PG_H4

4.4.8 has "....cross-reference the lowest frequency band with the target's noise rating...". I'm guessing both would use the VLF-LF band. These would be sonobuoys?

The MiG-29SMT were rebuilt from existing ex-Russian Air Force MiG-29. Once Algeria discovered this they cancelled the order.

The radar fitted to the Beas is the EL/M-2238 STAR ER with the Medium antenna: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Images/Brahmaputra2.jpg (front radar) Based on: http://www.iai.co.il/sip_storage/files/1/35471.pdf stats should be: 3D: 135/135/114/46/14 SS: 54/35/20/11/6 (estimated)

The RAAF A330-200 MRTT are designated KC-30B, as it was expected the RAAF would use the KC-30A designation....

Kiev = Ukrainian capital Minsk = Capital of Belarus Novorossiysk = Russian city on Black Sea Baku = Capital of Azerbaijan Hence why the Kiev class was renamed! "battleships" I find the idea of 6 aircraft carriers hard to believe - they recently said they will run the Admiral Kutnetsov and replace her with a smaller carrier - but 6 including 4 names from former republics?

The photo above is the F/A-18E/F which adds an additional underwing HP (the outermost one in the photo) - typically 1 Mk 82 (cannot carry 2 Mk 82 - see the photo), 1 HARM, 1 AMRAAM, 1 JSOW, etc F/A-18A/B/C/D can carry 1, 2 or 3 drop tanks. They can carry assymmetric loadouts such as CL (centreline) HP x1: drop tank port Fuselage cheek HP: AAS-38 tgt pod or AMRAAM starboard Fuselage cheek HP: AMRAAM Port inner UW (underwing): drop tank Starboard inner UW HP: 2 Mk 82 outer UW HP x 2: 2 Mk 82 Tip HP x 2: AIM-9M Loadout: 2 330 USG drop tanks, 6 Mk 82, 2 AIM-9M and either 2 AMRAAM or 1 AMRAAM and AAS-38 tgt pod Pictures of carrying the 'unbalanced' loadout didn't really surface until the 2003 invasion, although Spain had been using this configuration during the 1990s. I have an article on the F/A-18D showing: CL: 2 Rockeye inner UW x2: drop tanks outer UW x 2 : 2 Rockeye This would give the same weapons as the above loadout except replace the 6 Mk 82 with 6 Rockeye.

Mk 82 are mounted on side by side carriers. You could carry 3 drop tanks (CL, inner underwing) and 4 Mk 82 (outer UW) In recent times they carry 2 drops (CL and one inner UW) leaving 3 hardpoints for weapons - 6 Mk 82 or 3 JDAM or 3 HARM or 3 LGB, etc

A-6E APQ-156 is the APQ-148 after TRAM has been added. They have 5 modes: 1) Search - this is the standard SS mode 2) Ground mapping - navigation 3) Tracking and ranging of fixed and moving targets 4) Terrain avoidance or terrain following 5) Beacon detection and tracking ISTR the radar is not coupled to the flight control system. Its probably the "manual TF" - maybe terrain avoidance (TA) would be a better H4 description?

Are you sure of your use of the word "nuclear" here? I've yet to employ them in harpoon, and doubt that it will change. I'm hoping that you meant gravity, dumb, laser guided...something like that. My focus is usually more tactical/operational power projection. Yeah, but you need to acquire the target first. Standard radar is good enough for nuclear weapons. The A-6E needs to use either its FLIR or to spot targets visually. The A-6A isn't all weather. It has two radar sets APQ-92 provides side to side clearance, the APQ-112 provides vertical clearance and cues to the pilot. In H4 terms its TF by radar but you need visual LOS - I've toyed with calling this 'manual TF'. I have an A-6E book somewhere - I'll have a look at the radar data.

For large numbers of fighters vs fighters I'd randomly allocate the hits so some aircraft would be 'killed' twice and some surviving. Accounts of USAF combat - they do sort the targets but surely even with 2/4 v 2/4 some accounts have two friendlies locking the same guy up. It does speed up the air combat in a GCS scenario, which is a good thing.

I'd agree with everything Brad has said here. I've gone with 2nd Gern IRST ratings for Mi-G-29 and Su-27, although some recent Russian systems are 3rd gen.

I'd suggest the original definition of 'all weather attack' was referring to the nuclear strike mission. An F-111A (reading an article on this now) or A-6E using TF flight could drop a nuclear bomb in zero visibility against a radar significant target (not currently covered by the rules). I've seen teh figure of 1000-2000 yard CEP by radar - which is enough for a nuclear bomb. They could also drop dumb ordnance at much reduced hit effectiveness. During the 1999 Allied Force bombing aircraft fitted with embedded GPS navigation were cleared to drop dumb bombs through clouds without visible LOS against fixed preplanned targets. Currently fighters and bombers with SAR radars (F-15E, F/A-18E/F with APG-79, B-2A, etc) can image the targets and drop either dumb or GPS guided bombs based on these radar images. Currently limited to stationary targets. I'd suggest in Harpoon 4 terms, aircraft with TF radars could drop nuclear bombs in all weathers; aircraft with advanced bombsights can drop without visual LOS. 6.3.4.1 infers this: Manual through Computing use visual LOS Advanced adds radars, GPS etc I'd suggest the recent Western emphasis on laser guided bombs has distorted out perception on air warfare.

And you haven't posted the ratings here yet!

Valour FF Displacement: 3590 fl In Class: 4+1 Acoustic Counterm: None In Service: 2006 Electronic Counterm: 3rd Gen D ESM: 3rd Gen Propulsion: CODAG/CPP Crew: 117+25 spare Size Class: Small Signature: VSmall/Quiet Weapons: ROF PB&PQ/SB&SQ(4)2 MM40 Block II w/4 Exocet (4) D/France F&A(16)1 Umkhonto-IR/16 msls//MRR (16) D F(1)1 OTO Melara 76mm/62//1 RTS-6400 C/Italy A(2)1 Denel 35DPG 35mm w/12 bursts//1 RTS-6400 C P/S(1)2 Oerlikon 20mm/90 C/FRG Aft Pad(1)2 Lynx Mk 64 B Sensors: Scout J/Nethl. MRR J/France UMS 4132 Kingklip K/France Remarks: ‘MEKO A-200SAN’ class. Reduced radar and IR signature due to hull shaping. Umkhonto can engage 8 tgts at once against targets detected by MRR radar. Fitted with stabilizers and broad beam – treat as medium sized ship under 3.1.1.3 and 3.3.5.4.3. Fitted with NBCD citadel, Link ZA, COMINT. Can decelerate at twice normal rate due to waterjet propulsion. Bridge and CIC has L armour. Can ship 1 Oryx or 2 Rooivalk vice 2 Lynx and carry 500 survivors and 40 command staff or special forces. Single RTS-6400 director with F arc (RA and EO, can be used as FLIR). 4000 nm @ 20 kts and 6000 nm @ 16 kts, endurance 28 days. • Amatola (16 Feb 06), Isandlwana (Jul 06), Spioenkop (Feb 07), Mendi (20 Mar 07). • Sep 03-Jun 04: Delivered. Not fitted with combat system or weapons until 2006. • 2006 on?: Aft RTS-6400 fitted (EO mode only) – to be fitted with RA mode, P/S(1)2 Rogue 12.7mm MG (EO, use double 12.7mm MG hit chances), SATCOM, laser warning. • late 07: Lynx helos available. Due to only 4 being available, other ships will probably ship Oryx or each will only carry 1 Lynx. Oryx carried before this date. • 2010: MCM AUV to be fitted • To be fitted with helicopter control radar, bow thruster, long range VSR, VDS or towed array, 3rd Gen J, additional P/S(1)2 Rogue 12.7mm. • Provision for GA35 25mm vice 20mm, new SSM, 127mm vice 76mm, additional 16 Umkhonto, improved Umkhonto-R (long range – 10.8 or 13.5 nm, TARH guidance), PB/SB(2)2 324mm torpedoes, 35mm AHEAD ammunition, VTUAV, mine chutes and off board decoys. Damage & Speed Breakdown: Dam Pts: 0 xx xx xx xx xxx Surf Speed: 28 21 14 7 0 Sinks (also said to be 30 kts)

In H4 you cannot deploy Towed arrays in shallow water. I have a pencilled in note that thermoclines do not form in water less than 1000 feet (Int III), but cannot remember where I got this from.

As per page 4-11 Sonar Range Modifiers: Own Ship Sonar Speed Modifiers has range modifiers for: Hull Array Low Speed TA High Speed TA

How on earth do you import maps into the Combat Plotter? I'm about to play my first scenario this weekend using thePlotter - Canadian ASW frigates vs Soviet SS in the North Sea.

How did the scenario go?

USN F/A-18A+ retained the APG-65 radar (unlike the USMC) - they can use pretty much all F/A-18C/D weapons except retain AAS-38B as the cockpit displays aren't suitable for ATFLIR. Venezuelas' F-16s have poor maintenance from 2003 due to lack of spares. They might have been fitted with Python 4 AAM 2004-06. Loadouts for Mi-17V5: 4 B-8 rocket pods or 2 B-8 rocket pods, 2 UPK-23 23mm gun pods MI-35M2 have the standard 12.7mm nose turret gun and are fitted with RWR, IR jammer, decoys, IR suppression, FLIR, laser designator, NVG. They have 4 HP vice the standard 6, estimated loadout 8 AT-6 Spiral, 2 B-8 rocket pods Mi-26T2 is used by the Army. You could use it to relocate radars or even, as In Vietnam, move aircraft from FOL to FOL. Don't firget teh Mirage 50EV with Cyrano IV radar and Exocet msls: 2 1700 L drop tanks, 1 AM.39 Exocet Block II, 2 Magic 2 msls SU-30MK2 have N-001V radar. they lack thrust vectoring or canards so are more like perhaps the Su-30MKI with standard SU-27 ATA? No idea on loadouts although R-73, R-77 and Kh-31A are possible.

So how did the game go? PG