JSF

Ok, when I am back from the Canary Islands, I proceed with scenario editing and will report issues.

Ah, H2, that was the version which made me hung up on Harpoon for like 20 years. Can't exactly recall it was some bug/crash, I remember I did all the tutorials but one of the first scenarios had some deep problem with, I think, SAM engagements. Probably I was running it under some Windows version though, not DOS. Same here. Though I started with HC back in 1991 or 1992, it was H2, coming out in 1993, which made me addicted to the sim. In those days I had 486 DX 33 Mhz, which was far too weak for this beast H2. Only the tutorial sand small scenarios ran smoothly. But when it worked, H2 was a revelation, far beyond its time frame. The micromanagement possibilities were outstanding. Then I progressed to a 486 DX -2 66 MHz, still no match for H2. My first Pentium rig, a Pentium 1 133 Mhz, was my first PC on which H2 really was fun. Nowadays I play it on a Pentium II 266 Mhz, together with some other old sims, like SSN-21 Seawolf or Chuck Yeager´s Air Combat (outstanding!) The tragedy with H2 is, that it was transferred to Windows as H3, made progress up to 3.6.3, but then - IMO stalled. Now new GUI, no real step ahead. Nowadays there are several sims out there which have modern GUI´s and are far superior, like Command, Global Conflicts 2. Still, I love this totally outdated Black and Green screen and love to play H2 and H3 3.6. Call it nostalgia, I love it. There are tons of excellent scenarios, both stock and for the db2000, still waiting to be played. But I, too, am a great fan of Harpoon Classic and have just returned to it, and scenario writing for it.

Very much looking forward to this. H3 is a long time waiting for me, stil have all versions on my box, only I got immersed in HCE after instaling HUE . Features / changes comparision between the versions, like Silent Hunter Uk did, would be much appreciated. Ok, I´ll add my thoughts about the different H3 versions when playing through them. It´s rather easy though, when it comes to th AI ´s strength: H 3 up to 3.6.3 is clearly better than all ANW/HUE versions.

Yes, obviously. But I never thought the difference could be that huge. While I never, in all my sessions with this scenario, managed to penetrate the hostile formation and save the Charlie II, it was rather easy with the Tango SSK.

This scenario is my first attempt to incorporate large land warfare battles in HCE and I must say, this works good. It may all be rather simple modelled, but it works and makes it possible to combine naval, air and land warfare.

Tony, is the WScenedit 32bit about to be tested this way, too? Or is it too early and You´ll someday give it free for testing and reporting? I have started designing the second scenario with it and can report if that´s useful.

Hi Scott, which version are You playing: H3 V 3.6.3, H3 ANW V 3.9.4. or the latest H3 UE V 3.11.1 ?

Gents, thx for these hints. I´ll wait another week, maybe until then somebody has completely played through it and more remarks. Then I´ll do a complete update. Obviously it was a mistake to give You experienced guys long range bombers. btw I´ve already started the follow-on, New Russia Part 2.

The Russian carrier group relentlessly closes in towards Sevastopol. Its Flanker Fighters sweep over my bases and kill my last four Fulcrums, the last Badgers and even four Backfires. On the other hand, the Backfires damage several Russian vessels, though not enough to stop them. And now the great day of that Tango class diesel sub has come: It manages what the Charlie II nuke sub could not perform - to penetrate the Russian carrier group. The helos simply seem to be unably to get exact fixes on the Tango. And now the tide changes and Ukraine has badly needed success: the sub sinks a FFG and a DDG, and damages both the carrier and the Kirov class BCGN. All torps are gone and the Tango leaves the carrier group unscathed, what a performance. It closes in on the landing flotilla and shadows the reamining Alligator LST and the Ivan Rogov LPD. Eight Backfires left to do the job. All are rearmed with short ranged Kickback ASMs. One by one they are launched. One is shot down by Flankers but the others first sink the Alligator and the the Ivan Rogov. Though the carrier group lies directly at Sevastopol harbor, Ukraine has won! The landing flotilla litters the bottom of the Black Sea. This was a real tough fight. And how tense it was and how unclear the outcome.

oops...I had forgotten, that this old H2 AI is far more aggressive than the ANW/UE one. And so... I lost... ...the Charlie SSGN by rocket boosted torps ...two Bear recce birds ...more Fulcrums, leaving me with four, grounded at Saki ...the whole little SAG ...some more Badger jammers All I have is now grounded at Saki AB and waiting for the runways to be repaired. And yes, there´s still the sole Tango SS, my only asset currently in service. In the meantime I got 11 Flankers, still only one LST and one Udaloy. And eight choppers which attacked my SAG with torps. Rather poor tactics on my side. The question is if I can launch my aircraft in time or if the landing flotilla will land its troop sfirst and thus conquer Sevastopol.

Counterstrike! Since the Heart of the Problem is not the hostile carrier, but the landing flotilla, I set up the following plan: Distract with the remaining Fulcrums, the Badger Jammers and the Kingfish armed Backfires the carrier group. Fly with the four Kickback armed Backfires a half circle and attack the landing flotilla from the South East. Part one: - The Fulcrums go into the dogfight with Russian Flankers. They score well and down eight. - The eight Backfires fire all their missiles at the Kusnetzov. No hit, but the carrier group fires tons of SAMs in order to survive the missile strike - The four other Backfires attack from the South East and sink one LST. And now the playing field is level. If Saki´s runways are repaired, I can launch the next attack wave. Meanwhile I try to close in with the Charlie II SSGn which is not easy. Russian helos seem to have detected it.

Scenario started! Dozens of Vampires inbound! I hope that as many ac as possible have taken off before the missiles hit. At first the SAM sites assigned to Sevastopol AB are hit. Then the base itself. Many Fulcrums die grounded. Only half a dozen makes it into the sky. Saki AB is hit, too. But here, at least, no ac are destroyed on the ground. And most took off early enough. The SAG gets a pounding, too, losing one ship. All in all a hard first blow, but not a decisive one. The Ukrainian forces are alive and can strike back.

Playing this scenario under the Original Database (ODB) means that Shipwreck SSMs are land attack capable. And they wreak havoc on the Ukrainian bases. Maybe this is why I like to play the scenario using the ODB. Anybody knows about the Shipwreck missile? Was it ever land attack capable? I have my doubts that a Mach 2 missile can do terrain following and can score precise hits.

AFAIK Winston Churchill also suffered under heavy depressions. It is a as dangerous as many cancer variations if not treated properly.

Here we are! Harpoon 2.1.13 running under the Dos version of Windows 98. Original Database. Scenario is 'Taking of the Black Sea Fleet', Battleset Global Conflicts One. One of my all time favourites. Played it many times, under all H3 versions, too. Side: Ukraine Order of Battle: Three squadrons, six birds each, of Fulcrums. All have order to launch asap. Three squadrons, four birds each, of Backfire bombers, all have my order to launch asap. Eight Badger J Jammers. Four Bear-D Recon birds. A Charlie SSGN II and one Tango Class SS. A small SAG, centered on a Kashin Class DDG.

Hi Scott, well, the new Command sim IMO is by far the most sophisticated Naval / Aerial Warfare Sim around. It even models land warfare rather good. Command´s micromanagement options are outstanding. The AI is aggressive, although that is difficult to compare to other sims. The databases are huge and continually improved, as well as the whole sim. Update comes after update. The devs are very active, its their project, their child. The community is very large and growing. Harpoon 3 ANW is no longer maintained, development is halted. In many aspects, Command is the logical successor to Harpoon 3. Thus, if you´re a newbie to both Harpoon 3 and Command, I clearly recommend you to switch to Command.

Yes, my first after one-and-a-half years. Thx for your illuminating remarks. I´m going to update it after there is more feedback and somebody played it through.

Addendum: This scenario has been written with Tony´s brandnew beta 32-bit WScenedit. Tony, it works! Got some error messages, but no crash. Lots of minor issues, sure. But it definitely works and can be used for scenario creation. Great job, Tony!

File Name: New Russia Part One File Submitter: JSF File Submitted: 10 Aug 2014 File Category: GIUK Scenario Background: September, 15th, 2014. One month ago, Russia invaded the Ukraine. This had been well prepared and the Ukrainian forces were outgunned and overrun in a month. Russia has taken control over the whole country amazingly fast and installed a Moscow friendly regime. Nato acted helpless and chattered in different tongues. The US look weak and are heavily involved in the Middle East where the IS forces gain territory by the day. Russia has decided to make use of this perfect strategic situation. It has massed troops, armored vehicles and aircraft all along the border and is ready to strike and ... win again. Editor's Notes: This is a huge scenario. Nearly 1'000 aircraft and hundreds of mobile land units are involved. At the same time, it is fast and furious, thus, especially in the beginning, game speed 1:1 is recommended. I tried to set up the Polish Air Force accurately. It is interesting to test how this mixed force of somewhat aged American and Russian aircraft will perform against the modern Russian Air Force. Comments and critiques welcome! Click here to download this file

I really got it running! I now have a running version of Harpoon 2 on my old - offline - Pentium II 266 Mhz PC. So I´ll start with that version asap.

If I can get my old rig running, I´ll even start with Harpoon 2, running under MS DOS 6.2 ! Will find out today.

Hi Scott, never mind. Just ask if there´s an issue. Which scenario are you currently playing?

Hi Tony, just writing my first scenario with the beta 32bit WScenedit. Thx for making this possible. One first wish for the final version: is it possible to add national borders in both, GE and SE? This would be very helpful for writing and playing.

Scott, I´ve asked the editor if I´m allowed to send it to you or upload it here at HG. Stay tuned.