Harold Hutchison sent an interesting email asking about using kamikazes in Harpoon. Harold is the first person in 20 years and four editions to ask about this. It’s a viable tactic in this age of low-tech terrorism. A kamikaze is fired on like any other air target. Depending on the aircraft type, speed, and altitude, he may or may not get die modifiers for AA and SAM fire, and his approach will determine whether or not he’s a sea-skimming target. If the aircraft is manned, there is a -20% modifier to the chance to hit. Normally, kills in Harpoon include damage that doesn’t destroy the plane outright, but forces the pilot to abort his mission. That’s not the case here, and this needs to be factored out. His chance of hitting is based on the target’s size: VSmall/Stealthy 10% Small/Medium 30% Large 50% I strongly recommend using the Pilot experience rules. Since Harpoon doesn ’t use damage point ratings for aircraft, base the damage inflicted by the crash on the plane ’s size: VSmall: roll one D6, Small: roll 2D6, Medium: 4D6, and Large: roll 6D6 points of damage. There is one fire critical (roll -2 for severity) for every engine on the plane, in addition to any criticals caused by the damage. And of course the damage from any ordnance carried. Adapting 7.3.2.5.1 in Harpoon , if the aircraft still has 25% or more of total fuel capacity aboard, there is a +3 to the D10 roll for the severity of each fire. To model variation in speed, if the plane’s speed is 450 knots or more, use D10s instead of D6s. If the plane’s speed if 700 knots or more, double the D10 roll. For instance, a Cessna (VSmall and slow) would do 1-6 dp and risk one fire. A B-52 (Large) at full military power would cause 6 -60 damage points, but could cause as many as 8 fire criticals. An F-14 (Medium) on afterburner would cause 8 -80 damage points and have a chance for two fire criticals. This can also be used to model the effects of missiles that strike a ship without detonating. An Exocet (VSmall, 613 knots) would inflict 1-10 damage points and have a chance for one fire critical. A Kh-22 (Small, Mach 2+dive) would cause between 4 and 40 damage points, as well as the risk of fire. I ’m basing this on the premise that aircraft structures are not as sturdy as ship structures (built for lightness) and are not meant to slam into things. Ships (especially warships) are designed to resist impacts. And most of the damage done by kamikazes in WW II was from the fires they caused. Look at USS Laffey, who was hit several times and kept on going. But the kamikazes’ targets don’t have to be ships. Buildings could also be targeted. Look at Harold’s Hormuz Station Scenario on page 23 to see how this rule could work. BT Back to The Naval Sitrep # 27 Table of Contents Back to Naval Sitrep List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List & copy Copyright 2004 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history and related articles are available at http://www.magweb.com