CV32

Two curious AI behaviours that I have noticed repeatedly: 1. Scenario: Cruising along in a US Navy SSN (in this case, a late model Los Angeles aka San Juan class) at 14 knots. Detect a submarine contact ahead at >20 nautical miles that is soon classified as a Russkie Victor III cruising at similar speed on an apparent intercept course. I assume at this point that I was detected first, and so I immediately slow to creep speed (5 knots) and change depth. The Vic III matches the depth change. Presumably my signature has soon faded, but the pattern continues to repeat itself. While creeping, I change depth. The Vic III does likewise. Over and over again. Both are passive the entire time. 2. Scenario: Following an exchange of BVR air to air missiles, my fighters turn for home. I am pursued by the enemy. When I go to high altitude, and afterburner, the enemy goes low and military speed. When I go back to cruise speed, he climbs and turns on the burner. I can typically hold him at bay by repeating this pattern, and he can never close the distance.

More proof positive of a longstanding maxim (to which I subscribe) that torpedo defence is still tougher than missile defence in the naval arena.

DOT&E delivers another scathing report on F-35 progress (Flight Global)

Thanks for sharing the experience and I am looking forward to your summary.

Hoping your 2019 is a good one.

Welcome to Fight Club: Wargaming the Future (War on the Rocks)

Navy To Begin Arming Subs With Ship-Killer Missile (Breaking Defense)

AIP was the original plan, but fell flat while lead boat Sankt-Peterburg (B-858) was still under construction. We shall see whether they make the re-attempt later in the building program.

Russian Navy to acquire 12 new Lada-class submarines (Jane's)

Can Russia’s Pantsir Air-Defense System Handle Drone Swarms? (War is Boring)

Looks like Russia had transferred six or seven new patrol vessels to the Sea of Azov, from the Northern and Baltic Fleets, in early November. Including Project 22460 class patrol ships of the type involved in this incident. https://www.blackseanews.net/read/146050

The Russian vessels appear to have included Project 22460 (Rubin or Okhotnik) class Izumrud and Project 745P (Sorum) class tug Don, among others. Russian Su-25s and Ka-25s also showed up, though it doesn't appear these were involved in any shooting.

I generally do, but this one pops up now and then (it does seem to be more prevalent with air to air missiles than with SAMs), it is an exercise in frustration. I would have expected this one to have been tackled long ago, but bugs can be persistent little beasts.

As I said earlier in the thread, that didn't work so well. Frankly I am surprised this issue has persisted from the time I picked up the game. Because it otherwise looks like issues are usually well addressed.

Terrain masking, or rather the lack thereof, continues to be a weak point in this game. An F/A-18 flying at 100 feet AGL behind a 2,000 foot fjord wall should not be capable of being tracked and engaged by a MiG-31 flying at 37,000 feet at a distance of 39 nm away. The geometries just do not work.

Looking forward to that.

IIRC a few in the region have gone up like that.

Russia Launches New Diesel-Electric Attack Submarine (The Diplomat) The second Project 677 (NATO Lada) class sub.