Herman

That was definitely a fun AAR. Thanks, DarkNite.

As the Master Chief says,

AAR: Waking the God of the Dead [spoiler Alert] A Harpoon Classic scenario By Brad Leyte Captain Goldman was re-examining the map for the umpteenth time. Where would be the best points for ingress and egress? It seemed as though any point he chose would likely be covered by one of the numerous airfields dotting the Iranian landscape. "Well, that's why they call it an INTEGRATED Air Defence System," he chided himself as base S-2 walked up to him. Benjamin Dayan asked him what ordnance he planned on using. To which Goldman asked, "What can I have?". "Anything you like. It's been approved by the Prime Minister, himself," replied Dayan. "Well, I'll make it simple for you, then. Load the F-16I Soufa with Spice Mk 83s, the F-15 Thunder with AMRAAM, and the F-15 Baz with Have Nap," said Goldman. Dayan winced at the request and reminded Goldman that there weren't all that many in the entire inventory to which Goldman responded with, "What are you doing? Saving them for a rainy day?" Dayan relented and set about making arrangements for the munitions. In his mind, he agreed with Goldman. If this mission failed, there probably wouldn't be much use for the bombs if Iran got herself an atomic bomb. The entire mission launched at 0103 Lima time in hopes of the darkness giving them an additional cloaking effect. Goldman had decided that they would make their ingress between Basra and Baghdad. He planned the mission in stages. In Stage one, they would open a hole in the IADS and then return through that very same hole multiple times. The place where they would punch their hole was the air base at Dezful. The entire group crept in low on the deck. To ease logistics, each aircraft type was accompanied by two tankers. The strike was escorted by Nachshon EW and AEW aircraft that were also at low altitude. Goldman had been hoping to reach the release point without detection, but they accidentally bumped into an Iraqi C-130 flying out of Basra. The plane reported the incident to its ground control and inadvertently notified Iranian command headquarters. Mossad had already warned the IDF that anything the GCC states knew, the Iranians would know, too, because every state bordering Iran had been thoroughly penetrated by Iranian intelligence. Although detected, the strike remained under EmCon [Emissions Control] and immediately changed course in hopes of spoofing the Iranians. With luck, they could be lost again before the Iranians could react. It must have been a factor, as no interceptor radar was reported until the strike was 200nm away from Dezful. The Nachshon hung back, climbed, and activated its radar. Immediately, it detected interceptors drawing a bead on it. However, controllers calculated that they should be able to conduct the strike and escape before more than a few flights would be able to catch them. Thunder flight led the way and only had to kill a single pair of F-14 Tomcats before the Falcons and the Eagles reached their launch points. The Falcons aimed all of their weapons at the airfield while the Eagles released theirs at nuclear facility #2. The airfield sustained over fifty hits, but the nuclear plant was unscathed. Dezful would be closed for the duration. The orders said that defences could be suppressed. Although the base was flattened, it still fit Goldman's definition of 'suppression'. The entire strike group fled together. Like the Wild Bunch, they had ridden in, taken their pleasure with the women, shot up the town, and now, were riding out before a posse could form up in pursuit. Their American cousins would have been proud. Once re-armed, the strike launched, again, and hoped to make use of their newly created breach in the Iranian IADS. Luck was not on their side this time around. The same(?) Hercules ran into them and, this time, more Tomcat interceptors were waiting. The eight F-15 Thunder were riding shotgun and managed to splash all the Tomcats with deft manoeuvres after exchanging AMRAAM and Phoenix. The Iranian missiles were quite antiquated and scored no hits while the AMRAAM brushed the Tomcats from the sky. This time, the Falcons arrived at the Isfahan nuclear facility ahead of the others and were able to release their ordnance before the rest of the strike group. After release, they retired and held open the sides of the breach so that the Iranians were not able to pinch off the penetration behind the strike group. The target was severely damaged, but the F-15 Baz were able to put the nail in the coffin of the nuclear plant. Without further adieu, the strike group withdrew and collected each element as it returned to base. The third wave would be the most difficult. The group was going after nuclear facility #3, the most distant of the three possible targets. The group made its ingress through the same gap. However, this time they faced far fewer Tomcat fighters. Evidently, their previous visits had hurt the Iranian air force severely. Many flights of Phantoms were encountered, but they were easily brushed aside by the plentiful Derby AAMs carried by the Soufa Falcons. Although it was the longest mission of the day, the resistance was only moderate as the strikers delivered their high explosive ordnance. Leaving behind a smoking ruin for a facility, the Israeli air force withdrew. The Knesset had demanded that two targets be destroyed and the air force had, once again, risen to the occasion. Hopefully, it would be the last visit of the IAF to Iran, but Goldman knew otherwise in his heart. Thanks for a stimulating scenario. SZO file archives - Home of the Harpoon3 PlayersDB FilesOfScenShare HarpGamer.com - Home of the HCDB.

Hostile Neutrals --- GE HCCE B10 Neutral side will shoot down Red units but not Blue units. Hostile Neutrals B --- GE HCCE B10 Blue units not engaged by Neutrals even though they enter AAW range. Neutral Range Circles --- GE HCCE B10 Range circles for Neutral units appear to be controlled by Blue selection. They do not match Range circles for Blue. i.e. Blue SAM range circle is for Neutral SSM, Blue Active Sonar is for Neutral SAM, Blue Passive Sonar is for Neutral Air radar,...

Entering AAW Range --- GE HCCE B10 Warning message appears whenever plane launches. It is incorrect, yet always appears in WestPac scens with Neutral sides.

Target Saturated --- GE HCCE B10 Once a target has been attacked, subsequent strikers Return To Base without engaging.

Over 100 new aircraft, ships, submarines, facilities, classes, countries, and weapons have been added to the Harpoon3 PlayersDB. Get the PlayersDB 5.9.7 on HarpDB, PlayersDB Depot, or StrategyZoneOnline. Additions include: DD Bristol Type 82 UK 83 OPV Castle UK 81 OPV Castle UK 89 AS Emory S. Land USN 79-99 Su-24MK Fencer D DZ MiG-21bis Fishbed N DZ MRCH Fishing Dhow|17kts PG Island BD 04 PG Island RN 76-04 PG Island RN 95-04 DDG Kongo J 07 MRCH Lighthouse UK 02 Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 GR 05 Mirage 2000-5EDA Q 97 Mirage 2000-5F F 97 Mirage 2000D F 02 Mirage 2000EM ET 86 Mirage 2000H5 Vajra IND 95 Mirage 2000N F 87 Mirage F.1C-200 F 90 Mirage F.1CG GR 78-03 Mirage F.1CJ HKR 85 Mirage F.1EQ IRQ 89 Mirage F.1EQ-5-200 IRQ 85 Mirage IIICJ F 84 OPV River UK 02 MRCH Sea Centurion UK 96 MRCH Sea Crusader UK 96 SSM Prithvi II Group TEL IND SSM HY-2 Battery x6 IR 06|C-601 SSM SMERCH MLRS Btty INTL AAA 30mm 2S6M Tunguska x6 IND SSM Hatf VII Battery TEL PK 05 Radar Ericsson Giraffe 3D AAA 85mm KS-12 x4 INTL SSM BM-21 MLRS Btty INTL SSM BM-14 MLRS Btty INTL SSM BM-21 Uragan MLRS Btty INTL SSM HIMARS Battery USA SAM SA-18 ManPADS x4 H SSM SMERCH MLRS Btty IND 06 - countless changes and improvements guaranteed not to crash any earlier scenario built with the PlayersDB SZO file archives - Home of the Harpoon3 PlayersDB FilesOfScenShare HarpGamer.com - Home of the HCDB.

AAR: My Pet Dragon [spoiler Alert] A Harpoon Classic scenario By Brad Leyte I don't often get a chance to play the red side. So, when I saw that this scenario was playable from either side, I jumped at it. As the PRC prepared for the impending assault, the general vicinity of the CVBG was revealed. Ground-based radar was able to detect the distinctive emissions from an E-2 Hawkeye. Although they didn’t know the exact location of the carrier, they knew that it could not be far away and decided to re-configure the aircraft to defend their bases, first. In accordance with the orders, the PRC would not take any offensive actions in hopes that a diplomatic solution would be found. However, the Vietnamese were the first to get aggressive by blatantly violating PRC airspace around Hainan Island. Until the diplomats were able to get a handle on things, Vietnam would be considered hostile. They came snooping around sovereign Chinese airspace, were warned, and then shot out of the air. They continued their belligerence around the convoy centred on the Charles de Gaulle. She also splashed the Fishbeds that had nosing around the declared Exclusion zone surrounding her. A volley of Dong Hai 10 ALCM [Air-Launched Cruise Missiles] was sent to Hanoi to remind them who the biggest wolf was in the region. One of the few things the PRC leadership truly feared was the American TLAM. They had carefully analyzed the use of TLAM in the Middle East and were in awe of its fearsome striking power. Even now, a wave of TLAM could be approaching the PRC and they wouldn't know about it. So, they kept a substantial proportion of their ready assets in the air in hopes of spotting these deadly missiles. They were much relieved when this threat failed to materialize. Instead, the Americans sent their forces in piecemeal while the PRC was able to hit with a mailed fist. Growlers tried to jam the radar, but they, in turn, were easily identified, located, and killed. Hornets were also detected conducting probes of the defences, but they were all killed quite handily before they were able to deliver any type of attack. Except for a startling SRBM attack on Lingshui and Shantou, the Americans seemed to be offensively ineffective. Once the PLAN decided that no attack would be forthcoming, they quietly re-armed their Flankers with AShMs [Anti-Ship Missiles]. The Maritime Patrol Aircraft [MPAs] had positioned themselves around the Hawkeye in a semi-circular pattern and just outside the estimated radar coverage. While the bombers were launching, they all converged on the Hawkeye in hopes of locating the carrier. Without any opposition from Combat Air Patrols, they were able to close and pinpoint the carrier. The strike elements were then able to time an excellent time-over-target attack. Anti-Radiation Missiles were launched at maximum range and they were followed by the strike elements. When the entire task force turned on their radar to engage the ARMs, they revealed themselves entirely and set themselves up for AShM attack. Within a matter of minutes, the carrier was left a blazing wreck and many of the SAMs had been expended. A late-arriving group of Badgers gave the survivors the coup de grace. Meanwhile, off the coast of Vietnam, the SSN Amethyste detected another carrier task group centred on the Chakri Nareubet and had crept inside the Thai formation. From a distance of only 3nm, she unleashed a full volley of torpedoes towards the carrier and dove deep to evade. The group did not even appear as though it had detected the attack for it just kept sailing along blissfully. Amethyste recorded three explosions as she made her escape. Once clear, victory was granted. Now, the Americans would think twice before venturing back into the South _China_ Sea. Thanks for the scenario. SZO file archives - Home of the Harpoon3 PlayersDB FilesOfScenShare HarpGamer.com - Home of the HCDB.

Navy Emphasizes Anti-Submarine Training By AUDREY McAVOY , 01.26.2006, 02:52 PM Associated Press Forbes Two Navy destroyers and a cruiser dangle sonar devices into the ocean to listen for enemy submarines lurking 50 miles from Honolulu. Naval aviators in P-3 surveillance planes and helicopters drop sonar buoys into the sea to give the sailors more ears below the surface. The submarines are not really enemy vessels at all, but U.S. subs participating in anti-submarine warfare training. The exercises, held Jan. 9-12, are something Navy sailors will be doing more of in coming years. The Pacific Fleet has made training to track and destroy submarines its top combat priority amid concerns its sailors' skills have not kept up with the advanced diesel submarines China and other Pacific Rim countries have been buying. "There is a real threat out there - over 140 diesel submarines in the Pacific, and the technology on them is getting better every day," said Capt. David F. Steindl, who directed the ships and aircraft during the exercises. "We need to train constantly to be ready if we ever have to face that threat." Tracking submarines dropped on the Navy's list of priorities after the Cold War ended and the former Soviet Union began retiring some of its undersea vessels. Also, diesel submarines were considered too loud to pose much of a threat to the U.S. Navy and its silent-running nuclear subs. But the emergence of quieter diesel subs has given anti-submarine warfare new urgency. These diesel submarines are no challenge to the U.S. Navy's supremacy at sea; they can't go fast enough for long enough distances for that. But they are quieter and thus harder to find and more capable of sneaking up on ships. Owen Cote, associate director of the security studies program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said the United States is primarily concerned that China might use its diesel subs to block commercial ship access to Taiwan and force Taiwan to capitulate in a military showdown with Beijing. Cote said the Navy might also have some concerns about North Korean submarines, as well as Iranian submarines in the Persian Gulf. But those vessels are not considered to be as advanced as those the Chinese have. Steindl, commander of Destroyer Squadron Seven since April, said he has been spending twice as much time on anti-submarine warfare exercises than he did the last time he served at sea, four years ago. Now, he said, his team is training almost constantly for anti-submarine warfare. Starting last summer, sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan spent months off San Diego matching their wits against the Gotland, a Swedish vessel that is among the world's quietest and hardest to detect diesel submarines. The Gotland uses advanced technology to muffle its sound. It can also stay underwater for weeks at a time. Most diesel subs have to surface every day to recharge their batteries, making them vulnerable to attack. Steindl said his sailors found ways to track the Gotland during their exercises, though he declined to say how. He said the training prepared his crew well. "If we can go against her, we can go against anyone," he said. Other Navy ships will get to train against the Gotland until June, when the Swedish sub is due to go home. The Navy also has been training with other nations that have diesel subs in their fleets. Last fall, U.S. ships held separate exercises with the Australian, Indian, and Japanese navies. Ten nations lining the Western Pacific own 212 diesel submarines, including 132 that fall in the SSK, or "hunter-killer," category, according to "The Military Balance 2005-2006," a book put out by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. China alone owns 64. Just over half of China's diesel submarines are outdated Romeo-class subs, but Beijing moved to upgrade its fleet by acquiring four advanced Russian-made Kilo-class submarines in the 1990s and ordering eight more in 2002.

Launch Limbo --- GE HCCE B10 When aircraft are either launching or landing, if the aircraft in the group are destroyed before the group is fully launched/landed, the aircraft that have not yet launched to / already landed from the group are stranded in limbo either as launching or landing. Ferry unlimited --- GE HCCE B10 AI can launch unlimited number of aircraft on ferry mission. If aircraft are destroyed before the flight is finished launching, the AI just continues until the original full flight is launched.

DARPA seeks supercavitation submarine UPI WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is looking for a really fast, really small submarine. It's also seeking a major breakthrough in physics: making supercavitation actually work on a large scale. Supercavitation refers to a process of displacing water around a submerged vessel so that it travels in a gaseous or vaporous cavity. Theoretically, that can be done either by propelling a blunt-nosed vessel at a very high speed -- its nose forces the water out of the way -- or by injecting gas into a partially developed cavity, according to DARPA. The U.S. Navy has experimented with the technology, as have the Russians, but no one has mastered maneuverability and control for larger vessels at such high speeds. The Russians have a supercavitation rocket-propelled torpedo called Shkval which can travel at 230 miles per hour. It attains that speed by producing a thin envelope of bubbles all over its skin. Because the metal is not in contact with the water, drag is significantly reduced and the high speed is possible. "The ability to generate and maintain the large cavity needed for this scale vehicle has never been demonstrated, nor has a control system for maneuvering the vehicle," DARPA states. DARPA envisions an eight-foot diameter craft that would carry a small unit -- presumably Navy SEALS -- or high-value cargo quickly through coastal waters. The military is also interested in the possibility of supercavitation for bunker-busting missiles. February 1 is the deadline for responses to a solicitation for the Underwater Express Program.

AAR: Constant Glance [spoiler Alert] A Harpoon Classic scenario By Brad Leyte "They're fighting over gas!?!", Bradford exclaimed? "I can't believe that they are fighting something when my brother-in-law has such a vast oversupply." A few grins lit up across the room at that. It was intended to lighten the mood and was only partially effective. The entire staff at US-Eastern European Task Force [EETF] HQ could see the dire situation they were in. Odessa had just launched her aircraft in what she would hope to be a lightning quick strike into the Crimea. With luck, they would be able to suppress the lightly defended airbase near Kerch before the Russians could respond effectively. The airlift into Forward Operating Base at airfield AFa was sent immediately. "No time like the present", Bradford liked to say. He hoped that his optimism would not come back to bite him in the keester. The HSV Spearhead was ordered to turn around and join up with the slow-poking MPS ships following behind her. It was all fine and dandy to be running around at 38kts in times of peace, but if the balloon went up, her speed was going to pale in comparision to the AShMs [Anti-Ship Missiles] that the Russians were known to use. The little group was protected by a lone FFG, but some protection was better than none at all. The tiny Romanian frigate force along with the Ukrainian Black Sea Patrol squadron was sent to lend what aid they could. Everyone expected the transports to receive a hot reception. They were prime targets and only lightly shielded. Kogalniceanu sent two CAPs [Combat Air Patrols] consisting of MiG-29 Fulcrums aloft in a bid to offer some early warning and interdiction. What a strange new world it was when MiG-29s were providing CAP for Perry-class frigates. The armoured groups near Sebastopol reported attacks from unknown assailants. "Well", thought Bradford, "that tears it. Fight's on." More reports were filtering in from the Crimea. The artillery groups were ordered to detach and evade. Evidently, the enemy knew their location so they had to immediately displace. Nothing could be done for the fixed bunkers and several were destroyed. Hopefully, some of the artillery train would survive. The Russian helos were appropriately named Havoc for they lived up to their namesake. They wrought havoc throughout the Crimea. In the company of Hind helos, they smashed several bunkers and much of the forward artillery before being brought down by the Fulcrum and Flankers just arriving on the scene. As usual, it was a matter of closing the barn door only after the damage had been done. Nonetheless, eight attack helicopters were caught as they tried to flee the field and were slaughtered by the incredibly effective AA-11 Archers. A window of opportunity opened up and there was a gap in the Russian defences. The Su-24 Fencers and the Su-25 Frogfoots from Odessa did not pass it up. They swooped in and hurtled themselves at the forward air base near Kerch. A few desultory SAMs were fired in their direction, but no losses were sustained as they laid waste to the airfield. As they made their egress, victory was granted. Evidently, the bold move had the correct one. The Russians were willing to flex their muscles. However, with the destruction of their forward base near Kerch, they lost heart and decided to settle the issue diplomatically. Thanks for a unique scenario tied in with contemporary news headlines. SZO file archives - Home of the Harpoon3 PlayersDB FilesOfScenShare HarpGamer.com - Home of the HCDB.

Operation Wizard The 3rd new scenario of the year! The eighth and final installment of "The Cyprus Affair" battleset has been released. NEW WORLD ORDER SERIES: THE CYPRUS AFFAIR CAMPAIGN #2 When the NSC made good on its promise to deliver SA-10 Grumble SAM systems to the Greek Cypriots in the spring of 1995 despite Turkish protests, the stage was set for another conflict in Cyprus. The presence of the advanced weapons shifted the delicate balance of power as it put nearly all aircraft operating from the Turkish side of the island at risk. NATO was embarrassed when regular Turkish forces stormed the island a few months later. It had not been aware of Turkey's intent to reclaim Cyprus once and for all. Hand-in-hand with the economic boom in the NSC came military modernization and revitalization; funding for which was fueled at least partly by an unprecedented level of arms exports. The NSC would no longer sit idly by while its national interests were decided by others. It launched a major attack against Turkey on June 3, 1995. The NSC did not believe that NATO would intervene in the Cypriot affair after having been snubbed by its Turkish partner and after the beating it had received in the Baltic conflict the previous year. The NSC was about to be proven wrong. #8 OPERATION WIZARD Although numerically plentiful, the NSC ground forces are relatively poorly trained. The operation to re-take Turkey is going well, although it is considered bloody. Cyprus has already been re-claimed. The U.S. learned valuable lessons from Desert Storm, including the following rule: it makes no sense not to finish the job. Task Force Scarecrow has moved into the Aegean and more aircraft are being ferried to newly re-built airbases in Turkey for the upcoming operation. The mission: destroy the NSC Black Sea Fleet and neutralize neighbouring military facilities in the Crimea. Author: Herman Hum, Brad Leyte This scenario requires the latest release of the PlayersDB v5.9.7 Get it via: StrategyZoneOnline, HarpGamer, SimHQ, PlayersDB Depot, SubSim, CombatAce, or Frugal's World of Simulation. SZO file archives - Home of the Harpoon3 PlayersDB FilesOfScenShare HarpGamer.com - Home of the HCDB.

Installations bug When trying to insert an installation, the an error is reported: "ios_base failure in clear" Sonobuoy battery endurance Battery endurance for sonobuoys is irrelevant.

Sparrows firing without radar --- GE HCCE B10 AIM-7M Sparrow missiles are able to fire and hit without requirement of active radar guidance. Sparrows do not engage --- GE HCCE B10 Inbound missiles fly right over Phantoms. Staff Assistant asks if player wants to engage with AAMs or not. When player hits Yes button, only AIM-9D Sidewinders are fire. The longer-ranged AIM-7F Sparrow do not fire unless manually directed by the player. Phantom EmCon is irrelevant.

AI unable to intercept Aircraft manually ordered to intercept with either the F1 function or the [F6] Air Intercept function are often unable to calculate a course to intercept the target, especially if the target is not perfectly located. MAD contact for ground facilities The MAD detector is able to detect ground facilities.

USAF KC-135s to Serve as Comms Relays Source: US Air Force Jan. 20, 2006 eDefense A KC-135 Stratotanker at Fairchild AFB, WA, was fitted with upgraded communications equipment recently that will revolutionize the battlespace and the way the US and its allies fight wars, according to US Air Force (USAF) officials. After 18 months on the drawing board, equipment developed under the Roll-On Beyond Line-of-Sight Enhancement (ROBE) Spiral 2 program has been fitted to the first KC-135 and will undergo testing at Eglin Air Force Base, FL. This system will allow allied forces in the battle zones near-real-time communications with any headquarters across the globe. This will give commanders a better picture of the battlespace and could potentially lead to more timely decisions and more effective operations. The system was originally envisioned by Gen. John P. Jumper, former chief of staff of the Air Force, who felt that tankers orbiting and refueling over hot zones could be used for other purposes, said Catherine Meyn, ROBE program manager. The research resulted in ROBE. “The equipment will allow information to reach forward to units on the front lines while they will also be able to reach information back to the decision makers at headquarters,” Meyn said. Although ROBE equipment has been fitted on KC-135s since October 2002, Spiral 2, the most recent generation of the ROBE equipment, incorporates the latest technologies allied military services will use to streamline battlespace communications. The Spiral 2 upgrade includes enhancements in data-forwarding and satellite-communications technology, among other things. “The basis of this new system is that satellite-communication technologies are cheaper and more available than ever, and the use of satellites has increased,” said TSgt. Greg Meuser of the 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. “We’re starting to see the limits of the amount of data transfer satellites are able to handle all at one time.” To combat this and keep communications flowing in near real-time, ROBE Spiral 2 is able to take information from many different sources, combine them into one stream, and upload to the satellites eliminating line-of-sight limitations. “Line-of-sight communications are good up to 300 nautical miles, depending on terrain,” said TSgt. Alecia Judd, non-commissioned officer in charge of tactics with the 92nd Operations Support Squadron. “Because of that, every 300 nautical miles, we’ve had to have either an AWACS or ground station to forward the data onto the next one, until it reached its final destination.” ROBE Spiral 2 will take the military out of that era and plant it in a new one where a KC-135 can forward all of that information onto satellites and minimize the need for the other units. “Since tankers are usually in an orbit pattern over hot zones, they are a perfect aircraft to carry the equipment,” Sergeant Judd said. Units on the ground can use the orbiting tankers to pass on important information to aircraft in the air. “The system is like our nation’s highways. Before ROBE, communications ran on many different state highways. What we’ve come up with is an interstate for communications,” Sergeant Meuser said. ROBE provides a similar “roadmap” function by providing the best route over which information can travel. It does this by being connected into a network of nodes; a node could be an aircraft, satellite, or a headquarters. Each node knows where it is in the network and can send information and data to the next one more quickly than if the information had to be forwarded from one relay station to the next. All of this happens while minimally affecting the aircrew. ROBE is a box of equipment airmen hand-carry onto the aircraft. Once loaded, the kit can be hooked up to equipment pre-installed on the aircraft. This allows the Air Force to enhance aircraft with the technology but only install the critical components when needed. Sergeant Meuser said that once the boom operator loads the software, the system is pretty much self-sufficient. Even if it needs restarting operators on the ground can control it. “The whole purpose of the system is to interfere as little as possible with the aircrew so that the mission can continue. At the same time, you want to focus the capabilities of ROBE to enhance communications as much as possible in theater,” Meyn said. With previous versions of ROBE, because of the limitations of the satellite antenna, whenever the aircraft would bank through a turn it would lose connection to the satellite, Sergeant Judd said. With Spiral 2, they are installing more antennas that should drastically improve the aircraft’s ability to stay connected. According to the Northrop Grumman web site, 40 Air Force KC-135 aircraft have been enhanced to carry the ROBE equipment, and there are 20 ROBE kits available for use. The Fairchild tanker is the first and only aircraft at this point to have ROBE Spiral 2 installed.

Null Bases --- GE HCCE B10 When using the SE, if a designer creates a Base(Cntl+ and then fails to actually select a base to add, a Null Base is created. Unless it is deleted, the Empty base will show up as a Weapon Icon and remain in the scenario and crash it when a player attempts to open it with the Game Engine.

AI inside Minimum Launch Range If an AI unit finds itself inside the Minimum Launch Range of its weapons, it is unable to move away in order to fire its weapons. LR SAMs have no ASuW capability Long-Ranged SARH SAMs cannot be given ASuW capability even if they have this ability in real life. Otherwise, they attempt to launch at vessels over the horizon and end up crashing into the sea.

Planes in the process of launching can move Plane groups in the process of launching can move before the entire group is airborne. ASuW mission altitude Planes on the ASuW Area Patrol mission are often unable to fire their weapons due to differences between the mission altitude parameters and the weapon release parameters. ScenEdit and Vestigal Loadouts When aircraft loadouts are changed or deleted in the database, it is not always possible to see this in the ScenEditor. The weapons for the deleted loadout appear in the SE, but when the player opens the scenario with the GE, the planes revert to the minimal (unloaded) loadout.

MatchPlay The full and complete "MatchPlay" battleset is now available! The second and third rounds of the "MatchPlay" battleset have been publicly released. These four scenarios have previously been unavailable to the Harpoon public. Now that the PlayersDB contest is complete, they are hereby posted for your enjoyment. Anyone interested in playing the battleset as a consecutive / connected series is welcome to play the first scenario in the series and send in the results to Freek Schepers at freek_schepers@yahoo.com and he will send out the next scenario in the series and customize it to your losses in the previous round. MATCHPLAY Terrorist attacks on the Belgium Royal family have left the Dutch Crown Prince next in line to the throne of Belgium. Popular mourning and an uprising has quickly resulted into civil war between the French-speaking Walloons in southern Belgium and the Dutch-speaking Flemish in northern Belgium. Holland has quickly moved ground forces into Belgium to assert its claim to the throne, while France has tried unsuccessfully to mobilise the UN. But, as the Israelis showed in 1967, the UN cannot operate at the pace of modern warfare… ROUND 2: ANTI-CARRIER PLAY Second in the MATCHPLAY battleset, playable from the Dutch side.To reinforce the French fleet, the Carrier Charles de Gaulle is moving from the Mediterranean to Brest. The UN has stopped all combat and your mission is to sink Charles de Gaulle using your remaining Dutch submarines CARRIER PLAY Second in the MATCHPLAY battleset playable from French sideUN has enforced a ceasefire after a day of 'hyperwar'. The French Department of Defence has announced that around 60 Dutch F-16 fighters and a frigate have been destroyed. While the Dutch divisions in Belgium have been hit hard, reinforcements have taken their place and Flanders is firmly in Dutch hands. BDA suggests that our air strikes have destroyed the revetments, tarmacs, and hangars on Florennes and destroyed all Belgian F-16s based there on the ground. The amphibious landings on Walcheren failed within sight of the objective. All four landing ships were damaged and Jeanne d'Arc had to be towed clear of the area and is now in drydock in Brest. A shock has gone through the French press as the losses are becoming apparent; 150 (one hundred and fifty!) of our best front-line fighters destroyed, as well as two of the priceless E2 and E3 AEW planes! Never in the history of French warfare has there been such a bloody defeat against an enemy that, apart from a recent struggle with Norway over oil (See OILFIRE.SCN), has only practiced war, not waged it.The Navy has been hard hit, as well. Apart from the damage to Jeanne d'Arc, 10 Frigates and Destroyers were lost. The 10 Rafale fighters have done well before they were shot down and a few replacements have even been found straight off the production lines.The worst stain on France's honour has been that the damaged heavy lift vessels packed with Marines have had to surrender and become prisoners of war in Belgium. ROUND 3: SUB PLAY Third of the MATCHPLAY battleset playable from the German (allies of France) side.The Charles de Gaulle has safely entered Brest after sinking two Dutch submarines, but losing a frigate, her last Rafale, and one of our two remaining Hawkeye's. All point-defence weapons were used up in our last action and both sides, astonished by the supremacy of defensive firepower, refrained from gun actions and withdrew. One Achilles' heel remains that we can exploit; the Dutch are totally reliant on merchant traffic to Rotterdam and Antwerp. Unfortunately, our amphibious landing on Walcheren to close the entrance to both ports failed and France lacks the resources to implement a Maritime blockade of the North Sea. SPECIAL OPS PLAY Third of the MATCHPLAY battleset, playable from the Dutch side.Netherlands has lost a lot of F-16s against France, but most pilots have bailed out over friendly territory and are fit to fly. Belgian F-16s, captured intact, are being readied for operations.Denmark also flies 62 F-16MLUs, based on two bases in Skrydstrup and Aalborg. A daring plan has been developed to raid the Danish airbase of Skrydstrup, neutralise the defences, bring in pilots and maintenance crews by plane, and fly the aircraft to Netherlands. Author: Freek Schepers These scenarios require the latest release of the PlayersDB v5.9.7 Get it via: StrategyZoneOnline, HarpGamer, SimHQ, PlayersDB Depot, SubSim, CombatAce, or Frugal's World of Simulation. SZO file archives - Home of the Harpoon3 PlayersDB FilesOfScenShare HarpGamer.com - Home of the HCDB.

BSL & Active Sonar --- GE HCCE B09 Active sonar detects all sub targets at maximum range regardless of size or BSL levels. Mines, small diesels, SeaWolf,... all detected at maximum or near maximum range of sonar. Also, even though BSL [base Sound Levels] have been exposed in HCCE so that Platform editors can modify them, they appear to have no effect on active detection ranges.

Neutrals cannot be engaged --- GE HCCE B09 Neutral units cannot be attacked either intentionally or accidentally. Self-refueling Tanker --- GE HCCE B09 As the tanker runs low on fuel, it will attempt to 're-fuel itself', fail to do so, and then turn around for home. The Fuel store is used up and wasted even when the re-fueling attempt fails. AAA altitude unlimited --- GE HCCE B09 Small AAA like 57mm S-60 and 23mm ZSU-23 are capable of killing aircraft at high altitude. Displays incongruent --- GE HCCE B09 Information displayed in the Unit Window is often inconsistent between the [F]ull display and the [D]isplay buttons.

Plane revert to cruise speed Individual planes always return to cruise speed after they are given new paths. This does not occur for groups. Hangar overload It is possible to land many more aircraft than the hangar capacity allows. Damaged fields do not impede landing When runways are damaged and no long sufficient to allow planes to launch, planes are still able to land once they run low on fuel if they originally launched from that airfield. ScenEdit ammo key The Enter Amount of Ammo button does not accept numbers if the maximum number of weapons is already loaded.

Right. I was looking at one of your older scens in HDSIII, I think. I played it with the HCDB but I guess that the coordinates do not change over to the older scens. No problem. The goof is on my end.