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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?

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.

Nuclear-powered battlecruiser returns to Severomorsk for first time in 27 years (Barents Observer)

Russia’s 80-Missile Nuclear Battlecruiser Set to Return After Nearly 30 Years in Repair (United 24 Media)

Historical Review of Nuclear Submarine Design and Production in Russia (by Christopher P. Carlson)

An unmanned fighter jet built to fly and fight alongside human pilots has left the sterile confines of a test range and flown its first real-world combat exercise in the Nevada desert, according to a release from Air Force Warfare Center Public Affairs published July 27, 2026. The exercise, conducted at Creech Air Force Base […]View the full article

And both the email and board notifications came thru that you'd replied. (The reason for doing the post to test email notifications).

A torpedo-tube-launched robot built to secretly plant mines from American submarines just got another $14 million push toward becoming operational, as the U.S. Navy exercises new contract options with General Dynamics Mission Systems to keep developing the system. The Navy Sea Systems Command awarded the Massachusetts-based defense contractor a modification worth roughly $13.97 million on […]View the full article

Just solved now, I don't know was happened!

I use win 10 and last night (or night before) used scen editor with no problem. I can get to computer tonight and test. (I'm currently using tablet). Don

Dawned on me as I was about to send the scenario that I was running on my modified database, which has a number of updates that include the units and weapons involved. I'm in the middle of updating several countries (Japan, DPRK, ROK) in my database to represent post ~2000 and omit previous years. Will shift gears later this week and remodel the scenario with the current game version database. If I have the same problem, will advise and send. 👍

@TonyE and @donaldseadog thank you very much for your guidance. I had no idea how to work TonyEs game launcher, but do now. Databases are now placed in separate folders and Harpoon works as before.

Note the MapWindow window will not not be embedded within the game window as an MDI document, it is floating outside of the game window. MapWindow 20260403 2025.025+ Incremented DLL Version to 15 Sensor range rings — surface radar (green) and air radar (magenta) range rings now draw on the globe alongside the existing ASuW (orange) and AAW (cyan) weapon range rings. Data comes from BestSensorRange on the group record. Airborne endurance range rings — air range (white) and bingo range (gray) rings now draw for aircraft groups. Data is computed during snapshot capture using the new shared uHCEndurance unit, a Pascal port of the GE's GetAirborneEndurance and FindClosestBase algorithms. Annex B1 speed data and base runway compatibility are used for accurate range and bingo fuel calculations. The DLL now captures annex_id_to_disk_id from funcRefs in DLLInit and creates THCAnnexHelper from AnnexDataIn in ScenLoad. Range ring settings dialog — the per-side checkbox group has been replaced with a "Range Rings..." button that opens a settings dialog. The dialog provides a 6×4 grid of checkboxes (ring type × side), matching HC's RangeCircles[ringType][side] toggle system. Ring types: ASuW Weapon, AAW Weapon, Surf Radar, Air Radar, Air Range, Bingo Range.

Would a feasible approach be to focus on a time and region, prune plus grow the hcdb2 db, and embed into a dedicated battleset? Don

I am presently exploring using HTML, JS, and Open Street Maps for the next gen SimPlot. That would get you a world map, but not MGRS. I don't know much about MGRS, but I think it may be metric.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-06/adf-helicopter-evasive-action-chinese-military/106426388?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

China’s AVIC Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group has officially presented a new vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle known as the Yunying (Cloud Shadow in Chinese), a tail-sitter drone featuring a ducted-fan design closely resembling the V-BAT system developed by U.S. company Shield AI. The Yunying-25V UAV was officially showcased during the 2026 CCTV […]View the full article

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

Also, in a current times DB probably we need less platforms (less in service types of aircraft, ships and submarines in I think every country).

The idea should be the employ of "secret" airfields in Pacific islands against some Chinese force: https://seapowermagazine.org/marines-establish-refueling-point-in-indo-pacific/

Enrique, this is an idea that I have explored in some depth. The problem is that the current HCDB2 is badly out of date, and cannot accurately depict what would happen. I have made an updated one, but I think that 1) it is "not ready for prime time", and also incomplete, and 2) more importantly, for the game to continue coherently, there should only be one commonly used database. I am going to address this in a new thread under databases, and once we have had that discussion, it might be possible to proceed with this idea.

If you're considering writing a scenario for the Black Sea that covers current (ongoing) events, this might be helpful: Know Your Enemy: Russian Military Aviation in European Russia and Temporarily Occupied Crimea

I really enjoyed this one, but what if (as happened) the sale of F-35's to Turkey were halted? I have gently modified this scenario to reflect that. Don, is it OK if I share it? I think it will be a little daunting....

View File Worst Case Scenario Can the EU repel a US invasion of Greenland? Let's see. EC 2003 NACV HCDB2 170909 Submitter rainman Submitted 01/23/2026 Category NACV  

Upcoming simulation game, perhaps of interest: https://airdefendergame.com/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/3985030/Air_Defender/

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!

View File Operation Midnight Hammer, night of 21-22 June 2025. Historical Scenario. Operation Midnight Hammer, night of 21-22 June 2025. Historical Scenario. A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for EC2003 Battle for the Middle East Battleset 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/US-Allied side or from the Red/Iranian side. You should play a few times first the Blue side to avoid spoilers, and only later play the Red side. Image: A B-2A Spirit and two F-15E Strike Eagles fly in formation across the Pacific Ocean Near Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on July 8, 2005. The deployed fighters and bomber represent Pacific Air Force's projection of Global Strike and resolve for U.S. allies in the Pacific theatre. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo, from Wikipedia, pictured by a serviceperson on duty and in consequence on public domain.) When I started to design this scenario about August 2025 my idea was to represent the turmoil of 2025. From August 2025 to today the turmoil has increased and the scenario and its goals are now apparently almost straight and simple. It represent a high moment of the Twelve-Day War between Iran and Israel (13-24 June 2025), with US forces purposely obliterating the Iranian nuclear program, after previous Israeli strikes softening the Iranian air defences (and most of the Iranian aircrafts were evacuate to Eastern Iran to avoid destruction, doing from three to five single sorties while Midnight Hammer). My idea was to represent the flavour of an almost deserted Iran, but capable to get a moral and propaganda victory if some few US aircraft are destroyed. The scenario is only four hour long, but should be played many times at slow pace to avoid unpredictable loses and outcomes. Could you replicate the US achievement in this apparently simple scenario? Enrique Mas, January 11, 2026. Submitter broncepulido Submitted 01/11/2026 Category Middle East  

Wow Enrique, another extremely thorough job of research. I'll be getting into this asap. Thanks mate. Don. PS, as usual it's not as easy as it looks .

Epirus released video on January 13 showing its Leonidas VehicleKit high-power microwave system disabling a fiber-optic guided unmanned aerial system during a December 2025 live-fire demonstration at a U.S. government testing site. The company said the demonstration represents the first documented instance of weaponized electromagnetic interference defeating a fiber-optic controlled drone. According to Epirus, the […]View the full article

You can find it at I do need to move the post out of the beta testing area to reduce confusion, it is a real patch, not a beta.

A source for when someone decides to update this FAQ, Harpoon – Retro Viator

This might be getting close save game ...B1 should be 1 or 2 secs before the red group (2 ac unit) fires on blue group (single ac unit). I believe AI wants to fire 4 missiles but only fires 2, 4 out of 8 are remaining. save game ...B1.0002 is shortly after and in one or two seconds the red group expends all LR missile but none are fired. Using DB HCDB2-170909, westpac BS, GE vers 2025.025 pacMissTest-B1.zip

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.