Well, while I wait for the SE situation to resolve itself, here is a new cluster of adventure ideas. Basically, the central idea is the same. It's around 2015 and things have gotten a little tense in the Pacific for one reason or another (possibly squabbles over oil, fish, etc.) The Blue side (which will vary, see upcoming posts) has reason to believe that Russia is planning something and decides to act first by crippling their Pacific forces. The goal is to eliminate at least two and preferably three subs. Naturally, Russia (RED) will not want this to happen.

 

The location will be the WestPac map. Most of the action will take place in and around the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan. BLUE forces will be drawn mostly from Japan, South Korea, Australia, etc. with limited help from the British, the U.S., etc. in various scenarios.

 

Basically, the idea is to see how the same scenario plays out with different BLUE assets.

 

First, the Russians. The rest in later posts.

 

Russian Forces

 

Sub Group 1

1 x Delta SSBN (K-223 Podolsk)

1 x Akula II (K-295 Samara)

 

Sub Group 2

1 x Kilo

 

Surface Group 1

1 x AGI (whatever class is likely to be active)

1 x FFL (Probably Grisha V, but use your best judgment)

 

Air Assets (Use whichever base seems appropriate)

2 x A-50 Mainstay

4 x Tu-22M Backfire (ASuW)

2 x Tu-142M BearF (ASW)

2 x Il-78 Midas (Tanker)

2 x Tu95RT Bear D (Recon)

18 x Su27 Flanker (some flavor of Intercept)

For the above scenario cluster...

 

Use any THREE of the following surface or submarine groups. One should be close to one of the Russian submarine groups (approx. 50 miles, with the rough direction to the group noted in the orders file); the second should be close to the second submarine group (approx. 50 miles, with the rough direction to the group noted in the orders file); the third should be located randomly somewhere within the area of operation...it may be able to assist OR it may be in need of protection. (In fact, one could put it right on top of one of the submarine groups and let the scenario begin with that group being attacked!). ONE of the following air groups should also be included.

 

In addition, there should be one fishing boat and one tanker or merchant in the area, as Neutral (Green) vessels, just to make things interesting.

 

The country with the Air Group is assumed to be the one "in charge," but it does not have to have any other forces involved in the scenario. It could be South Korean planes assisting British and Australian ships and an Australian submarine, for example.

 

It is possible that all the groups, besides the air groups, are submarines...one could have a Japanese sub, a British sub, and a French sub going after the Russian subs.

 

There are easily a dozen possible variations here. Enjoy. I look forward to seeing what people come up with.

 

Just for clarity, I give permission for anyone who wants to use the information in any of my postings to write scenarios for any form of Harpoon to do so. The more the merrier. In fact, I hope people come up with their own variations on what I've provided (I suppose Spanish forces might be in the Pacific for some reason...), etc.

 

I'm guessing 24 hours should be sufficient for the scenario.

 

Victory conditions: Blue Min. kill 2 submarines; Blue Max. kill 3 submarines; Red Min.; 2 subs on station for 23 hours and 50 minutes; Red. Max. 3 subs on station for 23 hours and 50 minutes

 

JAPANESE FORCES

 

Surface Group 1

 

1 x Atago DDG

1 x Murasame DD

2 x SH-60K

 

Surface Group 2

 

1 x Hatsuyuki

1 x Takanami

1 x SH60K

 

Submarine Group 1

 

1 x Oyashio

 

Air Group 1

 

2 x E-767 AEW

2 x P-3C

12 x F-15J

2 x KC-767 (Tanker)

 

 

SOUTH KOREAN FORCES

 

Surface Group 3

 

1 x Ulsan FF

1 x Gwanggaeto the Great

2 x Super Lynx

 

Submarine Group 2

 

1 x Chang Bogo

 

Air Group 2

 

12 x KF-16C Block 52

6 x F-4E

2 x P-3C

2 x Boeing E-737 (AEW)

 

AUSTRALIAN FORCES

 

Surface Group 4

 

1 x Anzac class

1 x Adelaide class

3 x S-70B

 

Submarine Group 3

 

1 x Collins

 

BRITISH FORCES

 

Surface Group 5

 

1 x Type 42 destroyer

1 x Type 23 frigate

1 x Lynx helicopter

1 x Merlin helicopter

 

Submarine Group 4

 

1 x Astute

 

FRENCH FORCES

 

Surface Group 6

 

1 x Horizon

1 x Georges Leygues

2 x Lynx helicopter

1 x NH90 helicopter

 

Submarine Group 5

 

1 x Améthyste

... and if you've got Win 7 Pro or Ultimate, you can download a free XP virtual machine for it from MS that will run the Scenario editor just fine.

 

Yes, I may have to go that route if the Harpoon Ultimate SE is still going to be 16-bit. I just hate to spend $100 (or however much it costs to upgrade Home Premium to Professional) to be able to run ONE program. (I mean, for that kind of money, I can get a used laptop on e-bay with XP on it and have a laptop.) Grrr!

 

I use an old XP machine for SE, and simply use a flash drive (1GB USB) to transfer from one machine to the other...fairly easy way of doing it, and quicker than email.

The Virtual PC download site states that it will not run on Vista Home premium and below. This is not, in fact, the case. I got a warning that my Home Premium OS wasn't supported, but the Virtual PC runs fine. Apparently, the only rub is that MS doesn't provide support for the product if it's installed on the lower end OSs, but if you skip past the warning and install anyway, it goes OK. I've used it for over a year with no problem.

 

It may be the same with Windows 7. You've got nothing to lose that I know of by attempting to install it and seeing if it will run.

 

Buddha