allenjb42

So when are we getting dragons in SF2 for our P-51s to fight?

I was thinking ‘Rostock’ as most modern German warships are named after places and that’s where the navy headquarters is located.

There are a few more deals planned, and Germany may be on the ‘most favoured nations’ list Any suggestions for a suitable name for their carrier? And do we have a navalised Typhoon available?

It's been a while... Longbow (because I haven't had time to install the Comanche yet)

JS Akagi air wing, South China Sea 2027...

In an era of shifting geopolitical dynamics, the United States sought to withdraw from it's role as the world's policeman and it's President saw the opportunity for the ultimate defence deal - leasing Nimitz-class aircraft carriers and selling the accompanying aircraft to certain friendly countries. The increase in US defence spending and a ramping up of Ford class carrier production ('the Admirals have a name picked out for the next carrier. It's a beautiful name, the best, but I can't tell you what it is') enabled the US to prematurely release some of the earlier Nimitz-class carriers from front-line duties, and while such a move would be unprecedented, it would serve both the US and the recipient nations' interests in maintaining regional stability whilst reducing America's spend on defending others, and offset the trade deficit between the US and countries it had accused of 'ripping them off' by selling more to America than America had sold to them. Japan was the first recipient. Previously constrained by constitutional limitations on offensive military capabilities, the country had gradually expanded its defense posture in response to growing threats from China and North Korea. Leasing a Nimitz-class carrier would significantly enhance Japan’s ability to project power and defend its territorial integrity, particularly around the East China Sea and Taiwan Strait, as well as to protect it's trade routes through the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. For the U.S., leasing a carrier could strengthen the alliance, share the burden of maintaining maritime security, and enable a more distributed force posture without requiring permanent overseas American carrier basing. The carriers would retain the CVN-xx designation, and could be recalled to US Navy service if necessary, allowing the U.S. to retain strategic influence over the assets, although the recipient naton was allowed to choose to rename the vessel. Along with the lease of the carrier came the purchase of aircraft. JASDF F-15 units were re-equipped with various versions of the F/A-18 Superhornet, F-35A orders were switched to the navalised F-35C variant, and additional E-2 Hawkeyes were purchased, as crews from both the carrier and it's air wing were sent to the appropriate US Navy schools to learn new skills and US Navy personnel were seconded as advisers for at least the first deployment. By early 2027 CVN-70, formerly USS Carl Vinson, set off on it's first deployment as JS Akagi, a historic name chosen in honour of the earlier carrier that had been flagship of the 1st Air Fleet, the Kido Butai. That first cruise set the template for most future deployments, beginning with a 3 week shakedown in the Kuril Islands, including intercepts of snooping Russian Bears and other aircraft types, followed by a power projection transit through the South China Sea, including exercises with friendly nations' navies. Exiting via the Straits of Malacca into the Indian Ocean, further exercises were held with the Indian Navy while real-world ASW and air intercept sorties by the air wing kept prying Pakistani (and their Chinese allies') assets at arm's length, before Akagi took up station for around six months in the Arabian Sea. Forays into both the Straits of Hormuz and the Red Sea would feature in all cruises by the Akagi and it's battle group, and the air wing would fly many combat missions, hitting targets in the air, on land and at sea as needed. Relief on station would be by either a US carrier, or more frequently a former US carrier, and Akagi would return home, again making it's presence felt in the South China Sea, for rest and refit before the next deployment.

May The Fourth Be With You...

Thinking of you and wishing you a speedy recovery mate.

Not a regular flyer of them but I do have them in some of my installs and sometimes include them in ultra-modern missions if I’m flying something else like an F-15E. We have a skin for one of the 48FW F-35A squadrons that I use when flying those Strike Eagle missions on the premise that the wing would deploy together.

I think my introduction to the Comanche in flight sims was Gunship 2000 from Microprose. Really looking forward to this one.

Somewhere over the North Atlantic...

DACM somewhere over the Negev..