A Couple of Questions
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Let me preface these inquiries by saying, “Yeah I get it, you’ve gotta do what it takes to stay alive”.
However, I’m running into an issue on a single player campaign mission and I’m wondering if it’s something I should come to expect.I’m trying to bomb a production facility with a couple of GBU-10C/Bs.
My briefing shows no surface to air threats anywhere around the target nor on my flight path.The issue is that at about 80 miles from the objective I’m running into all kinds of SAM launches.
My first attempt I was able to shake the threats but in the process I burnt up so much fuel I had to abort and head back to base.
My second and third attempts did not turn out nearly as well…Getting ready to strap in and try again as I was able to get a little closer to the target the last time by shaking the first couple of SAMs and going NOE.
However, as soon as I popped up in order to hit the target at the designated altitude I got blasted.First question: Is it typical to encounter SIGNIFICANT anti-air threats of which my briefing makes no mention?
Second question: Arm delay and burst altitude issues aside, what’s the minimum altitude at which I must pass my target in order to get a successful hit with GBU-10s?BTW, this mission is a long flight requiring two external tanks so no chance of loading up Mavs or HARMS.
I should also mention that I’m several VERY SUCCESSFUL missions into this campaign so I suppose it’s conceivable that my briefing is lacking the most recent enemy troop and threat movements.Thanks so much,
Squeak -
welcome in BMS campaigns, you need proper reco , sweep / escort and proper sead before even thinking about bombing something….
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Thanks for the reply Mav-jp.
So if I understand, what you’re saying I may be out running my sweep/escort elements?
I have in fact considered that possibility back in my 4.0AF days but always rationalized that the computer generated flights would do their thing regardless what I do.I’m not gonna lie, I’ve dedicated nearly ALL of my Falcon study time to weapons systems, radar modes and navigation with nearly ZERO time dedicated to understanding how all the elements come together to pull off a successful mission.
Guess in a multiplayer game I’d be a HORRIBLE wing man.
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Unit don’t show up in briefing = fog of war.
In general, ground units won’t show unless they’ve been ‘spotted’ by other recent flights.
I don’t think a GBU-10 is the best weapon for this kind of target in this kind of environment. IIRC, GBU-10 are laser guided. Meaning you have to loiter to lase the target until impact …. not good. A 2000# JDAM with a Toss might be better for (roughly) equal ‘boom’ and precision.
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You’re totally right Blue.
Just tried again and this time my TWS didn’t even give me a heads up.
Knew I should have gone low earlier…:mad:The problem with a toss attack is that I’m not getting close enough to the objective to go with anything without it’s own means of propulsion.
Holy shit this is HELLA frustrating!!!I even did a thirty mile loop halfway to the object to ensure the other elements had time to do their thing.
On the bright side, I dig learning new stuff. In this case I’ve got my work cut out for me.
Seems it may be time to spend a little time on COMMS training in order to know what the hell the other elements are up to.
More research needed. maybe I can kill this thing with six mavs, or whatever I have left after killing the SAMs.I will say that with each subsequent attempt I’ve had an additional Bloody Mary to contend with which I’m guessing may be playing a role in my failure at this point.
:???::???::???:It’s a fresh new hell with each and every new attempt.
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Why not using in that situation those GBU39 SDGBs, they dont have a heavy punch but are enough to destroy soft targets as buildings, Sam sites, etc, and can be launched far away than any Jdam
You can carry as much as 8 of them -
You are going to be better off if you work your way up to the area, finding and taking out the air defenses one by one before you go deep striking into enemy territory. As explained above, if a battalion etc. has not yet been located by friendlies, it’s not going to show up on the 2D map.
Easiest way to find them (if your not sending recon flights from another squadron), would be to strap on some HARMs and go hunting along the perceived area where you would plan your route to bomb the factory. Punch some holes in the air defenses to get you there and back without getting SAM launches. Once you’ve done this, make another run at it – and I agree with the above statement about the JDAMS v LGB.
If you are letting the AI frag your missions, then I would say this is one of those suicide missions that drove many of us to take charge of the squadron and frag our own missions. If that is the case, then I would say skip that mission and maybe start fragging your squadrons missions.
The point is, this mission your describing sounds to me like a low probability for success. In the time you have spent flying at least 4 missions by my count, you could have been getting target locations to the SAMs with the HAD and taking some out along the way. But what your doing right now is costing you airframes, and you can’t win the campaign if that keeps happening!
Good luck, whatever you decide to do.
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+1 here. Sounds like you’ve agreed to fly one of the AI generated suicide missions. If you are flying that deep into Indian territory without first taking out SAMS, you’re asking for it. Try adjusting the PAKs to have some SEAD remove those threats…
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Thanks for the reply Mav-jp.
So if I understand, what you’re saying I may be out running my sweep/escort elements?
I have in fact considered that possibility back in my 4.0AF days but always rationalized that the computer generated flights would do their thing regardless what I do.I’m not gonna lie, I’ve dedicated nearly ALL of my Falcon study time to weapons systems, radar modes and navigation with nearly ZERO time dedicated to understanding how all the elements come together to pull off a successful mission.
Guess in a multiplayer game I’d be a HORRIBLE wing man.
There are no horrible wingmen, only ineffective flight leads. To be honest, MP might not be a bad idea. Flying with someone else to show you how things “should” go, and help take some of the stress off of you as a newer player for the flow of the flight.
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ehhh…. I guess it goes both ways, as discussed in that other thread… but if you cant be where lead cleared you to be, and you cant stay visual, and you called blind shortly after stepping to the aircraft… that might be a horrible wingman
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ehhh…. I guess it goes both ways, as discussed in that other thread… but if you cant be where lead cleared you to be, and you cant stay visual, and you called blind shortly after stepping to the aircraft… that might be a horrible wingman
Nope. It’s the lead’s responsibility to know the limitations of the flight members, understand how it effects the dynamic, and adjust accordingly–even if that means babysitting an FNG for the entire flight. There is usually an entire section of the mission brief somewhat dedicated to discussing limitations, shortfalls, and strengths of each flight member. As a lead, if I know my #2 has a hard time staying in formation because he’s new, it’s my responsibility to adjust (within reason) and not make hard fast turns, maintain communications, and ensure they know exactly what is going on and what is expected of them at every stage in the flight.
Every flight should be a learning experience for every member of the flight. Granted, in real life this all takes place home station in a training environment, so it’s a little different doing it in sim in a combat environment, but nonetheless, the lead is still responsible for the flight as a whole.
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More research needed. maybe I can kill this thing with six mavs, or whatever I have left after killing the SAMs.
At the begging of the campaign, over hostile territory, with more than one DMPI (or lets say, more than one pass), your chances of survival reduce significantly. One re-attack is a maximum.
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dee-jay’s right. generally speaking you lose SA after your run-in because you are not necessarily looking towards where the enemies are going to come from, and you are busy looking at the ground and not at the sky.
save the long-loiter “picky” missions for later. get in, make your attack and then bail. keep in mind that red air will come off the airbases to come get you, so as soon as you enter their AOR a timer is likely to start ticking, if you let it tick too long you are likely to get wasted by AA-8/2 from underneath you.
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@Cik:
…if you let it tick too long you are likely to get wasted by AA-8/2 from underneath you.
You just ain’t whistling “Dixie”!!