Lt Campers

The Hunt for the Arctic Sea When it comes to writing a storyline or plot for the Harpoon game of the Hunt for the MV Arctic Sea. You can certainly take on board a number of speculative rumours, probabilities and conspiracy theories surrounding the hijacking of the Arctic Sea. Photo of the MV Arctic Sea What is known about the Arctic Sea is that: Map showing the movements of the Arctic Sea 1. Prior to her journey to Finland to pick up timber, ready for her voyage to Algiers. She was laid up in the russian enclave port of Kaliningrad, for repairs. This forms the basis of the illegal arms plot to the Middle East, namely S-300 or KH-55 missiles. Here the Independant quoting an article from Komsomolskaya Pravda, who spoke to a senior russian naval officer, involved in the investigation of a 'weapons mafia' involving top russian officials. The Independent - Illegal weapons smuggled aboard Arctic Sea in Kaliningrad 2. She sails to the Finnish port of Jacobstad, to pick up her shipment of timber. 3. Masked men board The Arctic Sea off Sweden, disguised as Police officers and hold the Captain and crew captive. Here the press have different theories and motives for the hijacking, first that the illegal arms trafficers had hired the 'so called, team of Pirates' to steer the ship on a new course to rendevous with an Iranian ship, in the Atlantic ( the Captain & crew being somehow oblivious to the illegal cargo smuggled aboard ship in Kaliningrad ) Or that the Russian government had sent in a special team of Spetnaz's to sieze the ship, after finding out about the illegal arms shipment and then, to avoid further embarrasment. Staged the Arctic Sea's hijacking and disappearence; in order to give the Russian's the perfect excuse to pursue the Arctic Sea and sieze the illegal cargo, out of sight of any western observers or the glare of the media. 4. The final capture of The Arctic Sea, off The Cape Verde Islands by the Russian Krivak class frigate Ladnyy. Whatever the truth behind the hijacking of the Arctic Sea - whether it was a simple case of Piracy, without the slightest suspicion of it carrying anything out of the ordinary except timber. This must be the perfect result for the Russian Navy capturing the Pirate hijackers. Russian Krivak class frigate - Ladnvyy The Krivak class frigate, Ladnyy Harpoon GIUK Gap Scenario suggestions Going along with the Illegal Weapons Mafia story, involving corrupt government officials, this will be a game of hide and seek. With Blue being the Iranian's, in this case the cargo ship Arctic Sea & another cargo ship waiting to rendevous with Arctic Sea in the Atlantic. To transfer the missles ( lets say they are the light KH-55 missiles ) by helicopter to the Iranian freighter, crewed by Iran's Revolutionary Guards. To add spice to the scenario, the Iranian's have two submarines shadowing the Arctic Sea, who will drop behind and pose a 'will they, won't they' threat to the pursuing russian frigate Ladnyy. It would be nice if the Ladnyy can deploy a helicopter to add to the over the horizon search. Naturally NATO will be completely nuetral in the sea chase so the Red side, Russia can expect little help from them. As VCDH says, the Hunt for the Arctic Sea will be taking place in the busiest shipping lanes in the World. So if we can stuff the Arctic Sea route, full of nuetral merchantmen, to provide false trails or false sightings, then its a case of the Ladnyy not being able to see the wood for the trees. Of course the Arctic Sea is a ship that doesn't want to be found before shes delivered her illegal cargo. So as VCDH point out, she will be cruising without her radar's and AIS switched on. Victory conditions for the Iranian's is for the Arctic Sea to rendevous with the Iranian freighter and be on station at her rendevous point, long enough for the transfer of missiles. Victory conditions for the Red, or Russian side is to locate and intercept the Arctic Sea, before she reaches the Iranian rendevous point. Its a pity Harpoon doesn't include the ability to board and capture ships ( 18th century style ), so it looks like the Ladnyy will have no other choice but to sink the Arctic Sea with her surface to surface missiles. Naturally we will assume that the russians have captured the ship, disarmed the pirates and transferred both pirates and crew to the Ladnny before sinking the ship.

The Hunt for The Arctic Sea Hi - I'm a new member to the forum but always been a fan of the Harpoon Classic Edition. Continued under the Harpoon Commanders Edition banner by Matrix Games. Bearing in mind players love of new scenarios - particularly those based on actual events. I'm surprised no ones mooted the idea of creating a scenario based on the mysterious events surrounding the disappearence of the russian cargo ship Arctic Sea. Supposedly taken by Pirates and for which coastguards lost communications with, when the pirates switched off all comms & satellite tracking system - when it entered the busiest shipping lane in the world - namely the English Channel. The reaction by the Russian Government in seeking out and recapturing the Artic Sea, is straight out of Tom Clancy's - The Hunt for Red October. A number of Russian naval assets were redirected in seeking out the missing freighter, including two Akula-class subs that were stationed off the US Coast. Naturally their was much press speculation as to the reasons why the Arctic Sea was hijacked by pirates and the over reaction of the Russians in sending so many naval ships in pursuit of the missing cargo ship. The most popular theory being that it was carrying russian missles to Iran,. Something the russian government has strenuously denied, saying their was no mysterious cargo aboard the cargo ship when they re-captured it off the Cape Verde Islands. Whatever the truth of the Arctic Sea incident - its ripe for a Harpoon style sea chase, incorporating a few of the consipracy theories, to liven up the sea chase. For backgound information on the Hunt for The Arctic Sea - heres my own news report on the incident: http://www.expatua.com/forum/index.php/topic,4462.0.html

The Hunt for The Arctic Sea Hi - I'm a new member to the forum but always been a fan of the Harpoon Classic Edition. Continued under the Harpoon Commanders Edition banner by Matrix Games. Bearing in mind players love of new scenarios - particularly those based on actual events. I'm surprised no ones mooted the idea of creating a scenario based on the mysterious events surrounding the disappearence of the russian cargo ship Artic Sea. Supposedly taken by Pirates and for which coastguards lost communications with, when the pirates switched off all comms & satellite tracking system - when it entered the busiest shipping lane in the world - namely the English Channel. The reaction by the Russian Government in seeking out and recapturing the Arctic Sea, is straight out of Tom Clancy's - The Hunt for Red October. A number of Russian naval assets were redirected in seeking out the missing freighter, including two Akula-class subs that were stationed off the US Coast. Naturally their was much press speculation as to the reasons why the Arctic Sea was hijacked by pirates and the over reaction of the Russians in sending so many naval ships in pursuit of the missing cargo ship. The most popular theory being that it was carrying russian missles to Iran,. Something the russian government has strenuously denied, saying their was no mysterious cargo aboard the cargo ship when they re-captured it off the Cape Verde Islands. Whatever the truth of the Arctic Sea incident - its ripe for a Harpoon style sea chase, incorporating a few of the consipracy theories, to liven up the sea chase. For backgound information on the Hunt for The Arctic Sea - heres my own news report on the incident: http://www.expatua.com/forum/index.php/topic,4462.0.html