CV32

From DefenseNews Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on March 9 that if an all-out civil war erupts in Iraq, the plan would be for Iraqi government security forces, not U.S. forces, try to deal with the violence. "The plan is to prevent a civil war," Rumsfeld told a Senate panel in response to questions by Sen. Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat, "and to the extent one were to occur to have the, from a security standpoint ... the Iraqi security forces deal with it to the extent they’re able to." Hundreds of people were killed in sectarian violence that flared after the Feb. 22 bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra, one of Iraq’s four holiest Shi’ite shrines, and some experts said Iraq appeared to be on a verge of civil war. "There’s no doubt that the sectarian tensions are higher than we’ve seen, and it is of great concern to all of us. On the other hand, the role played by Iraqi security forces after the Samarra bombing was quite professional. They did a good job," testified Army Gen. John Abizaid, who as head of U.S. Central Command oversees U.S. military operations in Iraq. Abizaid said the security situation in Iraq was changing in its nature "from insurgency toward sectarian violence," but it was "controllable" by Iraqi security forces and U.S.-led foreign forces. "It’s also my impression that we need to move quickly to a government of national unity. I regard the current problem as more of a problem of governance than security. But of course they mutually affect one another," Abizaid said. Iraqi leaders have not yet, after the Dec. 15 parliamentary elections, formed a new government. U.S. officials have said they would like to see a "unity government" distributing power among Iraq’s Shi’ites, Sunnis and Kurds.

HCDB-060308 Aircraft: A-4E Skyhawk - Indonesia A-4G Skyhawk - Australia A-4H Ahit - Israel A-4K Kahu Skyhawk - New Zealand A-4KU Skyhawk II - Kuwait A-4M Ahit - Israel A-4PTM Skyhawk - Malaysia A-50 Mainstay A - Russia A-50Eh - PRC A-50M Mainstay B - Russia AB.139 - INTL Adnan 1 - Iraq AH-1J SeaCobra - INTL AH-1P Cobra - Turkey AH-1S Cobra - USA AH-1T SeaCobra - USA AP-3C Orion - Australia B-1B Lancer - USA B-52G Stratofortress - USA Baghdad 1 - Iraq CC-130J Hercules II - INTL CF-5A/B (CF-116) - Canada Challenger CL.604 - Denmark E-2C Daya - Israel E-2C Hawkeye Group 0 - USA E-2C Hawkeye Group I - USA E-2C Hawkeye Group II - USA E-2T Hawkeye - Taiwan EP-3C Orion - Japan F-111C Aardvark - Australia F-111D Aardvark - USA F-111E Aardvark - USA F-111F Aardvark - USA F-111G Aardvark - Australia F-5/2000 - Turkey F-5A/B Freedom Fighter - Greece F-5A/B Freedom Fighter - Norway F-5A/B Freedom Fighter - Philippines F-5A/B Freedom Fighter - Turkey F-5E/F Tiger II - Bahrain F-5E/F Tiger II - Indonesia F-5E/F Tiger II - Iran F-5E/F Tiger II - Saudi Arabia F-5E/F Tiger II - Singapore F-5E/F Tiger II - South Korea F-5E/F Tiger II - Taiwan F-5E/F Tiger II - Thailand F-5S/T - Singapore F-5M - Spain FB-111A Aardvark - USA Gulfstream III SMA - Denmark MiG-23BM Flogger H - Russia MiG-23M Flogger B - Russia MiG-23MF Flogger B - INTL MiG-23ML Flogger G - INTL MiG-23MLD Flogger K - Russia MiG-27K Flogger J2 - Russia NF-5A/B - Netherlands P-3AEW Dome - USA P-3B Orion - Norway P-3B Orion - Spain P-3C Update I - USA P-3C Update II - Netherlands P-3C Update II - Pakistan P-3C Update II - USA P-3C Update II CUP - Germany P-3C Update II CUP - Portugal P-3C Update III - Japan P-3C UIP - Norway P-3C Update III - South Korea P-3C Update III - USA P-3C Update III AIP - USA P-3F Orion - Iran P-3K Orion - New Zealand P-3M Orion - Spain P-3N Orion - Norway P-3P Orion - Portugal P-3T Orion - Thailand RF-5S Tigereye - Singapore SF-5A/B - Spain U-2R Dragon Lady - USA U-2S Dragon Lady - USA

A new version of the Harpoon Classic Commander's Edition (HCCE) Database (HCDB-060308) is available. Get it at HarpGamer via the DB Share button. New additions (or overhauls of existing entries) include: Aircraft: A-4E Skyhawk - Indonesia A-4G Skyhawk - Australia A-4H Ahit - Israel A-4K Kahu Skyhawk - New Zealand A-4KU Skyhawk II - Kuwait A-4M Ahit - Israel A-4PTM Skyhawk - Malaysia A-50 Mainstay A - Russia A-50Eh - PRC A-50M Mainstay B - Russia AB.139 - INTL Adnan 1 - Iraq AH-1J SeaCobra - INTL AH-1P Cobra - Turkey AH-1S Cobra - USA AH-1T SeaCobra - USA AP-3C Orion - Australia B-1B Lancer - USA B-52G Stratofortress - USA Baghdad 1 - Iraq CC-130J Hercules II - INTL CF-5A/B (CF-116) - Canada Challenger CL.604 - Denmark E-2C Daya - Israel E-2C Hawkeye Group 0 - USA E-2C Hawkeye Group I - USA E-2C Hawkeye Group II - USA E-2T Hawkeye - Taiwan EP-3C Orion - Japan F-111C Aardvark - Australia F-111D Aardvark - USA F-111E Aardvark - USA F-111F Aardvark - USA F-111G Aardvark - Australia F-5/2000 - Turkey F-5A/B Freedom Fighter - Greece F-5A/B Freedom Fighter - Norway F-5A/B Freedom Fighter - Philippines F-5A/B Freedom Fighter - Turkey F-5E/F Tiger II - Bahrain F-5E/F Tiger II - Indonesia F-5E/F Tiger II - Iran F-5E/F Tiger II - Saudi Arabia F-5E/F Tiger II - Singapore F-5E/F Tiger II - South Korea F-5E/F Tiger II - Taiwan F-5E/F Tiger II - Thailand F-5S/T - Singapore F-5M - Spain FB-111A Aardvark - USA Gulfstream III SMA - Denmark MiG-23BM Flogger H - Russia MiG-23M Flogger B - Russia MiG-23MF Flogger B - INTL MiG-23ML Flogger G - INTL MiG-23MLD Flogger K - Russia MiG-27K Flogger J2 - Russia NF-5A/B - Netherlands P-3AEW Dome - USA P-3B Orion - Norway P-3B Orion - Spain P-3C Update I - USA P-3C Update II - Netherlands P-3C Update II - Pakistan P-3C Update II - USA P-3C Update II CUP - Germany P-3C Update II CUP - Portugal P-3C Update III - Japan P-3C UIP - Norway P-3C Update III - South Korea P-3C Update III - USA P-3C Update III AIP - USA P-3F Orion - Iran P-3K Orion - New Zealand P-3M Orion - Spain P-3N Orion - Norway P-3P Orion - Portugal P-3T Orion - Thailand RF-5S Tigereye - Singapore SF-5A/B - Spain U-2R Dragon Lady - USA U-2S Dragon Lady - USA Enjoy.

From Defense Aerospace US Military Squadron VMM-263 Ready to Write Next Chapter in Osprey Program (Source: US Marine Corps; issued March 7, 2006) MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. --- The future of Marine Corps aviation took a large step forward as hundreds of Marines, Sailors, Airmen, Soldiers and family members gathered to watch a ceremony in which the first operational MV-22 Osprey squadron was activated here March 3. “Commissioning (Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-263) is a historic day for the ‘Thunder Chickens,’ for our Corps and for our nation,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Moore, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general. “We have introduced a transformational aircraft into our nation’s forces with the ‘Thunder Chickens.’” A transformational aircraft because it capitalizes on both the best aspects of the rotary wing and the best aspects of the fixed wing turbo-propeller, Moore explained. “The (Osprey) is much more survivable than the (CH-46E ‘Sea Knight’) because of its range and it’s speed,” said Moore. “It’s a much more capable aircraft and we expect it to perform (excellent) in battle.” A capable aircraft that has been in the making since the early 1960’s, some feel the delay has produced the best result. “I have to tell you, waiting for something this good has been worth while,” said Gen. Robert Magnus, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps. “This is a tremendous aircraft. While we are at war, it is a tremendously more survivable platform for the Marines who are in the fight.” VMM-263, home to more than 150 Marines and the successor to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-263 which cased its colors in June 2005, will carry on the proud name, “Thunder Chickens,” and also the legacy of the former CH-46E “Sea Knight” squadron. Honored to carry on the name, “Thunder Chickens,” the Marines of VMM-263 are thrilled by the chance to become the first operational Osprey squadron, said Sgt. Maj. Grant VanOostrom, VMM-263 sergeant major. “They are very excited because they see it as a culmination of those who have gone before them,” said VanOostrom. “They just happen to be the chosen ones who get to bring it into its current existence; we get to reap the rewards of others.” And VMM-263 can be expected to reap the almost countless rewards, such as being able to travel at speeds of nearly 300 mph, twice the speed of any current helicopter, have up to five times the range of travel and carry three times the payload. “The Osprey will allow us to self-deploy these aircraft from New River, or (Air Station) Miramar, across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, to anywhere this great nation wants to plant its flag within two to three days,” said Magnus. Uncertain of the exact date when the Osprey will be supporting ground forces overseas, the squadron feels assured that it will be in the near future. “We expect VMM-263 to be deployed within the coming year,” said Moore. “We can’t give an exact date, because we aren’t 100 percent sure.” “There are two things the American people should know about this aircraft,” said Gen. Michael W. Hagee, 33rd commandant of the Marine Corps, during his visit to Marine Corps Air Station New River Feb. 24. “One, it will change the way we fight; it’s faster, larger, air refuelable and the technology is state of the art. Two, it’s the safest aircraft in our inventory. It’s been tested and proven ready to perform.” And though tremendous efforts will have to made by the “Thunder Chickens” before the first Osprey squadron is ready to deploy, a sigh of relief can be breathed by the Marines, families and friends of the program who sacrificed so much to get to where the stand up could be possible, said Moore. “We are bringing forth the new capability to replace what has been the backbone of Marine aviation in the CH-46,” said Moore. “With that capability, we take rotary wing assault support, now tiltrotor wing assault support, ahead into the future and assure the success of Marines in battle. We are committing the Osprey to the gunfight.”

From eDefense JASSMs to Fly on Australian F/A-18s Source: Australian Department of Defense Feb. 28, 2006 Lockheed Martin's Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missile (JASSM) has been selected as the new long-range air-to-surface missile to equip the Australian Defense Force's F/A-18 Hornet fleet. The acquisition of long-range missiles does not represent a change in Australia's defense posture and capability planning. Acquiring a long-range air-to-surface missile has been publicly listed in Defense Capability Plan since 2001 and specific details were announced in August 2004. The missile is planned to be operational on the aircraft by December 2009. The introduction and fitting of the JASSM to the F/A-18 Hornet provides an important capability for the defense forces and forms a key part of the government's plan to withdraw the F-111 aircraft. The acquisition is a prudent decision to ensure Australia retains its strike capability so Australian objectives can be met while maintaining the safety of aircraft and crews. Importantly, this new missile has the potential to be fitted to future platforms, including the Joint Strike Fighter. The previous concept for the project had considered equipping both the F/A-18 Hornet and AP-3C Orion aircraft with the missile. This decision will reduce overall cost and risk of the project by equipping the F/A-18 only (see also "JDAM Selected for Australian F/A-18s"). The government has committed to spending $21.1 billion on defense capability over the 10-year period to 2010. This funding builds on the 2000 White Paper commitment to increase defense funding by 3% annually until 2010-2011. For a look at the JASSM program in the US, see "JASSM Program Getting Back on Track."

This is a hugely open ended question, Mark, as I'm sure you appreciate. The answer will always be "it depends". My best suggestion is to look to past conflicts and peacekeeping operations to see what various nations deployed. The Web has a LOT of information in this regard, especially sites like Global Security. Since you mention the French, and it sounds like you're thinking small scale scenarios, their recent Operation Licorne (Unicorn) comes to mind for me. After the failed coup and unrest that was seen in Ivory Coast in September 2002, France launched Licorne to evacuate foreign nationals. I don't think any French Navy assets arrived on the scene until later, but within days the French had deployed two companies of the 1st RCP (Regt de Chasseurs Parachutistes) from Gabon to provide support to their Marines of the 43rd BIMa (Bataillon d’Infanterie de Marine) in the capital Abidjan. Air support at this time was, somewhat surprisingly (although, I expect, guaged by the fact that Ivory Coast had virtually no air force to speak of) limited to a single Fennec light helo. Then came (also from Gabon) two Cougar helos of the Commandement des Operations Speciales (COS) and a C.160 Transall airlifter (from ET 2/64 Anjou). Another C.160 Transall, four Gazelle helicopters and two Puma helicopters were then deployed from France. It wasn't until December that the LSD La Foudre arrived to land reinforcements, including more helicopters. I'm not sure what surface escorts were sent with this ship, if any, but I expect probably a frigate.

If you play Silent Hunter III, Pete, then you're more than welcome to join either of myself, Tony and Frank in a session of multi-player U-boat raiding. The urge to sink merchants and tin cans usually strikes us while chatting on IRC.

I believe these are the Master-T radar systems. That seems a little overly optimistic to me. In my mind, the Malacca Strait and the general area is ripe for a terrorist incident.

Here's a screenshot of some Kapitans of the HarpGamer Wolfpack ...

My guess is the USS Boxer (CV-21) (though it could just as possibly be the USS Valley Forge (CV-45), both Essex class). Here's what I have on Korean War carrier deployments: Korean War US Carrier Deployments Boxer (CV21) with CVG-2 (24/8/50 to 11/11/50) Squadron Aircraft Tail Code VF-23 F4U-4 M VF-63 F4U-4 M VF-64 F4U-4 M VF-24 F4U-4 M VA-65 AD-2 M VC-3 Det F4U-5N NP VC-11 Det A AD-3W ND VC-33 Det AD-4N SS VC-61 Det F4U-4P PP HU-1 Det HO3S-1 UP Boxer (CV21) with CVG-101 (2/3/51 to 24/10/51) Squadron Aircraft Tail Code VF-721 F9F-2B A VF-791 F4U-4 A VF-884 F4U-4 A VA-702 AD-2/4Q A VC-3 Det F F4U-5NL NP VC-11 Det F AD-4W ND VC-35 Det F AD-4N NR VC-61 Det F F9F-2P PP HU-1 Det HO3S-1 UP Valley Forge (CV45) with CVG-5 (1/5/50 to 1/12/50) Squadron Aircraft Tail Code VF-51 F9F-3 S VF-52 F9F-3 S VF-53 F4U-4B S VF-54 F4U-4B S VF-55 AD-4/Q S VC-3 Det C F4U-5N/AD-3N NP VC-11 Det AD-3W ND HedRon 1 Det F4U-5P AZ HU-1 Det HO3S-1 UP Bon Homme Richard (CV31) with CVG-102 (10/5/51 to 17/12/51)

HCDB-060226 Aircraft: AC-130E Pave Spectre - USA AC-130H Spectre - USA AC-130U Killer Herc - USA AC-130U Spooky - USA An-26 Curl A - Russia An-28TD Cash – Russia E-2D Advanced Hawkeye - USA E-3A Sentry AWACS - Saudi Arabia E-737 Peace Eagle – Turkey F-16A/B - Egypt F-16A/B - Jordan F-16A/B - Netherlands F-16A/B - Norway F-16A/B - Pakistan F-16A/B - Singapore F-16A/B - Thailand F-16A/B ADF - USA F-16A/B Blk 20 - Taiwan F-16A/B MLU - Portugal F-16A/B Netz - Israel F-16AM/BM MLU - Belgium F-16AM/BM MLU - Denmark F-16AM/BM MLU - Netherlands F-16AM/BM MLU - Norway F-16C/D Barak - Israel F-16D Barkeet - Israel F-16C/D Blk 30 - Turkey F-16C/D Blk 30/32 - Egypt F-16C/D Blk 30/32 - Greece F-16C/D Blk 30/32 - USA F-16C/D Blk 40 - Bahrain F-16C/D Blk 40 - Turkey F-16C/D Blk 40/42 - Egypt F-16C/D Blk 40/42 - USA F-16C/D Blk 40/42 CCIP - USA F-16C/D Blk 50 - Turkey F-16C/D Blk 50/52 - Oman F-16C/D Blk 50/52 - Poland F-16C/D Blk 50/52 - USA F-16C/D Blk 50/52 CCIP - USA F-16C/D Blk 52 – Singapore F-7MP Skybolt - Pakistan F-7PG - Pakistan G-2A Galeb - Yugoslavia G-4A Super Galeb – Yugoslavia Hawk Mk 102 - UAE Hawk Mk 103 - Oman Hawk Mk 108 - Malaysia Hawk Mk 109 - Indonesia Hawk Mk 115 (CT-155) - Canada Hawk Mk 127 LIFT - Australia Hawk Mk 128 - UK Hawk Mk 129 - Bahrain Hawk Mk 132 - India Hawk Mk 203 - Oman Hawk Mk 208 - Malaysia Hawk Mk 51/51A - Finland Hawk Mk 61 - UAE Hawk Mk 63A/C - UAE Hawk Mk 64 - Kuwait Hawk Mk 65/65A - Saudi Arabia Hawk Mk 66 - switzerland Hawk Mk 67 - South Korea Hawk T.1/1A – UK J-1 Jastreb - Yugoslavia KF-16C/D Block 32 - South Korea KF-16C/D Block 52 - South Korea KC-130J Hercules - USA M28 Skytruck - Poland MC-130P Combat Shadow – USA Mi-24K Hind G2 - Russia Mi-24P Hind F - Russia Mi-24V Hind E - Russia Mi-24VM Hind - Russia Mi-25 Hind D - INTL Mi-25 Super Hind Mk III - Algeria Mi-35 Hind E - INTL Mi-35P Hind F - INTL Mi-8PPA Hip K1 - Russia MiG-21 Lancer A - Romania MiG-21 Lancer C - Romania MiG-21bis Fishbed N - Russia MiG-21I Bison – India Tornado ADV - Saudi Arabia Tornado ECR - Germany Tornado ECR - Italy Tornado F.3 - UK Tornado GR.1A - UK Tornado GR.1B - UK Tornado GR.4/4A - UK Tornado IDS - Germany Tornado IDS - Italy Tornado IDS - Saudi Arabia Tornado IDS IT-MLU – Italy Installations: Akureyri - Iceland Baku - Azerbaijan Beltsy - Moldova Chisinau - Moldova Duncan (Paracels) - China Grozny - Russia Ljubljana - Slovenia Male - Maldives Oslo - Norway Thule AB (USA) - Greenland Truong Sa (Spratlys) - Vietnam Vientiane - Laos Xeno - Laos Xieng Kouang - Laos Yerevan - Armenia Ships/Mobile Land Units: Alkmaar MCM – Indonesia Anzac (ASMD) FF – Australia Anzac (mod) FF - New Zealand SAM Anza Mk 2 Team – INTL SAM Mistral 2 Team – INTL SAM Redeye Team – INTL SAM SA-10c Bty – INTL SAM SA-10d Bty – INTL SAM SA-16 (Igla-S) Team – INTL SAM Shahine Bty – INTL SAM THAAD Bty – INTL Sierra Madre LST – Philippines Submarines: Yuan (Type 039A) SS - China

A new version of the Harpoon Classic Commander's Edition (HCCE) Database (HCDB-060226) is available. Its a big one. Get it at HarpGamer via the DB Share button. Also, please see the note at the DB Share page about an available fix to your PE. New additions (or overhauls of existing entries) include: Aircraft: AC-130E Pave Spectre - USA AC-130H Spectre - USA AC-130U Killer Herc - USA AC-130U Spooky - USA An-26 Curl A - Russia An-28TD Cash – Russia E-2D Advanced Hawkeye - USA E-3A Sentry AWACS - Saudi Arabia E-737 Peace Eagle – Turkey F-16A/B - Egypt F-16A/B - Jordan F-16A/B - Netherlands F-16A/B - Norway F-16A/B - Pakistan F-16A/B - Singapore F-16A/B - Thailand F-16A/B ADF - USA F-16A/B Blk 20 - Taiwan F-16A/B MLU - Portugal F-16A/B Netz - Israel F-16AM/BM MLU - Belgium F-16AM/BM MLU - Denmark F-16AM/BM MLU - Netherlands F-16AM/BM MLU - Norway F-16C/D Barak - Israel F-16D Barkeet - Israel F-16C/D Blk 30 - Turkey F-16C/D Blk 30/32 - Egypt F-16C/D Blk 30/32 - Greece F-16C/D Blk 30/32 - USA F-16C/D Blk 40 - Bahrain F-16C/D Blk 40 - Turkey F-16C/D Blk 40/42 - Egypt F-16C/D Blk 40/42 - USA F-16C/D Blk 40/42 CCIP - USA F-16C/D Blk 50 - Turkey F-16C/D Blk 50/52 - Oman F-16C/D Blk 50/52 - Poland F-16C/D Blk 50/52 - USA F-16C/D Blk 50/52 CCIP - USA F-16C/D Blk 52 – Singapore F-7MP Skybolt - Pakistan F-7PG - Pakistan G-2A Galeb - Yugoslavia G-4A Super Galeb – Yugoslavia Hawk Mk 102 - UAE Hawk Mk 103 - Oman Hawk Mk 108 - Malaysia Hawk Mk 109 - Indonesia Hawk Mk 115 (CT-155) - Canada Hawk Mk 127 LIFT - Australia Hawk Mk 128 - UK Hawk Mk 129 - Bahrain Hawk Mk 132 - India Hawk Mk 203 - Oman Hawk Mk 208 - Malaysia Hawk Mk 51/51A - Finland Hawk Mk 61 - UAE Hawk Mk 63A/C - UAE Hawk Mk 64 - Kuwait Hawk Mk 65/65A - Saudi Arabia Hawk Mk 66 - switzerland Hawk Mk 67 - South Korea Hawk T.1/1A – UK J-1 Jastreb - Yugoslavia KF-16C/D Block 32 - South Korea KF-16C/D Block 52 - South Korea KC-130J Hercules - USA M28 Skytruck - Poland MC-130P Combat Shadow – USA Mi-24K Hind G2 - Russia Mi-24P Hind F - Russia Mi-24V Hind E - Russia Mi-24VM Hind - Russia Mi-25 Hind D - INTL Mi-25 Super Hind Mk III - Algeria Mi-35 Hind E - INTL Mi-35P Hind F - INTL Mi-8PPA Hip K1 - Russia MiG-21 Lancer A - Romania MiG-21 Lancer C - Romania MiG-21bis Fishbed N - Russia MiG-21I Bison – India Tornado ADV - Saudi Arabia Tornado ECR - Germany Tornado ECR - Italy Tornado F.3 - UK Tornado GR.1A - UK Tornado GR.1B - UK Tornado GR.4/4A - UK Tornado IDS - Germany Tornado IDS - Italy Tornado IDS - Saudi Arabia Tornado IDS IT-MLU – Italy Installations: Akureyri - Iceland Baku - Azerbaijan Beltsy - Moldova Chisinau - Moldova Duncan (Paracels) - China Grozny - Russia Ljubljana - Slovenia Male - Maldives Oslo - Norway Thule AB (USA) - Greenland Truong Sa (Spratlys) - Vietnam Vientiane - Laos Xeno - Laos Xieng Kouang - Laos Yerevan - Armenia Ships/Mobile Land Units: Alkmaar MCM – Indonesia Anzac (ASMD) FF – Australia Anzac (mod) FF - New Zealand SAM Anza Mk 2 Team – INTL SAM Mistral 2 Team – INTL SAM Redeye Team – INTL SAM SA-10c Bty – INTL SAM SA-10d Bty – INTL SAM SA-16 (Igla-S) Team – INTL SAM Shahine Bty – INTL SAM THAAD Bty – INTL Sierra Madre LST – Philippines Submarines: Yuan (Type 039A) SS - China Enjoy.

I tried the revised version. The AI was a little more aggressive this time, I noticed. I lost one of my RAAF P-3's to my own carelessness. (Note to self: Never make a RTB through hostile (or potentially hostile) territory with sensors active, when you don't have to). Had another close call with a group of RAAF Pigs, but they escaped. My experience with the enemy convoy was a little unusual. Once I engaged the group with air launched and surface launched Harpoons, and managed to damage a couple of escorts, the convoy turned tail and went back north from whence it came. My assets didn't have the range and speed to pursue, and so that was that. A mission kill, I suppose, in some respects. It was good how you were able to place both friendly and enemy assets in such a way that, in many cases, the player was challenged to make its attacks or fly reconnaissance at the outer fringe of mission radius. Good show.

New trivia question ... What European air force flying unit is considerably older than its parent air force, and has the propeller of a WWI bomber hanging on the wall of its crew briefing room ? For extra points, identify the type of WWI bomber aircraft.

From Defense Aerospace Government Welcomes ASPI Strategic Insights Paper -Cutting Edge: The Collins Experience (Source: Australian Department of Defence; issued Feb. 23, 2006) The Australian Strategic Policy Paper, Cutting Edge: The Collins Experience, highlights the many initiatives taken by the Howard Government over the past ten years to both reform Defence procurement and deliver a world class submarine capability to the Royal Australian Navy. Through utilising our Alliance relationship with the United States of America, reforming the way we do business in Defence Procurement and investing in local industry the Coalition Government is delivering this strategically important Defence capability. Specific measures have included: -- Following the Defence Reform Project the functions of acquisition and supply were merged into the newly created Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), thereby establishing a single agency responsible for the acquisition and support of Specialist Military Equipment. -- Implementing the recommendations of the June 1999 McIntosh - Prescott Report: Report to the Minister for Defence on the Collins Class Submarine and Related Matters. -- Signing a Statement of Principles for Enhanced Cooperation between the Royal Australian Navy and United States Navy in Matters Relating to Submarines in September 2001. This agreement is current through to 2011. -- Implementing the recommendations of the 2003 Defence Procurement Review (Kinnaird Review), including establishing the DMO as a prescribed agency, appointing a CEO, implementing a two-pass Cabinet process to allow projects to be assessed for risk before approval and bringing forward a Military Of-the Shelf capability option as a genuine choice for Government. -- Investing $857 million in a new tactical combat system and upgraded state-of-the-art Heavyweight Torpedoes. The combat system and torpedoes are part of a joint project with the US Navy and will be largely in common with the systems fitted to new submarines in the US Navy. -- Signing a $3.5 billion contract with ASC in 2004 for the through life support of the Collins Class, ensuring the ability to maintain and upgrade the submarines remains within Australia. -- Commencing a new Submariner recruitment drive, allowing Australians who want to volunteer as a Submariner the ability to directly join the submarine force without needing prior Defence qualifications. HMAS Waller is currently being fitted out with the new tactical combat system at ASC's facility in Adelaide and will be ready to start sea trials of these new capabilities early in 2007. Once these trials have been completed HMAS Waller will represent the most capable conventionally powered submarine in the world to date. Future war fighting capabilities for the long term are also continually developed within the Defence Capability Development Group and Defence Science and Technology Organisation. The Government remains committed to delivering on the Collins Project to Protect and Secure Australia. Funding for the replacement tactical combat systems and Heavyweight Torpedo project has been provided as part of the Government's commitment to increase spending of $28.5 billion on Defence capability over the 10-year period to 2010 and builds on the 2000 White Paper to raise Defence funding by three per cent annually, in real terms, until 2010/11.

I had already started your first version of this scenario, but haven't played very far into it yet. Maybe I should switch to the revised version ? I can certainly identify with your experience that getting the AI to behave predictably is sometimes a crapshoot. Its not uncommon to revise a scenario once or more times until you're happy with it. If a scenario writer is real keen (and more than a bit lucky), he can sometimes take advantage of the AI's "independent thinking".

Looks like all the entertainment is over at SZO these days.

It's been a year since we launched HarpGamer, and I for one have been very happy with the experience. Many thanks to my fellow site administrators, and to all of you whom have supported and participated in the effort.

Found a picture. Looks like a Grisha, which is nothing particularly new. Any further information would be appreciated.

Interesting, but that's pretty sparse info. Got something a little more concrete ?

I agree with the basic premise of the article, that the continuing existence of Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda as an organized and influential entity, the uncertainty of future political leanings in Pakistan, and the presence of nuclear weapons and delivery systems, all make for an uncomfortable range of "what if's". (I'd be more worried about the Harpoon Block II and Babur missiles, though, than the Exocets).

I always defer to our resident database versioning and code guru, Tony, but if you aren't saving your own DB under a separate name, it will automatically be overwritten when you substitute the newly updated commondb file. There is no way to merge the two DB's and you can only use one DB at a time. My best suggestion (again deferring to Tony) is to keep separate filenames so your own DB isn't lost.

HCDB-060212 Aircraft: BO-105CB - INTL BO-105P PAH-1 - Germany F-15A/B Baz - Israel F-15C/D Akef - Israel F-15C/D Eagle - Saudi Arabia F-15J Eagle Plus - Japan F-15C Eagle Blk 39 - USA F-15C Golden Eagle - USA HKP-9A (BO-105CB) - Sweden KE-3A - Saudi Arabia RE-3A/B - Saudi Arabia Su-17M-2 Fitter D - Russia Su-22M4 Fitter K - Poland Su-27SM Flanker - Russia Y-8J AEW - China Y-8(DZ) - China Installations: Generic Port Facility - INTL Kadena AB - USA Lielvarde - Latvia Siauliai - Lithuania Tallinn - Estonia Ships/Mobile Land Units: FREMM (ASW) FFG - France FREMM (ATV) FFG - France Kojoonbong LST - South Korea Mackinaw WMEC - USA Ranarisi (Haizhui) PG - Sri Lanka Renaissance FFG - Italy Submarines: Scorpene (India) - India Scorpene (Malaysia) - Malaysia

A new version of the Harpoon Classic Commander's Edition (HCCE) Database (HCDB-060212) is available. Get it at HarpGamer via the DB Share button. New additions (or overhauls of existing entries) include: Aircraft: BO-105CB - INTL BO-105P PAH-1 - Germany F-15A/B Baz - Israel F-15C/D Akef - Israel F-15C/D Eagle - Saudi Arabia F-15J Eagle Plus - Japan F-15C Eagle Blk 39 - USA F-15C Golden Eagle - USA HKP-9A (BO-105CB) - Sweden KE-3A - Saudi Arabia RE-3A/B - Saudi Arabia Su-17M-2 Fitter D - Russia Su-22M4 Fitter K - Poland Su-27SM Flanker - Russia Y-8J AEW - China Y-8(DZ) - China Installations: Generic Port Facility - INTL Kadena AB - USA Lielvarde - Latvia Siauliai - Lithuania Tallinn - Estonia Ships/Mobile Land Units: FREMM (ASW) FFG - France FREMM (ATV) FFG - France Kojoonbong LST - South Korea Mackinaw WMEC - USA Ranarisi (Haizhui) PG - Sri Lanka Renaissance FFG - Italy Submarines: Scorpene (India) - India Scorpene (Malaysia) - Malaysia Enjoy.

Mark, The SA365F Dauphin 2 is the armed version flown by at least France, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. It has ASuW and ASW loadouts. If you would like other variants of the Dauphin included, I can look at this, as long as they don't require building any new loadouts. Oh, and the Panther is also already in there.