CV32

File Name: HCE Databases Image Files Spreadsheet File Submitter: CV32 File Submitted: 2 May 2011 File Category: Tools/Mods/Docs Authors: Anthony Eischens A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet for organizing: 1. Image files sourced elsewhere. 2. Matching them with the commondb.rsr "PicID" and "res***.bmp" format. 3. Who sourced the image file and when. 4. What DB platform is represented by the image file. 5. Author of the image. 6. Licensing/intellectual property. 7. Original and high res (if applicable) URL locations. Click here to download this file

Yeah, I'll do that for the next version.

From Army Times [excerpt]

I'll accommodate these, and toss in the RF35 reconnaissance variant of the Draken, but folks need to stay cognizant of the fact that we are scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to the Loadouts annex. (I know I sound like a broken record on this, but its true). There had better be a scenario for us coming out of this!

I've been waiting for folks to further flesh out "how it used to be" before passing comment. I missed the whole HOL experience.

April 2003 .. wow, time has really flown. Feels like we've been supercruisin.

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

Over a busy battlefield with lots of high caliber threats and with plenty of support, yes, I think the F-35 will probably fare pretty well against most opponents. But for the role needed here, in Canada, as an air superiority fighter where the airfields are between 650 nm (Bagotville) and 1,200 nm (Cold Lake) from the border, the JSF does not shine as bright. A single-engine fighter with limited internal payload, and heavy emphasis on stealth at exorbitant acquisition/maintenance cost, doesn't match the requirement to my mind. Sure, you can throw more weapons and fuel tanks on it, but then stealth goes out the window. So what are paying all that money for again, exactly? And, yes, when the Canadian Forces are sent overseas, we do want them to have good equipment. But, face it, we are unlikely to be leading the charge into a high threat battlefield with double and triple-digit SAMs and various flavours of Flanker. So, again, I have to wonder about whether the money is being well spent on JSF at a time when there are many competing priorities.

The sonar modifiers no longer play any role. You can safely ignore them.

With the new version uploaded today, I am a little more than half way through this bit of work. Should be complete in the next iteration.

Lots of great pics of modern aircraft and a few warbirds too, at this Ares link.

HCDB-110427 Aircraft: Shachaf (1124N/08) - Israel Voyager - UK Ships: Independence ASW FFL - USA Independence SUW FFL - USA Invincible (82) CVH - UK Invincible (83) CVH - UK Submarines: Alvin SS - USA Hai Ji SS - China Nautile SS - France NR-1 SSAN - USA Pisces SS - USA Shinkai 6500 - Japan

A new version of the official Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) Database (HCDB-110427) is now available. Get the new DB in the Downloads section. New additions (or overhauls of existing entries) include: Aircraft: Shachaf (1124N/08) - Israel Voyager - UK Ships: Independence ASW FFL - USA Independence SUW FFL - USA Invincible (82) CVH - UK Invincible (83) CVH - UK Submarines: Alvin SS - USA Hai Ji SS - China Nautile SS - France NR-1 SSAN - USA Pisces SS - USA Shinkai 6500 SS - Japan Enjoy.

From Flight Global [excerpt]

From Flight Global [excerpt] CV32: We have an election looming here in Canada in less than a week, and the planned purchase of 65x F-35A is one of the more controversial issues dogging the campaign. And while I am Conservative to my very bone marrow, I will say that the Conservatives are wrong on this issue in that: (1) the requirement was written for the F-35, rather than a requirement being written and then candidates sought to meet it; (2) that the only 'competition' was undertaken in the USA, between LM and Boeing over who would build JSF, and had nothing to do with what platform would replace the CF-18; (3) the F-35 is not the only aircraft that might meet our needs (in fact, I don't think its terribly suitable at all); (4) the F-35 will undoubtedly cost much, much more to acquire and much, much more to maintain than is being claimed. All of that said, I do think the Conservatives have their hearts and heads in the right place about trying to give our Canadian Forces the best possible equipment, and imho, we cannot count on Taliban Jack or Count Iggy to do the same. End rant.

Nag, nag, nag. Okay, I'll add 1982 and 1983 flavours of the HMS Invincible.

More at Global Times Note as well the dismissal of the rumored J-18.

The Chinese don't even bother being subtle with the copying, do they.

Just a little story arising from taking a certain HCE demo scenario for a spin ... HMS Oberon and HMS Odin patrolling some 200 nautical miles west of enemy occupied Bodo, tasked with the priority mission of acting as a roving ambush for surging Soviet submarines that might try to slip down the coast of Norway. Secondary task of potentially interdicting a powerful Soviet surface action group reported to be heading south. Patrolling about 10 nm apart, Oberon suddenly loses contact with sister boat Odin. Soviet maritime patrol aircraft are known to have forward deployed to Bodo, their radar emissions having been picked up a Nimrod patrolling far to the north, snooping on that Soviet SAG. Could one of these - maybe a Be-12 Mail - been the culprit? Some time later, a passive sonar contact to the east. Submarine. Maybe 16,000 yards. Within half an hour, the contact is classified as a Project 641B (NATO codename 'Tango') diesel-electric. But he must be creeping, still can't get a firm fix. Oberon creeps east at 5 knots. The range to contact falls ever so slowly, the bearing changing more slowly still. Finally, at 8,000 yards, the contact firms up. A Tango alright, moving at 5 knots below the layer, heading north. Oberon slows to steerage speed (3 knots) and slips above the layer. Two Tigerfish wire guided torpedoes are readied in their tubes. Match bearings and shoot. The torpedoes race off to the east at 35 knots. A big storm had moved north a few hours ago. Maybe the surface waves were still choppy, hiding their noise. For what seems the longest time the torpedoes close the distance, the Tango showing no signs of having heard them. Then, with the two fish less than 2,000 yards from their goal, the Tango comes to life. His speed climbs to 16 knots and he turns east, running for his life. Oberon takes this opportunity to turn west and widen the gap against a possible counter-fire down the bearing of attack. It is a futile dash for the Tango. The Tigerfish finally catch up, closing now in the endgame with the pings of their active sonar homing heads lashing the hull of the Soviet diesel boat. Oberon's sonar operator listens intently for the crashing boom and echo of the torpedo warheads. It doesn't come. Both Tigerfish missed. Commander Wreford-Brown was apparently really onto something with his choice of the Mark 8. What rotten luck. Oberon continues west. Hoping to return to the stalk once things settle down. The Tango eventually slows from his high speed dash and once again becomes a faint, distant contact. An hour passes, and Oberon turns once more to the east, hoping to relocalize and repeat an attack on the Tango. This time, one hopes, with a successful kill. The range closes to 6,000 yd. Gonna take a little more distant shot this time. The Russkie knows the Brit is there, somewhere. Suddenly, the sonar operator screams 'Torpedo contact! Really close!' They are the last words he will utter. A deafening crash. A sudden rush of ice cold water. Darkness. Oberon joins the quiet wreck of Odin, 15 miles to the north, on the bottom of the Norwegian Sea.

I will be adding NOE (nap of the earth, i.e. capable of Vlow flight) and IFR (in flight refueling capable) notations to the aircraft descriptions. Don also brought my attention to an error in the Il-38 May loiter speed. Thanks Don. A revamped entry for the Chinese carrier Shi Lang will also appear, and if folks feel up to offering help, I'm game for modeling the J-15 Flying Shark. If anyone has other requests, please let me know here.

Yep, terrain following radar (TFR) is typically very short ranged, and where radar is not used, the aircraft might employ a laser altimeter or some other means, including a good set of NVGs.

That's not a bad idea, Don. Put it in the Scenario Design forum, and I will thereafter organize it into a sticky.

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

If enough people think its worthwhile, I can probably add the term 'NOE' to the aircraft description as an interim solution.