Leaderboard

An item to keep in mind, if you already own Harpoon Ultimate, you have Harpoon 97 already (and a lot of other versions) via the 20th Anniversary launcher pictured below.

The code in AreaDefense loops thru the mounts from first to last looking for a valid weapon, not the optimal weapon. AreaDefense also tags the target missiles as crossing targets so that skips at least one range check (which doesn't take courses into account so would not have prevented the SAMs from firing. It is not a small undertaking to replace the AreaDefense logic. The ExportDLL interface allows it to be replaced without modifying the core game (which we can no longer do). In short, don't hold your breath on a fix for this one. The intriguing bit is that NewAreaDefense() which I wrote in the 2013 timeframe. It does check speed and bearings to see if an intercept is kinematically possible. NewAreaDefense was not completed.

AAR for this scenario, I hope it's in the right place. Thanks for this, it was very fun. I got Minvic with 60 A/C shot down, and 5 ships sunk. After that, it seemed like I was just making the rubble jump, so I moved on. What I found out is that the F-35 is almost invincible, even with the shorter range C7 AMRAAM.

Following a suggestion from someone else on the Steam forum, I was able to find an almost 30 year old fix! Dr. Who's Harpoon Pages https://www.harpoonpages.com/harpoon1.htm The 4/04/97 update can be downloaded and imported into the Harpoon Classic 97 folder to replace the NAVC.res file (I created a backup of the original file just in case). When I ran the scenarios using that updated file, the ships all appeared correclty as Okean class instead of Kalinin class. The website also includes an update for the EC2000 scenarios. Were there any old bugs you can remember from those scenarios - anything I should look out for before deciding whether to apply that update as well?

Below is an installer that should bring any copy of the game purchased from Matrix Games up to the current build. https://www.harpgamer.com/downloads/HC2025.025_ComprehensivePatch.zip When you get to selecting an installation directory and Start Menu group, please double-check that they are correct before proceeding.

For those of you not active on social media, you may not have heard that long time Harpoon community member Byron 'JClark' Audler passed away on 15 April. His notable contributions included being a knowledgeable ship fitter (irl), scenario author, HC2002 program manager, and HULL mailing list moderator, and a Lifetime Pooner award winner. His bio can be found at Ed Ladner's website Dr Who's Harpoon Pages here : https://www.harpoonpages.com/Bios/bio022.htm Fair winds and following seas.

I like that the Discord link is more visible but to your point, Downloads are less visible. I see them in a Browse menu.

Yeah, in general I think that as long as the annex ceilings exist, more focus is better. For example, e.g. a battleset that focuses on the Persian Gulf from 1990 to 2002. And its usually easier to be backward looking in historical context when developing a DB (and a battleset that employs it) than trying to predict the future.

Demo version 2025.025 has been uploaded.

Thanks for the idea, but the possibility of a Russian convoy clearing the Kattegat against even light opposition is zero. However, how about a Russian convoy to reinforce Kaliningrad from St Petersburg while NATO (with no USA) is distracted elsewhere? I could cook up something like that pretty soon.

"And this brings on an even bigger question, how many people still want to play this game? " That's something I sometimes wonder. Certainly the download of new scenarios isn't what it used to be but there is still obvious interest. Also time will tell but the Steam addition to the equation might well bring a new surge. I think HC is still a unique simulation, where the new programs are more a game. Taking into account current limits to database size when pondering this question I've wondered whether there's now a need to start a new (series 3?) DB from a more recent start date - an issue is that many nations still use quite old platforms. The main issue to my mind is the sheer size of the job of starting from scratch.

*** SPOILER ALERT*** Well while I got my total victory, the sinking of a damaged merchantman in reprisal for a UAV incursion on my airspace, I suffered a large loss and the opinion rating in the polls are pretty bad I spent about 4 hrs for 10 hrs game time. I decided to try and occupy the mid and east Black Sea and to weed out and sink anything that Russia had in the area. Maintaining air cover by F-16 proved costly. Keeping up good surveillance without AC loss proved difficult (OK I didn't manage it). Not waiting for Poland to bring in better AC for ASUW attacks proved costly, in the end a flight of three F16 and a pack of mavericks was all I needed. Well trimming the number of Russian fighters patrolling the area before hand did help but at a worse than 1:1 loss ratio. I'm going to have another go at this gem, after a bit of wound licking, and with a much more conservative strategy. I'll certainly be trying tho dodge their Su-35S Flanker E and maybe let their naval patrols have their end of the Black sea for themselves Thanks heaps for this Patrick. Stats: [Victory Summary] Time=05 Jan 2026, 06:14:02 The RED side has met their minimum victory conditions Time=05 Jan 2026, 10:50:02 The BLUE side has met their minimum victory conditions Time=05 Jan 2026, 10:50:02 The BLUE side has met their total victory conditions [Kill Detail Blue Side ] F-16CM40 Falcon 15/Plane=6 MQ-8C Fire Scout 17/Helicopter=3 F-16CJ50 Falcon 14/Plane=5 CN-235MSA/Plane=2 Super Lynx Mk110 05/Helicopter=1 Heybeliada/Ship=1 S-70B28 Seahawk 12/Helicopter=5 Gediz (FFG7/11)/Ship=2 E-737 Peace Eagle/Plane=2 [Kill Detail Red Side ] MiG-35 Fulcrum F 18/Plane=8 Il-38 May 92/Plane=4 Ka-27M Helix A 17/Helicopter=3 Ka-29RLD Helix E 95/Helicopter=1 MiG-31BM Foxhound 15/Plane=1 Buyan Pr21630 06/Ship=1 Su-35S Flanker E/Plane=4 Steregushchiy Pr2038 07/Ship=1 Su-34 Fullback 16/Plane=12 Gorshkov Pr22350/Ship=1 Grigorovich (1135.6)/Ship=1 Soobraziltelny Pr20381 11/Ship=1 Merchant damaged/Ship=1 MiG-29KR Fulcrum D 15/Plane=2 [StoresConsumed - Blue] Blue Weapon=Tally AIM-120C7 AMRAAM=41 AIM-120B AMRAAM=29 AGM-158A JASSM=32 Taurus KEPD350=24 AGM-88B HARM (ARM)=28 AGM-84K SLAM-ER=26 SOM-A=16 SA-10c Grumble (S-300PMU)=22 SM-1MR Block VIB=29 RIM-162B ESSM=12 UGM-84C Harpoon=8 DM2A4 Seahake=2 SM-3 Block IIB=16 RGM-84G Harpoon=4 AIM-9X Sidewinder=10 AGM-65G Maverick=6 [StoresConsumed - Red] Red Weapon=Tally AA-12 Adder B (R-77-1)=12 AA-13 Arrow (R-37)=6 SA-21 (9M96E)=43 SA-N-12 Grizzly (Shtil-1)=36 AA-12 Adder C (R-77M1)=26 AA-10 Alamo C (R-27RE)=26 AA-10 Alamo D (R-27TE)=6 SA-N-11a Grisom=3 SS-N-26 Strobile=8 SS-N-27 Sizzler (3M54)=8 Sosna-R (9M337)=3 AA-12 Adder A (R-77)=8 AA-10 Alamo A (R-27R)=11 AS-4 Kitchen D (Kh-32)=24 SS-N-25 Switchblade=8 SA-24 Grinch (Igla-S)=14 SA-6b Gainful Mod1 (Kub-M4)=12 AA-11 Archer (R-73M)=4 SA-23b (9M82M)=4 AA-11 Archer (R-73)=2 [Damage List Red] ZZa: 00 Yeysk damage=265/2500 ZXp: 00 Novorossiysk damage=1067/2500 ZYS: 02 Grad Sviyazhsk damage=33/36 [Damage List Blue] ARS: 00 Anadolou damage=303/425 Time (well) spent: [Session Summary] Session Game Start=5 Jan 2026, 01:00:00 GameTimeDuration ThisSession=3Hrs23 Mins TotalGameTimeDuration=3Hrs23Mins GameTimeToGO=68 Hrs: 36 Mins Session End RealTime=4/02/2026 22:00:00 RealTimeDuration ThisSession=1:09:59 ==== ===== Session Game Start=5 Jan 2026, 04:23:54 GameTimeDuration ThisSession=3Hrs21 Mins TotalGameTimeDuration=6Hrs45Mins GameTimeToGO=65 Hrs: 14 Mins Session End RealTime=5/02/2026 13:01:14 RealTimeDuration ThisSession=1:39:00 ==== ===== Session Game Start=5 Jan 2026, 07:45:18 GameTimeDuration ThisSession=3Hrs20 Mins TotalGameTimeDuration=10Hrs5Mins GameTimeToGO=61 Hrs: 54 Mins Session End RealTime=5/02/2026 17:51:41 RealTimeDuration ThisSession=1:18:20 ==== =====

Turkey2.zip Here is a revisit of Don's excellent take on Turkey vs Russia. What if you had no F-35's? Victory conditions and order of battle are very much the same. You'll get a few more fighters, a small carrier, and two tankers. This might be hard. DUCK Patrick Howard

Progress is slow. The yanks must be running low on TLAMs, they've lost important surveillance, fighter and bomber AC and we're getting our bases stocked. But it still looks dodgy. Having lots of fun!

Yes, the publishing agreement allows for updates and upgrades.

In a few weeks you should start seeing signs of the current Harpoon Classic build being published on Steam. Apparently, the publishing process has been prioritized again.

Thanks broncepulido, Merry Christmas all!

Those are some powerful AGIs! I can confirm that the HC97 we published with Matrix Games also has/had that flaw. I suppose that would mean it is a known issue since for nearly 30 years <g>. The same flaw is present in the most recent builds so was not corrected. What we did with some similar situations is programmatically override bad BattleSet data when the BattleSet (which in those old ones included the platform database specific to each BattleSet) did have issues. The tools to re-generate those legacy BattleSets were lost to time. MicroProse has the ability to fix in a couple of ways (via programmatic override or painstakingly re-building the BattleSet). I suggest the time is much better spent re-making such scenarios in newer BattleSets that do not have the flaw, something you can do without any exotic tooling. I'm 99% sure I wrote a utility that could at least view but possibly update some of the legacy BattleSets but haven't located it yet.

I don't for certain but does the steam hc97 have a scenario editor that would let you edit the battleset scenario and replace the units with something more suitable. It sounds like a clerical error in putting the database together. In these old games the database is built into the game,so fixing it is a major item that I'd guess isn't likely to happen, but who knows. Someone else might very well have better ideas.

Yes, MicroProse is a small operation at present. You also hit upon an important additional consideration, they are not as intimately knowledgeable about Computer Harpoon as many of their consumers. The next six months or so should be informative, how they handle the growth in their catalog, communication with players about roadmap, etc. but in my dealings so far there has been positive intent and a desire to learn.

Taiwan Straight 2nd Crisis Escalated View File Scenario Background: On 24 and 25 August 1958 Chinese Communist (PRC) forces and Taiwanese (ROC) forces clashed in the vicinity of Dongding Island, which the Nationalist (ROC) troops controlled. The action was seen as an attempt by the communists to land on the island. This was the only naval and amphibious landing action during the crisis. ROC had begun to build military installations on the island of Kinmen (Quemoy) and the Matsu archipelago, very close to the Chinese mainland. The PRC shelled the islands of Kinmen (Quemoy) and the Matsu Islands in an attempt to take them from Taiwan, governed by the Kuomintang (KMT), and to probe the extent of American commitment to defend the Republic of China. The conflict also involved air, naval, and amphibious operations. Then U.S. secretary of state Christian Herter reportedly described it as the "first serious nuclear crisis". The USA provided military assistance in both material, especially aircraft and artillery, and a strong naval presence including naval escorts for island repleshments. The Communist Chinese government announced a unilateral ceasefire on 6 October 1958. However, on 20 October the PLA resumed artillery fire on Kinmen because a U.S. Navy warship had breached the PRC-declared 3 nautical miles exclusive zone from the coast of China that they claimed was a stipulation for their unilateral ceasefire agreement. In this scenario we play with the idea of the situation escalating, rather than subsiding. Use Database HCCW 140314 and for best play Game version 2025.023 or newer and ErrataGE.dll (download from harpgamer.com forum). Submitter donaldseadog Submitted 08/25/2025 Category WestPac  

This released on the weekend. It's H97 version 1.60.

Confirmed in 2025.024 This can be fixed with the aid of an ExportDLL. In other words, it doesn't absolutely require a change to the game code itself.

PS, the 'Capture' feature has a better algorithm for calculating success, and I'm now looking at a repair system so once you've punished a base and captured it you can get it back to operating 100%. The long term goal is to be able to run a long term strategic scenario including expansion of territory and ammunition logistics.

That is what is known as a pre-commondb BattleSet so it does not use the user modifiable databases. I strongly suggest players only play the EC2003 and 'newer' BattleSets as they use the user-created databases and also don't have sub-optimal (i.e. compatibility) logic.

Well, al least it all means Harpoon still has some future.

Since this is in theory the last build of the game related to the Matrix Games publishing of the game, we will list some workarounds here for serious issues that arise. Errata: 1. 2025-07-02 The Scenario Editor (SE) has multiple issues in the release build. Rather than using Wscenedt32.exe, please use Wscenedt32dbg.exe which does not show the same issues. An even better idea may be to rename Wscenedt32.exe to Wscenedt32rel.exe then copy Wscenedt32dbg.exe to Wscenedt32.exe so that you don't accidentally use the more troublesome build. a. This is resolved in the HC2025.025_ComprehensivePatch.zip installer. 2. 2025-07-02 The BattleSet Builder makes very washed out maps so we need to go back to an older version 2015.027. a. This is resolved in the HC2025.025_ComprehensivePatch.zip installer. 3. 2025-08-23 The HDSR.RSR file (for Malacca Straits BattleSet) was not included in the installer. a. This is resolved in the HC2025.025_ComprehensivePatch.zip installer.

Yes, I have the same questions about generic items (Most small drones are in fact reducible to some few generic types), and most if not all kamikaze (loitering or not) drones are reducible to weapons.

I'm assuming the date range includes the active platforms in various nations so I think that sounds good, in line with what brad was doing when he created hcdb2 as the update of the first general hcdb.

Well I guess it shows for those interested in naval simulation if they haven't 'played' the latest HC then HC97 is pretty impressive.

Australian aerospace company Hypersonix Launch Systems confirmed Feb. 13, 2026, that a launch window has been set for the first flight test of its DART AE hypersonic aircraft, with the mission scheduled to launch no earlier than late February from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia. The […]View the full article

I'm easing into this one, having played it before I have a great respect for the red guys. Very glad you enjoyed it.

View File Turkey in the Black Sea Photo: Ada-class ASW corvettes of the Turkish Navy This scenario can be played with GE version 2022.027 (matrix last release) or newer, Database HCDB2-170909 in Medc 2003 Battleset. While Russia is still busy fighting it's war with Ukraine she has been harassing other countries with aircraft incursions, but Turkey fights back. Submitter donaldseadog Submitted 11/11/2025 Category MEDC  

Very "simple" but interesting and funny scenario. Victory achived after some 15 hours of game time, after sunk six Russian warships and the fake merchant/Japanese drone carrier. Very interesting the use of the only tanker in Poland to support the Gripen strikes. Also on the Russian side the range limitations operating from a relatively far base. Thanks Don!

The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed that SYOS Aerospace has been selected to advance to the next stage of Project NYX, a program to develop “wingman drones” designed to operate alongside British Army Apache attack helicopters, the MOD announced last week. The selection places SYOS Aerospace alongside major defense firms invited to submit prototype […]View the full article

Russia’s Kalashnikov Concern has delivered a batch of newly developed electric transport vehicles to a military unit for use in the combat zone, the company announced. According to the company, the shipment included Izh-Enduro electric motorcycles and Izh-ScootWay electric scooters produced in-house and equipped with universal trailers for cargo transport. All vehicles were supplied with […]View the full article

Played today, another demostration of a fine and funny scenario with few elements. Chinese CV sunk with three torpedoes (and many escorts) after few hours of real time, riding out those J-15 pest! Only strange remark, after sinking the first Chinese SSN, the other keeps running continuously at full speed towards South fleeing my SSN, and at last she changes courseEast and can catch her with one of my last two Mk48 torpedoes (after I did open the scenario editor and of course that strange course and speed was not scripted!). Again, interesting and fun scenario, thanks Don!

Doesn't count for victory, and also (as in case of tankers use) you are risking other aircrafts to any occasional undetected Iranian fighter.

Welcome! Picking up HC97 without prior Harpoon experience probably puts you in the minority but it was a great game that just happened to get improved in more recent iterations. 1. Yes, and with the recent uptick in inquiries, I reached out to the powers that be today, received a response that it is being looked into (so good job bringing it up again everyone) and hope for a response in the next couple of days. There was certainly an expectation a few months ago that the more recent Harpoon Classic would be re-released like HC97 was re-released. 2. Some of them will work with HC97 but many do require the Matrix edition. It will help to try older scenarios first. On GIUK - HarpGamer page for instance, the ones that mention EC2000 should work with HC97, the ones that say EC2003 will not. 3. For the old-timers like me the answer is very long and complex involving intellectual property rights, personalities, fundamental disagreements on what drives a realistic outcome, ... However, an easier answer is that for many players HC is just more enjoyable. Command is amazing in so many ways but the reward is gives me doesn't compare to HC which aside from Civilization may be the only game that can keep me so engaged that I find myself putting off bedtime just one more hour right up until my alarm goes off for work. 4. Very very different. HC97 follows the Harpoon 3 paper rules for the most part however it uses an adaptation of the Harpoon 4 paper sonar model. For the post-HC97 builds we weren't allowed to use the Harpoon paper rules (politics!) so when algorithms were replaced they tend to be my creations. Where we tweaked things (such as sonar), we attempted to make the results come close to the Harpoon 4.1 paper results without copying the data and rules themselves. You can often find a copy of H3 paper on eBay (GDW Harpoon 3). 5. The tutorial is a good start, hopping on Discord (link at top of forum) and chatting with the gang with questions can be helpful. The command card made by a player will become one of your best friends Keyboard Commands, by location - Tools/Mods/Docs - HarpGamer

Some sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_strikes_on_Iranian_nuclear_sites https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/world-operation-midnight-hammer/ https://xxtomcooperxx.substack.com/p/great-television?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&sfnsn=mo&fbclid=IwY2xjawL8YIRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHrfBkDVHUW0KM-uEYzPvqLICXt7zsWuMHYxONDnyrZB-N6kWLCy-guw0fn5M_aem_TbsQ2iYFSdMooREz8tkKZw&triedRedirect=true https://xxtomcooperxx.substack.com/p/operation-endless-wisdom?fbclid=IwY2xjawL8YylleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHpI9H29uomhbJgZ9idZvO44TJvVCeaJZUbjmp8JJgpXvS5xZ0Ue3QhS9EUIH_aem_GWVTbTEK9GFMSMr7oZ-6ng Iranian SA-5 sites (Most elements deleted 2013, but at least radars keep): http://military.ddns.net/Iran_sa5/SA5_Ban.html https://www.scramble.nl/planning/orbats/iran/isl.-rep.-of-iran-air-force Operation Rising Lion, June 2025: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Israel_war https://www.defenseforces.com/2025/06/20/where-is-irans-air-force/#:~:text=Iranian Air Force Remains Inactive,as the Fordow nuclear facility. https://www.key.aero/article/fall-irans-mig-29s (Also by Babak Taghvaee!). https://www.key.aero/article/history-chengdu-f-7n-iranian-service (23x F-7N and 20x FT-7N in existence 2022, equipped with PL-7C, very probably retired as not seen in the 2025 actions, as also in 2022 were in service 4x F-7N and 10 FT-7N in Isfahan. Also by Babak Taghvaee!) https://www.key.aero/article/ship-killers (Some 10x Su-22 in service 2017, perhaps none in 2025, only with dumb bombs and unguided rockets, and without AAMs. Also by Babak Taghvaee!) https://www.armadainternational.com/2025/06/sead-force-tour-de-force-electronic-warfare/ https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-sead-role-f-35s-midnight-hammer/ Air Forces Monthly December 2024: Taking on Iran’s Missile Menace by Babak Taghvaee. https://www.armadainternational.com/2025/12/going-blind-electronic-warfare/ Air Forces Monthly April 2025: A Step Forward Extintion, by Babak Taghvaee (Great article on Iranian RF-4E (Only 4x remain in service from 1/2025, with data numbers on F-4E (56x) and F-4D(8x)). Air Forces Monthly June 2025: Targeting Iran, by Babak Taghvaee. Air Forces Monthly August 2025: Crushing Iran’s Nukes, by Babak Taghvaee. Air Forces Monthly November 2025: Time to Hide, by Babak Taghvaee. Air Forces Monthly January 2026: Revolutionary Fitters of Shiraz, by Babak Taghvaee.

Anduril Industries says it has completed the first successful test of its prototype surface-launched Barracuda-500 missile. “To be blunt, existing solutions are too expensive, too exquisite, and too hard to produce,” the company stated in its announcement. “To deter our adversaries, the U.S. and our allies need an affordable, mass-producible way to project power over […] The post Anduril successfully tests surface-launched Barracuda-500 missile first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Nuclear powered battle cruiser sails again for the first time since 1997 (Barents Observer)

The prowlers jamming works perfectly.

With some considerations of AI use in wargaming: https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/2025/07/29/wargaming-is-having-its-moneyball-moment/

This state of affairs needs working on, get a doctor to prescribe three hours of pure game play per week.

Speaking of the final patch, you can grab it here:

I've uploaded a revamped older version for those that play on the last matrix patch game 2022.027. It's in the toolboxV.zip download. It removes the annoying iterative save messages from the toolbox message log and includes the handy auto select in toolbox of the in game active group for the player (in most toolbox windows) and active unit for the enemy (in toolbox attack window). A few more additions to the unit info are also included.

ErrataGE View File This file is written to run as an ExportDLL library with Harpoon Classic. It repairs errors in the Game Engine, when possible, external of the main program. The file ErrataGE.DLL should be loaded into the sub folder exportDLL\GE of your main installation folder (EG Matrix Games\HUCE) version 1.001 - 2025July22 - to run in beta game engines version 2025.007 or newer and HC2025.024_ComprehensivePatch. At game start the library searches game events looking for two types of errors that can occur effecting group air patrols in particular. Typically if these errors continue air patrol AC will fail to return to base when low on fuel and crash. You can determine if the error is present by looking at the formation editor of a group, air patrols that are listed by ac class (eg F/A-18) instead of patrol type (eg CAP) and have the 'delete' button greyed out are in error. A second error type is where a patrol event remains after it's unit has ceased to exist (landed or shot down) and still refers to the non existing unit. Submitter donaldseadog Submitted 07/23/2025 Category Tools/Mods/Docs  

Thanks you very much Don. I keep working on Harpoon, DB limitation aside. I started an Operation Sindoor scenario and other B-2A attack on Iran, but too complex to fast finish them. Also waiting about the next Harpoon reléase on Steam.

Got it and I just used the debug add as a shortcut and yes it works as confirmed.