Joyride

Thanks, Headspace. As Eddie said, upgrading to work with DCS World would be my vote.

A-10s Over Kosovo is also a great book, and really highlights the MANPAD threat that is always present. Evading MANPADs was commonplace...which is why I think heavy use of them in DCS mission is much more warranted than medium range RADAR SAMs. I also like seeing SA-9s and SA-13s in missions...makes multiplayer more fun as you really need to use shooter/spotter techniques effectively. It wouldn't be expected that SEAD would clear all those little pesky short range IR SAMs out.

I'd also like to see 100+ rounds of 30mm D.U. to cause instant damage/explosion to some targets, rather than the current everything-takes-five-seconds-to-explode. Would be much more gratifying from the cockpit during a gun run to see some soft targets being ripped apart/exploding on impact.

That looks awesome ^^^ please share!

Same problem here. Will wait for confirmed fix.

Druid...even worse, the convoy had just called out contact with a zu-23 to the east and then 10 seconds later gets ambushed from the BTR to the south. I moved that particular BTR group to they wouldn't have line of sight at that particular time, but will randomize it a bit more too. Will play with the switched condition - good tip.

Yep, thought of this last night as a possibility after i responded. If a bridge on the route (there is one near Alpha) happened to go out, there isnt another option south. The AI would have to pick another route could go north, which would probably not end well. FWIW, we flew it yesterday and were fairing well, then the convoy got picked apart by a BTR-80 between CP alpha and bravo. Literally sliced through four vehicles it in about 30 seconds. TOW humvee couldnt reload fast enough. We could see the tracers but no time. It was our bad though...the BTR was just off the route ahead and we'd gotten focused much further west when a MANPAD near the airport took a couple of shots at a wingman. We were doing well...but...can't win 'em all.

Yeah, the tanker "call" bug is not mission specific...definitely experience that one from time to time, as well as the host-can't-fill-up bug. Next patch ;-)

Ralfi from the discussion it appears you were following a meaningless civilian convoy north. Mission not "bugged, you just lost the plot. Indeed there a few groups of civilian vehicles and one might have passed the embassy/USMC/Humvees convoy at some point traveling in the opposite direction. You need to look at the mission maps and read the briefings. It's quite clear what the objectives of the mission are, the convoy route of the Embassy personnel/ Marines is shown precisely as it travels. There are also flight plan steerpoints along the route, and the convoy calls at each checkpoint. There are some civi convoys in the mission to model the "exodus" of civilians briefed. This was common in Kosovo and a challenge for the A-10s and F-16s and something I wanted to purposely simulate. However, mistaking civilian busses and cars for TOW Humvees is not something I call help. Indeed, the convoy is also clearly shown on the TAD at all times (EPLRS). You can even hook them on the TAD at any time...should never lose them. As for the map, why not print it out?... Solved your alt-tab issue right there. Flew it tonight with 5 others and will be making a few minor fixes...will post in next few days.

Ya redfish, thats exactly why I didn't include the maps within the file. With all the sound files in this one it file size was a concern. Also, given the grids on the city map, I figure people would want to print that one out rather than have to escape out to the mission brief every time Grappler throws out a grid :-). That map is so detailed that anything less than hi res makes it really tough to pic out features of the city as well as the convoy route.

Grimes...yeah, we hit that bug frequently. Usually a couple of retries to call the tanker and it sorts itself out, but have had to make the call 10+ times on a few occasions.

AHHHH, ok, your talking about the civy convoys? Sounds like that's it. I need to be more clear that protecting the civi's isn't a mission priority...that is only there for effect. It's simply the protection of the embassy/military convoy that is the priority. Will update to make that clear...much of it is unnecessary, so can remove it altogether. Thanks sir. No, the grids correspond to the tactical map included with the PDF file in the mission download. A way to break up the city into more precise areas -though honestly I think it's just easy to hear "3000 m south" and scan with Mark 1 eyeball. As far as the SA-8s, yep, there's some up north out of the immediate A/O. Up to the flight commander to decide whether they are priority or not, but personally I'd leave 'em. ;-)

Awesome!

Nice work, Ranger!

Appreciate the feedback, Ralfi & Druid. Flown it a few times with the guys from the 1st VFW and didn't have the convoy or smoke issues but will investigate - but to help me Ralfi, what do mean by the "2nd convoy"? There is only one that leaves the embassy compound so a little confused. There are no triggers for the convoy to die, so would have to have been something that took them out. Flew it once and two BRDMs sliced the HUMVEES near DELTA shockingly fast. Frustrating, but we should have cleared them, they were in the open. Tacview really helps to figure out exactly what happened - any chance you guys can see what got the convoy? The fact that the embassy attacks are randomized make it play out quite different each time. Depending on the strength of the attack and the effectiveness of the A-10s clearing them, the convoy could lose some Humvees before it even leaves the compound. Once, it left the compound without any TOW Humvees, only 3x .50 cals. That was a rough one (might have been the one where the BRDMs got the better of them). If they've got TOWs left, they can usually defend themselves pretty well. Per Druids comments as well (thanks!), might remove the "unannounced" units or add calls for all of them (or reduce their potential effectiveness in sniping the convoy), as well as make a few more tweaks. We're flying it again tomorrow with the 476th and I will make an update following that, based on anything else I find that needs tweaking. The first time we flew it as an ATO (with the 1st VFW), surprising to me...half the guys still had some mavericks plus other a handful of other ordinance, yet all threats destroyed and complete mission success! So, while it is undoubtedly difficult, it can be done - and quite effectively. I created this mission with the online squads in mind, and the skill level I've seen in them - so, while I realize ordinance management is critical (and thus emphasized in the brief and the ROEs), not sure I want to thin it out too much. The version we are flying tomorrow with the 476th actually has bumped up threats/AAA, even though most of them haven't flown it yet. It's hard to accommodate everyone. You can absolutely dive below 12k and use guns. ZU-23s and Shilkas are very easy to kill from outside their range with the GAU and proper delivery/teamwork (and with very few rounds spent), no sympathy there. :smilewink: "Everybody in the flight just looked at each other going... O_o .... "Are you serious? What the heck did the F16's do then?"" F-16 SEAD takes out the radar-based SA-19 and SA-8 batteries. Short-range IR SAMs, particularly MANPADs and say an SA-9 that is tucked away, are not typically (probably never in the case of MANPADs) going to get taken out by SEAD. How would the F-16s know they are there without a RADAR sig and why would those units announced themselves? A-10s in Kosovo and Iraq were constantly under the threat of MANPADs - and you can be quite effective at evading and destroying them with a little teamwork in DCS. That being said, the major MANPAD threat in this mission gets a call with it (short of giving you the exact coordinates...where's the fun in that?), so it shouldn't be an overbearing constraint. The rooftop of the embassy is littered with US Forces. One guy has a spotting scope/sniper rifle. Sees MANPADs on a high rooftop across the City but out of range. Calls ABCCCC to alert the flights, and the A-10s get the call from ABCCCC. That was the idea behind that call. Thanks again for the feedback. I am sure there will be some changes coming, so will roll in these comments! :thumbup:

Thx Ranger, can't wait to see it.

Curious if there is any way to provide unlimited ammo for all ground units? Would be a useful option for mission creators.

Put together a short video flying FOB Vetka as a promo for the 476th vFG.

Thanks, guys. As for the flight from Spangdahlem, just run this after sitting in your office chair all day to simulate the 5+ hour flight time that would have been incurred by the time this mission starts. No getting up to stretch, though. ;-)

Thanks Ranger!

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/173106/ VERSION 2.1 POSTED 24-APR-13 (changes to mission in bold) - 6 player co-op - live AFAC slots - extensive voice over and radio calls (sample: ) - about 3.0 hours to complete - many thanks to my friends at the 1st VFW for help with the voiceovers! :thumbup: - suggest do not fly this as a two ship, minimum four ship, six preferred! - maps below are provided in PDF format (higher res) in .zip download - V2 ramp start at Batumi - V2 mission, convoy is sped up, reducing mission time a little - V2 various small tweaks, fixes OPERATION HACIENDA Georgia is in turmoil. Over the past 72 hours, South Ossetian separatists have seized control of Tbilisi and are now operating with near impunity in and around the capital. The Georgian government is in shambles. With the capital engrossed in lawlessness and violence, civilians are fleeing in droves. Without sufficient warning, US Embassy personal were unable to escape Georgia prior to South Ossetian forces seizing control of both the local airports and roadways. As of 1600 hours, the resident USMC unit, callsign GRAPPLER 11, had barricaded the embassy compound and were actively defending against an onslaught of separatist attacks. These attacks are believed to be deliberate actions by rouge separatist factions unconcerned with bringing the United States into the fray. The embassy Marines are relatively lightly equipped with a few Stryker ICV/ATGM and armored HUMVEES, with limited anti-tank and anti-air capability. They can only be expected to hold out a few more hours against the increasingly organized efforts against them. A convoy of these armored vehicles is being organized to transport the all personnel from the embassy to the Tbilisi-Lochini airport as soon as a transport can safely land. A C-130 out of Incirlik, callsign PONTIAC, is inbound to extract these personnel once the airfield is secured. Supporting roles will be provided by A-10's (CAS), F-16's (SEAD) from 31st FW Aviano, and a KC-135 from Incirlik. Latest intel reports an SA-8 battery digging in near Tbilisi-Lochini airport, as well as numerous ZSU-24-4, mobile ZU-23 and at least one SA-19s setting up in and around the city. An Ossetian SA-9 is reported to be operating in the northern part of the city. MANPADS units are also available to separatist forces and may be deployed. Enemy air assets are expected to limited to helos. Anticipate highest anti-air threat axis' from the north and/or near the airports. Additional intel will be provided as it becomes available by Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center (ABCCC), EC-130E callsign CYLON 41. SEAD: DALLAS 2 (4x F16d) will be tasked with elimination of the SA-8 battery near Tbilisi-Lochini and any other SAM threats identified. AAR: 2 KC-135s will be available: ARCO 7 (275.300, 60X) at tanker track POSEIDON (south of Khashuri) SHELL 3(305.225, 47X) at tanker track ARES (located 30mi south of Tbilisi) ARCO/POSEIDON will only be available until 1930 hours. If air refuel is required mid-mission, stagger trips to SHELL/ARES to ensure A-10s are over target and providing CAS at all times. ROE: Engage any direct enemy ground or air threats to the embassy/USMC personnel or to the mission. IF ITS ADVANCING ON THE EMBASSY, ENGAGE AND DESTROY. Given the high volume of potential threats in the area, ordinance management will be critical. If it is not a direct/immediate threat to the embassy, convoy/route, or extraction flight at the airfield, continue to monitor but do not engage. A-10 Flight Tasks: 1) Refuel w/ARCO 71 at tanker track POSEIDON. 2) Coordinate with GRAPPLER 11(USMC) to support defense of embassy compound. 3) Clear any remaining AAA or ground threats near Tbilisi-Lochini airfield. 3) Provide CAS for GRAPPLER 11 during convoy transport of embassy personnel from ALAMO to HACIENDA. 4) Upon safe egress of embassy personnel, escort Pontiac 11 to Turkish Border. Land back at Batumi. All flight plans include AR tracks, Anchor/Hold positions, IPs, Alamo, Checkpoints (CP) Alpha to Delta along the convoy route, and Hacienda. MISTY 4......2x A-10C (AFAC) HAWG 5......2x A-10C (CAS) TUSK 8------- 2x A-10C (CAS) DALLAS 2--- 2x F-16d (SEAD) CYLON 41....EC-130E (ABCCC) FOCUS 11....E-3A (AWACS) (333.225) ARCO 71.....KC-135 (275.300, 60Y) SHELL 31....KC-135 (305.225, 47Y) PONTIAC 11...C-130 (TRANSPORT) GRAPPLER 11...USMC Units, US Embassy Additional radio callsigns: ALAMO = US embassy compound HACIENDA = Tbilisi-Lochini (International) airport A-10C LOADOUTS: 2x AGM-65G 4x GBU-12 7x M151 HE Rockets (8xLUU-2/MISTY) ALQ-131 AN/AAQ-28 LITENING POD 1150 CM Radios: Package Comms/AWACS = 333.225 UHF MISTY 4 Flight Comms = 31.900 FM HAWG 5 Flight Comms = 75.500 FM TUSK 8 Flight Comms = 66.600 ARCO 71 = 275.300 AM SHELL 51 = 305.225 AM ------------- Mission by Joyride 476th vFG (aka deephouse)

july - PM sent. Going to be out of town next week and then hope to post the new mission up to ED the following week with any edits.

july685 - I've got a 3 hr CAS mission, similar in intensity at times, but more spread out. We've run it on our wing server and just need to give it one or two more test runs - hope to get it posted within a week. a little audio from it....

Hmmm, only thing I can think of is that you are opening the air refuel door. Next time it happens see if you are getting the green "ready" message to the right of your HUD, which indicates the fuel door open. That is the only thing I can think of that turns off your ability to engage autopilot.

Yeah, this is a known MP bug that the host client can't get full tanks. Usually will stop fuel flow (sometimes with "transfer complete", sometimes fuel flow just stops) anywhere between 7,000 lbs and 11,000 lbs. 9,000 seems to be the most common max for me when I am hosting a mission. Gets really annoying in long missions where that few thousand pounds makes a huge difference. We've been able to get to around this issue if we use a "dedicated" server with serv-man, but that's not very practical most of the time.