CV32

SLMM Pickings
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the EC2003 GIUK battleset.
 
This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side only.
 
A month after the start of the Third World War between NATO and the Warsaw Pact, most of the Red Banner Northern Fleet has long since departed from its berths on the Kola Peninsula. But with many of the initial, devastating sea battles already fought, surviving Soviet surface ships and submarines are compelled to return to their bases to refuel and rearm. NATO has ordered the entrances to these enemy naval bases to be mined. The mission falls to the American attack submarine USS Providence and its French counterpart, Rubis.
 
This scenario is loosely based on the High Tide scenario Mining Mission for Harpoon 4.

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.

Linebacker
 
A Harpoon Commanders Edition (HCE) scenario for the Indochina Battleset and the HCCW database (HCCW-110319 or later).
 
This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side only.
 
Disrupting the critical flow of men and materiel south was a primary objective of the US Air Force throughout the Vietnam war. Lacking good road and highway links, the North relied heavily on its railroad to support its offensive. Despite repeated and systematic bombing by the Americans against the rail network, however, the North had become quite adept at making rapid repairs and building bypasses. It seemed the craters were filled in and the new track was laid almost as quickly as American jets faded out of sight. One of the most critical parts to escape heavy damage was the Paul Doumer Bridge over the Red River, just northeast of Hanoi. Four of the major railways met here. It had thus far been off limits to the bombing campaign, but in Summer 1967, President Johnson finally agreed to a list of targets that would include the Paul Doumer Bridge. The list was a critical component of Operation Rolling Thunder, Phase IV.
 
The bridge was no easy target, however, being somewhat of an engineering marvel, not to mention being heavily defended. The first serious attempt at dropping the bridge came on 11 August 1967, when a large force of F-105D Thunderchiefs carrying 3000 lb bombs were sent north. Hammering the bridge with over 90 tons of explosives, they managed to drop three spans and brought all truck and rail traffic into Hanoi to a halt. Inside two months, however, the North Vietnamese had put the bridge back into operation. On 25 October the F-105s struck again, and again knocked out the bridge. Within a month, it was back up. Twice more in December the F-105s dumped bombs on the bridge and inflicted more damage. The North Vietnamese began to compensate by building a pontoon bridge downriver, but this too was struck by a Navy Intruder. Nearly 400 more tons of bombs were dropped on the Paul Doumer Bridge before President Johnson halted the bombing campaign in the North in late 1968.
 
The reprieve gave the enemy just what it needed: time to repair the bridge and bolster the defences around it. It was not until Spring 1972, under the auspices of Operation Linebacker, that US Air Force jets returned to try and finally bring down the Paul Doumer Bridge once and for all. This time they brought a new weapon, the smart bomb.

Antaeus
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the EC2003 MEDC battleset.
 
This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side only.
 
Having become engulfed in the protests and demonstrations cascading across Middle Eastern nations, Libya is now in full revolt. Benghazi has fallen to, some might say been liberated by, the anti-government movement which is sweeping west toward Tripoli. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, leader of this North African country for more than 40 years, refuses to leave power and is instead tightening his grip. Although many have abandoned the regime, a considerable number of forces still loyal to Gaddafi have been conducting arrests, abductions, and killings to try and stop the tides of change. It is reported that Gaddafi is promising wealth and position to local officials, political leaders and armed forces commanders in an effort to guarantee their support and obedience. With the military now taking an active role in suppressing the rebels, launching air strikes and ground attacks, the country is slipping rapidly into civil war.

Task Force 77
 
A Harpoon Commanders Edition (HCE) scenario for the Westpac Battleset and the HCE Cold War Database (HCCW-110222 or later).
 
This scenario is intended for play by the BLUE side only.
 
In April 1975, with the North Vietnamese tightening their stranglehold on South Vietnam and their army closing on Saigon, the Americans assembled a large naval force to assist in the evacuation of American civilians and Vietnamese refugees deemed to be at risk when the entire country eventually fell to the NVA. In this scenario, the Soviets launch a much more overt effort to support the North in the closing days of their campaign, seeking to ensure their own grip on Cam Ranh Bay and the vital sea lanes of the Western Pacific. The administration in Washington, red faced from the Watergate scandal and looking for diversions, turns to face the Communist threat once more.
 
This scenario is dedicated to Anthony Eischens, an F-14 fan and a champion of the game we love.
 

Karafuto
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the Westpac battleset.
 
This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side.
 
At the conclusion of World War II, the Soviet Union annexed the sparsely populated islands of the Kuril archipelago, a region they had seized and occupied during an offensive undertaken in the closing days of the war. The peace treaty made between Tokyo and the allies underlined Japan's loss of the territory, but neither did it reinforce the Soviet claim. The sovereignty dispute over the Kurils has continued to simmer for decades, and now looks to boil over with the Japanese making moves reminiscent of the Karafuto Prefecture.
 
For a scenario from the opposing perspective, see the Westpac scenario 'August Storm'.

August Storm
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the Westpac battleset.
 
This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side.
 
At the conclusion of World War II, the Soviet Union annexed the sparsely populated islands of the Kuril archipelago, a region they had seized and occupied during an offensive undertaken in the closing days of the war. The peace treaty made between Tokyo and the allies underlined Japan's loss of the territory, but it did not reinforce the Soviet claim. The sovereignty dispute over the Kurils has continued to simmer for decades, and now looks to boil over with the Russians making moves reminiscent of the Manchurian Offensive.
 
For a scenario from the opposing perspective, see the Westpac scenario 'Karafuto'.

Battle of Latakia
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) scenario for the Middle East Battleset and the HCE Cold War (HCCW) Database.
 
This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side.
 
The Battle of Latakia was a small naval battle fought on 7 October 1973, during the Yom Kippur War. It was the first naval engagement to involve an exchange of anti-ship surface to surface missiles and in which electronic warfare played a principal role. The Syrians were equipped with Soviet supplied Project 183 Komar and Project 205 Osa class missile boats armed with the P-15 Termit (NATO SS-N-2 Styx), a weapon that had already stung Israel almost exactly six years earlier, with the loss of the destroyer INS Eilat on 20 October 1967. The Styx had twice the range of the Israeli Gabriel, and a much larger warhead. To meet the threat, the Israelis would need every ounce of guile, wit and and courage that they could muster.
 
Brad Leyte, January 2011

HCWW-101110 by Brad Leyte (replaces HCWW-101027).
 
The HCWW (Harpoon Commander's Edition World Wars database) is a custom database for the World War I and World War II era.
 
The stock HCE Battleset scenarios will NOT function with this database installed.
 
The HCWW adheres to a policy of adding platforms but not deleting to retain backwards compatibility with all HCWW scenarios.
 
Copyright @ 2008-2010, Brad Leyte. HCWW database content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. You may copy, distribute and transmit the HCWW and all or parts of its content, but not derivative works based on it without the express written permission of the author Brad Leyte. You may also adapt the HCWW database to your own needs under the terms of fair use. By doing so, you agree to fully attribute Brad Leyte as the author of the HCWW database. The HCWW database may not be used for any commercial purpose whatsoever without the express written permission of Brad Leyte.

First Lightning
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) scenario for the Middle East Battleset and the official HCE Database (HCDB).
 
This scenario is designed for play by the RED side only.
 
It is October 1984. A financial crisis in Latin America has led to huge loan defaults in Argentina, Brazil and Chile. American banks, who had heavily financed the development efforts in Latin America, have been caught by surprise and are now in a serious slide. Washington took drastic steps and imposed a freeze upon banking transactions across the nation.
 
Then, a week ago, a terrorist bomb in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, claimed the life of the US ambassador and numerous civilians. At the same time, a guerrilla movement believed to have ties to that terror attack and backed by the Soviet Union, toppled the Omani government in the wake of massive financial losses in its banking sector.
 
American peacekeepers have moved into Saudi Arabia after rebellious elements of the Saudi army moved to occupy the holy city of Mecca. It is the largest commitment of American troops since the Vietnam war. Moscow has bitterly criticised the American presence in the Persian Gulf, calling it a grave act of provocation.
 
Three days ago, the new regime in Oman allied with Tehran to impose a toll on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. All tanker traffic in the Gulf has now come to a stop.
 
NOTE: This scenario is loosely based on the October 1984 television movie Countdown to Looking Glass. Note as well that you play RED in this scenario, i.e. the Soviet, Iranian and Omanian side.

Hammerfall (Part 4 of 5)
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) scenario for the Middle East Battleset.
 
This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side.
 
Thus far, this multi part campaign has witnessed Israel carry out a preemptive strike in defense of the nation, only to ignite a wider regional conflict which resulted in the destruction of both Nevatim and Damascus by nuclear fire. Russia has condemned the action and come to the aid of Syria and Iran, moving troops into both countries to help defend against them against what they have called Israel's bald faced nuclear aggression. Though continuing to put up a vigorous defense, Israel is clearly out muscled by the combined power of its enemies. Though late arriving on the scene, an American carrier strike force is now pushing north through the Red Sea.
 
[Version 2.0]

Scimitar (Part 3 of 5)
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) scenario for the Middle East Battleset.
 
This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side.
 
In this third instalment in a five part series, the crisis in the Middle East has deepened and expanded into a regional war in which old superpowers threaten to become involved. The Israelis have struck the Iranian nuclear facility at Esfahan, and have largely decimated the Syrian air force. But the Syrian army has nevertheless managed to seize positions in the Golan Heights, and ominously, appear to be enjoying Russian military support. So called Russian 'peacekeepers' are arriving in force in Syria, and it appears, in Iran as well.

Paralyzer (Part 2 of 5)
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) scenario for the Middle East Battleset.
 
This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side only.
 
This scenario is the second in a multi part campaign. In the first scenario, called Threshold, we examined what happened when the Israelis carried out a preemptive air strike against what they believed to be a Syrian nuclear weapons research facility. In the aftermath of that action, full scale war has now broken out between Syria and Israel, and Iran is vowing to join the cause against the Zionist aggressors.

Threshold (Part 1 of 5)
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) scenario for the new Middle East Battleset and the official HCE database (HCDB).
 
This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side.
 
In September 2007, Israel is widely believed to have carried out an air strike that destroyed a partly constructed nuclear reactor in eastern Syria. While much of what really happened remains speculation, the event echoed a previous strike carried out by Israel against Iraq in 1981, when it destroyed a reactor at Osirak. Moreover, it underlines once again that Israel is a nation that feels very much under threat, whether rightly or wrongly, and has shown a willingness to take such action as it feels necessary to defend itself. Continued supposition about whether Israel would carry out a similar strike against long time foe Iran, or if necessary (and it probably would be necessary, to achieve the desired result), a wider military offensive, is alive and well in 2009.
 
This scenario is the first of what will be a multi part campaign examining the possible result of a single aimed pre-emptive strike, and the resulting ever widening conflagration.

Trophy Hunters
 
A Harpoon Commanders Edition (HCE) scenario for the South Africa Battleset.
 
This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side only.
 
In 1969, thousands of Chinese workers began arriving at the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam and immediately set to work on the TAZARA project, a national railway that would stretch deep into the East African interior and would not only connect remote rural communities but also drive across southern Tanzania into the Zambian copper belt. Back then Tanzanian national leaders had first approached Western nations to assist with the project, but one after another, the USA, Great Britain, and even the United Nations and the Soviet Union, all turned them down. The Communist Chinese, however, seized the opportunity, and now, nearly 50 years later, the investment was paying off in a big way. Large deposits of uranium have been discovered near the northern end of Lake Nyasa, and the People's Republic of China is keen to realize on its long term investment. Unfortunately, the area is also the subject of a longstanding boundary dispute between Tanzania and its western neighbor, Malawi. Perhaps repeating the transgressions of the Western colonial powers more than a hundred years before, the Chinese are not about to permit anything to stand in the way of their plans for strategic economic gain.
 
In response to rising tensions between Malawi and Tanzania, the PRC has moved significant military forces into Tanzania.

This version of HCDB is compatible with the 2003.16b3 GE.
 
Copyright @ 2009-2010, Brad Leyte. HCDB database content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. You may copy, distribute and transmit the HCDB and all or parts of its content, but not derivative works based on it without the express written permission of the author Brad Leyte. You may also adapt the HCDB database to your own needs under the terms of fair use. By doing so, you agree to fully attribute Brad Leyte as the author of the HCDB database. The HCDB database may not be used for any commercial purpose whatsoever without the express written permission of Brad Leyte.

Scenario Background:
 
Outside the Anglosphere
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) scenario for the South America battleset and the HCE Americas (HCDA) database.
 
This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side.
 
Novelist Neal Stephenson is credited with coining the term Anglosphere, referring to a community of nations that share not only the English language, but a "cultural heritage of liberty under the rule of law, honoring democratic forms of government, capitalism, individualism, willing delay of gratification, and adhering to covenants and contracts regardless of clan or community ties". There are many nations outside the anglosphere, however, some of them found within the New World. In Latin America, politics have always been fluid and fragile, and the new roots of democracy, established within the last few decades, are especially delicate.
 
Having finally put their economic houses in order, Brazil and Argentina embarked on a vast military modernization program, taking full advantage of the eagerness shown by France, Russia, and China to supply them with weapons and technology in exchange for access to their vast natural resources. This coincided with the emergence of new (though perhaps not unexpected) left wing governments which showed fervent dislike for the Anglosphere, and took every opportunity to point out the old scars of colonial exploitation.
 
Argentina has now taken advantage of a large scale joint exercise with Brazil and France to once again seize the Malvinas (Falklands).

Happy Time
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) scenario for the EC2003 GIUK battleset and the HCE World Wars (HCWW) database.
 
This scenario is designed for play by the RED side.
 
Until France had fallen in June 1940, the range of the Kriegsmarine's U-boat force had been constrained by geography. They had to make a long and risky transit around Scapa Flow in order to reach the Atlantic shipping routes. The capture of French Atlantic ports, however, now meant that the U-boats could carry consistent attacks on the Allied convoys. Operating on the surface and guided by radio communications, groups of U-boats could form wolf packs, focusing their efforts to find and destroy Allied convoys and thereby starve Great Britain of badly needed supplies. Furthermore, by Autumn 1940, previous problems with faulty German torpedoes began to be rectified, and in addition, the Allies began concentrating their convoys into a route that took them through the North Channel between Ireland and Scotland. This target rich environment made for fertile hunting grounds for Admiral Donitz's U-boat fleet. This was their 'Happy Time'.
 
Image credit: http://www.wreckhunter.net

Judgment
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) scenario for the EC2003 Mediterranean battleset and the HCE World Wars (HCWW) database.
 
This scenario is designed for play by the BLUE side.
 
The true potential of naval aviation did not come to the fore until the night of 11-12 November 1940, at a place called Taranto in Italy. By mid 1940 the naval balance of power in the Mediterranean did not favor the Royal Navy. The Regia Marina (Italian Navy) had six battleships and more ships of every other class, excepting aircraft carriers. The Italians had, however, thus far proved unwilling to bring their considerable firepower to bear, preferring to advance the idea of a fleet in being, and had remained close to home waters at their main fleet base in Taranto. Before the Germans could arrive and shift the balance of power irretrievably in favor of the Axis, Churchill hoped to reduce the Italian threat. A longstanding plan for attacking the Italian fleet at Taranto was pulled off the shelf and dusted off. That plan was called Operation Judgment.
 
Image credit: 'Raid on Taranto', by Anthony Saunders.

Even More Wrath
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) scenario for the EC2003 Battle for the IOPG Battleset.
 
This is a remake of the original scenario "Wrath" produced for the same battleset.
 
This scenario is intended for play by the BLUE side only.
 
The CIA has developed absolute proof the Iranian and Libyan governments were directly involved in the recent terrorist attacks against US forces. The National Command Authority has authorized Operation "Double Jeopardy." Forces attached to the US Sixth Fleet in conjunction with TF 68.0 will attack assigned targets in Iran and Libya. The CRAF system has been mobilized and lead elements of the Rapid Deployment Force are expected to touch down in theater within 48 hours.

Bear Goes South - Original GIUK Battleset (*.sc1).
 
War has begins. This is a large engagement between NATO and Soviets. The objetives are to sunk as many enemy ships and subs as you can. Also you can destroy enemy bases. Soviet side can achieve tactical victory with a patrol around Reikjavik (Iceland) or Orland (Norway) for 48 hours, while they can assault the coast.

Failsafe
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) scenario for the custom Bering Strait Battleset.
 
This scenario is intended for play by the BLUE side only.
 
Tensions with the Soviet Union are at an all time high. The President and the Joint Chiefs have just ordered Defense Condition 2 (DEFCON 2), as it is believed that an attack by the USSR may be imminent. Intelligence reports and analysis indicate that if it comes, it will occur sometime within the next forty-eight (48) hours. In preparation to meet the threat, Strategic Air Command (SAC) has launched a previously unannounced Giant Bracket exercise, directing the forward deployment of elements of the 97th Bomb Wing to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Its aircraft (primarily a force of B-52 bombers) are now operating there in conjunction with other supporting USAF units. In the event that National Command Authority (NCA) orders Defense Condition 1 (DEFCON 1), which will be a confirmation of an impending Soviet attack, SAC assets are directed to immediately take up their fail safe positions and stand by for further orders.

Lets Go To War
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) scenario for the Westpac Battleset.
 
This scenario is intended for play by the BLUE side only.
 
What if China carried out its threat to attack Taiwan? What if North Korea launched an offensive against South Korea? What if an reinvigorated Russia was complicit with both aggressors? What if all of these conflicts happened at the same time? This scenario examines the hypothetical worst case scenario, the stuff of nightmares for Westpac war planners.
 
Please Note: This scenario is very large (a "monster"), and it is both memory and labor intensive. You will not be able to maintain good control of all your units at all times, and you will take losses. Some units you may have to sacrifice. For some players, that might be frustrating. I have added some limited air patrols for BLUE which might help to reduce the burden in the opening phase of the scenario. If you think this might be useful, enable Auto Formation Air Patrols for this scenario.
 
Victory Conditions tip: Sink 25 enemy ships or destroy 15 enemy bases. Keep your carriers alive!

Task Force Rybakov
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) scenario for the South Africa Battleset.
 
This scenario is intended for play by the RED side only.
 
This scenario is a RED side sequel to my earlier scenario, Sixth Battle, which of course is a tribute to a favorite novel of mine, The Sixth Battle by Barrett Tillman. Although some effort has been expended at recreating the battle depicted in that book, I have also taken varied some of the events and players to make a workable Harpoon scenario. The scenario background contained in the file is considerably more detailed, but essentially:
 
Several large Soviet battle groups, now operating under the banner of the Union of Eurasian Republics (UER), have assembled off the coast of South Africa. Their intention is to force a change of power in the Republic of South Africa (RSA), into one that favors the African National Congress (ANC) and, indirectly, the Front Line States (FLS) of Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The UER has cut a deal with the ANC and FLS to form a cartel that would extend to all of the RSA’s resources, including uranium. Hard line regimes in the client states of Cuba, North Korea, and Vietnam have pledged their assistance.
 
The American carrier forces have been caught out of position. Meanwhile, Task Force Rybakov has taken up station off the coast of the Republic of South Africa (RSA). The Pacific Fleet carrier Novorossiysk has been delayed but is now transiting the Mozambique Channel and should be on station and ready to conduct operations within 24 hours. Our amphibious landings in the RSA will be supported by air strikes from the carriers. The South Africans stand virtually no chance without American intervention. Now is our time to strike.

Sixth Battle (version 2.0)
 
A Harpoon Commander's Edition (HCE) scenario for the South Africa Battleset.
 
This scenario is intended for play by the BLUE side only.
 
This scenario is a tribute to a favorite novel of mine, The Sixth Battle by Barrett Tillman, and although some effort has been expended at recreating the battle depicted in that book, I have also taken varied some of the events and players to make a workable Harpoon scenario. The scenario background contained in the file is considerably more detailed, but essentially:
 
Several large Soviet battle groups, now operating under the banner of the Union of Eurasian Republics (UER), have assembled off the coast of South Africa. Their intention is to force a change of power in the Republic of South Africa (RSA), into one that favors the African National Congress (ANC) and, indirectly, the Front Line States (FLS) of Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The UER has cut a deal with the ANC and FLS to form a cartel that would extend to all of the RSA’s resources, including uranium. Hard line regimes in the client states of Cuba, North Korea, and Vietnam have pledged their assistance. The UER and its allies in the region have overwhelming firepower, and the South Africans stand virtually no chance without American intervention.
 
The elderly US Navy carrier USS Ranger is the only NATO carrier in the Indian Ocean, and it can count on little support from other friendly forces. The Ranger battle group has been planning for several days the best way to attack the UER carriers, plotting and wargaming several possible options, and now they think they have found a winning idea.