General

Hey everyone, just finishing off my collection of Naval Sitrep pdf e-zines. I was wondering if anyone knew where i could get hold of editions 1 to 14? They used to be on another site which closed and was never transferred. Wargames Vault doesn't have them. If anyone could tell me you'd make my year!

Harpoon: Captain's Edition - Hunter Killer (Hexsides & Hand Grenades blog)

I am still in the process of learning the rules for the paper edition. I recieved the introduction box set without the 2 player cards. Is this something I could gin up with a word program? Any and all advice, shortcuts et al is greatly appreciated!!!!!! Seth

Sorry guys, but, as I go along trying to play a scenario, I get a lot of doubts. One is this: SITUATION: A frigate launched a helicopter that has no radar. An enemy ship (small) is about 70 nm. distance. From altitude of 900 m. (low) helicopter (in optimal weather conditions) has a visual LOS (med alt vs. small ship) of 79 nm. Question 1: being the enemy ship in the visual LOS of Helo, is the mutual visual detection automatic, or we have to roll a die? Question 2: assuming that the helicopter has spotted the ship, is able to communicate the exact location to its mother ship, so that she can, for example, launch Harpoons? Or we need to wait until the ship has its own r…

I created a simple plotter (SimPlot) program that automates the process of moving units on a simple x,y coordinate system. The objective is to get myself to play H4 paper rules more often by eliminating the problems of graph paper or Neptune's Cat attacks for tabletop games. SimPlot will track time and motion of units. It will also provide range and bearing info to other units. Units can automatically follow other units that are selected as "targets." Unit movement tracks and times can be displayed in case you want to see where you have been. How about a few screenies? I was hoping to show the unit tracks, but it looks like Photobucket may hav…

I created a simple plotter (SimPlot) program that automates the process of moving units on a simple x,y coordinate system. The objective is to get myself to play H4 paper rules more often by eliminating the problems of graph paper or Neptune's Cat attacks for tabletop games. SimPlot will track time and motion of units. It will also provide range and bearing info to other units. Units can automatically follow other units that are selected as "targets." Unit movement tracks and times can be displayed in case you want to see where you have been. How about a few screenies? Well, the image came out smaller that I wanted, so I hope you can still read it. …

Hi boys, I have another question for you experts. My question is about the rules for launching missiles from a ship. The manual (i refer to H.3 annex 1990-91, but you can answer also referring th H.4 paper rules) says that the general procedure stipulates that a ship may engage: - As many targets as it has directors (so one target per director) - Weapons without directors, may engge only one target for the turn (Although they may fire Opinions more than one weapon per turn at the target (apart Aegis exception) - Unless otherwise Stated in the remarks, each weapon (except guns) may fire only one round (missile, torpedo) for tube (...) So, if I understand, for example, a s…

Last night I played a scenario where an Arleigh Burke DDG is attacked by SS-N-22 missiles fired from a Sovremenny DDG. The Sov had Helix AEW support but the Burke had no copter on board, and so detection of inbound missiles was limited to the SPY-1 radar. Here was the problem. After the 1st move phase of an Engagement Turn the Sunburns were just outside the radar horizon of 24 nm and are still undetected. In the 2nd move phase the missiles are 6.9 nm closer. But, since the ship had no prior detection of the missiles, the Burke cannot see or fire on them in the 2nd fire phase, right? If so, then the missiles move another 6.9 nm (1st move of next turn) but techn…

Models for those who aren't very crafty. I'm going to try to make their BMP-1; I'll let you know it goes.

Hi, boys, I have a question for you. Apart from the fact that I am referring to Harpoon 3 edition by GDW, Date Annex 1991, whose rules may be a little different from those of Harpoon 4, I would like to ask you a couple of explanations on aspects that I have not fully understood. 1) - How do you solve an attack with unguided bombs. I read in the manual that "to attack with aircraft cannon, unguided rockets and bombs, an aircraft must fly directly over the target at low altitude". And this is clear. "Unguided bombs may be dropped to medium altitude, subject to a modifier equal to the target's speed in knots (kts = eg 27 - 27%) or a minimum of -10%." So, first, if the p…

I have the boardgame Harpoon Data Annex 1991 by GDW. For many times, in the past, I tried to play it (alone), but, after a positive test of the scenario-tutorial (USA Kinkaids vs. 2 Libyan OSA II), I had to give up with more complex scenarios, because of the "monstrous" difficulties in managing the rules of the game ... Now I see in this forum, that there is a version of Harpoon 4 Paper Rules and by the relatives AARs it seems to me that the two versions are quite similar. So I ask: - Wherein lie the differences, only an update of the DATA ANNEX or even changes in the rules of the game (hopefully simpler ...!? but I don' think so...) - How do I update my version, of …

Been meaning to put this up:

Time to brush off the H4.1 rules and scrub some of the rust off the old brain cells... Dawn Patrol is fondly remembered as a simple scenario to play and learn, but I decided this was a bit too dated. Recasting it in the light of the whole shift into the Pacific and an existing/ongoing conflict, I call it Island Clash. (Yeah yeah, imaginative name...) I plan on running the setup a couple of different ways to see both how the situation might have ended differently and to re-familiarize myself with the rules. Please do advise if I manage to screw something up. Island Clash Setting On Jan 30, 2013, escalating tensions over the islands the Japanese call the S…

In the middle of the North Atlantic, a storm is blowing topside producing level 5 seas. A Russian Krivak steams at 15kts towards its rendezvous point. 10 miles ahead of her a Delta II nuclear submarine prowls, making sure the way is clear. At the same time, an Improved LA class submarine is heading towards them. Neither side is aware of the others approach. The engagement started with 30 miles separating the combatants. A combination of her poor passive range and the state of the sea meant the Krivak was essentially traveling blind. Besides, the Delta II was employed to do the detection work if any submarines were in their way. Like all good submariners are taught…

Hey everyone, Taking a second crack at getting into H4, and trying to get into the basic tutorial scenarios and can't get past filling out the darn Ship Ref. Sheet...this thing alone is taking me over an hour for one ship for the basic AAW scenario, how do y'all do it for a full CVBG and air wing?? Right now what's driving me crazy is figuring out how to fill in the Sfc guns and various sensor data. I'm trying to fill out an O.H. Perry, using the example provided in the rules to 'check' my answers, and for the life of me I don't get where they get the ranges and Ph's in the example from. How do they arrive at Surf Rng Close at 2.2, Far at 4.3 for the Mk75 when the …

Harpoon II arrived today spectacularly packed. I almost felt bad removing it from the acetate envelopes complete with stiff cardstock to keep things from bending. But was I ever glad I broke the seal! Harpoon II looks a lot like Harpoon 3 except I like the organization of Harpoon II better and its greater number of diagrams really impress me. There is a diagram showing a multi-game-turn ship turn instead of having to guess and divine if I move first, turn first, jump around three times,... As for the organization, the rules are categorized by their order in the turn whch I find very helpful. Perhaps more comments once I really have a good read of the ru…

The long awaited Steel Typhoon is now available for pre-order. From the CoA website:

One of my favourite games used to be 2nd Fleet, due to its focus on the cold war / greenland-UK-iceland gap. And one of my favouite units froms that game was the "Ticonderoga". With that as my starting point, i set out to find an approximate Soviet equivalent to compare it too. I quickly found the Project 1164 Atlant. I'd never heard of it. The Atlant is same type of ship (CG) and it even has the same build year (1983). On paper, it looks to be the perfect match of NATA v Soviet guided missile cruisers. How do they stack up from a H4.1 point of view? Coming soon 1. Physically 2. Sensors 3. Weapons 4. Overall

American "Perry" class Frigate contrasted to British "Cornwall" Type 22/3 Frigate. I was feeling in an analytically mood. I didn't have the patience to game out an encounter, and found myself wondering what vessel would be "better" between an early model American frigate (I ended up choosing the Perry) and a later build British vessel (which ended up being the Cornwall). I know next to nothing about any warship and saw this as an exercise to contrast some strengths and weaknesses. One of my first problems was how to define "better"? For the sake of this exercise I decided it would come down to "which vessel would I rather be on", or more simply, it became a m…

Looking to start with H4 but have no experience. Trolled some forums and have seen references to pbem and solo play. How often to pbem scenarios come about? Anyone interested? Ideas? Thanks!