Mission 12 - Question on D Mavericks (spoilers)

[Istari6]

So I'm really having trouble with Mission 12.  I love the emphasis on realism, and I'm learning quite a bit about the challenge of doing CAS in a built-up urban environment with MANPADs.  However, I've now flown it twice and failed both times, it feels like due to the limitations of D Mavericks.  Is there something I'm doing wrong?

Both times, I'm able to kill the AA crew on the rooftop with a GBU-12.  No problems there.  The problem is in hitting the technical next to the mosque.  I hear the JTAC calling for AGM before his radio is cut, so I'm instructing Tally to use AGM-65.  She takes out the southern Technical both times.

However, for me it feels like an impossible challenge.  Both times I sight the technical with my TGP. That's not the problem.

The first time, I try to respect the MANPAD hard deck of 15,000 ft.  I come as close as I can with that hard deck, and still can't make any specific target out on the D's thermal view in WPN page, even playing with contrast.  After several passes, I finally just trust that I'm in the right place and lock onto something, and fire.  I end up hitting the Land Rover and killing some of the blue infantry.  Having dropped a GBU on another technical I spotted (which turned out not to be one of our two targets), I'm winchester.  Nothing happens in the mission when I'm out of weapons and the "mosque technical" is still alive, so I fly home and land at Incirlik.  I'm unable to direct Tally to take it out, the mission seems hung.

The second time, I refly the mission, ensure I have Mavericks properly boresighted, and knowing it's danger close, I decide to press the attack until I have a confirmed target in my WPN view.  This time I press to 5000 ft before I get a clear thermal signature in the WPN page.  I lock and shoot, but multiple MANPADs come up after me, even despite pre-flaring the entire attack run.  First one misses, second one kills me outright even though I'm zoo climbing.  

I get that I shouldn't get into the MANPAD range, but I can't seem to lock a tiny technical target in a dense urban setting when I'm staying above 15,000 ft.  That's 3 miles of just vertical distance, plus whatever horizontal slant range is added.  The D seeker doesn't seem to be able to discriminate until closer.  

Basically, it feels like I'm in a no win situation - JTAC wants me to use a Maverick, yet I can't seem to get a lock in an urban setting without getting within the MANPAD envelope.  Note - I'm flying in VR with a Varjo Aero, so maybe this is easier on a 4K flatscreen?

Is there some trick to playing with Contrast, Gain, etc where you can pick out a technical with a D seeker from safe distances?

 

 

 

[Gilligan]

I have similar issues with Mavericks, however I was able to hit the required technical in 3 out of 4 attempts.

IMO the key was doing an air boresight on the mavs during my ingress into the city. I picked one of the bright burning fires on my way in, locked with the tpod, locked with the mav seeker at 10 miles, and then hit the boresight at 8 miles. 

When I was attacking the technical I made sure to wait to lock with the TPOD until I was at that 8 mile distance, and just had to trust the mav was locking the correct spot before rifling it off. I was engaged by manpads doing this, but was able to pull off and make my escape each time.

 

Best of luck.

[Istari6]

Gotcha.  I ended up doing the same.  The air boresighting definitely helped, like you I just had to trust it was locked onto the correct target.  Ultimately I succeeded on the 3rd attempt and was able to proceed in the campaign.  Good to know others were having the same problem.