Harpoon Captain's Edition from 1990 - FREE Download from the Admiralty Trilogy

Incredible but true, legit and you can get it here:

https://admiraltytrilogy.com/ce.php

Note to self: Remember Harpoon ... was on your Wargaming "Bucket List"

Question to self: When will I play ... Harpoon? ... I have an old (as in a simplified for the non-naval officer, but still intended for a wargaming audience) "Captain's Edition" of Harpoon (a version dating back to last century), but still apart from a USN v USSR sub hunt (yes Red October style) or the whole Falklands Campaign - there does not seem to be much of an interest (or example case base) to play. However, Harpoon is on the great Wargaming Bucket list!

There is even a new edition out: Specific Link:  https://www.wargamevault.com/product/319427/Harpoon-V?manufacturers_id=7981

But what to play and who to play it with? Probably "The Falklands" with "a little help from my friends"

A Chinese Fisherman's Tale

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-51130644

Note to self: Now there is an Interesting Modern Asymmetrical Wargaming Scenario if ever there was one

Russia a 'risk' to undersea cables, defence chief warns

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42362500

Update: Follow on in the BBC News 03/01/18, Russian "deep sea snipping capability":
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42543712

The historic US Sub-Spy action [New York Times]:
http://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/08/us/a-tale-of-daring-american-submarine-espionage.html
Note: Also see Blind Man's Bluff

Interesting Naval Site:
https://www.naval-technology.com

Another "new" Period in 2017 but at least I collect in 1/3000 scale already ;)

I did a playground style "book" for "lead" trade with a fellow wargamer whereby I gained a 1/3000 posse of Navwar US Moderns (and other US Moderns as of last century). In the first instance I have a powerful US CVN battle group. I  may add another SSN 688 attack sub and DG Burke at some point in the future to make it an "Uber Group but for now it suffices (see below, the Nimitz is "huge" more Sci-Fi than real world. Even the "Fleet Oiler" is a beast):

"As strange to the eye" is the modified Iowa (Sea Harrier capable) projected conversion in the second batch. The other stuff has transitioned from WWII "guns" to modern "missiles" (see below, the carrier [CV] is the USS Coral Sea of the famed Midway class that was too late for WWII but served well into the late twentieth century through various upgrades (see below):

Last but not least is the "aircraft carrier loo-a-likes" that are US Marine Corp amphibian support ships (see below):

All ready for "a brave new twenty first" century world and teh changing world order. Watch this space!

Little bit of a side-project: Modern US CVN Battlegroup 1/3000

This is one I have been thinking about doing for a while (as well as the 1980 RN Falklands Campaign), the advantage being this is less than a dozen ships all told (see Wikipedia detail):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_strike_group#Typical_CSG_composition

Order of Battle:

• CVN
• 1-2 Guided Missile Cruiser
• 2-3 Guided Missile Destroyers
• 1-2 Attack (688) Submarines
• Specialist Ammo Supply and Oiler Support Ship

Possible rules for this are the traditional (pro-US) Harpoon or the more recent ShipWreck. Topical campaigns could include US tension with the Chinese over the Spratly chain of islands in the South China Sea.

Nice to see that I am NOT maintaining focus!

Ship Building WIP (Large 1:1 Scale) Queen Elizabeth CV

While on holiday in Scotland recently I passed through Edinburgh crossing the road bridge going north. Admiring the scenery and rather lost in thoughts of Beatty's battle-cruisers the 5th Battle Squadron at Jutland I almost swerved when I saw a strange naval grey shape off to my left. I trailed the family down to Rosyth, they couldn't quite understand my excitement and errant sense of direction. There is something quite magical when "daddy" gets fixated on something, the family give each other curious looks trying to understand "what's got into him. I was determined to get a closer look, but to my disappointment I could not get a good view. Two helpful BAE Systems people told me that you got a much better view from across the river, so I set myself an expedition for the following day (see below):

Can you see what it is? Nothing more than the almost completed CV "HMS Queen Elizabeth". I sat there watching her with my oldest son, eating our McDonald's quite transfixed thinking I should continue my 1/3000 RN naval collection through to the modern post 1945 period.

A project for 2015 perhaps

Interesting US Modern (Naval) Site URL

http://thediplomat.com/the-naval-diplomat/

PS Navwar: I'll get there in 1/3000 eventually, but I've just got to finish off the WWI and WWII fleets first, the 1982 Falklands Conflict then I can get into the 21st Century

Last man standing (sailing?)

Keeping track if what was left still afloat in the Taiwanese/China Straits and even still capable of movement and/or defensive/offensive action took several minutes of frantic book keeping as columns of brown coloured smoke slowly covered most of the models. From this resultant chaos it emerged that there were two Taiwanese frigates left to face down one battle-worthy Chinese destroyer (mine) .

Swigging the last dregs a cup of cheap Shanghai Gin I prepared to meet my ignoble ancestors as I counted six incoming Vampires to my three outward missiles. The robust state-of-the-art Chinese defence systems did me proud making a lot of loud noise but hitting absolutely nothing. Even my faithful chaff had a bad day and deluded but one missile into striking a nearby Chinese supertanker (proof in my eyes of blatant Western/Taiwanese aggression). In the resulting explosions on my ship I was found to have been sunk four times over, not even leaving me with enough remains or 'ash' to put into a ceremonial tea cup. There was scant satisfaction in seeing another Taiwanese frigate crippled as the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army's Navy had thrown its last card.

Thus ended the game with one Taiwanese frigate "last man standing picking" up yet another flight of Chinese Bears en route with another 'eighteen' Vampires about to launch (see below):

Plus a host of small assault hovercraft seen by radar departing the Chinese mainland carrying the crack 93rd Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Marine Division. The Taiwanese captain was just wondering how long a message he could transmit, finally settling for "INVASION IN PROGRESS" as vampires became audible.

An intensely nerve racking game that "sweated" the old salts out of their ships in the most frantic combat sequence I have encountered. It makes WWI and WWII General Quarters games look leisurely affairs! Thanks to Ken at Hartlepool Wargames Club for putting on a cracking little game.    

Chinese Plans Go Awry in the Centre

An unfortunate and unforeseen set of circumstances involving the conscripted civilian ships delayed the Chinese central force of two rather elderly frigates deploying into an effective firing position which left them in the full ECW and sonar glare of the two (now alerted) patrolling Taiwanese centrally placed destroyers. Consequently the Chinese failed to get off any parting shots before seeing the incoming missiles bearing down on them. Taiwanese new technology blasted the these venerable Chinese ladies to pieces. Elsewhere missiles were inbound in great quantity.

The layered defence systems of the more Westernised ships performed admirably, but alas the Western Taiwanese destroyer force was simply overwhelmed by numbers and were lost with all hands. Their Chinese "immediate" opponents were left crippled though, one in a state of sinking the other in a very damaged state. As already mentioned the Taiwanese central patrol dispatched their Chinese opponents for no loss. At the Eastern end (see above) the US DDG reduced six vampires to four, close defence took another two, chaff another one but that still left one to get through meaning ... an anxious 'wargaming' dice roll for the American player (see below):

Don't roll a one (and he did), not good, a magazine explosion and the USS Long Island Tea was torn apart. The traumatised American player had to sit down and grope for his drink. Meanwhile those two parting Harpoons shots were causing the Chinese destroyers to very rattled, somehow they just kept coming closer and closer, sniffing them out. Their point defence weapons missed and a huge explosion sent one destroyer to the bottom, only the handy and voluminous use of chaff saved the other, just.

After all that what was left afloat? In a matter of real-time seconds two powerful fleets had just disappeared.

Multiple threats face the American patrol too

In the command centre of the American DDG (USS Long Island Tea) threat assessment was calmly under way. All hell was breaking loose but nothing thankfully seemed to be coming directly their way. The Chinese air threat was directed as the Western Taiwanese destroyers and the ECM painted a disturbing background noise that stopped effective communications with the supporting carrier task force. They knew help would be on the way given the initiative of their air assets, nothing could take them out, at worst they would be only temporarily blinded. The task was to survive until it appeared. Suddenly a junior operator yelled: "It's the tanker, it's done it again, no wait they are Chinese warships. Vampire! Vampire! Six confirmed incoming."

The ambushers: relatively modern Chinese missile destroyers. 

Automatic systems detected and responded with anti-missile and anti-ship missiles, remarkable given the fantastically short response times. A fact not missed on the Chinese commander, despite conducting a brilliant ambush, the DDG had fired two Harpoons on what must be only partial locks at best, something way beyond his ships capabilities. The calmness of the US command centre however was broken when a second call of "Vampire, Vampire" confirmed an additional six ground to sea (old but improved Silkworms) launched from mainland China. The tale was next to be in the telling and the aerodynamics of flight between complex systems. Today was certainly business.

"Blackpool Illumunations" in the Taiwanese Straight

In the hiatus of the ECM jamming, the thunderous aftershock of a re-entrant space vehicle and a general air of disbelief at the start of sudden hostilities the electronic warfare consoles of the three Taiwanese (and allied) patrols lit up with all manner of "hostile" symbols (aka The "Blackpool Lights"). The extreme western force of two ageing Taiwanese destroyers suddenly picked up a fleet of high altitude Chinese "Bears" at long range.

From watching a possible threat to identifying a definite hostile was merely a matter of seconds as the call of "Vampire, Vampire" shook all within earshot. The Cat-and-Mouse game had become a shooting match. "Eighteen Vampires identified," confirmed a second operator. The Chinese Bears had opened fire at extreme range and turned for home quickly, hoping numbers would do the trick. Anti-missile defensive weapon systems automatically engaged the blips, just as a naval threat materialised from the shadows of a previously harmless looking merchant vessel. For the second time that day the shrill call of "Vampire, Vampire" echoed about the control room as closer, faster, more deadly missiles sped towards the Taiwanese destroyers, now fully illuminated in 'active' enemy sonar. Automatically the Taiwanese destroyers responded with their own anti-ship missiles, taking a parting shot at their aggressors, a tribute to the effective, though ageing technology they possessed.

Red Dragon in Space

The Carrier Task Force commander was keeping one eye on the developing situation in the Taiwanese Strait the other on the main mission objective of providing telemetry information on the latest Chinese space launch. It was part of the low orbit satellite programme that was threatening to undercut the Western commercial monopoly of space. Washington was certainly peeved at missing the boat and thinking this was beyond the Chinese capability.

The vast array of spook ships looked ungainly to his military mind. "Looks like this one is in trouble" a civilian interjected into the running conversation, "Its telemetry is way off for a successful deployment, too vertical, the Chinese have really 'boobed' on this one." Chuckles broke out. "They'll have to abort it or risk it coming down on one of their major cities."

"How soon will you know?" asked the Commander. Nothing. "I said how soon will you know? Aren't you listening to me?" His voice had grown sterner. God how he hated civilians. The civilian started talking out loud, to no one in particular. "That telemetry is controlled, it's not bad or errant. You know I think it's being guided. But why? It's as if it's tactical, no that's impossible." Sirens wailed as a massive EM pulse and jamming attack had commenced. Bedlam abated within minutes as the sophisticated  ECW equipment automatically found known countermeasures to neutralise the attack.

"What was that tickle for they couldn't hurt us?" asked a bemused commander. "Time" replied the civilian, "We've stopped everything but a surface signal, probably from that Han that's been stalking us, it's not attacking us it's broadcasting our position." The commander was drawing his own conclusions, as the sky above the task force started glowing a fiery red, his last comment was "Oh my Hades!"

The defensive weapon systems did not even have time to engage.

Shady places to hide in the Sea

The USN destroyer commander was busily reviewing the dispositions of the Taiwanese fleet, his Allies. Two pairs of frigates/destroyers were now patrolling the length of the straight. They were pinging away with active sonar and their helicopters were circling  dropping sonar buoys in a text-book ASW pattern. Things had gotten rather hot under the collar in the last half hour. There were sufficient indications for three possible/plausible (but as yet "unknown" Chinese?) underwater contacts. Suddenly his ASW ruminations were brought to an abrupt close. "Captain, 'Sparks' indicates there's a supertanker in trouble!" From a frantic rush of adrenaline to an embarrassed pause, then a pink faced Signals operator looking rather apologetic. "Sorry sir, I could have sworn she darn well split in two."

The senior Signals officer looked on, sternly, passing a knowing look to the commander. Out of earshot he explained "It was just radar reflection. Just a rookie mistake from a Junior Op, at least we don't have to contend with a supertanker spilling it's load in the middle of our ASW game". They both smiled wryly and returned to their separate duties ...

Aboard the bridge of the lead Chinese destroyer the consternation eased. The pair of destroyers were now back in the lee of the massive supertanker. What strange fluid dynamic effect that had caused the trailing destroyer to yaw so violently out of formation would more than likely remain forever a mystery. Occurrences such as that were common in the folklore of the sea. More importantly the mission was not compromised, the element of surprise remained intact. The Chinese Marine Company aboard the supertanker were making their last minute preparations as the Chief Weapons Officer reported all weapon systems operational ...

Modern Naval: Innocuous shipping report off the coast of Taiwan

A busy Saturday morning in late 2011. The usual commercial mercantile shipping traffic in the diplomatically contested waters off the coast of Taiwan is supplemented by a Chinese Air/Sea rescue operation in search of a local fisherman. Two Chinese merchant ships operating in close formation seem to be generously assisting with the search. 

Nothing amiss here, repeat, there is nothing, absolutely nothing amiss here.The request for help from the Taiwanese naval fisheries vessels is turned down as the Chinese widen their search patterns and increase radio traffic as to be expected in a operation of this nature.

The USS Long Island Tea (a guided missile destroyer DDG, above) is discretely observing radar blips and maintaining radio communications with Taiwanese naval patrols. The USS Long Island Tea confirms communication channels to the USN Task Force "CVN Able 7" (see below) operating two hundred miles away are fully functional. Standard heightened peacetime CAP and A/S patrols are in place.

Not much of a post really, must do some wargaming sometime soon. Oh yes just in, a Taiwanese naval frigate reports a "far" acoustic and sonar passive contact, possibly a whale, in international waters, close to but not in Taiwanese waters. Though where these waters officially start is a mute point of current international maritime law and diplomacy. If it was anything other than a whale it might provoke an international incident.