CV32

Cold Waters Looks excellent!

In 1905, Japanese Battleships Pulverized a Russian Fleet (War is Boring) I recently convinced my oldest daughter to write a paper about the Battle of Tsushima for a college history course. She received an 'A'.

When should we expect part two?

Spoiler alert * * * * This one is deceiving. At first glance, it appears as a challenge. When I started playing it, American superiority proved paramount and I was progressing without a single loss. Then, in just a few moments, my confidence collapsed. I like it.

Book review: American Ulysses: The Rehabilitation of an American Hero (Strategy Bridge) Sounds like a good summer read. On the list it goes ...

A new version of the HCDB2 or Harpoon Commander's Edition Database 2 (HCDB2-170528) is now available. New additions include: Installations: Beachhead - Intl Submarines: Shang Type 093 06 SSN - China Shang Type 093B 13 SSN - China Shang Type 093G 16 SSN - China Shang Type 093T 17 SSN - China Song Type 039 99 SS - China Song Type 039G 01 SS - China Song Type 039G1 03 SS - China Virginia Flt I 04 SSN - USA Virginia Flt II 08 SSN - USA Virginia Flt III 14 SSN - USA Virginia Flt IV 19 SSN - USA Yuan Type 041 06 SS - China Yuan Type 041 11 SS - China Yuan Type 041 15 SS - China MLUs: HARTS 122mm MRL 85 - North Korea HARTS 130mm M1975 80 - North Korea HARTS 152mm M1974 80 - North Korea HARTS 170mm Koksan 80 - North Korea HARTS 240mm MRL 85 - North Korea Hwasong-5 Bty 85 - North Korea Hwasong-6 Bty 91 - North Korea Hwasong-7 Bty 98 - North Korea KN-01 SSM Bty 07 - North Korea KN-02 Toksa Bty 08 - North Korea KN-08 Hwasong-13 Bty 16 - North Korea KN-09 Kumsong-3 Bty 14 - North Korea KN-17 Hwasong-12 Bty 17 - North Korea Ships: Chaho 80 PG - North Korea Chodo 80 PG - North Korea Chong Jin 80 PG - North Korea Greenhalgh Type 22 95 FF - Brazil Hainan Type 037 80 PG - North Korea Hanchon 80 LCM - North Korea Hantae 82 LSM - North Korea Huangfeng Type 021 82 PTG - North Korea Ku Song 80 PT - North Korea Najin 90 FF - North Korea Najin 15 FF - North Korea Nampo 14 FF - North Korea Niteroi (Mk10/ASW) 80 FF - Brazil Niteroi (Mk10/ASW) 05 FF - Brazil Niteroi (Mk10/GP) 80 FF - Brazil Niteroi (Mk10/GP) 05 FF - Brazil Nongo 15 PTG - North Korea San Antonio 06 LPD - USA San Antonio 16 LPD - USA Sariwon (Tral) PG 80 - North Korea Shanghai II Type 062 80 PG - North Korea Sinpo (P-6) 80 PT - North Korea SO-1 Pr201M 80 PG - North Korea Soho 82 FF - North Korea Sohung 80 PTG - North Korea Soju Pr205 81 PTG - North Korea Taechong I 80 PG - North Korea Taechong II 89 PG - North Korea Yukto I/II 85 MCM - North Korea Enjoy.

Addressed by TonyE in the Issue Tracker thread.

Agreed.

Thanks!

Available as of yesterday.

A new version of the HCDB2 or Harpoon Commander's Edition Database 2 (HCDB2-170522) is now available. New additions include: Aircraft: C-27J Spartan 14 - Australia C-27J Spartan 06 - Bulgaria C-27J Spartan 05 - Greece C-27J Spartan 07 - Italy EC-27J Jedi 12 - Italy MC-27J Praetorian 16 - Italy C-27J Spartan 06 - Lithuania C-27J Spartan 10 - Morocco C-27J Spartan 10 - Romania C-27J Spartan 17 - Slovakia EA-18G Growler 17 - Australia Hunter FGA.71 82 - Chile Hunter FGA.59 80 - Iraq Hunter FGA.73A 80 - Oman Hunter FGA.78 80 - Qatar Hunter F.74S 80 - Singapore Hunter F.58 80 - Switzerland Hunter F.58 86 - Switzerland Hunter FGA.9 80 - Zimbabwe KC-30A (A330) 11 - Australia Z-19 Whirlwind 14 - China Ships: Alfaro (Leander 2B) 91 FF - Ecuador Alfaro (Leander 2B) 96 FF - Ecuador Liaoning 001 12 CV - China Padilla FS1500 83 FF - Colombia Padilla FS1500 12 FF - Colombia Shandong 001A 20 CV - China Yuriy Ivanov Pr18280 15 AGI - Russia Zheng He Type 055 20 CG - China MLUs: ZSU-23-4M Shilka Ptn - Intl Enjoy.

I rather doubt that the F-22 or F-35 would be sent into harm's way of, say, S-400 or S-500, with Luneberg lenses in place.

F-22A Raptors at Elmendorf are apparently still flying with their Luneberg lenses when on alert duty, and probably when they were flying over Syria as well. Which makes one wonder, if and when a stealthy jet like the F-22A or F-35 is called upon to fully require its low observable capability while flying against a capable foe (e.g. Russia or China), does this mean that their stealth has forever been compromised from that forward?

A lot of the payloads that were originally surmised for the US F-35 are unlikely to happen. The UK F-35 had a much smaller weapon footprint from the start.

After action report Spoilers apply! * * * * * * * I don't want to give too much away so this will be a sorta semi / mini AAR. I like chokepoint scenarios. Geography makes for great scenario fodder, and the Bab-el-Mendab is one of the best places to create a story. This scenario was both enjoyable and challenging! A few lessons learned: * STOVL fighters - even the stealthy F-35B - are at a notable disadvantage when facing modern shore based airpower * coastal defences can be mean spirited * be sure of your target - it may not what you think or even worth your time if it is * UAVs are useful but they are vulnerable ... very vulnerable * mines are also mean spirited * in confined waters, there are many ways your opponents can make your presence uncomfortable Minimum victory was achieved at 2:18:55 to go, at which point my group was about 125 nm SE of Aden, having finally made it through the 'gates of sorrow' and broken out into the open ocean, or, rather ... the Gulf of Aden. Thank you rainman!

Yes, the F-35 is not quite the bird it was hoped to be back in 2010-11. At least not in the sense of weapons integration. The top overall speed(s) is something that may get adjusted in due course. The F-35 is a difficult bird to model, because, for example, IOC has been declared but most experts agree it was truly only a paper capability rather than a real 'go to war' capability. At the same time, we know from history that weapons and systems can be pushed into service extremely quickly if real life circumstances require it. Thus the DB attempts to strike a useful balance between realism and a platform that will still be useful and fun from a gaming point of view.

F-35B completes gun testing

Thanks. Fixed.

Thanks. Ultra quiet torpedo fixed for next iteration.

North Korea’s Latest Missile Test: Advancing towards an ICBM While Avoiding US Military Action (38 North)

Missing loadouts fixed. The Bear D are not identical entries - one is Soviet, and the other is Russian.

This is ordinary and longstanding doctrine. Lay passive buoys to sniff out a contact, follow up with active buoys to localize.

At one point there was discussion of having sonobuoys in a loadout dropped in the order in which they appear (e.g. all of the passive buoys first, followed by all of the active buoys). This was not the best arrangement, but it is perhaps preferable to having two dropped at a time. Single type sonobuoy loadouts is a distant third, imho.

After Action Report (AAR) ... Spoilers follow! * * * * * * This is a quick, clean and enjoyable scenario that will allow you to wipe out the Iraqi Navy in short order. Operating in the northern of the Persian Gulf on 29 January 1991, I am tasked with clearing out those elements of the Iraqi Navy that have managed to deploy into the area. Launching a SH-60B Seahawk from the Perry class frigate USS Curts, my intention was to quickly get an idea of the composition and location of enemy vessels, and, of course, to avoid giving away the location of my ship lest I get a Silkworm tossed in my direction for my troubles. The SH-60B quickly established that there were small groups of fast attack craft (Osa and TNC45) to the west and north, and a cluster of amphibious ships and supporting vessels in the center. None were in immediate danger of counter-detection. Curts also had an AH-1W SuperCobra aboard, already loaded with Hellfires and 70mm rockets, so - together with Harpoons launched from the frigate - would serve as my initial attack on the priority threat: the Iraqi FACs. The AH-1W would go after the Osas, while the Harpoons would go after the slightly more distant group. I also launched an OH-58D Kiowa - also armed with Hellfires and Sidearm anti-radar missiles - from the frigate USS Nicholas further east. It would deal with survivors among the FACs. Meanwhile, an A-6E loaded down with 500 lb Mk 82 bombs was launched from the carrier USS Ranger much further south. It ought to arrive around the same time as I was cleaning up the FACs. Two of four Harpoons scored hits among the TNC45s, while the SuperCobra ravaged the Osas with Hellfires and rockets. The Kiowa blasted surviving FACs of both flavours with Hellfire and Sidearm. A Mirage F1EQ was spotted orbiting north of Kuwait and I began to grumble a little about the lack of air cover, but it stayed away. Two coastal defence missile sites were also detected, but they posed no immediate threat. When the A-6E arrived, I sent it after a pair of Polnocny class landing ships and an elderly T-43. It bracketed the two phibs with sticks of four 500 lb bombs each, and tossed two in the direction of the T-43. All went down quickly. During the effort, an old P-6 torpedo boat also appeared and it received the remaining two bombs to complete the mission. Victory rapidly followed. Thanks Enrique for the fun scenario.

I have noticed this in a couple of the recent scenario releases, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to offer a tip for scenario writers. The SE will permit you to move the location of installations (airfields, ports, etc) on the map. Sometimes the coordinates plugged into the DB (via the PE) do not translate well onto the game maps and you will find an airfield slightly off kilter from where it ought to be. Perhaps in a body of water when it ought to be on the coast, or an island, for example. While this does not impact game play in the sense that it prevents use of the base, it does look odd and will change the range/endurance of aircraft operating from the base, for example, in that they are further (or closer) than they ought to be from the enemy. Its a simple thing that can offer considerably better looking scenarios.