RHS Level 5 and 6 update x.7866 uploading

[el cid again]

I am working on the "final" version of Level 5 and 6 scenarios (again). I intended to end their enhancement with x.7863 level - but I found some significant omissions of Japanese amphibious vessels:

Type 1 Landing Ships (which I classify as APD - but are hard to classify - and are unlike Western APDs or anything else)
didn't update properly to Kaiten carriers - or to ASW escorts - both of which I long intended - but apparently never got around to doing. In both cases, RHS is the first to present these ships in that form. Also - one additional ship (T22) should appear about July 4, 1945 - she was suspended 12 days before completion. As Kaiten carriers they lose cargo capacity - to only 243 tons. Originally they should have a cargo rating of 500 tons - but for some reason this was too large. This is small enough - and the ASW role - imply they might be better off as paired units.

Type 101 and 103 Landing Ships (which should be LSTs) are entirely absent. Probably due to slot limits - we can add some or all of these.

Type ES Landing Ships (Army type) did not upgrade. This information is new - almost nothing tells us about their later form - which occurs after IJN takes them over from IJA. Essentially they change 20 mm guns for 25 mm guns. These vessels were classified as APDs - on the assumption they were similar to Type 1 landing ships - but I have learned they beach - so they should be classified as LSMs. That means they should be multiple ship units - hard as there are so few of them - and because of their ASW role - probably that also means they should be in pairs.

Otherwise - x.7864 completes the conversion of Mikura DEs to their upgrade form - some of the later vessels not being assigned the proper class - and folds in all the eratta of all types found in 7.7863 - which is completely done.

[el cid again]

I have prepped Level 5 for uploading (but must go to work at this time). Level 6 isn't quite completed re the DEs.
I will not add the new T101/103 to these levels - nor convert APDs and LSMs to two ship units. For one thing, I have not yet decided to do either - just looking at it. It takes far too long to add or change so many vessels to 22 scenarios - so these will wrap up as we now have them. I think the T1 and the SS are both unique to RHS - and T101 and T103 classes are not in stock or CHS (as far as I know). Now T1 and SS will upgrade - at least - and there is no critical reason not to leave Levels 5 and 6 at this point that I am aware of.

[el cid again]

Level 5 files uploaded to primary distribution list. This should be the final file set for Level 5.

Level 6 is not quite ready to package and release. [Too much data entry - which is one reason we will stop updating these levels: that drops 12 scenarios from data entry]

[el cid again]

Level 6 is now completed and distributed to the primary list. This is almost the same as 6.7864 - except for T.1 class - revised AA - based on some original line drawings by a Japanese expert who wrote the official end of war report for USN (Fukui).

Level 5 is microupdated to the same level.

Both are frozen and won't enjoy future updates - I hope.

[el cid again]

We may have to update because EOS family may get a new Axis plane art filmstrip - if so we will fold in a few eratta to IJA type SS amphibious transports. While these LSMs will remain single ship units (Level 7 is going over to two ship units) - the dates of arrival and location of arrival will update - and the number will be 26 possible in CVO/BBO families (counting vessels building at Hong Kong) - and 44 in EOS family. We also will add a shipyard for merchants at Hong Kong - which requires a change of location file - so these will be comprehensive updates (if issued).

[el cid again]

In RHSAIO in both Levels 5 and 6 Mandalay is missing, but Prom is present twice. This will, of course, be fixed.

We are waiting only to change any aircraft in EOS family - then we will issue both updates as comprehensive.

These are likely to be the last until after a major Matrix update.

[el cid again]

ETA Thursday Nov 15 (tomorrow)

[el cid again]

In all scenarios, the IJA will get 9 units (of two) Type 103 LSMs numbered in the SB series.
[This in addition to three more units which are not transferred to the IJN in EOS family scenarios.
These three units - which really were transferred - DO go to the IJN in CVO and BBO families.]

[el cid again]

AIO for both levels uploaded. The rest will follow as time permits - over the next 12 hours. AIO had a location problem re Mandalay (missing) and Prome (present twice).

[el cid again]

All Level 6 files sent to primary distribution list.

This product set is not quite the same as 7.787 - for example some new Japanese LSMs are not added here - and some older ones are not paired - but remain single ships. It is focused on correcting eratta - and it has updated things required to get along with new art sets. When Ju-88 art appears for EOS family - the right pointers are in place.

We will do another art update - and this may require a new ship file - but it won't be required for games in progress. Similarly, a new EOS air art set will not require game restarts - it will work as is.

[el cid again]

Level 5 scenarios also uploaded to primary distribution list - along with multiple requests for direct mailing. It appears levels 5 and 6 are still used.

These scenarios are now "semi-frozen".

They do not require an updated Economic Utility.

They WILL get updated art sets and possibly a ship class file to point at it properly - but it will not be necessary to restart a game to use it. Similarly, they WILL be able to use the updated air art - if ever anyone does it - it is the same regardless of level. It will work fine with games in progress.

They may also be updated after the next Matrix update - which will change many fundamental things to the point a new file set will be needed - or things won't work properly. We need to wait and see when/if this happens, and what is involved?

But we do not intend any more changes - and what changes there are will me minimalist. Thus - this release does NOT include all the new Japanese amphibious ships - nor the combining of some older ones into pairs. It DOES, however, update the dates and locations and data related to those older ones. It DOES include the introduction of the Ju-88A4 bomber and Ju-88C6 night fighter into EOS family scenarios (so, when the art is available, it will correspond to the data).
It DOES include separating Renown from KGV art - although we use Repulse art at the moment for Renown - so when Renown art is rescaled - it will work. But mostly it includes eratta punching - the most critical being putting Mandalay back into AIO - and getting rid of the second Prome.

[Alekks]

Is there an alternate site to download these files? The http://rhs.akdreemer.com/RHS%20Scenarios/ loctioan is still only showing v5.7865 as the latest v5 scenario, uploaded on Nov 11.

[el cid again]

Mifune should post to the RHS site in due course. Cobra will post to sendspace in due course. There is likely also going to be a site in Germany.

The alternate is to send to one of those on the primary distribution list for direct copies of what you want. Be specific: level, scenario, etc.