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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.

We ported the Scenario Editor (SE) from 16 to 32-bit in 2014-2015 so for more than a decade we've been running both GE and SE on current computers (64-bit Windows and Linux [w/WINE] operating systems). The most polished accessory program in development is a replacement for the MS Access-based platform editor to remove the MS Access dependency. It has some nifty additional features as well such as ability to share platform files (remember TPF files from back in the day with Harpoon 2/3?). You can read about it at Stratsims HC Platform Editor and hopefully download it by Christmas.

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

This photo is our back garden taken through the back door window.

Picture a robot you could carry up a flight of stairs, remotely towing a military truck that outweighs a fully loaded school bus, and doing it without breaking a wheel. That is the scene an American robotics company says it captured on video from a recent U.S. Army demonstration, and if the footage holds up, […]View the full article

Electronic warfare? 🐹

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

Some sources: https://www.wargamevault.com/en/product/564343/naval-sitrep-70-april-2026?src=hottest https://www.wargamevault.com/en/product/562611/japan-s-self-defense-forces?src=hottest https://www.wargamevault.com/en/product/372205/china-s-navy?src=hottest_filtered https://www.navypedia.org/ships/japan/jap_destroyers.htm About the Osumi sistership Kunisaki LST-4003 capable of carrying 3x CH-47JA and 2x UH-60JA in response to the 2004 Sumatra earthquake: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%81%8F%E3%81%AB%E3%81%95%E3%81%8D_(%E8%BC%B8%E9%80%81%E8%89%A6)

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.

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.

Some back ground: I guess its an historic thing, pre 2003 all battlesets had there own in built database so it was effectively selected from within the game when you selected which battleset you were going to play, and then from there you could select scenarios. Since 2003 the option (normal arrangement for 'new' battlesets) is that the database is external and as it can't be selected once the game starts you need to know before starting the GE which database you are going to want. The databases tend to relate to time periods so that's not so bad. So most of the xxx2003 battlesets and Westpac are like that, Malacca being an exception as it has the HCDB2 database embedded in it. A scenario's required database will be listed in it's HarpGamer download page plus if you open the scenario file with a text editor and look at the first few lines of gobblygook you'll see some plain text including the database name, eg HCDB170909, that will be the database the scenario needs. (You don't need to do that if the scenario is from one of the pre 2003 legacy battlesets) Loading a scenario that requires a different database to the one loaded into the GE gives an error message similar to your "GetMemAnnexA Error" but that doesn't mean for certain that's what's happened to you, but it's what brought this to my mind. By default the GE loads the database from the commondb.res file in the main hc folder but a different database can be loaded by using a modified command line (eg by using HClauncher or SELauncher respectively for GE and SE, but also by other means more fiddly). Before HCLauncher the two common methods were to rename the database file needed as commondb.res and to swap it for the one in the root folder or to execute the GE (or SE) via a shortcut and manually write into the execute line the flag <-d ?> followed by the full pathname to the database file, Tony's GELauncher was an obvious godsend. If all was working fine for you using the last beta and you were starting GE and SE straight from the respective executable in the hc folder (or from the default game menu) then I think you must have only been playing custom scenarios for the default (HCDB) database or legacy battlesets? 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

(linked from our current events sub forum) https://defence-blog.com/russia-warns-of-possible-military-action-in-baltic-sea/

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

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.

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  

***SPOILER ALERT*** After about 9 hrs of play and TotalGameTimeDuration=24Hrs22Mins we have a result, which I found rather funny seeing USA is now regarded as commo camp by I assume the Frogs. Some summary detail to start: [Kill Summary Red Side ] Planes:=172 AD mobile:=3 Submarines:=2 Carriers:=2 Ships:=15 Helicopters:=48 [Kill Summary Blue Side ] Ships:=2 Planes:=45 Helicopters:=1 AD mobile:=2 Submarines:=1 [StoresConsumed - Red] Red Weapon=Tally TLAM-C Blk IIIA=33 TACTOM Blk IV=583 RGM-84G Harpoon=8 AGM-84K SLAM-ER=12 TLAM-D Blk IIIB=33 MIM-104E PAC-2 GEM+=15 FIM-92D Stinger RMP=2 AIM-120D AMRAAM=209 AGM-158B JASSM-ER=96 AGM-158A JASSM=32 AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Blk II=4 GBU-31 (Mk84) JDAM=32 AIM-120C7 AMRAAM=10 SM-2MR Block IIIB=97 MIM-104F PAC-3=13 Mk54 Mako=3 Mk48 Mod7 CBASS=2 SM-6MR ERAM Blk I=28 MIM-104B PAC-1=22 RIM-162A ESSM=11 AIM-9X Sidewinder=8 [StoresConsumed - Blue] Blue Weapon=Tally Meteor=196 GBU-39/B SDB=201 AGM-88B HARM (ARM)=24 AIM-120C6 AMRAAM=49 AIM-120B AMRAAM=44 AIM-9X Sidewinder=10 20mm M61A1 burst=31 Aster 30=64 NASAMS II=42 IRIS-T=18 SM-2MR Block IIIB=24 RIM-162C ESSM=32 RIM-116B RAM Blk1=3 AIM-9L Sidewinder=6 AIM-9M Sidewinder=4 AGM-84K SLAM-ER=16 Mica EM=8 Mica IR=9 FIM-92D Stinger RMP=22 SCALP EG=144 MU-90 Impact=4 Company Paratroopers=1 DM2A4 Seahake=12 F17 Mod 2B=3 Platoon Paratroopers=8 Tp62=12 Airborne hvy wpn team=1 Platoon Rangers=1 Mk48 Mod7 CBASS=18 F21 Artemis=13 SM.39 Exocet Blk2=2 The strategy summary was to get plenty of fighters up onthe likely attack side of bases, kill base radar unless incoming threats were detected, start to ferry useful AC first to Iceland bases and where they could do the hop in one leg (often with tankers) to southern Greenland. Once the location of northern bound enemy surface groups was known (a short lived close contact helped there) recce flights (passive detectors only) ran every where that might be useful. The good number of subs were headed off at creep speed towards the SAGs, constantly worried about enemy subs bound to be heavily spread thru the area. Our prime Carrier group set up dense asw patrols form minute 1. Annoying red bases in Iceland and Greenland then got attention in the long run resulting in Keflavik being captured with minor damage and gain of a nice operational P-8A Poseidon which proved handy later. Pituffik Space Base wasn't of interest once the AC it housed were destroyed (either intercpted airbourne or hit while grounded). As the troops were getting a bit itchy we did send in a few commando raids. Not much inroads could be made against the Surface Groups, 2 carrier (probably escorts) and a large invasion force centred it seemed on Iwo Jima unit, a Wasp class until our subs got in close, then real action started. THe sub commanders held their nerve and got in to range of the big targets, sinking one carrier then heavily damaging the second (ultimately sunk) before pretty much eradicating their escorts. By this stage our attack AC off our nearest bases and DeGaulle were no longer needling at the enemy, their SCALP missiles were sending tons of now scarp to the bottom. Just to make a point we decided to cause a bit of mayhem on the enemies home turf and sent a few SCALP and SDBs into Loring AFB (damage=4337/9000). Despite the inclusion in the orders, we didn't duck - there was no time available Thanks heaps for this scenario, I can see a lot of effort gone into it, and I'll be having another run just so I can remember to better look after my EW and the HARM they carry. I guess I should first give the Reds a spin too. For anyone interested the full minutes and data are in the attached zipped txt file. AARdata-HDSI0.zip

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Same, also not idea about it!

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!

Thank you Don, I'm hopeful I can give some additional answers tonight. The good news is that your demo suggestion is valid. The demo does not expire until 2030 and demonstrates the bulk of the changes between HC97 and the latest and greatest. If one gets really invigorated, I expect the ExportDLLs (game functionality add-ons) that worked with the 2024.005 build should work just fine with the demo.

But this is an appropriate place to ask, there are just better places at the moment like what xavier posted

You should ask questions via https://groups.io/g/AdmiraltyTrilogy .

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

What about staging/submunitions? The game already has ASROC weapons where a missile turns into a torpedo. Could there be a weapon that has a terminal attack stage with different characteristics? Or stages like the Starstreak where it uses three submunitions as a payload. And of course MIRV warheads on nuclear weaposn.

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.