My new Harpoon Command...

[cowboy40]

My Harpoon gaming group is starting a new campaign. Here is my command for that game that takes place around 1970, in the Atlantic Ocean. i have been given control of Task Group 23.1.


CVS-20 USS Bennington, Essex class aircraft carrier modified to SCB.144 standard, Call Sign: BIG BOY


CA-132 USS Macon, Baltimore class heavy cruiser, Call Sign: SAMMY DAVIS


DLG-11 USS Mahan, Coontz (Farragut) class guided missile frigate, Call Sign: SEA POWER


DD-692 USS Allen M. Sumner, Allen M. Sumner class destroyer modernized to FRAM II type, Call Sign: ROAD BLOCK


DD-807 USS Benner, Frank Knox (Gearing) class ex-DDR destroyer modified to FRAM II, Call Sign: ESPOUSE


DD-825 USS Carpenter, Carpenter (Gearing) class ex-DDK destroyer modified to FRAM I Group C, Call Sign: PIRATE


DD-839 USS Power, Gearing class destroyer converted to FRAM I Group B type, Call Sign: BLACK BIRD


DD-841 USS Noa, Gearing class destroyer modified to FRAM I Group A type, Call Sign: STEEL HEAD


DD-842 USS Fiske, Frank Knox class ex-DDR destroyer converted to FRAM I Group B standard, Call Sign: DEPUTY

[cowboy40]

Some thoughts on this task group i am fighting with this command. The mission as anyone can tell by the ships assigned to it, It is a ASW group. The mission of this force, thank god, is not convoy duty or defensive operations. Instead, the group is assigned to "offensive ASW operations", meaning that i get to work the sea lines of communications. Yes, we are a Hunter/Killer group. The USS Bennington, is a ship set up for this mission. She has an up to date semi-autonomous ASW direction system, that links up to the other ships and aircraft of the group. Carrying 32 S-2 Trackers and 16 SH-3 Sea Kings, the group can maintain an effective barrier to enemy boats.

The six destroyers, are very adapt at the mission of killing subs. This force, can deliver a very multi layered defense of the group as well as able to kill almost any submarine in service at this time. These destroyers have a good stand of range with DASH, ASROC and defensive ASW torpedoes.

Now the USS Macon would seam out of place in this task group, but she is my "depot" ship. Besides in an action to capture a surfaces submarine, I don't think I would argue with those nine 8 inch rifles. Macon carries my crated "reserve" DASH and my reserve of torpedoes and "special weapons", as well as being able to help keep the destroyers fueled when needed. She also acts as the screen flagship.

Some problems do exist, I only have a detachment of four A-4C Shyhawks from VFS-1 squadron. Though I do have the frigate USS Mahan that provides my SAM defense with her Terrier missiles. Mahan can also work ASW.

So for our mission, I think we are in pretty good shape?

[cowboy40]

Damn, I am spending most of the time here in this campaign chasing down ghosts. I guess SOSUS really wasn't that great in 1970 as it was near the end of the Cold War.

I just got done with a session, in where i was directed to a submerged contact...around Iceland.

The Gap is usually a great hunting ground, but this time i was directed to and chased down a biological. What a waste of resources that was.

Moving back to patrol the convoy lanes.

[trynda1701]

Aug 4, 2021 11:06:39 GMT -7 cowboy40 said:

Damn, I am spending most of the time here in this campaign chasing down ghosts. I guess SOSUS really wasn't that great in 1970 as it was near the end of the Cold War.

I just got done with a session, in where i was directed to a submerged contact...around Iceland.

The Gap is usually a great hunting ground, but this time i was directed to and chased down a biological. What a waste of resources that was.

Moving back to patrol the convoy lanes.

That reminds me of when I took over refereeing our Federation/Gorn FASA campaign. There were a LOT of near misses, and quite a few chase scenarios when the Gorn Renegade player had his ships run like scalded cats upon some sensor contacts!

[cowboy40]

I think I have discovered the what a feeling of being alone at sea. In the task group i am running in one of our harpoon games, I have been concentrating on the job of being the picket for the Group.

I am running the USS Fiske (DD-842), a Gearing FRAM IB type. We are operating about 250 miles NE of Hawaii, on a course of 000 degrees (due north), running about 15 knots. The group is in loose escort formation with the cruiser and destroyers in a circle around Bennington about 1.5 nautical miles from the Bennington. Fiske is plotted 3.5 nm on a 027 relative bearing to the carrier. She is following EMCOM rules, turning on her radars for a sweep every fifteen minutes, while the rest of the Task Group keeps dark. Bennington does have one of her Grumman E-1B Tracker in the air, operating about 50 nm ahead of the TG.

But, man if any Bears come a hunting they will find the Fiske before the others...

Not a very comfortable place to be.

Here I plotted the group out in Command Modern Operations for a visual aid to the Formation. Fiske is that Destroyer off by her lonely self...