EF-18 Growler test
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I have been fragging jamming flights in my package and putting HARM’s on them but I have yet to see them fire one. I wonder if they do or if they have to be SEAD or DEAD to fire a HARM.
I think they have to be. The task are both defined, so I doubt they engage in anything else than jamming.
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So sead one steer point the next Jam?
Bullet
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I’ll try that but the steerpoint I need jamming is the same one I need SEAD. Maybe I’ll make a SEAD steerpoint right before the jamming one.
Sent from my VS988 using Tapatalk
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For a human pilot, put jamming everywhere and fire your HARMs whenever you want.
For the AI… I’d let jamming everywhere and expect another A/C to be a DEAD, since that’s what you actually seem to want from it. You don’t want the Growler to switch steerpoint at the wrong time, and without a call, in addition. It will do that.
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That is what I usually do, but I look at the HARMS that they could carry and I think what if. This brings up another question. Do the jamming A/C really need all those jamming pods? I usually drop them down to two and put tanks and HARMS, but now I’ll probably give up on the dual purpose SEAD and Jam.
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That is what I usually do, but I look at the HARMS that they could carry and I think what if. This brings up another question. Do the jamming A/C really need all those jamming pods? I usually drop them down to two and put tanks and HARMS, but now I’ll probably give up on the dual purpose SEAD and Jam.
I think the philosophy behind the task is what will drive you to your choice.
Trying to combine a gamewise and real world reflection, I would use the Growler in scenarii that have common characteristics:
- Massive strike, not to say an Alpha strike - many targets to make the Growler harder to identify and track.
- Heavily defended target (carrier group, airbase, SAM nest in general)
- Need to remove air defences very quickly in terms of war progress
My Growler is the key point of the strike(s). I need it to be in range and protected. In consequence, I’ll expect the pilot and the Electronic Warfare Officer to fully concentrate on Situational Awareness - make sure the other aircrafts remain under cover and knowing where to go in case of air threats.
The moves of the Growler can drag the whole pack away, an aircraft leaving the bubble will certainly be destroyed quickly if area denial weapons aren’t jammed anymore. I’d expect the stikes and escorts not to be able to constantly watch their distance to their Growler, he would play a role in keeping an eye on everybody.Therefore, I wouldn’t really want my Growler to launch HARMs. Many allied aircrafts already, there will be one more to do that task if needed.
I don’t think I would risk a Growler in a 3 or 4 aircrafts package in a conventional war situation, so, a pair of complementary HARMs doesn’t really get my interest.
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I think the philosophy behind the task is what will drive you to your choice.
Trying to combine a gamewise and real world reflection, I would use the Growler in scenarii that have common characteristics:
- Massive strike, not to say an Alpha strike - many targets to make the Growler harder to identify and track.
- Heavily defended target (carrier group, airbase, SAM nest in general)
- Need to remove air defences very quickly in terms of war progress
My Growler is the key point of the strike(s). I need it to be in range and protected. In consequence, I’ll expect the pilot and the Electronic Warfare Officer to fully concentrate on Situational Awareness - make sure the other aircrafts remain under cover and knowing where to go in case of air threats.
The moves of the Growler can drag the whole pack away, an aircraft leaving the bubble will certainly be destroyed quickly if area denial weapons aren’t jammed anymore. I’d expect the stikes and escorts not to be able to constantly watch their distance to their Growler, he would play a role in keeping an eye on everybody.Therefore, I wouldn’t really want my Growler to launch HARMs. Many allied aircrafts already, there will be one more to do that task if needed.
I don’t think I would risk a Growler in a 3 or 4 aircrafts package in a conventional war situation, so, a pair of complementary HARMs doesn’t really get my interest.
Lorik, very interesting topic. How about we look at it in a specific situation-a DEAD strike against a SA-10.The only tactic I’ve been able to come up with is a SLAM strike, which frankly is not easy to do.You need good Intel. on where it is, and you almost have to hope the Grumble shoots as the SLAM approaches and you can see the launch plume.
So, 3 questions arise-Would taking a Growler along allow me to attack , with relative safety, a -10, with normal munitions?If so, I wouldn’t care if it shot HARMS or not. I mean, if the Growler can get me close enough to employ JSOW or CBU’s…
-If yes, then how many Growlers would be needed? From what I’ve read , the most effective Growler package is 3 a/c.- we know IRL Growlers can carry AIM-120’s. How about in BMS? Would they defend themselves or would I need to escort as if they were unarmed?
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Lorik, very interesting topic. How about we look at it in a specific situation-a DEAD strike against a SA-10.The only tactic I’ve been able to come up with is a SLAM strike, which frankly is not easy to do.You need good Intel. on where it is, and you almost have to hope the Grumble shoots as the SLAM approaches and you can see the launch plume.
So, 3 questions arise-Would taking a Growler along allow me to attack , with relative safety, a -10, with normal munitions?If so, I wouldn’t care if it shot HARMS or not. I mean, if the Growler can get me close enough to employ JSOW or CBU’s…
-If yes, then how many Growlers would be needed? From what I’ve read , the most effective Growler package is 3 a/c.- we know IRL Growlers can carry AIM-120’s. How about in BMS? Would they defend themselves or would I need to escort as if they were unarmed?
Thanks compadre
1/ For this specific situation, a HARM launch at safe distance from high altitude remains possible. I’m not sure I would use a Growler for that, unless I have a Growlers squadron and no HARM, which could be a possible pre-planned scenario. But let’s see that anyway.
2/ The Growler will protect you, and herself, from any radar-tracked SAM launch. So, indeed, taking something as efficient and less big than a HARM is definitely an interesting option. I would expect other aircrafts to do the dirty job, as the Growler’s loadout is limited. The loadout I described in my first post was for BMS, I wouldn’t know for RL (2 Fox 3 and 2 AGM-88 ). Also, it’s for the Growler, I didn’t have a look at the Prowler, for instance.
3/ A Growlers squadron is basically 4 aircrafts. Their value seems comparable to an AWACS. Sending a group of them is not exactly what they seem to be intended for, unless you are using them as a very separate force for a given task (as a DEAD on a SA-10, but HARMs can do that without jamming… in BMS). A Growler alone will shine at covering a whole package, or several ones, flying in his shielded area.
A human flying a Growler, assisting other humans is definitely an interesting idea. If you play online too?
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Thanks compadre
1/ For this specific situation, a HARM launch at safe distance from high altitude remains possible. I’m not sure I would use a Growler for that, unless I have a Growlers squadron and no HARM, which could be a possible pre-planned scenario. But let’s see that anyway.
2/ The Growler will protect you, and herself, from any radar-tracked SAM launch. So, indeed, taking something as efficient and less big than a HARM is definitely an interesting option. I would expect other aircrafts to do the dirty job, as the Growler’s loadout is limited. The loadout I described in my first post was for BMS, I wouldn’t know for RL (2 Fox 3 and 2 AGM-88 ). Also, it’s for the Growler, I didn’t have a look at the Prowler, for instance.
3/ A Growlers squadron is basically 4 aircrafts. Their value seems comparable to an AWACS. Sending a group of them is not exactly what they seem to be intended for, unless you are using them as a very separate force for a given task (as a DEAD on a SA-10, but HARMs can do that without jamming… in BMS). A Growler alone will shine at covering a whole package, or several ones, flying in his shielded area.
A human flying a Growler, assisting other humans is definitely an interesting idea. If you play online too?
Lorik, thanks a lot for your research. The kind of situation I’d bring a Growler along is like the start of a campaign. You’ve targeted a -10, you see others at your 10 and 2, and the SAMs “they are aflying”. I don’t want the Growler to kill things. BMS is for fun, and my favorite is DEAD. “I hate SAM’s. I get all worked up just thinking about them”(Flight of the Intruder ). So, what’s exciting about this discussion is a Growler letting me get close and blow things up.
You’re right, multiplayer cooperative tactics between my Bug and a Growler would definitely be a hoot. -
Nice, I will try that.
Bullet -
Here’s a summary of my attempts.
You operate the EA-18G as any F18. It is loaded with special pods for jamming. You can have 2 fox3 and 2 AGM88, not TGP, no HTS.
You can rampstart it or not, it will still work in the end.Your flight plan contains 2 “Jamming” STPT, or more if you want to tweak that.
You may have noticed, when you fly with the AI, that your wingman goes crazy “I’m going to land” when you switch to “Land” STPT from appropriate distance. Same here.As soon as I choose a “Jamming” STPT, the Growler starts jamming. There is nothing displaying in particular. When I select the next STPT after the “Jamming” ones, the Growler stops jamming forever.
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It jams ground radars, which still spike and can be tracked on RWR. I noticed several SA-10 launches from very close range (AAA bullets range), but I didn’t have to evade them. Probably another uneffective, autonomous mode?
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It doesn’t jam AA radars.I’ve already read the jammed area around the jamming aircraft was 40 nm, it seemed valid last time I tried, but I couldn’t check in depth. I’ve also read we didn’t need to have her in the package (Mav-JP I think but I couldn’t be certain).
The patrol time over the two “Jamming” STPT doesn’t matter. Having these points selected in your UFC matters. If you start selecting markpoints or any other steerpoint, your jammer goes bye-bye. Selecting back a jamming point, from a bigger one, didn’t work.I didn’t test a more fancy flight plans with repeated on/off patterns (6-7 jamming, 8 not jamming, 9 jamming again…), but I’m not sure it’s interesting. For a human flying, even AI, I think having “Jamming” STPT set on En Route is probably the best option from roughly take-off to landing. Not tested yet.
This is such a gorgeous aircraft…I was so happy to see this in bms! I think that it’d be really neat to fly mp with a human in a growler. Thanks a bunch for sharing this information with all of us; I’m really excited and anxious to hop in a growler. Here’s a link to a video that I’ve been watching a lot of lately: I don’t know how to put the videos in the post yet, hehe.
Around 6 minutes, it starts to get a little amped up.
Thanks so much again!
Bud
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This is such a gorgeous aircraft…I was so happy to see this in bms! I think that it’d be really neat to fly mp with a human in a growler. Thanks a bunch for sharing this information with all of us; I’m really excited and anxious to hop in a growler. Here’s a link to a video that I’ve been watching a lot of lately: I don’t know how to put the videos in the post yet, hehe.
Around 6 minutes, it starts to get a little amped up.
Thanks so much again!
Bud
Damn, they don’t mess around when they’re checking the freedom of their controls. I think I’d snap my T.16000M off if I worked it like that…
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Damn, they don’t mess around when they’re checking the freedom of their controls. I think I’d snap my T.16000M off if I worked it like that…
No kidding, that is pretty violent, lol.
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For all you … pu… Grolwer lovers , here’s some talk about developement, interesting. … sorry for OT , just some EW facts.
(actually , Thanks for some adv. flight package ideas, stpt. enroute sead/jam mix)
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Grrrrowwwler … satcom , electronic disruptors… free wifi :uham:
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I’m a huge fan of the Growler and have been digging around for info on using it as a player. Thank you so much to everyone in this thread I’m going to go fly it right now in BMS!
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I’m a huge fan of the Growler and have been digging around for info on using it as a player. Thank you so much to everyone in this thread I’m going to go fly it right now in BMS!
Hope that update helps.
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so basically if you want to do growler ops, jam every steer point?
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