Warhorse64

No, it just lacks that cool "insider" feel that SIOP has ...

The first thing that every new F-14 pilot learns is that the hundred mile range of the Phoenix missile is a myth. The myth springs from a test conducted by the manufacturer (Hughes, IIRC) where absolutely everything was optimized: the target was a drone with blip enhance to give it the radar aspect of a Tu-22M, approaching head on at Mach 1.5, not jamming or maneuvering. It was being tracked by an E-2C Hawkeye which was cueing the Tomcat. The Tomcat was flying at high altitude and Mach 1+, directly towards the target, first registering the target on its own AWG-9 radar at about 140 miles range. The Tomcat launched a Phoenix missile at approximately 100 miles range, but due to the target's motion, the actual distance travelled by the missile was only about 60 nm --- which, by one of those odd statistical flukes, just happens to be the range quoted in the game ... ... It doesn't matter all that much, though, since you've still got range on just about everything you'll be shooting at.

Okay, that's fair enough. I had thought that perhaps this was a case of a slipped decimal point. Thanks.

I was looking over the loadouts for the F-22A Raptor in the default db, and noticed a few problems. First, the Intercept loadout is listed as 4 * AIM-120C5, 2 * AIM-120D, and 1 * AIM-9X. Should there not be TWO AIM-9X? Second, the GP loadout lists, among other things, 2 * GBU-31 (BLU-109) JDAM. GBU-31 is a 2000-lb bomb, whereas AFAIK, the F-22 is only capable of loading the smaller 1000-lb GBU-32. Finally, the GP-2 loadout lists the GBU-39/B SDB as having a damage rating of 40. The Small Diameter Bomb is a 250-lb class weapon which packs approximately 50 lbs of HE, which should give a damage rating of 4 or 5. One source for the F-22 is here: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/sys.../f-22-specs.htm And one for the SDB here: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/sys...s/sdb-specs.htm

Herman, is it possible that unit AA29 had been joined to the group from outside? Perhaps you sent it off to kill a sub and then had it rejoin? Years ago I learned not to add P-3s to ship groups because they tended to run out of gas while on patrol, so I'm wondering if something similar could be happening here.

Backfires have a tail gun. I've bagged a few P-3s with it, over the years ... :-)

I don't think that any reasonable person would be happy about either of those guys having nukes. Unfortunately, reasonable people seem to be in rather short supply on this issue; since we failed to discover massive quantities of WMD in Iraq, it is probably not politically possible to go after anyone else's WMD.

It seems like a real catch-22, doesn't it? Musharraf is less than ideal as an ally, but at the moment he's the best of a bad lot. My guess --- and that's all it is --- would be that Bush & Co. decided that however badly allowing the sale might turn out in the long run, canceling the sale might be enough to topple Musharraf, with even less pleasant immediate consequences, particularly for the troops in Afghanistan whose main supply route runs through Pakistan. I'm rather glad that it wasn't my decision to make.

Okay, I ask this in all honesty, with no mockery or sarcasm whatsoever: Do you really think anyone will be able to summon up the political will to do the 'persuading'?

Man, I dunno ... in principle, Biden is right, no question. But in practice? Musharraf is trying to be a key US ally in the War on Terror while ruling a country where Osama bin Laden has a 46% approval rating. That's a rather delicate balancing act at the very best of times, and Musharraf absolutely requires the support of the Pakistani military to carry it off. It may simply be that the consequences of canceling the sale are worse than the consequences of allowing it.

Patience is a very good thing in this game. Scenario designers usually give you more time than you really need. In this case, The Indian group is essentially trapped against the surrounding land by your carrier group. If they want to dash around, let them. They'll have to come into your reach eventually ...

A tough nut to crack, for sure. 'Invulnerable', not at all. You'll note that I did include two caveats ...

The basic rule would be stay deep at creep and let the bad guys come to you. It's pretty rare playing blue to have a target that you have to kill with a sub, usually it's possible to get it with air. Torpedoes on western subs are the weapon of choice, you can't usually shoot enough missiles to crack a target's point defenses. Soviet subs have better weapons but are usually noisier, and western ASW is *much* tougher to crack if it's done right. An American carrier group with S-3s is almost invulnerable to subs if it's played properly.

As a (somewhat awkward) workaround for this, it has always been possible to click once on the allocate or deallocate button, then press and hold the A or D key, as appropriate. Saves mucho wear & tear on mouse and index finger ...