Scenario Design & Discussion

File Name: The Battle of Bissau (1981) File Submitter: Mgellis File Submitted: 09 Feb 2013 File Category: Scenarios My fifth scenario of 2013... A revolution in Guinea-Bissau has put Americans at risk. With only days or hours before Americans are executed on trumped up charges of espionage, a hastily assembled task force must seize control of the well-defended city of Bissau. (I'm quite pleased with how this one turned out. It is definitely possible to win, but you have to manage resources carefully and play smart...or else!) Image: A U.S. Marine Corps Boeing CH-46 on the Guam (U.S. DefenseImagery photo VIRIN: DF-ST-84-09763, Author: TSgt. Mike Creen)…

The 55th new scenario of the year! The seventh installment of "The Cyprus Affair" battleset has been released. NEW WORLD ORDER SERIES: THE CYPRUS AFFAIR CAMPAIGN #2 When the NSC made good on its promise to deliver SA-10 Grumble SAM systems to the Greek Cypriots in the spring of 1995 despite Turkish protests, the stage was set for another conflict in Cyprus. The presence of the advanced weapons shifted the delicate balance of power as it put nearly all aircraft operating from the Turkish side of the island at risk. NATO was embarrassed when regular Turkish forces stormed the island a few months later. It had not been aware of Turkey's intent to re…

Sundown The 1st new scenario of the year! New World Order battleset #4 - Part 1 - The War with UBAN - Indian Ocean Persian Gulf - #1 SUNDOWN In September 1995, one of the West's not-so-secret desires was fulfilled. Saddam Hussein, the mother-of-all dictators, was assassinated. However, this apparent good fortune has also kindled one of the Western world's darkest fears. In the chaos following Hussein's demise, the "rogue nation" of Iran has taken political control of Iraq. This new nation has further amalgamated with Yemen, Syria, Egypt, and Libya in a new military and economic confederation known as the United Brotherhood of Arab-Persian Nations (UBA…

The 65th NEW Harpoon scenario of the year! Bears at Bay Action in the Bay of Biscay -- Much of NATO's sea power is based in European Atlantic ports. The shallow body of water known as the Bay of Biscay is a virtual highway for merchant and naval traffic. Because shallow water makes ASW detection more difficult, Soviet submariners can attack here with a good chance of success. Author: Herman Hum With over 350,000 PlayersDB scenarios downloaded in the last 12 months alone, the PlayersDB has proven itself the unequivocal players' favourite. Harpoon3.6.3 users can get the: Complete Harpoon 3.6.3 Library Harpoon ANW users can get the: Co…

NORDKAPP The 31st new scenario of the year! The tenth installment of the "21st CENTURY OCEAN WARS BATTLESET" battleset has been released. When President Gorbachev was notified in 1989 of a plot to bring down the Berlin Wall later that year, he made several crucial strategic decisions. The Russian president decided to suppress the East-German revolt, speed up the privatisation and efficiency focus in the Russian state industries, and invest in maintenance, spare parts, and training for the military. For President Bush and his successors, the emergence of an Eastern European market and the stabilisation of the Middle East meant they could peacefully …

The 3rd NEW Harpoon scenario of the year! Somali Convoys 2008 saw a huge increase in pirate activities in the Gulf of Aden and Western Indian Ocean. In the absence of an effective government in Somalia, whole fishing families took to piracy and hostage-taking as a means of income. NATO's navies, vastly over-designed for the task (with poor HumInt and even poorer ROEs), are forced to carry out the oldest Navy mission of the alliance, keeping the Sea Lines of Communication open. The task of preventing attacks by pirate ships nearly indistinguishable from regular fishermen is virtually impossible. Ships operators refuse to let their ship…

The 129th NEW Harpoon scenario of the year! CHOKE POINT - PIG BOATS 1 At first, the world considered the declaration of war nothing more than a formality -- a joke. How could Russia successfully stage a war against Spain? Sure, the Spanish had vetoed the EC trade agreement with their large eastern neighbour, but they had their reasons. The problems could be evaluated and resolved. The declaration of war, though unnecessary, was somewhat understandable. In any case, the two nations were so far removed that nothing would come of the "war" -- right? The EC was completely shocked by the blitz the Russians conducted against the Spanish fleet. In on…

The 130th NEW Harpoon scenario of the year! GULF OF SOLLUM On March 7th 1983, at the height of the Cold War, Hr Ms Zwaardvis is leaving Den Helder, Netherlands for a five week underwater transit to Naples, Italy. The SSK has been added to Task Force 69, and will carry out Recon missions of Soviet fleet anchorages just outside the Libyan 12-mile zone in the Gulf of Sollum. The Soviet Black Sea Fleet, faced with being bottled up behind the Bosporus, has taken to basing numerous warships in deep anchorages in International waters off North Africa in the Med. Sollum is the biggest of these. NATO MPA's keep a permanent watch on these offshore bases; …

The 126th NEW Harpoon scenario of the year! Steel Broom In response to requests from KlubMarcus and Sharker2003, this scenario has been written with plenty of contacts to give it that additional realistic feeling of maritime situational awareness. Keep up the excellent feedback and the designers will try to accommodate as many requests as possible. New World Order battleset #4 - Part 1 - The War with UBAN - Indian Ocean Persian Gulf - #6 STEEL BROOM In September 1995, one of the West's not-so-secret desires was fulfilled. Saddam Hussein, the mother-of-all dictators, was assassinated. However, this apparent good fortune has also kindled one …

The 44th NEW Harpoon scenario of the year! Georgia Peach On 13 August, 2008, President Bush directed the United States Navy to oversee a "rigorous and ongoing" air and naval humanitarian mission to Georgia. 20 August, 2008, DDG McFaul, WHEC Dallas, and LCC Mount Whitney were soon enroute to Georgia after picking up aid supplies in Crete. 21 August, 2008, Russian forces block the only land entrance to the Georgian port of Poti after vowing to withdraw troops the day before. Special thanks to Freek Schepers and Ralf Koelbach for their kind assistance in testing this scenario for compatibility with ANW. Author: Herman Hum With over 3…

The 53rd NEW Harpoon scenario of the year! Montreux Convention Since 1936, the Montreux Convention has governed the passage of naval vessels through the Straits of Bosporus and the Dardenelles. Turkish sovereignty over these waters was recognized with all signatories. The Convention limits vessels to 15,000 tons with a maximum combined tonnage of 45,000 tons for countries not sharing a border on the Black Sea. Foreign naval vessels are limited to 21 days within the Black Sea. On 21 August, 2008, three NATO frigates from Spain, Poland, and Germany sailed into the Black Sea and were joined by the American frigate, Taylor, for port visits and exer…

The 251st NEW Harpoon scenario of the year! Last week, we released 120 New scenarios. This week, we return you to our regular programming schedule. INGRESS PROJECT PENINSULA 94 Peninsula 94 is a series of 4 related scenarios (Recon, Ingress, Strike Ops, and Egress) representing different phases of a US multi-carrier battle group attack on the Kola Peninsula. From the Russian perspective, this is the mission the navy has trained for since its beginning: defense of the homeland. These scenarios are related by a common order of battle and a concurrence of mission. Any discrepancies can be attributed to poor bomb damage assessment and bette…

Diablo The 3rd new scenario of the year! New World Order battleset #4 - Part 1 - The War with UBAN - Indian Ocean Persian Gulf - #2 DIABLO In September 1995, one of the West's not-so-secret desires was fulfilled. Saddam Hussein, the mother-of-all dictators, was assassinated. However, this apparent good fortune has also kindled one of the Western world's darkest fears. In the chaos following Hussein's demise, the "rogue nation" of Iran has taken political control of Iraq. This new nation has further amalgamated with Yemen, Syria, Egypt, and Libya in a new military and economic confederation known as the United Brotherhood of Arab-Persian Nations (UBAN)…

File Name: Pledge 1: Burma Boil 2017 File Submitter: Mgellis File Submitted: 31 Jul 2012 File Category: Scenarios DB Used: HUD 4 v1.1 beta 10 Authors: Mark Gellis Battleset: No Information Thailand and Myanmar get into a brawl over Burmese fishing boats violating Thai fisheries. (Image of HTMS Phutta Loetla Naphalai (462); U.S. Navy photo 080615-N-8138M-569 by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Daniel Meaney (Released).) Click here to download this file

Here's an excellent After Action Report by Ralf Koelbach. It is re-printed here with at the request of the author. „Project Peninsula 94: Reconnaissance“ Scenario designed by Herman Hum Based on an original Harpoon Classic HDS-II-scenario Database: Players DB 6.4.9 A. Foreword: Herman likes to rebuild HC scens, especially those of the HC HDS-II-Battleset, with AGSIs permission. “Reconnaissance” is part of a group of scenarios which belong thematically together. The Nato side has eight first line subs and a very difficult mission: First to get six subs in designated search areas. Second, keeping them six hours there – weapons tight. After that weapon…

File Name: Operation Andes Wind (2017) File Submitter: Mgellis File Submitted: 14 Nov 2012 File Category: Scenarios A few years in the future...a military coup has put a junta hostile to the United States in power in Chile. American citizens need to be evacuated before they can be detained and used as hostages. An amphibious task force, and two other ships, must complete this mission while protecting themselves against Chilean forces. Image: A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey on the flight deck of an amphibious assault ship. Navy NewsStand Photo ID: 051115-N-3527B-049; Author: United States Navy, Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Timothy Bensken. Click here to…

Happy first birthday to Harpoon ANW! Since the release, over 150 NEW Harpoon3 scenarios have been written for the PlayersDB. Here is another one. The 262nd NEW Harpoon scenario of the year! INVASION OF ANTILLES Elections in the Netherlands Antilles have seen gains for the political party seeking closer ties to Venezuela and its President, Chavez. The Government has fallen and the legal status of the islands is unclear; with Curacao an independent nation within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Aruba, and Bonaire seeking a similar status, and the three smaller islands of St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, and Saba being municipalities within the Neth…

The 68th NEW Harpoon scenario of the year! Surprise, Surprise! This is the worst-case scenario for Middle East affairs. With Iran now in control of the majority of the world's oil, long silent Russia has announced a mutual defense treaty and has vowed to help protect the Gulf for their Arab friends. U.S. forces find themselves in a very hostile world a very long way behind enemy lines. With the Russian declaration, all Russian forces operating in the area should be considered hostile. Of primary concern here should be the sub threat. All American forces should make best possible speed for Diego Garcia and the safety of U.S.-controlled air spa…

File Name: Pledge 3: Gambian Gambit 1981 File Submitter: Mgellis File Submitted: 15 Aug 2012 File Category: Scenarios DB Used: HUD 4 v1.1 b10 Authors: Mark Gellis Battleset: No Information A Marxist coup has seized power in the Gambia. Soviet and Libyan forces are in the area, offering support. The Forrestal and her battle group must eliminate these threats! (Image shows the Forrestal (CVA-59) with F-4 Phantoms parked on her deck. Image source: U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo No. 1996.488.226.085) Click here to download this file

35th Scenario this year! Dave Steinmeyer has posted his second scenario, BALTIC TIDE. Thanks for sharing it with us. World War III has been raging across the globe for three days already. Casualties have been high on both sides. Where the Soviets expected to make rapid gains on land, they have not. And where NATO expected to quickly gain control of the skies above Europe, the Pact has made more than a fight of it. At sea, there are only the quick and the dead. What were supposed to be set piece battles turned into bloodbaths with the winner being whoever fired first. While no American carriers have been sunk, yet, three have been heavily d…