Cold War 1947 - 1991

[rossmum]

I don't know how configurable CTLD is so tell me if I'm huffing paint here - but would it be possible to make something like fuel truck + ammo truck + SKP-11 + command van = invisible FARP, maybe with something like an orange or green smoke to mark it or some kind of light beacon? Making it take 3+ units to build would make it a significant time/effort investment, but it could add some interesting dynamics to a few of the missions - you choose either more ground units/air defence, or a jet-capable FARP somewhere closer to the target or in an area less prone to attack (in missions where airfields are legitimate targets).

 

Roadbase stuff is a lot of fun, it's just a shame it almost never gets used (aside from the prebuilt ones on Catch Me If You Can).

[Jazz]

27 minutes ago, rossmum said:

I don't know how configurable CTLD is so tell me if I'm huffing paint here - but would it be possible to make something like fuel truck + ammo truck + SKP-11 + command van = invisible FARP, maybe with something like an orange or green smoke to mark it or some kind of light beacon? Making it take 3+ units to build would make it a significant time/effort investment, but it could add some interesting dynamics to a few of the missions - you choose either more ground units/air defence, or a jet-capable FARP somewhere closer to the target or in an area less prone to attack (in missions where airfields are legitimate targets).

 

Roadbase stuff is a lot of fun, it's just a shame it almost never gets used (aside from the prebuilt ones on Catch Me If You Can).

+1 for this, Roadbasing would be amazing to have

[Alpenwolf]

On 1/1/2021 at 4:26 AM, rossmum said:

I don't know how configurable CTLD is so tell me if I'm huffing paint here - but would it be possible to make something like fuel truck + ammo truck + SKP-11 + command van = invisible FARP, maybe with something like an orange or green smoke to mark it or some kind of light beacon? Making it take 3+ units to build would make it a significant time/effort investment, but it could add some interesting dynamics to a few of the missions - you choose either more ground units/air defence, or a jet-capable FARP somewhere closer to the target or in an area less prone to attack (in missions where airfields are legitimate targets).

 

Roadbase stuff is a lot of fun, it's just a shame it almost never gets used (aside from the prebuilt ones on Catch Me If You Can).

I don't know why I've never implemented this to be honest. You do realise though that picking up crates at those "FARP's" wouldn't be an option, right? But for rearming and refueling jets next to a highway or a proper road where they can land, turn around if needed and take off again? Hmmm. Sounds good!

 

+1 and added to my to-do list for sure. I'll need to test it out first and if it works as expected I shall add it to a few missions and maybe in time all missions. Feel free to test it yourself though or anyone else for that matter. Would be very much appreciated.

Edited January 2, 2021 by Alpenwolf

[rossmum]

Yeah, I was thinking of it as a jet-specific thing rather than for the whirlybirds.

 

In an ideal world, helicopters would have to fly supplies of missiles in to keep it stocked, but again I'm not sure how much of that is possible within the existing scripts.

[ustio]

About sukhumi the begining.

 

Wouldn't leopard 1 be a better opponent against T-55 feels weird seeing sherman and ww2 stuff

[Alpenwolf]

2 hours ago, ustio said:

About sukhumi the begining.

 

Wouldn't leopard 1 be a better opponent against T-55 feels weird seeing sherman and ww2 stuff

Honestly, it rather felt weird using German units more than using Shermans. We don't have any Russian WWll tanks and the M60 (proper counterpart of the T-55) can't be driven by players. I can only hope to see more WWll or early Cold War ground vehicles in time.

[ustio]

2 hours ago, Alpenwolf said:

Honestly, it rather felt weird using German units more than using Shermans. We don't have any Russian WWll tanks and the M60 (proper counterpart of the T-55) can't be driven by players. I can only hope to see more WWll or early Cold War ground vehicles in 

I don't quite understand the logic. So its more weirder for the Blue team to have west German Leopard 1 even though they are NATO than having a WW2 German tank for Red?

Edited January 2, 2021 by ustio

[Alpenwolf]

4 hours ago, ustio said:

I don't quite understand the logic. So its more weirder for the Blue team to have west German Leopard 1 even though they are NATO than having a WW2 German tank for Red?

 

They're both weird. Doesn't really matter which one is weirder. T-55 vs M60 is the optimum (as it is only in operation Two Towns) but as mentioned earlier players can't drive M60's. I guess I simply wanted to implement new units after all. Hence the inclusion of WWll planes on both sides to simulate an early Cold War scenario. Not saying I'm nailing it with historical or factual skirmishes with such a setup.

[Alpenwolf]

Server News:

 

The first post has been updated to include the following:

 

The MiG-21 and the F-5 are the main modules in all missions. Strikers, helicopters and some other modules are included in most missions.

 

Available Modules:

 

Maps: Caucasus, Persian Gulf, Syria

Red: MiG-21, MiG-19, MiG-15, L-39ZA, Su-25, Su-25T, MiG-29A (very limited), Bf 109 (very limited), Ka-50*, Mi-8

Blue: F-5, F-86, AJS37, C-101CC, A-10A, AV-8B (very limited)**, F-14A (very limited), P-51D (very limited), SA342M, SA342L, UH-1

 

*   Will be reduced in numbers once the Mi-24 arrives.

** The AV-8B will be removed once we receive the F-8 or the A-7 or the F-4 or the A-4. The latter as a module NOT as a mod.

[Volator]

3 hours ago, Alpenwolf said:

Ka-50*,

 

*   Will be reduced in numbers once the Mi-24 arrives.

 

 

Will be reduced in numbers? Right... 

 

Learned sth. new on the server today, I didn't know that Red can actually drive the SA-6 forward towards the Blue FARP. I wished Blue could do the same with its highly mobile HAWK system...

[Brown Floyd]

In Homs (and I think a couple other missions, too), each side is limited to just one helo-deployed long-range SAM site (Hawk or Kub) and it really adds a new dimension to the helicopter gameplay. Instead of the helicopters sprinkling SAM sites all over the battlefield, there's just one point that you need to defend from attacks, which leads to the enemy attempting more SEAD strikes to hit the one good SAM site, followed by frantic repair runs out to the SAM, beefing up the SAM radar defenses with MANPADS, armor, etc. In the older missions with essentially unlimited SAM sites (Two Towns et al), there's not much point in repairing a downed site when you can just assemble another, plus it gets discouraging for the jets when they log on and there's 4 interlocking SA-6 sites around the mission goal (which also may not be entirely realistic...)

 

Long story short, it might be a bit counter-intuitive but limiting the number of the deployed SAM sites actually improves the helicopter gameplay, and I think limiting the radar SAM sites to just a single operating site in other missions is something we should try.

[rossmum]

I'm still kind of strongly in favour of the 25T and Ka-50 going totally - along with Sidearms and maybe a reduction in TV-guided stuff in general. It'd make air to ground a little more challenging (and IMO, it's more satisfying to learn to deliver dumb weapons accurately anyway).

 

For anyone worrying about blue lacking an attack helicopter when the Mi-24 hits... don't worry too much, it's not an attack helicopter so much as a flying IFV. Think of it as a rotary-wing Su-25 but with SACLOS ATGMs instead of laser-guided missiles; its only magnified optic is the purely optical (!!!!) periscope the gunner uses to guide the missiles. With that said, the Apache isn't going to be a good match for it and would rather be a good match or even a bit superior to the Ka-50 depending what ED give it and what can/can't be turned off or restricted by mission makers, I really do wish we were getting a mid-model Cobra instead. The Mi-24 does have some slinging capability (mostly for moving howitzers around in a pinch) but IMO shouldn't be CTLD enabled when we do get it. Even carrying infantry was a relative rarity in service.

 

I know this is likely an opinion few share, but the less smart weapons, the better - it gives the server a more distinct feel and forces people to either specialise into a role, or become more adventurous and learn to do multiple jobs as needed.

 

As for the SAMs... maybe making them have to be road marched from behind the lines (rather than shuttled about by helicopters) might be a good idea, or switching red's site out for an S-125 or even S-75M. Yes it'll have different engagement parameters to what blue have, but it'll take more runs to set up and is less mobile. The air defence side of things needs a lot more love from ED in general, we're not exactly spoilt for choice.

 

What I'd also like to see is more SHORAD threats (and not just at the FARP or airfields) - giving people a reason to climb even on clear-weather missions would mix combat up a bit versus the usual weed whacking. And maybe infantry re-enabled on any mission that isn't capture the airfield, since there shouldn't be a problem with people double-capturing if there's nothing to capture.

Edited January 3, 2021 by rossmum

[Alpenwolf]

Deploying SAM sites is limited in ALL missions. 1,3 or 4 sites max, depending on the mission's scenario and whether the battlefield is a large area or not. In operation Homs the TA's are very close from one another, hence transport helicopters can only deploy 1 SAM site.

 

Having areas with SHORAD's is something Mi-8's and UH-1's can always do. Once in operation Battle Over Sukhumi Unleashed Mi-8's delpoyed ca. 40 ground units including Shilkas, MANPAD's, Strela's, BMP-2's, ammo trucks and EWR's all over Senaki-Kolkhi airbase. It literally forced Blue to operate at higher altitudes over Senaki or completely keep away from it. I quite often team up with one of the usual suspects flying the Mi-8 and we start setting up garrisons here and there. There wouldn't be much incentive to do that if I'd have them included at mission's start.

 

"Reducing the Ka-50's in numbers" means for example: Instead of 12 available Ka-50's in some missions there will be 8 or maybe even 6 only. And only in time we will know how effective Mi-24's will be in their anti-tank tasking. So I'd rather not start speculating on how many slots and how many aircraft. However, and as mentioned earlier, The Ka-50's will be reduced in numbers in some missions once the Mi-24 arrives and changes will probably be made accordingly. In time...

 

The Su-25T's weapons will be adjusted. Some will be removed or reduced significantly in numbers.

 

Red (Russian/Soviet) air defences have always been mobile and in most cases even amphibious too. That's part of the military doctrine they have. They design vehicles that are capable of things their counterparts can only dream of. Not because they're unable to, it's just a different doctrine is all. Example: While it's just one KUB vehicle that scans for and tracks aerial targets it's more than 1 for the Hawk. Other "Blue" SAM system are even more complicated, however not included in the server. Plus the mobility and the ability to fight back with whatever guns available in some vehicles, not the KUB radar though. That's what they have to offer. But how about we talk about Viggen pilots who fly CAP missions instead of strike missions? Or Harrier pilots who land at the FARP, grab AIM-9M's and go air-to-air only? Caught two players doing that and they were banned so don't even think about it, please, just showing you your average DCS player. And here we are again breaking down this subject and come to the conclusion that at the end of the day it's up to the players. Oh, and of course teamwork!

"The Abrams are way too powerful!" some Red players always tell me. Fine! Master your or Su-25/T or Ka-50 then. Watching how many fly blindly over the TA wasting aircraft and Vikhr's or focusing on one tank while flying straight at it neglecting any possible threats around them just to get that 1 kill is frustrating to watch through the cmdr/JTAC eyes. And that's just one example. And you have the like on Blue as well.

[2RGT Oberst]

Last night's flight over the Persian Gulf. We were two GCI following the flights, nice coordination

[Alpenwolf]

18 minutes ago, 2RGT Oberst said:

Last night's flight over the Persian Gulf. We were two GCI following the flights, nice coordination

 

I don't think I've ever seen an F-5 pilot with mirrors enabled. Great flying, guys!

[2RGT Oberst]

2 minutes ago, Alpenwolf said:

 

I don't think I've ever seen an F-5 pilot with mirrors enabled. Great flying, guys!

ahaha .. I use them often before overtaking 

[Alpenwolf]

A NEW MISSION HAS ARRIVED!!!

 

Operation: Mountain Peaks

 

* The mission will go online in 2-3 days, replace operation One Night in Arabia and start around 1900-2000 zulu.

* The mission features the early stages of the Cold War.

* Therefore, no IR SAM's and no SAM batteries.

* Dozens of AAA units including flak at the airbases instead.

* R-55's and GAR-8's only. Note that MiG-21's carry 2 x R-55's and only on the inner pylons.

* Bf 109's and P-51's included in small numbers.

* No tank battles this time around, however, there are 6 x JTAC slots per side for GCI purposes and manning AAA units.

* No helicopters.

 

 

Situation:

 

*** The mission lasts for 5 hours unless the objective is completed ***

 

Red airbase: Sochi-Adler
Blue airbase: Maykop-Khanskaya

 

Each coalition has 3 communication towers on three different mountain peaks. In addition, Red has 4 oil platforms (Blue bullseye) 50 km west of Sochi. There are 2 Red cargo ships traveling back and forth between the oil platforms and Sochi harbour transporting oil to the mainland.
Blue has 4 oil derricks (Red bullseye) 50 km southeast of Maykop-Khanskaya airbase.

Destroying the communication towers (the nearby air defences as well) and the oil assets in the objective. Furthermore, Blue must destroy the 2 Red cargo ships.

 

NOTE:
If a GCI operator is available, make sure you contact him and provide your assistance to wherever help is needed the most.
Teamwork is the key so make sure you stay on comms with other players even if a GCI operator is not available.

Check out the radio frequencies for comms below.

 

=====================================================================================

 

RED Objectives:

 

Important Notes:

 

All aircraft are limited in numbers. Make sure you always RTB and park your aircraft safely (not on the runway!) before leaving the slot. Doing so saves the aircraft and makes it available again for tasking.

Shutting down the engine/s after parking is not necessary, however feel free to do so.

 

R-55's are available and only 2 can be carried on the inner pylons of the MiG-21.
The enemy has GAR-8 missiles.

 

*******************************************************************************************************

 

Assets we MUST destroy:

 

- The enemy's 3 communication towers.
- The enemy's oil derricks.

 

Communication towers (marked on the F10 map):
At each TA there is 1 comm. tower, 2 tents and multiple AAA's. Destroy the aforementioned targets to finish a TA.

 

Oil Derricks (bullseye):
There are 4 oil derricks and 6 other buildings and containers that we have to destroy, located 50 km southeast of Maykop-Khanskaya airbase. The AAA's by the oil derricks are not the objective, however they should be destroyed to clear the way for striking.

 

Every 150 seconds a message appears with an update on the situation. It only shows what TA's are still active.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frequencies:

 

EWR / GCI: 124 MHz, channel 0 for MiG-21's. Channel 2 for MiG-19's.
EWR-MiG-15 (callsign: 15): 4.95 MHz (tuned in by default)
EWR-Bf 109 (callsign: 39): 39 MHz, channel 1

 

GCI operators focus mainly on aircraft operating on 124 MHz. MiG-15 pilots will have to stick with their EWR mainly and contact the GCI operator via teamchat and hope he manages to provide BRAA's for them on their frequency.

 

=====================================================================================

 

BLUE Objectives:

 

Important Notes:

 

All aircraft are limited in numbers. Make sure you always RTB and park your aircraft safely (not on the runway!) before leaving the slot. Doing so saves the aircraft and makes it available again for tasking.

Shutting down the engine/s after parking is not necessary, however feel free to do so.

 

GAR-8 missiles only.
R-55's are available and only 2 can be carried on the inner pylons of the MiG-21.

 

*******************************************************************************************************

 

Assets we MUST destroy:

 

- The enemy's 3 communication towers.
- The enemy's oil platforms.
- The enemy's ships.

 

Communication towers (marked on the F10 map):
At each TA there is 1 comm. tower, 2 tents and multiple AAA's. Destroy the aforementioned targets to finish a TA.

 

Oil platforms (bullseye):
There are 4 oil platforms that we have to destroy. The bullseye marks the location of the centre platform, 32 miles northwest of Sochi-Adler airbase.

 

Enemy cargo ships:
There are 2 enemy cargo ships traveling back and forth between the enemy's oil platforms, bullseye, and Sochi harbour south of the airbase. Intercept the ships when there by the oil platforms and send them to the abyss. Attacking the ships by Sochi is too risky so calculate your approach carefully.

 

Every 150 seconds a message appears with an update on the situation. It only shows what TA's are still active.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frequencies:

 

EWR / GCI: 251 MHz
EWR-P-51 (callsign: 124): 124 MHz, button A

 

GCI operators focus mainly on aircraft operating on 251 MHz. P-51 pilots will have to stick with their EWR mainly and contact the GCI operator via teamchat and hope he manages to provide BRAA's for them on their frequency.
Working on 2 different frequencies can be stressing for the GCI operator so P-51's shouldn't expect him to reply. It's up to the operator.

Working on 2 different frequencies can be stressing for the GCI operator so MiG-15's shouldn't expect him to reply. It's up to the operator.

 

 

 

[Alpenwolf]

Server News:

 

Both the server and SRS have been updated to the latest versions.

[rossmum]

On 1/4/2021 at 7:01 AM, Alpenwolf said:

I don't think I've ever seen an F-5 pilot with mirrors enabled. Great flying, guys!

 

I've never understood why (non-VR) people turn them off... even on my potato of a PC the difference in framerate is unnoticeable and the utility of being able to see behind you is enormous... at least in aircraft with useful mirrors. The F-5's are horrible I still fly with them out of habit, though.

[Alpenwolf]

@rossmum

Enabling the option of building additional FARP's seems to work most of the times (not sure why not all the times). The problem is, players have access to all types of weapons, including all aspect missiles and nuke bombs.

[Conker4]

Is there a chance (seeing that the missiles are now modelled better) we can get missile supplies for the rb-24J in equivalent proportionate numbers to the other best missiles that are available on other aircraft?

Edited January 9, 2021 by Conker4

[Alpenwolf]

10 hours ago, Conker4 said:

Is there a chance (seeing that the missiles are now modelled better) we can get missile supplies for the rb-24J in equivalent proportionate numbers to the other best missiles that are available on other aircraft?

 

I've increased the number of those in some missions. Increasing more would only encourage Viggens to go air-to-air only rather than sticking with the air-to-ground objectives. Which was the case especially some months ago when Viggens did almost nothing other than fighting MiG's, instead of supporting their ground assets.

[Alpenwolf]

Server News:

 

- Operation Five Point Unleashed is offline.

- Rework on operation When The Mountains Cry is almost done. Lots of changes and optimisations. Hope to get it done for tonight, otherwise tomorrow.

- Rework on the operations Phone Booth and Hold The Line will start afterwards.

[Alpenwolf]

Server News:

 

* Operation Street Fight is offline.

 

* Operation When The Mountains Cry is online and here's a list of changes:

 

- All aircraft (helicopters included) and weapons are limited.

- The briefing has been rewritten in greater detail and images were added.

- Both FARP's were moved closer to the bullseye. Distances to cover vary between 20 and 55 km max (12 - 35 miles).

- MiG-29A's, F-14A's and AV-8B's included.

- Su-25's and Su-25T's moved to Senaki-Kolkhi airbase where than carry R-60M's for self defence purposes ONLY! MiG's caught stealing those missiles will be BANNED!

- Each coalition holds 4 lakes at which water stations are to be found. Destroy all assets and ground units to finish the objective at a lake.

- Capturing the lake as it used to be the case is no longer required. Just destroy all the enemy's assets you see there.

- The ninth lake is neutral at mission's start as it used to be the case. And it's the only lake where helicopters need to deploy troops/crates to capture.

- So to win the battle: Destroy the enemy's assets at his 4 lakes and capture and hold the ninth lake (check out the briefing for more details when online).

- 2 x L-39's start at a road base where they rearm and refuel before taking off. However, they must RTB to Kutaisi airbase to save their aircraft.

- AJS37's have a road base around waypoint-6 where they can land for rearming, refueling and repairing purposes (see briefing image when online).

- Instead of winter and snow, it's spring and clear skies. Fog disabled.

- The AWACS planes were replaced by EWR's - that showed me how old this mission is and that it's been offline for quite a while

- Expect other minor changes and adjustments.

Edited January 10, 2021 by Alpenwolf

[The_Tau]

On 1/1/2021 at 7:04 PM, Alpenwolf said:

I don't know why I've never implemented this to be honest. You do realise though that picking up crates at those "FARP's" wouldn't be an option, right? But for rearming and refueling jets next to a highway or a proper road where they can land, turn around if needed and take off again? Hmmm. Sounds good!

 

+1 and added to my to-do list for sure. I'll need to test it out first and if it works as expected I shall add it to a few missions and maybe in time all missions. Feel free to test it yourself though or anyone else for that matter. Would be very much appreciated.

 

It would also help with gazelles as I think they were designed to be rearmed in the field next to truck with HOT missiles...

 

 

On side note, maybe we should start lobby ED to allow R60s on Su25s and MiG29s. Cold War is one of the more popular server in prime time and surely one of the most active on this forum. Maybe if each one of us leave simple "+1" in correct thread and maybe ED gods will notice

Edited January 10, 2021 by The_Tau