Weapons suggestions and ideas

Grand has the point.

 

Indeed.

I haven't tried using it with a laser though... is that modelled in the sim?

Indeed.

I haven't tried using it with a laser though... is that modelled in the sim?

 

CBU is not laser guided although Skeet's(clusters) are laser and ir guided. Anyhow, you don't have control over Skeet's guidance. It seeks targets by pattern-matching.

CBU-105/103 has Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser guidance tail kit which is essentially inertial guidance system with target location taken from GPS.

 

GBU-12 is laser guided weapon, so if you want to try laser it is good place to start. Here is short procedure:

-turn on laser switch

-select GBU-12

-in profile set CCRP

-profile settings set AUTO LS, ON and LASE TIME to 10

-lock target with TGP

-drop the bomb

-BOOM!:)

Edited May 29, 2015 by marluk

I know how the bombs work, my question was if it was possible to designate tgts with laser for the skeets of the 97/105 to home in.

I'm guessing not, cause there's no way to set the laser code for the skeets.

I know how the bombs work, my question was if it was possible to designate tgts with laser for the skeets of the 97/105 to home in.

I'm guessing not, cause there's no way to set the laser code for the skeets.

 

Yes. It would be very complicated because you should paint multiple different targets with multiple different laser codes, in order not all Skeets to fall on single target. I think that laser on Skeets is only for measuring distance.

I think that laser on Skeets is only for measuring distance.

 

As above. The skeets have what is essentially a LASER range finder to help separate vehicles from the underlying terrain in combination with the IR sensor. They are not "guided" or "homing" in any way.

Alright, thanks for the clarification :)

This post got me wondering. How often does the a-10c Carry 6 Mavericks instead of 4.

I know they usually dont cary more then 4 Because 6 damages The landing gear on launch.

Ive never seen any pictures of The a-10 with a full load of Mavericks either. For the sake of realism, when would an a-10 Carry a full load of Mavericks? And does anyone if There any pictures it? That would be total warthog porn.

Also take into account that when a TGP is equipped only two Mavericks are taken along. Firing the outer Maverick on a LAU-88 launcher would damage the TGP. As a general rule of thumb, when a two ship doesn't have enough ordnance to accomplish the mission, you bring more planes instead of loading more ordnance. You have to take weight and drag into account and not load up the plane with what would be possible according to the brochure (e.g. 6 Mavericks).

 

That said, there have been occasions where 6 Mavericks were carried into combat but I'll leave those stories to the people who've actually witnessed it, if there are any around here.

 

Edited May 30, 2015 by Grand

This post got me wondering. How often does the a-10c Carry 6 Mavericks instead of 4.

I know they usually dont cary more then 4 Because 6 damages The landing gear on launch.

Ive never seen any pictures of The a-10 with a full load of Mavericks either. For the sake of realism, when would an a-10 Carry a full load of Mavericks? And does anyone if There any pictures it? That would be total warthog porn.

 

They never carry more than two on operational flights in reality today, in fact last I heard most Squadrons don't have LAU-88s readily available.

 

Aside from a theoretical Cold War Fulda Gap scenario where chances are you'd be shot down anyway, A-10s would never be carrying 6 Mavericks. And if you were doing so, it'd almost certainly be all you were carrying.

 

These days 4 would be highly unlikely as well as , as Grand says, if you take LAU-88s you can't carry a TGP.

In real life, they load a max of 2 mavericks (bottom and outer) on the TER because the inboard maverick's engine ignition scorches the tires on the main gear.

In real life, often aircrafts have to engage few targets as the enemy probably reduces 'visible' units. Take OAF for example. In reality also combat payload is usually whats in store for that division, for that squadron, for that flight. Pilots have to know their weapons inside out, and their combat experience and knowledge and training is what helps them pick the right weapon for the job, even if the ideal weapon is not onboard.

In real life, they load a max of 2 mavericks (bottom and outer) on the TER because the inboard maverick's engine ignition scorches the tires on the main gear.

To be precise, the LAU-88 is a triple-rail missile launcher, not a triple ejector rack (TER). The latter is a device to 'eject' bombs. The LAU-88 is a rail system for missiles to slide off.
Edited May 31, 2015 by Grand

IMO there really is no standard loadout, you want to tailor it as best as possible to, in the military, what we call METT-TC. (Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops, Time and Collateral concerns)

 

Though if I were given a CAS mission where I patrol around and await for taskings I'd probably go with:

 

ALQ-184

AIM-9s as necessary

1x EO, 1x IR Maverick (why leave without them?)

2x GBU-12 (precise, all purpose and moving tgt capable)

2x GBU-38 (Launch & leave, all weather)

1 pod of HE rockets

 

Gun loadout dependent on the mission but I typically use CM for DCS.

 

If it's night Ill sub the rockets with LUU-2s or M257s, and go with 2x D Mavericks. If I were playing MP I'd sub the HE rockets for WP.

 

On that note, mk-82s are more fun than PGMs! Unless you know your targets are in somewhat mountainous terrain, it's damn tough to hit things on or near hills.

 

I will load CBUs on a case by case basis. Usually only when I know I'm attacking a convoy. IMO, a 1000lb single racked muniton isn't worth it unless you're likely to encounter close, bunched up vehicles.

I was Aware of The Mavericks damage The tires. I Wonder why this isnt moddeld

In dcs?

Maybe ED hasn't implemented that becasue people would think it is a bug...

 

@Mike5560: That's a nice loadout, I use it quite often myself.

Sometimes I remove either the LGBs or the JDAMs and carry CBUs instead. Those are great against convoys, AAA emplacements, or other soft targets.

I was Aware of The Mavericks damage The tires. I Wonder why this isnt moddeld

In dcs?

 

It didn't happen every time, we carried 6 mavs in the early part of the second Iraq war. It all comes down to risk management, is the threat/targets worth the potential damage that can occur by caring 6.

So it's not a case of those missiles causing catastrophic damage to the tires, just unnecessary damage/wear?

Indeed. If they could cause "catastrophic" damage they'd never have been cleared for carriage in that configuration in the first place.

As Snoopy said, it is a matter of how urgent you need those Mavs and whether you are ready to accept that risk. A damaged tire on landing can ruin your day and that of others. So most of the time they just carry two Mavs.

It is not very likely you will need more than those two anyway.

My typical loadout anymore consists of 2 AGM-65Gs, 3 GBU-12s, 2 GBU-38s and maybe a rocket pod. I rarely take AIM-9s or the ECM pod, I really don't like anything outboard of the TGP, you get a good bit more visibility out that side without masking. I also typically download the fuel quite a bit as well, it's so much nicer to fly with the weight well under max take off. Substitute some bombs for CBU-97/105s depending on the targets.

The main problem is that Mr Kartveli decided to cut costs and leave the wheels hanging out of the compartment :p

The main problem is that Mr Kartveli decided to cut costs and leave the wheels hanging out of the compartment :p

 

I don't know if you're being sarcastic but in actuality the wheels being half way out was a design choice to limit damage when belly landing.

I don't know if you're being sarcastic but in actuality the wheels being half way out was a design choice to limit damage when belly landing.

 

I was being sarcastic indeed :p

But look! I learned something from it!

And dont use rambo/chuck norris loadouts, they aren't really used IRL.

 

While I agree that CCIP is the real fun of the Hog, a lot of mission makers set up missions and threat numbers in such ways that you need to take off with 16 GBUs just to make the bare requirements to complete the flight.

While I agree that CCIP is the real fun of the Hog, a lot of mission makers set up missions and threat numbers in such ways that you need to take off with 16 GBUs just to make the bare requirements to complete the flight.

 

If only AI wingies were useful...

I found that using CA to manage other flights it 10x more efficient that AI flight members.

But I'm diverting.