Hello folks,

I just started playing this game, a long long time ago I used to play Harpoon Online on AOL. Was glad to see there is still a version out there and supported. I seem to be having some trouble defending my carrier groups against enemy subs. I read in one of the guides that the Perry class frigates have excellent sonar, and I see it is supposed to have a towed array. But according to the range circles, it appears their sonar has less range than the Spruance class destroyers (perhaps not suprising) and also the aegis cruisers. If you go into the unit display, it lists ranges for the main sonar, but the SQR-18 (I think this is the towed array) never shows the ranges listed, which I think means it isn't deployed. Is there some better way to tell if it is deployed? Is there something I'm doing that is preventing it from being deployed? I've played around with speeds a bit, but fast or slow I don't think it deploys. And my carrier group is on a nice straight long course, so I wouldn't think turning would be the problem. Any suggestions?

 

Thanks,

Czo

 

PS: Oh, I think I see a grey line behind my Spruance and sub that seems to have working towed arrays. This I'm guessing is the indicator. But still not sure why some of the other ships don't seem to deploy theirs.

The little line behind the ship icon is the indicator for a deployed towed sonar array. Towed sonar arrays are only used below certain speeds, and I do not know what the threshhold spped is in the game program. What that speed is in real life is (censored).

The little line behind the ship icon is the indicator for a deployed towed sonar array. Towed sonar arrays are only used below certain speeds, and I do not know what the threshhold spped is in the game program. What that speed is in real life is (censored).

 

Thanks, at least I now know for sure. It appears that my subs deploy fine, and one of my two spruances, but none of my four perry class are deploying. They are set in the ASW zone in the formation, except one out front as a picket. They should be sprinting and drifting I believe, so I'd think at least in the drift the towed array would be working.

Czo

Thanks, at least I now know for sure. It appears that my subs deploy fine, and one of my two spruances, but none of my four perry class are deploying. They are set in the ASW zone in the formation, except one out front as a picket. They should be sprinting and drifting I believe, so I'd think at least in the drift the towed array would be working.

 

Your towed array will be useless above 19 knots, though it is incremental and it will perform best at creep (5 knots or slower).

 

It may also take a minute or two for your towed array to 'straighten out' and show up on the map after course and speed changes.

 

As for the formation patrols and the 'sprint and drift', this may be a function of the above (speed/course changes) or something deeper (a bug?) going on.

 

Edit: Had a quick look with the Westpac scenario Backyard. The Improved Spruance class Nicholson, in the ASW ring of the Lincoln formation (AEC), does appear to be sprinting and drifting. And, the SQR-19 passive towed array is deploying and operable during the 'drift' (5 knot creep) phase. It does take a few moments for the array to become operable again after a 'sprint' (33 knots), though, as noted above.

Thanks, at least I now know for sure. It appears that my subs deploy fine, and one of my two spruances, but none of my four perry class are deploying. They are set in the ASW zone in the formation, except one out front as a picket. They should be sprinting and drifting I believe, so I'd think at least in the drift the towed array would be working.

 

Your towed array will be useless above 19 knots, though it is incremental and it will perform best at creep (5 knots or slower).

 

It may also take a minute or two for your towed array to 'straighten out' and show up on the map after course and speed changes.

 

As for the formation patrols and the 'sprint and drift', this may be a function of the above (speed/course changes) or something deeper (a bug?) going on.

 

Edit: Had a quick look with the Westpac scenario Backyard. The Improved Spruance class Nicholson, in the ASW ring of the Lincoln formation (AEC), does appear to be sprinting and drifting. And, the SQR-19 passive towed array is deploying and operable during the 'drift' (5 knot creep) phase. It does take a few moments for the array to become operable again after a 'sprint' (33 knots), though, as noted above.

 

Hmm. I'm playing the GUIK scenarios. It seems like the Spruances and subs are using their towed arrays. But the OH Perry class are never using their towed arrays, in spite of being in the same group, same speeds, courses, etc. It looks to me like they have towed arrays equipped, but aren't deploying them. At least, that is how it seems to have worked in the last two scenarios of the series. Any thoughts as to why this would be? It hampers my ASW efforts to have only a third of the decent sonars in my carrier group working.

 

Thanks,

Czo

Thanks, at least I now know for sure. It appears that my subs deploy fine, and one of my two spruances, but none of my four perry class are deploying. They are set in the ASW zone in the formation, except one out front as a picket. They should be sprinting and drifting I believe, so I'd think at least in the drift the towed array would be working.

 

Your towed array will be useless above 19 knots, though it is incremental and it will perform best at creep (5 knots or slower).

 

It may also take a minute or two for your towed array to 'straighten out' and show up on the map after course and speed changes.

 

As for the formation patrols and the 'sprint and drift', this may be a function of the above (speed/course changes) or something deeper (a bug?) going on.

 

Edit: Had a quick look with the Westpac scenario Backyard. The Improved Spruance class Nicholson, in the ASW ring of the Lincoln formation (AEC), does appear to be sprinting and drifting. And, the SQR-19 passive towed array is deploying and operable during the 'drift' (5 knot creep) phase. It does take a few moments for the array to become operable again after a 'sprint' (33 knots), though, as noted above.

 

Hmm. I'm playing the GUIK scenarios. It seems like the Spruances and subs are using their towed arrays. But the OH Perry class are never using their towed arrays, in spite of being in the same group, same speeds, courses, etc. It looks to me like they have towed arrays equipped, but aren't deploying them. At least, that is how it seems to have worked in the last two scenarios of the series. Any thoughts as to why this would be? It hampers my ASW efforts to have only a third of the decent sonars in my carrier group working.

 

Thanks,

Czo

Out of interest, which GIUK battleset, those before '2003 have their own database and maybe that is the culprit>

Don

I'm just using the one that came with most recent version of the free demo.

- Czo

I'm just using the one that came with most recent version of the free demo.

 

Even more specifically, which scenario?

Out of interest, which GIUK battleset, those before '2003 have their own database and maybe that is the culprit>

Don

 

Good call Don, I was just going through that with Brad on IRC yesterday commenting that in original GUIK the Perry does have a tail and the Tico and Sprus don't (strange).

Good call Don, I was just going through that with Brad on IRC yesterday commenting that in original GUIK the Perry does have a tail and the Tico and Sprus don't (strange).

 

Just had a quick look at GIUK 13.0 scenario Duel. Perry is streaming a tail, and is sprinting and drifting in the ASW zone of the formation.

Is the GIUK 13.0 the one that came with the most recent demo download?

Because my Spruances stream, and in the most recent scenario (I think it's called Retreat) the UK Type 23's stream, and so do my subs, but no matter the speed or course, the Perrys don't. Perhaps I'll try splitting on off into it's own group and seeing what it does on it's own. I also noticed the ASuW loadout (Skipper II missiles) won't allow you to launch an attack on ships. And if you launch it as a patrol, and manually set it to attack the ships, they still won't. Says the planes carry no weapons to attack ships. Which isn't really a big deal, cause rarely do I want to attack ships that I'm interested in letting my A-6s get within skipper missile range.

Thanks,

Czo

Is the GIUK 13.0 the one that came with the most recent demo download?

Because my Spruances stream, and in the most recent scenario (I think it's called Retreat) the UK Type 23's stream, and so do my subs, but no matter the speed or course, the Perrys don't. Perhaps I'll try splitting on off into it's own group and seeing what it does on it's own. I also noticed the ASuW loadout (Skipper II missiles) won't allow you to launch an attack on ships. And if you launch it as a patrol, and manually set it to attack the ships, they still won't. Says the planes carry no weapons to attack ships. Which isn't really a big deal, cause rarely do I want to attack ships that I'm interested in letting my A-6s get within skipper missile range.

Thanks,

Czo

From memory the skipper II problem was fixed in an updated database some time ago, maybe someone else can confirm that before I get back. However the updated database only work in recent (EC2003 and newer) battlesets and I don't know if you can use them in the demo, someone else will undoubtedly let you know on that.

(edit), I think I'm confusing myself with a problem with a Styx SSM, someone else will probably sort you out with this, sorry.

Because my Spruances stream, and in the most recent scenario (I think it's called Retreat) the UK Type 23's stream, and so do my subs, but no matter the speed or course, the Perrys don't. Perhaps I'll try splitting on off into it's own group and seeing what it does on it's own. I also noticed the ASuW loadout (Skipper II missiles) won't allow you to launch an attack on ships. And if you launch it as a patrol, and manually set it to attack the ships, they still won't. Says the planes carry no weapons to attack ships. Which isn't really a big deal, cause rarely do I want to attack ships that I'm interested in letting my A-6s get within skipper missile range. Thanks,Czo

 

Thanks. Turns out there is something odd going on with the towed array in the demo, so we're working on that. I will check on the Skipper too.