Zeno~SPARTA~

I had that the last time I tried with GBUs. JDAMS from the Harrier might be a better way to go plus they are easy to program. The downside seems to be that you only get 500lb bombs. If that fails JSOWs from the F18 could work as they take elevation into account. Well done on the air combat. I am useless at that until I get on their tail, I have not figured out how to make the 120s work at longer range, in the F15 or the F18. I will ask Gunthar if he will show me BVR in the F18. Sorry about the BTRs, even when there was only one it would wander off after a couple of laps. Still it adds a random element to the practice mission.

I have added moving BTRs at the crossed unnamed runway between Kobuleti and Batumi airports. There are 2 sets of 5 moving up and down each arm of the runway and should continue to do so until they run out of fuel or are destroyed. In testing they did 2 clean loops before getting confused so I cannot guarantee what they will do, so to quote Stingray, anything can happen in the next half hour!

Based on yesterdays outing, I have made the following changes. 1 the 4 Igla manpads have been eliminated 2 the ability of the MIG29 pilots has been reduced to average, they were crucifying us in the merge, we need to understand why they are not showing up on our attack radars. I am happy to switch to an AWACs role after the HARM mission. Just to reiterate the sequence Mission order changed accordingly 1. Harriers must take off and destroy the 4 armoured vehicles at Anapa Vityazevo, The Chinooks take 30 mins to get to Anapa Vityazevo, the threat must be eliminated before their arrival. 2. Launch HARM F18s and eliminate all RADAR threats, the main objective is to prevent Grumble launches. 3. Launch CAP F18s and stand by to counter Russian QRA. Russian QRA responds to penetration of the KRymsk Airspace 4. Harriers rearm and refuel at Anapa Vityazevo and destroy the following targets at Krymsk Command Center Comms Tower Barracks Fortification Approx Location 44 58 24N 37 59 48E I have added these targets to Dynamic 01 for Harrier pilots to test their munitions on. I have left the mission on the server so we can try practice it as much as we want.

We tried the mission yesterday, it went ok, but needs to be a lot better. I'll leave it on the server and we can all practice it when we can and then, when we are all on, we will just go for it. Doing it a few times will allow us to refine our skills. There is no way you will be left out!

I am nearly finished on Mission 2 of the campaign, but we have not completed mission 1. When do you guys want to do this?

ATTENTION!! We have opted out of the open beta. All servers are running the stable version now.

We tested J's dynamic version of scramble at Batumi where you can call in enemy fighters using the radio once you enter the trigger zone and this worked well. No we know how to do this we can use this technique for other things as well. Thanks J.

There is at least one other change, the Russian battle cruiser fires multiple waves of "shipwreck" missiles at our carrier group. Luckily their defences shoot them down.

I tested 2 JSOWs at 28,000 and 300+ knots. Grumbles were Launched before I could release and killed me after release. The the site launched multiple Grumbles and eventually killed both my JSOWs. Being higher would have saved me but not the JSOWS. Shame I had another idea for them.

I tried to test the JSOWs yesterday but was pushed off course by the pesky JF17s So I wasnt high enough or fast enough to launch from far away and was hit by a Grumble as I pressed release. I will try again today I have the co-ords for 2 of the targets The command post US scramble 02 is at N 43 25 52.93 E 39 56 55.27 74ft THe 64H6E is at N 43 25 31.40 E 39 56 55.11 73ft

Yesterday we simulated the attack as a result of which the following intel has been clarified. Anapa Vityazevo The base is lightly defended by: 2 MBT T90s 2 Shilkas Krymsk 1 SAM 10 site 4 ZSU 23 emplacements 4 Tanguskas 4 Igla Manpads Mission order changed accordingly 1. Harriers must take off and destroy the 4 armoured vehicles at Anapa Vityazevo, The Chinooks take 30 mins to get to Anapa Vityazevo, the threat must be eliminated before their arrival. 2. Launch HARM F18s and eliminate all RADAR threats, the main objective is to prevent Grumble launches. 3. Launch CAP F18s and stand by to counter Russian QRA 4. Harriers rearm and refuel at Anapa Vityazevo and destroy the following targets at Krmsk Command Center Comms Tower Barracks Fortification Approx Location 44 58 24N 37 59 48E 5. If necessary activate AGM F18s to clear out remaining structures. We will be able to occupy this base if 2 of the 4 structures are destroyed.

Su27 Stealth edition

Lalt+y a few times on the map target should give us the digits needed. However. a Harriers will be in position before JSOWs hit b The carrier group is 45miles away from target so that Harriers can make the attack from a vertical take off c Using these weapons we can hit everything with a couple of F18s, it doesnt make sense to me that Grumbles can shoot down HARMs but not glide bombs We could limit the F18s to sub munitions version and let the Harriers do the hard target.

I am adapting what I have downloaded but I can't use the pinky switch as an alt.

LC behind throttle RClick twice Main Power Switch LC front Anti Skid Switch/Parking Brake RClick to turn the parking brake on LC in front of throttle JFS Switch left click Start 2 WAIT for RPM percent to exceed 20 (right of right MFD) RShift Home to Uncage throttle (this will start engine) LC in front of throttle UHF Function Knob to MAIN to turn on radio LCtrl C (hold till closed) close Canopy left front Yellow K shaped lever Lclick Canopy Handle down Left Front Ejection Safety Lever left Click to Armed RC Switches and 2 knobs near right elbow Knobs MDS LVT Rclick to on Rotate INS knob to STOR HDG Switches MMC Rclick ST STA Rclick MFD Rclick UFC Rclick Map Rclick GPS Rclick DL Rclick RC Rclick on base of joystick to hide RC switches to right of Joystick left HDPT Lclick right HDPT Lclick FCR Lclick RDRALT Rclick x2 Left of NUMPAD rotary wheel SYM scroll up for HUD Above right MFD analogue artificial horizon rotate knob to uncage and line up with horizon By now the INS should be ready (ALIGN will flash on HUD), INS rotary knob Rclick to NAV LC front Anti Skid Switch/Parking Brake Lclick to turn the parking brake off

Harriers have the Sidearm missile which is a short range but effective anti radar missile. Luggage and Adder have shown us that that they can take off vertically with 4 GBU 12s and 2 Sidearms. But their mission is to hit the principal target, the sidearms will help them clear the Tunguskas, The SEAD F18s should take out the radars. We can add 2 HARMS to each of the AA F18s that will still leave them with 6 AIM 9x missiles each, plus the HARM F18s will have 2 AIM 9x's each. If the HARM part of the mission fails, the Harriers can get to the target at low level but I dont know how they can find and attack the target when they are flying so low and by low I mean 50ft. Luggage survived an assault when we were testing the chopper/FARP part of the mission but since then I added another SAM site, Even so I dont think the Grumbles can deal with extremely low level targets.

Lets try to figure out how to disable russian SAM sites starting with the SAM SA -10S - 300PS which launches the Grumble missile. The SAM site is composed of the following CP 54K6 - Command post TR 30 N6 - Tracking Radar SR 5N66M - Search Radar SR 64 H6E - Long Range Search Radar + the actual missiles When we get HARM locks on the SAM Site it could be for any one of the 3 track and search radars. Presumably if we kill the Command post the other units will become ineffective, but I dont think the HARMs lock on it. I need Gunthar to show me again how to split the threats on the EW out, so we can target each one individually. The campaign mission currently has 2 sites, That's why we need to know how many to kill in order to render the site ineffective, we already know kill one radar does not cut it.

Yesterday we learnt the following 1 Harrier can vertically take off from Batumi and destroy 2 of the buildings and land back at Batumi with 500lbs of fuel. The round trip distance is probably the same as from the carrier to the mission and on to Anapa Vityazevo. Thanks Adder for testing this. Sam sites are not as degraded as I hoped by taking out the main Radar. Thanks Cent for testing a direct approach, I practised the same this morning, but I accidentally went straight to waypoint 2, this left me with the nose off target as the turn from waypoint 1 to 2 gets you on target. I would add a waypoint for the actual target itself so that we can see the distance to target in the hud. Also if you fire from 35 miles and turn 180 the Grumbles cant catch you. So we can do another turn and get back on target, repeating until we run out of HARMS. Each site may have 4 targets. We could try a dry run of the mission to test it since it is our first.

Thanks J

Harrier Pilots your mission is to destroy at least 2 of the primary targets Command Center Comms Tower Barracks Fortification I have no idea how tough they are so I have added them to MP US Scramble 01 and it is available on open beta server 2. They are on the delta with the "gasometers", they are a bit closer than the mission distance but not by a lot. Please practice on these targets to make sure you are sufficiently armed to destroy them. I am happy to go F18 SEAD, AA or AGM, I haven't practised enough to go with the Harriers.

I like my plane to be in a "cold and dark" state, it enhances the realism for me. Plus the repetition re enforces my knowledge of the procedure so that I can do it without thinking. The Harrier has been frustrating. I have always been able to start it, but either the throttle wouldn't advance, or the INS wouldn't align. With some help from Luggage and Adder, our resident Harrier experts, I can now start and take off with everything functioning as it should. As usual LC equals controls under your left forearm and RC equals controls under your right forearm. Here is the procedure If necessary remove chocks before start up LC by left shoulder DECS on LC a bit lower down fuel shutoff lever down LC behind throttle, turn on fuel pump L and fuel pump R RC near front turn Battery on RC If you are going to fiddle about with other things for a while turn on APU Gen Otherwise RC Turn on Engine Start Switch LC beside Throttle flip Throttle cutoff switch and advance throttle (It will only partially advance and engine should start up Close Canopy (LCtrl C) Left MPCD top centre rotate knob from OFF to BRT Right MPCD top centre rotate knob from OFF to BRT Centre above NUMPAD rotate Display Brightness from OFF to BRT NUMPAD area rotate COM1 and COM2 Vol knobs Below NUMPAD area rotate the 3 knobs in a row to BRT (These are for HUD Brightness control, HUD Video Brightness and HUD Video Contrast INS Alignment Left MPCD select EHSD, then Data, then A/C (Aircraft) Bring up Kneeboard, look for Initial Position, bottom of page (Rshft K) input Northing 6 digits Enter Easting 7 digits Enter MVAR Magnetic Variation Enter Front panel between knees rotate INS Mode knob to GND or SEA INS Quality will improve, when its finished the quality will read 0.7 OK At that point rotate INS mode to NAV, then Hit DATA on MPCD LC front Flaps Power Switch to ON Same area Antiskid to NWS (for nosewheel steering) Same area click on FLAPS BIT button Click on Master Caution Centre Panel near INS Knob, turn on MPCD, FLIR and DMT switches. Finally left of throttle (somewhat hidden) click on Parking Brake Lever to disengage, throttle should now move freely. The error I had been making was to disengage the parking brake as one of the first steps but the INS alignment require the Parking Brake to be engaged and the Canopy to be closed. Also the Parking Brake isn't a wheel brake it is a throttle lock that limits its movement. So there you go you can now attempt to take off in your own unique way. Good Luck!

I keep making critical mistakes during the final stages of a HARM mission, I thought I would write down the few simple steps needed for a good weapon release The AGM 88C has a seeker head that locks onto RADAR emmissions. It is capable of long range, but that is dependent on your altitude and speed. Load up with HARM AGM 88C missiles, the F18 can carry up to 4. If you have to fly far go with 2 plus 3 external fuel tanks. You will need to climb High and you will be on afterburner some of the time so fuel can be an issue. The F18 has a switch to enable/disable afterburner, this will allow you to cruise at full military power (Max throttle) without worrying about whether the afterburners are engaged. This is important for long missions. Before you take off Try to reduce your work load when approaching the target by addressing every task you can on the ground rather than find you forgot something on the way. Make sure your ALR - 67 EW is turned on (power push button below and slightly right of bottom row of center MFD buttons). Be aware auto start does not turn this on. Think about your approach and consider setting waypoints, including one for the approximate area of the RADAR installation. Put the heading bug on your first waypoint. Upon Takeoff Once you are in a stable climb (off the afterburner), use the autopilot HSEL to get the plane heading in the right direction. Climb to a comfortable cruising altitude 10-15,000 ft. Turn on Master Arm and A/G Make one of the MFDs your STORES page Click on the HARM button (top left) twice. Make this MFD SOI (Keyboard combination is RAlt + , ) Click on TOO (target of Opportunity) (left column of buttons) The boxed HARM on the top left of the screen will have an X through it. Click on Class (right hand column) and select HOS on the left (Hostile) Make the other MFD your EW page, this will show threats When you are 80+miles out climb to >25,000ft and turn towards th target. When you are 60 miles out go to full afterburner uncage your HARM (c on the keyboard) when you are close enough the boxed HARM will no longer be Xed out and RDY will appear underneath If so launch you missile and say Magnum, to fire another missile, uncage and repeat. If uncaging does not ready the missile get a bit closer or higher, but at 25,000ft and 40 miles you should be able to shoot. To cycle through targets press i This is a fire and forget missile, so when you have finished shooting turn away There are some extra bells and whistles which I will add later.

Nice work Mr. P

Samurai's first DCS Carrier take off.

This is my first attempt at a DCS campaign for Sparta. We will agree a date and time shortly, I think we need six players for it to work. The idea is that our carrier group is attempting to get a foothold in the Caucus'. Since this is a first mission I am sure there will be balancing issues, hopefully over time we will be able to address these. Our objective is the Base at Krymsk. Our strike package consists of a mix of the following 2 supercarriers (Stennis and Roosevelt) 2 Marine Carriers (Tarawa Class) 2 Arleigh Burke Destroyers 2 AA F18s 2 AGM F18s 2 SEAD F18s 4 AGM AV8B Harriers SEAD must launch first and degrade SAM installation Harriers should focus on destroying the structures discussed below, AGM F18s are for backup only. Ensure that there is some Air to Air ability, F18s typically have a mix no matter what their primary package consists of. Also, since we are not all very good at landing on carriers, 3 Chinooks will depart from the second Tarawa class assault ship and head to Anapa Vityazevo, Upon arrival they will create a FARP at which we should be able to refuel, rearm and repair (not fully tested). Do your best to recover planes. In future we will consider that we have a fixed inventory of planes with limited resupply. If they dont make it we will be able to land the planes but not resupply. Important Frequencies Stennis CVN1 TACAN 11x ICLS 15 Roosevelt CVN3 TACAN 15x ICLS 16 Tarawa CVN2 TACAN 14x KRYMSK SEAD should disable or degrade AA ahead attack on infrasturcture Beware of potential fighter defence Primary objective is to destroy Command and Control at this base. Intelligence believes that if we knock out 2 of the 4 structures indicated below as well as The SAM site we will have degraded their combat effectiveness sufficiently to occupy the base. Command Center Comms Tower Barracks Fortification Approx Location 44 58 05N 37 59 20E