Quick mission report:
I started a new TE run based on the latest version of “Battle for Karpathos” above for the blue side and flew a SEAD mission against the SAM / Flak batallions stationed near the red airports on Rhodes on Apr 14th. That package was mostly a total failure (my flight got shot down by SA-10, see my “strange SAM tone” post in another thread ;)) except for the fact we took out the flap lid SA-10 radar. I saved the TE (time 9:30) and only took a heart to fly the next mission last night, roughly a fortnight later.
Does anyone else feel as daunted as I do to pick up BMS again after a longer time of not flying, like the two weeks in my case? I think about all the setup and mission planning necessary only to commit yet another noob mistake and have all the preparation going to waste, very weird. Instead of approaching BMS with an open mind and accepting my own errors, that is.
Anyway, I planned an interdiction package on Karpathos (the red tank / infantry battalions are trying to capture Karpathos Airport in this TE) using 4 F16-52 w/cft out of Kasteli escorted by 2 F16s from Souda, using GBU/12s as our weapon of choice (4 radars).
Ingress goes more or less uneventful, I get an AWACS warning about red F16s near our target but we’re still quite a way off. I notice the escort package is lagging behind a bit, but not far enough to grant worrying about it, so our flight (Viper1) continues on our merry way. Escort (Weasel1) engages the F16s at some point, so I get into the zone and try to get my stupid wingmen to drop some GBUs (I’ll give them Mavs next time around ;)).
I hear some “pitbull” calls from Weasel1, so thinking everything is fine I continue looking for worthy targets around the north of the island, when all of a sudden my RWR goes “cricket”, followed by an AIM-120 launch / lock warning soon thereafter.
I know my mission is over by now, but desperately I dive for the deck dropping chaff & flare (yeah, I know) while the menacing red square on the RWR closes in further and further. I pull up at around 300ft in a break turn, dropping some more counter measures and saying my “hail Marys”, when all of a sudden i hear a double “BOOM” noise and… I’m still alive!
The bird seems to be undamaged, and only seconds later I hear some more pitbull calls apparently taking care of the last remaining red viper that snuck up on me.
I can’t believe it, but I have actually evaded my first AIM-120 with my name on it… feels great!
As a bonus, AWACS informs us of some inbound bogeys over Karpathos airport which turns out to be a red OCA strike on the island’s airport, and I actually manage to go visual on two of them and splash them using short range AIM120 shots. Nice, I just love targets of opportunity!
Long story short: I drop my remaining GBUs (my wingmen manage only 4 out of possible 24 releases), then it’s time to go home to Kasteli again as we’re already way beyond joker. The flight home is uneventful too, regularly checking with AWACS (I just love being able to request picture, fence in, out and organizing the flight using Voice Attack now) and all four Viper1 flight members manage to land in one piece, all of them apparently undamaged.
My escort has been completely wiped out, but at least one of them managed to bail out in time. The debriefing registers 8/8 ground kills for me (mostly T-80s and one warehouse, wtf? ;)), my wingies apparently also managed some hits, and we’re all getting an “excellent” rating, yay!
Things to keep in mind for the next time around:
deploy a four ship escort
ensure better package timing (allow the escort a couple of minutes headway to clear the airspace or at least give the red sweeps something else to worry about)
don’t rely on “pitbull” calls with red F16s inbound 😉
Equip AI wingies with Mavericks only as they seem to do way better with them unloading all the ordnance. Their ability to drop GBUs seems to be hit and miss (no pun intended).
Questions:
What’s the best way to ensure the AI actually use their ordnance? I mostly sent “attack my targets” (“collateral target”) to the flight having locked up a tank or other vehicle in my ground radar / TGP.
Thanks again for this wonderful theater, I’m really looking forward to the next update!
All the best, Uwe