Gunther

Steam, Steel and Skies!

Maykxor said
...anybody know if there's an actual name given to those strategic map/board pieces that I was trying to describe in my post? You know the kind you always see in movies that looks like they're moving with a casino stick?

I would assume that the term, "Icon" would be relevant; Unit Icon.
You know, I spent 21 years in the military, not the navy mind you, but I have never heard a name for those widgets, doodads, gizmos, or icons.

Steam, Steel and Skies!

Leftenant Graham was familiar with the ship's Captain. They had convalesced together in Portsmouth before being assigned to the Pegasus. "Digger" was curious to see the new Brig. Although he was accustomed to the heavier armed first rate ship, he knew the advantages of the smaller Brig and was interested in his new assignment as Gunnery Officer.

This day, Leftenant Graham was assigned officer of the deck (OOD). He would stand at the top of the gangway, salute the boarding sailors in his dress blues and his solitary Campaign medal denoting his participation in the Battle of Trafalgar. Part of his duty was to size up the crew as they boarded. They appeared to be disciplined enough to be in uniform, but only time would indicate whether they could perform their tasks within the parameters of the situation. He was really curious to see how much speed the old girl could take with a full head of steam.

The day Leftenant Hamish Graham arrived on board, he inspected the gun decks after stowing his personal belongings in his quarters. As Gunnery Officer, he had the third billet on the port side of the Brig. He would share it with an Ensign who would assist him as a Gunnery Division officer. The small nimble vessel had a total of twenty-eight canon on the solitary gun deck. Two swivel mounted gatling guns were mounted both port and starboard on the foc'sil and a third up in the crow's nest.

On the gun deck, fourteen 24-pound cannons each with a crew of one Automatron and two humans. The weapon started in the rear position, its wheels butted against the blocks towards the inside of the ship. The human loader would load and prime the weapon making it ready to fire. Once the weapon was up, he would call, "gun up!" Next, the Automatron would then push the muzzle of the piece so it was in the forward position, its forward wheels touching the forward blocks and the muzzle sticking out of the portal. The gunner readied the lanyard by inserting it into the fuze and eyeballing what targets lay in front of it. Once the command of fire was given by the Gunnery officer or the gunnery Division Commander, he would pull the lanyard thereby discharging the piece and repeating the loading process once more.

Leftenant Hamish Graham was impressed with this new Ionized cannons and believed they would have a greater impact than the older pieces. He was sad not to see any 36-Pounders and waited to see the gatling guns in action rather than the shotgun like blast of the Carronades which raked the French ships on the HMS Royal Sovereign. But he was no longer with the Sovereign. He'd lost many mates on that old lady. A proud ships she were.

OPTEVFOR JDF-1 [Naval][Ship-Based][Modern]

Yes, Electronic Warfare; used for jamming enemy radar. The SEAD Mission is conducted by an EC platform and an attack platform.

SEAD is Suppression of Enemy Air Defense
Attack Platform is an Aircraft carrying air to ground missiles.

The EC aircraft flies in at normal altitude, while the strike aircraft flies in low, under the radar ahead of the EC aircraft. the EC platform detects and jams radars and then relays location to the strike aircraft who destroys it. This is known as Wild Weasel.

OPTEVFOR JDF-1 [Naval][Ship-Based][Modern]

I was thinking maybe that Carrier Wing could use an EW platform, but it really doesn't matter. I'm sure there are F35 variants with EW packages or quite possibly it is built right into the A/B/C models, as technology has increased so rapidly over the years.

OPTEVFOR JDF-1 [Naval][Ship-Based][Modern]

I have a recap of all the submitted ships thusfar to include Air Assets and Marine units. I converted any Roman Numerals I found to the standard alpha numeric system in use today. I appreciate Slypheed's integration of a British Helo onto an American vessel. Why not? :)

USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-67)
64x F-35C
4x E-2 Hawkeye (Early Airborne Warning)
4x MH-60R Seahawk (SAR)
8x MH-60F Seahawk (ASW)

USS Wyvern (LCS-15)
1x F-35B
2x RAH-66 Comanche
4x MQ-8 Fire Scout

USS Tripoli (LHA-7)
6x F-35B Lightning II
12x MV-22B Osprey
4x CH-53K Super Stallion Helicopters
6x AH-1Z Viper
2x MH-60S Knighthawk
23rd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) 1,687 Marines

USS Leviathan (SSBN-10)

USS America (LHA-6)
6x F-35B Lightning II
12x MV-22B Osprey
4x CH-53K Super Stallion Helicopters
6x AH-1Z Viper
2x MH-60S Knighthawk
25th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) 1,687 Marines

USS Navassa Island (BC-4)
1x MV-22B Osprey
2x MH-60S Knighthawk
4x MQ-8 Fire Scout
2x ScanEagle (Could potentially have several more of these.)

USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002)
1x MH-60R helicopter
3x 4x MQ-8 Fire Scout VT-UAVs

USS Fenrir (CGN-1]
1x MH-60R helicopter
1x F-35B Lightning II
1x AW159 Wildcat (US ship with a British Helo.) =D

OPTEVFOR JDF-1 [Naval][Ship-Based][Modern]

|Ship Name: USS Lyndon Baines Johnson
|Ship Class: Zumwalt Class
|Ship Hull Classification Symbol: DDG
|Ship Role: Multi-Role ASW/ASuW/AAW
|Armament:
20x MK-57 VLS Modules , with 4 vertical launch cells in each module, 80 cells total. Each cell can hold one or more missiles, depending on the size of the missiles.
RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM), 4 per cell
Tactical Tomahawk, 1 per cell
Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROC) 1 per cell
2x 155mm/62 caliber Advanced Gun System 920x155mm rounds; 600 in automated store + Auxiliary store room with up to 320 rounds (non-automatic) & 70-100 LRLAP rounds)
2x Mk110 57mm gun (CIWS)

|Aircraft Carried: 1x MH-60R helicopter
3x MQ-8 Fire Scout VT-UAVs
|Aviation Facilities: Flight deck and enclosed hangar for up to two medium lift helicopters.

|Dimensions:
Displacement: 14,798 Tons
Length: 600 ft. (180 m)
Beam: 80.7 ft. (24.6 m)
Draft: 27.6 ft. (8.4 m)

|Speed: Greater than 30 Knots (56 kmh/35 mph)
|Crew: 140
|Motto: None
|Other: Maiden Voyage

|Captain's Name: Commander Hank Matthews
+Appearance: Hank is 6' 2" tall with light brown skin and weighs 210 Lbs. He keeps his hair very short, starting to recede at the peeks. Hank has dark brown eyes and keeps his face clean shaven.
+Personality: Hank is a laid back commander who takes care of his crew to insure they are prepared to carry out the mission. He is a fair commander, but occasionally gets too close to the sailors.
+Bio: Hank Mathews is from Seattle, WA. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1996. Following initial training at the Surface Warfare Officer’s School Division Officers Course in Newport, RI, he was assigned to USS NORMANDY (CG 60) based in Norfolk, VA and served as First Lieutenant and Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer. His second Division Officer assignment was onboard USS DEYO (DD 989) also based in Norfolk, VA, as the Auxiliaries and Electrical Officer.

After further training at the Surface Warfare Officers School, Commander Matthews served in USS HAWES (FFG 53) as the Engineer Officer, followed by assignment as the Pre-Commissioning Staff Materiel Officer for Riverine Group One in 2006.

Ashore, Commander Matthews attended the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, CA, and graduated with a Master of Arts Degree in National Security Affairs in 2003. He served in the International Engagement Division of Chief of Naval Operations Staff as the Northern Europe/NATO Action Officer from 2007 to 2009. He then served as a contingency planner at US Northern Command’s Joint Force Headquarters - National Capital Region from 2009 to 2011. Commander Matthews most recently served as Executive Officer in USS Lyndon Baines Johnson (DDG 1002).

Commander Matthews has been awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards) and the French Medal for National Defense (Gold Echelon).

|Name: Carl Grimes
+Rank: Commander
+Role: Executive Officer
+Appearance: Carl Grimes stands 5' 9" and weighs 180 Lbs. He has short red hair and blue eyes, with many freckles on his face.
+Personality: Carl is difficult to pin down sometimes. He vacillates in his decision making and this has been reflected on his OERs. HE is a fun guy to hang out with and knows all the best party places in every port.
+Bio: Commander Carl Grimes graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1995 earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. His initial sea assignment after graduation was a split tour as Damage Control Assistant and then Assistant Operations Officer in USS MILIUS (DDG-69) in San Diego, California where he was part of the ship’s maiden deployment. Commander Grimes’ follow on assignment was to Department Head School, in Newport Rhode Island.

Upon completion of Department Head School, Commander Grimes was assigned to Precommisioning crew in USS McCAMPBELL (DDG-85), Bath, Maine built and stationed in San Diego, California. Here he served as Operations Officer during building and manning of the ship, initial Sea Qualifications and subsequent deployment work-ups for Counter Drug Operations. Commander Grimes then reported to the staff of COMMANDER DESTROYER SQUADRON TWENTY-ONE as Operations/Plans Officer, completing a 3rd/7th Fleet Deployment aboard USS JOHN C STENNIS (CVN-74) in support of Operation Northern Edge, RIMPAC 2004, JASEX, and various multi National Exercises.

Commander Grimes earned his Master’s Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, in Newport Rhode Island. Upon graduation he remained at the college as a member of the Naval Operational Planner Course, subsequently earning a designation as a Joint Operational Planner.

Commander Grimes' follow on assignment was to the staff of Commander North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, J-5 Plans, Policy and Strategy Directorate, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Assigned as a lead strategic planner, Commander Grimes, conducted numerous Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) planning events, to include Hurricane, Wildfire and Winter storm support, pandemic preparedness and Inauguration Day support.

Commander Grimes then reported to the staff of Commander, Combined Maritime Forces, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and Commander U.S. Fifth Fleet, Manama Bahrain as the Deputy Director for Plans, supporting Maritime Security Operations, Counter-Piracy operations and Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Commander Grimes' last assignment was as Executive Officer in USS Lyndon Baines Johnson (DDG-1002).

|Name: Tyler Acheson
+Rank Master Chief Petty Officer
+Role: Command Master Chief (Chief of the Boat) COB
+Appearance: Master Chief Acheson is 5' 11" tall and weighs 195 Lbs. He wears short brown hair and has blue eyes.
+Personality: Master Chief Acheson is a no nonsense NCO who insures his men are taken care of. If his sailors are doing their job properly, he will support them completely.
+Bio: Command Master Chief Tyler Acheson enlisted in 1994 in Houston, TX. He attended Recruit Training in Great Lakes, Illinois and STG “A” School in San Diego, CA.

His first sea duty assignment was USS RODNEY M DAVIS (FFG 60), in Yokosuka, Japan. His other assignments include Naval Ocean Processing Facility Whidbey Island, WA, USS MCFAUL (DDG 74), USS JOHN S MCCAIN (DDG 56), USS LASSEN (DDG 82) and Navy Military Police Guard Battalion, Parwan, Afghanistan.

He is a graduate of the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy and Command Master Chief/ Chief of the Boat Course in Newport, RI. Master Chief McCown reported in October 2013 as Command Master Chief in USS Lyndon Baines Johnson (DDG 1002).

Master Chief Acheson’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (five awards), Enlisted Surface Warfare Insignia, Enlisted Information Dominance Warfare Insignia and numerous campaign awards.

OPTEVFOR JDF-1 [Naval][Ship-Based][Modern]

Wernher said
Well, submarines can destroy other submarines, but still, can we have multiple ships?

Submarines are best at Anti Surface Warfare and Strategic Missile launches. Yes, they can hunt and engage other submerged submarines, but it is not their primary role. They are ship killers. Destroyers and Frigates serve the role of hunting and killing submarines more efficiently. Besides, submerged boats are slower than surface ships.

OPTEVFOR JDF-1 [Naval][Ship-Based][Modern]

As it so happens I am working on DDG-1002 Lyndon Baines Johnson, a Zumwalt Class DDG.

Steam, Steel and Skies!

Name: Hamish "Digger" Graham

Age: 30

Occupation: Gunnery Officer

Biography: Hamish Graham was born in December 1772, related to the Stewart Clan through his mother's side of the family. He had a fairly easy life as a child, but was educated at some of the finest schools in the United Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. He was trained to speak French, Latin and Italian and studied the following subjects: mathematics, Reading, Writing, Physics, Rhetoric, European History, Modern economics, alchemy, biology, geometry, and Poetry.

When he arrived at age 12, he was educated in the conduct of naval operations for both sail and steam. He learned how the various systems worked and understood the chain of command. He was disciplined in naval tactics as well as the conduct of shore parties to include the use of standard muskets and flintlocks. He has been fencing with either the rapier or the cutlass since he was 12 years old and prefers the cutlass over the rapier, but is skilled with both.

At age 16, he went to see as an Ensign and made his way up through the officer ranks to Second Officer aboard the Pegasus. During his 19 year career with the Royal navy, Digger has served as Officer of the Watch, Navigator, Ship's Engineer, Gun Division Commander and his current position as Ship's Gunnery officer. In this position, Digger coordinates the activities of all gun divisions aboard ship. There are several Gun divisions which contain three or more batteries per division with four to six guns per battery.

Weapon of choice: Cutlass and pair of "Sea Service" flintlock pistols.

Orientation/Relationship Status: Terminal bachelor

Audition: Hamish previously served aboard the HMS Royal Sovereign, a 100-gun first rate ship of the line that saw action at the Battle of Trafalgar. Due to extensive damage during the engagement with the French and Spanish fleets, the Royal Sovereign was decommissioned soon after the British victory in the skies over Trafalgar. Of the ship's 850 human and automaton crewmembers aboard ship, only175 humans and 48 machines survived the battle. Hamish, who was the highest ranking survivor had served as a Division Commander of four starboard batteries; a total of 24 guns. After recuperating from injuries in Portsmouth for six months, Hamish was reassigned as Gunnery Officer aboard the Pegasus. He has found his new assignment to be fulfilling for him, yet is a bit off-putting due the size of the smaller Brig. Afterall, the Pegasus is no First Rate ship of the line. Regardless, Hamish is happy to be serving His Majesty's Ship aboard the 28-gun Pegasus.

Able Archer 1983

I've either been asleep or in church during this conversation. Pardon me for the confusion. There are four US Divisions to the south, a British Division in the north, a German division in the north and undoubtedly a Dutch one also. That makes three Corps sized elements to defend this attack. The US has the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment and the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in the south defending along the 1K zone, that narrow strip of border separating the east from the west. I assume (99.999%) that the British and/or the Germans have some sort of Regimental sized Recce unit patrolling the 1K zone in the north. I'm not saying that any of us authors is RPing this Recce unit. I am saying that those of you writing as an East German or Russian, you should make contact with these Recce units before reaching the Elbe or Hamburg. They will fight a delaying action supported by Artillery and Attack aircraft. They will not stop you, they will slow you down and it should take 3 days to reach the Elbe. Nothing more, nothing less.