Jester Deficiency - Refusal to radar lock ships

[450Devil]

In June 1968 a Blue on Blue incident occurred when a USAF F-4 mistakenly attacked two ships (HMAS Hobart and USS Edson) which were on the Gunline in the vicinity of the DMZ during the Vietnam War. The now-declassified Report of Proceeding for HMAS Hobart reporting the incident (see paragraph 36 onwards) can be be found here https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1074517/bundled/RCDIG1074517.pdf

The F-4 fired a number of AIM-7E (Sparrow III) missiles at what the aircraft's crew mistakenly thought were North Vietnamese military helicopters.

HMAS Hobart was significantly damaged and two crew members were killed with a number of others severely wounded.

The HB F-4E-45MC's AN/APQ-120 radar detects ship and other "surface" targets. However, when the WSO is directed to lock such targets (via the Jester Wheel or Context Action Menu - I use Voice Attack) the WSO reports "no can do". 

However, when I move to the WSO seat I can lock a ship target and then move back to the pilot seat and fire a Sparrow (as long a the Interlock Switch is Out). The Sparrow impacts the ship target and causes damage (not much because of the poor ED ship damage model).

A track showing an attack on a ship target is attached.

For the Wish List - can Jester (as WSO) learn to lock ship and other surface targets please?

F-4 AIM-7E Ship Attack.trk

[FusRoPotato]

That's still been my experience. If you want to search and lock for stuff, fly from the backseat.

[Zabuzard]

On 7/20/2024 at 9:25 AM, 450Devil said:

For the Wish List - can Jester (as WSO) learn to lock ship and other surface targets please?

Ive put it on the list, cheers.

In the meantime, you can quickly hop in the backseat or disable Jester and then lock the return yourself, then reactivate Jester.

He should be able to work with the track then.