gemerson

I fixed the airfield problem and scrubbed the orders thru Notepad before pasting it into the orders writer. It should work. Have fun.

Gopher, I just checked the scenario. All victory conditions are intact and the DB is the most current available. I designed it to be a challenge, because that's what littoral naval warfare is! If you keep ZUS back until everything else is cleared out of its path, you will loose every time. As I said in the scenestter - fortune favors the bold, but don't be stupid. Devise a plan and be deliberate in your strategy AND be deliberate in executing it. Use the available force to clear a path for the QB (ZUS) and move the "ball" down field to the end-zone. Have fun!

I'll take it, for the HUCE side of the forum!

It would seem the Indies have one-upped the ChiComs. I expect the Varyag will soon attempt a carrier landing of something (even if its just a helo), so they can save a degree of face.

Here's a press photo from IDRW.org ...

Gopher, thanks for letting me know about the airfield issue. It has been corrected and a large airfield is now in place to recieve the heavies. On the subject of the Baltic transit. Just as in football, the QB cannot remain stationary. ZUSs transit is an operational priority - the QB can remain stationary after the ball has been hiked. The Mistrals must move through the playing field, while the blockers cut a path for the transit. I checked the speed/distance calculator. ZUS can transit to the its target block in 40-hours. I won't tell you the speed, because that would give too much away. Command the field! Go forth and do well.

Rainman, thanks for the input. I will edit the file and add a larger airfielfd to greenland. Gopher, ya gott use all the units to get the job done!

Does anybody else get the feeling these excuses for defoliating forest called the 30-year ship plans are begining to mirror the old commie five-year plans that came out every year? We aren't bleeding money, we are hemorrhaging cash we don't have at an unprecedented rate. The platforms are over-priced compared to overseas builders and in some cases the workmanship is so shoddy, it makes them a freaking joke (can everyone say LCS - knew you could). It sickens me that my beloved Navy has become a bureaucratic monster I barely recognize. HG S2, thanks for the update! I just wish it would have bore happier news.

Okay, I took the long road. I guess I should have noticed the "Edit This File" button. The scenario submission process is new to me, but I'm a quick learner. Thanks Tony and broncepulido for your help. Tony, this complete new scenario contains your corrections and should work as intended. Have fun playing this scenario. BRICS-NM2 is currently in the works.

File Name: BRICS #2 - Northern Moves (Part I) File Submitter: gemerson File Submitted: 26 Jul 2012 File Updated: 15 Aug 2012 File Category: GIUK DB Used: HCDB-120522 Authors: Greg Emerson Battleset-GIUK: .scm - EC2003 - EC2003 *** Red Side Only *** Scenesetter: (Taken from “The BRICS Conflict – A Brief History of the Third World War (2016 to 2018)”) Historians argue about the affect the claims dispute over the Arctic region had in the conflagration that became known as the BRICS Conflict. As Europe’s economy melted down in the early years of the 21st century’s second decade, Russia established itself as one of the dominant economic powers in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2011, the International Monetary Fund ranked Russia as having the fifteenth strongest economy (based on its net international investment position (NIIP)). As the financial futures of Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Denmark plummeted in the crash of 2012; Russia’s ranking rose on the back of it’s petroleum revenues, al low, fixed domestic income tax and global arms sales. In a strategic move, Russia offered to bail out Denmark by paying off its entire national debt – in exchange for its claims on Greenland – an offer it couldn’t refuse. The move caused uproar in the UN with other Arctic region claimants (particularly Norway, Canada and the US). On the floor of the General Assembly President Vladimir Putin addressed the global political organization, making the solemn promise of keeping the region de-militarized (something NATO didn’t do during the Cold War). Additionally, travel along the Northwest would remain open and free. With the assembly’s approval of Russia’s acquisition, the largest land deal in recent memory occurred and the opening moves of the coming global war occurred. Russian Naval Headquarters in St. Petersburg: Fleet Admiral Mikhail Stanislav Petrovskiy was up very late, going over planning for the upcoming operation. “Misha,” the admiral thought to himself, “You can’t keep doing this.” He glanced at the clock – 0200 and out the window of his office. Although the White Night celebration was three weeks ago, there was still a considerable amount of light outside, at time of year. He picked up the intelligence reports again and cursed out loud, “Idiotic Venezuelans! What does Brazil thinks it’s doing down there!” He rubbed the stubble on his chin as he thought. The attack by Venezuela’s Navy on the forces of the US Navy and the Colombian fleet had occurred almost three weeks ago – about the same time as White Night. “Funny,” the admiral thought, “It’s interesting how things occur.” The Venezuelans were supposed to wait until the first shipments of Club-M multi-purpose missiles were delivered and placed, before launching their strike. However, authorities at higher levels must have thought differently. Because of this small change in plans, Misha was ordered to move up the schedule on Operation: Northern Moves, the BRICS bid for power in the northern reaches. Misha smiled to himself. The plan was challenging, yet beautiful and he said out loud, “Fortune favors the bold.” He didn’t know who had coined the phrase, but when he heard it years ago in Washington, DC as Naval Attaché, he loved it. It was Football, in a soccer world. He had fallen in love with the American’s sports pastime and the embassy proved excellent seat. The beer left something to be desired, but the cheerleaders on the sidelines were quite another thing! Soccer clubs could learn a thing or two from the Americans there! As he studied the sport, he saw in the various moves and plays, applications that could be applied to naval warfare. He had used his love of the sport, in planning this operation. A two-pronged and preceded by a feint to catch the opposing team off guard, then the Hail Mary pass! As he rubbed his chin, he knew the Baltic was going to be the difficult part. The Scandinavians and the breakaway republics had screamed like stuck pigs over the Mistrals. He knew there would be hell to pay, getting them into open territory for a run to the north. He knew great rewards are never cheap. Yes, Fortune was a fickle lover and she always spurned the weak at heart. With that, he picked up his pen to begin drafting the operations order. Click here to download this file

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Enjoy! Some interesting tidbits today - the Russkies do a marketing test fire of the Club missile and an interesting twist for E Med scenarios. Summary to follow ... 24 July PIRACY Somalia: Security forces in Puntland semi-autonomous region conduct massive security operations in Galkayo … four days to combat crime and conduct anti-piracy operations. (rmks: No cockaroaches (excuse me pirates) were harmed in reporting this event – blast it all) RUSSIA In a live missile firing exercise in the Caspian Sea Frigate GEPARD tested new Kalibr-NK missile against coastal target … hit 10x10m building over distance of 180 km … “first Russian warship ship fitted with this new missile system” (rmks: Land-attack capable Club/SS-N-27 variant of the 3M14TE – This will likely serve as marketing for the system) USA Pacific Partnership 2012: US Hospital ship USNS MERCY and Japanese landing ship OOSUMI complete Vietnam phase of PP12 … departed Vinh … now headed to Sihanoukville, Cambodia, for the fourth and final mission port. 25 July AUSTRALIA Customs Vessel HERVEY BAY intercepts a boat carrying a suspected 80 asylum seekers off the West Australian coast. CYPRUS (RUSSIA) Cyprus has categorically denied rumors it might be prepared to provide the Russian navy with a base. (rmks: Man, that would add a different twist to things in the E. Med! – I can see lots of scenario potential in this, much to the chagrin of both Greece and Turkey) FRANCE Mission “Jeanne d’Arc 2012”: Training squadron with helicopter carrier FS DIXMUDE and destroyer FS GEORGES LEYGUES returns to Brest, ending a 5-month training cruise. IRAN Iran will “soon” launch the production line of high-precision missiles and armed seaplanes. (rmks: The IRGC must be getting a raise in the defense budget allocation) RUSSIA Signing contract for repair of fire-damaged DELTA-IV class submarine RFS YEKATERINBURG “indefinitely delayed” … submarine already at Zvezdochka shipyard (Severodvinsk). (rmks: Likely due to bureaucratic issues and the precise amount of the kick-backs) UNITED KINGDOM The fifth of six TYPE 45 destroyers, HMS DEFENDER; arrives at Portsmouth after her passage from the Clyde and is formally handed over to the Royal Navy … commissioning “in the latter half of the year”. (rmks: I see another HUCE update in the future) 26 July INDONESIA (AUSTRALIA) Indonesian search and rescue authorities are searching for an asylum-seeker vessel reported in distress off Madura Island, northwest of Bali.… headed for Australia with 70 – 80 people.

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Enjoy! A mild kind of Wednesday. Summary to follow ... IRAN (related) South Africa’s Energy Minister has stressed determination to continue crude oil imports from Iran, despite the sanctions against Tehran … disruption of oil imports from Iran would be too costly for South Africa. (rmks: Maybe the South Africans nuke scientist can help the Iranian nuke scientists gain an appreciation for classic heavy metal (see below and: http://harpgamer.com/harpforum/index.php?s...18462&hl=)) SYRIA A Syrian navy boat opened fire at Lebanese fishing boats sailing in front of Arida coast at the Syrian-Lebanese borders. No injuries were reported in the incident. 24 July IRAN (related) Iranian nuclear (research) facilities may have been hit by another computer worm. (rmks: Hey guys, like the tunes? – Hope the President remembers to pay the band their royalty check, for helping the cause of truth, justice and the Amercian way) NIGERIA To more effectively fight insurgence, piracy and illegal fishing, President Goodluck Jonathan has approved joint patrols of the territorial waters (incl. the waterways in the Niger Delta) by the Navy, Army, Customs and Police. (rmks: This has the makings of a good scenario – stay tuned for one of my upcoming BRICS installments). PIRACY (aka, the Comics Section) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: German frigate SACHSEN sails from Wilhelmshaven to relieve frigate BREMEN in EU Navfor. +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: A fourth Estonian armed forces vessel protection team deploys on board German frigate SACHSEN to support EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta.” (rmks: Will be embarked on board UN World Food Program ships, so the UN ships will get protection and the other merch's get squat and have to fend for themselves). RUSSIA +++ Combined Northern/Baltic Fleet task force has entered the Mediterranean, passing the Strait of Gibraltar. Ships initially will proceed to an anchorage somewhere in the Alboran Sea for replenishing. (rmks: Previous Russian navy deployments saw visits to Spanish enclave of Ceuta) +++ New budget plan stipulates to increase defence spending by 25.8 percent in 2013 and another 18.2% in 2014. (rmks: Oil revenues and arms exports must have had a bumper-crop year) USA Africa Partnership Station 2012 (East): HSV-2 SWIFT has completed four-month APS East … currently in Naples (Italy) for crew change … then to sail for West Africa for new APS West mission. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS RUSSIA (27 Jul) Zelenodolsk shipyard will start construction of 5th Project 21980 GRACHONOK class patrol boat on 27 Jul.

I hope President Obama remembers to pay the royalty payment to AC/DC. Heck, I think it would be pretty cool for them to get a medal of Freedom out of the whole thing!

Thanks for the evaluations on my first excursion into HUCE scenario design. I look forward to your eval of BRICS #2 in the GUIK folder.

The whole concept sucked from the outset. The proof is in the pudding - it rancid and needs to be thrown out. Sadly, the LCS blackhole is a "sacred cow" that is sucking in more and more, funding that could be beter used in other procurement areas - like developing a surface combatant that actually works.

Here's the link on Facebook Here's an interesting hand grenade to toss into the room ... What do you think the Patron Saint of the US Navy would REALLY think of these over-priced white elephants? I personally think he would order the design team keel-hauled.

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Here's your NNSotD. Lots of interesting developments taking place. Summary to follow ... 18 July USA Aircraft carrier JOHN C. STENNIS is returning to home port Bremerton after completing COMPUTEX exercises off California. (rmks: Scheduled for early Middle East deployment in “late summer.” Something else that makes me go, Hmmmmm. I don't know about y'all but I remember basic math. (See yesterday's NNSotD) 1 + 1 = 2 Continuing to track this development) 22 July FRANCE Mission Jeanne d’Arc 2012: Training squadron with helicopter carrier DIXMUDE and destroyer GEORGES LEYGUES completes six-day interaction with Portuguese navy … incl. amphibious exercise at the Bay of Setubal (Portugal). … now heading home for Brest (25 Jul) RUSSIA Baltic Fleet STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette SOOBRAZITELNIY, landing ship ALEXANDER SHABALIN, missile corvettes GEJSER (NANUCHKA) and DIMITROVGRAD (TARANTUL-III) sail from Baltiysk for St. Petersburg / Kronshtadt … participate in parade on Navy Day, scheduled on 29 Jul on the Neva River with some 50-ships and boats to attend. 23 July AUSTRALIA (USA) COLLINS class submarine FARNCOMB has successfully sunk former US supply ship KILAUEA during a “sinkex” at Exercise RIMPAC 2012 off Hawaii … fired one Mk 48 torpedo … KILAUEA broke into two parts and sank about 40-minutes later. (rmks: Follow the Mk-48 Discussion, with video of the ex-USNS Concord, in the Current Events thread – good stuff). CANADA The RCN has begun its annual Great Lakes deployment … “home promotion tour” until 09 Oct … frigate VILLE DE QUEBEC sails from Halifax, later to be joined by MVDVs MONCTON and SUMMERSIDE. CHINA The “aviation force of the East China Sea Fleet of the PLAN” has built helicopter landing platforms for its seven units stationed on remote islands (in the South China Sea), in a bid to ensure that war materials and living supplies can be timely delivered “in exceptional circumstances”. (rmks: Once again the Chic-Coms are reacting with characteristic restraint) IRAN (related) Deputy IRGC naval commander, RAdm Alireza Tangsiri: “Common sense does not dictate that Iran would close the Strait of Hormuz, as long as it makes use of it" (rmks: Man, even a blind man can see the veiled threat there) INDIA (RUSSIA) A MiG-29KUB two-seat naval fighter jet made the first touch-and-go landings … “last week” … on the Indian Navy aircraft carrier VIKRAMADITYA (former ADMIRAL GORSHKOV) … currently undergoing sea trials in the Barents Sea. (rmks: Whoa, the thing actually got underway! Well, their one-up on the Chi-Coms. The Indies are actually up to the point of conducting T&Gs) PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces: Romanian frigate REGELE FERDINAND conducts training preparing for upcoming deployment with EU NavFor in support of operation “Atalanta”. (rmks: And the cockaroches (excuse me the pirates) are quaking with fear (not)) RUSSIA +++ Admiralty Shipyard has begun sea trials of new scientific and expedition vessel AKADEMIK TRESHNIKOV … built for the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet) … spent 11-days in the Gulf of Finland near the island of Hogland. (rmks: The first trials were initially scheduled in April, then rescheduled toMay, then silence … it looks like they are now on again) +++ BUYAN class corvette (“small artillery ship”) VOLGODONSK formally introduced in the Caspian Sea Flotilla. (rmks: A Caspian Sea scenario might be a nice diversion sometime. Gives me something to think about) UKRAINE +++ Refurbished FOXTROT class submarine ZAPOROSHIYE completed another series of sea trials which included first diving. +++ Trilateral Ukraine-Russia-Belorussia exercise “Slavic Commonwealth 2012” started … conducted off Odessa (Ukraine) until 27 Jul … “peace keeping tasks in a joint battalion in a conflict zone” … include amphibious operations / airborne landings … Russian ALLIGATOR class landing ship SARATOV carried troops and vehicles from Novorossiysk to training area. USA Update fire on board submarine MIAMI (23 May): A civilian shipyard worker has been arrested and charged with arson … details of how the fire was started and other matters of evidence are not being released. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS USA (28 Jul) Ingalls Shipbuilding on 28 Jul will christen SAN ANTONIO class dock landing ship LPD 25 SOMERSET. (rmks: Another add to the DB) SOUTH KOREA – USA (20 Aug) Bilateral exercise “Ulchi Freedom Guardian” scheduled from 20-31 Aug … traditionally largely computer-based … will involve many of the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in the South, as well as some 3,000 from abroad, but there will be no field training. (rmks: We wouldn't want to upset the Commies on the northern half of the penninsula)

Perception and perspective is everything. Good point!

Yep, just like that. Talk about something that would ruin your whole day!

From the video, the Concord took the shot in the bow, as the fish was likely set for impact. Normally, against more heavily armed target the Mk-48 is capable of blowing the water out from underneath the target. On a Frigate, DD or Cruiser this destabilization would break the ship's back. The fish has a magnetic proximity sensor that would detect when it is under the keel. I remember seeing training reels in my active duty days of tests against some of the older tin-cans. Pretty impressive stuff.

Although it was VERY fortunate, as shown in the analysis of the article. The INS Hanit incident shows the lack of EW capability the Israeli Navy is currently working to overcome. Any new surface combatants built by the HHHY will be equipted with a suite that will likely feature RheinMetall's MASS system or another comparable, small yet flexible system to counter a wide range of missile threats.

Touche!

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum (http://www.marineforum.info/html/daily_news.html), with additional information from Naval Today (http://navaltoday.com/) and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog (http://nosint.blogspot.com/). The commentary is my own. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 20 July INDIA The Indian coast guard commissions pollution control vessel SAMUDRA PAHEREDAR, the second of the series of three 4,300-tons (95m) ships built by M/s ABG Shipyard … will be based at Visakhapatnam. (rmks: The Saryu class is also being manufactured for export to Sri Lanka and they are currently being fabricated at Goa Shipyard) IRAN (related) About half of the 290 members of Iran’s parliament reportedly backing a bill favoring the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Traders who buy crude for European refineries say they are getting daily calls from obscure private companies offering Iranian crude, sometimes accompanied by the promise of fake paperwork to disguise it as oil from a different origin. China will continue as Iran's top oil buyer … load full contracted volumes of Iranian oil in July … At about 520,000 barrels per day (bpd), China would account for around half of Iran's total July exports. (rmks: Me thinks something may be about to happen) RUSSIA Ships of Northern Fleet, Baltic Fleet and Black Sea Fleet are to rendezvous in the Mediterranean “in early August” for exercises … also in the Black Sea. (rmks: This is very interesting. I think the last time this occurred was during the bad old days of the Cold War) UNITED KINGDOM US Lockheed Martin has delivered a first F35-B Lightning II STOVL aircraft to the UK … to be tested by both Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. (rmks: It will be interesting to see if it can actually fly after all the money that has been dumped into the program) 21 July AUSTRALIA +++ A boat carrying 144 suspected asylum seekers has been intercepted by patrol boat GLENELG and ACV TRITON northeast of Christmas Island after it sought assistance. +++ (INDONESIA) The Indonesian navy has begun deploying ships to the country's southern waters in efforts to stem the flow of asylum seekers to Australia. INDIA During a ceremony at Mazagon Dockyards, Mumbai, the Indian navy commissions its third SHIVALIK class frigate, INS SAHYADRI. (rmks: The milestone is several years behind schedule for the program, thus showing the condition of India naval shipbuilding infrastructure) SRI LANKA (AUSTRALIA) A Sri Lanka navy patrol boat intercepted another trawler illegally headed for Australia with 53 persons onboard. (rmks: Man, that would be a long haul) SYRIA (related) Russian “sources” claim arms ship ALAED has offloaded three Syrian Mi-25 Hind combat helicopters at the Baltic Fleet main naval base Baltiysk … postponing delivery until “after the situation in the country stabilizes” UNITED KINGDOM A “plan” preferred by Lib Dem coalition partner reportedly would see nuclear warheads fired from existing ASTUTE submarines, eliminating the need to replace the VANGUARD class nuclear boats. (rmks: Troubles on the horizon forecasted with the RN SSBN Successor program. Don't these guys know that would be a violation of one of the previous Start treaties? Back in the late-80's we signed a treaty removing all of our sub-launched tac nukes from the inventory. The Russkies are going to scream like stuck pigs over this one, if if comes to pass) 22 July CHINA China plans to establish a military garrison in the disputed Sansha islands in the South China Sea … giving Sansha a “city” status. (rmks: Hopefully their navigation skills will improve around this rock) IRAN (related) A senior Iranian legislator voiced Iran's preparedness to provide insurance cover for all foreign ships and oil tankers carrying Iranian crude oil. Saudi Arabia has deployed more troops in its eastern province and cancelled some military leave. (rmks: Leave cancellations is never a good sign) SYRIA (related) A British Royal Navy task force with helicopter carrier ILLUSTRIOUS and dock landing ship BULWARK, reportedly preparing contingency plans for a mass evacuation of British citizens from Syria and neighboring countries … task force has been scheduled (for some time) for large scale exercises in the Mediterranean (with amphibious landings in Sardinia, Albania and Turkey) … in October … together with French CHARLES DE GAULLE aircraft carrier group. (rmks: This will likely occur after the Olympics, as the RNs dwendling naval air assets are being tasked with providing security for the summer games) USA Aircraft carrier ABRAHAM LINCOLN has completed her visit to Antalya (Turkey) and resumed transit back to the US. (rmks: That would be an interesting liberty port) 23 July AUSTRALIA Patrol boat BROOM intercepts a vessel carrying 123 people off Christmas Island … another boat carrying 36 people found near the Cocos Islands … more than 1200 people have arrived on boats so far this month. PIRACY (aka, the funnies) Anti-Piracy Forces: Chinese navy 11th and 12th anti-piracy task groups have completed handover in the Gulf of Aden … 11th group departing operations area and “embark on a goodwill visit” (rmks: The pirates breathe a sigh of relief (not). No pirates were injured in reporting this piece of news – drat)