“The catapult officer calls for full afterburner. 50,000 pounds of
thrust spools behind you as your F-14 strains for release. Less
than three seconds later your Tomcat screams through the air
at 150 knots. You climb to meet your wingman, then head off
to join the fight.”
thrust spools behind you as your F-14 strains for release. Less
than three seconds later your Tomcat screams through the air
at 150 knots. You climb to meet your wingman, then head off
to join the fight.”
“Fleet Defender is the first flight simulator to accurately
recreate carrier-based operations. Experience all the
excitement of a catapult launch, realistic air-to-air
combat and the challenge of landing on a pitching
deck. You’ll be drawn into the high-stakes world of the
Navy’s top guns. Start your career the same way as a
real F-14 crew: training at Oceana Naval Air Station,
Virginia, home of the Atlantic Fleet Tomcats. From here,
you’re bound for duty in the arctic waters of Norway’s
North Cape or in the southern Mediterranean, off the
Libyan coast. You’ll need razor-sharp piloting skills to
defeat hostile aircraft using state-of-the-art fighter
tactics.”
recreate carrier-based operations. Experience all the
excitement of a catapult launch, realistic air-to-air
combat and the challenge of landing on a pitching
deck. You’ll be drawn into the high-stakes world of the
Navy’s top guns. Start your career the same way as a
real F-14 crew: training at Oceana Naval Air Station,
Virginia, home of the Atlantic Fleet Tomcats. From here,
you’re bound for duty in the arctic waters of Norway’s
North Cape or in the southern Mediterranean, off the
Libyan coast. You’ll need razor-sharp piloting skills to
defeat hostile aircraft using state-of-the-art fighter
tactics.”
“It’s all up to you! The skies are swarming with bandits.
Only you stand between the threat and your carrier
battle group. Lock on your radar and launch the Navy’s
advanced weapons to destroy the most sophisticated
enemy targets ever developed for a MicroProse
simulation. Roll, turn, climb, and dive to out-maneuver
enemy aircraft using an artificial intelligence developed
right out of Soviet and Third World military doctrine. A
computer controlled wingman responds to your every
command.
Only you stand between the threat and your carrier
battle group. Lock on your radar and launch the Navy’s
advanced weapons to destroy the most sophisticated
enemy targets ever developed for a MicroProse
simulation. Roll, turn, climb, and dive to out-maneuver
enemy aircraft using an artificial intelligence developed
right out of Soviet and Third World military doctrine. A
computer controlled wingman responds to your every
command.
And, you’ll interact with strike packages that include
F/A-18 Hornets, A-6 Intruders, A-7 Corsairs and E-2C
Hawkeye AWACS. You’ll pilot your F-14 through actual
locations, featuring the latest in 3-D terrain technology
derived from LANDSAT geological surveys.”
F/A-18 Hornets, A-6 Intruders, A-7 Corsairs and E-2C
Hawkeye AWACS. You’ll pilot your F-14 through actual
locations, featuring the latest in 3-D terrain technology
derived from LANDSAT geological surveys.”
Source: The original US box information, and the 1993 “Computer
Gaming World” advert (Circle Reader Service #84).
Gaming World” advert (Circle Reader Service #84).
Fleet Defender was released to much praise from the
gaming press and from fans of the genre, who had yet
to see a full fledged sim based on US Navy carrier
operations. While the F-14 Tomcat had seen some
computer game titles based on it, none had displayed
the scope or quality of Fleet Defender. For its time it is
certainly a study sim. The simulation is set in the 1980s
during the Cold War between the United States and the
Soviet Union, in theaters that could well have become
real life battlegrounds if WW3 had ever taken place.
The authenticity of Fleet Defender is solid, although it
does take some liberties like giving you the F-14B
instead of the underpowered “A” model, in order to
make the simulation more enjoyable. There are also
some anachronisms in the ships department, but
nothing that really takes away from the game.
gaming press and from fans of the genre, who had yet
to see a full fledged sim based on US Navy carrier
operations. While the F-14 Tomcat had seen some
computer game titles based on it, none had displayed
the scope or quality of Fleet Defender. For its time it is
certainly a study sim. The simulation is set in the 1980s
during the Cold War between the United States and the
Soviet Union, in theaters that could well have become
real life battlegrounds if WW3 had ever taken place.
The authenticity of Fleet Defender is solid, although it
does take some liberties like giving you the F-14B
instead of the underpowered “A” model, in order to
make the simulation more enjoyable. There are also
some anachronisms in the ships department, but
nothing that really takes away from the game.
After its initial 1994 release, MicroProse followed up in
style with a range of updates to the sim, that took care
of bugs and added playability to the game. Fleet
Defender later got a scenario addon as well as a
“Gold” release featuring both the original game, the
scenario addon and additional multimedia material
about the game itself and the real F-14 Tomcat. The CD
also came with a licenced, although chopped up, low
resolution copy of “Aviation Week Video: Flight Deck”
(1988). The original film being a fantastic insight into US
Navy carrier ops in the 80s.
style with a range of updates to the sim, that took care
of bugs and added playability to the game. Fleet
Defender later got a scenario addon as well as a
“Gold” release featuring both the original game, the
scenario addon and additional multimedia material
about the game itself and the real F-14 Tomcat. The CD
also came with a licenced, although chopped up, low
resolution copy of “Aviation Week Video: Flight Deck”
(1988). The original film being a fantastic insight into US
Navy carrier ops in the 80s.
Later the game was also re-released under MicroProse/
Spectrum Holobyte’s “PowerPlus” budget line, like many
of their other titles. Though this did contain the scenario
addon and version 2.0 of the main game, it lacked the
multimedia content of the “Gold” release.
Spectrum Holobyte’s “PowerPlus” budget line, like many
of their other titles. Though this did contain the scenario
addon and version 2.0 of the main game, it lacked the
multimedia content of the “Gold” release.
Fleet Defender also saw releases in various other game
compilations, and it remains a popular and well loved
air combat simulator to this day!
compilations, and it remains a popular and well loved
air combat simulator to this day!
1993 online BBS advert for Fleet Defender, published by MicroProse.
The system requirements were reasonable, as the sim could be
configured graphically to run with less detail on low end systems.
configured graphically to run with less detail on low end systems.
Useful Stuff:
The sim featured detailed
renditions of both pilot and
RIO cockpits, more refined
than those of F-15 III.
renditions of both pilot and
RIO cockpits, more refined
than those of F-15 III.
Landing is serious business in
Fleet Defender, and you will
get a hard time by the LSO if
you ditch instructions!
Fleet Defender, and you will
get a hard time by the LSO if
you ditch instructions!
For the first time in a
MicroProse sim, you had
wingmen to help you out.
MicroProse sim, you had
wingmen to help you out.
Fleet Defender followed up
previous MicroProse sims, with
even more immersive weather
and day/night effects!
previous MicroProse sims, with
even more immersive weather
and day/night effects!
You have the powerful
AWG-9 radar at your dis-
posal, as well as air-to-air
weapons including the
mighty AIM-54 Phoenix!
AWG-9 radar at your dis-
posal, as well as air-to-air
weapons including the
mighty AIM-54 Phoenix!
