matters, as about Soviet/Russian platforms, OOBs and Soviet/Russian carrier air wings composition.

The scenario is settled at the start of the conventional WWIII as was forecasted in the North Atlantic for circa May 1991 in some of the GDW edited booklets, the opening movements and contacts, and the first days of open combat.

Enrique Mas, September 30, 2017.

217 downloads

Updated October 1, 2017

Big Lizzie and Big George, August 2017, Historical/Alternate History Scenario.

By broncepulido

Big Lizzie and Big George, August 2017, Historical/Alternate History Scenario.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for EC2003 Battle for the GIUK Gap Battleset and the HCDB2-170714 new standard 1980-2025 Platform Database. This scenario is designed with Advanced Scenario Editor and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.

This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/NATO side or from the Red/Russia side. You should play a few times first the Blue/NATO side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red/Russian side.

Image: The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) transits alongside the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) during exercise Saxon Warrior 2017, Aug. 8. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel Gaither/Released, and in consequence in public domain, took from https://www.dvidshub.net/search/?q=Saxon+Warrior+2017&filter%5Btype%5D=image&view=list&sort=publishdate&page=6

From the eventful year of 2014 the World was beginning the so-called Second Cold War, the President of Russia Vladimir Putin (ex-KGB lieutenant colonel) was showing clearly his plan to recover the Russian Empire and later Soviet territories for reinstitute the greatness of his Russia, and to guarantee his passage on the History as saviour of the Rodina.
From May 2014 Putin was provoking in succession the Crimea, Ukraine, Donetsk, Baltic States, October 2014 Swedish submarine incursion, G-20 Brisbane meeting naval crisis, November 2014 Faslane submarine incident, frigate Yaroslav Mudryy February "Channel Dash", April 2015 Finnish submarine incursion (for many observers causing the pre-mobilization of Finland reserve forces), Russian intervention in Syria from 30 September 2015, shoot-down by Turkish F-16 fighters equipped with AIM-120 AMRAAM on 24 November 2015 of a Russian Su-24M as consequence of the repeated unlawful overflights of Turkey by Russian warplanes based in Latakia, and after two months of repeated warning, March 2016 detection by the French of a Russian submarine near Bay of Biscay and its SSBN base, the propaganda stunt of the deployment of the only one Russian aircraft carrier Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov steaming (a lot, literally) from Kola Bay towards Eastern Mediterranean from October 15, 2016, and with constant and multiple Russian overflies with military warplanes entangled in potential incidents with commercial flights in Europe, so far as at the Portuguese shores.
That without counting in other unrelated naval incidents aside the upcoming Second Cold War, just as the Iranian seizure of the merchant Maersk Tigris in 28 April 2015, the shore-based anti-ship missile attacks against the catamaran transport ex Swift (HSV-2) and US destroyers on the Red Sea in October 2016 and the ulterior retaliation, the first military operation of the Trump Administration on January 28, 2017, the MV-22B tiltrotor raid of SEAL Team 6 operating from USS Makin Island (LHD-8) against Houthi Yemen, the later January 30 incident, when an Al-Madinah-class Saudi frigate was attacked and damaged probably by a Houthi suicide or drone boat off Al Hudaydah, Houthi Yemen, and the constant and intense naval drills as Sea Shield, Dynamic Manta and Dynamic Mongoose 2017. (And without counting in great landlocked actions, as the complex counter-Daesh operations in Middle East).
And meanwhile, more towards Far East a less perceived and growing problem was China, as reflected in the transfer of the 60% of the USN and USAF combat forces to the Pacific Theatre of Operations from 2012, move to be completed by 2020.
For many observers the continuous and large NATO and partners military exercises show to Russia the Western will to resist his threats, keeping a tense peace.
The Russian were also executing continuous exercises and operations, and showing them without many explanations in propaganda news reports, from the Zapad-17, projected for 14th-20th September 2017 (Incidentally, Russia is planning to transfer its 1st Guards Tank Army for exercises to western Belarus in September 2017), to continuous ASW exercises. Culminating in many simultaneous Naval parades as a great propaganda feast on Navy Day, July 30, in St Petersburg, Kronstadt (including some visiting Chinese warships), Kaliningrad, Novorossiysk, Sevastopol (in the illegally occupied Crimea), Vladivostok and Tartus (Syria).

Between all those events, from 26 June to 16 August 2017 the new British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth steamed from Rosyth for six weeks for her first operational sea training cruise (Arriving after in Portsmouth with five Merlin ASW helicopters on desk, as forecasted in the previous HMS Queen Elizabeth scenario). First, UK Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon, writing in "The Telegraph" on 27 June 2017, stated about the "dilapidated" Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, and how "the Russians will look at this ship with a little bit of envy". Two days later, in response, Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov mocked the UK's new ship, saying "The British aircraft carrier is nothing more than just a huge easy naval target".
At last, to support his official claims, President Putin decided to clarify the question, ordering the Northern Fleet submarine forces to provoke an "accidental" and "confuse" incident, simulating a training error, to get the result of see HMS Queen Elizabeth in the North Sea bottom.
As in the same period the tense situation was depicted in a scenario showed in the harpgamer.com website, NATO decides to escort HMS Queen Elizabeth the rest of her cruise with the forces and with the excuse of the near exercise Saxon Warrior 2017 (July 1 - August 10), centred on the USS George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWBCSG).
In opposite way, President Putin decides to maximize the probabilities of a submarine targeting training "accident" to sink HMS Queen Elizabeth, and send to compromise in this task almost all available Russian resources in the region, both Northern and Baltic Fleets, concentrated to sink the British carrier.
But many world parts were in high tension because other causes.
Not only the Chinese vindications on "created" territories in the South China Sea and the USN answer with Freedom of Navigation (FON) patrol are forcing the camel back, are contributing to the world turmoil, but also the incredible direct menaces of North Korean President Kim ("Grandson") to launch four ICBM to arrive some 30 Km of Andersen AFB in Guam, with a term finishing on August 15, 2017.
As consequence of that instability, and to exploit that window of opportunity, with a probable back-channels Russian nuclear blackmail over Sweden, Poland, Germany and Denmark to neutralize its military forces, Putin decides to act.
This scenario is qualified as "historical" because the present forces were the same historically available.

Enrique Mas, August 18, 2017.

1,426 downloads

Submitted August 19, 2017

Exercise Dynamic Mongoose 2017. 26 June-8 July 2017. Historical Training Scenario.

By broncepulido

Exercise Dynamic Mongoose 2017. 26 June-8 July 2017. Historical Training Scenario.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the EC2003 Battle for GIUK Gap Battleset and the HCDB2-170714 new standard 1980-2025 Platform Database. This scenario is designed with the Advanced Scenario Editor and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.

This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/NATO side or from the Red/NATO side. You should play a few times first the Blue side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red side.

Image: Ensign Paris Bess, from Troy, Ohio, observes an Allied NH90 NFH Caiman ASW helicopter, fly over a U.S. Navy Improved Los Angeles-Class submarine from the bridge of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) at start of exercise Dynamic Mongoose 17 (DMON17) June 27, 2017. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Colbey Livingston/ Released, and in consequence in Public Domain).

From the last years constant NATO and partners military exercises are a guarantee to prevent any Russia temptation to resolve with an open war its internal issues, with another military offensive action after the Georgia, Crimea and East Ukraine actions.
From the eventful year of 2014 the World was beginning the so-called Second Cold War, the President of Russia Vladimir Putin (ex-KGB lieutenant colonel) was showing clearly his plan to recover the Russian Empire and later Soviet territories for reinstitute the greatness of his Russia, and to guarantee his passage on the History as saviour of the Rodina.
From May 2014 Putin was provoking in succession the Crimea, Ukraine, Donetsk, Baltic States, October 2014 Swedish submarine incursion, G-20 Brisbane meeting naval crisis, November 2014 Faslane submarine incident, frigate Yaroslav Mudryy February "Channel Dash", April 2015 Finnish submarine incursion (for many observers causing the pre-mobilization of Finland reserve forces), Russian intervention in Syria from 30 September 2015, shoot-down by Turkish F-16 fighters equipped with AIM-120 AMRAAM on 24 November 2015 of a Russian Su-24M as consequence of the repeated unlawful overflights of Turkey by Russian warplanes based in Latakia, and after two months of repeated warning, March 2016 detection by the French of a Russian submarine near Bay of Biscay and its SSBN base, the propaganda stunt of the deployment of the only one Russian aircraft carrier Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov steaming (a lot, literally) from Kola Bay towards Eastern Mediterranean from October 15, 2016, and with constant and multiple Russian overflies with military warplanes entangled in potential incidents with commercial flights in Europe, so far as at the Portuguese shores.
That without counting in other unrelated naval incidents aside the upcoming Second Cold War, just as the Iranian seizure of the merchant Maersk Tigris in 28 April 2015, the shore-based anti-ship missile attacks against the catamaran transport ex Swift (HSV-2) and US destroyers on the Red Sea in October 2016 and the ulterior retaliation, the first military operation of the Trump Administration on January 28, 2017, the MV-22B tiltrotor raid of SEAL Team 6 operating from USS Makin Island (LHD-8) against Houthi Yemen, the later January 30 incident, when an Al-Madinah-class Saudi frigate was attacked and damaged probably by a Houthi suicide or drone boat off Al Hudaydah, Houthi Yemen, and the constant and intense naval drills as Sea Shield, Dynamic Manta and Dynamic Mongoose 2017. (And without counting in great landlocked actions, as the complex counter-Daesh operations in Middle East, nor the Chinese naval issues and challenge).
For many observers the continuous and large NATO and partners military exercises show to Russia the Western will to resist his threats, keeping a tense peace.
The Russian were also executing continuous exercises and operations, and showing them without many explanations in propaganda news reports, from the Zapad-17, projected for 14th-20th September 2017, to as in this case an apparently limited ASW exercise between an old and a new submarine (Incidentally, Russia is planning to transfer its 1st Guards Tank Army for exercises to western Belarus in September 2017).
The exercise simulated in this scenario, Dynamic Mongoose, is an almost yearly ASW drill executed from 2012. In the 2017 edition, as novelty, were employed two sonar research vessels (depicted with similar ones in the scenario) Italy/NATO ITS NRV "Alliance" A5345 research vessel, and German Type 751-class "Planet" (With SWATH-type hull).Those were probably employed to experiment new future sonar systems, to cover the possible recuperation of the Russian submarine fleet, and the dismantling of many SOSUS stations after the Cold War end.
Dynamic Mongoose 2017 was developed near Iceland, with participation of Icelandic elements, now in the way to be converted in true armed forces.
Probably part of the exercise, as showed in this scenario, was to control the passage of Russian submarines between Greenland and Iceland, but this is only an informed guess.
For comparison, you can play also the previous Dynamic Mongoose 2015 scenario.

Of course this is a training exercise and actually shots, torpedoes and missiles aren't fired and nobody is hurt ...

Enrique Mas, 1 August 2017.

226 downloads

Submitted August 1, 2017

God Save the Queen! July 2017, Historical/Hypothetical Scenario.

By broncepulido

God Save the Queen! July 2017, Historical/Hypothetical Scenario.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for EC2003 Battle for the GIUK Gap Battleset and the HCDB2-170611 new standard 1980-2025 Platform Database. This scenario is designed with Advanced Scenario Editor and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.

This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/UK/NATO side or from the Red/Russia side. You should play a few times first the Blue/UK/NATO side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red/Russian side.

Image: HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) is floated out of her dock for the first time in Rosyth, Scotland in 17 July 2014. MOD photo in Open Government License v1.0, and took from Wikipedia Commons.

From the eventful year of 2014 the World was beginning the so-called Second Cold War, the President of Russia Vladimir Putin (ex-KGB lieutenant colonel) was showing clearly his plan to recover the Russian Empire and later Soviet territories for reinstitute the greatness of his Russia, and to guarantee his passage on the History as saviour of the Rodina.
From May 2014 Putin was provoking in succession the Crimea, Ukraine, Donetsk, Baltic States, October 2014 Swedish submarine incursion, G-20 Brisbane meeting naval crisis, November 2014 Faslane submarine incident, frigate Yaroslav Mudryy February "Channel Dash", April 2015 Finnish submarine incursion (for many observers causing the pre-mobilization of Finland reserve forces), Russian intervention in Syria from 30 September 2015, shoot-down by Turkish F-16 fighters equipped with AIM-120 AMRAAM on 24 November 2015 of a Russian Su-24M as consequence of the repeated unlawful overflights of Turkey by Russian warplanes based in Latakia, and after two months of repeated warning, March 2016 detection by the French of a Russian submarine near Bay of Biscay and its SSBN base, the propaganda stunt of the deployment of the only one Russian aircraft carrier Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov steaming (a lot, literally) from Kola Bay towards Eastern Mediterranean from October 15, 2016, and with constant and multiple Russian overflies with military warplanes entangled in potential incidents with commercial flights in Europe, so far as at the Portuguese shores.
That without counting in other unrelated naval incidents aside the upcoming Second Cold War, just as the Iranian seizure of the merchant Maersk Tigris in 28 April 2015, the shore-based anti-ship missile attacks against the catamaran transport ex Swift (HSV-2) and US destroyers on the Red Sea in October 2016 and the ulterior retaliation, the first military operation of the Trump Administration on January 28, 2017, the MV-22B tiltrotor raid of SEAL Team 6 operating from USS Makin Island (LHD-8) against Houthi Yemen, the later January 30 incident, when an Al-Madinah-class Saudi frigate was attacked and damaged probably by a Houthi suicide or drone boat off Al Hudaydah, Houthi Yemen, and the constant and intense naval drills as Sea Shield, Dynamic Manta and Dynamic Mongoose 2017. (And without counting in great landlocked actions, as the complex counter-Daesh operations in Middle East).
And meanwhile, more towards Far East a less perceived and growing problem was China, as reflected in the transfer of the 60% of the USN and USAF combat forces to the Pacific Theatre of Operations from 2012, move to be completed by 2020.
For many observers the continuous and large NATO and partners military exercises show to Russia the Western will to resist his threats, keeping a tense peace.
The Russian were also executing continuous exercises and operations, and showing them without many explanations in propaganda news reports, from the Zapad-17, projected for 14th-20th September 2017, to as in this case an apparently limited ASW exercise between an old and a new submarine (Incidentally, Russia is planning to transfer its 1st Guards Tank Army for exercises to western Belarus in September 2017).

Between all those events, on 26 June 2017 the new British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth steamed from Rosyth for six weeks for her first operational sea training cruise. First, UK Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon, writing in "The Telegraph" on 27 June 2017, stated about the "dilapidated" Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, and how "the Russians will look at this ship with a little bit of envy". Two days later, in response, Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov mocked the UK's new ship, saying "The British aircraft carrier is nothing more than just a huge easy naval target".
At last, to support his official claims, President Putin decided to clarify the question, ordering the Northern Fleet submarine forces to provoke an "accidental" and "confuse" targeting incident with real torpedoes, simulating a training error, to get the result of see HMS Queen Elizabeth in the North Sea bottom.

Enrique Mas, 16 July 2017.

1,523 downloads

Updated August 18, 2017

Barents Sea Russian ASW Drills, June 2017. Historical Training Scenario.

By broncepulido

Barents Sea Russian ASW Drills, June 2017. Historical Training Scenario.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for EC2003 Battle for the GIUK Gap Battleset and the HCDB2-170611 new standard 1980-2025 Platform Database. This scenario is designed with Advanced Scenario Editor and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.

This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/Russia side or from the Red/Russia side. You should play a few times first the Red side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Blue side.

Image: The only one modernized Russian Udaloy.class destroyer, Vice-Admiral Kulakov inward bound to Portsmouth Naval Base, UK, for a five-day visit, 24 August 2012. Photo by Brian Burnell, took from Wikipedia Commons.

From the eventful year of 2014 the World was beginning the so-called Second Cold War, the President of Russia Vladimir Putin (ex-KGB lieutenant colonel) was showing clearly his plan to recover the Russian Empire and later Soviet territories for reinstitute the greatness of his Russia, and to guarantee his passage on the History as saviour of the Rodina.
From May 2014 Putin was provoking in succession the Crimea, Ukraine, Donetsk, Baltic States, October 2014 Swedish submarine incursion, G-20 Brisbane meeting naval crisis, November 2014 Faslane submarine incident, frigate Yaroslav Mudryy February "Channel Dash", April 2015 Finnish submarine incursion (for many observers causing the pre-mobilization of Finland reserve forces), Russian intervention in Syria from 30 September 2015, shoot-down by Turkish F-16 fighters equipped with AIM-120 AMRAAM on 24 November 2015 of a Russian Su-24M as consequence of the repeated unlawful overflights of Turkey by Russian warplanes based in Latakia, and after two months of repeated warning, March 2016 detection by the French of a Russian submarine near Bay of Biscay and its SSBN base, the propaganda stunt of the deployment of the only one Russian aircraft carrier Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov steaming (a lot, literally) from Kola Bay towards Eastern Mediterranean from October 15, 2016, and with constant and
multiple Russian overflies with military warplanes entangled in potential incidents with commercial flights in Europe, so far as at the Portuguese shores.
That without counting in other unrelated naval incidents aside the upcoming Second Cold War, just as the Iranian seizure of the merchant Maersk Tigris in 28 April 2015, the shore-based anti-ship missile attacks against the catamaran transport ex Swift (HSV-2) and US destroyers on the Red Sea in October 2016 and the ulterior retaliation, the first military operation of the Trump Administration on January 28, 2017, the MV-22B tiltrotor raid of SEAL Team 6 operating from USS Makin Island (LHD-8) against Houthi Yemen, the later January 30 incident, when an Al-Madinah-class Saudi frigate was attacked and damaged probably by a Houthi suicide or drone boat off Al Hudaydah, Houthi Yemen, and the constant naval drills as Sea Shield and Dynamic Manta 17. (And without counting in great landlocked actions, as the complex counter-Daesh operations in Middle East).
And meanwhile, more towards Far East a less perceived and growing problem was China, as reflected in the transfer of the 60% of the USN and USAF combat forces to the Pacific Theatre of Operations from 2012, move to be completed by 2020.
For many observers the continuous and large NATO and partners military exercises show to Russia the Western will to resist his threats, keeping a tense peace.
The Russian were also executing continuous exercises and operations, and showing them without many explanations in propaganda news reports, from the Zapad-17, projected for 14th-20th September 2017, to as in this case an apparently limited ASW exercise between an old and a new submarine (Incidentally, Russia is planning to transfer its 1st Guards Tank Army for exercises to western Belarus in September 2017).

This is a good, fast, apparently simply and tense scenario to introduce new players in the Harpoon basics.
Of course this is a training exercise and actual shots, torpedoes and missiles aren't fired and nobody is hurt...

Enrique Mas, 1 July 2017

92 downloads

Updated July 3, 2017

Red On Red Sub Duel, March 2017. Historical Training Scenario.

By broncepulido

Red On Red Sub Duel, March 2017. Historical Training Scenario.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for EC2003 Battle for the GIUK Gap Battleset and the HCDB2-170401 new standard 1980-2025 Platform Database. This scenario is designed with Advanced Scenario Editor and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.

This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/Russia side or from the Red/Russia side. You should play a few times first the Blue side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red side.

Image: 19 October 2015, Russian Northern Fleet ballistic missile nuclear submarine Project 09550/Borey-class K-535 Yuriy Dolgorukiy in Gadzhiyevo/Skalisty, Murmansk Oblast. Photo by Vadim Savitskiy, official photo of Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation mil.ru/you are free to distribute and modify the file as long as you attribute Mil.ru, and took from Wikipedia Commons.

From the eventful year of 2014 the World was beginning the so-called Second Cold War, the President of Russia Vladimir Putin (ex-KGB lieutenant colonel) was showing clearly his plan to recover the Russian Empire and later Soviet territories for reinstitute the greatness of his Russia, and to guarantee his passage on the History as saviour of the Rodina.
From May 2014 Putin was provoking in succession the Crimea, Ukraine, Donetsk, Baltic States, October 2014 Swedish submarine incursion, G-20 Brisbane meeting naval crisis, November 2014 Faslane submarine incident, frigate Yaroslav Mudryy February "Channel Dash", April 2015 Finnish submarine incursion (for many observers causing the pre-mobilization of Finland reserve forces), Russian intervention in Syria from 30 September 2015, shoot-down by Turkish F-16 fighters equipped with AIM-120 AMRAAM on 24 November 2015 of a Russian Su-24M as consequence of the repeated unlawful overflights of Turkey by Russian warplanes based in Latakia, and after two months of repeated warning, March 2016 detection by the French of a Russian submarine near Bay of Biscay and its SSBN base, the propaganda stunt of the deployment of the only one Russian aircraft carrier Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov steaming (a lot, literally) from Kola Bay towards Eastern Mediterranean from October 15, 2016, and with constant and
multiple Russian overflies with military warplanes entangled in potential incidents with commercial flights in Europe, so far as at the Portuguese shores.
That without counting in other unrelated naval incidents aside the upcoming Second Cold War, just as the Iranian seizure of the merchant Maersk Tigris in 28 April 2015, the shore-based anti-ship missile attacks against the catamaran transport ex Swift (HSV-2) and US destroyers on the Red Sea in October 2016 and the ulterior retaliation, the first military operation of the Trump Administration on January 28, 2017, the MV-22B tiltrotor raid of SEAL Team 6 operating from USS Makin Island (LHD-8) against Houthi Yemen, the later January 30 incident, when an Al-Madinah-class Saudi frigate was attacked and damaged probably by a Houthi suicide or drone boat off Al Hudaydah, Houthi Yemen, and the constant naval drills as Sea Shield and Dynamic Manta 17. (And without counting in great landlocked actions, as the complex counter-Daesh operations in Middle East).
And meanwhile, more towards Far East a less perceived and growing problem was China, as reflected in the transfer of the 60% of the USN and USAF combat forces to the Pacific Theatre of Operations from 2012, move to be completed by 2020.
For many observers the continuous and large NATO and partners military exercises show to Russia the Western will to resist his threats, keeping a tense peace.
The Russian were also executing continuous exercises and operations, and showing them without many explanations in propaganda news reports, from the Zapad-17 to as in this case an apparently limited ASW exercise between an old and a new submarine (Incidentally, Russia is planning to transfer its 1st Guards Tank Army for exercises to western Belarus in September 2017).

This is a good, fast, simply and tense scenario to introduce new players in the Harpoon basics.
Of course this is a training exercise and actual shots, torpedoes and missiles aren't fired and nobody is hurt...

Enrique Mas, 2 April 2017.

137 downloads

Updated April 2, 2017

Grouch.zip

By rainman

Oscar the Grouch Sequel to "Eviction Notice". You have a stinky smoking disgrace of an antiquated carrier to defend the Motherland. And some nice surprises. BLUE only, for GE 2015.026 and later. This celebrates Brad's new HCDB2, thanks to all for all the hard work.

169 downloads

Updated December 12, 2016

Okkupert: Occupy Norway 2016. Hypothetical Scenario.

By broncepulido

Okkupert: Occupy Norway 2016, late October 2016. Hypothetical Scenario.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition introductory scenario for the EC2003 Battle for the GIUK GAP Battleset and the HCDB-150928 1980-2015 era Platform Database. This scenario is designed with advanced Scenario Editor and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.

Image: Spanish build and designed Norwegian AEGIS frigates "KNM Fridtjof Nansen" and "KNM Helge Ingstad", in Oslo, April 14, 2010. Photo by Bjoertvedt, took from Wikipedia Commons with permission GFDL.

This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/Norwegian and partners side or from the Red/Russia side. You should play a few times first the Blue/Norwegian and Partners side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red/Russia side.:

With the world on the brink of an open war, but pending of the US presidential elections and the hard and transcendent struggle between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, the straw that broke the camel happened. President Vladimir Putin saw the TV series Okkupiert / Occupied, and get the inspiration for improve even more his historical career and his image of powerful man, perform a covert invasion of Norway, finishing so the disputes on Artic gas and oil fields, and controlling the world's energy market, all this taking advantage of the multiple distractions of security that had place in the world. The excuse was to prepare the Admiral Kuznetsov CVBG supposedly to steam towards the Mediterranean and to support the Russian intervention in the Syrian (Historically sailing from October 16, 2016, with other Russian surface forces in theatre, coming or going from the Baltic Fleet), when it would actually be used to cover the forces of invasion of Norway. Norway's NATO partners, as well as the EU countries closest to Russia, were threatened with an initial nuclear attack Russian and would not intervene against such threat. In these matters the word of Putin was not put in doubt. The only outside support of Norway would come from the few forces of Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, USA and the UK available in the area (some of them in exercise Joint Warrior 16-2), and a squadron of Swedish fighters operating in UK (deployed at RAF Leeming for exercise Noble Arrow), which have decided to opposite the position of his Government and put the Gripen (and its new Meteor air-to-air missiles) at the service of the allies of Norway.
The use by Putin of the limited and theoretical defensive Russian surface fleet to occupy Norway in a bold and swift action should be clearly a reminiscence of the 1940 Hitler invasion of Norway.
In the actual Norwegian TV series, Okkupiert / Occupied started in April of an undeterminated year, perhaps 2017.

Remember the Second Cold War was originated middle in the second presidential term of Vladimir Putin, from May 2012. As related, after the full of naval, military and security incidents year of 2014 the world was beginning the so-called Second Cold War. Mostly as result of President of Russia Vladimir Putin (ex-KGB lieutenant colonel) actions, provoking in succession the Crimea, Ukraine, Donetsk, Baltic States, October 2014 Swedish submarine incursion, G-20 Brisbane meeting naval crisis, November 2014 Faslane submarine incident, frigate Yaroslav Mudryy February "Channel Dash", April 2015 Finnish submarine incursion (for many observers causing the pre-mobilization of Finland reserve forces), Russian intervention in Syria from 30 September 2015, violation by Russian military helicopters of the Finnish and Georgian borders on 10 December 2015, March 2016 detection by the French of a Russian submarine near Bay of Biscay, violation by Russian military helicopters of the Polish border on 18 April 2016, the confuse Russian submarine B-265 Krasnodar incident with Polish warships (and the consecutive Putin sack of Russian Baltic Fleet numerous commanders), the HMS Montrose confuse and dangerous encounter with the new Baltic Sea Fleet Russian corvette Soobrazitelnyy in middle of the BALTOPS 2016 exercise in June 2016, and with constant and multiple overflies with military warplanes entangled in potential incidents with commercial and military flights in Europe. That without counting with other unrelated naval incidents, just as the Iranian seizure of the Maersk Tigris in 28 April 2015, or the mid-October 2016 launching of anti-ship missiles against UAE and US warships from the Yemen shores and the successive retaliation (and neither counting in landlocked actions, as the continuous counter-Daesh operations in Middle East).
And all those incidents without counting more towards Far East with China as a less perceived and growing problem, and his own generated incidents. China was building structures with military capabilities, including from 2012 more relevant structures, as the 3000+ meters long (Very Large Airport in Harpoon parameters) runway in Fiery Cross Reef (finished at March 2016), and more important, building multiple artificial reefs and islands above previous simple shoals for claiming territory, and for. At last in an undetermined date late April 2015 China claims as territorial waters the 12 nautical miles circling his "new" islands.
As the US official doctrine is Freedom of Navigation (FON) worldwide on international waters (same in Baltic and Black Seas), and as in this case with fears about a decision not to send naval vessels into the zone would inadvertently help the Chinese build their own case for sovereignty in the area, some air and surface elements of US Navy begin to orbit near the Chinese claims, but not crossing the 12 nm line.
Speculatively in this scenario because the international situation many of the forces deployed in the BALTOPS 2016 exercise remained in Europe, and in high state of availability.
And the situation goes to the boiling point very fast, as at last, after the NATO Warsaw Summit (8-9 July 2016) showing the allied firm resolution to oppose the Russian ambitions, Putin was forced to increase his bets and act.
To keep his security promises to the Russian people and keep his image of strong man, Putin is forced occupy Norway, but with less political correctness consideration than in the TV series, employing an open military action.
The state of readiness of the NATO forces is low, the first three days of the open conflict can count only with the remaining forces at disposition after the recent exercises, but with the complete Norwegian order of battle, in high state of readiness because the international situation (as commented forces deployed in Sweden, Finland, Baltic States and rest of Europe are inoperative because the Russian nuclear blackmail).
Will be vital for both sides to prevail these three first days of war, for Russia as propaganda and to show his force occupying Norway, for Norway and his few remaining partners for resist and mobilize all the Western forces the next days, if is showed resolution and positive results in the opposition against Putin's Russia.

Enrique Mas,October 16, 2016.

338 downloads

Updated October 22, 2016

F-35A Lightning II Learning Curve, August 2016. Introductory Scenario.

By broncepulido

F-35A Lightning II Learning Curve, August 2016. Introductory Scenario.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition introductory scenario for the EC2003 Battle for the GIUK GAP Battleset and the HCDB-150928 1980-2015 era Platform Database or the new HCDB2-170308 1980-2025 era Platform Databases. This scenario is designed with advanced Scenario Editor and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.

Image: Lt. Col. George Watkins, the 34th Fighter Squadron commander, flies a combat-coded F-35A Lightning II aircraft past the control tower at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Sept. 17, 2015. U.S. Air Force photo/Alex R. Lloyd, and in consequence in public domain. Took from www.af.mil/News/Photos.aspx?igphoto=2001294366

This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/NATO and partners side or from the Red/Russia side. You should play a few times first the Blue/NATO and Partners side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red/Russia side.

As the precedent developed scenario "F-35A Lighting II First Blood" is probably too complex to try, test and verify the supposed new characteristics and advantages of F-35, I did build this scenario with that purpose.
Is basically an introductory scenario, with the core forces reduces to an air base by side.
The historical premises are the same, and not are worth mentioned in complete extension.
Those were in essence as, with the world clearly falling in the Second Cold War, at last on August 2, 2016, was declared Initial Operative Capability (IOC) of the US Air Force F-35A of the 34th Fighter Squadron "Rude Rams" (Hill AFB).
To contain the continuous aggressive Russian force posture twelve of them were (hypothetically) fast deployed to Siauliai International Airport, Lithuania, both to show stead resolution and to prevent any other Russian offensive movement over the Baltic States, just as did against Ukraine from 2014.
The excuse for the initial Putin action was the defence of the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad between Lithuania and Poland (Formerly Konigsberg in East Prussia. What better excuse to request a land bridge from the Russian side, nobody remember the very near Danzig Corridor and the 1939 German Ultimatum to Poland?), and the situation goes to the boiling point very fast.
At last, after the NATO Warsaw Summit (8-9 July 2016), and the (hypothetical) announcement of deploy F-35A in Siauliai, Putin was forced to act.
To keep his security promises to the Russian people and keep his image of strong man, Putin is forced to an open war and destroy the NATO and partners forces near Kaliningrad, employing all the forces in the Baltic theatre, and another few deployed from others Russian Military Districts.
Will be vital for both sides to prevail these two first days of war, for Russia as propaganda and to show his force, for NATO and partners for resist and mobilize all the Western forces the next days, almost guaranteeing the victory against Putin's Russia.

Enrique Mas, 16 August 2016.

314 downloads

Updated March 12, 2017

F-35A Lightning II First Blood, August 2016. Hypothetical/Alternate History Scenario.

By broncepulido

F-35A Lightning II First Blood, August 2016. Hypothetical/Alternate History Scenario.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition introductory scenario for the EC2003 Battle for the GIUK GAP Battleset and the HCDB-150928 1980-2015 era Platform Database. This scenario is designed with advanced Scenario Editor and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.

Image: U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. George Watkins, 34th Fighter Squadron commander, drops a GBU-12 laser-guided bomb from a Lockheed Martin F-35A LIghtning II (s/n 13-5075) at the Utah Test and Training Range on 25 February 2016. The 34th FS was the U.S. Air Force's first combat unit to employ munitions from the F-35A. The 34th FS is assigned to the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base Utah (USA). US Air Force photo by Jim Haseltine and in consequence in public domain. Took from Wikipedia Commons.

This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/NATO and partners side or from the Red/Russia side. You should play a few times first the Blue/NATO and Partners side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red/Russia side.

With the world clearly crumbling in the Second Cold War, at last on August 2, 2016, was declared Initial Operative Capability (IOC) of the US Air Force F-35A of the 34th Fighter Squadron "Rude Rams" (Hill AFB).
To contain the continuous aggressive Russian force posture twelve of them were (hypothetically) fast deployed to Siauliai International Airport, Lithuania, both to show resolution and to prevent any other Russian offensive movement over the Baltic States, just as against Ukraine from 2014.
Remember the Second Cold War was originated middle in the second presidential term of Vladimir Putin, from May 2012. As related, after the full of naval, military and security incidents year of 2014 the world was beginning the so-called Second Cold War. Mostly as result of President of Russia Vladimir Putin (ex-KGB lieutenant colonel) actions, provoking in succession the Crimea, Ukraine, Donetsk, Baltic States, October 2014 Swedish submarine incursion, G-20 Brisbane meeting naval crisis, November 2014 Faslane submarine incident, frigate Yaroslav Mudryy February "Channel Dash", April 2015 Finnish submarine incursion (for many observers causing the pre-mobilization of Finland reserve forces), Russian intervention in Syria from 30 September 2015, violation by Russian military helicopters of the Finnish and Georgian borders on 10 December 2015, March 2016 detection by the French of a Russian submarine near Bay of Biscay, violation by Russian military helicopters of the Polish border on 18 April 2016, the confuse Russian submarine B-265 Krasnodar incident with Polish warships (and the consecutive Putin sack of Russian Baltic Fleet numerous commanders), the HMS Montrose confuse encounter with the new Baltic Sea Fleet Russian corvette Soobrazitelnyy in middle of the BALTOPS 2016 exercise in June 2016, and with constant and multiple overflies with military warplanes entangled in potential incidents with commercial and military flights in Europe. That without counting with other unrelated naval incidents, just as the Iranian seizure of the Maersk Tigris in 28 April 2015 (and neither counting in landlocked actions, as the counter-Daesh operations in Middle East).
And all those incidents without counting more towards Far East with China as a less perceived and growing problem, and his own generated incidents. China was building structures with military capabilities, including from 2012 more relevant structures, as the 3000+ meters long (Very Large Airport in Harpoon parameters) runway in Fiery Cross Reef (finished at March 2016), and more important, building multiple artificial reefs and islands above previous simple shoals for claiming territory, and for. At last in an undetermined date late April 2015 China claims as territorial waters the 12 nautical miles circling his "new" islands.
As the US official doctrine is Freedom of Navigation (FON) worldwide on international waters (same in Baltic and Black Seas), and as in this case with fears about a decision not to send naval vessels into the zone would inadvertently help the Chinese build their own case for sovereignty in the area, some air and surface elements of US Navy begin to orbit near the Chinese claims, but not crossing the 12 nm line.
Speculatively in this scenario because the international situation many of the forces deployed in the BALTOPS 2016 exercise remained in Europe, and in high state of availability.
Further, when the also yearly BALTOPS 2016 multipurpose and landing exercise did begin from 3 to 19 June 2016 (44th iteration) with theoretically neutral Swedish and Finnish partner participation, the Russian State-owned media (Russia Today, Sputnik, Russia Beyond the Headlines and others) and client Western media did begin a campaign to delegitimize the NATO exercises (BALTOPS 2016 was a complex exercise simultaneous to others as Saber Strike 2016 and Trident Joust 2016), and to justify any Russian military action.
The excuse for the initial Putin action was the defence of the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad between Lithuania and Poland (Formerly Konigsberg in East Prussia. What better excuse to request a land bridge from the Russian side, nobody remember the very near Danzig Corridor and the 1939 German Ultimatum to Poland?), and the situation goes to the boiling point very fast.
At last, after the NATO Warsaw Summit (8-9 July 2016), and the (hypothetical) announcement of deploy F-35A in Siauliai, Putin was forced to act.
To keep his security promises to the Russian people and keep his image of strong man, Putin is forced to an open war and destroy the NATO and partners forces near Kaliningrad, employing all the forces in the Baltic theatre, and another few deployed from others Russian Military Districts.
The state of readiness of the NATO forces is low, the first two days of the open conflict can count only with the remaining forces at disposition after the recent exercises, but with the complete Polish Air Force order of battle, in high state of readiness because the international situation (The Finnish Air Force will be limited to protect this homeland).
Will be vital for both sides to prevail these two first days of war, for Russia as propaganda and to show his force, for NATO and partners for resist and mobilize all the Western forces the next days, almost guaranteeing the victory against Putin's Russia.

Enrique Mas, August 15, 2016.

258 downloads

Updated August 15, 2016

HMS Montrose high tension at BALTOPS 2016, June 2016. Historical Scenario/Alternate History Scenario.

By broncepulido

HMS Montrose at BALTOPS 2016, June 2016. Historical Scenario/Alternate History Scenario.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition introductory scenario for the EC2003 Battle for the GIUK GAP Battleset and the HCDB-150928 1980-2015 era Platform Database or the HCDB2-170401 New Standard 1980-2025 Database. This scenario is designed with advanced Scenario Editor and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.

Image: The new Baltic Sea Fleet Russian corvette Soobrazitelnyy with the Russian Navy Saint Andrew's Cross flag on 30 June 2012 in Saint Petersburg. Photo credit Vitaly Repin, took from Wikipedia Commons.

This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/NATO side or from the Red/Russian side. To avoid spoilers you should play a few times first the Blue side, and only later play the Red side.

The scenario is based in current historical events, mainly a sideshow of the NATO's BALTOPS 2016 drills, in particular the close encounter between the British frigate HMS Montrose and the Russian corvette (Russian designation) Soobrazitelnyy. This scenario depicts a derivative and open-fire limited confrontation, but is very improbable the political motivation in either side capable to generate an open and all-out war.
Is basically an introductory scenario, inspired by the (continuous) current events.
After the full of naval, military and security incidents year of 2014 the World was beginning the so-called Second Cold War. Mostly as result of President of Russia Vladimir Putin (ex-KGB lieutenant colonel) actions, provoking in succession the Crimea, Ukraine, Donetsk, Baltic States, October 2014 Swedish submarine incursion, G-20 Brisbane meeting naval crisis, November 2014 Faslane submarine incident, frigate Yaroslav Mudryy February "Channel Dash", April 2015 Finnish submarine incursion (for many observers causing the pre-mobilization of Finland reserve forces), Russian intervention in Syria from 30 September 2015, violation by Russian military helicopters of the Finnish and Georgian borders on 10 December 2015, March 2016 detection by the French of a Russian submarine near Bay of Biscay, violation by Russian military helicopters of the Polish border on 18 April 2016, the confuse Russian submarine B-265 Krasnodar incident with Polish warships (and the consecutive Putin sack of Russian Baltic Fleet numerous
commanders) and with constant and multiple overflies with military warplanes entangled in potential incidents with commercial and military flights in Europe. That without counting in other unrelated naval incidents, just as the Iranian seizure of the Maersk Tigris in 28 April 2015 (and neither counting in landlocked actions, as the counter-Daesh operations in Middle East).
And all those incidents without counting more towards Far East with China as a less perceived and growing problem, and his own generated incidents. China was building structures with military capabilities, including from 2012 more relevant structures, as the 3000+ meters long (Very Large Airport in Harpoon parameters) runway in Fiery Cross Reef (now finished, at March 2016), and more important, building artificial reefs and islands above previous simple shoals for claiming territory. At last in an undetermined date late April 2015 China claims as territorial waters the 12 nautical miles circling his "new" islands.
As the US official doctrine is Freedom of Navigation (FON) worldwide on international waters (same in Baltic and Black Seas), and as in this case with fears about a decision not to send naval vessels into the zone would inadvertently help the Chinese build their own case for sovereignty in the area, some air and surface elements of US Navy begin to orbit near the Chinese claims, but not crossing the 12 nm line.
Between the first incidents were a VP-45 Pelicans' P-8A Poseidon in surveillance mission carrying a CNN TV team inside, warned by the Chinese to no flight 12 nm near of Fiery Cross Reef on 20 May 2015, and the trailing for some hours of the USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) by the Chinese frigate Yuncheng (571) on 11 May 2015. Late, from 26 October 2015, USS Lassen (DDG-82) implement the Freedom of Navigation (FON) near the Chinese occupied Subi and Mischief Reefs in the Spratlys, and a clash of destroyers was possible, but avoided with the humble and shy behaviour of the US side, transiting without radars illuminating or the helicopter flying, the 1 to 8 March 2016 sailing of the USS John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group on the contested area, and the sailing of the cruiser USS Chancellorsville between Scarborough Shoal and Mischief Reef on late March 2016, when was persistently trailed by Chinese frigate Yueyang (575) and the action was limited to an exchange of weather pleasantries.
In this Alternate History case, the confuse identification between the British and Russian warships conducts to an open fire case.

Enrique Mas, 24 July 2016.

146 downloads

Updated April 2, 2017

"Diesel Boats Forever": the great USS Grenadier Soviet ballistic missile submarines chase, May 1959. Historical Scenario.

By broncepulido

"Diesel Boats Forever": the great USS Grenadier Soviet ballistic missile submarines chase, May 1959. Historical Scenario.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for EC2003 Battle for the GIUK Gap Battleset and the HCCW-140314 Cold War 1950-1975 Platform Database. This scenario is designed with advanced Scenario Editor and to be run with HCE 2015.008+ or later.

Image: USS Grenadier (SS-525) in 1951, after the Guppy II conversion (Guppy stands for Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program) with the original stepped Portsmouth Sail (changed to a taller Northern Sail circa 1960), but probably previously to be fitted with a BQR-2 (circa 1953), and apparently with WFA (dome) and JT (abaft it) sonars on deck. US Navy photo, and in consequence in public domain, took from navysource.org.

This scenario is designed to be played from the Blue/US side or from the Red/Soviet side. To avoid a few spoilers you should play a few times first the Blue side, and only later play the Red side.

Well beyond the commissioning of USS Nautilus (SSN-571) in May 1954, five years later USN can count with only six nuclear attack submarines, some of them experimental. It should wait to 1975 to see the last GUPPY conversions retired (USS Tiru, SS-416), and to 1990 to see the last operational combat-capable conventional diesel-electric decommissioned (USS Blueback, SS-581).
Also, the first US nuclear ballistic missile submarine was to start her first patrol only from November 1960 (USS George Washington, SSBN-598).
Meanwhile, from 1957 was suspected the Soviet Union has in service diesel-electric ballistic missile submarines in patrol near the US coast and of other Allies in North Atlantic.
To confirm the suspects, a drill was planned, centring four wartime period diesel-electric boats modernized to GUPPY configurations. They were also equipped with the medium-frequency long-range passive sonar BQR-2 (a direct derivative of the wartime German Balkongerat, employed in Type XXI-class submarines). But were not employed specialized hunter-killer submarines equipped with the longer range BQR-4 (Installed from 1951-1953 in seven SSK GUPPY IIA, and in three Balao Fleet Snorkel conversions near 1955, reducing the number of torpedoes and torpedo tubes)-
The four boats left their homeport of Key West, Florida, in April 1959, to conduct "special antisubmarine exercises", and were deployed somewhere in the GIUK gap.
Also were secretly deployed three maritime patrol squadrons at NAS Keflavik, Iceland.
At last, after about a month of sailing and more of 18 hours of chase, on 29 May 1959 a Soviet Zulu V-class/Project VA611 diesel-electric ballistic missile submarine, was caged in the trap and forced to surface, and some photos were took. The secretive mission was a success, and as pretended was demonstrated the presence of Soviet ballistic missile submarine in Atlantic Ocean. Was also a success of the intelligence community, and of the US strategic planning and tactical execution of anti-submarine (ASW) warfare.
And one case of Jack Daniels Old No. 7 black label Tennessee sour mash whiskey was awarded to the crew of USS Grenadier and her captain Ted Davis, by Admiral Jerauld Wright, then commander-in-chief of the Atlantic Fleet, as no unit award was presented to the boat for surfacing the Soviet ballistic-missile submarine, except a medal presented by the crew to Lt. Cmdr. Davis, made out of a mayonnaise lid and pieces of an old flag.

Enrique Mas, 27 June 2016.

274 downloads

Updated June 27, 2016

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