Finally its released! and im one happy bunny!!

[Stalintc]

Bought the download version the other day, I intend on nabbing the box when its availalbe too

Ive played H3:ANW virtually non-stop since I bought it and loved that and always wanting a taste of the classic series.

And now its here, I think it is brilliant, different to H3 in so many quirky little ways that it basically makes it a different game, I like the feel of both H3:ANW and HCE, just depends on how I fancy playing *today* before I pick a version to play

Personally my perspective is that H3:ANW is when I want to get heavily into the low level tactical side of a battle and HCE is more for when I want the AI to look after things a little more and almost play more strategically, as personally I feel the AI *looks after* my units a little better in HCE

Anyway im working my way through the GIUK gap scenarios and having a blast! should take me a while to do as I play in full realtime with no time compression (DONT SHOOT!)

Ive already had a skirmish with a submarine today which launched torpedos at my little convoy heading for narvik, needless to say I detached the ships I felt had been targetted from the group and performed evasive manuvers to get them out of the torpedos cone of aquisition when they go active, then set about pinpointing the location of the sub using the sonobouys along the torpedo bearing. Four torpedos in the water from my helos one of which found its target and hit the sub for 48% damage which reduced its speed to five knots.... he got away lucky as my other two helos where refuelling and re-arming, I decided not pursue him further and he is already hurting and ive got a schedule to meet

Anyway, many thanks to those of you who put their time into creating\developing this outstanding piece of wargame genious that has already given me hours of enjoyment. Of which ANW has given me a year of enjoyment thus far

This is a thread for positivity

[Stalintc]

Quick question to save opening another topic

One thing that I have failed to remember to ask with regards to submarines..

When I bring a submarine to periscope depth, does this mean also that the submarine raises its ESM mast and can detect radar signatures?

The reason I ask is that I want to know if it is possible to bring a submarine to periscope depth to aid in triangulating and reducing the area of certainty for a contact that is currently emitting radar under the assumption that it is raising its ESM mast etc. I am always very reluctant to bring my submarines to periscope depth unless it is safe or has a purpose, it would be daft of me to be trying to help the AI triangulate an ESM signal with the submarine if it couldnt do so in the first place

Many thanks

[TonyE]

Yes, submarines equipped with ESM gear in the database do raise their ESM masts at periscope depth and can detect radar signatures (with admittedly short range given how close the mast is to the water).  The submarine of course can then have its mast counter-detected...

[Stalintc]

Fantastic, just the answer I needed thanks Tony,

Your reply does raise an important consideration with the radar horizon being that the ESM mast is so low when at periscope depth, it is likely as you say that if the ESM mast is getting a contact that it in turn is also within the radar range of the emitter and not outside of the radars detection range, due to curvature.

All in all just the ticket thank you!

edit - spelling

[Stalintc]

Here are a few shots from the latest engagement in GIUK 3.0 a single ambigous contact turned out to be a twosome of submarines which I caught in my sonobouy net I laid down for them

Sorry for the poor quality!

First firm contact with one Charlie II class submarine



Surprise contact with an additional sub of Victor III class



The Charlie II bites the dust, but the Victor III has escaped suffering minor damage and is limping off to the north, now I must re-arm my three attack helicopters and hope I can re-esthablish contact with him.



It is a shame the Victor III remains because it was the one with the more potent passive sonar sensors, putting my surface group at risk of a revenge missile attack, I will have to make sure the surface group stay outside of its engagment envelope of 50nm, since I have a wide spread on my surface group formation a missile attack would cause problems if the ships attacked were the ones with the poor point defence. This is the danger of spreading a group to maxmise passive sonar performance.

edit - need to work on my spelling more

[TonyE]

Very nice ASW work, a lot of manual buoy dropping going on there, and obviously effective!

[Stalintc]

Thanks Tony

My preference for running my sonobouy show is:

- Formation interior screening --- Leave AI to deal with this under the formation editor they do a good job

- ASW screen extension or barrier laying ---- Fully manual and attended to personally

I prefer to have full control when I am trying to block access to a certain area, plug a hole or localise a contact, for that it is very effective indeed!

[andym]

Just wondering,having seen the screenshots,can the colour be changed from that bright greenie blue to a deeper or different shade?I only ask as after looking at them it made my eyes go a bit wonky.

[CV32]

ORIGINAL: Stalintc
Thanks Tony
My preference for running my sonobouy show is:
- Formation interior screening --- Leave AI to deal with this under the formation editor they do a good job
- ASW screen extension or barrier laying ---- Fully manual and attended to personally
I prefer to have full control when I am trying to block access to a certain area, plug a hole or localise a contact, for that it is very effective indeed!

I do it much the same way. [:)]

[CV32]

ORIGINAL: andym
Just wondering,having seen the screenshots,can the colour be changed from that bright greenie blue to a deeper or different shade?I only ask as after looking at them it made my eyes go a bit wonky.

Yes, you can change water color to a deeper blue or even a textured option that shows the ocean floor. Land color choices are black, gray, light gray or a textured green terrain.

[Stalintc]

ORIGINAL: andym

Just wondering,having seen the screenshots,can the colour be changed from that bright greenie blue to a deeper or different shade?I only ask as after looking at them it made my eyes go a bit wonky.

Yes you can

Water can be:

Light Blue
Dark Blue
Textured

Land can be:

Light Grey
Grey
Black
Textured

Its all about personal preference, im sure you can find a setting that will suit you I myself find this much easier to take in.

[Stalintc]

Hmmmph another quickie I must ask, how do I check how many torpedos for example I have left in my hanger\ships magazine to load onto helicopters\aircraft? or is this just under the assumption all ammo types are available for each aircraft?

[CV32]

ORIGINAL: Stalintc
Hmmmph another quickie I must ask, how do I check how many torpedos for example I have left in my hanger\ships magazine to load onto helicopters\aircraft? or is this just under the assumption all ammo types are available for each aircraft?

There is no logistics model in HCE (yet), so you have unlimited numbers of torpedoes, missiles, sonobuoys, etc in the magazines for your shipborne aircraft.

[Stalintc]

Gotcha mate thanks, was driving me nuts, now its not [:)] cheers!