Jump to content

OP Morningstar. New single mission.


baltic_dragon

Recommended Posts

Hey guys, as promised in the FB post, I have submitted a new single mission for the Harrier called Operation Morningstar.

 

You are tasked with a strike on enemy HQ located deep behind enemy lines - get in quick, avoid enemy air defences, drop the bombs and get back.

 

440923823_LogoforFB.thumb.jpg.932a3f08033648675898bab818bcd844.jpg 1109557092_MapLarge.thumb.jpg.d288c9a4ed94b66bbc4ccba991b50a43.jpg 656195478_FRAGOp1.thumb.jpg.31fbc16743510a4170ce125f16f95e73.jpg

 

Mission file can be downloaded here. Multiplayer version coming out soon!

  • Like 2
ce535d_9d347b62819c4372b3c485a4f95d2004~mv2.png
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks a lot .. love your Missions :)

 

For work: iMac mid-2010 of 27" - Core i7 870 - 6 GB DDR3 1333 MHz - ATI HD5670 - SSD 256 GB - HDD 2 TB - macOS High Sierra

For Gaming: 34" Monitor - Ryzen 3600X - 32 GB DDR4 2400 - nVidia GTX1070ti - SSD 1.25 TB - HDD 10 TB - Win10 Pro - TM HOTAS Cougar - Oculus Rift CV1

Mobile: iPad Pro 12.9" of 256 GB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Who fragged a strike mission against a SAM-defended target without any SEAD support?! I tried out this mission and took a missile to the face on my bombing run, even after ordering my wingmen to engage air defenses. Oh well, I'll try it out again soon.

Virpil WarBRD | Thrustmaster Hornet Grip | Foxx Mount | Thrustmaster TWCS Throttle | Logitech G Throttle Quadrant | VKB T-Rudder IV | TrackIR 5

 

 

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB | 32GB DDR4 3200 | SSD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Who fragged a strike mission against a SAM-defended target without any SEAD support?! I tried out this mission and took a missile to the face on my bombing run, even after ordering my wingmen to engage air defenses. Oh well, I'll try it out again soon.

 

Mission is perfectly doable if you use your wingman carrying sidearms :) and stick to flight path plus listen to E2. Let me know how it went second time around!

ce535d_9d347b62819c4372b3c485a4f95d2004~mv2.png
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mission is perfectly doable if you use your wingman carrying sidearms :) and stick to flight path plus listen to E2. Let me know how it went second time around!

Second time went much better. I ordered wingmen to attack air defenses then flew offset for a little bit until they began engaging targets before my run-in. Bombs were spectacularly on-target and I bugged out. Very satisfying!

 

 

One problem is on ingress to Waypoint 5, I try to locate the target using my TPOD, and am unable to do so; I look around the field right next to the waypoint, which matches the briefing recon photos, but no targets are visible. Only when I get much closer do they show up nearby. Is this a draw distance limitation or something?

 

 

Second, the asymmetric TPOD/fuel tank loadout is REALLY wonky with the jet's flight model (I'm not convinced it's fully accurate but that's a different discussion). I have no trouble editing the loadout to be two fuel tanks and a centerline TPOD instead. Didn't even need to refuel on the way back with so much extra. Just curious why you went with asymmetric loadout instead and if you might consider changing it.

Virpil WarBRD | Thrustmaster Hornet Grip | Foxx Mount | Thrustmaster TWCS Throttle | Logitech G Throttle Quadrant | VKB T-Rudder IV | TrackIR 5

 

 

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB | 32GB DDR4 3200 | SSD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mainly because if you refuel, you get an extra tasking for which you may need a gun that is mounted on the Center line :)

Understood... I'll refuel next time to experience that :) But I will still stick with 2 bags and tpod+gunpod on the centerline station so I don't flip upside down every time I try to bank and pull.

Virpil WarBRD | Thrustmaster Hornet Grip | Foxx Mount | Thrustmaster TWCS Throttle | Logitech G Throttle Quadrant | VKB T-Rudder IV | TrackIR 5

 

 

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB | 32GB DDR4 3200 | SSD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

So I gave the SP mission a shot, and I had some... issues... I mean, I didn't even find the FRAGO until after I'd failed, but not as completely as you might expect.

 

There are a bunch of spelling errors, for example, in the briefing description #3 you DROP bombs, and it's "at this STAGE".

 

Don't know how realistic the frago format is, but you do not "stall" the enemy, you delay him. Also, commanders do not have "intents", but rather objectives, and in stating an objective, describing an "endstate" (sic.) is superfluous.

 

Some more tangible issues I had were

 

1. I could not change my loadout. In fact I wanted to reorganize my flight completely.

 

2. It's not a CAS mission, it's a air interdiction or a strike, but not close air support.

 

3. I couldn't really think of why I would need a TPOD and wanted to get rid of it, but either the mission is locked so that I can't change the loadout, or DCS has changed with the same results.

 

4. I wanted to do the DEAD mission myself, because I don't trust DCS to do it right, and I was right. I pointed #2 toward the SA-8's and told him to attack air defences, and he headed straight for Chieftain and took an IGLA in the face while heading in :doh:

 

Personally if I could have redon all the loadouts et al, I'd have used snakeyes. I'd have set

 

Dodge 1-1 SEAD (DEAD): AGM-122 Sidearms*4, Fuel Tank 300g*2, DECM, Gunpod

Dodge 1-2 CAP: AIM-9M*4, Fuel Tank 300g*2, Gunpod

Dodge 1-3 AI/Strike: AIM-9M*2, Mk82SE*6, Fuel Tank 300g*2, TPOD(maybe), Gunpod

 

5. waypoint (target) is not actually on Chieftain. It''s offset to the north a few hundred yards.

 

6. apropos, the recon photo ought to have a north-arrow on it.

 

I may edit the loadouts in the ME and try again.


Edited by Captain Orso

When you hit the wrong button on take-off

hwl7xqL.gif

System Specs.

Spoiler
System board: MSI X670E ACE Memory: 64GB DDR5-6000 G.Skill Ripjaw System disk: Crucial P5 M.2 2TB
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D PSU: Corsair HX1200 PSU Monitor: ASUS MG279Q, 27"
CPU cooling: Noctua NH-D15S Graphics card: MSI RTX 3090Ti SuprimX VR: Oculus Rift CV1
 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’ve been able to edit the load out but you need to make a new load out to do so, can’t edit the existing mission load out.

 

I replayed it the other day with two GBU-10s and it was pretty great results wise, only one bomb needed to destroy the target. I got to the alternate tasking after refueling (still had too much gas to need to refuel though) and after both my sidewinders missed and my wingman drove into a SAM, I RTB’d. Gun might have helped a bit.

 

Mission can definitely be done with no tpod and only dumb bombs. Heck, probably don’t need external bags either since the refueling is part of the mission. Maybe I can swap them for more sidewinders.

Virpil WarBRD | Thrustmaster Hornet Grip | Foxx Mount | Thrustmaster TWCS Throttle | Logitech G Throttle Quadrant | VKB T-Rudder IV | TrackIR 5

 

 

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB | 32GB DDR4 3200 | SSD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey guys,

 

The whole idea of the mission was to force pilots to use dumb bombs - with GBUs dropped from high alt it just becomes way too easy. There are a lot of situations in real life where you deal with what you have available...

 

As for mission type - true, shouldn’t be CAS.

 

FRAGO is taken straight from real life docs and the terminology was checked by active duty Marine JTAC, so - barring some omissions or later errors from my side - should be spot on.

 

AI issues - out of my hands.. I personally prefer the MP version of this mission, more fun there :)

 

Chieftain - target might have moved between mission planning and actual strike. Intended :)

 

Cheers!

 

BD

ce535d_9d347b62819c4372b3c485a4f95d2004~mv2.png
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well... Marines I guess - lol

 

I'm still wondering about not being able to change loadouts. Even the new DCS World guide says that you can change waypoints and loadouts in Mission Planner.

 

I get what you mean about GBU's although since the goal is the C&C (I guess the command vehicle?) but yeah, that would be too easy. Also, far from certain that the staff would necessarily be sitting in the vehicle just waiting to be bombed. I'd still like the opportunity to try things like rockeyes and snakeyes, just for fun. I guess just different versions of the mission are the only viable possibilities.

When you hit the wrong button on take-off

hwl7xqL.gif

System Specs.

Spoiler
System board: MSI X670E ACE Memory: 64GB DDR5-6000 G.Skill Ripjaw System disk: Crucial P5 M.2 2TB
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D PSU: Corsair HX1200 PSU Monitor: ASUS MG279Q, 27"
CPU cooling: Noctua NH-D15S Graphics card: MSI RTX 3090Ti SuprimX VR: Oculus Rift CV1
 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

How do I get the Tornado to do something for me? I tried addressing it as Wingman 4, but I get no answer. I have radio 2 set to channel 2 right from the start, so that ought not be an issue.

 

Aslo, I can find the anchor here command in the comms menus. Is that on purpose?

 

Also also, I hate Tunguskas! They suck! :mad: ..... :D

When you hit the wrong button on take-off

hwl7xqL.gif

System Specs.

Spoiler
System board: MSI X670E ACE Memory: 64GB DDR5-6000 G.Skill Ripjaw System disk: Crucial P5 M.2 2TB
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D PSU: Corsair HX1200 PSU Monitor: ASUS MG279Q, 27"
CPU cooling: Noctua NH-D15S Graphics card: MSI RTX 3090Ti SuprimX VR: Oculus Rift CV1
 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't believe you can command any other flights but your own in DCS, unless through scripted F10 menus

Virpil WarBRD | Thrustmaster Hornet Grip | Foxx Mount | Thrustmaster TWCS Throttle | Logitech G Throttle Quadrant | VKB T-Rudder IV | TrackIR 5

 

 

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB | 32GB DDR4 3200 | SSD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There are ways to command other flights. I don't know how to do it myself, but I think you have to program all the commands into additional F10 menus.

 

At any rate, Wingman 1 thru 4 are listed for receiving commands, so who would otherwise be the mystery wingman if not the Tornado?

When you hit the wrong button on take-off

hwl7xqL.gif

System Specs.

Spoiler
System board: MSI X670E ACE Memory: 64GB DDR5-6000 G.Skill Ripjaw System disk: Crucial P5 M.2 2TB
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D PSU: Corsair HX1200 PSU Monitor: ASUS MG279Q, 27"
CPU cooling: Noctua NH-D15S Graphics card: MSI RTX 3090Ti SuprimX VR: Oculus Rift CV1
 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You only have control over wingmen. Tornado is there for electronic warfare and as such warns you about threats (should tell you to change your course at some point to avoid SAMs) and to jam enemy air defences (in game that means lower skill for radar guided ones). I will need to check the mission though, maybe something got borked with one of last updates.

ce535d_9d347b62819c4372b3c485a4f95d2004~mv2.png
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Okay, I've discovered that one more wingman than present is being presented in the comms menu. Thas has nothing to do with this mission, but is a general issue. So, in this mission, you have 2 wingmen: 'Wingman 2' and 'Wingman 3', but in the comms menu there is also a 'Wingman 4'.

 

I've been trying different things and running into different issues. One was that both wingmen flew into the ground -- or more specifically, into the trees -- while following me at very low level in trailing formation, so they had all the room in the world to maneuver when they hit the trees where the ground made a shallow raise. You'd have to be a asleep to hit the trees like that, literally.

 

The major issues I'm trying to deal with now are the Tunguskas. I'm still not sure if the Tornado could affect radar from where it is orbiting way back by the KC-130, but the Tungusks are not turning their radar on anyway, because, hey, it's clear skies and those fat slow Harriers are great targets for their optically guided missiles. Hurray. So I need to bring Mavericks along for at least 1 Tunguska.

 

I'm still not sure how to tell the one bomb-truck to hit both groups on the ground. I've given him 12(!!) Snakeyes, so he should be able to make short order of both groups (I'll take out the two Shilkas with guns if I have to first) but I have no idea how to get my bomb-truck to only use half the bombs on one target and half on the other, or to hit both in one run (they'er close enough together for this). I'm thinking that this mission requires too much control that DCS doesn't offer for it to be do-able in SP in any real sense. It should not be that difficult with 3 real pilots, but I've not gotten that far yet anyway.

 

Always so many problems *sigh*

When you hit the wrong button on take-off

hwl7xqL.gif

System Specs.

Spoiler
System board: MSI X670E ACE Memory: 64GB DDR5-6000 G.Skill Ripjaw System disk: Crucial P5 M.2 2TB
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D PSU: Corsair HX1200 PSU Monitor: ASUS MG279Q, 27"
CPU cooling: Noctua NH-D15S Graphics card: MSI RTX 3090Ti SuprimX VR: Oculus Rift CV1
 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've started and restarted this mission so many times... *sigh*

 

... but not because of the design itself, but because DCS AI is just exactly not that at all...

 

Without trying to give away anything and spoil the fun for anyone, but if I tell my flight to anchor somewhere and they fly a circuit right over the top of a know SAM sight... shm

 

That's not BD's fault. It's the fault of the stupid DCS AI. 9/10 of the effort I've put into trying to complete this mission as I would like to has been in getting around that. You really have to lead the AI by the hand like a little child that it doesn't do obviously stupid things, and after a while I'm just disheartened completely - again, no fault of baltic_dragon.

When you hit the wrong button on take-off

hwl7xqL.gif

System Specs.

Spoiler
System board: MSI X670E ACE Memory: 64GB DDR5-6000 G.Skill Ripjaw System disk: Crucial P5 M.2 2TB
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D PSU: Corsair HX1200 PSU Monitor: ASUS MG279Q, 27"
CPU cooling: Noctua NH-D15S Graphics card: MSI RTX 3090Ti SuprimX VR: Oculus Rift CV1
 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That is why for Raven One I completely stopped using normal wingmen and instead have AI flight that can be commanded using F10 menu. Gives me much more flexibility and possibility to script AI behaviour more. Likely will do the same in all other future campaigns. Might upgrade Morningstar that way too!

ce535d_9d347b62819c4372b3c485a4f95d2004~mv2.png
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi! What is the proper command to force my wingman to do something? Played the mission three times now, with the following results:

 

1. On wpt5, I descended to 1000' altitude, to try to avoid SAM. Wingman #2 hit a mountain. Wingman #3 returned to base with all his loadout.

 

2. On wpt5, I stayed at 19k' and ordered both wingman to attack primary and RTB. They did absolutely nothing and return to base with all their loadout.

 

3. Changed the loadout before takeoff (switched the AIM-9 for Sidearms) and made myself the 'SAM escort'. This time wingman #2 fired his Sidearms, but wingman #3 returned with his full loadout.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not sure, but I think the mission is written that if you kill the HQ units, you "win" - at least that's what the description and everything sounds like -- I've never actually gotten that far.

 

At any rate, I didn't want to run the mission that way, because it's too binary, too black and white. The enemy knows we're there and will send their general staff into air raid shelters, and certainly not sit around like fish in a barrel waiting to get blown into a fine, pink mist. I wanted to do as much damage to all the units around the HQ as well, to disrupt their preparedness. After all, that was the mission goal, to delay their jump-off, and if the general staff survives, but the entire force is in a shambles, they're not going to do anything either.

 

I also went with rearranging loadouts - heavily, plus I also decided to primarily fly the SEAD/SEAM mission, because [MAJOR SPOILERS STARTING HERE]

 

 

 

.. after discovering the hidden SA-8 site and that there is a Tunguska at the target, that is too complicated that I trust it to the AI - plus from my experience, you cannot count on the Tunguska using it's radar to track you, so that you are able to use the Sidearm to kill it. You can flip a coin on that, and if it doesn't you MUST have an alternative weapon to take it out, and I went with the AMG-65G (IRMV), because it's a fire-n-forget weapon, so it's safer to use than laser guided munitions.

 

I basically also decided to fly both the SEAD/SEAM as also the Strike missions by hot seating. Basically you go into the F10 map, select the aircraft you want to fly and click on the small tank icon at the top of the map, which allows you to take over (climb into) and vehicle which allows that on the map (Combined-Arms may be required). So after taking the SA-8 and the Tunguska down with Sidearms, and then the two Shilkas with my two IRMV's, I return to my circling flight and switch to the bomb-truck Harrier. Now you have to be quick and set your radio up to communicate with your flight, because as soon as you climb into the strike Harrier, the other two will start to RTB. So quickly get your radio set and call your flight back into formation and then to anchor somewhere safe. Oh, and as we say where I work, -just to f*ck with the Russians- to make things interesting there are more Tunguskas already on the way to the main target sight as soon as your arrive on the scene, so you have limited time to setup and execute your attack.

 

Until I got all these operations figured out and practiced, I don't know how many times I'd started the mission. I got the bomb-truck loaded up with 12 Snakeyes over the target at low altitude -- very low, like 200 feet -- and didn't get a single bomb off the racks. I don't know why. Maybe I forgot to switch safety off, or I was too low for auto-mode to work, but seconds before I was over target I got two IGLA's in the face, because... why not. So I'm kind of guessing that low-level is kind of not the way to go, but I haven't tried it again since then.

 

When you hit the wrong button on take-off

hwl7xqL.gif

System Specs.

Spoiler
System board: MSI X670E ACE Memory: 64GB DDR5-6000 G.Skill Ripjaw System disk: Crucial P5 M.2 2TB
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D PSU: Corsair HX1200 PSU Monitor: ASUS MG279Q, 27"
CPU cooling: Noctua NH-D15S Graphics card: MSI RTX 3090Ti SuprimX VR: Oculus Rift CV1
 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just did it. I have missed the "bonus target" since I did not try to refuel but otherwise destroyed the enemy HQ and got home safely. The SEAD component of the flight was useless but the blame is on the AI which jettisoned its AGM-122 when engaged

by the surprise SA-8

and was subsequently killed.

I went for a very low (200 ft) and fast (450 kts GS) level pass.

 

After viewing the briefing it seems I did not load the snakeyes I wanted for this mission and therefore I was lucky DCS do not take into account fuze arming delays otherwise it would have all been for nothing. The Igla shot and missed but the Tunguska shot down my (remaining) wingman (AI is terrible, it didn't use chaffs or even tried an evasive manoeuvrer). I wonder if the EW escort was useful.

I agree with those that said the default loadout behave weirdly. I had a very hard time taking off with it because of the yaw it induced.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 8 months later...

Just returning to the Harrier after a long stint in the Mirage. Not sure what experience I had, but was looking forward to trying this mission.

I received warning from Tornado about the SAMs, so ordered wingman to Engage Air defenses. Heard acknowledgement, so radio was working, but never another word from him/them.

Dive bombed the primary target and hit about 6 units at the HQ releasing my full payload. Also taking a missile hit from a nearby SAM, then fled home with my wounded bird.

Skipped tanker refuel as I'm rubbish at it and didn't want to spend the time trying.

Landed home and received a score but zero result as it I had not accomplished any mission objectives.

So I had a bit of fun, but wasn't sure what I missed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
On 11/22/2020 at 10:43 AM, baltic_dragon said:

Hey guys, I’ll have to re-visit and update this mission, haven’t checked it for a long time now!

Hi BD, where is the briefing pdf hidden for this mission? I've searched all over and I can't find it in any of the DCS folders. I want to fly the mission but I can't figure out where the mission briefing pdf is. 

Many thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...