Air to Ground accuracy

[CappuccettoRosso]

Hello, this is my first topic ever despite playing DCS since 2014. I would therefore like to thank and express my admiration for the Eagle Dynamics and Heatblur Simulations developers as I'm having a blast flying and destroying stuff on DCS especially on the cat and the hornet.

Using the LANTIRN on the F-14 is spectacular but being limited to carrying only 4 gbu makes me sadly prefer, during CAS missions, the dumb old MK82 given the ability to carry them in the incredible amount of 18! Now, I'm impressed at how accurate the computer pilot mode (CCIP-ish) is but obviously every time I dive into a line of tanks I risk that they blow me up.

 

I should therefore use the computer target mode (CCRP) - which by the way I noticed to be surprisingly precise - but being able to designate a target with that clumsy system is incredibly difficult. Especially thanks to the fact that it is not possible to make corrections after the lock. If you missed the target with the designator, even a little, you need to reset the position of the designator and start over. Does it happen to you too? Do you have any tip?

Other questions are:

 

- It is possible to slave the radar to the TCS and use the TCS to find and lock a ground target with the RIO? Basically giving RIO the control of the designator in computer target mode?

 

- It is possible to use the LANTIRN with dumb bombs? I mean, I know you can't do it properly but if you set your weapon selector to gbu12 for mk82 for example, I noticed that you can get interesting results. do you have any advice for this dirty technique?

 

- Should I use the autopilot during bombing run and air to ground approaches? I can't figure out if it's better with or without it.

 

- I can't hit accurately with Zuni rockets. At the moment it is almost impossible for me to destroy a tank with them. It seems to me as if their trajectory is really wrong compared to the impact point pipper. Of course I don't pretend to be a sniper with the rockets but I get very different results in accuracy between bombs and rockets while using computer-pilot mode. I was wondering if you also had the same feelings about the rockets, or if instead maybe I am doing something wrong.

 

I apologize if I was possibly too verbose,  thanks for your attention

[ak12546]

I have not put in enough time in A/G for the cat to have tried messing with CCRP too much, however, I do know that rockets are meant to be area weapons and are not particularly precise, though in some other platforms accuracy does seem to vary. I would not expect to hit very precisely with Zuni's. You could just play chicken with the enemy and fire at a shorter range, though that is fairly risky.

[draconus]

9 hours ago, CappuccettoRosso said:

Does it happen to you too? Do you have any tip?

CCRP - yes, this is how it is, you can fly trimmed toward the target as near as you can - that'll give you most accuracy during designation.

Remember that if there are different wind layers set - the accuracy will fall.

AP gives you trimmed aircraft (within limits) but the controls are not smooth - you decide.

Yes, Zunis are not precise enough for safe runs against armor.

[TLTeo]

I think you should manage your expectations. Firing Zunis or dropping a single unguided mk-82 in CCIP, nevermind CCRP, is not meant for taking out an individual tank, not even close.

[CappuccettoRosso]

Thanks for the replies.

 

@TLTeo Va bene, ridimensionerò le mie aspettative   It's just that I really enjoy doing CAS missions even though it's clearly not the role the f14 shines in. I can't do carpet bombing to get rid of a single tank!

 

What about slaving the radar to TCS and use the latter to better designate the target in CCRP?

 

[TLTeo]

I have no idea whether that's doable or not, but if it is, why not just use Lantirn instead?

[Spartan111sqn]

Interesting, is possible to slave the CCRP to a waypoint?, mainly for strategic targets with dumb bombs.

[TLTeo]

13 minutes ago, Spartan111sqn said:

Interesting, is possible to slave the CCRP to a waypoint?, mainly for strategic targets with dumb bombs.

It should be possible to do something like that with IP mode (which is basically the equivalent of INS bombing in the Mirage)

 

 

Edited January 17, 2021 by TLTeo

[Spartan111sqn]

Thanks,  but the target point is someone to a bearing and distance from IP, I am not sure in ME how to do it and assign it correctly.

[TLTeo]

 

Like this video shows. It's really the same as designating a waypoint in the Hornet, except you can only do so with the IP (which for an interdiction-style mission is perfectly fine).