S-8OM Illumination Rockets

[Sylvan]

Hey guys,

 

I recently went to brush up on my skills with the illumination rocket, but... Is it just me or do they no longer actually illuminate? Edit: Never mind, they do, it was just me being stupid...

I seem to remember employing them with success before, but now they just shoot off into the darkness without ever actually lighting up...? :wassat:

Edited March 1, 2014 by Sylvan

[Sephki]

They're working fine for me with latest version (1.2.7). Ensure you're firing them high enough, but not too high. Also, you can try cycle around with F6 if the camera option is enabled so you can see where the rockets and charges are going.

Edited March 1, 2014 by Sephki
more info

[Sylvan]

You are indeed correct, Sir, they're working just fine. I was firing them into the ground... :music_whistling:

[Sylvan]

While we're on the topic -- what's a reliable way of estimating where to aim with S-8OM's? I've been using the default S-8 ballistics profile, placing myself at approximately 4,5 km out and then just aiming up "a bit", approximately 10-15 degrees. That seems to land the flares mostly in the general vicinity of the target, most of the times close enough to get a Shkval lock, although far from perfect and with great variance depending on terrain, my altitude etc. Is there a better, more proven way?

[WildBillKelsoe]

the shkval rangefinder (laser) is a reliable way. If you're in multiplayer, on a night mission, you could light the joint for a fellow, and when they're done, they can light to you back.

[Raptor9]

I haven't used the illum rockets since the update, but my general technique was 5-7 km from the target area, with a 20-25 degree pitch-back, but like Sylvan said, results will vary given terrain, altitude, etc.

 

This is just a technique, probably one of many that people have developed.

If I'm self-illuminating, I will send one salvo out, pop-up from cover, and designate and store as many threats as I can find. By threats I mean anything that can hit me from outside 3km: SAMs, later-generation tanks, armored vehicles with ATGMs. I'll store those locations as fast as I can within the burn-out time of the first salvo, sometimes requiring a second.

 

My reasoning is this:

First, you don't want to commit to an attack on the first target you spot since that may not be the biggest threat in front of you. Take a second to prioritize and develop a shoot list, and if you have wingmen, datalink it.

 

Second, once you have those target locations saved, if you adjust your Shkval display just right, you can make out the target under NVG's without supplemental illumination. The downside is you'll have to manually keep the Shkval target box on the target itself since auto-track won't function without sufficient background contrast.

 

Again, the above is just my preferred technique. If you're expecting to face a large number of enemy concentrations, and you have a few friends in Ka-50's on your wing, it might make more sense to have someone hop into an Su-25 and drop SAB-100 illum bombs over the area. They provide more overall illumination and last a LOT longer. The S-8OM's don't even last a minute.

Edited March 1, 2014 by Raptor9

[ajax]

Fire at 20 deg nose-up at 7 km away.