General

In preparing for a strike mission consisting of F/A-18D strikers, F/A-18C escorts, and EA-6B ECM escort, I have run up with a range issue in mission planning for the F/A-18D's - the first one's that I have worked up. It turns out that with 8x Mk-82, 2x AIM-9M, and 1x 330 USG Drop Tank I turn up 40nm short of the target. This includes a 10 minute combat margin and 10% reserve. Since the H4.1 data anex does not give too many loadout options I have searched and found "Hardpoints: 9: 2 wingtip, 4 underwing, and 3 fuselage, carrying up to 13,700 lb (6,215 kg) of missiles, rockets, bombs, fuel tanks, and pods" on wiki. When 500lb GP bombs are loaded are they done so…

Can multiple Long Range Anti-Air Missile Engagements be resolved on the Large Air Attack Resolution Table? I calculated the missile index (1.0) and thereby determined the pK, in this case 40%. There were 12x Su-35's that had launched 24 AA-12 Adders. I calulated 12 aircraft * 2 attacks * .40 Does anyone else believe that this jives? I hope to have a quasi-official response sometime soon. Thanks

Ok gang, While discussing the effects of offensive electronic jamming, and possible air defenses last night in chat - up came the topic of IRST. After reading the very brief passage toward the end of "Detection" (Chapter 4 of H4.1) I was able to gleen that IRST's are relatively short ranged, and that there are multiple generations, 1-3, with increasing passive detection capabilities with each. Can anyone point me to where the actually game effects can be found, primarily at what range does the generational IRST detect other objects. Thanks again, Pete

High Tide Annex S Land Surface -to-Air Missiles provides Acquisition Radar and Acquisition Range vs Large (nm). After a limited check it does not appear that the radar data found in both High Tide and the Smarter Radar article meet the Percentage of large formula found in 4.2.2.1 Size of Contacts. That formula was multiple the Large 100%; Medium 62%; Small 40%; Very Small 18%; Stealthy 10%. Anyone aware of the formula, if there is one? Thanks

I mashed together organization from FM 100-3 Infantry Based OPFOR, and various GCS ratings from High Tide and HNR 2003 to create a modern Russian/FSU type of paratroop battalion. The battalion consists of a HQ element, 3x paratroop companies, a mortar battery, a SAM platoon, and ATGM platoon, and finally an AGL platoon. This heavy weight weighed in at 18.63954 as veteran, and 15.53295 as competent - one of the stronger forces I have seen in my brief GCS experience. Being anti-social as usual during lunch in my pov, I braved the oppressive heat and worked out a sample air drop. I loaded the battalion up on 8x An-12A, which has a cruise range of 3078nm. Comin…

PeterG posted H4 stats for the Valour Class FF. Until he does so here (wink-wink, nod-nod) this is the link. Valour FF Stats Thank you Peter Pete

The set is similar to that of the GCS Test Scenario from back in September. For those interested, load mapquest and search for New Bern, NC. This action begins southwest of New Bern, between Maysville and Pollocksville, all along Highway 58. A "veteran" USMC LAR Company reinforced with 2x LAV-AT (total GCS rating of 8.28), and with 1x M-198 artillery battery in D/S (6.48) moves, from around Maysville, into a combat box centered around Pollocksville, NC, which is currently occupied by an "competent" OPFOR Recce Company (1.2324 per HNR2003 P.37) with a 122mm artillery battalion (2.16) in direct support. While the OPFOR is in "Prepared Defenses Level1", the US play…

4.4.2.3 Towed Array: "All towed arrays are either classified as Low Speed or High Speed arrays. This is the speed it can be towed without reducing its detection range because of flow noise." Is low or high speed defined anywhere - I'm guestimating that it is the 0-50% and 51-100% of the platforms speed per their data sheet?

Now that the F-14's have been retired, how has this effected the typical make up of the carrier air wing? The H4.1 data annex lists examples of air wings circa 1996. Is it as simple as doubling the F/A-18? If so, what is the breakdown between the F/A-18C/D's and the F/A-18E/F's? Thanks, Pete

Page 2 of the H4.1 Data Annex is titled A Guide to Trilogy Ship Listings. "ESM/AIR: Surface ships use only the first field while subs use the second. No surface ships carry an ancoustic interecept receiver. The generations are listed as 1st/2nd/3rd Gen. For subs, the two ratings are separated by a slash." In working up an Improved Los Angeles Class SSN, its ESM/AIR rating is 3rd/4th Gen. How are the 3rd and 4th Gen ratings utilized? I'm assuming 3rd Gen ESM would be while on the surface - a la a surface ship? I'm drawing a blank on the "AIR" rating. Thanks

Attached is a pdf link in which there is a section devoted to discussing the operations the Argentine Type 209 SS "San Luis" during the Falklands War of 1982. Some take aways, aside from their technical fire control problems: Maneuvering to ranges of of 10,000 and 5,000 yards (5nm and 2.5nm respectively) for a torpedo attack. That is would take about 6.5 minutes for impact at the longer range. That both of his attacks apparently went undetected as they were not attacked in response. That these operations were conducted approximately 800nm from their home port of Mar del Plata. Find document here.

In the example on page 6-22 of the Harpoon 4.1 rules, the optically directed British Mk 4 20mm has its “to-hit” chance halved because the A-4 it’s attacking is at V Low altitude. But on page 6-21 under the description of the Optical mode states that “Optical systems are all seaskimmer capable.” In the defense gun modifiers it states: “Sea skimming targets (in the V Low altitude band), reduce hit chance by 1/2, unless the gun system is listed as ‘sea skimmer capable.’” So if all optical guns are sea skimmer capable, why does the Mk 4 in the example get its “to-hit” chance reduced by half?

In coordination with my own testing of the New Trilogy Air Rules, I went beyond simple dogfights and cobbled together a old soviet-style attack on a battle group. In this case a squadron of 12x MiG-29 (4x R-77, 2x R-73) is attempting to sweep away opposition for a squadron of 12x Su-34, in the ASuW role. I made a number of assumptions: that the carrier's E-2C (high altitude) APS-138 would detect the "small" incoming MiG's (high altitude) @ 130nm. that at least 4x F/A-18C would be vectored in to intercept. that with the guidance of the E-2C, the F/A-18C's would get the "long range drop" on the MiG's with 1x AIM-120 per F/A-18C being launched first, at rela…

I have the original H4 rules, would it be worth my money to upgrade to H4.1?

Anyone seen this new collectible miniature game called Axis & Allies: War at Sea? I don't think it's been released yet but the mini's look good: http://boards.avalonhill.com/showthread.php?t=16684 http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah/aam/waratsea Having read through the quick start rules it looks like movement is confined to those overlapping boxes like on Axis and Allies; not sure much real tactical thought can go into a movement system like that, but I'd probably give it a chance. In other news, my copy of Harpoon 4 arrived today w/ South Atlantic War!

Hey guys my BM's were cleaning out the chart drawer today, rather than throw them all out I figured y'all might want them for some H4 scenarios...unfortunately they're mostly harbor and approach charts, but you can always add a zero and make up a new scale. Good news is I've got lots of duplicates, great for double-blind scenarios. All charts are brand new, uncorrected. Let me know what you want and I'll ship to you...just pay for the shipping and a couple bucks for my time. I'll also trade charts for painted naval miniatures, I'm trying to start a collection (just purchased Harpoon 4 paper rules!) and I'll never have the time or dexterity to paint my own. ) Ma…

I was perusing Sea of Dragons last night and decided to take a general scenario theme and udate the platforms since that annex is close, if not 10 years old. It will be a PRC/ROC engagement. A PRC amphibious task force of 5x Yuting II Class Large Landing Ships headed to Taiwan, fairly heavily escorted by 1x Type 052C Luyang II DDG, 1x Project 956E Sovremennyy DDG, 2x Type 054 Jiangkai FFG's. This force will "hopefully" be detected by a Knox (2x) or Perry (1x) FFG tripwire, backed up by an E-2C just in case. The cleanup hitters will be 2x Kidd class DD and an on call 4x plane flight of Mirage 2000. The ROC forces are expected to have a tough time and will be …

In H4, an Arleigh Burke Class DDG Flt IIA has a F&A(64)1 Mk41 VLS and F&A(32)1 Mk41 VLS with the capability to carry and fire combinations of SM2MR Block III or IV, Tomahawk, VL ASROC, and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM in packs of 4 in each individual VLS tube. While everything can be explained as mission specific, what would a typical/notional loadout be? Thanks

From: NBC Nightly News Report "The U.S. military said Tuesday that the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower arrived off Somalia’s coast and launched intelligence-gathering missions over Somalia. Three other U.S. warships were conducting anti-terror operations." How would the "intelligence-gathering missions over x" be represented in H4 terms. What sensors would be relied upon most. I can remember in the beginning of A Bridge Too Far when the low-altitude, streaking photo recon plane taking pictures missed the panzers hiding under trees. I also can think of platforms like the predominantly high-altitude MiG-25R. Would it be correct to assume that due to…

here Mission The Joint Direct Attack Munition is a guidance tail kit that converts existing unguided free-fall bombs into accurate, adverse weather "smart" munitions. With the addition of a new tail section that contains an inertial navigational system and a global positioning system guidance control unit, JDAM improves the accuracy of unguided, general purpose bombs in any weather condition. JDAM is a joint U.S. Air Force and Department of Navy program. Features JDAM is a guided air-to-surface weapon that uses either the 2,000-pound BLU-109/MK 84, the 1,000-pound BLU-110/MK 83 or the 500-pound BLU-111/MK 82 warhead as the payload. JDAM enables employment of acc…