[SeaQueen]

Originally Posted by LuftWolf

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For the FFG, if you are in a SAG or escorting a convoy, if you have surface traffic on one side of you, you can be more or less sure that you aren't going to get hit by a wakehomer or ASM, but on the exposed side, with no traffic and a huge area of open water, you are very vulnerable, but use of helos and buoys adds considerably to your survival.

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In a high threat environment, it's not likely for any warship, let alone an FFG to be acting alone. Even when it had the missile launcher, it didn't have especially effective AAW capabilities, so if they were worried about cruise missiles, they'd almost always put him out there with at least a DDG and probably a combat air patrol supporting it.

One of the things that bothers me about DW is that people think too much in terms of one-on-one engagements, and not in what a team of warships together can do. For example, a DDG51 doesn't have a helo hanger, but pair that with an FFG and you have a pretty good all around team.

I have heard, in RL, the Perry FFG is refered to as the "Helen Keller Class" and I don't suppose would last very long in wartime conditions on it's own... other's know a lot more about that I'm sure.

The bow sonar is okay active (it's a waste of time to count on it
for passive detection). The towed array is good, but it's performance depends on the acoustics, which can very widely. An FFG is not a cruiser, but that's not to say it's bad. You just need to be wise about setting up a scenario.

I would suggest in mission design that placement of helo's and briefing about possible datums,

I don't think that gives the FFG or the players enough credit. You don't need to just TELL the player the answer to the puzzle.

given perhaps from the more well equipped ships in the SAG with a target confirmation/prosecution assigned to the FFG in the mission briefing, or a buoy line dropped from a ASW plane, or something to indicate a fleet-level prosecution would be helpful to add a dynamic feel to the mission and increase the survival of the FFG player.

Teaming the FFG up with aircraft or another warship is definitely one way to go. Think about it. You're the admiral and you need to make sure a convoy gets to where it needs to go. Your intelligence tells you that they will most likely encounter an Akula class submarine. They need escorts. The Akula class presents:

1 - An ASW problem.
2 - An AAW problem with it's cruise missiles.

So... the FFG is limited with AAW, so you couldn't count on it defending the convoy or itself effectively alone. You'd need at a DDG or a CG too.

ASW wise, the FFG is good, provided you have good acoustics. So... where does your convoy want to go? In a bottom-limited environment, the FFG's search range is severely limited so you'd need either multiple FFGs or maybe another DDG or something else with a higher search rate to cue the FFG ( like a P-3). If you can expect a CZ or two then you might be fine with a DDG and a FFG.


I also tend to always start off scenarios with my helo airborn. Most scenarios should be designed around more than one warship. If it's against a highly capable threat like an Akula.