pmaidhof

Praying Mantis AAR here.

Hi Blue Duck. The Harpoon Naval Reviews come out every couple of years with scenarios, articles, ship and aircraft data to play the specific scenarios, etc. The last one released was 2003, there is one in the pipeline for 2009. Sea of Dragons is a very interesting, but in woeful need (in my opinion) of updating, book focussed on Harpoon4 in Asia. It catalogs all of the players (PRC, Japan, Taiwan, the Koreas, Philipines, Australia, Indonesia, etc), and their naval and airforces, and then puts together some scenarios...it comes with its own data annex. South Atlantic War II uses Harpoon4 to game many individual situations which made up the 1982 Falklands campaign. It contains discussion, the scenarios, the data, and the Ground Combat System (GCS) rules, (along with some Falklands ground scenarios). GCS is needed for some of the amphibious scenarios found in High Tide. White Ensign focusses exclusively on the Royal Navy, with the exception of the 1982 Falklands. Many interesting situations during the drawdowns from the Middle East and Asia, and even a 1970's version of the Falklands if I recall correctly. I find that most of my Harpoon scenarios played are much smaller affairs that scenarios found in computer HCE or H3. There is so much platform interaction and calculations needed, that I have not been able to break the code and "do" a HCE scaled scenario. One caveat is that some scenarios I've done with H4., though small affairs, would not be particularly enjoyable in HCE due to the small size, not enough to do when the computer is crunching all of your numbers. The biggest sceanio that I was able to pull off solo was using Stratsims Combat Plotter and the 1987 Operation Praying Mantis scenario from a paper H3 booklet Dangerous Waters. There were about 30 platforms involved and a great time. There is an AAR to it here on Harpgamer in the H4 section. Once you get your arms around the mechanics, I'd recommend whichever topic interests you. Note: White Ensign was recently updated. Sea of Dragons is, again in my opinion, woefully in need of a overhaul, though still interesting if you can get by that by updating the platforms should you be interested in such scenarios. Graph paper size: all dependant upon the size of the squares, and scale that you assigned each square. I've used everything from 0.5nm (1,000 yards), 1nm, 5nm, 10km. Graph paper with 0.5cm boxes can give you a fairly large area provided the scale is set likewise. Like all tactics, dependent upon the situation. Doing it with (graph)paper and a pencil allows you to roll it up and put it away if family and/or little munchin fingers prevent you from leaving something like that out, all over the kitchen table...like me. Hope that helps, Pete

As proof that your english is far superior to my german.

Keine Sorgen cibotx, unsere Muttersprache ist nicht Deutsch! I have never used Form 6, but can't see any reason why not. I have always used graph paper, sometimes transitioning to a wargaming table with mini's. I am guilty to have never played Harpoon face to face, in fact the majority of my harpoon gaming has been solo with a lot of help from the guys here and on some of the yahoo sites. I suppose with a trusting gaming opponent, without one why make the effort, I suppose that you could use neutral markers until detected. Detection would require some cooperation as far as target size, speed, etc. No problem at all. I hope it helped somewhat. Pete

KC Does this help at all?

Insightful questions Tango Mike. I hope some of the "squids" or other well read folks here can lend some of their experiences/knowledge. Pete

The Great Carrier Reef NYT Video

I enjoying relating to Forrestal and Kitty Hawk class CV's on my gaming table. I prefer the fuel implications and of course...Oh! the air wings.

Lt. Gen. Kinnard dies at age 93 By Jim Tice - Staff writer Posted : Tuesday Jan 6, 2009 15:15:39 EST Lt. Gen. Harry W.O. Kinnard, a giant figure in the history of Army aviation and airmobile operations, died Monday in Arlington, Va., after a long illness. Kinnard, 93, was an authority on airborne operations before he became a rated aviator in 1962. A year later, he organized and commanded the 11th Air Assault Division as it tested air mobility concepts widely used in Vietnam, and that remain a basis of Army aviation techniques and tactics. Kinnard, a 1939 graduate of West Point, subsequently commanded the Army’s first airmobile division, the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in the mid-1960s during its organization and deployment to Vietnam. After nearly 40 months in command of the division, Kinnard briefly served as commander of I Field Force in Vietnam, and later as chief of force development for the Army Staff at the Pentagon. He retired in 1969 after two years as commander of the Combat Developments Command, Fort Belvoir, Va. An infantry officer, Kinnard began his Army career with the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, a unit he later would command. He participated in the division’s airborne operations in Normandy and Holland in 1944, and at age 29, he was a full colonel and division G-3 during its heroic stand at Bastogne, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge. Kinnard’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. In 1974, Kinnard was inducted into the Army Aviation Hall of Fame for his services to that community from 1960 to 1969. A public viewing is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Demaine Funderal Home, 520 S. Washington St., Alexandria, Va. The funeral will take place March 19 at the Old Post Chapel at Fort Myer, Va. Find Army Times article here.

Doing more with less for the past 233 years. Think of the return on investment.

Again...

16 Hellfires!

Latest Hueys, Cobras make huge strides Find Marine Corps Times article here. Helos offer more power, technology upgrades By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer Posted : Sunday Jan 4, 2009 8:37:58 EST CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — At a distance, the new UH-1Y helicopters look similar to those born during the Vietnam era, but the four-blade Huey, which Marines call the “Yankee” model, is a different bird entirely. It has greater range, speed and lift than the old UN-1N — with less vibration. It carries 2,700 pounds of fuel, nearly double the capacity of the “November” model, and its integrated avionics, navigation and communications system give the aircrew access to much more data and mission planning while in flight. As they settled into the cockpit ahead of a recent flight from Camp Pendleton’s air station, Maj. Christopher Chown and Capt. Rodney Dean spun up the UH-1Y’s pair of T100 engines and scanned the monitors as they ran through a series of preflight checklists. The blades smoothly lifted the helicopter’s skid off the concrete deck. There was no deep vibration, a noticeable change from the twin-blade UH-1N. It’s at this point, hovering just a few feet above the ground, when the crew members say they really feel the lift generated by the four blades’ larger surface. “You have so much more power,” explained Sgt. Zach Lucas, 23, a crew chief from St. Louis. “Everything happens a little faster. You feel it right away.” The extra blades give the Yankee a distinctive sound, a deep thrill rather than the hard “whoop-whoop” of the November. The rotor head yields another important upgrade: flexible articulated composite yokes that allow each blade to bend and flex, a feature that provides for smoother turns. The Corps is sending three UH-1Ys and a trained detachment overseas with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which leaves San Diego in early January aboard the amphibious assault ship Boxer for a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf regions. It will mark the first operational and at-sea deployment of the Yankee Hueys, which have foldable blades but no automatic folding system. The deployment will provide the Corps with plenty of input about the new Huey’s ability to operate on the ship’s windy flight deck. “You can’t get accurate data from simulators,” said Maj. William M. Sloan, an instructor pilot with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303. “The ship’s environment is such a dynamic environment because of wind. It’s unpredictable from spot to spot.” The Corps plans to buy 123 Yankee Hueys by 2015, along with 150 AH-1Z Super Cobra attack helicopters, which will replace the AH-1W models currently flown. Both Bell-built aircraft will share about 85 percent of the same parts, including the four-blade rotor system and crashworthy seats, which will reduce the logistical and supply load on squadrons. One of the new “Zulu” Cobras sprung to the air and joined Dean and Chown’s Huey for a demonstration of aerial attack and assault over Pendleton’s scrubby hills and oak-dotted canyons. When it goes operational, the Zulu Cobra will carry more firepower — as many as 16 Hellfire missiles, for example — and fly at faster, more maneuverable speeds. In the Cobra’s rear pilot seat was Capt. Scott M. McGuire, an AH-1 instructor pilot. Like the new Huey, the Zulu Super Cobra “is a significant improvement in handling characteristics,” he said. “… You could fly it single-handedly.” He called the new Cobra “a smoother” helicopter. “The aircraft,” McGuire said, “wants to fly fast.”

Yes, generally speaking, the towed array is useful for trying to obtain early detection of contacts while moving relatively slowly in deep water. Could this be the one of the reasons for the sprint-and-slow movement combination of naval forces when moving in uncertain tactical conditions? Move like a herd of elephants, then slow/stop to listen. A short security halt in infantry parlance.

The Harpoon Naval Review 2009 is now available for pre-order from directly from Clash of Arms.

I agree. I believe the intent is to allow for more aircraft to be involved with more simplicity, since the player is supposed to be ahigher level commander, not an individual pilot. There are games for that.

I play primarily on graph paper. Usually when the forces at at a distance. When something is close range enough, and I have the time, I go downstairs into the cellar and set it up with minis on my 4x8' table.

No Sir. Never tried it, or heard of it until now for that matter. Good Gaming.

Hi KC, I plan to step through your example this weekend as time permits, but using the new air rules. Different procedure but should give a similar result. Happy New Year

Hi Mike Tango, as Tony said, welcome to the fray.

Hi KC, Should air to air combat be your next serious undertaking, I'd recommend that you look into picking up Naval Sitrep #31 (October 2006) for the simplified Air Combat Rules that will replace what is found in the H4.1 rules when the unification project is complete. I realize its a long term ongoing process but the "new" rules do streamline air combat and will become standard in the relatively near future. You can read through the procedure, at least my choking through it, using the new rules in the H4 folder here at hargamer. New Air Rules Discussion New Air Rules Question French Connection I like the simplified air rules.

Best wishes to all who shall harpoon in 2009.

I'd believe that here it can be boiled down to the fears and admiration developed in its threat capability against USN carrier battle groups in the cold war north Atlantic.

You do not need the 1/6000 figurehead ships, nor any others to enjoy either Harpoon 4.1/High Tide or Shipwreck. No kidding, I've played shipwreck once with bottle caps on the floor of my house. Think of shipwreck as Harpoon, but extremely light. The systems and capabilities are very generalized. However it is this generalization that allows you to play a scenario in an evening and still get a reasonable/plausable, or at least Harpoon-like result. To be honest, I bounce between the two depending upon what I want from my game that day. There are times I want the detail harpoon gives me, other times there is "no time" so shipwreck it is. . Although I have participated in a couple of pbem scenarios of harpoon with an umpire, I have solo'd many many more hours of Harpoon, often relying upon Brad, Tony, and others here, and on the Trilogy yahoo sites as sounding boards to ensure I'm at least somewhat complient with the rules. Please let us know if we can assist in any other way. Pete

Still not getting it at home, but that must be my problem. Strange Cargo Games is their link. I see that you are in Leipzig so should you go shipwreck, Vandering in the UK would be the most likely best route for you. Pete