Help with mission 3

[Dentedend10]

Hi,

I'm fairly new to the Hornet and having some difficulties with the JDAM drop.

I enter the coordinates through the JDAM display. I've dropped the bomb two times now to hit nothing. When I fly by where it dropped, there seems to be a building pretty close to it, could be considered a 'stronghold'. However, if that is the true target, the bomb dropped twice next to the building, with no damage.

So I wonder what I'm doing wrong, or why is there no seconds in the coordinates that I am given? Maybe there is more to this that I don't know other than entering the coordinates on the jdam display and flying from the heading they asked me for?

Any help is appreciated

Edit: looking at my Tacview, the bombs do hit the target. So maybe I'm missing some kind of fuse settings on the JDAM? I thought I had it on Instantenous

oooor I need to drop it from a lot higher ( I probably dropped it under 10K ft)?

Edited May 3, 2024 by Dentedend10

[PawlaczGMD]

4 hours ago, Dentedend10 said:

Hi,

I'm fairly new to the Hornet and having some difficulties with the JDAM drop.

I enter the coordinates through the JDAM display. I've dropped the bomb two times now to hit nothing. When I fly by where it dropped, there seems to be a building pretty close to it, could be considered a 'stronghold'. However, if that is the true target, the bomb dropped twice next to the building, with no damage.

So I wonder what I'm doing wrong, or why is there no seconds in the coordinates that I am given? Maybe there is more to this that I don't know other than entering the coordinates on the jdam display and flying from the heading they asked me for?

Any help is appreciated

Edit: looking at my Tacview, the bombs do hit the target. So maybe I'm missing some kind of fuse settings on the JDAM? I thought I had it on Instantenous

oooor I need to drop it from a lot higher ( I probably dropped it under 10K ft)?

 

Set EFUZE to INST (or in case of bunkers, try delay).

BTW you need this for most weapons, first thing when you fence in, set mechanical and/or efuzes as needed.

If you're not quite hitting, make sure you're using precise coords (with decimal points) in the right format.

Height of drop should not matter as long as you're in range. A range cone will show on your HSI, and IN ZONE on the HUD should be flashing. If you're not IN ZONE, instead you will see a TMR counting down to when you're in range.

[Dentedend10]

19 hours ago, PawlaczGMD said:

Set EFUZE to INST (or in case of bunkers, try delay).

BTW you need this for most weapons, first thing when you fence in, set mechanical and/or efuzes as needed.

If you're not quite hitting, make sure you're using precise coords (with decimal points) in the right format.

Height of drop should not matter as long as you're in range. A range cone will show on your HSI, and IN ZONE on the HUD should be flashing. If you're not IN ZONE, instead you will see a TMR counting down to when you're in range.

Thanks! I’ve been doing those steps, but I’ll try setting EFuz to delayed. It says it’s a building stronghold, maybe I’ll need that penetration first. 

[Dentedend10]

So seems like it's a problem with how I enter the co-ordinates. I missed again, same spot. This time I ordered Smoke to drop the bomb as well. He nailed it. Probably the coordinates are given in minutes decimals, and I have to convert them to seconds? That's what I'll have to try next

Edited May 4, 2024 by Dentedend10

[PawlaczGMD]

13 minutes ago, Dentedend10 said:

So seems like it's a problem with how I enter the co-ordinates. I missed again, same spot. This time I ordered Smoke to drop the bomb as well. He nailed it. Probably the coordinates are given in minutes decimals, and I have to convert them to seconds? That's what I'll have to try next

 

I don't remember this mission, but it might be the case. You can change coords format in HSI->A/C-> something in the lower right corner?.

However for close targets, it is good to verify the coords with your tpod, and refine the target. It is a wrong choice to do it via PP in this mission.

I would recommend entering coords into a mark point, designating it for the tpod, finding the bunker visually, designating it, and using the bomb in TOO with the tpod. This really should work for you! 

[Dentedend10]

22 minutes ago, PawlaczGMD said:

I don't remember this mission, but it might be the case. You can change coords format in HSI->A/C-> something in the lower right corner?.

However for close targets, it is good to verify the coords with your tpod, and refine the target. It is a wrong choice to do it via PP in this mission.

I would recommend entering coords into a mark point, designating it for the tpod, finding the bunker visually, designating it, and using the bomb in TOO with the tpod. This really should work for you! 

Thanks for the guidance, that sounds like how it's supposed to be done

[Dentedend10]

18 hours ago, PawlaczGMD said:

I don't remember this mission, but it might be the case. You can change coords format in HSI->A/C-> something in the lower right corner?.

However for close targets, it is good to verify the coords with your tpod, and refine the target. It is a wrong choice to do it via PP in this mission.

I would recommend entering coords into a mark point, designating it for the tpod, finding the bunker visually, designating it, and using the bomb in TOO with the tpod. This really should work for you! 

Yes this worked! So the coordinates were given in minutes decimal. This format worked accurately when entering a markpoint. For PP I guess I would need seconds and more precise coordinates. Designated the markpoint as you mentioned and then I didn't need to slew the pod, it was right on target.

Now just struggling with the SAM evasion part haha. I saw some tips on the forum that I'll try

[PawlaczGMD]

7 hours ago, Dentedend10 said:

Yes this worked! So the coordinates were given in minutes decimal. This format worked accurately when entering a markpoint. For PP I guess I would need seconds and more precise coordinates. Designated the markpoint as you mentioned and then I didn't need to slew the pod, it was right on target.

Now just struggling with the SAM evasion part haha. I saw some tips on the forum that I'll try

Somehow the SAM didn't fire for me. I don't really like scripted SAM launches in missions, especially during a scripted low level pass. It's just random chance with how flares work in DCS. Set up a spam flare program and be ready

[baltic_dragon]

Plus the MANPADs are too accurate currently IMHO... but with some practice, they can be dodged.

[jmarso]

When I do that second low level pass I make sure I've got a program ready to spit a minimum of 5 flares, I make sure I've got at least 500 knots of smack, and as soon as I hear the call it's flares and a hard turn, and I'm never in burner over the city on that second pass.