The Case for an AI SH-3H Sea King

[KingKenny04]

With the recent release of the DCS: Supercarrier module and the announcement of the Syria map, a world of new possible scenarios has opened for the DCS community. In investigating possible scenarios, especially those involving US naval aviation, it is clear that there is a need for new and updated AI units for realistic mission making and player immersion. Though new AI units are likely not a high priority for ED (and for very good reasons), I believe that, when ED does begin development of new AI units, the SH-3H Sea King deserves special attention and prioritization.

 

 

The Syria map brings a huge number of possibilities in terms of missions and campaigns. Although most people are probably considering the Syrian Civil War as a source for missions and campaigns, I believe the Lebanese Civil war should also be considered. Spanning 1978 through 1990, the timeline of the Lebanese Civil war not only presents a variety of fictional-yet-plausible scenarios, it also covers a large amount of aircraft and ships that are either currently available in DCS or will soon be available. Between 1982 and 1990, all but one Forrestal class carrier that deployed to the Mediterranean carried F-14As, A-7Es, A-6Es/KA-6Ds, S-3As/Bs, E-2Cs, EA-6Bs, and SH-3Hs [1]. The single exception was the 1990 deployment of Saratoga, which carried F-14Bs and F/A-18Cs instead of F-14As and A-7Es, but which still carried an SH-3H squadron aboard [2]. In addition to US Naval aircraft, the Lebanese civil war also provides opportunities for the MiG-21Bis and MiG-23ML, both of which began service with the Syrian air force in the early to mid 80s [3][4]. This time period and map combination also provides opportunities for both the Mirage IIICJ and F-16C under the Israeli Air Force [5]. Lastly, the SA 342 also gets love in this period, having served with both Syrian and Lebanese forces in these conflicts.

 

We can next examine the Persian Gulf map. One major area that is rich in mission content is the Tanker War which lasted from roughly 1984-1988. During this time period, several carriers that exist or will soon exist in DCS made deployments to the Indian Ocean or directly to the Persian Gulf. These include Carl Vinson (1986, 1988 ), Independence (1984), Ranger (1987, 1989), and Forrestal (1988 ). In every case, these carriers deployed with F-14As, A-7Es, A-6Es/KA-6Ds, EA-6Bs, E-2Cs, and, of course, SH-3Hs [1]. This time period also takes advantage of the F-5E, Mirage F1 (assuming it's not vaporware by this point), and the AI F-4E, CH-47, C-130, and Huey, all in Iranian service.

 

Of these aircraft, the F-14B, F/A-18C, and F-5E are currently available, and the F-4E is available as an AI aircraft. Heatblur is currently working on the F-14A, an AI A-6E and KA-6D, and the Forrestal carrier. FlyingIron Simulations is currently developing the A-7E. RAZBAM is working on some variant of Mirage III, and AvioDev is possibly still working on several variants of the Mirage F1. ED have already committed to updating the S-3B AI model, and the E-2D can serve as a perfectly fine stand-in for the E-2C (though they are not identical). The only missing pieces are the Prowler and the SH-3H. Given that we will almost certainly never see an EA-6B in DCS, AI or not, it makes sense to add the SH-3H for both CSAR, ship-to-shore, and ground support operations. The Sea King is the one common thread to both maps that is conspicuous by its absence.

 

 

It is also worth considering the upcoming Falklands Islands map under development by RAZBAM. Variants of the SH-3 served UK forces from 1969 all the way up to 2011. Large numbers of differing variants were deployed with the British Task Force to retake the Falklands. This is one map where some kind of Sea King variant is almost a necessity for realistic missions.

 

 

I believe the SH-3H is a key ingredient for realistic mission making for a huge number of missions that mission-makers will want to explore going forward. I hope that ED will consider adding this near the top of the list of AI aircraft to be added to DCS.

 

References:

1. http://gonavy.jp/CVf.html

2. http://gonavy.jp/CV-CV60f.html

3. Gordon, Yefim. Mikoyan MiG-21.

4. Gordon, Yefim and Kieth Dexter. MiG-23/27: Soviet Swing-Wing Fighter Aircraft.

5. http://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article7.html

Edited June 13, 2020 by KingKenny04

[Jim Bob]

I personally think the Sea King is long overdue anyway. It's a very well known multi-role helicopter which could be put to a ton of uses in DCS World as a flyable aircraft as well as an AI one. I like transport missions in the Mi-8, so i'd love to try some rescue missions in a Sea King!

[Volator]

A naval helicopter would be a logical continuation of the path ED and some third party devs haven taken with emphasis on naval assets. An SH-3 would fit in quite well - as would an SH-60/MH-60 variant. 

[rayrayblues]

The Sea King can be added as such:

Close DCS

Main folder/scripts/database. 

Open db_countries.lua with notepad++, scroll to line 1607 CH-53E

Add this code to line 1608:    cnt_unit( units.Helicopters.Helicopter, "SH-3W"); and save.

Restart DCS

 

 

The Sea King will now appear in the ME as an AI only. PM me for skins.

It will be rejected by IC so after every update or repair, you'll have to put it back in.  I use it mostly as a SAR hovering above the carrier.

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim Bob]

That's cool! I'd love to see it in RAF/RN rescue liveries!

[navyBtown]

6 hours ago, Jim Bob said:

That's cool! I'd love to see it in RAF/RN rescue liveries!

There is an RN livery for the sea king but the db_countries that comes with it no longer works for me. I used to have to place it back in the scripts folder after every update. After many try’s I ended up giving up making it work. Maybe ED will get around fixing it or just wait for RAZBAM’s SH-3.

 

Royal Navy Sea King:

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3310330/

[Jim Bob]

22 hours ago, navyBtown said:

There is an RN livery for the sea king but the db_countries that comes with it no longer works for me.

 

I did see that livery, but I was talking about the red/grey rescue livery which was a familiar sight on both the Sea King and Wessex back in the day. I have plans to try to create some rescue missions involving multiple helos, and the Sea King would be an asset to those.

[rayrayblues]

On 1/8/2021 at 8:43 AM, navyBtown said:

There is an RN livery for the sea king but the db_countries that comes with it no longer works for me. I used to have to place it back in the scripts folder after every update. After many try’s I ended up giving up making it work. Maybe ED will get around fixing it or just wait for RAZBAM’s SH-3.

 

Royal Navy Sea King:

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3310330/

 

Don't add the whole folder. Instead open RN_Sea King/Bazar/Liveries/sh-3w and copy the Mariene folder.

Paste into:    Main Game Folder/Bazar/Liveries/sh-3w. 

It should work. The RN skin is really nice. Let me know if you get it to work.

 

Another cool tip.....after you add the sh3w, make a copy of the entire db_countries.lua file and then when the IC kicks it out,

you can paste and replace it in the database folder. Saves a little typing.

 

 

On 1/9/2021 at 7:25 AM, Jim Bob said:

I did see that livery, but I was talking about the red/grey rescue livery which was a familiar sight on both the Sea King and Wessex back in the day. I have plans to try to create some rescue missions involving multiple helos, and the Sea King would be an asset to those.

 

I'm afraid that I don't have the red and grey. I kinda' like the Blue Nightdippers. It looks like this:

 

SH3 skins.zip

Edited January 13, 2021 by rayrayblues

[Jim Bob]

12 hours ago, rayrayblues said:

 

Don't add the whole folder. Instead open RN_Sea King/Bazar/Liveries/sh-3w and copy the Mariene folder.

Paste into:    Main Game Folder/Bazar/Liveries/sh-3w. 

It should work. The RN skin is really nice. Let me know if you get it to work.

 

This is what I did and it works fine for me.

[MatsH]

The SH-3 seems a little too big, would it be possible to scale it down somehow?

[upyr1]

On 1/1/2021 at 1:45 PM, rayrayblues said:

The Sea King can be added as such:

Close DCS

Main folder/scripts/database. 

Open db_countries.lua with notepad++, scroll to line 1607 CH-53E

Add this code to line 1608:    cnt_unit( units.Helicopters.Helicopter, "SH-3W"); and save.

Restart DCS

 

 

The Sea King will now appear in the ME as an AI only. PM me for skins.

It will be rejected by IC so after every update or repair, you'll have to put it back in.  I use it mostly as a SAR hovering above the carrier.

 

 

 

 

 

I wish Eagle would add this line themselves. This might not be the best model but we have the jolly green giant 

[rayrayblues]

@upyr1They have done away with the db_countries script altogether. No more Sea King.  

[upyr1]

16 minutes ago, rayrayblues said:

@upyr1They have done away with the db_countries script altogether. No more Sea King.  

I was able to get it to work. Anyhow they still need to add it to the mission editor

[rayrayblues]

On 7/5/2021 at 9:06 PM, upyr1 said:

I was able to get it to work. Anyhow they still need to add it to the mission editor

How did you do that?

[upyr1]

6 hours ago, rayrayblues said:

How did you do that?

I followed the directions you gave, but instead of the line number I searched for CH-53 and added it

[rayrayblues]

@upyr1 Searched and added it where? What did you add to CH-53.

My bad for not seeing your post sooner.

[upyr1]

On 1/1/2021 at 1:45 PM, rayrayblues said:

The Sea King can be added as such:

Close DCS

Main folder/scripts/database. 

Open db_countries.lua with notepad++, scroll to line 1607 CH-53E

Add this code to line 1608:    cnt_unit( units.Helicopters.Helicopter, "SH-3W"); and save.

Restart DCS

 

 

The Sea King will now appear in the ME as an AI only. PM me for skins.

It will be rejected by IC so after every update or repair, you'll have to put it back in.  I use it mostly as a SAR hovering above the carrier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

35 minutes ago, rayrayblues said:

@upyr1 Searched and added it where? What did you add to CH-53.

My bad for not seeing your post sooner.

your directions I will have to try it again 

[rayrayblues]

@upyr1

My directions involve the db_countries script which has been locked since 2.7.1

[upyr1]

4 hours ago, rayrayblues said:

@upyr1

My directions involve the db_countries script which has been locked since 2.7.1

My was able to get it to work in July. I have not tried Sense

[navyBtown]

On 9/23/2021 at 11:20 AM, upyr1 said:

My was able to get it to work in July. I have not tried Sense

Mine still works, back in January I made  the changes to the Lua file to get the SH-3W to work, I made a copy of the file in case I want to use it. Every time DCS has an update the db_countries script will get a fresh script, so when that happens, I just make a copy of the backup and place it back in.

 

Here are some screenshots from this morning.

Edited September 24, 2021 by navyBtown

[navyBtown]

On 9/23/2021 at 6:43 AM, rayrayblues said:

@upyr1

My directions involve the db_countries script which has been locked since 2.7.1

So, this morning I went ahead and repaired my DCS so I can get the updated db_countries script. After adding the code back in, I can tell you it still works.

[Sectech]

I can confirm that this still works... but now on line 1886

 

[Greg504221]

On 1/1/2021 at 2:45 PM, rayrayblues said:

The Sea King can be added as such:

Close DCS

Main folder/scripts/database. 

Open db_countries.lua with notepad++, scroll to line 1607 CH-53E

Add this code to line 1608:    cnt_unit( units.Helicopters.Helicopter, "SH-3W"); and save.

Restart DCS

 

 

The Sea King will now appear in the ME as an AI only. PM me for skins.

It will be rejected by IC so after every update or repair, you'll have to put it back in.  I use it mostly as a SAR hovering above the carrier.

 

 

 

 

 

Hi, I'm really enjoying the Sea King!! I would really appreiciate it if you could send me some skins?

Thanks,

 

Timex2

[Darkdiz]

Does anyone have the SH-3W template?  I saw the RCAF Sea King skin, and want to adjust it a bit (add Mk-46 Torp vice missiles, the SDS, the APS-503 radome, FLIR, IR jammer etc etc etc.

Over 2350 hours as a TACCO in this particular airframe!

Cheers

Diz

[Tomcat-Flyer]

I'm currently working on the Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King as a static mod.

As you might see, there is no cockpit yet.