reported CH-53 AI, possible fuel level issue?

[Capn kamikaze]

I think I've found an issue with this particular helicopter...

The CH-53 is meant to go pick up a shot down pilot, while the player flies a RESCAP, but a few seconds after the mission starts the CH-53 turns around and heads to the carrier group.

I've tested it in several different ways, I've changed the helicopter and it doesn't do it, I've removed the landing waypoint, and it still does it, I've removed all threats, it still did it, and then I added another ship close to the coastline and it fixed it, however this is not possible due to the nature of the mission.

It's like the CH-53 AI thinks it has bingo fuel with the distance to the carrier group, even if you don't give it a waypoint to go land there, and it RTB's even without setting the RTB on bingo fuel option in the advanced actions.

I also told it to have no reaction to threats, so it wouldn't get spooked by air defences, I even made a version where I deleted every single enemy unit.

So it has to be some fuel issue with the AI specifically for the CH-53, I've tried the CH-47, SH-60, UH-60, UH-1, they all go to the waypoint to pick up the pilot.

I've attached a version of the mission with the CH-53 replaced by a SH-60, which works, but if you change it back to a CH-53, it turns around about 5-10 seconds after mission start.

F-14B SAR.miz

[Flappie]

Hi Capn. Hi tried to open your mission but it uses "Military Aircraft Mod", which I haven't. Can you please edit it?

[Capn kamikaze]

That's weird, there's no units from that mod that it's actually using...

[Flappie]

It's OK: I removed the requirement header in the mission file and I was able to open it. I see what you see. I'm trying things to understand what's going on.

[Capn kamikaze]

Ok, try this one, it should work, then change it to an SH-60, the unit needing the mod was the downed pilot.

F-14B SAR2.miz

I've built up the final version of the mission, and left it with the SH-60 in for now, which easily has enough fuel to go to the carrier, and I really can't imagine that a CH-53, especially with the external tanks as the one in DCS appears to have doesn't have at least the same range as the SH-60.

Edited January 29, 2021 by Capn kamikaze

[Flappie]

You were right: the CH-53 seems worried about fuel. Get the carrier closer to the coast, and the CH-53 will follow the planned route.

 

By the way the "Embarking" action at WP8 is not linked to any unit. Is it normal?

I agree with you: since DCS Encyclopedia says it has a range of 536 km, the CH-53 pilot should not abandon its mission. I think that's a proper bug. I'll try comparing different helicopters to see if this only happens with CH-53 or if it's a more global issue.

Edited January 29, 2021 by Flappie

[Capn kamikaze]

WP8 is fine, I fixed that in the full build.

I just checked on wikipedia, I know not the most reliable source, according to that the CH-53 has a ferry range of 886 nm, but oddly claims the "combat" range is only 95, that seems an unreliable figure, that would entirely depend on the mission, eg cargo weight, for something doing SAR, it's basically empty other than crew and some gunners.

Also according to wiki the SH-60 has a range of 495 nm, but it doesn't say what exactly that is.

95 just doesn't feel right at all if it can ferry nearly 10 times that far.

[Flappie]

There's definitely a problem with the estimation of max rane of the CH-53. Here's a track showing different US transport helicopters flying the same route. The CH-53 makes a half turn after a few miutes of flight, and it's the only one to do so.

Helo_range_test.trk

[Capn kamikaze]

Cool, glad to help bug hunt

This is the "final" version of the mission, I've played through it long enough to see the "CH-53" SH-60 and a pair of AH-1W's get to the LZ, pick up the pilot and go to the ship.

I'm making a campaign for the F-14, and this is supposed to be mission 6 of it, I'll probably release the whole thing in a couple of weeks

F-14B SAR final.miz

[Flappie]

Keep up the good work!

[BIGNEWY]

reported for checking

 

thank you