Question about the TOW smoke trail

[dok_rp]

Hello guys,

 

I was watching some footage on youtube from TOW missiles being fired and it seemed that the smoke they produced was barely visible, unlike the full burn smoke produced by the TOW in Black Shark.

 

So the question is, are TOW missiles really smokeless or is it just a feature included in DCS to make our lives a tad easier by making them clearer to spot when launched at us? :pilotfly:

 

Not that it counts as a great example, but when launching the TOW at Operation Arrowhead, it burns for 2 seconds or less and then continues completely smokeless. After I saw that I got curious and started looking for videos to see how it works in real life.

 

Since the DCS series is a high-fidelity recreation of all these weapon systems and I got some contrasting examples of this system in particular, I wanted to ask here in the forum, for there are people here who never cease to amaze me in terms of military expertise. :smartass:

[isoul]

Now you mention it, the TOW missile doesn't seem to produce any smoke trail or its barely visible.

 

I don't think the absence of smoke was unintended since the missile isn't that fast and when launched against a target at maximum range it takes 15sec or more to reach it. This is enough time for the target to be alerted and react and any opposing units to spot the launch point and retaliate.

 

Nice observation...

Edited July 13, 2010 by isoul

[Zenra]

This is an interesting observation, and not that I need any more of a "challenge", but you can change or even eliminate the smoke trail from the TOW alltogether by editing the weapons_table.lua (located in the C:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\Ka-50\Config\Weapons folder by default). Look for the entry for "BGM-71D Tow" and change the line:

 
{
       Name = TOW, --BGM-71D Tow
...
       exhaust = {0.9, 0.9, 0.8, 0.2 };
...
}

I haven't worked out what each of the numbers means, but changing them changes the size, color and opacity of the smoke trail. If you comment out the line then the TOW has no smoke trail at all.

[Panzertard]

Keep in mind, of you just keep moving just a few Kph, you'll evade the TOW anyway.

Not such a big challenge.

I tend to sideslip gently - saved me from countless TOW-hits.

[Zenra]

Indeed, so long as you see it coming. Turn off the exhaust and it is considerably more difficult (or it could be my aging eyes...)

[Panzertard]

No, thats what I'm saying - I didnt see them coming.

I've quite often realized them almost hitting me by hearing the "woosh" and following explosion - and saved just because I wasnt stationary while engaging the enemy.

[Insanatrix]

No, thats what I'm saying - I didnt see them coming.

I've quite often realized them almost hitting me by hearing the "woosh" and following explosion - and saved just because I wasnt stationary while engaging the enemy.

 

I've had them hit me right in the face before :lol:. I tend to always be moving and have stopped using hover tactics to engage.

[isoul]

Indeed, so long as you see it coming. Turn off the exhaust and it is considerably more difficult (or it could be my aging eyes...)

 

The TOW isn't a very maneuverable missile... neither their targeting system is designed to help them keep track of fast moving targets.

 

Considering these, a TOW isn't much of a threat, compared to other weapons, for a heli.