Deployment: Dusk (CAUTION!! SPOILERS!)

[Buznee]

Has anyone been able to successfully complete Dusk from the deployment campaign? I have been attempting this mission over and over and over again. I go in, wait for the SAMS to be taken out, then I get in and take out the 2 shilkas and use my vikrs to take out all the bmps. I then have maybe 3-4 more vikhrs to shoot at the tanks. I try to have my wingman take out as much ground targets as possible until both of us are completely out of ammo. Still no mission complete. Are you supposed to take out every single unit? How about the ammo tents along the side? I think thats a bit unreasonable for a 2 ka-50 team. I think its also a bit unrealistic that these tanks parked in this tank depot all have gunners in them. Wouldn't they just be parked there and not manned?

 

Very frustrating... :music_whistling:

 

Especially since I have to spend quite a bit of time flying back into the danger area from the base and can't save.

 

I do have a track if you need to see what I tried.

Also question... can you fast forward, or rewind in the track replay? That would definately be a nice feature to have....

[Satoshi]

Take out anything that can fight back with the vihkrs and then use rockets/cannon on the rest of the targets.

[Buznee]

the problem is i don't have enough vihkrs to take out everything that shoots back :lol:

 

Maybe i have to change my weapon loadout to all vihkrs....

 

EDIT: actually nevermind I can't carry vihkrs on my inboard pylons.... arggggg..

seems my only hope is to have my wingman successfully destroy a good bit of targets that fire back...

[Poncho]

Hi Buznee,

I managed to complete the mission after some attempts:

I have waited until SAM were taken out, then I killed the shilkas but let the bmps stay. I kept the wingman under control with the command "fulfill the mission" and "rejoin" and focused myself on the vehicles in the target box: vihkrs for the tanks and cannon for the soft targets. All that from stand off range (about 3 km) and from different positions (although sometimes I got missiles shot back... use flares!!). The mission is fulfilled when all the vehicles in the target box are destroyed.

The trip back home is also very "interesting": between the mountains in the night, especially when you forgot the to take with you the NVG... Anyway is very satisfacting when you land "the beast" at the FARP in the dark. I must admit that despite the difficulty I really enjoyed this mission, the ambiance is great

I hope it helps! Happy flying

[Frederf]

Thanks for the tip. I'm also running into the "more targets than weapons" problem with this mission. Knowing what units are "in the trigger" certainly helps. I think that I might try skirting to the left so those 3 rows line up and seeing if I can get my wingman to attack the crossing row and a row or two with me with Vikhrs, then fire two high volume rocket runs at an untouched row.

 

The APCs (BTR?) with 30mmAP are the nastiest there. There's literally a wave of death that pops up at about 1500-2000m. The laser warning is from MBTs that are trying to engage me with with their main gun which is scary but not really a threat if I'm maneuvering.

 

I'm considering alternate weapon loads to do more damage. 12x ATGM is definately needed but something other than the rockets provided might do better damage to clustered enemy might be nice. Bombs or the munition dispensers might do the trick better. I'm unsure about how close I'd have to be in order to release successfully, plus I'm sure they're awfully heavy to haul over the mountain.

 

Heck if I was really patient I'd make 2 trips from the FARP.

[slowhand]

i think you need to kill the hvy armor and the big guns..in the yard..read the brief...

[geogob]

If you want a recipe, it's fairly easy. But I honestly suggest you keep trying by yourself. Myself, I had to redo the mission quite a few times, but that only because my laser failed to work properly every time :(

 

 

SPOILERS Below. Do not read. :music_whistling:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take the following load:

- 12 x Vihkrs

- anything you like (I recommend AT munition dispensers or gun pods)

 

Also, I recommend changing the HMS to the Night Vision. I could be fairly dark when you fly back and it might prove prudent to have NV to navigate in the valleys.

 

Proceed as planed:

- Fly ingress path.

- After the last peak is passed, instead of following the planned route exactly, I fly down the valley to avoid being in SAM radar line of sight. I fly over the reservoir down in the valley and wait for the SEAD to shoot down the SAM sites.

 

- Once the go is given, move in just into Vickers range. Avoid getting too close.

 

- Shoot down the Shilkas first. Should be about 3.

Now you can move a bit closer. Be careful as they could be ground troops with AA.

- Shoot down the tanks and the BMPs with the Vickers. If you don't have enough Vickers, first shoot down the tanks, than the BMPs. Use HE or AT guns at 4 km to take down the last BMPs.

 

Don't worry about the BMPs at the base gates and corners. You can shoot them down with the gun as you move closer. Don't waste missiles on them. Use the guns to destroy all the trucks, jeeps and mobile artillery. If you have gun pods or bomb dispensers, use them on the denser vehicule groups.

 

Remember, always engage from as far away as possible. Also, don't make too long gun bursts. One HE round is often enough to destroy a truck. Don't waste your ammo.

 

For some reason, the AI is completely blind in this map. I bet its the same reason the shkval won't lock on anything. If that happens, fire the vickrs without a lock, but make sure you keep the tracking gate on target.

 

I think you are required to destroy all vehicles within the base to achieve 100%.

[Frederf]

I've tried again and I'm learning more and more about proper weapon-to-target pairing and attack geometry as this goes on.

 

My latest attempt was with 12x ATGM, 2x KMGU (AT), Ferry Fuel. This was a heavy load that required careful maneuvering but was very doable. Hovering was certainly possible but performance was reduced.

 

Like my last attempts I flew from ingress down the canyon to the left, not quite low enough in that I got a SAM launch at me, but it was easily spoofed. I maneuvered to a battle position to the left of the target area that is inline with the 3 parallel rows of vehicles. I shot a Shilka (think there's only 2 and one is gotten by the Su-24 reliably) and then shot the back row of APCs and then right column of self-propelled artillery pieces with Vikhr. This was one of my mistakes, I need to prioritize Vikhrs to the T-XX MBTs since nothing else is going to scratch them.

 

I moved up to about 2.5km and engaged with cannon... I've seriously underestimated the cannon's use as a standoff weapon before! The manuals 800-2000m envelope is a lie! It ate up the trucks with HE and a few light armors with AP rounds. Then I attempted a KMGU (AT) dispenser run... this is one powerful weapon! I thought it would be perfect for killing those tanks sitting like ducks in a row except of two tiny problems: 1. I have yet to hit what I'm aiming at 2. I make myself an easy target and get hit every time.

 

I think on my next run I'm going to bring gun pods, S-13 or S-8 rockets, focus on the MBTs with Vikhrs first then unload HE into the trucks and AP in as many light armored vehicles as I can. I'm also looking into making sure the wingman does standoff tactics since he gets shot down half the time closing in.

 

I've never tried gun pods, they might be just the ticket for getting more AP 25mm rounds which I'll need for all those BMPs. The trick when firing the cannon is to stop when the target sprouts a flame, after that it's just a few seconds till boom.

[Frederf]

I beat the mission finally. ATGMs are prioritized for Shilka, T-72s, and BMPs. The BMPs engage you out pretty darn far with their own missiles so you want to kill them before closing in for guns. The T-72s have a medium range with their main guns so those are priority two but you can get close enough to gun before the MBTs are a threat (2.5-3km).

 

The self-propelled artillery is pretty weak to AP cannon rounds and the trucks are super weak against HE cannon rounds.

 

Bring NVGs.

 

If I had to do it again, I'd attack the BMPs first on the crossing row since they are the longest ranged threat then focus on the T-72s. 22 Vikhr should get those (2 go to the E/W shilkas) with a few to spare. HE and AP cannon at 2.5km are for the Trucks and SPArtillery respectively.

[GGTharos]

Use 130IAS to fly, and set your climb schedule early enough. Take care to maintain 130IAS, it is your most efficient (ie. least power required to hold altitude in forward flight = most effective climb speed = best fuel consumption) speed for cruising.