Mission 12 - any hints?

[Blackbird7]

How to spot bandits, on radio they see them at 2 o'clock, but I see nothing there. So I just circle and sometimes find them, sometimes they shoot me. But when I do find them (mostly on my 6), how to win a fight instead of doing infinite turns? It feels like generic instant missions for MiG-15 are easier. Are bandits in M12 high level AI or I'm so bad or just had bad luck?

Btw, mission briefing has minor error, says Ordinance 2*FAB 100kg, but there are no bombs.

[Apache600]

Whoops ... thanks for the report on the ordinance.  Wonder how that got knocked out.

Well, keeping your head on a swivel is the #1 way to stay alive in this mission.   I also recommend ALWAYS staying fast.  Take zooming shots at them, never slow down.  If you miss, climb like a banshee and swoop down on them with your next attack.   
If you get low to the ground (and this is what I do when searching for them), then you should be able to spot their sooty exhaust a little easier.  
On the radio, they should also be calling out position reports when they get close and start attacking.  The map you have shows where some of your attacking units are, and they'll call out when an enemy passes overhead.
     Possible spoiler (mission success parameters)  

Spoiler

You only have to shoot down 2 of the 4.  The others will flee after that

 

[Blackbird7]

M12 is transport escort, I think you described something else. But I applied your suggestions and succeeded (after many attempts). I think biggest problem was going too slow or pulling to much AOA. And also MiG's slow rate of fire, bullets go above and below of enemy wings... and then you run out of ammo.

Spoilers for mission

Spoiler

F-86 is problem, in one attempt I shot him with 37mm, flaps or something fall off his wing, but continues to fly as if no damage on wing... Now in last attempt only one 23mm hit was enough to damage it and he bailed out soon after.

P-51 is weird, AI bug or some parameters im mission, but if I fly low for couple of minutes I get kill message, he always runs into ground. So I knew I had to kill just F-86, and sure, P-51 killed himself seconds later.

 

Edited May 5, 2023 by Blackbird7

[Apache600]

oh crap, hahaha.   Sorry, I did go ahead and talk about the 12th mission (8.4).  Not actually Mission 12       Glad you got passed it.  I would have mentioned to keep your speed up, MiG-15's best speed for maneuvering is 600 km/h.      Another problem is the general physics applied to AI aircraft, as you can tell ... there's much to be desired.

[PawlaczGMD]

Weird, in the same escort mission, I've also experienced the opponent Mig to be seemingly invincible. I dumped at least 1/3 of my total ammo into him, and he just flew away like it was nothing.