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Harpoon Ka 27 Helix FFG 27 Mahlon S Tisdale

Is Harpoon Boring?

Harpoon has been described by one wargaming worthy as "... the most boring game ever invented...", and it is true that the rule system is best played with a calculator in one hand. In fact, in recognition of the game's complexity, several computer versions now exist, where all of the calculation has been taken over by machine.

However, for those of us who still enjoy tabletop wargaming, Harpoon allows us to simulate present day (and near future) naval conflicts. The fact that the battle plays out with the aid of a calculator, and that fleets (if correctly manouvred) usually destroy one another without ever coming over the horizon, merely reflects the complex and highly lethal nature of modern naval operations.

Conflict Locations:

The Harpoon Dairies

Modern naval conflict can be very involved, and campaigns could include a lot of logistical detail, orders of battle and suchlike. To avoid this clutter and to allow us to get straight down to gaming, we have followed a campaign model called the "episodic" system - on any given day we wish to play a game, we invent a plausable encounter "event" and then play it out.

Once a nation's full order of battle is exhausted (if anyone can be bothered working it out), they lose.

The Situation

It is in the last decade of the 20th Century. Superpowers glower at each other, and conduct live firing tests by funding and supplying bushfire wars all over the globe. The Russian President, in an attempt to forestall financial disaster for his nation, opens the books. The increasingly open and honest approach taken by the president also involves an offer to reduce nuclear stockpiles to zero.

This alarms the communist party and the Soviet military.

As it becomes clear that the USSR and the Warsaw Pact is coming apart at the seams, Western Powers increase their level of alert. Several "incidents" clearly indicate the Soviet military is no longer controlled by the political machine in Moscow. Rumours of a military coup are rife. Suddenly, within hours of news broadcasts of firing round the Kremlin come reports of the entire Soviet Fleet performing a "Surge" deployment. The entire Soviet Fleet has put to sea!

It is the beginning of World War III.

(NB: The above was written in 1990, and we note with some pride, that we predicted the fall of the Soviet communist regime. We eagerly await contracts from the American Government, to fund our talented think tank!).

The Events

Incident 1: Winter, Baltic Sea


The Baltic	The Tactical Situation

In atrocious weather conditions, an American Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate, FFG-27 Mahlon S Tisdale , is patrolling north-east of Norway. Probing forward with its SH-60B Lamps III helicoptor a Soviet Ka-27 Helix is encountered. The unarmed Helix engages the American Helicoptor with small arms fire (to no effect) then flies down the helicoptor's reverse bearing to look for the launching ship. The Lamps III does likewise, and finds the Sovremennyy. Using guidance information from the Lamps III and mindful of who fired first, the OHP commander launches two Harpoon. Moments later, incoming SS-N-22 Sunburn missiles are detected, skimming through the wavetops. Despite efforts of the Close In Weapons Systems, a missile takes the hapless OHP amidships, lifting her out of the water, and blowing her in half. Moments later a second missile strikes the wreckage, killing most of the men stuggling in the water. A few minutes later, the incoming Harpoons are detected aboard Sovremennyy. The 30mm CIWS destroy one harpoon, and the second impacts on the bridge starting a small fire. With her command and control systems knocked out, the crew of Sovremennyy show a remarkable lack of initiative, and the fire spreads. Within minutes the fire has engulfed the whole superstructure and the crew abandons ship. The vessel burns to the waterline and sinks. The two helicoptors buzz their respective vessels, then use their remaining fuel to make for Sweden. Both crews are forced to ditch, are picked up by Swedish patrol craft and eventually repatriated.

Incident 2: Winter, Mid Atlantic Ocean


The Atlantic	The Tactical Situation

An Arleigh Burke DDG accompanied by an Oliver Hazard Perry FFG find themselves being stalked by a Soviet Victor III. Without compunction, the American commander uses ASROC to sink the enemy vessel.

Incident 3: Winter, Off California Coast


The California Coast	The Tactical Situation

Near the 100 fathom line, an American Los Angeles class submarine locates two Soviet Victor III nuclear attack subs. Despite their use of the acoustic concealment of a fishing net strewn wreck, and evasion through the thermocline, the Los Angeles successsfully destroys both vessels.

Incident 4: Winter, Near Philipines


Near Philipines	The Tactical Situation

The venerable BB-61 Iowa is is transitting from Subic Bay in the Philipines escorted by FF-1084 McCandless, an obselete Knox class frigate. The Soviets launch a sorte from Cam Ran Bay, Vietnam. The sorte consists of the Frunze , a Kirov class nuclear battlecruiser, accompanied by a Kashin class vessel (for submarine defence), the Sderzhannyy . Both fleets locate each other via sonar, and launch investigating helos. The Iowa launches her full compliment of Harpoon missiles and Tomahawks. These streak past the surprised Helix and strike the Frunze 's anti air missile system.
Not a single projectile gets through. Frunze responds with her compliment of 20 SS-N-19 Shipwreck missiles. The luckless McCandless is sunk. About two thirds of the missiles get through the Iowa 's missile defence. Iowa absorbs a significant proportion of the attack on her armoured belts amidships, but most of her fire control gear is destroyed and engine room damage reduces her speed to five knots. She turns and limps back towards Subic Bay. The Soviet commander launches a strike with all available helos, five HA-25 Hormones from the Frunze , all armed with torpedoes. These helos approach at wave height, below the antiaircraft defences of the Iowa , and launch torpedoes. With a resigned groan the old battle wagon succumbs and sinks.

Incident 5: Spring, Off the Orkneys


Off the Orkneys	The Tactical Situation

A Soviet Krivak II Frigate, the Bessmennyy is detected in her attempt to land Spetznatz commandoes on British soil. The detecting vessel is DDG-88 Glasgow , a Sheffield Class destroyer. Glasgow launches exploratory missiles before the Krivak II is aware she has been detected. The first missile takes out the Kivak's limited SS-N-14 Silex anti shipping missile mount. The Glasgow then sytematically pounds the Krivak II under the waves with her Sea Dart missiles.
This takes some time.

Incident 6: Spring, South of Iceland


Iceland	The Tactical Situation

A Soviet invasion fleet approaches Iceland. On patrol is a US taskforce. The Soviet forces consists of a Sovremennyy, a Udaloy, a Kynda and three Krivak II's escourting three troop ships. The US force consists of a Ticonderoga, an Arleigh Burke, a Kidd, a Knox and two Oliver Hazard Perrys.

The Soviets approach from the south east with a Ka-27 Helix from the Udaloy 50 miles ahead of the task force. A second helo is dispatched, and then a visual sighting is made of a US LAMPS III ASW helo. The Soviet fleet comes to full alert, lighting up its radars like a christmas tree and launching SAMs at the helo, which miss. The Soviets detach the Sovremennyy and Udaloy due west to deal with the US threat, while the remainder of the fleet heads due north in an attempt to make landfall. The Soviet helos detect Arleigh Burke and Ticonderoga SAM radars, and successfully dodge a SAM sent in their direction.

The US fleet then launches a large strike of Harpoons at the approaching Soviet vessels, sinking the Sovremennyy and Udaloy, and forcing the invasion fleet to scatter south and east. Iceland will not fall to the Soviets this day...

Incident 7: Spring, Off Vladivostok


Off Vladivostok	The Tactical Situation

Japan continues to trade freely with the Soviet Union, creating some political tension with the USA. An American Improved Los Angeles class nuclear attack sub the USS San Juan (SSN-251) detects movement of submarines out of Dunay, the Soviet fleet submarine maintenance facility, adjacent to Vladivivostok. As Japanese merchantmen leave the Russian port, two submarines also transit, below the merchantmen. Also in the region is a Japanese Kiri class guided missile destroyer the JDS Sawaguri . Intent on paying the Japanese an object lesson, without causing an international incident, the San Juan fires on the Soviet submarines. One sub, the PLA Gorbachev a nuclear attack sub of the Alfa class, accelerates towards the San Juan, reaching 42 knots before being struck on the bow by an ADCAP 48 torpedo and breaking up. Meanwhile the other submarine drops into a trench and motors away at a sedate 10 knots in an attempt to avoid detection. The San Juan locates the vessel and with a single torpedo destroys the PLARB Giorky Park , a Soviet Typhoon class ballistic missile submarine.

Incident 8: Spring, Norwegian Sea


Norwegian Sea	The Tactical Situation

Two fleets, one based round a British Invincible class light carrier, and the other based round a Soviet Kiev class light carrier, are both on antisubmarine patrol. Both fleets are travelling with their radars off. A British Manchester class DDG detects the Soviet fleet on sonar. Helos, Harriers and main weapon systems are readied as the British fleet uses her sonar assets to completely characterise the enemy fleet. The Harriers armed with Sea Eagle Missiles and the helos armed with Sea Skua missiles are launched and transit towards the Soviet fleet. The British surface fleet launch all of their anti-ship ordanance, primarily Sea Dart and Harpoon at the enemy fleet. As the sea skimming missiles pass under the Harriers and Helos, they add their missiles, so as to best overwhelm Soviet air defences, and achieve STOT (Simultaneous Time On Top).
The first warning the Soviets have is when visual sightings are made of the incoming missiles. The Kiev class carrier is crippled, a Kara class missile cruiser is sunk as is the Berezina class ocean-going replenishment vessel. Modified Kashin and Krivak vessels are also damaged. The Soviet fleet fails to fire a single shot.

Incident 9: Spring, Faroe Islands


Faroes	The Tactical Situation

Under the cover of bad weather, several Soviet surface fleets are despatched. One approaches the Faroe Islands. Patrolling north of the Faroes, off Norooyar (Fugloy) Island, a British Fleet is on the alert for a Soviet submarine, believed to be in the area.
The British fleet consists of: F40 HMS Sirius (Leander Class), F58 HMS Hermione (Seawolf Leander Class), F88 HMS Broadsword , F92 HMS Boxer (both Type 22 Broadsword Class), F169 HMS Amazon , F173 HMS Arrow , (both Amazon Class).
The Soviet force consists of: nuclear attack submarine PLAR Victor III Michael Gorbachov , Kresta I Class (CG297), Slava Class (CG126), Kara Class (CG???), Modified Kashin Class (DDG373), Udaloy Class (DDG695), Krivak II VMF Rezvy (FFG942), Krivak I (FFG971), three SAM Kotlin Class (DD377, DD486, DD???), Fleet Oiler, Fleet Replenishment Vessel and an Ivan Rogov Amphibious Warfare Vessel.

British Sea King HAS 5 helos locate the Victor III which fires two Mk 46 torpedoes. One torpedo sinks the Sirius while Broadsword dodges the other. A British torpedo dropped form a Lynx helo cripples the Victor III forcing it to the surface.
Then things take a change for the worse.
The British force of frigates is travelling with radar off, and are detected by the overwhelming Soviet force by sonar. The Soviets launch a savage missile attack, which becomes evident to the British when the incoming missiles are just a few miles out. The frigates react, too little, too late, and within moments, all are sunk.
The Soviet amphibious attack force cruise unmolested into NATO waters...

Incident 10: Spring, Kuriles


The Kuriles	The Tactical Situation

With the balloon going up, Soviet Boomers deploy to the Sea of Okhotsk. American Hunter Killers must breach the Kurile Island chain to sink the Boomers. In this scenario, three American nuclear attack submarines must pass through the Kurile Island chain, and enter the Sea of Okhotsk undetected. Read the full briefing here.

Future Proposals

Oil


Arabian Sea	The Tactical Situation

Japan has declared herself neutral and continues trade with the USSR. Recent sinkings of Soviet subs near Japan have caused the poiticians in Japan to waver. America deploys a fleet to interdict Japanese Oil transports in the Arabian Sea to 'pursuade' them.

Reykjavik


Reykjavik	The Tactical Situation

In bad weather, two Soviet amphibious fleet have approached the Faroes and Iceland. The Faroes fleet soundly defeats the British patrols, and occupies the Faroes, shutting down SOSUS. (Incident 8). Will the fleet targeted at Iceland be similarly successful?

Carrier


North East Atlantic	The Tactical Situation

With the SOSUS line in the GUIK gap compromised, American carrier task forces must plug the gap.

Map Symbols:

Visit GHQ Models:

CVN-72 ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Interesting Links:

Maps courtesy of Expedia
CG19 USS Dale Photographs
DDG Arleigh Burke Class
Screen Shots from Harpoon 4 game
The Amazing story of the K129
History of the submarine 1941 - 2000
US Bangor Submarine Base, Bremerton, Washington
Harpoon 4 cancelled
Gaming Community Harpoon Computer Game Website