CV32

From DefenseNews [excerpt] Link to the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) report here (PDF)

Ah, that makes sense. Thanks. Doesn't look they've tossed the rocket yet. You're not alone. Micro satellite class. Iran claims it is a high resolution imaging satellite intended to stay in LEO for 1.5 years. Yep, sure.

Any news of what she is doing in the Gulf?

Another method is to give the player fewer assets or assets of lesser quality than he might ordinarily want to bring to bear.

Most recent game components are here.

You determine the total maximum duration of the scenario in the Scenario Editors, whether several hours or days. You can - to a certain extent - determine what actions the AI will take (e.g. launch an air strike on a player's airfield) and when (e.g. eight hours after game start). There are other actions that the AI will take of its own accord (e.g. launch an air strike on a newly discovered player controlled ship). Yes. With the above comments in mind, you do try and script a timeline for what the AI will do and when.

I would say that depends on who you are asking. I've said before on these forums that I don't think this carrier was ever intended to threaten US naval supremacy in WestPac. Given the fledgling status of Chinese naval aviation, it would be nonsensical to think so. What it does represent is a starting point for them. Too many people focus on the 'US vs China' scenario, skipping over or failing to acknowledge the import of the role that this carrier (and the carriers to come) could potentially play against regional actors. The recent spat with the Philippines comes to mind. Even without an air wing available, this ship can pose a serious threat to smaller players. Throw a force of helicopters aboard, for example, and suddenly you can put airpower over the rocks that are the Spratlys.

A recent pic of the ex Varyag, via Christopher Irvine on the Old Pooners Facebook page (and originally from the Sino Defence forums, apparently).

Subs still don't snorkel.

Thanks, Enrique. I noticed this error this morning while exporting the new version of the HCDB. It has since been resolved and I have replaced the file with what will now be HCCW-120522.

HCDB-120522 Aircraft: AH-1E Cobra - Bahrain AH-1F Cobra - South Korea AH.1G Cobra Z.14 - Spain AH-1J Sea Cobra - Iran AH-1S Cobra (92) - Japan C-1 - Japan C-2 - Japan C-17ER Globemaster III - USA C-47 Skytrain - Intl Canberra B(I) Mk12 - South Africa CC-177 Globemaster III - Canada CH-47J Chinook - Japan CH-47JA Chinook - Japan Cheetah E - South Africa E-2C Hawkeye 2000 - Japan E-2C Hawkeye Grp 0 - Japan E-767 RSIP - Japan F-1 (1983) - Japan F-1 (1994) - Japan Gulfstream V - Japan HSS-2 Sea King - Japan HSS-2A Sea King - Japan HSS-2B Sea King (80) - Japan HSS-2B Sea King (88) - Japan Impala Mk I - South Africa Impala Mk II - South Africa J-11A - China J-11B - China King Air B200T - Japan KV-107II-3 - Japan KV-107II-4 - Japan KV-107II-5 - Japan Lynx AH.1 - UK Lynx AH.1(TOW) - UK Lynx AH.7 - UK Lynx AH.7(TOW) - UK Lynx AH.9 - UK Lynx HAS.2 - UK Magister - Belgium Magister - Ireland MH-53E Sea Dragon - Japan MiG-21bis Fishbed L - Bulgaria MiG-21bis Fishbed N - Bulgaria MiG-21M Fishbed J - Bulgaria MiG-21MF Fishbed J - Bulgaria MiG-21MFR Fishbed J - Bulgaria Mirage F1AZ - South Africa Mirage F1CZ - South Africa Mirage IIICZ - South Africa Mirage IIIEE - Spain Mirage IIIEZ - South Africa Mirage IIIRZ - South Africa Mirage IIIR2Z - South Africa MQ-1C Gray Eagle - USA OH-6D - Japan OH-6J - Japan P-1 - Japan P-3C Update II - Japan Peace Peek (80) - FRG Peace Peek (84) - FRG Phantom FG.1 - UK PS-1 - Japan S-2A Tracker - Japan S-2E Tracker - South Korea S-2E Tracker - Turkey S-2F Tracker - Thailand S-2G Tracker - Australia Scout AH.1 - UK Sea King HAS.2 - UK Shackleton MR.3 - South Africa Su-11 Fishpot C - USSR Su-24 Fencer A - USSR Su-24 Fencer B - USSR Su-24 Fencer C - USSR Su-27SKM Flanker C - Indonesia Super Lynx Mk64 - South Africa Super Lynx Mk100 - Malaysia Super Lynx Mk110 - Thailand Super Lynx Mk120 - Oman Tristar C.1 - UK Tristar K.1 - UK Tu-126 Moss - USSR U-4 - Japan U-125A - Japan UH-1J - Japan UH-60J - Japan UH-60JA - Japan US-1A - Japan US-2 - Japan VC.10 C.1 - UK VC.10 C.1K - UK VC.10 K.2 - UK VC.10 K.3 - UK VC.10 K.4 - UK Victor K.2 - UK YS-11A - Japan YS-11EB - Japan YS-11EL - Japan YS-11P - Japan

A new version of the official Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) Database (HCDB-120522) is now available. Get the new DB in the Downloads section. New additions (or overhauls of existing entries) include: Aircraft: AH-1E Cobra - Bahrain AH-1F Cobra - South Korea AH.1G Cobra Z.14 - Spain AH-1J Sea Cobra - Iran AH-1S Cobra (92) - Japan C-1 - Japan C-2 - Japan C-17ER Globemaster III - USA C-47 Skytrain - Intl Canberra B(I) Mk12 - South Africa CC-177 Globemaster III - Canada CH-47J Chinook - Japan CH-47JA Chinook - Japan Cheetah E - South Africa E-2C Hawkeye 2000 - Japan E-2C Hawkeye Grp 0 - Japan E-767 RSIP - Japan F-1 (1983) - Japan F-1 (1994) - Japan Gulfstream V - Japan HSS-2 Sea King - Japan HSS-2A Sea King - Japan HSS-2B Sea King (80) - Japan HSS-2B Sea King (88) - Japan Impala Mk I - South Africa Impala Mk II - South Africa J-11A - China J-11B - China King Air B200T - Japan KV-107II-3 - Japan KV-107II-4 - Japan KV-107II-5 - Japan Lynx AH.1 - UK Lynx AH.1(TOW) - UK Lynx AH.7 - UK Lynx AH.7(TOW) - UK Lynx AH.9 - UK Lynx HAS.2 - UK Magister - Belgium Magister - Ireland MH-53E Sea Dragon - Japan MiG-21bis Fishbed L - Bulgaria MiG-21bis Fishbed N - Bulgaria MiG-21M Fishbed J - Bulgaria MiG-21MF Fishbed J - Bulgaria MiG-21MFR Fishbed J - Bulgaria Mirage F1AZ - South Africa Mirage F1CZ - South Africa Mirage IIICZ - South Africa Mirage IIIEE - Spain Mirage IIIEZ - South Africa Mirage IIIRZ - South Africa Mirage IIIR2Z - South Africa MQ-1C Gray Eagle - USA OH-6D - Japan OH-6J - Japan P-1 - Japan P-3C Update II - Japan Peace Peek (80) - FRG Peace Peek (84) - FRG Phantom FG.1 - UK PS-1 - Japan S-2A Tracker - Japan S-2E Tracker - South Korea S-2E Tracker - Turkey S-2F Tracker - Thailand S-2G Tracker - Australia Scout AH.1 - UK Sea King HAS.2 - UK Shackleton MR.3 - South Africa Su-11 Fishpot C - USSR Su-24 Fencer A - USSR Su-24 Fencer B - USSR Su-24 Fencer C - USSR Su-27SKM Flanker C - Indonesia Super Lynx Mk64 - South Africa Super Lynx Mk100 - Malaysia Super Lynx Mk110 - Thailand Super Lynx Mk120 - Oman Tristar C.1 - UK Tristar K.1 - UK Tu-126 Moss - USSR U-4 - Japan U-125A - Japan UH-1J - Japan UH-60J - Japan UH-60JA - Japan US-1A - Japan US-2 - Japan VC.10 C.1 - UK VC.10 C.1K - UK VC.10 K.2 - UK VC.10 K.3 - UK VC.10 K.4 - UK Victor K.2 - UK YS-11A - Japan YS-11EB - Japan YS-11EL - Japan YS-11P - Japan Enjoy.

After Action Report for 'Running on Empty' A scenario by Clemens 'Running on Empty' is a new HCE scenario for the Westpac battleset. I played the scenario from the BLUE side using GE Build 2009.064 and the HCDB database. Scenario Background Orders I am in charge of a large formation of ships (32 in all) comprised of roughly half warships and half commercial shipping (mostly oil tankers and LNG (liquid natural gas) carriers). All but one of the warships (the Bunker Hill class cruiser USS Chosin) belong to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), including the new 'carrier' Shirane. Having just cleared the Malacca Straits, the group must now make the perilous journey to Tokyo, some 3,000 nautical miles distant. With People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships largely undergoing supply, the threat is considered to be mainly aircraft from the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and PLAN Air Force (PLANAF) and - perhaps worse - submarines. The threat is considered extreme. What Happened In the face of the threat, I had fair numbers of aircraft (including a sizeable air wing aboard Shirane and her escorts) arrayed at airfields at the old (reclaimed) Clark AFB in the Philippines; Naha in Okinawa; Tokyo; and at the distant outpost at Andersen AFB, Guam. Some of these were the cream of the crop, including F-22A Raptor, B-1B Lancer, EA-18G Growler, F-35A/B JSF and F-15, as well as ample numbers of airborne early warning (AEW), maritime patrol and electronic intelligence (ELINT) assets. The Chinese attacked almost immediately, with an attempt to pummel my closest airfields with a mixture of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, followed up by standoff precision guided munitions. The air battle was fast and furious, but I managed to stave them off. My biggest fear - beyond having my forward airfields put of action early - was enemy discovery of the rather isolated and vulnerable naval group. It didn't take long for those fears to be realized. Somewhere off the Anambas Islands, I came under a submarine launched cruise missile attack. By surprise, of course, as they almost always are. The supertanker Norbay was struck by an SS-N-27 Sizzler missile, inflicting serious damage and slowing her to just 8 knots. Friendly helicopters soon localized and eliminated the threat, a Chinese Project 636 (NATO Kilo II) class sub, but the damage was done. With the better part of the 3,000 mile journey still facing me, I could not afford to saunter along at 8 knots. The tanker Norbay was cut loose and left to her own fate, and the rest of the group pushed on. I didn't get far. Probing the waters ahead, a minefield was discovered in the chokepoint off the Natuna Islands. It would have to be cleared. Fortunately, a contingent of Japanese MCH-101 helicopters made the task tedious but not impossible. Despite early exposure to enemy attack, the Chinese air forces seemed hampered by the sheer distances involved. They could not project power enough from their own shores to seriously threaten my ships. At least not until I got closer. Perhaps beyond the Spratly archipelago. I therefore had breathing room. Time to get my act together, and take the fight to the enemy before my ships were forced by geography to come within lethal range. First order of business: Destroy the Chinese outpost in the Spratlys and thereby deny the enemy its first, best opportunity to rediscover my naval group and launch concerted attacks on it. The EA-18G Growlers and MALD (Miniature Air Launched Decoy) equipped F-16s proved their value here, keeping enemy forces occupied while SEAD/DEAD (suppression/destruction of enemy air defenses) weapons did their work. Next up, Guangzhou East. And that is how it went. Shifting my best, most capable assets into a position where they could exert the greatest possible force against enemy strongpoints - one at a time. One component at a time, I dismantled the Chinese air threat. I had out maritime patrol and ASW aircraft out on long distance missions, sniffing for enemy subs, but the oceans were so vast that any encounter was almost purely by chance. By the time my ships had approached the coast of Brunei, the entire enemy shore based infrastructure (four airfields and over 600 aircraft) had been razed. Now it seemed to be simply a matter of bringing as many ships as possible safely through the subsurface threat and eventually - hopefully - to Tokyo. Japanese submarines - despite being conventionally powered - proved invaluable here. Time after time they were able to detect Chinese submarines at range (typically 28,000 yards) and either engage and kill them on their own, or call in friendly air (P-3 Orion or P-8 Poseidon) to do the job. The sub vs sub action was especially hot in the chokepoints. Such as, for example, in the Bashi Channel. Here the Soryu class sub Unryu battled another PLAN Kilo II. Successfully, but not without being forced to evade a hostile torpedo. This was also where the Chicoms decided to lay another minefield. It was a large one, and took some time to clear, even with the help of minesweeping assets. Once this minefield had been cleared, my ships shuttled through and onward past Okinawa, the remainder of the journey was uneventful. The task group, and every ship except Norbay, which was still creeping forward slowly, pulled into Tokyo Bay with 2 days 22 hours to go. Comments I did not trigger any victory conditions, presumably because of the absence of Norbay, but I had essentially annihilated the Chinese force with the loss of just five aircraft. (Most of these were P-3 or EP-3 types that I had been using to snoop along the periphery of enemy airspace). Thanks for taking the time to put the scenario together, Clemens. It was a good bit of fun.

Done!

From Flight Global [excerpt]

From RIA Novosti [excerpt] CV32: The Ivan Gren class already appears in the HCDB.

A new version of the Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) 'Cold War' Database (HCCW-120522) is now available. Get it in the Downloads section of the HarpGamer website. New additions include: Installations: Al Bakr - Iraq Al Kut - Iraq Al Taqaddum - Iraq Bandar Abbas - Iran Batajnica - Yugoslavia Bihac - Yugoslavia Bushehr - Iran Cheshnegirovo - Bulgaria Dobroslavtsi - Bulgaria Dolna Mitropolia - Bulgaria Dubendorf - Switzerland Gabrovnitza - Bulgaria Hyakuri - Japan Kirkuk - Iraq Komatsu - Japan Mehrabad - Iran Meiringen - Switzerland Nyutabaru - Japan Omidiyeh - Iran Payerne - Switzerland Ravnets - Bulgaria Shtraklevo - Bulgaria Sion - Switzerland Sofia Vrazhdebna - Bulgaria Stan-Buochs - Switzerland Stara Zagora - Bulgaria Tabriz - Iran Tolbukhub - Bulgaria Uzundzhovo - Bulgaria Aircraft: A-1G Skyraider - USA A-1G Skyraider - Vietnam, South A-1H Skyraider - USA A-1H Skyraider - Vietnam, South A-1J Skyraider - USA A32A1 Lansen (56) - Sweden A32A1 Lansen (62) - Sweden A32A2 Lansen (56) - Sweden A32A2 Lansen (62) - Sweden A-37B Dragonfly - Columbia AH-1J Sea Cobra - Iran AJ37 Viggen - Sweden An-2 Colt A - Iraq An-12BP Cub A - Iraq An-26 Curl A - Iraq Attacker Type 538 - Pakistan B-57B Canberra - Pakistan B-57B1 Canberra - USA B-57B2 Canberra - USA B-57G Canberra - USA Be-6 Madge - China Be-6 Madge - USSR Bell 214A - Iran Boeing 707-3J9C - Iran Boeing 707 Ibex - Iran C-1 - Japan C-47 Skytrain - Belgium C-119G Flying Boxcar - Belgium C-130B Hercules - Iran C-130E Hercules - Iran C-130H Hercules - Belgium C-130H Hercules - Iran C-130H (T.10) - Spain C-212A (T.12B) - Spain CF-100 Canuck Mk5 - Belgium CH-47C Chinook - Iran CH-47C (HT.17) - Spain Chetak - India CL-13B Sabre Mk 6 - Canada CL-13B Sabre Mk 6 - Colombia CL-13B Sabre Mk 6 - FRG CL-13B Sabre Mk 6 - Pakistan Etendard IVM - France Etendard IVP - France F-4C (C.12) - Spain F-4D Phantom II - Iran F-4E Phantom II - Iran F-5E/F Tiger II - Iran F-6C Farmer C - Pakistan F-8E(FN) Crusader - France F27-400M Troopship - Iran F27-600 - Iran F-80C Shooting Star - Columbia F-84F Thunderstreak - Belgium F-84G Thunderjet - Belgium F-84G Thunderjet - Iran F-84G Thunderjet - Yugoslavia F-86D Sabre Dog - Japan F-86D Sabre Dog - Yugoslavia F-86E - Yugoslavia F-86F Sabre - Iran F-86F Sabre - Japan F-86F Sabre - Pakistan F-86K - France F-104A Starfighter - Pakistan G-2A Galeb - Yugoslavia Gnat - India Gnat Mk 1 - Finland H-5 Beagle - China H-6 Badger - China H-6A Badger - China HI-42 Hera (SA.341H) - Yugoslavia Hkp 3 - Sweden Hkp 4A - Sweden Hkp 4B - Sweden Hkp 4C - Sweden Hkp 6A - Sweden Hkp 6B - Sweden HO-42 (SA.341H) - Yugoslavia HS-42 (SA.341H) - Yugoslavia HSS-1N Seabat - Japan HT-40 (Mi-8T) - Yugoslavia Hughes 500 - Columbia Hunter F.6 - Iraq Hunter FGA.59 - Iraq Hunter FR.10 - Iraq Hunter Mk 58 - Switzerland Hunter Mk 58A - Switzerland IF-86D - Yugoslavia IJ-21 Jastreb - Yugoslavia J-5 Fresco C - China J-5A Fresco D - China J-6 Farmer B - China J-6B Farmer B - China J-6C Farmer C - China J-7 Fishbed C - China J-7I Fishbed C - China J-20 Kraguj - Yugoslavia J-21 Jastreb - Yugoslavia J29A Tunnan - Sweden J29B Tunnan - Sweden J29F Tunnan - Sweden J32B1 Lansen - Sweden J32B2 Lansen - Sweden J32E Lansen - Sweden J33 Venom - Sweden KV-107II-3 - Japan KV-107II-4 - Japan KV-107II-5 - Japan L-1049G Super Constellation - India Lim-5 (MiG-17F) - Bulgaria Mi-2T Hoplite - Bulgaria Mi-4 Hound A - Bulgaria Mi-4 Hound A - Yugoslavia Mi-4M Hound - Bulgaria Mi-8T Hip C - Bulgaria Mi-8T Hip C - Iraq MiG-15bis Fagot B - Bulgaria MiG-15bisR Fagot - Bulgaria MiG-17F Fresco C - Bulgaria MiG-17PF Fresco D - Bulgaria MiG-17PF Fresco D - Iraq MiG-19P Farmer B - Bulgaria MiG-19PM Farmer D - Bulgaria MiG-19S Farmer C - Bulgaria MiG-19S Farmer C - Iraq MiG-21F Fishbed C - Iraq MiG-21F-13 Fishbed C - Bulgaria MiG-21F-13 Fishbed C - Yugoslavia MiG-21M Fishbed J - Bulgaria MiG-21M Fishbed J - Yugoslavia MiG-21MF Fishbed J - Bulgaria MiG-21MF Fishbed J - Iraq MiG-21MF Fishbed J - Yugoslavia MiG-21PF Fishbed D - Bulgaria MiG-21PF Fishbed D - Iraq MiG-21PFM Fishbed F - Bulgaria MiG-21PFM Fishbed F - Yugoslavia MiG-21R Fishbed H - Bulgaria MiG-21R Fishbed H - Yugoslavia Mirage 5BA - Belgium Mirage 5BR - Belgium Mirage 5COA - Columbia Mirage 5COR - Columbia Mirage 5F - France Mirage 5PA - Pakistan Mirage 5PA2 - Pakistan Mirage F.1C (73/1) - France Mirage F.1C (73/2) - France Mirage IIIC - France Mirage IIIE - France Mirage IIIEP - Pakistan Mirage IIIR - France Mirage IIIRD - France Mirage IIIRP - Pakistan Mirage IIIRS - Switzerland Mirage IIIS - Switzerland Mirage IVA - France Mirage IVR - France Mystere IVA - France Nord 262 - France OH-6J - Japan P-2J Neptune - Japan P2V-7 Neptune - Japan P-3F Orion - Iran PS-1 - Japan Q-5 Fantan - China QH-50C DASH - Japan RB-57A Canberra - USA RB-57A-1 Heart Throb - USA RB-57D Grp A - Taiwan RB-57D Grp A - USA RB-57D Grp B - USA RB-57D-2 Grp D - USA RB-57E Patricia Lynn - USA RB-57F - Pakistan RB-57F - USA RF-84F Thunderflash - Belgium RF-86F Sabre - Japan S-2A Tracker - Japan S29C1 Tunnan - Sweden S29C2 Tunnan - Sweden S32C Lansen - Sweden SA.313B Alouette II - Switzerland SA.316B Alouette III - Switzerland SA.316C Alouette III - Belgium SA.318C Alouette II - Belgium SA.319B Alouette III - France (Navy) SA.319B Alouette III - France (Army) Sea King Mk42 - India SH-34G Seabat - Belgium SH37 Viggen - Sweden Super Mystere B.2 - France Tp84 (C-130E) - Sweden Tp84 (C-130H) - Sweden Tu-16KSR-2-11 Badger G - Iraq Tu-22B Blinder A - Iraq UH-1B Iroquois - Japan UH-1H Iroquois - Japan Venom FB.1 - UK Venom FB.4 - UK Venom Mk 1 - Switzerland Venom Mk 3 - Switzerland Venom NF.2 - UK Venom NF.3 - UK YS-11 - Japan YS-11A - Japan Ships/MLUs: TEL DF-2A Bty - China TEL Pluton Bty - France Enjoy.

I'm going to guess 24 knots.

I expected you did, since you named their publication. But others might not. Publications from think tanks (like RAND) would be the first place I would look. Stratfor, for example, is another excellent source of material.

Sources of Conflict was a publication of the RAND Corporation. RAND and similar policy/research organization regularly produce articles and papers like this. A lot of the material is readily searchable online.

From Defense Aerospace [excerpt] Very impressive!

From RIA Novosti [excerpt]

From Wired's Danger Room blog [excerpt]

From Flight Global [excerpt]

From Flight Global [excerpt]