Mgellis

PAC MFI-17 Mushshak http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MFI-17_Mushshak "MFI-17 Mushshak (Urdu: مشاق) (English: Proficient) is a licence-built basic trainer aircraft version of the Saab Safari, used by the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force. It is manufactured in Kamra, Pakistan by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). As of 2006, 80 aircraft have been manufactured. Built to MIL-Spec and fully aerobatic, it is used for training, towing and other ground support roles." --Wikipedia Mostly used as a trainer, but it can carry about 600 lbs. of bombs and rockets. Used in various Middle Eastern and African nations. Just the thing for terrorists, rebels, etc. to steal and then use in various military operations... ANW HUD-4 v1.11

Atlas Oryx http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_Oryx "An upgraded and remanufactured version of the Aérospatiale Puma, equivalent to the Eurocopter Super Puma," --Wikipedia It looks like it is different enough to need its own listing in the database ANW HUD-4 v1.11

SAS Drakensberg (A301) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAS_Drakensberg_%28A301%29 "The SAS Drakensberg (A301) is a fleet replenishment ship (AOR) of the South African Navy, with the primary role of assisting and supporting the SAN's combat vessels at sea. Built by the (now defunct) Sandock Austral shipyard in Durban, it is the largest and most sophisticated warship to have been built in South Africa." --Wikipedia ANW HUD 4 v1.11

Odd error (?) for the text for the LMCS Chickadee...as far as I can tell, it is NOT the Moroccan version of the Sigma-class corvette (which does have its own listing elsewhere in the HUD-4). As near as I can tell, the Chickadee simply a copy of the LCS 2 Independence. (There is also an LCMS 1 Oriole, which appears to be a copy of the LCS 1 Freedom). Was there a reason for adding these quasi-duplicates? Assumed export versions of the LCS? (By the way, the Chickadee is not a bad name for a small warship. These birds are 5" tall and only weigh about as much as a mouse, but put out the birdseed and you will see they are aggressive little guys!) ANW HUD-4 v1.11

USCG seagoing buoy tender (aka Balsam aka Iris) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCG_seagoing_buoy_tender http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_Bittersweet_%28WLB-389%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_Redbud_%28WLB-398%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_Sassafras_%28WLB-401%29 "The USCG seagoing buoy tender is a type of US Coast Guard cutter originally designed to service aids to navigation,throughout the waters of the United States, and wherever US shipping interests require. The Coast Guard has maintained a fleet of seagoing buoy tenders dating back to its origins in the US Light House Service. These ships originally were designated with the hull classification symbol WAGL, but in 1965 the designation was changed to WLB, which is still used today." --Wikipedia Some of these are still in service with various small navies as patrol vessels. Armament varies--sometimes as little as 2 x .50 machine guns, sometimes includes a 3-inch gun, 20 mm. guns, depth charges, etc. ANW HUD-4 v1.11

Camcraft Patrol Boat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_of_El_Salvador http://www.navypedia.org/naval_balance/el_salvador.htm Descriptive text: Patrol boat employed by El Salvador for coastal and fishery defense. ANW HUD-4

Aermacchi S-211 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aermacchi_S-211 "The S-211 is a small tandem two-seat shoulder-wing monoplane with a retractable tricycle landing gear and powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-4C turbofan.[1] Also, the aircraft was designed for a secondary close air support capability with four underwing hardpoints for the carriage of weapons and other external stores." --Wikipedia Used mostly as a trainer, but could be used as a light attack aircraft (and probably was by nations with little else in their airforce); used by both the Philippines and Haiti. ANW HUD 4 v1.11

Listed in the descriptive text as carrying Harpoons and Gabriels, but they actually have Exocets. Possibly the wrong text entry was used? Edit...sorry, I put in the wrong class by accident. The P 20 Al Fateh is the one that has a much more correct description, although the machine guns are different. ANW HUD 4 v1.11

The text for the ACV Bay is very odd...it describes them as missile boats armed with Penguins when the only weapon they carry is a 7.62 mm. machine gun. Suggested text: A patrol boat employed by the Australian Customs Service. A similar class of vessels is used by Yemen.

Here is a near future scenario I'd like feedback on. Sometime in the next five years, the Cuban leader, another Castro is assassinated. His successor is not up to handling the crisis and Cuba erupts into civil war, the factions being those who support the old regime and those who want to see a complete change of government, restored relations with the U.S., etc. Within six months, the U.S. decides to openly support the rebels. It sends supplies, but not actual troops. It does, however, cheerfully sink most of the Cuban navy. Just as a precaution. Allies of the Cuban regime attempt to support it, but the U.S. creates a blockade. Not as extreme, perhaps, as the one created for the missile crisis, but the U.S. is not letting any ship or plane in that it thinks might have supplies for the Cuban military. A small naval war erupts as attempts are made to run or even destroy the blockade. 1. Who does this? My gut feeling is Russia, but another possibility might be an alliance of Brazil, Argentina, and Venezuela, partly as a direct challenge to U.S. hegemony over Latin America, a way of saying "You will always have influence, U.S., but now there are TWO great powers in the West." 2. Long range results? I'm guessing Cuba eventually becomes a U.S. puppet, but would the U.S. extend the war beyond the Caribbean, perhaps deciding to punish Russia and/or Brazil-Argentina-Venezuela by crippling their sea lanes? (No invasion, just the economic warfare of sinking some ships, as a way to sting these countries for having been "naughty.") Naturally, the navies of these countries would try to stop this. 3. How does this change if both Russia AND the BAV alliance are working together? 4. Europe probably just stays neutral. Or do they? 5. What else might happen? 6. How plausible is all this? What are your thoughts, observations, etc.? Thanks!

A slightly larger generic police/coast guard boat can be added by taking the database entry for the 42-foot motor cruiser and creating a new entry POL Generic Police Cruiser, with the main change being the addition of a Small Arms mount to represent the armed law enforcement officers aboard. The category POL (for "Police") is added to distinguish such boats from purely civilian vessels, even though they are often the same kind of vessel and the only difference is that they are being used for law enforcement. (Well, we hope they are being used for law enforcement...) Database text: A large generic police boat, similar to those employed by coast guards and law enforcement agencies around the world. ANW HUD 4 v1.11

Bell 412 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_412 "Development began in the late 1970s with two Bell 212 being converted into 412 prototypes. An advanced four blade main rotor with a smaller diameter replaced the 212's two blade rotor." --Wikipedia Is it different enough than the Bell 205 to need its own database entry? A related question...does the Bell CH-146 Griffon (the Canadian version of the Bell 412) need its own database entry? ANW HUD 4 v1.11

Alpha Jet MS2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_jet#Variants Described in Wikipedia as "Improved version with new avionics, an uprated engine, Magic Air-to-Air missiles, and a Lancier glass cockpit." I'm not sure if it is different enough from the other variants of the Alpha to need its own listing, but it looks like it might be...about 40 of these were built, for Egypt and for Cameroon. ANW HUD 4 v1.11

The PRC Type O25T Naresuan is described in the database as a conversion of a broad-beamed Leander, but I think this is incorrect. It's a Chinese ship sold to Thailand, isn't it? Anyway, I figured I should report it in case the text was in error. Here's the Wikipedia description (which probably can't be quoted word for word, but can be used a starting point, I suppose)... "HTMS (His Thai Majesty's Ship) Naresuan (FFG 421), (Thai: นเรศวร) hull number 621, commissioned in 1995, is a modified version of the Chinese-made Type 053 frigate, corporate designed between Royal thai navy and China but built by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation in Shanghai. Her sister ship, HTMS Taksin was delivered in November 1995. The ships came at 2 billion baht each, much less than the 8 billion baht price tag for Western-built frigates." --Wikipedia

Ah, okay. Can one of the moderators move it there or should I just repost the topic? Thanks.

I'm not sure if this belongs in "Military History" or another part of the forums, but this seemed like the best place for it... What do you think are the five most likely wars (regional or global) that we could see in the next five to ten years? Syria and Turkey? India and China? The US and Iran? Indonesia and Australia? Who will fight these wars and what will cause these nations to come to blows?

Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, dealing with aircraft can be challenging...by the time you realize an aircraft is hostile, it may have already done the same and fired, and in air combat seconds count like crazy. And you can't just shoot down anything you see because I usually put a few civilian aircraft into a scenario.

Welcome to the forums, briandog!

More information for the British HC1/HC2/HC3...I do not know if these are different enough from the standard CH-47 to need their own platform entry in the HUD-4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_Chinook_%28UK_variants%29 http://www.raf.mod.uk/equipment/chinook.cfm http://www.armedforces.co.uk/raf/listings/l0032.html http://www.eliteukforces.info/air-support/7-Squadron/chinook-hc2.php http://airforceworld.com/heli/eng/ch47.htm

I found some more information on the MH-47E/G. It sounds like this one might need one (or more) separate platform entries because of the changes in avionics, weapons carried, etc. http://www.boeing.com/rotorcraft/military/mh47e/index.htm http://www.chinook-helicopter.com/model_comparison/MH-47E_specifications.html http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/man/uswpns/air/rotary/ch47chinook.html http://nightstalkers.americanspecialops.com/helicopters/mh-47.php http://www.guncopter.com/mh-47d/ http://www.guncopter.com/mh-47/ http://www.guncopter.com/mh-47g/ (the last three links have lots of technical information)

A generic police boat could be added to the database adding a separate platform POL Generic Police Boat and using the information for the Boston Whaler, but adding a Small Arms mount to represent the armed law enforcement officers aboard. In fact, as I understand it, a number of police agencies around the world use various types of Boston Whaler for this exact purpose. Database text: A small, high-speed boat used by police forces around the world.

Defender class boat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCG_Defender_class_boat "The Defender-class boat, also called Response Boat – Small (RB-S) and Response Boat – Homeland Security (RB-HS), is a standard boat introduced by the United States Coast Guard in 2002. The boats serves a variety of missions, including search and rescue, port security and law enforcement duties and replaces a variety of smaller non-standard boats." --Wikipedia Also used by a number of navies like Iraq and Liberia. Not sure if separate listings are needed for the A, B, and C models. ANW HUD-4 v1.11

Rajshree class inshore patrol vessel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajshree_class_inshore_patrol_vessel "The Rajshree class vessels carry a 30 mm CRN 91 Naval Gun, which is gyro-stabilized with an electro-optical fire control system. The class can undertake day and night patrolling for anti-smuggling, anti-poaching and fisheries monitoring in shallow waters. They also carry onboard one high speed fibre-reinforced plastic boat, two Gemini boats and one water scooter for search and rescue operations." --Wikipedia ANW HUD 4 v1.11

Tsurugi class patrol vessel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsurugi_class_patrol_vessel "The Tsurugi class is referred to as High-speed, Special-Purpose Patrol Vessels. Planned as the top-tier of JCG intercept spy boats, this class features very high speed and accurate firepower. Its weaponry includes a JM61 20 mm Gatling gun, and a Remote Firing System consisting of a remote weapon system with a laser-optical fire-control system." --Wikipedia A Tsurugi was involved in the Battle of Amami-Ōshima. ANW HUD 4 v1.11

Minor database error...the descriptive text for one of the three listings for the Sprague identifies it as a "Finnish missile boat." At 9,000 tons, that's one heck of a missile boat! I figured I should let you know.