Wow, that's a great list of suggestions, Enrique. Thanks! Should keep me busy for awhile.

Moved the discussion about modeling amphibious operations to its own thread.

About the Italian FREMM frigates (slightly enlarged and modified post in relation with the posted in the News in Europe section):

From Mer et Marine, and with implications in the DB:

http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=119189

 

For now, six commanded frigates:

F590 Carlo Bergamini: General purpose variant, shore bombardment.

F591 Virginio Fasan: ASW variant.

F592 Carlo Margottini: ASW variant.

F593 Luigi Rizzo: ASW variant.

F594 unnamed: ASW variant.

F595 unnamed: General purpose variant, shore bombardment.

 

Main differences:

The main gun in the General purpose variant is a 127mm/64 OTO Melara LW.

The main gun in the ASW variant is a 76mm/62 OTO Melara Super Rapid.

(and another aft 76mm gun and 2x25mm/80 OTO Melara Oerlikon single guns in both variants, the French variant has only a forward 76mm).

Missiles General purpose variant: 8xOtomat Mk2 Block IV/Teseo Mk2/A.

Missiles ASW variant: 4xOtomat+4xMilas.

(and 16xVLS Aster 15 in both variants). Also, the Italian FREMM would be retrofitted with ASTER 30, the French ones is not capable. Note, at start only 16xVLS, not 32 as previously reported, and present in the French variant, see this picture: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/it/6..._bergamini4.JPG

Torpedoes: apparently 2x2 torpedo tubes in the General purpose variant and 2x3 torpedo tubes in the ASW variant, for MU-90 torpedos.

Sonar: both variants with TMS 4110 CL (Hull). The ASW variant adds a UMS 4229 CAPTAS (Towed). In the General purpose variant the room of the towed sonar is occupied by a dock for assault boats.

Other commons:

Radar: both Italian variants with EMPAR NG, not EMPAR.

Helicopters: both variants with 2xNH-90 or 1xNH-90+1xEH-101 (large helicopter capable) (The French FREMM are only capables of one helicopter).

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/FREMM

Another forgetted old fighter but in the early eigthies in the twilight of her career and not very relevant at that time, F-100 Super Sabre:

 

F-100 Super Sabre (Denmark, 1959-August 1982): 48 F-100D and 24 F-100F delivered. One third losed in accidents.

 

F-100 Super Sabre (Turkey, 1958-1982): A grand total of some 206 F-100C/D/F delivered (at least 92 F-100C from 1972 and probably others earlier, at least 87 F-100D/F). Used in the 1974 action on Cyprus.

 

Other former users deleted the F-100 a few years earlier, as Taiwan in 1979 and France in 1978.

A-4M Skyhawk (USMC 1971-1990, 1990-1994 in reserve squadrons).

OA-4M Skyhawk (USMC 1978?-1994).

A-4F Skyhawk (USN/USMC 1967-1986?).

A-7B Corsair II (USN 1968-1977, 1977-1987 in reserve squadrons).

AV-8A Harrier (USMC 1971-1987): no RWR.

AV-8C Harrier (USMC 1979-1987): yes RWR. ALE-40.

B-57B (Pakistan 1959-1985, 24 units, RB-1A radar, four drop tanks).

RB-57F (Pakistan 1965-1985? 1 unit).

KA-3B Skywarrior (USN 1967-1989).

EKA-3B Skywarrior (USN 1968-1989).

EA-6A (1968-1993): from 1984 with Shrike ARM. ALQ-86 ESM, ALE-32 chaff pod, ALQ-31 ECM pod (x5), ALQ-76 ECM pod (x5).

Buccaneer S.50 (South Africa 1965-1991): 15 delivered, 4xAS.20 or AS.30. 4xSNEB 18x68mm rocket pods. 2x430 USG DT (not in UK Buccaneers) Belly tank added after. LOROP recce pod.

Buccaner S.2A (RAF 1969-1982): 62 ex-FAA aircraft for the RAF. No Martel capables. From 1970 with WE177B/C. From 1973 with 4xSNEB 18x68mm rocket pods. From 1973? 4xBL-755 cluster bombs.

F-8P (F-8H) Crusader (Philippines 1978-1988): 25 delivered, with IRST, RWR.

F-8E (FN) Crusader (French Navy 1975-1992): no IRST, no RWR. 4xAIM-9B, or 2xMagic I/II, or 2xMatra R.530.

F-8P (FN) Crusader (French Navy 1993-1999): 17 aircraft converted. no IRST, yes RWR, only 2xMagic 2.

RF-8G Crusader (US 1965-1987, from 1983 only in reserve squadrons): RWR, ALE-26, ALQ-51, reinforced wings with pylons, 73 aircraft.

RF-84F Thunderflash (Greece to 1991).

CA-27 Sabre (Indonesia 1973-1982): 23 units of the Australian Sabre variant.

F-86F Sabre (Japan 1955-1982): 490 delivered, from 1959 with 2xAIM-9B.

F-86F Sabre/Canadair Sabre Mk6 (Pakistan 1950-1980): 120 delivered.

F-105B Thunderchief (USAF 1959-1981).

F-105D Thunderchief (USAF 1960-1984).

F-105F Thunderchief (USAF 1963-1983).

F-105G Thunderchief (USAF 1968-1983).

Lightning F.53 (Saudi Arabia 1969-1986).

Saab J35D Draken (Sweden 1963-1984).

Saab J35F-1/2 Draken (Sweden 1965-1989?).

Saab J35J Draken (Sweden 1987?-1998).

Saab J35S Draken (Finland 1974-2000).

Saab 35Oe (J35D) Draken (Austria 1987-2005): initially only with guns. With AIM-9P from 1992.

P-2H Neptune (France 1958-1984).

Sea Hawk FGA.6/no mark (India 1961-1983): carrier-based fighter.

Wessex HAS.3 (RN 1967-1982).

Wessex HC.2 (RAF 1964-1987?).

Wessex HU.5 (RN 1964-1987).

Wessex AS.31B (Australia 1969-1982).

 

Added!

 

FB-111A (SAC 1971-1990).

 

Already present.

Another forgetted old fighter but in the early eigthies in the twilight of her career and not very relevant at that time, F-100 Super Sabre:

F-100 Super Sabre (Denmark, 1959-August 1982): 48 F-100D and 24 F-100F delivered. One third losed in accidents.

F-100 Super Sabre (Turkey, 1958-1982): A grand total of some 206 F-100C/D/F delivered (at least 92 F-100C from 1972 and probably others earlier, at least 87 F-100D/F). Used in the 1974 action on Cyprus.

Other former users deleted the F-100 a few years earlier, as Taiwan in 1979 and France in 1978.

 

Added! Also the F-100 for Taiwan, as they remained in service with some squadrons until September 1984.

While on a roll, the Omani Hawker Hunter, armed with a couple of AIM-9Ps + 2 drop tanks

 

http://www.dstorm.eu/pages/en/oman/hunter.html

Wow! Thanks, Brad

And yes, JMS, I've lose my own notes about the Hunter ... at least in:

- RAF service to 1994 (Buccaneer radar trainer), Empire Test Pilots School to 1999.

- India to 2001.

- Switzerland to 1994 (with 2xMaverick or 2xAIM-9).

- Singapore to 1992 (with 4xMaverick or 4xAIM-9).

- Chile to 1996.

- Peru to 1980.

- Lebanon, limited service to today!.

Other sources:

http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/hunter/history.php

http://www.vectorsite.net/avhunt_2.html#m1

Digesting the impressive new planes in HCDB-120405:

- I think the APS-107 in F-105F/G is not a radar, is a combined RWR/ESM/targeting system, as descripted in

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Gal8...-Tucker/00.shtm

or in

http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav...r2aps.html#_APS

 

In my personal tables I see the F-105D/F (and probably G) radar is the ASG-19/NASARR R-14A Thunderstick (The radome is clearly bigger in F-105D and later marks than in F-105B. Alternative designation MA-9?, optimized for ground attack, my estimates: AS/SS, range=30, PH=50), not a Weather radar as in F-105B/D (Historically RO in F-105B, a MA-8/E-34 ranging radar) neither APS-107 as in F-105F/G.

Digesting the impressive new planes in HCDB-120405:

- I think the APS-107 in F-105F/G is not a radar, is a combined RWR/ESM/targeting system

 

Thanks. I wondered about that myself, though I didn't investigate further. Looks it is a RHAWS.

 

In my personal tables I see the F-105D/F (and probably G) radar is the ASG-19/NASARR R-14A Thunderstick (The radome is clearly bigger in F-105D and later marks than in F-105B. Alternative designation MA-9?, optimized for ground attack, my estimates: AS/SS, range=30, PH=50), not a Weather radar as in F-105B/D (Historically RO in F-105B, a MA-8/E-34 ranging radar) neither APS-107 as in F-105F/G.

 

I sometimes toss a 'weather radar' aboard when I don't have readily available info for the radar (which you are certainly helping to remedy) or where it is necessary to energize the jamming suite. Little quirks that aren't obvious to everyone.

Some little comments about the last iteration planes:

 

Entries 11085 and 11086 AS.332 (UAE) and 11087 Panther (UAE) lacks the DPS flag (also, one with ESM and the later variant with RWR).

 

Entry 11097 Hercules C.1P lacks the loadouts.

 

Entry 11108 the (fascinating) RB-57F lacks the flag codes (probably ESM, RWR, FLIR, TCS, IFR, all-weather capable).

 

Entry 11120 P-2H Neptune lacks the sonobuoys in the loadout.

 

Loadouts 57136 and 57137 for the Finnish Draken are the same in range and weapons.

 

Entry 11138 Wessex HAS.3 lacks the DPS flag.

 

Entries 11119 and 11147 F-100D (Turkey) are apparently duplicated. Perhaps the 11119 should be F-100C.

 

A little confussion in the Italian F-104S/CB and F-104S/CI: the F-104S/CI (caccia intercettore, without internal gun) is the Sparrow equipped, not the F-104S/CB (caccia bombardiere). As consequence, the AIM-7E must be in the 57164 loadout, not in the 57160 loadout.

 

Also, Italian, German and other European F-104 should be equipped with the AIM-9F (15000 build), not with the USAF model AIM-9E (only 5000 build)(both variants partly converted from previous AIM-9B).

Belgian F-104 are proved with AIM-9J.

Some little comments about the last iteration planes:

Entries 11085 and 11086 AS.332 (UAE) and 11087 Panther (UAE) lacks the DPS flag (also, one with ESM and the later variant with RWR).

Entry 11138 Wessex HAS.3 lacks the DPS flag.

 

The DPS flag serves no purpose, so most times I just exclude it altogether.

 

Entry 11097 Hercules C.1P lacks the loadouts.

Entry 11108 the (fascinanting) RB-57F lacks the flag codes (probably ESM, RWR, FLIR, TCS, IFR, all-weather capable).

Entry 11120 P-2H Neptune lacks the sonobuoys in the loadout.

 

Thanks!

 

Loadouts 57136 and 57137 for the Finnish Draken are the same in range and weapons.

 

Thanks, the second entry was supposed to add a couple more Rb24J.

 

Entries 11119 and 11147 F-100D (Turkey) are apparently duplicated. Perhaps the 11119 should be F-100C.

 

Supposed to have been F-100F. Thanks.

 

A little confussion in the Italian F-104S/CB and F-104S/CI: the F-104S/CI (caccia intercettore, without internal gun) is the Sparrow equipped, not the F-104S/CB (caccia bombardiere). As consequence, the AIM-7E must be in the 57164 loadout, not in the 57160 loadout.

 

Yeah, looks I mixed em up here but not in the HCCW.

 

Also, Italian, German and other European F-104 should be equipped with the AIM-9F (15000 build), not with the USAF model AIM-9E (only 5000 build)(both variants partly converted from previous AIM-9B). Belgian F-104 are proved with AIM-9J.

 

Got a source?

Also, Italian, German and other European F-104 should be equipped with the AIM-9F (15000 build), not with the USAF model AIM-9E (only 5000 build)(both variants partly converted from previous AIM-9B). Belgian F-104 are proved with AIM-9J.

 

Got a source?

A large and not fully conclusive answer here :

http://harpgamer.com/harpforum/index.php?showtopic=17578

Moved the AIM-9B/E/F discussion to that thread that Enrique had opened. Its a good one!