WargamerScott
01-04-06, 04:38 PM
I just completed my first Quick Mission. It turned out to be quite unusual. The battle involved me in my 688(i), one friendly Ticonderoga VLS, one neutral sailboat, and one PFG-2 enemy patrol boat. The QB was selected to be an ASuW.
First, I think I found a bug. The first mission brief said: "You are to conduct a barrier search and neutralize any surface contacts in the area...."
The subsequent radio message then said: "Clear the area of all hostile subsurface contacts." This looks to be an error as this was an AsuW mission with no subsurface contacts.
Anyway, I rose to periscope depth and took a quick look spotting the PFG and sailboat right away. Marking the two, I prepared to take out the PFG. For some reason, as my sonar was unable to pick up the PFG except for fleeting moments, the entire attack was made by periscope---fortunately, the enemy did not have keen lookouts (are PFGs unusually quiet?). My first attack involved 2 TASMs---both of which missed (I think I was too close at 5nm for the seekers to spot the enemy vessel). That must have got its attention because the PFG goes active and changes course to my direction. I run naturally, preparing to fire two Mk48 torps. Meanwhile, we start hearing explosions topside as well as two torps in the water (I assume they are after me---do enemy torps get marked on the NAV display?). Eventually I get back on an attack run, fire the two torps with one appearing to hit the PFG killing it. I was happy until I discovered I completely missed when I ended the mission and viewed the replay.
This is what really happened:
My two missiles overshot the PFG and then disappeared from the NAV Map (I guess they were shot down by the PFG?). The PFG turned in my direction and spotted the friendly Tico in the process and launched a barrage of missiles at it! The Tico responded in kind and both salvoes annihalated each other! This went on for a few minutes with neither side being damaged (as far as I could see). Then, according to the replay, the Tico started taking hits from something---I am assuming gunshots because the PFG didn't fire any more missiles at the Tico. It was at this point that I fired my Mk48s at the PFG---which, coincidentally, was the same time the PFG fired four torps at the Tico! The Tico responded with a single missile in return! Now it came down to timing. My first Mk48 missed at this point, detontating just before it hit the enemy ship (decoy?) with my second torp just missing the PFG a second later. As my torp missed, the Tico's missile hit the PFG--killing it (making me think one of my torps did the job after all!). Of the four enemy torps at the Tico, one hit its towed decoy, and two hit the ship (which didn't sink!). There was another torp on the way but I ended the game before the attack could be resolved. Finally, somehow, that neutral sailboat got sunk even though the replay doesn't show anything hitting it (gun fire?).
What a weird QM! But interesting!
First, I think I found a bug. The first mission brief said: "You are to conduct a barrier search and neutralize any surface contacts in the area...."
The subsequent radio message then said: "Clear the area of all hostile subsurface contacts." This looks to be an error as this was an AsuW mission with no subsurface contacts.
Anyway, I rose to periscope depth and took a quick look spotting the PFG and sailboat right away. Marking the two, I prepared to take out the PFG. For some reason, as my sonar was unable to pick up the PFG except for fleeting moments, the entire attack was made by periscope---fortunately, the enemy did not have keen lookouts (are PFGs unusually quiet?). My first attack involved 2 TASMs---both of which missed (I think I was too close at 5nm for the seekers to spot the enemy vessel). That must have got its attention because the PFG goes active and changes course to my direction. I run naturally, preparing to fire two Mk48 torps. Meanwhile, we start hearing explosions topside as well as two torps in the water (I assume they are after me---do enemy torps get marked on the NAV display?). Eventually I get back on an attack run, fire the two torps with one appearing to hit the PFG killing it. I was happy until I discovered I completely missed when I ended the mission and viewed the replay.
This is what really happened:
My two missiles overshot the PFG and then disappeared from the NAV Map (I guess they were shot down by the PFG?). The PFG turned in my direction and spotted the friendly Tico in the process and launched a barrage of missiles at it! The Tico responded in kind and both salvoes annihalated each other! This went on for a few minutes with neither side being damaged (as far as I could see). Then, according to the replay, the Tico started taking hits from something---I am assuming gunshots because the PFG didn't fire any more missiles at the Tico. It was at this point that I fired my Mk48s at the PFG---which, coincidentally, was the same time the PFG fired four torps at the Tico! The Tico responded with a single missile in return! Now it came down to timing. My first Mk48 missed at this point, detontating just before it hit the enemy ship (decoy?) with my second torp just missing the PFG a second later. As my torp missed, the Tico's missile hit the PFG--killing it (making me think one of my torps did the job after all!). Of the four enemy torps at the Tico, one hit its towed decoy, and two hit the ship (which didn't sink!). There was another torp on the way but I ended the game before the attack could be resolved. Finally, somehow, that neutral sailboat got sunk even though the replay doesn't show anything hitting it (gun fire?).
What a weird QM! But interesting!