JTAC questions

I watched some youtube vids and searched the forums for JTAC related info.

I was flying a SP mission called Shooting Gallery in which you train for JTAC operations.

1. Tune in to his frequency

2. Contact him

3. Check in + 60 (what exactly does + number mean?)

4. He gets your status (weapons and stuff)

5. You get his info (9 line is pretty clear)

6. Ask for remarks

5/6A. Flip over to Mission plan, create new WP named TGTJ1 enter the coordinates in to CDU, select the TGTJ1 WP and China hat aft long, zap thanks are there.

7. Confirm / read back

8. Select IP (what does IP mean?)

9. He clears you

10. You roll in

Oke so I was tasked to do the job with AGM-65D. Check

Three tanks, two AGM's 65D. Naturally I went for the remaining tank with AGM-65H. Needles to say .. I got an *abort abort*.

What would be the correct procedure when you run out of requested ordnance?

Another question regarding JTAC scenario. You get a new message thingie on MFCD .. oke view it with coolie hat UP long or just switch to MSG page on MFCD. Reset WCN with TMS left short. I'm not exactly sure that I got any red *cake* on TAD, but I admit, I wasn't paying much attention to TAD as i had TGP and MAV pages on MFCD's.

I feel kinda lame asking this questions :mad:

And thanks for all your answers!

PS: I think JTAC and some in-depth CDU is all that I'm missing now. After that I'm filling to give MP a shot :D

So IP: BANKS would represent a waypoint named banks? or what?:helpsmilie:

Than 0 + 60 would mean that you are available one hour for him or what?

So IP: BANKS would represent a waypoint named banks? or what?:helpsmilie:

Than 0 + 60 would mean that you are available one hour for him or what?

1. Yes. BANKS is a waypoint that will be able to reference if you select the waypoint dial on your cdu. If steepoint is selected you wont be able to see BANKS.

2. That's it, you're saying I'm up for an hour for tasking then I'm RTB

Is the heading and distance, that JTAC provides, related to JTAC or bulls-eye?

So if I'm out of JTAC desired ordnance I just use another and keep doing it despite *abort abort abort*?

I don't get it.

It worked yesterday but today ...

Create new way point, switch to L/L, input the GG329668 L/L coordinate, name the waypoint TGTJ1, switch to mission on AAP. Select TGTJ1 waypoint and TGP is looking some 800+ miles away from where it should. WTH. What am I doing wrong or what am I missing? I swear it worked yesterday!

PS: Got red cross on TAD now that I was paying attention.

GG329668 is MGRS (UTM), not L/L. It's also possible that the coordinate he gave you is in another spheroid(?). Instead of 38T WG84, it could be in 37T WG84. WG84 will never change (AFAIK), so you only have to worry about the first 3 alpha-numerics.

I don't get it.

 

It worked yesterday but today ...

 

Create new way point, switch to L/L, input the GG329668 L/L coordinate, name the waypoint TGTJ1, switch to mission on AAP. Select TGTJ1 waypoint and TGP is looking some 800+ miles away from where it should. WTH. What am I doing wrong or what am I missing? I swear it worked yesterday!

 

PS: Got red cross on TAD now that I was paying attention.

UTM input was ok. The CDU shows the correct data. To get the data transmission from the JTAC it is mandatory to read back the data.

If you got the red data triangle on the TAD you can slew the cursor cross to it and with TMS up short lock it. Then TMS up long makes it your SPI...

UTM input was ok. The CDU shows the correct data. To get the data transmission from the JTAC it is mandatory to read back the data.

 

If you got the red data triangle on the TAD you can slew the cursor cross to it and with TMS up short lock it. Then TMS up long makes it your SPI...

I did the readback and he was waiting for my IP call.

True about TAD but CDU is the mystery :P, I wana learn a bit about that too :P

GG329668 is MGRS (UTM), not L/L. It's also possible that the coordinate he gave you is in another spheroid(?). Instead of 38T WG84, it could be in 37T WG84. WG84 will never change (AFAIK), so you only have to worry about the first 3 alpha-numerics.

Yap i ment MGRS .. it was late when I was posting :P

Will try different spheroid today when I get home

800 mi + The grid 37T vs. 38T near Senaki/Zugdidi area...

The problem with the 800 mi off waypoint is most definitely the spheroid... have a look at the Map TC-1 from the DCS website:

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/downloads/documentation/tc-1/

Careful it is huuuuge, open it will take some time!

Look for the blue grid (MGRS/UTM) and around Zugdidi and Senaki there is the change from spheroid 38T to 37T the GG zone is in the 37T spheroid.

Sorry I missed that when looking at the screenshot.:doh:

To change that input 37T in the scratchpad and press the OSB beside the "[]38T WGS84" entry (OSB17/18?) then enter the GGxxxyyy MGRS/UTM coordinates...:thumbup:

The problem with the 800 mi off waypoint is most definitely the spheroid... have a look at the Map TC-1 from the DCS website:

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/downloads/documentation/tc-1/

 

Careful it is huuuuge, open it will take some time!

 

Look for the blue grid (MGRS/UTM) and around Zugdidi and Senaki there is the change from spheroid 38T to 37T the GG zone is in the 37T spheroid.

 

Sorry I missed that when looking at the screenshot.:doh:

 

To change that input 37T in the scratchpad and press the OSB beside the "[]38T WGS84" entry (OSB17/18?) then enter the GGxxxyyy MGRS/UTM coordinates...:thumbup:

Thanks for input, and well, sorry I posted wrong ... was it late for you too? :lol:

Would say so, must have been around 23:00 in the night :D

Counting hours till I get home :P

Yap it was the spheroid. Thanks guys. Even when out of requested ammo, task out and ask again, he will give you a new ordnance request.

Damn this was fun, and thanks DCS for fixing SAI! On a gun run dive my plane experienced a blackout (fuel I recon) and came back to life as I pulled out. But SAI works magic when everything is screwed up :P

Yap it was the spheroid. Thanks guys. Even when out of requested ammo, task out and ask again, he will give you a new ordnance request.

 

Damn this was fun, and thanks DCS for fixing SAI! On a gun run dive my plane experienced a blackout (fuel I recon) and came back to life as I pulled out. But SAI works magic when everything is screwed up :P

Careful with your speed in power dives! Somewhere above 450 kts you may risk a flameout when cutting throttle to quick... and with the engines gone so are your generators and all the electricity :music_whistling:

Ignition button may restart the engine(s), but you need to be quick. To get Avionics back on line check all stuff needed for EAC (SAS, EGI, etc.)

so are your generators and all the electricity :music_whistling:

 

Ignition button may restart the engine(s), but you need to be quick. To get Avionics back on line check all stuff needed for EAC (SAS, EGI, etc.)

Yap :D

Did that but it was past midnight so I did not wait for EGI alignment and went to bed. :smartass:

But SAI was the only thing indicating the correct bank and pitch angles.

is there any indication a pilot can watch for in terms of a spheroid change??? i ran into this tonight and wasted 2 hours trying to figure it out until i stumbled on this thread???

How would I ever know to change the spheroid when contacting JTAC and how would i know what to change it to without a massive TC1 map printed on my wall?

dooom,

MGRS has a systematic arrangement of grid square lettering. If you don't have a map at hand during the mission, at least make note of the two letters (GG for example) at the border between spheroids (= 38T for example) which are relevant for your mission plan. The first grid square letter changes with longitude, the second with latitude. Use that to decide which spheroid the coordinate is in.

But yes, I actually fly with the massive printed TC1 map on my wall. :)

EDIT: added some MGRS reference docs:

Military Map Reading 201

DMA Technical Manual; Datums, Ellipsoids, Grids, and Grid Reference Systems

Check your spheroid on Start up. If MGRS coordinates have a leading GxYYYZZZ check. Look up the line where spheroid changes. If your AOE is around the longitude line running through Senaki/Zugdidi this is an indicator!

Basically you have to "know" when you fly in the vicinity of the spheroid's border :music_whistling: