Harpoon 3 [ANW] scenarios for the PlayersDB

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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [Modern] >> Harpoon 3 - Advanced Naval Warfare >> Opponents Wanted >> Harpoon 3 [ANW] scenarios for the PlayersDB

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Harpoon 3 [ANW] scenarios for the PlayersDB - 4/3/2010 11:56:34 AM

hermanhum

Posts: 2209
Joined: 9/21/2005
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Mike Sprague (a.k.a. =FC=Gorgon) has working his way through the Falklands battleset. Tonight, he wanted to try the third scenario in the series and selected South Georgia, made with the community's favourite database, the PlayersDB.

One of the first tasks of the Falkland Task Force was the liberation of South Georgia. This was considered both a practice step for the Falklands liberation, and an essential first goal to secure safe anchorages for the many support ships that were needed by the Task force.

Mike played as the British while I commanded the Argentines. I didn't have much in the way of mobile assets. With only one sub and one gunboat at my command, most of my actions were going to be reactions to British plans.

http://forums.gamesquad.com/asset.php?fid=29115&uid=1836&d=1270290753

My lone sub, Sante Fe, picked up a long-ranged detection nearly right away. Within minutes, it was classified as a Royal Fleet Auxiliary. I suspected that this would be a very juicy target as her destruction would force the accompanying Royal Navy warships to withdraw from lack of fuel. So, I plotted a course in hopes of intercepting her. Instead, as I crept forward, I detected a cluster of ships coming the opposite direction and nearly right at me.

http://forums.gamesquad.com/asset.php?fid=29116&uid=1836&d=1270290760

I immediately slowed down and allowed the prey to come to me. The acoustic signatures for two were soon categorized as a County-class destroyer and the frigate, Plymouth. The third was not classified. As soon as all three were within torpedo range, four torpedoes were fired at each in three separate salvos. Knowing the ANW inability to hit specified targets, it was hoped that individual salvos would allow the fish to re-target themselves onto surviving vessels if the loudest target was already destroyed.

As suspected, as soon as the torpedoes left their tubes, they immediately ignored their assigned targets and sped towards the loudest ship, the destroyer. Not long afterwards, I heard an "Ouch!" over the chat window and knew that I had drawn first blood. My plan worked and the subsequent salvoes re-targeted themselves on the surviving ships. Not long afterwards, another explosion was detected. It turned out to be the IPS Endurance. The third ship was only able to attract a single torpedo which missed.

SS Santa Fe was having problems of her own. Upon detection of the attack, Mike had counter-fired a pair of Mk 46 on Bearing-Only-Launch and they were closing on the sub. They were running at 46 knots while the sub was making only 12 knots, full speed. They caught the daring little sub at a depth of 100m and sank her unceremoniously.

With no further offensive assets, I had to sit back and await the British attack. The surviving frigate, Plymouth, cautiously approached South Georgia but stumbled into range of an Argentine infantry platoon. Although limited in ammunition, the heavy weapons squad acquitted themselves well. Their 81mm mortars landed several hits on the frigate and set it afire.

http://forums.gamesquad.com/asset.php?fid=29117&uid=1836&d=1270290768

After retreating and re-grouping with another frigate, Brilliant, the British came back. This time, they stumbled across a second infantry platoon on the other side of the bay and Brilliant received the same treatment. Unfortunately, neither vessel was in danger of sinking. Both ships proceeded to bombard the Argentine positions. They would score hits, the damage level would rise to nearly 20%, then, as they re-loaded their guns, the damage would miraculously repair itself and they would have to start anew.

After a few rounds of this behaviour, Mike realized that the game could never be won so long as the game exhibited this auto-repair process and we decided to call this game a draw (even though Mike should have won).

Thanks to Mike for a great game and thanks to AoA for the use of his server.

Anyone looking for an MP game can drop a line here. For complete instructions on using AoA's Server, visit HarPlonkHQ

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(in reply to hermanhum)

Post #: 151

RE: Harpoon 3 [ANW] scenarios for the PlayersDB - 4/4/2010 11:28:49 AM

Nebogipfel

Posts: 98
Joined: 3/16/2010
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Nice AAR hermanhum

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Post #: 152

RE: Harpoon 3 [ANW] scenarios for the PlayersDB - 4/5/2010 3:08:01 AM

=FC=Gorgon

Posts: 12
Joined: 12/21/2009
Status: offline

I would like to chime in and offer my own insights since Herman beat me to AAR. :-)

First, thanks Herman for a interesting game and all of the pointers. Second, there is no doubt that Herman won this outright despite the VC for this scenario.

My mission as the UK was to bring the Tidespring to a zone well North of its current position. Second, sink the Santa Fe and 3rd, destroy some land targets for future Royal Marine engagements. After studying the map, I assume the Santa Fe would already be North of my position as it would want to sink the Tidespring. The UK's best ASW surface asset is the Brilliant. Her sonar is way better than anyone else's. Plus, she has 2 Lynx on board to help prosecute any long range contacts. So my plan of attack came to mind.

I would send the Tidespring and the Brilliant north to the zone. The Antrim, Endurance and Plymouth would head south to South Georgia for some shore bombardment. Based on my assumption, I did not expect sub activity to be near the island. Rather I figured some Argentine surface assets would show up and that the land based units would be bigger than I could see on the map. I was 1/2 right.

So, I steamed along with my SAG force and as Herman already explained, ran right into the Santa Fe. The first ship sunk was the Endurance (that was the 'ouch'). With a top speed of 15 knots, she had no way to outrun the torps. The Antrim tried real hard, but even at 32 knots, she couldn't do it either. She fired the Mk46's back along the bearing but at the time I did not think they would score a hit.

Now I only have the Plymouth left in my SAG. I send her to the island but still think the Santa Fe is out there. I try shelling some units but then get informed of an ANW bug in which is will be impossible for her to kill most anything on her own. So I take a gamble (in my mind) and send the Brilliant down to help. I didn't like leaving the Tidespring defenseless, but I didn't see much of a choice since a) I needed help attacking the land targets and b) the Santa Fe was down there somewhere and only the Brilliant could find it.

With 2 FFs, I was still not able to damage the shore facilities enough to kill them. Meanwhile, the Tidespring reaches the zone and starts patrolling as quietly as possible. After a while though, I give up since I figure out I cannot win since I cannot hurt any of the shore facilities.

It is only afterwards that Herman says it is technically a draw since I had accomplished 2 of my objectives and he 1 of his.

This ANW bug is really a major bummer. However, without it, the Plymouth alone probably could have done enough damage and thus won the scenario for the UK. So 'sans bug', I would have called the scenario imbalanced in favor of the Brits. But with the bug, the UK tactics have to change a lot and the loss of the Antrim and her guns and the Endurance and her helos, made it impossible for the Brits to win and a draw was the best we could get.

Once again, thanks to FreekS for the scenario. Also, cheers for the big head fake. Just as I thought I was starting to read his mind, he's throws a huge curve ball and does not have any subs in the path of the Tidespring. Of course, I could be wrong and there were subs up there; they just didn't find the Tidespring. But if I'm correct, she did not need any escort and I could have had the Brilliant in the SAG. Then I might have detected the Santa Fe before she went Death Blossom on me. Thanks FreekS!

M

< Message edited by =FC=Gorgon -- 4/5/2010 3:14:51 AM >

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Post #: 153

Harpoon 3 scenarios for the PlayersDB - 4/5/2010 6:12:38 AM

hermanhum

Posts: 2209
Joined: 9/21/2005
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quote:

ORIGINAL: =FC=Gorgon

With 2 FFs, I was still not able to damage the shore facilities enough to kill them. Meanwhile, the Tidespring reaches the zone and starts patrolling as quietly as possible. After a while though, I give up since I figure out I cannot win since I cannot hurt any of the shore facilities.

It is only afterwards that Herman says it is technically a draw since I had accomplished 2 of my objectives and he 1 of his.

This ANW bug is really a major bummer. However, without it, the Plymouth alone probably could have done enough damage and thus won the scenario for the UK. So 'sans bug', I would have called the scenario imbalanced in favor of the Brits. But with the bug, the UK tactics have to change a lot and the loss of the Antrim and her guns and the Endurance and her helos, made it impossible for the Brits to win and a draw was the best we could get.

Technically, this abominable regeneration behaviour is not a bug because it is a deliberate implementation by AGSI (if you can imagine that). Thankfully, AGSI claims that this problematic feature will be changed when 3.10 patch is released. As with all claims made by AGSI, I will believe it when I can actually test for it since so many other claims are unfounded and false.

Other than the torpedo targeting problems affecting me and the ground unit regeneration problems affecting you, it was a great game. It is important to note that this scenario runs flawlessly in H3 (the torpedoes hit their intended targets and the ground units actually die under artillery bombardment.)

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Post #: 154

RE: Harpoon 3 scenarios for the PlayersDB - 4/5/2010 3:05:21 PM

FreekS

Posts: 323
Joined: 5/12/2006
Status: offline

Hi both Falklanders,

You are right about the regeneration bug really impacting this scen. The scen was designed for 3.6 and when I tested in 394 I saw this issue. I discussed with AGSI and they did put a fix into 310 (and I did tests one of the earlier Release candidtes of 310 for this bug and it seemed to be fixed).

Wrt where I put the sub: I believe I gave it many alternate starting points, so sometimes its easier for the brits to make their attacks, sometimes they have to play catchup. The scen may well not be perfectly balanced, this was one in the Falkland series where I tried to match the real OOB.

Still glad that you enjoyed it, and hope it runs flawless when 310 comes out (though seeing is believing, and AGSI certainly make no claim that older scens work with new GE releases).
Freek

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Post #: 155

Problem - 4/6/2010 1:00:17 AM

hermanhum

Posts: 2209
Joined: 9/21/2005
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quote:

ORIGINAL: FreekS

AGSI certainly make no claim that older scens work with new GE releases).

Heck, they cannot even promise that scenarios written in ANW will work in ANW.

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Post #: 156

Harpoon 3 scenarios for the PlayersDB - 4/11/2010 5:41:38 AM

hermanhum

Posts: 2209
Joined: 9/21/2005
Status: offline

Mike Sprague (a.k.a. =FC=Gorgon) is still working his way through the Falklands battleset. Tonight, we decided to try the fifth scenario in the series Between Ascension & San Carlos, made with the community's favourite database, the PlayersDB.

"This is a hypothetical encounter between Argentine and British Surface Action Groups (SAGs) during the Falklands War. To demonstrate the vulnerability of the UK supply line, an Argentine SAG is going to intercept a British reinforcement group en route from Ascension to the Falklands. The UK group is well to the north of the war zone and can expect no help from the forces there."Mike played as the British while I commanded the Argentines. My forces were the cruiser General Belgrano, destroyers Santisima Trinidad, Segui, and Hipolito Bouchard. The only datum I had on the British force was 12 hours old and this was a very big piece of ocean I had to search. If I was successful, I could bring the British to their knees under the guns of the Belgrano.

http://forums.gamesquad.com/asset.php?fid=29232&uid=1836&d=1270959280

I headed towards the last known position of the UK task force with my helicopters searching earnestly on both sides of my track. After many hours of futile efforts, I was getting disheartened and frustrated. I decided to break up my group in order to widen my search area and to activate my radar intermittently in hopes of getting lucky. If some luck did not break my way soon, I was going home empty-handed. Just then, some luck did come my way as a helo was detected heading SE. I could not know if it was inbound or outbound from its base, but at least it told me that I was in the right part of ocean!

http://forums.gamesquad.com/asset.php?fid=29233&uid=1836&d=1270959289

Attempting to track the helo, another piece of luck fell into my lap. DD Segui detected a pair of ships launching a helo. I suspected that the enemy counter-detected her radar emissions so I elected to try a quick attack with her Exocet missiles. She fired them at the County-class destroyer and the accompanying Leander frigate before turning tail to run towards the other Argentine ships. She had some luck as fireballs were detected on the horizon. Unfortunately, the enemy had some luck, too. Segui was hit by return Exocet fire that left her sinking.

http://forums.gamesquad.com/asset.php?fid=29234&uid=1836&d=1270959298

Contact was maintained from a distance by radar. Hipolito Bouchard raced in to shadow the enemy. Once she was in range, she also launched her Exocet in a salvo. Unfortunately, the enemy was already alert and easily shot down the missiles while returning fire and leaving the Bouchard flooding and afire with 84% of her flotation destroyed. With her speed reduced to 8 knots, she fell out of the chase. The enemy fled at 32 knots but the Leander must have flooded badly as she soon sank under pursuit.

http://forums.gamesquad.com/asset.php?fid=29235&uid=1836&d=1270959316

An Alouette helicopter soon spotted another frigate coming to the aid of the destroyer. She exchanged missile fire with the Trinidad, but neither side was able to score a hit. The Belgrano was moving in to engage with her guns when time expired and the game ended in a draw.

Thanks to Mike for a great game and thanks to AoA for the use of his server.

Anyone looking for an MP game can drop a line here. For complete instructions on using AoA's Server, visit HarPlonkHQ

(in reply to hermanhum)

Post #: 157

RE: Harpoon 3 scenarios for the PlayersDB - 4/11/2010 7:23:36 AM

FreekS

Posts: 323
Joined: 5/12/2006
Status: offline

Sounds like a fun game! Freek

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